Dear Harry, If it is convenient to you, I shall call at number four, Privet Drive this coming Friday at eleven P.M to escort you to the Burrow, where you have been invited to spend the remainder of your school holidays. If you are agreeable, I should be glad to have your assistance in a matter to which I hope to attend on the way to the Burrow. I shall explain this more fully when I see you. Kindly send your answer by return of this owl. Hoping to see you this Friday. I am, yours most sincerely, Albus Dumbledore.
It arrived in a neatly sealed scroll brought by a well-kept owl. The first letter Harry had received all summer. He'd spent hours staring at the loopy handwriting of Dumbledore, he had begun writing a response a million times, but he ended up trashing every one. Piles of discarded parchment lay on his floor making his room unnavigable.
He'd given up, it was Friday now. Some part of him didn't want Dumbledore to show up, some part of him wanted to stay here in this bed. He was so fucking angry. How dare he send him a letter now, after a fortnight of Harry sitting alone in his thoughts. It didn't seem like that long, but it felt like forever.
Harry refused to pack a thing; he just lay there in his bed. He couldn't sleep as he stared up at the ceiling. It was morning now and he knew in his heart Dumbledore was coming. He felt it along with the dread. The doorbell rang.
"Who the blazes is calling at this time of night?" Shouted Vernon from the living room. He heard the walrus of a man stomp across the house to the front door. It opened with a loud creak.
"Good evening. You must be Mr. Dursley. I daresay Harry has told you I would be coming for him?" Said the muffled voice of Dumbledore. There was a long instance of silence that seemed to answer Dumbledore's question. Harry strained his ears but couldn't hear what Dumbledore said after that.
"HARRY POTTER!" Screamed Uncle Vernon at the top of his lungs, Harry could already picture his face turning purple. Harry ran a hand through his hair before he sat up. He began to pack. Slowly, methodically he threw his spell books, his robes, his clothes, and anything into his trunk. He hesitated for a moment before he opened the bedroom door, dragging his trunk down the stairs.
Dumbledore was standing there, somehow managing to sneak past the front door and shut it behind him. Harry didn't look him in the eye, he was afraid Dumbledore would just know what Harry was thinking.
"It's been such a long time since my last visit." Dumbledore expressed amusement in his voice. There was that tell-tale twinkle, but Harry wasn't in the mood. Harry knew that Dumbledore wanted to stay and chat, he could tell the man was slowly slinking into the place, backing the Dursleys further and further away.
"Let's just go." Harry said gruffly, receiving a raised eyebrow from Dumbledore. Vernon was about to open his mouth, but Dumbledore cut him off.
"Well, I'd prefer to stay and discuss some matter first, Harry." Dumbledore spoke down to him as if he were an impatient child. Harry saw red.
"With me or with them?" Harry asked, meeting Dumbledore's gaze. The twinkle in those pale blue eyes finally died.
"With you mostly Harry but-" Harry interrupted Dumbledore with a raised hand.
"Either we leave now or not at all." Harry said simply with a shrug. They battled with their eyes for a moment, neither one backing down. Harry felt stubborn, Harry's will was eternal. Dumbledore narrowed his eyes.
"Let me say one thing before we leave." Dumbledore started, addressing the Dursley's once more.
"Harry will return only once more, only once." Dumbledore began.
"No. No. NO! This is the last time I'll have that bloody bastard child in my home." Vernon cut in, purpling as he spat. That suited Harry just fine, if he could wipe his memory of the Dursley's he would. Their years of neglect, their years of psychological torment.
"The magic I evoked fifteen years ago means Harry has powerful protection here. While you have mistreated and neglected him, he must return in a years' time." Dumbledore requested with his quiet and calm anger. A certain hidden coldness emanated from the old man that sent chills down even Harry's spine. All three Dursley's stood there with their mouths agape, apparently not having the words.
"With that, we'll be off." Dumbledore said suddenly cheerfully, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder that was shrugged off. Harry and Dumbledore walked outside; Harry didn't even bother saying goodbye.
"I'll send these to the Burrow." Dumbledore offered motioning with his wand to Harry's trunk, Hedwig, and anything else Harry brought. That's when Harry noticed Dumbledore's hand, ugly, twisted, and burnt looking. He opened his mouth to ask but thought better of it. It seemed to work just fine as he spelled Harry's things off to the Burrow, grabbing his invisibility cloak beforehand.
"Now tell me, before we begin our glorious adventure, what troubles you so boy?" Dumbledore asked sympathetically, but Harry almost threw up. He had to control his lip from curling upward. How dare he? Maybe he was troubled by the empty Sirius shaped hole in his life. Or the lack of anyone caring about his well-being for two damn weeks. Did anyone even give a fuck that Sirius Black was dead?
"Nothing, sir." Instead, Harry lied, and he felt that rage boil and simmer through his veins. Dumbledore smiled at him, apparently glad at his answer. The twinkle came back with fevered vengeance.
"Then, Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure." Dumbledore said with a smile, his back straight, his eyes alight with fire. He handed Harry the invisibility cloak with a wink.
Harry felt himself deflating as Dumbledore seemed to inflate. He was tired and worn already at the thought of going anywhere with Dumbledore, but Harry didn't have the energy to fight it.