A/N - thank you all again for the lovely comments and I wish I had the time to answer them, but alas… However, someone did ask where I was from and yes, I am from New Zealand (woohoo)! Now, on to the story!
Chapter 5 - Decisions and the Dursleys
Harry put his quill down and stretched out the kinks in his hand, absently noting that the sun had begun to rise, meaning he had been awake all night. Smiling to himself, he remembered when he thought that all he wanted to do was sleep so he could figure out everything he felt regarding his parents and Godric's Hollow.
Instead, sleep had been the furthest from his mind after he left Hermione alone with her parents, his brain suddenly focused on what he needed to do and then spent all night doing it. He looked down at the piles of parchment filled with his scrappy handwriting and actually felt quite proud of himself. The next step was to tell his two friends what he had so desperately put onto paper.
Glancing at his clock, he saw that he still had an hour and a half until he needed to wake up Ron and start his day. Re-reading what he had written before pausing, he got the gist of his thoughts and began to write once more, continuing until he got his final idea down. Sitting back in his chair, he was satisfied - the feeling of accomplishment overshadowing the tiredness that was starting to creep into his consciousness.
Glancing once more at his clock, he saw that it was time for breakfast so with a smile, he turned to the still occupied bed and saw Ron oblivious to the world. With his foot, Harry rocked the bed, hoping the motion would wake his friend up - there was no response.
"Ron," he called, "Ron, time to wake up."
Grunt.
"Get up Ron," Harry repeated, standing himself, already dressed and ready.
"Goaway," was the mumbled reply.
"You'll miss breakfast," Harry informed, putting his nights work into a tidier pile.
"Argh!" Ron exclaimed, finally, turning over and forcing his eyes open, "it's the holidays! I don't see why we have to get up so bloody early for breakfast when it's the holidays!"
"Because this is when Uncle Vernon is fed, therefore so are we," Harry informed, "but it will be the last time - tomorrow we're out of here!"
"Right," Ron said glumly, gathering his stuff together to go to the bathroom, "because breakfast at Grimmauld Place will be so much better."
Harry just gave an understanding smile and headed downstairs. His uncle and aunt were already there; Aunt Petunia in the kitchen making her husband's lunch while Uncle Vernon was lost behind the morning paper. Harry didn't bother with a 'good morning' and began to get his breakfast. A few moments later Ron arrived and joined Harry, grabbing a bowl from the cupboard and the cereal box that had been placed on the table. Seemingly disturbed by the noise of their eating, Uncle Vernon angrily folded his paper, glared at the two boys before grabbing his lunch from his wife and storming out the house. Both Harry and Ron ignored the display and carried on eating. After a few more moments, Aunt Petunia left, leaving instructions to tidy the kitchen after they had finished eating.
Which they both had nearly done when Hermione finally walked into the kitchen, looking as tired as Harry felt.
"Morning," she muttered, reaching for the cereal without giving them a look.
"Morning little Miss Sunshine," Ron said sarcastically, "you look terrible."
"Thanks Ron," she replied snarkily, looking up at him, "and just a warning, I'm really not in the mood for your jokes today…"
"Who's joking…" Ron mumbled under his breath.
"Are you alright Hermione?" Harry asked, a bit concerned.
"I'm fine," she shot back, turning her eyes to him, "you look terrible."
"Thanks," Harry smiled, "what time did your parent's leave?"
"About midnight," she replied wearily, "I think they were planning a late start this morning - it would've taken them at least two hours to get home…"
"Where is home, exactly?" Ron asked absently, voicing the question Harry was just about to ask - Hermione looked at them both blankly.
"You don't know where I live?" she questioned, sounding close to tears. Ron frantically looked at Harry, his eyes saying she better not start to cry.
"Er, actually, ah, we don't," Harry answered hesitantly, "which is terrible 'cause you know pretty much everything about us and we don't know anything about you…"
"No, no I guess you don't," she sighed, looking forlornly at her uneaten breakfast - the boys shared a troubled look.
"So, where do you li…" Ron started but stopped as his eyes focused on something over Harry's left shoulder - turning, he saw an unfamiliar owl coming his way. They all sat and watched to see who the owl was for, and all seemed surprised when it stopped in front of Ron. With a frown, he took the note off the owl's leg, which waited patiently for an obvious reply.
"Is it from you family Ron?" Hermione asked, interested.
"Ah, no," Ron replied, blushing furiously. Harry waited for him to expand his comment but as one wasn't forthcoming, he gave his friend a nudge.
"So, who is it from?" Harry questioned with a smile.
"Lu…Luna," Ron said, looking embarrassedly at Harry, "she was wondering if I could meet her today…"
"Oh Ron, that's fantastic," Hermione exclaimed, piling the now near empty bowls altogether and cleaning them with a wave of her wand, "obviously, you have to go!"
"I didn't realise you and Luna were on owling terms," Harry teased, enjoying his friends discomfort while ignoring Hermione's scowl.
"Well, we got to know each other a bit during the wedding…"
"Ahh," Harry acknowledged, "of course you did."
"So, what do I tell her…" Ron continued as if he didn't hear Harry's comment, finally looking at him.
"That you'll meet her, of course," Hermione replied enthusiastically, "Harry and I can do the research today…"
"Actually, I was planning to give the research a rest," Harry put in, a bit more seriously, "and instead, thought we could make some plans…"
"Really?" Ron and Hermione chorused, sharing a chuckle before the three made their way back to Harry's room, the owl following behind them.
"Well, I'll only be gone an hour, hour and a half, tops," Ron said, as he sat down and added to Luna's note before re-attaching it and letting the owl depart - seeing the bird fly off reminded Harry he really needed to clean Hedwig's cage and glanced at his pet, who ignored him completely after her night of hunting, her eyes staying firmly closed.
"That's fine," Harry said with a yawn, sitting on his bed.
"Yeah, well, maybe when I'm gone you two will try and get some sleep," Ron remarked, changing his t-shirt (his back firmly in Hermione's direction), "if you both didn't look so miserable, I would start thinking that Harry did sneak out last night…"
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed while Harry just laughed.
"So, where are you going?" Harry asked, feeling more and more tired.
"Um, actually, Hermione - would you mind…?"
"I'll be right back," Hermione sighed with a resigned smile. Ron gave Harry a small, embarrassed wave and followed Hermione out so they could Apparate from Mrs Figg's to Diagon Alley. Having to go to Mrs Figg's every time they needed to go anywhere was a bit of a pain but the new anti-Appariation wards placed on the Dursley's a while a go were seen as a necessity. Still, soon it won't matter.
Laying down on his bed, Harry closed his eyes, thinking that he'd just rest a bit and wait for Hermione to come back - there was no way he would sleep before he told them what he had been thinking about, his mind was too cram-packed with ideas. And even as patches of unconsciousness began to invade his brain, Harry still thought sleep was never going to happen…
He was standing in a graveyard, a huge snake was making its way to where he was, but otherwise - he was alone. Raising his wand, he went to destroy the snake but suddenly it turned into a centaur, standing before him, defiant. It was then he heard the noise, a really annoying noise, like a child trying to clear its throat…
"Hem, hem."
Harry's eyes flew open - he knew that sound, he knew it very well. But what was Dolores Umbridge doing back at Hogwarts…maybe he had fallen asleep in class! Abruptly he sat up, suddenly realising he wasn't at Hogwarts at all, but at Privet Drive and that he had fallen asleep on his bed. At the same time as he sat upright, there was a thump to his right and a very disgruntled 'ow', but Harry's attention was captured by Ron leaning against the door frame laughing hysterically. Before Harry could ask why, Hermione's dishevelled face poked up from the side of the bed.
"Hermione?" he said, confused, "what are you doing down there?" Instead of answering, she just looked at Ron who had tears in his eyes with mirth.
"What's so funny Ronald?" she questioned haughtily as she stood and tried to straighten herself out.
"You two, that's what," Ron snorted as he tried to get himself under control, "Luna dropped me back so I come up here to find you two snuggled up together. So I did a Dolores - Harry woke up and you fell to the floor - it was hilarious!"
"What's the time?" Harry asked - surely an hour hasn't passed…
"Well, I'm a bit late," Ron explained, coming to sit on his bed, "and I had this whole big speech planned, explaining why but really, it's you two that need to explain."
"What's to explain," Harry started, looking at his clock - it was eleven thirty, he had been asleep for nearly three hours, "I fell asleep…"
"Well then Miss Granger here has some explaining to do," Ron continued, grinning madly, enjoying seeing Hermione squirm.
"I…I came back and Harry was asleep," Hermione stuttered, "and I kind of felt tired myself, so I went to Ron's bed and, well, it stunk…"
"My bed doesn't stink!" Ron objected, momentarily forgetting his teasing of Hermione, but quickly remembered, "so why didn't you go to your room?"
"Um, well, I knew Harry wanted to talk, and he wouldn't know I was back if I went to my room so I thought I'd just sleep on the side…"
"On the side - you were draped all over him!"
"I must've moved…"
"Yes, you must've…"
"So now I can tell your dad that we slept together?" Harry joked, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"Oh, ha ha Harry," Hermione snapped, making her way to the desk chair, instead of her normal seat on Harry's bed, "what's all this?"
"That's what I want to talk to you guys about," Harry began, taking his notes away from Hermione and sat crossed legged on his bed, putting the parchments to the side, all tiredness forgotten, "I've been thinking…"
"Oh great, now you're doing it…" Ron moaned.
"Shut up Ron," Hermione barked, before looking back at Harry, "is that what you did last night? Why you didn't sleep?"
"Yeah," Harry said, feeling both excited and nervous at the same time, "yeah, well, all of the stuff that happened yesterday at Pennowen, and then the thing with your parents - it got me thinking. I don't want to do this quest for the Horcruxes on my own, I can't do it on my own - I need you guys. Before, I was ready to leave everyone behind and go off alone, to keep you all safe.
"But now I know that I could never do that and if I did, I will probably die. This means that I need you and that puts you in big danger. Yesterday I made a promise to your parents Hermione and I'm going to make the same promise to your family Ron - I am going to do everything I can to make sure you both come out of this alive…"
"You make it sound like you don't expect to live…" Hermione said softly.
"I have nothing Hermione," Harry answered, "no family to miss me, no dreams or ambitions, no future - not really - all I have is you guys. I'm supposed to end it, I'm supposed to be the one to kill Voldemort and I have no idea how. I want to survive, I really do, but…"
"We'll find a way…"
"You didn't let me finish, Hermione," Harry admonished, "I was going to say, but now I know the only way, the only chance that I have, is if we plan, use all the resources we have available and work with others…"
"We're going to tell others about…everything?" Ron asked, surprised.
"This is another thing," Harry continued, his eyes shinning with enthusiasm, "I don't think I should make all the decisions! You two are as part of this as I am, why should I have the say on everything we do? Any major decision should be voted on…"
"Voted on," Ron repeated, shocked, "who are you and what have you done with Harry!"
"Don't worry Ron," Harry laughed, "I'm me, but don't you think that's better?"
"I think that's a great idea Harry," Hermione smiled, "so what are the things that you want to vote on?"
"Well, there's quite a few," Harry said, flicking through his notes until he found the page he was looking for, "firstly, who should we tell? I was thinking Remus and McGonagall…"
"I agree," Hermione said thoughtfully, "they are the obvious choices. I still feel we shouldn't tell many people though, not yet anyway…"
"How 'bout mum and dad?" Ron suggested, before adding, "but then they'd want to tell the whole family which defeats the purpose really."
"I'd like to tell your parents eventually," Harry ventured to Ron, "but at the moment, I think only…"
"Lupin and McGonagall," Ron finished, nodding his head, "I agree."
"Brilliant, which brings me onto the next thing," Harry looked at his friends nervously, "Hogwarts."
"Look, Harry," Hermione started, "my parents, they were…"
"Right," Harry stated, looking at her in the eye, "you have a future Hermione, and it's not fair that I take that away from you…"
"You're saying you don't want me to come with you?" she asked, confused.
"No, because I need you," Harry replied, "what I'm saying is that we should return to Hogwarts."
"Bloody hell," Ron exclaimed, looking between Harry and Hermione, "you mean, after putting up with an afternoon of mum yelling at me and crying hysterically when I told her I was dropping out, we're going back?"
"If you guys agree…"
"Well, I'm there," Ron said quickly, "rather be at Hogwarts than Grimmauld Place."
"Are you sure Harry?" Hermione asked, frowning, "you were so adamant after the funeral…"
"But now I've thought about it," Harry enthused, "it's safe, it has a library and hospital (if we need it) plus our friends will be there. You guys should have the opportunity to be with other people - me shutting you up in that disgusting house for I don't know how long, well, it seems pretty selfish."
"What about the search?" Hermione continued to question, "are you planning to do your NEWT's and search for the Horcruxes at the same time?"
"Actually, I need to ask you something," Harry paused as he thought, "what do you do as Head Girl?"
"Do?"
"Yeah, I mean, what extra duties."
"Well, you're the liaison between the students and the faculty," Hermione began in full recital mode, "make sure the first years are settled, which won't be a problem this year. You're the head prefect, so you need to make sure they are doing their roles correctly, plus you get your own room and common room, which is shared by the Head Boy…"
"Excellent," Harry interrupted, "which means either Ron or I need to be Head Boy…"
"You're going to tell McGonagall who she should chose for Head Boy," Ron laughed, "love to be there for that conversation."
"You probably will be," Harry replied quickly, before turning back to Hermione, "you also get free access to all of the school at all hours as well, right?"
"Well, yes," Hermione frowned, "what are you thinking Harry?"
"I thought that with you as Head Girl," Harry rushed, "and one of us as Head Boy, we could make that area our headquarters for our research and stuff. All castle, all hour access means we can move freely about. If we get Floo access to Grimmauld Place and Dowrgi, then we can carry on researching. We will need to talk to McGonagall and let her know what we're doing and get compensations…"
"Compensations? Like what?" Ron asked, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Compensations that we can't abuse," Harry answered, seriously, "like leaving school if we know where a Horcrux is, possibly being late or missing class, not having time to complete all assignments - things like that. We'd need to do extra defence training as well, you know, so we're ready."
"Do you think Professor McGonagall will agree?" Hermione questioned.
"I don't think she'll have a choice," Harry replied, "I thought together we could write down what we need, discuss it with her and go from there. There won't be any Quidditch this year for us and whoever isn't Head Boy will bunk in the room anyway. We should all stick together."
"Are you sure you can do this Harry?" Hermione said after a small pause, her voice soft, "I mean, without…"
"It will be strange," Harry interrupted, knowing what Hermione was going to say, "I mean, Dumbl…Dumbledore was Hogwarts - but his portrait will be there and surely that would help too!"
Harry watched as Ron and Hermione took what he had told them in, waiting patiently for their reply.
"Are you positive we won't be able to play Quidditch?" Ron asked, somewhat sadly - Harry nodded, "oh well. I wasn't that good any way. And I think you should be Head Boy Harry, you deserve it."
"But you've been prefect…"
"And remember the grief I got for that," Ron grumphed, "imagine what Fred and George would do to me if I made Head Boy!"
"It would be nice to be there," Hermione said, wistfully before looking at Harry sternly, "as long as you're sure and that you are doing it because you want to not because of some guilt trip from my father."
"I think it would be good for all of us to go back," Harry asserted, "and as long as we stay focused, there's no reason why we can't complete our NEWT's and do what we need to do. We might even use those study diaries you gave us one year."
"Yeah, right," Hermione laughed, "as if that's ever going to happen."
"So, what else is there, in you notes," Ron asked as he lay down on his bed.
"Ideas on where to look for Horcruxes and what we know so far," Harry replied, passing them over to Hermione, who had indicated she'd like to have a look, "I thought you and I, Ron, could continue the research at Grimmauld Place while Hermione could go to Dowrgi and see if she can find out about an artefact from Ravenclaw or Gryffindor - Hogwarts library might help us there as well, we weren't looking for that last time…"
"These are good notes Harry," Hermione remarked as she scanned the parchments, "can I keep them for a bit?"
"Er, sure," Harry replied, a bit embarrassed, "so, tomorrow we go to Grimmauld Place…"
"Do we get to vote on this, cause I think we should live at Dowrgi," Ron piped up, looking at the other two.
"Actually, I agree with Harry," Hermione answered, "Grimmauld Place is the safest at the moment…"
"Well, you're not going to be there most of the summer, of course you won't mind living there…"
"I don't think I could live at Dowrgi," Harry interrupted, quietly, "I don't think I can even go back there at the moment. Sorry Ron."
"No, it's me who should apologise," Ron sighed, "sorry mate, wasn't even thinking…"
"When will we talk to Professor McGonagall," Hermione said, changing the subject rapidly.
"I don't know," Harry replied, thankfully, "perhaps we could work on the list of compensations now and then start packing. I want to leave here first thing tomorrow morning." Which, after a spot of lunch, is exactly what they did.
The next morning, Harry woke and stretched luxuriously with a huge grin on his face - he was finally leaving Privet Drive and the Dursley's forever, the day he had been waiting for for so long had finally come. Grabbing his glasses and looking at his clock, he saw it was six thirty - an hour until breakfast, half an hour before his uncle usually gets up to wash.
Grabbing a change of clothes, he made his way to the bathroom and had his morning shower. After drying himself and putting on his pants, Harry peered at his face in the mirror, seeing if there was a need to shave yet. Ron had begun to grow faint, ginger stubble but so far Harry's chin remained hairless. Sighing, he was just about to put his shirt on when he heard a thump and a yelp of pain coming from the room next door - Hermione's room.
Grabbing his wand he ran out of the bathroom and through the open door of the next room to see Hermione kneeling on her bed, flushed and scowling, doing up the top buttons of her pajama top while Dudley was squirming around on the floor, holding his…lower groin area. Harry quickly put two and two together and ignoring his cousin's already obvious discomfort, grabbed him roughly and held him against the wall, his wand pointed into the bigger boy's cheek.
"I could curse you right here," Harry growled, enjoying seeing Dudley pale.
"You…you can't use magic…" Dudley stuttered.
"I've got news for you Duddikins," Harry continued, "as a matter of fact I can…"
"Let him go Harry," Hermione said calmly, getting her own stuff ready for a shower, "he's not worth it."
"Your girlfriend's a slut anyway," Dudley continued, a bit bolder after Harry had dropped his wand and stepped back, "saw her snogging that other guy…"
But Dudley didn't get to finish as Harry forgot all about magic and punched his cousin in the face - hard. Dudley staggered back, holding his bleeding nose and looked at Harry in horror. Hermione had come and stood beside him, her wand was drawn and seeing he was out numbered, Dudley retreated in a rush. When he was no longer in sight, Harry was unable to pretended he couldn't feel the throbbing in his hand, sure he had broken a few bones and tried flexing it gingerly to test it out.
"Let me see," Hermione said patiently and gently took his hand in hers, waving her wand over it before Harry felt a warmness surround his hand and the pain disappeared.
"Thanks Hermione," he said amazed, "when did you learn to do that?"
"Well, I thought I should learn some healing spells in case we got into trouble," she replied, stepping back from him and suddenly looking at the floor, embarrassed, "ah, thanks for that Harry. I guess I should've listened to you and locked my door."
"Did he, did he hurt you?" Harry asked, remembering why he was in her room in the first place, "did he do anything…else?"
"No," she replied a bit sheepishly, "but he took me by surprise, and he is so much bigger than me. I…I couldn't reach my wand so I went for his most vulnerable spot. I…I need to have a shower."
Harry could already hear his uncle and aunt moving around, knowing that soon there will be an explosion due to their son's probable broken nose. But today Harry didn't care. Today he could retaliate to anything they do to him - today he was the boss of Privet Drive.
"Look, give me a moment to get my stuff from the bathroom then you can get ready," he instructed, "I'll deal with my uncle." Hermione just nodded with a small smile.
"Harry?" she called as he turned to the door, making him turn back, "don't tell Ron. Please."
"Why?" he asked, frowning.
"Just don't," she repeated.
"Okay," Harry agreed reluctantly before once more heading for the door.
"And Harry," she called out again, his hand on the doorknob - he turned to her, "happy birthday." She came up to him, put her hands his shoulders and then gave him a small peck on the cheek, smiling at him shyly before saying, "and I like the bare chest look. Very macho Mr Potter."
With that she turned and he watched her stunned. He had totally forgotten that he had no shirt on and he felt the heat of his embarrassment begin to move off of his face to cover the rest of his body. Quickly, he left her room and returned to the bathroom, where he got everything that was his before dashing to his room to the just waking Ron.
"Hey," Ron said groggily, "happy birthday mate."
"Thanks," Harry replied nonchalantly, "you better…"
"Potter!" was suddenly bellowed as the door to Harry's room crashed open revealing a very agitated Uncle Vernon, dragging an already bruising Dudley behind him, "what is the meaning of this! How dare you! After all we've done for you, let your abnormal friends live under our roof - you'll pay for this boy!"
Which was exactly the wrong thing to say. Wand raised, Harry advanced on his uncle, aware that his aunt was standing behind Dudley, her face white and drawn - but at the moment, he didn't care. All the years of insults and abuse were flashing through Harry's brain and he was fighting very hard to keep it under control.
"Do you know what day it is, Uncle Vernon?" Harry hissed.
"Thursday," came the bold answer, only flinching slightly when the tip of Harry's wand touch the fat man's face.
"Today is my birthday, Uncle Vernon," Harry continued, forcing his uncle against the wall, "today I turn seventeen. Do you know what that means?" Vernon shook his head.
"It means you can now do magic," his aunt said extremely quietly, "you are now a wizard."
"That's right Aunt Petunia," Harry growled, "I can do magic without consequences. I can hex you, or stun you or make you run around the house clucking like a chicken. You no longer scare me Uncle Vernon, and neither does your idiot of a son. So you have a choice, you can either leave me and my friends alone so we can have some breakfast in peace and then leave this house for ever or you can annoy me and suffer the consequences. The choice is yours."
"Is that a threat Potter?" Vernon spat.
"Yes," Harry said back, calmly.
"You, that idiot with the red hair and your tramp are to get out of my….arrrggh!"
Simultaneously Vernon Dursely hung from the air by his ankle, turned bright orange and then began breaking out in boils.
"Who did the colour?" Harry asked as he walked by his screaming relatives.
"That would be me," Ron said, making his way to the bathroom, "I'll be down in a minute."
"So, you must've done the furnuncuius charm," Harry deduced, as Hermione came into step with him on the way to the kitchen.
"Yep, that was me," she confirmed, smiling as the yells from up the stairs suddenly ceased, "Ron must've shut them up."
"How're you feeling?" Harry asked as he got himself his breakfast.
"I'm okay," Hermione replied, joining him with a cup of tea and some toast, "though I must admit, I'm looking forward to getting out of here."
"Same here," Ron agreed as he strolled into the kitchen, "so what are we going to do with the Dursley's before we go?"
"Do with them?" Hermione questioned.
"Yeah, do with them," Ron repeated, sitting down at the table with his cereal, "pay back for all the bollocks they've given Harry over the years…"
"Ronald, we are not…"
"…going to do anything," Harry finished, "I really just want to get out of here." Ron just shrugged his shoulders, spilt some cereal and milk on the table and left his dirty empty bowl and glass there before standing up and walking out the door. Hermione and Harry shared a smile and did the same.
They made their way up the stairs and saw Ron standing outside Dudley's room, absently twirling his wand.
"I put them in there," he told the others, "Vernon was getting too red and I thought killing your uncle might not be a good move." Harry smiled.
"Well, since we're all packed, lets get our trunks and go," Harry chortled as he made his way to his room.
"Actually," Hermione said hesitantly, sharing a look with Ron, "er, do you think you could get Dobby to take our trunks for us?"
"Yeah, we were thinking we could pop into Diagon Alley…" Ron continued.
"…so I can get your present," Hermione rushed, "I haven't really had the time to get you something." Harry looked at them both suspiciously but then thought - why not? Today was his birthday, he can do whatever he wanted. He nodded his acceptance with a smile.
"Dobby!" he called and in an instant there was a crack and the little house-elf was standing in front of him.
"Happy birthday Harry Potter sir!" Dobby said enthusiastically, "is everything alright?"
"Everything's fine," Harry assured, "but are you able to take our trunks and things to Grimmauld Place for us? Just leave the present on the dresser."
"Oh yes, Dobby can be doing that Harry Potter!" And with another crack, he was gone.
"Right," Harry carried on, "I guess I should say goodbye." With a flick of his wand, the door opened to see an orange Vernon, a purple Petunia and a pink Dudley and all were covered in boils - Harry couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh Ron," Hermione humphed, trying to hide her smile.
"What?" Ron said, innocently, "a good, strong family should share all experiences."
"Change us back!" Uncle Vernon yelled, still trying to be imposing even though he looked like a rather large piece of fruit.
"No can do, Uncle V," Ron answered cheekily, "wand broke. Sorry."
"I'll do it," Hermione said and everyone looked at her - the Dursley's expectantly, Ron and Harry with shock and annoyance, until they saw the smile on her face, "tomorrow," she finished.
"Tomorrow!" Uncle Vernon shrieked, "you can't leave us like this!"
"And you shouldn't have kept a ten year old boy locked in a cupboard under the stairs," Hermione hissed back, "I'll see you tomorrow." With that, she turned on her heel and left the room.
"Bye," Ron quipped and was also gone, leaving Harry facing the only family he had ever known.
He had no idea what to say - thanks? Good luck with your lives? It's been great? They stood looking at each other in silence until Harry finally sighed and realised there was nothing to say. Without a word, he turned and went to the smallest bedroom at number 4, Privet Drive. He took one last look around its bare walls with no emotion at all, took the present that he had left on the dresser and then walked out, down the stairs and out the front door where Ron and Hermione were waiting. Without looking back, Harry walked away to Mrs Figg's, the further he walked, the bigger his smile got.
Instead of making there way directly to the garden shed, like they always did, Harry went to the door and knocked, a curious Ron and Hermione behind him. After a few moments the door opened and a surprised Mrs Figg poked her head out.
"Harry dear," she said, "this is unexpected!"
"Er, actually, I'm off now," Harry stated, "and I just wanted to thank you for looking out for me and to give you this." He handed her the small gift he had, watching nervously as the old lady's eyes watered over and open her present with shaking hands. It was a small statuette of a cat that he had found ages ago in London and had held onto it for this moment. With a smile, Harry let himself be drawn into a hug.
"You are a dear, dear boy," Mrs Figg cried, "and it has been my pleasure to watch you grow into a wonderful man, even with those awful people as guardians. Now, you take care." Harry nodded, and for the last time, he waited by the shed for Hermione to come back and get him so he could Apparate away.
It was after lunch by the time they had finished dawdling around Diagon Alley and the longer they spent there, the more sure his friends had organised something for his birthday. When they went into Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and both the twins weren't there, he knew something was up.
Hermione had already Apparated Ron and so it was just her and Harry facing the grey, dowdy walls of Grimmauld Place when she stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned to him.
"That was a nice thing you did for Mrs Figg," she said softly.
"Well…" Harry looked at her to answer but was suddenly aware of the bags under her eyes and just how tired she actually looked - immediately he was concerned, "are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she said, trying to break the gaze, but Harry wouldn't let her, gently holding her face and really searching for a sign of what was wrong.
"Had Dudley tried something before this morning?" he asked roughly.
"No!" she exclaimed, "no, this morning was a first!"
"Well, what is it?" he asked again, letting go of her face, "you look shattered."
"I haven't been sleeping," she sighed, "like you, I've been thinking about the Horcruxes…"
"Have you come up with something?"
"Yeah, yeah I think I have," she admitted, "but we're not going to talk about it today. Today is your birthday…"
"…and they're all in there waiting, right?" Harry asked with a smile - Hermione just nodded. His smile grew into a grin and without another word, Harry took her hand and entered the Black estate, letting himself be led down to the kitchen.
"Surprise!" bellowed through the house as they entered the crowded room (immediately waking up Mrs Black - Tonks quickly exited to calm the painted woman down) and with a grin ear to ear, Harry let himself be engulfed by his new family and friends.