It was first year, and the giant chess queen struck Ron around the head and he tumbled to the ground…Second year, Hermione was lying petrified in the hospital ward…Ginny lay stone cold on the floor of the chamber of secrets…Third year, Sirius lay motionless by the lake as hundreds of Dementers swooped down on him…Fourth year, they were in the graveyard and Cedric Diggory was hit by Voldemort's curse…Fifth year, Ron was attacked by the brain … Sirius falling through the veil…Sixth year, Dumbledore hurtling down, dead…Then it flashed back to fifth year again, and Hermione was hit by Dolohov's silent curse, she fell to he floor, her eyes wide and glassy, not moving, completely still…
Harry woke with a start, panting heavily, and sweat dripping from his brow. He had been having that nightmare ever since the death of Dumbledore, Harry's last protector. The last person who truly cared about him. Harry had realised, shortly after his death, that that was what he really needed, someone who truly cared about him. His parents, Sirius, now Dumbledore… Harry had lost so many.
The dream always went from first year to sixth, but Harry didn't know why it always flashed back to Hermione's near-death at the end…
He looked at his alarm clock. It was six o'clock. He could hear Uncle Vernon snoring loudly.
As quietly as he could, Harry showered and dressed, so he didn't wake the Dursleys. Still making as little noise as possible, he exited the house and walked down the road to Mrs Figg's.
Privet drive was so much nicer early in the morning; not many people to stare and mutter. Plus, the dew gave the grass a nice sparkly effect.
He pressed the black and white plastic doorbell and could soon hear the shuffle of Mrs. Figg's carpet slippers.
"Harry! How are you?" Mrs Figg said. For the first time Harry stepped into Mrs. Figg's house with a smile on his face. He stepped into the familiar kitchen. It still smelt of cabbage. Hermione was sitting at the breakfast table, brushing her hair.
"Hi Harry" she muttered.
"Where's Ron?" asked Harry, taking a seat.
"Upstairs, snoring his head off." Hermione grinned. Harry smiled. They had been doing this for the last week and a half. Harry was surprised they would stay this long.
"Blimey Harry, it's too early" yawned Ron from the stairs. He looked like he'd only just woken up; his hair was messy and he looked half asleep.
"Here, Ron, have some breakfast" Hermione got him a slice of toast as Ron slumped over to the table. Eventually, after Ron got dressed and Hermione thanked Mrs. Figg once again for breakfast they were able to go to the park.
They all had their wands out, though Harry still felt uncomfortable and vulnerable. Most of the park had been vandalised by Dudley's gang, but there were still two swings left, and Ron managed to untangle a third. Hermione gently rocked on the swing and pulled out the Daily Prophet.
"Oh no… oh, how horrible!" she gasped.
"What?" said Harry, dreading the answer.
"Voldemort k-killed a little b-boy with the inferi of his dead parents" she said tearfully. Ron surveyed the article with grim sadness. Harry closed his eyes mournfully. Another life lost at the hands of Voldemort. If he, Harry, didn't do something soon it would mean more sacrifice.
"Oh, great" muttered Ron. Harry looked up. But Ron wasn't looking at the paper. Harry looked to the other side of the park and his temper boiled. Dudley and his stupid gang were coming towards them.
"Oi!" said one of them, who was clearly Dudley as he was the largest. "Get off our turf!"
"Don't see your name on it." Replied Harry coolly. He was too angry at the world to care how Dudley would react.
"Don't get cocky with me, Potter" growled Dudley. The goons cracked their knuckles.
"No, it might hurt your brain" said Ron. Harry and Hermione sniggered. Dudley scowled for a minuet then smiled.
"You think he's brave, but he's only useful as a punch bag." The goons laughed, but Hermione raised her eyebrows.
"Strange, I'd have thought it was the other way round, seeing as you're the right shape and all. Aren't punch bags large and lumpy?" Harry and Ron laughed and Dudley looked angry, but Piers Polkiss looked Hermione up and down.
"Who's the tart, Potter?" he sneered
Hermione's jaw dropped, but Harry and Ron stood up and yelled "HOW DARE YOU!" the gang members howled with laughter and Harry and Ron got out their wands. Dudley paled, but the other boys laughed harder at the bits of wood.
"I'm warning you, don't you EVER speak like that about her again" said Harry furiously.
"What's the matter, potter, you don't fancy that cow?"
A burst of green smoke issued from Ron's wand with a loud bang. Harry watched in awe as the muggles flew into the air and landed face-first in the mud, unconscious.
"Oh Ron!" groaned Hermione furiously.
"That's it. We're gonna get your things, Harry, and then we're leaving." said Ron, storming away. Harry and Hermione glanced worriedly at each other.
"What, Now?"
"Now!" Ron said with the same furious determination Ginny sometimes had. They hurried after him to the Dursleys. Harry quietly sneaked upstairs to get his trunk, although he knew he wouldn't be going back to Hogwarts.
Carrying his things downstairs, Harry grabbed a piece of paper and quickly scribbled: I'm going now. You'll probably never see me again, but if you do, it'll be too soon. Goodbye, Harry.
"Harry?" he heard a soft voice behind him say. Aunt Petunia was standing in the doorway in a dressing gown. "You're leaving now, aren't you?"
"Yes" replied Harry coldly. Aunt Petunia fidgeted with something in her hands. Harry had never seen her like this; her eyes were full of concern.
"Listen, I- I wanted to give you something" Harry raised an eyebrow, and Aunt Petunia passed him a little brown box, to find a beautiful silver ring with a fat, sparkling diamond in the middle. It was engraved with silver vines and leaves, and at the bottom, in tiny writing Harry could hardly read, was a short message: All my love, J.P to L.E.
"It was your Mother's ring" Aunt Petunia sighed. "Your father gave it to her just before they married." Harry examined it. It looked valuable. He was surprised she hadn't sold it.
"How long have you had this?" said Harry quietly.
"Ever since she died. I just… I thought you should have something of hers, even if it's not useful." Harry stared at her. Where was the strict, unfair Aunt Petunia he knew all these years?
"I… thank you." Harry muttered softly, putting the ring back in its case and slipping it back in his pocket.
He turned to leave when Aunt Petunia said "and Harry… I'm sorry." And she did something she'd never done before; she pulled him into a hug. It was quite short, and she let go of him and walked away before Harry could comprehend what had happened. Aunt Petunia, who had always been vile and cruel to him, had just hugged him? What was next, Lucius Malfoy announcing his membership to the muggle lovers association?
He came out to find Ron looking fairly pleased with himself
"Oh, Harry, we're going to be apperating, so hold on to me" said Hermione.
"I can apperate my self, you know" grumbled Harry, holding her arm.
"Yeah, Hermione, we're not babies" moaned Ron.
"But you haven't got your licences yet."
"We passed the test" said Ron. He and Harry had received a visitor to escort them to the ministry a few days previously, and both had passed with flying colours, but the ministry wouldn't issue those licences until next week.
"Yes, but if you splinch you'll have no licence to show them and you'll be fined. Anyway, I'm not really apparating you, I'm just guiding you." They bickered like this as the three of them apparated to the burrow, Harry feeling the familiar tube- like squeeze.
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