Summary:
No Thanks » Complete. Harry makes a decision at the train platform at the end of year 5. Two little words change lives forever. Revised 606.Harry Potter, T, English, Romance & Angst, chapters: 20, words: 95k+, favs: 9k+, follows: 3k+, updated: May 26, 2005 published: Feb 21, 2005, Harry P., Hermione G.
Chapter 1
Harry Potter and associated milieu, characters, and situations are owned by J.K. Rowling and her licensees. This is a work of fan fiction, produced solely for enjoyment. No infringement of rights is intended.
This is something of an independent Harry story that takes place after the end of Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts. It has a bit of Dumbledore bashing but is really a matter of showing most of the story from Harry's 15-16 year old perspective rather than Dumbledore's 150 year old perspective. I hope you enjoy reading it. I had a lot of fun writing it.
June 2006 – I have reposted all of the chapters and appreciate the feedback that I have received with this story so far.
O-C
3 July 1996
Story
Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry had ended very badly. A week before his friends had been injured or worse in the Department of Mysteries.
With the intentionally intimidating words spoken to his legal guardians, the members of the Order of the Phoenix were pleased with themselves and went their separate ways, leaving Harry, the Dursleys and a few others standing outside the brick wall entrance to platform 9 ¾.
"We'll see you soon, Harry," said his friend Ron, as he and the Weasleys walked to the car that they were using.
Hermione was standing nearby with her parents slightly back, having witnessed the highly unpleasant scene.
"Wake up! Get a move on boy, before those freaks come back," growled Uncle Vernon giving him a shove. "Looks like we're stuck with you for another summer. Effing freaks, the whole lot of you. Why don't you go somewhere else?" Realizing that it was mostly a rhetorical question, he said, "Grab your stuff. Let's go now."
"No thanks," said Harry.
"What?" sputtered Vernon. He looked at the raven-haired teen like he'd never seen him before.
Harry replied, "No thanks. You can leave now. I won't be going back with you."
"But you have to," said Petunia.
Harry said to her, "No. I don't have to. Thanks. I'll find someplace else to stay for the summer. Goodbye. I'll call you if I need something."
"That suits us fine," said Petunia turning around. "We don't need you, you ungrateful freak." The Dursleys walked off without even saying goodbye.
Harry gave a small wave, "Bye."
More or less out of earshot, Hermione and her parents looked on with some concern as they were packing her trunk in the boot of their gray BMW. A moment later, she saw the three Dursleys drive away in the car that had been parked two spots over from their own.
"Hold up a minute, Dad. I'll be right back." She opened the back door and walked back to her friend. "Harry," she asked with genuine concern for her friend. "What's going on?"
Harry replied, "I'm not going back to the Dursleys. They don't want me there and I don't want to be there. I'll rent a room for the summer."
Emma Granger, DDS looked out the window and saw her daughter talking with a poorly dressed teen. They appeared to know each other. She thought that he must be one of the boys from her school. By now the other witches and wizards and their parents had dispersed. She got out of their car and walked over. Smiling at the slightly built teen, she said, "Hi. I'm Emma Granger."
Hermione said, "I'm sorry mum, this is my good friend Harry Potter."
She smiled warmly and said, "Hello. We may have met several years ago. I'm happy to see you again. Are you waiting for someone?"
Harry replied, "No Ma'am. My Aunt and Uncle agreed that we'd all be happier if I didn't stay with them this summer."
Emma looked at him carefully and asked, "What are your plans?"
"I thought that I'd rent a room someplace and stay there." In truth, Harry didn't have any plans.
By now Hermione's father had walked over. Emma pulled him aside for a moment and had a few quick words with him. The bushy haired man smiled and said, "Why not?"
Emma walked back and said, "Harry, if you don't have any other plans, you could rent a room from us. We have an extra room to let out. We would charge you one pound."
"Per night?" asked Harry. He thought that seemed a rather low amount. Tom at the Leakey Cauldron had charged two Galleons a night for a small room when he stayed there for a week before his third year.
"One pound for the summer," she said smiling, thinking with clothing like that, the young man obviously didn't have much money.
Hermione looked at him encouragingly.
"OK," he said, "If you're sure I wouldn't be a bother. I'll gladly help around the house. I'm quite handy. I can cook and clean, do laundry and take care of the garden."
It saddened her to think how he became so adept at housework at such a young age. She replied warmly, "We'll all share the chores. Shall we get going?"
Hermione carefully picked up Hedwig, Harry's pet owl who was watching the scene unfold from her cage.
Hermione's dad came over and reintroduced himself. "Hi. I'm Dan Granger," he said, holding out his hand.
Harry shook it. "Hello sir. I'm Harry. Harry Potter." They met eyes and nodded.
The women walked a bit ahead. Dan asked, "You're friends with my daughter?"
"Yes sir. Since we were eleven. Thank you for letting me stay, sir. I promise I won't be a bother."
"I'm certain that Hermione will enjoy having you at the house. There aren't a lot of other teens in the neighborhood, and she wasn't much for sports in primary school."
After they got to Dan's car they rearranged the trunk space and made room for everything. Harry opened the cage and asked his owl to follow them. Dan and Emma watched with some interest. They had never seen a snowy owl up close, and from any perspective, she was a beautiful bird.
After a pleasant drive to Crawley where the Grangers lived, they reached their home. Larger by half than the Dursley home, it had an attached car park. It was a five bedroom, three level brick home with a spacious kitchen, dining room, family area, and a study on the first floor. In the back garden there was a pool, a small flowerbed, a fire pit, and an open area.
Dan and Emma sent the teens out to the back garden. They put the trunks into the different rooms and prepared the guest bedroom for Harry to use. Dan asked Emma, "What possessed you to take a stranger into our home?"
Emma gave him an impatient look and said, "He's hardly a stranger. I've been reading about Harry Potter since Hermione was eleven. He has been mentioned in practically every letter that she's ever written us. We simply haven't gotten a chance to know him. He's an orphan and there is no apparent nurturing from his Aunt and Uncle if they were willing to turn him loose for the summer. Can't we do something nice for someone for a change?
Slightly ashamed, he replied, "Yes dear. You're right." It would be nice to get to know another magical person her own age. "Will they be OK together?"
She looked at him patiently and said, "They're OK together ten months of the year. Lets assume the best and keep our eyes open."
Meanwhile Harry and Hermione were walking around the back garden. Hermione asked, "What happened, Harry?"
Harry looked down and said, "They didn't want me there. I didn't want to be there. They didn't take to kindly to being berated by the Order. I didn't want to go to Grimmauld place either. I was planning on renting a room from Tom at the Leaky Cauldron until your mum offered me a place. Do you think she's really OK with having me stay here? If she's not, I could leave after dinner."
Hermione asked, "Don't you want to stay?" Her light brown eyes met his for a moment, and she looked down at her feet. She was saddened and angered by his words. How could anyone not want him?
Encouraged, Harry said, "I'd be happy to, if you wouldn't mind."
She looked at him and nodded.
All he could say was, "Thanks."
Meanwhile, Tonks and Fletcher were sitting on a conjured bench on the side of the Dursleys yard when the car pulled up. They were hidden from view using the disillusionment charm. Mundungus was watching a rabbit in the back yard, when he felt a hard poke in the side. Tonks whispered, "Where's Harry?"
The old scrounger muttered, "Dunno. Are ya sure you saw em git off the train?"
"Yes. Mooney, Mad-eye, Arthur and I had words with the old tub-a-lard at the station."
She got up and said, "Check their car. She went up to the front door and knocked."
Vernon answered the door. In a very pleasant voice he asked, "May I help…" Then he recognized her. In a much less pleasant tone, he demanded, "What do you want?"
In an equally sarcastic voice Tonks replied, "What do you think? Where's Harry?"
"No idea. We left him at the station."
In a rage, Tonks said, "You effing moron. Were you born stupid, or did you have to work at it? You're a dead man walking."
Vernon would not allow himself to be intimidated by a five foot three inch young woman. He scowled at her and replied, "Don't you threaten me, dearie."
Taking a calming breath, Auror Tonks said, "I'm not threatening you, Mr. Dursley. I'm stating a fact. The magical protection wards that protect this home and its occupants get renewed when Harry stays here. Without them, you and your family are as good as dead. Didn't you read the letter that was sent with him when he was dropped on your pathetic doorstep as an infant? His mother protected him and your family with blood magic. Is there any part of this that isn't clear? You'd better effing find him, not now, but right now." She turned and walked away leaving Vernon's mouth gaping open like a two-day-old mackerel.
She walked around the corner and disillusioned herself again, then called, "Fletcher?"
He said, "There was nothing of his in the car or the boot."
She said, "You wait here. Don't even think of leaving again. I'll go tell Dumbledore." As she was getting ready to leave, she saw a blue crackle around the edge of the yard and heard a soft pop.
Realizing the implications, she ran back to the front door, and pounded on it. Petunia answered, shouting, "Go away, you freak."
Tonks replied, "Petunia Evans Dursley, the protection that your sister Lilly died to leave you and your nephew has ended. I recommend that you leave here immediately."
"Get out," she said, slamming the door. "We don't want you freaks near us."
"Works for me," said Tonks as she turned around. "Come on Dung. Let's go tell Dumbledore."
Five minutes after they left, a dozen Death Eaters apparated onto the property, able to for the first time in fifteen years. Thirty seconds later, number four Privet Drive was a blazing inferno. The dark mark hung in the sky over Little Winging.
Thirty-five miles to the southeast of the burning home, two teens were sitting in the back garden drinking Cokes.
Chapter 2
Sitting by the Grangers pool, Hermione looked over at Harry with concern. "What is it?
Harry wasn't sure. His scar twitched and tingled. "Dunno. I had a funny feeling."
"Dinner's ready," said Emma. She smiled at both of them and said, "It's good to have you both here. The house is usually so quiet. What would you like to drink? We have coffee, tea, milk, juice, lemonade, soda, and beer."
Harry replied, "Coffee please. How can I help?"
"Just sit down and enjoy yourself. We can talk about keeping the house up later."
They ate their dinner in comfortable silence. Emma and Dan knew of the attack in the Ministry building only in the most general of terms. They had been notified that their daughter had been injured in a school outing of some sort and had been treated. They wanted to know all of the details but were patient enough to wait.
Harry thanked them for dinner and began clearing the dishes. Hermione had not seen that side of Harry before, scurrying around like a house elf on a mission.
Emma sensed that this was not the first time that the slightly built young man had done the cleanup. He fell into the role of domestic help too easily. Rather than argue with him, she let him do the dishes, but came in a few minutes later to dry and put them away. "You seem rather comfortable in a kitchen, Harry. Do you like to cook and clean?"
Harry thought about it for a moment. He was quite practiced at cleaning and was pretty good at cooking. He smiled at her and said, "I guess that I like to cook and I don't mind cleaning up afterwards. How about you?"
Emma smiled. After a day standing leaning over patients working on their teeth, she was usually exhausted. Putting a positive spin on, she replied, "I like to bake – Breads, cakes, or cookies on Saturday mornings, but on a daily basis, I'd rather not."
Seeing an opportunity to be useful, Harry replied, "How about if I help out by doing the cooking then. Could I do that much at least? I really want to help."
She smiled at him. "Thank you, Harry. That would be lovely. Let me know what you need, and I'll get it for you from the market."
Harry thought, 'This is too much. Petunia never asked my what I'd like to have.' He replied, "I'll gladly make anything that you like. It doesn't matter to me."
While Hermione was visiting with her dad, and Harry and Emma were discussing baking, Tonks and Mundungus had finally found Dumbledore who had been visiting his brother. The old professor took them into his office and examined several of the whirling silver instruments that had repaired themselves after his discussion with Harry just five days ago. He tapped one of them, and it gave a puff. Tonks looked on with more than a bit of concern when it showed a smoky image of a burnt up home with a Dark Mark floating above it.
He put a bit of floo powder into the fireplace, stuck his head in the fire and said, "Amelia Bones, please." A moment later, he came out of the fireplace and said, "Please tell me again what happened from the moment Harry got off the train." She relayed his waving goodbye to a few friends, their conversation with Vernon Dursley and their departure.
While more than a bit alarmed at her words, Dumbledore long ago learned not to shoot the messenger and replied, "Please think carefully, Miss Tonks. Had Harry already left before you and the members of the Order greeted Harry's aunt and uncle?"
"No sir. He was standing off to the side struggling with his trunk and his owl. We left immediately after we talked with him. I did anyway. Moody had another appointment; Arthur took Ginny and Ron home. I'm not sure what Remus' plans were, sir."
Dumbledore nodded. "What do you think happened to Harry, Miss Tonks?"
"My guess is his uncle said something to set him off, they had words, and they left him there on the platform. It wouldn't be the first time that he's tried to leave them."
Dumbledore nodded. She probably was right. "Please check at the Leakey Cauldron and Gringotts, Miss Tonks. Mundungus, please make a quiet inquiry on the Knight Bus, then call the others for a seven PM meeting."
A few minutes after Tonks and Mundungus had left, Amelia Bones, Director of the office of Magical Law Enforcement came back through his fireplace. He offered her a lemon drop, which she refused. She was a mentally sharp woman in her late sixties who had succeeded in her career despite a lifetime of gender prejudice in the law enforcement field. She was similar in appearance to Minerva, except that she had been blonde in her youth, and had an investigator's eye for detail. She greeted him and asked, "When did Auror Tonks and the scoundrel Fletcher arrive here?"
"About six. What did you find?"
"The house had been magically sealed and incinerated. I believe that at least ten Death Eaters were involved. The house was completely enveloped in flames by the time that we arrived. I would estimate that the fires had been started no longer than five minutes prior. We found the remains of three bodies inside. My belief is that the Death Eaters never set foot inside the home. The Dursleys had summoned the Little Winging fire department by telephone."
Unasked, she volunteered, "The only person out of place that anyone noticed was an unkempt man seen in their back garden that looked like he'd been drinking." She smiled indulgently and asked, "Is it safe to say that would have been Fletcher?"
Dumbledore nodded.
She paused a moment and said. "I have to at least ask, are you certain that it could not have been Harry who set the fires?"
Dumbledore replied, "I wasn't there but I'm confident that it wasn't. Mundungus searched the boot of the vehicle which they saw it arrive. Harry's possessions were not in the car, and I'm certain that he would not have willingly abandoned his owl or his trunk. Additionally Tonks told me that she saw the wards go down. They wouldn't have dropped if he had been there, even if they had been arguing. There must have been some external circumstance."
Amelia was ready to leave when Dumbledore asked her if she would accompany him to a meeting. She knew of the existence of his Order of the Phoenix, and had a reasonable idea of the members. Since he was no longer harboring a wanted man, she agreed to go. She had believed him regarding Sirius Black, but without any physical evidence to the fact, she had no basis to overturn Crouch's decision to imprison Black.
He took her hand, picked up a muggle pen and clicked it. A moment later, they had arrived at the back of number twelve Grimmauld Place. Dumbledore took a slip of parchment out of his vest, and handed it to her, asking her to read it. As she did, a door appeared and they entered.
After dinner, Emma asked the teens if they had any dirty laundry that needed cleaning. Hermione brought down a gigantic pile of clothing. After the first load was in the washer, Emma went up to see if Harry had any laundry.
Hermione was in the shower down the hallway. She found Harry in his room, sitting on the floor sitting with his back to the bed. He was looking at a large leather-bound photo album. Tears had welled in his eyes. She sat down beside him, and gently asked, "Can you show me some of your photos? I'd like to look at them with you."
Unused to kindness by an adult Harry started over in the book. "This was my mum and dad. They were in seventh year at the time and had begun dating. Dad played Quidditch for the house team. Mum was more interested in studying. I think ancient runes and charms were her favorite subjects.
Emma looked carefully at the photo. Harry's dad was probably a few inches taller and weighed twenty pounds more than his son currently did, but they had the same hair and general features. He was well dressed and obviously in love with the girl in the photo. She was several inches shorter than the man, quite pretty, and had beautiful auburn hair that fell past her shoulders. She had the same striking emerald eyes as her son. It was amazing to her to see wizarding photos that moved on the page.
"Emma observed, "She was a very beautiful young woman. You look a lot like your dad. I suppose you've heard that before?"
Harry nodded his head and continued, "Here is a photo of their wedding. I think they were eighteen at the time. That's my dad, and those were his two best mates. He was my Godfather and the other one taught at school for a while."
Emma nodded, but didn't say anything. Hermione'd written that Harry's Godfather had been murdered last week. She realized that the young man sitting next to her was grasping for the pieces of his life and felt his loss.
Comforted by her presence Harry turned the page and continued. "Here is a photo of my folks and Sirius at my birthday party. Sirius was in trouble from my mum. He and my dad had snuck me outside to go flying on my dad's broom."
She was curious who had instilled the background memories into the boy. These were moments that all had a very positive spin on them.
He turned the page and said, "Here is a picture of Hermione, Ron and I from our first year. We sure were little."
It was a photo of the three of them taken during the winter. Harry's owl was perched on Hermione's shoulder and Harry was feeding it something while Ron looked on. Emma smiled as the bird opened its wings and didn't inquire about the ten year gap in the photos.
"Here is a photo from our third year," said Harry.
"Is that Ron's pet?" asked Emma.
Harry nodded. "That was his pet rat, Scabbers. He was OK except it turned out that he was really a bad wizard hiding out in the form of a rat, so no one would find him. He helped murder my mum and dad."
Stunned at his words, she put her arm around him and rocked him for a moment. "You need better photos to look at. Turn the page. Let's look at the others. What is this one?"
Harry replied, "The school had a tournament between a wizarding school in France and a school in Bulgaria. The first challenge was to figure out a way to pick up a golden egg from the clutches of a mother dragon. Hermione taught me a clever charm to summon my broom and I was able to swoop down and grab it before she could catch me."
"Is that a real dragon?" Emma looked at it carefully. Obviously she had never seen a real dragon before. She was amazed. "This one looked remarkably like the movie versions."
"Yup, a Hungarian Horntail. They are the toughest kind. Ron's brother, Charlie is a kind of zookeeper in Romania. He helps raise different kinds of dragons in a big reserve."
Harry had one last picture. It was a photo of Harry and Hermione with the school headmaster and an extremely large man that Emma had not seen.
He said, "This was taken last year. That is Professor Dumbledore and that is Hagrid. He teaches one of the classes, care of magical creatures. He found me when I was eleven and bought me my owl."
"These are very nice, Harry. Thank you for sharing them with me. Did you have any laundry that needed washing? Let's look." Before Harry could do or say anything she had opened his trunk. Aside from his school books and equipment, he had a few sets of school robes, the uniform shirt, tie and trousers, an old pair of taped up trainers, several pair of worn stockings, an impossibly big sweatshirt, an equally big pair of jeans, two sweaters which someone had knitted and two tee shirts. She silently closed the trunk. Who are those people that would let their child go around without any proper clothing?
She gave him a quick hug and said, "We'll have to do some shopping tomorrow. You and Hermione both need some new outfits. Dan bought a new gadget this week to play videos. It's called a DVD player. When you're ready come on down. We'll put one on."
Dan Granger pictured himself as a techie and was a merchant's dream as a customer. If there was something new, he tried it out. He switched operating systems on their home computer from the reliable DOS v6.2 to the Windows version 3.12. He finally had made friends with that when he decided that he needed a new computer and the just released Windows 95. The only software that either of the dentists had ever used was a word processor and a spreadsheet program but he had found a replacement for his printer, and told Harry that the latest one was a laser printer.
He had cameras, and a video recorder as well as an amazing collection of miniature tin soldiers that he had painted. "I'm good with my hands," he said. Harry supposed that it came with the job of being a dentist.
He put on the latest release, Braveheart. Emma thought it far too violent for her taste. She preferred musicals, but they did take turns selecting videos. Later, they popped popcorn and they played hearts. She commented, "You have your choice of a lot more games with a fourth player."
Harry supposed that she was right. He had no recollection of playing any games as a family at the Dursleys.
Meanwhile at Grimmauld Place, the meeting had not been very productive. In retrospect, having three wizards and a witch intimidate a muggle who just wanted to be left alone didn't seem like such a wonderful idea.
Dumbledore knew that they would be harder on themselves than necessary, so he did nothing to fuel the fire. Getting back to the matter at hand, Harry was missing, and had no place to stay.
Molly immediately offered to take Harry in. The others pointed out that the burrow might not be a safe enough location, and he would be better to stay at Grimmauld Place.
Bones pointed out that since there was no direct evidence that he had been abducted, Harry would not be considered missing until he had been gone for 48 hours. She also pointed out that since his parents had not designated the Dursleys as his guardians, any wishes that Sirius Black had documented should be considered.
Snape asked, "Has anyone thought to send an owl to the insolent brat and ask him where he is?"
Obviously not, since Molly scribbled a message and hurriedly tied it to the owl's leg, before sending it on its way.
She said, "Harry should get his within a half hour if he isn't too far away. We should hear from him within an hour or so." They sat back down and waited.
Ten minutes into the flight, the knot that Molly had used to tie the letter with gave way and the letter fluttered to the ground ending up down a storm sewer. The owl, realizing that it had lost its parcel swooped down to try to retrieve it. Halfway down, it spotted a pair of mice and all thoughts that it may have had of a missing letter vanished. The owl returned to the burrow at six AM.
Harry got up at six, showered and made coffee. He poured a cup and sat in the back garden waiting for the others to get up. He always liked mornings the best. He wasn't anxious to contact the Order and inform them that he had been invited to spend the summer at a home where he was actually welcome. It would come out badly and the only one who wouldn't feel bad was Dumbledore. He didn't want to be forced to go back to the Dursleys for the summer.
He was so angry at the man. 'Why did he abandoned me during the school year? Why hadn't he told me that Riddle would be trying to trick me?' His negligence had cost a good man's life and his friends had suffered serious injuries blindly following him.
Harry decided that it would be a long time before Dumbledore would have anything to say that would be worth hearing. Out of habit, he began weeding the flowerbeds in back. By 7:30 he had finished. A moment later, Emma came out.
Seeing his hands, she said, "I like to come out and work in the flower beds too. I sleep in a bit later than you do though. Thanks for the coffee. The roses are doing well this year."
Having taken five years of herbology, Harry replied, "The rains have been good this year, and you have excellent soil for them. There is a good amount of drainage and you have them mulched well. It only took a few minutes to tidy up the beds a bit. You obviously take great care of them."
She looked at him with increased respect. "Thanks Harry. I do like tending them. I never had the opportunity for formal study of plants like you've received, but I have fun muddling along."
"I'll pick you up some dragon dung fertilizer sometime. You would be amazed how well they will do."
Emma realized that there was an entire world that had been hidden from her eyes, and was glad that her daughter could experience it. Harry seemed so down to earth and attuned to nature.
"Come on in, Harry. We'll fix breakfast and go out and do a bit of shopping. After breakfast, Dan will put the trunks away. There is an empty shelf in the library for your books. We'll get you some new things to wear, and you'll be all set to enjoy your holiday."
At breakfast, Hermione asked if she could borrow Hedwig to send Professor Vector a note about an Arithmancy project that she had been working on. She lived in Cork, so it might be a while, but Hedwig would like the exercise and Harry didn't need to check in for two more days. Dan suggested that Harry put Hedwig's cage in the library as there was a very good spot for it and a window that would be easy to open and close as they needed.
After breakfast, Hermione picked up the house a bit, Harry and Emma put the dishes away and Dan put the trunks down in the cellar.
They got in the car, and left for the day. Emma asked, "Harry, would you prefer shopping at Harvey Nichols, or Selfridges? They both have nice things. Hermione, any preference?"
Sitting next to each other in the back, Harry whispered something to Hermione. "Either would be fine. Dad, would it be OK if we stopped in Diagon Alley for a few minutes first. Harry needs to stop at his bank and I'd like to pick up a book."
'Imagine that,' thought Dan. "No worries, we'll be there in a half hour." They parked the car and walked a block to the entrance.
"How long do you need?" asked Emma.
Harry replied, "Not long. Twenty minutes total if you know which book you need." Hermione nodded.
Dan said, "There are some DVDs that I'd like to look at in the shop next door. We can meet back in the car in a half hour."
Emma said, "Lovely." Looking at Harry, she asked, "Do you mind if I tag along?"
Hermione and Harry didn't mind and they parted ways.
It was fairly crowded in the Leakey Cauldron that morning. Tom had to go into the cellar to change out one of the 32 gallon kegs of butterbeer. His assistant Nob, was worthless, but the ancient squib was at least a decent short order cook. Tom told him to keep an eye on the place for a few minutes while he was downstairs.
Hermione opened the door and they went in, made their way down the pub and passed through the back door to the bricked alley. Touching her wand to the bricks, the doorway to Diagon Alley opened and they passed through. A minute later Tom returned, and asked, "Anybody pass through, Nob?"
"Aye, a couple o birds. Lookers too."
Tom, shook his head. G' back to work, ya o perv. We got a crowd that's wanting to be fed." One of the Ministry Aurors had stopped by yesterday and asked him to let her know if he saw Harry Potter in the next few days.
They walked to Gringotts first. Harry had worn a Quidditch team hat had Neville had gotten him, and looked like any other young wizard on holiday. They passed the uniformed guard at the bronze front entrance of Gringotts. Harry walked up to the accounts counter with his key in hand. Hermione and Emma stood by him with some interest. They didn't have an account there and had only been to the exchange window before. Harry showed the Goblin his key and asked "Could Griphook, take us to my vault please. I'd like to make a withdrawal and exchange some galleons into sterling notes when I get back."
The head teller liked at the key carefully, then looked at Harry and said, "That would be acceptable. We are happy to serve you today, Harry Potter."
Emma wasn't certain that the young man wanted them to be so intimate with his financial affairs and offered to wait in the lobby. Harry smiled at her and said, "Come on, this is nothing like Barclays. You'll love it."
The four of them crowded into one of the little trolley carts. Griphook asked, "Which vault, Mr. Potter?"
Harry said, "Number 678."
Griphook nodded and the little cart started. Emma thought it was the best roller coaster ride that she had ever been on. It seemed to go for miles! Griphook got out first and asked for the key. Harry handed it to him, and the little Goblin carefully opened the vault door. Emma hung back, not wanting to embarrass the young man with his unfortunate situation. Hermione was speechless. She had been to the Weasley vault once with Molly, but it was nothing like this. The vault was the size of a walk in closet, filled with gold Galleons, each about the size of a pound coin. She glanced to the side while Harry was scooping some into an ice cream bucket sized container. The ledger sheet indicated that there were two hundred seventy-eight thousand galleons and about an equal number of silver sickles in the vault!
As he scooped them into the container, she noticed that the ledger sheet reflected the change. When he was done, she gave it one last look, for a moment it was about two thousand galleons less, then it changed nearly back to the original amount with a note that said Interest applied – May-June. Harry held the bucket with both hands and Griphook closed the door. Emma had been looking up and down the dimly lit corridors and hadn't really been paying attention. When they got back to the cart, Emma asked about the flash of light that she had seen down the corridor.
Griphook replied, "Dragons guard the high security vaults. Perhaps you'll visit another day and see one."
They went back up nearly as fast as the rode down. Emma and Hermione waited at one of the benches while Harry exchanged most of the galleons for sterling notes.
Meanwhile Kingsley had been asked to check at the Granger house in the odd chance that Harry may have found his way there. He got to the house and found it locked. He used magic to open the door and stepped inside. Taking a quick look upstairs, there was no sign that the Potter boy had been there. The spare bedroom was empty, and the laundry either looked muggle, or like a teenage girl's. He carefully closed the door and relocked it.
Dumbledore had mentioned that the Granger girl's parents were muggle dentists and that they usually took a trip during the holiday. They probably were getting ready to go, or had already left.
Harry found Hermione and her mum at the Gringotts lobby bench and they left the bank to go the Flourish and Blotts. Hermione found four books on Arithmancy and runes that she wanted, while Harry found three books on dueling and home security. Emma didn't have enough galleons with her and the shopkeeper didn't take sterling, so Harry offered to pay for the books. They could settle up another day.
They made their way back down the street back to the pub. Just as they were walking in, Nob accidentally tipped over one of the big serving trays down by the wait station. Tom went over to help clean up the mess, muttering about the worthless old buzzard that he'd worked with for forty years.
They walked out the front door unnoticed and found Dan who was just finishing his shopping in the record store. He walked out commenting that they still sold LPs there in addition to CDs and the new DVDs.
At Harvey Nichols, Harry was well taken care of. Hermione and Emma had exceptional taste in clothing. They found some oxford shirts, casual shirts, nice trousers, casual trousers, jeans, stockings, boxers and three pair of shoes for him. Hermione found a swimsuit, an exercise outfit, and running shorts for both of them, as well as several pair of jeans, slacks and several skinny tops for herself.
Emma insisted on paying for their new things over Harry's protests. Aunt Petunia had never offered to take him shopping for new clothing. Harry was embarrassed at the attention that he was getting. In truth, he had very low self-esteem, and couldn't see how anyone would believe him to be deserving of so many nice things.
While they were out shopping, Professor Vector received the owl from her favorite student.
Dear Professor Vector,
Thanks for the suggestion on the holiday reading. I hope to get a chance to pick them up today. I hope that you have the best holiday. I expect to have a great one myself.
Thanks for all of your extra help this last year. I'll show you my work when term begins. You are an outstanding professor.
Thanks again,
Hermione Granger
Vector read the note with pride, wrote a quick reply and sent the owl back on her way. Not having Harry in her classes, she had no way of knowing who the owl belonged to. She had a month off before the start of term planning meetings began.
The Grangers returned home about noon. Dan and Emma sat out in the back garden while the teens put their things away. The dentists both had afternoon appointments at their surgery and told the teens that they'd be back a 4:30. Harry replied he'd have dinner ready at 5:00.
On the way to their practice, Dan asked Emma about their shopping.
Emma said, "Harry invited Hermione and I to go down to the vaults with him at Gringotts. He showed them his vault key, a goblin put us in a little ore cart, and we went miles underground on this winding little track. It was the best time. While Harry was getting his coins, I think I saw a dragon breath fire."
Amused, Dan replied, "Sure."
"No, really. He showed me his photo album. I saw a picture of him with this gigantic dragon that they had used in some school event two years ago."
Dan looked at her, shocked at her words. "That skinny kid battled a dragon?"
She smiled at her husband. "Yup. He beat hit too."
Dan was amazed. "Really? I'll have to ask him about it sometime. How did you manage to get Hermione out of the bookshop?"
They smirked at each other, knowing their daughter's love of books. She said, "Hopefully they won't spend all summer studying ancient runes or Arithmancy. They could swim, or play tennis, or go to the mall."
Dan nodded. "Do you still want to go to Cannes or Marseilles in August?"
"It would be nice. It would be nice to stay around the house and putter in the garden too. Let's decide in a few days."
Back at the burrow, Ron and Ginny were in the back paddock flying on their broomsticks with Luna who lived a few miles away from them. Luna asked, "How did Harry take the news?"
Ginny asked, "What news?"
Luna said, "His aunt and uncles home was attacked yesterday. Wasn't it in the Daily Prophet? Daddy showed me. I read it this morning in the Times."
The two Weasleys were stunned by the news. Their parents hadn't said a word about it.
According to the wizarding world, Harry had been missing for 27 hours.
A/Ns
Please review.
Given the circumstances, who would be Harry's legal guardian? Would that hold true in the wizarding world?
How much could Dumbledore get away with?
Who could Harry object to?
Chapter 3
Amelia Bones began to review all of the relevant documents that she could find. In the wizarding world, a parent needed to list the lines of succession in specifying guardianship for minor children. In Harry's case that aspect was clearly stated. In the muggle world, an orphaned child with no resources would become a ward of the state. Fortunately Harry had no lack of resources at his disposal.
Harry had been placed in the care of his mother's sister against the specific documented wishes of James and Lilly Potter. They had wished him to be placed in the care of Sirius Black. There was no evidence of any wrongdoing on Black's part at the point in time when Hagrid took baby Harry from the home, and he was given to the Dursleys.
Black was the designated legal guardian, and had never been convicted of a crime. Black's Will, dated 7 May of this year specifically requested that the court emancipate Harry and allow him to take care of himself in the event of Black's death. Even without any resources that might eventually become available from the as yet unresolved Black estate, Harry had sufficient resources to live many years on his own.
The Dursley Will stated that their assets should be given to a sister of Mr. Dursley, and also specifically stated that Harry should be emancipated to fend for himself. Their intent may have been less benevolent to Harry's well being, but it was a legally registered document.
She knew that Dumbledore had an unusually strong interest in young Mr. Potter. There must be more behind it than being an orphaned child of old friends. There were scores of orphaned witches and wizards in Britain who had lost parents to Voldemort. No other Hogwarts student was subjected to a 24-hour guard. As far as that goes, she was considering disciplinary action against the four who threatened Vernon Dursley and most likely started this mess. Potter probably wished for nothing greater than to have a normal summer.
Bones decided to intervene as a friend of the court on his behalf when Potter eventually turned up. At a minimum, she was sure that either Dumbledore or Fudge would try to influence the placement decision. She hoped that wherever he was now, he was safe, healthy, and happy.
"Harry you need to hold your breath when you are underwater. There's no Gillyweed in the pool." Harry was gasping and sputtering, having gulped down what seemed like half of the Granger's backyard swimming pool.
After a minute, he had regained his breath, and believed that he would live. She tried again. "Take a breath and hold it in. If you have enough air in you, you'll float. I'll hold you. Now float on your back. OK, now tilt your head back a bit. Breathe a bit, but keep some air in you." She lowered her hands from his back where she had been holding him. He remained buoyant. "There. You can float properly. Now kick a little bit with your feet and motor around the pool a bit. I'll make sure you don't sink. Good. Breathe. Good. You can do it."
For a few minutes, Harry did swim around the pool. "It's harder than it looks," he commented.
"Your body density is such that you barely have any natural flotation."
"Huh?"
"Harry, you don't have any body fat, so you need to keep paddling, or you'll sink like a rock. How on earth did you manage to swim all around that huge lake and rescue everyone?"
Harry shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Magic. It's nearly time to start making dinner. Your folks will be home soon. Thanks for the lesson, and thanks for taking me in for the summer. I reallyappreciate it."
She smiled at him, and looked at him for a moment before replying, "That's what friends are for."
Harry looked at her and smiled back. She had on a high necked white one piece swimsuit. It wasn't the one that she'd bought earlier in the day. Harry wondered if her wound had healed properly.
She followed his eyes and smiled to herself. "If you're staring at my bits, yes they're mine. If you're wondering about the scar, it's almost gone. I have potions to take for three more days, and thank you for being concerned." She kissed his cheek.
Harry looked down. She knew that he felt guilty for everything that happened that night. When he was ready, she would talk about it with him. In reality, she bore him no blame. Everyone who went there that night went of their own free will.
"Come on. Show me that you can make something really good for dinner. What's your favorite?"
"Pizza. We never get it at school."
Hermione was impressed. Her idea of homemade pizza was frozen. "Do you really know how to make it?"
"Yup. Let's see if your mum has the different stuff. Do you like pepperoni, or veggie, or sausage, or green olive or…?"
"Green olive actually, but I know that's not to everyone's taste. How about half and half? Dad likes pepperoni, Mum will be happy with anything that she doesn't have to make. I'll find the sauce if you make the dough. Can you slice the pepperoni and olives?"
Harry laughed. "After five years with Snape? A few olives should be easy."
As Amelia was finishing with her paperwork, Dumbledore stopped by. Dispensing with the usual pleasantries, he asked, "Have you had any updates regarding Harry?"
Ignoring his question, she said, "I spent the last several hours reviewing the original paperwork, the original Wills and the original child placement paperwork. It appears like you completely ignored James and Lilly's express wishes and did whatever you felt like."
Dumbledore said nothing. Obviously he had his reasons, but only he and Harry knew the full contents of the prophecy.
Bones persisted. She would not get ignored like one of his school children asking a ridiculous question. "Do you have any reasonable explanation?"
"None that I care to discuss. There were good reasons for my actions."
She persisted. "I can't think of any that would suffice." Dumbledore didn't reply.
Her only conclusion was that they were holding separate conversations. How rude. "When he is found, what do you expect to happen?"
"He will be placed in my care, of course."
Amelia was mad at the man. "Dumbledore, I will be as plain as I can be. That will not happen unless Harry James Potter specifically agrees, and I seriously doubt that he would do so. You will notkidnap him. You will not place him in the care of anyone who he does not want to live with." Dumbledore said nothing.
She was still gathering steam. "All of the paperwork indicates that if he has the means, he is to be emancipated. His current assets would certainly cover his expected expenses for the next fifty years, even if his inheritance from Sirius gets swindled away from him, and I have no intention of letting that happen either."
Dumbledore said patiently, "Amelia, you are not the judge in this case." 'She would get this way when she was a student too'.
The anger was rising in her. "And you are not the investigator. What were you thinking of having one of my Senior Aurors break into an innocent family's home. I should have his shield for being talked into that, and your Justiceship for telling him to do it."
Nonplussed, Dumbledore relied on his old standby excuse. "Harry needs protection."
"You – need - to – stop! You have no jurisdiction in this case. You went against the wishes of his parents and placed him in a horrible setting for eleven years. You cannot go against the consistent documented wishes of both his Godfather and his legal guardians, which you personally selected. Go find him if you wish. Do not use my people to do so. Do not take him from wherever he is, unless he is in clear and eminent danger. By that I mean he is currently being attacked by an overwhelming force, or he is specifically endangering himself. Do not force any of your solutions on him. Have I made myself clear?"
"As always. It is important that he be kept away from Voldemort. He is certainly being targeted."
Amelia looked really exasperated with the old wizard. "If we keep this up, his disappearance and whereabouts will become public knowledge and that will effectively force the issue, wouldn't it?"
He hated it when well-meaning people interfered with his plans. "Good day, Director."
"Professor."
On the drive back from their surgery, Emma was glancing through The Times, and cried, "Oh no."
Dan asked, "What's the matter, Em?"
Emma, sighed and said, "Harry's aunt and uncle, Vernon and Petunia Dursley along with their son were killed yesterday evening in a house fire at their home."
"How did it happen?"
"The paper didn't mention much other than to say that the cause was under investigation and that neighbors had recently seen a suspicious old man in the back garden who had been drinking."
"The kid doesn't catch many breaks does he?"
"He obviously thinks the world of Hermione."
"Well that makes him an unlucky kid who has good taste."
Emma smiled a bit at her best friend. "So you don't hate him anymore?"
"Em, I'm the dad of a teenage daughter. It's my job to hate any teenage boy who comes by."
"He didn't come by. We invited him into our home. I know that you like him." She gave his arm a squeeze. "Dan, your job is to support Hermione's decisions."
In truth, Dan really did like Harry. However it was against the code of protective dad-ship to ever admit anything of the sort. "He's OK. What happens to him now?"
Emma didn't know, but decided to get interested very quickly. "He mentioned a department of magical law enforcement. We can talk with Harry. Let's have dinner first. I'm curious to see what they made for us."
"Me too. If it's good, maybe we can keep him."
"Dan…"
"I'm sorry. Even if he made a crappy dinner, we can offer him a place to stay. He's certainly no bother."
She smiled at the man that she loved so much. "Why don't you just admit that you like him, and be done with it?"
"Fine. I like the kid too."
"Thanks. I love you too."
Ginny and Ron had rehearsed their discussion. After everyone was seated for dinner, Ron asked, "Where's Harry?"
Molly and Arthur didn't want to worry Ron or Ginny. Molly casually said, "I'm sure he's fine dears. Has he written?"
Exasperated, Ginny said, "Mum, we know that the Dursleys were murdered yesterday. Did you think you could keep that from us? This isn't just Order Business. He's our friend."
Arthur knew they were right. He admitted, "The truth of the matter is he never arrived at the Dursleys. It appears that they left him at the train station in London."
Ginny who hadn't seen the scene that her dad and the others had made asked, "Why would they come for him only to leave him there?"
Embarrassed, but willing to own up to his actions, Arthur replird, "Some of us had a few words with Harry's uncle at the station, and we may have set him off."
Ron said nothing, but the little fireball would not be silenced. "So you all went up and bullied an angry, small-minded man and just walked away when you were done? Then taking the plumbers' shite rolls downhill viewpoint, Dursley laid into Harry, and they drove off, leaving him all alone?" There were tears in her eyes. He wasn't her boyfriend, but she cared a lot about him. "Great plan, Dad. Did Moody scare him with that nasty eye of his too?"
Molly was going to step in. Ginny had no right to talk with her father that way, but Arthur cut her off. "Unfortunately yes. It seemed a rather good idea at the time. It just sort of backfired. I'm sorry."
Ron had been quiet long enough. "So what is anyone doing about it? If this is an Order problem, why aren't you two out looking for him?"
Crack. Molly had slapped one of her own children for the first time that she could remember. "Don't ever talk to your father that way. Go to your…"
Arthur stopped her. "Wait Molly. Tempers just got a bit too high."
Red faced, Ron said, "There are only a few places that he'd go – here, the castle, Hagrid's, the Leakey Cauldron, Hogsmeade, or the Shrieking Shack."
Ginny said, "He'd be at Hermione's."
Arthur said, "Kingsley already looked there."
Ginny said, "Look again. Maybe he doesn't want to be found." A second later she asked, "If the Dursleys are dead, where would he have to go live?"
Ron asked, "Why would he go to Hermione's. Why wouldn't he come here? Why wouldn't he want to be found?"
Ginny shook her head. "And you fancy yourself a master of strategy? Cor, Ron, you're thick."
"Ginny," admonished Molly warningly. However, she wanted to hear her reply too.
"Maybe he wants to be away from the wizarding world for a while. His Godfather got murdered right in front of his eyes a week ago. He got in a fight with Bellatrix and Riddle, and Professor Dumbledore's solution would be to dump him back in Sirius' house. Maybe people should just leave him alone for a few weeks. It's not like he's broke."
"What do you mean?" asked Ron.
'Do I have a brick for a brother?' thought Ginny. "He's loaded. Haven't you ever been to Harry's vault?"
Ron shook his head. Thinking about the way that Harry dressed, Ron hadn't really thought too much about Harry having a lot of money.
"Ron. You claim to be one of his best friends. Don't you two ever really talk? He was abused and mistreated there all of his life."
"Dunno. We talk about quidditch. How do you know about Harry being mistreated?"
She rolled her eyes in disgust and replied, "Ron, you talk about quidditch. Everyone else just nods their head from time to time to appease you. This isn't getting us anywhere. Dad, you should go visit the Grangers after dinner, and ask if they have seen him, or know where he might be. Mum, you should go visit Hagrid's and Madam Rosmerta."
They nodded, having no better plan themselves. Ginny said, "Just one last thing..."
Molly asked, "What is it, dear?"
"If you find him, don't tell anyone. I don't think he wants to be found right now."
Hermione and Harry had just put the two pizzas that they had created into the oven when Dan and Emma got home. Emma but down her bag and hugged the two teens. Hermione handed her mum a glass of wine. She felt like a queen.
She sat on one of the comfortable kitchen table chairs, took a sip and asked, "How was your afternoon?"
Harry said, "Fun. Hermione tried to teach me how to swim. I think I ended up swallowing half of the pool water in the process, but it turned out all right. I can float on my back now."
She smiled to herself. She was worried that they would have spent the entire afternoon reading. Dan came in. "Smells good. What is it?"
Hermione beamed at her dad and proudly said, "Harry and I made pizza."
Dan nodded and said, "Excellent. What flavor?" The truth of the matter was Hermione's cooking skills needed a bit of work.
"Half sausage, half pepperoni, half green olive, and half cheese. They will be ready in three minutes. You can sit down, and we'll serve."
Impressed, Dan replied, "Thanks. I'll get the glasses. Soda or beer?"
Hermione knew the question was directed at Harry, but answered for him, "Either is fine. Pick out whatever is there." She was a bit surprised that her dad had offered either of them beers.
Dan poured her a half pint, and Harry a pint of Fosters. Harry took the pies out of the oven, let them cool a minute, then sliced and served them.
Emma said, "Hermione and Harry, these look great. Thank you both very much."
They both smiled appreciatively. Hermione's other dinner creations were usually met with a polite response and Harry had never been thanked for making a meal, ever.
They sat in comfortable silence, eating for a few minutes. Hermione sensed that her parents had something unpleasant to say. She hoped that they hadn't changed their minds about allowing Harry to stay. Her other summers had been so lonely. She broke the ice. "What's up?"
Emma began, "Harry, The Times reported that your uncle's home was destroyed in a fire last evening. Apparently everyone was killed."
Hermione hugged her friend, "Oh Harry, I'm so sorry."
Harry didn't know what to think. He asked, "What time?"
Dan said, "The paper said the call to the fire department was about 6:30."
Hermione asked, "If their house was on fire, why didn't they just…?" She had answered her own question. The Dursleys home had intentionally been set on fire and sealed, so no one could get out.
She looked at Harry, who had arrived at the same conclusion. Her unasked question was whether he or the Dursleys had been the target.
Seeing their dark looks Emma said, "The Times article said that one of the neighbors reported seeing a disheveled looking man who apparently had been drinking in the back garden."
"Mundungus," said Harry and Hermione together, knowing that line of reasoning didn't make much sense. They both knew that he was one of the Order guards.
Just then, there was a knock on the front door. Dan went to get it. Instinctively, Harry pulled his wand from his sleeve.
It was Arthur Weasley. He said, "Hello. I'm Arthur Weasley. My son…"
Hermione heard him and said, "Come in Mr. Weasley. Dad, Mum, this is Mr. Weasley, Ginny and Ron's dad. You met a few years ago in Diagon Alley."
Emma said, "Nice to see you again Arthur. I'm Emma, and this is my husband Dan."
Harry stepped around the corner. "Hello, Mr. Weasley."
Arthur's eyes lit up. "Hello Harry. I'm glad to see you. We were worried about you."
Harry didn't want to see the man embarrass himself. He said, "We heard about the fire."
Arthur was surprised that he would have heard. "Yes, I'm sorry too."
Hermione asked, "Mr. Weasley, what happened?"
Arthur wasn't sure how much to say. He answered, "It appears that it was intentionally set."
Harry asked, "Who knows that I'm here?"
Arthur said, "No one. The house was searched this morning, and…"
Emma said, "What do you mean, our house was searched?" There was no smile on her face.
He'd really stuck his foot in the muck this time. He tried to recover saying, "I think Harry was classified as a missing person and some people were simply looking for him."
Dan replied, "That isn't what you said. Wizards or not, you people have no right to search our home. Harry was invited to spend the summer holiday with us, and I intend to see that he stays and my family has a nice holiday."
Harry asked, "What needs to happen? I specifically don't want to go spend the summer at Grimmauld Place, and if the Grangers will have me, I'd like to stay here if I'm welcome."
"Emma said, "Of course you are. You're welcome to stay as long as you wish, Harry."
Harry spoke. "Mr. Weasley, you know where I am and how to reach me. I'd appreciate it if you'd leave it that way, and not say anything to anyone. I really don't want to see the professor right now. We didn't end the year on the best of terms, and right now, I'm not really interested in hearing what he has to say. Apparently his wards aren't all that great."
Arthur knew that he had no say in the matter, and that Harry was safe. Rather than get into a pointless confrontation he replied, "If you ever need another place to stay, you're always welcome in my home. I'll be going now. Good night everyone."
"Cheers," said Dan, not believing half of what the man had said.
After Mr. Weasley left, Emma asked, "Why would they be looking for you, Harry?"
Harry said, "The professor likes to keep me on a short leash. He usually has me under 24-hour watch, or at least he did last summer. I told Moody that I'd check in every three days. It's only been a day and a half."
There was another knock on the door. Dan went to answer it. Amelia Bones was at the door.
"Dr. Dan Granger? I'm Amelia Bones. May I come in for a moment?" She handed him her identification card.
Harry knew Director Bones. She had been at his dementor trial last summer, and she had been one of the few who took the time to hear him out. He came around the corner and said, "Hello Director Bones."
She looked at him, looked around the nice home for a moment and said, "Hello Mr. Potter. Normally I'd be happy so see you, but I have unpleasant news for you."
Hermione said, "We already know about the Dursleys."
She nodded, and asked, "First of all, are you all right?"
"I'm fine," said Harry. He wasn't fine and things weren't getting any better, but he didn't think that she wanted to hear about his personal problems.
Dan asked, "Excuse me for asking, Amelia, but why are you here?"
"Primarily I came to check on Mr. Potter's safety. He had been reported missing yesterday. Second, I came to notify him of his relatives' deaths and third, to see if his current living arrangements were acceptable both to yourselves and with Mr. Potter."
Harry replied, "I don't know who reported me missing, but I'm fine. The Grangers offered to take me in for the summer after my uncle told me that he didn't want me in his house anymore and drove off. I'm happy here." Bones didn't ask about the specifics of the conversation at the train station, and he didn't offer the exact details.
Emma added, "Harry is welcome to stay with us as long as he wishes to. We'll take good care of him, like we do with our daughter."
Bones nodded and smiled at the woman's obvious sincerity. She took a parchment out of her pocket and filled out a small form. Handing them each a copy, she said, "Here is a conditional use of magic license for the two of you, good until you're seventeen. Please keep your wands with you at all times, and exercise good judgment." They both nodded solemnly. She smiled at them and said, "Here is a wand tap activated portkey. It will take you and anyone holding it to a safe place in the Ministry building. Please keep it with you at all times." They nodded again. She said, "Very good. Does anyone else know that you're here?"
Harry said, "Arthur Weasley was here. He left five minutes before you arrived."
Dan said, "Arthur Weasley implied that someone known to him came into my home this morning and searched it. Do you know anything about that?"
She replied, "Unfortunately I do. One of my Senior Aurors performed an unauthorized, illegal search this morning and will face disciplinary action, I assure you."
She pulled a cellular telephone out of her pocket, and handed it to Harry. "If anyone tries to talk you into leaving here, please push 321. That is my direct line to my other phone." She turned to Dan and Emma and said, "Thank you for your kindness and generosity Dr. and Dr. Granger. Miss Granger, it was nice meeting you too. Enjoy your evening." A moment later, she vanished.
"How about another beer?" asked Dan. He handed Emma the wine bottle, opened another oil can of Fosters for Harry and Hermione and another for himself. Hermione filled their glasses and set the quart size can down.
Sounding all too excited, she said, "Harry, this means that we can practice magic this summer. We can get so ahead on our studies. We should try…"
'Shite,' thought Emma. "It sounds like Harry could use some more practice with his swimming lessons, dear. Don't forget to have some fun this summer. You won't have many more summers off in your life. It's best to take advantage of your holidays while you can."
There was another knock on the door. "Maybe we should have gone out for dinner," quipped Dan.
It was Professor McGonagall and Tonks. "Come in," said Dan, wearily. There was no smile on his face.
"Good evening, Dr. Granger, Dr. Granger, Miss Granger. Is Mr.…?"
Again Harry appeared from around the corner. "Good evening Professor, Auror Tonks. How can I help you?"
McGonagall said, "We have come to take you to…"
"No," Harry said simply, but firmly. "I have no intention of going there." He pressed the keys on the cell phone.
"Harry," said Tonks, "You have to."
"Not according to Director Bones," said Hermione. "She was here a minute ago, and specifically told Harry not to go anywhere, and told him to call her if anyone tried to take him…"
At that moment, Bones arrived, and was furious at what she saw. "Auror Tonks, you are relieved of duty until further notice. Professor, do you have school business here?"
"Not really," admitted Minerva sheepishly.
"Good. Then enjoy your evening, and please tell Professor Dumbledore to leave these good people alone. Anyone else arriving on these premises from the Order will be arrested, as will Kingsley when I find him."
Minerva replied, "But Professor Dumbledore…"
Amelia was amazed at the effort that the old wizard went to interfere in Harry's life. "Professor Dumbledore has no jurisdiction in this young man's welfare outside of school. Please leave now while you still have the opportunity to. Have I made myself clear?"
Minerva backed down. "Yes Director. Mr. Potter, Miss Granger."
"Good night, Professor," said Hermione.
"Go home, Auror Tonks. That's a direct order."
"Yes, Director."
After the two Order members left, Amelia said, "As you have surmised Dr. Granger, there are a number of people that have strong opinions as how to best take care of Harry's ongoing welfare. Harry, you may be aware that Professor Dumbledore went against your parent's wishes in initially placing you in your aunt's custody. The legality of that could easily be challenged, but at this point, it's water under the bridge. Both your Godfather Sirius Black, as well as you Uncle Vernon Dursley left specific instructions asking that you were to be legally emancipated upon their death. Mr. Black went as far as drafting the paperwork."
"What can we do to help?" asked Emma.
"If you would be willing, please continue to provide a normal home for Harry for the summer, it would be most appreciated. With your permission, I will be placing three Senior Aurors here, each on a rotating 12-hour shift. If you would allow them to occasionally use one of your loos that would be very helpful. They will be stationed outside in an inconspicuous place on the side of your home. They will not interfere with your personal lives, I assure you. At your discretion, you could elect to have the person on duty accompany you if you go somewhere or you can choose not to."
She continued, "That should eliminate any safety concerns that the professor might have without interfering with your happy lives. Would that be acceptable to all of you?"
Dan looked at Harry and nodded. Harry said, "Director Bones, your offer is appreciated as long as it doesn't involve any Auror who is a member of the Order."
Bones smiled at him. He really was a nice teenager. She hoped that her Susan would meet someone like him. The kid was developing the mental resolve to stand up for himself when he needed to. "That would include Aurors Tonks, Jones, Senior Auror Shacklebolt, and retired Master Auror Moody. Correct?"
Harry nodded.
"Senior Auror Jamie Church will arrive at 9 PM. I will accompany her and introduce you. In the morning, I will return with Senior Auror Connie Hammer. They are both outstanding in their field. Later in the week, I will bring Senior Auror Michael Wood. If that is acceptable, I will return in one hour."
Both teens nodded. Dan and Emma also nodded. Amelia asked to see each of their wands. She took her own out and softly said an incantation, resulting in both wands glowing blue for two or three seconds then returning to normal. She said, "I removed the spell tracking charms. Now Malfalda Hopkirk won't send any inappropriate reports about wand use from either of you."
Getting ready to leave, she asked, "Do any of you have any questions?"
Dan asked, "I know of the wizarding civil war that is going on, but is all of this really necessary?"
Amelia replied, "I certainly hope not Dr. Granger. Mr. Potter is a very well known wizard within our world, and we do want to keep both him and your daughter as safe as possible. Your daughter and Mr. Potter were largely responsible for the capture of eleven dangerous witches and wizards a week ago. In turn, they as well as yourselves deserve all of the protection that the wizarding world can provide. Did that answer you question?"
Dan nodded. In fact, her explanation raised more questions than it answered, but they could wait.
She replied, "Good. I will return in an hour with Senior Auror Church." Again, she disappeared before their eyes.
"Interesting," said Emma.
"It was," said Dan. "What was it called, that she just did?"
Hermione said, "Apparation. It is the mental projection of one's body to another location. I've read several books in the subject."
Harry glanced at a smiling Emma for a moment and said, "It's the method that most adult witches and wizards use to travel. You have to test for it when you get your magical license. Rather like a drivers permit, I suppose."
Not surprisingly, there was yet another knock on the door.