Eternally Yours

It was the dull ringing in his ears that caused Harry Potter to wake up early one Saturday morning. The gray light that usually proceeds sunrise was just beginning to filter through his window as he slowly got out of bed. Harry tiptoed across his floor quiet as a mouse, stopping every few feet and listening for any indication that his relatives, the Dursleys, were awake. Reaching his door and hearing nothing, he let out a soft sigh of relief. For fifteen years now he had lived with Vernon, Petunia and Dudley Dursley, who were his only living relatives. Since the day they found Harry on their doorstep to present time, the Dursleys had treated Harry as they did a rock. That is to say, they ignored Harry unless he got in their way.

Harry closed the door behind him and walked silently down the steps, being careful to step over the one that always creaked. He stepped onto the landing and started toward the front door. It was then that he noticed how the door was ajar.

His heart beating a bit faster then usual, Harry crept to the door and peeked out. What he was caused his breath to stop and his arms to fall limply to his side. Feeling as though he was glued to the spot, Harry looked around at the chaos surrounding him on Privet Drive. What had been a ringing in his ears how turned into sirens, for almost every house on his street had been demolished. The houses, one perfectly plain, were now piles of sticks and debris.

It would be ten minutes before the Dursleys woke up. Ten minutes before they came downstairs to find Harry gaping out the open doors. Harry stood in numb disbelief, hardly daring to acknowledge what was going on around him. Next to him, the Dursleys were wide-eyed, trying to absorb the scene before them.

"Mum, what happened?" asked Dudley, his voice quivering.

Before she could answer, Harry replied "Our house is the only one left standing".

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

An hour had passed since Harry had awoken to find Privet Drive in ruins. The Dursleys had retreated back into the comfort of their home, acting oblivious as though nothing had happened. Sirens still echoed throughout their house as muggle ambulances combed for survivors.

Harry, his dark hair blowing in the wind, his green eyes troubled, stood still by the door. He had just turned around to speak to the Dursleys when he heard a noise

behind him. It was the stair that never failed to creak when stepped on. Harry backed up against the wall. His eyes glued to the staircase, the intruder rounded the corner, his cloak billowing in an imaginary breeze.

"Dumbledore?" Harry said in surprise.

Albus Dumbledore, head of Harry's school, stood before him looking as powerful as ever. He nodded gravely.

"Dumbledore, what happened? Who did this?" asked Harry, failing to keep his voice from shaking.

"Harry please, sit down" Dumbledore said heavily. "As you know, Voldemort has returned. His failure to kill you once again has tremendously displeased him. Using a well-placed spy in the Ministry, Voldemort managed to locate you. He dispatched 12 of his Death Eater to seek out and destroy you".

Dumbledore paused now, as if thinking about what to say next.

"But Dumbledore," Harry began slowly. "Why couldn't he find me? Why is our house the only one left?"

At this Dumbledore smiled weakly. "I assume you know about the Fidelus Charm?"

Harry nodded.

"A Mrs. Arabella Figg is your secret-keeper Harry."

Harry gasped. Mrs.Figg? The same Mrs. Figg who had watched him so many times over the years? It couldn't be true.

Dumbledore continued. "When the Death Eaters failed to find you, due to the Fidelus Charm, they grew angry and turned to destroying everything in sight. There is no doubt that they will return, which is why you must leave with me now Harry."