Until We Meet Again

Harry approached #4 Privet Drive with the usual sense of foreboding. He supposed he should be grateful that this was the last time he'd ever have to stay there for the rest of his life, but he just couldn't summon the optimism. All of the years of loneliness and mistreatment he'd spent there kept flashing in his mind.

Of course, this time it was bound to be different. He'd never returned to the Dursleys with his best friends in tow. Harry glanced at Hermione and Ron.

"Are you two sure you want to do this?"

Hermione tisked at him.

"Harry, we went over this a million times on the train. We are staying with you no matter what."

"Yeah," Ron added, "even if that means spending two miserable weeks with your aunt and uncle." Hermione poked him in the ribs reprovingly.

Lupin laughed.

"Come on now, you three. We can't stand on the doorstep holding your luggage all night." Lupin leaned forward and knocked briskly on the door.

There was no answer.

After a few moments, Harry sighed and pushed the door open himself, leading the other three into the Dursley home.

Uncle Vernon was in the lounge. He sat rigidly in an arm chair reading the newspaper. When he didn't acknowledge them, Lupin stepped forward.

"Mr. Dursley, I am Remus Lupin. I sent you a letter two days ago, but never got any reply. I'm here to deliver Harry and his friends for their stay."

He extended a hand towards the newspaper, which Uncle Vernon lifted to completely obscure his face. Harry was willing to bet that behind that paper Uncle Vernon's face was probably a delicate shade of crimson by now. He felt Ron and Hermione shift uncomfortably behind him.

"Come on," he said, gesturing to the stairs and picking up Hedwig's cage. "Let's get our things put away while Lupin, er, talks to my uncle."

Ron and Hermione followed obediently and said nothing until they were safe behind Harry's closed bedroom door. Ron let out a low whistle.

"What a welcome. Harry you should tell your uncle not to be so friendly, or Hermione and I might never want to leave."

Harry smiled grimly.

"Actually, I prefer him that way. It's a vast improvement from his normal personality."

"Let's get our things put away, you two. Then we can go rescue Lupin." Hermione pointed at their trunks, which Ron and Harry dutifully began unpacking. Harry made as much room as possible in his closet, shoving his belongings on one shelf so Ron and Hermione would have somewhere to store their own things. Harry gave Hedwig a consolatory pat and tossed an owl treat into her cage before returning downstairs with the other two.

They stopped at the foot of the stairs, holding back laughter at what they saw in the lounge.

Lupin had taken a seat in the arm chair next to Uncle Vernon's. He was sipping tea, which Harry was sure he must have conjured up himself, as none of the Dursleys would dream of offering refreshments to a wizard. He was also carrying on a quite pleasant conversation, while Uncle Vernon struggled to keep his hold on the newspaper, which had sprung to life. It looked like a large black-and-white bird as it flapped and tossed in the air, trying desperately to escape Uncle Vernon's grasp.

Lupin looked up at Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"All settled in, then?"

Harry nodded, and Lupin stood.

"Well, Vernon, it was lovely talking to you." Lupin smiled at Uncle Vernon, and the paper suddenly stopped struggling and fell innocently into Uncle Vernon's lap.

Harry walked Lupin to the front door.

"It is imperative that you three keep a low profile this summer," Lupin instructed, lowering his voice. "You only have to be here for the next two weeks to keep the protection Dumbledore told you about, and then you can join the rest of us at the burrow for Bill and Fleur's wedding."

"I know, we'll stay out of trouble," Harry promised, but the words sounded unconvincing even to his own ears. Lupin smiled sympathetically.

"Two weeks of staying in line, Harry, that's all we ask."

"Don't worry, we'll be good," Hermione assured Lupin.

"Alright, then I will return in two weeks to take you to the burrow." He opened the door, but turned back to them when he reached the front step of the house. "Oh, I may have mentioned to your Uncle Vernon that Ron and Hermione are legally able to do magic outside of Hogwarts since they're both of age in our world. But you might want to tell your cousin the same thing, just in case." He smiled and walked away.

Harry closed the door after Lupin left, his expression miserable. Uncle Vernon had returned to holding the newspaper in front of his face. They could hear Aunt Petunia in the kitchen, banging pots and pans around in preparation for dinner. Harry assumed Dudley was also in the kitchen in hopes of dipping his fat fingers into whatever Aunt Petunia was cooking.

Harry also assumed he and his friends were anything but welcome for dinner.

"Come on, I've got some snacks in my trunk," he said, again leading the way up to his room. "We can go out for some dinner later."

"Won't your uncle stop us from coming and going as we please?" Hermione asked as they climbed the stairs.

"You heard Lupin," Harry replied, grinning. "You two can do magic outside of Hogwarts. Uncle Vernon is probably too scared to introduce himself, let alone stop us from doing anything."

It was definitely going to be an interesting two weeks, Harry thought.