Harry Potter and the Dance of the Warrior

Chapter 2: Letter from an Enemy

Since Harry was feeling exceptionally good, and was sporting his 'new' look, he decided to wait a bit before going down to breakfast. He was starving, but really didn't want to run into his Uncle Vernon. They were all having a quiet holiday this summer, due mainly to the fact of Harry rarely leaving his bedroom, and he really didn't want to change that with a big row. After he heard his uncle's car leave he ran down the stairs. Thankfully the kitchen was empty, he cooked himself a big meal and sat in happy silence reading today's Prophet.

"Cannons win again," he said with a smile, thinking to send a note to Ron later on.

After cleaning up, Harry went back to his room, plopped down on his bed, and finished his paper.

He spent a leisurely day, reading for pleasure rather than for study; he reread Flying with the Cannons for what had to be the thirtieth time. He raided the refrigerator periodically throughout, feeling pleasantly full and content.

At a little after five he heard his uncle's car return from work. A short time later he began to smell dinner being cooked. His stomach rumbling, Harry gave a grim smile and made ready to face the Dursley's.

'Well, maybe it won't be so bad. I really haven't seen them lately,' he thought hopefully.

He found after just two steps into the kitchen his was dead wrong. After the first step into the kitchen, his uncle looked up from the table, by Harry's second step Vernon was beginning to purple.

"HARRY POTTER!!!" his uncle roared.

Harry straightened up, looked his uncle in the eye. "Yes uncle Vernon?" he said in an even voice.

"I will not have you living here looking like some hoodlum! Look at the state of your hair. When did it get so long? I demand that you cut it now!"

"And those clothes, all black, like some freak, some common thug," his Aunt Petunia put in.

Vernon nodded and continued "I'll not have the neighbors see you looking like this. I'll not have you besmirching our good name with your freakish ways." Uncle Vernon's rant was getting louder as he went along, his face even more purple, and the vein in his forehead was beginning to throb.

Harry wanted to laugh at the 'good name', but decided to cut him off rather than listen to this tirade.

He said in a cold voice, "In case you haven't noticed, I haven't left this house all bloody summer. So you don't have to worry about me ruining the family name," he said, the sarcasm practically dripping off his voice.

"How dare you speak to me...." Vernon began in a growl.

But Harry cut him off again. "I'll speak to you as you speak to me; if you expect some respect, you'll have to have to give me some," he snarled. "If you think you can intimidate me any more, you're out of your mind!"

"I've faced the most evil of men, and let me tell you something, next to him, you are next to less than nothing." Harry's voice was getting louder, he was getting angrier, and his power began to come up to the surface. "I wouldn't bow to that filth, and I certainly won't cower to you,"

His uncle was totally enraged now. He shot up and began striding towards Harry, raising his hand as if to strike him. He stopped cold when he saw Harry's blazing green eyes, and he felt the power radiating off of him. Vernon Dursley's knees began to tremble, and for the first time he truly feared his nephew. He quickly retreated back across the room, to his chair at the table, and hid behind his paper. His wife Petunia was cowering next to the stove, till whatever she was cooking started to smoke. Harry proceeded to the table and sat down.

They sat there in silence, until he asked, "Where is Dudley?" Even the slimmed down version of his cousin rarely missed a meal.

As usual Harry received no answer to his question, but couldn't understand the furtive look his uncle gave him over his paper. His aunt began to serve dinner, just as a jet black owl flew in through an open window. Petunia shrieked as it landed on the table in front of Harry, a letter attached to its leg. With a feeling of foreboding, he untied the letter, his face paling as he read.

Dear Baby Potter,

We have your cousin, you have one hour to meet us by the statue in the center of the park.

If you are not there we will begin to give him a taste of pain you deserve. I will make sure it lasts a very long time before we return him to your family in very little pieces.

Bellatrix

Harry shakily passed the parchment to his uncle, who also paled; he in turn passed it to his aunt, who whimpered and began to weep.

Harry knew what he had to do. He stood up and said, "I'm going upstairs to get ready." He left the room. On his return to his bedroom he went over to his desk, pulled out parchment and quill, and scribbled two identical notes:

Death Eaters have taken my cousin. I have to meet them by the statue in the center of the park near Privet Drive. Send help as soon as possible.

Harry

He took the notes over to his pair of owls. In a shaky voice he said, "This is very important; I need you to take these letters to Professor Dumbledore and to Headquarters. Please fly as fast as you can, my life depends on it," he said in a quiet voice. Both the beautiful snowy owls looked up at him, their amber eyes wide, as they gave him reassuring hoots.

Harry watched as they flew out the window, and then went to his trunk, pulling out his school robes. In the time it took him to dress he decided his plan of action. Grabbing his wand and tucking it into his belt, he left the room.

After coming down the stairs, he paused before going back into the kitchen. He had fifteen minutes before he had to leave for the park. Harry walked over to the telephone in the corridor, picked up the receiver and punched in the numbers he was given long ago, but had never used. If he hadn't been so anxious, he might have realized it was so strange for him to remember them so easily.

After two rings, a bright recognizable voice said through the receiver, "Hello, Granger residence."

"Hermy...." but he was cut off before he could continue.

"Harry, oh how wonderful it is to hear from you! But will you please stop calling me Hermy." Now it was Hermione's turn to be cut off.

"Listen, I don't have much time," Harry said a bit louder.

"What's wrong? What's happened?" Her voice was a bit on edge now.

"I just received an owl from Bellatrix. They've taken Dudley."

Hermione gasped.

Harry continued, "I'm to meet them shortly, not far from here, to trade myself for him,"

"Harry, you mustn't!" Horror was in her voice now.

"Hermione, I have to, I...I can't let anyone else be hurt because of me. This isn't about playing the hero, Hermy, after Sirius, I just couldn't." Harry's voice just about broke then. He paused for a moment and said, "I've sent Hedwig and Snuffles out with letters already, one to the Order and one to Dumbledore, but I don't think they'll receive them in time to help me. On my way to the meeting I'll stop at Mrs. Figg's house and see if there is anyone to help. Hermy, I just need to tell you a few things, and ask that you deliver some messages for me." The last sentence was pleading.

She answered in a tearful voice, "Of course, Harry,"

"Well, I just wanted to tell you I meant everything I said in that first letter, and I wanted you to tell Ron the same. You two mean so much to me. Will you give my love to Mrs. Weasley; to all the Weasley's? Thank them for being my family."

He heard soft crying on the other end of the phone; Harry's voice was trembling now too.

"Please...please tell Ginny...I care for her so very much." This came out a bare whisper. "And tell Dumbledore I'm sorry, but that I had to do this. Watch out for Hagrid and Remus for me too. Okay, Hermy?" Several tears leaked down his cheeks.

"I will, Harry...please, please take care of yourself."

"I love you, Hermione, you be careful."

"I love you, Harry."

Harry heard her crying harder as he hung the receiver up and continued back into the kitchen.

His Uncle Vernon was standing over his wife, hands on her shoulders in a protective manner, while his aunt was weeping uncontrollably.

Harry cleared his throat, and said in a quiet but clear voice, "I am leaving now, I don't expect I'll be able to return, but I will do all I can to get Dudley back,"

His aunt looked up at this and launched herself at Harry, throwing her arms around him, crying into his shoulder. Harry was shocked at this; he patted her on the back softly, but didn't have the words. He left the kitchen a minute later.

Harry approached the war monument in the middle of the park as he was told in the letter. He decided to leave his invisibility cloak at home. No trickery this time. He had to get Dudley out of there first. He had stopped at Mrs. Figg's house on the way there, his last desperate attempt to get reinforcements. Actually, he only wanted his headmaster, not someone from the Order who could be hurt. No one answered his incessant knocking.

Checking his watch, he saw he was five minutes early. Harry moved slowly, deliberately, carefully surveying the area. He checked for escape routes, and possible hiding places for Death Eaters. As he neared the monument he saw three dark robed figures and one stocky blond headed boy standing across the square near some trees. Dudley was okay. The funny thing was, he didn't seem to be in any distress. He was casually leaning against a tree, a smirk on his face as he watched Harry step forward. Harry continued his measured approach, eyes still darting around looking for more enemies.

"You see, Dudley, my dear boy; I told you that the baby Potter would continue to play the hero, even for you." Harry heard the high pitched cackle of a voice from the hooded figure standing nearest to Dudley.

Dudley chuckled.

"You may go now, boy. Tell your father he will get his bag of gold soon enough," she said, harshly.

"Ah ... but can't I stay and watch?" Dudley replied in his whiny, needling voice.

Harry stopped 20 feet away from them and answered them. "Go along Dud, I'll deal with you and your dad when I'm done with this filth," Harry said in a hard voice.

"Deal with us?" she fell into her baby voice, "When you fell right into our hands yet again, itty bitty baby Potter?"

Harry immediately knew how he was going to handle this situation; he smiled broadly at Bellatrix and her fellow Death Eaters, his power showing like a heated haze around him. He replied in a jovial voice, "Ah Bella, you think me that foolish? This was the easiest way for me to kill you,"

The dark wizards stopped and gaped at him, not believing his response. Just then there was a small popping sound to Harry's right and Mundungus appeared three feet away.

"What've we got 'ere 'Arry?"

"No Dung, get out of here!" Harry shouted too late.

Bellatrix sent a curse streaming towards Dung, and he went down hard. Harry wasted no time; he drew his wand as he spun in front of Dung. He quickly conjured up his strongest shield. As he did, three curses struck it, and Harry was forced back a step, but the spell held. Mundungus was groaning and trying to get his feet again.

"Just stay down behind me," Harry roared.

He jabbed his wand at the wizard farthest from Bella, standing close to a tree. Harry muttered an anti-apparition jinx.

The death eater obviously didn't know the spell and laughed as he said, "This boy has no power, he is nothing special,"

But Harry had already sent a small ball of bright red fire from his open hand sailing at Bellatrix. Then he sent up another shield, as the two wizards sent more curses his way.

Harry was pleased when he heard Bella's shriek; out of the corner of his eye he saw his ball of fire encompassing her shield charm, continuing around it, and hitting her. After hitting the shield, most of its strength was gone, but Harry was pleased to see her robes begin to smolder. The Death Eater next to her shot water from his wand to put her robes out, and Harry used that time to flick his wand at the tree next to the left-most wizard. It stirred and one of the lower branches suddenly swatted down at the wizard, knocking him out. With another flick of his wand, the branch snatched up the unconscious form, and wrapped him up tight, dangling him ten feet above the ground.

'One down,' Harry thought to himself, as the witch and wizard redirected their attacks at him.

Blood was pounding in his ears, and he lashed out with every spell he could think of, but curses and jinxes began flying at him so fast it seemed all he could do was defend. Making matters more difficult was the fact that he couldn't dodge anything; he was forced to stay in one place defending Mundungus.

Portions of the spells were starting to get through; he was getting beat up badly. Harry was now bleeding in a dozen places; the hair on one side of his head was clotted with blood, and it stuck to his face. The last spell from the unknown Death Eater hit his right side like a sledge hammer.

"Rrhhh...." Harry roared. It felt as though his ribs were broken.

'I have to do something,' he thought frantically.

"So, Bella," he called over to her. "Did that half blood master of yours punish you badly for letting me ruin his plans at the ministry?" He now used his own baby voice. "Did he hurt you very much, all because of me?" he used a sing-song voice, to incense her.

Harry knew that she was half mad from her stay at Azkaban, and he hoped to force her to make a mistake. He knew he couldn't stand much more punishment. It was hard to breathe now; every breath sent knives of pain racing through his body.

"Poor itty bitty Bella, did the big bad Voldemort make you cry?"

It worked. Bellatrix shrieked incoherently and started cursing wildly, missing Harry by a wide margin. Finally she sent a curse that hit her fellows, who deflected it, making both spells, fly wide.

Harry took this chance, and sent four spears of black fire from his wand at Bella, and a hammer of air at the other, with his wand and his hand. The second wizard didn't have a chance to defend and went flying backwards through the air, landing hard. Bellatrix managed to block three of the spears, but the fourth sliced through the side of her robes and dealt her a glancing blow.

She shrieked again and began to come forward towards Harry, shaking with fury, just as there were a dozen popping sounds all around them. She looked around wildly and quickly disapparated. Another popping sound came from behind where she stood, as the other Death Eater followed her.

Harry looked around, and saw nearly a dozen wizards. Among them he recognized Kingsley Shacklebolt, Nymphadora Tonks, and Mad Eye Moody, all three with their wands out, surveying the scene. Moody's electric blue eye raced all around, checking the perimeter. When Kingsley caught his eye, he winked as if to tell him to remember their involvement with the Order was still secret.

Harry went slowly to his knees then, clutching his ribs, panting and trying to get his breath. After a couple of minutes, he crawled over to Dung, to see if he was alright. Mundungus was breathing hard; barely conscious. He was badly hurt, but Harry was sure he would live.

After a moment, he heard footsteps approaching him, and heard the Minister of Magic's voice. "Harry, are you alright? What has happened?" Cornelius Fudge's voice had taken on the concerned fatherly tone he used before Harry first told him of Voldemorts return.

Harry stood up suddenly, ignoring the screaming pains in his side, as his anger washed over him.

He glared at the Minister. "What are you doing here, Fudge?" he said with contempt.

"Here to arrest me for underage magic? Or for making up stories?" His voice gained strength. "Did I imagine these Death Eaters? Hasn't Voldemort replaced Malfoy with someone else to bribe you with?" His voice was a loud, harsh growl now. Fudge began to cower before Harry.

An Auror stepped in front of the Minister. And then Harry heard a voice call to him, a voice he recognized,

"You're saying some interesting things there, Harry; care to give me a full interview on what's been going on?" It was Rita Skeeter.

He responded in a level voice as he looked over his shoulder, "After we finish here, we'll talk, okay Rita?" And she beamed at him, nodding.

His eyes snapped back to Fudge, who cowered even more at the look in Harry's eyes and the power that was still radiating from him. His mouth was open in horror at the things he knew Harry could tell Rita.

Harry's eyes snapped to the Auror who had taken up position in front of Fudge.

"Dawlish," he growled.

"Tell me Minister, does it always take four of your Aurors to stun one unarmed witch? If that's the case, we are in more trouble than I thought," he spat.

"Tell me Dawlish, does it make you feel proud that you put my head of house in St. Mungo's? Proud that four of you seriously hurt an unarmed witch with no warning?" he roared. After a moment he locked his eyes on the Aurors.

"How about you try that with me, Dawlish?" Harry's voice was a deadly hiss. "Or is it not to your advantage, it not being dark, and you not outnumbering me four to one?" He antagonized the auror now.

"Now see here, Potter," squeaked Fudge, but he stumbled back as Harry glared at him.

Dawlish was beginning to redden and shake with rage.

"But Hagrid showed you, didn't he, Dawlish; and Professor Dumbledore too, didn't they, Dawlish?" Harry's voice was scathing now.

"I very much enjoyed seeing you out cold on the ground." Dawlish began to sputter and took a step towards Harry, who smiled and said, "Come on then, I'll embarrass you in front of all your friends, I'll show you how the Gryffindor's take care of our own."

Dawlish held himself in check, barely. Harry was breathing hard, his pains forgotten for now; he wanted a piece of this Auror. As he was about to continue his verbal assault another voice piped up from behind the pair in front of him.

"Harry...." the voice began.

Harry's eyes snapped at the voice; it was Percy Weasley.

Percy blanched at the look of hatred he received.

"You dare speak to me, Percy?" Harry roared again, "Aren't you afraid I'll become, how did you put it...UNSTABLE and VIOLENT?"

Percy paled, but said nothing.

"You didn't honestly think Ron wouldn't show me the letter, did you?"

"How do you feel about that, Percy, your own brother had more loyalty to me than you? Let me tell you something, Perc, You don't deserve to be a Weasley. Your family is the most supportive, protective, loving and caring family I've ever met. I love your mum and dad like my own. You don't have the loyalty, brains or heart to be a Weasley. I wish I had the heart to tell your mum she shouldn't waste her tears on a complete moron like you. Trouble comes, and your brother Bill leaves his life in Egypt to be close to his family, that's a Weasley. Your dad works hard all day but he still has the time to be a great father, that's a Weasley. Your mum has a husband and seven children, but still worries and looks out for an orphan boy, making him feel loved for the first time in his life, that's a Weasley. Tell me, what the hell are you?" His growl grew louder and harsher the longer he spoke.

After a breath he continued, "Tell me Perc, you said in that letter you would graciously accept your parents' apology when they realized you were right. So tell me, now that it has been confirmed, now that Voldemort," he looked at the three in front of him in disgust as they all flinched, "is back, were you gracious enough to apologize to them?" Harry demanded.

When Percy said nothing, he continued, "I thought as much; you aren't any kind of Weasley, you don't know the first thing about loyalty, you belong with these...these...." Harry was so infuriated he couldn't find a word strong enough.

Before it went any farther, a clunking sound approached them, and Mad Eye Moody put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Harry tried not to flinch from the pain.

Moody said in a soft growl, "That's enough, Harry; I think they get the idea. Come away from there and rest a bit, catch your breath."

"And you, Dawlish, you calm yourself down too, else me and Harry will show just how much we Gryffindor's stick together." Now his voice back to its usual dangerous growl.

Dawlish looked startled by Mad Eye's support for Harry and calmed almost immediately.

Harry turned and hobbled a few paces off and tried to get control of himself. He heard Mad Eye tell the minister, "I'll find out what happened with Potter, obviously you three rub the boy the wrong way." Suppressed laughter could be heard in his voice.

A second later he heard a Moody's voice at his shoulder, "You alright, Harry? You need to go to St. Mungo's now? Or can you tell me what happened first?" His voice now showed real concern.

Harry wordless took Bellatrix Lestrange's parchment letter from the pocket of his robes and handed it to Moody.

"Hmm...Where is your cousin now?"

"They let him go when I got here. He should be at home by now." He would deal with the Dursleys himself.

"How many were there?"

"Three, led by my old friend Bella," Harry replied.

Mad-Eye raised his normal eye from the parchment at that. "You fought off three?" he said, surprised.

Harry shrugged.

Mad Eye turned to give the minister the letter, and then Harry remembered, and began to walk towards the tree where the last Death Eater was still held.

Moody's magical eye must have been on him; before Harry took more than a couple of steps he asked:"Where are you going, Harry?"

"To collect the last Death Eater before he figures out how to escape," Harry said. For the first time, his pain and exhaustion was heard by the witches and wizards around him.

Immediately, Tonks and Shacklebolt were at his side, and he heard Fudge sputtering that Harry should have said he was hurt as soon as they got there.

Harry ignored him, and continued toward the tree. He was flanked by these two Aurors that he secretly knew pretty well, with the others still a distance away.

Tonks whispered, "You okay, Harry?

Harry nodded weakly. "I'll live," he replied quietly.

The footsteps were getting louder behind them and Kingsley said in a louder voice, "So where is this Death Eater, Potter?"

Harry took his wand out from up his sleeve, and flicked it at the tree. The branch holding the dark wizard slammed him down to the ground and released him.

He heard Kingsley whisper, "Very nice, Harry."

Harry also heard mutters of approval from the ministry people around him, and Moody's harsh laugh showed he approved also. "Fought off three and captures one, Ha! How many of your current Aurors you think are up to that, eh, Minister?"

"I..I don't know Alastor."

There was a moment of silence before Harry said, "I hit him with a disapparation jinx, so he won't be going anywhere. The other two blocked the jinxes when I tried to hit them."

The pair flanking him took control of the prisoner and prepared to take him back to the ministry, and eventually Azkaban, Harry supposed. He was really hurting now. He turned and looked about, Rita was still there hanging back, her quick quotes quill flying across the parchment.

"Is there anything else you need of me, Minister?" Harry's voice was quiet now; he wasn't glaring at the minister, just looking at him now.

Fudge stuttered slightly again and said, "N...No, Harry, not just now, but you will be needed at this filth's hearing at the ministry in three days," he finished nervously.

"I won't be at my family's house; I'm going into hiding until school starts. Please send me an owl, to let me know when the hearing will be." He gave the Minister a small bow of his head and began to walk toward Rita.

Mad Eye caught up to him, before he was half way there. "Harry, I'll arrange for an escort as soon as I can, just sit tight at your family's place and we'll meet you there." He said this quietly so no one from the ministry could hear him.

Harry shook his head. "No, Mad Eye, I don't want any escort, I don't want anyone else hurt because of me." The pain was evident in his voice as he looked over to where Mundungus still lay, with two medi-wizards hovering over him.

Moody, following Harry's gaze said in his soft growl, "He'll be fine in a couple of days, and you can't go off on your own,"

Harry looking up at the darkening sky said, "No moon tonight, Mad Eye, and there isn't a wizard alive that can catch me on my Firebolt." He paused and signed. "I won't take the chance of someone else getting hurt. I think I proved I can hold my own... Take care of yourself, Mad Eye."

And he left Moody standing there trying to figure out a way to convince Harry. It was difficult, because he understood how Harry felt, no matter how little he liked it.

When he got to where Rita was standing, he extended his arm.

"Will you walk me home, Rita? I'll answer your questions on the way." She nodded and they started across the large park.

"You sure you're alright, Harry?" Harry was surprised to hear real concern in her voice.

He smiled weakly at her and tried to brush the blood caked hair from his face, but that started the cut on his head seeping again, so he just left it alone.

"Yes, thank you Rita. I'll be fine."

After two dozen or so steps, they reached a secluded park bench and he said, "Rita, would you mind if we sat here and talked? I really need to stop and rest."

She nodded and they sat.

Before she could start her questions he began. "Rita, I will answer as many questions as best I can but I need two things from you,"

Rita Skeeter looked at him shrewdly and said slightly suspiciously, "Yes?"

"Well, the first thing is I'd like is for you to keep the wizard that was injured name out of the paper." At her quizzical look he continued, "A group of my parents' old friends have been keeping an eye on me over the summer, and I don't want them tracked down for trying to help me." The real reason was to hide Dung's involvement with the Order. Harry hoped it worked.

She agreed on this. "And the second?"

"I need you to make it seem that you learned, and did not hear from me, that I was going into hiding by myself,"

"You're really not going into hiding alone are you?"

"I am, and if the Death Eaters read that you found out, they are more likely to leave my wizarding friends alone,"

"Okay Harry, I can do that without a problem. Are you ready to answer some questions?"

She began after his nod. "Well, first I just have to ask, why are you wearing your school robes here in the muggle world?"

Harry chose his words carefully, "Do you know how my father died, Rita?" he asked quietly.

"He was killed by the Dark Lord, wasn't he?" she replied softly.

"Yes, well more specifically, he tried to take on Voldemort," he ignored Rita's flinch, "by himself. He lived and died a wizard fighting against the dark forces to protect his wife and son." Harry paused then said, "If I was going to die today, I was going to die like him, a wizard fighting to the death against the dark."

He looked over at Rita and was astonished to see her eyes shining.

Harry spent nearly three quarters of an hour answering questions, and he left Rita at that bench as he made his way home to deal with the Dursleys.

He limped back to Privet drive. He had never felt so tired, and his whole body was in agony. All he wanted to do was lie down, even if it was in someone's front yard.

'No time for that,' he thought, but as the Dursleys' house came into view; his anger and rage came to the surface once more, and it was an almost welcome relief.

As he approached the front door, it burst inwards and shattered against the wall. Harry heard his Aunt Petunia's shriek of surprise, and his uncle and cousin's curses.

He entered, turning into the living room where the three were. He drew his wand as he crossed the threshold and sent Vernon and Dudley slamming into the wall across the room.

"What are you doing?" Petunia shrieked. "You nearly get my sweet Dudley killed and you come back here and attack him!" She was yelling now.

Harry turned his cold glare on her and she quieted immediately. He raised his wand and pointed it at his uncle's face; he growled, "Tell her,"

When Vernon Dursley said nothing, his eyes glued to the floor, Harry began to raise is wand, and his uncle began to slide up the wall.

He gasped and began to sputter. Harry turned on Dudley. "No? Well how about you Dud? Tell your mum the whole true story, why don't you?"

Dudley said nothing; he was pale and trembling, his eyes never looking up from the floor.

After a moment of quiet, his aunt Petunia said in a quaking voice, "What's going on?"

"Your wonderful, brilliant, sweet son was never in any danger," Harry spat. "Your son and husband decided to trade my life for a bag of gold." His voice was like ice.

"Oh, by the way, Vernon, I wouldn't be expecting to see any of it."

There was a stunned silence. "B...bu...but you wouldn't do that, Vernon...Diddy?" Petunia's voice betrayed the horror she felt.

The pair said nothing, their eyes locked on the floor.

"You lot are all made for each other," he spat.

Harry was about to leave the room but stopped and said, "Oh, by the way, I led that evil bitch on- told her you warned me, Vernon, so if I were you I'd run screaming if you catch sight of her,"

He had never said any such thing, but it was gratifying to see the looks of horror from his uncle and cousin.

"I'll be leaving here in an hour. Hope I never see you again, either one of you; if I do, I will kill you," he said with a last growl as he left the room, leaving silence in his wake.

Harry stumbled and limped up the stairs, finally gaining his bedroom. He gave himself a moment to react to the events of the day, as he sat on the edge of his bed. He felt the silent tears fall down his face, and he trembled with all the hurts, the emotions of the day catching up to him. He only gave himself only a moment or two before forcing himself to get up and pack all his things into his trunk.

After twenty minutes or so, there was a soft hesitant knock on the door.

"Come in," Harry said tiredly.

It was his aunt. "Where are you going? To your friends home, the Weasley's, wasn't it?"

Harry was shocked to see tears in her eyes as she surveyed him.

"No, Aunt Petunia, I'm going off on my own, I won't put them in danger," he said quietly.

"This is the only place that was safe; the spell my zheadmaster put on this house protected all of us. The dark wizards couldn't get at any of us, but the spell is broken now."

His aunt had tears streaming down her cheeks. "You're badly injured...."

"I'll live; I'll take care of the wounds when I get to my hiding place. I'll be leaving shortly. Goodbye, Aunt Petunia."

Harry turned his back on his aunt and continued with his packing. He heard her leave without saying another word.

In another fifteen minutes Harry was strapping his sorcerer's trunk to his Firebolt, and preparing to fly out through his open window into the deepening night.