The Secret Life of Harry Potter

CHAPTER 3 - Hermione to the Rescue and the Order Reformed

So there he was, waiting out the front of Number Four Privet Drive, for Hermione to arrive to pick him up. Had he remembered everything? Harry went through the mental checklist:

Clothes? Yes. Swimmers? Yes. Trunk? Yes. School things? Yes. Hedwig's cage? Yes. Broom? Yes. Things under the floorboard? Yes. Invisibility cloak? Yes. Marauder's Map? Yes. Birthday things? (Harry shook his wrist) YES! Hermione's letters... NO!

"I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT THOSE!" Harry exclaimed, just as Hermione was pulling onto Privet Drive.

"Hey Harry," said Hermione as she stopped the car and got out. "Do you want me to help with those?" she asked, nodding to the pile of luggage.

"Yeah, that would be great! Listen, I just remembered, I forgot something in my room. Can you just wait a second while I get it and say goodbye to the Dursleys?" Harry asked in a rush. As Hermione nodded, Harry was already going back through the front door.

"Boys," she muttered as she moved Harry's things into the trunk of her car.

~~

Harry raced up the stairs and into his room, to find Dudley on his bed holding...HERMIONE'S LETTERS TO HARRY!

"Get out Dudley!" Harry yelled as he pulled the letters out of his cousin's grip.

"Who're they from, eh?" asked Dudley with and evil grin on his face.

"Nobody," Harry answered innocently, pulling out his wand. Harry's face turned angry when Dudley didn't move. "And I thought I told you to get out?"

"You can't pull that one on me. You're not allowed to do magic outside of school," said Dudley, but he still looked at the wand warily.

"Well, I've got news for you. As of midnight, I could. So don't try me!" Harry said angrily, thrusting his wand towards Dudley, who squealed like a pig and ran out. Harry closed the door of his room behind him as he walked out. He stopped for a moment, looked at his closed door, and magically locked it.

~~

"HARRY POTTER!" yelled Vernon Dursley from the kitchen. "You're friend is waiting for you!"

SH*T! Harry thought, as he raced downstairs. "Bye Uncle, Aunt Petunia, ickle-Duddykins," he said as he ran to a waiting Hermione. Gosh, she looks fine! Harry thought as he closed the front door. Am I beginning to like Hermione?

"Sorry I took so long. I caught Dudley in my room...had to do something about it," Harry said, with a sly grin at Hermione.

"Oh, Harry! I don't even want to know! I'm just glad we're leaving now...I can't believe Dudley LIKES me!" she moaned, motioning towards her car. "Come on, Get in."

*** Meanwhile... ***

All of a sudden, there were the sounds of many apparitions at Number 12, Grimmauld Place. The Order was back.

"Can everyone please proceed to the kitchen? We have a situation," said the determined voice of Professor Dumbledore. Once everyone was seated, Dumbledore continued. "Four well known Death Eaters have broken out of Azkaban and want their revenge."

"Who are they?" asked a concerned Remus Lupin.

"Lucius and Draco Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange and Severus Snape. I believe they are planing to go after Harry Potter. However, as many of you know, Harry lost the protection his mother gave him sixteen years ago. Harry Potter has now come of age!" Dumbledore said gravely. "Harry is in great danger. He is no longer residing at his aunt and uncle's place. He is no longer welcome there. I have received a message from Petunia Dursley. She says that her husband Vernon will no longer tolerate Harry under his roof. Now, this is the next problem. Where will Harry live?"

There were many suggestions of places and homes of the Order members; go back to Godric's Hollow, The Burrow...then Lupin made the most obvious suggestion.

"Why doesn't he just live here? Sirius left him everything in his will."

"Yes, that is most logical, but will the house accept him? The house includes Kreacher. Only with him will we see who rightly inherits the house. We need to see if Kreacher will take orders from Harry. Petunia said the Harry has gone to Hermione Granger's place for the rest of the summer. That is all for the time being. Be on alert! The Malfoys, Lestrange and Snape will stop at nothing to avenge their Lord's defeat. Excuse me now; I need to get in contact with Harry."

With that, the Order was dismissed. They needed to get the wizarding world on alert, but not alarmed...and quickly