Harry Potter and the War of Souls

The summer's night was as normal as any summer night should be. Perhaps a few degrees warmer than usual with a slight dampness to the air, but for the remarkable change the boy at Four Privet Drive was about to make, the night was almost rebelliously ordinary.

Nevertheless, Harry Potter gathered up the last of his things into his trunk, whispered a few words to Hedwig, and without a single glance at his bedroom behind him, he closed his door and walked downstairs.

They were all asleep, but he could change that. He put his wand to his throat and muttered, "Sonorous." Then, with his amplified voice, he said, "I've come to say good-bye."

There were a few moments of quiet when he was certain nothing was going to happen, but then he heard the creaks on the floorboards above him, and in order down the stairs came his Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and the ever-thickening Dudley.

Uncle Vernon's eyes were bulging from his head as his stare shifted from Harry to his trunk that was floating in midair, then back to Harry.

"What in the blazes are you doing?" he scowled. "Do you want the neighborhood to hear you?"

"Nope. Just you three."

"But that was magic. No magic outside of school! There are rules for you people."

"Which cease to apply when I'm of age," Harry said calmly. As the Dursleys reached the bottom of the stairs, he used his wand to direct them into the sitting room, where, as they had done a year ago when Dumbledore came, they sat as stiffly and tightly together on the sofa.

"Of age?" Vernon asked. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It's 12:06 a.m. As of six minutes ago, I'm seventeen. I don't have to stay here anymore, and I thought I should at least say good-bye before I left."

Petunia folded her arms and even though he was standing, she still managed to look down at him. "Then good-bye. Leave."

"Before I go. I want to thank you for taking me in. By letting me live here, you gave me some protection and I appreciate that."

"At least you have enough sense to be grateful," Vernon said.

Ignoring him, Harry continued. "But I also want to tell you all that I intend to never think of you again after this moment. You couldn't give me the smallest moment of love and I will not give you the smallest place in my memories." He thrust a card into his uncle's hands then turned away before a slight smile escaped his lips. "This will finish all our business together."

"What's this? A thank you card?" Vernon asked, looking at the markings on the back. "Weasley Wizarding Wheezes? What the bloody hell is a Wheeze?" He opened the card then quickly looked up at Harry. "Thank you for saving Dudley from those dementoids."

"Vernon!" Petunia grabbed the card from his hand. "What - Oh, and Harry, thank you for all the work you always did around here."

Harry nodded then levitated his trunk again when he heard a small pop beside him. He dropped the trunk and began to raise his wand, but lowered it when he realized Professor McGonagall had apparated into his entryway.

"Thank you for having some of your - kind visit our home," Petunia added, still sitting on the couch.

McGonagall gave Harry an appraising look and said, "I believe you've grown an inch since I saw you last. They said you're eating well, but you look good, better than I expected."

Harry had also been studying Professor - no, Headmistress McGonagall. She looked older and her face bore the strain of the new weight that had so recently been laid on her shoulders. However, her words shook him back to attention.

"Who said I've been eating well, Professor?"

"Thank you for eating with us, Harry," Dudley said, now holding the card in his hands.

"Never mind that, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said. "I take it you're leaving?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"And where are you going?"

Harry shrugged. As far away from Little Whinging as possible - that was his only plan for now.

"Thank you for leaving," Vernon said.

"Well wherever it is you're going, I have at least some good news for you. Due to your skills displayed in the side-along apparition with Dumbledore a few weeks ago, the ministry has granted my request that you be automatically granted your license."

"Uh, thank you."

"No, thank you Harry," Petunia said.

"Oh for Merlin's Sake, what are they doing?" McGonagall asked.

"It's a thank you card," Harry answered. "From Fred and George."

Professor McGonagall seemed to understand. "Ah, well enough of that." She raised her wand in their direction and said, "Petrificus Totalus!" Instantly, each of the Dursleys froze in place. McGonagall paused, cleared her throat, then said, "Well, you're of age now and I haven't the time or the ability to make your choices for you. But a new year will soon begin at Hogwarts. I'd like you to reconsider attending."
Harry shook his head. How much exactly did she know of the prophecy or the Horcruxes? Those were all that mattered this year, or at least, most of what mattered. McGonagall was a member of the Order and had worked closely with Dumbledore for many years. But without knowing exactly what to say, he merely shrugged and said, "I'll think about it."

"Life goes on, Mr. Potter," she said in her typically prim voice. "You have future plans to become an Auror, as I recall."

"My plans changed when Snape killed Professor Dumbledore."

McGonagall nodded. "Yes, and so did mine. So did the plans of many people but we all continue to move forward in life. Now I've heard the Weasleys have invited you to their son's wedding in a few days. I'd encourage you to stay with them and then I hope - I hope to see you back for your seventh year."

Harry lowered his eyes. "Thanks, Professor. I'll think about it."

"On your way now. Dumbledore made these muggles a promise. I'm here to fulfill it."

"What promise?"

"He promised that when you were of age he'd - well, he'd change their memories and allow them to forget everything they knew about the Wizarding World."

"Everything? Forget me?"

"I'm sorry, Potter. That was part of the bargain. Tomorrow if they passed you on the street, you'd be a stranger to them." She put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Do you have any last words to say to them?"

"I already did." Harry turned once more to look at them, then closed his eyes, pictured where he wanted to go, and with a quiet pop, he disappeared.