“You’d better hurry up…”

“Or mum will kill you…”

“She’s angry enough as it is…”

“And I don’t think you’d like to add to that!”

“Okay, we get it!” Ron called out to his very amused twin brothers. Today, it was time to leave the Burrow and return to school. Unfortunately, they were both running late, after not only waking up late, but forgetting to pack until the last minute. That was why they Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley were running around the room like headless chickens, trying to get dressed and pack the last few things, all in about thirty seconds.

“HARRY POTTER AND RONALD WEASLEY! GET DOWN HERE NOW OR WE’LL LEAVE YOU BOTH BEHIND!” the unmistakable voice of Mrs Weasley screamed.

“Harry, have you seen my quill? You know the one Hermione got me…” Ron asked as he shoved another book into his trunk and slipped his shoe on at the same time.

“Yeah, wasn’t it by your bed?” Harry replied, not looking at him, but scanning the room for any other possessions. He still didn’t understand how he managed to spread out all of his stuff out so much in such a short space of time. Luckily, he couldn’t see anything, and he hastily shut his trunk with a snap. To the left of him, Ron was doing the same.

When Harry and Ron were finally able to lug their cases out of the house, (with the help of magic, of course) Mrs Weasley was waiting very impatiently at the door for them.

“Well, you took your time! Anyone would think you wanted to miss the train!” she scolded. Outside, Hermione and Ginny were chatting together in the sleek black car the Ministry had lent them. Harry knew that they were just trying to get back into his good books. Hermione was looking slightly anxious and kept on glancing at her watch every ten seconds while Ginny talked. He felt his stomach leap as he looked at Ginny, she was just so beautiful….then he felt very guilty again about the way he acted at the wedding. Jumping out of his dream, he bundled into the back seat of the vehicle while Mr Weasley levitated their very heavy cases into the boot.

“You took your time,” Ginny said, smirking. Suddenly, Harry felt hot and he stared determinedly at his feet.

“Well, you know us, we like an element of danger in our lives,” Harry replied absently. Next to him, Ron slumped back in his seat.

“If we miss the train, it’ll be your entire fault!” Hermione admonished, looking worried.

“Calm down, we haven’t missed it before,” Ron replied, then as he noticed Ginny’s eyebrows rise, he added, “and second year doesn’t count, it was Dobby’s fault, not ours!”

Harry glanced out the window to avoid looking at Ginny-then regretted it. It was like looking at a very smudged painting, everywhere was blurry. They must have been going at least as fast as the Knight bus! Even now, the wizarding world never ceased to amaze him. An uncomfortable silence fell upon them when everyone stopped talking. Ron and Hermione kept on missing each others gaze and Harry had no idea what he could say to Ginny. He was afraid that if he spoke to her directly, something along the lines of “I love you” might slip out. The rest of the journey was held in silence, until finally, they were allowed out. As they rushed towards the station, Harry threw a sideways glance at Ginny. Her long red hair was flowing behind her like a river. He jumped when a voice whispered in his ear.

“Stop staring at my sister, your trolley is starting to change direction.”

Harry snapped his head away from Ginny’s direction and in Ron’s, who was looking a bit disgruntled. It was then that he noticed that his trolley had started to slant, the front centimetres away from Ron’s. Flustered, he straightened it up, but was unable to look his best friend in the eye. Everywhere else was very busy, but people were giving them strange looks, particularly due to the fact they had two owls balanced on top of very large trunks. But frankly, Harry didn’t care; he just didn’t want to miss the train.

When they finally reached the station, Harry spared one look at the clock and realised, with a jolt, that the train was leaving in five minutes. There was only enough time for a few hurried hugs from the Weasley parents before they had to leave. Even now, Harry still had to close his eyes just as he reached the brick wall. It just looked so real…

“I’m going to meet up with some friends,” Ginny announced, grinning at the three of them before leaving them to join a different compartment. Harry felt his heart sink as she left and wondered whether he would actually see her very often when they got to Hogwarts. Probably not, she’s got other friends, Harry thought miserably, as he watched the beautiful redhead board the train. He had to ignore the agonising impulse to run up to her and tell her how he really felt. But the image of Voldemort leering at him floated into his mind, and he was able to force down his feelings. Then they boarded the train and found an empty compartment.

“Oh, hi!” Neville said cheerfully. He noticed them as he passed their compartment and smiled at his friends.

“Hello Neville,” Hermione replied warmly. “How was your summer holiday?”

“It was good; Gran and I went to France for a few weeks. You wouldn’t believe the difference there, there was some plants growing that I had never even heard of!” Neville said enthusiastically, sitting down next to Hermione.

“Oh, we need to go!” Hermione said suddenly, slapping her forehead and standing up.

“Why?” Ron asked, looking bewildered.

“Head and Prefect duties, Ronald!” Hermione replied, rolling her eyes at his forgetfulness. “You’d forget your own head if it was screwed on!”

Ron gave her a strange look. “Muggle saying, don’t worry about it,” Hermione assured him. Then she looked at Harry and Neville. “I’m sorry, but we really have to go!”

“Its fine,” Harry replied, smiling at his two best friends. Hermione hugged him quickly, then slipped out of the compartment with Ron. Harry watched them go, and then started to talk to Neville. They had a lot of catching up to do.

Over two hours later, Ron and Hermione trudged back into the compartment. The looks on their faces could not be more different. Ron looked extremely bored, and Hermione looked inspired. Hermione then spent the next five minutes describing the meeting and how ‘enlightening’ and ‘fascinating’ it was. Ron added his own little commentary, just quiet enough so Hermione couldn’t hear. He told him it was ‘a waste of time’ and ‘mind-numbing.’ Sometimes, Harry was surprised how different the two of them could be.

“I think I fell asleep at one point in that meeting, because the next thing I knew was Hermione jabbing me hard on the arm with her wand. I think she’s left a bruise!” Ron whispered agitatedly. Unfortunately for him, Hermione heard him, and threw him an extremely dirty look.

“Who’s Head Boy?” Harry asked, trying to distract the two from yet another argument.

“Ernie Mcmillan,” Ron said absently. A moment later, he added, “I’m starving.”

Hermione shook her head, “Is there ever a time when you’re not hungry?”

“I don’t think so…maybe when I sleep,” Ron said, scratching his nose. “It’s not my fault!”

Hermione raised an eyebrow at Ron, then decided that there was no use trying to pursue that topic.

“Oh cool, Harry you bought some sweets! Can I have some?” Ron asked, noticing the small mound of sweets in the corner of the compartment.

“Of course!” Harry replied, smiling. He had actually bought extra because he knew Ron would be hungry when he came back from the meeting.  For the rest of the journey, the foursome just sat, ate and talked, as if they had not a care in the world.

Finally, the train drew to a stop at Hogsmede station just as it was getting dark. As everyone flooded off, Harry could distinctively hear Hagrid’s booming voice calling out for any first years. He then spotted a small group of miniature people, who were looking terrified of the prospect of going anywhere near the giant. Maybe Ron’s right, they are getting smaller…  Harry thought musingly, a small smile forming on his features. The first years were all bunched together tightly, as if they were so much as a metre apart, they would get lost forever.

As the four of them left to find a Thestral drawn carriage, Ron decided to announce something to everyone.

“I’m still hungry.”

Just then, Harry’s stomach growled loudly, as if it was answering Ron. “Me too,” Harry said, snorting with laughter.

The journey to the school via the carriage was much the same as every year- but with one difference. The mood was no longer as cheery, but sombre, remembering the former Headmaster. Hogwarts would never be the same without him. After what seemed like a lifetime, they were finally allowed to leave the carriage. Harry refused to look at the thestrals.

The castle still looked the same, it was still as magnificent and breathtaking as ever. But he no longer looked at it the same way he did the first time he walked through those doors. He had seen so many things there, memories he would never lose, the good and the bad. The castle seemed to have a different aura to it; it was no longer as safe as it used to be before. That safety had come from Dumbledore, but now it was gone.

“Erm, excuse me, but Professor McGonagall wanted to ask if the three of you would go to her office,” a small voice squeaked. Harry looked around-then down and saw a small, pretty, blonde haired girl looking at him. She blushed as Harry smiled at her.

“Thanks, he replied kindly. The girl blushed even more crimson and then rushed off. Ron, Hermione and Harry said goodbye to Neville, separated themselves from the rest of the school and headed towards her office.

“What do you think she wants? We can’t be in trouble already, we only just got here!” Ron wondered.

“It wouldn’t be the first time though,” Harry added, thinking about their second year and the car that now lived in the Forbidden Forest. He had a gut feeling that she was going to ask what he was doing with Dumbledore on that day again. As they stood outside the office, they all felt a sense of foreboding.

“Does anyone know the password?” Hermione asked. Harry noticed that she was holding into Ron’s arm quite tightly, most likely for comfort, and smiled. For once, his friends were actually getting along. Maybe this year they might not row as much and I’d actually get a bit of peace...or as much as I can with the Horcruxes to find… The smile slid off his face when he thought of them, of what he had to be done. Dumbledore had begun this mission and Harry would have to end it. Once and for all.

“What’s the matter?” Hermione asked, noticing Harry’s grave, yet determined look.

“I was just thinking, you know about the-” Harry started in a low voice, only to be interrupted by Professor McGonagall herself rushing over to them.

“Thank you for coming. There are a few things I want to discuss with you three before school starts,” the Professor said briskly, muttering a password that made the gargoyle leap to one side and allow entrance to the room. As the staircase brought them up to the office, Harry could sense the tension. Even without Legilimency, he now knew exactly what the new Headmistress wanted to ask, and he knew exactly what he would say in response.

This time when he entered the office, he wasn’t surprised at what he saw. Apart from a few of McGonagall’s own touches, the office was the same. Harry felt a lump in his throat as he remembered when Dumbledore use to own the office. Fawkes’ cage was also gone, and Harry wondered what had happened to the Phoenix.

“What did you want to tell us, Professor?” Harry asked, trying to sound as polite as possible. He didn’t want to get himself and his friends in trouble on their first day back just for forgetting his manners.

“It’s a few things. But first, I’d like a word with Mr Potter in private,” she said, glancing at Ron and Hermione. Harry had anticipated that.

“Whatever you want to say, you can say it in front of them,” Harry said firmly. McGonagall looked slightly unnerved, but then decided to talk anyway.

“I know this is hard for you, but you’ve had the whole summer to think about it and I wanted to know whether you had reconsidered-”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you,” Harry interrupted. “But that is between me and Professor Dumbledore and I’m not going to change my mind.”

Professor McGonagall looked Harry in the eye, saw the fierce determination, then sat down, defeated.

“Is that all you wanted to talk to us about, Professor?” Hermione asked timidly, not wanting to anger the Professor she respected so much any more. Professor McGonagall looked at Hermione seriously.

“No, its not. Albus insisted that the three of you would come,” Professor McGonagall explained. Ron and Hermione looked very puzzled. Instead of trying to explain, she just stood up again and walked over to Dumbledore’s portrait, the same one he had seen at the end of term.

“Albus, wake up,” Professor McGonagall said softly to the sleeping portrait. The old wizard opened his blue eyes and smile pleasantly at the three teenagers, two of which, had their mouths wide open with shock.

“Ah, Mr Potter, Miss Granger and Mr Weasley, how kind of you to come,” the portrait greeted them cheerfully.

“Er, hello Professor,” Harry said nervously. It was very strange seeing and talking to Dumbledore like that, but he somehow looked younger, at peace. He didn’t have that tired look he had always had, and Harry also noticed that he had his hand back.

“I wanted to let you know that if any of you need to talk, you can come to me,” Professor Dumbledore said, looking at each of them, but Harry in particular. His eyes no longer held that sparkle that came from being alive, but still held that wisdom and trust.

“Thank you Professor,” Harry replied, smiling ever so slightly. Dumbledore will never be gone…not really.

“You’d better get going, Minerva’s looking a bit anxious,” Professor Dumbledore said. But Harry didn’t want to go. He didn’t want to face the rest of the school. He wanted to stay. Professor McGonagall gestured for them to leave.

“Just before you leave, I have one more thing I want to say before you go to the Great Hall to enjoy a marvellous feast,” Dumbledore said, smiling. Everyone looked at him expectantly. “Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!” he paused for a moment and then said, “now you can go.”

Harry, Ro and Hermione all chuckled as they left; even McGonagall had a smile on her face. “I trust that you will go straight to the Great Hall immediately, but I need to go now,” McGonagall said curtly, and then she walked away around the corner.

As quickly as they could, the three of them rushed back to the hall, hoping that turning up late wouldn’t cause too much of a disturbance. As they opened the creaky doors, everyone turned and stared at them. That didn’t surprise them, but what did, was seeing McGonagall already at the table.

“Maybe she knows another secret passageway,” Hermione whispered, trying to ignore the hundreds of eyes that were watching him.

“Nah, I don’t think the map would have missed any of them out,” Harry replied quietly.

“I bet she walked around the corner and then transfigured into a cat and ran there!” Ron said, sniggering. Harry snorted as the image of the Headmistress as the cat flickered in his mind. Even Hermione laughed. People probably were thinking they were crazy, laughing for apparently no reason. But they didn’t care. Even though Dumbledore was gone, they still had each other, and after all, that was all that really mattered.

"So much for your ‘I’m not a radio’ statement," Ron said sourly after Harry told the three of them what he just saw. Hermione bit her lip.

"What do you think Voldemort will do with him?" Hermione asked. Harry just shrugged.

"I don’t know, I think he’ll keep him alive, Voldemort said he was still useful, but..."

"He’s still a pureblood isn’t he?" Ginny spat bitterly, "he’ll probably need him to keep that status around, there aren’t many purebloods left these days."

"I still find it weird that Riddle isn’t even pureblood, yet he wants to kill all those who aren’t," Ron commented.

"He’s such a bloody hypocrite, that’s what he is" Hermione said. The other three turned to Hermione in utter shock, never having heard Hermione curse before.

“I think Ron’s rubbed off on you a bit too much Hermione,” Ginny said. Hermione blushed faintly, but was still looking angry.

“Well...I’m just angry...” Hermione muttered. Ron was looking at Hermione with wonderment, a faint smile on his lips.

Harry shook his head as if to clear the thoughts of Hermione cursing for the first time in his memory, and his mind wondered back to Draco Malfoy. Harry couldn’t help but feel pity towards the blond Slytherin. Draco had stumbled into Voldemort’s group not understanding the full implications of his actions, not realising that there would be no going back, that it wasn’t child's play any longer. He was just a common school bully, not a murderer. He was only seventeen, barely legal, still a kid really. Harry knew what the torture curse felt like and he wouldn’t wish that on anyone, not even Draco Malfoy.

"This is really not my day," Harry muttered. First his dream, then the attack, and now this. Voldemort was still very much at large, as much as he would have liked to deny it for a while. His scar was still stinging. He set his jaw and closed his eyes. A searing pain in his head confirmed that he was starting to get a headache, and he cursed under his breath. For a moment, he tried to block everything out and focus, but he opened his eyes a minute later, defeated. He turned to his friends.

"You should all go to class, there’s no point in you missing out on important lessons, you never know what you could learn," Harry said, pointedly looking at Hermione and Ron. They seemed to understand what he meant, but still looked hesitant.

"Are you sure you’re okay?" Hermione asked quietly.

"I’m not saying that, but that's besides the point. I’ll talk to Tonks and meet up with you later. I’ll be fine, honest."

After a minute of hesitation, the three of them started to leave, but not before Hermione hugged him and kissed him on the cheek and Ginny squeezed his hand muttering that everything would be okay and they would be back as soon as possible. Once they were gone, Harry immediately bolted to the bathroom and threw up. Five minutes later, he collapsed onto his bed.

If they die, its all my fault, Harry thought angrily. After several minutes of staring aimlessly at the ceiling, he swung his feet off his bed, carelessly grabbed his jacket and left. He walked to Tonk’s office in a daze, his feet carrying him to the familiar room. With a numb hand, he knocked on the door twice, paused until he heard Tonk’s voice, then entered. As he walked in, he saw Tonks embracing a man he recognised as Remus Lupin.

"Harry...the Order told me about your relatives," Remus said solemnly as he spotted him and released himself from Tonks’ arms. Harry suddenly became very interested with his fingernails, unable to look up at Remus for fear of what he would see. It felt so surreal. After a minute of total silence, Harry willed himself to speak. His voice was barely above a whisper and cracked terribly.

"Are they...dead?"

He risked looking up at Tonks and Remus and saw that they were both looking forlorn.

"I’m sorry, your aunt and uncle didn’t make it, but luckily, your cousin was at his boarding school at the time and so is safe for now. Kingsley has gone to collect him," Tonks said quickly. The pain in Harry’s chest lifted slightly.

"I need to go and get him," Harry said suddenly, surprising himself with his own answer.

"No, you need to stay here-"

"No, Remus, he’s my cousin and I want to see him. I’m seventeen now, I can make my own decisions," Harry said coolly, just barely keeping his temper under control. Remus and Tonks exchanged glances and then Tonks sighed.

"Fine, let me contact Kingsley," Tonks said, pulling out her wand, conjuring her Patronus, and sending it off.

"I’ll go and talk to Minerva," Remus said, pressing a kiss on Tonks’ cheek before rushing out of the room. Harry collapsed into a chair, suddenly feeling completely drained as he thought about his now deceased relatives. Even though they never treated him well, they were still his family and he had grown up with them. He couldn’t even imagine what sort of things the Death Eaters had done to them before they ended it. Was it like what happened at the World Cup, or even worse? He thought of Dudley, who was now an orphan like himself. A single tear slipped down his cheek and he hastily wiped it away. Just then, Tonks tapped him on the shoulder and he instantly stood up.

"We’re flooing to Kingsley's house, then Apparating to the Muggle school, Smellings or something," Tonks informed Harry.

"Smeltings," Harry automatically corrected her.

"That's it. We’re using Minerva’s fire, it's hooked up to Kingsley's fire right now.”

Harry nodded.

Within ten minutes, they had flooed to Kingsley's house, then he Apparated (Ron and Harry had taken their test during the last part of the holidays and passed,) to the large building known as Smeltings Secondary School. They passed through the front of the school without paying much attention to the scenery. As luck would have it, a loud bell sounded almost as soon as they walked into the main building. It was followed by a stampede of children wearing the same uniforms Harry vaguely remembered Dudley wearing once. He didn’t fail to notice that everyone seemed to be watching them as they fought their way through the crowds of school children. He swore under his breath as he was almost knocked off his feet as people punched and shoved. When something hit him hard on the back of his leg and then on his head, he remembered Dudley's old Smelting stick, and winced. Finally, the two of them reached the office, the corridor there was deserted.

"Thank Merlin we got out of that hellhole. I thought Hogwarts was bad, at least they have wider corridors and extra secret passageways," Harry muttered to Tonks, who was looking relatively flustered. He also noticed that she was sporting shoulder length, brown hair. She let out a short bark of laughter and then rapped on the door.

"Come in!"

Tonks gestured for Harry to enter first. Swallowing, Harry opened the door. Before he had even managed to get in the room properly, there was a loud crash.

"You!"

Before Harry knew what was happening, he felt a blinding pain on the left side of his face and then again in the stomach. The doorknob was sticking painfully into his back as he was forced backwards. Angry blue eyes burnt into Harry’s green ones and he forced himself not to flinch. They were so close that their noses were touching.

"You did it! You killed them!" Dudley snarled, a crazed look in his hate-etched features. Harry was immobile, trapped between Dudley and the door which Tonks was rapping and jiggling, each movement sending sharp pains up his back.

"No, I didn’t," Harry replied, trying to keep as calm as possible even though inside, he felt anything but. He could hear voices shouting from all around him Then, using all of his strength, Harry pushed Dudley off and swiftly moved away from the door. When a furious Dudley went to charge at Harry again, they were all ready. Kingsley seized Dudley’s arms and with the aid of Harry, forced him into a chair.

"Get off me!" Dudley shouted furiously, trying desperately to get up, with no avail.

"Dudley, stop and let me explain!"

"Why should I? You killed my parents!" Dudley was getting more and more furious, his face had turned an alarming shade of red.

"I never touched them!" Harry shouted back.

"It was your kind that got them killed! They never wanted anything to do with you! Dad was right, you should have been chucked in an orphanage years ago!" Dudley yelled bitterly, his eyes filled with pure hatred. There was a great amount of outrage coming from Kingsley and Tonks, but Harry blocked them out.

"Whether Aunt Petunia liked it or not, her sister was a witch, she couldn’t change that. Hundreds of people are dying and have died because of the same monster that killed Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. You’re not the only person suffering, he killed my parents as well!"

"But they’re my parents! They weren’t meant to die. It's all your fault!"

"You can try and pin the blame on me, but I’m not the guilty one here. Voldemort is! It’s useless blaming me! Maybe you would like to know, that I’m trying to stop that monster!" Harry said, his voice sounding a lot stronger than he felt. Dudley had touched a nerve, but he couldn’t lose his temper.

"But that doesn’t make any difference! That won’t bring them back!" Dudley howled, sounding more upset now than angry.

"Will blaming me change anything either?" Harry asked. Dudley seemed to have lost his voice and was staring at the floor.

"Look, I’m not going to lie to you. You’re in danger. If the Death- people, find out you didn’t die, then they’ll come looking for you, they probably already are. You need to come with me-"

"No! I’m not going anywhere with you!" Dudley snarled, glaring at Harry.

"You don’t have much of a choice in that matter, because you are coming whether you like it or not, because I don’t want anything to happen to you, because no matter what, we’re family, and that’s what proper families do!" Harry exclaimed. Silence ensued that statement. Dudley was obviously trying to absorb all of the information. Harry walked over to Tonks once he was sure that Dudley wouldn’t be replying anytime soon.

"Are you alright?" Tonks asked. Harry nodded.

"I don’t know what to say to him, I can’t just leave him here, they will come after him," Harry said, glancing at his cousin. He immediately rushed over to Dudley as he started to make a sound.

"I’m not going anywhere, I’m staying here...not going with you," Dudley muttered darkly, glaring at Harry. Harry sighed.

"Remember those Dementors?" Harry asked. Dudley nodded, an unpleasant look on his face. "Well that’s nothing compared to what’s happening now. It’s a full scale war."

"Not my problem, it's your lot’s war,"

"Oh, yes, it is your problem. It isn’t just affecting wizards. All of those disappearances and strange deaths are proof that it’s affecting the Muggle world as well. Voldemort doesn’t spare Muggles, in fact, he loves killing them. He doesn’t care if you think it’s not your war. You can’t escape this war Dudley, it’s too big. If Voldemort wins, then neither wizard nor Muggle will have a bloody chance," Harry said, gritting his teeth.

Dudley remained silent, a stony look on his face.

"So these people will come after me?"

This time his voice was laced with fear, which he was obviously trying very hard to hide, but failing miserably. Harry nodded gravely.

"If they realise that you’re not dead, they’ll probably try to find you, which I don’t think will be very hard," Harry said, feeling a bit relieved that Dudley’s original blinding rage seemed to have been burnt out and he was considering his own safety. Finally, Dudley dropped his gaze to the floor.

"Okay."

Behind him, he heard Tonks murmur.

"Thank Merlin, he’s seen the light."

Smiling slightly, Harry looked at Dudley

"Don’t worry Dudley, I promise I won’t let anything happen to you," Harry assured him. Dudley was still looking stony.

"Molly agreed to look after Dudley while you’re at school," Kingsley told him, also looking relieved.

"What? He’s staying at the Burrow? Can't he stay at Hogwarts? I’m sure there’s some space," Harry asked, suddenly realising after he said it, he sounded quite ungrateful. "It's not that I’m ungrateful, but-"

"I know but it’s against the rules. Muggles aren’t allowed to stay at Hogwarts, Muggles can't even see Hogwarts," Kingsley said gravely, shaking his head.

"Can’t you just try and bend the rules a bit-"

"I’m sorry Harry, but I can’t, not on this," Kingsley cut in, shaking his head once again.

"Who’s Molly? Where am I going? Where are you going? What’s going on?" Dudley demanded. Harry ran his fingers through his hair and then turned to his cousin.

"You’re going to have to stay with some of my friends, the Weasley’s. They’ll look after you," Harry explained. Dudley looked sceptical.

"I trust them with my life, you will be fine with them. I am quite certain that you will like it there. Mrs Weasley makes the most delicious food. Just stay out of the twins room," Harry said, trying to crack some sort of joke that only earned half a smile from Tonks and a very confused look from Dudley.

"Why, what’s in there?" Dudley asked, starting to look scared.

"Well, I don’t know exactly what in the twins' room, they have their old products from their joke shop. They run their own joke shop; I’m not sure they’re very safe. I don’t think any of us want a repeat of your enlarged tongue incident," Harry said, realising instantly that it was a completely wrong thing to say.

"So you’re going to go off and leave me in that house with those people?" Dudley spat.

"Don’t even think of insulting the Weasley’s in front of me, they’re as good as family to me," Harry said quietly. Dudley glared once again at Harry.

"Fine. Where are we going?" Dudley huffed. Harry rolled his eyes and turned to the others in the room.

"We’re walking to where I have a few Aurors stations and then they’ll take you to the Burrow," Tonks said, eyeing Dudley with a look of distaste.

"Aurors?" Dudley repeated, blinking with confusion.

"Wizard policemen," Harry said absently. Dudley then reluctantly stood up and stalked out of the headmaster’s office with Harry following. As they left, a loud bell sounded from the walls and Harry’s looked around, startled. Then he swore as people started flooding out of the classrooms.

"This is ridiculous..." Tonks murmured from behind him, trying to keep an eye on Dudley, who was shoving everyone out of his way as he charged ahead, a superior air about him as he walked past his peers. People started to rudely push past Harry and after almost getting smacked in the face once again, he snapped.

"Okay, everybody just move!" Harry shouted. Almost everyone around him froze and stared at him. He glared back at them and cleared his throat. Almost as if they were scared of what he would do next, some people made way for them to walk past. Whispers erupted everywhere.

"Look at that guy..."

"Who is he?"

"Why’s he here?"

"What’s that on his head? A scar?"

Harry sighed in frustration, realising that even in the Muggle world, his scar wouldn’t be left unnoticed. He tried to flatten his fringe and then glared at everyone who looked at him. They briskly left the building and made their way to the gates. Dudley didn’t speak or look at anyone, but kicked at stones as he trudged along.

"He’s not the friendliest person in the world, is he?" Tonks commented.

"Dudley and I have never really seen eye to eye, he’s grown up seeing me as a freak and well, I didn’t realise I could hate anyone more than him before I met Draco Malfoy," Harry replied. Tonks didn’t say anything, not that Harry expected her to. When they reached the gates, Kingsley took a sharp left and they all followed him. After a few minutes of walking, the hairs on the back of Harry’s neck suddenly stood on end.

"Something doesn’t feel right," Harry muttered his hand subconsciously his wand. He looked around and suddenly, he knew what was going to happen before it did.