Summer of Changes
Harry Potter was out tending to the lawn of No.4 Privet Drive in Surrey. The sweltering summer heat made the raven-head dizzy. He wondered if it was also because he hadn’t eaten anything in a week. He was starving.
His daily routine was worse than before. He tried using Sirius Black an escaped convict and his godfather’s name to pressurise the Dursleys into leaving him alone but it didn’t work as well as last year. Instead, it aggravated Vernon Dursley who took every moment to torment him. Petunia Dursley stuck to verbally abusing him, providing him with only a few slices of moulding bread as his only meal. To get water, he had to finish tasks. Dudley Dursley was still a bully but seemed to acquiesce to sneaking Harry a bit of water before bed - something he was extremely grateful for. But sometimes there would be only one task that would take hours to do, to get barely a glass of water.
Today was one of those days.
As Harry went about pulling weeds, he lifted his already soiled shirt to wipe his sweat. A gasp came from the sidewalk opposite him.
“What in the world? Child! Are you alright?” A woman with black hair and blue eyes asked. She appeared surprised and concerned. Something Harry was not used to.
“I am fine, Ma’am. Just sweating a little.” Harry answered, knowing that if he said anything Vernon would kill him, not like it really mattered. He was willing to kill himself. ‘It should have been me who died that night.’
The woman pressed and Harry tried his best to reassure her. She frowned and offered him water asking his name his age and where he lived. Grateful for the water, he answered her questions without much thought. She nodded at him and left on her way. Harry wondered if she was a new resident in their neighbourhood. No one else really cared much about him anyway. He wondered for a moment if he should have told her about his living state. He decided against it and went back to work. It wouldn’t make a difference.
Somehow when his Aunt had called him back inside to prepare lunch, he wasn’t questioned about the lady he met. He knew Dudley had seen her, but it seemed that he hadn’t told his mother about it.
As he went out to the lawn, his eyes widened in surprise, “Huh?”
The lawn was perfectly made. Harry wondered if the heat had confused him. He went back in, to the chagrin of his Aunt.
Harry met with Dudley outside his room. Dudley went in first waiting for Harry. Harry walked after closing the door.
“So?” Harry asked. He was confused by Dudley’s actions.
“Someone gave me a lecture about my behaviour yesterday. And I wanted to apologise. I have been real bad to you. But then I noticed you talking with her mother today.” Dudley stared at the bed with wide eyes.
Harry frowned and looked over, wincing when he realised what Dudley was looking at. He reflexively hid his hands. An action not unnoticed by Dudley, “Why?” the large boy whispered. Shaking his head immediately, “Nevermind, I know that. My Dad.”
Harry shook his head, “Not really… One of my classmates died.” He trailed off. Dudley stared. Silence ensued.
“Would you like to talk about it? About everything?” Dudley asked as he sat down on the floor in front of Harry.
Harry wondered why he felt that he should. He wanted to speak to someone. With his friends ignoring him, his most unexpected option was Dudley. And he could see the bigger boy trying.
And slowly, Harry spilt out everything. His first year, second, all the way to the last year. He didn’t leave out many details at all. As he finished he looked at Dudley just to be surprised. Dudley Dursley looked both angry and sad. “I am sorry. And I understand if you don't want to forgive me. You don’t need to. But please don’t hurt yourself on something you can’t control.”
Harry looked down to his hands, scars still fresh on his wrists, “It should have been me who died.” he whispered.
“You don’t know that for sure. That madman could and would kill anyone! And the bloke who went with you was a good guy, he was brave and loyal, maybe he would have stood up for you anyways.” Dudley said carefully holding Harry’s knees. “There are people who are grateful to you and love you.” Harry tried to blink back his tears, but they kept falling. Dudley kept his silence through his breakdown.
As the boys sat in companionable silence, Hedwig hooted softly. They looked up. The sun was setting. Dudley rose to go back to his room when the doorbell rang. “Who?” the boys chorused.
The next few moments were the most surprising of all.
Vernon Dursley rushed upstairs slamming open the door to the second bedroom. He lunged at the scrawny teen only to be blocked and held back by his son. Behind him, two adults - Police officers - raced up, eyes wide at the scene and grabbed the angry man.
Another policeman came up and explained what happened.
There was a family gathering in a neighbour’s home where one of the guests had noticed that a boy was potentially a victim of abuse. She had reported the incident to her husband, a fellow officer, who reported it to the authorities. They had come to confirm the story, but the man screamed and tried to attack the concerned child in front of them.
A female officer came to the two teens and asked them about the verity of the situation. As Harry explained it, Dudley stood steadfast by his side. The older boy even admitted to bullying him and other children. He said that he had a late awakening to his actions but wanted to rectify them by any means. The officers were furious at the treatment of the child and impressed by the other’s admission of guilt. They reassured them that since he’d technically not done a crime he won’t be punished, but the same couldn’t be said about his parents. They had also noticed the blade and Harry's hands but didn’t comment. Dudley simply nodded on hearing what was going to happen to his parents.
“And what about us?” Harry asked petting Hedwig to calm both of them. “There will be an investigation, and the medical professionals will want to give you a checkup. So, you will be staying with a foster family since you're still minors.” an officer offered.
“Um, who will we be staying with?” Dudley asked.
The female officer returned to the room, “Well, the family that called the alarm has offered to take you in. So you can talk with them.”
The two boys nodded.
******
Albus Dumbledore was disappointed. Arabella Figg, who lived in the vicinity of Harry Potter’s home had given him a piece of troubling news. The Boy Who Lived was no longer in Surrey. The Muggle authorities had arrested the Dursleys, sending the children off to a foster family. He hoped that the note he sent to Kingsley Shaclebolt would bring him information as to what had happened. Arabella Figg had sent him a letter and disappeared off. Her actions were concerning. But he decided to burn that bridge when he got there. First, he required the address of the family that took in the boy. He could obliviate them and work about with it. Harry Potter needs to be in his control afterall. He could easily convince the Order of his actions. In the end, he was doing everything for the Greater Good.
When he entered the Headquarters of the Order, he was greeted with a surprise. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Severus Snape were indeed present, but so were various others. The adult Weasleys (except Fred and George) as well as Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks. Albus Dumbledore didn’t like that so many people were there but didn’t react in any manner. “Ah Kingsley, Severus. Let’s have our meeting. I hope the others don’t mind, it is of extreme importance.” He said in his grandfatherly tone. Snape sneered and Shaclebolt frowned. The Auror shook his head, “Considering the importance of my findings, I believe that their attendance is mandatory. Especially considering the fact that this relates to Harry Potter and his family.” Dumbledore was displeased, but carefully hid his thoughts, “Of course, of course, I just wanted to ensure that no one reacts too exuberantly.”
Mentally the ageing Wizard wondered how he was to spin this conversation in his favour.