DISCLAIMER : I don’t own Harry Potter.

Author’s Note – First novel length attempt, so bear with me.

Beta’d by Fenryll

Sirius then Dumbledore. This couldn’t be happening to him. But he couldn’t stop to even mourn his mentor’s death. He had a mission. Voldemort’s horcruxes. They were all that was keeping him going. With his seventeenth birthday approaching, Harry was preparing himself for the task ahead.

Harry turned his head towards the small digital clock on his bed stand. It was 11:30. Half an hour until Ron and Hermione arrived, half an hour until he finally got to leave the Dursleys forever. He had everything packed; his invisibility cloak, his Firebolt. The Marauders Map wouldn’t do him much good now that he was done with school. He took it only for it’s sentimental value. Sort of a last link to his father and to Sirius.

Stealing another glance at the clock, Harry got up and looked out the window. Straining his eyes to see past the cloak of darkness that surrounded number four, Privet Drive, Harry heard the distinctive pop that came along with apparition. Gathering his things, Harry made his way quickly to the front door hoping he didn’t wake the Dursleys on his way out. Unfortunately, the notorious bottom step of the house caused a disruptive creak that was sure to alert his Aunt and Uncle of his midnight departure.

Hurrying out the front door, no longer caring about stealth, Harry looked around the front lawn, hoping to see one of his friends coming towards him with a smile. Wondering if he had imagined the sound, Harry turned sadly back towards the Dursleys. He had told Ron and Hermione to be there at midnight, but in truth, he had hoped that they’d shown early. With the crushing blows he’d received in the past two years, they and a few at the Order were all he had left.

Closing the door behind him, Harry went into the gleaming kitchen. As he sat down, Harry remembered the year before when Dumbledore had visited the Dursleys in this very house. He remembered the brilliant professor saying that the ancient protection that Dumbledore had given Harry at the age of one would end as soon as he turned seventeen. Looking down at his watch, Harry realized that that moment would be in around fifteen minutes.

Coming to a sudden realization, Harry pulled out his wand. If the Deatheaters knew he was going to be unprotected without any means of support in a quarter of an hour’s time, they would surely show up as a welcome party. Grabbing his bag, Harry darted up the stairs and into his Aunt and Uncle’s room.

“What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing boy?” Uncle Vernon barked, outraged at being woken up in the dead of night. Harry’s Aunt sat up, looking alert as though she knew something was amiss.

“There’s no time to explain. I need both of you to get under this cloak and not to make any noise. I think we’re about to have some unwanted visitors.” Harry said with urgency. “Wait here while I get Dudley.” He ran out of the room and down the hall. Not really caring about Underaged Wizardry at the moment, Harry levitated a bewildered Dudley out of his bed and into his parent’s room.

“Under the cloak now!” Harry nearly shouted. Seeing the serious look on his nephew’s face, Uncle Vernon didn’t dare argue. “Don’t make a noise no matter what happens. I’ll bring help as soon as I can.” Harry told them as they disappeared from sight.

Holding his wand in front of him, Harry walked back downstairs and into the kitchen. Apparating without a license was a serious offence, but it was something that the Death Eater’s wouldn’t expect plus it would put him into immediate contact with Ron and Hermione. Concentrating extremely hard on The Burrow, Harry turned on the spot and vanished with a pop.

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