The Other Black - Book 7

Chapter 2 - The Dursleys Departed

Aurora and her parents enjoyed a rather nice breakfast of eggs and bacon, but Aurora knew there were questions that her parents were bound to ask.

When breakfast was finished and the dishes all put in the sink, they grouped together in the living room and Olivia started the conversation:

"This is completely necessary?" she asked.

Aurora nodded.

"Olivia and I are in danger from this... Voldemort," Taylor said.

"His Death Eaters more than himself, especially the Malfoys... I've no idea what he's going to make them do, but hunting down me, Elara, and everyone related to us does not seem outside of the realm of possibility."

"Right," Olivia said.

"And why can't the Ministry help?" Taylor asked.

"Because the Ministry's been infiltrated and the people we can trust are dwindling, so the Order is going to protect you and its perhaps the best protection anyone would have. The Dursleys are having the same offer."

"The Dursleys? Those-"

"Yes. They're getting protected because of Harry."

"I guess that makes sense," Olivia said. "But still. Are we going to be with them?"

"I have no idea," Aurora said honestly. "But you're being picked up with them. Whether you will remain with them or not, I have no idea."

"How long-"

"Five minutes," Aurora said, looking at the clock.

"I guess we should go over there," Olivia said, taking in a breath and steeling herself against the Dursleys.

Taylor looked at her and nodded. "Let's go."

Aurora grabbed her backpack from her room -- it would be easiest if she and Harry left together -- and led the way across the street.

"I thought he said he had five minutes!" came a shrill voice from the other side of the door when Olivia knocked.

"Oh, it's you," said Dudley when he opened the door and saw Aurora, Olivia, and Taylor.

"Hello, Dudley," Olivia said with a fake cheeriness. "Ah, Petunia. I believe you've been told we're leaving together?"

"The boy may have mentioned it," Mrs. Dursley said. Then, after looking across the street and around at the neighbors, she matched Olivia's fake cheeriness, added, "Please come in, come in! Harry's upstairs in his room." She added, in a quiet-but-still-fake voice, to Aurora as they entered.

Aurora went upstairs rather immediately before the inevitable explosion. Harry opened the door as soon as she knocked.

"Dedalus and Hestia will be here soon," Harry said. "Don't get too comfortable."

"I know," Aurora said. "I just wanted to let you know we're here."

"Yeah, as if Aunt Petunia's joy wasn't obvious," Harry said, pointing to the window. "I watched you guys arrive."

"Fair enough."

Harry's eyes fell on a newspaper and he asked, "How'd you feel about-"

"I wanted to light the whole stupid thing on fire," Aurora said, following his line of sight. "You?"

"The whole thing she said... What about what Hermione-"

"I'm sure we can ask Hermione when we see her," Aurora said. She wandered over to where Hedwig sat on Harry's desk. The snowy owl was quite plainly ignoring the owl nuts on the bottom of her cage.