Roses and Riots | f. weasley

Chapter 59: Seven

The following morning, Emilia watched with Harry as the Dursleys loaded up their car with the intention of following the moving truck that had just left Privet Drive. Dudley was looking back at Emilia and Harry every now and then, his bewilderment very obvious, as he helped his father to put some of the last boxes onto the trailer that was attached to the back of the car.

Petunia fidgeted anxiously in the driveway, and then she turned to her niece and nephew, "I- well, I don't suppose I should tell you where we're going?"

Emilia shook her head, "no, it's better that we don't know."

Petunia looked between them and then cleared her throat and nodded, then she turned around and walked down the driveway, getting into the car without another word.

Vernon considered them both and gave them a curt nod, "well, goodbye then."

Dudley's brows furrowed, "I don't understand why he's not coming with us."

"Who?" Vernon asked.

"Harry."

"Because he just isn't, Dudley."

"Why?" Dudley asked, giving his father a disbelieving look.

Vernon sputtered indignantly, and then turned to Harry, "well because- he, well, because he doesn't want to. Isn't that right, boy?"

"Absolutely not," Harry said. "Besides, I'm just a waste of space, isn't that right, Vernon?"

Vernon just stared at Harry and then coughed awkwardly and gestured for Dudley to get into the car with him.

Dudley stared his father down as he slowly walked around the car, and across the driveway to where Emilia and Harry were standing. To everyone's surprise, perhaps even his own, Dudley held out his hand to shake Harry's.

"I don't...think you're a waste of space," he said hesitantly.

"Thanks," Harry said, knowing how extremely difficult it must have been for Dudley to admit such a thing.

Dudley let go of Harry's hand then and stepped back, and then he looked at Emilia, then back to Harry.

"Bye, then."

"Bye, Dudley," Emilia said.

Harry gave him a nod of acknowledgement, "see you, Big D."

Dudley almost smiled, and then he got into the car. They watched the Dursleys drive away, leaving Privet Drive for the last time.

Harry packed up the last of his belongings, including the locket in which the note signed by the mysterious R.A.B. was found, and his notebook of theories of where the remaining Horcruxes would be.

They made their way downstairs, and Emilia watched as Harry looked into the cupboard under the stairs with an indecipherable look on his face.

"I can't believe that's where you used to sleep," she said quietly.

Harry gave her a wry smile, "a lot has changed since then."

"Everything has," Emilia replied, and he nodded.

The sputtering of an engine outside caught their attention, and Harry looked at Emilia warily.

"I'll get it, just stay back a second," she told him.

She opened the door, and grinned up at Hagrid who beamed at her, and Emilia stepped back to let everyone greet Harry, who they hadn't seen all summer.

Ron hugged him first, and then Hermione followed and hugged him tightly and gave him an affectionate kiss on the cheek.