Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

4

Chapter 4—The Seven Potters

Summary

Harry heads upstairs to watch the Dursley’s car disappear from the window, then takes his belongings downstairs. Looking about, Harry thinks of the times he had in the house whenever the Dursleys went out without him and he was allowed some fun time to himself. They seem like memories that belong to another person. He talks to Hedwig about it, about the time he’s had in the house; saving Dudley from dementors, Dumbledore’s visit last year, the cupboard under the stairs where he used to sleep. He hears a noise outside and looks out the window to see figures appearing as they lift their Disillusionment Charms. Hagrid’s there with a motorbike that has a sidecar, and several others have thestrals and brooms. Moody has Harry retreat inside to explain the new plan to him.

Once in the kitchen, Harry observes the whole group: Ron, Hermione, Fred and George, Bill, Mr. Weasley, Moody, Tonks, Lupin, Fleur, Kingsley, Hagrid, and Mundungus. Tonks flashes her wedding ring at Harry, but Moody cuts him off in the middle of his congratulations to get things moving. He explains that Pius Thicknesse has made it an imprisonable offense to use magical means of leaving the Dursley house, in the name of “protecting” Harry. Since he’s still got the Trace on him as well, it’s down to using magic transportation that the Ministry can’t track. Lily’s charm on Harry will break as soon as he gets outside the house’s radius, but they’ve chosen to break it early to get the jump on Voldemort. Moody tells Harry that they left a fake trail at the Ministry, insisting that he would be moved on the 30th, but they presume that he’s got Death Eater’s patrolling just in case. To help, they’ve placed crazy protections on a dozen houses, all potential hiding spots.

He explains that Harry will be heading to Tonks’s parents, and from there can use a Portkey to the Burrow. Harry asks how the Death Eaters could be fooled when so many of them will be flying to the Tonks house. Moody tells him the crux of the plan—there will be seven Harrys with seven traveling companions acting as escorts, and each pair will head to a different safe house. Moody withdraws a flask of Polyjuice Potion, and Harry freaks out; he’s not all right with six people risking their lives. Hermione isn’t surprised he’s taking it this way, Ron insists that they’ve risked their lives for him before, and when Harry threatens not to cooperate, George points out that it won’t be hard for thirteen wizards to subdue him. Moody demands the hair, and Harry eventually acquiesces. The potion turns gold, and Hermione makes the comment that Harry looks much tastier than Goyle did back in second year, which gets nothing but eyebrows from Ron.

Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Fleur, and Mundungus are lined up to be fake Harrys. (Mundungus requires some forceful handling in that regard.) Everyone takes their Polyjuice Potion and turns into Harry—the twins have fun exclaiming that they’re identical. Moody hands out better fitting clothes, tells everyone to retrieve luggage and not forget their glasses. Harry finds it entirely unsettling, but eventually he’s staring back at six more of himself. The pairs for the flight are as follows: Moody and Mundungus, Arthur and Fred, George and Remus, Fleur and Bill, Hermione and Kingsley, Ron and Tonks, and Harry with Hagrid. Harry is less-than-happy to be traveling by motorbike than broom, but Moody tells him that the Death Eaters will probably assume that he’s traveling that way. Everyone heads out back—Harry asks Hagrid if the motorbike he’s using is Sirius’, which Hagrid confirms. He also tells Harry that Mr. Weasley added a few modifications, and Arthur reminds Hagrid that he’s not sure of those and they’re only to be used in emergencies. The group kicks off, Harry feeling uncomfortable crammed into the sidecar. He forgets to get a last look at Privet Drive and by the time he looks down, he can’t tell which house it is.