The rest of the day passed uneventfully at #4 Privet Drive, but elsewhere major changes were being made. As Remus had predicted, Rufus Scrimgeour announced that he no longer wished to be considered for the position of Minister of Magic. In a speech to announce that decision he pledged to continue his work as Head of the Auror Office and promised victory over the dark lord. His announcement was met with applause but very little surprise. Hours later Amelia Bones was elected by the Wizengamot to be the new Minister of Magic by an overwhelming majority. Harry laughed when the newscaster on the radio noted that Sirius Black was seen congratulating Minister Bones shortly after her election. Remus was correct in pointing out that Sirius' connections with the new minister were far closer than those Dumbledore had with her and that was good news for Harry. About the time Harry decided he had heard enough and went to turn the radio off he heard a car pull up to the house and knew his relatives had returned. Harry decided to meet them downstairs and get what had to be done out of the way.
When the Dursley's walked in the door they found Harry staring at them from across the room with his arms folded on his chest. They all could tell that something was very wrong from his appearance, but none of them were sure what it could be.
"Boy, what are you up to?" Vernon asked, but the normal anger in his voice had been replaced with confusion.
"Sit down, I have something important to tell you." Harry answered.
"I will not let a freak like you tell me what to do in my own house!" Vernon yelled back, his anger finally returning.
"Then stand, I don't care." Harry replied. "But you will listen to me because your life will be in danger if you don't." Vernon continued to grow angrier, but Petunia sat down on the sofa with a terrified look on her face, as if she knew what to expect.
"What's happened?" Petunia asked quietly.
"Voldemort has returned." Harry answered. He turned towards Vernon to explain. "Voldemort is the evil wizard that killed my parents. When he tried to kill me something went wrong and his body was destroyed."
"That bastard Dumb-door said he was dead and we had nothing to worry about!" Vernon shouted.
"Almost everybody thought he was." Harry replied. "But they were wrong. The war has already started again, it's only a matter of time before the muggles notice that something is going on. Because of what happened the last time, I am one of Voldemort's main targets. Because of that, your lives are all in danger." Petunia shrieked at Harry's announcement while Vernon turned a strange purple color as his blood pressure continued to rise.
"Get out! Get out right now!" Vernon yelled as he stalked towards Harry. "If that maniac wants you then I say let him have you! But you will not endanger my family!" Before Vernon could close the distance between them Harry had drawn his wand and was pointing it at his uncle. He only hoped he wouldn't have to use it.
"Not so fast, Uncle." Harry said. "Because I am here this house is protected. If I left now those protections would fall within the week and then the evil wizards I have been warning you about would come here and kill all of you. But, if I stay here another week the protections will last for another year. That should give you time to move somewhere else where they won't look for you."
"How dare you do this to us!" Vernon said loudly. "This is our home, we will not leave!"
"Then they will find you, and you will die." Harry responded. "This is your only chance, I suggest you take it. In a week I will be leaving here and hopefully I will never have to see any of you ever again."
"Won't they find us no matter where we go?" Petunia asked softly. She, better than Vernon, understood the danger they were in. "They have magic, how can we hide?"
"It won't be hard." Harry assured her. "Wizards, for the most part, are completely ignorant on how the muggle world works. They would never even think to look in a phone book for your address, assuming they had even knew phone books existed. The farther away from here you can get the safer you'll be. Out of country would be the best, if you can manage it."
"I'll not be chased out of my home by a bunch of freaks!" Vernon yelled, obviously clueless on how dangerous Harry's enemies were.
"Vernon, dear, I think we have to listen to him." Petunia said. Vernon turned his head sharply towards her and seemed surprised that she was disagreeing with him. "That monster killed Lily. We may not have always gotten along, but that doesn't mean I can't still see that there is no way we could to be able to defend ourselves against a bunch of wizards as well as she could."
"Don't be ridiculous, Petunia!" Vernon bellowed. "Once we get rid of the brat they'll have no reason to come after us. He is only trying to scare you."
"You're wrong." Harry said. "Voldemort will kill you just because you know me. He'd kill anyone if he thought it might upset me, even a little bit. You have no idea how evil and cruel he can be. If he finds you he will torture you until he gets bored and then murder you in the most gruesome way he can imagine. I am trying to help you avoid that."
"Oh, really!" Vernon scoffed. "Can't you see the boy's crazy Petunia? He's a freak and the biggest mistake we ever made was taking him in."
"Quiet Vernon." Petunia said much to the surprise of everyone else in the room. "How much time do we have again?"
"As long as I stay here another week you will have a year." Harry explained. "But I suggest that you be out of here in a couple of months just to be sure."
"I see." Petunia answered sadly. She looked around the room briefly and Harry could tell she would be disappointed to leave it, even if he thought her decorations were hideous.
"Petunia, honey, we can't leave!" Vernon said. "Where would we go, what would we do?"
"I don't care, Vernon!" Petunia yelled back. "As long as you and Dudders are safe it doesn't matter!" At this she began to sob and Vernon had no choice but to try and comfort his wife. He sat down next to her on the sofa and put one of his chubby arms around her, pulling her close to him as she cried into his shoulder.
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