Chapter Four: Seventeen

Harry didn’t say anything about Uncle Vernon’s death to anyone. He had never liked his Uncle very much but now that he knew what had he gone through that day when the death eaters attacked him, he thought that it was good enough for any man to hate wizards. He was sorry for his Uncle’s death, but he didn’t wanted to discuss his feelings with the others. So he asked about something else, about the Phoenix. “How did Fwakes come there to save me? And what did it do?”

“Phoenix has powers we wizards can never think of Harry” said Mr. Wheasley. “So how it save you is a mystery to us also. When we were talking about how to get you from your Uncle’s house, we got a letter. It was from Dumbledore. He must have written it before his death. It said when all doors are blocked, use a Phoenix. It was almost certain that it was a clue. And so we started looking for Fwakes. We found her in the forbidden forests. Hagrid found her. And we had sent her to take you.”

“But how did Dumbledore know that you will have trouble taking me from that house?” asked Harry. “How did he know that he won’t personally be there to help you? That means he – he knew he might die.”

“Even we are wondering about that Harry” said Mr. wheasley.

“Lets not talk about death anymore, shall we.” Said Mrs. Wheasley. “Harry dear, your dinner is kept on the table. Ron and the others are asleep. You eat and go to Ron’s room to sleep. You have had a tiring evening.”

Harry did what he was told to do. But he was still wondering why Dumbledore had written that letter. And who had kept that letter with himself till the time for it to be sent comes?

Next morning he Ron, Ginny, Bill, Fleur and Charlie and told them about the previous night. After a few moments of wondering, he and Ron went to Ron’s room to talk about Hermione. Next day was Harry’s seventeenth birthday but he was not at all in the mood of celebrating. Even Ron was not his usual self. He was gloomy and worried. Mrs. Wheasley told him that they would have a small party for him next day.

Next morning Harry woke up to find the whole of the Burrow decorated for his Birthday. Mrs. Wheasley was specially in the mood to celebrate because of the uncertainty of these times. You never know what might happen tomorrow. When Harry came down, he found her making a lot of delicious smelling food. But he still wished that Hermione was there with them.

By the time it was evening, they were joined by Fred and George, Lupin, Moody, Tonks, Kingsly, Hagrid and Professor McGonagall. They all knew that Harry is about to go on a journey, alone, and wanted to help him (Mrs. Wheasley had told them). most of them knew that if Harry didn’t want to tell them what he is about to do, then no one can force him to. So they had brought gifts for him that might help him in the long run. But Harry was not even interested in those gifts at the moment. He was really worried about Hermione. Even Ron, who was almost always hungry, had not even once looked at the food. And then, she came.

Almost as if she had apparated, she came out of nowhere. Hermione was entering the the burrow. Everyone was amused to see her. But Ron rushed towards her and in front of everyone, he kissed her.

His kiss was received differently by everyone. The Wheasleys were shocked. Fred and George were laughing and making funny sounds. Ginny was looking at Harry and smiling. Professor McGonagall was looking as if some had exploded a dung bomb right in front of her. The others were smiling.

The rest of the evening went in eating (Harry and Ron had found their appetite again now that she was back). And asking Hermione about what she had been doing. Hermione kept quiet. She refused to tell them what had happened until everyone had gone. They were alone in Ron’s room when she said, “I did it. I killed him.”

Ron and Harry looked confused and a bit scared.

Hermione said again “I killed Severus Snape.”