〃More？〃 laughed Harry。 〃More than the two that attacked us； you mean？ Of course there are hundreds； maybe thousands by this time； seeing as they feed off fear and despaira151〃
〃All right； all right blustered；〃 blustered Vernon Dursley。 〃You've made your point …〃
〃I hope so；〃 said Harry； 〃because once I'm seventeen； all of them … Death Eaters； elementors； maybe even Inferi … which means dead bodies enchanted by a Dark wizard … will be able to find you and will certainly attack you。 And if you remember the last time you tried to outrun wizards； I think you'll agree you need help。〃
There was a brief silence in which the distant echo of Hagrid smashing down a wooden front door seemed to reverberate through the intervening years。 Aunt Petunia was looking at Uncle Vernon； Dudley was staring at Harry。 Finally Uncle Vernon blurted out； 〃But what about my work？ What about Dudley's school？ I don't suppose those things matter to a bunch of layabout wizards …〃
〃Don't you understand？〃 shouted Harry。 〃iThey will torture and kill you like they did my parents！〃i
〃Dad；〃 said Dudley in a loud voice； 〃Dad … I'm going with these Order people。〃
〃Dudley；〃 said Harry； 〃for the first time in your life； you're talking sense。〃
He knew the battle was won。 If Dudley was frightened enough to accept the Order's help； his parents would acpany him。 There could be no question of being separated from their Duddykins。 Harry glanced at the carriage clock on the mantelpiece。
〃They'll be here in about five minutes； he said； and when one of the Dursleys replied； he left the room。 The prospect of partinga151probably forever … from his aunt； uncle； and cousin was one that he was able to contemplate quite cheerfully but there was nevertheless a certain awkwardness in the air。 What did you say to one another at the end of sixteen years' solid dislike？
Back in his bedroom； Harry fiddled aimlessly with his rucksack then poked a couple of owl nuts through the bats of Hedwig's cage。 They fell with dull thuds to the bottom where she ignored them。
〃We're leaving soon； really soon；〃 Harry told her。 〃And then you'll be able to fly again。〃
The doorbell rang。 Harry hesitated； then headed back out of his room and downstairs。 It was too much to expect Hestia and Dedalus to cope with the Dursleys on their own。
〃Harry Potter！〃 squeaked an excited voice； the moment Harry had opened the door； a small man in a mauve top hat that was sweeping him a deep bow。 〃An honor as ever！〃
〃Thanks； Dedalus；〃 said Harry； bestowing a small and embarrassed smile upon the dark haired Hestia。 〃It's really good of you to do thisa133 They're through here； my aunt and uncle and cousina133〃
〃Good day to you； Harry Potter's relatives！〃 said Dedalus happily striding into the living room。 The Dursleys did not look at all happy to be addressed thus； Harry half expected another change of mind。 Dudley shrank neared to his mother at the sight of the witch and wizard。
〃I see you are packed and ready。 Excellent！ The plan； as Harry has told you； is a simple one；〃 said Dedalus； pulling an immense pocket watch out of his waistcoat and examining it。 〃We shall be leaving before Harry does。 Due to the danger of using magic in your house …Harry being still underage it could provide the Ministry with an excuse to arrest him … we shall be driving； say； ten miles or so before Disapparating to the safe location we have picked out for you。 You know how to drive； I take it？〃 He asked Uncle Vernon politely。
〃Know how to …？ Of course I ruddy well know how to drive！〃 spluttered Uncle Vernon。
〃Very clever of you； sir； very clever。 I personally would be utterly bamboozled by all those buttons and knobs；〃 said Dedalus。 He was clearly under the impression that he was flattering Vernon Dursley； who was visibly losing confidence in the plan with every word Dedalus spoke。
〃Can't even drive；〃 he muttered under his breath； his mustache rippling indignantly； but fortunately neither Dedalus nor Hestia seemed to hear him。
〃You； Harry；〃 Dedalus continued； 〃will wait here for your guard。 There has been a little change in the arrangements …〃
〃What d'you mean？〃 said Harry at once。 〃I thought Mad…Eye was going to e and take me by Side Along…Apparition？〃
〃Can't do it；〃 said Hestia tersely； 〃Mad…Eye will explain。〃
The Dursleys； who had listened to all of this with looks of utter inprehension on their faces； jumped as a loud voice screeched； 〃iHurry up！〃i Harry looked all around the room before realizing the voice had issued from Dedalus's pocket watch。
〃Quite right； were operating to a very tight schedule；〃 said Dedalus nodding at his watch and tucking it back into his waist coat。 〃We are attempting to time your departure from the house with your family's Disapparition； Harry thus the charm breaks the moment you all head for safety。〃 He turned to the Dursleys； 〃Well； are we all packed and ready to go？〃
None of them answered him。 Uncle Vernon was still staring appalled at the bulge in Dedalus's waistcoat pocket。
〃Perhaps we should wait outside in the hall； Dedalus；〃 murmured Hestia。 She clearly felt that it would be tactless for them to remain the room while Harry and the Dursleys exchanged loving； possibly tearful farewells。
〃There's no need；〃 Harry muttered； but Uncle Vernon made any further explanation unnecessary by saying loudly；
〃Well； this is good…bye then boy。〃
He swung his right arm upward to shake Harry's hand； but at the last moment seemed unable to face it； and merely closed his fist and began swinging it backward and forward like a metronome。
〃Ready； Duddy？〃 asked Petunia； fussily checking the clasp of her handbag so as to avoid looking at Harry altogether。
Dudley did not answer but stood there with his mouth slightly ajar； reminding Harry a little of the giant； Grawp。
〃e along； then；〃 said Uncle Vernon。
He had already reached the living room door when Dudley mumbled； 〃I don't understand。〃
〃What don't you understand； popkin？〃 asked Petunia looking up at her son。
Dudley raised a large； hamlike hand to point at Harry。
〃Why isn't he ing with us？
Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia froze when they stood staring at Dudley as though he had just expressed a desire to bee a ballerina。
〃What？〃 said Uncle Vernon loudly。
〃Why isn't he ing too？〃 asked Dudley。
〃Well； hea151doesn't want to；〃 said Uncle Vernon； turning to glare at Harry and adding； 〃You don't want to； do you？〃
〃Not in the slightest；〃 said Harry。
〃There you are；〃 Uncle Vernon told Dudley。 〃Now e on we're off。〃
He marched out of the room。 They heard the front door open； but Dudley did not move and after a few faltering steps Aunt Petunia stopped too。
〃What now？〃 barked Uncle Vernon； reappearing in the doorway。
It seemed that Dudley was struggling with concepts too difficult to put into words。 After several moments of apparently painful internal struggle he said； 〃But where's he going to go？〃
Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon looked at each other。 It was clear that Dudley was frightening them。 Hestia Jones broke the silence。
〃Buta133 surely you know where your nephew is going？〃 she asked looking bewildered。
〃Certainly we know；〃 said Vernon Dursley。 〃He's off with some of your lot； isn't he？ Right； Dudley； let's get in the car； you heard the man； w