Chapter 7: The Goodbyes
Jeremy got up and walked toward the window, gazing outside. Harry couldn’t move. Was this all true? Did Snape and his mother really have a child? After a few moments, Jeremy turned around and stepped toward Harry, “Are you okay, Harry?”
Harry, turning his head towards Jeremy, mumbled, “Huh? What did you say?”
Jeremy looked at Mr. Weasley for assistance. Mr. Weasley approached Harry and whispered, “C’mon Harry. Say goodbye to your aunt and uncle, and let’s get out of here.”
Harry turned his head and said, “Alright.”
He got up, ignoring Jeremy, and walked toward the Dursleys. Standing in front of Petunia and Dudley was Vernon, who was swinging from right to left impatiently. His walrus mustache was continuously moving up and down, indicating his discomfort with a whole house full of witches and wizards.
When Harry approached him, Vernon stuck out his large, beefy hand and shook Harry’s. Uncle Vernon opened his mouth and said, “Gonmisulot.”
Harry, looking positively puzzled and close to laughter, asked, “Sorry. I didn’t catch that.”
Uncle Vernon, almost smiling, replied, “Boy, I’m going to miss you a lot.”
Harry, nodding, said, “So will I.”
And to Harry’s discomfort, Uncle Vernon hugged him and said, “Could you ever forgive me for my actions all these years?”
Letting Harry breathe a bit, Harry nodded his head and said, “Well, thanks for letting me stay here every summer.”
After speaking with Vernon, Harry walked over to Petunia; both of them gazed at each other. Then, Petunia slowly revealed a wrapped parcel from behind her back and handed it to Harry. Aunt Petunia merely whispered, “Open it.”
Harry, with perforating force, ripped open the parcel to reveal a small mini-broomstick, usually designed for small children. Harry looked at Aunt Petunia and asked, “Why this? How did you get this?”
Aunt Petunia, taking a long, deep breath, said, “It’s the broomstick you rode on as a child. Oh, Lily!”
And Petunia ran out of the room, sobbing about Harry’s mother as though her feelings had been kept inside her for all these years. Suddenly, Harry remembered where he had seen this “mini broomstick” before. At his last visit to Grimmauld Place, he had found a torn piece of paper: a picture of himself flying around on this broomstick, his parents standing next to him. This broomstick was the last living memory of Harry’s parents.
Harry walked over to Dudley, who was standing by the doorway, and said, “Hey, Dudders. How’s it going? I hope you’re still giving those kids that annoy you the old one-two.”
Winking at Dudley, Dudley gave a chuckle and a smile toward Harry. Harry gave Dudley a slap on the back, saying, “See you, Big-D.”
As Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Mr. Weasley walked towards the door, someone began to speak, “Hey, wait for me! I’m coming with you!”
