At The Dursleys'
It was night, and like usual in the Dursley household it had not been a pleasant summer. But at least this time Ron and Hermione could write to him. He had received in total, fifteen letters at least half a page long. One letter had even been filled with coupons for Fred and George's joke shop. He was rereading his latest edition of the Daily Prophet, but there seemed to be nothing of any interest to him. He laid it aside, and wondered if he'd get to leave early this year and go to the Burrow. He hoped he could since he had had such a long hard summer. And he seriously hoped he wouldn't have to go to Grimmauld Place; he was already having enough trouble with the memory of Sirius.
Losing Sirius and taken its toll. He had nobody besides his two friends to write to, anymore. He didn't know how he was going to make it through the summer without Sirius. Sirius was practically family, and the only family he had left. But through his friends he was able to dull the pain inside. The Dursleys didn't make it any easier on him. They were their usual selves. The only thing was, it finally seemed that Dudley had blown his innocent cover. Even Petunia was mildly waking up to Dudley's problem of gangs. She wouldn't admit it still, but even the police came by once with a complaint from a few blocks down. So she insisted Dudley spend more time at home with the family, but this also meant with Harry. At least when Dudley was with his gang he actually lost some weight, but now at home, he began to put on the pounds again. And Petunia was getting a little afraid of forcing him to eat vegetables and fruit, for he could become quite violent. And because Petunia looked so small compared to Dudley, she didn't enforce many of the rules. Fortunately for Harry, Petunia decided that since Dudley had to remain indoors more, Harry had to go outside. Dudley was constantly arguing that Harry was a bother so out Harry went. He would lie out on the driveway most days and think about recent events. He often thought about Lord Voldemort rising to power. His scar still hurt often, but by now he was actually used to it.
It wasn't till the fifth day of lying out on the driveway that he all of a sudden noticed a girl sitting almost directly across from him in the other driveway. Now that he thought of it, she had been there for the past five days. He just had never taken any notice of her. He knew that while he had been at Hogwarts the previous year, a new family had moved into that house. Petunia watched them closer than any other family and seemed to think them suspicious. The girl was reading a book; she never looked at him or anywhere else. She had either dirty blonde or light brown hair. It was swept back into a lose ponytail with side bangs hanging down. She was of average height and thin but curvy. She had an odd sort of nose that looked cute on her and only her. She had a small sweet mouth with full lips; her face was wide with a light complexion to complete her figure. When you put all these features together, you got a girl who was beautiful in an odd sort of way. She didn't have the normal look, but a new kind of cute look. Harry couldn't see her eyes as she was reading, and he tried not to stare for too long. She eventually went in at dusk still not looking at him. He waited a few minutes and got up right as Uncle Vernon's voice boomed for him to come inside.
The next day Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and Dudley left to go shopping for new clothes for Dudley. Harry was given strict orders not to leave the house, and that they would be back in two hours. Harry watched TV for an hour, but that got pretty boring so he wandered around the house looking for something to do. He happened to walk over to the window. There she was sitting outside as usual. Then suddenly Hedwig returned from delivering a letter to Ron, and she had a new letter tied to her leg. She landed on the windowsill and hooted loudly.
"Hold on," said Harry running over to get her a little snack from the kitchen. He then hurried outside and around to the window where she waited. She hooted again on seeing the snack Harry brought her. She ate quickly then leaped on his arm. He stroked her before realizing he was being watched by the girl from across the street. She was staring at him with a funny expression on her face. Harry felt a little red, and trying to be normal he smiled. And to his surprise she smiled back. Then she put her book down and slowly crossed the street. She was heading towards him! He should not have smiled he thought. She must have thought that meant to come over! He sneaked the letter off Hedwig's leg and into his pocket. When she had come within five feet of him she stopped.
"May I?" she asked in a soft voice nodding to Hedwig. Not knowing what to do, Harry followed his instincts.
"Sure," he replied holding his arm a little nearer the girl. She gave Hedwig a few strokes before introducing herself.
"I'm Julie," she said. "I moved here this past spring." Hedwig actually seemed to like being stroked by a stranger, for once!
"I'm Harry," he muttered.
"I haven't seen you here before," she said curiously.
"I go to a..." Harry thought hard. He didn't want to tell her his usual excuse of being at the incurably criminal boys school. "I board at a school that's a ways from here." He knew that was vague, but he crossed his fingers hoping the excuse was good enough.
"Oh," she said pleasantly. Harry was thankful she did not ask the name of the school. Julie gave Hedwig a few more strokes before relaxing her arm.
"She's a beautiful creature," she started. "I don't exactly meet people everyday that own owls." She looked at him expectantly.
"My uncle bought her for me a few years back," Harry lied. She nodded. And then out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Dursleys' car come around the turn onto Privet Drive.
"Oh, uh, I've got to go. Maybe I'll see ya later," he said quickly.
"Maybe," she said with a smile, and Harry hurried back inside while she went to go sit and read back in her driveway.
Harry had just barely made it inside in time. The Dursleys came in, and Harry didn't get a scolding, which meant that they must not have seen him outside.
"Harry!" called Uncle Vernon. Harry took a sudden gasp of air.
As fast as he could he found Vernon, "Yes?"
"Help your aunt bring in the bags," he ordered. Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he headed out to the car to pick up some bags. His eye caught Julie's for a second before returning to the house.
Somehow for the next few days, Harry couldn't stop thinking about Julie. He wanted to talk to her, but he knew the Dursleys would never allow that. But one day while they were particularly busy preparing for guests at dinner, Harry inched his way outside. He took a look around, but she was nowhere in sight. Disappointed, he decided to take a little walk around the block. He checked his watch; he would have thirty minutes before he must be back. The Dursleys were to have Mr. Collings and his son over to discuss "business opportunities" as Vernon called it. Harry desperately wished he did not have to be present at dinner. After the incident with the Masons, the Dursleys decided it would be better to have Harry present as long as he didn't say or do anything. He had met Mr. Collings' son, Bret. He was just as mean as Dudley, but by the look of him you wouldn't know it. He was rich and turned up, and he always acted like a gentleman in front of adults. Harry hated the thought of sitting at the same table as him. He tried to devise ways of skipping dinner, but besides running away nothing came to him.
"Hey, may I join you?" Julie came running up. He turned and smiled.
"Sure," he replied. She walked along with him.
"So, why doesn't your brother go to the same school as you?" she asked. Harry looked at her real funny. "He's always around during the school year," she continued.
"Oh, you mean Dudley. No, he's not my brother. He's my cousin," answered Harry. He decided to give the whole story. "I've lived with my aunt and uncle ever since my parents died." He was prepared for her reaction.
"Oh, I'm so sorry..." she began with sympathy in her eyes.
"No, it's okay. It happened a long time ago," he cut her off. He smiled, and her smile came back. "What about you?" he asked.
"Well, since I came here, you've been the first person that talked to me," she said. He turned a little red. "All the other people I've met at school and around here are a little bit dodgy." A frustrated expression graced her face.
"Sounds like my situation here," he laughed. "No one talks to me either." She smiled wider. They were now coming back around the corner to the Dursleys' house. "My uncle is having these business people over for dinner, so I'd better go before I get in trouble again."
"So that's why you're always outside," she laughed with a grin. "Well, you're welcome to knock on my door at any time," she said sweetly.
"Thanks," Harry said, and reluctantly he went inside. He was very careful to avoid the Dursleys as he sneaked into the kitchen. Vernon, on seeing him, immediately ordered him to put on better clothes and then to be in the dining room in five minutes. And so Harry dragged himself upstairs to change his clothes, into what he didn't know; he didn't have anything better to wear. In his room, he searched desperately and did happen to find decent pants and a fairly nice shirt. He put them on and, hearing the doorbell, hurried downstairs.
As he made his way to the dining table, he heard Vernon introducing Petunia. "And of course," he said next, "this is my son Dudley..." Harry could have sworn Bret gave Dudley a hint of a smirk that Dudley returned just as slyly. Harry had the feeling they were up to something. Mr. Collings then turned his head to Harry and smiled. "Oh, that's my nephew, Harry," Vernon finished sternly.
"Nice to meet you, Harry," Mr. Collings nodded. Harry gave a faint smile and nodded back. Vernon looked around.
"Well, Petunia, dear, could you serve us up some dinner?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Of course," Petunia replied too happily. Dudley kept the stupid innocent smile on his face, and Harry just sort of stood in the background. Petunia came back from the kitchen with three large dishes. She was stumbling around trying to find the table, for she couldn't see over the pile of dishes she was carrying. As Dudley stood back and sneered, Harry ran forward to help her balance before the dishes spilled everywhere. When Petunia finally landed the dishes she turned away from Harry, and then, as if it just struck her, she faced him, and with a regretful expression added, "Thank you Harry." Harry knew she only said that because there were guests present. All six of them settled around the table and began serving their plates. They ate in silence except for the small talk. After they ate a large ham, and finished the sides they moved over into the living room.
"So Mr. Collings, what about that deal?" asked Vernon after comfortably seating himself. Mr. Collings looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Well, I suppose it is a good investment. The advantages would be..." Mr. Collings droned on. But Harry wasn't listening. He could care less about a business deal; so for the first fifteen minutes he stared into the fireplace that had no fire. Then something caught his eye. Vernon, Petunia, and Mr. Collings were so wrapped up in the conversation, that they didn't notice Dudley and Bret whispering. Bret caught Harry's eye and threw him a rather threatening look. Harry looked away, but kept checking on them out of the corner of his eye. Finally, after two hours of discussion, Mr. Collings and Vernon shook hands after making an agreement. Then Mr. Collings nodded to Petunia and thanked her for the dinner; he nodded to Dudley not saying much, and then he turned on Harry. Harry tried to return a grateful smile, but it was hard. "You're a good lad," he said. "You keep it up." Harry wasn't sure if he was referring to him helping Aunt Petunia or what, so he nodded. Vernon looked suspiciously between them. Mr. Collings with his son turned around to leave, and Harry bolted for his bedroom not wanting to answer to his uncle's suspicious questions. He locked the door behind him, and to his relief no one bothered him that night. As he climbed into bed, he could hear Vernon's ranting about the new deal. He obviously thought that Mr. Collings should have been more generous, but he was satisfied with the outcome. He was able to sleep peacefully except for the nagging thought about what Mr. Collings said. Was he simply referring to Harry helping his aunt with the dishes or did he know Harry, or who he was? Was Mr. Collings himself a wizard? He could imagine the look on Vernon's face if he found out. Not able to solve any of these questions, he turned over and fell to a very bad night of sleep.
About three in the morning he woke up to the sound of a slamming door. The next thing he heard was his uncle's booming voice. He was yelling at Dudley, "...I warned you, Dudley." Mrs. Dursley gave a howl of sympathy towards Dudley that blocked out a few of Vernon's words. "... and especially while Harry is here. Your mother and I have been very patient with you so far, and this is the last chance I'll give you. I mean it!" If Harry could have seen Vernon, the vein would've been pulsing in his temple.
"Vernon, maybe we could just..." started Petunia.
"No, this is the last time," finished Vernon, and then Harry heard another door slam. Petunia was still whimpering, but as far as Harry was concerned, Dudley hadn't made a sound. He heard more doors slam as each of them returned to their bedrooms. After a few quiet seconds, Harry could hear more yelling coming from his aunt and uncle's room.
"I don't know what got into that boy. He used to be so good," Vernon was saying.
"He's just going through a rough time," tried Aunt Petunia. Vernon sniffed.
"If Harry didn't go away for most of the year, I would think it was his influence on Dudley," he remarked. "But it's his friends; they're the ones who've been..."
"...Just trying to have fun," finished Petunia though she faltered with these words.
"Breaking all the windows in that man's house and sneaking out at night to hang around alleys does not count as fun!" he yelled furiously. "I don't know what I'll do with him if he keeps this up," continued Vernon more calmly. "I've given him so many chances..."
"Maybe a psychiatrist could..." she began.
"I am not sending him to a psychiatrist; besides he wouldn't be able to do anything for Dudley anyway," he said more heatedly. The room went quiet for a moment.
"We'll see what we can do tomorrow, but for now let's get some rest," he finished.
Harry leaned back. So Dudley had finally gone over the edge. Harry thought that was never going to happen. Dudley's situation was not surprising to Harry, as he knew of Dudley's "dark side." With no worry of it, he continued to sleep.
