A/N- This is one of a three-part parallel series called Summertime, about
what happens to our three favourite Gryffindors, (well, *my* three
favourite Gryffindors anyway), during the summer leading up to fifth year.
These stories will be sort-of prequels to 'Please Help Me With A Title',
but you don't have to read these before you read that, and vice-versa. Each
story begins at King's Cross at the end of book four, and all three of them
link together, but you don't necessarily have to read all of them. I
suggest you do though, because I personally think they will be quite
interesting. (I might be slightly biased though). What happens to them in a
brief summary- Harry finds out some unexpected things about Dudley, Ron
grows closer to his sister and learns that he is not just the sixth child,
and Hermione gets back in touch with her Muggle side.
Anyway, please don't flame me!!! This is Harry's story………enjoy!
Disclaimer- All Harry Potter things belong to J.K. Rowling and I am not making any money from this story. *Heaves a large, heart-felt sigh*…
Chapter One- Going 'home'.
Harry Potter winked at Fred and George Weasley, turned, and followed his Uncle, Vernon Dursley, out of the station. King's Cross was swarming with tourists and busy people, and Uncle Vernon did not slow down to accommodate Harry, who was lugging a heavy trunk and a large birdcage with an owl inside it along with him, and struggling to keep up. Harry sighed. He'd almost forgotten how much he hated the Dursleys.
They finally reached the car, (a different one to the last time Harry had been there,) and Uncle Vernon waited a little impatiently for Harry to load his trunk into the back. He hadn't said a word to his nephew yet.
Harry was about to put Hedwig into the back as well, but decided against it at the last minute. She had only ridden in the boot three times before, and had been thoroughly annoyed by all three experiences. So why should Harry put the Dursleys' comfort in front of his owl's, whom he cared a lot more about anyway? Smiling a little to himself, Harry quickly opened Hedwig's cage and she climbed gratefully onto his arm. He tucked the cage in next to his trunk, and slammed the boot shut.
Harry climbed into the backseat without so much as glancing at his cousin, Dudley, with Hedwig perching peacefully on his knee. The car began to back out of the parking space, and Harry waited patiently for the bombshell to fall. And sure enough, it came a few seconds later.
"GET THAT RUDDY OWL INTO ITS CAGE!" Uncle Vernon bellowed, twisting furiously round in his seat. Harry didn't even flinch and, to his surprise, neither did Hedwig. She sat there, staring up at Uncle Vernon innocently with her big amber eyes. Harry reached down and stroked her head fondly. "No." He replied calmly, not looking at his Uncle.
Even though he wasn't watching, Harry could just imagine the look on his Uncle's face. Sure enough, his face had turned a nasty shade of purple and he looked as though he had just swallowed a lemon.
"What did you say?" He said in a dangerously low voice. Harry, still not looking up, replied coldly and calmly; "I said, no. Why should Hedwig be left in the back of the car all by herself? She hates it, and it's unfair. So she'll just stay here with me, thank you very much." Harry smiled and looked out of the window. They were causing quite a traffic jam, something that Uncle Vernon hadn't noticed yet.
When Uncle Vernon spoke again, every syllable trembled with anger. "You put that thing in the back, or…"
"Or what?" Harry challenged, looking his Uncle square in the eye. He had decided a week ago that he wasn't going to be pushed around by the Dursleys, not this summer, not ever again. And it was starting right now.
Harry watched as his Uncle's fury built up, ready to pour out straight at him, but he spoke again before it could. "You're holding up the traffic, Uncle Vernon." Harry said pleasantly, his eyes never leaving his Uncle's. As Harry knew it would, this simple statement snapped Vernon out of his trance and pushed him into action. He turned back around and began to drive.
Harry grinned and looked down again. 'Harry one, Dursleys nil.' He thought gleefully. And he was going to make sure they didn't score. He was sick of being pushed around by his so-called 'family', and after what he had endured this year, it was never going to happen again. Harry was suddenly distracted by a muffled sound coming from his right hand side- *from Dudley*. Harry looked over at his cousin in surprise.
It sure as hell didn't look like his cousin.
The Dudley Dursley Harry knew was about the weight of a baby elephant, the size of a cart horse, and had the appearance of a walrus. The Dudley Dursley sitting next to him, though still a tiny bit on the chubby side, looked human, had only one chin instead of four, and had lost his I-need-to- have-some-food-so-give-me-some-now-or-I'll-beat-you-up look. He no longer looked anything like Uncle Vernon, mainly on the account of being able to see his neck. It seemed the diet had worked after all.
After getting over the initial shock of seeing Dudley looking so completely different, Harry had another one to deal with- *Dudley was laughing*! Harry couldn't see most of his cousin's face, but his hand was over his mouth, his eyes were twinkling and there was no mistaking that muffled sound. Harry frowned. What was he laughing at? Surely he wasn't laughing at what Harry had just done… Harry almost started laughing himself. That idea was simply impossible. But still…
Dudley was driven from Harry's mind as they pulled out of the car park. Down a tiny little road to his left, Harry could see a group of people, all with red hair and laden with trunks. It was the Weasleys. Harry watched them as the car went past, wondering how they were getting back to the Burrow. His question was answered almost immediately, as suddenly a triple- decker, purple bus screeched to a halt in front of them out of nowhere. The Knight Bus. Harry sighed, wishing heartily that he were on there with them- anything was better than what he was going 'home' to.
Harry was snapped out of his daydream by the sound of a car horn blaring from somewhere near them. Harry twisted around in his seat, trying to see whom it was- he could have sworn he had heard someone yell 'Harry' at the same time. He couldn't see anyone though.
The rest of the journey back to Privet Drive was spent in silence. Aunt Petunia, who had sat completely still and in shock during Harry's little speech at the beginning, now sat staring out of the window determinedly, her lips pursed angrily. Uncle Vernon sat stony faced, his cheek twitching every now and then, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter than was necessary.
Dudley, after recovering from his laughing fit, had not been sitting in an angry daze like his parents, but had been sitting somewhat impatiently in his seat, as if he wanted the journey to be over. 'Probably wants to play Mega Mutilation Part Four or something.' Harry thought darkly. But something was confusing him. He had noticed that Dudley kept looking over at Hedwig (who was dozing with her head under her wing) with interest, or something that looked like interest anyway. The last time he had done this, Dudley had noticed Harry watching him, but instead of looking away, he had held his cousin's gaze, looked down at Hedwig again, and then out of the window. Harry thought he was going crazy, but he could have sworn Dudley was almost smiling. Harry shook his head slightly and went back to staring out of the window. This was going to be a very weird summer.
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When they finally reached Privet Drive, Harry felt very relieved for once. Dudley was starting to unnerve him. He just wasn't…he was acting like…he wasn't acting like Dudley. He hoped everything would get back to normal once they were inside the house. If he had to stay in Privet Drive the entire summer, (which seemed very likely), he didn't want to have to keep checking that his cousin wasn't acting strangely.
Harry got out of the car, and Uncle Vernon silently opened the boot in from his car seat. He and Aunt Petunia went inside the house, leaving Harry to get his trunk. Dudley started to follow his parents inside, but stopped on the step. Harry was just in the process of heaving his trunk out of the car, which was a lot harder than heaving the trunk in. Hedwig was back in her cage and sitting patiently on the driveway. Harry pulled out his trunk with a final heave, and slammed the boot shut.
It was when he looked up after pushing his hair out of his eyes that Harry noticed Dudley hadn't gone inside, and was standing on the doorstep, watching him. Dudley glanced inside the house, and then back at Harry, who was watching him with a guarded expression on his face. He swallowed, as if he was about to say something hard, and then spoke.
"Do you need any help?"
Harry almost fell over in shock. This wasn't- couldn't be- real. He was dreaming. Any minute now, Ron would bellow in his ear for him to wake up because they were pulling into King's Cross. And then everything would be back to normal.
Harry waited. Nothing happened. Dudley was still standing on the doorstep, waiting for Harry to answer him. Harry searched his mind for something to say. "Um…" he mumbled stupidly.
"Dudley? Where are you?" Dudley jumped at the sound of Uncle Vernon's voice coming from inside the house and, after a last glance at Harry, disappeared through the front door.
Harry stood in shock for a few more moments, but snapped out of it when Hedwig gave a particularly loud screech to get his attention. He hastily picked up Hedwig's cage and, with the same resigned feeling he got every time he came 'home' for the summer, dragged his trunk into the house.
Please r/r!
Anyway, please don't flame me!!! This is Harry's story………enjoy!
Disclaimer- All Harry Potter things belong to J.K. Rowling and I am not making any money from this story. *Heaves a large, heart-felt sigh*…
Chapter One- Going 'home'.
Harry Potter winked at Fred and George Weasley, turned, and followed his Uncle, Vernon Dursley, out of the station. King's Cross was swarming with tourists and busy people, and Uncle Vernon did not slow down to accommodate Harry, who was lugging a heavy trunk and a large birdcage with an owl inside it along with him, and struggling to keep up. Harry sighed. He'd almost forgotten how much he hated the Dursleys.
They finally reached the car, (a different one to the last time Harry had been there,) and Uncle Vernon waited a little impatiently for Harry to load his trunk into the back. He hadn't said a word to his nephew yet.
Harry was about to put Hedwig into the back as well, but decided against it at the last minute. She had only ridden in the boot three times before, and had been thoroughly annoyed by all three experiences. So why should Harry put the Dursleys' comfort in front of his owl's, whom he cared a lot more about anyway? Smiling a little to himself, Harry quickly opened Hedwig's cage and she climbed gratefully onto his arm. He tucked the cage in next to his trunk, and slammed the boot shut.
Harry climbed into the backseat without so much as glancing at his cousin, Dudley, with Hedwig perching peacefully on his knee. The car began to back out of the parking space, and Harry waited patiently for the bombshell to fall. And sure enough, it came a few seconds later.
"GET THAT RUDDY OWL INTO ITS CAGE!" Uncle Vernon bellowed, twisting furiously round in his seat. Harry didn't even flinch and, to his surprise, neither did Hedwig. She sat there, staring up at Uncle Vernon innocently with her big amber eyes. Harry reached down and stroked her head fondly. "No." He replied calmly, not looking at his Uncle.
Even though he wasn't watching, Harry could just imagine the look on his Uncle's face. Sure enough, his face had turned a nasty shade of purple and he looked as though he had just swallowed a lemon.
"What did you say?" He said in a dangerously low voice. Harry, still not looking up, replied coldly and calmly; "I said, no. Why should Hedwig be left in the back of the car all by herself? She hates it, and it's unfair. So she'll just stay here with me, thank you very much." Harry smiled and looked out of the window. They were causing quite a traffic jam, something that Uncle Vernon hadn't noticed yet.
When Uncle Vernon spoke again, every syllable trembled with anger. "You put that thing in the back, or…"
"Or what?" Harry challenged, looking his Uncle square in the eye. He had decided a week ago that he wasn't going to be pushed around by the Dursleys, not this summer, not ever again. And it was starting right now.
Harry watched as his Uncle's fury built up, ready to pour out straight at him, but he spoke again before it could. "You're holding up the traffic, Uncle Vernon." Harry said pleasantly, his eyes never leaving his Uncle's. As Harry knew it would, this simple statement snapped Vernon out of his trance and pushed him into action. He turned back around and began to drive.
Harry grinned and looked down again. 'Harry one, Dursleys nil.' He thought gleefully. And he was going to make sure they didn't score. He was sick of being pushed around by his so-called 'family', and after what he had endured this year, it was never going to happen again. Harry was suddenly distracted by a muffled sound coming from his right hand side- *from Dudley*. Harry looked over at his cousin in surprise.
It sure as hell didn't look like his cousin.
The Dudley Dursley Harry knew was about the weight of a baby elephant, the size of a cart horse, and had the appearance of a walrus. The Dudley Dursley sitting next to him, though still a tiny bit on the chubby side, looked human, had only one chin instead of four, and had lost his I-need-to- have-some-food-so-give-me-some-now-or-I'll-beat-you-up look. He no longer looked anything like Uncle Vernon, mainly on the account of being able to see his neck. It seemed the diet had worked after all.
After getting over the initial shock of seeing Dudley looking so completely different, Harry had another one to deal with- *Dudley was laughing*! Harry couldn't see most of his cousin's face, but his hand was over his mouth, his eyes were twinkling and there was no mistaking that muffled sound. Harry frowned. What was he laughing at? Surely he wasn't laughing at what Harry had just done… Harry almost started laughing himself. That idea was simply impossible. But still…
Dudley was driven from Harry's mind as they pulled out of the car park. Down a tiny little road to his left, Harry could see a group of people, all with red hair and laden with trunks. It was the Weasleys. Harry watched them as the car went past, wondering how they were getting back to the Burrow. His question was answered almost immediately, as suddenly a triple- decker, purple bus screeched to a halt in front of them out of nowhere. The Knight Bus. Harry sighed, wishing heartily that he were on there with them- anything was better than what he was going 'home' to.
Harry was snapped out of his daydream by the sound of a car horn blaring from somewhere near them. Harry twisted around in his seat, trying to see whom it was- he could have sworn he had heard someone yell 'Harry' at the same time. He couldn't see anyone though.
The rest of the journey back to Privet Drive was spent in silence. Aunt Petunia, who had sat completely still and in shock during Harry's little speech at the beginning, now sat staring out of the window determinedly, her lips pursed angrily. Uncle Vernon sat stony faced, his cheek twitching every now and then, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter than was necessary.
Dudley, after recovering from his laughing fit, had not been sitting in an angry daze like his parents, but had been sitting somewhat impatiently in his seat, as if he wanted the journey to be over. 'Probably wants to play Mega Mutilation Part Four or something.' Harry thought darkly. But something was confusing him. He had noticed that Dudley kept looking over at Hedwig (who was dozing with her head under her wing) with interest, or something that looked like interest anyway. The last time he had done this, Dudley had noticed Harry watching him, but instead of looking away, he had held his cousin's gaze, looked down at Hedwig again, and then out of the window. Harry thought he was going crazy, but he could have sworn Dudley was almost smiling. Harry shook his head slightly and went back to staring out of the window. This was going to be a very weird summer.
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When they finally reached Privet Drive, Harry felt very relieved for once. Dudley was starting to unnerve him. He just wasn't…he was acting like…he wasn't acting like Dudley. He hoped everything would get back to normal once they were inside the house. If he had to stay in Privet Drive the entire summer, (which seemed very likely), he didn't want to have to keep checking that his cousin wasn't acting strangely.
Harry got out of the car, and Uncle Vernon silently opened the boot in from his car seat. He and Aunt Petunia went inside the house, leaving Harry to get his trunk. Dudley started to follow his parents inside, but stopped on the step. Harry was just in the process of heaving his trunk out of the car, which was a lot harder than heaving the trunk in. Hedwig was back in her cage and sitting patiently on the driveway. Harry pulled out his trunk with a final heave, and slammed the boot shut.
It was when he looked up after pushing his hair out of his eyes that Harry noticed Dudley hadn't gone inside, and was standing on the doorstep, watching him. Dudley glanced inside the house, and then back at Harry, who was watching him with a guarded expression on his face. He swallowed, as if he was about to say something hard, and then spoke.
"Do you need any help?"
Harry almost fell over in shock. This wasn't- couldn't be- real. He was dreaming. Any minute now, Ron would bellow in his ear for him to wake up because they were pulling into King's Cross. And then everything would be back to normal.
Harry waited. Nothing happened. Dudley was still standing on the doorstep, waiting for Harry to answer him. Harry searched his mind for something to say. "Um…" he mumbled stupidly.
"Dudley? Where are you?" Dudley jumped at the sound of Uncle Vernon's voice coming from inside the house and, after a last glance at Harry, disappeared through the front door.
Harry stood in shock for a few more moments, but snapped out of it when Hedwig gave a particularly loud screech to get his attention. He hastily picked up Hedwig's cage and, with the same resigned feeling he got every time he came 'home' for the summer, dragged his trunk into the house.
Please r/r!