Chapter 1: Rescuing The Boy Who Lived
Josh walked out of his bathroom with a towl wrapped around his waist smelling of berries and flowers, then looked over to his dresser to pull out some clothes with the use of his wand and began swing his clothes around as if he was conducting an orchestra. You see, Josh Anderson was not an ordinary person, he was a wizard, fresh out of his first year at Hogwarts. He could do a lot of magic than the average muggle boy because to them, magic was nonexsistent.
Josh threw his clothes left and right, up and down. He missed Hogwarts, he missed its secret passageways, ghosts, his classes, the amazing feasts, his dorms, Quidditch, Hagrid, and most importantly, his best friends; Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Daphne Greengrass, and Neville Longbottom.
"Joshua Malcom Anderson!" Mrs. Anderson bellowed from Josh's doorway holding a basket full of clothes. Josh froze, and his clothes and wand dropped to the ground. "I hope you are not illegally doing magic, cause if you are then that means you will get in trouble with Magical Law and not just them, but to me as well."
"But mom," Josh unfroze, sighed, and rolled his eyes. "You know they say that only to keep muggleborns from doing it and from us young ones to not do it in front of muggles. The can't get us half bloods or pure bloods with their magical parents, they wouldn't be able to tell us apart," he explained stubbornly then picked up his wand.
"Is that so?" Mrs Anderson said as she walked into Josh's room and dropped the basket on top of Josh's dresser. Josh nodded, looking ridiculous still naked with a towel around his waist. His mother walked up to Josh and then grabbed him by the ear.
"Ahh!" Josh screamed. "Mum? What are you doing?"
"I don't care if Magical Law can't detect you, they only say that to teach you a lesson," Mrs. Anderson explained sternly as Josh tried to protest. "And plus, I'm here and when i say no magic in the house, I mean no magic in the house. Understand?" Josh nodded noticing his mother was being very serious. Mrs. Anderson then let go of his ear. "Now, give me your wand." she demanded.
"But, mum!" Josh protested as she took the wand anyways. "What if i need it when i go to the Weasley's!"
"Oh i doubt Molly will let her children do magic either," Mrs. Anderson said as she pocketed Josh's wand and began to put his clothes away. "She's a very stern and responsible mother, not to mention very caring and protective of her children." Josh rolled his eyes and began to pick up his clothes so he could put them on. He undid his towel right when his mother turned to look at him.
"Mum! Turn Around!" Josh screeched.
Mrs. Anderson chuckled and turned back around. "Nothing I haven't seen before." Josh shook his head and began to dress. "So, you still haven't heard from Harry?"
Josh nodded. "No, neither has Ron, Hermione, or even Neville. It's really odd, mum." He said. "Could his family have something to do with it?"
Mrs. Anderson shook her head. "No, hopefully not, but the owl usually goes directly to the person intended to recieve the letter." Josh nodded in understanding.
"I'm kinda worried mum, i mean, you know his family wasn't that great that day at King's cross," Josh said pulling on his blue t-shirt.
"I know, son," Mrs. Anderson replied. "I'm sure you'll hear from him soon," she assured then finished with Josh's clothes. "Dinner will be ready in a few." And she left Josh to his thoughts.
Josh hopped into his bed, thinking there was someway he could get to Harry to see if things were alright. A few days later, Josh's things were packed into his trunk ready to go to the Weasley's house for the rest of the summer as it turned out that his mother had to go away for the last two weeks of the summer and wouldn't be able to take Josh shopping for his school supplies. Mrs. Weasley, however, had glady agreed to take Josh for the rest of the summer and was given money for Josh's new school supplies.
Josh exited his room fully dressed and jumped down the stairs, where his trunk and his owl, Shadow, sat. He ran into the kitchen where his mother sat reading the Daily Prophet and sipping tea. Josh glanced at her than walked toward the fridge to pull out some orange juice. He turned away from his mother, whose back was towards him, and was about to take a drink when...
"Don't you dare drink from that carton, young man," Mrs. Anderson spoke sternly. Josh rolled his eyes. "And don't roll your eyes at me." Josh turned to look at his mother to see her still reading the newspaper and wondered if mothers had another magical power he didn't know about. Josh then grabbed a glass and walked over to the table.
"Do you have eyes on the back of you head?" Josh asked as he poured him some orange juice.
"Well, when you become a parent, then you will get some as well," Mrs Anderson replied not looking at Josh and gulped down his juice and then continued to put the rest of the juice away and put his glass in the sink. Mrs. Anderson looked over at Josh who looked back at her expectantly, and then smiled. "Are you ready, then?" she asked her son. Josh nodded. Mrs. Anderson nodded back and then reached into her pocket to pull out Josh's wand. She slowly handed him his wand, but pulled it back before he could snatch. "And what are you going to do?" His mother asked sternly.
"Not do magic," Josh sighed, and then his mother gave him his wand. Josh took it and pocketed it. "Alright, let's get a move on!" Josh said as he marched towards the front door where his things sat. Mrs. Anderson walked towards Josh through the hallway, but turned into the sitting room, puzzling Josh. "Um, mum?" Josh called as he then followed her and found his mother standing by the fireplace. "What are you doing?"
"We're going to the Weasley's by Floo, they do live far away," Mrs. Anderson replied with a smile. "Plus, I don't want to have to apparate four times in a row. Now please, go grab your things." Josh nodded and grabbed his trunk and owl, and then came back later and handed his trunk to his mother. "Now, remember to speak very clearly and keep your elbows close to your body, okay?" Mrs. Anderson told her son who nodded, and grabbed some floo powder. "The Burrow!" And Mrs. Anderson disappeared through the green flames.
Josh stepped into the fireplace with his owl and grabbed some floo powder. "The Burrow!" he shouted and threw the powder down where he was then engulfed in the green flames. Josh felt like he was flyind as he was going up, and he could barely see other entrances, but not clearly as it was too fast. Seconds later, Josh flew out of a fireplace where he landed on a yelping red head.
"Are you two okay?" Mrs. Anderson asked the two children.
"Yeah." Josh nodded from the ground and helped the other person up without looking at them. "Sorry, Ron," Josh apologized, but was caught by surprise when the person he apologized to was not Ron at all, but to a girl with red hair, freckles, brown eyes, and a few inches shorter than him. "I..uh...Sorry." he told her.
"It's okay," the red headed girl said quietly with a tiny blush.
"Josh!"
Josh turned to see Ron running down the steps with a happy expression on his face. Josh looked back towards the girl only to see that she was walking away with Mrs. Anderson by her side.
"I see you met my little sister, Ginny," Ron said as he walked up to Josh who blushed. To Josh, Ron seemed to grow a few inches. Josh grew to, but Ron was taller.
"Yeah, I sorta fell on her," Josh replied with a half smile, while Ron chuckled, then grabbed Josh's trunk.
"Come on," Ron said as he began towards the stairs. "We're staying in my older brothers, Bill and Charlie's old room on the third floor." Josh nodded and followed Ron with his owl while thinking why they were'nt going to Ron's room. "We're staying in Bill's cause my room won't fit me, you, and Harry, but we could use my room as a place to just hang out. It's small, but it's at the top, and it's pretty cool."
Minutes later, the two twelve year olds entered the third floor room, They had passed Ginny's room on the first, and Percy, Fred, and George's rooms on the second floor. The room was nearly empty except for two beds, a cot, a small closet, and a small night table. It wasn't really decorated at all, probably because Bill and Charlie took their decorative items with them.
"So, you and Harry have the beds and I took the cot," Ron said to Josh as he put Josh's trunk on one of the beds. "I figured that lettin you and Harry have the beds would seem more appropriate." Josh raised an eyebrow.
"That's really nice of you, mate," Josh replied jokingly. "Speaking of Harry, have you heard of him yet?" he asked Ron as Josh placed his owl cage down and opened it. Ron then went to open the window, and Josh's owl flew out.
"No, I haven't," Ron replied as he looked at Josh's owl then turned to Josh. "At first, I thought it was our Owl, Errol. I mean, he's old and is always gone for hours and sometimes crash lands. I expected he loses the mail when he crashed. But i don't think so, i mean, you got my letters."
"Yeah i did, but Shadow is young and he doesn't crash, but he always comes back home empty taloned," Josh explains as him and Ron sat and looked out the window. "This is really weird, cause Hermione and Neville haven't heard from Harry either. And didn't he say he was going to write us?"
Ron nodded. "Yeah, he did." he agreed as the two didn't notice the Weasley twins silently walk in. "I think his muggle relatives have something to do with this. But Dad did tell me that he used magic and got a warning for doing so." Josh looked surprised.
"I bet he did it just to get back at his cousin," Josh said.
"Talkin bout Harry, are we?" George spoke up causing the two twelve year old's to jump in fright, but calmed down when they saw it was only Fred and George.
"Merlin, George," Josh said disappointed the twins.
"How'd you know it was me?" George asked. Josh smirked and shrugged.
"I just do," he replied.
"I wonder how he does it, George," Fred told his brother.
"Yeah, he wasn't even looking that time," George replied.
"Was there something you wanted?" Ron asked annoyed.
"Oh, yeah," Fred said then pointed at Josh with George. "Your mother is leaving."
"And she wants to say good bye," George added.
"And...We might have a solution to you Potter problem," Fred said.
Josh stood up. "Hold that thought!" he said the left his room, down the stairs, and into the sitting room where his mother and Mrs. Weasley were switching their goodbyes.
"Thank you, Molly. I really appreaciate it," Mrs. Anderson said.
"Oh, it's no problem," Mrs. Weasley replied with a smile. Josh walked over to the two women with his attention towards his mother.
"So, you off then?" he asked his mother as Mrs. Weasley left for the two to be alone.
"Yes, I am." Mrs. Anderson answered. "And I want you to remember a few things. No trouble, and No Magic." She said sternly to Josh who nodded annoyingly. "And please be on your best behavior. Mrs. Weasley has your school supply money, so don't worry about that." Josh nodded as his mother hugged him and he hugged him back. "I'll write you and see you on Christmas." She said then let go of her son. "I love you. Bye."
"Bye, Mom." Josh replied. "I love you too." And then his mother left. "Yes!" he said with a fist pump and air punches, and turned only to freeze when he saw Ginny staring at him curiously and trying not to laugh. "Oh, uh, hi."
"Hi," she replied.
"Uh, I gotta go," Josh said then quickly walked away and up the stairs back into the room he was staying in to find Ron coming down the stairs with Fred and George behind him. "What's going on?" Josh asked curiously.
"Come on, Fred and George said they might have a way to get Harry out of his relatives house," Ron replied. Josh nodded and followed the three Weasleys out the front door, through a small front yard, and towards a garage. Fred and George opened the Garage doors to reveal a light blue car.
"A car?" Josh said. "So we're going to drive that car and go get Harry?"
"Not exactly," Fred replied.
"Yes, this car here is a special one!" George said.
"Special?" Ron and Josh said in unison.
"Kids, you are looking at a Ford Anglia 105E Deluxe!" Fred told the young ones.
"Okay, but what's so special about this Ford Anglia?" Josh asked the twins.
"Because this Ford Anglia has been modified!" George answered. Ron and Josh shared a glance then looked at the twins questioningly.
"It has been magically modified to Fly and become Invisible!" Fred finished. Ron and Josh looked at one another before turning to look back at the twins.
"So, what's the plan?" Josh asked them.
"Well, we're going to use this car to get to Harry's house and break him out of that muggle prison of his," Fred answered.
"And then we're going to bring him back here," George added.
"All under the night."
"And All under the nose of our mother!" George finished.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Ron asked his brothers. Josh stared at the car thinking it over. It seemed like a pretty damn good idea, and if Harry was in trouble, then he needed to be rescued immediately, even if this was pretty risky.
"Yeah, It's perfectly safe," Fred answered his brother.
"Yeah, we tested and practiced it out so we know how to drive this thing," George added.
"So how bout it?" The twins asked in unison.
"Let's do it!" Josh blurted out surprising Ron.
"Are you sure?" Ron asked his friend.
"Yeah, think about it Ron," Josh said. "If Harry is in trouble, then we need to get him out of that house!" Ron thought it over then nodded.
"Okay, then, let's do it!" Ron said to his brothers. "But when do we leave?"
"Tonight!" Josh answered before the twins could answer.
"Why tonight, young little prankster?" Fred asked Josh.
"Cause, tomorrows Harry's birthday, and if we rescue him like sometime after midnight, then it would be a birthday wish that came true!" Josh explained, and the Weasleys understood the logic.
"Alright, Tonight it is!" the Twins said in unison. Josh and Ron looked at eachother and smiled.
Later that night, a quarter to midnight, Mrs. Weasley, Percy, and Ginny werwe asleep, and with Mr. Weasley at work, Ron, Josh, Fred, and George quietly snuck out of their rooms, down the squeaky stairs, out the front door, and towards the Garage where the car sat. Fred and George quietly opened the door and all four walked towards the car.
"Okay, we won't start it now, so we have to push it a ways away," Fred said then turned to Josh. "Josh, you steer, while me, George, and Ron push." Josh nodded and go into the driver's seat. The three Weasley boys then began to push, and Josh led them into the right direction. After a while, Josh heard a yell to stop, and his did so. Fred, George, and Ron got into the car. George passing Josh the rope they had brought. Fred sat in the Driver's seat, Ron in the passengers, with George and Josh in the back. Josh was looking around where he sat. It seemed a lot bigger than a regular car, like if it could fit five people.
"Prepare to have your minds blown," Fred said as he started the car that roared to life. Fred pressed on the gas pedal and the car moved forward, faster and faster. Ron and Josh watched in amazement as the car then began to lift into the air and fly higher and higher into the sky.
For the next few hours, Fred flew the car towards Little Whinging while Ron, Josh, and George watched the passing clouds. They were brought to attention when Fred had spoken up. "Welcome to Little Whinging!" he said loudly. Josh looked down at the city. It looked ordinary and boring as all the houses and streets looked the same.
"Looks like a boring neighborhood," Ron commented and the others agreed. Minutes later, Fred began to descend down on Number 4 Privet Drive.
"Here's Harry's house," Fred said, and they all stared at the ordinary house. Josh noticing that a window had bars on it.
"I bet Harry's room is the one with the bars on it!" Josh said.
"I bet so too," Ron said as Fred closed in on the barred up window.
"Ron, knock on it," Fred told his younger brother. Ron nodded, opened his window and knocked on Harry's window for a few seconds. He knocked on it again, and a few seconds later, a disheveled and tired looking Harry appeared. He caught a look of suprise on his face when he saw Josh and the Weasley brothers smiling back at him, so he smiled back.
"Ron! Josh! Fred, George!" Harry breathed out, pushing open the window so they could talk through the bars. "What are you guys doing here?" he asked then noticed that they were in a car floating in mid-air.
"Rescuing you of course!" Ron replied with a grin.
"All right there, Harry?" Josh asked his best friend.
"Better now!" Harry replied.
"What's been going on Harry?" Ron asked. "Why haven't you been answering any of our letters? I asked you to stay with us about twleve times, and then Dad comes and tells us that you've been given a warning for using magic outside of school and in front of muggles!"
"It wasn't me...and how did you know!" Harry asked with a puzzled look on his face.
"My dad works in the Ministry," Ron answered.
"Harry! You know your not suppose to use magic outside of school!" Josh told his friend.
"I know! And you guys should talk," Harry replied pointing at the floating car.
"Oh, this doesn't count," Ron said. "We're only borrowing this. It's dad, we didn't enchant it. But doing magic in front of those muggles you live with..."
"I told you, it wasn't me!" Harry said frantically. "Look, I need you to go and tell someone at Hogwarts that they locked me up and won't let me go back to school, and..."
"Stop gibbering, Harry," Josh said. "We're taking you back to the Burrow with us!"
"But you can't magic me out..."
"We don't need to," Ron replied jerking his head back. "Did you forget who I've got with me!"
"Tie that to the end of the bars!" George said, tossing the rope to Harry.
"If the Dursleys wake up, I'm dead!" Harry said nervously as he tied the rope around the bars, and Fred revved up the car.
"Don't Worry," Fred said. "You better stand back." Harry moved back into the shadows. The car revved louder and louder and suddenly, with a crunching noise, the bars were pulled clean out of the window as Fred drove straight up in the air. Harry ran back to the window to see the bars dangling a few feet above the ground. Panting, George and Josh pulling up the bars and set the bars next to them in the back seat. Fred then reversed as close as possible to Harry's window.
"Come on now, get your trunk!" Ron told Harry. Harry nodded and began to hurriedly packed all of his things. Minutes later, Harry threw his trunk, broom, and other things into the trunk, and Fred turned towards the side. Harry picked up Hedwig from across the room, just in time for her to let out one loud screech.
"THAT RUDDY OWL!" came Harry's Uncle's loud voice from somewhere else in the house. Ron and Josh shared a glance, able to hear the angry voice. Harry quickly ran over to the window and handed Hedwig over to Josh who pulling the bird in. And that's when the door busrted open. Harry turned to see his uncle standing there with an angry look on his face. "Petunia! He's Escaping!" Harry's uncle bellowed as he ran just as Harry ran towards the window. Harry jumped just as his uncle grabbed his ankle, and Harry landed in George, Ron, and Josh's arms.
"Let go!" Harry yelled.
"No," Harry's Uncle shouted. "You and your bloody bird aren't going anywhere!"
"Drive!" Ron shouted. Fred hit the pedal, and drove away from the window, dragging Harry's Uncle with them, who then let go of Harry's foot and fell to the ground. Harry was fully pulled into the car, and shut the door. He was free.
"See ya next summer!" Harry shouted from out the window, towards his uncle.
"Bye the way, Harry," Josh said to get his friends attention. "Happy Birthday!" Harry smiled in thanks.
"Happy Birthday, Harry!" The Weasley brothers sang, and then continued to sing Happy Birthday as they left Little Whinging, Surrey.