Disclaimer: I own nothing. J.K. Rowling owns these characters. Isn't she lucky..? Lol. Happy reading. Please read & review.
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Chapter 1: The Meeting
Harry Potter was unusual for a boy his age in many ways. For one, it was his sixteenth birthday and he wasn't exactly looking forward to it. Harry Potter was the sort of kid who had never looked forward to his birthdays. Mainly because he lived with his aunt, uncle and cousin, and they never went out of his way to make any birthday of his enjoyable.
Another unusual thing about Harry was his appearance. He had a handsome appearance. His hair was jet-back and went beautifully with his emerald green eyes that were hiding behind his glasses. But, the most unusual things about Harry wouldn't be the fact he had an owl for a pet, or the fact that he was wearing a black cloak and holding a wand. It would be the tiny lightning bolt scar on his forehead. It was an interesting mark with an interesting story behind it. The same story as to why Harry had no parents. The same story as to why Sirius Black, his dead godfather, had been locked in Azkaban for twelve years. The same story as to why Harry lived with his aunt and uncle.
Yes. Harry lived with his aunt and uncle and they kept him up in his room away from the neighbors. Not because he was dangerous (well in Uncle Vernon's opinion, anyone like Harry was dangerous) but because Harry Potter had a secret. The secret that made him special. The secret as to why he had the lightning bolt scar. The secret as to why he was holding a wand. Harry Potter, was a wizard.
Looking out his bedroom window, now staring at Number 4, Privet Drive's mailbox, Harry was waiting anxiously for someone to stroll up the sidewalk and ring the doorbell. The clock read 7:00 am. He was waiting for Remus Lupin. It had only been a week ago when Lupin had come to visit Harry. At first, Harry wanted nothing to do with the visit, but as they talked Harry realized something. That he wasn't as close to Sirius as he wanted, and in a deeper conversation, he realized he wasn't as close to Lupin as he thought or would have liked. Harry wanted to make it up to them. All of them. His parents, Sirius and Lupin. And he was. Harry was now talking to Lupin almost daily, like brothers who are living in separate worlds.
Leaning back, he sat back on his bed, the springs lowering as Harry laid on it, and he looked at the ceiling. The anxiety getting to him.
He heard his aunt downstairs vacuuming. She had just finished for Harry had heard a big 'click' and the loud humming abruptly stop. She opened the closet and put the vacuum away then Harry heard the curtain. She was probably off to spy on the neighbors again. Something that long neck of hers was good for. Spying on the neighbors and when Harry was in trouble, it was good for looking down at him, hair neat and tidy, lips pursed and arms crossed.
The TV was on in the kitchen. Uncle Vernon is watching the News again, Harry thought as he shifted in his bed. There was a small thud on the table. Uncle Vernon was most likely drinking his coffee and had placed it down. Something he always did before work. Harry could picture Uncle Vernon now, taking his pudgy arms and hands, his neck hidden, and brushing out the mustache to make sure no coffee was wetting it. Uncle Vernon's big arms weren't only for brushing his mustache off though. They were often swung at Harry. Uncle Vernon, in Harry's opinion, should have won a world record for the fast man on Earth to change from a normal complexion to red and puce in a matter of seconds.
Whatever his relatives were doing, it didn't concern Harry, and Harry was fine with that. One less argument for the day.
The doorbell rung.
Harry flipped himself over and ran to the window. He couldn't see who was at the doorbell. He opened his window and stuck his head out to see, but the roof coming off the house was covering the door. Harry sighed and started to head downstairs.
Opening his door, excitement flooding over him he came to a abrupt stop. Someone was in his way. None other then . . . Dudley Dursley.
To Harry, Dudley was a walking and talking pig in a wig. He looked just like his father, big and had the world's worst temper. Or was that Uncle Vernon..?
"Where you going..?" Dudley asked moving closer to Harry.
Harry bit his bottom lip. Don't lose control of your temper, he told himself, It's what he wants.
"Waiting to see if that freaky you-know-what is here..?" Dudley sniggered.
Harry felt a surge of hate run through his veins. Dudley was talking about Lupin again. He never referred to Lupin as a human. He always called him 'that freaky you-know-what'. Harry turned his head violently toward Dudley. Dudley was smirking.
"What..?" Dudley said with a murderous smile, "Oh right. He has a name doesn't he..?"
Harry had to control himself. Lupin had even told him that the Dursley's could call him whatever they liked, it made no difference to him, as long as Harry kept his temper in check. Harry was going to do what he was told. Hold it in, he shouted in his head.
"It was Professor . . . oh . . . something stupid no doubt," Dudley laughed. Pestering Harry was his favorite hobby now a days ever since Harry had the chat with Lupin.
"Shut up . . ." Harry mumbled.
"What..?" Dudley said pretending not to hear Harry and put a hand to his ear.
"You heard me Big D," Harry said pulling out his wand and pushing a frightened Dudley out of his way as he headed down the stairs. Dudley look furious that Harry wasn't listening to him.
"Where are you going..?!" Dudley demanded, putting his wand phobia on hold for the moment it seemed.
"Out for the day," Harry replied controlling himself from hitting Dudley right in the head, "What's it to you..? I'll be out of your way."
Dudley frowned, "Then I get landed with your chores..!"
"Bummer . . ." Harry said smirking as he headed down the stairs. Harry really had no pity for his cousin what so ever.
"Get back here..!" Dudley demanded. Harry knew that Dudley didn't want to spend the day doing Harry's work.
"Sorry . . ." Harry said waving to Dudley as he reached the bottom of the stairs.
As he greeted the bottom of the stairwell, Harry headed right to the door. He smiled as he saw Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, arms crossed with sour faces (Aunt Petunia's lips pursed as always) glaring at Harry. Behind his sour relatives was Remus Lupin, standing there with a tired smile as Harry approached.
"Hey," Harry said out loud. Uncle Vernon looked disgusted by this comment towards Lupin, but Harry ignored his Uncle's purple face and walked next to Lupin.
Uncle Vernon snarled, "Are you really leaving the house dressed like . . . like—?!"
"Like a wizard..?" Harry finished for Uncle Vernon as if 'wizard' was a curse or something under the roof of a church, "What else would I dress as..? I am a wizard."
Uncle Vernon snorted at him.
"What..? Want me to dress like a Muggle..?" Harry commented.
"Don't you talk to me that way..!" Uncle Vernon snapped. He treated 'Muggle' almost as bad as 'wizard'. Harry rolled his eyes slightly.
Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia both exchanged dark looks at this. Harry knew what each of them were thinking . . . 'What would the neighbors think if they saw..?!'
"What time would you like him back..?" Lupin asked Uncle Vernon politely changing the topic.
Uncle Vernon merely grunted.
"When ever," Harry translated with a smile, "As long as I'm not out too late."
Aunt Petunia narrowed her eyes on Harry and Lupin, her lips tightly fastened tightly shut as Harry talked to Lupin.
"So around the late evening shall work..?" Lupin asked Uncle Vernon.
Uncle Vernon made another grunting sound.
"That will work," Harry translated again.
Lupin smiled at Harry who was smiling back. He couldn't wait to spend the whole day with Lupin. Just them two. No Ron or Hermione (no that he didn't mind their company) no Order Member fussing over him. Just a relaxing day with Lupin.
He opened the golden handle of Number Four, Privet Drive and headed out into the sunshine, his cloak blowing in the wind, a smile lighting up his face with Remus Lupin at his side.
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Author's Note: Well..? What do you think..? It's the squeal to "A Chat Between Two Friends". Tell me what you think.