Again, I found myself longing for the start of school. In my prison
of a room, complete with barred windows, I could only dream of happiness.
September 1st. Aww, the start of my fifth year at Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry. Why did two weeks have to be such a bloody long
time?
I had just dozed off into a happier place than Number Four Privet Drive when the doorbell rudely chimed below. How could I have forgotten Dudley's first coed party day? Even though he hadn't lost ANY weight, in fact he had gained weight as soon as Aunt Petunia gave up on his diet, he was popular among the guys at his school, Smeltings, and among the girls at Lacetries, the near-by all girls school. 72 boys from and 72 girls had been invited. But not me! No, Uncle Vernon had made it quite clear that Harry was not to leave his prison until all the guests had left so none of Dudley's friends would be scared. Ha! More likely to be the other way around!
Anger swelled up in my body and I was about to storm downstairs and ruin Dudley's special party when I heard an owl call for me outside. Hedwig! She always meant good news; I had sent her off with a note to Ron Weasley a week ago and had been impatiently awaiting a reply.
I grabbed the key off of a stack of schoolbooks, and ran to window. The Dursleys had been stupid enough to give me the key, so I could easily escape in my own sweet time. But that had only been last week (the reason for Ron to get a note; I could visit him!) Hedwig flew first to the bed to drop off her load, three letters and FOUR packages, and then flew to me to nip at my ear. I stroked her for a short moment, and then opened the door to her cage so she could drink some fresh water.
FOUR packages! And my birthday had been weeks ago, when I had received the same amount. It was strange, indeed, but I didn't care! I grabbed one of the boxes and tore the paper off like a ravenous boy on Christmas morn. When I saw the contents I was just baffled. It was a bluish green music box that was obviously magical because of its faint glow. Well, maybe it wasn't so faint a glow as it lit up my dark prison.
Who was it from? Not Hermione, certainly, I got books from her mostly. And Ron, of course not, as much as I hated to say it, it would've been too expensive for him to send me. Sirius? No, no. He was in hiding and could definitely NOT get that for his godson. Curious, curious. I picked up the paper, expertly shredded by my own doings, and saw no return address. No name. Nothing at all that could clue me in. Hmm, the other boxes looked the same.
The more I thought about it, the more my scar hurt. But why would it? The scar only hurt when Voldemort, my archenemy, was around. But should it now, now that he has risen from his weak no-life? Using MY blood, so that he could at last touch me without being in immense pain. Now that it didn't hurt to touch, would it hurt when he was around? Well, who would know? I'm the only one to survive this Unforgivable Curse. Avada Kadavra. Such sinister words even without a wand.
My scar was pounding and burning and stinging all at the same time. Just from this one present. Maybe I shouldn't open the others.
Or maybe you should.
A voice, in my head! No, I SHOULDN'T open them when something was telling me to, something in my HEAD! Oh my, what can I do with them?
1 Just open them. There'll be no harmmmmm…
I know that voice. I've heard it too many times. It was Voldemort. He was trying to put me under the Imperious curse, surely. Well, I wouldn't open it! HA!
2 Fool! Just do as I say! It's for your own goooooooddd!
I did the only thing I could think of, I threw the three unopened packages and the music box into my Hogwarts trunk. Strange as it was, that is what I did. Even when the open window looked more inviting.
"Byeee Duddy!" A giggly girl said loudly enough for me to hear. "I'll miss oooooooo!"
"I'll miss oooooooo more," said the voice known as Dudley Dursely, my cousin. His voice was a little softer, because he must be beet red. How is it possible something as fat as Dudley could get a girlfriend? Yuck!
I sat on my bed gagging at the thought of Dudley's girlfriend. No pity for her, though. She chose Dudley, after all.
My letters! I had almost forgotten about them. One was from Hermione. I gingerly opened the envelope with a strange feeling in my heart. Why though? No time for that now, what did she have to say!
Dear Harry,
I heard that you got the key from your uncle. Good for you! Now I can help you get out of there. I'm sure you heard that Ron couldn't as he has gone abroad to visit Percy. Did he tell you that Percy has a job in the German Ministry of Magic? Oh, I'm so jealous!
Well, here is the plan to get you out. It will be August 18th in the early afternoon, around 1:00 pm. The rope ladder I sent with your birthday gift will serve to get you out, and you can throw your trunk and cage down without it getting damaged. I got special permission from Cornelius Fudge to bewitch the ground below your window to catch it in a sense. It's an Extra Hand Charm, quite complicated. I'll explain it when I get there. After you throw your stuff out the window, climb down slowly, and I mean slowly, because I have another charm on the ladder for invisibility so no one can see you leave. A special favor from Mrs. Weasley. I know you have the invisibility cloak, but then the ladder will be seen, so the charm on the ladder will make itself invisible too. But speed will show. So, slowly.
Well, I will be waiting with my parents in the car. It will be a red 92 Porsche. I believe we'll be across the street. When I see you on the ground, which I will as soon as you let go of the ladder, I will help you bring the stuff to the car and we'll be off.
I hope you understand everything perfectly, as it is all essential to a secret escape your uncle and aunt won't know about.
Your eternal friend,
Hermione Granger
Well, this is a first! Hermione had never planned my escape before! But it's so like her to have all the details worked out. Hmm, why does it have to be so secret? I can think about that later! Now I just have to get ready to go. After all, it was the 15th of August, and the night of at that. I'd really only have tomorrow to pack!
Then I'll pack tomorrow, and not right now. I had to read the letter from Ron. Looking at the last two, I noticed that they both were from him. Hmm, this one will do.
In the envelope was last week's copy of the Daily Prophet, the wizarding newspaper. There was a picture of Sirius Black, smiling happily with Cornelius Fudge, the minister of magic at his side. The headlines said: Sirius Black caught and proven innocent in trial.
I didn't have to read the article to be happy! I never thought this day would come! Oh, now I might be able to live with him.
The note on the newspaper said, "Harry, can you believe it? ~Ron" That was all it had to say.
I opened the other envelope to find a letter exactly like Hermione's except it was in his own words and writing. And there was a postscript: I'm really sorry I can't be there to help. I'll only be back from Germany on the 28th, so there wouldn't be time for an escape. You do understand why it has to be secret, right? You-Know-Who's spies cannot see you. We don't know where they are, but they could be anywhere, so that's the only reason the Ministry gave Hermione permission to use the Extra Help Charm.
That could shatter my happy thoughts for a moment, but only so. The Ministry must have protection all around me. The spies won't know.
I went to sleep with a smile on my face, knowing that this was the happiest day yet.
I had just dozed off into a happier place than Number Four Privet Drive when the doorbell rudely chimed below. How could I have forgotten Dudley's first coed party day? Even though he hadn't lost ANY weight, in fact he had gained weight as soon as Aunt Petunia gave up on his diet, he was popular among the guys at his school, Smeltings, and among the girls at Lacetries, the near-by all girls school. 72 boys from and 72 girls had been invited. But not me! No, Uncle Vernon had made it quite clear that Harry was not to leave his prison until all the guests had left so none of Dudley's friends would be scared. Ha! More likely to be the other way around!
Anger swelled up in my body and I was about to storm downstairs and ruin Dudley's special party when I heard an owl call for me outside. Hedwig! She always meant good news; I had sent her off with a note to Ron Weasley a week ago and had been impatiently awaiting a reply.
I grabbed the key off of a stack of schoolbooks, and ran to window. The Dursleys had been stupid enough to give me the key, so I could easily escape in my own sweet time. But that had only been last week (the reason for Ron to get a note; I could visit him!) Hedwig flew first to the bed to drop off her load, three letters and FOUR packages, and then flew to me to nip at my ear. I stroked her for a short moment, and then opened the door to her cage so she could drink some fresh water.
FOUR packages! And my birthday had been weeks ago, when I had received the same amount. It was strange, indeed, but I didn't care! I grabbed one of the boxes and tore the paper off like a ravenous boy on Christmas morn. When I saw the contents I was just baffled. It was a bluish green music box that was obviously magical because of its faint glow. Well, maybe it wasn't so faint a glow as it lit up my dark prison.
Who was it from? Not Hermione, certainly, I got books from her mostly. And Ron, of course not, as much as I hated to say it, it would've been too expensive for him to send me. Sirius? No, no. He was in hiding and could definitely NOT get that for his godson. Curious, curious. I picked up the paper, expertly shredded by my own doings, and saw no return address. No name. Nothing at all that could clue me in. Hmm, the other boxes looked the same.
The more I thought about it, the more my scar hurt. But why would it? The scar only hurt when Voldemort, my archenemy, was around. But should it now, now that he has risen from his weak no-life? Using MY blood, so that he could at last touch me without being in immense pain. Now that it didn't hurt to touch, would it hurt when he was around? Well, who would know? I'm the only one to survive this Unforgivable Curse. Avada Kadavra. Such sinister words even without a wand.
My scar was pounding and burning and stinging all at the same time. Just from this one present. Maybe I shouldn't open the others.
Or maybe you should.
A voice, in my head! No, I SHOULDN'T open them when something was telling me to, something in my HEAD! Oh my, what can I do with them?
1 Just open them. There'll be no harmmmmm…
I know that voice. I've heard it too many times. It was Voldemort. He was trying to put me under the Imperious curse, surely. Well, I wouldn't open it! HA!
2 Fool! Just do as I say! It's for your own goooooooddd!
I did the only thing I could think of, I threw the three unopened packages and the music box into my Hogwarts trunk. Strange as it was, that is what I did. Even when the open window looked more inviting.
"Byeee Duddy!" A giggly girl said loudly enough for me to hear. "I'll miss oooooooo!"
"I'll miss oooooooo more," said the voice known as Dudley Dursely, my cousin. His voice was a little softer, because he must be beet red. How is it possible something as fat as Dudley could get a girlfriend? Yuck!
I sat on my bed gagging at the thought of Dudley's girlfriend. No pity for her, though. She chose Dudley, after all.
My letters! I had almost forgotten about them. One was from Hermione. I gingerly opened the envelope with a strange feeling in my heart. Why though? No time for that now, what did she have to say!
Dear Harry,
I heard that you got the key from your uncle. Good for you! Now I can help you get out of there. I'm sure you heard that Ron couldn't as he has gone abroad to visit Percy. Did he tell you that Percy has a job in the German Ministry of Magic? Oh, I'm so jealous!
Well, here is the plan to get you out. It will be August 18th in the early afternoon, around 1:00 pm. The rope ladder I sent with your birthday gift will serve to get you out, and you can throw your trunk and cage down without it getting damaged. I got special permission from Cornelius Fudge to bewitch the ground below your window to catch it in a sense. It's an Extra Hand Charm, quite complicated. I'll explain it when I get there. After you throw your stuff out the window, climb down slowly, and I mean slowly, because I have another charm on the ladder for invisibility so no one can see you leave. A special favor from Mrs. Weasley. I know you have the invisibility cloak, but then the ladder will be seen, so the charm on the ladder will make itself invisible too. But speed will show. So, slowly.
Well, I will be waiting with my parents in the car. It will be a red 92 Porsche. I believe we'll be across the street. When I see you on the ground, which I will as soon as you let go of the ladder, I will help you bring the stuff to the car and we'll be off.
I hope you understand everything perfectly, as it is all essential to a secret escape your uncle and aunt won't know about.
Your eternal friend,
Hermione Granger
Well, this is a first! Hermione had never planned my escape before! But it's so like her to have all the details worked out. Hmm, why does it have to be so secret? I can think about that later! Now I just have to get ready to go. After all, it was the 15th of August, and the night of at that. I'd really only have tomorrow to pack!
Then I'll pack tomorrow, and not right now. I had to read the letter from Ron. Looking at the last two, I noticed that they both were from him. Hmm, this one will do.
In the envelope was last week's copy of the Daily Prophet, the wizarding newspaper. There was a picture of Sirius Black, smiling happily with Cornelius Fudge, the minister of magic at his side. The headlines said: Sirius Black caught and proven innocent in trial.
I didn't have to read the article to be happy! I never thought this day would come! Oh, now I might be able to live with him.
The note on the newspaper said, "Harry, can you believe it? ~Ron" That was all it had to say.
I opened the other envelope to find a letter exactly like Hermione's except it was in his own words and writing. And there was a postscript: I'm really sorry I can't be there to help. I'll only be back from Germany on the 28th, so there wouldn't be time for an escape. You do understand why it has to be secret, right? You-Know-Who's spies cannot see you. We don't know where they are, but they could be anywhere, so that's the only reason the Ministry gave Hermione permission to use the Extra Help Charm.
That could shatter my happy thoughts for a moment, but only so. The Ministry must have protection all around me. The spies won't know.
I went to sleep with a smile on my face, knowing that this was the happiest day yet.