Harry's Pen Friend

Rating:  PG

Disclaimer:  I own nothing; Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers.  I am only borrowing them for a while. 

Chapter One – A Letter From Hogwarts

Dear Mr. Potter,

Enclosed, please find your list of required books

for your fifth year of school.    The new term

begins September 1. 

It has been brought our attention that

our potions grade is lower than what is acceptable at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. However, because of your participation in the Tri-Wizard Tournament last year, we have

decided to allow you to take another class to help bring up your

overall average.

I have taken the liberty of checking your

schedule, and it appears as though you have sixth hour free. 

You can either take and Independent Study in Divinations

with Professor Trelawney as your advisor, or you may

take Muggle Studies.  Please send a return owl immediately,

notifying us of your decision.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

        Harry sighed and let the letter drift down on the floor.  His grades, while never spectacular, were lower than normal last year.  He was lucky.  He looked around the smallest bedroom at number four Privet Drive.  The bare walls, the shelves loaded down with Dudley's castoffs, and sighed again.  If he didn't improve his average, he wouldn't be allowed to go back to Hogwarts.  He'd be stuck here forever.  That thought made him shudder, he couldn't see any other options.  He picked up the letter and read it again.  The thought of an extra divinations class with Trelawney was almost as unpleasant a thought as being kicked out of Hogwarts.  He grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill from his desk and sat down and began to write.

Dear Professor McGonagall,

            Thank you for the opportunity to raise my average by taking an extra

Class.  I think it would be better for me if I were to take Muggle Studies

next term instead of a Divinations Independent Study.  I will pick up the

appropriate books at Flourish and Blotts.


Sincerely,

Harry Potter

        Harry strapped the parchment to the school owl's leg and sent it on its way.  Picky up another piece of parchment, he quickly scribbled a note to Ron.

Dear Ron,

            I just got the strangest letter from Professor McGonagall.  I

have to take an extra class this year to make up for my dismal potions grade.

Harry threw down his quill and crumpled up the piece of parchment.  He didn't want to start whining to Ron about potions and how much Snape hated him.  Harry threw himself down on the bed and rolled over to look out the window into the dark sky.  He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep

        The next morning, a tapping sound on his bedroom window awakened Harry.  He opened one sleepy eye and peered out into the still dark morning.  A small owl flew past his window, pausing to tap on the glass with its sharp beak.  Harry jammed his glasses on his face and reached over to open the window.  The small bird flew into his room and flopped onto his bed and began to flop around madly.

"Shut up Pig," he whispered.  "Do you want to wake them up?" he asked, referring of course to the Dursley's.  He got up and got an owl treat for the little bird and slipped him into Hedwig's cage. 

Dear Harry,

Mum checked with Dumbledore, and he says that it's okay

if you spend the rest of the summer with us.  Check with the

muggles and see if it's okay.  Even if it isn't, we'll be there

to pick you up tomorrow morning.  Tell them not to worry about the

Fireplace.  Dad's arranging for a portkey.

Ron.

        Harry grinned and got up off the bed.  He rummaged around in his drawer and pulled out some clothes.  He dressed quickly and slipped downstairs and began to fix breakfast.  When the Dursley's came down, they were surprised to find that breakfast was already on the table.

"What's the meaning of this boy?" said Vernon Dursley, his bushy mustache quivering.

"Nothing," said Harry.  "I woke up early, and figured I'd get breakfast started."

"Oh, yes, well," said his Uncle Vernon, unable to find anything to complain about.  The house began to shake as Dudley thumped down the stairs.

"What are you doing?" he asked Harry, nastily.

"Eating," said Harry as he stuffed another mouthful of eggs in his mouth.  "Yours is over there," he said, pointing towards the bowl of fresh fruit on the counter.

"I don't want that, I want what your having," said Dudley, grabbing Harry's plate away.  He started shoveling food into his mouth, trying to eat as much as possible before his mother came down stairs.

        "Er, Uncle Vernon," said Harry.  "I was wondering, do you think it would be okay if I spent the rest of the holidays with some friends from, well some friends?"  Harry stopped himself from saying school because he knew how much his uncle hated any reference to Hogwarts.

Vernon Dursley shoveled another sausage into his mouth and chewed.  As he ate, he thought about the letter he had received from that infernal school that Harry attended.  The letter explained about the Tri Wizard Tournament, and Harry's victory, and about the attack on Harry at the hands of the evil wizard Voldemort.  The letter had guaranteed that all the Dursley's left Harry alone, they were all afraid he would snap at any time.  But Harry going to a friends' house would be an answer to all their prayers.

"I suppose that will be okay," said Vernon, slowly.  "These friends of yours.  They aren't going to burst through the fireplace again, are they?"

"No sir, they won't," said Harry.  "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go get ready.  They are going to be here tomorrow."

        Harry stood up and went back upstairs.  He grabbed the parchment he had started to Ron earlier.  He crossed out what he had scribbled earlier and began to write.

Dear Ron,

Great news, they said I could come.

I have lots of stuff to tell you!  I'll

see you tomorrow.

Harry

Harry strapped the note to Pig and let him out the window.

"Take that to the Burrow, straight away!" he said.  "Mind you don't dawdle Pig."  Harry watched the small owl fly off and then turned around.  Dudley was standing in the doorway, staring at him, stuffing a rasher of bacon into his porcine face.

"I don't know why you just don't use a telephone," he said.

"Because we don't," said Harry.

"Well, I think the whole lot of you is weird," said Dudley.  And I'm glad you're going.  That way we won't have to spend all our time tiptoeing around you."

"What do you mean?" asked Harry.

"Duddykins," shouted Aunt Petunia.  "Where's my ickle Duddykins?  I have some yummy fruit here for your breakfast."  Dudley shoved the last of the bacon in his mouth and belched.

"Can't wait until tomorrow.  Maybe then, they won't spend so much time worrying about you and 'fragile state.'"

"What are you talking about?" asked Harry, but it was too late.  Dudley had already left the room.

        Shrugging to himself, Harry spent the rest of the day packing his belongings.  Early the next morning, there was a knock on the door.  Harry ran to open it and found Ron and his father standing on the other side.

"Hi Ron, Hi Mr. Weasley," he said.  "Um, why don't you wait here, and I'll go get my things."  He ran back into the house, past he Dursley's who were all huddled together in the kitchen, peering through the door.  Within minutes, he was dragging his trunk down the stairs, along with Hedwig's empty cage.

"Where's Hedwig?" asked Ron.
"I sent her on ahead," said Harry.  "I didn't know if she'd like traveling by portkey."

"Quite wise," said Arthur Weasley, dragging his attention away from all the amazing things the Dursley's had in their house.  "Do you want to say goodbye to your family before we go?"
"No, not really," he said honestly.  "But I suppose I'd better."  He turned and went towards the kitchen.

"I'm leaving now," he said.  "I'll see you in the spring."

"Um, yes, well, goodbye boy," said Vernon, mopping his face.  Neither his aunt, nor, Dudley had anything to say, so he turned and walked out the door.  Mr. Weasley led them around to the back of the house where an old crumpled newspaper was lying on the ground. 

"Ready now," he said, taking a firm hold on Harry's trunk.  "When I say go, grab the paper.  GO!"

Harry felt the now familiar sensation of being yanked and jerked from his body.  Within seconds, he was standing in the kitchen at the Burrow.