My third year at Hogwarts.
I was so eager to get away from the wretched Dursley's I had spent the last summer with; Dudley just wouldn't shut up about his new moped type thing which he could only drive up the road and back. I've stayed in my room for most of the summer, sending letters back and forth to Ron and Hermione; sometimes even Colin who somehow found my address… I suspect Dobby was involved, but it's not like I mind. It's the contact with the Wizarding World that I crave, and all my friends give me that.
I can never shake the feeling, however, that I'm missing someone more than I should or I used to. My captain. Oliver Wood. Just as much as I miss Quidditch itself, I miss the Keeper just as much, if not more.
I've been trying to push the feelings back a bit and concentrate on the pile of homework I got over the summer, that was done in the first week of the boredom that was my time at the Dursley's, but as I said it was already done and there were so many days which I would just lay on my bed and think about Hogwarts. I even missed the moaning, droning professor that was Snape, and his potions lessons. What I wouldn't give to be in one right now.
25th August. Just a week to go before I got on the Hogwarts Express and headed off to the place I called home, and would be my home for another 5 years, including this one. Just as I thought of Diagon Alley, Hedwig rapped her beak on my window with her leg full of letters. I'd been worried about her – I hadn't seen her around for at least 5 days, if not a week, and I was starting to think something had happened to her. She stuck her leg out for me, and I undid the knots tying the letters to her leg. Throwing them on my bed, I opened her cage for her and poured a little food in her bowl even though she had probably already eaten on her flight home. After ruffling her feathers as reward also, I turned back to my bed and jumped on it, picking the letters up and flicking through them.
One was from Ron, as I could tell from his scruffy handwriting I had gotten used to over the two and a bit years I had known him now, another one was from Colin who had surprisingly neat handwriting, I had come to know too, and was a little bit thicker than usual – probably showing me more pictures he had gotten to move over the summer. I swear by the amount of pictures the little guy takes he could run a photography business; he's good enough to be one already.
The last one was from Hogwarts; I had noticed that they were late on sending their letters out this year, for they were usually around by the 20th. The new books I needed were listed and there were a couple more than usual because of the new subjects I decided to take – Divination and Care of Magical Creatures. The rest were standard Grade 3 books, like Charms, Transfiguration and Potions, so they were easy enough to find. I knew I would be able to find Divination in the same place as everything else, but CoMC? Especially with the book title, and also knowing the teacher well… "The Monster Book of Monsters". I knew this could only end badly.
Hedwig only stayed for around 4 hours while I wrote my replies to Ron and Colin, who soon swooped back off into the sky and away from me, leaving me alone again. I decided to venture out of my bedroom and out of the house for the first time in around two weeks, not having to be afraid of running into my so called "family" because they were visiting Aunt Marge and her terrifyingly savage dogs. Last time I saw them, they successfully managed to chase me up a tree and keep me there for two nights straight, each one seeming to work in a team at not letting me come down; there was always at least one dog at the bottom on the tree in the Dursley's garden at one time. Wasn't the best weekend I've ever had, really.
Honestly? This year I had no idea how I was even going to get to Diagon Alley, so I asked Ron in my letter if he could come and get me kinda like he did last year, but actually meeting the Dursley's (god help him) and the same with his parents. I know, it wasn't the best plan in the world but it was all I had left because time was running out, and quickly. It seemed, however, that Mrs Weasley was one step ahead of me, for the next day she was at my doorstep with an eager looking Arthur and a dismal looking Ron, who's face lit up when he saw it was myself that answered the door. They were lucky; Dudley had a dentist appointment and he swore down he needed both his loving parents to be there because he was deathly afraid of having metal instruments poked around in his mouth. I, of course, never went; because if I did all that would happen is I would be moaned at and told to stay in the car, so there was honestly no point at all in me wasting my energy going.
"Where are the muggles?" Mr Weasley asked keenly, and I explained where they were and his face fell a little.
"Harry, can you come with us? Your aunt and uncle won't mind?" Mrs Weasley was fretting as I gathered my stuff and wrote a tiny note to the Dursley's.
"Trust me, Mrs Weasley, they'll be glad to be rid of me." I assured her, and she relaxed a little bit. "Muuum," Ron whined, turning to his mother.
"Do we really have to apparate back?" I looked on puzzled, having no idea what apparation was.
"Well Ronald, unless you have a better idea of getting us back to the Burrow in the next 10 minutes then yes, we do." Ron sighed and shook his head.
"Harry dear, just take my hand." I did as I was told, and I saw Ron take his father's hand before I was sucked into nothingness, squeezing and squeezing my organs until I thought I couldn't take it anymore. The sudden light took me by surprise and I nearly fell over as the world was spinning, and I decided there and then I didn't want to do that again anytime soon.
"Harry, are you okay?" Ron's voice came from somewhere behind me and I turned, regaining my balance somewhat.
"Yeah, fine. Just… shaken." I laughed a little, trying to cover how horrible I had found the experience.
"It's like that the first time. Don't worry about it." Ron laughed along with me and we headed inside the Burrow; the only other place that almost felt like home.
"Hello Harry!" I was greeted by the dual voices of the twins, Fred and George, on my entrance into the kitchen.
"Just make yourself at home dear," came Molly's voice from the stove "You can share a room with Ron for a week, and if you want anything don't hesitate to ask."
"T-thanks Mrs Weasley," I stammered out; even though I was here last year, the homeliness of the place still overwhelmed me.
Along with the help of Ron, Fred and George, I hauled my stuff up the stairs and Hedwig was already in Ron's room. I should have guessed; she was always at least two steps ahead of me and most other people around her. She really was remarkable, and I stroked her a little before getting back to my stuff.
The rest of the day was amazing, I played Quidditch for the first time in 6 weeks, at least, but I was on top form as always. The teams were Fred and I against Ron and George, and also Ginny if she was confident enough to even talk to me. She shouldn't have to be shy-she was an amazing Quidditch player and also a great person to talk to. The teams were evenly matched- Fred and George were at the exact same excellent ability, and even though Ron wasn't the best he could keep pretty well and also be a good beater. When Ginny joined in, it was fairer on Ron's team, but Fred and I still usually beat them.
The novelty of Quidditch didn't really wear off for me, but did have its disadvantages in a way. The game reminded me so much more of Oliver, and made me miss him even more. Just a few more days, I kept telling myself, and then I would be able to see him again and practise with him.
"Come on boys, get up!" came the loud voice of Mrs Weasley's voice came three days before we were to set off for Hogwarts. "We're going to Diagon Alley; we need to get your stuff."
We groaned in unison, it was only 8am and as I got up, Ron rolled over and started snoring again. I took the time to get ready quickly in peace, and then almost having to kick him to wake him up again. It was pretty amusing as the twins got involved as well, until he nearly punched us in our faces. Sniggering, we ran downstairs towards the smell of bacon, and were on our second helping when a very pissed off Ron came downstairs. He took a seat beside me and loaded his plate up, and softened after his first helping. Food always seemed to cheer Ron up; like father like son I guess.
Heading out after fifths of bacon, we arrived in Diagon Alley via floo powder. I didn't make the same mistake as I did last time- that was an experience and a half and I didn't really want to repeat it. I went first, and ended up at the entrance of the street, close to The Leaky Cauldron. I waited for a few minutes for the Weasley family, moving out of the way when they all came along.
"Well Harry and Ron you need the same books… Fred, George and Percy you can come and get robes with me and your father… Meet at Fortescue's in around an hour, okay?" Mrs Weasley told us and me and Ron nodded at her instructions, heading off down the street to Florish and Blotts. The shop window surprised us, for there were two shop assistants trying to wrestle these huge beige coloured books apart, which seemed to be trying to kill the other. Catching a glimpse of the title, I turned to Ron as he turned to me and our eyes reflected each other's looks of bewilderment in why Hagrid would set us murderous books to learn from. We walked in and asked one of the assistants about the books, and how we needed two. Her face went as white as a sheet as she told the other assistant, who mirrored an expression of panic on his face as hers.
Ron and I cringed away as two books were captured and bound up, on our request, and shoved into bags before they could do anymore damage to the shop and also the assistants. We found the Divination books we needed pretty easily and hurried off with 45 minutes to kill. After visiting Quality Quidditch Supplies, Ron said he needed some tonic for Scabbers, but I didn't think Hedwig needed anything so I stayed outside of the Apothecary; it was busy enough as it was.
Surprisingly, I thought then, I hadn't seen Hermione on the whole visit. Then again, she was probably being her usual organised self and came here on the day we got our books list.
I was standing there for a while, and my heart skipped a beat as soon as I saw him. I didn't think he would notice me for I was just hanging around in the shadows, but the Keeper seemed to notice everything. He stopped and turned to me, saying something to what I guessed was his mother, and almost jogged over to me. I was going into overdrive as he opened his mouth to speak; I had no idea what I was going to say to him, if I could even get my words out.
"Hey there Harry!" his Scottish accent powering through me like it never had done before. I didn't realise how much I missed him up until that point.