Chapter 1: Summer Holiday


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O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of 
infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams." 
~William Shakespeare, Hamlet

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The dry, dusty summer air had settled in on the subdivision surrounding Privet Drive, the lack of wind driving most of the
residents there nearly insane. The heat was too much to handle for the teenage boy with messy black hair at Number 4, who had
taken refuge inside his dark but cool bedroom for most of the day. Only during the evening, when the heat had subsided and
the nosy neighbors who thought him to be a crook had turned their interests elsewhere, was he free to wander outdoors. Harry 
Potter walked quietly down the dark street, kicking at little pebbles along the way. He came to a fork in the road and turned
left, wandering wherever he pleased. He knew that the Order would disapprove of his being alone and out on the deserted street
at night, but then again, was he ever alone? He glanced around him and, seeing no one, sighed to himself. Of course you
can't see them, he thought bitterly. Whoever's trailing me tonight is hidden behind an invisibility cloak. With
this somewhat spooky thought in his head, that he was being followed, he walked briskly back to Number 4.

Entering the house, he thumped up the stairs loudly, opening the door to his room and falling onto his bed. This summer seemed
to be going the slowest of them all. Last one I'll ever have to spend here, he thought with a happy sigh. The Dursleys
were no longer treating him as horribly as before, but rather ignorning him. Either way, he preferred the wizarding world over
the dull, monotonous life of the muggles. He stared sullenly at the calendar on his wall. July 1, he thought. Only
30 more days until I'm of legal age. An owl fluttered up to his window and tapped sharply on the window. Hurrying over
to get the letter it was carrying, Harry opened and closed the window as quietly as possible, so the Dursleys would not hear.
Immediately, he recognized the tawny owl as the one that had brought Rachel her letter only a few months before. Tearing off
the envelope, he read the letter rapidly.

Dear Harry,

Hope you're doing well, I know how much you hate those
muggles. We've talked to Dumbledore and he thinks it 
would be fine if you came to visit, as long as you only
spend a week here and then go back to Headquarters after
that. I can't wait for you to meet my Aunt and Uncle! 
Spain is fabulous, I know you can't speak Spanish, but
it will be wonderful anyway. We'll be by July 30, around 
4:00. If that's not convenient, please write back! I can't 
wait to see you again!

Love always,

Rachel


Harry grinned as he stared at the letter. He couldn't believe that Dumbledore was letting him leave the house, but then again,
after his 16th birthday, he would no longer be underage. Maybe then the spell wouldn't protect him from Voldemort? He shivered
at the thought. Searching through his desk for a piece of parchment and a quill, he jotted down a quick letter to Dumbledore.

Dear Professor,

Just writing my daily letter to you. Thanks for letting me
visit Rachel over the holiday. I have a question. After I am
of legal age, does the protection of living with the Dursleys
wear off? Just wondering. Talk to you soon.

Sincerely,

Harry Potter

He coaxed Hedwig out of her cage gently and tied the letter to her leg, watching her fly off. He turned back to his desk and
rummaged around for another piece of parchment. On this one, he wrote another letter.

Dear Rachel,

Thank you so much, you don't know what this means to
me to be able to escape this house. 4:00 sounds 
great. I can't wait to meet your family! See you
this weekend.

Love,

Harry

Still grinning, he tied his letter onto the tawny owl's leg and watched as it soared out his open window. Sighing, he laid back
in his bed. What should I do until July 30? he mused.

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Harry awoke suddenly the next morning to the sound of an ear-splitting scream. He scurried out of bed, pulling on some clothes
quickly and running a hand through his messy hair. He knew that even though he had been upstairs, somehow whatever had just
happened was going to be blamed on him. And he was right.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS THAT? POTTER, GET DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT!" Uncle Vernon's voice thundered up the stairs. Harry 
shivered a bit and reluctantly left his room, shoving his wand into his back pocket. On the way down the stairs, he heard
another scream and the sound of breaking glass. He hurried to the foot of the staircase and peeked into the living room. His
Aunt Petunia was cowering behind an armchair; Dudley was whimpering as he sat huddled atop the kitchen counter, which was
creaking ominously; Uncle Vernon was staring at Harry with a mixture of fear and fury from behind the sofa.

"What is this - this thing?" he asked angrily, disgust evident in his tone. Harry glanced once around the room without noticing
anything.

"What're you-" he began, but was interrupted as something grabbed him around his midsection.

"Harry Potter, sir!" a squeaky voice cried. "Now that you is going to be a full-grown wizard, Dobby has come to serve you!"
Harry looked down at the house-elf's huge glowing eyes. 

"Er, thanks, Dobby. I guess we'll just go upstairs for now..." Harry trailed off.

"Oh no you don't! That- that- THING isn't living in my house!" Uncle Vernon roared. Harry glared coldly at his uncle. 

"Don't worry, neither of us is planning on staying here much longer. Come on, Dobby," he said, climbing the stairs. He heard
Dudley whimper from the kitchen.

"Mummy, can I come out now?" he whispered. Harry held back his laughter.

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Life at Number 4 Privet Drive seemed almost bearable for the next few days, with Dobby there to talk to. Harry hardly had to
leave his room any longer, with the house-elf bringing him food at all hours of the day. He still didn't really understand
why Dobby had come to him, but he had a nagging suspicion that it was all part of the Order's elaborate plan to watch him
24 hours a day. 

One night he lay awake in bed, listening to Dobby's quiet snores and wondering who was on duty watching over him tonight.
Could it be Tonks? Kingsley? Mundungus? What he would give for them to come talk to him right now! As usual, the Daily
Prophet had been quite uninformative these past few weeks. He rolled onto his back and fell into a restless sleep. Images
floated past his eyes, blurred and moving quickly. He struggled to see what they were. Dementors? Death Eaters? A group of
figures wearing black cloaks came into a sharp focus. Harry stood in front of them all, his thin white hands folded behind
his back. 

"It is nearly time," he said in a cold voice that was not his own. "The Potter boy will soon be 17, and his protection will
be gone. That will be our opportunity; we will strike when he has crossed the threshold into adulthood. He thinks that as a 
baby he was strong enough to kill the greatest Dark Lord ever? He shall be defied!" Cold laughter rang in Harry's ears and
he sat bolt upright in bed, panting. He wiped his hand across his sweaty forehead, his scar still throbbing. Groping in the
darkness, he found his glasses and turned on the small lamp by his bed. He lay back in bed, trying to calm himself. I knew
that anyway, he thought to himself. I figured it would be like that... and of course they're going to try to come after 
me... But I'll be in Spain, hopefully they won't find me. He stared at the ceiling, and knowing that it would take hours to 
fall back asleep, he reached for a well-worn book that he had been reading and rereading all summer. The gold lettering on the 
spine of the book read "Apparition and Disapparition: A Beginner's Guide". 

He flipped through the dark green volume, smiling as he reached the page he was looking for. Deeply engrossed, he sat back
against the wall and began to read.

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Well, guys, what do you think?? I know I said it wouldn't be up this week, but here I am not studying for finals and making 
a new fanfic... lol, oops. But this is way more fun! Any and all comments are appreciated! If you've read this far - 
REVIEW!!! Thank you, everyone!!!