Returns, Remorse, and Retributions
"Up! Dawn broke 2 hours ago, and the lazy lug is still in bed! Up! I want you to tend to breakfast. Everything must be perfect for Dudley's birthday. Now move!"
"Dudley's birthday. How could I forget?" Harry grumbled, as he pulled off spiders from his socks (he had felt like sleeping in the cabinet under the stairs the night before), getting dressed before Aunt Petunia got really mad. Almost 16, and going into his 5th year at Hogwarts, Harry was still being treated like trash at his "home". He slowly walked into the kitchen, and, after checking on the frying bacon, he began flipping pancakes (A/N:flapjacks or whatever you want to call them) and making scrambled eggs. Dudley came down, and was actually looking just portly today, instead of disgustingly fat. The diet from the other summer must finally be taking effect, Harry thought.
Uncle Vernon came in, reading the paper, his beefy face as red as ever, as Aunt Petunia barked orders at Harry to get moving, and to bring in Dudley's presents. "You can leave the one outside," she whispered to him. Harry winced, knowing that this meant Dudley had indeed gotten a car, and he made mental note to keep off the sidewalks. Dudley began banging on the table, demanding food, his fat face grinning in a way that made Harry dearly wish he could throw up, but then he'd have to clean it up, and didn't feel like it. He served Dudley about half the food that had been prepared, Uncle Vernon most of what was left, and Aunt Petunia all the rest. He had been forced to find his own grub this summer, and once again his friends had risen to the occasion spectacularly. He was about to go to his room, when Uncle Vernon said, "Boy, go and fetch the post (A/N: mail, for all you American pals out there)."
Harry walked to the slit in the front door, and found a letter for him! Remembering what had happened the last times that had happened, he left it on the steps, and brought Uncle Vernon the rest. He then escaped form the kitchen as fast as he possibly could without arising much suspicion, picked up the letter, and dashed into his room. He looked at it more closely, and smiled now, for the Weasleys were getting much better at using muggle post; only ten stamps this time. He opened the letter eagerly, and got a formal note from Mrs. Weasley that he was supposed to give to his aunt and uncle about staying with the Weasleys for the remainder of the summer (Dumbledore had said it was ok). He hoped that it would be ok, for ever since the Dursleys had found out about Cedric's death at the end of the year, they had been treating Harry with more contempt than usual, as if they thought that it was in some way his fault. He decided that it would probably be smarter to wait until after Dudley's birthday to ask them. Today was Wednesday, and so he would wait until Friday to ask them. Harry laid back on his bed. It was going to be a long two days...
****************************************************** Meanwhile, somewhere out there:
The Auror was having increasing difficulty sleeping, and even the potions Snape made were no longer having any noticeable affects. All this guilt, this pent up feeling, for being assigned to help Harry Potter. There ought to be pride in those feelings, but there wasn't. There was dread at what Harry would do if he ever found out why they were friends. The Auror shuddered, and wished Dumbledore would get back soon, so that they could talk again.
**************************************************** Meanwhile (again), somewhere else out there:
Voldemort could not help smiling. All those long hours, and that careful planning. Surely not even Dumbledore had thought of this way to get to Harry Potter. This school year was sure to be Harry's last, as Voldemort smiled at the willing and loyal servant who had been honored, chosen, to be the one to kill Harry Potter.
The servant smiled, saying, "I will not fail you, Master."
A/N: du-Dun-DUN!!! what will happen? oh goodness, the suspense is building! sorry, but i had to get the story started that way, i promise it will get better. please review! flame if you want, but review!
"Up! Dawn broke 2 hours ago, and the lazy lug is still in bed! Up! I want you to tend to breakfast. Everything must be perfect for Dudley's birthday. Now move!"
"Dudley's birthday. How could I forget?" Harry grumbled, as he pulled off spiders from his socks (he had felt like sleeping in the cabinet under the stairs the night before), getting dressed before Aunt Petunia got really mad. Almost 16, and going into his 5th year at Hogwarts, Harry was still being treated like trash at his "home". He slowly walked into the kitchen, and, after checking on the frying bacon, he began flipping pancakes (A/N:flapjacks or whatever you want to call them) and making scrambled eggs. Dudley came down, and was actually looking just portly today, instead of disgustingly fat. The diet from the other summer must finally be taking effect, Harry thought.
Uncle Vernon came in, reading the paper, his beefy face as red as ever, as Aunt Petunia barked orders at Harry to get moving, and to bring in Dudley's presents. "You can leave the one outside," she whispered to him. Harry winced, knowing that this meant Dudley had indeed gotten a car, and he made mental note to keep off the sidewalks. Dudley began banging on the table, demanding food, his fat face grinning in a way that made Harry dearly wish he could throw up, but then he'd have to clean it up, and didn't feel like it. He served Dudley about half the food that had been prepared, Uncle Vernon most of what was left, and Aunt Petunia all the rest. He had been forced to find his own grub this summer, and once again his friends had risen to the occasion spectacularly. He was about to go to his room, when Uncle Vernon said, "Boy, go and fetch the post (A/N: mail, for all you American pals out there)."
Harry walked to the slit in the front door, and found a letter for him! Remembering what had happened the last times that had happened, he left it on the steps, and brought Uncle Vernon the rest. He then escaped form the kitchen as fast as he possibly could without arising much suspicion, picked up the letter, and dashed into his room. He looked at it more closely, and smiled now, for the Weasleys were getting much better at using muggle post; only ten stamps this time. He opened the letter eagerly, and got a formal note from Mrs. Weasley that he was supposed to give to his aunt and uncle about staying with the Weasleys for the remainder of the summer (Dumbledore had said it was ok). He hoped that it would be ok, for ever since the Dursleys had found out about Cedric's death at the end of the year, they had been treating Harry with more contempt than usual, as if they thought that it was in some way his fault. He decided that it would probably be smarter to wait until after Dudley's birthday to ask them. Today was Wednesday, and so he would wait until Friday to ask them. Harry laid back on his bed. It was going to be a long two days...
****************************************************** Meanwhile, somewhere out there:
The Auror was having increasing difficulty sleeping, and even the potions Snape made were no longer having any noticeable affects. All this guilt, this pent up feeling, for being assigned to help Harry Potter. There ought to be pride in those feelings, but there wasn't. There was dread at what Harry would do if he ever found out why they were friends. The Auror shuddered, and wished Dumbledore would get back soon, so that they could talk again.
**************************************************** Meanwhile (again), somewhere else out there:
Voldemort could not help smiling. All those long hours, and that careful planning. Surely not even Dumbledore had thought of this way to get to Harry Potter. This school year was sure to be Harry's last, as Voldemort smiled at the willing and loyal servant who had been honored, chosen, to be the one to kill Harry Potter.
The servant smiled, saying, "I will not fail you, Master."
A/N: du-Dun-DUN!!! what will happen? oh goodness, the suspense is building! sorry, but i had to get the story started that way, i promise it will get better. please review! flame if you want, but review!
