BURIED BORROW
It was a dark Sunday evening as Harry stared out into the darkness though the window, in his shabby little room. There was a large shadow closing into number 4 privet drive. Harry could vaguely make out the silhouette of the approaching creature. Then suddenly, it burst into view with a flurry of feathers, a newspaper tied to its leg. It was his subscription to the Daily Prophet. The owl soared into the darkness as soon as it was paid its usual fee of two bronze Knuts.
This was Harry's first copy since his return to Number 4 Privet Drive and Harry was anxious to know what was happening in the Wizarding world.
Harry's heart fell to his stomach as soon as he read the headlines
SIRIUS BLACK EXONERATED
Recent events, including the rise of the Dark Lord and the Ministry's new found faith in Albus Dumbledore and Harry potter, have lead to the dropping of all charges against Sirius Black.
Sirius was recently killed in an encounter ………….
That was it, Harry couldn't read further. Tears welled up in his eyes" Cleared of all charges; He could have been a free man, I could have moved in with my Godfather………. It's all my fault, IT'S ALL MY FAULT!!!!!!" he screamed. "WHAT'S THE RACKET UP THERE BOY" a louder voice bellowed "DON'T MAKE ME COME UP THERE". Harry could hear a few hushed voices; some whispers followed by a strained soft voice which faintly resembled his uncle's "Are you all right?" Harry couldn't help grinning as he realized what the concern was all about. He was sure that Mr.Dursley had just remembered the threat he had received at the station from the Order. "I'm fine" replied Harry "bad dream." Harry remembered several occasions this summer with uncle Dursley's red face, green vein in his temple, mumbling softly to Harry.
Summer wasn't that bad really. The Dursley's were treating him like some time bomb and stayed away from him as much as possible. This suited Harry really well. It was not as if he wanted their company. He wanted to be alone, he wanted to mourn. For the last 3 weeks all he ever thought of was Sirius. His dreams still replayed the fateful night, and the days filled with remorse. But something happened one morning that helped a great deal. Another owl, carrying a letter with the Hogwarts seal.
Dear Mr. Potter,
Under special circumstances, the Decree for the Restriction of Underage magic can be waived. You are here by permitted to use magic outside the school.
Head Master
Albus Dumbledore
Harry's heart soared, he was permitted to use magic outside the school, and he couldn't believe his eyes. He quickly took out his quill and two pieces of parchment and wrote to both Ron and Hermione. "Oh, how jealous they would be" he thought and that thought made him feel better. He was also thinking of the possibilities with Dudley, "wow, this is going to be fun!! Summer is not going to be that bad after all! "
The fun started after the meager breakfast the next morning. "Dinky doo, come down for breakfast. Duddy darling, hurry, it's getting cold." Dudley roared downstairs, set eye on the table "What, grape fruit and toast …again?" "But Popkin…you have to remain in shape for the boxing tournament, move like a butterfly and sting like a bee." "Move like a sloth and fall like a bull more likely" thought Harry to himself. Anyway, the thought of boxing seemed to calm Dudley down and he sat down to eat, quietly eyeing Harry for any sign of laughter. He saw a cruel smile on Harry as he scribbled something down on a piece of paper. He had a horrible feeling that he knew what Harry was writing down.
Harry rushed to his room post breakfast and Dudley followed him. Dudley burst into Harry's "What's in that piece of paper?" Harry smiled "What paper?" "I'm not an idiot you know!!" said Dudley, raising his voice. "Well Popkin, I'm going to need some proof!!" "You know what I'm talking about." "Oh! You must mean this scrap of paper, well you might as well see the full works, it has a nice title" said Harry as he handed Dudley a long sheet of paper. Dudley's jaw dropped as he read the title,
THE MANY NAMES OF DUDLEY DURSLEY by Aunt Petunia
Below it were listed at least 35 different silly names Aunt Petunia had used for Dudley. "It has another interesting section to it, turn it over" said Harry, his smile widening. The color on Dudley's face continued to change to a darker shade of Crimson as he read the title on the next page.
THE OTHER POSSIBILITIES by Harry Potter
"I think you'll like Pigtail the most in this section, don't you" Dudley was sporting a shade of red, Harry had never seen before on any Dursley. With a quick flurry of big clumsy arms he ripped the parchment and flung it on the ground and glared at Harry. "Reparo…..Accio Parchment" muttered Harry. Dudley's jaw dropped and he rubbed his eyes as the parchment that he had just torn had rebuilt itself and flown to Harry's hand. "Silencio" just as Dudley opened his mouth scream.
"Care to join me for some real breakfast? " And just like that Harry drew up a real meal with his wand. Dudley's eyes pooped out off their sockets as he saw pancakes dripping with syrup and butter, bacon, eggs, piles of toast and a tub of honey. Harry grinned through a mouthful of pancake "Jum een when uuu eel like… I'll take off the spell if you promise to shut up" Dudley nodded. "Help yourself", just when a loud knock sounded on the door. "Evanesco" the food cleared just as Aunt Petunia came in "Dudders, what are you doing here, with...with this kind!!" and she ushered him out of the room as if Harry was suffering from some sort of infectious disease.
While Harry waited for the inevitable he took out the official letter from Hogwarts, "Duplicaro" smiled happily as he saw copies of the letter being created. It was only a matter of a few minutes before he heard the roar "BOY, WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT USING THE M THING INSIDE THE HOUSE…COME DOWN HERE THIS MINUTE….I KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USED IT OUTSIDE YOUR MAD HOUSE." Harry calmly walked downstairs and without word handed a copy of the document to all the Dursleys.
Uncle Vernon looked like he'd just swallowed a whole watermelon, Dudley was clutching his backside and surprisingly Aunt Petunia broke the silence "Is this because you know who is back?" It was Harry's turn to look surprised "I suppose so; I narrowly escaped him last year…again". Before an almost suffocated Vernon managed to say a word, Aunt Petunia quietly said "go back to your room and be on time for dinner." Dudley looked deflated, Harry had gotten off easy!!! About half an hour before supper there was a knock on Harry's door, and in came a grave Aunt Petunia.
"You have to rid the world of him, the world is better off with you around than him. You must fulfill the prophecy. We cannot go back to the times when he was at the peak of his powers. The Dark Lord must be stopped and I know that you are the only one who can do it." She left just as quickly as she came, giving Harry no time to respond. "Wait …wait how did you?…..WAIT!" But she was long gone and Harry didn't want to bring up the subject before everyone. Dinner was a quiet affair, both Dudley and uncle Vernon pretending as if he was invisible. Aunt Petunia acted as if the conversation never took place and Harry tried to catch her eye in vain.
Everyone at the table jumped at least a foot high when a golden feather and a parchment exploded into view and settled on the table. Harry was the only one that moved
Burrow destroyed nothing found but rubble. Luckily the Weasley's were at head quarters, coming to pick you up at midnight. Get your stuff ready
- Lupin.
"So it has begun. Voldemort is trying to eliminate supporters of Dumbledore!!" thought Harry. Again Aunt Petunia was the first to respond "What is it? " "I am out of your hair for the rest of the year, professor Lupin is coming to pick me up tonight.
