Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters, places or ideas.
Two Out of Three Isn't Bad
Chapter One
Out of luck, Out of options
'I CURSE THE DAY YOU CAME INTO OUR HOME! YOU'RE AS GOOD FOR NOTHING AS YOUR FATHER! IF YOU COME NEAR US AGAIN I'LL KILL YOU! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! GET OUT!!'
Harry recalled perfectly the angry, bitter words that his uncle had shouted at him that afternoon. How could he not? Every summer since Harry Potter could remember, his Uncle had thrown him out of the house. But he had never actually been serious…until now. Harry wasn't sure what exactly has triggered his Uncles rage, but based on Harry's previous experience with his Uncle – Harry could have done something as insignificant as opening the car door wrong.
'Shit!' Harry lashed out at a can laying on the sidewalk, but alas, it gave him no relief.
Taking a seat next to his stuff, Harry pondered what he could do next. There where endless options at his finger tips…the Weasley's, Hermione, Dumbledore, Grimmauld Place, Diagon Alley… Okay, maybe not endless, but there were quite a few. Harry pondered each of them for a moment. Holding up five fingers in front of him.
'Okay Hedwig, let's think about this. If I go to the Weasley's I'm going to get fussed over something terrible. And Dumbledore will get involved anyway. Not to mention I'm going to have to explain why I got kicked out…which not even I know…and Mr Weasley isn't going to accept that for an answer…they'll just bring me back here and try an talking to the Dursley's. And I don't doubt Uncle Vernon's promise to kill me…' Harry stopped and took a deep breath, four hours and he was already going slightly mad.
Harry lowered one of his fingers, 'Okay, so the Weasley's are out of the question. So is Hermione I guess. I mean I've never really met her folks, and she'll most likely go to the Weasley's for the last part of the holidays anyway. Then that would just raise some really awkward questions.'
Another finger down.
'And there is no way I'm going to Grimmauld Place. The last thing I need is to be constantly reminded of…him. And I'm not putting up with that scrawny excuse for a house elf either.'
That only left two options.
'Dumbledore or Diagon Alley? What do you reckon Hedwig?'
The owl gave an indifferent hoot and tucked her head under her wing.
'Yeah, right help you are.' Harry gave the cage a light tap. 'If I've ruled out the Weasley's and Hermione then the last thing I can do is go to Dumbledore. I can't see that being a productive conversation. He'd just bring me back here and make the Dursley's take me back in. Then the moment he left they'd probably kill me…'
One finger was left staring him in the face.
'Diagon Alley…yeah, real smart Harry… Avoid your friends then go to the one place they'll undoubtedly find you! Hold on…they wouldn't think to look in Muggle London though. I'm sure I could hang around there until September first, and no one would be any wiser!'
Harry leapt to his feet in celebration of his new plan, knocking Hedwig's cage flying in the process. After rushing to pick her up and apologising to her profusely Harry bundled up his gear and begun to walk in, what he hoped was, the general direction of London…
