A/N So I actually had this as a really short chapter. Not much happens at the Dursleys, and I didn't want to write the Slughorn meeting. However, then I reflected more. I realized some things really bothered me. I don't address it in this chapter but I will, is Harry's treatment of Kreacher. He likes outcasts and is nice to them and is kind to house elves. Why he treats Kreacher the way he does makes no sense. He's kind to Dobby who stalks him, themes rooms after him, and paints him. Plus the fact he's as annoyed at Hermione over s.p.e.w. confused me since he has actually freed an elf. I can see him being a little annoyed about her closed-mindedness and the lengths she goes to but not s.p.e.w. itself. I also hate the line about Harry never having apparated before he does with Dumbledore because he has. Also, I wanted to mention Regulus because I'm actually obsessed with him. He is my favorite character and I want him to be a larger part of the story. Anyway, I extended this chapter from what it was originally. P.S. Do not expect daily updates. Regular yes, but not daily.

Chores and a Letter

Harry woke up before Aunt Petunia could knock. He quickly went to the bathroom before anyone could kick him out before he finished brushing his teeth or taking the three-minute shower he was usually allowed. He went downstairs to see the time, 7:40 on the clock. It was Saturday, meaning the Dursley's slept in and gave Harry more time. It also meant he did not know when the Dursleys would wake up and the Uncle Vernon expected a feast on weekends. The classic English breakfast was not acceptable. So Harry cooked for almost an hour, making something separate for Dudley since he could only have egg whites in everything and ham instead of bacon. Just as he finished cleaning the dishes he used to cook, the Dursleys were all down. They sat and began to eat. Harry quickly wiped down the stovetop and headed outside to get Uncle Vernon's newspaper. He handed it to him receiving a hrmph. He stood awkwardly waiting for them to finish. They finished leaving a piece of bacon, ham, and a few spoonfuls of egg. Harry was not allowed to purposefully make extra breakfast in hopes he could eat the leftovers. He had learned his lesson when he was younger. So when there were leftovers it always made him nervous and happy. Whether he made extra breakfast for himself was dependent on Uncle Vernon's mood.

"Finish those scraps and get straight to your chores boy. The garden needs weeding. I'm going golfing." Uncle Vernon snapped. Harry's mouth quirked up. Two meals in a row didn't happen often and when it did Harry felt almost happy, or as happy as you could be in this house. He had extra chores on top of his normal ones, but he didn't care. The extra energy from the meal should keep him going. He finished the dishes, finished his chores including the extra chores just a few minutes before dinner.

"Go to your room. You smell from being outside. You really think I would allow you to ruin our dinner with your stench?" Aunt Petunia shrilled. Harry sighed. His luck had run out and of course, he was being punished for doing all his chores well and on time. He trudged upstairs only to find an owl tapping at the window of his room. He opened it and took the letter, asking the bird to stay.

Dear Harry,
I will be arriving tomorrow evening. We have something to do together that I need you for. After I will take you to the Weasleys. Be packed and ready. Happy early birthday!
-Dumbledore

Harry smiled. He'd be leaving before his birthday! He hoped Hermione would be at the Weasley's already. He missed her and she was the person he confided in and he told her things he couldn't tell Ron. He still needed to tell them about the prophecy and he felt more comfortable telling Hermione before Ron. He didn't know how he would say it so as not to worry his friends or make them leave him though. He knew for sure that Hermione would stay since she always did. He would tell her first and they could both tell Ron and keep him from leaving. He really hoped Hermione was at the Weasley's now, the sooner he told the better.

Harry told the owl to go. There was no point in replying if he'd be leaving and seeing Dumbledore tomorrow. He was almost giddy with excitement and he fell asleep thinking about seeing his friends again.

-
Harry woke to Aunt Petunia's knocking. That meant he wasted time and no shower. He sighed and got ready before making breakfast. He did the same breakfast routine, but there were no leftovers. He sighed, today would be a long, hard one. He worked slowly through his chores. Sunday dinner was early and his chores weren't done. He was frustrated at himself. He didn't even have any extra chores and he still wasn't done. He figured not having breakfast was factoring into it. He knew the rule: incomplete chores met no dinner. Luckily for Harry, he would be leaving tonight so tomorrow's food and chore problems would be non-existent.

"You're gonna get it tonight, boy. Go to your room. No dinner." Uncle Vernon said, cuffing him hard on the back of his head as he passed. Harry rubbed the back of his head heading to his room to pack. Harry had a few schoolbooks out of his trunk but that was it so he put them away neatly. His birthday was tomorrow and he could not wait. He wouldn't be at the Dursleys and he could spend the whole day with his friends. Everything was looking up. He would hopefully get to eat tonight, he'd see Ron and hopefully Hermione, and Dumbledore was coming so Uncle Vernon wouldn't be able to give him a thrashing tonight. He heard knocking and then yelling. He forgot to warn the Dursleys about Dumbledore, "a freak", coming. Oh well, that was a problem for next summer.

"Boy!" Uncle Vernon shouted. Harry smirked and headed downstairs to see what Dumbledore had in store.

They arrived Horace Slughorn was residing. Harry entered and cringed. It smelled and was even worse than the outside of the house was. If Privet Drive was like this, Petunia would freak and Harry would have his fill of chores and be very sore while doing them. He had never seen a muggle house so messy.

Tonight had been full of surprises. Dumbledore's hand put a kind of mortality that Harry was used to. He was used to seeing Dumbledore as nimble and agile in his old age. On the marauder's map, he was always moving in his office. The second was that apparating was much worse than he thought it would be. When Dumbledore described it, Harry's mind flicked to when he was running from Dudley and his gang and ended up on the roof of his school. He hadn't felt anything when he apparated as a child, he was hiding behind dumpsters in a corner and they were coming, he closed his eyes for a second wishing to be away, and suddenly he was on the roof. His teachers were very upset and the Dursleys were furious banishing him to his cupboard and away from school for a week. He was expecting side-along to be the same: quick, painless, and easy. It was uncomfortable and disorienting and Harry decided he hated it. Why people did something so awful since there were many other methods of travel was beyond Harry. He liked flying and he had the best broom. One he'd received from Sirius… Harry shook his head and followed Dumbledore. Dumbledore touched the walls with blood and went to an armchair hitting it with his wand.

"Dragon blood? What an interesting choice." Dumbledore said with mirth filled eyes.

"Watch my funny bone, Albus. It's not like muggles can tell. I don't stay anywhere for more than a week so it doesn't matter much. The muggles are on vacation anyway. Help me clean up, Albus?" Slughorn said. Harry did not think Slughorn did a good job. Neighbors would find it more suspicious if they saw the house the way it was and the owners were known to be gone. Also, houses that looked like this and then suddenly was perfect again was not unnoticeable. Muggles weren't stupid, especially not that stupid. He would know. If the Dursleys saw this, they would call people, the authorities, the other neighbors, or the house owners themselves. Dumbledore nodded and in practically a second, the house was immaculate.

"I know why you are here, Headmaster, and my answer remains no. I see no point or benefit from retiring from retirement. No one you bring will change that."

"Very well, Horace. Well, I shall use the bathroom and then Harry and I must go. Molly Weasley is expecting us and probably has a feast for Harry prepared." Dumbledore says. He leaves and Harry is left standing awkwardly with Slughorn in a random person's house.

"Harry Potter. Definitely look like a Potter. You look just like your father. You got your mother's-"

"Yeah, her eyes. I know" Harry said. It was the first thing anyone who had known his parents said to him. It made him happy, that he was a reminder of them alive and not of their death of him being the reason for it. He and his prophecy were the causes of everything that has happened from his parent's death to Sirius' death. He's glad no one said anything about that or anything that was an apology for their death.

"Did you see in the news about Sirius Black? Real tragedy. He and your father were thick as thieves. I was head of Slytherin during my time as a professor. I was eager to have another Black in my house. Sirius was the black sheep of the Black family. Got his brother Regulus later on and both were very talented wizards. I wish I got the set." Slughorn said. Harry was shocked. He didn't know Sirius had a brother. He realized he didn't know much about Sirius. He barely got to see him and really only talked about important things that were happening then. Nobody else mentioned his brother and he didn't know where he would be. He made a mental note to remember to ask someone about Regulus and maybe find out more about Sirius.

"Yeah, I heard. What's so special about having both?"

"Well, I, of course, like to recognize talent. In fact, I recognized many famous wizards' talents before others and themselves. Your mother, actually, was one of them. She was destined for greatness. Thought she belonged in Slytherin the way she spoke to me. However, she was a Muggle-born, so I guess not. It really surprised me when she told me. I thought for sure she was a pureblood with her talent and wits. That and she attracted a pureblood like Potter." Slughorn ranted. Harry was ready to seethe. He was not a fan of Slughorn, no matter how "accepting" of Muggle-borns he tried to come across.

"My best friend is a Muggle-born and she's absolutely brilliant. She's the best in our year and the smartest person I know, professors included." Harry said. Hermione knew more than purebloods did about the wizarding world. She fit in just as much and more than any wizard or witch who'd grown up around magic. Slughorn didn't know what he was talking about with his generalized and bigoted beliefs.

"How interesting… Ironic how that works out, huh?

"Not really. I don't see how ancestry relates to a person's personal brain and talent." Harry said through gritted teeth. Horace Slughorn has managed to, in less than five minutes, insult both his dead mother and his best and most loyal friend.

"Oh, I am sorry. I did not mean for that to sound prejudice! I'm sure she is wonderful. I would very much like to meet her in fact!"

"I'm sure you will if you do what Dumbledore wants you will. You'll be under the greatest headmaster, safe from Voldemort, and be teaching some really prestigious and important wizards and witches." Harry said, refraining from smirking. Dumbledore had briefed him before on Slughorn and Harry's role in the trip. Hopefully, what he said was tempting enough for Slughorn. Dumbledore re-entered smiling and holding a magazine.

"Those muggles have some great bathroom reading material to choose from. I do enjoy knitting patterns. Come, Harry, I'm sure you are hungry. I don't believe we will be able to convince Slughorn to come out of retirement. He is much too happy to house jump. Goodbye, Horace!" Dumbledore said heading to the door. Slughorn looked conflicted and took a step forward.

"Wait, I'll do it. You gave me a proposal I can't refuse even though this idea is crazy!" Slughorn sighed. Dumbledore smiled at Harry. Harry surged with a pride he had not felt since Sirius and he couldn't wait to tell Hermione about their new professor and his experience.