Ch 2: The Letter

Harry sighed and went upstairs, forgetting to set the table.

"Harry!" Petunia screeched, "Finish setting the table, for god's sake. I don't see why it's so hard to finish something you've started. Honestly, Harry," Petunia went back to making the evenings meal.

Harry was about to reach for the silverware, when he thought for a moment. He had to think of a quick remark to say to his Aunt. Nothing on her physical features because she looked like a horse, and nobody's perfect.

"Start being a good guardian, for god's sake, you were put in charge of me, the least you could do is be kind. Honestly, Petunia," he snickered quietly for three reason: the look on her face, he told her off, and the fact her called her "Petunia," not "Aunt Petunia." By now he had lost all the respect he had for the people he lived with.

Harry finished setting the table, and was about to go upstairs. The insult had really gotten to Petunia, so she stop Harry, and gave him a smaller slice of grapefruit than he usually got.

"Insult me like that again, and you'll have your uncle to talk to. Finish that grapefruit, and go upstairs. Be silent,"

Vernon and Marge came home. The weather had actually gotten muggier. It was storming my now. The only thing you could hear over the thunder was Marge's dogs, and the tapping on Harry's window. It wasn't Hedwig, the snowy owl that belonged to Harry, it was an owl from Hogwarts. Harry had recognized it from when he had to send other owls to Sirius, so no one would be suspicious.

Harry opened up the window and let the owl in. Soaking wet, Harry felt bad, so he snuck outside his room. Harry retrieved a towel from the linen closet, quickly, and closed the door, quietly.

"What was that?" Harry heard Marge say from downstairs.

"Nothing, probably thunder," Vernon improvised.

"Yes, thunder! Now, what were we, er, discussing?"Petunia asked.

"Politics, Tony Blair,"

"Ah, yes, the prime minister!"

Their voices faded, as Harry started to dry off the brown, speckled owl. It started screeching.

"No, shhh! Be quiet!" He didn't want to get a beating, so he just stops, and untied the letter from the owl's leg. It, too, was wet. How would it get dried? The ink was probably bleeding. There was no use sending this letter. He turned the envelope over, the wax seal was from Hogwarts, although one could barely tell, with the poor condition it was in.

Harry took a quill, and slid it under the seal. The letter was damp, but the ink wasn't leaking. Dumbledore must've put a spell on it.

He was sort of procrastinating to read it. It seemed every time Harry got a letter from Hogwarts or the Ministry he had gotten in trouble for using a spell, or blowing up his aunt. Actually, he didn't get in trouble for the incident with Marge. But, Harry seemed to get into a lot of trouble. In fact, the only good letter he could remember he had gotten from Hogwarts was when he was accepted into the school of witchcraft and wizardry.

Finally, he worked up all the braveness he could bare. And read the letter:

Dear Mr. Potter,

I am please to inform you, that you have a strong responsibility. The staff agrees at Hogwarts that this may sound strange to you, but you must accept this duty.

Harry stopped reading for a minute. What was the duty? Kill an evil creature? Voldemort, maybe? Get Sirius back? Join another Tri-wizard tournament?

He read on.

Ever since you first received an acceptance letter to Hogwarts, your aunt and uncle tried to burn them. This has happened many times to people in your situation. It has also managed to happen many times to muggles. For example, your cousin, Dudley Dursley.

Shocked, Harry read that one sentence about thirty or forty more times.

The staff at Hogwarts has been trying to send letters for 5 years now, and never have they been responded. Your responsibility is to have a civil talk with your aunt and uncle to persuade them to allow Dudley to attend Hogwarts. He belongs in the magical world. If you have any questions, sent a letter! He will start in level 6; sadly he would not have the full education of a wizard. But, he cannot be with a group of 11 year olds. I understand Mrs. Weasley buys your school books, so I took the liberty of sending her the list, and telling her she needs to buy 2 sets of each book. Good Luck!

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

"What?! Dudley, a muggle born wizard? There has to be some mistake." Harry checked the back of the letter for any words saying "April Fool's Day!" as if the letter had been delayed by about four months. But, it wasn't.

Dumbledore couldn't even go into detail.

Furious, Harry threw all his books on the floor, tipped his trunk over. Both Hedwig and the speckled birds started making noises. They were terrified. He opened Hedwig's cage and the window and let them out. They flew away quickly. The one place Harry could go without the Dursley's had now been invaded. Dudley was now going to join Hogwarts.

Downstairs

"What was that?" Marge asked once more.

"Thunder?" Dudley says uncertainly.

"No, no, that wasn't thunder. Vernon, dear brother, go up and check the delinquent's room. Oh, and the entire upstairs. It is said, there are gangs here in your neighborhood. They could be robbing your house thins second," Marge said as Dudley blushed. He had been part of those gangs. "Oh, and take my dogs they will tear that hoodlums to shreds," she laughed heartedly.

Back to Harry's room

Harry stopped. He heard thumping. Vernon had been coming up the stairs. Harry also heard barking. His uncle brought the dogs with him.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" Vernon grabbed Harry by the ear. "Marge thinks you're at military school,"

"But, I'm not,"

"Of course you're not. Otherwise you wouldn't be wreaking havoc."

Vernon dragged Harry by the ear, downstairs.

"Vernon, I thought he was at Boot Camp. That's what you told me!"

"He was. He, er, escaped. And came here, it seems like he can't get enough of us, and wants to be with me. Right, Harry?"

"Right, Ver-, I mean, Uncle!"

Marge stared blankly her cold, gray eyes paced from side to side. Person to person.

"He was sneaking through the window." Vernon lied.

"Is that why he was making so much noise?" Petunia asked, going along with what her husband said.

Harry couldn't take this much longer.

"No! That's not why I was making so much noise," Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out the letter from Dumbledore.

"This is why I was making so much noise," Harry read the letter out loud. It one was to interrupt him, he would speak louder.

When Harry was done reading the letter, Marge fainted. The room was silent.