Chapter 3 – Another Dursley
Harry looked around his room at the Dursley's house and had to admit he had never seen it cleaner. Uncle Vernon's cousin left the room immaculate, even the debris Harry had left out after his quick departure with Professor Dumbledore last summer. Harry knew that Aunt Petunia would never have touched any of his things. She was probably afraid she would get magic on her, like it was a germ.
Harry put Hedwig's cage on the desk and turned to go get his trunk from the car. To his surprise, Mike Dursley was standing in the doorway with the trunk in his hands. Harry jumped a meter back from the door.
"My God! I never even heard you coming up the stairs!"
Mike smiled, "You might want to work on that. You should keep a good situational awareness at all times, even when you feel comfortable." Mike tilted his head in thought, "And maybe even more when you are comfortable."
The odd, ugly little man shrugged his shoulders, walked into the room and placed the truck at the end of the bed.
"You sound like a former professor of mine. He was always going on about the need for 'constant vigilance'." Harry muttered.
"Sounds like he was a smart guy," Mike replied as he sat down on the bed. "So, Vernon tells me that you go to school at St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys. You don't seem like much of a criminal to me."
Harry felt his blood start to boil at the thought of the lies his Uncle Vernon told people to keep from admitting that magic existed. Harry did not have a problem with Muggles in general. He saw Uncle Vernon's prejudice against magic in the same way that he saw the pureblood's disdain for mudbloods and halfbloods. However, sometimes Uncle Vernon made the desire to start shooting out hexes just too strong.
"That is a lie! And if you want to believe his rubbish you can get out of my room!" Harry's anger burned at the thought of yet another insult.
"Easy kid, I didn't say I believed old Vernon. Vernon and I hardly know each other. Until my visit, I have seen him about six times in my entire life. But you need to control that temper before it gets you into trouble." Then Mike grunted a rumbling chuckle, "Or at least more trouble. I heard something about an incident with my other cousin Marge."
Harry's anger dropped abruptly with the calm response from this oddest of Dursleys. Harry dropped into the desk chair and just stared at the man sitting on his bed. The bed creaked under the weight of the short but very broad man. Harry looked at his arms and realized that his forearms were thicker then Harry's own thighs. The corded muscle looked intimidating. Then Harry realized that the most intimidating thing was not the man's apparent strength, but the absolute stillness that he sat that watching Harry in return. The statues around Hogwarts showed more animation that this man sitting on his bed.
Harry finally had to say something, just to break the silence. "Why are you here?"
Mike raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you mean in your room or in England?"
Harry answered, "I meant in England."
Mike gave another of his odd smiles and looked towards the window. "Well, I spent ten years in the US Army, and then decided to get out and go into website design and programming. The tech boom and the Y2K panic are really making technology and the Internet the place to be. I was just getting started when Vernon called me up and asked me to help set up Grunning's site. A web site for drills won't be too exciting but it is a good start."
Mike turned back to Harry, "I will tell you the oddest thing is Vernon pushed for me to be here before you returned and for the contract to end after you left for school again. Now, Vernon and I never enjoyed each other on our occasional visits. My grandfather moved to the US after World War II and we grew up in very different environments. He never said that my visit was connected to you, but I am not as dumb as this face of mine suggests."
Harry was stunned by this information. Did Uncle Vernon really bring this strange man to protect the Dursleys? And from who, the Death Eaters or Harry and his friends?
Before Harry could think of a rational response to the question, Aunt Petunia could be heard down the stairs calling that dinner was ready.
Mike grimaced and rose to his feet. "Let's eat kid. We can talk more after dinner"
The little troll man then walked out of the room followed by a bewildered young wizard.
Harry and the strange American never got the chance to talk after dinner. Uncle Vernon dragged Mike into the Living Room to discuss the website. Harry used this distraction to get into his room and write a quick note to Ron saying he had reached the Dursley's safely.
Hedwig hooted as Harry attached the scroll and nipped playfully at Harry's hand. "Here you go. Go see Ron. Try not to let Pig teach you any bad habits."
Hedwig hooted again and then took flight out the window. Harry watched, slightly jealous of the freedom the owl was experiencing. Then Harry turned to get ready for bed.
"Rise and shine sleepy head!"
Harry jumped at the bellow in his ear. He shot up in the bed and slammed against the wall. To his shock, he saw Mike standing there in running shorts and trainers with a big grin on his face.
"Come on kid. The dawn is breaking and we can get a good run in before breakfast. Somehow I don't think your cousin Dudley will be joining us."
Mike then threw some clothes to Harry and said he would meet him downstairs in five minutes. Then Mike disappeared out the door so fast that Harry almost thought he had Apparated.
Four minutes later Harry was standing outside the Dursleys and starting to stretch. Mike watched him and then motioned for Harry to lead the way.
Harry started at a good pace. Although Harry was still small for his age, playing Quidditch had developed quite a bit of strength in Harry. The ability to resist the stresses of the sudden acceleration and turns coupled with the endurance to stay in the long games and the usual pain from injuries left Harry in good shape.
After thirty minutes of running Harry had worked up a solid sweat and was feeling his endurance waning. Harry glanced back at Mike and saw the man looked like he had just started the run. The man had barely broken a sweat yet!
Mike caught the look on Harry's face and asked, "Do you want to pick up the pace?"
Harry motioned for Mike to take the lead. Harry did not want to try to talk at this point.
Mike increased his speed with Harry making a determined go at keeping up. Harry refused to let a Dursley run him into the ground!
Ten minutes latter, the pair were passing the park where Harry had in years past seen Dudley tormenting smaller children. Mike led the way into the park and to a picnic bench.
Harry stumbled to the ground gasping for breath. Bloody hell! Harry felt like he had just played a dozen back-to-back Quidditch matches! Each breath felt like he was on fire.
"Get up kid. Walk it off." Mike reached down and lifted Harry effortlessly to his feet. Mike then stated walking Harry in slow circles. As Harry started to get his breath back, Mike let him sit down on the bench.
"Now don't you feel better? Last night you looked like you were looking for any excuse to let your temper get the better of you." Mike watched as Harry started to cool down. "I bet right now you couldn't work up the energy to shout, 'Boo!"
Harry had to nod agreement to that comment. Mostly because it was true, but also because he still didn't think he could even talk!
Mike gave him a hand up and they started walking back towards the Dursley's house.
After a time, Mike looked at Harry and said, "Do you want to talk about what is riding you? And don't tell me anything about St. Brutus's. Only a total idiot, like Vernon, would believe that story."
Harry looked at the man walking beside him and said, "I have thought that myself, but I don't think you will believe my story either."
Mike replied, "Try me out."
"Ok," Harry sighed. "I am a wizard and attend the best school of magic in the UK."
"Magic, huh? Well, I've had a couple girlfriends that claimed that they were witches, but never really saw anything that would prove that."
Harry pulled out his wand and pointed to a distant football left in the park. "Accio ball!"
The ball flew through the air and directly at Harry. Harry snatched it out of the air and presented it to Mike. "Now you have seen magic."
Mike nodded, "Okay, I'll give you that, but it doesn't explain the look on your face last night while you were sleeping. The only time I have seen people with that look on their face has been when they have been in combat ops for too long. Especially officers who believe they have the weight of the world on their shoulders."
"That would be a long story. The Dursleys know parts of it but have done their best to believe I've made it all up." Harry looked at the ground while they walked. Why was he telling this to another Dursley?
"Sit down kid" Mike pointed at the curb. "I had a teacher tell me once that the only way to tell a story is to start at the beginning and go through to the end."
Harry sat down and started telling the strange Muggle about Voldemort, the death of his parents, school and the loss of Sirius and Professor Dumbledore. Harry had never sat and had to tell the whole story to anyone before. It was amazing all of the events that had happened over the last six years since Hagrid had come to take him to his first year at Hogwarts.
Talking about the dangers and adventures he had faced, Harry naturally talked about the roles of Ron and Hermione in his life. He also talked about the Weasley's and their inclusion of him in their family. Talking about Sirius was difficult and Harry almost could not talk about Dumbledore. Harry realized that while he viewed Sirius as his surrogate father, Dumbledore was his surrogate grandfather.
This last thought caused Harry to break down and start to cry. Mike placed his arm around the boy and pulled him into his shoulder.
Mike realized that this was the first time the kid had ever let the feelings he was bottling up out into the open. Mike bought the whole story. The emotions were the key but also it was consistent through out and matched the pieces that Vernon and Petunia had dropped when they had thought he was out of earshot.
Mike had been slightly nervous coming to England during a time when terrorists seemed to be heavily active. Mike had spent more time then he wanted to admit, in countries that he could not admit to visiting, fighting against terrorists. Something about the news stories and the official explanations had never seemed to fit. The kid's story about this Voldemort answered a lot of his questions.
Mike was angered to realize that his relatives had added to the boy's burden. Not even seventeen years old and already a terrorist target for the last sixteen. No wonder the kid seemed like he was ready to explode. The constant stress must be crushing him.
Harry was gaining control of himself again and sat up. "Thank you for listening to the whole story. I have never had to talk about it like that before."
"It is okay, kid. You obviously needed to talk it out. Your school may be preparing you to be a wizard, but obviously, they never talked to you about dealing with this kind of pressure. If you would like I think I can help you."
"How can you help me? You can't do magic."
"Magic isn't the answer to everything. After my time in the military, I can show you some different ideas for handling the pressure you have been letting crush you. Plus, I know you way of fighting is different, but I can talk to you about the tactics and strategies that we, ah, Muggles, have used in our wars."
Harry looked at the man and realized he was honestly offering to help. This was something Harry had never expected to find at the Dursleys. Harry realized this was the best he had felt since leaving with Dumbledore to find the Horcruxes.
"I would appreciate that, Mike. I really would." Harry stuck out his hand and the two new friends shook. "But I don't think Uncle Vernon will be too happy about you spending time with me."
"Ha, wait till you see how we get around my jerk of a cousin!" Mike laughed. "I will have you help move me into my apartment and then I'll bet you that I have Vernon throwing you at me."
Harry laughed and then decided that he would not bet against this man.
Mike started asking a large number of questions about the war with Voldemort. After another twenty minutes of questions, Mike asked Harry, "Why do you have to face this wizard? Surely there are older more powerful wizards that could fight him?"
Harry explained about the prophecy and the effects of his mother's sacrifice. It seemed as though Harry's sacrifice would be to face Voldemort to determine if Light or Darkness would win.
Mike found it amazing that something with a potential impact on the entire world would not be much more widely known. And it all hung on the shoulders of a kid not even seventeen years old.
Mike hummed a few bars
and then sang quietly, "So bury fear for fate draws near and hide
the signs of pain; With noble acts, the bravest souls endure the
heart's remains
Discard regret, that in this debt a better world
is made; That children of a newer day might remember, and avoid our
fate."
Harry could just look at Mike and nod.
"It is called "Winterborn" by a great band, Cruxshadows, and it seems to fit this situation."
Harry and Mike jogged into the Dursley's driveway. Mike paused at the Dursley's front door and gave Harry a wink. Then he opened the door and strode in like he owned the house.
"Vernon! This boy is just as good for nothing as you have said! I took him on a little run and he could not make even five miles!" Mike glared at Uncle Vernon and then turned to glare at Harry. "Obviously, that school of your fails to instill a strong physical discipline!"
Uncle Vernon was attempting to leverage his bulk out of his chair while yelling back, "You are quite right! I completely agree! I have said the kids today are treated too soft. A bunch of nancy boys if you ask me!"
"If I had him in my unit I would have gotten him straightened out or killed him trying!" Mike screamed this from only a few inches in front of Harry's face. Harry could not help flinching under Mike's bellow.
Uncle Vernon heard that bellow and noticed Harry's flinch. Vernon realized that he had the perfect opportunity here to get rid of the boy and to pay him back for all of the disrespect Harry had done to his household. A sly smile flashed on Vernon's face.
"I say that is a capital idea, Michael! Would you be willing to but the boy under your own version of military discipline?"
Mike turned to Vernon with shock on his face. "But Vernon, what about the website? You know I would love to break this brat, but I need to money from that job!"
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. While you do this little, um side project for me, we will just bill the company!" Uncle Vernon stated with a huge grin on his face.
"I don't know Vernon. That might cause the contract to go over budget. Wouldn't that look bad?" Mike stood with a considering look on his face.
"The company will never know. I'll change the bill. Simple!" Uncle Vernon chortled in glee.
With a nod, Mike said, "If you are sure then I would be glad to whip this kid into shape!" Turning to Harry, he yelled, "Get changed into work clothes and be in my car in five minutes! Move!"
Harry sprinted up the stairs and into his room. While he was getting changed he was shocked at the way Uncle Vernon was manipulated into doing exactly what Mike planned. Harry shook his head. After all this time with magic you would have thought that he had learned not to simply judge things by their appearance.
Harry ran out the front door and into Mike's car. As he ran out, he heard Dudley snickering in front of the television. Harry jumped into the car and shut the door.
Mike turned and smiled at Harry and said, "You can't cheat an honest man." The car pulled out of the drive way and started down Privet Drive. As they came to the end of the street Mike muttered, "Oh, please don't throw me into that there briar patch!"
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