Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I wish I did but that would be too much of a hassle.
Chapter Three
The rest of June passed by slowly for Harry. School let out a week after Dudley's birthday. The neighborhood boys passed the time by playing game after game of Harry Hunting, so Harry spent most of his time outside. He always went to the clearing behind to park to write in his journal or make plans.
July 2, 1991
It's still a few more weeks 'til my birthday. I really don't know what will happen. I do know that Remus has talked to Dumbledore, but we don't know what is going through the headmaster's mind. I know that everything will go more smoothly if he listens to Remus' requests, especially when it comes to me getting my letter. I don't want to go through what I did last time.
Things are so different now. It's hard to understand some of the things around me. It's hard to relax. I can't sleep. I have no clue as to what I'm doing. I need help, and Remus can only give so much without becoming suspicious. I fear for his safety and his sanity. Sometimes I think I'm losing my own.
I think the Dursleys are angrier than usual. They are looking for ways to punish me harder. The first time around I didn't notice, but I think Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon know that my letter is coming. Everything is making them jumpy. The only one who is acting normally is Dudley, but he is a different topic altogether. I just want to get this over with so I can be with Remus. I feel vulnerable without him.
July 10, 1991
Nothing much is going on here. No one has even noticed that I disappear for hours on end. As long as my chores are done, no one cares about me. I crave attention from anyone. I even went over to Mrs. Figg's house to see how her leg was healing. Even though she is a squib, she has enough magic in her to heal her quickly. However, she wasn't very happy to see me. It might have something to do with how her leg was broken in the first place.
Dudley still hasn't been able to catch me. He actually might be getting bored with Harry Hunting; I sure am. Evading him is just too easy. I think he might be dumber than Crabbe and Goyle combined, and they are pretty stupid.
I still miss my friends. I don't have any in Surrey, so things can get boring. Remus hasn't written. I'm beginning to think that Dumbledore could have a ward in place so he can look through my mail. But maybe I'm just being paranoid. Maybe Moody has finally succeeded in making me as jumpy as him. I hope I'm not going crazy. That would make things easier for Voldemort. I don't want to go insane. I won't survive if I do. I can't give anyone the pleasure of killing me. I don't want to die, but my death is inevitable, whether it comes early or late in my life. I don't have much hope in the latter. I am not afraid. I just have so much here that I don't want to leave, and I don't mean material things. I don't want to leave Ron, Hermione, Remus, Sirius, or even Ginny and the rest of the Weasleys. I think I would even miss Snape, although not much.
July 21, 1991
I haven't gotten a letter yet, but that doesn't mean anything. Still, I only have to wait ten more days 'til Hagrid comes to get me. I can wait that long.
No word from Remus yet. My theory might be right, at least for the ten years before I go to Hogwarts. I want to see him. I want to make sure that the past five years wasn't some outrageous nightmare. Any sign from my world would be welcomed. A scent, a face, anything will reassure me that it was real and not some fantasy of a child.
I can feel the wizarding world calling out to me. I know that sounds crazy, but that's how I feel. It's as if the wizarding world misses me as much as I miss it. I've felt this way before, but it wasn't as strong as it is now, because now I know what I'm missing.
I'm writing this very late. The Dursleys are keeping me busy whenever I'm not allowed to eat. I barely have time to write anymore. It's so frustrating. I WANT OUT! The only good thing that's happening is that Dudley and his gang have given up on Harry Hunting.
July 30, 1991
Tomorrow is my birthday. The letters haven't come; it seems that Remus has succeeded in saving the parchment. I'm guessing that Hagrid will be coming soon. I hope so, because I'm getting very antsy and jumpy.
I'm going to see Remus in Diagon Alley; he did promise me that. I guess I'm a little nervous. I know what to expect on one level, but I don't on another. That's just something else that's making me frustrated. I have come to the conclusion that I am not a patient person.
Harry closed the half-full notebook and put it aside. He wasn't lying when he wrote he couldn't sleep. Sometimes he just didn't feel like it. But that night he fell asleep as soon as he turned off his light.
The next morning he woke to what seemed to be thunder. He knew that it had rained at the shack on the rock the night before, but he was in his cupboard on Privet Drive. Then he smiled as he realized what the sound really was. It was Hagrid. He ran to the door before the rest of the Dursleys woke.
"Hello sir. How can I help you? We can go inside to talk. My aunt will want me to prepare their breakfast soon."
"Alrigh' then. Ya wouldn' mind makin' a pot o' tea, wouldja? It was a long journey from where I was. Flyin' isn' my favorite way to travel."
"Sir, do you mind telling me who you are."
"Well, Harry, I was sen' 'ere to tell you abou' Hogwarts, a school for kids with special talen's. It's for kids who can do magic. Me name is Rubeus Hagrid, keeper of keys and groun's at Hogwarts."
"He will not be going. I will not allow him to stay here if he goes to that freak school." A screechy voice yelled at them from the top of the stairs.
"You can't stop me. I know you have been lying to me for the past ten years. I know Mum and Dad were murdered, not killed in a car crash like you always told me. And I really don't care if I never have to come back here EVER AGAIN. I BET THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD TAKE ME IN. I WILL LEARN MAGIC WHETHER YOU WANT ME TO OR NOT. MAKE YOUR OWN BLOODY BREAKFAST FOR ONCE; I DON'T CARE ANYMORE. DIE FOR ALL I CARE. YOU MAY BE MY RELATIVES, BUT YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO BE MY FAMILY. I WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE ANY FAMILY AT ALL THAN CONSIDER YOU PART OF IT. I'M SICK OF IT ALL. I AM LEAVING, AND MARK MY WORDS, I'M NEVER COMING BACK!"
Everyone was shocked by Harry's outburst. Aunt Petunia had never seen Harry behave like that before. Hagrid was especially confused, not knowing what had happened to deserve such behavior.
The other two Dursleys heard Harry screaming and came down the stairs. Uncle Vernon took one look at Hagrid, and then threw a punch at him. Hagrid didn't notice until he saw that Vernon's hand was broken.
"Ya shouldn' o' done tha'. You could o' really hurt yerself."
Harry went to his cupboard, pulled out his backpack, and stuffed his notebooks and pencils in it. He would get more supplies at a Muggle store later.
"We should be going soon. I don't want them to start throwing things. They have been known to do that when someone unwelcome enters their house."
"Ya go' everythin' ya need. We have ta get there the Muggle way. Ya know wha' a Muggle is, righ'? Ya know, non-magic people."
Without another word, Harry followed Hagrid. He didn't know where he was going to go after he left Diagon Alley, but he knew he wasn't going to return to the Dursleys. He would refuse to go back. He didn't care about the blood protection; a fully trained wizard could protect him just as well, and with the right wards, he would be well protected.
Hagrid led Harry to Surrey's train station. The ride to London took hours. They endured the ride in silence. Hagrid was either knitting his yellow tent-like shirt or reading a newspaper.
They reached Diagon Alley. Everything was the same as the first time, except he didn't see Malfoy in Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. That is, until they reached Ollivander's
"Hello Mr. Potter. It's nice to see you again."
"Er, yes sir."
"I think I already have the perfect wand for you. Holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches."
"How did you know?"
"Let's just say that I felt a shift in the time stream. It's a gift that I have. Now, I believe Mr. Lupin is waiting for you."
Harry paid for the wand and ran outside. He saw that Remus and Hagrid were talking.
"...that you have to get back to Albus. I'll take Harry home. I know where he lives. Unless you were planning on putting him on a train by himself, because that's not exactly safe."
"Alrigh', ya can take 'im. Jus' be careful. Them Muggles are likely ta kill ya if they knew what' ya are."
"Of course Hagrid. I'll see you soon."
Harry followed Remus out into Muggle London, trying to hide the huge smile on his face. It was always the simple plans that got the better of Hagrid.
"So, do you want to go to Muggle London for a while or go straight to my place? Either one is fine with me."
"I need to get more supplies, notebooks and pencils, and some new Muggle clothes. I have an image to project and it won't do to wear rags. I always get teased by Malfoy and his goons because of that."
They gave each other a look before they burst out laughing.
A/N I know Hagrid wasn't as forceful as he was in SS/PS but Harry already knows everything. It was only a matter of time before he lost his temper. I'm going with the Harry we see during most of OotP.
Beta'd by Cimh
