Chapter 7
Disclaimer: Everything in the Harry Potter universe belongs to J.K. Rowling, I have nothing out of this except for enjoyment.
Holiday Again
Harry had very good company with the Grangers during the summer, and they continued to provide him everything he needs. He was sure that if he stayed at the Dursleys, he would not be getting used to spend time with Hermione on school work.
Meanwhile, at the Dursleys, things started to become more troublesome.
Vernon, Petunia and Dudley have just woke up, and they found that they have insect bites all over their body.
"There were too many mosquitoes and fleas in our house," said Vernon.
"I feel as if I want to scratch myself," said Dudley, scratching his arms and legs rapidly.
"We might need to do the pest control if this continues to happen," said Petunia.
But it was not only Number Four, Privet Drive have insects, after Vernon came back home from work, he started to complain.
"I got more insect bites now," he said. "There were too many insects in my workplace."
"Same thing goes for me," said Dudley. "There were so many insects in school, and I feel extremely uncomfortable."
He started to scratch himself again.
"Take a shower for now, both of you," said Petunia.
Dudley's friends started to avoid Number 4, Privet Drive ever since they got bitten by the insects when they were playing at his home.
The following day was weekend, when they woke up, they found there are spiders in the corner of the wall in every room, there were spider webs everywhere. Vernon has to sweep it off using a broom.
At lunch time, while they were eating, numerous cockroaches climbed onto the dining table.
"Disgusting," said Vernon.
After dinner, they found there were insects in their shoe boxes, and Dudleys toy boxes. This kept them busy.
On the following day, when the Dursleys woke up, they baked a cake for a party that was going to be held at Number 4, Privet Drive, they have invited friends to come over. However, after the cake was ready, a bunch of flies started to come and eat the cake. Vernon threw the cake away and then put on the lid so the flies will not be able to get out.
All the guests have brought their own dishes to the party, when they went to throw the wrapping away into the rubbish bin, all the flies went out and was flying everywhere. They have to close all the doors and windows and deal with the flies. All the guests ran to the front door, and they all pushed and shoved each other to get out of the house, leaving the door open.
When the Dursleys have dealt with all the flies, they found some snails outside, trying to crawl into their house from the open door.
The Dursleys locked the door, went to bed in extreme disappointment.
At the beginning of the following week, when Vernon went to work, a wasp started to chase him around the garden. The outcome was that he was stung by it. He howled in pain. Then Petunia has to carry him to the hospital. Dudley couldn't go to school because Petunia was staying with Vernon. As soon as Petunia went back, it was just the time for Dudley to go. Dudley shouted at Petunia, saying that he wanted to go earlier so he wouldn't be late, but now he's going to be late. He said he would rather commit suicide than going to school late.
On the following week, after Vernon ate breakfast and went to work, while he was working he started to feel really sick. Suddenly he started to have diarrhea, and he had bum pain. The employers felt strange. Where did the smell come from?
Then Vernon said: "I need to go, Potty."
When he arrived home, he received a call from Dudley's school, telling him that Dudley had diarrhea. Vernon didn't want to pick Dudley up while he was in this state.
Dudley was taken back home by one of the teachers at school, and he looked so sick.
"I think I should take you and your wife, and your son to the hospital for a checkup," said the teacher.
The news about the trouble of the Dursleys were not published in either the London Times Newspaper or the Daily Prophet.
/Scene Break/
"Feeling better without the Dursleys, Harry?" asked Dan.
"Yes," said Harry. "Thanks to Hermione that I can settle down and study. A lovely Witch."
"Oh Harry," said Hermione, she embraced him in a hug. "No one has been saying this to me before. Thank you."
"You better watch out who you are going to choose," said Dan. "There are certain people you need to avoid."
They started to watch TV together.
Currently a criminal called Sirius Black has broken out of Wizarding prison and are on the run, we encourage everyone to be cautious.
"Oh no!" said Hermione. "We better watch out this year."
"Mind you, Harry, please keep my daughter safe," said Emma.
"I promise I will," said Harry.
/Scene Break/
At the Dursleys, troubles continued to happen. On the following weekend after the diarrhea incident, the Dursleys family was going to go to a campsite to get out of all the troubles they have in their house, while they were driving, Dudley was playing with his toys, and he forgot to put his seat belt on. On their way to the campsite, they experienced a car crash towards their neighbour's car. Dudley was being thrown onto the ground straight out of the front car window, and he landed on a construction site not far away from the cars.
Vernon was shouting at the driver of the other car, while Petunia went to help Dudley. He had cuts all over his face, and had bruises over his head. He was whimpering in pain. Petunia called the Ambulance, and the Ambulance engine crashed into the Dursleys car, and the Ambulance workers started to yell at the driver of both cars, and said: "Pay us a hundred pounds and we shall leave you alone for some time."
Soon, the police arrived, and after they heard about the incident, they gave Vernon a eight hundred pounds fine ticket.
Vernon started to yell at Dudley for not putting his seatbelt on.
All three drivers and families walked back home without talking with each other, except for the ambulance workers, who were yelling bad names at the two cars that they crashed into.
/Scene Break/
It was two days before Harry turns thirteen. Hermione hoped that she can invite some trusted people to come to Harry's birthday party. After some obligations, she thought it would be best to celebrate it alone.
"Maybe we should celebrate it at home, just as a family," said Hermione.
"Good thinking," said Harry.
Hermione wrapped her arm around Harry's waist, and leaned on his chest for a while.
Then she loosened her grip.
"We can go out and visit the museum," said Dan. "Maybe we can go to the zoo, or somewhere else."
"Yes," said Harry. "I just hope that I don't burst in on my relatives."
"If you see them, get away from them as far as you can," said Hermione.
On Harry's birthday, an owl arrived, carrying a letter and a package, it was from Bill.
Dear Harry
We hope that you have a very good birthday, we got you a book, called 'Tales of the Beedle and the Bard'. It is a book full of kids stories. We do not really know what Muggle kids stories are like, but we do hope that you enjoy reading it.
Regards
Bill Weasley
'Kids stories', Harry thought.
He opened the book and started to read, and then Hermione came and stood beside him.
"May I look at what you are reading?" she asked.
"Feel free to," said Harry. "It is full of kids stories, from the Wizarding world."
"Really?" said Hermione, as she looked at the contents. "No wonder I have never heard of these stories before."
In the evening, Dan and Emma cooked dishes that they have never tried before. Harry and Hermione enjoyed it very much.
On the following day, they received their book lists.
"Hogsmeade trips," said Hermione. "We need our parents or caregiver to sign a form to visit the village."
They showed it to Dan and Emma, and they quickly signed them without hesitation.
"We were thinking about going on a trip to France for one week, do you have a passport, Harry?" asked Dan.
"No," said Harry. "I shall write a letter to the Ministry, they may be able to get me one. When will we leave here?"
"We will get your books and equipments after we come back from the trip," said Dan. "We will leave here on the second week of August, if it is convenient."
"Right," said Harry.
That night, while Harry was asleep, he met his parents again.
"Harry," said Lily. "It is time for us to tell you the answer to the unanswered question that you asked Dumbledore at the end of your first year at Hogwarts. Voldemort heard a prophecy stating that you are the one who can vanquish him. He marked you as his equal, and either you have to kill Voldemort, or he has to kill you, he believes, by killing you, he is going to be invincible. But you will have the power that he doesn't know about."
"Right," said Harry.
"You will have to get rid of Voldemort," said James, "or die trying. No one can kill either you or him."
/Scene Break/
Three days later, Harry received a letter from the Ministry, it said:
Dear Mr Potter
Please find your passport enclosed to this letter.
Regards
Amelia Bones
Director of Magical Law Enforcement.
/Scene Break/
At the Dursleys, more trouble started to arise. On Dudley's birthday, one week before the end of Hogwarts year, the day was ruined by a bunch of graffiti on their door and window frames, after Vernon, Petunia and Dudley got back from the zoo.
"Who wrote this thing?" asked Vernon.
Petunia shook her head.
After they got back home from shopping in the afternoon on Saturday, just after Hogwarts term finished, they found some rats in the kitchen, nibbling chocolates and cheese, and things. Some of them nibbled book covers and papers.
"Oh no!" said Vernon. "Now we need to set up some rat trap. We should go out for dinner."
They went to eat in a restaurant, and on their way home, Vernon brought some rat traps.
Once they got home, they placed one rat trap in each room, hope they can catch some rats.
On the following morning, Vernon woke up and went to look for the rat trap, he found that several rats were trapped.
Just then, the telephone rang again.
Vernon went and picked up the telephone.
"Vernon Dursley speaking."
"This is Marge Dursley. There are so many rats in my house."
"Same thing goes for me," said Vernon. "Buy some rat traps, that should do."
/Scene Break/
On the second week of August, Dan, Emma, Harry and Hermione took the Taxi to the airport.
They got to the ticket counter to check their bags, and they showed their passport to the agent. After the agent gives them the baggage claim ticket. They went on the airliner and waited.
As the airliner took off, Harry and Hermione broke into a conversation.
"Am I right saying that the Dursleys have never taken you to any trips, Harry?" asked Hermione.
Harry nodded.
"You will love this one," said Hermione.
A few hours later they landed, and they collected their baggage, and they went in to the hotel that they had booked in.
They went out and ate at a French restaurant, they have ordered a very large lunch.
In the afternoon they went to the beach, and it was fascinating.
They arrived back home a week later.
"We will take you two to get your books tomorrow," said Emma.
/Scene Break/
On the following morning, Dan and Emma took Harry and Hermione to Leaky Cauldron after breakfast to get their books.
"There's so much to buy," said Hermione.
"You took too many subjects, perhaps," said Harry.
"Well, I just want to try out each one," said Hermione.
"You put too much time in your studies, Hermione," said Emma.
Then they met Fred and George.
"Hi Harry, hi Hermione," George said.
"Harry," said Fred. "Did you receive the book 'Tales of Beedle the Bard'?"
"Yes I did," said Harry. "I could've written back."
"Did you do anything this month?" asked Fred.
"We went on a trip," said Hermione.
"Don't you think it is weird, living in a Muggle house all year long, Harry?" asked George.
"No," said Harry.
"Just joking," said George.
After a minute, Arthur arrived.
"Harry," he said. "How are you?"
"I am fine," said Harry.
A/N: Now this chapter is done, however, even though Harry did have his permission form to visit Hogsmeade signed, there will be some issues with the signature since the guardianship has not yet been confirmed by the Ministry, which will be revealed in the next chapter.