Harry couldn't help but get excited. Being stuck at home the first two weeks of summer had nearly killed him, especially since he was not allowed to leave the cottage without Remus due to his 'reckless acts of ill planned heroics' the previous school year. The rest of the summer had been a bit uneventful as well, only a few trips out with the Weasley's and his uncle- to a fair and museums and the like. He and Remus had even met with Hermione and her parents for ice cream once. But now the summer was coming to a close and Harry was glad. He loved his home, and Remus, of course, but Remus often worked long hours at the muggle factory where he was currently employed and Harry was home entertaining himself this year, finally old enough to be trusted to stay home alone.
He'd had a nice party this year, with Neville, Dean, Seamus all coming in addition to the Weasley children and Hermione, who Remus endlessly teased Ron about, and at the start of August, Remus insisted Harry double check his homework and get a start on his studies, trying to make sure Harry learned because he knew Harry would not study on his own at school. He was too much his father for that.
This year, the start of term fell on the night of the full moon, a night in which Harry always stayed over with Ron, as Remus did not want him to be around such stressful and horrific events. There were no secrets of course, except from the other Weasley children, but never the less Remus felt safer with Harry away for the couple of nights he was effected- the night of the full moon and the next day and night in which his body was healing. Harry was sad that this year Remus could not see him off, but was also excited that he would get to travel in the new flying car that Mr. Weasley had enchanted. Harry had seen the car in action already early in the summer, but had not had the chance to ride in it yet. Remus was unsure of the whole situation, being half-muggle himself and knowing the dangers of a normal car- but one which had been charmed to fly didn't quite sit well with him. Still- he trusted Molly and Arthur, they'd been helping him raise Harry for years, and he knew no trouble would befall him while in their care. They'd spent the day preparing Harry to go, and were nearly finished up. Harry was just coming down from his room with his trunk when he heard Remus talking with someone- the other party the owner of a shrill, squeaky voice. Harry stopped to listen.
"You really are too, too kind to Dobby, sir." The voice said. Harry tilted his head. Dobby?
"No trouble really." Remus sounded tired. Harry stepped a bit closer. "Care to tell me what's going on?" He sounded firm, like he was not willing to wait for answers. The other voice sputtered.
"Dobby mustn't say sir. Dobby mustn't. But Dobby had to warn, sir. Warn Mr. Remus and Mr. Harry." At this, Harry could no longer contain himself and he hurried into the kitchen.
"Uncle Remus?" He questioned, noting that 'Dobby' was a house elf. That, Harry concluded, explained the pitch of the voice. Remus glared at the elf before looking to Harry.
"Harry, this is Dobby. He's come to see us about something he feels we must know, except that he cannot tell." Remus motioned for Harry to take a seat. Stiffly, Harry obeyed.
"Now," Remus returned his attention to the elf across the table, who barely sat tall enough to see over their kitchen tables in the chair. "Dobby- what exactly do you mean to warn us about if you cannot say?" It was obvious to Harry that Dobby and Remus had been through this a time or two before, and while Remus was the most patient people Harry had ever known- the moon often made him irritable and edgy.
"Harry Potter must not return to school!" Dobby squeaked. "He mustn't!" Remus let out a long, low growl.
"So you mentioned. Why?" He ask again, gritting his teeth as he spoke.
"Cannot say sir! Mustn't!" The elf frantically jumped up and grabbed a large serving ladle from the dish strainer next to the sink and began beating himself in the head. Harry's eyes grew wide at the spectacle. Remus, however, signed and laid his head on his arms on the table, waiting for the elf to stop.
"Why do you do that, Dobby?" Harry ask, horrified that this creature is hurting itself.
"Dobby-" thud, "cannot-" thunk, "reveal-" thwack, "about his family, sir. Dobby had to be punished, sir." Dobby then stopped, washed the ladle and replaced it on the strainer to dry. "Harry Potter must stay home from Hogwarts School this year!" He repeated with firm, squeaked conviction. Remus sat up suddenly, his voice loud and booming.
"BUT WHY?" It was rare Remus raised his voice. Even Harry jumped a little. "Why should I deny my child his education on the word of some house elf who serves Merlin knows who? How do I know you're not the one trying to bring him danger when you won't say a damn useful thing?" Remus slammed his hand on the table with each word and Dobby's already saucer-like eyes grew wider, and he backed away from Remus, toward the sink until he was flush against.
"Because Dobby remembers, sir. Dobby remembers and knows of Harry Potter, sir. Dobby wishes for things to stay the way that they are since Harry Potter triumphed over 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named', sir. This is why Dobby comes, sir." He looked frightened. Remus started to speak again but with a small crack the elf disappeared from the kitchen. Harry couldn't help but blink at the space where Dobby had just been standing.
"Uncle-"
"I know," Remus interrupted. "That was weird."
"Yeah." Harry nodded. He looked over to his uncle, seeing how pale he looked, how tired. He walked over and hugged the man tightly. "Am I going to school?" He ask quietly. Remus nodded.
"Of course." He replied.
"I promise to tell you anything and everything weird and suspicious that happens this year." He vowed. Remus chuckled.
"Get your thinks, my boy. I think I hear the car."
"This is amazing, Mr. Weasley!" Harry called from the backseat. Harry felt very at home in the air, on a broom and the couple of times he and Remus had flown to France via Muggle Air. Harry was very pleased by the new flying car. It was enchanted to be larger on the inside, and Harry plus the entire set of School aged Weasley's plus Arthur were all seated comfortably inside.
"Thank you, Harry!" Mr. Weasley beamed in return. "It took several sets of levitation charms and sticking charms over them, plus temperature control charms, pressure charms, enchantments to repel flying creatures of any sort. I think it's worked nicely!" They started to descend as they came from the countryside and into view of London, and Mr. Weasley flawlessly merged with muggle traffic, which itself seemed and amazing feat to Harry. Once at the station, however, they were in a rush, upon discovering that they had gotten to the station late. Fred, George and Percy all ran ahead and onto the platform, followed my Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, who were on either side of Ginny as it was her first year attending. Ron nodded for Harry to go next, and He thrust his trolly forward, but rather than phasing through the wall as normal, his trolly collided with solid brick, sending Harry and Ron both spilling, as Ron had been coming behind him, expecting to go straight through. Muggles all around stopped to stare at the boys.
"What's happened?" Ron gasped, slapping at the wall.
"It seems the gateway has sealed itself." Harry said, running a hand across the very solid brick. A chime rang through the air, and Harry turned to look at the clock hanging at another platform. "It's eleven o'clock." He said quietly, looking at Ron. "The train leaves at exactly eleven. We missed the school train."
"What should we do?" Ron whined. His face paler than normal, and he swallowed as though he might be sick from the worry.
"Perhaps we just go wait by the car?" Harry offered. Ron furrowed his brow as he looked at his dark haired friend.
"The car." He repeated. Harry then swallowed his own nerves back. He did not like the look on Ron's face, and he somehow knew the plan he had would be one which got him grounded until his fiftieth birthday.
Sorry that its taken so long for an update, but here we are, starting Chamber of Secrets. I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter- lets see if we can keep the average up that I've had of about 10 reviews per chapter with this and review it up! Please? Thank you all for reading!