Chapter One: Letters
(I sure wish there was a prologue feature, now my chaptering system is messed up. But forget everything and read!)
The summer wasn't one Harry could just lull about in his room everyday. Way too much was going on. The result was torturing. How could he possibly have gone through all that in his fourth year? The worse was yet to come and that made him anxious and scared.
A lot of things were going on in his mind. First of all, he wanted someone to talk to. It would be really cool if Lupin was beside him or even Sirius. But Harry was really anticipating Ron's invitation to his house. Of course, things had to be approved by Dumbledore, which made him very curious.
The next thing on his mind was Sirius's task to find these people. Dumbledore was confusing Harry with so much. How could so much be kept hidden from him? There was a lot of history that Harry didn't realize and something new always popped up every year at Hogwarts. Harry knew he would find out sooner or later. But he wanted answers now! Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher, Remus Lupin…Arabella Fig--!
Harry thought of something amazing. He dashed to his window and looked outside. Strangely enough, Harry saw his neighbor, Mrs. Figg! She was sitting on a table, writing something with a pen. Everyone once in a while she would chew on the end of it and look up at the birds in her tree. Once she even glanced at Harry's window. Harry immediately left and went after a piece of parchment.
Dear Hermione,
Have you been with Viktor yet? I'm still here at the Dursley's. It's dreadful. But I have to tell you about something that Dumbledore told Sirius after the Cedric incident. He said that Sirius was to go after Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher—the old crew. I have no idea what this is all about. But Dumbledore also advised that I stay at the Dursley's for a while. After that, I can go to the Weasley's house. What has really sparked my interest is the name Arabella Figg. I have a Mrs. Figg that lives right next to me. It's possible that she's protecting me from "HIM."
Oh well, there's not much else to talk about. My aunt and uncle are rather jumpy lately. Dudley's in a horrible mood. I think something happened to him while he was at Smeltings. Oh well, I had to write to you about that Figg thing. Write back if you have any useful information.
Love,
Harry
He sent the letter off with his trusty owl Hedwig.
* * *
A week passed by and Harry was often found spying on Mrs. Figg. However, she wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary. She just kept writing letters. Her cats no longer roamed outside any longer either. It was if they were terrified of something. Harry couldn't point a finger on that.
"HARRY! GET DOWN HERE!" the angry roar of his Uncle Vernon blasted through the walls. Harry knew better than to defy his orders so he rushed down the stairs with all his speed, nearly running down Dudley who was running as fast as he could up the stairs. Harry was puzzled.
"Yes, what do you want?" He asked kindly.
"I want to know how in the world you have gotten to be so popular at this Hogfarts place! It seems as though, extra precautions are taking hold because of some death that you are part of. Who did you kill?" Vernon wailed.
"No one! Although I won't deny that I was partly responsible for it. We were in this crazy tournament and—"
"Don't talk back to me! I hope that you aren't going to be expelled. I don't plan on spending money for a weirdo like you to be going to school. Besides, I just bought a new SUV for the family. Money's not just going to float around! You better be excepted back into this school. I got a letter today. Don't want that kind mailing us anymore though! It's awful. You're all so crazy!"
Harry desperately wanted to see the letter that Vernon had. He doubted he would be able to see it though.
"Go upstairs now!" Aunt Petunia squealed.
Harry sulked and found a letter on the stairs. It was addressed to Dudley and his parents. It was also from Smeltings. He forced a smile and picked it up.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT!?! GIVE IT TO ME NOW!" Vernon's rage echoed through the whole house. He seized the letter and read it with Petunia. Harry couldn't miss the chance, so he did something he would've never dared to do ever. He got out his invisibility cloak.
Only once did Harry think that the Ministry would find out. But he wasn't performing magic; he was just using an already magical item. He had tons of them in his trunk. He got the cloak out and tiptoed down the stairs to see his relatives' expressions.
"Oh dear! It seems my Dudlykin's having some…er…social problems at school!" Petunia cried.
"Yeah, it has a form here for camp Wallomohre. Hmmm, they want us to send Dudley to the camp!"
"OH! I just got a glorious idea, Vernon. OOH! It's too good to be possible!"
"What is it my dear? It doesn't have to do with that foolish Potter boy does it?"
"Well, yes, in fact it does. If we send them to this camp, we could go on that cruise together that we've always wanted!"
"Money, Petunia, money!"
"We don't need to worry about that! Remember that bald man without a finger, he's paying us to get Harry out of the house! We can use the money to send them to camp and us on the cruise! It would be magnificent!" Harry shrieked. Petunia and Vernon looked around for a bit and began to talk in hushed whispers. Harry decided to leave them alone.
He walked up the stairs and thought of who he was going to write his next letter to. It maybe Sirius, but he overreacted too much. But Harry thought that there was so much on Black's mind that it may be safe to write to him. The only problem was that he had already sent a letter to Hermione. Who knew when Hedwig would come back with a reply?
"BOYS! GET DOWN HERE NOW!" Vernon's voice sounded through the house again. Harry swore that his door was rattling this time. Harry threw off his cloak and raced Dudley down the stairs. Harry won, naturally.
"Well, I know this may sound odd, and it does. But we have decided that you two are going to camp for three weeks," Petunia announced.
"YOU GOT MY LETTER!" Dudley shouted.
"Thank your cousin," Vernon hacked.
Dudley glared at Harry with evil eyes. Harry stood shocked. It wasn't because of the camp. It was the fact that someone was getting to Harry and paying the Dursley's. That was the bad thing. Harry also had a slight idea who was doing it too.
"I CAN'T GO THERE, MOMMY!" Dudley started to cry. Harry had a small smile on his face. A nearly fifteen year old was crying in front of his parents!
"You're going boy! And Harry's coming with!" Vernon howled. This seemed to shut him up pretty quickly.
"Get ready, Dudly-Poo! We're going shopping for camp things!" Petunia said. "And you get ready. You're going to the neighbor's house. I don't want you here left alone. And you're not coming in our new car! GO!"
Harry was half-excited that he would be meeting Mrs. Figg again.
"Dudley, stop your crying! I don't want you getting my new car all wet!" Vernon shouted. A small tear dripped from Dudley's large nose and landed in a small puddle.
Petunia sneered at Harry as she left for a towel. "Hopefully I won't be having to clean up any further messes! It's outrageous the sort of things I do for you and the ways I have to clean up after your friends unruly behavior!" She was obviously hinting at the Weasleys' Floo Powder escapade.
Now Harry wanted to send billions of letters. He first wondered what Ron would do. What would he say about the camp? What would Dumbledore say? Could Harry bring his wizard things along? He would have to smuggle them somehow. Harry went upstairs to find some things and tidied himself up a bit. Then, he walked outside and sighed heavily. The conversation could be very interesting with Mrs. Figg. Harry only hoped that she was a witch.
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Like it yet? The next chapter will have plenty of surprises two familiar faces will be seen in Camp Wallomohre!
-Lynkin