Everything was back to normal at No.4 Privet Drive. Uncle Vernon had gone back to warning Harry at every opportunity to never mention his 'abnormality' and Aunt Petunia continued to look down her nose at him and to compare him to her wonderful little Dudley. Dudley too had gone back to his normal teasing of Harry. His diet had had some effect. However, he was still extremely fat, and as his diet had now been shelved by Aunt Petunia it was likely that he would regain all the weight he lost.
Harry, meanwhile, had been trying to put the memories of his last year at Hogwarts out of his head. He still had dreams about the Triwizard Cup, his meeting with Voldemort and Cedric Diggory's death. He'd been receiving regular owls from Ron and Hermione as well as Hagrid, but he really wanted a letter from Sirius. He hadn't seen or heard from his godfather since Dumbledore had sent Sirius on a mission on the night of the Twiwizad Cup final.
While Harry tried to concentrate on his History of Magic textbook to write his essay for Professor Binns, his mind was elsewhere. He knew Sirius was probably at Professor Lupin's house, but Harry knew better than to send him an owl. Sirius was still wanted by the ministry of Magic and he didn't want to take any chances of them finding him, even though all efforts were now concentrated on finding out whether Harry's information regarding Voldemort was correct. Cornelius Fudge had not believed him or Dumbledore, but other ministry officials had, including Ron's father. As Harry thought about Ron and all the other Weasleys and wondered if he'd be able to return to the Burrow, an owl soared through his open window. At first Harry though it was Hedwig, because of the owl's snowy feathers, but on second inspection he saw it was a male owl; Hedwig was still away hunting.
Harry leapt off his bed and removed the letter from the owl's outstretched leg.
'Go and have a drink,' Harry motioned to the owl to drink from Hedwig's water dish.
He unrolled the parchment and was greeted by unfamiliar handwriting. The lettering was very hard to read. Harry sat down and began reading.
Dear Harry,
I know that we are not being the best of friends, but I am hoping that we are still friends. I am writing to you about Hermione. I have not received an owl from her since after her trip to visit me –
The letter was from Viktor Krum, Harry fellow Triwizard opponent and seeker of the Bulgaria Quidditch team! –
I was wondering if you knew where she was, if she went on holiday without telling me.
Please, Harry. I would very much like for you to tell me where Hermione is and what she is doing.
From Viktor Krum
Harry reread the letter is disbelief. He couldn't believe that Viktor Krum, the famous international Quidditch player was writing to him. But what was this about Hermione? The letter was dated from the week before. Now that he though about it, Harry hadn't received a letter from Hermione for about 3 weeks. He frowned as he rolled up Krum's letter and left it on his nightstand. Harry rifled through his Hogwarts trunk and pulled out a scrap of parchment. Hermione had left him her telephone number so that they could arrange to meet in Diagon Alley and get their books for school. Harry carefully opened his door and quietly crept down the hall. He could hear Dudley's TV blaring in his room. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were downstairs watching the evening news. Harry walked in and cleared his throat.
'Um, is it okay if I use the phone to call one of my friends from school?'
Uncle Vernon turned around. His large face was growing purple.
'How many times do I have to tell you not to mention that place you go to or the abnormal people who go there with you?' hissed Uncle Vernon.
Harry grew angry at the mention of his school and his friends.
'I just thought that I should use the phone. I mean, I could use an owl, but the neighbours might think that an owl flying out of my window at six o'clock might be odd.'
Harry knew he'd said the right thing. Both Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia's head swiveled immediately to the window, expecting to see a shower of owls pass by.
Uncle Vernon got up and grabbed the phone and passed it to Harry.
'Hurry up then boy, and if I hear you utter one word of your abnormality you'll spend the rest of your holiday locked in your room!'
Harry hurried from the room and locked himself in his old broom cupboard. It was always a good spot to hide from Dudley because Dudley was too fat to get in, and Harry was safe.
He pulled Hermione's number from his pocket and dialled. It rang a few times and then Hermione's answering machine turned on.
'You've reached the Granger residence' spoke the clear tones of Hermione 'No one is home at the present but please leave a message after the beeps.' Harry listened to numerous beeps of other messages and counted over forty. Wherever, Hermione was, her parent seemed to be with her, and they'd been gone awhile judging by the number of messages on the machine. He left a message asking her to send him a letter as soon as she'd got back.
Harry hung up the phone and opened his cupboard door. Outside was Dudley, his piggish face had obviously been pressed to the door listening to Harry's conversation.
'Who's Hermione? Have you got a girlfriend?' Dudley laughed heartily at this and Harry was reminded of a pig having a sneezing fit; the pig and Dudley both wobbled everywhere.
Harry ignored Dudley and replaced the phone back in its cradle. He walked back upstairs with Dudley trailing behind him still laughing. When he reached his door he shut it in Dudley's face.
He was worried about Hermione now. Should he write to Ron? Probably not. Ron would just get extremely worried, while at the same time pretending he didn't care. Harry sighed and shook his head.
'I wonder when those two will get their act together?'
Harry then realised that he'd better reply to Krum's letter. The snowy owl was now sleeping in Hedwig's cage. Harry pulled out a piece of fresh parchment and his eagle feather quill.
Dear Viktor,
I haven't heard from Hermione for a while either. I just tried to phone her (a muggle invention to talk to people) and she wasn't at home. I'm going to write to Hagrid and see if he knows anything. Try not to worry, I'm sure she's just gone to see her relatives and not told anyone.
From Harry.
As Harry rolled up the letter, Hedwig flew in the window and headed for her cage. She hooted indignantly and the strange owl inside and woke him up.
'Sorry Hedwig,' said Harry, stroking her 'He delivered a letter from Viktor and I let him have a rest in your cage.' Hedwig hooted softly and nipped Harry gently on the ear. She hopped into the cage and began to share the mouse she held in her talons with the owl.
Harry attached the letter to the male owl's leg.
'Leave once you've had some food.' The owl hooted as Harry stroked his wing.
Harry flopped back on his bed and wrote a quick note to Hagrid, asking if he knew where Hermione was. He then attached the parchment to Hedwig's leg and watched as she and the male owl soared out the window together.
'All I can do now is wait,' muttered Harry as he picked up his History of Magic essay.