A/N: This is my first HP fic – so please be kind!! I really hope that if you like it (or don't like it) – that you will take the time to review this. If I get enough reviews I'll keep going. And please . . .don't flame me – I am only a beginner and don't deserve to be torched! (And of course I welcome constructive criticism.)
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing . . . the Great Goddess and Supreme ruler of all that is good, JK Rowlings, owns all. (I hope that satisfies the copyright law?)
OK enough with this all . . . here goes.
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"Boy!" The strident voice seemed to echo through the entire household. Frowning, Harry Potter chose to ignore the yelling voice; maybe if no one acknowledged its existence it would go away. Flipping to the next page in his textbook, he dipped his quill in the inkwell and heaved a huge sigh. Why did he have so much more schoolwork over the summer than he did last year?
"BOY!" This time he had no time to ignore the voice as it was accompanied with feet pounding angrily up the stairs. He quickly whipped his schoolwork under the floorboards in his room before his uncle Vernon stormed in. His already ugly face, which was now red with rage, was not a pretty sight.
"WHY HAVEN'T YOU CUT THE GRASS YET?"
"I said I would before you got back," Harry said, in what he hoped was a reasonable tone.
His uncle Vernon's eyes flashed, a signal that Harry better not speak anymore. "Five minutes," He hissed. "If you aren't out there in five minutes . . ."
Harry met his aunt and his fat cousin Dudley at the foot of the stairs. Dudley was whinning about the diet he was on.
"But Dudley dearest," his aunt Petunia cooed. She was the only one who could think of Dudley as "dearest," Harry thought. "I promise that when we go into town, I'll get you that new Sony Play Station for being so good and sticking to it. The nurse says you've already lost five pounds!" Harry covered his snicker with a forceful cough.
"We?" Uncle Vernon trudged down the last few steps. "We? I thought only I was going into town!"
"But, Vernon, I've already promised Dudkins."
"But," Uncle Vernon growled. "We can't leave him," He shot a disgusted look at Harry. "Alone here!" Even though Harry was almost fifteen and going into his fifth year at Hogwarts they still wouldn't let him stay at home alone. They probably feared he would hex the entire place somehow.
"Well," Her face broke into a mix of distaste and reluctance. "We could . . .bring him with us?" Her husband scowled. "Well Vernon I really need to get some shopping done."
"And I get my play station," Dudley piped up.
"Fine." Uncle Vernon's lips were set in a firm straight line. He turned a glared at Harry. "Go outside, and get in the car. And if anything," His eyes flashed at the memory of past outings with his nephew. "Anything dodgy happens, you can forget about going to school this year!"
"But Uncle," Harry said with mock sweetness. "I thought I was supposed to cut the grass?"
"OUT!"
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I can't believe I am related to these people, Harry thought shaking his head regretfully, as he gazed at his relatives. Uncle Vernon had finally had enough of Dudley and his bellyaching about the diet, and had decided to tell him exactly why he was on it in the first place. He did so in a loud voice in the middle of the shopping mall, despite Mrs. Dursley's protests. Not to be outdone, Dudley came back with a few choice comments that horrified most of the people who passed by. Harry decided to leave the scene before they directed their anger at him (which usually ended up happening.) It wasn't everyday that he got to get out into Muggle London, and his relatives were too preoccupied to notice his departure. He wandered over to a nearby pet shop.
As he looked at the different animals that filled the shop, he couldn't help grinning. Hagrid would love this place, he thought. Or at least he would if the innocent little bunny rabbits were replaced with fire breathing dragons. Harry passed the rabbit cage and came upon several enormous glass aquariums containing equally large snakes. He was eye level with a long green one, coiled around a fake tree. Hissing, the snake craned its scaly head around. Its glittering reptilian eyes were now staring directly at Harry.
Harry felt a prickly sensation in his ears and realized with a sudden awareness that the snake was speaking to him in parseltongue.
"Hey man, any way you can bust me out of here?" It hissed hopefully.
"Uh sorry," Harry answered. He didn't like being reminded that he could talk to snakes. He didn't like being reminded of a lot of things that he could sort of forget over the summer. As his thoughts drifted against his will to the events of previous years, he suddenly felt cold even though it was hot and humid outside. He shuddered as his scar began to throb with a dull ever-present ache. "I'm probably just about as trapped as you are." He told the snake with a distant look in his green eyes. He began to walk away, eager to escape for a while.
"Well thanks anyway," The snake hissed again. "And," it added. "I'll throw in some advice . . . WATCH OUT!"
Before he could respond Harry crashed right into a girl headed out with a big bag of dog food. The bag crashed to the ground and burst open shooting kibble [A/N; Does Britain have kibble? If not – replace it with your favorite brand of dog food. :- ) ]out in all directions.
"Oh I'm so sorry!" Harry exclaimed as he flushed crimson. He sprung to his feet and helped the girl up. "I'm so sorry," he repeated not knowing what else to say.
"Aw don't worry about," The girl responded. Harry could tell by her accent that she was American. She laughed. "Its not like they don't have enough Kibble in this place." She tugged at Harry's sleeve. "Maybe we should move out of the way so they can clean up."
"Uh . . .oh yes, we should." Still embarrassed he followed the girl to the where the dog food was. He hefted up another bag for her. "At the least let me pay for it."
"No!" She insisted. "Its not even for me – its for my host parents. They gave me more than enough money." Looking up, Harry finally got a good look at her, and realized that she was extremely attractive. Not in a dazzling, obvious sort of way like Fleur, but in an earnest natural way. She had long dark hair, and an open friendly face. Her dark, enchanting eyes that twinkled mischievously, and full red lips were what struck him the most. Her figure was slim and athletic. She pushed some of her hair behind her ear and flashed him a wide smile. "So really you don't have to pay me," she finished.
"Well I guess, I should at least introduce myself since I've cost you ten pounds," Harry said. He wanted desperately to look casual all of a sudden. He rested his arm on a shelf. "I'm . . .."His introduction was broken off. Unfortunately he had put too much weight on the shelf and all of its contents came crashing to the floor. "Harry . . .Potter…" He ended lamely, looking sheepishly at the floor. The pet shop staff rushed over to clean up the mess. Harry cursed his clumsiness.
"You might be surprised to know," he commented. "That generally I'm extremely coordinated."
"I probably would be," She chuckled. "I'm Veronica, by the way." She extended her right hand for Harry to shake. As their eyes met both of them felt like they didn't want to let go. "Veronica Silva. I'm an exchange student here. I'm actually from California." She let go of Harry's hand reluctantly.
"Well . . .um . . .since you
aren't from here. And I mean… I am. Right. Well anyway . . .I was wondering . .
. erm…you know if you wanted to see more of London.
She gave Harry a knowing glance. "Are you trying to ask me out?"
"Well, actually yes I am." He quickly dropped his eyes and blushed, his heart throbbing forcefully against his ribcage. He had never acted so impulsively before…and he was beginning to doubt his audacity. He tried not to think about how humiliated he would be if she turned him down…
But Veronica responded with a flattered grin. "Then I would have to say yes." Harry looked up in happy surprise. Veronica searched around for a piece of paper and pen and found both on one of the checkout desks. The manager didn't look too happy that she had taken his pen, or that they had caused more damage than he thought it was possible two people could. But neither Veronica nor Harry seemed to notice.
"Here's my number." She scribbled it on to the paper. "Just give me a call." Flashing Harry another smile, she left the store, Kibble in hand. Harry tucked the scrap of paper into his jeans pocket. Surprised at his unprecedented boldness, and feeling like he was on the top of the world, he raced out of the store to meet up with his relations before they noticed he was gone.
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Ok there's chapter one – but
there is much more to come. Please review!!! REVIEW!! All I ask is for
like ten. .