This Indecision's
Killing Me.
Harry had had a great
evening and sat in front of the muggle television, and allowed his vision to be
transported, becoming fascinated by the news programs more than anything else.
"Don't you have a
telly?" asked Jasmine.
"Nope. I've a few posters,
but this is more… current." Harry felt he understood these TV things better
than most muggles.
Jasmine gave him an odd
look then cuddled him tightly.
"So, what does your old
man do?" asked Barry.
"Erm, well, my dad's no
longer alive. Uncle Vernon works for himself, moving into plastics or
something."
Kate nudged Barry and
smiled at Jasmine as they all bathed in the blue light of the television on the
worn sofas.
There was a tapping at
the door.
"I'll go get it shall
I?" he said and used it as an excuse to remove himself from the place.
"Ah, well, so how's
school then Harry?" asked Kate politely, hoping this would be on more solid
ground.
"Fine. Fine. I miss it
though."
"Really? I was never a
lass for school meself." She beamed.
"Oh god, here we go,"
mumbled Jasmine.
"Barry was in a band you
see. Fab they were. He's a few year older than me and I used to go sneak off
and see him play. Do you like music Harry?"
"Erm…" for the life of him,
Harry could not remember music ever really playing a part in his life. Luckily
for Harry, he was saved from answering by Barry returning.
"Harry. Your brother's
here. I mean, your cousin," he said.
Behind Barry stood the
soaking wet figure of Dudley, face half-hidden by his large coat hood. "Dad
wants you to come home," he muttered.
Harry looked at him in
amazement – had Dudley been sent out on an errand? "Oh, okay?"
Jasmine looked a little
miffed until Harry hugged her. "I had better go."
"Oh well," smiled Kate
as she stood up, "it were nice meeting you Harry. Please feel free to come by
again soon."
"I'll show you out, okay
Harry?" said Jasmine pointedly.
"Okay," said Harry.
Dudley was waiting outside for some reason. Jasmine grabbed his arm and took
him to one side. "Oh god Harry! That was so embarrassing! And you got mum
talking about music!" she seemed to fume for a bit until Harry wrapped his arms
around her.
Ginny felt the warm rain
fall on her through the darkening forest canopy above, but ignored it as she
stared forlornly into the crystal ball in front of her. Visible within was the
image of Harry and Jasmine. She felt crushed.
"No…" she sighed. "I'm
an idiot. Oh Hedwig, where did you go? How am I going to get home without you?"
Dudley had started to
walk away in the rain and Harry took that as a sign to leave. Harry quickly
kissed Jasmine goodbye and marched to catch up with Dudley.
"Okay okay Dudley! Slow down,
I'm coming!" sighed Harry as Jasmine closed the door reluctantly on him and his
cousin.
Dudley suddenly turned
away from Harry and headed for a nearby bus shelter as the rain poured down.
Harry was confused but caught him, glad for the shelter as Harry had not
brought a coat.
"What's up Dudley? Don't
fancy walking it?" teased Harry. He felt stupid once he saw Dudley's face.
Dudley had a large cut to his left eyebrow and he had been crying.
"What am I going to do
Harry?" sighed Dudley.
Harry was totally
confused now. "What's happened to you eye?"
"Dad did it. He didn't
hit me, but he threw a cup at me and it shattered. Got caught," sneered Dudley.
'About time' thought
Harry. "Why did he hit you?" asked Harry, sitting down next to Dudley.
"Oh, something. Nothing
really. We had a fight," sighed Dudley.
Harry sat and thought
about this. What on earth could Dudley do to upset his dad? "But you never
fight?"
"I know that! I'm his
only son!" exploded Dudley. "I'm their golden child and their little pet! I've
let them down! Fuck 'em! They wanted everything from me!"
Harry stared at his
cousin. "What happened Dudley?" asked Harry in a low yet firm voice.
His cousin looked back
at him. "I – I want to leave home Harry. Something's happened."
Harry put his arm around
Dudley and the pair hugged. "It can't be that bad, can it?"
"Well, it is." Dudley
smiled in an odd way. "You see, mum was cleaning my room and she found
something of mine. It's a bit embarrassing really." Harry looked at Dudley who
seemed the most cheerful in a while. Harry realised that he was been told
something very few people would hear. He was seeing a side of Dudley few others
saw.
"Harry… They found a
letter from a friend of mine," smiled Dudley. He smiled as if it was a very
private joke that really was not very funny. "Mum read it. Showed dad. He
showed it to me and I admitted it was genuine. Then he, well lost it a bit."
Harry sat back and felt
the question 'What was the letter?' form in his mouth. Then Hedwig arrived, swooping
into the shelter and perching on the far end of the plastic seating. She
squawked noisily.
Both Dudley and Harry
jumped. "Bloody bird!" gasped Dudley and burst out laughing hysterically.
Harry knew Hedwig well
enough to sense that it was carrying an urgent message. Harry stood up and held
out his hand until Hedwig hopped back on. Suddenly everything he had doubted
about himself evaporated. He was indeed a wizard. And he spun around grinning.
"Hedwig came back!
Hedwig came back! I'm not mad!"
But Dudley was gone.
Instead a dragon's head had appeared around from outside the shelter and was
grinning smugly at Harry. Harry could smell its rancid breath as the dragon's
nostril's flared mere inches from his face.
"Ah, well done young
Harry. But who do you follow now? The owl or your cousin?"
Lightning flashed and
Harry stood alone in the bus shelter. Hedwig flew away into the night from his
hand whilst far down the road in the opposite direction, Harry could see his
poor cousin running down the road and away from home.
"Harry? Harry?" screamed
Ginny at the crystal ball.
TO BE CONTINUED…
* see 'The War' for
details…