When Harry arrived in the kitchen, an unfamiliar sight greeted him; flowers, streamers, and confetti were all over the place, there was a birthday cake, and there was a banner that read 'Happy Birthday, Harry.' Instead of being pleased, Harry was terrified. He tore back upstairs before the Dursleys could see him. He tried to think of what might be causing this, and suddenly it hit him.
"Uncle Matt!" Harry whispered.
"What?" Matt replied.
"Did you put the spell on the Dursleys?"
"Me?"
"Yes, you."
"Of course. Your dad would've loved to see them treatin' you right, and so would your mum, so I'm gonna make it happen."
"Uncle Matt, no! I'd rather be treated like mud again."
"Sure ya' would," Matt muttered sarcastically.
"Just take that spell off them!"
"Sure. It'll all be gone, the cake the puppy........"
"Leave the puppy, take everything else."
"All right, Harry. But before I take the spell off, you'd better ask them if you can go visit Hermione in August."
"No, I'd better wait and ask them that, with them like this they'll want me by their sides forever. They won't let me go."
"Okay, off with the spell then. Femilious!"
"Thank you."
"Bye, kiddo. Oh, and happy birthday." With that Uncle Matt was gone. Harry once again ran downstairs. This time there was nothing unusual about the scene.
"Um, Uncle Vernon?" Harry began nervously.
"What?" Uncle Vernon barked.
"I was wondering....."
"I'm not signing any ruddy forms."
"It's not a form."
"Then what do you want, boy?"
"Could I go visit my friend in London next week?"
"Yes, so long as it gets you away from us. And see if you can stay with him."
"It's a girl."
"Whatever. When is this little outing?"
"August 15."
"Could your friend come pick you up?"
"I suppose. May I call her? Or would you rather I send her an owl."
"No, call her, maybe you can even leave sooner." So Harry set out to call Hermione. He had memorized the number, so he headed to the phone and called her. The phone rang 3 times, and then finally Hermione picked up.
"Granger residence, Hermione speaking."
"Hey, Hermione, this is Harry."
"Harry?"
"Yes?"
"It's so good to hear from you! Can you come the 15th?"
"Yes, the Dursleys said I could. In fact, they wish I could, uh, leave sooner. Do you know if the Weasleys have a phone?"
"Well, duh, they have a phone."
"Do you know the number?"
"Yes."
"Could you give it to me? I'm as eager to get out of here as the Dursleys are to see me leave." So Hermione gave him the number, and he called Ron. But it wasn't Ron who answered, it was Ginny.
"Hello?"
"Hi. Ginny?"
"This is Ginny."
"Is Ron around?"
"Yes, he is. Let me get him for you." In the background he heard Ginny yell to Ron. A minute later, Ron picked up the phone.
"Hey, Ron? This is Harry."
"Harry!"
"Yes?"
"How are those Muggles treating you?"
"Bad."
"Same thing as last summer. I suppose you'd like to be bailed?"
"Yes, please."
"Lemme ask my mum." He heard Ron speak quietly to his mother, then said, "When do we come get you?"
"As soon as possible."
"We'll be right over. Pack your bags, Harry, you're coming back to the Burrow." With that Ron hung up and Harry ran upstairs to pack.
*Finis*