untitled

A/N : This one is dedicated to my own Mom, it seems only right, ths is Mother's Day, and to me, she can do just as much magic as Ivy, even though she may not have a wand. ( I've never been 100% sure about that though.)I can also see her welcoming Harry into the family, just like Ivy did with Harry. (she's welcomed in a lot, over the years, I don't see a Wizard being any different)

Many thanks to 007 for the beta-ing (and knowing I have to be pushed, and when to stop)and the others, Brigade 701 for the daily "well?", Chase for halting my retirement from fanfiction, and the as yet unformed villain, who is anxious to see himself appear. And all the reviewers (it really means a lot!)and IMers. Hopefully I will not have to remove a chapter this time and lose some of your reviews.

Chapter Three - Some Active Revenge

As they sat in the living room, with Marge and Colonel Fubster talking fast and Dudley looking more dismayed by the moment, there was the sound of a door opening. Next they heard the door slam forcefully and Uncle Vernon's voice, bellowing "Petunia!"

Harry was a bit surprised, but then thought, 'Oh well, maybe he's just hungry.' Petunia got up, and went into the hall and they could hear her murmuring, and he could catch an occasional word, such as "Marge" and "Harry" and finally "doing something with Dudley!" Each time Vernon just made a grunting sound, but eventually he and Petunia returned to the living room, and greeted his sister and Colonel Fubster fairly normally. Then he turned to Harry, and immediately Harry could see a glimmer of resentment in his uncle's eyes though he masked it quickly. "So, back from your holiday are you? Looks as if that foreign food agreed with you."

Harry was amazed that Vernon had even noticed anything was different, but he realized he had gained some weight and grown a bit over the summer. Ivy had already done a lengthening charm on his robes, but she said he would probably need new ones, by the time school started. Well, they'd be going to Diagon Alley soon anyway.

Petunia and Vernon were now talking to Marge and the Colonel, who, Harry had discovered, was named Nigel. Uncle Vernon didn't seem especially pleased, but he was going along with their plans.

"Just as well," he said. "I've looked everyplace, and there are no Smeltings uniforms any larger than last year's Dudley. I'm afraid we'll have to resort to something drastic, if you're to return to school."

"Then let me stay here!" Dudley howled. "I know enough already. I can work at the sweet shop, year round, or work with you, Dad." Harry suppressed a laugh as he pictured Vernon and Dudley trotting off to the drill company, dressed identically, except for Dudley's increasing size. Vernon quickly squashed this idea though.

"That won't be possible, Dudley," Vernon sighed. "In fact, if things aren't soon looking up, there may not be a drill company and I may be looking for a new position as well. There'll be no new computer for you, Dudley, and I advise you to stop chucking your things out the window when you aren't pleased with them."

This was interesting, Harry thought. Maybe he'd better tell Chris about this. He didn't want the Dursleys to try to pull him out of Hogwarts, and put him to work in a muggle job. That would be just like them, to say he "owed" them for all the years after taking him in. He knew though, that if they tried it, he'd go out and buy a pile of old, ugly clothes, and a few sacks of groceries, present them to Uncle Vernon, and tell him they were even. As Ivy had remarked this summer, his aunt and uncle hadn't exactly gone overboard, providing for him.

Aunt Marge made a sudden exclamation from the couch, and said," Harry, I've left Ripper out in the garden. Be a dear and go fetch him."

Dudley, Petunia and Vernon all had odd looks on their faces at this. HARRY, be a dear? Once again, he had to suppress a laugh, as he thought of the attack dog Ripper had been that afternoon, and would be again, at a word from himself. This didn't seem to be the time though, so he went out and muttered "Calmiveritas Caininis," then brought Ripper in to Marge. Dudley was still blubbering loudly, and Petunia was trying to calm him.

"Tell you what, Dudley," he said. "I need to train for the sports season at my school. We can do this together, I'll be here a few days. " He was thankful he had taken Hermione's advice and shrunk the basket of food, and was even more thankful to have that piece of parchment allowing him to do a small amount of magic over the summer. Dudley immediately looked up with interest, then yowled, "You can already run fast, Piers and I've been chasing you for years!" The grownups in the room looked at Dudley in astonishment since he had always maintained that he'd never bothered Harry.

"Then you can learn to catch him!" Vernon growled. Then he got up and stomped from the room, leaving Petunia, and the others in a furor of exclamations. Harry decided this was probably the best time for him to make an exit. He could hear Vernon in the kitchen, probably pouring himself a large brandy, so he took the steps up to his room two at a time and was thankful to see Hedwig in her cage on his desk. Ivy had told him she would apparate over with the cage and leave the window open for Hedwig, and she had kept her promise.

Somehow, Harry didn't feel things were going well, Vernon seemed to be full of some sort of confusion over who to direct his anger toward. He now could see what Ivy meant, if he had to come back to the Dursleys because of an appearance from Voldemort, this wasn't the sort of confusion he wanted to encounter. He rummaged in his desk and found a few pieces of parchment, a quill and some ink, then wrote:


Dear Hermione, Ivy and Chris,
Things seem a bit odd here- Vernon is charging around like a mad bull, but I don't think he's sure who to be furious with. I wouldn't think he'd be too receptive to me moving back in here so maybe you could reinforce him, Ivy. I've offered to go along with Dudley for a few days and join him in the new exercise and diet, hope that wasn't a mistake. When are we leaving for the Burrow, again?
Hoping to see all of you soon!
Harry

He rolled up the note and called to Hedwig, who flew over immediately and stuck out her leg. Harry chuckled as he tied the it on her leg. "Can't wait to get out of here again, can you. I know the feeling. But bring an answer soon."

He tried not to feel despair as she soared out the window, but he'd forgotten how lonely it felt to be in this house, surrounded by muggles. It was even worse, now that he'd been with Hermione's family and felt a part of them. He sat down on the bed and pulled out the food basket he'd shrunk, and hid it far back under his bed, under the loose board on the floor. His thoughts were jumbled and he lay back and closed his eyes, thinking of how it would have been if his parents had lived. He and Hermione would probably have grown up together, as close as a brother and sister, since their mothers were such friends. He wondered if things would have turned out the way they were now. His feelings about Hermione were definitely not on the brotherly side. He felt his cheeks redden as he thought of holding her yesterday, and he wondered whether they could stick to their plan about going slowly. She had developed some very nice curves, and hehe would be surprised if she wasn't going to be going to Madame Malkin's for new robes too.

He closed his eyes and soon drifted into a dream of himself and Hermione. They seemed to be standing at the edge of a river, and she grabbed his arm, stuck her foot in the water, smiled at him, then began pulling a t-shirt over her head. He was standing beside her, grinning, as a Hermione he'd never seen appeared. Her swimsuit looked like water itself, what there was of it was swirls of blue and green, on small triangles of fabric. Then she turned and said, "Ready?" and began to pull his t- shirt over his head, coming close enough so that her body was almost touching his, and he put his hands out to touch her.........

"Harreeeee!!!" Harry jerked up from the bed and shook his head. 'What timing these people have!' he thought. But he also knew the first thing he'd do when he got back to the Granger's would be to ask Hermione about what swimsuit she had. Taking a deep breath, he headed back downstairs, not knowing what he'd find.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning Harry awoke to a scrabbling sound at the window, and saw Hedwig, sitting on the window ledge, a large package by her side He quickly opened the window and she dropped the package on his bed, giving him a slightly reproachful look before she nipped into her cage for some water. Had she been out there long? he wondered. He'd been exhausted, since Colonel Fubster had insisted on starting Dudley's exercises, and had used Harry as a model. Dudley kept saying he didn't understand and so he'd had to show him repeatedly the complicated series of exercises.

He'd seen Uncle Vernon sitting there with a look that seemed pleased, but it was hard to tell, since he kept ducking behind his paper. Petunia kept chattering on about how it was too hard for either of the boys, but Dudley had finally managed to get through some form of what Colonel Fubster wanted, and when Harry finally was able to get away, Marge and her friend were still standing over Dudley, telling him to go faster.

He was thankful for the food he'd brought, since he was able to have a snack before he slept. Unfortunately the tinned food seemed to bring on unsettling dreams, and he kept seeing Peter Pettigrew, holding up his new hand triumphantly. He had hoped to be able to slide back into the dream with Hermione but no luck on that score. Now for the package....

There were three smaller wrapped packages inside along with a folded note. Harry opened the note first and read:


Dear Harry,
I am very glad you picked up on the differences in Vernon so quickly. You see now why Chris and I felt this was necessary. The items I've enclosed should take care of the problem and I've added a Replenishing charm so that your family will be kept under control. I think Vernon's business situation will also benefit from this. If he is forced to seek another position, he is much more likely to be hired with a less "forceful" personality.
We'll be over to have drinks with the Dursleys this evening, and, if things seem satisfactory, we'll bring you back to our house, and we'll all leave for the Burrow sometime tomorrow. Now, Hermione is dying to take this paper from me.


Dear Harry-I hope you are being really, really careful, because I have been worried since you left. Try to stay out of Vernon's way as much as you can, in case he suddenly stops being confused before Mom's reinforcements work.
Can't wait to see you, Harry, missing you lots!
Love from Hermione
 (and her family)


Harry sat back with a huge grin. He remembered the summer before, when he'd awakened with that awful pain in his scar. He had thought then how much he had wished he had someone like a parent to turn to. He was really thankful Sirius had been there, but at the time, it had taken a long time to communicate with Sirius. Now, a year later, he had not only Sirius, but Ivy, who was able to take care of any situation quickly. Harry didn't know how much experience she had in the Dark Arts, but he imagined she could learn, if she chose. Hermione and her mom were a great deal alike and he thought it was going to be pretty interesting seeing Chris progress through the Kwikspell Course. Would he learn as quickly as Hermione had? Chris had a more relaxed personality, and yet he seemed to have a lot of confidence. No wonder Hermione thought she could do most anything.

Inside the package, Harry found a bottle of Uncle Vernon's favorite brandy, a package of the same rolls and cakes Ivy had sent over before, and what looked like some sort of health bars, that were each wrapped for each of them, 'he thought, and left the room quietly. Half of the rolls and a few of the health bars he left on the table, the others went into the freezer, then he carefully opened Version's liquor cabinet, and put in the brandy. Just in time too, as he immediately heard sounds of protest coming from the stairs, and judging from the creaking sound, it must be Dudley.

A loud bang and Colonel Fubster appeared, holding Dudley by the collar. They pushed past Harry, and Dudley was sputtering, and gasped "I never get up this early!" and then, "Harry has to come too! He promised!"

"Harry can come along but it's you who'll be working! And you will be up each morning at this time from now on," the Colonel replied harshly. "There'll be no more lie-ins for you, boy!" He and Dudley went into the garden where Harry saw a sort of track had been set up, even though it wasn't a large one.

A few moments later, Vernon and Petunia came down the stairs, and Petunia whimpered, "I can't watch my Duddy being tortured this way, Vernon, pull down the blinds!" Harry and Vernon both looked at her in amazement, as she had always insisted on keeping the blinds open in the kitchen.... everyone knew this was to enable her spying on the neighbors.

"I forgot to let you know, but Dr. Granger sent over some more of those rolls and cakes that she sent before," he told them hastily, before the mood could deteriorate further. "There's some things for Dudley as well. And more in the freezer for all of you."

"Thank heavens!" Petunia said with a sigh. "I just don't have the energy to do anything around here today." She and Vernon pulled out chairs and after pouring themselves tea, began eating Ivy's food.

"If you don't mind, I'll just get myself some fruit from the fridge" said Harry, in case they wondered why he wasn't digging in too. He wasn't sure how they'd respond to things this time, but very soon, both of them seemed to perk up and they went out the door, presumably to check on Dudley.

He stood at the door watching as Vernon suddenly began to gallop around the track, with Dudley half heartedly following him. Petunia was telling Colonel Fubster something and Harry saw him studying the label on one of the bars Ivy had sent, then calling Dudley over. True to form as far as food was concerned, Dudley grabbed the treat, and stuffed it in his mouth, then drank something from a bottle on the ground. A moment later, he also was galloping around the track and soon Colonel Fubster had added some small hurdles for them to jump over.

Behind him, he heard Marge enter the kitchen and she immediately came to the door and joined him. "I knew Nigel could help them, just a matter of discipline. Speaking of which, I've made a list of things that need to be done around here," she said, waving a piece of paper.

'Oh, no, here it comes!' he thought, and quickly pointed out the fresh pot of tea and Ivy's cakes and rolls to her. She held tight to the list but did make herself a cup of tea, and began munching a cake, scattering crumbs across her wide tweed bosom. " As soon as she could speak, Marge turned to him and said," It will be interesting to see Vernon and Dudley doing all the chores you've taken care of for them over the years. Of course I'll be helping. Now you had better pack up, Harry. Dr. Granger said they would be picking you up this evening, time to head back to school. Energetic people, those Grangers. Teaching as well as practicing dentistry, and here Vernon is, having trouble holding down one position."

Shaking her head, taking another cake and her mug of tea, Marge went out the back door, followed by Ripper, who had once again been giving Harry that adoring gaze.

He sighed happily, and went back up the stairs to send Hedwig off with another letter, a happy one this time! Hermione would sure be relieved things had been taken care of so quickly. After sending Hedwig off he peered out the window, and began laughing until his sides and face ached. There below him was something better than a circus ...... Vernon and Dudley were moving faster, and enjoying it less and less, if he could judge by the looks on their faces. Vernon was pushing the lawn mower rapidly while Marge was watching, and yelling "Faster, so much to do!" as she painted the garden bench. Dudley was pruning rose bushes, with Colonel Fubster standing by him, holding a stop watch. Dudley was scratched and sweating, and Harry remembered the day of his twelfth birthday, when HE had done all this while Dudley ate ice cream and laughed.

The crowning sight was Petunia, standing at the back of the garden, surrounded by a crowd of the neighbors she had spent so much time spying on. He couldn't tell what was going on but there was a great deal of laughing and pointing.

He sighed happily as he began sorting through his clothes, pulling out a few things that weren't five times too big for him. He decided to leave the socks and underwear, since he had replaced all of it in Paris anyway. He grinned as he thought about Petunia's face, if she could see some of the boxers he'd bought there. But he was a teenager now, he wasn't going to keep wearing some little boy's underwear she had thought suitable. He might not be Draco Malfoy, but he'd found an occasional pair of silk boxers wasn't so bad. He remembered the dressing gown Sirius had sent him, so his old one stayed in the closet as well.
Now, with any luck, he could take a nap, and dream about Hermione this time, instead of Wormtail's silver hand. It was going to be interesting, arriving downstairs fresh from a nap and a shower, when the Dursleys came in hot and tired. Then with any luck, he could finally leave Privet Drive for the summer, without having to make some kind of dramatic near escape.


Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, except the way Chris and Ivy are. It was fun to give the Dursleys a bit of what they deserved, but now onto the Burrow for some domestic magic. We'll see how Harry and Hermione enjoy visiting the Weasleys together. Will Danielle and Adrian appear? How about Sirius?