Crystal Globe Trotter
Rub me gently and you'll see
your friends and enemies if you please.
Instructions:
Rub globe gently while thinking of the person
with which you would like to converse. When you wish to end the conversation
simply, smack the globe twice.
Harry
stared at the cloudy ball in wonder. He
rubbed it gently and thought about Hermione.
Within a few moments her face appeared.
"I see you
got your gift!"
"Wow, this
is cool Hermione. Thanks!"
"I sent one
to Ron too so we can all talk. You can
talk to at least three people at once.
Just rub the globe again and think of Ron."
Harry did
as Hermione told him and sure enough, Ron appeared too.
"Oi,
Harry! Aren't these neat! Faster than owl, I must say, but far less
efficient. They need charging after
every 2 hours use. Besides, owls are
much more reliable. Anyway, Dumbledore
sent an owl back and good news, you can come here tomorrow afternoon at around
four o'clock."
"Oh that's
wonderful Ron!" Hermione chimed in.
Harry
sighed with relief he didn't think he'd be able to stand another day with the
Dursleys. "I'll tell the Dursleys, but
Ron don't come by Floo Powder this time.
Maybe some other way…"
"Oh, don't worry
I'll ask Dad if he can find another way, maybe by muggle transportation."
A noise
from down the hall signaled his Aunt and Uncle's stirring. He really didn't want them to wake up
now. "I better go you two, my aunt and
uncle are waking up and I still have more presents to unwrap."
"See you
tomorrow Harry," Ron said as he disappeared.
"Bye
Harry," said Hermione as Harry saw her smack the globe and disappear.
Harry too
smacked it twice and placed it gently on the bed. He then quickly untied the other two packages and the owls went
to Hedwig's cage to get a quick drink and then take off again.
One of the
envelopes held the usual letter from Hogwarts and a package sent by
Hagrid. The package quivered slightly
as Harry ripped open the letter.
Harry-
Hope ye aren't getin' in too
much trouble. I though ye migh' like
this, good fer quiditch. Ye can enchant
it to make the players real. Though' it
migh' be good to study the plays. Happy
Birthday, see ye when school starts.
Hagrid
Harry poked
the package testily. What Hagrid
thought would be useful was usually quite dangerous. The package quivered and shook.
Harry ripped a small hole in it, nothing moved. Harry then ripped it open, inside lay a
miniature model of a quidditch field, and the players were playing quidditch
all on their own. As he watched, one of
the players dived and caught a tiny, miniature snitch and the game began
again. Harry was dumbfounded. He could really use this.
After Harry
had torn himself from the set he turned to the package Sirus had sent him. He eagerly tore it open. A tiny glowing ball rose from it.
Harry-
If you
hold this tiny ball in your hands and shake it, it will instantly put a tiny
force field to shield you from certain spells and will instantly contact me of
the use. Do not use this lightly, only
in times of great need. Please carry it
with you at all times.
Sirus
Harry placed the ball inside
the pillowcase with his other gifts and shoved everything under the loose
floorboard. By that time, Aunt Petunia
was screeching through the door to wake up.
He stumbled over to his closet and pulled on the huge clothes handed
down by Dudley and due to his small size and Dudley's large size the clothes
never fit right. He then hurried down
to breakfast to tell the Dursleys about the Weasley's invitation to come stay
at The Burrow.
As Harry
came down the stairs he came in sight of the Dursleys sitting down to their
meager breakfast. Dudley was sitting at
the far end looking remorsefully at his piece of toast. The diet hadn't done much, he now looked
like a half starved elephant.
"Duddy
darling, do eat up, Daddy has a surprise for you today," crooned Aunt Petunia.
"Good
morning everyone," Harry said cheerfully.
All he got in response was a cringe from his Aunt and a grunt from his
Uncle who sat reading the lastest issue of the muggle newspaper. Dudley whimpered slightly at the sight of
him and clamped his jaws tightly shut while grabbing his large buttocks. Harry hid a smile behind his hand. Dudley had "accidently" eaten one of Fred
and George's Ton Tongue candies last year, the thought of Dudley's large tongue
still made Harry laugh. Hagrid had also
given him a tail Harry's first year of Hogwarts, which explained Dudley's
reaction.
As Harry
started to eat his half piece of rather burnt toast he debated if he should
tell the Dursleys that the Weasleys were coming to pick him up. Harry cleared his throat. Uncle Vernon looked up from his paper,
"Yes?"
"Uh, well,
the Weasleys, you remember them, the ones who came through the fireplace, are
uh, coming to pick me up today at four."
The sound
of broken china filled the kitchen, Aunt Petunia had dropped a plate. Uncle Vernon seemed to be contemplating,
"What if I don't let you go."
"Then I
will let my Godfather know of this and he won't be too happy."
Uncle
Vernon paled and said, "Well all right, we'll be gone today at four, you'll
just have to wait outside on the doorstep."
Harry let
out a sigh of relief and got up to start the dishes. Afterwards he rushed to his room, locked the door and got out his
Globe Trotter. He rubbed it gently and
thought of Ron.
"Harry!"
"Shhh,
listen, when you come pick me up today I'll be waiting outside," Harry said as
he glanced nervously at the door.
"Right,
I'll tell dad. Thanks! See you soon!"
Harry
smacked the globe twice and got right to work on his packing. He dragged his trunk from his closet and
packed away all his new gifts, then his books and robes, and finally his wand. He then dragged everything down the stairs
and out onto the doorstep.
The
Dursleys left at three o'clock that afternoon to go who knows where. As four o'clock rolled around a ministry car
pulled into the driveway. Ron hopped
out of the car.
"Harry,
Harry, guess what!?! Dad's the head of
the Ministry of Magic!"
