Chapter 4

The rest of Harry's stay at the Weasly's passed all too quickly. He had had more fun there in one week than he had had in any summer ever. Mrs. Weasly made delicious meals and Harry was allowed to eat as much as he pleased. Mrs. Weasly was always piling up his plate with more food, convinced he hadn't had a decent meal since he had left Hogwarts, which was completely true. He played Quidditch in the empty field with Ron, Fred, George, and even Ginny played for a while. Harry had noticed that Ginny was quite a good keeper she was only scored on once by Ron. Maybe she'll make the Gryffindor team; Harry thought to himself, we'll need a new keeper since Oliver graduated two years ago. Then the thought struck him. They would need somebody to replace him as seeker now that it was definite he was going to Knockridde. What if they won't let me back on the team once I return to Hogwarts, if I return to Hogwarts? Harry pushed this thought out of his mind. Mr. Weasly had even taken Harry, Ron, Fred, George and Ginny to see the Weird Sisters in concert.

Harry received a reply from Sirius the morning he left Ron's. The letter said just what Dumbledore had told Harry, I'm sorry but it's all for the best. You'll be safer there, and Don't worry, you'll be back here next summer and back at Hogwarts next year with some luck. Harry sighed. This wasn't the answer he had wanted.

The trip home was disturbingly quiet. Only Mr. Weasly and Ron accompanied Harry this time. The twins wanted to come but they were grounded for turning Ginny's hair purple. Ginny couldn't come because, obviously, she was embarrassed at even the thought of Harry seeing her with purple hair. She had stayed locked in her room the entire morning. Mrs. Weasly had to stay home and make sure the twins didn't get into any more trouble. She had given Harry a big hug and loaded him with enough food to last him the rest of the summer.

Too soon, Mr. Weasly's flying car landed across the street from the Dursley's. As Harry got out of the car and grabbed his suitcase, he felt like screaming, begging, "Take me with you PLEASE," but he restrained himself. Harry had bid a depressing goodbye to Ron, assuring him quietly that they would defeat Voldemort and he would be back before they knew it. Ron only gulped and nodded. Mr. Weasly walked him to the front door. "Goodbye Harry. I'll pick you up to leave for the airport at 9:30am on August 30."
"Right then. Thanks for letting me visit you. Bye." And Harry walked through the door back into a Dursley hell.

"I'm home." Harry yelled. His voice echoed throughout the house.
" Good," barked Uncle Vernon, "Go finish the laundry for your aunt."
Harry heaved the biggest sigh possible and headed upstairs to unpack his things and then to do the laundry.

There were about three words to describe the rest of Harry's summer, Exhausting, Chores, and more Chores. Harry's nightmares had stopped while he was at Ron's but once back at the Dursley's, they had reclaimed their place at keeping him awake all night. Harry was drop dead exhausted. The only good thing that happened to him was when he got to meet Hermione in Diagon Alley. They had had a great time buying school supplies together, looking at the newest broomstick models (although there still hadn't been one found better than the Firebolt), and eating ice cream. Harry had relayed his plan for defeating Voldemort and Hermione assured Harry that she would help him as much as she could from England. The Granger's had graciously offered Harry a ride to the train station where he would take the train back to the station near the Dursley's. Harry gratefully accepted this offer. When he was about to leave the train with his trunk of new school supplies, Hermione began sobbing and hugged Harry so hard, he thought his ribs were breaking. He wasn't sure how to react to this so he took to awkwardly rubbing her back. When she finally stopped crying and had bid Harry farewell, Harry boarded the train.

The train ride home was lonely. Harry was very depressed already and Hermione's little outburst hadn't helped at all. He looked around the train. There were only three other people there, an old lady who was snoring quietly, leaning against the window, a young man of about thirty reading the newspaper and a small girl who Harry though looked much to young to be on a train alone. When he arrived at the station it had begun to rain and Vernon was a half an hour late. Harry had to sit on an old rotted bench getting soaked from the rain.


Harry awoke August 30 at about 4:30 pm after another nightmare. As with all of them, he couldn't remember it. He only knew this one had been different; it hadn't had to do with Voldemort like his nightmares usually did. In fact, he wasn't even sure if it had even been a nightmare at all. More like a dream Harry thought; a good dream. He lay in bed until around seven when he got up, dressed himself and pulled his trunk, full of his few belongings and school things downstairs.

At exactly 9:30am, Mr. Weasly rang the doorbell. This didn't go over very well with the Dursley's, who had all been still sleeping.
"Nice to see you again Harry." Exclaimed Mr. Weasly, apparently trying to cheer Harry up. It wasn't working.
"Hullo." Replied Harry glumly.
Mr. Weasly loaded Harry's things into the car, which he informed Harry was now called Gretchen.
"We decided she could use a name." Said Mr. Weasly. "So Ginny said 'Let's name her after mum's old aunt Gretchen.' She was kidding of course but now the car won't answer to anything else."

As they flew through the sky, Mr. Weasly tried to keep Harry's mind off things by telling him about their vacation to Jamaica. Harry became very amused at the thought of Mr. And Mrs. Weasly lying on the beach in a bikini and shorts, trying to get tan, while Fred and George set off Filibuster Fireworks almost blowing half the beach up. This kept Harry distracted for a while but soon he noticed the car descending and his gloomy mood returned. Mr. Weasly landed easily in the parking lot of the airport. It was a very different experience from when he and Ron had crashed the car into the Whomping Willow three years ago. It pained Harry to think about his friends now so he tried to keep himself distracted by watching the nearest plane, number 55 take off.

Harry and Mr. Weasly walked into the crowded airport and headed for the information table. Harry handed the man his ticket and the man informed him that his flight left at 11:00. It was now 10:48. 11:00 Harry though. If it weren't for Snape, this time tomorrow I'd be on the Hogwarts Express with Ron and Hermione.
Mr. Weasly waited with Harry until they heard a voice come over the loud speaker.
Now boarding 11:00 flight 21 to Trenton, New Jersey, USA.
"Well, that's you Harry." Mr. Weasly stated the obvious.
"Thanks for driving me, rather flying me here Mr. Weasly," Harry gained a few sideways glances from some passerby who happened to overhear, "I'll be ok I can get onto the plane myself."
"Alright then. Goodbye Harry and good luck."
Harry turned to say goodbye once more but Mr. Weasly had disappeared in the crowd of people.

Harry took a deep breath and walked forward to the gate where a lady wearing a flight attendant uniform and a huge fake smile checked his ticket and baggage. She glanced strangely at Harry's large trunk and a man next to her lifted it onto a cart that would take it to the plane. "Thank you. Enjoy your flight!" The lady exclaimed with an all too perky voice.

Harry walked up the long ramp to the plane. He felt as though he was taking his death walk but he knew that was absurd. His life wasn't going to be over and he would return to Hogwarts next year weather Dumbledore permitted it or not.

Yet another flight attendant took Harry's ticket and showed him where his seat was. He had a window seat, right in the middle of the plane. She asked him if he would like anything to drink or eat and he politely declined. A small boy of about ten took the seat next to Harry, but didn't say a word. The pilot came over the plane's loudspeaker and began: Welcome to British Airlines. Our destination is Trenton, New Jersey, USA. We will be flying at approximately 8,900 degrees altitude. The trip should take about six hours or so, so sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

Harry leaned back in his seat. He was going to face his new future whether it be bright or gloomy like a man. But, he wasn't a man yet. He was beginning to feel sick, but as he hadn't slept well in about a week, the gentle humming of the plane caused Harry to fall into a deep, deep sleep.





A/N Sorry it took me so long to come out with this chapter. It's the first free minute I've had in weeks, literally ^_^ Also I apologize for this chapter being so boring. I promise interesting stuff will happen in the next one. Don't give up on it! The next chapter will be out in anywhere from tomorrow to a month from now but I'll try and hurry with it. Again Please Please Review! If I don't get reviews I get depressed and then I don't work on the story until my friends start yelling at me to finish it! Oh and um everyone still belongs to and always will belong to JK Rowling except for Knockridde Academy, Elizabeth Knowell, and Mr. Wigglebot who are all found in the third chapter. More of my characters will come up in the next chapter. And Thanks in advance if you leave a review.