Disclaimer: I have never owned the world of Harry Potter and never will. Don't ever think otherwise. The lucky Joanne Rowling came up with it all.
A/N: This is Harry's 6th year at Hogwarts. It's a continuation of my fanfic 'Harry Potter and the Day of Dreams' so you probably want to read that before you read this. Thanks to all who reviewed HP and the DoD!
Chapter 2: The Sickeningly Sweet Solution
"Would you care for some more sausages, Harry dear?" Aunt Petunia asked sweetly.
"No thank you, Aunt Petunia," Harry said, unable to control his smile, "I'm stuffed."
Harry stood to wash off his plate, but Dudley snatched it from his hand.
"Let me do that for you, Harry!" the pudgy boy said eagerly.
Harry could only grin. Even though the summer was almost over, he still couldn't get over the Dursleys acting nice. As he headed toward his room, he brought the vile out of his pocket. It was nearly empty by now. Not that he had used it every single week. He only used it every time he couldn't stand the Dursleys; so they had been their normal selves for about five days in total. He hadn't used it as much on Uncle Vernon, knowing that those at his work would suspect something. All in all, it had been a wonderful summer.
Harry lay on his bed, thinking. It was kind of funny. The Dursleys had become the family Harry had always dreamed of as a child, but now he could only laugh at how unlike themselves they were. He knew it would end soon, though. He could hardly expect Hermione to make him more of it; she had toed the line as much as he would dare let her.
Seven days left. Seven days, and the summer would be over. He would only have to live through one more summer with the Dursleys after this one. It seemed impossible. His years at Hogwarts were almost over.
"What's going to happen to me, Hedwig?" he murmured to the snowy-white owl.
She just blinked in reply. Harry couldn't help but think of the conversation he had had with Angelina Johnson last year. Somehow, he finally knew what she meant.
****
Uncle Vernon came home in an extremely bad mood. Harry had decided to live the final week with the normal Vernon Dursley, figuring that he'd be at work enough that it wouldn't bother him. He was wrong. Uncle Vernon more than compensated for the kind attitudes of his wife and son.
"Out of the way, boy," he said, shoving Harry away as he headed for the kitchen.
Harry stumbled, but caught his footing. He glared at the back of the man, but followed him in for supper.
"I fired that idiot Mortensen today," he grumbled to Petunia, "He doesn't know how to do anything right. I lost an order because of him!"
"Oh, poor dear," Petunia said, kissing his forehead as she cleared the table, "Why don't you go get comfortable in the living room? Dudley will bring you your slippers and I'll make a nice strong cup of tea."
"Mm, not a bad idea."
They were soon all seated around the television, Uncle Vernon's disposition having improved dramatically. They seemed like an average, happy family. That is until a small brown fluff resembling a baseball shot through the window, splashing down in Uncle Vernon's teacup. The man swore so loudly that Harry was sure the whole neighborhood would come running to see what happened.
"BOY!" he screamed at Harry, "WHAT IS AN OWL DOING IN MY CUP?!"
Harry had a strong urge to answer, "The backstroke" but thought better of it. Instead, he snatched Pig from his uncle and rushed up the stairs, hoping Aunt Petunia would be able to calm him. He headed for the bathroom, untying the note around Pig's leg as he walked. When he got there, he plopped the bird in the sink and turned on the water. He quickly read the letter as he washed Pig off.
Hey Harry,
Hope you get this. You never know with Pig. Hermione and I were wondering if you want to meet at Diagon Alley tomorrow. We figured it'd be fun to have a bit of a party before we go back to school. We'll be there at about 11:00 am. Send back an owl.
-Ron
P.S. Hermione wants to know how the Sickeningly Sweet Solution is working out.
He quickly scribbled back that he'd probably be able
to make it thanks in a large part to the Sickeningly Sweet Solution. Then he turned off the faucet and began
drying Pig with a towel. The little owl
hooted happily.
"You're more trouble than your worth," Harry told him
as a dry fluff ball emerged.
He tied the letter to Pig's leg and sent the owl out
his window. Harry couldn't hear any
bellows coming from downstairs, but decided not to risk it. He'd stay in his room for the night and ask
Aunt Petunia for a ride the next day.
~*~*~
A/N: OH NO! Already I've written a short chapter! *sigh* Well, not a very exciting beginning, eh? Ah, it's something.
I've got this story pretty well planned out to a point, so it should be posted pretty often (key word 'should').
This is actually chapter one, but since the Prologue is labeled chapter one, we'll just say this is #2.
Well, thanks to all who commented on any of my other stories!!! Please review this one, too!
Be excellent to each other.
-Ady
