Weekend at the Granger's

Written By: K-Chan

Chapter 2: Happy Day

Harry went down to breakfast the next morning feeling much more cheerful. The Dursleys had already started eating and glared at him as he sat down. Harry ignored them as he started on his eggs, he wasn't about to let them ruin his good mood.

Once they had all finished, Uncle Vernon took the opportunity to make an announcement.

"A very important customer for my firm will be stopping by later to pick up some paperwork." He shot a warning glance at Harry. "He doesn't know about you, and it's going to stay that way."

To Uncle Vernon's deep surprise, Harry nodded and cleared his plate. This worried him. What was that boy plotting?

After putting his plate in the sink, Harry turned to his uncle. Vernon's beady little eyes dilated as if expecting to be cursed. Harry smiled on the inside. No matter how much he would have loved to curse his 'beloved' relative, he'd had too much trouble in his previous four years at Hogwarts not to know better. Instead, he decided to take advantage of Uncle Vernon's sudden display of interest.

"Um.. my friend, from school, invited me over to her house. Right before the end of summer. Uh... can I go?"

Uncle Vernon's eyes narrowed.

"Will they come... come like they did... last time?" he spat, as if the mere memory pained him.

Harry suppressed a laugh, remembering when almost the entire Weasley family got stuck in the fireplace.

"No. This is a different friend. And her parents are Mugg... normal. Just like you," he added quickly. What the heck, it couldn't hurt.

The gears turning in Uncle Vernon's head were practically visible as he thought over the situation.

"Fine," he muttered, "But only if they come pick you up. I won't drive all over the countryside just so you can meet with other weirdos."

Harry decided to ignore the last comment. After all, it had taken his uncle much less time to agree than it had with the Weasleys. Probably because Hermione's parents were Muggles, Harry thought as he galloped upstairs. Waking from her nap, Hedwig clucked a greeting as Harry grabbed his quill and parchment.

"Dear Hermione,"

He wrote,

"My uncle says I can come, as long as you pick me up. We had a bit of a problem when Ron's family came to get me last year, and I don't think he wants to repeat the experience. I'm really excited, can't wait to meet your parents. Thanks for the Hershey Kiss, it saved my life."

He hesitated,

"Miss you lots. See you next week. ~Harry"

Hedwig hopped onto his bed as she saw him finish the letter. Handing the bit of parchment to the owl, Harry instructed her to give it to Hermione. Hedwig clamped it tightly into her beak and took off.