CHAPTER TWO
Hullo Harry!
I woke up this morning and my remembrall was as bright as ever. It took me a while to figure out what I had forgotten, it isn't much help. They should have one that actually tells you what you've forgotten. Well, then I remembered it was your birthday. So I just wanted to say Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday. And sorry about the owl, it's Gran's. I wanted to buy my own but she thought I would forget to feed him.
Neville
"Well that explains a lot," thought Harry, no longer being frightened of the owl in front of him. He silently scorned himself for being so silly.
Harry sat for a while; he had no idea on how to respond. It was a very unexpected letter. As he pondered he cut a piece of his cake with a Swiss army knife. He took a bite and something went terribly wrong. His throat felt scratchy and rough. He tried to talk. All that came out of his mouth was a "Squawk!" Harry started to panic. He watched as his arms transformed into wings with white feathers right before his very eyes. Then he heard a small "pop" and he started to feel normal. He glanced down at his sides and saw arms again.
"What happened?" he said in his normal, strong voice though it was rather unsure. He looked at the wrappings of the cake and now saw another note.
Thank you for your investment in Weasley Wizard Wheezes. We are committed to making the highest quality products. If you unsatisfied for any reasons send an owl our way. Be sure to visit our shop in Diagon Alley for all your birthday and holiday needs.
Harry, now having forgotten all about Neville's letter, was so surprised. He couldn't wait to see Ron in two weeks to find out about his brother's good luck. Harry started to gather his things into his trunk. He wasn't sure how he would be getting to Hogwarts to help Hagrid or even when. He thought about floo powder but then remembered his fireplace wasn't hooked up to the system.
"I wish I would have included something about transportation in my letter!" Harry cursed.
He couldn't believe he had forgotten something so important. He continued to ponder how he might get to Hogwarts without too much trouble as he threw his clothing in the trunk. He had packed nearly everything in his room when he took his calendar off the wall and placed it on the top of his overstuffed trunk. At least he wouldn't need to be dragging everything he owned onto the Hogwarts Express. He could leave anything he wouldn't need at Ron's in his dormitory. Harry closed the red leather lid on his trunk and snapped the latches shut.
"BOY!" yelled an angry voice. "KEEP THAT BLASTED BIRD QUIET!!!"
Uncle Vernon was yet again overreacting to the bird's hooting. The bird was noisily cooing, as if it had been forgotten. That brought his attention back to Neville's letter. He didn't have any idea what to write so he just said a simple "thank you" and sent it back with the proper owl.
Harry decided to go downstairs and see what was for breakfast. He walked down the faded blue carpet and passed his former room, the cupboard under the stairs. It was fake eggs and fakcon (fake bacon) (phase 5 of Dudley's diet, limited meat.) Dudley had surprisingly lost a significant amount of weight. He was now the size of a pig for butchering sold at the fair. His school nurse had demanded the Dudley remain on the diet even after his school uniform fit him.
"He's worse than an American at the moment. At this rate he'll be having a heart attack by the age 21," Harry had overheard the school nurse tell Aunt Petunia on the phone in June.
Harry ate a small amount of his fakcon and decided to pass on the eggs. Dudley immediately ate what was left on his plate while his mother glanced through the newspaper. Dudley may be the size of a pig (as opposed to a baby whale) but he still had an appetite. Harry grimaced as a mixture of yellowish egg and saliva fell onto his cousin's shirt.
Harry walked back upstairs without saying a word to his family. They felt it was best just to pretend he wasn't there. And that was fine with him. The less he saw of the Dursleys the better he felt. He paused halfway up then turned around. He walked back into the kitchen.
"Where is Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked.
"He's getting ready to leave. Why? What do you want?" She shrilled. "Don't bother him with your forms and whatnot. Have those Weezey people sign them." Aunt Petunia had not been on the best of terms with Harry since the Aunt Marge incident. In fact, she had never been on good terms with Harry. She had always loathed him but now she was nastier than ever. She tried to avoid conversation at all cost.
"I don't need any forms signed. I just wanted to let him know that I will be going to school early," Harry replied, trying to ignore the nastiness in her voice.
"How early?" Dudley burst in, spitting fakcon all over the table.
"Any day now," he answered. His voice was casual but he had a look of disgust on his face.
Dudley was counting down the days until Harry left, too. He did not like Harry. There was always the worry of what he would do if left alone. This caused a problem when Dudley needed a ride somewhere while his father was at work. Aunt Petunia always insisted that they must find someone to watch him, even if it was just running down the street. So, needless to say, where Dudley could go was restricted during his father's working hours.
Just as Harry was about to walk away the telephone started to ring. Aunt Petunia picked it up almost instantly. Her boney fingers twirled around the chord, as if talking to her high school sweetheart.
"Hello?" said her rather high pitched and annoying voice.
"Yes? Hello. I'd like to talk to a Mr. Harry Potter please," said an ageing male voice.
"Who is this?" demanded Aunt Petunia. Her sharp memory had not forgotten the last time Rob called.
"This is Eric from the local library. I need to discuss a book he checked out with him," said the rather amused voice.
"Harry, it's for you," said Aunt Petunia as she held the phone out reluctantly. She had rather hoped it was one of Harry's freak friends so that she would be able to tell them off for calling.
"Hullo?" Harry asked curiously. He hadn't had a phone call for a long time. Most of his friends just sent him owls.
"Hello Harry. Glad to hear you again," said Professor Dumbledore. "I would have sent you an owl but it would have taken too long. And sorry about the library thing. I didn't want to alarm your Aunt. I assume you received Hagrid's owl this morning?"
"Oh yes, Professor. I was wondering…just how will I be getting to Hogwarts?"
"Ah! That is exactly why I have called you. I will have someone come pick you up at 1pm. Do try and have all of your things packed," Dumbledore said. Harry could almost see the gentle twinkling in his eyes. This was better than Harry could have imagined. He would be gone from this rotten house sooner than he thought.
"I already have everything ready to go, Headmaster."
"Splendid. I shall see that you stop at Diagon Alley to gather your supplies. You may not have time to otherwise. Well I must really be going. I'll see you at dinner Harry."
"Goodbye Professor Dumbledore!" said Harry excitedly.
Harry thought it would be best just to wait until the person who was going to pick him up showed up at the door. He didn't want Aunt Petunia to call Uncle Vernon home so that she wouldn't be alone with a wizard.
He went to go watch a little of the tele. When he got to the door of the living room he saw that Dudley had already sat down to watch his daily programs. His large gut sagged on the sofa. Harry turned away, utterly repulsed.
So, having nothing better to do, Harry went back up to his room. It was only 9am. He still had 4 hours to wait. He doubled checked his room to make sure he wasn't leaving anything. He had everything out from under his bed and the loose floorboard. He didn't see anything in his closet. There was nothing on his nightstand. He walked over to his wardrobe and opened it up. He pushed through all of Dudley's old hand-me-downs. He would be leaving those for someone else to take care of. Then, he saw the light reflect against something on the floor to the wardrobe. He reached his arm out, trying to feel for what it was. It was a cold, smooth metal. His fingers danced across the wood as he picked it up. Once I had hit the light he saw that it was a lovely old key. He absentmindedly put it in his pocket, not knowing what better to do with it.
Harry looked at himself in the mirror. He couldn't go to Diagon Alley in Dudley's old clothes. So he opened his bursting trunk to find something more suitable to wear. He found a green shirt that wasn't faded too badly and pair of blue jeans. He took out a bluish black cloak so he could wear it once he got into the wizarding world. He also took out his Animagus book so he could read something while he waited.
Harry sat and read the through the long four hours. As 1 o'clock neared Harry went downstairs and sat of the sofa, which Dudley had left to go watch the tele in the kitchen so he was closer to the food. Harry didn't turn on the TV. He just sat and stared at the wall. He wasn't sure which kind of reaction Aunt Petunia would give the person who comes to pick him up when she opens the door.
Finally, the doorbell rang. Aunt Petunia rushed to the door. She hadn't been expecting anyone. She had a wide smile on her face as she opened the door incase it was someone she knew. She stood there for a moment and started at the figure outside. Then, she let out a small "squeak" before falling into a chair next to the door.
Harry entered the hallway and was almost as scared as Aunt Petunia. A tall, dark figure just stood in the doorway, not reacting to the scene that had just played out before him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Author's Note: This chapter seems a little rushed to me (though it's not... I had plenty of time to do it!) So I might add more details a little later.
I changed remembrall to the correct spelling.
Also, I will e-mail anyone who reviews with an e-mail address or a signed entry when I update. 1/19/02
Hullo Harry!
I woke up this morning and my remembrall was as bright as ever. It took me a while to figure out what I had forgotten, it isn't much help. They should have one that actually tells you what you've forgotten. Well, then I remembered it was your birthday. So I just wanted to say Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday. And sorry about the owl, it's Gran's. I wanted to buy my own but she thought I would forget to feed him.
Neville
"Well that explains a lot," thought Harry, no longer being frightened of the owl in front of him. He silently scorned himself for being so silly.
Harry sat for a while; he had no idea on how to respond. It was a very unexpected letter. As he pondered he cut a piece of his cake with a Swiss army knife. He took a bite and something went terribly wrong. His throat felt scratchy and rough. He tried to talk. All that came out of his mouth was a "Squawk!" Harry started to panic. He watched as his arms transformed into wings with white feathers right before his very eyes. Then he heard a small "pop" and he started to feel normal. He glanced down at his sides and saw arms again.
"What happened?" he said in his normal, strong voice though it was rather unsure. He looked at the wrappings of the cake and now saw another note.
Thank you for your investment in Weasley Wizard Wheezes. We are committed to making the highest quality products. If you unsatisfied for any reasons send an owl our way. Be sure to visit our shop in Diagon Alley for all your birthday and holiday needs.
Harry, now having forgotten all about Neville's letter, was so surprised. He couldn't wait to see Ron in two weeks to find out about his brother's good luck. Harry started to gather his things into his trunk. He wasn't sure how he would be getting to Hogwarts to help Hagrid or even when. He thought about floo powder but then remembered his fireplace wasn't hooked up to the system.
"I wish I would have included something about transportation in my letter!" Harry cursed.
He couldn't believe he had forgotten something so important. He continued to ponder how he might get to Hogwarts without too much trouble as he threw his clothing in the trunk. He had packed nearly everything in his room when he took his calendar off the wall and placed it on the top of his overstuffed trunk. At least he wouldn't need to be dragging everything he owned onto the Hogwarts Express. He could leave anything he wouldn't need at Ron's in his dormitory. Harry closed the red leather lid on his trunk and snapped the latches shut.
"BOY!" yelled an angry voice. "KEEP THAT BLASTED BIRD QUIET!!!"
Uncle Vernon was yet again overreacting to the bird's hooting. The bird was noisily cooing, as if it had been forgotten. That brought his attention back to Neville's letter. He didn't have any idea what to write so he just said a simple "thank you" and sent it back with the proper owl.
Harry decided to go downstairs and see what was for breakfast. He walked down the faded blue carpet and passed his former room, the cupboard under the stairs. It was fake eggs and fakcon (fake bacon) (phase 5 of Dudley's diet, limited meat.) Dudley had surprisingly lost a significant amount of weight. He was now the size of a pig for butchering sold at the fair. His school nurse had demanded the Dudley remain on the diet even after his school uniform fit him.
"He's worse than an American at the moment. At this rate he'll be having a heart attack by the age 21," Harry had overheard the school nurse tell Aunt Petunia on the phone in June.
Harry ate a small amount of his fakcon and decided to pass on the eggs. Dudley immediately ate what was left on his plate while his mother glanced through the newspaper. Dudley may be the size of a pig (as opposed to a baby whale) but he still had an appetite. Harry grimaced as a mixture of yellowish egg and saliva fell onto his cousin's shirt.
Harry walked back upstairs without saying a word to his family. They felt it was best just to pretend he wasn't there. And that was fine with him. The less he saw of the Dursleys the better he felt. He paused halfway up then turned around. He walked back into the kitchen.
"Where is Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked.
"He's getting ready to leave. Why? What do you want?" She shrilled. "Don't bother him with your forms and whatnot. Have those Weezey people sign them." Aunt Petunia had not been on the best of terms with Harry since the Aunt Marge incident. In fact, she had never been on good terms with Harry. She had always loathed him but now she was nastier than ever. She tried to avoid conversation at all cost.
"I don't need any forms signed. I just wanted to let him know that I will be going to school early," Harry replied, trying to ignore the nastiness in her voice.
"How early?" Dudley burst in, spitting fakcon all over the table.
"Any day now," he answered. His voice was casual but he had a look of disgust on his face.
Dudley was counting down the days until Harry left, too. He did not like Harry. There was always the worry of what he would do if left alone. This caused a problem when Dudley needed a ride somewhere while his father was at work. Aunt Petunia always insisted that they must find someone to watch him, even if it was just running down the street. So, needless to say, where Dudley could go was restricted during his father's working hours.
Just as Harry was about to walk away the telephone started to ring. Aunt Petunia picked it up almost instantly. Her boney fingers twirled around the chord, as if talking to her high school sweetheart.
"Hello?" said her rather high pitched and annoying voice.
"Yes? Hello. I'd like to talk to a Mr. Harry Potter please," said an ageing male voice.
"Who is this?" demanded Aunt Petunia. Her sharp memory had not forgotten the last time Rob called.
"This is Eric from the local library. I need to discuss a book he checked out with him," said the rather amused voice.
"Harry, it's for you," said Aunt Petunia as she held the phone out reluctantly. She had rather hoped it was one of Harry's freak friends so that she would be able to tell them off for calling.
"Hullo?" Harry asked curiously. He hadn't had a phone call for a long time. Most of his friends just sent him owls.
"Hello Harry. Glad to hear you again," said Professor Dumbledore. "I would have sent you an owl but it would have taken too long. And sorry about the library thing. I didn't want to alarm your Aunt. I assume you received Hagrid's owl this morning?"
"Oh yes, Professor. I was wondering…just how will I be getting to Hogwarts?"
"Ah! That is exactly why I have called you. I will have someone come pick you up at 1pm. Do try and have all of your things packed," Dumbledore said. Harry could almost see the gentle twinkling in his eyes. This was better than Harry could have imagined. He would be gone from this rotten house sooner than he thought.
"I already have everything ready to go, Headmaster."
"Splendid. I shall see that you stop at Diagon Alley to gather your supplies. You may not have time to otherwise. Well I must really be going. I'll see you at dinner Harry."
"Goodbye Professor Dumbledore!" said Harry excitedly.
Harry thought it would be best just to wait until the person who was going to pick him up showed up at the door. He didn't want Aunt Petunia to call Uncle Vernon home so that she wouldn't be alone with a wizard.
He went to go watch a little of the tele. When he got to the door of the living room he saw that Dudley had already sat down to watch his daily programs. His large gut sagged on the sofa. Harry turned away, utterly repulsed.
So, having nothing better to do, Harry went back up to his room. It was only 9am. He still had 4 hours to wait. He doubled checked his room to make sure he wasn't leaving anything. He had everything out from under his bed and the loose floorboard. He didn't see anything in his closet. There was nothing on his nightstand. He walked over to his wardrobe and opened it up. He pushed through all of Dudley's old hand-me-downs. He would be leaving those for someone else to take care of. Then, he saw the light reflect against something on the floor to the wardrobe. He reached his arm out, trying to feel for what it was. It was a cold, smooth metal. His fingers danced across the wood as he picked it up. Once I had hit the light he saw that it was a lovely old key. He absentmindedly put it in his pocket, not knowing what better to do with it.
Harry looked at himself in the mirror. He couldn't go to Diagon Alley in Dudley's old clothes. So he opened his bursting trunk to find something more suitable to wear. He found a green shirt that wasn't faded too badly and pair of blue jeans. He took out a bluish black cloak so he could wear it once he got into the wizarding world. He also took out his Animagus book so he could read something while he waited.
Harry sat and read the through the long four hours. As 1 o'clock neared Harry went downstairs and sat of the sofa, which Dudley had left to go watch the tele in the kitchen so he was closer to the food. Harry didn't turn on the TV. He just sat and stared at the wall. He wasn't sure which kind of reaction Aunt Petunia would give the person who comes to pick him up when she opens the door.
Finally, the doorbell rang. Aunt Petunia rushed to the door. She hadn't been expecting anyone. She had a wide smile on her face as she opened the door incase it was someone she knew. She stood there for a moment and started at the figure outside. Then, she let out a small "squeak" before falling into a chair next to the door.
Harry entered the hallway and was almost as scared as Aunt Petunia. A tall, dark figure just stood in the doorway, not reacting to the scene that had just played out before him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Author's Note: This chapter seems a little rushed to me (though it's not... I had plenty of time to do it!) So I might add more details a little later.
I changed remembrall to the correct spelling.
Also, I will e-mail anyone who reviews with an e-mail address or a signed entry when I update. 1/19/02
