~ Chapter 2 ~
Harry sat up in his relevantly clean bed. He scratched his head and grumbled crankily. It had been a few days since he had had the dream with Voldemort in it and it didn't seem to want to go away. He rubbed at his green eyes and looked around blindly on his bedside table for his glasses. When he finally found them, he tripped over what felt like one of Dudley's old broken video games.
"Umph," Harry said, hitting the floor with a thump. He could tell that today was not going to be such a good one. He picked himself up off the floor, brushed himself off, and brushed back his jet-black hair with his hand. He then busied himself by frantically looking for some clothes to put on.
When he finally looked decent, or what he called "decent", he went to his door. He looked back to see Hedwig still sleeping, her cage door open from flying all night. This reminded him that he hadn't sent or received any letters from his friends or his godfather. He gave a sigh and turned back to his door. Just as he was about to open it, he heard a noise from behind it. It had sounded like the snickering of Dudley and his friend Piers. Is it already time for my beating already, Harry asked himself.
He then firmed himself up for a sprint. With a ready hand on the door, he started the countdown. 'Ready…Set…Go!' he thought to himself and he swiftly opened the door. Dudley and Piers were ready for him, but Harry had been quicker. He almost flew between their grappling arms to run down the hall. Dudley's overly large form was easily befuddled while Piers had a chance at it.
Piers jumped over to the running Harry, who immediately saw him. Harry jumped out of the way and Piers hit the floor with a loud thump. Harry, who had been proud of fooling them both once again, was still running down the stairs. I guess my Quidditch skills are improving still, Harry thought. Harry looked back a second to stick out his tongue when he ran into Uncle Vernon. Uncle Vernon had just come from the kitchen to complain to Harry about the noise.
"HARRY! WHAT IN HEAVEN'S NAME ARE YOU DOING?" Uncle Vernon stated in his usually loud and mean voice. Harry didn't know what to say. The noise and bumping into him had set him off. He just stood there with his mouth wide open, while Uncle Vernon's bulging eyes stared down at him.
"We'll take care of him," Dudley suggested with a grin. He was glad that he might have a chance to take Harry down, it was his idea of pure fun. It was Harry's idea of pure torture.
"I don't know," Uncle Vernon said, glaring at Harry, "Is it going to bother you and Piers to take care of this wretch?"
"Of course it won't," Dudley said, trying to act angel-like. He then came down the stairs, with Piers close behind, and took Harry by the shoulder with a firm grip. Harry was then dragged outside and thrown onto the front lawn. Harry brushed himself off when he got up at looked at the whispering Dudley and Piers. After a moment, they seemed to have agreed on something.
"All right, Harry," Dudley said, edging over to him. "We thought it would be fun to play 'Punch the Weirdo.' And you get to be the unlucky weirdo." Harry moaned and stepped backward one step.
"We'll give you a five second start. Are you ready?" Harry took a gulp from the depths of his soul and was ready to run for his life.
"And…5!" Harry then took off behind the house, and was followed by the rampaging feet of Dudley and Piers. Harry's speed increased as they closed in on him. What a day I will have, Harry thought and jumped over the hose that was set in front of him.
*****
Ron marveled at the new letter that Andrea had sent him, while Tesera marveled at him. He was sitting on the floor of his room, thinking as he read the letter over and over again. I still can't believe I had a dream with Voldemort in it, Ron thought. The only things that he could probably tell this to would be Dumbledore, who should be back at Hogwarts, and the Ministry.
"Wait a minute," Ron said, thinking out loud, "Dad's in the Ministry." Ron sat there for a moment, wondering how he could tell his dad that he had had a dream with Voldemort in it.
"Or maybe I shouldn't tell at all," Ron said, feeling as though it should be kept a secret. He just had a feeling that telling his dad would only make it worse. His dad would just try to check if he was feeling all right and that would lead to his friends not coming over. He surely didn't want that.
Ron placed Andrea's letter on his bedside table and upped himself from his spot, which Tesera hadn't expected. When Ron had gotten up, she had fallen off of his lap. She made a loud hoot when she hit the floor. Ron turned and gave a gasp, not remembering she was there.
"Are you okay?" Ron asked the hooting bird. This had awakened the, again, sleeping Pigwidgeon. Ron gave a weird glance at Pigwidgeon, who just went back to sleep. Pigwidgeon had always been sleeping when Tesera was there. He then went back to the fallen bird, picked her up, placed her gently on his bed, and started to examine her wing. It was bruised up a bit.
"Can you fly?" Ron asked it in a caring voice. Tesera tried to get up, first. The first time was unsuccessful. The second time she just barely made it on her feet. Her bruised wing limped as she fought to stay upright. With a hard swishing movement Tesera pushed herself up in the air above the bed. Ron smiled for a second just to see Tesera fall back onto the bed.
"This is all my fault," Ron said and picked up the unconscious bird. Tesera opened her eyes and pecked playfully at his ear. "You need to rest." Ron then looked over to Pigwidgeon, who was still asleep in his cage.
"Wake up, Pig," Ron stated, then made a weird expression on his face. This had been the first time he had ever tried to make him wake up. Pigwidgeon snapped his eyes open and started hooting in protest. "Oh, stop it, Pig. Get out of the cage. Tesera is hurt."
Once Pigwidgeon heard Tesera's name, he fluttered his way out of his cage. Ron then gently placed Tesera there to rest. She went instantly to sleep, not caring where she was or how she got there, as long as she was near Ron. Ron got up from his spot and pulled out some parchment. He wrote down:
Dear Andrea,
I am sorry to say that Tesera has bruised her wing. I will try to nurse her back to health. Please you will be able to see Tesera when you come over. I hope you can accept this.
- Ron
Ron then rolled up the note and put it in Pigwidgeon's claw. "Take this to Andrea. It's for Tesera," Ron said and he need not say anymore. Ron went over to his window and opened it. Pigwidgeon flew through it like a flash of lightning, which surprised Ron a lot. Ron then closed his window and sat on the end of his bed. He then noticed he was hungry. He went over to his door opened it and stepped outside of it. He could hear his dad just come in. He was glad to hear it, too. He closed the door behind him and ran down the stairs.
When he got there, his brothers passed him going upstairs. What rush are they in, Ron thought then proceeded to the kitchen. Inside it, Ginny and his father were hugging while his mother was washing the dishes. "Wasinto Todoso!" Ms. Weasley said. Ron sat down at the table and gave a sigh. Ginny seemed in the way so she went out the room.
"Hey, son," Mr. Weasley said. "Why do you look so glum? You should be excited." Mr. Weasley then gave a reassuring smile. Ron didn't return the smile.
"Well, Andrea's owl, Tesera, has injured her wing and…excited. About what?" Ron stated.
"Don't tell me that…Molly, you haven't told Ron yet?" Ms. Weasley then lost her concentration and the washing dish sunk to the bottom of the sink.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Ron," Ms. Weasley said, turning around. She was embarrassed at being so absent-minded. "But maybe it would be better this way. You telling him yourself." Mr. Weasley thought about this for a moment. While he did this, Ms. Weasley conveniently slipped out of the room.
"I guess that your mother's right," Mr. Weasley said, then looked over to thank her but she was gone. "Where did she go?"
"Never mind that. What were you going to tell me?" Ron interrupted. Ron couldn't wait to hear what it was. His muscles tensed up and he eased up nearer to his father.
"Well, I just wanted to say that at the Ministry I have some connections and…"
"Just tell me," Ron said hurriedly, leaning even more across the table.
"I've arranged for you and your friends to stay at a Muggle summer home in southern England." Ron was speechless. He couldn't believe that his father was actually going to let him and his friends have fun away from them. His eyes widened and Mr. Weasley made a sharp smile.
"I knew you would do that."
*****
Harry once again crawled past the rusted bike that Dudley had throw into the backyard 6 years ago. The tall, thoroughly uncut backyard worked to Harry's advantage. The bad part was that once Uncle Vernon saw it, it would be his job to cut it.
"Come out, come out wherever you are," came the drawling voice of Piers. He was looking where Harry had been five minutes ago. Piers had been in the boy scouts, so he had been keen to finding Harry all through the day.
"Come out now or we'll pound you even more than we have all day, Harry," Dudley said from the other side of the lawn. Harry then backed away from his spot seeing Piers getting ever closer to his new hiding place. Harry then had a sudden urge of pain. Not from his forehead, but from the back of his head. He had backed into a wooden fence. He turned around to see that the fence had a hole in it. He seemed curious enough, so he looked through the hole. With his eye straight up to the hole, he stared through it. He then gasped when he saw what was on the other side. His gasp was evidently heard by Dudley and Piers, who snickered as they came over to pounce on Harry.
"I can't believe what I just saw," Harry said mystically. Dudley and Piers stopped at Harry's back and picked him up by his shoulders.
"In a few minutes you won't be able to see at all," Dudley snickered. He and Piers then started walking towards the gate.
"Guys, whose lawn are we on?" Harry asked them.
"Ours, of course," Dudley said.
"I just saw ours through that fence," Harry said. Turning to them the best he could. Dudley and Piers then stopped and dropped Harry on the ground.
"If this isn't your lawn, then whose…" but Piers didn't finish. The patio door to the house behind them flew open. Out came an old woman that looked in her 70s.
"What are you doing on my lawn?" said the crackling voice of Ms. Figg. Dudley and Piers instantly ran through the creaking gate that was before them. "Come back here, you bloody children." When Piers and Dudley had fully gone inside Dudley's house next door, Ms. Figg turned to Harry.
"Come inside. I don't want to hear any of your ruddy protests, just come inside," Ms. Figg told him. Harry, who was too scared to protest in any way, quickly obeyed the woman. She looked around the perimeter of her backyard, as if to make sure no one was looking, and then came inside after Harry shutting the door firmly behind her. She then took a big exhale and looked at Harry.
"Don't be afraid. The muggles are gone now," Ms. Figg said and headed to her kitchen. Harry looked as surprised as ever. His eyes must be playing tricks on him. He thought he had heard Ms. Figg say the word "muggles". He hastily ran towards the kitchen.
"Ms. Figg, did you just say the word 'muggles'?" Harry asked with a sense of holding back. Ms. Figg looked at him funny.
"Muggles?" Ms. Figg said questionably. Harry then gave a big exhale. He knew that his mind had played a dirty trick. How could Ms. Figg be of the magic folk? "Of course I said muggles. What else would I call those nasty non-magic people?" Harry then widened his eyes. She really had said muggles, Harry thought. Ms. Figg then pulled out an oak wand that was about 11 inches long.
"So that means…that means that you're…"
"A witch," Ms. Figg ended and she conjured up a cup of tea. "Would you like a cup, too?"
"Yes, please," Harry said, bewildered as ever. A second later, there was a cup of hot tea sitting in front of him. "Um…Ms. Figg, could you tell me why you are here and why you've been so mean to me all these years?" Ms. Figg frowned.
"I guess I have been really mean to you," Ms. Figg replied. "Well, I am here to see you."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Well, after you were put here Albus, to you he is Dumbledore, had his doubts. So, I was sent here to watch you. Make sure nothing bad would happen to you. As for why I've been so mean to you all these years, it's because I had to have a cover to be accepted into this muggle town. Being mean to you seemed to be the, how do you say, "trend." So, I had to act mean."
"Oh," was all Harry could say in his bewildered form, and he took a sip of tea. Almost every day he found out something that he was the center of and it always surprised him.
"Well, I hear that your muggles are going to leave you here tomorrow while they go out to a concert. Let us get to know each other better. And I might, and I mean might, have a surprise for you. So, off you go." In a flash, Harry's half-drunk cup of tea was gone and he was being escorted out the back patio door. When Harry was fully out of the house, Ms. Figg gave a wink and rushed back into it. Ms. Figg a witch. This could be very good, Harry thought and went through the creaking gate on the side of the house with a reassuring smile on his face.
*****
"I still can't believe you are going to let me and my friends be at the summer home," Ron said hastily as he took another bite into his sandwich. Fred and George then came rushing through the room. Ms. Weasley instantly noticed.
"Oh no, you don't. You two know it's your turn to de-gnome the yard and you're not going to get out of it, either," Ms. Weasley said as she turned around to block their way. They stopped immediately, not wanting to run into their mother. They then sighed and headed for the backyard. Ron chuckled silently at seeing them. He then turned back to his father.
"Well, Ron there are some limitations to it?" Ron's smiles now faded from his face.
"Limitations?" Ron said, squinting his eyes questionably. The word limitations triggered an "uh-oh" thought in his brain. It didn't sound good.
"You have to have a chaperone."
"WHAT!" Ron spat. "But we're old enough, and Hermione will be there, and we could keep in touch…and Hermione will be there!" Ron's hopeful face was the best he could muster. A chaperone with them would just flatten the fun mood of being alone. He knew his father would protest, but he had to do something. This would ruin the whole outlook that he had for the trip.
"Ron, I said that a chaperone must be there. I can't have you frolicking all over south England alone. It is out of the question."
"Please. Please, please, please, please, please, please," Ron pleaded. The fate of the rest of the summer depended on it. He couldn't just let it fade away.
"Ron, don't make this harder than it already…Molly, could you tell him that it is out of the question."
"Well, Ron is right about one thing. Hermione will be there, and she always acts safe," Ms. Weasley said, and gave a wink to Ron. Ron made a small smile and turned back to his father. Mr. Weasley looked disappointed at her.
"Well – I don't – It's just – Well – Maybe. I'll give you a maybe, but that's all I can promise for now," Mr. Weasley said and l. Ron gave a silent "yes" and turned to leave his chair.
"At least it might keep my mind off of the You-Know-Who dreams I've been having," Ron whispered as he upped himself from his rickety chair. He immediately knew he had been heard and turned around. In his horror his parents were staring straight at him, their eyes not leaving his stare.
"WHAT!" they yelled in unison. This is not good, Ron thought, Really not good.