Dinner at Number Four - Chapter Three
by Rainsong
A/N: Man, I've never gotten so many reviews for a story! Thanks so much to PurplePhoenix, Sparks, Catspook (lol), AllAboutMe, Rufus Grey, Taracollowen, Spark-Chick, Lady Foxfire, bluemeanies, Practical Magic, Mrs Grim, alli, StarBright, paroxysm (i'll read your stories when i get a chance, promise!), MysticJedi, KellyBee, Moonie, Shei, tsuki tatsu, Tigger, venus4280, SailorChibi, nell, Kosetsuno Tenshi, Carey, and Audrey-Paudrey! 38 reviews! Thank you so much!
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Harry woke up the next morning, feeling dazed and sick with worry. He turned to look at the clock on his dresser; it read 11:49. Bolting from his bed, Harry began to get dressed hurriedly, throwing clothes everywhere as he searched for a matching sock. Since there was no point in brushing his hair, he threw on his shoes and started downstairs.
He walked into the living room, finding everyone looking quite calm. Uncle Vernon was reading the newspaper, Aunt Petunia was knitting a sweater that looked more like a circus tent for Dudley, and Aunt Marge was sitting in an armchair, watching the television intently.
No one said anything to him as he walked into the room. Normally, Aunt Petunia banged on his door if he wasn't up by nine - now it was almost noon. Aunt Marge suddenly jerked her head up.
"Awake, are you? I thought that would happen. I told Petunia that there was no need to wake you every morning, considering you're.. what is it now? 15? Yes, well, I said that if you had any decency, you'd wake up and not keep anyone waiting for you. Obviously we know the outcome of that experiment." Aunt Marge said, looking disgusted.
Harry didn't bother with reminding her that the Dursleys never waited for Harry to do anything. But then again, it did seem oddly quiet in the house today; normally at this time the Dursleys would be out shopping, or visiting friends. And Uncle Vernon wasn't at work. He thought it best not to inquire about that either, since it probably had to do with Sirius. Without another word, Harry turned to the kitchen, intent on making breakfast- or lunch, considering the time.
After eating, Harry went back into the living room and sat down on the couch, a safe distance away from Aunt Petunia. He began to watch the television also; it was the image of a criminal who was wanted on multiple charges. Aunt Marge clucked her tongue.
"What ever became of that one man that was on the telly a couple o' years ago? What was his name...Black! Thats it. Did they ever catch him?" Marge asked from her armchair.
Aunt Petunia made a high-pitched squeak, and Uncle Vernon's face became a shade lighter, but he managed to croak out "I don't believe so."
Aunt Marge simply said "Hmph!" and went back to watching the report.
Suddenly, another question came to Harry's mind.
"Where's Dudley?" he asked.
"Out with Piers. I told him that he has to be back by 5:45 at the latest." Aunt Petunia snapped, casting a glare in Harry's direction. Harry turned back to the TV, catching the last of a commercial for a bug zapper ("Its electric!!") before a return to the news, which consisted of information relating to the recent drought, and the new fish restaurant in town. Becoming extremely bored, Harry went back up to his room to continue reading.
Hours seemed to fly by; after 3 books and a bag of Bertie Botts, Harry realized that it was already 5:50. He had heard Dudley come back about a half hour ago. Walking downstairs, he noticed Uncle Vernon pacing the kitchen nervously. When he saw Harry, he flew across the room towards him and began to speak in a low whisper.
"I'm telling Marge now. He could be here any moment; Petunia's got the dinner ready. You're to come over here and sit down in the living room as I explain this. No interruptions, and don't speak unless I ask a question." Uncle Vernon said. He then grabbed Harry by the collar and dragged him into the living room. He sat down on the sofa. Aunt Marge was once again in the armchair. She didn't look up when he entered. Uncle Vernon sat down and cleared his throat.
"Marge, I forgot to tell you. We're having a guest for dinner tonight. His name is Mr. Black, and he is the boy's godfather." he said, jerking his head in Harry's direction.
"The rat has a godfather? Why hasn't he been with him instead of burdening you?" Aunt Marge asked, looking disgusted once more.
Uncle Vernon appeared lost for words. He looked at Harry, who responded for him.
"He's been working for the government, and they didn't want him to have any children. Traveled too much." Harry said.
Uncle Vernon let out a breath of relief, and nodded. Aunt Marge appeared satisfied with that response, and stood up.
"Well, I suppose we should get seated at the table, then. I assume he'll be here at 6?"
Uncle Vernon nodded. Aunt Marge waddled into the kitchen and took her place, as did Uncle Vernon. Harry sat down also, and was soon joined by Aunt Petunia and Dudley. They all sat there waiting for 5 minutes. It was so quiet that Harry could clearly hear a *pop* from outside the door. Sirius had arrived.
The doorbell rang. Uncle Vernon jumped to his feet. Walking over to the door, he opened it and put on the most forced smile Harry had ever seen in his life.
"Welcome Mr. Black. So nice to finally meet you." he said a little too animatedly.
Sirius walked in the door. To Harry's surprise, he looked like he knew perfectly well how to dress like a Muggle. He was wearing khakis and a black sweater over a white shirt. It actually looked sort of fashionable.
Sirius smiled, looking amused at Uncle Vernon's behavior. "It was really great of you to invite me over, Mr. Dursley." Sirius said, turning his gaze to the rest of the table.
"Hi Harry!" he said, looking delighted to see Harry again. Harry smiled back, still feeling as nervous as ever.
"Hello, Mrs. Dursley. I don't think I've seen you in years. How are you?" Sirius asked, trying to sound as pleasant as possible.
"I'm fine, thank you. I hope you've been well?" Aunt Petunia said very quickly, as though she had practiced those few words for hours.
"I've been alright, thanks." Sirius said. "And you must be Harry's cousin Dudley?" Sirius asked.
Dudley nodded slowly, looking terrified. Then Sirius noticed Aunt Marge, sitting there and looking skeptical. Before Sirius could ask, Aunt Marge responded "I'm Marjorie Dursley, Vernon's sister." she said, extending a plump hand. The two shook hands briefly, and then Sirius took his seat next to Harry. Though he appeared to be very sociable and comfortable with the situation, even Harry could see the worry clouding Sirius's eyes. He was probably considering the Aunt Marge issue, also.
"By the way, Harry. Remus says hello." Sirius said, smiling again.
"Remus? Who might that be?" Aunt Marge asked, setting down her glass of wine.
"He's a friend.. roommate actually, while I work on finding a new home." Sirius replied.
"I see. So you're gay?"
Sirius choked on his wine. "Um, no, I'm not." he said, looking shocked at Aunt Marge. "Not that I have anything against a relationship of that sort..but its..er..not for me." Sirius said, turning back to his food.
Aunt Marge nodded, and then continued. "So why'd you lose your house?"
"I didn't 'lose' my house. I sold it a while back, and there was a problem with my new home, so I'm waiting for the repairs to finish." Sirius said, coming up with an excuse quickly.
"I see. So you're the boy's godfather. I suppose you support him being in St. Brutus's?" Aunt Marge asked, glancing at Harry angrily for a moment and then turning back to Sirius.
"St. Brutus's?" Sirius said questioningly. Harry suddenly kicked Sirius under the table, and gave him a meaningful look.
"Oh yeah, St. Brutus's. I thought it was a fine choice for Harry's education. Heard its quite high-ranked." Sirius said, looking relieved.
Aunt Marge nodded. "I've heard similar things about it. Its the last of a dying breed; you don't see to many schools for the incurably criminal anymore."
Sirius turned his head slowly to look at Harry, and mouthed the words 'incurably criminal?'. Harry shook his head, hoping that he would have a chance to explain that to Sirius later.
~~~
A/N: Hope it lived up to expectations! It'll get funnier, I promise. Chapter 4 up soon!
by Rainsong
A/N: Man, I've never gotten so many reviews for a story! Thanks so much to PurplePhoenix, Sparks, Catspook (lol), AllAboutMe, Rufus Grey, Taracollowen, Spark-Chick, Lady Foxfire, bluemeanies, Practical Magic, Mrs Grim, alli, StarBright, paroxysm (i'll read your stories when i get a chance, promise!), MysticJedi, KellyBee, Moonie, Shei, tsuki tatsu, Tigger, venus4280, SailorChibi, nell, Kosetsuno Tenshi, Carey, and Audrey-Paudrey! 38 reviews! Thank you so much!
~~~~~
Harry woke up the next morning, feeling dazed and sick with worry. He turned to look at the clock on his dresser; it read 11:49. Bolting from his bed, Harry began to get dressed hurriedly, throwing clothes everywhere as he searched for a matching sock. Since there was no point in brushing his hair, he threw on his shoes and started downstairs.
He walked into the living room, finding everyone looking quite calm. Uncle Vernon was reading the newspaper, Aunt Petunia was knitting a sweater that looked more like a circus tent for Dudley, and Aunt Marge was sitting in an armchair, watching the television intently.
No one said anything to him as he walked into the room. Normally, Aunt Petunia banged on his door if he wasn't up by nine - now it was almost noon. Aunt Marge suddenly jerked her head up.
"Awake, are you? I thought that would happen. I told Petunia that there was no need to wake you every morning, considering you're.. what is it now? 15? Yes, well, I said that if you had any decency, you'd wake up and not keep anyone waiting for you. Obviously we know the outcome of that experiment." Aunt Marge said, looking disgusted.
Harry didn't bother with reminding her that the Dursleys never waited for Harry to do anything. But then again, it did seem oddly quiet in the house today; normally at this time the Dursleys would be out shopping, or visiting friends. And Uncle Vernon wasn't at work. He thought it best not to inquire about that either, since it probably had to do with Sirius. Without another word, Harry turned to the kitchen, intent on making breakfast- or lunch, considering the time.
After eating, Harry went back into the living room and sat down on the couch, a safe distance away from Aunt Petunia. He began to watch the television also; it was the image of a criminal who was wanted on multiple charges. Aunt Marge clucked her tongue.
"What ever became of that one man that was on the telly a couple o' years ago? What was his name...Black! Thats it. Did they ever catch him?" Marge asked from her armchair.
Aunt Petunia made a high-pitched squeak, and Uncle Vernon's face became a shade lighter, but he managed to croak out "I don't believe so."
Aunt Marge simply said "Hmph!" and went back to watching the report.
Suddenly, another question came to Harry's mind.
"Where's Dudley?" he asked.
"Out with Piers. I told him that he has to be back by 5:45 at the latest." Aunt Petunia snapped, casting a glare in Harry's direction. Harry turned back to the TV, catching the last of a commercial for a bug zapper ("Its electric!!") before a return to the news, which consisted of information relating to the recent drought, and the new fish restaurant in town. Becoming extremely bored, Harry went back up to his room to continue reading.
Hours seemed to fly by; after 3 books and a bag of Bertie Botts, Harry realized that it was already 5:50. He had heard Dudley come back about a half hour ago. Walking downstairs, he noticed Uncle Vernon pacing the kitchen nervously. When he saw Harry, he flew across the room towards him and began to speak in a low whisper.
"I'm telling Marge now. He could be here any moment; Petunia's got the dinner ready. You're to come over here and sit down in the living room as I explain this. No interruptions, and don't speak unless I ask a question." Uncle Vernon said. He then grabbed Harry by the collar and dragged him into the living room. He sat down on the sofa. Aunt Marge was once again in the armchair. She didn't look up when he entered. Uncle Vernon sat down and cleared his throat.
"Marge, I forgot to tell you. We're having a guest for dinner tonight. His name is Mr. Black, and he is the boy's godfather." he said, jerking his head in Harry's direction.
"The rat has a godfather? Why hasn't he been with him instead of burdening you?" Aunt Marge asked, looking disgusted once more.
Uncle Vernon appeared lost for words. He looked at Harry, who responded for him.
"He's been working for the government, and they didn't want him to have any children. Traveled too much." Harry said.
Uncle Vernon let out a breath of relief, and nodded. Aunt Marge appeared satisfied with that response, and stood up.
"Well, I suppose we should get seated at the table, then. I assume he'll be here at 6?"
Uncle Vernon nodded. Aunt Marge waddled into the kitchen and took her place, as did Uncle Vernon. Harry sat down also, and was soon joined by Aunt Petunia and Dudley. They all sat there waiting for 5 minutes. It was so quiet that Harry could clearly hear a *pop* from outside the door. Sirius had arrived.
The doorbell rang. Uncle Vernon jumped to his feet. Walking over to the door, he opened it and put on the most forced smile Harry had ever seen in his life.
"Welcome Mr. Black. So nice to finally meet you." he said a little too animatedly.
Sirius walked in the door. To Harry's surprise, he looked like he knew perfectly well how to dress like a Muggle. He was wearing khakis and a black sweater over a white shirt. It actually looked sort of fashionable.
Sirius smiled, looking amused at Uncle Vernon's behavior. "It was really great of you to invite me over, Mr. Dursley." Sirius said, turning his gaze to the rest of the table.
"Hi Harry!" he said, looking delighted to see Harry again. Harry smiled back, still feeling as nervous as ever.
"Hello, Mrs. Dursley. I don't think I've seen you in years. How are you?" Sirius asked, trying to sound as pleasant as possible.
"I'm fine, thank you. I hope you've been well?" Aunt Petunia said very quickly, as though she had practiced those few words for hours.
"I've been alright, thanks." Sirius said. "And you must be Harry's cousin Dudley?" Sirius asked.
Dudley nodded slowly, looking terrified. Then Sirius noticed Aunt Marge, sitting there and looking skeptical. Before Sirius could ask, Aunt Marge responded "I'm Marjorie Dursley, Vernon's sister." she said, extending a plump hand. The two shook hands briefly, and then Sirius took his seat next to Harry. Though he appeared to be very sociable and comfortable with the situation, even Harry could see the worry clouding Sirius's eyes. He was probably considering the Aunt Marge issue, also.
"By the way, Harry. Remus says hello." Sirius said, smiling again.
"Remus? Who might that be?" Aunt Marge asked, setting down her glass of wine.
"He's a friend.. roommate actually, while I work on finding a new home." Sirius replied.
"I see. So you're gay?"
Sirius choked on his wine. "Um, no, I'm not." he said, looking shocked at Aunt Marge. "Not that I have anything against a relationship of that sort..but its..er..not for me." Sirius said, turning back to his food.
Aunt Marge nodded, and then continued. "So why'd you lose your house?"
"I didn't 'lose' my house. I sold it a while back, and there was a problem with my new home, so I'm waiting for the repairs to finish." Sirius said, coming up with an excuse quickly.
"I see. So you're the boy's godfather. I suppose you support him being in St. Brutus's?" Aunt Marge asked, glancing at Harry angrily for a moment and then turning back to Sirius.
"St. Brutus's?" Sirius said questioningly. Harry suddenly kicked Sirius under the table, and gave him a meaningful look.
"Oh yeah, St. Brutus's. I thought it was a fine choice for Harry's education. Heard its quite high-ranked." Sirius said, looking relieved.
Aunt Marge nodded. "I've heard similar things about it. Its the last of a dying breed; you don't see to many schools for the incurably criminal anymore."
Sirius turned his head slowly to look at Harry, and mouthed the words 'incurably criminal?'. Harry shook his head, hoping that he would have a chance to explain that to Sirius later.
~~~
A/N: Hope it lived up to expectations! It'll get funnier, I promise. Chapter 4 up soon!