Harry Potter and the Messengers of Sorrow-Chapter 2
By Cassy and Kammi
Authors' note: We know this is a bit short and apologize profusely. We would also like to stress that any suggestions are welcome! We will have less and less time to write as the school year progresses (Cassy's high school musical is about to start *which involves tedious daily rehearsals*, and Kammi is involved in soccer and cheerleading in her junior high) but if we get a lot of good reviews and people like the stories and all, we will continue! Thanks! Tchao! ^_~
Disclaimer: We forgot this last time, but we will remember now: The characters in this story belong to J.K. Rowling (genius!) and NOT me or Kammi.
"Muuuuummmm!" wailed Dudley Dursley, waddling through the house as fast as he could, which was for him, a very slow pace indeed. "Mum, Harry said you know what!"
It was the best Harry Potter could do to keep from laughing. He had just been watering the flowers outside of Number Four, Privet Drive and had been wondering aloud to himself that his job would be so much easier if he could use magic. To the great amusement of Harry, Dudley had exited out the kitchen door just in time to hear Harry say,
"…. easier if I could use magic to do it."
Dudley had started screaming shrilly and flopped into the house. Harry chuckled. Dudley had to get his mother to rescue him because he was too stupid and cowardly to come to his own defense.
"Mum," Dudley was now whining, "Harry said the "M" word."
"He what?" Aunt Petunia shrieked. She ran outside and grabbed Harry by the ear and led him inside. "How dare you say that word in front of Dudley! And outside, too! Any of the neighbors could have heard you. I forbid you to mention your abnormality under this roof. Do you hear me?"
"Yes," Harry managed to say, trying his best not to double over in laughter—the look on Aunt Petunia's face was so ridiculous that Harry couldn't help but laugh.
"You just wait until Vernon gets home, boy! After all we do for you, you just go and threaten us. Now go and clean the floors, and you better do a good job of it." Aunt Petunia finally let go of Harry's ear, handed him a washcloth, and told him to get to work. Harry got down on his hands and knees and started scrubbing. The only reason that he was putting up with this nonsense is that he had made a deal with Uncle Vernon a week ago. If Harry behaved well, and acted like he was "normal," then Uncle Vernon would drive him to The Leaky Cauldron on August 16th to meet Ron and Hermione. Today just happened to be August 16th, and Uncle Vernon was to drive him to the Leaky Cauldron tonight. Harry hoped that the incident with the "M" word wouldn't destroy his chances of getting there tonight.
- -- -- -- -- --
"Boy! Petunia tells me that you said that word in front of Dudley. Why?" Harry stared at Uncle Vernon, confused. It was 5:30, and Uncle Vernon had just arrived home from work. Aunt Petunia had told him what had happened earlier, and then he had rounded on Harry.
"Er…well…" Harry began, choosing his words carefully, "I was watering the flowers, and I was thinking about how much easier it would be if I could use ma—"
"That's enough!" interrupted Uncle Vernon. "But I am NOT taking you to the Lowry Copper tonight."
"Ah, it's Leaky Cauldron." Harry corrected.
"Same thing," grunted Uncle Vernon.
"Well, then…" Harry sighed, pretending to be disappointed. "…I'll just go to my room. Maybe I'll even write a letter to Sirius, my godfather, telling him how sad I am that I did not get to go meet my friends." A tinge of fear flashed through Uncle Vernon's eyes.
"FINE! FINE! I'll take you to that ruddy place. Get your…your stuff and be in the car in five minutes or we're not going!"
Harry relaxed in the back seat of Uncle Vernon's luxurious company car. He couldn't believe his luck. He had messed up, and he almost had to stay at Privet Drive. Harry stared out of the window as Uncle Vernon pulled up in front of the Leaky Cauldron. Harry hopped out of the car with his trunk and Hedwig's cage.
"Bye," he said. Uncle Vernon cleared his throat.
"So," he barked, "you're going to stay at your school for the Christmas and Easter holidays, then?"
"Yes," Harry answered impatiently. Uncle Vernon asked that every year and Harry always said that he was going to stay at Hogwarts. Harry slammed the car door shut and walked into the tiny pub without looking back.
"Mr. Potter? Oh, Mr. Potter! Would you like something to drink? How about an icy cold glass of pumpkin juice? Or, or, we have Butterbeer! Your favorite, I've heard. Anything that you want, I will get for y—" Harry turned sharply at the voice behind him. It was the bartender, Tom.
"Uh, not right now Tom, but thanks. I'm meeting some friends." Harry said, trying to sound regretful.
"Oh, that's fine, Mr. Potter. Actually, that's perfect." Tom glanced at his watch. "It is 7:00. How about you and your friends come for a drink around 8:30?" Harry shifted his weight uncomfortably.
"Ah, well, I'm not so sure, I mean…."
"Oh, Mr. Potter, don't worry about money! Not that you need to, but, anyway, I'll get everything ready. See you soon!" Harry watched, dazed, as Tom scurried off to the back of the bar. He stood there for a couple minutes, then shook his head as he walked toward the wall above the trash can. "Three bricks up… two across…" Harry muttered.
"And there!" Harry nodded to himself as the archway opened, and Diagon Alley came into view.