Chapter 3 - The Secret Keeper

First thing the next morning the Dursley's received a phone call. Vernon Dursley picked up the phone and started to talk. A minute or two later he walked into the kitchen. Vernon Dursley was to put it bluntly a fat balding man lowered his bulk into a seat which creaked under his weight, smiling he said

"I've just decided were going on holiday. How do you fancy the Bahamas?"

"Wow dad, oh yeh" replied his equally large son Dudley.

Looking at his wife Mr Dudley spoke again "What do you think Pertunia?" and then shoved a fork full of bacon into his large mouth.

"Lovely but what about…" looking across the boy stood at the stove with contempt in her eyes.

Harry Potter stood at the stove cooking breakfast for the others. He was a tall lanky boy with black hair which sprawled over his head covering his forehead, this was done on purpose as Harry had a scar in the shape of a bolt of Lightning on his forehead. He knew that he wouldn't be going as he had never yet been included on their family holidays so ignored what had been said and carried on with his chores.

"Oh him! I've arranged for him to stay with Arabella Fig for the rest of the holiday"

"Oh" Harry thought to himself Ms Figg he had stayed there in the past " I suppose its ok, well it's better than being here but that doesn't take a lot."

Harry go and pack, your leaving in half an hour" snapped Uncle Vernon

Without another word Harry took off up the stairs towards his room where he started to throw all of his things into his trunk. In one corner of his room sat Hedwig, Harry's owl resting in her cage. Waking up Hedwig looked at Harry and let out a small squawk Harry walked over to Hedwig's cage and said "Its all right boy were going to Ms. Figg's" with that Hedwig confident in trusting his master went back to sitting contentedly on his perch.

Three quarters of an hour later Harry watched as his uncle Vernon threw his belongings out of the boot onto the pavement in front of Ms Figg's house and then sped off with out even so much as a goodbye. Harry let out a sigh, it wasn't as if he had been expecting one it was just well, it would have been nice. Turning around Harry looked up at what was Arabella Figg's house it looked pretty normal for a house in the muggle world, semidetached small garden out the front, slightly larger one out the back. Looking at the Green painted front door he saw it open and out stepped Arabella Figg.

"Come on Harry get your things inside"

Harry picked up Hedwigs cage and dragged his Hogwarts trunk towards the front door. Arabella stepped forward and asked Harry "Can I give you a hand?"

"Thank you" replied Harry and handed Arabella Hedwig's cage, which at the present moment in time had a cover on it. As she took the cage she pulled up a corner of the cover and saw the large snowy owl asleep on his perch. But much to Harry's amazement she just smiled and walked into the house instructing Harry where to put his things.

"Oh and when you've taken your trunk upstairs come down and we'll have a small snack. I expect the Dursley's don't feed you too well."

Harry walked up the stairs dragging his trunk, thinking that this may not be as bad a summer as he thought. Quickly dumping his trunk in the spare room, which he had used on previous occasions he made his way back down the stairs to the sitting room and sat in an armchair. It wasn't until he sat down that he noticed it, the whole atmosphere in the house was different, things were different but Harry could not put his finger on what was causing this. His thoughts were suddenly interrupted.

"Hear you do my dear drink this while I get some cake" said Arabella and then left the room again

Harry lifted the large mug up to his mouth and instantly recognised the smell, but it couldn't be his mind must be playing tricks on him he thought to himself. Taking a large mouthful an expression of shear delight fell across his face, It was, it was what he thought it had been, but how was that possible. Just at that moment Ms Figg walked back in and looked at Harry with a big grin on her face he looked up and spoke "How, I mean where did you get this" Harry said still unsure what was going on.

"Your not the only one who can do magic" she replied with a twinkle in her eye and pulled her wand out of her pocket and giving it a flick a large chocolate cake appeared and a selection of sweets only available in the wizarding world.

"You're a witch, " said Harry looking up at her sanding she seemed to have changed form the old women he had remembered to somebody who had an air or power about her. Looking about the room, it suddenly struck Harry that's what the feeling I had earlier had come from, glancing at the mantle piece he could see a wizards chess set and elsewhere in the room other things form the wizarding world which Harry had failed to notice before.

Harry sat back in his chair and took another mouthful of Butter beer while Arabella started to explain to him everything about how she had become his secret keeper and how Dumbledore had asked her to look after him and teach him over the summer. After several hours of talking about magic related things Harry went up to his room and collapsed on his bed he had a warm glow running threw his body "This summer is going to be fun " he thought to himself and with that he fell asleep and had the best nights sleep he had had since he was last at Hogwarts.

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Authors Note

Thank you all for the nice reviews much appriciated

Hope you all enjoy this chapter a little slow going but soon there will be some exitment, am still setting up plot

Please Review

Nick