Just a Dream

Chapter 4

"Friends in Unexpected Places" ************************************ Just so you know, the first three chapters of this story were sort of a prologue. This picks up as Harry is going back to the Dursley's after the end of his fourth year. Disclaimer: Warner Brothers, J.K. Rowling, and Scholastic own everything but my plot and the characters (in previous chapters, the Wilsons and Leah, and in this chapter, Amada Cooper) that you don't immediately recognize. Please read/review and I'll return the favor. Enjoy! ************************************



Harry silently rode home from the train station in the Dursley's fancy new s.u.v. Uncle Vernon drove, Aunt Petunia perched to his left in the passenger seat like a trained weasel, and Dudley took up three-fourths of the backseat. Harry sat squished against the armrest built into the door, fervently hoping that the door wasn't going to fly open and suck him out into the busy street.

"This is a lovely car, Uncle Vernon, when did you get it?" Harry was too tired to be polite for very long, due to the horrible events at the end of the year, but he doubted he had the energy to match his relatives' spite either.

"Shut up, you scrawny freak," Dudley snarled, "it's none of your business!"

"No, it most certainly is not," Vernon asserted, "So don't ask questions!" Suddenly his attention was diverted to the road. "Damn idiot!" He shouted at an elderly man crossing the street.

Harry wondered when his Muggle relatives had decided to stop being deathly afraid of him. He didn't have a shred of guilt in his heart about the Sirius business; it been nice to not be ignored or insulted constantly.

Hedwig hooted softly. Her cage was jammed on the floorboard between the back of Aunt Petunia's seat and Harry's legs. "Make that wretched thing stop hooting!" Her shrill voice raised goosebumps along Harry's neck. He sighed resignedly, thinking, "So. it's going to be like this."

"If we weren't going so fast, she wouldn't be hooting. She's scared," he explained patiently.

Vernon swung the large vehicle around a sharp turn. Hedwig rustled her long wings and squawked, alarmed. "Shut up, Hedwig," Harry whispered pleadingly as Vernon's increasingly purple face glared at him in the reflection of the rearview mirror. "That bird." his voice blasted warningly.

"Sorry," Harry lied. He already missed Hogwarts, and he wasn't even back yet. He'd take Hogwarts, with Malfoy, Snape, and all that comes with it over Privet and the Dursleys in a millisecond.

He sat in silence the rest of the nerve-wracking ride home, stroking Hegwig's wings through the slats of her battered cage.

Vernon pulled into the drive in front of the perfectly normal-looking 4 Privet Drive. He, Petunia and Dudley got out of the tank-like vehicle (some struggling more than others did), not bothering to help Harry with his massive trunk or Hedwig's birdcage. Harry smiled slightly, glad that he had thought to place a particularly long-lasting weightless charm on his trunk before leaving Hogwarts, for if he wanted to continue to attend Hogwarts, he thought it best he follow the no-magic-over-the-holiday rule.

Harry leaned over the front seat to push the trunk-release (a/n: boot release if you're British?) button. The back end of the car rose with a snap continuing in one fluid motion, and Hedwig stirred slightly, her nerves already on end to an extent Harry wasn't sure was healthy.

He opened the door and put Hedwig's cage on the pavement. He walked to the back of the car and easily hefted his trunk on one shoulder. He picked up Hedwig's cage in his free hand and began to walk inside.

"Is that an *owl*?!" Someone, most likely female, according to the timbre of the voice, inquired most curiously.

Harry turned about slowly, feeling bulky from his luggage. A woman Harry found most attractive at first glance, in her early 20's most likely, stood in the next yard. "She's a snowy owl," Harry confirmed cautiously.

"She's beautiful," the woman breathed. "I'm your new neighbor. My name is Amada Cooper. What may I call you?"

Harry smiled; surprised to find himself disarmed by the friendly Muggle. "My name's Harry Potter," he said, knowing it would mean nothing to her.

She smiled. "It's lovely to meet you, Harry. You're Vernon and Petunia's nephew, correct?"

Harry studied her face, surprised. "How- how did you know?"

She smiled mysteriously. "I have my ways. Do you need some help with those?"

At that moment, Petunia chose to rush outside. "Oh, hello! Are you the new neighbor? It's absolutely fabulous to meet you!" Petunia gushed.

Amada smiled back, but Harry noticed it seemed to be a somewhat lower wattage smile than he'd just received. "Nice to meet you too. I was just helping Harry with his things-"

"Oh, he doesn't need any help! He's a strong boy!" Petunia smacked Harry on the back soundly, causing him to jar Hedwig's cage, thereby causing Hedwig to hoot rather indignantly.

"I'll just. take her inside," Harry said, walking into the house and shutting the screen door.

"Was the boy bothering you?" Petunia inquired neurotically.

Amada raised an eyebrow. "Hardly. Do send Harry over after he's done unpacking, please. I'd like to continue my conversation with him," Amada said, quietly persuasive.

Petunia nodded her head. "Of course," she agreed readily. If she were to refuse, well, then there would be talk. "Do you want my son, Dudley, over as well? I'm sure he'd love to meet our newest neighbor."

"Perhaps tomorrow," she said, walking back into her yard. "Thanks again for letting Harry over."

**********************

"HARRY!" Petunia shrieked. "If you do any of your- your. you know, you will never set foot in this house again!"

'As if that would be a bad thing?' Harry thought. "I won't, Aunt Petunia." Harry walked out the door.



As Harry traveled over the adjoining lawns, he wondered what was different about this woman. She had to be a Muggle, but Harry wondered if maybe she had some wizarding blood in her family. She was far too nice to be a straight-up Muggle.

He reached up to ring the doorbell, and Amada opened the door before his finger touched the button. "Hello again," she said. She beckoned that he should step inside, and as he did, he looked about curiously. According to the gossip machine named Petunia, she'd just moved in three days ago, and as far as Harry could tell, she was already unpacked.

He house was decorated beautifully in celestial décor, with stars and moons that glittered appealingly from the ceiling. Even the deep blue curtains glimmered with a dusky glow.

"Would you like some tea?" Amada asked, walking in front of Harry into the kitchen.

Harry gaped openly as she walked into the kitchen. Deep blue marble tables and counters shimmered, as if by a clever charm.

Harry, hiding a smile, decided to play the fool. "How- how did you make the marble shine like that?"

Amada grinned, flexing one of her well-toned biceps. "A little elbow grease will make anything shine!" She paused, looking thoughtful. "The marble does shine like magic, I see why you asked. I bought it from a mysterious little man who runs a furniture and antique shop near London."

Deciding to steer clear of anything related to magic, Harry smiled politely and seated himself at her large kitchen table. As Amada began to prepare tea (the Muggle way), Harry willed his eyes to wander freely around the cozy kitchen, but they kept going back to Amada. She was just a few inches taller than he was, with long, auburn hair and brown eyes. She couldn't have been more than 20. "Have you been to college?" Harry asked.

She turned her head, flipping her hair over her shoulder in a way that wasn't snotty in the least. "I've just gotten my teaching degree. I'll be teaching secondary school students this fall." She sat, waiting for the teakettle to whistle.

Harry couldn't help asking. "So that would make you. 21 or 22?"

"22, just turned this May. Are you 15 or 16?"

Harry tried to control a blush creeping up his face. "14. I'll turn 15 in July."

"Oh, I see. What school do you go to?" Amada stood up, and a second later, the teakettle began to whistle shrilly.

Harry sighed, relieved. The teapot had saved him from having to answer that particular sticky question. He couldn't exactly tell her he went to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but he really didn't want to tell her he went to St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys.

Amada reached into her high cupboard for two teacups and platters, causing her shirt to lift and expose several inches of her tan stomach. Consequently, Harry blushed furiously, looking away quickly and cursing himself for looking in the first place. Secretly he wanted to look again.

"Ah, here we go," Amada sighed, setting down their teacups and filling them with the fragrant, steaming tea. "Where were we?"

Harry lied, "Ah- I don't remember." He cleared his throat, realizing how bad a liar he was, and said, "Why did you decide to teach? It seems to me that you have a knack for interior design."

Amada smiled, allowing herself to feel a bit flattered by the handsome teenager. She took a sip of tea and replied, "Well, I believe it's just with stars I get inspired, but thank you!" She stared off into the distance, thinking of how she desired to teach. "I just, well, I guess I feel like I have to effect the universe in some way, and teaching seemed as good a way as any."

"You've got a pretty good outlook on life," Harry said lightly, inwardly spellbound. He tried to take a sip of tea, but realized his cup was empty. "I'd better go," Harry said, "I don't want to bother you any longer. Thanks for the tea."

Amada laughed, taking his cup. "You're hardly a bother, but you probably should go. Your aunt looks like the kind of person who'll have chores backed up to next Tuesday by the time you get home." A cat leapt onto the cobalt-hued marble table. "Stella! You horrible cat!" exclaimed Amada, petting the feline under her black and white chin.

Harry smiled bemusedly. "You're exactly right about Aunt Petunia, you must be a good judge of character." He stroked the cat's fur as Amada smiled wickedly.

"How could she not be horrible with a name like that?"

Harry laughed in astonishment. "Right again. In any case, I'm supposed to ask when you'd like Dudley to come over." He grimaced inwardly, having a mental image of Dudley tripping over the slender cat, Stella, and falling on the marble and wood table, smashing in to tidbits, and finally falling through the floor into the basement.

"Oh dear, I'll need to go shopping before Dudley comes over, I'm afraid. All I've got left in the cupboard right now is tea, eggs, and catsup."

"You'd best buy a lot, if you intend to have my cousin over. He'll eat your tea bags dipped in catsup and wash it down with the eggs if you let him," Harry said, showing the lovely Muggle his sarcastic side, which only Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid saw regularly. He smiled inwardly, realizing he'd made a new (very pretty, too, a voice in his head said) friend. He watched said new friend double over, shaking with silent laughter punctuated by the occasional squeak.

"Harry, oh dear Harry, you're a hoot! You'd best get home before the family changes the locks on you," she teased.

"You know, they tried that once, but somehow I still got in," Harry teased back. He walked behind her to the front door and shook her hand gently. "It was great to meet you, Amada," he said, feeling shy again.

"Likewise," Amada said as he walked out the door. ***********************

Harry closed the front door behind him silently. If he made it up the stairs and to his room without making a whole lot of noise, he could escape the wrath of Petunia. He leapt over the first two steps, which had always been creaky, and sprinted to his room best he could in Dudley's old clothes. They were far too wide, but they were beginning to fit him height wise. In any case, he could perform a Shrinking Charm on them once he got back to Hogwarts. Ah, Hogwarts.

He opened Hedwig's cage and let her perch on his narrow windowsill. He pulled some parchment and a quill out of his trunk, sat down, adjusting his glasses, and began writing a letter to Ron.

Ron- Hello from hell. The relatives have unfortunately gotten over their fear of me, with no apparent reason for this change. The only tolerable thing here is our new neighbor, Amada Cooper. I'd swear she was a witch if I didn't know better. She had me over for tea, and she opened the door before I even rang the bell; she has her house decorated in moons, suns, and stars. She has a black and white cat named Stella. If she isn't a witch, which I'm pretty sure she isn't, she must have wizarding blood. I wonder how they missed her at Hogwarts if she does, in fact, have wizard blood.

Anyway, when are you going to bail me out of here? I can't wait to be at your house, it's so much more fun. Will Hermione be coming this summer? Harry grinned, knowing full well the goings-on with those two.

Write back soon! Your friend (Duh)- Harry

Harry folded up the piece of parchment and tied it to Hedwig's leg. "Don't leave yet, I've still got to write a letter to Hermione." He pulled out a fresh piece of parchment for Hermione's letter.

Hermione-

How goes your summer? I hope you're having fun. Has Viktor visited you yet? I'd like to talk Quidditch with that boy someday; he's absolutely brilliant on a broomstick.

Things at home aren't the best, but we've a new neighbor that seems like she'll be a good friend. Harry paused, thinking about how to phrase his feelings.

Hermione, I don't want to bring you down, but I hope the Weasley's rescue me without much ado. Petunia, Vernon, and especially Dudley are treating me like something smelly on their shoes, and I've been having dreams. I'm sure you can guess what about. Harry didn't feel like going into detail, concerning the haunting remembrances of that fateful night of the final task his dreams were dragging up.

Hope to see you at the Weasley's! Soon- Harry

Harry tied Hermione's letter to Hedwig, letting her nuzzle him before swooping out the window. He sighed and fell back on his bed, a gentle breeze from the window tousling his hair a bit. He took off his glasses, setting them on his desk. He was so tired, yet afraid to sleep for dreaming. Slowly he drifted off.

Harry woke up. He wasn't in his bed at the Dursley's, therefore it took him a minute to figure out where he was. Slowly he realized he was in his bed at Hogwarts- but none of the other beds looked occupied. They were all empty.

Suddenly Harry doubled over in pain from his scar. Voldemort stood in the doorway to his dormitory, his emaciated body shrouded by ripped black robes. His foul mouth opened, and he spoke. "Hello, Harry. We meet again." *****************************





A/n: Ha ha. I did my first cliffhanger ever. I'm not a cliffhanger virgin anymore!! Woo-hoo! Anyway. please review. It's all that keeps me going, besides the insane impatience while waiting for the 5th book to come out. You can tell me if it sucks, I'll only cry for a little while. .Just kidding. Please, review with all honesty, but try to be kind. I'm getting fond of this ficlet. ********************************