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The Trial of Sirius Black  - Chapter 2

It was almost seven. Aunt Petunia could be heard coaxing Dudley out of bed; she wanted to take him to church early so that she could show him off before the service started. Uncle Vernon was stomping around next door in his usual bad mood.

Harry dragged his trunk and Hedwig's cage to his door and knocked on it loudly. His Uncle marched up to the other side of the door and bellowed; "What is it now?"

"Could you let me out please Uncle Vernon?" asked Harry politely.

"You're staying in that room until we get back from Vicar Harold's house!" Uncle Vernon informed him sharply.

Harry's Uncle locked him in his room every night to prevent him stealing food from his wife's kitchen. Harry, however, had learned a few decent tricks from the Weasley twins, and made a visit to that same kitchen once a night. He was fifteen now, he didn't have to put up with this kind of rubbish!

"I have to go somewhere," explained Harry. He was about to explain, but before he could even open his mouth, the lock clicked, and the door opened.

"Go where?" demanded Uncle Vernon. Thinking quickly, Harry said:

"I have to go and see my Godfather." It was sort of true anyway. Uncle Vernon went white. "Someone's coming to pick me up at seven," Harry went on quickly. "I won't be coming back 'till next summer."

Even the prospect of Harry going to visit a convicted murderer was overshadowed by the thought that they wouldn't be seeing him again for a whole year. However, the thought of another wizard coming to their house, which had taken weeks to make spick and span again after the Weasleys left last year, was definitely not appealing to the Dursleys.

"They stay outside," Uncle Vernon told Harry. Harry doubted that any decent wizard would want to come inside after a reprimand like that anyway. Dudley had locked himself in his room and wouldn't come out for anything. No one tried to persuade him. Harry thought that his Aunt and Uncle would have locked themselves in their rooms if they hadn't been sure that they needed to be downstairs to protect the crockery and furniture.       

The doorbell rang at seven o'clock precisely. Harry was waiting in the hall, and jumped to his feet. He ran to the door and yanked it open.

"For goodness sake Mr. Potter! You could have been a little slower with that door!" Harry gaped. It was Professor McGonagall. "Close your mouth boy! Fetch your things. The car's just outside." And with that, she marched into the house, and straight into the kitchen. Harry heard Aunt Petunia scream and couldn't blame her. Professor McGonagall had that effect on people. With the help of the driver, Harry managed to get his trunk and Hedwig's cage (which now had an owl in it – trust Hedwig to be late for something this important – into the massive boot of the car, which was a Ministry one and looked very odd among the well ordered houses of Privet Drive. The driver looked very solemn. 

Professor McGonagall emerged at last from Number 4. She looked a little flustered, and a few strands of hair were coming out of her tight bun. Doesn't she wear it any other way on the holidays? Wondered Harry. She gestured for Harry to get in the back of the car, and, to his surprise, so did she. The Ministry car zoomed off.  When Privet Drive was at last out of sight, Harry relaxed. Professor McGonagall, however, did not. "Are you all right Potter?" she asked him sharply.

"Yes," said Harry, surprised. And then, after a pause he added, "are you?"

We're not at school anymore, he thought. It's not like she can take any points from Griffindor now.