Chapter Two
Holiday Woes

2001

Harry Potter awoke in his bedroom in the old house on Privet Drive on August 15th with a surge of adrenaline. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger were coming to pick him up today, to go to Ron's home for the rest of the summer. Two weeks with the Weasley's would be grand.

Harry stretched and rubbed some sleep out of his eyes. He stood and thought for a moment. Today was the day Hermione and Ron were coming to get him, right? A glance at his calendar told him yes.

He put on his glasses and dressed as quickly as he could. In the corner of the room was Hedwig, Harry's snowy owl. She saw him awake and rattled the bars of her cage in protest.

He unlatched the cage door and let her hop on his arm. 'All right, all right, you can go for a quick fly. But make it fast. Ron and Hermione are coming today.'

Hedwig hooted and fluttered out the window.

Harry heard his uncle Vernon in the next room, snorting as he rose from bed. His feet hit the floor with a thump and he left the room. Dudley, on the other side, was still snoring peacefully.

Harry yawned as he left his own room. He climbed down the stairs and waltzed into the kitchen, where uncle Vernon was making scrambled eggs and bacon. He seemingly ignored Harry as he entered. Harry reached into the fridge and pulled out a grapefruit, laughing inwardly. Last year, Dudley had gone on a grapefruit diet (Aunt Petunia, being as protective of her Duddykins as possible, forced Harry and Uncle Vernon to go along with it). But unfortunately (or was it fortunately?), when Harry came back from his fourth term at Hogwarts, Dudley had, if even possible, grown even fatter than when Harry had left. Harry thought that he resembled his Aunt Marge the last time Harry had seen her: blown up like a balloon. When he told Ron, Hermione and Hagrid this, they all sent letters back, offering different things. Ron: an escape to his house for the summer; Hermione, a diet that was guaranteed to work; and Hagrid kindly sent some candies to flaunt around in front of the porky cousin.

Thinking of his friends, Harry could hardly believe it. He was already fifteen! And it was also his fifth year at Hogwarts! Strange, really, but exciting. Hogwarts was an amazing place, with its hidden passages and it's shifting staircases and ghosts.

For his birthday, as far as food went (he was gracious, the Dursleys hardly ever had edible meals), he received cakes from his godfather Sirius and Hermione, a large bag of sweets from Ron and a box of treacle fudge cookies from Hagrid. Sirius had sent him few Galleons and a new watch (enchanted to automatically change timezones and Daylight Savings Time and to act as a compass). Hermione had given him a Monogramming Charm for his Firebolt, a wizard comic book based on the Chudley Cannons was from Ron, and a novel from Hagrid called Playing the Game: The Life of Oddrick Hammersley. The last was surprisingly from Ginny Weasley: a silver ring with his initials and a Gryffindor lion engraved on it.

All he wanted was a Quidditch pitch…

Harry grinned at the thought of Quidditch, his favorite sport. Quidditch was a dangerous wizard game that called for high-risk maneuvers and tricky movements. Harry was a Seeker, his job being extremely difficult. He was the one to find the Golden Snitch, a tiny yet awesomely quick ball.

Uncle Vernon cleared his throat, bringing Harry back to reality.

'Your friends had better not use that crazy fireplace trick again. Last time, I nearly needed a heart transplant.'

'They won't,' Harry assured, 'Hermione's parents are picking me up in their van.'

Uncle Vernon frowned, 'They aren't…'

'They're Muggles.'

His uncle appeared nonplussed.

'Not my kind.'

Vernon nodded uncertainly.

'Right, well, you had better leave in a mannerly fashion. The past three times were not at all mannerly.'

'I will. Don't worry.'

Harry thought he heard, 'How can I not?'

***

Hermione's van came early that morning. She and Ron wore broad grins as they embraced Harry and helped him with his stuff. Harry saw that Ron had grown, yet again. He was a head and a half taller than Hermione now. She had stayed pretty much untouched height wise, though Harry could tell that she had grown mentally. A summer for Hermione meant learning.

The Dursleys stood by the window, inside, watching the trio talking rapidly and heaving his trunk into the back of the van. Harry turned to wave, but only received a rude hand gesture from Dudley. Aunt Petunia didn't even chastise him. She just glared at the magic folk.

Harry sat in the back seat with his friends, in the middle. He immediately relaxed as Mr. Granger pulled them away from Number Four Privet Street.

'Hullo Harry,' Mrs. Granger said kindly, 'how are you?'

Harry smiled, 'I'm all right, thank you.'

Mr. Granger chuckled, 'Muggles got you down again?'

They all laughed. Hermione's parents were extremely nice. Being both Muggles, they understood Harry's attitude towards the Dursleys. They, on the other hand, had accepted Hermione's gift with pride, helping to pay for her supplies.

The three young teens spoke all the way to Hermione's house. They discussed Quidditch, school, summer and…

'Voldemort.'

Harry stared at Ron, who had actually said the name of the Dark Lord, instead of You-Know-Who.

'What about him?' Hermione asked quietly.

'We still have no idea when he's coming back or where he is. Dad told me that the Ministry was starting to get worried, although Fudge still seems to think that its all bullspit. Still, I mean, after the Triwizard competition… I got letter from Seamus, and he says that Cho Chang is still upset about Cedric.'

Harry grimaced.

Last year, Harry had been entered into the Triwizard contest, along with students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, two other schools of witchcraft and wizardry. Cedric Diggory, a fellow Hogwarts student, had also been entered and made it just as far as Harry had. On the last obstacle, a giant maze in which they would need to find the Triwizard cup, Harry had saved Cedric's life twice. They both touched the Triwizard cup, which turned out to be a Portkey. They were cast into a furious confrontation with Voldemort, whose servant had murdered Cedric off the bat.

After being resurrected with Harry's unwilling help, the Dark Lord had called upon the remaining Death Eaters to witness him as he fought Harry in a wizard's duel. After a rigorous battle, Harry once again overcame the dark wizard and carried Cedric's body back to Hogwarts.

Cho Chang, a fifth year (now sixth), whom Harry had had a small crush on, had been with Cedric at the Yule Ball. Also, she had been what Cedric had considered to be what he would miss most of all in the Second Task. This put Harry off, and he had suspected that they were a couple.

'Harry, don't worry.' Ron said, noticing the frown on his face, 'she didn't like him. They were just close friends. They had grown up together.'

'It's not that… it's just… I feel bad for her… kind of guilty…'

'Don't feel guilty,' Ron told him.

'It's okay to feel bad for her,' Hermione also reassured him, 'just don't over do it.'

'Yeah,' Harry said with a resigned sigh. 'Besides, it probably just wasn't meant to be maybe. I mean, she's older anyway.'

'That can be a big factor,' Hermione said reassuringly.

Ron coughed. 'What about you and Krum?'

Hermione blushed furiously.

Harry knew that Ron was still slightly upset over the row he and Hermione had had after the Yule Ball. Viktor Krum, one of the Triwizard participants had taken Hermione to the ball, which upset Ron. Harry didn't know why. Was he trying to protect her? Was he jealous?

They decided to avoid speaking about the details of last year, just to be safe. So they listened to Hermione, who had researched some spells and curses during the summer.

'The Specter Charm sounds really useful,' Ron commented. Harry agreed.

'We could use it on Snape… make specters of Malfoy and his cronies. Make them lose points.'

Ron sniggered.

They reached the Grangers' home in Birmingham after a few hours. They piled out and unloaded Harry's equipment. Mr. Granger opened the door of the large home, allowing Harry and Ron to drag Harry's trunk in. Meanwhile, Hermione and Mrs. Granger carried in Hedwig and his broomstick.

Ron and Harry dropped the trunk in the living room beside the fireplace. Hermione's stuff was there already, sorted neatly. Crookshanks, Hermione's pet cat, rubbed up against her leg, who hoisted the so-called beast to her shoulders.

'Where's Pig?' Ron asked.

Mr. Granger came into the room at that second with a tiny furry ball on his arm.

'Here he is.'

Pig (Pigwigdeon) was a present from Harry's godfather Sirius to Ron. The Weasley's hand-me-down old rat, Scabbers, had turned out to be an Animagus who worked for Voldemort. Now, Ron was forced to put up with a rather dimwitted owl.

'Well, my father should be here soon…' Ron said.

Hermione gave her parents a hug, and they gave Ron and Harry their best.

A moment later, as strange as usual, the fireplace came to life. The emerald green flame spooked the Grangers, and Arthur Weasley's almost hairless head poked out of the fire. He smiled.

'Hullo Harry, Hermione.'

He stepped into the room, brushed soot and ash off from his robes and shook the other adults' hands. He let the kids say goodbye again, then gave them a little bit of Floo powder each. They all stepped in (Harry and Hermione with luggage), threw their Floo powder and yelled, 'The Burrow!'.

Harry instantly threw his arms over his head. He felt himself spinning through the Floo powder network, flying by other fireplaces. He felt the ash and dust cloud around him like a shroud, intense heat here, cool breeze there.

And suddenly, he was in the Weasley's home.

***

'Harry! Hermione!' cried Mrs. Weasley, who wrapped the kids into a big hug. Harry felt his lungs deflate by the force of her arms.

Ginny, as usual, blushed when she saw Harry. He smiled at her as best as he could.

Just then, Fred and George ran down the stairs and greeted the new arrivals. They then pulled the luggage up to their rooms. Harry and Hermione finally escaped the hugs from Mrs. Weasley and made their ways upstairs.

Fred and George's room was open for once. The explosions that had once rocked the house were now vanished. The only odd noise was an occasional howl or pipe dropping from the attic ghoul. Instead of prank magic paraphernalia, new clothes and books and other wizardry tools were sorted neatly across their chest of drawers and beds.

'Mum made us buy some new supplies for school with the money you gave us.' Fred said, wrinkling his nose in disgust.

'What happened to the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes?' Harry asked.

'We're temporarily closed down,' George explained with wink.

Harry and Ron headed up to their room while Hermione went to hers and Ginny's.

'So Percy's moved out eh?' Harry inquired as he inspected his trunk.

'Yeah, about time too. We use his old room as an office for dad's work. Of course, if you walk in there, you can still feel the aura of big-headedness.'

'Where's Percy living now?'

Ron scowled. 'Hogsmeade… I will not be going there on weekends, thank you very much.'

Harry chuckled as he flopped down on his bed.

"'How have things here been?' he asked his friend.

'Pretty good. Charlie came by to visit last month. Nearly skinned Fred and George alive when they lit his hair on fire.' Harry howled with laughter. 'And when Hagrid sent me an owl with a beautiful plumage, they climbed the roof and tried to dump paint over it as it was feeding. Only to get it all over Charlie's burnt scalp…'

Many minutes of traded laughter later, Ron said, 'And Bill's coming back! He decided that because Voldemort is coming, he'd might as well be close to the home front.'

'And Charlie?'

'Staying in Romania. They need him to help train dragons.'

Harry nodded and looked around the room again. The Chuddley Cannon's captain, Reginald Caddley was waving furiously at Harry.

'I can't wait for the Quidditch season… still wish that it had taken place last year.'

'Yeah, bet you need practice.' Ron said with a grin.

***

Soon, Ron was throwing golf balls across the 'Quidditch pitch' (a little patch of land that the Weasleys used for Quidditch practice) for Harry to retrieve. He had no problems. After that, Mr. Weasley was using levitation tricks to make sure that Harry could still catch a snitch as it moved in wild directions.

Throughout the duration of the practice, Harry noticed that Hermione and Ginny were watching them practice. He knew that Ginny was in awe of him, and he blushed as she watched him spiral his way to the golf balls.

That night, they all ate a feast of a dinner, watching Pig and Crookshanks chase gnomes around the lawn. After dinner, they sat down by the fireplace and drank hot cocoa. They were discussing the next school year.

'Hagrid told me that he would be bringing in some wicked animals this year!' Ron said, 'A fire-breathing wolf, a spiky toad, a flying spider (he shuddered), and I reckon that our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is going to be boring.'

'Compared to Lupin and 'Mad Eye Moody', yes, very.' Harry agreed.

'What if Snape got the job though?' Ginny asked worriedly. She was a fourth year now.

'I highly doubt that.' Harry reassured the young girl, who flushed crimson from her ears up.

'Well,' Mr. Weasley said, standing up, 'in any case, Professor Dumbledore came to my office today and told me that he had great news for the three of you. Told me, 'You will be proud, as will Molly, when you hear. It is a change, of course, but changes are necessary in life.'' he took a sip of his hot cocoa, 'I expect the news to arrive with your book list and notices.'

The children headed upstairs, but Harry need to talk to Hermione.

'I'll see you in a few minutes.' Ron said.

Harry and Hermione headed up one level and made sure that they were alone.

'I've got to know Hermione. Did you go to Bulgaria with Krum this summer?'

Hermione grimaced. 'No, Viktor just wasn't the type for me… too dark and a bit cynical… and let me tell you, Ron is still bitter about the whole thing.'

'He just wants to look out for you.'

Hermione coughed.

'So it's over between you and Krum?'

'Harry,' she looked at him with a look of confusion, 'we were never 'together'.'

He smiled and gave his friend a hug.

Harry left her to Hermione own devices and went to Ron's room. He quickly changed and brushed his teeth, then hopped into bed. A few minutes later…

'Harry? Good to see you again.'

Harry smiled at these words. 'You too Ron,' he replied, and fell asleep.

***

August ended quickly. Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys spent their time around the house, in Diagon Alley or exploring London. Ginny tagged along a few times too, but seemed shy most of the time. They had a fabulous time. Until one day…

Harry was sitting in a café in London with Hermione, Ron and Ginny when he saw a newspaper that the patron beside them had left behind.

'Grunnings President Killed in Motor Accident' read the headline.

Harry had a terrible feeling about this. He dropped his drink onto the table and grabbed the newspaper. He flipped to the page to read the article.

Little Whinging, Surrey

Vernon and Petunia Dursley and son Dudley were killed in a motor accident last night near their home on Privet Drive in Surrey. They were apparently on their way home from a tour of Vernon Dursley's drill manufacturing plant, Grunnings, where he was the newly promoted president.

The car wreckage was found along a ditch, along with other wreckage belonging to those of a Renault Cleo, from France. The driver, suspected to be drunk at the time, has not yet been identified.

Harry slowly and shakily put the newspaper down and was silent. Hermione and Ron looked pale. Ginny looked confused.

They took Harry back to the Burrow. He slept for a few hours, then kept to Ron's room for a few days.

***

'I don't see how he can be so sad about losing relatives like that,' Ron told Hermione, Ginny and the twins.

It was the third day of Harry's self-imposed exile to Ron's room. Ron had grown quite irritated that Harry was being so despondent. After all, the Dursleys hardly ever did anything good for him.

Hermione said, 'Ron, you have to realize that even though they were no good, the Dursleys were still family. And you know that family is important.'

Ron barked with empty laughter. 'So? They were terrible! Did you even meet them Hermione? They were bloody barbarians!'

'He's right you know,' George put in, 'when we appeared, that little cousin of his flipped me the bird! Why else would I have dropped that Ton-Tongue Toffee?'

Hermione sighed in exasperation.

'Well, maybe if you had family like that, then you'd understand. They took Harry in when he was left on their doorstep. They could've ignored him, let him die, or even taken him to the orphanage, but they took him into their home, gave him food and clothes, shelter and an education…' she took a breath before she continued. 'Sure, they were terrible people, but at least they were decent enough to do all that.'

Ginny added, 'And you've got to admit that living with a wizard is very strange.'

Ron finally seemed satisfied and nodded.

'Well, I guess that we should say, for their sakes, I hope that God blesses the Dursleys.'

***

When Harry came out of the room two days later, nobody mentioned the Dursleys. They knew that it would do him better to not mention them, for it could harm him more. Harry returned to his old self swiftly. He was witty and charming as usual.

LastOneDizzy- Thanks a ton!

Caley- I will do. And I love to hate cliffies too.

GWENDLUV - Thanks. I hope you enjoy the rest of the series.