Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. : (

Chapter 2

"Harry! Get your stuff! We're leaving!" roared Uncle Vernon.
Harry looked at the clock. It was 3:30. He groaned when he realized that his horrible day was just about to get worse. He had to spend the rest of the night at Mrs. Figg's house.
Harry lugged all of his stuff to the car and got inside.
When they had arrived to Mrs. Figg's house, he felt that something was different. He didn't know what, but he could just feel it.
After Uncle Vernon helped Harry with the luggage, they drove off, leaving Harry at the front porch.
Just as Harry was about to ring the doorbell, Mrs. Figgs answered the door.
"Harry! How nicer to see you again! I can't believe it's been five years since I last saw you! Come in, come in!" Mrs. Figgs said delightedly.
Harry walked in and noticed that there were no cats and the smell of stinky cabbage was gone!
"Uh, Mrs. Figgs, can I ask you a question?" Harry asked.
"Why sure, go ahead!" she replied.
"Where are your cats?"
"My cats? My cats? Oh yes, my cats! I almost forgot! You see Harry, those were not cats." She answered.
"If they weren't cats, then what were they?" Harry asked feeling confused.
"They were Anamagi, Harry."
'Anamagi. then that must mean.' "Are you a witch?!" Harry asked cautiously just in case she wasn't one.
"Yes, I am." she replied.
"How come you never told me?" Harr asked feeling a bit upset.
"I wanted to, but Dumbledore told me not to until you were ready. When your aunt called and asked if I'd look after you, I said yes and wrote Dumbledore a letter asking him if I could tell you. He said that since you- know-who is back, it was best to let you know now." she explained.
"I have another question." said Harry. "Why did you have cats here that were Anamagi?"
"I only had them when I knew I was going to watch you before you knew you were a wizard. They were here to protect you." she answered.
"Ok, one last one. Do my aunt and uncle know you're a witch?" Harry asked.
"They have no idea."
Harry smiled.
"Oh, this is for you." Mrs. Figgs pulled out a wrapped box and gave it to Harry.
"What's this?" he asked.
"Well, it's your birthday, isn't it?" said Mrs. Figgs with a grin.
Harry eagerly opened the present wondering what it could possibly be.
He found a book titled 1,001 Different Plays for Quidditch.

"Wow!" said Harry in awe.
"Dumbledore told me that you were the seeker of your Quidditch team. You could share these plays with you team Captain if you want to. You could also teach yourself the Wronski Defensive Feint if you wanted to." explained Mrs. Figgs.
"Oh, I will, right after I find out who our new Captain is. Oliver Wood, our old Captain, graduated two years ago." He told Mrs. Figgs.
"So, are you any good?" asked Mrs. Figgs.
"Am I any good? I'm told that Gryffindor barely won any games 'till I got on the team!" Harry told her.
Harry and Mrs. Figgs stayed up talking about Quidditch, Hogwarts, what their favorite Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans flavor was, and many other subjects until 1:30 in the morning.
Harry went to bed feeling great knowing that his birthday turned out better than he thought it would be.

~*~*~*~*~

When Harry woke up at 9:30, he woke up to the fresh smell of homemade pancakes, bacon, and eggs.

Harry quickly got dressed and went downstairs for breakfast.

"Good morning Harry!" said Mrs. Figgs cheerfully. "Help yourself to breakfast."

"Thank you!"

"So, Harry, have you gotten your books and supplies for school yet?" Mrs. Figgs asked.

Harry had completely forgot about it. He was so busy trying to invite everyone to his party, that he hadn't even thought about going to Diagon Alley.

"Uh,… no," he said feeling a little guilty.

"Do you think it would be alright with your aunt and uncle if I took you to get you stuff? I have to get a few items anyway." explained Mrs. Figgs.

"Yeah, I think it'll be alright. I just have to ask just in case." said Harry.

"Tell them that you are going to help me with groceries and a few other things for the day. Remember, they're not supposed to know I'm a witch," said Mrs. Figgs.

"Right,"

Harry repacked and got his things ready.

"Are you ready to go?" asked Mrs. Figgs.

"Yeah," answered Harry.

Mrs. Figgs helped Harry, unlike Uncle Vernon, bring all of his stuff to her car and drove to #4 Privit Drive.

"I'll be back in about in five minutes," Harry said as they pulled up to his house. "I'm going to put my stuff in my room, get my list, and let them know that I'll be gone."

Harry ran to his room, put his stuff away, and found his list.

"Is it alright if I go with Mrs. Figgs to help her with her groceries and some other errands for the day?" Harry asked Uncle Vernon, who was getting ready to mow the lawn.

"No!" Uncle Vernon said impatiently.

"Why?!" Harry protested.

"Because I said so!"

'This is not fair!' Harry thought. 'They're supposed to be nicer to me!' Then Harry had an idea.

"Ok, I'll just go to my room and write a letter to Sirius-"

"Sirius, your Godfather?" Uncle Vernon interrupted.

"Yeah, why? Is there anything wrong with that?" Harry asked innocently, trying to keep a straight face.

"No, no, in fact, I change my mind, you can go with Mrs. Figgs for the day." Uncle Vernon replied nervously.

'Works every time!' Harry thought.

"But you have to be home by 4:30. We have to get ready to go to Dudley's first ballet recital at 5:30" continued Uncle Vernon.

"Oh, I don't want to miss that!" Harry said sarcastically. Luckily Uncle Vernon didn't catch it.

Harry walked to Mrs. Figgs' car with a wide grin on his face.

"I'm guessing he said yes?" asked Mrs. Figgs with a smile creeping on her face.

"Yep!" replied Harry. "But I have to be home by 4:30 because my cousin, Dudley, has his first ballet recital at 5:30."

"Dudley? Is he that plump son of theirs?" asked Mrs. Figgs.

"Plump?! He is way more than plump!" Harry laughed.

As they were driving along, something occurred to Harry.

"Un, Mrs. Figgs, how are we going to get to Diagon Alley?" Harry asked.

"You'll see…" said Mrs. Figgs smiling.

The next thing Harry knew, they were in front of a house Harry had never seen before.

When Harry walked in, he knew that this was no ordinary house. Room after room was filled with nothing but fireplaces.

"Do you know how to travel with Floo Powder?" asked Mrs. Figgs.

"Yes," said Harry gloomily. It was his least favorite way to travel. "What is this place?"

"This is a place where wizards and witches that don't have a fireplace come and go to different destinations in the wizarding world." explained Mrs. Figgs.

'Interesting…' Harry thought.

When it was finally their turn, Harry tried to remember all of the advice that the Weasleys had given him before. 'Tuck in your elbows,' 'Try not to breathe in the ashes,' 'Say the words clearly.' He could just hear their voices swarming through his mind.

Harry took a pinch of Floo Powder and tossed it into the fireplace. It had turned emerald green and Harry stepped into the fire.

"Diagon Alley!" Harry shouted.

The next thing he felt was himself going incircles until he foud himself on the floor in the middle of Diagon Alley.

When Harry got himself up and brushed himself off, He found Mrs. Figgs standing right next to him.

"You ok, Harry?" she asked him.

"Yeah, I'm alright." he replied.

Harry was so glad he was back at Diagon Alley. It had felt like years since he was last there.

After Harry and Mrs. Figgs had gone to Gringotts Wizarding Bank, she let Harry go get his school supplies while she went to do some shopping herself. They were to meet in front of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor at 2:30.

Once Harry had finished buying books, refills of potions, a new school uniform, etc., it was 1:00. Since he had an hour and a half left, he went to look around the Quidditch store.

Harry looked around and saw some new equipment he had never seen before. He enjoyed experimenting with them.

Harry was glad to see that the Firebolt is still the best broom out there.

Soon, it was close to 2:30, so harry decided to wait for Mrs. Figgs.

Harry got out of the store and looked for a table to sit at. As he was looking around, he saw…

"Could it be?!" Harry asked himself out loud. "No! It couldn't!

But it was. Ron and Hermione were sitting at a table eating ice cream and talking.

Harry walked up to the table. They didn't notice him until Harry spoke. "Ron, aren't you supposed to be visiting an old friend? And you, Hermione, aren't you supposed to be with Viktor visiting his family?" Harry asked angrily.

Hermione gasped and Ron choked on his ice cream.

"Uh, Harry?! What are you uh what are you doing here?!" Hermione said trying not to look too surprised.

"What am I doing here?! What am I doing here?!" Harry yelled, drawing attention, but he didn't care. He couldn't believe it. His best friends betrayed him. "What are you doing here?! I invite you to my very first birthday party, very first! And you both say you'll be gone for the week, and here you are at Diagon Alley talking and eating ice cream! I though you were my friends, but you know what?! I'm just not so sure about that anymore!" Harry turned around about to walk off.

"Harry! Wait! Let us explain!" Ron yelled, finally able to talk.

"I don't need you to explain! It's obvious that you don't want me to be your friend!" and with that, Harry stormed off, ending the conversation.

'In fact, no one wants me to be their friend,' Harry thought, remembering that everyone he invited couldn't make it.

Harry found Mrs. Figgs , and waited for her to finish her conversation with another witch.

"Well, let's go," said Mrs. Figgs. She looked over at Harry who was still angry with Ron and Hermione. "You ok?" she asked.

"Yeah,' Harry lied.

"Are you sure? It sure doesn't seem you're ok." asked Mrs. Figgs.

"I don't want to talk about it."

They didn't talk at all on the way back to the Dursleys.

Just as Harry was getting out of the car, Mrs. Figgs magically closed the door.

"I'm not letting you out until you tell me what's wrong." Mrs. Figgs said in a tell-me-now-or-you're-in-big-trouble- kind of voice.

"Fine!" Harry sighed, and Harry explained the whole story to Mrs. Figgs.

"Maybe they had a good excuse?" replied Mrs. Figgs.

"I doubt it" said Harry.

"Harry, I have some advice. You don't have to follow it, but if I were you, I would talk to them about it. Ask them why they did what they did." Mrs. Figgs suggested.

"Maybe. I've gotta go. I have to get ready to go to Dudley's ballet recital." Harry said. "oh, and, thank you for letting me stay with you for the day."

"No problem. You're welcome to my home whenever you'd like to come over. Day or night. It has been really fun getting to know the famous Harry Potter. Oh, and don't forget to teach yourself the Wronski Defensice Feint when you get the chance."

"Oh, I won't." Harry said with a grin. "Once again, thank you for everything."

"Don't mention it. I'll see ya later, Harry." said Mrs. Figgs.

"Bye Mrs. Figgs!" Harry called as she drove off.

Harry reluctantly walked inside to get ready for Dudley's ballet recital.