Thanks to those who left a review!

Ahyahah: I've never seen "No U-Turn" but I have seen "U-Turn" so if this is the movie you meant, I suppose it's possible that a line from that movie crept into my subconscious but it wasn't deliberate. Thanks for sacrificing your comfort to leave me a review. ^_^

John: I'm so glad you like Jade. It's hard to find readers who won't be upset if Harry isn't paired with Ginny, Hermione or Draco. The small amount of fluff that may find its way into this story won't show up for at least a couple more chapters. In fact, the next chapter is going to be quite dark.

And now comes my confession: Up until a week ago, I had no idea how this story was going to end. Since then, it's all come together quite nicely in my head and I even wrote much of the last chapter. I'm going to try and get it all done by the time OotP comes out so I apologize if it sounds rushed. I haven't spent as much time as I'd like on it and it really shows in the writing but I think it's a good story so I will stay on it.

Chapter Four is my personal favorite because it let me indulge my bizarre affection for the Dursleys. Hope you like it.

Chapter 4: Siren

Harry opened his eyes to a bright blue sky sprinkled with fluffy white cirrus clouds hanging far above him. He leaned up on his elbows and saw that he was in a clearing of a lush green forest next to a meandering stream. In a nearby alder tree, magpies cackled as they spoke to each other. The water bubbled and trickled around the stones and from far upstream came the sound of a steady roar. Heeding its call, he stood up and began to walk towards the sound of the rushing water.

He walked through the trees following a path which ran alongside the stream. Soon he came into a larger clearing where there was a small but pristine waterfall cascading down a moss-covered rocky hillside. And somebody was singing.

It was Jade. She stood at the bottom of the waterfall letting the water wash over her bare skin as she hummed a beautiful melody. Her voice was soft and full of happiness. It filled him with so much joy; he felt he would lift off the ground. Seeing him, she smiled and beckoned him to come closer.

He walked toward her, entranced by the sound of her voice and the sight of her glistening body sparkling in the sunlight. When he reached the edge of the shallow pool she was standing in, the singing stopped and the smile was gone from her face.

"Don't stop. That's really nice," he said.

She smiled and gave him a nod to indicate that she would continue. But when she began to hum again, her voice was different. It sounded more like a ringing.

It was a siren.

Harry's heart began to race and he quickly looked around for the source of the siren.

"Oh, no!" he yelled. "It's the police! They're going to put us in Azkaban!"

Jade didn't seem to hear the noise. Her face contorted into a maniacal sneer. She opened up her mouth and from out of her ruby red lips came a high, cold laugh...

Harry woke to find himself in his own bed, drenched with sweat, still in his clothes, lying next to Jade. It had been a dream.

But the siren was real.

Harry bolted upright and tried to clear the sleep-induced fogginess out of his head. The ringing continued.

As he listened closer, he suddenly realized it wasn't a siren. It was his Uncle Vernon's alarm clock! Giving a great sigh of relief, he collapsed back down on the bed. It wasn't the police after all. He shuddered as he realized that neither the Wizard Law Enforcement nor the Death Eaters would be so merciful as to announce themselves with sirens.

He looked over to the girl in his bed next to him. He had a girl sleeping in his bed! He smiled as he imagined the look on Ron's face.

Harry quietly got out of bed and walked over to his trunk to fetch his invisibility cloak. It would be useful to cover up the girl in his bed in case his uncle decided to pay him a visit before he left for work. He never usually visited Harry's room but Harry wanted to be prepared for anything. As he rummaged through the books and school uniforms in his trunk, a feeling of dread came over him. Something wasn't right.

He stood up and looked around his room. There was a girl in his bed wearing his old shorts and t-shirt and a pile of bloodstained clothes lay in the corner wrapped up in a floral patterned bath towel that Harry was certain had never been used for anything but decoration. How very astute to notice that something wasn't right. Harry laughed at himself. But there was something else.

The alarm. It was still ringing. Why hadn't his uncle turned it off? Harry listened for any other sounds of activity in the house. The only sound was the alarm blaring from his uncle's bedroom. Reeeeeep. Reeeeeep. Reeeeeep.

He slowly got up and walked towards the door and into the hallway. As he got closer to the master bedroom, the ringing got louder. Gently, he knocked on the door. "Uncle Vernon?" he called. The alarm blared on but there was no response from either of his relatives. Harry slowly turned the knob and opened the door just enough to peak inside. There were his aunt and uncle, still sound asleep in bed, despite the loud ringing coming from the alarm on the night stand.

Harry suddenly felt a large lump at the pit of his stomach. "Uh oh," he said under his breath. He moved quickly over to the bed and very gently (just in case) nudged his uncle. "Uncle Vernon? Uncle Vernon, wake up. It's time to get up for work." There was no movement from his uncle. Just the continued rise and fall of his chest with the heavy breathing of sleep.

"Come on now." He reached over to his aunt. "Aunt Petunia?" She was usually a much lighter sleeper than his uncle. Certainly, she would wake up. He nudged her gently but there was no response. He nudged her harder and yelled, "Aunt Petunia! Wake up!"

Petunia Dursley's mouth hung open breathing softly, but there was no fluttering of her eyelids. Harry heard a voice behind him, "How much did you give them?"

Jade was standing in the doorway leaning against the frame.

"What are you doing in here? They'll see you," Harry said anxiously.

Jade let out a laugh. "Right. How much did you give them?"

"Just a little bit!" Harry insisted. "What's wrong with them?"

She walked closer to the bed and gave the sleeping Muggles an amused look. "How much?"

"It was just - I just did one or two extra sprays!" Harry continued shaking his uncle. "Or maybe three. Oh, I don't remember! I had a few other things on my mind last night!" The rising panic in his voice momentarily turned into anger. He turned to the alarm clock, which was still beeping loudly. "If that thing doesn't shut up, I'm going to throw it out the window!" he yelled as he flipped off the alarm.

Jade was now giggling softly.

Harry was furious. "You think this is funny? If he doesn't wake up, he's going to be late for work. And he'll blame me!"

"But Harry, it was your fault," she said trying to stifle her laughter.

"You're not helping the situation! Don't you have anything constructive to add? Help me wake them up!"

Jade's laughter died down. "I don't think that's possible Harry," she said in a serious tone of voice.

"What? Isn't there some counter potion or something?"

She pondered his question. "Hmm, yes there is. All we need... are some rooster feathers and meadowsweet leaves. Shall I go borrow a cup from the neighbors?" she said grinning ear to ear.

"This is bad." Harry sighed as he inspected his uncle for any sign of life. "This is bad. Uncle Vernon!" he continued shaking him.

"Give it up, Harry. You're not going to wake him." She reached out and sympathetically put a hand on his shoulder. "My mum has taken too much of that stuff before. Nothing will wake them up. Believe me, I know. A herd of wild elephants wouldn't wake them up."

"No!" shouted Harry. "That's not acceptable! There has to be a way to wake them up! Please help me, Jade," he pleaded to her.

An idea seemed to form in her mind. Abruptly, she leapt on top of the bed, and started to violently jump up and down. "Wake the Muggles! Wake the Muggles!" she sang gleefully. Vernon and Petunia Dursley rolled back and forth in the undulating bed, their heads periodically bouncing into each other. Yet, they showed no signs of stirring.

She fell down on her knees and her eyes widened. "Harry!" she shouted. "I have a great idea!"

"Good - let's hear it," Harry said eagerly.

"Let's do it on the bed while the Muggles are sleeping!"

Harry stared at her as he let his mind process what she was saying. He knew what she had said but he was having trouble believing it. "What!?"

She grabbed his hands and pulled him towards her; he had to stop himself from falling on the bed. She leaned in close to him and gave him a hungry look. "Let's do it. Right here. Right now."

"You are crazy!" Harry shouted. The thought was completely absurd. "There is no way we're... here... with them!"

She rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, Harry. Let's have some fun! They're not going to wake up. I think we've established that."

He backed away from her. "You are unbelievable! There is something seriously wrong with you! Do you not realize what kind of trouble you're in? What you've gotten me into?"

"Harry," she started. "Are you gay?"

Harry frowned at her.

"Is that it?" she continued. "Do you fancy boys?"

Harry gaped at her, mouth hanging open in stunned fury. But as he stared at her, a sudden realization hit him and his face softened into a look of pity.

"What?" she said.

"Why do you call yourself Jade?" he asked calmly.

She was taken aback by question. "Well, it's a much better name than Bernice. I don't know. I just like it. It simple but pretty. It's pure."

"Pure?" said Harry incredulously. Slowly, he shook his head. "I feel sorry for you."

"You feel sorry for me?!" she spat.

Harry nodded. "Yes, I do."

Jade was furious. "Well, fuck off then!" She leapt off the bed and stomped out of the room.

Harry followed her down the hall and back into his room. He was overcome with frustration. "Don't go," he said.

She was rummaging through the clothes scattered on the floor looking for something. "I don't need your fucking pity. You're the one who's pathetic! I come to you, practically throwing myself at you, and you don't even know what to do! Where's my goddamn broomstick?"

Harry sighed. "Jade, you're in a lot of trouble. You need help."

She turned to glare at him. "No I don't. I don't need anyone! Least of all, you!" Angrily, she tore sheets off the bed as if she thought her broomstick might be hiding in the folds of the blankets.

Harry reached a hand out to her but she purposefully moved out of his reach. "What are you going to do?" he said with much concern.

"What the hell do you care? You've been trying to get rid of me for days now. Well, you finally have your wish. I'm leaving and not ever coming back. When You-Know-Who finds out I killed one of his servants and he comes to kill me... or worse, I'll remember this moment. How I just wanted to have one last moment of joy before..."

"It's not my fault you're in this mess! Don't lay a guilt trip on me!"

"I'm sorry," she said but her voice was still cold. "You're right. It's all my fault. You can have a clear conscience when they find my mutilated body. I thought you were a good person, Harry. I thought you would help a friend in need. I guess I was wrong."

"I have done everything I could to try and help you! You're not even trying to help yourself. You're just digging yourself in deeper and dragging me down with you!"

"Fine. I'm leaving as soon as I find my broomstick." Her eyes roamed to the corner behind the desk where she saw what she had been looking for.

"You can't just leave out the window in broad daylight," Harry said.

She went to the corner, grabbed her broomstick and walked straight to the window. "I'll do whatever I damn well please." She swung open the window, mounted her brookstick and took off into the cool, early morning air.

*****

As the day wore on, Harry periodically checked on the Dursleys, but they never stirred. He began to worry that they would never wake up. Even if they did wake up, there was no way he could prevent them from finding out that they had all mysteriously overslept. As the hour became later, his explanations became less and less believable.

He spent the day in the quiet house washing his sheets and the bloody bath towels. Normally, he would have enjoyed having the house to himself but he wasn't able to take any pleasure from it today. After starting the wash, he sat down to write the letter that he had been dreading.

Dear Snuffles,

Something has happened and I need to talk to you about it in person because I don't think it would be a good idea to tell it in a letter. It has to do with the girl I wrote to you about yesterday. I'm sorry to bother you but it's very important.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Harry

Preparing for the worst, Harry spent the rest of the afternoon packing his things away in his trunk. There was no telling how his relatives would react when they woke up. Sleeping through an entire day of work might just be the last straw for his uncle.

The next morning, he awoke to the unmistakable sounds of his Uncle Vernon yelling. Harry was too full of dread to be able to feel a moment's relief that his uncle was awake. He quickly got out of bed and made his way to their bedroom.

His Aunt Petunia was still lying in bed rubbing her eyes. "Well I don't know why the alarm didn't ring, dear. I could've sworn I turned it on last night."

Vernon Dursley was busy rummaging in his bureau drawer looking for a matching sock. "Now I'm going to be late for work."

They hadn't even noticed Harry standing in the door. He spoke up, "It's Saturday."

Vernon stopped. "What?" he barked.

"It's Saturday. Look at your clock."

Vernon and Petunia eyed the clock on the night stand, which verified that the day was indeed Saturday.

"He's right, Vernon." said Petunia. "It is Saturday."

Vernon stared at the clock for a moment then sat back down on the bed. "Well," he let out a laugh. "That's odd. I could've sworn it was Friday." He scratched his head in mild confusion.

Petunia laughed as well. "Goodness me. How did the days get away from us?" she said.

Vernon was suddenly in very good spirits. "Ah well. If the clock says its Saturday, far be it for me to argue with it." He chuckled at his own joke. Once again, the after-effects of the potion had left them in uncharacteristically pleasant spirits.

But Harry knew he would have to tell them what happened. His aunt and uncle may not question a missing day but his cousin Dudley scheduled every day of the summer according to what was on the television. He would know. Harry had to come clean and there was no time like the present. He took a deep breath before he began. "Yes, actually you slept through Friday. You see, I had a little accident with a sleeping potion I was brewing behind the house between the air conditioner unit, I had to brew it for school, and it somehow got into the ventilation system..."

The bemused looks on Vernon and Petunia's faces faded. Harry talked more quickly. "...well I tried everything I possibly could to wake you up on Friday, but it's okay because your work called and I told them you were very, very sick and they were very concerned and wanted you to take the day off because you never take the day off, but before you get angry, Uncle Vernon, I know what I've done is very, very wrong and I very much regret it and feel awful about it and I promise that it'll never happen again but I can't undo it. What's done is done and no amount of yelling at me or pounding on me is going to change that, and I know I deserve punishment and I'll accept whatever punishment you think I deserve and if you think its beyond punishment, let me know and I'll pack my things and leave, if it comes to that. So I'll be in my room awaiting whatever punishment you decide on."

Before he could get a response, Harry ran out the door and down the hall to close himself in his room. He sat on his bed, heart beating rapidly.

That was that. The only thing to do now was wait for the fireworks.

Back in the master bedroom, Vernon and Petunia stared at each other slightly dazed. Vernon spoke first. "Did he just say that we slept through Friday?"

"Yes," said Petunia slowly. "He gave us a sleeping potion."

Harry didn't have to wait long for his speech to sink into his uncle's addled brain. Within minutes, Vernon Dursley had barged into his room, looking very confused but furious.

"You are so punished, boy," he sputtered angrily. "You are punished for the rest of the summer."

"Okay," said Harry nervously.

"And..." Vernon stood in Harry's doorway struggling with his words.

Harry tried to look hurt. "Are you going to give me chores to do for part of my punishment?"

Vernon's eyes lit up. "Yes! Yes, you have to do chores too!" He seemed very pleased with himself.

Harry waited. Seeing that he wasn't going to get any more information, he asked, "What chores do I have to do?"

Vernon's face fell back into a confused grimace. "Uh... You have to..."

Harry waited. "Clean the garage?" he offered.

"Yes!" Vernon exclaimed. "As your punishment, you have to clean out the garage!"

Obviously, his uncle didn't realize that the garage was still spotless from the last time Harry had cleaned it. Harry nodded and tried to look pained. "The whole garage?"

Vernon leered at Harry, "Yes! You have to clean out the whole garage! And... then you have to..."

"Sweep the floor?"

"Yes! Sweep the floor!" said Vernon.

"And mop?"

"Of course mop! When I say sweep, I mean sweep and mop! Don't sauce me boy!"

Harry nodded in a most forlorn manner. "Yes, Uncle Vernon," he said sadly.

"And let that be a lesson to you!"

Harry nodded.

Vernon gave Harry one last sneer before disappearing back into the hallway.

As his bedroom door shut behind his uncle, Harry's face spread into a grin.

*****

Later that night, miles from the manicured lawns and suburban tranquility of Privet Drive, a small cloaked figure entered a dark and dingy alley on the outskirts of London. The figure slowly walked up the alley, peering into the darkness. Out of the shadows from the light post, came a large man wearing a long, gray cloak. The small figure walked up to the man, pulled back her hood and spoke to him. "Thank you for meeting me, Mr. Crabbe."

"You have a lot of nerve asking me for help after what you did to Bernie."

"I didn't do it, Mr. Crabbe. I swear. It wasn't me. Please... you have to believe me."

He stared at her skeptically for a moment. But then his face softened and he said, "I believe you."

"I don't know what to do now. I'm afraid of what the Dark Lord might do to me. Please help me." She looked down and stared at the ground. "I'll do anything."

His eyes roamed downward to her fitted top, which emphasized her small girlish curves and softly fluttering skirt. He reached up and swept a strand of hair from her check. "Don't worry," he smiled. "I'll take care of you."


A/N: Foreboding ending, eh?

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