Chapter 2: Flight of the Hippogriff

The next week was not Harry's best. Once he told Uncle Vernon about not being able to go to Ron's house, he, Uncle Vernon, almost threw Harry through a window.

"Of all the luck!" Uncle Vernon had shouted at Harry. "I bet they knew you would be writing them to come and visit, so they decided to just go on this excursion just so you couldn't stay with them! The nerve of those–those–those people!"

Harry did not even try to make a good defense towards his uncle; he thought it best not to. Instead, Harry had went up to his room to make sure all his school supplies were all packed and out of the way. Aunt Petunia had suggested that Dudley, since so fond of Harry, sleep in Harry's room and allow Aunt Marge to sleep in his room. Uncle Vernon had agreed on only one condition.

"You shall not mention anything about your abnormality to my son while he is in your room! Do I make myself clear?"

Harry had agreed not to say anything; Dudley was even happy about "camping" with Harry in Harry's room.

"We can do all sorts of things!" Dudley said with excitement upon hearing the news.

The day for Aunt Marge to arrive came quicker than Harry had wanted. Uncle Vernon had pulled out his old dinner suit; he had to take Dudley to get refitted for his because his old ones were completely to big. Aunt Petunia was in the kitchen all afternoon preparing dinner in her red polka dot dinner dress. Harry was in his normal clothes and stayed mostly in his room.

Harry could hear his uncle and cousin returning as Aunt Petunia shouted joyously about Dudley's new clothes.

"Boy, get down here!" Harry heard his uncle shout from the kitchen. Harry immediately went down to him; he felt there was no reason to anger his uncle so close to the start of the school term. Uncle Vernon had the habit of trying all means possible to keep Harry from returning to Hogwarts.

"Marge will be here in a few minutes." Uncle Vernon snarled at Harry. "We have done everything imaginable to try and get you out of the house! Still, we have yet to succeed. You know how much Marge dislikes you, so I suggest you be on your very best behavior! Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal clear, sir," Harry replied with a reluctant look in his eyes.

"While Marge is here you are to stay away from her unless it is meal time," Uncle Vernon snarled. "Any funny business and it will be curtains for you, boy!"

The door bell rang and Uncle Vernon quickly jumped and pointed to the den. Harry understood that this meant to move quickly. Dudley ran to get the door. As Harry entered the den he could hear Aunt Marge yelling at Uncle Vernon about not feeding Dudley properly; Aunt Marge is large like Uncle Vernon and was thrilled when Dudley had been big too.

"Look how little he is, Vernon," she said in a loud voice. "You can see his bones for goodness sakes. I think he needs to come live with me for a year. I can get him back to the normal size a boy his age should be!"

"Dinner is ready, Marge," Petunia urged hoping the discussion would end. "I've made the best turkey you could ever imagine."

"That's good, Petunia," Marge said as they all journeyed to the kitchen. "Tell me, Vernon, is that little trouble maker still in this house? I hope not because I would like to enjoy my trip here for a change."

Uncle Vernon smiled nervously before he replied. "Sorry, Marge, but we haven't been able to find another place for him. We really tried, honest."

Aunt Marge had a look of fury in her eyes as Vernon shouted at Harry to come to the dinner table. She, Aunt Marge, sat down at the table, still looking furious as she stared at Harry as he sat in his chair.

"I just can't believe that evil brat is still under this roof!" she roared as she pointed a fat finger at him. "After the way he treated me last time! Boy, know this! If you think your school gives you a thrashing, just wait until I get a hold of you." She was turning red from yelling.

"Come now, Marge," Uncle Vernon said as he shoved Harry out of the kitchen. "He won't be in your sights any longer. We'll feed him in his room until you leave."

Aunt Marge still had a look of utmost fury on her face as Harry walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs after dinner; he could hear Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon coaxing Aunt Marge as he entered his room.

"That evil excuse for a muggle thinks I'm the one with a problem!" Harry mumbled as he slammed his bedroom door shut. "If I could only use magic, then I would turn her into flobberworm! All they do is eat! I'm sure she wouldn't mind that!

"I wonder where Hedwig went to? She's been gone since early this morning."

Suddenly, a silhouette appeared in the night sky, and it was once again Hedwig with a letter tied to her leg.

She flew through the window and landed on Harry's desk.

"Where have you been?" Harry asked Hedwig as he untied the letter from her leg.

He wasted no time in tearing open the envelope as Hedwig flew to her cage and began to eat.

Dear Harry,

How have you been? I hope all is well with the Dursley's.

Ron has sent word that you need a place to stay, so I need you to ask your uncle if you could stay with me at Grimmauld Place. I've sent word to Hermione and Ron as well. Ron will be here when he returns from Romania, and Hermione will be here in a few days. I'll send someone to get you in a week. Your transportation is–er– hard to disguise against the muggles. Be ready to leave at midnight in one week! It is imperative that you do not waste anytime getting out of there! Hope to see you soon!

Remus

"Hedwig, we're leaving!" Harry exclaimed with excitement. "I can't believe it! Well, better ask Uncle Vernon if I can leave."

His expression turned from happy to grim as he thought of Aunt Marge.

"How are we ever going to get to leave with her here? Well, I guess we can dwell on this in the morning. Good night, Hedwig."

He walked over to his bed and fell fast asleep with the thought of seeing his friends running through his head.

Harry awoke the next morning and noticed it was already ten o'clock. He jumped from his bed and quickly changed clothes.

"How could I have over slept?" he said as he ran down the stairs.

He slowed down as he neared the kitchen door. He slowly walked through the door and began to put left over breakfast on a plate.

"Think you are better than everyone else do you?" a dangerously cruel voice said in Harry's ear. He jumped and spun around almost dropping his plate. Aunt Marge was staring at him with a devilish grin.

"No m-ma'am," Harry replied.

"Well it's well after ten o'clock and you are just now getting your breakfast," she said still smiling her evil smile. "I guess eating with the rest of the family is out of the question to you. You seem to be above everyone else. Is that what you think? My dear, dear boy, you are obviously mistaken." Her smile faded and her eyes narrowed. "Vernon and Petunia might go easy on you, boy, but I refuse! R-E-F-U-S-E! Refuse! You are a nasty, filthy, little boy that needs to be taught manners. Until I leave, you shall be up and ready to eat breakfast with the rest of the family. You shall even clean up after everyone. Do I make myself clear?"

"Considering it's not my job–" Harry began in a rude voice, but he faltered in mid-sentence thinking of Lupin. "I would be more than happy to help out." His teeth were clamped as he spoke.

Aunt Marge's devilish grin was once again on her face as she spoke. "Good boy. Now run along."

"Sure," he said his teeth clamped tightly together.

Harry finished getting his breakfast and went back to his room. He could hear Aunt Marge laugh as he slammed his door shut. "She reminds me of that old bat Umbridge!"

Harry finished his breakfast and took his plate back down to the kitchen. He could hear Aunt Petunia and Aunt Marge laughing merrily in the living room. He quickly placed his plate in the sink and headed for the door. As he entered the hallway he saw Uncle Vernon enter the front door. Harry saw this as his chance to ask Uncle Vernon if he could leave for Grimmauld Place.

"Un-Uncle Vernon," Harry said as his uncle turned and glared at him. "I was wondering if I could– "

"If you could what?" Uncle Vernon asked angrily. "I had enough troubles at office, so I daresay I am not in the mood for your babbling!"

Harry gulped but found the courage to continue.

"I was just wondering if I could leave to stay with a friend of mine?"

"Well why didn't you say so!" Uncle Vernon said, his anger subsiding. "When do you leave, soon I hope! This is wonderful. With you out of the way, Marge will have a peaceful time. Well? When do you leave?"

"Well in a week–" Harry said, his hopes gaining.

"A week!" Uncle Vernon exclaimed. "That simply won't do! You go and write to whoever you're staying with and tell them I want you out of this house tonight!"

Harry nodded and bolted up the stairs to his room. He grabbed a quill and a piece of parchment and began to scribble furiously. He tapped on Hedwig's cage to wake her up.

"Hedwig, I need you to take this to Lupin right now." Harry said with a huge smile. "I need to know if we can leave tonight. I need you to fly as fast as you can, please."

Hedwig hooted and held out her leg. Harry tied the letter to her leg and walked her over to the window.

"Remember," he said before he released her, "fly hard!"

He thrust her out the window watching as she became smaller and smaller until he could see her no longer. He quickly turned his attention from the window and began to make sure all his things were packed.

It was already six o'clock and Hedwig was nowhere to be seen. Harry had stayed at his window all afternoon; he even missed lunch and that had made Aunt Marge furious.

"Time for dinner, Harry," Dudley called as he walked passed Harry's bedroom.

Harry slowly walked to his door, glancing every alternate second at the window. With a sigh, he closed his door and ventured to the kitchen.

Everyone was already sitting around the table. Harry took a seat across from Dudley and Aunt Marge.

"Lovely looking dinner, Petunia," Aunt Marge said with a phoney smile.

"Thank you, Marge," Aunt Petunia said, looking thrilled. "You know Dudley's become a real little chef. He helped me prepare tonight's dinner. He cooked the potatoes and even made the salad."

"Ripe little tike isn't he, Marge?" Uncle Vernon said gleefully.

"Well if he pulls his cards right, Vernon," Aunt Marge said with her phoney smile still in place, "he will be able to have servants to cook for him. Of course that's what I have. People like him!" She through a fat finger at Harry. "That's the type that need to learn how to cook for people!"

"I heard great chefs make a lot of money," Dudley said, trying to divert the conversation from Harry.

"Servants work if you ask–"

Aunt Marge's statement was cut short by her screaming at the top of her lungs. At that moment a snowy owl had flown into the kitchen and dropped a letter into Harry's lap.

"Go away, Hedwig!" Harry hissed quietly. "I'll get it!" he called aloud as he jumped up from his seat. He began to jump up and down yelling "Shoo!"and when Aunt Marge's screams grew louder he would quietly apologize.

When Aunt Marge's screams subsided and when Uncle Vernon stopped looking at Harry as though he were going to kill him, Harry decided to go up to his room and stay.

Harry walked up the stairs followed by Dudley. He looked at the note Hedwig had brought back. All it said was, "Yes." Harry was so glad that he went to make sure all his things were packed, again.

"Why are you all packed, Harry?" Dudley asked as he watched Harry run around the room double checking all his belongings. "Are you going somewhere?"

"Yes," Harry said in haste. "Professor Lupin, well ex-professor, is coming to get me tonight. At least I think he is."

Midnight was edging closer as Harry put his trunk on his on his bed. He was still continually telling Hedwig sorry for earlier.

"H-Harry," Harry heard Dudley stutter as he pointed to his window.

Harry ran to the window and peered out. A huge creature hovered right outside the bedroom window. Its front half was that of an eagle, with a beak, wings, and talons. Its back was that of a horse.

"Buckbeak!" Harry exclaimed as the giant hippogriff squeezed through Harry's window. "Now, Dudley, I need you to stay where you are. When I give the single, I need you to bow with me. Okay?"

Dudley nodded as Harry backed up beside him. Harry nudged Dudley and they both bowed low to the ground. Buckbeak, in return, bowed down too.

Buckbeak, Harry noticed, was carrying a note in his beak. Harry went up and grabbed it. It said for Harry to tie his trunk and Hedwig's cage to the rope on Buckbeak's hind legs.

"Can you carry all of this?" Harry asked.

Buckbeak nodded as Dudley walked up to pet him. Harry moved quickly as he tied his trunk and Hedwig's cage to the rope on the hippogriff's hind legs.

"Well I'll see ya next summer, Dudley!" Harry said as he jumped on the back of the hippogriff. "Let's go, Buckbeak!"

"Bye, Harry!" Dudley called as Buckbeak squeezed back through the window and took flight. "I'll tell dad you're gone!"

Dudley watched as they flew out of sight, wishing he could ride the strange creature.