Sorry this update is took me a while. I am having a serious case of the writers block. Its hard being 12. Anyways.... Chapter 3: Arrival On the morning of the 29th, Harry dressed very carefully. Not like he had a good selection., since all of his clothes had once been Dudley's. Eventually Harry chose a baggy pair of faded blue jeans and a black Metallica t-shirt. Harry would have passes for a very good Muggle. With a jolt, Harry realized that Ron had forgotten to tell Harry what time, and how they would be coming. "Surely not by Floo" Harry thought to himself. " Not after what happened last time." All morning , Harry sat on the sitting room sofa. Eventually he grew hungry and fetched an apple from the kitchen. Eating it slowly, Harry wondered what type of reaction the Dursley's would have when Dumbledore, Hermione and Ron all turned up at their home, un-invited. Taking another bite into his apple, Harry started planning out what he Ron and Hermione would do this summer. Ron could sleep in his room with him, Harry would just sleep in a sleeping bag, and Hermione would sleep.. " On the couch" He thought, " Yeah, that will work." Harry took another bite from his apple. He realized that he would have his friends with him for his 16th birthday. This was the happiest Harry had felt in a long time. That was one of his biggest birthdays in his life, and he was going to have his friends with him?! Harry couldn't believe his luck. He could have a small un-official birthday party! His first birthday party at that. It would be great! Harry pretty much inhaled the rest of his apple and stared avidly out the window. Noon came and went without a sight of human life, Dursley or other. That didn't bother Harry in the slightest, especially the Dursley part. At 2:15 pm, Uncle Vernon stormed into the sitting room in a fit of rage. Apparently he didn't seen to notice Harry was there because he was muttering to himself in such a way Harry could have sworn his Uncle was either very ill, or very drunk. Uncle Vernon stanched up the television remote and turned on the t.v. The same thing was on every channel. It was the Muggle news. Avery attractive, yet obviously very frightened female reporter was talking very fast. " I am here at number 8, Oswald drive where there seems to be a floating skull hovering over the house. This is very disturbing indeed" The reporter stammered. She was obviously trying to keep her composer, but she was failing. " It appears the skull is being projected into the sky, but the area has been searched and no such equipment that could have projected the skull had been found. The skull seems to have a snake coming out of it's mouth, like a tongue. Even more disturbing , is that the residents of number 8, Oswald drive, the Corstair family were all found dead inside. Police are searching the scene of the crime for clues, though none have been found yet. There appears to be no sign of forced entry. The police have tried everything they could to get the floating skull, but they can't figure out how to make it go away. I'm Brenda Hillmount and I'll be back with later updates." Ste t.v cameras shifted there attention from the reporter, to the house behind her. The Dark Mark was hovering over an obviously Muggle home. Sirens were blaring. There was a large crown of worried people huddling behind the police barriers. Now, more than ever, Harry realized how important it was that he remained at Privet Drive. Without warning, the doorbell rang. It was now 2:30. Harry's heart leapt. He looked out the window for a car, but saw nothing. Not that it dampened Harry's spirit though. Harry went down to open the door, as Uncle Vernon was till absorbed in the t.v. Just before Harry opened the door, Dudley came thundering down the stairs. Harry didn't even notice, because right before him was the smiling face of Albus Dumbledore, closely followed by an even taller Ron , and a very tan, very different Hermione. She was taller and tan, with beautiful sunlit streaks in her hair, which was now waist length and sporting loose ringlet curls. She was wearing a red tank top with beaded straps and a white miniskirt. Harry noticed that she also seemed more. you know. Even though it felt like Harry was studying Hermione ages, it only took a split second. Next to her, Ron was simply, still Ron. He was wearing a worn out blue and yellow striped rugby shirt and long denim shorts. He was obviously in his Muggle best. The only real change in him was even more freckles and even more height. ( If that was possible.) It surprised Harry that the two people he knew best in the world looked so different, so fast. " Might we come in Harry? " asked Dumbledore, breaking the silence. He looked very odd indeed wearing a Hawaiian print shirt and black shorts. " Of course Professor" Harry replied politely. He moved over to hold the door open for them, but there was no room to come in; Dudley was frozen to the spot, goggling at Hermione. His eyes were bulging, and his jaw was dropped. " Um. Dudley?" Harry asked nervously, " Could you err. move?" With that, Dudley, horror struck at what he had just been caught doing sprinted up the stairs. With much difficulty.