A/N: Now that I have some readers, I suppose I should do a proper author's
note. First of all, the usual disclaimer applies: I don't own Hogwarts or
any of the standard Harry Potter characters. I do, however, own Isaiaus
Flebber, Flebber's No-Stain Robes, Bella Zimm, and the whole concept of
Muggle Appreciation Day.
Thanks to my reviewers, all two of you! Knowing that someone out there is actually reading this is making me a lot more interested in continuing. So if anyone else out there is reading this and has some thoughts, be sure to let me know, unless you disagree with the whole premise of the story or something. If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all! On the other hand, constructive criticism is always appreciated.
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Aunt Petunia had a frightened yet proud look on her face as she stood in the doorway behind Dumbledore. Dudley seemed to be settling for the frightened part and was shaking like a leaf. He was actually grabbing on to his mother's skirts and trying to hide behind her, as if he were still 5 years old instead of going on 17. The three stood there as if in a tableau for a few seconds before Dumbledore turned to his Muggle companions and motioned over to the Gryffindor table where Harry was sitting. Oddly enough, there were two empty place settings next to Harry that he was sure hadn't been there a few moments before. Harry's relatives began to walk slowly towards them. It was quite apparent that whatever had just happened to them, they were still in a state of shock and confusion.
Almost everyone in the Great Hall shared that confusion, but Hermione was beaming. "See, Harry? I told you they'd come!"
Harry looked as if he was trying to slide off the bench and under the table. "Everyone is staring at them," he whispered. "They all know they shouldn't be here."
"Nonsense, Harry," Hermione said firmly. "We're the only people here who even know that they're your relatives. Everyone else is surprised to see that someone arrived with Dumbledore himself. I think they think the Dursleys are the guests of honor or something."
Harry groaned. From his point of view, that was just as bad.
The conversation came to an abrupt halt as Aunt Petunia and Dudley finally reached their part of the table and seated themselves. "Aunt Petunia, Dudley," Harry said weakly. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
Dudley was reaching for the tray of glazed donuts in front of him, but Petunia gently slapped his hand. "Dudders, you know we ate at home before we came this morning. Remember your diet, dear." She turned to Harry to respond to his question. "To tell you the truth, Harry, we weren't expecting to come. I mean, Vernon was so against it and there didn't seem to be much point in the whole thing. If I'd wanted to see Hogwarts, I could have come here when Lily was a student. But then Dumbledore popped in on us this morning quite unexpectedly, and well, you know how persuasive he can be." Harry nodded, remembering the howler that he had sent the summer before last.
"So Uncle Vernon isn't coming, then?" Harry asked, latching on to the only ray of hope he could see.
"No, he certainly isn't, and if I have my way he'll never know we were here. Thank heavens that Dumbledore appeared just after he left for work. I left a note saying that I'd had to take Dudley shopping for new boxing gloves." Harry nodded again. Taking Dudley shopping was one of Aunt Petunia's most frequent activities, so it certainly would make a plausible excuse.
Conversation around them seemed to be dying down. Looking up at the head table, they saw that Dumbledore was standing, apparently now ready to make his speech. "If I may have your attention please," he began in his usual quiet yet authoritative voice. "As many of you may know, this is the first time that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has hosted such a large gathering of Muggles. In fact, in the past Muggles have entered these grounds only under very unusual circumstances. It is my hope that today might mark the beginning of the end of those times. In that spirit, I would like to welcome each and every one of our Muggle guests today. We hope that you will come away from today with a better understanding of what goes on here and what the wizarding community stands for.
"Towards that end we have planned a full day of activities for you. The morning will be spent in tours of the building and grounds led by the prefects of each house. To minimize disruption, each house will begin the tour in a different area. All tours will end in the house common rooms shortly before noon.
"After lunch, which will be served here in the Great Hall, there will be an exhibition Quidditch match, weather permitting. I understand that special teams have been organized for the event under the supervision of Miss Bella Zimm. I'm told that they are to be quite unusual in their composition, to say the least." Bella nodded from her seat at the end of the head table. Harry couldn't be quite sure from where he was sitting, but it seemed as if she had an unusually bright twinkle in her eye. "Thanks also go to Mr. Isaiaus Flebber of Flebber's No-Stain Robes for donating custom-made Quidditch robes for the occasion." Flebber nodded curtly from his seat at the other end of the table.
"Assuming that the Quidditch match is not of unusual duration, we will meet again in the great hall at 4 o'clock for closing ceremonies and a reception. After this, guests will be escorted to the Hogwarts Express and begin the journey home.
"These are all the remarks I wish to make at this time. However, I wish to introduce to you Mr. Arthur Weasley. Mr. Weasley is a member of the Hogwarts Board of Governors and is the person most responsible for planning today's events. A round of applause for Mr. Weasley, please."
The Muggles in the audience clapped politely while the Hogwarts students cheered more enthusiastically. Ron and Ginny screamed, "All right, Dad!" at the top of their lungs, making the elder Weasley blush a deep crimson. Only the Slytherin table was silent.
Still blushing furiously, Mr. Weasley stood up and addressed the audience. "There's only one thing I'd like to say, and it's more of a question, really. I'd just like to know if any Muggle here can tell me the function of a rubber duck. If so, please see me after breakfast." He sat down quickly. Harry looked at Ron and noticed that he was now blushing as hard as his father.
Thanks to my reviewers, all two of you! Knowing that someone out there is actually reading this is making me a lot more interested in continuing. So if anyone else out there is reading this and has some thoughts, be sure to let me know, unless you disagree with the whole premise of the story or something. If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all! On the other hand, constructive criticism is always appreciated.
____________________________________________________________________________ __
Aunt Petunia had a frightened yet proud look on her face as she stood in the doorway behind Dumbledore. Dudley seemed to be settling for the frightened part and was shaking like a leaf. He was actually grabbing on to his mother's skirts and trying to hide behind her, as if he were still 5 years old instead of going on 17. The three stood there as if in a tableau for a few seconds before Dumbledore turned to his Muggle companions and motioned over to the Gryffindor table where Harry was sitting. Oddly enough, there were two empty place settings next to Harry that he was sure hadn't been there a few moments before. Harry's relatives began to walk slowly towards them. It was quite apparent that whatever had just happened to them, they were still in a state of shock and confusion.
Almost everyone in the Great Hall shared that confusion, but Hermione was beaming. "See, Harry? I told you they'd come!"
Harry looked as if he was trying to slide off the bench and under the table. "Everyone is staring at them," he whispered. "They all know they shouldn't be here."
"Nonsense, Harry," Hermione said firmly. "We're the only people here who even know that they're your relatives. Everyone else is surprised to see that someone arrived with Dumbledore himself. I think they think the Dursleys are the guests of honor or something."
Harry groaned. From his point of view, that was just as bad.
The conversation came to an abrupt halt as Aunt Petunia and Dudley finally reached their part of the table and seated themselves. "Aunt Petunia, Dudley," Harry said weakly. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
Dudley was reaching for the tray of glazed donuts in front of him, but Petunia gently slapped his hand. "Dudders, you know we ate at home before we came this morning. Remember your diet, dear." She turned to Harry to respond to his question. "To tell you the truth, Harry, we weren't expecting to come. I mean, Vernon was so against it and there didn't seem to be much point in the whole thing. If I'd wanted to see Hogwarts, I could have come here when Lily was a student. But then Dumbledore popped in on us this morning quite unexpectedly, and well, you know how persuasive he can be." Harry nodded, remembering the howler that he had sent the summer before last.
"So Uncle Vernon isn't coming, then?" Harry asked, latching on to the only ray of hope he could see.
"No, he certainly isn't, and if I have my way he'll never know we were here. Thank heavens that Dumbledore appeared just after he left for work. I left a note saying that I'd had to take Dudley shopping for new boxing gloves." Harry nodded again. Taking Dudley shopping was one of Aunt Petunia's most frequent activities, so it certainly would make a plausible excuse.
Conversation around them seemed to be dying down. Looking up at the head table, they saw that Dumbledore was standing, apparently now ready to make his speech. "If I may have your attention please," he began in his usual quiet yet authoritative voice. "As many of you may know, this is the first time that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has hosted such a large gathering of Muggles. In fact, in the past Muggles have entered these grounds only under very unusual circumstances. It is my hope that today might mark the beginning of the end of those times. In that spirit, I would like to welcome each and every one of our Muggle guests today. We hope that you will come away from today with a better understanding of what goes on here and what the wizarding community stands for.
"Towards that end we have planned a full day of activities for you. The morning will be spent in tours of the building and grounds led by the prefects of each house. To minimize disruption, each house will begin the tour in a different area. All tours will end in the house common rooms shortly before noon.
"After lunch, which will be served here in the Great Hall, there will be an exhibition Quidditch match, weather permitting. I understand that special teams have been organized for the event under the supervision of Miss Bella Zimm. I'm told that they are to be quite unusual in their composition, to say the least." Bella nodded from her seat at the end of the head table. Harry couldn't be quite sure from where he was sitting, but it seemed as if she had an unusually bright twinkle in her eye. "Thanks also go to Mr. Isaiaus Flebber of Flebber's No-Stain Robes for donating custom-made Quidditch robes for the occasion." Flebber nodded curtly from his seat at the other end of the table.
"Assuming that the Quidditch match is not of unusual duration, we will meet again in the great hall at 4 o'clock for closing ceremonies and a reception. After this, guests will be escorted to the Hogwarts Express and begin the journey home.
"These are all the remarks I wish to make at this time. However, I wish to introduce to you Mr. Arthur Weasley. Mr. Weasley is a member of the Hogwarts Board of Governors and is the person most responsible for planning today's events. A round of applause for Mr. Weasley, please."
The Muggles in the audience clapped politely while the Hogwarts students cheered more enthusiastically. Ron and Ginny screamed, "All right, Dad!" at the top of their lungs, making the elder Weasley blush a deep crimson. Only the Slytherin table was silent.
Still blushing furiously, Mr. Weasley stood up and addressed the audience. "There's only one thing I'd like to say, and it's more of a question, really. I'd just like to know if any Muggle here can tell me the function of a rubber duck. If so, please see me after breakfast." He sat down quickly. Harry looked at Ron and noticed that he was now blushing as hard as his father.