Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JKR, various publishers of the HP series. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. I think the song is credited to Frankie Valle, and I have no idea who owns the movie Truly, Madly, Deeply. A trailer from the movie inspired this fic.
Chapter 3 – I See Dead People
Harry came into the house after trimming the hedges, chopping them into bits, and stuffing the bits into trash liners. He stopped in the kitchen for a drink of water from the tap and heard Aunt Petunia's shrill voice urging Dudley to hurry. Uncle Vernon thundered down the stairs and shoved Harry into the wall when he got to the door, "Up to your room, boy! We're going to Marge's house for supper." Harry heard the locks click into place behind him after Vernon slammed the door to his bedroom. He changed into fresh clothes and left his dirty ones piled in the corner of the room. He was just fine laying on the bed to think about last conversation at Mrs. Figg's house.
But Harry wasn't tired enough. He laid awake on his bed at first, then moved to sit in front of his window. Hedwig had been allowed to fly in and out as she wished while Harry had been moping around. As concerned as she was for her master, she didn't stick around much because Harry had gotten bad about keeping her water bowl fresh and cleaning out her cage. Hedwig's cage no longer smelled. Anything that had been in there had dried up long ago. It was just dirty. Anyway, Hedwig had been able to fend for herself and she was smart enough to do it at night, so that the residents on Privet Drive didn't see too much of the snowy white owl.
Harry's thoughts drifted to Sirius. As it did, a gruff came from under his bed. "Sirius? How long have you been in there?" Harry got down on all fours to look under his bed. The big black dog crawled out on its belly, then transformed into the tall confident wizard he should have been in his prime. He put his arms out to receive a hug from his godson.
They sat on the bed and Harry told Sirius about tea that afternoon at Mrs. Figg's house with Remus. Sirius stood up, "Hey, speaking of tea, how about we go raid the kitchen?"
Harry looked curiously at his godfather, "Can't, Uncle Vernon has me locked up tight. I can't use magic to open it, I'll get in trouble again with the Ministry."
"Nonsense, those gits will never know." Sirius pulled his own wand from his robes and pointed it at the door. "Alohamora!" A dozen clicks of the locks disengaging were heard before the door sprang open. Sirius stepped back and bowed, motioning Harry to lead the way.
Harry went into the kitchen. He opened cupboards and closets, trying to figure out what he could make without the Aunt Petunia noticing when she got back. "How about peanut butter and jam sandwiches," he asked the older wizard. Harry found Sirius in the living room, amusing himself. He poked at the pictures on the mantle to get them to move, but Dudley's baby pictures were as still as when they were developed. Then Sirius examined the box with an oddly shaped window on it. He jumped back when he touched the big button on top and it glowed before producing moving pictures with sound. Amused, he sat back in Uncle Vernon's easy chair to watch the cartoon. Harry chuckled to himself about his godfather's amusement.
About to turn back into the kitchen, Harry thought he saw shadows on the curtains, which were closed. "Sirius, I think someone's out there."
Sirius got up from the chair and cracked the curtain to peek outside. "I don't see anything, Harry. It's okay."
When he returned to the easy chair, Harry turned back into the kitchen. He could have sworn there were two people outside the kitchen window, who were just looking at him, but they disappeared as soon as he saw their outlines. He climbed onto the sink to look outside, but there was nobody there. He returned to making sandwiches, but he had a feeling that he was being watched. Every time he turned his head toward the window, it was as if someone ducked out of sight.
"Sirius," Harry stuck his head into the living room, "come and eat."
"Naw, mate, bring the food in here. I want to watch more of this—err, thing."
"Um, but we're not allowed to eat in there."
"C'mon, Harry! Please? Nobody will ever notice."
"Um, okay. What do you want with your sandwich? Milk or water?"
"Got any butterbeer?"
"Nope, sorry."
"Nevermind, Harry. Come and sit."
Harry got the plate from the table and grabbed a glass of milk for himself. He sat on the couch and placed the plate of sandwiches on the coffee table. He showed Sirius how to operate the remote. That kept his godfather entertained, although it was a bit irritating that Harry wasn't able to watch anything for more than two minutes straight.
The doorbell rang. Sirius got up to answer it. "James! Lily! How nice of you to come."
Harry's chest lurched. Sirius let his parents through the door and they took a seat on the couch on either side of him. Sirius continued to play with the TV remote. It was weird, though. Harry tried to ask his parents questions, but all they did is put their arms around him and stare at the TV with big smiles on their faces. Harry sat there and watched TV, although if you asked what he had watched, he couldn't tell you. His mind was swimming with all these questions, but he was too dumbfounded to say anything. He studied their faces. When he absently reached for another sandwich, he found the plate empty. Nobody else was interested more food, so he picked up the plate and the glass that held his milk and carefully swept the crumbs onto the plate. He went into the kitchen and cleaned up, careful to put everything the way he found it earlier so that nobody would be the wiser. He rejoined his parents on the couch and fell asleep in their arms.
Half asleep, his eyes half open, he could have sworn, as he laid on the couch, that there was a bunch of people in the living room, all staring at the TV. From the picture of the Order of the Phoenix which Alastor Moody showed him last summer, he recognized their faces as Edgar Bones, Benjy Fenwick, Marlene McKinnon, Dorcas Meadows, Fabian & Gideon Prewett. Cedric Diggory flew around the living room in a low crouch on his broom. Nobody said anything but they exchanged curious looks between each other, as a wizard would if they were looking at a television for the first time in their lives.
Harry woke up on the couch, now in the dark when he heard the Dursleys car pull into the driveway. He shut off the TV and ran back up to his room, dumping himself on the bed. He was just dozing off again when he heard a dozen clicks unlocking. Aunt Petunia stuck her head in the room and looked around before quietly closing the door.
-----ooOoo-----
To be continued...