Harry awoke five hours later with his Aunt Petunia banging on his bedroom
door. "Up!" she screeched loudly her tongue clicking against her abnormal
horse teeth, "Get up now boy!"
"Alright Aunt Petunia, I'm up!" Harry yelled back through his door. He could hear his aunt unlocking the multiple locks on Harry's door before she finally swung it open. He was used not to hear birthday wishes from the Dursleys. They had always seemed to conveniently forget that his birthday was around this time of year. Harry quickly changed into one of the sweaters Mrs. Weasly had knitted for him during one of his many Christmases at Hogwarts and a pair of jeans. Harry didn't even bother to try and tame his unruly hair, he knew it drove his Uncle Vernon mad and he felt a bit of chaos was necessary before he left for Ron's home.
Harry grabbed his trunk, followed by Hedwig's cage (Harry had told her before he went downstairs to go to Ron's house) and set it by the door. "And just where do you think you're going with all those ruddy school things?" Uncle Vernon asked in his usual suspicious voice. Harry looked up at his uncle who had very little neck and an extremely bushy mustache.
"I'm going over to a neighbor's house, I'm meeting my friends there and I'm staying with them for the rest of the holiday." Harry explained to his uncle as if it were already decided.
"And how do you expect to get to this neighbor's house? Walk down the street in broad daylight with.with those..things behind you?" Uncle Vernon asked his face turning its usual shade of plum.
"How else would I get there?" Harry asked stupidly. He could tell this was a touchy subject for his uncle. The Dursley family wanted everything in their lives to be ordinary and not full of trouble and scandal and having Harry as a wizard, living in their ordinary house, caused enough trouble and scandal just in their own box house on Privet Drive. Uncle Vernon knew that if Harry were seen in broad daylight with his school trunk and owl cage he wouldn't be that hard to spot. He had made sure that everyone in their neighborhood knew that he went to St. Brutus' Institute for Highly Incurable Cases and he was quick to remind any of his neighbors who thought otherwise.
"Now where is this.uh.neighbor's house?" Uncle Vernon asked uneasily.
"Just off of Wisteria Walk," Harry answered as if it were the most obvious answer in the world.
"Indeed? Well I don't see why I can't drive you there myself. No use in you causing trouble getting your.er.school things to this neighbor's house."
"Great! Mrs. Figg will be delighted to see you Uncle Vernon!" Harry exclaimed happily before he hurried into the kitchen.
"Mrs-Mr.Mrs. Figg?" Uncle Vernon said stupidly. What Uncle Vernon didn't know and what Harry didn't know until last year was Mrs. Arabella Figg, the crazy old lady with the many cats was a Squib. The Dursleys would leave Harry in Mrs. Figg's care when they took their son and Harry's cousin Dudley out to the zoo or on trips. Mrs. Figg had made Harry sit in the stuffing living room that had a strong odor of cats, forcing him to look at all the cats she had ever known.
"Why do you look so happy?" Dudley asked Harry angrily as Harry grabbed a piece of toast and some eggs, sitting down at the dinner table.
"I'm ecstatic not happy! I'm leaving this place until next summer and I couldn't be more excited!" Harry said sarcastically as Dudley made a very rude gesture in Harry's direction. Harry rolled his eyes, counting down the minutes until Uncle Vernon shoved him in his brand new company car to take him down the street to Wisteria Walk.
In fact, Harry didn't even have time to finish his breakfast before Uncle Vernon shoved him in his car along with his school trunk and Hedwig's empty cage and took him to Mrs. Figg's house.
"Get out." Uncle Vernon said shortly throwing the passenger door open for Harry.
"Thanks, I'll miss you too," Harry snapped as he grabbed his school things and shut the door. Uncle Vernon sped away, leaving Harry in front of Mrs. Figg's old, creaky house on Wisteria Walk.
Harry lugged his school things up the steps and knocked very loudly on the door, not knowing if Mrs. Figg's hearing had gone.
"Just a minute, just a minute!" an old batty voice yelled deep within the house, "Harold get off! Mummy will feed you all in a minute one moment!" Harry stood on the front porch for five more minutes before Mrs. Figg opened up the door.
"Oh Harry! I wasn't expecting you until later! Come in! Come in! I just put some cookies in the oven.mind you they're cat nip cookies for my babies, don't think you'd want those much. Here, I'll send a message to the Weaslys that you've already arrived!" Mrs. Figg practically screamed as she grabbed Harry by the collar and pulled him, his trunk, and his cage in violently, slamming the door behind her.
Mrs. Figg hurried forward into the living room, Harry following her in pursuit, his school things in tow. Harry had just enough time to see Mrs. Figg through something into her fire before she shouted, "Molly Weasly, The Burrow!" The green flames flew up and pretty soon, Mrs. Weasly's face filled the fireplace.
"Hello Arabella! Is something wrong with Harry? Will his aunt and uncle not let him come?" Mrs. Weasly asked after she saw Mrs. Figg's face.
"Oh no dear.Harry's actually a few hours early than expected! He's standing right here with all his school things, packed and ready to go!"
"Wonderful! I'll just get off the line and then Harry, you can step into the fireplace and travel to the Burrow by Floo Powder. You remember how that works?" Mrs. Weasly asked her voice high pitched and delighted.
Harry nodded and Mrs. Weasly squealed in delight. "Splendid! Well, hurry up Harry! Ron's absolutely biting at the bit to see you again!" And with that, Mrs. Figg stepped out of the fire and with a 'poof' she was gone. Now all that remained was the empty fireplace.
Mrs. Figg shoved Harry into the fireplace along with his trunk and Hedwig's empty cage. "I do wish you would come a see me more during the summers Harry!" Mrs. Figg requested as she shoved some powder into Harry's spare hand. "Speak clearly!" she squawked as she stepped away from the fireplace.
"The Burrow!" Harry shouted very clearly as he threw the fire down at his feet. He felt a jerking sensation as he felt himself being pulled up through the fireplace. Within minutes he found himself sliding out of the Weasly's fireplace, his trunk and cage falling beside him.
"Harry you're here!" Ron Weasly, Harry's best friend and fellow sixth year at Hogwarts shouted happily as he pulled Harry to his feet.
"Wonderful to see you again Harry!" Hermione Granger, Harry and Ron's other best friend shouted happily as she and Ron started to smack off the soot and dust off of Harry's clothing and face.
"Oh Harry! Harry, Harry dear! I'm so happy to see you!" Mrs. Weasly proclaimed as she rushed forward and hugged Harry tightly.
"Thank you for having me Mrs. Weasly!"
"Think nothing of it! Come on, we'll take your things up to Ron's room!" Mrs. Weasly said happily as she used her wand to make Hedwig's cage and Harry's trunk lighter. She carried them up the long flights of stairs and up to the top of the house where Ron's room was.
"Come outside quick! We were just about to start a game of Quiddich outside! Hermione reckons she'll play too!" Ron explained laughing at Harry's surprised expression. Hermione fly? She had never flown on a broomstick in her life! She didn't even like riding Buckbeak when they saved.
Harry shook off his thoughts and hurried up to Ron's bedroom to grab his beloved Firebolt.
"Alright Aunt Petunia, I'm up!" Harry yelled back through his door. He could hear his aunt unlocking the multiple locks on Harry's door before she finally swung it open. He was used not to hear birthday wishes from the Dursleys. They had always seemed to conveniently forget that his birthday was around this time of year. Harry quickly changed into one of the sweaters Mrs. Weasly had knitted for him during one of his many Christmases at Hogwarts and a pair of jeans. Harry didn't even bother to try and tame his unruly hair, he knew it drove his Uncle Vernon mad and he felt a bit of chaos was necessary before he left for Ron's home.
Harry grabbed his trunk, followed by Hedwig's cage (Harry had told her before he went downstairs to go to Ron's house) and set it by the door. "And just where do you think you're going with all those ruddy school things?" Uncle Vernon asked in his usual suspicious voice. Harry looked up at his uncle who had very little neck and an extremely bushy mustache.
"I'm going over to a neighbor's house, I'm meeting my friends there and I'm staying with them for the rest of the holiday." Harry explained to his uncle as if it were already decided.
"And how do you expect to get to this neighbor's house? Walk down the street in broad daylight with.with those..things behind you?" Uncle Vernon asked his face turning its usual shade of plum.
"How else would I get there?" Harry asked stupidly. He could tell this was a touchy subject for his uncle. The Dursley family wanted everything in their lives to be ordinary and not full of trouble and scandal and having Harry as a wizard, living in their ordinary house, caused enough trouble and scandal just in their own box house on Privet Drive. Uncle Vernon knew that if Harry were seen in broad daylight with his school trunk and owl cage he wouldn't be that hard to spot. He had made sure that everyone in their neighborhood knew that he went to St. Brutus' Institute for Highly Incurable Cases and he was quick to remind any of his neighbors who thought otherwise.
"Now where is this.uh.neighbor's house?" Uncle Vernon asked uneasily.
"Just off of Wisteria Walk," Harry answered as if it were the most obvious answer in the world.
"Indeed? Well I don't see why I can't drive you there myself. No use in you causing trouble getting your.er.school things to this neighbor's house."
"Great! Mrs. Figg will be delighted to see you Uncle Vernon!" Harry exclaimed happily before he hurried into the kitchen.
"Mrs-Mr.Mrs. Figg?" Uncle Vernon said stupidly. What Uncle Vernon didn't know and what Harry didn't know until last year was Mrs. Arabella Figg, the crazy old lady with the many cats was a Squib. The Dursleys would leave Harry in Mrs. Figg's care when they took their son and Harry's cousin Dudley out to the zoo or on trips. Mrs. Figg had made Harry sit in the stuffing living room that had a strong odor of cats, forcing him to look at all the cats she had ever known.
"Why do you look so happy?" Dudley asked Harry angrily as Harry grabbed a piece of toast and some eggs, sitting down at the dinner table.
"I'm ecstatic not happy! I'm leaving this place until next summer and I couldn't be more excited!" Harry said sarcastically as Dudley made a very rude gesture in Harry's direction. Harry rolled his eyes, counting down the minutes until Uncle Vernon shoved him in his brand new company car to take him down the street to Wisteria Walk.
In fact, Harry didn't even have time to finish his breakfast before Uncle Vernon shoved him in his car along with his school trunk and Hedwig's empty cage and took him to Mrs. Figg's house.
"Get out." Uncle Vernon said shortly throwing the passenger door open for Harry.
"Thanks, I'll miss you too," Harry snapped as he grabbed his school things and shut the door. Uncle Vernon sped away, leaving Harry in front of Mrs. Figg's old, creaky house on Wisteria Walk.
Harry lugged his school things up the steps and knocked very loudly on the door, not knowing if Mrs. Figg's hearing had gone.
"Just a minute, just a minute!" an old batty voice yelled deep within the house, "Harold get off! Mummy will feed you all in a minute one moment!" Harry stood on the front porch for five more minutes before Mrs. Figg opened up the door.
"Oh Harry! I wasn't expecting you until later! Come in! Come in! I just put some cookies in the oven.mind you they're cat nip cookies for my babies, don't think you'd want those much. Here, I'll send a message to the Weaslys that you've already arrived!" Mrs. Figg practically screamed as she grabbed Harry by the collar and pulled him, his trunk, and his cage in violently, slamming the door behind her.
Mrs. Figg hurried forward into the living room, Harry following her in pursuit, his school things in tow. Harry had just enough time to see Mrs. Figg through something into her fire before she shouted, "Molly Weasly, The Burrow!" The green flames flew up and pretty soon, Mrs. Weasly's face filled the fireplace.
"Hello Arabella! Is something wrong with Harry? Will his aunt and uncle not let him come?" Mrs. Weasly asked after she saw Mrs. Figg's face.
"Oh no dear.Harry's actually a few hours early than expected! He's standing right here with all his school things, packed and ready to go!"
"Wonderful! I'll just get off the line and then Harry, you can step into the fireplace and travel to the Burrow by Floo Powder. You remember how that works?" Mrs. Weasly asked her voice high pitched and delighted.
Harry nodded and Mrs. Weasly squealed in delight. "Splendid! Well, hurry up Harry! Ron's absolutely biting at the bit to see you again!" And with that, Mrs. Figg stepped out of the fire and with a 'poof' she was gone. Now all that remained was the empty fireplace.
Mrs. Figg shoved Harry into the fireplace along with his trunk and Hedwig's empty cage. "I do wish you would come a see me more during the summers Harry!" Mrs. Figg requested as she shoved some powder into Harry's spare hand. "Speak clearly!" she squawked as she stepped away from the fireplace.
"The Burrow!" Harry shouted very clearly as he threw the fire down at his feet. He felt a jerking sensation as he felt himself being pulled up through the fireplace. Within minutes he found himself sliding out of the Weasly's fireplace, his trunk and cage falling beside him.
"Harry you're here!" Ron Weasly, Harry's best friend and fellow sixth year at Hogwarts shouted happily as he pulled Harry to his feet.
"Wonderful to see you again Harry!" Hermione Granger, Harry and Ron's other best friend shouted happily as she and Ron started to smack off the soot and dust off of Harry's clothing and face.
"Oh Harry! Harry, Harry dear! I'm so happy to see you!" Mrs. Weasly proclaimed as she rushed forward and hugged Harry tightly.
"Thank you for having me Mrs. Weasly!"
"Think nothing of it! Come on, we'll take your things up to Ron's room!" Mrs. Weasly said happily as she used her wand to make Hedwig's cage and Harry's trunk lighter. She carried them up the long flights of stairs and up to the top of the house where Ron's room was.
"Come outside quick! We were just about to start a game of Quiddich outside! Hermione reckons she'll play too!" Ron explained laughing at Harry's surprised expression. Hermione fly? She had never flown on a broomstick in her life! She didn't even like riding Buckbeak when they saved.
Harry shook off his thoughts and hurried up to Ron's bedroom to grab his beloved Firebolt.