Chapter 4-To the train station
Monday and Tuesday rolled by uneventfully. The only thing that was good about it was that Harry had been left alone and Dudley had stopped pestering him. His meals were good, considering the fact that he didn't need to eat leftovers anymore.
On Tuesday night, after everyone had finished dinner, Aunt Petunia cleaned up and shooed everyone out of the kitchen. Since it was father-and-son night, Uncle Vernon and Dudley went to the TV room to watch a football match that was Arsenal, Uncle Vernon and Dudley's favorite football team, versus Manchester United. Harry was about to go up to his room when he remembered that he had not asked Uncle Vernon if he could send Harry to the train station tomorrow.
"Um, Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked cautiously. Uncle Vernon narrowed his eyes evilly at Harry. "What do you want?" he barked. "I just wanted to ask you, if you could send me to platform 9 and ¾ tomorrow." said Harry simply. "You want me to send you to that abn-"shouted Uncle Vernon, thought better of it and grumbled," Yeah, yeah, whatever."
"Thanks." replied Harry brightly and sprinted up the stairs to his room. He swung the door shut and ran to his calendar. He picked up the marker lying near the calendar and crossed out another day.
"Yeap, tomorrow, I am going to return back to where I belong, home.," he said happily as he tapped the marker on the table. He jumped on the bed and crashed his head on the low ceiling. He rubbed his head but barely felt the pain as he was overcome with happiness. He laid his head on the pillow and flicked off the lights, closing his eyes and falling into a peaceful sleep.
* * * * * * * * *
Harry woke up with a start. He was drenched with cold sweat. He smacked his scar hard and rubbed it violently. It was stinging and Harry felt like someone had put a red-hot burning cigarette butt on his scar. He looked around and saw that it was only 1.45 am on his digital alarm clock. Everything seemed normal enough.his trunk was beside his window, the table lamp was on the table, the lights were all switched off. The house was creepily quiet, even Uncle Vernon wasn't snoring that night, which was very unusual. Harry got up and walked to the bathroom, turned on the tap and splashed cold water on his face. He wiped his face and patted his scar gently. The pain was starting to ease away. Harry silently opened his door and peeped outside.
Everything was totally dark and only faint outlines of objects lightened by the moonlight could be seen. Harry was about to close his door when he heard soft voices downstairs. He tiptoed down the stairs, cleverly avoiding the creaking stair. He squinted hard as he tried to see what was going on downstairs. He could see two people sitting on the couch, and he recognized that one of them was Uncle Vernon. He was sitting very close to someone that looked like a female. Harry could only catch a few words.
"Vernon, you shouldn't be cheating on your wife.what's her name again?"
"Errrrr, I think her name is.. Thetuna..Petunia? I can't really remember..I only know your name, Liz.."came Uncle Vernon's dreamy voice.
The lady giggled flirtatiously which really wanted to make Harry puke and by the sound of it, they had begun kissing intently. He couldn't believe it; Uncle Vernon was cheating on Aunt Petunia?! Never in his life would Harry ever think that Uncle Vernon would have another lady in his life. Well, yeah, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia never talked much and did anything romantic together, but that seemed pretty normal for them. Harry was wondering if he should tell Aunt Petunia about, or maybe she knew but had totally ignored it all along? He was starting to feel sympathetic towards Aunt Petunia, when Uncle Vernon and that Liz-lady had finally pulled away.
"Vernon.if I asked you to choose between me and your wife.who would you choose?" she whispered.
"I'd be crazy not to choose you." replied Uncle Vernon huskily.
"Listen.. I'd be yours forever.if you divorce that disgusting wife of yours.What'd you say?"
Uncle Vernon sat up abruptly and shook his head.
"What? I mean.I can't do that! I love Dudley and well, they're my family, and I can't imagine not having Dudley in my life."
Liz looked at Uncle Vernon angrily. "Fine then, Vernon, if that's so, we're through! I can't believe you!" She got up and was about to walk out the door when Uncle Vernon grabbed her hand.
"Fine, Liz, just give me some time, and I'll divorce Petunia, ok? I don't want our relationship to be over.. I need you, baby. I just need more time." pleaded Uncle Vernon.
Harry couldn't believe his ears. Uncle Vernon was really going to do it? All for some random woman? How low can he get?
Liz looked at Uncle Vernon and finally said, "Oh, alright, I'll give you more time. Just make sure you do it."
Uncle Vernon pulled her close and they kissed again. Liz pulled back after a while and bade Uncle Vernon goodnight. He walked her out of the door and after she left, Uncle Vernon closed the door and slid on the floor, burying his face in his hands.
Harry quickly ran up the stairs quietly and shut his door. He ran to the bed and pulled his blanket up to his head and closed his eyes. He could hear Uncle Vernon coming up the stairs after some time and heard the bedroom door close. Harry laid there for a while, troubled at what he had just heard and seen, wishing he hadn't crept downstairs. Should he tell Aunt Petunia although she had been mean to him all the time? Harry fell into a troubled sleep with all the words he had just heard floating into his mind.
* * * * * * * * *
Morning came and Harry quickly got dressed, and dragged his huge, heavy trunk down the stairs. Aunt Petunia was in the kitchen as usual, cooking breakfast, humming a song to herself. Dudley was in the living room, on the phone with his friend. Uncle Vernon was not, however, reading the daily newspaper. He was just sitting at the kitchen table, staring into space with black bags under his eyes. He looked terrible. Harry figured that he hadn't slept all night.
Aunt Petunia set breakfast on the table and untied her apron. She sat down beside Uncle Vernon and called Dudley to the table. Dudley ran to the kitchen and pushed the door with a mighty crash. He sat his fat bottom on the chair and started shoving down his food. Harry looked at his cousin in disgust and started eating his own breakfast. Aunt Petunia beamed at Dudley and picked up her fork, poked a slice of bacon and placed it into her mouth. Uncle Vernon didn't even glance at his food. Dudley eyed his father's untouched breakfast.
"Dad, you eating that?" he asked hopefully.
"Nope, my son, you may have it." Uncle Vernon replied restlessly and got up from his chair. "I'm going to work now. See you all tonight."
"Vernon," said Aunt Petunia, "You can't go to work on an empty stomach. You have to eat a little. Are you feeling alright?"
"Yeah, just a little stressed out." grunted Uncle Vernon. "See ya tonight. Take care, Dudders."
With that, Uncle Vernon picked up his briefcase and without combing his hair, he left the house. Harry hopped off the chair and ran after Uncle Vernon.
"Uncle V, you have to send me to Platform 9 and ¾. I'm going back to school today." Harry reminded Uncle Vernon.
"Ok, hurry up and get your butt in the car." Uncle Vernon said, walking towards his car.
Harry ran back into the house and shoved his last bit of toast into his mouth and drank up the milk.
"Taa, Aunt Petunia and Dudley. See ya'll next year!!!"said Harry brightly, dashing out of the kitchen and dragging his trunk behind him. Uncle Vernon was already sitting in the car, gripping the steering and staring blankly at his dashboard. Harry struggled as he carried his trunk and put it into the boot of the car. He slammed it shut and got into the car. He looked at Uncle Vernon as he weakly stepped on the gas pedal.
"Dammit, what the hell is wrong with this car? It wouldn't start, for god's sake." Uncle Vernon yelled, punching the steering wheel.
"Uh, Uncle? You have to turn on the ignition first." said Harry slowly, as if he was teaching a 1-year-old baby how to read Shakespeare.
"Huh? Right.the ignition.yeah."said Uncle Vernon, turning red as he turned on the engine. He stepped on the gas pedal and zoomed off to the train station, leaving clouds of stirred up dust behind.
Monday and Tuesday rolled by uneventfully. The only thing that was good about it was that Harry had been left alone and Dudley had stopped pestering him. His meals were good, considering the fact that he didn't need to eat leftovers anymore.
On Tuesday night, after everyone had finished dinner, Aunt Petunia cleaned up and shooed everyone out of the kitchen. Since it was father-and-son night, Uncle Vernon and Dudley went to the TV room to watch a football match that was Arsenal, Uncle Vernon and Dudley's favorite football team, versus Manchester United. Harry was about to go up to his room when he remembered that he had not asked Uncle Vernon if he could send Harry to the train station tomorrow.
"Um, Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked cautiously. Uncle Vernon narrowed his eyes evilly at Harry. "What do you want?" he barked. "I just wanted to ask you, if you could send me to platform 9 and ¾ tomorrow." said Harry simply. "You want me to send you to that abn-"shouted Uncle Vernon, thought better of it and grumbled," Yeah, yeah, whatever."
"Thanks." replied Harry brightly and sprinted up the stairs to his room. He swung the door shut and ran to his calendar. He picked up the marker lying near the calendar and crossed out another day.
"Yeap, tomorrow, I am going to return back to where I belong, home.," he said happily as he tapped the marker on the table. He jumped on the bed and crashed his head on the low ceiling. He rubbed his head but barely felt the pain as he was overcome with happiness. He laid his head on the pillow and flicked off the lights, closing his eyes and falling into a peaceful sleep.
* * * * * * * * *
Harry woke up with a start. He was drenched with cold sweat. He smacked his scar hard and rubbed it violently. It was stinging and Harry felt like someone had put a red-hot burning cigarette butt on his scar. He looked around and saw that it was only 1.45 am on his digital alarm clock. Everything seemed normal enough.his trunk was beside his window, the table lamp was on the table, the lights were all switched off. The house was creepily quiet, even Uncle Vernon wasn't snoring that night, which was very unusual. Harry got up and walked to the bathroom, turned on the tap and splashed cold water on his face. He wiped his face and patted his scar gently. The pain was starting to ease away. Harry silently opened his door and peeped outside.
Everything was totally dark and only faint outlines of objects lightened by the moonlight could be seen. Harry was about to close his door when he heard soft voices downstairs. He tiptoed down the stairs, cleverly avoiding the creaking stair. He squinted hard as he tried to see what was going on downstairs. He could see two people sitting on the couch, and he recognized that one of them was Uncle Vernon. He was sitting very close to someone that looked like a female. Harry could only catch a few words.
"Vernon, you shouldn't be cheating on your wife.what's her name again?"
"Errrrr, I think her name is.. Thetuna..Petunia? I can't really remember..I only know your name, Liz.."came Uncle Vernon's dreamy voice.
The lady giggled flirtatiously which really wanted to make Harry puke and by the sound of it, they had begun kissing intently. He couldn't believe it; Uncle Vernon was cheating on Aunt Petunia?! Never in his life would Harry ever think that Uncle Vernon would have another lady in his life. Well, yeah, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia never talked much and did anything romantic together, but that seemed pretty normal for them. Harry was wondering if he should tell Aunt Petunia about, or maybe she knew but had totally ignored it all along? He was starting to feel sympathetic towards Aunt Petunia, when Uncle Vernon and that Liz-lady had finally pulled away.
"Vernon.if I asked you to choose between me and your wife.who would you choose?" she whispered.
"I'd be crazy not to choose you." replied Uncle Vernon huskily.
"Listen.. I'd be yours forever.if you divorce that disgusting wife of yours.What'd you say?"
Uncle Vernon sat up abruptly and shook his head.
"What? I mean.I can't do that! I love Dudley and well, they're my family, and I can't imagine not having Dudley in my life."
Liz looked at Uncle Vernon angrily. "Fine then, Vernon, if that's so, we're through! I can't believe you!" She got up and was about to walk out the door when Uncle Vernon grabbed her hand.
"Fine, Liz, just give me some time, and I'll divorce Petunia, ok? I don't want our relationship to be over.. I need you, baby. I just need more time." pleaded Uncle Vernon.
Harry couldn't believe his ears. Uncle Vernon was really going to do it? All for some random woman? How low can he get?
Liz looked at Uncle Vernon and finally said, "Oh, alright, I'll give you more time. Just make sure you do it."
Uncle Vernon pulled her close and they kissed again. Liz pulled back after a while and bade Uncle Vernon goodnight. He walked her out of the door and after she left, Uncle Vernon closed the door and slid on the floor, burying his face in his hands.
Harry quickly ran up the stairs quietly and shut his door. He ran to the bed and pulled his blanket up to his head and closed his eyes. He could hear Uncle Vernon coming up the stairs after some time and heard the bedroom door close. Harry laid there for a while, troubled at what he had just heard and seen, wishing he hadn't crept downstairs. Should he tell Aunt Petunia although she had been mean to him all the time? Harry fell into a troubled sleep with all the words he had just heard floating into his mind.
* * * * * * * * *
Morning came and Harry quickly got dressed, and dragged his huge, heavy trunk down the stairs. Aunt Petunia was in the kitchen as usual, cooking breakfast, humming a song to herself. Dudley was in the living room, on the phone with his friend. Uncle Vernon was not, however, reading the daily newspaper. He was just sitting at the kitchen table, staring into space with black bags under his eyes. He looked terrible. Harry figured that he hadn't slept all night.
Aunt Petunia set breakfast on the table and untied her apron. She sat down beside Uncle Vernon and called Dudley to the table. Dudley ran to the kitchen and pushed the door with a mighty crash. He sat his fat bottom on the chair and started shoving down his food. Harry looked at his cousin in disgust and started eating his own breakfast. Aunt Petunia beamed at Dudley and picked up her fork, poked a slice of bacon and placed it into her mouth. Uncle Vernon didn't even glance at his food. Dudley eyed his father's untouched breakfast.
"Dad, you eating that?" he asked hopefully.
"Nope, my son, you may have it." Uncle Vernon replied restlessly and got up from his chair. "I'm going to work now. See you all tonight."
"Vernon," said Aunt Petunia, "You can't go to work on an empty stomach. You have to eat a little. Are you feeling alright?"
"Yeah, just a little stressed out." grunted Uncle Vernon. "See ya tonight. Take care, Dudders."
With that, Uncle Vernon picked up his briefcase and without combing his hair, he left the house. Harry hopped off the chair and ran after Uncle Vernon.
"Uncle V, you have to send me to Platform 9 and ¾. I'm going back to school today." Harry reminded Uncle Vernon.
"Ok, hurry up and get your butt in the car." Uncle Vernon said, walking towards his car.
Harry ran back into the house and shoved his last bit of toast into his mouth and drank up the milk.
"Taa, Aunt Petunia and Dudley. See ya'll next year!!!"said Harry brightly, dashing out of the kitchen and dragging his trunk behind him. Uncle Vernon was already sitting in the car, gripping the steering and staring blankly at his dashboard. Harry struggled as he carried his trunk and put it into the boot of the car. He slammed it shut and got into the car. He looked at Uncle Vernon as he weakly stepped on the gas pedal.
"Dammit, what the hell is wrong with this car? It wouldn't start, for god's sake." Uncle Vernon yelled, punching the steering wheel.
"Uh, Uncle? You have to turn on the ignition first." said Harry slowly, as if he was teaching a 1-year-old baby how to read Shakespeare.
"Huh? Right.the ignition.yeah."said Uncle Vernon, turning red as he turned on the engine. He stepped on the gas pedal and zoomed off to the train station, leaving clouds of stirred up dust behind.