The unexpected guests
They turned out to be Harry and Hedwig, who is now flapping fiercely in her cage. Harry looked somewhat weary, and his clothes suggested that he had been in a struggle or fight.
'Harry…?' asked Hermione. 'Why are you here? Aren't you suppose to be with..'
'My aunt, uncle and my stupid piggy cousin?' Harry finished the sentence before his friend had the time to question more.
Hermione was about to ask what had happened when her mother ushered Harry into the house while Hermoine introduced him to her mother.
'Mom, this is Harry Potter, one of my friends at Hogwarts. He'll be staying here for a short while... is it ok with you?'
Mrs. Granger surveyed the boy for awhile before nodding, his unkempt hair, his tired face, his clothes and the things he brought - trunks filled with clothes, books and his owl's cage, where it had already calmed down. Then she picked up his trunk and headed for the second floor, telling Harry politely that he needed to clean up and that she'll set up his bed in the mean time. Harry followed behind her with Hedwig in his hand.
After Harry had his bath, he sat at the dining room eating the supper Mrs. Granger had prepare, which consisted of some bread and a glass of warm chocolate milk. He was thankful of Mrs. Granger for being this generous with her food, for his aunt and uncle would've love to starve him if it wasn't against the law to abuse a child. Then he sank back into his memories of what had happened earlier, which is also the cause he landed here. Things had gone so bad now that he believed strongly that the Dursleys wouldn't want him back at their home anymore. Not that he wanted to go back or they had ever wanted him, but things had just gotten harder for him lately.
Harry's string of thoughts was broken when echoes of footsteps hurrying down the flight of stairs interrupted him. Soon, Hermione appeared in front of him. She wiped off a few strings of hair from her face before settling down beside Harry. Her face looked at Harry intensively as if taking in every little detail of him. How she had miss him during the last few weeks and how he had changed.
'What?' asked Harry with a mouthful of bread as he returned her look with a curious one.
Suddenly, Hermione realized that their faces were only inches away, she flushed heavily and backed off abruptly, which nearly costs her a fall and resettle herself at a decent distant from Harry.
'It's just that you haven't told me why you're here,' replied Hermione.
'Oh,' said Harry sheepishly.
'Yes, so out with it now,' ordered Hermione. She wanted to know what had befallen her best friend and why had he left home. He doesn't seem the sort to crumple below the pressure his relatives gave him.
'Well, bad thing happened, and I got blamed, so I left.'
'That's all? That's why you left?' said Hermione suspiciously. 'I don't think so,' she continued sceptically.
'Fine, I'll tell you then,' said Harry with a note of annoyance. He may as well give in since his friend isn't the one that gives up easily, he then began telling her what really happened.
It was a lovely day, an odd one but still boring, so Harry sneaked out to stroll around the park. Ever since yesterday noon that Dudley was announced the champion of yet another boxing competition, uncle Vernom and aunt Petunia and even the 'champion' had been in a very good mood.
Nobody seemed to be bothered about Harry whereabouts or picking on him. His cousin, Dudley had been showered by presents and gifts from his parents even though winning this competition doesn't mean much to him, as seeing how many he had won. But what startled Harry wasn't the fact that Dudley had gotten so big lately, rather it was that his cousin did actually treasured his trophies and medal, putting them on holders and keeping them in a glass cabinet that is currently seated beside the television set.
However, Harry wondered if Dudley really treasure them because he'd be standing beside his glass cabinet, pretending to be rearranging or polishing his medals and trophies whenever they have guests. Most guests were curious ones, they'd either move over to where Dudley was, taking a look or ask the owners of the house what were their son doing. Of course uncle Vernom and aunt Petunia will gladly tell them that Dudley was cleaning up his things, and from what competition he won it, how he won it and so on.
Harry was now heading toward the park when he spotted a familiar face, it was Mark Evans. The young boy was sitting at a corner sobbing quietly. Dusk, mud, bruise and sweat covered his little body, it shivered so terribly Harry thought that he might fall any moment.
'Erm… are you ok? Need a hand?' asked Harry as he offer Mark his hand.
The little boy mere shook his head while drops of pearly tears continue to wet the earth beneath. Harry wondered what had happened to him, maybe it was Dudley and gang again? The possibilities are relatively huge since he had just won the competition and is out to show off.
'What happened? Did they bully you?' asked Harry again.
This time, the young boy lifted his head to face Harry. His hallow face illuminated by the bright sun light looked ghastly pale, while the drops of tears that were escaping his beautiful green eyes reflected it in an eerie way. Suddenly Harry noticed slashes on his neck and jaw, the boy knew what Harry had seen but did nothing more than returning his gaze with another emotionless stare. Then he raised his left hand, a dagger tight in its grasp, with a swift movement he sank the dagger's blade into the soft earth.
That unnerved Harry and he decided not to bother with the boy anymore for his own life may be at stake. So, he continued walking towards the park's bench when he heard a crowd of boys laughing and talking loudly. It was Dudley and his gang of friends. With glasses of drinks in their hands and packs of junk food passed around, they happened to be having a picnic, and to Harry's dismay, enjoying themselves rather much.
'Hey Big D, isn't that your freaky little cousin?' said one of Dudley's gang mate.
Harry wanted to walk away, to avoid trouble but he wasn't fast enough. Soon, he was surrounded by his cousin and gang. Faces were staring at him with much curiosity, some amused, some laughed stupidly.
'What are you doing here?' came Dudley's voice, he was speaking through gritted teeth.
'It's none of your business, Big D,' retorted Harry.
'Wow, your cousin is a daring one!' came a mocking remark.
'I believe you know who your cousin is, eh? Freaky one?' and another one.
'Messing with us won't do you no good,' threatened a dark boy in a green band t-shirt.
Harry's insides were fuming with anger as he recalls Mark Evan's pitiful state. And so he bursts out, 'Well yea, but that still doesn't give you the right to beat a kid up. But maybe you're all fat and no brain, bullying a kid won't help you showcase your strength and so-called talent, it makes you look stupid!'
'What did you say?' asked Dudley who is so outraged he took large gulps of breaths.
The other boys closed in and were in position to beat up Harry at anyone's demand, a few had already been pushing him. But before the beating even started, a scream was heard. It was Dudley. Seconds before Harry saw a small figure sneaked up behind Dudley when everyone's attention was fixed on him, then he witnessed the figure plunged a dagger into Dudley's side before running away. Harry knew at once who was the culprit.
The attention of Dudley's gang shifted to their leader at once. He was now sprawling on the ground, yelping in pain while splatter of deep crimson liquid stained his shirt and the ground.
From nowhere Harry heard screams, which belonged to Aunt Petunia. As he turned around, he saw both his aunt and uncle standing just a foot or two ahead the group of boys.
'Dudley, oh my, what happened to him?' demanded Uncle Vernom while he supported his sobbing wife from falling.
'WHAT HAPPENED JUST NOW?' bellowed uncle Vernom once more, looking as angry as ever with madness growing in his tiny eyes. 'Tell me who did this?!' he repeated with a new and shaky voice as he looked at the crowd of frightened faces for the culprit.
'It was he! His cousin!' declared one of the boys, who was now shaking so much he could've collapse anytime.
'Yea, they were having an argument,' accused another boy.
'I'll deal with you later, Potter!' warned uncle Vernom while he and his wife bend down to heave Dudley's gigantic body up. 'WILL SOMEONE CALL AN AMBULANCE?'
'The doctors said that he's ok but loss quite some blood and that he'll recover in just a while. So my uncle and aunt chucked me back at their house and tried to lock me up again. They kept saying that it was me who did it and that they'd get the police in no time,' said Harry.
'Oh. So how did you get out?' asked Hermione monotonously. She wondered had he used any illegal ways again this time.
'I sneaked a bunch of keys from my aunt's handbag, packed my stuffs when they were gone to the hospital again, I fled,' explained Harry in an almost similar tone.
'I came here by the Knightbus in case if you wanna know,' came the reply to Hermione's prodding suspiciousness.
'Harry, had you read the Daily Prophet?' Hermione wanted to discuss more things with him but he told her that he was tired from the day's happenings and that he needed rest. He rises from his seat to clean the dishes at the sink and left for his room. Hermione was seated still on her chair, she had mixed feeling about this. Happiness was tingling in her because Harry was here, but fear was also present because she doesn't know what will become of her best friend this year, after what had happened to him the last five years, she couldn't think of what more difficulties he must face this time.
A/N: Was it boring or long winded? Tell me if it is. ^_^ Please review if you can and have a nice day.
