A Pleasant Surprise
"Lupin! What are you doing here?" asked an astounded Harry.
"Thought I'd drop by and see how you're doing," said Lupin while helping Harry back to his feet. "You really ought to pay a bit more attention to where you're going, Harry." Lupin was now brushing off the non-existent dirt from Harry's shirt.
"Really, I'm fine," said Harry, stopping Lupin in the midst of another attempt to brush him off. "And it wasn't entirely my fault," grinned Harry, "you really ought to pay a bit more attention on who you're Apparating on."
"Well, Apparating accuracy was never exactly a strong point of mine," Lupin grinned as well.
Harry was so happy to see him again.
There was a soft "Pop", announcing Tonks' arrival.
"Bloody hell… completely missed. I landed in some poor woman's back garden in Berkshire," Tonks smiled weakly, "Gave her quite a fright. So- what's up, Harry?" she added brightly, placing a luminous-pink paintedfingernailed hand over his shoulder. Her hair matched her nails. She looked slightly alarming- more like a human torch then anything, very much out of place in neat normal Privet Drive.
"I'm fine, thanks," said Harry, unable to stop himself from smiling.
Lupin gave her a stern look, "I honestly don't know how you passed your Apparation test."
"It can happen to anyone," said Tonks indignantly. "An honest mistake… I'm sure you make some mistakes, Remus. Rare as they may be." She smiled at him and Harry thought he saw Lupin blush slightly.
Lupin cleared his throat. "Well Harry, there is a reason to this visit. I thought you'd my want to come and stay with me for a while. You know, get away from these Dursleys."
"Are you serious? Of course I do!"
Harry was so happy at the thought of finally leaving Privet Drive and coming to stay with Lupin. He was sure Dumbledore would not let him go anywhere now with Voldemort back, so the prospect of the summer holidays wasn't a very hopeful and positive one until now.
"Marvelous," beamed Lupin. "Now all that's left is to have a word with your aunt and uncle."
Harry's heart felt lighter then it had done for a long time.
"There should be no problem- the Dursleys can't wait to get rid of me. They'll be all too willing to help me pack my trunk."
The sun was high in the skies, shinning fiercely and brightly, when the three of them started to walk up the street in the direction of number four. Harry was pleasantly thinking of the moment he'll be leaving Privet Drive for what promised to be a wonderful summer when a knock on a door sent him back to earth with a thud. They were at the door of the Dursley's house and Lupin, with his hand in the air, was just about to knock again when Mrs. Dursley appeared in the threshold.
Her eyes traveled from Tonks' bright-pink hair and nails, to Lupin's somewhat shabby cloths that were at least two sizes too big and rested lastly on her nephew, a mixture of a bewildered and an accusing stare in them. The expression on her face would have sent anyone else running as fast as their feet would carry them away from her as possible. But there they stood, Harry looking mildly amused, forcing himself to keep a straight face, Tonks getting redder and redder by the minute from what appeared to be unsuccessfully restrained anger and Lupin faintly smiling.
"Good afternoon," said Lupin in a most polite manner, which Harry found quite impressive to achieve under the circumstances. " I'm Mr Remus Lupin and this is Miss Nymphadora Tonks. We've met before." He stretched out his hand to shake Aunt Petunia's but her hand stayed tightly clenched in a fist.
A snort followed by incoherent mumbling issued from Aunt Petunia's mouth. Words had clearly failed her.
"Who is it, dear?" came Uncle Vernon's voice from inside the house. "Not another salesman person? Tell him we're not interested in buying anything!"
A second later and Uncle Vernon was also at the door. "Listen here-" he stopped abruptly at the sight of them and went dumb. His face turned very white and a vein in his temple started to throb violently.
"Hello, Mr Dursley," said Lupin in the same polite tone.
"Wha- what do you want?" Uncle Vernon managed to blurt out.
"It is quite hot out here. May we come in?"
You could almost see Uncle Vernon's brain trying to decide what to do.
After a minute's pause, and some serious thinking so it seemed, he opened the door to its fullest and stepped aside to let them through. They entered the cool shade of the house with Harry mustering every ounce of self-control he possessed to stop himself from bursting out laughing at the ludicrous scene.
"A nice cool beverage would be great, thank you," said Lupin.
"Oh, erm… yes," said Aunt Petunia before disappearing down the hall.
There was an awkward silence between the three and Uncle Vernon who was constantly looking at the door behind them and at the kitchen door through which Aunt Petunia just went- as though begging for help.
"So," said Tonks, causing Uncle Vernon to jump. "Nice place you got here." She clearly thought that small talk would help break the tension. She certainly did not expect what came next.
"AHA! So that's what you're after!" yelled Uncle Vernon. It was Tonks' turn to jump.
"I beg your pardon?" said Lupin calmly.
"I knew it… I knew it… " Spit flying everywhere and mustache shaking, Uncle Vernon pointed his finger towards Harry. "You want to take everything we have. Well I won't let you! I WON'T LET YOU!" bellowed Uncle Vernon.
"Calm yourself!" said Lupin in a voice that quietened Uncle Vernon at once. Harry was suddenly struck by a newfound respect for Lupin, who did not seem shabby at all at the moment. Uncle Vernon must have noticed the change as well, for he did not answer, but remained silent.
"There will be no taking of anything of yours, Dursley," he sighed, "Now why don't we all just sit down and have that drink."
Mr Dursley led the way to the living room without a word. They settled down, Uncle Vernon as far away from them as possible.
Aunt Petunia came a few moments later carrying a tray with lemonade and three glasses. She laid the tray on the coffee table and went to sit beside Uncle Vernon.
"Thank you," said Lupin and started to pour some of the liquid into the three glasses.
"Well, now it's time to state the true reason we've come."
Aunt Petunia shuddered.
"We want to take Harry for the rest of the summer," said Lupin.
Uncle Vernon laughed loudly and Aunt Petunia let out a small sigh of relief.
"Take him!" said Uncle Vernon, breaking into a toothy smile.