Chapter 2 – Unexpected Changes
Dawn found Harry sitting on his bed with a red pen in hand, the Flourish and Blotts catalog marked by bright red circles. He had found many titles that seemed both interesting and useful. He wanted to become an Animagus like Sirius and his father, so he selected The Beast Within and So You Want To Be An Animagus. He selected several books about apparation, duelling, wandless magic, even potions. The more he thought about it the more he found things that interested him and skills that seemed useful. Maybe I'll turn into a bookworm like Hermione. I can just see Ron's face if I say I'd rather read than go flying.
The problem was, he would not be able to put the theories from the books into practice until the fall term started. Spending all summer reading about these skills and not being able to practice them would drive him insane. I really need to work on my patience, he thought to himself. He stared into the distance, thinking hard. Maybe if I ask the Headmaster...? He quickly banished the thought from his mind. I don't know what other way there is, he thought glumly. Finally, he decided that he would think about it later. He finished his selection and made out the form to send. When he was done, he went to his snowy owl's cage and eased his arm behind Hedwig, underneath her tail, and let her climb onto his arm. He set her gently on his bed. He rolled up the order form and tied it to Hedwig's leg. "Take this please to Flourish and Blott's, girl," he told her, stroking he soft head before letting her climb onto his arm. She hooted softly in response before launching herself off his arm and out of the window. He prayed that there weren't any early risers to witness the owl's flight, and went to his bed. Maybe I can manage a few hours of sleep before the Dursleys wake up. He checked to clock by his bed as he set down his glasses to see that it was two minutes to seven. Or maybe just one, he thought wryly before managing doze off.
"Up, you lazy boy! GET UP!"
Harry woke suddenly to a pounding on his door. "Merlin," he groaned before shoving his glasses onto the bridge of his nose and swinging his feet onto the floor. "I'm coming!" He snapped as the pounding continued. "Hurry up! You need to make the breakfast as Petunia's not feeling well," Uncle Vernon ordered through the door. Harry could hear his uncle's heavy footsteps going towards the direction of the stairs. "Bastard," Harry muttered as he stood. He felt like he hadn't gotten any sleep at all.
Vernon was the only one awake, Harry saw when he reached the kitchen. Dudley's probably getting a bit of a lie-in, as he has since the summer hols started, Harry thought bitterly. He of course had been up every morning, woken by the sound of his uncle's yells and pounding on his door. Eight o'clock, every bloody morning. Is is too much to ask to sleep 'til ten? Aunt Petunia usually just made tea and started the eggs before handing the cooking over to Harry. He had come to enjoy the work somewhat, as long as Uncle Vernon kept his orders of "hurry up" to a minimum.
"Make the tea! You'll make me late," Uncle Vernon growled. "Yeah, yeah, yeah," Harry muttered sullenly as he filled the kettle with water and set it on the stove. "Don't give me that cheek, boy! After all me and Petunia have done for you..." Uncle Vernon said, glaring at his nephew. "Petunia and I," Harry murmured. Uncle Vernon stood up and towered over the small teenager. His hand rose in the air as well, as if preparing to backhand him. "I should teach you some respect!" he sneered. "Lord knows they neglect to teach it to you at that school of yours."
Hit me. I dare you. There was a long, tense moment of silence as Harry and Vernon glared at each other in the middle of the kitchen. The kettle began to whistle, and Vernon blinked. His hand dropped, he returned to his seat at the table and picked up the paper. He doesn't have the courage, Harry thought to himself. What he would do if Vernon did hit him he had no idea. He was physically much weaker than his uncle, though quicker. Run like hell, I suppose, he decided as he poured his uncle's tea. He brought it to the table and started on the eggs and bacon. He brightened when he realized that he could make enough for himself and be able to eat it properly when his uncle was gone.
Oh, if Malfoy and the rest of his Slytherin followers can see me now. The great Harry Potter, Gryffindor's 'Golden Boy', serving a Muggle's tea and breakfast, he thought as he brought his uncle's plate to the table. Vernon grunted before sprinkling salt on his eggs. They have no idea what my life is like.
Vernon finshed his meal and went to the door to get his briefcase. "Bring your aunt her breakfast. And you'd better not disturb Petunia and Dudley's rest or I'll know why," he said angrily before slamming the door. Harry just shook his head and returned to the kitchen to prepare his aunt's breakfast tray. He balanced everything carefully as he walked up the stairs, hoping he didn't trip. When he reached Petunia's door he shifted the tray into his left hand and knocked on the door. "Come in," a voice said tiredly.
Harry opened the door and set the tray on his aunt's lap as she sat up. She looked haggard and exhasted, as if she hadn't slept. "Thank you," she told him softly. Harry blinked in surprise and stared at his aunt. She gave a wan smile and took a sip of her tea. "I haven't treated you well at all, have I?" She asked suddenly. Harry shifted uncomfortably and gave a nearly inaudible, "No." "I'm sorry. I was always... jealous, I suppose, of Lily. Of the attention she got from our parents. I took that out on you and for that I apologize. It wasn't your fault. It wasn't even Lily's fault."
"Why are you telling me all of this now?" Harry wanted to know, giving his aunt a piercing look. Petunia sighed and took anoter sip of her tea. "Last summer, your Headmaster reminded me of my responsibilities to you. After all, it is our role as your guardian that gives you the protection from... whoever it is that's after you." Harry cleared his throat and stared at the floor, his hands behind his back. "Lord Voldemort and his followers. They call themselves Death Eaters," He offered. He could hear the china rattle as she shivered. "Yes. Him," she said simply.
"Why does he want to kill you so badly?" she asked curiously after a moment's silence. "I'm the only one that can – that can defeat him," he told her, wondering why he did so. He hadn't told anyone else. "Are you training to do so?" she asked him before taking a bite of her eggs. Harry looked at her sharply. "I'm going to start as soon as I can," he replied. She sighed again. "You should ask Dudley if you can use his gym," she advised.
After Dudley and Harry's encounter with the dementor last summer, Dudley had been scared enough to start to learn how to defend himself. He slimmed down and became more muscular and had started heavywieght boxing. Vernon, proud of his son, had bought him the equipment necessary for a gym that had been installed in the basement. Harry was surprised at the change in his cousin, and refrained from informing him that all of it was useless against a dementor. At his aunt's suggestion, he snorted. "I doubt he'll let me."
"I think he might," she told him, smiling softly. "You haven't spoken with him at all since you came home three days ago, have you?" Harry shook his head. His cousin had surprisingly avoided him so far, and Harry was more than happy to comply. "You might be surprised at just how much he has changed," she continued. He mentally scoffed at the thought of his cousin giving him permission to touch his precious equipment, but aloud he told her, "I'll ask." "Good," she said satisfied. "You can go and get your own breakfast. I know Vernon wouldn't let you eat at all, if it were up to him." He nodded and went to the door. Before leaving he hesistated and turned around. "Thank you," he said a little bashfully. She merely smiled and nodded before he left her room. Well, that was... unexpected, he thought to himslef as he returned to the kitchen.
Dawn found Harry sitting on his bed with a red pen in hand, the Flourish and Blotts catalog marked by bright red circles. He had found many titles that seemed both interesting and useful. He wanted to become an Animagus like Sirius and his father, so he selected The Beast Within and So You Want To Be An Animagus. He selected several books about apparation, duelling, wandless magic, even potions. The more he thought about it the more he found things that interested him and skills that seemed useful. Maybe I'll turn into a bookworm like Hermione. I can just see Ron's face if I say I'd rather read than go flying.
The problem was, he would not be able to put the theories from the books into practice until the fall term started. Spending all summer reading about these skills and not being able to practice them would drive him insane. I really need to work on my patience, he thought to himself. He stared into the distance, thinking hard. Maybe if I ask the Headmaster...? He quickly banished the thought from his mind. I don't know what other way there is, he thought glumly. Finally, he decided that he would think about it later. He finished his selection and made out the form to send. When he was done, he went to his snowy owl's cage and eased his arm behind Hedwig, underneath her tail, and let her climb onto his arm. He set her gently on his bed. He rolled up the order form and tied it to Hedwig's leg. "Take this please to Flourish and Blott's, girl," he told her, stroking he soft head before letting her climb onto his arm. She hooted softly in response before launching herself off his arm and out of the window. He prayed that there weren't any early risers to witness the owl's flight, and went to his bed. Maybe I can manage a few hours of sleep before the Dursleys wake up. He checked to clock by his bed as he set down his glasses to see that it was two minutes to seven. Or maybe just one, he thought wryly before managing doze off.
"Up, you lazy boy! GET UP!"
Harry woke suddenly to a pounding on his door. "Merlin," he groaned before shoving his glasses onto the bridge of his nose and swinging his feet onto the floor. "I'm coming!" He snapped as the pounding continued. "Hurry up! You need to make the breakfast as Petunia's not feeling well," Uncle Vernon ordered through the door. Harry could hear his uncle's heavy footsteps going towards the direction of the stairs. "Bastard," Harry muttered as he stood. He felt like he hadn't gotten any sleep at all.
Vernon was the only one awake, Harry saw when he reached the kitchen. Dudley's probably getting a bit of a lie-in, as he has since the summer hols started, Harry thought bitterly. He of course had been up every morning, woken by the sound of his uncle's yells and pounding on his door. Eight o'clock, every bloody morning. Is is too much to ask to sleep 'til ten? Aunt Petunia usually just made tea and started the eggs before handing the cooking over to Harry. He had come to enjoy the work somewhat, as long as Uncle Vernon kept his orders of "hurry up" to a minimum.
"Make the tea! You'll make me late," Uncle Vernon growled. "Yeah, yeah, yeah," Harry muttered sullenly as he filled the kettle with water and set it on the stove. "Don't give me that cheek, boy! After all me and Petunia have done for you..." Uncle Vernon said, glaring at his nephew. "Petunia and I," Harry murmured. Uncle Vernon stood up and towered over the small teenager. His hand rose in the air as well, as if preparing to backhand him. "I should teach you some respect!" he sneered. "Lord knows they neglect to teach it to you at that school of yours."
Hit me. I dare you. There was a long, tense moment of silence as Harry and Vernon glared at each other in the middle of the kitchen. The kettle began to whistle, and Vernon blinked. His hand dropped, he returned to his seat at the table and picked up the paper. He doesn't have the courage, Harry thought to himself. What he would do if Vernon did hit him he had no idea. He was physically much weaker than his uncle, though quicker. Run like hell, I suppose, he decided as he poured his uncle's tea. He brought it to the table and started on the eggs and bacon. He brightened when he realized that he could make enough for himself and be able to eat it properly when his uncle was gone.
Oh, if Malfoy and the rest of his Slytherin followers can see me now. The great Harry Potter, Gryffindor's 'Golden Boy', serving a Muggle's tea and breakfast, he thought as he brought his uncle's plate to the table. Vernon grunted before sprinkling salt on his eggs. They have no idea what my life is like.
Vernon finshed his meal and went to the door to get his briefcase. "Bring your aunt her breakfast. And you'd better not disturb Petunia and Dudley's rest or I'll know why," he said angrily before slamming the door. Harry just shook his head and returned to the kitchen to prepare his aunt's breakfast tray. He balanced everything carefully as he walked up the stairs, hoping he didn't trip. When he reached Petunia's door he shifted the tray into his left hand and knocked on the door. "Come in," a voice said tiredly.
Harry opened the door and set the tray on his aunt's lap as she sat up. She looked haggard and exhasted, as if she hadn't slept. "Thank you," she told him softly. Harry blinked in surprise and stared at his aunt. She gave a wan smile and took a sip of her tea. "I haven't treated you well at all, have I?" She asked suddenly. Harry shifted uncomfortably and gave a nearly inaudible, "No." "I'm sorry. I was always... jealous, I suppose, of Lily. Of the attention she got from our parents. I took that out on you and for that I apologize. It wasn't your fault. It wasn't even Lily's fault."
"Why are you telling me all of this now?" Harry wanted to know, giving his aunt a piercing look. Petunia sighed and took anoter sip of her tea. "Last summer, your Headmaster reminded me of my responsibilities to you. After all, it is our role as your guardian that gives you the protection from... whoever it is that's after you." Harry cleared his throat and stared at the floor, his hands behind his back. "Lord Voldemort and his followers. They call themselves Death Eaters," He offered. He could hear the china rattle as she shivered. "Yes. Him," she said simply.
"Why does he want to kill you so badly?" she asked curiously after a moment's silence. "I'm the only one that can – that can defeat him," he told her, wondering why he did so. He hadn't told anyone else. "Are you training to do so?" she asked him before taking a bite of her eggs. Harry looked at her sharply. "I'm going to start as soon as I can," he replied. She sighed again. "You should ask Dudley if you can use his gym," she advised.
After Dudley and Harry's encounter with the dementor last summer, Dudley had been scared enough to start to learn how to defend himself. He slimmed down and became more muscular and had started heavywieght boxing. Vernon, proud of his son, had bought him the equipment necessary for a gym that had been installed in the basement. Harry was surprised at the change in his cousin, and refrained from informing him that all of it was useless against a dementor. At his aunt's suggestion, he snorted. "I doubt he'll let me."
"I think he might," she told him, smiling softly. "You haven't spoken with him at all since you came home three days ago, have you?" Harry shook his head. His cousin had surprisingly avoided him so far, and Harry was more than happy to comply. "You might be surprised at just how much he has changed," she continued. He mentally scoffed at the thought of his cousin giving him permission to touch his precious equipment, but aloud he told her, "I'll ask." "Good," she said satisfied. "You can go and get your own breakfast. I know Vernon wouldn't let you eat at all, if it were up to him." He nodded and went to the door. Before leaving he hesistated and turned around. "Thank you," he said a little bashfully. She merely smiled and nodded before he left her room. Well, that was... unexpected, he thought to himslef as he returned to the kitchen.