CHAPTER 3 - WHAT TO DO?
Harry lay on the bedroom floor, his ear pressed to the crack under the door. He had to find out what they were going to do with Daffodil! He just had to! No matter how annoying she was, she was still his cousin, and she was still cute. What if, even after what Petunia said, Vernon still threw her out? What would happen to her then?
Unable to hear anything, he sidled closer to the door, but still, not a sound entered his room. Giving up, Harry plopped on his bed, and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, just when he thought he could stand it no more, Petunia stomped into the room, thrusting a wailing Daffodil at him.
"You want her to be a witch, fine! Make her a witch for all I care! Just keep her out of my sight!" With that, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Harry hugged Daffodil, grateful that she was, for now, safe. As Harry whispered comforting things to her, she gradually quieted and snuggled up against Harry's chest, for once not trying to bite him.
At first he was excited. He had always thought her to be cute, and he could easily break her of that wretched biting habit, now that the Dursleys would no longer be spoiling her. They would be the best of friends! Then the thought began to settle. He couldn't take care of a baby! He was only 13 years old! He didn't know what to do. He still had to go to school! What would he do with her then? Daffodil began to squirm, and he let her down to explore the one part of the house she had not been in before.
Hedwig flew in the open window just then, and with a friendly squeak, she dropped a dead mouse in Harry's lap, nuzzled his cheek, and sent a glare of disgust Daffodil's way. She was obviously none too happy about finding an outsider in her room. Harry laughed. Hedwig was very territorial, but quite gentle unless you threatened her. So, unless Daffodil tried to hurt Hedwig, she wouldn't get hurt.
Harry stroked Hedwig for a little bit, thinking. Then, he got an idea. Hadn't he mentioned to the Dursleys that he could just send her away with the Weasleys? Well, he still could! They would watch her; he just knew it! He jumped up and rushed to find some paper and a pen, and had started out his letter to Weasleys, when he stopped.
He couldn't ask them to watch Daffodil! They had enough money troubles as it was! They didn't need to worry about one more person! And even if Harry did offer to pay for her care, he knew that they would never accept it. He crumpled his half-written letter, tossed it in the wastebasket, and sighed. Now what?
His thoughts were interrupted by a squeal of delight, followed by a squawk of protest. Glancing up, he saw Daffodil playing in Hedwig's food, and Hedwig watching her angrily.
"Whoa there, girl! You can't have that!" He rushed over, scooped up Daffodil, and dropped a handful of birdseed in Hedwig's bowl. He carried Daffodil over to his bed, letting her bounce around for a while, laughing.
Deciding to sleep on it, Harry got up, grabbed Daffodil, and set her on the floor by his bed. Then he made a little playpen-type thing out of his books and boxes to keep her blocked in. Then, he let Hedwig out for the night and lie on his bed. It didn't take very long for him to fall asleep.
* * * * *
Harry's eyes popped open so suddenly that Hedwig, who had been watching him from the top of her cage, jumped with a squawk of protest and nearly fell off. Harry laughed and bounded over to give her a treat and a nice long scratch on the head. She cooed in delight and apparently forgave Harry for startling her. Daffodil, who had been watching all this curiously, let out a loud cry. Harry rushed over and quickly comforted her. He would have to work on this spoiling business; for spoiled she was! He fed her a piece of cracker he had hidden in his cupboard, tickled her under the chin, and sent her on her way.
Remembering the reason he had awakened so quickly, Harry dashed to get some more paper and another pen, then sat down and began his letter.
Dear Mr. And Mrs. Granger, and Hermione
I have a huge favor to ask you guys. I've already told Hermione, and
perhaps she told you, but I have a new baby cousin. Her name is
Daffodil. Well, the thing is, she's a witch, and when my aunt and
uncle found out, they had a fit. They pretty much gave her to me.
They say she is my responsibility, and if I want her to live, I will
have to do something with her. Well, I would really love to take care
of her and everything, but I still need to go to school this autumn,
and I don't know what to I'd do with her then.
I was wondering if you would agree to watch her, kind of be like her
second family or something while I am away at school. I'd take her
during the summer, so you wouldn't have to worry about that. I would
also like to pay for her care. (i.e. clothes, food, health.pretty much
anything that she needs) I'll pay for all of it. All you need to do
is watch over her while I am gone. If you don't want to do this, just
let me know, I will understand. This is a big commitment. Please
send an answer with Hedwig when you can. Hermione knows what to do.
Thank you!
Harry Potter
Harry read over the letter a total of three times before he was satisfied. Getting up to give it to Hedwig, he tripped over one of his schoolbooks. Or, what was one of his schoolbooks. Daffodil had gotten into his A Beginner's Guide To Magic and ripped it to shreds. Groaning, he tied the letter to Hedwig, sent her on her way, then turned pick up Daffodil, only to see her heading for his Quidditch Through The Ages.
"Oh no you don't!" He made a run for it, barely getting to the book before she did, then, glaring at her, picked her up and set her on the bed. "I can see I'm going to have to baby-proof this room, huh?" Then, without a second glance, he turned and scampered around his room, gathering everything non-baby-like and tossing it in his closet, which he closed and locked. Then, he went around and found everything he didn't mind her playing with, and put it down low where she could get to it if she wanted to. "There. That should satisfy you, you little scamp!" A picked her up off the bed, tickled her for a minute, then set her down on the floor. She scooted away, giggling.
'Now,' he thought, 'all I have to do is wait for Hermione's answer.' He settled happily onto his bed and watched Daffodil. She had found her way into his compartment under the floorboards, and was making a mess of his birthday cake. Harry sighed. It was going to be a long wait.
Harry lay on the bedroom floor, his ear pressed to the crack under the door. He had to find out what they were going to do with Daffodil! He just had to! No matter how annoying she was, she was still his cousin, and she was still cute. What if, even after what Petunia said, Vernon still threw her out? What would happen to her then?
Unable to hear anything, he sidled closer to the door, but still, not a sound entered his room. Giving up, Harry plopped on his bed, and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, just when he thought he could stand it no more, Petunia stomped into the room, thrusting a wailing Daffodil at him.
"You want her to be a witch, fine! Make her a witch for all I care! Just keep her out of my sight!" With that, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Harry hugged Daffodil, grateful that she was, for now, safe. As Harry whispered comforting things to her, she gradually quieted and snuggled up against Harry's chest, for once not trying to bite him.
At first he was excited. He had always thought her to be cute, and he could easily break her of that wretched biting habit, now that the Dursleys would no longer be spoiling her. They would be the best of friends! Then the thought began to settle. He couldn't take care of a baby! He was only 13 years old! He didn't know what to do. He still had to go to school! What would he do with her then? Daffodil began to squirm, and he let her down to explore the one part of the house she had not been in before.
Hedwig flew in the open window just then, and with a friendly squeak, she dropped a dead mouse in Harry's lap, nuzzled his cheek, and sent a glare of disgust Daffodil's way. She was obviously none too happy about finding an outsider in her room. Harry laughed. Hedwig was very territorial, but quite gentle unless you threatened her. So, unless Daffodil tried to hurt Hedwig, she wouldn't get hurt.
Harry stroked Hedwig for a little bit, thinking. Then, he got an idea. Hadn't he mentioned to the Dursleys that he could just send her away with the Weasleys? Well, he still could! They would watch her; he just knew it! He jumped up and rushed to find some paper and a pen, and had started out his letter to Weasleys, when he stopped.
He couldn't ask them to watch Daffodil! They had enough money troubles as it was! They didn't need to worry about one more person! And even if Harry did offer to pay for her care, he knew that they would never accept it. He crumpled his half-written letter, tossed it in the wastebasket, and sighed. Now what?
His thoughts were interrupted by a squeal of delight, followed by a squawk of protest. Glancing up, he saw Daffodil playing in Hedwig's food, and Hedwig watching her angrily.
"Whoa there, girl! You can't have that!" He rushed over, scooped up Daffodil, and dropped a handful of birdseed in Hedwig's bowl. He carried Daffodil over to his bed, letting her bounce around for a while, laughing.
Deciding to sleep on it, Harry got up, grabbed Daffodil, and set her on the floor by his bed. Then he made a little playpen-type thing out of his books and boxes to keep her blocked in. Then, he let Hedwig out for the night and lie on his bed. It didn't take very long for him to fall asleep.
* * * * *
Harry's eyes popped open so suddenly that Hedwig, who had been watching him from the top of her cage, jumped with a squawk of protest and nearly fell off. Harry laughed and bounded over to give her a treat and a nice long scratch on the head. She cooed in delight and apparently forgave Harry for startling her. Daffodil, who had been watching all this curiously, let out a loud cry. Harry rushed over and quickly comforted her. He would have to work on this spoiling business; for spoiled she was! He fed her a piece of cracker he had hidden in his cupboard, tickled her under the chin, and sent her on her way.
Remembering the reason he had awakened so quickly, Harry dashed to get some more paper and another pen, then sat down and began his letter.
Dear Mr. And Mrs. Granger, and Hermione
I have a huge favor to ask you guys. I've already told Hermione, and
perhaps she told you, but I have a new baby cousin. Her name is
Daffodil. Well, the thing is, she's a witch, and when my aunt and
uncle found out, they had a fit. They pretty much gave her to me.
They say she is my responsibility, and if I want her to live, I will
have to do something with her. Well, I would really love to take care
of her and everything, but I still need to go to school this autumn,
and I don't know what to I'd do with her then.
I was wondering if you would agree to watch her, kind of be like her
second family or something while I am away at school. I'd take her
during the summer, so you wouldn't have to worry about that. I would
also like to pay for her care. (i.e. clothes, food, health.pretty much
anything that she needs) I'll pay for all of it. All you need to do
is watch over her while I am gone. If you don't want to do this, just
let me know, I will understand. This is a big commitment. Please
send an answer with Hedwig when you can. Hermione knows what to do.
Thank you!
Harry Potter
Harry read over the letter a total of three times before he was satisfied. Getting up to give it to Hedwig, he tripped over one of his schoolbooks. Or, what was one of his schoolbooks. Daffodil had gotten into his A Beginner's Guide To Magic and ripped it to shreds. Groaning, he tied the letter to Hedwig, sent her on her way, then turned pick up Daffodil, only to see her heading for his Quidditch Through The Ages.
"Oh no you don't!" He made a run for it, barely getting to the book before she did, then, glaring at her, picked her up and set her on the bed. "I can see I'm going to have to baby-proof this room, huh?" Then, without a second glance, he turned and scampered around his room, gathering everything non-baby-like and tossing it in his closet, which he closed and locked. Then, he went around and found everything he didn't mind her playing with, and put it down low where she could get to it if she wanted to. "There. That should satisfy you, you little scamp!" A picked her up off the bed, tickled her for a minute, then set her down on the floor. She scooted away, giggling.
'Now,' he thought, 'all I have to do is wait for Hermione's answer.' He settled happily onto his bed and watched Daffodil. She had found her way into his compartment under the floorboards, and was making a mess of his birthday cake. Harry sighed. It was going to be a long wait.