The Fifth House

Disclaimer: I swear it's the same every time, I STILL don't own Harry Potter.  And I'm not counting on getting the legal documents to ownership for Christmas.  I won't get my hopes up.  Does anyone really read this?  Besides me, sometimes?  If you are shaking your head no, my point exactly.  If you are actually reading this though, you obviously read the disclaimers, and you know it. 

Author's Note: AAAHHH! I forgot to put the words of wisdom thing at the end of the last chapter.  It's got to be the holiday season stress that's got me all messed. Oh well.

I haven't updated in like, a week, but my new year's resolution is to update at least once a week.  Not like I'm ever that great with my resolutions but…

Anyway.

Curtains Up!

Chapter Three

            It is most unusual when the one thing that gets you worked up is the thing that passes you by most often.  Harry hadn't realized when the sky turned indigo black.  He was too busy staring after the four children.  What had Harry the most intrigued was the fact that children that young were out that late at night, they had to be only as old as ten or eleven at most.  There was no way that parents were that lenient with their kids these days.  Especially with all those dark wizards around, that showed no mercy to anyone. 

            Harry couldn't know if they were muggles, though.

            It certainly made no sense whatsoever, that even parents of magic families would enable their children out at those hours, it was just unheard of. 

            Harry realized that it was very pointless to ravel himself into deep thought so late in the night.  He would probably forget all he thought about.  Maybe he had hit his head on the windowpane, and got amnesia.  He had considered the amnesia thing earlier that day, but he was sure that wasn't it. 

            Deciding he really needed some sleep, Harry raked his brain to make up some sort of story of what was going on; he eventually decided that these were children who were insubordinate, who broke rules and disobeyed authority, so that they were put with people who were thought to be able to control them.  Maybe they had sneaked out.  Thought he knew it was a stupid thought, Harry knew it could be possible, so he returned to his small bed and lay down.

            He took several deep breaths, and relaxed himself.  His thoughts contained Ron and Hermione having a blast back at Hogwarts.  Slowly, very slowly Harry drifted off into a deep slumber.

*          *            *            *

            Harry woke up in the morning to a shrill scream coming from somewhere within the house.  He sat up quickly, and then realized he had imagined it. 

            Just as he was relaxing again, Aunt Petunia came banging on his door.

            "Get up you!  There are lots of chores to be don't today, and everyone has to help!"

            In number four, Privet Drive, everyone, when applying to doing chores, meant Harry.

            Harry stood up too fast, and got a massive head rush.  Holding his head in his hands, he walked to his wardrobe, where he grabbed a pair of Dudley's old jeans and an old shirt of Dudley's.  He walked to his door, but slipped on a spare piece of parchment that lay on the floor.  Harry reached down to pick it up, but felt as if someone pushed his back and he fell spread eagle on the cold, hard, floor.

            "Stupid paper," Harry muttered.  Several words on the paper caught his eye, and he realized what it was.

            It was a letter from his best friend, Ron Weasley.

            "Yes!" Harry said eagerly scanning his eyes over it.

                                                                                                            Harry-

            What's up?  Anything new with the muggles?  No?  Typical.  It's your birthday in two days!  By the time you are reading this it may be one day, though.

In case you didn't remember, usually around the time of year of your birthday something happens that usually ends up with you staying at our house.  We really didn't want to wait for something terrible to happen to you, so mum says to just ask if you can spend the rest of the summer with us.  So can you?  The world cup is in Thailand this year, so dad couldn't get us tickets.  Not like we could've understood anything, we'd have to get Dad to use a Translation Charm or something.

            Anyway, send an answer back with Pig, but he might have to rest at your place for a little, he has difficulty with parchment larger than him.

See you soon, I hope!

                                                                                    You friend,

                                                                                                Ron

          Harry smiled down at the letter.  He hadn't realized how long it'd been since he heard from one of his friends.  He then realized that there was a P.S.

P.S. Dad has this thing at work, so we might have to go with him to the ministry sometime.  Percy was not pleased when he heard this.  Also, if you can't find Pig, he likes hiding in closets. 

            Harry had never been to Arthur Weasley's office before.  It would be very interesting if they went.  Maybe the ministry could even help him locate P.1 Rebirth. 

            Harry realized that Pig must've been in the closet all this time, so he opened the closet door to set him free.  Pig zoomed out and hit the ceiling.

            "Poor thing", Harry thought, looking up at it.   Pig was stuck to the ceiling, almost flat against it.  He finally fell onto the bed.  He really was pitiful sometimes.

            Harry saw Pigwidgion look quickly towards the window, and cock his head slightly.  Harry followed suit, but as he looked to the window he saw something in the sky.  Something that looked like a thousand wizards and witches on broomsticks.

            Harry walked quickly to the window, almost tripping several times from not looking at the floor. 

            This strange shape in the sky seemed to be going east, away from the Dursleys'.  Then it suddenly turned 180 degrees and came with great speed towards Harry's window.  That was when Harry realized he should close the window.  He slammed it shut right in the face of this mysterious cloud, so the shape turned back east, for a head start, then came directly back towards Harry's room with such force Harry had to put his full bodyweight up against the window.  The shape didn't manage to open the glass window, or even shatter it. 

            But a voice somewhere nearby spoke softly, just loud enough for Harry to hear.

            "We're here."

Curtains Close!

Author's Note: Whew! That was long.  I think that all of the chapters will be longer now.

I won't be updating until after Christmas, unless I get a sudden stroke of brilliance that pen and paper just aren't good enough for.  *shrugs* Maybe.

Words of Wisdom:  The thing that you treasure most passes you by when you least expect it.

I remembered!

Wow, I should write fortune cookie fortunes someday.  Let me practice:

You are reviewing this chapter in your future.

Anyways—thanx for the reviews!

I love you all!

Ciao!

~ Starry