It had taken several rounds of shouting, threats, bellowing and
arguments with Uncle Vernon, but Harry finally had the chance to meet the
Smythes for an evening cup of tea. He set off down the streets in the cool
dusk air. Upon reaching the shop, he was unsure whether to knock or to come
in to the back door when he heard a screech of, "THERE he is, he's here
Mum, he is!" Harry looked up and saw a figure disappear into the open
corner window. There were scuffles, thuds, and a "OW! What are you – get
out of my room!" A moment later Maggie's face appeared out the window.
"Hi Harry!" She waved furiously as though he was forty feet away.
"Hi," he replied with a grin.
"Mum says come inside, we're just up the stairs through the door and – OW! Get OFF you idiotic – "Maggie flopped halfway out the window and retreated inside with an angry war cry. Harry stepped inside the shop, past the door with the CLOSED sign swinging.
He headed through the shop and back door, where he entered a musty room filled with even more boxes and a set of stairs leading to another door. Feeling slightly nervous, Harry strode up the stairs and pulled the door open.
A snarling brown-haired wizard who had thrown himself at Harry's head flung him back down the stairs. Both tumbled into a pile of crates, which smashed, raining small red leaves upon Harry.
"TOM! WHAT – WERE – WE – JUST – TALKING - ABOUT?" he heard a woman's voice thunder. The small wizard crawled off Harry. A broad, muscular woman with stringy brown hair and an easygoing face helped Harry to his feet. "I'm sorry, he is such a...hello Harry, I'm Beatrice Smythe." She pumped Harry's hand up and down in a bone-cracking handshake. The young boy who had attacked Harry ran up the stairs with Harry and Mrs. Smythe following.
They entered a small, round kitchen that led to a front room littered with old-fashioned furniture. A telescope sat on an open windowsill; a long table surrounded by chairs leaned against one wall. An owl perched on the sink tap looked at him sleepily, making Harry think of his own snowy white owl, Hedwig. A thin man with a long blonde ponytail was sitting in a chair by the fire, along with Maggie and two smaller versions of Mrs. Smythe grinning at him from the couch.
"Harry, sit down," Mrs. Smythe said encouragingly, and propelled him towards a chair by the man.
He smiled at Harry. "Bernard Smythe," he spoke up softly, offering Harry his hand. Behind him, Maggie winked.
The girl beside her was nearly bouncing on the spindly couch. "And you're Harry Potter, I've seen you at school, I'm Jools," she crowed.
"Oh. I...right," said Harry, slightly put-off since he had never seen this girl before.
"I'm in Hufflepuff, you know, this'll be my second year." Her wide face gave a muscular beam. Mrs. Smythe saved Harry from having to say anything to the excitable Jools by bustling over with the teapot.
"Tom's just gone to bed, I really am very sorry about his...well, I am sorry," she finished hastily.
Harry chuckled. "It's all right," he told them. For a while, Harry forgot about the Dursleys, and simply enjoyed the tea and chatter. Mr. Smythe discussed with him the business of potions; Harry told Maggie all about Ron and Hermione. Slowly, the sky darkened. He hadn't even realized it was so late until Brenda, who had been too shy to talk, fell snoring into the cookie plate. Harry leapt to his feet, knowing Uncle Vernon would near flog him for being home so late. "I...I have to go, back to the hotel, thank you for the tea, " he said quickly, trying to reach the door without running. He turned and waved to the Smythes before racing out to street. "Oi! OI HARRY!" he heard Maggie's voice shout. Harry turned. "Meet me at the bridge at noon tomorrow, alright? Uncle Bernard wants me to show you around Bosington...tell your aunt and uncle they can call us if they like."
"Yeah, I'll try," Harry yelled back, and pounded the streets to the hotel. He couldn't imagine Uncle Vernon having anything to do with the Smythes. He couldn't even imagine Uncle Vernon letting him out of the hotel after this...he probably thought Harry had been plotting with wizards all night...which, Harry thought with a grin, he almost had.
* * *
"OUT ALL NIGHT! COMPLETELY DISOBEYED – I HAVEN'T–"
"Yes, yes I know, I am sorry, now can you please shut UP, so I can –"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME? PREPOSTEROUS! BOY IF I DIDN'T – I CAN –"
Harry ignored his uncle, who was swelling with anger like a balloon with helium. He sidestepped the narrow-eyed Aunt Petunia and shut the door to his and Dudley's room with a slam.
Dudley himself was almost jumping for joy on the bed, which cracked and squeaked with pain. "You've come home late," he sneered, his many chins waggling like a tail.
Harry snorted. "I couldn't tell, what with your dad's head popping off at me," he retorted sarcastically.
"You don't think you'll be allowed out now, do you?" puffed Dudley, thoroughly worn out by his gleefulness.
"They can't lock me up in here, can they? 'Course, that would be a nice change from following Ickle Duddykins around, eh?" Harry said in the sappiest voice he could manage.
With a final CRACK of the bed, Dudley lunged at him. Harry, though, was ready for him and had his want pointed at his cousin's nose.
Dudley froze, his pig eyes fixed on the point of the wand. "Magic – not allowed – "he stuttered.
"Right, not allowed am I? But I just got back from a wizard's shop, remember? They'll have me round for tea again...wouldn't like it if I showed up bruised and beaten. And they're allowed to do magic." Harry leered the last word with relish. The Dursleys hated many things, but if there was one thing they hated and feared, it was magic. Dudley himself looked positively terrified.
"MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM!" he howled and ran straight into the door, which flew open to show Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia staring in shock at their son.
"He said...he said they'd use..." Dudley sobbed from his place on the floor.
Uncle Vernon rounded on Harry. "WHAT'VE YOU BEEN DOING NOW? Petunia and I were just discussing – you can't possibly – boy, you think you've – "
"I didn't do anything, it's the stupid lug's fault that he ran into the door – "
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"
"- And anyway, I didn't use any magic, you would've known by now, I was just telling him about the Smythes, you know the wizards I –"
Uncle Vernon hissed at the word 'wizard'. "You...will have nothing to do with those...those...people, do you hear?"
"I can't do that," Harry argued in a raised voice, "I've already said I'll meet Maggie tomorrow –"
"You will do no such thing!" roared Uncle Vernon. "Now – go – to – bed!"
A whimper emerged from the shaking lump Aunt Petunia was holding. "Dudley, boy, you can stay here with us, not with him – "said Uncle Vernon.
Harry turned round and slammed the door behind him. He paced restlessly, staring moodily at the bed, which sat in two halves now...he wished Hedwig were here, but he'd sent her off to stay at Ron's for the end of summer...how he would get from Bosington to Diagon Alley, the hidden wizard market, to buy his school supplies, he didn't know...all he knew was that tomorrow, he would not be staying here. Not if he could help it.
***
"Well, boy, looks like you've earned yourself a day inside, eh?" Uncle Vernon chuckled to himself. "And there's no use trying to worm your way out of this one, I've already told the staff you're a problem boy. No thumps or yells will help you now." He chuckled even more annoyingly and slammed the door behind him with Aunt Petunia and Dudley ahead of him.
Harry sat on a bed half and ground his teeth. If only...if only he was allowed to use magic! He fingered his wand lovingly before striding to the window to glare out at the trees.
BAM BAM BAM
Three heavy knocks at the door made Harry nearly smack his head on the window. He looked round bewilderedly. No one would call on him...no one even knew he was here...
BAM BAM BAM
Cautiously, Harry shouted, "It's locked...you...you can't come in here."
A voice floated into the room, "I know that, Harry, just making sure you were in there."
Harry stared. "Maggie?" he asked incredulously.
"Yes, Harry, of course it's me. You didn't think I'd let you stew in your room all day, did you? Give me a minute –"Harry heard some clicking and shuffling before the door burst open.
Maggie stood there grinning. Harry's eyes widened even more.
"I thought...we're not allowed to use magic," he said stupidly.
Maggie waggled her eyebrows mischievously. "I didn't use magic. Uncle Bernard lent me his lock-opener -"she held up a silver knife-like object, "-we use it for boxes that have ingredients that can't be touched by magic without being...oh never mind. When you didn't show up at the bridge, he sent me here." She smiled pleasantly.
"I...my uncle and aunt..." Harry trailed off apologetically.
Maggie snorted. "Don't worry, we'll have you back before they get here. Closing and locking the door behind her with the lock-opener, she walked past the broken bed to yank open the window.
Harry looked at her in disbelief. "Maggie, we're not –"
He stopped short when Maggie reached out the window and pulled in a hovering broom.
She laughed at Harry's dropped jaw. "Shall we?"
Harry hurried to the window and tugged in a broom with the words Comet Two-Sixty engraved on the handle. The two mounted their brooms and kicked off through the open window, into the inviting and pale blue sky.
"Hi Harry!" She waved furiously as though he was forty feet away.
"Hi," he replied with a grin.
"Mum says come inside, we're just up the stairs through the door and – OW! Get OFF you idiotic – "Maggie flopped halfway out the window and retreated inside with an angry war cry. Harry stepped inside the shop, past the door with the CLOSED sign swinging.
He headed through the shop and back door, where he entered a musty room filled with even more boxes and a set of stairs leading to another door. Feeling slightly nervous, Harry strode up the stairs and pulled the door open.
A snarling brown-haired wizard who had thrown himself at Harry's head flung him back down the stairs. Both tumbled into a pile of crates, which smashed, raining small red leaves upon Harry.
"TOM! WHAT – WERE – WE – JUST – TALKING - ABOUT?" he heard a woman's voice thunder. The small wizard crawled off Harry. A broad, muscular woman with stringy brown hair and an easygoing face helped Harry to his feet. "I'm sorry, he is such a...hello Harry, I'm Beatrice Smythe." She pumped Harry's hand up and down in a bone-cracking handshake. The young boy who had attacked Harry ran up the stairs with Harry and Mrs. Smythe following.
They entered a small, round kitchen that led to a front room littered with old-fashioned furniture. A telescope sat on an open windowsill; a long table surrounded by chairs leaned against one wall. An owl perched on the sink tap looked at him sleepily, making Harry think of his own snowy white owl, Hedwig. A thin man with a long blonde ponytail was sitting in a chair by the fire, along with Maggie and two smaller versions of Mrs. Smythe grinning at him from the couch.
"Harry, sit down," Mrs. Smythe said encouragingly, and propelled him towards a chair by the man.
He smiled at Harry. "Bernard Smythe," he spoke up softly, offering Harry his hand. Behind him, Maggie winked.
The girl beside her was nearly bouncing on the spindly couch. "And you're Harry Potter, I've seen you at school, I'm Jools," she crowed.
"Oh. I...right," said Harry, slightly put-off since he had never seen this girl before.
"I'm in Hufflepuff, you know, this'll be my second year." Her wide face gave a muscular beam. Mrs. Smythe saved Harry from having to say anything to the excitable Jools by bustling over with the teapot.
"Tom's just gone to bed, I really am very sorry about his...well, I am sorry," she finished hastily.
Harry chuckled. "It's all right," he told them. For a while, Harry forgot about the Dursleys, and simply enjoyed the tea and chatter. Mr. Smythe discussed with him the business of potions; Harry told Maggie all about Ron and Hermione. Slowly, the sky darkened. He hadn't even realized it was so late until Brenda, who had been too shy to talk, fell snoring into the cookie plate. Harry leapt to his feet, knowing Uncle Vernon would near flog him for being home so late. "I...I have to go, back to the hotel, thank you for the tea, " he said quickly, trying to reach the door without running. He turned and waved to the Smythes before racing out to street. "Oi! OI HARRY!" he heard Maggie's voice shout. Harry turned. "Meet me at the bridge at noon tomorrow, alright? Uncle Bernard wants me to show you around Bosington...tell your aunt and uncle they can call us if they like."
"Yeah, I'll try," Harry yelled back, and pounded the streets to the hotel. He couldn't imagine Uncle Vernon having anything to do with the Smythes. He couldn't even imagine Uncle Vernon letting him out of the hotel after this...he probably thought Harry had been plotting with wizards all night...which, Harry thought with a grin, he almost had.
* * *
"OUT ALL NIGHT! COMPLETELY DISOBEYED – I HAVEN'T–"
"Yes, yes I know, I am sorry, now can you please shut UP, so I can –"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME? PREPOSTEROUS! BOY IF I DIDN'T – I CAN –"
Harry ignored his uncle, who was swelling with anger like a balloon with helium. He sidestepped the narrow-eyed Aunt Petunia and shut the door to his and Dudley's room with a slam.
Dudley himself was almost jumping for joy on the bed, which cracked and squeaked with pain. "You've come home late," he sneered, his many chins waggling like a tail.
Harry snorted. "I couldn't tell, what with your dad's head popping off at me," he retorted sarcastically.
"You don't think you'll be allowed out now, do you?" puffed Dudley, thoroughly worn out by his gleefulness.
"They can't lock me up in here, can they? 'Course, that would be a nice change from following Ickle Duddykins around, eh?" Harry said in the sappiest voice he could manage.
With a final CRACK of the bed, Dudley lunged at him. Harry, though, was ready for him and had his want pointed at his cousin's nose.
Dudley froze, his pig eyes fixed on the point of the wand. "Magic – not allowed – "he stuttered.
"Right, not allowed am I? But I just got back from a wizard's shop, remember? They'll have me round for tea again...wouldn't like it if I showed up bruised and beaten. And they're allowed to do magic." Harry leered the last word with relish. The Dursleys hated many things, but if there was one thing they hated and feared, it was magic. Dudley himself looked positively terrified.
"MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM!" he howled and ran straight into the door, which flew open to show Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia staring in shock at their son.
"He said...he said they'd use..." Dudley sobbed from his place on the floor.
Uncle Vernon rounded on Harry. "WHAT'VE YOU BEEN DOING NOW? Petunia and I were just discussing – you can't possibly – boy, you think you've – "
"I didn't do anything, it's the stupid lug's fault that he ran into the door – "
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"
"- And anyway, I didn't use any magic, you would've known by now, I was just telling him about the Smythes, you know the wizards I –"
Uncle Vernon hissed at the word 'wizard'. "You...will have nothing to do with those...those...people, do you hear?"
"I can't do that," Harry argued in a raised voice, "I've already said I'll meet Maggie tomorrow –"
"You will do no such thing!" roared Uncle Vernon. "Now – go – to – bed!"
A whimper emerged from the shaking lump Aunt Petunia was holding. "Dudley, boy, you can stay here with us, not with him – "said Uncle Vernon.
Harry turned round and slammed the door behind him. He paced restlessly, staring moodily at the bed, which sat in two halves now...he wished Hedwig were here, but he'd sent her off to stay at Ron's for the end of summer...how he would get from Bosington to Diagon Alley, the hidden wizard market, to buy his school supplies, he didn't know...all he knew was that tomorrow, he would not be staying here. Not if he could help it.
***
"Well, boy, looks like you've earned yourself a day inside, eh?" Uncle Vernon chuckled to himself. "And there's no use trying to worm your way out of this one, I've already told the staff you're a problem boy. No thumps or yells will help you now." He chuckled even more annoyingly and slammed the door behind him with Aunt Petunia and Dudley ahead of him.
Harry sat on a bed half and ground his teeth. If only...if only he was allowed to use magic! He fingered his wand lovingly before striding to the window to glare out at the trees.
BAM BAM BAM
Three heavy knocks at the door made Harry nearly smack his head on the window. He looked round bewilderedly. No one would call on him...no one even knew he was here...
BAM BAM BAM
Cautiously, Harry shouted, "It's locked...you...you can't come in here."
A voice floated into the room, "I know that, Harry, just making sure you were in there."
Harry stared. "Maggie?" he asked incredulously.
"Yes, Harry, of course it's me. You didn't think I'd let you stew in your room all day, did you? Give me a minute –"Harry heard some clicking and shuffling before the door burst open.
Maggie stood there grinning. Harry's eyes widened even more.
"I thought...we're not allowed to use magic," he said stupidly.
Maggie waggled her eyebrows mischievously. "I didn't use magic. Uncle Bernard lent me his lock-opener -"she held up a silver knife-like object, "-we use it for boxes that have ingredients that can't be touched by magic without being...oh never mind. When you didn't show up at the bridge, he sent me here." She smiled pleasantly.
"I...my uncle and aunt..." Harry trailed off apologetically.
Maggie snorted. "Don't worry, we'll have you back before they get here. Closing and locking the door behind her with the lock-opener, she walked past the broken bed to yank open the window.
Harry looked at her in disbelief. "Maggie, we're not –"
He stopped short when Maggie reached out the window and pulled in a hovering broom.
She laughed at Harry's dropped jaw. "Shall we?"
Harry hurried to the window and tugged in a broom with the words Comet Two-Sixty engraved on the handle. The two mounted their brooms and kicked off through the open window, into the inviting and pale blue sky.