Chapter 3

7 Kestrel Crescent

Harry and Hermione were sitting the back of the car, with Hedwig and her cage in-between them. Harry was over come with emotion. He had finally done it; he had left the Dursleys forever. He wasn't going to think about what he's going to do next summer, he was just so happy to have finally left.

"So my dear, how has your summer been?" Mrs Granger asked politely.

"It's looking better," He said with a smile. Hermione was stroking Hedwig quietly; the rest of the journey went on in almost complete silence. Harry wanted to talk to Hermione but it was awkward with her parents in the car.

The journey to the Grangers home was going to take a while so Mr Granger thought it would be best if they stopped somewhere for something to eat. They parked the car and went in to Pizza Hut. Harry had never been in Pizza Hut before. Whenever the Dursleys went, they left Harry at home, with a piece of toast. Harry had never seen so many different types of pizzas before. After Harry ordered a medium Pepperoni stuffed crust pizza, he finally had the chance to talk with Hermione.

"Sorry about going off like that at the Dursleys. I just can't stand anyone insulting my friends, to their face as well. How dare they, I mean, they had no right," Harry said trying not to lose his temper again.

"Harry, it's ok. I'm so use to what Malfoy says to me that it doesn't bother me anymore what people say about me. But it was rather sweet of you to stand up for me," Hermione said. "Harry what are you going to do about next year?" She asked in a concerned voice.

"I honestly don't know, but I'm not going to let the Dursleys spoil my time at your house." She went a darker shade of pink at this and smiled. Harry wasn't going to let them ruin his life, and resolved to not think about it till nearer the time.

After a large helping of chocolate ice cream, they set off for the Grangers home. Harry and Hermione chatted in the back of the car, with the odd question from Mrs Granger, mainly about what he ate, which he happily informed her that he eats everything and anything.

They entered a housing estate and Harry was looking at the houses. They were so much classier than Privet Drive, and Harry was waiting for is first glimpse of Hermione's house. She pointed to an old stone house, with bay windows at the front, and ivy trailing up the front. The garden was neat and beautifully kept. Harry had never seen a house that looked so perfect. They stepped out of the car and Harry looked up at the house and then at Hermione. It was just what he imagined Hermione would live in.

"Home sweet home. Welcome to 7 Kestrel Crescent, Harry," Mr Granger said. "Hermione will show you to your room, and give you the grand tour."

Between them, Harry and Hermione carried his trunks up the stairs to a white door and Hermione pushed the door open. It was the best sight Harry had seen. There on the bed was a pile of brightly coloured wrapped presents.

"They were sent here instead of to you because we all thought it would be better. Aren't you going to open them?" She asked.

Harry walked over to the bed and looked at all the presents. He didn't think he had been given so many presents in his life. He saw the label on one, which had beautifully neat handwriting, it was from Hermione. He opened it first. It was book, no surprise it was from Hermione then. One the cover was a picture of Professor Dumbledore with Hogwarts School in the background. Professor Dumbledore is the Head teacher at Harry's school, and was old with a long silver beard. He was smiling at Harry. It said in the front, "Albus Dumbledore and Hogwarts School: A History." Just like Hermione to get him a History book. But Harry didn't mind; it was about his favourite teacher.

"Thanks Hermione. It's great." She was standing smiling at him.

The next present was from Ron. It was another book, but this time on Harry's favourite subject: Quidditch. It was a book on Quidditch tactics, and as Harry flicked through the book he saw the pictures moving showing some move or other. One Harry was watching was one particularly difficult move called the Woollongong Shimmy.

He put the book down, and picked up another present. It was another present from Hermione. He could see her anxiously waiting for him to open her present. Harry ripped opened the paper and it was a box. Inside the box was a skilfullycrafted watch.

"I know your watch broke. Do you like it?" She asked anxiously awaiting his answer.

"Hermione, I love it!" Harry threw his arms round her and gave her a massive hug. It was probably the best thing he had ever been given (apart from maybe seeing his godfather on his birthday). She went a deep shade of red and muttered something that sounded like "it was nothing."

Harry opened the rest of his presents. There was a book on "Relatively Dangerous Creatures" from Hagrid, Harry's Care of Magical Creatures teacher.

"There's a letter there for you, Harry," Hermione pointed out. It was from Hogwarts, and Harry had assumed that it was just his school book list but Hermione was insistent that he opened it. When he opened it, it was a personal letter from Dumbledore.

"What does it say?" Hermione pleaded to know. Harry read it out to her.

Dear Harry

I take it upon myself to inform you that you have not been made Prefect this year. My reasons for not choosing you are that you already have enough of a responsibility to deal with, without the added extra of Prefect duties. Also, I felt that others would not respect you and the authority that is bestowed. .

I hope you don't feel offended by my decision, Harry. It also gives you more time to do your homework and work on the defences in the book I gave you.

Yours Sincerely

Professor Dumbledore

"I'm so sorry Harry," Hermione said to him.

"It's OK, I wasn't expecting to be made prefect. But you were?" Harry said turning to her.

"Well…" Hermione stalled.

"Congratulations Hermione," Harry said guessing.

"Thanks, Harry. Wonder who I'll be working with?" Hermione pondered.

Harry still had quite a few presents and cards to get through. There were cards from all his Hogwarts friends: Seamus, Fred and George (which exploded when he opened it), Parvati and even one from Neville. Neville's card surprised Harry. It wasn't that they weren't friends, but that fact that Neville actually remembered was impressive.

Hermione gave him the grand tour of her home. It was a large house, twice the size of the Dursley's and far tidier then the Weasley's. There wasn't chaos, there are no arguments, and it's peaceful, Harry knew he was going to enjoy staying here. Hermione showed him into her room. It shocked him when he entered; it was nothing like what he expected even though he wasn't sure what he was expecting in the first place. The walls were a lilac with posters of rock bands on them, and it was not as tidy as he would have imagined. It had papers and books scattered over her desk, which Harry guessed were light reading and helping her prepare for Fifth year.

"Sorry about the mess, I didn't have chance to tidy it. Come in, come in." she said as she ushered him into her room. She put some music on and Harry sat down on this huge bright pink fluffy bean chair. Harry liked her taste in music and she had a large collection of CDs. Harry wasn't allowed CDs in the Dursleys house and even if he did, he wouldn't have anything to play them on.

"It's Feeder if you're curious. So, how was your birthday?" she asked.

"It was great! I met up with Sirius and we enjoyed a day together without the Dursleys. It was brilliant! It was great to see him again but he also warned me about something." Harry got off the puffy chair (with some difficulty) and went and sat next to Hermione on her bed. "Sirius told me that Voldermort is getting stronger and gaining more followers than ever before. He seemed really worried. Seemed to think it was good idea that I was coming here with people who care about me."

"Well he's right, you should stay some where You-Know-who can't find you for now. But Harry you still should be vigilant. He's still out there and by what Sirius says, he's getting strong enough to take you on face to face again." This sent a shudder up Harry's spine when he looks back at the last time Harry met Voldermort.

"But you need not think of that right now. Right now you have to decide what you want for dinner." She handed him a menu for an Italian restaurant.

"Are we going out for dinner too?" He asked.

"We thought we'd make your first day here special. Well come on, we haven't got forever, we going out in about an hour and you probably want to unpack." Harry was seen out of the door and showed back to his room, which was right next door to hers. An hour later, Harry had unpacked his things and Hedwig was sitting in her cage peacefully and they went to the restaurant. Hermione looked beautiful and they had a wonderful meal and really enjoyed themselves. They got back to the Grangers late and went straight to bed.

Harry has been at Hermione's for a week now and enjoying himself so much. He and Hermione have been having great fun going for walks in the park beside her house, and talking with her parents who actually care what he has to say unlike the Dursleys. One morning, Hermione came bursting into room with a letter in her hand. She handed it to Harry along with his glasses. Harry could tell it was from Ron and hurriedly opened it.

Hey Harry and Hermione!

Hope you are having as much fun this summer as I am. Fred and George have started a business with all their inventions. They are doing so well and I'm having so fun watching them play tricks on Percy although I have to admit it's not so much fun when they do it to me. They've already made my hair glow bright green, made me 6 inches tall and blown my posters of the Chudley Cannons to smithereens. Mam's not too happy though, not surprising all the tricks they play, but they are making lots of money. We are all going to Diagon Alley next Wednesday if you wanna meet up. Dying to hear how you two have been.

Can't wait to hear from you both

Ron

P.S. Chudley Cannons won the cup this year!!!

P.P.S. I've been made Prefect, my mum's so proud.

This was great, they were going to meet up with Ron Weasley, Harry's other best friend. Harry was really looking forward to seeing Ron, but it's not like Hermione wasn't great, it's just she wasn't interested in Quidditch, Harry's favourite sport, and Ron was just as fanatical as him. Ron's room was bright orange, which is the colour of this favourite team the Chudley Cannons. Last year, Harry had the chance to go to the final of the Quidditch World Cup, which was amazing. It was the first professional match that Harry had seen and was desperate to try out the tactics he had seen but alas, they didn't have a Quidditch tournament and Harry has to wait till this year to attempt the Wronski Feint a complicated move he saw Krum (the Bulgarian player) do.

Harry and Hermione loved hanging out together. They would wander off down the road and spend hours talking about everything and anything. Most of the time Hermione wanted to know what Harry was going to do about You-Know-Who. Harry hadn't got a clue what he was going to do, he had faced Voldermort more than once in his life and defeated him, but now he's stronger than ever. Then something dawned on Harry.

"What about Hogsmeade? I don't have the signature on the permission form and would Professor McGonagall let me go with Voldermort around?" Harry was worried, he loved Hogsmeade, it was the only magical village in Britain and he wasn't allowed to go when people thought Sirius Black was after him either, and Voldermort IS after him. Hermione wasn't much comfort either.

"Maybe it's for the best. As Sirius says, it's too dangerous for you right now; maybe you should just stay in Hogwarts where it's safe. And don't think about using your dad's invisibility cloak either because I will have to tell Professor McGonagall." Hermione knew Harry well enough to know that he was thinking about using his dad's cloak but Hermione was generally right about these things so Harry dropped the subject, for now.

Harry woke up early and wandered down stairs to get his breakfast. Crookshanks was in his basket and purring away, obviously dreaming about chasing mice. It was only six o clock and the Grangers weren't even up yet. Harry loved it in that old house. He could spend hours wandering around and sitting in the garden. The Garden in the morning was idyllic. Harry sat on the sun-bed and watched the sun rise over the tops of the conifers at the bottom of the garden. There was still dew on the grass and the resident frog would splash into the pond and do his little breast stroke.

"You're up early this morning Harry." It was Hermione standing there in her Little Miss slippers and a lilac towelling dressing gown. Harry thought that even first thing in the morning she looked great, he blushed at his thought and answered the yawning Hermione.

"It's just so peaceful here and I've never seen a sun rise look this beautiful. What are you doing up?" He shifted over to let her sit down beside him.

"I thought I heard someone and got up to investigate. Harry you have enjoyed your stay here haven't you?" She wasn't looking at him when she asked, she was staring at the glowing sunrise.

"Hermione, I've loved it here, I don't want to leave." He took hold of her hand, "I am so glad you asked me to stay this summer I couldn't have asked for anything better." She went a shade of red and they stared at each other a minute. The moment seemed to last forever and Harry was just about to say something when they heard Mrs Granger up and about making breakfast. They both got up at the same time and walked into the house, both curious what Harry was going to say.

All day they couldn't stop talking about Diagon Alley and about what they were going to buy. Hermione's list was all school supplies. They both had been given a list of schoolbooks they needed to get. Hermione was very worried about this year. They were starting their OWLs (Ordinary Wizard levels) and she was convinced that she didn't know enough to pass even though Harry told her (numerous times) that she knew more about magic than not only all the students but also some of the teachers. Harry wanted to get some money out of Gringrotts bank and spend it in Gambol and Japes joke shop. It was always so fun in there. But Harry's favourite shop without a doubt had to be Quality Quidditch Supplies. This is where he first saw the amazing broomstick, firebolt, in the window. He also was excited about meeting up with Ron and devouring as much of their favourite ice-cream from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. It was going to be a fun day.

Harry and Hermione finally talked themselves hoarse about Diagon Alley so dinner was pretty quiet. They spent the evening watching Hermione's favourite television programme, Red Dwarf ("Its really funny" Hermione tries to tell Harry in-between laughs.) and after watching the whole of series 4 so Harry understood why she liked it so much, they went up to bed excited about going to Diagon Alley tomorrow.