Chapter Two

The Unexpected Visitor

For the first time in his life uncle Vernon didn't know what to say to the Harry. He had never seen him cry before and his tears more than anything was what silenced him. "What the devil is going on here?" He looked to his wife for an answer but she just stared blankly at him. "What's gotten into this boy Petunia?"

Aunt Petunia stared from her husband to Harry closing and opening her mouth, but nothing was coming out. She too, didn't know what to make of this. In all his 15 years she had never seen him cry. As she stared into his eyes, she saw her sister's eyes. She remembered the nights when Lilly would run into her room, face stained with tears, asking if she could get in bed with her. It had been years since she had thought of her sister and even longer since she's remember anything that happened before she went off to Hogwarts. Without thinking she walked over to Harry and put her arms around him.

Whether it was from surprise or the weight of his now aching heart, Harry sank down to the floor. His tears were coming more freely now and he wailed loudly as he rocked back and forth in his aunt's arms. "There there," said aunt Petunia, as she rubbed Harry's back and caressed his hair. Uncle Vernon looked from his nephew to his wife with mortal shock. "Come now Petunia dear, there's no need for that, the boys alright." He paced back at forth looking at the odd pair huddled together on the floor, not knowing what to say or think.

"What's going on dad, what's he done to mum?" Uncle Vernon was startled back to reality by the sound of fear in his son's voice. "Dad!" Roared Duddley. Uncle Vernon crossed the room and walked over to his son, noticing that Harry and his wife were starting to stir. "Come on dudders, nothing's going on, the boys's just having a hard day, that's all."

Harry sat listening to his uncle explain to his cousin what had happened, and he couldn't be it himself. Was aunt Petunia actually holding him and being nice to him. More than anything now, he really wished that he had taken off on his firebolt. "It's ok Harry, you're safe here." Aunt Petunia looked into his eyes and knew something terrible had happened. Her mind raced to figure out who it was this time. Someone but have gotten killed, this was the only explanation for his behavior.

She stood up and looked around the shabby room that was Harry's, seeing all his school things thrown everywhere. "I'll just tidy things up a bit," she said.

"Don't bother," said Harry. "I'm not going back." With those words the Dursleys all look at one another taking in the full weight of Harry's words.

"Not going back, don't talk rubbish," barked Uncle Vernon. "You have to go to school Potter, what are we supposed to do with you if you don't go back to that place. You can't stay here." "Vernon," shushed aunt petunia. "I won't be quiet in my own house Petunia, this madness has gone on long enough. What's he playing at, saying he won't go to school?" "He's not staying here all year, he's go to have some place to go."

Harry sank down on his bed and listened to his aunt and uncle arguing over him. A sudden grunt near the door, reminded him that Dudley was still in the room. His cousin stared at him making a fist with his giant size hands. "You're dead if you stay here Potter," he whispered.

The room was silenced by the swoosh of a tiny grey owl with a note attached to its leg. "What the...'bellowed Uncle Vernon. Harry walked over and untied the parchment from pigs leg.

Harry,

Just wanted to make sure you're alright. Mum says you're going to come stay with us soon. Hermione's coming too. Percy's come

He stopped reading and dropped the letter from his best friend on the ground. His heart was pounding again and his stomach was beginning to clench. Pig jumped into his lap and hooted loudly, waiting for a reply. Harry didn't know what to do, he's spent the last day of school not thinking about what happened and hadn't told Ron or Hermione how he was feeling. Ron's letter brought all the emotions back. It all seemed so far away now, he no longer felt connected to Hogwarts or the wizarding world. He wanted nothing to do with all of it.

He sprang up, turned over the parchment and wrote back.

Ron,

I won't be coming to the burrow this summer. I'm not going back to Hogwarts either. Don't send any more owl., I've made up my mind. Sorry!

Harry

He read it out loud so the Dursleys could hear and know that he was serious, tied it to pis's leg and helped him out the window. "There," said Harry. "I'm not going back." He stared at uncle Vernon, who looked from Harry to Petunia to Dudley but said nothing.

"It's late Harry, you should get to bed," said aunt Petunia affectionately, walking over to Harry and touching him on the shoulder. The Dursley's all walked out of Harry's room, leaving him to his thoughts. Harry didn't bother undressing, he got into bed and pulled the covers far over his head. Closing his eyes he wished never to wake up or feel this way again.

It was 9:30 the next morning when Harry woke to the sound of his uncle shouting his name. "Coming uncle Vernon," Harry yelled as he jumped out of bed and made his way down stairs. He stood in front of his Uncle who was red in the face, wondering what he had done now. "What is it,"he asked quietly. It was aunt Petunia who answered. "There's someone here to see you Harry." He walked into the living room completely puzzled. Someone to see him, who could possible be here to see him.

"Hello Harry."

"Hermione, what are you doing here?"