Chapter 6: The Picnic

Harry awoke the next morning somewhat stiff. He got up and after pacing the room a few times the stiffness went away. "It must be from all the walking I did yesterday." He concluded. He dressed and began to try and tame his hair, but as usual it was no good it wouldn't lay flat. He started to walk out of the room, but he caught a glimpse of something at the window. He walked over to it and found Hedwig with a letter tied to her foot.

"Hi, Hedwig." Harry said," You got a letter for me?" With that Hedwig stuck out her leg and let Harry untie the letter. It was from Hermione. It read:

Dear Harry-

How was Hogsmeade? My cousin came with me when I went on Thursday so we just barely missed you. I have something exciting to tell you, but I can't tell you yet. You'll just have to wait till Sunday. Did you hear about that family that was attacked on Monday night? It was absolutely dreadful. Luckily no one was hurt Aurors got there in time, but can you just imagine what would have happened if the family hadn't been reached in time? Well I got to go I can't wait till I see you again and I have a big surprise!! Write me soon!!

Love,

Hermione

Harry smiled. It was just like Hermione to leave him out on the important stuff. He was going to go down to eat breakfast before he wrote her back, but he decided it would be easier to just write her now. He started to write her and then when he was done this was the letter:

Dear Hermione-

Hogsmeade was great! We did have an encounter with Malfoy, but that was the only bad part. I did hear about that family did you know that it was the Creevies? I thought that was bizarre, but I should be getting use to bizarre things by now. What is your big surprise? Common tell me I can't stand the suspense. Well okay I can as long as the second you see me you tell me!! Did you know Ron went to visit Charlie last night and isn't coming back until tonight? Well I gotta go I haven't eaten breakfast yet and I still have to finish my Charms essay.

Love,

Harry

Harry looked at the finished piece it wasn't long, but it would last her until they saw each other tomorrow. As he was reading through it he remembered he had to finish the Charm's Essay. He rolled up the letter and tied it to Hedwig's leg. He sent her off and pulled out his charms essay to finish it.

When the phone rang on Saturday Morning at around 11:30 Mr. and Mrs. Dursley thought it normal, but what was about to happen wasn't normal in their eyes.

"BRING, BRING, BRING!"

The phone rang and Uncle Vernon answered.

"Hello." He said somewhat annoyed to be called when he was watching television.

"Hi, um is Dudley there?" the caller asked

"No he isn't, but may I ask who is calling?" Uncle Vernon said

"Um.. This is Jessica, but is Harry available?"

Uncle Dursley was about to say no in disgust and criticize the Jessica girl for wanting to talk to such a boy, but he remembered the threat of the strange group of people at the beginning of the summer.

"Um… Yes he is would you like to speak to him?" Uncle Vernon asked

"Oh yes that would be great!"

Uncle Vernon got up and waddled up the stairs to Harry's room. There he reluctantly knocked on the door and waited for an answer.

"Commin" Harry said

"Boy the telephone is for you." Uncle Vernon said.

Thoughts started to race through Harry's head. Who could it be? Is it maybe Ron or Hermione? No, it couldn't be them they were both busy. Well he decided there was only one way to find out who it was.

"Alright." Harry said to the dumbstruck Uncle Vernon. He ran down the stairs and into the sitting room where the telephone was.

"Hello "Harry said

"Hi, Harry this is Jessica." Jessica said

"Oh, hi." Harry said

"Um.. Hey my cousin ditched me to go hang out with some guy and me and Dudley were supposed to go on a picnic today, and I just called to see what park to meet him at cause I have the picnic ready and stuff and apparently he isn't there so I was wondering if you want to come and have the picnic with me you know as friends cause there is no use for a good meal to go to waste right?" Jessica said in one breath.

Harry was dumbstruck. He was just invited to go somewhere. That's a first. Should he go? He didn't know how to reply, but before he decided what he was going to do he found himself saying,

"Sure, that'd be fun."

What did he just say? Dudley was going to kill him if he hung out with Jessica by himself. Oh well what was done was done. He would be gone tomorrow and he probably would never see Jessica again and he wouldn't see Dudley until the summer. He was interrupted in his thoughts by Jessica asking,

"Cool, what park should we meet at and what time."

Harry suggested the park that was just down the street from the Dursley's house, because he couldn't ask the Dursley's to drive him anywhere and he couldn't walk very far. Jessica agreed and she suggested meeting at 1:00. Harry agreed and they said goodbye. After he hung up he looked at his watch it was almost 12:00. He would have to leave at 12:30 to get there on time. He decided he would change into something nicer and finish off the last few sentences of his essay before he left for the park. As he walked up the stairs he thought of what a great way his last day at the Dursley's was starting.

12:20

It was 12:20 as you've already noticed and Harry was pacing back and forth in his room. The only girls he'd ever been alone with were Hermione, Cho, and Ginny. Jessica was different though she was muggle and it would be harder to talk to her because he didn't know any muggle sports teams or any muggle T.V. shows. He was nervous, more nervous than he was when he had gone on a date with Cho, but this wasn't a date this was just eating lunch and talking to a friend. Maybe he shouldn't go? No, he decided if anything went wrong he just had one more summer here with the Dursley's and he could get through that right? He stopped and sat down at his desk. He pulled out a piece of parchment and decided to write Ron. He scribbled down a few words asking how Charlie was and how his trip was and then he wrote about how nervous he was and ended with telling him that he would tell him how the picnic went on the train tomorrow. Here was the finished letter,

Ron-
How's your vacation going? Are you having a nice time? How's your brother Charlie? Tell him I say hi. So, you know the Jessica girl I told you about at Hogsmeade well she called for Dudley today and he wasn't here so she asked for me and she invited me to go on a picnic with her as friends. I'm nervous for some reason and I'm not sure I'm going to go. Oh well there is nothing wrong in going is there? Well I'll see you tomorrow and I'll tell you how it went tomorrow as well. Bye!

Harry

It was 12:32 and Harry decided he had better go or he would be late.

He put on a jacket and headed down stairs. Just as he reached the front door and was about to open it Uncle Vernon saw him and started to question him.

"Where are you going boy?" Uncle Vernon asked.

"I'm going to see a friend, and now if you don't mind I'm going to be late if I don't leave now." Harry replied somewhat annoyed he was stopped.

Without a reply Harry opened the front door and walked out into the open air. He took a breath and started walking. It took him about 20 minutes to get to the park walking at a reasonable speed. As he walked into the park he saw Jessica waiting patiently by the swings with a picnic basket in her hands. He walked over to her and said,

"Hey, sorry I'm late."

"Oh, hey it's fine. Technically you're not late yet." She said smiling at him.

She looked great. She was wearing a pair of kaki Capri's with a light blue shirt that made her eyes stand out beautifully and a pair of Airwalkers which were very much in style. Her hair was wavy pulled back into some up and some down. Over all she looked better than Cho did any time he had ever seen her.

"Should we get going?" She asked.

"Um, ya sure." He said.

"So when are you going to head off to school?" Jessica asked.

"Um, actually I'm leaving tomorrow." Harry replied.

"Really! I leave tomorrow too." She said.

"Oh that's cool what time do you leave." He asked.

Harry was starting to get suspicious. Jessica had gone to a school in the south of France and now she was going to go to a school in the North of England. Maybe she was a witch, but then he remembered that Dudley liked her and Dudley wouldn't like a witch in a million years.

"Um I think I leave at 10 o'clock, but I'm not quite sure." She said.

They had walked into a small forest and they found a small spot with no trees, but with grass growing in it. Jessica stopped walking and set down the picnic basket she had been holding and opened a blanket and began to spread it out. She bent down and started to straighten out the creases in it. Harry bent down and started to help her.

She sat down and began to pull out lunch. Harry started pulling out things and looked at all the things that she had brought. There was chicken, bread, puddings, and an assortment of other things.

"Hungry?" she asked smiling at him while she pulled out two plates.

"Yep." Harry said nodding his head, "Starving!"

Jessica laughed and handed Harry a plate.

"Okay," She said," We have a delicious grilled chicken in a marinated sauce, we also have some baked potatoes with some sour cream to put on it, we have some kidney pie, but I don't think it's much good any more cause it's all cold now, we also have some croissants, rolls, and of course we have dessert, but what it is, is my secret." She said trying to do an elegant voice, but failing completely.

Harry laughed and she laughed as well ,then trying to take after her he tried to also say in a dignified," I'll have a piece of marinated chicken, a croissant, and I'll have a baked potato."

She laughed at his remark and then said, "Alright sir, but I must insist you serve your self you see I also am starving!"

She then grabbed a roll that Harry had been reaching for and stuffed it into her mouth.

"Hey!" he said with a fake hurt look on his face, "I was just about to eat that."

She laughed and then managed to squeak out through the roll, "Well then you'll just have to get it won't you."

"Well maybe, maybe I will." Harry said trying to sound courageous.

"You wouldn't dare!" Jessica said gulping down the rest of the roll and reaching for the next one Harry had been reaching for.

"Oh wouldn't I?" Harry exclaimed jumping up making Jessica scream and jump up as well.

A chase then broke out between the two of them. Jessica trying to run as fast as her legs could carry her while Harry was just trying to get the roll Jessica had kidnapped from him. Harry rounded a corner and couldn't find Jessica anywhere. He started to look around and heard a giggle. Before he had the chance to turn the other way he felt some thing shove him very hard to the ground. He was about to hit the ground when he caught himself with his arms. He got up and turned around and there stood Jessica with her arms behind her back. She held out the roll which now looked nothing near edible and said in a laughing tone,

"Truce?"

Harry looked at her. She was certainly strange, but with her he didn't feel so out of place especially since the death of Sirius. He felt so free with her and he felt he could just be himself without worrying what other people thought. He took the roll and said truce.

They both started to walk back to the picnic which was a little distance away. Harry looked down at his hands, they were filthy and so were Jessica's.

"Do you think we should stop and wash our hands? I mean after our little adventure my hands are rather dirty." Harry asked giving another look to his filthy hands.

"Oh, no need. I brought some water for tea and we can just use that water to wash our hands." Jessica said.

They reached the picnic area and gratefully sat down on the blanket. Luckily they had had no visitors while they were gone so their food was safe. Jessica pulled out a thermos and a small hand towel.

"Where should we wash our hands?" she asked getting up off her hands.

"Um.." Harry said looking around," How about over there we wouldn't want to wash them to close otherwise our blanket will get wet."

Jessica nodded and started to head over to the spot that Harry had suggested. Jessica poured some warm water on Harry's hands and let him dry them and then Harry did the same to her. As they were drying their hands Harry thought of something he should ask Jessica. So he decided he would.

"Can I ask you something?" Harry asked.

"Well," Jessica said, "It depends on what you want to ask."

"So does that mean I can?" He questioned.

Jessica nodded her head and Harry went on.

"Why are you with Dudley?" Harry began, "I mean he doesn't seem like the guy…

He was interrupted by Jessica.

"He doesn't seem like the guy I would be with right?" Jessica questioned. Harry nodded and Jessica continued. "I believe in looking for the best in people and believe it or not there is some good in your cousin even if it is far from where you would usually find it in a person."

After she had finished there was silence. She and Harry walked back to the blanket and sat down. Jessica started to put a piece of chicken on her plate when she paused.

"What?" Harry asked reaching for a piece of chicken.

"I was just thinking," She said, "I hardly know you, but this has been really fun."

Harry smiled and scooped a small bite of potatoes into his mouth.

Overall the afternoon went way to fast for Harry. Jessica and Harry talked a lot during lunch about everything. Harry found a lot about Jessica during their lunch. He found that Jessica's parents had been murdered this year while they had been here visiting some family. He also found out that she now lived with her brother in her aunt's guest house. The surprise dessert Jessica had brought was Crème Brolë a French delicacy. He had never had it, but found it very enjoyable.

Before he knew it, it was 4:00. Jessica picked up all the things they didn't eat and put them in the picnic basket while Harry folded up the blanket. They both began to walk back to the entrance to the park where Jessica's brother was most likely waiting for her. Sure enough right as they got to the entrance they found a car waiting for Jessica, but her brother wasn't in it. As Harry was about to say bye to her she grabbed his arm and insisted that they give him a ride home.

"Christine?" Jessica began looking into the car," What are you doing here?"

"Oh, hi jess." The women in the car said, "David had to pack for tomorrow you know and he asked me to pick you up." The women finished and smiled at Harry and then continued, "Oh jess who is your friend."

"Oh," Jessica said, "This is Harry."

"Hi, Harry. Now Jessica please hurry up and get in the car you still have to pack."

Jessica climbed into the car and dragged Harry in with her. Harry gave Christine the directions to the Dursley's house and then started talking to Jessica. He soon found out that Christine was David's fiancée and that David was going away tomorrow as well. During Christmas break Christine and David were supposed to be married, but until then David was supposed to teach at some school.

They had arrived at the Dursley's house and Harry got out and was about to shut the door, but Jessica got out as well and simply said,

"I want to say goodbye to Dudley."

They walked up to the door and inside the house. The Dursley's were sitting in the sitting room having tea when they walked in. When Mrs. Dursley saw the two of them she put on her fake happy face and said,

"Oh Jessica dear, how wonderful to see you again, Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Oh no thank you Mrs. Dursley I just came to say good bye to Dudley since I will be leaving tomorrow." Jessica said

Dudley got up and walked over to Jessica. She whispered something in his ear and the two of them walked outside to the front porch. As soon as the front door shut Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia ran over to the front window and peaked out side. Harry himself walked over to the window and looked out. He felt a pang of jealousy as Jessica hugged him and then gave him a peck on the cheek. They both then started to walk to the front door and Harry along with the Dursleys rushed away from the windows.

Jessica came inside and gave a hug to Harry and said goodbye once more to both Dudley and Harry. She opened the front door and walked out down the drive to the car waiting for her. She waved to the both of the boys as she got into the car and drove away.

Harry gave one last look to the disappearing car and walked up stairs to his room. He glanced at his watch once he was in his room. It was almost 6:00 and he hadn't packed yet. He ignored his stomach growling and decided to pack after all in just a few more hours he would be back home.

Hey- I there you go a long chapter that took me forever to write. Sorry I haven't updated in awhile I'm going to try to update once more before Christmas and maybe if you're lucky you'll get two chapters. Well if anyone is still reading this please review it gets me writing faster! Well please click that button below and review. your reviews mean sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much to me.

chelsea