We'll spend the summer skating
Disclaimer: I know this should be somewhat legal sounding, but if the main idea comes across, what's the difference? I AM USING CHARACTERS WHICH ARE NOT MINE FOR UNHOLY PURPOSES.
Author's Note: This was written pre-OotP so it's slightly AU. Not to mention that it's not even a terribly accurate depiction of the real world. Oh yeah, and there's SLASH.
This is set in the summer after fourth year.
Setting the scene
As the Dursleys' car pulled into Privet Drive from Kings Cross, a crowd of skaters came charging round the corner on their boards, grinding every surface possible from gutters to cars. Harry looked into the rearview mirror to see Vernon's horrid, horrified expression. A pair at the back turned to see the car coming in and, as one, leapt to bring their boards onto the windscreen. As they went over, all Harry could hear was the heavy weight and wheels. He turned to watch them skate down the back window and down the road, in the opposite direction to their friends. Vernon pulled over and got out of the car. "I'll be phoning your mothers, Jacob Marsh and Martin White!" Vernon yelled after them.
Meanwhile, Harry had decided to let Hedwig out of her cage. He opened the boot and removed his trunk before lugging it one house down and up into the Dursleys' house. With several thud-thuds, he managed it up to his room where he locked the door and opened the window for Hedwig. His uncle was still out surveying the damage to his car.
Harry lay back on his bed, laughing to himself about just how much anybody could annoy his uncle. It was almost as though the damage to the car was his own victory, the second of the day. Perhaps this summer wouldn't be so bad after all.
With a bang, Vernon entered the house and immediately reached for the receiver of the telephone. He pulled a phone book from the drawer beneath the phone, flipped a few pages and began dialing.
Harry wondered where Aunt Petunia and Dudley were. The victory had been made sweeter by the fact that the car was Vernon's newest. Since the episode with the flying car, Vernon never allowed Harry near his precious cars. Any driving with Harry involved the slightly older car Aunt Petunia usually drove. But Vernon didn't trust Petunia with his company cars, either.
Harry made his way downstairs for a snack to eavesdrop on the conversations.
"Yes Mrs. White, I understand. I don't like making these calls either … something must be done about- … Your son has no respect for other people's property … here? Oh, I'm not so sure- … yes, well- … but I'm not so- … you'll speak to Mrs. Marsh and Jacob about it? … if you're certain. … I won't be home most of the time but Petunia will be- … yes, that's fine. Thank you, Mrs. White. … Good bye."
The polite tone was dropped as quickly as the receiver when Vernon saw Harry at the kitchen table with celery, peanut butter and a glass of milk.
"Upstairs, boy. This is all your fault."
Harry slowly put about his snack. "What's all my fault?"
"Those blasted children will be coming here to 'help' us out after all the trouble they've caused. Three times in the past week! Summer only just begun! You're a nuisance you know that, boy? If it were up to me, Petunia, Dudley and I would be somewhere nice for the holiday. Perhaps up at Marge's. But we've got to stay here. Can't leave you in the house, can't take you with us. I hope you're planning to stay with your people for a while because I really can't stand the sight of you." With this, Vernon turned to look at Harry. "Why aren't you upstairs?"
Harry quickly scuttled, munching as he ran upstairs. The troublemakers were coming over to 'help'? Harry grinned as he sat on the edge of his bed. If he made friends with them, perhaps this summer would be better than alright. He started to rummage through his trunk for his homework diary. If he finished his homework soon, he'd have all summer for fun. And it was best to do homework while it was all fresh in his mind anyway. Not that he's learnt anything much in the last few months, except a whole lot of hexes and charms.
A few days later, the phone rang early in the morning. Dudley answered and immediately hung up and ran to his parents' room muttering about Harry. Harry stayed at the breakfast table where he was eating breakfast so as not to disturb his aunt and uncle by his presence. Dudley was usually up too so that he could have two breakfasts: a large one and a small healthy one. Harry swore that he wouldn't tell as long as Dudley promised not to bully him.
The phone range again and Harry grabbed it. Dudley's running away and his mutterings confirmed that it was Hermione. He'd written telling her to call and show his aunt and uncle that wizards could be very normal. He heard a slight clatter as Hermione said 'Hello', signaling that his aunt or uncle had begun to eavesdrop.
"Dursley residence," Harry replied.
"Could I please speak to Harry?"
"This is Harry."
"Oh! Hi. This is Hermione. I was wondering if you'd be able to come with my parents and I to London for a day. We'll do a bit of shopping."
"I'm not sure if my aunt and uncle will let me."
"But we won't be doing anything 'odd'. My parents just wanted to go looking a few boring things. I wanted a friend to come along and you know how Ron is. Everything remotely normal has to be inspected and wondered about. If we were in an art gallery, never mind the art, he'd be watching the revolving doors." This was a practiced speech. Hermione knew the Dursleys were eavesdropping.
"I will have to ask my aunt and uncle. When are you planning this trip for?"
"Well I was thinking we'd pick you up in dad's old jeep at around 10 o'clock tomorrow. Then we'd go to London for lunch and dinner and you'd be back at about eight or nine depending on the traffic."
"Sounds good to me, but I will have to ask. They'll probably be glad to have me out of the house for a day, especially since a couple of kids our age are coming over to be punished for ruining Uncle Vernon's paint job."
"Well, I hope to see you tomorrow. You'll ring back?"
"Yes, if the hour's not too late. You'll get Hedwig at your window tomorrow morning otherwise."
This part of the plan was just a formality, like when Ron was inviting him to the World Cup last year. Harry was going to go anyway, no matter what they said. Of course, it would be easier if he had permission.
"Goodbye Hermione," Harry said.
"Bye Harry."
Harry heard two clicks before hanging up the phone - the sound of Hermione, then the Dursleys upstairs. They'd timed it perfectly.
Harry made his way upstairs, expecting that his arrival would be expected. He knocked before entering his aunt and uncle's bedroom. Harry noticed immediately that they'd sent Dudley away. This meant that they were going to bargain with him. Dudley was known for interrupting at stupid moments and even the Dursleys had to admit to themselves that their ickle-Duddykins really was quite immature.
"What is it, boy?" Vernon asked.
"Well, one of my friends from school, Hermione, wanted to know if I could go to London with her and her parents tomorrow. They'll pick me up here and drop me off after dinner some time."
Vernon appeared to be thinking it over but Harry could sense that he and his aunt had already discussed it. "You may go as long as you leave before 10 am and come back after 8 o'clock at night. We might keep those boys for dinner as well to be polite."
"May I ring back Hermione to tell her so?"
Vernon grunted after a pause and said "Make it quick, then get started on breakfast."
Harry didn't complain, after all, his aunt and uncle had willingly let him go to London, with a friend from school and it was for only a day. Perhaps, if Mr. and Mrs. Granger talked to the Dursleys, he'd be allowed to go out with Hermione and Ron unsupervised in the future. On his way out, he passed Dudley who'd been eavesdropping.
"I can't believe you're allowed," he said.
"They just want me out for a day so that those skaters can come over and they can pretend I don't exist."
Harry entered his bedroom and found where he had left Hermione's phone number. Grabbing the piece of parchment, he made for the upstairs phone.
"Hello. This is Harry, may I please speak with Hermione?"
"Hello Harry. This is Mrs. Granger. It's great to hear from you. Hermione's just left for the store with her father for some groceries. May I take a message?"
"Well, I just wanted to know if it was all right if you could pick me up before 10 tomorrow morning. It's just that my uncle's having visitors and he'd like to get me out of the way before they arrive."
"Oh, that should be fine. Well only have to leave a few minutes earlier."
"Thank you very much Mrs. Granger."
"It was nice speaking to you, Harry."
"Nice to speak to you too, Mrs. Granger. I'll see you tomorrow then. Goodbye Mrs. Granger."
"Goodbye Harry." Harry hung up and began breakfast preparations. He hadn't done this in a while, but it was easy enough as Dudley was still on his diet. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, though, allowed themselves larger portions. They each had a grapefruit whilst Dudley was left with a quarter. Then he left like a good little house elf on the job.
The next morning, Harry grabbed his money pouch before heading out onto the front steps to wait for the Grangers. At dinner the previous night, Vernon had made it perfectly clear that he had no intention of meeting the Grangers, even after Harry explained that they were normal people, muggles. Very difficult to do without mentioning the M-word.
So Harry was sitting on the front step, feeling like a complete dolt because it was 9:30 in the morning and surely the Grangers weren't going to arrive until at least 9:45. He went back inside for a minute to check that Hedwig had enough water and that the window was indeed open. Then he realised that he hadn't sent a note to Sirius since school let out so he took out a self-inking quill and parchment and scrawled a hasty note.
"Dear Snuffles,
How have you been? I'm great. I'm at the Dursleys. Sorry I haven't written since school, but I've been busy with homework. Yes, I am feeling all right. I'm doing it to free up the rest of my holiday. Hermione's taught me something, I guess. I have to run. I'm going to London with Hermione today. She'll be picking me up any minute now.
- Harry
Quickly, he attached the letter to Hedwig's leg, ruffling her. A moment later she was on her way, far off to the reaches of wherever Sirius was hiding. He checked his alarm clock before leaving. 9:50 am.
Harry sat back on the front porch, watching Hedwig fly off to the east, just past the sun. He was blinded for a moment as he turned to watch the street. A few cars came past, but none was a beaten up old jeep. Then there it was, black with mud-spots which definitely didn't look like they belonged alongside the impeccable gardens of Privet Drive. Harry stood, grinned and waved as Hermione got out of the back seat.
"Hi Harry," she said, running up to hug him. As she released him, she surveyed him. "You look good."
"Thanks," he replied. He'd bought the shirt at Hogsmeade and the pants looked as though they were meant to be baggy. "So how's your summer been?" he asked as they walked toward the jeep.
"The usual. I've managed to get all my homework done and I bet you haven't started."
"I have too," Harry replied indignantly. "I'm halfway though everything."
Hermione smiled. "I guess I'm rubbing off on you."
Harry returned the smile. "Did I tell you that you don't look so bad yourself?" Hermione laughed and her parents stared at them curiously.
"Nice to see you again Mr. and Mrs. Granger," Harry said, holding out his hand. Mr. Granger took it, then Mrs. Granger.
"It's nice to see you again too, Harry," Mrs. Granger said.
"Yes Harry. It's been far too long. We should have you over more often. We don't live too far off."
As they were talking, a car pulled up. Harry began to worry. Vernon would be having a fit if he saw this. One of the boys from a few days ago got out, followed by his mother.
"Grace. What are you doing here?" Mrs. Granger inquired.
"Just a spot of trouble with Jake. He's been upsetting the neighbours so I'm having him work it out with Vernon Dursley." Mrs. Marsh said. "And what are you doing here?"
"We're picking up Hermione's friend Harry," Mrs. Granger said. "We'll be going to London for the day."
"Oh-" and the two women were off, talking about all the things old friends do, forgetting where they were going completely.
Jacob was looking the two of them over.
"Do you live here?" Jacob asked Harry, looking up at number four.
"Only when I can't avoid it," Harry said. Jake nodded with a slight smile. "It's my uncle's place. I've lived here since I was about one."
"How've you been, Hermione? What's it been now, four years since I last saw you?"
"I think so, Jacob. Anyway Jacob, this is Harry. Harry, Jacob."
"But Hermione's always been the only one to call me Jacob when I'm not in trouble. Jake Marsh," he said, extending a hand.
"Harry Potter," Harry replied, taking the hand.
"You skate?" Jake asked Harry.
"No," Harry replied. "Haven't ever been on a board."
"Damn. You look like a skater. I thought I could borrow your board while you were out. Mum confiscated mine for a week after the 'Dursley Incidents' as Marty calls them."
"You're a skater?" Hermione asked. "When did that happen?"
"Three years ago, I reckon," Jake said. "Since I was fourteen. Someone bought me a board for my birthday."
"What exactly did you and the other guy do?" Harry asked. "Vernon just goes on and on but never specifies."
"Well, the first time, we knocked the garbage over by accident. Then we saw how riled up about it her got and started Dursley-baiting. We knocked over the mailbox. And then there was the car thing."
"That was really cool," Harry said.
"Did you see it?" Jake asked with a grin.
"I was in the car with him. Your other friends must have noticed me lugging the owl cage and trunk up to the house."
"That was you? Oh, I just assumed they were talking about Dursley Jr."
Hermione and Harry laughed.
"That would have been a sight. I know for a fact that Dudley's never done a day of work in his life, and he keeps as far away from Hedwig as possible."
"Hedwig?" Jake queried.
"His owl," Hermione said.
"You have an owl?" a new voice asked. The second skater approached them.
"Yeah," Harry replied.
"Cool," he said, then turned to Jake. "Ready to go in?"
Jake made a face. "Bye mum. We're going in. Bye Hermione. Nice to meet you Harry. I'll come round and give you skating lessons some time."
"That'd be great," Harry said. "Bye."
The pair walked in and it was time to go. Hermione and Harry got into the jeep, waiting for the parents to finish talking. A minute later, they were off to London.
A note from me: No, this is not going to be H/Hr. It is in fact going to be a slash story.