Chapter 3 Potty wee Potter and his girlfriend

The weary voice of the girl in his dream was obsessing him. The sounds, none of which were understandable, was like when the wind flows through the forbidden forest in a hoarse wail. He felt like he could understand it, if he really tried.

Blurring and stirring the truth and the lies/ So I don't know what's real and what's not/ Always confusing the thoughts in my head/ So I can't trust myself anymore/ I'm dying again.

It was the same voice, but he was sure it wasn't from his head. He turned to his side and he saw that girl Spice-something, on the other side of the street. He had another chance to talk to her and he didn't want to blow it. She didn't look like she desperately wanted company, in all honesty, it looked more like she was trying to avoid it. Still, nobody could blame him for trying to be nice. And what was it that she was singing? It wasn't like the Dursley to listen to music and Dudley had never tried watching anything else but Cartoon Network.

'Hello' He would slap himself if he ever again tried to start a conversation with hello, it was just too stupid.

'You scared me' was her response, almost dropping her bag.

'Sorry didn't mean to do that.' He apologized.

'It's all right, but next time worn me before you say hello.' She said humorously.

She continued walking although a little bit slower so they could talk.

'Wanted to apologize for earlier.' He said turning a shade of crimson, wondering about how one goes about warning someone they're going to start a conversation.

'Apologize for what? It's not like you did anything, it's just that lately all sorts of things have happened and I'm a little bit nervous, so I snap at people out of nothing.' She responded.

He didn't know what to say, really, or what to do, but a brilliant idea popped through his head. 'Let me help you with that bag.'

'Right. An Englishmen is always a gentleman, isn't he?' the girl replied. This made Harry blush to the tips of his ears, something which he had previously thought only Ron capable of. They carried on walking and talking.

'So, where are you from?' he questioned.

'America, although a great grandmother of mine is from Britain.' The girl responded matter-of-factly.

'Oh' he responded. Not smart, Harry chided himself.

'How long have you lived here?' she asked him.

'Since I was about a year old. My parents died and I had to live with my aunt and uncle.' He didn't know what had possessed him to tell her all this.

'Died? How?' this new subject seemed to interest her somewhat.

'They were killed...' he paused for a bit, than in a bitter tone continued '...in a car crash.' He was looking straight into her eyes and he saw something strange in her eyes, and the question she asked stunned him.

'That's how you got that scar, then? When your parents died?' it unsettled him, the look in her eyes; it told him that she knew more. He just mumbled a 'yes' and walked on. She couldn't know the truth. Or could she? Was she a witch? No, she couldn't have been, but then again, he had lived all his life next to Mrs. Figg, and he had never known she was a squib. But no, it was ridiculous, she was from the States.

'Didn't mean to upset you, you know. It must be hard to talk about your parents, so lets just change the subject.' Spica said.

'Ok.' He agreed. 'What do you want to talk about?' she had made him smile. It was nice of her to offer. He was annoyed by how people tended to keep on talking about that subject.

'Well, well, if it isn't potty wee Potter, you found yourself a girlfriend, cous?' came the voice of Dudley. This brought Harry's mood lower than an afternoon spent in Snape's office.

'What do you want, Diddykins?' He asked, maybe he had learned some of the art of sneering from Snape. In all those long years spent away from this people he hated, the Dursleys.

'Just wanted to tell you that mum has already packed your bags and you have nothing more to do in my house than pick them up and go.' Dudley smugly informed him.

'It is my house also, as long as I live there, and I still live there. Your mum knows she can't throw me out and she won't, trust me.' Harry replied.

'I'm just telling you what happened.' Dudley said, feigning innocence.

'And I'm just telling you what's going to happen. I'm going to stay in that house until Dumble...' he was about to finish when he realized it was a little bit to strange to talk about these things in front of Spica. 'Oh never mind. Why am I even consuming my time and energy explaining something to you, Dinky Diddydums? See you at dinner, Dud.' Harry turned around and almost dragged Spica by her arm to a safe distance from Dudley and his gang. Harry didn't even pay attention to all the teasing and kissing sounds were coming from them.

Before she had a chance to say anything he told her. 'That's my cousin, an imbecile; please don't ask me questions about him, or the rest of my family.'

'Right Wasn't about to question you about him, or those other fat ones. They scared the crap out of me this morning. Poor you, and poor dog that's all I can say.' She responded.

'Poor dog? You actually feel bad for that monster?' Harry said incredulously.

'He's no monster, and he told me how much he hates his mistress for beating him up and how that's why he takes it out on everybody else that's weaker than him.' She said.

'He told you so?' Harry was getting more and more suspicious. Who was this strange girl with her inky black eyes?

'Well, I meant that's why animals usually act like that.' she had hesitated a little, but the answer was good enough for him.

'Right.' She said. 'Well, we got to my place. I would usually invite you in, but since we just barely moved it looks as if a flock of hippo... potamus'

'Right...' said Harry at this point he was a little bit worried at what he was supposed to do, if only Hermione would be around to tell him some tips.

'Hey, sis, already got an admirer? You move fast, no kidding. We've only been here hours and already you have someone. And a real gentleman, walking you to your doorstep and all. Nice haveta admit.' A girl's head had popped out one of the windows, wearing a Cheshire cat grin. 'What the...? Char... Cherry you'll get it! You hear me? Now get in and leave me alone.' Spica yelled at her sister.

'Whatever.' The girl muttered, pulling her head back inside.

This little incident gave Harry an idea, so when she turned around he surprised her by picking up her hand and kissing it. He then turned around and left, leaving her opened-mouthed. He was so happy now he didn't even care what the Dursleys were to say. He crossed the street to their house and went in and up the stairs straight to his room. This had been some day.

But it wasn't over yet.

He reached his door but on his threshold was the big slobbery mutt of Aunt Marge's. He didn't know how to pass it without waking it up, but he did not have time to wonder, for the dog woke up and looked him in the eyes. Every time the dog had looked at him in the past, the animal's eyes were filled with hate, but this time Ripper looked happy to see him, so happy that he even wagged his tail and let Harry pass easily to his room. Surprised at the dog's attitude, Harry opened the door; before he even got all the way in, the dog had already leapt in his bed.

Harry didn't know what to do, he wasn't tempted to have the dog attack him, but he did want to lie in the bed. He gingerly inched closer to the bed watching the dog's reaction. Ripper just yawned and turned on the bed, exposing his belly. Baffled by this, Harry got on the bed and scratched the dog. He had never even got to pet him in the past, and now he was rubbing his belly. Whatever that strange girl had told him had been in his favour. He lay down beside the dog and before he even knew what hit him, he was asleep.