Disclaimer: you all know the characters belong to J.K. Rowling, well not all of them, some of them are created by my own mind, but I still don't lay clame on them as they are inspired by books I have read, from "Little Red Riding Hood" to "Les Miserable".

Chapter 8 Home alone

Harry sat up, startled by sounds outside his room. It sounded like a heard of dragons being chased by some fire crabs. He cracked the door and peered outside. His cousin was going from one room to another, in search of things.

'Big D' Harry said in a sweet voice 'could you pleas be a little more delicate? I don't want the floor to break beneath your feathery tread.'

'Shut up, Potter. You'll make me late." Dudley snarled back.

'Late? I didn't know you had a schedule for beating up six year olds.' Harry baited him.

'Shut up, or you'll be the one beaten up. I'll be late for the party at Polkisses.' Dudley threatened.

'What party?' Harry asked, mildly curious.

'The party you're not invited to, of course. Now that I think about it, I'm sure you're the only one around here that's not going to be there.' His cousin taunted him.

'Like I give a damn about any party you're attending.' Harry dismissed Dudley attempt to anger him.

'Even the new girls, you know the ones that just moved next door? Even they're invited.' Dudley said, in a last attempt to get to Harry.

It worked. Harry's heart sank. For the first time since his eleventh birthday he wished he was on one of the popular boys in the neighbourhood. Moreover, he wished he had been invited to the party. He was sure Spica wouldn't be interested in him anymore after the party. She would see how dull he was, how unliked, untrusted by the neighbours.

What good was it to be The-Boy-Who-Lived in the wizarding world, when you were a nothing in front of the girl you liked? Well, Harry reasoned, he hadn't been able to impress Cho very well. It looked as if this was going to be the same. Anyway, once he was going back to school he wasn't going to see her anymore, he thought, it a pathetic attempt to cheer himself up.

Before Dudley could brag anymore Harry turned around and closed the door, slumping on bed again. These last few days had been hell. They had passed so quickly without anything actually happening. That is, if a cute new girl moving in, Aunt Marge not leaving, and her dog moving in his room, could be considered nothing. Harry could not wait to be rescued from this place. He had no idea when that time would arrive, but thinking about that was far better than where his thoughts had previously strayed.

About thirty minutes later, Harry heard the front door open, and Aunt Petunia give Dudley all sort of advices, while, Harry was sure, she arranged his bowtie. By now, Harry had managed to write about three inches of an essay about Goblin Riots "Why didn't wand legislation lead to better control of goblin riots? Discuss", he had not passed this subject, but it didn't make any difference, he still would write this essay.

In another half hour the door to his bedroom opened. Looking up from his parchment and books, he saw Uncle Vernon standing in the door way.

'Listen, boy, we're going out.' His uncle informed him.

'Right.' Harry replied, only half-listening, his mind still turning over the effects on self-esteem public wand-snapping could have had on goblins.

'We, that is to say your aunts and I, are going out. We're going to a restaurant.' His uncle continued.

'By all means, leave. There's no reason to ask my permission.' Harry knew he had crossed the line, and not only a toe, but he had jumped it head first. Uncle Vernon was growing purple, muttering something about it not being up to Harry to decide anything of the sort. To Harry's extreme luck, Aunt Marge called after her brother to hurry up so Uncle Vernon had not the time to get any angrier. Instead, he lay out the rules.

'You are not to live your bedroom.' He began.

'Yeah. I won't. Don't worry.' Harry assured him.

'And boy, if you leave like you did last summer, you can be sure there's no way you're coming back in this house. You understand me, boy?' Uncle Vernon said, raising his voice.

'Yeah, next time I won't leave any note to assure you I'm safe.' Harry's last words were directed at the door as Uncle Vernon had already left.

Harry heard the door lock and the car leave. He was still standing on the same spot. This all reminded him so much of the last year when he had been left alone. How the advance guard had come for him. How he had practically frozen on his Firebolt while riding it to London, how he had reached Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. How he had yelled at Ron and Hermione, and how Sirius had told him more than Dumbledore had, and everything else from the summer at headquarters.

He tried to settle down and write some more on the Transfiguration essay he had started a weak ago, but it was impossible without Hermione's aid. Ripper whimpered at his feet, reminding Harry the dog was still here, waiting patiently, watching over Harry's every move.

The animal had been indoors for all day. He must have to go out, Harry thought, so he and Ripper descended the stairs. As the door was locked, he jumped out from the living room window. Although the dog was fat, it jumped after him quite easily, nothing graceful, mind you, but quite impressive nonetheless. Harry and Ripper wandered aimlessly down the rows of houses. The dog was doing all sort of silly things, like running after his tail or picking sticks and running around with them in his mouth.

Harry turned the corner into Magnolia Crescent, crossed it, and then turned onto Wisteria Walk. He was just walking aimlessly and didn't realise he was walking past Mrs. Figg's house until it was too late. Spotting one of her cats, Ripper forgot all about the branch he had been carrying for the past five minute, launching itself for the chase. Harry called him back, but there was no stopping him. Luckily for the cat, it was close to the house and ran inside through the cat door, which has too small for the Ripper, though it did not stop him from trying, which resulted in him getting stuck in Mrs. Figg's door.

The old batty squib came out after freeing Ripper with well-placed broom thumps. She was very cross, but when she saw Harry, her bad mood vanished. Harry thought she looked as though seeing him safe and sound was a miracle.

Though once again she invited him for a tea, Harry politely refused, saying he couldn't stay because of the dog. Once he and Ripper passed several more houses and were out of sight, Harry reached down and patted the dog on the head. That had been close.

Over the course of his walk, he passed very close Polkiss' house. Luckily the music blaring was so loud that he realized he was nearing the house in time to turn onto Magnolia Road, instead of passing by the front door. He knew it would have been much too tempting, even for Dudley, to torment him in front of everybody. Dudley's honour would have to be upheld in front of that many people regardless of whether Harry had his wand, which Harry did; it was always in his back pocket, Harry ignoring Moody's warning of a buttockless life.

No, Harry was in no mood for tantrum at the moment and he was going to avoid the possibility at all costs. Be careful and don't do anything rash... that had been Sirius's advice and although Sirius himself had not cared too much about this, Harry knew better.

Finally, once the animal had calmed down, Harry got back to his aunt and uncle's house, and went in through the same window. He didn't care if the neighbours saw him sneaking in like this. It was, after all, his home. And it wouldn't have surprised them at any rate. After all, he was a hardened hooligan who attended St. Brutus's Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys.

It was already dark when he returned home, but he did not bother to turn the lights on. Ever since he was little, Harry had been accustomed to darkness because of all those days spent in the cupboard under the stairs. Getting to his room, he lay on the bed as he had grown accustomed. Thoughts kept coming into his mind, thoughts so dark and forbidding like only a Dementor's presence could stir up. But there were none around. It was just his mind growing wilder by the day.

Special thanks to my beta reader who made this story readable, and added some nice bits.

And thanks to those who review. And, no, for those who have already read the story in the original format (few, extremely long, hard to read chapters) I won't have new chapters for quite some time, my beta reader is still working on my former chapter 2 and 3.