While on these walks, Harry would have to walk past the local park, usually full of happy children, not that they ever invited Harry to play in their games. Harry would often watch them play though, for the lack of anything else to do, but he had no desire to hit a ball with a piece of wood or to run around chasing a ball in the vain hope of kicking it. There was only one sport that held Harry in thrall and that was Quidditch. Harry never felt better than when he was on his Firebolt soaring high above the playing field searching for the elusive Golden Snitch. Realistically, the summer would be the ideal time to play, rather than during the winter where cold hands and runny noses could make his job even harder. Sadly no Muggle had ever seen Quidditch let alone played it. Harry missed playing very much. He had hardly played for over 2 years at school because the Tri-Wizard tournament (which he had competed in and won) had meant that no Quidditch would be played during his fourth year and his fifth year had seen him be banned from playing by a Ministry appointed teacher. Ginny Weasley, the sister of his best friend and Gryffindor keeper Ron, had taken his place as seeker and done a decent job; but Harry felt sure that he would take back his place as soon as they returned to school.
One evening after one of these walks, Uncle Vernon had accosted him in the hall, "And where have you been?" he asked, his bristling moustache looking extra bushy.
"Out," replied Harry.
"I'm well aware of that. Put on your best clothes"
Harry looked down at his baggy jeans and over-large tatty t-shirt, a typical example from his cousin Dudley's "hand-me-down" collection. "These are my best clothes," he surmised. Uncle Vernon looked unimpressed by this remark but seemed to have rapidly come to the same conclusion. "Fine," he said, "well we're going out."
"Where?"
"We are going out for a meal to celebrate Dudley's GCSE results and I am loathe to say that you will have to come with us. Mrs Figg is unavailable and I am not leaving you alone to wreck this house." At this point, Aunt Petunia and Dudley appeared in the hallway. His Aunt was dressed in a shocking pink frock and Dudley had been squeezed into a grey suit with a pale blue tie, very similar to what Uncle Vernon was wearing, although he had chosen a dark blue one.
"Suits me," replied Harry, pleased at the prospect of eating some decent food rather than anything his Aunt Petunia could make. Uncle Vernon, however, had other plans, "You will not speak to the waiter; you will drink water and eat bread rolls. If there is any funny business you will be out of this house for good, I don't care what those freaks send us. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, I suppose so," replied Harry, "one question though…"
"What?"
"Can I have butter?"
