NEAR MISS
Harry's Jaw dropped. He stared and stared at the person who is sitting in front of him in a cushioned chair with her legs resting on balustrade, headphones on her ears, eyes closed looking very blissful. She is wearing wheat colored shimmering tight fit top, and dark brown miniskirt with her belly visible as a small line above the skirt. Harry could see the wand sticking out of her back pocket.
"Hi Harry!"
Harry started out from his staring at Hermione. Venissa is looking at him amusedly.
"Hi!" he waved rather tonelessly, as though he is in trance and noticed her just now. He returned to staring at Hermione.
"Rather beautiful, isn't she?" asked Venissa with a slight husky voice.
Harry turned to her, and seeing that she is watching him, he blushed furiously. Venissa smiled knowingly.
Harry made a mental note not to turn in Hermione's direction while Venissa is present.
"Tell me, how much influence you have got here?" asked Harry trying to redirect focus from Hermione.
"Enough" answered Venissa.
"You know, Dudley is here to fight."
"So…?"
Harry is unable to understand whether her cool demeanor implied she already knows that, or simply she is being Venissa. She never let her feelings show in her face.
"I want to take him home." Answered Harry.
"You can't take people home once they enrolled in tango." Answered Venissa.
"Even if you talked to them?" asked Harry.
He is pretty sure Venissa can make him talk to Dudley if she wants him to.
"Yes, even if I talked to them." Answered Venissa.
"Come on Venissa, I know you can if you want to."
"Well, it's exactly as you said… IF I want to. There is a big IF in the air."
"See, I am pretty sure he will get injured in the match. If any thing happens to Dudley, then uncle Vernon would chuck me out." Answered Harry.
"One more reason why I should let the pig king to get his arse kicked."
"One more reason? Where do you suppose I should go?" asked Harry disbelievingly.
"Come to me. I am pretty sure I can get you a small nice place than the stinky bedroom they offer."
"I can't leave them, they are my only relatives." Exclaimed Harry.
"Don't tell me you like them. I know how much you hate them." Answered Venissa.
"Even then, they are my relatives." Answered Harry.
"Don't try that line with me; I know how superfluous that is." Answered Venissa in her bossy tone.
"See, I can't get out of that house."
"Tell me one reason why you should live with them."
"They are my only relatives."
"Now you are repeating your self."
"Just leave it Chilli. Let me talk to Dudley."
"I don't have the power to make you talk to Dudley. Even I should follow some rules if I want to stand in business. "
Harry tried another approach.
"Please…"
He folded his both hands to add to the effect.
Venissa observed him for some time. Then she sighed and asked one final question.
"Why are you so persistent on taking him home?"
"Because my uncle would chuck me out if any thing happens to him."
"Real reason?"
Harry sighed now. He some times wondered whether Venissa is legillimens.
"There is magical protection on that house which can not be reproduced." Answered Harry.
Venissa nodded her head satisfied with answer.
"You are not going to talk to your cousin immediately. I will try to convince him to withdraw, if he wishes to withdraw, then I would inform you. Even then it's against rules of tango. If he likes to stay and fight, then you just have to wait till he is beaten enough."
"Why shouldn't I come with you?"
"I told you. It's against rules. Even I should follow some rules." Said Venissa impatiently.
"Okay then" said Harry doubtfully. If Venissa is going to convince him, then Harry is not at all sure Dudley would withdraw.
"Trust me Harry; I can be damn persuasive if I want to. By the way, you may enjoy sight seeing." Answered Venissa with a sly grin, vanished behind curtains.
Harry cursed him self mentally, but promptly turned back to watch Hermione.
She is nodding her head to music, and tapping her legs now. Harry never thought about it, but Hermione is a girl. Hey, don't fly off the handle, but he never associated her with the girly … sexy dress she is wearing at present. In fact, he is amazed at his own obliviousness to the fact. She has perfect figure, her face has a charm in it that would make any one look at her twice….
'How come she is here?' Harry asked him self for the umpteenth time.
'May be Venissa has more influence with her than you know – by the way, what's with her dress? She is not a person who would wear a dress which would show her legs like that … she is my best friend. I shouldn't look at her like this while she is unaware of me watching her.' Harry berated him self mentally, and with extremely hard effort, turned towards the stands.
…after five minutes…
'Hmm…almost perfect legs… would she wake if I touch her… it's so smooth…'
'Stop it Harry, she is your best friend, whom your other best friend fancies.' He told him self.
'Exactly, if Ron fancies her why can't you fancy her?' asked his ever sarcastic sense of humor.
'Because Ron fancies her.' answered Harry to him self, but he still kept gazing at her.
'Then stop gawking at her' advised his not so gentle part.
'I have right to gaze at any girl I want.' Harry answered him self, kept looking at Hermione.
How ever, as soon as he began to look at her lips, Hermione opened her eyes.
Harry blinked.
Hermione blinked.
They both started speaking at same time, so fast, their speech is barely decipherable.
"Hermione, I am not looking at you. I was just staring at the crowd and got bored so I am looking at you. No! I just turned in side; you are in my vision line…"
Before Harry could go further, Hermione stopped him with saying
"Harry! What are you doing here? You are not supposed to leave the house."
Harry stopped rambling, gawked at her with his mouth slightly open. When he understood what she is saying, he bent his head looking slightly guilty and troubled at the same time.
"Harry?" reckoned Hermione.
"Dudley has come here. I thought uncle Vernon would be angry with me and throw me out of house if he sees Dudley all bruised. So I thought I will take him back to home." Mumbled Harry.
"Dudley! You have come here for Dudley? Are you aware of the danger you are putting your self in? The only place you are safe at is your house Harry! We don't even have order members here to help us… "Hermione would have continued if Venissa hadn't entered with drinks and stopped her with a very loud and vulgar tune.
"Don't sing that song around me…" snapped Hermione.
"Oh! Come on Honey! The only song that becomes Tango is this one." Answered Venissa as she placed the drinks on the small table in front of them.
Hermione glared at Venissa in return but when she didn't notice, Hermione averted her gaze to Harry and glared at him as if daring him to answer.
Harry is busy observing the floor and drinks table alternately.
"Come on! Sit down and take a glass." Said Venissa cheerfully.
Harry looked at Hermione, who held his gaze for a second and flopped down not so gracefully.
"We have to get Harry back to home." Said Hermione looking at Venissa. Venissa raised her eye brows.
"But Dudley" said Harry.
"Your cousin can look after him self."
"But uncle Vernon"
"That house is the only safe place for you"
"But they"
"We don't even have order to look after us here"
"You"
"I am not Harry potter, I am not famous, there is no dark lord hiding behind dustbins to kill me"
"Stop it Hermione. Why, you will be in same amount of danger for being here, I didn't see that restraining you from enjoying music." Snarled Harry angrily. He barely restrained him self from shouting.
Hermione huffed in answer. Harry turned his attention to Venissa.
"I talked to him. He doesn't want to leave. If I didn't know better, I would say he is in dire need of money. Any way, I promise you he would leave after first fight." Venissa answered with a strange gleam in her eyes.
"What have you done?" asked Harry alarmed.
"Oh nothing Harry! I am just going to show him consequences of not listening to me." Answered Venissa in a light tone.
"please don't hurt him too much" pleaded Harry ( even he is surprised at this request as he would not at all mind seeing Dudley bullied at least once).
"Oh there will be minimal number of injuries on his body." Answered Venissa.
"What have you planned?" asked Harry.
"Just a little lesson." Answered Venissa.
Harry resigned from talking any further. She is not going to tell him.
Harry sat in the chair, for the first time glanced at the scene below. A lot of people are sitting around in chairs, most of them teenagers, others who looked like they are very respectable people of society, or in other words, like uncle Vernon.
Hermione now leaned against the nearest pillar, looking in to crowd. She seems to have forgotten that he is present in the box.
Hermione perspective------------------
Harry turned his attention to Venissa and started speaking to her. It is clear to her that he is not going to turn to her any time soon.
She just stood up and moved towards the pillar.
'Why do they every time see me as though I am pilferer of their rights? I am just thinking about his safety, and he implies that I have no right to remind him about his safety.'
Hermione felt like crying again. 'It's her third year all over. She just wanted him to be safe, and there he is… ignoring her.' Hermione looked at him.
'He came for his cousin' Hermione commented sarcastically to herself. 'Big fat chance of that… how come he becomes all chummy with his cousin and comes here to prevent his cousin from fighting? While he is telling how his cousin is beating and picking fights with him for past four years?'
She looked idly in to crowd while her eyes stung lightly with tears.
She wiped the tear that rolled down her cheeks. She seemed to be crying a lot this summer.
'What am I thinking about? This is a time of war where my best friend's life is in jeopardy, and here I am thinking about non relevant matters. Forget it Granger.' She told herself.
'The task before you now is just convincing Harry to go back before order or death eaters gets wind of his absence from home.'
Once she decided what she is going to do, her eyes became normal, and suddenly she became aware of the crowd that is below.
One of the teenagers below is looking at her. She looked at him doubtfully to decide whether he is looking at her. As soon as he perceived she is looking at him, he blew a kiss in her way. Hermione blushed despite her resolve of not to, and she immediately retreated to her seat to prevent further communication. That is when she became aware of the dress she is wearing, and the Harry's rambling in the beginning. 'What is Harry doing till then? Watching me?' she looked at her self. Neither of her friends had seen her in such dress till now. As she looked at herself, Hermione regretted listening to Venissa for the first time. Actually, she picked a nice skirt with a bush shirt. Venissa chucked both back in to suitcase, and brought the dress from her own collection, saying that she would attract unnecessary attention if she wore formal dress. 'Stupid me … any way, Harry wouldn't have noticed it. He wouldn't even look at me.' she told her self firmly before turning to him.
It seemed he is indeed looking at her.
'He hadn't noticed your dress' she told to her self, took a deep breath, started talking to him in low voice.
"Listen Harry, I am not trying to tell you what is right or what is wrong as you can very well decide them for you. Even you know your importance in this war. There is a reason Dumbledore is protecting you with all his might. You may not know it, but there are a lot of people who like you and who don't want to see you hurt.' --
Harry's stomach churned with guilty. Does she know about prophecy? Hermione continued.
'I really, really don't appreciate locking you in your own home. But Harry, at present, your uncle's house is the only safe place for you other than grimmaud place. Even you know that the position of order is very delicate, what with Voldemort declaring his sovereign and its continued strength to hold against aurors and order. They would need all the order members to help them. You are getting me, aren't you?" asked Hermione looking at Harry's guilty yet silently raging face.
Harry is trying to contain his anger. 'Why? Why I don't even have the privilege of coming out at least once in a while?'
His ever ready sarcastic voice answered him -
'Because you got your godfather killed last time you went out against wishes of elders. Does 'dementors' ring any bells? '
Harry sighed. Hermione looked a bit surprised.
He hung his head resentfully, and was about to answer her when the starting announcement came.
The fights are about to commence. The crowd cheered wildly, and nothing is audible over the din of wild crowd.
Harry turned his eyes to arena instead of facing Hermione who is looking at him pleadingly. He very well knows he would agree with her if he kept looking at her.
The participants are Piers Polkiss and Ruby Dander. They both entered arena.
Piers is Dudley, his half face mask may have fooled any one, but not Harry. He observed the opponent of Dudley. He looked like a very experienced fighter. He is almost as high as Dudley, has quite impressive muscle, stood in a posture that conveyed confidence and danger.
Dudley looked physically bigger than his opponent, but it is clearly visible to every one he is not as experienced. His muscle is impressive, Harry shuddered when he imagined what would have happened if Dudley is able to punch him now.
Harry leaned slightly towards Venissa who is watching with extreme eager ness, asked in a low voice.
"Who will win?"
Venissa answered with out even looking at him.
"Your cousin."
"Did you arrange the result?" asked Harry in severe tone.
"This is an illegal match." answered Venissa with out moving her eyes from the players in arena.
"Does that mean you did?"
"I did plan a sweet memory for your cousin."
"Tell me about this Ruby" demanded Harry.
"He is a third degree expert. Meaning, he is expert at beating stuff out of people with out bruises showing on their muscle. He is the most experienced and intelligent fighter. I generally use him only when I have too formidable opponents." Answered Venissa.
Harry looked at them in apprehension. He didn't like it one bit.
The two fighters circled around each other.
Dudley stuck the first blow. He aimed a quite accurate punch at his opponent's head, Ruby dodged it, aimed a punch for Dudley's ribs. Dudley seems to have missed the punch just by a hair line.
Dudley immediately aimed a hook at his Ruby's ribs and just as Ruby is about to dodge it, he pounded on Ruby's back.
Harry is surprised by the agility Dudley displayed. He never thought Dudley can move so fast.
Ruby fell to floor, but he rose quickly. He eyed his opponent warily. Harry looked at Venissa; even she is looking slightly surprised. 'That means Dudley is good' thought he to him self.
Dudley aimed his leg at middle of Ruby; however, Ruby dodged it fairly easily, and tripped Dudley on to floor. Before Dudley could recover, he aimed one hard blow to Dudley's chest. The flesh turned slightly blue there. Ruby immediately hit another blow in his ribs, another on other side of his ribs, referee stopped Ruby before he could beat Dudley in to pulp.
Dudley recovered soon.
As soon as he entered field, Ruby aimed another punch at Dudley's chest, however, Dudley dodged it with surprising agility, pounded on Ruby's back by keeping him in a headlock with his hands. Soon, Ruby is down, and referee stopped him.
After two such extremely violent and exciting rounds, Dudley won set with three to five. How ever, as Venissa predicted, rather planned, he seemed worse for wear with a bleeding nose, and badly injured torso.
Harry nudged Venissa harder as he saw Dudley exit. Venissa nodded unenthusiastically, and stood up to lead him to Dudley. Harry looked at Hermione to tell her to come along, but noticing the green look on her face, he gave her time to refresh her self.
It seemed she had vomited every thing she had eaten since evening.
"Are you okay? "Asked Harry as she reached him. Her pallor is not very good.
Hermione just nodded her head in answer.
Harry not trusting her, held her arm to support her. Hermione clutched to his arm as though it is her lifejacket, she is still ghastly pale. Harry regretted staying for the complete match, at least he could have taken her out, and came in when fight is over. … 'that's way too ridiculous, she would have convinced me to leave if I ever looked in her direction.' he supported him self.
They are soon going in to the locker room where participants are present.
Dudley is being given first aid. Harry waited till it is over to confront Dudley.
"Dudley…" he called as soon as doctor left Dudley.
"Potter…"Dudley growled in answer.
"What are you doing here?" asked he with out even looking towards Harry.
"What do you think Duddykins? Of course, to watch stuff beaten out of you." Answered Harry.
Before he could speak further, Venissa scrunched her nose, sniffed at the air around her.
Then she leaned dangerously close to Dudley, and sniffed at his mouth.
When she leaned back, her face acquired extremely dangerous expression.
"Did you take any drugs?" asked Venissa in her too low growling voice.
Dudley looked shocked with fear for a minute. He recovered soon and answered with defiance.
"What if I did?"
'idiot' thought Harry to him self. 'you should deny' added he mentally to him self.
"Which one?" asked Venissa?
"Why should I tell you?" asked Dudley bravely, but his face shown some of his fear.
"You would better if you want to live." Answered Venissa.
Before Dudley could answer to that, she added in what Harry thought placating voice – "Taking drugs right before match can be extremely hazardous Dursley. If one of your ribcage is broken, then an inflating Drug will make your lungs to inflate enough to touch ribcage, thus cutting them inch by inch. When lungs are pierced, blood rushes in to your lungs, and you will die immediately by vomiting blood out."
Harry shuddered at the explanation Venissa gave. 'If this is what her persuasion meant, I don't know how Dudley had the nerve to participate.' He commented to him self.
Venissa is not yet finished.
"If you took a numbing agent, then you would never know the extent of your injuries, consequently you are in the danger of killing your self just by overexerting. Performance increasing agents consist of an inflating agent, and a bit of mind numbing agent which causes you to die because of sheer nerve tension."
Harry is impressed. In his opinion Dudley is still conscious only because he didn't understand half of what Venissa had said. If he did, he would have fainted long since.
"It is a performance increasing drug."
"And…"prompted Venissa.
"Brown sugar." Answered Dudley.
Venissa narrowed her eyes.
"Dress as fast as you can Dursley. We are leaving to hospital." She answered Dudley, and she whirled towards Harry who is now holding an ashen looking Hermione. Venissa observed Hermione who is looking wide-eyed at her, she leaned towards her and whispered in to her ear.
"Don't worry Hermione, half of them are lies. He will be in danger only if he took excess amount of brown sugar."
Hermione looked at her as though she is looking at Venissa for the first time.
"Harry, help your cousin to dress." Venissa ordered briskly to Harry, then lead Hermione out.
Dudley is not even able to walk properly. Harry, for the second time in his life, started helping his cousin to move, but this is better than last time seeing as he had some of his conscious ness.
By the time they reached out, Hermione looked normal. Venissa relieved Harry of carrying Dudley, by taking upon her self to carry him.
Just as they are about to leave, Dudley groaned.
"What?" snapped Venissa.
"My money" answered Dudley.
She scowled in answer.
"Keep your tag safely. You will get money when ever you give that tag in next month." Answered she.
Soon Venissa is muttering about fools who think about their money when people are trying to save them.
Dudley did not dare comment.
They shoved Dudley in to back seat with extremely hard effort.
Suddenly, a green light came toward Harry.
Hermione cried out loud for him, Harry just dodged the light.
Hermione took Venissa by hand and ran in to building instinctively, while Harry crouched and rolled behind nearest shade, squinted his eyes in to air.
He could hear Hermione's voice crying out "Revelo"
A white mist flown in to air.
"miscues crelatio" cried Hermione.
A thick grey mist covered them. Before Harry understood what is going on, a hand grabbed him and pulled him. A green light stuck where he had been just moment ago. Soon, he found him self flung at one of car's doors. Suddenly, Harry heard a thud, he whipped his wand in the direction.
A death eater is in front of them casting a spell towards Hermione who is looking at him stunned with car door half open.
Harry cried out – "stupefy" before death eater could cast the spell.
He climbed in to car quickly, and closed the door.
Hermione, snapping out of her shock, climbed in to car too. As soon as Hermione got in, Venissa started the car, and rushed it forward.
Hermione reached out with her wand, cast some kind of spell on the car.
After a moment, Harry understood it is a modified form of disillusionment charm. He shoved very frightened looking Dudley from him, and looked through the window. There is one death eater visible on broom. Harry took aim, and cast stupefy.
The death eater saw the light, dodged just in time, only to be hit by Harry's impedimenta curse. He fell out of his broom.
Before Harry could aim another curse at them, a red jet came in his direction.
Harry quickly raised his shield. He could see Hermione casting some kind of charm on car.
Just after a second Harry saw a green light on the roof…
"dodge it." cried Hermione pointing to green dot.
Venissa swirled the car suddenly. The green light grazed the right side of car, hit the road.
Hermione is explaining to Venissa – " avoid the green lights at any cost because they are killing curses, red ones are stunners but even they are …"
Venissa is nodding her head enthusiastically as though she is explaining about alien attack.
Harry could see a big crater where killing curse hit the road. A pelt smashed in to the side window pane smashing it completely. Cool air rushed in to the car.
Dudley cried in pain as the air hit his face. It seems he is sporting a really nasty bruise on his nose, chilly air burned it painfully.
Hermione stuck her wand out, and cast another unknown spell.
"Revelo Misthcus Persisto" waving her wand in complex parabolic and jabbing motions accompanied by a cloud shape.
A cloud of mist rose in front of them dissipating in air and targeting what seemed to be multiple death eaters.
Harry could clearly see the four death eaters now. He aimed his wand at the first one. He cast a stunner towards him, but it missed the death eater by wide space. Harry cursed when he saw the death eater trying to apply disillusion charm to him self, but fortunately, it didn't work. Harry tried to aim properly, and then spoke very softly, "Rictumsepra". This time, the charm hit the death eater since he is trying to disillusion himself at the time, but it didn't have much of effect on him other than him dropping the broom by a wide gap.
Harry saw the red light coming towards him in last second, bent his head in seat. The stunner hit Dudley in chest, making him blown up towards the window, thus unsettling the car's direction. Harry could hear the back lights blow up from the contact with rails on road.
Venissa increased the speed to maximum. Harry could see now they are traveling with seventy miles speed. Suddenly Venissa made and extremely sharp u turn, thus reversing their direction, and she raised the speed to hundred. This turn is followed by another violent right angled turn, they entered a dark alley. The dark alley ended as fast as it began, they are joined in a plethora of cars running on high-way.
Harry pulled at Dudley's head making him lay on the back seat, while he him self transferred his position to laying in the gap between front seats and back seats. He raised his head slowly, looked from back pane. he could see death eaters emerge at the beginning of the dark alley, because it is in between two tall apartments, but they are now looking at the passing cars snarling at each other. In a second, Venissa took another turn, and their car joined another busy road where they mingled with the other cars.
"are they gone Harry?"
Harry jumped at the sound of whispering in his ear. Hermione is crouched in the same position, i.e. abandoned her seat, sitting crouched in the gap for luggage at front seat, trying to look through back side windows.
"Reparo" she muttered pointing her wand at the back side window.
Window pane at which she pointed rebuilt it self, how ever, there are jagged gaps in the glass.
She narrowed her eyes at the look, waved her wand in a complex pattern, along with an unfamiliar incantation, which Harry supposed is a charm.
"what have you done?" asked Harry.
"matter spreading spell, the pane is thin, but it is repaired." Answered Hermione.
"they are gone." Asserted Venissa from front seat.
"Yeah." Piped up Hermione and Harry both from back seat trying to calm down their racing hearts.
"wow! That's a cool chase." Exclaimed Venissa suddenly.
They both turned at her looking disbelievingly in her direction. Venissa is not looking at them.
"I thought they are going to use some thing like laser guns or so, but your wand stuff is pretty cool." Continued she with out noticing the looks of incredulity on their faces.
"we could have been killed in the breadth of second, and you are saying it's a cool chase? You are insane." Cried Hermione.
"come on Honey! I am having pretty boring life these days. You know, when I am in America, life is filled with brawls and chases. Here, it's simply going, monitoring business, checking accounts, crediting bills. Now, that's what I would want life to be like. What would I do by living for another fifty years? I have had enough of life. If I die having fun, then it's cool." Answered Venissa.
Hermione sighed in exasperation, looked out of window checking for unnatural presence.
Harry sat wondering to him self. 'could this be how Sirius thought about life? He noticed lots of similarities between Venissa and Sirius. That's why he became her friend so fast. Could Sirius have thought he had enough of life, and he came there for dying? It can't be. He knew I depend on him. But even then, can it be?'
His more intelligent voice answered him…' of course it is you dolt. You your self said it, Sirius is bored out of his mind … he hated being locked. Forgot what he said when you told him about dementors? He would have welcomed dementor attack personally. Did he appreciate being called to a fight? Did he die knowing he would leave me alone? … '
His reverie is broken by Venissa speaking again.
"abracadabra" she said waving her hand towards the front pane.
"Honey! Can you provide camouflage for my flying horse? We are going to enter country road." She said in a sing-song voice to Hermione who is looking at her exasperatedly.
Harry didn't understand what she is asking for till Hermione reached out with her wand disillusioning the car.
They traveled for another half an hour with out any disturbances till Harry felt a small tingling at his scar. Harry reached out with his wand, and muttered "Nox". Head lights of car are gone suddenly. Venissa halted the car with sudden screech.
"what the hell are you thinking you are doing, you moron?" shouted Venissa at Harry.
"calm down chilli. I think we may be entering in to trap." Answered Harry.
Venissa scowled at Harry but stopped nevertheless.
Dudley is laid on one side moaning to him self. He's been doing it ever since Harry enervated him.
"well, get down." Snarled Venissa after a minute.
"what do you suppose we do after getting down?" asked Hermione in half mocking voice.
"scout the place of course. What do you think you should do?" snapped Venissa sounding like -you-don't-even-know-that?
Harry got down first, tried to drag a complaining Dudley along with him.
After exactly five steps, Dudley collapsed on road protesting to walk any further. Harry wanted to kick Dudley badly, but he restrained him self thinking Dudley is already half beaten, if he kicked at wrong place, some thing unwanted may happen triggering a chain of unwanted events. For one, uncle Vernon may chuck him out on mid night.
Venissa came back for them.
"what should we do?" asked Harry looking at Venissa.
Generally, that is the question he is asked by his friends. The situation reminded him uncannily of the Ministry of magic fiasco.
"get in to car." Said Venissa with out any feeling in her face. Harry could see her other hand keeping revolver ready to shoot to any side.
He never understood why Venissa always carries a revolver with her, how she is so much at ease with handling it… 'this is not the time to think about it' Harry reminded him self, tried to help Dudley who had plumped down on the road.
Venissa drove so skillfully, and silently, Harry wondered for a second whether it is the same girl who drove car with them from London till here with unnecessary bumps and jumps.
She parked the car in a place which is engulfed by shadows of trees, got down with out making slightest noise. Venissa is acting so subtly, and sneakily, she is getting on to Harry's nerves. Generally, Venissa is always loud one, and her clumsiness is bested by none other than Tonks.
'she wouldn't have been able to pull of all the pranks if she is so clumsy.' Harry observed to him self, then followed Venissa out. Venissa stopped Hermione who is getting down by saying she should stay with Dudley, and keep watch around their car.
Then, she lead Harry through a narrow gap between two houses. Harry knows this path, he used it when he is very small … when he is around eight. He used to hide from Dudley's friends in the back lane, which is not accessible from privet drive except with a long walk around park, magnolia crescent. Then, when ever he sensed Dudley is coming home or he is free, he used to climb on to the rail, and jump in to their house. Dudley will never be able to pull that off. He hadn't used it for seven years.
Harry noticed with slight surprise the things around northwest lane changed a bit. There are houses obscuring his lane from here. Venissa walked towards a tree, climbed it, she reached out to the end of high wall, climbed on to it. the wall is about ten feet high with small posts coming in between which are still more high. However, it is covered entirely in darkness. She walked on to end, seeing that Harry is not following her, she made a sign for him to follow. Harry repeated the procedure with little hardness.
After all, it is too many days since he climbed a tree. Harry could see the wall ending at back of Gray's house. They prepared to land on Gray's lawn, but Venissa stopped him in last minute, pulled him in to dark ness. Soon, Harry understood why. There are three people on visible three corners of privet drive, rather shadows seeing as they disillusioned them selves. Harry assumed another is stationed at other corner. Other than that, he could discern a sudden shadow moving to and fro in front of number four, Privet Drive.
'order members or death eaters?' it is the first question which popped in to his mind.
His conscience said its death eaters, after all, order members never kept watch disillusioned, they used Moody's invisibility cloaks. As far as vicinity is concerned, they always moved in places which are farther from the house, from where Harry's room is clearly visible, where at least one obscure place is near to them, so they could use it to apparate or disapparate at any time.
Venissa turned back silently, they left as silently as they came.
Hermione is getting more and more nervous as they went off. Harry's cousin is moaning continuously, his pallor seem to be getting slightly blue, whether it's true or Hermione's illusion. She wanted to cast the diagnosis charm on him badly, but she is barely restraining her self from doing it, because it would alert the magic detection charms. Hermione is on the point of breaking down when Harry and Venissa returned. She gave out a relieved sigh, gave a grateful hug to Harry. Her happiness is evaporated when she saw grave face of Harry.
"what's the problem?" asked Hermione. She is dreading the answer.
"death eaters are surrounding house." Answered Harry.
"what! How can they be? order members must be watching the house…" exclaimed Hermione.
"no. Harry's watchmen are not coming from two days." Answered Venissa.
This time both Harry and Hermione turned to her with incredulous looks on their faces.
"Honestly! They are not so subtle. Tonks trips on benches, and their foot prints can be seen even if they are not visible. there is Moody, his ting-tings can be heard, but he does some thing after coming then it stops. They would generally come with gun shot sound, its faint, but it can be heard if you listen for it." answered Venissa.
"How do you know in first place?" asked Harry wonderingly.
"Hospital. Your one…" answered Venissa. She waved them not to continue and spoke again.
"it doesn't matter what I know or don't know because no body knows I know some thing. What the problem at present is how to get in to your house with out letting them know we are here." Answered she.
"what should we do now?" asked Hermione looking at Harry.
Harry looked at her with same question in his eyes. They are interrupted by Dudley who moaned loudly.
Every one looked at him. Venissa is the first one to respond… she reached him, checked his pulse.
"we should take him to hospital." Answered she.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other.
"You go home, I and Venissa will join him in hospital. If your uncle asks, then tell him Dudley left for some friends house and he didn't tell which one. Okay?" asked Hermione.
Venissa looked at Harry to know his answer. From her expression, she approved of the plan.
"I'l come with you." Answered Harry
"Harry…" Hermione began.
"No Hermione. Already Ron is gone, and I will not send you any where alone. If some thing happens, I will face it by your side rather than staying in house and be informed by some one."
Hermione thought for a minute, then nodded her head in agreement. Harry is surprised, but then she might have thought he will not be convinced. Any way, its fine with him, so he didn't try to comment upon it.
They entered the adjoining alley, Venissa turned on the head lights…
A firework exploded in the air suddenly, it took a minute for Harry to understand they are wand sparks… the sparks are accompanied by a loud pop.
Author notes:
Hey, any one who reads this fiction, please review.
Some thing, you can say I suck or its not so bad …. Any thing.
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