A/N Since I keep forgetting to do this, here it is. All the chars in here
are J. K. Rowling's. There might be a few I make up to add to the story, so
they're mine. You'll be able to tell them apart from her's, trust me. So uh
I guess that's the copyright. Here's chapter four.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ignoring Dudley, Harry went into his room. Flopping down on his bed, he stared up at the ceiling and tried to imagine what it would to be like to have Dudley at his school. 'Horrible' was the only word that came to mind.
A tapping sound at his window got his attention. Looking over he saw Hedwig hovering just outside it, along with Pig and Errol. Jumping up, he opened the window and let the three owls land on his bed. Errol, like always, looked exhausted. Harry immediately carried him to Hegwig's cage where he feebly drank some of the water. He was taking a rather heavy package away from Hedwig when a fourth owl flew in from the window. It dropped a letter on the bed and flew right back out. After relieving Hedwig, Pig, and Errol from their burdens, Harry snatched up the letter.
"Yes! My O.W.L. results!"
"Owl? What's an owl result?" Dudley demanded, coming closer to the bed. Harry jumped. He hadn't realized that his cousin was in the room.
"Ordinary Wizarding Levels.." Harry explained, tearing open the envelope. He scanned over his grades before smiling broadly. He had O's and E's in everything except Divination, in which he had a P.
He tore opened the package Hedwig had been carrying. Inside was a birthday card and present from Hermione. Opening the card first, he saw a picture of Hermione waving at him.
"THAT PICTURE IS MOVING!" Dudley yelled. He had been peeking over Harry's shoulder. Harry sighed. "Yes, Dudley. In the wizarding world, pictures move. Get used to it." He said shortly before turning back to the card and reading the happy birthday note inside.
'Happy Birthday, Harry!' it read. Grinning, Harry read on.
'I heard about your cousin being a wizard. He was in the Dailey Prophet, a picture of him stuck on the roof. I do hope he's okay. It also said he's starting Hogwarts this year. Won't that be fun.'
Even in the letter Harry could detect Hermione's hints of sarcasm.
'I'll be getting my stuff next Wednesday, Ron'll be there too. I hope you can make it '-Hermione'
"Hey, she's sort of cute.." Dudley said, looking at Hermione's picture
again.
Harry froze. "You will leave her alone." He said coldly. "I mean it,
Dudley."
"Why, Harry? She your girlfriend?" Dudley taunted.
Harry stood, griping his wand tightly in one hand. "Hermione is my best friend." He said firmly. "You WILL leave her alone. You will NOT mess with her."
"Fine! God, just open her present already!"
Sitting back down, Harry obeyed.
Undoing the cord with the knife Sirius had given him and pulling off the brown paper, Harry saw his gift from Hermione. It was, of all things, a book. Hogwarts, A History, to be exact. Harry smacked one hand to his forehead as he laughed. Dudley didn't get it.
"What's so funny about a book?" he demanded.
"Private joke." Harry said, still grinning as he opened the parcel from Ron.
There was a birthday card, of course, and a large bundle of sweets and items that all had a Weasley's Wizard Wheezes stamp somewhere on them.
"Ohhh lemme have one!" Dudley said, reaching for a fat toffee.
"No!" Harry knocked Dudley's arm out of the way. "Remember the toffee that made your tongue grow?"
Dudley shrank back. "I'm er going to go to bed now.." he said, disappearing out of the room.
Harry laughed and opened the card from Ron.
'Dear Harry,
'Happy birthday, bud! I can't wait to see you! Dad says your cousin's a wizard. Pity. But then, we can pick on him at Hogwarts! Revenge is sweet. By the way, don't eat the sweets! Or if you do, be careful. I tried to pick out some of the safest ones, but you know Fred and George..
'Ginny's a prefect, I don't know how yet. Mother's very pleased. She's getting her own pet, a cat I think.
'Anyways, you've got to come with me and Hermione to Diagon Ally. We'll all get our junk together, all right?
'-Ron'
Pulling out a quill, Harry quickly scribbled a reply.
'Sure, Ron. Only I have to bring Dudley with me. My uncle's orders. Also, I'm sending Pig ahead of Errol, I'm not sure if he can make it on the way back yet.' He folded the note up and attached it to Pig's leg. The little owl shot out of the window at high speed.
Harry sighed. He was alone again. Well, there were two owls in his room, but he longed for some human companionship.
Looking through the bag of Wizard Wheezes, Harry decided he could have some fun with Dudley this year. but decided against it.
'Your above that,' Hermione would say. 'Just because he ruined most of your life doesn't mean you have to ruin his. Besides, feel some pity. He's going to be learning with kids about five years younger then him!'
His eyes began to shut, and with the sound of Hedwig's hooting in his ear, Harry fell asleep. ~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry woke early the next morning. The sun had barely began to rise over the houses on Privet drive. Yawning, he fumbled for his glasses a moment before realizing that they were still on his face.
"Musta fella sleep last night." he muttered sleepily. Getting up he changed clothes. He was literally swimming in Dudley's old clothes, they were at least 6 sizes to big for him. Finding an old, worn belt, he wrapped it about his waist in vague hopes of keeping his pants up.
Harry cleaned his glasses with his shirt. Opening his trunk he pulled out his schoolbooks and looked through them. He had finished his Potions essay last week; he just had one for Charms to do still.
After staring at his Charms book for a quarter of an hour, Harry realized that an essay for Charms was the last thing he wanted to do today. He looked longingly over to his trunk that held his Firebolt.
'I wish I was at the Burrow,' Harry thought. 'Then I could fly it and not have to worry about being sighted by muggles.'
But, unfortunately, he was not at the Burrow. And he highly doubted that he could fly his Firebolt down Privet drive without being seen. Snapping his book shut, he found some parchment and a quill.
'Ron,
'Any chance I can come over this summer? The muggles, and Dudley, are driving me crazy. Are you guys at the Burrow or-' Harry stopped. Shutting his eyes, he took a deep breath and got control over his emotions. 'or are you at Sirius' place?
'Write back soon
'-Harry'
Harry walked across the room to Hedwig's cage and pulled Errol out. The old owl looked a little better, but not much. Tying the note to Errol's leg, he opened the window and sent the owl out into the crisp morning air. ~*~*~*~*~
An hour later Harry's stomach started rumbling. It also refused to be ignored. Walking down the stairs and into the kitchen, he saw his aunt, uncle, and cousin had just started eating.
Taking a seat, Harry put some food onto his plate. No one was talking. No one would look at him. He vaguely wondered if yesterday had really happened or if he had just dreamt it all. 'Not a dream, more like a nightmare..' he thought as he began eating.
"When'll you be getting your school stuff?" his uncle asked finally, breaking the silence.
Harry blinked. 'Dang,' he thought. 'It wasn't a dream after all.' "Err next Wednesday, I believe.."
"We'll give you a ride to London."
Harry nodded, stunned. His uncle had never volunteered his services before. But then, Dudley was the one he was probably helping most.
"We'll also be entrusting our money to Dudley until you can exchange it for your money."
Harry nodded again. This made more sense. His aunt and uncle had never given him money to hold on to before, why should they start now?
An owl flew in through the open window. Harry reached up and grabbed Pig, looking worriedly at his Aunt and Uncle. They said nothing.
"Er. I'll go read this in my room.." he stood up from the table and hurried upstairs, surprised that Ron had replied so fast and that his Aunt and Uncle weren't mad. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
'Sure, Harry. Mum says you can come' Harry read Ron's reply and a grin came over his face.
'We're at Sirius's house, though. Hope you don't mind. I can tell that you want to fly, but you just have to wait for school to start! Did Dumbledore tell you? You're back on the team as Seeker. I'm still Keeper, and I think Ginny might try out for Chaser. We do need more, now that ours are all gone.
'Anyways, Dad'll come and get you. I think he'll be using a portkey, but I'm not sure. He certainly isn't traveling by floo powder. He'll be there in five days, so be ready!
'-Ron'
Ignoring Dudley, Harry went into his room. Flopping down on his bed, he stared up at the ceiling and tried to imagine what it would to be like to have Dudley at his school. 'Horrible' was the only word that came to mind.
A tapping sound at his window got his attention. Looking over he saw Hedwig hovering just outside it, along with Pig and Errol. Jumping up, he opened the window and let the three owls land on his bed. Errol, like always, looked exhausted. Harry immediately carried him to Hegwig's cage where he feebly drank some of the water. He was taking a rather heavy package away from Hedwig when a fourth owl flew in from the window. It dropped a letter on the bed and flew right back out. After relieving Hedwig, Pig, and Errol from their burdens, Harry snatched up the letter.
"Yes! My O.W.L. results!"
"Owl? What's an owl result?" Dudley demanded, coming closer to the bed. Harry jumped. He hadn't realized that his cousin was in the room.
"Ordinary Wizarding Levels.." Harry explained, tearing open the envelope. He scanned over his grades before smiling broadly. He had O's and E's in everything except Divination, in which he had a P.
He tore opened the package Hedwig had been carrying. Inside was a birthday card and present from Hermione. Opening the card first, he saw a picture of Hermione waving at him.
"THAT PICTURE IS MOVING!" Dudley yelled. He had been peeking over Harry's shoulder. Harry sighed. "Yes, Dudley. In the wizarding world, pictures move. Get used to it." He said shortly before turning back to the card and reading the happy birthday note inside.
'Happy Birthday, Harry!' it read. Grinning, Harry read on.
'I heard about your cousin being a wizard. He was in the Dailey Prophet, a picture of him stuck on the roof. I do hope he's okay. It also said he's starting Hogwarts this year. Won't that be fun.'
Even in the letter Harry could detect Hermione's hints of sarcasm.
'I'll be getting my stuff next Wednesday, Ron'll be there too. I hope you can make it '-Hermione'
"Hey, she's sort of cute.." Dudley said, looking at Hermione's picture
again.
Harry froze. "You will leave her alone." He said coldly. "I mean it,
Dudley."
"Why, Harry? She your girlfriend?" Dudley taunted.
Harry stood, griping his wand tightly in one hand. "Hermione is my best friend." He said firmly. "You WILL leave her alone. You will NOT mess with her."
"Fine! God, just open her present already!"
Sitting back down, Harry obeyed.
Undoing the cord with the knife Sirius had given him and pulling off the brown paper, Harry saw his gift from Hermione. It was, of all things, a book. Hogwarts, A History, to be exact. Harry smacked one hand to his forehead as he laughed. Dudley didn't get it.
"What's so funny about a book?" he demanded.
"Private joke." Harry said, still grinning as he opened the parcel from Ron.
There was a birthday card, of course, and a large bundle of sweets and items that all had a Weasley's Wizard Wheezes stamp somewhere on them.
"Ohhh lemme have one!" Dudley said, reaching for a fat toffee.
"No!" Harry knocked Dudley's arm out of the way. "Remember the toffee that made your tongue grow?"
Dudley shrank back. "I'm er going to go to bed now.." he said, disappearing out of the room.
Harry laughed and opened the card from Ron.
'Dear Harry,
'Happy birthday, bud! I can't wait to see you! Dad says your cousin's a wizard. Pity. But then, we can pick on him at Hogwarts! Revenge is sweet. By the way, don't eat the sweets! Or if you do, be careful. I tried to pick out some of the safest ones, but you know Fred and George..
'Ginny's a prefect, I don't know how yet. Mother's very pleased. She's getting her own pet, a cat I think.
'Anyways, you've got to come with me and Hermione to Diagon Ally. We'll all get our junk together, all right?
'-Ron'
Pulling out a quill, Harry quickly scribbled a reply.
'Sure, Ron. Only I have to bring Dudley with me. My uncle's orders. Also, I'm sending Pig ahead of Errol, I'm not sure if he can make it on the way back yet.' He folded the note up and attached it to Pig's leg. The little owl shot out of the window at high speed.
Harry sighed. He was alone again. Well, there were two owls in his room, but he longed for some human companionship.
Looking through the bag of Wizard Wheezes, Harry decided he could have some fun with Dudley this year. but decided against it.
'Your above that,' Hermione would say. 'Just because he ruined most of your life doesn't mean you have to ruin his. Besides, feel some pity. He's going to be learning with kids about five years younger then him!'
His eyes began to shut, and with the sound of Hedwig's hooting in his ear, Harry fell asleep. ~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry woke early the next morning. The sun had barely began to rise over the houses on Privet drive. Yawning, he fumbled for his glasses a moment before realizing that they were still on his face.
"Musta fella sleep last night." he muttered sleepily. Getting up he changed clothes. He was literally swimming in Dudley's old clothes, they were at least 6 sizes to big for him. Finding an old, worn belt, he wrapped it about his waist in vague hopes of keeping his pants up.
Harry cleaned his glasses with his shirt. Opening his trunk he pulled out his schoolbooks and looked through them. He had finished his Potions essay last week; he just had one for Charms to do still.
After staring at his Charms book for a quarter of an hour, Harry realized that an essay for Charms was the last thing he wanted to do today. He looked longingly over to his trunk that held his Firebolt.
'I wish I was at the Burrow,' Harry thought. 'Then I could fly it and not have to worry about being sighted by muggles.'
But, unfortunately, he was not at the Burrow. And he highly doubted that he could fly his Firebolt down Privet drive without being seen. Snapping his book shut, he found some parchment and a quill.
'Ron,
'Any chance I can come over this summer? The muggles, and Dudley, are driving me crazy. Are you guys at the Burrow or-' Harry stopped. Shutting his eyes, he took a deep breath and got control over his emotions. 'or are you at Sirius' place?
'Write back soon
'-Harry'
Harry walked across the room to Hedwig's cage and pulled Errol out. The old owl looked a little better, but not much. Tying the note to Errol's leg, he opened the window and sent the owl out into the crisp morning air. ~*~*~*~*~
An hour later Harry's stomach started rumbling. It also refused to be ignored. Walking down the stairs and into the kitchen, he saw his aunt, uncle, and cousin had just started eating.
Taking a seat, Harry put some food onto his plate. No one was talking. No one would look at him. He vaguely wondered if yesterday had really happened or if he had just dreamt it all. 'Not a dream, more like a nightmare..' he thought as he began eating.
"When'll you be getting your school stuff?" his uncle asked finally, breaking the silence.
Harry blinked. 'Dang,' he thought. 'It wasn't a dream after all.' "Err next Wednesday, I believe.."
"We'll give you a ride to London."
Harry nodded, stunned. His uncle had never volunteered his services before. But then, Dudley was the one he was probably helping most.
"We'll also be entrusting our money to Dudley until you can exchange it for your money."
Harry nodded again. This made more sense. His aunt and uncle had never given him money to hold on to before, why should they start now?
An owl flew in through the open window. Harry reached up and grabbed Pig, looking worriedly at his Aunt and Uncle. They said nothing.
"Er. I'll go read this in my room.." he stood up from the table and hurried upstairs, surprised that Ron had replied so fast and that his Aunt and Uncle weren't mad. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
'Sure, Harry. Mum says you can come' Harry read Ron's reply and a grin came over his face.
'We're at Sirius's house, though. Hope you don't mind. I can tell that you want to fly, but you just have to wait for school to start! Did Dumbledore tell you? You're back on the team as Seeker. I'm still Keeper, and I think Ginny might try out for Chaser. We do need more, now that ours are all gone.
'Anyways, Dad'll come and get you. I think he'll be using a portkey, but I'm not sure. He certainly isn't traveling by floo powder. He'll be there in five days, so be ready!
'-Ron'
