Chapter 11: Vengeance Is Sweets.
The summer holidays dragged on as usual, but Harry was looking forward to his birthday this time, even though the Dursleys never remembered his birthday. Harry would be turning seventeen this year, and would be allowed to use magic outside school.
Under normal circumstances, Harry would have wanted to get away from Privet Drive, away from his ignorant muggle relatives; so naturally, it came as a surprise to everyone when Harry owled his friends telling them that he wanted to stay at Privet Drive for a few days after his birthday.
Although suspicious by his actions, the Order members agreed. So here was, Harry in his small room in Privet Drive, looking out at the starry sky. He turned to look at his watch and smiled deviously gripping his wand. He was finally seventeen; it was now his turn to torment the Dursleys.
With his mind thinking of all the ways he can trouble his relatives, Harry Potter lay on his bed eventually giving in to sleep.
Harry woke up the next morning unusually happy. He was eagerly anticipating today's events. Putting his wand in the waistband of his jeans, in such a way that it was visible, he headed down for breakfast into the Dursleys unnaturally clean dining room.
Just as he expected, everyone was up. Uncle Vernon was reading the paper while sipping his coffee; Dudley was swallowing his food, his gaze fixed on the TV screen while Aunt Petunia was filling Dudley's plate cooing at him. As usual, Harry took his seat, filling his plate, his presence unacknowledged by anyone. After a few moments of silence, and careful examination of the situation, Harry carefully brought out his wand, and whispered a spell so that a sudden explosion took place in the kitchen catching the attention of all present.
Aunt Petunia suddenly looked out the window to make sure no one was looking before making her way to the kitchen, and before long; a loud shriek filled the house causing Uncle Vernon and Dudley to run over to the kitchen.
Harry immediately finished his breakfast and left the house unnoticed before everyone came out to search for him.
Harry decided to make his way up to Mrs Figg's, to put his second plan to action.
"What exactly happened in there?" A male voice made him stop in his tracks.
Whipping out his wand, Harry turned to face Lupin.
"Just a little accident I suppose." Harry replied smirking, putting his wand back.
"Really?" Lupin asked with an identical smirk. "What sort of accident?"
"Oh well I guess the kitchen lost its splendour." Said Harry. On seeing Remus' expressions he continued, "I put a bit of goo, slime & --"
"OWL DROPPINGS!!!" A shriek sounded from inside number four.
"—owl droppings in there." Harry finished laughing.
"Harry..." Remus started but could not continue because of his laughter.
The two laughed heartily before Remus sobered & said,
"You do realise that this is disgusting."
"It was the best way to get them worked up. Don't worry it's not permanent...but I sure won't anything from there anymore." Harry said his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Besides, they deserve it..." Harry said looking back at the house, his smile suddenly gone.
"So this is why you wanted to stay longer?" Remus said changing the subject.
"Precisely." Harry said walking towards Mrs Figg's house, his old mood back.
"What else do you have in mind?" Remus said following him.
"Just wait & see..." Harry said his eyes full of mischief.
"You know," Remus said looking at Harry, with a serious expression and a distant gaze. "You are definitely a marauder. A younger prongs if I must say." He finished looking away from him.
"He was also a big time prankster, and looking at you in mischief-mood, I sometimes feel he is back." Remus continued when Harry remained silent.
"So," Harry said. "That means we are in all these pranks together, Moony."
"What?" Remus asked Harry bewildered.
"Well considering you a marauder too, I think the marauders were famous for their extraordinary pranks." Harry replied a light grin caressing his face.
"But Harry..." Remus said before shifting his eyes back to his path. "I have come a long way from there."
"It's never too late to be who you were." Harry said. "Besides I am taking my revenge on them, and I think professional supervision would definitely help."
After a moment of silence, Remus smiled a mischievous smile as they stopped in front of Mrs Figg's door.
"I believe you are right Prongs Junior." Remus said patting him on the back.
"Of course I am Moony," Harry said smirking and entering the house. "Of course I am."
Harry later returned to the house holding a package, and was cornered by his Uncle & Aunt.
"WHAT HAPPENED IN THERE BOY?" Uncle Vernon bellowed, his pace purple.
"In where?" Harry replied appearing to be confused.
"IN MY KITCHEN!!" Aunt Petunia shrieked at him.
"How would I know? I didn't even see it." Harry replied casually.
"You were responsible." Aunt Petunia yelled.
"What makes you say that?" Harry asked unconcerned.
"How else will all—all that—that—FOUL—DISGUSTING STUFF get in there?" Aunt Petunia shrieked.
"I didn't put it there. OK." Harry lied.
"THEN HOW DID IT GET THERE BOY?" Uncle Vernon bellowed spitting all over Harry.
"Please Uncle Vernon; do try to control your spitting. Beside how can I do anything, I can't use magic outside school." Harry replied in a very casual voice, infuriating Uncle Vernon even more.
"WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN THAT PACKAGE?" Uncle Vernon spat snatching the packet from his hand.
"Why don't you open it and see for yourself." Harry said simply, biting back a smirk as the older man looked at him frightened.
"Do you really want to open a package that belongs to me?" Harry continued when Uncle Vernon remained silent.
Passing a scared look to Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon shoved the package back into Harry's hand and yelled,
"Go up to you room, and don't come out. No dinner for you tonight."
"Don't worry, I have eaten." Harry said moving towards his room, silently whipping out his wand and pointing it at Dudley who was eavesdropping from his room, sending him whimpering back in.
Harry awoke the next morning, immediately putting his next plan in to action. He opened the package and took out it's contents. Charming them, he hid them in a box, before heading down.
Everyone was having breakfast, giving Harry the perfect chance, to put everything in order. Moving into the living room, such that he was concealed from Dudley's view, he hid the box near the sofa before leaving the house to Mrs Figg's.
Mrs Figg handed Harry a large parcel as he sat down for breakfast. True to his word, Harry did not eat anything from the Dursleys kitchen after that unfortunate—accident. Harry looked down at the parcel and smiled recognising it. It was time to put his final plan into action.
When Harry re-entered No. 4 later that evening, he found only Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia sitting in the living room. Assuming that Dudley was out since it was early, he excused himself and went up to his room.
Opening the parcel, Harry sorted out everything he required for his plan and placed the rest under the loose floorboard in the room.
A few minutes later, Harry headed downstairs again. As mutely as a cat, Harry entered the kitchen hiding another box from the residents, before returning to his room in the same manner.
Harry then prepared his final plan. Making sure everything was in order, Harry set everything for the next day, preparing for the amazing show about to take place.
'So far so good,' He thought, as he took out a sandwich and apple pie from Mrs Figg.
He finished his dinner silently before changing into his pyjamas and heading for bed.
'Tomorrow, let the show begin' He thought before giving a visit to dreamland.
"Harry, wake up." He heard someone shake him awake. "Get up, come on...we have to leave."
Harry opened his eyes to a warm, smiling, but blurred face.
"What?" He said sleepily, his brain hazy. "Who are you?"
"Is he Ok, Remus?" A female voice addressed another person, before peering down at him with her bright pink hair.
"Remus...?" Harry managed to say, now searching for his glasses.
"Hello Harry." Remus said. "Rise & shine. We have to leave." He finished before moving around Harry's room, packing up his trunk, and leaving.
Harry recognised the bright haired woman as Tonks.
"Where are we going?" Harry asked getting off his bed, selecting the day's wear.
"Back." Tonks replied merrily picking up Hedwig's cage.
"Back?" Harry asked staring at Tonks confusedly. "Oh, BACK...now?" Harry finished realisation dawning on him.
"Yes! You said so yourself that we pick you up today." Tonks said, before leaving him in is room. "Better hurry up, we're leaving soon."
Harry heard Tonks close the door, followed by a large crash, a female shriek, a stream of curses (probably from Tonks), apologies, and a loud bang of doors. Shaking his head amusedly, he headed towards the bathroom, getting ready to leave.
Saying his final goodbyes, Harry left the Dursleys, with a very rude farewell from them. Harry was wondering how they were going to go leave for No. 12 Grimmauld place, when he was suddenly pulled into the bushes by Remus.
"Remember the last part," Remus said to Harry, who nodded in return. "Get ready."
Harry saw Tonks change her face and make her hair longer and blonde, before tying it up into a bun. She changed her clothes to that of a sales representative, before heading towards the Dursleys door.
"What is—"Harry tried to ask as Tonks rang the door bell but was silenced by Remus.
"Hello! I am here from Diet Desserts. We make desserts which are low-calorie, perfect for people on diet." Harry heard Tonks voice, trying to bite back a snigger.
"I have a sample here of a pie, completely free for you to try. In addition, if you like this we have more for you. Here is a card of our bakery. Thank you." Tonks finished handing over the pie to a puzzled Uncle Vernon before heading off in the direction of the next house.
When she was sure that no one watching her she returned to Harry & Remus' hiding place. Remus took out a piece of parchment and waved his wand over it. Within moments, the parchment showed what was going on inside the Dursleys home, as if it were bugged.
True to their expectations, Dudley did insist on trying the pie, and took a bite. When Harry was sure Dudley had swallowed the piece he muttered a spell under his breath, which was followed by whooshing sounds and bangs from inside No. four.
Taking their cue, Remus disabled the parchment, and the three raced towards a nearby car, getting in as Remus settled himself behind the wheels and raced them away from Privet Drive.
"Don't you think we will be seen in this?" Harry asked from the back seat of the car while watching the houses pass by. "I mean followed?"
"No." Tonks replied enthusiastically. "We're invisible."
"We wha...Excuse me?" Harry asked looking over to Tonks, bewildered.
"We're invisible," Remus replied. "The car has an invisibility charm on it. As soon as we turn it on, the charm is activated."
"Oh..." Harry said. "Won't the muggles have noticed?"
"We hid the car in a safe place." Remus replied grinning while looking at Harry through the rear view mirror.
"So Harry," Tonks started enthusiastically again. "What did you do to them muggles?"
"Oh nothing much..." Harry said. "You did a good job, although sales representatives are less...pushy."
Both Remus and Harry laughed as Harry finished.
"Yeah, yeah," Tonks replied looking out the window, a blush creeping on her face. "Go ahead laugh; you wouldn't have done half the good job I did."
"Of course we wouldn't have." Harry said his grin growing wider. "We would've CONVINCED them to try the product, not puzzle them with shoving it in their face."
Remus and Harry doubled over in laughter, as Tonks blushed as red as a tomato.
"It was a joke Tonks." Harry said after he sobered a bit.
"I didn't say anything." Tonks replied, cheerfully.
The ride went on like this until they arrived at No. 12 Grimmauld Place. As soon as Harry got off the car, memories came crashing back down...Sirius.
Harry cleared his head; he must go on...Sirius would have wanted him to go on...
"Let's go Harry." Remus said quietly as he headed towards the house along with Tonks with his belongings.
They entered the house silently making sure no one was following, and taking special care not to wake Mrs Black's portrait.
The house was now inhabitable, even if it was very gloomy. Sirius had given the house to Remus, saying that if Remus wanted he can keep it, since he didn't have one of his own...
Although it was the Order's headquarter right now, Remus did keep the house, as its rightful owner...
Before he knew, Harry was immediately devoid of air, as he was engulfed in a tight hug.
"Oh Harry it's so good to see you. Look at you, you are so skinny. Come on we will be having lunch soon." Molly Weasley said, looking at Harry and hugging him.
"Molly," Remus said with a wide grin. "He just arrived, let him freshen up."
"Oh of course." She said, pushing Harry up the stairs. "Go ahead; you know where your room is."
Harry followed Remus up to his room, where he was again attacked by a female hugging him.
"Oh Harry," Hermione said attacking him with questions. "How are you? Why did you say you would be late? You didn't get into trouble did you?"
"Well, just as expected Harry," Remus said smirking, before exiting the room and missing Harry's glare. "You are very famous with women."
"Hermione..." Harry said after the door closed. "Stop it."
Taking in some air, Harry moved a bit into the room, and shared a manly hug with Ron.
"How are you mate?" Ron asked.
"Good and you?" Harry asked back.
The three talked for sometime until they were called for lunch...
Lunch was a merry affair, with Harry catching up on everything he missed. Only the Weasleys, Remus and Tonks were present beside him. Harry sat across from Ginny, next to Ron and Remus.
All throughout lunch, Harry kept glancing towards Ginny who, he figured, was ignoring him deliberately.
As lunch ended, the whole clan gathered in the living room.
"So Harry," Ron started. "Why did you want to stay longer? As far as I remember, you hated that place."
"Hmmm. That's why I stayed." Harry said.
"I took my revenge." He continued after glancing at the confused faces of his audience.
"Harry!" Hermione gasped. "What did you do? You know it's not right."
Ron and Harry burst out laughing at Hermione who simply glared at them.
"Hermione, you know you have to loosen up a bit." Ron said.
"Hermione is right, Ron." Mrs Weasley said. "Harry shouldn't have done that."
"Mrs Weasley, trust me when I say they deserved it." Harry said. "Besides, it was quite funny, I got back at them for what they did to me for seventeen years."
"I can't wait to hear it." Ron said, smirking with mischief.
"I can't wait to tell." Harry said.
"See the day of my birthday," Harry started, "I didn't do much. Just put some goo, slime, and owl dropping in their unusually clean kitchen at breakfast, when they were not looking. That day I ordered some dungbombs and placed them securely in the living room out of sight. The next day I got some...charmed...candy, you know what I mean..."
"See Dudley kept these chocolates hidden in his room that his parents didn't know about" Harry continued to his attentive audience. "So I took some of the candy and charmed it to look like chocolate and put them in the chocolate wrappers. Then I placed some fireworks in the dining room too."
"Then this morning, Remus and Tonks came to pick me up. Remus was in the prank, so he told Tonks to act out the last part." Harry said to the attentive crowd. "So she disguised herself as a sales representative, and gave this free sample of a low-calorie pie which was full of Skiving Snackboxes, only the 'get-sick' part. Then when I was sure that Dudley had taken a bite, I set off the fireworks and dungbombs, and it created a chaos. So, because of the chocolates, Dudley grew a tail and piggy ears, and his tongue grew four feet long."
"And a minute later," Harry managed the last part during laughs. "He probably started retching, and nose-bleeding and whatnot..."
By the time Harry finished, the whole room was roaring with laughter, except Mrs Weasley and Hermione. The latter two tried telling Harry that what he did was wrong but the cheers from the others drowned their protests.
"But Harry how can you be so sure that Dudley ate it?" Ron asked finally after controlling is laughter. "The chocolates I mean."
"Oh! Believe me he did, he always eats them before going down for breakfast." Harry said laughing.
"And what about the skiving Snackboxes. Will he be able to stop retching?" Hermione asked in her no-nonsense voice.
"Who cares?" Ron managed through laughs.
"Well actually, I left the other part of each in a box. I just put a note on top of it telling him to eat it if wants to get better. I highly doubt he will now." Harry explained causing the room to erupt in more laughter.
The day passed on with Harry being given a late birthday party; and after dinner, when everyone went to bed, Harry and Remus were the only one remaining in the drawing room.
Harry, at the moment was deep in thought. Ginny had ignored him throughout the evening; she had not even said hello. Harry was so immersed in his thoughts that it took him a second before he realised that someone was speaking to him.
"Harry....Harry!" Remus said addressing the younger boy. "Are you Ok?"
"Huh...yeah I am fine..." Harry said hardly aware of what was going on.
"And I am the Queen of England." Remus said closing his book. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing Remus...really." Harry lied, perfectly aware that the older man would see through it.
"Well...its-its Ginny" Harry said after a moment of silence.
"Ah...said something to her?" Remus said.
"No...she isn't talking to me....she's ignoring me." Harry replied looking over to his fatherly figure.
"Maybe you said something to her...long before..." Remus replied after a moment of contemplation.
"Perhaps...no! I didn't say anything like that." Harry said.
"There are many things that can upset a person, especially a girl." Remus replied smirking. "Find out what you said to her that made her act like that."
"Ok...all right...I will." Harry replied leaning back on the sofa, trying to think what exactly would've made her mad..
"Harry, when are you planning on telling her that you love her?" Remus asked after studying Harry for a while.
"I can't Remus...I just can't." Harry said sighing and closing his eyes.
"Why not?" Remus asked.
"She...she probably doesn't return my feelings." Harry said truthfully, trying to control a new kind of fear developing inside him..
"Have you asked her?" Remus asked.
"No."
"Then how can you say she doesn't. You don't know."
"I can tell from the way she acts." Harry replied.
"Did you realise that I was a werewolf before I actually confessed?" Remus asked.
Harry opened his eyes to look at the older man, bewildered at the question posed.
"No." Harry said cautiously, wondering what it had to do with Ginny.
"Precisely, because I didn't act that way, well...Anyway, the point is, she may be acting differently even though she has feelings for you. Don't ask me how girls think, it's very complicated..., but you have to take a chance. Tell her." Remus finished looking at Harry, studying him.
"But what if...what if I lose her if I tell her?" Harry voiced his concern.
"You won't." Remus said.
"How can you say that?" Harry asked looking for guidance.
"Because you don't have her. You can't lose what you never had." Remus replied in a fatherly tone.
Harry thought about what Remus had said. It was true. He did not know how Ginny felt, and he cannot lose her. He had to take his chance; maybe just maybe, she did return his feelings.
"While we are on the subject," Harry said after a bit of silence, a grin creeping up on his face. "Is something going on between you and let's see...DORA?"
Remus blushed, his face becoming uneasy at the unexpected question.
"Well...what makes you say that...?" Remus said shifting nervously on his chair.
"Well since when is she Dora?" Harry asked grinning widely, enjoying teasing the older man.
"Well," Remus gave a nervous laugh. "Yeah well, I like her."
"Uh-huh?" Harry said, indicating he knew that there was more.
"Ok, well, I love her." Remus said giving up.
"And...?" Harry urged him to continue.
"Well...ok, ok. We love each other, and...well...we love each other." Remus replied.
"So when's the wedding?" Harry asked smirking.
"What?" Remus asked bewildered.
"The wedding Remus...unless you don't intend to marry her...you know just play her." Harry said, enjoying the expressions on the older man's face.
"No! I mean yes...I mean I do intend to marry her...but now is not the time, with everything going on..." Remus trailed off looking elsewhere in the room.
"Yeah...yeah you're right." Harry said looking down at his hands, his voice low.
"Remus," Harry said suddenly, causing Remus to look at him. "I need to be in the Order."
"What?" Remus asked stunned at Harry's demand.
"I am the one who has to kill Voldemort; I need to be in the Order, to know what's going on." Harry said looking at Remus determined.
"I don't know Harry," Remus said unsure. "I do agree with you, but I don't think the others will."
"Well, convince them." Harry said almost pleading.
"I don't know Harry, but I will try. I will ask Dumbledore. If you cannot get in the Order, I will make sure you at least get the required information." Remus said deep in thought.
Harry remained silent...he knew he could not do anything else.
"It's time for bed Harry. Tomorrow will be a big day." Remus said getting up.
"Yeah, all right." Harry replied also getting ready to leave. "Good Night."
"Good Night" Harry heard Remus' reply before he left for the stairs.
Tomorrow, indeed, will be a big day...
A/N: I am back. And here's another update.
Thank you for your reviews. They are appreciated. I am glad you all like the story.
School has started full-swing, so they may be a big delay between updates, I apologise for that. But i intend to finish this story, so no worries...
Ideas/suggestions for the story/plot are still welcomed.
Take Care.
Bye.