Moonlight-blossom: Hey everyone! I know it's been like two months since the last time I updated. I'm really REALLY sorry. I know a lot of you have been waiting, so I hope I can make up for it.

Disclaimer: see chapter 1 (I don't have time for this)

Synopsis: Takes place right after Order of the Phoenix: Harry Potter had not had an easy school year and things were going to get even worse at Number Four Privet Drive.

Just to recap: "Boy, you're not coming out of that cupboard for another week."

At this, Harry began to panic. The air inside the cupboard was starting to run out, and his muscles were paralysed and numb from disuse. He knew he wouldn't last much longer. The only thing that let him know he was still alive was the constant pain his body was in.

Harry knew that if he wasn't let out soon he was going to die in this cramped space and be forever forgotten.

"Please," he prayed, "don't let me die in here...someone...get me out of here. ANYONE!"

He never expected this wish to come true.

On with the story!

Thoughts are in italics.

Summer Heat: Chapter 6

It had only seemed like minutes, but by the time Drake had woken up, it was almost noon. His head throbbed painfully and his vision was hazy. He threw himself back onto the bed and drew the covers over his head. Forget it. There's no way I'm getting up today.

Only moments later, Drake heard a loud knock on his door. Aunt Petunia's sickeningly syrupy voice rang loudly in his head.

"Drake dear, are you up yet?"

Drake clenched his jaw and said nothing.

"Drake? Draaake!" came Petunia's voice again, this time slightly louder and tinged with a hint of annoyance.

"Yeah?" he grumbled.

"Oh you are awake! Well hurry up and get dressed. We're taking you and Dudley to the zoo today."

"Oh joy," muttered Drake, pulling a face.

He raised his voice and called out from under the covers, "I'm not feeling well today, I think I'll just stay here."

"Oh, you poor thing, are you sure your all right?"

Drake grimaced at her fake concern, "Yes I'll be fine," he insisted, "go on ahead, I just need some more sleep." 'And a permanent memory modification' he added silently.

Petunia pursed her lips at the boy's stubbornness, and faintly wondered if this Drake had anything to do with the secret they harboured inside the stairs under the cupboard. But then again, someone so polite and so like her Dudders couldn't possibly have anything to do with them.

"Alright, then," she relented grudgingly, "get some rest today. But if anything strange happens or you hear any noises, tell me," she said, her voice growing serious.

"Uh huh, I will," came the weak reply.

Petunia breathed freely again knowing for sure that such an innocent person could never be associated with him.

Drake relaxed as he heard Petunia's footsteps fade as she walked away. She was such an insufferable person. He hated her sickeningly sweet voice, her fake concern, and her unconditional blind spot for her giant, gluttonous pig of a son.

He burrowed under the scratchy mattress and tried to sleep off his throbbing head. It seemed only to be a couple minutes later that he woke up to hear the front door close and the Dursleys walk out. He staggered out of bed and threw open the shades, the blinding light made his eyes water and he blinked furiously. He jerked the windows opened and let the fresh air wake him up.

He stumbled down the hallway into the bathroom. A blast of cold water shook him out of his stupor. Although still feeling a bit fuzzy and disoriented, a glance in the mirror told Drake that it was artfully hidden behind icy eyes and a small half smirk.

Drake staggered down the stairs and into the kitchen where he helped himself to whatever food he found in the fridge. It was always stuffed with food for Dudley to shovel down while watching the TV they kept in the kitchen. Further investigation of various cupboards led Drake to discover them overflowing with junk food. 'They were right to called this junk food, what kind of crap do these people eat?' he fumed. According to him, nothing he found was edible not for him anyway.

Seething, he stomped back up to his room. In one swift move he made his way to the window, but tripped on a loose floorboard sticking out of the floor.

"What the-"

He glared at the offending object and gave it a sound kick. The floorboard loosed and clattered across the room. Drake peered into the gaping hole in the floor.

"Oh shit."

What was his host family going to say when they found out he had kicked a floorboard loose. The Dursleys were always so prim and proper. If they found out, they might start to get suspicious. He couldn't have them breathing down his neck and he couldn't stand the hearty way Vernon greeted him, or the simpering Petunia. It was all he could do to threaten turning them into a family of swine.

Drake was turning to put the floorboard back in place and hope no one noticed when he saw a single scrap of paper lying in the very bottom. Curious, Drake picked it up and turned it over.

Hey mate,

How's your summer? Can't be great living with your aunt and uncle. Mum says we'll try to get you out of there as soon as possible. Don't let the muggles get you down!

Ron.

It was dated about several years ago and Drake stuffed it in his pocket. He found the floorboard easy to replace and guessed it was used to hide things away from the muggles. Muggles. Wait! The letter! It couldn't it? Muggles. Ron. Harry. But that would mean, the noise he heard in that cupboard under the stairs. There might be someone in there. What if it was...?

Drake raced downstairs, stumbling in his haste. He stopped in front of the cupboard and yanked at the lock.

"Damn!"

Drake frantically scanned the room for something to pick the lock. Nothing. He rummaged through the drawer in the front hallway. He found a paperclip and quickly straightened it. Carefully he inserted it in the lock. Several seconds later he heard a click, and grinned triumphantly. Although slow, some muggle tricks, like this one, were useful.

He threw the door open and gaped open-mouthed at what he saw.

"POTTER."

Moonlight-blossom: sorry for the long wait. And I know I rushed the ending a bit. I want to thank all my reviewers, except I'm kind of lazy and I don't really have the list right now. I'll try to get the next chapter up sometime tomorrow. Thanks! Be really nice and leave a review. Pretty please?