Chapter Two
Harry Potter sat in the driveway of Number Four Private Drive next to a clean car. He sat staring up at the sky thinking of his former headmaster, Dumbledore. He saw his twinkled eyes and half-moon glasses resting on his crooked nose. He gave a loud sigh, I am alone, he thought. Dumbledore was the one who told him everything about his parents , his past and his future, then with one quick wave of the wand he was gone.
Harry swept back his untidy black hair, it was too long, he needed to get it cut. Smiling, he thought of the incredulous face his Aunt Petunia would give him if he asked her for one. Then he remembered Dumbledore's long beard and hair, and all happy thoughts went away. The worse part about the fact that he died, was that his life was in the hands of the person he thought he could trust, Snape. Severus Snape had been Hogwarts' potions master and Harry's least favorite teacher because he had always treated Harry badly and punished him for the most unfair things.
Harry looked up when he heard the sound of a bike being wheeled by. He looked at the cyclist and saw a girl in her mid -twenties, with brown hair that was swept up in a beret. As Harry looked in her young face he could've sworn that she had given him a small wink and smile. Just as she went out of sight he realized who that had been, the ever-changing Tonks. He knew that it was stupid to think that he wouldn't be watched this summer, but it still came as a shock when he stopped one of the Order members in Little Whinging. He stood up, when he could bear the chill no more and entered the house.
His fat cousin Dudley was eating what looked like carrots in front one of the many televisions in the household. He could hear his Uncle Vernon murmuring to himself from behind the newspaper. Uncle Vernon sat next to Dudley, or rather on the couch next to him. From the kitchen he could hear Aunt Petunia humming in her deep voice while washing the dishes and eyeing the neighbor's yard suspiciously.
"So," a loud voice said. Harry turned around and saw that Uncle Vernon had finally put the newspaper down. " you're leaving this summer, right?" Harry nodded and could see Dudley munching slowly now and the humming from the kitchen had stopped.
"when do you think you will leave?" Uncle Vernon said eyeing him suspiciously.
"I dunno" Harry said, he could understand why Uncle Vernon wasn't yelling yet. First of all, Harry let it slip that he was now allowed to do magic during the holidays, secondly Uncle Vernon knew that Harry was writing to people of the Order and thirdly Uncle Vernon wanted his nephew out of the way as soon as possible. Harry on the other hand liked giving Uncle Vernon much discomfort for all the pain he had endure throughout the past several years. As much as he wanted to get out of Private Drive he needed to make some plans as to how to get out of there, where to go and such. So he wouldn't mind staying a couple extra days but he wasn't going to tell Uncle Vernon this, for he liked to see his throat slowly swelling and his plump face turning purple.
Harry quickly went upstairs to avoid any further questioning on his departure. He took out a quill and some parchment and began to write:
Dear Professor Lupin,
How has your summer been? Mine has been okay, the Dursleys aren't being horrid or anything, but they keep asking me when I'm leaving and I was wondering if you knew when I was. I can't apparate yet so how will I leave and where would I stay?
Sorry to bother you and have a nice holiday!
Harry Potter
He woke up his sleeping snowy owl, Hedwig who gave a small hoot. He tied up the letter to her foot and let her fly out the open window. The he fell back on his bed and fell sound asleep.
Hours later, a small owl hooted excitedly and landed on his arm. Harry opened his eyes and grabbed the thing nearest to him which happened to be an old copy of the Daily Prophet. Harry waved it around menacingly, half asleep looking for his attacker. Pigwidgeon, the tiny owl gave a small hoot once again and zoomed ecstatically around Harry's head. Harry dropped the newspaper, feeling really stupid.
"Okay, Pig, calm down." Harry said laughing while trying to catch the feathery ball. He caught Pig a short while later and untied a big envelope from Pig's legs. It seemed like it was bewitched to be lighter once tied to an owl's leg because the moment the string was cut Harry almost dropped it. He opened it hastily after seeing his name scrawled on the outside in untidy familiar handwriting. It was an Invitation to Bill and Fleur's Wedding! He saw the cover which had a big picture of Bill and Fleur smiling and dancing against a black background. Bill's face was almost done healing from when a werewolf scratched it up in the battle last June. Though it was still healing Bill still had several scars on his face. Fleur, on the other hand was absolutely gorgeous, Harry thought. Her long blonde hair was let loosely around her shoulders, framing her pale face. It was written in silver but kept flashing in light pink. It said:
Mr. Potter, you are invited to the wedding of William Weasley and Fleur Delacour
Harry opened the card and on the left side were many pictures of Bill and Fleur together and in small writing on the bottom corner it said
push photo with finger to enlarge
Harry looked curiously through all the pictures and pushed his index finger on a photo of Bill and Fleur at what looked like an amusement park. Immediately the pictures started enlarging, slowly pushing all the other pictures out of the card. Finally the photo stopped, and was as big as the whole left side of the card. And in small writing on the bottom corner it said this time;
push photo with finger to make smaller
Harry pushed the photo once again and it slowly shrunk back to the size as the other photos that were moving back to their original places. Harry then looked at the right side and saw in the same handwriting but larger letters:
It is with great honor that we announce the wedding of our beloved Bill and Fleur. We are pleased to say that this is not an ordinary wedding, this is the wedding of two friends, who over time noticed they cared to share their lives with one another.
It is our pleasure to say that this auspicious occasion will take place on: Saturday, August 16th
Reception begins at: 4:30
Wedding ceremony begins at; 5:30
The location of the event is: Whitcher's Garden Park
22 Witcher's Way
close to the Burrow, for more details and directions send an owl!
We hope you will be able to join us! Please send an owl back confirming your attendance.
Just as Harry was putting the card back in the envelope he noticed that there was an extra piece of parchment he quickly opened it and read what his best friend Ron had to say
Hey Harry!
Like the invitation? We got it specially made, but it was a fortune! Anyway mum says that you and Herminone can come over soon, say on the 9th if you want so you can help set up for the wedding. Dad says he will pick you up by car this time and then he will take us to the ministry so you cant take your apparition test and I can retake mine.
Hope to see you soon!
Ron Weasley
Harry smiled and quickly tore a small piece of parchment and scribbled
Ron,
that sounds great! I will see you next week with all my belongings because I have to move out this summer! The invitation was really nice! How's Ginny doing?
Harry Potter
Harry folded the parchment and sent it off with Pig, then he started to feel the same butterflies he got when he was feeling nervous. He looked back at Ron's note in his hand and wondered if he could practice apparition in his bedroom. He now understood how Ron and Hermione felt when they were about to take their tests. Hermione had passed with flying colors whereas Ron had done really well except for leaving an eyebrow behind.
Harry sat back on his bed and started reading one of his Defense books for the hundredth time trying to escape boredom. He was now seventeen as of two days ago so maybe he could try out one of these spells. He raised his wand and practiced saying "accio birdcage." He kept on saying it to make sure that he wouldn't cause any permanent damage to the room, and after not doing magic for so long he might have lost some of his touch. Just as he raised his wand to actually perform the spell he heard a loud scream from downstairs.