This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including, but not limited to, Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter Two
Back at the order
Laying flat on his back, breathing hard, Harry tried to recall the dream. It seemed so real… the room so familiar… and that cold, high laugh of Lord Voldemort. He and Wormtail talked about an army and something about gold he needed because Wormtail spilled something. Harry could feel Voldemort plotting something but what?But Harry never had time to finish his train of thoughts, for Aunt Petunia stormed in to his room barking. "What are you thinking, screaming like a banshee! Get up! There's work to be done. I want you down stairs in five minutes!" She walked out slamming his door.
The sun shone through his window and the Hogwarts letter on his desk caught his eye. He stretched out his hand to get to his glasses and he got up from his bed. He had better read it later before he got into more trouble, he thought to himself, as he got dressed.
After dressing in an overlarge sweeter and jeans (Dudley's old clothes) he hurried down stairs to the kitchen. Just as he entered, the telephone rang and Uncle Vernon answered it. After a moment he barked at Harry to come and take the call. As he turned Aunt Petunia screamed at him: "Please hurry up and don't talk ages here's work to do"
He quickly moved to the telephone and took the handset from a purple Uncle Vernon's outstretched hand.
"Hello" Harry answered.
"Hi, Harry. It's Lupin here. I just talked to your uncle, what a friendly chap! We must change the plan. He will take you to McDonalds in Surry at five. We will meet your there."
"O," that all Harry could say through a throat restricted from happiness and confused emotions.
"You all right Harry?" Lupin asked with concern.
"Yes. See you at five then." Harry answered quickly after he got some control over his emotions.
"Bye for now."
"Bye." said Harry as he hung up. Looking up he saw that Uncle Vernon gave him a blistering look, as he barked at Harry.
"So, when would you have told us that they would have came and fetch you tonight."
"This morning, because I only received a note this morning." Harry answered as innocently as possible.
"Go and help you Aunt. I'm taking you nowhere if the work isn't done" he spit angrily at Harry.
Harry turned with out a word and hurried down the passage to the kitchen for a second time that morning. About to enter, the door flew open and an angrily looking Aunt Petunia stood there with a bucket and mop in hand.
"About time, here start with the floor, it's sticky. You shall have your breakfast later after you have cleaned the dishes also," she shrieked in a hi-pitch voice.
Harry took the bucket and mop from her and enter the kitchen. By the look of it there must have been guests the previous night.
Strangely he couldn't recall any noise the previous night. What a morning, he thought to himself as he started to mop the sticky floor, his dream all forgotten. His stomach growled, but he ignored it. He needed to finish the work because he needed to clean his room and pack as well. He looked up at the kitchen clock and to his horror saw that it read ten o'clock. Seven hours left, and by the look of the kitchen it's going to take him two hours at least.
Putting the last plates in the cupboard, Aunt Petunia stormed in, "Is this place clean already? The lawn needs mowing, the flowerbeds weeding the beds, the roses pruning and you need to water the garden and paint the fence as well. That messy bedroom of your needs at good cleaning before you leave, so hurry up I want to make lunch!" She looked around the kitchen before she opened the microwave oven, taking out a cold toasted cheese sandwich. "Here, you can eat it quickly on your way too the shed" She held the plate out towards him. He just took the sandwich and thanked her for it before walking out of the back door towards the shed.
After four hours hard work in the garden, back aching, sweaty and burned by a blazed sun, Harry makes his way towards the house for a shower and getting that trunk of his packed, but Uncle Vernon waited for him in the kitchen.
"Where do you think your going, boy?"
"My room for a shower." Harry answered back.
" Not so quick - wash the car first!"
Half an hour later, tired and dirty, Harry made his way straight towards his room for a shower before he cleaned his room and getting that trunk of his packed. As he closed his bedroom door behind him and turned around, he stared in shock, mouth open. A neat and clean room with a packed trunk surprised him, nothing out of place. He took a step into his room when something hit him hard in the midriff with a squealing voice: " Harry Potter, sir! Harry Potter"
"Dobby?" Harry gasped.
"Yes, sir, it's Dobby." Dobby said as he hugged Harry.
"My room? Did you do it? What are you doing here Dobby?" Harry finally asked as his senses returned.
"Yes, sir, it's Dobby, sir. Professor Dumbledore sent Dobby, sir. Dobby's giving Harry the potion, sir." Dobby said smiling up at Harry.
"What potion?"
"Potion preventing dark wizards for seeing, Harry, sir?" Dobby answered with so much proud that Harry thought of how much power this little elf really has.
"Thanks, Dobby. I need a shower and want some clean clothes before I leave. When must I drink this potion?"
"Just before sir leaves the house, sir?" Dobby beamed up at Harry.
"Ok, I'll be back in two minutes," with that Harry grabbed some more decent clothes and hurried off for the needed shower.
As he got back Dobby sat on his bed with the potion ready in his hands for Harry. Harry took the potion and swallow the lot with one gulp, he handed the flask back to Dobby. Dobby got up from the bed hug Harry one more time before he squealed his farewell wishes and with a crack Dobby vanished.
"Boy, get that lazy ass down stairs, we need to go!" screamed Uncle Vernon at Harry before he could recover from the shock of the foul tasted potion and the swivel twisting feeling in his stomach.
A nauseous Harry grabbed Hedwig and his trunk and headed down stairs, where Uncle Vernon waited for him at the car with the boot open. Uncle Vernon helped Harry with his trunk before he grunted, "Get into the car!"
No one talked on the uneventful trip to Surry. Uncle Vernon stopped almost right next to the entrance from McDonalds. He got out of the car, Aunt Petunia and Dudley stayed in the car, ignoring Harry. Harry got out himself as Uncle Vernon heaved the trunk out of the boot and with a snapped said, "This is where I'll leave you. You can get your lot inside. We have another appointment." He turned and got back into the car, leaving Harry just there on the spot.
Harry turned to go inside, as a pop sound right next to him made him stop right in his tracks.
"Sorry, Harry," Lupin said, "been waiting for you. Lets get your stuff into that car." He bent and grabbed Harry's trunk and carried it to the car he indicated.
"Hi, sorry we are late, but I had some chores to do." Harry said smiling, glad to be with someone other than the Dursley's.
As he got into the car he notice that only Tonks, with bubblegum blue hair, come along.
"Wotcher, Harry!" she greeted him friendly.
" Hi Tonks, where are we going?" Harry asked politely.
"Headquarters," answered Lupin.
"O," he said as a cold, chilly dread settled down in Harry's stomach. He didn't feel ready to face Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place yet.
Tonks and Lupin tried to keep a friendly light conversation with him, but after a while they just drove on in silence. Lupin, via the rearview mirror, and Tonks glanced at Harry, then at each other now and again. Harry just ignored them. He couldn't get himself to cheer up. After a couple of hours they stopped in front of Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place.
"We here," said Lupin as they stopped.
Harry just sat in the car not wanting to look up at the house, closing his eyes against the pain that threatened to overwhelm him again.
After a couple of seconds, which felt more like hours, Tonks said softly "It's ok, Harry. Know one is here yet. They will only be here in a weeks time."
With that comfortable thought Harry got himself in the house and went straight to the room he and Ron shared the previous holiday. Lupin and Tonks followed him carrying his trunk and Hedwig.
"Do you want some dinner?" Tonks asked.
"No thanks, I'm not really hungry?" Harry answered her and looked up in the face of Lupin.
Lupins grabbed Harry around the shoulders and gave Harry a fatherly hug. " It's ok to mourn Harry," with those words they left Harry all by himself.
Harry put on his pyjamas, took of his glasses and climbed into bed listening to the sniggers of the picture, Phineas, as he fell asleep.