Chapter 2. Breakfast with the Dursleys
Harry woke up slowly the next morning in the red-orange and pale blue predawn hour with a smile upon his face. If he stopped to think about it long enough, he would have realized that the dream that caused this smile itself was not something so extraordinary. Interesting maybe, but certainly not enough to warrant the euphoria he felt this morning. He remembered people dressed in white robes in a large stone circle, a young witch calling out his name.
Still, smile he did as he let out a soft sigh. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this good. Winning the Quidditch cup didn't even compare to the way he felt after finally having had a proper night's sleep. He would have liked nothing more than to stay here all day instead of the morning routine that he'd worked out with Dudley over the past few weeks. Harry was in such a state, that he was only vaguely aware of someone stroking the messy black hair on top of his head through his sleep-induced ecstasy.
"You look like you've slept well. Did you have pleasant dreams" a soft, deep female voice asked.
"Yea" he replied sleepily. "I can't remember the last time I felt this way. I just wish I could stay here all day."
"Well sleepy-head, I am sorry to be the one to inform you but you must get up. There is a lot to do today and little time to do it in. Sorry to the bearer of bad news when you've had such a good night's sleep" the female voice said softly.
"But, can't I just rest awhile, please" Harry pleaded. "I haven't felt this good in so long..."
There was a small little laugh, and the voice said"As long as you are with me, I can promise you nothing less than this feeling when you wake up... But you must get up and face the day. Ok" questioned the voice.
"Yea, that'd be great, in fact I..."
Suddenly Harry's eyes snapped open and he bolted from the bed. He snatched his wand and his glasses off the bedside table, whipping around to face the source of the voice. Three things had just registered to his otherwise groggy brain. One, he was sleeping with his head in someone's lap. Two, that someone was making conversation with him. And three, he had no idea who this person was.
Harry looked to the top of his bed as his heart pounded roughly in his chest at whom had so thoroughly startled him into action. Smiling at him, with a look of pure amusement was the young dark haired witch from his dream.
He stared dumbly at her for a moment, his jaw slack, trying to determine what exactly was going on. He failed miserable though, as he was still half asleep and flabbergasted that his dreams had suddenly become reality. Instead, he gathered what little of his composure he had left and asked"Who are you"
"Dreia" she replied simply. "And I was helping you sleep. You snore something awful, you know that? I would have had an easier time trying to rest around a hibernating bear. Must have been awhile since the last time you've slept well" she said with a soft smile.
"What do you want" he asked, still trying to focus, still trying to figure out what was going on.
"Do you honestly expect to have a Death Eater singing to you, and giving you soft dreams" she asked, still amused. When Harry didn't answer right away she asked"Didn't Dumbledore tell you I would be here to take you away from all this ...this... grandeur" She waved her arms melodramatically looking around the small room laughing to herself. "I am one of your trainers. If you keep ending up duelling with Voldemort, then you should learn how to do it properly."
'The letter, Fawkes, right,' he remembered from the night before, the fog finally lifting. At the mention of Dumbledore's letter, he relaxed a little. He still had his wand trained on her though, not fully trusting the situation. "Er... Yea. He may have mentioned it."
"Well good. I'd hate to have come all this way for nothing" she said scooting toward the edge of the bed, disregarding his stance completely. "It's rather smart of you not to put your wand down, by the way. Although by the time I am through with you, you won't need it" she finished offhandedly.
Harry frowned. "Why wouldn't I need it" he asked confused.
"I can't answer that right now, but I promise too later on" she assured him. "For now, I would like you to take a take a small leap of faith and put your trust in me. I am going to go downstairs to start breakfast. I hate travelling on an empty stomach."
Without another word, Dreia stood up and made her way toward the door.
"Wait" Harry hissed, beckoning her back, thinking of his relatives"You can't just go barging down there. My Aunt and Uncle don't like our kind, and worst of all, me or anyone having anything to do with me."
Dreia stop and placed her hand on the door and concentrated for a moment. Visibly coming to a conclusion, she turned around to face Harry fully. "About the Dursleys, I sincerely doubt they would be upset if one of Harry's muggle friends came to cook a large breakfast for him and the entire family for an early birthday gift, seeing as though she'll be spending the next two weeks in Edinburgh with her Uncle" she replied with a smile. "I'll take care of them, don't worry" she assured him, shrugging her slender shoulders.
"We've got to get moving, so hurry up, take shower, and here..." she waved her hand once and a small crimson paper wrapped box appeared on the foot of his bed. "Change into those. Part of my birthday gift to you. Can't have you hiding underneath a shirt four sizes too big, now can we" she said with an appreciative glance at his naked chest. "Meet me downstairs in fifteen minutes for breakfast." And with that she turned, opened the door, walked out into the hall and closed the door firmly behind her.
Harry stared at the closed bedroom door for a moment, processing what had just happened. It wasn't unusual for wizards to be in his summer residence, and it wasn't unusual for it to be out of the ordinary when they appeared. But never the less, it still surprised him when it happened.
But sending someone alone? That was defiantly different than in years past. He honestly expected after reading the note last night, that this Dreia McKinnon would show up with more of an entourage like he had last year. With Voldemort out in the open now, he figured his security detail would be tighter than ever.
Harry figured Dumbledore must have a considerable amount of trust in her if he was willing to send her by herself to collect him. 'Of course, Dumbledore also trusted that slimy git, Snape,' he reasoned with himself. But again, he didn't get that odd prickling sensation he normally got at the nape of his neck when he was around someone with less than positive objectives. So maybe it wouldn't be so bad "taking a small leap of faith."
With the smell of bacon already wafting under the door, he decided that this was just one more adventure, and he would get away from the Dursleys for a while. He smiled, shook his head and headed for the shower.
After a shower and a shave, Harry was taking stock of himself in the bathroom mirror as he combed his locks of stubborn raven hair.
He had grown an inch or two in the last year, putting some height on his thin frame finally. But it wasn't quite as thin this year, he noticed.
When he came home that first week back from Hogwarts he asked Dudley if he could work out with him in the home gym uncle Vernon had erected for Dudley in the shed in the back garden. Much to his surprise, Dudley agreed. Only under the condition if Harry agreed to spar with him once day. "I have to keep in shape if I want to stay inter-school boxing champion you know." Harry, much to Dudley's surprise had agreed. Only because he felt if he were active in someway, even if it were getting the snot beat out of him, it would be worth the price not to sit in his bedroom dwelling on the events of the past month. He could put all his effort into taking out his aggression, frustration and guilt on the cold, unforgiving metal equipment.
In the mirror, he could see that his torso was starting to fill out a bit. A year filling up on wonderful house elf cooking had finally put some meat on his bones, if only a little. His arms were no longer thin and fragile. They were full and had little curves to them. His chest was starting to take shape and even his stomach was showing signs that there might be some muscle development under there somewhere. The treadmill he was using was putting some definition to his thighs and calves. He would be in good shape for the start of the Quidditch season next year, if of course, the ban were lifted.
He also noticed that for the first time in his life, his hair was not the same messy length it always was. It had grown suddenly overnight one night after a particularly bad dream about Sirius. He woke up that morning with hair long enough to touch the top of the collars of all his t-shirts. Aunt Petunia had made a fuss about it in the beginning, asking him to cut it repeatedly. But, as luck would have it, Mad-Eye Moody stuck his head in the back door one day after hearing the argument about it for the fourth time. He glared at her with both eyes, magical and other wise, and told her that it was perfectly acceptable to have hair that length at Harry's age, and he didn't want to hear another word about it. Aunt Petunia had been so upset; she shrieked, raced up the stairs into her room and had locked the door until Vernon came home. Even then, it had taken some stern coaxing and careful begging to get her to come out.
He decided that he liked the length, wishing it would grow just a bit longer so he could sufficiently stuff it into a ponytail like Bill Weasley's. It was a touch of the rebellious, and reminded him of Sirius. He decided he would keep the longer length as a sort of tribute to his late Godfather.
Decidedly much happier and confident with his appearance than ever before, he smiled, grabbed a towel and made for his room.
Back in his room, he decided to see what this Dreia had given him for his birthday. Getting birthday gifts from his friends was one thing, but getting gifts from people he didn't know was definitely new. He carefully tore off the paper and opened the box, widening his eyes in surprise.
Inside contained a white, crisp linen shirt, a pair of blue jeans and pair of shiny, black boots that were some sort of leather material. All of which looked very comfortable, and looked as thought they would fit him well.
Decidedly very happy with his early birthday gift, he dressed quickly in his new things, and headed downstairs to breakfast.
He was almost at the kitchen door when he stopped his entrance abruptly, eavesdropping on the snippets of conversation he could hear from within.
"...Mrs. Dursley. Harry and I met at his school this past spring. I was on an exchange program. I want to become a doctor, you know. His school offers a course to muggles like you and I in how to identify... Not normal injuries, if you know what I mean. Madam Pomfrey, the school's Healer, was always going on about Harry and how he always ends up in the hospital wing." Dreia laughed. "She calls him her four star patient. She says if it were not for him, she might not have the position!
"So, being that I wanted someone to study for a report I was giving, I sought him out. He agreed to help me, be my guinea pig, so to speak. And the more we talked and the more I got to know him, I really liked him. It was wonderful hearing all the adventures he's been on in school. It's really incredible the things he's done, Mrs. Dursley. You must be so proud of him! We've been friends ever since."
There was a noticeable silence coming from kitchen. Harry just stood there in total shock. No one had ever told his relatives how much they thought of Harry. No one had ever mentioned in their presence, words like 'proud' and 'Harry' in the in same breath before. No less coming from a 'muggle' who was Harry's 'friend.'
Harry quietly laughed to himself. 'I wonder what Aunt Petunia's reaction to that will be.'
So it was with even more surprise when Aunt Petunia spoke next. "Yes, we would be proud. Except, he never really tells us what goes on in that... that school of his. Why so many injuries" she inquired.
"Oh! Well' he's faced Voldemort at least four times that I know of." There was an audible gasp coming from Aunt Petunia. "I know it's terrible. Who would have thought Harry could be the one to hold his own against him? Of course' there are the various Quidditch injuries, as well. I never got to see him play... But from what I am told, he's an excellent seeker. Best in a century they say."
"Well" Aunt Petunia said in a rather squeaky voice"If all that's true, then we should be proud of him. I'll just have to sit down with him and ask him what all this... this... Voldemort nonsense is about. He never mentions that..."
"Well I guess he wouldn't. He's incredibly humble and modest, you know. He really doesn't like getting praise for the things he's done. Good upbringing, I'd say. I had to ask his friends a lot of things to fill in all the blanks."
"Well maybe you and I can sit down for a chat about it over tea one day, Dreia. I really would like to hear what my nephew is up too."
Harry, deciding it best to end their conversation right then and there, pushed open the kitchen door.
Aunt Petunia was sitting at the kitchen table in her dressing gown, sipping a cup of coffee, wearing a contemplative look on her face. Dreia was standing in front of four bubbling pots on the stove, buttering some toast, smiling. There were bagels and cream cheese already sitting on the table and various plates filled with different breakfast accompaniments surrounding. Dreia looked up from her toast and ran over to Harry.
"Oh Harry, you do look just smashing! I thought you'd like the gift. I'm glad you found it. I snuck it up there while you were showering. I hope you don't mind? Doesn't he look handsome, Mrs. Dursley" Dreia was positively beaming at him and turning to Aunt Petunia for her approval.
Aunt Petunia recovered quickly from the shocked look on her face and said"Yes you do... Er... look very nice. Interesting attire. You have good taste, Dreia."
"Thank you, Mrs. Dursley." Turning back to Harry she asked"Are you going to say anything Harry" Dreia questioned.
"Thank you" he said sincerely. "What's all this? You said in your note to expect a surprise in the kitchen, but I didn't expect all this" he said figuring it best to play along. It was obvious everyone there was. He was sure Aunt Petunia would never have had said those things otherwise.
"I figured you would enjoy it. Oh, I have so many things planned for today! I just thought a good breakfast would be a good idea."
Harry laughed. "You always did go a little over board... Dreia" he said before sitting down in his usual spot at the table.
Dreia wandered over to the coffee pot to pour a cup. "Well, I just couldn't help myself. Besides, I am sure your Aunt is enjoying a day off from the cooking and cleaning from breakfast, right Mrs. Dursley"
Aunt Petunia nearly choked on her coffee, but recovered quickly and said"Yes, thank you dear. This is such a nice thing for you to do, and for...Harry."
Harry really couldn't believe his ears. 'Nice' and 'Harry' were again words that he never thought would be uttered in the Dursley household in the same sentence even if, he was positive, they weren't true.
'Who is this girl? How is it that she has Aunt Petunia wrapped around her finger so soon?' he wondered. 'We'll just see what Vernon and Dudley say when they arrive for breakfast.'
The next fifteen minutes rolled by in a flurry of pots, pans, and talk. Dreia had told Aunt Petunia all about her time at her school, what she was studying and how they planned on spending the day today. Although Harry knew it was a load of rubbish, he stilled liked to listen to her talk. There was something about her that made him-and much to his surprise, Aunt Petunia- feel completely at ease.
Uncle Vernon and Dudley finally arrived downstairs, as if on cue when the last dish was set on the already full table.
"Petunia, what's all this? Is there a special occasion I've missed" Vernon said, not noticing Dreia yet.
"Oh no dear, this is all Dreia's doing. Harry's friend here" she said, indicating to Dreia over by the stove. "She's not going to be here for his birthday so she wanted to do something nice for him today. Isn't that... " Aunt Petunia strained to say the next word"sweet"
Uncle Vernon and Dudley turned their gaze on to Dreia. Dudley's eyes almost bugged out of his head, and his jaw dropped, staring unabashed at the decent-looking young women before him. Uncle Vernon did the same, but more than likely it was because one of Harry's friends was in his house.
"You're not one of... One of... THOSE people are you" he demanded to know. "I will not' have that sort..."
Dreia cut him off raising her hand for silence, the corners of her mouth rising slightly. "No, Mr. Dursley. I am ...normal just like you are. I met Harry on an exchange program to his school. Please" she indicated to his seat. "Sit down, Mr. Dursley and enjoy some breakfast."
Harry could barely contain himself. Dreia was not only cutting his Uncle off but telling what to do as well. What's more is that he was following with a smile on his face no less!
Dudley was still standing there looking like a fish out of water. More like a killer whale with the sheer size of him. Aunt Petunia tried to tug at his sleeve to get his attention, but it was to no avail. Dudley just stood there.
"Duddykins" Aunt Petunia said in a quiet warning whisper. "Don't you think you should sit down? It's not polite to gawk."
Harry was rolling with laughter on the inside. He couldn't believe the spectacle his cousin was making of himself. A brief glance at Dreia told him that while she was politely busying herself with cutlery, she felt the same.
After a few moments, it was obvious that Aunt Petunia's proddings and attempts to get him to sit down were getting her nowhere. Dreia, deciding to take pity on him said"Dudley, Harry has told me that you are the inter-school boxing champion for Smeltings, right? I figured if that were the case' you would be training hard this summer and looking out for you weight' right" Dudley nodded dumbly, but did not move otherwise. "Well on the table on the side of the dish of bacon, I have cooked up some turkey bacon for you, there is some whole wheat toast and some strawberry preserves on the table, as well as some other low fat things. But eat what ever you would like, ok"
Dudley nodded in the affirmative again and seemed to find that his legs did in fact work and sat down at the table. Aunt Petunia reached out a thin, bony finger and shut his jaw closed with snap.
Dishes were passed back and forth around the table, as large amounts of food were consumed. Harry thought to himself as he slid some eggs into his mouth that Dreia could give the house elves and Mrs. Weasley a run for their money. All was silent at the table while Harry, Dreia and the Dursleys ate with relish. Looking over at Dreia's plate, he was amazed at just how much food was piled there. Most girls he knew didn't eat very much, but Dreia was packing it away as well as Dudley. Dreia noticed his gaze, and gave him a wink, turning back to her plate.
As the last remains of the scrumptious breakfast were consumed, Uncle Vernon decided it was a good time to question the young lady who had properly filled his belly.
"So, Dreia? You say you met the bo... Er... Harry on an exchange program, did you say? What sort of exchange program? Our kind doesn't normally mix with his sort, do they"
Dreia looked up at him from her properly cleaned plate, her eyes full of mirth. "I'm hoping one day to become a Doctor, Mr. Dursley. Harry's school offers... Normal people like you and I to train with the school healer to recognize... Not normal injuries..."
Dreia went on to explain to the rest of the Dursleys how she and Harry 'met', and how they become friends. Aunt Petunia looked a little less sceptical since the re-telling of the story that seemed so sincere. Harry watched the interactions of his relatives with this mystery girl. How she had managed to completely change his world in just a half an hour's time was beyond him, even if it was all an act. He had a feeling today was going to be filled with surprises.
Coming back from his musings, Dudley had asked him something. "Sorry Dudley, what did you say"
Dudley gave him a snide smirk. "You've been doing that a lot cousin... I asked if you were going to take your usual beating today before you went off with Dreia."
Normally Harry would have been incensed. Comments like this from his relatives were made for it. But today was a different day and Harry merely laughed at Dudley's question. He knew he was trying to "be a man" in front of Dreia. He made to say as much, but Dreia beat him to it.
"I'm afraid there won't be time for that today, Dudley. I have a few more plans for Harry, and it will take most of the day. You can get back to your sparring tomorrow. I know he needs it."
Dreia gave him a quick look that said both 'I'm sorry' and 'don't listen to him' in the same instance.
Harry shrugged it off. He knew this was an act.
"Now see here, Miss" Uncle Vernon started. He had that look on his face he wore when he knew he was going to swipe something important to Harry away. Harry was starting to worry this was not going to be so easy. "The boy has a lot of work in the garden to get done today, and we can't have him running off to god knows where. Things don't work like that in my home."
'No, things don't work like that in your home when it comes to me you git!' Harry thought angrily. Why couldn't they just give him some peace?
Dreia quickly intervened. "Oh please, Mr. Dursley? I have to go out of town tomorrow to visit my Uncle in Edinburgh and I won't get another chance before school starts up again. I was so looking forward to it." She gave him the look a puppy dog gives its master when begging for a bone.
Harry was astounded. He watched as his Uncle's face turned many shades of purple and blue. You could see the inner cogs of his brain trying to figure some way to deny Harry the token of friendship Dreia was offering with out offending the girl, but could find none. Under the look she was giving him, he seemed to drain, the purple and blue leaving in streaks down his face on to his non-existent neck, and under the collar of his shirt leaving a white but pleasant expression in its stead. For some reason, his desire to make the girl happywon out over any desire he had to make Harry miserable. If Harry hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he never would have believed it possible. 'Magic?'
"Well I suppose so. But you'll have to make up for it doubly hard tomorrow boy" Uncle Vernon said turning to glare at Harry. "I don't want the yard going wild, making the neighbours talk."
"Yes, Uncle Vernon" Harry said with the least amount of venom possible. He knew he would be out of here one way or another but fighting with his Uncle was always a bad idea.
"Tell me about this Uncle of yours, Dreia. Lives in Edinburgh, you say" Uncle Vernon asked, turning his attention back to Dreia.
"Only in the summer" she replied. "He has a problem with the heat here in southern England. He's a homebuilder."
"Homebuilder? I know quite a few of them. I own a drill shop. What's his name"
"He's a Mason; part of Mason builders. Jeremy Mason" Dreia said, not missing a beat. "Have you had dealings with him"
Uncle Vernon paled. He did indeed have dealings with the Masons. It was only 3 years ago that he lost a very lucrative contract to them due to a certain house elf, a large pudding and some owls. Harry knew full well he knew who Mr. Mason was. But how did Dreia?
Aunt Petunia coughed, brining Uncle Vernon back to his senses. "Uh... Why yes... I mean no... We never got the pleasure of doing business with him" he said with a look to kill directed at Harry. "I hope to change that in the future though" he said with a pleading glint eye. Uncle Vernon's business has not been doing very well in recent months. A contract like the ones the Masons could offer would bring his shop around full swing.
"Then I shall put in a good word for you, Mr. Dursley" she said with a smile. If Harry hadn't known better, he would have sworn it was genuine.
"Well, since we are all finished, why don't you all go on about your day and Harry and I will clean up before we go" Dreia asked the room at large. Uncle Vernon was the first to stand, as he needed to make his way to work. He shook Dreia's hand politely and warned her to have Harry home before curfew and walked out the door, briefcase and hat in hand. Aunt Petunia thanked Dreia for breakfast and asked her to be careful with the dishes, before she headed to the bedroom to get started for the day. Dudley said not a word as he exited the back door into the garden for his morning ritual.
"Its time to get started, Harry; I have a lot to tell you. Let's get going, shall we"
Harry made to start washing the dishes, but Dreia grabbed his elbow, sending a tingling sensation up and down his body. She looked at him with mischief in her eyes. "I may have made breakfast in a non-magical fashion, but I certainly don't plan on cleaning up that way" She raised her hand, gave a couple of quick flicks and everything was sparkling, and unnaturally clean. Just the way Aunt Petunia liked it. With another flick, everything was put away nice and neat.
"How did you..."
"Questions and answers later. Race you to your room" She twirled on the spot and was gone in a whirl of hair and wind.
'How does she do that?' he wondered amazed. He remembered Dumbledore doing something like that in the Ministry of Magic; he would have been amazed then, but he was to busy concentrating on staying alive.
Reality caught back up with him quickly. He narrowed his eyes at the ceiling above him and said"Hey! You have an unfair advantage"
He opened the kitchen door and raced quickly upstairs to his room.
Opening the door, he looked as Dreia was shutting the lid to his trunk. Hedwig was dozing peacefully in her properly cleaned cage. The bed was made and the room cleaned of all debris. Even the calendar he used to mark off the days of his imprisonment was gone.
Impressed, Harry turned to Dreia as she said"I think I have everything packed, ready to go. Is there anything else you can think of" she asked.
Harry shook his head again amazed and thought about it. "Did you get the stuff under the floor"
Dreia raised an eyebrow, which Harry took for a no. Smiling, he reached down to the floor, found the groove in the board and pried it up. He took out the Marauders Map, his invisibility cloak and the photo album Hagrid had given him all those years ago. Placing them carefully in his trunk, he closed the lid with a satisfying thunk.
Taking a quick look around the room for anything else she may have missed, he looked at her quizzically. "How is it going to be explained to the Dursleys that I'm gone for the rest of the summer? And how are we getting to where ever we are going? Where are we going" he added as an after thought.
"Ah, one question I can answer, and two I can't until we get there. Curious thing, aren't you? Have you ever apparated before"
Harry shook his head. "Once, but it was completely by accident. I was being chased by... " Harry had a hard time admitting this in front of a stranger. "...some school yard bullies" he completed dully.
"I've grown up with nothing but boys. You have nothing to be ashamed of. I'm surprised actually. You've faced the biggest bully of all time and still you're ashamed of that" Dreia shook her head and smiled. "You shouldn't be."
"Ok, so you know how it goes" she continued. "First you're here, and then you're there. It's as simple as that really. Just concentrate on being there and you will be. I am going to hold onto you to pick up any slack, just in case you don't get all the way there. We'll be travelling pretty far."
"I'm going to give you a vision of where we are going. See yourself there, with all your body parts and preferable your clothing and trunk. I will hold your owl. It's a lot of work to transport live objects at such a great distance."
"Grab your truck and close your eyes, Harry. Think of a blank, black screen and relax."
Harry, not believing he was actually about to do what he was about to do, closed his eyes. As Dreia had instructed, he pictured in his mind's eye a great blank, black screen. Suddenly his forehead felt warm, and he was looking out at a beautiful green summer meadow in the middle of a rich valley. To his right, there were vast blue mountains, taller than he had ever seen in his entire life. A log cabin stood below the view of the mountain overlooking the meadow. It had two floors and porch that wrapped around it. Various herbs and spices adorned hanging baskets on the porch. A small garden alive with vegetables was to the left of the porch. An old truck of some sort was parked in the driveway. On top of the hill to the right was a ring of stones. An orchard grew around another small hill next to it. There were great beasts Harry didn't recognize grazing peacefully in the meadow. The cloudless sky above was a perfect periwinkle blue. It was a picture perfect view.
Time seemed to speed up as Harry watched the meadow in the valley. Soon he was gazing upon how this piece of Nirvana looked at night, the stars shown a spectacular display of light.
From some distant corner of his mind he felt rather than heard Dreia speak. "See yourself there, Harry. Picture yourself in the clothing you are wearing now, with your trunk beside you. See me there with you, holding onto your owl, with my palm upon your forehead and your eyes closed."
Harry did as he was asked. He saw himself in the middle of the meadow exactly as Dreia described.
All of a sudden, he felt as though he was being lifted quickly by a large gust of wind and felt a slight jolt in his stomach. He wanted to open his eyes but knew on instinct if he did, he would regret it. Instead, he kept the vision before him steady. He could feel his hair whipping about his head, his clothing clung to his body, while the gust of wind swirled around his body. It soon died down though, and he felt his feet hit solid earth.
"Open your eyes, Harry."
Harry opened his eyes and was startled by what he saw. He was in the meadow.
"You did very well" Dreia said beaming at him.
Harry was struck dumb for a moment. He couldn't believe he'd apparated. "How... Where"
"Come on, there's a storm coming" she said, observing some clouds off to the west"and I have some questions to answer."
With flick of her wrist, she sent the trunk and a squawking Hedwig toward the cabin and walked toward it herself.
"Hurry up, slow poke" she called to Harry who has still not moved. "Race you to the cabin and this time I won't cheat"
Coming to his senses, Harry raced Dreia all the way up the hill to the cabin.
He quickly caught up too and passed Dreia. He raced up the steps and collapsed in an old weather beaten rocking chair on the front porch panting.
He watched as Dreia ran up the stairs, her long dark hair swinging wildly behind her, a thin sheen of sweat on her brow.
"Well" she said as she sat down in the second rocking chair next to the one Harry was occupying"you may be faster, but I have more endurance! We'll have to work on that, I think." This time, Harry was sure the smile on her lips was real.
"Ok" Harry started to ask"where exactly are we that it's the middle of the night" Harry looked up to the heavens. Astronomy class had taught him to gauge the time from the position of the stars. From where they stood out now, peaking in and out behind the approaching storm it was on or around midnight.
"Colorado."
A/N: I own nothing, please read and review!