Author's Note: I edited this chapter a bit, so it will be easier to read and understand. I also went back and edited Chapter One.
Chapter Two
Sir
Nicholas and the Fat Lady
Harry
landed with a thump, thankfully on his back because he still had
Hedwig in his cloak.
"Get
off me Potter!"
"Sorry Professor."
Harry
got to his feet and took his beloved owl out of his cloak. "Hedwig,
go to the owlery"
The
owl nipped his ear affectionately before souring out the window.
Harry took a look around, they were definitely in Hogwarts, and the
trophy room from his fourth year to be exact, though why Dumbledore
would set the portkey up for this room was beyond Harry.
"Errr
welcome to Hogwarts everybody"His
relatives looked around nervously.
Just
then the door opened to reveal Minerva McGonnagal.
"Severus,
Remus, Mr. Potter. I'm glad to see you all made it here safely."
Turning she looked at Harry's relatives. "Mr. And Mrs.
Dursley." Seeing McGonnagal eyeing Dudley Harry spoke up "This is
my cousin Dudley"
"Ahh
of course. Now please follow me and I will show you to your rooms.
Headmaster Dumbledore will explain the situation to you tomorrow
morning at breakfast. Mr. And Mrs. Dursley, you will be staying in
the guest wing of the castle. Dudley, you will be staying with Mr.
Potter in Gryffindor Tower until another location can be found for
you or even until you leave."
"What?
You expect my Dudders to share a room with that freak!"
At
the word "freak" McGonnagal bristled. "Yes Mrs. Dursley, I do
expect this. Gryffindor Tower is Mr. Potter's house dormitory and
where he is most comfortable. You will not refer to Mr. Potter as a
"freak" since he is most defiantly NOT one!"
Vernon
was sputtering while Petunia had a very pinched look. Dudley looked
dumbfounded as usual.
"Now, please follow me. Mr. Potter I
trust you can find the dorms?" She turned to Harry and gave him a
very small smile.
"Yes
Professor, will I be staying in my normal dorm room?"
"Where
else in the Tower would you stay? The girl's dorm?"
"Err no.
Ok then, goodnight Professor's, Remus, Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia.
Come on Dudley"
He
was about to walk about the door when he turned back "Hrmm
professor McGonnagal? I have my trunk and I've never brought it up
the stairs myself. I don't think I can manage hauling it up that
far"
McGonnagal did give Harry a smile at that point.
"Not to worry Harry
(Harry widened his eyes at the use of his first name), you have been
given permission to use magic while staying here at Hogwarts"
Upon
hearing that his cousin could freely use magic, Dudley clamped his
hands over his bottom and squeaked.
"Oh, all right then. Thank you.
Come on Dudley!"
Harry
was walking briskly through the Entrance Hall when he heard Dudley
squeak behind him."What
is it Dudley?"
"A
guh-guh ghost!"
Harry
turned to where Dudley was pointing a trembling finger. He smiled at
the very familiar specter.
"Hello
Sir Nicholas! I didn't think I would see you so early!"
"Young
Mr. Potter! What are you doing back in Hogwarts during the summer, we
don't have a summer session."
Sir
Nick was smiling at Harry.
"Ahh I wish it were something like
that Sir Nick. Voldemort found out where I am and I had to be brought
here for the summer."
"Bad
luck that, Harry. It really is too bad that us ghosts can't be of
much use to you in the war." Spying Dudley Sir Nick smiled
"Ah
a muggle! Who is this young man Harry?"
"Oh,
I'm sorry Nick! This is my cousin Dudley. My Aunt and Uncle will
also be staying here for a bit. Dudley, this is Sir Nicholas de
Mimsy-Porpington. He is the resident ghost for Gryffindor House, my
house."
Dudley
was making a lovely impersonation of a fish. "Hello
cousin of Harry Potter, I am honored to meet the family of this
gallant Gryffindor."
Harry
turned a lovely shade of Crimson.
"Er,
yes. Well Nick I need to show Dudley to the Tower. I hope to see you
again soon." "Oh
count on it Harry. Grey Lady and the Fat Friar are visiting their
friends in other parts of England. The only company I have is the
Bloody Baron and Peeves. I hope to have an intelligent conversation
this summer. Good night Harry, young Dudley!"
After
Nick left Harry turned to Dudley. "Honestly Dudley, close your
mouth."
Harry
was suddenly feeling very sorry for his cousin, who was whisked to a
wizard school in the middle of the night with little to no warning.
He decided to try and make it easier on his cousin by explaining
basic Hogwarts tips.
"Ok
come on Dudley, let's go. Nick is the house ghost for Gryffindor
House. The Bloody Baron is the house ghost for Slytherin. The Fat
Friar belongs with Hufflepuff while the Grey Lady is the Ravenclaw
ghost. Peeves is just a poltergeist that likes to terrorize us
students. Best stay clear of him."
Dudley
was still staring bug eyed "Erm, you have ghosts?"
"Yes,
but only witches and wizards can become a ghost. Now come on, it's
a long walk to the Tower"
When
they got to the staircase Dudley groaned.
"Oy,
what now Dudley!"
"All those stairs! And they're…they're
moving! Are they even safe? And do not even think about asking me
carry your trunk up there!"
"First
off Dudley, those stairs are very safe. Just hold on to the banister.
Secondly, wingardium leviosa!"
Harry's trunk started
floating.
"See?
Magic is good for something, and very convenient to use! Now come on,
we have seven flights."
They
finally reached the foyer of Gryffindor Tower and approached the Fat
Lady.
"Mr.
Potter! I am glad that you and your relations were able to escape
safely! I daresay that the Headmaster was too busy to give me a new
password so I shall request you make up the password for the summer."
"Err
ok, how about "Golden Snitch?"
"Ahh
a Quidditch word. Are you still the Seeker for Gryffindor?"
"Yes
I am." Seeing Dudley staring in shock at a talking painting Harry
turned back to the Fat Lady
"Maam
this is my cousin Dudley. My aunt and uncle will be staying in the
guest area while Dudley will be staying with me. Dudley, this
is….errr….well I don't rightly know if you go by anything other
then "Fat Lady"
Harry
blushed looking down at his shoes.
"Oh,
so polite as to be embarrassed about calling me fat. It's quite
alright dear. You may just refer to me as the Fat Lady or the Pink
Lady. It's a pleasure to meet you dear, we usually don't see
muggles here at Hogwarts! Well I can't keep you two up all night!"
"Of
course not maam. Golden Snitch"
The
portrait swung open.
"Good night dears!"
"Welcome
to Gryffindor Tower's common room. Now while you are here there are
rules that you will be following."
"And why should I follow
any of your rules Potter?"
"Because, dear cousin, you are in
my school, on my territory. This is my house common room and up there
is my house dorm, I have house pride and do not want you fouling up
my tower. Now the dorm we will be staying in is on the left staircase
and to the left. My bed it the one with the Puddlemere United
Quidditch team poster along with the photos of my parents and Hedwig.
You may stay in Ron's bed, which has the Chudley Cannon's poster.
Ignore the poster since the team member's might try to sway you
into being a fan for their team! While in the Tower you are to not
touch anything without asking me. You will stay out of my
trunk and you will not be bothering me while I am doing my homework.
Clear?"
"Whatever
Potter. I don't want to be stuck with you in this freakish place. I
just want to sleep, the bed won't eat me will it?"
"No
but the Tower can get pretty hot, I know since I'm in here at the
end of summer and it's the beginning now. I can put a cooling charm
on your bed so you don't overheat if you wish?"
"No! No
ma-ma-magic"
"Fine.
Goodnight Dudley"
