Chapter Three
Old Friends
The next morning Harry woke up in a comfortable bed. Wondering where he was, Harry glanced around. He saw five other beds, one containing a very large lump. At this, the previous night's memory came rushing back Merlin forbid he have a normal summer. Now he was stuck at Hogwarts (which wasn't that bad) with his relatives (that was bad).
Glancing at the clock he saw it was
nearly 7. Well I guess I have enough time to owl Ron and Hermionie. Like she was reading her mind, Hedwig
soured into the window, landing on Harry's head.
"Oy! Hedwig, like my hair isn't
already messy enough! Can you please get off so I can write some
letters?"
Hedwig hooted indifferently and went to his bedpost.
"Right then"
Taking out some parchment, quill, and some ink Harry composed his letters.
July 15th
Ron,
How are you mate? I know I haven't been answering your letters but my relatives wouldn't let me. But that isn't important, you'll never guess where I am! Well maybe you can since Dumbledore probably filled your parents in. If not, then I will. Merlin knows Dumbledore keeps me in the dark on important things, why not you?
I'm at Hogwarts….with my relatives! Voldemort---stop flinching---found out where I live. Last night he planned on attacking us at midnight. Remus and Snape came and got me. After much persuasion on Snape's part, my relatives decided it would be in their best interest to accompany me.
So here I am in Gryffindor Tower with my dear cousin. And what to know what else? I put him in your bed! That'll teach you to put a pink hair color charm on me!
Anyway, I hope now that I'm in a safe place, Dumbledore will allow you to visit. Well I better go. I must write to Hermione, goodness knows she'll be frantic to hear from me!
Harry
July 15th
Dear Hermione,
I apologize for not replying to your letters, the relatives decided that answering letters wasn't all that important.
Anyway, I have some interesting news. Voldemort found out where I live. I'm alright! Remus and Professor Snape came to my house and we portkeyed over. The Durlseys needed to come with us since they will be a target. So here I am sharing Gryffindor Tower with Dudley, I put him in Ron's bed
I must say it was enjoyable introducing Dudley to Sir Nicholas and the Fat Lady. I do hope that since I am in a safe place, that Dumbledore will allow you and Ron to visit. I better wrap this up, Hedwig is getting impatient
Don't study too hard!
Your friend,
Harry
"Take these to Ron and Hermione girl"
Watching Hedwig sour away, Harry was so
wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't hear a crack.
"Mr. Harry Potter sir! Dobby is so
glad to see you is safe!" Harry found himself being hugged
fiercely by Dobby the house elf
"Hello Dobby. Having a good
summer?"
"Harry Potter is kind to be asking about Dobby's
summer! I is having a good summer Harry Potter sir! The Headmaster
is saying that the dark wizard found you and that you will be staying
here! He is also saying that I am to be your elf for the summer!"
Dobby looked ready to break out and dance when he said the last line.
"Oh! Dobby has a message from
Headmaster for you Harry Potter sir!""Oh? Well what is it?"
"Harry
Potter sir, you are to be down in the Great Hall at 7 before the
others. Headmaster wants to speak with you before the other guests
come down."
"What the bloody hell is that
thing?" Dudley is struggling with his blanket,
having wrapped himself in it in his escape from Dobby.
"Nice of you to get up Dudley. This
is Dobby, he's a house elf, perfectly harmless and very nice. Dobby
is my friend so you will be treating him with respect."
"Oh! Harry Potter is such a good
wizard, saying that Dobby is his…friend!"
Dobby's eyes started to mist over at
the very thought.
"You are my friend Dobby. You helped
me in second year and in my fourth year."
Turning to Dudley Harry frowned.
"Dudley, I have to leave now before you and your parents can come
down to breakfast. Get dressed and go with Dobby, he will show you to
the Great Hall." Harry turned to Dobby
"Dobby, Dudley and his parents are
muggles so try not to let him get lost ok?"
"Ooo yes Harry
Potter!"
"Thank you. Well I better see what Dumbledore wants. See you later
Dobby, Dudley"
"You wanted to see me Sir?"
"Ahh yes Harry come sit down. Lemon
Drop?"
"Err no thank you Professor" Harry briefly wondered
if the man always had candy on him.
"I am sorry to have to bring you back
to Hogwarts so soon Harry. You understand that you need to stay here
for the rest of your summer. As for your relatives, they will need to
stay here until a safe house can be arranged."
"Yes Sir. Was anybody hurt last
night?"
"Only a few Death Eaters, which we brought into
custody. Now, I wanted you here early to discuss something that I'm
sure you will be happy to hear. Mrs. Longbottom has to go out of
country for a few weeks and cannot take her grandson. Since you are
here, we see no reason to not let Mr. Longbottom join you until his
grandmother returns."
"Neville's coming?"
"Yes Harry, this morning he will
arrive. Now, had you not needed to be here, I would have denied Mrs.
Longbottom request. Since you are here, and with only your cousin as
company, I figured that Neville could stay here. You will both be
safe here and have each other for company."
"Thank you
professor. I much rather hang out with Neville then my cousin!"
"I figured as much. Now, I think I
hear Professor McGonnagal bringing your relatives"
The doors to the Great Hall opened to reveal McGonnagal, Snape, Remus, and the Durlseys."This way, this way. We will all be eating at the Head Table." McGonnagal lead the very reluctant muggles to the head table.
She sat next to Dumbledore while Remus took a seat next to Harry. Snape sat at Dumbledore's right. Much to his dismay,. Dudley ended up next to Snape while Vernon took a seat next to his son and Petunia next to Harry. "Ahh yes. Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley. Young Dudley"
There was that twinkle again.
"I think we have a few things we must discuss over breakfast."
Later that morning Harry was going
over his potions assignments in the common room, with Dudley sulking
in the corner."Honestly Potter, how can you stand
it here? There isn't a telly! Not even a radio!"
"Not everything requires electricity
and batteries for entertainment Dudley. Wizards know how to have fun,
I assure you."
Dudley gave him a sneer, which Harry
found to be quite weak when compared to the magnificent examples from the
Potion Master and Draco Malfoy.
"What can you people do that could be
considered fun? I haven't seen a field for sports out this window.
I bet you people don't even HAVE sports!"
"What do you think my Firebolt is for
Dudley, sweeping?" Honestly his cousin can be so thick at times.
"And what about the summer of my fourth year? What did you think
the Qudditch Cup was? That's our sport, at least it's the sport
for European wizards, I dunno about the rest of the world."
"What is so great bout Qoodatch?
Flying around on broomsticks sounds boring."
"Educate yourself Dudley" Harry
threw his copy of Quidditch Through The Ages at his cousin.
"You expect me to touch a book made by one of you people! It'll
probably bite me!"
"Honesty Dudley, do you not have a
brain? Why would I touch is if it were to bite me. Now this is a book
to watch out" He tossed his cousin his very tattered copy of Monster Book of Monsters. Dudley took one looks at the teeth
and fur and promptly ran up to the dorm screaming about toothy books
and mad cousins.
Chuckling, Harry went back to trying to remember the ten uses for dragon's blood.
"Harry! I didn't know you would be
here!"
Harry looked up from the book he was
reading to see a very red but happy looking Neville lugging his trunk
behind him.
"Hullo Neville, I was wondering when
you would come by! How'd you get past the fat lady?"
"Dumbledore told me the password.
When did you get here?"
"Last night. Want help with your
trunk?"
"Oh no, I got it!"
"You know Potter, talking to yourself
is a sure sign of madness, but you are already mad so why am I
bothering? Who's that? Not another one of you people!"
"Of course he's a wizard Dudley,
why else would he be here? This is my dorm mate and good friend
Neville Longbottom."
"Ermm hello." Neville held out his
hand much to Dudley's horror.
"Don't touch me freak, one of
you is bad enough but two freaks sharing a room with me is… ahhh
put that thing away Potter!"
"Insulting me and calling me a freak
is one thing but you will not insult any of my friends. Neville is
twice the man you are, he is a great person and an excellent dueler.
So, unless you want me to finish what Hagrid started I suggest you bugger off!"
Dudley immediatly clamped his hands over his rearend and ran up the stairs like a thousand hippogriffs were on his tail.
Harry couldn't believe the nerve of
Dudley, insulting Neville like that. Turning to the other wizard
Harry pocketed his wand. "Sorry bout that Neville, my relatives
hate wizards."
Neville was confused to say the least.
He knew Harry didn't get on too well with his muggle relatives but to
learn that they actually hate wizards was very strange. After
all, they raised him since he was one!
"Oh, that's okay Harry. You
already started on Snape's homework? Can you help me?"
"Sure Neville. Once we're done
with our Summer assignments we have the whole castle to ourselves!"
The summer was looking up already.
Authors Note: I started this story around September and this is the last chapter I wrote at the time. I'm trying to write a chapter right now but it's hard to keep in character from previous chapters. What should Harry and Neville get up to? I already have a few plans but I would also love to hear your ideas! This story will mostly be Harry's point of view but I might have a chapter where Snape is stalking the hallways and runs into the Dursleys. Snape tormenting the Dursleys sounds too tempting to pass up!
I should have Chapter Four up by Monday at the latest, but most likely earlier.
Thanks to all my reviewers!
