The days Chloe and Harry spent together on the rooftop ended. His Uncle was pressuring him to finish before he had to leave and the two small windows in the attic didn't need a lot of time. Harry moved to painting the windows on the first floor. This made talking to Chloe more difficult. As Harry painted the bay window in the front of the house Chloe hid in the bushes below. Harry remembered when he used the same area to hide from Uncle Vernon when he was listening for news about the return of Lord Voldemort. Harry tried not to let the beige paint he was using from dripping on Chloe below. Though the window Harry saw Aunt Petunia watching her daytime drama. She watched her daytime story faithfully. She never missed an episode if at all possible. She shook her head in disgust as she watched the characters reveal their dark secrets to each other. She put her tea down abruptly, folded her arms and sat back in her chair. Her full attention was on the story so Harry had little concern she would notice him talking.
Chloe asked, "Harry? Do you ever wish you could fly?"
With a start, Harry almost dropped his paintbrush.
Harry collects himself and answered, "Sure."
"Well, I think about it a lot. I had a dream last night you were flying and you were trying to bring me with you, but you couldn't do it." Chloe said in a quiet voice.
"I'm sorry."
"It's ok. I loved watching you. You made it look so effortless. You looked so free. Not like you do now." Chloe said and looked up at him.
Harry wanted to tell her everything. He looked down at her glowing dark eyes from between the rungs of the ladder. He wanted to take her put to the sky. He felt she belonged there too somehow. He wished he could show it to her.
"I won't be with the Dursleys forever. Soon I'll be free of them and then…… well and then everything will be different." Harry said.
"There's something dark about you, Harry. I see it and it's not just because you're an orphan, or because you go to some special school, or because you don't talk much about your future or past, it because I know you need me as a friend but you can't talk freely with." Chloe said.
"I feel like…….. Well, I feel like you understand so much and I don't really need to say too much. I like that, because I do have trouble telling you some things. I want to but I just can't. I like that sometimes we don't talk about anything. We can just be together, it's like your watching over me. Really, this is the best summer I've ever had with the Dursleys." Harry said.
"Thanks, Harry."
Harry continued to paint and Chloe sat quietly in the bushes watching him. He thought about how the Wizarding World could help Chloe. He knew that the doctors at St. Mungos had a spell that could stop the seizures. If she could just go to see them she wouldn't have to stay so close to her parents all the time. She'd be free to live her own life. Harry listened to the hum if life in Little Whinging, someone down the street was mowing a lory dropped packages across the street.
"Harry?"a quiet voice came from behind.
"Harry? Is that you?"
Harry recognized the voice.
"Hermoine, Is that you? What are you doing here?" Harry asked and stepped off the ladder.
"Ginny asked me to come she's worried about you." Hermione said as she cautiously stepped into the yard. "Your letters never say every much and everybody was wondering how you're doing. I was on my way to Bill and Fluer's wedding and my parents said we could stop by."
"I'm fine but you shouldn't be here." Harry said as he glanced back at Aunt Petunia.
"I was wondering if you had anything for Bill and Fleur. Maybe a card or something?" Hermione asked.
"I'm sorry, you know the Dursley's would never let me get something. I wish I could be there." Harry said as he tried to get Hermione to move away from the house but she wasn't going till she got answers to her questions.
"Do you, really, Harry? Ginny is absolutely desperate to get some real news from you."
"Trust me there's no news. Nothing much happens here." Harry said as he indicated the neighborhood.
"I know but what about after…….after your birthday. You said you weren't returning to school. Are you going to the Weasleys? What about your career?"
"I don't know yet, Hermione. I really don't. Please, I can't answer all these question right now, really,"
"Listen, Harry, you always talked to us about everything and now it's like you're shutting us out. What's going on? Just give me one day then. What are you going to do the day after your birthday?"
Harry didn't answer.
Hermione continued, "Well, alright then, I just hope your not planning to do anything foolish. We can help you. The school can still help you." Hermione leaned close to him and said, "Prophecies are rubbish."
"Give everyone at the burrow my best. I hope I can see them soon."
Harry looked back into the house and saw Aunt Petunia getting up.
Harry continued, "You really have to go I'm sorry."
Harry hustled Hermione to the edge of the yard as Mrs. Dursley stepped out of the house. Hermione shuffle off down the street toward her parent's waiting car.
"Harry! Harry! Who was that?" Aunt Petunia pointed at Hermione's back. "Who were you talking to. I know. I know. It was one of your freaky friends from school. Who else would want to talk to you? Well, I won't have it!"
She pulls a dishrag from her shoulder and swats Harry across the face.
"Wait, till your Uncle gets home."
Harry returned to the ladder and put his head down on a rung. His mind raced. His cheek stung. He felt Chloe's presence but he couldn't look at her. He took a breath and started to speak.
Chloe stopped him, "It's ok Harry, you don't have to talk now. Can I meet you late tonight. I think it would be better to talk later. Is it possible for you to sneak out at midnight?"
"Yeah, I can."
"I'll see you later then." Chloe said and left her place under the brushes.