Chapter 22: Back to Privet Drive

When Harry, Ron, and Hermione returned to the Burrow after the boys' apparation exams, they immediately returned to working on their plan.

"All right, so far we have Fred, George, and Mrs. Figg for sure," Hermione said. "Now we just have to get Dudley." She looked at Harry. "Have you figured out a way to get to Privet Drive yet?" she asked him.

"What?" he replied confusedly. "Um, I haven't actually given it much thought…" Hermione sighed.

"Hmm, just as I'd thought. Well, at least some of us here are responsible," she replied, glaring at Harry. "I owled Mrs. Figg and asked her if we could floo to her house tonight, and then go over to the Dursleys the next day. While we're there, we can give her the Polyjuice Potion and help her get ready."

"Hey, Hermione, I just had a thought," Ron said. "How're we going to have enough Polyjuice Potion to make this work? The potion only works for a few hours!"

"Everlasting charm," Hermione replied simply. She pulled three tiny bottle of the goopy potion out of her bag, each with only enough potion for one swig. "I've charmed the bottles to never run out," Hermione added.

"Wicked!" Ron exclaimed. "I think I'll do that with my chocolate frog stash…" Just then, Fred and George apparated into the room.

"Ah, dear little bro, we've been thinking-" George said playfully, putting his arm around one of Ron's shoulders.

"-and we've decided what you will do in exchange for our help," Fred finished, putting his arm around Ron's other shoulder. Ron gulped.

"And what would that be?" he asked meekly.

"You'll be our new tester!" George said cheerily. Ron gulped again.

"Te-tester?"

"You betcha!" Fred exclaimed. "It'll be nice to not have to test on ourselves anymore, and since you're kin, we won't have to deal with any liabilities."

"Oh yes you will!" Ron roared, jumping to his feet. "I'm not letting you test your ruddy experiments on me!"

"Ah, well then, I guess the deal is off, little bro," George replied, getting to his feet more calmly than Ron had.

"Yep, have a fun time at school then!" Fred laughed. The twins started to leave, and Ron threw Hermione a helpless look. She narrowed her eyes and bared her teeth at him.

"Wait!" Ron yelled. "Wait, fine, I'll do it. Whatever," Ron told his brothers.

"Great! Here's a bottle of Cool Curl Concoction, something we've been tinkering with for a few weeks now," George said, pulling a small bottle out of his robes and handing it to Ron. "And try to take it as soon as possible because we'd like it on the shelves soon."

"We've got something for you, too," Hermione said quietly, handing one of the small Polyjuice Potion bottles to George. "Here's the Polyjuice Potion. I've bewitched it so it won't run out. Please, don't let your mum see it!" she whispered.

"No problem at all, Hermione," George said, right before he and Fred disapparated.

After dinner, the trio explained their plan to Ginny, who was encouraging but a bit disappointed.

"Aw, so I'll have to hang out with your fat cousin and some old lady?" Ginny asked Harry. "I'd much rather just be with you..." Harry sighed.

"I know, but we have to do this. For all our sakes."

"I understand. At least Fred and George will be there." Hermione looked at her watch.

"We should go now. Mrs. Figg is expecting us at nine."

The trio and Ginny crept downstairs. Ginny was to make sure Mr. and Mrs. Weasley didn't go into the drawing room until they had left via the fireplace. She also had to keep them from noticing Harry, Ron, and Hermione's absence until the next morning. Luckily, they didn't have to worry what the magical clock read, since it was always pointed towards "Mortal Peril." When they reached the living room, they were relieved to find it empty.

"Hurry! Before anyone comes in!" Hermione forcefully shoved her two best friends into the fireplace, causing Ron to slam his nose into the brick wall and Harry to run into his chum's bum.

"Ow!" he cried as his eyes watered and nose blooded. "Harry, please don't touch me there, mate!"

"I didn't mean to!"

Hermione stepped into the hearth, hastily grabbed a pinch of floo powder, and threw it up into the air, clearly saying: "Number eight, Privet Drive!" Harry felt that odd sensation as he traveled to his old neighbor's house. Before he knew it, Harry was standing in Mrs. Figg's hearth, and the familiar odor of dozens of cats (and their droppings) wafted into his nose.

"Eh, you finally here?" a screechy old voice asked.

"Yes Mrs. Figg, we're finally here," Harry answered monotonously. The trio, covered in soot, stepped out of her fireplace.

"Hi, Mrs. Figg, I'm Hermione Granger. I'm the one who wrote you before," Hermione said graciously. Mrs. Figg, however, did not answer. She just stared Hermione up and down, and then started patting her all over.

"Mrs. Figg! What are you doing?" a surprised Hermione shrieked.

"Don't you touch my girlfriend!" Ron yelled.

"Now don't have a cow there, lad!" Mrs. Figg said calmly. "I'm just checking out what type of package I'll be gettin'." Hermione looked scandalized, Ron looked disgusted, and Harry looked amused. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Harry cleared his throat.

"Erm, well, this is Ron, Mrs. Figg," Harry said pointing at Ron. "You'll be hanging around him and me a lot since we're best friends. Well, not him and me, but people who look like us. Well, you know what I mean."

"Yes, I know Harry. I'm quite looking forward to tormenting that wretched slob Dudley Dursley. You know, his father had to have a car custom built for him so he'd fit in it!" Harry was not surprised. "So, where's this potion I'll be taking?" Hermione handed a bottle over to the old woman and explained all she needed to. The trio was then ushered upstairs to where they would be sleeping. Much to their dismay, they discovered they would be sharing the rooms with several cats. Hermione went into her room after saying goodnight to the boys, and then Harry and Ron went into their room. There was only one bed in the room, which was presently occupied by three fat cats and several hairballs.

"Um, I think I'll just sleep on the floor," Ron said after spotting the bed.

"Me too," Harry said quickly. The boys settled themselves upon the hardwood floor that was sprinkled with kitty litter. They went to lie down, and Ron let out an "ow!."

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"Uh, I just rolled onto the bottle Fred and George gave me," Ron replied. He squinted his eyes in the darkness to read the label. "Cool Curl Concoction," Ron read aloud. "Hmm, doesn't sound so bad. I reckon I better try it out now before I forget." Ron promptly swallowed the contents of the bottle, but nothing happened. He let out a sigh of relief, and shortly the lads drifted off into dreamland.