Author's Note: Okay, before I posted the WRONG chapter here. So this is
completely different from what was here, it also explains why the next
chapter probably didn't make sense before. Here it goes:
The night before Renata was supposed to pick him up he packed up everything that was his: if he could help it, he'd never come back. He couldn't help smiling as he loaded everything into his trunk. He would finally be done with the Dursleys for good!
Harry glanced at his robes. They were the standard, black Hogwarts robes. There were three of them and they were beginning to get a little short. He'd have to stop by Madam Malkin's robe shop when he went to Diagon Alley. By now he'd accumulated a lot of spell books. Six year's worth. He'd gotten a list of what new books he'd need for this year, now all he'd have to do is buy them. Harry looked at the two cloaks he had: one was the invisibility cloak he'd inherited; the other was his uniform black and silver cloak. Harry put socks and underwear in the trunk too and through birthday presents from the last few years on top. Last, Harry put away his Firebolt. This broomstick was the fastest, most well-balanced, broom in existence. It would never let him down during Quiditch matches and came with an unbreakable charm strong enough to withstand the Whomping Willow Tree on the grounds at Hogwarts; his last broomstick, the Nimbus 2000, hadn't been so lucky. Everything was ready except for the spell set Hermione had sent him for his birthday. He left that out and tried to talk to someone.
"Anybody here?"
Purple ink flared instantly. "Yes, I am."
Red ink followed, "Me too. Can't stay though. Ginny'll be coming home in a few minutes and mum wants me downstairs."
"Why didn't you tell me she was staying here?"
Ron answered, "Bye."
Renata asked, "Huh?"
"Oh, I saw Ginny a couple weeks ago." And I had just been beaten up, he thought.
"Whatever. I've got to go. See you tomorrow."
"Wait."
"What?"
He searched for something to say like Why didn't you tell me Ron was writing you letters all summer? "What time are you coming tomorrow?"
"Noon-ish?"
"Sure."
"Bye."
"Bye."
That night, Harry had a dream. He was wandering in complete darkness except for a tiny light bobbing in front of him. He didn't exactly know how he knew he was walking, but he did. He knew he had to follow the light. Something was behind him. He didn't know what it was, but it wasn't something good. Whatever it was could not be allowed to catch up to him at any cost.
He was running faster and faster until he suddenly tripped. He woke up and couldn't breathe. It was several minutes before the breath came easy to him. After that he couldn't sleep, all he could do was wait for the dawn. It was only four hours away.three hours.two hours.
When the sun was finally up, Harry got dressed. He couldn't make himself look at his eyes in the mirror, he'd ran, it was just a dream but he ran when he should have stood. He went down to make breakfast for the Dursleys. He thought bitterly to himself, Nightmares! I'm too old for these. I've got to concentrate.
When Dudley came thundering down the stairs he made a face at Harry. Harry couldn't help but frown back, unfortunately, Dudley had moved and Harry was frowning at his Aunt Petunia. Her beady eyes stared back and she snapped, "Don't burn the eggs or you're not going anywhere!"
Harry decided to take the threat seriously. He couldn't afford not to. He had to get away. Then he realized it didn't matter. He would not come back. He considered spilling everything all over his aunt and uncle and then hitting Dudley really hard. The thought vanished. It wasn't noon. They could still lock him up somewhere. After all, his uncle wouldn't hesitate about putting bars on the windows again or locking him in his room. The Dursleys didn't mind using brute force on him. He'd have to come up with something to do right when he left.
His uncle interrupted his thoughts and barked, "How is he getting here?"
"She's getting here in a regular car, Uncle Vernon."
Harry anxiously waited for twelve o'clock. There was nothing he wanted more than to get away, as far away from the Dursleys as he could. The Dursleys tried to appear busy in the living room. Dudley was watching television (which probably wasn't an act). His aunt was looking through a magazine and his uncle read the paper. The room was tense. Harry had become desperate enough to go to his room and stare out the window. At a few minutes to twelve he saw it. He grinned as the familiar, little red car came up the street.
Harry went down the stairs three at a time. Then he raced back upstairs and looked in the mirror. His hair was a mess. It always was. He went back downstairs just as the doorbell rang.
"Get the door, boy!"
Harry opened it and was face to face with a blonde girl, his own height and with dazzling blue eyes. "Hi." She looked exactly the same as he remembered her.
She grinned right at him. "Hey, Harry. Hi, Mr. Dursley, Mrs. Dursley." Her grin turned into a misleading smile. "I've brought some apples for you." She came and placed three on the coffee table. "Are you ready, Harry?"
"Yeah. Just gotta get my trunk."
"I'll help."
As they went upstairs Harry asked, "I give up, what's with the fruit you gave them?"
"Hexed."
"Hexed? You can't work spells now. You're an underage witch, young lady." He tried to sound serious and ended up laughing.
"You're no older than I am. I had Fred hex them. I got my mom to take me to Hogsmeade."
"So what'll happen to them?"
"Temporary blindness. Just for a minute. Well, one minute for every bite." She started laughing. "Take this end, I've got this one."
They made their way slowly downstairs and carried the trunk out to the car. As Renata climbed into the driver's seat and put on a pair of sunglasses Harry said, "I'll be right back." He went back in the house. "I forgot to mention, one of your neighbors is a witch, and I'm not telling you which one. Have fun guessing, have a rotten life, and thanks for nothing!" He went back out to the car, very satisfied.
Renata turned on the radio as he climbed in. "Listen," she was a little loud because of the radio, "I wanna make a stop at Bella's first."
"Sure." Renata called Mrs. Figg "Bella" because she had known her a long time and that's what she called her. It was short for Arabella Figg. Within two minutes they were at Mrs. Figg's house.
Renata rang the bell.
"I'm sorry. No visitors today, come agai-Renata? Harry?"
"Hey, Ginny. Are you sure its 'no visitors'?" asked Renata.
"Come in! Come in!"
Harry followed the girls in and said, "I thought Ron told me you had to go home?"
"I did go home. Now I'm back. Harry, your cousin didn't beat you up again did he?"
"He's been beating you up, Harry?" Renata frowned. "Maybe I should have had Fred put something stronger in that apple. Or given him a canary cream."
Harry's face colored. He hadn't been planning to tell her that Dudley had been beating him up. He muttered something that sounded like, "It wasn't that bad."
"5 Cracked ribs, one broken rib, and two black eyes. Yes, it was that bad. You two wait here. I'll get Mrs. Figg." She walked through the wall that wasn't there.
Mrs. Figg and Ginny came out. "Renata! Harry! What a pleasant surprise. Staying for lunch, I hope?"
"Sure. It's better than eating on the road."
They sat down to some turkey sandwiches and great conversation. By the time they said goodbyes and hit the road they were stuffed.
Harry and Renata listened to the radio for a while, occasionally Renata sang along and Harry was sure she'd lost her mind. Eventually Renata asked, "Thirsty? There's a drive-through up ahead. I always keep some Muggle cash on hand. Do you want anything to drink?"
"Yeah."
As Renata pulled up to the speaker she ordered two large Cokes. When they were through with their drinks Harry leaned back in his chair. He hadn't realized how tired he was. He shut his eyes just for a moment.
He woke to the sound of the radio again.
Renata looked over at him, "We're nearly there."
He stretched his arms and remembered what he'd been meaning to ask her. Harry tried to sound casual, "Have you been hearing a lot from Ron this summer? I haven't been getting as many letters from him as I usually do."
"Really?"
He waited for her to say something else.
"I've gotten plenty of letters."
"Really?" he felt a lump in his throat. "A-about what?"
"I'm not telling." She said in a singsong voice. She turned on the radio and started humming. After a few minutes she shut off the radio. "Aw.lighten up, Harry. It was a joke."
"What part? It wasn't funny."
"All right, all right. New topic: What do you think about the Quiditch team this year?"
"I think there's still some definite work needed. Practice 4 times a week."
"No." She didn't say this as an argument, just a fact.
"Or what? You'll lead the team in a boycott? Again?"
"Nope. I've got an even better idea. I sent a letter to Madam Hooch over the summer. We're Co-Captains. Dumbledore even approved it himself. You're not running the show anymore."
"B-b-but-"
Renata just smiled and allowed him to sit there stuttering for another moment. "We're home." She parked the car.
Harry hadn't noticed that they'd already made it up through the hills and into the area where Sirius, the Delanos, and several other wizarding families lived.
"We'll get your trunk later. I promised my mom you'd say hello before rushing off to Sirius's."
Harry followed her inside and found Professor Delano drinking some tea and reading a book. "Hello, Harry."
Renata put her hands on her hips and asked, "What? No hello for me?"
"Hello to you, too, then. Harry, Sirius just stopped by. He's going out of town to night. Work. So he wanted me to give you these in case you don't have time to stop at Madam Malkin's tomorrow. He said he noticed your robes were getting short." She handed over a couple wrapped parcels. "And I wanted to say that if you don't want to stay alone at Sirius's tonight you're more than welcome to stay in the guest room here."
"Thanks, Professor. I'm going to go see Sirius now." He turned to go then turned back and added, "He hasn't left yet, has he?"
"I don't think so."
"Okay." Harry turned again to leave and found Renata in front of him. "What?"
"You're not walking are you? That'll take forever and you want to see him. I'm driving."
Harry didn't bother arguing with her. It was several miles to Sirius's house. With Renata there was never much point in trying to argue anyway, she always won and made you feel bad for arguing even when she started it.
Within a few minutes they had reached Sirius's house. Harry all but jumped from the car and was nearly running to the house, "Sirius? Sirius! Are you here?"
A muffled voice called from upstairs, "Right here, Harry!"
Harry raced up the stairs to meet him. "Hi, Sirius."
"Hello. How's your summer been?"
"No worse than usual."
Sirius chuckled. "That's good. Otherwise I might have had to go give those Dursleys a piece of my mind."
"Renata already did."
"Really now? How?"
"Hexed apples. A minute of blindness for every bite." Renata tried to look innocent and failed.
"And they are trying to guess which of their neighbors is a witch."
"Well, I've got to go, Harry, but I'll see you soon."
"Where are you going?"
"I have to take care of something for work."
"Hogwarts business? It's still August!"
"No. Other work."
"Where are you working?"
"It doesn't matter. I'll be gone at least until tomorrow maybe the day after. You're welcome to stay here or you can stay with the Delanos."
"Fine."
"Look, I'm sorry I can't stay, Harry. Really I am. I missed you."
"Okay."
"Look, I'll see you soon." He vanished.
"Harry, let's go get your trunk out of the car and up to your room."
As they entered room and sat down the trunk by the end of the bed, Harry looked at the familiar surroundings. Things were almost the same as when he had left: there was a tall wardrobe, a dresser, a few chairs, and a nightstand by the large bed. The bed was covered with a scarlet quilt bordered with gold. The walls were white and the back wall had a large window. The only major difference Harry could see was the pictures. There were pictures on the wall and on top of the different pieces of furniture. They were of his parents. They looked so happy. Harry found one on his nightstand that he was almost positive was his dad with Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. He picked up another one, this one was his mum standing next to Renata's; they'd been best friends.
Harry felt something wet in his eye.
"Don't cry, Harry. We're not babies."
Harry looked at Renata. A few tears were running down her cheeks. She held a picture of both her parents with both his parents. She sniffled a few times quietly and her eyes and face were wet.
"I don't remember them," he said quietly.
"I don't remember. I lost him when I was the same age as you were when your parents."
He patted her awkwardly on the shoulder once or twice and then he said, "We didn't lose them. They were taken from us." He wiped his eyes on his sleeve.
"Yeah, I'm done too. Let's go. I'm hungry and I think my mom is making pork chops, tonight."
The night before Renata was supposed to pick him up he packed up everything that was his: if he could help it, he'd never come back. He couldn't help smiling as he loaded everything into his trunk. He would finally be done with the Dursleys for good!
Harry glanced at his robes. They were the standard, black Hogwarts robes. There were three of them and they were beginning to get a little short. He'd have to stop by Madam Malkin's robe shop when he went to Diagon Alley. By now he'd accumulated a lot of spell books. Six year's worth. He'd gotten a list of what new books he'd need for this year, now all he'd have to do is buy them. Harry looked at the two cloaks he had: one was the invisibility cloak he'd inherited; the other was his uniform black and silver cloak. Harry put socks and underwear in the trunk too and through birthday presents from the last few years on top. Last, Harry put away his Firebolt. This broomstick was the fastest, most well-balanced, broom in existence. It would never let him down during Quiditch matches and came with an unbreakable charm strong enough to withstand the Whomping Willow Tree on the grounds at Hogwarts; his last broomstick, the Nimbus 2000, hadn't been so lucky. Everything was ready except for the spell set Hermione had sent him for his birthday. He left that out and tried to talk to someone.
"Anybody here?"
Purple ink flared instantly. "Yes, I am."
Red ink followed, "Me too. Can't stay though. Ginny'll be coming home in a few minutes and mum wants me downstairs."
"Why didn't you tell me she was staying here?"
Ron answered, "Bye."
Renata asked, "Huh?"
"Oh, I saw Ginny a couple weeks ago." And I had just been beaten up, he thought.
"Whatever. I've got to go. See you tomorrow."
"Wait."
"What?"
He searched for something to say like Why didn't you tell me Ron was writing you letters all summer? "What time are you coming tomorrow?"
"Noon-ish?"
"Sure."
"Bye."
"Bye."
That night, Harry had a dream. He was wandering in complete darkness except for a tiny light bobbing in front of him. He didn't exactly know how he knew he was walking, but he did. He knew he had to follow the light. Something was behind him. He didn't know what it was, but it wasn't something good. Whatever it was could not be allowed to catch up to him at any cost.
He was running faster and faster until he suddenly tripped. He woke up and couldn't breathe. It was several minutes before the breath came easy to him. After that he couldn't sleep, all he could do was wait for the dawn. It was only four hours away.three hours.two hours.
When the sun was finally up, Harry got dressed. He couldn't make himself look at his eyes in the mirror, he'd ran, it was just a dream but he ran when he should have stood. He went down to make breakfast for the Dursleys. He thought bitterly to himself, Nightmares! I'm too old for these. I've got to concentrate.
When Dudley came thundering down the stairs he made a face at Harry. Harry couldn't help but frown back, unfortunately, Dudley had moved and Harry was frowning at his Aunt Petunia. Her beady eyes stared back and she snapped, "Don't burn the eggs or you're not going anywhere!"
Harry decided to take the threat seriously. He couldn't afford not to. He had to get away. Then he realized it didn't matter. He would not come back. He considered spilling everything all over his aunt and uncle and then hitting Dudley really hard. The thought vanished. It wasn't noon. They could still lock him up somewhere. After all, his uncle wouldn't hesitate about putting bars on the windows again or locking him in his room. The Dursleys didn't mind using brute force on him. He'd have to come up with something to do right when he left.
His uncle interrupted his thoughts and barked, "How is he getting here?"
"She's getting here in a regular car, Uncle Vernon."
Harry anxiously waited for twelve o'clock. There was nothing he wanted more than to get away, as far away from the Dursleys as he could. The Dursleys tried to appear busy in the living room. Dudley was watching television (which probably wasn't an act). His aunt was looking through a magazine and his uncle read the paper. The room was tense. Harry had become desperate enough to go to his room and stare out the window. At a few minutes to twelve he saw it. He grinned as the familiar, little red car came up the street.
Harry went down the stairs three at a time. Then he raced back upstairs and looked in the mirror. His hair was a mess. It always was. He went back downstairs just as the doorbell rang.
"Get the door, boy!"
Harry opened it and was face to face with a blonde girl, his own height and with dazzling blue eyes. "Hi." She looked exactly the same as he remembered her.
She grinned right at him. "Hey, Harry. Hi, Mr. Dursley, Mrs. Dursley." Her grin turned into a misleading smile. "I've brought some apples for you." She came and placed three on the coffee table. "Are you ready, Harry?"
"Yeah. Just gotta get my trunk."
"I'll help."
As they went upstairs Harry asked, "I give up, what's with the fruit you gave them?"
"Hexed."
"Hexed? You can't work spells now. You're an underage witch, young lady." He tried to sound serious and ended up laughing.
"You're no older than I am. I had Fred hex them. I got my mom to take me to Hogsmeade."
"So what'll happen to them?"
"Temporary blindness. Just for a minute. Well, one minute for every bite." She started laughing. "Take this end, I've got this one."
They made their way slowly downstairs and carried the trunk out to the car. As Renata climbed into the driver's seat and put on a pair of sunglasses Harry said, "I'll be right back." He went back in the house. "I forgot to mention, one of your neighbors is a witch, and I'm not telling you which one. Have fun guessing, have a rotten life, and thanks for nothing!" He went back out to the car, very satisfied.
Renata turned on the radio as he climbed in. "Listen," she was a little loud because of the radio, "I wanna make a stop at Bella's first."
"Sure." Renata called Mrs. Figg "Bella" because she had known her a long time and that's what she called her. It was short for Arabella Figg. Within two minutes they were at Mrs. Figg's house.
Renata rang the bell.
"I'm sorry. No visitors today, come agai-Renata? Harry?"
"Hey, Ginny. Are you sure its 'no visitors'?" asked Renata.
"Come in! Come in!"
Harry followed the girls in and said, "I thought Ron told me you had to go home?"
"I did go home. Now I'm back. Harry, your cousin didn't beat you up again did he?"
"He's been beating you up, Harry?" Renata frowned. "Maybe I should have had Fred put something stronger in that apple. Or given him a canary cream."
Harry's face colored. He hadn't been planning to tell her that Dudley had been beating him up. He muttered something that sounded like, "It wasn't that bad."
"5 Cracked ribs, one broken rib, and two black eyes. Yes, it was that bad. You two wait here. I'll get Mrs. Figg." She walked through the wall that wasn't there.
Mrs. Figg and Ginny came out. "Renata! Harry! What a pleasant surprise. Staying for lunch, I hope?"
"Sure. It's better than eating on the road."
They sat down to some turkey sandwiches and great conversation. By the time they said goodbyes and hit the road they were stuffed.
Harry and Renata listened to the radio for a while, occasionally Renata sang along and Harry was sure she'd lost her mind. Eventually Renata asked, "Thirsty? There's a drive-through up ahead. I always keep some Muggle cash on hand. Do you want anything to drink?"
"Yeah."
As Renata pulled up to the speaker she ordered two large Cokes. When they were through with their drinks Harry leaned back in his chair. He hadn't realized how tired he was. He shut his eyes just for a moment.
He woke to the sound of the radio again.
Renata looked over at him, "We're nearly there."
He stretched his arms and remembered what he'd been meaning to ask her. Harry tried to sound casual, "Have you been hearing a lot from Ron this summer? I haven't been getting as many letters from him as I usually do."
"Really?"
He waited for her to say something else.
"I've gotten plenty of letters."
"Really?" he felt a lump in his throat. "A-about what?"
"I'm not telling." She said in a singsong voice. She turned on the radio and started humming. After a few minutes she shut off the radio. "Aw.lighten up, Harry. It was a joke."
"What part? It wasn't funny."
"All right, all right. New topic: What do you think about the Quiditch team this year?"
"I think there's still some definite work needed. Practice 4 times a week."
"No." She didn't say this as an argument, just a fact.
"Or what? You'll lead the team in a boycott? Again?"
"Nope. I've got an even better idea. I sent a letter to Madam Hooch over the summer. We're Co-Captains. Dumbledore even approved it himself. You're not running the show anymore."
"B-b-but-"
Renata just smiled and allowed him to sit there stuttering for another moment. "We're home." She parked the car.
Harry hadn't noticed that they'd already made it up through the hills and into the area where Sirius, the Delanos, and several other wizarding families lived.
"We'll get your trunk later. I promised my mom you'd say hello before rushing off to Sirius's."
Harry followed her inside and found Professor Delano drinking some tea and reading a book. "Hello, Harry."
Renata put her hands on her hips and asked, "What? No hello for me?"
"Hello to you, too, then. Harry, Sirius just stopped by. He's going out of town to night. Work. So he wanted me to give you these in case you don't have time to stop at Madam Malkin's tomorrow. He said he noticed your robes were getting short." She handed over a couple wrapped parcels. "And I wanted to say that if you don't want to stay alone at Sirius's tonight you're more than welcome to stay in the guest room here."
"Thanks, Professor. I'm going to go see Sirius now." He turned to go then turned back and added, "He hasn't left yet, has he?"
"I don't think so."
"Okay." Harry turned again to leave and found Renata in front of him. "What?"
"You're not walking are you? That'll take forever and you want to see him. I'm driving."
Harry didn't bother arguing with her. It was several miles to Sirius's house. With Renata there was never much point in trying to argue anyway, she always won and made you feel bad for arguing even when she started it.
Within a few minutes they had reached Sirius's house. Harry all but jumped from the car and was nearly running to the house, "Sirius? Sirius! Are you here?"
A muffled voice called from upstairs, "Right here, Harry!"
Harry raced up the stairs to meet him. "Hi, Sirius."
"Hello. How's your summer been?"
"No worse than usual."
Sirius chuckled. "That's good. Otherwise I might have had to go give those Dursleys a piece of my mind."
"Renata already did."
"Really now? How?"
"Hexed apples. A minute of blindness for every bite." Renata tried to look innocent and failed.
"And they are trying to guess which of their neighbors is a witch."
"Well, I've got to go, Harry, but I'll see you soon."
"Where are you going?"
"I have to take care of something for work."
"Hogwarts business? It's still August!"
"No. Other work."
"Where are you working?"
"It doesn't matter. I'll be gone at least until tomorrow maybe the day after. You're welcome to stay here or you can stay with the Delanos."
"Fine."
"Look, I'm sorry I can't stay, Harry. Really I am. I missed you."
"Okay."
"Look, I'll see you soon." He vanished.
"Harry, let's go get your trunk out of the car and up to your room."
As they entered room and sat down the trunk by the end of the bed, Harry looked at the familiar surroundings. Things were almost the same as when he had left: there was a tall wardrobe, a dresser, a few chairs, and a nightstand by the large bed. The bed was covered with a scarlet quilt bordered with gold. The walls were white and the back wall had a large window. The only major difference Harry could see was the pictures. There were pictures on the wall and on top of the different pieces of furniture. They were of his parents. They looked so happy. Harry found one on his nightstand that he was almost positive was his dad with Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. He picked up another one, this one was his mum standing next to Renata's; they'd been best friends.
Harry felt something wet in his eye.
"Don't cry, Harry. We're not babies."
Harry looked at Renata. A few tears were running down her cheeks. She held a picture of both her parents with both his parents. She sniffled a few times quietly and her eyes and face were wet.
"I don't remember them," he said quietly.
"I don't remember. I lost him when I was the same age as you were when your parents."
He patted her awkwardly on the shoulder once or twice and then he said, "We didn't lose them. They were taken from us." He wiped his eyes on his sleeve.
"Yeah, I'm done too. Let's go. I'm hungry and I think my mom is making pork chops, tonight."
