Chapter 3: Thoughts and Letters

That was incredibly weird Dudley nice and interested. Hedwig came fluttering in the window with two letters. This surprised Harry it was very late or rather early it depends on how you look at it. It was 4 am in the morning. Wonder who they are from Harry wondered. Harry got up from the bed and went over to Hedwig who was drinking from her water dish. One was from Hermione and the other was from Dumbledore. He remembered what happened at the end of last year he missed her even though he had just gotten at number 4 a couple of weeks ago for one thing a lot happened. He decided to read Dumbledore's first.

Dear Harry,

The pensive you have borrowed isn't mine it is yours I personally think you need one. Enjoy. If you need me I am at Hogwarts. Have a good summer.

Albus Dumbledore

Harry had a pensive 'wow' he thought then Harry added the thought to his pensive. He then found Hermione's letter. He quickly opened it and read it a few times it was longer than her usual letters.

Harry,

Hi how are you? Hope the Dursleys are treating you well. Um I was wondering if you wanted to come spend the rest of the summer holiday with me at my house see my parents are going away for a week and my mum and dad wanted to know if my two best friends could come and keep an eye on me but if Ron is there we know for one thing we would have to baby-sit Ron around muggle equipment and with it being Ron we would have to baby-sit anyway. Just kidding well sort of. Anyway I don't think he will be coming he has been spending time with Luna. Can you believe it Ron and Loony I mean Luna. Harry smiled a little Well Harry I will come and get you in a few days so pack I will pick you up early on Wednesday morning around 10 am.

Love,

Hermione

This would be fun he grabbed some parchment and a quill and wrote back quickly forgetting it was five in the morning and Hermione was probably sleeping.

Hermione,

I am fine and yes the Dursleys are treating me so well that last year wasn't nearly as scary. But I would love to come and stay the summer with you. By the way I agree with you on Ron. Also how are you healing? But more important you haven't been writing as furiously as usually I probably have only gotten 3 letters with in 5 days. That makes me sad usually you write every day. Then again I guess I am no better either then again who is after well you know. But 10 on Wednesday sounds great.

Love,

Harry

Hedwig noticed Harry writing a letter so she was already ready to take flight again. Harry sealed it with his wand and tied it to Hedwig's leg and watched her take flight to her destination. Which didn't take long because Harry could she her a great distance away because of her being a snowy owl against a midnight color sky he could she her go maybe more than a mile. But she dropped about a mile or so away. Did Hermione move? Maybe or Hedwig stopped. Harry stored the thought to the back of his mind and began to read a book Lupin had sent him for something to do over holiday besides homework. Which by the way he was half way done he only had McGonagall's Animagus Essay which was very hard for Harry to do because it reminded himself of Sirius and Flitwick's Essay on the Summoning Charm. Harry was actually quite proud of himself because he had managed the Potions Essay on the effects of Wolfsbane, the DADA essay on dark creatures, then Hagrid's essay he still had to do but he started on the magical eggs, Hagrid had mentioned a surprise over holiday Harry never knew what he mend but hoped it wasn't another book that tried to take off his hand next was the essay for Astrology he had to tell the difference between the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Lupin had bought a book on spells Harry could consider useful. The one thing that surprised Harry was the book he found at Sirius's house last summer he never read it so Harry decided to read it. It was strange he felt a weird connection with this book and decided to try and attempt wand less magic. He was reading for what seemed like twenty minutes when Hedwig was at his window-sil.

"That was quick." Harry muttered. He took the letter and noticed it was sealed with a spell. "Why Hermione it is summer." He knew Hermione was going to surprise him with a spell. He took the parchment and muttered 'Alohamora' it worked thank Merlin Harry thought.

Harry,

Are you okay with what happened last year well I know you don't like the fact of what happened but are you okay because you kind of stopped after you led to that? Harry if you want to talk I am here you know you can talk to me your best friend. You have always been able to talk to me or would you rather talk to Ron? But yes I am fine but I have a scar from that spell. And the reason I haven't been writing as much is because we moved to Surrey about a mile or two away from you. That is why Hedwig isn't taking so long but I am to blame for this one I was getting a shower and didn't notice the time. But after I sent it I got this strange feeling you were up. I am going to go and jog maybe... well do you jog? Maybe you and I can jog this morning. Do you know about that park near Mongolia Crescent? Well if you could meet me there in about 10 min? It is only half a mile from my house. And yours we are on Elderberry Drive and you are Privet Drive. So meet you there if so send Hedwig back if not then call me later if you can my number is 555-2945. You said something about the Dursleys going out today so call me later if you can.

Love,

Hermione

Hermione jogs too. That is in my schedule everyday. Harry had set up a schedule for himself to say away from his family as possible that is if you could call them family.

Hermione,

Yeah I will meet you there in about 10 min.

Love

Harry

Harry sent the letter and got dressed into some shorts and a t-shirt black that said Hogwarts on the back. He then looked in the mirror and noticed how much he had changed in the couple weeks he was a few inches and gotten a few more muscles from running in the morning. He looked around the room he noticed that he always kept it clean and his trunk was always packed mostly he was hoping an early escape. He stuck his wand in his pocket. He headed to the kitchen to get a water bottle and when he went into the hallway he heard voices in the kitchen. He heard his aunt and uncle talking rapidly. He walked in greeted by an unhappy man.

"What are you doing?" He growled at his so-called nephew.

"Going for a run like I do every morning." Harry said trying to be polite for some reason Mr. Dursley started to turn mean lately.

"Who were you sending this morning? That bloody bird was making such a racket."

"My friend."

"Well, boy I need to talk to you now in your room."

"Ummm...okay." They walked to Harry's room which Harry needed to unlock from away he did this so the Dursleys wouldn't take his things when he was gone. He unlocked it so Vernon didn't notice. The walked in and Vernon took Harry by the collar and threw him on the bed. Harry wasn't expecting this and his head it the wall. Vernon then grabbed Harry again and slammed him against the wall and yelled at him for be a burden to him for 15 years. He punched Harry in the stomach a few times till he had a hard time breathing. Then did it a few more times then left. Harry lay on the floor shocked. He stood and grabbed all his belongings after locking the door and packed. He told Hegwig to go to Hermione's house. Harry shrunk his belongings and checked all the nooks and cranny's for anything shrunk the cage and put everything in his duffle bag with his other clothes. He then went downstairs with his duffle and went into the kitchen you could see his lip was bleeding along with his nose and eye. The bruises were already starting to form. When he got into the kitchen his aunt shrieked when she saw her nephew's condition. Vernon was just shocked that he would show his face after what happened. Harry went to the fridge to get a water bottle.

"Boy do I have to teach you another lesson." He said grabbing his collar again.

"No Vernon. But I have to teach you one." Harry said grabbing his wand and pointed it at the man holding his collar.

"You cant you aren't allowed."

"Want to try me?" This made the man fear for himself. Harry grabbed his duffle and water bottle. Next he faced the man cowering in the corner and said a few choice of words another shriek was heard from his aunt and with that Harry left at a slower pace than usual to the park. Back at the Dursleys Vernon lay on the floor with a large bump forming on his head after Harry had managed to send him into the wall and hit him with a few temporarily stunners he wasn't sure but who cares. He found his way to the park drank a little water Hermione wasn't there yet so he sat down and leaned against the tree. He fell into darkness.

Hermione's POV

She sent her letter to Harry whom she was very confused over at the moment was he thought of more than a best friend or as a best friend. She was mainly worried for him. He hadn't said much in his check up letters but she was going to see him soon. She was getting ready to go jogging with Harry she put on some shorts and a red t-shirt that said Gryffindor House. Then she started to put on some lip-gloss and went downstairs. As she did she wondered if Harry would get the spell that would reveal the message she sent to him. The Grangers greeted her when she got downstairs. She went to the fridge and got a water bottle and she was about to head out the door when someone called.

"Hermione? It's for you." Her mother called.

"Okay hold on I am getting it in the study." She yelled back. Hermione ran over to the phone and told her mother she got it.

"Hello?" Hermione said.

"Hey Herm what's up this is Jessie."

"Hey how are you I haven't talked to you in ages."

"Yeah same here."

"What are you doing up so early."

"Well I don't know but I knew you go jogging and was wondering could I come I need a jogging buddy?"

"Umm sure but can we meet someone at Mongolia Crescent Park?"

"Sure. Sounds great meet you there but wait for me I just got out of bed and stuff so I meet you there in like 15 min."

"Alright Bye."

"Later."

Hermione said bye to her family and when outside. It was a nice area. She saw Hedwig fly to her she didn't have a letter.

"Oh Merlin." Hermione ran to the park in a sprint. She knew if Harry sent Hedwig with out a letter it meant he was coming he left the Dursley's for the summer. Hermione found the park now to find Harry. All she saw was a women running with a baby stroller, a man leaning against the tree with jet black hair she glanced around and thought wait. The teen ran over to the man leaning against the tree who was covering his face.

"Harry?" The girl whispered to the boy. He seemed to be unconscious. She picked up his duffle bag and put it over her shoulder and hoisted him up and put an arm around her shoulder and tried to get him to her house. It wasn't working. Hermione laided him on the bench and took out her hair handkerchief and went over to the pond and took some of the water and went back over to her unconsisious best friend she now noticed his face his was a little bloody with cuts and new bruises. She dabbed the cuts to clean them up a bit and secretly conjured some rubbing alcohol and redabbed his cuts so they wouldn't get infected. Then picking up his head she sat down and put his head in her lap and waited for her friend Jessie. The young witch bent down and kissed her friend on the cheek and said, "I will never leave you." Then waited. Finally ten minutes later she saw Jessie come into view running. Jess noticed her friend and ran to her even faster.

"Hey Hermio..." She stopped because she noticed an unconsisious teenage boy in her friend's lap. "What the bloody..."

"This is my friend I don't know what happened but we need to get him to my house." Hermione explained. Jess felt Hermione must be really close to this boy because she was silently crying. So the girls hoisted the boy up and it was easier with two people than just Hermione. They got to the house around 6:45ish and Hermione was just in time when her parents were leaving for work.

"Oi Mum! Dad!" She called as the two girls carried the boy around the corner. The Granger parents heard their daughter and noticed that two people were with her. One a boy they had met once or twice and the other person a girl whom they have known to be Hermione's childhood friend.

"Honey what happened?" Hermione's father came rushing to get Harry from the girls.

"I am not sure but he is hurt I will clean him up and wait till he wakes up is it okay he came early?" She said they could tell she had been and still is crying.

"Of course Charles take Harry and put him on the couch and Hermione dear?"

"Yeah?"

"He will be fine in your care."

"And Jess nice to see you. Could you stay and help Hermione?"

"Yes Mum." She called Mrs. Granger 'mum' since she was little the same with Hermione with Mrs. Patrickson. Charles his daughter's best friend on the couch and looked at him. He had bruises all over along with cuts. The man lifted Harry's shirt when his daughter, wife and an old family friend came in. Hermione broke down into more tears when she saw the swelling and bruises all over her best friend.

"Honey will you be okay?" Her mum asked.

"Yeah I will call you when he wakes." With that the Grangers left. Hermione went and got the first aid kit. She removed Harry's shirt and tried to hold back her tears. She took out the disinfectant and the bandages. Jessie came in with warm soapy water and a washcloth. Hermione removed Harry's glasses and wished to she those green eyes to open but they didn't. The girl took the washcloth and dabbed at the cuts and bruises on his face and moved to his chest and stomach. Then moved onto the disinfectant and put on the bandages.

"Why don't we put him in a bed so he is more comfortable?" Jessica asked. So with that Hermione levitated her best friend's body and took him to her room she would have put him in the Guest room but the bed was covered in a lot of stuff she was going to clear out before he arrived. "Why didn't you do that on the way here?"

"Because we were in the site of mu...I mean people. And only you know my secret."

"Oh." Hermione tucked Harry in making sure he was nice and warm it was a cold summer day. Unusual I know but it is a story so I can do what I want lol She lit a fire to make it warmer. Hermione leaned over the side of the bed and kissed Harry on the cheek and said wake up. The girls then went downstairs and made tea and sandwiches. They ate quietly. Jess went home after a while because she had to go to work a 9 and it was almost 8. Hermione was left with Harry who was in a sleep. The sad girl grabbed Harry's glasses from the table got a washcloth and water and went upstairs back to her room. When she got there she noticed something different in the room. It was Harry he was different. His breathing had picked up he was breathing a little more normally he must have been hit hard if he was having breathing hard. She wondered if the Dursleys had something to do with this. The teen patted her friend's face with the cloth. Hoping it would help him. In a while she had come across his famous scar. Poor boy if he hadn't have that scar he would be a normal boy and would be here now he and her would be jogging in Surrey happily talking about mean professors and homework, or she would have never met him, she mentally kicked herself for the thought of not being with Harry and so she wished his life to be normal.

"Harry wake up please." The young women grabbed his hand and laid down next to him hoping he would wake up. She fell into a deep sleep next to her best friend and got under the covers with him to keep him warm.