Chapter 30 - Blown Up Bitch

The next seven days were fairly normal. I went to work and spent my evening relaxing with Moony although every so often, I couldn't help but look over my shoulder and worry about Harry. Sirius Black was our godfather, I couldn't help but wonder whether he'd come for us. It was late in the evening when I received a very official looking ministry letter.

Miss Hyde,

I request your presence at the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley as your God brother, Harry James Potter, as he has blown up his Aunt and is on his way here on the Knight Bus. I am sure you understand the danger he could possibly be in as are you. I would like you to meet with me and Mr. Potter so we can discuss our options. Thank you.

Yours Sincerely,

Cornelius Fudge,

Minister for Magic.

I sighed a little. My little God brother. How could he blow up his aunt? And which one, Petunia or Marge?

"What's it about?" Uncle Moony asked. I passed him the letter to read.

"I reckon I'll be staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight. Is that alright?" I asked him.

"That's fine. That's a very James thing to do, blow up his aunt." Moony grinned at me. I smiled and went upstairs to pack a bag before I walked outside and held up my wand calling the Knight Bus. It arrived quite quickly.

"Right then, Neville," said Stan Shunpike, the Knight Bus guy after I'd paid to go to Diagon Alley, clapping his hands, "Where about in London?"

"Diagon Alley," said Harry.

"Righto," said Stan. "'Old tight, then. Both of yeh'." This is when Harry looked at me so I smirked.

"Neville?" I asked.

"Hi Ash." He grinned.

"Blown up any family recently?" I continued. He looked shocked.

"How on earth did you know that?" He asked looking really shocked.

"I have my ways." I finished ominously. "What were you thinking on going out when there's a murderer on the loose?"

"Why would this Sirius Black been in Little Whinging?" Harry scoffed. You'd be surprised, I thought to myself. I looked out the windows and saw the familiar sight of London rushing by.

"We're nearly here." I commented a Harry nodded.

"Thanks," Harry said to Ern after we stopped outside of the Leaky Cauldron. Harry jumped down the steps and helped Stan lower his trunk and Hedwig's cage onto the pavement before I jumped out behind him. "Well, Bye then!" But Stan wasn't paying attention. Still standing in the doorway to the bus he was staring at the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron.

"There you are, Harry, Ah, Miss Hyde. Good to see you. I never did receive a reply from my letter." said a vaguely familiar voice. I turned to see the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. I'd met him a few times because my Dad works at the ministry so he's been around a few times.

"Good Evening, Minister. As you said he was on the Knight bus so I decided to just catch the bus here." I replied smiling.

"Blimey! Ern, come 'ere! Come 'ere!" Stan shouted behind us. "What didja call Neville, Minister?"

"Neville?" Fudge repeated, frowning. "This is Harry Potter."

"I knew it!" Stan shouted gleefully. "Ern! Ern! Guess 'oo Neville is, Ern! 'E's 'Arry Potter! I can see 'is scar!"

"Yes," Fudge replied testily, "well, I'm very glad the Knight Bus picked Harry up, but we need to step inside the Leaky Cauldron now..." I smiled slightly before I picked up Hedwig's cage and walked into the pub after the Minister and Harry.

"You've got him, Minister!" said Tom. "Will you be wanting anything? Beer? Brandy?"

"Perhaps a pot of tea," Fudge replied.

"Alright Tom." I grinned at him.

"Ash, I haven't seen you since yesterday." Tom grinned back.

"I'll see you later, love." I smiled and skipped after them.

"Sit down, Harry." Fudge said indicating to the chair near him before introducing himself while I sat on the sofa not far from them as Tom came in with tea and crumpets. "Well, Harry," said Fudge, pouring out tea for the three of us, "you've had us all in a right flap, I don't mind telling you. Running away from your aunt and uncle's house like that! I'd started to think... but you're safe, and that's what matters. Eat, Harry, you look dead on your feet. Now then... You will be pleased to hear that we have dealt with the unfortunate blowing-up of Miss Marjorie Dursley. Two members of the Accidental Magic Reversal Department were dispatched to Privet Drive a few hours ago. Miss Dursley has been punctured and her memory has been modified. She has no recollection of the incident at all. So that's that, and no harm done." I chuckled thinking of big Marge the size of a balloon. Harry still looked quite concerned while he was drinking his tea. "Ah, you're worrying about the reaction of your aunt and uncle?" said Fudge catching onto my thoughts. "Well, I won't deny that they are extremely angry, Harry, but they are prepared to take you back next summer as long as you stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas and Easter holidays." I snorted. I wouldn't want to go back any time and I knew Harry didn't either.

"I always stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas and Easter holidays," he said, "and I don't ever want to go back to Privet Drive."

"Now, now, I'm sure you'll feel differently once you've calmed down," said Fudge in a worried tone. "They are your family, after all, and I'm sure you are fond of each other - er - very deep down. So all that remains, is to decide where you're going to spend the last two weeks of your vacation. I suggest you take a room here at the Leaky Cauldron and..."

"Hang on," blurted Harry. "What about my punishment?"

"Punishment?" Fudge asked confused. I looked at Harry also confused.

"I broke the law!" Harry said. "The Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry!"

"Oh, my dear boy, we're not going to punish you for a little thing like that!" cried Fudge, waving his crumpet impatiently. "It was an accident! We don't send people to Azkaban just for blowing up their aunts!" I was shaking with laughter. My poor little god brother was worried he would end up in jail, I stood up and hugged while still laughing a little bit.

"Last year, I got an official warning just because a house-elf smashed a pudding in my uncle's house!" he told Fudge, frowning. "The Ministry of Magic said I'd be expelled from Hogwarts if there was any more magic there!"

"Circumstances change, Harry... We have to take into account... in the present climate... Surely you don't want to be expelled?" Fudge kind of stuttered.

"Of course I don't," said Harry.

"Well then, what's A the fuss about?" laughed Fudge. "Now, have a crumpet, Harry, while I go and see if Tom's got a room for you."

"Make sure it has a double bed, I'll be staying for tonight if that's okay." I commented. Fudge nodded before exiting the room. "You alright with me staying the night?"
"Yeah. Of course, that's fine." He smiled. Fudge returned minutes later.

"Now, Harry. I'm sure Ash will have told you that we have had a murderer on the loose so I ask you to be careful and I don't want you wandering off into Muggle London, all right? Keep to Diagon Alley. And you're to be back here before dark each night. Sure you'll understand. Tom will be keeping an eye on you for me."

"Er - Minister? Can I ask you something?"

"Certainly," said Fudge with a smile.

"Well, third years at Hogwarts are allowed to visit Hogsmeade, but my aunt and uncle didn't sign the permission form. D'you think you could -?" Fudge was looking uncomfortable.

"Ah," he said. "No, no, I'm very sorry, Harry, but as I'm not your parent or guardian..."

"But you're the Minister of Magic," said Harry eagerly. "If you gave me permission..."

"No, I'm sorry, Harry, but rules are rules," said Fudge flatly. 'Perhaps you'll be able to visit Hogsmeade next year. In fact, I think it's best if you don't... yes... well, I'll be off Enjoy your stay, Harry." He ran out of there after shaking our hands.

"If you give me your form, I'll pop by your house and get one of them to sign it tomorrow. I'll threaten them if I have too, hun. Which, of course, I'll enjoy." I grinned.

"Thank you." He smiled back when we heard a knock on the door. Tom entered.

"You're in room eleven, kids. I hope that's alright." Tom told us.

"Thanks Tommy. My lucky number." I grinned. Tom nodded and we followed him into the room after I picked up my bag and then Hedwig while Harry pulled his trunk behind me. We spent the evening talking about his week with the now deflated Aunt Marge, it was horrible apparently. What a bitch. He then went on to tell stories of his childhood with Marge, he made her sound like a very strange woman. I wondered if she was a lesbian, living without a man being as old as she is, living with dogs. Just dogs. So weird. I couldn't understand muggle's sometimes. Harry wrote letters to Ron and 'Mione letting them know where he was before we went to sleep.

The next morning we spent the day in Diagon Alley, getting our equipment for our third year at Hogwarts which apparently we had both put off. We had breakfast at the pub before heading out and spending a few hours getting the stuff, most of it at the joke shop and Quality Quidditch Supplies looking at the new Firebolt, before spending another hour at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour having a very unhealthy dinner. What can I say, we're teenagers! We spent the afternoon in Harry's room, relaxing, looking at our new stuff before we had an early dinner downstairs in the Leaky Cauldron before I went home to Uncle Moony's. I asked him to take me straight to Privet Drive to get his form signed. Moony, waited at the end of the garden while I went towards poor Harry's hell hole of a home and knocked. Petunia answered and glared as soon as she saw me.

"What are you doing here?" She spat.

"I'm getting what Harry is owed, Petunia. Now, let me in." I ordered. She glared at me again before opening the door wider to let me in. I smiled at Uncle Moony before I walked in behind her, closing the door. I walked into the living room and saw both Dudley and Vernon stuffing their faces with chocolate while there was an iron board which obviously Petunia had just been standing behind. This house was so 50's. Women do everything and look pretty while the fat ugly men do nothing but stuff their faces and watch television. I knew what that was thanks to Harry. Dudley dropped the chocolate he had in his hand as soon as he saw me while Vernon just glared. I sighed before pulling out the form they needed to sign. "Sign it, please." I ordered nicely with a big smile on my face.

"Why would I do anything for that boy? He blew up my sister!" Vernon growled.

"Why would you do anything for that boy?" I shrieked sarcastically. "He's put up with your shit for thirteen years! And that bitch was insulting his dead parents! I'd would've done a lot more than blow her up!"

"How dare you speak in front of my son like that?" Petunia shrieked.

"Sign the form and I'll be out of your hair." I smiled brightly at them.

"No." Vernon replied, remarkably calmly. I sighed and pulled my wand out and pointed it at Vernon while placing the form infront of him.

"Get a pen, Dudley." I ordered. He nodded and jumped out of his chair. "Now must I repeat myself?"
"You... you can't do magic outside of your freak school..." Vernon stuttered. I loved how scared he was of a wand.

"They'll give me a warning. Accidental magic happens. Try me, Vernon, I dare you." I smirked at him. He looked pale.

"Do as she says, Vernon." Petunia whispered as Dudley handed him a pen. I smiled genially at Dudley before turning back to the elder Dursley. He glowered at me but roughly signed the form.

"Good boy." I smiled and picked up the form. "I'll see you in July, I'll let myself out." I skipped out of the room and through the door, slamming it behind although it was slightly immature. I asked Uncle Moony to take me home which he gladly complied before spending the evening with my awesome Uncle Remus.