Nothing Stays the Same: A Year of Change
By jessebelle
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot
A/N: Start rereading at the ()()()()()()
Chapter Eight: Sanctuary
()()()()()()()()Harry woke up after the first peaceful nights rest in a long time. He smiled remembering the dream he had had, then his jaw dropped when he realized it wasn't a dream. There was a comfortable weight resting on his chest and he grinned when he saw the toad. He sat up and examined it further. It was real, last night had really happened.
A loud tapping interrupted his musings. "Boy, are you up yet?"
Sighing he crawled out of bed. "Yes, Aunt Petunia."
He quickly dressed and made his way downstairs and into the kitchen. Dudley sat stuffing his face. Last years' diet had actually worked, but it was all for nothing. The boy had decided to make up for all of the previous years' lost food. He sat down and quickly started to eat his breakfast, a piece of burnt toast and a bowl of day old oatmeal. He looked away to see Uncle Vernon sat alternating between eating his breakfast and reading the paper. His face clearly displaying his anger. He truly looked menacing. Aunt Petunia was squinting and craning her long neck to see outside the windows into their neighbors' yard.
He had just turned his head, barely, when a loud screech filled the air, followed by a loud, dreamy female voice, one that he recognized.
"His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,
His hair is as dark as a blackboard.
He's so divine, I wish he were mine,
The boy that defeated the Dark Lord." More screeching followed, along with a warning of dishonesty.
Both Dudley and Aunt Petunia had jumped up at the first wail, Harry's toast clenched in his stubby grip. Harry was mortified at first, shocked at the alarm and the poem he knew all too well. But, realizing what must have happened, he started to smile widely, and finally laugh at Ginny's voice. His laughter was cut off abruptly by Uncle Vernon. The large man sat at the head of the table, his face purple with anger.
"What is that racket?" his voice was filled with anger and dangerously calm.
Harry looked at him, suddenly beginning to dread what could happen next. "It was a present, from a friend."
"Why would anybody send you a present?" Dudley's voice came from the corner he was backed into, both hands on his bum.
Harry averted his gaze from his uncle. "It's my birthday."
A loud sigh, laced with anger came from Vernon. "What is it?"
Slowly, Harry reached into his shirt and brought out his protective toad charm, from Ginny. Uncle Vernon's beefy hand reached over and picked it up from his chest. Harry heard a sound of displeasure before it was ripped off of him. The alarm stopped sounding instantly.
"Now you listen here boy, I want you to bring down any other 'gifts' you've received from those freaks. You here me. I don't want anymore funny business in my house." He got up and walked over to the trash. Studying Harry's gift, he grunted with displeasure and threw it in. Opening his mouth to yell at Harry some more, he was cut off by the telephone. After a nod from Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia answered it. Throughout the call, Harry received a glare worse then Voldemorts.
Hanging up the phone Aunt Petunia turned sharply towards Harry. "That was Mrs. Figg. Apparently she's just moved, something about a new job, and would like the boy to go and fix up the house before the realtors come. She said the key was in the flower pot."
Harry froze. Mrs. Figg had moved, but what about being his godmother? He didn't have time to contemplate this new revelation because a look from his uncle clearly told him he was to go do just what she had ordered. He slowly stood up and brought his dishes to the sink. He walked out of the kitchen. As he was leaving, he heard Uncle Vernon tell Dudley and Aunt Petunia to go to town and buy his 'Dudders' what he wanted. Then Harry made his way out of the house. ()()()()()()()()()
The sun was shining, birds were singing, everything was 'normal'. He made the short walk to Mrs. Figg's old house. It looked and felt bare without the usual cats all over the property. Finding the key where in its place, he opened the house.
It was practically the same. Aside from the lack of cats, the house looked just like it had the last time he'd been over. An overwhelming stench of cabbage attacked his nose and he wondered what was going on. Cautiously, he stepped inside.
"Hello. Mrs. Figg?" he called out just to make sure she wasn't hiding somewhere. He looked around and spotted an envelope addressed to him on the table.
Dear Harry,
I know you just found out about me and believe me; I was hoping to get to know you a lot better. But something came up. Dumbledore flooed me last night saying it was an emergency. I'm not sure what is going on but it was serious. I had to leave early thing morning and I had just enough time to call your aunt. Unfortunately what I said wasn't a complete lie. I have to move. I wasn't supposed to tell you this but this year I'll be filling in as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. I'll only be staying a year, and I'm doing it as a favor to Dumbledore and Remus. I'll keep some of it a surprise. Anyway kid, I had to go. I'm not sure if I'll be back this summer, but I will keep in touch by owls. Expect to get to know your godmother when you return to Hogwarts. Okay, I need you help keep the house up to Little Whinging standards. You know what I mean. Also, I was thinking you could use it as an excuse to get away from those awful relatives of yours. Whatever's in the house is yours. Also, I need you to go in the room upstairs on the right. It's a surprise, but I think you'll like it. Okay, gotta go kid.
Luv you,
Bella
Harry read the letter and paused. He'd been looking foreword to getting to know his godmother. He had tons of questions and he wanted answers. Briefly he wondered if the emergency had to do with Voldemort. He hoped it didn't. He got to the part about Bella teaching at Hogwarts and he smiled. He'd be able to spend time with her there.
He put the letter down and looked around at his new sanctuary. He fully planned to take Bella up on her offer of letting him dwell here instead of with the Dursleys. He remembered the surprise and smiled. He went upstairs and looked down the hall. He hadn't been up here before, but if he had, he'd defiantly know that Mrs. Figg was a witch. Moving pictures adjourned the walls. After taking a closer look, he realized that they were pictures of Bella at Hogwarts, with his mom. There were a few pictures of the mauraders, and quite a few of his mom, Bella and Snape. There were also an abundance of pictures of Sirius. He then remembered that Bella had dated his godfather. Weird.
But back to the task at hand, he looked at the closed door on the right. Nothing was odd about it. He reached out a hand and twisted the doorknob. What was inside made him stop in shock. It was a bedroom. Nothing special about it. It was painted scarlet with gold trimming; Gryffindor colors. Quidditch posters of all different teams adorned the walls. There was a twin bed on the far wall in the corner. It had a comforter that was adorned with a woven quidditch match. You could tell it was magical because it was moving. He started at it for a second watching the chasers wave in and out, blocking bludgers. The windows were black with stationary snitches on it. There was an open closet that was filled with robes and clothes for a teenage boy. An owl cage was in the corner. There was a desk along one wall that had school books piled on top of it. A dresser was next to it that held quidditch memorabilia. All in all, it was a teenage wizard's dream room.
But what really made him smile was a sign on the back of the door. It simply said: Harry's room. A note he found on the bed confirmed his happy suspicion. It read: Yes, Harry, it's yours. I figured you'd like to have your own room here. I hope the décor is to your likening, but if not, I'll change it when I can. See you sweetie. Bella. Feel free to stay here if home gets to be too much!!!
Looking around again, Harry could hardly believe that it his. Not the cupboard, not Dudley's second bedroom, but his room. A very unmanly tear ran down his cheek, which he quickly wiped away. But it was one of the nicest things had ever happened to him. Quickly, he made up his mind. He'd definitely be spending most of the summer here. Things were definitely looking up and he hoped to Merlin that things stayed good in his life.