Again, this is for my beta. I haven't talked to her in such a long time it makes me feel guilty. if you're out there this goes out to you. Sorry, again for the long wait. Much love!

I would also like to thank the reviewers who reviewed; your patience has been rewarded!

Sand Captive

Chapter 2: Convincing the Inconvincible

"WHAT?"

Harry cringed as he watched his uncle slowly turn purple. His neck that was now nothing but a quivering mass of flesh seemed to bulge even more. He stood there, though not at an intimidating height, and he clenched his fist together until his knuckles turned white. It was a very unpleasant sight, but what could he do? He was asking a practically impossible question, one that required them to spend money.

"Now, now, dear," Aunt Petunia cooed, as she tried to soothe her purple, walrus of a husband but to no avail. He shoved her away and plopped down, graceless, onto his worn out seat.

"This...this freak is asking us to spend money on his worthless bottom! Money, did you hear me Petunia? Money!"

"Well," as Petunia began, wringing her hands, "maybe..."

"Maybe what Petunia," Vernon asked, though sounding harsher than he probably meant.

Petunia's face twisted into a look of deep apprehension, and she began to wring her hands together harder, her fingers turning a slight purple tinge.

She had an 'I'm going to regret this later' look on her face, but she went ahead and said it.

Dudley, who had been enjoying the spectacle, observed from the doorway of the parlor smirking endlessly. Harry glanced back and scowled deeply, as Dudley grinned toothily at him.

'That bastard is enjoying this.'

Aunt Petunia turned around, her face full of dread, finally spoke one of the many thoughts that she had never voiced.

"I think he should go."

Silence.

Her proposal was met with utter silence, that Harry could see the tangible form of disbelief sitting right on top of the coffee table.

"Wwhat," he stuttered, eyes bugging out behind his coke-bottled glasses. "Could you repeat that again?"

"Yes, please do, Petunia," Uncle Vernon agreed staring at his wife, as if she had sprouted a new set of tits.

"I think he should go," she repeated again this time more firmly.

'I think...hell has finally frozen over or Aunt Petunia has grown a back bone,' Harry thought to himself, still in awe by his aunt's proposal.

"Why Petunia? Why are you siding with this...this boy?"

Aunt Petunia turned and glared at her husband, silencing him from speaking any further.

"I think Harry should go because we really don't do much for him. I never did much for him," whispering the last bit to herself, though Harry still heard her.

"But," Vernon sputtered, not able to find the words to express his opinion.

"Oh...do shut up," Aunt Petunia finally snapped, tossing her hands up. "You don't have to pay a single damn dime, you cheap, greedy man. I will pay myself."

She stormed off to the kitchen in a huff and began to prepare dinner.

The three men of the Dursley household remained in there seat, still flabbergasted by what had just occur. A minute passed and it finally dawned on Harry that he was going to Egypt.

"YES," he jumped up, pumping his fist into the air. "I'm going to Egypt! Huzzah!"

He stumbled past his uncle, who was still stunned that his wife had told him to "shut up", and he smirked at Dudley, who looked like a fish fresh out of the waters.

Harry made his way slowly to the kitchen, where his aunt was chopping green onions and carrots and tossing them into a huge pot.

"Um, Aunt Petunia," Harry began shyly, "I just wanted to let you know that...I really am grateful for doing this for me."

His aunt stilled and she put the knife down on the cutting board and turned around, she stared at him leaning slightly against the counter. There were slight tears in her eyes, and soon Harry found himself enfolded within her arms. His aunt's tears dropped on his shoulder, and he found himself rubbing her back gently, comforting her. Harry managed to peer over her shoulders and saw his cousin and uncle standing there in shock.

What's going on they seemed to ask with their eyes but Harry just shrugged his shoulders slightly.

"I'm so sorry Harry. I haven't been a good aunt to you at all, and I have never done much for you. The way we have been treating you was really unfair, and now that I think about it I don't even know why I acted like that. I think that growing up with Lily was both the best moments of my life, as well as the worst."

"What do you mean, Aunt Petunia?"

"Lily was always better than me at most things. She was prettier, nicer, and smarter. I tried to make a name for myself growing up, but I was always referred to as 'Lily's sister' or 'The other one'. I always wanted to prove that I was better than Lily. She got everything, the perfect husband, life...everything. When I found out she died, I cried, honestly I did, but I was relieved. I thought that I was never going to be compared to anyone again, yet sad I lost my sister. Then I found myself having to raise you. Seeing you for the first time brought back memories, especially your eyes," she paused, brushing the curl that fell over Harry's eyes. "I thought, 'Lily's eyes'. And from there everything went down-hill. I couldn't stand how people on the streets would compare you to Dudley."

When she had mentioned Dudley's name, he perked up listening intently at to what she was about to say.

"People would always exclaim that you were so beautiful, gorgeous, or he's absolutely stunning, and the only thing they said about Dudley was 'that's one beefy baby'."

Harry had to swallow the snigger that nearly erupted from his lips, as he saw the crestfallen face of his cousin. When his aunt turned around, he mouthed it back to Dudley, who scowled and flipped him off.

"I felt that it was going to be the Lily Syndrome all over again, and that's when I stopped paying attention to you all because of my jealousy of my sister. I hope you can forgive me one day."

Harry watched quietly as she began to cry, and he gathered her in her arms.

"I'll be truthful, I'm still upset with you because this is a long time to try and make things up." He watched his aunt's face crumple within itself, "But I think we have time to patch things up. Letting me go to Egypt is a step towards recovery."

Next Day

Harry watched his Literature teacher yet again try to get students to cooperate but his effort was in vain. Mr. Levine was a good teacher, he could give him that, but he sort of had to realize that his students are not interested in literature at all.

The bell rang and Harry laughed softly under his breath, as his neighbor mumbled a, "Thank God."

Harry waited patiently for the students to leave, taking a longer time then what was necessary to put his books in his knapsack. When the last student left, Harry hoisted his bag onto one shoulder and walked over to Mr. Levine, who was leaning against his wooden desk.

"So Harry, what did the folks say?"

Harry grinned, brushing away a fringe of ebony tresses, "Surprisingly enough, they said yes."

"Good, just good," Mr. Levine said, patting Harry on the back.

"Aw, I wanted to give this to you," he mumbled to Harry, leaning back to shuffle through the mess on his desk. "Where the hell is it," he questioned, making an even bigger mess that what was on his desk originally.

"Aw, here it is," after awhile of searching. "This is the guide that tells you everything you need to know about the trip to Egypt. Look over that, fill some thing out and bring it to me sometime this week."

"Sure thing, Mr. Levine," Harry replied with a smile, and he waved goodbye as he left through the door.

The hallways were deserted and Harry began whistling softly, his song echoing through the still building.

As he was walking, he felt a familiar chill and turned around only to see nothing. He paused and still saw nothing.

'It's just your imagination," reason said, but his heart spoke of something else.

He exited the school unaware of the silver eyes that peered overhead.

I updated. Everyone whistle and roar with pleasure! At first I nearly lost my inspiration for the story, but listening to the Gorillaz sure does make a gal feel better. I love the Gorillaz, kind of upset that they haven't made a CD in such a long time, but I can listen to Coldplay while I wait. Anyways, my plot fox is up and roaring and I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. There will be a time skip next time!