"WHAT?" the purple-faced, mustachioed, fatman bellowed at the three people he ushered inside.

Harry had just finished explaining the situation when his Uncle Vernon Dursley blew his top like that. The plan was that Ron and Hermione would stay with Harry until he turns seventeen, the legal age for wizards to use magic. But the Dursleys' hated anything having to do with magic, for two reasons. One was to keep up their appearance as the all-american –well- British family, but the second was much more personal. Aunt Petunia, the woman who had a horse face and a neck like a giraffe, stood in the doorway to the kitchen looking frightened.. Her sister, Lily Evans Potter, was Harry's mother, until she was killed by Voldemort. Now, Lily was a wizard too, but Aunt Petunia was a normal Muggle (Human) and was jealous at how everybody fawned over Lily. She was glad when she left, for Lily would then marry Harry's father, James Potter.

"I told you," Harry argued. "And so did D-dumbledore." Harry stuttered and Harry hoped Vernon wouldn't catch it.

He did.

"What's that you say!" Vernon said, whipping around to face Harry. "D-dumbledore, eh? What happened?" His beetle-like eyes peered down at Harry, who was now looking at Ron and Hermione, who he had signaled just before to leave, and were now out the window, hugging again. Harry knew Vernon was lloking for any hint of what happened, and harry resolved not to give him one.

"Hah! He died didn't he!" Vernon started prancing around. "Now there's no one to help you! Ha, ha! That's it stupid boy! You're gone! Pack your bags, you and your freak friends! Thank God that crackpot old fool's go-'' He stopped once he saw Harry had pulled out a wand on him during that last comment. "What's this , then? You know I know you can't use magic. Don't even try it." He started toward Harry.

"That's what you think. Don't insult Professor Dumbledore," Harry said. "There's a new Minister of Magic. I get three more chances. Three." Vernon stopped, and said, "You can't fool me, Potter. Hah! You and your slut mother are the same, always presuming everything!"

"That's enough!" a shrill voice interrupted. Both men turned in surprise to look at the speaker. In unison, they shouted, "Petunia!"

"Yes, that's right." Long-neck said. "You may be forgetting, but that slut was my sister."

"But… but," Vernon spluttered. "but you never said anything nice about her!"

"So? Does that mean you can insult my family?" Aunt Petunia turned to Harry. "They can stay."

Harry felt the first rush of gratitude he ever felt to his aunt surge forward. He ran to the door. "Come on in, guys!" Hermione and Ron walked in.

After trading greetings, they went upstairs to Harry's room. Harry, felt a little embarrassed by how small he was, at least until: Hey! This is a huge room!"

"Thanks, Ron"

They tapped their trunks with their wands, enlarging them without using any magic. After unpacking, they sat on the bed, Harry lying down on it, while Ron and Hermione sat on the edge.

Finally, Hermione brought up the subject they were dancing around since the train ride: "Where are we going to sleep?"

"That's easy," Harry replied, still staring at the ceiling. "I'll take the cupboard, and you guys… you can take the bed." A small smile formed on his face as he said this.

He earned a slap and a punch. "Hey, mate!" Ron said. "You know it's not like that!" Hermione nodded furiously in concurrence.

"Yeah, I kinow." Harry returned to his spot. "It's not like that. Yet." He rolled of the bed to dodge his friends. They spent the next half hour running away and to from each other, laughing like little kids, forgetting all their worries.

They stopped when they heard the call for lunch. They headed down the stairs to find the pleasant surprise of roast beef sandwiches. A sticky note was on the top sandwich. After giving that one to Ron, Harry read the note out loud:

Dear Harry and company,

I apologize, but me and Vernon won't be around the house much. Vernon's office has a spying job, obviously to spy on the other drill company, and I have chosen to take it. All the food will be prepared before the mealtimes don't worry. I told Dudley already.

Singned Petunia.

"Well, that's not so bad," Hermione said, walking into the living room. "But seriously; where are we going to sleep?"

"Well, honestly," Harry answered. "I'll take the cupboard, Ron takes the couch, and you take my bed."

"But, Harry, I couldn-''

Harry cut her off. "You will." He finalized.

Suddenly, the house started shaking. "What's that?" Ron shouted, grabbing onto a table to keep his balance.

"Not what. Who." Harry said, looking out the window. A full five minutes later, a blonde blob took up the entire window.

"Dudley's home."

I... apologize for it's badness.