Chapter 3: An Instant Sound Poof Pellet goes wrong

After a whole week of living with the Dursleys Harry, Ron and Hermione had stayed out of the way but it didn't stop Dudley telling his Aunt and Uncle Things that he had 'supposedly' heard. They spent most of their days outside; Harry showed them all the places he had been while not with them. As he looked at where he had first laid his eyes upon Sirius his heart began to sink and his stomach tightened. He seemed to have done a pretty successful job of keeping his friends happy. Considering his friends were on his 'Diet'. He knew Ron and Hermione didn't tell the order this because here Harry was 'safe'.

Harry was using up his Sound Proof Pellets fast, there were a lot but it had only been a week and he guessed that he had used about a half. He set off another one by throwing it at the floor, a burst of smoke erupted out of it before fading and making the room soundproof.

"Merlin, Harry is it really like this when you are not with us?" Hermione asked, Harry nodded, and he didn't want them to know it was usually worse.

"I'm Hungry…" Said Ron for the one hundredth time that day. Harry looked surprised, he wasn't usually hungry until about a day from now. But Ron was his guest so he tried to find something. After emerging from the floor Harry handed around a small sticky slab of toffee that he must have stolen from Dudley at one point. Ron had never tasted it before and swore it was like chewing the sweet Fred had given to him that made his teeth stick together. It wasn't long before Ron and Hermione got into an argument.

"Seriously, Ron, you act so stupid sometimes!" Hermione yelled, Harry set off another Pellet just to be sure.

"Yeah? Well, I'm not the one who came here and decides not to stay!" Ron shouted back.

"I didn't say that! I just said I was missing my Parents!" Hermione said folding her arms.

"You're not the only one!" Ron said defesivley.

"Guys…" Harry said quietly, he had a scary suspicion that someone could hear them even with a Pellet out.

"Stay out of it Harry, you don't know what it's like!" Ron snapped suddenly. He looked like he regretted it the moment it came out.

"That was uncalled for!" Hermione said loudly.

"Look I'm sorry, but if you hadn't got me mad the..."

"Me?" Asked Hermione stunned.

"POTTER!" Yelled the dreaded voice, Harry jumped. How had the Pellets not worked? "BOY!" Yelled Uncle Vernon again. Harry slowly got up, his friends looked awkward. More awkward that when Hermione had to share Harry's bed with Harry and Ron. Harry Walked into the Kitchen.

"What the hell do you think you're doing up there?" Uncle Vernon shouted getting up of his seat.

"Nothing." Harry said backing up slightly.

"You lair!" Aunt petunia said, her voice sounding like a horse, "Yelling away, what the neighbours will think, I don't know!"

"You are right, dear!" Uncle Vernon said, "Boy, you and your demon friends are pushing my patience! One more sound and you'll wish you have never been born!" Harry turned away but Uncle Vernon pulled him back by his collar, "Don't think I'm finished here! You still have chores to do, as a matter of fact how about your friends join in!" Harry suddenly had pictures of him being exhausted, his arms aching, him sweating, being shouted at for Mistakes… sometimes hurt. No, his friends were NOT going to go through that.

"No," Harry said strongly, this wiped away the smug look on his Uncles face.

"What did you say?" He asked clenching his fists.

"I said, No, my friends will not be joining in." Harry said, he would do it alone, his friends needn't suffer.

"YOU DARE DEFY ME!" His Uncle shouted, pulling Harry towards him by his hair. Harry suddenly knew he was too close to Uncle Vernon's Hands.

"Yes, I do." Harry said simply, and with that Uncle Vernon clattered Harry's head, before Harry had got his balance back his Uncle wrapped his hands around Harry's throat.

"Get 'im Dad!" Dudley shouted, Aunt Petunia was missing, shopping, Harry guessed. When Harry was finally let go of he was gasping for air. He went up to his bedroom.

"Sorry there, mate…" Ron began, "Are you ok?" Harry nodded.

"I don't understand why the Pellet didn't work? It has so many other times!" Hermione said frowning.

"You'll find out soon, I'm writing to the Twins. At least the Owls were allowed to stay!" Ron said grabbing a Quill and some Parchment.

Dear Fred and George,

Today one of your Pellets didn't work, just as Hermione was fighting with me. Tell us why NOW you gits!

Ron

They waited about a day before the reply came; Harry was glad that the Twins were fast at the right stuff.

Dear Mr. Grumpy,

We had a sneaky suspicion one might be Faulty, but don't go Blaming us for your little love fallout! It was just a random guess that one was faulty, we didn't know!

Your amazing brothers Fred and George

Ron seemed a bit madder than before, why hadn't George or Fred warned them? He mumbled things about there being no such thing as 'Love fallouts' between him and Hermione.

Hi, idiots! Why the hell didn't you tell us?

From your Angry Brother Ron

Fred and George didn't seem to care about being called idiots or that Ron was Angry.

They simply replied by…

Angry Ron – Our balls aren't made of Crystal… Fred and George

"Real Mature," muttered Ron, "By the way, Harry, are you sure you don't want any help with your chores or anything?" Harry shook his head and got out of the room.