Once again- not JK Rowling. I own nothing, except the plot you don't recognize. And the wonderful little iPod I got for Christmas, but that's beside the point- I OWN NOTHING.

For the first time in a month, I'm happy.

Hedwig came in through my window a few days ago carrying a letter from Ron. What it said was just what I needed to get myself out of the trance I've been walking around in since June.

Dear Harry,

Hey mate, what's been happening with you? I hope your family is treating you okay. Sorry I haven't really been writing back to you- this house is so insane these days. Percy's still not talking to mum or dad, big surprise. Fred and George are in and out all the time with their laundry. George has a girlfriend now and they've realized that girls can't stand messy flats- you'd think being wizards they'd be able to do their own housework.

Bill and Fleur are still planning their wedding; I don't know exactly what's going on with it though because every time I stay downstairs for more than five minutes mum or Fleur put me to work addressing invitations or calling florists to find out how much they cost. Those two working together is a scary thing, so I've been hiding in my room or hanging around outside all summer. I've been practicing Quidditch with Ginny as well; I've gotten a bit better at saving goals in case Hogwarts stays open and you decide to go back next year.

Well mum said you and Hermione are welcome to come whenever you want to, just write us when you want to leave the Dursley's house. My parents can make the arrangements with Professor McGonagall. Speaking of Hermione, has she written to you at all this summer? I've written her about six times but she hasn't answered me once. Is she mad at me or something, or do you think something's happened to her?

I have to go; mum's calling me down for dinner. See you soon.

- Ron

I wrote him back again and told him that I wanted to leave as soon as possible. Eventually Professor McGonagall decided that Professor Lupin and Mr. Weasley could pick me up at 4:30 on Friday.

Friday is finally here. Its 4:15, and I can't stand the waiting.

I flip through the photo album Hagrid gave me at the end of my first year. Some of the pictures are of my mom and dad, some have Sirius or Professor Lupin, and some are recent pictures taken of Hermione, Ron and I.

I think back to Ron's question. Hermione hasn't written to me at all since school ended. It's really starting to bug me. I know that I haven't done anything wrong to make her mad at me- that's always Ron. At first I thought she was avoiding writing to me because of a specific reason, but knowing that she's ignoring Ron as well is a bit more of a comfort. Maybe she's just overwhelmed.

I look back at Ron's letter, laughing a little when I see the bottom. Ron has never sent six letters to anyone in one month, even me. How long is he going to be oblivious to how he feels about Hermione? I may not be the smartest person around, but I'm not so stupid that I don't get what's been going on between the two of them. The jealousy, the screaming matches, and the occasional cold shoulder treatment- it all suggests that they definitely both like each other as way more than friends.

Hermione is smarter than Ron is though. Why hasn't she realized it herself?

Maybe she has. Maybe she's ignoring him because she knows what she's feeling and she's just scared... but then why would she ignore me too?

Great. I have a headache now.

Adolescence is pure evil. "Best years of your life" my ass.

There's a knock on the door downstairs. Uncle Vernon screams, "Potter, it's those freaks again! Get out of here quickly!"

Before leaving, I take one last look at my room. This is it; I'll never see this place again. Now that I'm seventeen my protection is expired, and I have officially worn out my welcome with my last remaining relatives. Good riddance, I'm glad to be done with them. They've never shown me any affection- god forbid they get close to an abnormal person.

"Wingardium leviosa!" My trunk raises itself a foot off the floor and I walk out of my bedroom and down the steps. Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley are all standing in the doorway to the living room, looking ecstatic.

Mr. Weasley, who is leaning in the doorway, grins. "Hello Harry, have a good summer so far?" "Yes Mr. Weasley", I say. He looks at the Dursley's hesitantly, and they all take a very small step backwards. The last time Arthur Weasley was here he, Ron, Fred, and George had single handedly demolished the sitting room. I try not to laugh at the memory, as it is clear that everyone in the room is thinking of the same thing.

Mr. Weasley spots Dudley cowering next to his father. "Hello there Dudley! Your tongue shrunk very nicely," he says, chuckling to himself. Fred and George Weasley have an amazing track record for pranks-maybe even better than my dad and his friends when they were in school- and one of their successes was dropping a toffee on the floor that makes your tongue swell up-actually, swelling up is an understatement. Anyways, Dudley ate it being the fat pig he is, and his tongue blew up like a balloon. I laugh out loud this time, unable to hold it in.

Dudley doesn't find it quite so funny; he whimpers and tries to hide behind his parents. He fails: Dudley has gotten fatter than he was before, although I thought it was impossible last year.

Uncle Vernon is turning purple, and Aunt Petunia looks furious. I clear my throat. "Uh, Mr. Weasley, we should get going."

Mr. Weasley laughs. "Right you are, Harry. Right you are. Anyways, Remus is waiting outside. We're going to walk to Mrs. Figg's house and apparate from there. Say your goodbyes."

I walk over to the Dursleys. None of them looks me in the face. "Well," I say, "I don't suppose I'll ever be seeing you again." My comment is greeted with silence. "Not that any of you care. You never cared about me. You never showed me any affection, and it's a wonder I turned out alright with the lack of kindness I grew up with. I mean, I lived in a cupboard for ten years! That can't be healthy!"

I pause again. Uncle Vernon and Dudley are still avoiding my gaze, but Aunt Petunia is staring right at me. No emotion shines in her eyes, but for a split second I think I see a flash of sadness.

"However, you took me in and kept me safe for sixteen years, so thank you. I'm out of your hair for good. I'll send a letter by post if I forgot anything, just to warn you that I'll be coming back for it."

With that, I turn around. Mr. Weasley looks a bit uncomfortable and a little shocked. "Well, we should get going," he says, fidgeting slightly.

"Yeah," I say calmly, looking at my only remaining relatives one last time. "We probably should."

I follow Mr. Weasley out of the house, closing the door behind me after picking up my trunk and carrying it outside. The sunlight is blinding, and at first I can only see the outline of Remus Lupin, my favourite Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. "Hello, Harry!" He shakes my hand warmly and smiles. "Ready to go?"

"Ready and willing," I exclaim, looking up and down the street. "Excuse me sir, but do you mind if we stop somewhere really quickly? There's someone I have to speak with."

Thanks to Myrtle the Tyrtle for reviewing my first chapter so far- and I saw the button as greyish purple for some reason... maybe because it was 2 in the morning... well anyway, review more guys, I love hearing from you! In the next chapter we hear from Ron- won't that be fun!