Harry stared at the house elf for a long moment, not sure how he was supposed to respond as fear encompassed his entire body. The cake was still floating, ready to start flying at any moment towards Mrs. Mason, and he had to think quickly, but his mind seemed to have blanked. His entire summer had been destroyed thanks to this elf. He was angry, but he was also terrified. More than anything, he wanted to get back to Hogwart's. He wanted to see Terence and Adrian. He wanted Malfoy to annoy him and Weasley to tease him. He wanted Hermione to act like a perfect little know-it-all and Snape to glare down his nose at him with that condescending gaze while still looking out for Harry at every turn. He missed Hagrid and McGonagall and Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey and Madam Pince and even Filch. The warmth of the Slytherin dorms was always at the front of his mind when he went to bed. He could even smell the dank of the dungeons when he tried hard enough. Over the past couple of days these memories had started to feel distant, almost as if he had dreamed it all.

"Harry Potter must promise not to go to Hogwart's School this year," Dobby repeated, yanking Harry from his thoughts.

He deliberated for a moment and then he stated in his most convincing voice, "All right, Dobby. I won't go to Hogwart's this year."

"Harry Potter really should not lie," Dobby snapped his fingers again and the cake began to move towards Mrs. Mason's head.

Harry didn't even bother trying to get the cake. He dashed towards the cupboard under the stairs and tried to break the lock. He heard the gasps of horror and he reached for the umbrella holder, dumping the umbrellas into the hall before using the metal case to beat the lock off of the cupboard door.

"Harry Potter!"

Vernon's shout made Harry all the more desperate. He was already pulling out his school trunk and broom when he heard footsteps rushing into the hall. He looked up to see Mrs. Mason screaming and running down the hall. To his horror, she tripped on the umbrellas scattered in the hallway. Mr. Mason was right behind her and he tripped over her, landing atop his wife. Vernon was right behind them and he tripped over Mr. Mason and landed atop both of the Masons. Harry's eyes went wide at the sight and he yanked his trunk towards the door.

"Get back here!" Vernon yelled at him, his face red from exertion.

Harry tossed the trunk and broom out of the front door and dashed up the stairs to set Hedwig free. She took off through the window and he turned towards the door to his bedroom only to see Petunia standing there.

"You will not be leaving," she said in a shrill voice, but Harry just shoved past her.

Halfway down the stairs, he was confronted with Vernon standing in the way, the Masons having already departed.

"You just ruined the best business deal I could have made in my entire career, you little freak!" Vernon scolded, pointing at Harry. "And now we know you can't use magic outside of school. You are never leaving this house again! You hear? You're going to be locked in that room of yours until you're old!"

"You can't keep me here," Harry objected, trying to work out how he was going to get past Vernon on the stairs. "I won't let you!"

He should have known better than to take on Vernon. The man got hold of him and threw him into his bedroom where he was then locked up.

Sitting on his bed, he stared furiously at the floor. He had hoped some of the Slytherin traits had rubbed off on him from last year, but his lying certainly needed improving. He also had to come up with better plans then the ones he'd managed thus far.

Exhausted from the night's events, he lied down on his bed and tried not to cry himself to sleep.

The next three days were the worst of the summer. He was fed food, which he was stretching a bit to call it that, from under the door and was only permitted to leave to use the toilet. In those brief trips, he tried to devise a plan of escape. Could he maybe escape through the bathroom window? It was too small as it turned out. His own bedroom window wasn't an option as Vernon had put bars on it. His school things were again locked up in the cupboard under the stairs and he had no chance of breaking them free again on his own.

On the fourth day, an owl disturbed the Dursley's living room, startling the family and Harry listened as best he could at the keyhole. A short while later, there was a knock on the front door.

"You are not welcome here!" He could hear Vernon shouting. "You have no right to-"

His words were cut short by something and Harry crossed his fingers in hope. Had Dumbledore arrived? Snape?

Someone came rushing up the stairs, keys jingling as the whoever was there searched through them. There was a sound of alarm upon reaching the door and the locks began to be unlocked. Harry stepped back, stiff in apprehension and excitement.

Finally, the door swung open and his mouth fell at who stood there.

"Harry!"

Terence still had the saddest looking face Harry had ever seen. His brows were pinched and his eyes were mopey, but a smile had wormed onto his lips.

"Come on!" Terence waved Harry towards him and the younger Slytherin rushed up to him.

"What's going on?" Harry asked as he followed Terence down the hall. "Why are you here?"

"We're rescuing you," Terence replied.

Harry reached the bottom of the stairs to see an old wizard in rather official looking robes ordering Vernon to help him pile Harry's belongings by the door.

"And you won't be doing this again," the man was saying in a deep voice. "Or the Ministry of Magic will have to take action against you."

Vernon grumbled something under his breath, but didn't disobey.

The wizard glanced back at Harry and then ordered in a smooth voice, "Potter, Terence, pack that up in the car, will you?"

Nodding, both boys took the heavy trunk and broom out while the wizard said his farewells to the Dursleys.

The car was an old blue Ford Angela, much to Harry's amusement. Terence popped the trunk and tossed Harry's belongings into the back before helping Harry into the backseat and sitting in the passenger seat. The wizard came out, got into the car, started it and finally drove off down the street.

There was a long moment before Terence finally turned around and gave another of his sad smiles.

"How are you, Harry?"

"Better," Harry grinned at him. "So what's going on?"

The wizard suddenly stopped the car and jerked almost in pain, alarming Harry.

"W-what's wrong?" he asked in slight terror.

"The potion is wearing off," Terence answered him as he put a hand on the wizard's shoulder.

"What potion?" Harry questioned and then his mouth fell open as the wizard's features began to change.

After a few seconds, the old wizard was gone and replaced by Adrian Pucey.

"Hello, Harry," the dark-haired Slytherin grinned at him. "Ready to get back to the wizarding world?"

"You have no idea," Harry laughed.

Adrian punched a button and suddenly the car turned invisible. Then he began driving again, only this time he took off into the air.

"We have to return this car to the Weasleys," Terence explained. "They're a town or two over from where I live with my grandfather."

"What was that potion?" Harry asked, eyeing Adrian.

"Polyjuice potion," Adrian answered. "We borrowed it from Bertie's stores."

"My grandfather," Terence clarified.

"I borrowed his clothes too," Adrian barked a laugh. "I've spent most of the summer over with Higgs here. Trying to train him to be a Chaser, so he can get back on the team. Not likely though."

"Thanks," Terence whispered before facing Harry again. "My grandfather works for the Ministry. He heard about your use of magic over the summer and told me. Since you hadn't written I had a bad feeling. We decided to come check on you. Good thing we did."

"Thanks," Harry leaned forward. "Thank you so much."

"Slytherins have got to stick together," Adrian stated. "Oh, but you can't stay with us."

"I can't?" Harry asked in alarm. "Why not?"

"My grandfather is already going to kill us," Terence explained. "And you're Harry Potter. He'll try to induct you into the Ministry and you don't want that."

"I've already sent an owl to the twins," Adrian added. "They're expecting you."

"But they're Gryffindors!" Harry gasped in disbelief.

"Not all Gryffindors are like Ronald Weasley," Adrian told him. "The twins are all right. They're in my year and they're only "mean" sort of during Quidditch. At least, to me. We've never exchanged any blows."

"You're not exactly an easy person to have blows with," Harry pointed out. "You laugh at everything."

"And that's why the twins and I get along," Adrian informed the younger Slytherin. "We don't have any problems with each other."

"So I'll be staying with the Weasleys?" Harry didn't like this idea at all.

Terence gave him a puppy dog look as an apology and Harry decided to change the topic to what else they'd been up to all summer.

The car ride felt too short and before he knew it they'd landed in front of the most wobbly house he'd ever seen.

"We'll see you at Hogwart's," Terence told him after they'd unpacked the car.

"Yeah," Harry mumbled, slightly disheartened at not getting to spend the summer with Slytherins.

Adrian ruffled Harry's hair and then the two started walking off, Adrian now swimming in the formal robes he was wearing. Before long, they had disappeared over a hill.

Sighing, Harry grabbed his trunk and broom and started walking towards what he hoped was the front door.

He knocked, but no one answered. Cautiously, he pushed the door open and peeked inside. There was the sound of footsteps rushing down the stairs and he flinched until he saw it was the twins.

"Potter!" They announced together as they opened the door and reached for his trunk. "Welcome to the Burrow!"

"Thanks," he entered anxiously as if he was walking into the lion's den. He realized after a moment that he really was.

They set his stuff down in a corner of the living room and then called for their mother. She came down, reprimanding the twins for allowing their school friends to use the car then welcoming Harry into her house. Without any delay, she set him down at the table and started cooking breakfast.

The food brought Percy down to the table and the youngest Weasley, a girl named Ginny, who took one look at Harry before dashing up the stairs. There was a yell of alarm and then Ronald came thundering down the stairs.

"What is he doing here?" Ronald demanded, pointing at Harry as he glared at his mother.

"He's our guest," Molly stated with a smile before her tone dropped into a reprimanding tone. "And don't point, Ronald."

"He's a Slytherin!" Ronald exclaimed.

"As was your grandmother," Molly reminded him as she stirred the eggs. "And don't point, Ronald."

"He's Harry Potter in Slytherin!"

"And I'm sure they find him a wonderful addition," Molly moved the frying pan off of the stove. "And don't point, Ronald."

Ronald's hand finally dropped to his side as he realized he wasn't going to get the horrified response he was wanting. Ginny came down to stand beside him, giving Harry a disgusted look.

Harry focused on his plate.

For Ronald's rudeness and for the twins allowing a friend to borrow the car, Molly assigned the three boys to de-gnome the garden. Harry thought about helping, but decided instead to stay away from Ronald.

As he sat in the kitchen, an owl arrived for him with a note from Terence and Adrian. They had made it back home, but Terence was grounded for the rest of summer. Adrian found this incredibly amusing and Terence added it was worth it. They wished him a good rest of the summer, best of luck dealing with Ronald the Weasel, and wrote they would see him at Hogwarts.

Harry put the letter into his trunk before returning to the table, feeling better than he had all summer.