Harry woke up with a start, snoozing his alarm in an instant. Today was his first day at work, his first day away from the Dursley's. He was excited to be out his metaphorical prison cell, surrounded by people who looked at him as if he were a ticking time-bomb. This thought had especially fastened the creation of an escape plan.
The Dursley's would not exactly be happy with the new arrangement and Harry for all he cared, was not going to pass off on this golden opportunity. Especially not for a family which treated him as a mere afterthought.
This had solidified his plan, Harry James Potter was going to make his grand escape. Not an actual runaway mind you, he knew even if he were to commit such a stunt. He would be quickly reprimanded by Professor Dumbeldore, who would apparate him back to Number Four.
Even Harry who self-admitedly was not exactly the greatest of planners, knew that such a plan would be a fool's task. Thus, causing him to choose a half-measure. To simply, ignore his chores and only return during the evenings before leaving again as early in the morning's as possible.
During one of his many boredom induced strolls around the Dursley property, he had stopped to observe his window. The clear scratches indicated the bars that were placed in his second year, the memory of Fred and George ripping off the metallic ridges with the help of a flying car sounded almost unreal almost three years after the fact.
The lack of bars to lock him in, showed that Vernon had not bothered to repare his makeshift compartment much to the pleasure of Harry.
It was then, when his gaze had settled on the big oak tree that had been growing steadily in their front yard for what felt like, had been his entire lifetime. This would have been a minute detail, something that would be of no real significance.
This Harry soon learned was not in fact an "insignificant detail". The large branches of the tree sprouted in all directions, with a particularly rigid and strong one extending just shy off his window sill. Little did he know that this piece of information would prove vital.
Harry had gotten everything ready, a quick check at his rusting clock confirmed that it was half-past four in the morning. "The Dursley's were not going to be awake for another four hours or so, they loved their share of lazy Saturday mornings", remembered Harry.
He opened the window with a quiet click, hissing at the slight creak caused by the opening of the window. Closing his eyes out of concentration, he climbed onto the branch and slowly made his way to the stump before sliding off it and to his surprise, landing miraculously at his feet.
Tracing his footsteps back to Virginia Road but now at a faster pace, he found himself in-front of the large wooden bungalow that belonged to Mrs. Kent. Harry rang the doorbell before akwardley standing in front of the door, whistling a muggle song that he had heard during his sprint to the neighbourhood.
"Mrs. Kent, I don't want to see you standing up anymore. You have overworked yourself alread-", nagged the nurse before opening the door.
"Oh its you! The knight", teased the middle-aged woman.
Harry blushed in return, before taking off his shoes. Which were now thankfully, completely free of anything unwanted.
The hallway was nothing short of immaculate, the rich velvet carpet and the high-ceilings made it look like it was right out of Hogwarts itself. Although this was not his first time stumbling through the Victorian-era house, he couldn't help but marvel at it's elegance.
The plethora of smiling face's scattered across the walls in tiny frames and tiny decorations, gave it a sense of life and personality. A striking contrast to the lifeless perfectionism that the Dursley's strived towards. One thing was sure, Mrs. Kent was quite well off.
"Hello, my dear!", called Mrs. Kent
"Good Morning, Ma'am", responded Harry to the wheelchair-confided woman, who was being rolled towards him by the irate nurse.
"Looks like, today is your first day on the job"
"Yes Miss, it is", answered Harry earnestly.
"Well, well. I actually bought quite a lot of flower seeds to plant in the backyard", remarked the old woman who gestured out the window towards a large expanse of land.
"You see, it doesn't exactly look pleasing to the eye. Quite plain-", continued Mrs. Kent.
"It looks lovely though, not plain at all!", interrupted the Nurse who was now gawking out the window
"Well, Mrs. Laura William Smith. I would certainly not take your word, for what YOU think is plain! My tongue has never been more deprived from flavour, since your arrival", huffed Mrs. Kent who looked particularly cross with Mrs. Smith's culinary choices. Her mouth twisted into a pout as she nibbled her lower lip in frustration.
"Very well, Very well", responded Mrs. Smith who seemed quite amused with it all.
"Anyways dear, you can get the seeds from the basement. I'm sure Mrs. Smith can leave me alone for more than a few minutes at a time as she guides you, right?", suggested Mrs. Kent as she stared at the other woman expectantly who got the message, although quite grudgingly.
The brief trip to the basement, was littered with comments about how "stubborn" and "independent" Mrs. Kent was.
Though, there we a few nuggets of information amongst the annoyance-induced rant of the younger woman. Mrs. Kent had apparantley graduated from Oxford and was well-known amongst a few circles for her work in decoding ancient languages. She had later married but never had children if the nurse's words were to be trusted.
"Well, here it is sweetheart", said Mrs. Smith as she twisted the knob of the door and pointed towards a group of sacks stuffed into the corner of the room.
Harry got to work.
He grabbed the nearest sack before taking hold of a shovel and started his impressive trek towards the backyard, without feeling tired at all! Or so he liked to tell himself.
The next few hour's flew by, with the spectacled boy hacking away at the earth before gingerly placing the delicate seeds and gently covering them with a fine layer of compost. He would take occasional breaks, to return to the wooden bungalow.
During one of Harry's numerous conversations during water breaks, Mrs. Kent came to learn that he had the habit to regularly skip breakfast after a paticularly loud grumble from the boy's stomach.
This warranted a long lecture on the importance of nutrition and its effects on a growing boy, which was quickly followed with the stuffing of the raven-haired teen full with food. Which she insisted to be cooked by herself, stating that she would not allow the boy anywhere near the flavourless food cooked by the fussy nurse.
With the first bite of what seemed like a four course meal, Harry had promptly decided that her cooking was as brilliant as Hermione was at her studies.
His first day at work had gone by in an instant, in fact he was quite disappointed when it was over of course, wishing to spend a few more hours at the residence.
After putting the equipment back, Harry put on his shoes and began walking towards the gate.
"Where do you think your going?", called Mrs. Kent who was waving from the front porch.
"Uhm, back home?", stammered Harry
"You really weren't going to leave without being paid were you?", questioned the old woman.
"Pay? I don't want that, Miss. Helping me stay out of home is all the payment I need, not to mention you did feed me", responded Harry salivating at the thought of the shepherds pie.
"Oh, Potter. You're much too noble for your own good! Of course you need to get paid! Your being of tremendous help. Now stop being a silly boy and take the money", chirped Mrs. Kent before giving him a generous amount of cash.
"Ma'am this a bit too much, don't you think? This is enough to cover the entire job", stuttered Harry with surprise. "I have more money than I know what to do with, darling! Now run along, buy yourself something nice!", retorted the frail woman.
Mrs. Kent shot him a sharp look, indicating that it was the end of the conversation and that she would not take no for an answer.
Harry skipped towards Number Four, making plans on hiding his new earned money under his trusty loose floorboard. He was right about to step onto the doorway, when he cringed. "How was he going to explain his disappearance?"
"Too late for second thoughts, Potter", thought Harry as he disregarded fleeting plans of fleeing on the Knight Bus.
He turned the knob, expecting the belligerent yells of his uncle, the shrill voice of his aunt and the loud whines of his cousin.
There was nothing.
Vernon looked up at his nephew before recasting his attention on the television. Dudley, sat comfortably in his seat before giving a nod of recognition towards Harry.
"Potter, you have been relieved of your duties", spat Petunia looking at the emerald-eyed boy with disappointment.
"Duddykins, over here. Has willingly, taken over your chores. Such a considerate little boy isn't he! Not like the Potter boy deserves it ofcourse, yet he did do just that!", cooed Petunia lovingly
Harry bobbed his head in approval before excusing himself up to his room. His first day, was officially over and it was bloody brilliant.
He collapsed onto his bed and grabbed onto his pillow, and imagined the bushy hair re-appear and two dainty arms wrapping around him. He sighed in comfort and nuzzeled closer into his Hermione substitute, this time it stayed with him till his last thought before falling into a deep slumber.
All was well.
Authors Note!
Next Chapter is coming in 2 days :D Mark your calender. Harry has got a job :0