A/N: There will be an explanation at the end of chapter two for why Aunt Petunia is so OOC, I promise. Don’t forget Harry is her family too, even if she is just realizing that this summer. She has had almost a month longer than Harry to process that idea.
Disclaimer: I'm just borrowing JKR's characters until she wants them back, she owns them!
Sweet Dreams
Hermione watched the final game of Quidditch from the stands. Her boyfriend was out there flying, and she had nearly lost her voice cheering him on. He was so handsome she couldn’t stand it sometimes.
“Good mornings miss,” said the announcer.
“What?” she asked, then, “Crookshanks get off of me, you’re heavy.”
“Miss Hermy, Crookshanks is sleeping on your pillow.”
At this, Hermione came fully awake. “Aughh!” she shrieked. Dobby was sitting on her chest, looking at her with huge tennis ball eyes, and his pointy nose only inches from her face. Crookshanks eyed him with disdain, and then turned back to grooming himself.
“Get up Dobby! Don’t do that!”
“Yes Miss Hermy, Dobby is just wanting to bring this from Young Master.”
Hermione then noticed a rectangular package wrapped in plain brown paper in Dobby’s skinny arms. It was almost as large as he was.
“Who is that from Dobby?” asked Hermione suspiciously.
“Opens it Miss Hermy!” squealed Dobby, his face lighting up.
Hermione pulled out her wand, then one of the dark detectors Mad-Eye Moody had given her for good measure. When nothing happened, she cautiously opened the package. It was a slab of Honeyduke’s best chocolate that had to weigh almost five pounds, and was Hermione’s favorite treat. She looked guiltily around, knowing if her parents saw it, they would make her throw it out.
“Straight teeth before a sweet tooth,” whispered Hermione in her head.
“Young Master is saying that you can’t have sweets here, so he sent this until you can get to,” Dobby trailed off, and began violently pulling on his oversized bat like ears.
“Stop that Dobby! Who sent this to me?” Hermione tried to get Dobby to stop hurting himself, but to no avail.
“Dobby is not to be telling. Young Master said that’s if he was to be speaking to Dobby that Dobby would not be telling.”
“Come on Dobby. You are a free elf, and you can tell me.” Hermione pleaded with the elf.
Dobby shook his head, snapped his fingers, and disappeared with a loud pop.
Hermione shook her head to clear it, and then started looking at her chocolate to see if the sender had left any clues. Aside from a coupon for a knut off her next purchase at Honeyduke’s, there was nothing. She looked for somewhere to hide the chocolate, and was startled by the owl sitting on her bedpost. He held out his leg, and then flew out the window after Hermione had untied the parchment. After reading the note, she immediately started packing her school things.
Ron watched out his bedroom window anxiously, waiting for someone, or something to appear. He knew that someone would be arriving today, because his mum had spent the morning furiously cleaning the house. He had just finished de-gnoming the garden, and had come upstairs to put on a clean change of clothes. Hearing two identical pops, he turned around to say hello to Fred and George. Before he could say anything, Fred started teasing him.
“Oy beanpole, shouldn’t you be in the garden?”
“Or are you worried that nobody will see your head in the clouds?” added George.
“Sod off. I’m waiting to see who is coming. Mum has been cleaning like mad all day. You’re lucky to be at your store all day, and not here helping,” Ron had had enough of their teasing, which he knew was mainly because he was nearly six inches taller than them, but after this morning, he was ready to fight back. “At least I’m tall enough to,” but he was interrupted by an extremely loud shrieking.
“Boys! Get down here before I come up there. Don’t think I don’t know you’re here Fred and George. Who else would try and switch my wand behind my back!”
“Thought she would like the flowers.”
With that, all three boys went down the stairs to the kitchen.
Harry was bored. He was done with all of his summer homework, and had even taken a leaf out of Hermione’s book and started reading Hogwarts, A History. It was his sixteenth birthday tomorrow, and he had absolutely nothing to do, except think about Sirius. His aunt had somewhat softened on him, and Harry now only had to do dishes and keep the kitchen crumb free. It wasn’t a hard job, as it was just Harry and Aunt Petunia all day. Uncle Vernon had gone on a business trip and taken Dudley with him. This had happened only after Dudley found out his father was going to be on the beach, and threw a tantrum to get his way.
Hedwig hooted mournfully at Harry, drawing his attention. He decided that he would let her out to fly that night earlier than usual. Dumbledore had warned him to be careful about sending Hedwig with messages unless an emergency arose. She seemed to understand, and had even willingly shared her food and water with Pig, who had been delivering messages between Ron and Harry. Originally, Hermione had been sending owls as well, but had taken to using the telephone to call Harry everyday. His aunt had consented to this only with the reminder that if he was unhappy, all he had to do was let someone in the magical world know. Harry also supposed that the reason his aunt was permitting Hermione to call was that she actually knew how to properly use a telephone, unlike Ron, who still shouted. Harry went downstairs for lunch, and saw Aunt Petunia sitting at the kitchen table reading a piece of parchment. He stopped, flabbergasted that there was an official Hogwarts’ seal on the letter. She motioned him into the room.
“There is a letter for you as well.”
Harry reached out for the sealed parchment, to find his aunt watching him with great curiosity. He started to read the letter.
Dear Mr. Potter,
Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. We have also sent a letter to your Aunt Petunia Dursley, to alert her to certain happenings at the school. I would advise that you answer any questions, and let her borrow your owl if necessary. This year will be your most difficult and dangerous to date. That being said, here is a list of your school things for the upcoming year.
Harry scanned the list, and found he only needed two new books, The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Six, by Miranda Goshawk, and Ico Obsto Malum, by Volunta Operam. He would also need new robes, and a few other necessities. He finished reading the letter.
As times become more dangerous, Muggle-born wizards will need to give certain protection to their families. In certain cases, safe places will be necessary. A meeting for all interested families will take place on August First at the Leaky Cauldron. Please respond to your head of house if you will be attending.
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Harry quickly reread the letter, then slowly looked up at his aunt. She had tears in her eyes, but blinked them away when she saw Harry looking at her.
“Well then, if I’m to attend this meeting we had better send our responses. Then we need to find somewhere to stay near this, what was it called, Leaky Pumpkin?”
“Cauldron. You mean you actually want to go? You hate wizards.”
Aunt Petunia’s eyes welled up again before she replied, “Times have changed Harry. Dudley was attacked last summer. I don’t want my family to be in any more danger. I have already lost my sister, and I am not going to lose you.”
Harry was taken aback. His aunt had changed since he came back at the end of term. He thought then of Sirius, and what he would have wanted. Deciding that Aunt Petunia was better than no one at all, Harry said, “We can stay with the Weasley family. It will be safe there. We just need to find a way to get there.”
“I’ll rent a car, and we can drive there.”
“We can’t. Their house is unplottable, so we won’t be able to reach it in any Muggle, sorry normal, way.”
As Harry finished speaking, he noticed an owl outside the window. He leaned out and tore the parchment off it’s leg. He opened the letter, which contained a red phoenix feather.
Leave the transportation to me Harry. Be ready to go tonight at 10. Keep this with you, and tell your Aunt to get her things ready.
Harry looked at his aunt, then back at the letter. He knew Dumbledore would keep them both safe, but how was he to explain to her? He said, “Dumbledore said he would arrange for us to get to the Burrow, and to be ready to go at ten tonight.”
Aunt Petunia smiled weakly, and then said, “How about a sandwich?”
A/N: I had fun naming the textbook. House points to anyone who can translate it correctly. Just a hint, try Latin.
A/N2: So it seems that some of us writers have established an inner circle that we read and review within. If you liked my story, you would also enjoys their stories. So go check out Pandafan81 (who is also my beta), Sornand mrsgeorgeweasley! If I missed anyone, let me know!
A/N3: It was pointed out that Fawkes only gave two tailfeathers to use for wands, and that Dumbledore wouldn't use a feather as a portkey. In OotP, while in McGonnagal's office, a phoenix feather flashes, and McGonnagal says Umbridge knows they are out of bed. So there.