"Return to Privet Drive"
Added Sunday, September 02 2002
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“Return to Privet Drive”
Harry Potter was quite unhappy about being back at Privet Drive with the Dursley’s for his summer holidays, but it seemed to him that he didn’t have much choice in the matter. Especially after the terrifying near death experience he had just had only a few weeks ago. But as Harry knew, there were many in things in life that you just had to do, even though you’d rather not do them at all.
It was early one July morning when young Harry awoke. He didn’t really want to be awake. He had been having a wonderful dream. A nice dream, a pleasant dream. It wasn’t often that Harry had happy dreams anymore. But of course after having an experience like Harry had, it could be expected that your dreams would be filled with quite unpleasant things. But this dream, it had been, well, rather cheery. As he slowly woke, he fought to remember the dream. He had that same dream a few times since he had returned to Privet Drive, and each time the details of the dream kept escaping him. There had been a young girl......yes, he could remember that much.......a very beautiful girl in fact, close to his own age..........she had long auburn colored hair..........and green eyes specked with silver. Yes, Harry did remember her eyes very well. They were most definitely green. Harry himself had green eyes, but he had never seen eyes like the ones that belonged to this dream girl. Her eyes were like gemstones, they were sparkling emeralds that shun brightly in the light. He was with the girl. And they were together in a beautiful place...a flower garden......Sitting under an a tall old oak tree....They were talking and he said something to make her laugh, but he didn’t remember what it was that he had said. And her laugh.......her laugh sounded like the soft tinkle of bells and porcelain china. Her finest feature was her smile, a smile that even only in a dream, could melt his heart. But he didn’t know her, she was just a fragment of his imagination, just part of a silly meaningless dream. The more Harry tried to remember his dream, and more about the girl, the more he forgot. And he slowly became even more awake and alert. He didn’t want to be awake. He still wanted to be asleep, lost in that dream. He wanted to see that girl again. Such an interesting girl, he thought.
It wasn’t as if there was nothing interesting about Harry, of course. No, he had a life full of a lot more interesting things that he wished. Lately he wished that he was a lot less interesting, and led a much more boring and normal life. As Harry, rubbed his forehead sleepily, he knew he could never live an ordinary life anymore. Lord Voldemort had returned to power. But he didn’t need to think about that right now. Anymore, the very thought of Voldemort and his return to strength made the lightning bold shaped scar on his forehead twinge.
All was quite at the Dursley’s house. Harry picked his glasses off of his beside table and put them on. As his room came into full focus, Harry looked over at the new watch that was sitting next to his watch. Sirius, his godfather, had sent it to him as early birthday gift. Sirius had sent him his present to him early, because he didn’t know how he was going to get it to him on his real birthday. He would be spending the following week, including his birthday, at Mrs. Figg’s house while the Dursley’s spend the week on holiday in Paris. Harry was not looking forward to it. His friends at Hogwarts wouldn’t even be able to send him a card, because Mrs. Figg would probably not like owl post. He remembered all too well the times that he had spend in Mrs. Figg’s home while the Dursley’s went somewhere they didn’t want to be bothered with by Harry. Of course, they didn’t want him around most of the time, but all the same, he was much less welcome when there was fun to be had. Harry’s future look very bleak. He didn’t want to spend his next week in Mrs. Figg’s house, looking at photos of all her cats, and eating moldy stale chocolate cake. But he didn’t have a choice in the matter. Harry, naturally, ask Uncle Vernon is he might spend the week at The Weasly’s home, after all, he knew they would be happy to have him there. However, the memories of the Weasly twins leaving Ton Tongue Toffees for the Dudley to find, and Arthur Weasly blowing up the living room, they were not too keen on having the Weasly’s coming to get him. And we Harry suggested that he stay with Hermione, Uncle Vernon roared in anger, complaining that Harry never appreciated anything they did for him, and sent Harry up to his room without supper.
Suddenly, Harry was distracted from his thoughts by flashing colorful lights. Harry sprung up from his bed, and looked at the window. Now he could see that the flashing lights were colorful fireworks. They were much prettier and larger than the Filibuster fireworks that Fred and George Weasly were so fond of. These free works were bright shimmering shades of blue and red, and dazzling silver streaks. They appeared to be shot up into the air somewhere near by. The strangest thing about them was that they were silent. Normally fireworks, especially ones that large made some noise, but these fireworks were silent. Harry had a strange feeling that only he, and the people that were shooting them off could see them. Harry sat and watched them thru his window for awhile They were very pretty, and he although he had a lot of negative things going on in his life at the time, the beautiful fireworks made him feel happy. When they had finished, Harry checked off July 4 off of the calendar hanging on his wall. Once again, he was counting the days until his return to Hogwarts. Then he put his glasses back on his bed side table, and went to sleep for a couple more hours. He had a very happy dream about the same mystery girl, only this time she was wearing a shiny pale pink dress, but when he woke up he didn’t remember a thing.
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That morning at breakfast, Harry found himself frowning into another slice of grapefruit. Dudley was on his diet again this summer. Although last summer Dudly managed to lose several pounds by surviving on nothing but fruit and celery sticks, once he got back to his own school, he started bullying the other kids so that he could take their sweets, and now he was in the same trouble he was in last summer.
On this particular morning, Dudley managed to wolf down his entire grapefruit in own gulp.
“Don’t I get anything more to eat?” Dudley whined. “I’m going to starve to death at this rate. I’ll be nothing but bones come September!”
Well, Dudlkins, your father and I talked about it, and we decided that you can go off your diet while we are vacationing in Paris. It wouldn’t be much a holiday if you had to miss out on all the good things to eat.” Aunt Petunia said.
Dudley beamed.
“And you had better behave yourself when your at old Mrs. Figg’s house next week.” Uncle Vernon growled at Harry. “You had better not mention anything about that, that, that ruddy school you go to! And if you do, I’ll lock you in the cupboard under the stair until it’s time for you to go back. I may not even let you out then!”
“I won’t say anything to her, I promise.” Harry replied. And he defiantly planned on keeping that promise. Why would he want to tell Mrs. Figg’s, anyway? That crazy old cat lady might want him to use magic to curse all her cat’s fleas off or something like that!
Then Harry had a very unpleasant thought!
“I still don’t know why I can’t stand at Ron’s house like I did last summer! His family would love to have me there again.” Harry added. He knew Uncle Vernon wouldn’t let him go to Ron’s, but it didn’t hurt to ask. And maybe if he pestered him long enough, he would finally give in and let Harry go, but it didn’t look like today was the day.
“Oh, yeah, just what I want.” Uncle Vernon said sarcastically, rolling his eyes around in his ugly head. “That lot coming back here to blow up the house again!” he roared.
Harry wished he never said anything as Uncle Vernon continued. He did his best to ignore Vernon’s comments as he ate some more of his grapefruit. He caught a few words such as “so ungrateful”, and “the nerve of that boy- doesn’t he appreciate anything we do for him?”.
After breakfast Harry went upstairs to his room. He found Hedwig sitting on his bed with a note for him from Ron. He picked up the note as Hedwig nipped his finger affectionately, and then went to eat some food from her cage.
Harry-
Are the Muggles still making you stay at your neighbor’s house while they go on vacation? They can’t do that! I mean, it’s really unfair. You have to come stay with us. Mum and dad really want you here, especially with what happened last year. Ask them again if you can come. If the Muggles say no again, I’ll ask dad to go and get you. I’m sure he will do it. You can’t stay at your neighbor’s house, especially on your birthday!!!!!! Hermione is really worried about you too. She thinks that You-Know-Who is watching after you, and she thinks you would be much safer with us than spending a week with one elderly old smuggle! She’s driving me crazy! I’ve been using Errol to send her owls everyday, trying to tell her that everything will be alright, but she is really worried. I almost feel sorry for Errol. Between the two of us, Errol has to go on lots of journeys everyday. I think he’s going to be sick! I wish Hermione would get her own owl instead of wearing mine out! Maybe her parents will buy her one. She’s been made prefect, you know.
Write back right away!
Ron
Ron defiantly was not very happy about Hermione being a prefect. He mentioned it in almost every letter he sent to her. Harry, of course, was quite happy for Hermione. Who would be a better prefect than Hermione, anyway? Harry guessed that with two brothers who were prefects and Head Boy, a brother who was Quiditch captain, and one best friend who was famous, a Quiditch player, and the Hogwarts champion, Ron didn’t want his other best friend getting anymore glory or attention.
Harry personally thought Ron was being stupid as he quickly scribbled out a reply. He did not want any of the attention he got, well, except for Quiditch. He didn’t want to be famous, he would much rather have his parents around, and not have to worry about Lord Voldermort coming to after him. And as far as him being school champion, well, he was only one of the two champions. Cedric Diggory was the other one, but Voldermort had coldly murdered him. Harry never even wanted to be compete in the Triwizzard tournament, but someone else put his name in the Goblet of Fire, so he did not get a choice.
Ron-
I’d much rather stay at your house, but my uncle and aunt are making me stay at Mrs. Figg’s. I’m sorry but they are not giving me any choice about it. Don’t send your dad or mum to come for me. it would probably make the Dursley’s really really mad! Will you take care of Hedwig for me until I get back? I can’t have her at Mrs. Figg’s and she cant stay here alone with nobody to take care of her. When I get back from Mrs. Figg’s, I’ll call Hermione, and she will tell you to send Hedwig home.
tell your family I said hello.
Harry
Deciding that his note would satisfy Ron, he tied it to Hedwig’s foot. “You will have to stay at Ron’s for a while.” he told her. Hedwig looked insulted. “I don’t want you to go, Hedwig, but you have to. You can’t go the Muggles house. She’ll never understand why I have a pet owl, and she will think I’m nutters. And you can’t stay here alone because nobody will be here to take care of you.”
Hedwig looked at him with a look of the highest insult. To Harry, it seemed that she clearly thought she would be able to take care of herself. “Just go.” he told her, stroking her head. “Be careful.” he told her as she flew out the window. Harry watched her until she vanished into the distance, camflaged among the snowy white clouds. Harry was very sad to see her go. He wouldn’t see her again until after his birthday. If Harry couldn’t see his friends on his birthday, he at least wished that he could have someone friendly near him, and his pet owl seemed to be the only friendly living thing near by.
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The next few days went by very fast for Harry, and before he knew it, it was the morning that the Dursley’s were leaving for holiday in Paris, and he would be leaving for a week of Mrs. Figg. The Dursley’s were eating the usual breakfast of grapefruit, when Harry thought of something.
“....Er,,,,how am I going to get to Mrs. Figg’s house?” he asked.
“Mrs. Figg volunteered to come over and pick you up in her car.” Uncle Vernon said. “Nasty old car she has.” he added as an after thought. Uncle Vernon loved to judge other people on the size and cost of their cars. “An old rusty thing. Pepto-Bismol pink. I wouldn’t be caught dead riding in such a strange old car. But I won’t be riding in it, you will be boy.” Uncle Vernon said. He twisted his mustache in his finger and laughed a menacing laugh directed at Harry. “A car like that belong in the junkyard. But I guess she is waiting to buy a new one until after you leave. I, personally, wouldn’t want a weirdo like you riding in my new car.”
At this, Dudley snickered, his huge bottom dropping over the kitchen chair, wobbled, causing the whole dinning room to vibrate a bit. Dudley seemed to be quite amused by the thought of Harry riding around in a rusty punk car with the neighborhood crazy cat lady.
Harry did his best to ignore them. After all, he wouldn’t have to see them for a whole week, and although he’d have to go to Mrs. Figg’s smelly old house, she was always much nicer to him than his relatives. Harry had much more important things to think about, anyway. Like the dream he had that night. Once again, he dreamed of the same mysterious girl. She was just as beautiful as always. Same auburn hair, same green eyes specked with silver, same bewitching smile. This time, Harry remembered she was wearing a black t-shirt, and a pair of dark denim blue jeans. In his dream,. she was sitting under a tall tree, her back against the tree trunk. She was smiling at Harry. Then Harry had said something that made her laugh, but he didn’t know what he had said. He wished he could remember. If he could remember what he said, maybe the next time he dreamed of her, he could make her laugh again. Harry liked it when she laughed. It made his insides feel warm.
It was Aunt Petunia who awoke Harry from his thoughts. She told Harry that he had better go upstairs and bring down the two bags he was taking to Mrs. Figg’s house. Then Uncle Vernon reminded Harry that he was forbidden to take anything that had anything to do with magic with him. After promising that he wouldn’t try “any funny stuff”, Harry went upstairs to his room to get the two bags that contained nothing but clothing to wear in the next week.
As Harry was carrying his bags down the stairs, he heard the door bell ring.
“Get down here, now boy!” Uncle Vernon roared. “It’s bloody time for you to go!”
Harry rushed up to the door, and saw the person standing at the other side of it. It wasn’t Mrs. Figg’s. “......Whoa!”, was all that he could manage to say.
The beautiful girl in Harry’s dream was standing on his door steps.
“This is Katrina Figg, she’s Mrs. Figg’s grand daughter.” Uncle Vernon explained. “Mrs. Figg’s car is broken down, so she had Katrina walk over here to get you and help you carry your bags.”
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