Chapter 3: Back to Hogwarts
Harry, woken up by his alarm clock at the customary 6 o'clock, got out of bed. It wasn't necessary to prepare breakfast until 7 today as it was a Saturday. He ran his hand through his hair, before walking over to his desk and started to finish off his essay on animagi. Not sure why he was set homework by professors McGonagall and Snape over the holidays, as he had finished his owls and hadn't decided whether he would continue either of these subjects, he determined to ask Dumbledore when he saw him later today. His potions essay, which he had completed earlier in the holidays, had been on veritaserum.
Putting down his quill, he surveyed the last sentences that he had written. It read, "Even after all of the hard work required to become an animagi, that is not the end of the process. It is necessary to register with the appropriate ministry department so that your ability cannot be abused. This takes a period of time and you are examined and details of your animal form have to be taken. After this has been done, you are now a legal animagus."
Satisfied with his essay, he rolled up the parchment and placed it along with everything he owned, apart from the clothes he wore, in his trunk. He looked at the time. It was 6:30. Deciding that if he was to see Dumbledore today, he might as well look and smell reasonably presentable, he walked towards the bathroom. A nice fluffy towel was removed from the airing cupboard and placed on the radiator in the bathroom before Harry removed his clothes and stepped into the shower.
He wondered whether he would get a reply from Hermione or a letter from Ron today before he left for Hogwarts again. Wishing, for what must be the hundredth time that summer, that he could have spent his holidays with Ron and Hermione, he turned on the shower. Hot water struck his back, for a while massaging his worries away.
Ten minutes later, Harry stepped out of the shower and wrapped the now warm, as well as fluffy, towel around himself. He rubbed himself down to remove the worst of the water form his skin. Looking in the mirror, Harry realised how much he had grown. Standing at about six foot, he saw he had developed a muscular frame, which was no doubt due to all the quiditch and manual work he had been forced to do. There was light stubble on his face and his cheekbones and jaw had become more pronounced. In all, he looked more grown up and very much like his Dad apart from his eyes. He liked the changes. There was still no change to his hair though, he thought as he tried to comb it. It was just as messy and unruly as ever.
Wrapped in his towel, Harry walked back to his room and got changed into a pair of baggy jeans and a t-shirt. He made his way down stairs and started to prepare breakfast for what he hoped would be the last time. It was pancakes this morning, though he would have to have his usual cereal. He prepared the mix and, whilst the pan was heating up, eat his morning bowl of muesli.
Ladling some of the mixture into the pan, Harry heard the familiar noises of his aunt and uncle getting up. The mixture swirled round the pan as Harry tilted it. Now, covering the bottom of the pan, it proceeded to cook. Harry was a good cook, having been practicing since he was nine. Making pancakes was routine when you cooked for someone like Dudley everyday during the holidays.
Harry tipped the first pancake out of the pan and put it on a plate and from there into the oven to keep it warm. Proceeding in this way until he had made twelve or thirteen pancakes, he placed the last of them on the plate in the oven. At this point he stopped and started getting maples syrup, jam, and sugar and lemon juice out of the cupboard and put them on the table. He also took four plates out of the cupboard and positioned them on the table, along with knives and forks that he took out of the cutlery draw.
His aunt, uncle and Dudley chose this moment to walk into the kitchen and Harry removed the pancakes from the oven and placed them on the table before retreating to his room, electing to do the washing up after Dudley had finished his breakfast.
As he entered his room, he noticed that Mercury, Hermione's family's owl, was sitting in Hedwig's cage and drinking from the water trough. Seeing Harry, Mercury took flight and flew over to Harry, dropping the letter he had brought at Harry's feet before alighting on Harry's shoulder.
The letter was from Hermione. It read:
Dear Harry,
I am afraid that this letter cannot be too long as I have to leave for a few days. I will not be able to write to you during this period as Mercury will have to stay with my parents. Don't worry, I be seeing you again before too long. Enjoy yourself as much as possible.
With Love
Hermione
Harry found himself feeling upset that Hermione wouldn't be able to write for a while. He had enjoyed conversing with her over the summer so far. She was his lifeline in a world of drudgery. Well, at least he was leaving to go to Hogwarts, so things might improve. He couldn't help but wonder where she was going though. It was funny that she hadn't mentioned it.
At this point Mercury decided to take off and fly out the window with a goodbye squawk.
Harry moved around his room, collecting up his Firebolt and placing it on top of his trunk, bent to pick up a piece of parchment that had fallen between the wall and his trunk. It was the letter from Voldemort. He read it again and chuckled. It was ironic that Harry might actually enjoy the rest of his holiday after Voldemort's sarcastic comment on this subject in his letter to Harry. The letter was placed in his trunk along with all his other possessions.
Now that he was ready, it was time to talk to his aunt and uncle about leaving for the rest of the holiday to spend it at school to catch up on the work he had supposedly not managed to complete last year.
Harry walked downstairs and swept into the kitchen where his aunt and uncle were finishing the last of their breakfast. It seemed his aunt had relented and reverted to unhealthy food, despite the risk to her complexion.
The first thing that was said as he walked through the door was, "Good, now that you're back, you can get on with the washing up."
Harry decided to speak, "Uncle, I have had a letter from my school saying that I have to go back there this summer and catch up on work that I failed to complete last year. I have to leave today at nine o'clock."
Dudley snorted into his orange juice, before putting his glass down and sneering at Harry, "not being able to wave a magic wand and get good grades."
To Dudley's surprise he received a clip round the ear, was told in a loud and angry voice not to mention the m - word in the house and was sent out of the kitchen.
Harry was left alone with his aunt and uncle, who were looking angrily at him. He started to walk backwards as his uncle advanced on him. Thinking quickly, Harry said, "By the way, you know that some of my friends will be picking me up in about twenty minutes. I believe that you may have met them at the beginning of the summer."
This was a bluff, but considering that it was likely to be one of the Order of the Phoenix who would take him to Hogwarts, it wasn't strictly untrue. It seemed to do the trick.
Uncle Vernon halted, looking pale. He cleared his throat. "You had better get your things downstairs then and wait in the lounge for them to arrive."
Harry excused himself from the kitchen and went upstairs, restraining himself from laughing, as he did not think that this would help his uncle's rage. With difficulty, Harry manoeuvred his trunk down the stairs and placed it in the hall near the door. He went up and collected his broomstick and Hedwig's cage (she had still not returned and Harry assumed that she had stayed at Hogwarts with Professor Dumbledore) and placed them neatly on top of his trunk.
Harry sat down in the lounge next to Dudley. Dudley squeaked and ran out of the room. He had been listening at the kitchen door and was terrified of the prospect of having a run in with more wizards. Poor Dudley always seemed to end up with something happening to him when he did.
Shaking his head and exhaling at Dudley's action, Harry picked up the television remote from where Dudley had left it and started flicking through the satellite channels.
Quarter of an hour later, the door bell rang. Harry exited the lounge and opened the door to find Tonks and Remus Lupin waiting for him on the doorstep.
"Hello Harry", they greeted him. "I hope that your aunt and uncle have been treating you well." At this Lupin, the speaker shot a stern look at Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia who had creeped up behind Harry at the doorway. They cringed but didn't say anything.
"Right Harry, lets get your things then", said Tonks, stepping into the house and walked over to Harry's trunk. They each took one end of the trunk and lifted it up, walking out the front door with it. Lupin followed behind them with Harry's broomstick and Hedwig's Cage. Lupin opened the boot of the Porsche that they driven in. Harry's belongings were lifted into the magically expanded boot, before it was shut again.
"What do you think of my car", said Tonks.
Remus groaned, anticipating Tonks repeating the specifications of her ride again, as she had on the way over. Fortunately for him, though, Tonks didn't.
Harry waved to his aunt and uncle before opening a car door and stepping into the Porsche. Lupin and Tonks followed his lead and did the same. Tonks settled herself behind the wheel before starting the engine and pulling away from the Dursleys.
Looking out of the window, Harry hoped he wouldn't be returning to number four Privet Drive any time in the foreseeable future.
After about an hour's drive on the road, Tonks pulled the car into a service station and parked. Tonks asked, "Does anyone want anything." Remus replied in the negative and Harry asked if he could go with Tonks and see what the shop had.
As they crossed the forecourt, Harry asked why they hadn't put any petrol in the car. Tonks replied that it didn't need any at the moment if he knew what she meant. Harry nodded and opened the door to the shop, holding it open while Tonks walked through. "Aren't you the gentleman", she said, causing Harry to blush, before entering the shop himself.
They walked over to the drinks cabinet and Tonks pulled out a bottle of water. She motioned for Harry to do the same, but he hesitated.
"I don't have any money on me", he said.
"Don't worry about that, I'll pay for it", Tonks said before asking, "What do you think I should get for Remus. I know that he said he didn't want anything, but I think his mind will change after another 10 hours in the car."
Harry picked up a bottle of coke and a bottle of lemon Oasis for Remus and followed Tonks over to the confectionary stall. She had picked out several Mars bars and some crisps of mixed flavours. They took all their items over to the cashier and Tonks paid for their snacks. The cashier, a buxom blond teenage girl, smiled and winked at Harry before handing him a carrier bag.
The pair walked out of the shop and back to the Porsche. All the way, Tonks had a strained expression on her face. Harry looked a little bemused, but didn't say anything. When back in the car, Tonks burst out in giggles.
"It seems you have become quite the babe magnet Harry."
Harry continued to look bemused.
"The cashier, a chesty blond, was just putting the moves on our young Harry", Tonks explained to Remus. He nodded, understanding. Tonks flashed a wicked grin, before continuing, "With James and Sirius not around anymore, I think that it's time that you, Remus, gave Harry "The Talk", before lapsing once more into giggles. Both the males in the car now sported reddening faces and were quiet.
Harry felt like he wanted the seat to eat him up, but he also wondered what it would be like to have a proper girlfriend. The only girls that had taken interest in him before were Cho, who always cried in his presence, and Parvati who hadn't had his full attention at the Yule Ball and who was upset with him as a result.
He snapped back from his thoughts, when he heard the starting of the engine. It seemed that Tonks had recovered from her fit of giggles enough to drive effectively. Harry handed out the food and drink before discovering a piece of paper with:
Hi I'm Jennifer
I couldn't help but notice you
Why don't you give me a ring on 07752 432 176
Or alternatively, I'm sure you owl will be able to find me!
Harry was unsure about what to do, so he hid the piece of paper in his pocket, not wanting to let Remus, let alone Tonks see this. Harry settled himself down into the comfortable leather seat and soon he had fallen asleep.
Harry was woken 4 hours later when the car stopped. They were in another service station.
"Right, this is a toilet break", said Tonks unbuckling her seatbelt. Remus and Harry followed suit and the three of them got out of the car. They walked across to the toilet block and proceeded to relieve themselves, before coming back to the car and getting in. This time Harry didn't fall asleep straight away, but he started on his Mars bar and took a swig of his coke. It seemed that Remus had already eaten his chocolate bar, despite his earlier decision that he wasn't hungry.
Harry watched the cars on the motorway go by and slowly he felt more and more lethargic and in time he fell asleep.
The next time that Harry woke was 3 hours later. Why am I so sleepy, Harry thought? He reasoned that it must be the sensation of the moving car. By this time, the car was no longer on the motorway, but was on a main road travelling through the outskirts of a town. Harry continued his earlier observation of the other cars on the road.
After about half an hour of this pursuit, Harry noticed a dark blue Toyota saloon was driving rather close behind them. It possessed a large spoiler and looked rather racy. It seemed Tonks had also noticed and was muttering under her breath about, "Bloody boy-racers".
They continued for another five minutes before the road split into dual carriageway at a set of traffic light. As Tonks stopped the car, because the lights were red, the dark blue saloon pulled up beside them. It started revving its engine rather loudly. Tonks turned her head and nodded at the driver of the other car. She proceeded to rev the engine of her Porsche to match that of the Toyota's.
The lights went from red, to amber and then to green.
Tonks stepped on the accelerator rather hard and the car shot forward violently, waking the once sleeping Remus. It seemed that the owner of the blue saloon had attempted do the same, but he was trailing the Porsche by some way. Tonks, who wore a satisfied expression slowed the car down and continued at a more sensible speed. Remus, who was now well wide awake, started chastising Tonks, who didn't seem too bothered.
Soon everyone settled down and the journey continued much as before the incident with the blue car, although Remus still looked a little miffed.
Half an hour later, Tonks who had been yawning rather loudly lately, gave another yawn. Remus spoke, "Right, that's it, I'm driving. Pull the car in and I'll take over."
Tonks on the other hand had other ideas. She told Remus that he could bugger off because Hell would freeze over before anyone but she would drive her Porsche.
Remus stepped down, with an exasperated "tsk" and a showing of his hands to the sky, before lapsing into silence for the remainder of the journey. Tonks, to her credit didn't yawn anymore, although this was probably more due to will power than her not feeling tired.
The last couple of hours of the journey were used up as the occupants of the car listened to Tonks' collection of C.Ds, which all seemed to be dance tracks with copious amounts of bass.
Finally, the eleven hour car journey came to an end. Harry looked at his watch and saw that it was five minutes past eight.
He undid his seatbelt and got out of the car, thinking that this journey to Hogwarts by car had been infinitely more successful than the one he and Ron had taken before Harry's second year.
The three of them walked up the stone steps to the entrance hall. They were met by Hagrid who said, "Great t' see ya Harry. I hope tha' you've bin al'right. Why don' ya come down an' see me tomorrow, when you 'ave time", gave Harry a hug and walked out the front doors and presumably down to his hut.
"Right, Albus said that we should meet him in his office when we arrived", Remus said and strode away towards the statue of the gargoyle.
"Warhead Sours", he pronounced, before ushering the other two up the stairs to Professor Dumbledore's office and opening the door at the top.
Dumbledore was reclining in the comfortable chair behind his desk when the three travellers walked in. He greeted them warmly before offering them a bowl of sweets.
"Warhead Sours", he said, "I discovered them when I was travelling in America at the start of the summer." Harry accepted, though Remus and Tonks politely refused. Unwrapping the sweet he had been given, Harry popped it into his mouth. Almost instantaneously, he screwed his face up in a pained expression.
"Yes, they are rather sour aren't they", said Dumbledore with a small chuckle. Speaking to Harry again he said, "Harry, I'm afraid I have to talk to Remus and Tonks now, so why don't you go on up to the Gryffindor common room or your dormitory, where you will be staying whilst you're here. I have taken the liberty of getting Dobby to take your things up for you and if you wish to see Hedwig, she is in the owlery. I will need to talk to you tomorrow, so why don't you have breakfast in the kitchen and then come and see me at eleven."
Harry thanked Remus and Tonks, said goodbye to the three adults, before exiting the room and making his way up to Gryffindor Tower. On the way, he encountered Peeves who had decided to welcome Harry back with the aid of a well aimed water balloon. As a result a very soggy Harry continued his climbing his way up the stairs to the Gryffindor common room.
He arrived at the portrait hole and was greeted by the Fat Lady. "How are you Harry, dear", she asked.
Harry responded that he was, "Very well thank you, but I don't know the password". The Fat Lady waved aside this problem saying that she knew that he was a true brave Gryffindor, so she would let him in anyway. He thanked her as she swung aside to allow him access. Harry stepped over the threshold into Gryffindor Tower. He was home, but still soggy.
As Harry walked over to one of the scarlet sofas, he noticed a brown haired girl sitting in an armchair, biting her lower lip and pouring over a book. It was of course Hermione. What was she doing here?
Walking over to her, he said, "Good evening Hermione". The girl looked up, squeaked in delight at Harry's presence, got out of the chair and flung her arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight embrace. She pulled away quickly saying, "Ugh, Harry, how come you're all wet?"
"I had a slight run in with Peeves", Harry replied. Hermione responded with an understanding nod, before talking seemingly to mid air, "Dobby, I was wondering if you could bring Harry a warm towel, he is rather wet."
"What are you d.." Harry was interrupted by a "pop" as Dobby arrived in the common room next to them holding a warm fluffy towel. He presented it to Harry before throwing his arms around Harry's knees.
"Hi Dobby", Harry said.
"Dobby is glad to see you Harry Potter, sir. He has been looking forward to seeing you since Professor Dumbledore mentioned your visit last week."
"I'm glad to see you too Dobby", Harry responded.
"Thanks Dobby", Hermione said
"Bye sir and miss, I am having to go and help out in the kitchens". With that Dobby disappeared with another audible "pop".
Hermione took the towel from Harry's hands and began to dry his hair for him with it. Harry just stood there enjoying himself. This continued for a few minutes before Hermione pronounced herself happy and put the towel down. She then proceeded to use a drying charm on his clothes. Putting her wand away, she then hugged Harry again, properly this time, before sitting down on the sofa. Harry sat down next to her.
"How come Dobby heard you and appeared with a towel", Harry asked.
"House elves can hear their masters if they need something, so in this case, Dobby heard that you needed a towel whilst he was down in the kitchens and brought you one".
"I thought that you didn't approve of that sort of thing", Harry questioned.
"I don't normally, but Dumbledore said that if there was anything that I needed, I was to call Dobby. Plus I don't know where the towels are kept. Finally, Dobby is a paid elf, so it doesn't really count as slavery.
"I see you have put some thought into this."
"Naturally, I couldn't be hypocritical to S.P.E.W could I?"
"How are you?"
"I'm great, thank you. I'm sorry I didn't tell you that I would be here or that you would be here as well, but I only found out a few days ago and Dumbledore thought it best if I keep it to myself.
"That's quite alright."
The pair sat next to each other conversing until late. Slowly, Hermione found herself leaning against Harry. Harry reached over and put his arm around her, pulling her to him. They sat there looking at the dancing flames of the fire in the hearth, both of them feeling sleepier as time went on.
How Hermione had missed Harry, even though it had only been a couple of weeks since they saw each other last. Hermione enjoyed his embrace, his scent, his warmth and slowly sleep overtook her.
Harry looked down at the sleeping Hermione, noting how beautiful she had become, before drifting off to sleep himself.