Disclaimer: I do not own anything having to do with Harry Potter, although I love the books with all my heart!
A/N: I've gotten 4 reviews so far...I'm glad you all like it! I wasn't sure if it would go over well...but I guess it did!
Chapter 2- The Invitation
It was from Hermione. Harry eagerly read the neatly written letter.
Dear Harry,
How is your summer holiday so far? Mine is all very well and good, and I just received a letter from Ron saying that Charlie has invited him to Romania for the rest of the summer and that Charlie would take him straight to Hogwarts. I expect that you'll receive a letter from him soon.
As if on cue, Ron's featherball owl, Pigwidgeon, more lovingly called Pig, shot into Harry's room, managing to knock against Hedwig's cage and caused her to screech loudly.
"Harry Potter! You shut that bloody bird up this second or I'll have your head!" Uncle Vernon bellowed.
"Now you've done it," Harry whispered soothingly to the bird. He opened the door to the cage to let Pig in and prodded a few Owl Treats through the bars. He continued reading.
Seeing as I assume it will be your "birthday eve" by the time you get this letter, I thought that it would be nice if you actually got your present from me in person...and had a birthday with one of your friends.
So I asked my parents and checked with Professor Dumbledore, and seeing as we've made all the arrangements and necessary precautions, would you like to come and stay at my house for the rest of the summer? Dumbledore himself has protected my house with the same magic surrounding the Dursley's, so you would be perfectly safe from You-Know-Who... well all right, Voldemort.
If your answer is yes, the send Hedwig back with your answer and summon the Knight Bus tonight. My parents and I will wait for your arrival. Our address is 3 Avon Road, in London. I hope to see you very soon.
Love,
Hermione
Harry had never felt so happy. He read Ron's letter which said exactly what Hermione had told him it would and he eagerly responded to both letters, telling Ron where he'd be for the rest of the summer and informing Hermione that he would indeed take the bus to her house.
Then he flung open his trunk and began to pack.
Harry actually had two reasons for wanting so badly to go to Hermione's that summer. One, he really wanted to have a birthday with someone other than the Dursley's. And two, ever since Hermione had kissed him on the cheek, before he left with his relatives, he'd begun to think about her in a different light. Ron had noticed that she was a girl just the year before, and he'd noticed a change in Ron. Suddenly he'd begun to look self conscious in Hermione's presence. But Harry had cast that off as being an unfriendly feeling towards her since she had begun seeing Viktor Krum. Then he realized that Ron had a crush on Hermione.
And now, Harry had begun to think of Hermione in that way too. He couldn't wait to see her and spend more time with her. In fact, he couldn't think of anyone he'd rather spend his birthday with, than sweet, caring Hermione. His best friend.
Right then, he realized that he was done packing and he began to scour his room for extra things lying in corners. When he was done, he lay down on his bed and began to think of his wonderful birthday and the rest of his summer that lay before him.
* * * *
He waited until nightfall, and then lugging his trunk behind him, he quietly snuck out of the dreadful Dursley's house and to the corner of Privet Drive. He raised his wand arm, and prepared himself for the rest of his wonderful summer.