Chapter 3
Leaving home
Mr. Weasley walked up to Number 4 Privet Drive with not a little displeasure. If Harry had been one of his sons he would have given him a big talking to. He didn't like it at all when the Missus cried, and that Howler of Harry's had ruined a perfectly good pot roast. It had taken him several hours to stop the flow of tears and that was a feat in and of itself.
The front yard looked a little overgrown and not at all what he'd remembered. The Dursley's were far too fastidious to allow their prize lawn to grow so abused. Arthur knocked at the front door and rechecked his Muggle clothing. It seemed alright. However, he would never understand why Muggles would want to wear a piece of cloth so tightly around their neck that you felt like you were choking to death. He had a rather loud tie in orange and yellow (approved by Ron, the Chudley Cannons fanatic) and a rather dapper blue leisure suit that would have been highly sporting in the 70's. It all was essentially correct according to the records he had reviewed, but he suspected something had to be a bit off.
Harry didn't even blink when he opened the door to the knock of Arthur Weasley and his alarming attire. It was the first day of term and the Hogwarts Express was due in less than two hours. Secretly Harry had dreamed that Sirius would show up at the door, saying it had all been a great joke and he was here to take him on to school. They would laugh and carry on about what a lark it all had been. Harry knew this was not just a stupid idea but also a little teesy bit insane. Too much time alone he guessed. His relatives had left on July 31st and today was September 1st. A month alone never leaving the house had to make anyone batty.
"Mrs. Figg told us the Dursley's had gone on their holiday and that you needed a lift to the Express." Mr. Weasley was still put out by the boy's bad manners, but he also knew his children had been blessed with a mother that cared for them and taught them how to behave. Harry however had that shrill horse-faced woman and that angry lout of an uncle for family. How anyone could learn anything about manners in that household was beyond his comprehension.
Harry opened the door wider and let Mr. Weasley inside. It was dank and gloomy and a little smelly inside. It also looked like Harry had made a nest-like area in the living room where he had been sleeping and apparently eating by the evidence of several boxes of pizza scattered around the room. The smell was coming from the refrigerator in the kitchen.
"Harry? Can't we turn on the lights in here? It's a little dark." Mr. Weasley stumbled over a box of Luigi's Best Pizza Pie and put his foot in a day old slice of pepperoni and onions.
"Oh. Well. When the Dursley's left they had the electric service turned off." Harry stated this matter-of-factly as if that was expected even though he had been left to fend for himself.
"Don't you need `lek-trick' service to have lights and such things? Surely your relatives wouldn't do that on purpose. Why didn't you come and stay with us when you knew they were leaving? You do realize Mrs. W was very upset by that Howler you sent Ron, don't you?"
Harry winced at the news of his well-beloved Mrs. Weasley crying over him.
"I'm really sorry, sir." He hung his head and shuffled over to his bedding to collect his shoes. He had to shove at the sleeves of the enormous sweatshirt to get them high enough over his arms that he could tie his trainers.
"She'll be fine once you send your apologies, young man. I don't know what the new generation does sending howlers at each other. You upset her and that upsets me. You understand? Now where's your baggage?"
Mr. Weasley waved his hand to dismiss the subject. He was a little concerned about the state of things here at Privet Drive. Why didn't Figg tell Dumbledore the state of things here? It was not his place to say, but he would never countenance any child to be left alone like this without the basics of life.
Harry had mentioned nothing about the family being away when the Order owled him. It was very unusual.
Mr. Weasley peered about in the dark examining all the interesting Muggle artifacts in their proper setting. A wizard's home ran smoothly enough without Muggle `Lek `tizzity', but he knew it was essential to keep all of Muggles going. He was going to have to check into this situation, no matter if he wasn't in charge of this boy or not!
"Um. Sir, I haven't unpacked from last term, so that shouldn't be problem, but they locked my trunks in the basement along with my wand," Harry paused and shrugged.
"Lead the way, Harry." Arthur was sure there was more to that story than Harry was willing to reveal. Ron was going to be asked a few pointed questions next time his father saw him.
Something dawned on Mr. Weasley as he charmed the trunk up the stair after magicking the door lock undone.
"Harry, what did you eat? If the `E-Lek-Trick' service;" he said it carefully, "wasn't functioning…" Comprehension and dismay spread across the man's face.
"Oh, I broke into Dudley's money stash and had pizza every few days. It was actually not that bad. I didn't think of it right away, and I was sure I was in for it, but I got the notion when I saw empty boxes in his room. I found out I really like pizza." Harry grinned at the thought of Dudley coming home to find all his hidden money missing.
Mr. Weasley shook his head wondering how his family could abandon him like this. Harry was sixteen and really almost a man, but the emotional toll of being left like this had to be damaging. It was a wonder that Harry had survived so well. It actually told more to Arthur than any questions Harry would have answered. Harry was used to surviving like this. He knew that Ron would have been right helpless without his mother to take care of every little thing. He often told his wife to let Ron learn a few life skills, but she tut-tutted his words saying she had just a little time left to baby her last son, so would he kindly keep his ginger head out of it.
"We'll have to apparate, son, so just a warning." Harry looked startled to be called anyone's `son', but a small smile still tugged at him a little.
With a pop and a shriek from Hedwig, the two figures left Privet Drive forever. Harry didn't even look back.
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