Chapter 2
Author's Note: Sorry this is late guys, but I had a very busy weekend. Anyways, I hope you enjoy. Please read and review!
The arrival at King's Cross station was welcome for most of the passengers on the Hogwarts Express. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, however, were not among them. Harry had calmed himself some after his outburst on the train but Ron was fuming and Hermione looked like a woman scorned. Ron decided to give Harry the silent treatment accompanied by a series of ominous glares. Hermione, on the other hand, decided to put the incident aside for the time being. The fact of the matter was that the trio was fearful and apprehensive about meeting the Dursleys, who would undoubtedly be waiting impatiently for Harry. Ron, having met the wretched people before, was almost sure of their reaction at the prospect of one inconvenience but three. Hermione, albeit clever, had no idea what was in store.
After arriving on platform 9 ¾ and retrieving their belongings, Hermione decided enough was enough and resigned herself to talk to Harry if it killed her. She approached him gently and her voice was small but assertive nonetheless.
"Harry, about the Dursleys…I know you've said they're awful people, but surely they aren't that bad." Hermione spoke with confidence but the menacing look that Harry gave her in response shattered her fragile confidence. Ron looked as though she had just cursed his mother. As mad as he may have been with Harry, Ron knew th extent of the Dursleys' cruelty. Harry turned on Hermione, drawing himself up to his full height and took a step towards her. His voice was calm and steady but only just and he spoke through clenched teeth.
"Hermione, need I remind you that these are the people who forced me to live in a broom cupboard for the first eleven years of my life? Or how about the fact that they allowed their brute of a son to abuse me every chance he got! Oh, and we mustn't forget that time when they, oh, LIED to me about my parents' deaths and how I was a wizard!" He stopped to take a breath and collect his composure. "And I'm sure you would love to hear the riveting tale of how they denied me any kind of love or affection." At this he lowered his head and Hermione, tears spilling down her face, moved forward quickly to embrace him.
He felt safe in her arms but it was a comfort short lived as reality flooded back to him. Hermione was Ron's girlfriend and he had no right to feel for her what he did. So he decided to add those feelings to the conglomeration of emotions that he could not express. He released Hermione and turned to face a very agitated Ron. Harry extended his right hand as a peace offering but Ron only glared at him.
"Ron, I'm really sorry. I guess my anger just got the best of me, you know? I didn't mean it. I swear. I just…lost control. You're still my best mate…right?"
Ron's expression softened slightly and he extended his left hand. The shook hard and Harry grinned, relieved and yet somehow still just a little bit disappointed.
"I forgive you Harry, but just try not to be such a prat alright? There's just no room in the family for another one and Percy's already claimed that spot."
Everyone laughed, even Hermione even though she still had tears pouring down her face. Harry felt his heart break because he knew that he caused her tears.
"Hermione, I'm-" But she cut him off mid sentence.
"Don't Harry. I know you didn't mean it. I may not understand your pain and your loss or your anger, but I hurt for you because you hurt so badly. What I do understand is that we have a job to do, and it won't get done if we are at each others' throats all the time. We have to be strong. It's a matter of life and death. So I forgive you Harry, because I do know that it was just your emotions getting the better of you."
She always forgave him, even when he didn't deserve it. That was one of the reasons why he cared for her so much; she was just so uniquely Hermione.
Harry stepped back and looked at his friends. He knew that meeting the Dursleys was not going to be a pleasant experience at all. While he said that he would use force if necessary, Harry really did not want it to come to that. He had a fool's hope that the Dursleys would just let he and his friends stay for a day or two until they went on their merry way. Unfortunately, Harry Potter knew better than to expect his aunt and uncle to be nice.
"Well guys, this is it. Lets run through the barrier and head on to our first big challenge- the Dursleys."
Harry turned with his trunk and Hedwig's cage and ran through the barrier and Ron and Hermione followed suit.
The terminal was bustling and busy as always but through the crowd Vernon and Petunia Dursley were waiting impatiently for their nuisance of a nephew. They had already been waiting for five minutes and as far as Vernon was concerned, that was five minutes too long. Then out of the crowd he saw Harry, that unruly black hair and round-rimmed glasses. As if the sight of Harry himself was unwelcome enough, a lanky redhead and a bookish looking girl trailed him. Skipping all the formalities, Vernon approached Harry and stopped he and his gang of misfits in their tracks.
"What's this boy?" Vernon nodded his head in the direction of Ron and Hermione.
Harry set his trunk and Hedwig's cage down and turned slightly towards Ron and Hermione, then back to his enormous uncle.
"Uh, Uncle Vernon, these are my friends from school, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They uh, they are coming with us…to Privet Drive."
It took only a second for Vernon Dursley to bow up and position himself dangerously close to Harry. The vein in his forehead was pulsing threateningly as he breathed heavily, trying to restrain his obvious anger.
"I don't know what's gotten into you boy, but these freaks, are not stepping foot anywhere near MY house. You tell them to turn around and get right back on the ruddy train!"
Expecting this reaction, Harry pulled his wand into view from his pocket. He adjusted it just enough that it was pointed directly at his uncle's chest. Vernon Dursley moved back ever so slightly, a look of pure terror on his rotund face. Harry watched him, slightly amused.
"Uncle Vernon, my friends and I only need to stay for a couple of days. After we leave you will never see me again. Now, Ron, Hermione and I are on a very important mission and we need to get to Privet Drive right away. Please get in the car. If you choose not to cooperate with me, then I will have no choice but to jinx you. And might I remind you that I have learned a lot of new jinxes this year."
Harry knew he'd said the right thing as Dursley moved backward, stamped his foot in anger, and walked over to his wife.
'Petunia…car…NOW!" Aunt Petunia whimpered and followed her husband to the car.
Harry, Ron and Hermione lagged behind to avoid hearing any of the obscene names they were now being called. Ron patted Harry on the back and grinned widely.
"Harry, mate that was fantastic! You showed him who's boss!"
Harry grinned in response but his face became somber almost immediately.
"Yea well, unfortunately it's going to get a lot worse once we get to the house."