Birthday presents
Waking up was always the hardest part of Harrys day.Theoretically he could have went sleep earlier but his current read a Greek mythology book found in the sourted out pile of his school library) had been a good distraction after enduring vernons bitching at dinner.Who even gets up so early in the summer holidays?
The incessant knocking on his cupboard door certainly did not proclaim Petunias good mood this morning.“Get up boy!The breakfast doesn’t cook itself!“, she screeched.Harry rolled his eyes.
„Yes aunt petunia.“
After making breakfast satisfactory enough to be ignored,Harry was sent outside to tent to the garden and water Petunias precious roses before the sun was too bright and hot in the sky later.When Harry had first found a book of common poisonous plants in the school library,he had been ecstatic,already conceiving plans.Alas his happiness had been shortlived after realising that the murder would probably worsen his days.
Still,once Dudley had been especially obnoxious so Harry had slipped the little piglet just a tiny bit of the tulips petunia likes to plant for spring.Afterwards he could watch happily while Dudley spent some not so nice days with a „stomach flu“,vomiting in the bathroom.The only downside had been cleaning up after him,but at least Petunia hadn’t cared as much about his presence while precious diddykins was feeling so terrible.
In the evening after being so nice and complieing with Petunias instructions all day,Harry was feeling annoyed and tired having to listen to the conversation at the dinner table.He had long since finished with the ration petunia had granted him and had already snuck himself an apple from the fruit bowl for later.Surely the dursleys weren’t going to miss that.
“Boy,“uncle Vernon suddenly addressed him,“tomorrow is Dudley’s birthday.I expect you to be on your best behaviour unless you want to spend a week in that cupboard of yours.”Last year on dudleys birthday aunt Marges raving mad dog ripper had chased him over the whole yard.“Yes Uncle Vernon,” he answered obediently.If that dog came here again this time he would put the thing down for good!
He woke up to his aunt hammering on his door again.Harry groaned.It surely was even earlier than yesterday.”Boy get started on breakfast,I will not have you ruining my little diddykins special day with your laziness!”
In the living room was a truly unnecessary large mountain of presents.Harry made himselve useful since aunt petunia seemed even more stressed out than usual and fried some bacon and egg,sneaking some pieces for himself while petunia had apparently decided the 11 candles on Dudley’s birthday cake weren’t arranged perfectly enough.
Soon enough the whole family was gathered in the living room.
“33,3..4,3,..,30-3-3” Dudley was doing his best counting presents year already welling up in his eyes.Aunt petunia quickly tried to prevent the impending catastrophe:”There are 37 presents my dear.See here under mommy and daddys big one is another one.””And latter we can get you two more Dudley.My boy wants to see his money worth am I right?” Uncle vernon chimed in.
“Oh,ok” Dudley agreed pacified and finally started unpacking his presents while Harry unnoticed by the rest of the family rolled his eyes at such blatant manipulation.
After breakfast pierce,Dudleys friend, would come over to spend the day.Dudley always got to pick a day trip for his birthday and Harry always got to stay at old Arabella Figgs house with all here cats and stone hard biscuits she would offer him.Not today though.
“Vernon bad news,mrs. Figg broke her leg,she can’t take the boy”, Petunia rushed into the living room.
“We are not taking him along.He will ruin it.He ruins everything!, Dudley already started protesting.
“Now don’t worry dudders,daddy won’t let him ruin your birthday,” Vernon exclaimed,”Petunia dear,is there no one else who can take him?I won’t have him stay in the house alone.Who knows what that good for nothing would get up to!”
“We could leave him in the car at the zoo?”
Vernon looked quite displeased at that:”Well dear,that won’t do.I won’t have the boy in my brand new company car!”
“You could just let me be outside for the day in the park”, Harry suggested,a plan already forming in his mind,” I couldn’t possibly ruin anything there.”
Petunia looked thoughtful at that.Dudley though immediately agreed:”Yes,let the freak stay outside,I don’t want him here today.Pleeeasee mummy!””Fine boy,put now funny business.I don’t want the neighbours complaining about you once we get home!”
Harrys day had just gotten infinitely better.