Flourish and Blotts
Harry absent-mindedly took a bite of his steak as his mind kept wandering to what the heck he was going to do about his History of Magic homework. He had a four-page essay to write on Medieval Witches, and he promised himself that he would do it once he came back from his vacation in Norway with his Aunt Petunia, but it had been two days since he got back and he just couldn't get himself to do it. He missed his relatives back in Norway, who loved Harry a little too much, and Harry missed the family dog, Cheddar, the most. Harry had wanted a dog in his own house too, but Petunia was averse to any sort of furry creatures, so he stopped trying to persuade her, but not before putting up a little fight (back when he was six) of his own, which led his Aunt to let him bring over the neighbour's dog a couple of times.
Harry was too engrossed in worrying about his essay that he hardly paid any attention to the television blaring in front of him.
'A killer is on the loose... Citizens are advised to not stay out much later after dark.'
Petunia came over with dessert and in a worried tone, said, "Who could it be?"
Harry got out of his daze and looked up at his Aunt. "Who what could be?"
Petunia kept the puddings on the table and sighed. "Didn't you hear the news anchor, Harry? You ought to be more vigilant. You are thirteen now! Pay more attention to your surroundings, won't you?" She passed over the dessert to Harry, urging him to eat, as she spoke up, "Your curfew is at seven pm now. Be back before then, or there will be consequences." And she raised an eyebrow at her nephew, making sure he heard her.
"What? Why?" Harry protested quietly, knowing not to cross her.
"There's a psychotic killer on the loose, Harry! Surely, I won't let you go walking about at night knowing you could be his next target!" Petunia shook her head at that, visibly scared, and took a bite of the pudding to calm herself down.
Harry looked at the television, and the news anchor was now showing the picture of the supposed killer. He had dark, shoulder-length hair, and was grinning maniacally. He really looked the part, Harry thought. He looked down at the scattered, unfinished homework on the table, and decided he was going to work on it for good tonight. He wasn't too worried about the crazy man on the loose. Harry was sure he was going to get caught soon eventually. It wasn't as if that sort of thing was a rare occurrence in England anyway. He quickly ate his pudding, picked up all his homework, kissed his Aunt goodnight and headed upstairs to his room. Hogwarts was starting in one bloody week, and he still had a ton of essays to work on. He was doomed if he didn't do it all within two days.
Closing the door behind him, Harry entered his room and placed his spellbooks on the desk. His eyes wandered to the letters and presents his friends had sent him on his birthday, and he smiled at the memory of celebrating his thirteenth birthday with his relatives in Norway. He had even bought a bunch of souvenirs for Ron and Hermione, and he was very excited to give them to his friends. Sighing, he sat on his desk, took out his quill and opened the bottle of ink. He decided to light a candle and place it on the windowsill just for the aesthetic, so he rummaged through his drawer to find a candle fitting enough for tonight. "Aha!" He said, as he found his favourite Patchouli candle. He walked towards his window, placed it on the windowsill, and was about to return to his desk when through his window, he saw a creature— a big, black dog— staring at him, with big, scary eyes, standing near the bushes. Harry gulped, creeped out, and quickly pulled the curtains on. It was just a dog; why did he get so scared by a dog?
He sat down on his desk and began working on his homework, the scented candle burning nonchalantly near his books.
A few hours passed as he wrote his essays. He looked at the candle, which had now completely burnt. He stifled a yawn as he looked at the clock. 2 am. Damn, he thought, and shut his books closed. That's enough for tonight. He was about to plop down on his bed when he got the sudden urge to check if he dog was still there. He stared at his window, and for a second, was about to do it but decided against it. He laid down on his bed and closed his eyes. Sleep came to him soon enough.
That night, he dreamt of a black dog sitting protectively by Harry's side, as Harry pet the giant, elegant creature. He was smiling. He could tell he was happy being with the dog.
"Harry! Wake up! We have to get to Diagon Alley in two bloody hours!" Aunt Petunia shouted from downstairs and that got Harry to wake up immediately. He rubbed his eyes and looked for his glasses. He wore them and searched for decent enough clothes to wear. Settling on a black hoodie, blue jeans and black sneakers, he took a shower and headed downstairs. The smell of chocolate waffles woke him up for good and he greeted his Aunt. "Good morning, Aunt Petunia!" He said, his voicing sounding rather cheerful for once, despite it being the early hours of morning. "Happy, are we?" Petunia noted and grinned. "Now, sit down. Made you your favourite: chocolate waffles, fruit and of course— orange juice." Then, frowning a little, she continued, "Don't think I'll get to cook you food anytime soon..."
Harry took a bite of the waffle. His Aunt was right. He was headed for the Burrow after his shopping in Diagon Alley, and he was going to see his Aunt when he'd come back from Hogwarts in the Winters. Although he was sad about not seeing Aunt Petunia for a while, he was really looking forward to his Third Year at Hogwarts— especially Hogsmeade. As if reading his mind, Petunia asked, eating a strawberry, "You took your permission slip for— Hogsheard— no, Hogswurd? Hogsmud? Well, whatever it was, you have it on you, don't you?" Harry looked through his backpack and upon finding it, he nodded. "Hogsmeade," He grinned, "And yes, I have it." Petunia ruffled his hair. "Good. Finish your breakfast. I'm going to double-check some things. You do have a knack for forgetting things, after all. We will leave in an hour." And with that, Petunia left to double-check some things, like she said she would.
Harry took a sip of his orange juice and remembered the black... Dog he had seen last night. He had even seen the same dog in his dream. It shouldn't mean so much to Harry, but it did, because he woke up feeling happy, and safe. Shrugging the thought off, he ate his breakfast. Damn, Aunt Petunia is a really good cook.
Upon arriving at Diagon Alley, Harry couldn't help the smile that came on his face. Sure, his vacation at Norway was brilliant, but now he was surrounded by magic, and he felt so... Complete.
Harry and Petunia were on their way to Flourish and Blotts to get his new spellbooks when they spotted Hermione running towards his direction. "Harry!" She said, and hugged her best friend tightly. Harry returned the hug with the same enthusiasm. "How was your summer?" She asked once she pulled back. Then, immediately, once realising he was not alone, she turned to Petunia and said, "Miss Evans! How lovely to meet you!" Hermione smiled and so did Petunia. "Well, I will leave you both to it," Petunia said, once she spotted Mr and Mrs Granger and walked towards them.
With the adults busy in their own conversation, Hermione spoke up, "How have you been?"
"I've been great. You? How was France?"
"It was brilliant! I got to learn about so much! I even wrote two extra rolls for Professor Binn's essay just because there was so much knowledge about the history of witchcraft in France!"
"Two extra rolls? Hermione, I barely managed to do the one he gave us." Harry said, flabbergasted. He wasn't terrible at essays. He was, however, terrible at time management. Hermione chuckled, and before she could respond, Ron had walked up to them, a wide grin plastered on his face. "Hello!" The three went in for a group hug. We're the Golden Trio, alright.
An hour of shopping later, with everyone's bags being full of quills and paper and pots, they decided it was time to leave. Petunia hugged her nephew tightly, her eyes getting a little teary, if she should deny it herself. "I can't breathe, Aunt Petunia!" Harry said, his voice playful and sheepish. Petunia rolled her eyes and pulled back.
She bent down on her knees, and looked straight in her nephew's eyes.
"Don't get in trouble, alright?"
Harry nodded.
Petunia kissed Harry on his forehead and hugged him again.
As she saw him leave with the Weasleys, she couldn't help but be scared for the boy. She was always scared for the boy, for he had a knack for finding trouble wherever he went, but this time, she knew something was.. Off. Still, she shook the thoughts away— she knew how foolish her superstitions could be— and waved at her nephew, who happily waved at him back.
Petunia just wished to see Harry in one piece when he came back in the winters.