New and Old Friend
Harry was staring outside his window. He sighed a deep sigh. The streets were empty, the roads were bare, and there was nothing to do. Nothing to do today, nothing going on, in the muggle world anyway. Harry shuddered at the fact that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was loose on the world. He shook the thought of it, knowing full well that he'll feel better not thinking about it. Suddenly something caught his eye. A moving truck had pulled up. Normally Harry wouldn't have cared; usually it was some old couple who hated loud music or crazy kids; however this was not the case.
He saw a young kid, no older than Harry, step out of one of the doors. He was rather tall and had brown hair; he had on a bright red t-shirt and blue jean shorts. Harry felt excited a little. Someone his age to talk to during the summer; then again it was probably someone like Dudley, obnoxious, rude, and spoiled. That was the way it was for the kids of Pivot Drive.
There was a knock at the door. "BOY! ANSWEAR THE DANG DOOR!" His uncle Vernon yelled.
Harry sighed again and ran downstairs. He opened the door and saw a rather tall, blonde haired woman standing there. "Hello, are you little Dudley?" She smiled.
Harry felt insulted to be mistaken for that slob of a cousin. "Uh no I'm Harry Potter."
"Oh am I at the wrong house? Isn't this the Dursely residence?" She asked kindly.
Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia walked up. "That would be us. Be gone boy." Uncle Vernon scowled.
"Now, now, I don't mind this young man here." She smiled. "Allow me to introduce myself; I am Karen Walled, your new neighbor." She put her hand out to shake hands.
"And what does that mean to us?" Aunt Petunia scoffed.
"My, my, such rudeness. I hope your son is better behaved in the fall." Mrs. Walled sighed.
"What do you care about our son?" Uncle Vernon growled. Harry wanted to sneak off, but Mrs. Walled put her hand in the way.
"Now, now, stay put please." She winked at him. Harry wondered what she was up to. "I care about your son because I am the new Principal at his school next year." This made the Dursely's gasp and Harry felt sorry for her.
"Now I've been planning on going from house to house and meet my future students and their parents." She smiled.
"Yes of course. DUDLEY COME DOWN PLEASE!" Uncle Vernon called rather loudly.
Dudley ran downstairs; Harry could have sworn he saw the floor shift beneath him. "Yes Mommy and Daddy?" He said in his fake sweet voice.
"Dudley, ahem, this is Mrs. Walled. She'll be your new principal in the fall." Aunt Petunia forced out and nudged him a little. Dudley put his hand out and shook her hands.
"Such a polite boy. She smiled. Harry felt like he was going to gag. He noticed Mrs. Walled winked again at him. "Now I hope this is how you normally act and not just a ruse to make me think you're a perfect kid is it?" She looked sternly at them. Dudley shook his head quickly. "I though so, because I hope you know I don't tolerate spoiled brats who think they get away with everything." She looked seriously at him.
"I assure you our boy is nothing of the sort." Uncle Vernon said happily.
"And I especially loath parents who enjoy spoiling their children." She glared at them. "But I'm sure you aren't the case." She smiled. "Now will I be seeing our Mr. Potter at school?"
"No, this boy is the real trouble maker of this house. He goes to correctional school in the fall." Uncle Vernon glared at Harry.
"Well it seems my son will have someone in common with here. He goes to a different school to for "Special" people." She sighed. "Why don't we let the little trouble makers meet each other." She suggested. Harry finally understood why she wanted him to stay.
"Well . . . uh . . . of course he can." Aunt Petunia forced out.
"Anything to get him out of the house." Uncle Vernon mumbled.
"How does that sound to you young man?" Mrs. Walled asked nicely. Harry was surprised that a neighbor here would ever be this nice to him and harsh to the Dursley's. Of course Harry nodded to her, anything to get away from the house even for a moment.
She led Harry across the street where he saw the kid he had seen getting out of the moving van earlier. He was bouncing a ball and throwing it into a hoop. "Tom dear, a young boy is here to meet you." His mother called. He grabbed the ball and stopped. "I hope you two become dear friends." She smiled, winked at Harry, and left.
"Names Tom, who are you?" Tom asked.
"Harry. Harry Potter." Harry smiled.
"Names Tom. Tom Walled." Tom tossed the ball to Harry. "You play basketball?"
"Nope, never." Harry answered.
"Well, basically it's very simple. You have to take the ball from me and shot it into that hoop." Tom told Harry.
"That's it?" Harry asked. Even Qudditch wasn't that easy.
"That's it, oh! And you have to bounce the ball whenever you move around." Tom added. "Shall we start?"
"Okay." Harry said nervously. Harry bounced the ball around in front of him; suddenly Tom ran up and snatched the ball and tossed it into the hoop. "What the heck was that?" Harry asked dumbfounded.
"You're supposed to prevent me from stealing the ball from you, or else you have to steal it back so one of us can score." Tom explained further. After a few times Harry caught on to playing Basketball and started to score on Tom.
"Not bad Potter, you'd make a fair player." Tom smirked. Harry recognized similar words from Oliver Wood when he was showed how to play Qudditch and he beat a bludger. Wood had said "Not bad Potter, you'd make a fair beater." The more he thought about it, the more he excited he got about next season. With Umbridge out of the way, his lifetime ban was no longer in effect so he could play again next year.
Tom looked closely at Harry's forehead. "Say Harry, why's that scar on your head look like a lightning bolt?" He asked.
"Uh . . . No idea really." Harry lied. He knew very well that the scar was given to him by Voldermort when he tried to kill him to prevent the prophecy of Harry being the only on to kill him. Harry decided he better change the subject. "So Tom, where'd you move from and where's your dad?"
"I'm from America." Tom mentioned. Harry realized this was why Tom's voice sounded different. "My dad's back in the states trying to finish selling our house, then he's got to get his things at his new job and get settled there which'll take all summer."
"Oh, what's he do?" Harry asked.
"Oh he's a teacher of all sorts of subjects." Tom smiled. Then he looked at his watch. "Ah crap; I'm almost late for my chat."
"Chat?" Harry asked strangely.
"Don't tell me you never to a chat room on-line?" Tom asked. He noticed Harry was even more confused. "You don't know what internet is, do you?" Tom asked sarcastically. Harry shook his head. "Come on, I'll explain on the way up."
Tom explained to Harry about the internet and how it works. Harry admitted to himself that he half understood and decided to wait until he actually saw this Internet before he asked things. Tom went into a chat room and was under the name American Wizard.
"American Wizard?" Harry asked.
"Just thought it sounded cool." Tom responded. "Ah here she is." Tom pointed to a name that read Hermy.
'Hermy.' Harry thought that sounded familiar. Soon it hit him; that's what Gwarp, Hagrids Half brother, called Hermione last year. Could it be her?
"How's it going Hermy?" Tom typed in.
"Not bad, just getting ready for school in a few weeks." Hermy sent back.
'School does happen for another month?' Harry thought. 'Except Hogwarts!' He realized it WAS Hermione.
"Hey, I've got a new friend here that's very interesting." Tom typed.
"How so?" Hermy sent.
"He has a scar on his forehead." Tom typed. This freaked Harry out. What if this wasn't Hermione, what if it was a Death Eater secretly making it look like a Hogwarts Student.
"Does it look like a lightning bolt?" Hermy sent back.
"Yeah it does actually." Tom sent. Harry was getting more nervous. He tried to type in a bunch of gibberish but Tom pushed him aside. "What's your problem man?"
"Oh my god." Was what Hermy sent. "Get him on now!"
"Why?" Tom sent back.
"Just do it!" Hermy sent.
"You read her man; she wants to chat with you." Tom laughed. "Just don't blow it." He snickered.
Harry didn't know what he meant by that but he preyed this WAS Hermione he was about to "chat" with.
"Harry! Is it you?" Hermy sent.
"Hermione! Is it YOU!" Harry sent back. He sighed with relief but he was still was a little skeptical.
"It IS you! I don't believe it!" Hermione sent. "But just to be sure. What are the initials of my save house-elf club?"
"S.P.E.W." Harry sent. It had to be Hermione. Only students at Hogwarts would even care to remember that.
"I knew it was you! Listen, we can't communicate here. I'll e-mail Tom but it'll be for you." Hermione sent and logged off.
"E-Mail?" Harry asked Tom. Tom slapped his forehead in disgust.
"Electronic Mail! The way the web communicates with people." All of this was starting to come back to Harry. He felt stupid forgetting all of the Muggle things. Of course he knew what most of them were. 'Guess life at Hogwarts will do that to you.' He thought.
The E-mail arrived say TO HARRY! Tom opened it and Harry read it.
Dear Harry,
I figured someone would watch our chat if we stayed there. I still can't believe it was you! The odds are astronomical! Anyway, how's your summer been? Have the Dursley's been treating you well. What do you think of Tom?
The list of questions went on and on. "Guess she wants the whole enchilada huh?" Tom joked.
"Guess so. Hang on what's this?" Harry read an interesting part of the E- mail.
Listen Harry, I know it's risky and all but I have no choice. Can I stay with you? My parents are going on there second honeymoon and the only time they could get reservations goes threw our "shopping time" and Ron's family's going on a trip and won't be back until then either. They said they'd let us stay with them after that but, until then; I'm without a way to get up there. I know you don't like the Dursley's and you probably think they'll refuse but; just drop my last name and you'll know what to do. Please E-mail me ASAP. Thank you.
-Hermione
Harry couldn't believe it. Was Hermione crazy or something? With Voldermort out there, it'd be crazy to leave her house. Then again; now that he thought about it, his house WAS safer than hers anyway. He decided to run back home and check with the Dursley's. He thanked Tom and said he'll be right back.
Harry ran into the house and into the family room. "BOY SLOW DOWN!" Uncle Vernon roared.
"Sorry, it's just I have a favor to ask." Harry panted.
"A FAVOR TO US!" Uncle Vernon roared.
"Listen, I just need a friend of mine to stay here until we have to go to Diagon Alley in a week or so." Harry asked in his kindest voice, knowing full well it wouldn't work but it was worth a shot. He noticed they were about to refuse so he decided to use his Trump Card. "It'd be a shame for me to not write my OTHER friends cause you refused." He smirked. They knew what he meant; that if he didn't write to anyone in the Order of the Phoenix, they'd send someone to check up on him.
"All right boy, which friend is it. That Chimney-popping, trick pulling, red-haired brat?" Uncle Vernon growled.
"Nope. Her name's Hermione Granger." He smiled, knowing he won. Suddenly Dudley spat out his drink as he was sipping it. Uncle Vernon gagged on his cookie and Aunt Petunia was just jaw dropped.
"You mean to tell us that one of your freaky friends is the daughter of Dudley's new dentist!" Aunt Petunia asked loudly. Harry suddenly realized that was true. Dudley's new dentists last name WAS Granger.
Harry knew now what Hermione meant when she said to drop her last name. He nodded. "Yep, and if you help out, maybe he'll "Ignore" any cavities on Dudley's next appointment and save you money on fillings." He smirked.
He noticed Uncle Vernon was starting to feel tempted and Dudley was starting to get a huge grin on his face. "All right boy we'll allow her to come. But she stays in YOUR room and YOU stay under the stairs!" He ordered.
"I was already planning on that." Harry admitted. He did too; he knew that, even in the wizard world, boys and girls of their ages that are not related shouldn't share a room with one bed. Besides, it was just for a week and he already was used to sleeping down there. He had been most of his life until he started going to Hogwarts.
Harry ran back to Toms and told him the great news. He jumped on his computer and E-mailed Hermione. Hermione
Guess what! They said yes! I can't wait for you to get here.
-Harry
He sent it and the two waited a while.
"You didn't answer her questions." Tom pointed out.
"We'll have the week to do that." Harry pointed out. Just then an E-mail came in.
Harry
Glad to hear it all worked out. Be seeing you in two days. Can't wait to see you too.
-Hermione
Harry said his good-byes to Tom and his mom and ran back home. The next day was spent on getting things read for Hermione.
How will the next week go for Harry and Hermione? Just where does Tom's dad work and WHAT does he teach? Find out next time after a lot of reviews.
Harry was staring outside his window. He sighed a deep sigh. The streets were empty, the roads were bare, and there was nothing to do. Nothing to do today, nothing going on, in the muggle world anyway. Harry shuddered at the fact that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was loose on the world. He shook the thought of it, knowing full well that he'll feel better not thinking about it. Suddenly something caught his eye. A moving truck had pulled up. Normally Harry wouldn't have cared; usually it was some old couple who hated loud music or crazy kids; however this was not the case.
He saw a young kid, no older than Harry, step out of one of the doors. He was rather tall and had brown hair; he had on a bright red t-shirt and blue jean shorts. Harry felt excited a little. Someone his age to talk to during the summer; then again it was probably someone like Dudley, obnoxious, rude, and spoiled. That was the way it was for the kids of Pivot Drive.
There was a knock at the door. "BOY! ANSWEAR THE DANG DOOR!" His uncle Vernon yelled.
Harry sighed again and ran downstairs. He opened the door and saw a rather tall, blonde haired woman standing there. "Hello, are you little Dudley?" She smiled.
Harry felt insulted to be mistaken for that slob of a cousin. "Uh no I'm Harry Potter."
"Oh am I at the wrong house? Isn't this the Dursely residence?" She asked kindly.
Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia walked up. "That would be us. Be gone boy." Uncle Vernon scowled.
"Now, now, I don't mind this young man here." She smiled. "Allow me to introduce myself; I am Karen Walled, your new neighbor." She put her hand out to shake hands.
"And what does that mean to us?" Aunt Petunia scoffed.
"My, my, such rudeness. I hope your son is better behaved in the fall." Mrs. Walled sighed.
"What do you care about our son?" Uncle Vernon growled. Harry wanted to sneak off, but Mrs. Walled put her hand in the way.
"Now, now, stay put please." She winked at him. Harry wondered what she was up to. "I care about your son because I am the new Principal at his school next year." This made the Dursely's gasp and Harry felt sorry for her.
"Now I've been planning on going from house to house and meet my future students and their parents." She smiled.
"Yes of course. DUDLEY COME DOWN PLEASE!" Uncle Vernon called rather loudly.
Dudley ran downstairs; Harry could have sworn he saw the floor shift beneath him. "Yes Mommy and Daddy?" He said in his fake sweet voice.
"Dudley, ahem, this is Mrs. Walled. She'll be your new principal in the fall." Aunt Petunia forced out and nudged him a little. Dudley put his hand out and shook her hands.
"Such a polite boy. She smiled. Harry felt like he was going to gag. He noticed Mrs. Walled winked again at him. "Now I hope this is how you normally act and not just a ruse to make me think you're a perfect kid is it?" She looked sternly at them. Dudley shook his head quickly. "I though so, because I hope you know I don't tolerate spoiled brats who think they get away with everything." She looked seriously at him.
"I assure you our boy is nothing of the sort." Uncle Vernon said happily.
"And I especially loath parents who enjoy spoiling their children." She glared at them. "But I'm sure you aren't the case." She smiled. "Now will I be seeing our Mr. Potter at school?"
"No, this boy is the real trouble maker of this house. He goes to correctional school in the fall." Uncle Vernon glared at Harry.
"Well it seems my son will have someone in common with here. He goes to a different school to for "Special" people." She sighed. "Why don't we let the little trouble makers meet each other." She suggested. Harry finally understood why she wanted him to stay.
"Well . . . uh . . . of course he can." Aunt Petunia forced out.
"Anything to get him out of the house." Uncle Vernon mumbled.
"How does that sound to you young man?" Mrs. Walled asked nicely. Harry was surprised that a neighbor here would ever be this nice to him and harsh to the Dursley's. Of course Harry nodded to her, anything to get away from the house even for a moment.
She led Harry across the street where he saw the kid he had seen getting out of the moving van earlier. He was bouncing a ball and throwing it into a hoop. "Tom dear, a young boy is here to meet you." His mother called. He grabbed the ball and stopped. "I hope you two become dear friends." She smiled, winked at Harry, and left.
"Names Tom, who are you?" Tom asked.
"Harry. Harry Potter." Harry smiled.
"Names Tom. Tom Walled." Tom tossed the ball to Harry. "You play basketball?"
"Nope, never." Harry answered.
"Well, basically it's very simple. You have to take the ball from me and shot it into that hoop." Tom told Harry.
"That's it?" Harry asked. Even Qudditch wasn't that easy.
"That's it, oh! And you have to bounce the ball whenever you move around." Tom added. "Shall we start?"
"Okay." Harry said nervously. Harry bounced the ball around in front of him; suddenly Tom ran up and snatched the ball and tossed it into the hoop. "What the heck was that?" Harry asked dumbfounded.
"You're supposed to prevent me from stealing the ball from you, or else you have to steal it back so one of us can score." Tom explained further. After a few times Harry caught on to playing Basketball and started to score on Tom.
"Not bad Potter, you'd make a fair player." Tom smirked. Harry recognized similar words from Oliver Wood when he was showed how to play Qudditch and he beat a bludger. Wood had said "Not bad Potter, you'd make a fair beater." The more he thought about it, the more he excited he got about next season. With Umbridge out of the way, his lifetime ban was no longer in effect so he could play again next year.
Tom looked closely at Harry's forehead. "Say Harry, why's that scar on your head look like a lightning bolt?" He asked.
"Uh . . . No idea really." Harry lied. He knew very well that the scar was given to him by Voldermort when he tried to kill him to prevent the prophecy of Harry being the only on to kill him. Harry decided he better change the subject. "So Tom, where'd you move from and where's your dad?"
"I'm from America." Tom mentioned. Harry realized this was why Tom's voice sounded different. "My dad's back in the states trying to finish selling our house, then he's got to get his things at his new job and get settled there which'll take all summer."
"Oh, what's he do?" Harry asked.
"Oh he's a teacher of all sorts of subjects." Tom smiled. Then he looked at his watch. "Ah crap; I'm almost late for my chat."
"Chat?" Harry asked strangely.
"Don't tell me you never to a chat room on-line?" Tom asked. He noticed Harry was even more confused. "You don't know what internet is, do you?" Tom asked sarcastically. Harry shook his head. "Come on, I'll explain on the way up."
Tom explained to Harry about the internet and how it works. Harry admitted to himself that he half understood and decided to wait until he actually saw this Internet before he asked things. Tom went into a chat room and was under the name American Wizard.
"American Wizard?" Harry asked.
"Just thought it sounded cool." Tom responded. "Ah here she is." Tom pointed to a name that read Hermy.
'Hermy.' Harry thought that sounded familiar. Soon it hit him; that's what Gwarp, Hagrids Half brother, called Hermione last year. Could it be her?
"How's it going Hermy?" Tom typed in.
"Not bad, just getting ready for school in a few weeks." Hermy sent back.
'School does happen for another month?' Harry thought. 'Except Hogwarts!' He realized it WAS Hermione.
"Hey, I've got a new friend here that's very interesting." Tom typed.
"How so?" Hermy sent.
"He has a scar on his forehead." Tom typed. This freaked Harry out. What if this wasn't Hermione, what if it was a Death Eater secretly making it look like a Hogwarts Student.
"Does it look like a lightning bolt?" Hermy sent back.
"Yeah it does actually." Tom sent. Harry was getting more nervous. He tried to type in a bunch of gibberish but Tom pushed him aside. "What's your problem man?"
"Oh my god." Was what Hermy sent. "Get him on now!"
"Why?" Tom sent back.
"Just do it!" Hermy sent.
"You read her man; she wants to chat with you." Tom laughed. "Just don't blow it." He snickered.
Harry didn't know what he meant by that but he preyed this WAS Hermione he was about to "chat" with.
"Harry! Is it you?" Hermy sent.
"Hermione! Is it YOU!" Harry sent back. He sighed with relief but he was still was a little skeptical.
"It IS you! I don't believe it!" Hermione sent. "But just to be sure. What are the initials of my save house-elf club?"
"S.P.E.W." Harry sent. It had to be Hermione. Only students at Hogwarts would even care to remember that.
"I knew it was you! Listen, we can't communicate here. I'll e-mail Tom but it'll be for you." Hermione sent and logged off.
"E-Mail?" Harry asked Tom. Tom slapped his forehead in disgust.
"Electronic Mail! The way the web communicates with people." All of this was starting to come back to Harry. He felt stupid forgetting all of the Muggle things. Of course he knew what most of them were. 'Guess life at Hogwarts will do that to you.' He thought.
The E-mail arrived say TO HARRY! Tom opened it and Harry read it.
Dear Harry,
I figured someone would watch our chat if we stayed there. I still can't believe it was you! The odds are astronomical! Anyway, how's your summer been? Have the Dursley's been treating you well. What do you think of Tom?
The list of questions went on and on. "Guess she wants the whole enchilada huh?" Tom joked.
"Guess so. Hang on what's this?" Harry read an interesting part of the E- mail.
Listen Harry, I know it's risky and all but I have no choice. Can I stay with you? My parents are going on there second honeymoon and the only time they could get reservations goes threw our "shopping time" and Ron's family's going on a trip and won't be back until then either. They said they'd let us stay with them after that but, until then; I'm without a way to get up there. I know you don't like the Dursley's and you probably think they'll refuse but; just drop my last name and you'll know what to do. Please E-mail me ASAP. Thank you.
-Hermione
Harry couldn't believe it. Was Hermione crazy or something? With Voldermort out there, it'd be crazy to leave her house. Then again; now that he thought about it, his house WAS safer than hers anyway. He decided to run back home and check with the Dursley's. He thanked Tom and said he'll be right back.
Harry ran into the house and into the family room. "BOY SLOW DOWN!" Uncle Vernon roared.
"Sorry, it's just I have a favor to ask." Harry panted.
"A FAVOR TO US!" Uncle Vernon roared.
"Listen, I just need a friend of mine to stay here until we have to go to Diagon Alley in a week or so." Harry asked in his kindest voice, knowing full well it wouldn't work but it was worth a shot. He noticed they were about to refuse so he decided to use his Trump Card. "It'd be a shame for me to not write my OTHER friends cause you refused." He smirked. They knew what he meant; that if he didn't write to anyone in the Order of the Phoenix, they'd send someone to check up on him.
"All right boy, which friend is it. That Chimney-popping, trick pulling, red-haired brat?" Uncle Vernon growled.
"Nope. Her name's Hermione Granger." He smiled, knowing he won. Suddenly Dudley spat out his drink as he was sipping it. Uncle Vernon gagged on his cookie and Aunt Petunia was just jaw dropped.
"You mean to tell us that one of your freaky friends is the daughter of Dudley's new dentist!" Aunt Petunia asked loudly. Harry suddenly realized that was true. Dudley's new dentists last name WAS Granger.
Harry knew now what Hermione meant when she said to drop her last name. He nodded. "Yep, and if you help out, maybe he'll "Ignore" any cavities on Dudley's next appointment and save you money on fillings." He smirked.
He noticed Uncle Vernon was starting to feel tempted and Dudley was starting to get a huge grin on his face. "All right boy we'll allow her to come. But she stays in YOUR room and YOU stay under the stairs!" He ordered.
"I was already planning on that." Harry admitted. He did too; he knew that, even in the wizard world, boys and girls of their ages that are not related shouldn't share a room with one bed. Besides, it was just for a week and he already was used to sleeping down there. He had been most of his life until he started going to Hogwarts.
Harry ran back to Toms and told him the great news. He jumped on his computer and E-mailed Hermione. Hermione
Guess what! They said yes! I can't wait for you to get here.
-Harry
He sent it and the two waited a while.
"You didn't answer her questions." Tom pointed out.
"We'll have the week to do that." Harry pointed out. Just then an E-mail came in.
Harry
Glad to hear it all worked out. Be seeing you in two days. Can't wait to see you too.
-Hermione
Harry said his good-byes to Tom and his mom and ran back home. The next day was spent on getting things read for Hermione.
How will the next week go for Harry and Hermione? Just where does Tom's dad work and WHAT does he teach? Find out next time after a lot of reviews.