What's Important Chapter 15: Christmas with the Durselys

WHAT'S IMPORTANT

Christmas has come to Hogwarts. Students were excited to spend time with their families. Harry was worried about Luna but the 1st year Ravenclaw reassured him that all will be well since some of the older Ravenclaws would be away from Hogwarts.

"Are you sure you'll be alright by yourself Luna?" Harry asked for the tenth time that day as he and the other students were heading toward the train.

"I'll be fine. Ginny Weasely is staying at Hogwarts so I can spend my time with her. Don't worry Harry. Have fun with your Aunt and Uncle. I will see you when you come back." She hugged him cheerfully. She then turned to Isaac.

"Same thing to you Isaac. I'll be fine. I have Ginny. I will write and you should too. Have fun and have a happy Christmas, both of you."

"Thanks Luna, you too." The boys said together.

"This seems weird I feel like we're saying good bye forever." Isaac said worriedly.

Harry nodded, feeling like something bad was going to happen while he and Isaac were away from school but he put the feeling aside and focused on his brother. "It feels weird to go to different places this year for Christmas."

"You're right but you did tell Aunt Petunia that you would spend Christmas with her."

"I did, this should be very interesting."

And it was. When Harry arrived at Privet Drive, Aunt Petunia showed him the room that he stayed in so long ago. It changed, it looked inviting this time. The bed had dark green covers. The walls were a nice blue. Aunt Petunia out did herself. The furniture was still the same but painted in a dark brown instead of the off white it was before.

After he was settled Harry looked out the window. He heard a knock on the door.

"May I come in Harry?" It was Dudley.

"Sure Dudley, come in is there anything you need?"

Dudley stood there unsure of what to say. Dudley changed the last time Harry saw him. Dudley had lost weight…a lot of weight.

"I want to tell you that I'm glad you are here. I also want to know if I could send a letter to Isaac. I want to get to know him too. Maybe next year you both can spend Christmas here, together." Dudley said sincerely.

Harry was speechless for a moment then shook his head. He went over to his trunk to get some parchment and some ink. He went over to the desk in the room and looked behind him at Dudley. "What would you like to tell him?"

"I…don't know…I don't even know Isaac. It's weird I know one cousin but I haven't even met the other. I'm not sure what to say."

"How about you start with hello." Harry said, handing the quill to Dudley.

"What is this?" Dudley asked Harry, holding the quill awkwardly.

"It's a quill. It's what we wizards use to write. It's kind of an old tradition. Here use my pen instead." Harry handed Dudley a pen.

"Thanks, this is actually a lot better." Dudley said with a smile and started to write.

An hour later Dudley was done with his letter. Harry summoned his owl, Hedwig to him. Dudley handed him the letter to tie on Hedwig's leg. They both watched her as she took off.

"She's beautiful."

"I know, remember last year when I got her."

"Yes, you seemed so proud to get her and she seemed proud to have you."

"She's my best friend. She seems to know what I need and when I need it. I don't know what it is but she knows."

"Magic…"

"What?"

"Hedwig, she knows you because of magic." Harry nodded agreeing with his cousin.

A few days later (three days till Christmas) it snowed. Vernon wanted to get the car cleared so that he could work the next day. He talked Dudley into helping him. Harry just volunteered, "I'll help Uncle." Vernon nodded and together the three headed to the shed and started to clear the car and driveway of snow. While working Dudley and Harry talk happily.

Thirty minutes later, the car was cleared off from snow. Vernon and the boys were now working on the driveway and sidewalk. Suddenly Vernon stopped working, "Boys I need to go inside to use the loo. Keep working, I'll be back soon." He put the shovel down that he was using and went inside. Dudley and Harry exchanged looks after Vernon went inside.

"Do you think he'll come back out?" Harry asked.

Dudley shook his head, "No it's too cold plus mum will be fussing over him since he's been out here for thirty minutes."

"That's alright we're almost done anyway." Harry said with a smile. "When we are done, let's have a snowball fight."

Dudley smiled, "Yeah, you're going down Lightning!"

"No way Big D, you're going down!" The boys laughed together like this was normal.

As promised once the boys were done shuffling the snow, they had a snowball fight. After about thirty minutes, Dudley stopped the fight. "Ok you win Harry! Brrr it's getting cold." He said shivering.

"Go inside Dudley. I'll put everything away."

"Are you sure Harry?"

"Yes, besides your fingers look really big."

"Alright fine, you ok with putting everything away?"

"Sure, no problem Dudley, now get inside before Aunt Petunia comes out here and drags you inside."

So as Dudley went inside to get warm, Harry grabbed the shovels and walked slowly toward the shed in the backyard.

Meanwhile inside the house, Vernon watched from the front window, the boy (Harry) grabbing the shovels that the three of them were using and walked toward the shed. As the boy disappeared Vernon had a thought come to him. 'What will happen if I lock the boy outside?' 'No!' a voice sounding like his wife screamed, 'Harry will freeze to death! Do you really want to be sent to jail for murdering a child! Let alone your own nephew!'

'He's not any relation to me. He's Petunia's kin.'

'Do it!' another voice said, this one sounded like that weird man who came and wanted Harry to stay here. 'Lock the doors so that the boy can't come in! DO IT!' Vernon shook his head, trying to shake the bad voice out. 'He's just a boy' he thought. 'What if that was Dudley outside…'

'The boy is just a bother. You didn't even want him here in the first place. Lock the doors, let him freeze to death! It won't hurt him, he won't suffer.'

Vernon continued to fight with the voices in his head. One telling him to lock Harry outside and the other told him not to. He didn't even realized that he was walking down the stairs and heading to the front door, he saw Petunia and Dudley in the sitting room sitting by the fire, Dudley had a cup in his hands.

'I shouldn't do this, the boy hasn't done anything bad or weird since he came here for the holidays in fact he's been perfect.'

'Then don't do it!' That good voice said.

"Vernon are you alright dear?" Petunia asked looking concerned.

Vernon tried to hide the fact that he was fighting with his mind. "Yes Pet, I'm fine. I need to go upstairs excuse me."

Vernon goes upstairs to the bathroom and washes his face, still fighting the voices in his head. After drying his face, Vernon goes to his bedroom and looks out the window, he sees Harry still outside. 'Lock the doors!' that weird voice said again, this time Vernon didn't hear the good voice. Vernon sighed and headed back downstairs; as he reached the front door he locked it and headed back into the living room to join his family.

Meanwhile, Harry was having a hard time with the shovels. He had to make two trips, the snow was so deep. Once he was done he made snow angels and made a snowman he called Prongs. Then he decided to head back inside. He marched to the front door. It was locked. 'Why is the door locked?' Harry thought. He then knocked on the door. He waited for a few minutes, no answer.

He then headed toward the backyard to knock on the backdoor. It was also locked. 'That's strange…' Harry thought. Then he started to think of what he could do and fast as it was getting dark and he could freeze if he didn't do something. Then he remembered Aunt Petunia telling him about the neighbors. He remembered one that lives across the street. An older woman named Mrs. Figg. Harry immediately headed toward Mrs. Figgs' house. Ten minutes later (keep in mind there's a lot of snow on the ground and it's hard for a 12 year old to walk) he made it; he carefully climbed the steps and rang the doorbell.

"Yes may I help you?" Mrs. Figg answered.

"Hello Mrs. Figg, my name is Harry Potter. I am the Durselys' nephew. I was shoveling snow off of the drive way and side walk with my cousin; he got cold so I sent him inside. I went to put the shovels away and when I tried to go inside when I was done, the front door was locked. I knocked on the door and rang the doorbell but there was no answer. I also tried the backdoor, still no answer. May I use your phone please?"

To say Mrs. Figg was shocked was an understatement. "Of course come in, dear. You must be freezing." He went inside, Mrs. Figg showed him the phone then she went into the kitchen.

Harry called Aunt Petunia, again no answer. He got the machine. He left a message. After he was done, Mrs. Figg ushered him to the sofa with hot tea and a scrap book of her many cats that have passed on. All the while the cats that were around meowed at Harry, one even tried to get into his lap."That one I call Patches because of the marking around her eyes." Mrs. Figg said with a smile. Harry smiled at the calico cat who purred as Harry petted her. "Hi Patches." He said. Patches decided to sit in Harry's lap, purring all the way like she was trying to keep him warm.

They spent twenty minutes looking at the scrap book when they heard the doorbell ring. Mrs. Figg got up to answer it.

"Harry!" it was Aunt Petunia. "Are you alright? I got your message I'm so sorry." She tried to give him a hug.

Harry couldn't move because of Patches, who hissed at Petunia. "Patches be nice to Aunt Petunia." Harry said to the cat who looked at him in a 'she the reason you almost froze' kind of way.

Harry made Patches move; he stood up and looked at Petunia and Dudley. Both Durselys had worried looks on their faces. "I'm alright. Mrs. Figg took care of me. No big deal."

"No big deal? You almost froze to death!" Dudley yelled.

"The important thing is you are safe. I am so sorry Harry. This won't happen again." Aunt Petunia said hugging Harry tightly.

Harry looked at his aunt and wondered something. "Where's Uncle Vernon?" at this Aunt Petunia and Dudley exchanged looks.

"Well Harry, he's…"

"He's the one who locked me out of the house isn't he?"

All Aunt Petunia could do was nod her head.

Harry shook his head in disbelief, he should have known something odd was going to happen when Uncle Vernon went inside and didn't come back out.

He should be mad at his Uncle. However Harry didn't feel angry. He felt betrayed, hurt but not angry.

"It's ok Aunt Petunia. I'm sure there's a logical explanation why Uncle Vernon did what he did." Both Petunia and Dudley had shocked looks on their faces.

"Harry, this is serious. What your Uncle did was inexcusable. You could have frozen to death. He shouldn't have locked you out. He knew that you were still outside."

"But I didn't freeze to death because you told me about the neighbors. Thank you."

"Harry, if mum didn't tell you about the neighbors what would you have done instead?" Dudley asked. Harry looked at Mrs. Figg.

"I'm not sure Dudley. I might have come here either way." Harry answered, shrugging his shoulders.

"Smart." Then Dudley noticed Patches. "Hey there kitty." Dudley held out his hand for Patches to sniff. She did and let Dudley pet her. "Oh wow, she likes me." He then looks at his mother. "Mum can we get a cat?"

"I'm sorry Dudley, no. You know how I feel about animals in the house."

"The cat can be an outside cat for most of the year and stay inside during winter."

"Let's talk about this later dear. Right now we need to head home. I need to have a long talk with your father."

Petunia turned to Ms. Figg, "Thank you so much for taking care of him Arabella. How can I ever repay you?"

"No need to repay me dear, if Dudley was at the door I would have done the same. Stay warm out there and come back and visit." Petunia left with the boys feeling grateful for a kind neighbor.

Meanwhile inside Ms. Figg's living room,

"Albus has defiantly done something to Petunia's husband."

"I believe they have been brainwashed, Arabella."

"Minerva I can't believe you hissed at Petunia of all people she really isn't that bad."

"I was trying to stay in character Arabella. I didn't want Harry to find out it was me."

"Does he know you are an anigmas?"

"Yes, I turn into my cat form for the first years. I'm surprised he didn't recognize me."

"You better go, don't worry I'll keep an eye on Harry for the rest of the holidays and I will also inform Severus if something else happens."

"Hopefully there won't be a need; however I have enjoyed our visits together."

"Same here my friend. Perhaps you can come over again for tea without any interruptions next time."

Minerva laughed, "Yes that would be lovely. See you soon Arabella." With that Minerva disappeared.

"Yes, see you soon Patches," Arabella said to nothing, she then went into the kitchen to feed her cats.

WHAT'S IMPORTANTWHAT'S IMPORTANT

When it was time to return to Hogwarts, Harry felt relived. After being locked out of the house by Vernon, the rest of the holidays were awkward. Christmas day in itself was very enjoyable. Harry received a dark blue sweater from Petunia, "Blue is the color for your house right?" she asked.

"Yes thank you."

From Dudley he received a football. "So we can play catch during the summer." Dudley said proudly.

"Thank you Dudley."

Harry gave his Aunt and Uncle (yes Harry still gave Vernon a gift even after being locked out) a book about plants and how to plant them, nothing magical though. To Dudley he gave him a pair of red boxing gloves.

"Wow these are cool, thanks Harry!"

"You're welcome Dudley."

The day after Christmas, Harry was ready to go. He enjoyed being around his Aunt and cousin, but his Uncle…no. He felt like he couldn't trust Vernon with a 10 foot pole. Aunt Petunia didn't help the matter either. Every time the mishap was mentioned, which was a lot, Aunt Petunia would glare at Uncle Vernon and huff at him. Vernon would then look down at the ground ashamed. Then look at Harry with guilt written all over his face. Despite everything and the awkwardness, Harry had to have a talk with his Uncle about what happened and find out why he did it.

The last day of his stay with the Durselys, Harry was the first one up that morning or so he thought. As Harry walked into the kitchen to get something to eat, he found his Uncle sitting at the table with a mug of coffee.

"Good morning Uncle Vernon," Harry greeted politely.

"Morning," Vernon grunted.

Harry sat down at the kitchen table with a bowl of cereal and milk; he looked at his uncle, who was staring at his mug of coffee. Now was the time to talk.

"Uncle Vernon?"

"Yes?"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you lock me out of the house two days ago? What have I done to offend you?"

"You haven't done anything wrong…I don't know why I did it. I'm disgusted with myself…I'm really sorry I did what I did, Harry. I heard a voice telling me to lock you out and that letting you freeze to death would be painless." Vernon said, sadly.

"What kind of voice? Who did it sound like?" Harry asked, wanting to know more.

"A man, it sounded like that teacher at your school…I forget his name but he had a long beard."

Harry stared at his Uncle shocked. 'He just described Dumbledore! I have to tell Uncle Severus immediately.'

"Thank you for telling me Uncle Vernon. I just wanted to know before I leave today to go back to school. Thank you for letting me stay here for Christmas, I have really enjoyed it and I hope I'll be able to visit in the summer and next Christmas."

Vernon nodded, not showing any emotion. "Thank you, Harry I am pleased that you have been well behaved and thank you for your help with shoveling the driveway two days ago."

"You're welcome." The two shook hands in a friendly manner. Harry smiled; glad to make peace with his uncle.

When Severus came to collect Harry, Petunia pulled Harry aside.

"Please be careful Harry." She said, giving him a hug goodbye, "Thank you again for the gift."

"You're welcome Aunt Petunia, and thanks for everything."

Harry then said goodbye to Dudley, "Bye Big D, hope to see you in the summer."

Dudley smiled, "Yeah that would be great! Maybe then I can finally meet with Isaac again after so long."

"I can ask him, who knows he might like that idea. We can show you some pranks."

"Yes, and I can introduce you to my friends as well, I'm sure you'll like them."

"Great can't wait."Harry said, shaking his cousin's hand.

"Alright Lightning."

"See ya Big D."

When walked away from Number 4, he heard faintly from Aunt Petunia, "Dudley, why did you call Harry Lighting?"

"Mum, it's just a nickname; Harry has a scar on his forehead in shape of a lightning bolt. I thought it was cool so I started to call him Lightning."

Harry laughed picturing the look on his Aunt's face.

"Harry, time to go." Uncle Severus said, holding out his arm so that they can disparate.

"Ok," Harry looked behind him at see his Aunt and cousin wave at him, his Uncle nowhere to be seen. Harry then looked at his godfather, sighed and took the offered arm and was gone.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT

After the have returned to Spinner's End, Harry told Severus everything about his stay at the Durselys. Especially about being locked out of Number 4, in the snow.

"They did WHAT?!" Uncle Severus roared, "Harry please explain what happened and why? What did you do when you realized you were locked out?"

"I went across the street to one of the neighbors, Ms. Figg and asked to use her phone."

"Did Petunia tell you about the neighbors?"

"Yes, sir."

"So then what happened?"

"No one answered the phone so I left a message saying that I was locked out of the house, I knocked on the front and back doors and I rang the doorbell but no answer and that I was at Ms. Figg's house."

"Alright, so what happened next?"

"I waited for about 20 minutes; while I waited Ms. Figg gave me something to eat and made me look at a huge scrapbook of cats. I also met some of her cats. There is one named Patches I really like. She was really friendly."

"Patches? Did she have markings around her eyes, like glasses?"

"Yes, why?"

"Oh I know Arabella Figg; she is a squib so she knows about our world. I met her a few times."

"She's a squib?"

"Yes, her family sent her into the muggle world when she was 18. They bought her that house on Privet Drive so that she had somewhere to go. She's been there ever since."

"Uncle Severus there is something else I need to tell you."

Severus raised an eyebrow, "Yes, go on."

"After…Uncle Vernon locked me out, I asked him why he did it. He said that a voice told him to and that he regrets what he did. He said the voice sounded like Professor Dumbledore."

"Are you sure that's what he said?" Severus asked,

"Yes sir, he described Professor Dumbledore to a T. I think Professor Dumbledore had something to do with this."

"Alright Harry, I'll keep my eye on the Headmaster. Don't worry about this now. You need to focus on more important things."

"Like what Uncle Sev?"

"Like going back to Hogwarts,"

Harry smiled; he couldn't wait to go back to Hogwarts, to see Isaac and his friends. So Harry heeded Severus's advice and put Professor Dumbledore out of his mind. For now at least.

A/N: I am so happy to finish this chapter, please tell me what you think?

It's been a while…