It had been a rough year and Harry was really hoping the Dursleys would give him a break this year and just leave him alone. He had already told Uncle Vernon that his godfather, the dreaded criminal (to the Dursleys) liked to check on him and make sure he was happy.

Strangely enough, when they arrived on Privet Drive things did seem different, but not necessarily better. Dudley was sulking in the kitchen and Aunt Petunia looked more horse faced than ever(How could she possibly have been related to his beautiful mother?)

"All right, boy! It's time you knew about some changes there'll be around here this summer!" bawled Uncle Vernon. "It's time you began making a contribution!"

At first Harry thought Uncle Vernon must have discovered his Gringott's vault.... but that was impossible! But how....?

" Things haven't been going well this year in the drill business and you and Dudley are going to have to work and earn something to help the family...." At this Aunt Petunia let out a wail.

"Not Mommy's ickle sweetums! He's just a baby, Vernon!"

"Not to worry, Petunia. I have arranged suitable work for the boys. Our Dudley will be assisting in the local bakery. He'll make a little money and maybe he'll eat enough at work to help our grocery bill go down.

"Will I be working there too?" asked Harry, his mind suddenly filled with a Muggle version of Honeydukes.

"Don't be so stupid, as if they'd have a blighter like you working with the public. I have arranged work for you with our dentist. He and his wife need a cleaning boy, to empty trash and polish up the spit that flies about. Perfect for you!"

'Perfect,' Harry thought. Some summer. He bet those people were just like the Dursleys.

"All right," sneered Uncle Vernon, "Let's get you boys over to meet your new employers. Dudley, I'm sure they'll be thrilled to have you. And you, Potter, you'd just better hope they'll take you, because the next job will be much worse."

After Aunt Petunia had drooled over Dudley, combed his hair and straightened his tie around his bulging neck, they set off. When they arrived at the sweet shop, Dudley's eyes bulged as much as his neck. After Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia spent ten minutes telling the owner how lucky he was to have Dudley (the owner didn't look as if he felt that way after gazing at the size of Dudley's belly) they set off across town for the offices of Harry's future employers.

"Remember boy, no 'funny' stuff here, or you'll live to regret it," Uncle Vernon muttered as they left the car. "Coming, Petunia?"

"I think I'll just stay here and look at Dudder's baby pictures. I just can't believe my ickle man has a paid position!", she moaned.

So Harry and Vernon walked up to the door of a very large establishment.

"Big place, isn't it?" asked Harry, looking over the freshly painted steps and railing, and the beautiful geraniums in boxes along the windows.

"I believe they live in the building also, that's why it looks more like a house than an office," growled Uncle Vernon. "More for you to keep clean at any rate."

"Oh, brother!" thought Harry, "Well, at least Dudley will be no place near."

Obviously, no cliffhangers here. Know thyself, and this self doesn't deal well with high drama. Fun times down the road though for the Boy Who Lived though the hormones don't rage TOO badly, but my, what flirts they are becoming!!

Uncle Vernon rang the buzzer and a voice told them to enter. As they went in, Harry noticed first that things looked very comfortable and cheerful. There were really pretty watercolor paintings on the walls and not a lot to dust or polish. "This is a dentist's?" he thought to himself. There was something about the rooms that made him feel good.

'Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.'

Uncle Vernon went over to a window and spoke to the person behind it, "Vernon Dursley here for a 3 o'clock!" Uncle Vernon said pompously.

"The doctors will be with you momentarily," said another voice that

had a friendly tone. A few minutes went by, with Uncle Vernon muttering under his breath about no funny business, then the doors opened and a man and woman came out. They looked vaguely familiar to Harry, but he couldn't remember where he'd seen them.

"This is my wife's nephew - name's Harry Potter, " barked Uncle Vernon. "So nice to see you, Harry" said the man. "I am Dr. Chris Granger and this is my wife Ivy. We're in this dental practice together. We set it up here originally in our home so we could be near our daughter. Now she goes to a boarding school most of the year but we like having her near in the summers. Also, it's convenient to have all of our books in one library. We are a family of readers."

'NO KIDDING,' thought Harry as he shook hands with both of the Grangers, grinning as he thought of Ron's words. 'That's what Hermoine does- when in doubt, go to the library.'

" I'm very happy to meet both of you", said Harry, trying to hide his delight.

Now he remembered meeting Hermione's parents in Diagon Alley right before they started their second year. Lucius Malfoy had been quite rude to them, he recalled.

"We've heard you need something purposeful to do this summer and feel we may be able to provide something." said Dr. Ivy Granger.

"There's a possibility the job may involve some evenings and overnights. Possibily we may need you to accompany us on some out of town trips. Do you have any objections to this, Harry? What about you, Mr. Dursley?"

Harry had to fight not to yell with joy, but he knew he'd better not seem too thrilled. He didn't want Uncle Vernon to get suspicious.

He just grinned and said quietly as he could manage "That will be fine, Dr. Granger".

Uncle Vernon looked a little surprised that Harry didn't seem angry at the idea of spending so much time with his employers, but being rid of Harry was too much for him.

"No problem. The boy needs to spend his time doing something useful, instead of hanging about with his head in a book." Uncle Vernon was so obtuse he didn't even notice the grim looks the Grangers gave each other at his comment about books.

"Would you like to stay now and get to know our routines, Harry?" asked Dr. Chris.

"Sure," said Harry. '"I mean yes sir!"

"We'll see that Harry gets home later, Dursley. If he's late, he'll have supper here."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that, he can eat something cold when he gets home. The boy isn't used to special treatment, make no mistake about that," barked Uncle Vernon.

"Perhaps not,' said Dr. Ivy, "but no one goes hungry here. Good health and good nutrition go hand in hand. Speaking of which, be sure Dudley gets here for his appointment this week. I hope he'seating less sugar since his last visit. The boy can't afford to lose any more teeth."

Uncle Vernon grunted but managed to thank the Grangers for hiring Harry before he left.

As soon as the door closed another door opened and a figure darted out singing, "It worked, it worked!" Harry turned around to see Hermoine standing in front of him, with her eyes dancing.

"Did you already know about this?" Harry asked, wondering how.

"Yes, your friend has planned this for some time," answered Hermoine's dad. "She discovered the Dursley's brought Dudley in to see us, and has been hatching this scheme since last summer."

"Well, they mistreat Harry," said Hermoine, shaking her head angrily, "and they keep him from doing his homework. Now he'll be able to keepup with his studies, and perhaps get ahead a bit. And won't have to be rescued by dangerous some flying car."

"You know Hermione is our only child, Harry and we haveplenty of everything to share. You and Hermoine have had some adventures I'm eager to hear about too, from both of you," said Dr. Granger.

"I don't know about the adventures, but I believe Harry could do with a bit of spoiling and 'special treatment' for a change."

Hermione's mother's eyes showed a softness and sympathy Harry had rarely seen in his life,except from Mrs. Weasley.

Then her eyes blazed as she remarked, "That horrible man! He doesn't mind giving special treatment or demanding it for that oaf of a son of his!" Then she looked horrified. "I'm sorry Harry! I forgot he's your cousin. It doesn't seem possible that you and he are related."

"Don't apologize," said Harry. "I think that's one of the nicest things anyone's ever said to me. Most of my summers are spent hearing how wonnnnnderfulllll Dudley is and how I'm rotten to the core."

" Not this summer!, " replied all three Grangers at once.

Harry sighed happily, then wondered if Hermoine was going to make him spend the entire summer studying??

Coming attractions: Diagon Alley, some Malfoy stuff ( you'll laugh at this ) and Hermione does some experiments.It's more interesting and there's a little bit of a mystery. Nothing deep though. This is all for good and HAPPY times for the witches & wizards. I just hope I don't get bored with posting this cause I'm pretty fond of the way things are going for evveryone.

TO BE CONTINUED......