Beware the Ides of March

Discoveries and Freedom

July 31st was greeted by a warm mid summer morning slowly dawning its’ way over Little Whinging, Surrey. A blinding ray of sun broke through an upstairs window of number four Privet drive and landed squarely in Harry Potter’s face. After a few seconds he began thrashing is head side to side while holding his up in front of his face. “What the… aww bloody hell? Some one turn off the light,” he said loudly. He quickly woke fully but, not entirely willingly. He put on his glasses and looked at the clock beside his bed. Six thirty, time to get up and get packed. He made a decision a week ago to return to Hogwarts for his seventh year, as a tribute to Dumbledore. Ron, Fred and George were coming to pick him up in about two and a half hours, and he was going to leaving this wretched house along with its equally wretched occupants, and never come back. He would be spending the rest of his summer at The Burrow. A broad smile slowly creased his face as today he remembered that today, he turned seventeen.

He remained in bed a little while longer though. He had time, so he recalled how his last sixteen years had bee like, here at the Dursleys. The years of segregation, the blatant ignorance of his birthdays, never getting any Christmas present, sleeping in a cupboard under the stairs, and the worst part, the relentless bullying by Dudley, at least for the first few years.

Sighing deeply, Harry turned over on his side, and mused about the dream he had in the night. In it he was kissing Ginny. that was a good dream he thought to himself. He was becoming aware of something wet and warm on his stomach and threw back the covers to find his stomach plastered with some kind of slime. “What the bloody hell?” he said to himself quite shocked. He grabbed some tissues from the box on his bed table and began cleaning himself up, while wondering what caused that to happen. He then got up, and got dressed.
After he removed the soiled sheets off his bed, he took them out in the hall and tossed them in the laundry chute. He paused briefly, then said to himself, “I’ll ask Ron, when I see him.” It really was bothering him. He thought perhaps his body was malfunctioning or something. He went t back to his room.

He glanced at his window and saw Hedwig sitting on the sill outside the partially opened pane. He walked over and opened it. “Morning Hedwig,” he said brightly, as Hedwig flew into the room and landed on her caged. “Got something for me?” He reached out and took the letter she held in her beak. She then hooted softly at Harry and began preening herself.

Harry gave Hedwig an appreciative scratch on the back of her head, and turned the letter over. It was from the ministry. H opened the letter and read.
Dear, Mr. Potter.
I am writing to remind you that as of 12:00 am on this
day, (July 31st) you now qualify for your apparation license.
Your test date has bee scheduled August 12 at 10:00 AM in the apparation
Department, at the Ministry of Magic
Sincerely yours
Rupertus Ashercroft
Apparitions Department
Ministry of Magic
London, England
P.S. You also may now freely but safely use Magic outside of school.

Harry read the letter one more time the folded it and placed it in his back pocket. He smiled at Hedwig “Hey Hedwig, I can use magic now.” He said happily. She looked at him and hooted as though congratulating him, and went back to preening herself. He looked at his clock. “Crikey 8:00!” Have I really been awake for ninety minutes?” He gasped

Grabbing his trunk from under his bed, he quickly opened it and started throwing all his school stuff into it Willy Nilly. Spell books, cauldron, scales, robes, potion bottles and clothes were all stuffed hap haggardly into the trunk, and he closed and latched it. He then turned back to Hedwig “c’mon girl, in your cage.” She complied and flew into the cage, and Harry closed the door. He then stepped over to his wardrobe, and opening the door, he reached in and took out his most prized possession. His Firebolt. He also noticed the pensive Sirius had given him after he died and after leaning the broom against the wardrobe, he reverently took it down off the shelf, and looked at it thoughtfully. “Oh Merlin, I miss you Sirius.” He said morosely.

He took the Pensieve and placed it on the bed, and after taking a cloak from his trunk, he wrapped it up and placed it carefully inside with the rest of his things. He stepped over to his dresser and picked up his wand which he then turned pointed at his trunk. “Locomotor trunk,” he said, and as the trunk started to rise off the floor and move towards the door, he picked up Hedwig’s cage in his free hand and his Firebolt in his wand hand and left his room for the last time, and guided his trunk down stairs.

He left his things at the foot of the stairs and went into the kitchen, his wand in his back pocket. He was met instantly by cold loveless stares, as he stared briefly into the faces of the Dursleys sitting at the table. Ignoring them he stepped over to the table and sat down.
He grabbed a piece of toast and began buttering it.
“Finally,” Vernon hissed. “After sixteen years you’re finally out.” He said triumphantly “No more magic crap, no more screeching bloody owls, and best of all no…more…you?” he said the last three words through maniacal laughter. “Trust me,” said Harry calmly. “It hasn’t been much of a picnic for me either.” He looked at Dudley who was starring at him as though he were something that was peeled off the bottom of his shoe, while shoving bacon into his face.
“I Trust everything is out of that room, and you haven’t left any nasty surprises in there for me to find.” Petunia said coolly. “It’s all out, an in about…” he looked at his watch. “Forty minutes you’ll never have to set eyes on me again nor I you.”
“mmph.” Grunted Vernon “There’s that Potter gratitude,” he snarled. Harry had had enough. For sixteen years he has had to hold his tongue, but no more. “Oh please!” he shouted. “The only thing I’m grateful for from any of you is that none of you ever tried poisoning my orange juice or smothering me with my pillows as I slept!” At this last part Dudley suddenly shot a slightly nervous look in Harry’s direction, and with that he stood up quickly, knocking over the chair and headed for the door. “Stop! Right there boy”. Harry whipped out his wand and whirled out his wand and whirled on them “No!” he spat at Vernon, “You better stop, I’m seventeen. I can use magic now.” That was all Harry had say

Harry put all his things out on the step and waited for the Weasley brothers. As Harry was daydreaming about the rest of the summer, a dark blue sedan pulled, up in front of the house and out jumped Ron. “Oi Harry! You ready?” Harry sprang to his feet “Hey Ron! More than you know.” Ron helped Harry put his things into the trunk while Harry put Hedwig’s’ cage in the back seat. “Oi Harry.” “Hi Fred, George.” Harry went around to the other side of the car and slid in next to Hedwig. Ron got in after. “Let’s burn,” Harry said, and with a small screech of tires on the pavement, George sped away and Harry never looked back.