How They Fell

Chapter Five

It had taken Harry a little over a day to read the green book, and another day to go through it again. He did not know why he was so surprised that it was unclear, it wasn’t like the book would contain an instruction manual, ‘how to become an Animagus in five simple steps.’ No that wasn’t the point, this was something that you had to work towards, that’s part of what made it special.

Yet Harry couldn’t help but wish that the book had been a little bit clearer. It had explained the nature of the transformation, the need for the spell to determine your shape and a potion to make you flow into it, but it didn’t really tell you how to go about it. Yes, it hinted at various potions ingredients, ‘that the reader may find useful,’ but it didn’t mention any others, nor did it provide any information about the amounts that were supposed to be used.

Harry sighed. He needed Hermione and the Hogwarts library. However he still had a while to go before he would see them. Never mind, he could still do the basic research, looking up the ingredients in ‘1001 magical herbs and fungi,’ and going over his Third Year Transfiguration notes.

He realised that the potions ingredients they would be using were all really potent and could only be mixed together a certain way and with only a few other ingredients. This seemed to make things much more simple. The similarities between this potion and the Polyjuice potion also provided more clues as to how the potion should be made. However, the spell necessary for the initial transformation was much harder to determine. Harry guessed that it would have to use the semicircle and slash wrist movement which seemed to be needed whenever turning objects into animals. It would also need some wording which would refer to himself, the caster, so that it would change him, not a random piece of furniture or someone else. The green book helped here in the other section on changing your shape with spells. He found that the word ‘clueo’ at the beginning and then another word with the ending – ‘ere’ would do the trick, but God knew what he should put in the middle.

Still, by the end of the week he was very happy with himself, all in all. Ron and Hermione would help him with the rest, and he only had another week to go before he would see them again! He decided to spend the rest of the week finishing all of his holiday homework so that when he got to the Burrow he wouldn’t have to waste time doing it there.

The Dursleys had left. They had gone to pay a week and a half long visit to Aunt Marge, only to be returning once Harry had gone to the Weasleys. They couldn’t bear to be in the same house as him now that he could use magic. They were so desperate to escape from him that they even risked the fact that he might blow up the house by being left along unsupervised.

Harry was both relieved and saddened by their actions. Of course it meant one less week with them, but it was probably the last time he would ever see them, and they had looked so relieved to be going.

That week passed quickly and pleasantly for Harry. He was able to eat whenever he liked, watch, and do what ever he liked. But he still could not wait to rejoin his friends in the magical world.

The night before he was due to leave, Harry packed all his belongings and wondered over the house one last time. He even sat in his cupboard for a few minuets, feeling infinitely relieved that he would finally fully escape that dark, spider-filled punishment.

Having nothing else to do Harry went for a walk around the neighbourhood. He dropped a thank you note inside Mrs Figg’s letter box, went to that spot on Magnolia Crescent where he had first seen Sirius, and then found his way to the park to sit on the swings, musing as he rocked to and fro.

Suddenly Harry felt the hair at the back of his neck tingle, a cold shiver travelled down his body. Then a footstep behind him and a twig snapping. Instinct took over, jumping around, grabbing his wand he turned to face his attacker.

But then he heard a deep voice saying, “Sorry, mate, didn’t mean to scare you.”

Harry’s eyes met those of the person standing opposite him. He was about his age, with light sandy blond hair and big brown eyes, he was also slightly larger than Harry. Harry had a vague feeling of recognition. However, he was defiantly not a wizard, an enemy, or going to kill him. ‘Christ!’ thought Harry ‘I’m turning into Mad Eye Moody!’

“You just surprised me.” Said Harry with an apologetic smile.

“You’re that Potter boy aren’t you, the one that lives with Dudley Dursley?”

“Yeah.” Replied Harry simply.

“We went to school together. You’re the one who got caught sitting on the kitchen roofs.” He said, sitting down on the swing next to Harry and grinning.

“Yeah,” Harry laughed back, “I got into so much trouble for that. What’s your name?”

“Ed, you?”

“Harry. Are you friends with Dudley?”

Ed spluttered, “No.” Harry smirked slightly.

“In that case you were probably one of the people he used as a punch bag.”

“How could you guess?” Asked Ed sarcastically.

“Oh, you happen to be talking to Dudley’s favourite punch bag.” Ed laughed, Harry grinned back.

“Yeah, he always did pick on you at school. It can’t have been fun actually having to live with him.”

“No. Which school do you go to?” Said Harry trying to change the conversation.

“St Stephens, it’s the local grammar school. I suppose you go to Smelting’s with Dudley?”

Harry choked, “Good God no, I wouldn’t be sane if I did! No, my parents arranged for me to go to their school before they died, St Brutus’s.” Said Harry for lack of any other name. “It’s a boarding school. And come tomorrow I no longer live with the Dursleys.” Harry grinned widely.

Ed smiled back at him. Harry felt an odd warmth and fluttering in his stomach for some reason.

“I haven’t seen him around lately, s’ one of the reasons I came out.”

“I usually stay away from this park too, but they’ve gone to visit their aunt.”

Harry and Ed kept talking for a while as the park gradually grew colder and darker. They had quite a lot in common, remembering stories from their junior school and laughing over them. Eventually Ed declared that it was getting late and that he should go. Harry agreed, standing up. Looking up into Ed’s smiling face his stomach fluttered even more. Wondering what the hell was wrong with him Harry said goodbye, and they both wondered off.

Undressing later that night Harry wondered why he had felt so strange. He hadn’t been hungry or anything. It had felt more like he was nervous. Odd. He supposed it was because he regretted not having met Ed before, he had seemed nice and Harry would have liked to have a muggle friend to see in the holidays.

‘Oh, well it was too late now,’ though Harry. As he curled up for the last time and fell asleep in Dudley’s second bedroom.



Authors note: the chapters will get longer.