Only Time Will Tell

Only Time Will Tell

By: A. Byrnes

Chapter Four ~ Meets and Greets

Then he heard a disgruntled Uncle Vernon bellow "BOY GET IN THE KITCHEN NOW!" With dread in his eyes, Harry looked at Remus, who him gave a nod of reassurance and began to walk into the kitchen.

When he entered the kitchen, he stopped dead in his tracks, looking around the table at the faces that looked back at him. Uncle Vernon sat across from Dumbledore his face a purple puce that look ready to burst with the nasty insults he was holding in check because of the powerful wizard that sat across from him. Aunt Petunia sat on his left looking politely curious at Remus, to Uncle Vernon's right sat Dudley, who looked nervous however didn't seem to notice Harry's entrance because he was starring at something (or rather someone) that sat across from him, on Dudley's right sat Dumbledore who had that old twinkle in his eyes as he smiled at Harry and conjured two comfortable plush chairs next to him, and right at the end of the table sitting to the left of Aunt Petunia and closest to him sat Amy.

Harry felt his heart beat quicken as he locked eyes with her. When she stood up to greet him, he was able to look at her more closely. She was about the same height as he was maybe an inch or two shorter. She had warm brown hair that fell a little higher than the middle of her back. She also had deep electric blue eyes that were just as bright as his green ones. She wore a blue halter-top that was covered by a denim jean jacket, a pair of flare jeans that hugged her hips and showed her pierced belly button and a pair of Nike trainers. She was quite slim with milky white skin and had 'a smile of an angel' Harry thought because she had a friendly smile with perfectly straight white teeth and pink lips.

The thing that troubled Harry mostly was that her eyes, as beautiful as they were, looked exactly like the pair of blue eyes that he will never see again, 'Sirius's eyes' he thought but quickly dismissed it when she held out her hand and said breathlessly, "Hi! You must be Harry. Ron and Ginny told me so much about you. My name's Amy by the way. It's so great to finally meet you!" She couldn't help but squeal in delight as she said her greeting.

Harry couldn't help but smile shyly at her while he took her hand and shook it when he said, "H-hi. It's nice to meet you too!" Amy blushed and giggled when he took her hand.

Before anything else was said between the two, Dumbledore cleared his throat and said, "Harry, it certainly is good to see you. Petunia, I do believe you've met Remus before. He was one of your sister's good friends from school."

Aunt Petunia had a look of realization on her face as she nodded and said, "Oh! Of course I remember. It's nice to see you again Remus."

Remus gave her a friendly smile and said, "Same here Petunia."

Dumbledore smiled at them and said, "Harry, Remus, please have a seat so I can explain to Harry what's happening this summer." He waited for them to seat themselves before he continued, "Now if I understand it, Remus explained to you somewhat of why Amy and myself are here, am I correct?" Harry nodded.

Dumbledore continued, "Mrs. Dursley, I have grown concerned with Harry being here with no one to talk to that doesn't understand what's going on in our world, especially when he has experienced a heartbreaking situation as he did no more than two weeks ago. I have come here to ask if you would kingly consent to host Miss Amy so she could look after Harry for me. As you well know, Harry cannot leave Privet Drive for the wizarding world until his birthday, that way we know the protection protecting Harry and your family is renewed. I would greatly appreciate it if you would take me up on this. Amy is a polite and well -mannered young lady. She treats with respect and kindness. I promise she won't be any trouble at all. So, Petunia, what do you say?"

Petunia looked at him questionably and asked, "Since she is a witch, will she be able to use her magic or will she be restricted as Harry is?"

Amy decided to answer that question herself and said, "I am not allowed to use my wand because I am still underage like Harry is. However, I can use my wandless magic abilities because it's not easily tracked as wand magic is. If you're worried that I'll use my magic against you as a means of a weapon, you don't need to worry about that about that. I promise not to use it against you unless I see you as a threat trying to hurt Harry or myself in any way, shape or form."

Petunia looked her in the eye to see if she was lying and was glad to see that she was being sincere. Petunia looked at Dumbledore and said, "All right Dumbledore. I'll take her in as long as she doesn't use her magic against my family then she can stay."

Vernon looked between his wife and Dumbledore and said, "But Petunia, you're just going to welcome another one of THEM in our house!"

Petunia turned to look at her husband with a cold glare and said, "Yes I am. I believe Harry should have someone to talk to other than the owl he owns. Besides, I knew her mother quite well, as she was one of Lily's friends, so I know she won't be any trouble at all. And if you don't like the decision I have made then you are just going to have to get over it!"

Vernon seemed to have shrunk from Petunia's cold glare and stammered, "All right d-dear I was j-just asking."

Petunia turned back to face Dumbledore and Amy and said, "She will be staying in the guest room. I would have told Dudley to bring up your suit cases, but I didn't see you bring in any."

Amy looked slightly amused and said, "Oh I brought my suitcases with me. I shrunk them to fit in my pocket so I wouldn't have to drag them around with me everywhere I went." She then proceeded to take out four small boxes out of her jacket pocket to show Petunia. They were the size of small ring boxes.

"See," Amy continued, "all I have to do is cast the enlargement charm and they'll be back to normal." Petunia looked amazed at how smart this girl was to travel light.

Dumbledore cleared his throat and said, "Harry, even though she is here to look out for you, she will also be here to teach you some skills in Potions. Professor Snape has accepted you into his Advanced Potions class, but has asked that you be tutored over the summer so that you would be at the same level as everyone else in his class. I believe when Miss Amy enters Hogwarts this term she will be at the top of your class rivaling Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy's standings, if not surpassing them. So I believe that you will learn a great deal from her as you have from your other teachers in your other classes." Dumbledore looked at the clock on the wall and said, "Oh my it's getting late. Remus we should really get back to Headquarters before the Order arrives."

Remus nodded his head in agreement and said, "Well Harry, Amy, I'll be seeing you later over the summer. Don't hesitate to write if you need anything. Have a great time together, all right?"

"We will Remus. Don't worry." Amy said as she got up and hugged Remus and Dumbledore.

"Take care Remus. Tell the Weasleys I said hi and that I miss them" Harry said, as he also got up and hugged Remus and shook Dumbledore's hand.

"I will Harry don't worry. Petunia, it was nice to see you again. Mr. Dursley, Dudley it was nice to meet you both. Take care," said Remus over the top of Harry's head.

"It was nice to see you again Remus and Professor Dumbledore," Petunia said.

"Same here Petunia. Well, we best be off. Good night." Dumbledore said, as he took out an empty lemon drop box and said, "Portus". Remus grabbed hold of the box and within three seconds Dumbledore and Remus disappeared.

"All right, it's late you should all go to bed. Harry, would you please show Amy to her room please?" said Aunt Petunia.

Harry nodded and turned to Amy and said, "Follow me. Your bedroom is at the top of the stairs across from my room." Amy smiled at him and followed him out of the kitchen to her new room for the summer.

TBC