Harry Potter and the Mortal Enemy

Harry waited for a reply from Hermione to come as he started to pack up his books, and all of his belongings that he would need for Hogwarts.

About 2 hours later, when he had finished everything, he heard a tapping at the window. It was Lola, Hermione’s owl, with the reply.

Dear Harry,

Of course you can come! I told mum at the start of the holidays about You-Know-Who coming back, and she said if you got lonely at your relatives’ you could always stay with us. I figured I should wait until I got back from Greece, though.

When are you able to come? Mum says that based on what I’ve told her about the Dursleys, she doesn’t want you in there any longer than you have to be, (which I know in your opinion is no time at all), so if it’s ok with you, we can come and pick you up today!!

Write back ASAP, or even better, telephone me; I gave you my phone number on the way back from Hogwarts.

Love Hermione

Harry was shocked, he didn’t know that Hermione had told her parents so much about him. But it was great news that he could come today! Now, if only he could use the phone without getting totally yelled at…

Then he had a brainwave. The Dursleys were going out to dinner, in fact, they had already left. Of course Harry didn’t get to go, but he was used to that. If was able to use the telephone before they got back, to contact Hermione, it would be a lot easier.

He found her telephone number, which was still in the pocket of the robes he had been wearing when he came back from the Hogwarts Express, and raced downstairs to ring Hermione.

“Hello, Granger Residence, Hermione speaking.”

“Hermione! It’s Harry,”

“Harry! Are you able to come today? I got your owl and mum and dad both said that we could leave as soon as we heard from you. By the way, how did you talk the Dursleys into letting you use the phone?”

“Well, actually I didn’t. They’re actually out at a restaurant, celebrating Dudley’s fiftieth report of bullying or something along those lines, so I sort of borrowed the phone.”

“Sneaky! Well? Are you able to come or not?”

“Honestly, Hermione, I thought you were supposed to be the smart one. No, I want to stay here with the Dursleys and be horribly mistreated. Do you really have to ask?”

He could almost hear her blushing on the other end. “I guess that’s a pretty stupid question. We’ll come and pick you up now, then. You live in Little Whinging, Surrey, right?

Harry was surprised that she knew where he lived, but just said, ‘Uh, yeah. Four Privet Drive. How long will it take you to –” He broke off as he heard the sound of the Dursleys’ car in the garage. “Hermione, I have to go. The Dursleys just came home, and I’ll get into trouble, big time, if they catch me using the phone.”

“Ok, bye! I’ll see you in about fifteen minutes!" She hung up.

Harry felt confused. Fifteen minutes. He never knew Hermione lived so close to him, he thought her house was a couple of hours away, at least.

He darted away from the phone as he heard the door slam. “Boy, where are you? Come over here. NOW!” Harry sighed, and trudged over to his uncle wearily. “Yes?”

“I hope that your friend is coming to pick you up tonight, or tomorrow at the very latest, because we have a change of plans. We’re leaving tomorrow night and we are NOT leaving you in this house by yourself. Do I make myself clear?”

Harry gulped, and said quickly, “Crystal. Actually, my friend will be here in,” he looked at his watch, “Ten minutes. Am I allowed to wait outside for her and her parents?”

His uncle glared at him, and seemed to be thinking about it. Finally he muttered “Alright then. Umm, bye. You’re staying at that school of yours over the holidays though, I hope?”

Harry almost burst out laughing, and, resisting the temptation to tell Uncle Vernon that he would, in fact, be coming home over the holidays just to annoy them, said “Bye! And don’t worry, I’ll stay at Hogwarts over the Christmas and Easter holidays.”

He then grabbed his trunk, which was right near the door, packed and ready to go, and ran outside, before his uncle got annoyed at him for saying the name of his school and sat down to wait for the Grangers.