Another year in Hogwarts!

Chapter One

It was time for the summer holidays again, when Harry went back to live with the Dursleys.

As usual, Uncle Vernon was less than tolerant of everything to do with Harry.

"Go up to your room! And don't let me see you again for the next two months!" was the welcome note given to him as Harry trudged through the door of his home at number four, Privet Drive.

"Thank you," he muttered sarcastically, and at once regretted it.

"ARE YOU BEING SMART WITH ME, BOY? GO UP TO YOUR ROOM AND YOU HAD BETTER NOT LEAVE ANYTHING ON THE CARPET! Heaven knows what's in their soil...."

Harry had a good mind to yell something back at him about the fact that the soil was magically cleaned of all grime and fertilized fully at the same time, and then he remembered about the effect of the word 'magic' on Uncle Vernon. Trying to manage his broomstick, three trunks, two cases, and Hedwig's cage at the same time (needless to say, Uncle Vernon offered no help), Harry stumbled up the staircase, and having dropped his luggage quite a number of times, finally resorted to leaving some of the cases on the bottom step while he took his luggage two at a time upstairs.

After selecting with care, Harry decided to put the very bad-tempered (by now) Hedwig upstairs first, together with his Firebolt. He picked them up and proceeded to move up the stairs.

Unfortunately, now, he couldn't.

Dudley was now coming down the stairs. He had expanded so much over the past year that now when he walked down the stairs, you couldn't even walk past him either way. He filled up the entire stairwell, banister to banister.

Suddenly, as it was inevitable, Dudley slipped.

Harry's thoughts now shifted to his luggage. Save his luggage! He dashed and with amazing strength, lifted up all his baggage (people sometimes discover a hidden talent in an emergency) at the same time and managed to shove them out of the way before Dudley came crashing down upon the floor with an almighty BOOM.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief.

Just then, Aunt Petunia, who had heard the crash, came running in her tiny red high heels.

"OH MY ICKLE DUDLEY-KINS! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?"

And at the same time, from the opposite direction, Uncle Vernon came running as well.

"DUDLEY MY BOY! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?"

With immense effort, and plenty of huffing and puffing, they helped Dudley to his feet.

Harry noted a large depression in the ground at the foot of the stairs. This probably happened more than once before to Dudley.

Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had both rested Dudley onto the couch and were now checking him for injuries.

"Are you alright dear? Not even a little painful? How are your knees?"

"Not a bruise, my boy? All right?"

Dudley nodded. Or that was what he looked like he did. His neck was now the same width as his head. Nodding, Harry noted, was nearly impossible.

"Ah, my boy!" smiled Uncle Vernon, "A little fat is always good! Cushions the fall beautifully! That's what the teachers don't notice!"

Dudley smiled proudly.

Suddenly, he seemed to notice Harry. A little evil glint sparkled in his tiny eyes.

Dudley began to pretend cry.

"What's the matter, Dudley?" Aunt Petunia was extremely concerned.

Dudley threw a dirty look at Harry.

Uh oh, thought Harry.

It was enough.

Uncle Vernon came onto Harry like a tiger onto a deer. "YOU, BOY! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?"

Harry replied quickly, "Nothing! Why should I do anything to him?"

Uncle Vernon glared at him.

"HOW SHOULD I KNOW? MAGIC INDEED......! YOU COULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING!"

Before Harry could reply, Uncle Vernon grabbed him by the scruff in one hand and grabbed all his luggage in the other.

"TO YOUR ROOM! NO MEALS! GO!"

Uncle Vernon hurled him into his room and slammed the door shut, and padlocked it.

Oh, great, thought Harry. At least I have Hedwig.

Hedwig hooted sympathetically.

He sighed.

"Hedwig, you aren't going to get much exercise nowadays......I'll let you out, okay, if you promise not to hoot?"

Hedwig nodded and cooed weakly.

Harry unlocked Hedwig's cage and set him free. He sat down on his bed and sighed. It was going to be a dismal summer.