Unfortunate Circumstances

Chapter Five

If any of the neighbors had been present early on that morning, they would have noticed that the sky was not yet light for the houses on Privet Drive. Today's sun, of maroon and gold, was struggling to get through; but here, the world fought back. It still belonged to dark and shadow.

If anyone had been awake, they might have been barely able to make out, through the pale moonlight, something at No. 4, Privet Drive. A teen-age boy, alone. A big Ford had just let him out and had driven on out of sight. But no one else was stirring. No one at all.

******

The boy that nobody saw, the boy who lived at the house on Privet Drive, was trying to unlock the door very quietly, because Harry's white owl Hedwig was sleeping in the front yard tree. The early morning air was still, very still.

As usual, he was wearing Dudley's trousers, and, irritated, had had to pause for a moment, hitching them up. Over the summer, people had noticed a taller, yet thinner teen. There certainly hadn't been as much food in the house. Of the family, he reflected, Dudley by far had had the biggest appetite, and even he had been forced to diet. Now tightened, the end of the leather belt flapped gently in the breeze. He sighed at the delay, wanting to get on with the day.

******

The key had been left in the lock for a moment, and had rattled a bit. If someone had been in the room inside, they would have heard it.

******

Before the second try with the lock and the door, a flapping noise from the yard suddenly interrupted the quiet. It seemed that Hedwig had woken up, and was trying to get his attention. She'd flown down from the big tree. The same one that, years ago, Aunt Marge's favorite bulldog, Ripper, had chased Harry into. Ah, but soon I'll be getting away from all that.

Shhhhh! he motioned to the owl. We don't want to wake him up. The key seemed to be sticking. As he tried the lock once more, his hair fell down on his forehead. Longer and wavier now than last summer, it was slightly ruffled by a sudden, chill breeze, quite strange for the season. Why won't it ever stay out of my face? Frustrated, he blew at it.

Okay. There, I've got it.

******

On the other side of the door, again the key made a slight rattling noise.

******

Slowly, the key turned and the front door opened, which creaked a little. Shhhhh! he said to himself before quietly taking a step. Vernon Dursley was sometimes known to sleep downstairs.

Man, it's dark. The new eyeglasses, bought on holiday out-of-town (they'll make you look older, the clerk had said), had begun to slip down. I can barely see. The fit wasn't quite right. I wonder when I'll get used to these. And if they'd notice at school.

School was another change for the year, and a good one. In the new fall term, there would be better classes, more to do, and of course, the upcoming tryouts. Another long summer on Privet Drive had finally been endured.

This darkness - it was not helping matters. A wand would certainly come in handy right now. Many times over the years, it would have been terrific to use it. However, the wand was still locked up, with the rest of Harry's things, in the cupboard under the stairs.

That cupboard. Many times, Dudley as well as Vernon had locked Harry up in it. He thought back, remembering. All over the house, similar escapades had occurred, since at the time Dudley had delighted in finding new ways to annoy Harry. When they were younger, once Dudley had even locked Harry out on the roof, in the rain.

Now all of that seems a lifetime ago. Maybe they'd both been wrong about each other, he thought. Maybe they should have tried harder to get along. These days, I've certainly got other things to deal with. Some things about school weren't so pleasant.

Before he knew it, they would be done with the house, done with all the family, finished with all of it. I'll be off and gone. Maybe he'd be able to make something of himself, and see what they said about that.

I wonder if I'll miss them.

******

Vernon Dursley was ready. Earlier, from his perch in the dark living room, he'd taken up position; leaning over, rigid, his back behind the couch. Vernon hadn't wasted time. He had everything he needed. He'd probably only have the one chance. He wouldn't miss it.

******

Why am I daydreaming? Better get a move on. I never thought I'd get nostalgic for this place. So much to do. Pack, pick up new clothes, get supplies. He wanted to go everywhere at once. Better hurry.

Just then, the big sleeves of Dudley's old shirt caught in the blinds, rattling them. Harry's invisibility cloak also would have been useful here. However, the cloak, too, was fastened away in the trunk. Amazing what I know about all that.

It was dark, so dark that he almost tripped on the inside doormat. Well, I'll just turn on the one light, then. And I'll be very quiet. He put the keys in his mouth, feeling his way to the light switch.

Aha! There! Be very still.

By the way I'm acting, he thought ruefully, someone would think I'm up to no good. They'd think I was a burglar, or a thief.

Or someone who doesn't really belong here...

******

Hedwig unfurled her wings, rustling the branches of the tree, which made the only sound. She took off, feathers whistling through the wind. She flew at first jerkily, choppily, then as fast as she could. As she went, Harry's owl screeched, louder and louder. The haunting sound echoed into the night air.