Black Blood

Chapter 2
Just A Dream?

"Get up! Get up, Potter!" a rousing voice shouted very closely to Harry Potter's ear waking Harry from his dream.
Before Harry opened his eyes, he cursed his uncle from waking him. He wanted to continue dreaming. But then again, he was glad he was awake. His dream scared him and the girl haunted him.
"I know you are awake, Potter!" Uncle Vernon yelled.
Harry opened his eyes and saw his uncle, Vernon Dursley, in his room. He was red in the face. His eyes were abnormally big. Harry wondered what he could've done at this hour to make his uncle so upset.
"What," Harry groaned. He looked at his clock, 7: 36 am. Although it was so early in the morning, sunlight covered his room and body, nearly blinding him. He put his hand on his desk and felt around for his glasses. When he found them, he put them on and saw his cousin Dudley Dursley a few feet behind his father. Watching Harry being bullied by Uncle Vernon was Dudley's favorite form of entertainment.
"Marge is coming into town," Uncle Vernon said in a menacing voice. "She knows that St. Brutus's goes for two more weeks. And you're not supposed to be here. She'll be staying at the London Hotel for a week. While she is here, you are to stay in this room."
Harry scowled. St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys. That was the school Uncle Vernon had told Aunt Marge Harry was going since he started Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"You had best not pull of another stunt like the one three years ago," Uncle Vernon hissed. "If you even think it, you'll be sorry."
"Sure I will," Harry muttered under his breath.
"What was that, boy," Uncle Vernon roared in Harry's ear.
"I said, I'll stay in my room." Harry glared coldly at Uncle Vernon.
"Good. Marge is coming in an hour. So you best eat and get ready before she gets here." Uncle Vernon started walking toward the door.
"Fine." Harry said not moving from his position on his bed.
"Well? What are you waiting for?! Get moving!"
"Yes, sir." Harry rolled his eyes and got off his bed.
Uncle Vernon left the room as Harry walked over to his window. He lifted his arms up and took off his shirt. Breathing deeply with his hand on his windowsill, he looked out the window and asked, "Come on, Ron? Hermione? Where are you?"
Why hadn't Hedwig gotten back from Ron and Hermione's place yet? Where were they?
It was only two days before Harry's birthday and Harry hadn't gotten any word from Hermione or Ron.
Then Harry saw a white dot in the just above a few houses away from the Dursley's house.
But just when the white dot was visible for Harry to see it was an owl, an older woman's voice yelled, "Potter! Get down here and make breakfast! Get a move on!"
Harry cursed his Aunt Petunia before grabbing his clothes and going to the bathroom to change. He left his door open. Before he closed the bathroom door, Hedwig, Harry's owl, came flying into Harry room with three letters. She hooted and flew gracefully into her cage.
Harry sighed and closed the bathroom door before changing.

"Marge is here!" Uncle Vernon shouted.
Harry jumped and nearly choked on his bacon. Uncle Vernon rushed to the door. But before he opened it, he looked at his wife, Petunia Dursley, expectantly. She understood and looked at Harry who was drinking his orange juice. Out of the corner of his eye, he looked at his aunt. Her bony face was pale. Her lips pulled tight together. Her eyes glared at Harry.
He understood and put his cup down. He quickly handed his plate and cup to Aunt Petunia before heading up to his room and locking the door. As soon as his door was closed, he heard his uncle say, "Marge! Wonderful to see you again!"
"The boy is gone, right?" Aunt Marge asked coldly.
"Of course he is, Marge. He's at St. Brutus's working on his behavior."
"Good. The less of him, the better."
Harry silently cursed his Aunt Marge. Even though she was not a blood relative of his, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had ordered him to call her Aunt Marge.
Then his mind went back to the letters. He looked at his desk and three letters were layered on top of each other. Harry walked sat down on the chair. He grabbed Ron Weasley's, Harry best friend from Hogwarts, letter first. He opened it and looked at it. The words were shaken and barely readable:

Harry,

Happy birthday. I know it's a little early and I don't have a gift. But we're kind of running low on gold this summer. I don't know how we're going to pay for my school stuff. Speaking of school, have you gotten your classes yet?
Mum said you could come over. She asked Dumbledore and he said it was okay. I don't know why...never mind that. You should ask the muggles if you can come over. You need to write back immediately. We'd come to pick you up tomorrow at noon. If you can't, you need to write back telling us that. Hermione couldn't come either. She's spending the summer in some place called Paris, where all the rich people go. I think she may be coming back tonight, but I don't know. So I didn't ask her.
Well, have a good summer! Happy birthday again!
I promise, once we get to school and we go to Hogmeade, I'll buy you something.

Happy Birthday,
Ron

Harry frowned. There was no way he'd be able to go. He couldn't go downstairs to ask Uncle Vernon if he could go. And there was no way he'd be able to go if he asked tonight. Hedwig wouldn't get there until after noon. Then, while Aunt Marge was here, Ron and his family would come barreling out of the fireplace. Harry had no choice but to refuse Ron's offer.
He grabbed a piece of parchment, an inkbottle, and quill. He started to write:

Ron,

It's okay. You don't have to get me anything. I understand.
Sorry, I can't go over to the burrow this summer. Aunt Marge is here and she thinks I go to St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys. Uncle Vernon is making me stay inside my room while she is here. Floo Powder won't work. Sorry I can't come over.
Thanks, but you don't need to.
Happy summer.

Harry

Harry folded his letter put it in an envelope and gave it to Hedwig.
"Now remember," Harry whispered. "Try to stay quiet as you leave. Bring it to Ron. And if you get here earlier than noon tomorrow, then there's a treat in it for you."
Hedwig nodded. She looked at the other notes and back up at Harry.
"Oh. I'll just do these and then you can go."
Harry opened Hermione Granger's, Harry's other best friend from Hogwarts, letter. Her handwriting was clear but clearly she had been nervous as she had been writing her letter. How come Ron and Hermione had been nervous when the wrote their letters? Had something happened to him to he didn't know? Was that why Harry couldn't remember the beginning of summer when he woke this morning? Harry started to read the letter:

Harry,

Sorry I haven't responded to your letters. I just thought you needed to rest. If you've been having memory lapses or you can't remember how the summer began, I know why. But I don't want you to freak if you find out. You should talk to Professor Dumbledore about it when we get to school. I'm sorry, but I can't tell you about it. I want to, but I can't.
By the way, how are you feeling?
Listen, my parents and I are getting back to London in just two days. Well, one day. Maybe you could come over to our house. I was going to ask Ron if he wanted to. But I didn't know if you could take all the noise going on. If you do, tell me and I can pick him up too. Anyway, I've learned this really brilliant spell to bring people to wherever I want them. All I have to do is Apparate over to the Dursley's house. I know what you're thinking. I really just have to think of you and then Apparate to you. Then I could Apparate you over to my house. Please write back if you want me to. Ask the Dursley's. Thank you.
Oh, and by the way, Happy birthday. Look deep into this letter and you'll find you gift.
Happy Birthday!

With love,
Hermione

Harry beamed. Now that he could do. Aunt Marge wouldn't hear Harry and Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia would just be happy to have him out of the house. Harry quickly grabbed another piece of parchment and started writing after he grabbed his quill:

Hermione,

I haven't sent you any letters. And how did you know I didn't remember anything from the beginning of summer to today? Can we talk when we get to your house? I know Uncle Vernon will let me go because Aunt Marge is here and he wants me out of the house. She still thinks I go to St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurable Criminal Boys-.

Harry stopped writing and closed his eyes. He carefully tried to go into Uncle Vernon's mind. Pretty soon, Harry saw visions of Aunt Marge though Uncle Vernon's eyes.
Ok, Harry though, now I'll just ask carefully.
"Ok," Uncle Vernon said, "now I'll just ask carefully."
"Pardon me," Aunt Marge asked. "Ask what carefully."
"Excuse me," Uncle Vernon asked.
"Never mind," Aunt Marge said going back to telling her story about her dog, Ripper.

Ok, may I please go over to Hermione's for the summer, Harry thought.
Harry's thought came out of Uncle Vernon's mouth.
Aunt Marge nearly choked on her wine. Aunt Petunia looked at her husband crestfallen.
"Who are you asking," Aunt Marge asked.
"Vernon," Aunt Petunia asked as small tears fell down her cheeks, "who is this Hermione person you want to go over to?"
"Hermione," Uncle Vernon asked. "I've never heard of the name Hermione. Where did you ladies hear it?"
"From you," Aunt Petunia said wiping her tears away. "You just said you wanted to go over to her house for the summer a minute ago."
"Did I," Uncle Vernon asked. "Do you have proof?"
"Well, no." Aunt Marge said.
"Then why are you worrying so much? I've never heard of anybody named Hermione in my life." Uncle Vernon said grabbing his wine glass.
Aunt Petunia and Aunt Marge looked back at the plate of food.
"Excuse me," Uncle Vernon said standing up.
"Where are you going, Vernon," Aunt Petunia asked.
"Not to Hermione's I hope," Aunt Marge teased.
"Just to the restroom, ladies, "Uncle Vernon said politely.

Harry waited on his bed for an answer after quickly hiding his letters. He heard footsteps coming up the stairway and toward his door. His heart beat with anticipation.
The door opened and Uncle Vernon walked in, his face red with fury. Sweat dripped down his fat face and down his chins. After closing the door, he walked up to Harry and asked in a whisper, "What the devil are you doing to me?"
"Nothing," Harry whispered back. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Why?"
"'Cause this is really important."
"Fine."
"Can I go over to my friend Hermione's from Hog- my school, for the summer? Aunt Marge won't even know I'm here. I can go in a heartbeat once she gets here. And you won't even know she's here. All she has to do is think of where I am and she'll get here soundlessly."
"Why should I let you?"
"It'll be really hard to pretend I'm not here. What if I have to go to the restroom or I'm starving? It'll be really hard to keep quiet up here with Hedwig and everything. What if she hears something and comes in here? And what if she opens the wrong door and sees me in my bed or something? What'll you say then?"
Uncle Vernon went pale in the face. He lifted his fat index finger and hissed, "If you swear that it won't make any noise, you may go. What time would she be coming here?"
"Um, around noon tomorrow." Harry said trying to hide his smile.
"Be warned, boy. Any sound up here tomorrow, and you can't even imagine what could happen to you."
"Yes, sir."
"Good." Uncle Vernon turned away and started walking toward the door. Harry beamed. Uncle Vernon looked back at him, shook his head, and left the room.
Harry rushed back over to his desk and got Hermione's letter. He read over it and continued writing:

Hermione,

I haven't sent you any letters. And how did you know I didn't remember anything from the beginning of summer to today? Can we talk when we get to your house? I know Uncle Vernon will let me go because Aunt Marge is here and he wants me out of the house. She still thinks I go to St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurable Criminal Boys. I just asked him and he said, if you could be as quiet as possible, I can go. Can you be here at around noon? Thanks. At first Uncle Vernon wasn't too thrilled. But after I threatened him, I know, it was wrong, but I threatened to come down while Aunt Marge was here, he said yes. So come by at around noon. I'll be waiting.

See you soon,
Harry

Harry re-read his letter and put it in an envelope. He grabbed his other letter. It was from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He opened it. It read:

Dear Mr. Harry Potter,

This year you will be attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as a sixth year. As you know, this is the year you can start to use magic outside of Hogwarts. But be warned, since you have just started, you will need to license incase you are caught.
Instead of getting your classes in owl post, you will get them at Hogwarts.
This year, you will need these items:

Harry read the items on the list. When he got to Hermione's, they would need to go to Diagon Alley for sure.

The Hogwarts Express will be at Kings Cross Station. It will leave at 11 o' clock a.m. on September 1.
Have a great rest of summer.

Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall

Harry sighed and grabbed Hermione and Ron's letter. Something caught Harry's eye on Hermione's letter:

Oh, and by the way, Happy birthday. Look deep into this letter and you'll find you gift.

Harry cocked his head and focused hard on the letter. Pretty soon, the words started to fade and all that was left, was:

Happy Birthday Harry!!!
Love,
Hermione Professor Remus Lupin Luna Cho Chang
Ron Parvati Padma Lavender Neville

Harry smiled and felt tears build up in his eyes. He looked at all the other names circled around the 'Happy Birthday Harry!!!' This was the best present Harry had gotten for six-teen years. He quietly put a laminating spell on it and it was covered in a silky plastic cover. Harry put it in his trunk.
Looking at his clock, he yawned. He hadn't realized that nearly five hours had gone by. It was already six o' clock.
Harry heard the door downstairs open. Then he heard voices.
"It was nice seeing you again, Marge," Aunt Petunia said.
"Yes, well. I'll be back tomorrow at noon. If the boy comes back, send him back to St. Brutus's."
"Goodnight, Marge," Uncle Vernon said as Aunt Marge left.
Harry waited until he heard her taxicab drive away. Although it was only six o' clock, Harry was exhausted. Without changing from his clothes he wore, he climbed into his bed, took off his glasses and put them by his bed, turned off his lamp, and kicked off his shoes before pulling the covers over his shoulders. He fell asleep almost immediately. Thankful the day was almost over.
He dreamt of seeing his friends again. But most of all, wondering what Hermione had meant in her letter. And why Ron and Hermione were so worried about him.