chap2pg1

          Three days later, Harry woke up as tired as ever. Groggily, he got dressed and started to pack up his belongings. He had to leave his school things in his room, because Mrs. Figg couldn�t find out that he was a wizard. �It�s not fair,� he said angrily to Hedwig, �I wish the Dursley�s would trust me enough to leave me here.� He began to unlatch Hedwig�s cage when he thought of something. �Hey, do you want to do me a favor?� Hedwig hooted excitedly. �Thought so,� Harry chuckled. He pulled out some parchment and a quill and began to write.

Dear Ron,
             The Dursley�s are going on a vacation and I have to stay at my neighbor�s house. Obviously I can�t work on my homework there, so I was hoping you could find out if I could stay at your house for the rest of the summer once the Dursley�s get back. They�ll be home in 2 weeks, and I can�t stand having to do my work late at night. Send your answer back by owl, but please send me one that isn�t going to make a big racket, and if you can, send me the reply at night. If I can�t come to your house, then I�ll see you on the train. Oh by the way, can you let Hedwig stay with you guys until I go home? Thanks!
                  -Harry

           Harry rolled up the letter and tied it to Hedwig�s leg. �Listen Hedwig, I need you to deliver this to Ron, but you�ll have to stay with him for two weeks.� Hedwig narrowed her enormous yellow eyes and hooted deeply. �Sorry, but I can�t the muggles see you. You�ll have fun at Ron�s house, I promise.� Hedwig flapped her wings a bit, and Harry let her out the window. He watched her soar away, until she disappeared into the clouds. He sighed heavily and finished packing his clothing. He picked up the suitcase and carried it downstairs.
           When Harry got downstairs, he saw that he had missed breakfast. Aunt Petunia was cleaning up and Uncle Vernon was putting the overstuffed trunks into his car. Dudley was in the living room, and Harry saw that Piers had already gotten there. Both boys looked mischievously at Harry. Dudley stood up.
           �Hey, look who it is, Piers, our favorite punching bag,� Dudley laughed.
           �Doesn�t look like you�ve grown much since I saw you last, Potter,� Piers sniggered, �I kinda� miss having you in school, there�s no one stupid enough to chase anymore.� Dudley and Piers laughed.
           �Well, Piers, I can see that you�ve grown a lot uglier, which I didn�t think was possible.� Harry smiled. �Maybe you should see a doctor about that.� Piers grew quite red.
            �Why, you little�� he started.
            �Time to go!� yelled Uncle Vernon, �Hurry boys, we need to catch the train.�
            �Coming!� shouted Dudley. He looked at Harry. �Well, Harry, have fun playing with the cats. We�d send you a postcard from Germany but that would be a waste of time. Who wants to talk to a freak?� The two boys laughed and ran off to get in the car.
            �Stupid git,� muttered Harry. He picked up his suitcase and began to walk next door. Uncle Vernon stopped him.
            �You�d better not let her know anything about you�re abnormality or you wont be going to that school this year, is that clear?� he growled.
            �Crystal clear,� mumbled Harry.
             He walked slowly over to his neighbor�s house, and rang the doorbell. The door swung open. Mrs. Figg was standing there, grinning.
           �Harry! How nice to see you! Do come in!� she exclaimed. Harry stepped inside. Instantly, the odor of cat litter and cabbage drifted towards him. Harry wrinkled his nose a bit, but did his best to be polite.
             �Good morning, Mrs. Figg,� he said. Mrs. Figg looked like a very old woman. Her face was droopy and wrinkled, and her hair was wispy and gray. It was tied back into a bun. Her teeth were stained, and her clothing drooped over her bony body. She was wearing an old, flowered dress and a pink shawl. Her small glasses rested at the tip of her nose. �How are you?� he asked.
             �Oh you know how it is,� she laughed, �I�ve been taking care of my cats mostly, but I�ve been starting a garden. Perhaps you could help me with it some, just while you�re here?� she asked.
             �Sure, I�d love to,� Harry lied. He hated garden work, but he didn�t have much other choice.
             �Well, I�m going to take my nap. If you�re hungry, there�s some soup in the fridge that you can heat up. Help yourself!� Mrs. Figg smiled, �Oh yes, and you�re room is up here, it�s the one with the green wallpaper.� She hobbled up the stairs.