chap5pg1

After Harry�s birthday, the next week went very quickly. Soon, the day came that he would be going Harry was still very cross about not getting to go to Ron�s house, and now he was going to spend the last week with the Dursley�s. He packed his things in the suitcase, and lugged it downstairs. He came into the kitchen, and saw Mrs. Figg hanging up the phone.
�Good news, Harry,� said Mrs. Figg. �I persuaded your uncle to let you stay here until you leave for Hogwarts. I�ve already gone out and gotten everything on your list, so now you can relax here at my house.� She smiled.
�Oh, thanks,� Harry said. He was glad that he didn�t have to deal with the Dursley�s, but he still wished he was going to Ron�s house. He walked back upstairs to his room, and saw an owl sitting on his bed.
�Hedwig!� he exclaimed. Hedwig fluttered up to Harry, and landed on his outstretched arm. Harry noticed that there was something tied around her leg. He untied it, and she flew over to her empty cage, perching on top of it. He unrolled the parchment, and saw that it was a note from Sirius. �How did you get this, Hedwig?� Harry asked. She hooted proudly in reply. Harry read the note.
Harry,
I don�t have much time to talk, but I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. I�m sorry I can�t send you anything, because I have been very busy� I can�t tell you what I�ve been doing, but I can tell you that I want you to be very careful at school this year. I don�t want you wandering around the school late at night, or taking ANY matters into your own hands. You must be cautious around new students as well. As you know, Voldemort�s followers can come in many different forms.
Sorry, I have to end this letter short. I�ll contact you at another time.
~Sirius
�I think I can handle myself, thanks,� Harry said aloud. He was tired of people always telling him he had to be watched, as if he was a child or something. He tossed the letter in his pile of birthday things, and sat on his bed. Hedwig stared at him with her large, yellow eyes. Even Hedwig thinks she has to watch me, Harry thought bitterly. He turned away from her.
After a week of helping Mrs. Figg with chores around the house, it was finally time for Harry to go back to school. He was very excited to finally be leaving. After packing everything, he loaded it into Mrs. Figg�s old car.
�Everything packed, dear?� Mrs. Figg came hobbling over to the car.
�You drank the potion again?� Harry asked, puzzled.
�Yes, dear. Wouldn�t want to attract attention from the muggles, now would I?� she asked. Harry shook his head no. They finished packing up the car, and drove off. Harry noticed that as they were driving, they seemed almost like they were jumping over the traffic.
�Can they see our car doing this?� Harry wondered.
�No,� Mrs. Figg said, �Muggles really never notice anything magic.� They continued driving, until they reached King�s Cross Station. Harry got out of the car, and took out all of his luggage.
�Thanks for letting me stay at your house, and thanks for the ride,� Harry said, ��Bye.� He began to walk away.
�Oh no you don�t Harry,� Mrs. Figg laughed. �You can�t get rid of me that easily. I�m staying with you until you get on that train!� She parked her car in the nearest space, then got out and started walking. Harry�s face turned red, but he followed her to Platform 9 �. They walked through the barrier, and found themselves standing in front of the red, steaming, Hogwarts Express. Harry looked for the closest door on the train. The sooner he got away from Mrs. Figg, the better. He couldn�t stand being followed around like a criminal.
�Harry! Harry, over here!� Harry heard someone in the crowd yelling for him. He turned around and saw Ron and Hermione running towards him.
�Hey Harry, how�s it going!� greeted Ron. Hermione came up and hugged Harry.
�How are you Harry!� she exclaimed. Harry was taken aback by her hug, but appreciated it all the same. He could feel her prefect badge jammed into his chest, but he decided not to say anything. His friends looked different than they did last year. Ron was of course taller, his hair as red as ever, but he didn�t look as lanky as he did before. Hermione, well, Harry didn�t know what was different. She just looked, well, prettier.