“HARRY!!! HARRY!!!” shouted a shrill voice with urgency.

The young man’s eyes fluttered open, and with disgust he said, “Ugh, what does she want now?” He climbed out of his warm, comfortable bed and put on his gray sweat clothes (Ten sizes too big for him, of course!) “Three weeks, just three weeks and I’m back at Hogwarts.” He thought to himself before heading downstairs.

As he reached the bottom of the stairs, feigning happiness, he said, “Yes…Aunt Petunia?”

“Get this infernal animal out of here!!!” she cried, pointing to the kitchen table. Harry’s eyes followed her finger’s path, until he saw poor Hedwig covered in soot and ash.

“Whoops…I’m sorry I forgot to open the window again, Hedwig.” The poor owl had been forced to go down the chimney when Harry didn’t respond to her taps on the window.

Aunt Petunia, being the way she was, impatiently reminded Harry why he was downstairs, “NOW!!!”

“Oh, right, Aunt Petunia,” he said, gathering Hedwig carefully in his arms, and going back upstairs into his bedroom.

After he shut the door behind him, he took the letter Hedwig so faithfully delivered him, and put Hedwig in her cage, and opened the letter. He began to read the tidy words of Hermione’s.

Dear Harry,

I just started thinking about writing you a letter, but I didn’t know how to get it to you, when Hedwig popped by. How does she do that? She always seems to know exactly when I’m about to write a letter to you.

Harry paused a second, and let his eyes travel to his faithful snow-white owl in appreciation. Then, he returned to the letter.

Anyhow, I just thought I’d mention that. But down to business, I know how you hate staying with the Dursley’s, so when I got home from our vacation (We went to America, I’ll tell you about it later!), I asked my parent’s if you could stay in the guesthouse…and they said YES! So, assuming you want to, of course, you are now welcome to come stay at our guesthouse until school starts up again. Write back soon!!

Love, Hermione

Harry was so shocked that he had to go back and read the letter again…and again…and again. Finally, he sat down at his desk, and wrote a reply.

Dear Hermione,

Do you even have to ask? Of course I want to go!! When can you pick me up??

With lots of love, Harry

He folded the letter and was about to give it to Hedwig, but then he saw that Hedwig did not look happy… “Ha ha, ok, fine.  I’ll give you a bath first and then you can deliver the letter.”

Meanwhile, at Hermione’s house…

Hermione was fitfully trying to get to sleep, but thoughts kept bombarding her mind.

“What if Harry says no? Does that mean he’d rather spend time with the Dursley’s than with me? Oh, knock it off Hermione!” she scolded herself, “Harry hates the Dursleys. Of course he would want to come.” Having satisfied her worries, or so she thought, she closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep, but she heard a light tapping sound coming from her window.