Darkest Before the Hope • Harry Potter ❥ Terence Higgs

01: Worst. Summer. Ever.

The summer holiday was awful.

As soon as Harry and Cassia got home, the Dursleys took their trunks and broomsticks, sticking them in the cupboard under the stairs that was formally Harry's bedroom.

To make matters worse, it seemed like everyone was cranky because Hedwig was making to much noise, since she wanted out of her cage. Then Aunt Petunia had a row with Cassia about dead mice that Harvest was leaving behind as presents for Cassia.

While disgusting, Cassia was glad that Harvest thought of her as family. Once Harvest tried to drag in a mole and Petunia shrieked really loudly, causing Harvest to leave, with his a bit down like he was sad that he couldn't feast on a mole with Cassia.

Aunt Petunia didn't see it that way and threatened to haul Harvest off.

So, on their twelfth birthday, it was then that the Dursleys decided to host some dinner party with the Mr Mason, a rich builder, and his wife.

It wasn't a surprise that the Dursleys forgot their birthday, because they never bothered to remember such a thing when it came to them.

Unfortunately, it seemed like their friends didn't remember them either, since they never sent anything.

Harry tried to console Cassia, saying that maybe they were busy and just hadn't had time to write. "Maybe they were on holiday and just forgot," Harry tried to tell her.

So over breakfast, Uncle Vernon decided that it was time to remind them about the dinner party.

"I think we should run through the schedule one more time," said Uncle Vernon. "We should all be in position at eight o'clock. Petunia you will be—?"

"In the lounge," said Aunt Petunia promptly, "waiting to welcome them graciously to our home."

"Good, good," replied Uncle Vernon. "And Dudley?"

"I'll be waiting to open the door," Dudley said, putting on a foul, simpering smile. "May I take your coats, Mr and Mrs Mason?"

"They'll love him!" cried Aunt Petunia.

"Excellent, Dudley," said Uncle Vernon proudly. He turned onto Harry and Cassia, "And you two?"

"We'll be in our bedroom, making no noise," Cassia stated flatly.

"And pretending that we don't exist," Harry finished, also in a flat tone.

"Exactly," Uncle Vernon told them nastily. "I will lead them into the lounge, introduce you, Petunia, and pour them drinks. At eight fifteen—"

"I'll announce dinner," Aunt Petunia said.

To Dudley, Uncle Vernon started, "And Dudley you'll say—?"

"May I take you through to the dining room, Mrs Mason?" Dudley asked, offering his arm to an inivisible woman.

"My perfect little gentleman!" sniffed Aunt Petunia.

He wasn't a perfect little 'gentleman'. She should've heard what Dudley was saying to Piers, Malcolm, and Gordon. That was just nasty. Petunia should've seen Dudley throw those firecrackers at Harvest as well, but no – not her precious 'perfect little gentleman'.

"And you two?" snarled Uncle Vernon.

"We'll be in our bedroom, making no noise," Cassia replied monotonously.

"And pretending that we don't exist," Harry finished just as monotonously.

"Precisely," Uncle Vernon stated. "Now, we should aim to get in a few good compliments at dinner. Petunia, any ideas?"