Saving Iris

The Tutor

The summer felt endless and only two weeks had passed. The second Harry had returned to the Dursleys, the old animosity started all over again. Though at least it was more bearable this summer.

Apparently, the Order's warning had registered with Uncle Vernon, though it didn't stop him from glaring menacingly at Harry periodically.

He was still put to work around the house and viewed as the scum of the family, but neither Vernon nor Dudley would ever think to lay a hand on him or do something truly horrible.

It was mid-morning and the Dursleys had just finished breakfast. There was a frenzied air as Aunt Petunia rushed around trying to get breakfast cleared away.

"Hurry up. Get those dishes done. Dudley's tutor will be here any moment," she shouted as she put more dishes by the sink.

Harry sighed as he continued rinsing off the large plate in his hands. He was fairly sure he could use magic to have the dishes cleaned almost instantly and his aunt would still think him too slow.

"Why do I have to have a tutor, Mum? Only losers have tutors," Dudley whined from his seat at the kitchen table.

"Yes, Petunia. I don't understand why we have to put Dudley through this. Those teachers just don't understand his brilliance," Uncle Vernon complained just as loudly.

The doorbell chimed, putting a pause on the complaints. Aunt Petunia glanced towards the front door.

"Coming," Aunt Petunia called loudly, a cheerful edge to her voice.

She then leveled a glare at Uncle Vernon and Dudley.

"Look, I too loathe this, but if you want Dudley to continue attending Smeltings, he has got to get his marks up," she said. She then smiled, though Harry thought it more a grimace. "Now, Dudley dear, I want you to be nice to Jenny. She came highly recommended."

With that said, Aunt Petunia turned and rushed out of the kitchen. The only sounds came from the water pouring into the sink and Dudley's quiet grumbling at the kitchen table.

Harry could then hear quiet murmuring coming from the hallway.

After a few moments, a smiling Aunt Petunia returned, followed by a pretty, young woman. She had a large bag thrown over her shoulder that was very nearly bursting at the seams with books. Dudley stopped his grumbling as both he and Vernon turned their attention to the new tutor.

She was short and had long, full brunette hair that hung in waves down her back. Her perfect teeth shined white when she smiled demurely and looked down at her feet, giving her the air of one who was shy and studious. She looked about late teens or early twenties, it was difficult to pinpoint exactly. While pretty, she had a sort of mundane air about her that would make it easy for her to blend into a crowd.

Harry watched her from his station at the sink. She fidgeted and glanced at him with bright green eyes that seemed oddly familiar. Harry must have given her a weird look because she quickly looked away and turned her attention to Dudley, who was in a trance at the kitchen table.

"Dudley, this is your tutor, Jenny. And this is Dudley and my husband, Mr. Dursley," Aunt Petunia said graciously.

Uncle Vernon stood up so quickly, he almost knocked his chair over.

"Hello and thank you so much for agreeing to help our Dudley here," he lumbered on, practically drooling as he shook Jenny's hand.

Harry couldn't help laughing softly. It was quite funny to watch Uncle Vernon making an idiot out of himself.

"It's no problem, Mr. Dursley. I just hope that I can help Dudley," she said quietly, glancing over at Petunia.

"Please, please, call me Vernon," he said, inching closer to Jenny.