The missing boys ✔

Part 2: Little Whinging

Harry Potter stirred in his sleep and opened his eyes. He had no idea what time it was, but judging by the dark of his cupboard he guessed that it was either very late at night or very early in the morning. Harry had no idea why, but he suddenly felt wide-awake.

Knowing that Aunt Petunia would make him get up early for school the next day, Harry rolled over and tried to get back to sleep. To his bewilderment, the more he tried to get back to sleep the more he felt that he should get up. Frustrated, Harry finally gave up and slipped quietly out of his cupboard, thankful that his aunt usually had the inclination to leave it unlocked at night.

Harry slipped quietly into the kitchen, decided to risk flipping on the kitchen light, and climbed up onto a counter so he could reach the cupboards. He felt that some tea might help him get back to sleep, so he put the kettle on the stove with some water and a tea bag to boil. He left the lid off to let the steam escape. He knew full well what would happen if the kettle whistled and woke the Dursleys.

Harry reached into the cupboard again and pulled down two mugs. Wait…two? Harry grabbed one to put back, but found he didn't like the idea.

This is ridiculous! What do I need with two mugs? He went to put one back again but found yet again that he didn't like the idea. Blaming his odd impulse on tiredness, Harry decided to leave the extra cup alone for the time being and see what there was in the kitchen that he could eat without the Dursleys noticing.

As Harry was sneaking around the inside of number four Privet Drive, he didn't have the slightest idea that there was a boy his age sneaking around the outsideof the house.

Ron Weasley was sore, tired, and completely lost. He had spent the last five minutes poking around this "Privet Drive" trying to figure out where he was. Unfortunately he had found nothing so far except for dark windows and houses that all looked exactly alike. Ron figured he must be in a muggle town because he had never seen wizards copy each other's houses like this. Still, there was nothing on this street that would be of any use to him. He was just about to leave the street to look elsewhere when he saw a light flick on in the house next to him.

The light came from a window towards the back of the house so Ron crept quietly into the yard and peered cautiously through a window.

There was a boy in baggy clothes and glasses moving around the kitchen. He was about the size of his little sister Ginny so Ron guessed him to be a year or two younger than himself. He watched the boy making tea and he suddenly realized how thirsty he was. Ron wondered if muggles were picky about having visitors. If they weren't maybe he could knock on the kitchen door and ask for a drink.

He was contemplating this when the boy looked suddenly in his direction and jumped back in alarm. Ron gasped and ducked down beneath the window. He crouched in the lawn, not daring to move. After a few tense seconds he heard a door open and a small voice rang through the night.

"Hello?"

The speaker sounded frightened and uneasy. Ron felt exactly the same way, but he knew that sitting here all night wasn't going to do him any good, so he gathered his courage and replied. After all, he didn't have much to fear from a short little muggle boy, right?

"Hi" Ron croaked.

Ron heard a gasp and a pale face peeked around the corner of the house.