The true chosen one

Summer Sadness

 Ever since Harry and I had come home for the summer holidays, Uncle Vernon had been treating us like a bomb that might go off at any moment, which was funny and irritating at the same time. 

Something that does greatly bother me though is the fact that I couldn't finish all my summer homework yet, since Snape would probably have my head if I don't finish it all but it's impossible to have time to do it. All my spellbooks, his wand, robes, cauldron, and top-of-the-line Nimbus Two Thousand broomstick had been locked in a cupboard under the stairs by Uncle Vernon the instant we had come home. 

I looked nothing like anyone at the table, while my brother looked almost exactly like our dad and  Uncle Vernon was large and neckless, with an enormous black mustache, and while Aunt Petunia and bony Dudley had blond hair mine was lighter and has more color while theirs was very dull. All of a sudden, , Uncle Vernon cleared his throat importantly and said, "Now, as we all know, today is a very important day." I looked up not able to believe it. Today is me and Harry's 12th birthday. "This could well be the day I make the biggest deal of my career," said Uncle Vernon. I went back to cleaning the kitchen counter. Of course, I thought not surprised, Uncle Vernon was talking about the stupid dinner party. He'd been talking of nothing else for two weeks. Some rich builder and his wife were coming to dinner and Uncle Vernon was hoping to get a huge order from him. "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. And Dudley?" "I'll be waiting to open the door." Dudley put on a foul, simpering smile. "May I take your coats, Mr. and Mrs. Mason?" "They'll love him!" cried Aunt Petunia rapturously. "Excellent, Dudley," said Uncle Vernon. Then he rounded on me and Harry. "And you two?" "We'll be in our rooms, making no noise and pretending we're not there" I said. "Exactly," said Uncle Vernon nastily. "I will lead them into the lounge, introduce you, Petunia, and pour them drinks. At eight-fifteen —" "I'll announce dinner," said Aunt Petunia. "And, Dudley, you'll say —" "May I take you through to the dining room, Mrs. Mason?" said Dudley, offering his fat arm to an invisible woman. "My perfect little gentleman!" sniffed Aunt Petunia. "And you?" said Uncle Vernon viciously to Harry. "I'll be in my room, making no noise and pretending I'm not there," said Harry dully.

"Precisely. Now, we should aim to get in a few good compliments at dinner. Petunia, any ideas?" "Vernon tells me you're a wonderful golfer, Mr. Mason... Do tell me where you bought your dress, Mrs. Mason..." "Perfect... Dudley?" "How about —'We had to write an essay about our hero at school, Mr. Mason, and I wrote about you.'" This was too much for Aunt Petunia and Harry and me. 

Aunt Petunia burst into tears and hugged her son, while I spotted Harry ducked under the table so they wouldn't see him laughing and I followed. "And you two" I fought to keep a straight face and said "I will be in my room acting like I'm not there" "Too right, you will." said Uncle Vernon forcefully. 

"The Masons don't know anything about you two and it's going to stay that way. When dinner's over, you take Mrs. Mason back to the lounge for coffee, Petunia, and I'll bring the subject around to drills. With any luck, I'll have the deal signed and sealed before the news at ten. Be shopping for a vacation home in Majorca this time tomorrow.""Right — I'm off into town to pick up the dinner jackets for Dudley and me. And you," he snarled at me. "You stay out of your aunt's way while she's cleaning." 

Me and Harry went outside through the back door. It was a brilliant, sunny day. Harry crossed the lawn, slumpeddown on the garden bench, and sang under his breath: "Happy birthday to me... happy birthday to me..." "Oh stop moping around, i'm sure our friends are going to wish us happy birthday when we see them again" I said rolling my eyes.  "I know what day it is," sang Dudley, waddling toward him. "Well done you've finally learned the days of the week" I said sarcastically.  "Today's your birthday," sneered Dudley. "How come you haven't got any cards? Haven't youeven got friends at that freak place?""Better not let your mum hear you talking about my school," said Harry staring at the hedge."Why're you staring at the hedge?" he said suspiciously. 

 "I'm trying to decide what would be the best spell to set it on fire," said Harry.Dudley stumbled backward at once, a look of panic on his fat face. "You c-can't — Dad told you you're not to do m-magic — he said he'll chuck you out of thehouse — and you haven't got anywhere else to go — you haven't got any friends to take you —" "Jiggery pokery!" said Harry in a fierce voice. "Hocus pocus — squiggly wiggly —" "MUUUUUUM!" howled Dudley, tripping over his feet as he dashed back toward the house."MUUUUM! He's doing you know what!" As neither Dudley nor the hedge was in any way hurt,Aunt Petunia knew Harry hadn't really done magic, but he still had to duck as she aimed a heavyblow at his head with the soapy frying pan. Then she gave the two of us work to do, with the promise that we wouldn't eat again until we'd finished. "Get in here! And walk on the newspaper!" Aunt Petunia said sharply. Me and Harry rushed inside before we could get into any more trouble. "Get upstairs the Mason's will be here soon. 

As we passed the door to the living room, I caught a glimpse of Uncle Vernon and Dudley inbow ties and dinner jackets. We had only just reached the upstairs landing when the doorbellrang and Uncle Vernon's furious face appeared at the foot of the stairs. "Remember, one sound" Me and Harry went upstairs and went into his bedroom since I left my quill in his room. When I got into his room I found someone sitting in it and almost let out a scream.