Snakeskin (A Harry Potter Fanfic)

Chapter 3: The Burrow

Chapter 3: The Burrow

I went to a Muggle music festival with Lily and Rose last night. We sang and danced and laughed all night long. It's been quite some time since I laughed and smiled like that and – for the first time since before Christmas – I didn't have any nightmares when I slept. I've decided that I'm going to tell Siri what happened tomorrow. Keeping it to myself isn't doing me any good. I'm ready.

**

Leo raised his hand, knocking on the door before stepping back, rocking on his heels. The door swung open a minute later, revealing a large and neckless man with an enormous black mustache. The man's face turned red at Leo's appearance, and he tried to slam the door in his face when it was suddenly blocked by Leo's hand, who refused to let it budge.

"I'm here for Harry," Leo said simply.

"We're busy, boy. You should've come earlier -"

"I had a house to decorate, you fat oaf. Now, let me see Harry," Leo demanded.

It was the thirty-first of July, the day of Leo and Harry's twelfth birthday. Leo had spent all day running about – decorating the kitchen, buying presents, and getting the ingredients Kreacher would need to make them a delicious feast. It had taken him all day to get everything done, so Leo wasn't able to retrieve his cousin until ten past eight that night.

"I don't have to let you -"

"I have a wand – don't make me use it."

Vernon's face paled considerably at this and he looked over his shoulder to ensure that no one else was around. He then opened the door wider, telling Leo to be silent and that Harry was upstairs. He told Leo that he couldn't leave until his house-guests had gone – he had a big promotion on the line. Normally, Leo would have taken this opportunity to deliberately sabotage Vernon, but he didn't want Harry to have to deal with the aftermath considering he'd have to spend the first half of every summer with them.

Leo walked past Vernon into the house, tiptoeing up the stairs and making it to Harry's room. He opened the door and was surprised to find that he wasn't alone. There was a house-elf with him. He had large, bat-like ears and bulging green eyes the size of tennis balls. Leo would even go so far as to say that he was adorable.

"... And you are?" Leo finally said, closing the door behind him.

"Dobby, sir, Dobby the house-elf," the house-elf bowed.

"Pleasure to meet you, Dobby," Leo gave a flourishing bow in return. "I'm Leo, Leo the human. That's Harry, Harry the beardless dwarf."

Harry chucked a pillow at him.

"So, what brings you to this over-sized shed the Dursleys call a home, Dobby? Did your family send you?" Leo inquired, walking over and flopping onto Harry's bed.

"No, sir. Dobby has come to protect Harry Potter, to warn him, even if he does have to shut his ears in the oven door later... Harry Potter must not go back to Hogwarts."

There was a silence broken only by the chink of knives and forks from downstairs and the distant rumble of Vernon's voice. Leo simply stared at Dobby as though he had lost his marbles.

"W-what?" Harry stammered. "But I've got to go back — term starts on September first. It's all that's keeping me going. You don't know what it's like here. I don't belong here. I belong in your world — at Hogwarts."

"No, no, no," squeaked Dobby, shaking his head so hard his ears flapped. "Harry Potter must stay where he is safe. He is too great, too good, to lose. If Harry Potter goes back to Hogwarts, he will be in mortal danger."