ᴀ ᴅ ʀ ɪ ᴇ ɴ ɴ ᴇ [1]

06. muggle grading

chapter six

MUGGLE GRADING

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MY LAST MONTH WITH THE DURSLEYS ISN'T FUN. True, Dudley is now so scared of Harry and I that he won't stay in the same room, and Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia don't shut us in our cupboard or force us to do anything - in fact, they don't speak to us at all.

While this is an improvement in many ways, it's also rather depressing.

Harry and I keep to our room, with our new owl for company. Harry came up with the name Hedwig, which was better than 'Owly', so we named her that.

My school books are fascinating. Since we've returned to number four, I've been unable to sleep again and often read far into the early hours, pouring over goblin rebellions, how to turn a match to a needle and when Saturn aligns with Mars. Harry reads his books too, but not with as much attention and time as I do, causing him to forget who on earth Uric the Oddball is when I ask him if he remembers. I only asked of his opinion, though, because I'd forgotten myself.

Every night before Harry turns in, we tick off another day on the piece of paper we've pinned to the wall, counting down until September the first.

On the last day of August, Harry realises we'd better ask Uncle Vernon about getting to King's Cross Station. We go down into the living-room, where the Dursleys are watching a quiz show on the television. I clear my throat to announce our presence, and Dudley screams, running from the room. I snigger - he's such a coward.

"Er - Uncle Vernon?"Harry says nervously, not sure how to ask.

Uncle Vernon grunts to show he is listening.

"Er - we need to be at King's Cross tomorrow to - to go to Hogwarts," says Harry shyly.

Uncle Vernon grunts again.

"Would it be all right if you gave us a lift?"

For the third time, Uncle Vernon grunts. I take it as a yes.

"Thank you," Harry and I chorus, turning to go back upstairs.

"Funny way to get to a wizards' school, the train. Magic carpets all got punctures, have they?" asks Uncle Vernon, speaking for a change.

"That or Ali Baba's using them all over in Africa," I say sarcastically.

"Where is this school, anyway?" Uncle Vernon asks, ignoring my sarcasm.

"I don't know," I say, realising for the first time.

Harry pulls the ticket Hagrid gave him from his pocket, which is identical to mine.

"We just take the train from platform nine and three-quarters at eleven o'clock," he reads.

Our Aunt and Uncle stare.

"What?" I ask, unsure.

"Which platform?"

"Platform nine and three-quarters," Harry says firmly.

"Don't talk rubbish," says Uncle Vernon, "there is no platform nine and three-quarters."

"It's on our tickets," I say.

"Barking," Uncle Vernon says, "howling mad, the lot of them. You'll see. You just wait. All right, we'll take you to King's Cross. We're going up to London tomorrow anyway, or I wouldn't bother."