Not Just Our Story

Chapter 19: The Dursleys and a Dog

                                                          Laundry Shop

                                              Post-closing Trial Balance

                                     For the month ended, August 2020

Account Titles                                               Debit                                  Credit

Cash                                                          Php 107 000.00

Accounts Receivable                                  10 000.00

Equipment                                                      15 000.00

Harriet Potter: Um... what are you writing?

OddPAL1: What? Oh, shucks! I wrote my homework here! Just---don't mind that---Siriusly, don't! (Pun intended) Anyways, you were saying?

Harriet Potter: We were just talking about how Dobby was freed.

Draco Malfoy: There was just one thing I don't get. What about that packet of fertilizer? You never told me how you got that, or how you managed to make your shirt shrink and fit in there.

Harriet Potter: Oh... that. Well, first off, I  had to find a good shirt in my not-so-glamorous closet and use a Shrinking Spell to shrink it. As for the packet, it was my old pencil case, one of the many luxuries the Dursleys provided me. I used a permanent marker to write "SAMPLE FERTILIZER" on it so no one but Dobby could open it. I honestly can't believe how well that worked. And... speaking of the Dusleys...

***  

August 1993

Harriet Potter

I was back in Privet Drive, and Aunt Marge had just left after staying with us for a week. Soon, I heard the crunch of gravel and the screech of tires. Uncle Vernon had returned after dropping off Aunt Marge at the station. I dashed up the stairs to my room where my permission form was waiting on my desk. Uncle Vernon said if I behaved during Aunt Marge's visit, he'd sign it for me. And luckily, I did! Now, if he signs it, I could go to Hogsmeade, the Wizarding village near Hogwarts where third years and above are allowed to visit. I ran down the stairs, clutching the form, and when he saw me, he said, "Ah, yes, that ruddy form. Hand it over."

I tried not to jump for joy as he took out his pen and scribbled his tidy signature across it. He gruffly gave it to me as he strode toward the kitchen. "Is there any toast left in there?"

"No, I'm afraid Dudders beat you to it," came the reply.

He chuckled. "That's my boy. Now, Petunia, I can't stay long, I have to drive down to Grunnings to check on the drills."

"Neither can I, Vernon, I've got to shop for some salt... and apparently, we've run out of bread."

The two of them came out all ready to go with a dagger in their eyes for me. "You stay here with Dudley, lass," Uncle Vernon snarled. "And if I hear anything from him about you making trouble, I will lock you in your room for the rest of the summer." And with that said, he and Aunt Petunia marched out of the door.

Something large loomed behind me. I turned and saw Dudley. He looked laughable with his five large chins, but as he towered above me and placed his fists on his hips to broaden his already wide figure, he did a fine job reminding me that he's still a threat. Oh, how I miss those days when I was taller than him.