CHAPTER 1: THE PROBLEMS.

Harry was musing in his bedroom, as he did often these days.  His owl Hedwig was in her cage, taking a nap as she regularly did in the day being an owl, who was a creature that lived by the night.  Harry sometimes wished he was like this, at peace and blissful with the world, unknowing and a graceful creature that she was.  Hedwig was a pure-breed, snowy owl coming from Poland and absolutely gorgeous at that.  She was the best birthday present he had ever received.

Harry was trying to decide what to write in his letter to the order, for Hedwig to deliver once she had awoken later that evening.  After the scare uncle Vernon got at the station on Harry's arrival from school was unbelievable.  It still brought tears to his eyes to this day, a few weeks on.  Uncle Vernon was threatened and Harry was allowed whatever he wanted, and all of his school things in his room, which had never been allowed previously.  The order also wanted regular communication from Harry, IE: via his owl, which was the normal postage method, otherwise they would investigate to see if there was anything wrong.  The order would certainly sort out the Dursley's if they knew they were doing anything untoward to Harry.

Well, Harry was bored, and wanted some with something to do.  He had no homework to do, as he was still awaiting the success of his OWL's in the post.  He decided he wanted some sort of action, like an adventure holiday, but without the Dursley's.  He knew he couldn't go on his own, and also the Weasley's couldn't afford it, so what could he do.  He wrote down his problem in the letter and asked for ideas to solve his problem.  Then, he went back to studying his 'quidditch through the ages' book, the only real activity which ever kept him truly happy.  Later that evening when Hedwig had awoken properly shortly after sunset, eaten some food and drank some water, Harry walked over to her cage and let her out.  She immediately flew to his shoulder and gave him a little nip of affection. 

"Hi Hedwig, at last your awake, some proper company I can enjoy, unlike those unruly relatives of mine".  Hedwig hooted in reply, as if she understood every word he said.  She was like a friend, a soul mate to Harry.  But Harry wanted more, he wanted a real, human friend which he could spend time with and enjoy, someone who could converse with him and respond to Harry on the same wavelength.

Harry walked over and picked up the letter off his desk, Hedwig flying to the desk and holding out her leg, with almost eager anticipation.  She enjoyed flying at night and pleasing her master.  She also knew it was her job to deliver letters for him, and she always knew where they were going to.  "I need you to take this to the order for me Hedwig, to Moody, he'll be the best man to sort out this for me.  Thanks Hedwig".  When Harry finished tying the letter to her leg, he carried her across his room, where he then watched her swoop out of the open window and fly off into the distance and into the darkness.  He remained sat there for some time, looking at the stars and thinking to himself, as he so often did as there was nothing else to do at the Dursley's.  In any case, the weather warm nice and warm, being the middle of summer.  By sitting next to the open window with his lights off, he could enjoy looking into the village and night sky with no-one able to see him in such a dark room.  There was also a nice gentle breeze blowing in is face which was oddly refreshing.  Hedwig should be back by sunrise with a reply, or sometime during the next day, as the order were not too far away, only in London.  Provided someone, particularly Moody the auror was able to send word with a reply that is.

*

Harry awoke the next morning with the soft hooting of his owl.  "Ooh great" said Harry.  She had a letter of reply already, tied to her leg.

Harry removed the letter as quickly as possible and allowed Hedwig to fly to her cage for a long smooth drink of water.  He bounced back on his head, rather to much in a hurry and had to take a few deep breaths before carrying on.  He quickly resumed to his letter, tearing the envelope apart with one big rip.  His uncle gave a big grunt from the next room, but he, Harry didn't care anymore.  He was far too happy to worry about them anymore as they couldn't threaten him and he was eager to read his letter.

Dear Harry (wrote Moody in untidy writing, rather like his friend Ron's).

Thank-you for the letter I received last night.  Glad to hear you are well and that those terrible, if not unworthy relations of yours are still terrified out of their wits.  I always seemed to have a weird effect on people for some strange reason.  Can't think why, but worthy material for an Auror I hasten to add.

Right, back to the point.  I have read you request and pondered it during my sleep, best time really for any confusing problems.  This is just a quick note to say I haven't made any plans as of yet, but I am still trying to find a plausible solution.  You will hear from me in the near future when something relevant is decided.

Yours truly,

Moody.

"Oh well" said Harry aloud.  But he did not expect anything to be decided upon so soon so was not completely down hearted.  At least he was being heard and responded to this summer, and there was a possibility he had something to look forward to.

Happy, Harry got up, threw off his pyjamas onto his bed and went to change into his days clothes.  As he was just putting on his final sock sat on the edge of the bed, he thought to himself he could have a nice breakfast in peace all alone as it was still so early and all the Dursley's were still asleep, when the was a great whopping bang raged all around him, the bed moved and he was flung across the floor and into the drawers on the other side of the room.  "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh" cried Harry, half out of shock, half in pain.

For a moment, Harry couldn't decide whether to open his eyes or not.  Maybe this was all a dream and he would still be in bed, tucked up snug and warm.  But the great screech, obviously from his owl made him fling his eyes open and jump to his feet in less than a second.  He then began to swivel around and find the source of the noise and exactly what had happened.

There, he saw what looked liked a great pink fur ball on his bed with a snout of a nose.  First impressions should have pointed to Dudley, but as the figure was slim and sexy, this was not to be.  Harry just had all of about one second to ponder on what he had just thought when it began to move.

"Ouch, ow ow ow" came a muffled sob, then the person moved, got up and sat looking round.

"Tonks" said Harry, in more than mild surprise, "What are you doing here?"

"Moody's orders Harry, said you wanted to get out this place, what did you call it again 'hellhole'?  Looks quite nice to me though" gestured Tonks, looking around

"Well it is the people the make it sufferable, not the building itself.  Anyway you saw it for yourself last year, so it's not that much of a surprise.  And one more thing, why hasn't my uncle barged in to see what the racket was and to throttle me yet?" quizzed Harry nervously.

"Well that's what I was trying to attempt, and it obviously worked because no-one heard a dicky bird when I got here.  But it made a raucous in the process".

"I noticed" said Harry "Is it safe to get back onto my bed in peace? I won't go flying again will, once was enough and I don't want to do it again in a hurry".

"Yes" blushed Tonk's ferociously "I was apparating and trying to do a silence charm both at the same time so upon arrival we wouldn't be heard talking and escaping".

"Escaping?" wondered Harry, "What's going on now?"

"Did you, or did you not send you owl to Moody last night requesting a change of scenery?

"Yes".

"Well then, come on, what are we waiting for?"

"But hold on" questioned Harry, more confused than ever.  "Moody said he hadn't been able to get any plans together"

"Well he hadn't at the time but he has now.  I've been sent to collect you and all of your belongings and travel back to Grimmauld place.  Then you can be outta this place and can do something more interesting. So, chop-chop, hurry hurry and pack your things. Let's get outta here.  We're flying by the way so leave out your broomstick.  That's why I arrived so early.  I had to wait till your owl arrived mind, till you'd read your letter, that way Moody said was the proper way, right thing to do".

Harry didn't need telling twice and got to work straight away.  "Hope you weren't watching me then this morning" stated Harry, more to himself than anything then finished packing as fast as he could.  "Ok, all done" Harry finally said, straightening up and looking right at a deeply blushing Tonk's, more so than before if it was possible.  It took Harry a measly two seconds to work out why.  "I sincerely do hope you were NOT watching me this morning Tonks" stated Harry more loudly than he would have liked and emphasising the NOT more than anything.

"I um, well yes I had to see when you received you letter, but you are rather fit even if I do say so myself" she let slip before she could stop herself.  When realising what she said, Tonks gasped audibly and her hand shot straight to her mouth whilst she went a deep purple which was now beginning to match uncle Vernon's puce colour once enraged.

"Tonks" Harry almost shouted, colour rising to his cheeks as he felt them burning.  "You didn't need to carry on watching me once I had received my letter and finished reading it.  You could have at least shut your eyes".

"Sorry I couldn't help it" and Tonks hung her head down low nervously, as she seemed to be digging a bigger and deeper hole with every word that seemed to come out of her mouth.  She looked as though she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. 

Harry feeling awkward didn't know where to put himself in his own bedroom and had a few moments to himself to think quietly about what Tonks had just said.  He also cast his mind back to a short time ago when he saw her lying on the bed and thought she was sexy.  What was he going to do?  Harry now had another problem on his hands and had to decide what to do for himself now.

oOo

To Be Continued……..