The day was bright and sunlight streamed through the skylights above as Harry surveyed the Surrey Mall. He had never been before and it was everything he had dreamed it would be. A low hum of conversation nearly overrode the music coming from speakers overhead as happy shoppers in their bright clothing carried big bags from one shop to another.
Harry didn't know where to begin; perhaps a clothes shop so he could finally rid himself of Dudley's hand-me-downs? Or perhaps the shoe store to replace the overlarge trainers he had that were peeling at the bottom. Then again, with an opportunity like this, how could he pass up the arcade and the shooting game his cousin raved about: Lethal Enforcers? And there was supposed to be a fountain somewhere that shot water up all the way to the third floor!
He was just on his way to the escalators when he heard it – a determined tap-tap-tap. Harry looked around but couldn't see what had drawn his attention. Seeing nothing, he went on his way.
Tap-tap-tap!
Harry looked more closely. None of the shoppers showed the slightest concern. Was it common to hear a mysterious tapping noise in malls?
Tap-tap-tap!
Finally, he spotted some movement in a nearby window and made a beeline to it.
"Harry Potter!" the caged little creature in the window cried, its big eyes alight with fright.
A large man, which looked suspiciously like Uncle Vernon, reached in and fastened a leash and tiny dog collar around the elf's neck and was now trying to pull the creature out of his cage.
"Get out here, elf!" the man bellowed, giving the leash a good tug.
"No!" Dobby cried, clinging to the bars of his prison for dear life as the collar started to choke him.
Tap-tap-tap! Dobby rapped on the window as Harry tried to find the way into the shop. Where had the door gone!
Tap-tap-tap!
"Harry Potter!" Tap-tap-tap! "Harry Potter – must buy Dobby!"
Tap-tap-tap!
Harry woke with a start, finding himself in his own bed. The only thing streaming in these windows was a bit of moonlight. He checked the time finding that only a handful of hours had passed since he had sent off Hedwig.
It was little wonder why Dobby's plight had made its way into his dreams for they certainly seemed the stuff of nightmares. Knowing he had done all he could for the elf at the moment, Harry turned over and pulled his thin single sheet back over him, hoping to get a few Dobby-free dreams before dawn.
Tap-tap-tap!
Harry snatched his glasses from the bedside table and peered around the room. A shadow moved in the moonlight.
Tap-tap-tap!
Harry got up wondering who in the world could have been writing him at four o'clock in the morning. Immediately Harry discarded that idea. No one in the world writes letters in the middle of the night, he's just unused to getting them.
Opening the window Harry wasn't too surprised to see a tan tawny owl staring up at him. What did unnerve him was the biggest pair of black eyes he had ever seen doing the staring.
"Er – Hello," Harry said, untying the envelope from its leg as the eyes followed his every move.
"Would you like some water or maybe an owl tre–" he didn't bother finishing the offer since the owl left immediately once its burden was removed.
Seeing the handwriting Harry knew that there actually was someone who writes letters in the middle of the night. It was from Hermione. The owls had definitely made good time.
Harry flipped on his bedroom light and sat at his desk, eager to see what had been so urgent.
'Harry,
Thanks so much for writing. Happy belated birthday by the way. It's good to know you're doing well; I was starting to fear the worst. The owl that I'm sure flew off straight away was called Imogen. You have no idea how lucky you are to have such a personable owl as Hedwig.
About my letters, you really don't need to bother with them. Basic stuff really. How's your summer, I've been studying, were you going to visit Ron; that sort of thing. It's probably best if you just binned them.
Anyway, next year's book list should be out any day now. We're going shopping in Diagon Alley the Wednesday after. You'd probably be at Ron's by then, I would think, that way we could all meet up and focus on next year. Let me know what you think.
Your Friend, Hermione'
He read the letter again. Something about it just didn't sit right with him. Something was just… off. The first and last parts were what he'd expect from a summer letter. It was pretty much the same as he saw other people get in movies.
That second part though, reading that bit a third time started to make his skin crawl. 'You really don't need to bother with them… It's probably best if you just binned them.' That didn't sound like Hermione to him at all. She had never been one to throw any sort of information away, even "basic stuff," so why would she want him to do so now?
Thinking that there was nothing left to do but take a look at the offending letters, Harry reached under his pillow and retrieved the now slightly rumpled stack. He quickly separated the two from Hermione and opened one at random.
'Harry,
I know what must be going on in your mind right now. Believe me, I understand. You should also know that we're friends and I wouldn't want that to change for the world. Please respond. We'll be in school with each other for the next six years, I certainly wouldn't want there to be any awkwardness between us.
I know Ron's invited you to stay with him this summer. You should accept. There's no reason something between us should affect his friendship with you. I'm sure you'll have a good time and I'll see you both on the train in September.
I hope you have a happy birthday and a pleasant summer.
Hermione'
Harry didn't know where in time this letter came from in relation to the others but he was pretty sure what had happened. She and Ron must have had a fight. No doubt she'd think that Ron had told him all about it and now she thought that his silence was him being worried that he would feel like he'd have to choose one side or the other.
This was Hermione was giving him an out, Harry decided. She was choosing to keep the fight strictly between herself and Ron, saying she knew how he'd be feeling but didn't want him to feel like he had to choose. She even wanted him to go through with Ron's plan, meaning she's okay with them being friends and 'wouldn't want there to be any awkwardness,' even if, by the sound of the ending, she didn't plan to see or hear from them again all summer. Though he supposed her mentioning meeting up with them on the train said she held out hope for a reconciliation.
If there had been a fight, and his continued silence had pushed them together again out of worry, that would explain why she told him not to bother with the letters, Harry reasoned. If the fight was already over then of course she wouldn't want to risk ruining his summer by telling him it had happened in the first place.
Harry didn't think it would've ended so quickly and easily though. The troll incident last year showed that Hermione'd forgive you in a second if you showed even a hint that you knew you were wrong. You didn't even have to say the words. Ron, however, was a lot more stubborn about it. His reluctance even to look for her that Halloween, after his name-calling had sent her into that bathroom crying, told him that without a troll looming over you it'd take a long, drawn-out battle of wills to get Ron to even give that hint and he doubted the silence coming from Privet Drive counted for much.
That left two letters from Ron, one from Hermione, Harry reckoned. One from both to tell him their side of the fight – Hermione's telling him not to worry and Ron's inviting him to stay and join his side – and one from Ron to tell him to forget the fight and to come over anyway.
Hoping for a breath of fresh air, Harry read the letter from Hagrid instead.
'Harry,
Ron and Hermione are sayin that yer not answerin any of their letters. Don need me nocking down any doors now, do ya? Let'em know yer alright or if'n you need me ta pay those Dursleys a visit. 'Ermione's goin' mad with worry. Hope ya have a Happy Birthday. If'n I don hear from you by tha end o' August, expect a very big bang on yer fron' door come the First.
Hagrid
P.S. Had som'thin for ya but it looks like it et thru its cage. I'll see if I can find you another'n. Happy Birthday!'
While he was sorry Hagrid had been pulled into any drama Dobby had caused, Harry was glad he was taking it so well. The image of Hagrid showing up on Privet Drive on the back of Fluffy, his giant three-headed dog, with another baby dragon under his arm, and knocking down his door to rescue him from his beastly relatives certainly put a smile on Harry's face. It was probably for the best though that his present had made a break for freedom because after seeing what kind of pets Hagrid thought were acceptable, Harry had no intention of meeting another any time soon.
He'd definitely have to send Hedwig out with a letter thanking him for the offer, and to tell him he really didn't have to get him anything for his birthday. 'Especially something that could eat through a cage,' Harry thought.
If Hagrid could put a smile on his face after the summer he's had, Harry knew the lovable giant could certainly help smooth out whatever disagreement Ron and Hermione may have had – and had probably already done so. Again, he didn't mention a fight, but since it was a birthday letter it's doubtful Hagrid would've wanted to dampen his spirit by mentioning it.
Halfway through his letters it was a simple thing that tipped the scales: Ron's letters were thin while Hermione's was thicker than both of Ron's combined. Deciding to save the longest for last, Harry opened Ron's first letter.
'Hiya Harry,
Can you believe we've got almost three whole months without Malfoy and Snape? I never thought I'd be so glad to be back here in all my life!
Still, it'd be better if you were here though. It can get pretty dull just doing chores and having your little sister ask a thousand and one questions a day about what you're really like. I just tell her to go to her room and read her stupid books. Hopefully she'll get as bad as Percy; he's shut up in his room alone for hours now, not that I'm complaining.
I swear though, half my family's getting as bad as Hermione. Did you know she's already studying for next year? I mean, we can't do magic and haven't even got our books yet! What do you think of her? Bloody mental, I say.
Well, Errol looks fit enough to fly again so I guess I should wrap this up. Dad's fine with you coming to stay with us but doesn't know when he can swing a trip to the muggles to get you. I'll keep hounding him though. Hopefully we'll get you here in time for your birthday.
Ron'
It was nice to think about Ron's family wanting him there for his birthday, especially since he hadn't even met half of them yet. He was having some doubts about his fight theory now though. Sure, Ron's against studying when he doesn't have to but Harry doubted things would've escalated enough to be called a fight over it, let alone result in any "awkwardness," as Hermione put it.
He hoped Ron's next letter would help clear things up.