pdf - dance with me harry - Sahits

ancient Miss Embry's almost-as-ancient mower just the way Mr. Downey had taught him. Finally,
he made his way to Queen Anne Road.
Mr. Ashwell met him at the door of a modest but very pleasant two-story frame house and showed
him the mower and the scope of the job, promising him a tenner. Ashwell told Harry he normally
mowed the lawn but that he and his wife were expecting the vicar for lunch and that Harry was
invited as well.
When Harry mowed lawns, he found it relaxing just to follow the lines of the lawn as exactly as
possible, without thinking of anything else. But he was a little nonplussed about lunch with the
vicar. Reverend Strowbridge, on the few occasions the Dursleys attended services, seemed to be a
warm, pleasant man. But he was the vicar, and Harry felt uncomfortable about lunching with him.
He began to feel guilty about the infrequency of the Dursley's visits to services. And he also felt
guilty about how few times he visited the chapel at Hogwarts. And he would hardly be presentable
after all the work he had done that morning.
However, when he was done with the lawn, Mr. Ashwell came out and practically dragged him up
to the house for lunch.
* * *
The Reverend Anthony Strowbridge, an affable, balding middle-aged man of medium height with a
slight paunch, was not resplendent in his vestments. He had even left his collar at the vicarage. As
Harry entered the kitchen, he was sitting back in a kitchen chair in a sport shirt and khaki pants,
smiling at Denise Ashwell, who was recounting her travails during a recent dental appointment
Clem Ashwell ushered Harry in and presented him to Strowbridge, who smiled fondly at Harry.
"Pleased to meet you, Reverend Strowbridge," Harry said formally.
Strowbridge laughed. "Please, I'm not the Archbishop of Canterbury...at least not yet. In my spare
time, which isn't as plentiful as I would like, I'm just Tony."
Harry shuffled uncomfortably, but gave a tentative smile.
Ashwell guided Harry to a small side bathroom to wash up. When he was through, he returned to
find his place set at the small but comfortable table, which was laden with ham sandwiches and a
variety of salads.
As Mrs. Ashwell began distributing the food, Strowbridge turned to Harry. "I understand that you
are Vernon and Petunia Dursleys' nephew and that you live with them over at Privet Drive."
"Yes, sir," Harry said warily.
Strowbridge smiled as he watched Harry closely. "Tell me, Harry," he said in a conspiratorial tone.
"What can I do to get them to attend services more regularly?"
Harry shifted uncomfortably and shrugged.
"So how long have you been living with the Dursleys, Harry?" Strowbridge asked.
"Since I was a little past one year old, after my parents died," Harry said, picking over his salad
with a guarded look on his face.
"Really," Strowbridge said, his eyebrows arched. "I haven't seen you around much. I like to get to
know members of my flock, but you seem to be one who has escaped my attention. I'm glad we
finally got the chance to meet," he said with a warm smile.
Harry, who had taken a tentative bite of his sandwich, chewed thoughtfully. He was worried that the
reverend might start asking him about Hogwarts and he still wasn't prepared to answer them
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