Harry Potter and the Heir of Gryffindor(01) - Sahits

He usually tried his best to keep it covered beneath his hair, and he did so now before headingdownstairs.The Dursleys were already at the door, Aunt Petunia holding a custard of some kind, Dudley dressedin his very finest-- Harry could even smell a whiff of cologne. Uncle Vernon pulled up his nose theminute he saw Harry reach the creaky bottom step."Come to see us off, have you?""No, Mr. Banbury mentioned that he wanted me to--"Aunt Petunia laughed a high, skin-crawling giggle. "You think you're having dinner with us? With theBanburys? Mr. Banbury is a very important man and we won't have him and his family exposed topeople like you. Since you're so excited to have the house to yourself, you can start practicing now--tonight. You're staying right here."They turned, Dudley sent a glaring look of satisfaction at his cousin and the door slammed behind him.Harry stood in the quiet of the hallway, actually disappointed that he couldn't accompany the Dursleys.Mr. Banbury had smiled at him. He'd tried to speak to him! And Harry had appreciated it and wanted tosee him again. He'd turned and began to make his way slowly back up the stairs when the front doorsuddenly burst open again. Dudley stood in the doorway, his face red with anger."Come on, then.""Huh?"Dudley could hardly speak, he was so angry. "You 'eard, come on. Hurry up, they'll be starting dinnersoon."Harry said nothing, but followed his cousin across the lawn and into number 3 Privet Drive. Sinfularomas met him, a gust of lovely, warm air, and to his surprise Mrs. Banbury extending her hand tohim."Ah, here he is! I'm Imelda Banbury, and you are?"She was a pretty woman in her mid thirties, dressed in a bright lavender sun dress with matchingshoes and matching pin in her short chestnut brown hair. Her almond brown eyes sparkled just as herhusband's did and she shook his hand heartily."Harry," he answered quietly."It's a pleasure, Harry. So you didn't want to come for dinner, eh? Well, you can go right back afteryou've finished eating, if you like. No sense in holding you here if you're not enjoying yourself! Butcome, let me-- oh there she is, Sophie! Sophie, this is Harry-- Dudley's cousin."Harry knew why Dudley had been so intrigued with the Banburys' arrival. Sophie was absolutelylovely, a perfect blend of her mother's physical beauty and her father's magnetic charm. In her armswas her black and white cat and she was grinning which made her deep-set brown eyes twinkle and asmall dimple appear on her left cheek. She innocently pulled a stray strand of her long, thick brownhair back into place and carefully extended her hand so as not to disturb her cat."I'm Sophie."Harry was sure that his mouth wasn't the only one that had fallen-- Dudley was standing directly nextto him."I'm Harry," he said calmly. He tried to think of something to say -- preferable something witty-- butnothing would come."Do you go to Smeltings with Dudley, then?"Harry shook his head."Then that means I'll be at your school! I'm going to Stonewall High as well. Glad that I'll actually knowsomeone. It's really hard when--""Harry doesn't go to Stonewall," Dudley piped up quite gleefully, cutting her off.She raised her brow. "Oh?"Dudley was positively gloating, and Harry knew what was coming . . ."Oh, no. They don't let his sort at Stonewall. He goes to St. Brutus's."Sophie stared at Harry in disbelief. Subconsciously, she took a step back. "S-St. Brutus's?"Really, it would have been much better if he'd just told her the truth: better for her to know that he wasreally a wizard instead of thinking that he was a serial killer in the making."W-well, er, that's quite . . . interesting, Harry. I bet it's very nice there . . ." she attempted a feeblelaugh. "Worlds better than Stonewall, I'd wager."Her cat jumped out of her arms at that moment and approached Harry's feet, sniffing his shoes andthen rubbing up against them, wrapping his tail about his ankle."Wow! He likes you, doesn't he! Marwick doesn't like anyone, except for--""Children? You're letting the dinner get cold! Come and sit!" Mrs. Banbury had appeared right behindthem and beckoned them to follow.They walked through the living room which was clean, every bit as orderly as Aunt Petunia's with lotsof flowers and rugs and frames, and into their kitchen where a delectable feast was laid out andwaiting for them.10