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

"N-no, Imelda, r-really. Please don't bother--it's quite all right. Besides, we wouldn't want you exposedto the sort of . . . er . . . riff raff that will be there. You know he'll be with all his kind, right? No, no, it'sout of the question."Aunt Petunia looked deathly worried-no doubt fearful of Imelda discovering Harry to be a wizard. Theirony was too delicious to handle!"Oh, well, if that's the way you feel about it," said Imelda, sighing."Yes-it's best that we do it, Imelda dear. Thank you anyway.""Right, of course I understand-"Harry was confused-she was just going to let it drop? Just like that?He watched her as she turned her back towards the Dursley's, pulled her wand out from under her beltand whispered something that sounded an awful like 'Oblitus Dilutum' and then quickly turned to pointher wand at the family. The three of them froze: Uncle Vernon's newspaper in mid turn, Aunt Petunia'smouth open ready to speak, Dudley's finger firmly placed up his nostril in mid-pick."Imelda, wha--"She then murmured something else and a bright white light sparked from the end of her wand."Simply a memory charm, Harry, no need for alarm. Useful little trick-especially in my line of work.Never fails to get Muggles to give you what you need." She tucked her wand neatly away and said,"Argutum Acuere!"It was as though someone had pressed the "play" button on a remote control! The Dursley'simmediately went back to exactly what they had been doing. Except this time, Aunt Petunia wassaying, "Why, that's wonderful of you, Imelda! Takes such a load off of my back. How fortunate thatyou just happen to be going into London tomorrow.""Yes," said Imelda, grinning, "How fortunate indeed! Then it's all settled! I'll be by to pick up Harry atnine o' clock sharp.""He'll be ready," said Uncle Vernon, smiling overtop his newspaper. "Won't you, Harry old boy?""Y-yes, Uncle Vernon."Imelda turned for the door and Harry rushed over to her. "Let me walk you out, Mrs. Banbury."He followed her outside, hearing what sounded like his Uncle's voice say "How thoughtful of Harry!Such a sweet boy, isn't he Petunia?""What did you do to them!" He shrieked in disbelief, walking towards number three.Imelda laughed and opened the door. "Oh, nothing. Come in, won't you? I've made biscuits, freshlybaked. Don't you worry about your family. They'll be back to their usual terrible selves by the time youleave tomorrow. Just thought it might be nice to have at least one evening without having them onyour case about something." She winked. "Not supposed to do things like that, strictly speaking. But Iwon't tell if you won't.""Won't tell what?" asked Sophie coming down the staircase, already dressed in her pink cottonpajamas. "Oh! Er . . . hiya, Harry."He laughed. "Bunny rabbits, Sophie?"She looked down at her pink rabbit slippers and blushed furiously. "Oh shut up.""Let me bring out the biscuits and milk."Imelda disappeared into the kitchen and Sophie peered over the banister, then waved for Harry tofollow her. "Come here," she whispered, "hurry."Harry raised a brow and obeyed, following her up the staircase. She led him into what turned out to beher room and closed the door behind them. Harry felt incredibly awkward at first, and then realized:he'd never been inside a girl's bedroom before. Muggle or Wizard. And it was so . . . cute. Sophieseemed to be quite fond of pink as her bedspread was white with little pink daisies and even her wallshad a very light pink hue to them."What's going on?" Harry asked, trying hard not to appear as uncomfortable as he was.Sophie seemed completely oblivious to his awkwardness and pulled the kwikspell book from under herpillowcase. "I just wanted to say thank you. You really don't know how much this means to me."Harry shifted uncomfortably, "Oh, that. No problem.""I mean, I've swiped spellbooks from Mom's room before, but. . . of course I couldn't do anything withthem. Hopefully this book will be different. Look," she said proudly, pulling out something from underher bed. "I even have a wand! It's old, though. Mom had it when she was my age and she just gave itto me-- just to amuse me, really."Harry was interested. "Here, let me see? Maybe this wand isn't right for you-- after all, the wandchooses the wizard, not vice versa. And hand me that kwikspell book."She obeyed and Harry flipped through the pages. "Hey, some of these are pretty good. . .""well, they go from novice all the way to expert--""Yeah, so I've noticed! From engorgement charms to the confondus curse-- that's a hard one. Andsome of these I've never even heard of yet!" He looked up to find Sophie peering past his shoulder to20