NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: No Can Do, Harry
August 3, 1995 – Harry Potter, age 15, Wizard, Boy, 'Scarhead', possible criminal (if Minister Fudge had his way), was extremely anxious and bored. Just yesterday, August 2, Dementors attacked Harry and his cousin Dudley near their house in Little Whinging. Harry was able to defend himself and Dudley by casting a Patronus charm, and with the help of Mrs. Figg got himself and Dudley back to the house.
There, he received first a letter from the Ministry of Magic saying he performed magic illegally in front of a muggle; that he was to be expelled from Hogwarts; and as this was a repeat offence, he was to appear at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9am on August 12. A second letter then arrived, this time from Mr. Weasley, the father of his best friend Ron, demanding he not leave the house and that Headmaster Dumbledore was trying to resolve the problems.
Harry then received a third letter, from the Ministry of Magic again, that he was not expelled but would have to appear at a disciplinary hearing on August 12 for breaking the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. Then, he received a fourth letter, from Sirius, his escaped godfather, demanding he not leave the house; all this in the span of a few minutes.
Harry watched Uncle Vernon's face get more and more purple with anger….at 'the Freak' and at the owls. Harry was sorely tempted to just leave, but he abided by everybody's wishes and went to his room. Early this morning, Order of Phoenix members (and Aurors) Mad-Eye Moody, Kingsley Shakelbolt, Emmaline Vance, and Tonks came to ….. "retrieve" him (like he was somebody's package to retrieve!) Upon arrival at Grimmauld Place, ancestral home of the Black family, he was told to follow Ron to their shared bedroom until Headmaster Dumbledore could meet with him.
"Ron, where are we?" Harry asked. "We're in Sirius' family manor, 'Grimmauld Place'. He donated its use as the meeting place for the Order of the Phoenix" replied Ron. "Sirius is here? I need to talk with him" Harry said. "No can do Harry – Dumbledore said to stay in the room until he comes for you", Ron said. "No can do? Are you kidding me, Ron?" Harry asked as he reached for the door, finding it locked. "So, are you my jailer now, Ron? What happened to my best friend?" Harry responded heatedly, with his hand still on the door knob. All of a sudden, he felt the lock click open. He quickly opened the door and stomped out - Ron was temporarily stunned as he stood there looking at the door.
Harry couldn't find Sirius, but he did find Hermione sitting on a recliner in the library reading a muggle book titled Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. "Hermione! It's great to see you!" he exclaimed. Hermione's head snapped up, her eyes locked with his, and then she leapt up off the recliner and gave him a hug; a really long hug. As she continued to hug him, Harry found his arms wrapping around her to return the hug. "You're here" she whispered. "I am" he responded, leaning his chin over her shoulder (Merlin! He was taller than her for the first time!). Harry noticed the vanilla smell of her hair, deciding he liked it, and he really liked her hug! He did not like Ron running up on them exclaiming "Harry, mate. Dumbledore said to stay in your room. You can't go running around the house!" Harry released his hug from Hermione and turned toward Ron. Ron's face was turning a bit pink, seeing Hermione and Harry hugging.
"Ron, mate. I've just spent 30 plus days in Durskaban. I didn't get any letters from you guys, so I was totally in the dark about what is happening. Yesterday I was attacked by Dementors. The Ministry wants to expel me, and you want me to be a good boy and subject myself to more jail time? Sorry, mate – the answer is….No Can Do." Harry replied. He proceeded to sit in another chair in the library, intending to talk with Hermione. Ron, in a huff went to visit with Ginny in her room.
"That was a bit harsh, Harry. He meant well." Hermione began. "Hermione, he locked me in the room!" "Harry" Hermione began. "I am ..I am really sorry we couldn't get any letters to you. The Headmaster was adamant nobody send you any letters so you could have time to grieve over Cedric. Sirius and I wrote you several letters and wanted to send them by muggle post. Mrs Weasley and Kreacher however, found the letters and took them so we could not send them out." She finished weakly. "I mean, it's not likely Death Eaters are going to be monitoring the muggle post, is it?" she asked.