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	The Order of the Phoenix.net Chapter 2

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Chapter 2 - A Peck of Owls

Harry does a double take on Mrs. Figg who turns out to be a Witch! Harry is sooo surprised when she continues to mumble about Mundungus not being at his post. Mrs. Figg finally explains to Harry that she is a Squibb. A squibb has no magical talent to speak of! And that Mr. Tibbles (one of Mrs. Figg’s many cats) notified her that Mundungus Fletcher (who can apparate) had left his post. Mrs. Figg then helps Harry carry Dudley back home to the Dursley’s as Dudley’s encounter with the Dementor has made it difficult for him to walk. The Dementors seemed to literally take Dudley’s will to live away, as they suck out all a person’s happiness.

While walking and carrying Dudley back to the Dursley’s, Mrs. Figg and Harry meet Mundungus Fletcher who apparates with a strong smell of ale on his breath. Mrs. Figg squares him right on the head with her string bag where he is heard to say “gerrof --- geroff!!!” Mrs. Figg send Mundungus off to tell Dumbledore about the Dementor episode so he can be aware Dementors are allowing themselves to be seen in the Muggle world attacking muggles – Dudley! Mrs. Figg leaves Harry and Dudley right outside the Dursley door and as Dudley crosses the threshold he projectile vomits into the entry!! Aunt Petunia, of course, is screaming “Diddy, what’s wrong?”.

Just as Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon try to pin Harry down as to what has happened to their precious baby boy, a screech owl swoops in, narrowly missing Uncle Vernon’s head, with a letter to Harry from the Ministry of Magic. It read:

Dear Mr. Potter:

We have received intelligence that you performed the Patronus Charm at twenty-three minutes past nine this evening in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of a Muggle.
The severity of this breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcecery has resulted in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand.
As you have already received an official warning for a previous offense under section 13 of the International Confederation of Wizards’ Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9 a.m. on August 12th.

Hoping you are well.

Yours sincerely,

Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic

Well, this is certainly not very good news to Harry. It was so surprising he read the letter twice. This is the first of many horrific challenges our dear Harry will encounter this year! The very idea of not being able to go “home” to the magic world seemed inconceivable to him. And the idea of someone coming to the house to take his wand? He has deep thoughts about how can he protect himself without his wand.

He is thinking to himself, “boy, I better run”, when another owl swoops into the room with a letter from Arthur Weasley. The letter reads something like: “Dumbledore is trying to sort it all out, STAY WHERE YOU ARE! DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE’S HOUSE. Do not do any more magic. Do not surrender your wand!” Needless to say, Uncle Vernon is getting redder in the face as each owl swoops into his house. Uncle Vernon does not tolerate magic in his house – or at least that is what he wishes would not happen!

Dudley starts to come to and Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon question their precious baby about what had made him sick. Harry tries to explain it was a Dementor and the effects of Dementors on the average person. Aunt Petunia chimes in with “They guard the wizard prison, Azkaban”, shocking Harry that Aunt Petunia knew anything about the wizarding world at all. When Harry asked how she knew this information, she ignored him. She finally explains that she overheard James Potter mentioning Dementors and Azkaban prison years ago.

The next thing you know yet another (third) owl comes flying through their parlor with another letter from the Ministry of Magic for Harry. This one says:

Dear Mr. Potter:

Further to our letter of approximately twenty-two minutes ago, the Ministry of Magic has revised its decision to destroy your wand forthwith. You may retain your wand until your disciplinary hearing on 12th August, at which time an official decision will be taken.

Following discussions with the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Ministry has agreed that the question of your expulsion will also be decided at that time. You should therefore consider yourself suspended from school pending further inquiries.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic

Well, Harry read this letter three times in a row to make sure he read it correctly. Certainly Professor Dumbledore was successful to some extent with the Ministry of Magic. But this is a forewarning of Ministry of Magic mischief.

Uncle Vernon absolutely pops a fuse after three (3) owls fly through his office. He screams at Harry until all the veins in his face, neck and body pop out. He wants to know, blow by blow what happened with these “Dementors” and his precious Dudley. Once again Harry tries to explain. Just as he explains about the “Dementor’s Kiss” an fourth (4th) owl flies in from Mrs. Weasley. This one says “Do not leave the house again, whatever you do”. The reason for this, of course, is Dumbledore placed some very strong, ancient magic on the Dursley home and as long as Harry stays with the Dursley’s he will remain safe from Lord Voldemort.

Harry tells Uncle Vernon about this letter and explains he cannot help it that owls are the way the wizarding world communicates. He then explains about Lord Voldemort coming back. Aunt Petunia lets on she knows who he is and surprises Harry all over again. Harry explains he is the one who murdered his parents. For the first time, Harry sees something different in his Aunt Petunia’s face – recognition that the wizarding world exists!

The next thing you know a fifth owl swoops in with what appears to be a Howler. For those of you who don’t know about Howlers, well it is best to say one should open them right away. A Howler is a letter from a witch or wizard chastising (screaming at) the recipient for one reason or another. This one is yelling at Aunt Petunia:

“Remember My Last, Petunia”

On this note, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon send Harry to bed as he inquires: “Who was that Howler from?”

Editor’s Comments: We it was quite a relief to know that Professor Dumbledore still has some influence at the Ministry of Magic. With these letters coming every few minutes, the reader has a fun time learning that Aunt Petunia knew much more than she ever let on. It becomes very apparent that Aunt Petunia and Professor Dumbledore have made a pact to help protect Harry.