3 Ten years later

Ring..ring..ring...

Ugh six o'clock already Aunt Petunia will be in here in twenty minutes to make sure we are up for Dudley's birthday. "Harry get up we gotta go start breakfast for aunt Petunia. You don't want to get locked in the closet with no food again do you?"

"Ugh... Why do we have to wake up so early?"

"It is Dudley's birthday of course. So naturally we have to be miserable. Now get up before you drag me with you to the punishment closet."

Making sure he got up and started throwing some clothes on I head out towards the kitchen. Every year on Dudley's birthday we have to count the presents as we lay them out for him, start the breakfast, and start planning the birthday boys cake. That is a normal birthday for Dudley since we were seven. Me and Harry are lucky if we get a hanger for our birthday.

"Hurry up boys. Dudley will be in here at any moment."

"Yes aunt Petunia." It's amazing how well we say that one line in sync. ten years of practicing makes perfect after all. I point Harry towards the presents so he can count and sort while I start making coffee for aunt Petunia to drink.

"Aunt Petunia is there a mistake?"

"What is it dear."

"There is thirty-six presents at the table that's one less then you got Dudley last year and unless we fib to him he will be mad."

"There are quite a few bigger then he got last year so just put down thirty-seven. You know as well as I that he will ask Vernon instead of us." That still freaks me out aunt Petunia took a liking to Harry as a child since he was the quite but helpful type. Me I became uncle Vernon's personal handyman I guess I would be a favorite. Hard to tell he just yells come here boy and fix this. However I noticed we get punished a lot less then in the book I read from my past life.

Setting a coffee in front of both aunt Petunia and Harry I go make mine as I start on the food. Weird how calm they were when I started drinking coffee at six. Gotta say I missed it the few years I went without it. The phone started ringing around this time and of course Harry gets up to get it. "Dursley residence. How may I help you?"

"Is this Harry or Jackson?"

"It's Harry Ms. Figg."

"Alright Harry dear please inform your aunt and uncle I can't watch you and Jackson today. I broke my arm tending to my cats here recently and still need time to recuperate from it."

"I will tell aunt Petunia right away. Get well soon Ms. Figg." After hanging the phone up Harry walks towards aunt Petunia and sits next to her. "Aunt Petunia Ms. Figg says she is unable to watch me and Jack today. She seems to have broke her arm tending to her cats."

"Oh dear Vernon won't be happy about that. Jackson how soon till breakfast is ready?"

"Just finished aunt Petunia. Harry come set the table for everyone while I place the food on the table."

"Alright I will go get your uncle and cousin. Don't forget Vernon's coffee Jackson."

"Yes aunt Petunia." Watching her walk off I look at Harry and have to ask. "Do you want to go to the Zoo with them today?"

"Yes! We hardly ever get to go when they take him out for his birthday. Don't you want to go Jack?"

"Not particularly Harry no. It is just a zoo we can always go to one when we are older. I think I will ask uncle Vernon if I can stay and work on the shed out back. After all I only have a week to finish repairing it. Don't you have work to catch up on?"

"Yeah but it is all indoors. All my outdoor work was done yesterday since they wanted the yard clean for Dudley's friends to see it."

"Then I guess you will just have to tell me all about it when you get home Harry. Be nice to Dudley after all today is his birthday. Who knows how much he will beat you if you cross him."

"Yeah." As soon as he said that in comes Uncle Vernon. These past ten years I had convinced him to work out and drop some weight so he wouldn't make pigs run frightened. Not to toot my own horn or anything but it worked.

"Morning Uncle Vernon!"

"Ahh... Is it not too early for the twin talk?"

"Yes sir. Here is the morning paper Uncle. Jack has your coffee coming right up." Walking towards Uncle Vernon with his coffee I always feel a little nervous. Every time he has a bad dream he dumps his coffee on me or Harry. Needless to say I learned to avoid it while Harry moves back as soon as the paper is passed.

"Uncle Vernon Ms. Figg was injured recently so I was wondering could I stay home and finish my work in the shed out back? I know the house will be locked so I can't get in but I would like to get the shed finished as soon as possiable."

"I don't have a problem with that boy. Just be sure to fix the shed properly unlike some nitwit that can't even cut grass right."

"Yes Uncle Vernon I won't do it halfway. A man needs pride to stand strong so I will fix it with pride."

"That's it boy. Harry do you have in outdoor work left to do?" Watching Harry shake his head no I am tempted to offer him to help me. Then again I don't want to have to go over everything twice. We each have our strengths his is staying far away from any type of tool. ANY.. TYPE.. OF.. TOOL.. Last time he used a hammer Dudley had a broke leg afterwards. How he manages to let tools loose in his hand is amazing. It is like a skill all its own. "Fine. I would put you with Jackson outside but he might get killed by your particular skill set."

We end up spending most of the morning arguing with Dudley cause of course he had to count himself to see if he really had thirty-seven presents. The tantrum was even funnier then the book. He was on all fours like a toddler kicking and screaming how they don't love him anymore. I honestly felt like killing him in that moment. Watching Harry I raised a brow at him as if asking if he wanted to be seen publicly with that. He shook his head and mouthed alone. It's how we typically shame each other he loves crowds I prefer solitude. Another thing the books got wrong was the bullying, of course that might be because I was bullying Dudley. Not to sure on that part yet but I am working my thoughts around it.

After they leave I go back out to the shed to begin my work for the day I knew they would be back in a few hours but this was my only free time. As I began my work I hear an owl hoot nearby. Turning to look I see one staring at me with a letter tied around his foot.