"That does it," said Uncle Vernon, trying to speak calmly butpulling great tufts out of his mustache at the same time. I want youall back here in five minutes ready to leave. We're going away. Justpack some clothes. No arguments!"He looked so dangerous with half his mustache missing thatno one dared argue. Ten minutes later they had wrenched their waythrough the boarded-up doors and were in the car, speeding towardthe highway. Dudley was sniffling in the back seat; his father hadhit him round the head for holding them up while he tried to packhis television, VCR, and computer in his sports bag.
They drove. And they drove. Even Aunt Petunia didn't dare askwhere they were going. Every now and then Uncle Vernon would take asharp turn and drive in the opposite direction for a while. "Shake'emoff... shake 'em off," he would mutter whenever he did this.
They didn't stop to eat or drink all day. By nightfall Dudley washowling. He'd never had such a bad day in his life. He was hungry,he'd missed five television programs he'd wanted to see, and he'dnever gone so long without blowing up an alien on his computer.
Uncle Vernon stopped at last outside a gloomy-looking hotel onthe outskirts of a big city. Dudley and Harry shared a room withtwin beds and damp, musty sheets. Dudley snored but Harry stayedawake, sitting on the windowsill, staring down at the lights ofpassing cars and wondering....
They ate stale cornflakes and cold tinned tomatoes on toastfor breakfast the next day. They had just finished when the ownerof the hotel came over to their table.
"'Scuse me, but is one of you Mr. H. Potter? Only I got about an'undred of these at the front desk."She held up a letter so they could read the green ink address:
Mr. H. PotterRoom 17Railview HotelCokeworthHarry made a grab for the letter but Uncle Vernon knocked hishand out of the way. The woman stared.
"I'll take them," said Uncle Vernon, standing up quickly andfollowing her from the dining room.
Wouldn't it be better just to go home, dear?" Aunt Petuniasuggested timidly, hours later, but Uncle Vernon didn't seem tohear her. Exactly what he was looking for, none of them knew. Hedrove them into the middle of a forest, got out, looked around,shook his head, got back in the car, and off they went again. Thesame thing happened in the middle of a plowed field, halfway acrossa suspension bridge, and at the top of a multilevel parking garage |