The Twin Potters Adventure

Chapter Three

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Chapter three — The letters from no one;

The escape of the Brazilian boa constrictor earned you and Harry the longest-ever punishment. By the time either of you were allowed out of the cupboard again, the summer holidays had started and Dudley had already broken his new video camera, crashed his remote control airplane, and, first time out on his racing bike, knocked down old Mrs figg as she crossed privet drive on her crutches.
    Harry was glad school was over, but there was no escaping Dudley's gang, who visited the house every single day. Piers, Dennis, Malcolm, and Gordon were all big and stupid,. But as Dudley was the biggest and stupidest of the lot, he was the leader. The rest of them were all quite happy to join in Dudley's favorite sport: Potter Hunting.
    this was why you and Harry spent as much time as possible out of the house, wandering around and thinking about the end of the holidays, where he could see a tiny ray of hope. When September came you'd both would be going off to secondary school and for the first time in the Potter twins life, you'd wouldn't be with Dudley. Dudley got accepted at uncle Vernon's old private school, smeltings. Piers Polkiss was going there too. But you and Harry, on the other hand, was going to stonewall high, the local public school. Dudley thought this was very funny.
    "They stuff people's heads down the toilet the first day at stonewall," he told you and Harry. "Want to come upstairs and practice?"
    "Uhh no, thanks" you said. "The poor toilet's never had anything as horrible as your head down it—it might be sick." Then you both ran, before Dudley could work out what he'd said.
    one day in July, aunt petunia took Dudley to London to buy his smeltings uniform, leaving the Potter twins with Mrs. Figgs. Mrs. Figgs wasn't as bad as usual. It turned out shed broken her leg tripping over one of her cats, and she didn't seem quite as fond of them as before. She you both watch television and and offered some chocolate cake but it tasted as she has had it for several years.
    That evening, Dudley paraded around the living room for the family in his brand–new uniform. Smeltings boys wore maroon tailcoats, orange Knickerbockers, and flat straw hats called boaters. They also carried knobby sticks, used for hitting each other while the teachers weren't looking. This was supposed to be good training for later life.
    as you both looked at Dudley in his new knickerbockers, uncle Vernon said gruffly that it was the proudest moment of his life. Aunt Petunia burst into tears and said she couldn't believe it was her lckle dudleykins, he looked so handsome and grown–up. Neither of you trusted themselves to speak. you both thought two ribs have might of already cracked from trying not to laugh.

There was a horrible smell in the kitchen the next morning when you both got up for breakfast. It seemed to be coming from a large metal tub in the sink. You went to have a look with Harry. It looked like a dirty rag swimming in gray water.
    "What's this?" Harry asked aunt petunia. Her lips tightened as they always did if either of you dared to asked a question.
    "You new school uniform," she said.
    Harry looked in the bowl again.
    "Oh" Harry started, "I didn't realize it had to be so wet."
    "Don't be stupid," snapped aunt petunia. "I'm dying some of Dudley's old things grey for you both. It'll look just like everyone else's when I've finished."
    Harry and you seriously doubt that, but the thought it best not to argue. You both sat down at the table and tried not to think about how you'd was going to look on your first day at stonewall high — you held Harry's hand tightly as you sat.
    Dudley a d uncle Vernon came in, both with wrinkles noses because of the smell from Harry's and yours new uniforms. Uncle Vernon opened his newspaper as usual and Dudley banged his smeltings stick, which he carried everywhere, on the table.
    they heard the click of the mail slot and flop of letters on the doormat.
    "Get the mail, Dudley," said uncle Vernon from behind his paper.
    "Make Harry get it."
    "Get the mail, Harry."
    "Make Dudley get it."
    "Poke him with your smeltings stick, Dudley."
    Harry dodged the smeltings stick and went to get the mail with you right behind. Four things lay on the doormat: a postcard from uncle Vernon's sister Marge, who was vacationing on the isles of wight, a brown envelope that looked like a bill, and—a two letters for both Harry and you.
    Harry picked it up and stared at it, his heart twanging like a giant elastic band. No one, ever, in has written to them. Who would? They both had no friends, no other relatives —they didn't belong to the library, so he'd never even got rude notes asking for books back. You stared at it as you read the one with your name on it, addressed so plainly there could be no mistake:

       Mr. Y. Potter
       The Cupboard under the stairs
       4 Privet Drive
       Little whinging
       Surrey
The envelope was thick and heavy, made of yellowish parchment, and the address was written in emerald–green ink. There was no stamp.
     turning the envelope over, hands trembling, you saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms;a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake surrounding a large letter H.
    "Hurry up, Boy!" Shouted uncle Vernon from the kitchen. "What are you doing, checking for letter bombs?" He chuckled at his own joke.
    You and Harry exchange looks before walking back to the kitchen trying to hide the letters for later. Harry handed uncle Vernon the bill and report card, sat down with you close to him, and sat a bit in front of you as you opened the yellow envelopes.