Rooftops

It was warm out, and the only noise that could be heard was the occasional cars that passed by and the tweeting of the birds nearby.

Harry sat on the roof of Number Four, Privet Drive. He would take deep breaths of the still air as different kinds of thoughts ran through his head like a whirlwind.

One of them was “When are the Dursleys going to realise I’m sitting on their roof?”. Of course, Vernon and Dudley wouldn’t notice. They were both stupid and were most likely stuffing their faces. But Aunt Petunia....Harry wasn’t sure about that woman. Sometimes, when it was the first week into the holidays, he caught her sending him sympathetic looks as he tried not to cry over his godfather.

He also wondered when he would get some letters from his friends. They had stopped sending them about a week ago. He made sure he still sent his letters to the order, saying that he was alright - even though he wasn’t really.

Harry was mostly sad nowadays. A smile was something rare, and a laugh....he hadn’t laughed in weeks. He normally avoided going outside, apart from his daily visits to the roof, where he would sit with his legs crossed. Some days, when he was tired, he would lie down and look at the pink and blue sky, and fall asleep, before the cold of the night woke him.

Tonight, it was somewhat...aesthetic. The sky was a pastel colour, and the summer sun hung low in the distance, leaving Harry to bathe in its orange glow. The clouds gave off a blueish tinge, and the trees waved at him silently.

There was a noise, and then a grunt. Harry’s eyes snapped towards it, and a large hand appeared on the edge of the roof. Harry, instantly on-guard, let his fingers brush lightly against the tip of his wand that was in his pocket of his jeans.

Another hand appeared, and another grunt followed after it. Harry frowned slightly, before the face of his cousin appeared.

“Dudley?” asked Harry, momentarily surprised. Dudley nodded his head, before he pulled his large body up onto the roof. Harry was surprised he hadn’t fallen straight through.

“I thought you were up here,” said Dudley, sitting down next to Harry, “I’m surprised Mum and Dad haven’t noticed you vanishing for a few hours.”

Harry shrugged. “I guess I just like it up here.”

Dudley sighed, “I’m not a fan of heights, mind. And I couldn’t get up here everyday, I’m too big.”

Harry and Dudley glanced at each other, amused. They were, for once, having a civil conversation.

Dudley then reached into his pocket. Harry watched, an eyebrow arched. He pulled out a packet of cigarettes.

“I’m surprised Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon haven’t realised you smoke” Said Harry, smirking. Dudley shrugged too.

“Ah well. Want one?” He offered, holding one of them to Harry. Harry looked at it, before looking back up at his cousin.

“I don’t smoke” he said slowly. Dudley shrugged again.

“Give it a go. Trust me, it gets rid of the stress.”

Harry rose his eyebrows at Dudley. “Stress?”

Dudley rolled his eyes. “Please. Everyone’s seen how you’ve changed. Even the neighbours have noticed. I’m guessing it has something to do with that school you go to?”

Harry sighed. “Sort of,” he looked back at the cigarette that was still being held out for him, “Oh well, screw it.”

He grabbed the cigarette and put it between his lips. Dudley handed him a lighter, almost making him smile, and he lit it.