Multiverse Shenanigans: Raja's Journey

The summer at the Dursleys' had been as miserable as ever for Harry. Each morning, he'd be woken early to start a long list of chores, often with Dudley whining or teasing him nearby. But more than the housework and the Dursleys' endless scorn, what bothered Harry most was the isolation from the magical world. Letters from Ron and Hermione were never delivered, and it felt as though he'd been cut off from everything that had made him feel alive.

Harry would often sit by his window, looking out into the empty street, and long for the warmth of the Hogwarts common room, the thrill of flying on a broomstick, or simply the company of his friends. He missed the comfort of knowing there were people who genuinely cared for him, people who knew and understood who he was.

Dinner Party Chaos

One humid evening in July, Harry's frustrations came to a head. The Dursleys were hosting an important dinner party, entertaining a potential client of Vernon's. Harry was ordered to stay out of sight and under strict instructions not to make a sound. They even gave him a small plate of cold leftovers to eat in his room while they dined on a grand meal downstairs.

"Remember, boy," Vernon said with a warning finger, "one noise, one slip-up, and you'll wish you were back in that cupboard."

With a deep sigh, Harry climbed the stairs to his room. He was about to close his door when he noticed an odd noise—a faint shuffling. Before he could investigate, he heard Aunt Petunia bustling around downstairs, arranging the dishes and setting everything just so. He thought of Raja, wondering if his friend would ever understand how dull and painful it was to live with the Dursleys.

Dobby's Entrance

As he entered his room, Harry noticed something peculiar on his bed—a pair of large, tennis-ball-sized eyes blinking up at him from under a makeshift turban of socks. He took a step back, stifling a gasp.

"Harry Potter, sir!" squeaked the creature, scrambling up to stand on his bed. The little creature's face was filled with both excitement and terror as he wrung his hands nervously.

"Who…what are you?" Harry asked, staring in bewilderment.

"I am Dobby, sir. Dobby the house-elf," the creature replied in a high-pitched voice, bowing low. "I have come to warn Harry Potter, to keep him safe!"

Dobby's visit turned out to be more troubling than helpful. He spoke in riddles, hinting at a terrible danger that awaited Harry if he returned to Hogwarts. Harry tried to press for details, but Dobby's nervous babbling only made things more confusing. Still, Harry couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that Dobby was telling the truth about the danger, even if he couldn't say what it was.

"Harry Potter must not go back to Hogwarts!" Dobby pleaded, his eyes wide with desperation.

Harry frowned. "But I have to go back! Hogwarts is my home."

Dobby shook his head, looking torn. "But terrible things will happen! You are too important, Harry Potter! Dobby is only here to protect you…"

Harry tried to ask more questions, but Dobby seemed determined to avoid any specific answers. He kept shifting his eyes around the room as if afraid he was being watched.

Dobby's Mischief

Desperate to make his point, Dobby began to cause mischief, knocking over Harry's lamp and letting loose one of Dudley's loud, squealing toys. The noise echoed through the house, and Harry tried in vain to silence the chaos. The sound of Petunia's shrill voice floated up the stairs as she called out to Harry angrily, threatening to punish him if he caused any more noise.

"Dobby, please! You're going to get me in trouble!" Harry whispered, grabbing at the elf, but Dobby dodged nimbly.

In one last, frantic attempt to keep Harry from Hogwarts, Dobby flicked his fingers, sending a pudding dish flying into the air. Harry reached out to catch it, but it slipped from his grasp and crashed to the floor with a deafening clatter.

The commotion brought Uncle Vernon storming up the stairs, his face twisted in fury. "Boy! What on earth are you doing?"

Dobby disappeared with a sharp pop, leaving Harry to face the consequences alone.

Consequences

Vernon's rage was terrifying. Grabbing Harry by the arm, he dragged him back into his room, his voice trembling with anger as he ranted about "embarrassing" the family and "ruining everything." Dudley watched from the hallway, snickering at his cousin's misfortune.

"You're grounded," Vernon snarled, throwing Harry's belongings around the room, his face flushed with anger. "Locked in, until we say otherwise! And no funny business!"

The next day, Vernon hammered thick bars over Harry's window and installed a heavy lock on his door, trapping Harry inside his own room. Harry's heart sank; he'd lost his freedom and any chance of returning to Hogwarts—or so he thought.

Raja's Assistance

Meanwhile, Raja, who had been quietly keeping tabs on Harry from afar, sensed something was wrong. He'd known the Dursleys would make things difficult, but he hadn't anticipated them going as far as imprisoning Harry. Concerned, Raja reached out to Ron, explaining the situation and suggesting they come up with a plan to rescue their friend.

Ron was all too eager to help, and he quickly recruited Fred and George for the mission. Within hours, the three Weasley brothers and Raja had coordinated a plan to break Harry out using the Weasleys' enchanted Ford Anglia. Raja would act as a lookout and offer any magical support they needed while they got Harry out of the Dursleys' clutches.

Rescue by Ron and the Weasleys

That night, Harry sat by his barred window, feeling utterly defeated, when he heard a faint rumbling outside. He looked up to see a turquoise car hovering just outside, with Ron waving at him from the passenger seat.

"Harry! Come on! We're here to get you out!" Ron whispered urgently.

Harry's heart leapt with relief and excitement. He quickly gathered his things, rushing to the window. Just then, he spotted Raja standing below, keeping watch on the Dursley house. Raja gave him a quick nod of reassurance, motioning for him to hurry.

"Fred, George—get those bars off!" Ron whispered as his brothers worked quickly, using a lock-picking spell they'd learned from their father to remove the bars from Harry's window. With a final pull, the bars came loose, and they helped Harry climb into the car with his trunk and Hedwig's cage.

Just as they loaded the last of Harry's things, the lights in the hallway flickered on, and Vernon's footsteps echoed up the stairs. "Boy! What are you doing?"

Raja, noticing the lights, cast a quick silencing charm on the window, muffling any sounds from outside. He whispered urgently, "Go! Now!"

With a final, desperate lurch, the Ford Anglia took off into the air, zooming away from Privet Drive and soaring over the rooftops. Harry laughed in exhilaration as the car sped through the night, leaving the Dursleys far behind.

Fred, George, and Ron cheered, grinning at their friend's freedom. "Blimey, Harry, we were worried about you!" Ron said, clapping Harry on the back. "Glad Raja thought of calling us."

"Yeah, we owe him," Harry replied with a grateful smile, waving at Raja, who watched them disappear into the sky, a proud smile on his face.

A Joyful Reunion

The drive back to the Burrow was filled with laughter and relief as the brothers filled Harry in on all the news he'd missed. Soon, the lights of the Weasley's cozy home came into view, and as they landed, Mrs. Weasley came out, hands on her hips, her expression a mix of relief and exasperation.

"Where have you all been?" she scolded, though the twinkle in her eye showed her hidden pride.

As they stepped inside, Harry felt warmth and belonging for the first time in weeks. And as he sat down with the Weasleys, Raja's foresight and planning had made all the difference, ensuring that Harry was safe and free to return to Hogwarts.