Harry Putter and the Chamber of Cheesecakes by Timothy R. O'Donnell Read Free Book Online Page B

voice further confirmed his suspicion, Harry asked, “Hermione, is that you?”
                Her eyes widened.  “Uh, no,” she replied in a much deeper voice than before.  “Die Quibbage Cheater!”
                “Stop, Hermione!  I can explain!”  And he did.
     
                A few minutes later Harry and Hermione were helping Ron into a chair and putting Magic Ice on the lump on his head.  The purple ice clashed horribly with his standard Cheesley nuclear orange hair, which was always a mess.  Ron was a chunky kid with freckles.  His voice tended to crack frequently, and he had grown at least an inch since Harry had seen him just three months ago.  Ron was quite spastic and often tripped over his own big feet.  He was clearly at that awkward teenage phase. 
                Hermione had a disproportionately large head.  The expanse of naturally wavy strawberry-blonde hair, which she wore down to her shoulders, made her head seem even larger.  She had bushy eyebrows and a noticeable mustache.  Harry wondered if it would tickle if he were to …
                Hermione interrupted his thoughts, asking, “So Harry, what are you going to do when you get to school?  How will you keep everyone from killing you?”
                “Actually, I’ve decided something, and I’m afraid you’re not going to like it,” said Harry nervously.  “I’ve, decided that I’m not going to school this year.”
                He fully expected Hermione to go off on him.  In the momentary silence that followed, he could hear her in his head, “Harry Putter! That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard you say!”  Here it comes, he winced.
                “Cool!  That’s very practical of you Harry, just what I’d do,” she smiled.
                Ron laughed, “I must have hit my head harder than I thought.  I thought you just said you weren’t going to school this year, and Hermione say that was for the best!”
                “You heard right,” replied Harry smiling too.
                “But you have to go to school!  You’ll be a year behind us if you don’t!” Ron argued automatically.  He was a true friend and would miss Harry all year.  Far worse, if Harry stayed behind, they would never have classes together again.  Ron realized all this instantly, and his argument was entirely based on his emotions.
                “I’ll be dead, if I do!  I’m better off alive at home, than dead at school, right?” replied Harry.
                “But … But…” Ron felt Harry was wrong, but didn’t know what to say.  
     
                They visited several of their favorite stores.  At Til Eulenspiegel’s Merry Prank Shop, Harry complained that he wished he’d be able to visit Fred and George’s Magical Joke Shop in Hogsbreath.  Unfortunately, he wouldn’t be able to join the fun of the Hogsbreath visits, since he wasn’t going to school. 
                Hogsbreath was the wizarding community closest to Hogwashes.  Students of Hogwashes generally enjoyed a weekend trip to Hogsbreath several times each year.  There were several shops in Hogsbreath that students typically frequented on these trips.  Fred and George Cheesley had dropped out of school last year in order to set up Fred and George’s Magical Joke Shop in Hogsbreath, in the hopes that it would become a favorite of the students. 
                Hermione pointed out that Harry was being ridiculous, he could certainly meet them at Hogsbreath for a visit.  What else did he have to do?  This put a ray of hope into all their hearts.  It was instantly settled, Harry would meet them on their first weekend trip to Hogsbreath.  That however, didn’t keep Harry from spending all the money he would have used to buy schoolbooks for the upcoming year on all kinds of wicked joke