Chapter 1- Margaret Dursley

A big thank you to Tori-Lee Keene for editing the chapter and the amazing quote :)

A bird doesn't sing because it has the answer

A bird sings because it has a song~Maya Angelou

I knew there was something wrong the moment I entered the kitchen. As usual there was Dudley, my brother at the table stuffing his mouth with everything that his small fork could hold, making him look like an oversized squirrel.

My father like every morning read the newspaper and makes coments on the articles as if he was an expert, while my mom was at the stove making the usual breakfast of eggs and bacon. She looked like she swallowed a big lemon, which is her look when something doesn't go her way. All family members were present but one. There was no sign of my cousin. No messy black hair and no scrwany kid with shirts to big for him.

With the crashes I heard last night , I figured that Harry tried to run away and with the tension in the kitchen and his absence, my theory was only further confirmed.

Also, the way my dad keeps stabbing his eggs, Harry mananaged. Good for him. I really didn't blame Harry for trying get out of here. He wasn't exactly welcomed and ever since we found out he was a wizard, he was pushed away even more.

This summer, the moment he stepped in this house, my dad took away everything that had to do with magic and locked it in the cupboard under the stairs. He even forbid all of us to say the word magic. It was a bit extreme.

I admit ever since my brother got a pig tail last year, I was a little wary of my cousin and I avoided him all summer. He used the excuse with magic to scare my brother. Well, it's not like he didn't deserve it. My brother was no angel, but indirectly it scared me too.

I never knew how Harry could use his powers and even though they will never say it out loud, I knew that my parents were scared of him too.

At least until he got the warning letter for using magic outside the school grounds. My dad was so furious and punished him worse than I ever saw. He even went as far as putting bars on his window.

Once mom saw me, she ignored the eggs and my thoughts about my cousin were quickly forgotton. Mom was so happy, she almost radiated, especially when she shouted "Happy Birthday" and kissed both my cheeks. Dad even looked up from his newspaper and congratulated me, unlike Dudley who continued to eat and mumbled something that no one understood. I translated it as a congratulations, or something along the lines.

"Do you want help with something?" I offered but mom only shook her head and ushered me to my usual seat between Dudley and dad.

"Just relax and enjoy your birthday."

The breakfast ended quickly and quietly besides the few comments from my dad and mom. The fuss about my birthday ended rather quickly than normaly, thank god.

Dad and Dudley went in the living room to watch some boxing game, while I stayed behind and tried to help my mom with the dishes.

Keyword: tried.

Each time I went near the sink or tried to grab a plate she swatted at my hands, insisting that she didn't need any help and I just got in her way.

So, here I am five minutes later on the stool with 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen, which was a gift from aunt Marge.

I already had another copy. Torn and used and read so many times I know each word by heart, but I was incapable of putting the book down and reading something else. There was something fascinating in the love story between Elizabeth Bennett and .

"Wouldn't it be nice if you invite Mary today?"mused mom silently. "You could spend the day together on your birthday . Maybe have a sleepover? That would be nice."

The answer was a grimace that I didn't try to hide it at all. Because I wasn't able to make any friends at school mum got worried and took the matters in her own hands. She spoke with the Kyles, a family down the street, who have a girl my age and she just like me wasn't able to befriend anyone either. Our mothers arranged the perfect playdate but unfortunately for them and us, I suppose, Marygold 'Mary' Kyle and I don't exactly click with each other.

I don't hate her by any means. It's just that each time the two of usare together the air is too tense and neither one of us knows what topic of discussion to chose, so we just stay in complete silence. I'm sure that Marygold is a sweet girl behind the shyness.

"Okay, okay. It's your decision today," laughed my mom, seeing my grimace.

You see mom used to organize something for my birthday every year. While, I was grateful for the effort, all I wanted to do on my birthday was to stay at home. So, we made a deal and I make every decision on my birthday as long I enjoy it.

With the dishes done, mom went and joined dad and Dudley at the TV, watching the boxing game with no real interest. What's so interesting about to guys beating each other up anyways? I've never liked fights.

I wasn't a big fan of any kind of sports, so I had it in mind to go in my room and read my beloved book.

Normally, I would be forced to to watch the horrible game with them so that we have some 'family time' as my mom put it. But today I was allowed to go in my room and read unintrrerupted.

However, those plans were foiled the moment I entered the room. My room was rather big with yellow painted walls,a big bed and a small desk, where I usually do my homework. As always my desk is covered with books that I didn't even take time to arrange, but that was the least of my problems.

In the middle of the room stood a small, thin woman with her blonde hair styled in an elegant updo. I almost didn't care about the weird dark green robes she was dressed with as I was too focused on her face. She had beautiful blue eyes but her left side was covered in big ugly scars that looked several years old and only now started to fade a bit. I observed that she was quite young and an amused smile on her face as if remembering an old funny joke. That or my fidgeting was really amusing to her.

"Hi," I managed, once I closed the door behind me. The woman gave me a big, bright smile. The smile seemed to warm the whole room and make me want to smile with her.

"Hello, my name is Elizabeth Ashwood. It's nice to meet you Margaret Dursley."

[EDITED 10.05.2019]