Slouching in to the couch, Candy glanced around the small living room and turned off the TV. It was a gray day out and she had nothing to do. Her mother was in the kitchen washing dishes before she had to go to work. Every now and then a rumble of thunder could be heard in the distance. Soon she heard the sink draining the soapy water and her mother exited the kitchen. She took a seat in her rocking chair and sighed. Candy groaned.
"I'm bored…" she whined, slouching further into the couch. Her mother gave her an evil glare and shook her head.
"Then go do something," she quipped as she reached in her pocket.
"Like what? There's nothing to do in this town," Candy moaned. Her mother handed her twenty pounds.
"Go for lunch and get out of my house," she shooed. Candy jumped up and slid on her shoes. The sky looked threatening still, but she had to get out of this house. She trundled out the door and slammed it behind her. She could hear her mother shouting from inside.
It was a cool, crisp day out. A jacket would have been a good idea, but she didn't want to turn back now. Instead, she kept on walking slowly down the street until she reached Privet Drive. Something at the end of the cul-de-sac caught her attention. And argument raged between a small family. A large man and a tall skinny boy were fighting by a vehicle. A woman in the background was shaking, holding onto her chubby son.
"I don't want your silly magic tricks in my house!" the man shouted. The tall, dark haired boy reached in his pocket and pulled out a twig.
"Shut up!" he shouted as he pointed it at the man. "Just shut up!" He grabbed his suitcase and backed off. "You're not my parents! Leave me alone!" he yelled before swerving around and storming off. He dragged his trunk behind him.
Candy backed into the bush, where he wouldn't see her. She watched the boy disappear down the lane and decided to follow him. After walking for a while, she found him on a swing at the park. Gingerly, she approached him from behind.
"Are you OK?" she asked as she placed a hand on his shoulder. He yelled and jumped to his feet. Again, he pulled out that twig; he pointed it at her.
"Leave me alone!" he shouted. His hands were shaking like leaves in the autumn wind.
"Relax," she said calmly. "I saw you arguing with those folks, I was just coming to see if you were ok," she confessed. He stared her down for a long moment. As his gaze searched hers, he slowly lowered the twig.
"Who are you?" he asked suspiciously. "Are you from the ministry?" She stared into his dark eyes, bewildered.
"The ministry?" she inquired. Then it hit her, he must have meant Social Services. He continued to study her with a suspicious glare. She shook her head. "No. Should I be?" she asked. He took in a deep breath.
"No," he replied softly. "What did you see?" he asked. She laughed.
"Enough to know those folks aren't your parents?" she replied with a hint of a question. He chuckled softly and a weak smile crossed his handsome face.
"That's my aunt and uncle," he explained. "I've lived with them since I was a baby," he confessed as he returned to his swing. He offered her to sit down as well. She watched him carefully then looked to the trunk.
"So you're running away?" she asked. He shook his head.
"No. I go to a boarding school, sort of," he told her. She smiled and extended her hand.
"I'm Candice, everyone calls me Candy," she offered. He shook her hand.
"Harry, Harry Potter," he said.