Harry Potter and the Vial of the Blood

By: redjade03

Privet Drive hadn't been as hot last summer in Harry's mind. He sat down on his bed, having finished one of his Transfiguration assignments that dealt with animagus in the wizarding world. It undoubtedly reminded him of someone Harry didn't want to remember just now.

While he was writing the paper, he had to make quite a large number of trips to the kitchen for drinks of water. But while he walked down the narrow stairs of his uncle Vernon's house, he was pestered by one single thought: Sirius Black. Every single trip he remembered something about him. But the one memory that tormented Harry was Sirius's last expression before disappearing behind the tapestry when Harry himself was in great danger as he fought off multiple Death Eaters. A mixture of pain and terror was the last expression was what Harry saw on his godfather's face. He could barely recall Sirius's bark-like laugh now.

He wanted desperately to stop thinking of that moment, but it kept creeping into his mind when he wasn't doing much. It was quite still early and he was sure that uncle Vernon wouldn't mind keeping Harry away from number four for a few hours. Harry snatched his wand and put it in his back pocket, even though he had been lectured by Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody that his bum might be in danger.

"Where are you going, boy?" uncle Vernon eyed Harry suspiciously.

"Just for a small walk, uncle Vernon," Harry said as he tried to move toward the door.

"Very well boy, but I'm warning you. Don't make me come out there in front of everyone and teach you a lesson," he said, pointing a stubby finger at Harry's face.

As he walked down the sidewalk, he saw Mrs. Figg walking on the other side carrying a small bag of cat food. Harry waved in a friendly manor as she smiled at him kindly, heading home with a tabby cat behind her. Harry wasn't sure where he was going, but then he decided that he might sit on a swing in the park.

But when he got there, there was someone already seated on the only intact swing which Harry's cousin, Dudley, hadn't destroyed yet. Harry saw that it was a girl who limply swung with her arms locked on the chains of the swing. She had black hair that ran half way down her back. Even though he couldn't see her face due to the fact that she was looking down at the sandbox, he could see the small tears that fell on her lap. Harry silently began to walk away from the scene in hopes of not intruding on the girl's private moment when she suddenly looked up. Harry stopped walking backwards. She was a pretty girl who had very large gray eyes that sparkled with tears.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone was here," Harry quickly muttered as he tried to back away.

"Wait!" she said, as she walked towards Harry, wiping the tears in her eyes with the back of her hands.

"I didn't mean to bother you," he said as he took off his glasses to clean them up a bit, "I just came for a walk, and…"

"Its fine," the girl said quickly as she was now standing no more than a foot away from Harry.

Harry could see that she had long bangs that framed her pale face. Suddenly, she put her hand in front of Harry and said, "I'm Milvia."

He took her hand and shook it softly. "I'm Harry," he said. He wasn't feeling very bad now. Whatever the girl had cried about wasn't on her mind for now.

"I've never seen you around here," she looked at Harry's face very carefully.

"I don't come out too much. School, you know?" Harry smiled kindly.

Her face seemed to darken, but she went on, "No, I don't. I don't go to school." Her head bowed slightly as she tapped her foot on the sand.

"Oh, why?" Harry asked before he could notice that she wished to go to school.

"Well," she smiled, "my horrible father wishes to keep me safe inside the confines of my home even though he teaches all year and doesn't come for the summer or any other holiday for that matter to visit me. Actually, I haven't seen him for five years."

"Oh," Harry felt bad for the girl.

"Oh, its fine. I guess he wants me to stay home and be safe, but I might die of boredom instead," she smiled at this as she tried to make Harry not feel sorry for her. Harry wasn't sure what to say. He didn't want to say something foolish. Quickly he wiped his forehead.

"What's that on your forehead?" the girl pointed softly at Harry's lightning bolt shaped scar.

"Nothing, just a scar. So, where do you live?" The girl said nothing as she had her arms crossed in a relaxed form. She slowly began to walk around Harry, making him twirl as to not lose eye contact.

"How stupid can I be? I know who you are! Aren't you Harry Potter?" Harry's heart sank. Probably his whole neighborhood thought that he really went to St. Brutos.

"I guess you think I'm a bad person." Harry felt anger at his uncle for spreading the rumor.

"No, not at all. I know your uncle talks a lot of rubbish, but I'm not talking about Muggle affairs, but of our world."

Harry widened his eyes as he understood what she had just said.