What I've Got And You Don't
Disclaimer: I do not own anything about or involving Harry Potter. All of the ideas and plots within the book, including the characters involved with the series, belong to J.K. Rowling.
Author's Notes: This is my first fanfiction, so please try to be polite when reviewing (though I assume that should be expected at all times, yes?) and give me some good, concrete constructive criticism! Though I told you to be nice, don't go easy on me just 'cos I'm a newbie. Just be polite about your corrections, alright? Also, some of the British terms may be wrong; I'm American, so Google was my only tools in those cases. Sorry! Also, I wasn't sure what year Harry Potter was set in (?), but this is a post-series writing, about two years after the end of Harry Potter. Also, I apologize for the awkwardness of the disclaimer. I was told I should put one in by a friend. :P Enjoy!
Summary: Nine-year-old Marie Hamilton is an ordinary Muggle. But when her older sister returns from school with a new best friend, strange things begin happening. What will it take to discover the wizarding world—and what she is missing?
CHAPTER 1
I yawn, sitting up. I blink rapidly, my eyes adjusting to the morning sun streaming into my room. My sheets, as always, lay in a heap on the end of my bed. I sigh, pulling them over me. I'm a restless sleeper, everyone tells me. I thrash at night, leaving my covers rumpled and abandoned, my blanket thrust from me in a burst of energy. Pulling the thin material over my shoulders, I turn on my side, blocking out the light from my windows. Squeezing my lids shut, I search for the door to slumber, with no luck. Groaning, I heave myself up, perching on the edge of my mattress.
"Up we go," I mumble sleepily, rubbing the crust off my eyes. I stumble to the door, flinging it open. Before leaving, I glance back into the room. My digital clock reads 11:03. I've slept in, and my mum won't be happy; I'll be serving chores for it. Nevertheless, I stampede down the stairs, padding into the kitchen, my socks whispering softly as they brush the linoleum. My mum looks up from the pot she's 'slaving over', as I'm sure she would refer to it. She scowls at me.
"Marie," She begins, and I prepare myself mentally for the sure lecture that is coming, "How many times must I tell you? You're to be up by nine o'clock. Do you understand?" She doesn't give me a chance to respond, and I don't object. "Now, I've got a list of things for you to do today. It's right here, on the counter. Come and get it, dear." She licks her spoon and points it deliberately at the countertop, as though I hadn't understood it the first time. Rolling my eyes, I snatch it up and scan it as I shuffle into the lounge, where my sister, Elise, lays on the couch, watching one of her favorite shows on the telly. I can hear Mum still going on about my behavior, and how Elise always wakes up on time, but I ask Elise to turn up the volume. This helps with blocking her out.
"So," Elise begins, grinning, "Got a verbal beating from mum again?" She asks as I pry the remote from her hands, flipping through the channels. I ignore her, searching for something to watch. I settle on a program, and we watch it for a while. Soon enough it is over, and a different one comes on, one that Elise particularly dislikes. She sighs and stands up, grabbing a stack of papers from the table and plopping back down on the couch. "Turn off the tube," She demands, and I glare at her. 'Tube' is an old American word she picked up who-knows-where. She thinks it's trendy to use it. I just think it's stupid. "I'm doing homework!" She reinforces her request, and I sigh, clicking it off.
I suppose I better get started on my chores. First on the list: Take Duke for a walk. I shrug. Not too much of a pain. Standing, I call, "Duke!" Elise gives me a grouchy look, as though I'm disturbing her. But it shouldn't be a problem for her anymore; here comes Duke, a wiry terrier, bolting to me, wiggling like he's just won the doggie lottery. "Hey, Duke," I croon, and I'm afraid I might give him a stroke, how fast he shakes his little behind. I grab his worn leash out of his toy bin on the way out, clipping it to his collar.
We begin walking, Duke dragging me along despite his size, mostly because I don't resist. We pass by the Hawkins', and I scowl into the face of their house as its dark windows seem to taunt me. Two years back, Mum and Dad sent Elise off to a new boarding school, which the Hawkins recommended; they'd sent all of their three children to it, and now it was Carol's turn. Elise and Carol came back, best friends, at the start of the summer last year, and things have never been the same between Elise and me since. Wordlessly, I pass their house; but not before I see a flickering blue light from Carol's bedroom. Curiously I rein Duke in, watching as the light begins floating. I blink, not believing my eyes. That's impossible!
I shake my head, and when I look back, the light is gone, replaced by a bright room, lit by the light fixture at the center of a spinning fan. Carol sits cross-legged on her bed, reading a book—and is that a bird cage on her dresser? I don't believe my eyes; inside is a large brown owl. Carol's sure got some strange taste in pets. Even so, it's none of my business. I was probably imagining things. I continue down the street, and when Duke and I circle back around, I pay special attention to the Hawkins' house. I pass by it several times, even peeking in the backyard. Despite my sleuthing, there seems to be nothing special about Carol's room—she continues neither reading, switching positions now and then— nor her siblings'. Disappointed, I head home.
I enter the house, letting Duke off his leash, and plod into the kitchen. My mother is sloshing stew into bowls, and, looking at me with disdain, begins to complain. "Marie!" She says shrilly, "What on earth took you so long? It's nearly six o'clock. You've been walking Duke for five hours! Your sister's already finished her homework and her chores, and you've not even started on your other four. Now come, you missed tea and it's time for supper." She scolds, and now that she mentions it, my legs do ache. Duke doesn't seem to disagree; he's stretched out on the kitchen floor, most likely asleep. I sigh and follow Mum, who's still going on about my lateness; can't she just drop it, for once?
Dad's already seated at the table, and he smiles at me as I pull out a chair. "Hello, Marie!" His eyes wrinkle up, he's smiling so big.
"Hullo, Daddy." I reply. At least someone's welcoming. We begin to eat the stew, and I compliment Mum on how delicious it is, if only to help her forget today's events. Afterwards I skip watching telly with the family and head straight to bed. I'm exhausted from examining Carol's mysterious house. I don't even have time to consider what happened—I'm asleep the second I lay my head on the pillow.
CHAPTER 2 SOON!