Mrs Figg kept wringing her hands, as if she didn't hear Hailey. "He left! Left to see someone about a batch of cauldrons that fell of the back of a broom! I told him I'd flay him alive if he went, and now look! Dementors! It's just lucky I put Mr Tibbles on the case! But we haven't got time to stand around! Hurry, now, we've got to get you back! Oh, the trouble this is going to cause! I will kill him!"
Hailey couldn't believe that her batty old cat-obsessed neighbour knew what dementors were. It was almost as a big of a shock as running into two dementors down the alleyway. She stumbled on her words, "You're—you're a witch?"
"I'm a Squib, as Mundungus knows full well," Mrs Figg replied. "So how on earth was I supposed to help you fight off dementors? He left you completely without cover when I warned him—"
"So, someone has been following me around?" Hailey interrupted. "Hang on—it was him! He Disapparated from the front of my house creating that cracking sound!"
"Yes, yes, yes, but luckily I'd stationed Mr Tibbled under a car just in case, and Mr Tibbles came and warned me, but by the time I got to your house, you'd gone—and now-oh, what's Dumbledore going to say?" She noticed that Dudley was still lying on the ground, shivering and whimpering. She said, "You! Get your fat bottom off the ground, quick!"
"You know who Dumbledore is?" asked Hailey, still staring at her former babysitter in disbelief.
"Of course I know Dumbledore," replied Mrs Figg, as if it was obvious, "Who doesn't know Dumbledore? But come on—I'll be no help if they come back, I've never so much as Transfigured a teabag—" she crouched down, grabbed one of Dudley's massive arms, and tugged on him, "Get up you useless lump, get up!"
Either Dudley couldn't or wouldn't move, because he was still trembling on the ground.
"I'll do it," Hailey told Mrs Figg and grabbed Dudley's arm, pulling on it, but he was still heavy, considering his weight and his dead-weight by refusing to move. She pulled again, managing to pull Dudley to his feet. Dudley seemed like he was going faint, because his eyes were rolling around and sweat was beginning to appear on his face. When Hailey released him, he swayed like a drunkard, so she pulled one of Dudley's arms around her shoulders and sagged under the weight.
"Hurry up!" ordered Mrs Figg sounding hysterical.
Hailey dragged her cousin towards the road, nearly collapsing as she did so. Mrs Figg was trotting in front of them looking anxious as she looked around every corner.
When they entered Wisteria Walk, Mrs Figg said, "Keep your wand out."
"But the Statute of Secrecy," Hailey said.
"Never mind the Statute of Secret now, there's going to be hell to pay anyway, we might as well be hanged for having a dragon as an egg. Talk about the Reasonable Restriction of Underage of Sorcery…" Mrs Figg stated. "This was exactly what Dumbledore was afraid of—what's that at the end of the street?"
Hailey looked down the sidewalk to see a figure of a person standing on the street corner. For a moment she was worried that Voldemort had found her. She tightened her hold on her wand.
"Oh, it's just Mr Prentice," responded Mrs Figg. Hailey tried to hide the wand, but Mrs Figg noticed, "Don't put your wand away! Haven't I told you that I'm no use?"
It wasn't easy holding a wand and carrying Dudley at the same time. Hailey elbowed him to get him to move on his own, but he seemed to be devoid of movement. It was either that or Dudley was just being that lazy.
"Why didn't you tell me that you're a Squib? All those times I was at your house. Why didn't you tell me about wizardry?" Hailey asked wondering about that.
"Dumbledore's orders," replied Mrs Figg. "I was to keep an eye on you, but not say anything, you were too young. I'm sorry I gave you such a miserable time, but the Dursleys would never have let come if they'd thought you enjoyed it. It wasn't easy, you know…"
Hailey figured that it would've been hard making her grow up miserable enough so the Dursleys didn't suspect she was having fun.
Mrs Figg was wringing her hands again and continued, "But, oh my word, when Dumbledore hears about this—how could Mundungus have left, he was supposed to be on duty until midnight—where is he? How am I going to tell Dumbledore what's happened, I can't Apparate—"
"I've got an owl that you can borrow," Hailey said and groaned under Dudley's weight. She wondered if her spine might snap under the weight or if it was going to end up deformed.
"Hailey, you don't understand!" Mrs Figg started, "Dumbledore will need to act as quickly as possible, the Ministry have their own ways of detecting underage magic, they'll know already, you mark my words—"
"I had to get rid of dementors so I had to use magic—they surely have to be more about dementors hanging round Wisteria Walk," Hailey said.
Mrs Figg started, "Oh, my dear, I wish it were so, but I'm afraid—"
CRACK
A strong smell of mingled drink and stale tobacco filled the air. A squat, unshaven man wearing a tattered overcoat stood before them. He had short bandy legs, long straggly red hair, and he had bloodshot baggy eyes. He was holding a silvery bundle that was an Invisibility Cloak.
"Mundungus Fletcher, I am going to kill you!" shrieked Mrs Figg at the man.
Mundungus looked at Mrs Figg, "'S' up, Figgy?" He looked at Mrs Figg, then Hailey, and at Dudley. He must've put the pieces together, "What 'appened to staying undercover?"
"I'll give you undercover!" shouted Mrs Figg, "Dementors, you useless, skiving sneak thief!"
Hailey would've found the scene of her elderly babysitter, wearing a hairnet and tartan carpet slippers yelling a grown, funny, if she didn't have her cousin weighing her down.
"Demenotors?" repeated Fletcher stunned, "Dementors…here?"
"Yes, here, you worthless pile of bat droppings, here!" shrieked Mrs Figg, "Dementors attacking the girl on your watch!"
"Blimey," replied Fletcher, in a weak tone. He looked from Mrs Figg to Hailey and back to Mrs Figg. "Blimey, I…"
"And you off buying stolen cauldrons! Didn't I tell you not to go? Didn't I?" Mrs Figg continued shrieking at him.
"I—well, I—" Fletcher started, looking uncomfortable. "It…it was a very good business opportunity, see…"
Before Hailey can ask Fletcher if he could help her with her cousin or to finish up the conversation, Mrs Figg started hitting him round the face and neck with her string bag. The clanking noise coming from it sounded like it was full of cat food. Hailey cringed at the sight.
"Outch—gerroff—gerroff, you mad old bat! Someone's gotta tell Dumbledore," Fletcher said in between hits of the cat food.
"Yes! They! Have!" yelled Mrs Figg, still swinging her bag at whatever she can reach of Fletcher. She spoke in between whacks, "And it had better be you and you can tell him why you weren't there to help!"
"Keep your 'airnet on!" replied Fletcher in a gruff tone. He had his arms over his head, cowering in fear of the elderly woman's wrath. "I'm going, I'm going!" There was another loud crack and he was gone.
"I hope Dumbledore murders him!" said Mrs Figg furiously. "Now come on, Hailey, what are you waiting for?"
Hailey wanted to tell the woman that she was waiting for Mrs Figg to finish hitting Fletcher with the bag and wanted to point out that she can barely walk under Dudley's bulk, but she heaved Dudley and continued onward.
"I'll take you the door," said Mrs Figg as they finally turned onto Privet Drive. "Just in case there are more of them around…" After a few minutes of silence, Mrs Figg said, "Oh my word, what a catastrophe…and you had to fight them off yourself…and Dumbledore said we were to keep you from doing magic at all costs…Well, it's no good crying over spilled potion, I suppose…but the cat's among the pixies now…"
Hailey was panting as she lugged Dudley along. "So…why is…Dumbledore…having me…followed?"
"Did you expect him to let you wander around on your own after what happened in June? Good Lord, girl, they told that you were smart…" They finally reached number four. "Right…get inside and stay there. I expect someone will be in touch with you soon enough."
"What are you going to do?" asked Hailey before Mrs Figg can run off.
"I'm going straight home," replied Mrs Figg, staring around the darkened street and shuddering, as if expecting more dementors to pop out. "I'll need to wait for more instructions. Just stay in the house. Good night."
Hailey still had a bunch of questions to ask, but Mrs Figg hurried off before Hailey can even ask.
Hailey looked at the house to see that the hall light was on and stuck her wand in the waistband of her jeans. She lugged Dudley up the driveway and rang the doorbell. Through the rippling glass in the front door, she watched her aunt's outline grow large and distorted as she approached the door.
"Diddy! About time too, I was getting quite—" Aunt Petunia started, "—quite—" She opened the door and shrieked, "Diddy, what's the matter?"
Hailey looked sideways at Dudley and saw that he turned a nasty pale green colour. She ducked out from under Dudley's arm and ran down the porch, right as he threw up all over the doormat.
"Diddy! Diddy, what's the matter with you?" Aunt Petunia demanded. "Vernon?" She turned to the hallway and yelled, "Vernon!"
Vernon ran out of the living, nearly knocking down a picture in his haste to see what the matter was. He hurried to help his wife move their weak-kneed son over the threshold, trying to avoid having to stepping into the pool of sick, which Hailey suspected that she was going to be forced to clean.
"He's ill, Vernon!" Petunia shouted, as if Vernon didn't know, despite how obvious it was.
"What is it, son? What's happened? Did Mrs Polkiss give you something foreign for tea?" Vernon demanded as he went to slam the door shut.
Hailey maneuvered in the house before the door fully closed on her. She tried to avoid the puddle of sick. She suspected 'foreign' meant alcohol. She wouldn't put it past Dudley to try some at one point with his gang, considering he smoked. She slowly and quietly made her way to the stairs, wanting to write to her friends about what happened and how Dumbledore was having her followed.
Hailey got on foot on the step when she heard Dudley say, "Her!"
Hailey braced herself.
"Girl!" Vernon thundered, "Come here!"
Hailey felt dread and anger. She turned and followed the Dursleys into the kitchen. Petunia was setting her green and clammy son into a chair, and handed him a rubbish bin, just in case he was going to be sick again.
Vernon was standing in front of the draining board, glaring at Hailey through tiny, narrowed eyes. In a menacing growl, he demanded, "What have you done to my son?"
"Nothing," replied Hailey truthfully, even though she knew her uncle wouldn't believe her anyway. "I didn't do anything to him."
"What did she do to you, Diddy?" asked Petunia in a quavering voice. She was sponging sweat from Dudley's face. "Was it—was it you-know-what, darling? Did she use—her thing?"
Dudley was still shaking, but he slowly nodded.
"I didn't use magic!" Hailey sharply said as Petunia wailed and Vernon held up his fists. "I didn't do anything to him. It wasn't me, it was—"
A screech owl, with a large parchment envelope in its beak, flew in through the kitchen window. It almost hit Vernon's head as it flew across the kitchen. It dropped the envelope at Hailey's feet before it turned around and flew out of the kitchen.
"Owls!" bellowed Vernon as Hailey heard him slam the kitchen window shut.
Heart pounding, Hailey opened the envelope and pulled out the letter inside.
Dear Miss Potter,
We have received intelligence that you performed the Patronus Charm at twenty-three minutes past nine in this evening in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of a Muggle.
The severity of the breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery has resulted in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witch and Wizardry. Ministry Representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand.
As you have already an official warning for a previous offense under section 13 of the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secret, we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9 A.M. on August 12th.
Hoping you are well,
Yours sincerely
Mafalda Hopkirk
IMPROPER USE OF MAGIC OFFICE
Ministry of Magic
Hailey read through it twice. One half of her was in disbelief at how she was expelled and the letter was saying that they hoped she was well, as is they didn't just expel her. The other half was in disbelief and shocked at actually being expelled.
The shock wore off quickly and she started feeling numb. She was never going back and she was never going to see her friends again. She was never going to find out if she was in a relationship with Michael because she wanted to talk about it in person instead over owl.
She looked at the Dursleys. Vernon was purple-faced and shouting silently, his fists still raised. Petunia had her arms around Dudley, who was retching again in the rubbish-bin.
She had to run. She could always go to Mandy's place, but considering that Voldemort would be after her, would Mandy's parents allow her in? There was always Michael's flat, but would his parents let her in, considering how she and Michael had kissed a few times in June, especially how she wasn't sure if they were dating or not? Maybe Michael's mother would allow her, but that would be kind of—
CRACK
Petunia screamed and Vernon yelled and ducked. A dazed and ruffled-looking barn owl was sitting on the kitchen window sill because it just flew into the closed window.
"Owls!" yelled Vernon in an anguished tone, as if the owls were causing the death of him.
Hailey ran across the kitchen and threw the window open. The owl stuck out its leg, which had a small roll of parchment tied to it. She pulled off the parchment and the owl shook its feathers, as if getting its bearings back. It took off and the teen unrolled parchment, to see what looked to be a hastily written letter because the letters looked blotchy.
Hailey—
Dumbledore's just arrived at the Ministry, and he's trying to sort it all out. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE! DO NOT DO ANY MORE MAGIC! DO NOT SURRENDER YOUR WAND!
Arthur Weasley
Hailey wondered what meant if Dumbledore was trying to sort everything out. How much power did he have to try and override the Ministry of Magic? Was there a chance that she would be allowed to go back to Hogwarts? She felt hopeful and then panicked, because how was she going refuse to give up her wand without doing any magic?
"Who are all these ruddy owls from?" Vernon growled. The vein in his temple looked like it was throbbing or going to burst.
"The first one was my expulsion letter from the Ministry of Magic," replied Hailey, trying to sound calm.
"Ministry of Magic?" bellowed Vernon. "People like you in government? Oh, this explains everything, no wonder the country's going to the dogs…"
"The Ministry of Magic is a separate government," replied Hailey.
Vernon ignored, which wasn't anything new. He glared at her and spat, "And why have you been expelled?"
Rather flatly, Hailey responded, "Because I had to do magic."
"Aha!" shouted Vernon, slamming his fist on top of the fridge, which sprang open, spilling several of Dudley's low-fat snacks. "So you admit it! What did you do to Dudley?"
"I didn't do anything!" replied Hailey, "That wasn't me—"
"Was," Dudley muttered. Vernon and Petunia made hand gestures at Hailey to quiet her, while they went to check on Dudley.
"Go on, son," said Vernon. "What did she do?"
"Tell us, darling," whispered Petunia.
"Pointed her wand at me," Dudley mumbled.
Hailey started, "Yeah, I did, but I didn't use—"
"Shut up!" bellowed Vernon and Petunia at the same time.
"Go on, son," Vernon said, his mustache blowing about furiously.
"All dark," Dudley said in a hoarse voice, shuddering, "Everything dark. And I h-heard…things. Inside m-my heard…"
Vernon and Petunia looked at each other, horrified. Hearing voices were probably on the bottom ten things they hate. Magic was at the top of the list, followed closely by neighbours who cheated more than they did on the housepipe ban. They must've thought that Dudley was losing his mind. She was oddly reminded of that one story Michael told her and her friends in their second year, where his neighbour had got taken away because she thought her stuffed animals were insulting her.
"What sort of things did you hear, popkin?" asked Petunia, very white and looking on the verge of crying.
Dudley shuddered and shook his head.
Despite feeling dread and numb, Hailey couldn't help but wonder what spoiled, pampered, bullying Dudley had been forced to hear because dementors caused people to relive their worst moments of their life.
"How come you fell over, son?" asked Vernon, using an unnatural voice, like one would use at the bedside of a very ill person.
"T-tripped," Dudley stuttered out. "And then—" he gestured at his massive chest, which Hailey understand. He was probably remembering the clammy cold that filled the lungs as hope and happiness was sucked out of him. "Horrible," he croaked, "Cold." He shuddered again, "Really cold."
"Okay," replied Vernon, with a forced calm voice.
Petunia laid her hand on Dudley's forehead to check his temperature and looked anxious. "What happened then, Dudders?"
Dudley stuttered out, "Felt…felt…felt…as if…as if…"
"As if you'd never be happy again," Hailey offered in a monotone.
"Yes," Dudley whispered.
"So," stated Vernon, resuming his loud voice as he straightened up. "So, you put some crackpot spell on my son so he'd hear voices and believe he was—was doomed to misery or something, did you?"
"How many times do I have to repeat myself?" demanded Hailey, her temper and voice rising, "I didn't do a damn thing! It was a couple of dementors!"
"A couple of—what's this codswallop?" Vernon demanded. Petunia had covered her heard with her hand probably at hearing the word 'damn' being used by her niece, as if Hailey had something even more vulgar.
"De-men-tors," enunciated Hailey as clearly as possible. "There were two of them."
Vernon asked, "And what the ruddy hell are dementors?"
"They guard the wizard prison, Azakban." Petunia said, and covered her mouth with her hand again, as if she didn't mean to say that.
A silence had followed as they all goggled at Petunia.
"How—how do you know that?" Hailey asked, her mind reeling. First Mrs Figg and now Petunia, who refused to have anything to do with the wizarding world?
Petunia looked disgusted with herself, and looked apologetically at Vernon, before lowering her hand from her mouth. She said, "I heard—that awful boy—telling her about them—years ago."
"My mum and dad have names you know," Hailey said loudly, but her aunt ignored her.
Hailey blinked, becoming stunned, because she never heard Petunia mention her sister, except once years ago, when Petunia ranted about Hailey's mother being a freak. She was surprised that her aunt had remembered that piece of information about the magical world for so long, because Petunia seemed to spend most of her energy into pretending that it didn't even exist.
Vernon had opened and closed his mouth twice, before croaking out, "So—so—they—er—they—er—they actually exists, do they—er—dementy-whasits?"
Petunia nodded.
Vernon looked at his family, as if expecting them to shout 'April Fool!' at him, but nobody did. He opened his mouth again, but a third owl shot right through the window. It landed on the kitchen table, making the Dursleys jump. Hailey took an official-looking envelope from the owl's beak. She ripped it open as she heard her uncle mutter, "Enough—effing owls…"
The window was slammed shut as Hailey read the letter.
Dear Miss Potter,
Further to our letter of approximately twenty-two minutes ago, the Ministry of Magic has revised its decision to destroy your wand forthwith. You may retain your wand until your disciplinary hearing on 12th August, at which time an official decision will be taken.
Following discussion with the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Ministry has agreed that the question of your expulsion will also be decided at that time. You should therefore consider yourself suspended from school pending further inquires.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
IMPROPER USE OF MAGIC OFFICE
Ministry of Magic
Hailey reread the letter three times as quickly as possible. She felt less miserable knowing that she wasn't expelled, just suspended, though she still felt fearful, because everything hung on the hearing on August twelfth.
"Well," asked Vernon, bringing Hailey out of her thoughts. "What now? Have they sentenced you to anything?" Hopefully, he added, "Do your lot have the death penalty?"
"I have to go to a hearing," responded Hailey.
"And they'll sentence you there?" asked Vernon.
Hailey shrugged, "Probably."
"I won't give up hope, then," said Vernon nastily.
"Well, if this is all," said Hailey going to the door. She wanted to be alone so she can think and perhaps send a letter to her friends or Sirius.
"No, it ruddy well is not all!" bellowed Vernon. "Sit down!"
Hailey sat down and exasperated, asked, "What do you want now?"
"Dudley!" roared Vernon. "I want to know exactly what happened to my son!"
"Fine," yelled Hailey. "Dudley and I were in the alleyway between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk. Dudley thought he'd be smart with me, I pulled out my wand, but I didn't use it. Then two dementors turned up—"
"But what are dementoids?" interrupted Vernon furiously. "What do they do?"
Hailey quickly explained, "They just suck the happiness out of you and if they even get the chance, they kiss you—"
"Kiss you?" repeated Vernon, his eyes wide. "Kiss you?"
"They suck your soul out of your mouth, so they call it the Dementor's Kiss," Hailey explained.
Petunia let out a soft scream at that, "His soul? They didn't take—he's still got his—?" He shook Dudley, as if she can hear his soul rattling inside him.
"You'd know if they got his soul," replied Hailey.
To Dudley, Vernon said loudly, "Fought 'em off, did you, son? Gave 'em the old one-two, did you?"
Hailey wanted to face-palm at that. "You can't give a dementor the old one-two."
"Why's he all right, then?" blustered Vernon, "Why isn't he all empty, then?"
Hailey really face-palmed this time, "Because I used the Patrnous—"
A fourth owl shot out of the kitchen fireplace. Hailey was instantly there, pulling a roll of parchment from the owl's leg.
Vernon ranted, "For God's sake! I will not have owls here, I will not tolerate this, I tell you!"
"I can't stop them!" Hailey shouted and opened the letter.
Arthur's just told us what's happened.
Don't leave the house again, whatever you do.
For the first time, Hailey felt disappointed to see Sirius's handwriting and felt agitated all over because it seemed like Mr Weasley and Sirius were acting as if she had misbehaved and were waiting to see how much damage was done before they gave her a stern talking to.
It seemed like Vernon was still ranting, "—a peck, I mean, a pack of owls shooting in and out of my house and I won't have it, girl, I won't—"
"I can't stop the owls from coming," Hailey snapped, crushing the parchment in her fist.
"I want the truth about what happened tonight!" demanded Venon. "If it was demenders who hurt Dudley, how come you've been expelled? You did you-know-what, you've admitted it!"
For a second, Hailey thought that Vernon was showing concern on her being expelled, but she knew that Vernon would rather die than show her concern over her well-being. She took a deep breath feeling a headache coming on. She wanted to get out of the kitchen and away from them. "I did the Patronus Charm to get rid of the dementors. It's the only thing that works against them."
"But what were dementoids doing in Little Whinging?" asked Vernon outraged.
"If I knew I would tell you!" Hailey responded. Her uncle had asked a good question though, what were dementors doing in Little Whinging?
"It's you," accused Vernon. "It's got something to do with you, girl, I know it. Why else would they turn up here? Why else would they be down that alleyway? You've got to be the only—the only—the only you-know-what for miles."
Hailey said, "I don't know why they were here…" Could it be a coincidence that they arrived in the alleyway where Hailey was? Had they been sent? Had the Ministry of Magic lost control of the dementors? Had they deserted Azkaban and joined Voldemort, as Dumbledore predicted?
"These demembers guard some weirdos' prison?" questioned Vernon.
"Yes," stated Hailey.
"Oho!" Vernon shouted triumphantly. "They were coming to arrest you! That's it, isn't it, girl? You're on the run from the law!"
"I'm not on the run from the law! Where did you get that idea from?" asked Hailey shaking her head at that.
Vernon started, "Then why—?"
"I don't know!" shouted Hailey and then she muttered, "He must have sent them then."
"What's that? Who must have sent them?" asked Vernon.
"Lord Voldemort," answered Hailey.
"Lord—hang on," said Vernon, screwing up his face, thinking. "I've heard that name…that was the one who…"
"Murdered my parents, yes," Hailey finished.
"But he's gone," replied Vernon impatiently. "That giant bloke said so. He's gone."
"He's back," responded Hailey. She realized how strange it was to be talking to the Dursley about the return of Lord Voldemort. The Dursleys were asking for details about the magical world because their son got attacked by dementors, Mrs Figg knew Albus Dumbledore, dementors were soaring around Little Whinging, and Hailey might never go back to Hogwarts. It was like a hole ripped between the wizarding world and the Muggle world and smashed together. It was enough to make Hailey's head throb.
"Back?" whispered Petunia.
Hailey saw that her aunt was looking at her with wide eyes. Petunia didn't have her eyes narrowed at her in dislike or anger, but they seemed fearful. Hailey wasn't the only one to know what Voldemort being back might mean. Hailey looked at her aunt, "He came back a month ago. I saw his return."
Petunia grabbed onto Dudley's shoulders.
"Hang on," said Vernon, looking at his wife to Hailey and back to his again. "Hang on, this Lord Voldything's back, you say?"
"He is," replied Hailey.
"And now he's sending dismembers after you?" questioned Vernon.
"It seems like it," responded Hailey.
"I see," Vernon said, looking at Petunia and Hailey. "Well, that settles it." He looked at Hailey, "You can get out of this house, girl!"
"Excuse me?" asked Hailey startled.
"You heard me," Vernon bellowed, "Out!" Petunia and Dudley jumped. "Out! Out! I should've done it years ago! Owls treating the place like a rest home, puddings exploding, Dudley's tail, Marge bobbing around on the ceiling, and that flying Ford Anglia—out! Out! You've had it! You're history! You're not staying here if some loony's after you, you're not endangering my wife and son, you're not bringing trouble down on us, if you're going the same way as your useless parents, I've had it! Out!"
Hailey seemed frozen to the chair. Sirius and Mr Weasley's letters were repeating themselves in her head.
Don't leave the house again, whatever you do.
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE.
"You heard me!" snarled Vernon, bending forward so his face was close to Hailey's. "Get going! Get out and never darken our doorstep again! Why we ever kept you in the first place, I don't know. Marge was right, it should have been the orphanage, we were too damn soft for our own good, thought we could squash it out of you, thought we could turn you normal, but you've been rotten from the beginning, and I've had enough—"
A fifth owl with a red envelope flew down the chimney so fast it hit the floor, before flying into the air again with a loud indignant screech.
"Owls!" bellowed Vernon, apparently forgetting that he was in the middle of kicking his niece out of the house.
Hailey went to the owl with the red envelope, but the owl flew over Hailey's head to Petunia, who screamed, ducked, and covered her face with her arms, as if that will protect her. The owl dropped the red envelope on Petunia's head, before flying up the chimney again. She ran for the envelope, but Petunia beat her to it. "You can open it if you, but everyone will hear what it says. That's a Howler. If you don't open it, it'll be worse."
"Let go of it, Petunia!" roared Vernon. "Don't touch it, it could be dangerous!"
"It's addressed to me," said Petunia, sounding terrified. "It's addressed to me, Vernon, look! Mrs Petunia Dursley, The Kitchen, Number Four, Privet Drive—"
The Howler began smoking, making Petunia catch her breath.
"You've got to open it!" urged Hailey. "Just get it over with! It's going to yell—"
"No—" Petunia aid, trembling as she looked around the kitchen, as if she was looking for an escape route. The Howler burst into flames, making Petunia scream and dropped it.
"Remember my last, Petunia!"
It was an awful voice, which seemed to fill the kitchen. Petunia looked as if she was going to faint and she fell back in a chair beside Dudley. She had her face in her hands.
The Howler smoldered into ash.
"What—I don't—Petunia?" asked Vernon sounding hoarse.
Dudley was staring at his mother, his mouth hanging open. Hailey was looking at her aunt, bewildered.
"Petunia, dear?" asked Vernon timidly, "P-Petunia?"
Petunia looked up at her husband, trembling. In a weak voice, she said, "The girl—the girl will have to stay, Vernon."
"W-what?" stuttered Vernon.
Petunia didn't look at Hailey as she got to her feet. "She stays."
"She…but Petunia…" spluttered Vernon.
"If we throw her out, the neighbours will talk," Petunia said in a brisk, snappish manner. She still looked very pale though. "They'll want to know where she's gone. We'll have to keep her."
As if I'm an animal, Hailey thought.
Vernon seemed to sag, "But Petunia, dear—"
"You're to stay in your room," Petunia ordered Hailey, ignoring Vernon. "You're not to leave the house. Now get to bed."
"Why sent you that Howler?" asked Hailey.
"Don't ask questions," snapped Petunia.
Hailey went to go do as she was told, figuring that she wasn't going to get any answers from her aunt.
