Here it is, Chapter 2. Please note that all chapters will not be uploaded this frequently in the future but it is the weekend, and I've got both the time and the motivation so here it is. :)

Disclaimer: Disclaimer from chapter one still applies...if you recognize it, it isn't mine.


Chapter 2

It would be almost two days before Maggie saw the mystery boy again, and when it did happen it was entirely by accident. She had regaled her embarrassing tale of window creeping and subsequent tumbling off of the bed to her father over dinner that night, and the laughter that he let out was enough for her to resolve to just avoid the newcomer as much as possible. This had worked reasonably well for awhile, but after two days of getting settled (no dad, she was not hiding!) Evan decided that his daughter really needed to get outside and breathe some fresh air. Venturing outdoors in the summer was right up there on Maggie's list of least favorite things to do (along with public speaking and forced social interaction), but after numerous threats from her father to get her butt outside or else, Maggie decided that a short walk to the park several streets over was not nearly as bad as whatever demonic scheme her father could cook up. So of course the first person she sees when she reaches the park, book in hand, is the mystery boy.

She almost turns around and walks home, almost, but then she realizes that he doesn't seem to be aware of her presence, doesn't seem to be aware of anything really, and she pauses to look at him more carefully. He looks sad, his head is bowed, raven-hair being the only head feature that Maggie can really see, shoulders are slumped, and his arms are wrapped tightly around his stomach as his feet slowly move the swing that he is seated in. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth until Maggie suddenly decided that she couldn't take it anymore. It may not be the kind of thing that she does, ever, and her stomach may be clenching uncomfortably while her palms grew sweaty around her well-loved copy of The Count of Monte Cristo, but right then that boy looked as alone and sad as Maggie sometimes felt so she gathered what little courage she possessed, swallowed the bile creeping up her throat, and walked over to the swing next to him, plopping down with a shaky exhale of breath.


Harry sat in the same swing that he had spent most of the previous summer, trying to whittle away the hours and drown out his thoughts with the familiar, somewhat comforting, sound of chains squeaking and continuous rocking. Back and forth, back and forth, back an- Sirius-prophecy-all my fault-it's all my fault-Sirius-SIRIUS-back and forth, back and forth. He had spent entire days on this same swing the previous summer without being interrupted (he was the Dursley's delinquent nephew after all) barring some unfortunate instances with Dudley and his group of thugs, so the sound of someone sitting on the swing next to him was a completely foreign one, enough to shake Harry from his thoughts completely and turn to face this newcomer with suspicious eyes.

It was the staring girl, his new neighbor at Number 5, who he hadn't seen since his first day back "home". Now that he was able to get a proper look at her, he realized that his previous assessment of her had been correct. She was cute, with curly medium brown hair reaching just below her shoulders and big brown eyes. There was a smattering of freckles across her face and, being able to look down a good couple inches even sitting, Harry deduced that she was rather short as well. However, cute as she may be, it didn't explain why she was sitting next to him when, judging by the book in her hand, she had come to the park to do some reading.

"Hello" The soft-spoken American accent reached Harry's ears and he noticed that she sounded quite nervous.

"Hello.." He trailed off, somewhat awkwardly, as he had no idea what her name was and no idea still why she was conversing with him.

"OH, sorry, umm...I'm Margaret Graham but most people call me Maggie, I'm staying with my dad, who moved in next door to the Dursley's, who I know that you're staying with obviously, because I was watching you a few days ago, well not watching really and crap that sounds really creepy doesn't it?" Not giving Harry time to respond to the question she continued, "It wasn't meant to be creepy I promise I was just curious but anyway I'm Maggie and what's your name?"

Having said all of this extremely fast it took a second for Harry to realize that a) she was done and b) she had asked for his name. "My name is Harry, just Harry."


"My name is Harry, just Harry." The accented words of her swing companion floated through Margaret's brain, which was busy criticizing herself for the veritable word vomit she had just spewed, and she smiled a small smile at the fact that the boy, Harry, didn't seem weirded out by her yet. Harry was definitely cuter than she had been able to determine from her window. His black hair stuck every which way and he had a pair of emerald eyes behind worn out glasses. Maggie caught sight of what looked like a scar beneath the mop of hair covering Harry's forehead but she didn't think that it was her place to ask about it and so directed her attention back to Harry's eyes, which were regarding her with no small hint of suspicion.

"Oh crap, I'm bothering you aren't I? I'm sorry it's just I was coming here to read my book because my dad said that I had to come outside and I saw you here and you just looked really sad and I wanted to see if you were okay and to apologize for creeping on you the other day, and as you can probably tell I ramble when I get nervous, but I can leave if you want?" Silence met her words and she got up to leave before she embarrassed herself anymore.


Once again the girl, Maggie, spoke rather fast, brown eyes growing large and worried at the thought of disturbing him and he wasn't able to answer right away. She apparently took this as a confirmation to leave because she got up with a mumbled "Sorry," and began to walk away.

"Wait," the word was out of Harry's mouth before he could stop it and Maggie turned to look at him curiously. "I'm sorry, you don't have to leave and you weren't bothering me and I didn't think that you were 'creeping' on me the other day. You just talk really fast and it took me a moment to catch up." His words caused a soft blush to rise up on Maggie's cheeks but she retook her seat beside him nonetheless.

"I know I talk fast, my dad is always telling me to slow down, but I get really nervous meeting new people." Maggie's quiet admission turned Harry's attention fully towards her and he offered her a small smile.

"I'm not so good with meeting new people either, so I guess you and I are in the same boat." Maggie chuckled lightly at his words and smiled completely back at him.

"I guess we are…" She trailed off then and paused, as if she were afraid to ask him her next question, but his attention was turned from her obviously nervous expression and brought to the book that she still held tightly in her hands. He couldn't see the the title but the cover appeared to have a man with rather large sideburns and Harry hadn't really read any muggle books before. Maggie seemed to notice where his attention had gone because she offered him another question. "It's The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, have you read it?"

"Uhhh no, I haven't, what's it about?" His question seemed to bring some sort of new life to Maggie because her eyes lit up as she held the book up for his examination while she explained.

"It's about this man who is wrongfully imprisoned for years on end and when he finally escapes he seeks revenge on those who imprisoned him and wronged his family! Edmond Dantes braves years in a harsh prison at sea before escaping. When he does escape he has all sorts of fantastical adventures before finally enacting brutal revenge on those who were responsible for his wrongful imprisonment!" Her voice was passionate as she talked and the way she described the book actually mad Harry somewhat curious. That and the whole premise reminded him a little bit of Sirius. Glancing more carefully at the book, Harry could tell that it had been read many times and was obviously well loved by the girl in front of him.

"It sounds very interesting, more interesting than most books I've read anyway," His words brought yet another small smile to Maggie's face and she immediately held it out towards him.


Maggie watched Harry's face as she described one of her favorite books. He definitely seemed interested and she watched as he bent his head to examine it more closely, the bridge of his glasses slipping down his nose as he did.

"It sounds very interesting, more interesting than most books I've read anyway." Smiling as she always did when someone complimented one of her babies (books she mentally corrected) Maggie held the book out towards him without another thought.

"Would you like to borrow it? I've read it lots of times and you seem really interested," Her question seemed to shock her emerald eyed companion as he glanced at her with wide eyes, obviously not expecting such an offer.

"Well, I'm not really the fastest reader you see, or the most dedicated, and I would hate to keep it from you for too long…" once again Harry trailed off and rubbed the back of his head, obviously somewhat embarrassed at his perceived reading flaws.

"Nonsense," was Maggie's immediate response. "I'm staying right next door Harry, you don't need to worry about time restrictions, plus I get the impression that you're not the kind to destroy other people's property. It's an absolutely wonderful book and I really think that you should give it a try." Once more she held the book out towards him imploringly, practically shoving it in his face at this point and, after about ten seconds of staring at it, he took it with a resigned sigh.

"Fine, fine, I'll try the book although I'm warning you now Maggie, if I don't like it there will be consequences." After blinking at Harry in surprise at the teasing tone he used towards the end (she didn't think they were quite at the ribbing stage yet) Maggie let out a light laugh and reassured him again.

"You'll love it, I'm sure. Even back home when we were assigned this in school kids who hated reading anything liked it." Nodding his head in apparent acceptance at this, Harry turned his attention to the back cover of the book he now held in his hand. Maggie took this time to slowly swing back and forth and surreptitiously observe him. He looked much more relaxed now than he had when she had first seen him in the park. His head was still bent, but now it was to look at her book than just because, his hands were no longer clenched tightly in the sides of his plain grey t-shirt, and although his shoulders still slumped slightly, it was more reminiscent of typical teenage slouching than sadness. He had even smiled at her, and joked with her. Feeling glad (and maybe a little proud) that her attempts at making him feel a little bit better had at least somewhat succeeded, Maggie couldn't help the beaming grin that took over her face.

"What's got you in such a good mood?" The question held a tint of amusement in it, and Maggie suddenly realized that she probably looked like an idiot staring at him with a dopey grin on her face. Blushing heavily, she averted her gaze to the ground and tried to answer normally.

"Nothing." Okay so it came out as more of a mumble, sue her. It was the best she could do given the embarrassing circumstances. Harry hummed, obviously not convinced but dropped the subject leaving the two new friends (acquaintances?friends?...Friends) in a companionable silence for several minutes. That is until Maggie decided to break it with one of those awkward and stilted questions that had scared away both potential friends and potential suitors. "So why are you living with the Dursleys?"

Harry visibly tensed up at the question and Maggie mentally smacked herself, why is that any of your business you idiot! Could you be more socially awkward! but answered the question regardless, although in noticeably more strained tones than before. "Well I'm their nephew, I live with them in the summer and during the school year I attend boarding school up north." There was obviously a lot more to it than that but Maggie refrained from asking, deciding that she had caused enough tension already.

"Boarding school...that sounds interesting. I live with my mom in a small town in Ohio and I go to public school there. I'm only here now because my dad moved here over the winter and wanted me to spend the summer with him. Not that I'm complaining of course because, HELLO, England. He and my mom divorced a few years back so they have a kind of joint custody thing." Nice going Mags, why don't you just tell him your whole life story while you're at it and make it even more awkward.


Harry was simultaneously relieved at the change in topic and unsure of what to do with the information he had just been given about Maggie's life. Eventually he just settled with an awkward "Sorry about your parents?" which came of as more of a question and was accompanied by another hand rubbing the back of his head.

"No, no it's fine," Maggie seemed anxious to reassure him, "It wasn't a nasty divorce or anything, they just simply...fell out of love. They're both happier this way."

"I see."

"I've just made things incredibly awkward haven't I?" Maggie's question came out as more of a groan and her head fell against one of the chains holding her swing.

Harry let out a small laugh and couldn't help but reply with a teasing, "Just a bit," that had her laughing and aiming a weak kick at his jean clad shin.

"Oh quiet you." Maggie's rather weak comeback to Harry's taunt had both teens laughing lightly and had Harry in particular feeling lighter than he had in days, weeks even. He couldn't remember the last time that he had joked around with someone like this. Even with Ron and Hermione there was always this tension. Always the knowledge that Voldemort was out there just waiting to strike and everyone was looking at him to find a way to fix everything. With this new girl, Maggie there was just banter. It was light-hearted and fun and one hundred percent, honest-to-Merlin normal. And he liked it. A lot.

Lost in his thoughts, Harry didn't notice his new friend glance down at the watch on her wrist, but he did notice when she suddenly stood from her place next to him and stretched her arms above her head with a small groan. Cocking his head in a silent question, Harry asked what she was doing.

"It's nearing four and I promised my dad I would make him dinner tonight. Dinner's at five thirty and I still have to figure out what I'm making so I'd better head on home." Noticing that the sky was a bit lower in the sky now Harry figured that it was probably time for him to head back as well, and he wanted to spend a little more time with his new neighbor.

"I can walk back with you if you'd like? It's probably about time for me to head back as well, and I can get an early start," he held up her book, "on this." Grinning widely, Maggie nodded her head and offered him a hand to pull him from his seat. Harry took it, and couldn't help the soft groan that escaped as his knees popped and his back straightened for the first time in hours. Once he reached his full height, he realized that Maggie was even shorter than he had previously assumed, the top of her head barely reaching his collarbone. She also appeared to notice the height difference, because with a resigned sigh,as if she were used to being the shortest person around, she turned around and they began the trek to Privet Drive together in comfortable silence.


"Tacos." The blank stare Harry received from his tiny companion made him realize that elaboration might be a good idea so he quickly added words in order to clarify. "For your dinner, you should make some tacos. They're really easy and quick so you don't have to worry too much. Plus they're a great summer food." Nodding her head thoughtfully Maggie's bewildered stare turned to one of comprehension as they turned the corner unto Privet Drive.

"Tacos….I think we have the stuff for tacos." Busy mentally trying to figure out if her father's pantry had the necessary ingredients for Harry's suggestion Maggie didn't even notice when she reached her father's house, although she did notice when Harry stopped walking rather abruptly. "Harry?..." His response was to point his finger to the houses they were standing by. "Ohhh….."

"I should go, but thanks for the book yeah, and I'll see you tomorrow?..." He was nervous asking the question as he didn't want to assume anything but he really wanted to see Maggie again.

She smiled brightly at him and he felt a grin of his own slip unbidden on to his face at her happy exclamation of "definitely!" With one more parting wave at him and another thanks for his food suggestion Maggie walked into her house and it was only after the door thudded shut behind her that Harry made his way into his own.


Maggie couldn't stop smiling as she got ready for bed that night. Her good mood had been noticed by her father who, after complimenting the dinner she had made for him (tacos) had asked about her day. This of course had caused Maggie to go off on a long-winded explanation of her day and she ended up spending ten minutes talking excitedly to her father about Harry before she realized that he was laughing silently at her enthusiasm. He had only stated that he was glad she had made a friend to hang out with while he was at work before talking about his day in return.

It was only hours later, as she was about to shut her eyes and go to sleep, that Maggie realized the full implications of what she had done. She had talked to a boy. A boy who was her age and who had seemed to enjoy spending time with her, and even wanted to talk to her again. The most astounding part? Not once after the initial meeting did Maggie feel too nervous or anxious around Harry. It was really easy to talk to him, and to joke with him in a way that it had never been for her before. Uplifted by the thoughts swirling around in her head Maggie went to bed dreaming of emerald eyes, and all of the possibilities that they held.


While Maggie slept in the house next door Harry was wide awake in his bed. After he had entered the Dursley home he had immediately been forced to work on dinner, which he was then given the worst bits of, and then sent to his room. The sudden silence and solitude coupled with the absence of any distractions left Harry once again vulnerable to his own mind. Tired of the own agony his mind was forcing on him and the painful memories he couldn't seem to escape Harry searched his room for anything to keep his mind occupied. Homework was out of the question, he had completed it the day before in an effort to distract himself and just as he was getting desperate Harry's eyes fell on the book on his bedside table. Allowing a small smile to grace his face at the thought of the girl who had given it to him, Harry picked up The Count of Monte Cristo, cracked it open, and started to read.


A/N: Here is chapter 2 of Life Support! Please, to any of you who stumble on this story, leave me some reviews. I would love your opinions. Do you like Maggie? Am I keeping Harry in character enough? Is it moving too fast? Too slow? Is my writing style okay? Hell, do you like the story in general? Let me know and thank you for taking the time to read this :)