I woke to the sound of my mother shouting. Harry had probably burnt the bacon... again. Of course, I always tried to defend him in my mind, Maybe his previous family liked it crunchy. Because, really, the bacon wasn't even burnt. Just a little crunchier than my mum liked it.
Groggily, I made my way from the foot of my bed to my bathroom, rubbing my eye as I went. After a warm shower, I pulled on my Smelting's uniform, which seemed a little loose after a long summer, and started down the stairs. My mum stood next to a bored-looking Harry as he moved and flipped bacon around in a greasy pan. "Make sure that bacon is nice and greasy. We can't have our Dudikins being skinny for another year at Smeltings." She whispered in his ear threateningly. Her eyes finally moved to me as I stood in the doorway, clearly uncomfortable with the way she was treating Harry. "Look at him!" She cried, rushing to me with tears in her eyes. "You're so skinny, it's unhealthy!"
I bit my lip and turned away, I wasn't skinny, not at all. I had worked very hard over the summer to lose as much weight as I could, which actually only ended up being about ten pounds. "No, It's fine. I'm not. I mean, hungry, that is."
"Oh, dearest Dudders~!" She cried in anguish, as I grimaced behind her at my nickname. "Wasting away to nothing!"
"I'll eat an egg, I guess." Anything to make her shut up.
I poked and prodded at the food my mum had made Harry make for me. It looked good, and Harry was an amazing cook, but I wasn't hungry, not really. I ate a few bites of bacon and egg, relishing in the perfect textures and delicious tastes. I looked up at Harry who was gnawing around a fatty piece of bacon uneventfully. Our eyes met and I suddenly felt compelled to say something, anything. I took a breath, ready to thank him for such hard work around the house, but my mum cut me off, "Dudley~!" she sang, "Your bus is here~!"
Harry quickly licked his lips and stood, taking my plate and his and walking to the sink. I headed for the front door, my mum was sitting in my father's old chair knitting socks, happily. She was saying something, but my mind was still in the dining room with Harry. As I closed the door, I heard the garbage disposal running.
Graaaaraarahhharrrrh.
The dress code. We have to wear our uniforms, not alterations, no additions, no jewelry, no hats, no piercings, no anything but regulation shirts, shorts and pants, and shoes.
.
Graaaaraarahhharrrrh
.
Sexual harassment. No unwanted touching, sexual gestures, slurs. Don't do anything with other people. No holding hands, no kissing. Nothing but smiles and handshakes.
.
Graaaaraarahhharrrrh
Graaaaraarahhharrrrh
Graaaaraarahhharrrrh
Graaaaraarahhharrrrh
Graaaaraarahhharrrrh
Graaaaraarahhharrrrh
Graaaaraarahhharrrrh
Graaaaraarahhharrrrh
Graaaaraarahhharrrrh
Graaaaraarahhharrrrh
Graaaaraarahhharrrrh
.
That's the only thing I heard all day. It haunted me when I went to the bathroom, as I walked the hallways, while teachers lectured over the handbook. It was terrifying. It was terrifying to think about what the noise meant. It was terrifying to think; Who knew a noise could be so lonely?
