WARNINGS: Mentions of severe child abuse in this chapter. If you're sensitive to that, don't read, or skip this chapter.
Lucille's eyes snapped open. The doorbell shouldn't be ringing at this hour, should it?
Harry tightened his arms around her. "Shh… Lucy. Nobody other than the Dursley's knows we're in here. Besides, burglars wouldn't ring the doorbell before breaking in. It's probably just some teenagers messing around."
The twins heard Uncle Vernon stomping down the stairs, muttering to himself. Lucy pushed her face harder into Harry's chest. If this made Uncle Vernon angry, he might come back to take that anger out on her. They heard shouting from the door, followed by a very kind sounding voice, followed by Uncle Vernon's call for, "PETUNIA!".
Harry listened as Aunt Petunia descended the stairs overhead. He was curious as to what was going on, but decided it best to stay in the cupboard. He would never leave his sister, especially not when she was like this. He ran his hand up and down her back as he listened, hard.
A gentle knock on the cupboard made Lucille jump so high that she nearly hit her head on the low ceiling.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Potter, my name is Professor Albus Dumbledore. I am the headmaster of Hogwarts, the school that your parents attended. If you could step outside your bedroom for a moment, I'd like to have a conversation with you."
This was the kind voice that Harry had heard out in the hallway. This man said that he knew their parents, that he taught at their old school. He could feel Lucille shaking violently beside him.
"Lucy, I'm going to go outsi- No, shh… Listen. I'm going to go outside, and I'm going to see what he wants. I'll be right there, I won't let anyone come in the cupboard, and you don't have to come out if you don't want to." Lucille nodded and Harry kissed her bruised forehead. He pulled the hood of her sweater up over her head, and wrapped the blanket tighter around her. He had no idea whether his sister was safe or not, but at least he could help make her feel that way.
Harry stepped outside the cupboard and stood right in front of the door. He saw a man with a long, white beard, robes of deep purple, and a crooked nose.
Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled at him when he asked, "Where is your sister, Harry? Forgive me for being rude but I was expecting the both of you."
"She's in the cupboard, uh, sir." Harry responded. The Dursleys were nowhere to be seen, and Harry wondered why they would let this strange man into their house, especially unattended. Did they know him? Were they afraid of him?
"Well," said Dumbledore, smiling brightly, "I would very much like to speak to the both of you. If you could persuade her to join us, it would be much appreciated. I'll leave you two alone." Dumbledore walked over to the living room opposite and sat down on the sofa. Harry felt like he didn't have much choice in the matter, so he reentered the cupboard.
"Lucille, it's okay. Please come out, he wants to talk to us. He seems very nice."
Lucille looked at him, and he could see the fear in her brown eyes. He could tell that she was still a little bit drunk, and his heart broke. "Please trust me, Lucy. You know I would never put you in danger."
Lucille knew he was right, but she was still nervous. As much as Harry trusted this man, she just couldn't. She trusted Harry though, trusted him with all her heart. She'd known him all her life and he had never done anything to hurt her. Harry had always tried to give her the best, even in their situation, she was always put first.
If he said it was okay, she trusted him.
She stumbled out of bed and Harry helped her walk toward the Headmaster. Dumbledore smiled brightly when he saw them.
"I hope you don't mind me saying this, but it's like looking at Lily and James one more time." He said jovially.
Lucille took a step behind her brother. As she did she stumbled and wavered. Harry grabbed her waist and held her upright. Dumbledore looked concerned.
"Why don't you two take a seat, we have much to discuss." Dumbledore said, cheerfully. Harry helped Lucy over to the sofa opposite Dumbledore.
"First things first," Dumbledore said, "I would like to offer both of you a spot at my school." He handed them both envelopes complete with wax seals.
The letters screwed up in Lucille's brain. She could feel the alcohol bearing down on her. She didn't know if she was intoxicated or if she had actually read the words, "witchcraft" and "wizardry" on the envelope, or if she were just dreaming.
"Excuse me, sir…" Harry's voice sounded confused, he had opened his letter and his eyes were scanning the paper intently, "This letter says that we're wizards. I don't quite understand."
"Well, yes and no," replied Dumbledore, calmly, "You, Harry, are a wizard. Lucille here is a witch. As were your parents. These letters were going to be mailed out to you within the week, but I'm afraid one of my colleagues informed me that living conditions were no longer suitable here. As such, you will come to school with me early, should you choose to accept your offers, of course."
"Whatsa wizard?" Lucille asked. She hoped Dumbledore wouldn't be able to tell she was slurring. She knew Harry noticed, though, and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"A wizard, or a witch, is a person who can preform spells and do magic. If you wish for an example…"
Dumbledore pulled a wand out of his pocket and levitated the couch that Harry and Lucille were sitting on. Their feet dangled in the air as Dumbledore lowered them back down, gently to the ground.
"We can do that?" Lucy asked, slurring just slightly.
"With a little training, yes, you will be able to do that." Dumbledore winked.
Harry was so excited that he could barely contain it, "Sir, can we use magic to defend ourselves?"
"Yes," said Dumbledore, "Magic can be used in self defence if it is needed."
Harry could barely believe it. He could finally protect his sister from his uncle, finally ensure her safety. This would be the last time she would be slurring her words, the last time food would be forced out of her stomach…
"We're in." said Harry, beaming.
"Hold on," said Dumbledore, "Does Miss Potter agree?"
Lucy did not know where she was going, but wherever it was, at least she wouldn't be beaten. And if Harry was there, she knew she would be happy.
"Okay." she whispered.
Dumbledore used something called the Floo Network to get them from Number 4 Privet Drive to his office at Hogwarts. It made Lucille a little dizzy, but she didn't have anything left in her stomach to throw up.
"It seems to me," said Dumbledore, "That you are feeling under the whether, is that right, Miss Potter?"
Harry looked at his sister. He knew Dumbledore was just being kind, ignoring the blatantly obvious bruises that covered her pretty face, not to mention her slurring and constant stumbling about. Nonetheless, Harry knew she needed bed.
"A little bit." Lucille replied.
"If it's alright with you," asked Dumbledore politely, "I will call our nurse, Madame Pomfrey up to escort you to the hospital wing. She'll give you a couple potions to make you feel better and let you sleep. It always makes me feel better after a long day. Anyway, I'd like a word with Mr. Potter alone."
Harry could tell that Lucy didn't want to leave without him. Dumbledore seemed to pick up on this.
"Harry will be right down with you. He may spend the night in the hospital wing too, until other arrangements are made." Dumbledore smiled kindly, and a second later there was a knock at the door, "That must me Madame Pomfrey now. I promise she'll take excellent care of you."
Lucille hadn't even realized he had called her yet. She looked at Harry, who took her hand and squeezed. He helped her walk to the door where Madame Pomfrey was waiting. The woman had kind eyes and Harry could tell his sister was in good hands. Lucy still look scared, but Harry reassured her he'd be with her soon.
He closed the door behind him and took a look around Dumbledore's office. There were portraits of many men and women snoozing in their frames. The pictures were moving, and making noise, which amazed Harry to no end. There were tiny silver instruments lined up on Dumbledore's desk, and many were whirring and buzzing. Dumbledore instructed Harry to take a seat on the opposite side of the desk, and he did, looking Dumbledore in the eyes.
"Now, Harry. I wanted to ask you about how your sister was treated back at your Aunt and Uncle's. I understand that they were not very kind to her?"
Harry took a deep breath. He knew he could trust Dumbledore. He knew that if he told the whole truth, maybe he would get his sister out of that place for good.
He stared with how Dudley had pulled her hair when they were around four years old, and how she had started to cry. He told Dumbledore how he saw this and punched Dudley square in the jaw with his tiny, little fist. How Vernon had seen what had happened, and told Dudley to pull Lucille's hair as hard as he wanted. How Vernon had taken Harry on his lap and made him watch. He told Dumbledore how it gradually got worse, how Vernon started kicking Lucy out of his way, while Petunia turned a blind eye. And then he started beating her whenever Harry would get in trouble, sometimes forcing alcohol down her throat. He told Dumbledore how they forced Harry to listen to the only person in the world he cared about screaming in pain for hours on end.
He ended with the threats that Vernon had made to her about what he's going to do after she hits puberty. The memory of her shaking so violently in his arms, describing to him what their uncle had whispered in her ear made him physically sick. He thought of how long it took him to calm her down that night, of what just the threat of it did to her. He couldn't imagine what she would be like if it actually happened. He wanted to throw up.
Dumbledore was very still, as though giving Harry permission to ask the question he'd been wanting to ask all night.
"Do we have to go back there, Professor?"
"Your sister," Dumbledore answered him, "does not. However, you, Harry, must. For reasons I cannot explain to you right now, you must return to the Dursleys. I would like to inform you though, that while your sister would be safe from your uncle should she be placed in an alternate home, she would be susceptible to a whole other danger. The only two places that are totally safe from this second danger is your aunt and uncle's house, and here, at Hogwarts. She cannot stay at school over summer breaks, because it is closed throughout the holiday. I can make alternate arrangements, however I cannot tell you she is not better off at your Aunt and Uncle's."
"Can't I use magic to protect her from my uncle, sir?" Harry whispered. He didn't like the thought of being separated from Lucille, and he also didn't like that she could be in danger if she were to be away from him.
"I am afraid you cannot, Harry. Magical Law sates that underage wizards cannot preform magic outside of school, much less against muggles -which is what we wizards call non-magic people- anyway, it is up to you and Miss Potter as to what you would like to do come next summer. You have all year to think about it. I am sure you'll make the best decision, Harry, you seem to care for her very much."
With that, Dumbledore bid Harry good night and called Madame Pomfrey to escort him to the hospital wing.
When Harry arrived, he found Lucille fast asleep on the bed second to closest to the door. He realized that the empty closest bed must be for him. She never liked sleeping right beside the door, it scared her that someone would come in. Even at Hogwarts, she was still afraid of their uncle.
Harry noticed that his sister's skin was clear, and that Madame Pomfrey had healed her bruises and welts with magic. She looked peaceful as she slept, almost as though her innocence hadn't been beaten out of her.
Madame Pomfrey offered Harry a sleeping potion, but he denied as he climbed into his bed. After lying there fore about an hour, he regretted this decision. He was almost eleven years old, yet he had never slept apart from his sister. There was a comfort in feeling her there, in knowing that she was safe right beside him. He slid out of bed and walked over to hers. She was cuddling an extra pillow in her sleep, her face nuzzled into it. Harry gently removed the pillow and slid in beside her, scooping her up close. He wasn't sure what was going to threaten her in the future, but he knew he had to put his foot down.
He was not going to let her get hurt again.
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