You're a Wizard Harry!

"Millie?" Harry called from ahead on the side walk.

Millie had been staring at the cracks in the sidewalk and had been intentionally walking slower. Harry had gotten ahead of her and finally noticed. She snapped her head up to look at him and gave him a half smile. "Yeah Harry?"

His shoulders slumped slightly at her nonverbal reply and his aura began to mix with a variety of colors. It looked as though he was struggling to find the words but eventually said, "I'm sorry we couldn't stay." He sounded genuine but she bit her lip and looked back down at the cracked sidewalk.

Millie thought back onto the public library behind her near the school. It was small and the books were a bit musty, but she loved to hide in the fiction section reading all the fairytales. Typically she had spent many hours after school in the library. It wasn't one of Harry's favorite pastimes, but she had gravitated towards it when she realized Dudley never spent time there.

The librarian, Mrs. Weaver, was also one of her favorite people. They rarely talked to each other. Yet they shared smiles and often the older woman had left her favorite books on her usual chair for after school.

However, ever since the zoo incident Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had demanded their return home immediately. Whenever they left the school they passed by the library. Mrs. Weaver had noticed her absence and stared at them through the window as they slowly walked past the door once again. Millie had weakly waved goodbye to her but couldn't bear to look long enough to see if the woman returned the gesture.

A funny ache was in Millie's heart. She missed her round chair, the old books, and her silent companion. Aunt Petunia had never made them stay in the cupboard for as long as they had this time. It seemed the zoo incident had shifted something. There was fear and anger hanging in the house to the point it was thick.

When out of the cupboard Dudley was picking on them. Worse still sometimes Uncle Vernon would make eye contact with them and hit them upside the head for it with an inaudible grumble. Aunt Petunia would sometimes "forget" to make them lunch or leave money, but still make them share a plate at dinner. And after dinner they were back in the cupboard.

The cupboard was actually the only sanctuary they had. Millie was always the most upbeat in the cupboard. She may not have stories to read, but she would tell Harry made up ones or recount the favorites she had read. Last week she had told him the story about Alice in Wonderland from as much as she could remember. They had excitedly talked about the possibility of falling into a magic rabbit hole and what they would do first if they visited Wonderland.

Yet that was last week and Millie had been disappointed in not having been able to read again. What if she couldn't retell the stories anymore? What if she forgot them because she couldn't read them ever again? The feeling was daunting. It was making the sidewalk blurry.

"Your aura is getting swirly again." Harry interrupted. He had moved over to her and she hadn't noticed. He put his hand on her shoulder, grounding her. It was always like this when she got upset. The world would spin and it was hard to know which way was up or down. She imagined that was how the rabbit hole was, but she never made it to Wonderland.

"Come on." Harry said walking with her and leading her the way home. "Don't worry Millie Lily. I'll tell you the stories if you forget them."

Millie turned to him and smiled slightly embarrassed. That was another side effect of the swirly aura—sometimes she pushed her thoughts into his head by accident. She giggled as she imagined Harry telling her stories.

"I'll tell you one tonight." He promised encouraged by her positive reaction, and revealing she was still leaking thoughts and feelings. "Just let me think on it at dinner."

"Okay." She said and they both smiled.

Millie didn't return to the library until school had ended and they were nearly through with summer vacations. Their newfound freedom had brought an onslaught of torture from Dudley who clearly didn't appreciate seeing them more often and resulted in both twins fleeing the house whenever possible.

The first day back in the library Millie had acted sheepish. Peering quietly around the mostly empty building. When she reached her chair in the back, her heart filled to find it still held books for her. She had looked around excitedly for Mrs. Weaver. They made eye contact, the elder woman nodded, and looked away quickly.

This time when Millie left the library Mrs. Weaver met her by the door. She handed Millie a book of short fables. It was titled Tales of Beedle the Bard. She had never seen this book before on the shelves. She also was sure she couldn't rent it out, seeing as Aunt Petunia wouldn't give her a library card. "I…I don't have a card." Millie admitted in shame. "I can't check the book out."

"I suppose I'll have to trust you to return it then." Mrs. Weaver placed the book in her hands and walked away.

Gawking Millie watched the woman walk away without looking back. Thrilled she left quickly thinking the chiming bell on the door didn't even sound as happy as she was feeling.

The book Mrs. Weaver had leant to Millie was different than anything she had ever read within the small library before. Harry was even interested in these tales. They had stayed up late the first night reading some of the stories and telepathically adding character voices.

Yet being allowed to take a book from the library, without a card, nagged at the back of Millie's mind. Finally late one night in the cupboard she voiced her concern to Harry.

"She probably just likes you Millie. It's not that weird." Harry suggested.

"Maybe…" Millie hesitated, "But why did she never lend me a book before?"

"Maybe you were just too young?" Harry guessed clearly thinking his sister was nervous for nothing. He yawned, trying to indicate he was ready for bed.

"I've also never seen this book before Harry." Millie insisted.

Harry sighed and plopped down to snuggle into his blanket, "Maybe it's new? Or maybe you just didn't see it before."

Millie bit her lip, "I don't know…"

Exasperated Harry put his hands up in the air, "You could always just ask her."

Blushing Millie clutched the book to her chest and admitted, "I could." She then carefully hid the book behind a box that had some of Aunt Petunia's old shoes. "Good night Harry."

"Good night Millie."

The next morning brought an even stranger event. After fetching the mail Harry had returned to the table and kept hold of a letter. Millie had raised her eyebrows at him in question but he was too wrapped up in his yellow aura of excitement to notice her. He was just about to open the letter when Dudley ruined what could have been a perfectly fine morning.

Dudley's curiosity had alerted Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. She had a look of horror and he had looked angrier than Millie could ever remember seeing. Uncle Vernon had stolen the letter from Harry and then quite brutally removed all three children from the kitchen.

"Harry what was it?" Millie asked anxiously.

"A letter you stupid girl." Dudley said shoving her aside so he could put his head up to the door to listen to his parents who were talking animatedly in the kitchen.

Harry didn't answer but pulled her to the floor with him so they could listen and peek out from under the door. The conversation happening inside made Millie feel anxious especially when the crescendo was Uncle Vernon shouting, "I'm not having one in the house, Petunia! Didn't we swear when we took them in we'd stamp out that dangerous nonsense?"

"Yes. But…oh Vernon!" Petunia shouted, "Is there only one letter?" She asked in a rush.

Millie could hear Vernon opening the letter and then announced quite grandly, "It's only Harry."

Only Harry? Only Harry what? Millie felt a rush of emotions and none of them were positive. Why was there a letter for Harry? Was he in trouble? Or was she? She was beginning to feel queasy.

Aunt Petunia made a sound that Millie had never heard before. It was a mix of relief and almost joy. "I knew she wasn't one of them." Aunt Petunia said with venom. Then quite proudly added, "She may look like Lily—but she is like me."

There was then footsteps towards the door and all three children bolted away. As soon as the door opened Aunt Petunia called out, "Millicent. Millicent come here darling we're going out."

Harry gawked at her and Millie looked at him in desperation. "What is going on?! Did you do something? Was there really only one letter? Harry-"

She was cut off as Aunt Petunia took her by the hand and led her outside to the car. Harry only stared after her dumbstruck.

The car ride to town had been silent but Aunt Petunia couldn't stop grinning as if she had won some sort of silent contest. Millie tried to focus on the dashboard instead of the way that the car moved which was making her feel ill to her stomach.

The day was the strangest one Millie had ever encountered. Aunt Petunia had taken her shopping. She had purchased Millie new clothes, and not the cheap ones from the sales rack like normal. The entire time Aunt Petunia kept calling her darling and smiling at her proudly—as if Millie had passed some amazing test.

After the car was loaded with boxes and bags from Aunt Petunia's shopping spree she stopped at an ice cream parlor. Millie couldn't remember the last time she had ever had ice cream before. Her aunt led them both to an isolated table outside to eat.

"Now Millicent." Aunt Petunia began, "I want you to know that this will be much different then what happened with your mother."

Millie couldn't look at her and suddenly it was hard for her to taste the ice cream.

Aunt Petunia carried on obliviously, "When the letter came for your mum it was terrible."

Was something terrible going to happen to Harry?

"She was a freak. And they came and took her away to be with other freaks. They filled her head with nonsense." Aunt Petunia held hatred in her words but finished softer, "That won't happen to you. I'm so pleased only your brother got that letter." She said it so matter of fact that every word felt like a poke to Millie's heart. "But I don't want you to worry. Even if those freaks are interested in your brother. He won't be going anywhere. We're not going to let him be like your mum."

Millie wasn't sure what to say so she only nodded. What was worse? Was it finding out Harry might be a freak? Or that she wasn't like him or her mum?

That evening held even more surprises. While they had been out Harry had been forced to take his few things and move them up into Dudley's play room. Aunt Petunia had told her it was to keep a better eye on him and make sure the freaks couldn't reach him. Millie had once again nodded but being left alone in the cupboard had brought back the swirling aura.

Late that evening she dashed out of the cupboard for the restroom to finally let all the illness out. At the end she was gasping and her throat burned. Millie was determined that this had been the worst day of her life—even if there had been ice cream.

"Millie? Millie can you finally hear me?!" Harry asked desperately.

"Go away." Millie moaned.

"Millie no wait! I've been trying to talk to you all day!"

"No Harry I don't want to talk about it." It hurt too much to tell him that she wasn't like him (even if Aunt Petunia thought that was great). She also couldn't bear to tell him that Aunt Petunia had said people were going to try and take him away.

"Millie! Millie listen we need to know what that letter is about!"

But Millie did know. Apparently the letter said her brother was freak. She couldn't tell him. It hurt too much.

"Millie your letter is under the rug!"

She had been brushing her teeth when he said that and nearly choked on the toothpaste. "…what do you mean my letter?"

"I hid it. Under the rug by the front door—just in case. What if Dudley tore it up? Or Uncle Vernon took it—like he did."

"Harry that was brilliant!"

"I know."

Millie laughed quietly. Quickly she put away her toothbrush and snuck towards the front door. Then, just as Harry had promised she found the letter.

Ms. M. Potter

The cupboard under the stairs

4 Privet Drive

Little Whinging

Surrey

Millie couldn't believe it. She suddenly felt exposed standing in the hallway and she flew back to the safety of her cupboard. She stared at the letter in awe and let her fingers caress the envelope. It was a real letter, with her name on it. Whatever Harry was, whatever her mum was, she was too! She wasn't going to be different after all.

"Millie open it! Read it to me!" Harry asked anxiously.

"It says….Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. That the headmaster is Albus Dumbledore. Then it says Dear Ms. Potter. We are pleased to inform you that you are have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31. Then it is signed by Minerva McGonagall. Harry! It says you're a wizard Harry!"

"Millie it says WE are wizards."

Millie couldn't stop smiling.

Well here is chapter two!

I hope you all enjoyed it! Please review! See you next time! : )