On each day for the next week, Maggie Barker was painfully aware that Harry was absent.

For the first day, Monday, she didn't think twice about it. She was rather happy in fact, especially with the news that Gordon and Dennis were suspended for the next several days. Sadly, Dudley and the other kid got let off with a warning and a note home.

When the second day arrived, Maggie was more aware of Harry's absence. The cruel and knowing smirk from pig-boy Dudley was what caught her eye. It was odd sitting in the back, all alone. Harry seemed to carry a presence. It was painfully noticeable when he was gone.

The third day was the day when Maggie started to worry. She knew something was off about his home life. Mostly because he never talked about it and avoided that topic like the plague with the most guilty expression one could have. That and his overall appearance was not one Maggie would consider healthy. As well as the fact he wore dirty and ragged hand-me-down clothes. Perhaps he was ill, but he didn't seem ill on Friday. She contemplated in asking the teacher but had a feeling she wouldn't be much help. The day ended with the sinking feeling in her stomach.

She told her mom her worries on the fourth day. Maggie just had to tell someone, and her mother was smart. She would know what to do. Turns out, Maggie overestimated her mother. Her mother only could nod her head in empathy as Maggie voiced her concerns. Maggie forgot her mother was just human like her. And humans like them are so limited to what they could do in situations like these.

Friday arrived rather quickly. Or what Maggie felt was quick. Instead of worry, she felt dread to once again being next to an empty desk. Dread that this was probably her fault. Maybe she shouldn't have gotten involved with whatever tiff was going on last Friday. Maybe she went too far. How was she to know that Harry would get punished for what she did? Maggie tried not to think about it anymore.

The weekend was rather boring, stuck in a motel room while her mother worked her double shifts. Maggie wished she was older, so she could get a job to help her mom. She tried to distract herself with Shadow, who had taken residence under her twin bed. Her train of thought had been going down a dark road since Friday. Every worst case scenario replayed in her mind, adding to her guilt. On the bright side, she learned a new trick. Manipulating shadows. Well, sort of manipulating shadows. It seemed more instinctual than controlled, at least, for the moment. Maggie kept working on it during the night with Shadow. Shadow's amber eyes seemed pleased with the development as he laid on her bed while her mother was still out working. She must show Harry when he comes back to school. He had to be back Monday. Maggie nodded her head affirmatively. He will be back on Monday.

Never before was Maggie so glad to see the awkward and skinny boy in his usual desk in the back of the classroom. She nearly skipped her way up to him, about to burst in relief, then she truly got a better look. Harry never looked well to begin with, but now. Now he looked like death. It seemed he gotten skinnier over the past week. His once brown skin seemed to take an unhealthier pale-brown color. Those green eyes went back to that dull and blank state. She could have sworn to see a fading yellow mark around his neck and cheek. Maggie couldn't understand why the teacher wasn't showing an ounce of concern. Did the woman truly think this was acceptable? Harry was missing for a week and comes back looking even worse than before.

Maggie sat next to him, causing her friend to flinch away. "I'm sorry," was all she could say.

Harry just gave her a weak smile, "It's not your fault."

Maggie knew that it was.

She tried to get more information from Harry on what happened, but he was exceptionally good at avoiding the topic. It got to a point that if that matter wasn't so serious, she would have been impressed instead of concerned and frustrated. The only thing she learned was that smug Dudley Dursley was his cousin. In a way, that is all he really had to say. From that tiny detail, Maggie managed to craft the rest of the story. It wasn't that difficult. All she had to do was compare the two and it was easy to see who was the loved child.

The was the last time Harry shared any details about his family. She could only imagine how the family dynamic truly was. Maggie stared at her skinny friend. She gave him her lunch. Her eyes never leaving those yellow marks on his skin.

On Tuesday, Maggie did something one would concern stupid and impulsive. But, in her defense, the timing was too perfect to pass up. School was already over and her mother already picked her up. Maggie's mother was in a cheerful and peaceful mood so they changed up their routine of heading back to the boring motel and instead went to the park. While her mom was relaxing on one of the benches that surround the park, something caught Maggie's attention. Well, more like someone. There in the park, was Dudley Dursley, who was harassing children much smaller than him. Maggie carefully began to walk away from her mother and crept closer to the pig-like boy. Once she arrived, she gave a small cough bringing Dudley's attention towards her which allowed the smaller children to flee. "Oh," he sneered, "It's the freak's girlfriend."

Maggie just gave him a cold glance before flicking her fingers at him. The next thing Dudley knew was that he was flung on to the ground. He tried to shove himself up with those chubby hands of him but as she squeezed her fingers into her palms strips of shadows constrained him. Slowly, Maggie stalked towards him.

"Now, listen here Dursley," she said quietly, "You and your friends are going to leave Harry alone from now on."

Dudley just stared at her in fear, the shadows holding his body in place, keeping him stuck on his back like an elaborate bear trap.

"And if I ever find out that you tell anybody about this incident like you did before. I will know," she flashed him a cool smile, "And I will. Not. Be. Happy." The shadows began to wrap around the heavy boy's body, squeezing him. He looked like he was going to cry yet Maggie just looked at him in apathy. He needed a good learning experience.

"Understand?" Maggie asked. Dudley could only meekly nod his head and with a wave of her hand, he was released. "Good. Don't forget Dursley, I will find out if anything you do harms Harry. And I do mean anything."

With that final note, Maggie left the shaking boy. Nobody hurts her friends, especially the ones who really need a break.

Edited: 2/19/19