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She was taken by a very large man to see a very small woman in very white clothes. The woman, who had reddish hair not very much unlike her own, was smiling at her in a way that scared her. This wasn't strange, everything scared her, and she had a feeling that this fear was- just her being silly. But she could not help but feel those nauseating pangs rush up through her chest- constricting it- hurting it- hurting it so badly- she wanted to scream but she knew better of course. So instead, for the millionth time that night she was brave and smiled right back.

"Oh, sweetie! Oh, oh, how old did you say she was Rob? The child doesn't look more than five of six!"

The lady voiced this all with a slight waver in her voice. The voice terrified Lotus even more, for it was so warm and held something that she just could not quite recognize. She felt like she KNEW what it was, but like she didn't at the same time, and that she really should. But something, that same thing that was grabbing at her so voilently, was telling her that she had better not dare. That she had better stay away from the soothing soft sounds that generously poured out of the kindly looking womans mouth as she continued to question this person- this Rob person- who had not been quite as warm and kind, more businesslike, and therefore less threatening.

"Well kid, Doctor Lyons here is just about the best there is at everything you would ever think to think about. That lady, well, you will be safe here with her brains behind you. Can't go wrong, even in a case like you alls when you got her on your team."

The man rushed this out of his mouth, seemingly in a nervous hurry to get wherever it was he needed to be next. He kept looking at this watch he had on his wrist.

*FLASHBACK/MEMORY*

Lotus remembered the watch like it was yesterday. Dudley had just started school. Aunt Petunia had been so happy and proud that she didnt even yell at Lotus when she accidently dropped a fork down the disposal. This was before Lotus became terrified of the disposal. Anyways, her aunt had set about doing everything that Lotus generally did- and Lotus did have to admit that her aunt did all of those chores surprisingly well- making everything perfect for her precious little scholar. She was making this very complicated pudding for her 'darling boy', when she quickly forgot that- Dudley needed a reward for being so good that whole day.

It really wasn't a huge deal, Dudley hadn't even started school, all that happened was that Uncle Vernon had spent the day registering him at the local primary, and Dudley- fussy and tempermental as ever, had been forcibly dragged along. It was picture day. Lotus knew this well because she had spent the entire night cleaning the entire house top to bottom and back to top again. Because Dudley had to look nice and presentable, and for some reason that required the walls that struggled to contain his already large frame to be scoured too. Everything. EVERYTHING. Had to be nice for Dudley's 'big day'. Lotus felt like she needed a 'big nap'.

But, she did it of course- the idea of a nap long since even being allowed to exist in her imagination- that is, she cleaned that house like it had never been cleaned before (It had, as Lotus sure well knew). And when she was done, when she was covered head to toe in- nothing but her own blood and sweat- the house WAS consistantly kept in pristine condition- her aunt had sent her off to help her brother.

This was rare. The children were generally kept apart except for those long nights in the cupboard, when they usually cuddled up together for warmth on the floor all around them. But even when they were in the cupboard, their aunt and uncle did not like them talking. In fact, it was a serious offense to be caught talking in the cupboard. It surely meant beatings for the both of them, and worse depending on who happened upon them and what mood that person was in.

The worst punishments happened when their aunt wasn't home.

But, anyways. The twins were not allowed to talk to each other. Really they were not allowed or appreciated when they said much beyond, 'yes, sir' and 'yes, mam'. Sorry was occasionally acceptable, as were thank you's when the time suggested. But to each other they were not really supposed to say even those few words- they could be plotting some 'funny business'. What funny business they never knew, but after a while even they started to feel the slightest bit uncomfortable about each other, though never uncomfortable enough to stop their late night huddles. They felt safe then, it was, easily, both of their favorite times of the day.

Yet during the day they were meant and expected to act like near strangers. That was why it was so unusual for Lotus to be let to go outside- WITH HARRY.

Lotus never hardly went outside at all. Only if Harry was too badly injured or ill was she allowed to leave the house to double down on his chores as well. But today, today was different and Lotus was excited! She was even more astounded when her aunt handed her 50-(50!) pounds, a short while later after spending a while keeping an eye on the two-VERY small children. They were to go buy Dudley a present and then were to come right back! Their aunt said this very quickly, and was about to say something else when she was cut off by the shrill ringing of the timer she had set earlier. Without a second glance at the two scrawny things behind her, she rushed inside to her sons future feast.

Harry and Lotus just stared at it for a minute. It lay awkwardly in Harry's left palm, and the upper corners of it were just a little bit crumbled- but it was one of the most wonderful things the two five year olds had ever seen. They knew where the store was- their aunt passed by it every time she was forced to take them with her on an outing (rare), and Harry had a thing for direction. In fact, Harry had spent one afternoon that they had both been forced to spend in their cupboard because of company, outlining the dimensions of the nearby area with a piece of chalk Dudley had left on the sidewalk one day. The chalk faded, but the memory of the drawing was still as clear as day to both of them.

So they had absolutely no problem getting to the store. But they had never been inside before. It was huge and they were small, but they had 50 pounds so they knew that they would be fine. 'Nothing bad happened to people who had money, the rich owned the world! Having money was the only way to save yourself from joining the freaks and the loonies', was something their uncle would always say while making a point to eye a twin. So they were safe and they were powerful and they were so happy... until they remembered that really 'they' were Dudley. They had to spend it on him. They were both downhearted when they went and picked Dudley out this new video game that they had both heard him complaining loudly recently about not owning. And they went to the front counter. The cashier was young, naive, stupid, and just really didnt care or bother to question why two small children were in front of her all alone- he just rung them up, gave them a complementary lollypop each, and watched them look at each other entirely slack jawed. The game had only been 45 pounds. They were rich again! And this money was all theirs for them and they could do whatever they wanted with it- possibilities were endless. At least in their minds that day.

And that was how they bought their very first new thing. It was not a toy. They wished for toys, but there were other things they needed more. Harry kept getting into trouble. Recently Uncle Vernon had been coming home from work earlier, and Harry- before having recognized his uncles arrival as co-inciding with when Old Mr. Tyler got his mail, was now lost. It was very bad for him to not be finished with his chores by the time his uncle had gotten through with 'a long days work'. It showed that he was lazy and good for nothing. And it hurt when Uncle Vernon hit him with his belt- or his fists. His split lip had recently been doing a really great job of reminding him of that. And seeing as how Aunt Petunia had given them all of Dudleys old clothes when she had been out shopping for a new wardrobe for times when Dudley could be casual during the school year, well- neither of them really needed anything desperatley from the clothing department. Harry had a light long sleeved shirt to wear to fight off the sun, and Lotus really just couldn't care less as long as she WAS clothed. So it was back to Harry. Lotus had issues and needs as well, but- well, she thought Harry's might be one they could maybe solve a bit easier. And that was when they saw it. The watch. It was beautiful. Big and yellow and happy looking. And only 4 pounds.

It was the best day ever.

And it was why she really didn't want this 'Rob' to leave her.

But she knew that what she wanted didn't really matter very much, if at all. Things only got to matter when they were kept hidden. Like the extra pound she and her brother had stuffed away in the bottompart of their cupboard- inside a chip in the peeling paint- for another such wonderful day. Now she had nothing. She had no Roy, no watch, no money, and no Harry.

And so when the nice lady beckoned her again, forward she went, for she had nothing left to lose.