Harry inwardly groaned. Another school year over, another summer back at Durzkaban… As he got into the car, Vernon revealed one additional piece of information.
"Boy, we have another guest in the house," Vernon announced. "Apparently, your aunt had a freaky brother." Harry decided to keep his silence. He didn't want to make Vernon mad. He was almost thirteen, but his uncle was still several times his size.
A few days later, Harry decided to try and find this other relative of his now that he was alone. Quickly stepping out of his room, Harry cleared the second floor. He took no time in reaching the other likely place. Noting that it was again locked, Harry implemented the twins' lessons and picked the lock. He carefully opened the door to see a small girl.
She looked to be about five, with ash blond hair and eyes just as green as his own. What concerned Harry more was the bruises that covered her arms and face. Seeing him, she backed herself even further into the cupboard.
"Hey, I won't hurt you," Harry said softly. "What's your name?" The girl sniffed.
"M-maka." her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Well Maka, I'm Harry." Harry knew that Dudley was coming home, and there was no way this kid was going through that. "Do you have anything you want to take with you?"
"T-they b-burned it a-all." Harry nodded, remembering he had to get his trunk.
"Well then, we'll just have to get you some new things later. We'll be off in a minute, I just need to get my trunk." Harry grabbed his trunk and Hedwig's cage as Maka carefully held Harry's hand. "C'mon, let's move." The two quickly left. Remembering something Hermione had told him about, Harry drew his wand to summon the Knight Bus. Maka's eyes grew as wide as saucers at the purple bus. Harry quickly paid for both of them and found a seat. "Relax, this should be fine." As the bus took off, Harry realized the wizarding world had very little common sense. "I stand corrected. At least, we're at the Leaky Cauldron, and that doesn't move." Maka wearily followed him into the Leaky Cauldron. As he stepped in, Harry noted Tom was missing. Instead, a familiar-looking woman with blond hair sat in his place. As he walked towards her, an even more familiar girl with blond pigtails called out to him.
"Hey, Harry," Hannah Abbott said cheerfully. "Who's the little girl?"
"This is Maka, my cousin," Harry replied as Maka hid behind him. Hannah peered around him to wave at the little girl.
"She's so cute! But wait, aren't your relatives muggles?"
"Apparently, my mum had two siblings: my Aunt Petunia and Maka's father. I don't know about her parents, but I think Maka's magical because she hasn't triggered any anti-muggle wards," Harry explained. "Her parents died, leaving her at the Dursleys. I decided that I'd rather not try to coexist with Dudley this year, and I wasn't going to leave her with the Dursleys. What are you doing here?"
"My great-uncle is the landlord," Hannah replied. "Do you need some help? I'm sorry about last year. I was so naive and stupid, believing that-"
"And you had no reason to believe me. Can we get a room?"
"Sure. Just ask my mom." Hannah gestured to the woman behind the counter. Harry nodded. "Harry, if you need help, just say so." Harry sighed and nodded.
"I have no plan, and no clue what to do; I just couldn't stay in that house, and I couldn't leave Maka there." Harry realized he might have just made a mistake of epic proportions. "What did I just do? I have nothing, and I can't go back to the Dursleys-"
"Harry, you're the Potter heir. You're, to put it simply, filthy rich." Harry looked at Hannah. "Look, why don't we talk to my mom and see what we can do." Hannah nodded towards her mother and guided Harry and Maka into a back room. Hannah's mother followed them in and cast privacy wards before sitting down. Many plans were made that night, hopes and dreams and fears colliding at last. Dumbledore should've known the second a little girl entered the wards that his tentative control wouldn't last.