Chapter 20

"Oh bloody hell!" Enola muttered, coming out from under the blanket.

Harry wasn't fairing much better. He had a girl in his cupboard and she was locked in. He slowly turned to Enola, who was staring right back at him.

"What-?"

"I have no idea. Har- I mean, my uncle is is going to be so worried. I can't stay here until morning!"

Harry didn't like seeing Enola, his new friend, upset. She had her eyes closed, taking slow breathes. It wasn't that she was upset though; she was thinking. In tight situations, this had been her technique. To stop and think. Alright. Situation? Locked in a cupboard under some stairs, with a boy I just met, in a house I've never been to or seen. Bloody hell, that sounds curious. There doesn't seem to be any ways out of the cupboard besides the door-

It was at least 5 minutes before Harry broke Enola's train of thoughts. He still stood awkwardly near the door, watching Enola.

"Well, I don't see any other option but for you to stay here until tomorrow."

"Wait, Harry," said Enola, opening her eyes to give him a questioning look, "It's only around 2; what about dinner? Aren't your aunt and uncle going to feed you?"

Harry stared at and shuffled his feet. No one had asked about his well-being and care before and he felt uncomfortable talking about it. But, the moment he looked up at Enola, he knew he had to answer. There was no other options, literally.

"Well, you see, my parents died when I was younger and I was sent here to live. My aunt and uncle don't like me because something my mother did. They never told me what."

Enola paused before asking, "They've been neglecting you? This really is your room? What the bloody hell are you still doing here!? There are laws against this kind of treatment!"

"My aunt and uncle make it out that I'm a troubled, horrible child who lies and steals all the time. No one would believe me."

"That's ridiculous! I'm not going to stand by and watch you get treated like this, I'm going to have a serious talk with your aunt as soon as I get out of here!"

"How are you going to do that?"

"Well, I could try to knock down the door-"

"No, I mean... talk to my aunt?"

"Well," Enola hesitated, she couldn't very well say that his aunt might be scared of her, "I'll think about it but, my main problem here is that I need to get out."

She turned and started studying the door. It was sturdily built, the hinges were actually brand-new and the only sign of any openings was a small gap about 4 inches wide between the door frame and the wall.

"There is no other way out?"

"Not that I've ever found."

That means he's looked...

Enola slumped on the bed and Harry joined her. There was a silence until suddenly, there was some loud commotion happening somewhere in the house.

Petunia's nerves were killing her. She had torn through her closet until she found it. The letter that was with Harry when she had found him in that early morning. Dumbledore. Her thoughts were interrupted by Vernon's screams and some strange squawking coming from the living room.

Rushing down the stairs, she joined her husband's screaming. A big bird was flying around the living room, chasing Vernon around the living room.

"What the devil is going on out there!" yelled out Enola loudly.

Instantaneously, there was some movement in Enola's jacket that made her yelp out in surprise. She stood and stripped off the jacket, tossing it on the bed with some fright. Harry, quickly joined her, grabbing her wrist and instinctively pulling her behind him.

The jacket continued to move until a small creature appeared as the screaming in the living room continued.

The knarl didn't know what was going on. He had entered a small dark crevice for a nap and now, he was far away from the meadows. In front of him were two small humans, who were looking right back at him. He rubbed his eyes and interrogating the humans.

Enola would have giggled if the situation was better. The tiny hedgehog looking thing was making the some outraged sounding squeaks at them and it was almost comical. Then, her mind remembered the quill that she had found on the ground. This must have been the creature that had dropped it. How did it get in her pocket? Putting her jacket back on slowly, she tried speaking to it.

"Hello there, don't-don't worry. We won't hurt you," Enola offered her hand out to the knarl, who sniffed and walked into it, "Aw, see? You can trust me. You're awfully far from your home, aren't you?"

Harry was terribly confused and wanted nothing more than this to be turning out differently. He had not pictured this to be how he spent his time with his new friend.

"What- Nevermind! We need to get you out before my aunt finds-"

"Nevermind that," said Enola, waving him off absent-mindedly, "Can you help us?"

The knarl shrugged. He didn't have a family to go back to so he was in no hurry to escape from this human, who he actually didn't mind. It had a nice, gentle voice and touch.
Enola showed him the gap and whispered to him, "Outside this door is a lock, if you could slide it, the door will open. Do you think you can do that? If so, I'll gladly help you find a new home."
Harry thought it was rather curious what Enola was doing. He couldn't hear what she was whispering to the hedgehog in her hands but for some reason, it seemed to understand. How very curious.

The knarl, who's mother named him Ailein, decided to take the deal, and squeezed through the gap.

In the living room, Vernon and Petunia were hiding behind the couch, staring at the large bird sitting on their table, who was staring at them in a expecting manner.

Ailein shook his head and jumped up to slide the lock open.

Enola pushed her way out and Harry was about to follow when Enola put a hand on his chest.
"Harry," whispered Enola, "Stay here, your aunt can't know you are affiliated with me, ok? I'll write if I can; you will see me again if you want me to. Don't worry about me."

"Of course I do! You're one of the most interesting things to happen to me!"

Enola smiled, and scooping up Ailein, she locked Harry back into the cupboard.

The small girl took a deep breath before entering the living room. The sight was enough to make her giggle, which gathered the attention of the Dursley's.

"YOU!" Petunia shrieked, "What do you want!? What are you doing in my house?!"

Enola calmly went over to the golden eagle and stroked it's head. She had known that birds were used for wizard mail because of Albus, but not one of such magnificence or size. She noticed the package and note. Taking it off, she saw that her name was on the letter and slipped it into her pocket. He flew off out the window in the moments afterwards.

That was when the third coincidence of the day happened.

Enola's wand fell to the ground out of her pocket as she turned to face the Dursley's.
This gathered the screams of Petunia.. Again.

"YOU! You're a freak, just like my stupid sister! What do you want?!"

"First off, don't call me a freak. The only freak I've met is your bloody ungrateful son! And what do I want? Well first off, how dare you treat Harry like you do! He is your nephew and whatever grudge you have against your sister has nothing to do with him and who he is! Secondly!"

Enola pointed her wand at them, gathering some whimpers.

"IF this treatment continues, I will know. I can tell you know who Albus Dumbledore is. I don't care to know why or how, but I am his daughter, and I will know if Harry continues to be mistreated. Do you understand?"

Petunia nodded quickly, staring at the wand in fright. She didn't know that Enola knew no spells and was completely bluffing all of this.

"And I mean, more food, a better room and less yelling at him! You must allow him more time outside, he's awfully pale and if he wishes to write to me, you will let him. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"

"And why," Vernon stood up from behind the couch, "should we listen to the likes of you?"

"Because,Harry must be better treated. I know where you live and know many witches and wizards that could do horrible things to your precious home. However, they will not be able to do half the things I will do if you don't follow what I say. Don't make me mad. I'm a horribly powerful witch and am. let's just say unstable and easily angered. Don't mess with me. I really don't want to hurt you but you'd both make lovely toads."

Vernon and Petunia stood down from the 9-year-old in fear. They didn't doubt her words because, well, she was pointing a wand at them and spoke with such power, it shook their core.

"Now, show the door to me. I wish to go home now. I'll visit sometime. We can have tea and... chat."

The Dursley's did as she asked.

She gave them a small wave and smile as she exited.

"Don't forget what I've asked you to do. I will know! Have a lovely rest of your day! Ta ta!"

Enola made it back to Hagrid just 15 minutes late, but Hagrid was already started to panic.

"Enola!" said he relieved, "I was jus' about to call Professor Dumbledore! Did ya find what yer was looking for?"

"Oh yes, I did. It's been a rather interesting afternoon. Could I go home now?"

Hagrid smiled and gave a nod towards the cart.

"Well, get it then! It's about time you got to Hogwarts."

Enola smiled.