Chapter 1: Aunt Marge
When Harry and Kerria got downstairs to get something for breakfast on the morning of their birthday, they found the Dursleys already sitting around the kitchen table.
The Dursleys had gotten a brand-new television for Dudley's welcome-home-for-the-summer present since Dudley had been complaining about the long walk between the fridge and the television in the living room, so his parents had gotten him a new television in the kitchen.
Harry sat in between Dudley and Uncle Vernon, while Kerria sat across from Harry at the table.
Kerria grabbed a piece of bacon and took a bite out of it.
"…the public is warned that Black is armed and extremely dangerous. A special hotline has been set up and any sighting of Black should be reported immediately," the newsreader finished reading.
Kerria turned to see a picture of the criminal appear on the screen. The man's face was gaunt and he had matted elbow-length black hair.
"No need to tell us he's no good," snorted Uncle Vernon. He was looking over the top of his newspaper. "Look at the state of him, the filthy layabout! Look at his hair!" He gave a nasty look at Harry's untidy hair.
Harry's hair was one source of annoyance to Uncle Vernon. The other source was Kerria going through a lot of pain tablets to help fight off with her headaches. She was sure that the Dursleys wouldn't appreciate her setting up her cauldron on the stove and started brewing potions to help fight her headaches. She also didn't trust Dudley to not mess up her potions if she did set up her cauldron on the stove. Plus, she was sure that her aunt and uncle wouldn't allow her to do it anyway.
Kerria looked at the man on the screen again and looked at Harry. Compared to the man, at least Harry was well groomed.
She looked the criminal again on the screen. Something about him…didn't seem like a criminal, despite his grimy appearance. He seemed more like a prankster type of guy rather than a cold-hearted criminal. What crime did he commit again? Kerria wondered.
The newsreader appeared back on screen, "The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will announce today—"
"Hang on!" barked Uncle Vernon glaring at the newsreader. "You didn't tell us where that maniac's escaped from! What use it that? Lunatic could be coming up the street right now!"
"I doubt that he'll come up the street," said Kerria as her aunt looked out the kitchen window. "In fact, he wouldn't even come close to this street. He's most likely on Magnolia Crescent."
"Mum! That freak is doing it again!" shouted Dudley in a false scared voice.
Aunt Petunia whipped around and glared at Kerria. She walked over and grabbed Kerria's arm.
Aunt Petunia hauled her niece over to the back door and Kerria was slightly scared that she might be locked in the shed again, which was where she was put whenever she was being punished.
"Go make the flowerbed look presentable for Marge's visit," ordered Aunt Petunia before shoving Kerria outside and locking the door.
Kerria dreaded Aunt Marge's visits. She knew that it had nothing to do with her Seer-like abilities. She loathed Aunt Marge and the feeling was mutual. Aunt Marge lived in the country in a house with a large garden and she bred bulldogs. She didn't visit often because she says that she couldn't bear to leave her dogs behind. However, each of the visits stood out horribly in Kerria's mind.
During Dudley's fifth birthday, Aunt Marge had whacked Harry and Kerria around their shines with a walking stick to stop them from beating Dudley at musical statues. A few years later, she turned up at Christmas with a computerised robot for Dudley, a box of dog biscuits for Harry, and an empty crisp bag for Kerria. One her last visit, which was when she and Harry were ten, Harry had accidentally trodden of the paw of Aunt Marge's favourite dog, Ripper. Ripper had chased Harry out into the garden and up a tree. Aunt Marge had refused to call Ripper off until it was past midnight. That incident still made Dudley cry of laughter.
Kerria decided that she better get started on de-weeding the garden. She was a few minutes in when Aunt Petunia ordered her to get inside the house and get ready for Aunt Marge's visit.
"I'm not taking you," snarled Uncle Vernon at Harry. He seemed to notice Kerria and said, "I told Aunt Marge that you're attending Saint Agatha's Institution for Troubled Young Girls."
"What?" asked Kerria horrified.
"And that's the story you're sticking with, girl," snarled Uncle Vernon. He turned to the door.
"I—we want to ask you something," said Harry. He sounded like he was speaking through gritted teeth.
Uncle Vernon turned to look at them suspiciously.
"Third-years at Hog—at our school are allowed to visit the village sometimes," said Harry.
"So?" snapped Uncle Vernon as he took his car keys from the hook.
"We need you to sign our permission forms," finished Harry.
"Oh, yeah, that," said Kerria.
"And why should I do that?" sneered Uncle Vernon.
"Well…" started Harry, talking slowly, "it'll be hard work, pretending to Aunt Marge that I go to St Whatsits…"
"St Brutus's Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys!" bellowed Uncle Vernon. Kerria was sure that he sounded a little panicked. Her uncle turned to Kerria, "And it's St Agatha's Institution for Troubled Young Girls, for you girl!"
"Noted," replied Kerria dryly.
"Exactly," said Harry. "It's a lot for us to remember. We'll have to make it sound convincing, won't we? What if we accidentally let something slip?"
"The both of you'll get the stuffing knocked out of you, won't you?" Uncle Vernon snarled. He raised his fist and advanced on Harry. Kerria fought back the memories of getting beat up. The memories were still fresh in her memory for some reason.
Kerria stepped back and Harry looked at her. He stepped right in front of her.
"Knocking the stuffing out of us won't make Aunt Marge forget what we could tell her," said Harry. "But if you sign our permission forms, we swear we'll remember where we're supposed to go to school, and we'll act like Mug—"
"Like we're normal and all that boring stuff," said Kerria.
Uncle Vernon seemed to think it over, "Right. I shall monitor both of your behaviour carefully during Marge's visit. If, at the end of it, you both toed the line and kept to the story, I'll sign your ruddy forms." With that, he turned and walked outside, slamming the door so hard that a glass pane wobbled and fell out.
"We better hurry before Aunt Petunia has us clean that glass up," said Kerria.
They turned and went upstairs to their room.
Sadly, they gathered up all their presents and birthday cards to hide. Since they didn't have much, it was easy to put up.
Kerria had a red leather journal with a tree of life on the cover. It had a lock on the side and she had put the two keys on a leather chord, which she put around her neck. She had put the journal beside her in case she had dreams.
She put her silver lime wand and her spell books in the floorboards. It was sad seeing her stuff go, especially last year, when her aunt and uncle locked their stuff up in the cupboard that was formerly Harry's bedroom.
Kerria found the most stained looking shirt and found her most off-colour jeans that had ripped knees. She went to the bathroom to mess up her appearance, since Aunt Marge loved criticising her and Harry's appearances. She messed up her armpit-length black hair as much as she could and changed her clothes.
After that was that down, she went back to her room. She climbed onto the top bunk where her fluffy, light grey and white cat, Misty, was sleeping. The area around Misty's nose was white, with a black chin, and she had a black spot beside her nose that gave her the impression she was a black nose. Misty had a white chest and had white paws, but the rest of her was grey.
Kerria started petting Misty. "This is going to end horribly."
"Is that one of your gut feelings talking?" asked Harry.
"No," replied Kerria. "I just hate Aunt Marge. None of her visits ended up good for us."
"You got a point," said Harry as he tied a note to Hedwig's leg. He sent Hedwig and the Weasleys' pet owl, Errol, out the window.
"Get down here!" shrieked Aunt Petunia. It jostled Kerria awake. She must've fallen asleep.
Harry sighed and Kerria sat up rubbing her eyes. They both went downstairs.
"Do something about you hair!" Aunt Petunia snapped at Harry and turned to look at Kerria. "And straighten your shirt!"
Harry and Kerria glanced at each, but stood by the door, waiting.
Soon there was a crunch of gravel outside as Uncle Vernon's car pulled into the driveway. The doors closed and Kerria noticed Aunt Marge in the glass panes and felt a little sick.
It's just a week, she told herself.
"Get the door!" hissed Aunt Petunia to one of the twins.
Harry looked gloomy as he opened the door, since he was closest to it.
Aunt Marge stood on the threshold. She resembled Uncle Vernon since she was large, beefy, and purple-faced as well. In one hand, she held a suitcase and on the other arm, she had a coat draped over it. Kerria noticed Ripper at Aunt Marge's feet.
"Where's my Dudders?" yelled Aunt Marge. "Where's my neffy poo?"
Dudley waddled down the hall, his blond hair plastered down and a bow-tie just visible under his many chins. He elbowed Kerria out of the way and Harry glared at Dudley.
If the adults saw what Dudley done, they didn't say anything.
Aunt Marge thrust her suitcase in Harry's stomach as if he was a convenient bellhop and she tossed her jacket over Kerria's head as if she was a convenient coat rack.
Kerria removed the coat and glared at Aunt Marge. Aunt Marge had pulled Dudley in a one-armed hug and planted a kiss on Dudley's cheek.
Kerria could see Dudley tighten his hold on a twenty-pound note. Dudley only put up with Aunt Marge because he was paid for it.
"Petunia!" shouted Aunt Marge as she walked past the twins like they weren't there. Aunt Marge bumped her jaw against Aunt Petunia's.
Uncle Vernon walked in smiling happily. "Tea, Marge? And what will Ripper take?"
"Ripper can have some tea out of my saucer," said Aunt Marge as they went into the kitchen.
Kerria wasn't complaining, since if they're away from Aunt Marge, the better. They went upstairs, taking their time doing so.
"Just a week," whispered Kerria. "We have to last a week."
Harry nodded, "Yeah. One week. How hard can it be?"
"Very," whispered Kerria.
By the time they got to the kitchen, Aunt Marge had been given tea and fruitcake. Ripper was lapping something up from the corner. Kerria noticed how her aunt had winced slightly. Aunt Petunia hated animals, which is sort of the reason why Kerria got Misty.
"Who's looking after other dogs, Marge?" asked Uncle Vernon while the twins took their spots at the table.
"Oh, I've got Colonel Fubster managain them," replied Aunt Marge. "He's retired now, good for him to have something to do. But I couldn't leave poor old Ripper. He pines if he's away from me."
Ripper looked at Kerria and growled at her because she was closer to him. Kerria flinched.
"So! Still here, are you two?" asked Aunt Marge noticing the twins.
"Yes," replied the twins in unison.
"Don't you both say 'yes' in that ungrateful tone," growled Aunt Marge. "It's damn good of Vernon and Petunia to keep you both. Wouldn't have done it myself. You both would've gone straight to an orphanage if you two had been dumped on my doorstep."
Kerria would've preferred to go to an orphanage rather than living with the Dursleys. Harry forced a smile.
"Don't you smirk at me!" yelled Aunt Marge. "I can see you haven't improved since I last saw you. I hoped school would knock some manners into you."
Kerria liked to think that she and Harry both had improved since the last time Aunt Marge saw them.
Aunt Marge took a large gulp and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She asked, "Where is it that you send them, again, Vernon?"
"St Brutus's and St Agatha's," said Uncle Vernon. "St Brutus's is a first-rate institution for hopeless cases. St Agath's is a top school for troubled girls."
"I see," replied Aunt Marge and looked at Harry. "Do they use the cane at St Brutus's, boy?"
Harry looked caught off guard. "Er—" he paused, "Yes." He stopped again and added, "All the time."
Aunt Marge looked at Kerria and asked, "And do they use a paddle at St Agatha's?"
"Frequently," replied Kerria. She figured that she would go the extra mile and said, "And we clean the floors with sponges every morning." She added, "Before breakfast." She faltered, "At three in the morning."
Aunt Marge nodded. "Excellent, I won't have this namby-pamby, wishy-washy nonsense about not hitting people who deserve it and giving out chores. A good thrashing is what's needed in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred. Have you been beaten often?"
"Oh, yeah, loads of times," said Harry flippantly.
"I still don't like your tone, boy," said Aunt Marge with her eyes narrowed.
And I don't like yours, thought Kerria.
"If you can speak of your beatings in that casual way, they clearly aren't hitting you hard enough. Petunia, I'd write if I were you. Make it clear that you approve the use of extreme force in this boy's case."
"Heard the news this morning, Marge?" cut in Uncle Vernon. "What about that escaped prisoner, eh?"
Aunt Marge started making herself at home and Kerria started thinking of life without Marge around.
Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia usually wanted the twins out of the way, but Aunt Marge wanted the twins under her eye constantly so she can give out 'suggestions of improvement'. She would say, 'stop slouching', 'stop brooding', and 'don't smirk.'
Aunt Marge also loved showering Dudley in expensive presents and would glare at the twins as if she wanted them to ask why she didn't get them anything.
Kerria told herself that it was all worth it because she would get to Hogsmeade and she can visit Honeydukes. However, Dudley found it amusing.
On the third day, Aunt Marge had decided that Kerria was mentally ill. While Aunt Marge had been barking out her 'suggestions of improvement', Kerria kept sliding into one of her daydreams. She kept picturing a black dog in an alley.
"You mustn't blame yourself for the way they turned out, Vernon. If there's something rotten on the inside, there's nothing anyone can do about it. You can't do anything about how the girl ended up, either. Dogs would let the weak or deformed pups die, because of natural selection," Aunt Marge had said.
Kerria had noticed how Aunt Petunia had slightly glared at Aunt Marge for that comment on the weak dying.
Kerria pictured the dog in the alley and all the sweets she could get at Honeydukes. She imagined getting Nougat Chunks, Treacle Fudge, and—
Glass shattering brought her out of her thoughts.
Aunt Marge was spluttering and blinking, wine dripping from her ruddy face.
"Marge! Marge!" cried Aunt Petunia.
"Not to worry," replied Aunt Marge wiping her face off with napkin. "Must have squeezed it too hard. Did the same thing at Colonel Fubster's the other day. No need to fuss, Petunia, I have a very firm grip…"
Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were looking at the twin suspiciously. Harry excused himself and Kerria from pudding. They went up to their room and Kerria went to her trunk. She moved some robes aside and opened up a container of treacle fudge that Briallen had gotten Kerria for her birthday. She ate a few squares and offered the container to Harry.
"That's not from Hagrid, is it?" asked Harry nervously.
"No, it's not," said Kerria. "Brie got it from Sugarplum's."
Harry took a few squares and Kerria set the container of the desk. She went back to her trunk and got a few boxes of Cauldron Cakes out. She set them on the desk and took out a container of Nougat Chunks and a container of Pink Coconut Ice.
"What else do you have stashed in there?" joked Harry.
"I have two bottles of pumpkin fizz that Lottie sent me," said Kerrria. Charlotte preferred to go by Lottie.
"I'll take some of the Nougat Chunks," said Harry, "Even though it's making me the wizarding world more."
"I know," replied Kerria passing Harry a bottle of pumpkin fizz.
Kerria managed to get past three more days by picturing the sweets she could get from Sugarplum's and Honeydukes.
Her dreams of picturing the dog in the alley kept getting more vivid. She could see that the alley looked like it was on Magnolia Crescent, but she couldn't be sure.
Harry had told Kerria that he kept thinking about his Handbook of Do-it-Yourself Broomcare whenever Aunt Marge started criticising him. It worked well, because Aunt Marge said that Harry was mentally subnormal, but Kerria was more so than Harry.
Finally the last evening of Marge's stay arrived.
Aunt Petunia had made Kerria wear a red shirt with elbow length black lace sleeves and a black pleated skirt that had two thin lines at the hem. She was made to wear black knee-high socks that had two white lines at the top to match her skirt, so Kerria can leave a lasting impression on Aunt Marge. Kerria was sure that her boots contrasted greatly with her outfit that Aunt Petunia found a second-hand shop.
Kerria even put on eyeliner to complete the look. She had gotten eyeliner from Lottie as a birthday gift. At least Harry and Dudley were made to dress up too.
Kerria told Harry that she was dressing up as a farewell to Aunt Marge. Harry laughed about that.
Aunt Petunia had made a fancy dinner that consisted of salmon and soup, with lemon meringue pie. Uncle Vernon had uncorked several bottles of wine which Kerria felt that it was a recipe for disaster.
They managed to get through the salmon and soup without any trouble. They finally got to the pie, while Aunt Petunia made coffee and Uncle Vernon pulled out a bottle of brandy.
Uncle Vernon asked, "Can I tempt you, Marge?"
Kerria was sure that it wasn't a good idea, since Aunt Marge was very red in the face.
"Just a small one, then," Marge chuckled. Uncle Vernon poured a bit of brandy into Marge's glass. "A bit more than that…" Uncle Vernon poured out more brandy, making Aunt Marge's glass half-full. "…and a bit more…" Uncle Vernon poured more brand 'til Aunt Marge's glass was nearly full. "That's the boy."
Kerria looked around the table to see that Dudley was already eating his fourth slice of pie, while Aunt Petunia sipped her coffee with her pinky out.
Kerria considered leaving the table, but Uncle Vernon was glaring at her and she knew that she had to tough out the pie. She watched Aunt Marge drink the glass of brandy.
"Aah," said Aunt Marge smacking her lips. She put the empty glass down. "Excellent nosh, Petunia. It's normally just a fry-up for me of an evening, with twelve dogs to look after." She belched and patted her tweed stomach. "Pardon me. But I do like to see a healthy-sized boy." She winked at Dudley.
More like unhealthy, thought Kerria.
"You'll be a proper-sized man, Dudders, like your father," said Aunt Marge. Uncle Vernon held up the brandy bottle. "Yes, I'll have a spot more brandy, Vernon…" Uncle Vernon poured more brandy while Aunt Marge jerked her heads towards the twins, "Now, these two here—"
Kerria felt a little sick and thought about what her Divination classes would entail. She only picked the class because she heard that the Divination teacher was a Seer and she wanted to see what they were like and if they could help her with her abilities. She would've asked the previous two years, but she was nervous and couldn't bring herself to do it.
"Those two there got a mean, runty look about them. You get that with dogs. I had Colonel Fubster drown one last year. Ratty little thing it was. Weak. Underbred."
What the hell? You don't kill animals like that, thought Kerria horrified.
"It all comes down to blood, as I was saying the other day. Bad blood will out. Now, I'm saying nothing against your family, Petunia" – she patted Aunt Petunia's hand, "but your sister was a bad egg. They turn up in the best families. Then she ran off with a wastrel and there are the results right in front of us."
Kerria was feeling angry and didn't hear what Aunt Petunia said, but Aunt Marge said, "This Potter, you never told me what he did."
Kerria tried to think of something, but Uncle Vernon said, "He—didn't work. Unemployed."
"As I expected!" said Aunt Marge taking a gulp of brandy. She wiped her chin off with her sleeve. "A no-account, good-for-nothing, lazy scrounger who—"
"He was not!" shouted Harry.
"More brandy?" yelled Uncle Vernon turning white. He emptied the bottle in Aunt Marge's glass and he looked at Harry. "You, boy, go to bed, go on—"
"No, Vernon," hiccupped Aunt Marge holding a hand up to silence Uncle Vernon. She was looking intently at Harry, "Go on, boy, go on. Proud of your parents, are you? They go and get themselves killed in a car crash, drunk, I expect—"
"They didn't die in a car crash!" shouted Harry getting to his feet.
"They died in a car crash, you nasty little liar, and left you and your retarded sister to be burdens on their decent, hardworking relatives!" screamed Aunt Marge swelling up with fury.
Kerria glared at Aunt Marge, feeling angry.
"Don't call her that!" shouted Harry. "Just because she daydreams, it doesn't make her stupid!"
Aunt Marge started shouting, "You two are both insolent, ungrateful little—" She stopped talking.
Kerria drank some milk as she watched with mild interest as Aunt Marge seemed to swell up with anger. Aunt Marge's red face seemed to expand, her eyes seemed to bulge, and her mouth stretched too. The cuckoo clock started going off and some buttons from Aunt Marge's tweed jacket flew off. One button even hit Kerria's glass of milk, nearing knocking it over.
Some more buttons flew off and one hit Dudley right in the middle of his forehead, knocking him out of his seat.
Kerria started feeling horrified as Aunt Marge kept swelling up, like some sort of balloon. Aunt Marge grabbed a hold of the table cloth as she floated up.
Dudley tried to get back up, but another button flew off of Aunt Marge's jacket and hit Dudley in the head, knocking him back down onto his arse. Kerria almost busted out laughing at that.
Aunt Marge let go off the table cloth as she bounced off the ceiling.
Kerria stared with wide eyes at the scene. Did she and Harry do this? Oh, they were so going to be expelled.
Aunt Marge bounced off the ceiling again and slipped outside the open glass door. Uncle Vernon had a hold of Aunt Marge's hands and Ripper had a hold of Uncle Vernon's pant leg, as they went outside.
Kerria watched as Uncle Vernon was lifted a few feet into the air, dragging Ripper with him, but Uncle Vernon let go and face-planted the ground. Uncle Vernon got on his knees as he screamed Marge's name.
Harry ran over, grabbed Kerria's shoulders and dragged her out of her chair. He pushed her into the hall and up the stairs.
"Get your stuff, Kerry," said Harry. "We're getting out of here."
Kerria nodded "Yeah."
They went in the hall and up the stairs to their room. She climbed the ladder to the top bunk. Misty was lying on her side in the middle of the bed, and was licking her front paw. Misty glared at Kerria, which wasn't anything new. Kerria grabbed Misty, jumped down from the top bunk, and went to the cage. Misty started struggling against the hold and Kerria put Misty in the cage, apologizing to her.
Harry was tossing his and Kerria's stuff in their trunks haphazardly.
Kerria lifted up the floorboard, and grabbed their stuff, putting it in her trunk, but held onto her wand. She went over to the bunk bed and climbed the ladder, grabbing the red leather journal, before tossing that in Harry's trunk.
Harry grabbed his trunk and Hedwig's cage before storming out of the room and down the hall and down the stairs. Kerria grabbed Misty's cage and trunk and followed after Harry, stopping behind him as they made it to the stairs.
Uncle Vernon had his arm in front of Harry as Uncle Vernon shouted, "You bring her back! You bring her back and you put her right!"
"No," said Harry. "She deserved what she got."
Uncle Vernon looked at Kerria and went over to her, putting his hand on her shoulder and pressing her into the wall.
Misty hissed and spat in her cage, sensing danger.
Uncle Vernon snarled, "How about you, girl? You put her right!"
Harry pulled his wand out and held it out at their uncle, "Stay away from her."
Uncle Vernon went up the stairs like he had been brunt.
"Come on, Kerria," said Harry. "We're getting out of here."
Kerria followed after Harry outside of Number 4 and down the street towards Magnolia Crescent.