A/N: I originally published this, but I skipped the first couple of chapters, but I decided that maybe I should start at the beginning.

I had originally picked the name Aster since asters are starry-shaped, which I felt like was a nice little shout-out to Sirius, whose name is the name of a star. However, I decided to change the name to Thistle.

The face-claim to Thsitle Potter is a young Jodelle Ferland.

"We are young, but we have heart,
Born in this world as it's falling apart."

Hollywood Undead – Young

Chapter 1: A Day at the Zoo

"Up!" a female voice demanded as Petunia Dursley rapped on the door to the cupboard under the stairs. "Get up! Now!" She hit the door to wake up her ten-year-old niece, Thistle Potter.

Thistle jerked awake, feeling a book being pressed against her cheek. She sat up and rubbed the indent on her face from where the book had been pressed into her face.

She got up and started looking through a bin bag that contained her second-hand clothing that her aunt had picked out from a second-hand shop. She knew that it was because they didn't want to look odd if she walked around in Dudley's overly large clothing, even though his clothes sometimes found itself in her cupboard-room.

There was a knock on the door. "Are you up yet?" asked Aunt Petunia.

"Yes," replied Thistle.

"Good. You need to watch the bacon and don't burn it," said Aunt Petunia. "I also want you to look your best. Everything has to be perfect on Duddy's special day."

"Yes, Aunt Petunia," replied Thistle, almost sighing.

She took a pastel blue pleated skirt that had two white lines near the hem. It was the only new skirt that she had managed to buy with the meager amount of money she had managed to get by doing housework around the neighourhood. It was one of the ways she could avoid the Dursleys, while the other was hiding out in her cupboard. It was easier for the Dursleys to ignore her presence when she was out of their line of sight and out of their hearing range.

She picked out a black shirt and took off her pyjamas. Her pyjamas consisted of thin and fraying white bottoms with pastel pink flowers on it and an overly large shirt that had once belonged to Dudley. She put on her clothes and picked up a brush that was the other new thing she bought. She brushed her thick, elbow-length black hair and proceeded to start with one out of two braids.

Thistle always kept her hair braided to hide the dark scar on the left side of her neck. Her scar started underneath her jaw and zigzagged down to the top of her shoulder. It stood out against her suntanned skin from her doing outdoor chores during the summer.

When she asked Aunt Petunia how she got the scar, Thistle's aunt had replied, "In the car accident that killed your parents. Don't ask questions."

"Don't ask questions" was one of the rules for living a semi-normal life with the Dursleys. The other rule was, "Thistle Potter's always in trouble since she is nothing but trouble."

There was a knock on the cupboard door, taking Thistle out of her thoughts.

"Hurry up, girl!" demanded Aunt Petunia.

"Sorry Aunt Petunia," Thistle called, rolling her green eyes as she heard her aunt walk away. She had been staring at the cupboard wall and taking her time. She knew that she was sulking, but today was her cousin, Dudley's, birthday and she knew that she was going straight to her baby-sitter, Mrs Figg's house while Dudley and his friend, Piers Polkiss, went to the zoo to celebrate.

Some might find it strange that her cousin, Dudley, had two bedrooms while her room was the cupboard under the stairs, but that was life with the Dursleys. Nothing was fair when it came to her. She knew that she was unwanted, since she was dropped unceremoniously on her relatives' doorstep.

"Wake up, Potter! We're going to the zoo!" Dudley shouted as he ran up and down the stairs. There was a repeated thumping sound as Dudley, presumably, jumped up and down on the staircase repeatedly.

Thistle looked up right as sawdust sprinkled down on top of her as Dudley ran the rest of the way down the stairs. She opened the door right as Dudley ran by, grabbing the doorknob, and slamming the door shut. He laughed as he ran into the kitchen.

Her cousin was a big bully, and he and his 'gang' were one of the reasons why she didn't have any friends at school. Dudley made sure Thistle didn't have friends and terrorized people who tried to befriend her, Piers bullied her, which made people think that he fancied her, the scar that made students try to look at, and her name which was apparently a source of mockery. What were her parents thinking by naming her Thistle?

It was what it was and she couldn't do a thing to change it.

She entered the hall, hearing her aunt cooing about Dudley being the birthday boy, while Uncle Vernon wished him a happy birthday.

Thistle rolled her eyes at that, because she had never been told 'happy birthday' before or received an actual birthday or Christmas present from them, besides the rubbish that they had given her.

When she entered the kitchen, Uncle Vernon ordered, "Brush your hair."

"Yes, Uncle Vernon," Thistle said even though she always kept her hair in braids. There were times she kept her hair down, which was when she was taking a shower or sleeping. Sometimes she kept her hair down because she loved the way her hair was crinkled after being in braids.

Aunt Petunia said, "Good, you finally decided to make yourself useful." She used a very unpleasant tone as she said, "Cook the breakfast and try not to burn anything."

"Yes, Aunt Petunia," Thistle said, going to the stove to get started on making the bacon. She was going to end up making it anyway, because she'd rather not get 'grounded' again. Then again, it didn't matter. She was always grounded. In fact, she was sure that 'Grounded' was her second unofficial middle name, while her first unofficial first middle name was 'Troublemaker'.

When the bacon was cooked, she had to add them to the plates.

"Hurry up," ordered Uncle Vernon, "Bring me my coffee, girl."

"Yes, Uncle Vernon," replied Thistle, going to get the coffee pot. She was sure that Uncle Vernon didn't know Thistle's name.

She poured her uncle a mug of coffee.

"That's enough, girl," said Uncle Vernon. Thistle stopped pouring.

"Thirty-six," said Dudley, frowning. Thistle was surprised that Dudley knew how to count that high. "That's two less than last year."

"You know how to subtract?" replied Thistle shocked.

"Nobody's talking to you," replied Dudley.

"Darling, you haven't couted Auntie Marge's present, see?" said Aunt Petunia as a way of distraction. She gave Thistle a glare, as if trying to tell Thistle to shut up and not say a thing to ruin Dudley's birthday. "It was under this big one from Mummy and Daddy."

"All right, thirty-seven then," said Dudley, looking disgruntled.

Thistle watched as Dudley's face started turning to red and decided to eat as quickly as she can to avoid a Dudley Tantrum. He was known to flip tables while in the middle of a Dudley Tantrum.

"And we'll buy you another two presents while we're out today. How's that, popking? Two more presents. Is that all right?"

Thistle rolled her eyes at the display.

Dudley had to calculate what he would get, but then gave up and turned to Thistle. He pointed, "You! How much would be that be?"

"Thirty-nine," said Thistle dully as she ate whatever meager breakfast she had.

"Oh," said Dudley, sitting down, apparently satisfied with the amount of presents he'll receive. "All right then." He grabbed the nearest present.

Thistle was glad that she didn't resemble her blond relatives. Uncle Vernon and Dudley resembled each other. The both of them had blond hair, large pink faces, not much neck, and small, watery blue eyes. Uncle Vernon had a great bushy mustache. Aunt Petunia was bony, she had a horsy face, and she had a long neck, which she often utilized to look over the fence to peer into the neighbour's backyard.

She often wondered which one of her parents she had inherited her hair from. She imagined that her mother must've had blonde-hair and her father had brown hair or something.

She was interrupted by the house phone ringing in the living room.

"Girl, go wash the dishes!" hissed Aunt Petunia as she went to answer the phone.

Thistle got up from the table, cramming what little remains of her breakfast in her mouth, and rushed over to the sink to start doing the dishes. She started the water and added a bit of washing up liquid to the hot water.

When she heard a squeal of delight, Thistle whipped around to see that Dudley had received the racing bike that he had wanted. She wasn't sure why he got a bike since he hated exercise, unless one counts punching people as exercise. Luckily he was taught from an early age that boys weren't allowed to hit girls, so Thistle wasn't hit.

However, that didn't stop Dudley and his gang from chasing her, shoving her, pulling her hair, or pinching her. Thistle usually avoided them by hiding in the girls' toilets or the school library, since they never dared to venture in there. She was glad she was very fast.

When the sink was half full of water and suds, Thistle turned the faucet off and grabbed the sponge to start cleaning a frying pan.

Thistle turned to see Aunt Petunia walking back in, looking angry. Aunt Petunia said, "Bad news, Vernon. Mrs Figg's broken her leg. She can't take the girl." She glared at Thistle, as if the ten-year-old girl had purposely broken Mrs Figg's leg. "Now what?"

"We could phone Marge," suggested Uncle Vernon hastily.

Thistle would rather look at pictures of the cats that Mrs Figg had previously owned.

"She hates the girl," said Aunt Petunia.

Thistle loathed Aunt Marge too.

"What about what's-her-name, your friend – Yvonne?" suggested Uncle Vernon sounding like he was grasping at straws to make sure that Thistle didn't ruin his son's 'special day'. Thistle was surprised that her aunt had friends.

"On holiday in Majorca," snapped Aunt Petunia, sounding offended at the thought of dumping Thistle on her friends.

Thistle wasn't sure how to feel. In a way, she was hoping to go with the Dursleys out to the zoo, but she also didn't want to get her hopes up, since they would find a way to get rid of her.

"How about you drop me off at the library?" Thistle suggested.

"No, they wouldn't want to deal with you," snapped Aunt Petunia. "And it would look weird if you were to hang around all day."

"How about you leave her here?" suggested Dudley.

Thistle was surprised that Dudley suggested such a thing.

"And come back to find that we're homeless because of her?" said Aunt Petunia in a much kinder tone.

What do they think I'm capable of doing? Thistle thought confused. Once Dudley ripped pages out of Thistle's favourite book and she had gotten so mad, a window had shattered without her going anywhere near it. She had gotten four months in her cupboard for that incident.

"How about we take her to the zoo and leave her in the car?" suggested Aunt Petunia.

"Will the windows be rolled down?" asked Thistle.

"The car's new," said Uncle Vernon ignoring Thistle. "She's not sitting in it alone."

Dudley began to wail and cry loudly, which Thistle knew was false since Dudley hadn't cried in years.

"Dinky Duddydums, don't cry, Mummy won't let the girl spoil your special day!" Aunt Petunia declared as she went to cradle Dudley's head.

Thistle was sure that her aunt didn't know her name too since she was often referred to as: the girl, she, her, and sometimes Potter.

"I…don't…want…her…t-t-to come!" Dudley yelled, pretending to heave and sob. "W-Why does she always h-have to ru-ruin everything?" He shot a smirk at Thistle in between his mother's arms.

Thistle rolled her eyes before turning back to washing the dishes.

The doorbell rang.

"Oh, Good Lord, they're here!" said Aunt Petunia before she went to answer the front door.

Thistle felt a bit of dread because she really didn't want to deal with Piers.

Piers was scrawny and had a face that oddly resembled a rat. From what Thistle saw and knew, Piers was the one that held people's arms behind them while Dudley punched them.

Thistle wasn't sure who she hated more: Piers or Dudley.

She was pulled out her loathing by a yank on one of her braids. She should've known that Piers arrived, because she didn't hear the ghastly wailing coming from Dudley.

"Hello, Scar-Neck," greeted Piers in a cold tone.

Thistle held back a scathing remark and tried not to kick him in the shin. She would get grounded if that happened because Dudley would immediately claim that she's ruining Dudley's birthday.

"Piers, what have I told you about pulling girls' hair?" chided Piers's mother.

"That it's very rude and I could accidentally rip out someone's hair," replied Piers dully, as if he had that lecture many times.

Thistle smirked at Piers. "Yes, listen to your mother, Dock-Boy."

Piers glared at Thistle as if telling her that their insult war wasn't over yet.

"Well, I hope the kids have a good day at the zoo," said Piers's mother before leaving.

Thirty minutes later, Thistle was surprised that, for once, luck seemed to be on her side, because she was actually going to the zoo.

Before Thistle reached the front door, Uncle Vernon grabbed his niece by the arm and pushed her up against the railing.

"I'm warning you," warned Uncle Vernon, pointing a finger in Thistle's face. "I'm warning you now, girl – any funny business, anything at all – and you'll be in that cupboard until you come of age."

Thistle nodded, not trusting herself to even speak. She knew that if she said that she won't do anything 'funny' she most likely wouldn't be believed or that her uncle wouldn't believe her.

"Get going," responded Uncle Vernon gruffly. Thistle turned and headed for the car. Piers was waiting outside and Thistle almost groaned. Of course Piers would make her sit in the middle.

"Hurry up, Potter!" ordered Dudley.

Thistle got in the car. Piers got in and elbowed Thistle right into Dudley as he buckled his seatbelt.

While Uncle Vernon drove, he complained to Aunt Petunia about some of his favourite things: people at work, Thistle's choice of clothes, the council, Thistle's trouble-making ways, the bank, and Thistle's attention-attracting scar.

Thistle was trying to distract herself from Piers elbowing her in the ribs and pinching her, by thinking about her recent dream. She remembered that her dream was about a flying motorbike. She was sure that she had the same dream before, but she couldn't remember when she had first had it.

A motorbike roaring pulled Thistle out of her thoughts and she looked out the window, which was hard because Dudley was trying to block her from looking.

Uncle Vernon had to step on the break because the motorbike overtook them. He spoke incoherently, which Thistle thought was an incredible feat since he was usually that way with her, and Thistle managed to hear him say, "….roaring along like maniacs! They're young hoodlums like the girl!"

The only violence that Thistle engaged in was kicking contests with Dudley and Piers. Last year she had to go to school with bruises on her legs. She was glad that she wore tights as part of their uniform. There was another incident where a vase had exploded, because Aunt Petunia was trying to force Thistle into an ugly pink jumper and Thistle didn't want to wear it and there was a bit of a scuffle between them, and the vase exploded. Aunt Petunia figured that someone had thrown a rock at the vase from outside since the window had been opened. Thistle was surprised she didn't get punished for it.

When they finally got to the zoo, Dudley got out of the car and ran straight for the ice cream van that was parked outside the entrance. Thistle wasn't surprised that Dudley found the nearest food source, but she was sure that was the fastest that she had ever seen Dudley run. Before Thistle could get out, Piers slammed the door shut in her face and took off running after Dudley with a laugh. Thistle got out of the car to catch up to her relatives and Piers.

When they caught up to Dudley, he was already saying he wanted five large chocolate ice-creams, but Uncle Vernon chuckled and ordered two for the boys. When the lady in the van handed the boys their ice-creams, she smiled at Thistle, and asked, "And what would you take, dear?"

Thistle opened her mouth and –

"She'll have the lemon ice lolly," said Uncle Vernon gruffly.

The lady looked a little baffled but got Thistle the cheap lemon ice lolly. The lone girl took it and thanked her for it. Uncle Vernon ushered them to where Aunt Petunia was, buying the tickets.

Thistle opened the package and took a tentative lick to it. She was surprised to find that it wasn't half-bad, but it could've tasted a lot better. The first exhibit was the gorillas.

"Hey, that looks like you, Dudley," said Thistle grinning. "You know, except that it doesn't have yellow fur."

Piers shoved Thistle from behind and she dropped the lemon ice lolly.

Thistle yelled, "Piers, you a—"

"Let's get a move on," cut in Aunt Petunia quickly, glaring at Thistle.

Strike one, thought Thistle as she picked up her lemon ice lolly to throw away. Two more random outbursts, she would have to say goodbye to the sun for a few months.

They went around a few more exhibits, Thistle making sure to stay a bit behind the Dursleys and Piers. In a way, she didn't want to be associated with the boy who seemed like a baby killer whale in the making. She wasn't sure why her relatives treated her like she was a freak when Dudley was the one who kept threatening to become wider than he was tall. She also didn't want Dudley and Piers to shove her back and forth whenever they got bored, which would be pretty quickly at the rate Dudley was going.

Thistle was sure that Dudley would get tired of walking and would want to go home and play on his new computer.

Dudley was looking at the alligators when he declared, "I'm hungry!"

"I'm sure that thing would eat you before you got the chance to eat it," Thistle said and winced.

"No one asked you for your inane comment, Prickly," said Piers.

"Wow, Water-Boy, I'm surprised you know what inane means and actually used it correctly," said Thistle. "I'm so glad that you're actually learning things at school. Now if only your mother's manners could rub off on you, that'll be a whole different story."

Piers glared at Thistle and stepped forward.

"Come on, we haven't got all day," said Uncle Vernon giving a side-eyed glare at Thistle.

Strike two, Thistle thought as they started walking. Well, more like her relatives and Piers started walking while Thistle trudged to the nearest food court. She wished she could keep her comments to herself, but she couldn't.

Thistle wasn't surprised that she got the cheapest thing on the menu at the food court. Dudley was practically sucking down his large hamburger and chips. Thistle imagined Dudley as a vacuum and giggled at the image. She got a chip thrown at her.

"Excuse me for being here," Thistle snapped at Piers. "It's not my fault that no one wanted me."

"Which is why you got dumped on a doorstep," said Piers.

Thistle wanted to reach over and smear her hamburger all over Piers, but she couldn't since she did want to see the sky after all. She was glad that Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia weren't paying any attention to her and Piers.

A couple walked by with the most amazing looking ice-cream that Thistle had ever seen. Dudley saw it and pointed. "I want what they have!"

"We'll get it for you, popkin," said Aunt Petunia fondly.

Thistle wasn't sure what there was to be proud of; unless Aunt Petunia was trying to avoid a public temper tantrum.

Aunt Petunia stayed behind while Uncle Vernon got the ice-cream. When he got the ice-cream, he set it down in front of Dudley, who looked at it.

"It's not big enough like theirs!" yelled Dudley.

Uncle Vernon nodded, "Right." He looked at Piers and asked, "You want this?"

"No, thank you, Mr Dursley," said Piers.

Uncle Vernon looked at Thistle and gruffly said, "You finish this, girl." He slid it down the table to Thistle. He didn't look happy to give it to Thistle.

Thistle was surprised but glad that she was allowed to eat it. Maybe it was because Uncle Vernon didn't want to waste money by throwing the knickerbocker glory away.

"Thank you, Uncle Vernon," replied Thistle. Her uncle went to buy another one.

After eating, Dudley said, "I want to see the snakes."

"Oh, yeah," said Piers. "I want to see if they have any man-crushing pythons. I bet they could crush Scar-Neck." He grinned at Thistle.

"And I want to see if they any poisonous cobras," said Dudley, grinning as well.

With that, they headed to the reptile house.

Thistle wasn't surprised that Dudley found the biggest snake in the place. When she got to the tank, the snake looked to be sleeping.

Dudley pressed his face against the glass of the case, staring intently at the snake. He looked at his father, "Make it move."

Uncle Vernon tapped on the glass, but the snake stayed still.

Thistle wouldn't be surprised if the snake had passed, but she was sure that the snake was asleep.

"Do it again," Dudley ordered.

Uncle Vernon rapped the glass with knuckles, but the snake stayed asleep.

"This is so boring," whined Dudley and moved on to the next reptile.

Thistle stayed with the snake, who according to the display card was a Brazilian Boa Constrictor who was bred in the zoo. The snake slowly opened its eyes and looked at Thistle.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that. At least you don't have to live with them," Thistle said. The snake seemed to give Thistle a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry that you have to live here. I bet you would love to go outside."

The snake nodded eagerly.

"It's very nice outside," said Thistle. "I bet you would love to feel the dirt on your scales, wouldn't you?"

The snake nodded again.

"I bet you hate people staring at you all the time," Thistle said.

The snake seemed to say 'I'm used to it.'

"I bet you are. I'm not used to people staring at my scar," said Thistle and moved her braid to the side to show the snake her scar. The snake seemed even more sympathetic as Thistle moved her braid back.

'How did you get that?' the snake seemed to ask.

"In a car accident," said Thistle. "Would you like to have a similar one?"

The snake shook its head.

"Look at what this snake is doing!" shouted Piers. Thistle jumped and Piers shoved her to the side. "Get out of my way, Scar-Neck!"

Thistle stumbled right into the tank, hitting her elbow on the glass, and falling down. She winced and almost groaned at the unpleasant feeling that flared up in her elbow.

She glared at Piers and Dudley. The next thing really wasn't Thistle's fault since she wasn't near the glass.

One second the glass was there and the next it was gone. She blinked and saw that Dudley had fallen right into the water that was in the tank.

The boa constrictor however was on the move and slithered right past Thistle.

"Thanksss for the conversssation, friend," the snake seemed to hiss at Thistle.

Thistle was confused but nodded. Did she befriend a snake? Was she honestly talking to a snake, which seemed to respond back to her? Did the snake really talk back to her? That…didn't make sense. She needed to look it up.

She suddenly realised that people were screaming and running. Aunt Petunia was hitting the glass tank at Dudley and yelling about how they'll get him out. Uncle Vernon came over and grabbed Thistle by her ear, hauling her over to the tank where the others were at.

Strike Three and I'm never going to see daylight again, Thistle thought.