Sixteen years later…

"BOY!" "GIRL!" "WAKE UP!" were the sounds that echoed throughout the Dursley home along with banging and pounding of Uncle Vernon's broom on the ceiling entrance to the Attic and Aunt Petunia's knuckles on the cupboard door. Begrudgingly siblings Lucy and Harry emerged from their prison/sanctuary spots. Lucy couldn't believe it had been ten years since she and her baby brother were dumped in this hellhole. They would have been out a lot sooner if it wasn't for Albus Dumbledore constantly catching and returning them every time she'd taken her brother and ran when they were younger:

"Regardless of your differences, I'm sure deep down they love you. You are family"

Bullshit! FAMILY doesn't look at you like you're scum scraped on the bottom of their shoes or treat you like the hired help- Actually, that's putting it mildly. Being the "hired help" is a job, therefore they get paid or proper room and board out of it. We get nothing but scraps," thought Lucy as she made her way down the ladder.

Soon, Harry would be getting his Hogwarts letter. His sister honestly didn't know how to feel about that. One on hand, she was happy for him. He would finally be old enough to know the truth about them. But with that honor came the responsibility of being the "Boy Who Lived" Oh Good Merlin! She hated that moniker. Even more so when she'd found that the Wizard World were so blind in celebrating "Harry Potter's Triumph over Voldemort!" when in reality the cost of it was a tragedy being all but ignored. Her mother and Stepfather had died saving them Not in a drunk driving incident that their despicable relatives had her brother believing. She tried telling him the truth several times but their Aunt and Uncle always made it a point to interrupted them.

"Bring in the Paper and Mail Girl!" Petunia ordered, arranging the place settings of the dining room table as Lucy reached the bottom of the stair case. Her brother already in the kitchen attempting to make breakfast. "Yes Ma'am," she answered, turning her head quickly so her Aunt couldn't see her roll her eyes at Petunia's attempts to be perfectly "normal". Nothing about the people who lived in this house were normal whether they had magic or not. Even if they wouldn't admit it.

Nothing…No letter for Harry today.

No matter, she knew it would come. Hogwarts was relentless when it came to things like that. She knew from personal experience when her letter arrived. The Dursleys thought they had "stumped" the magic right out of her. Yeah Right! Only certain SPELL could remove one's magic permanently. Her poor relatives never stood a chance. In fact, they were lucky she hadn't developed an Obscurial. Then they truly would be the talk of the neighborhood. Stupid Muggles! Harry hadn't, only because he was ignorant/ of their heritage. Something the Dursleys still punished him for when he had his accidents, despite all she did to protect him. Even delaying school...

"Flashback..."

When her letter came, Lucy had hidden it under her clothes before re-entering the house. Thus, leaving her relatives unaware. As she read over it over under flashlight that evening, different emotions pulsed in her head. At first: Excitement! then, Anger at the sight of the Headmaster's signature next to the deputy "Professor McGonagall's?" Albus BLOODY Dumbledore! He was in charge?! Followed by Sadness and Worry at the thought of leaving her soon to be six-year-old baby brother alone with the Dursleys for nine to ten months out of the year. She couldn't do it. No matter how much she wanted to study and practice magic, it wasn't worth endangering Harry.

The poor boy couldn't even go one day without something happening to him under this roof.

So, she sent a polite rejection response, with the still waiting owl in nearby tree. Stating she couldn't attend due to a family emergency that required her to stay close to home and she would be seeking her magical education elsewhere. She then received two personal letters asking her to reconsider. One from McGonagall and the other from Dumbledore, though his was more scolding, heavily implying that she was over reacting. Lucy burned his, but wrote to Professor McGonagall asking to meet somewhere they could talk in person.

No way was she inviting her to the Dursleys. But that happened anyhow, she was just grateful nobody was home.

Seeing as the adults were at Dudley (and Harry's) Kindergarten graduation. Lucy had wanted to be there for her brother, but this was more important as it could keep the Wizarding World off their backs for a few more years.

She had just finished doing the breakfast dishes when the doorbell rang. She opened it to find a middle age to elderly witch dressed in green robes with a stern yet kind smile. Lucy started smiling welcomingly until her eyes caught sight of her surprise second visitor. "What the hell are you doing here "Headmaster"? you weren't invited" she growled glaring daggers at the old man.

"Now Lucy, I know you were upset with me the last time-"

"But nothing!" the girl hissed before turning to the woman, her face softening. "I'm sorry Professor but I had only planned to deal with one magical being today. Can we reschedule?"

"That is not necessary-" interrupted Dumbledore,

"I say it is! Unless of Course, you plan on apparating out of here now or coming inside and keeping your mouth shut"

"Young LADY! That's enough! You will show respect to the Headmaster!" McGonagall now scolded, her face bright red.

"Sorry, Professor but its hard to have respect for someone when they have none for you and he isn't my Headmaster. I said "No," remember? That's why you're supposedly here, right?" asked Lucy, calming down as she focused on the Witch instead of the Wizard.

"Yes, it is," said McGonagall, now taking a shaky breath. What had happened to that sweet little girl she had held and play with all those years ago? She had told Albus these were the worst sort of Muggles! Oh! she prayed little Harry turned out alright.

"Come on in," Lucy sighed after a minute, after all they were running short of time. The Dursleys would be back soon. Wordlessly they followed her inside to the living room where the Witch and the Wizard sat, and the girl stood, knowing the rules of her and her brother sitting on the furniture.

"Simply put" Lucy began, "I'm choosing not to attend Hogwarts because I need to stay here and take care of Harry.

"Your Aunt and Uncle can take care of him. That's why I brought you here-"

"BULL! There is NO love in this house for either Harry or me. In fact, I am the same in Petunia's eyes as I always was: "Lily's Bastard"

Professor McGonagall gasped "Don't say that!"

"Why? It's the truth. A hurtful truth is always easier for me to deal with then a false hope" she said, glaring once again at Dumbledore before continuing. "I am the one raising my baby brother. I've been doing it ever since you dumped us here. I am the one who's constantly reminding him he is loved and that he too is apart of the human race despite his differences. We are both considered "Freaks" and Harry doesn't even know he's a Wizard. The Dursleys forbid me to say anything. I will not abandon him. Either we both go or we both stay."

"Harry will receive own his letter in a few short years" said McGonagall.

"Then I am prepared to wait," answered the girl.

The Headmaster raised a white eyebrow. "But you would be almost too old by then.

She looked unfazed "So? It means less time under your thumb. Plus, I plan on studying magic in theory beforehand."

The twinkle was all but gone in Dumbledore's eyes as he tried to figure this child out, but she never looked at him directly. He hadn't dealt with a child that had much distain for him personally since…Tom Riddle.

But Lucy wasn't Tom, she was just a protective older sister trying to look out for her brother. Still, the Dursleys couldn't be as bad as all that.

"You're sure I can't tempt you to start on time in the fall?"

"Not unless you agree to a personal magically binding contract between us guaranteeing Harry's safety while I'm gone. That includes protection from deliberate punching, shoving, whipping with the belt and my favorite: "Starving" Failure to make that happen? You undergo a muggle castration, Deal?" she offered smiling wickedly at the "Adults" shocked faces. "I'm not messing around here,"

Professor McGonagall was the first to recover, "No Castration necessary Miss Potter. We WILL wait" she said, grabbing Albus by the shoulder robes and marching him out the door. "It was…nice to see you again Lucy. I will try to do it again but next time alone."

"Thank You Professor, I'm sorry about this."

"So am I dear girl, so am I…"

"End of Flashback..."

Thankfully, Albus Dumbledore had never made his presence known at Privet Drive since then.

Professor McGonagall or Minerva as she liked to be known outside of school. However, paid a visit many times over the years. Though mostly in her cat form as she watched over the siblings. Both Harry and Lucy liked having her around. And after that explosive encounter with Albus, it warmed the Witch's heart to see the elder sister lovingly helping her brother. Giving proof that sweet girl was still in there after all, she'd just developed a hurting hard shell.

"Just like her father… Poor Severus still doesn't know she exists." The feline thought sadly, "Maybe someday they'll both know and begin to heal…"