Part 4

(A/N - Hi everyone! Sorry it took me such a long time to post this part, but I got a writer's block and couldn't think of anything! I have this entire story planned out and would LIKE to write the latter part but couldn't figure out how to do it. So this is the last chapter with young Harry and Aura. I think. ^^; Anyway, enjoy, and review!)

Aura awoke on Friday, and walked across her small room to open the window. Sweet May breeze met her face, and she smiled. She remembered back to what had happened yesterday, how she had saved Harry from Piers and Dudley. With a price, though. She walked away from the window and instinctively wiped her lips with her pyjama sleeve.

"Ugh...." groaned Aura, remembering her desperate attempt to keep Piers' attention on her. "He'll be a monster today..."

Aura slipped into a white blouse and a bottle-green skirt, and ran a brush through her jaunty, unruly, sepia hair. The thing Aura liked about her hair was the reddish streaks that accented it. They made her look different from everyone else; more formidable and regal. She brushed her teeth, felt around the floor for some loose change, and walked out of her small house. Aura leaned against the rickety old door and sighed. If only I had a mother to see me off to school every day, a father to kiss me goodbye... She shook her head.

"What a silly thought," Aura scolded herself. Ever since she could remember, her father was seen only in the local bars, and her mother died when she was five from a drug overdose. This incredible loss so early in life would have crippled other children, but it made Aura stronger. She taught herself the ways of the world, and was perceptive in the vices of the downtown streets, where she lived alone. The vices that seized her parents away from her. The vices that she refused to be conquered by.

She kept walking and bought a slice of bread from the bakery, all she could afford. In fifteen minute's time, she reached the school and bumped straight into the last person she wanted to see that day -- Piers Polkiss.

"Hi, AURA..." he said with a nasty grin. His hand crept to her skirt and she slapped it away. What have I gotten myself into?! she asked herself.

Piers was no quitter. He gripped Aura's arms and pulled her towards him, his lips puckered out. Aura rolled her eyes. He's GOT to have an older brother at home to teach him these tricks. Well, two can play this game... Aura narrowed her eyes and smiled seductively. Just a little closer, stupid, and I have you... Their mouths touched, and Aura bit down hard on Piers' lip and tasted blood. She kicked up her knee and hit him in the groin. Piers squealed with pain and looked up at her with small, watering eyes. (A/N - Ahahaha!!! You all don't even know how FUN writing that was! ::laughs until her sides hurt and her eyes water::)

"If you EVER try that again, Polkiss, I will make sure you hurt for it," spat Aura with a grim smile on her face. He scrambled up and ran, with much difficulty, towards his friends, all of whom were laughing wildly. She walked up to the schoolhouse triumphantly. Her ghetto street friends were useful for some things!

~~~

Harry was in awe. He had never met another girl like her before! She did all of that for ME... He had seen the entire incident with Piers take place, because he had to run out of the house extra-early. Dudley's birthday was tomorrow, and Aunt Petunia had the tradition of making Dudley "prince of the world" for nearly a week before his birthday. At this time, Dudley was unbearable. He got everything he wanted without question, which explained why he usually gained 5 pounds each year during that week. (A/N - Ohohohoho, that big fat piggy!!! ) Dudley had become increasingly violent towards Harry ever since Aura had stopped him from getting towards Harry that one day.

~~~

That day in the boy's locker room after gym class, the last class of the day, Dudley rounded on Harry. His rotten teeth were bared and he shoved a half-dressed Harry straight into the wall.

"You've got a GIRL to be your bodyguard, but she can't help you now," taunted Dudley. "...unless she really IS a boy. She's ugly enough--"

"Shut up!" Harry's own bravery caught him off guard and his words were met with Dudley's fist. Dudley kicked and pushed Harry out of the locker room, and into the main hall of the school. Harry felt naked and scared. Here he was, with only his pants on, under the wrath of a rhinoceros of a boy more infuriated with him than ever before.

"You stupid....stupid...." It seemed as though Dudley couldn't find a swearword insulting enough to express his rage. His face turned purple and his gang cracked their knuckles. This was it, Dudley would finally get the better of little Harry Potter, his nemesis of the nine years he had known him. Piers and Dennis slipped from behind Dudley's enormous backside, and pinned Harry to the wall. Malcolm and Gordon ran to the ends of the hall to look out for teachers or anyone that would tell.

Suddenly, Aura skidded towards Gordon's side of the hall. Gordon was easily a head taller than her, and held out a huge arm to stop her. She saw Harry at the end of the hall, Dudley with his fist raised, and time turned into syrup. She bit and kicked her way past Gordon and slid in front of Harry to take the thundering punch meant for him. Harry slid down the wall with awe. Aura felt the bruise well up on her cheek. Her dark eyes shone with unspeakable fury, matching Dudley's cold blue ones. Dudley was a madman. He couldn't be stopped now. He raised his fist again, aiming for Aura this time, and she turned her head.

WHAM. The impact of his fist on her other cheek sent her head into the wall. Any other girl would have lost consciousness, but something supernatural kept Aura on her feet and to her senses. Dudley and Piers were beginning to look worried. Piers aimed a kick at Harry, on the ground, clutching his bruised and bare chest. Aura stuck out a foot and tripped Piers, her eyes not leaving Dudley's.

"Don't do it again. You won't....touch....Harry..." Aura's childish voice was replaced by a woman's voice, letting off sincerity and maturity.

Harry looked up at Aura and had to squint his eyes because a red fire radiated from her. Her small, determined face emitted unspeakable anger and her eyes shot daggers towards Dudley and Piers. Dudley came back to his senses and, seeing Aura's crimson aura (A/N - no pun intended ^.^), ran like a baby out of the hall and out of the school, his minions on his heels.

The red light encompassing Aura faded to pink, and then disappeared altogether. Harry heard her take a deep breath, and she turned around, only to collapse on Harry.

(A/N - So here ends Book I of "Platform 9 ¾! Don't worry, the story doesn't end here, though. There are still more books in this story to be written. In the next book, Aura rekindles her promise to be with Harry (made in chapter 2, I think). Can't say more! You'll just have to wait. In the meantime, please review. Tell me how you liked the ending of Book I, or if anything was wrong with it.)

EPILOUGE for Book I --

Harry shook Aura gently, trying not to further disturb her wounds. He went into the locker room to retrieve his shirt, and ripped it to use as bandages for Aura's bleeding. She awoke to Harry's gentle touch around her arms and waist, where she had received other countless blows. Her swollen eyes opened to watch Harry, full of concern and caring, wrap and bandage her wounds. Aura raised a trembling hand and her fingers brushed Harry's bare chest. The bruises and wounds that speckled Harry's body disappeared and the pain left him. Their eyes met, emerald with chocolate, and words failed them.

~~~

Aura never saw Harry after that day. She always wondered where he went. A better place where he wasn't tortured and beaten? Would he remember her when he grew older? Aura cleaned her house, packed up her things, and traveled to London. I WILL find you, Harry.