A/N: Thanks so much for all the reviews! Here is the chapter, hope ya like! Oh, and…
**This chapter is dedicated to Lil-angel-chik! And last chapter was dedicated to Dumbledave!**
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Chapter 2:
Harry jumped up with a start as the voices came into focus.
"BOY!" shouted Uncle Vernon, "GET YOUR BLOODY ARSE DOWN HERE THIS MINUTE!" Harry pulled on a robe and hurried, at full speed down the stairs into view of the front door. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Calista stood, along with Lenore.
"Morning, Harry," said Lenore in a sickeningly calm and falsely-happy voice.
"Boy!" yelled Vernon, turning a deep shade of puce, "WHAT is another one of your kind doing here? I will NOT be having another one living here!" Aunt Petunia nodded piteously beside him, though she looked almost in awe of Lenore. Dudley stood to the side, gaping at her. He obviously didn't remember Lenore, and, if he did, he didn't remember that he was related to her.
"Er… Harry," began Calista, "Why didn't you tell your Aunt and Uncle about Lenore?"
"I forgot," lied Harry unconvincingly.
"Forgot? FORGOT?" yelled Vernon stomping his foot. "I WILL NOT HAVE HER IN THE HOUSE!"
"Please, Sir," said Kingsley. "If the issue is money, we have funds to pay enough for Lenore to stay the week…"
"No, no, no," said Aunt Petunia, shaking her head. "L-look at her! She looks exactly like… and he… that awful boy… NO! I am not having them back here!"
"Who?" ventured Calista.
"LILY AND JAMES!" yelled Petunia, picking up a vase and hurling it at Lenore. But Kingsley's Auror instincts reacted immediately, and a shield blocked the vase before it was halfway across the room. Harry angrily reached for his wand.
"Don't you ever hurt-" he began, but Calista interrupted him.
"Never, ever, ever insult Lily and James Potter in front of me," she whispered in a murderous voice. Petunia ran for cover behind Vernon, who glared at her. "If you ever utter one more syllable of disrespect to any of my best friends OR their children and cousins… you won't be recognizable before you can say 'oops.' Got it?" Petunia nodded her horse-like neck slowly. "Thank you."
"Now, are you going to take in the girl who has only you for family in the world? Or are we going to have to call Mad-Eye Moody?" asked Calista, taking out her wand and lazily tapping it on her hand in a rhythmic pattern.
Petunia and Vernon exchanged dark looks, and Harry made eye contact with Lenore, whose emerald eyes were flashing as if reflecting fire. Harry backed up a stair, and glared at Dudley, who was still staring at Lenore.
"Fine," said Vernon finally, eyes darting around the room. "But after this week, she's out. Both her and him," he spat at Harry. "Forever! And they're not coming back, no matter what. Understood?" Calista laughed, and Vernon looked very unnerved.
"My dear Muggle, it is not exactly for you to set the terms, now, is it? I actually believe that—" Suddenly, the doorbell rang. The color drained from the Dursleys' faces. Kingsley opened it. Harry froze. It was his Uncle's boss from work.
"Hi, there, Dursley; Petunia; Dudley. Nice day, isn't it? Do you mind if I come in for a moment?"
"Oh-" stuttered Vernon. "Of- of course! Come right in. These people are, er-" He paused, trying to find an excuse for their eccentric clothing. "Salesmen, actually. We're not supposed to get solicitors in the neighborhood, but the robes they're selling might be good for Halloween, for our young niece, Lenore… she wanted to try some on, for a costume party, and-" The head of Grunnings just laughed loudly.
"Actually, Vernon, I know who they really are. I didn't know Dudley was one, though. Never would have thought; you do an excellent job in covering for him while he's away- I came to deliver some screw orders, but now- well, my little son, Christopher, is starting this year. It was really hard to believe that he was one, you know. But when they explained and showed us everything, it really made sense.
"Will your son be a seventh year? Maybe he can talk with young Christopher; he looks particularly excited about that game- Quidink, I believe, on brooms, and-"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Vernon, frowning as he turned a steady shade of magenta.
"I do," said Dudley loudly. "Dad- your boss has one of them!" he said, pointing at Harry. Vernon's boss looked up at him, as if only realizing he was there.
"Hi," said Harry to the man, walking down the stairs. "I don't believe we've met. Dudley's not the wizard. I am. I'm Vernon and Petunia's nephew and have been living with them my whole life. That's my cousin, Lenore, and that's Calista Black/Wentworth and Kingsley Shacklebolt."
"So you're the wizard!" exclaimed the man, smoothing his moustache. "You never told me about a nephew, Dursley!"
"Er…" said Uncle Vernon, as if he was roasting on the spot. "We didn't want to call attention- the er… code of secrecy, you know?" The man nodded.
"Aye, that'll be hard, I suppose. Marigold's dreadfully upset about him leaving us, but if he's really a wizard… " He turned to Calista and Kingsley. "So you're wizards then?"
"I'm a witch," said Calista, raising her eyebrows.
"Of course, of course!" said the man, laughing jovially. "Are either of you in that government thing? A man came for the demonstration- from the Ministry or something. Name of Lysander Wentworth, I believe…"
"My brother," said Calista vaguely. "I haven't seen the idiot since he resurfaced. Git. He's in the Ministry now?" she asked Kingsley. He nodded.
"Joined a few weeks ago, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He's in the Office of Education. He goes around to Muggle families, explaining about why their child's going to Hogwarts. Mind you, Arthur wasn't too keen on hiring him; but under veritaserum he said that he had no idea where he'd been the past sixteen years, plus we needed someone for the job." Calista nodded.
"Bloody git knows what he's been doing…"
"So that man was your brother?" asked Vernon's boss, impressed. Calista nodded.
"Unfortunately…"
"I thought he seemed like a very nice… er, wizard…" Calista just smiled at the rather pompous man.
"Quite," she said. She then turned to Lenore and Harry and said quite loudly, "So I suppose Kingsley and I had best be on our ways… Happy birthday, you two!" She then smiled widely and turned to Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. "So you're sure you don't mind young Lenore staying with you, as you're her only living relatives?" Her eyes darted to Vernon's boss before she continued, "And without payment of any sorts?" Vernon smiled insanely, though his eyes flashed with uncontrollable anger.
"Of course!" he boomed. "The more the merrier, I say, eh, McCaughey?" he asked to his boss, grinning. "Petunia?"
"Of- of course," she stuttered. "Our home is your home… dear." Lenore smiled graciously.
"Oh, thank you so much, Auntie and Uncle! I know we'll get along wonderfully! And now that Harry and I are legally allowed to do magic out of school, we can have such fun showing you all of our studies, no? I appreciate this so much!" Lenore ran up to Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon and gave them big hugs, the latter looking as if he was about to throw up and the former looking disgusted, as if she'd been contaminated.
"Well, nice to meet you, Mr. McCaughey," said Kingsley formally, shaking the man's hand once more. He then turned to the Dursley's. "So what are you doing to celebrate Lenore and Harry's birthday?"
"Err," said Vernon, "We are going to, er… what was it again, Petunia?"
Petunia gave her husband a scandalized look and then looked in fright to the witches and wizards in the room. "We were going to have a nice… family dinner, with the six of us, you know…"
"Indeed," said Calista, an eyebrow raised. "Well, come, Shacklebolt. Harry; Lenore- you call us immediately if you need anything at all. As you know, my godson-" she smiled for a moment- "is due the day after tomorrow, so I'll be with Remus and Evelyn, and though I'll be staying with the emotional rollercoaster, I'm sure Remus and anyone else around will be more than happy to help with any… disturbances."
"Bye, everyone; nice to meet you," said Kingsley, before opening the door.
"Bye!" said Calista, grinning.
"Bye; so nice to meet you—" began Vernon's boss before Calli smiled and shut the door. A moment later two loud pops erupted the silence and Harry knew that they had disapparated.
The scene that would greet a person as they walked into the entrance hall at the moment was quite amusing; a tall, tousle-haired boy stood grinning on the stairs in a scarlet bathrobe which had a lion embroidered onto it. Several stairs down stood a girl with long brown soft curls, with very prominent emerald eyes fixed with the boy's emerald eyes above her. One might even think they were trying to read each other's minds. At the bottom of the stairs and a few feet into the house stood a very large teenager, who looked as if he could be a whale. He was gazing fixedly at the girl above him, as his hand rested on a cupboard door which held no remnants of the boy who had once watched as spiders scuttled across the floor as he longingly wished to be anywhere but inside that closet. Next to the whale-boy stood an almost equally-large man, with a beefy, discoloured neck and maroon face. His eyes were flashing angrily at the two teenagers on the stairs. In front of him stood a tall, thin woman with her hands upon her hips as she looked between the door in fright, the boy on the stairs, in dislike, and the girl in reverent awe. The last person in the room stood smiling like an idiot, completely oblivious to all going on around him and the silence engulfing the house.
In the kitchen, the rhythmic pump of the dishwasher suddenly stopped. The smiling man broke the silence. "Well, Vernon, I suppose I'll be off. Lovely people, they were that were just here. I can't believe that my son's a wizard! How did you take it with young Harry, here?" Vernon laughed uncomfortably.
"We were beside ourselves!" he said in a cheerful voice finally. McCaughey laughed and patted Mr. Dursley on the back.
"Well, do you mind if I drop my son over later; he'd really like to meet some older students, I should think… would it be all right? Petunia?"
"Oh, of course!" said Petunia. "We'd love to have him!"
"Well, then that's settled. Wonderful to see you again, Petunia; Dudley. And nice meeting you, Harry and Lenore!" Lenore smiled.
"It was a pleasure, Mr. McCaughey. Let me dhow you to the door." She walked down three stairs and opened the door widely. "Bye! Nice meeting you!" As soon as he walked out, Lenore closed the door loudly. The house was deathly quiet for a second. Thirty seconds. One minute… Then-
"Get. Upstairs. NOW!" thundered Uncle Vernon. "Go- before I hurt you- NOW!" Harry and Lenore thundered upstairs and dashed into Harry's room, bursting with laughter.
"That- was- so- funny!" wheezed Lenore, as she rolled around on the floor. Harry grinned once they both finally stopped laughing.
"Hey, Lenore." Lenore smiled and jumped up to give Harry a hug.
"What's up, Potter?" Harry rolled his eyes as Lenore stood up and began walking around the room. She stopped at the birthday packages. "OH! Harry, I have a present for you!" she exclaimed, spinning around as if looking for something.
"Lenore, where's your trunk?"
She gasped. "Oh, no…"
"What?" asked Harry, concerned.
"It's in my pocket! Calli was supposed to make it bigger when we got here, but we all forgot… and my poor little kitten's in here and everything!" She dug a small cage from her pocket and a small meow emitted from it. Her face contorted with worry. "It's okay, Flounder, sweetie! I'll get you to your normal size soon…" She turned to Harry. "Do you think I can use my wand, just once? I mean, Calli and Kingsley Apparated!" Harry nodded.
"I see what you mean, but I'm getting a bad feeling about it… let's just wait until we Owl someone and ask, okay?" Lenore sighed.
"Where's your Gryffindor bravery?"
"You mean my Gryffindor stupidity?" asked Harry. Lenore pushed him playfully.
"Anyway, Gin told me to tell you that she's on 'Owl Restriction,' meaning she's grounded and wants to deliver your present personally anyway, and that she loves you." Harry smiled.
"Fair enough, I suppose…"
"And I'll have to give you your present when my things are un-shrunk. I loved your present, Harry! It's in my trunk, of couse. But I never knew that my mom and Remus like, liked each other once! Isn't that weird?" Harry nodded again. "And that candy was good! But, besides that, have you heard from Hermione for your birthday?" Harry frowned. Come to think of it, he hadn't, but he'd forgotten amidst all of the other cards and packages. Hermione never forgot to send a note to keep studying and happy birthday, and some other useless information about Hogwarts…
"Actually, I haven't, come to think about it," said Harry. "Have you?" Lenore frowned and her freckles scrunched together.
"No, I didn't! And I sent her an Owl the day before yesterday concerning some… issues, and she never Owled back!"
"Do you think she's okay?" asked Harry worriedly. He began pacing the room.
"I'm sure she's not hurt or anything," began Lenore tentatively. "Let's just write an Owl to Lupin now." Harry nodded and read as Lenore scribbled onto a spare piece of parchment.
Dear Remus-
Hi! It's Lenore and Harry. We just wanted to know if we could do one spell, since my trunk and cat are shrunk at the moment, as Calli and I forgot about it when we got here. Also, we were worried about Hermione, as we haven't heard from her and she isn't answering our letters… could you maybe see if she's okay? How is Evelyn? Tell everyone we said hi!
Sincerely,
Lenore Tatiana Felkes and
Harry James Potter
Harry frowned looking at the parchment before she tied it up happily and began attaching it to Hedwig's leg. She had come back late this morning. "Bye, Hedwig!" said Lenore cheerily.
"Bye, girl," said Harry, petting her feathers for a moment before turning to Lenore. "'Nore, why'd you put our middle names?" Lenore smiled and shrugged before plopping down on Harry's bed.
Harry sat next to her and watched as Hedwig flew out of sight. "So, where have you been?" he finally asked his cousin, who had been filing her nails. She looked up.
"You'd freak out," she said, grinning.
"No, I wouldn't!" protested Harry. "Just tell me, I mean, it wasn't like you were staying with Death Eaters…" Lenore looked down and bit her lip.
"Wait a moment," said Harry. "You didn't," he said darkly. "Is Dumbledore out of his MIND? He put you in with Death Eaters? Why?"
"Wait, Harry-" protested Lenore; "Let me explain, not technically…"
"Technically?" he asked blankly. "WHAT do you mean?" She scowled.
"Calm down. Okay; I stayed with the Zabini's."
"You stayed with the Zabini's," repeated Harry unbelievingly.
"More like I stayed with Blaise," corrected Lenore. "And Draco was there as well. Blaise's parents weren't there and he just said that his girlfriend would be staying with him… anyway, his parents were due back today, which was why I had to leave and Draco and Blaise left to stay with Snape…"
"They're with Snape?" asked Harry. "I actually feel bad for Slytherins!" Lenore scowled and her eyes suddenly filled with tears. "What is it?" he asked immediately. "Did I say anything?"
"N-not exactly," said Lenore, wiping a tear off her face and trying not to blink. "It's just that Tabby's gone. She was there, too. But she and her Mom and sister left this morning, for America…"
"It's okay; you'll still get to see her and stuff."
"No, Harry; I feel horrible…"
"Why?" asked Harry.
"Because I asked if I could go with her, and I'm so glad that her mom said no now, but I wasn't thinking… "
"It's okay, Lenore… really, nobody will hold it against you, okay?" She nodded miserably.
"All right. I feel stupid now. Wanna go downstairs?" Harry raised his eyebrow.
"Are you sure that would be quite a good idea?" Lenore looked doubtful for a moment.
"No. You're absolutely—" Suddenly there was a loud knock at the door. Harry exchanged a dark look with Lenore. "Who is it?" she called out tentatively.
"Dudley," grunted a voice. Lenore turned to Harry.
"The cousin?" she mouthed. Harry nodded, rolling his eyes.
"What do you want?" he asked harshly. The door creaked open and Dudley poked in his rather large head.
"I was just wondering who you were," he said, nodding at Lenore. Lenore looked at Harry, eyebrows raised. Harry grinned.
"This, Big D, is my second cousin… and yours." Dudley's mouth dropped open and he walked into the room.
"But I thought you had no other family," he accused.
"So did I, or I would never have come here, would I have? But Lenore is more distant, plus she's from the United States. So I suppose it never occurred to them…"
"Oh," said Dudley stupidly.
"So bye bye!" said Lenore sarcastically, waving a hand.
Dudley ignored her and walked over to Hedwig's cage. "Where's the owl? What's it for anyway?"
"Hedwig is delivering a letter to one of my Dad's old best friends, who happens to be a werewolf," said Harry vaguely. Dudley stepped back in fright.
"B-but werewolves don't exist."
"Then how do I know one?" asked Harry pointedly. Dudley muttered something under his breath.
"That's what I thought," said Harry, eyes narrowed. But suddenly a tapping came at the window. Harry frowned.
"That's odd," said Lenore, climbing over the bed to the window and opening it. "How did Lupin reply so quickly? What was he doing so close to us?"
Harry walked over to Hedwig and held out his arm, undoing the parchment. "I know- where could he be?" Hedwig hooted as if trying to tell Harry. He opened up the letter and scanned it quickly.
Harry and Lenore-
Evelyn's good. I am too, actually. I will be over in a few hours to fix Lenore's trunk and cat; really- it isn't a problem. Now, about Hermione. She isn't exactly in a situation where she can write a letter… We know where she is, and I can assure you that she and her family are completely safe. They are actually probably more safe then if they weren't where they are. She isn't in England, but that's all I'm saying right now. She is FINE and you will see her before the summer is over. I think that's about it, and I had best get back to work. Have a great birthday.
-Remus
"Not in the situation to write a letter?" repeated Lenore, echoing Harry's thoughts.
"I think I actually- I don't know, but I might have some information," said Dudley suddenly.
A/N: AP TEST FINISHEDDDDD! YAY! I think I might've gotten a 4; I'll let ya know in July. And does ANYONE know about poultry distribution in the United States? I have no idea how this has to do with Human Geography though. Anyways, thanks so much to all my reviewers, both new and old! WOW is all I can say! 17 for one chapter must be a record for me! *Does happy dance* Lol. Okay, there's chapter two. Make sure to review! More reviews=more updates! Oh, and I will start giving shout-outs to all reviewers no matter what next chapter!
R~E*V~I*E~W
-*Jinglebellz*-