Harry told Siren all about Hogwarts, his godfather, how she was actually related to his greatest enemy, and everything in between. Siren had sat and listened to him. Hours had past by since their first kiss and their stomachs were aching for food. Siren rested her head on Harry's chest as he put his arms around her. After a few minutes of silence, Siren fell asleep. Harry looked down at Siren and thought it was a sleeping angel. He couldn't believe it. He just met her last night and he was in love with her. What made him feel this way about her? Was it her good looks or her brilliant personality? What if it was both? His stomach growled loudly like a bear growling to defend itself. He gently moved Siren's head to the grass and got up. He ran back to the Dursleys and snuck in through the front door. When it shut with a loud click, he began to quietly walk upstairs. He knew there was some food left in his room so he thought he might take it back for him and Siren. When he got into his room, Hedwig, his snowy white owl, hooted at him.
"Shh!" Harry put a finger to his lips. Hedwig held out her leg and reveled a couple of letters. She sat next to the presents. Harry's eyes went wide with shock.
"I forgot it was my birthday today!" He said, going over to the presents that sat waiting for him. There was one from Hermione, Ron, and Hagrid. He became sad when there was none from Sirius Black, his godfather, and remembered that he died a couple months ago. The memory of it came flying back at Harry like it was a flashback in a movie. He shook his head and opened the presents. All of them came with gifts and some food. Harry put all the food onto his sheet and bunched it all together. He gathered up his cards and presents and put them under the loose floorboard.
"Meet me at the park, Hedwig," Harry whispered. "I want you to meet someone."
Hedwig just hooted and flew out the window. Harry left his room and tried to go back out unnoticed when his uncle Vernon came in.
"There you are, you troublemaker," Vernon yelled as his usually red face turned purple with anger. Harry backed up to the door. "I thought I'd find you here. Dudley's told me of your new friend and I will not allow you to go back outside for the rest of the summer!"
"No! I'm going back and I'm going to bring her back with me," Harry said with his hand on the doorknob. "She has no place to stay and I'm helping her."
"I will not allow her in!" Vernon yelled as spit went flying all over Harry's face.
"Listen. She's from Privet Drive and not where I come from, so she's coming in!" Harry yelled before he turned around and ran back to the park with his sheet filled with food.
When he got back to the park, he noticed that Siren was still sleeping soundly and that Hedwig was sitting on a swing. She hooted happily when she saw him. Harry started walking over to Siren as Hedwig flew over to him and landed on his shoulder. When he came up next to Siren and saw her sleeping, he just smiled. He arranged all the food neatly on the blanket before shaking her lightly. Hedwig hopped down from Harry's shoulder and looked at Siren from her feet.
"Siren," he whispered. "Siren wake up. I brought some food."
Siren slowly opened her eyes to see Harry smile at her.
"I brought some food," he repeated as Siren rubbed her eyes.
She looked down at the blanket before looking up at Harry.
"Where did you get all this?" she asked.
"My friends sent it to me," he replied honestly.
"Why would they send you food?"
"Well today's my birthday and they know that the Dursley's don't feed me that well," he said. Siren's eyes lit up.
"Today's your birthday?" she asked to make sure she heard him correctly. Harry just smiled and nodded. Siren let out a squeal (that reminded him of Hermione) and hugged him before kissing his cheek. "Happy Birthday!"
Siren had a smile on her face and Harry couldn't help but mock her happiness.
"Thank you," he grinned. Siren face went from a smile slowly into a frown. "What's the matter?" Harry asked.
"I wish I had something to give you," she replied feeling bad. Harry just put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her cheek.
"Being here with you is the best present of all," he whispered as he leaned his head on hers. She smiled and put her arms around the bottom of his chest. Then she looked at her feet. She gasped and let out a little scream, holding Harry tighter. Hedwig fluttered her wings and flew over to Harry as Siren let out another little scream. Harry laughed a little as he held her closer to him. Hedwig sat on Harry's shoulder and nipped his ear affectionately.
"That's yours?" Siren asked in shock. Harry smiled before nodding.
"Her name's Hedwig," he said as Hedwig hooted happily. Siren looked over at Harry's occupied shoulder and reached her hand out. Harry watched as her snowy white fingers passed by his eyes trying to reach out to touch his owl. Hedwig's yellow glowing eyes watched as her fingers came closer. When they came near her wings, Hedwig bit her finger.
"Oww!" she complained pulling her hand back quickly. Harry looked at Hedwig with a look of anger.
"Hedwig…" Harry started. Hedwig nipped his ear, trying not to get in trouble. "Let Siren pet you."
"It's ok Harry," Siren stared at her bleeding finger. "Animals usually don't like me, except black cats."
Harry raised an eyebrow to her.
"Black cats?"
"Yeah…I don't know why," Siren said before she sucked the blood off of her finger. Harry's eyes widened. He had never seen anyone suck blood before, and he has seen a lot of things. His eyes gazed down to look at the necklace she was wearing. He had never really looked it before. It was a small vile of blood. Harry looked up at Siren with a panicked look on his face.
"Are you ok, Harry?"
Harry stared at her with wide eyes.
"Harry?"
"Siren…" he started slowly, not sure if he should ask what he was going to ask.
"Yeah?"
"Whose blood is that?" he quietly motioning towards the necklace. Siren looked at him with a surprised look.
"On my finger?"
"No…in your necklace."
"Oh!" she laughed lifting up the vile so it was eye level to her. "It's mine…I have a lot of them."
Harry stared oddly at her again. Her own blood…
"If you didn't notice…" Siren started before showing him the underside of her arm. Harry's mouth dropped open looking at the word "Death" cut into her own skin. "It's the only way I can express my anger. Give myself pain for the anger. Fair trade right?"
"No!" Harry spat. "No one should do that!"
"But I've been doing it for so long, Harry. I don't know any other way to express my anger," Siren rubbed the cuts nervously. "I've written a million poems, a million stories, a million songs yet I still feel anger."
"But Siren, you don't need to cut yourself to let go of your anger. That gives you relief?"
"Yeah."
"But how?"
"I don't know," she shrugged. "Harry, listen, it's what I've been doing since I started having these dreams. I was 5 and…"
"5?" Harry screamed. Siren moved back a bit before nodding. "You were 5 years ol…"
Siren putting her hand over his mouth cut off Harry. He noticed that everything was quiet and foggy. Siren was staring at the street with large and panicked eyes. Harry turned his head and looked at the street as well. There stood a dementor larger than anyone Harry had ever seen. It started moving slowly towards them. They could hear it take in a large breath that raddled in it's chest. Siren started panting for breath. Her face was covered with beads of sweat. Her hand dropped from Harry's mouth as she fell back into the grass passed out. Harry jumped up instantly picking his wand up from the ground beside him before screaming.
"Expecto Patronum!"
A silvery stag slowly came out of Harry's wand and charged at the dementor, driving it and the fog out of sight. After the fog completely cleared, Harry bent down next to Siren.
"Siren! Siren!" he shook her lightly. He stopped for a minute noticing that tears were streaming down her face. "Siren?"
"Make it stop," she whined in a soft voice. Harry ripped part of his shirt off. He wiped the sweat off of her face before putting a hand to cradle it.
"Siren," he whispered. "It's all right. I'm here."
"Harry?" she whispered softly.
"Yes, it's me. We're ok now. The dementor's gone. Everything will be ok."
Siren opened her eyes slightly before shutting them again.
"It hurts," she complained on the verge of tears again.
"I know it does," Harry comforted. He looked around for something, anything that would make her feel better. He looked over at the blanket of food and noticed the chocolate frogs. He reached over and grabbed a box. "Eat this."
Siren just opened her mouth lazily. "I can't sit up," she said before opening her mouth again. Harry opened the box and squeezed the little frog so it wouldn't get away. He put it in her mouth and gently closed it for her. She chewed it slowly. Harry watched her every move to see if she would need more. She opened her eyes and looked around.
"Harry?"
He squeezed her hand a little harder so she could feel it. She sat up and put her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"I'm so glad you're here. If you weren't, I would have received what I've been wishing for since birth."
Harry held her tighter. "I don't want you to go anywhere, Siren Riddle." He got a shiver. Riddle…
"Trust me, Harry Potter, I don't want to go anywhere else. I want to stay with you forever…"
