Chapter 13
"This is ridiculous," Harry said to Ron and Hermione, scowling. "How could Sirius do this?" Harry shook his head in disgust. "Spending the holidays with Allyson."
"Good luck, mate," Ron said sympathetically. "Write to us when you get there."
Harry nodded, holding onto a bit of his luggage. "Yeah, OK. See you after the holidays."
Harry quickly turned away and out of the great hall after he had caught Sirius's eye from the staff table. He wanted to make sure that he'd make it out of Hogwarts without having to talk to his godfather.
The train ride seemed short to Harry, to his disappointment. He had wanted the train to go slowly to the station because he actually didn't want to go there. After all, Allyson would be there, and he didn't want to talk to Allyson right then.
He was greeted by Allyson, who wore a multicoloured scarf, a matching hat and a long, beige winter coat. She had a cheery, perky look to her, which made Harry want to be sick.
"Hello," she said once she noticed him. "Really nice weather, isn't it? I love it when it snows."
Harry said nothing, but nodded.
She guided him towards her car, making a conversation along the way. "As you know, Harry, Sirius told me about everything, so no secrets will be hidden from each other." She grinned, glancing at Harry. "You know what else? I think we'll have a really, really good holiday together."
Harry put on a fake smile as he loaded his luggage into the back of the car. "Yep. So do I."
When, in fact, he knew almost already that this was going to be the most painful Christmas he'd ever had to endure.
-
"So, this is my house," Allyson said, motioning her hands towards a neat, peach colored house with a trim lawn. "When Sirius and I get married, we'll have to choose which house we want to live in. Mine or your guys'. I'm actually hoping I'll get him to choose this one."
Harry wanted to argue, to tell her that they weren't going to move into her house when she and Sirius were married. Too many things happened in their house—good things—and Harry didn't want to throw all of his memories away.
"Let me take those," Allyson said, latching onto Harry's luggage. As she led Harry up to her front door, she said, "Siri told me about you getting drunk that night. I just wanted to let you know, that please, while you're at my house, if you could not sneak out and get drunk again. Siri would have my head if he found out."
She giggled as she opened the door. "We have a few more rules to go over while you're here, too."
"OK," Harry said slowly.
"And actually," Allyson mused carefully, closing the door and setting down Harry's luggage. Before Harry could take a breath, she had grabbed onto Harry's arms, digging her nails into his flesh. "I'm not going to take any little thing that you do," she said through clenched teeth. "You will behave and stay in your room for the rest of the holidays."
"What?" Harry gasped, trying to squirm out of her grasp. No success.
"You heard me, Potter," Allyson said, shoving him to the ground. Harry was surprised at her strength. "Sirius is the perfect man. He's got good looks, is nice and … hell … there's a bonus! He's a wizard. A bloody wizard. The only imperfection? You. You are Sirius's life, and it makes me sick."
"What do you mean?" Harry still couldn't comprehend anything that was going on. He moved back from Allyson.
"Of course you wouldn't understand it, Potter," Allyson sneered. "But from now on, after Sirius and I are married, things will change. First off: I'll make sure that you're cut out of the picture. How does a boarding school in America sound?"
"You can't do that!" Harry scowled. "How are you going to accomplish that anyway?"
"I have my ways," replied Allyson. She looked smug.
"Why are you sending me to a boarding school? How come you don't like me so much? I did absolutely nothing to you, Allyson."
"Why do you not like me so much?" Allyson then giggled. "Never mind, don't answer that, I already know! Now … why do I dislike you so much? Because if you stayed around, Potter, you'd only be in the way. I want to have children with Sirius, and I doubt that would ever happen with you around."
"How do you know?" Harry asked. "How would I get in the way?"
"To Sirius, you're like his son, not his godson," Allyson explained. "You're all he ever talked about. I'm not sure Sirius would want another child with you around, so you've got to go."
"I'm sure that's not true," Harry argued. "Sirius does want kids, other than me, I'm sure."
Allyson shrugged, as if it didn't matter. "Still, like I've said, you've got to go."
"Yes, I do," Harry said, scrambling to his feet as he tried to rush past Allyson out the door. Allyson grabbed his arms, her long nails sinking into his skin like needles.
"You're not going anywhere."
Allyson pushed Harry into the nearest room, locking the door. Quickly, she tried to find something that would do the job … and then she found it.
"Aw, did poor Potter hit his head?" Allyson asked in a babyish voice as she opened the door, noticing Harry on the ground, massaging his head. He was only half conscious.
Allyson bent down, poising the razor over Harry's arm. "This'll only hurt a bit, I promise."
She stuck the razor in Harry's arm, making long, deep gashes in his arm. Harry screamed out in pain, only making Allyson giggle.
"Why?" Harry managed out. He sounded as if he wanted to add more to it, but couldn't.
"Isn't it obvious? Sirius wouldn't want you anymore if he ever found out that you're cutting yourself, Potter."
"I—I—I'm not."
"No, but he won't believe you, will he?"
Harry felt his head swim as he tried to avert his gaze from the blood that ran down his arm. "How do you know that he won't? This is … sick …"
Allyson stopped to stare at Harry's arm, then set the razor aside. With a cheery, perky smile, she said, "In a few hours I'll be back for the next arm. 'Kay?" then left, leaving Harry dizzy and feeling sick.
Before he was dragged into a room of unconsciousness, Harry realized that he was right: It was going to be a painful Christmas.
-
"Oh, Harry?" Allyson called to Harry in a sing-song voice, opening the room to peer into the cold, dark room. Harry still lay in the corner of the room, his head leaning back into the wall.
"Sirius would kill me if I didn't feed you. Should I get you something, or are you not feeling hungry?"
"Sirius would kill you if you didn't feed me?" Harry repeated, his voice soft as he cradled his arm. "You think that's all he'll kill you for?"
Allyson put on a forced smile. "So I suppose that that's a no? Well … OK then."
And she left, slamming the door shut (loudly) behind her, leaving Harry in the same position. He cringed as the door shut and tried to use his uninjured arm to wipe away the blood on the other arm.
It stung as he did so, and so he decided to just let it be. He couldn't get over the fact that Allyson would do this, since it seemed so … not like her. Of course Harry didn't like her at all, but taking a razor and slitting his wrists?
Suddenly, the door opened again, and Allyson stepped in with a scowl on her face. "I don't appreciate the way you talked to me, just then—"
"Oh?" Harry said. "I don't appreciate what you're doing to me, either."
"Don't interrupt me!" She shrieked, stomping her foot on the floor. "If you keep this up, then I'll do your other wrist right now! But since I'm such a generous person, I won't cut them until tomorrow or something."
Harry glowered at the woman, keeping quiet. Finally, Allyson made a little noise that sounded like 'humph', and left, leaving Harry, once again, alone.
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A/N: Erm … not a LONG chapter at all. Sorry, but R and R.