Chapter 6:

Left Alone

September first came along all too soon. Jessa Potter watched through the window as her uncle loaded up the car with Harry's newly bought school supplies. He finished, slamming the trunk hood down hard and then turned to the house, and smirked, before bellowing out,

"Girl! Get out here now!" Jessa sighed and got to her feet.

"Yes, Uncle Vernon?" she asked, stepping out onto the walkway.

"I don't want any funny business while we're gone, understand girl? And you are not to touch any of Dudley's belongings. Do I make myself clear?" he said, his voice low, his face red.

"Crystal," his niece replied, looking straight into her uncle's eyes. He glared at her, before walking away.

Harry stepped up, sending a look at Vernon Dursely before turning to face his younger sister, and embracing her tightly, pulling her close to him.

"Try not to get on their bad side while I'm gone, Jessa. You know how they can be. I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'll try, Harry. And please try not to get into too much trouble this year Harry," she replied, her voice muffled as she buried her face in her brother's shoulder, hugging him closer to her.

"And please remember to write to me. I don't know how I'm going to get through this year without you," she continued.

"Don't worry, I won't forget. I promise." Harry replied.

"Boy! Hurry up! I don't have all day to wait for you!" Vernon Dursely bellowed from the driver's seat of the car, honking the horn as he spoke.

"Be careful, Harry. And good luck." Jessa said quietly as she broke apart.

She sat in her closet, trying to process all of the new information she had received over the past few days.

Now that Harry had left, the Dursleys only had one scapegoat. Considering the Dursleys' upset over recent events, they were even more unbearable. Without Harry there to help protect her, help shield her, she was forced to become better at defending herself.

Jessa was grateful, at least, that she was no longer attending school with Dudley. Now that he was also of "proper age", he could begin attending Smeltings – Uncle Vernon's old school. However – unfortunately, he still had friends in her year. They made sure she was miserable.

She was allowed to do marginally better at school – but that didn't mean the Dursleys would be happy for a younger child – a younger girl to be beating their son at anything, let alone academic achievement.

The only thing that made any of it bearable were Harry's letters. She didn't know who was more startled when his new snowy owl – Hedwig – came flying up to the house with a letter about a week and a half after he had left. Hedwig allowed Jessa to pet her, but refused to let the Dursleys anywhere near her.

Jessa –

It's amazing here. I've been sorted into Gryffindor – one of four houses here. I've already made a great new friend. His name is Ron. He and his brothers help me sort out some of the confusing wizarding traditions.

I miss you. Please let me know how you are doing.

Hope to hear from you soon.

– Harry

While he didn't forbid her from responding the first time, he certainly hated it the more he saw Hedwig. Something she warned Harry about in her letters.

And so it went. Letters being sent back and forth. Jessa being forced to survive on her own. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia growing colder, meaner, more forceful to her.

She was a bit scared. She'd be lying if she didn't admit so. But she let it fuel her…well, that, along with the knowledge that she would be far away from all this come next year.

Harry's letters continued. They told her a lot – and yet, not much at all. Especially once they had to become less frequent after Uncle Vernon threated to kill Hedwig the next time he saw her.

So she wrote once more, telling him to be careful. That the Dursleys were becoming more dangerous to them – to her in particular. That it would be best if he held off on his letters. For Hedwig's safety and for hers.