A/N: Disclaimer can be found at the beginning of chapter one.
Thanks to all my reviewers they really helped me to get off mybutt and write. eNJOY!
A Sister's Love
Chapter Three: A Sister's Duty. Part 1
Harry was back in the kitchen clearing off food left from Dudley's fourth breakfast plate when the owl came. The owl looked over the scene almost lazily. When it spotted Harry, it glided off the door and dropped an envelope at Harry's feet, flew passed his uncle, easily avoiding the large, grasping fist, and flew out the open window.
Aunt Petunia rushed over and slammed the shutters so hard that one of the hinges fell off, making the shutter sway annoyingly.
"Owls!" Vernon screamed. "Owls, in my house!" Uncle Vernon's purple face became a deeper shade of violet.
Harry ignored his uncle's protest as he placed the plate in the sink and wiping his hands on the back of his jeans, picked up the letter. He recognized the spidery handwriting of Professor Dumbledore. He opened it and read silently. Dumbledore wrote that he would be stopping by Privet Drive for a visit on Friday afternoon. He hadn't mentioned anything about Raye, but Harry had a feeling that the Headmaster knew about Raye's visit.
Once his relatives finished their rant about birds they made Harry tell them about the letter. Saying they weren't thrilled with the Headmaster's visit would be an understatement.
The rest of the week was harsh with his relatives muttering about having to accommodate un-naturalness. But the thought of seeing his sister again and getting more answers from the Headmaster made the week tolerable for Harry.
True to his word, Dumbledore arrived with Raye after lunch on Friday.
To Harry's surprise, the Dursleys' had gone out for lunch, leaving Harry alone in the house, after a small lunch of a grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of tomato soup. After which, he treated himself to a small helping of chocolate pudding.
He was just running water into a kettle for tea when the doorbell rang throughout the house. Harry turned off the sink and placed the kettle on the stove before heading to the door. He opened it with a bit more excitement then he thought, he had had a few false alarms early once from the postman delivering another package for his aunt, another was a prank. There had been reports in the neighborhood with bored kids home for the holidays who were going around buzzing doorbells and running away.
"Good afternoon Harry." Dumbledore greeted the teenager.
"Hello, sir." Harry welcomed the great wizard. "Hello Raye."
"Hi Harry." She replied beaming at him.
"Why don't we step inside." Dumbledore suggested causally.
"Uh, yeah. Please come in, sir." Harry never knew quite what to say around Dumbledore."Would you like something to drink? I was just putting on a kettle. Or maybe you'd like some iced tea instead. I could make a pitcher. Have you eaten yet? I'm not that great a cook, but I could fix you something..."
"Harry," Dumbledore raised his hand for silence. "Relax. A cup of tea will be fine. We have just come from lunch ourselves. I don't want to impose on you anymore then necessary."
Raye gave him an encouraging smile.
"Oh, okay." Harry ushered them into the living room. Raye sat next to Harry on the couch and Dumbledore sat on the chair across from them. Dumbledore took out his wand and three teacups complete with saucers appeared.
Raye gasped. "I don't think I will ever get used to that." She admitted as Dumbledore handed a teacup to her.
Harry could understand the suddenness of being introduced to a world that you had no idea existed and being expected not to be in awe of it all.
Apparently so did Dumbledore as he said "Oh you'd be surprised how easily you become accustomed to things. They may appear strange at first, but once you understand the necessity for the way people do the things they do, the shock tends to wear off."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Raye said looking thoughtfully at her knees. She drank some tea and Dumbledore smiled politely and handed Harry another one of the teacups.
"I do ask that you be careful with them, it is my favorite set."
"Yes sir." Harry and Raye replied in unison. Dumbledore gave them a one-sided grin as if amused by the siblings.
"Now that the formalities have been addressed and the tea served I think that it is time to get to the point of our visit."
"Ok" Harry said, setting his teacup on the coffee table.
"Harry as you may have found out at the beginning of the week Raye is you older sister by fours years. Yes, I am aware of her late night visit. Though it was dangerous for her to have come unescorted, what done, is done and we shall move on from there. She has given me her word not to leave again without permission." He gave Raye a small smile as he drank some tea.He turned his attention to Harry. "On the day after your birthday, that's three weeks from today, Harry, we will be relocating you to the Burrow where you and Raye will be spending the rest of the Holidays. I have already owled the Weasley's and they have accepted. Until then you will stay here with your aunt and uncle and you, my dear," He looked at Raye."You will stay with the Order. I have to make this very clear, neither of you will contact the other for three weeks. I can not stress the importance of this request, but I do understand the difficulty in it. After all, there are fifteen years of events that need to be filled in."
Harry nodded his head in silent agreement not knowing what else to do.
"As it is at the moment, it is dangerous for owl delivery and it is only for three weeks. Once we move you safely into the Burrow you will be allowed all the owl mail you wish. I know that you will use the time at the Burrow to get acquainted."
"Yeah, okay, I guess I can wait three weeks. I mean I have waited all this time." Raye said her voice trailing off as she spoke. Raye stared into her cup. Harry could see that she was trying not to cry. He wasn't sure what she was thinking, but it was clear that it was hurtful to her. Not wanting her to cry again, he unconsciously put a hand on hers. She smiled and wiped the tears that had formed at the corners of her eyes.
"Already I see the growing connection between you and Harry." Harry blushed and quickly removed his hand. "It is nothing to be embarrassed of Harry." The elder said kindly. "I was just merely making an observation."
"Yes, sir."
Raye reached for Harry's hand and he let her hold it.
"I also wanted to talk about Raye's current condition." There was a sudden shift in the atmosphere as Dumbledore explained how Raye came to be found by the Order. "Anabel left the wizarding community after the first war and her whereabouts have been kept to a minimal. There have only been a few rumors since she left. What a shame as she was such a talented witch, but unfortunately these things do happen. When Anabel died, Raye continued to live with her mother's husband, at the time he was the only father that she knew." There was a moment of silence. "From what she has told me. It was while she was clearing out her mother's possessions when she found a journal her mother used when in her school days. Raye was found loitering in front of the Leaky Caldron by Remus while he was on a trip to Diagon Alley. She has been with us for a little over a month now." Dumbledore suddenly grew quiet as if he were listening to something that only he could that hear. He nodded his head as if answering a question.
Harry looked at Raye, she gave him the same questioning look. "Does this happen often?" She mouthed to him.
Harry shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
They watched as the Headmaster nodded his head as if answering a question.
"As much as it grieves me to say, I think the time is ripe for our departure." Dumbledore suddenly spoke. "Your aunt, uncle, and cousin shall be arriving home shortly." He stood so suddenly Harry had a wild thought that the couch had bit him. Though he couldn't help the grin off his face he kept that thought to himself. "Harry, we will have another conversation before the start of term. I will gave you two some time to say your See you laters. Harry, it is always a pleasure." With that the great wizard walked into the foyer.
Harry and Raye stared after him. It was oddly comical hearing the Hogwarts Headmaster say 'See you later'. It seemed below him, both as an elder and as a powerful wizard to use muggle slang.
"He is quite the character." Raye said affectionately.
"Yeah." Harry added.
"I wanted to ask you if you've had the chance to look at the journal." Raye whispered.
"Yeah. I have." Harry whispered back to her.
She smiled brightly. "Good. I'm glad. I wanted to see if it all made sense to you. I hope that we can discuss it more in detail when you leave this place. There are a few things that I don't quite understand. Maybe you could help me go through it and sort it all?"
Harry nodded in understanding.
That was all the time that the siblings had together as Dumbledore appeared at the doorway.
"I am sorry to interrupt, but we really must be going on our way."
"Ah, Professor?"
"Yes Raye?"
"The tea...?" she started.
"Oh, would you like another cup?" Dumbledore held up his wand.
"No Professor, I would not like another cup. You said we would be leaving now."
"Yes, that's right," Dumbledore replied distractedly.
"I was wondering if you wanted me to pack them up now, or you could wait for a moment for them to be washed?"
"That wouldn't be needed. Normally, unless the tea is replenished or when the tea gets cold, they will vanish and return to my wares on their own. But since we shall be on our way now I can take care of them." Dumbledore raised his arm and hovered his palm over the dishes, made a move as though he were wiping them away and they vanished. "That will do."
"Oh, right of course." Raye said as if it were common for dishes to disappear when not in use.
The siblings walked to the front door together. Harry opened the door for his guests and found himself o nce again engulfed in another hug from Raye. She gave Harry such a long hug he thought she might not let go. But she did and to Harry's surprise he found that it was he that didn't want to let go of her.
The Dursleys arrived home shortly after Dumbledore and Raye departure. Harry had just finished putting away his lunch dishes when Vernon came though the kitchen door, demanding Harry tell him what had been discussed during the visit. His aunt came in behind her husband, her eyes scanning the room comparing it to the mental picture to see if Harry had moved everything out of its place.
Harry told them that he would be leaving on the first of August, they were overjoyed at the news, their only disappoint was that he wouldn't be leaving sooner than three weeks. Harry shared their disappointment.
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Please Review! I don't care if it is as simple as: Thumps up or Thumps down! Anything will do! I hope to have Part 2 up soon! and Please let me know about any spelling or grammar mistakes and I will fix them.Thanks! -Bramblerose4