Authors Note:

Another day another update! This one is coming a day later than I would've liked, but that's what college does to you. Well that and my habit of practically re-writing the chapter when I edit it.

I'm also trying to balance dialogue and description which is the part of my writing that I need to work on.

Anyway, next week will be back on our regularly scheduled Friday.

Stay Spooky

A full week passed before Willow built up even a shred of confidence to sneak out of her cupboard. Her socked feet kept her silent as she crept into the kitchen in the middle of the night to get some food. With deft hands she grabbed cans of forgotten soup from the back of the pantry, an apple and a bottle of water. Willow rationed that for two or three days before going back and getting more. She kept that up and before she knew it two and a half weeks of this passed, and she was finally let out of her cupboard. A quick check on the bathroom scale showed that she lost a good couple of pounds that she couldn't afford to lose and a look in the mirror show that the bones in her face were more prominent and that she could now count her individual ribs. Thankfully though, her release from confinement meant that the zoo incident was all but forgotten and Dudley was back in the spotlight. The reason being that Dudley had gotten into Smeltings, Vernon's Alma Mater. Willow cooked the Dursleys' their breakfast as Vernon went on and on about how proud he was.

"Caveat Smeltonia. Proudest moment of my life."

Willow rolled her eyes but dutifully served their breakfast of bacon and eggs, making sure to give Dudley two extra portions and moving away before he was able to smack her with his Smelting Stick. She washed the frying pans and dried them. Not long after, with his face in his newspaper, Uncle Vernon ordered her to get the mail. She sidestepped a swing from Dudley's Smelting Stick, walked up to the front door and grabbed the mail that the postman pushed through the mail slot. Shuffling through the stack of mail, most of which were bills and assorted junk mail she was taken aback that there was a letter addressed to her. It was a creme colored envelope with black lettering that seemed to glitter. Even more surprising was the address that they wrote:

Ms. Willow Rose Potter

The Cupboard under the stairs

4 Privet Drive,

Little Whinging

Surrey

She noticed that Harry had one too, almost identical to hers, though his was addressed to the second bedroom. Willow quickly darted into Cupboard and put her letter under her pillow. Willow knew that Uncle Vernon would take it if he knew that someone wrote to her. She made sure that the Dursleys were still distracted with their breakfast, Vernon had his nose in his newspaper, and subtly gave Harry his letter. She handed the rest of the stack of mail to Uncle Vernon. He grunted and shooed her away with the paper.

She took that as a hint and walked as quickly as she could without attracting notice, to her cupboard. Willow closed the door just as she heard Dudley yell.

"Dad! Harry got a letter from someone!"

Willow winced and sent a silent apology to her twin, hoping that he wasn't going to get in too much trouble.

She sat on her lumpy mattress and took the letter from under the pillow. She couldn't help but stare at the black lettering that still seemed to glitter even in the dim yellow light of her room. She flipped the envelope over intending to open it and paused. There was a wax seal on the back. A bright red color with a very strange crest pressed into it. She looked at the wax seal quizzically.

Who uses wax seals anymore?

She shook her head, those thoughts didn't matter right now, and she carefully opened the envelope.

Dear Ms. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed you'll find a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on the first of September. We await your owl.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

She was astounded. A magic school, she couldn't believe it. She immediately went to re-read the letter, wanting to memorize every line of every word on that page.

She was so busy reading it over and over that she didn't hear her uncle stomping up to her cupboard and yanking open her door. He snatched the letter out of her hand, red in the face, and she yelled in protest.

"Give that back! That's my letter." She reached for it but Uncle Vernon was too tall

She was yelling in vain as well, he ripped the letter to pieces in front of her. Willow felt her anger rise as she watched the pieces of the letter fall to the floor in front of her, and this time she didn't try to stop it.

As her uncle screamed that they wouldn't have freaks in this house Willow's anger continued to rise. The yelling continued with Uncle Vernon towering over her in the doorway of her cupboard for some time until Willow had gotten so angry that the lights exploded. Willow didn't get a chance to see a reaction from Uncle Vernon, he froze up and backed out of the cupboard, slamming the door closed.

Willow was still fuming when the door opened again a while later, only this time Harry was standing in the doorway, a plate of food in his hand. She shifted on her bed to make room for her twin. He sat down next to her and handed Willow the food, a small helping of pasta with a cream sauce, a piece of toast, and a bottle of water.

"I'm sorry it's not much," he began sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"This was all I could sneak past them, but I'll try to bring you more tomorrow... I'm assuming you got a letter as well."

"Yeah, I did." Her voice was quiet.

Harry sighed and his shoulders slumped, Willow had never seen her brother this upset before. She didn't know what to do about it. Harry ran a hand through his black hair showcasing his lighting bolt scar on his forehead that he had had for as long as Willow could remember.

"I just wish that I got a chance to read the letter before Uncle Vernon took it. Do you know- did you get a chance to read it."

Willow didn't even hesitate to answer her twin.

"No, I wasn't able to open it in time. Uncle Vernon snuck up on me." Harry didn't have anything to say to that.

Willow ate her meal in an awkward silence with her sibling by her side. Every once in a while he would open his mouth to say something, pause, shake his head, close his mouth and in 5 minutes repeat the entire process. Once she was done Harry took the plate from her and left after they exchanged quiet good nights.

Willow closed the door behind him and sighed, practically throwing herself on her bed and just lying there. Thinking.

She didn't know why she didn't tell Harry. She suspected that his letter probably said the same thing that hers did. But just this once, she had something that Harry didn't, and for some reason she didn't want to let that go.

The next morning at breakfast, it was clear that there were lines in the sand, and for the first time, Harry was on Willow's side. Vernon made Dudley get the mail and was enraged when he returned with ten more letters for Harry and Willow. He promptly ripped those letters as well, much to Harry and Willow's anger, and spent the rest of that afternoon nailing the letter flap shut. That didn't stop the letters. They forced their way through the gaps in the front and back doors. Owls accosted the Dursleys with these letters every time they went outside. Petunia found letters in her eggs, and in the milk carton. Each letter they found, the Dursleys shredded, which in turn made Willow's temper shorter. More lights exploded and in turn she was kept in her cupboard for most of the week. This continued until Sunday, no matter what Vernon tried to do to stop the letters, they kept coming, and so did the owls.

Sunday morning was different though. Willow could feel it as she sat down at the table for breakfast. The difference started with the strangely good mood that her uncle was in. It was so strange that even Petunia and Dudley were glancing at him in confusion as they dug unto their bacon and waffles.

"Good morning Potters! It's Sunday," he declared happily across the breakfast table.

"Do you know what that means?"

Willow clenched her jaw "There's no post"

Vernon Dursleys beady eyes gleamed with vicious delight. He smiled cruelly at Willow and at harry too, which surprised everyone else.

"That's right! No Post on Sundays! Not a single letter."

Willow watched in interest as a single letter came shooting from the fireplace and hit him in the back of the head. Vernon whipped around and picked up the fallen letter, shaking with fury. Roughly two beats later the gate to the fireplace burst open and letters came flying through. Petunia screamed and fainted at the sight of her living room and dining room being flooded with letters while Dudley ran up the stairs, panicked.

"That's it!" Vernon bellowed, "We're leaving right now. Everyone, go pack your things. Only the essentials."

20 minutes and a tantrum from Dudley later, the Dursleys and the Potters were on their way somewhere. The children were squished in the backseat and Harry made sure to be in between Dudley and his twin, just in case. The drive was…. Strange to say the least. Every once in a while, Uncle Vernon would stop and get out of the car . However, each time he did someone would hand him more letters. This happened at a motel, at a National Park, and at a mom and pop restaurant they ate at. He became increasingly agitated. At each stop, after he was handed the letters, he would look around, muttering to himself, get back in the car, and continue to drive. Willow took the opportunity during this seemingly never ending ride to take a nap.

She awoke a couple hours later just in time for her to realize that it was night and that Uncle Vernon was coming back to the car with a package.

When did we stop? And what's in that package.

Those thoughts were swept away when Vernon to the family that he had found a place for them to stay. A sea captain was going to take them by boat Vernon told them. Dudley whimpered at the news.

"Daddy's gone mad over some letters hasn't he?"

Petunia didn't answer Dudley's question directly, but the look that she gave her son when Vernon showed then family the boat answered the question.

Yes. He had gone mad.

Willow sighed as she was ushered into the boat. The night was cold and windy and being forced to stand at the bow of the boat made it no better. That neat that not only was she cold, she was also soaked from the spray of the sea water. At least the night was beautiful enough that she could look at the stars while they rode to what looked like a hut on the rocks. Which, as they got closer, was exactly what it was. Willow looked at the dilapidated hut. Made of rotted wood, it gave off the appearance that it would fall over if anything stronger than a light breeze hit it. Inside the hut was no better. Riddled with holes, the hut was filled with a cold draft. Petunia and Vernon to the only bed in the only bedroom in the hut and Dudley took the couch. That left the floor and a thin, moth eaten blanket for Harry and Willow. Everyone settled down for bed at around 11, after multiple failed attempts from Vernon to start a fire in the fireplace, and the twins huddled together for warmth when Willow realized something.

"We turn 11 in an hour," she whispered to her brother.

"Happy birthday to us… Do you think the letters stopped coming?" Harry turned his head to look at her.

"They didn't stop when we were there, so I hope not... Goodnight Harry." And with that they both fell into a restless sleep to the sound of the wind blowing through the hut and the waves crashing against the rocks.

CRUNCH CRUNCH

Willow shivered and opened her eyes. It was still dark and noticeably quiet, she could find the source of the noise that woke her. Looking at her twin she realized that he stole all of the moth eaten blanket and was wrapped up in it similar to a cocooned caterpillar.

"So greedy," she muttered.

She sat up, glancing around, and saw that both Harry and Dudley were still sleeping. Laying back down she decided to ignore the strange noise when it happened again, except closer to the hut. She shook her twin awake and pushed his glasses on his face as his green eyes blinked blearily up at her.

"What's going on Willow?"

"I think someone is-"

BANG… BANG… BANG

The noise startled Willow and Harry. Dudley was so frightened that he fell off of the couch, his limbs tangled in the plethora of blankets that he had piled on him. Vernon came into the room, hiding Petunia behind his large frame and brandishing a rifle.

So that's what was in the package, Willow eyed the rifle warily.

The poor door was pounded on again, and eventually it was just torn off its hinges. It fell to the floor and dust flew everywhere. Standing in the doorway was the biggest man Willow had ever seen. The man must've been more than 7 feet tall; he had to hunch over and get through the door.

"Mornin' Dursleys. Sorry 'bout yeh door" The strange mage picked up the door and propped it against the against the it's frame.

"Yeh wouldn't mind getting me a cuppa tea?"

Petunia made a mouse like noise at the question. His height, plus his heavy-set stature made him look terrifying to the Dursleys, Willow though, was mainly just curious. He seemed to know them, and she wondered if he knew her and Harry too. The giant man's eyes darted about the room until they landed on the twins.

"There they are," The man exclaimed, a smile forming on his features, making his eyes twinkle and causing a small smile to unconsciously form on Willow's face as well.

"I haven't seen you both since you were wee ones. Knew yer mother and father too you know. Kindest people you'd ever meet." He teared up, pausing to dig into the pockets of his brown canvas coat and pulled out a handkerchief, with which he proceeded to blow his nose into.

"You knew our parents?" Harry questioned; the man nodded.

"They were great wizards, well up until they were killed by You-Know-Who"

"Wait, I thought our parents were killed in a car crash?

"That's some muggle rubbish, Dumbledore said that we might have trouble getting to you two, but you really don't know nothin bout nothin?"

Willow shook her head, it was a ridiculous question, he wouldn't have been here if they did.

"Who are you anyway? Who's Dumbledore? Why are we just now finding out about this? What's Hogwarts anyway?" She paused trying to push the panic and confusion that was crawling its way up her throat, back down. The man sat down on one end of the couch motioning for Harry and Willow to sit next to him.

"Name's Rubeus Hagrid, I'm the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. Which reminds me."

He pulled out two envelopes and handed them to the twins. Willow opened her and found the same letter as the one that she got at the Dursleys, though this time it was addressed to the Hut-On-Rock.

"What does it mean they await my owl?"

Harry was right, it was a very curious line. Hagrid made a noise of realization before he pulled a very disgruntled looking owl from inside his coat and wrote a response.

"To Dumbledore," he explained as he was writing, "He's the Headmaster of Hogwarts, entrusted me with this mission to come get yeh. Good man, Dumbledore."

"So, we're Wizards?" Hagrid looked up when Willow asked the question.

"Well of course, your parents were the greatest witch and wizard of their generation, of course the two of ye would be magic."

"But like you said, we don't know nothing about nothing. We don't even know why our parents died, or who we really are." Harry interjected.

"Well you're the Boy-Who-Lived!"

Willow was taken aback at Harry's "name" That seems like a bit much, she thought to herself, but Hagrid continued, and she listened in to see if he would reveal why he was given that ridiculous name.

"You see, when you were just a wee lad, Harry, barely a year old. There was a dark wizard who wanted to kill you. He was as evil as they come. Studied dark magic 'n everthin."

"What was his name?" Hagrid looked at Willow, like he seemed to forget that she was there.

"Well, I don't like saying it, but I can't spell it, so I'll only say it once. His name was Voldemort." He shuddered violently.

Willow didn't recognize the name but it did bring forth a remembered memory of flashes of green and a pair of red eyes.

"Anyways," Hagrid continued, "he wanted to kill ye Harry. He killed your parents to get to ye."

Harry's eyes widened comically.

"How do you know he wanted to kill me?"

"It's simple, the scar on your forehead can only come from a killing curse, though somehow you lived, and he died. Codswallop in my opinion. There wasn't enough soul left in him to die. And that's another thing." He looked at Willow.

"He didn't try to kill ye, which is strange. Dumbledore doesn't even know, and he knows everythin. In fact, you were pretty calm when we all showed up, didn't even make one peep…."

Hagrid had gotten quieter as he told the story. Therefore, when he abruptly stood up and said that they needed to get going, Willow was slightly startled. She narrowed her eyes at the man. She was glad that he told her what happened, but something didn't sit right with her. There was something about the story that was off. She wasn't sure what it was yet, but she vowed to herself that she was going to figure out what it was. She stood when Hagrid looked back at her, both him and Harry were already almost out the door. She quickly walked over to them starting to feel excitement overshadow the suspicion that she felt earlier.

She looked up at Hagrid as they headed out of the hut ignoring the protests of the Dursleys like they had been doing the entire time.

"Where are we going anyway?"

Hagrid smiled at her and Harry as he led them to a motorcycle with a passenger compartment.

"We're going to get your school supplies, and for that, we need to go to Diagon Alley."