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We had been sitting and talking to Lupin about the great wide wizarding world. With every explanation I had more and more questions and as the new batch of tea started growing cold in our hands. I was rapidly warming up to Lupin. Time flew by quickly and before we knew it an hour had past and the Dursleys were opening the door.
At the sound of Uncle Vernon's voice I immediately straightened up. Harry and I quickly stood and started towards the door where they were coming in.
"Animals are so boring. Why did we have to go to the zoo for my birthday. I want to do something fun!" Dudley whined and with every word Aunt Petunia said reassurances that everything was going to get better from here and that he could do anything he wanted.
"Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, someone came by while you were out. His name is-" Harry started only to get interrupted.
"Don't worry Harry, I can introduce myself." Lupin said as he moved around Harry and I to stand in front of Vernon and Petunia. "I am Remus Lupin, I came to inform Harry about his acceptance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which I am surprised to find out that he knew very little of. I assumed you Petunia would of known at least the basics. But its no matter. I've explained everything and invited both Harry, and Hayley if she would care to join, to come with me to spend the night at my place and then get Harry's supplies in the morning."
Aunt Petunia's face was rapidly losing color while Uncle Vernon's seemed to be gaining too much and turning an nasty shade of purple. I knew all too well what this meant and I didn't want to say on this conversation. "The kitchen is clean?" I all but whispered. Aunt Petunia glanced at me as if acknowledging I had said words but then her eyes were back on Lupin.
In a split second something happened that I didn't see and suddenly Uncle Vernon was completely compliant and Aunt Petunia was offering biscuits the same lack of color in both of their faces. Lupin slipped something back into his sleeve and followed everyone else into the side room while Harry and I quickly packed.
We took a cab to an apartment complex around 40 minutes away, Lupin paid and waited until after the cab driver had driven away to take out his wand and wave it through the air. The building seemed to shift and change so now there was not a misnumbered going from 11 straight to 13.
"I should tell you that I say 'my place' loosely. This is actually the Black House. My friend Sirius owns it and grew up in it. Don't mind Kreacher. He's all talk." Lupin talked as he walked up to the door and held it open. "Come on in."
"Who's Kreacher?" Harry asked
"The house elf. You'll know who I'm talking about when you see him." Lupin said "You can set your stuff in any room feel free to explore the place. Make yourself at home."
In the matter of moments a man with dark hair and a beard came to the door. "Lupin I thought I heard the door open. And this must be Harry. You look like your father, except with Lily's eyes." Harry shook his hand and his eyes seemed to skim over me and then dart back "Hayley? I wasn't expecting you as well. Don't you look like Lily. Except I see you've gotten your father's hair I see. Its so good to see both of you it really is. But I have to get going. I have an interview to attend."
"Good luck." Harry said and then the man disappeared with a loud crack.
I must have looked shocked because with a smile Lupin explained "That was Sirius. And that was disapparating. Its a way many over-aged wizards get around. I would show you around the house but that would beat all the fun wouldn't it?"
Harry and I found rooms on the second floor and placed our stuff in them and then separated to explore this rather large house filled with magic.
******
I was reading happily in the library. The books were different. Pictures moved. Magic was real and with every page I read I was discovering a different part of this world I didn't know existed. It was so new.
"I see you've made yourself at home here." Lupin laughed at me cuddled up in a large cushy chair with an extremely large book on my lap.
"Nothing is this great at The Dursleys! Its so magical here!" I laughed at myself
"Don't you like it at the Dursleys?" He questioned
I wanted to kick myself. "Well I don't get along with them that great. I mean its fine and all. It could be so much worse. I mean I can always hide in our cupboard and Dudley isn't that bad you just give him what he wants and Aunt Petunia has her moments where I think she actually listens and Uncle Vernon is scary but sometimes he doesn't pay attention to me and everything works out. I mean we have a lot of chores to do and we get punished if we don't do them but all gets get in trouble and their parents have to punish them. And don't think I answered your question. I'm sorry."
Lupin looked at me for a second as if he was deciding something. "One second. I'll be right back."
I waited in the chair fidgeting slightly at what he was going to do or get. Thoughts raced through my head of all the things I could have done wrong. Maybe I wasn't suppose to touch those books. I was sitting with my legs crossed in the chair, were feet not allowed to touch the chairs? I quickly uncrossed my legs and sat in the chair like a normal person. I probably said something wrong. I always said something wrong. Sometimes I wished I didn't have a voice.
Harry and Lupin walked in laughing about something. There were two chairs I scooted over on mine and Harry shared a chair easily with me. Lupin pulled over the other chair so it was in front of us. His laughing attitude seemed to evaporate as he studied us slightly. "I want to ask you something, both of you. And I want you to know that no matter what you say I won't be upset with you. I just need both of you to be honest. Can you do that?"
I nodded automatically. I noticed how Harry stiffened slightly beside me but didn't nod. I gave him a curious glance. Was I missing something?
Obviously my nod was enough for Lupin because he continued on "What's it like at the Dursley's."
There was an awkward silence as I waited for Harry to respond. He was the one who was good at making up stories. He was the one that could twist the truth to sound right. But he was quiet. "They don't like us it has its good moments." That was truthful right? I felt guilty already my stomach doing little flips and knots.
Lupin didn't look convinced. "Hayley," he looked directly at me into my eyes. I quickly looked down "You mentioned your cupboard. What's this cupboard?"
I wasn't sure what quite to say. My words were stuck in my throat. I looked to Harry slightly panicked but he looked clueless as well finding his lap extremely interesting.
"Hayley I don't want your brother's answer. I want yours. Its okay."
"Its our room." I squeaked out at first. But after those words were out the other words just seemed to spill out faster. "We sleep there. Its under the stairs. Its not that bad. It can be a little small but its cozy and the spiders aren't that bad once you just learn to let them be. Its a nice place." I was almost defending it. Harry squeezing my hand slightly shut me up.
"I know this is scary but I'm really proud of you for telling me these things. I don't want to ask this but I need to know so I can help you if what I'm thinking is right." He took a breath as if stablizing himself for what he was about to ask. "Did they ever hurt-"
"Yes." Harry blurted out suddenly. "Yes. They did. Quite frequently. Which is why I can't go to Hogwarts. I can't let Hayley be there all alone. I won't let that happen to her."
"No we can't let Hayley be there all alone can we? But you can still go to Hogwarts. There is no way I can ask either of you to go back there. I'll send an owl to Dumbledore but I think he will agree that no matter the protections that you may have at the Dursley's its not worth it."
"You have to let other people know?" I questioned a little nervous at what other people might think.
"Just to make sure you never get hurt again. I know this is a lot to absorb. But you have to trust me when I say this is going to help." He smiled at both of us "We are going to Diagon Alley tomorrow early in the morning so you two should go get your rest."
Harry and I headed off to bed. I spoke quietly "Do you really think this is going to be good?"
Harry seemed to pause before answering. "I think that things are going to change and I think they will be for the better."
