~Chapter 4~

The trip back to Harry's would've been quick if they weren't carrying Dudley. Harry and the old woman, who Sonea learned was called Mrs. Figg, talked a lot until a squat man Apparated in front of them. Mrs. Figg had started screaming her head off until he agreed to go tell Dumbledore. After that, they were once again walking towards Harry's. As they reached the front door, Mrs. Figg turned around and left with Harry calling after her. As the door opened to reveal a tall woman's figure, Sonea felt Harry shift Dudley's weight all onto himself.

"Diddy! About time too, I was getting quite- quite- Diddy, what's the matter?" The woman began sounding panicked. It probably didn't help that right after that Dudley threw up. "DIDDY! Diddy, what's the matter with you? Vernon? VERNON!"

A huge man hurried towards his wife to help Dudley step over his own vomit. "He's ill, Vernon!" The woman cried.

"What is it, son? What happened? Did Mrs. Polkiss give you something foreign for tea?"

"Why are you all covered in dirt, darling? Have you been lying on the ground?"

"Hang on- you haven't been mugged, have you, son?" The woman let out a shrill scream.

"Phone the police, Vernon! Phone the police! Diddy, darling, speak to Mummy! What did they do to you?" Harry quickly grabbed Sonea's wrist to lead her into his house and towards the stairs. Behind them Dudley was being ushered towards the kitchen.

"Who did it, son? Give us names. We'll get them don't worry."

"Shh! He's trying to say something, Vernon! What is it, Diddy? Tell Mummy!" Harry was almost halfway upstairs when Dudley finally found his voice. Sonea couldn't understand his rush to get away. Surely these people would understand what had just happened.

"Him." Sonea could feel Harry tense up.

"BOY! COME HERE!" Harry let go of Sonea and walked back down. Sonea, unsure of what to do, followed him. All the anger in the loud voice had explained exactly why Harry had been so eager to get away.

Once inside the clean kitchen where the woman was pushing Dudley into a chair, Vernon began his rampage. "What have you done to my son?"

"Nothing," Harry replied.

"What did he do to you, Diddy?" the woman asked Dudley. "Was it- was it you-know-what, darling? Did he use- his thing?" Sonea almost laughed at how weird that sounded. But maybe that moment wouldn't be very appropriate.

Slowly, Dudley nodded and added, "Both of them." It was then that Vernon noticed Sonea.

"Who are you?" he growled.

"Sonea Direm. I'm a witch if that's what you wanted to know." Sonea watched with a sense of satisfaction as they recoiled from her.

"What did you do to him?" Vernon asked again but it was once more directed at Harry.

"I didn't do anything to him, it wasn't me, it was-" Harry was cut off as two owls flew through an open window in the kitchen. Each one dropped a letter on Harry's and Sonea's head before flying away.

"OWLS! OWLS AGAIN! I WILL NOT HAVE ANY MORE OWLS IN MY HOUSE!" Sonea was dimly aware of Vernon's rant. She was too busy opening the letter.

Dear Ms. Direm,

We have received intelligence that you preformed the Patronus Charm at twenty- three minutes past nine this evening in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of a Muggle.

This is your first and only warning. If you breach section 13 of the International Confederation of Wizard's Stature of Secrecy again, you will be expelled from school.

Hoping you are well,
Yours sincerely,
Magalda Hophirk
IMPROPER USE OF MAGIC OFFICE
Ministry of Magic

Sonea sighed. Now she couldn't use magic even on accident outside of school. She looked towards Harry. From how he was standing, she could tell that something was wrong. She went to reach for him, but he pulled out his wand and went towards the door.

"Harry?" she called after him. But Vernon was more forceful.

"Where d'you think you're going?" Harry didn't reply and kept walking towards the door. Vernon jumped in front of him to stop him. "I haven't finished with you, boy!"

"Get out of the way."

"You're going to stay here and explain how my son-"

"If you don't get out of my way I'm going to jinx you." Sonea gasped as he raised his wand.

"You can't pull that one on me! I know you're not allowed to use it outside of that madhouse you call a school!"

"The madhouse has chucked me out, so I can do whatever I like," said Harry in a calm voice. Sonea was in shock. How could I only be warned while he's expelled? She wondered. Maybe he's done magic before, but he was only defending himself! He can't be expelled for that! "You've got three seconds," Harry continued in that same calm voice. "One- two-"

A CRACK exploded in the kitchen. Sonea whirled to look at a dazed barn owl sitting outside the kitchen sill. He looked like he had just run into the closed window. Harry raced to the owl while Vernon shouted, "OWLS!" Harry read it twice before turning around to face everyone.

"Right. I've changed my mind, I'm staying." He plopped down in a seat facing his cousin. "Sonea," he said without looking at her. "The letter said for you to go home. Someone will contact you soon."

Sonea wanted to stay to help Harry. She didn't want to leave him with his family. But she nodded and went to let herself out. No one tried to stop her either. "Let me know if you need help with these Muggles." Harry's grunt was all the answer she got.

Outside was as dark and quiet as ever. Not even bugs made noise. Not wanting to be alone outside, Sonea raced home. All the lights were on waiting for her. She opened the door slowly. No one was making a sound inside either. Shutting the door silently behind her, Sonea walked into the kitchen. Both Ren and Eric were inside waiting at a table for her.

"Are you okay?" Ren blurted out. "I know it was a big shock finding out about your father and all but-"

"Of course I'm fine. Thanks." Sonea replied with a fake smile and bogus happy tone. "Who wouldn't be fine after finding out their father is the Dark Lord, meeting Harry Potter, then getting attacked by Dementors? Honestly, it's been the best day ever! I'm oh so glad we moved here!" Eric paled at the Dementors. Ren outright fainted.

Satisfied in a grim way, Sonea strolled out of the kitchen and up to her room where she could be alone. Dropping onto her bed, Sonea began to think. At least I'll have something to tell my friends, she thought. I've met the boy who killed my father and I've been attacked all in the same night. Her thoughts trailed away until she was just barely awake. The last grim thought she had was, this is all Dumbledore's fault for telling me who my father is…