Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
A week or so later Ella was back, her desire for Petunia's sandwiches overriding her fear of being turned in. This time, Petunia took her inside, made her take a bath, and washed her filthy dress. All squeaky clean, Petunia brushed her hair free of snarls and knots, and tied it into a nice ponytail. She fed her the usual sandwich and apple juice, and let her watch telly with the boys.
"So tell me, Ella, why'd you run away?" Vernon said casually, reading the paper while the children watched their program.
"Oh, I just felt like it."
"Don't they miss you at home?"
At that, Ella's usual smile faded. Her eyes took on a stony look, and she suddenly looked years older than she was. Dudley continued watching the program, unaware of the change in Ella. Harry, however, turned to stare at her.
"No, they don't."
Vernon shook his head, like adults do when they know they are right and the child is wrong. "They wouldn't have started a search for you if they didn't miss you."
Ella frowned. "I don't like them there. I used to live with my mum and my stepdad, but I don't like them. They don't like me either. My stepdad never liked me, and my mum always thinks I'm lying about him," Ella looked sideways at Harry, as though daring him not to believe her either. "I'm not lying! He's mean to me."
"We believe you." Harry said immediately.
"Good. 'Cause I'm not lying. I was real lonely right when I left. I wanted to go home, but I knew he'd be angry, and I was scared to. Then I found Ruby, and I took her with me to the roof of the drugstore. We kept each other warm. We loved each other very much. That's why I ignored your signs for a while," she said, eyes beginning to fill with tears again. "Ruby was my only friend, and I didn't wanna give her up. But you said I could come visit! And now Harry and Dudley are my friends too. So actually, I'm glad I gave her back."
"Where did you used to live? That is, where do your parents live?" said Vernon.
"My mum and stepdad live on the corner of Ninth and Walnut Grove," Ella said darkly. "But they're not my parents. Parents don't hurt children when they're bad."
"They are too your parents. All parents discipline their children, even Petunia and I. And I bet your parents miss you, Ella." Vernon stated in a matter-of-fact way.
Ella said nothing. She ran her hands over her arms, and turned back to the telly.
"Are you sure about this, Vernon?"
"Of course I am, Petunia. It's what needs to be done. Children shouldn't just run away from their poor parents: the Shustermans are probably worried sick about her."
Harry watched in secret from the hallway as Vernon and Petunia bent over a phone book, searching for the Shustermans at the corner of Ninth and Walnut Grove. Dudley was up in his room playing video games, and Harry'd been outside until hearing Ella's name, upon which he'd snuck into the hallway to eavesdrop.
"Alright, here's the number, see it?"
"Yes, thanks Petunia."
Harry heard dialing, then silence. Then Vernon began briskly, "Hello, my name is Vernon Dursley of Number Four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, and I'm calling on behalf of a little girl whose been at my house every day for the past month or so. Are you the parents of a runaway girl, about nine years old?"
There was no exclamation from the person on the other line, but there was a shuffling as the phone was apparently passed to a different person. A male voice continued, loud enough for Harry to hear, saying, "You've found her? She alright?"
"Yes, she's absolutely fine. We were wondering if we should have called the police, or gone straight to you? We really weren't sure."
"To us is fine. We'll tell the police for you. Where'd you say you lived?"
"Number Four Privet Drive, Little Whinging. She usually comes for a sandwich at around noon. If you could be here before then, that would be perfect."
"We'll do just that. My wife and I will be there around eleven thirty to pick Allie up, then we'll be on our way to the police station to cancel the search for her.
"Ella."
"What was that?"
"You meant Ella, right? You said Allie. Her name is Ella."
"Yeah, that's what I meant. Thank you for calling, Mr. Dursley, we'll see you tomorrow."
Vernon hung up the phone, his brow furrowed in doubt, before shaking his head. "A girl is best off with her parents, everybody knows that." he stated gruffly to Petunia before heading toward the hallway. Harry didn't have time to scurry away, and Vernon caught him red-handed in the stairwell.
"Eavesdropping again, boy?"
"Sorry Uncle Vernon, I didn't mean to, I was just heading into the kitchen for a snack." Harry lied off the top of his head.
Vernon wasn't buying it, but his mind was elsewhere. He shook his head. "No snacks for you, Harry, dinner's almost ready. You can wait."
"But Dudley has snacks in his room!" Harry protested, forgetting that he wasn't hungry and actually had been eavesdropping. "Why is he allowed and I'm not? What's so special about Dudley that isn't about me?"
"Just... No buts about it, boy."
Vernon left Harry standing in the hallway, once again feeling the keen unfairness of life.
When Ella came the next day, Ruby was waiting for her faithfully at the door, wagging her yellow tail and barking upon seeing her. The girl, now so comfortable in the Dursley's home that she didn't even knock, let herself in and began scarfing the sandwich waiting for her on the table.
"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley?" she called to the empty room. "Harry? Dudley?"
"Hi Ella," chorused Harry and Dudley as they entered the room and sat down at the table with her. She grinned at them, and then suddenly an adult male voice echoed in the spotless kitchen as well.
"Hello Ella."
A man sauntered into the kitchen. He was small and skinny, but in a wiry kind of way, and had a brilliantly white smile. A woman with Ella's mousy brown hair lurked behind him, waiting for him to proceed as though she were afraid to make any move on her own. Behind them walked Vernon and Petunia. Vernon moved to sit at the table beside Ella, while Petunia moved to the back door.
Ella stared in shock at the man and woman in the doorway, her sandwich falling half-eaten onto the table. She looked nowhere but at them. Then, just as Vernon had predicted she would, Ella sprang up from the table and ran. She reached the back door and tried to throw it open.
Petunia, knowing better this time, had locked it.
Harry and Dudley, who had been anticipating a joyful reunion, could do nothing but gape in surprise.
Ella wrestled with the door a little before turning her back to it. Her eyes moved about the room furiously, looking for an exit and not finding one. She looked like a trapped animal.
"Come here, Ella!" the woman said with a synthetic smile.
Ella shook her head no, still looking at the man beside her mother.
Vernon patted her head, looking a little uncomfortable. "Go to them, Ella dear, they've been missing you so much!"
"Yes. We've missed you so much, Ella." the man said, his narrow eyes boring into the girl's wide ones. "Come here, baby."
Ella looked right at Vernon. Her eyes shone with betrayal as she began to cry.
Mr. Shusterman, seeing her refusal to move, strode over. He grabbed her by her upper arm and tugged her through the kitchen and toward the front door. Upon seeing it, Ruby began to bark furiously.
"No! No! NO!" Ella shrieked, kicking her arms and legs out against the Dursley's nice furniture. "Don't touch me!" The man pulled her harder, and though she clung to chairs and tables, she was no match for his strength. They reached the door, and Ella clung to the doorknob, yelling with all her might.
"Ella dear, please," her mother pleaded under her cries, her cheeks a bright pink. "Don't make a scene. Let's go home, love."
"Leave me alone! Leave me alone! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Ella sobbed. "Ruby! Ruby! Help me! Please! Ruby!"
Ruby barked excitedly, but did nothing. Ella's stepfather dragged her from the doorknob, down the front steps, across the concrete path, and to the car in the Dursley's driveway. He popped open the door and thrust Ella, still wailing, into the backseat. He shut the door and climbed into the driver's seat, while his wife climbed in the other side.
Harry and the Dursleys watched them drive away from Number Four, Privet Drive, toward the police station to tell them to cancel the search.
"Did you see that?" Vernon asked all of the sudden as their car disappeared around a corner.
"See what, Dad?" Dudley piped.
"Never mind."
But Harry had seen it. As the Shustermans drove away, Ella had raised her fists and banged at the glass in the rear window, cheeks mottled with tears, still shouting Ruby's name.
AN/ I'd really appreciate some reviews, guys. I get nervous writing chapter stories, and if you have any thoughts, tips, or concerns, I'd love to hear them. I know this story's being read, and tons of people are subscribing, but the only reviewers have been my editors. What do you think?