"Just where did you get that bloody bird?" Uncle Vernon asked firmly after they pulled in to number four.
"It was a gift from one of the staff at school." The Harry half explained calmly.
"Well if you think you'll be letting it out, think again, boy." Uncle Vernon said, locking her in her cage with a large padlock. "And as for these, you won't be needing them, now will you?"
Uncle Vernon hauled the Harry and Rose being's trunk into the cupboard under the stares, a place they were glad they didn't have to sleep in. He then locked it shut and the Harry and Rose being sighed, deciding that speaking would be useless. After all, the Dursley's didn't really care much for them.
"You'll be back to work helping Aunt Petunia with whatever she asks." Uncle Vernon explained firmly.
"Sure, not a problem." The Harry and Rose being responded.
"And don't you start talking like that." Uncle Vernon stated dangerously.
"Yes, Uncle Vernon." The Rose half stated sarcastically.
"Don't you talk back to me, girl. To your room, and be down for Dinner." Uncle Vernon responded coolly.
The Harry and Rose being went up to their room and entered. It was just as they'd left it. With a sigh, they moved to the window and stared at the street below, gazing at the identical flowers, houses, and the children playing in the street. After a moment, the Harry and Rose being turned toward one another and gazed into each other's eyes. The Harry half was looking more attractive, oddly, and the Rose half was definitely looking more beautiful than before. She'd grown a few inches, too, something that was expected. They didn't know what they would have done if they hadn't been able to order the braw with the automatic resizing charm on it. Aunt Petunia surely wouldn't have purchased the Rose half one, but luckily, they didn't have to worry about that with magical items such as those. Since they'd ordered it at Hogwarts, Aunt Petunia didn't know about it, and very likely didn't care.
Dinner was a tense and quiet affair. The Dursley's didn't talk to the Harry and Rose being, and they didn't talk to them. Once it was over, the Harry and Rose being returned to their room and flopped down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. It was likely to turn out to be a long, boring summer vacation.
The days passed slowly and the Harry and Rose being named their owl Hedwig, which she seemed to like. They felt frustration that letting her out would be useless, had nightmares about Voldemort, and didn't receive a single letter from anyone at Hogwarts. It was as if they didn't really care. Hedwig, on the other hand, didn't appreciate being locked in her cage and would often screech to be let out. If they'd had the ability, they would have let her out, but they couldn't use magic outside of school.
Compared to Hogwarts, life at the Dursley home was flat and dull, a world with still pictures, no magic, and nothing incredible. The Harry and Rose being missed it with a painful grief, and almost thought it had been a dream since no one, not even Ron, was writing to them.
One morning, the Harry half's birthday morning, in fact, Uncle Vernon started shouting at them across the table about Hedwig, who had woken him early.
"Third time this week! If you can't control that owl, it'll have to go!" Uncle Vernon's voice was loud and firm.
"How would you feel if you were locked in a cage? I'm sure she's frustrated." The Harry half responded, the Rose half scowling. "I'm sure she'd be a lot quieter if I could let her out at night."
"Do I look stupid?" Uncle Vernon asked with a snarl, some fried egg dangling from his mustache. "I know what'll happen if that owl's let out!"
Uncle Vernon exchanged a dark look with Aunt Petunia. The Rose half tried to say something to defend them self, but Dudley let out a loud and long belch. The Harry and Rose being frowned at his rudeness, but could do nothing.
"I want more bacon." Dudley demanded.
"There's more in the frying pan, sweetums." Aunt Petunia turned misty eyes on him. "We must build you up while we've got the chance. I don't like the sound of that school food."
"Oh, please." The Rose half said, the Harry and Rose being feeling rather irritable. "Build him up, does he need to be as big as a house or what?"
"If you ever talk that way again, girl, you'll be sleeping in the cupboard until school!" Uncle Vernon responded in fury.
The Harry and Rose being stared as Dudley, who's bottom drooped over either side of the kitchen chair, grinned at them.
"Pass the frying pan." He demanded.
The Harry and Rose being were about to snap at him to get it himself before they found something even better.
"You've forgotten the magic word." The Rose half snapped.
Dudley gasped and fell off his chair with a crash, shaking the entire kitchen in the process. Aunt Petunia let out a small scream and clapped her hands to her mouth. Uncle Vernon jumped to his feet, vanes throbbing in his temples.
"Go on then, tell us off." The Harry half snapped furiously, gripping the Rose half's hand.
"One more word out of you such as that, and you won't ever be returning to that school of yours! You hear me, Potter's?" Uncle Vernon roared, spraying spit across the table as he spoke.
"Sure, and you need to learn not to spit in other people's food. Thanks, but no thanks, I'm going." The Harry half stated coolly.
"You just hold it right there!" Uncle Vernon roared, pounding his fist on the table. "You threatened my son and I will not stand for it!"
"Threatened your son!" The Harry half shouted.
"Not you, boy, you, girl!" Uncle Vernon roared. "I've told you and told you, I will not tolerate mention of your abnormality under our roof!"
"All right, fine." The Rose half responded. "But if he does one more thing that..."
"Don't you set conditions in this house, girl!" Uncle Vernon shouted even louder if it was possible, leaning closer.
"Okay, fine then, I won't." The Rose half responded.
Uncle Vernon glared at them to make sure they got the message, then sat back down in his chair, breathing hard and watching them to make sure they didn't offend him again. That's what the Harry and Rose being thought of it as, anyway, since magic wasn't at all uncommon. Not the word, and though the Dursley's didn't want to know, the action itself was more common than they realized.
The Harry and Rose being sat in the heavy silence with the Dursley's, Dudley sitting back down and Aunt Petunia lowering her hands from her mouth. It didn't last long, however, as Uncle Vernon cleared his throat.
"Now, as we all know, today is a very important day." He began importantly. The Harry and Rose being rolled their eyes. "This could well be the day I make the biggest deal of my career."
The Harry and Rose being refrained from sighing. Once again, Uncle Vernon was talking about the dinner party he was going to have with some rich people, and was hoping to get a huge order from them. The Harry and Rose being knew what that meant.
"I think we should run through the schedule one more time." Uncle Vernon stated. "We should all be in position at eight o'clock. Petunia, you will be-?"
"In the lounge, waiting to welcome them graciously to our home." Aunt Petunia replied promptly.
"Good, good. And Dudley?" Uncle Vernon asked.
"I'll be waiting to open the door." Dudley smiled in a fowl way, which looked not at all realistic to the Harry and Rose being. He then added, "May I take your coat, Mr. and Mrs. Mason?"
"They'll love him!" Aunt Petunia cried. Yeah right, the Harry and Rose being thought.
"Excellent, Dudley." Uncle Vernon smiled proudly, then glared at the Harry and Rose being. "And you two?"
"I'll be in my bedroom making no noise and pretending I'm not there." The Harry and Rose being began. "Which is impossible because I'll be there, but of course, you don't really care about that."
"Drop the cheek and double speak. Now." Uncle Vernon growled menacingly.
The Harry and Rose being sighed and Uncle Vernon collected himself before continuing.
"I will lead them into the lounge, introduce you, Petunia, and pour them drinks. At eight-fifteen..."
"I'll announce dinner." Aunt Petunia responded.
"And, Dudley, you'll say?" Uncle Vernon asked.
"May I take you through to the dining room, Mrs. Mason?" Dudley offered his fat arm to an invisible woman.
"My perfect little gentleman!" Aunt Petunia sniffed.
"And you?" Uncle Vernon added in a vicious tone to Harry and Rose.
"In our room making no noise, pretending like we don't exist." The Rose half said in a flat, toneless voice.
"Precisely. Now, we should aim to get in a few good compliments at dinner. Petunia, any ideas?" Uncle Vernon asked.
"Vernon tells me you're a wonderful golfer, Mr. Mason... Do tell me where you bought your dress, Mrs. Mason..." Aunt Petunia offered.
"Perfect!" Uncle Vernon responded in a jovial voice. "Dudley?"
"How about... We had to write an essay about our hero at school, Mr. Mason, and I wrote about you." Dudley provided.
The Harry and Rose being ducked their heads under the table, struggling to hold in their amusement. Aunt Petunia was heard bursting into tears. Soon enough, Uncle Vernon spoke again.
"And you two?" His voice was cold and furious.
The Harry and Rose being straightened up, faces straight.
"In room, no noise, not existing." The Harry half stated in return.
"Too right you will." Uncle Vernon replied in a forceful voice. "The Masons don't know anything about you and it's going to stay that way. When dinner's over, you take Mrs. Mason back to the lounge for coffee, Petunia, and I'll bring the subject around to drills. With any luck, I'll have the deal signed and sealed before the news at ten. We'll be shopping for a vacation home in Majorca this time tomorrow."
The Harry and Rose being weren't excited about this. The Dursley's probably wouldn't like them any better on vacation than they did at their house.
"Right." Uncle Vernon added. "I'm off into town to pick up the dinner jackets for Dudley and me." He turned to the Harry and Rose being. "And you. Stay out of your Aunt's way while she's cleaning."
"Yes, Uncle Vernon." The Harry and Rose being replied with a frown, stood, then left through the back door. The day was quite sunny and looked beautiful. They sat down on the garden bench and leaned against one another, singing quietly, "Happy birthday, Harry half. Happy birthday." The Rose half put an arm around the Harry half, who leaned his head on her shoulder, the Harry and Rose being sighing.
It wasn't as if they'd expected anything different. No cards, no presents, no bothering the Dursley's. It was miserable. Why hadn't Ron written to them, sent them anything? Hermione? Hagrid? They stared into the hedge dully. The amusement of muttering nonsense words under their breath to Dudley had left, though it did terrify him so. At least the Dursley's didn't know they couldn't perform magic outside school, and they wanted to keep it that way.
Suddenly, they straightened and stared intently at the hedge, having seen a pair of two enormous green eyes appear on the leaves. The Harry and Rose being raked their eyes along it but saw nothing more, but they'd been sure something had been staring at them. Their heart pounded, then Dudley's voice carried across the lawn.
"I know what day it is." He sang as he waddled toward the Harry and Rose being.
"Wonderful, you've finally learned the days of the week." The Harry half said.
"Today's your birthday." Dudley sneered. "How come you haven't got any cards? Haven't you got any friends at that freak place?"
"Better not let your mother hear you talking about my school." The Rose half replied coolly. Their coolness thawed somewhat as Dudley hitched up his trousers and they let out a soft grin of amusement.
"Why you staring at the hedge?" Dudley asked in a suspicious tone.
"I'm trying to decide what the best curse would be to put it on fire." The Harry half replied in a pondering voice.
Dudley stumbled backward, looking panicked.
"You c-can't! Dad told you you're not to do m-magic, he said he'll chuck you out of the house and you haven't got anywhere else to go you haven't got any friends to take you..." Dudley's voice was as panicked as his face. The Harry and Rose being adopted a look of intense concentration.
"Jiggery pokery!" The Harry and Rose being said in a fierce voice. "Hocus pocus squiggly wiggly..."
Dudley ran back to the house yelling for Aunt Petunia and telling her they were doing you know what. Aunt Petunia knew they hadn't done any magic, but even so, they had to dodge the frying pan she swung at their heads. She then gave them a list of things to do with a warning they weren't to eat until it was finished. While Dudley lounged around eating ice cream, the Harry and Rose being cleaned the windows, washed the car, mowed the lawn, trimmed the flowerbeds, pruned and watered the roses, and repainted the garden bench. Since they had two bodies, the work went faster than it would have otherwise, or at least, it would have if Dudley didn't keep ruining what they were trying to do, stepping in the way of the lawn mower, throwing dirt at the car, turning off the water from the garden hose. At half past seven, Aunt Petunia finally called them in.
"Get in here! And walk on the newspaper!"
The Harry and Rose being did so, sweat dripping down their backs and faces from the hard work. On the fridge, they noticed a pudding, which was a huge mound of whipped cream and sugared violets. Roast pork was sizzling in the oven. Aunt Petunia spoke and pointed out four pieces of bread and two slices of cheese on the kitchen table.
"Eat quickly! The Masons will be here soon!" She snapped, already wearing the dress she would wear throughout the night.
The Harry and Rose being washed their hands and ate as quickly as they could, then passed Uncle Vernon and Dudley, who were wearing bow ties and dinner jackets. As they reached the top of the stares, the door bell rang, Uncle Vernon's furious face appearing at the base of the stares.
"Remember, one sound..." Uncle Vernon said threateningly.
"Yeah yeah." The Harry and Rose being said under their breath, crossing to their room and opening the door. After they stepped inside and quietly closed the door behind them, they turned and stared at something very odd sitting on their bed.
The small creature had large bat like ears and green eyes, the same eyes that had appeared in the hedge earlier that day. It also seemed to be wearing something that looked like an old pillow case with rips for arms and legs. The Harry and Rose being stared at the creature, who stared back. They heard Dudley's voice in the hall.
"May I take your coats, Mr. and Mrs. Mason?"
The creature slipped off the bed and bowed so low the end of its long, thin nose touched the carpet. As the creature straightened up, the Harry and Rose being spoke quietly.
"Hello."
"Harry and Rose Potter!" The creature said in a high pitched voice. The Harry and Rose being was sure it would carry down stares. "So long has Dobby wanted to meet you both, sir and Ma'am... Such an honor it is..."
"Thanks." The Harry and Rose being responded. The Rose half sank down in the desk chair and the Harry half sat in her lap, a position both were very familiar with, having done this many times during the summer. Hedwig was sleeping in her cage, which was good. They didn't need more trouble than they were already going to have.
"Who are you?" The Harry and Rose being asked.
"Dobby, sir and ma'am. Just Dobby. Dobby the house-elf." The creature responded.
"I see." The Harry and Rose being began calmly. "I don't want to be rude, but this isn't the best time for me to have a house-elf in my bedroom."
Aunt Petunia's high, false laugh was heard through the door and the Harry and Rose being vaguely wondered if the Mason's knew it was false just as they did. Dobby, on the other hand, hung his head.
"I am pleased to meet you, it's just that now isn't the best time." The Harry and Rose being said. "Is there any particular reason you're here?"
"Oh, yes, sir and ma'am." Dobby began in an earnest voice. "Dobby has come to tell you, sir and ma'am... It is difficult, sir and ma'am... Dobby wonders where to begin..."
"Sir will do fine, Dobby." The Harry half said as he stood, then stepped from behind the desk and sat down on the bed.
"Why don't you sit down." The Harry half patted the bed next to him.
Dobby suddenly burst into rather noisy tears and the Harry and Rose being flinched.
"S-sit down!" Dobby wailed. "Never... Never ever..."
"I'm sorry." The Harry half whispered as the voices down stares faltered. "Please, shh."
Dobby quieted down.
"I didn't mean to offend you." The Harry half continued.
"Offend Dobby!" He choked. "Dobby has never been asked to sit down by a wizard-like an equal..."
"Shh." The Harry half said as the Rose half joined him, trying to be gentle and comforting as they ushered Dobby on to the bed. Eventually, he regained control of himself.
"I suppose you've not met many decent wizards." The Harry half said.
Dobby shook his head, then jumped up and started hitting his head against the wall, shouting, "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!"
"Stop!" The Harry and Rose being called, yanking him back. "What are you doing?"
Hedwig had woken with a rather loud screech and was beating her wings wildly against the bars of her cage. The voices from down stares definitely paused that time.
"Dobby had to punish himself, sir and ma'am." Dobby replied. "Dobby almost spoke ill of his family, sir and ma'am..."
"Your family?" The Harry and Rose being asked. "Sounds more like your owners."
Dobby said nothing and didn't react to what they'd said.
"Do they know you're here?" The Harry and Rose being asked.
"Oh, no, sir and ma'am." Dobby replied. "Dobby will have to punish himself most grievously for coming to see you, sir and ma'am. Dobby will have to shut his ears in the oven door for this. If they ever knew, sir and ma'am..."
"Wouldn't they notice that?" The Harry and Rose being asked, horrified.
"Dobby doubts it, sir and ma'am. Dobby is always having to punish himself for something, sir and ma'am. They lets Dobby get on with it, sir and ma'am. Sometimes they reminds me to do extra punishments..." Dobby trailed off.
"Why don't you escape?" The Harry and Rose being asked.
"A house-elf must be set free, sir and ma'am. And the family will never set Dobby free... Dobby will serve the family until he dies, sir and ma'am..." Dobby responded.
"I guess I don't have it so bad after all." The Harry and Rose being muttered. "Is there anything I can do to help you, Dobby?"
Dobby broke down again in wails of gratitude.
"Dobby, please, please don't." The Harry and Rose being said, the Rose half reaching out to hug him, though released him as his wailing increased in volume. "Dobby, please be quiet, please."
Dobby sniffed and gasped for air, shaking with sobs.
"Harry and Rose Potter ask if they can help Dobby... Dobby has heard of your greatness, Harry Potter, but of your goodness, Dobby never knew..." Dobby responded.
"Load of rubbish. I'm not even top of the class in my year." The Harry and Rose being replied. "That's Hermione."
The Harry and Rose being didn't speak of Hermione any further. Thinking of her made them remember that, apparently, they weren't so important after all. A stab of grief drove through them.
"Harry and Rose Potter are humble and modest." Dobby continued. "Harry and Rose Potter speak not of Harry Potter's triumph over He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
The Harry and Rose being thought about saying Voldemort, but decided against it. It wouldn't due to set Dobby off again. Dobby leaned closer to the Harry and Rose being and spoke in a horse voice.
"Dobby heard that Harry and Rose Potter met the dark lord for a second time, just weeks ago, that Harry Potter escaped again."
The Harry and Rose being nodded and said, "I did. Both Harry and Rose." They decided to clarify for Dobby, as he seemed to see them as most did, as individuals. Normally, they would have explained further, but didn't want to risk Dobby being heard by the Dursley's, wanting him gone as quickly as they could get him to leave, though without being rude, of course.
Dobby's eyes filled with tears, which he wiped on his pillow case.
"Ah, sir and ma'am, Harry and Rose Potter is valiant and bold! They have braved so many dangers already! But Dobby has come to protect Harry and Rose Potter, to warn them, even if he does have to shut his ears in the oven door later... Harry and Rose Potter must not go back to Hogwarts." Dobby stated.
"Explain why, please." The Harry and Rose being responded.
"If Harry and Rose Potter go back to Hogwarts, they will be in mortal danger." Dobby replied.
"Well, as it turns out, I was in mortal danger last time I went there, wasn't I?" The Harry and Rose being asked. "I'll be fine, Dobby. Please."
"No, no, no!" Dobby squeaked. "Harry and Rose Potter are too great, too valuable to lose! There is a plot, Harry and Rose Potter, to make most terrible things happen. Dobby has known of it for months, sir and ma'am. Harry and Rose Potter must not put themselves in danger, sir and ma'am."
"What terrible things, who's plotting them?" The Harry and Rose being asked.
Dobby made a choking sound and started banging his head against the wall again. The Rose half pulled him back.
"Okay." The Harry and Rose being said. "You can't tell me, I understand. But can you at least tell me if it has anything to do with You-Know-Who?"
"Not... Not He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, sir and ma'am." Dobby replied. His eyes were wide, though, and he seemed to be trying to give them a hint.
"Does he have a brother?" The Harry and Rose being asked.
Dobby shook his head, then they thought of Black.
"A servant?" The Harry and Rose being asked.
Dobby shook his head again.
"An equal?" The Harry and Rose being asked. "Maybe a relation of some kind?"
Dobby slowly gave a tiny nod.
"I did okay last time, Dobby." The Harry and Rose being responded. "And Professor Dumbledore will be there, you know who he is?"
Dobby nodded.
"Good." The Harry and Rose being responded. "Remember this, too, Dobby. If I stay here, I'll live with these tormenting people."
"The happiness of Harry and Rose Potter is nothing compared with their safety." Dobby replied. "Harry and Rose Potter must not go back to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year."
"It's the only thing I have to look forward to." The Harry and Rose being replied. "That and the friends I think I have."
"Friends who don't even write to Harry and Rose Potter?" Dobby asked in a sly voice.
The Harry and Rose being thought for a few moments, doing so much quicker than a person with only one mind. They frowned with a sudden suspicion.
"Have you been stopping my letters, Dobby, is that how you know?" The Harry and Rose being asked.
"Dobby has them here, sir and ma'am." He replied, stepping out of the reach of either half and pulling a thick wad of envelopes from his pillow case. The Harry and Rose being recognized the writing of Ron, Hermione and Hagrid.
"Harry and Rose Potter mustn't be angry... Dobby hoped... If Harry and Rose Potter thought their friends had forgotten them... Harry and Rose Potter might not want to go back to school, sir and ma'am..."
The Harry and Rose being's frown deepened and they said, "Dobby, please give them to me. Now."
"Harry and Rose Potter will have them, sir and ma'am, if they give Dobby their word that they will not return to Hogwarts. Ah, sir and ma'am, this is a danger you must not face! Say you won't go back, sir and ma'am!" Dobby cried.
"Okay, that's it." The Harry and Rose being stated.
The Rose half leapt toward Dobby, who jumped out of her reach looking sadly at her. He then pulled the door open and sprinted down the stares. The Rose half followed as quietly as she could. As she entered the kitchen, the Harry and Rose being swallowed with a dry mouth. Aunt Petunia's masterpiece of a pudding was floating near the ceiling. On a cupboard in the corner was Dobby, crouching and staring at the Rose half.
"Dobby don't, please." The Rose half said quietly.
"Rose Potter must say that Harry and Rose Potter are not going back to school." Dobby responded.
"I won't do that." The Rose half responded.
Dobby looked tragically at the Rose half and said, "Then Dobby must do it, ma'am, for Harry and Rose Potter's own good."
The pudding fell to the floor with a crash, splattering the windows and walls. The Rose half gulped as she stared at the shattered dish, Dobby vanishing with a crack. Just as the Harry and Rose being expected, Uncle Vernon burst into the kitchen, finding the Rose half staring in a shocked silence.
"Just our niece, very disturbed, meeting strangers upsets her, so we kept her upstairs." Uncle Vernon said, trying to gloss things over. "I'll deal with this, not to worry."
Mr. and Mrs. Mason returned to the dining room and Uncle Vernon leaned close to the Rose half.
"I warned you, girl." Uncle Vernon stated in a quiet and cold tone. "When this is all over you'll wish you'd not made a sound." Uncle Vernon handed her a mop and she started to clean up the mess, though the Harry and Rose being felt as if they were just going through the motions.
The owl was what ended his deal. Apparently, Mrs. Mason was mortally terrified of birds of all shapes and sizes, something that seemed quite ridiculous. Uncle Vernon, looking more furious than the Harry and Rose being could remember, brandished a letter at the Rose half and demanded, "Read it!"
She took it in trembling hands.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Potter,
We have received intelligence that a Hover Charm was used at your place of residence this evening at twelve minutes past nine.
As you know, underage wizards are not permitted to perform spells outside school, and further spellwork on either of your parts may lead to the offenders expulsion from said school (Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, Paragraph C).
We would also ask you to remember that any magical activity that risks notice by members of the non-magical community (Muggles) is a serious offense under section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy.
Enjoy your holidays! Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk IMPROPER USE OF MAGIC OFFICE Ministry of Magic
The Rose half stared at Uncle Vernon, who had a manic gleam in his eyes.
"You didn't tell us you weren't allowed to use magic outside school. Forgot to mention it... Slipped your mind, I daresay..."
"Fine, then." The Rose half stated, moving toward Uncle Vernon as he moved toward her, his teeth bared. She glared into his eyes, then stated coldly, "We'll leave if you don't want us here."
"Nonsense, girl!" Uncle Vernon responded in a mad tone. "We'll make sure that you never return to that school again, we'll do what we have to and beat that unnaturalness out of you both this time!"
The Rose half made to dodge Uncle Vernon, who grabbed her by the hair. She didn't cry out in pain, but hit him instead.
"That does it, girl!" Uncle Vernon roared, returning the favor, hitting the side of her head so hard the Rose half saw stars. Uncle Vernon then dragged her up the stares and threw her into the room, then with a manic tone of voice, shouted, "You'll never go back, Potter's! And if you try and magic your way out of this one, you'll be expelled!" The door slammed behind the Rose half, who stood to her feet and stumbled to the bed, head pounding. As the Harry half lay next to her, the Harry and Rose being knew all hope was lost. Dobby had gotten what he'd wanted.