Harriette woke to the morning she'd be taken away. She didn't want to go. This was way more like home. She snuggled deeper into Mr. Sun and Mr. Moon's shared arms and wrapped her arms around their chest. They'd set up her new backpack from Mrs. Raywood last night so they could be ready the moment. Harriette didn't even want to get dressed. But it was necessary. She didn't want to ruin something so nice as the pajamas Mr. Moon had given her. She wanted to keep them as nice as she could for as long as possible. This was probably the last time she'd even wear them, even though Moon said she could take them with her. She'd keep them safe, and treasure them forever. She sniffled, pushing away.

"Guess, I gotta get dressed," Harriette said. Mr. Moon nodded. Standing up with her in his arms. She couldn't help the giggle that escaped her.

"Let's get you something to eat too," Mr. Moon suggested. She shook her head. "Why not?" Moon asked.

"Don't want to throw it up," Harriette said, tearfully. Mr. Moon made a sighing sound.

"I hate that," Mr. Moon said. "Are you likely to throw up?" Harriette nodded. "Do I want to know?" she shook her head. Another sigh. "When's the next time you'll eat?"

"Aunt Petunia or Dudley will make sure that I get something to eat," Harriette said. "I dunno when though." She sniffled again. Mr. Moon sighed again. Then pressed his head against her head.

"You don't deserve the crap they put you through," Mr. Moon said. Harriette felt like she'd cry again if she wasn't so dry. She nodded, even though she didn't believe it. "You deserve to know when your next meal is coming." Moon stated. "You deserve to not be scared that you'll be made to puke. You deserve to feel safe and happy to go home." He said. "You deserve better. Just better." He said. He hugged her tighter. She hugged him back. She wanted to believe him. But she also wanted to believe she wouldn't be punished for whatever happened while she'd been at the daycare. She wanted to believe it wasn't her fault. Mr. Moon was good, maybe she could believe him when he said that she was good too.


Trigger warning: Child abuse, could be read as sexual though it's not meant to be.


Harriette finished dressing and putting her backpack on, when the buzzer that told them someone was there for a check out or check in. Harriette looked up at Mr. Moon who shifted into Mr. Sun. Taking a simulated breath.

"Alright Harriette," Mr. Sun said. "It's time to say-'' He stopped, those warbly sounds that Harriette knew were his way of crying came out of his voicebox. She put her hand on his flat faceplate.

"I know," Harriette said. She wiped a tear then put her hand down to be held. "It's time for me to go." It felt like the end of her life. It was silly because she'd only been in the daycare for maybe a week, but it was still over. Harriette walked. Trying to stay calm. She wanted to drop to her knees, she wanted to beg not to go. She wanted to do anything to stay. She fought the urge to disappear, to run. She didn't want Mr. Sun and Mr. Moon to know she was a freak. She couldn't stand it if they threw her away the way others had. She was a good girl and good girls do what they're supposed to do and Harriette was supposed to go home. She sniffled. Mr. Sun kneeled down at the door and hugged her. Holding her tight enough that she felt it in her bones, her soul. She hugged him back, with all the strength her little body had.

"Love you Mr. Sun," Harriette said. Sun made that warbly sounding sobs.

"I-I love you too," Mr. Sun said. She stepped back, in surprise.

"Really?" She asked, tears falling, freely not. Mr. Sun nodded.

"Mr. Moon loves you too," Mr. Sun added. Harriette scrubbed her face so that it was clear and gave her biggest, brightest, happiest smile.

"Thank you," Harriette said.

"Thank you too," Mr. Sun said. They both sniffled. Mr. Sun stood, took another deep breath, the buzzer went off again. Mr. Sun did his version of a glare. Harriette giggled, though she also sobbed at the same time. She didn't even know you could be happy and sad. Less much laugh and cry at the same time. Mr. Sun ruffled her hair one last time, took another breath, and the door buzzed again.

"Better open," Harriette said, sniffling.

"Right," Mr. Sun said. The door opened.

"Finally!" Uncle Vernon growled. "How long does it take to do things with just one kid?" He snatched Harriette's hand from Mr. Sun. Harriette could tell from the way it twitched he wanted to snatch her back. Harriette smiled, gave him a wave, tears spilled out around her best brave face.

"Bye-bye Mr. Sun, thank you," Harriette said. Vernon was yanking her toward the elevators.

"C'mon you stupid, Mingebag," Uncle Vernon growled.

"Sorry," Harriette said.

"Shut up," Uncle Vernon growled. "Do you have any idea of the trouble you caused?"

"N-"

"Shut up!"

Harriette stayed silent while Vernon looked for what he wanted. He seemed to have found it. Slipping into one of the family bathrooms that often had changing tables and other stuff. Once the door was locked Harriette was slammed against the far wall, and floor. She was winded as she sat up confused.

"Wh-" She started seeing Vernon taking off his belt and she covered her head. Glad she'd decided to wear the thick coat that Nova had brought yesterday, when the belt slapped mostly painlessly against her arms. He hit several times before stopping.

"Strip," He said. Harriette looked up at him in confusion and growing horror. What did he mean by strip? Did he mean… All the times he'd forced her to strip flashed through her mind, the burn scars on her side, back and stomach a nightmarish reminder.

"Wait, I'm sorry, I won't- I didn't mean to- I'm"
"Shut up! Strip or I'll do it for you," Vernon growled. Harriette slipped her backpack off easily, but she struggled with the jacket zipper only barely getting the zipper down before Vernon got impatient. He ripped her shirt, she was glad she'd chosen one of the ones she'd gotten from Dudley instead of the Raywoods. She struggled to get her coat off without letting him tear the jacket. She tried to skitter away, guilt roiling in her stomach along with the fear.

Why can't I just accept my punishments? Harriette thought, trying to get to the door. I deserve this… That's why…

You deserve better… Mr. Moon's words came into her head. Vernon grabbed her head pulling her back to the floor to kick her.

"This is for your own good you know," Vernon growled. "It's your own fault! A freak like you belongs in a cell, caged like the animal you are." He stomped on her. She curled up. He started smacking her with the belt. She cried as the metal part bit into her skin. She whimpered. "Your a freak. Do you know how much work it is to keep a monster like you? Do you have any idea the trouble you cause? Always breaking things, and losing things and needing things. Do you have any idea how much money it costs to just keep you around?" He kept hitting her as much as he spoke, as fast as he could. Harriette was a little grateful, it didn't hurt as much as the time he burned her. Even as a sharp slash of pain cut through her. Sharp cuts, and welts grew hot and red on her skin, blood trickled. Once he did have the energy to smack her with the belt, he stopped to gasp in heavy breaths. Harriette in tears bared to remove her hands to look up at him. His shoe slammed into her face. Harriette was glad it did make her vision go black for long. Though the gratitude didn't last long, as Vernon yanked her to her feet. Leading her to the toilet. She realized what was going to happen just in time to gasp in a breath and hold before her head was shoved under the water.

Harriette lay on the floor, naked, bruises and welts, and blood and water her only covering. She stared at the door and her uncle's legs. Her breath came in heavier gasps. Every inch of her skin burned and ached. Her lungs burned from the effort of holding it so long.

"Keep your mouth shut!" He growled. "This is your own fault."Harriette watched the door open and close. "Get dressed and get out here."

You deserve better….

Harriette wished she could believe that.


"Sorry, it took so long," Vernon said, arriving at the table that Petunia had been waiting with his boss and the two people's sons. "Had to pick up my nephew." Petunia looked behind him and gasped. Harriette was covered in bruises, and welts, and was soaked.

"Oh, goodness, what happened?" Vernon's boss's wife, Malissa, asked.

"Bloody hell," Vernon's boss, Adam, said.

"Harry got into a fight with a kid at the daycare," Vernon said. "Isn't that right boy." Harriette clammed up for a moment.

"Whatever," Harriette said, she stood so tightly wound that Petunia was certain she'd snap.

"Perhaps-"

"As for the water he'd decided to play in the fountain," Vernon said. "He's a bit special. Tried to stop him, but you know how he can be, right Petunia."

"Yes, well, I think I should take Harrie back to the room, to get cleaned up," Petunia said.

"Nonsense," Vernon said. "The boy made his choice and this is the consequences of those choices. It's not like we're at a fancy restaurant." Harriette had started to shake, mouth clenching shut. She'd been looking away from all of them, but Vernon decided to grab her face and force her to look forward. "Isn't that right, boy."

"Fine," Harriette ground out, stepping forward and taking one of the table chairs. She sat down with as much force as her tiny body could manage.

"So, as you can see, I have a nephew, he can be a bit of a fool, but he's a boy," Vernon said sitting down. "That being said, I have no idea what that man was on about with the rest of it either. Harry's the one who decided to fight two older boys yesterday by himself. Don't know why he thought he could take them. But he's always been like that." Harriette tightened with each word. "He used to pick fights with Dudley all the time. Isn't that right Dudley."

"No," Dudley said. Vernon looked shocked. "In fact I don't think Harrie's ever picked a fight with anyone. I used to pick on them a lot, but Harrie never even fought back." He turned his eyes toward Malissa. "Harrie's a very gentle person. Are you sure you didn't hear wrong father?" Dudley joked. "Perhaps Harrie was being picked on. Well, I suppose it would be beyond the realm to think the Daycare attendant lied."

"Mr. Sun doesn't lie," Harriette said, it seemed the surprise hit her as much as it did the rest of the table. "He doesn't lie. Neither does Mr. Moon." Dudley nodded.

"Then father must have misheard," Dudley said. That's when the food arrived. Dudley had a personal Pizza, so did Albert the boss's son. Petunia had some sort of salad, monstrosity that she'd allowed Malissa to recommend. Vernon had ordered a burger, and Adam had ordered a thing of nachos. Harriette wasn't brought anything.

"What about the boy?" Malissa asked.

"Oh, Harry's a picky eater," Vernon said. "We'll have to feed him when we get back." Harriette turned away from the table. Dripping and angry. "So, the plan after this."

"Oh, um, well, we should drop the children at the hotel first," Malissa said. "That way Harry can eat something." Harriette looked at her, and nodded, before burying herself further into her coat.

"It's a plan then!" Vernon clapped causing Harriette to flinch. She ducked further into her chair.


While Harriette knew she wasn't getting any food that day, she was still grateful to the boss's wife. It wasn't the boss's wife's fault Vernon wasn't going to let her eat, and she really didn't want to be dragged around all day on an empty stomach. Plus she'd be able to get out of the dirty wet clothes that were now soaked with toilet water. She felt gross, and decided that she didn't care how badly she was punished for using the hotel shower. She quietly followed the groups back to the hotel. Followed them quietly back to the rooms. She ducked into the bathroom without needing to be told, and turned the shower on while they were all still there. Vernon wouldn't burst in and beat her while his boss was there. She stripped for the third time that day, trashing the torn shirt she'd worn under her coat, and then slipped under the hot water.

She'd cleaned her new coat, and her new backpack. She'd combed her hair with the hair brush that Mrs. Raywood had packed for her. She dressed in one of the skirts she'd packed, and started playing with her hands. She didn't want to get caught with her plushies, but she could shove the skirt under the sink, she was also wearing one of the jean shorts that she'd gotten from Dudley two years ago. She still had to use string to tie the waste so that it would flop down. She pretended she was still in the daycare, playing with Emelia, Mayla and Genni, the twins, and all the other regulars she'd made friends with over the week. She pretended she was running around the play structures, or coloring at the tables. She was tempted to pull out her drawings and friendship bracelets. But she didn't want to risk those either. She sighed, settling her arms in front of her. She was laid out on the bathroom rug on her stomach. She was a little bored, and lonelier then she'd ever been. Knowing what could be was a little cruel.

She buried her face in her arms. Then she heard the familiar stomping down the hall toward the hotel room. Harriette, shot to her feet and pulled her skirt off and threw it in her backpack before they even reached the hotel room. She zipped up the bag as she listened for them to reach their door and open it. Harriette bit her lip as she heard them enter the room across from them. Dudley's room. Then their feet were retreating. Harriette huffed a breath out, which seemed to hurt one of the scratches on her face. She'd honestly forgotten about them. She was so used to being hurt that she rarely felt it. She listened, just when she figured they were going to be out for the rest of the day she heard their stomping again. She sighed again. Now however, she could hear the sound of an argument along with the familiar stomping. Her aunt and uncle were fighting. That wasn't good. Harriette was usually the one responsible for their arguments, and with that she was also punished for it. She shifted, fear worming around in her stomach. Vernon had been gentle with her because they were expected somewhere, now though. Harriette fought the urge to cry, and listened as they slammed the door to their son's hotel room. They weren't fighting anymore, but that didn't mean she wouldn't get hurt. They tried to avoid punishing her in front of Dudley, at least too severely so maybe Vernon would decide to stick with the current one. She shook. Maybe she shouldn't have been so blatant with her disobedience. Should have waited till they were out of the hotel before showering, or at least not used any of the towels. Harriette shook against the farthest wall from the door. Listening as they slammed the hotel room door shut, before storming past. Nothing happened for a while.

Just Harriette sitting in the fetal position, wound tighter than a rubber band in a set of gears. After several minutes there was a knock on the door, someone opened it and Harriette could smell food on the other side. Her stomach turned even as it growled. They were eating. She wished she'd taken Mr. Moon up on his offer for breakfast. She curled tighter. She forced herself to relax, and fell asleep.


Harriette was woken by a crash, confusion and anxiety burning her mind. Where was she? Where was Mr. Moon? Then she was awake remembering she was locked in the hotel bathroom. Harriette wanted to sob, she wanted Mr. Moon. She wanted Mr. Sun. She tried to rub the sleep and would-be tears from her eyes, when something closer crashed. She looked up to see Uncle Vernon closing the small gap between them. Harriette tried to make herself smaller, but she was yanked to her feet anyway. She sobbed, falling to her knees and being dragged. It wasn't long before they reached their destination

He was yelling but Harriette was having a hard time understanding what he was even yelling about. Tears welling in her eyes as she tried not to cry out when Vernon grabbed her shirt. Worried he'd tear it off her. Dudley and Petunia were there, staring in shock and horror. He yanked her off her feet and shook her, still screaming, then he threw her onto the ground at the broken plate and food stuff that was waiting for her on the floor. She tried not to sob, confusion, fear, pain, and regret whirling around in her mind. She hadn't done anything.

"Why is there a plate on the floor?!" he shouted.

"Dad it's not Har-," Dudley started.
"Shut up!" he shouted, turning his purple face toward Dudley who was cowering into his mother. "I don't want to hear any excuses. Why is there a plate on the floor?" He shouted. Harriette looked up at his furious face and it suddenly made too much sense.

She didn't know anything about the plate on the floor. She'd been in the bathroom pretending she didn't exist, like Vernon told her to do. Her eyes were suddenly painfully dry as it finally made sense. She didn't do anything wrong this time. He was just yelling at her because he could. She looked over to Petunia and Dudley. Dudley was shaking next to Petunia, his eyes met Harriette's and it seemed that he hadn't realized it yet.

Harriette hadn't done anything wrong. Maybe she hadn't ever done anything wrong. You deserve better, echoed in her mind. But he was mad and she was completely at his mercy so he took it out on her. She looked up at Vernon and suddenly he seemed a little pathetic.

Don't get Harriette wrong, she was five, and he was an adult. He was several times bigger than her. He could definitely hurt her, and that part was scary. But Vernon wasn't scary. His face was twisted up in an ugly expression, and he was purple down to his shoulders. He was screaming at her as she sat on the ground coming to a terribly sad realization, but also a very freeing one. Vernon wasn't actually very big, at least not in the big world. He was a middle manager at a middle company. Stuck. He had a beautiful house, a wife who probably loved him at least at some point, and a son he claimed to be proud of. A son that his boss had said not long ago any man would be proud of. But he wasn't happy. He stared at prettier woman, and complained about his house, and car. And complained, complained, complained. And when complaining wasn't enough he took it out on a five year old, a child who was stuck under his thumb and had no power in the situation. Vernon was pathetic.

He was never going to love her, no matter how hard she tried. He couldn't love her. Because, who would he take it out on then?

Harriette could only stare up at him in wonder. He was just a bully.

Harriette turned to the plate and started gathering the shards. Vernon yelled about how ungrateful and worthless and what a money sink she was. But Harriette didn't care. Not anymore. She could deal with him yelling, he could hurt her in otherways, but he couldn't hurt her this way. Even as blood trickled from the open cut on Harriette's arm. She gathered the shards up in her shirt. She could feel her face warble and warp with each passing feeling. So many feelings, a lot of them she'd call grief. Once they were all gathered she stood, walking toward the trash can. She gathered the broken shards of her feelings. She dumped it into the trash, and turned calmly toward the others in the room.

"I'm sorry," Harriette said blandly. "I'll get out of your way now." Harriette said, she dusted her shirt off and walked back to the bathroom.

She shut the door, and settled on to the ground. If only getting rid of emotions were as easy as getting rid of glass. Harriette curled into the fetal position, tears burning her eyes, as she gripped her hair. She gasped, then sobbed, whimpered, and finally the true dam broke. Her chest hurt so bad, her head was whirling, as she gasped frantically. She couldn't get enough air. It was like there was no air at all, and her chest hurt so much. She wished she could scream but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction. He didn't love her, he never would, and all her efforts to win any of their love was pointless. Dudley was the only one who'd been capable of caring. He wasn't worth it, and yet it still hurt so much


Harriette didn't remember falling asleep, or maybe she'd passed out. She felt sick, and now she was glad she'd skipped any meals at all today. She wobbled to her feet, and then climbed onto the sink. She greedily gulped the cold water, it settled heavily in her gut but soothed her ragged throat and dry mouth. After what could have been ages gulping down water she sat up, looking herself in the eyes. She looked tired, she'd been getting so much sleep lately, but she still looked tired and ragged. She put her face against the mirror. It was cool. It felt good. She splashed cold water on her face and then settled on the floor. She needed to decide how she was going to deal with this. Vernon hated her, for self preservation reasons, but still counted. Petunia would do nothing, had done nothing, maybe she couldn't do anything. Didn't matter. Dudley actually couldn't do anything. He was in the same situation she was.

She sighed, hitting her head against the wall behind her. Not hard enough to make a sound but just enough to feel it. She pulled her bag closer to her and shifted through some of the pockets. When they'd been putting everything in there she'd noticed that Nova had put some food in there. She pulled out one of the granola bars. Closed everything up and slid it over her shoulders before eating it. It made her stomach turn a little, but after a moment it felt better. She sighed once again, hitting her head against the wall.

"What can I do?" Harriette wondered. Harriette curled up against her backpack, she remembered that inside were all her treasures. There were people who did care about her. She pretended that Mr. Sun and Mr. Moon were there with her.

The next time Harriette was awake she saw someone standing in the door to the bathroom. Harriette flinched.

"Get up, we're leaving," Vernon said. Harriette stared at him for a moment. He sounded almost gentle. He sounded almost kind.

"Where ar-?"

"No questions get up," he stepped forward and moved his hand toward Harriette. She flinched, obviously. She'd been hit so many times, enough times, too many times. After several seconds of nothing happening Harriette peaked her eyes open, slowly at first then they flew open. Vernon had his hand out, flat. Like he was offering to help her up. Harriette looked up to Vernon but his face was obscured by the darkness. She put her arm in his hand, expecting him to close it like a vice and yank her up. She grit her teeth to keep from yelling, and closed her eyes. Waited a second. Instead of closing his fist, instead of yanking her, instead of anything like that he sighed. He moved his hand down to hers and pulled her to her feet, probably as gently as he could manage with her being a little bit of dead weight. She watched him as he started moving, rather than dragging, it was more like leading. She struggled to keep up, between her smaller legs and her backpack. She expected Vernon to get mad. He didn't, he even slowed. Harriette wasn't sure what was going on. Was he possessed? Body snatched? What would happen to her? She was taken to the car, and told to get in a buckle up.

"Front." He said, when she'd gone for the back door. She followed the instructions nervously. It would be like Vernon to try and win her over now that she didn't believe in him anymore. She sat silent and resolute. She was not going to fall for it. Whatever this was, it was a trick and she wasn't buying it. She hugged her backpack and waited. Vernon took a weird route, lots of turns and twists and finally arriving at a spot he seemed to deem right. Whatever made it the right spot wasn't immediately obvious to Harriette. There weren't any people, but there hadn't been for a while. Maybe it was because it had a lot of shops? Vernon parked the car in a small space between a few buildings, there were a bunch of alleyways close by. Harriette felt sick to her stomach. Her skin was hot but prickly with goose pimples. Tears pricked her eyes. Was this it? Was she going to die now? All because of a plate that she didn't even drop.

"Listen," She obeyed, unsure what else to do. Looking to Vernon for some sort of answer. "You need to run. If they catch you they'll bring you back to us." He explained. Who was 'they'?" What did that mean? "If I ever see you again, I'm going to kill you. Do you understand?" Harriette nodded, swallowing the lump of fear in her throat.

"Don't let anyone catch me," Harriette answered.

"Good," he said. "Now get out. Run. Don't ever look back." Harriette did just that. She didn't even bother making sure the car door was shut. She just freed herself from the car and ran. She ran until her feet hurt. Then she hid. Sobbing into palms as she tried not to make any noise.


Sun couldn't stop thinking about Harriette. He kept checking the drawing tables of Emelia for her. He kept wondering if she'd like today's snack, only to remember that she wasn't there. He'd kept wondering about her favorite hiding places, or looking up articles on spiders.

During naptime Moon had started toward the place he'd find Harriette only to remember she wasn't there. He couldn't help but think about tonight and how lonely it would be without her giggles, and her little stories. Her love of spiders and her joy at solving a puzzle. Her little drawings.

I know Moon, Sun said, moping at the thought. It's going to be so lonely without her. Sun said. It wasn't the first child they got attached to. It probably wouldn't be the last. They were designed to care for children after all. It would never not hurt, but it was usually a little easier to let them go. It was hard to explain what made Harriette so hard to let go. It wasn't just that she was sweet, or that they'd spent several sleepovers together, or that she just had a terrible home life. Maybe it was that it was rare for a kid to have all three. Or maybe it was that Harriette despite all that was still willing to open up to them. To seek their comfort and admit to her lack of knowledge. Maybe it was that she was one of the first to ever ask what they wanted.

She was so little, but she was so bright. Moon commented, as they were picking up after a group of kids who'd left a hoard of stuffed animals laying around to play catch and house and to join a game of tag. Harriette had picked up after herself whenever she'd use anything.

It was heartbreaking to not be holding Harriette's hand when the daycare closed for the evening. It was even more heartbreaking to not immediately head to the tables to learn about spiders. Harriette's bright curious eyes lighting up at the information. Sun got to work cleaning. It didn't take long. The lack of a sleepy child clinging to him makes the task go faster but feel less fulfilling. Sun sighed.

On the bright side we'll have time to work on that project we were doing, Sun said, trying to lighten his own mood as much as he wanted to lighten Moon's. And we don't have to worry about talking to ourselves out loud. That last part was a stretch, Harriette wouldn't have minded.

"The few times we slipped up around her she'd been glad," Moon said.

She was so worried we weren't actually able to talk, Sun giggled. She thought we were stuck sharing a body and lost time when the other was out.

"Her concern was cute," Moon said, putting the last block on the tower he was making. "It sucks that she wasn't able to take her spider booklet with her."

I know, it was so unfair!

Maybe she just didn't want us to forget about her.

The little drawings she made for everyone were so cute, but we got one ourselves.

"Maybe someone got mad at her about her spider interest at home," Moon suggested. That made him and Sun feel worse. "Sorry."

It's okay, Sun said. Your probably right though. It's not fair. Kids should be able to express their interests without fear.

"Preaching to the choir," Moon said.

"Talking to yourself again," Mike, this week's security guard, said. Not that he was doing his job. "You gonna actually do your patrols tonight?"

"We aren't allowed to do patrols when a child is in the superstar daycare for a sleepover," Moon growled.

"Whatever?" Mike said, shooing Moon away. "Just make sure it gets done. I don't want to have to do your job too." The man said leaving the area, and Moon to his own thoughts.

I can't wait until we can completely replace that guy, Sun growled. We're basically doing his job anyway!

Yeah, Moon chuckled. Looking down to the table they were cleaning. The one they'd sat at with Harriette the last few nights while they talked about spiders.


It was a long time before Harriette was calm enough to breathe normally, her eyes were sore from crying so much, and felt too warm. She stood up and shrugged her backpack on, steadying herself with the alleyway wall. She needed to do something, think of something. Where would she go? Where could she go? Who were they? What was she going to do for food? People needed water. Where was she going to get it? What about clothes? She had to wear something or people would notice, she couldn't get caught. She had to wear clothes. Her cousin's clothes were a little big now, but they wouldn't be forever. She'd outgrow them eventually. Unless she starved to death. She clapped her hands to her cheeks.

"No, no, no," she told herself. "One problem at a time." She took a deep breath. Dudley's clothes would fit her for a while. She had some food and water in her bag. "So, I should start by focusing on where I'm going to live from now on." She nodded. "Ah!, the pizzaplex had access to all the things. Food, water, and shelter. Even if I can't stay there forever it's a good starting point. Mr. Moon and Mr. Sun might help me too." She nodded. "That's a good plan Harriette!" She put a hand on her chest and took another deep breath. "Thank you, Harriette." She said, letting the rest of the breath out after. "Now, where is the pizzaplex?"

Harriette was forced to wander around for a bit. She didn't want to stay in one place too long. In case "They" would find her. Who were "They"? Why were "They" looking for her? How would "They" even know she was missing yet? She didn't have the answer to that. She decided those things didn't really matter anyway, because she still needed to find the pizzaplex. If Harriette was going to guess it was really early in the morning, she avoided the few people she did see on the streets and focused on looking for the Pizzaplex. She'd seen it from the outside enough, she was sure she'd recognize it, but she wasn't sure where to even start looking. She saw a few other restaurants though. It wasn't the first time she'd eaten out of the trash, and most of the food was fresh enough.

She checked for people before leaving her alley, shooting across the street. The next alley was just a little ways ahead. She didn't like being in the open but she had to. She scurried quickly past two store fronts and froze at the corner one before the Alley she'd been aiming for. There were maps, they were right by the door. Just on the other side of the glass. So, close Harriette could almost reach in and snatch one. If it weren't for the glass.

She stared at the maps for what felt like forever. Maps usually told you where everything was. She could use one to find the pizzaplex. She could map out a safe route there. If there weren't glass in her way. Then she remembered. She was a freak. She could make things happen. The maps were free. It wasn't stealing. She put her hand on the glass. She thought about passing through it. She pressed a little harder. Slipping past it like air. It wasn't there. She could walk right through it. She pressed a little more, and stepped forward. She was in the store. She turned to the door, put her hand to the window. The glass was there again. She nearly cheered. She did a silent celebration dance. She'd never made anything happen on purpose. She tried to avoid making things happen at all. But she was on her own and the only skill she had was this and she'd done it. She'd made it happen.

She looked over the maps, picking the ones that would do what she needed. She several out on the floor to check them over. Planning her route was actually pretty easy. She'd used a map before and planned out her way around Little Whinging loads of times. She wasn't sure how long the route would take, but in the worst case scenario she'd have to wait till the day to get in anyway. Maybe she could turn herself invisible or make people at least ignore her and sneak in that way. She'd have to look around to see if there were any alternative entrances, but she was sure she could find her way there and into the building now that she had a map. She put the ones she wasn't using back on the rack, pulled her backpack on, folding the map she was keeping and slipped it into her pocket.

She made the glass of the door disappear so she could walk through, then put it back. She shrugged her pack on her shoulders and started back. She'd actually passed around her destination a little ways back so there was a bit of backtracking before she'd start on her new route.

Harriette froze half down an alleyway, putting her hand on her glasses. She needed them to see anything. She'd gotten them in her third week of school when a teacher had sent a note back to Aunt Petunia and Vernon. They'd taken her to an eye doctor and the lady had said she had a really bad stilag-mat-tism or something. They said she needed glasses. Aunt Petunia had taken her out and had her look over the glasses in some supermarket. They'd come home with a pair that had worked okay, but gave Harriette a bit of a headache. She wore them pretty much all the time so it often didn't really register that she was wearing them. She put her finger to them, remembering the broken thing and held it to her ears. The small chip in the lens from when Dudley was still being a jerk and had chucked a rock at her. The missing cushion that meant that metal was digging into her face. The near constant headache that never seemed to go away. She might not be able to do much about the headache but the other things she could, and she could try anyways. She pulled them off her face, squinting at them, remembering what they'd looked like before getting damaged, and imagined not getting headaches when wearing them.

Be that ways, be that way, be that way! She chanted. The tape disappears along with the chip in the lens. The arm stayed attached. She put the glasses back on. They still kind of hurt her head but it was a lot better, and the cushion was back. She liked them much better now. She continued on her way, feeling a little better about everything.


(Note: Aight I'mma be honest I forgot about Harry having glasses till now.).