Ikigai - a hp fan fiction

Letters? To us?

    As soon as we got home, a fuming Vernon sent me and my brother to our rooms. Or, room and cupboard, to be specific. We would have no meals for how long, I wasn't sure. Which was why I got up in the middle of the night, making sure no one was up, and traveled down the stairs to let my brother out of the cupboard and get us some food.

We sat in a comfortable silence as we ate the pieces of toast he had made us and the cuppas filled with Builders' tea. After a few minutes, I spoke up.

"What," I managed out, "What happened today?" I looked up at my brother, my hand already on the necklace.

He stayed silent for a moment, figuring out his answer and finally, "I don't know."

* * *

By the time they allowed Harry out of his cupboard, (they let me out of my room after a week, not that I had anywhere to go except my room and school) the summer holidays had already begun. Every day that he was locked in the cupboard, I would go down in the middle of the night and let him out. We would stay up talking about school and doing homework, but it wasn't much.

Over the break, Dudley's friends came over almost every day.

How have I not gone insane yet?

Me and Harry spent most of our time wandering around the neighborhood, except for the days that Petunia decided I needed to help her in the kitchen.

"Valerie, dearie, get up we're going to the mall." Petunia awoke me one day.

"What, why?" I asked, groggily.

"You need new clothes. These are too small for you and you're starting school soon."

"I got them last year, what do you mean 'too small'? I've barely grown, maybe a couple inches but not that much."

"This is not debatable, get up and get dressed." My aunt sternly stated. "Now."

"Ugh. Fine." I got up and walked to my small dresser. I pulled out a pair of grey paper-bag shorts and a red turtleneck sweater.

I went to the bathroom and brushed my hair and teeth, then walked down the stairs to where my aunt was waiting for me. I walked past her and into the kitchen, intending to grab some food before we left.

"G'morning, Harry."

"Morning, Valerie"

"Valerie, come on, we'll get food on the way there!" My aunt called from the hall.

"Can Harry come?"

"No."

"What? Why? He needs new clothes way more than I do."

"I said so. Now get in the car." I huffed in response and walked out to the car. I got in the front passenger seat.

My aunt climbed in after me and we started for the mall, which was like fifteen or twenty minutes away, give or take. We stopped at Tea & Symphony, which was a tea and breakfast cafe. I got a jasmine green tea, and two pieces of buttered toast. My aunt got an English breakfast tea, and drop biscuits.

"Would you like any sausages, Valerie?"

"No, thank you. I actually became a vegetarian." She went quiet for a second, then turned back to the cashier.

"Do you have any fake meats? My niece here has just recently become vegetarian." She smiled politely.

"We do not, but if you are looking for some kind of protein we have a rice pudding?" The cashier told us, sounding unsure of herself.