My One and Only

Chapter 12 - Year 2

MAIA JUMPED AS HER UNCLE VERNON SLAMMED HIS FIST DOWN onto the table, her grip on hers and her brother's plates. She quickly set one of the plates down in front of her brother and took a seat next to him, her eyes glued to the meager breakfast.

"That's the third time in two days!" Vernon growled, thrusting a meaty finger at the ceiling. Above them, they could hear the twins' owls, Hedwig and Orion hooting angrily from their cages in the Potters' room.

"They're bored." Maia said, pinching the bridge of her nose as she felt a headache form. The pain had been lingering behind her eyes for the past few days, but Vernon's screams had the potential to create a full blown migraine. "I would be too if I was locked away in a cage." Maia said, glaring bitterly down at her fried egg. Not that I'm not already in prison, she thought, poking the yolk with a sigh.

"If we let them out at night-"

"I'm not stupid, boy!" Vernon spat, yolk dripping down his chin and dribbling into the folds of his neck. Maia grimaced. "I know what those owls are for! What will happen if you let them out!"

Maia held in a groan as Dudley began to whine, clearly bothered by the lack of attention on him. She grit her teeth to keep her hair her natural black, as she knew there would be hell to pay if she showed any form of magic to the Dursleys.

"I want more bacon!" Dudley cried, smacking a pudgy fist onto the table like he'd seen his father do moments before.

"Of course, sweetgums." The twins' aunt, Petunia cooed, staring doe eyes at her lump of a son. "There's plenty more in the frying pan for you. We mustn't have you going hungry."

Maia snorted into her glass, milk splattering her upper lip. Dudley was so large hit butt overflowed over the edges of his chair, and Maia was surprised the wooden furniture hadn't broken yet. He certainly wasn't going to go hungry anytime soon.

"Give me the frying pan." Dudley said, his beady eyes turned to Harry, who was glowering down at his breakfast.

"What's the magic word?" he muttered, though regret immediately flashed over his features and he snapped his head up, staring wide eyed at his sister who looked just as surprised.

Dudley topped out of his chair, hitting the floor so hard the whole kitchen shook, while Petunia let out a loud shriek, her eyes wide. Vernon had shoved his chair back, his face purple and veins protruding and Maia feared he might actually strangle them.

"I meant 'please'!" Harry said, leaning back in his chair away from his furious uncle. "Just please, not-"

"I TOLD YOU!" Vernon roared, hands slamming onto the table palms down. Petunia's glass toppled over, spilling orange juice onto the white table cloth, but for once she wasn't worried about stains. "I TOLD YOU NEVER TO USE THE 'M' WORD IN MY HOUSE!"

"I didn't-"

"AND YOU DARED TO THREATEN MY SON? UNDER MY ROOF THAT I SO GRACIOUSLY OFFERED UP TO YOU?" Again, he pounded his fist down onto the table and Maia jerked backwards as Juice rolled towards her.

"He didn't even do anything wrong!" she cried, jumping to her feet. In her anger, she forgot to control her powers and her hair turned bright red in an instant. Vernon froze, his eyes bulging so wide Maia feared they'd burst. Never had she seen her uncle look so murderous, and she gulped, forcing her hair back to her natural color, although her eyes had turned white.

"OUT!" Vernon snarled, grabbing Maia by the arm so suddenly she lost her footing and fell, but this didn't deter her uncle. "GET OUT!" He dragged her by the arm, nearly tearing the limp from the socket, and shoved her into the backyard. "STAY OUT UNTIL YOU LEARN HOW TO FOLLOW RULES!"