Lily Potter (Harry Potter's Twin)

Chapter 47

Published July 2, 2015

"Wow, Harry, I applaud your amazing organizational skills," I said, as I looked around at his chaotic room.

"Well, I was doubtful he was actually going to show up," said Harry. Harry started to pick up his clothes and gather his needed items. "You know, Tonks did something with my things last year and it packed everything, but the socks weren't folded but-"

"Ask no more," I said, taking out my wand and gave it a wave and Harry's things flew away from the trunk, the opposite of what I wanted. "Oops..."

It took us about 15 minutes to track down everything Harry needed; at last we had managed to extract the Invisibility Cloak from under the bed, screwed the top back on his jar of color-change ink, and forced the lid of his trunk shut on his cauldron. I offered to use more magic but Harry declined immediately.

"At least let me levitate your trunk down the stairs," I whined as we left the room, Harry holding his trunk in one hand and Hedwig's cage in the other.

"You'll give them a heart attack!" said Harry.

"Exactly," I said.

"Let's just get going," muttered Harry, dragging his trunk down the stairs but I could tell that he was tempted by the offer.

I watched my twin carefully. He has changed since the end of the school year and the trip to the Ministry. He seemed... older, but not because he was technically a few weeks older but because he has experienced so much in such a sort time that it aged him

Dumbledore was not waiting in the hall, which meant that we had to return to the living room.

Nobody was talking. Dumbledore was humming quietly, apparently quite with his ease, but the atmosphere was thicker than custard. "Professor- I am ready now," said Harry, not looking at the Dursleys.

"Good," said Dumbledore. "Just one last thing, then." And he turned to the Dursleys once more, I held my breath since this was my favorite part of the book. When the family finally got in trouble for abusing Harry all those years.

"As you will no doubt be aware, Harry comes of age in a year's time—"

"No," said Petunia.

"I'm sorry?" said Dumbledore politely.

"No, he doesn't. He's a month younger than Dudley, and Dudders doesn't turn eighteen until the year after next."

"Ah," said Dumbledore pleasantly, "but in the Wizarding world, we come of age at seventeen."

Vernon muttered, "Preposterous," but Dumbledore ignored him.

"Now, as you already know, the wizard called Lord Voldemort has returned to this country. The Wizarding community is currently in a state of open warfare. Harry, whom Voldemort has already attempted to kill on a number of occasions, is even in greater danger than the day when I left him upon your doorstep fifteen years ago, with a letter explaining about his parents' murder and expressing the hope that you would care for him as though he were your own."

Dumbledore paused, and although his voice remained light and calm, and gave no obvious sign of anger, I felt a kind of chill emanating from him and noticed the Dursleys drew very slightly closer together.

"You did not do as I asked. You never treated Harry as a son. He has known nothing but neglect and often cruelty at your hands. The best that can be said is that he has least escaped the appalling damage you have inflicted upon the unfortunate boy sitting between you."

Both Petunia and Vernon looked around instinctively, as though to see someone other than Dudley squeezed between them.

"Us—mistreat Dudders? What d'you--?" began Vernon furiously but Dumbledore raised his finger for silence, a silence which fell as though he had struck Vernon dumb.