Hally Potter

Chapter Four

Waiting...

After Hagird told us the shocking news, he helped us clean our stuff and sent our stuff off to storage. "I'll take care of Hedwig and the snakes. I bes be getting yer two home." He says, frowning, we frown two. "I thought we didn't have to go back!" Harey exclaims, "you showed us all this stuff just to send us back?" He shouts. Hagrid calms his down, "I'm under orders to send yer two home til Septemeber 1st, the start of the school year," he explains.

I frown, shaking my head. "We don't want to go back. It's not home." Harry says, frowning too. "I'd take yall home if I could, but Professor Dumbledore says yer must be sent home," Hagrid says. I tear up and look away, "Why though?" Harry questions quietly. Hagrid shrugs and focuses on me, "Oh lass," he says, coming closer to my chair. He kneels down before talking to me.

"It's in our best wishes we listen to orders. I'll be watching over til September, and on the first, I'll come get yer myself," Hagrid promises. I hold my pinky up, "I pinky swear," he says, tearing up as we lock pinkies. I throw myself onto the man and hold tightly. "Oh, Hal," He says, hugging me right back. He looks at Harry and opens his other arm, which Harry instantly throws himself at, too. We hugged the man already dear to us before wiping our tears and allowing him to lead us to the house.

As we arrive at 4 Privet Drive, we spot our neighbor outside carrying a cat into her home. We wave to the nice lady before tearing back up as we say goodbye to Hagrid. "I'll miss yer lass," he says as I hug him again, "bes be goin and letting Dumbledore know yer got yer supplies," he says, wiping his tears. Harry holds me close as we walk to the door, waving goodbye to the weeping giant.

Once we get to the door, we knock. With no response, we knock again. After a fourth knock, Vernon finally answers the door. "Get your stuff, you Freaks are moving upstairs to Dudley's second room," he says, pushing us to the cupboard. We grab our dirty blankets and our shared pillow before hurrying upstairs. When we get to the door, Vernon tells us to stay here unless called down.

We walk inside the room and sit on the small bed, "you can sleep towards the wall, Winnie," Harry says. I nod and lay down closest to the wall so he can lay next to me. "Hagrid will be here in a month. We just have to last a month, Harry says, with hope. I nod as I silently pray that we survive a month.

Over the next week, we realized how the schedule would be for the next month. We were awoken daily at 5 am and then spent the next hour cleaning the house. After the house was cleaned, we were stuck making them breakfast. On Monday, we got a piece of toast to split with the rest of Dudley's water.

This was given to us after they were done eating, and we were given a 30-minute time limit. By the end of the 30 minutes, the table had to be clean and the dishes done. Along with that, our food had to be done and cleaned up, and the mail had to be brought directly to Vernon. He watched us the first couple of days to make sure we didn't look at it. Harry did the first day, and I took the punishment, gaining a black eye.

After the post was brought in, we were sent back to our rooms til called down. We weren't called down until about 1 pm. When we were called down, we were ordered to make lunch and clean the living room. On Monday, we were giving Dudley's scraps to share and allowed a glass of water. After lunch was finished, we were to clean the table and dishes again.

After that, we were sent to clean Dudley's room and go back to our room. We were called down to make dinner at 6 pm. While they ate, they demanded we clean the house. After we cleaned the house, we were forced to clean the table and dishes.  Monday, we didn't eat dinner, and we sent to bed at 7. Throughout the entire day, the only interaction we had was with Vernon unless the other two needed something.

Tuesday's started the same as Mondays. We were awoken at 5 again and ordered to clean. Vernon checked that the house was spotless before allowing us to make breakfast. If we didn't clean well or didn't listen, one of us was beaten bloody and locked in the cupboard while the other did everything. Every time they ate, we were locked in the cupboard again.

Tuesdays, we were allowed to eat their scraps before having to clean the table and dishes. After that was done, we were forced to clean and mop the floor before being sent back to our room. Around 1, we were called back down we had to choose. One of us had to clean the house again while the other cooked with Vernon watching.

We decided to take turns. While cooking, if we were caught trying to sneak food, Vernon would burn our stomach. After cleaning, if Vernon saw anything not spotless, we were beaten with the broomstick. We soon learned to listen for our safety.

After lunch was made and the house was inspected, we were sent back to our room until 6. At 6, we had to make them dinner again and sit and watch them eat before cleaning their mess. Vernon allowed us 1 fruit before being sent back to our room for the night unless needed.

Wednesdays was the same routine as Monday. Thursdays were the same as Tuesdays and Fridays, the same as Mondays and Wednesdays. By the end of the second week, any hope and safety Hagrid had once provided was gone.