The Magical Misadventures of the Potter Twins

Chapter 2 A Cat to the Rescue

Life for the Potter twins went on as usual. Holly had ballet and gymnastics classes and helped her brother with their chores. They were still beaten, ridiculed, and treated like slaves, but they were used to it by now. Everything changed one day when Harry picked up the mail.

Harry picked up the mail off the floor and noticed two letters; one addressed to him and the other to Holly. He was about to walk into the kitchen when Holly came downstairs and saw Harry staring at an envelope, “What do you have there, Hare-Bear?” Holly asked.

Harry looked at his sister and showed her the letters, “They're addressed to us, but we never get mail,” Harry informed his sister.

Holly quickly looked around and snatched the letters from Harry's hand. She hid them under her blouse and put her finger on her lips to tell Harry to be quiet; Harry nodded. After that, the twins went into the kitchen to start breakfast. As usual, after the Dursleys finished their breakfast, Holly and Harry cleared the table. After that, they were given their meager meal. Holly was allowed more food than Harry because of her classes, but she still shared her extra portion with her brother even though he didn't want to take food away from her.

Since it was Saturday and Holly didn't have any classes, the twins started on their chores. Harry cleaned the living room while Holly began to do the laundry. After Holly started the washing machine, she went to the kitchen to start washing the dishes, and then she'd mop the floor. Her aunt wanted the refrigerator cleaned from the inside out, which meant Holly had to be thorough, or else Harry would get in trouble.

After the living room and kitchen were spotless, the twins were sent outside to weed the garden. Sometimes, their aunt and uncle would be benevolent enough to give the twins a short list of chores; today was one of those days. The Durselys were taking Dudley and his friends to the amusement park, and they wouldn't return until the evening, so Holly and Harry were allowed to play that day.

Holly and Harry were about to rush outside when Holly remembered the letter she had hidden in the cupboard under the stairs, “Wait, Harry, let me grab the letters that came for us.”

Harry nodded and waited for his sister outside. Harry sat on the steps to wait when a grey and black cat approached him and began purring at him. Harry smiled and petted the cat. This cat he liked; it was nice, unlike Mrs. Figg's cats. When Holly and Harry had to stay with Mrs. Figg, her stupid cats clawed them. It was almost as bad when Aunt Marge brought her evil bulldog, Ripper.

Harry continued to pet the cat until Holly came outside, “Okay, Harry, let's go,” They didn't notice the cat following them.

Earlier that morning at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Minerva McGonagall looked at the two letters for the Potter twins and smiled. She heard a few days earlier that Professor Dumbledore wanted Hagrid to take the letters to the children and introduce them to the Wizarding World. Professor McGonagall didn't like that idea, so she sent the letters out as she usually did but decided that she would look in on the children first.

Minerva felt guilty about not having done more for the twins. She had, after all, been named Holly and Harry's guardians by Lily. She wanted custody of the children after Sirius was sent to Azkaban; Minerva knew Remus wanted them also since he was Holly's godfather, but the werewolf knew the Ministry would never have allowed it, and Dumbledore convinced Remus he shouldn't visit the twins because it would disturb their happiness with their family.

Minerva found out from Hagrid, who couldn't keep a secret if he tried, What day would he visit the Potter Twins. After Hagrid told McGonagall, she decided that she would go instead. Minerva apparated to Little Whinging and decided to observe the twins' home life. She turned into her animagus form and watched. What she saw appalled her; the twins were indentured servants to the Dursleys. Minerva saw that if either twin got in trouble, the other would be punished. It was an effective way to keep them in line.