The Twin and Harry Potter

The Vanishing Glass

Nearly ten years have passed since the Dursleys found their niece and Nephew on the front step, but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all. The sun rose and fell on the neatly trimmed yards and lit up the brass number four on the Dursley's front door. Nothing in the house had changed except for the pictures on the mantlepiece. The pictures reveal a large boy being absolutely spoiled by his parents. The room held no sign that any other children lived in the house too.

Yet Harry and Vanessa Potter were still there, asleep at the moment, but not for long. Their Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day.

"Up! Get up! Now!"

Like her brother, Vanessa starts awake. Aunt Petunia raps on the door again.

"Up!" She screeches, always reminding Vanessa of a big annoying bird. Harry rolls on his back, slightly elbowing Vanessa as he does. She shrugs his arm away. The bed they share has gotten extremely cramped over the years.

"Are you up yet?" Aunt Petunia returns.

"Nearly." Harry responds.

"Well, get a move on, I want you to look after the bacon. And don't you dare let it burn, I want everything perfect on Duddy's birthday."

Harry lets out a groan.

"What did you say?" Aunt Petunia snaps through the door.

"Nothing." Harry sighs. Vanessa finally opens her eyes. She'd been dreaming about a red train filled with happy children.

"Ugh, it's the brat's birthday again." Vanessa sighs, throwing her arm over her eyes. She'd been dreaming about a red train filled with happy children

"Don't talk like that, Vanessa. You remember what happened last time she heard you talking about Dudley." Harry warns. Vanessa does indeed remember. Aunt Petunia locked her in her room, which happens to be the cupboard under the stairs, without food and water for three days. It was horrid. Thankfully Harry snuck her some food when he could.

He is dressed and leaves before Vanessa even leaves the bed. She knows Aunt Petunia won't be coming back right away, she's probably too busy fussing over her precious little Dudders. Sleep is threatening to take her again but she knows if she does it will mean more work for Harry and punishments for herself.

Vanessa throws on a large T-shirt, making her look a lot smaller than she already is. Like her brother she is very small and skinny looking even more so because she has to wear Aunt Petunia's old clothes. But their size is where their similarities end. While his hair is black and unruly, her hair is straight, sleek, and dark red. He has green eyes and Vanessa has sparkling hazel eyes.

Vanessa scurries out of the cupboard just as Dudley and Aunt Petunia pass. Dudley shoves her out of the way, rushing to the kitchen. She's long been used to the abuse, but she quickly mades a face at his back as her only form of retaliation. She slips in the kitchen and helps Harry set up the plates of food, the smell making her stomach clench with hunger. She hadn't eaten dinner the previous night and she's most definitely suffering for it.

She places Dudley's plate in front of him, glancing at him in disgust, quick to hide the look so she doesn't get in trouble. Dudley looks like Uncle Vernon. He has a large pink face, hardly any neck, small, watery blue eyes, and thick blond hair that lays smoothly on his thick, fat head. Vanessa and Harry like to joke that he looks like a pig in a wig.

"Thirty-six." Dudley looks up at his parents. "That's two less than last year." Vanessa moves her plate from the table, holding it protectively as she eats faster. She sees a tantrum starting and she lost track how many times she lost a meal because of one. Harry has the same idea because he is shoveling down his food.