Squib

Chapter 20: Christmas

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Christmas

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Harry strode calmly towards Lisa's room. As soon as he opened the door and stepped inside, he was engulfed in a hug from Lisa. It took Harry a moment to realize that she was crying and muttering something. "Calm down Lisa." Harry said as he directed her towards a couch. "Now tell me what's wrong?" Harry asked.

Lisa managed to wipe the tears away from her eyes before saying, "it was horrible Harry, I was so lonely and that woman came practically every day to take blood samples, give me potions and what not. I was constantly getting strong headaches and my control over my element was getting unstable day by day. It has only been a week since she has left me alone and now I'm feeling better. I missed you Harry." Lisa said sullenly.

Harry looked upwards to see the elemental suppressor runes were permanently turned on. "You didn't let anybody see you using your element despite the suppressor runes, did you?" Harry asked.

"No, Harry, I knew if they knew it didn't work, they would find some other way to suppress it." Lisa replied.

Harry knew very well who 'that woman' was, Christine Harris, head of Research in the Brotherhood. "She has probably started another research project with you involved." Harry concluded.

"Harry, please take me with you, get me out of here. I can't stand being imprisoned in this room." Lisa pleaded.

"I will be returning to Hogwarts in a few days. I cannot take you away from here to a safe enough place in such a short time. You will probably have to wait until next summer," Harry said. Seeing Lisa's gloomy mood, "Why don't you come with me and have dinner at Potter Manor tonight?" Harry asked. Lisa didn't look as unhappy as before.

"Now hold my hand." Harry said, when Lisa did as he said, he pushed the button on the smoke portkey but nothing happened. Looking at the ceiling, Harry thought that since the smoke portkey thing was based on elemental fire, the suppressor runes probably suppressed it. Deciding that if they weren't in the room, the portkey would work, Harry tried to lead Lisa out of her room. But as soon as she approached the doorway, Lisa couldn't even take a step outside the door. "Damn" Harry said as he shut the door again with some force. Harry looked at the backside of the door and saw to his surprise that what he used to dismiss as designs were actually runes, more specifically warding runes. "Holy shit" Harry said as he saw the complexity of the runes. Considering his own level, Harry thought this would take months of research to figure out and find a way to counter them. And they were all drawn in blood, Lisa's blood Harry guessed since they confined only her.

"I would have to work really hard to even try and get you out of here next summer." Harry commented. Apparently, this was the wrong thing to say as Lisa started crying again.

Harry had no idea what to do to calm her down. He put a hand on her shoulder and turned her until she was facing him. "Look, I'll get you out by the summer holidays and I'll even come to visit you everyday as long as I'm here." Harry said in a slow calming voice.

"Promise?" Lisa asked.

"Yeah I promise." Harry said, 'thankfully she calmed down' thought Harry. Harry spent the remaining time telling her some of the things that had happened to him at Hogwarts and also doing some elemental training.

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John was sitting with a scowl on his face, it was Christmas morning and it was finally time to open the presents. 'Come to think of it, I've barely seen John home at all.' Harry thought. John glared at him when he saw Harry looking at him; Harry just went back to ignoring him.