The Halfwolf (Year 1)

Mary's Story

Harry couldn't help but stare open-mouthed as his cousin sat at his kitchen table and told him and Ginny about the peculiar things that always seemed to happen around little Mary. How toys that were missing would suddenly appear in her hands when she got upset. How candies that were put far out of reach would somehow end up on the counter right where she could get them. How things would break when she was angry, namely quite a few china teacups at Aunt Petunia's house, where she insisted Mary have tea with her every Wednesday afternoon, despite the small child's objections.

"Mum was in a right state this past Wednesday. Cup exploded while it was sitting on the saucer on the tray 10 feet away from anyone." He shook his head. Then little Mary spoke up.

"I was angry." She said, holding up her chin defiantly. "I didn't want to sit down for tea. I wanted to go outside and play. But Grandma Tunny says," Mary pursed her lips and wrinkled her nose and said, in such a perfect Aunt Petunia way it gave Harry goosebumps, "I won't have any granddaughter of mine getting filthy and running around like some hoodlum. You'll stay right here and be a proper lady." I got so mad. Daddy tells me not to get mad when I'm around Grandma Tunny, but I just couldn't help it. It wasn't fair!" She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. Dudley patted her on the head gently, then turned his sad eyes back to Harry.

"She called me shrieking at the top of her lungs to come get my...." He mouthed the word "freak" so that Mary wouldn't hear him, "daughter from her house and never come back." Dudley looked down at Mary, who was picking at a pancake. "Her own granddaughter. I rushed over to get her as quick as I could. But by the time I got there, Mary was sitting on the front steps and Mum was shrieking so loud from inside the house that half the neighbors were in their yards staring." He looked back up at Harry then, "I grabbed her up and drove home. I've not heard from her since. She's gotten batty since dad passed in the spring." Mary looked up at her dad then across to Harry, then over to Ginny. It was her she kept eye contact with as she spoke.

"She called me a freak." Ginny clapped a hand to her mouth. Harry and Dudley stared at the small girl in shock. "She said I was no good and I was no granddaughter of hers. Said I was trash. I was so angry with her. I shouted at her." She looked up at Dudley. "I'm sorry, Daddy. I know I'm not supposed to shout at anyone. But she was being so mean! I told her I wasn't a freak! Then..." a tear rolled down her cheek as she looked at the tabletop again. "Then she slapped me and told me to be quiet and...and then the teapot shattered, and she told me to get out. So, I went and sat on the step...then you came." Dudley continued to stare at his daughter, then looked up to Harry with horror in his eyes. Ginny seemed to be the first to collect herself, as she stood and quickly came around the table to kneel beside Mary. The little girl had tears trailing down her cheeks as she stared at her hands on the table. Ginny touched her shoulder and she looked at her with sad blue eyes. Ginny smiled at her.

"You're no freak sweetheart." She wiped a tear from her cheek with her thumb. "You're strong. You didn't let her bully you. And when she tried, your powers protected you. You're so very strong, Mary. And I'm proud of you." Mary smiled at her, then Ginny pulled her into a hug. She then held the girl out at arm's length and looked her over, a calculating look upon her face. "I think it's time we properly introduce you to your cousins, yea?" Mary furrowed her brow. Ginny grinned. "Who did you think that bunch of boys were? House elves? Those are your cousins silly! And I'm sure they can show you all kinds of fun things to do here at Aunt Ginny's house." Ginny looked up at Harry and winked. Mary tugged on her sleeve and she looked back down at her.

"Can I call you that? Aunt Ginny?" She said as her cheeks flushed slightly. Ginny smiled down at her again.

"Of course, you can, sweetheart. And that specky one over there," she indicated Harry, "Is your Uncle Harry. And I think," She stood up and took Mary's hand as she looked at the two men staring at her from their seats at the table, "that we need to go make you up a bed in the guest room with Gretchen while Uncle Harry talks to Daddy because you, my sweet, are spending the holidays with us, the wizarding way." And with that she led the beaming little girl out of the kitchen. Harry and Dudley stared after them, then slowly turned to stare at each other. Harry cleared his throat.

"Well, seems you will be spending the holidays with us, Dudley. I'll make up another guest room for you. Do you need to contact your wife or..." Dudley was shaking his head. Harry raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Gwen died right after Mary was born. It's just us." Dudley looked away from Harry's shocked expression. "We live in a little flat in London. She goes to a nice public school nearby, and the lady who lives above us looks after her while I'm at work. But it's...it's hard not having family now." He looked up at Harry again. "I'm sorry for ever making you feel this way, Harry. I was a giant bully to you when we were growing up, and now I know how it feels. And I see it happening to Mary and...and I can never imagine letting anyone ever do that to her." He cleared his throat. "So, I'm really sorry." Harry shook his head.

"Forgiven, Big D. And you do have family. You have us." He grinned at Dudley, who smiled weakly. Harry let out a laugh "Actually, now that I think about it, you have quite a large family now compared to when you had Aunt Petunia. Wait til you see the size of the family at The Burrow this week for Christmas. We go there on Christmas Eve, everyone does, and sleep there so everyone is together on Christmas day. We take a tent and pitch in the field with Ron's, Fred's, and Bill's families." Dudley stared at Harry. "What?"

"Camping? In DECEMBER?!" He squeaked. Harry grinned at him.

"You've never camped the wizard way, Dud. You just wait."