Return of the Wandering Potter

Chapter 4

   Warmth was the first thing Aster noticed followed quickly by something soft and squishy underneath her. It was a first in her short life that she had felt such sensations and she really liked it. She snuggled down deeper into the comforting warmth pulling silky covers up to her chin.

      It wasn't long after she had gotten comfortable that a frown formed on her small brow. She had never before been this comfortable on her lumpy cot in her cupboard. It took her a few moments before the events of her morning flashed through her mind. Everything had started as usual with her aunt Tuni rapping her bony knuckles against the door of her safe haven. Her cupboard was always her safety since her uncle and cousin couldn't fit through the small door into the small room she called her own.

    From there she had been commanded to watch the bacon for aunt Tuni's beloved Diddydums and to make sure the sizzling slices of meat didn't burn. After one last yell to not steal a single morsel from her families mouths her aunt had shuffled up the stairs to wake her piggy son from his sleep.

Not long after that what sounded like a small herd of elephants trudging downstairs echoed from the living room area. Then the kitchen door slammed open once more letting her half asleep cousin, aunt, and fully dressed uncle into the room.

Without prompt Aster then shuffled over to the toaster to start on the toast and to get her uncle his cup of coffee to start his day. Slowly she made her way over to the table with the hot beverage steaming in her hands. It took her some time since she was going so slow but she had made it to the table with out incident and let loose a silent breath. She still had the bruises from the last time she had spilled a small amount of her uncles coffee. She was lucky her cousin was still to tired to mess anything up for her but knew it wouldn't last long.

As soon as the breakfast was plated and placed on the table she had quickly retreated to her corner of the kitchen to wait. Her aunt hated the background sound of her doing the dishes early. She says it distracts her from her family time with her Vernon and Duddikins. Not that the family talk much when it comes to any meal since both Dursley men are to busy eating as much food as possible. Vernon because it was in front of him and Dudley because he knew that Aster got to eat what was left.

It didn't take long for the Dursley family to finish their breakfast leaving Aster a small morsel of a single slice of toast with a little bit of scrambled eggs to eat. She quickly scarfed the food down before Dudley decided to eat is as well then started to clear the table.

After she cleaned up from breakfast her aunt had then given her a list of chores almost as long as her arm to be completed before the day was over. Luckily it wasn't summer anymore so outside wouldn't be blisteringly hot. So she made her way outside to the back garden where leaves had fallen in the yard to clean them up.

   Aster knew it was almost the anniversary of her parents death and the day her aunt and uncle got her. It's the one date they never let her forget since it was the day they took her in out of the kindness of their hearts. Not that she thought there was much kindness in there anyway.

     A cool autumn breeze had settled into the area making it smell crisp with change as the few shade trees in the back yards leaves changed color. This had to be her favorite time of the year to do yard work since it wasn't to hot or cold out making it easier for her to do her work quickly.
    Once she was done with raking and bagging up all the leaves she heard her aunt call her in to help make lunch. Aster pulled the heavy leaf filled bags over to the side of the house before rushing in to wash up.

    Lunch like breakfast was a greasy affair with fish and chips and a bag of crisps poured into a bowl that was currently in Dudleys lap as he shoveled fist fulls of crisps into his mouth. Once again Aster was in her corner watching her relatives eat as much as possible while dreading the clean up.