The Past meets the Future at Hogwarts (Part 2)

Chapter 1: Victoria

Moving back to the Dursley's was not pleasant. They may have been scared of Harry, but they showed no signs of fear of me. No instead they worked me harder without Harry filling in for certain jobs. They had locked away all my belongings along with Harry's in the guest bedroom.

I of course couldn't move into that room. I still lived in the spider filled cupboard. On top of all that, the Dursley's couldn't stand Hedwig. The owl just wanted out of her cage and to catch mice, but instead she was padlocked into a cage in Harry's room.

That morning at breakfast was yet another argument. I had finished the bacon just in time to hear Uncle Vernon screaming at Harry about keeping his bloody bird quiet. I rolled my eyes and served bacon to everyone as that was going on.

Then Harry mentioned magic, and you'd have thought he dropped a bomb. "WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU," Uncle Vernon thundered. While he wasn't looking I ate almost half of the remaining bacon praying none of them would want any after this. "ABOUT SAYING THE 'M' WORD IN OUR HOUSE?"
　　
"But I -"
　　
"HOW DARE YOU THREATEN DUDLEY!" Uncle Vernon continued, pounding the table with his fist.
　　
"I just -"
　　
"I WARNED YOU! I WILL NOT TOLERATE MENTION OF YOUR ABNORMALITY UNDER THIS ROOF!"

Harry apologized and sat staring at his food. I passed the rest of the bacon to Dudley who didn't look like he would be eating it anytime soon. I stepped a few feet away from the table, avoiding getting screamed at too. Uncle Vernon was in one of his moods. I felt bad for Harry though. It was Harry's birthday afterall.

"Now, as we all know, today is a very important day," Uncle Vernon said. I refrained from making any remarks about Harry's birthday. He definitely was not talking about that but was probably talking about his stupid dinner party that he had been planning for weeks.

　"This could well be the day I make the biggest deal of my career." I mocked what he was saying as the Dursleys were all rapt in what Vernon was saying. "I think we should run through the schedule one more time. We should all be in position at eight o'clock. Petunia, you will be -?"

"In the lounge," Aunt Petunia said promptly, "waiting to welcome them graciously to our home." I mimicked every word she said. We had had this conversation so many times I had it memorized.
　　
"Good, good. And Dudley?"
　　
"I'll be waiting to open the door." Dudley smiled fakely. "May I take your coats, Mr. and Mrs. Mason?"
　　
"They'll love him!" Aunt Petunia cried. I pretended to wipe tears from my eyes. Harry was watching me and not the conversation around him with a grin.
　　
"Excellent, Dudley," Uncle Vernon said. Then he rounded on Harry. "And you?"
　　
Harry wiped the smile off of his face. "I'll be in my bedroom, making no noise and pretending I'm not there," Harry said tonelessly.

Uncle Vernon turned to me, addressing me not in words, but with his eyes. "I will be in Harry's room making no noise and pretending I don't exist."

"Exactly," Uncle Vernon said nastily. The second he turned around I went back to mocking them. "I will lead them into the lounge, introduce you, Petunia, and pour them -drinks. At eight- fifteen -"
　　
"I'll announce dinner," Aunt Petunia said.
　　
"And, Dudley, you'll say -"
　　
"May I take you through to the dining room, Mrs. Mason?" Dudley said, pretending to lend his fat arm to a woman. I pretended to take it with a grimace.
　　
"My perfect little gentleman!" Aunt Petunia sniffed, cueing more fake tears from me.
　　
"And you?" Uncle Vernon asked viciously to Harry.
　　
"I'll be in my room, making no noise and pretending I'm not there," Harry said dully.

Once again Uncle Vernon looked over at me, "I'll be in Harry's room, making no noise and pretending I don't exist."
　　
"Precisely. Now, we should aim to get in a few good compliments at dinner. Petunia, any ideas?"
　　
"Vernon tells me you're a wonderful golfer, Mr. Mason.... Do tell me where you bought your dress, Mrs. Mason ......
　　
"Perfect. . . Dudley?"
　　
"How about -'We had to write an essay about our hero at school, Mr. Mason, and I wrote about you."'
　　
With that Aunt Petunia actually burst into tears. I faked a grin and wiped even more fake tears. I watched Harry duck under the table to laugh.