Unless it is not found in the books, everything belongs to the lovely JK Rowling. The lyrics in the summary is from the song "You'll Be In My Heart" by Phil Collins. Thank you all for the lovely reviews!
Incredible chapter image by avra from TDA!
After I met Harry Potter, I expected him to be just like every other boy I ever met—leave my mind eventually, and I would never be bothered with him again. All the boys at Salem had never been remotely interesting, and the Muggles I knew from my neighborhood were quite nice, but they were never the heart-fluttering type. But, this time, as I’m sure you can imagine, was different. I would always catch myself glancing over at the Dursley house, hoping that I could catch a glimpse of him. Of course, as soon as I realized what I was doing, I would shake my head and tell myself I was being a fool—he was just another Muggle, and I would be rid of him soon enough.
However, Harry being a Muggle did not stop my lovely brothers from teasing me constantly whenever they would catch me daydreaming or losing myself in my own thoughts; it seemed that Kevin had told Jason all about my encounter with Harry, and they took joy in whispering his name in my ear and telling me we made such a
sweet couple. I would always blush and duck my head down, hoping that my father and step-mother wouldn’t notice. So far, I’d been safe—Dad would only roll his eyes at my brothers, while my step-mother barely paid any attention to us. Apparently, she was already getting stressed out over her job, and it was affecting just about anyone that crossed her path.
It was just that night that she had blown up at Jason for “breathing too loudly”, in her own words, and she had stormed out of the dining room, tears streaming down her face. I had hoped that my father would go after her, and he eventually did, asking me to clean up the kitchen for Jess. I, of course, said yes, and, as soon as I finished, my parents were still locked in their room. Kevin and Jason, all the while arguing with each other about something silly, took the car and were driving around, trying to find some kind of bar or club to go to.
I, on the other hand, was perfectly fine staying at home, curled up with some book that I had managed to grab at the library I had visited a couple of days ago. It was called
Pride and Prejudice, and it was a Muggle book, so I figured I could at least try it out. So, I went out onto the porch of my house, sat on the rocking bench, curled my feet underneath my bottom, and opened up the book. I was on about the tenth page when I unconsciously reached for my right wrist, where I normally always kept my charm bracelet. However, as soon as all I felt was bare skin, I frowned, remembering that I had lost it during the first day I was here.
“Looking for something?”
I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of his voice, and my book toppled out of my hands onto the ground. I was forced to stare, dumbfounded, as he bent down to pick up my book, and placed it gently into my hands. “Thanks,” I said, smiling nervously and placing my bare feet on the cool stone ground. “I have to say, you kind of startled me.” Harry chuckled, and I motioned for him to sit next to me. He complied, and I was relieved to find that he kept a good distance from me. “What brings you over here?”
“Actually, I wanted to give you this,” he said, placing something light and metallic in my hand. I looked down, and was shocked to find that it was my charm bracelet. It was exactly the same, with the horse charm dangling off, and the miniature angel with blue, jeweled eyes. I smiled down at it, and beamed up at him. “I found it that day you were at the park; it must have fallen off.” At the confused look on my face, since I couldn’t remember seeing him there, he added, “I was the one you bumped into, after your dog nearly attacked my cousin.” I was expecting there to be a harsh tone in his voice when he spoke of Reese, but he smirked down at me, as if he found the entire situation amusing.
“Yeah, I’m sorry about that,” I said, flushing and staring down at my shoes. No matter what, it was still his cousin, and I didn’t want him to think I was happy with Reese lunging at him. I had always warned my dog to watch her actions, to stop being so protective, but it was difficult, since she had been with me since I was a little girl. Speak of the devil, she appeared out of the doorway, sitting on my side and glancing at Harry curiously. He outstretched his hand to her, and she sniffed it hesitantly, before placing her head underneath his hand. I giggled softly down at her. “You should be happy—it normally takes her a while to get used to new people.”
“She’s a good dog,” he said affectionately, and Reese seemed to push her chin up proudly at these words. Little traitor. “You know, I wouldn’t worry about what happened with Dudley, if I were you. I saw how he grabbed you; she had every right to go after him. He’s not the most pleasant person to be around.” He said this with a frown in his voice, and I watched him continue to stare at Reese, scratching her behind her ears. He finally looked up at me, and smiled up at me, causing my heartbeat to race.
“I noticed that,” I smiled back at him, and he laughed. It was a nice sound to my ears; quiet and relaxed, nothing like the obnoxious, loud laughs that I would constantly hear from my brothers. “So, where do you go to school?”
Harry hesitated before responding, enough to make me notice it. “It’s a….juvenile school, you could say,” he said slowly, obviously using his words carefully. I watched him closely, but he kept his eyes on Reese. “My aunt and uncle sent me there when I was a boy, and I’ve gone ever since.” He spoke of his aunt and uncle with slightly bitter tone, and I curiously wondered about their relationship. If there was anyone who understood about having issues with their parents, I would know.
“Hmm, that’s not exactly what I was expecting,” I couldn’t help but say, and I was shocked at this. Normally I would just nod and listen, but it seemed that my mouth had a mind of its own. At his curious glance in my direction, I added, “You don’t exactly seem like the type of person who would go to a school like that. I would have guessed you went to some kind of brain school.” He continued to watch me, a confused, but amused smile was forming on his lips. “I think it’s the glasses,” I blurted out, and my cheeks burned with humiliation. I shouldn’t have said anything; normally, I wouldn’t have. I just didn’t seem to know how to hold my tongue in front of Harry.
I was fortunate enough to realize that Harry didn’t mind this new trait of mine, not one bit. He laughed at me, and I couldn’t help but softly join in. “What about you?” he asked, after a silence had fallen between us. “Are you going to go to Stonewall?”
I sighed quietly, and leaned my head back against the wall of my house. “Yeah,” I responded, closing my eyes briefly, and breathing in the crisp night air. “Your cousin doesn’t happen to go to Stonewall, does he?” I prayed that maybe I could have some kind of luck, that he had to go to juvenile school as well.
“Unfortunately, yes,” said Harry, and he chuckled at the groan that came out of me. “Don’t worry--I think you’ve scared him off.” As if on queue, Reese growled lightly at the sight of Dudley walking into his house. He glanced over at Harry and me, but quickly scampered away as soon as he saw Reese staring at him with her sharp eyes.
I giggled softly, and said, “I’ll just have to stay invisible—I’m used to it, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.” I turned my head and watched as he leaned his head back against the house as well. I held my breath as his intensely green eyes turned to me.
“You shouldn’t do that,” he said quietly, and watched him, a slight frown forming on my face as I listened to his addictive voice. “I don’t like the thought of you being invisible—I like being able to see you.”
My cheeks flushed, and he smirked at this development in amusement. However, before I could even consider something witty to say in return, his eyes turned away from my face and to something over my corner. I glanced over my shoulder, and felt all of the color drain from my face at the sight of my step-mother, her blonde hair still straightened to perfection and eyes slightly red from her episode, watching us with pursed lips.
“Forgive me if I’m interrupting anything,” she said coolly, her chin raised slightly and watching us with her nostrils flared. I winced at the tone of her voice; it normally always meant that I should listen to her immediately, or else I’ll have to deal with the consequences. I had never had to do that, since I was smart enough to realize that it was best to just listen and keep my head down. “But, it is getting late, and Isabel must be getting to bed soon.” She seemed to remember her manners, and politely added, “I’m Jessica Monroe, by the way—Isabel’s stepmother.” She smiled with an odd sense of warmth in her eyes, and I frowned up at her.
“Harry Potter, Ma’am, and it’s very nice to meet you,” he said kindly, and I couldn’t help but revel at how he could do that—be so polite and smooth, when I would definitely trip over my feet or do something foolish. I was so busy thinking about this, I almost missed Jess’ eyes widening ever so slightly. Almost. “I should be going as well; I’m afraid I have to some work to do. I’ll see you around, Isabel?”
“I hope so,” I accidentally mumbled, and my face flushed once more (I seemed to be doing that a lot around him), and he simply grinned down at me. “I’ll see you around, Harry,” I said to him in a normal tone, and walked into my house, Reese right on my heels.
Before I could sneak upstairs, though, Jess grabbed my arm and stopped me from whatever plan I was going to use. Turning up to look in her dark eyes nervously, I waited for her words, which would no doubt embarrass me, or, even worse, make me feel absolutely awful. That was always how it worked whenever Jess talked to me—she never said anything nice to me.
“Stay away from that boy, Isabel,” she said softly, studying my face closely. At my confused expression, she sighed and continued, “He’s a Muggle, isn’t he? Which means that you will be leaving him in two months, and I do not want your heart to be broken.” I could barely hide my surprise at this revelation. “Just listen to me, please? It would make my life much easier if I didn’t have to worry about you.”
As I watched her expectant face, I slowly nodded, and didn’t even feel bad about lying right to her face. I had done it before, and it would no doubt not be the last time. When I thought about it, really, I realized that my whole entire life was based off of lies.
But, as I walked up the stairs to my room, sat down on my bed and pulled my knees up to my chest, I couldn’t help but stare at my reflection in the television set across from me. My hair was slightly frizzy and escaping out of my pony-tail, my plain features were more obvious than ever, and, yet, I couldn’t help but remember Harry’s word—how he liked to be able to see me. And, as I forgot about Jess’ words, a small smile slowly formed on my lips.
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