The Durselys and the Potters
Hayley Potter woke up with a start. She jumped up from her position on the floor under the cupboard. Her cousin, Dudley was stomping against the stairs as he descended.
An umph of pain sounded just outside of the cupboard door and Dudley cackled as he sprinted towards the kitchen.
She groggily rubbed her eyes and peered outside from under the door. A figure blocked her view.
"Harry?" She whispered out.
"Yeah. I am here." Her brother replied, sounding as groggy as she felt. Relief washed over her senses as she softly exhaled.
Hayley Potter was currently serving her punishment under the cupboard. She had talked back to Aunt Petunia at dinner last night so she was locked up in here all night, separated from her twin brother. An act they both despised.
Hayley and Harry had never been truly separated before, just the occasional punishments of spending the nights inside the cupboard. Even then, one of them would sleep outside of the door just to feel their presence even if it was through the door.
She felt Harry scramble to his feet and step aside. Soon she heard the jingle of keys and the door was opened. She met Aunt Petunia's scowl with her own but Harry jumped inside and engulfed her in a hug. She hugged him back with equal enthusiasm.
Petunia rolled her eyes and told them to hurry up and prepare their breakfast quickly. They both sighed and went to the kitchen, busying themselves with eggs and toast.
Every day their mornings would start like this, with them preparing breakfast, shoving whatever they could sneak into their mouths before their Aunt or Uncle saw them. Then they would seat themselves on the table and eat what little their Aunt provided them with. But Dudley stole that too.
That thieving, spoiled little brat!
Hayley gave him a pointed and heated look, only if she could bury him with that look!
She felt Harry elbow her side and she dropped her gaze to her plate. She looked at her empty plate and felt a wave of hunger wash over her.
Urgh! Why was she always hungry!?
She knew why but it was easy to pretend she didn't know. The Durselys never fed them enough which was the reason why she and Harry were so small and scrawny compared to other kids in her class. They fed Dudley twice the amount that was enough for a 11-year-old but there was never enough for them.
Of course she didn't feel sorry for herself. That was something she stopped feeling a while ago but it would be good to have a full stomach sometimes. Urgh... Only Dudley would stop hogging their food. Maybe she should fill his lunch box with worms at school recess or maybe even in his favourite ham sandwich. He wouldn't even know before shoving it down his throat.
That might teach him a lesson. She thought wickedly. Oh the look on his face would be priceless. She felt herself laugh at that.
"Uh-oh. I don't like that look. What are you thinking?" Harry inquired nervously as he eyed her. They were now doing dishes, Harry was standing on a small wooden stool that gave him enough height to reach the sink and the tap.
He handed her the clean plate, water dripping from it as she took it. She wiped the plate with a dry cloth as she gave her brother a smirk and started to tell him her plan. Harry shook his head in exasperation but his eyes shone with goofy delight.
"36!?" Dudley's shrily voice reached her ears and she realised the Durselys were giving their precious Duddikins his birthday presents. She couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"Here we go again." She muttered to Harry and he just shrugged, not caring anymore.
There was a time when they both felt sad, heartbroken even when Dudley got birthday presents, Christmas presents and every other holiday that demanded presents, and all they got would be their cousin's hand me downs for Harry and second hand clothes for her from a cheap department store.
But now it was annoying. Wasn't Dudley tired of having temper tantrums all the time? When will he stop?
They listened to his rant and complaints as his parents tried to convince him that there'd be more next year. Then they talked about going to the Zoo. The twins had never been to the Zoo before, she wondered what it was like.
As they were finished with their chore and came into the drawing room, Aunt Petunia let out a shriek and they both jumped in surprise.
"Mrs. Figgs can't take them! She broke her leg! She can't take them, Vernon! What should we do?" Their Aunt gasped out as if she had just delivered the news of someone's death.
Calm down, woman.
Well, that ensued another argument and more temper tantrums. Harry provided an alternative that they should leave them here. Honestly, her brother was the best! They could watch Television and their favourite cartoons. They could also eat whatever they want from the refrigerator.
That would be the best day of their lives! She thought excitedly.
A grin spread onto her face but before she could suppress it, Uncle Vernon caught it. His face went red with anger and declared we would be coming with them and there was no way they would leave the 'evil twins' alone in their home to wreak havoc. At that, Harry gave her a grin which she matched with her own. Well, fine by them. Either way, it was going to be their best day. They were going to the Zoo!
They quickly ran upstairs to their bedroom which used to be Dudley's second bedroom. Two single bed lay on either side of the walls, a small table in between to share. A small, broken down cupboard was placed at the wall beside the door. They hastily but happily rummaged through their cloths, trying to find something good to wear. She chose a blue t-shirt and matching tights with a pink jacket. She slipped on the only pair of trainers she owned. She turned around and saw Harry had chosen something that wasn't completely slipping off his shoulders. He was wearing a maroon shirt with a checkered button down shirt over it with brown jeans that he had folded on the ends to make it fit him. He also had only one pair of shoes that he was currently wearing. With huge grins plastered over their faces, they raced to the front porch where Durselys were getting into their car. A chubby and plump boy, the same size as their cousin, who was Dudley's best friend was also there.
She didn't bother to remember his name.
Aunt Petunia's eyes landed on her and she hissed in displeasure. She grabbed her by the arm and drew her closer as she turned her niece around so she was facing away from her now.
"How many times have I told you to control your hair!?" She once again shrieked in that shrily voice of hers, "So unladylike! Wild girls like you shouldn't be going out! Ever!"
Petunia painfully pulled her hair back into a ponytail and her eyes stung with unshed tears which she quickly blinked away. "Ouch! That's too tight!"
"Hush! Silly girl!" The woman continued to assault her black hair that never stayed put. They weren't bushy or anything but they were wavy and voluminous. Just like Harry's but only long.
They were twins but they weren't identical. Sure they both had black hair and green eyes but the shape of their face, the shape of their eyes, their lips were totally different. From afar, they might look the same but not when you see them closely. She looked at Harry who was being lectured by Vernon to not pull anything weird while they were out. He turned towards her to say the same. She just nodded her head, keeping her mouth shut.
She knew when to keep her mouth shut and when to talk. And right now was clearly the moment to shut her mouth. Her hair was in Petunia's death grip afterall.
Soon, the demon woman let go of her and they quickly got in and Vernon drove away. The car journey was actually interesting, they got to see different and new places as they drove through the city. They both pointed to things they found interesting to each other. The car ride ended too quickly and they found themselves in front of the Zoo. A new and exciting thrill went through her body in anticipation. All kinds of animals flooded through her mind like the pages of a book. Just like the one she had read in the school library.
They got a popsicle that they shared while Dudley and his friend got chocolate ice-cream with huge scoops. She didn't mind much as her brain was occupied with different animals that might inhabit the Zoo.
As they followed behind the Durselys, their hands squeezed tightly together in case they got separated, they got to see many different kinds of animals they had never seen before.
Oh boy... This place did not disappoint. They actually saw a Lion. A Lion! And a Gorilla as well!
Now, they were currently in the reptile section and Harry pulled her behind Dudley who was demanding the Snake behind the glass to do something.
He stood with nose pressed against the glass, staring at the glistening brown coils. It was by far the largest snake Hayley had ever seen. It could have easily wrapped its body around Uncle Vernon's car and crushed it into a trash can. But it didn't look in the nood at the moment.
"Make it move," He whinned to his father and Vernon tapped at the glass lightly. The snake did not stir.
"Do it again!" Dudley ordered his father and Uncle Vernon once again tapped the glass smartly with his knuckles but the snake did not respond.
The little demon spawn and his croony grew bored of the snake and left them alone with the reptile.
Good riddance.
They came closer and leaned against the railing that was between them and the glass to have a better look at the snake. It caused them to let go of their hands. The snake appeared to be asleep but slowly it opened its eyes and winked.
Surely she had imagined that. She blinked at the snake.
Hayley leaned in even closer with an excited squeal as she read the sign on the side of the glass.
Boa Constrictor. Brazil.
But it was born and raised here in this Zoo. Poor snake. She thought as she felt a little pang of sadness. She also never stepped out of the city. In fact, it was the first time she had ever gone so far away from the Durselys' house.
She was brought back from her thoughts by a hissing sound and she turned to Harry. She realised it was Harry who was making the sounds. As her brother continued to hiss, a chill creeped down her spine. It felt so creepy and so unlike her Harry.
She heard another hissing sound, this time a bit muffled. She realised with horror that her brother was talking to the snake. She never felt afraid when she was with Harry but for the first time in her life, she was scared in his presence.
"H-harry! Harry, stop it!" She squeaked out, her voice trembling. But Harry didn't seem to hear her. Just at that very moment, the glass that separated them from the snake shattered. She let out a small scream and Harry whirled towards her. She stared at the broken glass and the snake as it came out, hissing at them both as if in gratitude.
Her legs gave out and she sank to the floor, still trembling. Harry came to her and wrapped his arms around her, patting her back gently.
"It's alright. It won't harm us. He just wanted to see Brazil so he wanted to escape. He is not a bad snake. But I don't know what happened to the glass." Harry provided as he tried to calm her, which worked as she was not feeling scared and had stopped trembling.
"You two! What have you done!?" Uncle Vernon came up to them, his face reddening beyond control as his lips curled in an angry scowl. He pulled them painfully by their arms and dragged them away to their car and quickly drove them back to their house. Aunt Petunia sat there, her face white as a sheet as she clutched her handbag tightly.
The Durselys said their goodbyes to the friend who had tagged along. As soon as the boy was out the door, the twins dashed down the hall towards the stairs so that they could get to the safety of their room. But Dudley blocked their route, a huge and wicked grin playing on his face.
The evil demon came behind them and grabbed them both by their hair. They cried out as Vernon dragged them to the cupboard. Her stomach dropped with dread as she saw the cupboard door. He knew! He knew how much she hated being in there and still...!
She started to struggle, her hands coming up to where his fat fingers clutched her hair in a fist. She tried to pry his fingers away but to no avail. Harry had started to scream at their Uncle now, "Let her go! Let her go! You can't lock her in there! You can't! It was my fault! Stop it! She didn't do anything!"
She had started to tremble once again. No. Not in there. Not again. Please.
She started to sob. "No! Please stop!" She screamed.
Petunia watched from the drawing room door, her face pale, her lips pursed in a thin line. She knew it wouldn't work but she still tried. She always did. Anything to escape the cupboard
"Aunt Petunia! Please! Don't make him do this please! I didn't do it, I swear!" She sobbed at her but her Aunt turned away. She always did.
"Stop! I did it! Don't hurt her!" Harry screamed as he continued to kick his legs. His face twisted with anger and determination to save his sister but Vernon threw him to the floor hard. A groan of pain escaped her brother's lips.
Vernon came down to her eye level and hissed as he looked into her tearful eyes, "I know what you did, girl. You will pay for that. In front of all those people! Anyone could have seen it!"
With that, he shoved her inside, locking the door behind her.
She hit the dirty floor but quickly got to her feet and threw herself onto the door, banging away at it. The dark, narrow space of the cupboard came into her vision. It became hard to breathe as she felt the walls and ceiling push in on her.
"Open... Open this!" Hayley gasped out.
"Please! Harry! Harry!" She screamed for her brother as fear flooded her senses. Her hands grew slick with sweat and began to tremble violently. Blood pounded in her ears as she started to hyperventilate.
"I am here, Hayley!" Harry replied, "I am-"
He was abruptly cut off and she heard Vernon yell, "Oh no, you don't! You won't be here tonight. You will be locked away in the shed!"
Another wave of terror washed over her.
No... He can't separate them like this!
She needed Harry to survive through her time here. She needed to hear his voice, feel his presence through the door. How will she live without him!?
She started to scream then and started to pound her fists on the door, feeling her knuckles split, "No! No! Harry! Harry save me! Harry!"
She continued to scream as she felt the narrow space shrinking, growing closer to her, she was being swallowed by the walls. Her vision blurred with the lack of oxygen and she passed out.