Chapter 4
Milo sat up in bed, excited about another perfect day. He woke up, got ready, filled up his backpack with anything that could be of use, and walked to the bus stop. There, he met up with Zack and Melissa. Melissa stood a few feet away from him along with the other kids there, but Zack stood right next to him, ready for whatever crazy situation would prevent them from riding the bus next. It was the second to last day of seventh grade and they were all very excited for summer break. Milo would miss riding the bus if he ever actually got to ride it.
“Hey guys!” he greeted cheerfully.
“Hey Milo,” they both replied.
“How was your weekend Milo?” Melissa asked grinning.
“Oh, you know, did some homework, attempted to help with chores, and oh!” he remembered, “I got chased by a bear!”
“A bear?!” Zack exclaimed, “What, were you in the woods or something?”
Milo chuckled, “No.”
Zack was about to reply when a swarm of bees flew straight at him and Milo. Quickly they ran away, Zack screaming and Milo reaching into his backpack.
“Soooo,” Melissa walked over to the other kids there, “How much do you want to bet that they make it to school on time?”
“An apple and a granola bar!” Bradley challenged.
Melissa chuckled, “Oh, you are going down!”
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They did end up making it to their first period in time, much to the dismay of the students who were betting against it. It was now lunchtime and Malissa brought all her winnings to the lunch table to share.
“Ahh yeah,” Malissa smirked, “Look at all this loot!” She pointed at the stack of food.
“Oh you just love profiting on our misfortune, don’t you?” Zack shook his head, “You should be ashamed.”
Malissa just rolled her eyes and smiled good naturally.
“Well, while I don’t like taking food from the other kids,” Milo added, “It does really help when our lunches get destroyed.”
Melissa gestured to Milo, “See, he gets it! I’m doing you two a favor.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Zack grabbed some of the food for himself.
They all then dug in, laughing and having fun together. Soon enough though, Amanda Lopez walked over with her lunch and sat down next to Milo.
“Oh, hey Amanda!” Milo greeted her cheerfully.
“Hi, Milo,” She smiled and said hello to the other two, “So what's up?”
Amanda had been sitting with them for a few weeks now. She and Milo had been getting really close throughout the school year. They even had plans to hang out during summer! And not as a group, but alone! Milo could feel his cheeks heat up just at the thought of it. Were they going to be dates? Well, he was only about 80% sure. But the constant cheek kissing definitely boosts that up to at least 90%!
It wasn’t too long before the day was coming to an end. Kids were exiting their last period excited to get home and rest. Milo and his three friends were walking home together. Usually, they would take (or try to take) the bus home, but with school ending, they thought it would be nice to hang out with each other after school.
So they all walked to Milo’s house, only interrupted twice (once by Elliot and the other by a flock of rabid ducks). When they got there they all piled into the living room, Melissa and Zack both plopped down onto the couch. Amanda sat down normally and Milo sat crisscrossed on the floor.
“Ugh, I’m exhausted,” Melissa groaned, “I’m so glad tomorrow is our last day of school.”
“Me too,” Milo chuckled, “It’ll be nice to take a break from the constant chemical spills and broken water fountains.”
“You can say that again!” Zack groaned.
“Oh, hey everybody!” Mrs. Murphy walked in with a bowl of snacks, “Welcome!”
“Hey, Mrs. Murphy,” They all greeted her, except for Milo who just said, “Hey, Mom.”
“Well I’ll leave you kids to it,” she smiled after she set down the bowl, “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything.”
They all spent the next hour talking and laughing and exchanging stories with each other. It was nice for them to all relax for one and just hang out. Even Amanda wasn’t so stressed and wasn’t even thinking of her schedule.
“And that’s how I got this scar on my elbow!” Milo finished his story and they all laughed.
“I just can’t believe it,” Zack shook his head incredulously, “You just get into the craziest situations.”
Milo smiled, “Yep!”
“Um, speaking of scars, Milo,” Amanda started nervously, “I never asked how you got that lightning scar on your forehead.”
Zack nodded in agreement, and Melissa hummed thoughtfully, “I feel like I've asked you before, but you never answered?”
Milo frowned thoughtfully, “Well probably. It’s not really a big deal or anything though.” He paused, “It’s weird because I have no idea. It happened when I was a baby.”
“You don’t?” asked Amanda confused, “What about your parents?”
“Oh, they don’t know either cause I wasn’t with them yet.”
“Wait, what?” Zack furrowed his brows, and the others shared similar looks, “What do you mean, weren’t with you yet? Like, you were still in the womb?”
Milo laughed at the ridiculous assumption, “Oh, of course not, I’m adopted.”
“Huh?!” they all exclaimed.
“That doesn’t make any sense though,” Amanda exclaimed, “You have Murphy’s Law!”
“Literally how can I not have known about this?!” Melissa cried. She had practically stalked him their whole lives and she had missed out on such vital information?
Milo blushed in at the intense attention he was receiving, “Oh sorry, Melissa. I guess I never thought to tell you.” If this was how she was reacting for this, he hoped she never found out about his wizardry heritage!
She huffed and crossed her arms, sulking, but seemed to let it go for the time being.
“Ok, but explain please?” Zack pressed.
“Well ok,” Milo shrugged, “It’s not really that big a deal, to be honest. I have Murphy’s Law because my parents are biologically my aunt and uncle.”
“Ohh, yeah I guess that makes sense,” Zack nodded.
“So did your dad have another sibling then?” Amanda prodded, “Other than your Uncle Joey?”
Milo nodded, “Lily Murphy, my dad’s sister. So my mom, but also my aunt, or something like that,” he rambled, “She died when I was one.”
Amanda frowned, “I’m so sorry, Milo.”
“Yeah, that sucks man,” Zack gave a small, awkward smile, which was more of a grimace.
He shrugged, “Yeah, it’s sad, but I didn’t know her or her husband so it doesn’t bother me too much. I mostly just feel bad for the rest of my family cause they actually did know them.” He quickly smiled and changed the subject, “But, hey, how about that new Dr. Zone episode, huh?! Have you guys seen it?”
Following his lead, the others got into the new discussion.
“Well, I’m more of a baking show girl myself, but Dr. Zone is pretty, uh, interesting,” Amanda chuckled.
The rest of the night was peaceful and each of the kids had fun together.
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It had been 13 years. 13 long years since the Potter family died and the Boy Who Lived completely disappeared from the face of the earth. Dumbledore had used every resource he could get his hands on, but unfortunately there was no trace of the young savior.
The old man sighed and tiredly rubbed his eyes. Poor, lost, little Harry would’ve been in his fourth year by now, hopefully in Gryffindor, going to classes, making Gryffindor friends…
But sadly that was not the case. Dumbledore just hoped that he would be able to find him soon. The younger Harry was when introduced to magic the better. If he was older he might not be so easily convinced of the right ideals that Albus wanted him to have.
He was at his last few sources now. If these didn’t work then he’d panic, but he couldn't afford to lose a cool head now, not when he was so close.
He had already tried blood tracking spells, charms, going to shady dark wizards to see if they had any information, and even straight-up dark magic, but something always just seemed to go wrong. It was incredibly frustrating.
Today was the day after all the Hogwarts students had gone home and so he was planning to do something very risky in the Great Hall. He, Snape, and Minerva moved all the tables to the side. They were doing a ritual, one most muggles would call Satanic, where a circle was drawn and a potion spilled into it, then a spell would be cast. Once the spell took effect, it would completely one hundred percent give you the location of anyone or anything you were looking for via a slip of paper. Not so unlike the Goblet of Fire. The ingredients the potion required had actually taken him this whole 13 years to search for and get his hands on, otherwise, he would have done this about a week into Harry’s disappearance.
Dumbledore nodded at Snape as a signal to begin and quickly Snape poured the Potion all over the inside of the circle. Once every spot was completely covered, all three began speaking the spell in unison, pointing their wands at the center. And as their words washed over the room, the magic did its thing, flashing a blinding light. After a few seconds, it died down and they could see again. It didn’t take long before they saw the tiny slip of paper on the floor, dead center of the circle where they had pointed their wands.
Albus briskly walked over and picked it up, praying that it worked. It said: Harry Milo Murphy Potter, Location: America, California, Danville, in the third bedroom of Address: [Retracted]
“America?” Dumbledore exclaimed, “He’s been in America this entire time?”
The two professors next to him peered over his shoulder to also read the note.
Snape sneered, “I think the biggest questions here are how, why, and with who?”
Minerva furrowed her brows, “Indeed. How could he have possibly gotten from Hogwarts to California? Who has he been living with?”
Albus cleared his throat and got their attention, “I think the next best course of action would be to go and collect him immediately. Go to this address, explain the wizardry world, and get him to England.”
“Where would he even stay?” Snape questioned.
“We shall figure that out.”
“But, sir,” McGonagall gave him an uncertain look, “What if he doesn’t even want to come?”
Dumbledore frowned, “We must do everything we can to convince him.”