The house is filled with the sound of family cleaning. Petunia is in the kitchen, frantically wiping all of the counters down, making sure there isn't a speck present. Vernon is sitting in the sitting room, flipping through the paper as the news plays on the telly. Dudley sits on a nearby couch, playing on his GameBoy as Lily folds laundry on the living room floor. Harry vacuums upstairs, ensuring all the little crumbs and dirt specks are cleaned up. He is in desperate need of getting some school papers signed but doesn't dare ask until all of his work is done.

Lily finishes folding and sorts the laundry into its respective piles. Piling all of the clothes into her basket and braces it against her hip as she makes her way up the stairs. She puts her aunt and uncle's clothes away first, ensuring all their dresses and suits are lined up neatly. Then she goes to Dudley's room, placing his shorts and pants into their respective drawers. Aunt Petunia had recently needed to buy him a new wardrobe, the diet he had been on for school had been working. He was nowhere near as thin as Harry, but he could sit in one seat alone now. Harry's clothes were the easiest to put away as the only thing that got hung up was his new suit, and she had washed that weeks ago. Aunt Petunia had tried to ruin the suit by turning the washer to hot water and the roughest setting, which would have ripped it to shreds. Luckily, Lily noticed before anything damaging could happen and hand-washed it in the sink before hanging it to dry in her bathroom. It is hanging sharply in Harry's small closet, away from anything, or anyone who could do it any harm.

When all that is left are her clothes, Lily hangs them up and away in her wardrobe. And places them inside her dresser. Finishing she takes the wicker basket back to the laundry room, placing it on its shelf. Walking back to the sitting room she pauses in the doorway, listening to the announcer on the telly.

"...The public is warned that Black is armed and extremely dangerous. A special hotline has been set up, and any sighting of Black should be reported immediately." The reporter straightens his stack of papers as a picture of a scraggly-looking man with long, dark, matted hair appears on the screen, screaming madly.

Uncle Vernon lets out a breathy laugh, "No need to tell us he's no good." He closes his newspaper, gesturing to the telly. "Look at the state of him, the filthy layabout! Look at that hair!" He shoots Harry, who had stopped next to Lily in the doorway, a nasty look. Harry's messy hair had always been a source of great annoyance, but now that he has been drying it so that his natural curls fall through, he seems even more annoyed.

The reporter reappeared, "The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will announce today -"

Vernon sits up, throwing his newspaper down in anguish. "Hang on!" He barks, thrusting his arms forward, "You didn't tell us where that maniac's escaped from! What use is that? That lunatic could be coming up the street right now!"

Aunt Petunia looks out of the window in fright, though no manky murderer appears. Lily walks out of the doorway into the hall, ignoring Vernon's vexed muttering. She grabs his coat and his hat, walking back into the room in time to hear Vernon discussing the rules for when Marge is there.

"Secondly," Uncle Vernon continues on his rant, Lily listening, having missed the beginning. "As Marge doesn't know anything about your abnormality, I don't want any- any funny stuff while she's here. You behave yourself, get me?" Lily steps back, his venomous words, while not directed at her, still hurt. If Harry has an abnormality, so do I.

Harry nods stiffly, "I will if she does."

Vernon narrows his eyes. "And thirdly," His face gradually turning purple with rage, "we've told Marge you attend St. Brutus' Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys."

"What?!" Harry yells. Lily doesn't blame him for being upset, this school paints him in such a bad light. Where did they say I go to school? She wonders.

"And you'll be sticking to that story, boy, or there'll be trouble," Vernon spits. Harry stares at him, face white with rage. Before he can speak and get himself in trouble Lily speaks up.

"Where did you tell her I got to school, Uncle?" Vernon turns to look at the girl, face confused.

"I don't remember," He shrugs, "Petunia, where did we tell Marge, Lily goes to school ?"

Petunia enters the room, wiping her hands dry with a dishrag. "That would be Mademoiselle Weryla's School for Elegant Young Ladies, where they teach girls all of the skills they need to be proper young ladies in society," Petunia says, putting a hand on Lily's cheek.

Vernon claps his hands, regaining everyone's attention. "I'll be off to the station, then. Want to come along for the ride, Dudders?"

"No," Dudley says, attention redirected to the TV.

"Dudley's got to make himself smart for his auntie," Petunia says, running a hand through Dudley's thick blonde hair. "Mummy's bought him a dashing new bowtie, and Lily, Auntie's bought you a darling little dress." Lily claps her hands excitedly.

"I best be off then," Vernon walks through the hall towards the door.

Harry suddenly gets an idea, rushing after him.

"I am not taking you." Vernon spits, and Lily slowly walks to the stairs.

Harry sighs, "Like I would want to come. I want to ask you something."

Vernon rolls his eyes.

"Third years at Hog- at my school are allowed to visit the village sometimes," He says, wringing his hands together.

"So?" Vernons snaps, taking his keys from a hook next to the door; ignoring Harry's flinching at his tone.

"I need you to sign the permission form," Harry rushes out.

Vernon sneers, folding his large arms. "And why should I do that?"

"Well," Harry starts, "it'll be hard work, pretending to Aunt Marge I go to that St. Whatsits -"

"St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys!" Vernon bellows, a hint of panic shining through his tone.

Lily flinches near the stairs, tucking behind the corner; watching the exchange.

"Exactly," Harry starts.

"Are you threatening me, boy?" Vernon hisses, taking a step forward.

Harry flinches back, holding his hands up. "Not at all uncle, I am just saying. It is a lot to remember, what if I forget or get confused? You're the one who continues to tell me that I'm too stupid to amount to anything."

Vernon lets out a mighty shout, filled with rage. "Let anything slip and I'll beat you black and blue!" He grabs Harry by the front of his shirt, holding him threateningly close.

"That won't change the fact that Marge will know, how would you explain that to her?'' Vernon pushed Harry away, holding up a finger.

"Alright! I will sign the bloody paper but only after Marges' visit ends without a hitch. Any funny business, any at all, and you will not only not have your form signed but, I will lock you in that cupboard until it is time to send you away to that ruddy school!" Vernon finishes whirling out of the house, slamming the door behind him.

Harry turns to go upstairs and sees his sister standing there looking quite concerned. "Hey Lils, you alright?"

"I'm fine Harry, I hope you can pull this off." They walk upstairs to Harry's room where he sadly collects his books and things and places them under the loose floorboard below his bed. As he packs his things away Lily sits at his desk, petting Hedwig and the other owl she did not recognize. "Harry, whose owl is this?"

Harry turns to see Errol sleeping, head tucked under his wings. "That's Errol, he is Ron's family's owl." Lily nods. Harry finishes putting all of his things away and walks over to the desk. "Hedwig, I'm going to need you to spend the week at Ron's, I'll write him a letter." Harry pulls out a piece of paper, "I know you don't want to, and- don't look at me like that." Harry looks at his owl, Lily looks at her too and is confused, and Hedwig looks no different. Her face hasn't changed but perhaps Harry can see something she can't. "I'm sorry, I know - look I know you don't want to but he treats you well - it's only for a week. It's not my fault, I'm sure you don't want to hear that but still, It's the only way I'll be allowed to visit Hogsmeade with Ron and Hermione." Hedwig's face changes not but Harry seems to wilt. "Please don't be mad, I'll see you in a week." He attaches the letter to her leg and she darts out the window followed by Errol.

"Harry it's all right, Hedwig will be fine at Ron's, you know his mum is going to treat her well. If anything you'll get her back better off than when she left." Harry nods, comforted by her kind words.

The two siblings sit in Harry's room, talking quietly about life until the sound of Petunia's shrill voice permeates the air. They both walk downstairs, Lily smoothing down her new dress, and Harry straightening his t-shirt. They glance at one another at the sound of a car pulling into the drive.

At Aunt Petunia's insistence, Harry opens the door, revealing Aunt Marge. She barges into the house, an evil little bulldog tucked under her arm. She thrusts her suitcase towards Harry, slamming him in the stomach.

"Where're my Dudders?" Marge bellows, "Where's my neffy-poo?" Dudley walks through the hall allowing Marge to seize him in a hug and place a sloppy kiss on his cheek. "Petunia, are you starving the poor boy, he's lost so much weight."

The two embrace, pecking each other's cheeks. "Marge, so good to see you. You know Dudley's been on a diet, Smeltings just doesn't make uniforms in his size anymore. And the doctor said he would need to lose some weight for his health."

"Oh pish posh, you know us Dursleys are big boned, he is but a healthy boy." Marge grips Dudley's cheek, giving it a shake.

Vernon enters the room, smiling as he shut the door. "Tea, Marge? And what will Ripper have?"

"Ripper can have some tea out of my saucer," Marge says as they walk into the kitchen, leaving Harry to take up the suitcase. Lily follows along, setting the kettle up in the kitchen and pulling the fruitcake out of the cabinet. "So, I see you have still kept the children?" She says the word children as if it were something vile.

Lily looks up from the kettle, watching them as she pulls out tea things. "Well of course we have Marge, you know Lily is doing very well in her dancing. And the boy is adequate at keeping the house clean." Petunia says, surprising them all.

Before Marge can say another word Vernon interrupts her to ask about the dogs. "Who's looking after the other dogs, Marge?" He asks.

No one notices as Harry slips into the room, helping Lily pass out tea cups and saucers.

"Oh, I've got Colonel Fubster managing them," she says. "He's retired now, good for him to have something to do, though I couldn't leave poor Ripper. He is my most loyal baby."

The aforementioned dog lets out a mighty growl as Harry sets down a plate of tea for him. Lily flinched back, frightening memories of being bitten as a child flashing through her mind. Finishing passing out the tea she sits next to Dudley, across from Petunia.

Marge looks to see what is disturbing Ripper and lays eyes on Harry. "Hmm, you're still here are you?" Marge sneers.

"Yes," Harry says bluntly.

"Do not 'yes' me in that tone," Marge growls. "You best be grateful Vernon and Petunia were kind enough to keep you. I sure as hell wouldn't have, would've dropped you off at the closest orphanage that night."

Lily looked at Harry, seeing the rage behind his eyes. Though he hid it with a pained smile.

"Don't you smirk at me, you ungrateful child!" Booms Marge, "I see you are just as smug and unctuous as you always were. I would've hoped that school of yours would knock some manners into you." She takes a large gulp of tea, "Where is it that you sent him Vernon?"

"St. Brutus', Marge." Vernon says, taking a bite of his fruitcake.

"Ah yes," Marge says. "Do they use the cane at St. Brutus', boy?"

Harry hesitates, but at Vernon's nod he replies, "Yes, all the time."

Marge glares at him, "I still don't like your tone," but she lets it go, turning to Petunia. "You said the girl has been dancing more, how has that gone?"

Petunia smiles, glad to talk about her favorite topic, her angel. "Well, Lily has been going to Mademoiselle Weryla's School for Elegant Young Ladies, a very good school for young ladies to learn how to thrive in society. She has also been taking dance classes at a dance studio nearby, her instructors always shower her with compliments whenever I come to pick her up."

Marge smiles, liking how happy this makes her sister-in-law. "That is good, do you want to grow up to be a dancer?" Marge turns to Lily, who had been sitting diligently.

Before she can answer Petunia cuts her off. "Oh yes, Lily would love to be a dancer. It is her dream." Lily just smiles.

"Well she doesn't look like a dancer, do you know what I mean?" Marge says, gesturing to Lily. "While she is rather short she is built like a dancer although, her hair is much too bright, you should dye it a darker color, perhaps brown?"

Petunia's face turns to stone, "Oh no," She says, running a hand through Lily's vibrant curls. "I quite like the red."

Marge tries to push the subject, saying how darker hair would compliment her skin tone and make her eyes appear brighter but Petunia has stopped listening.

It isn't until Marge begins to tell Lily directly that it isn't the color that is the issue, just the brightness, and if she dyed it a darker red then it would be nicer. Petunia is done, she places her hands on the table with force, and Lily jumps at the sound.

"Lily and I are going to take a round about the garden and see if our flowers have grown. Please excuse us." Petunia stands pulling Lily with her, giving Vernon a look that says to talk to his sister. The two then depart outside. The pair walk through the garden, checking on all of the flower sprouts. "You understand why I told Marge no don't you Lily, you don't want to dye your hair?"

Lily nods, she likes having red hair. "I don't want to dye my hair auntie, I love the color. Although the length can get annoying sometimes so I would love to cut it. Try something new, perhaps a bob; considering my hair is so curly I think it would look nice."

Petunia's frown deepens. "Lily, you don't want to cut your hair." She runs her fingers through the front of Lily's hair, soothing her. "My Lily has rich long hair, she doesn't like cutting it. She thinks if she has short hair she'll look like a boy, you don't want to look like a boy do you?"

Lily shakes her head, she didn't want to look like a boy.

"That's right, oh look at the gypsophila, don't they look lovely." Thoroughly distracted Lily doesn't question much else, realizing that she didn't want to cut her hair.

That night, when everyone is asleep Lily sneaks out of her room and down to the kitchen. She gathers the small slice of cake she had hidden in a cupboard before sneaking to Harry's room. Waking him up she sings him a quiet happy birthday and they spend their night talking and eating cake.

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The next morning everyone sits down to breakfast, discussing Ripper's enjoyment of their trip so far and Marge's strong grip on her wine glass last night when Petunia places a mug of hot chocolate in front of Lily. She takes a sip, noticing a strange flavor.

"Auntie, this tastes funny." Her aunt sends her a small smile.

"I bought a new brand of hot chocolate, angel."

"Oh, ok."