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"Blair?" Oliver's voice came from outside the door. Sliding down against the door, Blair didn't answer. She hadn't spoken to Oliver since their parents' funeral. A few days after she had come home from Hogwarts, they finally had her parents' funeral.

It was a private one, and they only invited a few people because the Ministry was keeping their deaths quiet. Dumbledore, the Weasleys, Neville and his grandmum, Moody, Tonks, Remus and Sirius in his dog form came. Hermione, Harry, Dean and Seamus sent her letters, apologizing for not being there. Blair responded with short letters, saying it was fine.

Blair was silent all through the ceremony. She didn't shed a tear, and she didn't look anyone in the eyes, knowing she would break down if she did so. It was good that everyone seemed to understand that and gave her the space she needed. When the ceremony was over, Dumbledore patted her on the shoulder before going on his way. Blair felt some of the tenseness in her body leave. After their talk in his office, Blair felt closer to her Headmaster. Understanding had passed between them, and they found comfort in each other.

Most people gave her hugs, and Sirius licked her hand and nuzzled into it. They all told Blair their words of comfort. Blair accepted it all with a quiet thanks and a weak smile, but the truth was it all made her feel worse. Every time someone hugged her, Blair remembered her own memories with her parents. How they would hug Blair tight, how they would always be willing to listen to her rants about Hermione, how they always cheered her up with Quidditch or milkshakes.

When everyone had left, Oliver held his hand out for her to take. Blair spoke quietly. "C-Can I have a few moments with them?"

Oliver's eyes softened and filled with tears. "Sure." Oliver walked away to the entrance and gave Blair her privacy.

Blair crouched down beside her parents' grave. "Hey, mum, dad. You always said that you wanted to live here in Godric's Hollow, but you never got the chance to. And now, you're here. Resting in peace, together."

Blair blinked back her tears. "We were supposed to live here together. Why'd you have to go too soon?" Blair took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice.

"Please come back." Her voice broke. Then, she took a glance at Oliver. He was still there, waiting for Blair.

Blair wiped away a stray tear hastily before kissing the top of her parents' graves. "I love you, mum, dad. I-I'll take care of everyone. You can rest now. Stay with me and Olli, always." Blair stood up and walked towards Oliver.

She took one last glance at her parents' graves as they Apparated away. 'Bye, mum, dad.'

Blair heard a sigh from the other side of the door. "Blair, I know it's hard for you, but you can't torture yourself like this. Mum-" 

Oliver took a deep and shaky breath. "Mum and Dad wouldn't like it."

That seemed to strike a nerve in Blair. She stood up and opened the door. She looked Oliver in the eyes and glared, not caring if he saw her tears. "Why?"

Oliver looked surprised. "Why what?"

"Why are you being like this to me? Don't you know it was my fault that they're dead? He made me choose, Oliver! He made me choose one to save. I couldn't even think of a plan in time. Dad told me to save Mum, but I couldn't even do it! I didn't save anyone. I'm not a bloody hero, and I'm not brave like everyone thinks I am!" Blair shouted.

Angry tears ran down her face as she started sobbing. "I-I don't deserve to be in Gryffindor. I don't deserve to be here right now. It should have been me."

Oliver cried at the sight of his sister looking so broken. It was clear that she had been holding in everything, trying to show everyone that she was fine. He took her into a hug and patted Blair on the back. Blair cried even more and hugged Oliver back. It was a hug of understanding, shared by the two broken Woods, and it reminded them of their parents, but it wasn't painful this time. It felt like... home. Tight like Blake's hugs and warm like Olivia's.

When Blair calmed down, Oliver pulled away and wiped away her tears. "I don't blame you, Blair. None of us do. I'm sure Mum and Dad don't either. It's okay to cry when you're feeling sad. It's okay to shout and yell if you're angry. It's okay to show your emotions, but don't blame yourself. You didn't kill them. V-Voldemort did. And don't say you're not brave, Blair. Don't you dare say you don't deserve to be in Gryffindor, and don't you bloody say that you don't deserve to be here right now and that it should have been you.

"Up there, up in the skies. Mum and Dad are watching us. They've never left us, Blair. And they're always here." Oliver pointed to her heart. "They're alive in us, Little B. The only thing we need to do is to never forget them, and they'll stay with us, all the way. No matter what happens, I'll love you. You're my little sister, and though I won't be there to protect you all the time, I'll be here with my shoulder when you need to cry. Don't avoid me anymore, all right? We're in this together. We're the Woods, after all."

Blair smiled widely at Oliver through her tears and hugged him once more. "Thank you, Olli. I love you too." And Oliver hugged her back, wiping away his tears. The two of them stood in that embrace for a long time, their hearts feeling relieved of the heavy weight that was on their chests since the night of the Third Task.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

"Olli! I'm ready." Blair yelled. She was going to see Harry after he had sent a letter about how alone he was. Blair felt the same. She felt isolated after a month of vacation, trying to fix the pieces of her broken heart.

It was going well though. She and Oliver had been comforting each other the whole time. She had taken it to herself to learn some of her mother's recipes, and she and Oliver played Quidditch a lot. Blair thought that he was right. Their parents were alive in them, and they had to make sure it would stay that way. She was thankful that she had Oliver through everything.

Blair looked up hopefully when Herman came. "Hey Herman! Any new letters?" Herman hooted happily. Blair smiled at the sight of two letters. She opened the one from Harry first. He told her that he was excited, and he couldn't wait to see her. Blair chuckled before she opened the one from Hermione then frowned.

Dear Blair,

We're kind of busy right now, but we'll see you soon.

Love, 

Mione

Blair was starting to get frustrated at how her friends were acting. First, Seamus stopped sending her letters, and she exchanged letters with Dean and Neville frequently during the start of the summer, but it seemed they were busy as well.

Then, the empty letters from Ron, Hermione and Sirius. She asked them if there were news about Voldemort, but they wouldn't say a word. She was getting frustrated. She had a right to know what was happening. 

It seemed that Harry shared the same thoughts. The two of them wrote all their frustrations and anger at their friends during the summer. Harry and Blair wrote to each other almost every day about their feelings and even the nightmares they were having. 

"I'm here. Let's go, Blair?" Oliver came in, all dressed up.

It took Blair a long time before she could convince Oliver to let her go and visit Harry. She was tired of being locked up in the house. Apparently, Oliver had orders from Dumbledore not to let her out. Oliver was clearly hesitant, especially when Blair said that she would go to Harry at night and after the events of last June, but he soon agreed because he wanted to make his little sister happy.

Blair smiled before taking his hand and the two of them Apparated. Blair saw Harry walking down the street, looking down. She hugged Oliver one last time. "Thanks, Olli. Take care, I love you!"

"I love you too, Little B. Don't get into trouble." Oliver ruffled her hair before Disapparating away.

Blair looked at Harry again and chuckled when he didn't take notice of her yet. She ran to Harry and jumped on his back. "James!"

Luckily, Harry had good reflexes from being a Quidditch player and caught her. Harry smiled widely before putting her down. "Aika!"

The two of them hugged each other tight, the tight hug conveying understanding, longing and happiness. Blair took something out of her bag. "Happy late birthday, Harry!"

Harry grinned even more at the small cake and hugged Blair again before eating it. The two of them walked to the park and sat on the swings before talking about their summers and their frustrations at their friends. Blair was happy. She truly missed her friends, and she was finally seeing one.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of voices. Blair and Harry exchanged glances before looking up. The streetlamps from the surrounding roads were casting a misty glow strong enough to silhouette a group of people making their way across the park. Harry whispered to Blair. "That's my cousin, Dudley, and his gang. They beat up little kids."

Blair scoffed as Dudley and his gang went out of sight. "Bullies, they are. If only I could use my wand, I'd stick it up right his nose like you did, Harry. He looks like a troll anyway." 

Harry laughed loudly at that before he offered to show Blair around. The two of them walked and Blair was listening carefully as Harry explained some of the Muggle things such as the doorbell and more. By walking quickly, the two of them saw Dudley, who was strolling along at his ease, humming tunelessly.

Harry whispered to Blair. "I'm going to do something. I need to let out everything."

Blair chuckled and nodded. "Go on, Harry. I'll wait here."

Harry smiled before calling out to Dudley. "Hey, Big D!"

Blair started walking around and smiled. It would be nice to settle down in a place like this one day. With all her friends and Hermione. She stopped in her tracks and frowned, remembering something. Wasn't Hermione going to tell her something on the night of the third task? Then, Blair became worried. Was she going to tell her that she liked Krum? Or that she doesn't want Blair to ask her out anymore?

But Blair suddenly became aware of her surroundings. Everything turned cold. The stars disappeared. She turned around and started running. "Harry!" She only felt this cold during her third year, but why were they here? Here in Little Whinging? She whispered. "Lumos."

And Blair felt her stomach drop. No feet or face visible, a dementor was right in front of her. The memories of the night in the graveyard pushed itself into Blair's mind. She closed her eyes quickly and thought of her. Hermione and her smile. She thought of all her friends, Oliver, Sirius and her parents and smiled softly. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

A majestic silver lion erupted from the tip of Blair's wand. She watched it claw at the dementor in the place where its heart should have been; it was thrown backward, weightless as darkness, and as the lion charged, the dementor swooped away, batlike and defeated. Blair started running again with her lion following after her. "HARRY!" 

She ran down the alley and saw Harry on the ground with the dementor clutching at his throat. She pointed her wand towards the dementor. The lion ran at it, and it flew away just as the first did.

Harry panted on the floor. "Thanks, Blair."

Blair simply nodded and helped him up. "Come on. Dudley."

They ran down the alley. Dudley was curled on the ground, his arms clamped over his face; a second dementor was crouching low over him, lowering its hooded head toward Dudley's face as though about to kiss him...

She heard Harry shout, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" just as she shouted. "There!" She pointed her lion towards the dementor. The lion pounced and the stag galloped.

The dementor's eyeless face was barely an inch from Dudley's when the silver antlers caught it; and the silver paws threw it in the air. Like its fellows, it soared away and was absorbed into the darkness. The stag and the lion cantered to the end of the alleyway and dissolved into silver mist. Moon, stars, and streetlamps burst back into life. A warm breeze swept the alleyway. Blair could not believe what had just happened. Dementors here, in Little Whinging...

Dudley lay curled up on the ground, whimpering and shaking. Blair bent down to see how she could help but then heard loud, running footsteps behind them; instinctively raising her wand again, Blain spun on her heel to face the newcomer. A batty old woman came panting into sight. Harry made to stow his wand hurriedly out of sight, and Blair lowered hers, but —

"Don't put it away, idiot boy and girl!" the old woman shrieked. "What if there are more of them around? Oh, I'm going to kill Mundungus Fletcher!"

Harry and Blair shared confused glances. "What?" said Harry blankly then whispered to Blair. "That's Mrs. Figg."

"The cat-obsessed neighbor?" Blair whispered back. Harry nodded.

"He left!" said Mrs. Figg, wringing her hands. "Left to see someone about a batch of cauldrons that fell off the back of a broom! I told him I'd flay him alive if he went, and now look! Dementors! It's just lucky I put Mr. Tibbies on the case! But we haven't got time to stand around! Hurry, now, we've got to get you back! And why are you here, girl? Oh, the trouble this is going to cause! I will kill him!"

"But —" Blair wondered. How could she know about dementors when she was a muggle? Unless...

"You're — you're a witch?" Harry asked her.

"A-Are you a Squib, Mrs. Figg?" Blair asked slowly.

Mrs. Figg looked surprised before nodding. "You're right, Blair. How did you — never mind. I'm a Squib, as Mundungus knows full well, so how on earth was I supposed to help you fight off dementors? He left you completely without cover when I warned him —"

"This bloke Mundungus has been following me? Hang on — it was him! He Disapparated from the front of my house!" Harry said in realization.

"Yes, yes, yes, but luckily I'd stationed Mr. Tibbies under a car just in case, and Mr. Tibbies came and warned me, but by the time I got to your house you'd gone — and now — oh, what's Dumbledore going to say? And the girl is here as well."

"You!" she shrieked at Dudley, still supine on the alley floor. "Get your fat bottom off the ground, quick!"

"You know Dumbledore?" said Blair, staring at her.

"Of course I know Dumbledore, who doesn't know Dumbledore? But come on — I'll be no help if they come back, I've never so much as Transfigured a teabag —" Mrs. Figg said. "Get up, you useless lump, get up!"

Blair took hold of one of Dudley's arm. "We'll do it." She and Harry managed to hoist Dudley to his feet with an enormous effort. 

"Hurry up!" said Mrs. Figg hysterically.

Blair and Harry pulled Dudley's arms around their shoulders and dragged him toward the road, sagging slightly under his weight. Mrs. Figg tottered along in front of them, peering anxiously around the corner.

"Keep your wands out," she told Harry and Blair, as they entered Wisteria Walk. "Never mind the Statute of Secrecy now, there's going to be hell to pay anyway, we might as well be hanged for a dragon as an egg. Talk about the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery... This was exactly what Dumbledore was afraid of — oh, and you're here too. This is a disaster. What's that at the end of the street? Oh, it's just Mr. Prentice... Don't put your wands away, you two, don't I keep telling you I'm no use?"

It was not easy to hold a wand steady and carry Dudley along at the same time. He was slumped on Harry and Blair's shoulders, his large feet dragging along the ground.

"Why didn't you tell me you're a Squib?" Harry asked Mrs. Figg, panting with the effort to keep walking. "All those times I came round your house — why didn't you say anything?"

"Dumbledore's orders. I was to keep an eye on you but not say anything, you were too young. I was also to give him news if you, Blair Wood, have come here. It looks like he expected it." Mrs. Figg said. 

Blair was confused. How would Dumbledore know about her plans when he hadn't communicated with her? And she was sure that Oliver didn't tell him either because she asked him to keep it a secret.

"I'm sorry I gave you such a miserable time, Harry, but the Dursleys would never have let you come if they'd thought you enjoyed it. It wasn't easy, you know... But oh my word," she said tragically, wringing her hands once more, "when Dumbledore hears about this — how could Mundungus have left, he was supposed to be on duty until midnight — where is he? How am I going to tell Dumbledore what's happened, I can't Apparate —"

"Harry's got an owl, you can borrow her," Blair said, wincing at the weight of Dudley.

Mrs. Figg let out a sigh. "Blair, Harry, you don't understand! Dumbledore will need to act as quickly as possible, the Ministry have their own ways of detecting underage magic, they'll know already, you mark my words —"

"But we were getting rid of dementors, we had to use magic — they're going to be more worried what dementors were doing floating around Wisteria Walk, surely?" Harry said, trying to keep his voice stable.

"Oh my dears, I wish it were so but I'm afraid — MUNDUNGUS FLETCHER, I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!" There was a loud crack and a strong smell of mingled drink and stale tobacco filled the air as a squat, unshaven man in a tattered overcoat materialized right in front of them.

"'S' up, Figgy?" he said, staring from Mrs. Figg to Harry, Blair and Dudley. "What 'appened to staying undercover? And why is the girl here?"

"I'll give you undercover!" cried Mrs. Figg. "Dementors, you useless, skiving sneak thief! And be thankful she's here! They got rid of the dementors!"

"Dementors?" repeated Mundungus, aghast. "Dementors here?"

"Yes, here, you worthless pile of bat droppings, here!" shrieked Mrs. Figg. "Dementors attacking the boy and girl on your watch!"

"Blimey," said Mundungus weakly, looking from Mrs. Figg to Harry to Blair and back again. "Blimey, I..."

"And you went off buying stolen cauldrons! Didn't I tell you not to go? Didn't I?"

"I — well, I —" Mundungus looked deeply uncomfortable. "It... it was a very good business opportunity, see..."

Mrs. Figg raised the arm from which her string bag dangled and whacked Mundungus around the face and neck with it.

"Ouch — gerroff — gerroff, you mad old bat! Someone's gotta tell Dumbledore!"

"Yes — they — have!" yelled Mrs. Figg, still swinging the bag of cat food at every bit of Mundungus she could reach. "And — it — had — better — be — you — and — you — can — tell — him — why — you — weren't — there — to — help!"

"Keep your 'airnet on!" said Mundungus, his arms over his head, cowering. "I'm going, I'm going!" And with another loud crack, he vanished.

"I hope Dumbledore murders him!" said Mrs. Figg furiously. "Now come on, Harry, Blair, what are you waiting for?"

Blair and Harry exchanged glances, both so tired under Dudley's weight, but they gave him another heave and dragged him once more.

"I'll take you to the door. Blair, you better stay here as well," said Mrs. Figg, as they turned into Privet Drive. "Just in case there are more of them around... Oh my word, what a catastrophe... and you had to fight them off yourself... and Dumbledore said we were to keep you from doing magic at all costs. Well, it's no good crying over spilled potion, I suppose... but the cat's among the pixies now..."

"So," Harry panted, "Dumbledore's... been having... me followed?"

"Of course he has," said Mrs. Figg impatiently. "Did you expect him to let you wander around on your own after what happened in June? Good Lord, boy, they told me you were intelligent... He also said that Blair might be coming here, and he was right. Now... get inside and stay there," she said as they reached number four. "I expect someone will be in touch with you soon enough."

"What are you going to do?" asked Blair quickly.

"I'm going straight home," said Mrs. Figg, staring around the dark street and shuddering. "I'll need to wait for more instructions. Just stay in the house. Good night."

"Hang on, don't go yet! We want to know —"

"Mrs. Figg, wait up —"

But Mrs. Figg had already set off at a trot, carpet slippers flopping, string bag clanking.

"Wait!" Blair shouted after her, but within seconds Mrs. Figg was swallowed by the darkness.

Harry scoffed. "Come on, Blair. Let's bring him in."

Slowly and painfully, the two of them carried Dudley to the door. The hall light was on. Blair stuck her wand back inside the waistband of her jeans while Harry rang the bell, and they watched Petunia Dursley's outline grow larger and larger.

"Diddy! About time too, I was getting quite — quite — Diddy, what's the matter?" Petunia looked over her son with worry. Blair and Harry ducked out under his arms just in time. Dudley swayed for a moment on the spot, his face pale green, then he opened his mouth at last and vomited all over the doormat.

"DIDDY! Diddy, what's the matter with you? Vernon? VERNON!"

Harry's uncle came galumphing out of the living room. He hurried forward to help Petunia negotiate a weak-kneed Dudley over the threshold while avoiding stepping in the pool of sick.

"He's ill, Vernon!" Petunia shouted.

"What is it, son? What's happened? Did Mrs. Polkiss give you something foreign for tea?" Vernon said with worry.

Blair was relieved that the weight of Dudley was gone and that Petunia and Vernon haven't noticed her yet.

"Why are you all covered in dirt, darling? Have you been lying on the ground?"

"Hang on — you haven't been mugged, have you, son?"

While they were talking, Blair followed Harry and slipped inside before Vernon slammed the door and made their way towards the kitchen. Harry motioned to the stairs, and the two of them moved carefully and quietly.

"Who did it, son? Give us names. We'll get them, don't worry."

"Shh! He's trying to say something, Vernon! What is it, Diddy? Tell Mummy!"

Blair and Harry were on the bottommost stair when Dudley spoke. "Them."  Blair and Harry exchanged glances of horror and braced themselves.

"WHAT IS THAT FREAK GIRL DOING HERE? GIRL! BOY! COME HERE!"

Blair and Harry sighed before going to the kitchens. Petunia was ushering Dudley into a chair. Vernon was standing in front of the draining board, glaring at Blair and Harry through tiny, narrowed eyes.

"Why are you here, freak? What have you done to my son?" he said in a menacing growl.

Blair held back her scoff. "Nothing," said Harry.

"What did they do to you, Diddy?" Petunia said in a quavering voice. "Was it — was it you-know-what, darling? Did they use — that thing?"

Slowly, tremulously, Dudley nodded.

"We didn't!" Blair said sharply, as Petunia let out a wail and Vernon raised his fists. "We didn't do anything to him, it was —"

But at that precise moment a screech owl swooped in through the kitchen window. It soared across the kitchen, dropped the large parchment envelope it was carrying in its beak at Blair and Harry's feet, and turned gracefully, then zoomed outside again and off across the garden.

"OWLS!" bellowed Vernon as he slammed the kitchen window shut. "OWLS AGAIN! I WILL NOT HAVE ANY MORE OWLS IN MY HOUSE!"

Blair picked up the envelope, ripped it open and pulled out the two letters. There was one for Harry and one for her. She handed Harry his before reading hers.

Dear Ms. Wood,

We have received intelligence that you performed the Patronus Charm at twenty-three minutes past nine this evening in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of a Muggle. The severity of this breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery has resulted in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Ministry representatives will be calling at your location shortly to destroy your wand. As you have already received an official warning for a previous offense under section 13 of the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9 a.m. on August 12th.

Hoping you are well,

Yours sincerely,

Mafalda Hopkirk

IMPROPER USE OF MAGIC OFFICE

Ministry of Magic

Blair's voice got caught in her throat, and she felt cold and numb. It was all over. She was expelled from Hogwarts. She looked at Harry and saw the same look of sadness. They were never going back. Blair didn't even take notice of the Dursleys anymore and wrapped an arm around Harry. "I'll take you with me, James. I won't let you stay here. We-We'll find a way."

Harry smiled and hugged Blair tight. "Thank you, Aika." They were silent when Harry's head suddenly snapped up. "Our wands. They're going to destroy it."

Blair let out a shaky breath. "We need our wands, Harry. W-We have to run. Now." The two of them nodded once before turning to leave the kitchen.

"Where d'you think you're going?" yelled Vernon. When both of them didn't reply, Vernon pounded across the kitchen to block the doorway into the hall. "I haven't finished with you, boy, girl!"

"Get out of the way," said Harry quietly.

"You're going to stay here and explain how my son —"

"If you don't get out of the way I'm going to jinx you," said Blair, raising her wand.

"You can't pull that one on me!" snarled Vernon. "I know you're not allowed to use it outside that madhouse you call a school!"

"The madhouse has chucked us out," said Harry. "So we can do whatever we like. You've got three seconds. One — two —"

A resounding CRACK filled the kitchen; Petunia screamed, Vernon yelled and ducked. Blair saw a dazed and ruffled-looking barn owl was sitting outside on the kitchen sill, having just collided with the closed window.

Ignoring Vernon's anguished yell of "OWLS!", Blair and Harry crossed the room at a run and wrenched the window open again. The owl stuck out its leg and took off the moment Harry had pulled off the letter. Hands shaking, Harry unfurled the second message and Blair read it with him. It was written very hastily and blotchily in black ink.

Harry, Blair — Dumbledore's just arrived at the Ministry, and he's trying to sort it all out. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE, HARRY. YOU TOO, BLAIR. STAY THERE. DO NOT DO ANY MORE MAGIC. DO NOT SURRENDER YOUR WANDS.

Arthur Weasley

Blair and Harry looked at each other before Blair whispered. "What does that mean?"

"Maybe, we might be allowed back to Hogwarts, then?" Harry said hopefully. The two of them were smiled. It wasn't over yet. Harry's eyes widened. "But how would we not use magic if we needed to surrender our wands?"

Blair frowned before her eyes lit up with an idea. "Maybe, we should just do it the Muggle way. Punch them and go?"

Harry chuckled. "They might just stun us, you know?"

It was silence again. They wanted to run as far as possible, but they had to follow Mr. Weasley's orders. They shared a silent agreement with their eyes. "Right," Harry said, "We've changed our minds, we're staying." He flung himself down at the kitchen table. Blair sat down right beside him in a carefree manner. The Dursleys appeared taken aback at their abrupt change of mind.

"So?" said Vernon, glaring at Blair.

"Well, Uncle Grumble. The first one was from our Ministry of Magic, expelling us. The second one was from our friend Ron's dad. He works at the Ministry." Blair calmly explained.

"Ministry of Magic?" bellowed Vernon. "People like you in government? Oh this explains everything, everything, no wonder the country's going to the dogs..." Blair didn't respond. She wasn't happy with the Ministry, but she didn't like how the Muggles would hate on wizards.

Vernon glared at them, then spat, "And why have you been expelled?"

"Because we did magic." Harry said calmly.

"AHA!" roared Vernon, slamming his fist down on the top of the fridge. "So you admit it! What did you do to Dudley?"

Blair's hands were shaking in slight fury. "Nothing. It wasn't us —"

"Was," muttered Dudley unexpectedly, and Vernon and Petunia instantly made flapping gestures at Blair and Harry to quiet them while they both bent low over Dudley.

"Go on, son," said Vernon, "what did they do?"

"Tell us, darling," whispered Petunia.

"Pointed his wand at me," Dudley mumbled.

"Yeah, I did, but I didn't use —" Harry began angrily, but...

"SHUT UP!" roared Vernon and Petunia in unison.

"Go on, son," repeated Vernon, mustache blowing about furiously.

"All dark," Dudley said hoarsely, shuddering. "Everything dark. And then I h-heard... things. Inside m-my head..."

Vernon and Petunia exchanged looks of utter horror. "What sort of things did you hear, popkin?" breathed Petunia, very white-faced and with tears in her eyes. But Dudley seemed incapable of saying. He shuddered again and shook his large blond head.

"How come you fell over, son?" said Vernon in an unnaturally quiet voice.

"T-tripped," said Dudley shakily. "And then —" He gestured at his massive chest.

"Horrible," croaked Dudley. "Cold. Really cold."

"Okay," said Vernon in a voice of forced calm, while Petunia laid an anxious hand on Dudley's forehead to feel his temperature. "What happened then, Dudders?"

"Felt... felt... felt... as if... as if..."

"As if you'd never be happy again," Harry supplied tonelessly.

"Yes," Dudley whispered, still trembling.

"So," said Vernon as he straightened up. "So you two put some crackpot spell on my son so he'd hear voices and believe he was — was doomed to misery, or something, did you?"

Harry's temper rose with his voice. "How many times do we have to tell you? It wasn't us! It was a couple of dementors!"

"A couple of — what's this codswallop?"

"De — men — tors," said Blair slowly and clearly. "Three of them."

"And what the ruddy hell are dementors?"

"They guard the wizard prison, Azkaban," said Petunia. Two seconds' ringing silence followed these words and then Petunia clapped her hand over her mouth. Blair's eyes widened. How would Harry's magic-hating aunt know about the dementors?

"How d'you know that?" Blair asked her, astonished.

Petunia looked quite appalled with herself. She glanced at Vernon in fearful apology, then lowered her hand slightly. "I heard — that awful boy — telling her about them — years ago," she said jerkily.

"If you mean my mum and dad, why don't you use their names?" said Harry loudly, but Petunia ignored him. She seemed horribly flustered.

Vernon opened his mouth, closed it again, opened it once more, shut it, then opened it for a third time and croaked, "So — so — they — er — they — er — they actually exist, do they — er — dementy-whatsits?"

Petunia nodded. Vernon looked from Petunia to Dudley to Harry to Blair. Then, he opened his mouth yet again, but was spared the struggle to find more words by the arrival of the third owl of the evening, which landed with a clatter on the kitchen table, causing all three of the Dursleys to jump with fright. Blair tore a second official-looking envelope from the owl's beak and ripped it open as the owl swooped back out into the night. There were two letters again.

"Enough — effing — owls..." muttered Vernon distractedly, stomping over to the window and slamming it shut again. Blair read hers.

Dear Ms. Wood,

Further to our letter of approximately twenty-two minutes ago, the Ministry of Magic has revised its decision to destroy your wand forthwith. You may retain your wand until your disciplinary hearing on 12th August, at which time an official decision will be taken.

Following discussions with the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Ministry has agreed that the question of your expulsion will also be decided at that time. You should therefore consider yourself suspended from school pending further inquiries.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Mafalda Hopkirk

IMPROPER USE OF MAGIC OFFICE

Ministry of Magic

Blair read the letter several times, making sure that it was real. Then, she let out a sigh of relief and looked at Harry. The two of them smiled. Everything seemed to hang on this hearing on the twelfth of August, but at least, they were safe for now.

"Well?" said Vernon, recalling Blair to her surroundings. "What now? Have they sentenced you to anything? Do your lot have the death penalty?" he added as a hopeful afterthought.

 "We've got to go to a hearing," said Harry.

"And they'll sentence you there?"

Blair raised an eyebrow. "I suppose so."

"I won't give up hope, then," said Vernon nastily.

"Well, if that's all, Blair and I-" said Harry, getting to his feet. Blair stood up as well, wanting to get away from Harry's horrid relatives.

"NO, IT RUDDY WELL IS NOT ALL!" bellowed Vernon. "SIT BACK DOWN!"

"What now?" said Blair impatiently.

"DUDLEY!" roared Vernon. "I want to know exactly what happened to my son!"

"FINE!" yelled Harry, and in his temper, red and gold sparks shot out of the end of his wand, still clutched in his hand. All three Dursleys flinched, looking terrified. Blair nudged him and motioned to his wand. Harry took a deep breath and put his wand back.

"Dudley and I were in the alleyway between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk," said Harry, speaking fast. "Dudley thought he'd be smart with me, I pulled out my wand but didn't use it. Then three dementors turned up —"

"But what ARE dementoids?" asked Vernon furiously. "What do they DO?"

"I told you — they suck all the happiness out of you," said Harry, "and if they get the chance, they kiss you —"

"Kiss you?" said Vernon, his eyes popping slightly. "Kiss you?"

"It's what they call it when they suck the soul out of your mouth." Blair said calmly.

Petunia uttered a soft scream. "His soul? They didn't take — he's still got his —" She seized Dudley by the shoulders and shook him.

"Of course they didn't get his soul, you'd know if they had," said Blair, exasperated.

"Fought 'em off, did you, son?" said Vernon loudly, with the appearance of a man struggling to bring the conversation back onto a plane he understood. "Gave 'em the old one-two, did you?"

"You can't give a dementor the old one-two," said Harry through clenched teeth.

"Why's he all right, then?" blustered Vernon. "Why isn't he all empty, then?"

"Because we used the Patronuses —" Harry was cut off with a WHOOSH. With a clattering, a whirring of wings, and a soft fall of dust, a fourth owl came shooting out of the kitchen fireplace.

"FOR GOD'S SAKE!" roared Vernon. "I WILL NOT HAVE OWLS HERE, I WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS, I TELL YOU!"

But Harry was already pulling a roll of parchment from the owl's leg. Blair leaned towards him. She thought it had to be news. Someone would tell them what was going on. She smiled when she saw Sirius's handwriting. Finally. Blair and Harry read Sirius's message.

Arthur's just told us what's happened.

Don't leave the house again, whatever you two do.

Blair turned the parchment over, but nothing. Blair felt her temper rising. "What is this, Aika? It's like nobody thought of the fact that we just fought off three dementors? Harry muttered lowly under his breath.

Blair glared at the paper. "Why are they telling us off? It's not like we wanted to fight those dementors."

"— a peck, I mean, pack of owls shooting in and out of my house and I won't have it, boy, girl, I won't —"

"We can't stop the owls coming," Harry snapped, crushing Sirius's letter in his fist.

"I want the truth about what happened tonight!" barked Vernon. "If it was demenders who hurt Dudley, how come you've been expelled? You did you-know-what, you've admitted it!"

Blair felt a sudden ache in her chest and took a deep breath. "We did something called the Patronus Charm to get rid of the dementors," she said, forcing herself to remain calm. "It's the only thing that works against them."

"But what were dementoids doing in Little Whinging?" said Vernon in tones of outrage.

"Couldn't tell you," said Harry wearily. "No idea."

Blair saw how tired he was and felt the same. All the anger went out of her body. She felt drained. She wanted to go back to the Woody Woods and lie down beside Oliver, warming herself up with her brother's hug. The Dursleys were all staring at them. Vernon glared at her again. "Why are you even here? Shouldn't you be in your freaky world or something?"

Blair didn't glare back and just sighed. "Look, I just wanted to spend time with Harry, all right?"

"It's you," said Vernon forcefully. "It's got something to do with you, girl, I know it. Why else would they turn up here? Why else would they be down that alleyway? You suddenly arrived, and they come. You and the boy have got to be the only — the only — The only you-know-what for miles."

"We don't know why they were here..." Blair said again before she put her mind to it. Why had the dementors come to Little Whinging? How could it be coincidence that they had arrived on the night that Blair would be coming? Had they been sent? Had the Ministry of Magic lost control of the dementors, had they deserted Azkaban and joined Voldemort, as Dumbledore had predicted they would?

"These demembers guard some weirdos' prison?" said Vernon, lumbering in the wake of Blair's train of thought.

"Yes," said Harry. Blair's chest started aching again. She put a hand to it, trying to relieve some of the pain. She wanted to get away from the Dursleys.

"Oho! They were coming to arrest you two!" said Vernon. "That's it, isn't it, boy? You and the girl are on the run from the law!"

"Of course we're not," said Harry, shaking his head.

"Then why — ?"

"He must have sent them," said Harry quietly, more to Blair than to Vernon.

Blair held her head in her hands. "This can't be good. It's just like Dumbledore said."

"What's that? Who must have sent them?" Vernon asked them.

"Lord Voldemort," said Harry. Blair raised an eyebrow. The Dursleys flinched when they heard words like "wizard," "witch," "magic," and "wand," but they didn't even flinch at Voldemort's name.

"Lord — hang on," said Vernon, his face screwed up. "I've heard that name... that was the one who..."

"Murdered Blair's and my parents, yes," Harry said.

"But he's gone," said Vernon impatiently. "That giant bloke said so. He's gone."

"He's back," said Blair heavily.

"Back?" whispered Petunia. She was looking at Harry and Blair as she had never looked at them before. Blair saw Harry's eyes soften before she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Petunia knew about him. It was clear in the look of fear in her eyes.

"Yes," Harry said. "He came back a month ago. We saw him."

Petunia's hands found Dudley's massive leather-clad shoulders and clutched them.

"Hang on," said Vernon, looking from his wife to Harry and Blair and back again. "Hang on. This Lord Voldything's back, you say."

"Yes." Blair and Harry said in unison.

"The one who murdered your parents."

"Yep." Blair closed her eyes once more.

"And now he's sending dismembers after you two?"

"Looks like it," said Harry.

"I see," said Vernon, looking from his white-faced wife to Harry and Blair. "Well, that settles it," he said angrily, "you can get out of this house, boy! Bring the girl with you."

"What?" said Blair and Harry.

"You heard me — OUT!" Vernon bellowed, and even Petunia and Dudley jumped. "OUT! OUT! I should've done it years ago! Owls treating the place like a rest home, puddings exploding, half the lounge destroyed, Dudley's tail, Marge bobbing around on the ceiling, and that flying Ford Anglia — And you bring in this girl. Another freak! OUT! OUT! You've had it! You're history! You're not staying here if some loony's after you, you're not endangering my wife and son, you're not bringing trouble down on us, if you're going the same way as your useless parents, I've had it! OUT!"

Blair stood rooted to her spot and glared at Vernon. "We can't-"

"You heard me!" said Vernon, bending forward now, so that his massive purple face came closer to Blair and Harry's. "Get going! You were all keen to leave half an hour ago! I'm right behind you! Get out and never darken our doorstep again! Why we ever kept you in the first place I don't know. Marge was right, it should have been the orphanage, we were too damn soft for our own good, thought we could squash it out of you, thought we could turn you normal, but you've been rotten from the beginning, and I've had enough — OWLS!"

The fifth owl zoomed down the chimney so fast it actually hit the floor before zooming into the air again with a loud screech. It soared straight over Blair's head, flying directly at Petunia, who let out a scream and ducked, her arms over her face. The owl dropped the red envelope on her head, turned, and flew straight up the chimney again. Harry darted forward to pick up the letter, but Petunia beat him to it.

"You can open it if you like," said Harry, "but we'll hear what it says anyway. That's a Howler."

"Let go of it, Petunia!" roared Vernon. "Don't touch it, it could be dangerous!"

"It's addressed to me," said Petunia in a shaking voice. "It's addressed to me, Vernon, look! Mrs. Petunia Dursley, The Kitchen, Number Four, Privet Drive —" She caught her breath, horrified. The red envelope had begun to smoke.

"Open it!" Blair urged her. "Get it over with! It'll happen anyway —"

"No —" Petunia's hand was trembling. She looked wildly around the kitchen but too late — the envelope burst into flames. Petunia screamed and dropped it. An awful voice filled the kitchen, echoing in the confined space, issuing from the burning letter on the table.

"REMEMBER MY LAST, PETUNIA. BLAIR WOOD WILL STAY THERE."

Petunia looked as though she might faint. She sank into the chair beside Dudley, her face in her hands. The remains of the envelope smoldered into ash in the silence. Blair was confused. Why did she have to stay in there with the Dursleys? She would still stay for Harry, but she just didn't understand why.

"What is this?" Vernon said hoarsely. "What — I don't — Petunia?"

Petunia said nothing. Dudley was staring stupidly at his mother, his mouth hanging open. The silence spiraled horribly. Blair was watching Petunia, utterly bewildered, her chest burning once more.

"Petunia, dear?" said Vernon timidly. "P-Petunia?" 

Petunia raised her head. She was still trembling. She swallowed. "The boy — the boy will have to stay, Vernon, and the girl will too," she said weakly. Blair's eyes widened at Petunia's decision.

"W-what?" Vernon looked just as bewildered as she was.

"They will stay," she said. She was not looking at Harry or Blair. She got to her feet again.

"They... but Petunia..."

"If we throw him out, the neighbors will talk, and we'll just have to say the girl is a distant relative," she said, regaining her usual brisk, snappish manner though still very pale. "They'll ask awkward questions, they'll want to know where he's gone. We'll have to keep him and the girl here, Vernon."

Vernon was deflating like an old tire. "But Petunia, dear —"

Petunia ignored him. She turned to Harry. "You're to stay in your room," she said. "You're not to leave the house. Now get to bed."

Then, she turned to Blair. "You, go with him. Do not leave this house. Do not do anything. Go."

Blair simply nodded. "Thank you."

Harry didn't move. "Who was that Howler from?"

"Don't ask questions," Petunia snapped.

"Are you in touch with wizards?" Harry said persistently.

"I told you to get to bed!" Petunia said loudly.

"Wait. What did it mean? Remember the last what?" Harry asked curiously.

"Go to bed!" Petunia yelled at them.

"How come — ?" Harry was cut off by Vernon's shouting.

"YOU HEARD YOUR AUNT, NOW GET TO BED!" 

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