The Forgotten Twin

Chapter 2

Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew and niece on the front step, but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all. The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys' front door; it crept into their living room, which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr. Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls. Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed. Ten years ago, there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing different-colored bonnets — but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby, and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle, on a carousel at the fair, playing a computer game with his father, being hugged and kissed by his mother. The room held no sign at all that two other kids lived in the house, too.

Yet Harry and Delilah Potter were still there, asleep at the moment, but not for long. Their Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day.

"Up! Get up! Now!"

Delilah moved with a start. Her aunt rapped on the door again.

"Up!" she screeched. Delilah heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove. She put her book down and walked to Harry's bed. She gently shook him, but he rolled onto his back, ignoring her.

Their aunt was back outside the door.

"Are you two up yet?" she demanded.

"Almost," Delilah quickly answered.

"Well, get a move on, I want you two to look after the bacon and eggs. And don't you dare let it burn, I want everything perfect for Dudley's birthday."

Harry groaned.

"What did you say?" Aunt Petunia snapped through the door.

"Nothing, nothing..." Harry sighed.

Delilah sighed. She had hoped she had gotten the date wrong.

Harry finally got out of bed and got dressed.

Delilah was already dressed, as she always got up early.

"Hurry, we don't want precious Dudder's bacon to burn," Delilah whispered and he hurried up and they walked downstairs.

Harry and Delilah shared the extra bedroom that held all of Dudley's toys, but whenever either of them behaved badly, they were sent to the closet under the stairs, or if it was both of them they were locked in their room and food was passed through the food slot the Dursleys had installed last year during winter break when they had 'accidentally' upset Aunt Marge.

Delilah and Harry made it to the kitchen. The table was almost hidden beneath all Dudley's birthday presents. It looked as though Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted, not to mention the second television and the racing bike. Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike made no sense to Delilah, as Dudley was very fat and hated exercise — unless of course it involved punching somebody. Dudley's favorite punching bag was Harry, though Harry was pretty fast despite how skinny and small he seemed and since he always had to wear Dudley's old clothes... he looked even more skinny.

Delilah luckily didn't have to wear Dudley's old stuff, but all of her clothes were cheap and second hand, but they at least mostly fit.

But that wasn't the strangest thing about them, or about Harry at least. He had a lightning shaped scar on his forehead that had made both of them curious. When they had asked Aunt Petunia though, she hadn't reacted well.

"In the car crash when your parents died," she had said. "And don't ask questions."

And there was the first rule for a quiet life with the Dursleys.