Lionhearts | hp. ✓

Year 5 | The Grimmauld Place

"Stop sulking, big brother." spoke the mirage of his sister.

He looked to his right and saw Lily swinging on a swing beside him. He knew he was imagining it, for every swing other than his own was broken. As his own mess of dark hair blew back in the slight breeze, her own fiery hair was still and she looked perfect; that's how he knew she was a figment of his imagination.

Lily was not perfect.

Before Harry could spat at the mirage and demand she go away, for he wanted his real sister, harsh laughter made its way into Harry's ears. He looked up and saw Dudley and his group of friends walking down the path, telling crude jokes.

"Oh," Dudley noticed him. When the chubby Dursley boy noticed him, it only meant one thing and that was that they were going to bother him. "It's you."

"What should we do with him, Big D?" One of his friends asked, showing off his crooked teeth.

The mirage of Lily Potter chuckled beside him, "That nickname is wrong in so many ways."

Harry laughed along with his hallucination, but they didn't know that, "'Big D'? Cool name, but to me, you'll always be Ikkle Diddycums."

His friends cackled.

Dudley's daft face darkened, "Shut up!"

Seeing Dudley's anger, another one of his friends stepped forward as if to punch Harry. Harry glared at him and after a few seconds, the boy faltered under his gaze and retreated back.

"Ooo, tough guy." commented Dudley, "Not so tough in you bed, though, are you?"

Swinging beside him, make-believe Lily held her head in her hand, her body shaking with laughter, "He says such the wrong things."

"What?" queried Harry.

From her porch, Mrs. Figg stood up and hollered to them, "You boys better go home now, or I'll call you parents!"

Upon hearing her threat and knowing very well that she could call each of their parents, who would whoop their arses, they paused and took a few steps back from Harry.

"Always liked that woman." thought the mirage aloud.

Harry looked beside him and scowled at what wasn't there, "Go away."

She put her hands up, "As you wish." And she disappeared like dust in the wind.

"I heard you talking in your sleep, last night. Crying." continued Dudley, mocking him, " 'No, don't kill Cedric, don't kill Cedric! Dad, help me! Heeelp me! He's going to kill me!' Boo-hoo!"

Dudley's gang of friends laughs and Harry visibly balled his fists, "Shut up, Dudley, I'm warning you--"

"Why should I?"

Harry stood and whipped out his wand, directing it at Dudley threateningly, "Because if you don't, I'll turn you into the idiot pig you are!"

"Pigs are actually quite smart." Lily teasing voice brushed past his ear.

"Shut up!" hissed Harry to himself. The boy sall looked at him funnily. Dudley looked at his cousin with terror while his gang of friends laughed at him, oblivious.

"D-Don't you point that thing at me!" spluttered the Dursley boy.

"Not so brave now, are you, Duddykins?" spat Harry, "Now tell your little friends to go away."

They were far from little, but his demand and means of forced persuasion did the trick. Dudley glanced at them out of the corners of his eyes, making sure no to turn his back on Harry and his poised wand, "G-Go home!"