Late at night, Raven stood silently in her room at the Applewood Home for Wayward Children. Her body phased gently into an invisible state as she floated forwards and slipped through the wall without a sound. The hallway stretched out dim and quiet in front of her, moonlight cast pale bars through the window blinds. She moved carefully down the hall, until she reached Harry's room.
Hovering just inside the doorway, she watched him sleep. His breathing was calm. His face was peaceful in a way that told her this kind of sleep was once been rare for him. She sighed, barely audible.
"I'm sacrificing a lot to watch over you, kid. A lot of my personal time just went out the window with all these magical threats I'm going to have to deal with surrounding you. But then again, I want to see how you'll perform—and if you can meet my expectations in the future."
Her gaze lingered on him as she continued thinking aloud.
"It sounds like you're going to have to deal with this current generation's dark wizard. From what I've researched, that will be Voldemort. He's probably not completely dead."
She narrowed her eyes slightly, remembering Miranda's words.
"It sounds like he cast some kind of killing curse on you and it was rebounded through the power of love. Somehow he destroyed himself with it."
A faint scoff escaped Raven's lips.
"Then again, it wouldn't be bad if I found somebody to love here. But the fact that a killing curse can be reflected by love? That's some cliché novel bullshit."
She sighed again, floating back to her room.
"I've got a lot of work ahead of me. This is going to be kind of fun—but also such a drag."
She phased through her own wall and returned to bed. Slipping under the covers, Raven lay on her back stareing at the ceiling, her hands resting over the pendant on her chest.
"I'm sacrificing a lot for the people around me. But then again, I've never had a family before. People who cared about me—like Claire Thompson, the director of this orphanage, or Timothy Claremont, the police officer helping prosecute the Dursleys for everything they did to Harry."
She exhaled softly into the silence.
"Honestly… I've never felt so at home before."
Sleep came quickly.
By morning, the sun was pouring in through the windows. At breakfast, Raven noticed Harry seemed far more energized than when he first arrived. His eyes were brighter, his posture more relaxed.
"How are your injuries healing, Harry?" she asked, watching him between bites of toast.
"I've never had so much food before," Harry replied brightly. "Who knew pancakes and eggs are so good? I even got to have bacon. I've never been able to eat pork in my life."
Raven looked at him seriously. "Don't worry, buddy. With me around, you'll never have to worry about not having enough to eat again."
Harry's eyes welled up with tears. "You're so nice to me, Raven. I've never met anyone as nice as you before."
She sighed, then reached out and rubbed his messy hair.
"Don't rub my hair like that! You're going to mess it up!" Harry swatted her hand away with outrage.
"You need a haircut, buddy," Raven said dryly.
Just then, Claire walked in. "Did somebody say something about a haircut?"
Harry pointed straight at Raven. "It was Raven. She needs a haircut."
Claire laughed as she walked towards them. "My dear, girls don't get haircuts. They grow their hair out until its long enough."
Raven tilted her head, considering it. "Actually, growing my hair out longer isn't a bad idea. I've been doing the same bob cut for a while."
Claire nodded approvingly. "I think you'd look wonderful with longer hair, Raven. It's a classic style. Time to get with the times."
"Alright, I'll start growing my hair out," Raven agreed. Then she turned to Harry. "But Harry—you do need a haircut. How did you used to get your haircuts done Harry?"
Harry groaned. "I put a pot on my head and cut around it. It's called a bowl cut. I think poor people do it. Or parents who are too cheap to pay for a haircut."
Raven thought back to the overweight bully she'd seen at the zoo.
"What about that bigger kid who was bullying you at the zoo? What was his name?"
"Dudley," Harry said with a frown.
Raven exhaled slowly. "The Dursleys really treat their kids differently."
"They give Dudley dozens of gifts for his birthday and even more for Christmas," Harry explained. "He eats all the food. His father Vernon has a really good job and pays for everything Dudley wants. I never get anything."
Claire clapped her hands. "Come on, Harry. I'll give you a real haircut. I've done this for years."
Harry grumbled as he stood up. "At this rate, I don't even want to be adopted. Life here is perfect."
Raven nodded once. "Sometimes not having a family isn't the worst thing Harry, if you have a safe place to grow up. Who says the people here can't be your family?"
Harry looked up and smiled. "Thanks, Raven. I needed that."
She reached out to ruffle his hair again.
"Stop it!"
Claire laughed and dragged him off. "Time for your haircut—and no bowl cuts this time."
Later, when it was done, Raven gave him a once-over.
"I like it. The short, spiky look is going to be in style in a few years."
Harry hesitated. "I'm not sure. I liked it longer."
"You're ten. It'll grow back in a few months."
Harry gave a reluctant nod. "Alright. No blonde highlights though."
"Good choice," Raven replied. "Otherwise you'd get nicknamed skunkhead."
Harry winced.
Raven laughed again. "Don't be surprised if you wake up with blonde highlights tomorrow."
Harry's eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare!"
She jumped to her feet and ran. "Try me!"
Harry chased after her. "Raven Cross! Don't you dare dye my hair!"
"You'll never know until morning!"
Harry stormed off down the hall, still chasing her, pretending to be furious. Raven leaned back against the wall, chuckling to herself.
"Man… that kid is fun to tease."
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