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Eleanor's POV:

"You're the only... nice person I've met. I mean, in school, I was just bullied, and at home, my cousin Dudley is a complete brat."

I gave Harry a sympathetic smile.

"Yeah, I get that. School was no picnic for me either, and as for Felix? Don't get me started. He's... well, terrible. I'm into books, and he's into ruining them. He'd scribble over my pages or tear them up entirely, just to make my life miserable. And the worst part? He's my twin."

Harry's eyes widened. "Wait—he's your what?"

"My twin," I replied, almost apologetically. Seeing the look of shock on Harry's face, I almost wanted to laugh. He looked as if I'd told him I had a three-headed dragon in my pocket.

"You're kidding."

"Am not," I insisted.

"Wow..." He shook his head slowly, as if still trying to process it. "Your twin—and he's like... that."

"Trust me, I know. And sometimes, I do feel bad, like I should care more about him. He's my brother, after all, and pretty much my only family. But... well, you can see how he treats me," I finished, looking down.

Harry nodded, his face serious. "You know... it's not your fault, then. If he doesn't care enough to treat you like a friend, that's on him. It's his loss."

I felt a warmth settle over me. "Thanks, Harry. I hope we'll be good friends, too."

"Yeah," he said with a smile, and as the train rumbled on, a comfortable silence fell over us. The gentle sway of the train, the soft hum of its engine, and the quietness around me quickly grew into a lullaby. Before I knew it, I was drifting off, my eyelids growing heavy until I finally nodded off beside Harry, with the day's excitement still bubbling under the surface of my dreams.

When I opened my eyes again, Harry was gently nudging me, his face slightly panicked. "Eleanor—Eleanor, wake up! It's your stop... Eleanor?"

I blinked blearily, trying to shake off sleep. "Hmm?"

"It's your stop. You get off here."

"Oh, right," I said, scrambling to my feet and giving him a quick wave before hurrying off the train. I barely had time to throw a quick, "See you at Hogwarts!" over my shoulder before the train doors hissed shut behind me, and I watched Harry's face disappear through the glass as the train pulled away.

The stop wasn't far from Wisteria Street. I trudged up the familiar path to my house, dreading the moment I'd have to go inside. I rang the doorbell, my fingers hovering uneasily as I waited.

Nothing.

I rang it again, holding it down longer, wondering if they were ignoring me on purpose.

Still nothing.