Chapter 3

Millie spends the days in the 12 Grimmauld getting used to the people around her. There will times that she'll help the other kids around her age to clean something, while also helping the adults from silencing the shrieking woman on a portrait, who never shouts anything but profanities and curses. Millie wasn't stupid to not notice it, but whenever the other adults would show up in the place, they will go straight past her without even batting an eye in her direction. Only Arthur and Molly were the adults that warmed up to her, aside from Sirius who she knew all this time. Even the gentle Remus Lupin still has his doubt about her.

"How old are you again?" Millie shifts her gaze from looking at the plate she was wiping dry, to the red-haired girl beside her.

"Fifteen," Millie replied timidly, still a bit awkward around them.

"Fifteen? Then you're the same age as Ron, Hermione, and Harry. Are you going to Hogwarts as a fifth-year student too?" Millie stares at the bright smile on the girl's face and forces a smile on her lips.

"I don't honestly know. I've never been into a school before." Upon hearing this, all of the other teenagers around the kitchen look at her. The twins dropped the brooms they were holding, just to jump across the table to get behind her.

"What do you mean with haven't been into a school before?" George started, to which Millie's surprise she figured out.

"Are you saying that you've been missing the fun of school all this time?" Fred followed, gawking at her as if she's a new creature.

"Ignore their enthusiasm. But have you truly never been into a school before?" It was Hermione who stepped between the twins to get a look at her. Even Ron and Harry had stopped what they're doing to listen to her.

Millie scratches the back of her neck and smiles at them sheepishly. She wipes her hands on the apron she was wearing and took a seat on the table behind Hermione and the twins.

"Yes. I have never experience attending one."

"Why?" Ginny asked curiously, taking a seat on her right, while Hermione took her left.

"Oh. Because I was thrown in Azkaban when I was six years old."

The moment those words left her lips, a heavy silence cover the whole room and no one dare make a noise or anything. It was as if, they even stop breathing. It was a revelation they just can't take lightly. Even the smart Millie had found their reaction confusing.

"What's going on here? What's with the atmosphere?" It was Sirius's voice that broke the silence. Behind him was Remus who only smile at everyone.

"S-Sirius..." Harry stuttered, earning a confused look from the two adults.

"What is it? What happened?" It was Remus who asked the questions.

They make their way to the center to assess the situation and finally took a notice of Millie who was still gazing at everyone.

"Millie. What happened?" Sirius asked, feeling a sudden lump on his throat at the heavy atmosphere.

"I don't certainly know. They asked me why I had never attended any school before." Sirius let out a sigh, before slapping his forehead with his palm.

"Let me guess... You told them that you were thrown into Azkaban when you were six years old, right?"

Millie made a nodding gesture, which Sirius just sigh to again.

"Of course they would be like this. Who wouldn't be?" Sirius let out a small laugh and ruffle Millie's hair, who only scowl at his action. "Forgive Millie for not being cautious of her words and being insensitive. It was because she never grew up around anyone of her age."

The others shake their heads, looking flustered at the sudden apologizing the man said.

"No, no, no. It was completely our fault. We shouldn't have asked her about things in the first place." Ginny rambled, shaking her hands in front of her to dismiss the thought of the man.

The others agreed to her. Even the usually noisy and unstoppable twins, were silent. Sirius once again let out a small laugh and look at every one.

"Don't worry. Millie didn't take any of it as an offense on her part. Right, Mirabella?"

Millie scowl at the man once again. "How many times do I have to tell you not to call me by my first name?"

Sirius just shakes his head and ruffle Millie's hair once again. An action that was new to everyone. It was like, he was acting like how a father would.

"Fine. How about we forget about these things? We came here to call everyone. Molly needs help upstairs."

Not wanting to make anything more awkward, the others just smile at Millie before making a move to follow the adults. It was then when everyone was gone, that Harry finally makes a sound.

"Sorry about the questions." Millie turns her gaze to the boy behind her and lets out a small smile from creeping into her lips.

"No need to. I'm not stupid. I know that everyone would react like that if I told you guys about it. But I was entirely surprised to received reactions far from what I expect."

Harry suddenly got curious about it, not even thinking about his sudden movements at all. Millie stare right into his green orbs when he leaned forward to get a closer look at her.

"What did you expect?" Millie suddenly had the urge to tease the boy and leaned forward towards him. So close that their noses are finally touching.

That's when Harry realizes what was going on. He quickly tried to pull away when he felt the rush of warmth into his cheeks, but before he can do so, Millie's hand had caught the back of his head and pull him back to her. Harry swears to his life, that he felt her lips brush against her momentarily. It was so quick no can even catch it, but Harry still felt the softness against the skin of his lips.

"I expected you guys to be terrified. Because knowing that someone was once imprisoned into Azkaban, would only mean they are criminal."

Harry then realizes how Millie's eyes, shift from humor to sorrow. Her usual bright red eyes that never fail to astonished him, grew darker to the point that only blood is what Harry can think of.

"Black was thrown into Azkaban for a crime he never committed too. Won't that make you two similar?" Millie smiled at Harry's attempt to lift the mood. She intentionally runs her thumb across his jaw to the bottom of his lips, before completely pulling back.

"Thanks, Harry. You're not that bad too." Millie smile at the body, before leaving him flustered behind.

When she was sure that she's finally out of Harry's gaze, she made a short action of touching her lips, before grinning widely at the fact that she just kissed him even though it was the briefest moment she ever had.

☪

More days passed by with the same routine. Helping with small works in the headquarters. Constantly attending short and small meetings even though it was clear that Millie's appearance was unwanted. And even teasing Harry had become a routine to her. Not that Harry minds it. He was even unexpectedly waiting for those teasing as each day passed by.

Even though there would be times that Millie would suddenly have a shift in the mood and won't even look at anyone, even to him. He was a bit disappointed about it, no matter how much he tries to deny it. He doesn't know why, but he has this feeling that he wants Millie to be only by his side. That she'll feel a lot closer to him, and will eventually be fond of him. That he won't be part of her mood swings. That even if she feels like she wants to end the world because that's how she looks every time she's not in the mood; she'll still smile for him. It might be pathetic, but Harry was sure that it was not a stupid infatuation. He just feels like, he wanted to be Millie's... Salvation.

"Harry?" Harry jolt in surprise when he felt a warm breath right beside his ear. He quickly leans back just to see Millie's grinning face. "I see. You're sensitive on that part."

Harry made a gesture of covering both his ears while staring right back at Millie.

"W-What is it?" Harry mentally slap himself for stuttering in front of her. Millie sincerely smiles at the sight of his flustered face. She leans back and crosses her legs in front of her. A book laying on her lap.

"I was just asking if I can borrow some of the books you have with you. I got engrossed in this one that I finished it in two days."

Harry shook his head to dismiss the flush on his face, and carefully grab the thick book on Millie's lap. It was the book of A History of Magic that Hermione gave him when he asked for things he could do to spend his free time.

"I didn't know you love to read, and in two days? What are you? Hermione's twin sister?" Millie chuckles at Harry's remark and plops down on the bed. Sprawling her legs in the bed, and not even minding Harry's presence. Harry didn't say anything. It was as if, they've known each other for a long time, and this is just a normal thing between them.

"Now that you said that, I suddenly realize that my Mom used to tell me that I'm really smart. Not that I'm bragging here, but I still remember how she told me that I was already speaking fluently before I can even reach a year old. Then I can already read when I was two. I was already reading thick books when I was three. Well, I was not surprised. My Mom is the smartest I've ever met. I got it from her."

Harry smiles at the sight of Millie's smile. He watches her speak about her Mom and savor the memories with a large grin on her lips. Harry can't help but feel a bit jealous. He never had a chance to speak with his Mom or even his Dad.

Harry suddenly had the urge to lay beside her, which he did. He feared that Millie will mind it, but the girl didn't make any move. So, he laid there beside her and stare at the side of her face.

"There's something I want to ask, but it's okay if you don't want to answer it. I... I was just curious." Millie peeks at him, before looking back at the ceiling.

"Fire it."

"What happened to your Mom when you were thrown into Azkaban?" Harry intently stares at her, wanting to make sure not to upset the girl.

Millie remains silent for a few moments, before letting out a small sigh. She lifts her hands into her head and ruffles her hair.

"I was thrown into Azkaban with the accusation of killing her..."

Harry's breathe hitch into his throat and he suddenly finds it hard to bring air into his lungs. He saw how Millie's eyes became void with emotion, and he quickly regretted opening his mouth in the first place.

He hesitantly lifts his hand and tried to grab the girl's hand to caress it, but Millie bolted up and walks out of the room. Leaving Harry feeling more regretful.

☪

Millie wanted to see Harry the next day to the point that she even woke up early than her regular time. She wanted to apologize for leaving him alone after she answered his question. She doesn't want Harry to feel like it was his fault for bringing painful memories, but Harry was already gone when she went to look for him.

Molly told her that Albus takes him to the hearing in the Ministry of Magic to defend him after he used magic out of the school. That he was there to prevent him from getting expelled from Hogwarts. The school that Albus Dumbledore was running. Millie suddenly had the urge to follow them just so she can see what would they look when they see the girl they had thrown in Azkaban, but of course, she can't. She's not even allowed to step out of the headquarters without consent from Dumbledore himself.

So Millie was left in the hands of Hermione and Ginny. The two girls keep her accompanied, even though it was mostly with Hermione since Molly keep asking for Ginny. Millie and Hermione don't honestly talk that much. Perhaps Harry was right. They only share the same interests when it comes to learning.

It was lunchtime when everyone was called by Molly to get down in the kitchen. Hermione and Millie are walking beside each other and are the first ones to get a glimpse of Harry and Mr. Weasley walking towards them.

"Harry!" Beamed Hermione cheerfully and run towards the grinning boy. She jumped at him and hug him tightly, which Harry returns with another hug. Obviously, glad to be back.

Millie's eyes caught his, a large grin curling up into her lips when the boy smile at her. Simply knowing that Harry had won the hearing.

☪