Chapter Text
“mmmmmhhhh”
Harry groans as he tries to turn over. This time, his uncle hadn’t held back. Usually, he hit him in places no one could see, but yesterday, he had been truly furious. He lashed him with the belt until Harry couldn’t even keep count anymore.
He had to return to Hogwarts in a month and a half. He was almost certain his uncle wouldn’t let any of his injuries heal before giving him new ones. He needs to find a way to get to Diagon Alley. He has to buy the ingredients to make Polyjuice potion, if his uncle doesn’t kill him before then. For a moment, the plan almost felt possible. Then reality caught up with him.
Polyjuice took a month to brew, and he didn’t even have the first ingredient. It won’t be ready on time. He told Dumbledore he wanted to stay at Hogwarts during the holidays, but as usual, Dumbledore treated him like a spoiled child.
Harry takes a deep, shaky breath. Counting to three, he braces himself on his thin arms. Eyes squeezed shut, teeth clenched against the pain, he tried to push himself up.
Before he can even get to his feet, the cupboard door is thrown open violently. His uncle, face flushed with rage, grabs him by the arm and drags him out of the cupboard. Harry lets out a small groan of pain.
“Boy. How dare you sleep? You and your monster parents are all the same, useless and lazy. Go clean the flower beds outside.”
“May I have something to eat first? I haven’t eaten in two days”, Harry tried to plead gently.
As if to support his words, his stomach let out a low growl. He wrapped his arms around it, as if trying to protect it.
“You’re not allowed to eat anything until you’ve finished all your chores. And for every chore left undone, twenty strokes of the belt. That’ll teach you. You know me. And if you try to use your monster power like last time, I’ll break your fingers this time...”
Harry stepped back, biting his lips, trying to widen the space between himself and his uncle as the man moved closer with every step.
“…Your legs, I’ll gouge your eyes out. I’ll break you so badly that when you try to do your monstrosity, you’ll be too scared to come out. Do you hear me, boy? ANSWER ME WHEN I SPEAK TO YOU!”
“Yes, Uncle Vernon,” Harry whispered, his lips trembling.
He knew his uncle never bluffed. His body was living proof of that.
Speaking of his body, Harry suddenly had an idea. What if he found an illusion spell, a charm strong enough to hide his injuries?
It seemed like a better solution, and he would risk getting caught far less.
Vernon threw a thick sheet of paper at his face. Harry caught it before it could reach the floor.
He opened it slowly.
He squinted when he saw how long the list was. There was no way he could finish all of this today.
He is feeling nauseous. Everything hurt. He could barely stand.
Since the holidays began, all he had received were crusts of bread and water. If his aunt happened to be in a good mood, she sometimes gave him a little scrambled egg, making sure Vernon didn’t see her do it. She never forgot to insult him each time, hatred written all over her face.
“WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GET STARTED!”
Harry hurried into the yard as fast as his body would allow.
*****
Harry had been pulling weeds for two hours. He could feel himself swaying every second. His stomach wouldn’t stop screaming with hunger. His arms trembled with every movement. He could no longer concentrate.
A hand suddenly grabbed him by the neck and forced his head into the dirt. His magic reacted immediately, sensing his panic. By the time he realized it, it was already too late to stop it.
He lifted his head sharply, a dull wave of dread shaking him. Dudley was sprawled on the other side of the garden.
“DAD! DAD! The monster tried to kill me!”
Harry scrambled to his feet in panic.
He knew that this time, he wouldn’t escape it.