The Shadow Mage Book I Chapter 1
~(June 4, 1991)~
A dangerously skinny boy with untamable black hair, enchanting green eyes sat alone in the dark in the cupboard under the stairs at number four Privet Drive. If you were to meet this boy on the street you would think he is the most normal kid in the world, but he was no normal boy and he knew it. His dreams were always full of magic, his first friend Sabre told him it was because he was a wizard.
He lived with his horrible relatives for as long as he could remember. He refused to call his aunt, uncle, and cousin family, he had seen how other children's parents acted there eyes would light up and they would smile and hug them. Harry's relatives would never hug him, unless someone important was watching, and they certainly would never smile at him.
At first, the Dursleys treatment of him caused him to cry nonstop. When Harry was younger, he wanted more than anything to be part of the family. he wanted to know Why his parents left him with his relatives. Why his cousin got countless gifts on his birthday and Christmas while he got nothing.
When he was six, Harry was given the answer to many of his questions. His relatives had drunk too much on Christmas and told him how he was a good for nothing freak. As if that wasn't bad enough, his uncle beat him up a bit for the first time. When Vernon finished hitting him with his belt and fist and threw him into the cupboard, He was then told the story of how a drunk bum named James Potter had gotten himself and his whore wife killed in a car crash.
Over the next few years, Harry lived with the fact that his relatives hated him and wish he was dead. And to make thing worse strange things always seemed to happen around him. For a while he was scared but then he met Sabre and learnt he was a wizard and used accidental magic. When he was seven, his aunt shaved his entire head. Harry knew that the next day at school he would be made fun of more than he already was, but mysteriously his hair grew back instantly. Another instance was when Dudley and his friends chased him behind the school. Harry ran the wrong way and found himself face to face with a brick wall. He heard the footsteps of Dudley's friends, he closed his eyes and wished he could get away. He felt a warmth creep through him and a tingle, then Harry opened his eyes, he found himself on the other side of the school.
As he got older, more things happened and Harry was always blamed. When his teacher's hair turned pink with yellow spots, Harry was blamed. When His uncles brand new car's windshield shattered, Harry was blamed. Harry always hated it when these things happened, he told his relatives that he couldn't be responsible that most of it wasn't even possible, but his uncle would always just turn from red to purple and scream that he would beat it out of him.
~(June 4, 1991)~
Harry was recovering in the cupboard under the stairs. He had been locked in his cupboard for the last two days and he was tired, thirsty, hungry and sore. Harry was being punished because of what happened on Dudley's eleventh birthday.
~Dudley's birthday (June 1, 1991)~
A redhead woman with enchanting green eyes lets out a horrified scream. A flash of green light cuts through the air, followed by high, cold, maniacal laughter as the woman's body hits the ground. Then he saw a pair of glowing red eyes followed by another flash of green light.
Harry shot up panting and drenched in sweat, he allowed his eyes to adjust to the dim light of his cupboard. After a few moments he got up with a sigh and crammed his glasses onto his face as he opened the door. He walked to the kitchen and started the bacon, eggs and pancakes. Shortly after, Aunt Petunia walked into the kitchen.
"Freak! You'd better not ruin Dudley's birthday, or you'll wish you'd died along with your freakish parents." She spat, glaring holes into the back of Harry's skull.
"Yes, Aunt Petunia" Harry replied in a sullen voice the stairs groaned announcing the arrival of Harry's morbidly obese male relatives.
"Boy! You'd best have that breakfast done and Dudley's presents out!" Vernon shouted.
"Mummy! Why does the freak have to come today?" Dudley whined. His greedy eyes darted around as he counted the presents on the table. "Thirty seven?!" he yelled. "Why's there thirty-seven presents! I had thirty-six last year!" Petunia sensed the oncoming tantrum, and to avoid it, replied in a sickening sweet loving voice.
"Duddykins, we'll stop on the way to the zoo and get you two more presents. How's that sound pumpkin?" She then gave him a big hug "The freak" she said, pausing to emphasize the word, "has to come because Mrs. Figg is going to visit her son."
Yeah visiting her son. Good going Harry, you get to visit the snakes at the Zoo Harry thought to himself. Last month, Harry had discovered one of the reasons his relatives called him a freak.
~(May 1, 1991)~
While planting Aunt Petunia's rose bushes, Harry had heard a whisper. Looking around he only spotted a small, smooth snake.
The small grey snake then looked directly at Harry and hissed.
:Idiot humans always in awe or fear of us:. Harry in a moment of shock stumbled back and replied, unknowingly hissing.
:I guesss I am a freak. I swear that snake just talked to me:. The snake's eyes widened at once.
:You speak the noble tongue! Your no freak, but a wizard. I am Sabre: the newly named Sabre replied.
:Wizard?: Harry asked, curiosity lighting up in his eyes. Harry and sabre continued their conversations for a month. In that time Harry came to value the small creature's friendship, and his conversations with the snake. Harry leaned all of sabre's knowledge of the Wizarding World, and was promptly informed of his status as the Boy-Who-Lived.
~(June 1, 1991)~
Unfortunately for the pair, Aunt Petunia caught sabre in the garden the previous day and killed him in a panic. Idiotic horse-faced git, he thought bitterly is they drove to the zoo. In losing Sabre he'd lost his only friend.
Having arrived at the zoo, they wandered through the maze of exhibits. Finally, they made it to the reptile house after a few hours of Dudley's whining about boring animals. Spotting a King Cobra sleeping Dudley ran up to the hooded serpent's enclosure and slammed his whale fins on the glass, waking the snake from its sleep.
:Sorry about that idiot he is unfortunately my cousin: Harry hissed to the snake.
:Quite alright it happens all the time young speaker, I feel sorry that you have to live with him: the cobra replied in a feminine voice.
:My name is Harry. What is yours my friend?: he asked.
:I wass Alia before I was stolen:.
:Stolen?: Harry hissed back in alarm.
:I was brought here from Australia, about three-years ago: Alia then chuckled a hissing laugh :At least I bit the man who stole me:.
:Sorry to hear that. I know what its like to be held captive:.
:Harry could I ask you for help?: the snake asked sadly.
:Of course Alia, what do you need?:
:I want to leave this prison: she hissed. As Alia said this, Harry was knocked to the ground by Dudley who had abruptly thrust his face against the glass to see the cobra. Harry was filled with rage and then was surprised when he saw the effects.
"AHH!" Dudley screamed, as the glass separating him from the hooded serpent vanished. he fell in flailing drawing the attention of everyone in sight. With a grateful nod to Harry, Alia slithered out. And Harry whispered.
:Quickly Coil around me if you want to live and I'll get you out of here!:
A crowd had gathered watching as Dudley trapped in Alia's former enclosure began to hammer and wail against the glass that had reappeared just as quickly as it had vanished. When a sobbing, wet Dudley had finally been returned to his parents, the four of them rushed to the car. Harry received glares and hissed insults from his Aunt and Uncle.
"You're going to get it when we get home you dirty freak" Uncle Vernon snarled at him. Harry used all his self-control to not say that's wizard you filthy muggle back at him. Harry thinking of what had happened to Sabre, hissed quietly
:Alia, you had better get out now if you want to live:.
:Thanks speaker I will never forget this: Alia hissed back. Then she slipped out the window at a stop sign and was free.
~(June 4, 1991)~
As Harry wondered how long his relatives would keep him locked up, the door to his cupboard opened and the bright light came streaming in.
"Uhh!" Harry exclaimed, shielding his eyes from the sudden exposure to bright light.
~SLAP~
"Stop complaining about the light or maybe you need another three days in your cupboard, huh Vernon yelled.
"No sir. I was just startled," Harry said neutrally. He had to get out of the cupboard; he wasn't going to last longer on a slice of bread and a glass of water a day.
"Dudley said his friends have started asking questions about you, so you are to go to the park. Make sure everyone sees that you are not dead," Vernon Yelled.
"Yes sir," Harry said as he climbed out of the cupboard body aching and made his way out of the house. Just great one hell for another, Harry thought angrily as he made his way toward the park where Dudley's gang usually beat up little kids. He spotted them as soon as he got to the park. After all it wasn't hard to miss ten kids beating up two smaller ones. Harry saw one of Dudley's friends stop punching the little boy. When an evil smirk appeared on his face, Harry knew he had been spotted. Harry immediately started to back away from the group when he heard a squeaky voice say.
"Dudley look who it is!" A chubby smile crossed his face and he happily yelled.
"Look everyone Harry came out to play!"
Harry smirked at his cousin's stupidity, Dudley and his friends were still at least twenty meters away. When Dudley shouted his name for the entire park to hear, everyone knew Harry was alive just like his uncle wanted. Harry quickly started to run the opposite direction of his cousin. After cutting through back alleys, yards, and doubling back a few times Harry managed to lose his pursuers. Harry grinned at his accomplishment, but it was quickly ripped off his face when a very unwelcome voice came from behind him.
"Oh my God, it's our lucky day!" Someone said loudly. Harry slowly turned around and saw Dudley's best friend piers and his little brother Sammy coming out of a house.
"Yeah, you're right, let's show him he isn't allowed on our side of the park," Sammy said happily. Harry immediately started running as fast as he could, but Piers unlike Dudley didn't shun physical activity and Harry was already tired from having to outrun Dudley's other friends. After about a minute Piers had managed to catch up and Harry was tackled to the ground.
"Ha getting slow, Harry," Piers said as he pinned Harry's arms to the ground.
"You're guilty of trespassing, and entering a no freak zone. That's a bad Harry" Sammy said as he kicked him in the side, causing Harry to howl in pain.
"Hey Sam, go get Dudley while I question the freak," Piers said, chuckling.
"You got it" Sammy said happily. Harry was actually a little frightened now, he had never been alone with Piers and Harry had heard terrible stories. Usually they all included Piers carving his name into their flesh with his switch blade or kicking you in one spot till you cough up blood. Much to Harry's shock though, Piers simply got up and smiled.
"Sorry about all that, Harry need a hand up?" Piers said offering his hand smiling. Harry eyed Piers hand very skeptically, but he wasn't about to get up and turn his back on the boy. He gave Piers his hand to help pull him up. Piers started to pull Harry up but when Harry was halfway, Piers brought his other fist around and drove it into Harry's face.
"Ah!" Harry screamed as he fell back on the ground smacking his head against the park's pavement.
"Hurts, doesn't it, freak!" Piers said, grinning like a madman. Harry felt the blood running down his face from his nose, and he was incredibly dizzy. He ran over to Harry and kicked him.
"Ahhhh!" Harry screamed as Piers kicked him directly in the rib that his uncle had bruised days earlier. Lucky for Harry though a couple rounded the corner at the sound of Harry screaming. Piers saw the people looking in their direction and quickly leaned in and said.
"You got lucky next time I'll make sure you can't scream" before sprinting away. Harry stumbled back to four Privet Drive and into his cupboard and passed out. Whenever his uncle hurt him, he always felt better after sleeping.
~(June 5, 1991)~
~Tap tap tap. Tap tap TAP TAP!~
"Wake up! You have work to do" screeched his Aunt Petunia. Harry shot up from his bed, he heard his Aunt and bang on his cupboard door again. Ignoring the noise Harry slowly got up with a groan as his head felt like he fell down the stairs head first Or maybe Dudley had just whacked him with his new cricket bat while he was still asleep he didn't know. He quickly went upstairs to the bathroom washed up and got dressed. He then rushed downstairs before his Aunt could complain about his lateness and made his way to the kitchen to start cooking breakfast for the Dursley's which was difficult for him seeing that his head barely reached the kitchen counter. He finished cooking and His uncle said.
"Mow the lawn, remove the weeds and start painting the shed."
"Yes uncle Vernon." Harry replied. He could feel his stomach growling for food, but there was nothing he could do about it. Still there was nothing new about this treatment he received from them. Even if he died they wouldn't even realize it until they needed something from him. He went to the garage and picked up the tools required and started doing his work. It was noon when he stretched himself on the grass, his stomach aching for food and his head pounding because of the heat and humidity. He heard his aunt yelling for him to come inside for lunch. He ran in quickly washed his hands and face and sat for lunch. He ate his pathetic excuse of a lunch and was about to leave the house to go and sit in the playground when his uncle called him back.
"Go and mow the lawn. I want the grass to be completely even or it will be a week in the cupboard!" Harry groaned in protest, but quickly shut up and left the room when he saw his aunt glaring at him.
Three hours later he was sitting on the swing in the playground having finished all his chores for the day and thinking about what to do next. It was an alright day for once, without being too starved or beaten by Uncle Vernon. Sighing he got up still deep in thought and started walking back to the house. But then the worst happened. He heard someone shouting out.
"Hey freak!" It was one of Dudley's friends.
"What you doing outside your cupboard four eyes!" his cousin yelled.
"Go away Dudley, I'm not in the mood now," Harry said bravely.
"Aww, poor Harrykins is feeling sad" mocked one of Dudley's friend's and they all started laughing.
"Well why don't we play Harry hunting!" called out another. Then they started running after Harry. Harry's heart sank and suddenly he was running for all he was worth, all he thought now was how to get away from Dudley's gang and save himself before he got beaten up by them again. Suddenly he tripped over a tree root and fell flat on his face. Then Dudley's gang caught up with him, they all started kicking him and punching him while laughing out loud and yelling insults at him. Harry felt anger rush through his body and felt enraged. He saw Dudley's leg come up towards his face and he closed his eyes and raised his hands trying to catch his cousin's leg. But the leg never came. When he opened his eyes he saw Dudley surrounded by his friends moaning.
"What the hell did you do to him you freak! You're so dead now," yelled Piers Polkiss.
"Come on let's take Dudley back home" said another and they slowly vanished from sight walking towards number 4 Privet drive.
"Vernon is going to kill me!" Harry said to himself shivering in pain and fear! I hate you Dudley!" He knew he was going to be punished for what he did to Dudley. He knew that he was going to suffer in the cupboard for a lot of time and be starved for a few days and if he was lucky his Uncle wouldn't beat the shit out of him, but since when has luck been on his side. Slowly he walked back to the house mentally preparing for what was to come. He knocked on the door and waited for someone to open it. The door was opened by his aunt and when she saw who it was, she quickly took a hold of his shirt and yanked him into the house and yelled for his Uncle.
"Oh the little freak is back" he heard his uncle say with venom in his voice. "I'll teach him a lesson for using his freaking unnaturalness on Dudley," he screamed. Harry was terrified and tried to run towards his cupboard. "Oh no you don't, you're going to get it this time you freak!"
~CRACK~
His uncle punched him hard sending him flying back. Before Harry could even recover he got another punch in his face. "You dare try to hurt Dudley!" he screamed and this time brought down his fist into Harry's gut. His uncle then pulled out a bat from the corner and came towards Harry, his eyes rolling in madness. Harry was pleading for his uncle to let him go and saying over and over that he was sorry and that it would never happen again. Twenty minutes later he was thrown into the cupboard with his body aching horribly and barely conscious. He couldn't feel his arm and he could actually feel his broken ribs move when he tried to turn. His knew his back and neck was bleeding he also had a terrible headache. Slowly he drifted into the darkness called sleep. The next morning when Harry woke up he found the pain in his body was gone and his bones felt just fine as if they were never broken! He then realized this must have happened because he was a wizard and his magic must have healed him. His cupboard door was suddenly yanked open and his Aunt stood there looking at him surprised that he was completely fine. She was planning to take him to the hospital and get him fixed up. Apparently it wasn't required.
"Go upstairs and wash yourself you won't get breakfast and you will stay in your cupboard till dinner time."
"Yes aunt Petunia," he said quietly. This was just fine as he now had the day to learn how to use his powers, though he would not be getting any food soon. He went and washed himself then took a piece of paper from Dudley's room and went back to his cupboard. He decided to try to levitate the piece of paper by trying to use the tingling. He kept the paper in front of him and tried making it float by concentrating on the piece of paper and willing it to float in the air by using his mind. He remembered one of the movies Dudley used to watch and remembered the techniques they used to use to focus their of a place where you are completely at peace. Imagine yourself there and let your body relax. That's all he remembered but it was enough.
After three hours trying to make it float he gave up and wondered why it was not floating or even moving. He hadn't felt the tingling either. Some time passed without success when he realized that he should first try to get the tingling sensation in his body and then try to make the paper float. So he closed his eyes and tried to make his body tingle by meditating, but after an hour of meditation he still didn't feel anything. Now he was getting frustrated, when he didn't want it to happen he would feel the tingling and warmth but when he wanted to feel it nothing. He slammed his fist into the floor in frustration. He hit it again and again and again until there was blood dripping from his knuckles.
"Why isn't it working!" he cried in tears. "Why!" The cupboard door was yanked open by his aunt.
"What on earth are you thinking making such a racket?!" Harry just glared at his aunt with pure hate through tear filled eyes. Petunia felt a shiver a fear run down her spine as she saw Harry's eyes. No boy should have that look in their eyes, she thought. "Go upstairs and clean yourself, you look filthy," she said and walked away. Harry just stood there for a minute calming down, then walked upstairs quietly with renewed determination. He would learn how to use magic or he would die trying. Never again would he let the Dursley's humiliate him, never again would he let them treat him like a slave. Never again.
~(June 9, 1991)~
He had done it. He felt his magic, he felt completely at peace and felt as if he was floating in a place without rules. He felt floating peacefully until he saw a beautiful ebony ball-shaped thing with rings of black mist swirling around it floating quietly in this space giving out a sense of peace and power. Harry was completely enamoured by its beauty and kept moving towards it. As he moved closer and closer he couldn't see anything but the ball and felt like it was quietly calling him to it. Then he reached it he slowly raised his hand and touched the ball and the rings wrapping around the ball grew and wrapped around him also. The instant he touched it, it started spreading everywhere rapidly and he felt like power was spreading throughout his body giving him a sense of calmness and then came the tingling and heat. He then opened his eyes and with the magic flowing through his body he tried to make the paper float and behold the paper moved a little and floated slightly above his mattress, but then it suddenly fell and Harry was snapped out of his trance like state.
He felt so excited that he had finally done it! He had made the paper move! He laughed and was filled with a sense of accomplishment and victory. But he then realized that he couldn't keep it in the air for more than two seconds and still felt so tired.
"This is going to take a lot of practice and time," he said to himself. He laid on his smelly mattress thinking the faster he learnt how to use his powers, the faster he could save himself from bullies like Dudley and be treated better by the Dursley's. "Yes, life was going to be better," he said happily as he drifted off to the world of dreams.