Written for the prompt of the day at The Golden Snitch forum. Using two prompts: (action) washing your hair and (word) confidence. Word count: 631, more or less.
Please review!
It hurts...
Harry Potter tries to hide the hiss that threatens to escape his lips from the rough tugging and scrapping that his aunt is currently inflicting on his scalp while she berates him. "You purposely put this mess in your hair, didn't you? Bumping into Dudddykins like you did, making him spill his milk. I expect you to go think about your actions after we are done here. You can stay in your cupboard and think about it."
He thinks about telling her that Dudley had dumped the milk on him. He thinks about telling her that her nails are rough against his skin. He thinks about telling her that it hurts.
But, Harry Potter is trying to be a good boy and so, he keeps his mouth shut.
Aunt Petunia doesn't.
"You are lucky that Vernon isn't home! You'd be sent straight to your cupboard without washing this mess out. You should be grateful to me."
Harry doesn't want to reply because the shampoo suds were already running down the sides of his face, if he opens his mouth, he might get a mouthful of suds. He tries to make a grateful noise that sounds more like a drowning duck, to his dismay.
That earns him a little shove forward for disrespect. "Brat..." He is sure he hears her mutter under her breath. "I wonder you do during school. My poor boy must under confident in his studies with having to worry about you embarassing us."
The only thing that Dudley worries about is finding lunch and hitting me before the bell rings. Harry thinks dryly to himself. It was much easier having these conversations in his head. That way he wouldn't get replies about how wrong he was. Which he does whenever he tries to have a conversation with his family. If he suggests casually that today might be a good day, then it was automatically a bad day in the Dursley's book. It's just how it works and how it always had worked.
Harry frowns.
Under confident, huh?
Dudley was anything but under confident - with the way he strutted around like he owned the schoolyard. For a moment, Harry tries to image himself, strutting around like he owns the place and sneering at the smaller children.
Instantly he shudders inwardly.
No, maybe not, but it would be nice to have some confidence in his life. Maybe he could stand up to Dudley one day and just say no, you aren't going to chase me today or hit me
Tell his aunt, it hurts. don't scrap so hard. it doesn't just hurt on my scalp. it hurts me when you talk to me like that. please stop.
Tell his uncle, yes, you look terrible in that suit jacket, don't yell at me so much
Maybe he could tell his cupboard, i'm going to stay in a proper room today, goodbye, i'll miss you, or not
His thoughts are broken as his aunt pushes his head harshly down under the cold water to rinse it. In that instant, he can see his sud-filled hair and lightning scar flash in the above mirror. Reminding him where he was and that he really wishes he could wash his own hair.
It would be nice to have more confidence.
Aunt Petunia throws him a towel, "Go dry yourself," She says crisply.
Harry takes the towel and rubs it gently on his wet, sore scalp and watches his aunt leave the room. He thinks about confidence, what he would like to say sometimes, what he really wish he could say...
But, Harry Potter is trying to be a good boy and so, he doesn't say anything.
