Harry stayed quite as he watched the world from the shadows under the oak tree. It was the height of summer when most either refused to leave the cool refuge of their home, or else sunned themselves with cool drinks and ice cream on tap. Harry wasn't allowed those luxury's the seven year old being shoved out the house by his uncle with a slap to the back of the head and a warning not to be back before sundown.
While on one hand it meant he didn't have to stay inside in his stuffy cupboard it also meant he had no protection from the cruel cruel sun. In the hopes of water to make sure his day wouldn't be completely unlivable he'd come to the park only to be disappointed when he found the water fountain out of commission for repairs and the normal fountain almost completely dried up. And the vile smelling green sludge undrinkable.
So his quest for water abandoned he sat back in the relatively cool shade to wait for the sun to sink down so he could go home. He closed his eyes listening to the birds chirping to each other chattering about how hot it was, where the best places to find worms. He smiled a little relaxing in the warm breeze.
Before noticing the sound of running water. Harry frowned sitting up listening carefully to check it wasn't just his mind playing tricks on him. No it was honest to god the sound of water! Getting up he followed the noise his dry mouth urging him on between trees that grew so close together light could scarcely penetrate their leaves. He blinked coming into a clearing looking around seeing the trees looking old and worn their gnarled branches trying to pierce the sky. The sound was strong drawing Harry to the center of the clearing where he found it. A small clean and clear stream bubbling away cutting through the park. He didn't care he'd never seen any sign of the stream before dipping his hand in and cupping it to hold a handful of water and drinking it the sweet taste making him smile.
He drank until he was full and sat slipping off Dudly's worn trainers and socks and dipping his feet into the stream giggling a little as the cold water cooled him off. "This'll be my special place." He smiled to his self sitting back the small boy relaxing dozing off for a small nap.
Some time passed before he was woken by something hitting his foot blinking confused adjusting his glasses he frowned. It was a little egg, plain brown and a little smaller then a chicken egg, it bobbed in the water before the current started pulling it away Harry quickly plucking it out of the water and holding it in his hand. The egg really was unremarkable plain looking threw and threw but…Harry didn't want to leave it.
"Did your parents die to?" He asked the egg softly lightly stroking the surface. He hummed looking up seeing the sun beginning to set "…I'll take you home, you don't have to be alone." He smiled gently putting the egg in the pocket of his baggy shorts and picked up his shoes heading home. As soon as he got in he ducked into his cupboard ignoring his protesting stomach and lay on his little cot quietly moving a small panel to reveal a gap and stuffed it with clothes to worn to wear anymore putting the egg in it's little nest "Don't worry you've got me now." Harry smiled curling up next to it one hand resting on the cool egg warming it as he drifted to sleep.
In the dead of night, the egg twitched.