Harry pulled his blankets closer around himself, inhaling the familiar yet faded scent of laundry detergent. He curled up in a ball trying to go to sleep. His whole body ached as he tried to move. 'I didn't turn my teacher's hair blue. I don't know why they blamed me' he mumbles softly to himself.
He could hear his family upstairs. His cousin tossing and turning in his bed, making the springs creak. His uncle snoring loudly, almost hiding the sound of his aunt going to the bathroom for the third time tonight. He sighed and curled in on himself more, wishing for well over the millionth time, he didn't sleep in the cupboard, he was only 5 but he was already cramped up in a ball.
He had given up years ago on wishing someone would come for him. He used to lay awake at night after a beating and wish that someone, anyone, would come and take him away. That his parents were still alive and that he was still with them. Harry rolled over biting his lip to hide the yelp of pain, silently praying that his family hadn't heard him or he would be in worse trouble. After waiting for a few minutes and not hearing anything he closed his eyes trying to get a few hours of sleep before his aunt came to wake him up to make breakfast.
Just as he started to drift off to sleep he heard the front door open, the hinges creaking in protest as the heavy oak door moved. Harry tensed as he heard quiet footsteps move towards the stairs, praying that they didn't think to look in the cupboard. The intruder paused at the bottom of the stairs and mumbled something that sounded like point me.
Harry almost yelped in pure terror when he heard the voice curse and spin on its heels, heading back his way. He curled up in the corner of the cupboard, his whole body aching in protest of the sudden movement. Harry bit his lip in an attempt to stay quiet, his back pressed against the wooden walls, spider webs clinging to his bruised and battered skin.
The door to the cupboard opened slowly and a tall man stood behind it. His long hair pulled back into a ponytail at the base of his head. The man frowns and steps back letting light into the small space, several emotions flashing across his face in a fraction of a second before he kneels down and forces a small smile on his face, " You can come on out, I won't hurt you." He coaxes, his voice soft and comforting.
Harry winced in pain as he moved out slowly, for some reason feeling that he could trust this man. Once out of the cupboard he stood up only for his leg to give out and him to fall. The man caught him seconds before his head hit the ground, one hand under his back the other cradling his head. Harry looked up at him "T-thank you" he says weakly.
The man smiles and pulls him close, "You're welcome Harry, I promise, no one will hurt you again." He says his long blond hair falling over his shoulders. As Harry's eyes closed, a smile graced his face for the first time in years, he was safe.