Battered and bruised with a fractured skull and a broken nose Harry was thrown unceremoniously into his cupboard, blood flowed thick and fast from his nose and mouth and his face had already started to swell from the abuse he had received. Paralysed with pain Harry couldn't get himself into a more comfortable position so he just drifted back into the dark crevice of his brain where he felt no pain or suffering.
Hours later Harry awoke in the same position feeling groggy and stiff. Sitting up he tried to remember how he had ended up in such a strange and uncomfortable way. Noticing the large patch of dried blood on his dirty thin blanket the memories of the night before came flooding back to him. His uncle Vernon had returned home at around 8ish in a drunken rage after having been fired from his job in the morning and spending the rest of the day in several bars. Seeing his nephew Harry who he despised he had stumbled forward and took a swing but Harry had jumped back avoiding the blow. Unfortunately for Harry he had knocked a family photo of Vernon, Petunia and their whale of a son Dudley off the wall and onto the floor where the glass shattered into hundreds of pieces. Petunia and Dudley had entered the hallway in time to see Vernon grab Harry by the throat and with all his force throw the boy against the wall. Harry had hit the wall with such force Petunia had shrieked in fright thinking the boy would be dead. Vernon didn't stop there, the then unconscious Harry lay in a heap on the floor but his face was facing the ceiling, Vernon landed a sickening stomp that made the 10 year old boys head crunch in a chilling way. Aunt Petunia had tackled Vernon with all the force she could muster hoping it would be enough to get him to stop, hardly moved by the intervention Vernon had stumbled back slightly before catching his balance using the bottom of the stairs banister. Petunia had fallen to the floor but before he could advance and start the attack again she had shielded her half dead nephew with her body and pleaded with her husband to stop.
Dudley watched wide eyed and afraid as his dad effortlessly pushed his mum out of the way and picked his freak of a cousin up by the neck and threw him into the cupboard under the stairs before using the sliding lock on the door to make sure he couldn't escape. "Upstairs now" his dad had ordered, Dudley and his mum had gone fast and without argument both hoping that Harry would survive the night.
Harry felt his face for injuries but all he could feel was the dried blood flake off. Confused but pain free Harry started to wonder if it was all a bad dream, the dried blood was evidence enough to say otherwise. Light though the cracks in the cupboard door gave him enough vision to be able to search the small space for his glasses. Realising they wasn't there Harry tried the door, it was locked. Unsure of what to do now he started to panic. Locked in and without his glasses to see properly he knew all he could do was wait for what was to come, with his small frame he had no chance of forcing the door open and even if he could what could he do then.
Scared and alone he sat with his back to the corner of the cupboard lost in his thoughts, the questions running though his head like how was he unharmed and what had happened after he had blacked out, what would happen when his uncle awoke and would he get the same again. He had had his fair share of beatings off his uncle but never like what he had received the night before.
Light steps coming down the stairs brought Harry back to reality, getting as far into the corner as he could he waited. A shadow extinguished the light seeping in though the door-frame, the lock on the door slid slowly and almost silently, time seemed to slow for Harry as terror filled him not knowing what was to happen next.
Finally the door opened slightly and the face of Harry's aunt filled the gap.
Petunia sighed in relief seeing he nephew in the corner, taking in his appearance she was shocked to find him looking relatively fine aside from the fear and dried blood that marred his face. Knowing she didn't have much time before her husband awoke she put her hastily thought out plan into motion.
"I'm so sorry Harry" she pleaded looking her scared nephew in the eyes. "Come we need to leave fast, we need to get you out of here".
Harry didn't trust her, she had never liked him and this change of character was odd, the look of sorrow on her face was what swayed him and slowly he took her outstretched hand. With a gentle tug she helped him to his feet and out of the cupboard under the stairs. Looking at the place it all happened sent shivers down his spine, a photo frame with glass surrounding it and a small pool of still wet blood was all that remained, his aunt was looking at it too. "I'm so sorry" she whispered again squeezing his hand a little tighter.
She led him to the front door and as quietly as she could she she removed Vernon's car keys from the key rack on the wall. Opening the front door they exited number 4 Privet Drive.
As his aunt pulled the car out of the driveway and sped off down the street Harry had absolutely no idea what his future held.