Author Notes:

Clearly I do not own Harry Potter. If I did, I would be writing better fanfiction than Rowling did, Cursed Child comes to mind. I make no profit from my story and I write for self pleasure out of a world created by the wonderful JK Rowling. Also, this is my first time trying my hand at third person writing, my talent lies in first person, or tends to anyway. Please bear with me as I learn and develop my abilities. Lastly, I aim to have a chapter or two up every week. This story will not be abandoned, I personally dislike reading a fanfic,possibly get into it and find out that it is left wide open!

'Up! Get up, now!' hissed the angry voice, sharp rapping against the small door echoing around the bedroom and waking up the young child within. The child softly groaned in acknowledgment and looked at his battered clock, making out the hands of time pointing to 6am. The child did not know his groan was heard by his jailor until the same voice hissed through the door, 'You are required to clean the house before you begin cooking breakfast for my Dudders, it is HIS special day and you will NOT mess it up!'

A latch can be heard and the small door swung open to allow freedom to the child. The child could see a pair of thin legs walking away towards what was known to be the kitchen, the same routine every day. The child would be woken and given a list of chores to do in the promise of no punishments if completed, sometimes he even got food. Green eyes quickly scan his room for clothes which took little time at all. He only owned hand me downs from his cousin, Dudley, who was 4 sizes too big for him!

The young child quickly changed into his baggy clothes, typing up the trousers with a small length of rope and crawled out of his door. The child looked back at his open door, taking in the small cupboard under the stairs. This was his bedroom and it is all he has ever known since arriving at the Dursleys. The young boy, called Harry, knew he was no Dursley because they reminded him every day of his burden.

Constantly berated for being a burden, dumped on their doorstep by alleged no good relatives. Harry had been told that after his parents had died in a drunken car crash, he had been dumped on the doorstep to his Aunt and Uncle, the Dursleys, in the middle of the night with a note. Harry was made to earn his food, clothes and shelter, by doing all of the chores given, after all, he was not exactly wanted. Harry tried tidying his hair but every time he tried keeping it back, the moved hair helped display a scar on his forehead.

A scar that was shaped in a lightning bolt and when he was old enough to ask about it, was told it was the only remainder, apart from Harry, of the foolish mistake his drunken parents had made. With a sigh, Harry silently walked to the kitchen to be given his list of tasks by Aunt Petunia, who was waiting for the boy by a kitchen counter piled with dishes from the night before.

Harry begun cleaning the dishes that were stacked high, making no sound of displeasure as he worked. He knew the Dursleys were over working him on purpose, to break him but for what purpose he had no idea. Harry knew that no child of his age was made to work like this. He knew of children who did house work but only doing menial tasks, not weeding the garden every day, nor cooking every meal, doing all the house cleaning and even he knew that no child was meant to live in a cupboard.

Harry did complain once to his school and after the police were shown the guest bedroom, Harry had found himself beaten and locked in his cupboard for a week, as soon as he got home from school, with no food for that time period and only 2 glasses of water every second day. When he had finally been released from his prison Harry was immediately tasked with preparing a roast while it was known he was suffering from the injuries inflicted upon him.

Harry learnt from this "lesson" that he should never complain about the Dursleys, not when they can overpower the child. As Harry dried and put away the dishes he recalled how his injuries would disappear, at least visibly along with some pain every night. He could never understand how as the Dursleys never gave him medication. Indeed, strange things often occurred to Harry in times of great distress.

Such as running away from Dudley and his gang in his school, finding himself trapped and then suddenly on the school roof. Or his hair growing back after a horrible haircut given by Petunia who had used a bowl to help shape the cut. Even his bland clothes sometimes sported colour overnight, all of these incidents he could never explain to his aunt and uncle, no matter how much they insisted it was his fault. Harry checked the kitchen clock and saw it was 7am.

Knowing Dudley and Uncle Vernon will be up in an hour, Harry began to cook. He prepared 2 spiralled Cumberland sausages, one for each male relative and gently cooked it. When they were half done, Harry began frying bacon and eggs, along with grilling hash browns. As everything was cooking comfortably, Harry began preparing coffee in a French press.

When it became 7.45 Harry could hear doors slamming from upstairs. He knew that Vernon and Dudley would be awake. Harry promptly began preparing the dining table in the living room located next to the kitchen, his eyes glaring at the mountain of presents that awaited Dudley, stacked as high as a Christmas tree.

Dudley always got everything he wanted and if he did not, he would throw a large tantrum until his parents caved in to his demands. Heavy footsteps can be heard falling down the stairs and moments later, a large round beached whale, which upon closer inspection had blonde hair and beady eyes, miraculously stepped through the narrow opening of the living room door and sat down on a wooden chair at the dining table, the chair giving a loud creak.

This fat person was Dudley Dursley, Harry's cousin. Dudley immediately began wolfing down the food so lovingly prepared, causing Harry to wince and feel weak at the stomach from the displayed eating habit. Moments later Vernon Dursley appeared at the table. While Vernon was rather large, he was also muscled and used his excess weight to good use. Vernon was always the one who beat Harry and the man often felt proud of himself capable of giving such good bruises and injuries.

Harry hung back in the kitchen, awaiting the two men to finish their food so he could clear the dishes. In 10 minutes, every morsel of food is consumed by the two whales and Dudley went to count his presents while Harry began clearing the table. Harry had already counted ahead and was disgusted at the 36 large presents that awaited Dudley. Harry knew Dudley would eventually figure out he had less presents than last year and knew a huge tantrum would occur, being in punching range would be pointless.

Sure enough, moments later, a large yell erupted into the living room that echoed around the home, "36?! LAST YEAR I HAD 37!" roared Dudley Dursley.

Harry groaned which thankfully was not heard over Dudley's yelling. Vernon and Petunia immediately began attempting to calm Dudley down, with Petunia stating between sobs, "We are going to the zoo later poppet! We will buy two NEW presents so you will have 38!"

Vernon was exclaiming that the presents had cost over a thousand pounds, which Dudley loudly stated he did not care.

"What a pig!" Harry thought, "He will break every single present before the week is over."

A few moments later Dudley began calming down with the assurance of two extra presents. All was well again in the Dursley home, until the phone began to ring.

Vernon went to answer the phone in the hallway next to the lounge, loudly picking it up and gruffly says, "Vernon Dursley speaking."

Muttering can be heard from the hall for a few moments before a clanging can be heard as Vernon roughly put the mouth piece down onto the cradle. Vernon storms into the lounge, glares at Harry and then fixes his eyes on Petunia.

In a voice laced with strain he says, "The boy cannot go to Mrs Figg. She has broken her leg by tripping over one of her blasted cats and is now unable to take care of the boy. As we both know my sister is in Majorca, the boy must come with us."

Petunia spluttered but made no sound as she knew he was correct, there was no one who could look after Harry at such short notice.

Dudley began to bawl and stated he did not want Harry to come. Harry suppressed a smirk as Petunia said in a sing song voice, "Dinky dums, the wee nasty boy won't bother you, and he will not be allowed near your or your friend Piers!'

Harry really did not mind that arrangement, it meant he would be rather safe from the clutches of the Dursleys. In less than 20 minutes, at 8.40am, the doorbell was heard.

Dudley waddled to the door and opened it, grinning stupidly at a rather mousy looking boy, Piers Polkiss. A few minutes after every member pile into Vernons' company car and take the hour drive to London Zoo. The car ride was rather uneventful save for one moment.

Dreams were being discussed by Piers and Dudley, when Harry felt it safe to join in. "I once dreamt of a flying motorbike! I was on it, with a giant of a man, flying over the night sky!" Harry loudly exclaimed.

There was a sudden screech of tires and the car suddenly pulled over onto the carriage way of the motor way. Vernon turned in his seat, his eyes wide in anger and fear, loudly hissing, "Motorbikes do NOT fly!"

Harry looked down cast and mumbled, "It was just a dream.."

Piers and Dudley snickered at Harry's plight and the car remained silent for rest of the drive. By 10am they had arrived at the Zoo and were wandering around looking at the various animals. They all had ice cream, including Harry from the insistence from a sales lady, and were in relative high spirits. Harry was walking ahead and he took in the various animals. Harry rather enjoyed seeing the animals of Africa, he really enjoyed the lions.

By midday it was time to go to the café for food. Naturally Piers and the Dursleys got a rather large meal and Harry,in comparison, got only carrot sticks and hummus. Harry did not mind, he rather liked the chickpea dip. After their lunch, Dudley loudly declared he wanted to go to the reptile house so the group of people worked their way over. Once inside, Dudley immediately took interest in a sleeping boa constrictor.

Dudley began to loudly tap on the window, wanting to wake the snake. After a few moments, Dudley grew frustrated and stormed off to look at the other reptiles. Harry stood behind and gazed through the window, staring at the snake. In a sad voice Harry spoke, "I apologize for my cousin's behaviour. He is used to getting what he wants. He pays no care for how others feel, be it animal or human."

Harry let out a sigh after he finished his speech. He gazed at the snake for a few moments before he saw something odd happen.

The snake rose its head and winked! Harry was confused, did he really just see a snake wink?

Harry hesitantly said, "D-did you just..wink?"

Harry, then realizing to what he was speaking to, began to scold himself mentally, "Stupid Harry! Humans cannot talk to snakes, let alone be understood by them!"

The snake soon nodded in response and Harry gasped in shock, realizing that right now, he was talking to a snake.

"Do you speak to many people?" Harry asked.

The snake shook its head and surprisingly Harry heard a hissing voice coming from within the glass, "Noo. Ssspeakersss between human and ssserpants are rare. You are my firssst."

Harry was astounded, this was yet another freakish thing he could do. In a soft tone he said gently, "Perhaps I am a freak after all. Perhaps I have finally gone mad. There is no way I could be speaking to a snake right now."

An angry hiss comes from the snake and it rose its body up until its head reaches eye level with the young boy. "Sspeaker, you are NO freak, I assure you. You are somebody of great abilitiesss. While it is not my place to tell you, let me congratulate you."

Harry blinked, having no idea what was being said to him. Extraordinary abilities, him? Harry shakes his head in disbelief but decided to change topic, "Have you always lived here?"

The snake nodded, knowing the change of topic was needed for the young boy. Harry frowned and stared at the snake in pity. He greatly wished he could free this poor creature from its prison, after all Harry knew how it felt to be trapped in an unsavoury environment.

Harry said sadly, "It must be awful being trapped in a cage that is meant to be home, when in fact it is just prison. How people bigger than you harass you for their entertainment without caring for you. I know what that is like. I wish I could free you, while I cannot free myself, I would love to free you."

The snake shook its head and a loud hissing of anger was heard, it could not believe what it was hearing. While he was only a snake, he knew exactly whom he was speaking to, even if the boy did not know who he was. To the boy, the unsual scar he had was a sign of drunken mistake. To the snake, it was a sign of what he had done 10 years ago.

Harry was about to say goodbye when something unusual happened, the glass vanished. The snake carried itself out of its tank and hissed, "Thanksss" to Harry before it began to slither away.

It first went to the legs of the fat Dudley and hissed, before lunging for the males ankles. Dudley, upon hearing the hiss, turned enough to jump back in fright. The snake missed and suddenly yells of snake were heard and screams as people stampeded away. The snake disappeared in the chaos.

To anyone but the Dursleys looking, all one would see is panic. To the Dursleys, their eyes immediately found Harry and saw the 10 year old grinning.

Vernon ushered the Dursleys along, telling them to go the car and wait for him. Harry gulped when he saw Vernon hang back and knew he was in for it. Vernon, upon seeing the enclosure empty, picked Harry up by his collar and snarled, "Think it is FUNNY, do you?! Setting a freak of a python, like you, onto my son?! How DARE YOU!"

Harry braced himself for what was about to happen, sure enough pain erupted in his abdomen as his uncle held him by one hand and used his left hand to punch him hard. Vernon then slammed Harry into a glass wall, hearing a loud thud and crack of glass.

Harry gasped and croaked out, "U-uncle! I did not mean to do anything, it was like magic!"

These were the precise words that Vernon Dursley could never tolerate to hear, never again! He dropped the boy and swung his foot hard into the ribs of Harry, hearing a loud crack.

Vernon snarls, "Get up! Car, now! Say nothing to Piers. If he asks, you got caught in the stampede. I will deal with you when home!" Harry nodded weakly and trailed after his uncle.

He knew his uncle would not be caught, he never was. After 10 minutes he arrived at the car and limped into the back seat. Harry closed his eyes and succumbed to darkness.

What felt like seconds was actually an hour, Harry opened his eyes and found himself about to enter the driveway of number four privet drive. Harry got himself out of the car and began limping to his room. Before he could open the door, he was pinned to the wall by a great weight. His back to the weight, he heard his uncle snarl into his ear, "You get into your room. Do not come out until I say so! You do anything freakish again and I will make sure you know the true meaning of fear!"

Before Harry could react, Vernon roughly threw him onto his pitiful thin mattress, Harry's head bouncing off the hard ground and he succumbed to darkness again for an hour.

When he awoke, his head was swimming. The rustle of the letter box in door could be heard and Vernons voice called out, "BOY! Get out of your room and fetch the mail!"

Harry complied, wanting to try and earn food. He slowly made his way the short distance to the door and indeed saw a pile of letters. He picked them up and out of habit, flicked through them.

He was about to reach the living room door when the last letter caught his eyes, "Mr Harry James Potter, Cupboard Under The Stairs" was written in green calligraphy.

Harry had no idea who Harry James Potter was but he suspected it was him, after all, he was a Harry who lived under the stairs. Except it was Harry's room, not a cupboard, to Harry. Harry had always been called boy until he reached school, then it was Harry by his teachers. Making a split decision, Harry slipped the letter addressed to him under his door and quickly entered the lounge to hand the remaining letters to Vernon.