Disclaimer: I own nothing
Updated 3/28/16 due to crappy writing
Warnings: hints at possible abuse
It had been one of those nights for Harry. The instant he had sat down at the table, Uncle Vernon's face had turned even deeper purple than it usually did when he was angry and his mouth had twisted into a hate filled snarl.
Harry knew he shouldn't ask, shouldn't anger his uncle further, but-"What did I do wrong?"
Vernon's small, piggish eyes nearly burst out of his skull. "What did you do wrong? You dare ask what you did wrong?! Well boy, I'll tell you." Vernon reached into his back pocket and brought out a crumbled, slightly torn paper. "What is this, boy? Are you trying to make Dudley look stupid?"
Harry squinted at the paper in Uncle Vernon's pudgy fist, but without his glasses (which Dudley had broken earlier) the ink on the paper was nothing more than smudges. He looked up at his uncle and timidly asked him what it was. The question turned out to be a very bad decision.
If possible, Vernon's face deepened in color. With a lunging swipe and an animalistic howl, he attempted to grasp Harry by his shirt. But Harry was prepared. Before his uncle had even reached out his hand, Harry was high tailing it to his cupboard as quick as his eight year old legs could carry him.
The cupboard slammed shut and Harry threw the bolt from the inside. A few seconds later he could hear Uncle Vernon's heavy steps pounding down the hall.
"Open this door, boy!" Vernon shouted, banging against the door. "Your behavior will not be tolerated in this house hold!"
Harry let out a terrified squeak and prayed to whatever higher power would listen that the door would remain shut before curling in on himself. He scooped up his small, thread-bare blanket and threw it over his entire body. Squeezing his eyes shut, Harry slapped his hands over his ears and pushed them hard against his skull, trying to block out his Uncle's shouting as he pulled his knees up to his chest and settled them between his elbows.
The eight year old knew that Uncle Vernon would persist with his screaming and pounding on the cupboard door through half the night, as he normally did in these situations, while Harry continued to cower under his blanket and not get a second of sleep.
Harry felt hot tears slipping down his face, but made no move to wipe them away. He deserved a good cry, especially as he wouldn't have time for one after he's forced out of his cupboard and punished tomorrow morning.
A/N I wouldn't be surprised if little Harry was abused. Remember, Vernon's idea was to 'stomp' the magic out of him, and stomping normally requires physical contact.