Love Me Tender
Afraid
Chapter1
The days were going rough for Dudley Dursley. His cousin, his vent for anger was gone. And above all, now, he is actually scared of that vulnerable waste of space. Even the mention of something remotely related with magic makes him jump and check his torso. He had learnt the hard way not to mess with wizards.
However, the bullies always have plenty of targets at their disposal. Thus, soon Dudley found his new victim. She bumped into him in the corridor and she dared, yes she dared, to ask Dudley Dursley for an explanation. He slapped the little git right across her face. The weak creature could not take the force and fell down. "Do you not know who I am? Never do that again." He saw the girl cry when he was leaving.
Chapter 2
Anastasia Richards thought she would be free. But she was not. She left her last school because of bullies. The nine year old girl was so traumatized by bullying that she was afraid of even going out of her house. She was turning agoraphobic. After months of counseling, she was ready again. Ready to face a new World. Alas, the new world was so very exact like the old one. She was smacked by a bully on her very first day. However, months of counseling taught her that there was no point running away. She would not surrender, she would fight.
The next day she deliberately bumped into the fat bully again, hoping to stand up against him. Thus, she once again asked an explanation for her clumsiness.
"Are you forgetting with whom you are talking to girl?"
She had planned so many things to say. But his angry face and clenched white knuckles scared her out of her wits. She recalled the last day's slap. And sometimes the anticipation of pain can be more dreadful than the pain itself. No, it was too difficult. She turned to run away. It was too late. He had already got hold of her hand.
"I am so sorry Sir! Please let go off me! I promise I will not repeat the crime again!", squeaked the ten year old.
"What is your name girl?"
"Richards. Anastasia Richards. I am sorry! I am so sorry!"
The abominable boy spoke with an air of authority, "now, Anastasia Richards I will teach you a little lesson. After that you will never again have the courage to open your filthy little mouth in front of me". He bent her little hand behind her back and pushed her into an empty classroom and locked the door.
Chapter 3
There was something odd about this Anastasia girl. Everyday Dudley would inhumanely bully her and everyday she will strike back. And somehow her retorts were growing stronger.
Of course, the concepts of bravery and strength were far too complex for Dudley Dursley's mind. He did not understand the concept of standing up to the tormentor.
The little black haired girl had become a habit to him. He had an outlet for all his insecurities.
Chapter 4
The last summer was pretty good for Dudley Dursley. His father had locked up his cousin during the holidays. This provided a certain sense of safety to him. He despised wizards. His mother was right. Wizards were freaks. They were not suitable for the company of a normal society.
He was eager to go back to school. All summer he had thought of new ways to torment the young girl. He really wanted to break her down this time. He waited at the corridor for her to run into him.
The first bell rang. Was she late? One day being late to the class won't harm him.
The second bell rang. Is she coming? It will be fun to torture her in an empty corridor.
The third bell rang. The gates are closed. Where is she?
Somewhere in King's Cross Station dark haired little girl boarded a certain scarlet engine.