Disclaimer: I do not now nor have I ever owned Harry Potter. He, his world and friends all belong to JK Rowling. I'm merely playing with them.
Authors Note: This one shot is Harry's POV of what happens in Chapter Four of Strange Family, it can be read as a stand alone. Or in conjunction with Strange Family.
Freedom
4 Privet Drive
August 10th 1995
The tiny four year old huddled deeper into the cupboard that was his world. He could hear loud voices and crashing thuds. Combined those were never a good thing, especially once the faint roar of his Uncle was added. That single noise drove the greatest of fears through the childs heart, small thin hands clasped around thin bruised knees, the fading marks hidden beneath the large threadbare shirt stung in remembrance and sympathy. Large green eyes warily watched the cupboard door certain of what was going to happened and also certain that there was nothing that would ever change this routine.
A faint click sounded through the small cupboard the door creaked open allowing a glow of light to fill the room. The boy was surprised at how quiet everything suddenly seemed. A shadow blocked the light, it was smaller than his Uncles. A voice- soft, as though talking to a skittish animal- asked "Harry?" The boy squinted, he recognised that name and that tone. Though he'd never mentioned it the boy occasionally dreamt of a time before his Uncle and Aunt. When soft red hair and kind green eyes had spoken sweetly; when strong brown hands and grabbable metal had laughed and tickled; when soft grey had lightened to sparkling silver and black hair melted into soft fur and that tone had called to the "Little Harry-Pup".
"Harry? Is that you? Are you ok? Harry-Pup, please answer me. Please." The desperation in the tone caught at him, he edged closer and glimpsed the grey eyes surrounded by thick black hair. Thinking was gone, his body catapulted into the surprised arms of the man he'd thought a dream.
"Padfoo", he sobbed into the fabric covered shoulder.
"There Puppy, it's okay. I'm here now, and I'm never leaving again. I swear. It's okay, Little Harry-Pup, Padfoots here."
Big green eyes looked into grey, "Not a dweam?"
"No Puppy, not a dream. I'm here. And we're going to get out of here and go somewhere safe and happy. No-one'll ever hurt you again, Puppy, I swear."
"Mama hewe?"
Now the boy wasn't the only one sobbing, "Oh Puppy." Mournful grey eyes met tearfilled green "I'm so sorry, Puppy. So, so sorry. No Puppy Mama and Daddy aren't here. They had to go away like Padfoot. But Uncle Moony couldn't bring them back like he did for Padfoot."
"Unca Mooey." He remembered warm pretty yellow-y eyes and bedtime storied being told tirelessly in a quiet soft voice, "Stowy?"
Padfoot let out a soft sad laugh, "yeah Puppy, Uncle Moony had quite the story to tell you at bedtime now."
"Padfoo' sad?"
"Yeah Puppy, you could say that." He looked around the small cupboard "Well I think we'll take your blankie and leave everything else here. What do you say, Puppy?"
The small head tucked into the shoulder nodded, Harry, now that he was certain Padfoot was real was determined not to let him go.
"Right. Well I think it's time we get out of here. What do you think, Little Harry-Pup? Time to skedaddle?"
Harry gave a small nod, still not quite believing the reality of his situation.
Padfoot straightened up carrying Harry out of the cupboard. Harry didn't take his head out of Padfoots shoulder, refusing to look at any of the people bustling through the Dursley house, the only sign that he was aware of what was going on was the slight flinch he gave every time anyone got too close to Padfoot.
Padfoot was alerted the instant Harry heard Vernon Dursley by the was the small, too thin, body tensed and braced itself for a blow.
"Shh, shh, Harry-Pup, it's alright. Padfoots here and he'll never touch you again. You're safe now, Puppy, you're safe."
Some of the tension left the small body as Harry processed Padfoots words and the honesty and love in them. His fist clenched in Padfoots shirt as he was carried away from the Dursleys and that life forever.
05/10/13
