Author's Notes: Okay. First things first. What I have done of this story was already posted, but it was my first story, and I figured that before I added the new chapter (which is in the making, by the way) I would update the older ones. I completely changed the format of this chapter, so now its actually readable! Also note that this story was started before Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and as such, the events that occurred in that book have never happened.
Disclaimer: Well…as much as I would like it, sadly, Harry Potter isn't mine.
Mela en Coiasira Chapter One HomeNo sooner had Harry gotten home to the Dursleys (if you could call it a home) then the problems had started.
"Get outside boy and weed the garden NOW!" roared uncle Vernon "And don't you DARE come back in 'till your finished!"
That being said, he slammed the door closed right in front of Harry's face. Harry set out for work. He was to build a shed for some of Dudley's old junk (ranging from bikes to golf carts) after he finished the weeds.
He wouldn't argue with his uncle anymore. He already had a black eye to prove that.
Harry would've put his pride aside and wrote a letter to Ron about all of this, but Hedwig was locked up and his uncle said he would kill her if he dared try and free her, or tell anyone about this.
Harry silently made his way to the flower garden in the back yard, desperately wishing he could use his magic.
If he were able to then this would take seconds, but, not only was his wand and trunk locked up in the cupboard under the stairs, he wouldn't be able to use his magic anyway.
So here Harry was, working tirelessly under the scorching hot sun. Not that Harry didn't like it outside. Harry thought it of his somewhat personal sanctuary, free from the Dursleys.
They wouldn't come outside very often unless to criticize Harry on his work. They much preferred the cool air-conditioned inside with their TV.
Dudley was now off his diet. Aunt Petunia had bribed Smeltings with all new football uniforms (Dudley was the star player, he would just plow down the field and basically just run over any offending players) in exchange for bigger sizes in their school uniforms for Dudley
. Even though Dudley was off his diet, Harry was still on one. Harry didn't question it, but it was taking a toll on him.
He was always tired…but he wasn't sure if this was because of the food deprivation or the fact of how little sleep he would get.
At first the nightmares were of the day of the Third Task, but of late, they were strange dreams, but that wasn't what really bothered him. It was the fact that his scar burned when he woke up. Sometimes that alone would wake him.
Currently, Harry was just about finished with the weeding and was starting on the shed. Once Harry had coated it thoroughly in paint he had started to get hungry.
Hungry as he was, he knew that anything he was fed wouldn't help much, due to the fact that his diet food consisted of some tofu and crackers most of the time
With a sigh, he walked inside, reveling in how the cool air of the house immediately calmed his burning skin. He then moved over to the sink to wash his face and hands, which were now thoroughly filthy. Sauntering over to the table he proceeded in sitting down to eat his meager portion.
He stared down at his food for a moment, contemplating on what he did to deserve this, when it came to him.
Cedric. He had practically killed him. He had told him to take the cup with him, which was as good as killing him, in Harry's eyes.
Harry looked at his food for a moment and came to the conclusion that he was no longer hungry. He got up from the table, cleared his plate and quickly retreated to his room.
Once in his familiar room, he heard a small noise, signifying that his aunt had locked him in again (Dudley was still rotting on the couch without a doubt).
He laid down on his bed and stared out the barred window. He wished that he could write Sirius, but that was impossible.
He was also guilty about that. Sirius had escaped prison to help Harry, only to have to starve, eat rats and live on a cave floor.
Harry picked up the floorboard under his bed after a few minutes to read the letters he received from his friends and godfather.
His uncle had allowed Harry to write when he first got home to say that they shouldn't send any letters or anything after this one because they aggravated his uncle. He slowly picked up Ron's letter:
"Harry, How are you?
I hope that you are better then me. Some nutter went and invested a whole load of money in Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Now we are suffering the consequences. We can't even go to the loo in peace.
Mom blew her top one-day when they somehow had an exact replica of Percy come in and talk about how he was the 'embodiment of perfection'. It was bloody hilarious!
I'm practicing real hard for the Quidditch tryouts. I want to be a keeper. Hermione has been staying over here since a few days after the start of break, she has even come out to help me practice. Not that she's useful.-"
At this Harry shook his head. 'Can't he just admit to liking her? I'm starting to feel like I am on a soap opera or something…' he thought to himself.
"-Oh well. It's the next best thing to having you here. Mum says she asked Dumbledore if you could stay with us, but he said no. Well, I'll keep on pestering mum to keep asking.
Well, if we can't write again for anytime soon, then maybe I should tell you that we are all going to Diagon Alley to buy all our school supplies on August twentieth.
Can you believe that Hermione is already annoying me about homework? "Ron, its O.W.L.s this year! You come from a wizarding family, you should know how important they are!" She's mad. There's no other excuse.
Mom wants me to send her and the rest of the family's love. Fred and George said something about neon pink dress robes. Well I suppose that they have finally cracked. We all knew they would.
I hope that you're not too down. I'll see you at Diagon Alley and if not, then at Hogwarts.
Bye for now!
Ron"
After Harry replaced that letter, he slowly picked up another one, and instead of an untidy scroll, this one was neat. From Hermione.
"Dear Harry,
Ron and me obviously wish you the best. You wouldn't believe the things Ron is doing to get out of doing homework or studying.
At least you have a good reason for not completing homework. And your teachers should let you off, apart from Snape of course. He would probably try to get you expelled from school because of that alone.
I am sorry that your uncle wont let you write or receive letters. And I don't think it wise to try and call you. Not after Ron, even if I do have more common sense then him.
Well we will be going to Diagon Alley on August twentieth; I hope you can make it.
Mrs. Weasley was very upset after a few incidents with the twins, but even I found myself laughing from them. Oh no. I think that you are rubbing off on me!
Next year we have our O.W.L.s so I suggest that you start studying as soon as possible. When I ask Ron to join me-"
'Ask?' Harry thought. 'Try force!'
"-he acts like it would kill him! Ron is insufferable sometimes.
Ron and me will give you your birthday gifts at Diagon Alley or Hogwarts.
Mrs. Weasley asked Dumbledore if you could stay with us here, but he seemed against it. Well I guess that it's for the best.
If your wondering why I didn't go to Victor's, its because, well, he's in seventh year! (Plus, after I thought about it, I realized my parents would never let me go anyway…) Hope to see you soon!
Hermione"
Their letters made Harry feel better about being stuck here for the holidays, but Sirius' was the best. Harry thought that it was because it proved that Sirius would be safe.
"Dear Harry,
Me and Buckbeak are currently staying at Moony's. He asked me to say hello to you. So 'hi' from Moony.
I am writing this because you are probably worried about us; well we finished Dumbledore's mission, and are sitting and relaxing doing nothing, well at least that is what Moony thinks I'm doing. Doesn't he know anything about vacation?
Oh well. I will be seeing you a lot this year, I think, and I hope that it will be calm. Well, I hope I get to see you soon!
Snuffles
(I hate that name…)"
Harry always got excited after reading this; he would get to see Sirius again!
Harry was so deep in his thoughts that day that he didn't realize what slamming sound that came from downstairs meant.
Or the muffled, booming voice ranting and raving.
Soon, though, he realized, with grim comprehension; that his uncle was coming up the stairs. Harry heard him stomping to a halt in front of his door; he heard the outside locks slide out of place and the door bang open.
Uncle Vernon stood there, completely livid. His eyes were bulging from his purple blotchy face, and Harry's heart started beating faster.
"YOU BOY! You have been using your abnormality! Well I'll teach you!" and with that he aimed a kick at Harry, which hit him dead on in the stomach.
Completely winded, Harry stumbled up off the floor and tried to catch his breath.
Harry had no idea of what his uncle was talking about, 'using your abnormality' but Harry couldn't do magic over the summer.
"You want to ruin my business?! I'll show you!" and with that said he continued to beat on Harry. Harry kept getting kicked in the ribs and he was sure that at least three were broken by now.
He continued to be barraged by the attack until he couldn't take it anymore. It felt worse then the torture that he had received after the third task. He wanted it to stop.
"Please…stop." he mumbled weakly, but to no avail. His uncle just hit him harder until he picked Harry up and threw him against the wall. Harry then passed out.
A few hours later, Harry woke up, and immediately wished he hadn't.
Everything hurt. He started the assessment of his body. He couldn't move his left arm, or his right wrist for that matter. He couldn't move his legs and there was immense pain everywhere.
'Great' he thought to himself 'now Voldemort wont have the chance to kill me. I'll already be dead.'
It was then that Harry realized how angry he was. His uncle had attacked him for no reason. While thinking along this line of thought, he noticed a faint aura glowing around him.
He heard a clank and slowly looked up, ignoring the pain. He saw that the lock on Hedwig's cage had fallen off. She instantly jumped out of her cage and fluttered down next to him.
"Hey Hed-". He hadn't gotten the chance to finish his sentence because had started a coughing fit. It even hurt to cough. He moved his head to cough on his shoulder, and was surprised to see he was coughing up blood. Just then he noticed a strange smell around him. As he looked around he realized what it was. Blood. That was his last cohesive thought, before slipping off into the painless darkness again.
Hedwig watched her master apprehensively. In short, he looked horrible.
She knew that she had to do something but it seemed that Harry was in no fit state to write a letter.
Thinking quickly, she flew up to the desk and picked up a blank piece of parchment in her beak. She landed on the floor and dipped the tip of it into the blood spill.
She then flew up to the window and recognized it was locked.
She thought for a moment and saw that the bars were quite well spaced apart. Knowing she hadn't gotten all that much to eat this summer, due to her masters terrible relatives, she figured she could slip right through them.
She opened the window with her foot and through the restraints, into the night.
It felt good to stretch her wings again, but the letter she was sending was probably one of the most important that she ever had to deliver, so she thought about who to give it to.
The first thought that came to her was Dumbledore, but she immediately stomped this one out because he was far too far away to get here in time, so she thought another minute and took off, heading towards Remus Lupin's home.
Post Note: Okay. Firstly, for those who are reading this, I thank you for taking the time to read my story, it will get better. I promise that an update is on the way. Thanks for reading! Please review!
~Heirofarwen