It was very early in the morning. No one else was around...The sun was just barely peeking over the horizon...If Vernon Dursley wanted to do this, he would have to be quick.
Pulling up his car close to the cliffside, he hurriedly climbed out and threw the back doors open to reveal the timid little boy waiting within. "Come here, boy..." He growled, roughly snatching the child up and dragging him out of the car, picking up the ragged old blanket and small teddy bear along with the child.
He approached the cliffside and looked down at the beach below. Then he smirked at the child in his arms. "Here's your stop, boy!" The man yelled before, much to the boy's shock and fear, tossed him off the cliffside to the soft sand below.
Vernon watched the child fall to the sand, and then the corners of his mouth turned up in amusement and delight when he saw just how the boy landed.
Not that far away he was being watched by a pair of sea green eyes that belonged to a most beautiful woman. Her red hair flowed down her back like a river and her skin was surprisingly light, almost perfect. Her name was Ariel. She was half submerged in the ocean she called home, for you see, she is a mermaid! Hiding behind a large rock she peeked over and smiled at all the children who were playing on the beach.
She loved children, both human and mermaid. They were always so small and so interested in her fishy tail that it warmed her heart. She found that girls seemed to like her more, but she knew some little boys who called her 'cool'.
She enjoyed watching them play, till she spotted movement near the docks that made her blink in confusion. Frowned in confusion she swarm closer to get a better look. She knew the docks can be dangerous to the young ones. She arrived right on time to see a large ugly man toss-to her horror- a small child over the side of the docks and the poor thing landed head first having his head lodged into the sand with the rest of his body to hang limp.
She clapped her hands over her mouth and gasped at the sight, shaking her head. She did NOT just witness that! Literally WHY would he DO something that needlessly cruel?! She had found herself ending up in that exact same situation numerous times before, and she knew it was not pleasant, so seeing it happen to a child made her quite angry to say the least.
Eyes narrowed, she focused, and her tail began to change into a pair of long, slender legs...
Back up on the cliffside, Vernon looked down at where the child landed to see the aftermath of him dumping the boy off the cliff. He began to laugh at the struggling child. "Good riddance to you, freak!" He dropped the boy's blanket and teddy down after him. Then, he got into his car and drove off, leaving the child lodged in the sand.
Little Harry could only see darkness all around him as he was in something soft and warm, but it picked at his skin making it hurt and itch. He whined and tried to wiggle out. He wanted to see the light! He wanted to move! He was starting to hyperventilate and was about to lose concusses.
Only to feel the sand shift slightly to his side then felt someone pulling him out. He coughed and greedily sucked in air as his eyes now hurt to do the light. He felt a hand on his back gently rub and he started to calm down and take more calming breaths.
Soon his breathing returned to normal but he still itched and his head hurt. He slowly looked over and gasped slightly at who had saved him. It was a woman with red hair and very concerned green eyes. Eyes that he swears have seen before.
No...Wait...This was different...These eyes were blue, and the ones he remembered were green...This was someone completely different than who he thought it was.
The woman looked at him in concern. "Are you okay? Did you hurt anything from the fall?" She asked gently. He looked at her.
"N-No..." The child squeaked before flinching. She tilted her head.
"Are you sure?" she asked gently.
He nodded his head before wincing and holding it whimpering a bit. Arial frowned and gently moved some of his hair out of his face making him flinch back slightly not expecting that. She blinks at that before frowning at him. "Your head hurts. Doesn't it?"
He looked down feeling bad and nodded his head timidly. She frowned softly at him. "I'm going to see if I can make it better." She reassured making his eyes widen slightly at that. She giggled softly, he looked so cute. She moved his bangs this time without him flinching and she frowned when she saw the lightning bolt shaped scar.
"Ooooh..." She moaned sadly, putting a hand on her forehead. "Sweetie, I am SO sorry...Did that awful man give that to you?" Harry shook his head.
"Uh-uh...I got it in the car crash that killed mommy and daddy..." He said softly. Ariel gasped.
"Your mom and daddy are dead...?" She breathed.
He nodded his head sadly. Sniffing slightly. "Aww, sweetie." She wrapped him up in her arms and held him close. He nuzzled into her feeling both warm and safe. She smelled like the sea and it comforted him making him relax into her embrace.
Ariel felt him relax and she smiled softly at that rubbing his back gently. She pulled away reluctantly and saw his eyes a little teary. She reached up and brushed them away gently before cupping his cheek. "Come on, let's get you changed and all washed up." She said lifting him into her arms. She also grabbed his blanket and teddy bear as well handing it to him.
"Teddy!" he said and held it close to himself nuzzling it while Ariel giggled finding that adorable.
"Yep! That's your teddy!" She said cheerfully. Harry hugged the bear tightly like it was his last lifeline.
"Sorry you got thrown too, teddy..." He said softly.
She frowned softly at that before standing up and looking with a glare at the ledge of the drop off. She vowed that if she ever saw that human again. Oh, she would give him a piece of her mind. With that, she started to walk down the beach.
Harry looked up at her blinking a little at her. "W-Where are we going?" he asked not sure if he could speak.
"To a little place that I own." She smiled down at him softly. "Don't worry, everything will be okay." She said rubbing his head gently.
He leaned into her touch with closed eyes making her smile grow. 'Awww!' she gushed internally.
Harry was in a state of bliss. He was being held so nice! It was the best thing ever! The pretty red haired woman was being so nice to him...He frowned slightly. 'Why IS she so nice...?' He thought to himself.
"Oh! You must be starving too!" The redhead interrupted his thoughts. "What do you wanna eat, sweetie?" He blinked.
"E-Eat...? Me...?" He asked softly. "Is that really okay...?" Ariel bit her lip.
'What did that human DO to this kid?' She thought.
"Yes." She nodded. "You get to eat buddy." She said.
He stared up at her with wide eyes not believing her, "B-but I already got my weakly fill!" he said.
"W-weakly fill?" she asked believing she would not like the answer.
"Yeah...I ate bread this morning..." He said softly. "That's all I need..."
"Bread?! How much bread did you eat?!" Ariel exclaimed.
"A...A piece..." Harry admitted.
The red headed woman shook her head and held his head to her, making him lean it onto her shoulder something that soothed him and made him instinctively nuzzle into her. Finding comfort.
"That is way too little." She stressed obviously distraught. This child was being starved! She knew her father would only not feed his people if they are prisoners or in the case of his children, if they misbehave. But she and her sisters always found a way to get on his good side again. Her dad was a softy. But this poor child, it would seem to follow under the first condition. He was a prisoner.
Her grip tightened around him protectively her deep maternal instincts in full drive. 'Not anymore!' she thought with conviction. She would make damn sure that he was no prisoner and that he gets some decent food in him. The poor thing must be hungry.
Harry looked up at his red headed savior. "I-I'm Harry…what's your name?" he asked innocently, feeling safe enough around her to not think she will hurt him for talking…kind of.
She smiled at him. That was a good sign. "Hi, Harry. I'm Ariel. It's nice to meet you." She said. He smiled.
"Pretty name..." He said softly, eliciting a giggle from the mermaid.
"Aww, that's a sweet thing to say." She cooed softly, rubbing his head. He was certainly a sweet one. She couldn't wait for him to meet her friends...
He leaned into her hand finding great comfort. She smiled gently to him and just held him close. Content with holding him.
She started to notice then that his eyes were starting to droop. Poor thing looked tired. She gazed up to see how far she was to their destination and decided that a little nap might do him some good. She smiled as she got an idea.
Harry felt so comfy and warm in Miss Ariels hold. He could feel his tried eyes start to droop and as much as he tried to fight it, being so comfy was so rare to him that he was losing the battle to stay awake for the nice lady.
Then he heard it, a soft melody that filled the air and his resistance was shattered as his eyes closed and he snuggled into her soft hold. It sounded like the voice of an angel, a voice that soothed his soul and made him smile happily and feel like everything was going to be okay now.
He couldn't keep his eyes open at that wonderful sound. Letting out a cute yawn, his eyes drooped. Soon, he was fast asleep in her arms, snoring softly.
Ariel smiled at him. Then she glared forward. 'How could anyone treat him so cruelly?' She thought angrily. It didn't seem real...
She shook her head and tried to stay positive. She would do plenty of fun things with him! Swimming lessons, singing him songs, showing him to her family and friends...
Family and friends. She looked down slightly at that. She had an okay relationship with her father, but he still had issues with humans. She had never told him of her special power to live in both the surface and below the sea.
How would he react? She didn't know, but for now she had to focus on the sleeping bundle in her arms. The poor thing, tossed aside like garbage. He didn't deserve that. Not at all. She held him closer running her fingers through his hair finding it soothing.
How would he react? She frowned and bit her lip at the thought. The poor thing is already traumatized to some extent, it would be bad to expose that secret right now. Gazing up she looked up to find her small beach house getting closer.
She smiled softly and gazed down at the sleeping child as he nuzzled into her curled into a little ball a small smile on his face. He looked so precious, that it almost melted her heart.
She didn't want to put him down yet. So she settled on sitting down in a nearby chair and holding him some more.
Studying him closely, she began to hum softly to him. She wanted to make sure he had sweet dreams. And he seemed to like her soothing singing voice.
She eventually needed to rest her voice. Sighing softly, she looked outside.
The sun was still high in the sky yet she could see now a few people starting to come to the beach. Smiling lightly at that she turned her gaze back to the child and just rocked him gently in her arms.
She loved holding him, it just felt right for her. Holding him in her arms felt natural and felt a strong warmth through her body that she adored. She rested more into her couch and just held the child closer giving him a small kiss to the forehead.
Let him rest. She closed her eyes and hummed contently. He deserved a little rest, once he woke up she can make him something to eat. But for now, she rested contently listening to the little ones soft sleeping breaths.