Warning! Rape. (Undescribed). This chapter will be the only one – the rest is recovery.
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Chapter Two – Dragonfly, Out in the Sun
Harry sighed, and wiped the sweat from his brow. The sun was boiling hot, and Harry knew that if he didn't get a drink soon, he'd pass out.
"Here," A voice said, and Harry looked up into his cousin's face, which blocked out the sun. Dudley's hand held out a water bottle.
Harry looked at him suspiciously, before taking the bottle. "Thanks," he said, still wary. He opened it and drank it greedily, surprised it was actually water. Half the thing was gone before he paused, and realized he should save some for later in case he doesn't get any more.
Dudley was still standing there. "Do you want something?" Harry asked, confused.
"Um…yes?" But it came out as a question more than an answer.
"Okay," Harry said, turning back to the garden bed he was weeding. His first day back, and he was already set to work.
Dudley hesitated, before sitting down next to Harry. His words, however, startled him. "I want to know more about magic."
Harry stopped weeding altogether, and turned to look at Dudley. "You what?"
"I want to learn more about magic," Dudley said quietly. "Look, Harry, I realize that I've been a right git to you over the past few years, and it was extremely uncalled for."
"You were," Harry said bluntly. "What made you change?"
Dudley hesitated, before quietly saying, "Last year, when those things attacked us in the tunnel…"
"Dementors," Harry supplied.
"Those…Dementors…made me realize that magic isn't really a bad thing, and that we were judging you based on something you couldn't help…"
"Oh," Harry said, finally getting it. "You mean it's the same as judging you for being gay?"
"What?" Dudley sputtered. "I'm not...I don't like…"
"Don't worry, Dudley, it's perfectly acceptable in the Wizarding World. After all, men can still produce with one another through magic, so they don't need to worry about ending a line."
"What?!"
"Yeah, I know," Harry smiled, returning to the garden with a smirk on his face. "I had the same exact reaction last year. After I left here last summer, my godfather told me all about it. You see, I'm gay too, so…" He shrugged. "…it's fine with me."
Dudley was stunned into silence, and watched as Harry continued his chores. "Is that another reason why? You felt a kinship towards me?" Harry asked. "Because if Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia knew…"
"Please don't tell them," Dudley said quietly.
"I won't," Harry promised. "But you should tell them. It'll come better when they hear it from you yourself, rather than finding out another way."
"I'll tell them," Dudley said. "Someday. But…not now."
Harry nodded. "I understand. Don't worry; I'll keep quiet."
"Thank you," Dudley said quietly. "Actually, the main thing that changed my mind was…a guy I like."
"Really?" Harry asked.
"Yeah. I had met him during the end of last summer, and we grew attached. He goes away during the school year like you do, so I didn't get to see him again until this morning. I was complaining about how you were coming back today, and ending up explaining how you were 'different' – not anything about magic, but just how you're different and Mum and Dad don't like you. He gave me a weird look, and put his hand on my shoulder, explained why it was weird, and it was like a film was being lifted from my eyes."
"He made you see reason?" Harry asked.
Dudley nodded. "Yeah. I…I really like him.
Harry smiled. "Good for you! Now…what do you want to know about magic?"
3
The first five days there were surprisingly enjoyable. Harry still had a list of chores, but they were no longer ridiculous and were easily done (especially with his stronger build from Quidditch and the DA). Dudley would keep him company when he worked, and Harry would tell him about Hogwarts and magic and creatures. Dudley was fascinated by it, and had some amazing ideas for spells, asking questions that Harry knew he didn't have the answer to. But he wrote them down and promised to write to Dudley when he found out later; he was sure that Hermione and Draco, plus the Black, Potter, and Malfoy libraries, would have something to say about them.
In turn, Dudley told Harry more about the boy he had a crush on, and Harry started urging him to work out more. He had already started losing his whale of a body two years ago, but now he was actually getting fit. While Harry did his chores, Dudley would lift weights and stretch. Whenever they need to go grocery shopping, Dudley would volunteer to go on his own, giving Harry a time to relax and Dudley a chance to stretch his legs. He would run to the supermarket, pay for the food, put it in a backpack, and run home.
Dudley also started a diet, though not in a way Petunia and Vernon could see. Harry would measure out how much Dudley should eat, and Dudley kept the extra for Harry to eat.
Of course, the fact that Vernon had gotten a raise a few hours before he had to pick Harry up from King's Cross probably had another effect in lightening the mood.
He'd only had a small contact with Draco after that night, and it was to give him his address. Harry had bumped into Draco and slipped the piece of paper in his hand, while Draco muttered, "Watch it, Potter."
When Dudley was out, either at the gym, shopping, or talking to his crush, Harry found his thoughts wandering to the blond again and again, almost in disbelief of what had happened.
Not only had they sat there and talked without fighting, but Draco had actually been nice. Pointing out Sirius's star…Harry felt his heart warm whenever he thought about that.
Yes, the first five days there were nice. For the first time, Harry enjoyed himself and liked his family. His days were filled with bonding with Dudley, and his nights were filled with dreams of dragons and stars.
The first five days were nice; the rest, however, were not.
xxx
"BOY!" Vernon thundered, storming over to the kitchen, where Harry was cooking and Dudley was sitting at the table. He interrupted them mid conversation, his eyes bulging, and his face was slowly turning a different color. "BOY!" he hissed.
"Yes, Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked politely.
His uncle smiled maliciously, before raising a hand and smacking Harry across the face. The strong blow hit Harry by surprise, and he stumbled backwards, trying to grab onto anything. He crashed into the oven, throwing the pots off the stove and burning his hand. He pulled it back, wincing at the pain, before staring back up at his uncle in shock. The Dursleys hadn't physically abused him since the Aunt Marge incident.
"Vernon!" Petunia gasped. "Why would you do that? His godfather-"
"Is dead!" Vernon yelled joyously. "His godfather is dead." He turned toward Harry. "Hear that boy? I guess you really are a freak; everyone leaves you – your father, your mother, and even your godfather. No one wants you!"
Harry saw red. "That's not true," he shouted, pushing his uncle.
It barely affected him, Vernon being ginormous compared to Harry. "Looks like someone needs to be reminded of who they really are."
The punch came out of nowhere, slamming into the side of Harry's jaw and throwing him onto the ground. A powerful kick followed it, directly at Harry's ribs.
He was positive that the crunching he heard were his ribs breaking.
"Vernon, stop!" Petunia yelled.
"Dad, what are you doing?" Dudley yelled.
"Something I should've done years ago!" Vernon yelled, kicking Harry a few more times as Harry curled into a ball. Vernon stopped, breathing heavily, a smile on his face. "Expect some more coming, boy. You're lucky I went easy on you today."
And he went upstairs, Petunia pleading after him, as Dudley took in Harry's bloodied face and broken body, and realized that everything had just gotten a lot worse than it had ever been.
xxx
Over the next few days, Harry was given extra chores, and extra beatings if he didn't finish in time. Dudley was forbidden from spending time with Harry, and Vernon promised Petunia that he would only beat the boy when she couldn't hear or see. Dudley was horrified that his mother accepted this, and swore to himself that he'd find a way to minimize Harry's work.
When Vernon was done each night, and returned to his room, Dudley would sneak into Harry's room and comfort him, treating his wounds and telling him about how he would flirt with the guy he liked, who had now joined the same gym as him.
Harry was grateful for the normalcy, and it gave him a small piece of sanity as the days passed.
But it wasn't that simple.
As each day passed, he got weaker and weaker from his nightly beatings, and it got harder and harder to complete his chore list. Dudley would take half of it and spend time doing the extremely laborious work away from Harry; but even with the two of them working together, they couldn't always complete the chores in time. The welts on Harry's backside made it harder for him to do work, and he became tired from the lack of proper rest and healing, and the right amount of nourishment.
Three days until his two weeks were up (there was no way he was staying a month) he got a miracle. When Dudley was taking care of him, a letter burned into existence next to him, and it drifted down beside him onto the bed.
"What is it?" Dudley asked, eying it warily. After all, letters don't just burn into existence near you.
"A letter."
Dudley rolled his eyes and relaxed a bit. "Yeah, but from who?"
Harry turned the letter over to open it, and spotted the seal. "Gringotts. It's the bank."
"The one ran by goblins?" Dudley asked incredulously.
Harry nodded, opening it.
Dear Mr. Potter,
You are the main heir of the Black Estate, and have been invited to the reading of Sirius Black's will in five days, henceforth from now.
As you have not responded to any of our attempts to contact you, we have looked further into your estate and realized that someone has been hiding you from us. Therefore, we have decided that this letter will also work as a portkey. It has been charmed with an activation phrase that 'Padfoot says you will know'. Good luck with your guess, and we hope to receive you in five days, at 1 P.M. While the reading is not until 3, Mr. Black has suggested that you arrive two hours early for expection and the preparation of your estate. He has also requested that we give you a five day notice, while others only get a warning two or one days in advance.
May your gold flourish and your enemies tremble.
Ragnok, Head of Gringotts Bank
"What does it mean?" Dudley asked.
"It means that in five days, I'm getting out of here," Harry said, smiling.
xxx
Perpetually, the beatings got worse, but Harry didn't care, knowing that he finally, finally was able to speak to the Goblins about his estate – even better, it was a direct transport to Gringotts, which was a lot safer than other transportation methods (*cough cough* Stan Shunpike can't drive *cough cough*).
But with less than a day until his two weeks were up, it got a lot worse.
Harry didn't realize anything different that morning, but Dudley's eyes widened at the sight of him. "Harry, have you looked in a mirror lately?"
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"You look…different."
Dudley was right. When Harry looked in the mirror, Harry still seemed the same, but his bones were more defined. It was easier to see his cheekbones, and his figure seemed to change as well. Even his hair seemed a bit more…magical, for lack of a better term. It was in control, with a shine to it.
"Could it be a magic thing?" Dudley asked.
"Maybe," Harry said. "It's only a month until I turn sixteen, so maybe that has something to do with it…"
Dudley wasn't the only one who noticed; when Petunia had come up from behind Harry, she hadn't realized that it was her nephew – rather, she thought it was one of her son's friends.
Harry should have realized that that night would be different as well.
Vernon, as usual, took off his belt and began to use it, beating Harry's back and side; but then he did something different. Grabbing Harry's hands, before Harry could blink, they were tied with his belt to the front of his bed.
Realizing what was about to happen, Harry started to yell, screaming at him.
Vernon paid him no heed, pulling down Harry's pants.
No one got rest in the house that night.
xxx
When Vernon returned home after work the following day, he noticed that no chores were done.
He smiled, realizing that Harry was probably in too much pain from the previous night to move, and it grew as he realized he had even more reason to punish the boy.
He had gotten off work early, and arrived at the house only a few minutes to three in the afternoon. As he neared Harry's room, he heard his son's voice from within, and his anger increased. He kicked at the door and entered the room, where Dudley sat beside Harry on the bed.
"What did I say about spending time with the freak, Dudley?"
He threw a punch and hit Harry across the face. He didn't move.
"Get up, boy!" he shouted, heaving Harry into the air and shoving him into a wall.
"Dad, stop!" Dudley shouted.
Vernon ignored him and continued to beat Harry until he heard a bone crunch. He smiled viciously.
"Dad, stop!" Dudley shouted, running in front of Harry with his arms spread. "Dad, stop, please!"
Vernon paused. "Why should I?"
"Would you hit me?"
"What?" he asked, shocked. Of course he would never hit his son!
"Well, would you?"
"No, never!" Vernon said.
"Then you're not allowed to hit Harry!"
"Dudley, no, this isn't the time," Harry groaned from the floor, crawling over to his trunks, each movement jarring him with pain.
"And why not?" Vernon thundered.
"Because I'm different too!" Dudley shouted. "Just like Harry is! You can't blame us for something we're born as!"
Vernon didn't have a response, so Dudley finally said what he'd been bursting to reveal for ages. "Dad, I'm gay!"
Silence settled between them as Harry took his trunks and tied them all together, threading the rope through Hedwig's bars as well. "You're what?" Vernon asked quietly.
Harry pulled out his Gringotts letter and looked at his cousin fearfully.
"I'm gay, Dad," Dudley said softly.
Vernon started to turn red, and then purple. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Instead, he raised his arm and punched Dudley across the face, hard enough for Dudley to tell that he was going to get a black eye.
Dudley fell against Harry's trunks and Harry moved in front of him. "Stop it, he's your son!"
Vernon paid no attention, and turned back to tormenting Harry. He punched Harry across the stomach, and Dudley could hear the bone break from where he was.
They were all frozen for a second, Harry on the floor, staring at Vernon, Vernon staring at Harry, and Dudley staring at them both.
Then, quicker than anyone was expecting, Harry dashed up towards his trunks, shouting at Dudley, "Grab the rope behind you, and whatever you do, DON'T LET GO!" Dudley followed his instructions, grabbing onto the rope that attached all of the trunks together, and Harry rushed towards him, grabbing onto the rope as well and swooping up the Gringotts paper. "I SOLEMNLY SWEAR I'M UP TO NO GOOD!" He shouted, and they disappeared in a flash of light.
xxx
Feeling extremely dizzy, Dudley opened his eyes to realize he was in an office, lined with gold. Harry was next to him, clutching the paper. Behind the desk sat an odd, short looking creature with a pointy nose, and Dudley realized that this must be a goblin. There were seven people in the room; a family of three blondes (an older man and woman, and a younger boy around his and Harry's age), a greasy haired man with a hooked nose, an older woman and a pink haired girl (obviously mother and daughter), and a kind but scarred faced, scraggily dressed man.
"Harry?" the blonde boy asked, standing up desperately, shock written across his face.
"Hey, Draco, Remus, Tonks. Snape, Mr. and Madam Malfoy," Harry muttered, "Nice to see you again," before he toppled over and collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.
xxx
Alright, guys, thank you for the wonderful feedback and welcome into the Harry Potter fandom! I'm glad you're enjoying this story.
Alright, so not everything is done:
1. Draco and Harry will both be creatures. Harry will probably be an elf or fae. Other popular choices have been kitsune (pronounced kit-sue-nay) and dragons. However, voting and suggestions are still open on this one. And I'm still unsure about Draco.
2. The Lestrange Twins are switching sides, and are now on Harry's side. Pansy will be on their side as well, though not willingly in the beginning. Feel free to throw in some Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, guys; we're making this a party. And I need some more guys…
3. I'm grateful that nobody mentioned it, because I forgot to put it in – Greyback is evil. Definitely. Abso-fucking-lutely
4. Ships are still up for grabs, but it seems likely that we'll have Neville/Blaise and Ginny/Luna. Snupin is popular, but not definite. And I forgot to add it earlier, but Lily x James is another ship I'm doing. You'll understand in the future, but Sirius is also up for grabs. So for those of you who prefer Siri with Remus or Sev, you can comment on it.
5. It's M-Preg. You can vote on whom you want to get pregnant, though I'm currently leaning towards Harry.
6. Lily's voting is closed, however, I won't tell you which one I picked. You'll find out soon, though. Like, the-next-chapter soon.
7. I will be doing SURPRISE for Dumbles, but until that's revealed, he will be treated/written/received like Evil!Dumbledore.
So, to review, Voting for Lily and Dumbledore is closed. However suggestions on ships (#4), Draco and Harry's creature heritage (#1), which one of them gets pregnant (#5), and other people on either good (#2) or bad (#3) sides are still open. Vote away!
