Harry gazed out the window his soft green eyes searching for anyone familiar. He heard the thump of the stairs and prayed his uncle would leave him alone for the night. He did not. The door slammed open and Vernon stumbled in. A soft whimper left his lips at what was about to come.
Vernon bodily threw Harry across the room to the bare wall and ordered him to take off his shirt."You little Freak. It was your fault I did not get that job. I'll show you what happens when you use that magic around us. You are going to regret even being born." Vernon pulled off his belt.
Harry laid on the bed whimpering softly in pain. He knew better than to make too much noise. He gently pulled himself up and glanced over his shoulder wincing at the welts on his back. He sat up and pulled out some salve that he had brewed last year for the whippings. The cool feeling of relief proved he wasn't as bad at potions as everybody thought. He only chose for them to think that. He was so Slytherin that he hid himself in Gryffindor. He lied about a lot of things.
He, in truth though, was tired of the facade. He just wanted to be him. He didn't want to act bold and brash rushing into danger right and left. What he really wanted to do was think every possibility through before even making a plan of action. He hated being loud and despised other people being loud. Harry, most days simply wanted to curl up on a chair with a blanket and a book. But the thing that got him most as acting as though he hated Professor Snape. In fact he admired and adored him. He basically thought of the man as his own personal hero.
Snape had saved his life several times, spied for the order and yet always kept that cool exterior. Incredible. Back to the problem at hand. His back had stopped bleeding and because school started in a four weeks this probably wasn't the last beating he would receive. He glanced over at his birthday gifts which he still hadn't opened. He had felt a little put out when he received four gifts and one letter. The letter of course being from, what he felt like at the moment, was his one true friend. His other friends didn't write at all.
He opened the letter from Draco. Yup, Draco was his friend and at the moment, his best friend. After his parents had become spies the two had gotten to know each other and found they actually had quite a few things in common.
Dear Harry, how is your summer. Even though I have probably said it in every letter I can't wait for the school year to begin. I miss our late night chats. I hope you are well and your relatives are treating you alright. I wish desperately for your company again. Have you thought up any ways for me to ask Ginny out yet? I have had some fantasies about her. Seriously how could you not like her? Those beautiful brown eyes, her curvy gorgeous body and that fiery temper. She is perfect. Sorry I don't mean to bore you with my lusting. Please tell me who you like! It's killing me. No really! (imagine me falling over dead) I have come back from the dead to demand you tell me who it is that you wish to ask out but are too much of a wuss (yeah yeah pot calling kettle black I know).
That's it when we get to school I am tying you up until you tell me. I don't care if you can't go to classes I will keep you there. So just do yourself a favor and tell me. I hope you enjoy your present.
Your friend (he he I'm your friend) Draco
P.S. Your present is a Black Adder (or viper) native to the UK so she can go out and do stuff even during the winter. Father helped pick it out. It's magical.
Harry chuckled at his friends dramatics and ADD attitude towards writing. He pulled over the box. He opened it and peeked in. There sat a black adder sound asleep. The viper opened it's slitted eyes and looked him up and down.
Hello beautiful I'm Harry what's your name?
Ah, a speaker. A hatchling at that. My name is Carey. (ka ree) Where is your protector little one? Harry pouted at the 'little one' part. He hated the fact that he had topped out at 5'1.
My protector is no longer alive. I am by myself.
No protector! Don't humans usually assign a new one. You need a protector little one.
Yes they do but the people assigned don't take care of me, and I'm not little.
I will find you a suitable protector, and yes you are little, you are tiny. The other human told me you were the same number of years and yet he is much larger than you. Harry just sighed. Draco was 6'4 and yes, compared he was a bit on the short side. He snorted at that thought. Who was he kidding? Ron was 6'6, Hermione was 5'8, and even Ginny who was a year younger than him was 5'5 all taller and weighed more than him. Apparently his new familiar was a bit of a mother hen.
Hedwig squawked from her cage. Harry smiled softly, "Don't worry I'm not replacing you." He walked over and fed her a treat. Satisfied that her owner was not going to forget about her she took the treat and gently nipped his fingers in understanding.
He climbed into bed and winced as he did so the pain bringing him back to the fact that he had just been beaten. His present (and basically now adopted mother) had helped take his mind off it but he was still in a lot of pain. Carey curled up next to him looking worried but somehow knew better than to ask. She had probably just seen the confrontation with his uncle.
/sweet little harry\\
Harry carefully packed everything into his one trunk. He had cast a feather light charm on his trunk before school ended so it would be easier to carry. Gently picking up Carey he settled her onto his shoulders. Quietly opening the door he slipped out and crept down the stairs. Holding Hedwig in her cage under one arm and his trunk under the other he eased open the front door and headed out.
Moving up the street quickly he entered the deserted park. Raising his wand he hesitated for a moment thinking back to the last time he had been on the Knight Bus. Third year when he had met Sirius. He realized with worrying about his uncle's beatings he hadn't had time to properly grieve for his godfather. He would at Hogwarts he decided. He shot off sparks bringing the Knight bus to him.
