Harry had never truly lived before Hogwarts. Her existence had revolved around mere survival. A deep bone aching need to escape from Aunt Petunias sharp jabs and the dreaded belt Uncle Vernon delighted in welting her skin with.And then came Hogwarts .Beautiful,fantastical Hogwarts .Providing comfort in its sturdy walls the likes of which Harry had scarcely dreamed of .Nourishing her brittle soul and broken spirit .Hogwarts also held Tom.Tom ,who in spite of his sharp gaze and perpetual sneer was just like Harry. Alone cold and oh so desirous of love.Together they roamed the halls ,their camaraderie felt but never acknowledged. And Harry longed to stay with Tom forevermore.His quiet presence a balm for her aching soul. But it was time to board the red train to return to her frigid reality.Maybe one day they would be together.
The summer brought with it nothing but misery.Harry spent her waking hours cooking and cleaning,thankfully Uncle Vernon had laid the belt to rest.Yet the threat was ever present ;ready at any moment to break the tentative peace.At night Harry would gather her coltish limbs in her arms and pretend that Tom was embracing her.Most days it was the only thing that kept her sane.Tom didn't have an owl or a telephone.Yet she kept hoping for a letter ,a parcel ,anything at all to prove that Tom was real and not a charade conjured from her mind.She felt like the bone weary nomad ,traversing the desert .Thirsty ,tired and mad.Trying her best to attain salvation,water,life.Only to discover it was all a mirage as she hustled fistfuls of sand down her throat.