A/n: I would like to apologize for the formatting being off. I hadn't known about that until tonight, Sept. 7, 2002. This is still my improved version, but this time with the formatting corrected. That is the last time I use my grandmother's computer to upload a chapter.



Harry's birthday was complete misery. He was 1.8 meters tall and still growing, yet he only weighed 43.3 kilograms. He had nightmares every night, and when he woke, he had the words, "KILL THE SPARE," echoing throughout his mind.

Then there were the beatings. They were always for small, inconsequential, imagined offenses. Eating too much - 'ha, as if, I never get any food' - or talking too loudly, even for working too fast or too slow. To the Dursleys, he never did anything right.

It had been a complete shock the first time Vernon had hit him. Harry had forgotten how easily it was for Vernon to lose his temper and abuse him. He had been safe from Vernon's temper since he had received his first letter to Hogwarts. Vernon hadn't wanted to have to deal with adult freaks. He had missed a spot when he was dusting, and Vernon had promptly backhanded him. His lip was split from the force of the blow, and he gained a black eye. "You worthless brat, you can't do anything right. We take you in and feed you and you can't even clean properly. You are as worthless as your father was," Vernon roared.

He was brought back to the present with Petunia yelling at him to clean the bathroom and dining room. He complied, but not fast enough.

Harry sighed as he went to work. He knew he would be in trouble that night. He also knew that Vernon had been acting quite happy lately and he only acted like that when he had a new way to torture Harry. He clutched at his ribs as he attempted to polish the dining room table, under Petunia's watchful eyes. Harry could feel the hate rolling off Petunia, which confused Harry. He had always known that they had hated him, but he didn't know how much they could distaste another human being until this summer or way he could feel others emotions.

Yes, they had beat him, and abused him in other ways, but they had never denied him at least bread crusts or glasses of water. They had gotten their fun in other ways than denying him basic nourishment. They had enjoyed playing with car cigarette lighters. They liked to see how soon they could make Harry scream in pain.

At first, Harry had thought it was something he had done wrong. He had been five the first time they had locked him in the cupboard with no food. It had been punishment for accidentally turning his teacher purple. After that, with the Dursleys' suspicion confirmed that Harry was a freak, every thing had gone downhill. They had been careful not to leave marks that would show on his face, and they definitely made sure that his clothes were baggy to hide his stiffness as he walked. At any given time, Harry would have bruised ribs and bruises littering his whole body.

"Bloody ingrate! Polish the table correctly!" Petunia screamed at Harry after slapping Harry across the face, leaving a red mark.

Harry kept his head down as he hobbled around the room polishing the rest of the furniture, while trying to ignore the pain he was in. He had tried to hate the Dursleys the way they had hated him, but he couldn't. He feared them for the things they had done and continued to do to him, but all he felt for them was pity. They would never be able to care for other people, or be happy because of the way they were locked in hate and fear and anger at things that they couldn't control.

He finished with the dining room and moved on to the bathroom. He cleaned out the toilet and scrubbed the linoleum floor before scrubbing down the sink and the bathtub. He left the bathroom when he finished cleaning, only to meet Vernon in the hallway.

Petunia had complained to Vernon on how slow and disrespectful Harry was, and Vernon was going to punish the boy. He slapped the boy at the same location Petunia had, and than preceded to beat the boy with his hands and fists, until Harry was bleeding with a split lip and black eyes. Vernon told Harry to clean the bathroom and than go to his room, where he would be punished later.

That night, Vernon punished Harry with a new "toy." It was a bullwhip.

It cracked and whistled through the air before meeting Harry's back. Soon his back was covered with the tatters of his skin, as well as a great deal of blood. Before Vernon left, he snarled, "You will be expected to do all your chores tomorrow."

Harry didn't answer. He was looking at the stars and trying to make a wish. It was to be somewhere where he was safe and wanted. He passed out and never knew that he disappeared in a maelstrom of air and bright, emerald green light.