Harry stared at the ceiling blankly. Minutes crept by slowly which seemed like hours to him. How long had he been sitting here he wondered aimlessly. He slowly looked at Hedwig's cage and oddly, it seemed like it required every muscle to do that. She was sleeping and hooting quietly.

He smiled slightly in spite of himself. She was a loyal companion. Sometimes he thought, even better than his friends. He smiled again; he didn't even attempt to change his mind on that thought.

Slowly his door crept open; he either didn't notice or pretended not to notice; either way it didn't matter. Aunt Petunia poked her head in, a look of fear in her eyes. She bowed her head a little so she didn't have to look at him as if he might blow her up with the slightest evil glare.

Harry laughed on the inside. This might come to his advantage.

"Harry," asked Aunt Petunia in an uncertain voice. Harry looked up slightly allowing his gaze to lock on her head. As if she could feel it she shuddered noticeably. Clearing her voice and allowing herself to become a little more bolder she calmly said, "Dinner is ready and you need to come down and eat, if you don't eat you'll probably become sick." and she mumbled, "I wouldn't want to be responsible for that even though it will make my life much easier."

Harry sighed heavily, "Fine." He growled menacingly. He slowly rose off his bed. His feet like huge cement blocks that he hadn't moved for years. Aunt Petunia rushed out of the room trying to make it seem like she had something important to do.

Harry smiled again. He was just full of smiles today. That's a change from what the rest of the summer had given him. Then again it wasn't what the summer had given him, it was the thoughts he put in his own mind so, I guess you could say it was his fault.

Harry slowly trudged down the stairs. Either he was really tired or was very much out of shape. He could barely make it down the stairs.

When he finally got into the kitchen the Dursleys had already started dinner.

They all eyed him inconspicuously. When he came and sat down at the table everyone there covered their nose. He looked around at first not knowing why. Then he too smelled the stench coming out from his malnourished body.

"I'm surprised even the neighbors can't smell that horrible stench of this good for nothing boy," Grumbled Uncle Vernon obviously not caring if Harry was there or not. Then again has he ever cared if Harry was there or not?

"Vernon!" Yelled Aunt Petunia. She gave him a You-better-not-say-that-again look. He looked down at his plate, as the redness rose in his face, and started working very hard at cutting his steak obviously embarrassed and angry but not wanting to apologize.

Harry mused at the fact that he hadn't bathed now for over a month. He stared at his food for what must have been about ten minutes when Uncle Vernon cleared his throat rather loudly, "Boy, are you going to eat that food or are you trying to watch it eat itself?" snorted Uncle Vernon.

Harry Glared for a brief second, emotions slowly creeping their way into his shining green eyes. As fast as it had come it went away. He leaned back slightly in his chair and stared at the ceiling

"I'm not hungry," said Harry out of nowhere. This made all the Dursleys jump. Harry got up and walked away. Dudley squealed and said in an excited voice, "good more for me."

Uncle Vernon gave Dudley a pat on the back and said gruffly, "That's my boy you'll get all the ladies just like I did back when I was your age." He smiled at Aunt Petunia.

Harry heard all of this as he was walking up the stairs and thought he was going to vomit right there. He was disgusted and he had to run to his room so they couldn't hear him gagging.

As soon as he walked into the room he noticed the unmistakable smell of rotting cabbage and feet. Tears welled up in his eyes. Had it really been that long since he bathed? He walked quickly over to the window and threw it open then ran from the room.

Harry said out loud "I think it's time I get in the shower" He grabbed a towel almost reluctantly (a-l-m-o-s-t I said) then turned the shower on and trudged in. He sat in there for what must have been 2 hours until he realized the water was cold enough to give him chills down his spine. He quickly turned it off and jumped out of the shower. He felt a little better after bathing.

After he wrapped his towel around himself he sat down on the sink and stared at his reflection in the mirror. Then he wondered why the Dursleys hadn't come and seen if he drowned? That wouldn't be the reason of course. Uncle Vernon would yell his head off at Harry for making the water bill so high. That would be his way to see if Harry was still living or not but of course I'm sure he didn't care either way.

Harry was a little surprised when he first looked into the mirror. He didn't recognize the face that was staring back at him. The eyes sunken in. The hair even messier than before if it was even possible. Even the green in his eyes looked almost a grayish color.

It had been the nightmares……