Birthday Surprises Chapter Eighteen
Usual disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue. Please. Wish it were mine though. Ah, if only… Lolly, xxx.
"Harry dear, sit down." Molly said, looking serious. Harry sat down, feeling unaccountably nervous. Remus sat down next to him, something that Harry was grateful for.
"Harry, why was Professor Dumbledore so anxious that you come early? Not that we don't want you here, but…..well…..he looked very upset." Harry cupped his chin in his hand and looked down at the immaculate table.
"That's because he found out that I had been abused by Vernon." He said very quietly.
"In what way?" Molly asked sharply.
"He was beaten." Remus said. Molly's eyes filled with tears and she stood up abruptly. The next moment, she had Harry in a tight hug.
"When was this?" She asked.
"It started when he was three." Remus said. He didn't think Harry was capable of answering. Remus caught a flash of red in his peripheral vision, and sighed.
"How often?"
"Every few days until I was eleven." Harry mumbled.
"Good gracious." Molly breathed.
"Harry, why don't you go up to your room and get some sleep?" Remus suggested. Harry nodded and gently withdrew himself from Molly.
"I'll see you in the morning. Thanks Remus." He said quietly. Remus felt his eyes well up with tears - Harry didn't deserve any of this.
"This is awful." Molly said.
"Not as awful as seeing it." Remus muttered - nothing would ever be able to wipe those memories from his mind.
"What do you mean?"
"Harry put his memories of the beatings into a pensieve." Remus said.
"Where's the pensieve?"
"Harry has it. Molly, I don't think he'd appreciate you going in without asking him first." Remus doubted that Harry wanted anyone to go into the pensieve.
"I'll ask him." Molly said.
Molly was bustling about the kitchen when Ginny came in. Remus was still seated at the table, and Ginny sat down next to him.
"You heard then." He said, searching her face. Ginny nodded.
"Did you tell Ron and Hermione?" She nodded again.
"Hermione said when Harry told us that at least he could defend himself. She said something about little kids getting abused…no wonder Harry shuddered."
"Did you hear everything?"
"Uh huh." Ginny said.
"I don't want you to ask Harry about it - he didn't want you three to know."
"I won't talk about it. Was it really terrible?"
"Yes."
