Bitter

There had probably been a time when he was afraid of his Aunt and Uncle. A time when the threat of being locked in a closet for a month would scare him enough to stay out of trouble. A whack to the ribs with a promise of more would instantly make him behave.

Now, he didn't live with the Dursley's. Now, he wouldn't have to live with the consequences of beating them to a bloody pulp, besides a disapproving look from Lupin, who he really had no mind of anyway.

The one thing that stood in his way from his ultimate dream of was the empty driveway in front of the Dursley residence.

Vernon wasn't even there. The only person in the house was his aunt. His own flesh and blood. But most of all, his mother's sister. He knew he couldn't hit a girl. He had at least that much self restraint, anyway.

"God damn it!" He moaned as he walked into the house.

"Watch your language." Lupin said in a half-hearted attempt. Harry didn't know why he still tried. What was the point anymore?

"Just get your crap, and let's go." Harry stomped up the stairs, pist off. He had just been denied a treat.

He turned a corner and heard a squeal akin to a pig.

Pig? Dudley.

He turned with a malicious grin. His fat ass cousin was standing directly infront of him. None of his friends around, no uncle who could lock him up for the rest of the summer – not that he would have let him anyway. Just his cousin.

His smile must have scared him, because Dudley began backing up into the wall. "Hello Dudley." His sadistic grin widened.

This was his chance. His chance to get his cousin back for all of the shit he had put him through for eleven years. Stealing the few things he had, telling on him for things he didn't do, beating the shit out of him, and forcing an entire school to hate him. Now was his chance.

His cousin backed up into the corner, trying to make himself as small as possible, as if he wouldn't be seen.

Suddenly, he wasn't the bully he had grown up knowing… just a really fat kid who was being cornered.

He tried to ignore the fact that he had a really unfair advantage. Despite his cousin's weight advantage, he knew he could probably beat him senseless anyway. He had fifteen years of rage on his side. His cousin probably wouldn't be able to hold his own for three seconds.

"Aw, fuck it. This will be my good deed of the year." He said, more to himself. His cousin sighed in relief. "I can't beat up a pouf anyway."

He packed up his trunk, looking through the crazy shit he had previously worn. Plaid? What the hell? He had to do some shopping.

"Come on." He barked at Lupin, who was waiting at the bottom of the staircase. "We're going shopping."

Lupin got into the driver's seat. "So where is your license?" He asked with a sarcastic look. Too bad. It would have been nice to make fun of him for believing he actually had it. He ignored him.

"Turn left, here. There is a new mall. I want to get some shit."

"What do you want to get?" They pulled into a parking spot and Harry was suddenly overcome with an emotion he hadn't felt in a while. Embarrassment. He wasn't really sure why though. It wasn't like he had any claim on Lupin. He wasn't his parent, so it shouldn't have been his embarrassment, it should have been Lupin's… right?

"New clothes."

"You have any muggle money?"

"No, Lupin, I don't. I plan on using my five finger discount." He rolled his eyes.

"Why is it that I wouldn't put it past you? I shop here, Harry. They have good deals on clothes."

"That explains things, then, does it?" He said smirked. "I shop in footlocker."

"You need new shoes? They look fine to me." He said, referring towards his unnamable branded shoes.

"Yeah, expect they're too small, they have a hole, and they came from the Salvation Army. I want to get some Tims."

He picked out a couple of Nike shirts, some beaters, and stocking caps. He bought the most expensive pair of Timberlands in the store.  

"You're going to look like a thug." Lupin replied in his faded jeans, and a sweater that looked like it had come off the irregular rack.

"Then I guess I'm ready to ring these things up."

Notes: Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter of Bitter. I'm really a bit overwhelmed with all of the stories I'm doing now. Loss (which is a story on my other account, as BlackPotterGrl) is taking up a lot of time, and The Price of Love is a bit of a hassle to write at this point. I'm actually working on another fic that I'm not sure I'm going to publish.

So, sorry if this fic has been pretty much put on the back burner and is starting to congeal. I'm still working on it, and I know where this is going.

Destined Enchantress: I have respect for that. Some people like rock, some people like rap… still, I would figure that Harry would be into rap… maybe I'll have him explore rock though. Thanks a lot for reviewing.

Ms. Issues: Well, not so much the mystery machine, just that basic structure. Like one of those burnt orange vans that hippies are always smoking pot in movies about the seventies. Sorry for the disappointment, but the point of this is that Harry's suppose to start getting a little bit better… slowly. Very slowly.

Slimpun: Well, Harry knows that, and everything. He's just being a typical teenager and making threats that he has no intention of going through with.

Sword Wielder-Firebreath: Well, that's a possibility. Unless Harry's fixed in time for Hogwarts, though…

Someone: Well, at some point, I'll probably throw them into the plot. I happen to hate ships… at least ones that involve Harry. Especially original characters, but you probably don't care about that.

FroBoy: Thank you lots. : )

Grawp: Thanks. Not many people approve of that, actually. Remus is going to try and wedge himself in there and give Harry some structure, though I hardly see him doing that when he's trying to be his friend.

Jemma Blackwell: Yeah, thanks, I got that. I'm glad you liked it so much. Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. Lupin just seems like he would be the kind of person who could take all of the blows Harry throws out at him. Well, all of it started around the start – maybe a week of letting himself stew in his anger – into the summer.

Shardwing: I was laughing really hard when I first read your review, and of course, I was in class when it happened, so everyone was staring at me. Yes, I know, Harry is clueless. Now that has me thinking maybe Harry should get that hummer. Hmm.

Relle: *bows down to the queen* Oh mighty god of fanfiction. Why do you pick me – a mere peasant – to complement? Nah, I'm just playing (though I hope you find that more flattering then annoying) Thanks for your review though.

Coconut-ice agent h/h: OH MY GOD! Your review was hilarious! I loved it so much, I think I read it five times! But smoking isn't just an American thing. Yeah, it is kind of hard to believe that, though they did get along pretty good when he was a professor. I wouldn't know, but… maybe I'll do a one shot exploring the possibilities. Probably not though. Too many stories as it is. Dance? *laughs*

*Laughs harder at the idea of Remus in a fig leaf* Oh my God! I can't wait for your review of this chapter.  Oh definitely not! She probably would have just made him poor so that he can dance in strip clubs. Now there is a movie I would pay to see! I agree with the bedroom thing though. I see your point on the matter of the begging of book five.

So thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter, and for all of you who will review this one. Flamers will be left in room with Harry.