Chapter 9: A New Beginning- My Sad Litany
Room of Requirement
Over on the far side of the room, a warm fire blazed. Lying comfortably across from it, lay Harry and Draco, cozily sprawled in a plush couch. Letting out a long sigh, Harry began his tale.
"When I was younger, he would just beat me. Then, he'd tell me I was worthless, and send me up to my room. I remember one time, when I asked him about my parents, he would beat me up worse! He beat me so bad that day that I could hardly breathe…"
Flashback
Three-year-old Harry tentatively approached his Uncle. It'd taken him awhile to build up his courage to ask the question. He really didn't want to be beaten again, but he had to know.
" Uncle...uncle... V-Vernon?" Harry asked shivering in fear.
"Whadaya want boy!" Vernon slurred.
Oh, no! Harry thought. He's drunk. Now is definitely not the time. I'll be beaten for sure! No! No, I've come too far to give up now.
Harry collected his courage once more. "What…what happened to my parents?" Harry asked diligently gazing at the floor.
"You know what happened to them boy! They're dead and they shoved your worthless ass on us to feed and care for!" Vernon spat taking a long swig of Budweiser. Stung but determined Harry pressed on.
"But… how…did they…. die?" Harry asked.
"You wanna know how your parents died!" Uncle Vernon bellowed, blowing his putrid breath into Harry's face.
"They died in a car crash, and you were too stupid to die with them!" Vernon huffed angrily, tossing the young child over the couch. Upon landing, Harry both felt, and heard a distinct snap.
Unimaginable pain coursed through his body, and he blacked out. Disgusted Vernon Dursley roughly prodded the unresponsive child with his foot. Letting out a mighty belch, he stumbled over the lump that was Harry Potter, and lumbered into the kitchen. He needed another beer.
End Flashback
"He wanted me dead; said I was supposed to have died. I…" loosing composure Harry broke down and began crying. He felt so worthless, used, unwanted.
"Shh, Harry it's all right. It's over. You'll never have to go back there again. Is there more?" Draco questioned.
"Yes. As I began to grow and mature, my Uncle Vernon started staring at me in strange ways. He'd never say anything; just gaze oddly at me. Then one day, he called me into his bedroom…"
Flashback
Aunt Petunia had gone away on a trip for a month, meaning that now; eight-year-old Harry had to take over for her. Small for his age, the vacuum was tall, heavy, and difficult to operate, but he did it anyway. If he didn't do it fast enough, Uncle Vernon would beat him up again.
"Boy?" Uncle Vernon bellowed.
"Yes, Uncle Vernon," Harry replied.
"Get up here and clean my room!" Vernon yelled. This not being an unusual request, Harry made his way upstairs.
Yet, upon entering the room, he found that it was clean. Confused, Harry timidly gazed up at his Uncle questioningly. "I…Uncle Vernon, it's already…"
SLAP "Don't you talk back to me boy!" Vernon commanded. Mutely Harry nodded.
"Now, get up on the bed, and lay on your stomach," Vernon gruffly instructed. Roughly, he yanked the pants off the young boy's small body. In the background, Harry heard the sound of a lock, and the jingle of a belt. "Now you worthless piece of shit, try not to scream," Vernon hissed in his ear.
Scream? Why would I want to, but Harry's thought was cut off as he felt searing pain. "AH!" Harry screamed. Enraged, Vernon punched his face, and told him to shut up, plunging into to him with more and more force, time and time again. When he'd finished, Harry could barely breathe.
"Now, go finish the living room," Vernon whispered. Slowly and stiffly, Harry made his way off the large bed, and to the bedroom door. "You want some more boy?" Vernon asked, displeased at his current pace. With each step, pain shot through Harry's body. He picked up the pace anyhow, making no sound. He didn't want anymore of what Uncle Vernon had to give him.
End Flashback
"That wasn't the only time. From then on, he'd consistently rape me every other day, continuously telling me how worthless I was, and how it was all I was good for! And after awhile, I believed him!" Harry began shaking again in shame, and self hate.
"He was wrong Harry. You're good for far more than that. You're a friend, protector, loyal, and very powerful. I'll never let you go," Draco murmured.
"You…you don't want to leave me?"
"No, that would be the worst mistake of my life."
