The Circle
Dizzying The Dursley's:
Chapter One, part two
By DraconicalPriest
Rating: R, because this episode is brought to you by the letter R, and the number 5.
Pairing: Possibly eventual HP/SS or HP/DM…. Maybe something with Cho, or maybe Cedric, or maybe something with a random butterfly. Do you actually think I'd tell you at this point? Yes? Well…ok, I'll tell you that Snape will definitely be playing a part eventually. What I don't know is if anyone, myself included, will be able to persuade him to participate in slash in this story.
A/N: In response to a few reviews… yes I do know a bit about MPD. I've been fascinated by so-called coping disorders since… oh, about 5th grade or so. (Something many people don't realize is that MPD is NOT really a form of insanity like Schizophrenia, just a coping mechanism taken to extremes. It involves a dissociation and reconstruction of the personality, not a distortion of the senses or mind.) I've researched the scientific literature which can be a bit dry, but if you want a good non-fanfiction read about multiple personalities I do happen to have a few recommendations. First on my list is a book called When Rabbit Howls. It is actually written by a multiple personality. They signed it "By The Troops for Truddi Chase", where The Troops is obviously what they refer to themselves as, and Truddi Chase is what everyone else calls her. It is a truly fascinating, well-written, and more than a little disturbing book, and in my opinion a far better read than more acclaimed works such as The Three Faces of Eve or Sybil. (If you do decide to read Sybil, however, I strongly urge you not to do so at night. Or alone. Or when you just happen to be in a fragile mental state.)
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Harry Potter. The only thing on this page that I own is the blood, and fortunately it's lost somewhere in the formatting or uploading.
"There is nothing to writing; all you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein." ~Red Smith
Now let's finally get this blood flowing….
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The Season of Night….
On the afternoon of Harry's 5th birthday, he disappeared into a dark cloud for several hours. He seemed to be literally surrounded by shadows as he sat unmoving in a corner of the kitchen. This darkness was obviously more physical than was natural for a shadow; when Vernon Dursley attempted to force his way into it in order to grab the brat and punish him for flaunting such abnormality, he was forcibly ejected and hit the opposite wall with an astonishing crash. The Dursley's retreated en masse to the living room, and desperately glared at the telly in a pretense that everything in their house was completely normal. At five o'clock, when an affable looking Harry finally meandered into the living room, and quietly asked if they were going to eat dinner soon, Vernon instantly turned purple and exploded with rage.
"How dare you! The nerve of you boy, I just can't believe it" he hissed, spluttering in anger. "After that stunt you just pulled, you're lucky we don't just throw you out on the street! You should be grateful that we took you in when your idiotic parents died, you miserable little orphan. No one else would put up with this kind of crap, you'd be off to an orphanage before you could blink, you insolent brat!"
Harry's green eyes grew wide with shock at Vernon's first words, and he cringed further into himself with every word following, wincing at the mention of his parent's death. By the time Vernon spluttered into a red-faced silence, he was completely bowed and struggling to keep back tears. He was still when Vernon gripped him painfully by the arm and dragged him over to the cupboard under the stairs, but when the door had slammed shut and the locks slammed home, he found his voice.
"Uncle Vernon, why?" his quavering voice pleaded. "I didn't do anything this time, honest! I was being good, really! What'd I do? Uncle Vernon?" He trailed off in confused pain when no answer but a distinct snort came after the long silence. "Uncle?"
The silence was broken only by the sound of Vernon's heavy tread moving back toward the living room. The stunned boy slumped against the wall next to his mattress and closed his eyes. He turned, as always, to the comforting quiet darkness of his own mind. This time though, the calm dusk seemed cold and lonely. His confused thoughts continued to run in frantic circles.
I really didn't do anything, did I? I remember sitting down in the corner watching Aunt Petunia cooking…and I sat there for a while. The clock had the big hand on the five when I left. That's dinner time, I know that. Why was Uncle Vernon so mad? Did I fall asleep in the kitchen? Was I supposed to be helping Auntie cook and forgot? Did I make something dirty and not notice? What happened? I just can't take this anymore…
There, there, child you didn't do anything wrong Suddenly a cool voice echoed in his mind. Startled he looked up, jerking back and banging his head on the wall of the cupboard. A couple of spiders fell onto his head, and he winced at the sudden throbbing knot on the back of his head. No one was there, of course. Not that anyone else would have fit into the cupboard with him.
Well, that was remarkably silly. What in the world did you think you were going to see out there anyway, an elf? Don't fret now, we're here. The voice seemed almost comforting, in a biting sort of way. Involuntarily, Harry's eyes fell shut again, and he suddenly found that he wasn't alone in the darkness. The darkness felt almost…warm, and when he looked into it, he felt almost that he could see a pair of coal black eyes gazing back at him. Y-y-you're, w-wh-what are you? He stammered rather nervously. Are you a shadow? Or just eyes?*No Harry, that's just The Dark One. He's a bit of a pain, but he's a part of the group nonetheless.*
Startled again, Harry whirled around and saw yet another person standing within the darkness of his mind. This man seemed rather reassuringly normal though. He was strong looking, and sturdy as a brick, with warm eyes of a dark jade and sleek brown hair. His lips tipped upward in a tiny smile, apparently their habitual arrangement judging by the lines around his mouth and the crows-feet by his eyes. Harry instantly trusted him, and felt a warm upwelling of love in his chest for the comforting man. Who are you, then? And will you tell me what's going on? He asked gently, while sidling toward the man. He rather wanted to run to him and jump into his arms, but he wasn't yet quite confident of the man's tenderness.
*Hmmm. I suppose you can call me Guardian. I think I may not have been here long, but that's what I'll do. I'll Guard you and take care of you. And don't you worry, just come on over here, love, I'll hold you* His mouth quirked upward even more into a welcoming smile, and he knelt down with his arms open wide. Harry caved in, and ran over to him, nestling into Guardian's embrace.
Will you just hold me? I'm so tired… I don't think I want to go back anymore.
*Of course I will Harry, and you don't have to go back anymore. Just stay here now and rest* Harry curled up against Guardian's side, and gave a peaceful sigh as his troubled eyes finally closed again.
There was silence in the darkness for a long while, as Harry slept. Finally Guardian looked up again at The Dark One, and admitted mournfully, *He really can't go on anymore. I'm afraid… that he's broken too. What can we do now? None of them could pass, I must stay here, and you really ought to. Did you truly have to do that shadow thing? That's what made the uncle so mad, you know*
Why, yes, I did have to do that shadow thing. I was practicing. The shadows swirled halfheartedly, and the black eyes blinked, then looked down. I didn't really mean to stay there so long though… A lengthy pause grew and silence settled down around the three like an uncomfortable blanket. Finally The Dark One, in an abashed tone spoke again.
Do you really think he can't go out again though? I thought, since he was the last Born one left who could… He trailed off again, into an uneasy suspension.
*No. He really can't. We'll have to do something else. Could you come up with something? Like, a… a mask or some such? I know you're rather talented, even with things besides shadows. Speaking of shadows… Would you lose that blasted cloak of them? The silly thing hurts my eyes to look at.*
The shadows stilled for moment, then the figure within them sighed and made an odd gesture. The shadows swirled around him, then vanished into the less tangible darkness surrounding them. The owner of those black eyes, and the shadowy garment, proved to be a slender man with an oddly still face and long, smooth hair to match his eyes. He looked to be rather embarrassed.
Well never mind that then. Hmm, I think I could come up with something… some sort of cover for us, I suppose. Let me work on it for a while…I'll have to go Out. Don't worry now, he added at the suddenly alarmed look on the Guardian's face, I'll be incredibly careful of the uncle and the aunt. I'll keep us disguised if we have to leave the Cupboard…not that that's very likely for a while. I just have to figure out how to overlay a set of reactions, perhaps a transfiguration, now where could I find some potion ingredients? No better not, replacements too damn difficult… he trailed off, muttering disjointed phrases and some rather odd words under his breath.
Guardian gave him a rather confused glance, but then shrugged and turned back to the young child asleep in his arms. *Ah, Harry don't worry… we'll figure out some way to get through this too…*
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More A/N: Well… I may or may not have the next chapter still at the Dursley's. It depends. Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed! I really appreciate it, as I know this is starting rather slowly. I'm glad that people seem to be as interested in the idea of an MP Harry as I am. Truthfully, it makes sense to me, even within the canon. A multiple personality is, after all "the response of a creative mind seeking to escape the saturation of childhood terror and pain," all of which would certainly describe Harry and both his first encounter with Voldemort and his subsequent stay with the Dursley's.
This is a bit long… but I just have to say Thank You! to:
AnaRae – I'm awed that you've put me on your favorites list… I'll try to live up to that!
Fireangle – Did you really think I'd stop at three? I can't tell yet how many there are… as I'm still debating when I'll post the character descriptions for all of them. I'll just say there are many more people in there than three. J
Melly-chan – I know he acts a bit odd for his age… that has two reasons. First, I'm not very familiar with how very young children act. Second, and more related to the plot, he actually is a member of a group containing several much older people… as you just saw!
Ami – Thank you!
Slashybubble – Double whammy! Thanks for the compliments… and I'm glad that it doesn't sound like a four-year old, as I'll be turning 23 this summer and probably can't write like a four-year old if I tried.
Minamino – Thank you very much.
A - What a lovely review! Thank you ever so much, you were actually very helpful. Well, except for the fact that I kept grinning inexplicably during work… As for Harry's physical changes, did you know that happens even with real-life cases of multiple personalities? They can even suffer from completely separate pains, have several present at the same drinking-binge and not all get drunk. It's truly bizarre…
Jacquie – A curious one I see. J Well, in the prologue you saw an immediate split, and if you caught it, that many of Harry's personalities were already dead when formed, and you just saw another one break… I'll also say that more are forming, and more will form in the future, as well as current ones fading.
Sevter – I'll certainly continue… hopefully I'll be as convincing on paper as it is in my head. And yes, he'll be sorted into Gryffindor. There are many things that won't change, just be seen from a different angle.
Kiri – Glad to be your dream author! Seriously though, thanks for reviewing, you were the first to do so on the second chapter, and I was completely shocked that anyone would review so soon.
Anony mouse – Thanks for the review! I hope the formatting works better now… I'm still learning this. (just tried uploading it… and discovered some tags that were stripped… drat it anyway.)