Lunarian: An update, shocked aren't you? I definitely need some help before I can get the next chapter out - see bottom.

KEY

blah- Narration
blah Character Thoughts
blah Sound Effects
'Text' Sarcasm, Saying's, and/or so-called... quotes

- Night Terrors -

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--- Chapter 14 ---

-- Chores --

Waking up in cold sweat was nothing new to harry. It was rapidly becoming the only way he knew to wake up, the peaceful lazy weekends of hogwarts mornings nothing more then a distant dream. Something he is almost sure did exist at one time, but can no longer accept the reality of it.

The hot sweltering heat of a summer's night he felt he could do without, especially as there was a new torment to waking up this day. It seems that when he fell down exhausted last night he did not take into account where he was and how he lain. His face developed an imprint of the lines of grain from the wooden floor and his back was beginning to ache from its movements of sleeping at a bad angle. Not that an additional small ache on his back was all the noticeable to him since he was already in pain all over, he was amazed he could even move. It must be my magic somehow giving me just enough energy to do what I'm made to. He thought cynically. It would be just his luck that he spent so long always doing what he was pushed to that his magic warped to that end.

He could feel his clothes, nasty and filthy dudley castoff's, sticking to his skin and floor wherever it touched. Laboriously he shifted his position around until he was leaning against the wall with his knee's pulled up. Laying his arms crossed over the tops of his knee's he put his head down and hoped to fall back to sleep. To get whatever energy he could from his rest before the day began.

It was some time later when after mercifully falling asleep for some time, Harry was rudely awoken by a loud roaring. "BOY! GET DOWN HERE NOW!" Followed by a long series of loud knocking sounds coming from directly below him, like someone was banging the ceiling.

"I'm coming." He called down the best he could. Knowing that if he didn't get down there immediately it would only get worse he forced his strength into his legs and slowly walked down the stairs.

Standing at the front door dressed in their sunday best finery was the Dursleys. Vernon was finishing putting on his jacket, Petunia fussing with Dudley's hair, and Dudley was just standing there arms crossed in a sallow expression. Hearing harry walking down the stairs to them Vernon spoke in his usual gruff way.

"Boy we are going into town to celebrate Dudley's good health. Against my better judgement your Aunt and I have decided to not hire Mrs. Figg, you are on your own." Walking straight up to the boy he leaned in close and added in a much more menacing tone. "There will be none of your nonsense or hokypoky." The unsaid Or Else couldn't have been clearer. With a harsh look at the boy he turned around and opened the door walked half out before turning around for his last parting shot. "Your Aunt has a list of chores for you to do, they had better be complete when we get back." His malicious gaze finally ended as he started off to the car. "Let's go Pet dear."

"Freak." Taunted Dudley before following his father out the door.

Petunia simply said. "The list is on the living room table." Then with a disdainful look she left as well, shutting the door.

Finally safe to let how he felt about the situation out Harry gained a look of utter contempt. "Fucking Dursleys." He spat out. "Acting as if yesterday didn't happen, as if that pea-brained Vernon didn't bash me in the head or as if I wasn't worked to the bone." Walking in to the living room he sat down heavily on the couch. "Like them acting as if I was eleven again is really going to make me forget." Useless wastes of flesh, I can't wait till the day I turn seventeen. That fat cow thought my mum was abnormal? I'm going to torture her until she doesn't know what normal is. Picking up the sheet of paper he read off the list.

To be done before we return
1. Clean and vacuum the living room, the kitchen, dining room, the stairs and the hallways.
2. Clean and scrub the kitchen stove.
3. Handwash all dirty dishes and put them away.
4. Apply glass cleaner to all the windows and mirrors.
5. Dust off all the furniture.
6. Re-paint the garage.
7. Trim hedges.
8. Clean out soot from fireplaces, place in trash in backyard.
9. Water flower beds and hedges.

"No bloody way." He said quietly with denial. The amount of things those jerks expected to get done before they got back, which wasn't even told to him at what time they will be back, was just too much. "There's no way I can do all that." He was mostly running on fumes as it was, any part that was rejuvenated from his little sleep having been used up in coming down here.

Knowing he had little choice the young wizard got up to work on the list. "Shiiit."

The time was just passing half-past six in the evening and the Dursleys were driving home. They spent the day taking Dudley to various stores to buy him toys and games and just having an enjoyable family outing without ever once thinking about their nephew. Now all relaxed and spent they were returning home.

As Vernon pulled into the driveway he saw that the garage door was not repainted like it should have been. "I don't believe this. Petunia dear you see this? That ungrateful little urchin freak hasn't painted the garage."

"Haha the freak is gonna get a lesson isn't he dad?" Dudley said with a smile.

"Right you are Dudders." The no-neck man replied with an approving look.

"Vernon!" Screeched Petunia near the door. "The shrubbery hasn't been cut, it's starting to grow uneven." Saying it as if it was a federal offense and the local authorities would be by soon to take care of the matter.

The overly beefy man placed his meat hooks... er hands on his wife's back as she clung to his front and choked back tears. "There, there dear." He soothed. "I'm going to give that worthless nephew of ours a strong lesson. Been too soft on the boy, he's disrespecting us."

Dudley had meanwhile gone to the door and opened it eager to get to his room so he could go on the internet to look at po... that is to do his homework, yeah let's go with that. Suddenly he came running back out yelling. "Dad you're not gonna believe what the freak did!" In glee of a good thrashing.

To Be Cont'd...

Lunarian: "Okay my next chapter is to have Harry interacting with a common snake he finds in the basement. My problem is this, how can he enlist the snakes help or cooperation to bring more snakes magical to his aid.

Any suggestions or ideas will be greatly appreciated.