Disclaimers: I do not own the rights to both Xenoblade Chronicles and Harry Potter. Both properties belong to their respective owners. (J.K Rowling and Warner Bros. Harry Potter), (MonolithSoft Xenoblade Chronicles).
Note: This story was inspired from, Gamer95 story known as "High Entia Prince". Check her story out in case you're curious for the original.
…..
Inside the house, sitting at the table were a group of people. Reyn, a muscular looking young man. He had tanned skin, spiky orange hair, and brown eyes. For clothing he wore an orange grey metallic top with brown pants.
Sitting next to him was a young man named Shulk, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He wore a red jacket and black sweater and gray shorts and boots. On his left was the Nopon Riki. All over him was orange and brown fur. At the tip of his head was an orange hair strand with a red streak. For clothing he wore a sleeveless blue and purple jacket. Wearing a backpack on his back.
Over by the window was Sharla. A tall woman with tan skin, long black hair passes her shoulder and brown eyes. For clothing she wore a crop top with short ripped sleeves. A waistcoat. Around her neck was a pair of goggles. Brown gloves and a pair of knee-high boots.
"Ugh. Riki is soo hungry. I could eat an entire table by this point." Riki said, groaning with his stubby hand holding his stomach.
"Shut it furball, you are making me hungry." Reyn says to Riki with an annoyed tone.
"Calm down you two," Sharla said to the two who were hungry at the table. "Fiora and Melia should be back in a couple of minutes. Although, it has been 15 minutes since they left. Wonder what's taking them."
Shulk looked up from his notebook and at his friends. "Perhaps the markets are crowded. Wouldn't be surprised since we did get a couple of new citizens a couple of weeks back."
Reyn groaned. "Don't get me started on those block heads. I had a run in with their chubby kid. The little brat pushed me out of line just to get some sweets." He said as he remembered what happened during his encounter.
Riki made a pout face. "Riki also had an encounter with the new neighbors. I walked up to their front lawn. Wanted to say 'hello neighbors!' but then once the horse woman opened the door, she yelled at Riki and slammed the door in my face." He growled. "Riki was so upset and mad that horse woman, I went home and ate a buffet to satisfy Riki's anger."
Sharla brought a hand to hip. "Riki, it's not nice to call someone names."
"But she did look like one." Reyn said.
"Well...yeah but still-"
"See! You admit it."
Sharla just sighed as she shook her head. She did have to admit, she too also had an encounter with the Dursley's. Her first time meeting them was not so pleasant.
From up the stairs, Dunban came down to the floor, joining the small group. "Are you guys talking about Dursley's?"
Shulk nodded. "Yes."
"I will admit, their behavior is rather...odd." He said as he was scratching his chin. "Maybe I should have kicked them out the first time around." He thought deeply.
Dunban shook his head and side-lined the issue. That's an issue for another time. "Anyways, are Fiora and Melia back?"
Reyn shook his head. "Nope. They better get back, or I just might eat this table."
"Not before Riki eats it first." Riki declared.
"Don't think you guys will be eating at the table soon," Sharla said as she looked out the window with a smile. "Because Melia and Fiora are back."
"Finally!" Reyn threw his hand in the air, satisfied that the girls returned from their shopping.
"Oh."
"What is it?" Shulk said. Notice Sharla gasping.
"They're bringing a child." She said with a hand to her lip.
The group heard this. All of the men exchanged looks to each other. Trying to process what Sharla just said.
"A child?" Dunban said with a skeptical look.
"We're eating a child for breakfast!?" Riki exclaimed, his wings waving frantically on him.
"Of course not furball." Reyn groaned. But he was confused. "But still, what are they doing with a kid?"
Sharla was rather curious herself. "Not sure."
Before they could ask any more questions, Melia and Fiora came through the door.
"We're back!" Melia called through the door.
Their friends greeted them at the door. "Welcome back."
As the two females entered the room, their first sight was little Harry Potter, who was clinging onto Melia, hiding himself from the group. Dunban took notice of the scared child's ragged and rather large clothing. Reyn had a hard look on his face, his mind was processing as he was looking at Harry.
Riki, on the other hand, was shaking from head to toe. "A-A-Are we're actually gonna eat the little-pon." He said being nervous.
Harry squeaked in surprise. "Y-Y-You're g-g-gonna e-e-eat m-m-me!?"
Melia frantically waved her hand. "No, no, no. no! I promise we're not gonna eat you! Riki is just...confused."
Harry timidly looks at Melia. "R-R-R-Really?"
Melia smiles softly and kisses his forehead. "Really." She said bringing him more to make him feel comfortable.
Harry snuggled up close to her. Feeling her warm comfort. "Right, she's nice...I'm not gonna be eaten...I'm safe." He said
Fiora had her hand on her hips and glared at Riki. "Riki! Why'd you say that!?"
"Meh? So...w-we're not going to eat little-pon?"
"Of course not."
"Oh thank goodness, Riki cannot imagine eating another person. Maybe Reyn will eat him, but not me."
Reyn felt offended by his comment. He shot a glare at the Nopon, smacking his hand on the table, earning a flinch from not just Riki, but also Harry.
"Oi! I don't eat kids!" Reyn defended himself.
"Reyn! Be quiet, you're scaring the child!" Sharla chided Reyn softly. Pointing out the fact that Reyn was scaring Harry, who was cowering into Melia's shoulder.
Reyn bashfully scratched his head, feeling guilty of scaring the boy. "Right, sorry about that."
"It's okay Harry, Reyn just doesn't know how to use his inside voice." Melia comforted Harry.
Harry meekly looked at each of Melia and Fiora friends who all attention were on him. He wanted to, at least not yet, know if some of these guys were not going to hurt him in some form like he received from the Dursley's. If what Miss Melia said was true, then these guys must be nice.
Melia took notice of Harry's behavior and believed he needed some encouragement. "Harry, these are our friends. The two at the table are Reyn and Riki," She gestured over to the two people at the table as they waved at Harry. "Over there is Sharla," Her friend gave Harry a smile as she waved. "And lastly are Shulk and Dunban."
Harry dared, he didn't want to over step his boundary, but he did. "H-Hello." He weakly said.
The group smiled at the small boy, waving back at him. Dunban, the most curious, decided to ask. "So, mind informing me where this boy came from."
"Well… I'm not entirely sure. He said that he lives here with his relatives, but…" She looks at Harry with a frown. She has not gotten many answers from the scared child. But hopefully that changes.
"I see." Dunban scratched his chin in curiosity. He had never seen this boy before. They haven't got any new neighbors ever since the Dursely made their way into the town. He shook his head, a mystery for another time. He approaches the boy who was being carried by Melia. His hand touched the top of his head, earning a flinch from Harry.
Harry was expecting to get hit by Dunban, till he noticed that he wasn't being hurt, strangled, or any of the above. He meekly looks up at the smiling man who was rubbing his hair.
"A bit of a jumpy fellow aren't you." Dunban said.
Harry looked up at him with a curious look. But chose not to say anything. "Dunban, Harry's going to be joining us for breakfast. Do you mind if he…" Melia was hoping that Dunban would say yes. She did not feel like leaving Harry.
Dunban saw the look in Melia's eyes and immediately took notice of her plea. The older man gave a reassuring smile. "Of course. He can stay for breakfast. Besides, it looks like the boy has yet to eat anything has he."
He got an answer when Harry's stomach started to growl. The little boy's face flushed crimson red, trying his best to hide his face from the others.
Dunban chuckled at his reaction. "Guess that's a yes."
Melia walks over to the table and takes a seat next to Riki, with Harry still in her hand. While Fiora went into the kitchen with Sharla to prepare breakfast.
Harry, who was comfortably in Melia's arms, was getting to know Melia's friends.
"S-So, what i-is Riki? I-Is he a hom as well?"
"Meh, meh. Riki is no hom. Riki is nopon."
"A...nopon?" He titled his head in curiosity.
"Meh!? You don't know what nopon is!?" Riki was shocked. Harry shook his head.
Shulk, for his part, was curious about the boy. He doesn't know what a nopon is? "Harry, where did you come from exactly?"
"Um...Number 4 Privet Drive."
The group took notice of this. Number Four Privet Drive, they never heard of such a place. "Um...I don't believe we heard of a place like that…" Shulk was unsure of what to make from Harry's answer.
Harry shook a bit. Trying to come up with an answer. "I-It's in England."
"England? What village is that?" Reyn asked with a curious look.
Harry's face was surprised at first, but then completely diminished. So they really were in a different world. He needed to get them out of here or he would be killed by them for his useless magic.
Melia took notice of Harry's behavior and held him tighter. "Is something wrong dear?" She was worried about the boy.
Harry shakes his head. "N-N-Nothing."
He dared not to say anything about his relatives or anything else. He was specifically warned not to even go out. But he wanted to see Miss Melia again. She made him feel safe.
Melia notices this and hugs Harry tighter. "Harry dear, if there's anything you wish to talk about, we're right here for you. After all, we are your friends."
Harry's eyes widened with a surprised look. "Huh? Y-You all want to be my friend?"
"Of course, why shouldn't we?" Reyn asks as he rubs under his nose with his finger.
"W-Well, it's just that f-f-freaks don't der-" He quickly covered his mouth. Remember not to say to these guys. What will they think of him if he reveals to them what he is or what his life is?
His saying didn't go unnoticed by his friends though. Melia makes a short gasp, with Riki, Reyn, Shulk, and Dunban having equal expression. He was about to say 'freaks don't deserve friends'. That is what they heard.
Melia decided not to pressure him with the question and held him tighter. "Harry, we're your friends. And whatever it is that is troubling you, we are here to help you. And that's all that matters." She finishes off by giving Harry a kiss on the head.
"Sorry for the wait guys!" Fiora says as she and Sharla come with their hands full with plates filled with food.
"Yes! Riki's stomach is very, very hungry for some fluffy pancakes!"
"Back off furrball! Because you always hog all of the pancakes!"
The group laughed at Reyn and Riki chemistry. Aside from Harry, who was still trying to understand his position within the whole scenario. For one part, he wants to be friends with them. But the other half, he can't make friends because he's a freak. And freaks do not deserve friends.
As Harry was thinking, he was not paying attention to the breakfast that was being offered to him.
"Harry?"
"Huh?"
"Don't you want some pancakes?"
"Um…" Harry was hesitating to take some. But then something raced through his mind.
Freaks don't get food!
Your not allowed to sit at the table
You only get one piece of food each day! That's it!
Harry's body shook violently. Melia noticed the boy's behavior and became worried. "Harry...sweetie are you alright?"
The shy boy ripped a piece of pancake off the pancake and ate it. Going completely noticed by Melia and the others, their expressions were a mix of confusion, worried, and just baffled.
"Harry...don't you want some more." Sharla asked, with a worried tone.
"Um...t-t-I'm not t-that h-h-hungry." Harry meekly lied.
His stomach says others wise as it growls. Melia sighs in a sad tone and decides to take action. She got a plate from the table and decided to fill it to just an amount. What Harry saw on the plate that was served in front of him was two pancakes, two bacon, two sausages, and a small amount of eggs.
"That's your breakfast, and you're not going to leave until you at least dig into it." Melia said with a gentle, but firm voice.
Harry just looked at the food that was presented to him. He just stared at the food, saying nothing. His eyes were blinking. Back in his life, with the Dursely's, he would receive nothing but pieces of scraps from their large dinner plates. Eating away like pigs, while he on the other hand would get just the bits. It was a cruel and unfair life.
But here…here was different…..
"Harry?" His thoughts were interrupted by Fiora.
"We almost lost you there little guy," Reyn said with a toothy grin. "You better eat your food or else the fur ball over there is gonna eat it."
"Meh! Meh! Riki would not do that to little-pon!" Riki was offended.
Harry slowly nodded and decided to slowly eat his pancakes. With each bite he took, he began to eat away at his food. With each bite he took, a small tear was formed in his eyes. Until he ate away at his sausages, his tears began to leak from both his eyes.
"Why is Harry crying?" Riki caught notice of Harry's behavior.
The group then took notice of what Riki was saying, especially Melia, who had grown attached to the boy. She looks down and notices the tears in his eyes.
"Harry?"
"...I-I-I'm fine." He lied.
"Harry, why are you crying?"
"I-I-I…" He stopped talking as all he did now was let out a soft whimpering. His body began to shake violently. "I-I'm not…" He began to wipe the tears from his eyes.
Everyone stopped eating and all bared sorrow looked among their faces. They didn't understand why this kid was crying, but they knew something was wrong with his life.
Melia only did one thing that she knew she had to do. Melia brought Harry's head close to her chest, wrapping her arms around his tiny form. She nuzzled her chin at the top of his head.
For a good minute or so, Harry was crying softly into Melia who was comforting him. With the others smiling at the scene.
Harry had finished his breakfast and was busy playing with Riki who asked him if he would like to play.
While he was playing, Melia was chatting with the others.
"So, Melia...just where did this boy come from?" Dunban asked. As he was very curious about the boy's origin.
"I'm...not really sure to be honest, even though it feels like he's avoiding the questions to be honest." Melia ponders at the thought. She remembered whenever she would ask Harry a question, he tried to hide it. His behavior at breakfast was also a red flag as she remembered him breaking down into tears.
Shulk cupped his chin, pondering at Harry. "Perhaps he had a rough life. Maybe his relatives are poor."
"You sure about that," Reyn was skeptical at the thought. "I bet you it's more than that."
"What do you mean?" Sharla asked. Wondering what Reyn was going at.
"I mean come on," Reyn was trying to make a point. "The way he was acting when he grabbed just a piece of pancake. Then there was his reaction when we wanted to be his friends. He literally said he was a freak."
His friends exchanged looks with each other. Each bore a suspicious look. Fiora was the first to ask. "Reyn...what are you implying?"
"I'm saying he is possibly being bullied."
"Really? By who?" Sharla asked.
"Not sure. But I bet it's that beach ball kid! What's his name...Dudder?"
"Dudley." As Melia corrected his name. Harry, unfortunately, heard his name. He stopped what he was doing. Riki noticed that the boy stopped.
"I could see that happening," Dunban had to admit. "Dudley would be the type to bully an innocent child."
"Perhaps we should bring this up to the Dursley?" Melia thought out loud.
"NO! PLEASE THEY'LL KILL ME IF THEY-!" The voice cut short in mid sentence.
The group were shocked and all turned to the source of the outburst. All eyes were on Harry, who was closing his mouth with both his hands. All of Melia's friends, including her, bore a shock expression. Riki even looked at him with a dumbfounded look.
"I-I mean...uh...I'm not being bullied...r-really I'm not."
Dunban walked up to Harry, carrying a serious expression. His face never faltered as he kneel down in front of Harry. "Harry...are you actually being bullied by Dudley, if this is, then this matter must be solved."
"Um…" Harry had to cover up the fact that he was related to Dudley in blood. He didn't want them to find out. "Yes. Yes I am."
"I knew it." Reyn pounded his fist together, as if he was ready to teach a kid a lesson.
Melia walks up to Harry and scoops him up. Holding him in her arms once more. "Harry, was Dudley the one that gave you those injuries?"
"...yes." He lied.
"That's horrible." Fiora said with a disapproving tone.
Shulk turns to Dunban. "We should do something about this."
"Agreed."
"N-No!" Harry once again protested. Earning their attention. "It's fine really...I can take care of him myself."
They all thought about that. They didn't want anything happening to Harry if this issue goes unsolved. But it felt to them that Harry wanted to do this on his own. At least that's what they thought. It is what Harry wanted them to think.
"I can't get Uncle Vernon and the others to be kicked out. And if they are kicked out, then I'm kicked out. And if I'm kicked out...no more Miss Melia." He thought with a sorrowful tone at his last thought.
Melia took notice of the boy's expression. And forced herself to smile. "Alright...if you think you can handle it...then I will not interfere."
"Melia?" Sharla was taken back by Melia's decision.
Reyn however, was not satisfied. "Oi! We're just gonna let that little spoiled brat get away with it!"
Melia turns to Reyn. "If Harry does not want us to interfere, then we will not do anything...however," Her attention was once more on Harry. Who she gave a firm look to as she raised a finger in front of his confused little face. "If this Dudley tortures you anymore...then we will have to take action. Understand?"
"...I understand." Harry agreed in defeat.
Melia then kissed his forehead, getting a squeak from him. "Good."
Dunban cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention. "Well, since we had breakfast and we still have a good amount of time...how about we take a trip towards the shoreline."
"Shoreline?" Harry tilted his head in confusion.
Melia turns to him. "He means the beach."
"Beach...I have never been to one before." Harry said. Saying the truth as he never was allowed outside.
"Well then…" Sharla walks up to him giving Harry a poke on nose. "Today's your lucky day."
"I'm gonna murder that child." Vernon growled under his breath.
The Dursely came back from their breakfast. They came home, Vernon went to the basement to give Harry more beating, but as soon as he went down to the basement...it was empty. Complete and utter...emptiness. The only thing that was there was just his bed which was just a pile of newspapers.
Vernon's face was flushed purple with rage. His hand clenched into a fist. "That boy is supposed to be finding a way to get us home! And he's not bloody here!" Vernon yells as he throws a wooden chair against a wall. It broke on impact, shattering into pieces.
The group made their way to the beach. Which just sat right on the outskirts of the town. Harry was taken by surprise by how big the beach was. The water was glistening under the sun. Seagulls of some sort were flying above the beach and towards the endless sea.
"You like the beach sweetie?" Melia asked Harry.
"It's beautiful." He said with a whisper.
Melia giggled as she set Harry down on the sand. "So since we're here. What do you guys plan on doing."
Reyn lifts his fist in the air with his fishing rod in hand. "I'm gonna catch some big fish!"
"Ooo! Is Reyn gonna be a big fish for Riki to eat!"
"What? No way. Get your own!" He chided the nopon.
"Melia, why don't you show Harry how to make a sandcastle." Fiora commented.
"...sandcastle?" Harry titled his head in confusion.
"Yeah, a castle you built using the sand honey?"
It took a second or so for Harry to remember the picture of the sandcastle he saw in the books. Luckily he was able to keep them from his uncle who banned him from it.
"Oh. B-But...I don't know how to…" He fiddled with his finger.
Melia took notice of this and gently patted his head. Ruffling his hair in the process. She grabs the bucket and leads Harry to a spot where they can build a sandcastle. Following Melia's instruction, the two were able to build a sandcastle. Small one, but she felt it was best to start small.
"You did a wonderful job Harry." Melia praised Harry. Earning a small smile upon his face. Melia smiled softly at him. "You want to go bigger this time?"
"Huh? Bigger?" Harry asked with curiosity.
"Yes. Just follow my lead." Melia began to instruct Harry through the process of making a bigger sandcastle. Through trial and error, Harry had stumbled on some steps here and there. Thinking he was going to get hit, he instead received a pat on the head. Melia was very patient with the child, not expecting him to get it right first hand. Only took a couple of minutes until they made a bigger castle. This time with a wall surrounding it and a mount.
Melia claps her hand for Harry. "Fantastic. Excellent work Harry."
Harry blushed at her praise. "B-But I-I messed up on a fe-"
Whatever Harry was going to say, was stopped as she swept him from the sand and onto her lap. Shushing him in the process. "Whatever you're going to say, don't. You did an excellent job and that matters." She said and gave Harry a pet on the head.
Harry, for his part, was surprised. His time with the Dursely was very different from Miss Melia. "They usually hit me or say that it's terrible...Miss Melia...she praises me…" He stopped his thoughts and snuggled closer to Melia.
"T-Thank y-you." Harry said meekly. Hoping he's not overstepping his boundary.
Melia however, smiled nonetheless and kissed the top of his head and hugged him. "You're welcome sweetie."
Not far from them, Melia's friends were watching the two interactions. Fiora gushed at the scene with a blush.
"They're soo cute together." Fiora giggled.
"Melia acting like a genuine mother to the little tyke…" Reyn took a moment to think, he was still remembering that he saw the kid somewhere. "I swear I saw him somewhere."
"Are you still on that?" Shulk asked.
"I'm sure that I saw him...I think he was…"
"Reyn, I think you're mistaking him for another child." Fiora said.
"Well, maybe I'll leave him alone for now. But I still think we should do something about that Dudder kid." Reyn said, still not forgiving what Dudley did to Harry.
"Dudley." Dunban corrected.
"Whatever. He's still a Dudder to me." He said in disgust.
"Dunban...I think we should at least look into this. I mean, I can't stand watching some innocent kid getting bullied by someone else. It's just wrong." Fiora said. Not liking the idea of someone as sweet as Harry to being bullied by someone as mean as Dudley.
Dunban looks at Fiora and back at where Melia and Harry were at, enjoying themselves by making a sandcastle.
"I understand your guys' concern, but at the moment, let's go ahead and let them be for now. I'll keep in mind Orthon and Miquol."
"Right." They all agreed.
The whole group decides to push the problem aside for now and enjoy the rest of their day. Harry was having a really fun time with Miss Melia. The two began to play in the water. Harry dipping his toe in, at first it was very cold to him. But he got used to it as he was now sitting in the water. Melia joined him, splashing a bit of water on him.
Unknowest to them in the background, spying on them was a chubby fat boy. Dudley was sent out to look for Harry and force him to come back home. But as he searched, he came upon the beach where he found him. Playing? With one of the other freaks!?
He makes a slow evil smile. He was going to tell this to his dad. And hell was going to wait for Harry back at home. And he was going to enjoy it.
After a couple of hours, Harry was found resting in Melia arms, sitting watching Reyn trying to catch a fish.
Harry was at his most comfortable. Relaxing within the warm embrace of Melia. His head near her chest where he listens to her heartbeat. It was all nice.
"The weather is so relaxing. I've never experienced anything like this for a while now." She said as she let the breeze splash her face.
Harry, being curious, looks up at her. "What do you mean?"
"Well dear, I'm actually a princess." She stated.
Harry's eyes widened in surprise. "Y-You're a princess!?"
Melia makes a small laugh at the boy's dumbfounded reaction. "Of course sweetie."
"Wow...I-I didn't know."
"It's fine. After all, there's not really much you know about me anyways."
"...um...w-what was your life like? I-If you don't mind me a-asking."
Melia smiled softly at the boy and decided to tell him her story. She explained to him of her being a high entia. How her race was advanced in technology then the homs and have longer lifespan. She then went on about her time in the Imperia city of Arcamonth. Her father never knew her mother, but she knew she was a hom. Making her half hom.
As Harry listened to her story. She went on about how she met Shulk and the others. But it only got sad when she lost her father in the fight against mechons and later half of her race during the final fight with Zanza. And she was still unaware of her original home, alcamoth.
"I-I'm sorry." Harry innocently said. Believing as if it was his fault.
"No dear, it's not your fault."
"But-"
Melia stops him by putting her finger to his lip. "No more. No more bad things. You have absolutely nothing to do with what happened to my father. You're a good boy."
Harry's sparkling green eyes widened in awe. He wanted to say something...possibly something bad about himself. But if Miss Melia didn't want him to say anything...then he would not say anything.
"Thank you...Miss Melia...for b-being nice to me." He stuttered a bit, hoping not to step over his boundary.
Melia responded by giving him a kiss on the forehead. "Your welcome sweetie." She proceeded to hug him close to her. Surrounding him with the warmth and love he desperately needs.
Harry for his part, was enjoying his moment with the high entia princess. He was loving every bit of it and hoped this feeling could last forever. But it will soon. As he noticed the sun was setting over the horizon. His smile slowly diminished.
Reyn yawned. "Geez, that time already. Time really does fly by when you're doing some activity."
"Or perhaps Reyn is getting old." Riki let's out. Earning a bonk on the head from Reyn.
"Shut it, fur ball! I'm still younger than you!"
"Looks like it's time to go." Dunban said.
Melia nodded. But as soon as she was about to let go, she stumbled a bit. She looked at the small boy whose grip on her was rather tight.
"Harry?"
"Huh!?" Harry noticed that he still had his grip on her. He let go of her, blushing and shaking. "S-Sorry! I didn't mean too…" Harry was trembling in fear, trying his best not to cry or anything.
Melia notices Harry's odd behavior. She bends down to his level, giving him a concerned look. "Harry...is something the matter?"
The small boy shook his head. "N-No...everything is f-fine." He lied.
Melia did not like the way Harry was acting. It was as if he was afraid of something. She possibly knew what it was. "It's about Dudley is it?" Harry flinched.
Reyn heard what they were talking about at this point. "You're worried about that Dudder kid is gonna ambush ya. No worry, we'll walk you home."
Harry quickly reacted. Startling Melia in the process. "N-N-No! It's fine! R-Really i-i-um…" Harry began to stumble in his words. If they found out that he was related to the Dursley's in anyways, they might not like him. Or even worse, they might kick the Dursley's out of the village. He still needed to get them home. "Um...I mean...I can walk home myself." Harry re-stated himself more calmly.
However, Melia and her friends were very suspicious of Harry's behavior. This was not the first time he declined their help whenever Dudley is brought up (or Dudder to Reyn at least). Something did not feel right, especially to Melia who had grown attached to the boy during her time with him.
Melia cups his cheek in her hand and makes him look at her. "Harry...would you like to hang out again tomorrow?"
"Huh?" Harry perked at her offer.
"Let's hang out again tomorrow. Meet me at the same place. And we'll do all sorts of fun things tomorrow." She said with a determined voice.
"...y-y-you mean it?" Harry dared. He was not disappointed.
Melia leaned forward and gave him a peck on the forehead. "Really."
Harry hugs her one last time and thanked everyone else for the time he spent with them. And he ran off by himself into town. Leaving the others by themselves.
"Something isn't right." Reyn let's out.
"I'm with Reyn on this. That was too suspicious." Shulk agreed.
Melia looks back at her friend. "You don't think Harry is hiding something, is he?"
"Seems like it," Sharla said. "I feel like there's more to his past than meets the eye."
"Riki also believes that little Harry is hiding something as well. But I don't know what it is."
Melia wanted to believe what her friends were implying. But what could they do? There were many things she wanted to do for the young boy. But she didn't want to pressure him if he did not want to reveal anything.
Dunban was thinking hard on this. He was worried about the boy. If what Harry said was true, then this Dudley person would have to be taken care of. Even though he only knew the boy for a short time, he can tell that the boy was being troubled. From his clothing he would guess his relatives are poor or maybe ill. And being picked on by some other kid for the fun of it.
He turns to his friends. "I know Harry didn't want us to be involved in this, but I have to see to this. I'll be talking to Miquol, Orthan, and Vanea about this."
"Dunban…" Melia asked the tall man. "Mind if I come. I need to give these parents of Dudley a piece of my mind." She said as she set her hand on her hip.
He nodded his head. "Right. We'll do that tomorrow."
The group agreed. This action should not be allowed to continue any further. For Melia's part she wanted Harry to be safe.
Harry began to tremble. Taking each step down the quiet road towards his hell house. He stops in mid action, he turns around, looking back at the direction he came from. His thoughts drifted back to Miss Melia.
Her kindness, her warm embrace, her smile. Everything that he wished that he wished for all came into the form of another person.
"Let's hang out again tomorrow."
He had a small smile on his lip. He really loved Miss Melia. Why couldn't he stay with her? Why wasn't she his mother? Why did he have to live with the Dursely's? He wanted more of Miss Melia's love. He wanted to see her again.
"I want her to be my mom." He thought to himself with a small smile.
Thinking to himself, as soon as he looked up. His eyes widened in horror. There. At the front door was a purple faced angry walrus. Vernon's eyes shot daggers at the little boy. Harry began to tremble in fear. He wanted to run. But he couldn't do anything. He was too scared. He was terrified of what was going to happen.
Vernon storms his way towards the scared boy. "BOOYYY!"
Run.
"WHAT DID I TELL YOU!"
Run away.
"NOT TO GO OUTSIDE!"
RUN!
But his thoughts prove to no avail as he was roughly grabbed by his uncle. Choking him as he lifted poor Harry into the air. He takes him inside the house.
Poor Harry was being drowned in the sink that was filled with water. Harry was struggling against his uncle as he continued to push his head in the water.
"THIS IS WHAT YOU DESERVE YOU FREAK!"
Harry was trying to lift his head back up from the sink. He needed to breathe. But he was weak in comparison to his uncle. Who was using all of his strength to make sure that Harry suffers. His face slowly turns morphid as he continues to drown Harry in the water.
He lifts him up from the sink. Harry began to cough violently. Trying to catch some air.
"Dudley told me about your day," Harry's eyes widened in fear. So Dudley snitched on him. "And you were hanging out with those…those...FREAKS!"
He throws him to the ground. Harry whimpered in pain. To his left, he was kicked by Petunia. Looking at him with anger.
"YOUR SUPPOSE TO SEND US HOME! I CAN'T TAKE IT HERE ANYMORE!"
"I...I…" Of course Harry was not able to finish as he roughly grabbed by the collar again. Being carried over to the door that led to the basement.
Harry was tossed against the wall. His body went numb as he slid to hard ground in pain. His eyes slowly opened to see his uncle, aunt, and cousin. All came down to the basement. Dudley and aunt Petunia stomped over to Harry. Roughly picking him up. Petunia grabs the box that was near them and presents it in front of Harry.
Harry did not like where this was going.
"You brought us into this world," Vernon says as he was scanning the wall that had hazardous tools on it. "You can't bring us home," He continues in a cold venomous voice. "We take you in with those blasted wizards, we try to teach you a variable lesson of how to be normal, and THIS is how you REPAY US!" He spat out.
Vernon picks out a wrench. He turns to look at Harry with fire in his eyes. "Put out his finger."
Harry panicked. He tried to resist, but Dudley forced out his hand, just his uncle to hit against. Petunia was holding him steady. Tears formed in his eyes. His mind racing back to Melia again.
"P-P-Please. P-Please save m-m-me M-M-" Harry began to stutter out Melia's name.
"You are not to see that bitch again! AND I'LL MAKE SURE OF THAT!" He raises the wrench in the air. And brought it down with full force.
A child screamed and echoed through the quiet night.
Melia woke up with a gasp. With a hasten breath she looks around her room. Calming down a bit when she was in her room. Bringing a hand to her chest to calm down her heart beat.
But she can't shake off this feeling. Something was not right. As if she felt that someone was in pain.
"Harry…" She thought to herself.
She did not like this at all.
It was morning. Dunban, Otharon, Miquol, and Melia were at the front door of the Dursely's. Melia wore a disapproving look on her face. She really wanted to lash out at these monsters for letting their child pick on another child. Dunban was knocking at the door.
"Gah, are they dead or something." Otharon said with a growl.
"Be patience Otharon. Maybe they're still asleep." Miquol as they continued to wait.
They were about to leave, until they heard the door unlocking. Poking a head out from the door was Vernon with a not so happy face. "What do you want?" He said with a low growl.
Melia fist tightened as soon as she heard the way he spoke. "Pig."
"Hello Mr. Dursely," Dunban greeted with a bow. "Do you have a moment?"
"No. Now beat it." He spat.
As soon as he was about to close the door. Otharon feet blocked the doorway. "Now just a minute there buddy! This is very important." He said, about to lose his patience with the walrus.
Vernon tried to push the door, but Otharon was not moving. "Well I have no business with you lots! Now beat it!"
That's it.
Melia had enough. With all her strength she pushes the door open. Throwing Vernon to the floor. Startling Dudley and Petunia in the process.
"NOW LOOK HERE YOU WORTHLESS COCKROACH! WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR JUST GOING TO REFUSE TO LISTEN!?"
"Melia!" Vanea comes up to her and sets a recurring hand on her shoulder. "I know you're mad but please calm down first."
Melia seized her temper. Exhaling hot air through her nose. "I'm fine."
"Y-Y-You little witch! You can't do that to me!" Vernon spat out.
Dunban stood in front of Melia. "Dursley. With all respect you were the one who refused to listen to us. This discussion got less to do with you but more towards your son."
"WHAT!?" Vernon bellowed.
His son!? Dudley!? Are they accusing his son of something!? How dare they!?
Dudley quickly reacted. "I-I didn't do anything!" He said with fear in his voice. Taking a few steps back.
Petunia, hearing this, rose from her seat. "How dare you accuse our son of such a thing!"
Vanea raised her hand to calm them down. "Calm down, however we have got some words of an injured child in the town. Small, messy black hair, wearing glasses and a big ragged shirt on him."
The Dursely's immidetnaly reacted to the description. Vernon cursed under his breath. "The freak."
"I'm sorry?" Dunban asked with his eyebrow raised. He swore he had heard what Vernon was saying.
Vernon shook his head. "Our Dudley would never pick on another kid. Dudley is a sweet and normal boy. He would never cause trouble."
This caused the small group to beg to differ. Each carries a similar reaction. With Melia having the most of the reaction, with her face being soured. "Mr. Dursely...you remember when you first met me?"
"Y-Yes?" Vernon grew nervous.
"When you and I first met, you called me a 'freak'."
Vernon flinched. He started to sweat.
Dunban added to the situation. "And, there were several other times that you guys did that caused trouble to the people in the colony. You seem to show small distrust towards xenoforms, such as nopon, high entia, and machina."
Otharon joined in. "There's also word of your son cutting in lines, grabbing the foods and picking fights with all the little ones. Especially towards the High Entia."
"The way I see it," Miquol said. "You have been causing trouble since the day you entered this colony."
Vernon's hand curled into a fist. His face turned purple. "H-How d-dare you. HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE OF US SUCH THINGS! WE ARE A NORMAL PERFECT FAMILY! AND OUR DUDLEY WOULD NEVER! EVER IN HIS LIFE HARM SUCH A CHILD!"
His voice bellowed across the house. Causing Dunban and his friends to cover their ears from his soundwave.
"Jeezes, what you're trying to do is scare off a bunch of Arduns." Otharon commented.
"Would you calm down," Dunban asked him once more. "I'm just asking if your son happens to be bullying another child that goes by the name of Harry Potter."
From just the mentioning of the name, the Dursely's were now worried. Dudley began to stutter in his words. "I-I-I don't know anything about this Harry! You're lying!"
"Are we?" Melia crossed her arms under her chest. "Because according to Harry, he confirms that Dudley was the one who injured him."
"HE'S LYING! IT'S THE FREAK FAULT FOR BRINGING US HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE!"
Dudley suddenly covered his mouth. He let it slip. Vernon started to sweat even more. Petunia began to tremble. Melia's eyes shot daggers at the young boy. Dunban looked at the others as they nodded their heads. He turns his head back at them.
"So you admit it." Dunban said.
By this point. Vernon got up from his position and pointed an accusing finger at them. "YOU DON'T HAVE PROOF! WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS HARRY KID! NOW GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"
"Your son just admitted the truth. And you're obviously trying to cover it." Otharon said. Getting frustrated at the walrus man lies.
Melia by this point grew tired of the man covering up something that is a lie. She thought to herself. If Harry was here, they can confirm the crime that the Dursely did. Harry did not deserve to be bullied by this horrible child. A frown appeared on her lip.
"Where is Harry anyways?"
Now that she remembered. Harry was not at the park this morning. Perhaps he was oversleeping. But she was also worried about him. Her thoughts brought her to the door to her side. She didn't think much at first, but she was drawn to a small amount of blood trail leading to the door. Melia hugged herself, growing uneasy.
She usually wouldn' pry into other people's business when going through their house. But her curiosity got the best of her.
Melia approaches the door with caution. As she reaches the door, her hand grabs hold of the door knob. Energy spiked through her body. Giving off an uneasy feeling, but she decided to shake it off. As soon as she opened the door. It revealed the basement.
Against the wall were broken pieces of wood that looked like they belonged in a box. On the floor she saw droplets of blood plastered on the floor. Taking a step down the stairs, resulting in a creak noise. She hears a soft whimper.
A soft gasp flew out of her mouth. She turned to her right and wished she did not. Sitting there, tied to the corner of the room. A tiny figure with his body hugged to the wall, his knee up to his chest, with a ruined oversized t-shirt. She recognizes the figure.
Melia began to tremble. Her hands slowly brought up to her mouth. Her pupils become small.
"H-H-H-Harry." She stuttered. Hoping it wasn't who she thought it was. But she was wrong.
The small figure looked up. His scared green eyes looked back at the woman. "M-M-Miss Melia…"
"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Vernon yelled once more. Trying to get these guys out.
"Not until you give us answers! And be honest!" Dunban was losing his temper.
"I GAVE YOU ANSWERS! NOW BEAT IT! AND TAKE YOUR TWO FREAKS WITH YOU!" He pointed to both Miquol and Vanea.
The two did not seem to like his response too much as they glared at him. Miquol took a stand and floated beside Dunban and Otharon.
"You best watch your tongue Vernon. You might regret it." He said in a cold tone.
Before anything else could be said. Were all drowned out by a terrified scream. The group looks towards the source of the scream, noticing that the door that led to the basement was open. The Dursely's began to sweat. Dunban and the others had a horrified and concerned look on their faces.
"Melia!" Dunban yelled.
The group rushes over to the rescue. As soon as they made it down stairs. They found Melia, sprawled on the floor. Her breathing was rapid and her eyes trembled, glued looking forward.
"Melia! What's wrong!?" Dunban asked.
He got no response. Her eyes continued to look forward. Dunban followed her direction and wished he didn't see what she was looking at. The group had a wide variety of expressions. Vanea had her hand clasping over her mouth. Miquol makes a grunt of disappointment, and Otharon has a disgusted look on his face.
Harry for his part, was beyond terrified. They know his secret, they know of his secret. All he did was just hug his knee to his chest. His head buried into his knee, letting out a somber cry.
Melia, breaking from her shocked posture, comes back to reality and rushes over to the small child. She sweeps him off the ground and begins holding him tightly against her body. Her body trembled as she was holding the injured Harry.
The other looked upon the scene, Dunban wearing a grim look on his face. Otharon, Miquol, and Vanea both had similar looks on their faces. By this time, Vernon came rushing down the stairs, his face becoming pale. Sweat streamed down against his skin. With Petunia and Dudley at the top of the stairs, having the same shock and pale look just as Vernon.
Melia slowly, while still trembling, turns her head towards the people who are responsible for Harry's torment. Tears filled her eyes, mixed with both anger and sorrow.
"H-H-How could you...how could you…"
From that point, Dunban turns to face Vernon with fire in his eyes. "You got a lot of explaining to do Mr. Dursely."
Vernon's eyes began to shift from left to right. "I-I-I...I got nothing to say."
Otharon turns to face them with a glare. "You got nothing! Nothing to say!? Look at this child!" He points at the injured Harry in Melia's arms. "I say you got a hell lot of stories to explain what happened to this child!"
"LIKE I SAID! I'VE GOT NOTHING TO SAY!"
"LIAR!" Melia shouted at the top of her lungs! Her eyes shot daggers at him. Holding Harry tightly against her body. "WHY IS HARRY LIKE THIS!? WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO DO THIS TO HIM!? TO DO THIS TO SUCH AN INNOCENT CHILD! WHY!?"
Melia bellowed. Tears streamed down from her eyes. She panted from the shouting she gave to the Dursley's.
Vernon began to tremble violently. He noticed the stares he was getting from them. He said nothing. All he did was just stand there, shaking in fear. There was only one thing he could do.
Vernon rushes towards the stairs, Petunia, with Dudley, all follow suit.
"GET BACK HERE YOU COWARD!" Otharon yelled as he chased after them. With Vanea and Miquol following behind him. Leaving Dunban and Melia with the poor, injured and terrified Harry.
Dunban shook his head in disappointment. "To think they would do this to a child...disgusting." He grunted.
Melia's eyes shifted over to the child in her arms. Tears continue to stream down her cheeks. Her body began to tremble once more, looking at Harry with complete sympathy.
"Harry…" Is all she said as she buried her head on top of his unruly hair. She began to sob silently as the small child fell unconscious into Melia's arms. "I'm so sorry." She finished.
Dunban sets his hand on her shoulder. Giving her a sympathetic look. "Everything is gonna be okay. He's still breathing. We can heal him."
"...Dunban...I knew...I knew from the start that...s-something w-w-was wrong...b-but I-I was too...I was…" Is all she could mutter before crying silently on top of Harry's hair.
"I know...we can still help him. We can get him the treatment he needs."
"That won't be necessary." A voice called from behind them.
This surprised them both as they turned their head and noticed a familiar figure by the foot of the stairs. The tanned young man looks at them with his mysterious smile.
"I-It's you." Dunban said with shock.
"Alvis." Melia said with a similar expression.
"That boy you're holding...he's more than what you think."
"Harry…" Melia's eyes shifted to the unconscious boy in her arms. She then looks at Alvis. "Do you know anything about Harry?" All Alvis did was just give them a smile.
…..
And that wraps up chapter 2. This chapter was done faster since I already had it written out and posted on my archive of our own account.
Note: In case anyone says anything about me being wrong about the High entia and/or Alcamoth fates in the game, this story was done before "Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition" was released. In the definitive edition, they added an epilog chapter, dedicated to Melia story arc, finally giving her some much needed closures. And honestly, I wish I'd waited for the game to come out.
Aside from that, up next is the last chapter of this story. I never meant for this story to be long anyways.
See you again in the next chapter!