A/N: Hey everyone! Sheesh, I got a lot of reviews in that short period of time! So many reviews...lol. I'm sorry if this chapter is short, but I really wanted to get this up. I know some of the things in here seem unrealistic but that's what came to mind. Please, like I said before, I really need a beta! If someone is willing to beta my story, please tell me. Otherwise, I'll have to continue writing mistakes unknowingly.
Well anyway, I hope you like this chapter. It's short, I know, but it's okay. Btw, I dunno when my next chapter is gonna be, and I don't know if I'll be here from June 1st - June 30th. I'm supposed to be going to Florida to visit my sister, but I don't know for sure. If I don't update from there for a month, then you'll all know where I'll be. Now, on with the story!
Chapter 20: Run
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It had been a week since he got back to the Dursleys and already his uncle was coming close to killing him. The only person that was being nice, even just a bit, was his aunt. She would sneak him food when his uncle wasn't around. Harry thought that maybe she was feeling guilty; or maybe she just didn't want him to die in her perfect little house. Whatever it was, Harry didn't care. At least he was getting something to eat and drink, but he didn't know how long that alone would keep him alive. Harry didn't really know what time it was, as he had lost track. He didn't even know if it was day or night. His uncle rarely let him out of the cupboard.
Harry was in the cupboard trying to dig the hooks out of his arms. He just couldn't do it. The pain was too much to do it himself. Unconsciously he still continued to dig the hook out while thinking about the previous week. He didn't really remember much, and anything he did remember included pain. His uncle had cut the same 'D' into his forearm each day to make sure it would stay there forever. He had learned not to scream, though.
He gasped when finally one hook came out. He carefully studied it and then hid it. Maybe he could use it as a weapon. Right then his uncle slammed the door open, and bright sunlight poured through the door. Well, at least I know it's daytime. Harry thought wryly.
Harry was thrown out of the cupboard and onto the floor where various red-orange stains were. His uncle then proceeded to kick and punch him. Then he started the daily 'D' process. His uncle was just about to stand up when he noticed a missing hook. "Been messing around, boy? Oh well, more pain for you.", he said; walking off to get something. He came back a few seconds later with another hook and did the whole thing over again.
As punishment, Harry thought, his uncle started to trace the 'D' over again with his knife. When he seemed to lose interest in Harry he gave him one final kick before stalking off somewhere. After a few minutes Harry heard the shower running, so he guessed his uncle was in there. When the shower came on, his aunt walked out into the living room.
Harry slowly sat himself up and looked pleadingly at his aunt. This time there was no mistaking the sympathy in her eyes. "Run.", was the simple word that she said. That was all Harry needed before bolting out the front door. He didn't stop running until he was about 4 blocks away. That's when all of his injuries caught up with him. He was actually surprised that he had made it that far. Amazing how energy can run on fear. He thought.
He slowly looked at his surroundings. There weren't many people out right then, but the few who were looked at him strangely. Harry looked down at himself and let out a bitter laugh. He was almost stained red he was so bloody. The freshest cuts and punctures hurting and bleeding the worse. He looked down at the hooks in his arms, but he didn't dare try and take them out.
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It was already nighttime and, although people sent him strange looks, no one tried to help him. Harry didn't know how far away he was, but he guessed it was pretty far; or maybe not far enough as he heard the familiar honk of his uncle's car. Harry stopped dead in his tracks and turned around slowly. There he was, Harry's worse nightmare sitting in a car and grinning evilly at him. Harry took off running again, this time faster than before. He knew he couldn't outrun a car, though.
Just as Harry was about to run into a deserted alley he slipped on a rock and fell face first to the ground. His uncle came roaring after him as he had gotten out of the car. Kicks, punches, and insults were all thrown his way; that is until his uncle cried out in pain when his fist collided with Harry's upper thigh. "You idiot boy! Look at what you've done!", he yelled. His uncle kicked him over so that Harry could see what had happened, but that would be of no use since his glasses were destroyed. All Harry could see was a blob of red on what looked to be a hand. With one final kick, his uncle then left.
Harry continued to lay on his back on the cold concrete of the alley. He went in and out of consciousness for what seemed like forever. When he finally heard a gasp, he was too weak to even move a finger. His eyes were half closed, but when he heard the voice they opened a bit more. "Harry?", the voice had said. Then he heard footsteps coming closer to him. All he could do was try and back away, as he didn't really know who was speaking to him. All he knew was that the voice was familiar.
The footsteps came to a halt beside him, and someone bent down to look at the bloody figure sprawled out in the street. Harry recognized the long white-bearded person as Dumbledore. "Pro- pro- fessor.", Harry stuttered. "Shhh. Harry it's okay. I'm going to take you to Hogwarts. I'm just going to make a portkey.", Dumbledore replied, looking at Harry; shocked. He then grabbed a stick off the ground and began to make a portkey. After a few minutes the portkey was ready. Dumbledore gently picked up Harry's hand and placed it on the portkey. They then vanished and, after a few spiralling seconds, ended up in the Hogwarts infirmary.
"Poppy we need you in here quickly!", Dumbledore yelled, picking Harry up. Harry suddenly began to panic. "Wait! Where's Professor Snape?", he called. Dumbledore put him in a bed, but Harry wouldn't stop moving around. "I need him! Where is he?", Harry said again, this time with more energy. Dumbledore tried holding him down, but Harry wouldn't have it. "Harry, please, calm down! Professor Snape isn't here at the moment. He's at a meeting.", Dumbledore tried to explain. "No! He can't be at a meeting! He has to be here! I need him here! Please!", Harry said, his voice beginning to rise. At that time, Madam Pomphrey came bustling out of her office carrying several vials of potions. "He needs to drink these.", she said trying to force the potions down Harry's throat. Harry kept spitting the potions out though. The nurse began to lose her temper. "Headmaster, he won't drink the potions. What should we do?", she asked frantically. Dumbledore sighed. "We need Severus.", he answered.
Dumbledore began pacing the floor waiting for Severus to get back. Harry continued to yell for him. Where he got the strength to carry on like that for an hour, nobody knew. They couldn't stun him or use any other spell on him in his current condition, and he wouldn't swallow the potions given to him. Both Headmaster and nurse knew that they only person whom Harry would listen to was Snape. Fortunately for them, a bang of the Entrance hall doors signified that said person was back from his meeting.
Dumbledore quickly left his pacing spot to find Snape. No one could miss him though, as he was currently punching the wall. "Severus, we need you in the infirmary.", Dumbledore said. Snape just glared at him. "I do not wish to visit any invalids at this moment, nor do I wish to brew any potions for anyone.", he said coldly. "Ah, but Severus. This certain person needs you. Come along.", Dumbledore said. Snape reluctantly followed.
When they finally arrived in the correct place, Dumbledore noticed that Harry had stopped yelling. Instead, he was just barely whispering the name. Snape stopped walking immediately and looked on in shock. "Harry?", he called out quietly. By then Harry was almost completely unconscious which, for them, was a bad thing. Snape practically ran over to Harry's bedside and grabbed his hand. Harry started and then looked up at the person he most wanted to see.
Snape was a pretty big mess. Blood was seeping from the corner of his lip and nose, and dirt was smeared all over his face. It looked, all in all, like he had been in a street fight. Harry was still very happy to see him, nonetheless. He gave a weak smile. "I'm so g- glad to s- see you.", Harry said quietly. "Me too, Harry. Me too.", Snape replied.
Madam Pomphrey walked up to them handing Snape some potions. "Maybe you can get him to take these. I sure can't.", she said stiffly. Snape looked at Harry again and pulled the stopper off one of the vials. "Harry, will you please take these. They're for you own good.", he said handing Harry a potion. He shakily brought it to his lips and swallowed. Even after all of the potions were gone, he still didn't feel much better. His arms still hurt pretty bad, but that was only one thing to name.
Snape gently took Harry's arm in his hand and gently touched the hook still stuck in there. Harry flinched. That was the more recent one. "What a sick bastard.", Snape murmured. Shortly after that Harry fell asleep due to the dreamless sleep potion.
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A/N: Well, did you all like it? I hope so. Thanks for all the reviews! I got 28 in the last week or so. That's a lot! I'm sorry for not replying to them again. Really I am. But right now, I need to go to bed or get grounded from the computer for weeks and weeks. That would be bad. Thank you all so much for reviewing, it means a lot to me! Even if I don't reply, I still read every single one of them.
Well anyway, I hope you like this chapter. It's short, I know, but it's okay. Btw, I dunno when my next chapter is gonna be, and I don't know if I'll be here from June 1st - June 30th. I'm supposed to be going to Florida to visit my sister, but I don't know for sure. If I don't update from there for a month, then you'll all know where I'll be. Now, on with the story!
Chapter 20: Run
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It had been a week since he got back to the Dursleys and already his uncle was coming close to killing him. The only person that was being nice, even just a bit, was his aunt. She would sneak him food when his uncle wasn't around. Harry thought that maybe she was feeling guilty; or maybe she just didn't want him to die in her perfect little house. Whatever it was, Harry didn't care. At least he was getting something to eat and drink, but he didn't know how long that alone would keep him alive. Harry didn't really know what time it was, as he had lost track. He didn't even know if it was day or night. His uncle rarely let him out of the cupboard.
Harry was in the cupboard trying to dig the hooks out of his arms. He just couldn't do it. The pain was too much to do it himself. Unconsciously he still continued to dig the hook out while thinking about the previous week. He didn't really remember much, and anything he did remember included pain. His uncle had cut the same 'D' into his forearm each day to make sure it would stay there forever. He had learned not to scream, though.
He gasped when finally one hook came out. He carefully studied it and then hid it. Maybe he could use it as a weapon. Right then his uncle slammed the door open, and bright sunlight poured through the door. Well, at least I know it's daytime. Harry thought wryly.
Harry was thrown out of the cupboard and onto the floor where various red-orange stains were. His uncle then proceeded to kick and punch him. Then he started the daily 'D' process. His uncle was just about to stand up when he noticed a missing hook. "Been messing around, boy? Oh well, more pain for you.", he said; walking off to get something. He came back a few seconds later with another hook and did the whole thing over again.
As punishment, Harry thought, his uncle started to trace the 'D' over again with his knife. When he seemed to lose interest in Harry he gave him one final kick before stalking off somewhere. After a few minutes Harry heard the shower running, so he guessed his uncle was in there. When the shower came on, his aunt walked out into the living room.
Harry slowly sat himself up and looked pleadingly at his aunt. This time there was no mistaking the sympathy in her eyes. "Run.", was the simple word that she said. That was all Harry needed before bolting out the front door. He didn't stop running until he was about 4 blocks away. That's when all of his injuries caught up with him. He was actually surprised that he had made it that far. Amazing how energy can run on fear. He thought.
He slowly looked at his surroundings. There weren't many people out right then, but the few who were looked at him strangely. Harry looked down at himself and let out a bitter laugh. He was almost stained red he was so bloody. The freshest cuts and punctures hurting and bleeding the worse. He looked down at the hooks in his arms, but he didn't dare try and take them out.
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It was already nighttime and, although people sent him strange looks, no one tried to help him. Harry didn't know how far away he was, but he guessed it was pretty far; or maybe not far enough as he heard the familiar honk of his uncle's car. Harry stopped dead in his tracks and turned around slowly. There he was, Harry's worse nightmare sitting in a car and grinning evilly at him. Harry took off running again, this time faster than before. He knew he couldn't outrun a car, though.
Just as Harry was about to run into a deserted alley he slipped on a rock and fell face first to the ground. His uncle came roaring after him as he had gotten out of the car. Kicks, punches, and insults were all thrown his way; that is until his uncle cried out in pain when his fist collided with Harry's upper thigh. "You idiot boy! Look at what you've done!", he yelled. His uncle kicked him over so that Harry could see what had happened, but that would be of no use since his glasses were destroyed. All Harry could see was a blob of red on what looked to be a hand. With one final kick, his uncle then left.
Harry continued to lay on his back on the cold concrete of the alley. He went in and out of consciousness for what seemed like forever. When he finally heard a gasp, he was too weak to even move a finger. His eyes were half closed, but when he heard the voice they opened a bit more. "Harry?", the voice had said. Then he heard footsteps coming closer to him. All he could do was try and back away, as he didn't really know who was speaking to him. All he knew was that the voice was familiar.
The footsteps came to a halt beside him, and someone bent down to look at the bloody figure sprawled out in the street. Harry recognized the long white-bearded person as Dumbledore. "Pro- pro- fessor.", Harry stuttered. "Shhh. Harry it's okay. I'm going to take you to Hogwarts. I'm just going to make a portkey.", Dumbledore replied, looking at Harry; shocked. He then grabbed a stick off the ground and began to make a portkey. After a few minutes the portkey was ready. Dumbledore gently picked up Harry's hand and placed it on the portkey. They then vanished and, after a few spiralling seconds, ended up in the Hogwarts infirmary.
"Poppy we need you in here quickly!", Dumbledore yelled, picking Harry up. Harry suddenly began to panic. "Wait! Where's Professor Snape?", he called. Dumbledore put him in a bed, but Harry wouldn't stop moving around. "I need him! Where is he?", Harry said again, this time with more energy. Dumbledore tried holding him down, but Harry wouldn't have it. "Harry, please, calm down! Professor Snape isn't here at the moment. He's at a meeting.", Dumbledore tried to explain. "No! He can't be at a meeting! He has to be here! I need him here! Please!", Harry said, his voice beginning to rise. At that time, Madam Pomphrey came bustling out of her office carrying several vials of potions. "He needs to drink these.", she said trying to force the potions down Harry's throat. Harry kept spitting the potions out though. The nurse began to lose her temper. "Headmaster, he won't drink the potions. What should we do?", she asked frantically. Dumbledore sighed. "We need Severus.", he answered.
Dumbledore began pacing the floor waiting for Severus to get back. Harry continued to yell for him. Where he got the strength to carry on like that for an hour, nobody knew. They couldn't stun him or use any other spell on him in his current condition, and he wouldn't swallow the potions given to him. Both Headmaster and nurse knew that they only person whom Harry would listen to was Snape. Fortunately for them, a bang of the Entrance hall doors signified that said person was back from his meeting.
Dumbledore quickly left his pacing spot to find Snape. No one could miss him though, as he was currently punching the wall. "Severus, we need you in the infirmary.", Dumbledore said. Snape just glared at him. "I do not wish to visit any invalids at this moment, nor do I wish to brew any potions for anyone.", he said coldly. "Ah, but Severus. This certain person needs you. Come along.", Dumbledore said. Snape reluctantly followed.
When they finally arrived in the correct place, Dumbledore noticed that Harry had stopped yelling. Instead, he was just barely whispering the name. Snape stopped walking immediately and looked on in shock. "Harry?", he called out quietly. By then Harry was almost completely unconscious which, for them, was a bad thing. Snape practically ran over to Harry's bedside and grabbed his hand. Harry started and then looked up at the person he most wanted to see.
Snape was a pretty big mess. Blood was seeping from the corner of his lip and nose, and dirt was smeared all over his face. It looked, all in all, like he had been in a street fight. Harry was still very happy to see him, nonetheless. He gave a weak smile. "I'm so g- glad to s- see you.", Harry said quietly. "Me too, Harry. Me too.", Snape replied.
Madam Pomphrey walked up to them handing Snape some potions. "Maybe you can get him to take these. I sure can't.", she said stiffly. Snape looked at Harry again and pulled the stopper off one of the vials. "Harry, will you please take these. They're for you own good.", he said handing Harry a potion. He shakily brought it to his lips and swallowed. Even after all of the potions were gone, he still didn't feel much better. His arms still hurt pretty bad, but that was only one thing to name.
Snape gently took Harry's arm in his hand and gently touched the hook still stuck in there. Harry flinched. That was the more recent one. "What a sick bastard.", Snape murmured. Shortly after that Harry fell asleep due to the dreamless sleep potion.
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A/N: Well, did you all like it? I hope so. Thanks for all the reviews! I got 28 in the last week or so. That's a lot! I'm sorry for not replying to them again. Really I am. But right now, I need to go to bed or get grounded from the computer for weeks and weeks. That would be bad. Thank you all so much for reviewing, it means a lot to me! Even if I don't reply, I still read every single one of them.