Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!

A/N: Part of a challenge.

If You Dare: 316. Children

Are You Crazy Enough?: 189: (drink) coffee.


3 June 1995

Dear Help,

That night I dreamed of Sirius and Lupin. They were talking about checking in on me but agreed to just send a letter. Out of no where the scene shifts and I'm standing in a graveyard, Cedric dead at my side. I wake up moments later screaming. As soon as I'm fully conscious I shut my mouth. I felt my heart beat faster in my chest. The door opens revealing a tired and angry Vernon and I whimper.

"What do you think you're doing, boy?" he hissed, "Trying to wake the entire neighborhood with your racket?! I'll show you!" He throws me on the floor, then proceeds to hit me and beat me for several torturing minutes. I sob quietly as he punches and kicks me repeatedly. With one final kick to the gut, he leaves. I lay for several minutes gasping for breath, knowing at least one rib is broken.

When I finally have the courage to move and check my alarm clock I find that it is 5:30 in the morning. I get up to shower and start breakfast, knowing if I go back to sleep, I'll never be back up in time.

I go to the bathroom and when I'm in the shower I check over my injuries. I can't heal any of them, obviously, I don't have my wand, but I do make sure none are too severe. They look okay, mainly bruises and small cuts besides the welts from the belt, so I shrug them off and try to ignore the pain as I turn off the hot water and go back to the small bedroom.

I am sliding a shirt over my hurting chest when I hear a rapping noise. I look quickly at the door, which is closed, then my alarm clock, which says 6:01, and then realize the noise is coming from the window. I look out and see a light gray owl trying to get in. Uncle Vernon had allowed me to send and receive owls, but he monitored in vigilantly. I open the window and take the letter attached to it's leg. I open it and am not surprised to see it's from Sirius.

Dear Harry,

Just checking to see how you're doing. Are those Muggles treating you right? How's your schoolwork going? You'd better have it done when you see Hermione or she'll be in a state. Has your scar been hurting at all?

I can't tell you where I am, but I can tell you I'm safe. I've been keeping a low profile only allowing people to see me as Padfoot.

Lupin says, "hi." I think he's planning on coming to check in on you soon, so make sure to tell your relatives so they don't panic and call their foe-leash (police).

Write back soon. Buckbeak wants to know how you're doing too.

Snuffles

I read over it a few times, soaking in and memorizing his words before it's thrown in the fire by Vernon and I have to write back telling a bunch of lies.

I put bring the letter down with me when I go to make breakfast; I'd be in more trouble if I didn't tell my uncle about the letter and found out later. I started making pancakes, bacon, and a fruit salad for the entire family when I get to the kitchen. To my surprise, someone is already awake.

Aunt Marge called, rather politely for her, from the living room, "Bring me coffee, boy." I jerked my head up to find the source of the sound. She was sitting on the couch, her feet on the coffee table, watching the morning news. She looked almost like a bull-pig hybrid itching to charge at something.

I immediately start coffeemaker and once it has enough pour some into a mug. "Would you like milk or sugar?" I ask softly. I tried to keep my voice down in case she decided to charge me.

For a moment, she didn't answer and I held my breath. "Both," she calls loudly and rudely. I barely managed to contain a glare of disgust.

I added milk and sugar and took it over to her. I avoided her gaze as she snatched it from my hand. I started walking back into the kitchen when I heard her choking on the tea. I whipped around and saw her face screwed up in repulsion. "WHAT DID YOU PUT IN MY COFFEE, BOY?!" she spat, "WERE YOU TRYING TO POISON ME?"

I shook my head anxiously, but she was already over me and hitting me where ever she could. "YOU LITTLE RASCAL! YOU SHOULD BE PUT DOWN! THINGS LIKE YOU SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED A NICE HOME OR AN EDUCATION!" she shrieked. She was kicking and clawing and punching me like a maniac. I saw black dots appear in my vision when it suddenly stopped. I rolled over to see Uncle Vernon pulling Aunt Marge back. Her face was red and her eyes were bulging out of their sockets. She was spitting and seething trying to get her hands on me. Uncle Vernon yelled something I couldn't catch.

I closed my eyes and waited for more blows to come but they didn't. Uncle Vernon pulled me back onto my feet and grumbled, "go finish breakfast." I fled clumsily to the kitchen and when I glanced up, I saw Aunt Petunia fanning off Aunt Marge, shooting me dirty looks every now and again. I quickly finished the bacon and pancakes and started setting the table. I tried to prevent the blood dripping off a cut on my head from getting on anything but me.

When I had everything set I croaked, "Breakfast is ready!" Aunt Marge and Aunt Petunia followed by Dudley and Uncle Vernon all came and sat down to eat. Uncle Vernon said grace and they dug in. Meanwhile, I started cleaning up in the kitchen.

I was doing the dishes when I heard Dudley from the dining room, "Why is there blood on my plate?" There was a moment of help breaths, then suddenly the room exploded. Aunt Petunia was scanning Dudley over for something, as if she thought he would break out in something. Aunt Marge and Uncle Vernon descended upon me in the kitchen where I cowered in a corner. I don't remember anything after feeling my head smash against what I could only assume was the stone counter top.


When I woke up, I was in my bed and I hurt all over. My hand was hanging limply over the bed and I couldn't move a single muscle. It hurt too much.

So I sat there. I waited for the pain to go away as it always did. The stupid magic in my blood kept me alive through every beating and I was beginning to despise it. I hated the fact that I couldn't just die and be away from all the pain. Why was the wizarding world so dependent on me? Why were they so needy? Why me?

When I finally could move I noticed it was dark outside, which explained the silence around the house. I sat up, grabbed my journal, and began to write before I passed out.

Why, you might be wondering, would I write when I really need to sleep and heal? Because. I want you to know what my life is like so maybe you'll feel the teeniest bit of pity for me. I want you to know that I tried. That I really am innocent despite what the Dursley's say. I work hard. I aim to please everyone. I try my best even when I don't feel like it. I always attempt to suceed even if there's only failure. What more could anyone want from me? What more do you want from me?

This is about as far as I can get for now. I hope you find me soon.


So for such a long break! I was having writer's block and was worried that you guys hated this. .

Please review! Let me know what you want! Should he be rescued? If so, when?

Other than that, thanks for reading!