Harry's eyes fluttered open...and he was immediately greeted with pitch darkness. The little boy's heart dropped down into a black abyss in his stomach. It was all a dream...He had never been saved...He was still locked away in his dark, cramped cupboard...He wanted to cry when he realized this...But he couldn't cry...He got hit when he cried...
Then, there was a knock outside the cupboard door. Harry yelped in terror upon hearing the noise, and then he began to hyperventilate as he hugged his knees and began rocking back and forth. He didn't want Vernon to hurt him...He wanted to be normal...He didn't want to be hurt anymore...
The door threw itself open, and Harry curled up in a ball.
It was Cinder, come to wake Harry for breakfast. She had heard his frantic noises from the other side of the door, and out of concern, she had thrown the door open to see him curled up in a ball, covering his face and trembling in terror.
Cinder's eyes widened in slight worry, and she quickly flicked on the light switch and moved to Harry's side.
"Harry." She called out, trying to sound firm, but failing due to an audible worry in her voice. He was breathing too heavily to hear her. "Harry!" Cinder placed a hand on Harry's side and gently shook him. She was immensely surprised when Harry screamed in fear and retreated to the other side of the bed.
"I'M SORRY, I WON'T DO IT AGAIN, I'LL BE GOOD, I'M SORRY UNCLE VERNON, DON'T HURT ME, PLEASE-"
Cinder didn't fully know what compelled her to do it, but as the little boy frantically apologized, she had found herself sitting on the bed and pulling him into a tight embrace. She didn't know what to think of it at first...but she internally told herself that she just wanted him to be quiet.
Harry flinched and whimpered at the feeling of physical contact...but then he realized it wasn't bringing any pain with it. Blinking, he looked up and saw the frowning face of Cinder Fall. He realized...he wasn't at Vernon's. He wasn't locked in his cupboard. He might not get beaten...
The little boy's body trembled slightly, and with a small sob, he buried his face into the young woman's chest.
Cinder felt slightly ashamed of herself as the sound of the small boy's sob tugged at her heartstrings...But she couldn't fight the intense desire to make him feel better. So she began to stroke the back of his little head, making soft shushing noises.
"Shhh...It's all right, Harry...You're safe now...Far away from the fat man..." Harry clutched at her dress tightly as he tried to fight back sobs...
Cinder wanted to put Harry down...but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Was she getting too attached to the little boy...?