Disclaimer: don't own anything recognizable.

Warnings: child abuse, language, see intro for more.

Chapter 2: Cousins, cars and cop shows.

Dudley Dursley sat in his bedroom staring blankly at the black computer screen. This is bad.

Flashback

The wrestling team were joking around in the locker room and trading summer stories, but he was distracted.

"Hey Big D what's up?" Jason asked; he was a skinny red head and regional champion in the light weight division. "Some chick ditch you this summer? You've been off your game since you got back."

"Yeah man what gives?"

"I think – Can you guys keep a secret? A real tell this and die secret?" Dudley looked at them seriously.

The guys exchanged looks and nodded, settling quietly or leaning against lockers. Dudley's never serious. Jax ran off and locked the door.

"'Course we won't tell D. What's wrong?"

"I think- I think my dad might be abusive. Not to me," he added quickly, "but- Have I ever told you about my cousin?"

"Little Harry? Seriously?" Piers asked blinking.

"Who?"

"Harry, my cousin. This summer something happened, and I've been thinking about it ever since. I can't – I think he might be, like, hard-core abused."

"This is some serious shit D."

"Tell me about it. I know. I know, but, it's my Dad, and I'm not 100 percent positive…

"I should start at the beginning." Dudley ran his hand through his hair and sighed. "Harry's parents died when he was like, one. –We're the same age for those of you who don't know him already. - I don't even know for sure how they died. My parents told us it was a car accident, but someone else once said they were murdered or something, an explosion. Either way he was dumped on our doorstep- literally from the stories I've heard.

"Anyhow he was always in trouble for something. Always doing chores or being punished. It started when we were little. I don't remember a time when it wasn't like that and I never questioned it!" he ran his hand through his hair again, angrily, and then stared at his knees.

"You guys remember what a bully I was when I started at this place. I was the same way back home – still am to be honest – and Harry was my favorite target. When I think about it it's horrible ya know? And my dad encouraged me to do it; to pick on him, beat him up. If he ever fought back enough to hurt me I'd go to Dad and Harry would be punished. I learned that trick early.

"I guess that's why I never questioned things. Part of it anyhow. I mean, he fought back a lot, didn't he Pierce? Even though he knew he'd get it later?"

"Yeah. He was a tough little runt. Smart ass too – even when he couldn't fight back he always had some kinda comeback. Quick ya know?" he said frowning. "I don't know Dud didn't he end up at St. Brutus's?"

"That's the thing. He didn't, doesn't. He goes to – to a gifted school. He's on scholarship or somthin'…Mom and Dad told the neighbors he went to the school for criminals because of appearances or somethin'. They'd never admit Harry was good at something." He frowned again. "That's part of it too I guess. Shit. There's so much stuff I've just ignored.

"I want to believe I'm exaggerating or seeing things that aren't there and my parents wouldn't… but I dunno. The more I think about it the worse it looks. An trust me when I say I'm trying to make it look good." He sighed. "I can't tell – I won't tell anyone, authorities like, until I talk with Harry. I'm not gonna drag my family through that if there's a chance…I should talk to Harry first."

"He's not likely to admit abuse, even if it's true." Cayce, a senior heavy weight threw in. "If he hasn't told someone by now- especially going to a boarding school where they aren't right there – he's either too scared or he's as in denial as you were. Does your dad hit him?"

"-Yes, all the time. Not like- I mean-" Dudley looked lost, and a little sick.

"Let's start easy." Cayce interrupted. "My sister's into the whole law thing. I watch these TV shows with her sometimes…Has he -Harry? - ever been deprived basic human rights? Food, clothing, shelter?"

Dudley frowned, then went pale and nodded. The team shifted and looked at each other uneasily.

"He always wore Dudley's hand-me-downs. I mean, he was our age but so much smaller… It's not like the Dursleys couldn't afford it- but they never spent anything on it if they could avoid it." Piers shrugged and looked guiltily at his friend.

"He would get meals taken away if he really misbehaved. But- it wasn't like 'no dinner', he would go days sometimes before dad would let him eat again. Fuck! I used to think it was funny – one of the chores he had was the cooking. He would make breakfast then dad, sometimes mum even, would say he was still in trouble and he wouldn't be able to eat it. –Shit guys! Fuck! This, this…how could I not see it?" he looked around wild-eyed.

For a moment it was totally silent in the locker rooms.

"You're going to have to talk to some one. I don't think you're seeing things." Cayce said in a gentle voice.

"I need to talk to Harry first."

End Flashback

"Dudders! We're going to dinner! Come on Sweetums!" his mother called up the stairs. As if nothing happened.

Dudley went down the stairs slowly. His parents were waiting at the bottom. "I don't really feel too good. You guys go."

"Are you okay? You look pale. We can stay-"

"No! No, mum I'm fine. I just need quiet and sleep. I think I'm just going to go to bed a bit early."

"I don't know-"

"Really mum! I'm not a baby. I can stay home by my self, can't I dad?" he turned to his father hoping he didn't look as desperate as he felt.

"Of course you can son. Honestly Pet. Leave the boy be; he can handle himself. We can have a night out on our own."

"Yes of course dear. I was just worried. I'm sure you'll be just fine."

Dudley sighed as his parents closed the door and listened as they got in the car and drove off.

XXXxxx

Harry curled tightly in his cupboard, hugging his knees. He closed his eyes fighting to breathe without choking on the dust. His throat was swollen and raw, and something felt loose along his collarbone but the throbbing kept him from touching it. His ribs burned and he hurt all over. His cheek stung and for the first time in years he was scared of his uncle.

The last time he had been hit across the face was in elementary school. It was too visible. Sure Dudley had given him a few black eyes, but schoolyard punches, even those from his cousin were a lot less suspicious than a giant handprint too big to be any child.

Harry shivered at the implications. The Dursleys were always careful; he doubted his uncle would have done something so – visible – unless he didn't care about the appearances. The raven haired teen wrapped his arms tighter around himself trying not to think about the other bruises, the ones forming around his throat.

He took a deep breath and promptly choked on dust. He fought desperately to hide the noise of his coughing. Suddenly he was crying. Ghods who am I kidding. He tried to kill me. I Dudley hadn't come home…would he have really stopped? I'm in my cupboard again. My bloody cupboard. He tried to kill me. He really tried to kill me. Oh ghod. He locked me up again. I haven't eaten in days. And my uncle just tried to kill me.

I gotta get out of here. He's not going to stop next time. I'm such an idiot. Can't even stand up to a muggle. I gotta get out of here soon. Before he kills me. I can handle Voldemort. I just got to get out before HE kills me.

There was talking in the entryway but he couldn't make himself listen. He must have been laying here for hours. He wiped at his eyes for a moment stopping when he felt the dust that had somehow managed to cover him.

He heard them leave and almost sobbed in relief before he heard the footsteps. Please no, please no, please… the lock to the cupboard snapped open and Harry couldn't stop his whimper as the door opened.

XXXxxx

Dudley sighed exasperated. It had taken him a good fifteen minutes to convince Harry to come out of his cupboard and now they were arguing.

"We can't go to the cops! Your parents have friends all up the chain of command. Do you know how easy it is for evidence to disappear, for reports to go missing? Please, don't do anything stupid. By the time my case made it to a judge it would be a joke. Uncle Vernon would probably even get some kind of compensation or something and I wouldn't last five minutes once I got back here. Just – I don't know – we can't…"

"He almost killed you today! Harry! Shit. What – what about your kind? Could you go to them?"

"No. Dudley I – in that world I'm kind of a hero. I am very famous at any rate. It's a long story but it has to do with the dark wiz- the guy who's after me." Harry flinched on 'wizard' as if expecting to be hit. "They are more likely to cover the entire thing up than help me out. No one wants to admit their bloody savior might be hurt by a mere muggle." He looked away ashamed. "Besides, you heard last summer. I need blood protection – I need to stay with relatives."

"Well is it that you need to stay here, or just stay with a blood relative?"

"What? I don't know. I think a relative, maybe…oh. But there's no one else."

"We could run away. If I go with you you'd be protected right?"

"I – maybe. Are you serious? There's no way!" Harry flinched and wrapped his arms around himself, breathing hard.

"Come on Harry! You can't tell me you'd be safer here. I'll go with you. I can call a couple of friends; we can find somewhere to crash…" Dudley trailed off trying to look him in the eye, but Harry was looking down toying with his shirt.

"Do you know what Uncle Vernon would do to me if I ran away?" Harry bit his lip fighting to not get his hopes up. "I – he's gonna be so angry."

"Harry-" Dudley trailed off catching his last sentence. "I have duffels upstairs. I need to make a few calls. – He can only do something if he catches us."

"You mean it?" Harry looked up emerald eyes searching his cousin's face. "You aren't – this isn't a game?"

Dudley's heart sank. "Come get one of my gym bags we need to leave soon."

Harry followed his cousin up the stairs, wincing occasionally as he put weight on his left knee. At the top of the stairs Dudley rushed through his room and came out carrying a red and black medium sized duffle. He eyed his cousin in concern as the smaller teen hugged his ribs, his breathing uneven.

"Is this big enough? I don't know what kind of – stuff – you need and we won't be coming back."

"It's plenty big. Most of my school stuff is replaceable. I only need a few things." He took the bag and turned to the second bedroom fumbling with the locks he wasn't allowed to touch.

Harry stared at his trunk's contents, pulling out his cloak and photo album. Ignoring the books and parchment Harry found his wand and a bag of galleons, his vault key and a pair of pajamas that fit properly. His collarbone ached from this minimal exertion, and his ribs throbbed fiercely. He carefully leaned against his trunk as he coughed helplessly. Tears filled his eyes but he refused to let them fall, pushing past the pain and turning back toward his trunk. He hesitated then grabbed his school shirts and a few pairs of pants, at least they fit, and a couple of Weasley sweaters. Finally he grabbed the Map and he zipped the bag closed. It looked pitifully empty.

"How are you doing?" Dudley came in with a much larger duffle stuffed with his things and a smaller bag. "I packed us food and a couple of fleeces. Do you need help?"

"I think that's it. I really don't have – and books are heavy…" Harry stared at his smaller bag knowing his cousin was too.

"We can pick up some things in London. Piers will be here in a bit; he's got a car. Did you pack toiletries? I didn't hear you go to the bathroom…"

Harry shook his head and dug into his trunk pulling out the mesh bag he kept his bath things in and adding it to his duffle. He stood shakily.

"What time is it? This is a bad idea. I – please Dudley?" Harry wasn't sure what he was asking his cousin, but he was so scared all of the sudden.

"Relax little cousin. Everything's going to be okay now. Mum and Dad have only been gone for 30 minutes, less even. Dinner will take at least an hour, two if they do drinks and dessert, then there's the drive time."

"What if they change their minds and come back?"

"I'll protect you Harry." Dudley answered firmly.

"Really?" Harry asked quietly. No one had ever offered to protect him before.

"Yes." Dudley answered seriously. Realizing how much his cousin needed reassurance. "I promise"

Harry looked up at him with wide green eyes and Dudley nearly winced at the livid black eye and the dark bruises around that throat. "Okay."

And just like that Dudley realized he had his cousin's trust. After everything I've done to him he trusts me. I've never seen him look so defenseless. Has he always been such a little kid? A car pulled up in the drive and Harry jumped then winced in pain, his arms wrapping around himself.

"Easy it's probably Piers." Dudley rushed downstairs to greet his friend opening the door at the tentative knock. "Thanks man. You're a lifesaver. My stuff's still upstairs. Harry too."

"Is the kid ok?" Piers asked quietly following his friend.

"He's alive. I shouldn't have waited damn it!" Dudley clenched his jaw and opened the door to Harry's room.

"Dudley?" Harry asked anxiously, having missed most of the conversation. He spotted Piers and tilted his chin up defiantly, changing his stance.

"It's ok Harry. Piers is driving us to London, remember?" Dudley blinked at the change in his cousin.

"Fuck! Who did you like that?" Piers demanded, jumping in.

"I'm fine." Harry's hand lifted to his throat automatically. "So can we go now?"

"Yeah. Let's get outta here. It's gonna be okay." Dudley lifted his bags and turned to head downstairs when Harry screamed.

The raven haired teen dropped his bag clutching his shoulder. The older boys rushed over but Harry stepped back biting his lip.

"I'm sorry. It's not that heavy. I'm sorry." Harry's eyes were on the ground. Ghod I'm such a wuss.

"It's okay! Harry it's ok." Dudley looked over at his friend somehow managing to look both helpless and murderous at the same time.

"I'll get your bag, kid. You're banged up pretty bad. Let's get out of here." The teen grabbed the bag hiding his surprise when the bag couldn't have weighed more than 5lbs.

Harry made it down the stairs and settled into the back of the sports car as his cousin locked the door.

"I borrowed my sister's cell," Piers was saying "even if the cops suspect me they won't have any way to track you down. Are you positive you don't want to go to the cops?"

"We can't risk it."

"Damn it. Well I called Benny J. He's got a flat in London, or his parents do, and he gave me directions." They were driving now. "He isn't there now but they keep a spare key and he gave me the security code for inside."

XXXxxx

They pulled into a parking space near the back entrance. Benny J. had given clear directions and they found the place easily. Dudley climbed out his door and popped his seat forward. Harry was curled up asleep in the back. At the sudden noise he jerked awake, blinking.

"It's just me little cousin. Come on, we're here." He helped the younger boy climb out then grabbed the heavier bag from his friend.

"It's on the third floor but there's an elevator. Once you're settled stay put. Benny said he'd stop in in the morning with food. I have this phone number so answer if it rings or you can call my sister's cell. I'll tell her something to keep her quiet about it. Her number is-"

"I have her number."

"What are you doing with my baby sister's number!?" he demanded.

"Err…nothing. You were telling me how this is supposed to work?"

"Just stay away from my sister Dursley." Piers let them into the flat and turned off the alarm system. "Well Benny says he knows a guy who can keep you under the radar. It should be cake. Stay inside. Don't call too many people. Get some sleep tonight, and take care of the kid. You can explain when he's safe." He sighed and helped Dudley pull off the boy's shoes; somehow he had already curled up on the couch. "He's really just our age. A couple months younger, but he's in our grade. How did this happen? I know I would have noticed something like this in school."

"I don't think it's ever been this bad. I mean Dad never hit him across the face and he certainly never tried to strangle him before. I – at least I hope he never. Not in years for sure. I just – we were so horrible to him. I can't believe this is happening."

"Talk about impulsive decisions. I won't tell anyone Big D I promise. I gotta go. Malcolm promised to cover for me so I have an alibi."

"You scare me sometimes Piers; lay off the cop shows."

XXXxxx

A/N: Wasn't that worth a review? A short one even? For chocolate chocolate chip cookies?