I'm just playing in JK Rowling's sandbox. Thanks for reading! Reviews are much appreciated!
In the cupboard under the stairs at number four, Privet Drive there slept a young ten, almost eleven-year-old boy with messy black hair and striking green eyes. He was small for his age due to malnourishment and neglect, thanks to his abusive Aunt, Uncle, and bully of a cousin. He had lived there since he was 15 months old, as his parents had died, supposedly of a car crash. Little did he know, he was about to experience one of the biggest shocks of his life.
The slide of the now unlocked barrel bolt on Harry's cupboard warned Harry to awaken right before the pounding on the door drove the sleep out of him.
The shrill voice of Aunt Petunia penetrated and echoed around Harry's cupboard, "Get up you lazy boy! My Ickle Dudleykins needs his breakfast."
"Yes, Aunt Petunia," Harry replied, tossing on an old, oversized gray shirt that had belonged to Aunt Petunia's 'Ickle Dudleykins' until he had outgrown it and it had been passed down to Harry. His Aunt and Uncle were loath to give Harry anything, but what would the neighbors think if Harry was to go shirtless and reveal the many bruises left from Dudley's favorite sport of 'Harry Hunting'. At least it was clean, as it was Harry's job to do the laundry. And the dishes. And cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In fact, the only jobs Harry Potter was not allowed to do happened to be dusting Petunia's prized figurines that dotted the overly decorated parlor, as well as cleaning his Aunt, Uncle, and Cousin's bedrooms ("He might break or steal something!").
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Harry's cousin, Dudley, was simply a bully. He had learned from a young age that he was better than the 'freak' he had for a cousin, and as such, he took pleasure in hurting and manipulating Harry. He made sure it was impossible for Harry to have any friends at school, his father ensured Harry never got better grades than Dudley by making sure Harry never had the time to study or do homework, and the sport of 'Harry Hunting' allowed Dudley to use his freakish cousin as a punching bag whenever he pleased. Dudley was very satisfied with his current life. In fact, today was the day before the Freak's birthday, and that meant presents. Not for the freak of course, but for Dudley. It helped remind the Freak that Dudley was, and was always going to be better than little freakish Harry Potter.
"Good morning my Ickle Dudleykins!" Petunia cheerfully greeted Dudley as he thundered down the stairs into the kitchen before continuing,"And since today is such a special day for my special little boy, you get a very special breakfast!". On the table behind Petunia lay stacks of chocolate chip pancakes, with a plethora of toppings, from whipped cream to heavily sugared strawberry syrup.
"This looks amazing Mom!" Dudley said as he sat down and loaded a large platter with pancakes and toppings.
"Glad you think so my Diddykins." Petunia replied.
Harry listened to the sickly sweet conversation as he worked on preparing his Uncle's breakfast. Disgusting, he thought as he flipped the bacon, How can that pig eat like that and not have diabetes? Yet, another part of him wondered what it would be like, if just once he was pampered and allowed to choose what he could eat, or to be loved and told he was special. What's the use of fantasizing that though? It won't change anything. Let's just have a quiet day. I can garden out in the backyard, and hopefully see the pig coming for me if he decides he needs to go 'Harry Hunting' on his special little day. Harry almost smiled at his little mental rebellion, calling his cousin pig, but stopped himself from showing it on his face. He would never get away with actually saying what he thought, as his opinions had been beaten out of him a long time ago, back when he had first asked why Dudley got so many special things and he got nothing. He had been told that he was nothing but a freak, and his parents were freaks. He had believed it until he had started going to elementary school, where his teachers had treated him like any other child, at least until Uncle Vernon had gotten wind of it and put a stop to it by calling him a delinquent and other such things. Since then Harry had been careful to not show his emotions, his bruises and scars, and most importantly, his thoughts.
"How's my Dudders?" Uncle Vernon boomed as he tramped down the stairs and sat at the table.
"Good, Father" Dudley replied with a mouthful of food.
"Good, good. You have presents in the living room. And this afternoon we are going to the Zoo. I know you wanted to do so for your birthday, and I thought that since it has finally reopened, we could take you and your friends," Vernon said, smiling at his son before grumply turning to Harry. "Boy! Where's my breakfast and morning paper?"
Harry passed the morning paper to his uncle before filling a plate with eggs and bacon, and placing it on the table, "Here you are Uncle Vernon. Coffee or Tea this morning?".
"Coffee. Black." Vernon said, reading the headlines of the paper. Harry passed the man his coffee before placing a cup of strong tea, jam, and lightly buttered toast in front of his Aunt. "Of course, Boy, you will be staying with Mrs. Figgs this afternoon.". At this, Harry nodded before starting to scrub the dishes. If he was lucky, he would be able to steal a few scraps off of the dirty plates without his Aunt and Uncle noticing.