Depiction of child s/a Not graphic but please take care of yourself and know your comfort level.
Ten-year-old Harry was sitting idly in his cupboard waiting for his aunt to let him out in order for him to make the family breakfast. A few minutes go by before he hears not only his aunt but also his morbidly obese cousin's footsteps. To his great surprise instead of stopping at his cupboard, they walk right past and into the closet down the hall where the coats are kept.
Before Harry can protest or utter a single word they're out the door leaving him locked up.
He begins to grow more and more nervous as time goes on and there's no sign of his uncle. At any minute now uncle Vernon will come lumbering down the stairs expecting a freshly cooked meal. When he finds nothing on the kitchen table he will be furious and Harry being locked in his cupboard will mean nothing. And a few locks has never stop the man.
"Boy!" the beefy man wails throughout the house just as Harry suspected he would. Ripping open the cupboard door the malnourished child curled into himself expecting a blow that never comes. Instead, Vernon physically reins in his anger and actually smiles at him. A creepy not at all friendly smile that gave Harry goosebumps.
A funny feeling begins to stir inside the young child, who isn't sure if he should be more or less grateful that he isn't being beaten at the moment.
"I'm s-sorry, uncle V-V-Vernon," the tiny child stutters trying to make himself smaller.
"It's alright, Harry," Vernon uses his name for the first time the future Gryffindor can remember. Rather than yanking the poor boy's arm to get him out of the cupboard the human version of a whale gently lifts him up onto his feet.
"Today I'm having a few colleges over so your aunt and cousin have left," he explains.
"Should I stay out of the way as well?"
"Actually I have a special job for you."
"To serve your friends?" Harry is entirely confused. His uncle has never been this cryptic nor this nice to him in all the time he's lived with him.
"You'll find out soon enough," the older man starts leading the boy up the stairs. "Use the bathroom to freshen up for as long as you need and put on the clothes in the box on my bed."
"Yes, Uncle Vernon," Harry answers the only way he knows he should. Despite his uncle's words Harry only allows himself 7 minutes (he is sure to keep track) in the shower before quickly emerging. He goes straight to the cardboard box laying innocently on his uncle's bed before taking a peek inside.
"Uncle Vernon something's wrong," Harry calls out causing his uncle to enter the room.
"There's no problem. I'm having very special friends over so I need you dressed in a very special way." Harry looks down at the very girly dress with matching panties before looking at his uncle then back at the dress. He guesses that wearing the clothing can't be as bad as being locked in a spider-infested cupboard nor is it worth getting beaten for so he quickly puts it on.
"Gentleman, come in," Vernon greets the group of 3 men. "He's right through here." Leading them through the quaint house the group arrives in the living room where Harry is fiddling with his dress, trying to tug the small article of clothing down.
"He's perfect," one of the men state while looking at Harry with an expression that he can't decipher. The other two quickly agree with the first before handing over a large stack of cash to Vernon.
"Remember to be gone before my wife and I get back."
"Of course, Mr. Dursley. Now leave us to get acquainted with the little boy." The first man who spoke says before turning to a baffled Harry. "My name is Charlie and my two friends are Micheal and Greg. What's your name?"
"Harry."
"That's a lovely name. It's nice to meet you, Harry. Now I heard that you're a good boy so I have a nice little sweet for you," he pulls out a bright red lollipop as he sits down on the couch. "But you must sit in my lap while eating it. I wanna make sure you really enjoy the treat, alright?"
"Ok," the petite ten-year-old agrees readily, having not been offered a sweet by anyone except Mrs. Figgs who occasionally babysits him. He doesn't even notice his uncle leave the house before he's placed on Charlie's lap.
Harry happily sits with his sweet in the stranger's lap not taking notice of his wandering hands until one is on his lower back, practically on his bum, with the other high on his thigh.
"You're such a pretty little thing," Greg coos making Harry feel suddenly uncomfortable.
"C-can I get down now?" he asks wiggling about only for Charlie's arms to tighten painfully around his waist.
"After we've played for a bit."
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"Ahhhhhh!" Harry screams himself awake while sobbing. The memory was one of his worst experiences at the Dursely's house. He'll never forget the day he was hurt so terribly that even Aunt Petunia took notice of his limp. He never told anyone what had happened and the couple never took him to the doctors, only giving him a few days of rest and a bit more food than usual. Eventually, he recovered physically but not mentally.
As the child was getting his breathing back in order he could have sworn that he heard arguing coming from the other side of the door. Right as he was about to investigate a strange feeling overtook him. Shifting around a bit Harry notices a few things at once; whatever they had given him for his pain was starting to wear off and the sheets beneath his bottom are damp, sticking to his legs. The realization hits like a ton of bricks before Harry's tears start again tenfold.
"It's alright, Harry. Bad dream? Come here," Lucius Malfoy of all people sits at the end of Harry's bed and attempts to gather the boy into his arms. Harry freaks out. While he's noticed the man in the background of his interactions with his family, Harry tries not to pay him any mind. It's a blessing that he has not had any of the awful Malfoy dreams while in the hospital but he has not gotten over his fear.
"No! Off! Stay back!" but the blankets had already come down to reveal the massive wet spot on the bed. Lucius does not make it a big deal of removing his wand from its place in his cane (trying to ignore Harry's flinch) before vanishing the mess.
"It is going to be okay. Narcissa will be back soon but for now I was hoping we could talk."
"I'm sorry for bothering your family," Harry says into the blankets. "I didn't mean to—" Mr. Malfoy cuts him off.
"I am here to apologize to you. The way I acted in the headmaster's office was not appropriate and you did not deserve my ire. I am truly sorry." As Lucius speaks he lowers himself to the floor to better match Harry's eyes.
"You're sorry?"
"I am. You should be treated with kindness and understanding. You probably had no knowledge of house elves until one just showed up, did you?" Harry shakes his head. "You just acted with the information I'm sure the headmaster provided for you."
"So you're not mad anymore?"
"I am not mad and I would actually like to make it up to you. Anything you wish you can have. Just say the word."
"Can I live with you?" Harry blurts before he can really think about his words.
"Excuse me?" Lucius blinks. This is not at all what he was expecting the child to say.
"I-I know it's a lot but I can cook and clean and do yard work. I can also—" Lucius cuts Harry off.
"I don't think that'll be necessary."
"But I can! I'll stay away from you and your family. I can be quiet. Silent." Harry insists.
"Harry," Lucius tries again but is once cut off as Harry chokes back tears.
"I know you didn't want me before but I can be useful now. I swear. Please don't send me back. I can't go back!" Harry is openly sobbing. All these emotions that he had tried not to feel as the Malfoy's stuck around comes flooding in. "Please don't give me away again," he sobs.
"Again? No, Harry, we never gave you away. The day you were take was—" the interruptions don't stop
"Taken? But I thought," Harry tries to choke down his tears and scrub at his eyes but they keep coming. In fact his sobs only intensify as he tries to make sense of Mr. Malfoy's last sentence.
"We can talk about it. Come here." To Harry's shock, Lucius slides him sideways onto his lap for a much needed cuddle.
"I had no idea you were my child, "