Chapter 4. Protecting Family
One horrible afternoon, Harry trudged slowly to the park to meet Anissa. No matter how much his body hurt right now, he would not miss his time with her. She was the one bright spot in his miserable existence, his only true family, and he had to see her.
She made him feel better, made him feel like he was not such a freak. Well, today he definitely needed her. Not only did he feel like a freak after blowing up all the lights in the house, but his uncle had made sure he would remember it forever. When Harry finally arrived at the park, he could not see Anissa anywhere.
'No, she has to be here today! I need her!' he desperately thought, his breath quickening in his panic. He did not know what he would do if she did not come.
"Harry?" a soft welcoming voice came from behind him, washing over him like a soothing blanket.
Harry closed his eyes and let out a harsh breath, his body unconsciously loosening its tight hold. Turning slowly from the pain, Harry laid eyes on his salvation. He could not have stopped the tears from falling even if he tried. His relief was so great.
"Anissa," Harry whispered in anguish as he staggered towards her.
Anissa went from angry at Harry's relatives for his stiff movements, to panicked concern when she saw the tears and the way Harry staggered towards her. Harry never showed he was in pain, even if he was in pure agony. He had learned not to allow it. Anissa rushed forward to support him, hands fluttering around him, not sure where he was hurt.
"Oh God, Harry! What did they do?"
Holding onto his elbow, the only place she thought would be okay to touch, Anissa led Harry to their bench and slowly she helped him to sit. Harry hissed and jerked when his back brushed against the bench, which caused him to yelp in pain. His shirt pulled tight against his back and Anissa could see his blood start to saturate his shirt.
"Harry! We need to get you to a hospital!" Anissa yelped, ready to drag Harry there.
"No! You know I can't go there. It would only make things worse." he panted, trying to breathe through the pain. He had a lot of practice with this method, so the pain went back to a harsh throbbing sting rather quickly.
Anissa did know, though she really wanted to take Harry anyway. Once someone had seen Harry with a broken arm while he was watering the flowers and complained about him being an eyesore in the neighborhood. Harry had been locked in his cupboard after a beating for three days without food for making the family look bad.
He had looked terrible when she had finally seen him again. So many times she had seen Harry hurt, watched him struggle through the pain, and she wished she could do something about it. Anissa sighed and sat next to Harry, putting a hand gently on his leg.
"I know. I just hate to see you this way." She sighed.
Anissa had wondered about his home life. She knew it was bad from what Harry had said before, but this was a whole other ball of wax. She had never realized just how bad it really was and now realized that Harry had kept the worst parts from her. Always trying to protect her.
"What can I do, Harry? How can I help?"
"You being here with me helps. You sooth me and the pain goes away some. You make me feel better than I am." Harry's face was bright red at this admission, and he could not meet her eyes.
"Better than you…? Are you thinking of the F word again? You know we don't use that word. You are not a freak, and you never were. They are the freaks!" Anissa was angry, not at Harry, but at his horrible relatives. Harry's head hung low, and his breathing was shallow.
"I know what I am. My uncle made sure I would remember it for the rest of my life."
"I know what you are, and you are a great person. Loving, kind, giving, and kinda cute. And what do you mean, Harry, what did your uncle do?"
Anissa threw that bit about him being cute in there to lighten the mood. Harry's lips turned up a bit, but then he grimaced as he asked her to help him lift his shirt. What she saw not only made her gag, but tears filled her eyes. Anissa was horrified. Horrified and sick that anyone could do that to a child.
There on Harry's back, in great big bloody letters, was the word 'FREAK'. It looked like his uncle had taken a knife to him, and not only that, but decided he needed quite a few lashes as well. Harry's back was a mess and there was nothing she could do to help him. He should not have come here, but she understood why he did.
"How are you even standing? You should be lying down!"
"I had to see you." Harry said simply, like there was no other answer to be considered, and in Harry's mind, there was none.
Anger burned hot in Anissa's middle. No, not anger, hatred. She hated his relatives so much, and that hatred flowed through her. She was burning up with it and she wanted to take that fire and burn the Dursleys up with it too. Until they were nothing but ash on the ground.
Harry's yelp brought her out of her anger. "I'm sorry, Ha–"
Anissa cut off when she noticed Harry was not looking at her but behind her. Worried that Dudley had shown up, she quickly turned, ready to give him what for, only to see the bush behind her on fire. Shocked, Anissa jumped up and put herself between the fire and Harry.
"How?" Anissa stared at the flames.
"You were sitting there looking really mad, then there was this burst of heat, and it just caught fire." Harry explained, also watching the fire in awed fear.
Weirdly enough, the fire just sat on the bush, it was not burning it. Anissa walked around it, and the fire seemed to lean towards her. It followed her as she moved, like it was drawn to her. Anissa put her hand out and could feel the heat, but it was not hot. She stepped closer, her hand still out towards the flames.
"What are you doing?!" Harry jumped up, shocked at her actions. Gasping from the pain he had caused by moving his back, he was about to run to her anyway, but she stopped him.
"It's okay. It feels good… like it's a friend. I don't think it will hurt me."
Harry stood there in slack-jawed panic as Anissa put her hand in the fire. They had done some weird things since finding each other; moving things without touching them, being able to sense each other, not to mention all the other things they had done since they were little.
This, however, was beyond weird. Anissa was in the fire and Harry whimpered. He was afraid for Anissa and wanted her to come back to him. He wanted her safe, away from the fire. Harry knew how much it hurt to be burned, he had plenty of scars that came from it too. Also, someone could see her and then there would be hell to pay.
Anissa looked up, their eyes locked, and Harry's breath caught. He could see a flame dancing in Anissa's eyes. Not a reflection but an actual flame in her pupils. Harry could not move. He was frozen by that piercing gaze. Searching her eyes, he found no fear, only a quiet strength.
"It's okay, Harry. I can only feel its warmth, it's not hurting me. This is amazing." Anissa was in awe. This was incredible! It was like being in one of her books, where people could control the elements. 'I wonder.' Anissa paused. "Harry, I'm going to try something. Don't be afraid, yeah?"
Anissa reached deeper into the fire then pulled her hand back to find a flame sitting on her palm. She walked towards Harry and held it up for him to see. Harry watched in amazement as the flame did not burn Anissa. It was dancing merrily across her palm as it turned a blue color.
"Wow, Anissa. Did you know you could do that?" he asked.
Anissa shook her head. She had not been around fire often and had never gotten close enough to know that she could. She always loved to watch the flames dance though, was always memorized by it in fact, whenever there had been a fire.
"Do you want to touch it?" Anissa asked.
Harry quickly stepped back, grimacing and shaking his head vigorously. He knew fire burned him. Seeing Harry's fear, Anissa quickly closed her hand into a fist to put out the flames and the fire in the bush also went out. They looked at each other shocked, then slowly they smiled. They decided to test this talent out later when they had more time. This could come in handy later.
It took a lot of practice before Anissa got a handle on manipulating the fire. She was able to make it dance across her skin, and she could conjure, throw, and summon it. When they were together, Anissa would always have a little flame on her shoulder like a pet. She called it Flicker. She said it made her feel strong and safe. Harry could understand Anissa wanting to keep that feeling with her at all times.
It took even longer for Harry to be comfortable enough, and with many reassurances from Anissa, to let himself touch the fire. As Anissa had said, it was warm, and it felt like little fingers running over his hand. Harry smiled at Anissa, he could feel her presence in the fire, and he would always associate blue fire with Anissa now.
Anissa knew she was asleep. She could tell by the way her bedroom looked. Only in her dreams were there books lining her walls, and a feeling of comfort and peace surrounding her. Anissa frowned when her stepbrother John waltzed into her room.
He had never done that before in her dreams as this was her safe place. She was dreaming, right? She began to wonder. The look on John's face scared her and her heart started beating faster with adrenaline. She scrambled out of the opposite side of the bed and away from John. His evil smile grew and she knew fear.
"You ready to play tag, dear sister?" he taunted.
Anissa was panicking now. Tag was just an excuse to tackle her and beat her up. She had a feeling this time it would be worse. Waiting for him to make the first move, she readied herself to run. He sprinted around her bed, and she dove across it, but somehow, she ended up on her back with her stepbrother on top of her.
John's hands were around her neck, and she could not breathe. He was going to kill her! Anissa started to kick and twist, but that only made him squeeze harder. Her vision was darkening, little white spots dancing across it. Anissa knew she was going to die this time. Her heart broke, she would never see Harry again.
Suddenly she could breathe. Coughing and gasping, Anissa painfully turned her head to the side to see Harry kneeling on top of her stepbrother. Harry? He was throwing punch after punch, his face livid. She had never seen anything so scary or so beautiful in her life. He looked like an avenging angel.
Harry was meditating in his cupboard – he had learned about it from a pamphlet left by some salespeople promoting healthy Chi (whatever that was) – he was imagining he was walking to the park to see Anissa. It was a beautiful day, and he wanted to spend the day with her. The next thing Harry knew, he was in a bedroom he did not recognize.
He looked around, wondering where he was, and saw Anissa on the bed with her stepbrother leaning over her… with his hands at her throat! Anissa was weakly thrashing and panic engulfed Harry. No! Suddenly, anger erupted through his body, and Harry saw red. He could not lose Anissa, she was his!
Harry jumped onto John's back and dragged him to the floor. Once he was down, Harry started to punch Anissa's would be murderer. All his fear and anger seemed to be coming out of Harry's fists. His vision going black around the edges as his focus zeroed in on John.
He was going to kill John for taking away his best friend and sister, the only light in his dark world. Harry's fists burst with pain with each hit, but he ignored it and kept going. The only thing that stopped him from pummeling the face beneath him was a hoarse whisper from the bed.
"Harry, stop!"
Harry spun around, and forgetting about John, he sprinted to Anissa and pulled her into a tight hug. Tears poured down his face as he squeezed her tight. He was gasping for breath, his relief so profound that he did not care to stop the tears that streamed down his face.
"I thought you were dead! I was so scared! I killed him, Anissa."
Harry was shaking and silently crying. He had been so devastated by the thought of Anissa's death. Anissa held him tighter, giving and receiving comfort. They sat that way for a couple of minutes, until Harry was breathing calmly again.
When his panic eased, Harry's mind started to work again, and he wondered how he had gotten there. He assumed this was Anissa's bedroom and was now a bit embarrassed to be alone in a girl's room. He slowly pulled back and looked around.
"Um, how did I get into your room? I was just walking to the park to meet you."
"I'm not sure, but Harry, I'm sleeping. You are in my dream."
Harry looked at her like she had grown another head. He looked at the floor and was surprised to see that John's body was gone. He was sure that he had killed him. He looked at his non-bruised hands then back at Anissa and raised a brow.
"This feels real to me. You feel real. How can I be in your dream?" asked Harry, confused.
"I don't know but you are, and I am very grateful that you came. Maybe because we made that pact and mixed our blood, you were able to save me." Anissa reasoned.
That sounded good enough for Harry. He was just glad he was able to be there in time and that Anissa was safe. He could not lose her. They talked for a while more, then said good night. Harry woke up in his cupboard the next morning wondering if that had really happened.
Weeks after that first nighttime meeting, Harry walked into the park to find Anissa pacing. He watched her for a minute. 'She is so beautiful.' He had had that thought more often lately. Anissa was such a bright spot in his dark life. She was so strong and kind, and he was so very proud of her.
Anissa was his best friend, closer than a sister, and she made him feel special. He only hoped that he made her feel even a tenth of what she made him feel. Harry made his way towards her and when she noticed him, her face lit up and she ran to give him a hug.
"Where have you–"
Harry put up his hand to stop her from touching him. He was in enough pain as it was and did not want to unnecessarily add more. He grimaced as he walked carefully over and sat down gingerly on their bench. Anissa frowned angrily. She knew what his movements meant.
"How bad?" she growled quietly.
Anissa's heart was hurting for her best friend and brother. Harry always made her feel safe and wanted, like she could accomplish anything, and she wished she could help him be safe. Why did those who were supposed to love them hurt them so much?
"Bad enough. I'm sorry I haven't been here for a couple days. I–"
"No, Harry," she interrupted, "Don't you dare apologize for what those monsters did to you. Do you need anything? How can I help?"
Harry smiled at her softly and put his hand on her cheek. She amazed him every day with her kindness. This beautiful beacon of hope and love. Harry loved her so much. He did not know what he would do without her.
"I'll be alright, like always. Just give me a minute."
Anissa sighed, knowing there was nothing she could do, then smiled when her eyes moved past Harry. She gestured and Harry slowly turned to see what she was looking at. He smiled at what he saw. Coming towards them was their other best friend, Snuffles.
Padfoot watched the two teenagers sitting closely on the bench together and had to wonder, yet again, if they were dating. Were they not too young for that stuff? They did not kiss or touch like lovers, more like siblings or very close friends. Padfoot remembered the first time he had met Anissa. It had been a week after Harry had met her.
Harry was not in the backyard when Padfoot arrived at Number Four. Lately, Harry had been coming back from the park when he visited, so Padfoot decided to catch him on his way back. He thought it would be a good surprise for Harry.
Padfoot happily trotted along, thinking of the fun he could have with Harry today. He loved to see his godson smile… he did not do it enough. Not that he had a reason to, with all he had to deal with. When Padfoot entered the park, he froze in shock. There was Harry… but he was sitting next to a girl!
'Way to go Harry!' Padfoot grinned.
When the girl slapped his arm and Harry flinched, Padfoot saw red. No one slapped his godson and got away with it! Growling, he advanced on the couple, ready to tear her apart. The duo both turned to him in shock. The girl paled but Harry quickly got in front of her and put his hands out.
"It's okay, Snuffles. She's a friend."
Padfoot stopped and looked Harry in the eyes to see the truth for himself. He did not want Harry to get in the middle of a confrontation again and get hurt. Padfoot could still see that shovel hitting Harry in his mind and it haunted him.
There was no fear there in Harry's eyes and slowly Padfoot put his hackles down. The growling quietly remained but Padfoot watched as Harry beckoned the girl forward. The girl cautiously moved to Harry's side and slipped her hand in his. Harry flinched a bit but allowed the contact.
That made Padfoot stop growling in surprise. He tilted his head and let his magic flow towards them. What he felt shocked him. Their magic was pulsing, stronger than he had ever felt around Harry alone. Harry's new friend was a witch, and a strong one at that. They seemed to be making each other stronger, their magic mingling together and blending perfectly.
They knelt and Harry put out their combined hands towards him. The girl was trembling a bit in fear (he was an intimidating beast, if Padfoot did say so himself) but she had a soft smile on her face. She seemed nice, but Padfoot would reserve judgement. He did not trust anyone near his godson.
"Snuffles, this is Anissa. She's my new friend, so please be nice to her." said Harry, hopeful that the two would get along.
Padfoot moved forward to smell her hand and her magic washed over him, comforting, and calming him. No wonder Harry was okay being with her. Harry's magic washed over him as well, but his felt protective and safe. He must really care for this… Anissa. Who would have thought that Harry would meet another magical in this Muggle neighborhood?
Sirius was amazed at the change and growth in Harry's magic and was eternally thankful for this girl that was somehow helping Harry heal and become stronger in such a short amount of time. He definitely approved of his relationship with the pretty witch. He whimpered and leaned into their hands.
When Anissa pet him, it was gentle and felt amazing. He could not help but lean harder into her hand and she giggled. He could tell that the sound entranced Harry just as it did him. Hmm. Maybe this will turn into something more, later in their lives. He would have to keep an eye on them.
The trio stayed at the park for another hour. Anissa threw a stick for him to fetch and rubbed his head each time he brought it back, cooing that he was 'such a good boy'. Harry even smiled at them and that made Padfoot happy. That was, until Harry noticed the time.
"Shoot! I gotta go. I didn't realize how late it was and I need to get dinner ready."
Anissa nodded solemnly, "Be safe. I'll see you tomorrow?"
Harry nodded in reply and quickly ran out of the park. Anissa sighed and Padfoot looked at her questioningly. He could hear the pain in the sound. She patted his head absentmindedly, her face sad yet determined at the same time.
"I'm going to get him out of there, Snuffles. One day I'll get him out and protect him. I promise." She patted him one more time and started to walk home.
'I'll help you get him out. We'll protect him together,' Padfoot thought. He really did like this girl.
The weeks of July were spent sitting and playing in the park. Padfoot listened to them talk about their daily lives and the things they had been through. They were so good for each other's mental health. They kept each other's spirits up and helped each other when they were hurting physically or mentally.
Padfoot paid extra close attention when Harry spoke or when Anissa checked his wounds to see how they were healing, as he wanted to keep it as evidence for when he brought up his case to Dumbledore. He was still adamant that Harry should come live with him at Black Manor, and he was determined to make it happen.
He just had to figure out how to introduce himself as Harry's godfather, and how to tell Harry that he was Snuffles, but not lose Harry completely from feelings of hurt and betrayal. He was sure he would figure it out, he had some time before he outed himself.