Chapter 5: The Dursleys
I was awoken by a loud banging on the cupboard door, followed by the audible clicking of the lock. The door swung open and before me stood a pencil thin figure wearing a thick winter coat and pants. With blond hair, blue eyes and a horse-like face set into a scowl.
"Up, boy. We've had a long journey and my diddykins is very hungry. Get started on breakfast and make it quick." She griped.
I rose from the bed, walked past the woman and without a word started on breakfast. Deciding to make a grand display when the whole family was there to see it. I decided on an English breakfast, something Harry knew that Mr. Whale and whale Jr. liked to eat in the mornings.
By the time the meal was ready, I could hear a great thumping coming from the stairs. I rightly assumed Dudley had smelled the now complete meal and was being led by his nose to the table. Too tired from his trip to even give me a shove.
I elegantly put the food on the table and the boy began stuffing his face as soon as the food was placed in front of him. I set Vernon and petunias plates before they too came into the room. Last i fixed a similarly sized portion for myself.
Then I placed the pots and pans neatly into the sink and took a seat at the table in the spot Harry was assigned. It wasn't long before Vernon and Petunia turned up.
It was with their arrival that the fireworks began.
"Boy what is it you think you are doing with such a large plate of food." Vernon grunted.
Petunia glared down at me as if I was the lowliest of insects.
"Well uncle, I haven't eaten in the week what would the teachers think at school if I came back thinner than I was before I left." That seemed to mollify the man as he sat at his place at the table and said not another word.
Petunia followed her husband's example and sat at the table holding her glare with me as she began eating. It was at the completion of the meal that I was told by Vernon in no uncertain terms that I would "begin my chores immediately."
Deciding I truly had less patience for the man than I thought I made a show of standing up and grabbing all the finished dishes I then levitated each one toward the sink to join the still dirty pots. The looks on the faces around me showed that my little display had the desired results.
Vernon sat; his face paler than the snow that blanketed the ground outside. Petunia her glare long forgotten her mouth agape doing its level best impression of an 'O.' and Dudley sat absolutely bewildered wondering how the freak managed to do something like that.
"I think there are some things we need to discuss" I spoke seriousness staining my features.
It was upon me speaking that Vernon regained his usual bluster and began to rant.
"I thought we managed to beat that freakishness out of you and yet you have the gall to do it in my house. In front of my Boy. After all the time we spent raising you after all the food we gave you from our table this is how you repay us" he raged face purpling like a great plum.
"No, I said all the beatings for things I couldn't explain all the times you threw me in that cupboard without food for days on end. And for what fear. You knew who I was. . . you knew what I was. yet you treated me like the lowest pond scum." I fired back.
"Listen here freak" The man was upon me in an instant fist cocked back ready to brutalize my 9-year-old form. With naught but a thought the magic coming easier than ever I waved my hand barely thinking the words, I was so angry at these child abusers.
I let loose a banishing charm. Only powerful enough to send Vernon back into his chair with the wind knocked from him. But more than powerful enough to send a message. As Dudley who was cheering when his father pounced looked rather afraid now. And Petunia was looking at me as if I was the second coming.
"Now don't be hasty uncle. I only want a civil conversation" I spoke looking at Vernon and Petunia. despite wanting nothing more than to have them kneel before me to know what it truly feels like to suffer as harry did. But I knew such a thing would only invite challenge. one that would only lead to pain on both sides.
"a-a-b-b-out what" petunia stuttered out fear entrenched on her features so deeply I could feel it leaking from her soul.
"Let's start with my parents" I said sitting back down at the table.
"You said they were drunks you told me they were good for nothings."
"You told me I got this scar in a drunk driving crash" I said moving my bangs to the side so that my lightning bolt shaped scar was visible.
"Clearly you were lying." I growled looking between my aunt and still winded uncle paying my still petrified with fear cousin no mind.
"Clearly you" I said pointing at petunia.
"Have something you want to say spit it out then."
"It was always perfect little Lily; I could never be good enough. Then when she went to that place. . . that school for freaks. Not only did I not see her when she was home. It was always Petunia, why don't you get grades like your sister? Petunia Lily's top of her class again. Look Tunny, Lily learned how to turn an owl into opera glasses please. I knew then and I know now she was a freak, and I don't know what freakishness she did to my parents, but it was her fault they were so distant to me." tears began to circle her eyes.
"Then that Potter boy started sniffing around and he took my sister away. they got married and he got her killed. And you wonder why I hate you freak? You cost me my little sister you and your kind are the reason she and I will never be close again." She wailed half incoherent by the time she had finished.
By this time Vernon had recovered and looked torn between trying to attack me again or comfort his wife. He smartly chose the latter.
He decided to speak, his face still a dark shade of puce.
"We took you in out of the goodness of our hearts even though we wanted nothing to do with your kind we took you in boy and vowed to raise you a good self-respecting member of society. It didn't matter to your kind how many extra nights I had to put into Work at Grunnings. Your kind put you in a basket and threw you away. It was us decent folks who raised you who fed you who clothed you."
"You beat me, starved me, I almost froze to death while you were gone, and this is what you have to say. No uncle, aunt, what you fail to understand is the treatment you have been giving me is either going to change or we are going to have a much bigger issue on our hands." I interrupted. I folded my hands coolly in front of me trying to keep as tight of a grip on my temper as possible.
This was the wrong thing to say as Vernon rose from his seat again with a loud grunt.
"And what are you going to do boy" he said a dangerous edge in his voice. As he slammed his hands on the table.
"I wanted you to know that I'm Not to be pushed around anymore that's all. I won't do you any harm if you do the same to myself. I will still do chores because if I stopped now the neighbors might talk about it more than having me do them. However, I will be expecting a fair wage, nothing extravagant just enough to be fairly compensated for the work I do. And finally, I want Dudley's second bedroom."
I could see Vernon growing angrier and angrier with each demand. And by the time I was finished I was sure he discovered a new shade of purple.
"Have you gone mad freak?" He shouted.
"No" I calmly replied preparing myself mentally in case the man decided to try and strike me again.
"I simply know that you are a smart man, and you would hate to be driven from your home by my kind. You see to them I'm something of a national treasure, I defeated a dark wizard who plagued them for over a decade. You see the common witch or wizard would be appalled at the very idea that I would be subject to a fraction of the treatment I have had to put up with from you lot. If anything happens to me in this home just, who do you think will come for you? just what do you think will happen when word of your treatment to me gets back to my kind." I continued the man face began to pale as the true threat in my words reached him.
"People able to do things like shoot lightning bolts and command unquenchable fire. And the only thing keeping them away are the protections around this home powered by you guessed it. me." I finished letting the words hang.
I waited a moment then another before Vernon finally spoke.
"And you think these freaks scare me" he blustered, fear evident on him from the quivering of his soul. But still he retook his seat.
I knew I had him now just one more push.
"And think uncle I will still be working hard under your instruction. I just want the bare minimum back from you as any decent person would. You won't have to worry about other freaks finding this house as long as I call it home. It would be a great boon to you for me to simply continue to stay here with only the changes I ask. Or I can just go, leaving you to whatever magic user happens to come this way." I could see my words had an effect on the man.
"Let's not be hasty boy. I think we can work some things out." He said glancing at a still crying petunia. And an utterly confused Dudley.
"You want Dudders' spare bedroom sure I think it might work. but I refuse to pay you a mangy cent. You stay here, you work, it's that simple. And no freakishness in the house. Dudley looked as if he wanted to say something but a swift look from his father shut him up.
I debated whether to press the issue and decided against it. I could be out of here after my first year of Hogwarts if all goes according to plan. If I were to leave now, I would have no way to find the Leaky Cauldron.
That would just leave me destitute and homeless until my Hogwarts letter came. I could probably hack some bank accounts for quick cash. but when scrutinized that also wouldn't hold up and would put me on the radar in a bad way. I simply wasn't in the position to truly go it alone just yet. But that was something the Dursleys didn't need to know.
"I accept." I spoke.
"And no freakishness in the house?"
"None whatsoever" I agreed stifling a smirk.
'As if you would know' I thought snidely.
"And you will make sure the other freaks stay away?" He said confirming my earlier words.
"As long as I call this place home you will have nothing to fear." That left him contemplative.
"If there is nothing else, then I'll take my leave for my new room." I decided as I rose from the table smoothly went to my cupboard to grab the few items harry had in this world and started to head upstairs to my new bedroom.
I didn't fully relax until I was comfortably inside. I put away the few items I had in an old wardrobe the Dursley's kept up here. And sat on Dudley's old broken-down bed.
I only hoped the Dursley's would abide Vernon's word. It only had to last a little over a year and a half and I would be able to leave this place. And I knew I had a lot more work in front of me if I wanted to fulfill my bargain with Death.
That's 5 chapters down and many more to go. Let me know what you think, and I will see you in the next one.
Just wanted to state that the reason harry doesn't use magic on his relatives is because he has very little control over the spells he knows and is still trying to understand just how to cast more than simple spells. Sorry if I didn't show that well enough in the previous chapters. He might know some high level spells but the knowledge of something and the ability to do use it are two different things.