The Disappearance
Date: December 25, 1988
Time: 10:23 pm
Harry: Age 8
??? POV:
"Cold… It's so cold…" The boy shivers as the cold winter wind blows rustling his shaggy black hair. His emerald green eyes shut tight to keep the snow out of his eyes.
"I'm cold…" The boy whispers to himself, but there is none there to hear his softly spoken plea.
Of course he had brought this upon himself. It was all because he had wanted to steal a scrap of Christmas dinner. He should have known better than to try.
Harry Potter POV:
He had been living with Vernon and Petunia for over 7 years now. And during all that time he was never able to get a proper meal in that house.
It was worse when he was younger, but that is just him being ungrateful. After all they did give him a roof over his head and clothes on his back. He should be happy with just that much.
He learned a long time ago to deal with the constant hunger pains.
The beatings were for whenever he did something wrong.
He was a freak after all and freaks make normal people's lives hard.
So when Vernon had a bad day at work…
Or when Petunia's flowers wilted in her garden…
When one of Dudley's toys got broken…
When something unexplainable happened and he felt a tingly sensation in his chest…
It became harder and harder to hide the bruises.
The only things he really hated was the yelling… and the loneliness.
"Clean that up you ungrateful brat!"
"You better have not touched Dudley's new toy freak or you will regret it!"
"Boy get out of your cupboard right now and start cooking breakfast!"
The loud screams and yells entered his tiny ears grating on his eardrums. Sometimes he had to hold his hands up over his ears just to lessen the noise.
Petunia always hated when he did that saying he should stop that freakishness and get over it.
He loved going into his little cupboard and laying down and plugging his ears blocking out the sounds of the world.
He remembers his first day of school very vidly. He was excited for maybe the first time in his short life. He knew what happened at school from the TV shows Dudley watched on the TV. He would peek a glance at it either when he was sweeping the floor or washing the dishes.
School was a place where kids go to learn a lot of new things. Also it was there one could make new friends.
The boy had had only one friend before… It was a little grass snake he had found when weeding Petunia's garden.
He had always been fond of snakes.
They had many different patterns and colors on their scales. The way their little tongues poked out to sniff around. They were also as deadly as they were beautiful. Being able to hunt for their own food and fend for themselves.
Every time he went out to the garden he would spend some time stroking its head as it wrapped around his skinny little arm.
Sometimes he would even talk softly to it about his day. Telling them what he had done that day or days prior.
Sometimes he even thought the snake talked back. It always caused that tingle in his chest. Of course that couldn't have happened, there is no such thing as talking to snakes.
He had deeply loved that little snake. Before Dudley saw him one time and told on him.
"Daddy, daddy the freak was talking to a snake in the garden!" Shouted Dudley to his father who just got home from work.
"Oh? He did now my sweet little angel?" Vernon said, throwing a sneer at the boy.
"Don't worry i'll take care of it Dudders" Vernon said with a malicious grin.
He found the snake dead not two days later. It was chopped to pieces…
This time will be different though he thought to himself. He might be a freak, but surely even freaks can have friends right?
Date: September 1, 1985
Time: 11:15 am
Everything was going well until recess. He had enjoyed the classes very much. It was fun learning new things and he was interested in anything he could get his hands on.
All the other kids were running around playing all sorts of different games and climbing on the playground.
The boy had never had the chance to have fun before. So confused on what to do and put off by the loud noises of the other children he decided to go and sit under a big tree next to the fence lining the playground.
It was a little chilly out seeing as it was fall now and his too big clothes couldn't help trap any body heat. He sat on the ground and closed his eyes. Listening to the gentle breeze blow through the crisp tree leaves glad for some peace and quiet.
That was when someone tapped him on the shoulder.
Surprised by the unexpected touch he flinched away from the hand and his eyes flew open to see who had done such a thing.
He looked up slightly into the face of a little girl the same age as him. She had brown hair and eyes and was wearing a pair of pink overalls. She also wore a purple coat to combat the chill of fall.
He stared at her face for a while before turning away not knowing what else to do.
The girl seeing this had an awkward expression on her face. Finally building up the courage to ask me the girl asked "Um… may I… may I sit with you?" She asked nervously.
The boy in response gave a short nod. There was plenty of space under the tree for anyone else to sit there.
The girl's face brightened giving him a small smile. "Thank you. My name is Emma by the way" She said before finding a nice place to sit and settling down on the ground. He again just gave a nod.
Now two children sitting under the large oak tree, a distance apart from each other. The girl fidgeted for a while before building up the courage again to ask another question.
"So… what is your name?" She questioned shyly. The boy turned his head to the girl and stared at her again. Pondering if he should answer her or not. Finally he decided on a course of action.
"My name is…" He said in a voice barely above a whisper.
Just then the peace under that oak tree was shattered by some unwelcome guests.
"Well look who we have here if it isn't the little freak! Oh and who might this be?" Dudley cried waddling up to the tree with his pack of goons by his side.
The boy, used to this kind of behavior, and was not fazed by it. Having been distracted by the girl he didn't hear them approaching. Seeing how the goons had spread out blocking his exits he had nowhere to run. Guess he was in for another beating.
His tree companion on the other hand was frozen in fear. Stammering over her words she tried to come up with something to say, but her mouth failed her. "Oh um… I'm nobody… nobody at all" Emma shuddered.
"Nobody huh? What a funny name, right boys?" Dudley chuckled, his friend following suit and laughing alongside him.
Sensing where this is going the boy stood up and placed himself between the goons and the girl. "Leave her alone" He said softly, standing firm.
"Aww would you look at that. The freak is actually trying to protect someone. I'll tell you what since I'm in a good mood if you stay still and don't fight us while we pummel ya. We'll let the girl go. Deal?" He said with a cocky grin.
The boy thought it over briefly before giving a nod of agreement. It seemed fair to him why not let a freak get hurt to save a normal person? After all that was the first nice talk he had with someone.
He thought she had a lovely voice.
"No wait, you can't let them do this! This is not right!" Emma cried frantically. "You can't just do this to people!"
"Oh so you want in on the fun" One of Dudley's friends piped up with a smile on his face. "We can save some of the punches for you as well!" He laughed. At the look on his face the girl shivered in fright.
"Hey, don't worry" the boy turned to the girl and said finally "I'm used to it… go" He then pushed the girl away from the tree to safety.
Emma now having tears stream down her face she ran off.
The boy's watched her go before turning back to the boy. "Now let's have some fun!" Dudley said joyously.
The boy seeing the other boys getting closer, once again felt the tingling in his chest. He quickly squashed that feeling down. Nothing ever good happened when that feeling came.
Strange things always happened whenever it did come. And he would be beaten twice as bad as usual.
When it was all over the boy lay on the ground under the large oak tree curled up in a ball. Waiting for the pain in his back and stomach to lessen before trying to move too much.
He eventually managed to get off the ground and dust off his dirty clothes a little. Then went back to class for the rest of the day.
It wasn't till the next day the girl found him again between classes and apologized to him for running away. He merely gave a nod back.
Over the coming weeks the boy and girl meet up a few more times.
They would find a secluded place to hang out during recess.
Sometimes eating together at lunch time in the cafeteria.
Going to the library to read some books together.
The boy opened up a little bit more each time. The girl still doing most of the talking though.
It was exactly 6 weeks after that first day of school at recess l. On his way to the classroom he overheard the sound of girls talking. Recognizing one of the girl's voices he walked a bit closer to the group.
Planning on saying a short greeting to the friend he had made under that large oak tree.
As he walked closer the voices became more clearer.
"Geez I can't believe you hang around that kid. He is so weird." One girl with black hair and green eyes said.
"I know right, just look at his broken glasses, scarred face, and old dirty clothes. I heard my mommy say people like that are no good." Said another girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.
"Yeah you guys are right he is such a freak" said the voice of a girl so very familiar with brown hair and eyes. "I should probably stop being friends with him" She replied.
The boy's heart shattered along with his trust in other people. He swore to not trust others again so willingly.
He then avoided the girl at every turn. At first she tried asking him what was wrong and if she did something. The boy remained firm in his silence and ignored her.
Eventually she just stopped trying and decided to go hang out with that group of girls on more and more occasions.
The boy watched this all with sorrowful eyes.
Guess freaks really can't have any friends.
Date: December 25, 1988
Time: 7:46 pm
The Dursley house was bustling with noise. The boy was finishing up last minute dinner preparations before the Dursley's guests arrived.
Petunia had put him in charge of the food while she did the decorating and organizing the place setting. She didn't trust a freak like him to get them right.
He had just taken the turkey out of the oven and is now letting it rest. The cranberry sauce, minced pies, and roasted potatoes had been done for a while now. Petunia had brought a Christmas pudding from the store a few days ago.
All that was left was the pigs in a blanket and brussel sprouts.
He got work on the former first wrapping the stripes of bacon around the little sausages and placing them on a tray when finished.
He then placed them in the now empty oven and got to work on the last item on his list: the Brussel sprouts.
First he rinsed the vegetables in the sink. Then dumped them into a pan with some butter and seasoned with a little salt and pepper. He stirred them around while being careful not to burn them. He didn’t want another smack from Petunia.
Now staring at the bowl of freshly cooked food. He shot a glance around the room. There was no one in sight. He went back to staring at the food.
Christmas was on a Sunday that year meaning it had been 2 days since his last meal at school. The Dursley's haven't fed him at all this week. Having forgotten or just not cared he didn't know.
What mattered was he was hungry. He knows that freaks shouldn't steal food. They should be grateful for what they get, but just one would be fine right? No one would miss it or even notice it gone.
Slowly he reaches his hand up to the bowl and takes one of the brussel sprouts off the top.
Before he can bring it to his mouth however, a hand grabs his wrist in a vise grip. "What do you think you are doing brat?" A voice said sharply.
The boy, startled by the sudden touch, dropped the small vegetable in his hand. It hit the floor with a soft thud. He didn’t have to even look to know that it was Vernon.
"You ungrateful freak think you can steal food from us!" He screams as he drags the boy by his wrist to the front door.
Vernon swings the door open and throws the boy out into the snow.
"You can spend a few hours out here that will teach little food thieves like you to take food from normal people!" Vernon shouts before slamming the door behind him as he goes back into the house.
The boy stands up and tries his best to brush off the snow. He knows he needs to leave before the Dursley's dinner guests show up or he will be in a real world of hurt.
The boy walks down the street for a while. The sky is completely covered in a blanket of dark gray clouds, looks like there might be some snow coming soon.
The sun had already gone down at this time. The warm glow of houses and the bright light of the street lamps being his only source of light.
Along his path he peeks into a few houses. He sees families all sitting around a table eating Christmas dinner together.
In one house he saw little children running and laughing.
Another is packed so full of people, he is surprised everyone can fit inside.
All of those houses filled with so much warmth and love they could burst.
The boy silently wonders what it feels like to be loved.
The one that makes him stop however isn't one with a bunch of noise or cries of laughter.
It was an old man and woman calmly sitting down and having dinner alone together. They stared deeply into each other eyes lost to the world. One of each of their hands clasping together. Soft and loving smiles on their faces.
Maybe one day… he too could find someone that could love a freak?
After a long time passes he eventually continues on his walk. If he doesn't find somewhere to hide from the cold he is going to be in trouble.
He finally reached his destination about 11 minutes later. It was a small park located 4 streets down from Privet Drive. He comes here sometimes when he gets thrown out of the house. He had never been here in winter however.
This park wasn't one made for children to play. It was a small grassy plain once filled with green trees, bushes, and beautiful flowers.
Now however the trees and bushes have no leaves on their branches. The flowers have long withered and died. The grass replaced by a blanket of snow and ice.
The boy looks around the park that was once his place of refuge. He hoped to find a place to hide, but found nothing within sight.
The darkness of night and the clouds blocking the moon made it hard to see anything.
As a last effort to find some place warm. He comes over to one of the park benches and goes to dig out underneath it to build a little shelter. Just as he brought his hands out to dig, a sharp pain came from his wrist.
The boy winces at the pain before examining it. He gently touches his wrist that was grabbed harshly. What he finds is quite worrisome. Not only does the skin feel hot to the touch, but also looks swollen.
He tries moving his wrist around, but finds his movements stiff and the pain is almost unbearable. He bites down on his lip to keep from crying out due to the pain.
He hopes that it isn't broken, but he has other things to worry about at the moment. Bringing his wrist up, he cradles it to his chest. He uses his other hand to dig in the snow.
After a short time he had himself a little place to hopefully hide from the cold. He had pushed the dung snow up to make little walls around his hole to hopefully block some of the wind.
After adding a few finishing touches. He climbs into his little self-made den. With a park bench for a roof and snow walls surrounding it was the best he could do.
He then climbs inside being careful not to jostle his wrist too much. He lays there curled up in his shelter. The winds are growing colder and colder by the minute. The snow finally started to fall.
Date: December 25, 1988
Time: 10:23 pm
"Cold… It's so cold…" The boy shivers as the cold winter wind blows rustling his shaggy black hair. His emerald green eyes shut tight to keep the snow out of his eyes.
"I'm cold…" The boy whispers to himself, but there is none there to hear his softly spoken words.
Or just maybe there was…
In a distant place outside the world of man. Just maybe someone was listening to the little boy's words.
A short distance away from the bench the boy nestled himself under. A tall looming figure appeared out of nowhere. It was too dark to see who or what had just appeared.
??? POV:
The figure walked forward silently and crouched down next to the boy. Reaching out they gently brushed their hand over and wiped a few tears away that had fallen.
"Don't worry, child. I will take you somewhere warm" The voice spoke softly. The boy however appeared not to have heard anything seemingly passed out due to the cold.
As gently as they could they reached inside the little cave of snow and picked up the child carefully so as to not harm them. Once they were sure they had a firm grasp. They pulled the child out and brought them to their chest.
Using their cloak they wrapped the little boy as best they could. Satisfied that the child is nestled securely in their arms.
They brought up one hand and placed it above the child. After a short moment a warm golden glow shone from their hand. It was then the boy finally stopped shivering and snuggled closer into the warm embrace.
The figure chuckled lightly. "It is alright my child. You are in good hands now" they said standing up and seeming ready to leave.
With the child tucked in their arms in that frozen desolate park. The figure and their passenger vanished from sight just as silently as the figure appeared.