Asking for help
Harry was lying in his own blood thinking about when he could leave this house. As soon as he arrived at #4 Privet Drive, at the end of his 5th year, his uncle had made sure to visit him in his small room as often as possible.
He couldn’t take it anymore. Beatings and harsh words he could take but this… He couldn’t even think about what this was yet. He just had to get out.
Harry had written to the Weasley’s and Dumbledore multiple times this summer asking to be allowed to leave. They kept saying that they would come after Harry’s birthday and even though he was slightly relieved that there was an end in sight he couldn’t wait any longer.
Sighing, Harry pushed himself up from the floor, being careful not to hurt himself anymore than he already was. He limped to his bedroom door and stopped to put his ear to it. He held his breath as he listened to see if anyone was awake and moving around the house.
Thankfully the hall was silent. Still holding his breath he tried the door handle. It turned which caused Harry to release his breath slowly. This is the first time in a week that Vernon had forgotten to lock the door.
Quickly and quietly, Harry hurried down the stairs, being sure to miss the 3rd step from the bottom which has squeaked ever since his cousin knocked Vernon onto his massive ass there the first time he saw Harry that summer after being let out of his room to do chores. He must have looked horrible because the second Dudley’s eyes landed on Harry he lunged at his father and punched him in the face. Just the thought made Harry give a tiny smile.
Dudley had been Harry’s rock since they were nine years old. No matter how bad it got with Vernon and Petunia, Dudley always tried to do his best to ease Harry’s physical and mental pain. If Harry was honest with himself he thought of Dudley as more of a big brother than a cousin. It hasn’t always been this way but Harry has never been more thankful than the day Dudley found him being felt up by his friend Piers stopping him before he could take anything further. Dudley really had his eyes opened after that. He didn’t want to end up like people like Piers and his father. He didn’t want to be another reason his cousin was miserable.
Harry quickly made his way to the kitchen hoping to find something he can take without it being noticeable. He checked the fridge and cupboard and saw that Petunia hadn’t done the shopping yet which means he can’t nab anything. Sighing, Harry walked to the trash can and looked inside. Right on top was some of that night's dinner. He grabbed what looked the cleanest and quickly started making his way to the bathroom.
Just before he could make it out of the Kitchen though, Dudley walked in, scaring Harry so badly that he dropped the precious food he had onto the floor. Harry stared at it for a second before tears started to gather in his eyes.
Dudley was thinking about his small cousin in the other room. He was worried. His father seemed to be spending a lot more time punishing Harry for whatever made up infraction Vernon could come up with. He remembered the first time he saw his cousin coming out of his room. He saw bite marks on his neck and hand prints on his wrists. His mind took him back to the day he saw Piers trying to touch Harry and he saw red again. He had attacked his father, knowing he was the only one that could have done something like that to Harry in the house.
He had tried once again to get Harry help after that. He went to the police station and made another report hoping this one would be the one they acted on. He had been making reports since he was 9 years old and none of them had been looked into. At this point Dudley suspected outside interference from the Wizarding World because there is no way the police would knowingly leave a child in this situation without checking on them.
Shaking himself out of those memories he decided to try to go check on Harry. His father had been locking Harry’s room up with a padlock and he couldn’t pick this one. It was driving him crazy knowing Harry was trapped in there and there was nothing he could do to help him. Thankfully this time the door was not locked. He opened Harry’s door and immediately panicked. Harry wasn’t in there but there was a lot of blood on the floor.
Turning around quickly Dudley made his way downstairs. He heard a small noise in the kitchen and made his way quickly to see if it was Harry. As he walked into the room he felt someone run into him. Dudley quickly gained his balance before checking on the person. When he looked over though Harry was staring down at the ground with tears in his eyes.
Dudley rushed over and pulled Harry into his arms, shushing him. He looked at what his cousin was upset about and saw a small amount of tonight's leftovers on the ground. Dudley closed his eyes and hugged his cousin closer to himself.
“shh, it’s ok Harry. Come with me, let's get you something fresh to eat, hmm?” Dudley said quickly into Harry’s ear. He swiftly lifted Harry into his arms knowing from the look of him he didn’t have much strength right now and made his way back to his bedroom.
Once inside he closed and locked his door and gently sat Harry onto Dudley’s bed. Dudley quickly turned around and went to his closet. He had started to stock up on shelf stable foods that Harry could eat whenever Dudley could get it to him. There were lots of fruit and vegetable cups and different canned meals. He looked for Harry’s favorite fruit mix first to help raise his blood sugar, seeing that Harry was woozy and a little green from hunger. He grabbed a disposable spoon and opened the container before handing it to Harry. He then turned back and grabbed Harry a nutrition shake and some chocolate pudding knowing the treat was comforting to Harry.
Turning back he saw Harry was having a hard time lifting his arm. “Harry, do you need help Little Lion?” Dudley asked in his calmest voice seeing that Harry was very out of it.
Harry snapped back to reality at the question and looked up at Dudley confused. He remembered dropping his food and being lifted and handed more but wasn’t aware of much else till now. He realized that his broken arm was difficult to lift and whined.
“Shh Harry it's ok, let me help you and then we can talk ok?” Dudley said while sitting next to Harry and taking the spoon. He fed Harry slowly knowing his cousin would lose his stomach if he filled up too fast. That is never a fun time, Harry panicking while Dudley is trying to clean it up without adding to the mess. Dudley chuckled thinking of the chaos.
As Dudley helped Harry finish his food Harry just kept looking at his cousin. He hadn’t seen him much this summer which has been horrible. He really missed Dudley when he was at Hogwarts and he had been looking forward to seeing him but that hadn’t been possible the last few weeks. He felt so relieved to be with Dudley after Vernon’s visit earlier. He felt much safer here in his room.
“Thank you,” Harry finally said once he couldn’t eat anymore but felt significantly better. He blushed, feeling embarrassed that he fell apart over some food on the floor. He should be better than that. He’s gone much longer without food before this. He was being such an ungrateful baby.
“None of that Little Lion,” Dudley lightly scolded, knowing Harry was beating himself up over what just happened. “You’re ok I promise, Harry.”
Harry smiled slightly at the nickname and put his head in his cousin's lap knowing that he wouldn’t be able to stay awake much longer. He had been left bleeding for a long time and even though he is finally fed he still feels very light headed.
Noticing that his cousin was losing consciousness Dudley closed his eyes in resignation. He couldn’t let his cousin suffer like this anymore. He knew what his father was doing to his poor cousin, even if Harry wouldn’t tell him that was what was happening. He needed to get Harry away from here. He thought for a few minutes, he knows there is something he hasn’t tried yet but Harry would be absolutely furious at him if he told his friends what was happening in this house.
There was nothing for it. He had to help his cousin. He would rather Harry never want to speak to him again than stay in this house one more second. Dudley slowly lowered Harry’s head onto the bed and walked out of his room. He closed the door quietly and made the trip downstairs again. This time he went for the phone and went into the cupboard under the stairs. Harry’s first bedroom. Dudley’s stomach sank looking around the cramped space but quickly focused back on his task.
When Harry attended his first year at Hogwarts, Dudley received an owl from someone named Hermione Granger. Apparently she put together that Harry’s homelife was less than ideal but that Harry trusted Dudley. So the clever witch sent Dudley her home number in case it ever got bad enough that Harry needed an emergency out and had no other option.
Dudley dialed the number that he had memorized by heart and closed his eyes and held his breath as the phone rang. Someone answered the phone after a few rings and Dudley sat up suddenly.
“Hello? This is Dan Granger, how can I help you at 2 in the morning?” Mr Granger answered slightly annoyed.
“I’m really sorry for calling this late sir, but your daughter gave me this number if her friend Harry Potter ever needed help. I really need to speak to her.” Dudley answered in a rush.
“Harry Potter? Hold on, let me go wake her, or interrupt her reading..” Mr Granger’s voice trailed off as he walked away from the phone. Dudley nervously taped his finger on the back of the telephone while he waited.
“Hello?” Came the slightly sleepy voice of Hermione, “Who am I speaking too?”
“Oh thank god, Hermione? I’m so sorry to call you so late but this is Dudley Dursley, Harry’s cousin. You gave me your number years ago if things ever became too bad here. He needs help. Is there any way for someone to come and get him away from here?” Dudley pleaded, tears coming to his eyes without his knowledge.
“What’s happened Dudley, is Harry ok?” Hermione asked quickly before moving her face away from the phone to yell for her parents to come to the phone.
“No, my father has barely left him alone this entire summer. I don’t think he's just hitting him anymore and I don’t know what to do. No one will help him. Not even the Weasley’s will come until after his birthday and that is day’s away! He can’t stay here anymore. Please help!” Dudley was panicking now. He couldn’t help it. He desperately wanted to protect his cousin but no one would listen to him. He needed Hermione to listen to him.
“What is your address Dudley, my parents heard everything and they are getting ready to come get you both out of there right now.” Hermione demanded.
“#4 Privet Drive Little Whinging, Surrey. Thank you Hermione. Thank you.” Dudley was crying full on now. The relief was washing over him in waves. Someone was going to help Harry.
“My father says he will be there as soon as he can but it might be an hour. Gather anything that Harry and you might need and be ready. Look for headlights ok?” Hermione said hoping Dudley could hold it together long enough to get Harry and himself ready. Hermione wasn’t a fool; she knew Dudley would need to come with Harry. Dudley needed an escape from that Hell as well.
“Oh- Okay. I can do that. I think it would be safer for Harry and I to hide at the playground just down the road until they can get to us. I don’t know when my father will wake up. I hear him sneak into Harry’s room late into the night..” Dudley said, voice shaking.
“Good idea. Get Harry and go to the Park my parents are on their way now. I will see you both soon.” Hermione said before hearing a quiet goodbye and the line going dead. She didn’t realize she was shaking until she tried to place the phone back onto the receiver. Taking a moment to settle herself she got up off the stool she had sat on when she first heard that Harry needed help.
She had a feeling this day would come but it's no less terrifying than she thought it would be. She knew Harry suffered during the summer but he always refused to admit it or accept the offer of help. She had a feeling the headmaster had something to do with it. Everytime she has spoken to the man about it he said there was nowhere safer than for Harry to be with his blood.
She would then find herself back in the common room having a hard time remembering when she had left Professor Dumbledore’s office and made her way back to the common room. She knew the headmaster did something to make her lose that time. It terrified her to think that the headmaster wasn’t someone she could trust. She hadn’t brought this fear up to Harry or Ron though, because she didn’t want to lose their friendship. They were her first friends.
Hermione quickly pushed those thoughts away knowing that in a few hours she would be with her best friend again and he would need her when he arrived. She quickly made her way to the guest bedroom to get everything prepared for 2 new guests.