The Rules of the Game

Chapter 13

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As soon as I was through the door and shut from the view of the neighbors, the world I grew up in truly returned to me. In some ways it was comforting, this I knew and understood where I belonged. I knew I was being spoiled at Hogwarts, they gave more than something like me deserved; which is probably why it was so hard for me to give it all up. I needed to regain my center again and quickly, or I would risk the displeasure of my Uncle.

As agreed my trunk was locked in the attic, Erebus was free in a tree nearby, and Persephone was hidden beneath my cousin’s baggy clothes. The first few hours it was back to an impossibly long list of chores, but I was thankful for the time that it gave me to become re-accustomed to this life. I thought about Draco as I was weeding, he had wanted me to go visit him, but when I told him that wouldn’t be possible he swore that he would owl me everyday, despite the fact that I told him I most likely wouldn’t be able to owl him at all. Thankfully I got that down to once a week, but truthfully somewhere deep down it made me feel good. I also began to imagine what it must be like over at his house with parents, probably eating together, having some discussion on dark magic, or maybe he’s flying around on his quidditch pitch…. The sound of the back door shutting drew my thoughts away from Draco and to my Uncle, standing on the back porch, a hard-on clearly showing through his pants. I thought I had heard Petunia drive away with Dudley when he had been complaining about wanting a different type of ice-cream. Without comment I got up, taking off my gloves and dusting the dirt from my knees before following my uncle back inside. Surprisingly the thought that I would have a message from Draco, that I wouldn’t be completely alone made this not as hard to do.

******

It was a month and a half into the vacation and I still had no word from Draco. I had sent him a tiny baby ice dragon for his birthday (not like the Malfoys need to worry about a tiny illegal dragon in comparison to all the other things in their house), but still no word from him. I don’t know why I was foolish enough to trust someone, even so much as to send a message. I never should have believed that I could have a friend; that someone could care about me. So why do I keep allowing it? How many times will I allow myself this weakness only to be hurt again? Overall this summer was normal, besides the beating from my uncle when he caught me sending Erebus off with the present that took me six days to heal all the wounds from, it was exactly like expected. That is until I had a visit from someone, but not who I expected or wanted.

It was during the night my Uncle had over a business associate that the… thing decided to visit. I was up cleaning Dudley’s second bedroom when with a snap one of the most hideous creatures I’ve ever seen was before me.

“Who are you?!” I demanded sharply, knowing that this was obviously a magical creature, and they couldn’t be here. My worlds must stay separate, if they mixed then I… no, they’re different; I belong as I am here.

“My name is Dobby Mr. Harry Potter sir.” The creature said bowing to me.

“Fine, get out!”

“But Mr. Harry Potter sir, Dobby must tell you something, but I don’t know how…”

Exasperated I looked at my watch to see how I was doing on time. “You have two minutes, so talk quickly and quietly. Why don’t you sit.” I offered taking a seat myself.

“Sit! Like an equal! No one ever treats Dobby as an equal!” Suddenly the creature let out a gasp and began banging it’s head on the dresser repeating, “Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!”

For the first two poundings of his head I sat, eyes wide, frozen in shock… I was so dead.

Quickly I shot my hand out, silently summoning the thing to me and as it flew into my hand, squeezed its neck tightly. My face was cold stone, but my eyes burned with rage.

“Do you know how much I will be punished for your stupidity just now?!” I snarled in a harsh whisper, squeezing tighter and tighter around the creatures’ neck. Finally I released it and watched it gasp for breath. “Now give me your message and leave.”

“Yes Harry Potter sir, you see… you can’t go back to Hogwarts.” He said, eyes pleading up at me.

I couldn’t believe it. First it gets me in deep shit, now it’s telling me I can’t go back to my other world, my better world. The one place that can make me better than the worthless piece of shit I am now, the place I worked so hard to get into! “Sorry, but I’m returning.”

“You can’t, you must promise Dobby!”

“No, now leave.”

“Then Harry Potter leaves Dobby no choice.” He said and disappeared.

For a second I thought he was really gone, but then I felt the strange energy signature from him in the kitchen. “Fuck!” I thought, and silently dashed out of the room and into the kitchen to watch as Petunia’s prized pudding began to float into the air. Quickly I released my magic, twisting it around his that was holding the pudding, taking control and then completely dispersing his. I heard him give a soft gasp of surprise, but first concentrated on putting the bowl down silently. When it was done, I redirected my magic, wrapping it around the creature, making it silent, and blocking it from disappearing again. I dragged him down into the basement which had been soundproofed from the rest of the house long ago. Unbelievable anger was running through me, how dare this creature try to fuck up both my worlds! I slammed it into a wall, holding it there with raw energy that was burning the creature.

“Never will you come near me again, and never will you try to influence my life again. Is that understood?” The creature was whimpering in pain but I heard a ‘yes’ in there. Not being one to trust so easily I forced my way into the creatures’ mind and forced those demands into it along with one more. “Never will you speak of what happened today, nor of what I can do.” With another whimpered acknowledgement I released it from all my magic, allowing it to fall to the floor. And with a last weak snap of its fingers it disappeared.

*****

As expected my uncle wasn’t pleased that I had made sound upstairs, and what was I going to tell him, ‘it wasn’t me, it was the magical creature?’ Please I would like to live to see Hogwarts again. Of course that didn’t save me from the brutal beating and… other things. He didn’t need an excuse for that and having a fairly legit one just allowed him to justify leaving me incapacitated for over a week.

Thankfully when school came all the broken bones were healed, and even though the bruising and cuts were extensive a simple glamour took care of those. The day before I was to return to Hogwarts I left the Dursleys. I had enough muggle money to take a bus down to the Leaky Cauldron and under a complete glamour get my supplies. When I entered Flourish and Blotts I was glad that I was disguised as someone else. The shop was ridiculously full because of that fool Gilderoy Lockhart and he seemed like just the person who would drag me into all that just for more attention.

It was as I was returning to the Leaky Cauldron in hopes of staying the night when I got my shock for the day. I was looking through the window of ‘Quality Quidditch supplies’ and saw Draco standing in the store with his father hugging. I almost wasn’t sure that was what it was; I had never seen another child hugged by a parent except for Dudley. I had assumed that it was just another thing that he got to spoil him. Did everyone hug their children? It seemed so strange and pointless, why would someone want to be held like that? For some reason watching them made me realize how truly separate I am from everyone in this world too. I would always be on the outside looking through the window. Perhaps that was why Draco hadn’t contacted me, perhaps he realized that I was not worth his time. I swallowed the lump in my throat that formed at these thoughts and ignored the sudden pain in my chest. I tore my eyes from the two blond males and disappeared back into the crowed, heading back to the Leaky Cauldron for some sleep before the train ride tomorrow.

The next day I left early, easily finding an empty compartment and locking the door. There wasn’t anyone I wanted to see, I couldn’t face Draco after he abandoned me and I didn’t want to have to endure the company of Granger and Weasley. I spent time reading the course books and rushing through the homework that had been assigned. When the train arrived I kept my head down, joining some clueless Hufflepuffs for the ride to the castle and then sitting with some third years at the end of the Slytherin table who could care less about some second year. I had caught a glimpse of Draco slyly looking around for someone, but with a disgruntled look on his face.

The entire feast was nothing of interest, just Lockhart making more of fool of himself, and the girls swooning over him. The idea of eating didn’t even remotely appeal to me, so before the feast was even over I snuck away. I thought no one had noticed until I heard another set of feet following mine, arrogance somehow evident in his steps making it clear who it was.

“Malfoy.” I stated calmly, but continued to walk and keep my head forward.

“Harry! What the bloody hell is wrong with you!?” He asked, reaching for me to get me to stop, but I slid out of reach and continued on.

“Nothing is wrong, everything is clear.” I said coldly, walking a little faster.

“Harry, why are you avoiding me? And why in hell are you calling me by my last name?” Draco asked exasperated.

“You made it clear that you didn’t want to know me; so don’t start this shit now.” I growled; loosing control for a second, but having the first human I considered a friend betray me had hurt too much. I gave him a last glare before whirling back around and striding away in a close approximation of Snape.

“What the hell are you talking about!?” He called out but didn’t come after me.

*****

For the first two weeks I stayed away from everyone. The Slytherins got the message real quick, but Granger and Weasley I had to tell repeatedly that I was fine and just needed time to get back on schedule. I tried to ignore everything and concentrate on my goal of learning more, the only thing that was bothering me was Lockhart. Besides his classes being a complete waste of time, he was giving me looks that gave me this sick feeling. At one time he slid his arm down mine in class and I was caught between jerking away, throwing up, and breaking his arm. Unfortunately I could do none of these without drawing attention so I tried to ignore it. All my other classes were boring; I just played dumb and did extra studying when I got the chance. A couple times I wanted to go to Draco and talk to him about Lockhart and other things, but I couldn’t afford that weakness and every time I saw him I just remembered how he truly wanted nothing to do with me.

Eventually I could put off the idiotic Gryffindors for no longer and got roped into wandering around the halls after hours. If Weasley had to walk silently to save his life, he shouldn’t even bother with attempting to and just kill himself (it would do us all a favor). I was surprised it took Filch as long as it did to find us, and of course I couldn’t disappear into the shadows or Weasley would be suspicious. But I figured one detention didn’t matter, if I was lucky I could work for Snape; unlike most I enjoyed his company and found it calming, I never expected what I got.

It was the following day that I found out, I was supposed to be cleaning trophies with Weasley, when it was instead changed to helping Lockhart. I would take enduring Weasley’s company and cleaning dusty trophies over Lockhart anytime. Just the thought of being alone with that creep made my skin crawl and stomach churn. I should have skipped it, I should have traded one detention with Lockhart for ten with Filch, but I didn’t.

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A/N: Lots of people have wondered why Harry isn’t just beating Vernon’s ass. Well the basic idea that I\'m trying to get across with that is that some people who are abused at a young age when they are helpless, will always feel helpless. They can\'t comprehend that they are old and stronger now and can fight back, they think that they\'re still going to loose to their abuser. So that\'s my Harry and also he has been told all his life that he is worthless and he believes it and thinks he deserves this.
Also if you have or have not noticed I haven’t mentioned any glasses (I think) that’s because he’s never had any when he was a kid his magic just automatically would fix his eyes when they started to get bad.