The Rules of the Game

It was one of those times when they came home all too soon and yet not soon enough. I was done with all of the chores of course but I still hadn\'t figured how I was going to get them to agree to this. I watched as Vernon entered with the others, talking joyfully like a normal family; as if there wasn\'t a freak that lived with them, as if they didn\'t pretend I didn\'t exist, as if he didn\'t take me to the basement and beat me unconscious, or sate his pleasure inside of me. As Vernon\'s gaze landed on me standing there with my arms behind my back waiting, a look of disgust, hate and lust came over him (quite an odd look really). As always I remained blank and calm and then took a step forward towards the happy \'normal\' family, giving a small bow. This was my only way of asking to be acknowledged, asking to speak; it was as if I was always on the outside and had to beg to be let in to be \'normal\'.

\"What is it boy?\" I heard Vernon\'s voice growl, acknowledging me and giving me permission to speak.

\"I received mail the other day.\" I said simply. It was as far into my plan that I had gotten after an hour as pitiful as it sounds. But I was too wary to do something to upset them. I knew I couldn\'t outright say, \'I found out I\'m a wizard and want to go learn magic.\' They would have laughed or been furious at my gall but either result would have landed me in the basement for a month. I also didn\'t want to mention anything about magic or wizards with Dudley there because I know that they are trying to protect him from that kind of freakish thing. Vernon was smarter than was given him credit (though you have to keep in mind that he\'s not given much of that), he had been manipulating people all his life. His boss into keeping him on when he does no work, and his own family into believing that he did nothing more to me than a few beatings. I could almost read his thoughts as he ran my statement through his mind; first it would be \'who could be sending mail to the freak\' and then he would remember about the wizards, and the magic and his face would whiten in fear and then purple in anger. As I watched it all played out as expected, and again as expected when Dudley questioned his parents he was brusquely ordered to his rooms. The only words Vernon managed to ground out were \'Living room\' and so I quietly went and took my place on the floor in the corner.

I had pre-set out tea for Vernon and Petunia but I don\'t think either of them noticed and just automatically picked it up as they sat and tried to think, or Vernon thought and Petunia waited for his word (it took longer than I expected). Finally he stood and my heart seemed to stop waiting for his decision...

\"No.\"

...and then I felt it crumbling to pieces.

\"But, sir...\"

The kick to the stomach cut my protest off as it knocked me to my side and I silently berated myself for forgetting one of my rules. The conversation had been clearly over and I had no more right to speak. I bent over low to the floor, my forehead resting against the carpet, not in pain, but in submission and apology, hoping for no further punishment. Vernon seemed to have been satisfied because he left the room, Petunia scurrying after him and after a minute I rose to clear the dishes.

I felt like such a fool, I had deluded myself, going and getting supplies, getting not one but two familiars, what was I thinking? Well at least I had a wand and some new books for my trouble, I reasoned but nothing would sooth the pieces that were left of my heart; I didn\'t even have to try to not speak as he brutally beat me that night, I just didn\'t care.


*****


Two weeks went by without me even touching a magic book or doing so much as a simple unlocking charm. It seemed like this was a mistake because evidently I had too much magic and it was beginning to over flow, but even after two cases of accidental magic which resulted in hours in the basement, I couldn\'t bring myself to care. Going to a magic school had just seemed like the next step, how else could I make potions, meet magical creatures, or do the spells that I have been dying to try but can\'t here. I knew it was wrong for me to want something, I didn\'t deserve it, but after having such a close glimpse to a dream and then loosing it, I was crushed.


*****


\"Boy, come here.\" I knew that tone, and knew what he wanted; it was only a mild surprise because Petunia and Dudley were home. Compliantly I went to him, going to my knees in front of him as he sat back on the couch. As if not connected with my brain I watched as my hands reached out and undid his pants, freeing his engorged cock, and without hesitation bent over and began to suck on it. It seemed like my mind was unattached to what I was doing, perhaps I\'d just done it so much that it didn\'t require thought, but really I just couldn\'t care; this was my life, and it was just how things were.

As his cum poured down the back of my throat, I swallowed it easily and then stood up and left. I found myself staring out one of the windows to the backyard and somehow my gaze found my still nameless black eagle in the tree and as his eye snapped to mine I felt electricity shoot through me and it jump started my brain. Instantly I felt a fool for having acted so dead, for giving up. I knew I was a freak, but I was determined to make the best out of the \'worthless shit\' I was, again I had forgotten, I didn\'t need anyone, and definitely not some school to teach me magic, I would find a way to learn and do what I needed to.

\'Thank you Erebus.\" I whispered under my breath and then turned to go to my cupboard and catch up on some reading.

*****

My little snake was most pleased by my return to reality and told me that she had been contemplating biting me to get me to snap out of it. I smirked at her words, offering a small smile. I wanted to laugh (a true laugh), but I couldn\'t, I have no memory of really laughing before and wasn\'t sure how. It was then as I was going over some memories that she hissed in my ear that if anyone harmed me, she would kill them. I turned to her with another smirk and as our eyes meet I knew her name.
~All right Persssephone, but... not if I allow it.~

It took me ten minutes to get her to agree to that but at last she did and then grumbling went to sleep curled around my neck.

I stayed up late that night, practicing on my spells wandlessly, burning off the excess magic that had built up over the last two weeks. I was strongly tempted to try my wand but I knew that they kept wards and other tracking devices to ensure that under-aged witches and wizards didn\'t use magic, bastards.


*****


Things once again returned to \'normal\' and I returned to my old routine, but not giving anymore thoughts to magic schools. When September 1st arrived I woke up feeling an ache in my chest and promptly told it to \'shut up.\' Despite my attempt to carry about the day as usual the knowledge that I should be getting on a train and going to school now wouldn\'t leave, so I finished my chores quickly and returned to my cupboard where I laid down and stared at the ceiling. It appeared that the spider population was dwindling now that Persephone was here; I thought offhandedly, trying anything to get my mind off of that stupid train. With a sigh I summoned the ticket, which no longer had to travel through air when summoned but appeared instantly in my hand. I glanced it over \'platform 9 ¾ at 10:00,\' I looked at my watch and noticed that it was 4:00; I gave another sigh and with the slightest thought the ticket in my hand burst into flames, disintegrating in the air. I laid in my bed, staring into nothing again and began to wonder if anyone had noticed that I wasn\'t there, if anyone would even care... no, they wouldn\'t, nobody ever has.

I heaved myself up and began to walk to the kitchen to start dinner, surprisingly cooking was one of the few things that relaxed me, probably why I was so looking forward to making potions. It would be so easy to add some \'extra\' ingredients... but I couldn\'t do that, the Dursleys were the only ones willing to take me in, I owed them everything for tolerating me. So I set to making one of Vernon\'s favorite meals that was ready at the precise moment he walked in demanding it. I was glad to see that they were pleased with the meal and wasn\'t punished that night. Vernon and Petunia had both been unusually happy recently and I think it was because they believed that they had succeeded in, what I discovered was their quest to squash the magic out of me; I felt guilty that they were so wrong.


*****


The next day I awoke as always a few minutes before Petunia came down, and at the scrape of the latch I came out of my tiny room. Today was to be my first day at Stonewall High, Dudley\'s private school didn\'t start for another week which he pointed out multiple times, but I didn\'t care since I knew it was all compensated for somewhere. Like usual I started my chores, made breakfast, cleared the dishes, dressed in my \'homemade\' uniform and then grabbed my duct tape backpack and began the walk to school. When I got a block from the house I stepped into an alley and changed my uniform to what it should look like, to fit me and got rid of the horrid smell. I found the school easily enough and then realized that this place would have a better library, and maybe if I couldn\'t become a true wizard, I could be something like a doctor in the normal world.

I entered the campus with a bit more enthusiasm and managed to easily find the right classroom. Changing rooms for every class seemed like it was going to be confusing, but I had always had a good map in my head of where things were and wasn\'t too worried. To my disappointment the day was rather slow and boring, even in my chemistry class that I had been looking forward to we did nothing but go over some class rules. It also seemed that without the baggy clothes and threatening cousin people were drawn to me and I had to repeatedly brush people off (I wondered how long it would take them to get the idea). When the day ended I went home rather disappointed and with only three books that seemed to have any good medical information.

When I entered through the house and Petunia saw me she shrieked and demanded to know where I got the uniform, like always the lie flowed off my tongue and I told her of how the office had disapproved of my attire and had given me this instead. She \'hmphed\' but said no more and after changing into normal clothes I set to my chores.


*****


Somewhere in Scotland, Great Britain
September 2nd 5:30pm

This was utterly ridiculous. Sure the damn \'boy-who-lived\' didn\'t show up but surely it was merely because he was inept enough to arrive on time. Most likely believed that the train would wait for him, and when he discovered he was sorely wrong sent an owl to complain about needing to be retrieved. I don\'t know what the old man is pissing about, an owl wouldn\'t have had time to arrive yet it\'s only... hmm, 5:30, strange.

\"So as you can see Severus, I have waited as you asked last night, but no owl has arrived, and so I must ask you and Minerva to go to the Dursleys and check on him.\"

I ground my teeth, trying to ignore the damn twinkle in the old mans eye, but I had told him if we heard no news of the boy today that I would go.

\"Very well.\" I ground out and stood up and walked out of the room, hearing Minerva bid her good-bye to Dumbledore before she caught up with me.

\"Well Severus, I have to admit I haven\'t seen you hate a student so much in years, and you haven\'t even met this one.\"

I didn\'t bother to answer that asinine comment, from the first moment I realized who would be coming to Hogwarts this year I knew he would be trouble, and the evidence of that was already quite clear.


*****


When we reached the street I was repulsed at how ridiculous the identical houses looked, the perfect example of a sickening muggle town. Not bothering to hide my disgust I followed Minerva to number four Privet Drive, but the moment I stepped onto the property I felt like I was being watched and assessed. I saw Minerva stop in front of me and knew she could feel what ever was scanning us as well.

\"Maybe it\'s the wards.\" I heard her whisper, but could hear in her voice that she didn\'t believe that either, wards didn\'t feel like this. Finally it stopped, evidently we had passed, Minerva continued but I still felt different eyes on me and glanced up into a nearby tree. There staring down at me were two glowing gold eyes, though the rest of the avian I couldn\'t make out in the darkness. I heard Minerva ring the doorbell and with a small shiver turned from the bird and took my place beside her.


Number 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey
September 2nd 5:47


As I stood and watched my \'family\' eat the meal I cooked I worked on shielding and controlling my magic, not willing to let any time go to waist. I was running out of ideas of ways to build up the defenses in my mind, it was like a fortress now and even if you got inside it was a complete maze with traps everywhere; I had too many secrets to be leaving anything to chance. As I was \'walking\' down a hall in my mind I felt something calling to me and realized that someone had tripped the wards that \'I\' had set up around the house, and the ones who tripped them were definitely wizards. My eyes snapped open at this realization and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest but none of the Dursleys seemed to have noticed. Relaxing again I reached out and could feel the energy of two wizards right outside of the house. Both of them seemed rather powerful, but the one that had a male feel to him was stronger and also seemed to have some powerful shields up as well as also something strange dark and powerful from his left forearm. I was tempted to examine them closer or try to sneak by their shields but I knew that they were aware of me watching and decided to leave them to see what they were here for.

When the doorbell rang Vernon merely looked up at me, pasta still hanging out of his mouth, and with a nod I went to get the door. As I walked by I made sure that my cupboard was shut and allowed myself a small smirk before I opened the front door to face the two wizards.

\"Hello sir, ma\'am. How may I help you?\" I asked, feigning innocence to the knowledge of what they were.

\"Harry Potter?\" The woman asked, most likely taking in my clothing and starved look and not sure what to make of it.

\"Yes?\" I answered taking the moment to observe them. Both of them looked abnormally strict, both in black robes but the man slightly behind the woman clearly thought I was the scum of the earth (hm, what\'s new?).

\"We would like to speak with your Uncle and Aunt.\" She told me and I was about to answer when a call from the kitchen stopped me.

\"Boy! Who\'s at the door?\"

\"Excuse me.\" I mumbled leaving the door open, and headed back towards the kitchen; I had learned long ago not to shout in this house.

\"Sir, it\'s a man, and woman; they wish to speak to you and Aunt Petunia.\"

\"Very well, show them to the living room and then bring tea.\" He ordered and I left to do so.

As I lead them to the living room I watched them glance over the house, the woman seemed amused by all the muggleness, but the man seemed confused about something. I told them they could sit and that my Uncle and Aunt would be with them shortly and then left to get tea started.


As I set the water to boil and got the tea cups ready I waited to hear the roar from my Uncle in the other room. I had barely set the last cup on the tray when I heard the shouting begin and was hit with a wave of anger that made me gasp and throw up another shield around my mind. Impatient, I willed the water to the right temperature, grabbed the tray and entered the room to find everyone standing and looking ready to fight.

Petunia was half hiding half holding onto her husband while the two wizards
were standing looking caught between rage and disbelief. Neither side appearing to have noticed my arrival.

\"The boy isn\'t going with you freaks! I will have none of that nonsense in my house, and he has duties here.\" Vernon roared but only succeeded in angering the wizards further.

\"Freaks!\" The man yelled indignantly as he whipped out his wand but the woman quickly grabbed onto his arm pulling it down.

\"Severus no!\" She cried as a light shot into the table destroying it to pieces.

\"You!\" Vernon snapped, having evidently finally noticed me but I just looked at him calmly. I walked forward and set the tea tray on the couch (seeing as the table was non-existent now) and then turned to face my Uncle.

\"Uncle... can I talk to you in the other room?\" I asked him staring into his eyes and begging him to allow this. I couldn\'t let this discussion go on in front of the witch and wizard, not even in front of Petunia. After the words came out of my mouth I heard Petunia gasp and I felt a surge of anger from my uncle. Not only had I dared to speak without permission but it had been a question. I saw my Uncles hands twitch, just like they always do when he wants to hit me, but he couldn\'t here not in front of these other \'freaks\'.

\"Come.\" He ordered and relieved I followed him to the back of the house and into his office.

As soon as he shut the door behind us he back-handed me sending me hard to the ground and without waiting kick hard into my stomach as I curled into a ball.

\"How dare you bring those freaks into this house! How dare you!\" He growled softly so that he wouldn\'t be heard and continued to kick me until he heard the satisfying snap of one of my arms protecting my face breaking.

\"Forgive me sir, but I felt that we shouldn\'t talk about some things in front of the others.\" I gasped out and was thankful when another blow didn\'t come.

\"What things?\" He growled.

\"They will not give up on their demands for me to go that school, but if you continue to refuse they will suspect something.\" I paused for a second to wait for Vernon\'s brain to catch up and understand what that something is.

\"If you let me go I will make sure that they never find out, and when I return in the summers, I will bring none of what I have learned into the house. Dudley doesn\'t even have to know, you can tell him that I was sent away to a school for miscreants.\" I waited as Vernon turned the idea over in his head and then finally began to nod his head.

\"Very well, you will go to this school and speak nothing of your home here, and when you return there will be none of that magic stuff.\"

\"Yes sir.\" I answered and slowly struggled to my feet and headed to the door but a hand on my shoulder stopped me.

\"I didn\'t say you could go yet. And since you will be gone for so long I believe you need to give me something now for compensation.\" He said softly and I shuttered involuntarily.

As I stood there I felt my uncle\'s arm snake around to my front and slip up under my shirt rubbing against my abused stomach as he pressed up behind me. I could feel his erection already stabbing into my back and without further reluctance turned around and kneeled in front of him as his hand left my shirt to entangle itself in my hair.

Mechanically I undid his pants (one handed since my arm was broken), freed his erection and took him in my mouth using all my skill to get him off quickly. As he thrust deep in my throat and finally came I was glad for the silencing charm that I had put up half way through this or I was sure the others in the living room would have heard and come demanding to know what was going on. As I pulled off his cock and looked up at him his eyes slowly refocused.

\"This is where you belong boy, don\'t you ever forget that.\" He said, before redoing his pants and then leading the way out.


No, I would never forget it. Even if I had succeeded in going to some magic school they didn\'t really know what I was, a freak, a whore... I was nothing.


*****


When we re-entered the living room the tension was still visible and the wizard was still evidently very pissed.

\"The boy can go.\" Vernon said calmly and I heard Petunia gasp in shock at her husbands\' words.

\"Good, we\'re leaving. Potter do you have your things?\" The wizard snarled.

\"Yes sir, just give me a moment.\" I told him and hurried from the room. As I opened the door to my cupboard I was glad that I had put most everything in my transfigured trunk before hand and just had the few books I had taken out and the scant pieces of clothing I owned to pack. With the use of my magic it all took but ten seconds and after setting my trunk by the door I tried to reach over to Persephone and then realized that arm was still broken with the bone sticking out at an odd place. With my other hand I took hold of my wrist and with a strong pull, got the bones apart and then carefully set straight. With a brief thought I set my magic to healing the bones in my arm and what ever else fractured or bruised, then turned back to my snake.

~Come Persssephone, we\'re leaving to go to a magic ssschool.~ I hissed to her softly.

~Good, I hate it here where that man can... Harry why do you sssmell like that again?~ She asked as she wrapped around my wrist and I looked away from her. ~I will kill him.~

~No Persssephone, I allowed him it\'sss what I am, it\'sss what I dessserve.~ I hissed to her softly.

~You can\'t believe that...~

~Enough, I will not talk of thisss.~ I hissed to her angrily, not for the first time.

~Yes massster.~ She said but I didn\'t correct her and after making sure that she was hidden stepped out of my cupboard and locked it.


\"I\'m ready.\" I said softly when the others noticed I had returned to the living room.

\"Good, let\'s go.\" The man growled and brushed past me to head towards the front door followed by the woman who I then followed as well. I watched as the dark haired wizard pulled his wand out, shrunk my trunk and put it in his pocket before opening the door and stepping outside; managing to do it all still with a look of utmost contempt on his face.

\"Good-bye Uncle.\" I said softly, still looking down submissively and turned to leave.

\"Be sure to come home for the holidays.\" I heard Vernon say sweetly and for once felt true fear at what I knew was coming to me. I gave him a nod of acknowledgment without looking and then followed the witch and wizard out of the house and to the end of the street, feeling sick the whole way.

A/N: Thanks, hope you enjoyed and please review!