"So, Dudders," Marge continued with a smile, "I'm simply saying that if the boy was one of my dogs he wouldn't have seen his first year. And his bitch mother would've shortly followed behind him."
Harry lifted his gaze to scan the table. Dudley surprisingly was looking rather uncomfortable at the direction things had turned. Vernon however was happily nodding along and Petunia simply gave a little noncommittal shrug. Harry desperately tried to remember why he needed to remain controlled. That letting go would only confirm what Marge was saying about him.
"I hear that you managed to find some foolish woman to take him off your hands, Vernon. It would be only appropriate for her to perish along with him as they leave in the same manner as the brat's parents. It would serve them all – "
"SHUT UP!" Harry screamed. Insulting him was one thing. He was used to it. Insulting his parents was completely different. Insulting Shiva for rescuing him was the last straw. "I've had enough," Harry continued in a voice barely above a whisper. "All I've ever done to you people was be born. I gave up trying to get you to care a long time ago and I understand that you hate me. I don't even really care anymore. But you will not insult my parents! My parents who DIED to SAVE me! And you will not insult the one person in my life who is getting me away from you and your poison!" Harry was standing with his fists on the table. He left the rune stones in his belt so that he wasn't tempted to use them. If he could get out of this without resorting to them it'd be a bonus.
The way that both Vernon and Marge's faces were purpling though…it didn't seem likely. "How dare you, you little freak!" Vernon shouted. "We put a roof over your head for years! We feed you! We clothe you!"
"You throw rags at me that I have to staple to fit into!" Harry yelled back. "You stuck me in a cupboard! You leave me scraps!"
"It is more than you or your precious parents ever deserved!" Marge sneered. "You should've died with those fools that night! I don't know for sure what you are doing for this woman claiming you but it is certain to be unnatural! She should be ashamed of herself to allow her body to be defiled by you – "
Harry lost all control at that. The windows in the kitchen blew out and the table flipped. Marge flew into the wall leaving a whale sized dent. Her dog, Ripper, flew towards Harry for daring to attack his mistress. Harry just ripped off the Boomstone and activated it. The localized silencing charm snapped into place around him while a piercing screech was let off just beyond his bubble. It was strong enough in the enclosed space that Harry felt the sound reverberate in his bones. The Boomstone cut off after a second but the damage was done. Ripper had fled to the backyard, Dudley was cowering in the corner behind the overturned table, Petunia was leaning against the counter for support and Marge was still stuck half in the wall. Only Vernon was up. His ears were bleeding as he reached for Harry but Harry grabbed for his Concussor and held it aloft pointed towards the man.
"Go ahead, Uncle," Harry whispered. He didn't know if the whale could hear him or not but either way, Vernon proved to be mildly more intelligent than Harry had initially assumed: he stopped. "I'm leaving. I hope Voldemort finds you and your family." Harry twisted and stalked out of the room. He pressed the Lockpick to the door of the cupboard and it popped open. Grabbing his trunk Harry stormed out of the house all his belongings held in one little container.
Harry practically ran down several blocks before coming to a halt. He turned back in the direction of Number 4 Privet Drive and scowled. A low whine from behind him had Harry twisting back around in an instant with Concussor held up. Whatever was making the noise was hidden in the bushes. Harry carefully put down his trunk and popped it open pulling out his wand before shutting it again. The Concussor was useful, but not very versatile after all. "Hello?" Harry asked into the dark. Now that he was starting to calm down again he was starting to get worried at the amount of magic he had just performed at his former house. If he could get away with not using his wand, that would be preferable at this point.
A thin, mangy looking, giant, black dog crawled out of the bushes. The animal was huge, but it looked so sad and…well, pathetic, that Harry dropped the Concussor back onto his belt. "It's okay, boy, I'm not going to hurt you. You seem nicer than Ripper at least." The dog cocked its head at Harry and gave a soft woof before picking itself up and padding over to him. Harry petted the dog's head and it panted its enjoyment. Squirming away from his hand, the dog reached up to lick his face and Harry laughed. The dog then reached out to his hand still holding his wand and nosed it up. "I'd prefer to keep a hold of this for the moment, buddy," Harry chuckled as the dog lifted his arm up towards the street with its persistence.
Barely a moment passed before there was a soft bang and a large purple, double-decker bus sprang into existence out of nowhere and came to a crashing halt on the sidewalk next to Harry. The boy jumped back landing on his ass and the dog gave a woof that sounded practically like a laugh. Shaking his head Harry stared at the obnoxious vehicle.
The doors opened and a pimply head poked out, "Knight Bus at your service, sir. Last respite for the stranded witch or wizard too pissed to apparate home! I'm Stan Shunpike, how may I help you today?"
Harry just gaped at the man. He shook his head before muttering, "Well, I guess that's one way to get to Shiva's." Harry picked himself up and grabbed his trunk thanking his lucky stars that Shiva had mentioned her address in her last letter. "How much to go to Colchester? Say 73 Northgate Street?" Harry saw the dog cock its head at that and let out a small woof.
"Hmm, Colchester eh? 'Bout a galleon. That would include a hot chocolate too."
"Deal." Harry grabbed his trunk and turned to the dog but it had already disappeared back into the night. "Good luck, buddy. Hope your night ends better than mine started."
Harry left the knight bus behind and stumbled up the steps of Shiva's apartment complex working hard to ignore his still flip-flopping stomach. Leaning against the wall outside her door for a moment to regain his equilibrium Harry eventually tamed his body enough to knock.
A muffled curse sounded from the other side after Harry knocked twice more. "Do you bloody know what time it is?" Shiva's voice grouched from within. She opened the door with murder written in her features until her eyes lit upon Harry standing in front of the portal to the apartment. Shiva's anger melted into concern and she wrapped Harry into a hug. "Jeez kid, what the hell are you doing here at this time of night? What happened?"
She pulled him into the apartment and kicked his trunk to the side as she shut the door again. Hedwig hooted amicably from her perch in the corner of the living room and Harry waved at his familiar. Shiva sat him down at the kitchen table and moved to the side. "So, how bad is it and how awake do I need to be for this conversation?"
"Err," Harry said looking down at his rune belt, "somewhere between a 6 and 9? How much trouble I get in will probably end up depending on just how much Mafalda Hopkirk hates me and how much Amelia Bones likes me. In terms of wakefulness probably about a first class of the day level."
Shiva sighed and set a teakettle of water on to boil. "Great. So tea for you and one cup of coffee for me." She plopped down into a chair across from him and Harry finally got a good look at his friend. It was blatantly obvious she had been sleeping before he knocked on her door. Her shoulder length brown hair was arrayed around her face not unlike Hermione's first year norm and her eyes were tired slits. The t-shirt she was wearing was large hanging down to a few inches above her thighs. Harry realized with slightly burning cheeks that she was wearing a pair of tight boyshorts and was suddenly very thankful that at least she hadn't answered the door in panties.
"Why are you green?" Shiva asked squinting at him.
"I uh, took the Knight Bus here," Harry grimaced. "I swear, literally ever form of wizarding transit I've experienced so far hates me."
Shiva laughed in commiseration with him. "If it helps, everyone hates the Knight Bus. My aunt was convinced that it's deliberately horrible to make people less inclined to drink enough that they can't apparate anymore. Considering it's mostly used by minors these days though it seems counterproductive to me." The pot whistled and Shiva poured Harry the tea and got the coffee set up for herself. "Alright, tell me what happened."
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