The Memoria spell

Chapter 8 : Pain's evolution

Third pov

Before they knew it, first-year was finished, and unfortunately, Harry had to go back to the Dursley's. And if the two Slytherins thought he was living in hell before, they were very wrong; in fact, it was now even worse. They tried not to think about what would happen in the following memories of the boy's summer, but they were extremely worried. Every day the boy would cook, clean and garden. It wasn't very bad, but still, they were sure that something was about to happen. Indeed, it's during one important evening that their thought was confirmed; Vernon Dursley had invited Mr Mason and his wife for dinner, in hope to sign an important contract. Harry was told to stay quietly in his room, making no noise, and pretending he didn't exist. But unfortunately for Harry, things were never simple for him...

The three men were now following twelve years old Harry toward his room, two of them not been prepared for what was about to happen. They entered the room, immediately noting the little creature jumping on the bed. Draco's breath stopped.

"Dobby..." he whispered. Harry gave him a knowing look before turning his attention to the house-elf. They watched in silence as little Harry went to Dobby and tried to make him stop. They still didn't know what was going to happen, but they knew that it couldn't be good. 

In fact, after listening to Dobby about how it was too dangerous for 'Mister Harry Potter Sir' to go back to Hogwarts, they were now following a fast creature going down the stairs and into the kitchen, where he stopped in front of a big decorated cake. 

"If Harry Potter doesn't listen to Dobby, then Dobby is going to make sure Harry Potter can't return to Hogwarts," he said, snapping his fingers. The cake began to fly toward Mrs Mason. 

"Dobby! Please stop, I'm gonna be in trouble!" Harry begged, only for the house-elf to smile sadly,

"Harry Potter must promise not to go back to Hogwarts."

"No! Absolutely not, all but that!"

The boy just had time to finish his sentence before the cake went above the woman's head, ready to fall. Harry rushed as silently as he could to the couch, putting his hands around the cake, ready to catch it. Unfortunately, he wasn't as fast as he thought he was, so when Dobby snapped his fingers again, the beautiful cake fell right on Mrs Mason's head. Harry turned back to the kitchen, horrified, only to see that Dobby had disappeared. Without a second, he felt a hand grab his shirt and pull him toward his room angrily. He looked up to see his uncle face, which was now an ugly purple. Said uncle quickly threw him inside his room, before closing the door and locking it. 

He stayed there, sitting on the cold floor, an expression of pure fear on his face. The two Slytherins were looking at him worriedly, while present Harry was sitting calmly on the bed, a sad look in his eyes. After an hour, loud footsteps were heard in the stairs, and a moment later his uncle was there, his belt ready in his hand. Harry immediately stiffened and looked at the man in fear. He began to beg him not to do anything, promising that it wasn't his fault, but he knew it wasn't going to change anything. He didn't even receive an answer before being thrown on the wall.

"Remove your shirt." 

"P-Please U-Uncle Vernon, Sir, I promise...It wasn't my fault I wouldn't do something like that-"

"SHUT UP!" the man screamed, making his belt flick aggressively in the air. 

Harry flinched. His whole body was trembling, and he could feel the first tear falling down his cheek. He couldn't believe that this was happening. He truly never thought his uncle was going to use anything else but his hands and feet to punish him, but as the first lash hit his back, he didn't have another choice but to face it; he just felt the pain of the belt for the first time.

Severus couldn't believe it; the boy was twelve! Even his own father had waited till he was fourteen to use the belt. Guilt and fury were burning inside him, fighting to show up. He inhaled deeply; he couldn't let his emotions show, even if for once it was tempting. He was the adult here, it wasn't his place to break down. One look at his godson confirmed his thought; the boy looked miserable...And Harry...The poor thing was in a small ball on the bed, hands on his ears, and his body was shaking uncontrollably. Without another thought, the man slowly went to the boy, trying not to hear the sounds of lashing and the little whimpers of the twelve years old. Once beside Harry, he slowly sat down on the bed, before taking him in his arms and sitting him on his laps, hugging him firmly, yet still in a comforting manner. The boy jolted up, surprised, before calming down and appreciating the first hug he had in a long time. 

Draco couldn't believe his own eyes. It wasn't even the boy's fault, yet he was there, suffering for something he didn't do. He was trying in vain to keep tears from falling, but as another lash rang out in the room, he broke down. He didn't know what he was feeling, but he knew one thing: Harry would not suffer anymore. He was going to protect him with all he had, even if he had to feel pain himself, but the boy deserved to have a peaceful life. Feeling his godfather move, he looked up to see him going to the Gryffindor and, quite surprisingly, hugging him. The man then rubbed slow circles on the boy's back, trying to comfort him. And when Severus finally looked up and locked eyes with Draco, he knew that Snape, too, was going to protect his friend. 

The Dursley's were lucky not to be there because they wouldn't be breathing anymore...