Reliving the Past, Present, and Future

Chapter 3

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. New York: Scholastic, 1999. Print.

Disclaimer: Abuse is mentioned and briefly described. This may be triggering for folx.

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"It says the Vanishing Glass," said Hermione, wondering what that could mean as she inspected the silvery substance in the phial.

"Accidental magic, maybe?" said Sirius, looking hopeful. He wishes he'd been around to witness more of them. He couldn't help but smile as he remembered the only incident he'd seen when visiting the Potter's and Harry had floated James to the ceiling. He could still remember him and Lily laughing as James pouted with his arms crossed - baby Harry giggling at them all.

Those were good times, he thought wistfully.

Harry paled. Everyone would be finding out about his sleeping arrangements. And even worse... the treatment by his Uncle.

He didn't want their pity.

Hermione, Ginny, Sirius, and Lupin looked questionably at Harry who was stubbornly looking at the floor.

"Maybe we should just smash this one," said Harry quietly, still gazing intently at the floor.

"Harry, I don't think - "

"Fine," said Harry shortly, interrupting Hermione, approaching the Pensieve noticeably agitated.

"Well, go on," said Harry irritably.

Hermione looked a bit alarmed at her friend's mood swings, but obliged, pouring the contents into the Pensieve. Harry lowered his head into the basin just as Hermione disappeared.

He saw a whirl of colors and soon found himself in the Dursley's kitchen. He could see from where he was standing Aunt Petunia was glancing at the clock every few seconds, unaware that a rather large group of invisible witches and wizards were watching her every move with interest. He could also see his old bedroom in the hallway and noticed his Aunt Petunia glancing in its direction shrewdly.

"Boy needs to get up before he gets whipped," his aunt muttered under her breath, shaking her head.

Everyone's expression was split between amused and uneasy. She must be joking, right?

Hermione was a fast learner as she thought about Harry's aunt's words and the glances towards the cupboard under the stairs.

"Wait, wait, stop!" shouted Hermione suddenly, feeling very much out of character as her mind quickly put the pieces together.

Aunt Petunia stopped mid-way of cutting the carrots for the dinner's roast.

Harry was slowly inching away from Hermione, a feeble attempt to avoid attention.

"Harry - you - why -" she was clutching her throat, her mouth slightly parted as Harry's face reddened in shame and embarrassment.

"It's not a big deal," Harry said quietly.

Evidently, this was the wrong thing to say.

Hermione's scowl was fierce as she grabbed a bewildered Ron by the wrist and dragged him over to Harry, forcing the boys into an adjacent room.

Everyone was either annoyed or perplexed with what transpired but jumped as the memory came back to life.

They saw the woman that was Harry's aunt make her way towards the hall and everyone was surprised when she started banging on the cupboard under the stairs.

"UP!" she suddenly screeched, making everyone wince.

They heard a soft groan being emitted from the cupboard.