Fixing the past (Sirry)

Chapter 22

The days in that home were boring him considerably, and they were only three. Tomorrow would be his birthday and his release from that damned prison, once his letter arrived he could leave.

Dudley avoided him like the plague, which was amusing, when they went to the park, the chubby boy pretended he didn't exist and consequently made his friends ignore him, he managed to hang out with some kids who were eager to meet the boy they didn't see much of and who happened to live there.

Vernon Stupid Dursley tried to spread rumours about him to stop them from inquiring, but the blast of his car engine reminded him of his place, Harry couldn't hold back the evil grin that came across his face that only the Dursleys saw, well, also the wizard who lived across the street, the one hired by his aunt and uncle to live in that place and who they helped place at the Ministry with flexible hours and a house elf in his home, so any magic Harry performed couldn't be pinned on him, there would always be the question of whether the elf or the wizard did it.

He was a nice guy, Harry had only gestured at him from a distance, they never really spoke.

"Come on Dudley, the food's not bad." Insisted Petunia who looked tired from a day of cooking and yard work that Harry no longer did, and that woman had a thing with keeping her garden in better condition than her neighbours.

"But I didn't want this," complained the boy pushing his plate and spilling some of its contents on the table, "I asked you for something else."

"I wanted this," Harry said noticing that Petunia would give in, she looked at him in surprise and Dudley had a horrible grimace on his face, "I asked your mother to cook it because she was already tired of the work in the garden that you refused to help her with," he waved his hand and cleaned up Dudley's mess, "Now shut up and eat the damn noodles or go without eating, I'm very hungry and I may as well eat it myself."

That did the trick, Harry still knew his 'cousin' very well, cocky brat that he was, he didn't like Harry eating of his leftovers willingly, it wouldn't be a put down like it was when they were nearly five year old.

Harry noticed Petunia's grateful look in his direction, relieved not to have to cook again, he just rolled his eyes, he wasn't getting soft, he was just being a little shit to the brat, besides some noodles with red sauce wasn't a waste, Petunia was a good cook and that was something he couldn't deny.

In the afternoon, after tidying his room, because habits die hard even if you go back in time and no, no Kreacher, you will not clean my room unless I'm gone. He decided to go out to the park near his home to hang out, he hated being cooped up.

He went straight to the swings, he liked the sensation of feeling the air, since he couldn't fly because he was surrounded by muggles. At least the brief sensation of the wind all over his body was pleasant, he was getting more and more and more propelled.

He lost track of time and his surroundings for brief seconds, it was comforting and also stupid.

"But if it isn't the freak." That voice, one of his cousin's followers.

"Can I help you?" He began to slow down the speed at which he was rocking, without opening his eyes, still enjoying himself as much as he could.

"Actually yes," he scoffed, "We-"

"Hey guys," Dudley's euphoric and slightly terrified voice made him open his eyes to focus on him and the darkening sky, it seemed to get dark without him noticing, "What are you doing here?"

"You see, we wanted-" began one standing to the right of Harry's front.

"Cousin," spoke Harry, catching his attention with his eyes wide and fearful as a pig that saw the axe, "Your.... friends, came over to say hello I suppose."