Circus Magic

In the beginning

POV third person

Harry had been living with the Durslys for about 4 and a half years. When the final straw reached the camel's back. They had made him do all the chores, starved him, locked him in a closet and beat him.

The final straw came from something relatively small. They would not let him go to to school or give him books to study himself. He had always like the idea of school because it presented a chance to learn, get away for a while and make friends.

POV Harry

Tonight I guess I bothered my uncle to much about my want to go to school or learn in some way. He beat me more than he ever had before all while saying that a freak like me didn't deserve an education.

I sat in my "room" wondering what I ever did to deserve this. I look over to the pile of tattered, old clothes that I was given because my cousin out grew them and came up with an idea. I would run away.

I tied up one of the shirts into a make shift bag and put everything I owned into it. A single picture of my parents I got from my aunt as an example of who not to be like and all the old clothes.

After I finish packing I looked at the door of the closet I was in hoping my uncle forgot to lock it tonight. I reach up to try and open the door to find it locked. I look at the lock, my hope for escape being lost more by the second, when I hear I quiet click. I reach up to find the door unlocked. I figured it is probably a trick but still take the chance.

I open the door a quietly as I can and peek out. The lights are out and the hall is silent other than the snoring I can hear coming from the rooms. I tiptoe through the hallway to the front door. I look around one more time before opening the front door and leaving.

When I get outside I silently cheer. I jump when I hear a small but powerful voice beside me. I look over to see no one. Confused, I crouch on the grass to get a feel for my surroundings. I see a snake in the grass and decide to talk to the little thing.

" Finally, I am as free as you little guy." I say in the direction of the snake. He looks up at me before responding.

" Young speaker how were you not free?"

I shake in shock before talking again. " How can you speak English and what do you mean speaker?"

"You and I are not speaking English and speaker refers to people who speak the language of snakes."

I look the the snake before responding. As I respond I can hear and feel my self hissing. " Ok, wow. I guess I should answer your first question I was not free because the people in that house used me as a slave." I knew what a slave was because one time my uncle fell asleep during a documentary about the American civil war and I heard them talking about slavery.

" I am sorry young one I am glad you are free now."

"Yeah me too. My name is Harry by the way. What is your name?"

"Yumi. It means corn in Chinese and I am a magical corn snake so I thought it would fit."

"Cool name. So Yumi can I pick you up so I can start walking? Also what do you mean by magical, magic isn't real."

"You may." She says so I pick her up and start walking. " So about magic, it is real. You are a wizard so I am surprised you didn't know but let me explain. Through out the world there are witches and wizards. They have their own society away from non magical beings. Magicals have made many different types of non magical animals and bred them to make them magical. They keep these animals as pets."

" So if I am a wizard does that mean that I can use magic."

"Yes dear child."

We keep walking through the darkness and talking about magic. I see lights and a large tent break through the darkness and head inside. I see people sweeping and putting things away. I look around and spot a older boy. I walk over and talk to him.

"Hello." I say shyly

"Oh hi there." He says as he turns around. He looks at my bruises and cuts in shock "Are you alright? Who did this to you?"

I curl slightly into my self before shaking my head and starting to cry. The boy picks me up and holds me to his chest.

"It's ok. I am going to go take you to my dad, he owns this circus."

He walks out of the main tent and over to one of the side ones that is blocked off by some rope. He walks into the biggest side tent. I look over to see a man that looks like the boy carrying me.

"Dad." The boy says and the man turned around. The man looks at the boy and then me.

"Who is this?" The man says in a kind and friendly voice. Even though his voice is kind I pull a little closer to the boy and Yumi pokes her head out of my shirt to comfort me.

"I don't know he came up to me in the main tent. He said hi to me but nothing else. He has bruises and cuts all over him but when I asked about them he started crying."

The man looks over at me with concern before talking again.

"Rowan can you bring him over here."

Rowan walks over to his father and sits on the bed with me on his lap. His father starts to talk again.

"So how old are you?" He asks. I hold up  5 fingers. " Oh your five." I nod. " When is your birthday?"

" It was yesterday." I say barely above a whisper.

" Ok July 31 what a nice birthday. My name is Nickolas, I go by Nick. What is your name."

I look down at Yumi she nods. "Harry." I say even quieter than last time.

"Ok Harry where are your parents they are probably looking for you?"

" My parents are dead." I whisper.

"Oh so who takes care of you."

"Technically or truly?"

"Both."

" Technically my aunt and uncle. Truly no one."

" Where did you get those bruises and cuts harry?" He ask in a soft non threatening voice.

"Uncle." I say so quietly that it is barely audible.

He looks at me sadly and then picks up his phone. "Hi. This is Nickolas Stewart I run the Stewart family circus. I have a small boy here named Harry. He is covered in bruises and cuts." There was a pause as he listened to the person on the other side. " He said it was his uncle." Another pause. " Ok see you tomorrow." He hung up the phone and looked over at us. " He is staying the night, he can sleep in your room Rowan. The police will be here to talk to him in the morning."

With that Rowan stands up and walks out of the tent and into a different one. The bed in this room has dark red sheets with music notes. He sets me down on the bed and I scoot to the side as he lays down Yumi situates herself under my shirt feeling calmer and safer than I ever have I drift to sleep.