Returned

11

A pair of green eyes blinked open.

A woman's shrill voice is heard yelling, "Up! Now!"

Harry slowly rose up and flinched slightly at the sound of banging on the door

Sirius growled at the sight of his bruised and fearful ten year old godson.

"I said now!" A series of footsteps receded from the small space.

Harry swung his legs to the floor, and the first good visual of him is seen.

He's small, skinny, and bruised.

Harry is suddenly engulfed in a hug by his father, "son, I'm so sorry."

"Dad its nobodies fault besides Dumbledore, I never have and never will blame you."

James gives a small smile and goes back to comforting Lily.

Abruptly the cupboard began to shake as dust spilled from the ceiling above Harry's head.

Harry takes a pair of cheap looking eyeglasses from a nail on the wall.

"Are those being held together by duct tape?"

Harry nods and gives a small chuckle, "yeah they didn't want to pay for the replacements."

Remus scowled but held his tongue in fear of upsetting Harry.

Harry comes out of the cupboard, blinking at the sudden brightness coming from the hallway. He watches as his enormous cousin, Dudley, jumps down the last step of the stairs.

Petunia is suddenly visible as the memory pans to the kitchen,, "There's my birthday boy! Don't you look smart for your trip to the zoo."

She is seen smiling one minute then as soon as she lays her eyes on harry the kind look in her eyes vanishes into a sinister scowl causing the young boy to look down at the floor in sadness.

Ginny looks at Harry and sees him clench his jaw, she rubs his shoulder hoping to offer him any comfort she can.

"You...boy...mind the bacon. Don't dare let it burn, I want everything perfect on my Dimpin's special day!"

"What the fuck is a Dimpin?"

Harry gives a genuine laugh, "Petunia had all kinds of pet names for Dudley, don't worry there will be more."

Harry responds to his aunt in a shaky and quiet voice, "Yes, aunt Petunia."

As harry enters she kitchen he sees his uncle Vernon sitting already and reading the newspaper behind a mountain of presents.

Vernon looks up, "Coffee, boy."

"Yes, uncle Vernon."

Harry poured the coffee jumping slightly as Vernon grips his shoulder, "If i see one piece of food even slightly burnt you'll be sorry boy."

Ron clenches his fists in anger, "I swear if he weren't already in prison I'd kill him myself."

Lily perks up at the news, "He's put away?"

Harry nods, "Ginny actually got him sent there after I told her about my childhood."

Everyone gives Ginny a grateful smile as she blushes under the praise.

Harry quickly nods before standing off to the side of the table watching the bacon cook.

Dudley is seen entering the kitchen and complaining about the amount of presents on the table.

"How many are there?"

Vernon tells him there are thirty six, which is immediately followed by a tantrum from Dudley demanding more.

Petunia shoves harry to the side as she makes her way towards her blubbering son, "Now, here's what we'll do. Today, when we're out, we'll buy you two more presents. How's that, pumpkin?"

Dudleys tears miraculously dry up immediately as he tries to do the math in his head.

"You'll have thirty eight poplin." Harry can't stop himself from mocking his cousins spoiled behavior.

Sirius snorts, causing Remus to chuckle slightly which set off James into a full cackle, "I'm glad to know they didn't snuff out you attitude prongslet."

All they got from harry was a smile and an eye roll

He's immediately cuffed on the head by his aunt and sent a threatening look from his uncle.

"Mind the bacon!"

Harry is forced to watch, with a frown on his face, as his cousin opens all of his presents and is appraised by his parents for his poor behavior.

The mood in the room switched right back to solemn as they watched little Harry to be not only restricted from eating but having to watch the Dursleys fill their stomachs.

Harry just waved them off.

Suddenly the phone rings causing harry to slightly flinch, petunia answers and seems to be displeased by the person on the other side of the line.

"Bad news. Mrs. Figgs broke her leg, she can't take him."

The elder Dursleys try to offer more solutions on what to do with harry as he sits and listens.

"We could phone Yvonne!"

Petunia shakes her head furiously, "Don't be silly, she hates the thing."

Harry appears slightly hurt, "You could just leave me here."

"Cub who was Yvonne?"

Harry shifts his focus towards Remus, "She was one of Vernons sisters, at the time i didn't know she hated me so hearing it from them hurt a bit."

Vernon gets up and grabs harry face in a bruising grip, "And come back to the place in ruins? Try again boy!"

He roughly lets go and stalks back to the table as Harry sits quietly and completely still.

Dudley starts blubbering about how he doesn't want harry to come in fear of him ruining his birthday with his freakishness.

He is instantly assured by Petunia that they will make sure Harry won't be up to anything.

"If the boy even steps one toe out of place he will pay for it...Won't you!"

Harry nods shakily, "you won't even notice i'm there."