The Serpent and the Neko

Chapter 1: Shadows in the Cupboard

Harry Potter, a small boy with unruly black hair and striking green eyes, sat curled up in his cupboard under the stairs. This wasn't any ordinary cupboard; it was his prison, the place his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon banished him to whenever they grew tired of his presence. Harry wasn't just any boy, though—he was a neko, a human with cat-like features. His small, triangular ears twitched atop his head, and his tail, which he kept hidden under oversized clothes, swayed with his mood. Life with the Dursleys was a never-ending nightmare. They despised him, treating him worse than the dirt on their shoes. Uncle Vernon's heavy fists had left many bruises, while Aunt Petunia's sharp words cut deep into his soul. Dudley, their spoiled son, delighted in tormenting him, often encouraged by his parents.