To Welcome You Home

Chapter 2

Harry was exhausted.

He spent the last few days using the 'train fare' money his Uncle gave him to buy food from the vending machines at the station, but he was running low on rations.

He managed to find a way to Diagon Alley however, so he was able to get food there, and oh how he enjoyed it. It was the first real meal he'd had all summer.

After eating, he'd gone to get his school things, and eventually he found himself at Kings Cross once again, tired, and ready for school.

Today was finally the day he could get past the platform. The day he'd go back to school. The day he'd go back home.

He gathered his things in a trolley and headed towards platforms 9 and 10, dashing towards the wall between the two, and appearing on the other end.

He pushed his glasses up and looked around.

No one was here yet...

Great.

He felt his hunger in his throat as he headed to the very last compartment, shoving his stuff in and closing the curtain, locking the door. He didn't want his friends to see him as long as he could possibly hold it off.

He took a handheld mirror out of his trunk that he had snatched from his Aunt, looking at himself.

He didn't look quite as.. Dead.. But he was still really bad.

He got a roll of scotch tape he had picked up at a nearby muggle store with a bit of the money Uncle Vernon had given him, and he began to work on re-taping his broken glasses together...

He couldn't rely on Hermione this time..

He began to hear students clamor onto the train, talking loudly and excitedly.

Harry quickly changed into his school robes, and waited.

He eventually fell asleep, and only awoke when the train jerked him awake.

He looked out the window and saw the station at Hogwarts.

He was finally home.

He stood up and unlocked the door, opening the blinds and stepping outside, hiding himself with his cloak.

He didn't want to be seen.

He headed to where the second years were going, and he heard two familiar voices not far in front of him.

"I wonder where Harry is.." Hermione mumbles with worry.

"Normally I'd be raving about wanting to eat, but I'm actually kind of worried.. I saw him being dragged off, rather violently, by his Uncle at the station.." Ron mumbles, and Hermione gasps and smacks her friend upside the head.

"Ronald! Why didn't you tell me?!" She shrieks, turning around and looking  through the crowd, and Harry ducked behind the person in front of him. "He could be seriously hurt! Or worse!"

"You really think so..?" Ron asks, and Hermione hits him again. "Yes! Do you know how nasty muggles can be if they don't like something?"

Harry trudged on ahead, managing to push past Ron without being recognized.

"Oy! 'Scuse you!" The redhead snapped, and Harry continued on quickly, taking a seat in the Great Hall at the very end of the table.

He laid his head down silently, his hair hiding his face from view.

Eventually everyone was seated, first years were sorted, and the food appeared.

Hermione and Ron weren't very far - in fact they were dangerously close, and Harry kept his head low as he ate silently.

Time passed and they headed upstairs to go to bed.

Harry entered the 2nd years boys dorm room with his head low.

He immediately went to the showers, and got undressed, looking at himself in the mirror.

Freak.

He shuddered and turned the water on, waiting until it was warm before stepping inside.

He showered fairly quickly, but stayed put, allowing the water to drip down his skeleton-like body, and he leaned against the shower, sitting down as the water pounded him from above.

He buried his face in his hands and...

Sobbed.

He cried so hard, he could hardly breathe to cry any more.

He suffered every day, even when he wasn't with the Dursley's... There was no escape for poor Harry Potter..

He found himself on his knees, one hand clutching at his thick, matted hair as the other one held onto his chest as he screamed into nothing, his hot tears mingling with the scalding water.

He had no one.

No family.. No friends..

There was Hermione and Ron, but.. If he couldn't bring himself to tell them the truth about his.. Life.. If he couldn't trust them with his biggest and most important secret... Were they really friends?

He wasn't sure. He'd never had friends before. How was he supposed to know this stuff?

Harry continued to cry for what seemed like hours, until he had no energy left. He was completely drained, and...

He loved it.

He loved feeling nothing.

No hurt... No pain... No joy... Just...

Nothing.

He left the shower and dried himself off, refusing to look in the mirror.

He went to bed, glad that everyone was sleeping. He didn't want to talk to anyone.

He slept peacefully, for the first time in months...