Chapter Text
Better Life
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Date: Harry Age 8
There was a boy who lived in the cupboard under the stairs. He was a quiet boy, a shy boy, and a very intelligent boy.
He knew that his treatment wasn't natural, wasn't the way things were. Especially when he compared his life to that of his cousin Dudley.
He lived in a Cupboard but Dudley had two bedrooms.
He was given only the bare minimums, but Dudley had enough food to feed an army.
He was yelled at for knowing something while Dudley was praised for being stupid.
He was called Freak. Abnormal. Waste of Space. While Dudley was called Sweety. Special one. The shining apple of one's eye.
Dudley had his parents while he was told his died in a car crash. One that happened because of his no good lousy jobless drunk of a father.
For the longest time he accepted this as true, believed that he was unloved, unworthy.
But then it happened.
It was spring and the Dursley's were cleaning the house. Harry was told by his Aunt to put some boxes into the attic.
Despite this being difficult he did it, he had learned not to question.
So Harry went to the attic and began moving boxes around to try and make room.
That was when IT was found. It was a box that at first seemed just like any others but it was labeled differently. It had flowers all over it and the word 'Lily' on top of it.
Though he tried to hide the fact Harry was a curious boy, and so he opened the box and saw a note on it. One he quickly began reading.
'To my Darling Sister. I know we haven't talked in years but with everything going on around me I couldn't let our last argument be the last thing said. As I look down at my precious Harry I find myself both fearful and hopeful, fearful for the now but hopeful for the future he will live in. It is for that future that I make the plans I do, work on the projects I am working on, and why James and I are going into hiding.
Know this Petunia, though we parted ways angry I have never stopped loving you and hoping that we could regain the closeness we had in our youth. To that end I have sent you some of that which were ours so that hopefully you may remember those good times.'
Harry blinked in shock and awe. His parents weren't no good bums, in fact he could tell the opposite. They were important and they seemed to matter. He was about to put the letter away when he noticed a shimmer at the bottom. Upon hearing a sudden noise he looked away but then when nothing happened he looked down at words that he must have missed before.
'To Harry, my precious bundle of joy and light.
If you are seeing this then the worst has happened and your father and I have passed on. But even more it seems you have been put into the care of my sister. Why this was so I do not know, but know that it is not what either your father or I wanted for you.
Oh my son, my precious son, there is so much I wish I could say but sadly I don't have the time. But know that we love you, always have and always will, and us leaving this world will not change that. I will end this letter by giving you a bit of advice - be true to yourself, no matter how hard it might be, and know with no doubt that whatever you become you have our love.
Your Mum’
Harry cried.
Unfortunately it wasn't for long because he knew that he would be called down to continue the moving. Giving the box one last longing look he continued on the duties assigned to him.
But it changed. He changed. He was no longer the boy who didn't see any point.
No, he would take the words of his parents and be the best he could be. No matter how hard it was. No matter the pain.
He would not be defeated. He would not let others tear him down.
He was Harry Potter. Son of James and Lily Potter. He was loved.
He would not hide.
8888
It was during recess that Harry was asked to stay back for a moment. When the rest of his classmates had left two other adults walked in.
"Mr Potter there is some worry that you cheated on your last assignment." Says Mrs Friz, his reading teacher.
Harry responds with a snort. "Of course there is. So are you willing to give me some work or test right now so that I can prove I know what I am talking about."
The adults look at each other at the response Harry gave them. Deciding to ignore the rudeness for now Mr Smith then says, "Yes we are." Then a pause. "Before you do it do you want us to contact your guardians to get their permission."
"No. In fact I'd rather they not know anything." Is Harry's firm response. To the adults this meant they realized that not everything was great at home, though they didn't entirely know what to do or how bad it was.
"Okay then," said Ms Wilmer, "we will give you the test and grade it tonight. Tomorrow we will meet again and give you the result. Does that sound good."
With Harry's nod they had him the test and sit back to quietly watch him complete it. Twenty minutes later, which was a few minutes before the recess ended, Harry gave a quick smile and looked up.
Before he could say anything Mr Smith kindly said, "All finished." With Harry's nod he continued, "okay then, thank you lad. Now if you need to feel free to go to the rest room before heading to your next class."
Which is what Harry did.
8888
At the end of the day, when all the students had left but before the teachers departed, the three adults gathered again to discuss the test result.
"He got only a single question wrong." Said Ms Wilmer.
"Yes, and it was a question with a trick answer on a topic that doesn't get taught till ninth year." Was what Mrs Friz said.
Nodding at her Mr Smith then comments. "Well its clear, Harry Potter did not cheat. The work is his own no matter what anyone else has said."
"Which basically means we should rethink the idea that he is the troublemaker and that his cousin is the innocent one." Says Ms Wilmer.
"The semester is almost over, why don't we see if we can have the two put into different classes. With Harry's class being as advanced as we can put him in without causing too much attention." Says Mrs Friz.
"I agree. Let's not go high enough that we need guardian permission for the class. For I don't think they would give it." Says Mr Smith.
"Considering I have seen Mrs Dursley pick up Dudley while making it so Harry has to walk home, I can completely believe the idea that they wouldn't approve such things." Was what Ms Wilmer said.
Mr Smith shook his head at that. "Right then so let us meet with Harry tomorrow and see what he wants to do. If he doesn't want to go into a higher class then it won't help anyone to push him." A pause. "Any other comments and such or can we head out." With that said the group separated.
8888
The next day Harry was once again asked by his three teachers to stay back in the classroom when recess began. Nodding politely he of course followed their instructions.
It was Mrs Friz who spoke first. "Harry dear, I must say you did amazing on the test. You only got one question wrong, a question which was a bit of a trick one - its ninth year material. So good job on that you did really well." She then smiles widely at him, a smile shared by the other two as well.
Harry smiles back, really pleased at the compliment. "Thank you. I'm happy to hear that." There is a bit of blush on his face.
"You did really well," said Ms Wilmer, "which is why we thought of a way that you can continue to excel. Next semester we will put you in a different class then your cousin, that way you can work without his presence. The class you would be in would be the highest class we can put a student in without guardian permission. Does that sound good for you."
"Of course. The Dursley's would never give such a permission, so if its something that you could do without them, do it. I will work hard and not hide my actual skills." Harry says.
"Like you had been doing, right."
"Yes, the Dursley's weren't happy when I out performed Dudley. I recently decided that I didn't care whether they were happy or not about it, which is why my work has been improving."
"Would I be right in my thought that you had to make sure Dudley didn't take your work and use it as his own." Said Mr Smith with a calm and steady tone of voice.
"Yes. Though I found ways around it." Seeing their look of interest Harry continued. "I walked to school using a different way then Dudley knew about and I got permission from Mr Bradley to enter the school from the back door. But us having different classes would stop such an act - even if he stole my work and passed it off as his it would be higher than what he was learning." Harry says with a smile.
There was a pause at that and then Mrs Friz, who had been teaching in schools for a really long time asked. "Would you like us to report the behaviors of your cousin and guardians to the police."
"No." Harry says shaking his head. "Someone tried a few years ago and all it got me was the adult being transferred to another district and more of the neighborhood thinking I'm a bully."
Harry then seems to look at the three adults as if seeing if he could trust them. Seeming to make a decision Harry continues, "The Dursley's said my parents died in a car crash, where they were drunk." Ignoring their shock he went on, "I know that is a lie, I have listened to the Dursley's when they don't think I am paying attention. It seems I was placed with them for a reason, as a means of protecting me." A shrug. "As I said I don't know why but I know it to be true."
"Okay then," Mr Smith says, "we will take your word on that and not do anything blatant. Rather we will work the system so it aids and protects you."
"Why are you doing this," a pause, "not that I'm not grateful, but why?" Harry asked confused, never before did adults actually try and help him.
"You are special," says Mrs Friz, "and I can see that. You are a good boy in a bad environment, one which somebody seems to want you to stay in."
"Though we cannot change that," continues Ms Wilmer, "we can make other things better. Like signing you up for a school meal plan, which doesn't need guardian permission if approved by multiple teachers."
"We can also put you in the most advanced standard classes we can that don't need guardian permission." A smile comes to Mrs Friz as she continues, "which most people don't realize is a pretty advanced class."
"I would also like you to join the football team as I think you would do well there." Then Mr Smith gives Harry a sneaky smile. "By doing that we would have greater influence in matters of nutrition and health. Without needing to go to the Dursley's for every little thing."
"They would not agree with that." Harry says though his eyes gleam with interest.
"They couldn't say no, not really, not with the way we will describe it to them. Plus its school sponsored so they won't have to spend anymore money on it, which should sweaten the deal. The benefit is that you would need to keep up the grades, which we all know you want to do, so it would solve that as well."
Harry nods at them all. "Thank you for that. I am really grateful for the fact that you would be willing to do this for me."
This would be a change that would make the rest of the time at the Dursley's that much more pleasant for him.
8888
"What is this boy!" Vernon yells a few days later as he reads through the report card of both his son and Harry's. "How dare you beat Dudley in every single class."
Ducking the swat that Vernon attempted to give him, since Harry expected it, he answers. "Of course I got better grades then him, I'm actually smart and understand the material."
Getting even reder in his face but before he can say anything Petunia continues to read the document. "What is this nonsense about you having different classes then Dudley and being signed up to play football."
Vernon then screams. "I won't allow it. To the cupboard with you for the week. You will get no food from us." Vernon says, his nerves popping.
Before he could leave Petunia, who was still looking at the notes, said out loud. "Stop boy. Vernon look at this," saying as she hands her husband the note.
Reading it Vernon just sits down heavily in his chair, shocked by what he is reading. Afterward he glares at Harry but doesn't say anything. Then he says, "go outside boy and weed the garden, Petunia and I need to discuss this. Same with you Dudley."
Harry, knowing that things are on the cusp of being a bit better than they were does not say anything, he just turns around and heads outside to do what he was ordered. Though he would never say anything he didn't mind the orders to take care of the back flower garden, it actually felt relaxing to Harry. It was the same with cooking, he actually enjoyed that activity - though on that he wished he could enjoy the food he made.
As soon as the freak, as they thought of him was gone, as was their precious son the two talked.
"We need to change things if we don't want others to know about the freak." Petunia says unhappy, she never wanted him after all and only took him in by force.
"Yes." Vernon says just as unhappy. "We won't be able to deny either the classes or him playing sports, since its recognized as an honor."
"At least we don't need to spend any money on that, the school pays for it all." Petunia says thinking of the one shining light to it all.
"That is good." A deep sigh, like one a walrus would make comes from Vernon. "We need to move him into an actual bedroom, with him playing sports it would cause uncomfortable questions. Dudley won't like loosing his toy room, but we will need to do it."
"We will tell the boy when he comes back later," is Petunia's response since she is in agreement with her husband.
8888
Later that night the four are gathered in the kitchen a little before dinner needed to be prepared. Vernon was the one who decided to begin speaking. "We discussed it and will agree to you playing football and taking higher classes. Due to that we are moving you to the smallest bedroom rather than keeping you where you are now."
Whatever he was going to say next was cut off by Dudley wailing about how its his bedroom too and how he needed it for his stuff and how it was unfair.
In a moment between two rants Petunia says, "its okay Dudders, mummy will be buying you three presents for all the trouble this is going to cause." Dudley immediately stops crying his fake tears at the promise of presents.
Vernon then says to Harry, "now boy there are some things you need to know. You will cook us breakfast every day and aid in making dinner. You will also weed the backyard and take care of the flower beds. I don't want to hear anything freakish out of you while you do this. Do you hear me."
Harry just nods, not wanting to say anything as it would probably cause the situation to not be as positive as its going.
"Good. Now go move your stuff to the new room and then once that is done clean up to help Petunia on cooking." Vernon says with a growl at Harry and then turns to Dudley with a smile, "let us go to the store Dudley and get your gifts."
After leaving the kitchen to go move his stuff - few as they may be - from the cupboard under the stairs Harry couldn't help but smile. He knew that this would change things for him, and for the better. He knew that they were still going to be mean but at least he would eat well and have a bigger space to read. All it took was a number of teachers who decided to take a risk and speak to him first before putting in any complaints.
Soon a new pattern to his live began. He would get up early to make breakfast each day, which interestingly enough was something he actually grew to like even more than before. He choose to experiment with the food he did, though he would hide such changes from Vernon and Dudley. He could tell that Petunia noticed, though she never said anything, because she began buying different and better food items for him to use. He was allowed to eat the food he made as well, which began the process of helping him to undo years of neglect.
Then, on week days, he would head to school. He would walk while Dudley was given a ride, which actually suited him just fine. He enjoyed the walk, it gave him time to clear his end and organize his thoughts. Once at school he would enter either in the back door or the through the gym, as his coach welcomed him to.
His classes were amazing, he was in all the advanced classes - some even slightly higher than his age group. He was learning all sorts of things and for the first time he wasn't holding back his answers for fear of what would happen. Some of the teachers even gave him assignments and projects on the side, seeing how he wanted to know more.
During receses he would spend time in the library, a place that Dudley would never willingly go to which made him safe. At the end of the day he would take some time to run around the track, under the watchful eyes of the coach. The one time Dudley tried to bully him there the teacher came out immediately and started yelling at him. With multiple adults seeing it the Dursley's couldn't even blame Harry, though they wanted to. In the end they just told Dudley to stay away from Harry at school, which he mostly followed.
On days with practice he would join them, the same with game nights. When it was over he would walk home, which again he was fine with as it gave him a chance to think over the day. When it was a game night the coach brought him home, so the Dursley's didn't even have to worry about it.
On those days he got home early enough he would spend some time outside working in the back garden. He wasn't really told to do it beyond that first day, he did it on his own since he enjoyed it. It wasn't long before Petunia had the best kept and designed plant beds in the whole neighborhood, not that anyone say good job to Harry. Harry shrugged at that, not really caring, as he did it now because he enjoyed it.
After working outside he would take a quick shower and clean up. Then he would either read, study, or do home work in his room before heading downstairs to aid Petunia in making dinner. Though he didn't do it all he did assist, and with that assistance came experimentation once again. Though no thanks were ever given to him, the Dursley household - which in this case also included Harry - did eat better than they ever did before. A part of this was seen in the fact that both Dudley and Vernon lost a bit of weight, while Harry gained some pounds - though they were healthy pounds.
After dinner Harry would assist in washing the dishes - though Petunia never made him do it all, which was a surprise to Harry. Afterward he would either go outside to finish any chores he didn't do, or more likely, he would head to his room. He would read, study, or do homework. What the Dursley's didn't know is that Harry had taken some of the equipment that Dudley had broken to school and had asked the shop teachers to assist him in fixing them. Harry would watch the teachers and learn what they were doing, when they felt it was safe enough to let the boy do that. In time this would lead to Harry having both a TV, gaming system, and computer in his room. Through the use of a headset the Dursley's never knew Harry used any of them.
He would go to bed pretty early most nights as he knew he had to get up early the next day to make breakfast. But he was fine with that.
On weekends, after breakfast, he would do some outside chores before heading out. Having permission, no matter how reluctantly given, Harry would either go to the library or, though this was more rarely, to the local park. The library was where he went most days so he could enjoy a Dudley free existence. The park was where he went when he wanted to exercise, he always made sure other adults were present so as to keep Dudley away from him.
Harry still didn't really have any friends, Dudley being Dudley still drove them away, but that was mostly okay. It was a trade off but at least the adults in the community no longer thought of him as a delinquent. In fact, after learning of his academic excellence and sports ability, many began to realize the fact that it probably was never him. Which caused many to begin watching in order to truly see what was going on. This would, though nobody ever said anything to Harry, lead many of them to realize that it was Dudley that was the cause of all the problems and not Harry.
Thus was Harry's schedule from when the three teachers (and joined by his coach Mr Wallace) took notice that something was wrong and worked to try and make it better. It would remain the standard of Harry's life till the coming of his Hogwarts acceptance letter.
~~~