Memory of a Wolf

Memory of a Wolf

Chapter 3 - My Family

Hans had finally relaxed in Remus' arms. The werewolf, however, had difficulty finding the boy's home. Every house looked the same and he had to check the doorplates frequently. At last, Hans had to point out that Remus only needed to walk straight ahead until he reached a house which had a green front door.

"Stupid muggle village," Remus muttered under his breath.

"Stupid mango?" Hans recited, totally bewildered.

"Ah... Nothing," Remus replied. On the way, Remus succeeded to carry a nice conversation with Hans. Although Hans always avoided answering his questions, he knew Hans had lost his parents a long time ago, and he was now living with his only relatives. When Hans told him that he was five years old, Remus wondered aloud, "Five? You look like a three-year-old!"

Hans blushed and protested, "Do not!"

"Yes you do," Remus said triumphantly. "Is this your home?" the man asked when he spotted the green front door. The kid's face fell.

"Yes," he answered in disappointment. Remus frowned. Hans was not happy to go home? How very strange.

"Could you please put me down, sir? My aunt will have my head if she sees this," Hans mumbled quietly, his green eyes darting here and there, as if being scared to be seen.

Remus sighed inwardly. The child's uncle and aunt must treat him badly. He put Hans on the ground carefully, handing the shopping bags back to the child.

"Be careful with your palms, kiddo. It still hurts," he warned gently.

Hans made no response to him, but he seemed to be struggling to say something. He opened his mouth and closed it abruptly for several times.

"What is it, child?" Remus asked, sensing the child's hesitation.

"Where do you live, sir?" Hans' innocent eyes were glowing with anticipation.

"Well, I live in Willow Drive, although I don't know how to go there right now... Never mind that. You want to see me, Hans?" Remus scratched his head sheepishly. He had forgotten that he was lost...

How embarrassing it was.

Hans' eyes became huge at his words. "That's cool! It's next to Privet Drive!" he piped, jumping up and down in excitement. He did not realize that his words would be so important for the werewolf.

"Wh- what?" Remus nearly choked in his own saliva. He couldn't believe his luck.

"Willow Drive! I often go there when I'm bored. There is a shortcut leading to it," the child grinned widely.

"Could you tell me where the shortcut is?" Remus asked with a tremor in his voice. Oh thank Merlin for that! I can go home at last!

"You see the small woodland there? Just go through it and you'll see the street sign," Hans answered enthusiastically, "There're a lot of fluffy animals too!"

"Oh! Thank you very much!" Remus nearly cried in happiness. He hugged the boy fiercely. "Hope to see you soon!" he waved to a dumbfounded Hans as he made a dash towards the woodland.

***

Hans was rooted on the spot. No one had ever hugged him before! Did this man care for him? He didn't even know the nice man's name. Hans was so involved in his thoughts that he did not notice the green front door was opened and a horse-face woman was making her way towards him.

"What are you doing here, boy? Get into the house! NOW!" the woman snapped. Before Hans could answer, he was being yanked into the hallway painfully. The woman shoved the door closed with a bang.

She turned around and faced the kid, her hands on her hips. Then she shouted.

"So, answer me. WHAT are you doing with that man?"

"Nothing ma'am," Hans mumbled. He suddenly found the tiny dot on the carpet very fascinating.

"Nothing? Then why is he helping you? Who is he?" the woman was enraged that her nephew had made friends with a stranger.

"I- I don't know his name," Hans answered, a bit frightened. Why was his aunt so mad at him?

"HA! You don't know him and he doesn't know you!" the woman imitated her nephew's childlike voice. She really did look like an ugly horse when she twisted her face. "You little liar! Who will help the good-for-nothing Harry Potter? Those who are willing or even thinking to help you are probably freaks!"

Harry, the boy once referred himself as Hans, felt a sudden surge of anger. She had no right to speak ill of that kind gentleman! He did not know where the courage came from, yet the felt the urge to defend for the man.

"He- He's not a freak!" Harry blurted out.

Harry's aunt was taken aback. However, she was quick to gain back her composure. "How dare you talk back to me? Who do you think you are? You're rubbish! Totally hopeless, just like your parents!"

"They're not!" Harry yelled. His little body was shaking with rage. He would not let anyone humiliate his deceased parents. He was starting to hear a humming noise in his ears. The woman was fuming by now and she seemed to be lost for words.

"What's it, dear?" a bulky man grunted as he made his way down the stairs. The kid and the woman were making too much noise.

"Vernon!" the woman exclaimed, "This brat let a stranger know he's living with us! He's making horrible excuses too! You know what? You don't know how nasty he looks when he talks about his parents-"

"You started it!" Harry yelled, cutting her off again. The man's face grew red and then purple. He grabbed a handful of the boy's hair and pulled the defenseless child towards him. He bent down until their faces were several inches apart.

"You will not shout or yell at us under my roof!" Harry's uncle hissed dangerously. He pulled the kid's jet black hair violently, causing Harry to yelp in pain. "And for your parents," he added, "They're only nuisances, you bastard."

That was the final straw. Harry's chest swelled up with anger and fear. His vision darkened and the ringing noise inside his head was so loud that it was giving him a headache. He thought he was going to faint. He shut his eyes tightly and waited for his fate.

Harry's aunt suddenly emitted a loud gasp.

"What's wrong, Petunia?" the man was at his wife's side in a flash.

"My apron! It's getting tighter and tighter!"

"Just undo the knot," Harry's uncle soothed.

"No- I can't!" she gasped again, "It- it hurts!"

Fear started to fill her eyes as she desperately tried to pull the strings apart without success.

The man panicked. He also tried to undo the knot, but he strings were tangled tighter together by an unknown force. They were squeezing harder by the minute and were cutting into the woman's waist. Harry's aunt howled in pain.

"I'm going to cut the strings. Don't worry, dear," Vernon assured his wife, his hands shaking a little bit. Just as he hurried off towards the kitchen, he accidentally knocked Harry over. Harry let out a "huff" and he crashed onto the floor. He opened his eyes and discovered that his vision was clear again. However, he felt strangely drained and a bit light-headed.

"Out of my way, you brat!" Vernon shouted impatiently. He was about to shove his nephew aside, but stopped as he saw his wife hastily throwing away her apron.

"H- How did that happen? I could take off the apron suddenly..." the woman whispered in fright, not fully recovered from the incident.

The adults then realized that Harry was looking rather pale and was catching his breath. The answer started to sink into their minds.

"YOU! You did that!" Petunia pointed a shaking finger at Harry, whose eyes were widened in confusion. "How dare you! Trying to kill me?"

Her husband was also fuming. He pulled his nephew roughly to his feet, and started to scold at the kid.

"HOW MANY TIMES I'VE TOLD YOU! YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO FREAKISH THINGS IN MY HOUSE!" Vernon pulled his nephew's ear so hard that the boy whimpered.

"I didn't do anything!" Harry cried. His uncle ignored him and pushed him into the cupboard under the stairs. "I don't know what happened! I'm sorry!" the child continued.

"YOU. SHUT. UP! Hear me?" Harry's uncle spat, then he growled, "No dinner for a week!"

He locked the door and went away. Harry curled up in his small bed, refusing to let the tears roll down his cheeks.