Masked Reality

Chapter Two

It had been two weeks since Harry had gotten the letter from Hagrid. From anyone, really. Both Ron and Hermione hadn't owled him since his birthday, and he still had both of their treats and presents: from Ron, a box full of treats and tricks from Fred and George, and from Hermione, a refill for his Broom Cleaning Service Kit and a few helpful Quidditch books. Ginny had also sent him a card much like the one she'd sent to him on Valentine's day back in his second year, except the card sang to him (a very horrible Happy Birthday song that Ginny had written herself). Harry was now sitting on his bed, looking through his birthday cards that he'd received from Hagrid and Sirius. They were both short and to the point, and he'd already buried Hagrid's teacakes. Sirius' note had said that Harry's present from him was going to be arriving late, after Harry arrived at Hogwarts. Harry pondered on what that could be, but knew it wouldn't be something outrageous because Sirius wasn't like Hagrid - he knew what creatures were and weren't scary and anti-human-friendly.

Hedwig started screeching and flapping her wings loudly. Harry looked over at her. The barn owl was trying to get at her snacks, but Hedwig wasn't going to stand around and let that happen anymore. She pecked at it incessantly, until it finally backed off and fluttered over to Harry's shoulder. Hedwig seemed more angered than when it had been trying to eat her snacks. She let out one last screech, spread her wings, and took off out the open window. Harry had to grin at that. The barn owl let itself off of Harry's shoulder, walking onto the bed and plopping itself down. It looked like an oval-shaped slightly ruffled pillow.

"GET DOWN HERE NOW BOY!"

Harry jumped and almost fell off his bed. He heard Vernon charging up the stairs and down the hallway, straight for his bedroom. There was some banging on the door that caused a few books to fall off one of his shelves, and a violent rattling of the doorknob.

"What do you want?" Harry shouted, still at his bed. He could tell this would only anger his uncle more because it was a 'questioning of authority', but Harry didn't care. He wasn't going to take that any longer, at least not with his lips glued together.

"We've got guests arriving shortly you moronic good-for-nothing worm, and the living room needs tidying up! Put your best clothes on, because they thought I was joking when I said we had a child for a maid."

Harry looked at the door. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me loud and clear. Don't go asking me things twice boy." Vernon left the air tensely silent for a few moments. Finally, he spoke. "They're from the Child Protective Services and they've been having anonymous calls about our mistreating you. Now, you're going to behave like we've loved you since the day we found you on our doorstep. And as soon as they've closed the door behind them, I am going to make you regret every day you spent making friends at that forsaken school until you give me every last name and location of those evil children who called you in to them." Harry didn't have to see Vernon's face at this last comment to know that there was an unimaginable horror within his eyes.

Vernon's loud footsteps managed to echo loudly even as he got further from Harry's room. Suddenly Harry wanted nothing more than to see Ron and Fred and George outside his window again, ready to take him away from this hellhole he had to consider his home.

Harry had managed to dress himself up to look like a properly treated teenager, and if one were to pass him one the street, they might even consider him to look, well, normal. As much as Harry had originally wanted to feel like that until his 1^st year of Hogwarts, he didn't want it now even if he'd never been introduced to his powers. The Child Protective Services were sending out wonderful angels to come and save him, and he was going to miss the opportunity...

And it occurred to him. What was stopping him from raving like a maniac in front of them to get them to save him? Vernon wouldn't be able to convince them otherwise once he blurted out the truth of his horrible past since day one (day one of his life with the Dursleys, of course).

All of his friends' faces were flashing before his eyes: Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, Sirius, and the Weasleys, even Neville and Seamus and Dean directly from school. What would happen if Harry were turned over to the CPS? Would he ever see any of them again? Would he ever have a chance to get out and see Hogwarts until he turned 18? Harry pondered over this for quiet a few minutes. As they began to stretch slowly into an hour, he finally decided not to say anything to the CPS angels (as he considered them). He would just tell Vernon continuously that he didn't know who'd done it, and if Vernon threatened him any more he would find some way out of it (as he always did). If worse came to, he would owl Ron to let him know the situation, and once again be saved by his wonderful friend. He would have owled Hermione, had he known that she would approve of the whole ordeal. But she wouldn't. She would simply call the CPS and let them know what was going on at the Dursleys. No, he couldn't have that happen.

Harry had decided: CPS wouldn't know, and he would have Ron save him if the need arose. With that, he took to walking downstairs and cleaning the living room quickly but accurately, as he had been able to master through his years with the Dursleys.

By the time the CPS angels arrived, Harry had just barely finished vacuuming and dusting, and was perspiring like there was no tomorrow. Petunia reluctantly cleaned him off (she wasn't used to acting like a mother to him) just as the doorbell rang. Vernon glared at Harry, and looked his family over. Petunia was standing in between Harry and Dudley. Harry had managed to plaster on a very convincing smile, while Dudley looked as if he was about to die. He was wearing a tight suit that didn't leave much to the imagination; Harry, on the other hand, had chosen a nice pair of jeans and long black shirt that he'd tucked in to look proper. Petunia, in her most formal dress, which was a dirt brown color, looked like a sick horse. Vernon turned back to the door, walked over and opened it wide as a homely gesture.

Standing in the doorway was none other than Lucius Malfoy and a woman who looked just as evil as Lucius. He was wearing a black suit that was hidden beneath a very stunning black velvet cloak, making him look like a shadow with a head. The woman was very pretty and also poised as well as dignified. She was wearing a black dress that reached just below her knees and a matching black velvet cloak.

Harry felt as if he was going to faint.

Vernon seemed to be choking on his own spit for a while. He kept staring from one to the other. They were staring straight back at him, never even blinking [hey, add a couple of forked tongues and you've got yourself two cute little black snakies! Sorry, I just couldn't overlook that]. Finally, Vernon decided to break the unsettling and deathly silence with a loud clearing of the throat.

"Erm... Welcome to my h-" Lucius and the woman roughly pushed their way past Vernon without a backward glance, heading straight for the living room (how they knew where it was, I do not know). Harry couldn't stop staring at Lucius.

Petunia finally came to her senses as well and ushered Dudley from the front hall into the kitchen to help her bring the tea and cakes into the living room. Vernon was so shocked that he didn't know what else to do but follow Petunia (he was very angered from a wizard and witch treating him so disrespectfully... he knew they were a witch and wizard because of their appearance [actually assumed would be more accurate a word, but either way he was right]).

The woman walked into the living room, but Lucius stopped. His back was turned towards Harry. They were the only two in the front hall. He turned slowly and looked at Harry. Apparently his mouth had been open quite wide, because the next thing he knew Lucius was walking towards him and lifting his chin to close his mouth.

"Very elegant," Lucius commented coldly. "I hope you make a fool of yourself in front of these godforsaken muggles. I've been in the mood for target practice for some time, and Draco sure as hell could use some as well." He turned and walked into the living room, leaving Harry wondering why he couldn't have died in his sleep the night he'd been left on the Dursley's doorstep. It definitely would have saved him the trouble of going through all this.

The first few minutes of the conversation were all right. They learned the woman's name to be Ember. That was about it. Lucius and Ember were the two sitting on the family sofa, continually glaring from one face to the next, but especially Harry. Harry was busy tidying up the dishes while the Dursleys sat at chairs across from Lucius and Ember, when Lucius suddenly spoke up.

"It seems awfully strange for a boy of his age to be attending such a school." The toneless voice seemed to slice through the air, which had quickly become very uncomfortable. The Dursleys all looked over at him.

"Yes, well, that depends on what school you're talking about," Vernon said, choosing every word that he let fall from his lips carefully.

"I would like to hear what school you send him to before I tell you which one we've heard he's been going to," Lucius replied. There was a malicious grin on his face that shattered the stone face that had been in its place since he'd arrived. Harry knew that couldn't have meant anything good. He stood in the doorway to the kitchen, watching apprehensively as Vernon looked around the room, obviously searching for something to change the subject about.

"Er... well, we send him to the same one as Dudder- Dudley here!" Vernon tried to sound convincing, but it didn't work at all well.

"Really?" Lucius raised an eyebrow mockingly. He glanced at Ember, who was also grinning wickedly. However, before they could say anything else, Harry finally collapsed under the pressure.

There was a very loud CRASH as all of the china hit the tile floor of the kitchen. He was trembling to add to the effect, and distinctly managed to tell them that he felt like he was going to throw up before tearing away from the horrible meeting and running upstairs.

He had just barely managed to close and lock his door before he turned around and looked out the window - and let out a scream that was loud enough to reach the Burrow.