Chapter Text
With a deep feeling of dread, a dejected looking Harry Potter boarded the Hogwarts Express, marking the end of a turbulent third year and the resuming of a nightmare in Little Whinging, Surrey. Harry didn’t want to go ‘home’, God no. After the endless verbal tormenting, punching, slapping, choking and unconventional uses of household appliances, it was almost impressive that the Dursley’s seemed to always find new ways of making Harry’s life a living breathing hell. Before Harry’s stomach could plunge any further at thought of his impending doom, his brooding was cut short by the arrival of his friends Hermione, Ron and Ginny who all except for the first, stormed into his compartment with looks of pure rage etched onto their faces and envelopes in hand.
“Who the bloody hell does Professor McGonagall think she is giving us ANOTHER assignment to complete during the summer?” Ron exclaimed. “Another assignment?” Harry replied. “Yeah, everybody has been assigned a secret pen pal and needs to write to them over the summer” Ron groaned as he gave Harry his own envelope. “Calm down Ron, it’s not that bad, instead see it as a way to learn about other magical educational institutions and possibly gain a new friend” Hermione intervened, a clear tone of interest in her voice. Harry smiled to himself at Hermione’s never-ending thirst for knowledge when he became confused by her words. “Wait, there are more magical educational institutions than just Hogwarts in England?” Harry asked. “No Harry, the pen pal we have been assigned is a student from another magical school somewhere else in Europe, according to Hogwarts: A History, Hogwarts is the last remaining and only magical school in England. You should read what Professor McGonagall wrote on the piece of paper inside your envelope” Hermione explained.
As Ginny started to complain about too much getting in the way of her practicing quidditch over the summer to prepare for try outs in fourth year, Harry opened his envelope and began reading Professor McGonagall’s brief for the assignment.
‘Dear student
In the name of international magical cooperation, you have been assigned at random, a pen pal who is a student attending either Durmstrang in eastern Europe or Beauxbatons in southern France. You are to write a minimum of three letters to your pen pal whose identity shall remain anonymous unless they choose to reveal it. Furthermore, a charm has been placed on your envelope to confirm that you have not only sent your letters but have also written a satisfactory amount. As Deputy Headmistress, I will not tolerate any embarrassment being cast upon us and neither will your head of house who will be keeping track of your assignment. With that said, I wish you a productive summer holiday and bid you farewell for the time being.
Yours Sincerely, Deputy Headmistress McGonagall’
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry noticed a paragraph in small print on the bottom right corner of the envelope explaining the use of a charm placed on the envelope that allows the user to send the letter by simply placing it within the envelope and sealing it. Harry sighed in relief at the fact he didn’t need an owl. He couldn’t bear to think what the Dursleys would do to Hedwig should they get their sadistic hands on her, which is why Harry left her at the owlery every summer, much to Hedwig's annoyance. With Hermione currently occupied trying valiantly to defend and praise this new assignment against the fiery red headed duo, Harry looked out of the window and into the distance, savouring every moment of the journey, knowing his upcoming reunion with the Dursleys would be an ugly one.
As Harry stepped off the train, he felt an overwhelming amount of anxiety pour over him as he looked around the platform for his ‘family’. As his eyes met Vernon’s, he resisted every fibre of his being to run in the opposite direction and approached the Dursley’s hesitantly after saying a quick goodbye to his friends. The deafening silence that accompanied the car ride ‘home’ told Harry verbal abuse was being put to the wayside in favour of physical abuse once he set foot in the Dursley’s four walls and steeled himself as best he could.
As the car parked in the driveway, Harry collected his belongings and hastily made way through the front door and to the upstairs landing when his body shook with fear at Vernon’s voice behind him. “Stop right there you colossal waste of space” he spat as he climbed the stairs behind harry. “Since you will be occupying this household for the foreseeable future, I best set the tone as to keep you in your place”. Without warning, Vernon’s fist met Harry’s face causing him to stumble back before a kick to the stomach had him in the fetal position. After a seemingly never-ending number of kicks and punches concluding with a chokehold against the wall, Vernon made his way downstairs as Harry stumbled to his bedroom where he collapsed on his bed and broke into sobs as despair overcame him and the reality of the situation sunk in.
After awaking two hours later to agonising pain across his torso, chest, neck and head, Harry removed his shirt to see the damage. Black, blue and purple bruises covered his upper body as the uncountable number of scars reared their ugly head, reminding Harry of previous methods the Dursley’s have used involving irons, knives, razors and a rake.
FLASHBACK
“Dudley stop, please don’t!” Harry begged his cousin. “What are you so scared of Harry? I just thought I’d introduce you to a new friend of mine that’s all” Dudley responded with a sickening smile as he held up 6-inch knife his mother had used to cut pieces of steak with for dinner as if it was butter. Harry was sweating profusely in sheer terror and as Dudley started to slice his arms and torso, screams of agony rang out through the house. Blood cascaded down Harry’s body and onto the floor and walls of the cupboard under the stairs, leaving deep red stains that would serve as testament to the enormous cruelty being inflicted within these walls for years to come.
END FLASHBACK
Putting his shirt back on and laying back down on his bed, Harry’s mind began to drift as he tried to shift his thoughts to what his fourth year at Hogwarts could entail. After three years of attempts to kill him, it was likely that Voldemort would be coming back for round four, especially after Sirius Black’s escape from Azkaban which would undoubtedly be making him seethe with anger at Dumbledore’s continuous victories. Harry’s happy recollection of last year's events abruptly stopped however, when he remembered that due to Sirius being in hiding, it would be a while until Harry would be able to see and speak to him. His thoughts once again shifted, this time to his best friends Hermione and Ron as he wished he would be able to spend his summer around a loving family like both currently were. Harry’s thoughts lingered on Ron, his red headed friend's continuous jealousy of him during 3rd year over the amount of attention he was getting frustrated him to no end. If only he knew the reality of what it was like to be the ‘Boy Who Lived’ he thought. Out of nowhere, Harry remembered Professor McGonagall's assignment and began to wonder who his pen pal could be. Would it be a wizard or a witch? Would they be from Durmstrang or from Beauxbatons? Are they my age or are they younger/older? All Harry knew for sure was that he was glad his identity would be kept a secret from whomever he was to correspond with. A super fan gushing over the ‘Boy Who Lived’ and barraging him with a volley of uncomfortable questions would be a royal pain in the arse. Which in addition to the many other pains in his body, would be the only was his summer could get worse.
Harry winced in pain as he got out of bed and retrieved his trunk, pulling out the envelope, a piece of paper and a quill before sitting back down wondering what in Merlin's name he was going to write. His anxiety and insecurities immediately swelled within him. Is it weird that I'm already writing a letter to my pen pal? Can they even understand English? Will my scruffy handwriting make them think poorly of me? These thoughts raced through Harry’s head until he stopped thinking altogether and committed his quill to paper which unbeknownst to Harry, would mark the start of the most important relationship in his life.
Dear Pen Pal
I apologise in advance for any and all rambling this first letter may include. I admit that I have not been successful in devising a plan for this, and I hope my handwriting will not be too much of a deterrence. I guess since I know nothing of you just yet, I should talk a little about myself although I should disclaim that I will not be revealing my name for reasons I wish not to explain. I sincerely hope this does not come across as rude.
I am a 16-year-old boy attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and I have just finished my third year there. I am a member of Gryffindor house, which is one of four houses that make up the student body with the other three being ‘Ravenclaw’, ‘Hufflepuff’, and ‘Slytherin’. My favourite lesson by far is Defence Against the Dark Arts as I seem to have a knack for it and enjoy the practical aspect much more than the theory aspect most other lessons focus on. Furthermore, I enjoy Charms and Astronomy whilst I hate Potions with a burning passion. Although to be honest that may stem entirely from the despicable grease bag that teaches it rather than the lesson itself. Outside of lessons my main interest is in quidditch, and I play on the Gryffindor team as a seeker. There is no better feeling on God’s green earth than the wind against your body and the overwhelming sense of freedom when riding on a broom and nobody can change my mind. Couple that with a sport that tests your physical and tactical prowess, and you have the most perfect hobby anyone can have. That reminds me, the quidditch world cup is coming up soon, isn’t it? It’s a shame I won’t be able to go, it’s been a dream of mine since I started playing quidditch to see the best of the best in action.
Sorry, this is probably coming across as a chaotic rambling mess, isn’t it? I guess I will stop myself here and keep this self-description at that before my letter devolves into a read so unbearable you decide to not respond. Should you respond however, I would love to hear all about you as well and I hope this assignment will prove to be just as fun and relaxing to complete as it has been for me to write this first letter to you.
Yours Sincerely, Pen Pal
As Harry put down his quill, he came to the bizarre realisation that writing a letter to an anonymous person may just be one of the most relaxing things he had ever done. A smile crept onto his face as a light seems to have appeared within the darkness enveloping his summer holiday accompanied by an uncomfortable worry that his pen pal would not be so eager to engage with him. Sealing the letter within the envelope, a bright flash blinded his unprepared eyes and judging from the decrease in weight of the envelope he was holding, it seems his first letter had just been sent. After a long day, Harry resigned himself to bed, and thought that maybe, just maybe, his small stint of happiness would be enough to offset the demons trying to get to the surface of his subconscious as he slept. Boy was he wrong.
End Of Chapter