Chapter Text
...
Harrison rubbed at his cheek, feeling the bruise from Vernon's strike. The skin was tender and warm to the touch and the sensation sent a spark of rage through his stomach.
How dare he? How dare they!
He'd been so good this summer, never speaking out, even when his aunt had made snide remarks about the state of the house, or how little he'd done to deserve anything.
Harrison had done his best to keep his head down and out of sight. He'd tried to be invisible, a shadow, a ghost. It had worked, right up until Marge showed up.
He'd just wanted to go up to his room and stay there for the rest of the visit, but when she started insulting him he couldn't help himself. He'd told her that at least he was loved and wanted by his parents, unlike her.
That's when Vernon had hit him, hard. Marge had gone red with rage and then spat a tirade of abuse at him. He'd stood his ground, though.
It was worth it to see the look of rage on his uncle's face. He'd even smiled a little. The smile was the last straw and Vernon had dragged him outside by his hair. He'd shoved him onto the pavement and said he wasn't allowed in the house until morning.
He'd been outside for hours. He'd watched as the lights in the house had been turned off one by one. Harrison waited until he was sure no one would catch him sneaking back in. Not to stay. No, he was going to escape.
Over the last year, he gained just enough control over his magic that he could unlock doors without a wand. So, he quietly snuck into the house. He made his way up to his room. There he only grabbed what he needed. A knapsack filled with a few changes of clothes, his potions book, the red bead he always had, the photo album, and his invisibility cloak.
Harrison went over to the cupboard under the stairs and pulled his money stash out. It was little bit of money he could skim off of the Dursley's without them noticing. He was going to need all the money he could get if he was going to leave.
Harrison left the house and began walking away from Privet Drive. He didn't know where he was going, just away. He walked and walked, and before he knew it, the sun had come up. He was on a bus heading out of Surrey, away from the Dursley's, and towards some unknown fate.
...
When Harrison first got on the bus, he'd just had a vague idea of leaving, but he didn't have a plan. He just kept moving, taking the bus from place to place, staying as long as he could. When his money started to run out, Harrison knew he needed to find a new way to make money.
The first few days he tried selling the newspaper, but the only person who bought it from him was a weird old lady. He was sure the woman was homeless. He'd seen her in several different places, each time wearing the same clothes, and carrying the same large purse.
Other than newspapers, he also fixed things for people. He'd learned a few skills from working with Mr. Weasley. He'd fixed a few things, mostly radios and other small electronics. It helped him get by for a while, but he still wasn't making a lot of money.
Going to Gringotts was not an option. First issue being he didn't have his key. Second was that it was likely being watched if word got out that he ran away. If he were to try, and fail, to access his vault, then he would be caught and returned to his aunt and uncle's house.
So, the bank was not an option. Instead, he took up odd jobs and begged for change. Sometimes, he would get enough for a meal or two. Other times he didn't even have enough for a bus ride. It was a dangerous life, being a runaway, and he didn't know how long he could continue like this.
The day before his birthday, he was feeling especially down. It was late at night, and he was sitting on a bench in a park. His stomach growled in hunger, but he knew there was nothing to eat. He didn't have a tent or any kind of shelter. He didn't even have a blanket.
The only thing really he had was the red bead with the strange inscription inside. At one point he tried to have it appraised to see if he could sell it. The reactions he received were mixed. One person called him a thief. Another told him it wasn't worth anything.
Now it was just something interesting to look at when he was bored. The engraving was a strange one. It looked almost like a language. However, the characters were strange and unlike any he'd seen before.
Harrison looked around the empty park and sighed. He didn't want to be here, but it was the only place he could be sure he wouldn't get in trouble. It was a quiet area.
Harrison's stomach growled again and he rubbed his belly in a weak attempt to soothe it. It didn't help, not really, but he felt better doing something.
"Excuse me." A voice said, breaking the silence.
Harrison's head snapped up, and he was shocked to see an older man standing in front of him. He didn't think anyone else was in the park. He was a tall thin man with blond hair and blue eyes. The man had a sharp nose and chin.
He could sense the man was a wizard. He was powerful, and yet something felt strange about his magic. Harrison knew it would be stupid to let him know that he was a wizard too, so he remained silent. Even if the man knew they were in a muggle area. So, he should be safe from the man using magic against him.
"What?" Harrison asked, trying to put as much hostility into his voice as possible.
The man held up his hands and said, "Easy there. I was only going to ask you if you need help."
"Help? I don't need your help." Harrison said.
The man shook his head and replied gently, "You clearly do."
Harrison felt his eye twitch. Who was this man to judge him? They'd never met. This man didn't know him. So, what if he was hungry? It's not his problem.
"Why should you care?"
"I've seen you around." The man said, and Harrison felt a cold dread in his chest. Had the man been following him?
"I have no money, so don't try and mug me," he snapped pretending not to know the man was a wizard.
The man chuckled and said, "I'm not a mugger, boy. I'm a friend."
"Yeah, well, I don't need a friend."
"You need someone." The man said softly stepping closer.
Harrison jumped to his feet mistrust clear in his green eyes.
"I don't know you," Harrison said, hoping his voice didn't tremble.
"No, you don't," agreed the man.
"You've been following me, haven't you?" Harrison said, taking a step away from the man.
"Just to make sure you were alright," the man assured him.
Harrison didn't believe him. No one was that nice. Especially not a grown man. There was no such thing as a kind adult. He knew that better than most.
"Stay away from me," Harrison said, trying to keep the fear from his voice.
"I'm not going to hurt you," the man insisted and took a step closer to harruson.
"Stay away!" He repeated louder this time, drawing the attention of a few late-night wanderers.
The man paused and noted the attention. He gave a polite smile and said, "Come now. You can't cause a scene here."
Harrison took that as his cue and bolted. He ran, hoping the man wouldn't follow him, but as soon as he reached the other end of the park, the man appeared in front of him, wand raised. He dodged on instinct and rolled behind a bush.
"Come now, lad. I'm not going to hurt you."
Bullshit! Harrison didn't believe that for a second. If the man hadn't meant him harm, why did he have his wand out?
Harrison looked around the area and noticed there was no one nearby. If the man wanted to kill him, no one would hear his screams.
He needed to escape. Harrison darted to the left and tried to run, but the man appeared in front of him again and blocked his path.
Harrison turned to the right, but the man blocked him again.
"What do you want?"
"Nothing," the man said.
"Why are you chasing me?" Harrison asked, and he could hear the desperation in his own voice.
"You need help," the man said, his voice calm and steady.
Harrison didn't believe a word the man was saying. He was going to kill him. It was the only reason someone would chase after a random kid.
Harrison's magic reacted to his raging emotions nd there a loud crack. Suddenly he was in an entirely different area of London. He looked around the empty street and saw a sign for a nearby bus stop. Harrison had no idea where the bus was going, and at the moment, he didn't care. All he knew was that he was free of the man.