Harry kept his background secret from all but Slytherins, who vaguely knew due to Draco's Halloween gossip in first year. Only Azrael, Farkas, and the absent Zabini knew directly of the Dursleys' abuse.
This secrecy was fitting. Slytherins, insular by nature, could be cruel to outsiders but loyal to their own. Even Draco and Pansy never spilled Harry's story to other houses. To Ron and Hermione, Harry was a baffling mix: a wizarding hero inexplicably in Slytherin, not a pure-blood supremacist yet anti-Muggle—an enigma defying easy categorization.
Harry hid his past for two reasons. First, he didn't want Ron and Hermione to know he was abused by Muggles. Hogwarts was his salvation, his friends his treasures. Sharing his grim history would burden them, especially since they, unlike him, could enjoy the Muggle world—a lesson painfully learned in second year. So, he kept it buried.
The second, deeper reason, locked away in his heart, was fear. If Ron, Hermione, or Luna learned he was just a bullied kid, not a hero, they might abandon him. Disillusioned by his ordinariness, they'd leave. Harry dreaded this, escaping his past by playing the hero at Hogwarts.
He resolved to stay silent, but reality didn't care. It crashed in, shattering his facade.
"…Sandbag? That's how you talk about people?" Azrael glared at Piers with contempt.
To Harry, it felt like Azrael's scorn targeted him—his helpless, beaten younger self, hiding behind a hero's mask. (What's happening?)
Hermione, stunned, watched as a scrawny boy behind the "golden pig" Big D—Dudley—asked, "Didn't Harry go to juvie, Big D? Why's he here?"
"Uh, well, Dennis…" Dudley mumbled, avoiding Harry's gaze.
The air grew tense. Piers, the bucktoothed instigator, snapped, "What's wrong, Big D? Harry's your punching bag! Long time no see, so stay put, Harry!"
"Juvie…" Hermione whispered, frozen.
"I don't know rude punks like you," Harry said coolly, brushing off Piers' arm and tripping him.
"Fugh!" Piers fell forward, underestimating Harry.
Before Hogwarts, Harry feared Dudley and his gang, who'd gang up and pummel him. Those grudges lingered. But after facing true danger at Hogwarts, Dudley seemed trivial. Proper meals, Quidditch, and Dueling Club had built Harry's confidence.
Yet, Dudley's crew now carried a new nastiness. No matter how much Harry hated them, Dudley was still family. Their thuggish nature hadn't changed, and Harry couldn't bear his past—or its familial ties—being exposed. Overwhelmed, his Occlumency faltered, and he lashed out at Piers.
"You tripped Piers! Cocky for a Harry!" Dudley roared, throwing a punch.
Harry dodged easily, even smirking—partly out of recklessness. (Self-defense… maybe I can use magic.)
The devilish thought tempted him, and he leaned in. "Blaming me for his fall? Pathetic."
Hermione didn't laugh. She shrieked, "Stop! I'll call someone!"
Her scream drew a bellboy. Dudley lowered his fist. Vernon and Petunia appeared in the distance.
As Harry moved to leave, Azrael, glaring at Piers, offered a hand. "Let's say it was a mix-up. Saves your face."
Piers, sensing Azrael's wealth and poise, nodded and stood with his help.
"…Harry, those people…" Hermione began hesitantly as they walked to Farkas's room.
"The golden pig's Dudley, my cousin. Black-haired one's Piers. The rest don't matter. Just Muggle relatives and their goons," Harry said flatly, avoiding her gaze. When he finally looked, her pitying eyes shocked him.
(…!)
Being pitied by a peer, especially a girl, stung. He'd have preferred her anger or betrayal, though that would've hurt too.
"Sorry for hiding it, Hermione, Azrael. I didn't know they'd be here," Harry said.
"Not your fault. I warned them off—they won't bother us. Best to forget it," Azrael said.
"Like Lockhart?" Harry jabbed.
"Don't joke. What if it really happened?" Azrael snapped.
Azrael's choice to drop the topic, respecting Harry's feelings, meant everything. "Forget it and let's game, Hermione," Azrael said brightly, his Occlumency clumsy.
"Okay, but tell Sirius. They're unpredictable," Hermione said.
"I will. Hermione, stick with Luna tomorrow and avoid being alone. They won't hit girls, but they might harass," Harry said.
"They know Sirius, so they'll behave," Hermione said.
"Yeah, but Sirius can't always be there," Harry countered. Dudley's crew loved tormenting the weak. They'd avoid serious crimes but could still drive his friends away.
Worrying how to restore Hermione's normalcy, Harry knocked on Farkas's door. Poor Farkas was dodging Luna's pillow assault. "Hey, you're late!" he said.
"Hermione's call ran long. Lovebird drama," Azrael teased.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Hermione huffed.
"Chill, let's play," Azrael said.
Azrael's TRPG was beginner-friendly. Farkas, a dedicated role-player, went mad or died to bad luck. Harry survived through brute force or sheer fortune. The game thrilled, with girls surprisingly hooked. Hermione, analytical, exploited rules but lost two characters to Fina's novice mistakes and Luna's chaotic antics. When Hermione took over as game master, Azrael's hot-blooded role-playing nearly wiped everyone out.
"Let's go again!" Harry cheered.
"I'll win this time, Hermione!" Luna vowed.
Sirius, knocking, shut it down despite Fina and Luna's boos, sending them to bed.
In his room, Harry felt guilty enjoying himself without Zabini but forgot Dudley—until breakfast, when he saw Dudley greedily piling food. Glancing at Farkas and Fina, whose parents smiled warmly, Harry thought, (Muggles aren't inferior. Dudley and Vernon are just scum.)
Each realization deepened his misery. He'd once tried earning the Dursleys' respect through study, pretending they weren't awful. Now, his hatred swelled.
Dudley's gang, whether fearing Sirius, Azrael, or Harry's magic, left them alone. Harry's group enjoyed volleyball and swimming under the scorching sun.
At the cottage, a TV broadcast interrupted: a photo of serial killer Antonin Dolohov, escaped. Adults, including Sirius, tensed. Plans for more beach time were cut short. Kids and guardians parted, hoping to reunite next year. Hermione, her mood unclear, shook Harry's hand, promising to meet for textbook shopping.
Hermione = Munchkin
Farkas = Real Role-Player
Azrael = Real Man
Harry = Real Man-Leaning Role-Player
Fina = Newbie
Luna = Loony
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