บท 3: The-Elf-Who-Tried
Harry slowly opened his eyes and he immediately winced in pain… His whole body was aching in pain. Not only that, but he could also feel a burning hunger in his stomach, and he was also feeling parched… Harry gulped loudly, trying to moist his throat, but it didn't help him much. Harry slowly sat up and he immediately regretted his choice as a jolt of agony coursed through his body.
Harry clearly remembered what had happened to him before he lost consciousness. Apparently, his Uncle didn't even bother to put him on the bed… He would have been surprised if his Uncle did put him on the bed. Harry took off his spectacles, which were still somehow on his face. He looked at the eyewear and released a tired sigh. One of the glasses was cracked and the frame was also slightly deformed.
With a bit of effort, he fixed his eyewear, but it wasn't anywhere close to how it used to be… Harry put on his glasses and nodded his head in satisfaction, the frame felt a lot more comfortable than before, but there was nothing he could do about the cracked lens, so he was fine for the time being. He slowly pushed himself off the floor and slumped down on his bed.
Harry's mind started to wander toward the conversation he had with his mother… 'Was that even real or did I imagine all of that?' Harry wondered bitterly.
Harry always craved a Family, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he imagined one… But the whole thing felt so real. He could still feel his mother's warmth. He could still feel his mother's warm presence around him. 'No, there is no way he could have imagined all of that, right? Well, he did have a way to confirm if he imagined everything or not.
While he was afraid to discover that his meeting with his mother was a fragment of his imagination, he knew that he needed to know… The meeting not only gave him hope, but it also gave him something he always craved for. So, even though he wanted to continue feeling the same, he knew that he couldn't live in a dream. It will only hurt him worse down the line.
'Living in a dream would be better, right? I mean Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia are never going to love me… So, wouldn't it be better if I had someone to love me even though they aren't real?' Harry questioned himself, but moments later, he shook his head… He needed to know…
"Norton?" Harry called out skeptically in a low tone. Since he had no idea if it was day or night, he decided to play it safe as he didn't want to wake any of his relatives.
Moments later, a two and a half feet tall creature appeared in front of Harry with a soft pop… The boy practically jumped back in surprise and fright. Fortunately, he didn't end up banging his head or back on the ceiling or the wall… The creature stared at Harry with its extremely large eyes and after a few moments of silence, a cheerful and manic glint appeared in its eyes.
"Master Hadrian fin…!!" The creature started to exclaim cheerfully, but this time Harry did freak out and end up closing the creature's mouth with his hands. He didn't want to alert his relatives or he will be in deep trouble.
"Shh! Don't shout or I will be in huge trouble" Harry whispered in a low tone, making the creature's eyes go wide. Harry couldn't help but stare at the creature's eyes, especially with how large its eyes were. "Do you understand?" Harry asked softly and the creature started to frantically nod its head.
"Good" Harry muttered in a low tone as he slowly removed his hands from the creature's mouth.
"Master Hadrian, Norton is so happy. Norton finally found you" The creature whispered in a cheerful tone with an excited glint in its eyes… Then moments later, the creature's eyes dropped. Harry didn't know why the creature's mood changed, but for the first time, he took a good look at the creature. According to his mom, Norton was a house elf. A house elf bound to the Potter Manor…
Norton had spindly arms and legs and his head was much larger than the rest of his body. He had pointed bat-like ears and his voice was kind of squeaky. He couldn't help but notice Norton's clothes… Instead of anything conventional, Norton was wearing a pillowcase.
"Norton is sorry, Norton is so sorry Master Hadrian. Norton tried to find you, but he couldn't" Norton wailed in a low tone… "After Master James and Mistress Lily were gone… Norton tried to find you. He could feel Master Hadrian's Magic, but he couldn't find Master Hadrian" The creature sniffed as tears started to roll down from his eyes.
Harry was completely stumped… He was barely stopping himself from freaking out and he had no idea how to react or how to comfort Norton… His mom should have told him how to deal with Norton. At least, he was able to confirm that the meeting wasn't a fragment of his imagination… It truly happened. Harry would have started crying if he wasn't worried over the fact that he might freak out Norton.
"Please forgive Norton, Master Hadrian… Norton will try better. Norton promises, Master Hadrian…" Norton continued to sniff.
"Norton, it is fine… It's completely fine. I am not angry at you and I forgive you. Can you please stop crying?" Harry requested meekly and Norton immediately stopped crying and started to wipe his eyes with his clothes.
"Master Hadrian is so kind, just like Mistress Lily. Norton is grateful" Norton furiously whispered in an excited tone and Harry practically beamed at the prospect of being compared to his mom.
"Umm… Can you not call me Master? I am nobody's master…" Harry said meekly and Norton gasped in horror and then he started to frantically shook his head.
"No can do, Master Hadrian… Master Hadrian is Master Hadrian, Norton can't be calling him anything other than Master Hadrian!" Norton furiously denied his request and Harry could only slump his shoulders in defeat for the time being. He would try again, but right now, there was something else he needed to do…
"Norton, can take me to Potter Manor?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Yes, Norton can. Norton would be happy too!" Norton cheerfully exclaimed and Harry immediately started to freak out.
"Shhh! Shhh!! Shh!!" Harry tried to placate the overly excited creature and Norton immediately lowered his head in shame.
"Norton is sorr…" Norton began to apologize, but he was cut off by a booming voice from upstairs.
"Boy!! What freakishness you are upto down there?!" Uncle Vernon screamed from upstairs and Harry immediately started to panic. He didn't want another round of beating.
"Norton, quickly take me to the Potter Manor" Harry said hurriedly as he another scream from upstairs.
"Master Hadrian won't be needing to take anything with him?" Norton asked with a tilt of his head.
"This is all I have" Harry said bitterly as he looked at the oversized clothes he was wearing. The cupboard trembled as someone started to climb down the stairs and Harry knew that he needed to leave right now. "Norton, quickly, we need to leave!!" Harry screamed out desperately and the creature simply raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
Harry was so glad that he was finally leaving the hell hole… If it was upto him, then he would never return to this place as he didn't want anything to do with these people, but his mom disagreed. His mom has been quite vehement over the prospect of making the Dursleys pay for what they have done… While Harry simply wanted to leave these people alone, he didn't want to disappoint his mom.
Harry's heart swelled when Lily displayed her love and concern, so now that he for sure that the meeting wasn't a fragment of his imagination, there was no way he was going to lose it… The Dursleys weren't his favorite people, so if he needed to hurt them to make his mom happy, then he will happily do so… But right now, Harry was simply happy for being able to finally leave this place.
Harry's world shifted as he started to feel nauseous and before he could realize what was happening, the feeling disappeared. He found himself staring at a wooden floor while he was on his fours… His face was covered with sweat as he was breathing heavily.
"Master Hadrian, welcome to the Potter Manor!!" Norton was standing beside Harry squeaked cheerfully and Harry couldn't help but wince at the shrill tone of the house elf.
Even though Harry was having some troubles, he couldn't hide or dampen his excitement… He was finally out of that miserable place. Harry slowly raised his head and looked around… His eyes grew wide in surprise and awe when he noticed how grand the living room was…
"Wow…" Harry mumbled in awe as he slowly looked up… 'This place is my Family house?' Harry wondered in complete shock. "How big is this place, Norton?" Harry asked dumbly, as he continued to look around. Harry traced the couch with his hand to confirm that everything was real and not simply an illusion… No matter how much he tried, it was hard to believe.
"Master Hadrian, Norton can give you a tour if you want!" Norton exclaimed cheerfully and Harry was about to agree when his mind came to a screeching halt.
"Norton, can you take me to the place where the Ward Stone is kept?" Harry requested politely. This was something else Lily had asked him to do before he could relax and there was no way he was going to disappoint his mom…
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