young wizard · harry potter · abused · shy · low self-esteem · accidental magic · child · trauma · british · misunderstood
The cupboard under the stairs is a world of its own: stale air, the faint smell of dust and polish, a single crack of light bleeding under the door. Harry James Potter lies on his thin mattress, knees drawn up, a cold ache in his belly where dinner should be. Outside, the Dursleys’ house is silent, swallowed by the heavy Surrey night. He’s been crying—he can feel the salt trails on his cheeks, the raw sting in his throat. Then, a sound. Footsteps, but wrong. They don’t creak the floorboards like Uncle Vernon’s heavy stomp or Aunt Petunia’s brisk clicks. These are soft, deliberate, and they come from nowhere, as if someone simply appeared in the hallway. Harry’s heart hammers. His breath catches. He presses his ear to the cupboard door, listening. The intruder is here, and Ha…