A/N
Sorry about the late chapter! I completely forgot yesterday!

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| Harry Potter, Aged eleven. |
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Harry woke up early on the 31st of July. Today was his birthday, and today was going to be the best birthday ever. Today he was getting his Hogwarts letter; all that was left was to wait.

He looked around his new room—his aunt and uncle's old room. A lot had changed in just a few weeks. A few weeks ago, he had practically been a servant to his own relatives. He refused to call them family, with his uncle beating him every step of the way.

Now he was the head of the house. He decided the rules, and he decided the repercussions for those who broke them. Less than a month ago, he had been released from his last punishment and had started planning revenge—the revenge to end all revenge.

But that’s enough about the past. Let’s talk about the present now. As Harry got out of bed and padded into the bathroom, Kiearah around his shoulders, thoughts whirled in his head. “Today's my birthday, Kiearah… the day I’ll get my Hogwarts letter…”

Kiearah hissed in an excitable manner,“Yessss, aren’t you excited?” Harry stared at the ground. “Yes… I am, but… I’m also really nervous,” he finally admitted. Kiearah nodded. “That’ssss normal. Thisss isss the firssst anyone’sss heard about the boy-who-lived in yearsss. But I promisssse you’ll be fine.”

Harry thanked Kiearah and went about getting ready for the day. After the necessary bathroom routines were over, he went downstairs to wake his uncle, who was still locked in his new cupboard. “Vernon!” he called loudly as he trod down the padded stairs.

“Up you get! Come on!” He rapped on the cupboard door. A muffled sound from behind the door confirmed that Vernon was awake. Harry waited, foot tapping, as the cupboard door slowly opened and his whale of a relative stepped out.

“Decided to wake up, have we?” he asked. Vernon cowered against the now-closed door. Harry rolled his eyes and instructed the man, “Get breakfast started. Bacon, eggs, and toast. And make sure it’s done right this time. No excuses.”

Vernon, grumbling under his breath, shuffled towards the kitchen. Harry watched him go, a smirk playing on his lips. “And don’t forget the tea,” he added, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Strong, just like I like it.”

As Vernon started to prepare breakfast, Harry leaned against the doorframe, Kiearah coiled comfortably around his shoulders. He enjoyed the sight of his former tormentor now reduced to a trembling servant, the power dynamic completely reversed.

“And Vernon,” Harry called out, making the man flinch, “today you’ll go to work just like normal. No one can suspect that your life has changed, even in the slightest. If anyone is suspicious, there will be consequences.” He let the threat hang in the air, knowing full well that Vernon understood the implications.

Feeling satisfied, Harry turned his attention to the rest of his relatives—specifically, Dudley. Now that Vernon was cooking breakfast, Harry strode back up the stairs and straight into Dudley’s room, the smallest bedroom at Number 4 Privet Drive. “Dudley! Up!” he shouted at the sleeping boy.

Dudley groaned and buried his head into the pillow, trying to snuggle deeper into the blankets. Harry wasn’t having any of it. He crossed the room in two strides and flung back the covers, pushing his obese cousin out of the bed and onto the hardwood floor with a great thud.

Dudley shot awake in a flurry, looking around the room madly until his eyes locked on Harry. Clearly half-forgetting the events from a month ago—like he did every day Harry woke him—he slowly got up, malice shining in his eyes.

He strode towards Harry with slow, mocking steps, but Harry held his ground, rolling his eyes at the attempt to seem big and scary. “What do you think you’re doing, freak?!” the boy shouted. Harry laughed, almost doubled over in his amusement.

“You seem to be forgetting who’s in charge now. Don’t you remember the pain that seared through your bones the last time you underestimated me?” Dudley shivered slightly as he remembered, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.

FLASHBACK

It was only a few days after Harry had asserted his newfound dominance over the Dursley family when Dudley grew bored of the new regime and decided to challenge Harry. At first, Harry had laughed it off, but then all traces of amusement had vanished, replaced by a cold, disconnected mask.

Dudley's stand for freedom had happened in that very bedroom. Mess surrounded them as Dudley tried to intimidate his cousin. "You think you can come in here and strut around like you own the place?" the boy sneered. "Well, you don't! My dad owns this house, and he's being generous in even letting you stay here, you freak!"

Kiearah coiled around Harry's shoulders protectively, rearing up at Dudley, whose demeanor broke slightly. Harry placed a hand on Kiearah. "Calm, my beauty. I know how to deal with people like him." Kiearah nodded and settled around Harry's shoulders once more.

Harry took a small vial out of his pocket. "You know what this is?" he asked, holding it up for his cousin to see. "It's scorching serum. When someone touches or drinks it… well, victims say it feels like your very bones are on fire. Want to find out if it's true?"

Dudley took a step back, suddenly feeling unsure. "Y-you wouldn't dare..."

Harry laughed. "Why wouldn't I, Dudley? What reason do I have not to?" As Dudley opened his mouth to speak, Harry cut him off sharply. "None. I have no reason not to, nothing is stopping me from emptying this whole vial on you."

Dudley tried to call his bluff. "Dad would beat you! You can't!" Harry's gaze hardened as memories flashed through his eyes.

"Can't I?" he said before, in one swift motion, splashing half the bottle on Dudley's face and pouring the rest into his mouth. The little pig screamed in pain, and it was only the thick walls that prevented the neighbors from hearing.

Harry approached his cousin's writhing body. "It hurts, doesn't it?" he asked calmly as Dudley howled in agony. "Remember this pain. Remember how the slightest movement of my wrist sent you howling to the ground. Remember this the next time you think you're better than me. Because you're not. You're just a fat little pig."

Tears streamed down Dudley's face as he nodded frantically. "I remember," he whimpered, fear shining in his piggy eyes.

"Good. Now, run along. It's breakfast time. If you're lucky, I might even let you have some." The boy nodded again, his body still trembling from the aftershocks of the potion.

FLASHBACK END

Harry watched in delight as Dudley remembered the scene. Since then, Dudley had gotten smaller, but only slightly. "You remember how the pain soared through your veins like fire, how that little vial of potion made you feel like your bones were alight."

Dudley shivered at the vivid details he could still feel. To emphasize his point, Harry took a vial of scorching serum out of his pocket. His cousin squeaked when he saw it, cowering in the corner.

"What? Is the infamous bully afraid of a little bottle?" Harry flicked his wrist, delighting as Dudley flinched even though the cap was still on.

"Come on then, time for breakfast—not that I'll give you any." Harry walked toward his cousin on the floor and grabbed his arm, dragging him to a standing position. "Now you go downstairs, and I'll meet you there." Dudley watched the bottle in Harry's hand so warily that it almost made Harry burst out laughing again.

He gave Dudley a hearty push and went to wake Petunia. Once he got to her door, he knocked. When she didn’t wake, he strode in, setting Kiearah under the covers with instructions to slither around between her legs and arms.

Harry positioned himself right near Petunia's face. Petunia stirred slightly, then her eyes flew open as she felt something slithering around her legs. Her body stiffened in terror, and she let out a high-pitched scream, frantically kicking her legs to dislodge whatever was under the covers. As her eyes locked onto Harry's face, just inches away, her screams turned into choked gasps of fear.

"W-what is this? What are you doing, you freak? Get it off me!" she shrieked, her voice trembling with hysteria.

Harry remained calm, his expression cold and detached. "Good morning, Aunt Petunia. I see you're finally awake. Kiearah here was just making sure you got up in time for breakfast. Now, if you don’t want her to get agitated, I suggest you get up and start the day."

Petunia's eyes widened further, tears of fright streaming down her cheeks. She nodded frantically, too scared to speak, and began to move cautiously, trying not to provoke the snake. Harry watched with satisfaction as she scrambled out of bed, her fear palpable.

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Once everyone was awake and downstairs, Harry sat at the head of the table, waving his hands to allow the rest to sit. He turned his attention to the meal Vernon had prepared. The eggs were slightly burnt, but the tea was strong enough, so he let it go. "Acceptable. Don’t burn the eggs next time."

Vernon nodded, his body shaking with fear. "Oh, and Vernon? You may eat. Dudley, you may not, for your shenanigans this morning. And Petunia, you may not, for calling me a freak when you woke up." Vernon thanked him and started to eat a few pieces of toast and a small piece of bacon. He knew what would happen if he ate too much.

Dudley and Petunia looked at the food longingly but refrained from grabbing any. After Harry and Vernon were done with their food, Harry turned his attention to his relatives. "Time for your medicine," he told them. They exchanged fearful looks. Dudley was the first to submit, opening his mouth and letting Harry pour twenty drops of Blood-Replenishing Potion into it.

"Very good, Dudley. Petunia, you next." She looked at him, eyes wide with weariness.

"I-I don’t n-need that," she stammered.

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?" When she nodded defiantly, he continued, "Okay then. Vernon, potion?" Vernon obediently opened his mouth, and Harry poured the necessary amount. "Right. Dudley, school. Petunia, clean the house and garden. Vernon, work."

Immediately, the family set about their tasks, Dudley and Vernon shooting worried glances at Petunia as they left the kitchen. Harry sat in an armchair to the side of the kitchen counter, talking with Kiearah or whistling away as he observed his aunt.

It started slowly—an occasional tremble as she washed a plate, dropping the rag when she wiped the counter. Harry's attention snapped from his aunt’s struggles to the window when he heard a noise. Tap. Harry knew what this was. Tap. Tap. Tap. This was the thing he'd been waiting for—the thing he'd been anticipating for years! It was finally here.

He shot up from his seat, startling his aunt as he ran to the kitchen window. "Kiearah! It's here!" he hissed excitedly as he spotted the owl, a letter held in its claws. He opened the door to let the animal in, and it soared around the kitchen.

"Petunia, get something for my friend here, won't you? Some toast will do." She nodded shakily, staring at the owl, anxiety shining behind her eyes. Harry put his arm out for the creature just as Kiearah had told him to and watched in fascination as the owl flew right onto his outstretched limb.

Petunia handed him the toast, and he ripped it up a bit before holding it out for the bird. Carefully setting the happy owl on the table, he took the letter from it.

Harry stared at it in wonder and fascination. "Kiearah! I'm going to Hogwarts!"