I wrote this drabble some time ago. At first it was meant to be part of another story, a sort of dream scene, but then I cut it out. I might still use it someday. But since I don't know what to do with it at the moment, I'll just post it here.
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A child. Huddled up in the dark, shoulders shaking. Sobs muffled by a little arm.
"Why are you crying?"
Sniffing sound. "They hate me."
"Who hates you?"
Rustle of clothes. "Everybody. Roommates, classmates, teachers. Even the cat."
"The cat?"
Silence. A hand gently patted the child's dark head.
"They don't understand how much you're worth. But I do. I've been watching you for a while."
Reddened eyes finally looked up. "Why?"
"Because you have talent. And if those fools can't see that, then they don't deserve you."
Amazement. "I have talent? Really?"
"Yes. You are a very special boy. Will you come with me and show everyone what you're capable of?"
The stranger held out a hand. Hesitation. "Who are you?"
"A friend."
The boy bit his lip. "I don't have friends."
"You do now. I'm here to help you."
The child took the gloved hand and let himself be pulled up. "Okay."
"You are a very good boy, Severus."
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A child. Huddled up in the dark, shoulders shaking. Sobs muffled by a little arm.
"Why are you crying?"
Sniffing sound. "They hate me."
"Who hates you?"
Rustle of clothes. "Everybody. Roommates, classmates, teachers. Even the cat."
"The cat?"
Silence. A hand gently patted the child's dark head.
"They don't understand how much you're worth. But I do. I've been watching you for a while."
Reddened eyes finally looked up. "Why?"
"Because you have talent. And if those fools can't see that, then they don't deserve you."
Amazement. "I have talent? Really?"
"Yes. You are a very special boy. Will you come with me and show everyone what you're capable of?"
The stranger held out a hand. Hesitation. "Who are you?"
"A friend."
The boy bit his lip. "I don't have friends."
"You do now. I'm here to help you."
The child took the gloved hand and let himself be pulled up. "Okay."
"You are a very good boy, Severus."