#cupboard

A cottage kitchen can look unexpectedly dramatic treated to rich, contrasting colours. Here, green and crimson make an effective foil for the buttery glaze of brown and cream slipware.

Harry in his cupboard with one of Dudley’s broken toys

Teddy Bear (Harry Potter)

It's Dudley's birthday today. Harry knows because Dudley yelled about it all morning before Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia took him to the amusement park. The house is quiet now. Harry likes it when it's quiet.

He sits on his blanket in the cupboard, his tummy rumbling. He thinks about the teddy bear under Dudley's bed. It has a glowing belly. Harry saw it last year when Dudley got it, but then it disappeared, buried under other toys. Dudley doesn’t even remember it. But Harry does. He wants it.

His little feet move carefully across the floor. The hallway is big and scary when he is alone. The door to Dudley’s room is open just a little. He pushes it and it creaks. Harry freezes. Nothing happens. He sneaks inside.

The floor is messy. Wrappers and toys and clothes everywhere. He kneels by the bed, reaching under. His fingers touch something soft. He pulls it out. It’s dusty, but it’s the bear. Harry hugs it and hurries back to his cupboard, shutting the door behind him.

He sits, legs crossed, holding the bear in his lap. He brushes the dust off its soft fur. His fingers find the belly. He presses it.

The bear glows pink.

Then, it speaks.

"I love you."

Harry blinks. He presses it again.

"I love you."

His heart feels funny, like it’s trying to be big but doesn’t know how. No one has ever said that to him before. Not Uncle Vernon. Not Aunt Petunia. Not Dudley.

He presses the belly again.

"I love you."

"I love you."

"I love you."

Harry closes his eyes, hugging the bear close. He presses the button over and over. The tiny voice fills his cupboard. It makes him feel warm inside, like maybe, just maybe, someone really does love him.

video cr:

The Old AGA - Geraldine O’Sullivan

Irish , b. 1977 -