He had pulled his hands from hers as he began speaking, holding them together tightly in his lap. He spoke of living in a boot closet under the stairs, of endless chores and constant bullying. She heard how he thought his name was Freak until he was in primary school, and how his aunt and uncle refused to spend any more money on him than was necessary (which was why Harry wore his cousin’s old clothes) and how he didn’t get food if he did magic—though he didn’t know what it was at the time.