“I have fixed most of his cuts. He had a black eye and I got rid of that. It looks as though they beat him a lot. The poor little ones’ bottom was beaten raw. I think they starved him as well, he is too thin; I could see his rib bones. He's also weighs,” at this point the matron paused and tears slid down her cheeks, "twenty-two pounds."

A group of teachers stood gathered around little Harry Potter while he slept very early the next morning. He was in a bed in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Matron, Madame Pomfrey had looked Harry over shortly after Minerva McGonagall had dropped him off. She had seen students come in who had obviously been beaten by their parents; she had never taken care of a five-year-old who had been. Of all the injuries she had to fix at Hogwarts, magical or not, none had affected her the way Harry’s injuries had.

“This man has to be a monster to beat a little boy,” a tiny man who was a wizard by the name of Filius Flitwick, “especially this boy. Don’t they realize how important he is?” He continued in his squeaky voice.

“I think Petunia Dursley helped out a lot too,” Minerva said scowling, “I was looking through their window one morning; I watched her push Harry off a stool. It looked as though she was trying to teach him to cook.”

“At his age!?” Pomona Sprout snapped, “A five-year-old shouldn’t be any where near the stove.”

“It doesn’t surprise me,” Severus Snape said who was looking down at the small boy with obvious dislike. “Petunia Evans wasn’t a fan of magic.”

“How do you know that?” Minerva asked him.

Albus saved him from answering.

“I’ll have to pay them a visit,” he said with a sigh. “When I dropped Harry off, I knew they weren’t going to accept him. However, I didn’t think they would treat him this way. We’ll have to have a long talk before I allow Harry to return.”

“Return?” Minerva snapped, “He is not going back to those people. I won’t permit it Albus. You didn’t see that man slap Harry! He forced him to sleep outside on a very cold night. Harry could have gotten very sick . . . even died, at his age.”

She hoped no one would contradict her with the fact they had done the same four-years ago. The night they had dropped him off hadn’t been as cold. The blanket Harry had been wrapped in would keep him warm. They hadn’t brutally beaten him, though they did leave him to live a life of torment and cruelty. She pushed the thoughts out of her head. Yes, they had left him to sleep on the porch, but they hadn't done it to be cruel.

“It is the safest place for him,” Albus said, “I can, however, prevent the abuse-”

“Safest place for him?” Minerva snapped, “Those muggles will end up killing him. How can you say it’s safe for him?”

Harry stirred in his sleep. They all looked at him apprehensively. Then Albus beckoned for Minerva and Madame Pomfrey to follow him. Pomona and Filius turned to leave the hospital wing to go to the Great Hall for breakfast. The students would be waking soon. When Severus started to follow, Albus however put a hand up to stop him.

“Will you stay with him for a couple moments? This should not take long. Young Harry might be frightened if he wakes up,” Albus said; Severus scowled at Harry. “Severus, this is not James. This is an innocent five-year-old boy. He is Lily’s son. Do remember that.”

Severus glared at Albus but he didn’t say a word. He sat down in a chair beside the bed. He looked around at the other beds. He thought about how lucky it was that there weren't any students present. If someone noticed Harry Potter was at Hogwarts, it would surely get around the school quickly. All he needed was a class full of distracted students while they made their potions. He stared at the little boy who was moving around more now.

It was hard for him to believe that the tiny, scrawny boy in front of him had defeated the most powerful wizard of all time. The small boy didn’t even realize how famous he was, but surely he would take fame the same way his father did. He knew this boy would be arrogant about being famous. When he was old enough for Hogwarts, he would have a group of admirers. And yet, even while thinking this, he couldn’t help but feel pity for the boy. He felt angry with the muggles as well for beating Harry.

Severus knew all about what being abused was about. His own father had beaten him and his mother because he hadn’t liked magic. He also knew what Petunia Dursley’s attitude had been toward Lily for being magical. She had called Lily a freak on a number of occasions, and him as well. She had likely called Harry a freak as well. He had never liked Petunia.

When he had first seen the two girls when he was a few years older then Harry, he had thought she was snobby. He had been about eight when he noticed the beautiful red-haired girl doing magic. He hadn’t known any other magical children lived around them at that point. He spied on them for a year before he finally talked to them.

Severus shook his head trying not to think about the memories. He looked down at Harry again and saw that he had opened his eyes. He stared at Severus before looking around the room, then he rubbed his eyes and looked around again. He looked back at Severus with confusion. He looked down at the gown he was wearing and started to feel it. Severus didn’t know what to say or do. The boy was a miniature of James, but with Lily’s green eyes. He spotted Harry’s glasses on the table. He picked them up and handed them to him.

“Thank you, sir,” the boy muttered and put on his glasses, it made him look even more like James. “Excuse me sir, but am I in a hospital?”

Severus was surprised to see that the boy was polite, but his aunt and uncle had probably beaten him if he hadn’t been polite.

“Yes you are,” Severus said softly trying not to show hatred for the boy. He had to keep reminding himself that this was not James. He remembered the Headmasters words. He was just an innocent little boy.

“Are you a doctor, sir?” the boy continued; he sat up.

“I am a teacher,” he answered.

The boy looked at him with confusion again and then looked around the room again. Then he held out his arms and looked down at them. He touched the back of his head slowly, then moved around on his bed. He glanced back at Severus again with a very shocked look on his face now. Severus had to hold in his laughter at the look on his face; he felt pity for him as well. The boy was obviously wondering why he wasn’t in pain anymore. Severus himself had seen the beaten bottom and legs. He had come to give Madam Pomfrey a potion and had seen Harry's swollen and bruised skin.

“Did my aunt and uncle bring me here?” he asked. “Was I sick?”

“No, but they are,” Severus said without thinking.

“Oh, so they brought me here? It’s from the bacon, isn’t it?” he said and looked worried. “I made them sick too right?”

“What are you rambling about?” Severus asked scowling at him, automatically Harry flinched as if thinking Severus would hurt him.

“Sorry sir,” he muttered.

Severus noticed that the boy’s glasses were broken in the middle. They were held together by tape. Severus figured they had been broken during a beating. Feeling guilty for startling the boy, Severus decided to do something nice for him. He looked into his green eyes and thought of Lily.

“Would you like me to fix your glasses for you?” he asked.

Harry nodded and took off his glasses and handed him, “Thank you sir. They broke but my uncle put tape on them.”

Severus took the tape off of them before pulling out his wand and tapped the middle with his wand. Instantly they were repaired. The boy’s mouth dropped open in amazement. Severus smirked as he handed them back. He glanced at the hospital wing door wishing the others would come back. He didn’t know what to do with a five-year-old.

“How did you do that, sir?” Harry asked putting them back on. “Is that a magic wand?”

“Yes it is,” Severus said; he decided that if Albus didn’t want him to know about magic, he could modify the boy's memory later.

“I thought that wasn’t real,” Harry said. “My aunt and uncle said so. They said it was only cartoons and books that have magic, and I should never talk about it.”

“Only certain people can have magic wands,” Severus answered. “So you are five now, are you?”

He wanted to change the subject fast. He didn’t want to be the one to explain to the boy that he was a wizard. He also didn’t want to go into detail about the boys past and what happened to his parents.

“Yes sir. Dudley is five too,” Harry said.

“Do you remember your parents at all?” Severus asked, though he was sure Harry didn’t. He couldn’t help but feel curious.

“No. They were in a car accident,” Harry answered, then put a hand to his forehead. “I got this scar from it. I don’t remember, only, only sometimes there is a green light.”

“A green light?” Severus asked sitting forward now curiously.

He knew what the green light meant but he didn’t know how the boy could remember that. It certainly wasn’t from a car accident. A green light was from the worst curse someone could use on someone. It was a curse that had been used on Lily, which had taken her away from him forever. The curse had been used on the boy as well, except Harry Potter was the only person to ever survive it. Not even arrogant famous James could survive it.

“Yes sir. Sometimes when I try to remember them. That’s from the car accident right? And the laughter too. But maybe it was something else,” Harry answered.

“It might have been something else,” Severus said wondering if the boy’s aunt and uncle had ever planned to tell him the truth about how his parents had really died.

“You did magic sir,” Harry said after a moment of silence. “I know it was and you know what? Sometimes me too. But I don’t know how I do it. I don’t have a magic wand.”

“You do it when you are angry or scared?” Severus asked.

Harry nodded with a little smile on his face, but as if remembering something his face darkened and he looked away. Severus stared at him figuring that magic was probably something Harry got punished for. Severus started to wonder if there was a way to get the boy to admit his aunt and uncle beat him when Minerva, Albus and McGonagall returned.

“Well, we’ll get down to breakfast. Then tonight we’ll decide what to do. We won’t tell anyone he is here yet. It will cause excitement. Harry can stay here for today. He no doubt needs rest,” Albus was saying.

“Yes, I can look after him,” Madam Pomfrey said. “We’ll be fine.”

“Ah, Harry you are awake,” Albus said as they stopped by the bed.

Severus watched Harry’s expression as he took in Albus Dumbledore’s eccentric appearance. To Harry, he probably looked exactly like a wizard he had seen in cartoons. He was wearing purple star-spangled robes. He had a long white beard and long white hair. Harry stared, then as if realizing he was being impolite he nodded and asked:

“How do you know my name sir?”

“I knew you when you were a baby,” Albus explained. “I am Albus Dumbledore.”

“Are you a wizard too sir?” Harry asked.

Severus was surprised how smart the child was. He didn’t think the child would figure out what they were on his own.

“I am,” Albus said before looking at Severus. “You told him?”

“No. I fixed his glasses for him and he guessed. Excuse me Headmaster, but I must get to breakfast. Then I have a class to teach.”

Severus turned quickly before they could ask him more questions. He heard Harry tell them about how he had fixed his glasses with a magic wand. Severus shook his head. He hoped that he wouldn’t have to be left alone with him again. He hoped they would find another home for the boy; he was sure there were plenty of wizards who would take him in. He didn’t want to see the boy again until he was eleven years old and a student at Hogwarts.

It didn’t take long for people to find out that Harry Potter was at Hogwarts. It had been decided that Hogwarts was one of the safest places for him other than his aunt and uncles. Minerva didn’t think it was a good idea to raise him at Hogwarts; she believed it was better to let someone else take care of him. Remus Lupin had been a good friend of Lily and James Potter; she wondered why he couldn’t take him in.

Albus had explained to her that there was a chance that the wizard who had killed Harry’s parents could come back, and Harry would be in danger.

“Harry was safe at the Dursley’s because Petunia Dursley has Lily Potters blood in her. As you know Minerva, Lily died for Harry. When she did that, she put protection around Harry so when Voldemort-” Minerva had flinched at that point; most witches and wizards called him you-know-who because they were scared to speak his name, “tried to kill Harry the curse rebounded on him. As long as Harry could call his aunt’s home his home he was safe until he comes to age at seventeen. Lord Voldemort would not be able to get to Harry while he was at his aunt and uncles.”

“That’s fine if they hadn’t abused him. I don’t think he would survive if he stayed there. You didn’t see how hard that man hit Harry. And I think, even if Harry had survived the physical abuse, he wouldn’t be emotionally right.”

So Harry was to stay at Hogwarts instead. If Lord Voldemort were to ever rise again, he wouldn’t be able to touch Harry while he was at Hogwarts. Minerva still believed he shoudn't stay though. He was five-years-old. She knew a boy that age needed to be watched. Hogwarts was a very large castle. He could easily get lost. Not only that, but it would distract the students who would want to meet him. Harry would also have to put up with students trying to look at him. What if the older students were a bad influence on him? She had a number of reasons for why he shouldn’t stay.

“There will always be someone around who can watch him,” Dumbledore had answered. “He will not be left alone until he is older. I will talk to the students about him as well.”

And he had, they let Harry sit at the teacher’s table after it was decided Harry would stay. Dumbledore had talked to Harry and explained that he was magical but he wasn’t old enough to do magic. Minerva was glad that Albus had been the one to tell him. She had never had to tell a child as young as Harry about being magical. Surprisingly he had understood well. He didn’t get upset when he learned that he couldn’t use a wand until he was eleven-years-old. Albus had decided to wait until Harry was older before telling him that his parents weren’t actually killed in a car accident, but murdered. He would also learn that he had come close to being murdered as well.

When Harry wasn’t at breakfast one morning, a couple days after people realized who the small boy was; Albus decided to explain to the students that yes Harry Potter was there. He didn’t give the reason for why Harry was living there.

“You all must remember that he is only five-years-old. He doesn’t know what happened to his parents. He does not know he is famous and it’s best no one tells him. When he is old enough, I will tell him. Furthermore, Harry is still very nervous about being here. Please do not try to get a better look at him if you see him. I also ask that you don’t point at him or do anything else that could startle him. You can talk to him but just remember he is a little boy. Treat him as you would treat any other child.”

The students were all discussing Harry and why he was living at Hogwarts. Some seemed to guess right, that if Voldemort came back, he was safe at Hogwarts. Others said it was because he was a very powerful wizard and so he was starting his magical education early.

Minerva really hoped they would leave him alone. It was true that he was nervous. She had looked after him a few times and he had been well-behaved. He was also scared that she was going to hit him at times. He had at first questioned about going back to his aunt and uncles. He seemed worried about them. Albus wanted to go into his memories after he was comfortable with them to see exactly what his life had been like. Minerva didn’t need his memories to tell her what had happened while he lived with them; she had witnessed the abuse herself.

Harry was always scared that one of them was going to hit him. Snape had told her that Harry had thought he was going to hurt him once while he had watched him. He’d had Harry with him in his office; Harry had reached for a potion bottle to look at it. Snape had yelled at him and Harry had stood very stiffly with a look of terror on his face.

“I hope you weren’t being mean to him,” she said. “I know how you felt about his father after all.”

“I’ve been with him enough to know he isn’t arrogant like James . . . yet anyway. I am treating him as if he is another student, a very young one,” Snape said scowling at her. “You can ask him if you want. For some reason the boy likes it when it’s my turn to watch him, I don’t know why he likes me so much. He doesn’t shut up actually.”

“Really?” Minerva asked. “I can’t get him to talk”

“Well that should be your proof I am not being mean to him. Maybe I should though. He tried sitting on me already.”

Harry had been at Hogwarts for a month and seemed adjusted when Albus decided it was time to look into his memories. Harry seemed happier than he had been when he first arrived and wasn’t as shy. He seemed to realize that none of them were going to hurt him. He had been scared of the ghosts at first but after a while he got used to them as well. He was more talkative and told anyone who would listen that he liked living in a castle.

To Severus Snape’s dismay he had taken to him more then anyone, except perhaps Albus. Harry could be seen following the Potion’s Master around chattering; Severus glared at anyone who laughed at him for it. No one else could figure out why Harry seemed to like Severus so much. The only people Harry didn’t like were Filch the caretaker or Sybil Trelawny. He had laughed when Peeves the Poltergeist had attacked Filch with a mop. He told Minerva that Professor Trelawny was spooky and her classroom smelled funny.

Albus’s office was Harry’s favourite out of all the places in Hogwarts so that’s where he decided to look into Harry’s memories. Albus had a number of strange objects in his office that fascinated Harry. But Harry also liked Fawkes the Phoenix. Albus decided on using Veritaserum potion first before he would look at Harry’s memories. Though he didn’t want to be there, Severus would be present for it since he provided the Potion along with Minerva McGonagall. Rubeus Hagrid wanted to be there as well but he made Harry uncomfortable.

Hagrid was twice the size of a normal man. The first time Harry had seen him. He had started to cry. Hagrid hadn’t taken that too well, but Minerva explained that in time Harry would understand that he was harmless. His appearance however was scary to a small boy, especially one with Harry’s history.

“Harry, what kind of drink would you like?” Albus asked kindly while Snape snorted.

They all knew he liked Pumpkin juice the best but Albus felt it was best to ask him anyway.

“Pumpkin juice please sir,” Harry said. “It is so good.”

He was sitting in one of the chairs in front of Albus’s desk. He had chosen the seat beside Severus who had sighed. Minerva stood rather then sitting, waiting for it to begin. They all knew what they were about to hear would not be pleasant. She was planning on going with Albus to the Dursley’s to have a talk with them. So far he had sent a letter to them, but still planned a visit. His first priority had been to get Harry settled and comfortable. He had his own room with his own sitting room and bathroom right close to where Minerva slept.

Albus gave him a goblet of Pumpkin juice that was spiked with the Truth Potion. Harry grinned and began drinking quickly. Severus had to tell him to slow down before he choked.

“How was that Harry?” Albus asked now.

“Very good,” Harry answered, “I never had pumpkin juice before Hogwarts.”

“And you are very happy at Hogwarts?” Albus continued noticing the potion was taking effect.

“Yes. I don’t go to school no more though,” Harry answered, “This is a school.”

Albus saw Minerva look at him sharply. They were planning on bringing in a tutor for him soon so he could learn what he needed to know. Harry had asked them several times when he was going to go back to school again. When Minerva hadn’t been too busy she had taught him what she could. He told her he could count but didn’t know the alphabet very well. Albus had been putting off bringing in a tutor so far.

“We will make arrangements for your education,” Albus said and the look of confusion that appeared on Harry’s face indicated he hadn’t understood what he had said. “Do you miss your aunt, uncle and cousin?”

“No,” Harry said. “I don’t like them. They hurt me all the time.”

“How did they hurt you?” Albus continued ignoring Minerva, even Snape was fidgeting.

“Spanked me a lot. And hit me here,” he said as he pointed at his head. Then he showed them other places he had been hit. “I was a bad boy all the time. I burnt breakfast. On Halloween I made the Dursley’s sick.”

“What do you mean you made them sick?” Albus asked.

Albus remembered that Severus had mentioned that Harry thought he made his family were sick. Severus hadn’t understood what he had meant.

“The bacon. Uncle Vernon said Dudley was sick when they went trick-or-treating. And it was the bacon I made for breakfast. Mr. Snape told me that Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were sick too. That’s why I am here. I made them all sick.”

“That’s not what I meant,” he heard Severus mutter as he glanced uneasily at Harry.

“Your aunt, uncle and cousin are fine,” Albus said. “They are no longer sick and you are not here because they were sick.”

Minerva cleared her throat as if to contradict him but he glanced at her sharply. He looked back at Harry who looked really upset now.

“Have you been worried about your aunt, uncle and cousin getting sick from the bacon all this time?” Albus continued.

“Yes. I am a bad boy. My parents didn’t want me and they were worthless. They died because I was a bad boy,” Harry said.

“No.”

Albus glanced at Severus, it had been he who had spoken while Minerva was dabbing at her cheeks and muttering about the Dursley’s. Though Severus liked to act as if he didn’t want Harry around, Albus knew at that moment that he cared for Harry. His face was white with anger as he had said this. Harry was looking at him too.

“You are not a bad boy Harry,” Severus said. “It is not your fault that your parents are dead.”

“Did they tell you that?” Minerva said in a choked voice. “What have they been telling you Harry?”

“I deserve beatings,” Harry said and then continued.

As Harry talked, Albus grew angry and felt regret that it had been he who had put Harry there. He listened as Harry told them that he hadn’t been allowed to talk about his parents. He hadn’t even known their names before he had come to Hogwarts. He only ever got broken toys for his birthday. After he turned five, he had to start doing chores and cooking breakfast. He explained to them that he was ‘stupid’ and a bad boy because he couldn’t make breakfast properly.

“Harry. You are a very good boy. It was not your fault that your parents died. I knew your mum and dad. They loved you a lot,” Albus said. “They didn’t want to leave you ever. They were not worthless either. Do you understand that?”

“I’m not a bad boy?” Harry asked. “But Uncle Vernon said I deserved beatings.”

“He was wrong,” Severus said; Albus knew he was thinking of his father who had told him the same thing.

“No one deserves that Harry, especially a very good boy like you. You have been very good during the time you’ve been at Hogwarts. You came here because we wanted you to,” Albus continued. “You want to stay here?”

“Yes ‘cause no one gets angry if I do magic. You do magic too. If I did magic I got a spanking,” Harry said. “Everyone is nice. I don’t wanna be at my aunt and uncles no more.”

“Anymore,” Minerva corrected, “and you never have to see them again. This is your new home Harry.”

“When can I play outside in the snow?” Harry asked looking pleased now. “I only stay inside but I looked out the window and saw all the snow. It is so big here. There is a big forest too.”

“You will never go inside that forest Harry,” Minerva said, “especially by yourself.”

“Just like the dungeons right?” Harry asked, “I’m not allowed down there by myself. Only with Mr. Snape or Mr. Filch.”

They talked with Harry a little longer who answered their questions, but he was getting distracted and tired. He randomly asked them questions that had nothing to do with what they were talking about. Finally Albus decided to give him a little more pumpkin juice with another potion in it. The Truth Potion seemed to be wearing off.

“Not too much Albus; he has to go to bed and I don’t want him wetting the bed,” Minerva said.

Once Harry had drunk the pumpkin juice, wisps of blue misty air seemed to come from his mouth and ears. Quickly, Minerva, Albus and Severus moved forward and began placing them in a stone basin that was on Dumbledore’s desk with their wands. Afterward, Minerva picked Harry up and took him down to bed. Severus stared at the stone basin and then at Albus.

“Can I go too Headmaster? I don’t want to witness this. I’ve heard enough. I don’t think I want to go into the Pensieve just to see them beat him,” Severus said.

“It seems you care about the child after all,” Dumbledore said.

“I don’t care about him. I just don’t like finding out that this is what happened to Lily’s son,” Severus answered, “If she knew what her sister did to him . . . ”

But Albus knew differently, no matter how many times Severus complained that Harry was a brat, and that he would be his father all over again, he cared for the little boy. They all did and not because he was famous. Albus hadn’t thought he could care about someone as much as he cared about Harry. He had taken over all of their lives. He decided after he went to visit the Dursley’s he would have to hire a tutor.

He had been putting it off, hoping there was a possibility that he could stop the abuse and let Harry live with his Aunt and Uncle again. However, after what he heard what the boy had said he knew this wasn’t possible, he wasn’t about to put Harry back with those people. He was sure everyone else would protest if he told them that Harry was going back. He had hoped Petunia would forget her jealously of her sister after all these years and take care of Harry as her own. He had been wrong.

“You may go, I don’t want to see this myself, but it’s important. There is a chance we can charge them if the abuse is too bad. We may even be able to take their son away.”

“I hope so,” Severus said getting up, "There should be a way to prevent them from having another. Harry told me they wanted to have a daughter someday but couldn’t because of him.”

Minerva kept her wand in her robes knowing she would hex the Dursleys into oblivion if she kept it in her hand. She and Albus stood on their front steps late one evening. He had rung the doorbell. They could hear small running footsteps at the door. A moment later, a very chubby blond haired boy opened the door. He stared at Albus with shock. He didn’t seem to notice Minerva at all.

“Are you a wizard?” he whispered taking in his wizard’s hat, long hair and beard, along with his star-spangled robes. “Like on cartoons?”

“Who is it Dudders?” they heard a woman call.

“A wizard!” the boy yelled back.

“What!?” an angry mans voice shouted.

After a few minutes, a slim blond haired woman appeared wearing a scowl followed by her husband who was a very large man. Minerva glared at him remembering when he had smacked Harry across the face. The Dursley’s stared at them for a moment before Albus stepped into the house making Minerva gasp, but it was obvious that the Dursley’s weren’t going to invite them in.

“What do you think you are doing sir?” Vernon Dursley asked snapping out of his shock.

“We are here to talk about Harry Potter,” Albus answered calmly.

“You aren’t bringing him back here are you?” Vernon asked.

“You will never see that boy again,” Minerva snapped. “No, we are here to talk about what went on here when he lived here.”

“That boy liked to tell lies,” Vernon said, “Whatever he told you, he made up. We took him in didn’t we? We gave him clothes to wear. We fed him. I don’t know why your lot couldn’t have taken him in the first place.”

“You are Harry’s only remaining relatives,” Albus said, “I asked you in the letter I left with Harry to take care of him as if you would with your own. You did not do this.” Though Albus was not shouting or glaring, he seemed to be letting off waves of anger anyway. Minerva watched the Dursley step together. Petunia pulled Dudley close. “You were cruel to that boy. You treated him like a slave. Harry was abused while he lived here. He did not wish to tell us, but we forced him.”

“What is wrong with you!?” Minerva snapped, “How could you hit an innocent child? I saw you-” she said pointing at Vernon, who stepped back “-smack Harry across the face Halloween night.”

“Have you been spying on us?” Petunia snapped; she looked more disturbed about being spied on than how she had treated her little nephew.

“And it’s a damn good thing we did!” Minerva said having trouble controlling her temper.

“That’s all you wizards do,” Petunia snapped back, “I had enough of that when I was younger. Don’t you have anything better to do then spy on decent people?”

“Decent people!?” Minerva yelled, “Decent people do not abuse a child. I’m glad we saw what you were doing. You told him it was his fault he got abused and that his parents were dead. How can you be so cruel?”

“I will not have you stand here and accuse us of crimes you can’t prove we did,” Vernon Dursley said. “That child was an insolent brat the first day we took him in. If he might have got a beating once and a while it was because he deserved it. As for you wizarding type, you have no right to butt into our business. We didn’t want him in the first place did we? You left him here on our front porch and we took him. You have him back and if I never see that brat again it will be too soon.”

“We do have proof,” Albus said in his calm voice again, “and we will use it against you. We have been to the Ministry of Magic. You have been called to a hearing at the Ministry that you will show up for. There is a chance you can be charged for your crimes and even lose your son.”

“No!” Petunia shouted pulling Dudley closer. “Why can’t you wizards leave us alone? I never wanted this! I never wanted Lily to be a witch and I didn’t want her son! Lily knew that! I know Lily would not have appointed me his guardian. She had friends at that freak place, why didn’t he go with one of them?”

“That boy was dangerous!” Vernon roared, “He set a cat after me! Look. I still have the scars from it! He also made Dudley sick on Halloween night!”

“He didn’t set a cat after you,” Minerva said, “that was I! I saw you slap Harry across the face. And I also know that you were letting your boy eat all the treats he wanted that night. That’s why he got sick. It had nothing to do with Harry!”

Vernon Dursley face had turned purple with his anger. Little Dudley was looking from his parents to Minerva and Dumbledore looking a little frightened. Minerva stared down at him before looking at Petunia Dursley.

“Is there a place we could talk calmly where the child isn’t around?” she asked.

“We could go in the kitchen,” Petunia said looking very pale. “Dudders, please run upstairs and get ready for bed, I’ll be up to read you a story.”

“Where is Harry?” Dudley asked ignoring his mother, “Where did he go? He was here Halloween, but now he is gone. Christmas is soon. But Harry is a bad boy so he doesn’t get presents.”

Minerva glared at Petunia who glanced at Dudley looking even paler. So they had taught their son that Harry was bad too? Minerva thought angrily. She hoped that the justice for their crimes would be served, and severely. Petunia asked to be excused for a moment; she grabbed Dudley’s hand and started pulling him toward the stairs.

“Vernon, dear, please take them to the kitchen,” she said.

Vernon glared at her then back at Minerva and Albus. Sighing, he motioned for them to follow him. He muttered something under his breath as he stomped loudly into the kitchen. At the kitchen door, he whirled around suddenly to glare at them again.

“Since when do normal people like me have to go to a hearing from people like you?” he snarled.

“There are muggles who work with cases that involve child abuse in our world,” Albus answered. “They are sworn to secrecy or course. Harry isn’t the first case we’ve had. There have been muggleborn students who had abusive parents. It happens a lot unfortunately.”

“I didn’t lay a hand on that boy,” Vernon muttered angrily holding the door open for them.

Minerva closed her eyes slowly and opened them. It was going to be a very long night. It would have been easier if she could just attack them as a cat again.

“MONSTER! MONSTER!”

Minerva woke up, she felt as if she had been slapped. She sat up and rubbed her eyes and looked around. A small red figure ran into her room yelling. Sometimes she wished she hadn’t agreed to have Harry in the sleeping quarters next to hers. She loved the boy, but he seemed to have night terrors often. His first couple weeks with them had been about the Dursley’s. Now apparently it was going to be about monsters.

She smirked a little, wondering how Severus would feel if he had to deal with a little boys nightmares. If Harry came running into his room, he would likely hex him. Harry climbed onto the bed sobbing hard and shaking. Sighing Minerva pulled him close to hug him. It had been years since she had cared for a child as young as Harry.

“What kind of monster?” she asked.

“Big ears and big eyes. It was cleaning my stuff,” Harry sobbed.

It took Minerva a few moments to realize what he was talking about. She had a feeling one of the House Elves had gone into his room to clean. Harry had woken up and saw it. None of them had thought to introduce him to the House Elves. She got out of bed and carried Harry back to his sleeping quarters. Sure enough there was a House Elf cleaning Harry’s bathroom when they entered. It was barely taller then Harry was but she could see how it would frighten him.

“Harry. That’s not a monster,” Minerva explained, “It’s a House Elf and he won’t hurt you.”

“So sorry madam,” The house elf squeaked, “Erty didn’t mean to wake young Master Potter.”

Harry still sniffled into her neck. He had his arms around her tightly. He didn’t seem to want to look at the house elf.

“Listen, Erty, we’re going to have to make a new schedule. Harry has never met a house elf. Until he is more comfortable, you will have to clean his room when he isn’t around,” Minerva said.

He nodded and thanked her before disapparating with a loud crack. Minerva set Harry down onto his feet. He stared up at her. Tears were still streaming down his cheeks. He wiped his nose with his red pyjama sleeve.

“What’s a house elf?” he asked.

“They are magical creatures who clean people’s houses for them. They also make our meals. They are harmless and would never hurt you,” she explained.

She suddenly remembered that when they had picked out children’s books for Harry, there had been one about a House Elf. She walked over to the small book shelf they had set up for him and looked for it. The boy was going to be very spoiled; she wouldn’t be surprised if Snape’s prediction came true. He believed that Harry was going to be arrogant when he was older. He had a couple toy boxes filled with toys, a lot of clothes and anything else a five-year-old would need. She reminded herself that he deserved it after the life he went through. She pulled a book out called:

The Boy and his House Elf

She sat down in a rocker they had also put in the room and looked at Harry.

“Would you like me to read you a story about a house elf?” she asked.

He nodded and ran to climb up into her lap. She rocked and read to him, it wasn’t long before he fell asleep. She smiled down at him as he breathed deeply. In the beginning she hadn’t wanted him to live in the castle. It would be hard for everyone because he would need watching, however that didn’t seem to be the case. Whoever was in charge of him rarely had any problems with him. Her Gryffindors were also good with him. There had been a couple times when some of them had taken him out on weekends to play with him when the teachers needed a rest. Everything was working out for the best and she was glad he was here. She didn’t ever want him to go and she wished he could stay a little boy forever.

There was a chance that he couldn’t stay at Hogwarts. The Ministry was questioning whether or not Hogwarts was the place that Harry Potter should be raised. They weren’t sure if Dumbledore should be making decisions for Harry. It had been he who decided Harry should live with his Aunt and Uncle. Minerva therefore had applied for guardianship since she had been the one to rescue him. One of them had to be a guardian of Harry in order for him to stay.

The Dursleys trial was still going on. Dudley Dursley had been temporarily taken away from his parents for the trial. Vernon Dursley could face charges of child abuse while Petunia Dursley could face charges for enabling child abuse. They were even looking to send Vernon to jail.

The Magical Law Enforcement had wanted to question Harry but Dumbledore hadn’t wanted to put Harry through it again. Instead he provided his memories of Harry’s confession along with some of Harry’s own memories. Abarella Figg had also testified that she had noticed Harry looked as if he had been abused. Madam Pomfrey had decided to take pictures of Harry the night he had arrived before she had taken care of him.

She knew Harry wouldn’t ever return to the Dursleys. She just hoped she could be named as his full time guardian instead of temporary.

“It’s Christmas and I got presents!” Harry shouted as soon as Snape sat down for breakfast.

“Indeed,” he said, he wasn’t a morning person and the last thing he needed was an excited five-year-old yelling in his ear.

“I liked your present. Thank you Mr. Snape.”

Severus gave him a small smile before drinking his coffee and looking down at the Daily Prophet. He could feel the other teachers smirking at him. It had been a last minute decision to buy the boy a present while he was in Hogsmeade. He had bought him a stuffed cat since the boy was very fond of cats. It had been very cheap and he hadn’t put a lot of thought into it so he wished the others would mind their own business.

“Guess what else I got Mr. Snape, I got some chocolate frogs-”

“Which, by the sounds of it, you probably ate them all,” Severus interrupted, he really didn’t want to hear about all the presents the boy had received. He knew he would since the Potter brat never stopped talking. What had happened to the shy boy who had first come?

“No,” Harry said shaking his head quickly, “Mrs. McGonagall said I couldn’t until this afternoon.”

“Harry, please eat your breakfast so I can read the paper,” Severus said. “Then maybe you could play with your new toys.”

“And you could play with me,” Harry said.

Severus glared at McGonagall as she choked on her coffee. He grunted and picked up his paper to finish reading it. Why did the child have to bother him so much? He didn’t spoil him the way the other teachers did. He wouldn’t call it being mean, but he wasn’t exactly nice to him. He’d called Harry a brat the other day and all Harry had just laughed. Flitwick and Sprout annoyed him to no end when they asked if he planned to adopt Harry. As if he would make a good father . . .

He was glad when he lowered his paper to see that Harry was now sitting beside Albus telling him about his presents. Severus looked around the Great Hall now to see how many students had stayed for Christmas. He knew six of his Slytherin’s had stayed. He glanced at the Slytherin table. None had come down yet. There were many Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs in the Great Hall, and only a few Ravenclaws.

It was decorated with its usual twelve Christmas trees, which Harry had been more then happy to help decorate. He had been more of a nuisance then any help. And it was Severus Harry had chosen to help at first. He managed to shake Harry off by having him help Flitwick. He thought the boy should take to Flitwick better then anyone else since they were almost the same height. Harry didn’t seem to notice though. It had been Flitwick who had shown Harry that the ceiling was enchanted to show the sky and Severus wished he hadn’t. Every day since, Harry had pointed out what the weather was, as if they all needed telling and couldn’t see themselves.

He was glad the excitement that Harry Potter was living at Hogwarts had died down. The first month, he couldn’t turn down a corridor without hearing people talking about it. Surprisingly they had all listened to the Headmaster and left him alone. Some of the much older students were even allowed to watch him on weekends. None of them had said a word to Harry about how he was famous.

He looked at McGonagall, “Should we let him stay with some of the older students today?” It was his way in letting them know that he was not playing with the boy.

“Don’t you want to play with him?” Flitwick asked.

“Yes, I think Harry would love to play with you,” Sprout added with a smile.

“Shut up,” he said in a low voice. He looked down the table, Harry was now with Hagrid.

The boy had long ago learned that Hagrid was indeed harmless and was now very taken with him. All he needed was for Harry to hear Sprout and Flitwick. Harry didn’t seem to be paying attention, he was laughing at something Hagrid was telling him.

“We could arrange that,” McGonagall said. “Though I’m not sure about the first years. They may reveal something they shouldn’t from their excitement. I’d say anyone fifth year or older could.”

“Well all of my students are third year and younger,” Snape said.

“I have a couple sixth years staying,” Sprout said. “And I’m sure they would enjoy a day with Harry Potter.”

“Glad someone would,” Snape muttered.

Yet, even though he said this, he knew he did like Harry. That’s what scared him. He didn’t want to get too fond of the child. There was only one person he had ever loved and slowly he was starting to love her son. He had never wanted that. In fact, he had planned on ignoring him when he had come to school when he was older. The boy made that impossible. Severus looked at Harry again. He was now talking to Professor Vector, the Arithmancy teacher. He had won all of their hearts.