Harry and his friends walked off the train and entered into the muggles' realm of King's Cross. As soon as they did Mrs. Weasley spotted them and gave them all a hug, asking them the usual stuff about school. After some more minutes of polite conversation and tearful goodbyes, Harry started to walk away from his friends, looking for his aunt and uncle.

Harry spotted them almost immediately, they were hard to miss even in the crowd of people: Uncle Vernon with his monstrous purple face and Aunt Petunia with her giraffe-like neck.

Harry sighed and went over to them.

"Come on boy!" Ordered Uncle Vernon, glaring at his nephew.

Harry sighed dejectedly. He could already sense that the holidays were going to be terrible.
"Yes sir." Harry replied obediently, as was expected of him.

Aunt Petunia, too, glared at Harry with disgust and hate in her eyes.
"Now!", she hissed. Harry's aunt and uncle got into their car and watched as Harry stashed his luggage in the trunk, not bothering to help their nephew. But then again, Harry didn't really expect them to.

The car ride was silent as they made their way back to Number Four, Privet Drive.

When they arrived, everyone got out of the car, and right away Uncle Vernon ordered Harry: "Well, boy, move your lazy butt and take your things to Dudley's second bedroom."

"Yes Uncle Vernon." Harry replied. He grabbed his luggage and made his way up the stairs.

The trunk was incredibly heavy, and of course none of the Dursleys bothered to help Harry with it. By the time he had arrived in his room, he was bathed in sweat and breathing hard.

Since he had nothing better to do, Harry started to unpack his trunk and put his tings away into the closet.
Once Harry was settled in his room, he heard a loud stomping up the steps. Harry placed his parchment and quills on the desk.

'Uncle Vernon', thought Harry.

The door burst open and in came Vernon, holding a letter, and Harry detected the stench of alcohol on his breath.

Harry backed away quickly. Uncle Vernon when he was sober was one thing, but Uncle Vernon when he was drunk was downright dangerous- especially when you were a certain black-haired, green-eyed boy, known as the bane of said uncle's existence.
"So," Uncle Vernon snarled, a mad glint in his eyes, as he advanced on Harry, "Because of you I can't sell MY HOUSE!" he finished in a roar.

Harry's legs hit the bed and he fell down onto it.
"What?" Harry didn't understand what Uncle Vernon was talking about. By now, his uncle was standing directly in front of Harry. Harry shrank back on the bed in fear.

Before Harry had any chance to defend himself of to even comprehend what was happening, Uncle Vernon had backhanded him and thrown him onto the floor.

The next punch came to his stomach and Harry groaned in pain, curling up into a foetal position, trying to protect himself as good as possible.

Uncle Vernon did not stop when Harry begged for mercy, he beat and kicked his nephew until Harry passed out from being thrown into a wall. He had a cut on his forehead, and blood was trickling down.

Vernon smiled maliciously at the still figure on the ground and stepped over his nephew. Then he left the room and locked the door behind him..

It was silent in the house of #4, Privet Drive. All its occupants had gone to bed and were snoring happily in their beds, all but one- Harry. Harry was still unconscious, lying on the floor of Dudley's second bedroom.

Suddenly, the window flew open and an unnatural, strong gust of wind came into the room.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, the still form of Harry Potter suddenly began to glow with a brilliant blue light.

From what could be seen of Harry's injuries through his torn and ripped clothing, all the cuts and injured muscles were healing slowly, leaving no trace that there had ever been anything but smooth skin.

Next Day

When Harry woke up that morning, he had completely forgotten about the events of the night before. Yawning, he got up from the floor ('must have fallen out of bed', he thought) and pulled some clothes out of his closet- then his gaze fell on the mirror on the inside of his cupboard. The clothes he had worn over the night were torn in several places and blood-stained. Harry blinked and gasped when the memories of the beating last night began to return. Then, he realized that he didn't hurt at all. Carefully, Harry peeled off the damaged clothes and stared. There wasn't a single bruise on his body.

Harry shook his head in confusion. Somehow, he concluded, his wizarding powers must have healed himself.

Just then a sharp rapping was heard at the door. "Are you up yet!" yelled Petunia.
"Yes Aunt Petunia." Harry replied tiredly. Taking one last look at the mirror, Harry closed the door of his closet and walked toward the door of his room. Harry heard the unlocking of his door, and then sharp footsteps walking away.

When Harry came downstairs, a loud gasp was heard from Uncle Vernon. He was shocked to see that Harry's wounds had healed overnight. Quickly he hid his shock and handed Harry a list. "Have all these done, and I want them done before I get home- or else."

Harry knew that tone of voice.
"Yes Uncle Vernon.", he said.
Harry looked over the list. He knew immediately that it would be impossible to finish all these chores on time.

CHORE LIST

Mow lawn

Weed garden

Dust everything

Mop the floors

Clean all windows

Make lunch

Change all beds (except yours)

Wash the cars

Do laundry

Cook dinner

Wash dishes

Sighing, Harry set to work.

By the time Uncle Vernon came home, Harry was not done with his chores, and Harry's punishment was another beating.

This time, Harry thought he would die from all the pain and blood-loss, but then, luckily for Harry, Uncle Vernon seemed to have enough and picked him up by the scruff of his collar and heaved him back into his room.

Meanwhile…..

Two voices could be heard in a dark room…..

"Will he live?"
the first voice asked, sounding concerned.

"I hope so, because he is heir to all of us and he needs to defeat Voldemort!"

A second voice, slightly deeper than the first, answered.

"But that is a big job for a child." The first voice piped up again.

"Yes, it is, but it is his."

Said the second voice firmly.

"We need to help him!" The first voice sounded urgent, almost panicked.

"Not now, we can't! He must be off age first." The second voice admonished, though it sounded regretful.

"He turns fifteen this year." The first voice remarked.

"True, but until his fifteenth birthday we can not help him." The second voice said solemnly.

"We can talk to him!" said the first voice, sounding defiant.

"True, but why talk to him now?" Now the second voice was confused.

"Easy," said the first voice, "So we can tell him that all will work out in the end."

The second voice sighed, seemingly in defeat.
"Ok, tonight when he sleeps we can talk to him."

"Ok!", said the first voice, sounding decidedly more cheerful than before.

Then, without any warning, the voices stopped.

Back at Harry's

Harry Potter was in a pool of his own blood and in dire need of help.

Without any warning, Harry began to glow again, but this time it only healed his cuts and saved his life, but for some reason he still had all of the bruises.

Exhausted, but relieved, Harry fell asleep.

He woke up in the middle of the night by a light tapping sound on his window. Harry got up and padded across the room, pushing open the window and letting a small owl fly in. It was Pig (Ron's owl), with a note attached to his leg. He removed the note with some difficulty and read it:

Harry,

Are the muggles feeding you?

How is your summer?

Mom and dad keep asking Dumbledore if you can come over.

If you need anything, ask!
Ron

Quickly, Harry drew a line after Ron's letter and scrawled with his quill,

Ron,
I've been better.
Harry

Harry attached the letter to the overeager Pig's leg and watched him fly off in to the night.

Suddenly, Harry heard something behind him. He whirled around and gasped involuntarily.
A bright white light had appeared in the middle of his room and a man and a woman stepped out.

"Listen to us, Harry!" the woman said.

"We know that you are having a hard time," the man continued.

"But listen, you need to get help here fast!" the woman spoke again, urgently.

"It is not safe for you here." Said the man, looking at Harry intently.

"Leave this place!" the woman looked very worried.

"We are watching over you, but we cannot help you." Said the man, still looking Harry in the eyes.

"Please, tell someone!" The woman concluded.

In another flash of brilliant white light, the two disappeared and Harry was left staring at the place where they had been only a few seconds ago.

Shaking his head as if to clear away the images of a dream, Harry returned to bed, and was no sooner awoken by Uncle Vernon entering the room.

"So!" the man hissed, looking madder than Harry had ever seen him, "So! If you die, then I can sell MY HOUSE! I'm telling you now, boy," he said, advancing on Harry, "You will not eat anything while you are in MY HOUSE!

But don't think I will let you laze about, oh no," Uncle Vernon said, by his time looking downright insane.

"You will not be lazy, you will work!" Uncle Vernon yelled. Before Harry could say or do anything, he gave Harry another beating, leaving Harry fearing whatever Uncle Vernon would do to him next.

Uncle Vernon left and Harry spotted a piece of paper Uncle Vernon had dropped on the floor accidentally. Curiously, Harry walked over and picked it up. It was a letter addressed to his uncle. Deciding that it couldn't hurt to do so, Harry opened the letter and found out why his uncle wanted him dead.

Dear Mr. Dursley,
My name is J. L. Smith and I was Mr. and Mrs. Evans' lawyer. You wrote me asking how to sell the house of #4, Privet Drive. I am instructed to tell you that the house is not yours to sell. In Mr. and Mrs. Evans' last will the house was left to Lily Evans. When she married she agreed to let your family live in the house for a while. However, after her death the house went into a trust for her son Harry Potter and according to her last will Harry Potter will be able to rightfully claim the house at the age of fifteen years.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. J. L. Smith

So that was the reason uncle Vernon wanted him dead. The house of #four, Privet Drive, belonged to him. This could mean that Uncle Vernon would kill him to get the house.

He needed to get help quickly because if Uncle Vernon wanted to sell the house for some reason and Harry was in his way, Harry was sure that Uncle Vernon would stop at almost nothing to get what he wanted- not even if it meant killing his nephew.

It was bad luck that Hedwig was out hunting this night.

Next Day

"Boy!"

Harry was yanked from his sleep by his uncle's angry voice.
Uncle Vernon unlocked the door and came in.

When he saw that Harry was still alive, he looked surprised- then his face began to purple again.

With an angry snarl much like a wild animal, he advanced on his nephew who was much too tired to defend himself and beat Harry again until he almost passed out in a pool of blood.

When uncle Vernon left he locked the door again so Harry could not leave the room.

Harry could hear his Uncle Vernon leave the house to go to work.

When Harry looked up he saw the beautiful woman from the night before standing in a white light.

Harry looked at her in awe and asked:
"Who are you?"

The woman smiled at him kindly but shook her head.
"It is not time for you to know, but soon the time will come." She answered cryptically, eyeing Harry with both concern and pity.

Harry frowned. He did not like waiting.
"When?" Harry asked.

"Soon." The woman started to fade away.

Harry began to panic. Would she leave him at the mercy of his uncle again?
"Help!" he called, desperately.

"Soon.", the woman answered, smiling at Harry reassuringly. "I will do what I can."

Then, she disappeared completely, leaving Harry feeling a bit better. He was still wounded and bruised but in his heart he felt like everything would work out. He hoped that he would meet the woman again.

Before he could follow this trail of thought, the door opened again and Aunt Petunia came inside the room and handed Harry a list of chores to do.

"Have this done before Vernon comes home- or else" she ordered.

Harry sighed and washed in the bathroom, then started on his chores.

CHORES LIST

Make breakfast

Weed garden

Wash cars

Clean breakfast dishes

Mop floors

Dust everything

Wash windows (except yours)

Make lunch

Clean lunch dishes

Clean clothes

Change all bed clothes (except yours)

Paint front door

Paint fence

Make dinner

Clean dishes

Harry sighed, knowing again that it would be impossible to finish his chores on time, and began to make breakfast.

Remus Lupin's House

Sirius and Remus were talking when Hedwig flew into the room through the window.

Hedwig hooted and flew over to Sirius, who grasped the letter.

Sirius,
You told me that if I was in trouble to write to you. So I am writing to you now because the beatings are so hard that I am dying. But every time I think that I won't survive any longer, a strange blue glow comes and heals me.

Yesterday, Uncle Vernon dropped a letter and when I read it, I found out that the house of #4, Privet Drive, belongs to me from my mother's last will and Uncle Vernon wants to sell it. That's why he is trying to kill me. Sirius, you have to help me!
Harry

When Sirius finished reading the letter he went pale and dropped it. Remus picked it up and read it and by the look in his eyes the wolf inside him wanted out.

"I am getting him out of there tonight!" Sirius said, determination written all over his face.

Remus looked up from where he was trying to control himself and said:
"Sirius, wait! We need to get Harry someplace where no one would look for him!"

Sirius crossed his arms stubbornly and said:
"Here."

Remus shook his head regretfully and looked his friend intently in the eyes when he answered:
"No. Sirius, as much as I would love to have Harry here, it simply isn't safe. Voldemort would look for him here."

Sirius dropped his arms to his sides and sighed in defeat.
"You're right."

The two friends stood in silence for a while before Sirius suddenly jumped and yelled: "I know!"

Not bothering to explain to Remus what he was planning to do, Sirius grabbed a bit of parchment and a quill and ink from the table and sat down.

Then, he began writing a letter.

Dear Gram, Papa,
You said that if I needed help, then all I needed to do was ask. So I am asking you now that you take care of my godson Harry Potter until I can.
Love, Sirius

Then he placed the finished letter aside and picked up another piece of parchment.

Dear Mr. J. L. Smith,
You know that the trust says that I can remove Harry from the Dursleys. I am sending you this letter to tell you to remove Harry from the Dursleys and send him to my grandparents. Enclosed is the letter that Harry sent to me, read it and you will know why I want to remove him from the Dursleys.
Yours sincerely,

Sirius Black

The letter arrived at Mr. Smith's and after reading it, he knew that he had to get the Harry right away.

Next Day

There was a knock on the door and Uncle Vernon answered it.

"Who are you?" he questioned suspiciously.

"Mr. Dursley? I presume. I am J. L. Smith and I have come to take Harry James Potter to a new home."

Vernon laughed nervously and stepped back to let the lawyer enter the house. "That's okay.", he said quickly.

Mr. Smith regarded him over the rim of his glasses sternly.
"You have no choice in the matter, the trustee of the trust has reason to think that his life is in danger. I am sorry but Harry Potter must came with me."

Uncle Vernon frowned, knowing that he had lost, that he wouldn't be able to sell this house, and at the same time worried what Mr. Smith would do about Harry's….. condition.

"Okay, take the boy then."

Harry couldn't believe his luck when Mr. Smith told him that he would finally leave this house and live with Sirius' grandparents.

Harry packed his belongings and went with Mr. Smith.

Mr. Smith took Harry to a huge mansion a half hour away from Privet Drive.

When Mr. Smith knocked on the door an old woman answered.

She took one look at Harry and exclaimed:

"Good lord, what happened to him?"

The lawyer frowned as he guided Harry into the house.
"Vernon Dursley.", he said darkly.

With that, the old woman took Harry upstairs to a bedroom and called a doctor.

When the doctor arrived half an hour later and saw the condition Harry was in he was surprised that Harry was still alive.