A.N. Yes I know I have already started this story, but it was crap. So I started over. Most chapters will be the same, with better spelling and grammer I hope, I just got windows 2010 :). So without further adu I give you this!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, will never own anything. Don't like, don't care, so don't read.
Chapter 1
In an overstuffed red leather chair inside a fire warmed office, a seven year old Harry James Potter sat, eyes staring emotionlessly at his feet. To his left his father ranted passionately to the older man behind the mahogany desk. Throughout his father's rant Harry stayed quiet, ignoring the subtle insults that he had heard countless times before. It wasn't the first time James Potter had tried to persuade Headmaster Albus Dumbledore into finding a different family for his son to live with, though it was the first time that the façade of loving father fell apart.
"We've had enough Albus! We refused to allow this worthless, unwanted child to live with us anymore." James shouted, his anger finally exploding, when it seemed as though Albus wasn't listening to him. "He has caused us nothing but problems. He doesn't listen to the smallest of orders. He complains about the tinniest of tasks and half haphazardly does the chores we assign him. He is an inconsiderate, worthless child and we don't want him anymore." James ranted turning to glare at the mop of black hair that was attached to his only son. "Lily and I have put up with him for six years! Six years we have allowed him to live with us, even after we almost died to protect him from that mad man." Pausing, James sat down into the identical chair of Harrison's, hoping that Albus would listen for once.
"James, surely you do not believe that about your own son? Harry had nothing to do with Voldemort coming after you." Albus said, ignoring the flinch that racked James body. "Yes, Harry was the prophesied one, and yes Voldemort came after you, but you must remember that without your son none of your family would be here today and this entire world would be run by a mad man."
Taking a deep breath to calm the rage that welled up when he heard again about the debt he owed his son, James started speaking again in a softer voice. "Albus, be that as it may, we still do no not want him. We never wanted him; we were only supposed to have one child. Albus, there must be someone you know who wants a child, someone who lost a child in the war, or someone who can't have one on their own? We don't want him. We just want to raise Abigail the way she deserves. She deserves to live like a normal little girl, without her brother getting her hurt again, which we both know will happen if he continues to live with us. I'm sorry for the inconvenience but Harry must leave."
"James. Think about this..."
"Albus! It is because of that… that… thing that my poor beautiful Abigail now has a scar over her eye. It's because of that boy that she will have to live with the humiliation of being scared for the rest of her life. It's because of that boy that she can not leave the house without reporters hounding her. It's because…."
"ENOUGH" Albus shouted, standing up waves of power coming off him as he towered over the younger man. "All of us owe that little boy our lives, most of all you. Abigail would be dead right now if it wasn't for Harrison. Is it so hard to love a child, planed or not. As parents you are supposed to protect your children no matter what happened. You should be grateful, not trying to get rid of him. He is a little boy, of course he is going to argue about chores, every child does, I know adults who even complain about them." Albus said, taking to James like he was a disobedient child. Pausing to allow what he had said to seep in and seeing that it didn't Albus continued "If you don't want the boy, fine, I know a couple who would gladly take him. They cannot have children, though they have been trying and they will love him like you never could."
Eyes still wide with fear, but no shame, James told Albus thank you before he fled, tripping over his robes and falling into the green fire and leaving his son to deal with the angered headmaster. After he left, the now calm headmaster walked around his desk to sit in the chair James had once occupied. Watching Harry tremble for a few seconds, Albus pulled his favorite child into his arms.
"Why did you argue so much? Why didn't you just agree?" Harry asked, voice shaking with betrayal.
"You know why, child. If your father thought that I was too eager to take you, he would have changed his mind and taken you home. If I were honest with myself I really shouldn't have lost my temper either, but alas I find that I do not care and rather enjoyed it." Albus said smiling as a small giggle escaped from the little boy in his arms at the thought of the normally calm man yelling at his father. "Do not worry Harry, by this time tomorrow you will have a new family who loves and cherishes you like you always deserved."
"Really? So I don't have to go back there. I can stay here tonight and never enter Potter Manor again?"
"No child, until you are officially adopted you have to go back, but do not be to downhearted, by this time tomorrow you will never have to go back."
"What? Why, can't I stay with Aunt Minnie? Can't we lie and say she is babysitting me? They wouldn't even notice they never do. Please, I don't want to go back!" Harry begged, tears coming to his eyes as he tried to struggle away from Albus. "Please!"
"Harry. Aunt Min.. Minerva is in Scotland with her sister, who is to give birth any day now. We can't ask her to watch you to. I'm so sorry I wish you could stay here, but the wards are being renewed and as uncontrolled and strong as your magic is right now, it would be unwise to keep you here."
With a sigh, Harry went limp as dread filled his small body. Tears still feel from his eyes and his breath still shook with every word he spoke, but he had given up for the night.
"Why now? Why not before? Harrison asked, trying to stall.
"Why could I not take you before?" Albus asked clarifying. Allowing Harry to sit back into his seat after he was calm "I could not take you before because, though our rules are in place for a reason and most are good rules, some are not. You see Harry our dear Ministry of Magic believes that leaving a child in an abusive home is better than taking that child from parents. It is wrong, but the Ministry is set on traditional ways."
"But they don't like me, aren't some traditions meant to be broken?" Harry replied.
"Harrison, my child, I will be the first to say that our system is stuck in the dark ages, and it's mainly due to the wealthy. We have wealthy people who do not want their heirs taken from them if they cry abuse. So instead of just stopping the abuse of their children they buy off the government so that the old laws are not changed. Even with the proof of your memories, and Poppy's examinations the Ministry will still make you stay with James and Lily, and will see any interference on my part as me undermining their leadership." Seeing the sadness on Harrison's face grow worse Albus drew the little boy back onto his lap.
"Don't worry, my boy. The couple I have in mind will love you like Lily and James never did. They will never raise a hand to you and will give you everything you haven't had. I would never give you to some who would hurt you. You just have to deal with one more night." Albus said his eyes twinkling again as a watery smile graced the little boys face.
"Ya, just one more, how much damage can he do?" Harry said, trying to reassure both his honorary grandfather and himself.
"Do not worry my boy, when you get here tomorrow the adoption papers will be for you to sign. Unfortunately you have to go home now."
Reluctantly Harry hugged Albus one last time before he walked toward the floo to leave.
"By grandpa, see you tomorrow."
"Good bye Harry. Merlin keep you safe." Albus waved good bye, praying that Harrison would keep safe as green flames engulfed his grandson.
When Harry stepped out of the fireplace and into Potter manor, it was to see the angry face of his father, glaring down at him. Startled he shrank back against the mantel, grateful that the flames had disappeared after he had stepped out of them.
"You ungrateful, worthless brat, what took you so long? You didn't bother Albus did you?" James yelled. His eyes a lit with anger as his hands clenched and unclenched at his side. "You were supposed to cook supper for Lily, Abigail and I, not stay and bother Albus! He is a busy man you has no time for someone like you!"
"I'm so..rr..rry sir. I was just asking.." Harry shuddered out, knowing it was fruitless to defend himself but also knowing that it would be worse if he didn't. With a sharp slap, Harry's head was pushed back into the hard stone behind him. Pain erupted through his head making him fall to his knees and tears well up in his eyes. Head lying in his hands, Harry waited for the next blow, hoping that his head was not bleeding to much.
"Don't talk back to me you little freak! You have no right to defend yourself, you are in the wrong! Get to your room you won't be getting supper tonight since you didn't fix us any."
"Yes sir." Head still cast down, Harry walked out of the room and towards his room. As he walked down the icy hallways he allowed his mind to wonder. "One more day, Harry. One more day and then you're out of here for good. Just hold on for one more day."
Stepping into the safety of his room Harry took a wet cloth, pressing it to the back of his head to clean away some of the blood. Getting the wound cleaned, Harry wrapped the towel around his head and crawling onto the pallet on the floor that served on his bed. With his cloths as the only protection from the bitter cold, Harry closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep.
