Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything you recognize.

A/N: This is obviously AU, because I really dislike the Dursleys and I honestly think that if Harry Potter grew up in a different home environment, things would have gone very differently.

A/N2: For those of you wondering, 'Live Laugh Love Learn' is on hold, because I haven't written it in a while, and I lost all the notes I made on it. So until I can figure out exactly where it's going, it's on hiatus.

Chapter One: Meetings

October 1985

Alannah Munroe looked up from the folder in front of her and shot a glare at the phone. How am I supposed to get any work done with the phone constantly ringing, she thought, reaching for the annoyance.

"Alannah Munroe."

"Ms. Munroe, hello, this is Dan Freeman, from Surrey Elementary School. I was told that you were the one to talk to about one of my kindergarten students…"

Less than an hour later, Alannah was sitting in the office of Surrey Elementary School, waiting for her first glimpse of five year old Harry Potter. The guidance counselor had told her a few disturbing facts about the child, but she wasn't prepared for the scrawny thing that walked through the door, looking small and sad.

He certainly didn't look like he was five, or that he should have been enrolled in the kindergarten class. Alannah sighed inwardly, and put a smile on her face.

"Hi, Harry. My name is Alannah. Is it okay if we sit and talk for a bit?"

The child bit his lip and looked down at his feet. If she wasn't expecting that kind of reaction, she would have missed the slight nod of his head.

Alannah glanced at Mr. Freeman, then back at the child in front of her. "Why don't we go find a quiet place to talk, okay?"

Another slight nod of the head was all she received, but that was enough for her. She offered her hand to the child. He took it and followed her out of the office, down the hall, and into a small room with a table and chairs.

"Have a seat, Harry."

With out a word, he pulled out one of the chairs and pulled himself up on it. He had yet to say a word or even look up at Alannah, which she noted and filed away to be analyzed at a later date.

Once the guidance counselor left the room, closing the door behind him, Alannah took a minute to fully look at Harry. At first glance, he looked under-nourished. The glasses that sat on his nose looked like they had been broken and repaired with glue and tape more than once. He was pale, which she took to mean he hadn't spent much time outside during the summer months, if any at all. His clothes looked like they were at least two sizes too big, and were probably hand-me-downs, with rips and stains everywhere. Alannah doubted they had been washed in a few days.

"Do you like school?"

Harry shrugged his little shoulders, and picked at something invisible on the table.

"Mr. Freeman says you live with your aunt, uncle, and cousin?"

Harry nodded once.

"Do you like it there?"

Once again, the raven-haired boy shrugged his shoulders.

"You know, Harry, you don't have to be afraid to tell me anything. I'm just here to talk to you. I might even be able to help you, if something's upsetting you."

Two minutes of silence passed before Harry looked up slowly, and met Alannah's eyes. What she saw in them made her feel for the child. She thanked whatever powers there were above, watching over her, keeping her from showing emotion on her face. Never, in her four years of University, and two years working for Social Services, had she ever seen such a look on a small child's face. His bright green eyes looked like they'd seen too much in his life. The dark bags under his eyes told Alannah that this boy hadn't had a decent night's sleep in at least a few weeks, if not longer. Her heart went out to the child. Looks like after this visit she had more than one stop to make.

Taking a deep breath, Alannah lifted her hand and knocked on the front door of number four, Privet Drive. The house, although it looked small, was nicely taken care of. She was almost sure that the little boy she had met earlier that day was not the nephew of this family. And when the woman with the long neck opened the door, she almost turned and walked away to retrieve the correct address.

"Mrs. Dursley?"

"Yes?"

No such luck, she thought. "My name is Alannah Munroe. I'm a Social Worker with the Ministry. I was hoping I could come in and talk with you about your nephew, Harry."

Petunia Dursley stuttered, and then pulled herself together. "Don't you guys need to make appointments for these things?"

"Under normal circumstances, yes. But I was hoping to get this issue resolved before the end of today."

"Well, come in then, but make it quick, if you don't mind. I have running around to do before the children get home."

Mrs. Dursley showed Alannah to the spacious living room, offered her a seat, and then took a seat on the opposite couch. While Mrs. Dursley sprouted her mouth, talking about her lovely nephew, Alannah chanced a look around. There were numerous pictures of their chubby son, but not a single one of Harry.

After fifteen minutes, she decided she'd had enough, and asked if she could see the boys' bedrooms. Again, Mrs. Dursley got a look on her face, before she replied, "I'm sorry, that's not possible today. I really must be off, appointments to keep and such. Besides… we're having Harry's room redone, so he's been sharing with Dudley for the past few days."

Alannah resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the obvious lie, and allowed herself to be shown out the front door. On her way back to her office, she began making plans. Her heart went out to the little boy with the unloving family. If she hurried, she'd be able to keep him from going back there after school let out for the day.

At three o'clock on the nose, Alannah was back in the office of the Elementary school, waiting for Harry to be let out of class and brought to the office. In the space of only a few hours, Alannah had been back to the office, had a meeting with her boss and several other workers, had another worker sent to Privet Drive with a search warrant (to check on the living standards of both boys), and been handed temporary guardianship of five year old Harry.

Alannah spotted Mr. Freeman, with the raven-haired boy beside him. She felt the smile tug at her lips.

"Hi, Harry. How was your afternoon?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders, his eyes already concentrating on his grubby shoes.

Kneeling in front of Harry, she gently guided his face until they were looking eye to eye.

"Harry, how would you like to come and stay with me for a while? Almost like a weekend away from home?"

His green eyes got a few shades brighter and almost sparkled. Then he nodded.

With out another word, Alannah nodded at Mr. Freeman, and then took Harry's hand, leading him to her car. She made sure he was buckled in properly in the backseat, and then she buckled herself in the driver's seat, started her car, and drove towards her London flat.

A/N: That's the first chapter all! Please review and let me know what you think!

Ms Alex James