Disclaimer: I own neither the characters, nor the world in which they reside. The only thing I take credit for, is the jumble of words I've carefully laid out in attempt to write a story.

Author's Note: This is my first attempt at fan fiction, well at least that has ever seen the light of day. It originally was going to be a one-shot, but it has grown out of my control. I'm not sure how far I'll take this story, but I will make sure it has an ending when I'm done. Read and review please. Encouragement, criticism, even flames are all welcome.

Chapter 1

My son is not a freak!

-o-o-

Minerva McGonagall, as deputy headmistress of Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, had many duties and responsibilities. Of them all, her favorite was approaching muggle families and informing them that their child is magical. The disbelief when she told them, followed by wonder when she'd prove magics existence, made the severe woman smile every time.

Most children accepted to Hogwarts simply received their acceptance letter via owl post. Since muggle families were ignorant of magic, Minerva would personally deliver their children's acceptance letters. This allowed her to gently introduce the family to magic, and paint Hogwarts and the magical world as a whole in the best possible light.

Today Minerva was delivering her last two letters for the year. She was especially excited because one of those letters was addressed to Harry Potter, The Boy-Who-Lived. Harry was raised by his non-magic aunt and uncle after the events of October 31st 1981.

The Halloween of '81 was celebrated by the wizarding world as the day He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was defeated. Harry Potter was revered as the one who caused the dark wizard's downfall. Somehow after killing Harry's parents, when the dark lord attempted to kill the infant, his own curse rebounded and destroyed him. Though the death of James and Lilly Potter was tragic, the survival of their only son and the defeat of You-Know-Who was one of the most celebrated events in modern magical history.

Minerva originally had misgivings about leaving young Harry in the care of his muggle family. She had spent a day observing them, and it was her opinion that they were the worst sort of muggles imaginable. Albus Dumbledore felt there was little cause for concern. Considering he was, and is, one of the greatest wizards alive, she backed down and let him place Harry in their care without further objection. She was then given Albus' assurance that Harry was in good health and well taken care of when she had later inquired about his well-being.

Smoothing the skirt of her muggle suit, she walked up to number four Privit Drive and rang the doorbell.

-o-o-

Eleven year old Dudley Dursley was fooling around on his computer, blowing up aliens in increasingly sadistic ways, when the doorbell rang. Considering he wasn't expecting his friends over, the noise barely registered. He did pause his game when he heard his mother call for him to answer the door seeing as she was busy in the kitchen.

"Make the freak get it mummy I'm busy." Dudley called back down to his mother.

"He's out back weeding the garden. I'll not have his tracking mud through my house. Just answer the door sweetums and see who it is." Petunia Dursley entreated as she was working on forming pie crusts for desserts that week.

Disgusted that he had to leave his game for any length of time, Dudley ran down the stairs. He stopped before answering the door to compose himself. Appearances were very important, and he was always to present himself as a proper young man in public. This had been driven into him from as far back as he could remember. Of course it was only the appearance that was important to his family. In private, and as long as he never got caught in public, he could act up and do whatever he wanted.

-o-o-

After waiting for a couple minutes, Minerva was about to knock on the door when it opened. A young heavy-set boy held the door with a polite smile.

"Can I help you ma'am?" The overweight boy asked politely.

Minerva hesitated for a moment, she had never seen such a large boy. If she didn't know better, she would swear he was victim of a partial human to pig transfiguration. His features even resembled a pig in some ways. Blinking she shook herself out of her stupor. Appearance aside, the boy was remarkably well mannered and to be rude in return was unthinkable.

"Yes indeed I believe you can. You wouldn't happen to be Dudley Dursley would you?"

"Yes Ma'am, may I ask why you are here?" Dudley responded.

"If your parents are home I would like to speak your family in regards to an invitation to a very prestigious school." Minerva said hiding her shock at how polite the lad was. It was very rare for an eleven year old muggle to display such manners. She began relaxing, deciding her initial conclusions about the Dursleys were unfounded.

Dudley looked behind him into the house and called out to his mother.

"Mum, there's a lady at the door who wants to talk to us, I think it's about Smeltings."

Minerva decided to wait until she was invited in and they were all settled before correcting Dudley's assumption. She figured Smeltings must be a muggle school of some prestige, but there was no doubt Hogwarts was superior.

"Lead her into the family room, and I'll be there in a few minutes Duddy." A voice came from further into the house.

Duddley led Minerva into their family room, and offered her a seat. Most of the furniture was rather pillowy for her tastes, so she chose to sit in an antique looking wooden highback chair with a thinner seat cushion. She was pleased when Dudley offered his arm to help her into the seat.

They exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes, when Petunia entered carrying a floral pattern tea service. After accepting a cuppa and giving Petunia a chance to sit down on a well cushioned couch along side her son, Minerva spoke.

"Well, I was hoping to catch the whole family Mrs. Dursley. May I ask when your husband and nephew will be returning?" She asked taking a sip of tea.

"Please call me Petunia. Vernon was called into work today even though it's the weekend. Grunnings would fall apart if not for my husband. As for my nephew, the little troublemaker is out back doing his chores. There's no need to worry about him. He wont be going to Smeltings, far to much of a delinquent to inflict on your fine school." Petunia's voice and manner grew cold when talking about her nephew.

Nonplussed, Minerva took a moment to compose her response. Harry Potter a delinquent? The boy must take after his father's worst traits. Well, trouble making tendencies aside, Harry belonged at Hogwarts. Hopefully he would learn discipline there. If he was sorted into her house Gryffindor, she would see to it personally.

"First off, I need to clear up a slight misconception. I am not here representing Smeltings. My name is Minerva McGonagall and I am deputy headmistress of Hogwarts school..." She began to explain.

"Out! Get out of my house this instant! I'll not have you freaks anywhere near my family!" Petunia stood up in a rage, her face turning red with anger. She stood in front of Dudley as if to protect him from danger.

The change was as surprising as it was instantaneous. One moment she was the prim and proper hostess, the next Petunia was screeching like a harpy. Thrown for a loop Minerva was speechless. This just did not make sense. She needed to figure out what was going on.

"Now just one minute. I am here to deliver Hogwarts acceptance letters, and I'll not leave until the lads have had the opportunity to read them." She said sternly while preparing to draw her wand if necessary.

"It's bad enough your people make us take in my freak sister's son, now you... What do you mean letters." Petunia's voice trailed off and her face blanched as she realized the implication of more than one acceptance letter.

"I mean that I have here two letters of acceptance to Hogwarts. One for Harry James Potter, and one for Dudley Vernon Dursley." Minerva said holding up two parchment envelopes sealed with red wax.

What semblance of control Petunia had left went out the window. She began screeching at Minerva and even started to throw tea cups at the aged witch. Screaming again and again for her to get out, and yelling at the top of her lungs that her sweet Duddums was not a freak.

Minerva's wand dropped into her hand, and she immediately cast a shield, allowing the porcelain cups to shatter before hitting her. With a swift motion she immobilized the hysterical woman, and was forced to do the same to her son when he attempted to swing a knobbly stick at her. She then cast a spell to alert the aurors and moved to find Harry.

-o-o-

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore was at his desk dealing with the bane of any administrator, paperwork. Suddenly one of the many silver instruments on the edge of his desk began to make noise and let off a thick green smoke. The device was one of many that allowed Albus to monitor Harry potter. This one in particular told him that someone was using a wand at number four Privit Drive. The green smoke signified that it was a wand he had keyed in as belonging to a trusted witch or wizard. This was expected considering Minerva was due to deliver acceptance letters to the boy and aparently his muggleborn cousin. The alarm however was not expected. It meant that the magic being cast was duelling magic, either offensive or defensive.

Dropping everything, Albus quickly flood to Hogsmead where he could apparate directly to Privit Drive.

-o-o-

Auror John Dawlish was manning the alert monitors in the department for magical law enforcement as punishment for failing to follow procedure. It was one of the worst assignments, but he didn't dare complain. It was better by far than being assigned to Azkaban as a guard. He was just barely staying awake when an alarm blared in front of him. There was a call for help in Little Whinging, Surrey. He pulled down a brass tube that led to the on call room and spoke into it.

"Attention there is an alert for number four Privit Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. Aurors Proudfoot and Shacklebolt report to deployment for your portkey."

Dawlish then wrote the coordinates down on a piece of parchment and charmed it to fly to deployment where the on duty charms master would create an insertion portkey.

-o-o-

With a quiet 'crack' Albus Dumbledore appeared in the backyard of the Dursley home. The first thing he saw was his deputy on her hands and knees in front of some rose bushes.

"Minerva, What's going on?" Albus demanded as he walked over to her, his bright purple robes flowing around him.

"Albus! The wee bairn is hiding, the lad's distraught an' I no can coax him oot." Her Scottish brogue growing thicker the more distraught she herself became.

"Calm yourself Minerva. Are you saying young Harry is hiding in the rose bushes? Why? What has gone wrong?" He calmly asked as he helped her to her feet.

As Minerva breathed in and tried to calm herself, they heard the telltale sound of a portkey followed by the front door being slammed open.

"Ministry aurors! Nobody move!" An authoritative voice rang from inside.

Minerva swept passed Albus and called out before entering through the back door.

"There's no chance they'll be moving, I used the body-bind jinx when they attacked me." She said as she held her wand limp with her hands in the air.

"Are you the witch that called us in professor McGonagall? Can you please tell us what happened here?" Auror Proudfoot asked while Shacklebolt levitated the Dursleys to the couch and summoned ropes to bind them just in case.

"Now then I'm sure this is all just a big misunderstanding. You've responded swiftly and are credits to the DMLE, but there is no need to treat the poor Dursleys in such a fashion." Dumbledore said gently attempting to smooth things over and get rid of the aurors before things got out of hand.

"There most certainly is Albus. They may not have posed any threat to me, but I've reason to believe these horrible muggles have been abusing Harry Potter! The poor boy is emaciated. He needs to see a healer, but I can't get him out from those thorny bushes." Minerva said sharply.

The two aurors stood back and let their former professor and headmaster argue, hoping to gain a clearer picture of the situation.

"I'm certain it can't be as bad as all that. Just because the boy is thin doesn't mean he's being mistreated. I've had someone keeping an eye on the situation here, and she assures me that this family is the very picture of decency." Dumbledore's tone was soothing and seemed to radiate calm.

"Don't take that tone with me Albus, I'm not a student. You can't affect my feelings on the matter with your parlor tricks. I will agree this family is the picture of decency, but it's only a picture. They were the epitome of civility and manners before they discovered I was a witch. The thin veneer of decency, and I assure you that is all that it is, dropped and they quickly got violent. Imagine how bad the poor boy has had it. They know he's magic, but he can't defend himself." She Rebuked Dumbledore with a frosty tone.

"Shack, find Mr. Potter out back and take him directly to Saint Mungos. Once you're there call in backup and make sure this whole thing stays out of the papers. We don't need that upstart reporter Skeeter digging her libelous claws into this one." Proudfoot ordered, then turned to McGonagall. "Professor, why is Harry Potter here of all places?"

Dumbledore quickly answered before Minerva had the chance to open her mouth. "Due to reasons I am not at liberty to discuss, Mr. Potter has to live here with his aunt and her family. There is no place safer. So long as he lives here, no dark wizard can touch Harry."

"There are many ways to protect a child from dark wizards Chief Warlock Dumbledore. If his own family is hurting him in any way we must take him into custody for his own protection. Not even you can stop me from doing my duty here." Proudfoot nodded in satisfaction as a -crack- sounded from the back yard indicating Shacklebolt had disapparated with Harry Potter.

"As bad as all this is, there is something else. The Dursley child is a muggleborn. I was bringing a Hogwarts letter for Harry and his cousin Dudley. I fear learning their son is magical he too may be in danger." Minerva said shaking her head in disbelief as to how her day had gone so far.

After much arguing back and forth between Proudfoot, Dumbledore, and McGonagall, The auror and the professor were able to cow Dumbledore into backing off. Dumbledore left to consolidate his power as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot to try and salvage his plans for the Boy-Who-Lived. Minerva left for Hogwarts where she planned to calm herself with a few fingers of firewhiskey after assuring Proudfoot that she would be available as a witness at any point. Auror Proudfoot then apparated himself and the two Dursleys to the DMLE for processing.

-o-o-

Proudfoot was developing a headache. Why did he have to be the senior auror on call today? After answering the auror alert called in by his old transfiguration professor, his day had consisted of running around all over attempting to get to the bottom of the now top secret Harry Potter case. That was the one glimmering ray of sunshine in the whole mess, Shacklebolt had pulled through and managed to keep everything hush hush on his end. He even somehow managed to get both Rufus Scrimgeour and "Mad-Eye" Moody to guard Harry at Saint Mungos. He didn't even want to know how Shack had managed that one. Moody was a near legendary master auror, and Scrimgeour was the head auror himself. Upon leaving Potter in quite possibly the safest hands possible, Shacklbolt had caught back up with him. Proudfoot had immediately sent Shack back out to tactfully interview Vernon Dursley and feel out the Dursley/Potter situation without interference. Petunia Dursley was cooling her heels in a ministry holding cell, and would likely stay there until the whole mess had been figured out. Now Proudfoot had to go and interview the Dursley boy. Talking with children was not his strong point, but at least it would be less frustrating than the mountain of paperwork he would have to fill out after this whole thing was over.

-o-o-

Kingsley Shacklebolt was decidedly uncomfortable in the muggle suit he had donned to interview Mr. Dursley. At least the rich purple color with its gold trim appealed to his sense of style. He walked through the front door of Grunnings and up to the receptionist.

"I would like to speak with a Mr. Dursley please. It is a matter involving his nephew." Shacklebolt held up a lump of metal transfigured to resemble a muggle policeman's badge. He surreptitiously used his wand to cast a small compulsion charm to ensure the woman believed he was a policeman, and that he would be brought to Dursley's office.

Nodding the receptionist picked up a portion of an odd looking device and pushed several buttons on the portion still on her desk.

"Mr. Dursley, there is an officer here to see you, says it's about your nephew." She said as she held the device up to the side of her face. "Yes sir I'll send him right up."

"His office is on the ninth floor, room 907. Elevators are that way" She said pointing off to the side while putting the device back together.

"Thank you miss." Shacklbolt walked off in the direction she had indicated.

At the end of a hallway he saw three sets of silver doors. Assuming they must be the elevators, he walked up to one and was surprised when it didn't open. Looking around he noticed a set of buttons next to the door, with arrows pointing up and down. Silently chiding himself for thinking the muggle elevators would work the same as those in the ministry he tried pushing the button with an upward arrow. Immediately the set of silver doors next to those he was in front of opened. Slightly confused he moved over and entered the now open elevator.

"Ninth floor." He said as he stepped across the threshold.

When nothing happened he looked around and noticed a panel filled with buttons. After quickly reading them he pressed the one marked close doors. Encouraged by the doors closing, he pressed the button with a 9 on it. The elevator gently started to move and he felt quite proud that he'd worked things out himself. Arthur would be jealous, Shacklebolt made a note to tell the muggle enthusiast about his trip into the muggle world.

-o-o-

"Mr. Scrimgeour, can I speak with you in private about our V.I.P. patient?" A nervous healer asked the head auror.

Confident Moody could handle anything shy of an army of dark wizards, Rufus Scrimgeour nodded and followed the healer to a side room. "How is Mr. Potter?" he asked as he shut the door behind him.

"We gave the poor boy a dreamless sleep potion for now. He's, he's been abused. There's no doubt about it. He's been practically starved to death, there are signs of physical trauma, but possibly worst of all he's terrified. He fought every attempt to find out how bad the damage was. I think he's scared to death that he'll get in trouble if we find out what has happened to him. He can't go back to where ever he has been living. I hope when your men finish their investigation, that those monsters get the kiss over this."

"I see." A grim look settled onto his face. "Do whatever you have to to get the boy healthy again. The ministry will cover the bill. I can't stress enough how important it is that this stays quiet. No one save those treating him and either myself or Amelia Bones is to be allowed access to him."

-o-o-

"I keep telling you. I'm not a freak!" Dudley screamed, nearly frothing at the mouth the boy was in a full on tantrum. Stamping his feet in anger he yelled at the top of his lungs. "I want my mummy!"

Proudfoot quickly exited the room and told the MLE officer guarding the interrogation room to make sure the brat didn't hurt himself. He then made a quick stop at the first aid station for a headache relief potion before heading to the director to make his initial report.

Upon entering the office of the director for the DMLE Proudfoot noticed that Shacklebolt and Scrimgeour were both present.

Amelia Bones sat at her desk impassively as the three aurors in front of her gave their reports on the Potter case.

"The healers are going to start Potter on a potion regimen to counter malnutrition. They're also bringing in a mind healer to help the boy, he's a mess. The physical damage will be easy enough to fix, there isn't all that much to begin with. The mental trauma however, is severe. He's yet to open up, and they're even forced to secure him in order to administer potions." Scrimgeour said shaking his head. "I'll make sure you have a more detailed report on your desk by tomorrow morning at the latest. For now I need to gather a few more of my aurors and tighten up Potter's security. Mad Eye can't watch him constantly." After receiving a nod from Amelia he quickly left.

"The aunt refuses to cooperate. She keeps demanding that we 'freaks' have no right to do this to decent normal people like her family. She wants a barrister as well, but demands a muggle one." Proudfoot rubbed his forehead thankful for the effects of the potion he just downed. "The cousin is a spoiled brat. Best I could gather from the temper tantrum he's been throwing, he has no idea that he's magical. Apparently any accidental magic in the house has been blamed on Potter, even if he was nowhere near the event. If I am to get anywhere interviewing either one, I need a legilimens. I doubt anyone would approve of veritaserum for a child, no matter the reason." He finished and waited as Shacklebolt gave his report.

"I presented myself as muggle policeman, and Mr. Dursley was incredibly polite. He painted a picture of Potter being an incurable troublemaker and a constant liar. I have a feeling if I had brought up any crime at all he would have gladly implicated his nephew as a likely suspect." Shacklebolt paused and smoothed his robes glad to be out of the uncomfortable suit. "I then revealed I was a wizard, and his entire demeanor changed. He grew angry and hostile. Insisting that his nephew was a terrible burden that we 'freaks' had no right to drop on him and his 'normal' family. I managed to glean a few bits of information before he grew too beligerent, most notable that Albus Dumbledore supposedly made an agreement concerning Potter's stay with them. The deal was that they would keep him so long as they never had to deal with our kind. I couldn't get much more information as he became violent and I was forced to stun him. He's now in holding cell three."

Amelia set down her monocle and rubbed her eyes for a moment before replacing it and staring at the ceiling as if to ask: Why me? She had taken over as head of the DMLE nearly a decade ago after the old director Barty Crouch resigned in shame. Seems that his son had been a death eater, and even though Crouch did the right thing and sentenced Jr. accordingly, the political backlash forced Crouch to abdicate.

The Boy-Who-Lived was supposed to have been in a loving home, hidden and protected while he grew up. Dumbledore had assured the wizarding world this was true. Amelia had never quite trusted the old wizard, she felt he had too many positions of import to give proper attention to any of them. He not only was headmaster of Hogwarts and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, but also the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederacy of Wizards. The Potter boy being abused in the care of muggles was going to ruin Dumbledore unless the aged wizard burned up quite a bit of his political clout.

"Alright, as much as I think Dumbledore should get crucified for placing Potter with these monsters, we need to maintain media blackout for the boys' sake. Proudfoot, you have permission to bring in a legilimens. Find out everything pertinent from the aunt and uncle. Gather what you have and turn over this case to Scrimgeour. I have no doubt of your capability, but we need to handle this with extra care." She dismissed the senior auror and turned to Shacklebolt. "The muggleborn cousin is as much a victim here as Potter. I want you to find out what mind healer is going to be treating Potter and have them help the Dursley boy as well. In fact, take him to Saint Mungos and have him checked over as well. Considering his size, he can't be healthy."

Once her office was empty, Amelia sighed. Not for the first time, she wished she was still just an auror. She was not looking forward to explaining things to the Minister of Magic. Even though she didn't want the case made public, perhaps she could hold the whole fiasco over Dumbledore's head as leverage in the future. That thought made her smile as she made her way to inform Minister Fudge of the situation.

-o-o-

Cornelius Fudge had been Minister for less than a year and he was already facing a political crises that could ruin him. Never mind that he wasn't in control when Harry Potter was placed with his horrible muggle family. He was Minister now, and that was all the people would care about. They'd run him out of office if he didn't deal with this fast and decisively. Unfortunately the one person he always turned to for advice of any magnitude, was the very person who caused this fiasco! Madam Bones had just finished explaining the situation, and was waiting for him to respond.

"What do you suggest we do Amelia? Is there any way that we could sweep this under the rug?" Seeing the wild look in her eyes, Fudge backpedaled a bit. "Don't get me wrong, we have to help the poor boy of course. I just don't want to get any of this political nightmare on me. I can't be an effective Minister if I'm defending myself all of the time."

"I think that you need to address the issue on three points Cornelius. The children need to be taken care of, the abusive muggles need to be dealt with, and Dumbledore needs to account for his role in this. I do agree it is a nightmare in every way, perhaps you can use your influence with the Daily Prophet to keep the general public from learning of this. If it weren't for the fact the boys would suffer from the attention, I'd say go public and rake Dumbledore over the coals on this one." She said with a fire in her eyes that Fudge hoped would never be aimed toward him.

"Well, Potter and his cousin are the easiest to deal with, at least on our end. We just need to find a suitable family to take them in. My good friend Lucius for example, he has a boy the same age I'm sure they'd get along famously. Problem solved." Fudge casually dismissed the first issue.

"That's all well and good, but I seriously doubt the Malfoy family will take in a muggleborn child, and I think we aught to keep both boys together." Bones inwardly cringed, Malfoy was a political animal and would wield the Boy-Who-Lived like a weapon to further his own ends. That added to his role as a death eater in the war made her quick to shut down that line of thought.

"Hmm, you're quite right Amelia. I can't inflict a muggleborn upon poor Lucius." Fudge thought for a moment and then he nodded to himself. "I think our best bet would be to call a full session of the Wizengamot. As long as we keep the session closed and extract an agreement from everyone regarding silence, we should be able to find a family well suited to dealing with both boys. Although Perhaps we need to deal with Albus first. His role as Chief Warlock will cause problems."

She nodded thoughtfully. "Good thinking. Perhaps your friend Lucius will have some ideas to deal with Dumbledore in a way that doesn't draw undue attention." She may not like Malfoy, but she did respect his political clout. It also helped that Malfoy was well known to loathe Dumbledore, and would jump at the chance to roast the old goat.

"As for the Dursleys, let me handle things there. With your permission I'll work with muggle law enforcement to get them jailed in the muggle world. Authorize a couple compulsion and memory charms, and I'll make sure they'll be punished properly."

"Yes, yes, do what you need to. Let the muggles deal with their own trash. I'll work with Lucius to get Albus out of the picture, and then we can get the children put in a proper home." Fudge quickly agreed, already planning how with Lucius' help, no matter what happened, if someone does get crucified over this it wouldn't be him.