Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 1

Harry made his way downstairs for breakfast. It had been a week since he had been home and Uncle Vernon was still furious about what had happened when he picked Harry up from Kings Cross. So far Uncle Vernon had been able to refrain from hitting him, but Harry wasn't sure how long that would last so Harry was trying his best not to provoke him.

Harry entered the kitchen and sat down quietly, glad that after the Order members had spoken to his uncle he didn't have to make breakfast every day anymore. Vernon was reading the paper and Dudley was eating every scrap of his meager breakfast. He was still on his diet because he had only lost about 20 pounds. Aunt Petunia set a plate with two pieces of bacon and a piece of toast in front of Harry. He started to eat, trying not to think about the breakfasts at Hogwarts. I hope I get to leave soon, He thought, I really don't want to go through two months of starving and being ignored. Well, it's better than them hitting me. Ever since Harry had told them about Sirius after his third year they had stopped because they were afraid of what Harry's godfather would do to them if he found out.

Harry furiously fought back tears. Sirius wouldn't be able to help him now, and it was all Harry's fault. He had been killed by Bellatrix Lestrange while trying to rescue Harry and his friends from Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries. Harry had led them there because he was tricked into thinking Voldemort was there with Sirius, and was torturing him. Harry still felt an overwhelming guilt that Sirius had died because of him and his friends had gotten hurt and almost died, too.

Harry looked up as an owl flew in the open window. The owl swooped in and dropped a letter on Harry's lap before snatching a piece of bacon and flying off again. Harry heard a growling noise on his right and looked over. His uncle was almost purple with rage.

"Bloody owls." he bellowed as Harry grabbed his letter and ran into the hall. Harry reached the hall and opened the letter. He noted absently that it was from Gringotts.

Dear Mr. Potter,

We express our deepest regrets for the recent loss of your godfather. As you probably know the Sirius Black was cleared of all charges against him this summer. As per his instructions in his will, the contents of his vault have been transferred to your own.

Harry stopped reading and closed his eyes. If only he hadn't let Voldemort trick him, or had tried harder to master Occlumency, or hadn't gone haring off to the Department of Mysteries then Sirius would be alive. He didn't care about the money. He would give all the money in his vault just to have one more day with Sirius. He heard footsteps approaching and a moment later Uncle Vernon enter the hall.

"What have you got there?" Vernon asked as he snatched the letter away from Harry. He read the first few lines before turning to Harry.

"Your godfather is dead?"

Harry nodded hesitantly.

Harry started backing away as his uncle smiled, his eyes blazing with malice and hate. He turned to run, but Vernon grabbed Harry's arm and dragged him to his bedroom. He threw Harry to the floor and closed the door. Harry stood, his eyes wide with fear, and backed up as Vernon approached him. Harry tried to dodge around Vernon to get to the door, but he caught Harry by the throat and slammed him against the wall.

"Now," Vernon growled, his eyes mad with hate. "Now I get my revenge for having to coddle you for the past two years because of that godfather of yours."

Oh god, Harry thought, he's going to kill me.

Two days later Harry woke to find himself lying on the floor. He groaned as pain hit him from every part of his body. He vaguely recalled his uncle coming to his room several time to 'take his revenge' as he called it. Harry lay still as he tried to determine the extent of his injuries. Broken ribs, he thought from sharp pains he had when he breathed, and too many cut and bruises to count. His nose felt like it was broken, and both eyes were swollen almost completely shut. He started to rise, but cried out in pain and lay back, gasping. Broken arm, too, he added. He tried again using his (relatively) uninjured arm and managed to pull himself up onto his bed. He sat still for a moment to catch his breath

I have got to get out of here, he thought desperately. The door would be locked , of course and he would not be able to climb out the window. He heard a soft hoot and looked at the window. He felt a surge of hope when he saw Hedwig. She flew over to him and hooted again and held out her leg. He tried to get up again to reach his parchment, ink and quill, but fell back in agony. He fought back tears of frustration. He felt Hedwig leave the bed for a minute and then fly back to him. She had brought him his writing things. If I get out of here I am buying you a room full of Owl Treats, he thought as he quickly scribbled a note and handed it to her.

"Take this to Professor Dumbledore, and please .... hurry," Harry said. She hooted again before taking off through the window.

Half a minute later his door slammed open. Harry jerked in surprise and groaned in pain.

"Where is that bloody bird, boy?" Vernon yelled.

Harry moved back against the headboard his mind frantic with fear. No, not again, he prayed, please not again.

"ANSWER ME!"

"I .... sent her to stay with Ron," He said.

Vernon came to the side of the bed and punched Harry in the face. His head snapped to the side with the force of the blow and hit the headboard. "Don't you lie to me, freak, it was carrying a letter! Who were you writing to? Tell me now!"

"P...professor Dumbledore," he whispered.

"I couldn't hear you." His uncle growled.

"I said I sent her to Professor Dumbledore. " Harry said and watched in satisfaction at the terror in Vernon's eyes.

"You little—," he cut off as he started hitting Harry. Harry closed his eyes and bit his lip to keep from crying out. Please hurry, he thought as he lost consciousness.

Albus Dumbledore was just sitting down at his desk to finish some paperwork before bed when he heard an urgent tapping at his window. He rose wearily and went to the window and opened it. In flew an exhausted Hedwig who dropped a note on his desk and started gulping water out of his glass. He felt an overwhelming sense of foreboding as he went to the desk and picked up the note. His face paled as he read the short note.

Help me please,

Harry

Albus immediately went to the fireplace and threw in some Floo powder. "Severus Snape," He said.

A head appeared in the fire. "What is it, Albus?" Snape said.

"Severus, I need to speak with you."

"Give me a moment."

Snape's head disappeared and Albus started pacing. Harry almost never asks for help. What could have happened for him to send this letter? A Death Eater attack? No, he is too well protected at his relative's home, he thought. At that moment Snape came through the fireplace dressed in his customary black robes.

"What is wrong, Albus? It sounded urgent," he said.

Albus silently handed Snape the note. He read it and sneered, "So the Golden Boy is in trouble. He is probably just overreacting."

Albus shook his head. "No, he wouldn't have sent that unless there was something seriously wrong." Snape snorted , but didn't say anything. "I need you to go check on Harry."

"Albus–"

"Severus, I have a very bad feeling about this. Please, check on him. If only for my peace of mind."

Snape growled in frustration before heading out the door.