Phoenix Child Chapter 1

This is one of my first attempts at fan fiction. I have always loved stories starring Harry as a child, and have always wondered just how powerful he would be if he grew up in a loving home. Also, Snape is one of my favorite characters (right after Dumbledore). This is an AU story, so the characters may be considered AU as well. I look forward to your comments, as I cannot hope to get better without them. Well, with out further ado...

"Boy! Get down here. You've got school today."

Harry Potter, the aforementioned "boy" woke up with a start. His relatives were shouting at him again.

"You have 10 seconds to get down here! We still need breakfast you know. Hurry up!"

That was his Uncle Vernon. Harry knew that he needed to get moving, and fast. He jumped out of bed and threw on the clothes nearest to him – it didn't really matter anyway – they were all too big. Dudley's hand-me-downs were at least seven sizes too big, and that was no exaggeration.

What was his uncle talking about? School? Harry knew that Dudley was going – he had been complaining about it for weeks now. He figured that he would never be going – his relatives never let him do much of anything. Well, except for cook and clean, but Harry didn't know if that was common or not. Certainly not for Dudley. Harry had just recently been moved out of his cupboard under the stairs because Dudley had gotten stuck in the door the other week while trying to "play" with Harry. Of course, Dudley's version of playing was more like bullying, but the Dursley's didn't seem to care. Harry missed his cupboard. It was his one place where he was safe from his relatives.

Harry descended the staircase of Number 4 Privet Drive with some caution. His relatives had tricked him before. He went to the kitchen and made bacon and eggs for the Dursley's. He then was told to pack "my sweet Duddiums" a lunch for school.

"Won't I need one too if I am going to school?" he asked.

"Boy, I don't want to hear any of your cheek," yelled Uncle Vernon as he slapped Harry across the face. "And no, you don't – especially since you were late this morning. Now, clean up the dishes and start walking. It is a four mile walk you know, and I wouldn't want to dirty my car by letting you in it."

"Yes, sir," Harry replied. He wanted to ask were the school was exactly and why he didn't need a lunch, but he had learned a long time ago that it was better if he was seen and not heard. Not even seen really, if he could help it. He got to work cleaning. He ten set off for school.

"Not that way you imbecile child. The school is straight that way. Do you have any brains?" screeched his Aunt Petunia.

Harry changed directions, hoping that his Aunt wasn't just saying that. "At least I don't have to worry about Dudley for awhile," he thought to himself, trying to hide his fear of school.

Fortunately, the school was indeed straight down the road, so five year old Harry was able to find it. He was scared and confused when he arrived there. There were no children outside and he didn't know where he was suppose to end up. Suddenly an adult found him. Harry was scared, but looked up at her.

"Are you here for school today?" the lady asked him.

"Ye…yes ma'm. I…I was told to come here," Harry hesitantly replied, flinching unconsciously as he answered.

"Alright, no need to be scared. You are a little late, but that isn't a problem. I am Headmaster Williams. Let's go up to my office and see where you need to be."

Harry followed her to the office and gave her his name and age. Headmaster Williams told him that he would be in Professor Homm's class. Harry was then escorted there.

"Good morning, Professor Holms. This is Harry Potter – he was a little lost this morning, but we got him taken care of."

"OK, thank you. Harry, we are having free playtime right now – you can go ahead and meet your classmates. Just try to not be too noisy. We are working on our indoor voices," Professor Homm told him.

Harry looked up and nodded and then sat down in a nearby chair. He was tired from his walk and even though his Professor had told him that he could play, Harry didn't want to take any chances. He also didn't know what an "indoor voice" was and didn't want to anger his professor.

A few minutes later, Professor Holms noticed that he hadn't moved and came over to talk to him.

"Harry, are you OK? No one here is going to hurt you. Why don't you go play?"

"I…I am still tired from walking here this morning. According to my uncle it is four miles."

"Alright, you just sit here and rest. Why were you walking all that way? Didn't your parents bring you?"

"No. They don't ever drive me anywhere. They brought my cousin though. I live with my aunt and uncle."

"Really?" the professor asked, taking a closer look at young Harry, "Where did you get this bruise from? she asked, pointing at the bruise that was forming from where his Uncle had hit him earlier.

Harry, not realizing that smacking children was illegal and called child abuse, and not guessing that his relatives would get in trouble and in turn take it out on him, replied honestly, "My uncle. I didn't get up quick enough this morning. It's nothing. I deserved it."

Frowning, Professor Holms patted him on the shoulder. If you need anything, just let me know. Mumbling to herself, she walked away to tend to the other students.

The rest of the morning continued the same way. Harry, shy and scared didn't move from his chair, even when it was circle time. At recess, Harry went outside but promptly sat on a bench and watched the other children. Then it was lunch time.

"I am hungry and the professor said that if I needed anything I could ask her. Should I ask her? Am I the only one without a lunch? Am I really that hungry? I can go longer than this without food, I have before. No, I guess I'll just watch the others," Harry debated with himself.

He was soon interrupted however. "Harry, do you have a lunch with you today?" Professor Homm asked.

Harry looked up. "No. My uncle didn't think I deserved one. I'm fine though."

"Well, I don't want anyone to go hungry. Here you can have this sandwich," she responded, frowning, though not at him. "Let me take you to the cafeteria. I need to have a talk with the Headmaster."

Headmaster William's Office

"What do you know about Harry Potter?" Wilmina Homm asked her boss.

"Not much. He was late this morning. He seems to be a nice kid though. Doesn't say much."

"We are mandatory reporters and I think that we need to report this."

"What makes you come to that conclusion? The kid had a bruise on his face, but little boys are notorious for losing battles with solid objects."

"Let me see," said Wilmina Homm, ticking the Dursley's offences off on her fingers. "One, he walked to school today – four miles. By himself. Two, he has a bruise on his face which he says his uncle gave him for not getting up quick enough. Three, he refuses to play with the other children and doesn't talk. When he does, he tends to flinch away. And four, the child didn't have a lunch today because his uncle told him he didn't deserve it. I definitely am worried about him. He is a sweet child."

She took the papers and filled them out, putting them in the mail right then. "I am going to take him home tonight. Another four mile walk would just about kill the child, not to mention it gets dark earlier and earlier.

Meanwhile, in the Ministry of Magic office

"Sir, this just came up in the muggle relations office," a young trainee panted, after running to the minister's office.

"So, what do I care about muggle relations. I am the minister of magic. Let my underlings worry about it!" exclaimed Cornelius Fudge, the newly appointed minister of magic.

"But sir. I think you should read this case. It's about Harry Potter."

"Harry Potter? The boy who lived? I suppose I should read it," Minister Fudge grumbled.

The minister read the letter, which was a copy of the one filled out by Professor Homm. The ministry of magic had an order to immediately receive copies of anything concerning one Harry Potter, perceived savior of the wizarding world. There was a spell over the town of Surrey that accomplished this. As soon as the letter was put in the mailbox, it was forwarded to the ministry. Of course, no one expected the letter to say what it did.

"Abuse? I thought that Albus selected a good family for him. I guess I should send Albus to investigate, though I don't like that man very much. He wants my job you know. This had better be real. Muggles do tend to exaggerate," Fudge thought to himself.

Albus Dumbledore, the current Headmaster of a school called Hogwarts was sitting at his desk talking to his pet phoenix, Fawkes, when he was alerted to a call in his fireplace.

"Albus?" Minister Fudge called out.

"Yes, what is it?"

"I have received news that the relatives that you sent Harry Potter to live with have been reported for child abuse. I think that you need to check it out. I have things to do and people to trick…I mean see so I'll leave you to your duties."

Of all the things that Albus Dumbledore thought the minister would have to say, that was the last one he expected. Harry? Abused? He knew that the relatives weren't necessarily the best people in the world, but that gives kids character, doesn't it? "I suppose I will go check on the kid. I should tell Minerva first though, in case anyone here needs me. I hope it is nothing serious," he told Fawkes, looking worried.

Back at Kindergarten

"Ok students, it is time to pack up everything to go home. Most of your parents are outside waiting for you, so I will see you tomorrow. Please remember to bring something for show and tell tomorrow. Harry, can I see you for a moment?" Professor Homm announced.

Harry, unsure about what he was being singled out for, stayed to talk to his professor. "Harry, would you like a ride home tonight? I would like to see where you live, and I doubt that you are up to another long walk," she asked.

Harry didn't say anything, but he followed his professor out to her car. He directed her to Privet Drive, and he thanked her for the ride. He decided school wasn't all that bad, at least he didn't get picked on.

"Boy! What are you doing getting rides home from school? That walk is for your own good you know!" Uncle Vernon roared, smacking him again across the face. "I suppose you whined until she agreed to bring you home. Insolent brat. I'll teach you. Get in your cupboard. Yes, your cupboard. I have outfitted it with locks. I'll let you out in the morning," Vernon yelled, pushing Harry into the cupboard and promptly locking the door.

Harry's day just went from OK to terrible. At least his uncle hadn't hit him more. He curled up in a ball on the floor and cried, terrified of what the next day would bring, and sad for himself. He found out today that not every adult was mean like his relatives. Why did he have to be stuck with them? He wished fervently for a fairy godmother, like Professor Homm had read about today, to come save him.