Harry Potter knew how it felt to be neglected, starved, and beat. He knew how to cook at age four and was cleaning at age three. Ever since he was a baby, he slept in the cupboard under the stairs. Harry lived with his aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon Dursley. They had a son named Dudley, who was only older than Harry by a few months. Harry's parents had died when he was only a baby and he had been sent to Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon's house. All four of them were unhappy with this arrangement. Therefore, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon made Harry cook and clean. He was beaten if he didn't get his chores done within a time limit. Poor Harry was beat every night because he was only four. Harry was also more mature for his age, but still was a child. He acted more like a six year old than a four year old. That didn't stop him from feeling hurt. The poor boy was only four and was incapable of doing something so impossible, an adult couldn't do it.

One night after a particularly horrible beating, Harry lay awake. He watched the spiders crawl around on the ceiling of the small cupboard and cried silently. He wished someone would just come and take him away. He wished his mommy and daddy were alive. He wished he could be anywhere but here. He even wished he had died with his parents. It wasn't fair. His mommy and daddy were dead and he was stuck living with the most horrible people on Earth. They hated him. Harry turned over and winced. The bruises and cuts were worse this time. He knew he was bleeding but he didn't do anything. He allowed the tears to fall down his face and listened to the loud snores of his uncle. He was stuck in here. His tummy was rumbling because he hadn't eaten in a day. Uncle Vernon had locked him up in the cupboard with no meals after he had burned the bacon on Dudley's birthday yesterday. Uncle Vernon had taken him out for a beating and then locked him back in.

Harry had just dozed off when he heard it. There were quiet footsteps walking in front of his door. He cowered on the corner of his bed with the covers wrapped firmly around him. They didn't actually keep him warm or safe but they were all he had. The blankets were filled with holes and dirty. They were probably the same blankets he had used as a baby. But they were the only thing he had so he just dealt with them. The door creaked open and a man with messy black hair and hazel eyes stood there with his head ducked. Behind him, Harry saw a woman with red hair and bright green eyes and a man with dirty black hair and gray eyes. The man who had opened the door smiled at him.

"It's alright Harry; I won't hurt you. Now come on, we're going to get you as far away from here as we can." Harry stared at him. There was something familiar about his voice.

"Daddy?" The man nodded and Harry ran into his arms, crying. James Potter hugged his son tightly and Lily Potter walked over to them and wrapped her arms around the two.

"Mommy?" Harry asked when he saw Lily. Lily nodded and squeezed him affectionately. Sirius Black stood to the side, watching with a slight smile on his face. When Lily and James appeared, alive and healthy, he nearly had a heart attack. They bailed him out of Azkaban and they went here to get Harry. Now they just had to get him home.

The lights turned on from upstairs and loud footsteps were heard. Harry whimpered and hid in his parents' arms. Vernon Dursley came running downstairs with a rifle in hand. His wife cowered behind him, hugging Dudley.

"Who are you? And you, boy, get back in your cupboard!" Uncle Vernon yelled and raised his hand as if to smack the boy. Harry whimpered again and started towards the cupboard, but his parents held him back. Lily picked the little boy up and glared at her sister and brother-in-law. James stood and glowered at them too.

"How dare you? How dare you make my son sleep in the cupboard? I never did anything to you, Tuney! So how could you treat my son like this?" Lily cried, holding her son to her chest. Harry buried his head into her shoulder and she could feel his tears soaking into her shirt. Somehow, that just made her even madder.

James laid his hand on her arm to keep her from yelling some more. He nodded towards Harry's trembling form and she sighed. The important thing here was that he no longer had to live in these conditions.

"We're leaving. Harry will come with us. By the way, I'll be seeing you in court," James growled. Petunia and Vernon paled. Sirius, James, and Lily apparated with Lily still holding Harry. They were at 12 Grimauld (AN: spelling?) Place, Sirius's childhood home. It wasn't the best place in the world but it would do. They took a now sleeping Harry inside and laid him down on the nearest couch. They gathered some blankets and pillows and slept near that couch, afraid to go farther into the house. The four slept heavily and didn't wake until morning.

oOo

Lily woke earlier than everyone else. Sirius was curled up on the couch across from her and James was curled up next to her, on the floor. Harry was sleeping on the couch next to the couple. Lily smiled. He was so beautiful. He was her little four year old. She still couldn't believe she had missed three years of his life, all of which he spent being tortured. She cursed Petunia and Vernon Dursley for doing that to her baby. He was her baby. She wouldn't allow anything to happen to her baby.

One moment, Harry was sleeping peaceful and the next, he's thrashing about and screaming.

"Please, no! Please! Mommy! Mommy! MOMMY!" Lily got up quickly and picked him up.

"Shh… It's alright, Harry. I'm here, don't worry." Lily held him close and he stopped thrashing and began to relax. He looked up at her with bloodshot eyes and she brushed away the tears that had begun to fall.

"Mommy, they hurt me. They beat me, Mommy. They say you don't love me." She hugged him closer.

"They're wrong, Harry. I love you very much. Now, be quiet. You don't want to worry Daddy, now do you?" He shook his head and smiled at Lily who smiled in return. Her smile grew into a grin as she said, "Would you like to help me wake up Daddy and Uncle Padfoot?" He nodded eagerly and Lily pulled out her wand. She waved it and water burst down onto James. He jumped and looked around wildly. Lily just laughed and placed Harry on top of Sirius.

Harry crawled towards Sirius's ear and yelled, "Up, Padfoot, up!" Sirius jumped and Lily caught Harry laughing. She grinned at the two Marauders who were either soaked or holding his hands to his ear. They stared at her and James started towards her with a wicked grin and wide arms.

"Come here, my beautiful wife, and give me a hug!" He wrapped his arms around Lily who shrieked and pulled away. James chased Lily into the kitchen and back into the living room. She giggled and hid behind Sirius who ducked away from her. They continued this charade until Harry claimed he was hungry.

Lily smiled, heading into the kitchen and quickly making some pancakes and bacon. The four ate and then headed to Hogwarts. Things were about to get interesting.

Whoo! Cliffy! The next chapter is about more people finding out about Lily and James. I hope you like this and I'm very sorry for those of you who are still waiting for my other stories to be updated. In a New Light should have a new chapter next week or the next and my Percy Jackson story, I'm putting on hold. I've been reading too much Harry Potter to write Percy Jackson. So, I'm very sorry but I have no inspiration. If you have any suggestions, I'll be glad to hear. And, if you'd like to adopt the story, I might consider allowing you to. Just PM me your ideas and I'll consider it. Thanks to all of my wonderful readers! You're all awesome!

Peace,

storycat12