Thanks for all the Favorites and Author Alerts everyone. It made me write this chapter super fast. Please enough. Things become a little better for little Harry. I own nothing of J.K. Rowlings, only my own plot and idea's.

PS. If there is anyone out there that is willing to be my very patient beta, and willing to explain how the whole beta process works I will be very grateful! Yes, I am reposting this with the corrections Microsoft Word has informed me, but it doesn't catch all the grammar mistakes.

The tall, bearded headmaster walked along the late of Private Dr., looking highly eccentric in his periwinkle dressing robes and crescent moon glasses. In his hand he held a small gift for the soon to be seven year old Harry Potter. He hadn't come to check on the young Boy-Who-Lived since he had dropped him off on his Aunt and Uncles porch, but he was sure that the boy was being very well cared for. He wouldn't wait to see, who he imagined was a bright, happy young boy. He might even tell him about the young girl he had gone to see today. Miss Hermione Granger. A very bright little girl that was excelling in her classes, even at the tender age of 7 herself.

Recalling fondly the meeting, the headmaster stopped.

The headmaster rang the charming contraption he momentarily recalled his friend, Arthur Weasley, calling a doorbell. It didn't take long for the door to be opened by a young girl with short bushy brown hair, held up in sweet pig-tails. She stared up at the old man with wide eyes before holding out a hand politely.

"Hello, my name is Hermione Granger. Who're you?" Dumbledore got that familiar twinkle in his eye and grasped the small hand within his own, shaking gently.

"I am Albus P. Dumbledore, your future headmaster, Miss Granger." He smiled when the girl looked at him in awe.

"Might I come in?" He got a hasty nod as the little girl turned and ran into the house, seeking out her mother as Albus stepped inside their charming London home.

A moment later Hermione's mother appeared. She was a young 30 year old with thick dark brown hair falling over her lovely shoulders. Honestly, if he wasn't gay he may have found the woman to his taste. Alas, that wasn't to be so.

"Hello, how can I help you Mr.… uhm…" She looked uneasily at the strange man that had just sat himself down on her couch in what looked to be a dress.

"Albus Percival Dumbledore. And I have just stopped in to check on my future student, Miss Hermione Granger."

"Future student? I don't think I understand sir... Hermione is just in primary school-"

"I can assure you, Mrs. Granger, Hermione will attend our school one she reaches the age of 11. May I ask you a question?" He smiled gently at the woman and waited.

"I suppose so…"

"Has Hermione ever done anything stranger; something you couldn't explain?" He was not surprised when she looked hesitant. Slowly she pulled Hermione, whom was holding a shockingly thick book for one her age, into her lap.

"Well, there was one time at school. Another child was teasing poor Hermione. She said she got angry and... Books began to fly towards the student. But the teacher believes she was just throwing them around."

"Well Mrs. Granger, I am very pleased to say your bright young lady is a Witch. And quite possible a very powerful one." She stared at him with a dumbfounded expression.

"Surely you must be joking?"

"I assure you Mrs. Granger, I am not."

Oh, yes indeed. When her husband came home for brunch they had all shared a very amusing conversation, up to the point where Albus finally decided to demonstrate with a levitation spell on Hermione's book. She had found it delightful and from there after they looked at their own daughter with love and awe. More so, to be completely accurate.

He had a feeling Harry Potter would like the girl very much once he started Hogwarts in a few years. Turning the corner Albus walked along the side of the Dursley house, glancing curiously into their backyard. Shock brought him to a complete and utter standstill. In their backyard, died to a tree hung a limp 6 year old with shockingly black hair. The child did not appear to be alive, and the sight made the old man's heart stop. Shoving the backdoor open he approached the child that he knew to be Harry Potter. When he lifted the boys head gently by the chin he felt like vomiting. It was swollen and dark with bruises, his glasses completely smashed and broken.

Upon further inspection he found his scalp to be bloody, though thankfully the bleeding itself had stopped. His arm was broken, along with multiple ribs. Even his lefts seemed slightly swollen. Tears filled the Headmasters eyes. With a gentle flick of his wand the ropes fell from his wrists. Albus wrapped his arms around the boy and without much thought the old man apparated to the Granger Household. He took the few steps to their front porch and knocked almost harshly on their front door and shoved past Mr. Granger when he opened the door.

"What the bloo- Professor Dumbledore? What in the world?" Mr. Granger did not get the response he expected as the old man laid a bloody, malnourished child onto his couch.

"Please get hot water and bandages. Quickly!"

Mr. Granger didn't hesitate, but found himself wondering why. Hermione, hearing the commotion crept downstairs and towards the old man, looking around him. Seeing the bloody, half dead boy she gasped and began to cry. Mrs. Granger left her kitchen with a bowl of hot water and set it and a cloth on the coffee table before rushing Hermione out of the room, looking over her shoulder in worry.

Gregory ran down with their first aid kit, giving it to the old headmaster.

"Hold him down. This will be slightly painful."

Nodding his assent, Greg reached down and held the boy by his shoulders, making sure he didn't move as Dumbledore removed his wand and began to wave it over the boy, speaking beneath his breath. Nothing happened immediately, and Greg began to wonder if they needed to take the boy to the emergency room. But slowly the bones in his ribs and arm mended. This though, seemed to tire the old man.

After he was sure everything broken or torn inside the boy was mended properly the old man took the bowl and began to wash up the lacerations and sooth the bruises. The headmaster wasn't much of a healer, but what he could do he had already done.

Abigail looked at her crying daughter, reassuring her little boy in the living room would be alright and went about fixing her a mug of hot chocolate. After a few moments Hermione began to calm to simple sniffles.

"Mommy, why was that boy hurt so bad?" Her soft, sad question shook Abigail Granger to the very core. Slowly the woman sat down, taking one of her husband's old shirts from the pile of clean clothes and mended the button.

"Well sweetheart, my guess would be that he doesn't have a very nice family." She said this gently to the young girl, who looked worried by this.

"You mean he gets extra punishments. Is that why he looked so hurt?" She stared at her mother expectantly. What was she to say? Finally the woman just nodded.

Slowly looked down at her mug, tears dripping down and making the warm treat ripple.

-oOo-

Looking up from the boy as Mrs. Granger entered the room, Albus looked grateful. They had just finished bandaging his many cuts and the fresh shirt looked warm and soft. No doubt Harry was used to hand-me-downs but none as nice as that oversized shirt. Swaddling the young boy in them, she bid her husband to carry him up to their guest room. A few moments later they all sat in the living room to discuss what just happened.

"I do apologize, but I was in a bit of a panic." Albus bowed his head humbly to the two, who both quickly assured him it was quite alright.

"What happened to him, Professor?" Abigail looked at him with upset and worried eyes.

"Please, call me Albus. As for the child I regret to say that it is all my fault."

Gregory stared at the old man in shock. "Surely not…"

Dumbledore quickly nodded.

"It seems my neglect to check in on the boy while he lived with his Aunt and Uncle was a poor choice. It appears to me that someone, possibly both in that household has terrorized and abused him within an inch of his life. I must find him a new home, but I fear he will be scarred for years to come..."

Abigail reached out and touched his hand gently.

"It's alright Albus… everyone makes mistakes..."

Albus bowed his head and a lone tear escaped. Everything was silent. He couldn't think of many other places to keep young Harry. No one within the order was suitable, though he wished dearly he could allow Remus to look after the child. With the Werewolf laws this was simply impossible. He looked up at the couple and for a moment, the world stopped. Of course, it would be temporary. At least they would believe it was temporary until they simply began to love the young boy and adopt him, which Dumbledore planned in the end.

"I have a request to ask."

"Anything Albus. We would love to help the child." Abigail nodded in agreement with her husband.

"Allow Harry to live with you?"

-oOo-

Hermione crept into the guest bedroom and walked over to the boy that seemed to be swallowed by the large comfortable bed. Climbing up she looked at the boy closely. He had pale skin, with an old scar on his forehead. Messy, thick black hair. He was sort of cute. Cuter than any of the boys in her class. She was extremely pleased when the boy opened his eyes slowly and groaned, looking at her with a pained expression. He had the loveliest green eyes.

"Wh-where am I..?" He asked with a weak voice. Reaching out Hermione took his hand and smiled to him, trying to make him feel safe.

"You're at my house in London. My names Hermione Granger. What's yours?"

Hesitantly the boy spoke, unsure what this all meant to be in a strangers house.

"Harry P-potter.."

The bushy haired girl grinned enchantingly at him.

"No need to worry Harry. You're safe now."

Safe? Slowly the boy fell asleep at the though, relaxing as he held the girl's hand. Slowly Hermione crawled over and lay next to the boy, wrapping an arm gently around him.

Very Heart warming, right, right?! Yeah I thought so too. I wasn't exactly sure how this chapter would go but I'm pleased with the outcome. Don't worry, Vernon is gonna suffer in a later chapter and Petunia? You're just going to have to wait and see. Ja Ne!

UPDATE! Thanks to Japboix1 for being my wonderful beta! Thanks so much!