Disclaimer – I don't own the characters from the Harry Potter novels, JKR does.

Chapter 2

The train station was full. Pushing through to the entrance to 9¾, He found he was there early. Down the platform a ways, he saw a pretty older Hufflepuff being harassed by some older boys. Not being someone ever willing to put up with abuse, he charged over there. "Leave her alone. She obviously doesn't want your company."

"What are you going to do about it you ickle firsty? Got your wand now and you think you can play with the big boys?"

Harry furious petrified them and stuck them to the side of the engine. Then he made them invisible. He turned to the girl and found her hair had turned color a bit from black to brown. "They won't pick on you any more. I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner. No one deserved to be called some of those names."

The girl was amazed, "Thank you so much. I'm Tonks. Why did your hair go from black to reddish black?"

They moved into one of the compartments to talk. "What do you mean my hair color changed? I didn't do anything to it. I'm Harry Potter by the way."

Tonks was getting excited, "You might be a metamorphmagus like me. I could teach you to help control it. Maybe you could teach me to fight like that. I want to be an auror."

They continued to talk about several things. They suddenly became aware of the passage of time when the train lurched to start moving. Harry said, "I'm sorry to take up all your time. I'm sure you would rather sit with your friends than a firsty."

"Harry, I don't have any real friends at school. The girls are jealous because I can change my looks to be very pretty if I want. The boys think I am a slut because I wouldn't put out for my first boyfriend and change, as he wanted. He spread all kinds of rumors, about what we did, that were made up, but the other boys think I am easy because of that. I also come from the Black family but I'm not a Slytherin. No one trusts me because of that."

"I don't have any friends either. My cousin beat up any kids that tried to be nice or friendly to me. Soon the word got around and nobody tried. Could we be friends?"

"Sure why not, we are going to be teaching each other things and right now you're a little young for me to worry about you wanting me to change into your desired dream girl. I'll even trust you with my first name but please don't use it. It's Nymphadora. I hate it."

"I can see why you wouldn't like a name that had nymph as part of it, especially when you are trying to avoid being called a slut. What about Dora? That's a pretty name. It's a little less formal than your last name and if we stay friends a long time, you may get married which would change your last name."

She looked at Harry closely to make sure he wasn't teasing. When she saw he was serious she said, "I will think about it. In the mean time please stick with Tonks."

Just then, they heard a thump in the hallway and a girl crying. Harry opened the door. There was his Hermione sitting on her trunk miserable in the hallway. Harry reached out and hugged the girl. She was a first year like he was. She was still much bigger than he was. The two of them coaxed her into their compartment.

Harry continued to hold her on the seat. Tonks held her from the other side. Her crying slowed down. "I'm Harry and this is Tonks. What happened? Why were you crying?"

"I was sitting with several other first year girls, when a blond haired boy opened the door and swaggered in. He greeted several of the girls by name then asked my name. He spouted off that I must be a mudblood. I admitted that both my parents were dentists and that I was a first generation witch. They started making jokes about muggles. They basically let me know that I wasn't welcome to sit with them any more."

"Well you are welcome to sit with us the rest of our time. I want to be a Ravenclaw and Tonks here is a sixth year Hufflepuff. If we are in Ravenclaw together, I bet we can be the best two students of our year. I can tell you are smart. Will you be my friend? Tonks is my first friend but I would love a friend in my year that I could go to class with and study with."

Hermione looked at the boy holding her. He was a lot shorter than she was and way too skinny. His wonderful green eyes reminded her of someone, but she couldn't think of who. He was comforting her as if he cared. Maybe she could make friends in the magical world. She had never had any in the normal world. "What about me being a mudblood, a muggleborn, a first generation witch?"

"First of all, my mom was a first generation witch. My dad was from an old established family. If I hear you call yourself those other two names, I will tickle you until you say you're sorry. I don't hold with name-calling. Tonks is a half blood, I am a half blood and you are first generation. I bet that if the three of us worked together, we can be the best students in the whole school. I can remember almost everything I read. I bet you can too Hermione. Tonks wants to be an auror. She has to be smart to have passed enough OWLs to qualify for the NEWT classes to get into auror training. What do you girls say? Can we try and show these pure bloods that they are worthless?"

The girls were pumped. They made arrangements to study in the library together every evening. Tonks commented that the head of Ravenclaw often allowed passes to younger students to be tutored in the library after standard curfew. They had to be in the company of an older student and they had to be back in the tower before the older student's curfew.

Conversation continued then they all got out books to read. Occasionally one of them had a question about what they were reading and to the girls amazement Harry was always able to answer them.

The trolley lady came around asking if they wanted snacks. Hermione was amazed at the different snacks available in the wizarding world. Harry ended up getting some of everything to share so she could try everything.

After their snack, a white haired boy and two larger boys walked in uninvited. "Cousin, I'm looking for Harry Potter. Surely he isn't in here with you or this mudblood."

Harry stood angrily with his hand in a tight fist. The boy found himself unable to breathe. Harry looked at Tonks, "Is this scum really your cousin?" The boy was turning red.

"Yes, he is my mom's sister's son. Our family and his don't get along very well."

Harry looked at the boy and opened his hand. The boy could breathe again. "I won't harm you anymore today because you are related to my first friend. However, you need to know that you found Harry Potter. My friends are off limits to you and your bullyboys. I can do anything I want to you and no one can prove I did it. One use of the M word toward my friend here and you will not be able to breathe until you are unconscious. If she is ever hurt by someone at your instigation and the pain will come back to you three fold. Now get out."

Harry waved his hand and all three boys ended up in a pile in the hall. He shut and locked the door.

The girls pulled Harry down between them to calm him down. Tonks said, "That little piece of shit was Draco Malfoy. His father Lucius Malfoy has a lot of money. I know he uses it to bribe who ever he needs to in the ministry to get whatever he wants. One of our professors, the potions professor Snape is his godfather. I am sure the little shit will run and tattle to his godfather about what you did. Of course, he won't tell the truth that he started it with all the name-calling.

"Thank you Tonks. I'm not worried about either Snape or Malfoy they can't hurt me, but they might go after one of you. Let me know if anyone in the castle hurts either of you alright?"

Time passed and they had read more. One of the prefects came around telling everyone that it was time to get changed. Harry left so the girls could change.

When Harry came back into the compartment after changing, the girls noticed his head of house crest on his robes. Tonks asked, "Harry, why didn't you tell me you were head of house Potter?"

"Would it have made any difference? I am still Harry. I still need to learn how to control my new powers. It's not as if the Potters were a rich house. Look at the home my parents were living in. It could easily have been mistaken for a muggle house."

In the mean time, Hermione's eyes were big finally realizing who he was. "You're Harry Potter the savior of the wizarding world and you want to be friends with me?"

"Hermione, think about this, how could a baby do what they said I did? It is almost certain that it was some kind of ritual my mom did that caused it. That means my mom was the savior of the wizarding world not me. I just lay there. This is just another example of the fact that what wizards believe doesn't make sense."

"I'm sorry Harry. I got carried away thinking about what was in some of those books said about you. Can we still be friends together in Ravenclaw?"

He gave her a hug. "Yes Hermione, we can still be friends. I will never leave you or forsake you. I still want the three of us to show the rest of the school that you don't have to be pureblood to do well."

During the sorting things again went as he remembered except Hermione was under the hat for only a few seconds then was put in Ravenclaw.

When Harry Potter's name was called, the hall went silent as everyone watched the reddish black haired boy sit on the stool. The five Slytherins he had stuck to the train vowed revenge now that they knew his name.

'Hello hat, I need you to put me in Ravenclaw.'

'I can see that you would do well in all the houses. With your ambition, why shouldn't I put you in Slytherin? It is the house of ambition.'

'Because right now, that house is a mixture of ambition and pure blood bigotry. I would have to destroy half the students in there before the others would leave me alone. I really don't want to start killing anyone this quickly. I want to start making the students start working together. Can you imagine the lions following a snake or vice-versa? I need to be in Ravenclaw to get away with the fact that I know more than I am supposed to.'

'Very well, I will put you in, "Ravenclaw."

The feast went like normal. The prefects showed the new first years to their rooms. The rooms were semi private. Two people were assigned each room. Harry, being head of a house and the odd boy, got a room of his own, even though it had an extra set of furniture in it. He thought this was so much better than the Gryffindor open dorms, but then Ravenclaws were expected to study at all hours of the night or day.

The next morning he woke due to someone shaking him. There was Hermione when he pealed his eyes open. "I've been waiting for you. Hurry, get changed and let's go to breakfast."

Harry threw back the covers and headed to his dresser. The giggling at the fact he threw back the covers and only had on his boxers changed into almost a shriek when she saw his back. She stood there paralyzed as she saw the scars all over his back and buttocks. Once he was changed he turned to her as she stood there staring. "Let's go." He pulled her along.

As they walked to the great hall, she asked, "What happened to you Harry?"

He simple replied, "My relatives hate magic."

"Harry, we are going to the infirmary after breakfast."

"If we are going to do this I only want to tell people once. We need, Flitwick, Sprout, Hagrid, McGonagall and Tonks there. They all deserve to know."

They ate their breakfast. Since it was the first day of term, it was used for getting schedules, finding new classrooms, meeting new students and exploring. There were no classes.

When Madam Pomfrey walked into the hall, Hermione hopped up and ran over to her pulling her to one side. They had a whispered conversation.

Hermione had her copy of Hogwarts a History with her and she was busy flipping pages trying to find something she had read before. Harry watched her. This was something he missed for decades. Watching his friend attack a problem and find a solution. He would never let that red headed waste of food hurt her this time. The bastard had killed her last time.

Breakfast was over and the teachers were leaving their table. Tonks wandered over to the two first years. "Hermione, you waved me over like you wanted to talk. Did you guys want a tour of the castle and help finding your classrooms?"

"We need you to witness something." Then she started crying, "Oh Tonks it's awful what they did to Harry. Please take us to the infirmary."

A confused sixth year led them to the infirmary. The heads of houses were waiting along with Hagrid and the nurse. Harry simply went behind some modesty screens and undressed. He called the nurse in covering his bits with cloth. When he turned around she shrieked, "Oh, Merlin."

She stepped out and allowed the others to see one at a time. She handed a bowl to McGonagall before she stepped in with the comment she would need it. Sure enough, the assistant headmistress needed the bowl when she lost most of her breakfast after seeing Harry.

After dressing and allowing Madam Pomfrey to do scans, he faced them. "I take it from your reactions, that none of you knew about the abuse I was put through as a child. After seeing their faces, I vaguely remember the headmaster and potions master coming and healing me one time after I had been beaten so badly it broke both my legs and one arm. My mom must have been a bit of a seer. Her dream journal indicated that there was a prophecy made about me before I was born. It indicated that I was the only one that could kill Voldemort. Bumbles will kept me weak so that after we fight each other the remaining person will be weak enough for Bumbles to finish off and he would go out in a burst of glory similar to the glory he had when he killed Grindelwald. The problem with this is that even weakened he won't be able to kill him and the world will fall to the chaos of Voldemort."

"The other choice to this issue is for me to learn everything I could as fast as I can so I can defeat him. The world would then hope that I don't turn evil. The Dursleys haven't helped that, neither has the headmaster. My parents' chests were hidden in the Dursleys' attic. They had many books in them, which I have almost memorized. I had nothing else to do while I was locked in the cupboard. They locked me in for days at a time. Her dream journal told me to find friends to care about; they would help me stay on the right path. I met two nice friends on the train and I would like to study with them as much as possible."

Harry had prepared this story to account for things he couldn't possibly know yet. Some of it may have even been true from his first time.

The adults were standing around stunned while Hermione and Tonks were hugging Harry and crying. Finally Madam Pomfrey spoke, "Mr. Potter, I can only help in limited ways. I can vanish the worst of the improperly healed bones and regrow them. But there's not much I can do about the scars, and improper growth."

"My family grimoire had a potion that can help me. All I have to add is a bit of phoenix tears and ash. I hope to convince Fawkes to help me get those. It may be painful and take a while. I hope to take the potion Friday after my last class. I hope to be able to function by my first class on Monday."

Pomfrey decided to add her opinion to the cure. She looked at the girls holding Harry. "You two need to make sure he eats absolutely everything he can between now and then. The magic will need something in his system to work with. I will also be giving him nutrient potions with every meal make sure he takes them."

Harry grimaced; he remembered what nutrient potions tasted like.

After finding out from Hermione that Harry had only had a small breakfast, they headed off to the kitchen. Tonks watched while Harry had a snack. She wasn't happy because it was a small one.

"Harry, how can we get you fattened up for the potion this weekend if you don't eat?"

"You have to remember that the snack you just saw me eat was more than I got in two days. My stomach is tiny. I can't eat much at a time. The best I can do is eating several snacks a day. Girls, I give you permission to call my elf Ari to help get me snacks when you think I need them so we don't always have to go to the kitchen." By this time, Ari was standing at his side. "Ari this is Tonks and this is Hermione. They have permission to call you. Please do what they ask."

"I pleased to meet Harry Potter's Tonks and Harry Potter's Hermione. Harry doesn't keep me busy enough. If you needs anything, I can get it for you. I also talked the Hogwarts elves into letting me clean Harry's room. Can I clean your rooms too please?"

Hermione asked, "Why do you want to clean our rooms?"

"Because me love work. Stingy Hogwarts elves keep all the fun work for themselves. Please Harry Potter's Hermione can I clean your room?"

"I guess so."

"Oh thank you," the little elf hugged one girl then the next. "Master Harry Potter sir, you need to keep these two. One or both would make good mates then I could have a family to take care of and little ones."

"It's not that easy Ari."

"Yes it is. They decide they want you. The female always gets the choice. Then you put your bodies together and I can have babies to take care of."

By this time, all three kids were red faced from embarrassment. Ari left. Harry said, "At least she got one thing right. It is always the females' choice before we put our bodies together." All three of them started laughing.

Harry didn't realize that Hermione started thinking about Harry as more than a friend.

Meanwhile, a group of adults was meeting trying to decide what to do.

Poppy spoke up first, "I have to report this. The abuse is too blatant. Now that Albus is no longer his guardian, He can't legally stop me. We should be able to take down the Dursleys. I doubt the anything will happen to Albus."

Hagrid, who was livid said, "We should take all five of them, the Dursleys, Snape and Dumbledore and make them watch Harry's memories everyday in a pensive for a year."

Minerva spoke, "I look back on things. I wonder if Albus allowed the Potters to be killed on purpose. He cast the fidelius spell. I can't imagine Black betraying his brother. Remus wouldn't do it either. I wouldn't trust Peter though. Oh Merlin, what if they changed the secret keeper to Peter and then just said Black was the keeper. That means Albus let Black go rot in prison so that he couldn't take care of Harry. Oh Albus where is the man of principle I first met here as headmaster."

One thing after another, they started adding things together that Albus had done or allowed to happen. By the time they were done, the painting looked dark indeed. He may not be a dark lord but he was certainly very dark gray.

Wednesday afternoon was the first year Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff potions class. After role call, Snape started on Harry. "Well, Mr. Potter our new celebrity. What do I get if I add asphodel in an infusion of wormwood?"

"Professor Snape sir, with just those two ingredients, you probably get either a poison or and explosion. When other ingredients are added and proper precautions are taken, you get a potion call the draught of living death."

"I will not have disrespect in this classroom. That will be twenty points from Ravenclaw for cheek."

"I Harry James Potter respectfully call on Hogwarts for a points investigation."

"What did you say Potter? That will be a week's detention and fifty more points."

"I Harry James Potter respectfully call on Hogwarts for a detention investigation."

Two bell tones were heard through out the room. Snape growled and told everyone to leave.

In the hall, Hermione asked him, "Harry, what just happened?"

"It is part of the student and teacher rules that if a teacher abuses his position and removes points or issues detentions wrongly the teacher can be censured or even removed. If the student accuses falsely he can be punished as the teacher sees fit. He cannot be expelled but he could be in detention all year. The non-involved of the four heads of house determine the result. The headmaster and assistant are not allowed involvement unless the assistant is a head of house. This is done in case the headmaster is shielding the professor."

"How long will it take?"

"I am sure that Hogwarts has already given the other heads notice. They need to meet and go over the book of awards and penalties to see if this is a one time case or typical for the teacher. With luck Monday morning when I get out of the infirmary, we will have a new potions professor."

Wednesday evening while the teachers and headmaster were busy, Harry called Fawkes. "Hey Fawkes, could you come here please."

Almost before he got done speaking, Fawkes had flamed into his bedroom and was flying around his head singing joyfully.

"I missed you too. I need a favor." Suddenly Harry was shocked as the bond that Fawkes made with him the first time when he was in his twenties reformed. The flame tattoo was back on the inside of his left wrist. Harry shook himself. "I need phoenix ash and tears to finish this potion so I can heal."

The bird disappeared and returned several times. He brought back two small barrels of ash that Bumbles had been saving as well as several large flasks full of tears. Apparently, Bumbles had been saving for emergencies. Harry moved everything into his apartment chest storage area. Fawkes followed him into the chest and trilled a question to him.

Harry looked up, "Sure I would like the private potions and ingredients of Snape and Dumbledore. You can put anything you like in the store rooms in here."

Harry took the tears and ash into his lab. In two hours, the health potion he needed was finished. The potion was almost impossible to make seeing it needed the elixir of life as well as the phoenix items. The fidelius charms he had cast on his chest made it impossible to find by anyone else. So he didn't have to worry about his potion getting stolen.

Friday at lunch, the girls made him eat more than he wanted. They forced him to stuff himself.

In the infirmary, he got into one of those hospital robes that everyone loves. Once he was in bed, He drank his potion. His body went rigid with pain. He clenched his teeth to prevent screaming. He knew the girls were watching and his screams would upset them.

They watched as the magic rippled over his head. His residual concussion damage was healed completely. The ripples worked there way down his body. The frame was fixed then expanded. Poppy and the girls were almost mesmerized by what was happening.

Hours later Ari showed up with food for the three of them. "Master's nurse and ladies must eat. I can tell he be fine. His muscles and insides are growing now."

They took time to eat. Madam Pomfrey said, "You girls can go study. I'm sure he will be sleeping the rest of the night. I will send his elf to get you if anything changes.

In the library, Hermione asked Tonks, "How come I like Harry so much so fast? I mean I have only known him a week now and I feel like I could tell him anything. I don't understand."

"I know what you mean. He saved me from being teased on the platform. I had gotten to the point that I don't trust any boys anymore. Here he goes and defends my honor by taking care of five older boys. Then he treats me like a regular person instead of a sex object. I think I want him to be my friend for a long time."

"Yeah, Harry is a very special boy. When he first took me into your compartment, there was something familiar about him. I felt like I had met him before. Wait a minute. He has brilliant green eyes, just like …"

"I hope he can tell that most of them see him as the boy-who-lived instead of a smart boy named Harry. I have noticed that you are good at scheduling. Even if he has read all seven years plus of textbooks, he can't have practiced much. Make a schedule where we work through both first year and sixth year that's challenging for you and me. I bet Harry will learn fast. Maybe we can get the two of you to skip a year or two of schooling if you can do the work."

"Good idea, I'll have something ready in the morning for you to look over."

Author Notes

Thanks for all the feedback and reviews.

Based on your comments I changed the Chapter 1 Hagrid scene a little to have it make more sense.

I know I pushed a few things out there fast, nut I hope I include enough description in chapter 2 and following chapters.

I plan to update weekly. I am through chapter 8 and working on 9.

I never expected the kind of positive response I have received so far. I welcome all positive criticism. I have seven stories partially written and want to be a better writer. Any specific suggestions will be welcomed. I read all reviews.

One other thing of note – I don't intentionally use cliff hangers. I prefer to have a chapter come to a logical conclusion. The next chapter will usually indicate a change of thought or scene.

Thanks again

Holdred.