CHAPTER 2

When Harry woke up he felt rather warm and safe. He was on a soft cot with a fleece thrown over him and he felt well and unharmed as if he'd been back at school for months. He knew this feeling of well being, it happened after Christmas when he'd healed enough to be ok. It felt nice and for a moment he almost thought he was at Hogwarts. But then he remembered and popped up so fast the fleece went flying. He may have been a little out of it on pain last night but now his heart was hammering and he was beginning to panic.

"Hey morning sunshine! Want some breakfast?" Ron chirped happily offering cereal and tea.

"Thanks" Harry said slowly eyes flicking about for the obvious missing person.

"Charlie went into town to get some more supplies, said you need some better stocks if it's to feed you for a week" Ron supplied lightly

Harry nodded slowly letting a little of the tension drain out of him. His both eyes were functioning again and he felt better than he had all summer so far.

"You look good mate, Charlie did some pretty heavy healing on you, he said you had a broken rib that none of my stuff would do anything for, he even got it to heal fully without scars, so you don't have to worry about being only half healed or anything" Ron supplied as Harry got up and flexed him muscles and body tentatively.

The tent flap flipped back and Charlie entered with a bag of food supplies and grinned. Harry was in the middle of touching his toes and he looked pretty good all stretched out like that he had to admit even to himself.

"I do feel better, this is great" Harry yawned stretching sideways now back to Charlie.

He made a hum of satisfaction when he stretched up onto his toes to his fullest extent and then dropped lightly into a chair with Ron.

"Brilliant, now only to fix it so Vernon don't know hmm" He muttered digging in to his cereal

"Glamour yourself back up before you go and I'll go over you to make sure it looks good" Ron grunted

"Yeah I'm getting pretty tired of those things, it feels like I'm constantly stretching and pulling at my magic to have it on all the time, could you have a look at some books for me about it, I'm not sure I'm doing myself any good using my magic so constantly like this" Harry murmured.

"I can tell you already that's not a good idea" Charlie piped up making them both jump.

"You'll give yourself magical fatigue" He supplied dumping the bag on the table and surveying Harry mildly.

Harry nodded solemnly and shrugged. He spent a few more hours with Ron doing some covert magical practise that Charlie pretended he didn't see and then he packed up and with a final goodbye hug to his best friend he was off.

It wasn't until he got back home that Harry let himself slump helplessly and sigh in defeat. He didn't want to show Ron that he was in too bad an emotional state. It was bad enough he had to turn up broken and battered all the time he wasn't going to make his friend think it was affecting him emotionally too. Of course he knew Ron understood it was hard for him but he also thought that perhaps by being strong and seemingly brave Ron wouldn't worry so much about him. He got back into his room at eight O'clock thanks to his early morning dawn rise. Thankfully the Dursley's were just stirring so he didn't have to worry about them too much. His wounds were now superficial and glamorised so he wasn't in pain. His uncle didn't need to be thinking he could heal such grievous wounds over night or he'd end up killing him. His magic was good but it wasn't that good. He could heal minor cuts and bruises of course. If he had over a week then he could heal a broken or sprained wrist of rib. But it took a lot of energy and left him feeling drained and weak. His wandless abilities were being stretched to the limits as it was with all the glamours and apparating. He hoped for the next two weeks he had left before Hogwarts he'd be ok. Ron had mentioned going to Diagon alley for school supplies next week and Charlie had mildly added he'd be taking everyone with Tonks as Auror guard. So he knew he had one day at least. Maybe if he gave the Dursley's fair warning he was going they wouldn't be so inclined to pulverise him daily. They always made sure not to hurt him where his wizard friends would see when it got around the time to go back. Yes that was what he'd do and he'd slowly let the bruise on his face disappear so they wouldn't freak and forbid him to go get his supplies. Not that they really could but with notice they'd be more careful not to hurt him.

Charlie hung back in the Order meeting at Grimmauld that evening. Sirius and Remus had gone to their sitting room with a few of the others for after meeting tea and gossip. So he hung back and gave the dark man he was pretty fond of the nod. An arched eyebrow returned and he slowed his own exit until everyone else had left the kitchen and they were alone.

"Mr Weasley, I would have thought your days of staying behind for extra tutoring were over. Your brothers are the twin mischief makers I now have to chivvy out of the lab after hours" the dark velvet voice drawled with a rare smile.

Charlie grinned unrepentantly. Snape had exchanged his above average ability to brew in using him to help him make up the infirmary orders for books and tutoring on things like healing and Dragons and other creatures. The man was quite knowledgeably rounded in all areas and had a wealth of knowledge that had helped him gain his certificates for being a Dragon Handler.

"I was hoping you would agree to make me a few potions" he said slowly "Rather urgent" he added with a flash of a smile.

"Oh?" He asked intrigued.

"a rather strong healing potion, bone strengtheners, a magic stabilising and recovering and a bruise balm" He smiled lightly

"That's a rather curious list even for someone in a line of work like yours" He commented eyebrow raised in his 'you are going to confess just why you want those' sort of manner.

"Not for me, a friend of a friend in a spot of bother, said I'd help out" he smiled lightly

"Hmm, I don't help liars Mr Weasley, I thought you would remember that at least" he murmured silkily.

"Ok yes they are for someone I know, it's an abuse case ok, he's in a right mess and can't leave so I need to do a good patching up job before he literally exhausts his magic on glamours to make the world think he's fine and healing himself and keeping himself mobile. It can't be good for him and he's doing his best as far as I can tell but he definitely has to stay where he is so there's little other choice, at the moment he's using the basic healing balms and potions but you can only use them so much before they stop working" Charlie defended giving him a stern look.

"Well there honesty is refreshing don't you think? If I could see this person for myself I could probably help a whole lot more you know"

"Impossible" Charlie shook his head "Barely allows my help he'll flee the moment he catches sight of you" he shook his head firmly.

"Well then I shall put together a healer's bag for you, something I do for many St Mungo's house callers to carry around for their worst case patients. It should have everything in it you could possibly need for any occurrence of inflicted injury" he murmured thoughtfully "But I am only doing this because you never disappointed me when you trained and you've always made good on your promise to be the best at what you do, I can trust you not to go giving these potions willy-nilly and getting the poor idiot addicted to something" he harrumphed

"Thank you Severus" He nodded politely a relieved smile on his face.

Harry got dressed carefully the day he was meant to go to Diagon alley. He was bruise free on all visible places. His back was riddled with welts again and he had a foot sized bruise on his ribs but other than that he was fine. Which was hilarious in a totally insane way if you thought about it. He wore his fitted jeans that hung low on his slim hips and a long sleeved t shirt that was faded jade to bring out his eyes. He thought he looked good, like the wizarding world would expect him to look. It was also a rather comfortable and soft top that he loved wearing so it was a good compromise. He checked his contacts once more and then took a deep breath. He nodded firmly to himself and left his room just as the doorbell sounded.

He skipped down the stairs before anyone could even yell at him to get it. Not that they would today when they knew who to expect of course. He swung the door open and beamed brightly.

"Sirius!" he squeaked throwing himself into his Godfathers arms.

"You look amazing" he gushed wrapping his legs around his waist and allowing himself to be swung about with a laugh.

"It's what freedom does for you kiddo" he laughed warmly.

"Hey Moony, Charlie, Bill, Tonks" Harry added finally letting himself drop to the ground and unruffling himself and pulling the door closed on his nosy relatives.

Tonks grinned at him and he wrinkled his nose at her shockingly brilliant purple hair.

"Subtle" he teased letting Remus hug him and only wincing slightly as his back was pressed.

"Let's go is it? They're all waiting at the Leaky Cauldron, you know the apparating room there right?" Sirius asked him brightly

"Yup let's ago go" He grinned grabbing Sirius' arm in pretend for Tonks who worked at the ministry and couldn't officially know he could apparate on his own.

When they arrived he was pounced on by Hermione immediately. Then Ginny hugged him gently and then Mrs Weasley crushed him and then the twins slapped his back rather painfully and then to his relief they were all moving for the archway to the Alley.

He was rather buffed in the middle of the group. Everyone seemed pretty determined to keep him away from anyone trying to grab a hold of the 'Chosen one' as everyone had supposedly decided to call him these days.

"Ouch Ron that was my foot, I'm pretty sure I can stop someone getting that close mate" he teased as Ron's overlarge foot trod on him the third time.

"Gringotts" Mrs Weasley announced finally and chivvied everyone inside busily.

Harry walked in and unlike Hermione who needed to change muggle money he went over to go down to his vault. He was followed by Sirius and Charlie as 'guards' though Sirius did want to stop off himself. Remus stayed with the others as a guard with Tonks and Mrs Weasley as Charlie said he'd go to the family vault while they were down there and get money for supplies for his siblings. Harry walked up to the goblin and grinned.

"Hey Griphook" he sighed wearily and the goblin surprised a few people by actually smiling at his young customer.

Harry saw a woman on the next counter over flinch and another goggle wide eyed.

"How's the gold today?" Harry asked mildly handing over his key for inspection.

"Good Lord Potter always good when you come to visit" he replied offering another rather shark like smile.

"Come along then, extra fast cart it is" he teased rather roguishly.

Harry laughed in delight.

"You know me so well" he teased back vaulting himself into the cart happily.

Sirius shot his Godson a wary look as he sat in next to him.

When the cart took off at break neck speed Harry whooped in joy and Sirius groaned burying his head in Charlie's rather surprised chest. Harry looked over and let out an insanely joyful cackle and another whoop as he threw his hands in the air and let the cart whoosh him down a huge drop.

"Potter trust fund vault" Griphook announced sounding unruffled and a little amused at Harry's behaviour.

Sirius let out a loud moan and crawled onto the safe land before the vault

"I hate you" he moaned "You're worse than your dad for speed and thrills"

Harry skipped up to his vault and when it opened scooped up some money poking his tongue out at Sirius happily.

"Next stop Black vault" Griphook intoned as they got back in.

After another hair raising of not quite so long ride Sirius got out and did his own purse filling with a lot of unhappy grousing in between.

Then finally they stopped at Charlie's vault and he got his own money out.

"Don't tell mum, what she doesn't know won't hurt her" he added with a wink as he failed to visit his family vault for the supply money and simply filled it from his own vault.

"Wish they'd let me do that, Ron won't even let me buy him the dress robes he wanted, had to get Fred and George to do it for me" Harry groused as they settled down for a more sedate climb back up to fresh air.

Charlie just raised a brow in question which Harry didn't notice as he was now leaning over the cart to look down at the tracks and many levels below them.

They got back to the others and Harry was promptly surrounded again. Sirius was hanging on to Remus groaning about his stomach and Charlie was trying to hide his snickers.

"Last time I go down there with him!" He declared and harry laughed easily

"Chicken" he crowed looping an arm through his Godfather's happily.

"Urgh" Sirius moaned "don't you feel a little queasy at all?" he demanded

"Nope, love it!" Harry cried delighted and skipped off then dragging Ron enthusiastically into the Quidditch shop.

"Bloody nuts that boy" Sirius groused affectionately.

"Nice to see him so happy though" Remus murmured

"Yeah it is" Sirius conceded.

"Siri! Siri come look at this!" Harry's voice cried excitedly and Remus and Tonks grinned at him when he perked up.

"What is it Cub?" he called jogging into the shop.

"They always so lively?" Charlie decided to ask as he was left to wait outside with Tonks and Remus as Mrs Weasley and the girls went next door for robe fittings and told them to send the boys in when they'd finished.

"No I haven't seen Harry this excited in ages, he's been rather subdued lately. First after Cedric and everyone turning on him for getting in the tournament in the first place, then adoring him for the stunt with the Dragon" Here Remus shot Charlie a wry smile "Which by the way petrified him and wasn't at all enjoyable so he didn't appreciate the enthusiasm for, then all last year he was under pressure for being a weird attention seeking prat. Now the ministry and the world is out to use him as their poster boy and saviour and everyone loves him again, I am surprised he's being so hyper and happy myself" he concluded softly

"Moony look what I found!" Harry crowed skipping up to them trailing an amused Godfather and best friend. The twins just looked excited

"What is it?" Remus asked grinning affectionately

"Practise snitch!" He chirped and let the speedy little golden ball go.

"It's signed by all the national teams too, they only had one left it's special edition" he rambled following the golden blur steadily with his eyes as he spoke and then quick and a blink he'd snatched it from the air again.

"Isn't it awesome" he chirped brightly

"Yes that's awesome" Remus nodded raising a brow at Sirius

"Robes now boys, Mrs Weasley and the girls are already in there" Tonks announced suddenly

Sirius leant up against the wall no way was he going in the robe shop.

"Does Harry seem a little....bouncy...to you?" Remus asked slowly

"Oh so it wasn't just me then?" Sirius muttered frowning slightly

The twins who had dropped out of school thanks to Umbridge leant next to them idly. They had gotten extra staff for their shop for the day and had come as extra protection today. They both looked over the adults calmly and then offered.

"Harry is just a little magically over-powered" in unison which was a little spooky still for Sirius and Remus.

"What do you mean?" Remus asked with a frown.

"Didn't you feel it? He's having his magic surges, you know he's nearly sixteen, it appears he's getting a little more juice than he needs if you know what I mean" Fred sniggered

"His magic is making him hyper, we went through it too when we were coming seventeen" George clarified

"Oh?" All three men nodded in understanding.

Harry came out of the shop still buzzing.

"Sirius you'll never guess what! I grew three inches!" He cried incredulously bouncing on the spot happily.

"Well done" Sirius grinned ruffling his hair affectionately.

"I know isn't it incredible I haven't grown more than an inch since I started Hogwarts!" he cried waving his robes bags around a little haphazardly.

"Books" Hermione ordered breaking in on them bossily and shoving Harry off in the right direction.

"But 'Mione this is Important!" harry whined petulantly looping their arms together happily.

"I'm taller than you!" he added in shock looking down slightly into her face.

"Well done Mr Observant" she laughed nudging him into the books shop

Charlie watched amused from the iron stair way to the upper level boardwalk of the book shop as the kids buzzed around picking up their supplies and Remus and Sirius helped Harry choose some extra study books as Newts level expected you to do your own reading as well as the recommended readings. Hermione had his mother with her in the charms section, his mother he knew was quite the charms expert in her school days. Ron was just following Harry bemusedly and picking up the books Harry did, even though he was going for the scruffier second hand versions. Harry would occasionally just offer to share and Ron would look mildly embarrassed but as Harry pointed out they were extra work books they may not even use that much so what was the point in getting two it wasn't like they'd be sharing in the middle of class or anything. Charlie was impressed with how good Harry was at soothing those ruffled feathers Ron had about having to have second hand. He was surprised when Harry spent a good half hour pouring tediously over Potions books while Ron badgered Sirius and Remus in the Defence section. Harry had merely skimmed those books and easily picked just what he needed and wanted like a pro. Finally with towers of books each they were all checked out and Harry even got a happy smile from the grumpy looking sales girl.

Next they were in the apothecary for a while. Charlie actually helped there as he had experience. He helped Harry who was dithering about two different brands of dried stems of Bellwort and Hermione who was frowning hard over the bottles of pickled slugs. It was actually an interesting experience seeing them both so serious and studious. Ron just picked up a sample of everything on his list blindly and Ginny only needed the standard Owl level package the shop already had set up.

"Did you know there were four different types of ash winder crushed egg?" Harry asked Hermione curiously his nose stuck in a small book he was busy perusing as he yet again hovered over the offering the shop had.

"No, oh that book is good Harry can I share with you, I didn't see it!" Hermione asked brightly nudging up beside him to read between them.

"Sure thing, you got the last copy they had of 'Shielding the mind and entering other's' so you have to share that with me then" Harry teased

"Sure, I picked up a few books I thought you might be interested in" she murmured snatching the book from him and picking up tiny amount of the fine powder before her studiously.

Harry stood back an amused smirk on his face as Hermione took over his inspection.

When they finally got out of that shop Harry insisted he needed Quills and parchment and other supplies from the stationary nook. So he and Hermione whizzed off over the street leaving the others who didn't need to visit to pick up Owl food in the emporium while Tonks and Remus kept a watch on the street in between both shops.

Charlie was left rather bemused when Harry was then invited to spend the rest of summer at Grimmauld place with his family who were moving in tomorrow for safety and convenience as it was nearer the train station for the kids. The Burrow had been pretty highly warded this summer and the kids had been extra careful but a whole summer at Grimmauld just wasn't good for them no matter how much Sirius had been working on cleaning it up. So they took Harry's supplies with them and Sirius whisked him away for one final night with his family before he came to the HQ for the Order for the rest of his holiday.