Weeeeee, drama!
Also, I'd like to thank everybody that's reviewed, and everybody who's added this story to their favourites, or story alerts. You guys rock, and you each get a giant PAT ON THE HEAD.
Disclaimer: I wish I owned them. But no. If I did, every single Harry Potter book would have Draco and Harry sexing each other up. And the movies would be rated XXX. For PORN.
"How can you not see it, Dumbledore?!" Lucius shouted, "The boy is being abused! The bruises should be enough proof!"
"The bruises are a cause for worry", Dumbledore said calmly, "But Lucius, the boy's uncle has said that Harry is extremely clumsy."
Lucius let out a roar of frustration. "Like shit he is clumsy! Harry is the most graceful boy I have seen!"
"With all due respect, my dear Lucius, you have known the boy for a mere few weeks", Dumbledore said, "Mr. and Mrs. Dursley have known the boy his whole life."
"And they hate him! Why can't you see that?"
"They have shown nothing but compassion for the boy."
"Then they've Confunded you!"
"They are not wizards."
"They've done something to make you believe they're saints!"
Dumbledore slowly rose from his seat, his gaze locked on Lucius. "Lucius, I remember it like yesterday when you and your father stormed in here demanding that Severus be taken out of his home due to abuse."
"That turned out to be true, didn't it?" Lucius spat. His respect for the older man was dropping rapidly. Dumbledore gave a short incline of his head.
"Yes, it was true. But Severus was less than willing to admit to abuse, wasn't he?"
"What are you saying, Dumbledore?"
"Until I have heard a verbal confession from young Harry, I can not do anything to help him."
"He admitted to me, Dumbledore. He admitted that his uncle beats him. Isn't that enough for you?"
"He confessed to you, Lucius. He did not confess to me."
Lucius stared at the older man.
"That", he began slowly, "Is a load of shit."
"How did it go?" Severus asked quietly that night at dinner. Lucius growled under his breath. Draco looked up from his plate, alarmed.
"Are you okay, Daddy?" Draco asked. Lucius looked at his son, and managed a soft smile.
"I'm fine, Draco."
Severus frowned. "I'm assuming it didn't go well."
"Let's put it this way", Lucius said, wiping the side of his mouth with a napkin, "Dumbledore won't do anything to help Harry until Harry confesses to Dumbledore that he's getting abused."
"He won't", Severus said. "You know how long it took us to make him confess."
Lucius gave a tired sigh. "I don't know what I'm going to do, Severus. I can't just storm right in and take the boy from his aunt and uncle."
"Maybe we can", Severus said thoughtfully.
"It would never work. We'd have the Muggle authorities and the Wizarding authorities after us."
Severus shook his head. "Don't you remember what you did, Luc? You told the Muggle authorities that I was being abused. They're a lot more understanding than the Wizarding authorities."
"Are you saying that I should tell the Muggle authorities?" Lucius asked. Severus nodded.
"It can't hurt, Luc. They'd be quicker to investigate, and they'd send more people."
Lucius stroked his chin, a thoughtful look on his face. "It could work …"
Dear Harry,
You may not understand this entire letter, as you are only five. However, you are a smart five year old, and you will surely figure it out. You told me you were being abused. Harry, I'm going to do something about it. I alerted the Wizard authorities of your situation, but they will not take action until they hear a confession from you. I am sure you would not want to do this, therefore, I am alerting the Muggle (or non-magic) authorities. They will be more understanding. Harry, you do not need to put up with this abuse for much longer. Hang in there, my boy, you will be within safe walls soon enough.
Yours truly,
Lucius Malfoy
Harry stared at the letter. He never got letters. Ever. To receive one – and from a friend – was the greatest joy Harry had ever felt. But – confession? Harry shook his head. There was no way he'd confess to people he didn't know. Lucius was one thing, a large group of strangers was another. Harry read the letter over and over again. Uncle Vernon didn't know he had gotten one. It had arrived in the strangest way. An owl had brought it to him whilst he was outside in the garden. Harry had shooed the owl before any 'Muggles' – as Lucius called them (Harry still had no idea what a 'Wizard' or 'Muggle' was) – could see it.
It had been three days since Harry had received the letter, and nothing had happened. Harry was starting to doubt Lucius' promise of 'being within safe walls soon enough'. The beatings were getting worse, too. Every time Harry asked the simplest question, Uncle Vernon would be there with his fist all ready to strike. Harry sometimes refused to come out of his cupboard. This resulted in more beatings. There was a bruise in the shape of a handprint from where Uncle Vernon had tried to strangle Harry. Luckily, Aunt Petunia stopped her husband with the promise of a luxurious dinner. Harry thought that maybe, just maybe, Aunt Petunia felt something for him.
But Aunt Petunia had set him straight. "I only stopped Vernon from killing you because the tall, skinny old man told me that if you were to die, the world as we know it would come to an end", she had said. This had confused Harry greatly. What did the world have to do with him?
It wasn't until the seventh day after receiving the letter did Harry start to notice some changes. A police car stopped outside one day whilst Harry was chasing a butterfly down the sidewalk. The policeman smiled politely down at the boy. "Good afternoon, young man. I'm Detective McKenzie. Would this happen to be the residence of a Mr. and Mrs. Dursley?"
Residence? What does he think I am – seven? Harry thought. He smiled brightly up at the detective. "My aunt and uncle live here."
Detective McKenzie had a small frown on his face, but he shook it off, and the smile returned. "You must be Harry", he said, kneeling so he was Harry's height. "Can you take me in to see your aunt and uncle?"
Harry frowned. "They don't like me bringing strangers home."
"How did you get that bruise, Harry?" McKenzie asked, changing the subject. Harry ran his fingers over his cheek.
"I fell", he stated.
"You fell." McKenzie didn't look like he believed the boy.
"Yes. I fell down the stairs. I'll take you to see Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon now."
"Thank you." McKenzie stood up, and followed Harry to the house. Harry glanced nervously back at the older man, before he opened the front door and stepped inside. McKenzie followed Harry all the way to the kitchen.
"Err … Aunt Petunia?" Harry said nervously.
"What do you want, boy? I'm- oh!" Aunt Petunia stared at Detective McKenzie.
"Detective McKenzie, London Police. I'm here on behalf of an anonymous call regarding child abuse", McKenzie said, holding out his badge for the horse-faced lady to see. Aunt Petunia shrank back.
"I'll just … get my husband", she murmured, hurrying out of the kitchen. Harry turned to face McKenzie.
"What's child abuse?" he asked innocently. McKenzie gave the boy a fond smile.
"Child abuse is where the parents of a child hurt their child for no reason", he said. Harry shook his head.
"But Uncle Vernon doesn't hurt Dudley."
Dun dun dunnnn! How do you like the suspense? Ooooh, did Harry just rat out his uncle? God I hope so. He's too fat for his own good.