Disclaimer: As mentioned before, I don't own the Harry Potter universe, J.K. Rowling has that honor. I just own this fanfic and OC Hailey. The OC Xander Scamander belongs to Supernova2015. No copyright intended!

Warning: Reader's discretion is advised in this chapter due to some sensitive moments.

Ch. 10

An Eye-Opener For Albus

After getting the memories extracted from Harry and Hailey, Xander apparated to the outside of the wards at Hogwarts. He was marching his way to Albus' office as if he was on the warpath, making the students and teachers step off to the side to let him through. On the way, Xander came across Minerva.

"Mr. Scamander," she greeted. "What can I do for you?"

"I need to speak with Albus," said Xander. "This is an important matter."

"Okay," said Minerva as she showed Xander the way, then she spoke in a whisper. "Password is lemon drop."

"Thank you, Minerva," said Xander. "Maybe you should be present. It may concern you, too."

"Okay." said Minerva.

So they continued walking towards Dumbledore's office. Once they made it to the phoenix statue, Minerva gave the password, revealing spiral staircases, going up like a screw loosening. Once the stairs reached the floor where the door was, Minerva and Xander climbed the stairs. Minerva didn't knock first (seeing that she was informed of Xander wanting to talk to Albus on an important matter and this made her a bit angry), she just barged into the office, making Albus jump in surprise.

"Minerva, what brings..." Albus began greeting his colleague.

"Can it, Albus," said Xander fiercely. "We need to have a serious talk!"

"Can this wait?" asked Dumbledore nervously. "I'm looking for..."

"No it can't," snapped Xander. "This discussion involves Harry Potter!"

Minerva's eyes widened at the revelation, then she fixed Albus with a glare, enough to make Albus cower a bit in fear. Once he was ready, Xander brought out the vials with Harry's memories, opened one and poured it into a basin, then the two wizards and one witch stuck their faces into the basin, and then Harry's first memory began playing.

(Harry's first memory)

It showed a seven-year-old Harry working on a garden outside in the heat, with the temperature presumably at least 100 degrees, with it being midday especially. That forced Harry to stop and walk into the shade to rest and to get a drink of water. He hardly got to drink any when Dudley came outside to see what Harry was doing.

"Hey freak," said Dudley. "You shouldn't be wasting water, you know how expensive you are?"

"I'm not," said Harry. "What's wrong with getting a drink?"

"You're wasting water," said Dudley. "You know how much money it cost?"

"You should be asking yourself that," said Harry. "You're the one who keeps the water on for longer periods than I."

"I don't do that," Dudley lied. "I only use the necessary amount, and no more."

"Yeah, right." said Harry, rolling his eyes.

"MUM, THE FREAK IS WASTING WATER AGAIN!" screamed Dudley.

Petunia marched outside and smacked Harry across the face, hard. Then she locked the door to prevent Harry from coming back inside, as 'punishment' for 'wasting' the water, despite the brutal heat. Harry saw Dudley stick his tongue out at him through a window on the greenhouse.

(End of memory)

They found themselves back in the office, with Albus stunned to see the memory. Minerva looked ready to break down, but her anger at Albus overpowered that. She knew she was right, she warned Albus what kind of muggles the Dursleys were. Xander found it hard to believe that Harry was locked outside on a day where it was 100 degrees, knowing he could've gotten heatstroke, with the lack of water increasing the odds. Xander poured Harry's second and final memory into the basin and the wizards and witch lowered their faces into the basin and Harry's second memory started playing.

(Harry's second memory)

It showed an eight-year-old Harry at a playground in Little Whinging, which wasn't too far from Privet Drive. Harry was trying to befriend a boy about the same age, until five fat kids strolled by, with evil grins.

"HEY, GET AWAY FROM THE FREAK!" screamed Dudley.

"Or you'll get beat up." said Dudley's best friend, Piers.

The boy ran away in fear, leaving Harry downhearted. But, Dudley and his gang just started beating up Harry, who tried running away, but the five, fat bullies easily cornered him.

"Don't you dare try that again," said Dudley in a dangerous voice. "You're not supposed to make friends. Freaks don't deserve that!"

"You're describing yourselves," Harry retorted. "I have just as much right to make friends..."

Dudley and his friends began beating Harry up, in a five-on-one pounding. Even when Vernon and Petunia walked by, they didn't stop Dudley and his gang from 'teaching the freak a lesson.' Once they were finished, Vernon dragged Harry back home and proceeded to beat him with a belt, despite Harry's cries for mercy and protests that Dudley should be receiving the punishment, which got Harry even more beatings, then he was tossed into his cupboard.

(End of memory)

They were back in the office, and Minerva was horrified to have witnessed Harry having gotten beat up by kids who were much bigger and fatter than he, especially with Harry having been outnumbered. Xander, too was shocked by that, and even more so when Vernon and Petunia saw the beating, and yet they didn't punish Dudley, they just punished Harry unjustly. Albus was speechless, he thought he had talked some sense to Vernon and Petunia into the letter he wrote to them that night.

"See, Albus," said Minerva in an 'I-told-you-so' voice. "Didn't I warn you what kind of people the Dursleys were?"

"Y-Y-Yeeessssss." said Albus, cowering in fear.

"But what did you do? You left Harry with those wretched people," Minerva ranted ferociously. "You left him there because of your 'Albus knows best' attitude, and I don't think you ever went to check on Harry from time to time. Otherwise, he wouldn't have ran away."

"Harry's friend also has a couple memories she'd like you to see," informed Xander. "Miss Hailey Brandwood."

"What? Wendy's daughter?!" asked Minerva, not quite sure she heard right.

"Yes," said Xander. "Ever since her death, her daughter has been having a terrible life."

"We might as well view them." said Minerva.

So Xander uncorked one vial of Hailey's memories and poured it into the basin. Hailey's first memory showed her as a seven-year-old, where her father was stocking the refrigerator with some kind of beverage, then he turned his attention to his daughter, grabbed a fireplace poker and poked her arm with it, making the girl scream in pain. This didn't sit well with Hailey's father and he punched her in the stomach for it.

Hailey's second memory showed her, presumably several months later, trying to clean the windows in the backyard. Then her father, in his intoxicated state, warned her (if one could call it that) to make the windows 100% clean or he would douse her in gasoline and set her ablaze, making the girl work hard in fear of receiving such a terrible fate. Minerva and Xander were shocked by that threat, even Albus had his eyes widened. Once they were back in the headmaster's office, they were speechless, since they started getting a sickening feeling in their stomachs.

"What kind of father would threaten their child with something like that?" asked an outraged Minerva.

"Burns are one of the most painful injuries one can receive," said Xander. "Gasoline is used for fuel in the muggle world, for vehicles and gas-powered lawnmowers. It ignites so fast that, in an enclosed space, it will explode."

"Merlin!" said Minerva, who looked ready to pass out.

Albus was still speechless, finding it hard to believe what the memories revealed. Xander just glared at the headmaster, who looked as though he required a second set of robes, since he was sweating profusely.

"W-W-Where is Mr. Potter and Miss Brandwood?" asked Albus nervously.

"Criss-crossing the countryside," said Xander. "But I have no intentions to reveal their exact location."

"But, I..." Albus began saying.

"But nothing, Albus!" bellowed Xander.

"Did Miss Brandwood also run away with Mr. Potter?" asked Minerva.

"Yes," said Xander. "They don't trust anyone easily. I had to prove to them, with the magical and life oath that I was helping them."

This made Minerva glare at Albus again, then she left the office, too angry to even look at him. Xander, too glared at the headmaster once more before leaving. Albus was so terrified that he felt his legs go rigid, finding himself unable to get up.

(Line break)

Harry and Hailey were still following River Avon, then they eventually came to a junction in the river. Harry got out a magical map, which told him that one of the rivers in the junction was called River Marden.

"Which river shall we follow?" asked Hailey.

"Perhaps River Marden," said Harry. "This could throw the Dursleys off track easier."

"Well, okay, let's give it a try." said Hailey.

Once Harry put the map away, the two runaways followed River Marden. It would be bad if the Dursleys (and Dudley's gang) captured them. Hailey would have to re-experience her father's wrath and likely get beat up by Dudley's gang. Harry would definitely get beat up as well if they returned to the past. As they continued following River Marden, Harry and Hailey didn't realize that they were holding hands, due to being lost in their respective train of thoughts. When they realized, they widened their eyes and let go of each other's hands, while blushing at the same time.

"Sorry, I d-d-didn't mean to, Hailey." said Harry, still blushing.

"It'a alright, Harry," said Hailey, who was still blushing as well. "But, for some reason, it felt so warm and good."

"Y-Yeah," Harry admitted. "Why is that?"

"I don't know," said Hailey. "Maybe it's something good."

"Yeah, maybe it is." said Harry.

So the two nine-year-olds continued following River Marden. At some point, Harry heard Hailey humming to a very familiar song. It sounded so familiar, Harry remembered hearing the song once before, when he was tending to his garden about a year ago, one of the neighbors' houses had a window open, with the stereo being loud enough for Harry to hear, thus subsequently giving him something to concentrate on that didn't have anything to do with getting abused.

"Hailey, what song are you humming to?" asked Harry.

"It's a song called Heartlight," stated Hailey. "The musician who wrote and sang it is Neil Diamond. Mum sang it to me a few times when she would tuck me into bed, helping me fall asleep easier."

"I've heard it once before," said Harry. "But this is the first time I was ever told the name of it. The one time I heard the song, I was tending the garden my aunt took credit for. It sounded so touching, not just the music, but the words, too."

"That's why I love the song," said Hailey. "The words in the chorus especially."

The two runaways decided to stop and rest upon spotting a boulder that was big enough too sit on, while they'd hum the song to each other. As Hailey did so, she began shedding tears, despite Harry witnessing it. Harry could tell that Hailey missed her mum with all her heart, everytime she'd hum the song, it'd remind her of her mother. Harry also felt tears shedding, he could feel the emotions in the tune. Hailey snifled as she cried silently, then she threw her arms around Harry's shoulders, hugging him while she cried into his shoulders. Harry hugged her back as he felt more tears shedding. The hug Hailey was giving Harry also felt warm with comfort, it made both kids feel safe as they continued hugging each other.

"Harry," Hailey whispered while sobbing. "Would you hum the song to me, please?"

"Of course!" Harry whispered, while choking up.

He hummed Heartlight to Hailey, who continued sobbing into his shoulders as she hugged him. Harry continued hugging Hailey as he hummed the song to her. Hailey felt a smile forming across her face as she heard Harry's humming, but tears were still flowing from her eyes. Harry felt more tears flow down his face as he kept humming to Hailey, feeling more emotions while he did so.

To be continued!

Author's note 1: While writing the last part of this chapter, I was listening to Neil Diamond's Heartlight and I felt that the song fit perfectly for the moment between Harry and Hailey. This also made it even harder to write as I could feel the emotions, too.

Author's note 2: As if a child getting threatened to be doused with gasoline and set on fire is bad enough, I can never put any rape scenes in any of my stories. Rape is just way too dark and traumatizing, so I came up with something different.

Author's note 3: Supernova2015 gave me the idea of Xander showing Dumbledore Harry's and Hailey's respective memories. I had Minerva witness the memories too, but the main idea belongs to Supernova2015.