Hi everyone. I have deleted Safety In The Shadows as I had no clear idea and so what I wrote changed quite quickly. Some of this story Is similar to that but the overall idea is different. The first three chapters were previously on here but after running into problems while uploading a new chapter I lost my patience and deleted the story. This story was previously called 'Quills And Secrets' but I changed the title feeling this title suited it better.

I haven't written much In a while so I'm a bit rusty. I hope you like this. Ideas have been plaguing my brain for the past week so I had to get it down.
let me know what you think.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and/or any associated characters.
Enjoy!

Harry ran his hand across his sweat-ridden forehead and winced as he hit off his fresh cuts. Damn his relatives. It was something he'd become accustomed to but knew it wasn't normal. If nothing else, years at Hogwarts taught him that. If only he knew what it was like to be loved and cared for, a pipe dream that was. Harry mused over that thought for a few minutes before being dragged back to reality.

Pulling the weeds up from the edge of the garden he placed them in a pile to be moved later. If he had the time that is. Luck never seemed to be on his side, never had, and likely never would. Of course, the garden chores were given to him on the hottest day of the year, satisfaction at his failings. Not that he was ever successful to them. He shook his blood-stained shirt, which was stuck to his back, in an attempt to cool himself. Scars and cuts littered his back, most of which were fresh having been reopened multiple times.

Disposing of everything, Harry winced as a sharp searing pain shot through his side like a knife cutting meat. A few of his ribs were probably broken after being used as a punch back by his cousin and friends just the night before. One he could outrun but there being more his chances were slim. They seemed to love attacking in numbers and with quite a good aim. If the beatings hadn't been as bad as they were things would have, perhaps, gone better Harry figured but let it go as soon as it occurred to him. Living in what could have been wasn't going to save him in the future, only hinder him.

Harry continued to make his way through the seemingly never-ending list of chores that had been given to him earlier before his relatives left for the zoo. Doing his best to work quicker with each chore in a feeble attempt to get everything done. He laughed, finishing everything wouldn't happen. He'd come to that conclusion long ago after trying desperately to please him and accepted it.

The treatment was still the same regardless of whether he'd nearly finished or was finishing the last chore. Beaten was his life and so he didn't know any better or different. For it was only for the summer months before the next year of Hogwarts began and he could be with Ron and Hermione once again. There he could almost forget about the life he lived outside of the school, being of no importance when he was in the school's wards.

With the plates and cutlery set on the table, Harry made to grab the pan of bacon and sausages only to hear the rumble of Vernon's car in the drive. With a slow deep breath, he quickly split them between the plates and made an attempt at washing it as the door lock clicked. Dislodging the dregs left, his uncle's drawl filled the hallway, echoing in Harry's brain hauntingly. They were the voices that would haunt him and he couldn't wait till he could be rid of them.

Any hopes of a less painful encounter were shattered as Vernon barrelled through the door.
"Boy! Did I not tell you to have the counter clear? Did you finish the rest of the chores or are you too much of a freak to do that?" Spittle hitting Harry on the mouth as Vernon's mouth seemed to be salivating much more than what was considered normal. His face a mere few inches from Harry's and grabbed said man's shirt dragging him closer for a second before letting go.

And with that he threw a kick into his side sending him hurtling into the cupboard, the head being the main point of contact. The vibrations sending the glass toppling off, hitting Harry's head and smashing into pieces.

"You're just a worthless freak like your lazy good for nothing parents. After all, we do for you, and this is how you repay us- including breaking cutlery. Well, you won't be getting anything tonight, FREAK." Raining down kick after kick, he grinned as Harry let out a whimper, laying in the edges of the shards with his own blood blanketing the floor. As Harry attempted to protect his head with his already injured arm, only to have it yanked away and stamped on. Giggling hysterically whenever Harry screamed, which was quite often with bones being broken like sweets were eaten. The sound of snapping and popping filled the air as Vernon finished inflicting his wounds and with the novelty wearing off he moved him to the cupboard.

'I give up, please let this be over,' Harry thought to himself, barely conscious. 'if this is what my life is destined to be then I'd much rather die here and now. Perhaps then I can finally meet my parents again, albeit in a different dimension. Maybe tonight I'll be granted my wish?' Settling into the comfort of his own thoughts, he became less conscious as more kicks and belt whippings were rained down on his crumpled form.

Upon noticing Harry's lack of responses the last few minutes, he bundled up the unconscious form and flung him into the cupboard grinning as his head collided with the shelf. 'This, if nothing else, should finally teach the boy a lesson.' Vernon thought to himself as he admired the handiwork he inflicted, as the teen's shirt exposed the majority of his back.

Locking each of the padlocks behind him he set off to enjoy a nice meal with his wife and son with no freak around to be of disturbance.
A few hours later saw Harry regaining consciousness sprawled atop the cold damp floorboards, pain etched in every corner of his face. With his body rendering near completely useless, he reached out with what was left of his good arm and retrieved the only photo he had of his parents. haphazardly placing the photo in front of him he stared at the photo, tears beginning to blur his vision. And for the first time in years, Harry James Potter cried.

Tom leaned back in his chair sipping on his coffee as he watched Severus agitatedly running a hand through his matted hair from the corner of the room. The whole looking like he wanted to say something.

Getting fed up with Severus' quietness and overall behaviour, he questioned, "What's bothering you, Severus?"

Placing his coffee down, he watched as the man swiftly moved over, stopping just in front of him. Tom knew his Death Eaters only too well and could tell exactly when something was up, like now. Not that it took much to read Severus' expression. That was one of his talents he thoroughly enjoyed.

"My Lord….after your fall, and L-Lily's death, Dumbledore made me make a vow to protect Potter." After the words tumbled unbidden out of his mouth Severus took a step backward noticing the sudden change in the demeanor of his lord.

Nothing could have prepared him for the response for at that moment Tom slammed his fist down on the table almost spilling his coffee in the process, " How could you betray me Severus and go to Dumbledore, of all people." he hissed and spat the word 'Dumbledore' like it was venom.

Severus gulped and waited for Tom to continue, he knew better than to speak at that moment, experience had thought him that. "For all these years I trusted you, Severus and this is what you come out with."

Severus went to grab his wand out of his robes only to blurt out. "But Potter's your Horcrux, My Lord." before he could stop himself.

Tom froze momentarily carefully considering what Severus had just said. Severus could either be telling the truth or lying but the latter wasn't as important to him for he was a loyal death eater, and always had been. Pondering over it for a few minutes he decided he could trust what Severus said. Despite this being new to him it certainly seemed plausible and worthy of his attention.

This new addition added to his growing number of problems surrounding Harry since he couldn't just kill the teen now like he'd tried to do when he was a baby.

Tom mused over everything for a while longer, trying to make sense of everything. Harry now was a lot more important to him than he originally thought, and that realization didn't rest lightly with him. under no circumstances could he leave his Horcrux out in the open, unprotected, where Dumbledore could easily get to him and pose a risk. It most certainly wasn't safe.

A few minutes later he was dragged out of his thoughts by Severus clearing his throat nervously, eyeing Tom's wand with nervous trepidation. Damnit. He'd spoken all that out loud.

"What Severus?" Tom snapped, the man looking ready to say something again.

"It could be prudent, my lord, to...keep the boy….here my lord." Severus cringed while Tom looked thoughtful.

Suddenly, Tom jumped up knocking the chair he'd been sitting on over in the process. "Good idea Severus, let's do that." Regaining his lordly presence, he retrieved his chair, sitting back down on it with an almost regal grace. In his Manor was much safer than within Dumbledore's reach.

Severus eyed Tom curiously for a few moments wondering if his lord had lost it. It certainly seemed plausible after what he had just told him.

"You're dismissed now, Severus, I've got some work to do." And with that Severus swept from the room, leaving Tom alone.

Sighing, Tom searched for the connection between their minds and when he felt it he entered with little resistance. Tom was met by a bunch of memories, through which he began to watch Potter's life go by before his eyes in a blur of colours and words.

Pulling slowly out of Harry's mind, he was shocked by everything he'd just seen. Dumbledore had a lot to pay for, allowing Harry to return to the Dursleys year after year and treating him the way they did. It simply was unacceptable by all standards. His Horcrux had already been through a lot in his life so far and he wouldn't allow him to suffer under their roof any longer or be under Dumbledore's Control.

A sudden urge to do something for Harry welled up inside him, but he couldn't tell which. Harry's childhood was similar to his own, he had to admit. one he wished was different. A strong desire to do things differently for the teen welled up inside him. He simply couldn't tell how he'd enable this to happen.

Perhaps it was the more insane part of his brain telling him to do this. Even if he did listen to it, what help could he be to a teen. More importantly he, and quite rightly probably wouldn't be trusted after his actions those years ago. Maybe he could try do something to help his Horcrux. Being away from Dumbledore would be a considerable one he figured.

That's all for now. looking forward to any reviews.