A/N: First off welcome to Chapter 6. Looks to be a little longer than the rest of the chapters. Hope that's not a problem! ;-)

Secondly, a big thanks to Dragonbarf for catching an error I made. It has been corrected!

As Always - Like, Subscribe, Favorite and REVIEW!

6

As the three of them walked into the hospital wing, Harry had flashbacks of all the random times he'd woken up in there. He hoped it wouldn't be quite so numerous this time around.

"Ahhhh…good evening Pomona. What can I do for you," asked Madam Pomfrey as she walked up to the group.

"Well I was hoping you could take a look at young Harry here. Perhaps we should have a little bit of privacy before we explain."

Madam Pomfrey led them offer to the nearest empty bed, pulled a curtain around it and cast a silencing charm. Professor Sprout looked down at Harry. "Harry, if you wouldn't mind please…" With that Harry removed his shirt once more and watched Madam Pomfrey's eyes widen as she gasped in horror.

"Mr. Potter…what…"

"It was my so-called guardians, the Dursleys. Apparently I make a good punching bag and deserve to be beaten for not making breakfast fast enough or not doing chores good enough despite the fact that their fat, lazy son sits around all day and doesn't do anything," he said his voice once again turning to anger. Susan walked over and stood next to him while holding his hand.

"Lie down on the bed please. This will make it easier." Harry nodded and laid on the bed with Susan still holding his hand. Madam Pomfrey cast a diagnostic spell as she ran her wand over his body. She visibly paled at the results she was getting. When she was finished she looked like she was going to vomit. She took a deep breath before continuing. She was clearly shaking with rage. Neither Harry nor Susan had ever seen Madam Pomfrey so upset before and frankly it was a little scary.

"How could they," she growled through her teeth. "How could anyone…" She turned to Professor Sprout. "It's absolutely awful. 3 broken bones, all healed correctly thankfully, 7 scars, one cigar burn not fully healed, and three more that are, Untold amounts of bruising internally and externally. I'd like to keep him over night and see what I can get healed."

Professor Sprout nodded. "That's fine. We will see you for breakfast Mr. Potter. Come along Miss Bones."

"With all due respect Professor I am staying with Harry," Susan replied adamantly. "You know all we've been through and besides I promised Auntie Ami I would keep an eye on him."

Madam Pomfrey raised an eyebrow at Professor Sprout but Professor Sprout just smiled at her two young badgers. "That's fine dear. I'll see you both at breakfast." With that she turned and left. Madam Pomfrey looked at the two kids before shaking her head. "I'll go get you some potions that should help Mr. Potter. I'll be right back."

A few minutes later she returned to find both children laying on the bed. Normally she'd object but they were young enough that it didn't really matter plus there was plenty of room for them both on the bed. She set the tray of potions on the bed instructing him to drink every one of them because they would help him heal. She also informed them that Miss Bones could stay as long as they kept quiet otherwise she would have to leave. Both students nodded before settling in for the night as Madam Pomfrey left. Susan made sure that Harry finished all his potions despite his complaining about how awful they tasted.

When they were alone Harry and Susan were left staring at the ceiling when Susan giggled. Harry turned towards her and raised an eye. "What's so funny," he asked.

"Oh nothing. I was just thinking," turning to look at him, "I would never have thought in my wildest dreams that I would be lying in a bed with the famous Harry Potter. So many girls used to crush on you. Every girl has heard stories of how the famous Harry Potter saved the world from Voldemort. They all dreamed about growing up and marrying him."

"What about you," he asked curiously, "did you dream about it?" Even though it was pretty dark he was pretty sure he could see her blushing as she nodded. "So tell me, what was he like? Your Harry that is."

There was a moment of silence as Susan thought about it, unsure if she wanted to tell him but in the end she spoke up. "Well I always pictured you…er…him as kind, charming, and handsome."

"So nothing like me then," Harry interrupted with a small chuckle.

"Exactly like you," she said with a deeper blush. "Enough about me though. What about you? What did you dream about as a kid?"

Harry thought about it for a moment before answering. "Well I always dreamed I'd be living in this tall, dark castle overlooking a town. I'd come out at night and walk among the town. I slept by the daylight."

"Harry," Susan interrupted sounding slightly annoyed. "You are not Dracula."

He grinned at her and shrugged before looking at her more seriously. "I don't know. I guess that I'd always dreamed that one day my parents would come and save me from the hell that I was in. I wasn't sure I'd even make it to be old enough to have a future," he responded truthfully before looking away embarrassed.

"And now," she asked quietly.

He turned back and looked at her before really pondering it. "Now…I'm not sure. I mean I've still got to worry about defeating Voldemort and if I somehow manage that. Then maybe…maybe there's a life on the other side but I don't know. I guess I'm working one day at a time and hoping for the best."

"Well Harry Potter," she said. "I'll always be here. Besides now that you're living with us I reckon we're going to be spending A LOT more time together this time around."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Not at all. Quite the opposite in fact. I look forward to it and I'm glad I can be here with you this time around." With that she leaned over and kissed him on the check before rolling over to sleep. "Good night Harry."

"Good night Sue," he replied as his hand touched where she had kissed. With that the pair of Hufflepuffs drifted off to sleep.

A flash of blue and a loud thud as Harry had hit the ground before he heard the voice that had haunted his dreams a million times before. "Kill the sssspare." "NOOOO," Harry yelled as he threw himself towards his competitor turned friend but he was too slow just like every other time and the green ball of energy hit Cedric square in the chest. He dropped to the ground, dead, with his eyes still open. A vision that haunted Harry. He turned around and found himself face to face with the Voldemort. His red eyes staring into him.

Harry he heard a voice whisper. He looked around quickly but couldn't see anyone. "There's nowhere to run Potter and nowhere to hide. Now stand up straight and duel me!"

Harry, wake up. The voice came again. He felt himself being shaken gently despite the fact that nobody was there.

He turned to face Voldemort and saw he was surrounded by death eaters. They were laughing at him and mocking him, saying how we was going to die.

Harry, wake up. You're having a nightmare. He felt himself being shaken slightly harder this time. The dream snapped shut as he sat up in bed, sweating from his bad dreams, his eyes wide open and his vision blurry. He reached out with one hand and fumbled around for his glasses. All of a sudden he felt them get placed in his hand by someone else.

"Here are your glasses," came a whisper

As he slipped them on, he realized he was shaking and looked around, getting his bearings before spotting Sue who he had forgotten was there in all the commotion. She wrapped her arms around him trying to soothe and console him. "It's ok Harry. It was just a nightmare. You're safe here with me. I would never let anything happen to you. Shhh…." She gently held him as they laid back down. She started to softly singly a lullaby that she remembered hearing when she was younger. By the time Madam Pomfrey had arrived to investigate the noise Harry was asleep in Susan's arms. She had removed his glasses once more and put them on the side table once more. When she saw Madam Pomfrey come in she put a finger up to her lips asking her to stay silent. Madam Pomfrey looked at the two of them and then nodded before leaving the enclosed bed once more. Eventually Susan drifted off to sleep as well.

The following morning an 11 year old Harry Potter woke up and found he was having a hard time moving. He reached to the side table behind him and found his glasses. As he put them on he found himself face to face with a sleeping Susan Bones. He blushed tremendously at the sight of waking up in bed with a girl, even if they were just kids. He found that the reason he was having a hard time moving was because her arms were wrapped around him which caused him to blush even more. Surprisingly he found himself enjoying his current situation.

Madam Pomfrey poked her head in and saw that Harry was awake and boy was he red. "You're free to go…once Miss Bones wakes up that is," she said with a smile. She turned to leave before looking back at him. "You should thank her. She was a huge help last night. You were having an awful nightmare and she helped calm you down and helped you get back to sleep. You're lucky to have her."

Harry nodded. "I know," he whispered. Madam Pomfrey disappeared and Harry laid back down with his head on his pillow and watched Susan sleep. Not in a creepy, weird way but in an intrigued way. He found himself wondering what it would have been like getting to know Susan in the other timeline. He wished he had taken the time to get to know her better. That was a mistake he was going to correct this time around. He had decided that she was definitely someone he needed in his life. He wasn't sure what it was about her but whatever it was, it was amazing.

"If you start thinking so hard this early, smoke is going to start pouring out your ears," came a sleepy voice next to him. He snapped out of his thoughts and saw a very sleepy Susan Bones looking at him. He reached over and moved some hair out of her face.

"Well good morning! I was just wondering if you were going to sleep all day. Although if you weren't up in the middle of the night saving people from their nightmares you probably would've slept better," he said with a grin before letting it drop. "Sorry about that by the way. I didn't mean for you to see that. It's…not something I'm proud of."

"It's nothing to be ashamed of," she replied as she shifted, keeping her arms around him. "We've all got ghosts in our pasts and things were not proud of."

"Even the perfect Susan Bones," Harry teased.

Susan turned red at the comment of her being perfect before she snapped back a retort. "Well when you put it that way…"

Harry did what a lot of other kids would do. He reached over and started tickling her. She giggled and squealed.

"Harry...Harry…Stop. Please. I'm going to pee myself," she managed in between laughs. All of a sudden the curtain around the bed got pulled back.

"I see you're both in a good mood this morning but the hospital wing isn't a place for messing around. You're both free to go. Remember what I said Mr. Potter," Madam Pomfrey scolded before she left. He nodded at her but she wasn't paying attention.

"What did she say to you," Susan asked.

"She said that if we don't get going soon we're going to be late to breakfast."

"Sure she did. Besides I can't go to breakfast. I'm sure my hair looks a mess."

Harry had been in the hospital wing plenty of times during his previous timeline so he knew there was always a spare comb and hairbrush in the beside drawer. He reached back and opened the side table drawer as Susan stretched and sat up with her feet hanging off the bed. He grabbed the hair brush and sat behind her and started brushing her hair, careful not to pull too hard. When the brush touched her she jumped slightly, not expecting it.

"Wh…what are you doing," she asked.

"Brushing your hair, like you wanted," came the sure reply

"I just wanted my hair brushed. I didn't mean you had to do it."

"Well I am so shush up and deal with it young lady," was the response as he started running the brush through her long red hair. It was quiet and peaceful as she sat there and enjoyed someone else brushing her hair.

After a bit Susan spoke up once more. "Do you think this is weird? Us I mean?"

"What with me brushing your hair? No. Why? Do you?"

"That's not what I meant. I meant everything that has happened to us in the past 48 hours or so."

"Oh. That," he responded. He paused for a moment to consider his thoughts and words before continuing as he brushed her hair. "Well to be honest it's still kinda weird being in Hufflepuff. I spent three years in Gryffindor and got to know everyone there. Now I'm in Hufflepuff so it's going to take some time to get to know everyone again, except Neville. He was in Gryffindor with me."

"Would you go back if you could," she asked hesitantly.

"No," was the immediate response.

"Why," she questioned.

"I've been there. Done that. Lived that life. Sure it was great and all up until the end but this is a new chance. A new life. So why not make the best of it? Besides," he said with his voice tapering off quietly, "I've enjoyed spending time with you. Wouldn't trade it for the world."

"What was that?" She was asking for clarification because she wasn't sure heard him right. Him, Harry Potter, wouldn't go back to his old life because he…enjoyed spending time with her. She never thought this would happen to her…with Harry Potter of all people.

He looked her in the eye and took a deep breath before repeating what he said. "I said that I enjoy spending time with you Sue and I've really enjoyed all the time we spent together recently. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Now let's go to breakfast," he said changing the subject before either one of them could be embarrassed. He grabbed her hand and they left the hospital wing before heading to breakfast.

Meanwhile in Little Whinging…

"Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn't hold with such nonsense1" that is until there was a loud knock on their door first thing in the morning.

"Who in the blazes could that be calling at this hour," Vernon yelled from upstairs as he was getting ready for work. He stormed down the stairs with Petunia close behind and threw the door open. "Yes. What is it?"

Standing outside on the front porch was a middle aged woman, a large dark gentleman and a young girl with purple hair.

"Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Dursley. My name is Amelia Bones and I am the Head of Magical Law Enforcement in the wizarding community. I would like to speak to you about your charge Harry James Potter. I think it's best if we come in and talk about this off the street," the middle aged woman spoke trying to contain herself. She had received a complete diagnostic report this morning from Madam Pomfrey per Professor Sprout.

"Very well. Come in. What's the little freak done this time," he said walking towards the living room. As they passed the stairs Kingsley and Tonks noted the staircase door with locks on it and a little slot for breathing. Dudley saw them looking at the cupboard under the stairs.

"That's the freak's room," he said proudly. "He gets locked in there when he's been misbehaving and then I get to do this." With that, he showed them how he stomped up and down the stairs and then laughed. He didn't notice the young girl's purple hair start to turn red as she walked towards the cupboard.

"Dudders, honey. Why don't you come down here and get something to eat before school," called Petunia. Dudley came down the stairs, pushed through the crowd and walked into the kitchen.

As Tonks opened the door under the stairs and looked inside her hair turned bright flaming red. When she turned back around she had murder in her eyes. She tapped Madam Bones on the shoulder and nodded towards the cupboard as she stepped down the hallway and behind Kingsley before she blew a fuse. Madam Bones stuck her head inside and when she came back out she had the same murderous look in her eyes that Tonks did.

"This…is his room? This…is where he sleeps," questioned Madam Bones fighting to restrain herself. She looked at Vernon with daggers in her eyes.

"Well…well…now see here. He only sleeps there because there isn't enough room upstairs," stuttered Vernon. Amelia looked at Tonks and nodded towards the stairs. Tonks went upstairs to check out the house. "Now see here! You are guests in my home and I won't have you wandering about willy nilly," Vernon argued, starting to turn purple.

"The same house where a child was neglected and forced to your slave? Where his bones were broken and scars were left on him? Where he was beaten and bruised for not making breakfast fast enough?"

"ENOUGH," Vernon shouted, "I don't know what the freak has told you but that is all a lie. We've done no such thing! I won't be accused in my own home!"

"Well maybe we can find a new home for you…in Azkaban Prison, home of murders and monsters just like you. I'm sure you'd fit right in." About that time Tonks came down the stairs, her bright red hair starting to stand on its own.

"There are 3 bedrooms upstairs. One of them is completely filled with toys and junk. Harry had to sleep in a cot…under the stairs…so you could have a room full of junk upstairs," Tonks seethed, her eyes locked on Vernon. Madam Bones turned around and spoke to Vernon very plainly.

"I should take you in to the station. In fact I have every right to but I will offer you a chance to stay out of prison. You will sign your guardianship over to me and we will be gone. You will never see us or the boy ever again."

"Very well. If it'll get rid of the freak," replied Vernon. They walked into the kitchen and Amelia handed him the papers for him and Petunia to sign. After the contract had been signed by all parties the paper glowed a quick blue to verify the change of guardianship was legal. She put the paperwork back into her bag and stared at Vernon, daring him to say something else. "I've done what you wanted. Now get out of my house."

"Gladly," Amelia said, before whipping out her wand and firing it at Vernon. Where he once stood was a large fat toad in a cage. Petunia screamed! A bolt of energy flew over her shoulder and hit Dudley. The next moment a pig was running around the kitchen squealing loudly. Madam Bones looked over her shoulder at Tonks and smiled. With that they turned to leave.

"Wait! What about Vernon and Dudley," shrieked Petunia.

"Don't worry," Madam Bones called over her shoulder. "They'll be fine in a week."

"Maybe," added Tonks. Petunia fainted as the three aurors left number 4 Privet Drive, closing the door behind them, and disappearing with a crack.

Harry Potter and The Philospher's Stone, Chapter 1. J.K. Rowling