Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling, and I do not own Harry Potter. I make no money from the writing of this fan fiction.

Warning: There will be some descriptions-at least one being graphic-of child abuse in this chapter. If reading something like that bothers you, please wait for the next chapter.

Chapter Eleven

Albus Dumbledore had just returned to his office in Hogwarts following the July session of the Wizengamot. He was irritable due to the long session, but was trying not to show it. He noted there was a large stack of mail on his desk, but decided to put off reading it until after he'd had a cup of tea.

After he finished his tea, he started on the large stack of mail. There were several letters from parents who were upset about the grades their children had gotten; another group of letters were from various members of the Order of the Phoenix, asking him his opinion on various things to do with the Order, and two from Arabella Figg. Sighing, he opened the first letter from Arabella.

Albus, I'm worried. Usually I see Harry working out in the yard when I take my evening walks, but I haven't seen him for at least two days. Do you think someone from the Order could come look in on him? Who knows what is going on with his relatives in that house?

Albus sighed, believing Arabella to be overreacting again. It was likely the boy was staying inside due to the heat. It was summer, after all. Reluctantly, he opened her second letter. If it was more of the same, he might send someone in the Order to Privet Drive just to ease her mind a bit. Harry was perfectly fine with his relatives; family always looked out for family.

Albus, something is terribly wrong. The Dursleys were arrested this morning, and I haven't been able to find Harry anywhere in the area while walking around. One of the other neighbors told me their son had been taken to a foster home to stay. What should I do?

He checked the date of the second letter quickly. Fortunately, it had been sent that morning. He needed to find out exactly what was going on; Harry wouldn't have the protection he needed if he didn't live with the Dursleys. After letting Minerva know he was leaving the school for an emergency, he Flooed to the Leaky Cauldron, then apparated to Arabella Figg's home. He needed answers, and quickly.

OOO

Harry looked around at the small room. It didn't look large enough to hold the few chairs and table inside, much less the podium at the front. He was glad when Lord Black led him to a chair off to the side. He was sure he would somehow mess up and get in trouble.

"Harry, while you're here, unless someone asks you a question, you don't have to say anything. You aren't in any trouble, and did nothing wrong. We're here to make sure that you can always stay with someone who will take good care of you, understand?" Kyle asked.

"Okay, Mr. Stanton. Are my aunt and uncle going to be here, too?"

"No, Harry, they'll be talking to a different magistrate. Now, they're about to begin, so best behavior, yeah?"

Seeing that Harry understood, Kyle walked over to one of the other chairs and sat down. A moment later everyone was asked to stand as the magistrate entered the room.

"This hearing is to determine what is in the best interest of the minor child Harry James Potter. There is a report in front of me from the DfE, as well as a medical report from the Manchester Clinic regarding Mr. Potter's current health. Mr. Stanton, you brought a petition to have a guardian ad litem assigned for the child. How did you become aware of the situation?" the magistrate asked.

"I moved into the house next door to Vernon and Petunia Dursley recently, sir. While I was moving boxes from the vehicle I rented to my new home, I saw a man shaking a child through the window of the house. After shaking the child, the man shoved him into a small cupboard under the stairs and shut the door. That child was Mr. Potter, and I introduced myself to that man in order to learn his name for my report to the DfE."

"And did you meet the child at that time?"

"No, sir, I met the child later. He had been outside and a group of boys-one of whom I know now is his cousin, the son of the man who had been shaking him-surrounded him, telling him to run. From what I was able to hear, the other boys wanted to play a 'game' as they called it, apparently named 'Harry Hunting'. His cousin is the one who kept telling him to run, and one of the other boys mentioned it wouldn't be a 'good hunt' if the 'prey' didn't run. Not liking the sound of that, I opened my back door a bit and went to the front yard. I pretended to bump into young Mr. Potter and whispered to him that my back door was open if he needed a place to hide, and after he began running, I also pretended to bump into the other boys to give young Mr. Potter time to go into my kitchen-where the back door of my house opens onto-and then returned to my house. When I asked him about what I had heard, he told me 'Harry Hunting' is a 'game' his cousin had made up for himself and his friends. It consisted of chasing young Mr. Potter until they caught him, and then beating him up. I informed Mr. Potter of what I do for a living, as a way to prove he wouldn't be hurt in my home, and he asked if I thought he needed a solicitor himself."

After making a few notes, the magistrate motioned for Kyle to continue.

"I explained that I did sometimes help children who needed a better home, as well as helped adults who wanted to raise children but couldn't have them. I also told him I had been his parents' solicitor before their deaths, which is something I was able to confirm when I had my assistant look up the names of Harry's aunt and uncle to see if their names appeared in any of the case files my firm handles, as Vernon Dursley's name sounded familiar when I met him. Sir, their names were included in only two documents: the Last Wills and Testaments of James and Lily Potter, Harry's parents. When he asked me if he could hire me as his solicitor, I told Harry that if he helped me tidy a few things from my move, I would pay him for the work, and he could then use the money I gave him in payment as the fee for hiring me. He agreed to that, and then hired me after the tidying was finished. I had promised him that my kitchen door would be slightly open when I was home, if ever he needed a place to hide, and all I would require is he close the door and let me know he was there. It was the next day he collapsed on my kitchen floor severely injured, sir."

"Is that when you made the report to the DfE?" the magistrate asked, trying to clarify.

"It is, sir. Because Harry was injured, I contacted one of the partners in my firm, whose wife is a physician, and asked them to come to my home as soon as possible. My partner's wife is the one who had Harry brought to the Manchester Clinic."

"Yes, I have the report from the clinic here," the magistrate said, glancing down at the file in front of him once again. He then focused on the other adult in the room.

"Mr. Black, what is your interest in this case?"

"My apologies, sir, but it is Lord Black. I was granted the title of the Earl of Black Moor, which is the name of my estate in Walton-upon-Thames, in 1923 by His Royal Majesty King George V. My grandson is young Mr. Potter's godfather, and according to my family's traditions, the godchild of a member of the family is seen and treated as a member of the family as well. Mr. Stanton's partner-whom I hired to look into another matter-contacted me, asking for sanctuary for Mr. Potter. I granted that sanctuary and he was brought to my home after his release from the clinic. I have thus far made sure he rests, has enough to eat, and decent clothing to wear, since what he arrived to my home wearing was little better than rags and at least two sizes too large for him."

"I think I'd like to hear from Mr. Potter next. Harry, there is a chair next to mine at the podium. Will you come and sit next to me please?" the magistrate asked, smiling reassuringly.

After a quick glance at Arcturus, Harry walked over to the chair and sat down, looking at the magistrate nervously.

"Harry, did Mr. Stanton explain to you about telling the truth when talking to me?"

"Yes sir, he did."

"And you know the difference between the truth and a lie, correct?"

"Yes sir. A lie is something made up, so it isn't true, but the truth is always exactly what happened and is best when telling somebody something. You don't need to remember as much that way, because you never have to try to think of stuff you made up before if you tell the truth."

"Usually I ask someone to swear they'll tell the truth when I ask them things. Do you think you can do that?"

"No, sir, because Aunt Petunia always got mad and said I wasn't allowed to swear at all. But I can promise to tell the truth. Is that good enough?"

"Yes, Harry, that would be good enough. So do you promise to tell me only the truth when I ask you a question?"

"I promise. Only the truth."

"Thank you, Harry. So to begin, it's summer holidays right now, and I see from the file you're almost nine? How did you enjoy school this year?"

"I got in trouble a lot from Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. They didn't like it that my marks each term were better than Dudley's. And at school Dudley would beat up anybody who wanted to be friends with me, so they all left me alone."

"Why would Dudley, who I assume is your cousin, beat up anyone who wanted to be your friend? That doesn't sound very nice to me."

"Because I'm a freak, and Dudley said freaks don't get to have friends."

"Harry, who told you that you were a freak?"

"Oh, that was Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. It's what they always call me unless Uncle Vernon calls me 'boy'. Because only a freak is left on a doorstep."

"Harry, I want you to know that being an orphan doesn't make you a freak. It just means that your parents have died, and no orphan is a freak. So next question: what kinds of things did your aunt and uncle do when your cousin misbehaved as punishment?"

"But Dudley never gets punished, sir."

"Not even for chasing you to beat you up? Surely he was punished for that, at least."

"No sir. Uncle Vernon would tell him to hit me more, that I deserved it, since I cost so much money and barely earned my keep."

"I see. And what did you do as chores for your aunt and uncle to 'earn your keep' in their house?"

"I cooked, cleaned the house, did laundry, took care of the garden for Aunt Petunia, washed Uncle Vernon's car, cut the lawn, and painted the fence outside when Uncle Vernon said it needed it."

"And when you were punished, what was it for?"

"Messing up when cooking, not having Aunt Petunia's tea ready when she woke up, upsetting Dudley by not letting him catch me to beat me up, things like that, but some of the things were silly to get punished for, since one time I was punished because I told them about a dream I had while sleeping."

"I agree, that is a very silly reason to be punished. Now, Harry, I want you to think of the least bad punishment your aunt and uncle gave you, and tell me about it, and why you got it."

"Hmm, I think that would be when Aunt Petunia cut all of my hair really short. She doesn't like it because it sticks up all the time."

"And what would a medium bad punishment be, Harry?"

"When Uncle Vernon locks me in my cupboard and says I'm not allowed to eat for a few days."

"I'm sorry, Harry, but what do you mean by 'cupboard'?"

"The small room under the stairs, sir. It's where my aunt and uncle let me sleep. The second bedroom is for Dudley's broken toys."

"Now Harry," the magistrate began, making more notes, "tell me what a really bad punishment is like, please."

"I won't get in trouble? Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon told me that people would think I was lying if I ever told about the really bad ones."

"No, Harry, you won't be in trouble for telling me. And since you promised that you would tell me the truth when answering my questions, I wouldn't think you're lying."

"Well Uncle Vernon would ball up his hand like this," Harry began, holding up a fist in example, "and he would hit me in the face a few times, usually in the cheek or my nose, but sometimes in my belly, and when I'd fall, he would kick me in the chest before grabbing my arms and twisting them hard before picking me back up. Then he would hit me some more and push me really hard so I would hit the wall or something with my back. Sometimes when he would push me like that I would hit my head too. I kept asking him to stop, and he would say that I deserved it for making Aunt Petunia mad or messing up on my chores or something, and for being a freak. I would always hurt all over, and sometimes would be bleeding, but he just shoved me in my cupboard and locked the door, saying he wouldn't let me out for a while, maybe a week or so, and then Aunt Petunia would get mad the next day because there was blood on the little bed that Uncle Vernon's sister Aunt Marge used to use for her dogs and brought over for me to sleep on, so she would tell Uncle Vernon to punish me again. The last time I got punished really bad, Uncle Vernon did it because I messed up making Dudley's favorite dessert, only Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon forgot to lock the cupboard door, so when they all left to go out for dessert, I remembered what Mr. Stanton promised, and went to his house to hide."

"Thank you, Harry. You can go sit with Lord Black again."

After Harry had taken the chair next to Arcturus again, the magistrate looked from one end of the table to the other before speaking.

"It is obvious to me there is more to this than what has been put in the file, gentlemen. What am I missing? I need all of the information available and pertinent to this case before I can make an informed decision."

"I believe the information you're looking for would be contained in the Last Wills and Testaments of James and Lily Potter, sir, however, as young Mr. Potter has never been told anything about his parents, he has no idea of what their estate entails, since their Wills have never been read. The person we believe responsible for that is currently being investigated on other charges," Kyle replied.

"Lord Black, you granted sanctuary to Mr. Potter. As I understand it, sanctuary is a form of protection from danger, although usually granted by a church, so I believe that granting sanctuary in this case was warranted. Please tell me, my Lord, what you would do to care for Mr. Potter should you be named his guardian ad litem? Also, please explain to me why his godfather is not able to do so at this time."

"Sir, my grandson is not in England at this time. He has been delayed due to circumstances beyond his control in returning, however, it is my hope those circumstances can be resolved soon so he may return home. As for Mr. Potter's care, I have a list of instructions from the Manchester Clinic regarding what Mr. Potter needs to bring him back to full health. I intend to hire a tutor to teach Mr. Potter in subjects he may not have mastered yet, and will teach him estate management myself in preparation for the day he is able to assume control of the inheritance his parents undoubtedly left to him. I have a large staff that will also assist in caring for Mr. Potter, and my home security is such that no one is able to enter the grounds of my estate without my express invitation or an appointment," Arcturus said, voice steady and determined.

For a few minutes that felt like an eternity to those seated at the table, the magistrate was silent, and looking over the information contained in the file. He opened the copies of the Wills, and after turning a few pages, read the guardianship section in particular. Finally, he looked up.

"This is my decision, which is final. Harry Potter will be removed as a ward of Vernon and Petunia Dursley; they are not fit to be guardians of any child in my opinion. Lord Arcturus Black will be named as guardian ad litem for Harry Potter until such time as Lord Black's grandson, who is the godfather of Harry Potter, is able to return to England to assume guardianship as stipulated in the stated wishes of James and Lily Potter contained in their Last Wills and Testaments. Lord Black based on what Mr. Potter has told me, it appears he may not have much experience in socializing with those his own age. As it happens, a good friend of mine has a child near Mr. Potter's age, who goes to a summer program for children that has such things as arts and crafts, music, games, and swimming. If you are agreeable, I can have my assistant get you the information. It is a program just inside Crawley, as I understand, which shouldn't be too far from your home."

"That information would be most helpful, sir, thank you."

"Then I wish you luck, Lord Black with your new ward. Harry, I wish you luck, and if you wait a moment, I think my assistant might be able to find something for you in my office, as it's so close to your birthday. I keep what she calls a 'birthday box' in one of my desk drawers for children I help if they have a birthday coming up when I see them, so please wait a moment before leaving with Lord Black, okay? Lord Black, I'll have my assistant get the information on the summer program for you."

"Thank you sir, Mr. Stanton promised you would help me and you did. Thank you."

"You're more than welcome, Harry," the magistrate said, smiling slightly, "this hearing is adjourned," he finished, banging down his gavel.