The Elf Express

22nd September 1993

Issue no.4

Greetings and Salutations our fellow students.

Welcome to the 4th Issue of 'The Elf Expres'.

In today's Issue we would like to introduce a few other topics that we don't truly learn here at Hogwarts as well as the many ideas that have been sent to us in regards to a welcoming performance for the arrival of Dermstrang and Beauxbatons.

Our first topic as we have mentioned in other issues is about the abuse that some of the students here have or are suffering from if you haven't worked it out yet then let us say with his permission to explain his life before and during his summers at Hogwarts.

RM: As most of us that grew up in the Wizarding World that you were loved, spoilt, adventurist, well cared for, taught about the Wizarding World and what duties you will need to learn for when you become of age and take on the Headship of the Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Potter. How did you grow up before you entered the halls of Hogwarts?

HP: (laughing) oh god you all actually believe all that? I didn't know anything about magic or the Wizarding World until I got my letter of acceptance to Hogwarts and even then I struggled to believe it.

Ever since I was abandoned on my relatives doorstep on the 2nd of November I have been staved, neglected, bruised, broken and bloodied. I was made to do all the chores around the house. I started cooking for them at the age of 4 when I remembered getting punished with hot oil over my hand and the hot frying pan to the head just for over cooking the bacon, being made to watch them eat the food that I had made resulting in trying to get the 'over cooked' bacon out from the rubbish bin just so I could eat, I remember being caught then having the food dose in dishwashing liquid then being smoked around some more before being trowel back into my cupboard under the stairs and no I don't mean that is were I was put to be punished it was actually were I slept until I got my letter.

I was made to wear my cousins old or ruined clothes I wasn't allowed any toys or books I wasn't allowed to ask questions I didn't even know my own name until I had to go to primary school and then I was punished more if I did better or came anywhere close to doing better than my cousin in grades I was never allowed friends and anyone that tried was beaten up by my cousin anytime the teachers tried to help my case was dismissed and forgotten.

I was treated worse that an abused house Elf. Then my letter arrived I honestly don't remember much of what happened I never got to open it at that time as again I was beaten to the point I passed out from the pain it wasn't till 2 weeks before the school year was to begin when after moving around so my relatives could avoid the letters that Hagrid arrived on the tiny island with a belated birthday cake and my letter explaining to me that I was a wizard asking if I wonder were I got 'it' from that my parents were a witch and wizard and then the bomb was dropped my aunt let slip that my parents did not actually die in a car crash from drunk driving but murdered by non other than Tom Riddle aka you know who.

After being taken to Diagon Ally for my school supplies ONLY I was left to go back to my relatives were once again I was beaten staved and locked in my cousins 2nd smaller bedroom with a multiple locks on the door and a bucket all my school gear was now locked away in the cupboard under the stairs. On the 1st of September I was dumped at Kings Cross Station with know idea how to get on to platform 9 and until a family of redheads loudly mentioned 'the station pack with muggles'.

That was my life up until then I never knew love, never knew friendship, what it mean to have 3 meals a day, to go a day with out bruises, broken bones, bleeding or being burned, a single day with out pain, a single day with a negative word directed at me or about me.

RM: (crying) Words can not describe at the pain you have gone through.

What happened in the summers? Did you tell anyone here about the abuse?

HP: Of course I told someone. I asked and pleaded with the Headmaster not to send me back I told him how they treated me and what they would possibly do to me if I returned. (Snorts) I was almost right my uncle manhandled me out of the station after putting my trunk in the boot of the car he slammed the boot lid on my hand and fingers and when we arrived back at their house and all my school things locked back in the cupboard and Hedgwig padlocks in her cage I was once made to cook dinner with being denied food myself but made to watch then as a welcome back I was taken to my cousins 2nd bedroom as I was told multiple time it will never be my room as freaks like me don't deserve a bedroom or their own things.

I was beaten to unconscious. All I truly remember of that summer was pain and a never-ending list of chores from weeding the garden and mowing the laws to re painting the garden shed on top of the list for inside the house vacuuming dusting cooking the meals doing the washing and cleaning the bathroom kitchen and my cousins bedroom. Also during that time I was beaten by my Uncle and Cousin and his gang. I remember receiving no letters from my friends until a House Elf mentioned that I could not return to Hogwarts and let slip that he was intercepting my letters it also just happened to be the night my uncle had potential clients coming for dinner and the Elf used magic to get me in trouble with the use of underage magic office as you can probably work out what happened later that night though I think it was a few nights later that I was broken out by 3 familiar redheads in a flying car who then proceeded to pull the bars off my window set Hedgwig free and get my trunk from the cupboard under the stairs and flew us all back to their home.

RM: and this summer just been?

HP: this summer just been was the worse and you could still say in recovering from it you see what you all don't know about Sirius Black that not only is that he is innocent he never received a trial and that Peter Pettigrew was the Secret Keeper for my parents and that Peter was the one who killed those muggles. Sirius is also my sworn to oath Godfather and was made his Heir the night he swear to be my Godfather.

What I found out this summer was that my Aunt and Uncle knew Sirius and like my father to some gave them a bad impression and took it out on me further I didn't just get beating or the belt ...(tears glisten in his eye)

RM: it's OK Harry you can do this take your time.

HP: thank you, (takes a deep breath) my uncle sexual assaulted me. I'm sorry I can't go any further.(leaves the room)

Well there we have it, our fellow student who has been through so much, labelled as our worlds saviour and boy who lived, a victim and survivor. His truth his life as I'm sure some of you have gone through similar accounts as it was hard for him to talk about this and so many of us knowing what he has endured is a testament to his strength as we can all admit that he is loyal to his true friends and would do anything for them even as a detriment to his own well being as unlike the majority of us who are taught to rely on the adults around us Harry has never had that growing up and with my own dealings with him he is not only loyal but loving and caring one can only guess to how he can be that way due to how he was raised.

He has never liked his fame as its a reminder of that he has lost as some of us has lost one of both parents he is constantly reminded of it here at school and in the Wizarding World every time he goes out or mention in the Daily Prophet with know one to protect him in person image or standing like we are.

We will go into his time here at Hogwarts in a later issue as there are many things that we heard rumours of but never the whole story Quirrell missing the petrified students and Sirius Black and the Dementors.

In other news it has come to Oliver's and my attention that there has been a string of laws being passed restricting more and more creatures that are already band from seeking medical treatment, owning their own homes, inheriting anything, being employed in the magical world and having to register with Ministry for Magic they are now wanting to ban all creatures from having offspring with a heavy focus on dark creatures. Why are they being punished for something they have know control of being we all have magic blessed by Lady magic herself we are all part if the Magical World how would you feel if the roles were reversed and someone offered you the chance to banish the laws that stop you from going able to live and look after you family don't just accept it as is or it's just the way things are.

We would also like to comment on the numerous letters we have received in regards to the arrival of Dermstrang and Beauxbatons there will be and meeting the 6th year prefects from all houses in the coming week so anyone with ideas make a note or list and give it to them.

On our last note we would like to offer a solution to getting help in school work as some in House tutoring from older students as many Professors either help very little or not at all.

We here at 'The Elf Express ' would like to suggest once or twice a week students help the students the year below them we all have our favourite or strong classes and the older students can show the younger ones ways to learn especially with the likes of History of Magic.

May the Lord and Lady bless you all.

Merry Meet, Merry Part and Merry Meet Again

RavenMaiden and Oliver Twist