A/N:  Thanks to all who reviewed.  It really means a lot to me.  I have to apologize for misspelling WEASLEY, so oops!  I keep messing up names.

WARNING:  This story is R for a REASON!  It is NOT NC-17, as I have read much, /much/ worse that was permitted, so I have abused nothing!  Rated for violence, serious angst (later on), and perhaps rape (I'm thinking on it).  If you have a problem with it, go read something else because I didn't write it just to be safe.  It's written because it's how and what I write.  So buzz off. :{

(and if my mean attitude offended, I do apologize but I'm sorta protective of my work.)

Standard Disclaimer:  I own nothing remotely similar to Harry Potter other than my plot, my own characters, and, of course, my copies of the books.

Now, On With the Fic!

Chapter 4

For jointly and singly they shall be of great power, and use even the greatest of magics without a wand or incantation.

- Order of the Phoenix, Phoenix Chronicles, Part I

********

Last Time:

"Mrs. Weasley, will you see that Harry eats and then takes the draught?" he said distractedly.  "We've had another attack, and they need doctors."

"Certainly," replied Mrs. Weasley, taking the tray from him and placing it in Harry's lap.  The doctor left quickly.

********

As Harry couldn't yet feed himself (the gash and wrist hadn't healed yet), Mrs. Weasley did it for him, much to the boy's discomfort.  He then took his sleeping draught after only pecking at the food, saying it made him feel ill, and was rapidly engulfed by his first good sleep in over a month.

()()()()()()()()

When he woke up, Hermione was sitting with Ginny next to his bed, both girls doing homework and whispering happily together.  Harry grinned sleepily and sat up.  As he did so, he noticed that the casts and over half the other bandages were missing from his person.  Odd that, but not too much so.  He always had healed fast.

Ginny looked up first and jumped with a squeal.

"He's awake!" Hermione turned and smiled at him in a concerned manner.

"Hi Hermione," yawned Harry, "Lo, Ginny."

Dumbledore chose that moment to enter (no doubt drawn by Ginny's yell).

"Are you strong enough to be moved to the Burrow, Harry?" he asked, blue eyes twinkling gently.

"Prob'ly.  I'm a little hungry though," Harry admitted as his stomach growled.

"I'm not surprised; you've been starved," Dumbledore murmured, studying the youth's emaciated appearance with unmistakable anger in his eyes and voice.

"Well, we'll soon fix that," clucked Mrs. Weasley from the doorway.  "Girls, get ready, we'll be leaving shortly."  And she walked off.  Hermione and Ginny trailed in her wake to prepare for departure.

"Before you leave, I'd like to speak with you, Harry," suggested Dumbledore gently.  "How long have the Dursleys beaten you?"

Harry pondered the question.  "Ever since I was little, but it was worse this year because of the Ton-Tongue Toffee incident."

"How were you beaten, Harry?"

"Why all the questions?" asked Harry abruptly.  He didn't want to talk about it.  Wasn't Dumbledore's business anyway.

"I'm gathering testimonies.  I even have some pictures of you from last night.  Now, please, continue."

"Okaaay," sighed Harry doubtfully.  "It always used to be by a cane or a belt, but this year it has been mostly physical.  Vernon jumped on may hand for instance; shattering the bones.  Dudley made me walk on my broken ankle, which was delivered by Vernon, and Petunia slaps me.  Last night was the first time he used a knife though."

"And what did he do with the knife?"  Dumbledore's gaze was steady on Harry's face.  He looked back calmly.

"He cut my scar open.  He gashed my arm and shoulder.  Tore my leg up.  What did you expect?  It was punishment for being 'bad.'"

"Did you deserve it?"

"In reality, no.  I didn't do what he accused me of."

Dumbledore wondered absently what the boy meant by 'in reality'.  Did it mean he thought of the beatings as his due?  Nonsense, he told himself firmly, This is Harry we are talking about.  He dismissed the thought.  If he only knew how right he was………

()()()()()()()()()

Leaving St. Mungo's was………difficult………to say the least.  Everyone wanted a look at Harry, and the poor boy was hounded by at least twelve reporters who had appeared as soon as the news broke of his being hospitalized.

"Why were you admitted?"

"Are the rumors true that you were abused at home?"

"Did your pet donkey step on you?" (Hermione shot the man an incredulous look.)

"Is that your dog?"

"Will you ever walk again?"

"Mr. Potter, may I have your autograph?"

"Mr. Potter, is it true you were attacked by You-Know-Who and destroyed him once and for all?"

"Do you support the Dark Arts?"

The questions poured in and all Harry could do was try and ignore it as he was wheeled out.  He hadn't wanted a wheelchair, but his legs and ankle were still too weak to support him.  Snuffles followed closely; growling at anyone who came too near.

When it came time to Disapparate, Snuffles turned around to look at Harry, whose hand had been tightly clenched in his fur since he'd arrived.  Satisfied that Harry wouldn't keel over suddenly, and angry at his Godson's treatment, he turned to Mr. Weasley who Apparated boy and dog to the Burrow.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Next day saw Harry slightly better.  It also delivered copies of The Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly.  Harry moaned when Ron and Hermione showed him the articles.  He had made both front and second page.  The first was horrible, getting nearly everything wrong except that Harry was in the Hospital and didn't state any facts; just rumors.  The second was a bit more accurate; being that it revealed he had been abused by his relations; yet it still gave details that were entirely untrue and instead based on the journalist's own wishes and beliefs.  Harry just wished the world would leave him in peace.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Over the remainder of the holidays, Harry recovered well, surrounded by friends and Mrs. Weasley (laugh all you like; she's a veritable army).  For once, he managed to complete his summer homework before the term began, and managed to ignore Hermione and Ron's squeals over being made Prefects.  He flew whenever he was not occupied with homework and the twins looked after him and assisted him with studying extra material for Potions.  Oddly enough, the demonic troublemakers of the Weasley line had taken a rather paternal air about Harry, and were ecstatic when he requested their assistance.  Harry quickly discovered that he was actually capable of Potion-making without a fire-breathing teacher hovering behind him menacingly.

Even with extra study time and a wonderful, homey atmosphere, Harry's nightmares continued.  He kept quiet about them though; muffling his screams and shivering himself to sleep in a lonely, never-ending vigil.  His visions increased, and he wrote to Dumbledore regularly.  A letter from the elderly wizard brought surprising news:

Harry,

It appears these visions are of the future, as they tend to occur after you have written of them to me.  Several still have not happened, and as it is of the future, they may never occur.  I believe there may be a way to control these visions so you may have them deliberately and on whatever subject you focus upon.  We shall see, but until then, please continue to write of what-may-be so that my group can try to save the lives you see demolished.  The Dursleys have been arrested, but the trial date is not yet set.  The Minister has been interfering again, so until their punishment is assured,

Be careful,

Albus Dumbledore

So it was with new worries and many cautions that Harry and his friends boarded the Hogwarts Express that September 1st and marched off in search of an empty compartment.

~

A/N: I am SO SORRY this took so long, but I've been having computer problems and I'm signed up for so many summer activities that I am totally lost and scatterbrained.  I edited all my chapters of all my stories, but I don't know if it made too big a difference.  Thank you for your patience!