Title: Lost in the Abyss

Author: ShadowChild

Summary: Harry does something that brings everyone to reevaluate how well they know him. He tries to kill himself. Only one person cares enough to find out why.

A/N I just got home from a long trip so you can't sue me for how long this took. BOOK 5 ROCKS

          Ginny laid tiredly in her bed her notebook in her hand. On her list only Luke was left. She knew she had evidence against the Dursleys and that old book showed her that it could be done. She just wasn't sure how. She also thought that that would not be the last thing that had to be done. She knew Voldemort would have to play a part in this. That as she knew was Harry's deal.  She thought it might be time to get an authority involved. But who?

          Dumbledore was her first instinct surely he could do something. However he was highly occupied with the Order of Phoenix. She loved her father but she doubted if he could do much. She didn't know many other adults that could interfere. Unless. A thought occurred to her.  Would he be able to help? It was worth a try. With that she got up and rummaged in her trunk for paper and parchment.

          Dear Professor Lupin,

                    This is Ginny Weasly. You don't know me very well but I was in your classes and everything. This isn't really about me however it is about Harry. You see well I assume Dumbledore told you what happened. I found out a lot these past few weeks and I think it would help him if we could get his cousin Luke away from the Dursley's I know what is going on there and I have proof I just don't know what to do exactly.

         

          If you could help me I would love it,

                                       Sincerely,

                                       Genevieve Cecilia Weasly. She ran to the owlery and sent the letter as fast as she could. Then she headed to the hospital wing.

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          Harry stood close against his mother as they walked through the bustling streets of Diagon Alley. Luke tottered on the other side holding their mothers hand. Lily smiled down at her oldest son. His face still looked sad and she nudged him gently.

          "Hey, you okay?" he smiled sadly up at her. "It'll all come out okay. Now what do you say we stop at Flurry and Fortiskues" (a/n sp?).

"Sound's good to me!" Harry smiled but was suddenly tugged out of this universe. He watched as Ginny sat down near him.

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          "Hey Harry! I'm working on a surprise for you! I think it'll be another step to get you out of there." She kissed him gently on the cheek. He was shocked to find a tear running down her cheek. He knew however that she just felt sorry for him.

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          About a week later Ginny received an owl from Lupin.

          Dear Ginny,

                    Of course I remember you, you as I remember preformed best in your year. Dumbledore did indeed inform me of what happened and I have a vague idea of what can be done to help. My father was a muggle attorney. He made me go through a bit of law school after Hogwarts because he didn't see how I'd be able to work in the Wizarding World.

          First off the muggle authorities must be called. Then there will most likely have to be a hearing. The problem with that is Harry would be the only witness and as he is unable to testify… You did however say you had evidence which is good. I would like to see you as soon as possible. Since you are on holiday it would be glorious if you could come down to Hogsmeade and met me at the Three Broomsticks at 2:00 on Saturday.

                                     

                             Remus Lupin

Ginny tossed the letter down and glanced at her watch. It was almost 1:30, she tossed the two books into her bag and ran out of Gryffindor Tower and sprinted the whole way down to Hogsmeade. She was panting by the time she arrived at the Three Broomsticks. She saw Lupin immediately and rushed over to him.

"Ah Miss. Weasly how are you?"

"Fine Professor, I brought my evidence."

"Wonderful and since I am no longer your teacher please call me Remus." Ginny nodded and opened her bag she piled both Harry's diary and the muggle law book onto the table in front of Lupin. He flipped through both of them and smiled.

"This is very good Ginny you've done well."

"Thank you Pro- Remus." He smiled at her blunder.

"You've been a wonderful friend to Harry. I have wondered however if there is not one more reason that he might have attempted suicide; this is just a thought however-"

"Yes sir?"

"Well without parents I am sure there were times that Harry felt very alone especially after well Sirius… I know he is loved but well…" Ginny nodded. "Also Ginny you and I have work to do I believe it might be easier if you stayed with me in London. We need to contact the Dursleys as soon as possible. I think you need to be the one to do it but I need to help you. I've cleared it with Dumbledore we'll stay at the Leaky Cauldron." Ginny was surprised but she nodded. They flooed out of the Three Broomsticks immediately.

Ginny and Lupin set up shop in a table far to the back of the pub parchment and quills spread around them. By the end of the day they had a letter to the Dursleys.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Dursley,

          You do not know me and I have only seen you from a distance. I am Genevieve Weasly. I am a very good friend of your nephew. I want you to know before the court order comes that I know exactly how you treats your son. It really does not matter how you treat him during the school year because I know very well what goes on during the summer.

                                       Genevieve Cecelia Weasly,

          The moment the letter was sent Lupin arranged a hearing. It was to be the 14th of December not quite a week away. Ginny spent that week rereading and rereading Harry's diary. She found the points that needed to be made in front of the judge and felt her heart ache every time for the poor child. Luke Lupin assured her had been removed from the Dursleys the moment he called the authorities.

          The date of the hearing approached quickly. Ginny was dressed in her best muggle clothing that she had had her mother owl her. She sat next to Lupin in the court room and shuddered to see Vernon Dursley scowling at her from the other side. The judged called them to order and Remus made his opening. He called Ginny up first.

          "Miss Weasly."

          "Yes sir?"

          "Could you tell me exactly what lead you to believe that these people were mistreating their son?"

          "Well, my friend Harry. He well you see he hurt himself badly and I was looking through his things and I found his journal. I opened it and from the first page it held proof of the fact that Luke wasn't being cared for by his parents."

          "I see. You have some excerpts to read for us?"

          "Yes sir." She cleared her throat and Lupin handed her the journal. She started off with Harry first discovering Luke then read on. "June 6th 'I am still amazed that Luke is so skinny. He eats a lot if you give him the chance. I have been using my money to buy him food because the Dursley's only give us one portion of a meal.'

"June 19th 'Luke's made a lot of progress I know he is only two months old but I know he should have been focusing sooner than he has. He actually looked at me for a full minute.'

 "July 28th 'Luke rolled over! We were in our room and he was only floor while I did my homework and I heard a soft plop. Luke was on his back! I told Aunt Petunia but she waved me off.'

"September 1st. "I hated to leave Luke. He's so little and I won't be back until Christmas. Who knows what will happen'

 

"December 13th 'not much had changed when I got home. As in Luke hadn't. he still isn't crawling though he is eight months old. He can roll over but he was doing that before I left. I think he recognized me because he smiled when I got into the car.  The first thing I noticed was that he had grown out of the diapers he wore. They were a size bigger than I had gotten him so at least they vaguely pay attention when Dudley and I are at school.

"April 23rd 'well I'm home again in time for Luke's birthday. I bought a small cake which he was quick to spread all over himself… he is close to crawling now. I wish someone could have worked with him while I was at school. Fat Chance.

"June 13th 'I am home for the summer. I mean to have Luke standing by the time I go again. I hope it is possible. Oh and one other thing one amazingly shocking thing. When I was bathing Luke yesterday (he was filthy) I saw something that made me feel sick. A huge bruise across his back. I can't be sure about what made it but I can guess.'

"July 29th 'I cannot believe what just happened. Dudley kicked Luke. I was fixing him mashed carrots and Luke was happily crawling around the kitchen when the mammoth boy came in he went straight for the fridge of course but Luke was in front of it.

"'Out of the way you little prat,' he snarled as he kicked him. Luke began to cry and I scooped him up. I didn't say anything to Dudley for fear something worse would happen.'

"December 31st 'It is going to be so hard to leave Luke. He smiles at me so happily when he sees me. He won't go to Aunt Petunia not that she wants him often at all. He is beginning to babble more. And he is so so close to walking. He holds on to furniture and everything. He should have been walking ages ago however.

"' April 24th 'Luke talked! He wasn't in the car when I was picked up and it turns out that he was at Mrs. Figgs. For all that I didn't like her as a child well he seemed quite happy there. When we went home he surprised me. We were in our room as usual and I was trying to get him to speak by saying words over and over e.g. book…book…book and he bursts out,

"Awwy. Awwy!" I knew immediately what he meant and I was so happy.

"June 20th 'he is walking! I've tried to take him out as much as possible walking around Little Whinging and today  we went to the play park. He was in the sandbox and a shovel he wanted was on the other side. He pulled himself up on the edge and walked right to it!'"

" July 3rd 'I cannot believe what happened today. I actually saw Uncle Vernon slap Luke. Luke really hadn't done anything. Infact he was helping. I was sent to get the mail as usual and Luke who is tottering much better now followed. He picked up the paper before I could.

"Papew! Lukie hep awwy!" he said and I smiled at him.

"Sure." I said. He took the paper to Uncle Vernon but Uncle Vernon didn't appreciate the help.

"Get your slimy hands off my paper!" and he slapped him. Luke began to cry and I carried him upstairs.' That was all of the diary Ginny had agreed to read to the judge but there were two entries that had hit her hard.

          June 21st 1994.

                    I think I know why Luke is hated by his family. Today he was crying for a bottle and before I could get it to him it floated right to his cot.

          July 14th 1995.

                    I took Luke to Diagon Alley with me today. I had to get muggle clothes but I've also outgrown my robes. Funnily I saw Ginny there with Dean Thomas. It was weird I wished I was Dean then. I didn't like Ginny much when she was fawning over me but now well it's different.

          The trial went on. Mrs. Figg was a witness and she confirmed Harry's claims of malnourishment. The judge listened to both sides but in the end he ruled with Remus. One thing irked at Ginny as happy as she was.

          "Remus. Why'd they believe the diary?"

          "Simple. No one would make up that kind of thing." In the end the Dursleys were given two days to deliver Luke to the court and over to Ginny. Two days later a small boy was held in Ginny's arms while tears coursed down her face. Why you may ask? Because when he tottered towards her he cried,

          "Ginnee! Ginnee!"

A/N bum bum bum. Chapter seven is finished! Will Luke be the key to Harry's mind? Or will there be more to do?