Disclaimer: Do I have to do these every time??? AH! Okay, don't own any of the Harry Potter characters. I do, however, own my own character (The social worker)! Woo-Hoo.
A/N: Well, I am able to write another chapter so soon because my roomies are gone again! Yeah! I'm a happy person. Alright, here goes.
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Harry didn't think that time could move more slowly than what it was doing these past weeks. It seemed that the weekly visits with his uncle were becoming the same droning crap over and over again. Even though he still had his suspicions about what his uncle's true motives were, he was having a hard time ignoring the way he had been acting towards him. He was actually being nice. He wouldn't just forget the way things had been, but he was beginning to believe that maybe his uncle had actually changed, and for the better. His uncle wasn't berating him like he normally would have; he was treating him like a person.
He was still wary of him, just the same. Especially after last weekend.
(Flashback)
"Harry, your uncle's here." yelled Mrs. Weasley from in the kitchen. Harry descended the stairs and entered the living room where his uncle and Indra Rostau, the social worker, were waiting for him. Harry could tell straight away that his uncle wasn't in a good mood. Foul would be a better term to describe it. Harry sat down on the couch and the 'session' began. The odds and ends that they discussed were mainly about his uncle and how work wasn't doing well lately. As the conversation grew more and more boring, Indra decided to go out and talk to the Weasley's, who were sitting in the kitchen. She considered the situation safe enough for her to leave Harry on his own. Surely his uncle wouldn't be stupid enough to do something here in this house. And if he did, she would know.
She entered the kitchen and noticed that there was a very large dog sitting in a chair beside Mr. Weasley, and she almost started laughing at the sight. Upon entering, she realized she was on the receiving end of a glare from Mrs. Weasley. She decided once and for all to settle the dispute that had arisen between the two of them.
"Look, I realize that you all care very deeply for Harry, and I do know what that man did to him. It's my job to know. You may not believe it, but I do have Harry's best interests at heart. I would never allow anything to happen to him, you have my word on that." Mrs. Weasley was slightly startled at the exclamation from the social worker, and even more surprised that she actually believed her.
"Thank you." was all she said, and Indra knew that she was now trusted. She also noticed that the extremely large dog was looking at her as if he was listening to their conversation. He rubbed his head against her hand, and Indra had the fleeting sensation that this dog was trying to let her know something. But that thought died away as another one entered her mind. Harry was afraid. She shot her head in the direction of the living room and walked purposefully towards it. Upon entering the room, she beheld a frightening sight. Vernon had his hand over Harry's mouth and was whispering something to him, and Harry looked more scared than she had ever seen him before.
"Unhand him!" she hissed, and Vernon nearly fell over the couch in his rush to let go of the boy. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, followed closely by Snuffles came into the room hurriedly after they heard the social worker yell.
"I…I wasn't going to hurt him." mumbled Vernon. Truth be told, he really hadn't meant to scare him, but when he made to touch Harry, the all encompassing need to shrink away from his abuser came back full force, and Harry had recoiled. Vernon, seeing that Harry was about to yell out had clamped his hand over Harry's mouth and had been in the process of telling Harry that he wasn't going to hurt him when Indra came barging in. Confounded woman. Now he certainly wouldn't get Harry back in his custody.
Harry walked over towards Mrs. Weasley and she immediately drew him to her side. "It's alright Ms. Rostau, he wasn't going to hurt me, he just took me by surprise is all."
Indra looked at Harry as if she was trying to search his soul when she finally answered him. "I believe you." She said, and then turned towards Vernon. "But, Mr. Dursley, you are not to touch Harry without me being in the room with him, or unless otherwise requested by Harry himself. Is that completely understood?" she addressed Vernon as if he was a five year old in need of a scolding.
"Yes, understood."
"Very well, I suppose that we can end this session early today." Once again she seemed to be looking very intently at Harry. "You need to rest, you're ill." She said matter of factly. This garnered odd looks from the Weasleys, and Snuffles was soon at Harry's side. Harry, however, looked mildly surprised. He had felt sick to his stomach again that morning, but hadn't told anyone. So far no one had noticed, and now this woman just seemed to know.
"Why didn't you tell us you didn't feel good?" Mrs. Weasley soon had Harry by the hand and was once again dragging him over to the sofa to lie down. Once she had him situated on the couch, she draped a cover over him and waved the others out of the room. His uncle and the social worker had showed themselves out of the house and Harry had spent the rest of the day on the couch, sleeping.
(end flashback)
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A week later and he still didn't feel too great. He, of course, had hidden this information from the Weasley's. He didn't want them to fuss over him; they had enough problems without him causing more for them. He could take care of himself and that was the end of it. Of course, throwing up every day was beginning to take its toll. He could hardly keep anything down anymore, and was resorting to hiding his food in his napkin and then throwing it away when no one was looking. He felt horrible for wasting their food, but couldn't think of anything else to do with it. Occasionally, he fed Hedwig with it, but some of it wasn't suitable for a bird to eat.
Thankfully he had a day of rest this Saturday. Indra had owled them this morning telling them that today's session had been cancelled. She hadn't given any specifics, but he really didn't care. Harry was beginning to think there was something odd about the social worker. He was incredibly curious to find out how she just happened to know things when others didn't. Perhaps he would have to ask her about that sometime. He was jarred from his thoughts when Ron came tromping into the room. He didn't seem too happy.
"What's up with you?" he asked in a hoarse, croaky, voice. Ron looked up at him.
"You sound like you're losing your voice or something." He walked over to Harry and put his hand on Harry's forehead. Harry tried swatting it away, but Ron wouldn't let him. "Hold still, I'm just checking for a fever."
"Thank you, mother, but I don't need my fever checked." Harry was annoyed.
"Sure you don't." replied Ron sarcastically. "You're just up here hiding from us and sweating up a storm for the fun of it." He became more serious. "You're burning up Harry, you should tell mum about it."
"Oh, bugger off Ron!" yelled Harry hoarsely.
"Look pal, I just got in a huge fight with my brothers, and I would prefer to not get into it with you. I'm telling you right now that if you don't go tell my mum what is wrong with you then I will."
"The hell you will. Why don't you just stay out of this?" Harry was angry for reasons beyond him, he just felt like being mad. He stood up from the bed, and swayed slightly. He hadn't realized how lightheaded he was. Thankfully Ron hadn't noticed.
"Why do you have to be so stubborn all the time? Just tell her you're sick already!" Ron turned around and raced out of the room. As soon as he couldn't hear his angry footsteps on the stairs, Harry lowered himself back onto the bed. Perhaps now would be a good time to tell Molly how he felt. He'd do it. Just as soon as the room stopped spinning.
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About thirty minutes later Harry finally made his way downstairs, grabbing his school robe for warmth out of his trunk on his way. Ron was still looking angry and Harry decided to avoid him at all cost. So he sat beside Hermione at the table. Hermione, Ginny, Charlie, and the twins had been sent on an errand earlier that day for school supplies. They had only recently returned, with a large pile of books, robes, and other such supplies lying in the living room floor, only barely visible from where Harry sat. He suddenly realized that he didn't feel nearly as bad anymore and chanced a glance at Ron. He seemed to look relieved that Harry appeared better and wasn't as hoarse anymore.
"Did you enjoy your trip to Diagon Alley?" he asked bitterly. He could have gone as well if Indra's letter had arrived earlier. But no.
"It was alright." Hermione could sense the annoyance in Harry's voice and decided to lie through her teeth. She had run into a few of their school friends and had spent the afternoon visiting with them. "Just bought a few things we needed for school. Didn't do anything interesting at all."
Harry looked at her oddly. 'whatever.'
"How was the session with your uncle?" Hermione asked, not knowing that the session had been cancelled.
"There wasn't one. The social worker owled us about thirty minutes after you all left to inform us that it was cancelled." Replied Mrs. Weasley, who was currently cutting up potatoes over by the sink. At that moment, a large black owl flew in the window and landed upon Harry's shoulder. She held out her leg and Harry untied the letter from it.
"Who's that from?" asked Hermione, not recognizing the owl. It looked freaky, truth be told.
"I don't know." Harry opened the letter and read over it. He grew pale and dropped it onto the table.
"What's wrong Harry?" Sirius had just entered the room. He had been out talking with Mr. Weasley when they noticed a strange looking owl fly into the kitchen window and had decided to go inside.
Harry slowly picked up the letter and handed it to Sirius. He read it to himself and then out loud so everyone else could hear it.
"Death beckons you. You'll never be safe."
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A/N: Okay, I know that story just seemed to drag on, so I had to end it somewhere. Now I just have to figure out what the heck I'm talking about. Hee Hee.
Ms. G: Well, I'm glad that you like my fic, and it's one of the first one's you've read. Cool beans. You'll just have to keep reading to find out what ships I want! I'm evil, I know.
Lei Dumbledore: I'm awesome, I know. Now I have to go and read that other story you mentioned about Sev, just so I can find out what it's about! I couldn't tell at all that you were looking forward to my upcoming chapter, no, no, not at all!!
JaimeyKay: I thought you had died or something. No, not really. I hope that your issues get resolved, and my issues are gone with the wind. You're the only one who seems to care that Richard Harris died, well, I'm over it now, but still. I'm glad you like the story, keep up with the reviews!
Phoenixfeather: You just made my day by saying that this is one of the better Harry angst stories. I'm really glad you liked it. Yeah, Vernon will go down, just not yet! Evil!