Lifted

AN: please forgive me if there are a few mistakes about the plot of the story, I am concentrating more on my own plot of the story and it may interfere just a LITTLE bit with the actually plot of the story, but not a lot. This is around the 3rd year of Hogwarts for our friends Hermione, Harry and Ron. This isn't a pointless story. This story actually has a plot and I'd appreciate it if I could get reviews so I know how I'm going and what I should improve.

AN2: I did try write a fic like this a couple of years ago, but I decided to improve it by a lot, since my fic was quite the stupidity 2 years ago, where I had no clue what I was writing about at all!

Chapter 1

A soft light glimmered between the bars that locked away Harry's happiness each year. As the light reached Harry's face, his scar stung a little waking him up to a new day. Every day he dreamt of a day in Hogwarts. He could almost feel himself back in his bed, lying comfortably and relaxed. Each day that image grew nearer. Only a week left before returning back to Hogwarts. Perhaps this year would be the last at the Dursleys. Perhaps it wouldn't be.

Harry rolled over onto his side. Pain shot up his arm and into his shoulder. He quickly got up off the floor and looked around the poor state he was living in. His stomach cramped from lack of food but he was so used to it so he hardly payed attention. He wondered whether this was child abuse, staying home like this every day in a small room. For some reason every day there seemed to be less and less in Harry's room. He didn't understand why. There only seemed to be more screaming down stairs between his uncle and aunty. Of course he hadn't seen his uncle or aunty's face for a while. They didn't talk to him much, only screamed. The only voice he could remember well was the taunting voice of his cousin, Dudley. Dudley managed to waste at least an hour each day sitting in front of Harry's door telling him how much he was going to beat him up if he ever walked out of his room. Soon Harry's room was like a sanctuary to him. Getting to the toilet and back was an obstacle course, because he'd need to ask to be let out. As soon as his Uncle would let him out, he'd be chased into the toilet by Dudley, and when he Harry was finished, Dudley would always manage to land a few punches on Harry before he ran back into his sanctuary.

Harry laughed to himself at the irony of it all. Were many people aware of his 'state' back in the wizardry world? Harry felt a strong longing to be back with his friends. He couldn't think of any place he wanted to be at more. He wondered how Hermione was. He could see a clear image of her studying. He admired her intelligence. She was probably one of the smartest girls, let alone students in Hogwarts. It was a shame so many people teased her about it when there was no need to.

The screaming suddenly became louder again down stairs. A high pitch voice yelped as a few ceramic sounding things fell to the wooden floor, smashing into pieces, followed by loud footsteps up the stairs, and lazy footsteps following. Harry imagined it would be his Uncle and Dudley walking up the stairs.

"Woman, what would you know! I know what kind of trouble we are in! We have to do this!", the sound of his Uncle's voice filled second story of the house. The door flung open, grazing Harry's leg.

Uncle Vernon's glare sent shivers down Harry's spine. He knew it was something bad. Harry sat on his suitcase which had been packed since the first day he arrived at the Dursleys. The suitcase was the only thing Harry had left to sit on apart from the floor.

Vernon quickly scanned the room. Hedwig sat gloomily in her cage, looking out into freedom. She was sick of sitting in her cage.

"Right," began Uncle Vernon, as Petunia ran through the door, followed by Dudley, "See the problem is Harry. This family can support 3!" Vernon stopped to recount. "Yes, 3! And you are the fourth. As you have noticed from recent events, your bed has been taken away, as has your wardrobe, and your chairs. But this is all for good cause! This is what you owe us for all that we have done for you. We have sold these things off for the benefit of the family. The problem is, we are still running out of money so we won't be able to feed you as often. If we don't get any money soon, there was a jolly man at our house before who wished to take you. After I talked to him for a bit, I figured he was definitely not one of your magical fellows so I agreed. So in a couple of days if things do not lighten up, we shall be throwing you and your stupid bird out of this house. Very well. That's all I had to say. Oh, and there will be no food today. I can't afford to feed you today."

Uncle Vernon slammed the door and clumsily walked back down stairs, as Harry stared at the door that has been opened only a few seconds ago. He felt like he was in a daze. He was so confused and yet it seemed like a light of hope shining in the darkness. Who was this jolly man. It all seemed very... dodgy.

"What the hell?" Harry said aloud with amusement in his voice.

"Dear Harry,

I'm writing to you because I haven't heard from you all summer, and I'm worried about you. I wanted to know whether you are ok. If you ever need rescuing you know Ron and I will come and save you anytime. After all, all that we've been through, rescuing you would be a piece of cake! I hope t..."

"No this is stupid," thought Hermione as she scrunched up her fifth piece of paper. "What's wrong with me! I can't write anymore!"

Hermione kicked her bin in frustration.

You filthy mood blood! She shook the thought away. No, this wasn't the time to be feeling down. She needed to study. Without your brainy lil' mind you'd be nothing. Hermione shakily walked down the stairs trying to block the thoughts out of her head. Where are your friends? Harry's perfectly fine, he's just not writing to you, cause he doesn't like you enough! And Ron, he hasn't written anything either. Its cause you haven't written anything to him... you're not a good enough friend!

"Stop it," whispered Hermione.

"Stop what?" asked her mum walking up the stairs.

"Nothing," said Hermione quickly.

"Listen it's a bright new day. Could you help me clean the house or do you need to study or do something to get ready for Hogwarts?"

"Mum...?"

"Yes honey?"

"I... nothing, um could I just go out for a bit. I want to go for a walk."

"Are you meeting someone?"

"No."

"Why don't you get some friends. There are plenty of non magical people you could be friends with?"

"Mum I'm not 5!"

"Common honey, I'm sure there are plenty of kids out there!"

"Mum!"

"but,"

"No! I'm leaving".

Hermione rushed out the door. Why did her mum have to remind her she didn't have any friends. No she could manage on her own! Hermione walked on the footpath. Where was there to go?

"I'll go to the city", thought Hermione as she jumped onto the first bus that stop beside her.

You don't have any friends. Do you know why? Cause you're too scared to get any friends. You're too afraid to approach people cause they won't like you for who you are!

Gazing out the bus window, Hermione noticed random groups of kids around her age walking around. One group held a football, another was skateboarding. The closer she got to the city, the weirder the groups got.

Hermione jumped off the bus, walking into a man accidentally.

"Oi watch it!" he screamed out to her as she walked away pretending not to notice what just happened.

It's cause you wear weird clothes. And you act weird. You aren't cool enough for anyone!

Hermione felt like she just needed to run away, and escape from everything. She went to the city often because everyone there looked unfortunate. There were plenty of homeless people around, and many others too high on drugs, or hung over to be able to understand what was going on. It reminded her how fortunate she was.

Why don't you take some drugs huh? I'm sure that would help you.

Hermione again ignored the thoughts. She had to stop thinking like this! But how? She didn't notice as she slowly turned the corner. She was close to the train station. Suddenly she heard murmurs infront of her. To her surprise she was about to walk into a gang of a few girls and a lot of guys. Groups like these always made her scared and uneasy. She quickly turned to leave. She didn't realise how far she had wandered into the city.

"Oi you! Stop!" screamed one of the guys. Hermione bolted around the corner quick enough to hear one of them say, "but I got nine inches! NINE INCHES!!!" A few giggles from the girls arose.

"Disgusting behaviour," thought Hermione, though a part of her longed to know about this group more.

You know, if you just asked them for drugs, they'd talk to you! They would be your friends! You know you need something to get away from all that's going on in your head. You know what drugs are. You know what they can do!

"I need to go home," thought Hermione, but still something pulled her in the other direction.