Hay this is my new fic had it lying on the bedroom floor for months and though i might get it sorted and post it.

I welcome any comments large or small and will hopefully post again soon unless you all ahte it!

Don't own any of these charactersI just like to write about them.

P.s Hope there is no blindingly obvious mistakes in this becasue if there is I am going to fire that reader of mine.

Hope you enjoy!

Diggory's Tale –Chapter one– Dudley's Troubles

It was the end of yet another long and difficult year at Hogwarts and like each year before he had scraped through by the skin of his teeth and hadn't yet managed to die. Having said good-bye to his beloved friends in London kings cross station with promises of long letters and a short summer Harry was sat in the back of the Dursleys car with his cousin as another long and boring summer commenced.

Harry's cousin, Dudley, took up nearly all of the back seat so as always in was a good job Harry is a skinny boy still. His cousin occasionally poked him, his uncle glared at him as he put the Hogwarts trunk in the boot of his uncle Vernon's latest company car and Dudley's mother Petunia the only living blood relative Harry had looked at him as if the muck on the bottom of her show had now sat itself in the car. It was a special bond Harry had with his aunt that very few people could understand.

So the holidays started the same as always and Harry did whatever he wanted as long as the Dursleys hardly ever saw him and his aunt was happy with the cleaning. Recently he had taken to late night wanderings all over the place and sitting on top of the jungle gym in the dark out of sight. He liked it up there, the evenings were warm and the stares were bright. Harry was never happy that was impossible in his life but sat up there, he felt comfortable, alone in the world.

It was on such a night, not yet a week in to the holidays that Harry in the early hours of the morning decided he might go back to the Dursleys and have a bath. Climbing down he herd the sound of a police car speeding by and wondered who it was this time hurting innocent people. His thoughts quickly fluttered on to more important and pressing matters such as weather Hedwig his closest confident also his pet snowy owl was eating a mouse or someone's silly pet hamster.

Such were Harry's thoughts as feet randomly walked the empty streets back. Quiet oblivious of the rushing feet heading his way as he turned into a dark twisting ally through the housing estate, he was never frightened these days. What were a couple of muggles compared to a whole army of Dementors.

But then suddenly the foot steps seemed too close for comfort and too many off them at that. Behind him he could here a car speeding and screeching to a holt at the end of the ally. He spun round staring the two men and white car in the face. They were police men and they were blocking the way. Not moving he herd the feet come to a holt, all twenty boys all about his age were trapped down a dark ally.

Harry however didn't no what was going off really but he hadn't done anything wrong, he was walking home and now he's stuck in an ally with a gang of muggle idiots.

"And look who it is?" Harry mumbled spotting his fat cousin Dudley panicking and wobbling over.

"What are you doing here? Potter!" Harry looked at him and gently moving him to one side whispering magic as he did.

"Walking home, what are you doing here out late, I thought mummy didn't want you hanging around at might with these naughty boys."

"Least I have a mother! Well I was walking home with you wasn't I, Harry?" Dudley asked tentatively sweating like mad and trying with all his pee brain to think still white as a sheet.

"Oh but I thought mummikins banned Duddies from coming any where near me, I'm not going to get another bollocking from them cause of you!" Some thought fluttered across his face and Dudley went if possible even whiter.

"You wouldn't dare tell them." Harry slightly enjoying this conversation continued.

"What you possy over there or your mother, I can understand why you would be frightened of such a bony horse face women."

"Shut up you or I'll have you."

"Oh will you, what with u no I can blow u to smithereens with a flick of my wrist."

"You could do some m…m…magic and get us back home and we could pretend none of this happened." He stuttered but Harry was surprised that his cousin was being so brave to suggest such a ridicules thing.

"Why would I do that? What's it to me, even if I could which I suppose I can, why would I want too? What would YOU do for ME?" Harry whispered under his breath in a threatening way. His cousin never ceased to amaze him. Harry felt in his pocket and unfortunately he was in such a rush to be thrown out of the house that morning his wand was still locked in his case at the end of his bed. Dudley wasn't to know that of course.

"Well because…coz…your…your…you know….." But Harry never did get to find out the rest of Dudley's sentence as his arms were being pulled behind his back and handcuffed.

"Hay what the hell was that for!" Harry complained loudly even if he didn't see the point in struggling.

"Keep quiet boy, you've been arrested!" The gruff voice said in his ear he was pushed down the ally to the road with swarms of other people and police cars.

"What for?"

"Your kidding me aint' you. What for?" The voice bellowed in his ear before roughly shoving him into a police van. He sat down in the far corner with a load of boys he didn't know as the door slammed shut behind him and the engine rumbled into life. Feeling both annoyed and worried Harry looked at the boys around him wondering if it was wise to talk to any of them.

Luckily he didn't have to ask anyone and look like an idiot as one of the older more ruff looking lads to his left asked.

"Who'r you? I aint sin you out before." Harry looked directly at him and asked.

"No you haven't. Who are you?" Harry asked with a far better English than him.

"Big Dave. Any o' you kids no this lad?" He asked looking around at all the other lads and Harry noticed that this 'Big Dave' was a good five years older than every one else and proberbly some sort of leader.

"Aint you that kid that used to hang round Dud's house?" On skinny 14year old asked.

"Yeah I'm his cousin." Harry replied hoping that his relation mite for once in his life be some use to Harry.

"Yeah I herd him mention you once or twice.' Another lad piped up. 'Yeah don't you go to some sort of bully-boarding-school coz Dud's mum can't stand the sight of you?"

"Yep that's me. But Dud's gonna get a bollocking for mentioning me to anyone, my uncle won't allow it." Harry replied looking at his shoes and whishing he could be anywhere but here.

"Yeah he said how your nut's. You don't look nuts to me. What did you do to get your-sen chuck in St. Brutes like that? I herd your uncle pay's a fortune." Harry laughed and luckily he must of sound quiet evil because they all just looked at him frightened except Big Dave who seem almost board with the familiarity of been arrested.

Later Harry discovered as he was been 'booked in' by a police officer that Big Dave was a regular at the 'pig's B'n'B' as he put it.

"Name?" Another gruff looking police man asked looking down his nose at Harry who was getting crabby with been tired and particularly the association with muggle thugs.

"Harry." He answered with firmness that the officer hadn't herd most the evening making him eyes take more notice of this skinny runt in front of him.

"Harry what? Or are you gonna be a cleaver dick all night?"

"Potter." Harry replied having no fear of him after all he had nothing to do with any of them and it was not as if he was talking to Voldermort or even Snape for that matter.

"Ok then Mr Potter, be a good little boy and answer these questions and we can get u all locked up for the night." He was sarcastic but Harry never flinched and merely accepted his uncomfortable surroundings. Harry was perfectly capable at answering all the easy questions firmly unlike the idiot blonde next to him.

"Well then the last thing I need to ask. What's your fathers name?" Harry finally faulted and the officer quickly looked up before Harry could recover.

"James Potter."

And your mothers?"

"Lilly Potter." Harry replied trying not to think of them too much.

"Well then they will be contacted shortly to come collect you. Will they be at home?"

"Don't know!" Harry mumbled.

"What was that boy? Don't mumble now."

"You'd have a chance getting hold of them given that they have been dead some fifteen years now." Harry replied with a slight smirk.

"Don't you smirk at me boy now be serious if they are dead then what idiot looks after you." Harry looked away to the notice bord and smirked even more, Sirius had a wanted poster put up. Oddly it was a comfort to have his mad dog looking eyes laughing at him from a muggle station. Harry wondered over to it and carefully unpinned him returning to the officer.

"This is my godfather you know.' He mentioned to a rather confused looking face. 'Anyway mad convicted godfather aside you'll be wanting Vernon Dursley my uncle, you've got his son wobbling round here somewhere. No point ringing him though he'd be glad to leave me here." Back in his stride the man replied.

"I can see why."

"Hay don't go getting the wrong idea. I don't know any of these twats round here it's a mystery to me what my idiotic cousin's got him self into this time." Harry finished quiet arrogantly as he was led away to a cell. The officer merely looked at him apparently pondering on his words but never said anything, there was definitely something odd about that boy that just didn't add up.

Harry was led into a cell where his cousin was already sat there white and shaking Harry made him self comfortable on the floor trying not to look at the two other boys. One was the skinny blonde from the back of the van.

"Did you say that, that convict on the poster was your godfather?" He asked sitting on the floor next to Harry.

"Yes." Harry really didn't want to talk to this boy but figured there was no point in causing unnecessary trouble.

"Wow, my dad's in prison as well. He was always up to some dodgy stuff, you know until me mam through him out.' The boy paused to remember some distant memory. 'What do you think is going to happen, I suppose this is nothing new to you like Big Dave?" Harry looked at the boy who seemed to be in some sort of ore of Harry and strangely reminded him of Colin Creevy.

"What gives you that impression?" The boy obviously didn't understand this but tried to answer all the same.

"Well you don't seem to be frightened like your cousin do you? Err…"

"Well my cousin is a fat little mummy's boy and is really goanna be in deep trouble when he finally gets home.' Harry turned to his cousin and grinned. 'And don't bother threatening me coz hay lets face it we all no how Vernon thinks of me." Dudley just stared at Harry he was so terrified of what was going to happen that he was visible slimming before Harry's very eyes.

Harry sat in silence after that until the boy left with his mother an hour or so later. Finally it was just Harry and Dudley and in the long silent wait Harry couldn't help but feel sorry for his cousin, he really was scared and when he thought about it Harry didn't blame him. Vernon Dursley had a nasty temper towards anyone if he felt like it.

It took along time for Harry to work out why they seemed to be the last two lads remaining in the early hours of the morning. But as usual the answer came quiet quickly when Harry began to here the angry shouting of his uncle.

It seems Vernon Dursley was adamant that he wasn't going to take Harry home with him but the police sergeant was forcing him too and if he was determined to get rid of Harry he would have to go through social services to get rid of him. In the end Petunia agreed but only if they could take Dudley home right now, perhaps the sergeant couldn't be bothered with the Dursley's or perhaps he just didn't care what happened to Harry but he soon found himself sat in the back of the stiff new company car winding it's way home.

This was a familiar scene in Harry's life and really he should be used to uncomfortable silences with the occasional mutterings of his uncle. Harry wasn't though as his uncle had gone beyond rage and hatred in to a whole new level of negative feelings and Harry was sure that this was only going to end up with some sort of physical pain to him and probably no home.

When they all finally got into the house Harry could see his aunt's face for the first time, he could see how ashamed and devastated she was, Harry decided to make for his room as did Dudley but his aunt merely silently locked him in his room and made Dudley return back down to the kitchen.

Harry sat on his bed and tried to take some comfort in Hedwig but he couldn't stop thinking about his aunt's face she really was devastated, her beloved little boy had had them out to a police station in the middle of the night and there was no way she could kid herself or cover it up.

"Involved in manslaughter hay what a night." Harry sighed looking at Hedwig as she affectionately nipped his finger. Harry knew though that it wouldn't matter he was let go without even a caution they had finally realised that he had nothing to do with it and was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Hope you had a better night than me." He whispered and laid down on his bed totally exhausted and yet it was impossible for him to sleep as he could here every word from downstairs.

"…AND ANOTHER THING! YOU WILL LEARN TO BEHAVE AND PULL YOUR WAIT AROUND HERE! IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT YOU LEARN TO GROW UP AND STOP BEHAVING LIKE A SPOILT LITTLE MUMMY'S BOY! IF YOU CAN GET YOUR SELF MIXED UP IN SUCH A DISCRASE THEN YOU CAN GET YOUR SELF OUT AGAIN…" Harry pulled his pillow tight over his head. Although his Uncle was downstairs and for once not venting his rage on Harry, he couldn't bare the shouting it made his head hurt and his stomach feel empty and lonely.

Harry had a sudden lurch of loneliness he missed his friends; he missed Sirius he even missed Mrs Wealsey's fussing and flapping. What would they think of him getting locked up, what would Dumbledore say? Harry was supposed to be laying low and keeping quiet while he was here and now the police would know he was linked to Sirius what would he do if they came looking. The ministry were bound to pick up on any leads and if Harry Potter was mentioned it was a sure way to get any muggle notice.

Harry felt hot and sweaty worrying about Sirius and what would happen is it was he Harry who led the authorities to him would that be enough to land Harry in prison to hiding a convicted murderer. Last time they took no notice of Harry's plea for his innocence so they certainly weren't going to listen this time. With dreadful thoughts such as these Harry couldn't sleep and merely watched the sky change outside and looked enviously at Hedwig who had settled herself down on Harry's bed post to sleep.

Soon though Harry was pacing his way up and down his room he couldn't bare waiting like this the shouted had stopped for now but the silence and tension from downstairs was deafening. Harry didn't know what to do with himself he tried reading wizard books looking at his homework reading old letters but nothing worked and in the end he had to content himself with the only thing mind-blowing enough.

He tied his bedroom. He emptied everything onto his bed from his case, the floor, under the floorboards, everything. Very carefully and systematically Harry started putting everything away into his case, folding his robes pairing his socks. Harry new it wouldn't matter he didn't really have that much stuff compared to most people but he still hap more than his trunk full what with the muggle books he had been claiming from his cousin's old bedroom and the fact that he never through anything out. His possessions just about overflowed into his school bag but most of that was full with cake and sweets he hadn't eaten yet.

It never ceased to amaze Harry how boring and tedious task's like this could fill up his time so easily.

"DUDLEY DON'T YOU DARE SPEAK TO YOUR MOTHER LIKE THAT! SHE HAS DEVOTED HER ENTIRE LIFE TO YOUR HAPPINESS AND YOU HAVE DISCRASED HER TONIGHT!' There was quiet for a while and Harry guess Dudley was trying to say something. 'DON'T YOU DARE TURN THAT ON AND DON'T THINK RUNNING TO HIDE BEHIND THE TABLE IS GOING TO SAVE YOU."

Next thing that happened was rather surprising, Harry heard a huge crash of glass and Harry wondered if it was the window. Harry locked his case shut and put the key around his neck thinking he best get ready to make a run for it just in case.

Another big crash from downstairs, this time waking Hedwig up, thud, thud, thud. It seems Harry wasn't the only one thinking about making a run for it Harry distinctly heard his cousin pounding up the stairs and his uncle in close pursuit. However when he heard Dudley slam his door shut the next set of banging noises seemed to be coming from his door.

His uncle seemed to be in such a hurry to get in to Harry's room he pretty much knocked the door off its hinges.

"YOU! PACK YOUR BAGS YOU'RE GOING THIS ROOM IS NEEDED!" There was and evil glint in his uncle's eye that made Harry suspicious but apparently not enough.

"What for this is my room?" No sooner had the words come out of his mouth did Harry realise he had made a terrible mistake and that he was probably going to pay dearly for it later.

"Get out!" His uncle grumbled through gritted teeth, this sudden stop of noise was terrifying to Harry he new he'd been in far worse situations. Harry had been so close to Voldermort recently he could feel his icy breath on his face but some how his uncle was able to put a far greater fear of life in him.

What made it worse was how his uncle usually wouldn't dare be so openly throwing Harry out into the street at this time of day, what would the neighbours think would any of them help him or did they all think that Harry was some thuggish runt that his aunt was so kind as to keep.

All Harry could do was tell himself to 'remain calm, whatever you do don't lose your temper and do some serious magic just remain calm. I can go to Ron's or Sirius he will always have me. I'll be ok.' Harry mumbled now carrying his case downstairs he looked up and saw his cousin watching from the banister above Harry could see tears' running down his face and what was no doubt a black eye swelling up.

"DON'T YOU LOOK AT HIM YOU DIRTY ANIMAL!" Harry heard bellowed into his left ear. He jumped out his skin and nearly dropped his case on his foot but catching it just in time his uncle gave him one hefty shove Harry fell to the bottom step. Daring a glance at his uncles features Harry suddenly saw glaring red eyes bulging in front of him barely and inch from his own.

Vernon's hot smelly breath breathed words at Harry that he could only follow quickly and quietly as he had been conditioned to do nearly all his life.

"out the back. Put your case in the coal shed and no funny business or else." It was the or else that rang clearly in Harry's ears as he made his way to the back door. Thinking how he could get out of this mess his only hope seemed to be Hedwig but how could he send a letter to anyone and who would come help him?

Harry didn't want Sirius risking his life to save Harry like this he could be caught and it was unbearable to think of the fate awaiting Harry's godfather if he was ever found. Mr Weasley what could he do against someone like Dursley! Harry knew Mr Weasley was a capable wizard but Harry was always a little unsure to ask for help, he could never understand why but he always felt uncomfortable when the Waesley's fussed over him like an honoured guest when really all he wanted was to be treated like a son.

A son, who would treat him, Harry like a son.

Harry did as he was told and was soon stumbling out onto the porch and although it was nearly a summer's morning Harry noticed the sky seemed to be getting blacker rather than lighter.

There was another little crash and a scuffle at the other side of the house. Dudley had tried to make a run for it. And failed, miserable. Harry suddenly had his brilliant idea he had been hoping would come. His wand it was in his case, no use now but at least he could use the stuff in his bag if Harry was to be out here a while so taking the opportunity Harry shoved his bag into the prickly bushes and stood up just in time for his uncle to bound out the back door in one of the strangest mood Harry had ever seen.

Padlocking the coal bunker with two padlocks his uncle turned his full frame towards Harry.

"Just you dare try and get to that case! I want you out of the house from now on! If you must stay as it seems you must then you can stay outside where you belong. Petunia fetch the collar and Rex's chain!" There was a little sob and Petunia scuttled like she'd never scuttled before deeper into the house.

"Why can't you just through me out I will gladly go and never darken you doorstep again why would I want to return here to you." Harry shouted insolently.

"Because… BECAuse… BECAUSE!"

"Because what it's clear you don't want me here so why won't you let me go?" Harry shouted suddenly aware that something was clearly preventing his uncle from doing what he always wanted.

"Because I would rather make you life miserable than see you go!" He bellowed back as Petunia returned with the dreaded items.

"What are you going to do chain me up? Like a dog." Harry shouted carefully eyeing the fence sod his case he can easily come back for it later when everything has died down.

His uncle never replied though he just glared with those red eyes and purple face at Harry in such a way that Harry wished he couldn't read his uncles mind. His uncle was going to kill him and Harry wasn't going to let him.

Sprinting as fast as he could to the back gate in an attempt Harry soon discovered his uncle had lurched forwards and grabbed him round the skinny knobbly knees. He wiggled free and dived for the gate but he couldn't get it open it was jammed and he was now more trapped than ever as his uncle marched forwards still with Harry's foot print across his face.

Harry nearly closed his eyes as his uncle seized him round the middle and tried to crush the very breath out of him. Harry wiggled and kicked al he could as his uncle just kept on crushing his lungs.

It was no use Harry was merely wasting energy his arms were pinned down and his legs were just too short to kick anything of any value.

Damm his skinniness! Harry thought still trying hopelessly to wiggle free. With one last crush Harry gave in he couldn't breath and his uncle let him drop hard to the patio with a thud.

After that it was quite simple for Vernon as Harry breathed heavily in, his uncle dinned him down with a knee and a fat arm snapping the metal dog chain around Harry's leg and some sort of collar tightly on to his ankle.

Thankfully it started to rain and so twenty stone on Vernon Dursley went inside leaving Harry still panting on all fours outside. Not so lucky for Harry he was now chained up outside in the rain tired and with next to no top left on and only a little lip on the shed for cover.

Totally fed up but glad to be breathing Harry sat himself down on the grass and waited. He was trying to think of a worse place to be as he didn't dare receive his bag until his uncle was out the house or it was pitch black. Harry didn't have the energy to wrestle with his uncle like that again.

Harry Potter, the famous wizard boy that lived, was now sat on a plant pot, in the rain, listening to strange noises from inside the house. Now freezing cold from the wind and starving from trying to remember his last meal he just sat there annoyed that there was nothing much he could do to help his present situation. He tried watching for Hedwig but she was no where to be seen and he hoped his uncle hadn't done something horrible to her.

It was the eve of Dudley's birthday and guessing by the complaints from his aunt and the begging from his cousin, Harry's uncle was refusing to take the three of them out for the annual pre-Dudley celebratory meal. There must have been some patching up going on that Harry hadn't of seen but never the less things seemed to be a little better in there considering the circumstances. Harry stifled a little laugh his cousin was weeping on his aunt's holder in the kitchen because his uncle was refusing to give Dudley any presents this year.

Feeling guilty that he was taking so much pleasure out of his cousin's suffering Harry sighed deeply and suddenly had a sneaky suspicion that one or more of his ribs were either really badly bruised or broken. Not a pleasant thought but he daren't look he half expected to see a bone jutting out at some sort of weird angle. Instead Harry had to content himself with the fact that if he got much colder he would go numb and unable to feel the pain.

The rain was really poring down now and it was no wonder the sky had gone so dark, Harry drifted into some uneasy but happy memories.

Hermione was trying to explain to Rona bout the concept of 'it's raining cat and dogs out there!' Ron however kept looking out the window and saying adamantly that there were no cats or dog's falling from the sky and why was she saying such rubbish. They seemed to be getting more and more cross with each other in an attempt to make the other see sense as Harry and Dean just sat sniggering as they watched the argument unfold.

Poor Ron Harry thought he really didn't understand muggle clichés. In the end Ron and Hermione refused to speak until the rain stopped and the sun came back out.

The hours moved on as Harry sat there and soon the darkness came properly as Harry could see streetlights turning on. Harry could see next door sitting down to a family dinner and almost smell the hot potatoes and sizzling sausages. Harry however found it more and more difficult to remember warm evenings in the Gryffindor Tower as he began to really feel the pinch of pain and cold in his breath.

Deciding it was cold enough dark enough and that he could bare it no longer Harry dragged himself up slowly to see how far he could get before falling back down or stopped by the surprisingly long chain he was attached to.

Supporting his weight on the back of the tree Harry gather as much chain up and set off across the neatly kept garden. He barely got a few meters before he slipped and fell flat on his face for a rest. It took several minuets to get back up and much longer to get across the garden but he did it with out drawing any attention from the house.

Although annoyed that his arms had been terribly prickled by the thorny bush Harry was grateful to find his bag was actually rather dry although a little muddy. His jumper was still dry and his food still edible. Harry looking longingly at the coal shed where his case was but knew the chain was to short and it was highly unlikely that he could get the locks off without a attracting the attention of his uncle or b some sort of tool.

Sitting back under the tree in the mud Harry settled himself down with his jumper on with the best shelter he could get, an old garden bin bag with a whole in it and eating a slightly squashed chocolate muffin Mrs Waesley had sent him ages ago.

It never did stop raining all night and Harry never did fall asleep for longer than a few minuets at a time but when the sun finally came out Harry felt a little better in it's warmth. As far as the rest of the street was concerned it was going to be a beautiful day and Harry wondered if any of the neighbours would notice him chained to a tree in the back garden like a dog.

When his aunt came out and left some toast on the back step it seemed he was never going to be aloud in the house again as he was even expected to use the old outside toilet with all the old junk and spiders in it. The only thing that could keep him going at these times was the thought of Ron's face when he told him what he had to do.

All in all Harry decided this had got to be one of the worse summers he'd ever had even the one's where aunt Marge had turned up. He felt rock bottom how the Dursley's could treat him so badly but what Harry hadn't worked out yet was his uncle could go very low indeed when it came to his family!

Please leave us a review so i no weather to bother posting any more it's just ready and waiting!