July 3rd 1996

Harry slowly made his way up the stairs of the house on Privet Drive and down the long hall to the bathroom. It was a painful experience to remove his clothing; it took just one glance in the mirror to realize the punishment his body had taken over the past few days. He had a large blue bruise on his left cheek and a deep gash along his eyebrow, what made the glance in the mirror so shocking was the fact that his face was the least effected area. There was not more than an inch or two of his entire torso that was not purple, blue, or even a nasty shade of green. His arms were not much better per sight but were even sorer than the rest of him, if that was possible.

He gingerly climbed over the edge of the bathtub and sunk into the steaming water in hopes for, at least, a brief pause in the constant throbbing extending through his body. He was granted some relief as he immersed his entire head underwater and could imagine the world outside the bathroom drifting away. He was unpleasantly reminded of where he was when a loud thumping could be heard. He slowly brought his head above water to hear the wailing of his bully of a cousins' voice. "Potter we weren't finished!"

Despite the threats of his friends on the train platform, Uncle Vernon had insisted on Harry helping Dudley train during the summer.

When asked Uncle Vernon would state that Harry was just earning his keep " A summer job is not beneath you. You are earning some of the money that you owe to this family" as he was sitting his fat arse in front of the telly eating another piece of Aunt Petunia's Chocolate Cream pie.

Since he had gotten home from school on the 1st he had become Dudley's sparring partner or punching bag as he thought would more properly describe him. Dudley just took to calling Harry "Potter" which was better than some of the other things that he use to call him, which Harry assumed was an after effect of Mad-eye's threat.

In addition, Uncle Vernon had told him it would help toughen him up. Harry had almost thought positively on the prospect of physical training when Uncle Vernon had first mentioned it. Harry soon found out he was not suppose to truly fight back but just stand there and move occasionally.

Their first "training Session" Harry had been moving around so much to avoid Dudley's punches that Dudley became out of breath and passed out. Of Course, Uncle Vernon had said that Harry used his "thing" on him. Which was of course absurd because an owl would have been swooping in through the window a few minutes later.

Nonetheless, Harry had to eat stale crackers and cold soup in his room that night and a half rot banana for breakfast the next morning. Since then Harry just took the beating for an hour every night and soaked in a bath until Dudley came to beat down the door.

At least the pain from his injuries took his mind off of what really tore at his soul SIRIUS. Every time he closed his eyes he saw the veil or the look on his godfathers face as he realized he was falling. The pain of it all was too much at times and Harry would try everything from reading to completing all his school assignments in record time to keep himself from sleeping.

Though he had several posts from his friends and was assured they would come for him soon, he felt helplessly alone. Alone with only the thoughts of Sirius' death and the dreadful prophecy to keep him company between the beatings that Dudley inflicted on him daily.

"Potter we weren't finished!" Dudley screamed through his piggishly fat cheeks.

"Sod Off, Dudley. I'm already in the bath."

Dudley answered back "I still have 10 minutes of training left tonight"

Harry had to take punishment from Dudley through the so-called training but he didn't have to take the lip. That was one thing his guard at the station had afforded him. After 20 min of solid banging on the bathroom door, Harry slowly pulled on his oversized clothes and pulled open the door.

" I said I was finished" in a tone that clearly expressed this point.

Dudley dared not provoke Harry any further and retreated to the safety of his own bedroom. Even Dudley wasn't thick enough to provoke Harry when he had THAT look in his eyes. It was a look that told the person Harry was looking at that he could easily lose control. That he was on the edge of his ability to hold back the wrath that he so wanted to let lose on someone.

Harry headed back down the hall to the smallest bedroom in the house, his, opened the door and sighed at the sight before him. He saw clothes, both muggle and wizard thrown on the floor. Along with Several schoolbooks, an empty mug, and his photo album that Hagrid had given him his first year at Hogwarts. The Rest of the room was in no better shape Hedwig's Cage needed cleaning, the nightstand had a two day old plate of half eaten food, and his desk had several papers strown about.

Looking on his desk he saw the letter Hermione had written to him the first day he was back at Privet Drive. He picked it up and thumbed it through his fingers. He didn't know why he kept her letter out on his desk. He had put all the others away soon after he read them. Somehow he felt comforted by her overly neat handwriting and over bearing words. He opened the letter in his hands and began to read it again. Dear Harry,….It began like a lot of letters…. Hope you are doing well considering all that is going on…Harry thought it broad but knew it was in case it was intercepted….You should have time to completed all you assignments….Typical Hermione but he was pleased that he indeed have them completed…..We will be seeing each other soon….How Harry hoped that was true….Love, Hermione.

He missed all his friends but particularly Hermione and Ron. It had only been three days since he saw them. And in that thought he realized he had not yet sent a letter to the order letting them know how he was being treated. He quietly got out his quill and a very small piece of parchment. He thought for a while before coming to an appropriate wording. He simply wrote…..

Fine

H

Harry sat at his small desk for a while unsure whom he wanted to address the letter to and finally decided to just tell Hedwig to find the closest person, at home, from the order to give it to. He then tied the small letter to Hedwig's leg and she gave him an affectionate snip on the hand and he sent her off to find her destination.

Harry then reluctantly crawled into bed, throwing off several pieces of dirty clothing and a couple candy wrappers in the process. He tried to clear his mind of all thoughts and emotions as finally sleep took him.

Harry was walking up a rocky path as the red sun was setting towards a impressive fortress. He slowly turned and spoke to his followers in a very confident voice. "It is time for the world to remember my true power. Once the dementors have started the attack, you shall all join with them. Kill anyone who opposes you. Bring those who do not to me, I shall decide what to do with them"

Harry suddenly woke; the pain in his head was almost unbearable he sat up clutching his hands to his scar. Sweat beaded down the sides of his face, he knew he needed to get word to Dumbledore immediately, but didn't know exactly how.

Hedwig was gone and he had no idea how long she could be. It suddenly struck him that he should have been more specific on the destination of his letter. Hoping that he still had a guard on duty that night, he quickly pulled on his hand me downs and crept down the stairs making sure to skip the creaky one so as not to wake up the Dursley's. He slowly and quietly unlocked the front door and stepped outside, quickly shutting it behind him. The heat of the summer air hit him and felt very welcome against his face. He came back to his task at hand and began to speak into the night.

"Who is on watch tonight?" Harry asked. When no one answered he began again with even more determination.

" I had another vision of Voldemort and I need to notify Professor Dumbledore about it, now"

" Do not speak The Dark Lord's name you arrogant little fool" Professor Snape hissed from the shadows.

"Snape that figures, what are you doing here?" Harry snapped

"That's Professor Snape to you, you arrogant brat, or does the famous Harry Potter think to highly of himself to use a person's proper title"

Harry pushed his anger aside for the moment to complete his current mission.

"Voldemort and his followers are attacking Azkaban as we speak. You need to go tell Professor Dumbledore right now" Harry desperately replied

"You fool, the Dark Lord is not attacking Azkaban, He is testing your addle mind to see if you still are unable to block him" Snape sneered " I see your pathetic attempts at Occlumency haven't gotten any better"

"How do you know he is not really attacking, you are standing in the front yard, in the middle of a muggle neighborhood" Harry questioned

"Do not question me little boy, It is my job to know thing that others do not" Snape hissed

"You know maybe my Occlumency might be a bit better if I had a competent enough teacher who could get passed a school age grudge from about twenty years ago, but nooooo someone is still carrying it around with them" Harry was purposely trying to get Snape rattled

"Careful Potter I might let that grudge get the best of me and deliver you to the Dark Lord myself" Snape answered

" You know Snape, that wouldn't surprise me one bit, you being the slimy git you are, now if you aren't going to alert the headmaster as I have requested then I am going back inside, far be it for me to tell you possibly helpful information" As Harry crept slowly back upstairs he had the overwhelming feeling that Voldemort was happy, very happy. Harry desperately hoped he was mistaken but he doubted it.

Meanwhile on an unplottable island somewhere at sea, the last of the Azkaban Wizard guards had fallen. The prisoners that would not pledge allegiance to the Dark Lord only saw a flash of green light heading toward them. The rest of Voldemort's followers stood next to their master watching him send up the Dark Mark. Voldemort looked at the fallen prison and the dead bodies that lay at his followers' feet. He turned around to the rest of his faithful servants and laughed, " Tomorrow I get revenge on those who put my followers here"