Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot of this story!

Chapter One The Horrid Summer

Harry Potter wasn't a normal boy. He was in fact a wizard, fresh out of his 5th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and

Wizardry. Everyone thought that Harry had a good, happy life, but they were wrong. Behind the handsome and brave face was

a, lost and scared boy. Trying to over come the death of his godfather, Sirius Black and the fact that one day he would have to

kill the most evil wizard in history, Harry also had to deal with his muggle uncle, Vernon, who had taken to beating Harry.

Vernon who had never liked the boy was under a lot of stress from work, having already lost three contracts to other

companies, he took out his angry and frustration on Harry. Harry had only been home a week when an owl came for Vernon, it

was from Minerva McGonagall, Harry's transfiguration Teacher and Head of Gryffindor House. Inside the envelope was a letter

explaining everything Harry had been through that year included Sirius' death. Harry was no longer able to use his godfather as

protection and that was when Harry's uncle began to beat him.

Harry was curled up into a ball, whimpering in a corner of the living room as Vernon kicked him repeatedly in the back.

Biting down on his lower lip was all Harry could do from crying out in pain.

"You worthless piece of trash! You deserver to die! You bring nothing but pain and misery! Lost five contracts! Lost my car!

And it's your fault!" Vernon yelled at the bloody, whimpering ball.

Vernon grabbed Harry by his hair and slammed it into the wall with a sickening thump. Harry bit down so hard on his already

slip lip, it bleed. Vernon released Harry who crumpled to the floor shaking violently, sweat running down his cold, clammy skin.

"Get out of my sight!" yelled Vernon.

Harry scrambled to his feet and rushed into his room. He sat on his bed shaking and touched his sore face gently. This had

been the 36th beating in one month and to top it off today was his birthday. Harry went and took a shower to rid himself of the

blood then he stood in front of the mirror and checked the damage. His face was black and purple on just about every inch of

his skin. His nose was broken, his lower and upper lip was slip in sereval places, the back and side of his head was covered in

cuts, his chest, back, and stomach were covered in bruises and his right side had a large gash from where it was rammed into the

corner of the kitchen table. Harry slowly bandaged his new wounds then slowly dressed. He walked into his room to see three

owls, Ron's and two that must have been from Hermione and the Order. Sure enough he was right. Ron's contained a cake with

minces pie and a book on Quidditch teams. Hermione's was a new planner and the order gave him a collection of Defense

Against the Dark Art's books called 'Defensive Spells and Jinks'. Harry smiled and put his present under the loose floorboard

under his bed. Harry fell asleep, wondering when his Hogwarts letter was going to arrived and how he would get his new books.

It was two weeks until school started and Harry couldn't wait to get away from Vernon and get some food, having already eaten

the food Ron has sent him. The beatings hadn't lessen except on his face. Instead the beatings were worst on his body which

already was weak from lack of food and rest. The reason for this was that Vernon didn't want Harry going to school with

questionable marks on his face. Harry was sitting at his desk flipping through his photo album of his parents. His face was almost

completely heal thanks to the medicine his aunt had bought him. Harry was studying a picture of his mother sitting in a rocking

chair, holding him whiling he was asleep. He noticed that the baby had the same color hair as his mother, auburn. Harry shook

his head and looked again but it was the same.

'It must be the way the light is hitting' Harry thought.

Harry yawned and look at his clock which read 3:16am. Harry glanced outside his window and saw a brown owl and quickly

opened the window. The owl landed on his bed. Harry relieved it of it's letter and it flew off. Harry looked at the letter and

smiled, it was his Hogwarts letter. Harry opened it and saw his O.W.L. scores:

Student: Harry Potter-Gyffindor

Head Master: Ablus Dumbledor

O.W.L. Exam

Transfiguration: Written- Exceed Expection Oral- Outstanding Over All- Outstanding

DADA: Written- Outstanding Oral- Outstanding Over All- Outstanding

Charms: Written- Outstanding Oral- Outstanding Over All- Outstanding ComC: Written- Acceptable Oral- Exceed Expectation Over All- Exceed Expection

History: Written- Acceptable Oral- Acceptable Over All- Acceptable

Divationary: Written- Acceptable Oral- Acceptable Over All- Acceptable Potions: Written- Exceed Expectation Oral- Outstanding Over All- Outstanding

Total O.W.L. - 7

Harry smiled and looked at his listen of need books. He frowned wondering how he would get his new books. He decided to

think later about it and went to sleep. The last two weeks went by painfully and slow. It was the day before he left and his stuff

was pack, his books had arrived through mail order, waiting by his bedroom door. Harry was double checking that everything

was packed when he heard his uncle call him. Harry slowly walks down the stair, trembling slightly, knowing that Aunt Petunia

and Dudley had gone out and he was alone with Uncle Vernon. Harry entered the living and what he saw almost made him

collapse. On the coffee table was a whip, a belt with metal studs, Dudley's smelting stick, and a large pot with fire inside and a

long iron rod inside the fire. Harry started to tremble visably.

"I wanted to give you a good bye present. Strip!" he commanded

Harry obey the command knowing if he didn't it would be worst. After removed all his clothes, Uncle Vernon walked around

him examining his naked body and smiled at the damage already done.

"Close you eyes" he hissed and Harry again obey wishing it was over.

The pain was sudden and Harry yelped in pain and jumped away, his eyes opened and he stared at Vernon. Vernon grin

wickedly, in his hand the long iron rod which was red from the fire. Harry could feel the pain in his back where the rod and

touched his flesh.

"Turn around boy, and don't you dare move."

Harry turned around and bit down on his lower lip and Vernon pressed the rod across his back. Harry fought hard not to move

away or cry out. After an hour of beging burnt, whipped and beaten. Harry was given a breather. Harry was laying on his

stomach, his breath short and shallow, trying hard not to pass out knowing it would anger Vernon.

Another hour passed and Harry was let go. Harry crawled up the stairs and into his bed and passed out. Harry was awoken by a loud knock on his door.

"If you want to go to go to that school of yours you have one hour." Vernon yelled.

Harry slowly got up and shower then dressed.

With great effort Harry dragged his trunk into a compartment, he arrived an hour earlier and the train was deserted. He started

to think about what he would tell his best friends about his summer. He was wearing Dudley's clothe so it was not noticeable

how thin he was. But they would notice once he changed into his Hogwarts uniform but he decide to deal with it when it came.

Harry brushed tears from his eyes and lead his head back and fell asleep.

"Harry? Harry?" said a voice.

Harry jerked awake and winced at the pain that ran through his body. He looked up at Ron and Hermione

"Hey!" Harry said.

"Hey mate! Did you stay up late doing homework?" Ron asked as he and Hermione sat down.

Harry nodded and Ron grinned.

"Harry you shouldn't leave your homework for last minute, you won't get a good grade." Hermione said.

Harry smiled slightly then rested his head back.

"Harry are you alright?" asked Hermione

"Yeah, mate you don't look to good." Ron added.

"I'm fine just tired. I've stayed up the pass few nights doing homework." Harry answered

They both nodded and then Ginny, Luna and Nerville joined them. Harry didn't join in with the other, wishing very much to be

alone instead he just watched them talking and laugh. Ron and Ginny were having a heated chess match. Ginny was a good as

Ron and it was a very close game so far. The lady of the trolley came by and Harry bought a large lunch but ate very little giving

the rest to the others.

"Harry you okay? You bought alot of food but ate so little." Ginny asked.

"I'm fine. I thought I was hungry but I was wrong." he replied but the truth was that he wasn't use to eating.

A few minutes later the door to their compartment opened and a very pretty girl stood at the door. The girl was about 5 foot in

height, with waist long auburn hair, caramel skin, brown eyes swirled with bright green, she looked to be there age and was

already wearing her hogwarts uniform, her trunk in the hallway.

"Sorry, I thought this compartment was empty" she said with an accent none but Hermione could recongized.

The girl blushed and was about to turn away.

"It's Okay. I'm Hermione Ganger. This is Ron and Ginny Weasley. Neville Longbottom, Harry Potter and Luna Lovegood."

Hermione said pointing to each person in turn. The girl nodded to each one and she didn't ,to Harry's surprise and relief, look for

his scar when he was introduced. The girl smiled making her look very pretty and very familiar to Harry, but he couldn't

place it.

"Hello, my name is Gabriela. I'll just be going." She turned and started to leave again.

"You can stay here" said Ginny.

"Thank you but it's already crowded." She nodded to them again then left.

"She must be an exchange student, she is about our age and she doesn't have a house on her uniform. I think from her accent

that she is from Spain." Hermione said.

"Really?" asked Neville and Hermione nodded.

Harry looked out the window, thinking about Gabriela, and wondering why she seemed familiar.

Okay I repeat this is my first Harry Potter Fic, so don't kill me! I hope you liked the first chapter. Please Review.