Chapter Nineteen: Changes

Harry looked up from the puzzle he was doing with Brian as he heard the door open and instantly paled.

"Hello, Mr. Potter," she said in a clipped tone of voice. "I am here to retrieve Brian and take him with me to his temporary foster home. Brian, go pack your stuff. Mr. Brown will go with you. Mr. Potter, I need you to stay here." Harry stared at him, mind in shock as Mr. Brown walked over to them, picked the shocked Brian up, and headed up to the boys' dorm. After a minute Harry finally found his tongue.

"What are you doing? What's going on? Why are you taking him away?" Harry yelled, getting the common room's attention. He started to go up the stairs to where he could hear Brian crying, but two burly men stepped in front of him.

"Mr. Potter, these men will knock you unconscious is necessary. I advise you to not give them reason to."

"They won't have to if you'll let me to Brian!" he screamed and tried to force his way past the two men. Each grabbed one of arms and pinned them behind his back painfully, but he barely noticed, mind reeling, trying to think of way to go Brian and leave before they took him away.

"You are underage, Mr. Potter, and therefore legally are not able to care for a child. We could not fine any solid evidence that you had abused him, but nevertheless, you are underage."

"WHO CARES IF I'M UNDERAGE!! LET ME GO!!" The men only tightened their hold on him.

"Mr. Potter, if you would please calm down-"

"CALM DOWN?! YOU'RE TAKING MY SON AWAY! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CALM-"

He didn't get to finish his sentence as one of the men, he didn't know which, hit him hard over the head making star flash in front of his eyes. Through his dazed state, he heard Brian's cried become louder as he and Mr. Brown came back. He forced himself to concentrate on the present as he heard Brian screaming his hear, barely able to do for the sobs racking his body, screaming for him. Hearing his cries made Harry's hear clench painfully and only renewed his efforts to break free of the men.

"Mr. Potter," she said loudly over Brian's yells, "I don't think if would do your 'son' any good to see you knocked unconscious, do you?" Harry stopped fighting for a moment to glare at her and wish that he could wipe the smirk off her face. "That's what I thought," she said smugly while Harry tried to think of a way out of his predicament. Harry heard a male voice scream, and then saw Brian running toward him. He tried to bend to instinctively, but Brian was scooped up by Mr. Brown before he was anywhere near Harry. They began walking towards the door. Harry panicked, and instantly began trying to free himself.

"BRIAN! LET HIM GO! I'LL KILL YOU IF YOU DO ANYTHING TO HIM! LET ME GO!!!"

Shock is common thing when someone is faced with a terrible and surprising situation, like the one Harry was placed in. He hadn't been expecting someone to come in and take Brian away from him. His brain did what the normal human does; it went into shock not knowing how to deal with the situation he was now faced with. Yes, he had been in many a situation where being shock would have been normal, and completely forgivable, but none as atrocious as the current one.

Harry didn't get to say anything more as he heard Brian screaming for him right before everything went blank.

Elton Brown was having a hard time. He had already had to remove one child from their home earlier before going to Hogwarts, which was turning out to be a disaster. The child would not shut up no matter what they did, and he kicked the hardest of any of he children he had dealt with in the past. He cursed again as the child managed to kick him and dropped him to the floor. He ran back in the direction of Gryffindor Tower, but Ms. Lydia caught him. He tried to kick her in the shins. Elton winced at the child's mistake.

He hated Marie Lydia. Everyone did. She was a horrible, despicable woman. She wouldn't stand for anyone screaming no matter what the situation was. Poor Brian had only made matters worse for himself by attempting to kick her. More often than not, he thought that she should be tired for child abuse instead of the parents.

Just as he knew it would happen the child's pants and underwear came down as she began what she did to every child you did not cooperate with her. Elton forced himself forward even though he could barely breathe to try to get the child from her. Spanking the children never helped anything. It only made them more scared and upset, but he was almost powerless to stop it. If he tried to she would get him fired, and he was already on probation. Maybe she wouldn't go too hard on him he hoped, but his mind screamed at him to forget everything else and go get the child. Then he remembered that he had his own children to think about and stayed put.

Finally after ten agonizing minutes for both males she stopped and pulled the child's clothes back up. "Now," she said, "are you going to behave and not kick us anymore?" The child sniffled, and gulped for air, sobbing his hear out. He nodded. She smiled at him. "Good." Elton immediately went and picked the child up. He scowled as the child flinched at his touch. Marie looked at him. "Say one word and I will make sure you are fired and not able to get a job anywhere else." Elton scowled and forced himself to stay quiet.

He let Marie lead the way out, he lagging behind trying to calm the child. If he didn't get him to clam down at least a little he was going to throw up from crying so hard. He rubbed the child's back hoping it would work. It didn't. He frowned as he saw Marie's patience beginning to wear thin. She stopped and walked back towards them.

"Brian," she said meanly. The child flinched, but turned to look at her. "If you don't shut up I'll spank you again, but it will be much harder this time, understand me?" The child nodded eyes wide with fear. She glared darkly at Elton before beginning back across the lawn.

Elton held the child tight, pushing his face into the crook of his neck muffling the child's cries some. "Shhh, it's okay. She won't hurt you again. Take deep breaths." He was relieved as the child cooperated and very slowly clamed down.

An hour later Brian was watching the house fly pass the window, stomach in knots, struggling to keep his eyes open while fear ran through him. He glanced fearfully up at the front seat where Ms. Lydia was driving. He shifted in his seat trying to find the most comfortable spot for his still sore bottom. He immediately stopped when he realized what he was doing. He had to be still and be a good little boy, or she would spank him again.

Daddy never spanked me. He promised he never would, Brian though sadly as tears rose to his eyes. He didn't let them fall. That would be bad. He would get in trouble if he cried. He clasped his hands together trying to control the pure terror of what would happen if he did anything bad while wondering if he would ever see his dad again.

She had said that those men would hurt him if he didn't cooperate. Daddy hadn't been cooperating. Was he okay? What if they had killed him?

The though scared him so much that he could keep the tears from rolling down his cheeks. He immediately bowed his head and wiped his eyes before anyone could see.

Harry moaned as he heard someone calling his name. He stayed still hoping they would go away, his head hurt so badly. He idly wondered who was watching Brian. Harry's breath caught, and his eyes immediately snapped open as everything came rushing back. He tried to sit up, but he was pushed back down as dizziness overcame him.

"Where's Brian? What happened?" he asked urgently. Someone placed his glasses on his face and everything came into focus. He spotted Remus and Brittany sitting on either side of him on the bed in the hospital wing.

"Ron and Hermione said two men knocked you out," Remus answered slowly while Brittany stoked Harry's head, pushing his hair back from his forehead to reveal his lightening bolt scar. Remus and Brittany glanced at each other.

"Brian is on his way to a foster home." Harry shook his head. "I'm sorry. I tried to get him from them, but they won't let me. They won't even tell me where they're taking him."

Harry slumped again the covers. "I should have stopped them. I should've cursed them into eternity for even trying to take him. How could I let this happen?" Harry closed his eyes and forced back tears. How could this have happened? He had promised Brian nothing bad would happen. Brian couldn't make it without him. No one else understood what he had been through. No one else knew how to calm him down.

"Harry, it wasn't your fault," Remus said firmly, but gently. "You weren't expecting it. Your mind went into shock. It's perfectly normal, and reasonable."

Harry scowled and opened his eyes. "No, it's not. I promised him nothing bad would happen! I promised him I would always be there! I promised him that! It's not okay! He's not here, and I'm not with him! How can you it's normal? I should have done something! I shouldn't have let them take him away! I…" Harry swallowed painfully against the lump on his throat as the reality of the situation hit him.

Brian wasn't here. He was on his to some foster home. Without Harry.

Harry succumbed to the tears threatening to overwhelm him, and accepted the hugs and comfort Remus and Brittany offered.

Brian held Elton's hand tightly trying to ignore the grumbling in his stomach. They hadn't had time to stop for anything to eat. It was eight in the evening now and the last time Brian has anything to eat, or drink was at breakfast.

He clung tighter to Elton's hands as Marie rang the doorbell. Elton had been nice to him, especially after Marie had spanked him. He had let him sit on his lap on the train ride and didn't scold him when he had fallen and slowed them down. Why couldn't he stay with Elton? He didn't want to meet these new people. What if they were mean? What if they treated him like his mean daddy had?

The door opened and Brian craned his neck to see. A bony faced woman with equine feature opened the door. Brian frowned. She reminded of someone, but he couldn't think of whom.

"Hello! You must be from the Department of Children Services." Marie smiled at her.

"Yes, hello." They shook hands. "I'm Marie Lydia, this is Elton Brown, and this is Brian Knight, the child you'll be caring for. Can we come in?"

"Oh, yes of course. Please do."

They walked into the warmly lit entry way and Brian looked around. He looked back the door, up to the colored glass panes it wishing that he could go back out it. "Can I get you anything to eat, or drink? I've just baked some apple pie."

"Pie would be good. Thank you."

"I'd love some," Elton said. She bent down to Brian's level. Brian stepped back a little, suddenly scared the woman would hurt him.

"What about you? Do you like apple pie?" Brian nodded hesitantly. He loved apple pie. "Would you like a piece?"

What should he say? Would she think him rude if she said no? Would she think he was spoiled brat if he said yes?

"It's fine if you don't want a piece and its fine if you want one. Do you want a piece?" she asked sweetly and patiently, so unlike what her nephew would have described her as. Brian nodded, reassured. They all sat down around the kitchen table as she dished out the pie and poured everyone drinks.

A few minutes later, a huge man came down the stairs. He had almost no neck, small beady eyes, and mustache that moved with every word he spoke. Marie stood up and shook his hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I was just talking to your wife, Petunia. She was telling me how you two are so excited to have Brian with you, Mr. Dursley."

He smiled politely at her. Brian could tell that he was anything but excited. He looked ready to throw Brian out the door.

"Yes, we're very excited, and please, call me Vernon."

Brian gasped as he realized who these people were. They were Daddy's mean aunt and uncle! They ones who had abused him! Why was he staying here? He gulped, suddenly not hungry anymore. He forced himself to breath. They were going to treat him just like they treated Daddy. He looked up as he heard someone say his name? Petunia was looking at him worriedly.

"Sweetie, are you alright? Are you done eating?" Brian shook his head.

"I'm fine." She smiled sweetly at him.

"Okay, you looked a little sick. Are you feeling okay?" He nodded. "Are you going to finish your pie?" Brian nodded and picked his fork back up. He knew he needed to finish the pie. You shouldn't waste food, and it would probably be the last food he had for a while.

He finished his piece of pie and glass of milk and was struggling to stay awake. Despite his fear of being mistreated it was becoming increasingly hard to stay awake. Petunia finally noticed and picked the child up, instantly waking him up. She looked at him, surprised

"It's okay, honey. Why don't we go upstairs and put you to bed? You're about to fall asleep in your plate," she smiled sweetly and genuinely at him. Why was she being nice to be when she had been mean to Daddy?

Without waiting for his response she went out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Brian was too tired to figure it out, or look around his surrounding as he was changed into his pajamas and tucked into bed. He knew he probably should have told her she wasn't allowed to change him, not being one of the people his daddy had mentioned that was allowed to, but feel asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, erasing all thoughts from his mind.

Author's Note: I was tempted to end this earlier, but decided that we needed a little Petunia cuddling. I know I'm horrible for doing this to them, but oh well. I have to take my frustrations out on someone don't I?

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