Disclaimer: All character belong to JK Rowling.

Chapter 2

An hour later he lay in his bed on his stomach still breathing heavily. His once white shirt was now a deep red. He had never thought that his uncle would do something like that, but he was wrong. He is insane he thought as he got up out of bed groaning from the pain in his back. He went to his closet to get another shirt on. That night he drifted in, and out of sleep, never knowing if he was asleep or awake, and waking up groaning every time he tried to roll over on his back.

The next two weeks went by painfully slow for Harry. Every night he woke up screaming from his ever-tormenting nightmares until he took a cloth every night and stuffed it in his mouth before he went to sleep so that when he woke up screaming they were muffled. Most of the time they were muffled enough to stop his uncle from waking up and giving him either the whip or belt. Soon it went into an ever to familiar system; wake up before dawn start on the forty chores that his uncle had given him the night before, work himself into exhaustion until 11:30 at night, get beat by his uncle for taking to long to get the chores done, fall into an uneasy sleep (if he was lucky), and then wake up screaming from the nights nightmares sometimes getting beaten. Then it happened all over again. Two weeks after he had arrived at the Dursley's Harry could be found in the kitchen breathing heavily while leaning against the counter trying to make breakfast. He was fairly certain that he had two broken ribs, all five of his fingers on his left hand were most likely broken, he was also certain the there was something wrong with his right leg because it had swollen up a lot and was a deep shade of purple, also the feeling of dizziness that occurred when he stepped on it couldn't be a great sign either. And even with all of that his body was a battlefield of bruises and cuts from the beatings received from uncle Vernon and a few from chores. He had currently started using the handle from a broken broom in the shed to keep his leg straight, but he could only put it on during chores he had to take it off by the end of the day for his beating because the last time he had been found wearing the crutch his uncle had used it in the beatings.

As Harry was preparing breakfast he thought back to earlier that morning…He was at the door with his hand on the handle when he stopped. He knew that if he didn't do it now he would never do it. He walked to his desk opened the drawer, and grabbed the letter. He opened Hedwig's cage to let her out. She hooted cheerfully, and flew onto his arm. He placed her on his desk, and tried to tie the letter to her leg, but she was so happy that she would finally get to deliver a letter that she wouldn't stand still. Harry was starting to get frustrated when he couldn't get it on for the third time.

"HEDWIG will you stand still for just a minute!" Harry yelled. Hedwig stopped immediately, and stood still so that he could tie the letter to her leg, but looked at Harry the whole time reproachfully. After Harry had fixed the letter to her leg he saw her face, and was mad at himself for getting worked up

"I'm sorry Hedwig I'm just a bit… I don't know, but anyways I'm sorry." Hedwig hooted cheerfully, and now looked at the letter attached to her leg.

"The letter is for Ron, and Hermione, you know where they are. Return back right away don't wait around okay?" Hedwig hooted so Harry took it that she understood. He opened the window, and she flew out into the warm summer sky.

He sighed heavily, and was pulled out of his thoughts when he looked over at Dudley for the first time noticing that he was making a scene. He was being swooned over by his aunt. He looked more closely now at the whale that was his cousin and saw a big gash on his forehead. He was hunched over on a chair with his head in his hands fake sobbing. Harry knew that it was his fake sobbing because he always did it when he wanted something. Uncle Vernon's face was beat red with anger, and Harry hopped that this argument, or what ever it was had nothing to do with him. He didn't want another beating, he didn't no if he could handle it. But it couldn't be about him he hadn't done anything since he had been downstairs, but when had that stopped them from blaming things on him. He cracked three eggs into the frying pan, and listened to the conversation that uncle Vernon, and Dudley were having.

"How dare they… how…could!" Uncle Vernon tried to yell out. Then Aunt Petunia came rushing back into the room holding about five packages of bandages in her hand, and looking very pale.

"Now Dudders you tell me exactly what happened okay sweet heart?" Aunt Petunia said worriedly.

"O…Kay" Dudley replied. He wiped fake tears from his eyes, and looked up.

"Well we were just sitting in the car when… when…" He buried his head into his hands, and started to fake sob again. Now Harry knew what had happened. Dudley was sixteen now , and it was time for him to get his drivers license. He had already tried to get it three other times this summer, but somehow always the Dursley's got a bill for having to tow a car out of a lake, or something else. Uncle Vernon was so proud that Dudley was trying to get his license that he had already bought him a new car. Aunt Petunia looked worriedly at Uncle Vernon, and quickly got up, and started to rub Dudley's massive back.

"It's okay Popkins it's all over you can tell mommy." Aunt Petunia whispered to Dudley. Dudley took a huge breath of air, and let it out slowly.

"Then I was turning, and the stupid guy told me that I forgot to put on my signal lights, so I went to put them on, and when I wasn't looking I drove into a pole. It hurt so badly." Dudley finished quickly.

"Well obviously it was all his fault don't you agree Vernon?" Aunt Petunia said angrily.

"They seriously hurt him what if he has that scar for the rest of his life. Now this made Harry a little uneasy he didn't want to have anything in common with Dudley especially not his scar.

"He could have died!" Aunt Petunia finished exasperating.

"Of course I agree with you Petunia, and I will march down there right now, and have a talk with them. I'll sue if I have too!" Uncle Vernon yelled.

"Me, and Dudders will come with you. They should see what they have done to this innocent boy." Aunt Petunia replied.

"Are you okay to walk sweet pie?"

"I… think so." Dudley said slowly.

"Well what are we waiting for then lets get going," Uncle Vernon said. Harry had just finished making the bacon, and had put the pan into the sink rather noisily. Uncle Vernon turned around, and looked at Harry. He stared at him for a while, and then seemed to make up his mind.

"Boy you will finish making breakfast, and put it somewhere where it will stay warm, and then go to your room. If I find any evidence that you have been out of your room, you will regret it. You understand?" Uncle Vernon said sternly.

"Yes sir," he replied as he staked more dishes into the dishwasher. His Uncle turned quickly, and walked out of the room. A few minutes later he heard the front door slam shut, and the click of the lock being turned.

A/N: Hey, this is my first fan fiction so please go easy on me. Thanks to Suzuki-chan, and Padawan Jan-AQ for being my first reviewers, and special thanks to Suzuki-chan for the advice, which I kept it in mind while writing this chapter. Please R&R! I'm always looking for pointer to make my writing better so please don't be afraid to give me tips, and advice.