Disclaimer: I own nothing other than… well, the plot, and Jays who you'll meet later. Oh! And the idea of certain people in certain positions in certain relationships. Everything else belongs to JK Rowling and Mercedes Lackey.

I'm uploading this chapter on Mother's Day in honor of my Mother, a woman who is very close to my heart indeed.

Chapter One

Meet the Dursleys

It was a dark and stormy night, with the wind howling down the lane, and the thunder shaking the very foundations of the houses. But the wind was not the only howler in Number 4 Privet Drive. A very young child- he appeared to be around three years old, but wa in actuality, five- was shaken awake from a recurring nightmare and began to cry, his sobs drifting from his bedroom…er, cupboard under the stairs…upstairs to the master bedroom of the house. Awakened by the 'noise,' Vernon Dursley pounded down the stairs, frightening the child into greater hysterics.

"Shut up, Freak!" He shouted as he crouched into the now-unlocked cupboard. "What if the neighbors hear you? What then? They'll take you away because you're so loud and stick you in the nastiest possible orphanage, because you're a Freak. We took you in from the goodness of our hearts, and you owe us a whole lot! Understand, Freak?"

The little boy- by now curled into a fetal position- nodded and whimpered, "Yes, sir, Uncle Vernon sir. It won't happen again sir. I'm very sorry, sir." It came out automatically, as if he had recited those words many times before.

Vernon reached into the cupboard and grabbed the boy's arm to pull him out. "Even if you are sorry," he said, "that doesn't excuse you from" a malicious grin stretched across his face as he paused "your punishment." The poor child flinched dramatically, and as lightning flashed, you could see bruises ad cuts, and even old scars that littered his body. His shirtless chest seemed to have taken the brunt of the obvious beatings, and as Vernon walked upstairs, you could hear the child whimper, "No, not again… Please, someone, help me! If anyone can hear me, please, send me someone to help me. I know I'm a bad Freak, and I don't deserve any help, but please…"

He stopped as Vernon came downstairs with a worn leather belt in his hand, clearly intending violence. "Come on, Freak, into the kitchen with you. Don't want to stain the carpet, now, do we?" With that, he shoved the boy forcefully onto the tile, and raised his hand, and as he brought the belt down with a crack on the boy's chin, nothing escaped from the child's mouth but a tiny yelp.

This continued for several minutes, leaving welts on the child's back and chest. Vernon was careful to avoid the child's face and hands. After all, the boy had school tomorrow. Vernon put the belt on the counter as he began to smack the child to revive him. "Now, Freak, remember this lesson. If you forget, the results won't be as nice. Now go to sleep, and stay QUIET."

The man went upstairs after shoving the child back into the cupboard and locking it. Little did little Harry Potter know that his prayers had indeed reached the ears of one kind Goddess.

End Chapter

Response to Reviews

ZergMaster- Thank you for the offer. The questions are below… You can answer in a review. These questions will stand for anyone who wants to Beta for me.

Talia???Queen 's Queen's Own, was Chosen by the Companion ?after she ran away from her ?family.

Weaponsmaster Dethor took on ?as his Second after the Companion ?rescued him from the Karsite Sunpriests.

? and ?were she'enedra, and restored the Kingdom of Rethwellan to ?in the book, 'OathBreakers'.

Kerowyn was trained in her MindMagic by ?the ?in 'By the Sword. Her grandmother gave her the magic sword ?to help her.

Darian Firkin k'Valdemar k'Vala married ?after he rescued his ?in the book OwlKnight.

Author's Note

I am sorry for the long wait… I've been sick this past week, and I literally could not get out of bed. I crave indulgence () for my sloth… Please don't kill me! The next chapter will probably also take a while because of Final Exams, and a Production I have to play in… I'll do my best, but I can't promise much…