The Map Never Lies

By: Priestess Of The Jewel Shard

Beta Reader: Hye em yes

Disclaimer: HP and all related characters are properties of JK Rowling. You would think if I owned it, I wouldn't be here.

Short Authors Note: People...the reason why Lily and James were at the staff table was because Dumbledore had earlier exposed their secret, because what was the point of going into hiding for their whole life, right? It'd be pretty boring. Sorry for that! Also, Fred and George are back for their last year because I like them and they are two of my favorite characters and I don't really think I could stand writing little bits and pieces of them when I could put them in all of my story. So they are there for their last year, all right?

Short Note #2: This chapter has NOT been betaed because my beta reader is currently away for the weekend, but I posted it anyway.

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The Map Never Lies

Chapter Nine: Hurt and Comfort

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It was a few hours after the feast in the Great Hall, and Harry, Ron and Hermione were just going to the Common room, when Harry remembered something.

"Oh, guys, Mum asked me to meet them in Dumbledore's office, I'll see you later,"Harry told them.

''All right, Harry,"Hermione said. "Goodnight."

"'Night, mate."

"'Night."

He was making his way to Dumbledore's office, getting the feeling that he was being watched. He looked around nervously, but found no one there. So he continued on, wondering what that could have been. He was almost at Dumbledore's office, when someone grabbed him by the hand and threw him against the wall of an abandoned room after locking it.

"You freak! Now you've cursed my son as well!"He heard the voice of his Uncle Vernon, and only knew that with the door to the room being locked, it wouldn't be good.

"N-No…I-I-"he stammered.

"We should have taken you to an orphanage when you landed on our doorstep, but no, Petunia insisted! And now, your parents turn up alive and don't even appear to be harmed! Well, boy, it's time for you to pay the price…"

He could only watch and feel the pain as his Uncle striked him, one time after another.

-(Dumbledore's Office)-

"Harry said he would come before lights out, I'm worried, James,"Lily said to James. It had been half-an-hour after the specific time they told Harry to come, and he still had not shown up.

"If it's that Uncle of his…I swear…"

"Maybe we should go look for him, James,"Lily suggested.

James nodded and they left the office in search of Harry.

After fifteen minutes of searching, they were about to give up, when they heard a man shouting somewhere nearby and someone's cries for help. They were muffled by a door, but they could easily tell who it was.

"We have to save him, James!"Lily exclaimed, tears in her eyes as she heard Harry's screams.

James nodded and they made their way to where they heard the screams. A door was in front of them, but when they opened it, or tried to, found out it was locked. They could definitely hear Harry's screams and someone hitting him inside. They had no doubt it was Vernon, though.

"Alohamora,"Lily whispered, pointing her wand at the lock on the door, and it opened to reveal the most horrible sight they ever saw in their lives. Vernon Dursley stood high over their son, who was badly beaten and bruised, with a bloody lip and noise and a black eye.

Before Vernon could strike again, James held him back, and threw a stunning spell at him, making him frozen. He fell to the ground.

When they looked at Harry, he was unconscious.

"Oh, what are we going to do?"Lily cried, holding Harry in her arms, his head resting against her shoulder.

"Let's take him to Madam Pomfrey, and leave the oaf in here and lock the door,"James growled.

-(Hospital Wing)-

Lily and James walked into the Hospital Wing with Lily carrying Harry. Madam Pomfrey walked over to them, and when she saw the state Harry was in, she gasped.

"What happened?"she asked.

"It was his Uncle."

"Oh, I told Dumbledore not to send him there, but no, he doesn't listen to me,"she muttered to herself. "All right then, place him gently here."

She had told Lily and James kindly to wait outside while she worked on Harry, and told them she would call when finished.

Just then, they saw Ron and Hermione walking down, looking obviously worried about Harry. They noticed Ginny was with them.

"Oh hello, you three,"Lily greeted.

"Hi, Mrs. Potter, where's Harry?"Ron asked.

"He's in the hospital wing being worked on,"James replied for her.

"What happened?"Hermione and Ginny asked at the same time.

Ron didn't sound so surprised. "His Uncle?"he asked. Lily and James nodded, watching their reactions closely. Ron had not made a fit out of it like Hermione and Ginny did, but he seemed to be nervous, never-the-less. They noticed his face had gone as red as his hair with anger, and could only guess where it was being directed at. Later on, they were in the presences of Sirius and Remus, who had came down there, seeing as Lily and James weren't in Dumbledore's office.

"Where's Harry?"Sirius asked.

"In the Hospital Wing,"Ron replied. That was the first time he talked since he heard the news. "He was beaten by Dursley."

"Where's the oaf now?"Sirius asked.

"He's locked in the room he was hurting Harry in, and since the oaf doesn't have any magic, he'll be trapped in there for a while, unless someone comes across him and tries to help him out, though I doubt it,"James replied.

Ginny was beside herself with worry. She was the one who seemed worried the most. She looked around, at the clock which now read 10 o'clock at night, way past time to be out like this, but the Headmaster had allowed them due to Harry's conditions at the present time. Harry had been hurt…by his Uncle, and she wasn't there to stop it. She wanted to kick herself. She should not have let Harry go out alone after they knew the Dursleys were there, but she did. It was her own fault for Harry being the way he was now. It didn't look like anyone else was blaming themselves for what happened to Harry, so she took that role out of the characters. There was always the hero, the one that always got into trouble, a stupid one, a really smart one, the most powerful one, ect. There was also the character that took the blame for everyone elses misery and that was what Ginny was doing at this very moment. She had really wanted to kick herself when she realized that it was her entire fault Harry was almost…raped again, when she could have prevented Harry from getting hurt, just by being there with him. But no, Ginny had to be her usual stupid self and let others get into trouble because of her. She wondered sometimes why Harry even loved her. She was always getting everyone except herself into trouble, and sometimes they even paid the price for her actions. Her thoughts were interrupted when Ron rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry, Gin,"he said in reassurance. "I'm sure Harry'll come out okay. Remember what we faced so far? He made it out of all of that stuff, and he'll make it out of this as well."

Ginny nodded, but still wasn't so sure her brother was right. She knew he and Harry were best friends, but…things aren't always what they seem.

About half-an-hour later Madam Pomfrey came back out, and seeing everyone's nervousness, chuckled. "No need to be worried, everyone. Mr Potter is perfectly fine and is resting in the Hospital Wing. He is asleep right now, and his owl Hedwig I think, came flying in so I let her stay with him for a while to keep him company. You can all quit your worrying and go get some sleep before I have to shove some sleep draught down your throat."

"But…Madam Pomfrey, are you sure there is no serious damage?"Hermione asked.

"I am sure, Miss Granger,"the mediwitch replied. "I have inspected around the areas where Mr Potter has been hit and have healed them, along with the other scars that were made years ago, which still seemed fresh. Now, you will not need to worry, for he is in good hands. Now, get to bed, all of you!"

-(Hospital Wing)-

Harry opened his eyes to see Madam Pomfrey had come back in. He opened his mouth.

"Madam Pomfrey, where are the others?"he asked.

"I sent them back to their dormitories, Mr Potter, they need rest as well,"the mediwitch replied.

"Can't I at least have one person with me?"Harry asked desperately.

Madam Pomfrey thought for a minute, then sighed. "I guess. Who would you like, Mr Potter?"

"Sirius, please."

Madam Pomfrey nodded and walked out.

-(Hallway)-

The mediwitch found the group of Marauders on their way back to Dumbledore's office.

"Everyone?"she asked. They turned to look at her. "Harry has requested that he would like someone to spend the night with him besides Hedwig. He chose you, Sirius. If you would please follow me, I'll show you to where he is."

The others looked confused, wondering why he hadn't chosen the rest of them, but chose Sirius instead. Sirius looked happy anyway. He followed Madam Pomfrey to the Hospital Wing after saying goodbye to the other and saying he would meet them in Dumbledore's office or the Great Hall tomorrow.

-(Hospital Wing)-

When Sirius entered the place in the Hospital Wing where Harry was staying, he was all ready fast asleep. He smiled and walked over to Harry's bed, and enlarged the Hospital bed, and got in bed beside Harry, draping an arm around him, pulling his head in his chest. He heard the soft sigh of his godson, and knew that he was asleep, and soon, he was also asleep, not knowing of the two obvious eyewatchers looking at him.

"Come on Lily, we should leave before Sirius or Madam Pomfrey see us,"James said.

"All right…I just hope they'll both be ok."

"I'm sure they will be Lily. Please come to bed?"

Lily sighed and together they walked back to Dumbledore's office.

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TBC…

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uncutetomboy: I will fill all of your requests in due time my friend. (smirks) Thanks for reviewing!

Amrawo: Lol! Thanks for reviewing!

Xylia Dark: Yeah, I have it on my computer now getting ready to read it when I have the time. Thanks for reviewing!

Magicrules: Thanks for reviewing!

Nandhp: Yeah, I know. I only read one other fic where Dudley went to Hogwarts. Thanks for reviewing!

Lilac: Well, maybe if he's alone...like he is in this chapter...

Authors Note: Thank you! Um...not much to say, really. Thanks and please review. I will be updating more because I have a five-day weekend. So HOORAY for moi! REVIEW PLEASE! Just a note: I don't know a damn thing about French!