CHAPTER FOUR: 'A disturbing scene'

Harry watched in anticipation as the cup touched Dr Schmidt's lips. Will it work? Camron's a squib, how good at potions can he be? Thoughts of what would happen to him if the potion didn't work chased each other around his mind. He shuddered, all of them ended in a rather bloody operation.

The Dr drained the cup in a gulp,

"Ahh, good brew Camron, good brew" he mumbled as he gave the cup back to Camron. He shook his head, a dozy look in his eyes, his face drooped, his arms hung heavily beside him, Camron smiled madly

"Now doctor, what were we up to?" he asked casually. Ian stared incredulously at the doctor,

"YOU SPIKED HIS DRINK!" Ian hissed, his Irish ascent more prominent in his rage. Camron shrugged

"You gotta do what you gotta do",

"YOU GOT TO DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO! You've got some things to explain laddy!" Ian yelled at Harry

"What I do?" Harry snapped. Ian glared daggers at Harry, which Harry returned in full.

"Ian…It wasn't his fault, it wasn't his idea…" Camron said as he put a hand on Harry's shoulder,

"What is going on?" Ian demanded

Camron looked down ruefully at his feet

"It's umm…about the whole…magic …thingy" he murmured. Ian's eyes widened in surprise

"But I thought you said you don't-"

"I know I don't have magic. But he does"

Harry gulped…What is Camron thinking! He's breaking the code of secrecy! …And he's bringing ME into it!

"He's…" Ian said looking at Harry in awe.

"Yep" Camron said

"A Wizard, a fully fledged Wizard" he added. Harry blushed

"I'm not…" he sighed

"I'm still in school," he mumbled.

"Well, back to the problem at hand, Dr Schmidt? I believe you were fitting Mr Potter's cast?" Camron said turning to the doctor in question. Dr Schmidt's eyes focused suddenly and he nodded

"Yes, yes…cast" he muttered as he scampered around the room for all the items he required.

"Oh mother…Darling…" Ron called as he entered the kitchen. Molly, still in a foul mood due to the fire works, threw down her dish cloth and turned to Ron

"What now Ron?" she demanded.

"It's 11:30… you said we could pick Harry up now," Ron said meekly. Molly's face softened

"Of course dear, he'll need a good feeding I'll wager…" her voice trailed off in thought

"He's far to thin for his age" she said to herself as she returned to the dishes. Ron smiled; they were in for a feast.

He quickly returned to his room where Ginny and Hermione were waiting for him.

"Well? Can we go now?" Ginny demanded, Hermione rolled her eyes

"Finally I can say yes by the look on Ron's face" she replied.

"Well FINALLY! Sheesh" Ginny muttered picking up her wand

"Ready!" she added brightly, holding it up. Ron rolled his eyes,

"Where's dad?" he asked,

"Were not allowed to go without him, it's far to dangerous for children to walk the streets at times like these" Ron said in a mocking imitation of Percy,

"I can't wait for tonight!" Ginny said as she bounced up and down.

"Yeah, me neither now…" Ron turned and walked down the stairs, Hermione and Ginny close behind him.

"DAD!" Ginny bellowed

"In the kitchen!" Arthur's voice wafted up the stairs. The three teens entered the kitchen, all with their wands in hand. Even if they couldn't use them legally, who knew when magic could save a life? Especially since You-Know-Who was getting more active by the day.

Ron just suppressed a laugh when he saw what his father was wearing. A dress coat with tails, a golfer's cap, faded blue denim jeans and a Hawaiian shirt. Arthur grinned widely

"Do I look like a muggle?" he asked holding his arms out wide as she turned around.

"It's very good Mr Weasley" Hermione said trying to keep a straight face.

"Good, good, shall we go? Were going to met Remus there" Arthur said turning to the fireplace

"Now it was very nice of Arabella Figg to let us use her fire place to get Harry so try not to get too much soot around the place, you first Ginny". Ginny stepped up to the fireplace and grabbed a hand full of green Floo power.

"Be careful dears!" Molly called from the kitchen where she was cooking up a storm.

"Yes mum" both Ron and Ginny corseted as Hermione said

"Yes Mrs Weasley"

"What did I tell you Hermione? Call me Molly" Hermione smiled as Ginny and Ron rolled their eyes.

Ginny through the hand full of floo powder into the fire, it roared up emerald green as she said

"Arabella Figgs house, number 8 privet drive!" before she walked calmly into the flames.

"You next Hermione "Arthur said and Hermione soon disappeared into the emerald fire.

"You go Ron, I'll bring up the rear" Ron nodded and through his handful of green powder into the fire,

"Arabella Figg's house, number 8 privet drive" he called before he to disappeared into the green flames. Ron closed his eyes against the spinning world. Ash swirled around his face, his clothes flapped around his frame. And then it stopped.

Ron steeped out of the fire and into a cat/cabbage smelling room. Hermione and Ginny both waved in greeting and Ron steeped away from the fire to give his father room to appear. The woman Ron guessed to be Miss Figg smiled in greeting as Arthur appeared.

"Arabella, thankyou for lending us your fire place," he said

"It's fine Arthur, Harry deserves a break from the Dursley's, awful bunch they are," she said as she lead the Weasley's and Hermione to the front door.

"Thanks again Arabella" Arthur said as they started up the street.

"Which ones Harry's?" Hermione asked, Ron pointed to number four

"That's his house, though last time there were bars on his windows".

"Arthur! Arthur!" everyone turned to see a tall man in patched robs and a clean-shaven face running towards them. Ron and Hermione along with Ginny smiled broadly

"Hello Professor" Ron said as Hermione and Ginny waved in greeting.

"Remus! So good to see you!" Arthur said as he shook Remus's hand. Remus returned the gesture before he leaned against his knees and panted

"Sorry I'm late". Ginny looked back at Harry's house, a far away look in her eyes as Ron looked at his old defence against the dark arts professor. Remus Lupin's hair was still grey, his face still lined with age he shouldn't have. His golden brow eyes had a yellow hint to them, which Ron hadn't noticed in school. Is it new? He wondered.

"Err, can we go in now?" Ginny asked, her eyes never leaving the house.

"Yes yes" Arthur said as he nocked on the door smarty. A yelp was heard followed closely by

"MUM! They're here!" before running feet faded into the distances. A moment later the door was opened and a thin horsy looking woman was revealed.

"Oh…oh, I can explain" she said quickly, eyes filled with panic as she saw the wand in Arthur hand. Mr Weasley's faced hardened

"Explain what?" Remus demanded before Arthur had a chance to ask the same. The women opened the door wider

"I'll explain in the kitchen," she said and without another word she turned back into the house, disappearing through an open door. Arthur and Remus quickly followed her and Ron, Ginny and Hermione were left in the hall.

"Harry?" Hermione called uncertainly. Ron walked towards the stairs and stopped dead, eyes wide, mouth slightly agape.

"What is it Ron?" Ginny asked as she joined her brother, She too stopped dead as she looked towards the stairs.

"Are you two going to explain why your both standing there like stunned mullets or-" Hermione had rounded the corner and saw what the others were gaping at. Blood was splattered over the stairs and halfway up a head sized dint was in the plaster.

"It…it might not of been Harry" She stuttered. Ginny looked at Hermione incredulously

"Why else would his aunt be like that?" she asked. "He can't be…" Ron turned to the others as she spoke. Dead he thought, the three friends looked at each other and said simultaneously

"Could he?"

Harry looked at the cast grumpily, then he turned his gaze up and scowled at Camron, Camron just laughed as he handed Harry a pair of hospital crutches.

"It's not my fault that they had to cut your pant leg off to put the cast on," Camron said as Harry got shakily to his feet. He over balanced were he stood and Camron steadied him

"Thanks" Harry muttered as he crutched towards the door. Camron caught up and guided him to the emergency entrance. He looked at Harry and smiled widely. Harry ground his teeth together, yeah smile, laugh, gape at my forehead. Everyone else dose…

After a while Harry could take no more

"What are you smiling at?" He demanded as he stopped. Camron's grin widened even more

"Nice shiner you got there" He said.

"WHAT?" Harry basically yelled as he crutched as quickly as he could towards the nearest toilet. Camron followed at a slow walk. Harry stopped outside the door and tried to open it with one hand, it didn't work. His crutch fell to the ground with a clatter and Harry cursed as he lost his balance and banged against the door. Harry swore again and kicked the door open with his good leg as he rubbed his forhead.

Cursing under his breath about how the hospital should have toilet doors that people with crutches could open, he half hopped half limped towards a mirror.

Harry blanched when he saw his reflection. His black hair was lank and greasy due to not bothering to Clean it since returning to the Dursley's. His skin was pale and pinched, his emerald eyes dead. His cheek was a mess of black stiches and the eye on the same side… was a matching hue mixed with purple and yellow. Harry groaned as he dropped his gaze,

"It's not that bad kid-" Harry cut him off with another scowl

"Okay, maybe it is…umm it'll go away in time. Or a good spell could do the trick" Camron suggested. Harry shrugged, the blank look returning to his eyes. A look that had almost always been in place, apart from when he scowled, since Sirius had fallen through the veil.

Camron went and retrieved Harry's fallen crutch and returned it to him.

"Thanks" Harry muttered as he limped through the toilet door, which Camron held open for him.

When they entered the emergency entrance Ian was trying fruitlessly to start a conversation with Vernon who had his nose in a magazine (which Harry noticed was upside down) and was ignoring Ian completely.

"Don't bother" Harry told Ian, Vernon's head snapped up at Harry's voice, His eyes went immediately to his stiches and cast

"How much is this going to cost me?" He demanded, Harry rolled his eye (the other being to swollen to see through). Vernon wasn't concerned about him, not that I expected him to be…

"Your nephew was hurt Mr Dursley, aren't you the least bit concerned for his welfare?" the receptionist asked from behind the counter. Vernon turned his glare to the lady and the repeated his question. She grumbled something about health care taking the bill. Vernon gave a very forced smile.

"Now boy, back in the car" he said as he left for the car outside. Harry turned to Camron

"Thanks for all your help" he said, Camron shook his head

"Don't thank me yet, I'm coming with you," he said with a smile,

"Uncle Vernon won't let you come" Harry said, he didn't want Camron to be the subject of his uncles rage, he wouldn't want that on any one… well maybe Malfoy but no one else. Camron shrugged

"I want to see my darling cousins" He said and held the door open for Harry.

"It's your life is you want to waste It." he muttered as he limped through the door.

Molly looked up from her cooking to see a tawny owl tapping on the stain glass window. She opened it quickly and the owl fluttered inside, perched on the table and held out its leg with a letter tied to it. Molly untied the letter and patted the owl

"Thank you dear," she said to it and the owl flew back through the window and out of sight.

Molly scanned the letter and scowled.

"Nothing's going to happen to Harry! OH! Nothings going to Happen to Harry he says!" Molly threw down the letter and stormed from the kitchen muttering under her breath.

The letter fluttered to the floor, the hurried message up for all to read

Letter

Dear Molly,

You know how I work at a muggle hospital? Well guess who came in today? Harry Potter. He has a compound fractured leg and a few stiches. But don't worry; he said he was coming to the burrow today so you can take him to St Mungos to fix him up. Thought you should know. I'll look after him until he's in you care.

Camron

End Letter

Harry crutched over to the car with Camron in tow. Vernon was already in the drivers seat and glared at Harry as he approached, his eyes turned to Camron as he wound down the window.

"The boys got crutches, He doesn't need to be helped" Vernon growled. Harry scowled at Vernon as he tried to open the back door. He failed spectacularly.

Harry's cheeks burned with rage as he punched the car door, only to bloody his knuckles.

"Watch it! That's new paint!" Vernon growled as Camron came over and opened the door for him,

"All you had to do is ask," he said cheerfully. Harry got into the car with a growl.

"I was wondering if I could get a lift to your house?" Camron asked Vernon, Vernon gaped and started to splutter.

"Thanks" Camron said calmly as he climbed into the Car and sat beside Harry.

Vernon turned in the drivers seat to face Camron, his face an odd plum colour.

"OUT OF MY CAR!" Vernon roared, spit flying from his mouth, Camron frowned

"That's no way to treat a wizard," He said calmly. The plum colour drained away from Vernon's face to be replaced with a ghostly pale tint instead.

"Wizard?" He mouthed, wide fearful eyes glued to Camron.

"Indeed, my family is due to pick up Harry from you house in any moment" Camron said casually.

Without another word uncle Vernon turned the ignition and began to drive home. Harry looked at Camron with new respect, he smiled for the second time since leaving Hogwarts, and Camron returned the smile warmly as he did up his seat belt.

Harry's leg throbbed painfully all the way home, the constant pain mixed with the awkward silence that permeated the car had refuelled Harry's fowl mood. He looked out the window with morbid eyes. Sirius would probably be laughing his ass off if he found out about me being thrown down the stairs…Harry mused. A pang of grief raced through his mind a moment after the thought, Why was I so stupid to believe that dream! Why didn't I try to learn occulancy? If I had Sirius would still be alive! Harry bit his lip against a dry sob. Why…

The car came to a stop, number 4 privet drive's lush green lawn was around them, its 4 walls and roof exactly the same at next doors 4 walls and roof before them painted white. Harry looked at the house with loathing; it had been his prison for 16 years.

"Come on Harry, have you packed yet?" Camron's voice jolted Harry out of his stupor.

"Er…not everything yet" he said

"Well better hurry up" Camron replied cheerfully as he got out of the car. Harry rolled his eyes; Camron's good mood is getting old…real quick. He thought as he got out of the car himself. He limped towards the front door slowly as Camron walked beside him, before Harry had a chance to abuse the door Camron opened it for him and Harry crutched inside.

He heard a gasp and looked up to see Ron, Hermione and Ginny staring at him mouths agape. No one spoke as Harry felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment. Well…isn't this awkward…

The front door opened on silent hinges and Ginny, Hermione and Ron turned as one to face the new comer. Ginny gasped aloud at her friend's appearance.

Harry Potters messy black hair was lank and greasy falling limply around his pale face. His green eyes usually bright with some kind of emotion were dead and blank, his clothes fell loosely around his boney frame, His right eye was black and swollen, his cheek riddled with black stiches and his left leg was in a cast. Silence permeated the air as Harry's face steadily turned crimson.

"What happened to you?" Hermione asked finally.

"Umm…" Harry looked at his feet guiltily; suddenly someone behind Harry came inside

"Ron? Ginny? Is that you?" Hermione turned to the two Weasley's mentioned and saw there faces split into identical grins

"Camron?" Ron asked incredulously,

"The only" The red haired man said proudly. Ginny ran forward and dived onto the man, embracing him fiercely.

"Nice to see you too" the man said in a strained voice

"Ginny let the man breath" Ron said with a smile as he approached the man as well.

"For Merlins sake!" Hermione heard Harry curse as she turned to the stairs to see him glaring at the stairs murderously, during the reunion between the Wasleys and red haired man he had tried to sneak back to his room…He mustn't have counted on the stairs Hermione thought as she went over to Harry.

"Are you okay? How'd this happen to you?" She asked again. Harry turned to her, a very forced smile on his still blushing face

"I'm…er…fine…" he said and returned to the staircase. It was a very slow climb. He finally made it to the top and began to limp for a closed door.

"Do you want some help Harry?" Hermione asked as she came up the stairs, Harry turned to her an angary frown in place. It slowly softened until he said in defeat

"Yeah, thanks" he turned to the door

"Umm, could you… " He gestured at the door, Hermione nodded and oped the it to reveal a small room.

Hermione looked around, this must be Harry's room she thought as she saw the old photo album Hagrid had given Harry first year on a desk. Harry limped over it and brought the album over to his still open trunk and placed it inside, he looked at his trucks contence then to Hermione

"Umm. Under my bed there's a loose floorboard where I keep all my important stuff, would you be able to get it for me?" he asked, Hermione smiled

"Sure, loose floor board?" Harry smiled ruefully,

"Well, it dose come in handy. Like when the Dursley's were on that diet and you guys sent me those cakes…did I thankyou for those cakes?"

"Yes Harry you did, now…" Hermione got to her knees and felt under the bed till her fingers came into contact with a ridge on the floor, she dug her fingernails into the groove and pried open the board. Her hand slipped into the cavity of air and then bumped into something smooth and silky, she wound her fingers through the fabric and dragged the bundle from the hole.

Hermione looked at her hands in confusion; they were empty yet she could still feel the silky fabric. She looked up at Harry questioningly and He sniggered.

"I thought you were the smartest in the year 'Moine?" He said eyes twinkling madly, rivalling Dumbledore's. Hermione blushed when she realised what she was holding

"The invisibility cloak …" Harry smiled warmly

"All my stuffs wrapped inside" he said, Hermione got her feet and placed the invisibility cloak on top of the various things in Harry's trunk.

"Thanks …now…how do we get it down the stairs? And Hedwig's cage" Harry asked frowning slightly.

"Well I could carr-" Harry cut her off with a look saying I know you'd like to help, but don't hurt yourself trying.

"Or not" Hermione said with a shrug.

"Harry how'd you get so hurt?" Hermione asked with concern

"Its not that bad, just a few stiches, a black eye, and…a compound fractured leg… but it could happen to anyone" Harry muttered as he checked his room for things he might of forgotten,

"Harry! Have you seen yourself lately?" Hermione demanded shrilly

"Yeah, I almost broke the mirror" Harry said darkly without turning to face her.

"What happened to Harry Camron?" Ginny asked, Camron paused for a moment before answering

"It's his story if he whished to share it" Ron rolled his eyes

"That's no help at all, now what happened to him?" Ron asked impatiently.

"He got some stiches-"

"Like dad did?" Ginny interrupted

"Yes like Auther did, he got a black eye-"

"We could see that Camron" Ron said rolling his eyes again

"Well, he also has a compound fractured leg" Camron said. Ron's eyes widened

"How'd that happen?" He asked.

"Its Harry's story to tell" Camron repeated. At that moment Auther appeared from the kitchen two shades paler then usual, Remus appeared a moment later looking appalled.

"I can't believe that happened!" Auther muttered to himself, Remus just scowled at the ground in an angary silence, Auther looked to Camron and jolted in surprise

" CAMRON! What are you doing here?" he asked as he embraced his younger brother warmly. Camron returned the hug in full.

"Good to see you Auther! Well, I was just escorting Mr Potter home, you see and-"

"Oh! Of course! You work at a muggle hospital don't you! How is he?" Auther asked, Camron nodded towards Harry's bedroom upstairs

"He's up there, ask him your self"

Remus had been watching the reunion of the two brothers with out a word, but on hearing Camron's last words he bolted towards Harry's room followed closely by Auther, Ron and Ginny. Camron brought up the rear silently.

Harry heard footsteps climb the stairs; he closed his eyes with a groan. He didn't want everyone to know what happened! He was thrown down the stairs for goodness sakes! The boy-who-lived, the boy who had faced Voldemort 4 times in the past five years…he was expected to be unbeatable. Harry groaned again, I'm only 15! Why can't I be normal!

The door opened and Harry looked up to see Remus's pale face. His yellow tinted eyes widened in anger as he saw Harry's forlorn form.

"I…er…" Harry began to mutter but Remus interrupted

"This time there've gone too far!" He yelled, turned and stormed back down the stairs. Oh no.

Harry quickly crutched past all his gaping friends and limped as fast as he dared down to the kitchen where angary yelling could be heard.

"How could you…You…ignorant MUGGLES allow your NEPHEW to grow so thin! And his EYES, haven't you noticed the dead look in them! IT WASN'T BLOODY THERE WHEN WE LEFT HIM AT THE TRAIN STATION!" Remus's voice bellowed as Harry reached the kitchen door and pushed it open slowly.

Dudley and Petunia were cowering in the corner of the kitchen behind Vernon's considerable bulk. Even Vernon flinched away from Remus's rage.

"I've never seen him so thin! Haven't you been feeding him!" Remus continued,

"He, he. We tried to make him eat. But he wouldn't!" Petunia whimpered as she hugged Dudley protectively. Harry smirked "we tried to make him eat" yeah right. I just sat there and Dudley steals from my plate…not that I'm ever hungry… Harry thought.

"And now I come here and he's in a cast! He has a BLACK EYE AND HIS GLASSES ARE SHATTERED!" Remus shouted,

"You can't possibly make me believe that you are treating him fairly. Expect a visit from the Ministry of Magic…and in the mean time" Remus drew his wand and poised it before Mr Dursley's beefy throat; he leaned towards a petrified Vernon

"If I find any more signs of Harry being mistreated…Next Full moon you'll have a were-wolf in your house" Lupin said in a harsh whisper filled with menace. Harry looked at Remus's face and was startled by how wolf like he looked as he spoke. His Yellow flecked eyes were filled with a primal fury…Harry had never seen him so angary.

With a sharp gesture Remus removed his wand and turned to Harry

"Come on. I'm taking you to the Burrow" he said. He left the kitchen with Harry in tow and slammed the door behind himself. He looked to Harry with concerned eyes once they were in the hallway

"Are you ok?" he asked, Harry nodded

"I look worse then I feel" he lied, Emerald eyes down cast. Remus looked unconvinced but he still turned towards the stairs and yelled

"Auther! It's best we'd be going!"

After a moment of scuffling the 4 Weasley's and Hermione came down the stairs, Camron had Harry's trunk over his shoulders and Hermione had Hedwig's cage under her arm. Auther looked at Lupin and shook his head

"You shouldn't let your anger get the better of you Remus," he said, but he was smiling

"The Dursley got what was coming for them. What with Sirius Gone it's my job to keep Harry safe. Without a murderer to keep them in line, I think a were-wolf will do" he said and looked towards the kitchen with a scowl, Auther quickly grabbed Lupins sleave as he made to return to it

"Yes I think we should be going" Auther agreed as he gave a worried look at Harry.

"Come on" he added as he dragged Remus from the house. Everybody had no choice but to follow.

HAZZAH! I finally finished this CHAP! Once again Please review!

Next chap: Harry's birthday! Yay! Blows up some balloons

Mali Caren