The next day.

"You saw Harry in the Leaky Cauldron?" Sirius asked startled. He couldn't believe what Mr. Weasley had just told him, he had said that they had seen Harry in the Leaky Cauldron just the day before and he was with a strange girl. "You didn't bring him back with you so I could kill him? Why?"

"We didn't have time, before we knew what was happening the girl had dragged him over to the fireplace and they left by floo powder." Mr. Weasley explained, then seeing Sirius's confused expression added, "We would have gone after him but he never said where he was going, he just stood in the fireplace threw down the floo powder and disappeared."

"But don't you usually have to tell the fire where you want to go?" asked Fred in confusion.

Mrs. Weasley nodded, "That is what startled us the most, neither Harry nor that girl" she said 'girl' with disgust, "said anything, they just stepped in threw the powder and were gone."

"Strange," Dumbledore mused scratching his chin. "Strange indeed, you didn't even see either of them whispering?"

Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley all shook their heads in the negative. None of them had seen Harry or the girl even murmur a syllable.

"There must be some sort of logical explanation," Dumbledore whispered mostly to himself, "I must go back to Hogwarts. Please inform me if anything else unusual occurs." He said just before he disapparated with a loud pop!

Sirius fell heavily into a kitchen chair, he was obviously worried about Harry and the group in the room could offer him no relief.

But Hermione decided to look on the bright side anyway, "At least we know he's alive."

Sirius snorted, "True, but we have no idea where he is, why he's there, or who he is with. Voldemort could have kidnapped him and threatened him in some way if he didn't cooperate or something." He sighed, "If I could just talk to him for five minutes I'm sure I could get him to open up."

Just then, Hedwig flew through the open window of the kitchen and dropped another letter in front of Ron, this time she had been told to stay and wait for a response.

Ron eagerly tore open the letter and read it out loud.

Dear Ron and the Weasleys

I know that you are all worried about me, and I can understand that, I too would be in a panic if any of you went missing. However, I know I probably hurt your father when I couldn't tell him where I have been, but I must tell you that I am ready to come back.

Ron paused and looked up at his family in confusion, they too seemed taken aback at what Ron had just read, and shaking his head, Ron continued,

I don't, however, wish to go back to the Dursley's. Therefore, I wrote this letter to ask your permission to spend the last two weeks of the summer holidays at the Burrow. I will understand if you do not wish to have me there because of the worry, I have caused you all. Please send your response back with Hedwig.

Yours truly, Harry Potter.

Ron looked at his mom, the hope evident in his eyes. She nodded and immediately Ron scribbled a response on the back of the letter Harry had sent.

Harry,

Of course, you can come and stay with us for the rest of the holidays! We didn't expect to see you until the start of school but now is better. Come by as soon as you get this letter.

Ron.

He tied the letter to Hedwig's leg and she took off back through the window. Once she disappeared from sight, he turned back to his family, Sirius and Hermione.

"He's coming to stay for the rest of the summer, we can question him then." Sirius stated as he took a sip of his tea. He sat back with a triumphant look etched onto his face.

"Now, now," Mrs. Weasley said with a frown, "He won't say a word if you push him. We will ask him once then wait until he's ready to tell us."

Sirius sat back with a mock pout, "Fine, but if he doesn't give me an answer by the time he leaves for Hogwarts, by George I'll kill him myself."

The group roared with laughter but was cut short by a tremendous crash in the living room. Startled Fred, George, Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, Sirius, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny jumped up and ran into the living room. There on the floor in front of the fireplace was Harry Potter.

Harry stood shakily as he massaged his temples and muttered, "I will never get use to those damn landings."

"Harry Potter," cried Mrs. Weasley startling everyone including Harry, "watch your language young man." She said in mock anger.

Harry stared for a moment before breaking into a smile, "Sorry Mrs. Weasley. Thank you for allowing me to stay for the rest of the summer." he stood and brushed off the seat of his black jeans. He wore a black long- sleeved sweater and black jeans, what was surprising to the occupants of the room were that they fit him perfectly and looked new, instead of the usual worn hand me downs of Dudley's. Catching their looks he shrugged, "I went shopping in London."

"Nice hair," Fred grinned, "Get that done in London as well?" he and George roared with laughter.

Harry simply rolled his eyes and smiled, "Yes, actually, I did, why don't you like it?" He grinned again and reached up to carefully touch the spikes.

"I like it," whispered Ginny blushing slightly.

"You would," George teased and laughed as Ginny's face turn a dark shade of red from anger and embarrassment. The he turned back to Harry, "Seriously though I do like it, the color is nice and you aren't hiding your scar anymore."

Fred nodded, "I agree, it looks good, maybe George and I should dye and spike our hair too."

"You will do no such thing," Mrs. Weasley snapped. "Not while you're living under my roof."

Harry laughed and looked around the room; he was finally, where he wanted to be. His eyes settled on his godfather, "Sirius, how have ." He was cut off as Sirius pulled him into a bone crushing hug. His face had started to turn purple and he lightly smacked at his godfathers arm, "Sirius," he wheezed, "I need to breathe."

Sirius immediately released Harry with a guilty smile, "Sorry, it's just.I''ve all been so worried."

Harry managed a weak smile. He barely had time to catch his breath before Ron and Hermione pulled him into another hug.

Fred wiped a fake tear from his eye, "This is so touching," he sniffled, and then yelled, "Group hug."

The rest of the Weasley's laughed and joined the group hug, Ginny pulling Sirius in on the fun as well. Still laughing the group broke apart.

"Well this calls for a feast," Mrs. Weasley said clapping her hands together in delight. She bustled off to the kitchen and immediately began preparing their dinner. "Ron why don't you get Harry settled in." she called.

Ron grabbed one end of Harry's trunk and Harry took hold of the other then they set off upstairs.

When Harry, Ron and Hermione finally set the trunk down in Ron's room, Ron realized that they hadn't even set up the spare cot yet.

"Sorry," he apologized, "We weren't expecting you minutes after I replied. How did Hedwig get to you so fast, you know wherever you were?"

Harry grinned mischievously, "I was waiting for your reply at a house in Ottery St Catchpole. No one was home so I helped myself to their fireplace."

"You didn't!" Hermione cried horrified. "Harry you can't just break into someone's house and." she trailed off seeing Harry's amused face, "Oh, you were joking."

Ron snorted back a laugh and clapped Harry on the back, causing Harry to wince, but smile anyway. "Sorry mate, is there something wrong with your back?"

Harry hesitated, there were in fact bruises and cuts all over his chest and back from when he trained with Greg. Greg could have healed them but said it was better to keep them as a reminder for next time. To remind him to move faster and try harder. Harry thought this was a good idea, because it seemed to work, he moved faster trying to avoid the pain the sword and fists caused. But not wanting to worry his friends, he just shrugged it off, "Just a backache that's all."

Ron seemed to buy it but Hermione looked anxious nonetheless. "Are you sure?" she asked eyeing him wearily.

"Where are your glasses?" Ron asked finally noticing they were gone.

"I got contacts," Harry answered with a laid-back shrug.

Harry smiled, he would have said something else but at that moment Mr. Weasley came through Ron's door carrying Harry's cot with him.

"Here you are Harry." He said setting up the cot in its usual place. "Dinner will be in an hour. Harry, may I have a word?"

Harry had been expecting this moment and certainly wasn't looking forward to it but followed Mr. Weasley into the hall anyway. And sure enough, Mr. Weasley asked the question Harry had been waiting for. "Harry, may I ask where you have been all this time?"

Harry's insides turned to ice, he wanted to tell them all he really did, but it was too dangerous for them to know. If they let his secret slip in anyway, accident or under a spell, they would all be in danger. He bit his lip and sighed, "Why do you ask the question you know I cannot answer?" There, he had answered the question with a question of his own, hoping to shock Mr. Weasley and throw him of track.

Mr. Weasley nodded as if he were expecting that, he placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. "If you ever need to talk, whether it be about where you have been or anything else, just remember I am here and am willing to listen."

Harry nodded and watched Mr. Weasley walk away before returning to Ron's room. His friends asked him what Mr. Weasley had wanted, Harry just shrugged and said he was welcoming him back to the house and said if Harry ever needed to talk, he would be there to listen.

That night's dinner was the best Harry had had since the end of the year feast before summer, although that feast wasn't nearly as cheerful then the Weasley's. That feast had been in honor of the departed Cedric Diggory, who was murdered by Voldemort. Thinking about the blank stare on Cedric's face still gave Harry the chills; he had been there when it happened, he and Cedric had just taken the Triwizard Tournament cup together, on Harry's insistence, and ended up in a graveyard somewhere. Someone had transformed the trophy into a portkey intending to take Harry right to Voldemort. Unfortunately, Cedric had grabbed the cup too and lost his life upon arriving to the graveyard. To make matters worse for Harry, he not only had to watch a fellow classmate die, but he also saw the rise of lord Voldemort, dueled with him, and saw ghosts of people that Lord Voldemort had killed not so long ago.

"Harry. Are you alright?" Mrs. Weasley asked shaking Harry out of his thoughts.

Harry blinked and looked up, "Um, yeah. Dinner's great Mrs. Weasley." He smiled a little, thinking about Cedric always seemed to upset him more then Harry would have liked. He still felt it was his fault that Cedric had died. 'If I hadn't of insisted we take the cup together, Cedric would still be alive.' He thought.

He shook away those thoughts and looked around the table realizing that everyone was looking at him funny. Harry blushed and stood, "May I be excused?" once Mr. Weasley nodded he made his way across the kitchen to the back door, uncomfortably aware that all eyes were following him. He pushed through the door and down the steps to stand in the middle of the backyard; he turned his face upwards to see the stars that shone brightly in the night sky.

There were so many dancing across the sky; they were so beautiful, so peaceful. His time with Greg had been spent most nights gazing at the sky and stars, Harry always felt most relaxed when he was watching the stars.

"How's it going with the Weasels?" a voice asked from the shadows in front of him.

Harry sighed but his gaze remained focused on the sky when he answered, "The Weasley's Jessica, don't call them the Weasels. And fine, everything is going fine."

She walked closer to him, into the light so he could see her, "Is that why you're standing in the backyard all by yourself staring up at the stars?"

This time Harry did look at her he tore his eyes from the sky and stared at her concerned face. "I was just thinking about Cedric that's all."

Jessica nodded, "So they remind you of Cedric and what happened?" she gave a small bitter laugh, "Being around my friends reminds me of things that happened as well."

Harry raised a curious eyebrow, neither she nor Greg had told Harry what had happened to get her kicked out of Beauxbatons, he had asked Greg but Greg had insisted it wasn't his secret to tell. "What did happen? Why were you kicked out of Beauxbatons?"

She shuffled her feet and refused to look at him, "I'll tell you. But not today, not now, but sometime I will tell you." She smirked, "At least it wasn't in the paper like yours, must really suck being famous."

He nodded; a little disappointed she wouldn't tell him, and closed his eyes raising his face to the stars once more. "It does, did you see the articles Rita Skeeter printed last year? All that junk about me and Hermione, and about me crying during an interview when she asked about my parents. That was crap and Mrs. Weasley believed it and was so cold towards Hermione after, it really was kind of funny." He gave a chuckle, remembering Hermione's face when she only received a tiny Easter egg from Mrs. Weasley.

"Who are you talking too?" Ron's voice came from behind him. Harry's eyes snapped open and looked at the spot Jessica had been, she was gone and Harry could just make out the dark form of a wolf darting into the trees on the east side of the Burrow.

Harry grinned and turned to Ron, "Just talking to myself. What are you doing out here?"

Ron shrugged, "I came out to check on you, make sure you were alright. You seemed upset at dinner, everyone noticed." He gave Harry a questioning look. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah I'm fine." Harry answered; he turned his back to Ron and stared again at the sky. He knew what would happen if he talked to Ron about Cedric; Ron would get uncomfortable and insist that it wasn't Harry's fault that Cedric had died. Jessica, on the other hand, would tell him it was entirely his fault and that he should get over it. Harry smiled; in a way, that was what he wanted to hear.

"You sure? You seemed so distracted at dinner, what were you thinking about?" Ron carried on.

Harry turned around again, 'Alright Ron you asked for it.' He smiled grimly and asked, "You sure you want to know?" when Ron nodded hesitantly he continued, "I was thinking about Cedric and his untimely death."

Just as Harry had thought, Ron became noticeably uncomfortable; he twisted his fingers and scratched the back of his neck, "T-that wasn't your f-fault you know. You didn't..." he stopped when Harry raised a hand to stop him.

"I know, listen I'm tired. Let's go inside and head to bed." He moved around Ron and crossed the yard; he held the back door open and let Ron enter first. Before following he turned to the woods, on the edge of them was Jessica, she waved and smiled when he waved back. He watched her turn back into her wolf animagus form and trot away.

'Three a.m.,' Harry thought as he rolled over on his cot for the tenth time that night, 'This is ridiculous, I've been trying to get to sleep for hours'

Angrily he threw back the covers and tiptoed to the bedroom door, careful not to wake Ron. Closing the door behind him he descended the stairs and walked into the kitchen, to his surprise someone was already sitting at the table.

"Greg, what are you doing here?" Harry asked sitting at the table so he was facing his mentor.

Greg smiled and looked at Harry worry evident in his eyes, "Jessica said you were having a rough time, I thought I should come and check up on you."

Sighing Harry laid his head on his pillowed arms, "I have only been here a few hours, just give me some time to adjust."

"Alright," Greg abruptly stood obviously catching on to the fact that Harry wasn't going to say anything else about it. "Well don't forget you have to train everyday but don't let the Weasley's catch you, they might start to piece things together." He moved to leave.

"Wait, what do I tell them about where I have been? If I know this family like I think I do then they won't give up until they get an answer."

Greg stepped into the fireplace, "I don't know, just make something up." He answered with a shrug. Before Harry could question him, he disappeared in the green flames of the floo fire.

"Come on dears, it's time to get up. We have to go to Diagon Alley for your school things." Mrs. Weasley called through Ron's door rapping on it sharply with her knuckles.

Harry groaned and rolled onto his stomach pulling his pillow down firmly over his head. Ever since Greg's visit a week before, he had been up way before any of the other Weasley's and training in the woods every morning. They were taking there toll because Harry was always tired. Normally he would have gotten use to the routine but he wasn't sleeping well at night either, so that didn't help.

"Come on Harry." His best friends groggy voice sounded muffled through his pillow. "We have to get moving, why are you so tired all the time?"

Harry climbed out of bed and grabbed some clothes, "Because your snoring keeps me up all damn night." He cracked with a grin before stepping into the bathroom. He didn't even change in front of Ron anymore, for fear he might see his scars and bruises. He stuck his head out the door to look at Ron with a mischievous grin, "You really should do something about that, I'm surprised it doesn't keep everyone up at night." He laughed and closed the bathroom door to avoid being hit by the pillow Ron had thrown.

Pulling off his pajama, top Harry gazed at his now well toned chest. The scars were still clearly visible as were the bruises, especially the deep gash right across from his left shoulder all the way to the ribs on his right. It was still deep red and certainly did still hurt from when Greg had slashed him a week before he arrived at the Burrow. It should have healed over by now but the intense training sessions Harry did in the mornings kept reopening it.

A horrified expression covered his face when he heard a small gasp from the bathroom door. He spun and came face to face with Ginny and Hermione, their toothbrushes clattered to the floor as they stared at his wounded torso.

Quick as lightening he threw on his sweater, "What are you guy's doing here, I thought you would be at breakfast by now?" he asked trying to remain clam. 'Maybe they haven't seen anything; they were just shocked to see the bathroom was already in use.' He reasoned with himself.

But by the expressions on their faces, he could tell they had. "W-what happened to you?" Ginny whispered her eyes showed confusion and fear.

Harry sighed dejectedly, 'Great, this is just great. Just what I need, the Weasley's and Sirius finding out about my scars and bruises.'

"Listen you guy's its really no big deal; don't make a big deal out of it." He pleaded pulling the horrified girls into the small bathroom and closing the door.

Hermione's shock turned to anger, "No big deal," she shrieked, "Harry, have you got any idea how bad you look?"

Harry rolled his eyes, "Gee, thanks. Yes, Hermione I know how bad I look, I have to look at myself in the mirror, you know. Can you two please not tell anyone, please?"

"You expect us to keep it secret, why didn't you tell anyone? Does Ron even know? Is that why you left your Uncles?"

Harry's eyes filled with rage, "He is not my uncle," He spat, "Never has been never will be." Harry hated Vernon, always had, he never treated Harry very well and Harry had finally had enough and spoke up to Vernon. Vernon had been really angry about that and spat out horrible lies about his parents, that was the last straw for Harry and swore from that moment on that he had no uncle. "And no, Ron doesn't know, and I would prefer to keep it that way."

Hermione shook her head, "No, I can't keep this a secret. We have to tell Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley. You could have internal bleeding or something." She stated while Ginny nodded her head vigorously.

Harry was about to argue again when the door opened to reveal Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley. They looked confused for a second at the sight of the three jammed into the tiny bathroom.

"What's going on in here?" Mr. Weasley asked a baffled look on his face. He looked at Harry's angry face to the girls' watery eyes. "Ginny what happened?"

Ginny bit her lip, she couldn't keep Harry's secret, and she had to tell her parents and get to the bottom of what happened to him. She would have spoken except she felt Harry's body tense behind her, she couldn't betray him, she liked him too much.

Lucky for Ginny she didn't have too for Hermione decided to spill the beans. "We walked in here to do our teeth, but when we opened the door Harry was already in here with his sweater off," she blushed slightly before continuing, "He has, on his chest and back, he's covered in bruises and cuts." She blurted.

Mrs. Weasley's eyes widened, "What!" she cried ushering the three out into the hall.

Harry groaned, 'Great, thanks Hermione.' He tried to calm the hysterical Mrs. Weasley down, "It's nothing really, I...I fell down a hill, that's all." Harry groaned inwardly knowing they would never buy that, and sure enough.

"Yeah right," Hermione snorted crossing her arms over her chest, "But why don't you show them and let them decide for themselves."

Harry shot her a look that could have melted steel, "It's really not that bad." he trailed off at the stern looks on Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley's faces, he knew he wouldn't win against them. "Fine," he pulled his sweater over his head and off, and then waited for the tirade to begin.

Ron's mom and dad gasped when they saw him, and to add Harry's disposition even more George, Fred, Ron and Sirius chose that moment to join everyone else.

'Why does this always happen to me?' Harry thought as more gasps and cusses were exchanged between his audience. He threw his sweater back on and waited impatiently for their questions.

"WHAT IN GODS NAME HAPPENED?" Sirius yelled trying to lift Harry's sweater again to inspect the wounds. He gave up when Harry batted his hand away the fifth time.

"I was attacked by a porcupine." Harry cracked dryly.

Ron looked confused, "I don't think a porcupine could have done that." The crowd in the hallway all shot him 'you have got to be kidding,' looks. He went beet red and mumbled something.

Mr. Weasley looked at Harry, who was avoiding everyone's eyes, "Harry what really happened?"

Harry racked his mind for an answer, and then he thought of one, "It was my Uncle Vernon. He beat me so I left." That took care of two of his three problems, why he had left the Dursley's and what had happened to his body. The only one left was where he had gone, but he would figure that out later. Harry sobbed, "That's why I left; I couldn't stay there any longer."

Ginny looked at him suspiciously while Sirius hugged him close, "Why didn't you tell anyone?"

Harry stopped sobbing, 'damn now what?' he asked himself. Then the answer came to him, "You all have so much to deal with already, I didn't want to burden you further. I know that you're going to say, and I know I should have told I wasn't thinking straight with all the stuff on my mind. Voldemort's return, Ced...and other stuff. I'm sorry." He whispered meekly, 'Damn I am good!' he mentally congratulated himself.

"I'll kill that bas..." Ron was cut off by a stern look from his father, "I mean I'll kill that jerk!"

"Now, now Ron we all want to kill him, so get in line." Sirius growled.

Harry glanced around at all the angry faces, Ginny was staring at him in disbelief. He shrugged a little at her a small smile playing on his lips.

Ginny shook her head sadly and gave him a 'tell the truth' look. When Harry said nothing to anyone, she turned on her heel and stomped away.

Harry sighed; Ginny knew he was being dishonest. He would continue to let the Weasley's, Sirius, and Hermione think that Vernon had done it, but he would make sure they did nothing about it.

"I want you all to promise me right now that you'll forget it ever happened and leave my un.I mean Vernon alone. Can you promise me that?" Harry asked looking at everyone with pleading eyes.

"What!" Sirius yelled crossing his arms over his chest, "After what he did to you your still willing to forget it ever happened. Why?"

"B-because he's still my Uncle and I love him, just drop it, it won't happen again. He was going through a hard time and he'd been drinking. He apologized the next day, just leave him alone. That's another reason why I didn't tell any of you, I knew you would want to confront him about it." Harry explained eyes cast to the ground, 'I am sooo good at this.'

Mr. Weasley pulled the group into Ron's room, while Harry listened at the door. "If he says he doesn't want us to do anything we should respect that." Mr. Weasley said.

Harry grinned, they were so gullible. "I don't think Vernon did it." He heard Ron argue. "The cuts and bruises look too fresh to have been inflicted over a month ago."

Harry was taken aback, out of all the people he thought might figure it out; he never in a million years would have suspected it would have been Ron.

"I agree with Ron, they look fresh. He must have gotten them when he was missing." Hermione decided.

"But why would he lie to us, and keep all these secrets from us?" Sirius asked as he hit, (what Harry thought might be Ron's desk, after all, the door was closed and he doesn't have x-ray vision.), in frustration.

"Who knows, but I think the best thing to do is..." Mrs. Weasley started.

"Beat the information out of him?" Fred asked with a laugh.

"No, we will wait until he is ready to talk to us. Until he is ready, we will not badger him, and pretend to believe the Vernon story he told us. Understood?"

Harry heard mumbled 'yes's' and moved back to the spot he was in when they had left him. A second later Ron's door opened and the group filed out fake smiles plastered on all of their faces.

"Well," Mrs. Weasley clapped her hands together and moved to the stairs, "Let's eat breakfast so we can get to Diagon Alley." She walked down the stairs everyone following except Harry who stayed to finish changing.

'Oh well, so they know Vernon didn't do it. At least Mrs. Weasley is keeping everyone off my back for a while,' Harry thought as he finished changing and headed downstairs to where everyone else was.

What do you think? Should I continue? Your reviews will keep this story going. No flames please.