CHAPTER TWO
I know you're hurting
Feels like you're learning
'Bout life the hard way
And it ain't working
Seems like forever
That you've been falling
It's time to move on
You're life is calling, yeah
This was never meant to be the end
Close the book and start again
Cause I know how hard it can get
But you gotta lift
You gotta lift
And sometimes that's how it is
But I know you're stronger
Stronger than this
You gotta lift
You gotta lift
When you can feel your
Whole body's aching
What's left of your heart
It won't stop breaking
You gotta let go
You took a hit
Time to pick up now
Move on from this
This was never meant to be the end
Close the book and start again
Cause I know how hard it can get
But you gotta lift
You gotta lift
And sometimes that's how it is
But I know you're stronger
Stronger than this
You gotta
Lift yourself up above all the hurt
Don't give it
Wipe your eyes and remember
You're better than this
Let them know
That they took their best shot
And missed
C'mon and lift
(Lift: Shannon Noll)
Hermione Granger was worried. She hadn't heard from Harry all summer, and she knew that he needed someone right now. But now, he was nowhere to be seen. Hermione searched the platform for him, but saw no sign of the Boy-Who-Lived. Hermione was growing frantic.
What if the Dursleys have done something terrible to him? She thought, but convinced she that Harry was just on the train and everything was okay. In her heart, Hermione knew it wasn't. Harry couldn't be okay after all that had happened, he believed no one loved him- but Hermione did. She always had, she couldn't help it.
So, boarding the train, the bushy-haired girl went to the prefect's carriage to meet Ron. The meeting went by quickly, but not quickly enough for Hermione, who dragged her tall redheaded friend out to help her look.
They searched every compartment, but there was no sign of Harry anywhere. For some reason, Ron wasn't worried. If anything, he looked bored. Stupid Harry he thought always has to be dramatic, soaking up all the attention.
Truth was, he was jealous, not that he would ever admit it. Ron was always shunted to the side whenever he was with the raven-haired boy. Harry got the money, the fame, the attention, and the glory and now he had Hermione. At this moment Ron hated him.
The rest of the trip was spent in silence, neither daring to speak, except when Ron said that Harry had sent Hedwig to his house for the summer. Hermione took the owl, glad to finally be able to do something.
They went quietly to the Great Hall and took their seats, ignoring the looks people kept throwing there way, noticing the absence of a skinny, bespectacled boy. None of the teachers saw this, only realising he wasn't there when Draco Malfoy stood up and said in a ringing voice, that the whole hall could hear
"Where's Potter?" The whispers broke out. Harry Potter was missing! This would be front-page news. Dumbledore remained calm, and withdrew a small, silver orb labelled a 'WatcherSphere' from his pocket. Hermione had read about those, they were charmed so when you spoke a person's name, it would find their location. All it took was a simple incantation and you could see everything through the orb and the person wouldn't know.
"Find me Harry Potter," he said clearly and the WatcherSphere flew off into the night. He raised his wand, about to perform the spell when Severus Snape knocked his arm, resulting in the whole hall getting hit. Every person became completely blind to the hall, instead seeing flashes of countryside. It was strangely thought, as if in a big bubble.
Oh God! We all see it! Hermione realised. The WatcherSphere was slowing down, it was in a residential area, and passing houses when Hermione saw a sight that made her blood run cold. Number 4 Privet Drive.
A soft "no" escaped her lips, while other students were wondering what was so bad about this house. Please be all right Harry, please don't be hurt she prayed as the orb entered the house and instead of heading for a bedroom went to a small door under the stairs.
Everyone gasped when they saw a bruised and under-fed boy lying on a thin mattress. Then people recognised it as Harry Potter. Hermione felt her heart break at the lost look in his eyes and felt tears well up in her own when she saw Sirius' knife in his hand. Dumbledore noticed it too and asked if anyone knew what it was.
Hermione raised her head and said, "It was from Sirius" Her voice trembled and she barely contained her tears. Harry rolled over and everyone saw the word carved into his skin 'FREAK'. Hermione started to cry.
Just then, his whale of an uncle burst into the room and only Snape noticed that Harry stayed the same and didn't react at all, showing no emotion. Hermione began to shake when he grabbed Harry by his hair and started raining blows down on him. Hermione thought it was strange that Harry didn't make a noise.
The school watched in sick fascination as Harry was dragged up the stairs and into a room, still being hit mercilessly. Hermione felt nauseous, seeing the pain that Harry was in- only he wasn't in pain. He hadn't made a noise the whole time, not even being kicked repeatedly in the ribs and stomach.
No! Hermione saw Vernon swing his fist back and gave a muffled scream when Harry flew down the stairs. A majority of the female population was crying for the horror that had been brought upon the bright young man.
Hermione began to shake uncontrollably when the beefy man produced a box of matches from what looked like a kitchen and began talking to Harry as if about something trivial and nonchalant, like the weather. When Harry finally spoke Hermione detected a flicker of life in his eyes.
Vernon was furious and threw Harry back in the cupboard. Lighting a match and tying the boy up, Hermione felt sick as she watched the small flame burn her best friends skin, unable to look away and unable to help.
Remus Lupin ran out of the hall, and started the long run to the gates, where he would apparate to 4 Privet Drive. Hermione knew he would be too late when Harry was pulled and pushed to a bathroom down the hall. Her eyes widened when she saw what was going to happen. No, he's going to kill him! Fight back Harry, please Hermione thought, sobbing. She was shaking violently and needed to be held up by Dean Thomas.
Hermione tried to pull out of the effects of the spell, she didn't want to see anymore, and Harry had stopped struggling. There were many dry sobs when there was no more movement from the small, raven-haired boy. They turned to angry gasps when Vernon Dursley insulted Lily Potter, over the body of what he thought to be her dead son.
A number of people jumped when Harry reared his head, taking a deep breath and standing. Hermione felt her heart unclench, if only a little. She saw the life in his eyes and let herself hope for one moment that Harry would remain the same old Harry, the one she fell in love with. But in her heart she knew Vernon had gone too far, Harry was not coming back.
"Talk about my mother again and I will kill you", he said with his wand levelled at his beefy relative. Hermione put her head in her hands- he was definitely not coming back. With his bit said, he vanished into thin air. A second later Remus burst through the door. He lowered his head and disapparated.
Hermione broke down and cried.
