Chapter two

Harry learned everything he could while he waited for the first task, even though he had no idea what he would need to do. He was scared but always acted like he wasn't or he acted like he didn't care at all. Only Neville knew the extent of fear Harry kept hidden, but Neville would never betray him by telling anyone.

Neville received a letter back from his grandmother two days later. She explained how she would be happy to help Harry and recommended the attorney she had been using for years. They made arrangements to meet up in Hogsmeade on the next school visit so Harry made sure to write down all he could think about so he would be ready for questions from the attorney or questions he might need to ask.

Harry and Neville walked into the Three Broomsticks to see Augusta Longbottom, she quickly greeted them then ushered them upstairs to a private room where they could talk.

After introductions the two adults and two teenagers sat down, 'I recently found out that a lot of the information in the books about me, my parents and that night is lies. There is some truth, but hardly any. Then Neville explained about the dolls, t-shirts and pictures that were sold. I checked with the Potter account manager at Gringotts, he said I was never paid for any of that.'

'By rights you should have been given a percentage of all sales. What we don't know is who authorised the permission to use you. From what Lady Longbottom told me, you live with your muggle aunt, is that correct?'

'Yes, my mother's sister, who hates me, hated my parents and thinks we're all freaks. She lives to make everyone believe she had this perfect normal life. Most of the time I'm supposed to stay hidden and pretend I don't exist.'

'In your opinion would they give permission to use your name and face?'

'For money, yeah, they would.'

'Have they ever bought you something expensive or used money to invest on your behalf?'

Harry scoffed, 'I get nothing from then, I get Dudley's old clothes, I never received a birthday or Christmas gift from them and I'm worked like a house elf. I have to cook for them, clean up after them then make their gardens into a show peace yet I'm not allowed food until the work is done,' Harry looked down at the table, 'I didn't even have a room until I got my first Hogwarts letter. They gave me Dudley's second bedroom for two reasons. The first was they believed our kind were spying on them and the second reason was in the hope I would forget about being a wizard,' he was embarrassed but he knew he could trust these people. He slowly looked up to see the attorney holding his hand up to stop Neville and his grandmother from saying anything.

'Where did you sleep?'

Harry sighed, 'The cupboard under the stairs, they would lock me in there. It was small and dark, they would take out the light bulb if they believed I needed to be punished.'

'Did they ever physically abuse you?'

'My aunt would hit me over the head with things like frying pans, my uncle preferred his belt and my cousin had a gang, they would go Harry hunting.'

'Then apart from working to sue these people who wrote the books and put out the dolls, we will be working on taking your muggle relatives to court on child abuse. Now again from what I found out you were raised in the muggle world until you were eleven so you are only now learning our ways, laws and customs, is that right?'

'Yes, I don't know much about laws or anything, I don't trust a lot of people so I was never sure what I should read.'

'Then lets start with this, a child, a magical child is considered a blessing. All of us, meaning witches and wizards would never abuse a magical child. Yes, there are some that receive harsh punishment from their parents, but it's always verbal, never physical. It's considered a serious crime to physically hurt a magical child, so serious that we sentence them to be kissed or they go to Azkaban, for life. That changes once the child reaches around fifteen or sixteen. So even though they are muggles, we can prosecute them in our courts for the abuse you received. Now for all we know they did agree to these dolls and have been receiving money for it. If you wish me to take your case, I'm talking about everything here, then we will need to meet a few more times so I can get as much information about the muggles, you and your life. We will take them to court for their physical and emotional abuse, we will need to investigate if they receive other money that is supposed to be used for your care and if they signed anything in regards to you. If they did receive any money for you then we can sue. They are your guardians, yet how they are is something I need to investigate. A magical child needs a magical guardian, even muggleborns will have a magical guardian appointed to them, if the parent's don't have friends or family in the magical world. So let's start with your parents and if they made out their wills, if they did, then there should be information in them as to who would be your guardian if they died.'

'Um, I know more, but this is dangerous and it could mean the death of someone I care about.'

'I am willing to give a wizard's oath Mr. Potter, plus as my client everything we discuss is confidential unless you give permission for me to discuss that information with others.'

'I will also give my oath Harry, I am appalled at how you have been treated. Just know that you can count on me and my grandson.'

Harry smiled at Lady Longbottom and Mr. Grenich, he had two people that were going to help him, that was there for him in ways no other adults has been, until Sirius. Hopefully, this could mean his godfather will finally be free.

Harry couldn't help feeling better after his two meetings with the attorney, Mr. Grenich. He had started to work on his five problems, one, suing for using the name Harry Potter without permission, that included using the name the-boy-who-lived. Two, suing the authors who wrote the books that were basically full of lies, speculation, rumours and half truths yet they were released as factual events. Third, he was also working on making sure Sirius Black was given a fair and safe trial. Fourth he would be researching who has been receiving the money from products linked to Harry and last was having the Dursley's charged with child abuse.

Mr. Grenich had contacted Sirius through Harry so he would know about the oath given and how he was now Harry Potter's attorney who asked to also take on his case an unlawful imprisonment.

Sirius had written to Harry to thank him and to tell his godson that their attorney should have him free very soon. Even though Harry originally wanted to work on suing for the lies, he changed that to make sure Sirius's name was cleared first, it was more important to him that just making those people pay.

One thing Mr. Grenich was working on straight away was to give Lady Longbottom temporary guardianship of Harry until Sirius' name was cleared or the wills of the Potters named others that were still alive who could take Harry. He told Harry it would be easy enough so he realised he would never have to see the Dursley's again.

Harry and Neville had just stepped into the castle after doing some more research on spells that Harry may need in the first task, which was two days away, when Harry collapsed to the ground.

'Harry,' Neville yelled anxiously as he knelt beside his friend, 'What happened?'

'Don't know, just felt strange then it was like I had no strength, I still feel like shit.'

'Okay, I'm taking you to see Pomfrey,' Neville heaved Harry up, but could tell he wouldn't be able to hold all Harry's weight, 'Change of plans,' Neville pointed his wand at Harry, 'levitation spell, it's easier than trying to carry you.'

'Thanks, but I don't feel well.'

Neville panicked when Harry's eyes rolled back as he passed out, he floated Harry in front of him as he ran, his hands holding his friend tight so he didn't float off and hit a wall.

He burst through the doors of the hospital wing, 'Madam Pomfrey, quick,' he yelled as he floated Harry over to a bed.

'I should have known I would get a visit from Mr. Potter. What was he doing this time?'

'Nothing, all we've been doing is studying spells for the first task. We stepped into the entrance way when Harry fell, he said it was like he had no strength. I tried to hold him up but he couldn't help, that's why I levitated him.'

'Alright, just wait quietly while I examine him.'

Neville watched the med-witch cast her diagnostic charms all over Harry, from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. He could tell by the look on Pomfrey's face that something was wrong.

'He's going to be okay, right?'

'He'll live, but he's been poisoned with an unknown substance which has basically drained him of any strength and magic. He will have trouble raising a finger let alone walk.'

'Can you help him?'

'First I need to know what did this which means testing his blood. Between Professor Snape and me we should figure out what was used. Please do me a favour Mr. Longbottom, go tell the headmaster that Mr. Potter is very unwell and could he and Professor Snape join me.'

'I'll go now, but I'm coming back,' Neville looked once more at Harry before running from the hospital wing.

He knew by the time that most would be having lunch so he ran, bumping into people and walls as he flies through corridors. He never slows, just continues into the great hall and towards the staff table. He couldn't breath, but he knew the teachers were wondering what was going on.

'Deep breaths Mr. Longbottom then tell us why you were running,' Minerva said.

Neville took a few calming breaths, 'Madam Pomfrey, she wants...Professor Dumbledore and Snape, Harry's been poisoned.'

'What?!' Minerva shouted then watched as the headmaster and Severus left, 'Do you know anything else Mr. Longbottom?'

'It's made him lose his strength and magic, it drained him, she said he couldn't even lift a finger. He collapsed, I had to levitate him to the hospital.'

'Very well, thank you, let's go see if they can find out what has caused this.'

Neville walked alongside McGonagall ignoring the looks from every student in the great hall. Some looked worried, some anxious, he just didn't care. Neville was worried and anxious, someone had poisoned his friend.

When Minerva and Neville stepped into the room, they saw Severus Snape taking blood from Harry who was still unconscious.

'How is he?' Neville asked.

'Not good I'm afraid and it will be days before we will be close to an answer,' Poppy said.

'Neville,' Albus said kindly, 'did you see Harry eat anything that didn't look right or made you suspicious or maybe he said something didn't taste right?'

'No, sir, we usually eat the same food, we even drink the same juice. Though he did have a few chocolate frogs and Honeydukes chocolate left from our last Hogsmeade visit. I don't eat them so I bought sugar quills and licorice wands.'

'Do you know where he may keep them Longbottom?' Snape snapped.

'Yeah, in his trunk, under his clothes.'

'I will take you up to Gryffindor tower Mr. Longbottom, we will have to test them,' Minerva said.

'Um, Harry charmed his trunk so no one can open it. He didn't want Ron trying to take his father's cloak.'

'I will see if they are basically sealing charms and work from there. Let's go.'

Neville glanced once more at Harry before following his teacher to Gryffindor tower. They never stopped by the questions of the students in the common room, just headed upstairs.