38 Home Sweet Home

Harry flew as long as he could stand it before his hands hurt too much from the bitter cold. He landed by an old abandon warehouse outside the skirts of a small city. He figured he should be far enough away from Hogsmeade and the searching aurors to apparate now without alerting them. He clapped his hands together several times to get the blood flowing once more and felt the sharp sensation of tiny needles in his hands as the blood rushed back to his fingers. He stood next to an empty wooden crate as he tried to gather his nerve.

He hated the fact that he was still apprehensive of facing his uncle, especially after having faced down so many more sinister people then that pathetic man. He was beginning to have second thoughts of returning to Privet Drive when he felt a tingling in his scar. That was enough to force him to gather his belongings and apparate to Little Whinging.. He pushed his wand up his sleeve and vowed not to use it against his uncle. It would feel good to hex a bright pink tail on the bastard but it wouldn't due to be caught by the ministry until Severus could help him stay safe.

He felt rather bad for having left the Shrieking Shack without leaving a note behind but he knew Sirius would just come after him if he knew where he was going. No, he had to do this alone. It was almost as if he had to prove something to himself by facing down Vernon. He didn't want to go through life with this fear of someone who was so contemptible. With all the bravery he could muster, he began the short walk to number four Privet Drive.

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Number four looked exactly the same as it had the last time Harry was here, with a well manicured lawn and perfectly trimmed hedges. Somehow, Harry had thought things would have looked different now but then he realized that perhaps he was the only one to have changed since his departure. He forced himself to walk up the driveway and to knock on the front door.

It took a few long minutes before he could hear the thundering slow steps of someone coming to answer the door. With dread he knew who would open the door before they even drew near. He wiped his palms on his cloak and cleared his throat.

Harry wanted to step back when his uncle opened the door. He forced himself to step forward and keep a steady voice, "Hello, Uncle Vernon."

Vernon was still huffing with the exertion it took to walk to the front door. His face became a deeper shade of red when he saw who was standing before him, "Get out of here before the neighbors see you! We don't want anything else to do with your kind!"

Harry swallowed hard, "I need to speak with Aunt Petunia."

"I said go!" Vernon yelled, taking a menacing step forward. He froze when he heard Petunia's voice coming from the kitchen.

"Who is it, Vernon dear?"

"No one!" Vernon shouted, moving to close the door. Harry's hand shot out to keep the door from closing.

Petunia walked up behind Vernon. She peered around her husband's large frame and gasped out loud when she saw who was standing on her porch. With a hand to Vernon's shoulder, she pushed the man aside and stood in front of him.

"Why are you here?" Petunia asked in a strained whisper as her eyes darted around in search of neighbors.

"I need to speak with you," Harry said, noticing Vernon clenching his fists behind Petunia.

"Get in before the neighbors see!" She looked at the black fur lined cloak her nephew was wearing and hoped her neighbors hadn't noticed the boy in such an odd outfit.

"Thank you," Harry said as he carried his rucksack and broom into the house. He dropped his stuff in the hallway before following his aunt and uncle into the living room.

"Why are here?" Petunia immediately asked, without preamble. Both Dursley's looked at Harry as if he had just come back from the dead. Petunia noticed his pale sickly complexion. Vernon noticed his expensive cloak and shoes.

"I need a place to stay until the professor can come get me," Harry explained as he took in his surroundings. Everything looked exactly the same, clean as ever. The place even smelled the same as he remembered, of cleaning products with a hint of lemon oil. The smell turned his stomach.

"You can't stay here! Get out and don't ever come back again," Vernon yelled, his face turning a deeper shade of red with sweat breaking out on his forehead.

Harry's gaze moved to his aunt, "I need the protection my mother left me. It should only be for a day or two."

Petunia actually looked to be considering this when Vernon bellowed out, "Get the bloody hell out! We don't owe you anything! We gave you a home with food and clothes and you repaid us by running off to those …those freaks and telling them lies about me! Get out!"

"Lies?" Harry repeated incredulously. His heart pounding in his chest at the memory of those awful days his uncle had punished him, "You know what you did, Uncle Vernon!"

"I know nothing!" Vernon huffed out, giving Harry a look of warning, "You just shut up, boy!"

"No!" Harry yelled back, stepping closer to the vile man. "I know what you did to me, even if you refuse to admit it! I know how you tied me up and beat me bloody! I know how you punished me with that knife!"

Petunia took in a sharp breath.

The whole time Harry was yelling, Vernon was looking at Petunia and shaking his head, as if to deny the truth. "That's not true, Petunia. You know how the boy always tells lies!"

"Yes, it is true!" Harry yelled back. "I still have the scar on my back to prove it!"

"SHUT UP!" Vernon bellowed, his arm cocked back and he swung at Harry's face.

The sound of fist hitting skin was all that could be heard in the room for a brief moment. Harry's head snapped back with such force that he momentarily lost his balance and had to grab onto the chair to keep from falling. He steadied himself as he looked at his uncle with abhorrence.

Vernon froze with his arm dropped down by his side. Petunia had her hands covering her mouth.

Harry wiped a bit of blood from his split lip. He took a menacing step forward and watched his uncle step back as far as he could. He looked from one adult to the other, noting how fearful they seemed to be of him. It was a most heartening moment when he realized he had the clear advantage over his once feared uncle. He had no doubts he could beat his uncle into the floor if he so choose, but for some reason there was no appeal in that. He didn't want to be anything like his uncle, no matter how deserving the bastard was of a sound thrashing.

Petunia managed to find her voice, "Come, you need ice." Her shaking hands gave away how disturbed she really was.

Vernon didn't move as Harry walked towards him on his way into the kitchen. Harry stopped right in front of his uncle and looked him straight in the eye. He was so close he could smell the beer Vernon must have had at lunch. Vernon tried to back up but the chair behind him wouldn't allow for that.

Harry leaned closer still and grabbed a handful of Vernon's sweaty wet shirt, "That was the last time you ever lay hands on me. You better hope to God that my father doesn't find out."

"F-father?" Vernon stuttered. "Y-you mean someone really took you in?"

"Yes, my father," Harry calmly stated, "You know, that guy that came to rescue Hedwig?"

Vernon suddenly turned as white as Nearly Headless Nick and slumped back to the chair behind him. He still had horrible memories of that dark cloaked man.

Harry walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Petunia handed him a paper towel with a few ice cubes wrapped inside. He pressed the ice to his throbbing lip and looked across the table at his aunt. She looked as if she wanted to say something but after a few long moments she looked away.

"I didn't come here to fight or get revenge. I just need the blood protection my mum left for me. Just for a day or two," Harry quietly asked, seeing how nervous his aunt was.

Petunia gave a curt nod. She put a hand to her chest and closed her eyes, "I didn't know it had gotten so bad for you… this past summer. I never would have …well..." She looked at the swollen lip her nephew was now sporting and shook her head again, "I won't let him do it again."

She then pointed to the cupboard under the stairs in the hallway, "Put your broom in there. You may stay in your old room."

She stood up then pressed her apron down around her hips before turning towards the sink. "Supper will be ready in an hour," she said it as if everything was normal, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.

Harry didn't know what else he had expected but for some reason he had hoped she might say more about the abuse.

Harry walked out to the hallway, letting the kitchen door swing closed behind him. He grabbed his broom from the entryway and approached the cupboard. He hesitated reaching for the door but then grasped onto the doorknob. The tiny room had been emptied of the cot he had once considered his bed. He could see a few boxes against the wall that held several jars of canned fruit and a few boxes of old clothes. He ducked his head as he stepped into the dark room and turned on the bare light bulb dangling from the ceiling.

A sudden burst of anger towards Dumbledore overwhelmed him when he thought of all those people in the wizarding world that would have been happy to adopt him as a baby. Instead he had been left here to be ridiculed and made to feel like a burden.

He spotted a child's crayon drawing on the far wall that brought back a painful memory. It was just a stick figure of a man with long hair and a small boy on a bike with no wheels. He had been six years old when Vernon had beat him so severely he had almost died. They had stuffed him in the cupboard to keep anyone from seeing his injuries. During that awful time he had wonderful dreams about a man who had come to save him. His dreams were filled with warm embraces and happy times. He hadn't wanted to forget his dreams so he had secretly drawn the picture where no one else would see it. When months and months had passed without the man coming to save him, he had covered up the picture with an empty box since it hurt so much to look at.

His chest felt constricted with pain, just knowing that the dream had been real. Severus would have gladly adopted him way back then. His childhood could have been so different.

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Harry sat at the supper table in silence. Neither Petunia nor Vernon had said anything to him nor to each other during the meal. The front door banged open and slammed shut and a moment later Dudley Dursley lumbered into the room.

Dudley stopped walking upon seeing Harry and sputtered out, "What the bloody hell is he doing here?"

Harry wondered the same thing about his cousin. Wasn't Dudley supposed to be in school?

Petunia explained that Harry would only be here for a short time as she piled a plate with food and pushed it before her overgrown son. She still talked to Dudley as if he were a small child, "Don't worry Pumpkin, he'll be leaving soon enough."

Harry was amazed that Dudley had managed to grow even bigger, in both directions. It wouldn't be long before Dudley caught up with Vernon.

"Thought we were rid of you for good?" Dudley said through a mouthful of food.

"Thought wrong then," Harry retorted, then asked, "Did Smeltings finally kick you out for beating up innocent little kids?"

Petunia let out a squeak, Vernon grunted and Dudley laughed. "Yeah, they expelled me. That school's for nancy boys. Bunch of tattle tale, cry babies!"

Vernon chuckled, "I bet it's not long until they come running back begging you to attend their school again. They were lucky to have the Golden Gloves Champion attend their pitiful school!"

"You ready to have a go at me, Potter?" Dudley asked as he stuffed a giant piece of steak into his mouth.

"Sure, I'll take you on," Harry said, to laughs from all three Dursley's. "I should probably warn you though, … I've had training in defense."

"Oh, little Potter's had someone actually show him how to defend himself," Dudley taunted in an annoyingly high pitched tone. "Hah! I hardly think your little training session will make much difference. How bout we have a go at the boxing club tomorrow?"

"Sounds good," Harry said, noticing the smiles on three Dursley's faces. "Just don't say I didn't warn you."

"There'll be no funny business!" Vernon growled, waving his fork around as if it were a wand.

Harry put both hands up, "No magic, I promise."

Petunia covered her ears, Vernon let out a growl, "Don't say that word!"

Harry smiled to himself as he washed the supper dishes that night. He was actually looking forward to the boxing match against Dudley.

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The next morning Harry was awoken by thundering footsteps outside his bedroom door. He hardly had time to grab for his glasses before his bedroom door slammed open and Dudley came barreling in.

"Get up, Potter! Mum wants you to start breakfast."

Harry should have known better than to expect his aunt to change her expectations of his house hold duties. He begrudgingly got up and showered and dressed before heading down to the kitchen. He knew he could refuse but then that might get his uncle riled up enough to actually kick him out. Best not upset the man. He hadn't felt a twinge from his scar since he had arrived and wanted to keep it that way.

As soon as everyone sat down for breakfast there was a knock on the backdoor. Piers Polkiss and anther boy walked into the kitchen without waiting for the door to be answered. Piers looked at Harry with contempt. He sat on the last empty chair at the table without saying hi to anyone.

Dudley spoke to Harry with a mouth full of eggs, "Get Piers a plate, Potter."

Piers smiled, showing off his missing front tooth, "Yeah, and I like my eggs scrambled."

"Get it yourself," Harry answered back.

"Muuum," Dudley whined, "Harry's not doing what I told him to do."

Petunia shook her head at Dudley.

"Dad, make him," Dudley beseeched, turning to smile at Piers as if they had a private joke.

Vernon mumbled out, "Can't touch him."

Harry took the last two sausages and put them on his plate.

"I bet he'll do whatever you tell him to do after your match today," Piers said, reaching for the last piece of toast.

Harry was quicker and snatched it off the plate first. He took a bite of the toast, "Mmm." Piers and Dudley glared back at him.

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Back at Hogwarts, the halls were still being patrolled by aurors and ministry officials. Minister Fudge was desperate to get his hands on the-boy-who-lived. It would help his plummeting popularity in the Wizarding World if he adopted the teen himself. He tried not to let it worry him that the document the boy had supposedly signed, still had not been found. He hoped it was only a matter of time before the document showed up.

In the mean time he wanted to take the teen out of the school before Severus Snape made an appearance. He knew it would be nearly impossible to take the boy from the school once that man showed up. Truth be told… he was rather scared of the intimidating professor.

While all this was going on, Severus was tucked away in a small hidden room within the infirmary. The room was just large enough to accommodate two beds and a nightstand. At this time the other bed was currently occupied by Albus Dumbledore. Both men were still caught in the throes of a magically induced coma.

Severus willed himself to wake up and fight against the coma. It had been two days since the memory spell had been cast. His memories were now fully intact, including the way he had treated his son during these past few weeks. He felt dreadful for putting the young man through so much grief. Even in his weakened state he vowed to make it up to Harry as soon as possible. He knew that the teen would forgive him but he found himself longing to speak with the boy and set everything to rights once more.

His mind was stronger than his body. He didn't even have the energy to form words yet but he knew the first words he would speak would be an apology to Harry for treating him so cruelly.

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The boxing ring was almost empty except for the five friends Dudley had invited to watch. He would have invited more people to watch him pummel his cousin but most of his friends had been forbidden to hang out with him anymore. Too bad for them.

Harry felt better than he had in a while. He knew he really shouldn't risk getting hit in the head since it wouldn't really be all that good for his hemorrhages but he couldn't help wanting to show off his newly acquired fighting skills. Mad-Eye had been very thorough in teaching him hand to hand combat during his time at the training camp. He felt fairly confident that he could take Dudley in the first round.

He tied his boxing gloves on as best as he could before stepping into the ring. He wasn't even bothered by the fact that Piers was planning on refereeing the match.

As soon as the whistle was blown Dudley came rushing at Harry like a bull at the red cape. Harry easily side stepped then landed the first punch when Dudley turned around. The punch sent Dudley flying back against the ropes and grabbing for his bloody nose. There were oohs and aahs from the crowd but they hushed up as soon as Dudley glared at them.

Dudley took another swing at Harry but Harry ducked. It gave him the perfect opportunity to give his oaf of a cousin a nice upper cut to the jaw. The crowd hooted and hollered.

This seemed to make Dudley even more angry. He came after Harry with a vengeance. He threw his arms open wide and forced Harry into the corner.

With Dudley pushed up against him and the ropes holding him in place, Harry lost the advantage. He took a few punches to the ribs before he was able to push his cousin back off of him. Dudley barely managed to recover from another punch to the face before Harry had him cornered and was landing punches to Dudley's large stomach.

The sound of Dudley's friends laughing and cheering on his freak of a cousin made him see red. He pulled his gloves off and went after the little freak.

The first blow took Harry by surprise. He had thought Dudley had turned around to catch his breath, having no idea he was instead removing his gloves.

The first punch hit him on the same spot Uncle Vernon had hit him yesterday. The cut on his lip split wide open pouring blood down the front of his chest. He pulled his own gloves off and went after his smirking cousin.

With deep seated anger, Harry pummeled his cousin until they were both rolling around on the ground. Dudley's friends cheered them on.

Harry let his rage over being treated so poorly for so many years rule his anger towards his cousin. He landed blow after blow, feeling his resentment grow. His fists were sore with bruises when he finally stopped punching his cousin. For the first time he noticed Dudley had been covering his head with his arms and curling into a large ball to avoid the blows. He staggered to his feet as shame washed through him. As much as he had always wanted to avoid it, he knew he was acting just like his uncle. He had let anger rule him.

Without a backward glance, he stepped out of the ring, grabbed his t-shirt and headed for the door. His anger towards himself was just as severe as the anger he had towards everyone else. He knew the only way to get through this would be for him to forgive the people who had harmed him. It wasn't that he was condoning their awful behavior or even making excuses for them. The only thing he sought was to let his resentment towards them go, because he knew how it had been eating away at him. He knew that it was the only way to finally be free of them.

It took him hours of walking the streets of Little Winging to finally get to a point where he thought he had managed that overwhelming task called forgiveness. It was hardest of all to forgive his uncle and everything the man had ever done to him. He knew that his uncle would never be remorseful or repentant for the way he had treated him but, it didn't really matter if uncle Vernon ever asked for forgiveness. In the end it was really about Harry wanting to be free from hate and anger and the only way he could do that was to forgive them.

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Severus immediately knew that Minerva was keeping something from him. Poppy had refused to release him until he was strong enough to stand without hemorrhaging out of his nose. He had been livid when he was told that Harry was not available to see him just yet. He was quite certain that something dire had happened to the boy.

Now, Minerva stood before him with eyes that refused to meet his own. He was not above using Legilimency on the old cat if she continued keeping information from him.

Albus had a much harder time coming out of the magical coma. He was awake but extremely weak. His eyes caught those of his deputy headmistress and he said, "Tell us what has occurred, Minerva."

Minerva looked to Poppy who was shaking her head but knew better than to disobey a direct order from Albus Dumbledore. She braced herself before saying, "Harry has disappeared. That document he signed has alerted the ministry. Minister Fudge would like to take Harry from the school and plans to adopt him. Harry managed to get away from Alastor Moody with a little help from his friends."

"Where is my son?" Severus was now out of bed and hastily putting his robe on.

"He was at the Shrieking Shack. Two days ago, when Moody took him, Harry was still too weak to walk. Draco stunned Moody and brought Harry to the Shrieking Shack. The minister is under the impression that we are hiding Harry somewhere in the school and has assigned several aurors to stay at the school. Fudge has leaked the news to the public that Harry was trying to get out of the adoption and that you are trying to keep him against his will, Severus."

"I would like to see a copy of the document Harry signed. Perhaps we can find a loop hole in the way it was written," Albus said, suddenly sounding much stronger.

"I have been asking for a copy but it seems they have yet to find the document. Arthur has informed me that the ministry has yet to receive any document at all from Harry," Minerva explained.

"If they never received a document, then how did they find out that Harry ever signed anything?" Albus asked.

"We've no idea, Albus," Minerva explained. "Harry was taken the same night you were both put under the coma. He was taken directly from your apartment, Severus."

It didn't take long for Severus to put the pieces together. The only people to know about the document were the people in this room… and Narcissa. It became exceedingly obvious who the person was that alerted the ministry. Severus was momentarily torn between going after Narcissa and rushing out to find his son.

As if the headmaster was reading his mind, Severus heard him say, "Severus, you should look for Harry while I deal with the minister. I will be sure our dear minister stops this ridiculous pursuit of trying to adopt Harry. It is obvious he already has a father," Albus said in a calm voice.

Severus gave Albus a nod before rushing down to his dungeon apartment to change. He passed several aurors on the way that all demanded he stop for questioning. He ignored them all.

His thoughts were consumed with memories of what happened to Harry whilst they were at Vespa's cottage. How had Harry dealt with the abuse he had suffered at the hand of Bellatrix? How had he dealt with being treated so callously by his own father, the one person he had put his trust into? Severus had failed him on so many different levels. The thought of Harry signing that document was beyond comprehension. Had the poor boy really questioned his place in Severus' life?

Severus called Dobby to him and told him to get Harry's friends. Without question, he would find his son tonight.

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