And here comes the second chapter. Let's see if I can keep it up at such a rhythm.

Edit : Updated chapter with a couple of mistake fixes

"Talking"

Thinking

"Telepathy"

"Spells"

"Spirit talking"


"What the hell is going on?"

The four Spirits gazed at Harry in confusion, before they shared a look and turned back to him.

"Do you not remember summoning us?" Undine asked, then sighed as Harry shook his head. "This complicates the situation."

"If he did not consciously summon us, then there must be other factors that we don't know about." Efreet said before he turned to Harry. "Tell me, child, what exactly do you remember of your fight against the abomination?"

Harry tilted his head in confusion. "Abomination? What are you talking about? And where am I?"

"The man that tried to kill you." Gnome elaborated. "As for where we are, well, that's your mindscape, of course."

Harry blinked. "So... you mean we're in my head?"

"Yup." Sylph confirmed. "Now if you could answer the question, that'd be great."

And so, for the second time, Harry retold his confrontation against Quirrell, complementing his story with what Dumbledore had told him might have happened to the Stone. Once he was done, the four Spirits looked at each other.

"It is most likely this stone that called upon us." Efreet said. "However, that still doesn't explain WHY it did summon us."

"Perhaps it was just a matter of circumstances." Undine replied. "Tell us, Harry, did you wish for something before you fainted?"

Harry scrunched his face in concentration. "I remember feeling in pain and... weak. And I think I... wanted help. It's quite fuzzy."

Undine nodded. "Then I think the stone granted your wish."

Once again, Harry looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Spirit Arts and Magic are all about intent, Harry. I suppose your magic grasped upon your call for help and used the stone as a medium to provide it. And in doing so, it called us to you and bonded us to your magic." The Water Spirit explained.

Harry looked flabbergasted. Was such a thing even possible? He knew the stone was capable of miracles, but it just seemed surreal. And it was magic he was talking about for Merlin's sake! Then, something Undine had said caught his attention. "Wait. You said that you are 'bonded' to me?" at her nod, he continued. "W-what does that mean, exactly?"

It was Gnome who answered. "It means that you have become our Lord, our master."

Harry looked horrified at that. "Is there anything I can do to set you free? I don't want you guys to suffer because of something I did without thinking." To him, it sounded like slavery.

The four spirits looked blankly at him for a second before they all dissolved into laughter and Harry couldn't help but redden in embarrassment.

"W-was it something I said? Thi-this is a serious matter, you know." he stammered.

"Forgive us for laughing, Harry." Gnome apologized. "It's just that, well, we didn't expect such a reaction from you."

"Don't worry, kid." Sylph added. "You couldn't make us do something against our will, even if you tried." she said, and Harry let out a relieved sigh.

"Still, it is very noble of you to worry about our freedom." Efreet praised. "I believe that, if anything, you will be a Lord worth serving." Harry's face became a deeper shade of red at that.

"You must understand something, Harry." Undine said. "You are our summoner. As such, we are, first and foremost, here to help, protect and serve you. You honor us by your kindness and we commend you for it." Harry's face was a tomato red at this point. "As for freeing us from the bond, it is not something that can be easily done, and certainly not by yourself. When the time is right, when you will no longer need us, the bond will disappear naturally. Until then, we will remain by your side."

Harry's eyes widened. "You mean you'll... stay with me? Always?" he felt his eyes tear up at the nods they gave him. "Thank you." he said, his voice thick with emotion. "It's just... I've never had that. Someone who would always be there for me." he added at their questioning looks.

Undine frowned in sadness as she bent to Harry's level and embraced him gently. He stiffened at first, obviously not used to being hugged, before he slowly returned the embrace.

The tree other Spirits watched the scene unfold, a single thought running through their mind.

This child needed them. And in more ways than one.


When Harry woke up back in the Hospital Wing, he was greeted by the concerned face of Madam Pomfrey as she watched over him.

"Are you alright, Mister Potter?" she asked softly. "You've been crying in your sleep." she added as she saw his questioning look.

Harry smiled at the nurse. "Yes, thank you madam." he replied as he dabbed his eyes and sat up. "Can you tell me what time it is?"

"Oh, it's still early, classes haven't started yet." she answered. "You will be able to check out as soon as I'm done running a few diagnosis spells on you. In the meantime, why don't you sort all those gifts?" she gestured to the pile beside his bed.

Is that just me or is it bigger than yesterday? He wondered as he picked the first box of candy. He had just finished reading the short card from Seasmus that a sharp intake of breath from the nurse drew his attention back to her.

She looked absolutely livid, with her wand still pointing at Harry and her eyes gleaming with righteous fury that made him want to hide himself under the bed in fear.

"Um... Madam Pomfrey?" Harry said, his voice slightly quivering.

"Who did this, Mister Potter?" she hissed in anger. "Who did that to you?"

Harry blinked. "Who did... what?" he replied uncertainly.

"I've just detected multiple problems with your body, Mister Potter. Problems that, for some reason, my diagnostic charms didn't detect the first time you visited me. Badly healed broken bones, malnutrition and what seems to be the lingering traces of a concussion are just the beginning. So, I ask again. Who. Did. This?"

Harry blanched at what she said. He knew what she was talking about. How could he not, when he remembered everything the Dursleys had done to him over the years, that he had done his best to hide it from everyone else? Every time his cousin and his friends had hit him during their games of 'Harry Hunting', when his Aunt slapped him for everything she blamed on him or how his Uncle would beat him when something weird happened around him or he had a bad day at work. He remembered all of it. But could he tell her? He had never said anything because he feared it might just make things worse and he had his suspicions that his magic had helped him hide it until now.

"Have no fear, Harry. She just wants to help you."

Harry almost jumped as he heard Undine's voice in his head and looked around for any sign of the Spirit. "Undine?"

"Do not worry, child. Even if you cannot see us, we are still here." she replied. "Now, please, answer her. She won't hurt you. We can sense it."

Harry nodded slowly and turned back to face the nurse, who was looking at him with yet another concerned expression.

"It was my relatives." he muttered.

At those words, Pomfrey jumped from the stool she was sitting on, her form bristling with fury once more. "Wait here, Harry. I need to inform the Headmaster of this and contact St Mungo, perhaps even the DMLE." she said before storming out of the Hospital Wing.

After she left, Harry was tempted, oh so tempted, to flee to his dorm but he knew it would only delay the inevitable. So, he decided to take his mind off it by continuing to sort his gifts. Most came from Gryffindors, just as he expected, but he was surprised to have received a few from Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. There even were a few from Slytherins!

Though he had no idea who Daphnee Greengrass, Tracey Davis and Blaise Zabini were, but he supposed they couldn't be too bad if they had sent him gifts that weren't trapped. Besides, he would probably had remembered them if they were a part of Malfoy's clique.

A few minutes later, Pomfrey returned with a whole contingent of people, which included Dumbledore and McGonagall, having what looked like an animated discussion.

"...an outrage! Albus, do you realize what will happen if this becomes public knowledge?! People will be braying for blood!" a stern woman wearing what looked like a monocle exclaimed.

"And I assure you, Amelia, that had I even suspected this, I would have taken steps to prevent such a thing from ever happening." Dumbledore replied calmly as they neared Harry's bed.

The group deployed themselves around him and Harry couldn't help but look nervously at the dozen people that gazed at him with various expressions on their faces.

"Headmaster, what's going on?" Harry asked.

"Harry, my boy. I must say that the news our dear nurse brought to me are most alarming. So, I decided to send for a couple healers from St Mungo along for someone from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement." Dumbledore answered as he gestured to the people beside him. "This is Amelia Bones, head of the DMLE, and with her are Aurors Scrimgeour and Shacklebolt."

"It's good to meet you, Mister Potter. Although I wish it was in different circumstances." the stern woman grimly said as she nodded at Harry in greeting. Behind her, the two men, one equally stern with jet black hair and one brown skinned, nodded as well. Harry kept silent and bowed slightly.

"And this are healers Lurand and Mathis from St Mungo." Albus gestured to the raven-haired man and brown-haired woman standing beside Pomfrey. They both wore a white medical outfit and looked to be about thirty. But while Healer Mathis' face was a calm mask, Lurand seemed nervous, almost as if she was restraining herself from doing something.

"Greetings, Mister Potter." Mathis said, and Harry nodded once more, not knowing what to say.

"Mister Potter... Harry." the school nurse called him. "Would you mind taking off your shirt?"

Harry immediately stiffened, drawing frowns from everyone. "Must I?" he asked weakly, even though deep inside, he knew it was useless.

Pomfrey nodded. "I hate to ask you this, Harry, but it is very important that we do this." she pleaded in a soft tone.

Harry took a deep breath. "Alright." he said with a nod. "Alright." he repeated as he gripped the end of his shirt and slowly took it off. There was several sharp breaths and a few gasps, but Harry kept his eyes on the bed sheets, not daring to meet their eyes.

"This... I cannot even- how?" McGonagall stammered, her voice breaking before sorrow left place to anger and she rounded on Dumbledore. "I told you they were the worst kind of Muggles, Albus! I told you, but you didn't listen!"

"Is this the kind of treatment they give heroes in the Muggle world?" Scrimgeour asked darkly.

"How long has this been going on?" Healer Mathis said, his jaw set and his hand gripping his medical board tightly.

"Several years, at least." Pomfrey answered with a tight voice. "Some of the bone fractures I detected were almost five years old."

"Good Merlin..." Healer Lurand said she clasped her hands over her mouth. "It's a miracle he's still walking as it is. And you're saying he plays Quidditch?"

"How, Albus? Just how did you let this happen?" Madam Bones hissed at the headmaster.

For a few seconds, Dumbledore stayed silent as he looked upon the scarred boy in front of him. They say great men make mistakes just as big as themselves and Albus had become all too aware of that the night Voldemort had killed Harry's parents. And yet, it seemed that he had failed them again.

Slowly, the usually jovial, but now serious headmaster made his way closer to Harry before wrapping him in a hug.

"Harry... my dear, dear boy. Forgive an old man and his mistakes." he cried.

This time, Harry froze. He was not used to being embraced by someone, even while wearing clothes. Without them, the feeling of hands on his skin only reminded him of the beatings Vernon had inflicted upon him and he started to tremble from head to toe.

"Oh Merlin, he's having a panic attack!" Pomfrey exclaimed. "Albus, get away from him! I need a Calming Draught, now!"

Dumbledore quickly let go of Harry, but it was no use, the boy continued to tremble, his breathing starting to become ragged and his eyes seeing into the distance.

"Calm down, Harry. You're alright. No one's going hurt you." he heard Undine's soothing voice in his mind. "You're safe, child. There is no need to be scared."

Then, warmth filled him. Warmth like he had never felt before. It was coursing through his body, into his muscles and his veins. Slowly, but surely, Harry started to relax. His breathing evened, his trembling ceased, and his eyes regained their focus, although there were tears in them.

"Thank you." Harry simply thought as he took several deep breaths and felt the Four's presence envelop him, like a comfortable blanket.

"Harry?"

Harry jerked, startled by the voice of McGonagall. He had forgotten there was still a bunch of people here. Slowly, he raised his head to meet his Head of House's worried eyes.

"I'm fine, professor." he replied quietly, although he saw clear as day that she didn't believe him for even a second. "Just... I'm not used to this."

She nodded softly. "I can see that. We'll give you a few minutes to calm yourself, if that's alright with you?"

Harry nodded wordlessly as she left his bedside and he put his shirt back on before letting himself lie on his bed with a deep sigh. He was feeling exhausted already, and the day hadn't even truly started yet.

At his side, invisible to all, the Four watched silently as their summoner shed tears once more. But how could he not, when his worst secret, one he had buried deep within him had been brought out for all the world to see?

Then, suddenly, a ball of fire materialized above the bed, surprising them all, and a majestic red bird appeared with a soft thrill before it perched on the headboard just above Harry and began to sing an equally haunting and uplifting melody.

"Is that a phoenix?" Sylph asked as she looked at the fire bird in awe.

"I can feel the power inside it. There is no mistake." Efreet confirmed.

Harry simply craned his head to look at the mystical creature. Its song seemed to resonate with his very soul, as if it knew the hardships the boy had endured all his life and praised his strength for rising above it.

For a couple of minutes, he simply listened as the phoenix continued its - his, her? - song. When it ended, the majestic bird jumped onto his bed and nuzzled against his cheek for a moment before disappearing in a flash of fire. And for the first time in a while, Harry felt peaceful.

It a was a few seconds later that Dumbledore and the other people came back inside the hospital wing.

"Are you feeling better, my boy?" the headmaster asked gently.

Harry nodded with a hint of a smile. "Yes, thank you sir."

The aged man sighed. "I do not deserve your thanks, Harry. When I placed you with your Aunt, I did so in good faith, thinking she would welcome you as one of her own. Instead, it seems that she and her family treated you in one of the cruelest ways possible. Minerva had warned me, but I had no reason to think that Petunia would act like this toward her own family."

Harry blinked as the information was processed through his brain. "You're the one that left me with them?!" he asked in astonishment.

Dumbledore nodded. "And I'm sorry, so sorry that I did. If there had been the slightest of signs, anything that would have alerted me to what you were enduring, I would have taken action immediately."

Harry didn't know what to think. On one hand, Dumbledore seemed truly sincere, but on the other, he was still the one that left him with his relatives. Even though he respected, even admired, the headmaster, what he'd just been told had put quite a crack in the image he had of the man.

"Do not judge him too harshly, Harry." Undine said. "At the end of the day, Dumbledore is just one person. And people make mistakes." she told him wisely.

"No one is perfect, Harry. Do not fault the man who thought he had left you in a safe and loving care. He did so with only your best intentions in mind, even if he was proved wrong." Efreet added.

Harry swallowed and took another deep breath. "It's not your fault, sir. You couldn't have known."

Dumbledore shook his head in sorrow. "But I should have, my boy, I should have. I had Arabella Figg check on you. She told me that you were a quiet, well-mannered boy and I had no reason not to believe her."

Harry's eyes widened. "Mrs Figg is a witch?!"

"A squib, actually." the headmaster corrected. "She was, I thought, the ideal choice to watch over you. Not being able to use magic, she would have blended easily in your society without drawing any attention toward you. But it appears I was mistaken."

Again, that left Harry at a loss for words.

"But that is in the past now." Dumbledore continued. "Rest assured, Harry, that you will not ever see the Dursleys again if I can help it."

"And you'll have the support of the DMLE in this, Albus. This is clearly a case of child endangerment, moreover of a child from an Ancient and Noble House." Madam Bones added. "If I had my say, I would take custody of Mr Potter as ward of the DMLE this instant. He's my Susan's age, for Merlin's sake."

Harry could only gape at the woman. Though he did note what she said about his family and filed it away for later.

"Certainly, but this is neither the time, nor the place." Pomfey said sternly. "I want everyone out, except for Healers Lurand and Mathis. Now shoo!" A few urgings later, the only people in the hospital wing were the three healers and Harry himself.

And so began a long session of prodding and poking, followed by an even longer period constituting of many healing spells and potions. Even with three people working on him, it still took a few hours before Harry was cleared by them. Although he was given a couple of potion regiments and told to eat lots of certain foods for the next months.

"And be careful, Mr Potter. Although your eyesight problems have been cured, we're still not sure what else the stone might have done." Pomfrey said as he exited the hospital wing.

"Actually, that was us." Sylph chirped, and it took all of Harry's self-control not to jump.

"You guys did that for me?" he asked.

"We did." Gnome said. "We were also going to heal your body progressively, but it seems they took care of that for us. There's still a few things we'd like to do, but we can talk about that later. You've got company."

That was all the warning Harry had before a brown bushy haired missile slammed into him with a cry of his name and he was enveloped into a bone-crushing hug.


Harry spent the next the hour or so retelling Hermione and Ron what had happened in the dungeons after they got separated and his conversation with Dumbledore inside the hospital wing. He left out, however, the secret of his abuse at the Dursleys, as he wasn't ready to talk about it to his friends, and the fact that he now had four Spirits with him at times on Undine's request. Apparently, they were people willing to go to great lengths in order find something, anything really, about spirits and if they ever heard of the fact that he, a mere boy of eleven, had four of them, they'd vivisect him. And Harry wasn't willing to take such a risk.

His friends told him what had happened on their side and what he had missed in past few days. It seemed the whole school was talking about what happened and that made Harry groan in annoyance. He had enough fame as it was.

After that, he spent a bit of time touring the castle with Four, who were quite curious about the place they had been summoned in and the various secrets it held.

He also visited Hagrid, who cried his eyes out about how it was his fault that Quirrell got past Fluffy and how Harry could have died. Harry was quick to argue that the half-giant wasn't responsible for what had happened because it was Voldemort's fault and no one else's. Before he left, Hagrid gave him what turned out to be an album full of wizard photographs of his parents, which made him embrace the man with all the strength he had before going back to the castle for the end of the year feast.

What happened there was almost baffling. Dumbledore ended up giving Gryffindor a hundred and seventy points for the events behind the destruction of the stone, putting the house of the Lions in first place before Slytherin and winning them the house cup. Not that Harry was complaining, but he was pretty sure that shouldn't have happened. If anything, Dumbledore should have taken points because they went in alone without the assistance of a professor.

Still, the memory of Malfoy's face when he realized that Slytherin ended up in second place was something he'd treasure for a long, long time.

But it seemed that the day wasn't over yet, as just as the feast ended, he was stopped by McGonagall. "Mr Potter, would you please follow me to the Headmaster's office? They are still a few things we need to discuss."

Harry nodded and bid good night to both his friends before following his Head of House. A couple of minutes and a few stairs later, they were standing in front of huge gargoyle.

"Ice Mice."

The gargoyle nodded and stepped aside to reveal a staircase which they climbed to arrive in front of the headmaster's office before McGonagall knocked.

"Ah, Minerva, Harry. We've been expecting you." Dumbledore said from the inside. "Come in, come in."

They both entered, and Harry stared in awe at the interior of the office. It was a large and beautiful circular room, full of funny little noises. A number of curious silver instruments stood on spindle-legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were snoozing gently in their frames. There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk, and, sitting on a shelf behind it, a shabby, tainted wizard's hat - the Sorting Hat, he recognized. Sitting on a large chair behind the desk was Dumbledore, and on either side of him stood Madam Bones and Madam Pomfrey.

"Sit down, Harry. We have much to discuss." the headmaster said as he conjured a chair.

Harry nodded and sat as McGonagall took her place slightly behind him.

"Now, as I said before, you will not be going back to your relatives' home during the summer." Dumbledore said. "But tell me, Harry, did you ever consider that place home?"

Harry shook his head. "No, sir. If anything, Hogwarts is more my home than this place could ever be."

Dumbledore gave a sad smile at his answer. "I see. Now, let me explain a few things, Harry." he took a breath. "In the days after I left you at the doorstep of your Aunt's house, I built wards around it, so that you could be protected. Blood wards, to be specific, that relied on your mother's sacrifice. As the followers of Voldemort" cue winces from everyone but the headmaster and Harry himself "were still free and might come for you, I felt it better to give you the best defense I could make. As long as you were cared and loved for by your Aunt, whom you are linked to by blood, the wards would protect you from any danger from the outside. After what happened today, I went to check the wards myself, and, sadly, I was not surprised to find that they had all but disappeared. As such, Privet Drive is no longer safe for you." he concluded.

Through this, Harry simply nodded. It made him feel... happy, somewhat, to know that, even in death, his mother still protected him.

"Now, there are various options opened for you for this summer." Dumbledore continued. "You can rent a room at either the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley or at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade and spend your holidays there.

Another option would be for you to become an emancipated minor and take residence in the ancestral Potter home, whose location would be disclosed to you by your right as Heir to the Potter family. However," he raised a finger to interrupt Harry, who had opened his mouth to speak. "it would also mean that you would be dragged into wizarding politics. As you are still young and learning about the magical world, I do not encourage it. Perhaps, at a later time, when you are a few years older, we will see that you are emancipated.

The third option would be for you to, of course, stay at Hogwarts. Though it is unusual for this to happen, I am within my rights as headmaster to make an exception and allow a student to stay here. But I fear that you would quickly become bored, as only a few of the teachers stay in the castle during the summer and the library would be closed.

Thus, we, as in Madam Bones and I, have decided to create a fourth option for you. If it is alright with you, Harry, you would spend the summer with Madam Bones and her niece as ward of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. We have also contacted the parents of Mr Weasley and Miss Granger, along with your closest magical relatives, the Tonks, regarding visits and possible stays. All of them have agreed to swear an oath to guarantee your safety should you accept."

Harry lowered his head in thought, trying to balance the four options inside his mind. He had indeed said he considered Hogwarts his home, but he was quite sure spending all his time walking around the castle or visiting Hagrid would quickly become boring. He didn't feel like spending two whole months at the Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade, as he was quite sure he would be swarmed by people the moment they learned he was there. As for the third option, he didn't exactly know everything that this emancipation thing entailed. The fourth was much more appealing, as he would get to spend time with his friends and maybe make new ones.

"What do you think, guys?" he asked in his mind.

"I think you should go for it, kid. Should be interesting, if nothing else." Sylph replied.

"This is also your chance to learn more about your world and its customs. Quite the opportunity, if you ask me." Undine said wisely.

"Besides, they probably know some things about your parents and your family. That Bones lady looks important, so I'm sure she'll be able to give you all kinds of answers if you ask the right questions." Efreet added.

"Not to mention you'll be able to have fun and meet new people!" Gnome chimed in, making Harry smile.

Raising his head, he looked at the people around him before nodding at the headmaster. "I think I'll take option number four, sir." he said.

Dumbledore clapped his hands with a wide smile, his eyes twinkling merrily. "Wonderful! It's decided, then." he exclaimed joyfully before turning to Madam Bones. "Amelia, I'll let you organize Harry's stay at your home with him. I must make a few floo calls on my part, but it should be quick and then we'll talk about your investigation." he said before turning back to Harry. "Now, off you go. You are leaving in a few days and I believe you will need all the rest you can get. Minerva, if would be so kind as to guide Mr Potter back to his common room?"

McGonagall nodded as Harry smiled back and, with a nod of his own, rose from his chair before both exited the office.

It seemed things were starting to look up for him.


And I'm done for the second chapter! Yeah, quite a huge change from canon, I know, but I figured that if this had to happen now instead of later. I mean, how could Pomfrey ignore the abuse Harry was clearly victim of after she first examined him? It makes little sense to me.

So, Harry will find his summer to be quite eventful, all in all. But you'll see about that next chapter! ...and here's me hoping I'll be able to make it as quickly as I did the first two.

Anyway, do not hesitate to review and give me your impressions!

This is MidnightFenrir, author of "Harry Potter and the Four Elemental Spirits", signing out.