Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of it's characters. I do this for my own enjoyment.
AN: I have not written in a long time but I do plan on continuing this story. I'm not sure when I may go back to the others but I wish to continue those as well. If you have read this before I ask you to go back and read it again as all the chapters have been updated and reviewed. Thanks DragonFoxx
AN!! I have posted a Challenge on my bio page. I hope you will take a look.
Welcome to my life
Chapter 6 (Break away)
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes til' I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget the place I come from
I'll take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway
(June 13th – Monday)
It was the next day and early in the morning both Petunia and Betty finished packing the evening before and everything was in Betty's car. They would be leaving the Dursley car for when Vernon returned.
Leaving Harry asleep in his room till close to 7:00 so that he could get as much rest as possible, the two women cleaned themselves up then woke Harry for a small breakfast. Getting Harry up Petunia helped him down the stairs and into the kitchen. "What's going on aunt Petunia?" Harry asked in a bit of a daze.
"We're leaving Harry like I said we would last night. And we're not coming back. We're going to our ancestral home, Aliina Manor after we meet with the family lawers and a healer at the police station. I want to get some breakfast into you first. Go ahead and eat while I get the rest of the stuff from your room." Petunia told him.
"Yes Aunt Petunia." Harry said as he picked up his fork. Breakfast was soft oatmeal with cream and sugar with some juice on the side. About 10 minutes later Petunia came back down with Harry's things from under the floor board. How she knew of that Harry didn't know and didn't care. She put every thing into a bag and had his owl cage under her arm.
As she stepped off the stairs she met who Harry recalled was Betty in the hallway near the kitchen door where Harry could see them. Setting down the bag and cage and came into the kitchen with the other woman.
"Harry, you remember Betty from last night? She and her family will be staying with us at the Manor. Her husband and son will be joining us in a week or so once they finish packing up their old home in the Canada."
"Hello Harry. My, I didn't see it last night but do you ever look like your parents. I can't wait to get to know you." Betty said.
"Every one says I look like my dad." He replied.
"Yes but I can see so much of your mother in you as well. Come now lets head off. We have a lot of stops to make before we get to Aliina Manor." With that Betty waved her hand and the dishes in front of Harry cleaned themselves and put themselves back into their cabinets.
"Wow. I though wandless magic was a myth. Can you teach me how to do that?" Harry asked.
"In truth wandless magic is a gift only usable by certain blood lines. And yes I can teach you how to do that." Betty smiled.
Petunia walked over to Harry and helped him to stand from the chair while Betty went back into the hallway and shrunk the owl cage and placed it into the bag. Picking it up she then walked out to her car and put it in the boot with the rest of the shrunken boxes and trunks. She closed the boot and opened the passenger side rear door for Harry to climb into.
Petunia carefully walked Harry out the front door and they slowly made it to the car. It was at this point that the neighbors started to get a bit too nosy.
"My word Petunia. What happened to him. Was he in a fight or something. Why you ever took that boy in is beyond me." Mary from next door said from the side walk.
"Mary, this young man is my sister's son. I love him as if he were my own. He never went to St. Brutis, and is not a delinquent. My own son is that. Harry and I are leaving Vernon. He did this to Harry and I've had enough. We won't be coming back and will be filing charges. Now we're off. Have a good life gossiping Mary." With that she shut the door for Harry and Betty and Petunia both got in the car. "Lets get out of here." Petunia said.
"We're filing charges against Vernon?" Harry asked.
"Yes. Do you recall what I said last night?" Petunia asked a little worried that Harry was forgetting things.
"Yea things are just a bit fuzzy still. I think it's 'cus I'm still a little out of it from the last few days. About the charges and things, that sounds great. Wake me up when we get their?" He asked.
"Sure thing Harry." Petunia said.
It was ten to 8:00 when they got to the police station. The two women woke Harry up and they all slowly walked into the building. At the front desk the receptionist asked what they needed, giving a glance at the heavily bandaged Harry. Betty talked with the receptionist as Petunia helped Harry move around to get a little loosened up.
"My cousins wish to file a report of abuse and plan on filing charges against said abuser. They would like to talk to an officer who can help them with this. We were also meeting our family's doctor and lawyers here." Betty told her.
"Very well, what are the names of the doctor and lawyers?" she asked.
"Takani and Greening." Betty said
"One moment please." The woman replied as she picked up the phone. After a moment on the phone she hung up. "Officer Dolemin will be out in a moment to help you with your case."
"Thank you madam." Betty said and walked over to a waiting area where Petunia sat and Harry leaned against the wall.
"Harry are you sure you don't want to sit while we wait?" Petunia asked.
"Yea I'm sure. I don't think I'll be able to get up again for a while. My legs are so stiff and in pain. These jeans don't do much to help." He replied.
"Alright. Let me know if I can do anything for you. Yes?" She asked.
"Yea."
It wasn't long before Officer Dolemin came out from the back offices. "Ah ladies, young man. Why don't we see what I can do for you. Come on back with me to my office." The three followed the older man to his office where Petunia again asked Harry if he wanted to sit. He shook his head no.
"Those bandages look fresh young man. May I ask what happened?" Dolemin asked.
"That's why we're here sir. My aunt and I want to file abuse charges against my… 'Uncle'." Harry said.
"We would also like to wait for or family doctor and lawyer to get here if you don't mind. They should be here soon." Petunia said.
"I see." He said and looked at his notepad. "That would be Takani and Greening, yes?" Dolemin asked. Petunia nodded here head. "Well the receptionist has there names and will give me a ring when they arrive. In the meanwhile why don't we start filling in the paperwork on what you would like us to do." Dolemin grabbed a pen and pulled forward the papers he had already pulled out for this case. "Lets start with names shall we."
"Yes sir, Harry James Potter." Harry said.
"My name is Petunia Dursley nee Evens and my second cousin Betty Burlos."
"Alright." Dolemin said. "Now what do we need to do?"
"I want to file abuse papers against my husband for my nephew Harry. I also plan to file for divorce." Petunia told the officer. Then the phone rang.
"Yes, great can you have someone escort them back please? Alright I'll come and get them. Thank you." Dolemin hung up the phone. "Your people are here. I'll be right back with them. Wait here please." He said to them. The women nodded from their seats as Harry leaned against the wall again.
About five minutes later Officer Dolemin walked back into his office and following him were three other people. An older and younger gentleman and a middle-aged woman. The older gentleman smiled when he saw Betty and Petunia in the chairs. And the woman immediately spotted Harry leaning against the wall.
The older gentleman spoke first. "Hello my dears. It has been quite a while since I've seen either of you. Not since your weddings I believe?" He smiled.
"Indeed it has been a while, Alfred. How have you and your family been?" Petunia asked with a smile her self.
"Annie is doing well and my son Brian is here with me. He will be fully taking over the office in a few years. He'll help you two ladies with the Officer's questions and paperwork and I'll help Harry, alright?" Alfred said.
The younger gentleman smiled as well. "Hello everyone." He said with a nod. Every one else replied in kind and with agreement on the arrangement.
"Well not to fluster anyone but I should start checking this young man over now. We can fill in the paper work as we go. It is nice to see you again Betty, Petunia. For those of you who don't know me I am Hanami (1) Takani, Doctor and Healer. Are you ready Mr. Potter?" Harry nodded. "Officer, do you have an office we can work in privately?" She asked.
"We have a small conference room that is secluded if you would like to work there. One moment and I'll let you know if it is available." Officer Dolmin said picking up the phone.
A minute later another woman entered. "The room is avalible. I'll show you there." She said, and with that Harry, Hanami and Alfred followed. Once she had shown the room the unnamed woman left them.
"I'm ready, but I don't really want to sit down at the moment." Harry told Hanami.
"That's fine. Let's start with taking the bandages off of your chest and arms. If you could Alfred, take the photos then we will work on descriptions. The camera is a muggle digital." She said as she put the large doctor's bag she was carrying down on a side table next to Harry. Opening it up, she pulled out the camera first, then a pair of long nosed sharp scissors to cut the bandages off.
Alfred too placed a bag on the table but one full of papers. He pulled out the needed papers to fill out with the questions and answers that passed between Hanami and Harry as well as for descriptions of the wounds and picture numbers.
"When did your most recent wounds occur Harry?"
"Yesterday morning." Harry said morosely.
With that the long process of documenting everything began. After all the bandages were off and pictures taken of each Hanami began minimally healing them with a wave of her wand and application of bruise cream. She then re-wrapped Harry so no one would see how he was suddenly healed. 'Well mostly healed anyways' Harry thought.
Hanami then had Harry lay on the couch in the room and rest while Alfred and her worked on the descriptions of the injuries. As they worked they also asked Harry questions and he would reply from his dozing state. The whole process took 3 hours.
Petunia nodded. "Yes. Vernon got a promotion through Grunnings that sent him out of the country for a week. My son also left the country with his friends for Disney Land in America yesterday. It gave me the perfect opportunity to finally get us out of there."
"Alright," Officer Dolemin said, "I have all your contact information. I'm going to start asking questions about your immediate family history, Ok?"
"Yes. Anything I can offer." Petunia replied.
"How did Harry come to be in your care. You said he was your nephew? What was your husband like when Harry first started living with you? When did he start to get abusive?"
"Well Harry is the son of my only sister. Lily and James Potter were murdered in the string of terrorist attacks in 1981. Do you remember those?" Dolemin nodded. "They died just before the attacks stopped. Harry survived and as his only living relatives he was sent to us. Two days later I went in to the court house and officially applied for guardianship. Even at that time Vernon didn't really want anything to do with Harry. He felt that he was a 'freak'. You see my sister was admitted to a very prestigious, yet selective school when we were kids. And met her husband their. Vernon knew this and because the school is so secretive and selective he felt that all those who went there were 'freaks'. Since both Harry's parents went there than that must make Harry a 'freak' too. We were quite lucky though I think. Vernon, I would have to say, started getting truly physically abusive last summer but no where near as bad as it was this summer." Petunia told him.
"Now your saying summers only. What about the rest of the year?"
"Harry was also accepted to the school that his parents went to. It's a boarding school in Scotland. He is only home during the summers."
"I see well that is a good thing then at least." Officer Dolmin said.
"Yes." Petunia replied. They continued to fill out the papers.
"Now what about when he was a child. What was his life like in your home?" Officer Dolmin asked.
"Truthfully, it was bad. Vernon was very harsh on Harry and me but I was too blind to see it. Harry spent many of his early years in the cupboard under the stairs as his room. Every time I tried to change it I was slapped around. I was quite cowed by my massive husband. When you see him you will understand why." Petunia said sadly.
"So you weren't able to change Harry's living arrangements. Did you try anything else?" He asked.
"Yes. Of course. I gave Harry extra food when I could, I kept extra blankets in the cupboard for him, I replaced the matrices that had originally been in a baby cot. I also tried to keep him healthy and at least a bit happy. As he grew older though, it became harder. Vernon noticed more things and got rougher with me." Petunia answered.
The questions and answers continued for quite a while with Betty offering moral support and Brian and Officer Dolmin filling out their papers. They took nearly as long as Harry, Hanami and Alfred so once those three returned to the office everything was done.
Once every thing was finished the six left the Police station and headed toward their cars. The two cars with the lawyers and healer in them followed Betty as she left the city limits and found a quiet park they could stop at. Once there it was decided that they would all head over to Aliina manor where Hanami would stay with Harry after they all had some lunch. They Petunia, Betty, Brian, and Alfred would head to Gringgots to conduct business there.
AN/ 1. Japanese meaning 'appreciation of a flower'. Yes if you've seen Kenshin then the Takani name and occupation comes from there.
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