Life Changed Year III

Summery: Lily and James are alive and have been told Harry had died. What happens when they learn they've been lied to?

Chapter Four

Harry

Harry opened his eyes blearily as he heard the noise of someone coming down the stairs; he could hear it so well because the stairs were above him, as he was back in his old cupboard. He groaned in annoyance because he knew he'd have to get up now, and he did not feel like working today. He wasn't sure he'd be strong enough to do the chores and he knew he'd have outside chores because he'd done all the inside chores. He had been feeling rather weak the last few days. He'd been unable to keep much food or drink down; not that he was given much anyway. His cold and hot chills were getting worse. They were so bad last night that his teeth had been chattering and he'd spent most of the night coughing into his pillow trying to muffle the sound. He didn't want to wake his uncle.

A rapping sound on the door to the cupboard forced him from his thoughts. "Get up! Up!" The voice of his aunt Petunia called before slamming the cupboard door open with a loud bang. Harry slowly crawled out of the cupboard as he heard the swinging door to the kitchen close, telling him his aunt was in there. Entering the kitchen his aunt immediately put him to work. "Finish the bacon. And don't burn them like you did yesterday!"

"Yes, aunt Petunia." Harry said as he concentrated on his task.

His uncle and cousin came down shortly later demanding food.

After breakfast was finished and he'd washed the dishes he was put to his chores, outside in the hot sun.

Around lunch time Harry groaned moodily as he heard his name called from inside the house. His relatives wanted lunch. Slowly he pushed himself up from the ground and made his way inside.

"Harry," The shrill voice of aunt Petunia called as he closed the back door. It felt good to be inside the cool air conditioned house. "Take this to Dudley." Aunt Petunia was holding out a plate filled to the brim with food and a extra large cup filled with iced soda. Harry nodded and carefully balanced both the plate and the cup and carried them into the living room where his cousin was watching TV while sitting on the couch.

"Dudley." He called to get his cousins attention. Dudley looked over at him, noticed the food and took them from him and turned back to the TV program. Harry sighed as he left the living room and entered the kitchen. He'd gotten off easily on lunch. Obviously his aunt had realized this was one of his 'bad days' with this determined-to-stay cold and had decided to give him a small brake by making lunch herself.

Harry groaned to himself as he closed the door and felt the heat again. All he wanted was to crawl somewhere cool and go back to sleep, even if it was his cupboard.

That evening Harry still hadn't gotten far on his work outside. He still had over half the list and he knew his uncle would mad. He was definitely in trouble. He exhaled slowly to calm his nerves as he heard Uncle Vernon's car door slam shut. "Boy!" His uncles booming voice called after seeing him kneeling in the bushes.

"Yes, uncle Vernon." Harry said loud enough for him to hear.

"Why aren't your chores done?" Vernon asked as he advanced on Harry. "You've had ample time to finish it!" Harry didn't feel the need to reply. He knew Vernon knew he was sick. Personally he was surprised he'd lasted this long without passing out. Vernon obviously didn't see it that way because he roughly grabbed him by the arm and dragged him inside, as he yelled how worthless and useless he was. Harry was too preoccupied to concentrate on it. He was starting to feel really dizzy. Uncle Vernon dragged him through the kitchen and hallway, and stopped in front of the cupboard under the stairs. Opening it he roughly threw Harry in. Harry gasped as he slammed against the wall. "Don't get out until your aunt or I say!" Vernon snarled before slamming the door closed and locking it. Harry wasn't complaining. He was inside, he was out of the heat, and he now had a place to lay and rest for a while.

(Dumbledore retrieves Harry)

Dumbledore looked around calmly. He was on the same Muggle street he'd come to twelve years ago. The same street where he'd left Harry. Sighing he walked up the street to the house, Number Four Privet Drive, where Harry lived. Finding the house he walked up to the door and knocked lightly.

The door opened to reveal a very large Muggle man who Dumbledore believed to be Vernon Dursley. "Ahh, Mr. Dursley."

"You're one of them!" Vernon yelled, spittle flying from his mustache. He recognized Dumbledore as being a wizard because of his dark blue robe. No decent normal people wore stuff like that.

"If by one of them, you mean a wizard, then yes, I am." Dumbledore said pleasantly as he smiled politely.

"Get out of here!" Vernon cried attempting to close the door, but Dumbledore stopped him with a flick of his wand.

"I assure you, Mr. Dursley," Dumbledore said as he let himself in. "I mean you no harm. I've just come to retrieve Harry from your care."

Vernon sputtered in shock. He couldn't let them find the boy in the shape he was in. "You left him on our door step!" He cried. "Why didn't you take him where ever your taking him now then?"

"Because some new information has come to light." Dumbledore answered calmly and patiently. "Apparently many were lied to, as we've learned Lily and James are alive."

It took a minute for Vernon to process who Lily and James were, but when he finally did he sneered. These freaks.

"Now, where is Harry so I may get him?" Dumbledore's voice brought Vernon from his thoughts.

"Umm - uhh." Vernon stuttered trying to come up with an excuse. "He's not here."

"Then where is he?" Dumbledore asked curiously.

"Umm... at a friends house." Vernon finally supplied.

Dumbledore's brow creased. He wasn't aware Harry had any friends around his relatives. He voiced this to Vernon.

"Umm-ugg." Vernon struggled.

"I really must get Harry now." Dumbledore insisted. "This can't wait. Just tell me where he is."

"Vernon, honey?" A voice above them on the landing of the stairs spoke up. It was Petunia.

"Ahh, Petunia." Dumbledore said as soon as he recognized her. "What a pleasant surprise."

"What are you doing here?" Petunia asked narrowing her eyes at Dumbledore. She recognized him from her own childhood.

"To retrieve young Harry." Dumbledore said. "We've discovered a grave mistake made and we wish to rectify it. Apparently Lily and James are alive."

Petunia gasped. Her sister and that freak were still alive? When that finally set in, so did the panic. She knew her nephew was not well, and as soon as they saw him, they'd figure it out too.

"I really must get him tonight." Dumbledore repeated bringing both Dursleys from they're thoughts.

"The boy is ill." Petunia said defiantly.

Dumbledore smiled. "I'm sure we can handle it. After all if its a little cold."

Petunia shook her head. "He's been ill all summer."

"All summer?" Dumbledore repeated his brow furrowing in concern. "Why didn't you take him to a doctor? Or contact us? I gave you the means to contact us."

Vernon sputtered. "Doctors cost money, which we don't have on the little delinquent! As for contacting you, we will not use your methods for communication. We'll use the normal ways, which your too good for." He spat.

"Where is he?" Dumbledore asked in alarm. Vernon had been lying about Harry's whereabouts. Now Petunia admits he's sick, and they get defensive. Things were not looking good. When no one answered his question he brandished his wand and muttered 'Point me Harry Potter.' The wand circled once before stopping at the hallway. Taking quick strides he opened the kitchen. Seeing no Harry he muttered the spell again. This time the wand pointed the opposite side of the hallway. The medium point being the door to the cupboard. Slowly he unlatched the small door and opened it. Looking inside he gasped.

Laying in the fetal position was Harry. He appeared feverish and in a light sleep. "Harry." He called shaking the slender shoulder. Green eyes opened and stared blearily up at him. "Harry?" He called again.

"Pro'essor?" Harry mumbled tiredly as he sat up. Dumbledore held him up with the grasp on his shoulder. Slowly he helped Harry out of the cupboard and stood him up. Harry looked ready to collapse so he put an arm under the boy's shoulders to steady him. Reaching over and touching the boys forehead he felt the burning skin.

"Come on, Harry." Dumbledore said quietly. He didn't like finding his student in this shape. Harry obviously needed medical attention. Harry said nothing but complied with Dumbledore's instructions. As they passed Harry's relatives Dumbledore stopped. "You had better hope I can keep Lily and James away from here. I will be back soon to retrieve his belongings and discuss your care of him."

"You-you!" Vernon sputter with rage, but Dumbledore just ignored him as he helped Harry from the house. Once outside and halfway up the street Harry spoke.

"What are you doing here Professor?" He asked tiredly.

Dumbledore offered a smile. "I'll tell you once we get to Hogwarts. Don't worry, its nothing bad."

Harry nodded and Dumbledore explained they're method of travel for the night. They were doing to apparate.

Harry gasped as they appeared outside Hogwarts. "I'm sorry," Dumbledore apologized. "I know apparating is an unpleasant experience the first few times."

"That's okay." Harry mumbled as they began the trek to Hogwarts entrance and up to the infirmary. Entering the infirmary Dumbledore immediately sat Harry on the nearest bed before going to Madam Pomfrey's office, presumably to fire call Madam Pomfrey.

A few moments later Dumbledore exited the office with a somewhat annoyed Madam Pomfrey behind him. Harry hardly recognized her because she was wearing a normal Wizarding cloak and not her typical medical outfit. "Well Mr. Potter, it seems you are even unable to stay out of here during the summer." She said a little tersely as she began waving her wand around him and conducting her examination.

Harry smiled wryly. He agreed, he definitely spent too much time in here.

The examination took almost half an hour before Madam Pomfrey told him to change into the white with blue striped pajamas she had for him and told him to get into bed when he was dressed.

Meanwhile she spoke with Dumbledore. "What's wrong with him, Poppy?"

Madam Pomfrey sighed tiredly. "Mostly he's just caught a very bad cold that because it has not been treated has escalated into a bad case of the flu. The flu he has, has gone untreated and has entered his lungs causing a chest cold."

"Will he be okay?" Dumbledore asked glancing at Harry who was crawling into the infirmary bed.

"With some rest and proper care he should be." Madam Pomfrey answered. "The only future health complication he will have his a slight case of asthma. But I'm sure we can get him a Muggle inhaler to help with that."

"What is asthma, Poppy?" Dumbledore asked confused.

"It's a breathing complication." Madam Pomfrey said patiently. "The severity of it varies but luckily he only has a minor case. Mind, normal colds will be a little more difficult with him."

Dumbledore only nodded as an answer and watched as Madam Pomfrey bustled off to give Harry a potion, which Dumbledore recognized as the Dreamless Sleep. It didn't take Harry long to fall asleep after taking the Potion, and Dumbledore went to his office to contact Lily and James.

End of Chapter Four

A/N: Hello everyone! I had planned on adding more (like Lily and James' discussion with Dumbledore and Harry's reaction) but I'm busy this weekend and will be unable to type so I figured I'd give you a little treat. I hope you like it and please REVIEW!

My friends and I are going to see When a Stranger Calls and Final Destination 3. I will most likely have my eyes covered for Final Destination 3 because I have been unable to watch the past ones without turning the TV off. Plus we're watching it at night! Yikes! Anyway, have a good weekend everyone!