I do not own anything except the little six year old girl (from chapter one that now has a name) and her grandfather.
A/N: Well, I am proud of myself. I have complete chapter seven and am now working on chapter eight!! yay me!! I'll post chapter three tomorrow if I have time before soccer later that night. Again all the mistakes are mine, if there are any that I missed. Thank you to those that reviewed (which I replied to b/c I finally found out how :)) and to those that added this to their story alert! :) I was very happy to see like 13 emails in my inbox. Hope ya enjoy this chapter!
Two: Abandoned; Not Once but Twice
Petunia Dursley chewed her lip as she waited for her son, Dudley, to come downstairs. Her husband, Vernon, was glaring at the cupboard under the stairs where her nephew, Harry, lay.
"Mommy!" An eight year old Dudley came running down the stairs. "Let's go get presents! Daddy, are you coming?"
"Just go with your mother, son, I have something to take care of here." Vernon answered, smiling over at Dudley.
Dudley smiled and nodded, then turned expectantly to Petunia.
Petunia smiled down at Dudley and opened the door for him, following him a moment later.
The moment the front door closed, Vernon wrenched the cupboard door open, pulling on the skinny arm that belonged to one Harry Potter. Harry looked much different now; his green eyes had dulled considerably, his dark brown hair fell messily around his face, and he had a lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. Every year that scar has gotten darker as the curse worked through his system. He could feel it destroying him from the inside out and knew that he didn't have much time left.
"You, boy, are leaving us today. I don't want you spreading your filth among us anymore." Vernon sneered.
Harry didn't make a sound; he just stared up at him with dull green eyes.
"I'm just going to give you a farewell present." Vernon said; laughing before bringing his hand up and backhanding Harry across the face.
Harry was sent into the wall, his head bouncing off twice as he slid down to the floor.
Vernon sneered again as he began to use his fists to give Harry his farewell present.
Ten minutes later, Vernon dragged Harry out and into his car, throwing a backpack at his feet. The bag only had three changes of Dudley's old clothes and a bag of twenty pounds. Vernon slammed the door before walking around to the driver's side and getting in.
Vernon drove out to the country on a deserted highway and turned down a dirt road with a sign above saying 'Camp Oasis'. Vernon stopped outside the gates and turned to Harry. "The money is for the camp. Now get out."
Harry quickly opened the door and stepped out, dragging the backpack behind him. As soon as the door closed Vernon sped off, leaving Harry to stare in wonder at the sight before him. He walked through the gates and a girl immediately came over to help him, introducing herself as the camp coordinator, Jennifer.
He was led to the dinning hall, saying that they would sort through the kids later to determine where they'll sleep. Harry went over to a table in the corner where a girl about his age was sitting, trying to be invisible.
"Hi, I'm Harry." He said, sitting down across from her.
She smiled over at him, her face much in the condition his was; a busted lip, a few bruises and a black eye. "I'm Hermione."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Two months later, the camp closed its gate, shutting everything down and leaving the kids to wait for their parents. It was the first of September and Harry and Hermione had become fast friends. They had told each other everything; from their 'bedrooms' to the things they could do that should be impossible.
The kids slowly started to depart, leaving Harry and Hermione to be the only ones by sundown. There were no lights on this dirt road and none from the deserted camp either. They each had a flashlight now, having gained a few things from the camp. They also had some snacks that they had stolen from the kitchen at night and a couple more shirts that they made in a sewing class.
"Harry?" Hermione whispered.
"Yeah, 'Mione?" Harry answered back as he tried to look around in the dark, the moon being the only light.
"I'm scared. What do we do?"
"I don't know." They were leaning back against the gate and against each other for warmth.
"Do you think we could get back into the camp?" Hermione asked looking over her shoulder.
"Do you want to try?" Harry asked as he looked up trying to judge how high it was.
"Maybe not. It looks too high to climb and I don't think there's anywhere else that we can get in."
Harry nodded. "Do you want to try and find the main road?"
"It should be straight down there." Hermione pointed in front of them. "Should we?"
Harry looked around again before nodding. "There might be light, and we could try to find our way back to the city."
Hermione nodded slowly as they got to their feet. She grabbed his hand as they began to walk down the dark, dirt road. "We'll be fine, won't we, Harry?"
"I have faith in us, 'Mione. We'll be fine." Harry answered.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lily Potter sat in the Potter Manor basement's ritual room, twirling her wand in her hand. She looked around the closed off room, biting her lower lip. This was one place she knew her powers wouldn't be tracked. This room was three meters underground and surrounded by stone and soil; the wards wouldn't even alert James that she had used magic.
James and Jared were currently outside at the Quidditch pitch, practicing. Jared had turned eight just a month ago and she had been placed even more in the shadows. The Boy-Who-Lived had to be trained, after all.
She thought back to all the Prophet articles she clipped out over the years. They were all sitting in a scrapbook, hidden in the dark arts section of the library. The one that tore her heart the most was of Sirius being hauled off to Azkaban and James giving a speech granting him life in prison. Lily clenched her fists. Today she would learn the truth.
She took a deep breath and slowly let it out, calling forth her magic that she has hid for years. Her magic came swirling out of her in an orange vortex, destroying every spell ever placed on her. She watched and listened as that Halloween night came forth in her head. She watched as Tom came to save her and Harry. She listened to Dumbledore as he cast a black curse on Harry and then disappear with him. She watched her wedding night again in horror as she saw James cast the curse and direct her down the aisle.
She opened her eyes that were now blazing green with flecks of orange and clenched her fists. She took another deep breath, bringing her magic inside of her then let her breath out slowly, keeping her magic within her core. She stalked out of the room and up the stairs, heading for the library. Grabbing her scrapbook, she walked to the apparation point and disappeared a second later.
Lily appeared behind an oak tree at the end of Privet Drive. She walked along, not caring that she was in robes, and stopping on the doorstep of number four. She rang the doorbell and waited.
"Lily?" Petunia asked after she had opened the door. She was wearing an apron and the smell of homemade brownies wafted through the air.
Lily smiled. "Hello Petunia."
"What are you doing here? We haven't done anything!" Petunia said her eyes wider than normal.
Lily just continued to smile. "I want my son."
Petunia opened her mouth, before shutting it a moment later. "He isn't here anymore." She muttered after a few seconds.
Lily's eyes flashed. "Where is he?"
"I don't know." Petunia whispered looking down. "I didn't know what Vernon was planning. I went with Dudley shopping, we came home and Vernon said he wouldn't be bothering us again."
"That's right. We can't have filth around here." Vernon sneered as his large body came into view.
Lily's eyes narrowed and she stepped through the door, her magic swirling around her. "You tell me where he is and you live." She stated.
Vernon's face was turning purple with rage as he kept his mouth firmly shut.
"If you don't tell me where my son is I will kill you. His life is worth more than yours." Lily snarled as she held her wand to his face.
"I left him at Camp Oasis." Vernon snapped.
Lily smiled. "Thank you."
Petunia studied her sister. "Why do you want him back if you left him here?"
Lily turned to her, her eyes full of tears and smiled sadly. "I thought he was dead. For eight years they have lied to me; all of them. I started seeing signs though; they weren't a careful as they thought they were. I let my magic free to destroy anything blocking me."
Petunia nodded slowly.
"Now, where is Camp Oasis?" Lily asked.
"An hour northeast of here." Petunia answered.
Lily's eyes narrowed again. "You left my son out in the country?" She shrieked.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry and Hermione looked up and down the street in wonder. They had finally made it to London by sunset on September second. They had followed the road, hoping they were going in the right direction, seeing cars every hour or so. They were now walking along a street, trying to find some more food or shelter.
Harry stopped suddenly and gasped, a wave of pain going through his body as the scar darkened even further.
"Harry?" Hermione asked, worry evident in her voice as she stepped up to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. She looked up and down, only to find the street completely deserted. She ran her hands through her hair as Harry doubled over. She screamed in anger and threw her arms out to the side. A loud bang echoed around the street.
They both froze, Harry straightening up as they watched a purple Triple Decker bus come skidding to a stop in front of them.
"Hello, welcome to the Knight Bus emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. My name is Stan Shunpike and I will be your conductor this evening." Stan then looked up from the card to look at the two.
"Um, hello sir." Harry started.
"How did you know where we were?" Hermione asked.
"You must've raised your wand." Stan said as if it were obvious.
"We don't have wands." Harry said. "Nor do I think we're wizards."
Stan chuckled. "Of course you must be wizards; only a wizard or witch can call the Knight Bus."
Harry and Hermione looked at each other. "We don't have any money, though, sir."
"No? Say what are you two doing out here all alone?" Stan asked.
"We were left at a camp, sir. We walked here from there." Hermione answered.
"Hm." Stan said while rubbing his chin. "Tell ya what. I'll let ya have a ride for free! Now, where to?"
"We don't know sir."
"No? Well, why don't you two just come in and have a rest. We'll drive ya around for a bit then drop ya off at the Leaky Cauldron." Stan said and waved them in.
"Thank you sir." They both said as they climbed into the bus. They each grabbed a bed that was lined up against the walls. Once their heads hit the pillow, they were asleep.
"Take 'er away Ern." Stan said and the Knight Bus disappeared again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lily Potter frantically searched the deserted camp and everywhere around it. Her Harry was no where in sight. She sighed and began to walk along the road out to the main highway. She searched until sundown, her panic too high for her magic to cooperate, before giving up and apparating to Gringotts.
She walked along the marble floors, her shoes clicking on the ground against the sounds of the goblins working. She stopped at the head stand and smiled.
The goblin looked up and inclined his head to her. "Do you wish to see Ila?"
Lily nodded and another goblin came out to show her the way. She was soon seated in front of her account manager a smile on her face.
"Miss Lily." Ila started. "Everything is in order with yours and the Riddle vaults that Tom opened many years ago. Nobody knows the heir is alive, much less that it's you."
"Thank you, Ila. But I wish to ask something of you." Lily started.
"Of course."
"I had twin boys, eight years ago, and just recently found out my darling Harry is alive. I do not know where he is at the moment, but I wish to be informed if he comes here at all. He is my heir, not Jared." She stated.
Ila nodded. "Of course, Miss Lily. I assume he has green eyes as well?"
Lily nodded. "As well as dark hair, but his features are more similar to mine than to James." She said. "Also, I wonder if I could file for a divorce but keep it private."
Ila nodded. "Of course." She snapped her fingers and a pile of papers appeared on the desk. She handed them to Lily, along with some ink and a quill.
Lily grinned as she started to fill it out, leaving nothing for James to do.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry and Hermione were shaken awake by Stan.
"Sorry kids, don't mean ta wake ya, but we're at the Leaky Cauldron." Stan said.
Harry and Hermione stretched before standing and grabbing their bags. "Thanks sir." They said as they exited and headed into the Leaky Cauldron. They stopped within the door, seeing all the oddly dressed people and floating items here and there.
"Hello there!"
They turned to a bar to see a man smiling at them. "Hello sir."
The man laughed. "What polite kids! Well come here, don't want ya standing by the door."
They nodded and walked over to him.
"Is this your first time here?"
"Yes sir."
The man chuckled again. "Well, I'm Tom and welcome to the Leaky Cauldron."
They both smiled. "Thank you sir."
"Now, how about I whip you guys up something, huh? What would ya like?"
"Sorry sir, but we don't have any money." Harry said.
"No?" Tom said, confusion written across his features. "Well, why don't I show you two how to get to Gringotts? I'm sure your parents must have some vaults there. Follow me." He said and started towards the back of the inn. He tapped the bricks as soon as the two were behind him.
"Whoa." Harry and Hermione whispered as they watched the bricks move away to reveal Diagon Alley.
"Welcome kids, to Diagon Alley." Tom said. "Now, at the very end of the road lies Gringotts, the wizard bank. It's run by goblins, so be nice. It's a white marble building; ya won't be able ta miss it." He laughed.
Harry and Hermione smiled. "Thanks sir." They started into the alley, both looking every which way, trying to soak in as much as possible. They didn't pass by many people this time of the morning, leaving them free to look around without running into anybody.
They reached the marble building, staring in awe as they walked passed working goblins. They walked to the head goblin, unsure what to do.
"Excuse me, sir." Harry started.
The goblin looked down at him. "Yes?"
"We were told by Tom, sir, that our families may have vaults here." Harry explained.
"What is your last name?"
Harry and Hermione looked at each other. "We don't know sir."
"Hm." He said, studying Harry's face. "Hold on."
The two nodded as they watched him stand and walked over to another goblin. He came back a moment later and nodded to them.
"Follow Gangly here."
They nodded and followed the other goblin as he led them through different corridors. Gangly stopped in front of a door and knocked before opening it and letting them through.
They entered an office that had a female red head sitting in front of a desk that held a female goblin. They thanked Gangly and walked further in. The woman stood and turned, her eyes growing wide as they landed on Harry. She placed her hands over her mouth as tears came to her eyes.
"Harry?" She whispered.
Harry nodded slowly.
She launched herself at him, gathering him in her arms, glad to have her baby back.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
James Potter scowled as he signed the divorce papers. They disappeared a second later and he continued to glare at the desk in his study. His perfect woman left him and he didn't know why. They had an heir, fame, money, everything they could ever want; why did she leave him? She couldn't possibly know the truth; Dumbledore had taken care of that.
What could possibly make her leave him? He was the perfect father; loving, spoiling, kind. He was the perfect husband too; he doted on her at night. She must understand that Jared comes first; he is the Boy-Who-Lived after all.
A little ways away from James, Jared sat on a couch, reading. He knew he was special; his father told him every day. He also knew he was powerful; some kids don't try the spells he's learning until they're thirteen and he's only eight. He didn't understand why his father was upset over losing his mother; he's still here. And I'm all that really matters. He thought angrily as he glared at the book on his lap.
Across England, and into the sea, on an island surrounded by wards and dementors, sat Azkaban Prison. In cell number 7089 sat Sirius Black, glaring at the wall across from the bed. He reached up again and scratched behind his ear over a small tattoo of a scull and a snake. It was itching again, as if trying to tell him something. Sirius knew this. He also knew that his so-called best friend betrayed him and sent him here.
Sirius Black became engrossed in his thoughts that his mind tore away from the real world. Had he been there, he would have noticed that his skin behind his ear had begun to burn. He also would have noticed that black magic began to swirl around his body. But then again, he was watching the effects in his mind. He was clearly seeing what Dumbledore had done to Snape and everyone connected with a dark mark.
A/N: that chapter was nine pages in word. I was pretty proud of that. :) Hope ya enjoyed it! Oh! And I don't care if Hermione's parents are supposed to be all lovey-dovey; my story my way muahahahaha!! lol :) and I added the disclaimer cause I totally forgot it last night. oops!