The next chapter is up, Enjoy! R&R

Chapter 14: Back to the Privet Drive

Severus Snape returned after twenty minutes. The whole time Harry was sitting on his bed and staring at the fire, mentally trying to convince it not to let Snape back or to delay his return as much as possible. But nothing happened to the fire and Snape did return pretty fast and was standing in front of Harry.

"I don't have all day to wait for you, Potter," he snapped as soon as he appeared in the room, "Take your belongings and come here, we are going to use a portkey."

Harry stood up and approached the Professor, his legs shaking and his heart pounding fast. He hated portkeys and he didn't want to go. But at the end he reached Snape and a peace of parchment was showed to his hand. He felt a tag behind his navel and seconds later he was on the floor of No. 4 Privet Drive, his face met with brown shoes of Vernon Dursley. Snape grabbed the back of his cloak and raised him on his feet.

When Harry saw his uncle eyes, he didn't like what he saw. Harry knew that his uncle was holding himself in front of a grownup wizard, but as soon as Snape leaves Vernon is going to show exactly what he thinks about Harry's return.

"Good morning, Mr. Dursley, I'm Prof. Severus Snape," Snape was the first to break the silence, "I'm sorry to interrupt your fine morning with discipline problems of your nephew." Vernon Dursley grumped something under his breath that sounded awfully like 'those freaks!'

"Mr. Dursley, I would like to speak with you about Mr. Potter's behavior and the conditions of his staying here."

"Fine! Boy go UP to your room, you are grounded for the time you stay here. I'll come to talk to you as soon as I finish with your teacher." Vernon gave Harry pointed look. Harry shuddered from thinking about the upcoming talk with his uncle. He slowly made his way upstairs.

When he reached the door he was surprised to see that the locks were gone. As a matter of fact, the door was new. Harry recognized that it was a door from Dudley's room, while Dudley had a totally new door. Harry entered the room and was astonished. The room looked nothing like the room he remembered. The bars were gone as well as Dudley's old junk. The furniture was replaced. It looked used but in a good state. The bed had fresh bedclothes on it with a dark blue quilt. The only thing that remained from the old room was the books. Most of them were still new, except those that Harry had read previous summers, when he had some time. But what made Harry to stop in shock from looking at the room was a cage with a snowy owl in it.

"Hedwig!" Harry whispered. In a second he was beside the cage. He looked at Hedwig. For an unarmed eye she seemed to be fine, but Harry saw that she looked a little ill; her beautiful white feathers lost their usual gloss, it was probably due to the long stay in her cage. Hedwig made no noise and hadn't hooted as she saw Harry, but tilted her head on her side and looked affectingly as at a long missed friend.

"Hedwig, how are you, girl?" Harry stroked her fathers, "how had they been treating you? I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, but I didn't tell anybody, except for Draco, but it's O.K., he wouldn't tell, so uncle has no reason to hurt you…" Hedwig nipped gently Harry's fingers to comfort the boy.

"You know, Sirius was arrested," continued Harry, seating himself on the floor, in front of the cage, "it was my fault. I got drunk and hurt someone… Ron was right… So I guess I really deserve everything that awaits me here… I just hope he would let you go…"

Steps were sound on the stairway and the door to the room, Harry was in, burst open. Harry, startled, turned around, ready to face his uncle. Luckily, this time Vernon wasn't alone.

"This is the boy's room," said Vernon to Snape, who entered the room with him, "I don't know what the boy told you, but he had this room since he was found on our doorsteps…"

Harry gritted his teeth. He couldn't believe to what he was hearing. Vernon was lying to Snape about Harry's home life.

Snape served the room. As a spy he could tell that the room, although was suited to a teenage boy, looked more like a guest room than a room that was occupied by a boy for fourteen years. But it seemed that Vernon had an answer for that too.

"During his stay at school we use the room as a guest room for Dudley's friends. The boy takes most of the personal things with him so there is no problem with Dudley's friends ruining them by mistake or finding about his… a… ability…"

Then Snape noticed Hedwig…

"Mr. Potter, I thought you said that your owl died?" the Potions Master addressed to Harry. Harry looked at his uncle now, waiting to see what another lie he would produce. Harry now realized what that was about. His uncle tried to show Harry as an ungrateful, lying brat and to cover any trace of mistreating.

"The boy was disturbed the whole summer, now I know why, he locked his bird in the cage, locked himself in his room, was barely eating and threatened not to go back to school. He let go of this behavior only when Petunia threatened to call a psychiatrist," said Vernon.

"Maybe you should call him after all," suggested Snape, "the headmaster thought about it too, but he gave the boy chances one after another and look what came from it…"

"Don't worry, Mr. Snape, we will deal with the boy," promised Vernon, and Harry shuddered.

"Potter, I'll be going now," Snape turned to Harry, "I talked to your uncle and explained him the events of the last year and what happened during your short stay in Hogwarts. In two weeks somebody from the school, probably Lupin, would be coming to check on you and your assignments. Don't waste your chance, there might not be another one!" with that Snape disapparated. Before leaving he handed Harry his broom that he returned to its normal size.

Vernon Dursley turned to Harry as soon as the first shock from Snape's disapparation was over. His face was purple, and if Harry didn't know better, he would think that his uncle was choking.

"So, boy, you decided to make our lives miserable?" hissed Vernon, "not only you made yourself to be send back, but you made your freaks of teachers to suspect as in mistreating you, and that after everything we've done for you?" Harry gulped. He backed away and shielded Hedwig's cage.

Vernon grabbed Harry by his hair and pulled his head back and slapped him hard across his face. Harry's lip began to bleed. The next thing Vernon threw the boy on the floor and turned towards Hedwig.

"Leave her alone!" shouted Harry, pulling his wand.

"You'll be expelled!" said Vernon. Harry saw that the man wasn't afraid of him anymore.

"I don't care," yelled Harry, "but you won't hurt Hedwig anymore!"

"Then maybe this will convince you!" Vernon sneered, "put that stick of yours down and get on your knees!" with that he pulled a gun from his belt, which Harry hadn't noticed before, and pointed it at Hedwig.

Harry paled. Even if he manages to send a curse, Vernon will be able to shoot. Slowly, not to startle his uncle, Harry lowered the wand and put it on the floor, then he got on his knees as was told. Vernon ordered him to roll the wand towards him and Harry complied.

When Harry's wand was out of the way, Vernon tacked the gun back to the belt and approached the frightened boy. He circled the teenager, while Harry didn't dare to move and fixed his gaze on his owl.

"There will be some basic rules, around here," Vernon began his 'lecture', "First of all, it's a holidays season, which means there will be guests. Buy guests I mean my sister, Marge and my cousin Morris. Morris is coming in two weeks and Marge right before Christmas. You are to stay unseen by them unless I ordered you otherwise. You will be staying in the basement, that where you will be sleeping and eating too. You will be leaving it only when I call you. I will allow you to do your homework for an hour, every day, if you will be a good boy. Your owl will stay with you, locked in its cage, it will to remind you that her well being depends on your behavior. Every mistake of yours will have severe consequences, so don't make any. And the last rule is you are to address me and my son as sir, to my wife as ma'am. Is that understood?"

"Yes," Harry whispered. Immediately a blow came to the side of his head, causing the boy to fall.

"What was it?" demanded Vernon.

"Yes, sir," Harry corrected himself, while getting up from the floor, back to his knees.

"Good boy" praised him Vernon, "Slowly, but you are learning. Now thank me for the compliment as a well trained servant should thank his master, because that exactly what you are!"

"Thank you, sir," Harry swallowed his pride and told his uncle.

"Good boy, now, take of your freak clothes and put something decent on you, then I will take you to your new room." Vernon threw some old Dudley's clothes at Harry.

Among the clothes Harry found only trousers. When he put them on he saw Vernon holding a T-shirt and a jumper.

"Lie on the floor, on your stomach and cover your face!" ordered Vernon. Harry knew what was going to happen, but he had no choice. There was no point in arguing when the other man had a gun.

"This is for getting drunk! Count aloud to twenty five!" Vernon pulled his belt and began whipping the boy, from time to time yelling at Harry to count louder. When he finished, he yanked Harry, on his feet and dragged him to the basement. Soon Hedwig joined him, in her cage. Once again, like at the summer, his personal possessions where taken from him and were locked somewhere at the house.

When he was left alone, Harry looked around and evaluated his situation. The basement was definitely bigger than the cupboard, but it was dark and very cold there. The only source of light was the small window, high, near the sealing and it was bared. It seemed that Vernon prepared the basement especially for Harry. There was nothing there except of an old mattress and a moth eaten blanket. In the corner of the basement Harry found an empty bucket and a roll of a toilet paper. A note that was attached to the bucket said: 'This is for you to use in case, at the end of the day you would be let out to empty it!' There was another bucket, filled with water. Another note was attached: 'This should be enough for a week. You won't receive anymore.' Hedwig's cage was placed on the floor near the mattress.

Harry's back was on fire from the beating but, nevertheless, he put on the T-shirt and the jumper that Vernon left him and curled himself in the blanket, because the cold was worse. He moved Hedwig's cage close to himself and began to stroke his beautiful owl.

"I won't complain, Hedwig," he told her, "Sirius is dealing with worse. At least there are no Dementors. And besides, I deserve it! Don't worry; I won't do any mistakes, so he'll have no reason to hurt you. I'll rather die, than allow him to do anything to you." Hedwig nipped his fingers gently, as if trying to comfort the boy.

Harry had no much time to relax, if you could call being locked in the cold basement after severe beating a relaxation. Hour later his uncle came back.

"Get up, boy! I won't stand you lazing around. My wife needs you in the kitchen. Obey her or you will be punished," without spending another glare on Harry, Vernon left the basement, leaving the door unlocked. Harry groaned and got up, wincing at every movement. He felt his shirt was wet from the blood on his back. The poorly healed scars from the summer opened up again, together with the new scars. But this was his opportunity to spend the day in the warm house instead of the cold basement. Maybe, if Petunia wouldn't watch him that mach he'll be able to sneak some food, for Hedwig at least.

When he got to the kitchen Harry was met with a sour face of Aunt Petunia.

"Peel the potatoes, boy" she ordered. Harry took the peeler and set to work. It wasn't easy at all. His fingers were stiff from the hour he spent in the cold basement, and the potatoes, which had been just taken from the refrigerator, were freezing his fingers even more. Finally he was done with the task. He was forced to do every possible work at the kitchen, while his aunt was supervising. Soon the lunch and the dinner were ready and Harry was ordered to go back to the basement. Nobody acknowledged him for the rest of the day. Harry's stomach rumbled from hunger. Finally, when there was very dark outside, for a long time, his uncle entered with a plate and Harry's schoolbag. Vernon placed the plate on the floor in front of Harry and threw the schoolbag there too.

"You were a good boy today. As a reward you are getting dinner and your freakish books to do your homework. I decided to let you keep them. If you misbehave, I might change my mind," said Vernon.

"Th… thank y… you, s… sir," answered Harry, his teeth were shattering and his lips got a shade of blue from the cold.

Vernon observed him for a few seconds, "I'm in good mood tonight, even with your presence here, so I decided to let you go back to your cupboard. Collect your things and wait me in the hallway to open it to you," with that he turned around and left.

Harry decided not to waste the opportunity that his uncle was in a good mood, so he quickly collected his stuff and in a few minutes he was near the cupboard, waiting for his uncle. Harry brought Hedwig with him. He didn't know if Vernon would let him kip her, but he didn't want to leave her in the cold basement.

Vernon came a few minutes later and opened the cupboard for him. He waited till Harry organized his mattress and the blanket inside of the cupboard, then he pulled Harry outside and seated him on the floor near the door and hand them the plate.

"Eat your dinner, you may use the bathroom to clean yourself and then you have till midnight to do your homework, right here. Exactly at twelve o'clock I'm turning off the lights and you are back to your cupboard."

"Thank you, sir," Harry thanked him, looking down at his hands. He was ashamed of himself that he let the abuse to happen, but he convinced himself that he deserved it for everything he did, so Harry didn't complain.

"Sir?" Harry decided to ask his uncle about Hedwig. He was ready to obey his uncle in everything just so Hedwig could be free.

"What do you want, boy?" Vernon asked.

"Please, sir, may I let Hedwig go... she's been in that cage for ages and she is feeling little ill…"

With a sharp movement Vernon grabbed Harry's hair and pulled his head backwards, so the boy was looking straight into his uncle's eyes.

"So, you want your owl free? Do you, boy?" he sneered.

"Yes, sir, please…" he pleaded.

"What do I get from it, boy?" Vernon demanded.

"Whatever you ask me, sir, please…" Harry knew that he was loosing his dignity, but he didn't care. Vernon let go of Harry's hair, "I'll think about it!" he finally said, "Meanwhile it's going to the attic. There is no room for the cage inside that cupboard."

Harry was left on his own. He glanced at the dinner that was given him. There were some leftovers from the big dinner he helped to cook earlier, but he didn't complain and finished everything he got. Then he cleaned his plate and drank some water from the tap. When he finished with the dinner, Harry went to take a quick shower. Luckily the water was still a little warm. He brushed his teeth and even managed to wash his underclothes.

Fifteen minutes later, he was back to the hallway. He hanged the wet clothes to dry inside the cupboard and sat to do his homework. Harry decided to start with the easiest subject – to do as much as possible with reasonable quality. Harry heard the clock in the living room strike midnight, but Vernon still didn't come to turn off the lights, so Harry decided to keep working. At two o'clock in the night Harry heard a knock on the door and immediately Petunia came to open the door. She saw Harry, still doing his homework.

"I thought Vernon told you that you are allowed to work till midnight," she hissed, "tell me, freak, what time is it?!"

Harry gulped, "Two o'clock, ma'am."

"That right, freak, I'm going to let Dudley in and then I'll deal with you!" she turned to the door. When she opened the door Harry saw his cousin enter. To Harry he seemed to grow bigger and bigger in the perimeter. As Dudley entered, an awful odour of sweat, alcohol and tobacco filled the house and Harry involuntary cringed. But, Petunia seemed to be oblivious to all that, as she cooed around her overweight son. Dudley avoided his mother's attempts to hug him and made his way to the stairs. When he saw Harry, who tried to stuff his books and parchments to the cupboard, he headed straight at him.

"Why is the freak in the house?" he demanded, "I don't want him here!"

"Dudikins, honey, your father decided to keep him here for a while, it's really cold down there and we don't want him to freeze to death," cooed Petunia.

"Then get in the cupboard, freak!" Dudley kicked Harry into the ribs, "I don't want to see you when I'm home, no matter what father says!!!" Harry heard a crack and he knew that one of his ribs probably broke. When he tried to get up he winced from the pain in his chest.

At the sound of the commotion in the hallway Vernon strode there. Dudley saw his father and pretended to be very upset.

"Dad," he whined, "why is he here? I don't want him, and I almost tripped on his freakish stuff…"

"BOY! Why don't you in your cupboard yet?" Vernon turned to Harry, "Get inside that instant! You disobeyed me! No food tomorrow! And thank me that I didn't sand you to the basement!" He grabbed an umbrella that was in its stand and started to hit the boy. As a 'desert' Vernon kicked the teenager for a few times till he found himself in the cupboard and the door was locked behind him. Harry heard a muffled voice of his aunt explaining to Dudley Harry's status in the house.

"I'm sorry, Sirius," he whispered before a darkness took him when he lost his consciousness.

-aaaaa-

When Harry woke up the house was still quit. He didn't know what time it was, but probably very early, since nobody disturbed him yet. Then he heard the clock in the living room strike five. Harry groaned, soon his aunt would be up and demanding him to make breakfast. He didn't want to anger his relatives anymore, since he needed his uncle to be in a good mood to release Hedwig, so he dressed up in fresh clothes and even tried to flat his hair.

Exactly at five thirty, or so Harry presumed, Petunia opened the cupboard door.

"Good morning, ma'am," Harry greeted her.

"Get out," she ordered, "You have ten minutes to use the bathroom, and then be in the kitchen!"

"Yes, ma'am," Harry made his way, quickly to the bathroom. The ten minutes not yet passed and Harry was already in the kitchen, ready to cook breakfast.

Before his uncle came down, Petunia showed a peace of bread to Harry's hand. "Eat fast, before Vernon is here!" Harry didn't argue and grabbed the bread, although he didn't eat it and at the first opportunity he hid it in the cupboard, for later.

When Vernon Dursley showed in the kitchen, Harry poured him his cup of coffee and handed him the newspaper.

"I see that the boy is learning," Vernon commented.

"Thank you, sir," answered Harry, remembering what came last time he didn't thanked his uncle for the similar comment.

"Boy!" called Vernon when he finished his breakfast.

"Yes, sir," answered Harry, as fast as possible.

"I thought about it very hard and decided that although I would like to get rid of your rowdy owl, it will stay in its cage! You seem to be obedient only when I threat you with hurting it! Now, get out of my sight, I want the bathrooms to shine at the end of the day!" Vernon said.

"Yes, sir," Harry's mood fell.

Before leaving the house Vernon whipped Harry with his belt, explaining it as a punishment for his rude request, leaving no spare place, except of his face and neck. When he finished, he threw the barely consciousness teenager a list of chores to be done, and then left for work.

After that, to the reminder of the week Harry went into a routine. He would wake up, do his chores, and if according to Vernon he was a 'good boy', eat dinner and make his homework, then, before the 'bed time' Vernon would drag him to the hallway and 'educate' him, leaving the boy with sore back.

-aaaaa-

Harry bolted up from the sleep. A week passed since Sirius was arrested and he was suspended. Today was the day of Sirius receiving The Kiss. The thing that woke him up was a dream about the execution. In that dream Harry was the one who ordered the Dementors to 'kiss' Sirius. Harry needed to know what's going on, but he had no way to communicate the Wizarding World. The whole day he was nervous and even ruined Dudley's old pants while ironing them, which led his aunt to deprive him of the dinner, the only meal he was allowed to eat, and a promise to tell Vernon.

At the evening, while Harry was serving the dinner to his relatives, an owl swooped through the kitchen window and dropped a letter at Harry's feet before leaving. Harry saw that on the envelope was written with a red ink: 'Urgent!'

"I told you NO OWLS!" bellowed Vernon, "now read it allowed!"

Harry, his hands shaking, since he knew that this accident won't pass without punishment, opened the roll of parchment.

Dear Harry, he began to read.

How are you? I don't know if your uncle let you read your mail, since you are grounded, as Prof. Snape informed me, but I hope he would let you as he sees the word 'Urgent' on the envelope. I think you would be glad that you received the owl.

Professor Dumbledore convinced Fudge to replace Sirius' execution with a life time imprisonment, like it was before his escape. He is looking for experts around the world that will swear under the oath that there is no such thing as immunity to Veritaserum and then we will try to bring Sirius to a real trial, meanwhile, our informant doing everything in his power to locate the specific rat.

I hope you are doing well; I'll visit you in a week to check on you. Be a good boy and don't get in trouble.

Take care of yourself, cub and see you soon.

Remus (Moony).

Harry felt his knees giving away from the sudden relief and he sank to the floor. There was a chance to free Sirius, everything will be fine. He had a confidence in Dumbledore to help his godfather.

"Who was it?" demanded Vernon, his face purple.

"He was one of my father's best friends and now he is a Professor at my school, sir" said Harry, "He is the man Prof. Snape told about, who would be checking on me in two weeks."

"I see. Well, you know how you should behave around him, don't you?"

"Yes, sir," Harry nodded, focusing his gaze at his feet.

"And that man, Black, the criminal godfather of yours was arrested again?" Harry nodded, "Very good. What was it about some sort of 'a kiss'? Why do you freaks kiss murderers?"

"It's not a real kiss, sir," explained Harry, "It's a way of execution. There are those creatures, Dementors, they suck the persons soul, it looks as a kiss," Harry shuddered.

"Why had they mitigated his sentence?"

"He is innocent," confessed Harry, "They are looking for the person who responsible for the murders and who framed Sirius."

"How long have YOU known that he is innocent?" Vernon asked in suspicious tone.

"I… I…" suddenly Harry's mouth became very dry. He would be in trouble if Vernon would found out that Harry knew all along that Sirius was no danger to anyone but threatened with him anyway.

"Spill it, boy!" roared Vernon, grabbing Harry by the front of the shirt and shaking him hard.

"I just found out, this year…" the boy lied.

"It doesn't matter!" said finally Vernon, "he is a freak like you, and it's a good thing that he is locked up!" Harry was getting angry. It was one thing insulting him, but another thing insulting Sirius. He gritted his teeth, looked straight into Vernon eyes and hissed with a low voice "Don't you ever talk about Sirius like that! He is a thousand times better person than you are!" And of course it was a mistake. Hours later Harry woke up in the basement. His whole body was in pain and he was covered with blood. He couldn't move his left arm without fainting. But what brought a scream to his lips where the shreds of his Firebolt, the broom Sirius, his godfather gave him in his third year. Near the pieces of wood was a note, written in his uncle's handwriting: 'Next time, it's your owl!".

-aaaaa-

Another week passed, the whole time Harry hadn't left the basement even once. Every evening Petunia brought him his dinner, which consisted of the leftovers from the dinner the Dursleys were eating. Vernon decided that till Remus' visit he would feed the boy everyday, he even bandaged Harry's midsection and the broken arm. What he didn't care about were Harry's surroundings. The temperature in the basement, especially during the night, was very low; sometimes it was dropping under the zero, and all Harry had was an old blanket and Dudley's old sweatshirt. To keep himself warm Harry moved the mattress near the water boiler. Since Harry was using the bucket, the smell in the basement wasn't pleasant at all. It seemed that his relatives forgot about their promise to let him empty it every day, or they just didn't care.

As to Harry himself, if he could see himself in the mirror he would se a pale boy, with dark circles under his eyes. His lips received a shade of blue, as well as his finger tips.

He couldn't sleep during the night, it was hard to fall asleep when you are freezing, and every time he closed his eyes he would suffer from nightmares. Luckily, none of them were visions from Voldemort.

-aaaaa-

The day of Remus' visit came. Vernon took the day off from his work to supervise the meeting. He came to the basement early in the morning and dragged Harry to the bathroom, where he ordered the boy to clean himself. The warm water hurt the teenager's body, which was defrosting from the long stay in the basement and added to it were the multiple bruises and marks from the belt Vernon was using on him.

When Harry finished, Petunia bandaged him again and to Harry's surprise handed him a sat of clothes that actually fit. They were from second hand shop, but they suited the purpose. From the first look at the boy nobody could tell he was abused. Vernon made sure not to touch Harry's face, so except of dark circles under his eyes there was no mark.

At eleven o'clock a knock sound. Vernon went by himself to open the door. There stood a man in three pieces suit and a tie, on top of it was a winter coat. The clothes looked a little worn, but nevertheless the man looked presentable.

"Good day, Mr. Dursley, my name is Remus Lupin, I'm here to check on your nephew," Remus extended his hand for Vernon to shake.

"Get inside before the neighbors see you," said Vernon, turned around and entered the house. Remus followed him inside.

Vernon led Remus to the kitchen where Harry was sitting.

"Hello Harry, how have you been?" asked Lupin, as soon as he seated himself across of Harry.

"Fine," Harry shrugged. He was tugging on the sleeve of his sweatshirt to hide his bandaged arm. There was an uncomfortable silence.

"You look tired. How are you sleeping?" Remus commented. Harry shrugged again.

"Having nightmares?"

"Sometimes, but nothing from Voldemort," Harry answered.

"Your friends are missing you. Ron and Hermione came to me a few days ago and asked about you," said Lupin, "Ron feeling guilty about what happened."

"He shouldn't, it was my fault," mumbled Harry, "How is Mr. Dove by the way?"

"He is fine. Dumbledore paid for his dinner in the Three Broomsticks as compensation. He is happy now, I think." Now Harry felt even guiltier.

"You know, we made a great progress with Sirius' case since my letter to you, there is a good chance that we will go to court in a week," at this Harry's head perked up, and he looked straight at Remus.

"Dumbledore found three experts, from USA, Israel and Switzerland, besides Prof. Snape, who are a world's experts in potions and work with Wizarding investigation organizations in their countries. They are more than willing to testify that there is no way that Sirius could be immune to Veritaserum. If they would be able to convince the Wizagamont, then Sirius would be questioned with Veritaserum."

"And then I will be able to live with him?" asked Harry hopefully.

"I don't know, Harry," said Remus, "but I think that if Sirius would be free, he'll turn the world upside down just to make himself your guardian." At this Harry gave Remus a sad smile. Another silence prevailed. Remus was observing Harry and Harry tried to avoid Remus' eyes. Finally Remus looked around, when he saw that Vernon left the kitchen he leaned closer to Harry, "Tell me, is everything really fine with you? Do your relatives treat you right?"

"Everything is fine, Remus!" Harry firmly answered, closing the subject.

Suddenly Remus noticed Harry's bandaged hand. "What happened to your hand?" he asked. Harry pulled his sleeve lower, to cover the arm, "I tripped in the bathtub," he answered, to quick, as if he prepared that answer.

"Again? What was it last time? The stairs? You became suddenly a little clumsy, don't you think?"

"I guess so, I don't sleep well, I didn't pay attention, and I fell…" Harry rambled.

"Have you seen a doctor to make sure it isn't broken?" asked Lupin.

"No, it doesn't hurt that much, just a sprained wrist," Harry lied.

"If you say so, tell me, how are your assignments progressing?"

Harry began to answer but then Vernon entered the kitchen.

"I need to go out to bring my cousin, I can't leave with you in here!" he said.

O.K., Mr. Dursley, I'll be leaving in a moment," said Remus politely, "I have something for you," he turned to Harry and handed him three envelopes. There were three letters: from Ron, Hermione and surprisingly Ginny. "Well, I guess I'll be going," he got up, "take care, Harry, I'll be seeing you in two weeks. Prof. Snape will be here to take you back to Hogwarts." Harry walked Remus to the door, with Vernon not far behind.

"Don't go," Harry whispered, but Remus didn't hear him, and with a 'Bye, Harry," and a warm smile Remus left the house. Harry sighed, there gone his chance to free himself from the hell known as Privet Drive. If Harry only knew that the worst is still to come…

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I hope there aren't much mistakes, since I didn't rechecked the chapter… I'll do it later and switch to the checked one.

The next chapter: "Uncle Morris" will contain something more than physical abuse…

I don't know if in the next chapter I'll include Harry's return to Hogwarts, but if not it will definitely be in the 16th chapter as well as the Hogwarts staff finds out about everything.

Enjoy!!! R & R.