Chapter 4! I don't know about you but I've found the Harry Potter Fandom to be one of the most active. It's true what they say we open at the close we were the firs to come and we will be the last to leave. Review when you finish!

Harry rolled his eyes and put the book down. He should've expected this really. The man couldn't just let him relax ever. Fine if he was going to have to be in the man's presence and do homework he might as well make the man suffer. He grabbed a piece of parchment and wrote out a list of books.

"Klangly could you pop down here for a moment please?" Harry said to the empty air.

'POP'

"What is it Harry?" Klangly asked once he popped down next to Harry.

"Are you busy? I have a favor to ask of you."

"No I is not busy since all the students is gone."

"Well I have a list of books I need for an assignment would you mind getting them for me?"

"I do not mind Harry. I'll be bringing Millie's foods down too!"

"Not Millie's stuff!"

"You need to get betters Harry! You will eat Millie's foods!"

"Fine but don't tell her I complained she'll make more of it!"

Klangly winked and popped away with the list. Harry crawled across the bed and opened his trunk to get the things he would need. His first year's potion text and the paper with the assignment in it. He began reading over the assignment. He pretended to not notice Snape's interested gaze.

A few minutes later Klangly popped back down with a pile of five books and a bowl of disgusting porridge.

"Thanks Klangly I'll eat this right away."

"Millie will be pleased."

Harry picked up the warm bowl and began spooning up the disgusting goop. When he had first found the kitchens, the elves had instantly recognized his wounds. The elves had a porridge that they could make that sped up healing and helped strengthen your magic. Millie, the house elf who had practically adopted Harry, made it for him whenever he was hurt which was pretty often. He hated the taste of the stuff but he knew it was necessary.

With Snape still watching Harry put the bowl up to his lips and chugged down the stuff. Once the bowl was empty he gagged a lot. Then he grabbed the glass of water that had magically appeared and drank that down to wash out the taste. Once that was done the bowl and glass disappeared and Harry sighed.

"What was that?" Snape asked.

"The porridge?"

"Yes, what was it?"

"House elf secret. I can't really tell you what exactly it is since it is something only house elves are supposed to know."

"Why would you know it then?"

"They consider me one and I do as well." Harry said. "Any more questions or can I start on the work you so kindly suggested I do?"
Harry watched Snape roll his eyes. So Harry grabbed his potions book and the five other books he had Klangly get and he began to work on the paper. He steadfastly ignored the looks Snape was giving him as it was part of his plan. He was going to do something he only ever did in private.

It had been instilled in Harry since childhood that he could not do better than Dudley in anything. So when he did assignments he would do them twice. The first time he would do his best, getting most or all of them right, and the second time he would 'correct' his paper and make it as bad as he could. This ensured he knew the material but also made sure he would never do better than his idiot cousin. He had continued this practice at Hogwarts since it was expected that he be utterly average maybe even below average. If he excelled, if he was at the top of his class then problems would arise. Harry wanted to be as unnoticeable as possible. Not that his celebrity status helped any.

So Harry would write all of his big assignments twice. The first was his 'rough draft' and it was written neatly and to the best of his ability. The 'final draft' was written poorly and was average on all counts. He had used Ron as an indicator, if he was doing on par with Ron then he would be rather unnoticeable, at least grades wise.

The rest of the hour before lunch was spent with Harry doing in depth research on dragon blood and its uses in potions. It was a pretty interesting read if Harry was honest with himself. Who knew you could use Dragon blood as a cleaning agent? He flinched again when Snape spoke.

"It is time for lunch. Come Mr. Potter." Snape said standing and motioning toward the door.

Harry grabbed his wand and jumped out of the bed. He followed Snape through his quarters where there was a dining table. Harry took in a deep breathe to calm himself so that he would not say something he regretted towards the old man already sitting there. He normally could hold in his anger but for some reason his anger towards Dumbledore was bubbling dangerously close to the surface. Harry sat as far from the man as he could at the small table and waited for someone to speak that wasn't him.

Snape sat down as well and then the meal appeared. Harry waited, as was his habit, for everyone else to take food before he did himself. He did not look at Dumbledore while he did this even though he could feel his eyes on him. As Harry began to eat Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"How are you feeling Harry?"

"I feel well enough considering Headmaster." Harry answered staring at his plate.

"Harry, why did you not tell me?"

"Tell you what? That my guardians were beating me bloody every chance they got?" Harry snarled. "Maybe because you were the one who put me there. Maybe it was because I was ashamed or afraid of the repercussions of such an action. My uncle promised to murder me if I ever told and that is one thing I don't doubt his word in."

"Oh Harry… I am sorry." Dumbledore began.

"What are you sorry for sir?" Harry asked angrily.

"For placing you with those monsters." Dumbledore said sincerely.

"Sir. From what I understand you thought placing me with my relatives and thereby the blood wards was the best choice correct?"

"Yes I thought it would keep you safe…"

"Then you should not be sorry for placing me there. You had no idea what they were going to do." Harry said. "What you should be sorry for is never checking on me. I lived with them for 10 years! Not once did you or anyone else come into my home and check on me. With magic it would've be impossibly easy to do but you never did. I don't blame you for what happened, I blame you for never saving me and forcing me to save myself countless times."

Dumbledore was silent. He had not expected this reaction from Harry not that he didn't deserve the boys anger. He opened his mouth to speak but Harry spoke again.

"I'm sorry sir. I shouldn't have raised my voice at you." Harry apologized. "Could you please tell me what the plan is from here? I mean where am I going to be living?"
"Well Harry. I think it would be best to wait till you're completely healed before finding a new home for you." Dumbledore answered.

"So I'll be staying at Hogwarts until I'm healed. What about then? Do you have any ideas about where I'll be living?" Harry pushed.

"Not right now my boy." Dumbledore said.

"Well let me know as soon as possible. I hate to live in an unknown like this."

"I will let you know as soon as I have options my boy. You just concentrate on healing."

Harry nodded and continued on focusing on his food. Nothing was said for the rest of the lunch which was fine for Harry. Once lunch was over Harry waited for Dumbledore to leave before looking up. He really didn't want to look at the man with his bruised face and chipped teeth.

"Mr. Potter. You should go back to the bed you've been occupying and stay there."

"Yes sir. Thank you for the meal."

Harry walked as quickly as he could to the room and got onto the bed. He didn't want to think about what was going on with Dumbledore so he pulled out his potions work and threw himself into it. He wrote out his rough draft in three hours and it was pretty good. Once it was done he felt tired enough to fall asleep. He slept through someone coming in to check on him and picking up his work.