Alright, here is the second chapter. I was really impressed with the number of reviews for the first chapter. I mean over fifty? For that reason I decided to update earlier than I had originally planned. Hope you are happy about that. Now happy reading and questions about what will happen won't be answered before the story gets to that point ;)

At St. Mungo's

In the headmaster's office at Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore was at a loss. His observational instruments, the ones he had tied into the wards at Privet Drive that kept Harry Potter safe, were telling him that the wards were losing strength. Just the reason for that escaped him. What could have caused that reaction of the wards? They should keep strong as long as Harry could call that place home. While he knew from Arabella's reports that things were nowhere near perfect there, he didn't think any other option would grant Harry as much protection. If they continued to fall he would have to investigate. Perhaps he should ask Minerva if Harry had already answered his letter.

Professor McGonagall was looking at a pocket watch and saw that it was just after four. Enough time to get Harry an examination at St. Mungo's. She had Harry take her arm, informed him that she would side-along apparate him and that it could be a bit uncomfortable for a moment before she spun on the spot to transport them to the wizarding hospital. They arrived at the hospital's apparition point and walked up to the reception. The witch at the reception looked up and obviously recognized Professor McGonagall.

"Hello, Professor McGonagall, what led you to St. Mungo's?" She asked.

"I need a healer to give Mr Potter here a complete examination and the complete set of vaccinations against magical illnesses. And the common muggle ones as well as far as they could infect a wizard." She said.

The witch looked up at his forehead to look for the scar.

"Please, Miranda, I would like to keep this private. Mr Potter just today learned about the wizarding world and his history. I don't want to have him overwhelmed with the reactions yet." Professor McGonagall said sternly.

"Of course, sorry, Professor." Miranda said hastily, not wanting to have to take that look again. At Hogwarts had been enough.

She looked in the lists for today's appointments of the healers.

"In twenty minutes Healer Ickings is free." She informed them.

"Thank you, we will wait then." Professor McGonagall said.

Harry decided to spend the time he needed to wait reading one of his books. He thought the smart thing to do would be starting with the school he would perhaps attend. So he searched his bag for Hogwarts a History and began reading. He had a fairly high reading speed, gained over years of reading as many books as he could.

Professor McGonagall watched Harry reading. From her first impression the boy would make a good Ravenclaw but he also had some traits of Slytherin. She didn't know yet about his courage or his working attitude, but his high grades he had told her about indicated that he had put a good amount of effort into his school work. She had hoped that Lily and James' child would also be in her house, but now she wasn't so sure anymore.

Finally they were discretely informed by Miranda that Healer Ickings was now free. They followed the witch to the examination room where she left them to wait for the healer. He came a few minutes later.

"Ah, Professor McGonagall, always a pleasure to see you. And this is young Mr Potter? I have to say, my boy, you look remarkably like your father, except for your eyes, they are definitely your mother's." The healer greeted them.

Harry smiled slightly. So far the healer seemed okay. And getting proof of the Dursley's abuse would help him in the long run. And he wanted for them to pay. While he wasn't really happy that he would have to expose himself some, it was a means to his goals. And he had learned already that pride didn't bring you anything, cunning and doing what was necessary to reach your goals was much more effective. It was weighing both to a balance that brought you what you wanted.

"Hello Healer Ickings, how are you?" Harry asked politely.

"Good, good, my boy. Now I have no records of you ever being here for examinations after you being six months old. I take it you only went to the muggle healers?" Ickings asked.

"No, the only medically trained person to ever treat me was the school nurse at my primary school for injuries I got during football training or when my cousin and his gang got me." Harry reported truthfully with no emotion in his voice.

The healer frowned. This was not normal. The usual muggleborns Professor McGonagall brought to St. Mungo's in company of their parents or who came only in company of their parents to get the vaccinations for wizarding illnesses, normally were regularly checked up by muggle healers. After all there were many children's diseases that were taken care of by vaccinations in the early years of life of a child. And they way he said that also was also reason for concern.

"Okay, then I will just have to make a complete diagnosis of your medical history. That will only be a simple spell. It doesn't hurt, but it could tickle a bit. This enchanted quill will write down all illnesses and injuries you ever had in your life and give me an idea of your current health." Ickings explained.

He waved his wand over Harry who lit up in a pale orange light. The quill started writing and continued for ten minutes. The look on the healer's face got darker and darker with every minute. Finally the quill stopped writing. Healer Ickings took the parchment and started reading. When he finished, Harry saw he was suppressing absolute rage. He had seen that expression before on his trainer when he had started his football training. Mr Miller had taken charge of getting Harry's body back to normal weight and height. He had talked with the school canteen to make sure Harry ate properly and enough. After two days where Dudley tried to destroy Harry's lunch by throwing it onto the floor, only to be taken away by the teacher watching over the canteen for detention, Harry had been able to finally eat as much as he wanted and knew his body needed. Mr Miller had given him and all the other members of the football team diet plans and Harry had done his best to follow the instructions. Strange how only one of the physical education teachers had noticed him being underweight and too small.

Mr Miller had then tried to get abuse charges to stick to the Dursleys, but Harry already knew that they wouldn't work. He had told his teacher that somehow no charges ever were really investigated or if somebody came out Vernon always managed to convince them that things were a huge misunderstanding. On top the people that wanted to help him always vanished and Harry would rather have a teacher at school that could really help him, than have an attempt for charges being pressed stop before it really began and the person to help away. He rather wanted to have the small visible improvements than trying for the bigger ones that couldn't be achieved anyway. Mr Miller had after Harry had told him some stories agreed to do things Harry's way as he could remember Ms Burton being transferred after only two months and suspiciously she had gone after treating Harry for injuries Dudley had caused.

Concerning others not noticing or not wanting to notice, the large clothes from Dudley hid much. In the area of Little Whinging Vernon Dursley was an important man. Many people worked for Grunnings under him and as long as they could tell themselves that the boy was a delinquent and the Dursleys were only really strict to the boy as he needed it to behave they could ignore the blatantly obvious. Now Healer Ickings had the same expression on his face as Mr Miller first. He signalled Professor McGonagall to follow him into a neighbouring room to discuss some thing with her. Harry was sure he would tell her exactly what needed to be done. Harry would wait and hope that he really could leave the Dursleys' house.

Healer Ickings closed the door and activated a privacy charm.

"Professor McGonagall, before I tell you what the diagnosis charm told me, I would like to know what you know about Harry's home situation." He asked.

"I know he has been abused in the past. He told me today when we were having a late lunch while I took him for a first visit to Diagon Alley. He wanted to get reading material on the magical world before he decided if he accepted his place at Hogwarts. He also has offers from renowned muggle schools including scholarships. He obviously is a very gifted and physically active boy. He told me he was offered the scholarships for his talent at football, from what I know its popularity equals that of Quidditch in the wizarding world, and his high grades. He was top student of his year in primary school and should already be at secondary school if the Dursleys, his relatives on his mother's side, hadn't refused for him to be moved up a year.

"From what he told me, he was locked in a cupboard without food for periods of time as punishments and before he turned nine and paralysed his uncle in a bout of accidental magic they also punished him physically, he said his uncle beat him with a belt. That's one of the reasons I took him here. I want to get him out of there, but without backing from a healer that will be hard to do." She told him.

"I see. Well, your reports correspond with the results of the charm. That boy was subject to malnutrition until late into his eighth year of life, has had several broken bones, from what the charts say, his magic healed them out of sheer necessity, he has some scars on his back from getting hit with a flexible object, a belt falls into that category, he had two concussions, also healed by his magic, then there are the usual infects, which also his magic took care to heal, which is concerning. Normally the body is taking care of that and building up anti-bodies against that infect. Harry doesn't have many anti-bodies against common germs and viruses in the muggle world and none of the magical world. While the magical ones are normal with muggleborn and muggle raised children, they all have gone through those periods and built anti-bodies. Which means their bodies can adept to building up immunities in the magical world faster as their bodies know how to do it.

"The results indicate that his magic was trained to keep his body working no matter the circumstances. I will have to keep him here for two days to start correcting those problems with potions. I will also prescribe some salves to reduce the scarring on his back. I have to inform the Children Services Department of the Ministry as well. This will lead to an investigation of his former caregivers and probably prison time for them. But the most pressing issue is that from his scar on his forehead dark magic is still emanating. I don't know enough about curse scars, but I have seen the effects of dark magic with aurors that came in for treatment. I will include Healer Reggam, our leading expert for treatment of curses and their after-effects, in this case."

"Oh my god, there are still effects from ten years ago? I wouldn't have thought that was possible. Do you need anything I have to get for Mr Potter's stay?" She asked.

"A few changes of clothes, but I would advise you to not get them at his caregivers. Just get him some in a muggle shop, there is one only a street away, or if you prefer to buy them in the wizarding world, you can always just apparate to Diagon Alley. He will need a set of pyjamas, some undergarments and a few toiletries." Ickings informed her. "And I will make sure the press doesn't find out about him staying here."

"Thanks, I only informed him today about his history and how his parents died. I don't think he could cope with the circus the Prophet would start if this got out." She gratefully answered.

When they went back into the room, Harry had taken out his book again and was reading. When he heard the door open he looked up.

"Well, Harry, from the results of the examination you will have to stay here at St. Mungo's for at least two days. We will have to give you some potions to correct some not correct or not completely healed injuries from your past. And we will also take care of the scars on your back." Ickings said.

Harry frowned. He didn't like to think about those scars. They reminded him how weak he had been then.

"Harry, whatever happened to you, nothing of it was your fault and you definitely are not weak." Ickings said, guessing the boy's concerns.

Harry looked up and into his eyes.

"I know that it wasn't my fault. It was the Dursley's fault. I have long understood that they are the ones that are to blame. But I still don't like to think about it." Harry defiantly said.

Healer Ickings was glad to hear that, but also a bit concerned how Harry acted. If nothing was done to address his emotional scars, he could get problems later in life. He would also get a mind healer for him to talk to.

"Good. You know, often children that grew up in abusive families think they are at fault that they couldn't build up a good relationship with their caregivers. I am happy to hear you have already realized that for yourself. We will also have an expert for dark curses look at the scar on your forehead. After ten years it shouldn't show residues of dark magic anymore." Healer Ickings said.

Harry nodded. He didn't want to suffer late effects of that attack.

"What are you going to tell the Dursleys? The will be furious that I have to stay at hospital." Harry asked.

"Don't worry about them. They will be investigated for child abuse by the Ministry of Magic. The magical law patrol and the muggle police are working together in that department. From what I understood your relatives are muggles that hate or are afraid of magic." The healer asked.

"My guess is both." Harry threw in.

"Well, nonetheless, there are experts for that crime and they will take up the case. I will demand that the DMLE, that is the Department for Magical Law Enforcement, will issue a removal order for you from their house. A member of the magical patrol will get your things from there later. Until the ultimate decision in the case, which is a simple cut and close case with the medical report I have, you will be a ward of the governments. As you are muggle raised, the normal muggle government as well as the magical government are responsible for you. There will be procedures started for you to be given a new guardian as soon as possible. But with the investigation having to be done, I don't expect that to happen before the Christmas holidays at Hogwarts." Ickings told him.

Harry nodded. From what he had seen so far, starting at Hogwarts didn't sound so bad if he could find a way to continue his previous studies. But he would hold the final decision until he had read his books and perhaps talked with a few healers and nurses here at the hospital. They had to be a fountain of information. And knowledge was power.

Professor McGonagall was returning to Hogwarts after bringing a bag with some clothes and necessities and a few wizarding sweets for Harry to try to St. Mungo's. Harry had taken well enough to staying at the hospital. He was busy reading his books and asking many questions of the healers and nurses. A very curious boy indeed. When she reached her office, she saw a note from Dumbledore to meet him at her earliest convenience lying on her desk. There also were three more answering letters from muggleborns. She decided to first read the letters from the muggleborns and then go to meet Albus. She wrote down the names and planned meetings with the students and their parents. She now had six responses, seven if you included Mr Potter, who was as good as a muggleborn in his knowledge.

She went to the owlery and sent out responses, telling the families when she would meet them. She had made the experience that the parents of muggleborn students reacted a lot better to her visits if she announced the dates two days in advance. Once she was done, she set off to Albus' office, wondering what he could want. He knew she was very busy this time of the year. She told the gargoyle the password 'gummy bears' and let the stairs take her up. She entered the office, knowing full well, that Albus always knew when somebody came up.

"Ah, Minerva, thanks for coming. I wasn't aware you were making a visit to a muggleborn student today, so when I found your office empty, I left you the note." He said.

"No problem, Albus, it was a spontaneous decision after I got a response to one acceptance letter from a hopefully future first year." She answered.

"Hopefully? So the student didn't accept the place at Hogwarts yet?" Albus asked.

"No, he asked for more information to make an informed decision on the matter as he also has several offers for scholarships at renowned muggle institutes." She explained.

"That's a good policy. What is the student's name?" He asked.

"Harry Potter." She said glaring at him now.

"What? But there shouldn't even be any question if Harry attends Hogwarts. He has been placed on the list since his birth." Albus replied shocked.

"You can thank those damn muggles for that. They abused the boy, physically and emotionally, told him lies about how Lily and James died, they painted them in the worst light. Harry told me he was told by them that his parents died in a car crash they caused due to being drunk. He was called freak by them until the day before he started school, his bedroom was a cupboard until today and the physical abuse only stopped because he scared them with his accidental magic. He paralysed his uncle when he was nine for four hours when he tried to beat him with a belt again. They didn't tell him anything about magic." She said. "I told you they were the worst sort of muggles, but you didn't want to listen to me, who had observed them for a whole day. But you said they would be the best people to raise him and explain him about his parents' deaths." She accused him.

Albus looked really pale. Did he really allow for Harry to be abused for ten years?

"Are you sure Harry is not exaggerating?" He asked and immediately realised that it was the exactly wrong question to ask seeing her face.

"Yes, I am sure. After I took Harry to Diagon Alley to get some reading material to make his decision, so far I have the impression that he got a good first impression of the wizarding world; I took him to St. Mungo's. Healer Ickings did a thorough examination and found several old injuries. He had several broken bones, two concussions, scars from the belt on his back and no vaccinations against muggle diseases. Hell, the only way he healed was because of his magic taking care of those injuries because his relatives never even took him to a muggle healer. The school nurse was the only one to ever treat him. His body having to rely on his magic to heal him so often also led to him not developing as many anti-bodies to common illnesses as he should have. Until his eighth year of life he was malnourished and the worst part is his curse scar still has a big residue of dark magic in it!" She shouted now.

He could see that her infamous Scottish temper was coming out. He knew to tread carefully around her now.

"Where is Harry now?" He asked.

"At St. Mungo's. Healer Ickings has told me he would have to keep Harry there for two days to take care of all the problems and have a specialist on dark curses inspect the scar. Meanwhile he is filing a law case against the Dursleys for child abuse with the Ministry." She answered, still glaring at him.

He knew he couldn't say anything against this. There was no way she would accept that Harry had to return for the wards to keep up.

"I have another question. My instruments informed me that the wards that protected Harry's home through the sacrifice of Lily are rapidly falling. Did he mention anything that could lead to that?" Albus asked.

"They are falling? Since when?" She asked surprised.

"Sometime early this afternoon." He answered.

"What were the terms for the wards to work?" She wanted to know.

"As long as Harry can call the place where his mother's blood lives home, he will be safe from Voldemort and any of his followers." Dumbledore answered.

"Then I know the answer. Harry himself told me that the Dursleys' house wasn't his home, just his place of residence until he could finally get out of there. That was about early in the afternoon." She informed him.

"I see. Well, with the wards falling we would have had to relocate Harry either way. It is just too unsafe for him to live there if the bloodwards are gone. If he doesn't see the place as home anymore, there is nothing I could do to save the wards, even if we could get to an arrangement with the Dursleys." He said.

"Didn't you listen? They abuse him! He will never have any contact with them again!" She yelled.

"Alright, Minerva, please calm down." He said trying to appease her.

"I will calm down as soon as you swear to never again place Harry with those monsters!" She replied.

"Okay, okay, I swear I won't place him with them ever again." He quickly promised. "What impression did you have of Harry?"

She took a few deep breaths to calm down. This man was just enraging her with his attitude sometimes.

"He is a very intelligent boy. He told me he was top of his year at primary school. He also is very good at football. His scholarship offers come from those two facts. Obviously muggle schools compete with each other in football regularly and having the best team is a matter of school pride. Therefore young talents are scouted by teachers from the schools and the children are offered said scholarships. Only the best get them. I guess they also do it for other kinds of sports. But Harry is also very cautious and doesn't give up any information he doesn't want to be known. I think he only told me about the abuse because he thought that magicals could finally help him because his pleas for help with the muggle police didn't bring any results. I will investigate the matter. If I find out that somebody interfered with their investigations, there will be hell to pay." She promised.

Albus just hoped she wouldn't find anything. He had stopped two investigations against the Dursleys because he thought it was vital for Harry to have the protection of the blood wards. But he also didn't think the Dursleys would go as far as beating him with a belt. They wouldn't be nice to Harry, but he didn't think family could be that cruel. Obviously that had been a big mistake. He should have investigated more and probably made his point clearer towards the Dursleys.

"So we will need to find a solution for where Harry is going to live in the future. I guess for this summer he could take a room in the Leaky Cauldron and we can ask Tom to have an eye on Harry until we find a better solution." Dumbledore pondered.

"Yes, I also had the idea, but do you think that is wise? After all, he is just eleven years old. He is quite mature for his age, but nonetheless he shouldn't be on his own. Especially as he has no experience how to behave in the wizarding world. If he was recognized, people would mob him to shake his hand or something ridiculous like that. You know how crazy they are about Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived" She said.

"Hm, probably you are right, I didn't consider that. But he also can't come to Hogwarts yet. And I don't want any of the pureblood elitists to get him into their hands." He informed her.

"You have two days while he is staying at St. Mungo's. The only alternative I see is sending someone to have an eye on Harry while he is staying at the Leaky Cauldron over the day. Obviously Harry is intent on gaining as much information on the wizarding world as possible. He won't allow to be forced into coming to Hogwarts. It will have to be his decision and he has excellent alternatives in the muggle world." She said.

"Do you know which muggle schools have offered scholarships?" He asked.

"No, and even if I would, I wouldn't tell you. If you meddled in Harry's life again, he would never forgive you. I think he would be capable to attend another magical school outside of Great Britain just to spite you if you did meddle again. I didn't tell him how he was placed with the Dursleys, but I don't doubt he will find out soon. At the moment you can still plead ignorance, but you don't want to have the boy as your enemy. That much I could see from his eyes." She told him.

He nodded thoughtfully. He would have to wait if Harry decided to come to Hogwarts. Perhaps he could influence the boy positively with a good choice for a guide and guard. Perhaps Hagrid could give Harry the last necessary push in the right direction.

"I will find a good permanent placement for the boy. Meanwhile I think the Leaky Cauldron will be our best bet. I think I could send Hagrid to look after Harry. After all, Hagrid was good friends with James and Lily and Harry was quite fond of him as a baby. And he would be able to protect Harry well enough while he's exploring Diagon Alley and help him get his supplies." He suggested.

"Perhaps. But before you choose a family for Harry to stay with, make sure the boy agrees." She said. "I have more work to do. Remember my warnings Albus, don't meddle with Harry. He'll not forgive that."

With that she turned to the door and left the office.

Harry woke up in the morning, seeing a tray of food being held by a strange creature. There also were two potions on the nightstand beside his bed.

"Ah, Mr Harry Potter is awake. Goods morning. I is Tibby. I is bringing your breakfast." The creature said.

"Good morning, Tibby. If you don't mind, I don't know that much about magic and the wizarding world. What kind of race do you belong to?" He asked curiously.

"Oh, Tibby is a house elf. I is working at St. Mungo's." Tibby said.

"Okay, what are house elves like?" Harry asked.

"We's are looking after wizards and work for them. House elves are bonded to family or building. Tibby is bonded to St. Mungo's." She said happily. "House elves do work for wizards and keep their secrets."

"And what are you paid for your work?" Harry asked.

"House elves are not paid, that's not right. House elves just want to work." She answered like she was insulted to think about being paid.

"Sorry, I didn't know you would think about that being insulted. It's just that all I have ever learned is that people are paid if they do work for others. One way or another." Harry quickly said.

"Tibby understands. But for house elves having family or other bond is important. We is getting our magic from bond." She said.

"So this is a form of symbiosis. You give the family your work and for the work and keeping their secrets and you get your magic from them." Harry realized.

"Mr Harry Potter is right. Now Tibby has to go, more work to do. Healer Ickings wants Harry Potter to eat all the food." She said.

"Okay, thank you for the explanation about house elves, Tibby." Harry said.

Tibby smiled happily and popped away, leaving Harry wondering about the strange but obviously friendly little creature. Then he turned his attention to his breakfast. He saw a note to drink the pink potion before breakfast and the green one after. He took the pink potion, grimaced, drank a bit of juice and then started eating.

In Little Whinging things meanwhile were not so peaceful.

"Where is that little freak? He should have made breakfast. And to not be home before nightfall, I will show him. If he thinks I will tolerate his behaviour any longer, he is dead wrong." Vernon ranted.

Petunia nodded, but was concerned. What if something had happened? They had always kept the freak from a doctor or hospital. But what if he had been in an accident and the doctors found the boy's scars on his back? They would think that they were the ones at fault, when the freak had it coming. Just when the Dursleys had finished the opulent meal, the bell chimed. Petunia let the dishes rest in the sink and went to the door. When she opened it, there stood two policemen.

"Good morning, are you Petunia Dursley?" One of them asked.

"Yes, I am." She said.

"We are Officers Vasparion and Thornston. We are here in official function. We have been told to get all personal belongings of your nephew, Harry Potter, that are kept in this house and take them with us. Here is the official document. Your nephew had been removed from your family and been placed as a ward of the government after Doctor Ickings found significant signs of child abuse on your nephew. From his confessions to the doctor they were caused by your family." Officer Vasparion said glaring at her.

Petunia paled. That was bad. While the police wouldn't be able to prove many things, the scars on the boy's back were a damning sign of abuse.

"Please step aside, we have an order to search your house for all evidence pointing at the treatment your nephew got while you were his guardian." Officer Thornston said, holding up another document.

Petunia could do nothing but obey.

"What is going on, Petunia?" Vernon yelled from the kitchen. Then he saw the two policemen coming into the house.

Petunia returned to the kitchen and sat down.

"They told me the boy has been removed from us under the charges of child abuse and that he is a ward of the government for now. They are collecting all of his possessions that are in the house and are also searching for evidence how he was treated here. Some doctor examined the boy and initiated the process." She said.

"What? That ungrateful little freak!" Vernon thundered.

The policemen in the corridor just shook their heads. From what they had seen so far, the house didn't look like there was even a second child living here. Only the fat boy and his parents. Not a single photo of Harry Potter was there. When Thornston went upstairs, Vasparion stayed downstairs to keep an eye on the family so they wouldn't compromise evidence. He thought the fat man was capable of doing that.

Thornston came down after a few minutes.

"In none of the rooms upstairs is any sign, that the boy lives there. There are five rooms, bath, bedroom of the parents, bedroom of the son, a guestroom that definitely hasn't been lived in for months and a smaller room where masses of broken toys are stored, but that doesn't hold a bed. Or a cupboard." He reported.

Vasparion then looked at the cupboard under the stairs. The boy couldn't have meant that cupboard? They didn't want to believe that somebody would keep a child in a cupboard, but now it looked like these people did. He walked over and opened the door of the cupboard. On the floor was a small mattress. There were a few broken tin soldiers on a shelf and some too big clothes were stored in a corner. There also was a training suit for a child that matched the one they had been shown the boy had worn when Professor McGonagall showed him around London.

On a higher shelf there were cleaning supplies in bottles. He turned on the flashlight and looked for more evidence. There was a small scrap of paper pinned to a hard to see part of the cupboard. A child had written the words 'Harry's room' on them. This was unthinkable.

"Thornston, I need a camera." Vasparion demanded.

His colleague immediately handed him the camera and Vasparion started taking pictures of the inside of the cupboard. When he had everything documented, he collected the clothes and the tin soldiers. Those obviously were the boy's. He closed the door and glared at the Dursleys, who shrank back under his glare, well except for Dudley. He couldn't understand why anybody would make such a fuss over the freak.

"Mum, I want to see TV." He wailed.

"You will stay in the kitchen with your parents until we are finished." Vasparion ordered.

"WHAT? But why, it's only the freak's things you are looking for. And the only things he has are in the cupboard. Why can't I see TV?" Dudley shouted.

The two policemen were disgusted with how the boy behaved. It was more than obvious that these two were completely unsuited as parents. They would also have to check their bank statements to see if they had got a stipend for Harry Potter's care. If they did, they were also guilty of embezzlement of funds.

"Madam, we need the name and address of the doctor you took your nephew to for his vaccinations, his vaccinations documents and all other official documents regarding the boy." Thornston looked at Petunia.

She was horrified. They didn't have any of those. They hadn't wanted to spend money on the boy, so he never got those vaccinations. They hadn't thought it would ever come out.

"Ah, you see, when Petunia was on her way home from the doctor once with Dudley some thug stole her handbag where the vaccination documents of both boys were in. So, as after that time no new vaccinations were necessary we don't have any documents." Vernon tried to solve the problem. "And when we got the boy, he was just left on our doorstep at night, I have to say not very responsible, there were no official documents."

"I see. And you never thought to remedy the situation? Every municipality has copies of birth certificates and the like. It wouldn't have been hard to inform the municipality of Little Whinging of the situation and ask them to get the respective documents from the boy's former home town. And every doctor can reconstruct the last vaccinations for us, so we just need the name or in case you changed doctors over time names of the doctor that has examined the boy over the years." Vasparion said.

Vernon deflated. He hadn't thought of that. Now things would really be bad.

"I see. Where is the attic?" Vasparion asked.

"Why?" Petunia asked.

"Because we have to be sure there are no things stored you kept away from your nephew that are rightfully his." Thornston answered for his colleague.

"There are no things. We threw away the blanket he came in when it was too torn to be used anymore. Made a massive racket the boy." Vernon scoffed.

"We will decide that." Thornston said. Petunia gave in and led the policeman to the attic.

Meanwhile Vasparion informed Vernon about the limitations that were placed on him and his family.

"You are forbidden to leave the country. Any disobeying will be reason for added criminal charges. You are to fully cooperate with the police. You will be informed of a court date as soon as it is set. I would advise you to get a lawyer; you will need a good one. You have the right to keep silent, but everything you said and will say in the future will be used against you. Probably you will be asked to hand over other documents in the future; you will be informed when we need them for our investigation. You aren't to come closer than mile to your nephew's residence. Refusal will be met with repercussions." He told Vernon.

Vernon just nodded. He knew the game was over. He just hoped they wouldn't think he was a bad parent for Dudley and take his son away. Hopefully they didn't find out about the money that they had got on their account every month for the freak. With the things they found in the house and what Dudley had let slip, they would know he never used any of the money on the boy. It was all the freak's fault. Just how did he get to a doctor?

Thornston came down with a box with a few things in it in his hands.

"These obviously belonged to Harry Potter's mother when she was a child. I also collected some interesting bank statements." He informed his colleague.

"Okay, I think we are done here. Mr and Mrs Dursley. Remember the rules you have to follow. You will be contacted soon. Good day." Vasparion said and both policemen left the house.

Vernon hid his face in his hands. They had kept the statements on the attic to not risk the freak ever finding out about them. Until now they had managed to deflect all suspicions about the freak being abused, but now with a doctor having found proof there was nothing they could do.

Dudley meanwhile scampered into the living room. He turned on the TV and took a bag of chips from a cupboard. He didn't realize his comfortable life would soon change for the worse for him.

Harry lay in his bed, now reading the book about classes that were offered at Hogwarts and what they entailed. He was most interested in Charms and Runes. Transfiguration also sounded interesting. From Hogwarts a History he had found out that Hogwarts was one of three leading magical schools in Europe. The other two were Beauxbatons in France and Durmstrang somewhere in northern Europe. He would have to read up on that in the book he had about European wizarding schools. He had already realized that having control over his abilities would be best for him. And he didn't want to waste such an incredible talent. He would still learn the muggle subjects. You never could have too much information and knowledge after all. The next book on his to read list was the one about professions in the wizarding world and what qualifications you needed. He hoped there would also be information how much you earned in the respective profession.

This morning he had been visited by a psychiatrist. While the man might have been called a mind healer that was what he did. He had asked Harry about his life with the Dursleys. Harry had only told him a few things. He didn't trust the man yet. Perhaps he wanted to help him, but he was not sure. Adults had too often not held their promises. Healer Nimes had told him he should take his time to get to know him. If he wanted to talk he would always listen. So for the first session Harry had mostly spoken about things he had liked in Little Whinging, meaning the libraries and playing football. So far Mr Miller and Mrs Jannison were the only adults he somewhat trusted. They had been the ones to help him against the Dursleys, especially Mr Miller.

He had been informed that Healer Reggam would come by around three to inspect his curse scar. Now it was half past one, which meant he still had one and a half hours to read.

Healer Reggam sat in front of Harry, casting spells on his scar to find out just why there still was a dark magical residue after ten years. This was like nothing he had seen before. His spells clearly showed that it was from the killing curse, but then again not. It was like something was trapped in the scar, something evil.

"I will need to see what really is in that scar of yours, Mr Potter. I have never encountered something like this before. But before I do that, I will have to get a curse breaker to assist me. Due to their work they encounter more eccentric curses and enchantments than any other wizard or witch." Healer Reggam said.

"That's okay; I just want the dark residue gone." Harry said.

He couldn't imagine that whatever was in that scar did him any favours. He just wondered why nobody had thought to get him treated for it before. If they had known that he was hit with a killing curse and survived, why didn't they get him to St. Mungo's when he was a baby? That just didn't make any sense. But without knowing who left him at the Dursleys there wouldn't be any possibility to find out. Perhaps Healer Reggam could tell him. He would only need to ask the right way.

"Healer Reggam, I wondered why this examination hasn't been done before. I mean, Healer Ickings diagnosis spell noticed the residue at once and got you to check it. Shouldn't that have been done after I survived the killing curse? I mean who wouldn't have a baby that just survived a killing curse have examined to see if everything was okay?" Harry asked intentionally keeping his voice neutral.

"That's a very good question, Mr Potter, one I will definitely ask Albus Dumbledore." He said.

"The headmaster of Hogwarts? What does he have to do with this?" Harry wanted to know, slightly alarmed.

"In the chaos of the news spreading of your defeat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named many forgot to think about what would happen to you and where you would grow up. Many influential families petitioned for getting guardianship over you, it was a question of prestige for those families; they hoped to get advantages riding on your fame. But Professor Dumbledore was faster. He had one of his trusted people get you from your home before any authorities even appeared on site and hid you away. He informed the Wizengamot and the Ministry that he had taken precautions that would guarantee that no Death Eater would be able to harm you in the place you were living at. Nobody but him and said trusted person knew where you lived for the last ten years. So only he could have made sure your scar was examined properly." Healer Reggam explained.

Harry frowned. So the headmaster of the school that was offering him a place had been responsible for the ten years of hell he had gone through at the Dursleys. That wasn't a very encouraging thought. Would he want to be under the influence of a man who left him with those monsters, neglected him being checked for injuries resulting from the attempt to end his life and couldn't even be bothered to check up on him for ten years? He knew he needed to learn control of his magic, but was Hogwarts the best option for him? Even if there was no other magical school in England, he needed to check up on that with the book about European magical schools, perhaps he should also get a book on American schools when he thought about it, there were many more options and with his name and fame he could probably start everywhere.

"I will call Gringotts if they would borrow us a curse breaker, theirs are the best there are. As soon as I know the answer I will tell you, Mr Potter." Healer Reggam said.

"Alright, thanks, Healer Reggam."

"You're welcome, Mr Potter." He said and left the room.

Harry immediately took out the book about the different magical schools in Europe. Other schools would have to wait until he could get back to Diagon Alley.

And cut. I know I am evil to simply stop here, but I want to keep the chapters a reasonable length. :) Till next time.