A/N: Sorry for the delay. It's been a month since I last updated! Many things have happened in a month. I have now a working storyline till the end and all that remains now is to fit in few pieces into the place. However, this fic may be updated once or maybe twice a month. Both me and my Beta are having a bit of time slag. Also, I'm concentrating on my other fic a bit more. But don't worry I intend to finish this fic!

Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter and JKR's works.

Harry Potter actually smiled and Baba Yaga was mildly surprised by the amount of emotion displayed on his face. His lips curled and his eyes sparkled with happiness. She found herself staring into those brilliant green eyes. She had never seen such beautiful eyes. It told a story of its own. There was also a certain sadness underlying that smile on his slightly oval face.

"How…How did you know?" Harry said softly. Yaga smiled as she replied, "Everyone knows that, Harry Potter."

"Oh… You mean everybody knows about me?" He asked meekly.

"Yes, everyone is quite anxious to know where you are, Harry Potter, to wish you Happy Birthday, of course!" Yaga dug into her bag and took out a chocolate bar. She watched with an amused smile to watch him take and eat it furiously.

"Thank you, Mrs.…?"

"Gretel."

"Thank you Mrs. Gretel. How come no one ever comes to wish me on my Birthday?" Harry asked sincerely. He would be constantly be reminded of having no friends or family. To find Dursley were wrong was a new thing to him, especially in this matter.

"They can't find you that's why! You are protected behind Magic, Harry Potter." Harry grew still and looked around if the Dursley's had heard them.

"Dursley's don't like when someone mentions Magic. They say only freaks talk about it." Harry said biting his lower lip.

"I see." Was the response. And Yaga did see that. She found something inherently wrong with the whole situation. The Dursley's were talking eating away food while he was out here. It was his birthday after all.

"But surely you must know that Magic is real? No?" Yaga pressed on. Harry's eyes widened slightly and realization dawn on him.

"That's why the call me a freak." Harry didn't realize that he had spoken out aloud. A picture began forming in Yaga's mind and she didn't like it one bit.

"Why aren't you inside celebrating your Birthday, Harry Potter?" Yaga gently probed his mind and sure enough there was the answer.

'Freak don't deserve birthdays.' Harry Potter had thought. She glided her probes to his mind searching for memories of his childhood. With whatever glimpses his mind offer, she knew it wasn't good.

"Do they hit you?" Yaga asked cautiously. Harry looked away, not wanting to admit it.

"Sometimes when I do freakish things, I can't stamp it out!" Harry said with a bit of hurt behind his voice.

"Magic is beautiful Harry." Yaga said as she held him by shoulders. She sent magical probes to check for broken bones and other physical injuries. It detected small cracks in his arm and fingers. It also detected a new gash in his arm and claw marks across the neck.

"Does it hurt?" Yaga said softly giving a gentle squeeze to his fingers and arms. A mild irritation flashed across Harry's face and he gave a small nod.

"This might feel a bit strange." Yaga said, looking him straight in his eyes. Harry nodded in agreement and Yaga proceeded to place both her hands on his right hand, above the cracks. She felt him stiffened and it proved to her that her sense was correct.

"Heal." The gash cleared and the cracks healed. Harry watched in surprise as the constant irritation faded away. A pair of curious eyes focused on the brilliant violet eyes.

"How?" his voice was laden with surprise and awe.

"How did these get here?" Yaga said pointing out to bruises on his neck and arm.

"Dudley." Came the short reply.

"And you aunt and uncle didn't do anything to heal these?" Yaga asked with a firm voice. Anger had begun to stir in her. Dursley's had lot of explaining to do. Harry shook his head and mumbled about being his fault. Yaga did the same with his bruises and other scars. But the famous lightning bolt scar didn't fade away. It didn't even respond to treatment.

Yaga shook her head, now was not the time to ponder on such things. She needed to know some things first.

"Do you like living here?" Her voice was soft still but there was definitely a bit of cold in her tone.

"Anywhere is better than here. I don't have a choice, do I?" Harry said bitterly. Yaga agreed with him completely. Sometime in her past, she too was plagued by such questions. She realized instantly what would happen in few years when actual confrontation would occur. One can only suppress emotions so far. They were bound to come out in full force one time or another. It seemed that Dursley's didn't like magic and would grievously injure him if he did anything accidently or intentionally. Harry Potter would be killed or he would kill them. It wouldn't matter if it was done in self defence or in a fit or rage. The end result was just the same.

She didn't have any reservations about Dursley; she did have concern of how it would affect this boy. She didn't want him to have a life like her. Not one bit. She saw Harry Potter for what he was. A child, an innocent, sweet child. A part of her twisted inside of leaving him here. How could she, in fact anyone walk away knowingly from here?

"Come Harry Potter, I want to have a word with your Aunt and Uncle." Harry grew horrified, he had only just met the lady and now Dursleys would probably forbid him to talk to her again. He shook his head, too frightened to speak.

"Trust me on this, Harry Potter." Yaga said clasping his hand.

The least she could do was to talk to them, understand their point of view. Inside she knew that it wouldn't work out. She also wanted to beat in some sense of kindness into them. With that she placed wards to avoid detection and calmly proceeded to knock on the door.

The Dursley's heard the knock on the door and Vernon Dursley immediately asked Petunia, "Where's the boy?" Petunia looked around and shrugged her shoulders.

"Find him, Pet. I don't want visitors meeting him." Petunia knew an order when she heard one. Vernon proceeded towards the front door. Vernon opened the door to find a women standing with the boy.

"Are you this boy's Uncle?" Vernon was pleased to hear the politeness of the voice.

"Ah…Yes. Where did you find him?" Vernon's voice became cold and he stared menacingly at Harry. Harry in turn chose to hide behind the lady.

"He was sitting in the garden all alone." Yaga said innocently.

"Was he now?" Vernon eyes became slits.

"I hope he wasn't doing anything unusual, Mrs.…?"

"Gretel. No, he wasn't doing anything unusual. Does he do things like that often?" Yaga said with fake interest.

"Yes, he does that sometimes. It's silly really, come in boy and don't bother nice people like her anymore." Yaga didn't let go of Harry's hand.

"He's too thin for his age, are you feeding him properly?" Yaga asked in mock concern.

"Of course! Some boys are like that… you know." Vernon laughed nervously.

"You lie, Vernon Dursley!" Yaga's temper flared and she took a step inside. Harry had almost felt betrayed, almost being the key word. He wondered what good would come out of this quarrelling. His teacher had complained about Dudley to his Aunt and it had turned ugly. He just hoped the lady would stay away from big hands of his Uncle.

Dursley began to bluster. "What right do you have…?" Harry watched as Vernon's face redden. If this continued it would turn to purple and then it would turn to puce with a vein pulsating out of his forehead.

"Silence!" Yaga said with authority. Harry watched in fascination as Vernon was lifted off the floor and dumped on the sofa. Vernon tried to get up but something seemed to prevent him. His face had gone purple in rage. Petunia stopped dead in her tracks as soon as she entered the living room.

"You're part of their lot, aren't you?'' Said Petunia and took a step back. Dudley seemed to be content with hiding behind the chair.

"Yes, Yes I am. Take a sit Petunia, I want to know how you have cared for Harry Potter." Petunia took a step back, color draining rapidly from her face. Next moment, she too was deposited in the sofa bound and gagged by invisible ropes. Vernon was trying desperately to get out of bounds and teach this Gretel lady a lesson. After struggling for about 10 minutes he seemed to be exhausted; age caught up to him as he began panting heavily with his mouth open. He wondered silently why no voice came out of his mouth.

Petunia felt the terror she had only seen on the tele countless times. She used to squirm in anticipation of what occurred next but now, here she was terrified herself. Another glance at the lady was all that she required to emit a girly scream, unfortunately no sound came out of her mouth as well.

Yaga watched the scene with increasing distaste. Her eye landed on the skinny boy and was shocked to see him scurry away. She knew she must look frightening in her state and made a conscious effort to rein her anger.

"Look at me." Her voice was dangerously soft. They complied. Yaga had no difficulty making her way to the mind of the abnormally large man with a walrus mustache. She proceeded to do the same for the women having abnormally long neck and horse like face.

"Your own sister's son…" Petunia winced as she heard plain disgust in her voice. Yaga understood hatred and disgust but not towards a child; never towards children. His eyes were so innocent and appeared to be shy making him so adorable that she just wanted to cuddle him.

"We never wanted the freak!" Petunia snapped with all the dignity she could muster. She was surprised when voice did come out of her mouth and the next moment she felt her whole body sting and her body started developing strange scars. They ran through her the whole body.

"That's gives you no reason to make a child starve!" The cracks ran deep in their arms making their way up to their face.

"Especially when you have plenty of food!" Yaga finished. Yaga's tone shifted as she spoke to him, "Go child, eat whatever you want. They won't stop you." Harry just shook his head and stayed glued to the spot.

"Tell me Petunia, why did you treat him like that? Why did you treat your sister's son like filth?" This time Yaga's voice was calm and composed. On receiving no reply anger boiled in her.

"TELL ME!" Yaga shouted. The furniture in the room began vibrating and the floors were starting to develop fissures. The Dursley's visibly jumped and a smell of urine filled the room.

"I...I never..." Petunia trailed off.

"Speak clearly Petunia." Yaga spoke, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"We never wanted to do anything with that...that world. I had made it very clear that I never wanted to be a part of it anymore. Then they decided to just dump him on the doorstep and we're just expected to take him in?" She couldn't keep venom off her tone.

"It was hard enough raising one boy with all the medical bills piling up..."

"Yes, it was tough for you, wasn't it Petunia." Yaga said scathingly.

"You could afford to buy everything for your boy but couldn't manage to give decent clothes to other." Her hand waved towards the boy in question. She was finding it extremely hard to believe that people raising Harry Potter were not given some some kind of money.

"You mean to tell me that you weren't provided with money for raising a boy? A boy whose name is Harry Potter- a boy who is famous in magical community." Vernon winced and Yaga deduced correctly.

"Ah...But they did, isn't that right Vernon." Yaga hoped to get a reaction out of him and she succeeded. Vernon's back seared with pain and he cried out in pain. Petunia's caressing hands did nothing to soothe Vernon's pain.

Harry who had been following the conversation said in disbelief, "They told me I was worthless! I was a burden on them!"

"How much did they pay for his upbringing Vernon?" Yaga twisted her hand and Vernon was back on his seat upright.

"One...One hundred Pounds monthly." He croaked out. Various expressions were displayed at various faces in the room. Petunia glanced at Vernon in disbelief while Baba Yaga had no clue how much it was worth. Judging from the look the boy was sending at his Uncle, and the expression on the face of Petunia, Yaga concluded correctly that it was indeed a lot of money.

"And just what did you do with the money?" Yaga asked in mock anger. Vernon had no desire to suffer the pain again and he wisely complied.

"My sister... was in need."

"Aunt Marge set dogs on me the last time she visited." Harry added. All the false accusations didn't sit well with him that he had endured at the hands of them. He secretly hoped that the lady would take away all his problems.

Yaga contemplated what to do next. The boy certainly could not stay here and she was somewhat disappointed by the low magical aura displayed by the boy. She reasoned it was because of the starvation he had undergone. She also noticed the dark stench had not quite left the boy either. Yaga knew plenty when she had invaded their minds, and still, they were not keen on admitting their faults. This would probably continue if she let him stay here. Maybe she could take him in. This would require a bit of work to escape the clutches of Albus Dumbledore but it was worth the effort.

"If you don't want the boy, I'll gladly take him off of your hands." She replied. It seemed that Vernon came to like the idea instantly and Petunia was not slow in affirming it either.

"That is if you want to come and live with me." She glanced at him and found his 'Yes' clearly displayed across his face. It was not a tough decision to make and he didn't fancy his chances here after what happened here tonight.

"The letter said that he was to stay here..." Petunia said silently hoping that the lady would not hear her. Yaga raised her hand and Petunia winced in expectation of pain. When it didn't, she popped open one of her eyes to find hand still in front of her.

"The letter." Petunia felt free from whatever was keeping her glued to the place and scurried to the stairs. With a shaking hand she delivered a piece of parchment into her hands. The dust at the end of parchment did not go unnoticed by Yaga. She opened the letter as it read:

Dear Petunia Dursley nee Evans,

It is with a heavy heart I inform you that James and Lily Potter met with a sad end on the night of Halloween. The Dark Wizard Voldemort had personally come to kill the family. He met his own end that night at the hands of young Harry. The protection given by Lily Potter saved him and the sacrifice of her now flows in Harry's blood. Seeing this, I thought it wise to place him with you as the blood has a common origin. It shall give him protection he much requires and your own family will be safe from the remaining followers of the fallen Dark Lord.

I must insist that young harry remaining behind those protections I have placed for it is at that place he is truly safe and so is your family.

I thank you in gratitude,

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore,

Headmaster of Hogwarts.

"Well, it appears that we have a problem." Yaga sighed.

Harry's face visibly drooped when the lady said the word 'problem'. He really didn't fancy his chances of being here anymore and the murderous looks his uncle sent him proved his point. He hoped that whatever the problem the seemed to have would be solved. His heart raced a bit at the thought of staying with the lady. She seemed nice, even when she was hurting them. Secretly, he was glad that someone finally came for him or actually cared about him.

He watched as the lady waving hands around in the air across the periphery. Dursley's were quite content in the background looking around to see if anyone was looking their way. He could hear some of their conversation. From what Harry could gather, Dudley was sent to his friends place and they were speaking something about stealing money. Harry wasn't concerned about the money, no he wanted a real life and he was praying to all the deities for a better life.

The red flashes around brought his attention back to the lady. It seemed that she knew what she was doing and he was content watching her work and see the occasional flashes striking across the invisible barrier. He chanced a glance at the Dursley's but they seemed pretty content huddled and oblivious to the colors flashed across their house.

"Petunia, Harry come here." Yaga said from the front of the yard, her eyes never leaving the complex design in front of her. An eager harry and hesitant Petunia arrived to meet her. Vernon looked like he wanted nothing to do with her and wanted her out of his property. Unfortunately, Petunia was positive that the boy would be out of their home tonight regardless and that seemed to placate him.

"The wards will have to stay." Yaga said, meeting Petunia's eyes. All petunia could do was nod. Yaga eyed her critically and added, "Think of these wards as a wall made of clay." Seeing that she had her attention, she continued, "It can be mould according to one's wish. Many things may be added to strengthen the wall. One may add stones, bricks or even strong wood to make sure that they sent erected and strong." Petunia nodded in understanding.

"In this case, the thing that strengthen this..." Yaga said waving her hands around the invisible wall, "is blood." She felt Petunia stiffen but this was the best way she could explain the things as it were. "Since the wall is already established, there are two ways to change them. One, break down the wall and build a new one and two, make some changes keeping the original wall intact." Harry too was hanging onto every word Yaga spoke. He finally would see some real magic in action.

"Since breaking down the wall will alert the man who constructed them, it's better to modify the walls." Petunia reluctantly agreed. She wanted the boy out of here and she would do what required of her. Yaga thought she explained enough and she wanted to leave this place as fast as she could.

"Harry, you need to repeat these words, 'I Harry James Potter, no longer require the protection of the wards around this house.' " Harry was about to say this, but Yaga cautioned him, "Note this Harry, this place will no longer be safe for you nor it will be wise to ever enter this place again. The walls will be hollow and it will take only a second for anyone to break into the house." Harry had already made his decision and went through with it. It seemed strange to the sentence aloud. It also felt as if he was powerful and had control over something but he wasn't sure pf what exactly he did.

Everything happened fast after Harry repeated those words; something seemed to snap and he watched in wonder as the lady moved her stick in a quick fluid motion and a funnel, of bright red color followed the movements of the Lady's stick to land on the stone. With another swift movement, a large white light shot forth from her stick on the stone. Harry watched in wonder how the movements of the stick could be so swift, it didn't seem humanly possible. The light passed through the boundaries and the wards went still.

Yaga waited for sometime, and then seem satisfied. She had managed to keep the wards in stasis. Granted that the wards were now useless, they were just for show. She didn't mind much, the Dursley's were now left without protection but that's what they deserve for abusing the child like that. No, she was perfectly content if they somehow managed to meet a violent end.

"Problem solved." Harry gave a whoop in his mind, he was worried for a moment on seeing the serious expression on her face. The party returned to the house and Yaga told Harry to collect his things. Meanwhile, she faced the Dursley's, she did have unfinished business with them.

"The boy is still in your care Petunia. You need to give permission for him to come and live with me. It would be better if you would give up your guardianship permanently, seeing how you have raised him." Petunia nodded eagerly.

"Do you give up your guardianship of Harry James Potter and give it to me?" Yaga asked in a formal tone.

"Yes, yes I do." Yaga seemed satisfied. At least she had her word.

"There is a document you...you need to sign." Petunia added meekly.

"I presume it has something to do so in your world?" Yaga asked. Petunia nodded and Yaga sighed. "I shall come back in 3 days, is that acceptable to you?" Yaga's tone was kept carefully neutral.

"What about the money you've stole Vernon?" There was a definite force behind her voice. Vernon mumbled under his breath and Yaga's temper was beginning to rise.

"I shall also collect the complete amount when I arrive. Do not make a run Dursley, I own you." Yaga pointed her finger at them and the winced at a pain.

"Distance won't matter, there's no place you can hide. Three days Vernon, that's all I'll give to a thief like you. Don't tempt me. After that, I never want to see your faces again, ever." Yaga could tell that the feeling was mutual. Yaga moved closer to them and Dursley's huddled closer.

"I shall also extract penalty for stealing from the boy." Yaga waited for a response but it didn't come.

"I want the documents saying that I am Gretchen Gretel, in your world."

"You mean like Identity card?" Vernon spoke for the first time in conversation and Yaga was surprised that he actually could talk. Yaga had a great difficulty in procuring a trader's licence. It involved a bit of shady dealing but it was worth it. It also involved a lot of headache. Here, she knew nothing about this world and didn't fancy spending a great deal of time.

"Who is Gretchen Gretel..?"

"Why Vernon? Your sister of course!" Yaga said with false pleasantness in her voice.

"Sister...?" Vernon spluttered.

"Yes Vernon, I am your cousin sister, twice removed." Vernon frowned in concentration and remembered something.

"Father had left for another women." He said plainly. Yaga wondered if he considered that as twice removed but she didn't mind. All she wanted was to create a few false memories in both of them and then she would be off.

"I want the documents ready when I come back. I don't care how you obtain it but it should be done." Yaga said authoritatively. Vernon was seething inside. The women was related to him! How in the world his father had managed to produce 'her'.

Well, all he could do now was to see that the money would be withdrawn. It pained him to be parted with the sum of money. He never liked to give the money away and had been contented of giving some to Marge for her dog breeding farm, while he kept most for his own. Now he would have to give it all away. But he also liked being alive.

Harry arrived at the drawing room carrying what little possessions he had with him. The lady extended her hand and Harry grabbed it firmly. It proved to him that it hadn't been a vivid dream. The lady took him outside and hugged him. He suddenly appeared at the front of a large house. The house was an imposing sight and as harry made his way in, he found vivid colors sprayed across the walls. It felt cheerful and good. The lady led him to a big room and Harry could see a large bed at one corner of the room. A warm feeling centered in his chest and he found his throat oddly dry.

Harry sat the things aside and watched as the lady leave. Next thing he knew there were brilliant colored dots floating all around him. Harry was lost in the sheer brilliance of colors; blue, green, yellow. They were everywhere and Harry tried to grab them and was literally jumping up and down when the lady re-entered the room. A soft chuckle alerted him of her presence and his face flushed immediately.

"They are called faeries you know." Yaga said softly and managed to capture his attention immediately.

"Quite mischievous in nature and fun to play around; they like to play with children." Harry nodded in understanding. Harry saw a bowl in her hands and his hunger returned with vengeance. The aroma reached his nose and his stomach grumbled, aloud.

"Its one of my special soups, Harry. I hope you'll enjoy it." Harry hesitantly made his way to the bed, where Yaga had conjured up a table. His eyes widened momentarily at the display of magic but he was too hungry to actually pay attention to any of it. He loved the soup, it was just perfect. Neither too hot nor too cold. Harry didn't know how all the vegetables or herbs were mixed with each other to bring out such wonderful taste. It didn't matter much to him. Even though he ate only a bowl, he was surprised to find himself satiated. He found his eyes drooping slightly and Yaga chose wisely to collect all the faeries in a jar. The whole room emitted a soft glow of colors, enough to lull Harry to in a state of peace.

He watch the lady to roll up the bedsheets up to his chest and proceed to give a small kiss on his forehead and cheeks. That was all it took for Harry Potter to cry out. First in small sobs and as Yaga cradled him; Harry gripped her fiercely like his life depended on her and cried out. All the years of neglect and abuse would probably never be forgotten but it would be a start to make him feel loved and wanted.

Whatever doubts Yaga had of adopting him vanished away at that instant. She cradled the boy she sang a soft melodious tone,

"Hush my love now don't you cry
Everything will be alright.
Close your eyes and drift in dreams,
Rest in peaceful sleep. Rest in peaceful sleep.

Rest in peaceful sleep."

A/N: Leave a review. It takes only a moment and helps me to write better.