WIP: Harry is in trouble. The Dursleys plan to remove him from their lives for good. There is a secret old Dumbledore still has hidden. Even when the truth about the years of abuse Harry has suffered comes out, who will be there to claim him as their own? Without that Harry cannot be removed, so will he be returned to the Dursleys and a certain death? Inspired to tell this tell in science class.

Disclaimer: All Harry Potter references belong to JK Rowling and company. I simply write to fill the gaps between the books and movies for all! If you sue me you get nothing because that is what I now have in abundance.

Magic Simply Is:

By: Bonnie S.

Chapter Two:

The End and the Beginning

Harry leaned up and slowly straightened out his aching back, hearing entirely too many pops for his young age. The entire day was nearly gone and he had only completed one out of the long list of thirty-eight chores that Uncle Vernon had left for him to do. Then again, what else could have been expected? Cut the entire back lawn with an old pair of baby nail clippers that were so rusty and dull that it often took three tries to cut one blade of grass to the measured height of one-half inch and no higher! It reeked of set up, and Harry knew that he would in for it in a few minutes. It was a quarter of seven, and his Uncle Vernon always returned home at five of eight.

Thirty-six chores left to do and the teen only had a mere ten minutes to do them? If it had only been a year later, Harry would have been able to use magic to get the rest done. Then again, that probably would have only made the inevitable all the worse.

Nothing he could do would change his situation anyway. The Dursleys all hated anything that had to do with what they saw as an abnormality in Harry—because Harry was a wizard. A hero of the Wizarding World, but the same young man the Muggle World viewed as a plague and scandal to his only living family thanks to the lies the Dursleys spread since his arrival fifteen years and something months before. Many a time had Harry wished for someone to want him because he was Harry … not Potter and certainly not because he was 'the-boy-who-lived'. If only there was someone else that he could be bound to by his mother's final gift to him, her blood protection.

Then again, it wasn't as protective now that Voldemort had the same blood flowing through his veins, a thought that always made Harry shutter in disgust. It didn't matter; anyone he would move in with would become a target for Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Besides he didn't deserve to live ... after all, it was his fault that his Godfather was dead.

Again, he felt that throbbing ache in his heart. Harry had never known his parents, so never really mourned for either of them because it would make him more of a target with his mother's sister and her family. After awhile, he just did all he could to do what would make the day go faster so that he could slip into his pitiful room to dream awake and asleep of a different life, and what might have been if his parents had lived. However, his Godfather was a very different story indeed. The Wizengamot accused Sirius Black of betraying Harry's parents to Voldemort. The man and had served thirteen years in Azkaban Prison for that crime and for the murder of Peter Pettigrew—another friend of Harry's parents and Sirius.

The truth was that Pettigrew was alive and had been the real traitor that Halloween night. For thirteen years, the scum remained in his Animagus form of a rat (how appropriate) and played the part of first Percy and then Ronald Weasley's pet. Harry's third year, however, the truth came out. Sirius had invited Harry to live with him, but then the rat also known as Wormtail escaped. This left Sirius a wanted man without any form of proof to verify his innocence.

Sirius went on the run, but kept in touch with Harry—never with the same owl, each letter delivered came by different and many times exotic birds. It was a brightness Harry had looked forward to every day since the first. Fifth year Harry had a couple of times where he did live with Sirius at Grimmauld Place. He learned it had been Sirius' family home, but that the place held nothing but pain and anger for Sirius. Even worse, the manhunt for him forced Sirius to remain there. Voldemort knew that Harry would do anything for his Godfather, and that was a downfall for Harry. The Dark Lord used his mental connection to Harry to lure the hero into a trap—by showing Harry images of his Godfather captured, and steadily being tortured. Harry's friends all were hurt in the attempt to save Sirius, only to discover the truth. Nevertheless, Sirius did go to the Department of Mysteries that night ... to save Harry from his stupid mistake. In doing so, a spell hit Sirius and he fell into the veil that is a literal doorway into death itself ... a doorway none had ever returned. Sirius Black was dead ... and it was Harry's fault for drawing the dead man there in the first place.

Most of the time, that was what had plagued Harry at night. Since then he had not had a full or decent night's sleep. In fact, every night Harry had to stop himself from screaming so he wouldn't wake his 'family' and receive a beating.

The day his 'family' picked him up from the train station and the group that had been dispatched from the Order of the Phoenix had politely threatened Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley Dursley, Harry felt like he was loved and wanted more than ever before. The Dursleys on the other hand were irate—Uncle Vernon most of all.

The second that they were in the house, Veron tore Hedwig from Harry's grasp and locked her (along with all of Harry's magical belongings) in what had been his 'bedroom' the first ten years of his life—the cupboard under the stairs. Then Harry was forced to write his first letter to the Order, dictated by Vernon. Pig flew in with a message of support from Ron and Hermione, and Vernon sent the letter off with the excitable little owl. After that, Harry received the beating of his life! It took the teen two weeks to heal and even what little wild magic he could muster had not healed Harry very properly.

For those two weeks, Hedwig hooted and rattled her cage, but it was no use. The Dursleys ignored the trapped owl's racket, and Harry they watched too well for him to rescue her. Harry felt his heart break the day no more sounds came from the cupboard under the stairs and Uncle Vernon smiled with a "'bout time the bloody bird learned who the head of this house is."

All food the Dursleys barred from Harry. Though he still cooked and served the Dursleys like a house elf, Vernon kept a tight watch on him. Harry they locked into his room at night to keep him from stealing any food. Each letter sent to the Order Vernon dictated and sent with any owl that came. Any letters for Harry Vernon read and promptly burned. Many of the items he wrote about in his letters made no sense whatsoever to Harry. Obviously, the references were to make it seem like he had received his letters.

Every day had at least one beating, and more often than not, there were more.

When Vernon told him to write that the rest of the summer they would spend at Aunt Marge's, Harry figured that someone wanted to come to see him. Who was it? Would they come anyway? Was there any hope? Over a month had past and it was nearing the time for Harry to go to the Burrow like the past two years. When he had stupidly pointed this detail to his uncle, Vernon made Harry write that the Dursleys had forbidden Harry to go stay with the Weasleys this year because of bad behavior. Vernon turned just long enough for Harry to use wild magic. He made the paper give the receiver a terrible feeling of despair and grief when held only. Would anyone understand though?

That letter Veron had sent the day before. However, Harry doubted that anyone would decipher the truth in time.

Moments later, Harry was drawn make into reality. Vernon Dursley was home early! "POTTER!"

It was over.

Harry felt a kind of finality in the air around him. Soon he would be wherever evil Wizards went to, not with his family. It was better that way. Harry swallowed and took a deep breath before focusing all of his thoughts onto Hermione. Then he let his mind say all that was in his heart.

'Sorry, 'Mione. I won't be there to stand by you anymore. It's best this way. I love you and Ron like the brother and sister I never got to have in this life. Stick with him, 'Mione. Ron is a different person now because he got to know you. And, if things get real bad, get yourselves out of here. Don't face Voldemort yourselves. I only wish I could hug you one last time.'

That was all Harry was able to get out. Vernon came out and dragged the boy into the house in a blaze of fury that the spying Arabella Figg had never seen before. She had a bad feeling and rushed home to contact Dumbledore. She only hoped that her message would not come too late for the savior of the Wizarding World.

In her bedroom, Hermione Granger tossed and turned violently. Her dreams filled with horror, blood, and her best friend, Harry Potter. His family ... oh, how could they? The knife ... oh ... oh NO!

Her eyes shot open suddenly and she bolted upright, screaming in terror. Harry was in trouble and she had no way to get to him or warn the Order in time! Hermione broke down into mournful sobbing.

In moments, her shaken parents were there, but nothing they could say would comfort their frightened daughter. Unfortunately, they knew that Hermione's worst dreams often came true. This left both Roger and Melinda Granger worried for their child's dear friend.

Because of the dangers and the fact that Hermione was the only witch know to be in their family, the Grangers never had their home Floo hooked up to the network. In addition, the majority of people in the Wizarding World didn't have telephones due to their electric components not working where there is a large amount of magic. There had to be a way to help!

Out of nowhere, the phone began to ring. It was Arthur Weasley. Both Grangers remembered the Wizard and his large family very well. "I'm sorry for ringing you this late, but Ron is very worried about Hermione. We woke the neighbor to borrow his fellytone to see if all is well with your family."

"It's quite alright, Mr. Weasley. I'm glad you did find a telephone to call us," Mr. Granger politely corrected and soothed the other man in one breath. "Hermione woke up screaming and we can't get her to calm down. See, when my baby has dream this grave the dreams have a bad habit of coming true."

"What did she dream about?" Arthur was worried that Voldemort was causing troubles for the Order without anyone knowing it.

"She's dreaming that Harry's family is attacking him. Hermione insists that Harry's uncle will take a large knife and stab Harry in his heart. We cannot contact anyone in the Wizarding World from here. Is there any way to send a couple of your boys here and then have them escort Hermione to their Headmaster? Hermione wants to talk to him. For some reason she thinks he will be able to help," Roger explained.

The blood in Arthur Weasley's veins suddenly ran cold as ice. If the man was right, and most fathers are about their children, then Harry was in mortal danger. He knew that the show of force at the train station was overboard, but it felt so good to show Harry who were on his side and loved him dearly. "Ron and the twins will be there shortly. Can Hermione say when the attack happens?"

"It should be happening now, but the stabbing will not happen until the last stroke of midnight. Hermione could hear a clock ringing in the background clearly. Please hurry." Roger was worried.

He liked Harry, not because he was famous or important, but because he was caring towards Hermione—a rare thing for a Wizard to do with Muggle-Born witches like Roger's eldest child.

Arthur took a deep breath. "It will take a few minutes, but I can get a Portkey to send the group to Hogwarts. The twins are good at Apparating, and I will give Ron a Portkey for your house. Ten minutes at most."

Roger felt calmer. "Agreed. I'll tell Hermione. And thank you."

"No, thank you. And thank Hermione for all of us," Arthur asked.

Yes, the information helped calm Hermione down. She rushed about to get dressed so there would be no waiting on her before leaving for Hogwarts. Yet, would they get to Harry in time?

Arthur and Ron ran at full speed to get out of sight of the Muggles. It was risky, but the times called for it. Holding his son close, Arthur quickly Apparated them both into the front yard of their home—the Burrow—in order to move faster. Luckily, there was no damage done to himself or Ron.

However, Molly Weasley was in a fit seeing this happen. "Arthur Weasley!"

"No time now, Molly! Harry's in danger! FRED! GEORGE! GET READY TO APPARATE TO THE GRANGER'S HOME!" Arthur rolled off as he rushed into the house for the hearth.

A handful of emerald dust into the flames that warmed their home that night turned the licking blaze into a mode of communication and travel; this time to be used as the former rather than the latter. "ALBUS DUMBLEDORE!"

Moments later, a floating head looked sad beyond sadness. Albus had to have some kind of idea of the situation. "Arthur, there is a problem with Harry."

"I know. I called Mr. Granger because Ron was worried about Hermione. It seems her worse dreams have the tendency to come true. Her current nightmare is of Harry attacked by those Muggles he is related to unfortunately. They're going to kill him!"

"Oh, Arthur!" Molly cried out from near the fire. She had feared bad tidings, but nothing like this.

"Send them all to me, Arthur. These Portkeys should do. One will take Ronald to the Grangers and the other will bring both he and Miss. Granger to my office. The twins should go warn the others of that wonderful association your son, Miss. Granger, and Harry created last year." Albus was still scheming. He had a plan—one that was old and he had only been waiting for the right time to set into motion. They both needed this. If only the situation had not gone to this extreme.

That was all the headmaster of Hogwarts had to say. After the Portkeys made it to the Burrow, he ended the conversation. Arthur knew that something was happening; he only wished that he had a part of the plan. "Right then. Boys, you heard your assignment. Ron, go get Hermione and take her to Dumbledore. Stay with her until your mother or I arrive. Understood?"

"Yeah. Dad, will Harry be alright?" Ron was scared. Harry had been one of his first school friends, and one of his dearest—despite the way he had treated Harry in the past.

"If Dumbledore's plan works out, then yes. Now, get going you three."

Two loud cracks and a Portkey later, the Weasley parents were alone to call the rest of the Order. At the least, the group needed set on alert.

Ron hated the feeling he got when using Portkeys. Nevertheless, this was an emergency.

A blink later, he was in the arms of Hermione's father. "Good to see you again Ron. Where are your brothers?"

"They had an assignment to do for the Order. Professor Dumbledore sent me to take Hermione to his office." Ron fought his nausea. After all, he had one more Portkey trip to go and Harry's life wouldn't wait for his weak stomach.

Hermione rushed down the stairs, fully dressed. "Hurry Ron! It's eleven-forty and that means Harry has only twenty minutes left!"

"Sorry to run like this Mr. and Mrs. Granger, but Harry needs us," Ron excused them both as he activated the Portkey.

A blink later, both were in the office of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. The Headmaster handed Ron a lemon drop that the boy popped into his mouth automatically. The encouragement charm helped get the anti-nausea potion coated candy into the boy's mouth. "Well, I hear you have an interesting dream to tell me about, Miss. Granger."

"A nightmare. Harry is in danger! The Muggles are beating him for fun and his uncle is going to stab Harry in the chest with a large knife!" Hermione sobbed out as the Headmaster hugged her comfortingly.

Only for a moment would Hermione allow herself the solace before she began to pace back and forth. "Harry needs help."

"And we shall procure that aide, Miss. Granger," Dumbledore said.

He walked over to the fire, threw some Floo Powder in, and then stuck his head through. Neither Hermione nor Ron heard whom it was that the Professor's head was off to talk to, they only saw the conversation was short and the magical passage was open for someone to come through. Hermione continued to pace without really noticing what was happening around her.

Not too many changes in this chapter. If you catch anything I miss, tell me. Please feed the starving writers and Review people!