A/N

For those that chose not to read the last chapter due to the trigger warnings presented allow for me to give you a quick TL/DR for that chapter

Harry and Hermione met and discussed the inaccuracies of the Boy Who Lived books before Harry slipped Hermione a note which only her parents read, this led to Hermione getting the wrong impression that Harry was dangerous and as such vowed to stay away from him

Hagrid took Harry back to Privet Drive where the Dursleys were less than happy to see him, beating him unconscious. When Harry woke up he found Dumbledore in the front room who swiftly obliviated and stunned him

"Is this some kind of sick joke?" The familiar baritone of Lister the Grim Reaper bellowed out as he sat in a holding room, receiving his second visitor in as many minutes. Of course being a private Grim Reaper both of those visitors were the same person, one Harry James Potter.

Harry's eyes opened as fear flooded his mind, with the sight of Lister in front of him only one thing could permeate in his mind. He must once again be dead, Harry had wondered how it had happened, the last thing he could remember was being stunned by Dumbledore. Could the stunner have accidentally killed him after all the physical damage he had taken beforehand.

But to Harry's surprise, when he went to apologise for failing once again he was cut off by Lister. Who had what Harry could only describe as a creepy smile smeared across his face.

"Don't panic, you're not dead. Although the barriers between life and death aren't as fixed as you mortals like to think. We have complete jurisdiction whenever your brains aren't in control. Which includes when you're knocked out, although it's very rare for any of us to come to this department. But that is how we are chatting now. And if you could, I would appreciate it if I don't have to give this entire spiel in 5 minutes because you've got knocked out again"

Lister had moved around Harry, imposing over the child sitting in the chair. Part of him felt regretful that he wasn't able to give Harry all of the information that he had. The exact thing he believed had led to his death when Dumbledore had done it. Lister knew that Harry would flip when he found out about his deceit, but giving Harry too much information could be damaging to his own career goals.

There was however some information that Lister was willing to give out. But also a problem that he needed to fix.

The manipulative old bastard had obliviated Harry before knocking him out. Which in a usual scenario would just be left to be dealt with by the mortal. It was very rare for a Grim Reaper to speak to their knocked out client.

But Lister was smiling because he knew that Dumbledore had made a massive mistake, one which in his arrogance he probably didn't even notice.

If Dumbledore had stunned Harry before Obliviating him then there wouldn't be much that Lister could do without alerting the elder wizard to some shenanigans. But in his hubris he had accidentally given Lister the perfect opportunity.

The intent of Dumbledore's spell had been clear, make Harry forget that the Dursley's had beaten him, and then make Harry forget that Dumbledore was ever there. Lister knew this because unbeknownst to Harry, The man with way too many names had done this countless times throughout his childhood.

Lister finally spoke up to Harry after leaving him sat in silence for an unfortunately long time

"I cannot completely reverse Dumbledore's obliviation, whilst that would make things much easier, it also makes things much riskier. We cannot risk cutting corners. What I can do is let you keep certain parts of the memory which I believe will benefit you on your quest, whilst still making it believable that the spell just couldn't take control of your mind. Which considering the occlumency abilities I have given you, is plausible."

Harry, who had been sitting quietly for this entire time, finally decided to give his opinion on the matter.

"I don't want to remember the Dursley's beating me", there was a desperation in his voice that signalled that this was important to him. Lister could understand that, to be put through that much pain by those designated to protect you would be unbearable to comprehend.

Although there was a part of Lister that disagreed with Harry, and that having the memories of what Dumbledore had allowed could help in his eventual demise.

In the end Harry and Lister came to a compromise, Harry did not need to remember the beating, all he had to do was remember that it had happened.

As for Dumbledore, this was a trickier situation. Dumbledore stunning Harry, that was easy to keep in as it had happened after Dumbledore had used the memory spell on Harry. Lister also considered that if Harry only remembered Dumbledore attacking him with a stunner he was more likely to be outwardly aggressive towards him and less likely to become the martyr that Dumbledore had planned.

But there was one more piece of information that Lister felt that he needed to give Harry but this was not the place to give that information, as everything that he told Harry right now would be forgotten.

It had finally come to the time where Harry would wake up, with only the knowledge that he had been beaten by the Dursleys and that Dumbledore had then attacked him, and should he find the right part of his subconscious, the best piece of advice that Harry could possibly receive.

Harry woke up back inside the cupboard under the stairs to Aunt Petunia banging on the cupboard door demanding he get up and cook them breakfast. The Dursley family seemed no more aggressive to Harry than they ever were, as if they had forgotten the threat that Vernon had made just the day before.

Harry got up and quickly made eggs and bacon for the Dursley's making sure that he didn't burn anything to avoid adding any more bruises to his broken down young body. But it was an argument that was going on in the hallway that seemed to be the focus of Harry's attention.

Harry could hear Dudley crying to his mother in a way that could only ever mean one thing, he had been told no. But unlike the usual times where Dudley didn't get his own way, Aunt Petunia was not giving in. Harry tried to think back to remember if this had happened in his last attempt but he could not seem to focus on that memory.

Other memories kept flooding his mind as he focused, but trying as hard as he liked, Harry could not find that memory. The only things that Harry could think of were four memories that kept playing in a weird pattern in his mind.

Harry leading Dumbledore's Army into the Ministry of Magic

Harry walking into the forbidden forest to face Voldemort. Alone.

Harry, with the school and the Order of The Phoenix behind him facing down Snape and the Carrows

Harry walking into the forbidden forest to face Voldemort. Alone.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Luna leading the break out at Malfoy Manor

Harry walking into the forbidden forest to face Voldemort. Alone

As Harry remembered that final walk into the Forest for the third time, something changed in his memory. He found a piece of paper on the floor that Harry was certain wasn't there when he actually died. He picked up the paper and was able to read it, which ruled out it being a dream

The message on the paper read- "You are the Boy Who Lived- that cannot be avoided. Use your fame, use your power. But most importantly, don't do it alone. There are countless people who will be able to help you one way or another, and if you get things right this time. Maybe you will be able to find them. The Golden Trio is not all there is"

As soon as Harry had finished reading the note it burned up in his hand leaving the memory exact how Harry truly remembered it.

With everything back in order Harry was flung back to reality where he was standing in the kitchen at Number Four Privet Drive, trying not to burn Bacon and Eggs for the very people who less than twenty-four hours ago were willing to beat him unconscious.

Once breakfast was over Harry was pulled aside by Aunt Petunia who told him that they had decided that Harry would be allowed to take over Dudley's second bedroom so he didn't have to sleep in the cupboard under the stairs anymore

On hearing this announcement, Harry quickly started to take the few belongings that he had- most of which had come from his shopping trip to Diagon Alley with Hagrid yesterday upstairs to his new bedroom. As he was moving the books upstairs he spotted that one book was missing from the collection he had got. 'The Muggle-borns guide to Wizarding Culture'.

Harry searched the entire cupboard, which didn't take long, but there was no sign of the book that Harry hoped would prevent him from isolating himself from some of the purebloods at Hogwarts.

Accepting defeat on that front Harry decided that after the beating he had received yesterday he needed to go through on his plan and write the letter to Hermione, so he moved Hedwig up last, to the cries about 'That Bloody Pigeon' from Uncle Vernon, past Dudley's room which was a mess now with all his belongings in one room, whereas he was just crying on his bed about how unfair this all was. Finally making it to the nearly empty room that used to hold all of Dudley's toys.

Harry sat down at his desk and started to write.

'Dear Hermione,

Hey it's Harry

I will admit that I didn't expect to be writing this so quickly, but the circumstances of the last twenty-four hours have made it necessary.

I came home last night and was greeted by the people that are supposed to look after me, and they decided to take it upon themselves to "beat the magic out of me"

I know that I was mysterious with my actions in Diagon Alley yesterday and I am sorry that I wasn't clear but I had to be careful with who was listening.

But right now I need your help, I hope you will be able to do what I set out in my last letter but please send a return letter letting me know either way

I don't know whether they will attack me again but it wouldn't surprise me if they do

I know it's a lot to ask but I need help from anywhere I can get it.

Love,

Harry'

Harry hadn't even noticed that he had signed off the letter with love, but sometimes it's when someone doesn't know what they are doing that they are doing whatever is true to them

Twenty Miles or so further north, a young Hermione Granger was sitting in her room reading the books that she had got from Diagon Alley. Despite her worries about the boy known as Harry Potter and his dangers, she had to admit that the book that he had chosen was very informative and interesting

Hermione was just finished the chapter of the fateful day in 1945 where Albus Dumbledore had defeated Gellert Grindelwald and brought an end to the first wizarding war when she noticed a pecking at the window

Getting out of her seat to open the window Hermione spotted a beautiful white snowy owl perched on her windowsill, Hermione thought that maybe this had been the owl-order that had been mentioned in Diagon Alley and that her parents were going to be able to get her even more books

However much to Hermione's disappointment there was no parcel that this owl was carrying, only a small letter tied to its right foot.

Hermione opened the letter and started to read, however she only got one line in when she threw the letter across the room aiming for her waste paper basket. This letter was from Harry Potter, the boy that her parents were clearly aiming for her to stay away from.

How had he got her address, how did he know where to send his owl to deliver this letter. Every thought that Hermione had just made her want to stay away from this boy even more.

Her life would be much better if Hermione Granger just stayed away from Harry Potter, she had decided that. And when Hermione Granger has made her mind up about something then God bless anyone who tries to change her mind, because they would need the power of a god to even make a dent.

Hermione tried to shoo the owl out of the window but it never seemed to leave the windowsill, it was as if the owl was waiting for something. And for the next four weeks it was always there pecking as soon as Hermione woke up and wouldn't stop until Hermione had gone to bed. But for those four weeks, the annoying owl was the only reminder of that letter slowly getting buried in the waste paper basket.

On the Thirty-first of August all over the country, magical children were getting ready for their journey to Hogwarts the next morning. Packing their cases and making sure all their pets were ready for such a long journey.

Two such student's were Hermione Granger and Harry Potter, both in very different mindsets about their journey the next day

For Hermione tomorrow was a day of nervous excitement, obviously she was sad that she would be boarding and not able to see her parents for a few months before returning back home for christmas, but she was also excited to be going to learn all about magic. There was a part of her which wondered whether this was all an elaborate prank and that tomorrow when she made it to Kings Cross she would be turned away for not having any magic in her. But over the past four weeks she had had a constant reminder of the reality of magic.

A snowy owl had decided to become a squatter on her windowsill ever since she had received a letter from the weird boy she had met in Diagon Alley and become nervous about ever since Harry Potter, but today was not the day to worry about Harry.

Although to Hermione's surprise she was not the only person thinking about Harry Potter at that moment.

Her father had come to her door with a pensive look on his face, which Hermione knew straight away meant he was thinking about something serious. He was looking around her room as if he was looking for something before asking Hermione "Have you heard anything from that boy in Diagon Alley recently?"

Hermione was shocked that her Dad had bought this up. He hadn't mentioned the boy once since that day and his weird behaviour that night. So Hermione assumed that this was a test, with her mind fixated on the idea that her parents believed this boy was dangerous she realised they must be checking to see if she was being influenced by the boy.

So as such, Hermione did what may have turned out to be the stupidest thing the little genius had ever done, and lied to her father.

"No Dad, not a single word" she said expecting this to be the answer he wanted to hear.

But whilst Daniel Granger was a capable poker player, his face gave him away here, as he forced a smile towards Hermione before heading back to the master bedroom.

He sat down on the bed and pulled a note out of the bedside cabinet, a note that he had read almost every single night and with his medical mindset had kept him up for so many nights. He slowly read over the note again despite knowing it word perfectly just in case he had missed something as to why that boy wouldn't have written

"Hey Hermione, Mr. and Mrs. Granger

I am sorry to have misled you like this but I wasn't sure if I could speak freely without being overheard. There is no book list although if you are interested I'm sure I can think of some which might interest you. But the reason for my note is much more serious, I don't believe that I am safe and I need help.

My guardians have beaten me time and time again and when they found out I had magic they vowed that if they ever saw me again they would rather kill me than have magic living with them.

My worry comes because I believe my guide for today plans on taking me back to them based on orders from someone high up in the wizarding world, hence the note rather than just telling you

I live at Number Four Privet Drive in Little Whinging in Surry. I plan on sending you a letter via owl within the next two weeks to let you know that I am safe, or I will send a letter immediately if I am in danger.

I know this is a lot to ask of someone you've only just met but you seemed like such lovely people and I needed someone to tell.

Hope you are well,

Harry Potter'

There were so many things about this letter that perplexed Dan Granger, the language and the writing style seemed so much more advanced than any Eleven year old he had ever encountered, even his own Hermione didn't write with this much gravitas and she was considered a prodigy. Also this boy who was writing in plea for help from an abusive household still signed off his letter wishing that they were well, despite everything this child had clearly gone through he was still empathetic and kind.

Dan had gone straight to the police on the day when he first met Harry trying to get some support or check put in place for his safety but every single time he had gone to get an update they had forgotten about the entire situation, as if it had never happened.

Dan didnt quite understand how or why the claims of Child Abuse had gone so unheard to the point where they were being forgotten about, but this situation had lessened Dan's trust in the policing institute around him.

One thing that the police had made very clear to Dan though was he was to go collect this child himself, which he often suggested then he would be arrested for kidnapping. The only way Dan could describe the situation was as if someone had rewired all of the acting officers' brains to make them not care about anything that happened to Harry Potter and that he must stay in Number Four Privet Drive.

At Number Four Privet Drive the boy called Harry Potter was sitting on his bed writing a plan out. He had already packed his bags the night before and worked out that he was going to take the Knight Bus to King's Cross in the morning. His plan was for the year ahead and what he could realistically achieve in this year. Harry thought about the Philosopher's Stone that was to be hidden away at Hogwarts this year and Harry wondered whether he should make sure to get to it before anyone else could try. He also considered Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem and whether it was possible to destroy that Horcrux before Voldemort was even able to return to a body.

But there was a big problem with that situation, if Harry was to go and kill the Basilisk a year early to be able to destroy the Horcrux then was there a chance that the Diary Horcrux never makes it to Hogwarts. It would be a lot harder to manage to get the Horcrux from the vault or manor of Lucius Malfoy than if it was at Hogwarts. Then there was the consideration about the spirit of Voldemort. Harry knew that the spirit was going to be at Hogwarts but would he know when the Horcruxes were destroyed whether in the castle or not. As Harry had never been around Voldemort when a Horcrux had been destroyed he would rather not risk it with the danger right around the corner.

As such Harry decided to use his first year to create a network around him for support, as the memories (Which he could only assume were a message from Lister) had instructed. He thought about people from each house that were if not kind to him, civil throughout his seven years at Hogwarts.

With a plan in mind for the Hogwarts express tomorrow, Harry closed his eyes to go to sleep with one final thought crossing his mind as he drifted into the slumber

'God I hope Hedwig comes back soon'

A/N

This is becoming a regular occurrence now but once again I just want to thank you all for the support for the story so far. After a pretty slow paced start next chapter will see our protagonists finally board the Hogwarts express and make their journey into Hogwarts. As such this will be the introduction to a lot more of the characters that you all know and love. But a fair warning now, it's not going to be great reading for the Weasley Lovers out there. Whilst I don't dislike the Weasley's or the Canon pairings, that's not what this story is.

Let me know what you guys think with the reviews and thank you so much for all the Favourites and Follows