They did receive letters every three days as promised. But Beatrice couldn't keep the bad feeling out of her stomach that their little badger wasn't being truthful about how well he was doing. None of Harry's wild and colorful personality came through the short letters they received. Not even Cassius got anything more personalized and they all knew Cassius was Harry's favorite.

Beatrice had also never spent so much time in the presence of Slytherins as she did that summer. They met almost every day pulling on whoever's contacts they could tap to find a way to extract Harry from that house. They also all examined every letter that Harry sent.

Cassius finally snapped on day 16 after receiving Harry's latest letter. Which hadn't been any more revealing than his last five letters, but the writing was shakier, and on the corner of the parchment, just barely noticeable was a bit of blood.

Cassius wouldn't wait any longer, he didn't care if they had to kidnap Harry, they would be getting Harry out that night.

No one disagreed with Cassius although some of the Hufflepuffs were afraid of what the Slytherin might do if they found Harry in poor conditions.

In an attempt to keep things mostly legal and to prevent them being brought up on kidnapping charges, Beatrice tapped on Susan Bones to get in touch with her Aunt, the head of the DMLE, to meet them at Harry's address just before dinner. Cassius wanted to make sure everyone would be at home when they arrived.

Beatrice was in charge of keeping Cassius from killing anyone, but no one had thought to get someone to keep her from killing someone.

Mama badgers can be damn dangerous.


There was a knock at the door just as Harry was serving dinner to the Dursleys. If Harry didn't have a black eye he would have been ordered to go open the door so none of them would have to get up from the table. But as it was, he did have a massive black eye, so Aunt Petunia got up and answered the door. Vernon and Dudley were digging into their food, and Harry was doing the dishes when Aunt Petunia screamed.

Considering how big Vernon was, he moved impressively quickly once he heard Petunia scream. Dudley looked around confused but made no move to stop eating. Harry froze hand deep in soapy water, looking over his shoulder to see the commotion. Once Vernon made it out to the hall facing the front door, he started yelling but was quickly silenced.

Before Harry had a chance to pull his hands out of the water to brace himself for whatever was happening, a large group of people made their way into the Durseley's kitchen. In the front leading the way were Cassius and Beatrice.

Harry's eyes widen before pulling his hands out of the water and running to throw himself into their arms. "Cassy! Bee!" Harry said in a scratchy voice, holding onto them for dear life.

They had actually come for him.


Beatrice wanted to cry when she saw her poor little badger. They should have come sooner.

Harry's hair had been cut shorter and dyed a flat black color which made the black eye he had on his face stand out starkly. He had clearly lost weight in the time he had been home. Big baggy grey clothes covered his thin frame.

"Oh, my little ray," Cassius said mournfully, hugging Harry tightly, afraid to let the little boy go. "You are never, ever coming back to this house,"

"Promise?" Harry asked quietly, his voice cracking a little.

"I promise. We will never let you be sent back here." Cassius promised while Beatrice ran her fingers through Harry's short poorly dyed hair to calm both the little boy and herself. She felt like killing those monsters out in the hallway. For a moment she could fully understand the Death Eater's perspective on muggles.

Madame Bones then approached the group of cuddling teens.

"Mr. Potter?" Madame Bones asked, looking at the little boy being sandwiched by Miss Haywood and Mr. Warrington.

"Yes ma'am?" Scared green eyes looked up at Madame Bones and she could feel her heartbreak for this young man that should have been loved and cared for. Her niece had nothing but nice things to say about her fellow Hufflepuff. It was a shock for everyone when the Harry Potter was sorted into the House of the Badgers, but it was probably for the best. Hufflepuffs would go to war for each other, and apparently so would the Slytherins.

"May I speak with you about your relatives?" Madame Bones regretfully asked.

"Can Cassy and Bee stay with me?" Harry asked nervously, clinging tighter to the two older students.

"Of course they can. They were the ones who let me know you needed help."

"Really?" Harry looked up at Bee and Cassy with worshipful eyes.

"I told you that we would come for you little Ray," Cassius said with a small sad smile.

"And you don't break promises." Harry nodded surely.

"Correct. Now let's go sit down so Madame Bones can ask her questions and then we can get out of here for good." Cassius spoke as he led the small group into what looked to be a hideous beige flower-patterned living room.

Beatrice took a seat on the sofa and Cassius sat next to her before pulling Harry into his lap. He refused to let Harry out of his sight or even his arms. They had failed Harry by not showing up sooner.

Madame Bones took a seat across from them, pulling out a quick quotes quill and setting it up before turning to them to ask questions.

"Can you state your name for the record Mr. Potter?" Madame Bones asked kindly.

Harry looked confused because she already knew his name but went with it. "Harry James Potter, but everyone usually calls me Little Badger or Little Ray."

"And how old are you?"

"Eleven, but I'll be twelve in a month!" Harry announced happily.

"And who are your relatives?" Madame Bones asked softly.

"Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley my cousin," Harry answered with less enthusiasm.

"Who is your magical guardian?"

"My who?" Harry asked confused.

"Who has been taking care of your magical education prior to Hogwarts?" Madame Bones rephrased.

"No one. I didn't know anything about magic until Mr. Hagrid brought me my letter for school last year."

Madame Bones blinked confused. "I will have to take a look into that then."

Cassius gritted his teeth because he had a feeling he knew just who Harry's magical guardian was.

Madame Bones cleared her throat to continue, "Tell me Mr. Potter, in the best words that you have, about living with your Aunt and Uncle."

Harry looked nervously up at Beatrice and Cassius, who both hugged him for reassurance.

"They won't be able to hurt you anymore, don't be afraid to tell us about them. Be as honest as you can little badger." Beatrice reassured the small boy.

"...They don't like me. They never have. But Dudley is their real son, so they love him I guess. I'm just a burden dumped on their doorstep that they couldn't get rid of because some old man told them bad things would happen if they put me in an orphanage." Harry spoke slowly, the words hard to admit out loud.

"What old man?" Madame Bones asked.

"Dunno, they just used to yell about how if it wasn't for the old man that put me here they would have put me out on the street by now." Harry shrugged. Cassius was biting his tongue to keep from cursing.

"Did your relatives yell at you often?" Madame Bones proceeded.

"Uh-huh." Harry nodded.

"Did they hit you?"

Harry nodded again, looking at his hand-me-down grey shoes.

"How often?"

Harry shrugged, "Every week. Anytime I did anything freakish."

"Give me an example Mr. Potter."

"My teacher at school was calling me names, saying I was too dumb to be in her class, and her hair turned blue. Aunt Petunia hit me with the frying pan and then I was locked in my cupboard for a week."

"Cupboard?" Beatrice couldn't help but interrupt to ask. She had the sinking feeling she was going to get an answer for what happened at the beginning of the last school year when Harry didn't know if he would get a room.

"I sleep in the cupboard under the stairs," Harry admitted.

Madame Bones had the feeling this was only going to get worse. Things like this just didn't happen in wizarding houses. Children are to be cherished and cared for. It is amazing that the Potter boy didn't become an obscurial. "Anything else you want to tell me, Mr. Potter?"

"Little Ray, tell her about the food." Cassius nudged Harry.

Harry frowned, "Freaks don't deserve food."

It explained why the little boy had no childish fat on him. She had seen inferi with more weight on them.

"Well, don't you worry Mr. Potter. You deserve food, warmth, and a safe place to live. For now, Miss Haywood's family is going to host you until the trials of your relatives. I shouldn't need anything else from you, but I will visit you if I do. I'm sure Mr. Warrington and Miss Haywood will help you gather your belongings so you can leave." Madame Bones tried to reassure the small Hufflepuff.

Harry fidgeted, tears coming to his eyes. "Don't have anything to bring," Harry said quietly.

Beatrice frowned. "Where's your trunk with all of your things?"

"Uncle Vernon got rid of it. Didn't want anything freakish in his house." Harry was definitely going to cry now. Looking up at Cassius with the saddest face the young snake had ever seen. "I lost all of your nice gifts."

"Oh, my little ray. Don't you worry about that. I will get you new gifts. Lots of new gifts. All that stuff is replaceable. You aren't replaceable though and I am more worried about getting you healthy and happy." Cassius hugged Harry tight to his chest as Harry began to cry into his shirt.

Beatrice was feeling quite like killing some muggles. No one would miss them.

Madame Bones smiled at them sadly. That little boy had been through a lot, but he had a solid support system considering how many Slytherins and Hufflepuffs had invaded her office just this morning demanding that they do their job and take care of an abused Harry Potter.

By the time the Aurors were done arresting Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, Harry was asleep in Cassius' arms. Beatrice searched the entire house for anything belonging to Harry and only found a small photo album up in the attic that looked like it once belonged to his mother. They left number 4 Privet Drive behind them in a swirl of color from the portkey soon after.

Cassius was right, everything that Harry had could be and would be replaced. As Cassius settled the sleeping 11-year-old into the Haywood guest room, Beatrice was writing out many letters alerting everyone that they had Harry, he would be safe now, and for his birthday they needed to replace all of his belongings.

Cassius was reluctant to leave Harry even though he knew the Haywood family would make sure the little boy was cared for, Cassius just felt so protective.

Harry deserved so much better. Cassius would make sure things would get better for Harry. He promised himself that Harry would get everything he never had before.

Blood family was all well and good when they were decent. But chosen family is so much stronger in their bonds of care and protection. He wouldn't let anyone hurt Harry again. Cassius didn't care if he had to face Dumbledore or the Dark Lord himself head-on.

Harry deserved to be a child.

Harry deserved to be happy.

Cassius was going to give Harry the world and no one was going to stop him.