Neville stared at Harry his expression totally shocked.

"You're half sídh? That's pretty unbelievable," Neville said in a choked voice.

"What's so unbelievable about it?" Hermione asked. "I mean magic exists after all and so do centaurs, unicorns, dragons, goblins and even house-elves. So what's so amazing about the existence of sídhe?"

"When you put it like that it doesn't seem all that strange, but Hermione, trust me, it is," Neville tried to explain, even if his expression was still completely shocked. "Goblins, house-elves, centaurs, unicorns and dragons are commonplace, they're not strange at all to anyone raised within the magical community. However, sídhe are a totally different matter. Sídhe are rarely seen out of Tír na nÓg, in their true forms. Even if you've actually met one you often don't know it, as they can look completely human. They only reveal themselves to you if they feel it is necessary for whatever reason, but mostly don't. They are known to steal children who are abused by their guardians and they leave a homunculus in their place, one that is killed soon afterwards. Homunculus aren't meant to live, but a very short amount of time and if they aren't killed in someway they just sicken and die. I've never heard of a sídhe going to Hogwarts before and if it has happened, well, no one ever knew. That a sídhe married a mortal is also pretty amazing as usually they just take multiple sexual partners and don't marry at all."

"Why do they just take multiple sexual partners and not make a commitment?" Hermione asked, as she absorbed what she had been told.

"Because sídhe live a lot longer than any other race, they live for thousands of years," Harry explained watching Hermione's expression. "Imagine being stuck with someone who lives just as long as you do and you realize that you don't really love them enough to last for that long, you might even start to hate them or at least strongly dislike them. There is no such thing as divorce among the sídhe, so you'd be stuck with that person. Marrying a mortal is different. Mortals die, even if magicals lives considerably longer then Muggles. If my parents had lived dad might have lived to 300 or even 400 then he would have died. Plus if you marry someone like that you can get divorced if you find out you don't love that person and putting up with them is intolerable. There is no separating, at least not legally among sídhe. Of course, that only applies if both are sídhe and they use the elven ceremony to bind themselves together."

"Well, as long as they live that does make sense," Hermione admitted in contemplation. "Does that mean you'll live as long as a full sídh?"

"Only about half actually, because I'm only a half sídh instead of a full one, but that doesn't mean I won't live for thousands of years I'll just die sooner then one who is pure sídh and that's only if I don't get myself killed when I finally face Voldemort or afterwards. If Albus Dumbledore had his way I would face Voldemort and die."

"That's being a little fatalistic Harry James," Hermione scolded.

"Not really in my opinion," Harry said simply. "I judge people by their actions and Dumbledore's have not impressed me in the slightest. You have to remember that he left me in an abusive home where I actually contemplated killing myself just to escape it all. For a child so young to do that they must think there is no hope at all, no hope of escaping their situation. If granddad hadn't shown up when he did I would've likely been dead and then granddad would have taken Dumbledore apart I promise you. I'm not saying granddad isn't a reasonable man, but he would have used every resource he had at his disposal to find out who'd put me in such a situation and then gone after that person or persons with everything he had. Their would've been absolutely no mercy coming from granddad I promise you. You don't harm a sídh children and that includes grandchildren or any other relative and expect to live afterwards, especially if it was like me, as I was abused from the time I was just over a year old by my supposed relatives. That includes other children to, but when that child's family is abusive and they are too young to defend themselves then you'll see a very wrathful sídhe go after the people responsible."

"Harry's right," Neville said. "From what little is written about sídhe, one of the things that is often repeated over and over is that you don't harm a child and have them learn of it, especially if that child is related. Dumbledore might not have known that Harry was related to one of the eternally young as they are often called, but he also abdicated his responsibility as a guardian, since he had the Wizengamot name him so. It didn't matter how busy he was, he should have taken the time to check up on Harry, since he had taken guardianship of him and sealed the wills of an Noble and Most Ancient House in order to do so, which is highly illegal by the way. When you name yourself guardian of someone, you have certain responsibilities and he didn't fulfill a single one."
"I'm explained this to you before, but you still seem to think that Dumbledore's such a great man that he is allowed to forsake his responsibilities. You still seem to believe that the sun shines out that old whiskered wanker's backside." Harry said.

"It's not that," Hermione protested looking downcast and a little hurt. She knew she was naïve and that she liked to believe the best in people but what she was learning shattered those illusions. Having your illusions shattered was never pleasant, especially for the young. "It's just that I'm having trouble believing that someone as great as Dumbledore is would do such thing to a defenseless child."

"You have to remember that Dumbledore was born in the middle of the 19th-century and back than child abuse took place behind closed doors for the most part. Dumbledore's main problem is he has to much trust in people to fulfill their responsibilities, which I believe is why he left me on that doorstep, because he probably didn't want to find out whether or not the Dursleys were willing to take me in.

"No, I think he believed that the Dursleys, especially Petunia, would take care of me, since I was supposedly her sister's child. He knew that Lily didn't get along with her sister, but he thought surely Petunia would still look after me. Even if he did known that Lily and Petunia weren't related at all I'm not sure if he wouldn't've taken the same actions. That's one of his main faults, he has to much trust in human nature. He hasn't really been out in the world ever since he was a child as he stays mostly at Hogwarts and only visits magical places like the ministry. I don't think Dumbledore truly understands how cruel and evil they can be, because he likely would have checked up on me at least a few times before leaving me to my own devices to make sure I was being treated well if he did.

"He is the one that got the Wizengamot to agree to turn my guardianship over to him, but when he did there were certain responsibilities attached to the position, as Neville explained. I'm sure he believes that the bullies at Hogwarts are just immature and they'll change when they grow up but the likelihood of that is that some of them will not, that nothing will shift their views. I can see Draco Malfoy using his power on the Wizengamot to put even more bigoted laws against Muggle-borns in place once his father dies or retires. If he changes in any significant way I'll be very surprised as his views are to set. It will take something major to change those views.

"Dumbledore failed in his most basic of duties, since he had the atrocity to force the Wizengamot to name him as my guardian. If he had left things well enough alone then Neville's parents Frank and Alice would have raised me and I have no doubt I would've had a happy childhood and if they happened to be unavailable then Sirius was next on the list. However, because of the meddling of an old man, who has too much on his plate, to consider his actions to carefully, I was beaten and abused and if wasn't for my magic I would be dead. I had multiple bouts of self healing every time one of the male Dursleys broke one of my bones."

Hermione winced at what she was being told. She suddenly understood that Dumbledore hadn't bothered to fulfill his duties and had just assumed that Harry supposed relatives that he had been placed with would welcome him with open arms and love him like he was their own. She wasn't stupid and she knew that child abuse existed, but had never met anyone before now that had been abused as badly as Harry had been. He had been lucky that he had magic to help him otherwise he would likely be dead and the Dursleys would not have cared. All they would have to tell the authorities was that Harry had run away when they came inquiring after him, when he didn't show up at school for several days running, though it would be suspicious if they didn't report their nephew as a runaway.

"You can go ahead and respect that old man all you want but I lost my respect a long time ago," Harry said. "In fact, I never really had any when it comes to that meddling old coot, who should've left things well enough alone. I'll carry the scars of the Dursleys treatment of me for the rest of my life, at least the worst ones. As for mentally and emotionally I'll always have certain hangups that I wouldn't have had if not for Dumbledore's meddling. Dumbledore really shot himself in the foot, by placing me with the Dursleys because I no longer trust easily. I judge people by their actions and not their reputation. Even if Dumbledore ever becomes truly sorry for his actions towards me I doubt very much that I'll ever truly trust him or forgive him. I'll always be judging him mentally trying to matchup his actions with his words."

"Alright, I can see that," Hermione admitted. "If I had been abused like you had been I doubt very much that I'd have much trust in the person that had put me in that situation."

"Good, I'm glad you can admit that humans can make mistakes and yes, magicals are basically human," Harry said.

"So how did your grandfather punish the Dursleys?" Neville who had been mostly silent asked.

"What do you mean?" Hermione inquired surprised at what her friend had asked.

"After all you've hard about the sídhe, do you really think that one of them is going to leave somebody who has abused someone so badly free to do more harm?" Neville asked rhetorically. "If you really think that one of the eternally young, are going to leave proper punishment to the authorities, then you haven't been listening, especially since Harry is directly related to the sídh in question."

"Besides, you have to remember that to most people the sídhe don't exist. Sure, they're multiple fantasy novels about them, but to humans in particular and also most magicals that's all they are. To most people they simply don't exist, so how do you expect a sídh to get justice for a wrong done? Even if that person is punished they'll only likely get a few years in prison and depending on the nature of their crime that isn't really enough for most sídhe. I was abused in every way possible and if you really think that granddad is going to consider a few years in prison enough, then Neville's right, you haven't been listening. If me, his own grandson, couldn't convince him to change his mind and believe me, I tried, then there's no way that you can. Besides, it's done.

"To answer your question Neville granddad did to the Dursleys exactly what they had done to me. He created two pocket dimensions where technically, they could live forever as they don't need to eat or pee in such places and they won't age. Both of them are undergoing the same treatment that they forced on me. Vernon is being beat up on a regular basis just like he did me and is not given a moment of relief. I mean he broke my ribs on several occasions and also my arm a couple of times and I almost always had multiple bruises. He is now feeling exactly what I went through as well as every emotion that I had at the time. Despair, intense dislike, hate, sadness, hopelessness, hunger and many others. He'll feel every emotion I felt, including how I actually contemplated killing myself on several occasions. As for Petunia she's being forced to clean again and again with no relief no matter how hard she works whatever it is remains dirty, she's forced to work out in the garden in the hot sun with no protection for her skin, just like she forced me even if it was 90° or raining heavily and wasn't fit for man or beast to be outside. I could easily have caught my death when it was raining and I was out in it doing chores. My aunt never offered me water to slake my thirst when I was working in the heat and the sun was shining brightly down on me with no cloud cover. I was often dehydrated. She never offered me gloves to protect my hands when I was pulling weeds or just working in the hot garden. I was expected to work with hardly any food in my belly, as they fed me on table scraps, even though I cooked the meal. Both of them are also forced to live in the cupboard under the stairs just as I was. They are simply reaping what they sowed in life and I have to admit it's a fair punishment, even if I argued with granddad about it."

"They can never escape?" Hermione asked in a small voice.

"Sure they can, but I doubt they ever will," Harry said.

"So how can they escape their fate?" Neville asked while Hermione was absorbing the information she had been given. Harry could see that Neville was mostly asking for Hermione's benefit, as the girl appeared to shocked to ask the logical question.

"They must show genuine remorse for their actions and realize that what they did to a defenseless baby and then a small child was wrong. Only then will they be released from what grandfather did to them and depending on how much time has passed they'll either crumble to dust when they step outside into the normal world or they'll age according to how many years they've been trapped. It all depends on how long they've been in the pocket dimensions," Harry explained.

Neville had to admit that was more than fair. From what he knew of Harry's abuse his relatives had nearly killed him on several occasions and yet they hadn't felt guilty at all, but kept doing it perhaps, hoping that he would die so they wouldn't have to put up with his presence anymore. No, instead they had simply piled more abuse on. If it hadn't been for Harry's grandfather Neville knew that Harry likely would've killed himself in someway just to be released from his torment.

"What about Dudley?" Hermione asked in a small voice.

"No sídhe would ever harm a child, well, not unless they are dark sídhe," Harry explained and Hermione looked relieved. "Granddad, took him back to his realm and has started teaching him better manners and behavior. His parents did absolutely nothing to curb his bullying ways, where he would beat up the other kids and me as well. He's apparently now doing quite well at last report. He has lost considerable weight to where he is more healthy, because he's not so fat and he's also far politer according to granddad anyway. I haven't actually met the new improved version of the boy that beat me up at every opportunity. He'll always be the big boned because that's just how his body is made, but he was heading for a serious heart attack if he didn't start eating less, because it's not healthy to be that much overweight and he looked like a baby whale last time I saw him when he was six. He was extremely obese. Granddad has spent considerable time teaching him that bullying is wrong and why that is. His parents certainly didn't do a thing to correct his behavior and in fact, encouraged it, particularly his father. He was never encouraged to get good grades and I was forced to do worse then he was or I was beaten within an inch of my life. If granddad hadn't taken a hand Dudley was likely to end up in prison for assault, maybe even murder, at some point as his parents weren't always going to be around to get him off of charges, especially such serious ones. There's no way that Dudley's parents money would have protected their son from such serious charges anyway, because they are only a middle class family, not rich like some people. It was very likely that he'd beat up or even murder someone that wouldn't accept just letting the charges go and then Dudley would have likely ended up in prison for many years. He never would've been the same if he survived his stint."

"Are Muggle prisons worse then Azkaban?" asked Neville.

"In some ways yes, but in others no," Hermione said. "Prisoner aren't kept in cells all the time, as that is considered detrimental to their health. They are allowed out to participate in things like auto shop or computer classes. There are other classes as well that prepare the prisoners for being released so they can possibly become decent citizens on the outside. This doesn't include the violent prisoners of course and it all depends on what prison you get sent to."

"Yes, in some ways, our way of putting men and women in prison is more humane, but they're also very rough people in prison Neville, ones who would take advantage of someone like Dudley who is extremely spoiled and pampered. Dudley's really not as tough as he wants everybody to believe he is and the men and women in prison will eat him alive. Dudley is nowhere near tough enough to survive in a place like that or at least he wasn't, last I knew him and I can't see it being any different now, though it's possible with some experience he could become so.

"The only reason he hadn't been thrown in juvenile detention, also known as juvie, is because of his parents influence and also because he hasn't done anything near bad enough yet to end up there. He was also to young as juvie is for older teenagers like 15 through 18, though occasionally younger children end up there to depending on their crimes.

"It's easy to go from beating people up to using a knife on them and very easy to accelerate. Hell! You can just beat someone up and break their bones and put them in the hospital, which will only get you noticed by the authorities and that person will likely be put in juvie depending on age," Harry said.

"By not correcting his behavior his parents were making it more difficult for Dudley to do better later in his life. He was already well on the road to ending up behind bars for the rest of his life and while he might've corrected his behavior on his own once he was grown and gotten away from his father's influence in particular, I don't consider that too likely, as he was never taught that actions have consequences."

"This is in some ways very similar to the wizarding world," Neville said. "You attack the wrong person, one who has money and influence and you can end up in prison, even if the attack was minor or didn't succeed. A lot of purebloods tend to be very thin skinned and if you're not a pureblood yourself then you can be in trouble for saying the wrong thing."

"I understand why you couldn't just let the authorities handle it," Hermione admitted in a small voice. "You're right, technically, sídhe don't exist for most people. Even if you were to reveal yourself to someone high up in Scotland Yard they would likely think it was some kind of prank."

"Even if they did not there would be nothing they could really do. They could send someone to investigate, but it's doubtful that they wouldn't accept a bribe from Uncle Vernon. Even if they turned down the bribe and added that to the list of charges, I have no doubt that Dumbledore would show up and Obliviate their memories. He had some kind of monitoring spell on the Dursley home, which is why he showed up immediately as soon as I brought down the wards by simply saying that number 4 Privet Drive was not my home. Do you really think that if that wards had been stronger than they would've come down so easily? Granddad said the wards were so weak that a sneeze could have taken them out."

"Why were the wards so weak?" Hermione asked seeming to finally have absorbed Harry's revelations.

"Because they were based on blood, which is illegal in England by the way, so there is yet another law that Dumbledore has broken. Dumbledore believed that Petunia was related by blood and if she had been the wards would've been stronger and kept out people like Death Eaters or anyone that meant me harm.

"However, one of the reasons that the wards were so weak was because Petunia and I weren't actually related, not that Dumbledore knew that. Still, another reason they would've been weak, if they were true blood wards, was because I did not consider that home, as I was abused in every way. I'm actually surprised they didn't fall sooner, because I never considered Privet Drive my home or the Dursleys my family, instead it was my prison.

"I suppose I just had to verbalize it to make them crash so spectacularly. I'm sure that Dumbledore justified breaking the law to himself by saying it was for the greater good, as it is at the center of all his actions no matter how misguided or even evil. I hope you understand now Hermione why I don't trust Albus Dumbledore. Trust has to be earned and can be lost a lot faster than it is gained. You might still respect him, but I don't and in my case, I never have, as his actions are too derisive and have done me great harm, because he didn't look after the details. Granddad said he's a big picture person and he doesn't have time to look after every little detail and if that's the case, he never should have taken on the responsibility for me or he should have retired from at least one his positions so that he would have more time to make sure that his weapon was doing well."

The word weapon was said so bitterly and sarcastically that Neville and Hermione simply stared at their friend.

"You really think that Dumbledore considers you just a weapon?" Hermione asked in a very small voice.

"I don't really know," Harry shrugged frowning a little. "To tell you the truth I could care less. All I know is that, Albus Dumbledore dropped the ball where I was concerned, because he simply had too much on his plate. Granddad doesn't think he's evil just misguided, but my opinion is still out on that. Just so you know, I never would've agreed to come to Hogwarts if not for that prophecy I mentioned briefly on the train.

"I can't let a lot of innocent people die, just because Dumbledore is an idiot, who has to try to control every aspect of a situation. Granddad told me that one of Dumbledore's main problems is that he doesn't delegate, he tries to do everything himself. Details can get lost that way, like me being abused for example. He has too many responsibilities to pay attention to the little details."

"You're right," Hermione admitted looking sad, sad that Dumbledore had turned out to be so misguided. "No matter how brilliant Dumbledore is this only so many hours in the day and he has a lot of responsibilities. He didn't need to add one by becoming your guardian, especially since he didn't bother to fulfill the job requirements."

"It doesn't matter, he knows he can't control me," Harry said with a shrug. "He knows that granddad will be on him in a flash if he tries anything underhanded and is found out. Albus Dumbledore might be one of the oldest and supposedly wisest people around, but granddad is considerably older and far wiser. Not to mention he isn't a meddling old man that thinks he has to control everything. Granddad also has far more compassion for others then the headmaster. Dumbledore's broken the law multiple times over the decades, but nobody ever calls him on it because he's Albus Dumbledore.

"He actually tried to tell me and my granddad in Gringotts that if you kill someone you're going dark. Granddad laughed in his face and told him that sometimes killing was necessary depending on the situation and the only way someone would turn into a Dark Wizard, is if that person didn't feel guilty or show remorse. Dumbledore seems to really believe that if you kill for any reason, even self-defense that you're going to go dark and that he's the only one that can possibly do something like that and not turn evil. Granddad enjoyed shattering his delusions.

"Granddad asked him to his face what did he expect me to do to Voldemort, since there is a prophecy? Give him a hug? We could both see that the headmaster hadn't really thought about it, but he believed that it had something to do with love something that the Dark Lord knew nothing about. While I agree that Tom Riddle better known as Voldemort certainly didn't know anything about love, I don't know how that can possibly defeat the darkest wizard of our time."

"Dumbledore actually believes that love that will defeat You-know-Who?" Hermione asked her tone incredulous.

"He actually tried to sell granddad that idea, but granddad was having none of it. Granddad said he had taught me how to survive and while love was a powerful force it couldn't be used to defeat evil on it's own. He ordered the headmaster to stay out of my life and that of my friends and godfather's, because if he didn't he would regret it. What do you think would happen to Dumbledore if he meddled with my life, considering he already put me in a extremely abusive environment?"

"His punishment would be far worse then what he did to the Dursleys," Neville said and Harry nodded in respect at Neville's observation causing the other boy to blush.

"How can it be worse?" Hermione asked in a small voice.

"You have to remember that the headmaster is at least five times the age of Vernon and Petunia Dursley, maybe even more. Just think of how many mistakes he's made in his life, mistakes that he likely refused to admit were ones," Harry said.

"He was at least partially responsible for my parents deaths and since mother was granddad's daughter, well, you can guess that granddad is rather angry with Dumbledore about that, but he also realizes that it wasn't totally his fault. It is totally his fault though for sealing my parents legal will and placing me with the Dursleys where I was abused as I've mentioned before.

"Where I'm going with this is what happened with me cannot be the only mistakes he's made in his life and granddad could get them out of him if he really wanted to despite his Occlumency Shields. Right now, he's respecting the headmaster's privacy, but that could change in an instant.

"Let's just say that granddad could make the headmaster suffer for a very long time, but likely won't do that depending on if Dumbledore keeps his word and resists trying to manipulate me or those close to me. I truly believe that he wanted the perfect tool, one who was very malleable to his manipulations."

"You would have likely been easily manipulated, because you would've been just a child and as an adult and authority figure you would've trusted Dumbledore automatically, especially if he kept you in the dark about things that concerned you, since that way you would be easier to manipulate for someone with his experience," Hermione said quietly.

"And if he acted like some kind of grandfather to you, you would have trusted him. You would not have the knowledge or the tools to realize that he was manipulating you in the direction he wanted you to go," Neville said.

"Exactly, the point I was trying to make," Harry approved. "Now, I think we discussed this enough, I say, we go enjoy the rest of the day together before you have to go home for dinner."

"Can we meet your grandfather?" Hermione asked eagerly and Neville looked at her.

"Hermione, that might not be the best idea," Neville tried to caution his friend.

"Why not?" Hermione asked in confusion.

Neville tried to come up with words to explain, but Harry beat him to it.

"Because sídhe can be very dangerous. Not too children of course, but definitely to everyone else. Some of them are very touchy about the way you speak to them. I suppose it's kind of like the purebloods who are very touchy about their dignity. Now, while granddad is a very nice for a sídh, some of them are not so nice. You have to learn to be really polite and watch what you say for one thing, because as I said some of them are very, very touchy. Some of them can take revenge on you if you're abusing a child for example, whether that's your own or someone that's been placed in your home or that you've taken in. Children are important to our race, more important certainly then to most humans or magicals. There is quite a lot of child abuse that goes on from parents who resent their children for some reason and also situations like mine. There are certain rules that you have to follow and things you have to learn. Of course, in granddad's case, I'll introduce you and he'll be happy to meet friends of mine, as I've told him about you already."

"You shouldn't be so eager to rush into things that could possibly get you hurt or even killed, especially when you're older," Neville told Hermione, seriously. "There are certain rules in the magical world that you need to follow if you don't want to offend people, especially the purebloods and the same applies to the Seelie."

"Won't they teach these things at Hogwarts?" Hermione inquired seeming to be really thinking about what she had been told.

"No," Harry said shaking his head. "They might've taught classes on how not to offend people unnecessarily, especially the purebloods, decades ago, but if they did it's been so long ago that nobody remembers, except the portraits I suppose."

"Gran, mentioned something once about an etiquette class, but they removed it some years ago," Neville said thoughtfully.

"Why would they do something like that?" Hermione asked.

"Because I'm sure some of the old purebloods wanted it gone," Neville commented and Harry nodded in agreement with his friend's observation.

"I have to agree that some purebloods don't want Muggle-born integrating into their world smoothly," Harry agreed.

"Whyever not?" Hermione asked in astonishment.

"If you think about it you'll know the answer," Harry told his friend.

When Hermione didn't answer after several minutes Neville supplied the answer. "Some purebloods families like to look down on Muggle-born to feel superior, and if they display the correct manners some purebloods might not know of their lowly status. I'm afraid to say that Muggle-borns are not much higher up on the ladder then Squibs or creature like goblins."

Hermione looked rather upset at that and neither of her friends could blame her.

"I know it's upsetting, but you don't have to worry about that for awhile," Harry offered. "Let's go do something fun instead a worrying about it."

"I'm beginning to wonder if I'm ruining my whole future," Hermione said in a small voice. "I was so excited about the fact that I was a witch, but now, I'm wondering if I made a mistake by not staying in regular education. I mean I likely won't be able to get the job I want just because of bigotry, simply because I'm the first witch in my family. Even if I manage an entry level position at say the Ministry of Magic, I doubt I'll ever be promoted no matter how qualified or competent I am."

"Don't worry about it right now," Neville told his friend. "You're only 11."

"Yes, but if I want to attend university in a few years I need to take my A-levels."

"We'll help you if that's what you want," Harry promised. "But I plan on seeing a lot of changes at Hogwarts, as Dumbledore has had control of his little fiefdom long enough. I know certain people aren't going to like it, but that's just too bad. Things have been needing to be changed for decades now, the English wizarding world hasn't advanced like other countries and they're practically still stuck in the dark ages, something we pointed out to Dumbledore already. Ignore the Muggle world at your peril, as our two worlds are entwined one can't exist without the other one no matter what some magicals believe."

The three children decided to go do something fun for a few hours and not worry about the future.

~~~Dave and Harry~~~