Daddy Dearest

Chapter 4

Harry Potter moaned as he began to wake up to the feeling of pure pain. His entire body felt like it was on fire. He knew he already had several large bruises and a sprained wrist before this latest beating.

He opened his eyes and immediately winced and closed them as an intense pain shot through his head. 'Ok, not doing that again,' he thought. He began gingerly moving various parts of his body to find out the extent of the damage. After a few minutes, he discovered he had several new bruises and a broken right leg and a broken left arm and he thought he might have a few cracked ribs.

'I hope someone wonders about me soon and comes to check on me. I don't think I can hold out much longer. I'm sure that will make Voldemort happy. He'd be rid of me finally.'

Harry was jolted out of his thoughts by the sound of terrified shouting from the living room. His first thought was that death eaters had managed to get past the wards.

After a few seconds, it was quiet and Harry began to wonder what was going on. Then he heard the unmistakable sound of someone running up the stairs.

Harry didn't have to wonder long as someone made their way to his door and threw it open.

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Sirius and Remus Apparated to the corner of Privet Drive and walked down the sidewalk to the Dursley's home.

Before he could walk in Remus put a hand on his shoulder. "Remember they are Muggles Sirius. Don't go doing anything stupid."

"I know, Moony. I'll behave myself."

The two walked to the front door and rang the bell. They heard heavy footsteps and seconds later the door was thrown open to reveal a very angry Vernon Dursley.

Vernon Dursley gapped at the men standing on his doorstep. "What do you want?" he snarled.

Sirius smirked, "I came to see my godson, Harry."

Uncle Vernon opened his mouth then closed it almost at a loss for words. "Y...you're that escaped convict! Sirius Black!"

"Yes, that's right. And this is my friend Remus Lupin," he said pointing to the man at his right. "Now, can we come in and see my godson?"

Before Uncle Vernon could reply, Aunt Petunia came into view along with Dudley. "Vernon, who's at the door?" But she didn't give him a chance to answer as she caught view of their visitors. She screamed and ran out of the room leaving Dudley a chance to see the man as well.

Dudley gaped at his mum before turning and catching a look at their visitors. The first thing he noticed was that the men were wearing robes and carrying polished sticks. He knew right away that they were like his freaky cousin and grabbed his fat bottom with both hands and ran screaming from the room.

Uncle Vernon watched his family run from the room before turning angrily back to the unwelcome men. "He isn't here! Now leave my family alone!" he roared, his face turning an interesting shade of purple.

Sirius sighed, "Look Dursley I know he is here so why don't you move aside and let me see him."

Uncle Vernon, if possible, got even purpler in color. "I tell you he isn't here. Now leave before I call the police!"

"Look Muggle! I know Harry is here!" Sirius drew his wand and was about to curse the man when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and looked at Remus' concerned face. "What Remus? If I don't do something he won't let us see Harry! I know he's in there!"

"Sirius, let me do it. If I let you do it you'll get in trouble with the Ministry!" Remus took out his wand and, "Stupefy!" They both watched as the large man fell unconscious to the floor.

The two marauders walked through the door way and into the house. "Do you know where his room is, Moony?" Sirius asked quietly.

"No, Padfoot. But I would assume it's upstairs." Sirius nodded and the two made their way to the stairs to the second floor.

After opening the doors to the master bedroom and Dudley's room they went to the last door, figuring it must be Harry's.

Opening the door, they came face to face with the most horrible smell and a dark and dingy room. Both looked around horrified thinking it couldn't possibly be Harry's room but knowing it bad to be.

A soft childlike voice confirmed their suspicions. "W...who's there?"

Sirius gulped, he never heard Harry sound so helpless and small. "Harry? It's me Sirius. Remus is going to light his wand ok?"

"O...ok."

Remus lifted his wand, "Lumos." Both men gasped. Lying in a heap on the dirty floor was Harry. He had only been there a week but already he was almost nothing but skin and bones and one of his legs and arms were sticking out in odd positions.

Sirius quickly went to Harry's side and hugged him. "Oh, Harry. I knew something was wrong. We need to get you out of here. You need to see Madam Pomfrey immediately."

Remus nodded and went to Harry's other side. "Harry, I'll pack your stuff ok?" He stood up at Harry's nod and began packing his stuff. Once all the visible stuff (which wasn't much) was packed up, he turned toward the boy, who was still in his godfather's arms. "Is that everything Harry?"

Harry looked around the room and went to nod but stopped, "there is a loose floor board under the bed. I have stuff hidden under there."

Remus nodded and went to find the hiding place. A few minutes later he came back up laden down with a few spell books and a few presents he had gotten over the years from his friends. Remus packed them into the trunk and locked it. He quickly shrank the trunk and owl cage before putting them into his pocket.

He returned to Harry's side, "Ok, Harry, Sirius is going to have to pick you up. It will probably hurt some, you look like you have a few broken bones." Harry nodded and braced himself as his godfather lifted him into his arms as carefully as possible.

Once they were all standing, they made their way into the hall and down the stairs. Once they were out of the house, Sirius gripped Harry tighter and took off at a run to where the anti-apparition wards ended. Once there Sirius instructed Harry to hang on tight before Apparating to Hogsmeade.

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Once at Hogsmeade, Sirius handed Harry (despite the boy's mild protest) over to Remus before transforming into Padfoot. Once in his altered form he ran towards the castle, quickly followed by Remus and Harry.

Remus ran into the doors of Hogwarts with an unconscious Harry in his arms (he had passed out about half way to Hogwarts from the village) and Sirius was right behind him in his dog form. Neither man wanted to risk him getting recognized.

Remus looked down at Sirius; "I'm going to take Harry to the hospital wing...you go get Albus."

Sirius nodded and dashed through the corridors to the headmaster's office.

Remus watched him go for a second before turning in another direction and hurrying to the hospital wing. Once there he called for the nurse, "Madam Pomfrey! Come quick!"

Madam Pomfrey came out of her office in a rush. "What is it? What's wrong?" She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the unconscious boy in the man's arms.

"Is that Harry Potter?" When Remus nodded she gasped, "What happened to the poor boy?"

"His relatives," he said gravely.

Madam Pomfrey looked appalled, "How can someone do such a thing to their own blood?" Not really expecting an answer she waved to one of the beds, "Place him on a bed Remus. Let's see how badly he's hurt."

Remus laid Harry on one of the beds and moved over to the side to give the nurse room to work.

A few minutes later Sirius (still in dog form) and Dumbledore came running into the room.

After catching his breath Dumbledore looked over at Madam Pomfrey with concern, "How bad is it, Poppy?"

Madam Pomfrey looked over her patient's body to the headmaster, but before she could respond, she noticed the big black dog, who was sitting over to the side.

"What is that filthy mutt doing here? Get him out! I run a hospital not a kennel!" she shrieked.

Sirius growled lightly while Dumbledore just smile reassuringly, "It's ok, Poppy. He is a well-behaved dog. He won't do any damage."

Madam Pomfrey huffed but didn't say anything further and went back to her patient.

Dumbledore scratched the dog on the head as it looked a little offended at the 'mutt' remark. "So, Poppy, how is Harry?"

Madam Pomfrey sighed, "It is pretty bad. He has a broken leg and arm, many bruises and lacerations over most of his body and several cracked ribs. Even after healing the leg and arm completely he will still be very uncomfortable for a while. I was only able to heal his ribs partially and his bruises and lacerations will have to heal on their own. I can get rid of the scars later."

She was startled by the soft growling sound coming from the dog, but she noticed it looked more upset than angry. "If I didn't know better I would say that dog understood everything I just said."

Remus and Dumbledore shared a secret smile at that. Madam Pomfrey looked curiously once more at the dog before saying she needed to go see Professor Snape about a potion that would make Harry more comfortable once he woke.

Dumbledore watched the nurse leave before nodding to Sirius. Sirius concentrated for a second before there was a pop sound and Sirius appeared. He growled in the same way as 'Padfoot', "I can't believe those Dursleys! I was so close to turning them all into slugs!" But I knew I needed to get Harry here."

Dumbledore looked just as angry as Sirius, "I would be lying if I told you I was glad you didn't, but it's good you got him here so quickly. We can think of an appropriate punishment later."

Remus looked over at the Headmaster in shock before asking a question that had been on his mind since they had come into the room, "Where is James, Albus?"

Dumbledore and Sirius looked at each other before he answered, "He is still in my office with Severus. He didn't want to come and see Harry."

Remus sighed, "I just don't understand it, it's like he's James but he isn't. I know it's been a while since we've seen him but that isn't the James we knew. Our James would never believe Voldemort over us."

Sirius nodded, "But it is James, he's proven that. I just don't get it."

Dumbledore sighed, "I believe that Voldemort did something to him that Severus didn't catch. It's the only logical thing. We just have to figure out what."

Before either of the Marauders could respond, they heard a soft moaning sound coming from the bed.

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Harry felt slightly lightheaded when his senses started to kick in as he awoke. He tried to move a little to get more comfortable when he felt a stabbing pain from his ribs and a burning sensation from his back and chest where most of the lacerations were.

Harry groaned in reply to the pain and caused the voices he had been hearing stop abruptly.

Suddenly from some where over his head he heard a voice he didn't think he would hear again.

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Sirius rushed over to Harry's side, "Harry? Are you awake?"

"Siri?" came Harry's response. "Is that you?" he asked as he tried to move his head in the direction of his godfather's voice.

"Yes, Harry it's me. Don't move ok? Madam Pomfrey is getting you something to make you more comfortable. She was able to heal most of your injuries, but the rest will have to heal on their own."

Harry nodded gently and tried to settle back into the bed. "What happened anyway? The only thing I remember is you and Remus coming to get me."

"Well after we Apparated you passed out as we were coming here. You've been out an hour or two."

Before Harry could say anything, Madam Pomfrey came back in with the potion for Harry looking slightly dazed. "I s...s...saw J..."

"Madam Pomfrey wait!" Severus Snape interrupted as he ran into the hospital wing. "Don't say anything yet."

Madam Pomfrey looked at Professor Snape confused, "But they should be told! It could be a Death Eater in disguise!"

"That's no Death Eater, Madam Pomfrey. He's the real thing. And Professor Dumbledore already knows."

Harry raised himself on his elbows and looked at them confused, "What are you talking about Professor? Who's here?"

Madam Pomfrey opened her mouth to answer when she was cut off by Sirius. "No one you know Harry. Don't worry about it."

Harry nodded and laid back in bed.

Dumbledore sighed with relieve and herded everyone out the door, "Come on everybody let's let Harry rest."

Once out in the hall, Madam Pomfrey rounded on Dumbledore. "Headmaster, you should tell that boy that his father is alive!"

"Now, now Poppy. It is not the time for him to know. Not yet. When he is stronger maybe."

Before she could say anything further on the matter, she was interrupted by the arrival of the subject matter.

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James Potter sat in Dumbledore's office alone. He wasn't sure what was going on any more. All he knew was that everything and everyone he knew was completely different from what he last remembered. 'Then again, the last thing you remember happened nearly fourteen years ago,' he thought to himself. 'Everyone has a different take on that night and the only thing that is the same is that Lily is dead and Harry is alive. I wish I knew who is telling the truth.'

You can trust the Dark Lord, James. He'd never lie to you.

'Oh yeah, the Dark Lord. Yeah right, he's the one that caused this to happen in the first place!'

Yes but he has never lied to you. Now has he?

'Well, no. But neither has Albus or Sirius.' He countered to the voice in his head.

Are you sure about that James?

'Well, not exactly. Merlin! Listen to me! Having an argument with myself! No wonder I can't trust anyone else! I can't even trust myself when I'm hearing voices in my head!'

James leaned back in his chair and thought about that night. He tried to remember everything about that night but all that came up was what happened before Voldemort came.

James Potter watched as his wife Lily played on the rug in front of the fire with their young son, Harry. He honestly didn't think he could possibly love them more then he did right at that moment.

He watched as Lily picked Harry up and turned him so he could see his father. "Harry? Look there's Daddy."

James beamed when Harry reached his small arms out to him, "Daddy."

James moved down to the floor and took his son into his arms and smiled as the small boy snuggled up to him and yawned. "Looks like someone's tired." He turned to Lily, "want me to put him to bed?"

"You can James. I'll put the fire out and then follow you up."

"Ok," he leaned down and kissed his wife on the nose and stood up. He had made it halfway up the steps when he felt a sudden chill go up his spine. Something was wrong, he could feel it. Then there was the burst of sudden magical energy as the door was blown open.

'I remember handing Harry to Lily and telling her to run, then the echo of Voldemort's curse then nothing until I woke up.'

Touching story James but that doesn't answer my question. Who can you really trust?

'I don't know. But I know what can help me answer that. I need to see Harry. See for myself what he's really like.'

James stood up and left the office making his way to the hospital wing. When he got there, he was greeted by everyone. Madam Pomfrey fainted practically as soon as she saw James for the second time that day.

"James, what are you doing down here?" Dumbledore asked.

James turned toward Dumbledore, "I wanted to see Harry."

Sirius turned cold eyes toward the man he used to call his best friend, "Why should we let you see him? All you're going to do is tear him apart. He's had enough horrible things happen in his life, he doesn't need this added to it." Shaking his head he muttered, "No, as his godfather I'm not letting you go in there."

James starred shocked at the other man then turned just as cold, "And as his father I'm telling you to let me see him." He walked past him and into the room. He stopped about half way into the room when he caught sight of the beaten boy in the bed. Angry red cuts across one pale cheek and a large black and blue bruise on the other.

"Oh Merlin, what happened to him?" he muttered to himself. Suddenly, he felt a presence behind him and he turned to see Remus standing there.

"You remember Lily's sister Petunia right?"

James nodded still staring at his son's face. "What does she have to do with this?"

"Well, when everyone thought you were dead, Harry was sent to live with her and her husband, Vernon. As far as I know, they never hurt him physically until this summer. Sirius and I found him worse then this a few hours ago."

James stood there shocked; "they did this to him?"

Remus nodded, "They were lucky Sirius didn't kill them right then and there for hurting his godson. He's furiously protective of the boy, as you saw out there."

James sniffed in response. Then he sighed and rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hands. "I don't know what to think any more, Remus. It's all so confusing, I thought that seeing Harry would help but..."

Remus put a hand on his friend's shoulder, "I know it has to be confusing for you James but you got to know that you can trust us to tell you the truth."

James was about to nod but his attention was brought back to his son as the boy began to stir.