1

It was a weird month; even given he was a freak. The first week of this month, he had been chased by Dudley and his pack. He was so scared. He suddenly appeared on the roof of the school with a crack of sound, getting him away from them. He was safe from them. That was a good day until he got home.

Once he got home; Vernon started in on him with a belt. Then before Harry had passed out, he heard two loud cracks. The last thing he saw before the blackness claimed him; was an old man clad in silly garish robes with a beard and a blonde lady also in robes that appear out of nowhere in the room. He finally woke up in his cupboard on the following Monday. He was still in pain; however, he could move and go to school.

That week continued with strangeness. A girl in his class slipped him a note with his missing assignments. The note was simple, she wanted him to meet her in the library. Harry was leery, but not seeing any of Dudley's gang around he decided to meet the girl there. Once inside, he was happy. It was not an ambush.

The girl was inside. She introduced herself, her name was Dana Jones. She was nice but curious. She asked some questions from a list she had. He asked why she was asking. She said it was for her aunt. Her aunt might have been a friend of his parents.

That was strange. The Dursleys said his parents were friendless. Some of the questions were also strange. The questions were asking about everything strange that had happened to him; like the time at the zoo with the snake. She didn't say he was lying or exaggerating any of it. She took the weirdness that had happened around him as something normal. This shocked Harry.

Twice freakishness happened around her. Instead of getting mad like his uncle when strangeness happened; she acted like it was normal. Yet to Harry; Dana was normal; not a freak like him.

The only issue Harry had with Dana; in class with Dudley; she had to ignore him for her protection.

Harry's interaction with Dana became a common thing. Every few days she would slip him a note and then meet with him in the library. She would again; ask so more questions. Harry kept coming because someone was showing him positive attention. She also helped him catch up on his schoolwork. She seemed to understand, he wanted to learn but he did not want to get high marks. He admitted to her, if he scored higher than Dudley; he received a whipping.

Today was the strangest day Harry had so far this school term. It was Halloween. The day, that according to the Dursleys, his parents had got drunk and died in a car crash. That day he got a whipping just for being a burden to his aunt and uncle. A day no freakishness was tolerated; such freakishness on this day would earn him additional starvation and beatings. A reminder, Vernon said he would beat the freakishness out of him.

So, Harry expected the worst today. Fate; it seemed; felt the same. It started with Dudley. Dudley was sent to school in a costume and he was not. The other students teased him mercilessly.

The teachers even seemed to get in on the harassment. His core room teacher had never forgiven him for not knowing his name on the first day of school. How was he to know that boy and freak were not his name when that is all his uncle ever called him?

Then Dana slipped him another note. Instead of meeting at lunch, she requested to meet right after school. Harry mentally shrugged. It may be a way to avoid Dudley and get home safely. Harry hoped it wouldn't take long. He would be beaten for being late too.

When he entered the library, he instantly noticed something was off. Instead of other kids and the librarian at least, there were only three other people in the room. Dana, and two older ladies that looked like Dana. Harry turned to flee but somehow the door behind him was locked.

When he turned back to the ladies, he noticed one of the older ladies put away a stick into a holster at her side.

"Please don't be afraid Harry. We are here to help you." The older of the two ladies spoke. Her eyes held the same hunted look he had in his own eyes. This made him relax.

"Come over here and sit down, please," said the younger one.

Harry did as he was asked. Part of him was still worried this was a trap but, they still hadn't hit him after all. Dana sat next to him; giving him moral support.

"Dana, could you do introductions?" The younger lady said.

"Yes, Mom," Dana replied. Harry noticed that Dana looked a bit worried. "Harry Potter, this is my mom, Michelle Jones." She was the younger of the two ladies.

"This is my aunt, Aelia Rookwood Nee Jones," Dana said pointing to the older of the two.

"Harry, do you feel safe where you live?" Michelle asked. She knew they didn't have much time and while it might scare him a bit, she felt the boy would appreciate her bluntness.

Harry blushed, and only shook his head. He was confused by where this was going. After all the questions Dana had asked; none of them added up with what he had just been asked. He would have fled but something held him to his seat.

"Do you consider the people you live with, your family?"

Again, Harry shook his head. This time with exaggeration. He heard from other students; none of them were being treated as he was. If the other students had families; he did not.

"Would you like to leave them?" Aelia asked.

Harry was in shock. This was another question he did not expect. Would someone want him? He was a freak after all. What was she offering? Did she mean it? But where would he go? No one would want a freak, like him.

Harry decided he was thinking wrong. Besides… "How?" he gasped, not realizing he had been nodding the whole time.

"The people you live with are your actual mother's sister, her husband, and your cousin. You have a birth certificate. The government has your parents' death certificates. This school has your school records. That is, it. No adoption papers. No paperwork that allows the Dursleys to be your guardians. You are a paperwork, ghost." Aelia stated. "As another point, there was no will executed saying you should be with them with the death of your parents. Which is strange; I know they had a will. We all did back then." Her last part earned her a frown from her sister. She knew they did not have time for history today.

"What is a will? Would a drunk and a whore even have one of those?" Harry asked a bit nervously.

The two older women looked at him with shock. Finally, Aelia took a long breath. She was visibly angry and that scared him. "Harry, your parents were not drunks, nor was your mother a..." She faltered. Harry saw that both ladies were now blushing. He had to wonder, was a whore that bad of a thing?

"Is that what your aunt and uncle told you about your parents?" Michelle asked in horror. Harry nodded.

"Harry, they lied. James and Lilly were none of those things." Michelle continued.

"Harry, how did your relatives explain how they came to raise you?" Aelia asked. Her sister was right it seemed. There was something rotten in Denmark.

Harry looked sad. "The Dursleys said my parents were drunk and died in a car crash. That same crash that gave me the scar on my forehead."

"Again, lies. Now is not the time or place to tell you what happened." Michelle said firmly. "The good news, under British law, you have no guardian right now. Well, no muggle guardian and we could not find who your magical guardian is. If you want, I could become your muggle guardian."

"Magical guardian? Muggle guardian? What does that mean?" Harry gasped. This sounded like the freakishness his uncle was afraid of. Something he should know about as a freak; but did not.

"My mom can take you away from the Dursleys and give you a proper home. "Dana chipped in. "You could become my brother."

"Only if you want to Harry." Michelle frowned at her daughter. She knew her daughter wanted a sibling. She also wanted friends she didn't have to hold a major secret from.

"We cannot explain a lot unless you want to come with us. If you do, we promise to explain everything." Aelia added.

"Will I still have to come to school here where I will be beaten up by Dudley?" Harry asked. He realized that just being free of Vernon and Petunia would not end all his abuse.

"No, because of reasons I can only explain if you say yes. We will take you and Dana out of this school. We will provide private tutors so you will not miss your education." Michelle answered.

She was already going to withdraw her daughter from this school. Dudley and his gang had harassed her daughter. She feared the school would let that bully get away with anything; even rape. Something she feared as the children got older.

Now, if Harry said yes, he would be an added complication. Just having her child change to another school would not be enough. They would have to do so much more. More than even leaving the school and the town. But to keep her daughter safe, and Harry if he was willing; she would do it.

"Will you beat me if I don't do worse than Dana?" Again, Harry asked.

Both ladies frowned. What sort of environment was this child in? "Not. We will be disappointed if you don't do your best. But whether you do better than Dana, or not. There will be no punishment." Aelia stated. "We just want you to learn what you need to know."

"No punishment? Will I have to do…?" Harry trailed off at the growing anger the three showed.

"The only things you have to do is clean your room, make your bed, and do the best in your education. Most important, learn to have fun. We have" Michelle suddenly shut up. Trying not to scare Harry or say things she shouldn't, yet.

Just by looking at this underfed, poorly clothed boy; her heart broke. It was like when she helped her sister all over again.

"You will never have to live with your relatives again, I promise. No beatings, no belt. That is if you say, yes." Aelia said with a smile. This child had so much in common with her. If he said yes, she could pay back Merlin for her saving.

Harry was leery. He wasn't sure if this was a trap or not. But having a chance to not face Vernon ever again, he had no real choice. "Okay."

Dana ran forward engulfing Harry in a big hug.

"Harry, the next time you see Dana in a blue dress, it will alert you we will have the legal right to take you away from the Dursleys, permanently. The next school day after that, please bring everything you care about from your aunt's home to school. That day you will be leaving school with us. You will not return to your relative's house ever again after that. More importantly, you will have to say nothing about this to anyone, especially your relatives. Okay?" Aelia inquired.

Harry finally smiled. "Yes, I will do as you say. Though the only thing I have is my clothes. The Dursley do not allow me to have anything. So I don't have anything I care about."

"Don't worry about your clothes. I will get you new clothes. Not whatever you are being made to wear." Michelle stated.

"If that is the case when you see Dana in her blue dress. After school ends, go to the school's office. We will meet you there. We will get both of your records and leave this place." Aelia said with a firm tone. She was angry. Harry's situation was much worse than she thought. He needed a loving family. She would give him that.

Harry had to keep the excitement and fear out of his expression when he got home. Even the beating he got for it being Halloween was not as bad as normal to him. Would the ladies take him from this place? Was this some form of torture, giving him hope and then taking it away? Since he was a freak, he decided to assume it was. So, he gave up hope and continued as "normal" for being a freak. There was no reason for a freak like him to have hope.

A week later he saw Dana in a blue dress. She seemed to be bouncing in her seat. Harry assumed the end of the day would be the gotcha moment if he went to the office.

Then Dudley and his gang sent him to the nurse's office during lunch. Dudley had hurt him badly. He was afraid Vernon was called. That would mean a beating that night.

Harry sighed, if he was going to be tormented at the end of the day, why had Dudley hurt him before that? Despite the hurt, Harry started to feel better, maybe this was not a trick?

"I am sorry you have to come to move in with me, Mich," Aelia said.

"It was bound to happen. The circus does not want single mothers in the field. I was trying to be stubborn." Michelle responded. "Besides, now I get to live in a magical home with house elves."

"That you do. Plus, I think Dana will enjoy this more than you. She gets her suite. So, when she wants to be moody, she can avoid you." Aelia teased.

"She will avoid all of us is more likely. I remember how moody you got as a teen." Michelle teased back.

"Lady Aelia, everything Lady Michelle told us to move has been moved. "A house elf said when popping next to the ladies.

"You are sure you are all right in staying in a hotel tonight?" Aelia asked.

"I have told you, yes three times. Tomorrow after we are done getting ready, I will summon Keepsy to take our baggage to your house. Then I will drop off Dana at school. Then a long drive to West Wickham to sell my car. Taxi, train, and or tube to the courthouse. All are planned and set. Will you light it up already?" Michelle said with a huff.

"Incendio," Aelia responded. "How will you explain to the police why you weren't in your house and have luggage?"

"Simple, Dana, and I were planning on doing a shopping trip to Harrods; tomorrow. We already had room reservations at the Laslett. I will be notified by the police that I have to come in for questioning tomorrow so they will cancel the reservation for me." Michelle said with a grin.

"Century house will provide me with an alibi thanks to you apparating me there now. They will also cancel the police inquiry. Plus, help Harry, Dana, and I disappear." Michelle continued.

"All right, grab my hand," Aelia said with a smirk.

For Michelle, it had been a good day. The circus was helping her with the police. She knew that once the arson investigator found no legitimate cause for the fire; they would ensure her whole family disappeared. She was happy that the place burned to the ground before the first responders got there. No other persons were hurt and the fire had not spread.

The response from her former boss caused a change to the plan. Deciding to make sure they did not bump into the Dursleys or the local constabulary, the Rookwood ladies decided to get the children early, right after lunch.

The next day, right as it opened, Michelle stood in front of a magistrate of a secret court. A favor called in from her old work had set this up for her. If the circus only knew who they were helping and the ramifications of this act; they would have thrown her into Holloway. Even the circus knew that magic existed; and what is deemed a national treasure. Harry, as such, should have been left alone.

The court did not know that, however. So, they proceeded rather rapidly like any other abuse case.

Even if Harry wasn't special, and this wasn't a secret court, Michelle realized she would still have gotten guardianship of Harry. The magistrate was appalled that the Dursleys had the boy living with them for years and had not tried to get legal custody. A picture of the boy with bruises further incensed the judge. When the magistrate asked why child services didn't have a file, the person from that agency could not explain it. Michelle chuckled at that. Her sister had said magic was involved after all.

With that done, the magistrate approved of the immediate adoption of the boy. Custody is to become effective at noon that day. He then agreed with Michelle's request to seal the ruling. Harry was now free and no one would know. Michelle was happy.

Once out of the courtroom, she used a pay phone. She dialed one number. Her sister answered. "It is done," Michelle said. From what her sister had hinted at; operation security was needed for what; in essence was a parent picking her child up; at the child's school. She then took a cab to the train station.

It was going to be a long day. No magic traces could be left if possible. That means muggle methods. She knew that this was just the first and easiest part of the escape for the boy.

Michelle met up with her sister at the Waterloo station. She noticed that her sister had a second wand in her normal holster; not her regular wand.

"Yes, this wand will dissolve tonight. But it will mask my signature today." Aelia responded to the unspoken question. "Until I find out who his magical guardian is; I felt paranoia is warranted."

"What is the worst case?" Michelle asked. She had no problem with the paranoia. After all; sometimes the worst things do happen.

"Worst, hmm, that the ministry gave guardianship over to a death eater. They plan on turning the boy over to their lord when he returns. That would explain the abusive relatives. They probably encouraged it." Aelia said.

"Well, we just won't let that happen," Michelle promised. Thinking she might have to kill the magical guardian; or in the future, Harry might have to. Either would be okay. A magical guardian that left a child in an abusive environment deserved to die, in a horrible and karma-paying manner.

They finally got to the station closest to the school. It was a quick taxi ride to the school. The two ladies were nervous. They were concerned that the magical guardian would show up.

Aelia got out of the cab, and using her body as a shield, she drew the wand. After a few quick casts; she was relieved. There were only a few charms and wards at the school. Nothing to stop what they were going to do.

She was glad she had agreed with muggle methods of travel. The school had wards that prevented it. There was an exception for the accidental magic unit. Any portkeys or apparition used within a kilometer of the school would cause an alert and your image would be sent to an unknown entity. The last ward was so interesting she copied it to parchment. If anyone came within three kilometers of the school that had a modified protean charm; it would send an alert.

Then there were a lot of charms. A charm to send an alert if a keyed individual's heart stopped or left the ground in an ambulance. The same alert if police or social services arrived at the school. Then she identified the last one. It was far more evil than she could imagine. The charm made the staff ambivalent if the keyed individual was being hurt, bullied, or abused by fellow students. So, it was safe to continue.

Aelia first went to the office. The office staff summoned her niece. She quickly imperioused the staff to get Dana's and Harry's documents. Then she obliviated them. When her niece arrived, Dana told her that Harry was in the nurse's office. Dudley had hurt the kid again; and badly. That worried her. She told Dana to stay right outside the door as she walked out the gates to where her sister and the cab were waiting.

"There is a problem, I need you to come with me," Aelia said. "Our plan won't work."

"Driver, why don't you go down to the Guildford Aggie Café and have some tea? You can keep the meter running," she said holding out a ten-pound note for the driver. When he touched the note, she said "Stupidfy; obliviate."

She then reached in and shut off the meter.

"Harry is hurt, badly. He is in the nurse's office. We must hurry." Aelia said showing the worry on her face. Dana had been worried. How bad a shape was Harry in? It was too bad that she could not kill his cousin today.

Both of the ladies walked by the office, having Dana join them. They were glad they came early. Things were not going as planned. They just had to be gone before the school day ended.

At the nurse's office, the ladies were horrified by the sight of Harry. Dudley had done a number on the boy. They hoped the boy could walk. Aelia knew she couldn't risk apparation. A quick confundo and the nurse was pliant. Michelle asked for and received the children's medical records. She was horrified at the size of Harry's since he was only at the school for two years.

Michelle was still in shock when her sister started a quick whispered conference. They decided to still proceed with the plan. Aelia said she could fix Harry's clothes temporarily with magic while in the cab. They would get Harry medical help once away from this place.

"Harry, are you able to walk?" Michelle asked.

Harry nodded. Once he saw the two ladies and Dana, his happiness overrode his pain. He internally scoffed at the question. To never see the Dursleys, he would crawl a kilometer over broken glass and still not care. Though he was a bit out of it with pain and shock; they came for him. They kept their word to a freak.

Since the ladies were horrified at what Harry looked like. "Nurse, why hasn't Harry been sent to the hospital, why isn't child services here?" Michelle almost said with a growl.

"An old man came in here after Harry's first visit. He told us that we need not worry when Harry is hurt. He also got the child services officer to leave." The nurse said almost with a frown. "Every time this happens, when Harry comes back to school, he is well enough, we assume he goes to a hospital. Today, we called his uncle since the injuries were just shy of needing an ambulance. The boy's uncle will be picking the boy up after school."

"You said an old man, was he dressed in weird robes? Blue eyes that have twinkling light around them. Acts like a disappointed grandfather? Long beard and hair?"

"Yes, that describes him." The nurse said.

"Aelia?" Michelle asked. That description was too specific. Her sister knew the wizard. This could not be good.

"Later, we need to get out of here, snap to it."

He then saw Aelia bring the short stick of wood out of a holster again and said obliviate and the nurse's eyes went glassy.

Harry had to lean on the girls to get to the cab. Aelia drew out her wand, waved it, and said renovate; the cab driver woke up and apologized for taking a quick nap and they were soon back to the London Road train station. They had to help Harry get on the train.

The train ride to London was tense. Both older ladies were on edge as they got closer to London. The children said nothing the whole time; affected by this tension. Once they got into London, they took another cab to Kings Cross. Both ladies were tense there.

Both Dana and Harry saw how worried the ladies were while walking through the station. Both wondered why but not asking. Once on that train north, the tension left everyone.

Harry was at the end of his rope; once the tension left; so, did his consciousness. All three of the ladies looked at the boy with worry.

"I am sorry, Mich, but once Harry gets into the house, and I will have to take him to Saint Mungo's. I know it is a risk, but with how badly he is hurt, I have no choice." Aelia said looking at Harry.

"I Understand, A, just be safe," Michelle said. "Dana, your new brother will be fine, but he will have to spend some time with the magicals at their hospital. Sorry, we will not be able to visit."

Her daughter replied sadly. "As long as they make him better. I want to play with my new brother." She had seen Harry like this before. She was glad this would be the last time.

Michelle looked fondly at her daughter. "You now have a friend you don't have to keep secrets from. I kept my promise."

Aelia woke Harry so they could leave the train. She escorted all of them to an out-of-the-way area of the Menston station.

The three girls grabbed each other's hands and then touch Harry. Harry then felt like he was being forced through a very tight rubber tube. It made him hurt worse.

The next thing he knew, he was on a road in front of a forest. He was glad that the adults were still holding him up. He did notice that everyone with him was relaxed and smiling. Maybe he was truly and finally away from the Dursleys.

"Harry, may I take a drop of your blood?" Aelia asked.

Harry nodded; he just gave her one of the bandages that dripped with his blood. Aelia took the bandage and smeared the blood on a knife. She then walked into the forest and just vanished. A few minutes later she returned. She handed Harry a slip of paper. He read it.

Rookwood Manor, 1337 York Gate, Otley

After he read it, a path into the forest appeared. A few minutes later, he saw a large house.

"Welcome home, Harry. All three ladies said.

Harry was stunned by his suite. It had the main room with a fireplace, desk, and couch. The other rooms included a large bedroom, walk-in closet, and large bath complete with a large shower and tub. It was larger than the top floor of the Dursleys' house. This couldn't be right. He was a freak; he didn't deserve this. Then Michelle came into the room. She affirmed that this was his. Her sister's suite was right next door and Michelle and Aelia's were at the end of the hall on either end. As she promised, this was now his home.

"Harry, I want to take you to the hospital, they will treat you so you will no longer be in pain. But it is a special hospital." Aelia asked as Harry almost fell in pain walking around his room.

After all the weirdness so far, Harry was okay with seeing more of the strangeness. Plus, the promise of being pain-free created more hope; something he never had before today.

"Please," Harry responded.

Minutes later Harry and Aelia appeared at a closed clothing store in downtown London. The place looked deserted. He noticed that people seem to be ignoring them.

"Muggle notice me not ward," Aelia explained. Harry noticed that the explanation didn't explain anything.

"Harry, this may seem strange, but please trust me. Tonight, after dinner I will explain everything."

"Okay, will I get dinner?" Harry enquired. He knew he was pushing his luck, but Michelle and Aelia had come for him.

"Of course. You will have a better life now." She confirmed. "Now wear this hat so your scar is hidden and come on." The door opened to her stick, inside was what looked like an ancient hospital, complete with fireplaces.

Edith Cavell, the medi-witch looking Harry over had gone white with rage just at his sight.

Summoning a Dicta-Quill and pad from her desk, she activated the writing tool. Edith pulled out her wand and started dictating diagnostic notes. She knew from how the child appeared; this would be bad.

She would do her duty and then ask questions. She didn't care that the witch with the child had an unspeakable badge. This was going to be complicated, but after she healed the child; she would worry about the rest, then.

"Starting diagnostics on the early teenage male of unknown identity. Beginning with physical injuries: his chest has numerous lacerations and contusions. I note faded lacerations, punctures, and contusions all over his body leaving extensive scarring," she peered closer before setting her jaw and continuing.

"Why do you say unknown identity?" Aelia asked.

"He has never been here before; that is, we have not ever seen his magical signature at this hospital, ever," Edith said. She wondered what was going on.

"Our procedure, since this is the first time, we have seen his magical signature, the administration will assign him a number. I will provide it to you so you can complete all the parchments. Then we attach his name to his Saint Mungo's number." Edith finished.

"He has never been here?" Aelia demanded.

"Never, now if you don't mind…" Edith continued "Poorly set and healed breaks in many of the bones." Aelia noticed that the medi-witch hid her anger from Harry. She was glad since it would only scare the boy.

Cavell growled, anger rising with each new notation, "Skin laceration scars continue up both legs, with some deep-tissue wounds. Poorly healed left femur." She noted, pausing at the patient's lower abdomen. At that point, she hit the rune on her badge summoning additional staff.

"Trauma to both hands with multiple broken phalanges in each. He was in a fight today; looks like. Damn, similar poorly-set break injuries in the left ulna and right radius. Several puncture wounds in the right forearm. Old breaks to scapulae and clavicles on both sides." Edith rarely saw adults this damaged. What had happened to this boy? Medi-witch Edith slid over a new sheet of parchment under the quill as it filled the first.

Once Edith received word that the Dicta-Quill was ready to go once more, she carried on, ignoring the unspeakable in the room. "Three cracked ribs on the left side and four on the right. It's damned lucky his chest hasn't failed. He shows signs of multiple repairs to everything from his organs to his bones. Dangerous, near-starvation malnutrition. No immunizations."

"Now for magical injuries: I detect an uncommonly strong magical binding of his core; it is so bad that if not removed, the patient will have problems at Hogwarts. Tracers that appear to be linked to warding spells of some kind." She trailed off, waving her wand over the patient's forehead,

"Sweet Merlin," whispered Edith.

"What? What is it?" Harry asked, finally responding due to how surprised the lady had acted.

She shook her head, "Dark magic, and a lot of it, concentrated in the patient's forehead. It appears to be stable, so I want the physical injuries treated first." She tapped a rune on her staff badge, summoning the Unspeakable stationed at Saint Mungo's trained in treating dark magic.

"We can't fix all his older, poorly-healed broken bones today. We would need to hospitalize him. We will have to vanish and re-grow the old injuries. That will be a long process with how many of them there are," only her experience and professionalism helped her contain her rage at the horrors visited on a child. "And that is just his bones. To heal the malnutrition, and other issues will take a lot of time, he needs to stay here until it is all fixed." She looked over at Aelia with rage. "He has been healed by magic but not fully in the past, did you do that? Hurt him then heal him?"

Aelia quickly spoke up. "No, never, I am not a monster. Nor am I a bent unspeakable. My squib sister just obtained muggle guardianship of this minor today. Today was the first day I ever cast anything on him. The first day I even laid eyes on him. When I realized he was a wizard I brought him straight here for help."

The Medi-witch gave her a hard look. "Would you be willing to give an oath to that and that you did not cause any of this damage?"

Aelia quickly complied. She made the oath to skip the time from the school to when she brought him here. That settled; Edith did not notice the precise wording of the oath.

Aelia spoke up. "His situation is a cluster. As I said, his new muggle guardian is my sister. She is a squib. She has full legal authority that position holds over the muggle world."

Aelia continued, "He was living with a muggle family before today. We suspect that his magical guardian placed him with that family and that the muggles did this to him. With that, he cannot stay here under his real name for his protection. I fear, his magical guardian may find him and return him to that family. I think that if he returns to the muggles that did this to him, they will do worse."

Edith thought a few minutes then said. "We will admit him as a Merlin Doe. If he agrees of course."

"Har... I mean Merlin Doe, do you mind staying here to be healed? You will be safe. And I will come back tonight and have that chat." Aelia asked. "And going by Merlin not … for a while."

"They will make it so I no longer hurt?" Harry asked. Harry liked not being able to be found by Vernon, getting pain-free was just a bonus.

"It may take some time, Merlin. I promise when you leave here, all the pain will be gone and you will be in much greater health." The Medi-witch promised. She would see to it personally; no child should be hurt like this.

The boy shyly nodded. "I kind of like Merlin."

"Okay, I will see you soon, Mister Doe," Aelia said as she kissed Harry on the forehead as she got up to leave his room. Before she could get to the door, an old man entered the room. Harry noticed the old man wearing a grey robe that looked like a uniform. They looked identical to what his new aunt wore.

"What are you doing here, Aelia?" Algernon Croaker asked. He only glanced at the boy. He wondered why she was with him and who the boy was.

"I might ask the same of you, boss. As for this, my squib sister just adopted this muggle child. Turns out, he is a wizard. There are a lot of questions in his case. His magical guardian left him with a muggle family that tortured him. And worse, it looks like he has had magical healing just to keep him alive. Only to keep him alive, not enough to fully heal him."

"None of the healing was at Hogwarts or Saint Mungo's. This is the first time he is being completely healed. The prior healing was so lacking that it left him with several physical and magical issues." Handing him a copy of the Medi-witch's report.

Algernon looked at the parchment. After he read all of it, he raised his eyebrow. "We need to talk, now, in the office."

Before they entered his office, Croaker sent another unspeakable to the hospital. As they entered Algernon's office, they remained quiet until Algernon brought up all the privacy wards. Aelia raised her eyebrow.

"I lost a bet so I had to cover a shift there. Anyway; so, who is he?" Croaker asked.

"Harry Fucking Potter," Aelia responded. Croaker dropped heavily into his seat. He was stunned. "Since he is now family, I want him to be healthy and safe."

"How is his family? Worse, how could his prior living situation damage him so much?" Croaker asked. "Why did someone barely heal with magic before? Do we have heavy-handed unspeakables or Aurors?"

"As I said earlier. He is now family. My niece went to the same muggle school he was at. She saw that his situation was not right. Which led to my sister adopting him. So, under the muggle laws, he is her ward now. She left out that Dana saw him do accidental magic and no obliviators came.

As to what has been done to him. That is the question I have yet to answer. Once my sister told me he was magical, I tried to find out who his magical guardian is. The chief warlock has that file sealed. As to why he was placed into the care of muggles that abused him; again, there is nothing from the night his parents died until today in either society saying he should be there. His parents' wills are sealed, again by the chief warlock. So, no reason why."

"The only bright side, to your concern about badge-heavy DMLE members, is the physical harm was all done by muggles."

"Speaking of that. There is no muggle paperwork on the boy. Seriously, there is no muggle paperwork authorizing the boy to even go to the muggle school my niece met him at. No national health ministry documentation. He has a birth certificate. That is, it for the muggle side. My sister works for the British Muggle Government. So, she had them look for the records. There was none. There was also no documentation on Harry with their child services or nor any reason they did not become involved. There are so many questions, and no answers as of now." Aelia said with a grimace.

"So, Boss, how do we find the answers to these questions? Because the head warlock interfered in the matters; I think our department must be the one to find out the answers. Something tells me that we do not want anyone to know where Merlin Doe is, nor that we are looking into his situation." Aelia said. She was still livid at the boy's situation.

Croaker thought for a few minutes. "You are right. We do owe it to Mister Doe to find out the answers. So does the DMLE. I fear what the answer may say. Regardless, we need them so that he can remain in your family's care."

Croaker laughed cynically. "After all, knowing you, he will be safe there. This situation requires an investigation. However, due to all the interference from Albus, our department will have to do it. I agree with you on that. You, of course, will not be allowed to be involved with any of the investigations. But I will let you know what is found." Croaker answered.

"Thank you, boss."

"It is nothing, though his future…." Croaker said while deep in thought.

"I know, we need to do more than keep him safe. Whoever put him with the muggles that hurt him will be looking for him. Then there is the threat of all the death eaters." Aelia mused.

"We have to tread very carefully." Croaker pressed a rune on his desk. Another unspeakable came into the room. "Find out what the ministry has on James and Lilly Potters' wills. Also, who is Harry Potter's magical guardian now? Any other information that the ministry has on the Potters. Make sure you leave no trace of your questions."

Croaker turned to Aelia. "What is your plan for the boy?"

Aelia pulled out one of the sheets of parchments that came from Saint Mungo's. She handed it to her boss. "Judging by how large his unbound core is suspected to be. He would be able to be a war wizard. I would like him trained for that. I will train him all that you trained me." Aelia smiled at the older man. "After all, as a hit wizard at least, Harry will be able to kill death eaters when they come after him."

Croaker gave her a hard look. "Think of it as justice boss. Plus, thanks to Malfoy I cannot divorce Augustus. I also "fell" regularly. Just like this kid has apparently. Since my sister is his muggle guardian now, she is also in danger."

"So that is why you joined the DoM and trained to be a hit witch?" Croaker asked. He was trying to delay making the decision.

"Of course, do you blame me?" Aelia replied cheekily.

"No, I cannot. Now, back to the child. The muggles that he lived with, did a number on him. Physically, he will heal. The damage to his mental health is the concern. The mind healers will need to see him. I have concerns; I am not sure that they will be able to fix him. He could become a monster." Croaker said with a sad smile.

"Yes, that is possible; but I think if we show love, and get him some help he may not become the next dark lord. Who knows, with his new family showing him love that will not be an issue? Likely though, he will still have some darkness in him but will have reason to use that darkness wisely. Perhaps, a monster; only one that hunts other monsters." Aelia said hopefully.

"Interesting idea. Can you, your sister, and your niece show him enough love so that he won't kill or inflict pain indiscriminately? I would ask the boy, but we both know that monsters never see a monster when looking in a mirror."

"I feel so. Yes. But that is just part of it. He will face many threats; they will probably start when he goes to Hogwarts. By then, he will have to be trained well; or he will not make it to become a possible dark lord. We just need to have the training reinforce the love we show him. Trained on how you deal with legitimate threats. Shown how you treat family." Aelia said with a devilish smile. "Can you help?"

"No, not at all. Officially. I cannot allow Harry to be trained. I will bet his psych profile will be too questionable." Croaker smiled. "It is too bad, if Harry; were to get training of the right sort, it would keep the collateral damage down. That would be a worthy goal. If nothing else." Aelia was frowning at him. He knew she would train the boy even if he ordered her not to. He would have to step up. Then again, Albus was involved, and Voldemort.

After a few moments of thought. "I will train Merlin Doe though; to defend himself only. I assume his primary targets will be death eaters?"

"Yes, but others might also deserve his attention. And to defend himself, hmm, like you taught me, a dead enemy is not a threat. Or as you phrased it, death is the solution to many problems. No Wizard, No problem." Aelia said.

"Exactly, you are also correct that there will be others that deserve extreme prejudice. Amusingly, this situation has possibilities and deniability for us baked in. I just hope Merlin will learn to not let others stand in his way; while still being a boy you can love and be proud of." Croaker smiled. She returned his smile.

Croaker knew two threats that he wanted dead. The first was Voldemort. There was no real proof that the bastard was dead. He still had followers. Both the master and his followers needed to be ended. Harry would have no choice in that group. The second he would not speak about, except possibly to the boy. He did not want to admit it, but he despised Dumbledore. Due to that bastard, his nephew and his wife were insane and permanently at Saint Mungo's. Since Albus was a supreme legilimens; there was no excuse that he did not know Peter was a spy and traitor. He had caught the bastard prying into many people's minds over the year. The bastard's excuse, it was for his so-called, greater good. Albus needed to die. From what Aelia had said; Harry would have many reasons to kill the bastard. His followers and disciples would also have to die.

Then there was Neville. He was sure Albus was a threat to his great-nephew. Croaker would be damned to let Albus hurt his blood again.

After a few minutes of silence. "But there are more issues than training. Due to all the ambiguities in his life, my sister and I, intend to keep him in the house until Hogwarts. Private tutors. Even if we break all the issues. We will need to keep him incognito. There are too many open threats." Aelia said with a frown.

Croaker was looking at the parchment. "I will deal with the tracing, tonight. The rest… A threat is a threat; no matter what form it comes in. I can agree with that list so far. Even if they are children. Draco is just as bad as Lucius. That spawn has already been to Knockturn with his father. We both can imagine how the child will be by the time he starts at Hogwarts."

"There are many children of the death eaters that are or will be as bad as their parents. Malfoy is teaching his son the killing curse. They are valid targets." Algernon said. He also needed to protect Neville from them.

"Just like I find those that hit their spouses do not deserve to live. Hmm, Wouldn't Rookwood qualify on Doe's list?" Croaker chuckled. He had seen the marks Aelia used to have. He wanted his friend and subordinate to understand; she would have his blessing on getting her revenge.

"Absolutely. I do have one more group to add to the okay list, bullies. The person that my niece identified as the child of his prior guardians; bullied Merlin. His current damage came from that child and that brat's gang while at the muggle school. It could have killed my new nephew." Aelia stated which received a nod from her boss.

"I have one last one. It is a person, not a group. The staff at the muggle school did not stop the abuse of Merlin. Merlin could have died. The only safety was a charm to alert one of us magicals, if an ambulance came for Merlin. It looks like the staff there would not report any bullying or harm to the students so the other students are unsafe. Can you imagine a school where the staff could not summon their Aurors or child services for any reason except a child has to go to a hospital? The person who put those charms needs to die." Aelia said while trying to not say a name. She had already matched the magic signature to the head warlock.

"Who do you think it is?" Croaker asked already knowing the answer.

"An old man with a beard who wears garish robes. Arrogant enough not to use obliviation. The same bastard that placed Merlin where he got tortured by sealing his parents' will. Dumbledore." Aelia said trying to justify her animosity. She had put down her last card. Now would her boss agree?

Croaker thought for a few minutes. The more he learned about Albus from Harry's situation; the more he hated the man. At least Neville was not under his thumb. Thanks, Merlin for Augusta. This would only last until Hogwarts. Augusta would not listen to him and transferred Neville to another school.

Now he had to make a decision. Dumbledore harmed the boy. The harm he caused was illegal. However, Dumbledore was untouchable. However, this situation with Doe was perfect. A weapon against Albus that would not be tied back to the unspeakables. Or worse, himself. A weapon of either revenge or justice, it mattered not. A weapon Aelia and he would forge. Having the boy that lived, killed the death eaters the minister protected would just be the cherry on top. "I can agree with that, however, his tolerances cannot be allowed to grow too large. So, is what we have said the limit? I would have to stop this before it starts if any other people should be worried." Croaker asked as Aelia nods. Internally he smiled. He approved. Her overlord was a go. May Merlin have mercy if it failed.

"I will take your word on it then. Now, I will see Merlin gets properly trained to his highest ability and appropriately attired. Hopefully, Doe can pass on that knowledge to your new nephew, Harry." Algernon's grin went feral.

"Thank you, boss, I was going to point out your favorite quote, scream or not, it doesn't matter if you said no."

"Your point, miss terror is an absolute necessity in troubled times? Now on to the other side of his world. Did you kidnap him from those muggles he lived with?" Croaker asked. He would hear about a kidnapped muggle child if anyone suspected a magical kidnapper.

"Kidnap is a strong word, boss. Did my sister acquire legal muggle guardianship over Harry before we made Harry disappear? Yes, but the court that was used was a secret one. Harry left the area with muggle means. Between the court and what we did, Harry disappeared from both magical and mundane Britain today." Aelia said then her grin matched his.

"One more point boss, the muggle ministry my sister kind of works for is the circus. Called in a favor. Harry cannot be traced on the muggle side either. The circus made sure of that. Her house burned down the other day. Arson was suspected. There is nothing Albus can use magic on. We even ensured that my signature would not be traced. We even used muggle methods to spring the boy."

Croaker smiled at that. "What does she do for them? Does our liaison with them know you two are connected?" Croaker inquired thinking this could get even more interesting. "Does the Circus know who your sister adopted?"

"To your second question, no. I checked with our person. As to your first, you will like this. She did wet work, usually extreme prejudice and extreme extraordinary rendition for them until she had my niece. So, I kind of think she will add her two galleons into Harry's training. Your last question, no, I don't think so. If they did; they would not have helped out."

"Nice, since you have a biological niece, what about your brother-in-law?" Croaker asked.

"Never happened, my niece's father freaked when he found out my sister was with child, split, and never been back. Therefore, the family was only my sister, niece, and me. He died in the line of duty a few years ago." Aelia responded.

"There is something else. The circus did provide information about the guardianship. Lilly Potter was the married name of Lilly Evans. The female of the family that abused him, had the maiden name Petunia Evans. I think Harry will want to thank her for her family loyalty." Aelia said looking straight at her boss.

Croaker looked at her with shock. Then after a couple of minutes started to laugh. Raised his hand to salute her. This would be amusing. No one would think the boy who lived was dangerous. So, British magical society was going to get a knife in the back; they would never see it coming. While he could keep his hands dry.

"Aelia; one last thing; you know, monsters never get a happily ever after." Aelia nodded; hoping her new nephew did not become a monster. However, given all of the information, she had at this point; the boy would have to become a killer to survive. Just like she did.