Secrets and Truths

Permanent Disclaimer: I own nothing, JKR does, lucky witch.

Summary: AU Fifth Year with some minor differences to Year Four. Harry endures an abusive summer. When school starts again he meets a new student. How will befriending this girl change his life? You'll have to read to find out! Pairings? Yes there's some. Contains OFC's. Also note that most original characters will probably be somewhat, if not a lot, OOC. This is my first attempt at a fan-fic so please set your flames to low. Thanks.

Rating: R maybe M for foul language at times, slight sexual situations (nothing graphic) eventually and future violence.

Chapter One

On the train

Fourth year and summer were finally over and Harry found himself once again on the Hogwarts Express. For once he had made it well before eleven a.m., departure time. Of course the only reason being was because his Uncle couldn't wait to be rid of him.

Harry had had the 'pleasure' of spending the entire summer holiday with his 'family'. Usually he got to go to the burrow for his birthday and the rest of the summer but not this time, Dumbledore had forbidden it due to Voldemorts return.

" My boy, I think it wise to stay were you are safest, protected by the wards"

'Yeah right, if only you knew just how safe I am with the Dursley's'. He thought sarcastically.

Harry had tried every school years end to convince Dumbledore to let him stay at Hogwarts or with the Weasley's. He never went into specific detail why and every year he was sent back. And this year by far had been the worst yet.

FLASHBACK

Things had gone okay for about the first week. Chores were the same as usual as well as the verbal abuse. But all that had changed in one night.

Harry had managed to get his chores done by dusk this time and had started making supper. Uncle Vernon was unusually late and Aunt Petunia's mood stemmed from that. He had been preparing the steaks, Dudley's favorite, when a cramp in his hand from painting the fence caused him to drop one on the floor. That had earned him a knock to the head from his Aunt. She had never struck him before and he had been rendered shocked. He said nothing but an apology and picked up the steak, rinsed it in tap and continued with supper. Nothing else happened until Uncle Vernon came home during supper.

You could tell from a distance that he had been drinking. Not only could you smell it but his words were slurred and he was staggering.

Supper had been about half over and to Harry's surprise he had been allowed to eat with them this time. Although it was a small steak, mostly fat, and half a baked potato that had a huge rot spot, he wasn't going to complain. Although it had only been a week, meals had been scarce. When Vernon had seen him at the table he had been outraged.

"Boy, what are you doing at my table eating our food!"

"Aunt Petunia told me I could, she…" but he was cut off when a meaty fist landed on his jaw with enough force to propel him from his seat. He hit the floor with a hard thud. He immediately brought his hand to his face to caress his jaw and looked up to his Uncle.

"Don't lie to me you freak, I know my wife and she wouldn't allow such filth as you to have such fine food!"

"But Uncle Vernon…" Harry took the chance to glance to Petunia for help and was met with an evil smirk. He then realized that she had planned this all along.

"Well what is it freak, what do you have to say for yourself?"

Harry just bowed his head and mumbled, "Mmm sorry Uncle, I..I lied"

"I thought as much you sorry excuse for a human--- now get to your room, you'll get your punishment later!"

With that said Harry scrambled to his feet and ran to his room. Harry barged into his room careful not to slam the door. He rested his forehead on the closed door shutting his eyes, trying his best not to let unshed tears fall. Oh he was in so much trouble.

Thinking back he had thought it odd that his Aunt allowed him to eat and at the table no less, but his grumbling stomach had over run the thought immediately. Plus, like a fool he had just run through the house breaking yet another rule. Thank Merlin he hadn't slammed the door too.

Harry let out a long sigh pushing himself from the door. He walked to his bed and gently sat down rubbing his jaw absentmindedly. It truly dawned on him then...Vernon full out punched me.. Harry began to worry then...if he's that angry what will my punishment be? He shivered at the thought and prayed to any deity, that in his drunken state, his Uncle would forget about him, go to bed and just pass out.

Harry wouldn't have his prayers answered that night.

He had heard the light footsteps of his Aunt and the heavier ones of Dudley come up the stairs, pass by his door and faintly heard the soft clicks of their bedroom doors closing. Not long after he heard his Uncle coming up the stairs as well and Harry held his breath. He heard him pass and let out the breath he was holding. Only seconds later his heart sank as he heard his Uncle turn back, approach his room, then entered. He reluctantly met his Uncles gaze and immediately wished he hadn't. The look he received was venomous and had him scared. Only one thought came to mind before Vernon lunged for him…oh shite.

He just barely managed to escape his Uncles charging fist by scrambling backwards off the bed. He landed roughly on his shoulder but quickly got to his feet. The only thing between them now was a single bed.

"Uncle please, I...I'm sorry I lied to you and I'm sorry I ran through the house. I promise I'll never do it again." He pleaded throwing his hands up in mock surrender.

"Damn right you won't boy, but you forgot what else you need to be apologizing for" he said as he started to walk around the bed.

Harry was stumped. What else had he done that could have angered him. He counted off various things...I coiled the hose up, rinsed the paint brush and sealed the paint can, pruned the rose bushes and took the trash can to the curb for the morning pick up.. He looked to his Uncle shaking his head.

"But I did nothing else, I…"

Vernon howled in rage " Do not LIE to me boy! Petunia told me what you did. How dare you attempt to use magic in this house…"

"Magic? But I didn't I…"

"Don't even try to deny it, after the letter we received, better yet the warning, we know what you are capable of doing"

"A letter, a warning, what did it say?"

"Oh it told us what you did, brought back some evil wizard, Moldigort, I think, and that you killed one of your school mates just so he wouldn't stop you. Said we better be careful that you may try to do the same to us. I say if you can kill your own kind, and bring back evil wizards then we should be easy targets for you, but that's where I'll prove you wrong." He said coolly as he stepped up to Harry towering over him.

Dumbledore…but he said he didn't blame him, that what happened wasn't his fault. Harry was brought from his musings when a fist collided with his jaw once again. The blow, like before, knocked him to the floor. He stared up to his Uncle only to see the next punch coming to late. It landed to his temple and Harry immediately saw stars. Dizzy and disoriented he tried to scoot away but Vernon easily got a hold of his shirt front and lifted him from the floor. He lifted him up to look him in the eyes.

"You deserve what you are receiving from me boy and I've only just started." He spat at Harry.

Harry only let a soft whimper escape him. He wouldn't let his Uncle hear him scream or see him cry. If he could take the Cruciatus curse he could take this. He realized also that no matter what he said Vernon would never believe him. He only had one thing left to say so with the strongest voice he could muster he looked him back in the eyes and spoke.

"Do as you wish Uncle, but know this, you can't beat the magic out of me, it will always remain. You are a fool to believe what that letter said, I didn't kill Cedric and I was an unwilling participant in reviving VOLDEMORT. And if you would use that pea-sized brain of yours you would have realized that you yourself locked away my wand when I arrived back here. How could I do any sort of magic without it?? Hmmm you dumbass??" Harry knew he had crossed the line, but he didn't care anymore. He was going to get beaten senseless anyway so why not at least make it worth it, if one could really make something like that worthwhile.

If it were possible Vernon's face became even redder than before, almost purple to be exact. Then a sickening smile spread across his face.

"That may be so freak, but who's to say you don't have another stick stashed somewhere else. As for the other, I don't believe a word you've said, you're as filthy and loathsome as your prick father and whore mother."

"NEVER, speak of my parents you worthless sack of horseshit, my mother was no more a whore than Petunia her sorry excuse for a sister and OMPFH"

Harry didn't get to finish his sentence. At the mention of his beloved wife's name and the insult to come Vernon had swung back and landed a heavy punch to Harry's mid section. He then dropped a coughing and gasping for breath Harry to the floor. He then reached back down and took hold of his throat lifting him once again. Vernon's hold on his throat was tight enough to make him choke slightly but not to completely cut his air off. He was sure to have a perfect beefy handprint there nonetheless for many days to come. Vernon continued to riddle his midsection and chest with many more jabs and punches. The pain was becoming more and more profound but never once did Harry cry out. The hitting stopped only long enough for him to be slammed into the wardrobe door. He felt another cold shiver of pain when he felt the knob sink into his back and jab at his kidney. Harry slid down to the floor, his vision darkening around the edges.

Harry thought for sure this was the end of it, his Uncle would turn and leave and he could pass out and escape his hurting body, if only for a while. But alas, he was wrong yet again. Vernon knelt down to one knee and reached for him. He took hold of the young wizards right wrist.

"I do believe this is the arm you use your stick with is it not?"

Harry said nothing and stared with glassy blurred eyes at his Uncle.

"Yes, I think it is. I know just what to do" he said smoothly as he tightened his grip on Harry and began to twist it unnaturally sideways.

Harry then realized what his Uncle was going to do. He felt the muscle pull tight, to tight and Harry felt his resolve fade and he screamed out for the first time that night.

"OH, PLEASE UNCLE, DON'T, PLEASE…" Harry screamed as tears fell from his eyes. He no more than got to the 'please' when he felt and heard the bone of his arm break and felt the tendon tear. Harry felt immense pain shoot up his arm. Vernon released him and Harry gingerly cradled his arm to his chest still sobbing, white-hot tears streaming down his cheeks.

Vernon rose once again looking down at his bloodied and bruised charge. "Better rest while you can boy, you have a busy day of chores ahead of you. I will not tolerate any laziness from you. Harry looked down to his wrist then gawked back to his Uncle.

"No excuses boy, and never look at me like that again" he spat as he landed a swift kick to Harry head. With the final blow darkness finally consumed Harry and he knew no more.

And so his eventful summer began.

TBC

A/N…Thanks to my beta GofferGurl