The-Boy-Who-Lived by Rita Skeeter

Chapter 1: Prologue

Words: 2,606

Rated: M

Set after Order of the Phoenix and before Half-Blood Prince

Harry let out a heavy sigh as he packed his things to return home. It had been a grueling and emotionally charged year and Harry was exhausted. He just wanted the new school year to simply start tomorrow so he wouldn't have to pack his things.

When Sirius had died, that was all Harry could think about. Even now he can't go five minutes without being reminded of his dead godfather, and the knowledge that the only reason he's dead is because Harry was too stupid to question the vision Voldemort sent him. Hours of work put into learning occlumency and he didn't even stop once to wonder if his knowledge was being put to the test. Now he was short a godfather.

Ron came in and helped him silently, rushing just a bit. Ron and Hermione had given Harry space after the department of mysteries and were awkwardly dancing around him, not quite sure of what to do. Harry showed his appreciation whenever he could by smiling warmly at him, but they always just seemed more concerned afterwards. Harry knew they would help him in whatever way he needed, but he preferred to simply not speak of it. He knew they were also suffering, with the impending war and the aftermath of Umbridge's reign. He wouldn't want to dump all his problems on them, which upon reflection, he does a lot.

The trip back home was full of half-hearted laughs and somber attitudes. Only Luna was the exception, with her constantly high expression. When the train finally pulled into the platform the friends had to part ways. With promises to write, Harry asked Ron if he could house Hedwig for the summer, seeing as she'll be going back and forth anyways. It was with a faint buzzing noise in Harry's hair that he finally settled himself in for another two months of enduring the Durselys. It was a practiced state of mind to not expect any kindness during the summer, and to adjust oneself accordingly. A morbid and frankly disgusting thought passed through Harry's consciousness just then; If the Dursleys are harder on me than usual, I might not have to think about Sirius at all.

The thought was quickly dismissed, as it felt like bordering on insanity to welcome the treatment he received at home, but as the car ride drew longer and the tension increased, he was forced to re-examine the concept. It usually took all his strength to survive the summers anyway, so it wasn't like it would be hard to forget himself. And besides, it wouldn't be any less pain than Sirius had felt when dying. It could be a way to make up for his mistakes. The senseless cruelty could mean something. He wouldn't be a victim that summer, but a person paying their dues. It would motivate him to survive, and also distract him from the guilt, by feeling like he's lessening the guilt, if only a little bit.

That conviction cheered Harry and he settled into the summer quite comfortably. He'll use only the barest amounts of healing potion, to simply stop him from bleeding into his shirts. It will help elongate how long his supplies last. Harry hadn't wanted Snape to get too suspicious so he had only stolen a dozen vials worth.

His newly formed plan made a small smile appear on his face as he walked through the threshold at privet drive. The small smile was all the provocation uncle Vernon needed to quickly backhand him. The action left Harry dazed for a minute until he got his bearings and slipped the neutral mask he wore on his face. Harry often mused that the only reason he should have been in slytherin was this mask that he had perfected. The vials were safely tucked into his sweater and jean pockets, so it wasn't too much of a burden when uncle Vernon locked up his school supplies and he was sent to his room. And thus his fifth summer at the Dursley's since receiving his hogwarts letter commenced.

Rita Skeeter was upset. Because of the Granger wretch she had had to register as an animagus and suffer the many fees that came with that, even though she was certain the idiots had believed her lie of only recently going through the transformation progress. And the bastards had laughed when she'd shown them just what her animagus form had been! Plus, after the debacle from last year, no one would read her columns anymore! She had to go through hell just to get the paper to print it!

It annoyed her to no end that the daily prophet had reformed their company, using stricter protocol for fact checking. Those idiots just didn't understand. No one wants to read about boring and mundane things such as whether or not the minister uses ministry money to buy a seven foot tall mirror. They want to know about the sensational. And there's only one person who can give it to them.

It was because if this that Rita was stalking Harry Potter. Everything sensational happens to him. He's a walking tragedy, and the prophet needs to hop on the bandwagon of potter fever if they want to sell. It was that that motivated Rita to do an in-depth look at Potters life, something normally reserved for after death, but needs must. It also helps that no one really knows how Potters life went after the fall of You-Know-Who. Everyone wants to hop on the muggle rights bandwagon nowadays and a report on the muggles who raised the hero would draw in their supporters.

Rita was currently attached to Potter shirt collar, riding in the back of a muggle vehicle. It was then that she got her first inkling of suspicion. They weren't talking. After a year of being apart there are no kind words being shared.

If a grin could have stretched across Rita's beetle face, it would have in this moment. Maybe everything wasn't perfect for boy wonder. It's common knowledge that tragedy sells more than any happy stories these days. And if Rita is right in her hunch, she could be sitting on a gold mine. How right she would turn out to be.

The Boy In Pain

By: Rita Skeeter

Warning: The following contains graphic descriptions of violence against a minor.

After the atrocious blunders of ministry officials of last year, Harry Potters' name has been cleared of all doubt and slander. Most everyone can say that they were taken in by the conspiracy against the Boy-Who-Lived; after all, the sources were ministry officials. This humble writer wasn't the only one a little miffed that the boy hero's name was being dragged through the mud, and wished to make amends. It was that noble cause that uncovered a most horrifying truth.

I, Rita Skeeter, followed after the boy when the Hogwarts express pulled into platform 9¾. Unfortunately the crowds got a bit too rambunctious and I had to resort to my animagus form to keep following Mr. Potter. Yes, you read that right. I registered as an animagus in the ministry this past April, my form being that of a beetle. It was in this form that I latched onto Mr. Potter in desperate hopes that I may not be squashed by passer-bys. I was a bit delirious with the rapid movements and hadn't realized that I had accidentally followed Mr. Potter into his muggle relatives' automobile. Ashamedly, I felt that I could simply wait until the family had returned home and then knocked on the door, to hopefully not only express my regrets to the young boy but also get to meet the people who raised such a fine child. Throughout the trip I felt the relatives were fighting, seeing as how they hadn't said a word to each other. This was not the case.

When we arrived at the muggle address I did the polite thing and vacated the automobile and waited patiently for the streets to be empty in order to transform. I never had the chance to do so however as I heard alarming crashing sounds as soon as the family walked in the door. It was then that this writer made the decision that would forever change her perspective on a one Mr. Harry James Potter. I rushed into the house, still as a beetle, to witness the large, older man, later known as Harry Potter uncle: Vernon Dursley, strike the boy hero. Without seeming any provocation, the uncle continued to berate Mr. Potter in a way that obviously was not healthy. The man proceeded to lock all magical implements in the cupboard under the stairs. Potter was then sent to his room.

This blatantly antagonistic behavior piqued the interest of the maternal instincts inside me, and I felt it was my responsibility to make a full investigation of the family's dynamic. It was this decision that would later turn into a personal conviction, that uncovered one of the most shocking cases of abuse this writer has ever encountered in her years as a writer for The Daily Prophet.

The weeks that followed will be forever etched into my mind. Mr. Potters' routine consisted of rising early and making his relatives breakfast, a meal he wasn't allowed to touch. He was then sent back into his room. The door to his room has many locks and even a cat flap. The implications were not lost on me, as I know they will not be on you dear readers. His room consists of barren walls and broken furniture. In fact, the only furniture in the room was a plain bed, wobbly desk and wardrobe. The only thing that betrayed any abnormality was the empty owl cage that sat in the corner. Throughout the day Mr. Potter would leave his room to perform whatever task was asked of him. He would receive water throughout the day, but only received food once per day, and certain times, not at all. His starvation would almost always be a consequence of a situation he couldn't control (such as is the case when his cousin broke dishes simply for him to get in trouble) or for being "cheeky." The forced fasting was extremely detrimental to Mr. Potter's health, and as such his body steadily slowed down, which incensed his relatives wrath even more.

The first two weeks held only starvation and harsh words. It appeared that the muggles resented Mr. Potter for his magic and frequently insulted him for his so-called "abnormalities." Frequently recurring insults included "freak", "worthless", and often comparing the highly esteemed Potter family to alcoholics and layabouts. It's a little known fact that Mr. Potter had no idea he was a wizard until his eleventh birthday when he got his acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. One can only hope Mr. Potter did not believe these lies growing up in such a house.

It was the two week mark that spelled trouble for the young hero. It was one "cheeky" comment too many that had incurred his uncles fury. It was normally the aunt that starved and occasionally beat Mr. Potter with a frying pan when breakfast was not up to her standards. His uncle ordered him to his room to "get prepared." This foreboding wording had me rushing upstairs to check on just what other cruelty this family from hell could inflict.

I was not disappointed.

I watched with bated breath as Mr. Potter calmed himself and then removed his shirt. The sight of the many scars that simply littered his back solidified the notions of many years of abuse. I could hardly catch my panicked breath as the uncle stormed in with his belt in hand. Mr. Potter immediately braced himself against the wall. His face was grim and resigned as the tragic hero took the beating. It was only around the fifteenth lash that the boy started to get desperate and the begging started. It was heartbreaking to see what this writer perceives was a practiced response to the beating. When the uncle finally tired and left, Potter collapsed. He spent a few minutes calming his shaking body and making his way over to a loose floorboard. In it, were a number of healing potions the boy had stolen from school.

This process repeats itself numerous times throughout the summer. Potter would get beaten, he would heal himself, and then continue on his way. It was two weeks away from the new school year that Mr. Potter ran out of healing potions. When his uncle lashed out, he would simply bear the wounds the next day. It was brave and foolish at the same time. Now, I know what you dear readers are all thinking. Why didn't he get help? Why hasn't anyone been checking in on the Boy-Who-Lived? and most importantly, why hadn't I intervened?

It is with a heavy heart that I share with you all my own weakness, and of all the other that have failed Mr. Potter. It was my immediate reaction as soon as that first lash hit to run to the ministry. Halfway out the boys window I realized no one could save the boy from this particular beating fast enough. It was also that thought that triggered a number of questions within me. Obviously the boy is enemy #1 to deatheaters galore, so why wouldn't the ministry check up on the poor boy? The only reason I could think of was that the ministry either has never checked up on such a high profile person, which would be gross negligence on their part, or they have and the case got swept under the rug. The only reason Potter could be anywhere is if it were safe; at least against death eaters. Which means that for whatever magical protection existed in his relatives care, is worth the price of daily beatings and abuse. I could only conclude that no one has ever truly spoken up for the boy, and was determined to gather enough evidence to present a case to the ministry. It was then that I commenced a two month stake-out to get The-Boy-Who-Lived removed from their care, and hopefully justice for all negligence involved.

It was a grueling and torturous two months. Watching such an icon reduced to tears from muggles was painful and difficult to watch, but I succeeded. The entire pensieve memory is open to public viewing of the entire two months there. I also presented the case to the ministry in hopes of starting an investigation. Ministry records show that the placement of Harry Potter went to Mr. Albus Dumbledore, headmaster to Hogwarts and long-time family friend of the Potter family. One has to wonder if the man had gone senile in his old age to allow such acts against Potter, or if he deliberately pitted Potters safety against death eaters against his safety in his own home. Only a thorough investigation will tell, and I for one am hoping, that for the first time ever, Azkaban has muggle inmates.

Further details will be available in my upcoming book Unbreakable: The Story of an Abused Hero. Any further updates on the investigation you will find in The Daily Prophet for the next coming months.