Arcane Academy

Pairing: OMC/Harry

Rating: NC17

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Summary: With Sirius' recent death, Harry's summer has a hellish start. The Dursley's abuse turns deadly, and Dumbledore does nothing to save him. Will he survive for another year of school, and will he even want to go back to Hogwarts at all?

Chapter 1

The train ride home was tiresome. Harry spent the entire trip tuning out his friends' constant chatter and mourning the loss of his godfather. When they arrived at the station, Harry reluctantly followed Hermione and Ron through the platform. As he approached his scowling relatives, he saw the Order take his aunt and uncle aside. He heard the Moody and Mr. Weasley threaten the Dursley's and mentally groaned. He just knew that would make things worse for him this summer.

How right he was. As soon as they pulled into the drive, Vernon turned around with an angry glare. "Put your freakish school things in the cupboard and go straight to your room.

"Yes, Uncle Vernon," sighed Harry, getting out of the car. He dragged his trunk into the house and shoved it into the cupboard under the stairs. It didn't really matter to him. He would just sneak down later and get his homework. Harry turned to go upstairs only to find his Uncle Vernon standing directly in front of him.

"That little stick better be in there, too."

Harry rolled his eyes and started passed Vernon. "Yes, Uncle Vernon. It's not like I can use outside of school anyway." He had just reached the stairs when something hit him in the back of the head. He fell to his knees, blackness clouding his vision, and saw his uncle's massive form with Dudley's Smeltings stick clutched in his beefy hand. "The... Order..." he gasped, fighting to stay conscious.

"Will never know," said Vernon viciously. "You don't think they actually care, do you? No one cares about freaks like you."

Grabbing Harry's arms, Vernon dragged the barely conscious teen up the stairs and into Harry's bedroom. Dropping Harry unceremoniously onto the floor, he raised the Smeltings stick and hit Harry across the back with it.

Harry cried out at the searing pain and curled into a foetalposition, trying to make himself as small as possible. The next blow hit him in the temple, knocking him out completely. That didn't stop Vernon, though. He continued to rain blow after blow on the unconscious teen, delighting in the pain he inflicted upon his nephew's helpless body.

Finally tiring of his assault, Vernon stepped back to survey his work. He relished in the sight of Harry's bruised and bloody form. Whistling cheerfully, Vernon left the room, locking the door behind him.

So lost in reminiscing, Vernon didn't see Petunia as he passed the stairwell. She gasped in shock when she saw the bloodstains on his shirt and trousers. "Vernon, what did you do?"

Vernon stopped and turned around at his wife's voice, smiling gleefully. "I just showed the little freak what to expect this summer. He's finally going to get what's coming to him." His stomach grumbled demandingly. "What's for dinner, pet? All that work's made me hungry."

"Shepherd's Pie," said Petunia numbly. She couldn't believe her husband would do something like this. A smack here and there was one thing, but to beat someone bloody? That was too much. As much as she disliked the boy and his presence in her home, she knew she couldn't allow this to continue. She could only be grateful that Dudley was spending the week with his friends.

When Vernon went into the bathroom to shower before dinner, Petunia crept silently to Harry's bedroom. Unlocking the doors as quietly as possible, she slowly opened the door, gasping in horror at what she saw. Harry was nothing more than a bruised, bloody, broken mess. His left arm was obviously broken and possibly his ribs, judging by the boy's difficulty in breathing. Blood matted his dark hair and streaked across his face where a livid bruise stood out on his cheekbone.

She needed to find a way to contact someone from the Wizarding World. Spying Hedwig in her cage, Petunia hurried over to the desk. Who should she write, though? It wasn't as though she was familiar with any wizards. She did know that Dumbledore was out of the question. It was his fault Harry was here in the first damn place, and he'd probably just ignore the letter anyway. Remus Lupin! He was at the station, and he was Lily's friend all those years ago. Surely he'd come after the boy.

Hurriedly writing a letter for help, Petunia hesitantly let Hedwig out of her cage. "Can you take this to Remus Lupin?"

Hedwig took the letter in her beak and flew out the window. Petunia looked at Harry one last time and left the room, knowing that if she tried to help him it would just make things worse. Hopefully the owl would find Lupin in time to save the boy anymore pain.

After Vernon left for work the next morning, Petunia went to check on Harry. The teen hadn't moved at all during the night. For a moment, Petunia thought the boy might have died last night until she saw his chest move with a shallow breath. She looked out the window, hoping to see Harry's owl returning, but the sky was disgustingly clear.

"Lupin, you better get here soon. I don't know if he'll last another night."

Petunia sighed softly and left the room. She wanted to help, she really did, but she knew that if she did, Vernon would only focus his rage on her instead. Over the last few years, her husband had changed, becoming petty and cruel. He drank almost every night, and he'd even hit her on several occasions in a drunken fit. She desperately wanted to leave, but she really had nowhere to go.

As the day progressed, Harry didn't wake at all. Unfortunately, that didn't deter Vernon from beating the teen once more. Petunia hid in the hallway, thankful that Dudley wasn't here to see this, and winced every time Vernon's belt struck her nephew. Eventually, Vernon left Harry's room and lumbered toward the shower. As soon as the door closed behind him, Petunia hurried to Harry's bedroom and cried at what she saw. Harry now sported a bloody gash on his left cheek, and his left hand looked crushed. His right leg was also broken, the white bone protruding from the skin.

"Why in God's name aren't you here yet, Lupin? You're supposed to be watching out for him," whispered Petunia angrily. The shower suddenly cut off, and she hurried from the room.

***

Remus sighed softly and grabbed his bag, looking sadly around the room. "I'll miss you, Sirius." He turned to leave when a sharp tap sounded at the window. Seeing Hedwig flying frantically around the window, Remus rushed to let her in. The only time the owl got this upset was when something was wrong with Harry.

Taking the letter from Hedwig, Remus read the missive with growing horror. Harry was badly hurt and needed his help! He rushed out the front door and immediately apparated to Privet Drive. He ran to the Dursley's house and unlocked the door. As soon as he stepped into the house, his nose was assaulted by the smell of his cub's blood.

Remus growled softly and started up the stairs. He growled even louder when he saw the cat flap and numerous locks on the door. Someone was going to pay for doing this to Harry. Remus unlocked the door and yanked it open, howling in rage when he saw the pitiful state Harry was in.

Vernon cursed and rolled out of bed, vowing to take care of the brat once and for all. He was tired of the little freak and his freakish problems. He stomped down the hall, muttering, "So you're finally awake, boy. I guess you haven't had enough for today." When he saw the bedroom door standing wide open, he puffed up furiously. "What have I told you about using that freakishness in my house?"

Remus smirked viciously as the fat whale stormed blindly passed him. Vernon stopped abruptly when he saw Harry was still unconscious, and Remus stepped up behind him, jabbing his wand firmly in the man's neck. "You will pay for hurting him, Vernon. You really should have heeded our warning because now I'm going to make you regret ever laying a hand on my cub."

Remus stunned and bound Vernon, tossing the man across the room with a flick of his wand. He moved to check on Harry when Dumbledore's voice came from his pocket. Pulling the two way mirror out of his pocket, he growled an impatient, "What!"

"Remus, where are you? The portkey leaves in five minutes."

"I'm not going. Send someone else," said Remus calmly.

"We can't just send someone else, Remus. Where are you?"

"At the Dursley's, and someone's gonna die for hurting my cub," said Remus, a deadly gleam in his eyes.

Dumbledore's face suddenly disappeared, and Molly's face filled the surface. "Harry's hurt?" she screeched, making Remus wince at the sound. "How bad is it?"

"I'm taking him to St. Mungo's," said Remus softly. "That's how bad it is."

"Absolutely not!" said Dumbledore, snatching the mirror away from Molly. "Harry must stay at his aunt's. It's the safest place for him. I'm sure he'll be fine with a couple of healing potions. I'll send Severus."

Remus snarled at the Headmaster and turned the mirror toward Harry. "Does that look like he's fine, Albus? He'll die if he stays here. I'm taking him to St. Mungo's."

"If you take him out of that house, I'll have you arrested for kidnapping," threatened Albus.

"Do what you must. I certainly will," said Remus coldly, dropping the mirror to the ground and crushing it beneath his feet. He knelt down beside Harry and tried to assess the damage. Running a standard diagnostic spell, he gasped at the list of injuries: a broken leg, a broken arm, a crushed hand, five broken ribs, a ruptured spleen, numerous contusions and abrasions, and a fractured skull.

"Did you kill him? Vernon, I mean."

Remus looked up at Petunia with a dark scowl. "Not yet. And as much as I would like to do just that, Harry needs help right now."

"Will he be all right?" she asked worriedly.

"What do you think?" snapped Remus. "That bastard pretty much put him into a coma. I need to take him to St. Mungo's, but Albus just said that he'd have me arrested for kidnapping if I take him."

"Why would he do that?" asked Petunia incredulously. "He'll die in he stays here."

"He obviously doesn't care, Petunia. Harry's his little weapon, and therefor must be under his control at all times," said Remus bitterly, finally seeing the truth about Dumbledore. "That's what we all are to him. As long as we obediently do as we're told, he plays the benevolent grandfather, but step out of line, and he'll do whatever it takes to put you down."

"What can we do then?"

Remus sighed softly. "All we can do is wait for Severus to get here and hope we can convince him to help us. Merlin help him if he doesn't, though, because I will make his life hell for allowing Harry to suffer like this."

***

"Albus, you can't be serious. Harry's badly hurt. He needs professional medical help," yelled Molly angrily. "Severus is a Potions Master not a bloody healer."

"Molly, he'll be fine. Severus is perfectly capable of healing a few wounds," said Albus calmly.

"That wasn't just a few wounds, though, was it?" asked Bill derisively. "Harry was a bloody mess. Quite frankly, I'm surprised he's still alive with the injuries he has." Why was he even here? Oh, that's right. He was here because Dumbledore had called an Order meeting, and he was actually in London during said meeting. It was times like these that he wished he'd followed Charlie's example and stayed as far away from England as possible.

Dumbledore scowled at Bill. "The boy will be fine."

"He is not fine, Albus," snapped Molly. "Those muggles have abused him for the last time. If Remus doesn't take him to St. Mungo's, then I will. I won't just sit back and watch while Harry's life is in danger."

Albus sighed. "I had hoped it wouldn't come to this." Taking them by surprise, Dumbledore flicked his wand and said, "Obliviate!" Molly's eyes glazed over. "Harry is perfectly fine. Severus healed him completely."

Molly blinked in confusion for a moment before she suddenly smiled. "Oh, I'm so glad Harry's all right. I do hope he will be able to visit the Burrow sometime this summer."

"I'll see what I can do," said Albus magnanimously.

Bill couldn't believe what Dumbledore had just done. The only thing that had saved him from the same fate was his fang earring. He was never more grateful for the goblins' paranoia than now. Silverclaw had cast protective charms for the mind, such as against Legilimency and Memory charms, on the earring before gifting it to him.

"Come on, Mum. We should get home now that Harry's all right," said Bill calmly, standing up and pulling his mother to her feet.

"Yes, you're right," said Molly cheerfully, hurrying to the fireplace. She had so much to do today. Dinner was nowhere near ready!

The two Weasley's flooed back to the Burrow. While Molly went into the kitchen to prepare dinner, Bill apparated to Privet Drive. He could only hope he reached Harry and Lupin before Snape did.

***

Severus growled as he stalked to the Dursley's house. That damn Potter was once again intruding in his life. The brat probably had a little cold, and Lupin was just over exaggerating things.

The house was eerily silent when he stepped inside. He saw a single light on upstairs and headed in that direction. When he reached Harry's room, he saw Remus standing in the centre of the room with his wand raised.

"Ah, Severus, good of you to join us," said Remus calmly.

"What do you think you're doing, Lupin?" hissed Severus, raising his own wand.

"Here's what's going to happen. You are going to heal Harry as much as possible, and then you are going to help us leave this place. Once we're gone, you are going to go back to Dumbfuck and tell him we were already gone when you arrived," said Remus coldly.

Severus stared at Remus for a moment, startled at the werewolf's cold visage. "Why would I do that?"

"Because if Harry dies because of your refusal, I will end your miserable existence in the most painful way possible," growled Remus softly, eyes glittering angrily.

"What's wrong with the brat? Albus only said he had a few minor wounds that needed to be healed," said Severus.

"A few minor wounds?" asked Remus incredulously. "Finite Incantatum."

Harry's body suddenly appeared in the room, and Severus gasped in shock at the sight. "What the bloody hell happened to him? Did Death Eaters manage to get through the wards?"

"No, Severus. These wounds are courtesy of his dear, loving uncle," said Remus bluntly, going across the room and kicking said uncle for good measure.

Reeling in shock, Severus numbly knelt down beside Harry and cast a diagnostic spell, paling at the list of injuries. Starting with the worst injuries, he set Harry's leg and arm and forced a bone mending potion down the boy's throat. The bones in his left hand were beyond repair. He banished the bones and gave Harry some Skele-gro. With the broken bones healed, Severus healed the gash on Harry's cheek and the numerous contusions along the teen's chest and back.

It took him two hours to heal Harry to the best of his abilities. Despite all of his efforts, though, the boy was still in a coma. "He's in a coma, Lupin, and I have no idea when he will awake, or if he will awake at all. I've healed him as much as possible, but it still might not be enough."

"What are you going to do now?" asked Remus softly.

Severus stared down at Harry for a long moment and sighed. "I never saw you."

"Wise decision."

Severus and Remus started at the voice and turned to face the newcomer. Remus stared at the person in bemusement. "Bill, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to help you, of course. Dumbledore is hellbent on keeping Harry here. He even Obliviated Mum to keep her quiet," said Bill angrily.

Severus raised an eyebrow. "He just Obliviated Molly? How did you manage to escape the same fate?"

Bill smirked at the other man. "This earring isn't just for decoration."

Severus snorted in amusement. "He'll never suspect that."

"I need somewhere safe to take Harry, somewhere Dumbledore would never think to look," said Remus abruptly, lifting the unconscious teen into his arms.

"Got it covered," said Bill. He pressed an amulet into Remus' hand. "This is a portkey to my house in Egypt. I'll still be in England for a few more months, so he'll never suspect my part in this."

Severus handed Remus a small bag. "There are two nutrient potions, a sleeping potion, a fever reducing potion, and a general healing potion in here. I'll owl you some more nutrient potions in the morning. You need to give him one four times a day until he wakes up. Then he'll still need to take at least two a day for another two weeks."

"Thank you," said Remus softly. "Both of you."

"Sphinx fever," said Bill, watching as Remus and Harry disappeared. He spied Vernon lying in the corner, watching them with terrified eyes, and smirked evilly. "I believe this muggle needs to learn a little lesson. What say you, Severus?"

"Muggle torture," mused Severus, grinning maliciously. "My favourite." Pointing his wand at Vernon, he said, "Silencio!" Vernon opened his mouth to scream, but when no sound emerged, he simply closed his eyes and whimpered silently. Severus just grinned even wider. "Now let the fun begin."

Downstairs in the living room, Petunia watched her daily programme and ignored what she knew was happening upstairs. Her husband deserved every second of pain for what he'd done to her and Harry.

***

Severus stared at the quivering lump in the floor disgustedly. They'd barely begun, and the fat whale had already messed his trousers. They'd even limited themselves to minor curses- painful but not too harmful. Bill had started off with a Bat-Bogey curse followed by the Furnunculus curse. Severus had only used a Stinging hex and an insect jinx.

"Well, unfortunately, we can't just leave him like this," said Bill regretfully. "Once you report back to Dumbledore about Harry's disappearance, he may get it into his head to come here and investigate."

Severus just smirked at the redhead. "That's the beauty of it, though. All we have to do is change the fat muggle's perspective of things a bit."

"What do you mean?" asked Bill curiously.

"Watch and learn," said Severus. He cast a disillusionment charm on Bill to keep him hidden and turned his wand toward Vernon once again. "Obliviate!" Vernon's eyes glazed over. "When Lupin saw what you had done to Harry, he bound you and hexed you before taking Harry."

Vernon's eyes slowly cleared, and he immediately began to cry out for help. Severus smirked at Bill and reluctantly released the disgusting muggle. Cancelling the silencing charm, he calmly asked, "What happened?"

"That freak, Lupin, attacked me and took off with the boy," said Vernon, huffing and grunting as he clumsily climbed to his feet.

"Do you know where they might have gone?" asked Severus.

Vernon just shook his head and glared at the two wizards. "I do know one thing, though. That little freak better not come back to this house. Next time, he won't get off so lightly."

Severus heard Bill growl softly and take a step toward the muggle and calmly stepped in front of him. "We'll be sure to pass on the message. Good day, Mr. Dursley."

Severus surreptitiously pushed Bill out of the room. Bill stopped once they were outside and scowled at Severus, though the other man couldn't see it. "You do realise that you've just caused Remus more trouble, don't you?"

Severus shrugged. "It doesn't matter. If Lupin had stayed long enough, he probably would have done worse to the fat muggle. The damn wolf sees Potter as his cub, and werewolves are vicious to the ones who hurt their cubs."

"So why didn't he ever attack you?" asked Bill archly. "You've made no secret about how much you hate Harry."

Severus rubbed his left leg absently. "Who said he didn't?"

Bill stared at Severus in surprise, noting the other man's unconscious gesture. "What did he do?"

Severus scowled at the redhead. "It's none of your business!" He took a deep breath to calm himself and said, "You head back to the Burrow. No one can know you were here. I'll deal with Dumbledore."

Bill nodded and apparated away.

Severus sighed and strengthened his Occlumency shields before apparating back to Hogwarts. He was not looking forward to his meeting with the Headmaster. Albus would not be pleased that Severus hadn't managed to get to Lupin and Harry before they left.

***

"What?" asked Albus softly. "They were already gone when you got there? But how? I kept Remus distracted with the mirror while I sent you ahead. How could you have missed him? He shouldn't have been able to move Harry at all in that condition."

"You knew how bad it really was?" asked Severus incredulously. "Then why would you leave him there?"

Albus glared at Severus. "You don't need to know my reasons, Severus. You just need to do what you're told."

It took all of Severus' control to keep his face an emotionless mask. Ever since the Dark Lord's return, Dumbledore had begun to show his true colours, and they weren't pretty. The fact that he would leave Potter in such an abusive household was just one example.

"Show me what happened at the Dursley's," Albus demanded. As soon as Severus looked up, he said, "Legilimens!"

Severus walked into the eerily silent house with his wand at the ready. Lupin would need to be taken out quickly. As he stepped further into the house, he saw Potter's aunt in the living room floor, stunned and bound. Severus released her from her bonds but didn't bother to revive her. She would only make matters worse.

Starting up the stairs, he found the master bedroom empty, the bathroom empty, and the first bedroom empty. The second bedroom was open, but it too was silent. Cautiously stepping into the room, he saw Potter's uncle bound on the floor in the corner. He, however, was awake.

Severus released the other man and asked, "What happened?"

"That freak, Lupin, attacked me and took off with the boy," said Vernon, huffing and grunting as he clumsily climbed to his feet.

"Do you know where they might have gone?" asked Severus.

Vernon just shook his head and glared at the two wizards. "I do know one thing, though. That little freak better not come back to this house. Next time, he won't get off so lightly."

Albus cancelled the spell and sat back. Damn that interfering little wolf. Where could he have taken the brat? He absently dismissed Severus, missing the little smirk that crossed the Potions Master's face, and called the rest of the Order. They had to find Lupin and Harry as quickly as possible.

***

Bill walked into the house and headed straight for the kitchen. His mother bustled around busily, trying to finish dinner. "Mum, I need to talk to you for a minute."

"Can't it wait, dear? I still haven't finished the potatoes," said Molly.

"No, it really can't," said Bill firmly.

Molly looked at her son for a moment, seeing the utter seriousness in his eyes, and sat down at the table. "What's wrong, Bill?"

"Dumbledore modified your memories," said Bill bluntly.

"What?" asked Molly incredulously. "He wouldn't do that. What gave you the idea that he would?"

"Because I saw him do it," said Bill. "Harry's badly hurt, and Remus wanted to take him to St. Mungo's for treatment, but Dumbledore threatened to have him arrested if he took Harry out of the house. Harry was dying, and all Dumbledore was going to do is send Snape with a few healing potions."

"No," said Molly, shaking her head in denial. "He said Harry was fine. He said Severus healed him."

"I saw Harry, Mum, and he was definitely not fine. Severus had to mend a broken leg, a broken arm, and a fractured skull. He had to completely remove the bones of his left hand and regrow them. Harry had cuts and bruises covering almost his entire body," said Bill intently. "How is that fine? Dumbledore changed your memories to get you to leave, and he tried to do the same with me. It didn't work with me because I have protection against mind magic."

Molly gasped and covered her mouth with her hand, tears brimming in her eyes. She couldn't believe the Headmaster had betrayed her like that, but she knew it was true. Bill wouldn't lie to her about something as important as this. "Oh, poor Harry. We have to do something to help him."

Bill smiled reassuringly at his mother. "Remus already has. He took Harry with him, using an emergency portkey. I don't know where they are, but I'm sure Remus is taking good care of Harry." He kept his part in Remus and Harry's escape from his mother in case Dumbledore managed to get a hold of her again. He also kept the part about Harry being in a coma from her. It would only worry her, and there was nothing she could do to help.

Molly sighed in relief, but that relief was quickly chased away by rage. She scowled fiercely and climbed to her feet. "Just wait until I get my hands on that bearded monster. How dare he leave Harry in that house to be abused! And who knows how long it's been going on?" She suddenly gasped and yelled, "Ron! Get downstairs this instant!"

Ron flinched at his mother's screech, wondering what he'd done to merit it, and hurried down the stairs. He rushed into the kitchen and saw Bill sitting at the table and his mother pacing across the room angrily. "I didn't do it!"

Bill snickered at the panicked look on Ron's face. He didn't blame him, though. It never meant well for someone when Molly Weasley was in a rage like this.

"How long has Harry been abused at the Dursley's?" Molly demanded.

Ron blanched at the question. Harry hadn't wanted anyone to know the true extent of the abuse he suffered at the Dursley's. He didn't want to betray his best friend's trust, but he also didn't want his mother to punish him for not answering. When his mother's scowl darkened even more, Ron whispered a silent apology to Harry.

"All his life. His bedroom was the cupboard under the stairs until he got his Hogwarts letter. They started making him cook and do the household chores when he was four, and they barely fed him enough to keep him alive. After he started at Hogwarts, they put locks on the outside of his door to keep him locked in and pushed what little food he did get into the room through a cat flap in the door. The physical abuse wasn't too extensive until the summer before fourth year. Harry had bruises all over his chest and back when we came to get him for the World Cup game."

Molly looked more and more horrified as her son told her about Harry's home life. She couldn't believe that she hadn't noticed anything. She sat down heavily and started to cry. "How could I have missed this? I love Harry like a son, but I never noticed how much he was suffering. What kind of mother am I?"

"He didn't want you to know, Mum," said Ron softly. "He knew how much you cared about him, but there wasn't anything you could do to help. Sending him food every summer was enough."

Molly just cried harder. It killed her that the care packages she sent every summer were pretty much the only thing that kept Harry from starving. When Ron and the twins had rescued Harry with the Ford Anglia, Ron had even said they were starving him, but she'd just thought he was over exaggerating.

"Mum, he's safe now. Remus took him away from the Dursley's," said Bill gently.

"What?" asked Ron, staring at Bill in shock. "Remus has Harry? Where are they? Are they coming here?" He certainly hoped that was the case. He knew that Harry blamed himself for Sirius' death, and Ron was determined to knock some sense into his friend. Bellatrix Lestrange killed Sirius and no one else.

Molly's tears dried up in an instant, and she scowled fiercely once more. "That damn man is going to pay. How dare he leave my baby there like that?"

Bill just smiled ruefully at his mother's fiery temper and turned to answer Ron. "They can't, Ron. Dumbledore threatened to have Remus arrested if he took Harry out of the house, and now they're on the run."

Ron solemnly nodded. He honestly wasn't surprised by this revelation. After Harry had told him that Dumbledore knew about the abuse and still insisted that he return every summer, Ron had seen the Headmaster in a new light. Dumbledore just looked at the bigger picture, and he didn't care what he had to do, or who he had to manipulate to insure that outcome.

"Harry will be all right, Mum," said Ron firmly. "I'm sure of it."

Molly slowly nodded and wiped the tears off of her face. Bill looked at Ron with new respect. This was a side to his brother he'd never seen before, and he was impressed with Ron's maturity. Bill suddenly smirked mischievously. Merlin help Dumbledore when the twins found out, though. They could be downright vicious when they wanted to be.