All stories told are black and blue underneath

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. All credits belong to J.K Rowling.

Previously...

On the night before his eleventh birthday, Harry sat in his suffocating room and watched the locks click shut. He sighed. He was locked in again. A lone tear slipped down his eyes as he thought of how he would spend his whole birthday in this cramped room. Little did he know his life was about to change. All because of one unexpected letter.

Chapter 3

"Minerva have you received the student list from the ministry?"

"Of course Albus."

"Which students do we need to appraise of the wizarding world this year?"

"Miss Brocklehurst, Miss Fawcett, Miss Creswell, Mr, Flinch-Fletchley, Miss Granger, Miss Perks, Mr Potter..."

"Mr Potter? Harry Potter?"

"Yes Albus.  He turns eleven today. Those damn muggles you left him with didn't tell him who he is. The magical roaster lists him as unknown of his heritage." She glared at Albus as she said this.

"I see. I shall go and make sure this situation is properly remedied. Apparently I was mistaken in what they would do for young Harry. Please arrange for the other students to be visited so that travel information and portkey's if they are to far can be set up and given. I suggest you visit Miss Granger first."

"Very well Albus, I shall take care of it." she said leaving a rather disgruntled Albus Dumbledore behind in his office. Once her the heavy click of her footsteps faded,  Dumbledore stood up and started pacing worriedly. 

"I was certain they'd manage to somehow scare his magic into submission. I had plans for him. Now what?" Dumbledore whispered angrily. He stopped pacing and stared at the fireplace. He recognized he needed help. But from who? Very few people knew the truth about him and Harry's heritage. He chose to orchestrate his rise to power in secret through more underhanded means. So that when he did, people wouldn't expect it and he would be able to easily manipulate them into thinking he was the same grandfatherly man before he received more power. Not only that he needed to keep his face out of public scandals to maintain a good reputation. After a few minutes of thinking, Dumbledore took some floo powder out of the basin and threw it into the fire place.

"Remus Lupin!"  Seconds after, Lupins head appeared in the fireplace.

"You called Albus?"

"Harry's been accepted into Hogwarts." Remus visibly blanched.

"I thought you had taken care of him?"

"So did I. I thought since he was half blood his magic would be easily suppressible. But it seems he inherited more of his fathers power than we thought. What should I do Remus?"

"Save him."

"Elaborate please."

"Save him. Go to where he lives and save him. Be a father figure towards him. A mentor of sorts. Show the boy a little love and understanding. It'll be enough for him to serve and look up to you. Who knows? Perhaps he could be strong enough to defeat the Dark Lord with your guidance. Then your plan can go smoothly again."

"That would be deliciously ironic. I know there's a reason I kept you around Remus.  Thank you. It's a marvellous idea."

"Of course Albus. Until later." Remus's head disappeared with a small "POP" and Dumbledore hurried around his office getting ready for the next phase in his new plan.

Dumbledore apparated to the familiar street. Very little had changed over the past 10 years. He strode confidently to number 4 and knocked on the door. He knew this was impromptu but that was how it was supposed to be. He would come in and hopefully catch Vernon and Petunia punishing Harry for something pointless and become the saviour. They wouldn't be pleased yes but it was a small thing. He would just pay them off. He heard a woman's shrill voice declare she was coming and waited impatiently until the door flung open. Outside came a woman with a long neck and a pointed nose. Dumbledore thought she looked quite similar to a horse. He recognised her as Petunia Dursley nee Evans. He remembered Lily showing the Order a picture and them expressing their disgust much to Lily's hidden amusement and anger.

"Hello Mrs Dursley. I am Albus Dumbledore. I was wondering if I could come in and speak to your nephew? After that I have some matters I must discuss with you on Harry and his wellbeing." he said smoothly with a hidden threat in his speak.

Petunia gulped at the frosty blue eyes that stared at her in malice. She was really lucky she had given into Dudley's tantrums and sent him over to his friends house for the night. She knew the decision she made years ago would cost her one day but she had hoped no one would notice. She had kept track of Harry's foster homes waiting for this day and only hoped she wouldn't get into too much trouble.  She knew her nephews living conditions were less than amazing but it was better than it would be in here. She had to figure out a way to worm herself out of this now. "Come in." she whispered in a shaky voice.

Dumbledore pushed past Petunia and strolled in casually sitting on Vernon's armchair in the living room. Vernon, who was sitting on the table gobbling food down, looked at Dumbledore in rage. His face turned different shades of colours. First purple and orange, then red. Making his way over, he pointed his finger accusingly at Dumbledore and glared at him darkly. 

"YOU! YOU FREAK! HOW DARE YOU ENTER MY HOUSE AND ACT LIKE ITS YOUR OWN. YOU OLD COOT!" He screamed loudly. Outside the neighbours locked all their doors, windows and drew their curtains as they covered their ears to block out another one of Vernon's angry rants.

Dumbledore simply raised an eyebrow and brandished his wand casting a non verbal silencing spell on Vernon. Petunia shrieked and ran round to Vernon and hiding behind him as she clutched him tightly. Dumbledore sighed and cast a silencing ward around the whole house. They make too much noise. He was here for one job. Why didn't anyone respect that?

"If you are unable to talk civilly Mr and Mrs Dursley then you shall not speak at all and instead I'll get on to punishing you for not scaring Harry's magic away. Is that really what you want?" Dumbledore asked coldly. The Dursley's flinched and cowered in front of him before nodding meekly.

"Good. Now explain!"

"Well... You.. You see-" Vernon stuttered trying to explain. In reality, he was too scared to tell Dumbledore what they did.

"I don't have all day, you buffoon! Spit it out!"

"We never wanted the freak! He was going to be a burden. He was going to steal and contaminate our little Dudders. So we sent him away." Petunia said recovering and plucking all of her courage.

"You did what?" Dumbledore hissed menacingly.

"We sent him away. He was a freak. If your worried about us not doing anything, think again. We made sure he ended up in abusive homes and moved around so much. Its not our fault that his freakishness was too strong." Petunia said glaring. Of course it wasn't true. They hadn't made sure of it. She was certain that one of Dumbledore's lackeys or those enemies Harry had were responsible for everything. But they wouldn't live to see another day if he found out that they were leeching money of him in a false pretence. So why not lie about it and take the credit?

"I see." Dumbledore said pensively. Those fools may not have messed everything up after all. He could still swoop in and save Harry. Then send him back every night once school was done with all the other students to make him even more malleable. And not only that he could convince Harry to come by saying he would give him a permanent home. No... it would work perfectly. The little matter of him having magic wouldn't change much now.

"You still failed. You tried I shall give you that but I had to change up my plans. Now I am forced to take Harry to Hogwarts where he will be in danger." he said cruelly before pointing his wand at the two and casting the Cruciatius curse. He watched them suffer for a full minute before he cancelled the curse and Petunia shakily got up and handed him Harry's foster file with the current address he stayed at. Dumbledore nodded satisfied before nodding his head at them and apparating out.

If there was one thing Dumbledore was sure off, it was that he was going to get his way. No matter what. And Harry would be the key. He didn't know he was about to meet a very different Harry from what he expected.