Harry Potter and the Wandless Magic

Chapter Four: Harry's Magical Guardian

Harry sat up in his hospital bed, and finished his provided lunch. While not as good as Hogwarts food, it still tasted better than dry crusts and water that he had from the Dursleys. He had just set the plate on the stand beside him when Dumbledore walked in, flanked by none other than the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge.

"Harry, you are looking much better," the Headmaster said.

"Thanks."

"Harry, I'd like to introduce you to Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic."

He wasn't about to tell Fudge this, but he had seen him when he and Ron had hidden under Harry's invisibility cloak last year. Feigning a look of surprise, he stuttered a hello.

Fudge smiled. "No need to be so nervous, Harry. I'm not here to dole out some horrific punishment. Accidental magic isn't cause to throw someone in Azkaban."

The thought had occurred to Harry in the hours since he had awoken in St. Mungo's. He thought Dumbledore would visit sooner. Maybe some red tape had held him back since Harry wasn't at Privet Drive.

"Oh, well good," Harry replied.

"Now, we still need to know what happened from your point of view, Harry." Dumbledore was eying him very closely.

Harry told them everything, including his desire to get control of his power so this wouldn't happen again. When he had finished, Harry fumbled with the edges of his bed sheets. He hoped they wouldn't notice his nervousness.

"Merlin's Beard. Wandless magic of that scale at his age," Fudge gasped after a long moment. "And accidental at that."

"Harry, do you truly believe that it was all accidental? At any time did you feel as if you could have stopped if you truly wanted to?"

Harry gulped silently. "I'm not sure, sir. I wanted to hurt them but not like that. I just wanted her to stop insulting my mom. Then I wanted my uncle to stop beating me like he usually does."

"Usually?" Fudge sputtered. "Do you mean to tell me that this has happened before."

Suddenly afraid to share, Harry said nothing.

"How many times?"

Harry stayed silent. He would always be a freak to someone. Even now, away from Uncle Vernon's clutches, he would have to bare the shame of being too weak to fight back.

"Harry, please tell me." Fudge leaned forward, his bowler hat in his hand. "I won't think any less of you, but I need to know what I'm dealing with."

Fighting to keep his mouth shut, he finally said, "Years."

Fudge rounded on Dumbledore. "You told me that he was well taken care of. You assured me that he was receiving all of the love and support he could ever want? By magic, Dumbledore, how could you miss this?"

Dumbledore opened his mouth to reply.

"Sir, you didn't know, did you?" Harry asked. "Please tell me that you didn't just leave me there, because you wanted me to be mistreated."

"Of course not, Harry," Dumbledore said with wide eyes. "Why would you ever think such a thing?"

"My faith in you has been shaken, sir. I also agree with the Minister. You have a lot of ways of keeping track of me. Why did you leave me there? Why didn't you check up on me or have someone else check on me?"

"I had someone checking on you, but apparently I will need to have a little chat with here about what abuse looks like."

"Who was watching him?" Fudge demanded. "They should have their magic stripped away for this."