Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K.R.

Warnings: Language, abuse. Pairings undecided, OC characters.

A/N: I know I probably should be focusing on my other stories now but this one was begging to be written. Some things to know: James doesn't know Harry was abused. Harry's twin Andrew adores Harry but despises their mother even though he doesn't know she abuses him. Harry will be in Slytherin but he won't find any comfort there. I realize that this is an odd style of writing but I needed a way to set up the story quickly while giving the maximum amount of information possible. I'll only be covering Harry's childhood for a few more chapters and then it will get to the main plot.

¤§¤§¤

"There's no mistake James. Andrew is the prophecy child," Dumbledore said as he looked at the child in Lily's arms with a fond smile. "He was marked just as the prophecy stated."

James frowned at the Headmaster sitting across from him and his wife at the table. "Yes, but Harry also has a mark Albus. It's shaped like a lightning bolt for Merlin's sake!" He said in exasperation"

"You're right James but we've already concluded that it occurred when he was hit by a piece of falling plaster. Andrew was he only one awake after the attack and he's been marked with a star. It means that he'll be great-"

Lily quickly cut her mentor off. "James enough. Our little Andrew defeated Voldemort!" She said as she gazed at the boy with adoration. "He's a saviour James. Our little boy's a saviour. He's gonna grow up and save the world. He can't afford any distractions."

James gave a dark look to Albus who looked taken aback at the obvious worship in the woman's voice. "Yes dear."

¤§¤§¤

"You little brat get back here!" The red headed woman shrieked loudly as the small five year old ran away from her.

"No!" Harry screamed as his mother caught him around the waist. "No, no, no let go! Please I'll be good!"

"Shut up!" Lily screamed as she backhanded the boy. She sneered as he quieted and his eye's that looked so much like her own welled up with tears. "It's Andrew's birthday today so I want you to stay out of the way! Don't ruin this for him!"

"Yes Mother," Harry whispered looking down at his feet.

"Good now get going."

"Yes Mother."

Lily narrowed her eyes in disgust. "And remember for every present that you received you'll be spending an hour in the closet. Andrew is the chosen one, every gift you've received is one that should have been his."

¤§¤§¤

"Hey Harry come play with us!" Andrew squealed as his red hair whipped around his face in the wind caused from the open door. "Ron and I are going flying and-"

"Harry can't play with you now dear he's grounded remember?" Lily smiled at the older twin sweetly. "You and Ron head out and play now okay?"

Andrew frowned in displeasure and nodded before heading back out the door with Ron.

Ron frowned as he saw how sad his friend was. "Hey Andrew what's wrong?"

"Harry never plays with me any more," he sighed, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall from his hazel eyes. "Mom always grounds him or he says that he's busy. It's not fair."

¤§¤§¤

"Cut that racket out!" Lily screamed as Harry's hands faltered on the piano's key's. "I don't know why they bother teaching you to play such a noble instrument. You'll never amount to anything, you'll always be second rate!"

Harry's eyes narrowed in anger. "Jealous Mother?" He drawled. "Andrew could never hope to play any instrument. All he's good for is flying and pranks."

"Really?" She said eyeing the piano before sniffing. "Maybe he won't ever play the piano…but if I have my way you never will either!" She shouted before slamming the piano key's lid down on his hands.

"Ahhh!"

"Remember boy you'll never amount to anything. My Andrew's the chosen one," she said before leaving the crying boy to tend to his broken fingers.

"I will make something of my life," Harry whispered furiously as he clutched his hands to his chest. "I will and when I do I'll make you pay!"

¤§¤§¤

"You broke your finger's again Harry?" His father asked the silent boy in exasperation. "Well come along then we better go see Madame Pomfrey."

"No," Lily said as she entered the dining room. "This is the third time this year. He has to learn to be more careful. Take him to the muggle physician in town.

Lily turned to her youngest child with a dark smile on her face. "Since he can't seem to stop being so clumsy, having his fingers heal the muggle way will be a good learning experience.

¤§¤§¤

"Lily don't do this!" James shouted in the kitchen as Harry and Andrew hid outside the door.

"Don't do what James?" Lily asked calmly.

James growled in aggravation. "Why are you pulling Harry out of Barnardiston Hall? The Headmaster says that he could very well go onto college in a few years! Called him a prodigy! Why are you pulling him out now? Hell you're the one who wanted him to go to a muggle school anyways. I allowed it even though he would be gone for the entire week and now that he's so close to finishing you want to pull him out! He could very well be done before ever entering Hogwarts for Merlin's sake! Why now?"

"Oh James," Lily said tearfully. "I miss my baby boy! I-"

"Try another Lil's!" James shouted. "You were perfectly fine for his first three years, so why now? Why now when he's eight?"

"Fine!" Lily screeched. "You want to know why? I'll tell you why. Andrew is jealous! Harry this, Harry that. Why does Harry get to go to a boarding school and I don't? When's Harry coming back? Andrew's the one that wants that brat back! What my Andrew wants my Andrew gets!"

Outside Harry clenched his fist in anger and hurt while Andrew looked on in distress. "Harry I didn't think she'd do this!" he whispered furiously. "You've got to believe me, I know how much you love going there I just…"

Harry smirked bitterly. "But of course. I shouldn't have expected anything else. What the chosen one wants, he gets," he said lowly before walking away as his twin fell to the ground in dismay.

"I hate her!" Andrew whispered in despair. "I absolutely despise her!"

¤§¤§¤

"Well now Andrew it seems like your in tip top shape!" Madame Pomfrey said waving her wand over the giggling nine year old. "Well now all that's left is Harry. James why don't you and Andrew go meet with the Headmaster and I'll bring Harry when he's done okay?"

"Sure Poppy, thanks!" James said gratefully as he lead his elder child out of the infirmary.

"Well now young man off with the glamour!" Poppy said frowning.

"Why do you say that like I'm the one that puts it on?" Harry asked dryly as he cancelled the magic hiding his injuries.

Poppy gasped as she took in his bruised and cut up face. "What did she do now?" The mediwitch asked faintly.

Harry grimaced as he caught sight of his reflection in window in front of his bed. "Threw me through the second floor window."

"That bitch!" Poppy muttered darkly. "That woman should have never been allowed to care for children! If only she hadn't used that secrecy spell on me than you wouldn't have to put up with this."

"It's not like it would do me any good," Harry sighed. "She's the mother of the boy-who-lived. Why would they believe the forgotten twin or a mediwitch?

¤§¤§¤

"Uncle Salvatore! What a pleasant surprise, please come in!" Lily gushed as she let the dark haired blue eyed man into the manor.

Salvatore Adolfus grimaced in distaste as the younger woman latched onto his arm and dragged him to the drawing room. "Please Mrs. Potter refrain from calling me Uncle. That title is for James's use only," he said tugging on his arm. "And while you're at it let go of me! It unseemly for a married woman such as yourself to act this way."

Lily fluttered her eyes at him and cooed. "Oh but Uncle Salvatore-"

"Enough you simpleminded chit! Go fetch your husband for me now!" He barked, his sapphire eyes flashing dangerously.

"Do you not realize who I am?" She hissed as she let go of his arm. "I'm the mother of the boy-who-lived, you-"

"Mrs. Potter I don't care if you're an angel sent by Merlin himself," Salvatore said dryly. "You're forgetting your station. You have little to no say in any political matters. I on the other hand am the lord of the Adolfus family which is far more prestigious than the Potter line. Now go get your husband now!"

"Fine!" She snarled, her pale blue robes swirling around her as she stalked from the room. "Stay out of the way you brat!" She yelled shoving Harry as he went to enter the room.

"Tch what a common whore," Salvatore muttered darkly as he moved to help the fallen boy up.

The man quickly grabbed the boy and set him on his feet as he knelt before him. "Well now Harry, it's been quite some time hasn't it? You sure have grown up to be an interesting young man."

Harry raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh? How so?" He asked the strange man.

"Well for one you aren't whining like your older brother would have…and you seem to be in remarkably good health considering it was just last week that your father told me you were ill," Salvatore said quietly, looking deep into the boy's eyes.

"I recover quickly," Harry said coolly, moving to pick up a potion's book he'd forgotten in the room earlier that day.

Salvatore eyed his glamour's intently. "I suppose you would have to wouldn't you?"

"Ahem?" James cleared his throat. "I'm not interrupting anything am I?"

"Hmmm. No. There's something I wish to discuss with you James."

"Of course. Harry please excuse us-"

"No this has to do with the boy."

James lifted an eyebrow in question. "Really?"

"Yes, really. Please have a seat."

"How is it," James asked laughingly. "That no matter where you go, you always manage to make the host feel as though you were the one who owns their home?"

"It's a gift," Salvatore said airily as he brushed imaginary lint off his black robes. "Onto more important matters though. I want custody of Harry."

¤§¤§¤