AN: WARNING! This fanfic will deal will topics of abuse, neglect, and rape, at times in graphic detail. If you are easily triggered by such things please do not read. This is my first Harry Potter fanfic, it is an AU and not Canon. I am open to all comments and suggestions but please keep them constructive, reviews and private messages are welcome. All the characters belong to JK Rowling.

It was a quiet night at #4 Privet Drive home of Vernon and Petunia Dursley, who were proud to say they were perfectly normal thank you very much. Vernon and Petunia had a son who they were immensely proud of, their likkle Diddikins. The Dursley's also had a secret they lived in constant fear of someone finding out about; Petunia had a sister who was absolutely unDursleyish. Lily, Petunia's sister, and her husband James were as freakish as they came and when Vernon and Petunia found out they had had children there was no doubt they would be just the same.

As darkness fell, Petunia put her son to bed in his crib, hovering and cooing over the little child. She seemed like a good mother, perhaps her child was a little fat and positively spoiled but she seemed as though she could competently care for children. Vernon was a large whale of a man who had a raging temper; Minerva had noticed he was abusive and rude to the people in his work place as well as the animals on their street. Still towards his own child he was caring, a little more patient, and even gentle; there was no visible reason that they wouldn't be functionally able to care for the Potter children. Minerva knew Dumbledore was coming with the children any minute and other than the fact that these muggles were in her opinion disturbingly against anything that did not perfectly match their picture of life; she could not find anything wrong with them. There was nothing in her research into the family that had said they were anything less than functional and capable caregivers. So why did she have such a sickening feeling about leaving the pair with these people, her time was up to figure out a reason to change his mind, Dumbledore appeared at the end of the street with a pop.

Albus Dumbledore was exactly what one might picture an old wizard to be, he had long white hair with and an equally long white beard which was tucked into the belt. He wore purple robes with silver stars and moons pattern around the hems. In his hands he held to little bundles of blankets. Minerva shifted and jumped down from her perch on the brick wall landing on her feet as a human rather than a cat, knowing everyone on the street had long ago went to sleep. Immediately she headed towards Albus, eyeing the packages he carried. Tears welled in her eyes, Albus held the sleeping forms of the two closest things to grandchildren she would ever have.

"So it's true then Albus," her voice cracked. "My little lions, my Lily and James, they are gone?"

"Not quite as little as they once were, but yes my dear Minerva. I'm very sorry for your loss." Albus was somber however not nearly as much as Minerva though he should be.

"And you are just going to leave my grandbabies with these muggles," she spat.

"I'm very sorry Minerva but you have no legal claim to the children, and with Sirius and Remus running after Peter for revenge they are in no fit state to parent two small children. The children must be protected and their mother's sacrifice will only go far. A wizarding family would simply spoil them rotten, the Children-Who-Survived famous for something they will never remember, witness to the whole endeavor. No, it's better this way outside of the public eye, and it will give us all the time we need to grieve and regroup. After all are we really going to believe a one year old killed Voldemort, the darkest wizard of our time, no he maybe be gone but he won't be forever." Albus spoke softly but he was matter of fact, his mind was made up and there would be no changing it. Minerva felt too weak to argue with the man, she simply reached for her grandbabies and sat down to say goodbye.

Albus knelt down and plucked a leaf from the bushes next to the porch, which he transfigured into a bassinet just large enough for the two infants. Then he gently coaxed each child away from a sobbing Minerva, he placed each baby in the bassinet on the steps of #4. Then he drew two letters from his robes and tucked them in with the children. He allowed Minerva one final kiss with which she unknowingly added more protection and sealed Dumbledore's plan of blood wards and love magic, before leading her away from the porch. At the end of the street he apparated them away, before the muggles woke up.

The next morning the twins would be woken by the surprised and frantic screams of their Aunt who got more than she bargained for when going to get the paper. Even though surely they were scared and cold, they did not cry. It would be a full year before Petunia and Vernon heard a peep from the Harry and Hermione who on October 31st 1982 would break their silence and not only cry but wail for what seemed to the Dursleys as days on end. This would also be the first day Vernon Dursley raised his hand to a child, but when he did he found out he quite enjoyed it.

(Time jump – Harry and Hermione 5 years old)

"Thank you Ma'am," was all the boy said as he and his sister ran past the woman to the bathroom. Inside they quickly washed their face, used the facilities and brushed their teeth. They did everything together; they lived in the same room and spent every minute together so using the bathroom at the same time did not bother them. While they moved almost as a dance they mentally counted the seconds to ensure they weren't late, Harry was going to set a new record for himself three full days without a beating though they had spent the majority of the time in their room Harry didn't mind so much. Yesterday they had even gotten half a slice of bacon with their piece of bread. So all in all he was on top of the world. The twins raced back to the cupboard and ducked in as Petunia had beyond counting down, with a quick "Thank you ma'am. Good night ma'am."

The only response from the woman was the slamming of the door and the turning of the lock. Harry and Hermione were alone in their quiet space for now they could be at peace. Despite the fact that the room was small, they were small too so it fit them just fine. They each had a matt and blankets on the floor as well as a wardrobe for their clothes, or well Dudley's old clothes which they wore. The twin's room had once been a closet but when the Dursleys renovated a few years ago they add just enough space for the two to lay down on the floor and adding a locking door from the hallway. They tried not to think too much about how Dudley had two rooms and even Mistress Marge had a room though she didn't live with them. The twins just tried to be happy that they had each other.

Tonight it was Hermione's turn to sleep; Harry would stay awake as long as he could guarding his sister from any and all monsters that could come. They had done this for as long as he could remember taking turns standing watch against the darkness that followed them. Masters Vernon and Dudley and Mistress Petunia were not the only people Harry and Hermione were scared of, they both remember the darkness and the monsters that hide within it. Harry watched his sister's chest rise and fall, when he saw her shudder slightly he pulled his blanket over her he didn't mind the cold as much as she did. From underneath his worn matt Harry pulled a small green army man. He had used all of his tokens from behaving in class to earn it, but his still had to keep it hidden as he did not deserve such nice things. He looked at the army man and thought back to the one who had spoken to his class. Army men were brave; they fought against the bad guys of the world. He had almost asked the man what would happen if the bad guy lived with him but one look from Hermione told him he better keep his mouth shut because if Master and Mistress found out that he had told on them they would kill him for sure. No he knew he was to be grateful for everything he had; even his beatings because it meant Master and Mistress cared if not they would not try so hard to make him better, and I they were beating him it meant they weren't beating Hermione. They could have sent Hermione and him to the orphanage, because that's where freaks belonged but Master and Mistress were good people who kept both of them despite the fact that they ate their food and took Dudley's clothes and of course their profound freakishness.

The sound of the TV had clicked off and the last of the light in the hallway was doused young Harry Potter was all alone in the dark, until his sister woke. He squeezed his eyes shut and squeezed his army man of strength and prayed to any and every god who would listen please let them make it through the night without nightmares and please let Master Vernon do the same. Master Vernon's nightmares scared Harry more than anything because he would always come get Hermione to make him feel better and when Hermione came back she always got sick. Harry would hold her hand then clean up her sick, but then days would go by before Hermione would go near Harry or anyway. She would say she was fine but Harry knew she wasn't, he vowed that any night Master Vernon had a nightmare and he was on watch he would take her place, he would do whatever Master Vernon asked he had to protect his sister as much as he could.

(Time Jump)

It was Dudley's birthday today, and since Harry wasn't quite sure when his and Hermione's birthday was he wished himself a happy birthday too. He would wish Hermione a happy birthday when she woke up but Master Vernon had an extra bad dream and no matter what Harry did or said he wanted Hermione's companionship last night not Harry's. She was gone a very long time and when she came back got really sick she also was bleeding between her legs. She cried silently until she fell asleep but Harry didn't sleep at all. The kids at school said that you got to make a wish on your birthday candles but freaks did not have birthday's let alone cakes and candles so as he prepared Dudley's birthday breakfast he quickly lit and blew out one of the Mistress' candles. This was Harry's first wish so he hoped he did it right. He wished that someone out in the universe would care about him and Hermione come and get them or at least get her he could take the beatings and he could help Master Vernon with his bad dreams but he wasn't sure how much longer his sister could. The deep breath he took to blow out the candle made his side ache terribly, but if his wish came true the reminder for last night would be worth it. Harry had set the table with everything Masters and Mistress would need for breakfast he made bacon, eggs, toast and scones. He had water boiling in the kettle for tea and the orange juice neatly poured into each glass before beginning to wash the dishes. Master Vernon was the first one down stairs today. Harry greeted him with a bow and "Good morning, sir. Breakfast is ready; I shall pour your tea now."

Master Vernon simply grunted in response. Harry rushed over with the kettle and tea leaves to prepare the tea. Just as he finished Master Dudley came crashing into the kitchen and into Harry. Harry was sent stumbling forward with the kettle of boiling water slashing down the front of his body. He could feel the burns beginning but he did not scream our cry, no he got up and apologized to Master Dudley for so carelessly being in his way and then to Master Vernon for not being more careful. Master Vernon was fuming though his face was red and there was hot water on his floor. Harry knew what was going to come next.

Harry was frozen he could not run for that would only make it worse but he was still so sore from last night. He had tried to stop Master Vernon from taking Hermione but it was no use and he was pretty sure he had a broken rib or too because of it. As Master Vernon moved toward Harry all the boy did was close his eyes and await the punishment instore. "How! Dare ! You! Bump! Into! My! Son!" the large man bellowed; each word punctuated with a slap the last causing Harry to lose his balance and fall to the floor. "How! Dare! You! Spill! Something! On! My! Floors!" Each of these came with a swift kick. "Clean it up! Now!" Another kick sent Harry sliding threw the water on the floor.

"Yes sir, sorry sir." The boy murmured as he got to his knees. Fumbling for the towel next to the sink to begin drying the floors, he didn't dare look up or make more noise. Didn't dare to wipe the stray tear that had fallen down his face, or the blood from his lip where Master's ring had split it open once again. He only hoped they would still get to see Ms. Figg down the lane while Dudley and his friends went out to celebrate his day. When the floor was dry and the dishes were done Harry slipped away from the kitchen to his room and changed into some dry clothes. Hermione was awake and folding laundry for Mistress when she saw him she reached out and touched his face, as soon as she did his pain went away, he wished he was able to do that or her he could only try to take away her bad memories and that didn't always work. They didn't dare speak in the hallway they simply communicated with their eyes that one day it would get better, one day they would be free. Harry returned to the kitchen and cleared away the breakfast table while Dudley opened his presents.

It was about half past eight when the Dursley's dropped Harry and Hermione off outside Ms. Figg's. "Any word of your freakishness and no food for a week," Mistress had said before they got out of the car.

"Yes Ma'am, have a nice time today," was Harry's only response, what else was he going to say after all they were freak and freaks don't deserve to go on outings or to eat regular meals.

Harry and Hermione made their way slowly up to the doorway and gently knocked on Ms. Figg's door. Hermione smiled as some of her many cats had followed them onto the porch, Harry smiled at his sister's moment of happiness. When the elderly woman opened the door they was surprised to see that she was not alone in the house as was her usual state. "I am so sorry to bother you Ms. Figg, Aunt must not have realized you had company. Perhaps she did not call to say we were coming today. No matter than we shall return home, so sorry to have bothered you." Harry turned to make his leave, reaching for Hermione's hand signaling her to follow.

"Don't be silly boy I knew you two were coming. Your Aunt forgets nothing that involves your precious cousin," the elderly said in a raspy voice. The children followed her in to the living room where another woman with kind eyes and a stern face sat already.

"Harry, Hermione, this is Minerva she is a friend of mine. She works at a school up in Scotland." Ms. Figg introduced the woman who stood eyeing Harry and his sister then kneeling down right in front of them. Oh my, she thought they are so small and frail it's a wonder Arabella had not called sooner.

"It's very nice to meet you ma'am." Harry said bowing his head the heading to the corner of the room and sitting on the floor, Hermione followed wordlessly hand in hand with her brother. She did not like new people, they tended to ask questions and sometimes Harry would answer them that would lead to punishments. Minerva looked over to Arabella who was settling in on the couch across from her then back to the children, then up to Arabella again her eyes questioning the children's choice in sitting arrangements. Arabella just shook her head mouthing I don't know why, but they won't sit in chairs.

"Children, wouldn't you rather sit on the couch and join us, its surely more comfortable." Minerva asked wondering if she could get the boy to join her.

"No ma'am we're just fine." Hermione spoke in a small voice wishing the woman would just forget they were there like Ms. Figg did.

The two women sipped tea and watched the children closely for five minutes they said nothing just softly petted the cat that had crawled near them. Occasionally they would look at each other and Minerva could see the slight communication pass between them before they looked to the cat once more. Minerva mused about how much they looked like their parents the resemblance was uncanny Harry had father's face with his mother's red hair stuck out at all angles. His clothes seemed to be two sizes too large and she would swear on Godric Gryffindor that the boy was only 6 or 7 by his size if she had not known better. Of course James was always small but this seemed to be too much. Hermione had Lily's face and her father's brown hair; it seemed only slightly more manageable than Harry's. Finally everything got to be too much for her and she went over to the corner and sat across from her grandbabies.