Chapter 1

Sirius was waiting for me at Grimmauld Place, arms opened wide and welcoming. Repeatedly he thanked me for using his enchanted mirror to check with him before mindlessly storming into the Department of Mysteries, considering that could have ended disastrously. I hugged him as tightly as possible, just glad that nothing had happened to him because of my stupidity. Thank you, Hermione. He walked into what I remembered as the drawing room, but that's not what it looked like. It didn't look like a room at all, more like a garden. As I traversed further, I noticed that what I thought were garden structures had scripture on them. Like a huge Angel of Death that looked familiar, which held the names of the Riddle family. Everything fell into place, and I finally realised where we were. I searched for my godfather, but he was nowhere I could see. I started to panic, backing away from the sculpture in fear of what it meant. I tripped on something stiff, and I knew what it was before I looked. His grey eyes were still open, Cedric staring blankly up at the sky. An evil cackle erupted from behind me, and I was too scared to turn around, even as it got loud enough to make my head hurt.

~o0o~

I was sprung from my nightmare by my cousin dragging me out of bed by my hair. The pain was sharp, but not too strong. I'd had worse. He kicked me while I was on the floor, ordering me downstairs where my uncle was waiting for his breakfast, 15 minutes later than it was meant to be. I struggled up while he leered over me, and questioned if he was there to escort me down or something. He shook his head before he pulled me up and made me face him. I could tell what he was about to do, so when his face went towards mine I turned away. He tried to force my face towards him, kissing the side of my jaw. I shoved him away, the manual labour from gardening and cleaning giving me the muscle to actually move him, even if only a little.

"Don't even try it, I haven't let you do that since I knew I was a wizard, and I'm not gonna let you start again now that your girlfriend split up with you." I glared, "I'm strong enough to stop you, and I can handle you hitting me like a four-year-old throwing a tantrum, it's what kept you from trying to do more than making he give you handjobs before the threat of me cursing you. And like I say every time you're sad enough to kiss me, I'm your fucking cousin, and you're fucking sick."

Dudley's face contorted with rage, and his hands clenched into fists. I knew that if Uncle Vernon hadn't started yelling me down, I'd definitely have a broken bone or two. As I left the room and went down the stairs, I reminded myself for the millionth time to learn to do a proper Episkey for when he does hit me. Aunt Petunia was in the kitchen starting her husband's breakfast, and I relieved her of breakfast duty. My uncle assured me that I was getting a punishment later when they got back from the cinema to see a film with Dudley before he left for another school year. He also warned that if any of my tasks were left undone, I'd be punished for them as well. Determination ran through me. Hogwarts started in a week, which meant that the Weasley's were picking me up tonight, so if I was hurt too bad then they'd notice. And this was definitely not something I wanted to discuss with them.

When they left, my aunt gave me a list of about 35 chores. I knew I'd have around 2 hours to work all these jobs, so I started as soon as they locked the door. I tried to do the most tiring ones first, like mowing the back lawn and changing everyone's bedsheets. I completed 30 chores by the time they got back. I was just moving to the next task when the door unlocked, and they walked into the just-hovered living-room. Uncle Vernon checked my list, and an evil smirk spread across his face. I walked towards the stairs, very well-acquainted with what was happening next. Dudley stopped me on the stairs, offering an alternative to my uncle's belt, by waiting in his room. The hairs on my neck stood up, and I just told him to get over himself before running away up the stairs.

I waited in my bedroom, laid face down on my bed with my shirt off. He made me wait like he usually did. This happened weekly when I came back for summer, they loved to instil the fact that I was a freak into my head, but that was in place long ago, to the point I don't think it'll ever go away. I was thinking this over when the door opened behind me. I heard his footsteps come closer. The clinking of his belt being undone and removed rang in my ears.

"I'm giving you 1 for every minute you overslept this morning, as well as two for every chore you've missed." He chuckled, "so that'll be…25 hits."

I tensed. That was the most he'd given me all summer, on the day I was leaving too. I thought about begging him not to, maybe to wait until I came back next summer and doubling the dose, but I knew he'd never agree, he was going to get me next summer anyway. My thoughts turned to something random, like which Weasley was coming to pick me up. Then it hit me. I tried to embrace the pain, taking it as it comes and almost enjoying it. The only way I can think to explain it is that the pain has been forced on me for years, so after a while, I didn't mind it as much like it was waxing. But then I developed a masochistic attitude to punishment, I guess it's because I've begun to accept that I deserve it. After the last hit, my back felt red raw, like the skin was peeling from it. I could only imagine how it looked. I'd have to wear a shirt that covered everything before whoever came to pick me up got here.

He left me alone for the day, just gave me things to do. Dudley kept on poking it, or slapping it, or nudging it. I understood why, but I didn't deserve it. Most punishments maybe, but not Dudley's right now. Just cos I would let him use me as a sexhole. I controlled the spasms of pain, which got easier the more he did it. The surprise ones were the hardest to cover up. But I made it through the day before I had to start packing my trunk and gathering the other things I needed. I considered going to sleep, but laying on my back was not an option at all. So, I just sat on my bed waiting for someone to come and get me.

Snap! I looked up and saw Fred grinning at me from next to my trunk, "ready to go Harry?"

I got up and reached out to grab him, giving him a huge hug. I hadn't seen him since he'd flown out of Hogwarts with George the year before. And I'd missed them and their humour. I felt a strong pressure on my back, and I whimpered in pain. George popped round me, face confused and concerned. I recovered quickly, but not quickly enough, as they both noticed a change. I really needed to try and distracted them, so I asked which ones were grabbing what, because I wanted to take Hedwig. They both nodded, grabbing something each before they grabbed hold of me. I felt the familiar pull of apparition as they took me away from the Dursley's and towards one of the places I like to call home.