Author's note: before anyone asks about the Horcrux let me say this: if the Horcrux doesn't allow itself to be destroyed, then it won't let itself be detected or discovered in any way either. Which is why it will not be detected when Madam Pomfrey checks her over. 

Chapter Six, Potions and Changes

Transfiguration had flown by for Isadora and her friends. Out of all of their classmates only Isadora and Hermione had managed to successfully transform the matchstick into a needle, earning their House ten points apiece. Isadora was taking Hagrid's words to heart and was trying her best in her classes and trying not to let what the Dursley's taught her, rule her. But it was hard. Extremely hard. Despite that Hermione and Isadora had been the first ones to complete their task. Isadora didn't know how Hermione did it, but she had pictured the matchstick turning into a needle in her mind as she cast the spell. Professor McGonagall had a sad but proud smile on her face as she inspected Izzy's needle.

"Your father would be proud, Miss Potter, he was excellent at Transfiguration himself. Ten points to Gryffindor." Professor McGonagall had said, leaving a happy, beaming smile on Izzy's face as she helped Ron and Neville. Though her hair had pink tinges to it to match her blush. After their hour lesson they made their way back down the moving staircases towards the dungeons where they would have Potions with the Slytherin's which was taught by Professor Snape. As they reached the dungeons Isadora couldn't help but start to feel nauseous, after this hour lesson would be their break time, where she would be checked over by the Matron, and she was scared. She was scared they would find out, but more importantly she was scared that they would find out and not do anything like the people on Privet Drive.

"You okay Izzy?" Ron asked, concerned at her quiet and anxious behaviour. She was chewing on her bottom lip with a faraway look in her eyes as her hair started to turn grey again.
"I'm scared." She whispered to him and Neville, who were on either side of her.
"Why?" Neville asked, confused.
"I don't want you to treat me differently and I'm scared no one will do anything when they find out." She said quietly, as they descended the steps into the dungeons.
"I promise you Izzy that neither of that will happen. You won't go back to your aunt and uncle, I promise. You'll come live with me." Ron said with conviction.
"Neither will I, we're just worried for you. And if you can't go live with Ron, you'll come live with me and my Gran. We won't let you go back and neither will Fred and George." Neville promised.

"Thank you." Isadora said with a small smile as they entered the classroom and took their seats. Unfortunately they couldn't sit together so she sat next to Hermione offering her a small smile as the boys sat behind her. A few moments later the door banged open bouncing off of the stone wall causing a loud bang, that caused Isadora to jump and flinch.
"There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class." Professor Snape said in a drawling voice as he stalked up to the front of the classroom. "As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is Potion Making. However, for those select few-" He said as he looked towards the back of the class at Draco Malfoy, who smiled smugly at the Professor.

"- who possesses the predisposition; I can teach you how to bewitch the mind, and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death." He said, capturing everyone's attention before he looked over at Isadora who was writing down what he said in her Potions notebook. She had brought one for every class. "Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts with abilities so formidable you feel that it is okay to... Not pay attention!" Professor Snape said loudly. Hermione elbowed Isadora in the ribs and nodded towards their Professor, although she sent a look of apology when she saw Isadora flinch when she'd elbowed her. Shaking her head a little, Isadora set her quill down and looked up at her Professor, a small frown appeared on her face when she saw the hurt in his eyes when they made eye contact.

'Maybe he knew my parents?' Isadora thought. 'Hagrid said I looked like my Mum but with my Dad's hair colour.' Her confused frown soon turned to one of anger, her hair turning blood red in its braids, as her Professor mocked her. She didn't know however, that his heart had clenched painfully when he saw her anger and her hair changing to her mother's colour with it, so much so that she's more like a clone than the spitting image she had been. So he mocked her more to hide his pain.
"Ah, Miss Potter... our new celebrity." He mocked slowly, getting a few laughs from her classmates around the room. "Tell me what would I get if I added powdered root of Asphodel into an infusion of wormwood?" He asked, like he didn't think she would be able to answer.

"If you add powdered root of Asphodel to an infusion of wormwood, they are the first steps in making The Draft of Living Death, which is a powerful sleeping potion." Isadora answered, shocking the Professor and some of her classmates, even Hermione who had her hand raised.
"Very well, Potter. Let's try another one." Professor Snape drawled. "Where, Miss Potter, would you look if I asked you to find me a Bezoar?"
"A Bezoar can be found in the stomach of a goat or in a Potion Master's supplies. It acts as an antidote to most poisons." Isadora answered correctly once again, a small glare on her face and her usually dark brown/black remained a blood red colour.

"Final question: what, Miss Potter, is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?" Professor Snape asked, a sneer on his face to hide his shock and his slight feelings of being impressed.
"That's a trick question, Sir." Isadora answered.
"Really? How so?" Professor Snape drawled, with an eyebrow raised, not giving her time to finish answering his first question.
"Monkshood and Wolfsbane are different names for the same plant. It also goes by a third, and more commonly known name; Aconitine. It's used as ingredients in the Wolfsbane Potion." Isadora replied.

"And where did you learn this? Ask an older student." Professor Snape sneered.
"No Sir. I brought 1001 Uses of Potions and their ingredients by Arsenius Jigger. I brought some extra books." Isadora replied.
"Very well." Professor Snape sighed reluctantly. "Five points to Gryffindor. And why are you not writing that down!?" He demanded of the rest of the class, causing them to scramble for parchment and quills.
"When you are finished, get started on making this potion: The Cure for Boils. You are to work in pairs with the person next to or behind/in front of you, no complaining. The instructions are on the board and ingredients may be found in the storage room." He said, as he sat behind his desk to complete some marking and schedules for his next classes. 

Isadora quickly wrote down each step for the potion in her notebook, as it would be easier to see once all the cauldrons started boiling. She double and triple checked she had each step down correctly before heading towards the cupboard. When she came back Ron came over and took some of the ingredients off of her so she didn't drop them and went back to their station.
"Thanks Ron." Isadora smiled as they set down the ingredients at their workstation, which was in between Hermione and Dean Thomas's station and Neville's and Seamus' station.
"No problem, Izzy." Ron smiled as the two got to work.

Isadora and Ron's Potion was going rather well and was exactly how it should be at this stage. When she suddenly jumped out of her skin at Ron's shout.
"NO NEVILLE!" He shouted stopping Neville from making the same mistake he had nearly made a few moments ago if it hadn't been for Izzy. Spinning on her heel her plait hitting Ron in the face as she turned to face Seamus and Neville, who had his hand hovering over the cauldron with the porcupine quills in hand.
"Sorry Ron." She apologised before turning back to Neville. "You have to take the cauldron off the fire before you add those, Nev. Otherwise it'll explode." She explained gently. Neville's and Seamus's eyes widened at that and Neville quickly dropped the quills onto the bench as if they'd burned him.

"Thanks Izzy." Neville sighed in relief.
"No worries." She smiled at them. "Here." She said as she held out her notebook with the remaining steps. "Copy this in your book Seamus and tell Neville what to do next. I have the next two steps memorised for Ron and I." She assured him.
"Thanks Izzy." Seamus said as he took the book. Isadora smiled at them and turned back around as she and Ron got back to work, unbeknownst to the four of them Professor Snape had been watching and his heart clenched more as the girl further reminded him of her mother, and not her father like he'd hoped. Twenty minutes later Ron and Isadora were bottling up two vials with their names on it and started tidying up, as Professor Snape made his way around the room looking over each potion when he came upon their potion and was surprised at the almost perfect quality to it.

Instead of praising them like he did Draco Malfoy and some of the Slytherins he moved on and ten minutes later he was calling an end to the lesson as the bell rang. A pit immediately formed in Isadora's stomach as the smile dropped off her face as she remembered she had to go to the Hospital Wing now.
"Come on Izzy. Everything's going to be okay." Ron said, as he and Neville led her out of the classroom and up the stairs into the Entrance Hall, almost bumping into Fred and George as they ran in from outside, panting heavily.
"Hi Freddie, Hi Georgie." Isadora greeted with a small smile.
"Hiya Izzy." Fred and George greeted, once they caught their breaths. "Hi Ronniekins, Hi Neville."

"We better get going to the Hospital Wing, Izzy. It's all going to be fine I promise." Fred said as he gave her a tight hug.
"How was your lesson with Snape?" George asked, as they started walking up the Grand staircase, trying to distract Izzy and themselves.
"He tried to make a fool out of Izzy but he just looked stupid." Neville laughed.
"Why what happened?" Fred asked intrigued.
"He asked me questions that weren't in our book that was on the list, hoping I wouldn't know the answers, but I brought extra books." Isadora said with a slight smile.

"Yeah but then he mocked her again and she got angry. It was scary, her hair turned to a blood red colour and she was glaring at him." Ron said with a mock shiver making Isadora laugh.
"And Ron and Izzy helped Seamus and I with our potion." Neville added.
"How was Herbology?" Izzy asked Fred and George.
"It was okay, not as exciting as your lesson though." George teased, making Isadora blush as they all laughed. Fred and George told them all about their first two lessons and asked how theirs went, successfully distracting Isadora on what awaited and themselves.

Before long the group arrived at the Hospital Wing. Not giving themselves or Isadora a chance to become nervous again Ron and Neville pushed open the doors to the Hospital Wing revealing a rather odd assortment of people. There was Mr and Mrs Weasley, Hagrid, Lady Longbottom, Amelia Bones and Professor McGonagall standing with Madam Pomfrey.
"Hagrid!" Isadora cried happily, not noticing the other people in the room nor that their attention was drawn to her at her shout as she stood between Ron and Fred.
"'Ello Izzy." Hagrid said smiling, as she ran towards him and hugged him, making him laugh a little but to also tear up a little as he gently hugged her. "How's your firs' day?" He asked.
"It was good. I'm trying hard like I promised you, Hagrid." Isadora said as looked up at him.

"That's great Izzy. I'm proud of yer." Hagrid said, making Isadora beam brightly back at him as tears filled her eyes. No one has told her that before. Out of the corner of her eye she saw someone coming towards her and flinched, bumping into Hagrid and hiding behind his leg muttering an apology.
While Hagrid and Izzy had been talking the others had been watching with a soft smile. It was clear Isadora greatly looked up to Hagrid and that he greatly cared for her in return, and only the Weasley boys knew why.
"I'm sorry, dear." Molly apologised feeling bad for startling Isadora so badly, she'd only been about to hug her sons.
"It's alrigh' Izzy yer safe here. No one will hurt yer. No, don't apologise." Hagrid said when she opened her mouth. "It's not your fault. Now, shall we let Madam Pomfrey check you over?"
"Why are there so many people?" Isadora questioned.

"Izzy," Fred said, coming up to her and Hagrid. "This is our Mum and Dad, that's Madam Bones, but I don't know who-"
"It's my Gran." Neville supplied once he finished greeting his Gran.
"We'll explain why everyone is here after Madam Pomfrey has checked you over, Miss Potter. Now if everyone would like to follow me to my office we will discuss arrangements there, we'll wait there, Poppy." Professor McGonagall said, turning to the Matron at the end.
"I'll send for you when we've finished, Minerva. Perhaps not all of you." Madam Pomfrey suggested.
"Of course." Professor McGonagall agreed, she can't unsee the scared look Isadora had sent out at them. She wished she had fought harder ten years ago.

"That includes you four gentlemen." She said sternly when the boys made no move to follow after the adults, but were standing around Isadora reassuring her.
"We said we'd be here for Izzy." Ron argued.
"And you are Mr Weasley but you are all needed in the talks we are having in my office. Now, follow me please." Professor McGonagall said sternly.
"But-" Neville protested.
"Isadora will be quite safe in my hands I assure you, plus I don't think she wants anyone here for the examination." Madam Pomfrey said gently.
"I'll be okay." Isadora said softly but you could hear the fear in her voice. "I don't want you to think differently of me."
"That will never happen Izzy. Never." George said as he pulled her in for a hug.

Which was soon joined by Fred wrapping his arms around from behind and then Ron and Neville joining the hug making her giggle.
"Come along now." Professor McGonagall instructed but she had a smile on her face. She was glad Isadora had such caring friends already, her parents would be proud.
"Right dear," Madam Pomfrey said once everyone had left, holding out a pair of pyjamas. "Change into these please as it would be easier if you need to be healed and we'll get started." She said kindly. Racked with nerves, Isadora took the pyjamas off of the Matron and went behind the screen to quickly change. Once she finished she set them on the table at the end of the bed and climbed up onto the bed as instructed.

"I want you to lie very still for me, Isadora, I promise it won't hurt a bit." Madam Pomfrey promised with a small smile as she cast the Diagnostic Charm, a piece of parchment and quill appeared beside the Matron that kept growing and growing, causing Isadora's nerves and the Matron's concern to grow. Five minutes later the parchment finally stopped growing when it was at four feet in length. Concerned Madam Pomfrey grabbed the parchment, and almost immediately her concern was replaced by anger. Who would do this to a child?

Diagnosis of Isadora Talia Potter

Inflictions:

Dehydration (caused by long periods of lack of water). During the last ten years.
Malnutrition (caused by long periods of starvation). During the last ten years.
Confined to a small, musty, dark space (for a long period of time). Most likely a small cupboard. During the last ten years.
Three broken ribs (sustained in the last ten years and new ones this summer).
Two bruised ribs (sustained in the last ten years and new ones this summer).
Right fractured wrist (sustained at age seven).
Numerous black eyes (Sustained over the last ten years).
Whip marks to the back (caused by a thick leather belt, sustained over the last ten years and this summer). (Current ones are infected).

Broken left leg (age four) blunt force, likely stepped on with force.
Severe three degree burns to both palms (age three).
Several concussions. (during the last ten years).
Several cuts and bruises (during the last ten years). (Occurred all over her body, including her head).
Fractured left ankle (age four).
Right twisted ankle (age six). 
Broken bones are wrongly healed.
Severe calcium deficiency. (Hypocalcaemia)
No Wizarding injections since age one.

Treatment:

None except all injuries have been treated by Accidental magic.

Potions:

Breaks will need to be corrected with Skele-Gro and Healing Spell.
Nutrient Potion
Calcium Potion (+++strength)
Pulmonis Potion (to clear airways).
Murtlap Essence
Dittany
Burn Salve
Scar Salve
Injections in potion form (emergency cases only).

Madam Pomfrey had tears in her eyes after reading the list of injuries that Isadora had sustained over the last ten years and that she had no treatment for them other than her own magic keeping her alive essentially.
"Miss Potter, did you ever tell anyone about the abuse?" Madam Pomfrey asked gently, as she tapped the sheet with her wand twice, once to summon all the potions she needed and second to send a copy to Madam Bones.
Isadora shook her head no with tears in her eyes.
"The Dursley's made sure everyone on Privet Drive wouldn't believe me. They told them that I was deranged and dangerous." Isadora said sadly. "So I've been treating the cuts with antiseptic cream."

Madam Pomfrey felt rage surge within her at these despicable Muggles. How they could treat their own niece in such a way was beyond her, and she would make sure that Isadora was no longer placed in their so-called care and that they were charged. No matter what Albus said.
"I need to heal all of your incorrectly healed bones. I will be fixing them with a Healing Spell, and I want you to drink each of these potions and once you've done that I'll heal the cuts, scars and burns for you. While we wait for the others. Do not worry you won't be going back there and they will be punished." Madam Pomfrey assured as she cast the Healing Spell on her and handed Isadora the first potion.

***

Twenty minutes later. Professor McGonagall arrived back in the Hospital Wing with Mr and Mrs Weasley, Madam Bones and Lady Longbottom, each of them sporting red eyes. Isadora looked around, panicked when she noticed her friends weren't with them.
"They've been sent back to class and Hagrid had to look after some animals, sweetie." Mrs. Weasley said softly, as she slowly made her way towards the bed and sat in the chair next to it. In reality Hagrid went to cool off after they received the parchment as he didn't want to scare Isadora with his anger.
"Miss Potter I am so sorry for all you've suffered at the hands of your relatives. I should've fought Professor Dumbledore more on your placement. What does concern and confuse us is the cupboard." Professor McGonagall apologised.
"My cupboard?" Isadora questioned.

"What do you mean your cupboard, dear?" Lady Longbottom asked in a strained voice.
"My bedroom was the cupboard under the stairs. It was on my Hogwarts letter." Isadora said, confused.
"Minerva!" Madam Bones questioned in a strained voice, as she jotted that down.
"It's a self-addressing quill, which we will be either changing or checking each letter before they are sent out. Albus lied to me. He said she was safe. How is this safe!" Professor McGonagall shouted outraged, her Scottish accent getting thicker with her anger.
"What else can you tell us, Miss Potter?" Madam Bones asked kindly.
"My aunt and uncle don't like me. They said I'm a freak-" Isadora said softly.
"You are not a freak, Izzy." Mr Weasley said gently but firmly.

"They don't like anything to do with magic and would punish me, if I did magic. They told Hagrid they tried to stamp the magic out of me." Isadora said, making horrified and outraged gasps to fill the room before they coaxed Isadora to continue. "I did all the cooking, cleaning and gardening since I was three and if I didn't finish, or did it wrong, or not how they liked they didn't let me have any food or drink and would lock me in the cupboard. Last time they locked me in there was a month and a half..." Isadora said, as she continued to answer all of their questions as best she could.
"Now Izzy, you won't be living with them anymore, you'll be coming to live with Molly and I." Mr Weasley said.
"I-I don't want to impose." Isadora said nervously.

"Nonsense dear. We would love to have you and we have two spare rooms as our two eldest sons don't live at home anymore, and they can share when they visit." Mrs Weasley assured her, smiling softly at her. 
"Bill and Charlie?" Isadora asked.
"That's right, dear." Mrs Weasley smiled at her. "I would be able to play with Ron, Fred and George? And can... would I be able to visit Neville? He's my God-brother and we promised we'd be there for each other." Isadora asked nervously but with a determined look in her eye.
"Of course sweetie." Lady Longbottom answered instead. "The other option was you come to live with Neville and I as that was what your parents had wanted in the first place, but it would put too much strain on you and Frederick.

But that doesn't mean you can't have sleepovers." She said, smiling softly before she turned sternly towards Madam Bones. "I will be pressing charges to both her relatives and Dumbledore, however, Amelia. What has happened to her is unacceptable. You know if Arthur was the one to do it they wouldn't listen despite it being the Heiress of the Potter Line."
"Don't worry Lady Longbottom I will file this and set things in motion as soon as I get back to the Ministry." Madam Bones assured.
"How long does she have to be on the potions regime? And what about the incorrectly healed bones?" Professor McGonagall asked sadly, her voice thick.
"I've already sent another copy of this to Severus while you were all talking. He should be making a batch right now or this evening if he's teaching." Madam Pomfrey replied.

"I have healed her left hand which is why it's in a sling, she needs to come back tonight so I can do the rest as it's better for Izzy, to be able to sleep afterwards. I also want to check her progress after a month, but I'd say for several months. Possibly until February to correct all the damage. Except for the Hypocalcaemia which may take until the summer, but hopefully not. To be frank Minerva, it's a testament to her power that she is alive at all." She said, shocking everyone and making the anger they felt boiling beneath their skin rise.
Once they had recovered from their anger, noticing Isadora had flinched away from them and muttering their apologies, Lady Longbottom smiled down at the young girl that she knew her son and daughter-in-law would've loved.

"Izzy, Neville has told me you had gotten books on being an Heiress while in Diagon Alley, perhaps, as you get older and definitely after you've recovered, you'd like me to teach you?" She asked gently.
"Yes please." Isadora said excitedly, as her hair turned yellow in her excitement.
"Then it's settled. Amelia, I'll follow you to the Ministry to lodge my complaint and to make sure Arthur and Molly's guardianship of her goes through." Lady Longbottom said firmly, the two sharing a grim smile as they bid goodbye to everyone.
"I'll lead you back up to my office in a moment." Professor McGonagall said, before she turned to Izzy. "Miss Potter, I am terribly sorry for all that has happened to you.

You do not have to attend this class but can return to your classes after lunch. I shall make sure you don't fall behind." She said before she too left the Hospital Wing after Isadora had thanked her.
"Izzy, you can call us Molly and Arthur. There's no need for Mr and Mrs Weasley. But only if you want to." Molly said, smiling at her. "Is there anything you would like in your room? We want you to be comfortable in our home as it's also your home now."
"I'm okay thank you Mrs Weasley. Thank you for taking me in. I know you didn't have to." Isadora said shyly.
"We wanted to, Izzy, we care about you." Arthur said, smiling at the sweet girl, who was smaller than Ginny.

"We have a daughter, Ginny so you won't be alone in a house full of boys and she'll love you. We have a family near us who have their own daughter too, she's Ginny's friend and often comes over. So if you get fed up with Ron and the twins, and even Percy you have two other girls close by." Arthur said jokingly, smiling when he got a small giggle from Isadora.
For the next hour they spent it getting to know Isadora to make her feel more comfortable as she would be living with them permanently now. They found out she had a fascination with Magical Creatures like Arthur did with Muggle things and knew how to decorate her room. They knew Bill wouldn't mind when he came to visit and would have happily offered up his room, more than happy to share with Charlie.

Their conversation came to a brief pause when Madam Pomfrey came back to put the salve on Isadora's back and to show Molly, so she knew for the summer, who couldn't stop her gasp as her eyes filled with tears of anger and sadness. They knew one thing: they would make all who hurt the young Potter rue the day they decided to abandon or hurt the poor girl. She would never again be used as a whipping board and neither would she be hurt, at least if they had any say in it.