DISCLAIMOR: Obviously I don't own Harry Potter or I wouldn't be writing this. It is the property of J. K. Rowling.

Prologue

The boy wasn't quite sure when he became aware that Boy wasn't his actual name. Maybe it was when he realized that he was different from everyone else. He had come to this conclusion when he found that he could hear and see a boy no one else could. That boy had introduced himself as Harry and he too did not know why the only one aware of him was Boy.

The Dursleys were Boy's guardians and family, though they didn't act as such really. The first thing they had taught him besides obeying them without questions;was not to mention anything abnormal. They disliked that, a lot. It was right up there with not asking questions; ever. It was not permitted unless it pertained to a chore, but even then there was no certainty that it would be allowed.

By the time he was four, the boy knew the rules by heart and quickly memorized any odd rule that popped up lest he be punished for not recalling it later. Because of said rules, Boy was quiet, speaking only when spoken to (except for when talking with Harry). Answering with either a yes, ma'am or sir, no ma'am or sir. Nor did he whine or cry as that was greeted with a slap and often times got him deeper in trouble. His uncle had once grabbed him by the front of his shirt and pulled him up until they were at eye level. Uncle Vernon had menacingly said, "If you don't stop that crying, I'll give you something to cry about." That something being his belt on Boy's backside.

Rubbing his eyes, the boy sat up and shivered as the blanket fell off him letting the warmth escape. Getting up, he folded his bed and set it in the corner of his 'room'. His bed was an exercise mat, a few blankets, and a pillow that's case had once been a patchwork quilt he'd been wrapped up in when found on the stoop. His quint had made it into a pillowcase for him. It was his most cherished possession.

His room was the cupboard under the stairs. The only time he was in it though besides when he slept was when he was being punished. There was no light bulb in the empty socket hanging from the ceiling nor could he ever remember there being one. He wasn't sure if that was because his guardians didn't care or if it was supposed to be another form of punishment.

Harry could make his hands softly glow if he concentrated, so Boy was never in the dark. Harry was very careful it wasn't too bright to be seen under the door. He made just enough light for him and Boy to see. Since it seemed Harry was the only one able to do this, he let Boy go to sleep first. Somehow, they found that this kept the dreams away.

Dressing, the boy sat quietly waiting, knowing that Aunt Petunia would be down shortly to let him out. He shifted, his full bladder begging to be emptied, but he held it in. He was not going to have an accident. Boy hadn't peed his pants since he was three and he wanted to keep it that way.

"You have the bottle," Harry reminded him.

"I don't wanna use it. She'll be down soon."

Harry didn't argue, just sat quietly beside his brother. That was how the two thought of each other. Harry declared he was older so Boy had to listen to him. That had received a snort then a thoughtful, "Okay."

Seeing the strained expression on his younger brother's face, Harry reached in the back of the cupboard. He and Boy had scrounged the alcohol bottle from the recycling bin just for this purpose. He halted when they heard the footfalls belonging to Mrs. Dursley above them. A few minutes later the footsteps descended the stairs and halted outside the cupboard door.

Hearing the bolt slide out and unlocking the door, it was all Boy could do from throwing the door open and rushing upstairs to the toilette. He knew better then to run, walking up the stairs even though it felt as if his bladder was going to bust. He was in pain by the time he actually reached the toilette.

Petunia had gotten the plates down and set with the silverware by when the Dursley males began to stir. Putting the kettle on and fulling the coffee maker, she heard the door open and knew the boy had entered. Glancing over at him she saw him go to the cupboard under the sink to get his collapsible stool. Pushing it over to the counter, he climbed up and began putting bread in the toaster. Catching her watching him, he smiled at her.

Petunia didn't return the smile or even outwardly acknowledge it. She couldn't for fear of Vernon finding out. But, it did feel good to have someone to share her day with even if it was just a child. She had been at a loss when her little Dudders started day school. She hadn't had a day without him in it since he was born. For four years she hadn't had anyone to help her as she took care of first her own son, then her sister's. Then she only had the boy who kept out of her way and seemed as lost as she did.

Going about her routine day after day she had at first been annoyed by the boy constantly shadowing her like a lost puppy, one thumb in his mouth, the other clutching an old teddy that Dudley had given him. She didn't acknowledge when she realized that the annoyance had given way to acceptance then to caring. It touched her that the boy would follow her around and want to help. Dudley never did, wanting to watch the telly or go play with the boys he'd met at school.

Since the boy followed her, she began to teach him chores when he had begun to help her with laundry. Teaching him chores gave her an excuse for neither one liked to be alone. If Vernon questioned her, she told him it was time the boy started to earn his keep. Her husband liked that idea and let her alone with the boy.

Petunia remembered how the boy had grinned, chest swelled with pride when after she had lifted him on the dryer and explained how to do laundry. He'd listened and correctly added the right amount of soap and set the machine. After that came weeding, planting, and general gardening. As they toiled in the dirt, she would talk about when to plant and flower meant what as she was interested in botany. The boy was an avid audience, always listening to what she had to say and she could see him storing the information safely away.

General house chores came next like setting the table, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom and kitchen, and even had just began to teach him how to cook. He was only allowed to cook while she supervised him though of course and only simple things.

Appreciating his help and giving into a rare urge, she mussed the boy's black hair in an affectionate gesture. His eyes widened at the touch, only used to being touched when he was trouble. Eyes shining he beamed at her. She wanted to smile back at him but squashed the feeling, already berating herself for touching him at all. She turned her back on him as the kettle whistled.

Pouring the tea she became lost in her thoughts of the morning she found the boy on the stoop wrapped up in that quilt, a fresh gash on his forehead, and a note. She hadn't wanted to take him in, wanting to give him to the orphanage as soon as quickly as possible. The only reason that she hadn't was that she and Vernon were afraid of the consequence would be. It was already quite clear in the letter that it was an order made to look like a request to take the boy.

One of the reasons she was afraid to take the boy in was what if he was a freak like his parents? She disliked magic bordering on hatred. She hadn't always felt that way though. It had begun as jealousy and hurt towards her sister Lily. Lily could do things she could only imagine. It hadn't been fair! She and Lily ere sisters and they were best friends! It hadn't mattered that Lily was their parents favorite child. Then her gift began to divide them.

That small wedge which seemed barely there grew bigger when that nasty Snape boy came along and poisoned Lily against her. Lily didn't even care that she would be going off to a school to learn magic while Petunia would be going back to their school alone! A school where she was always compared to Lily and came up lacking.

When Lily wrote home she never asked how Petunia was doing or asked if she was lonely now that her sister and best friend was gone. The only thing Lily wrote about was her new school and how much she loved it there. She wrote about how much fun she was having and all the friends she met. She told their parents the different things she could do now and how she was top of her class.

By the time she came home from school for the holidays there was a large gulf that neither could cross. That chasm only deepened and got wider with each passing year. Petunia hated that distance and resented and blamed her sister for it even though she had no idea how to stop it.

The dislike festered and grew until hatred began to creep up when Lily brought some of her new friends home. Potter and his sidekicks seemed to have target Petunia for their so called pranks. When those beastly freaks found out about her boyfriends they frightened them off and found the whole ordeal hilarious. Petunia had not and tried to talk to Lily but she hadn't found any harm in it.

Vernon almost hadn't married her until she had promised to sever ties with her family which at the time she was too happy to do. There was no love lost on Petunia's part and neither she nor Lily wrote to each other or kept in contact. Although her parents wrote, Petunia never wrote back. Neither did she acknowledge the fact that she wasn't an only child. To Petunia they were as good as dead.

Then Lily was dead and her baby son was on Petunia's doorstep. After fighting her fear she had grudgingly taken the boy. Her fear hadn't disappeared however. She had been filled with what ifs? What if he was a freak and used his powers on them? What if he hurt her Dudders?

When the boy had woke and she had seen his eyes for the first time, it was like a confirmation that he was indeed a freak. The boy's eyes were an unnatural golden-green, like those of a cat. Depending on his mood those two colors shifted. With trepidation she had waited for him to do something abnormal, but as of yet he hadn't. He appeared as normal as her Dudders who got along well with the boy. Dudley would come home from school and show the boy what he'd done that day. Then they would go play together until Petunia called them for supper.

Vernon and Petunia had agreed that if he passed his eleventh birthday without any peculiar incidents happening proving he was as normal as them, they would adopt the boy and he would really become a member of their family. They would also explain to him why they had treated him as they did to keep him from becoming a freak.

Petunia was glad the boy hadn't shown any oddness except for his ability to read body language. He picked up on her unspoken cues and never smiled or mentioned anything around Vernon. It wasn't until her husband was off to work that he would relax, smile, or sometimes hum to himself. Dudley, thank goodness had picked up on it as well and never mentioned the change around his father.

Today was no different. As soon as they heard Vernon, the boy's smile disappeared, his head hung down, his bangs shielding his eyes. Carefully, he cracked eggs into the frying pan. Petunia then placed it on the burner and he took the stack of toast and placed it on the table. He then placed the butter, marmalade, and juice on the table as well.

"Why don't you go fetch, Dudley?"

Nodding, the boy set his stool back in the cupboard then went upstairs. Petunia continued making breakfast. She heard a shout from Dudley, a laugh from the boy and a thump. When the two boys came down she saw the boy struggling to keep the smile off his face. Dudley pouted and threw looks at the boy that clearly said, "I'll get you."

The boys sat down and Vernon read his paper while his wife served first him then the children their breakfast. Though Boy had the least amount of food, he finished about the same time as Dudley. Seeing his empty plate Petunia asked him if he wanted seconds. Out of the corner of her eye she caught the boy puff out his cheeks and stomach making round motions over his stomach. Looking at Dudley, he nodded his head at Vernon. Dudley stuck his tongue out at him and the boy grinned. Quickly returning to his submissive behavior when Vernon looked up from his paper at not hearing a response. Petunia pretended she hadn't seen the boy's actions.

"No, thank you." Dudley had been learning manners at school. "I'm full."

Vernon frowned. Dudley hadn't been eating as much as he used to and this concerned the man. "You feeling sick, boy?"

"Nuh-uh." Dudley shook his blond head. "Not hungry." Which was true. His stomach didn't hurt, he didn't feel hungry all the time anymore, and he wasn't as tired either.

"All right, sweetums. Go get ready for school."

At the reminder that they wouldn't see each other until he came home from school, Dudley saw his cousin's eyes dim a bit. Sliding out of his seat, Dudley ran upstairs to get his backpack. Going to his dresser he opened a drawer and pulled something out and put it in his pocket. Returning downstairs he kissed his father goodbye and walked with his mother and cousin to the bus stop.

Before the bus or anyone else came to the stop Dudley turned to his cousin. Shyly he said, "I have somethin' for you."

At that, Boy's head snapped up from looking at the ground to Dudley's face. Because Boy's eyes were light sensitive, he wore a pair of sunglasses but both Dursleys could clearly see the surprise on his face. Dudley smiled at that and pulled the item he'd gotten from his dresser out of his pocket. Suddenly he was a little unsure of himself but handed it to his dark haired cousin anyway.

Taking the gift, Boy gasped. It was a handmade leather and bead bracelet. The tiny beads stitched to the leather formed a feather. Dudley held up his own wrist which bore a bracelet whose beads were in the shape of a cat's eye.

"I bought this kit with my money and had mommy help me with 'em. I hope you like it."

Boy lunged and hugged the blond who was happy his cousin liked his gift. It was the only other thing he had ever given him besides the used teddy. The dark haired boy then hugged Petunia and asked if she'd help him put it on. She tied the bracelet on his wrist and both boys grinned.

"These show we're bestest friends. See, a cat's eye on mine to 'mind me of you. A a feather to 'mind you of me."

It was also their private secret. They had discovered Dudley was like Harry. He could do magic. They found this out when Dudley was up on the counter to get into the cupboards. He'd been startled when the front door shut. Dudley had lost his balance on the chair which only one of his feet was giving him a precarious balance. But when he fell, he didn't hit the floor. It was like a cushion of air kept him from cracking his head on the floor. When Petunia walked into the kitchen both boys were standing absolutely still staring at each other.

Boy gave him another hug then stepped back as the bus pulled up. He and Petunia waved until the bus disappeared. Walking back home, Boy kept fingering the bracelet, a smile on his lips.

Vernon was waiting impatiently when they got there. He drove them to the grocer's since Petunia needed to go shopping. He practically peeled out of the parking lot in his hurry to get to work.

"Gotta potty," Boy informed her. He hadn't had time to use the toilette before Vernon was rushing them into the car.

Petunia led him to the restroom and waited outside as he went in the men's room. He did his business, washed his hands, and returned to his aunt. She picked him up and placed him in the shopping cart. He sat cross-legged in the storage part, back nestled against the folded up seat.

"What do we need?"

"Shampoo, toilette paper, dish soap, and coffee," Boy replied.

Nodding, Petunia headed for the coffee isle. The boy's memory was excellent which is why she would recite the shopping list to him. He could usually tell her if she forgot anything.

They were almost done shopping, Petunia had decided to buy the boys some treats. At the checkout stand, Petunia caught the boy putting his thumb in his mouth. He only did that when anxious, so she looked behind her to find the cause of his agitation. The boy hated to be stared at and that's exactly what the batty, old, cat-woman from down the street was doing. She was smiling at him like the other weirdos did.

"Hello, Harry. Are you enjoying shopping with your aunt?"

Petunia stiffened and the boy edged closer to the cart to get away from the woman.

"Don't you look cute with your sunglasses."

The boy stood and held his arms out for Petunia who pulled him out of the cart and set him down beside her. His thumb immediately went back in his mouth, free hand clutched her skirt, his small body pressed against her legs to hide him from view. He peeked around her legs but seeing the strange woman still smiling at him, ducked back.

Arabella Figg smiled at Harry's shy antics. She'd watched over the child from a distance for years, writing reports on what she'd observed to Dumbledore. So far all the reports were good and Dumbledore was pleased. As far as she could see Harry was a healthy, loved, shy child though a bit on the small side.

She had watched curiously and with some concern at first when Petunia had him outside showing him how to do yard work. But as she watched she noticed he was never by himself and the way he'd smile contently as they worked. Petunia had warmth and concern for the child. The woman and her nephew interacted comfortably with each other. From what Arabella had seen, like now, Dumbledore had been right in deciding to place Harry with his mother's family.

"He doesn't like strangers," Petunia told her stiffly wondering how the woman even knew the boy's name. Boy also wondered how the lady knew Harry's name but confusing him with Harry.

Petunia quickly paid for the groceries and walked out to avoid any more exchanges that might prove uncomfortable later on. Boy had to jog every other step to keep up with her agitated pace. It wasn't until they were home that she relaxed. They ate a brief lunch then a made a snack for Dudley who would be home soon. He only had morning classes.

When he did come home he was excited because his class had a test on their reading and Dudley scored higher then his classmates. It was due to his teaching Boy had to read and then the two boys competing to see who could read bigger words.

To celebrate, they were going to go out on the town when Vernon returned home. The four piled into the car with Mr. Dursley warning Boy not to mess up the interior of the car. The four ate dinner, saw a movie, and were heading home each boy licking an ice cream when it happened. Their car was in the middle of the intersection when the light changed and a speeding car t-boned them on the driver's side.