Yay! I finally got around to posting this! This is sort of a sidelines story, so that means I'll update it when I can, but I won't bend over backwards to get new chapters up.

I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER! this is the only time I'm saying this in this fanfiction.

Honestly, if I owned it, I wouldn't be on fanfiction

"Albus, Albus

"Albus, Albus!" Minerva McGonagall dashed frantically into the headmaster's office waving a piece of paper, "Albus, look! Those Muggles wrote that Harry no longer lived with them, hadn't since he was five and that the boy could rot for all they care. Look!"

Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry took the piece of paper, which was the first page of Harry's Hogwarts letter and read the scratchy writing on the back.

Freaks,

There is no Harry Potter at this residence. The ungrateful little brat has not lived under our roof in near-bout six years. We are glad he is gone and will never take the worthless little freak back into our home again. He can rot on the streets for all we care. The world would be better off without him and all the rest of you.

The Dursleys

Albus shook his head. He had always hoped that Lily had been over exaggerating when she said that her sister hated her but it seemed that, if anything, it had been an understatement. Severus, who had been in the office talking to Albus about the upcoming term when Minerva burst in, read the letter that Albus handed to him. As he read, his lips curled with disdain. Minerva did not envy the Muggles should they ever meet Severus Snape in a dark alley. Having had a less then perfect childhood himself, Severus was notorious for his ill temper when it came to abusive guardians.

"I suggest," Albus said, standing wearily up from his desk, "that we find young Harry and place him in a proper home, provided of course that he is not already in one. Minerva, if you will have the Book write up his address please, we will be off."

"Of course, Albus." The black haired witch sprinted down the stairs only to return with two envelopes in hand.

"Albus, it seems Harry is living with a family called Willis. Their child is also going, a Michael David Willis it said."

"Very well, let us go and pay the Willis' a visit, shall we?" And with that, the three teachers flooed out of Hogwarts to Number 10 Privet Drive and then walked the remaining way to Willis Manor.

It was a short time later that the teachers arrived at the Manor, home of Sir Edward Wills, his wife, Lady Guinevere Willis, and their son, Michael Willis. Also living at the Manor was eleven year-old Harry Potter. The teachers made to start forward again towards the door of the house when two boys came riding through on horse back, edgeless practice swords in hand.

The elder of the two, though they were mere months apart, had fair skin, wavy black hair that came to the base of his shoulder blades that was tied back with a strip of leather and brilliant green eyes. This was Harry. His companion was slightly tan, with shoulder length brown hair that curled at the ends and was also tied back with a strip of leather, and hazel eyes. This, they assumed, was Michael. This was proven as the boys drew closer while sparring.

"Engárde, Harold!" The younger cried as he thrust at Harry who ducked the sword before releasing the saddle, dumping Michael onto the ground. He pulled up to the younger boy who was getting up and with a soft word, commanded his horse to gently place its hoof on the boy's back.

"Do you yield Michael, or must this defeat be painful?" He spoke firmly, at hint of mirth in his green eyes.

"I, Michael David Willis, do honorably yield to my brother in arms, Harold 'Harry Potter' Willis." Michael intoned, before getting to his feet as the horse removed its hoof.

"Good. Now, so not to be rude, you take Aragorn and Spartacus back to the stables and ask your mum to put tea on as we have guests." Harry turned to face the professors with a bow. "My apologies for making you wait. I do beseech you your forgiveness and implore you to allow me to extend unto you what hospitality that the house of Willis may offer." He stood up and offered his arm to Professor McGonagall who took it gratefully before they began their trek to the House.

"Harry, I am Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Albus said, before motioning to Severus and Minerva. "This is Severus Snape, Potions professor and Head of Slytherin house, and Minerva McGonagall, Transfiguration professor and Head of Gryffindor house. I am sure you have many questions but if you could hold them for a little while, I will explain everything to you and young Mr. Willis, as he will also be attending."

"Very well, I can wait. However, I hope you don't mind waiting, as it will take several minutes for tea to be ready. If you would follow me, I'll be happy to give you a tour of the grounds."

"That sounds marvelous, don't you agree, Severus?" The twinkle in the old man's eyes was near blinding as they followed the boy. This was the perfect opportunity to learn about Harry's life.

Harry led them around towards the back of the manor, for it was indeed a manor, situated some 200 kilometers from the area of Surrey in a lush, green, almost Irish country side. The manor sat on some sprawling 50 acres of land, not including the land that the buildings took up, which all in all was about five acres.

"Willis Manor is entirely self-sufficient, with ten acres devoted entirely to the raising of fruits and vegetable and another ten devoted to various types of livestock, such as chickens, pigs, a few turkeys, and the like. There is also eighteen acres of land devoted to Willis manors four horses and two ponies. Ten acres of it is devoted to the study and practice of such combat arts as archery, swordplay, jousting, and Oriental fighting arts. The remaining two acres is for relaxation, and as such has a pool for the summer times, which doubles as an ice rink in the winter, a small rock wall for climbing and an area for family picnics. As I mentioned earlier, the fifty acres does not include the land on which any building sits. There is the main house, with it's twenty-two bedrooms, thirteen bathrooms, nine half bathrooms, library, living room, dining room, kitchen, attic, basement, wine cellar, ball room, and mud room. The second house, which is the servants quarters has thirteen bedrooms, nine bathrooms, four half bathrooms, kitchen, living room, dining room, mud room, and laundry room. There are also the stables, gym, garage, two sheds, and a single room building for indoor picnics."

"That's a fair bit of land." Minerva remarked, looking out at the grounds.

"It is, isn't it?" Harry replied, and his companions saw a light of pride and childish happiness as he looked out as well.

"Harry, if you don't mind my asking how is you came to be living here instead of with your relatives?" Albus questioned.

"Well, when the Willis' were fencing in their yard, they had to find some place to exercise their horses and ponies. There's a park not far from Privet Drive, a wilderness park of sorts, where you can ride horses and bikes and such. My aunt often took my cousin there and rather than leave me alone to 'blow up the house' she often took me as well. When we arrived, she usually told me to be back at the car by a certain time and then send me off on my own. She didn't want people to think that we were related. So, after awhile, I knew the park pretty well, then the Willis' started coming and I knew where the horse tracks were and told them. Michael was my age and was the first kid who didn't make fun of my glasses or oversized clothes. One day, we were playing together at one of the playgrounds when Dudley, that's my cousin, decided that he wanted to pick on Michael. Michael's parents were about to set him straight when I stood up for Michael and got a black eye for my efforts.

By this time, Aunt Petunia had heard the commotion and she arrived in time to see Mr. Willis ply his riding crop to Dudley's rear while Mrs. Willis took care of Michael's and my injures. Uncle Vernon was with her that day. When he heard who Mr. Willis was, he was willing to ignore it, at least until Mr. Willis told him that his methods of childrearing were severely lacking, one child was a spoiled brute, the other an underfed urchin who thankfully had manners. Mr. Willis and his wife told the Dursley's in no uncertain terms that they were taking me home with them, that I was never living at #4 again and that if they asked for so much as a penny in compensation, the Willis' would take them to court on counts of child abuse, child neglect and attempted assault on Mr. Willis. Uncle Vernon tried to box him, tried being the key word. So they brought me here. Mu- Mrs. Willis insists on calling me Harold and Da- um, Mr. Willis makes sure that I have all the opportunities that Michael has and Michael is my brother in all but blood. My brother in arms, you might say."

"You think of them as family, don't you Harry?" Albus said, a kind twinkle in his gray blue eyes.

"Yes sir, I do. They're the only family I have, sir. They do things for me that my relatives never did. They make sure I'm fed, clothed, that I'm safe and that I don't want for the necessities in life. They even treat me to things, like sweets and toys when I was younger. I mean, look at Spartacus, my horse! I wouldn't be allowed to even touch him if he belonged to the Dursley's. Here, though, he's my mount, and one of my dearest friends. There's also Hippocrates, Aunt Petunia would have turned me out if she caught me talking with a snake-"

"You can talk to snakes?" Severus interrupted the boy.

"Well, yes. I suppose you could say that. It sounds just like English to me, but…"

"To others it sounds like hissing." Dumbledore finished. Harry nodded.

"Anyway, I'm happy here. I mean, yeah, I don't like everything but it's the little things, like the fact my brother's a slob, or having to eat all of my dinner before I can have any of the cobbler that's for dessert. Normal things that kids dislike."

"Harold! Tea's ready, dear!" A light feminine voice floated from the house.

"That'll be Mum, I mean…"

"It's quite alright, Harry. I'm sure your mother wouldn't mind at all." Dumbledore said softly, a kind smile on his face. Harry relaxed.

"Coming Mum!"

"Just hurry love!"

"We'd better get inside. Mum hates to wait on others when it's tea time." Harry said with a small laugh and together, they headed into the house.