Ch 1
Harry Potter walked down the street carrying several grocery bags. It was only the first week of the summer holidays before his forth year, but all he could think about was going back to school. He didn't know if he could stand staying with the Dursleys another summer. Harry had almost reached the street that his "family's" home was located on when out of the corner of his eye he saw something odd through a kitchen window. A tea set had just floated from the counter into the hands of a girl. Puzzled he continued on his way home. He made it his mission that summer to find out who that girl was. He met the girl and slowly the two became friends. Her name was Celest Marie Smith; she was one year younger than Harry. She was tall for her age and slender. She had white silvery hair that cascaded in silky waves down to her hips. She had amazing silver-blue eyes that shown with laughter and seemed to look into your very soul. They become close friends that summer and they continued to write to each other secretly during Harry's forth year at school. He told her about all the crazy things that were happening around him. He told her about how his friend Ron was jealous of him and had stopped speaking to him. In return Celest would comfort Harry and try to give him advice. She also told him about the different things she was learning in school, and when Harry didn't understand something she would explain it to him.
When Harry came home for the summer Celest knew that something was wrong right away she tried to get him to talk to her but he just kept saying that everything was ok. Finally after a week of constant pushing he broke down. Harry lay with his head in Celest lap and told her about Cedric's death and how it was his fault that he died and the Dark Lord came back. Celest held him tightly as he cried and made a promised to herself that she would always be there for him no matter what. The problems that Harry had always had during his summers with his relatives escalated from little food, doing all the housework, and cooking to minor beatings that left him bleeding and bruised. Celest's and Harry's friendship grew even stronger as she was the one who would clean then bandage the wounds his uncle gave him, then comfort him the morning after he had visions or nightmares. They spent a lot of time together that summer which was possible because the Dursleys took a lot of family trips and left Harry home alone.
It was during one of these trips that Harry asked Celest why she had never been accepted to Hogwarts or one of the other magical schools she replied that it was probably because her magic didn't show till she was 12½. This made Harry realize that was the reason that things were constantly happening around her. Her magic was reacting more violently because it hade come so late and was more powerful than what other children experienced. And it wasn't just anger her magic also reacted if she was happy. Harry told her about these books that he had found in the library at school that talked about how it was possible for some wizards to do some simple spells with out their wands. The book described a form of meditation that helped a witch or wizard focus on their magic. After a person became proficient at the techniques he or she could then visualize their inner magical core and gain a better grasp on there magic, learning after some time how to fully control their own magic. He explained that he had been using these techniques and they had been helping him with all his spell work and that he would teach them to her so that she wouldn't be so out of control. They worked a great deal on Celest control of her magic since it was making it harder for her to go out and do anything for fear that she would make something happen.
Once again while Harry was away for school they sent letters to each other. They did there best to help each other through the year. Three months after Harry had left for school Celest sent a letter telling Harry that her father had died in a freak accident at his work and that her mother was falling apart. The night after he had gotten her letter Harry snuck out of the school and went to the village to floo to Miss fig's house. Once he got there he snuck out of her house without waking her and ran down the street to Celest's home. He climbed the tree outside her window then into her room. He found her crying her eyes out on the bed. "Celest," He called to her. Her head jerked up and she stared at him in disbelief she didn't say a word she threw herself off the bed and into his arms. "It's ok now I'm hear and I won't let anything happen to you. Shhh you'll be ok." Harry whispered to her like this for a couple hours and gently rocked her till she fell asleep in his arms. He smiled down at her sadly and kissed her forehead. "My poor angel what can I do to make you feel better?" he said as he lie down beside her holding her in his arms.
When Harry got back from his fifth year at Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry he was angry, bitter, and above all sad and depressed. Celest spent the first week trying to comfort him and let him know that he wasn't alone. Harry finally told Celest the whole story about his godfather and how it was his entire fault that he had died. Through the next weeks Celest tried her best to keep Harry patched up but it appeared that the beatings were getting worse. On Wednesday of that week Harry had once again snuck out of his house and into Celest's. Harry was quietly talking to Celest as she cleaned his wounds and bandaged them once again.
"I can't stay there even one more week they'll kill me this summer Celest. I have to get out of that house I have to get away from all the people who would use me as something I am not. I am going to leave Celest," Harry said sitting up on the bed so he could look at her. "I am going to move into a room above the Leaky Cauldron for the rest of the summer. I wanted to know if you would like to come with me Celest. You would get to see and explore some of the Wizarding world and to tell you the truth I just don't want to be without you there to support me." Harry said the last with his cheeks tinted red with embarrassment.
"Harry you know how much I care for you do you really think that I would just let you leave me behind when you're not even healed yet. I will be coming with you for the summer I would even follow you to school if I could just so I could keep an eye on you, I wont even say try to keep you out of trouble 'cause that would just be a waste of words." Celest's tone was serous but it definitely had a playful undertone to it that caused Harry to smile before he once again became serous.
"Celest I have told you before about that madman who is out to kill me and how the entire Wizarding World sees me as some kind of savor. Well I just wanted to make sure that you realize that by coming with me and being seen with me you are putting yourself and anyone you have ever cared for at risk of being brought to Valdemort's attention." Harry held onto her hands as he finished his little speech.
"I know all that Harry but I am your friend and I will come with you no matter the consequences. But if we are doing this it should be tonight while I have you in some kind of condition to move."
"Ok I need to go home to get some things and you should pack some things that are important to you in a backpack and don't forget to write a note to your mother telling her that you are well and will see her again." With that Harry was out the back door and on his way back to his aunt and uncle's.
Soon Harry was back with all that he felt was necessary to take with him. Harry stood out on Celest's front lawn waiting for her to come out. When she was standing beside him Harry had her put on a cloak that would hide her from view while he did the same. After they both had the cloaks on and the hoods up Harry summoned the Night Bus and they were on there way to London.
Harry escorted Celest into the pub and over to old tom the barkeep. Harry asked about getting two rooms, but tom told him he only had one room left. After talking to Celest Harry took the room and they were both given keys. The room was big it had two full-size four poster beds, two desks, a fireplace in front of witch was a plush couch and a large bay window that look out over Diagon Alley. The bathroom was also large it had a sunken in tub and shower and two sinks and behind a door was the Lue. Harry smiled and said; "Well what do you think. I think this will be great for the summer."
"Oh I think that it's wonderful. I think it will be a fun summer, if nothing else it will be interesting." Celest said, "now tell me some stuff about this new world I am now in."
Harry told Celest as much as he knew about the Wizarding world, Voldemort, and the little he knew about the politics. Harry also told Celest about his parents, his godfather, and the still living Remus Lupin. Throughout the whole thing Celest paid close attention. After about 6 hours Harry finally stopped talking and looked at the clock realizing that it was now 4:00 AM Harry said that they should both go to bed so they could get up the next day. Celest went into the bathroom to change into her PJ's, and Harry changed in the room. As soon as they lay down in their beds they both fell into a deep peaceful sleep.
The next day Celest was awakened by the sound of people and a hooting next to her ear. She opened her eyes to see Hedwig looking at her. The two had become well acquainted over the years since she had been living at Celest's home every summer to keep her safe from Harry's relatives. She sat up in bed to see Harry still asleep across the room. Celest got an evil smile on her face as she got out of bed and gently climbed up on Harry's bed. Once she was there she stood and began jumping crying, "Get up get up get up Harry you said we were going to go into Diagon Alley today to explore." Harry just rolled over moaning and asking for five more minutes. Celest just jumped higher laughing and yelling for him to get up. Finally Harry rolled over a looked up at the excited jumping girl. He smirked and grabbed her ankle so that when she tried to jump up again she fell down onto the bed. Seeing her face screwed up in distaste Harry began to laugh as well. After a moment she also started laughing again. When they both stopped laughing Harry and Celest both got up in order to get ready.
