Harry Potter and a Chance at a new Life

by Basill

An adopted story that i found and liked. If you have any ideas for it pm me. the first 28 chapters were written by the original author and is all on the first too pages. Padfootsrevenger did the story originally and yes i have her permission to take it over. will be m/m maybe mpreg?

2. Long awaited ch 29

I have taken to splitting up the first part of the story since I found it was just way to long for my poor eyes. Lol.

Enjoy

CH18

They had been riding along for about five minutes when their compartment door slide open revealing a red-haired boy.

"Sorry everywhere else is full. Do you guys mind if I sit here?" The boy asked trying to keep a hold of his heavy trunk.

"Of course not mate. Have a seat." Neville responded grabbing a side of the trunk.

Putting the trunk away both boys sat down with Neville beside of Harry and Ron sitting across from them.

"Oh sorry to be rude, I'm Ron, Ron Weasley." Ron said as he held his hand out to Neville.

"Neville Longbottom." Neville said and smacked Ron's hand.

Ron looked momentarily shocked.

"You're parents wouldn't happen to be Frank and Alice Longbottom, would they?" Ron asked excitedly.

Harry simply raised his eyebrows at the question; he had never realized how popular the Longbottoms truly were.

"Yeah they are my parents." Neville replied with annoyance clear in his voice.

Mentally Harry chuckled, felt good for once not to be the center of attention.

As if Neville could hear his thoughts he brightened considerably.

"And this here is my current best mate, Harry Potter!" Neville said with a smirk.

Ron turned his eyes from Neville to Harry and went white.

"Harry Potter, the Harry Potter?" He asked in an awed voice.

"Yes? I'm Harry Potter?" Harry asked clearly confused. Why would he still be well known here?

"You're the boy-that-vanished!" Ron said with respect.

Harry laughed out loud at that, it would seem that he was cursed to be known by hyphenated names any where he went.

"Neville why didn't you tell me that I was the boy-that-vanished?" Harry inquired in a very serious voice.

"Well Harry I thought you knew already. Didn't you wonder why everyone was excited to see you the other day in Diagon Alley?" Neville muttered pulling out a chocolate frog.

"I thought they were just talking about my dad!" Harry muttered while shaking Ron's offered hand.

After their awkward meeting the three were soon playing exploding snap and talking about their families. Harry was quiet happy to learn that the Weasleys were just like they were in his world, however seems like here Charlie was already married to his sweetheart from Hogwarts, and they were expecting a child soon.

From the way Ron talked you could tell that he was excited to be an Uncle, as were his other siblings.

He even forgot to be embarrassed when he showed them his pet that he inherited from his brother. Once again it was a rat, but instead of the lazy rat Pettigrew was, this one was very hyper and had sharp intelligent eyes.

When Zantose heard the rat his head came from under Harry's sleeve and he flicked his tongue in the rat's direction. tasting the air.

"Looks like it would taste good." Zantose hissed to Harry.

As if the rat could understand what the snake just said, it squealed and tried to hide in Ron's front pocket, who was looking at the snake in fear and fascination.

For Neville who had seen Zantose on several occasions he just patted the snake on the head and went back to the game.

"Um Harry you've got a snake." Ron said still a bit white.

Harry had to bite his tongue from a sarcastic remark, after all how many eleven-year-olds were actually decent with sarcastic comments?

"Yes Ron, this is Zantose, a friend of mine from home." Harry said holding his arm out for Ron to see the snake properly.

With a shaking hand Ron reached out and petted the snake on the head, then quickly removed his hand.

Neville who had seen these decided to be funny.

"Harry why did they allow you to bring Zantose if he is poisonous, after all he's bitten four people in the last week?" He muttered while laying a card down.

Ron went from pale to green in a matter of seconds and glanced at the hand he used to pet the snake with. Harry who saw his expression burst out laughing along with Neville.

"He was kidding Ron; Zantose has never bitten any one. However, he is poisonous, wouldn't kill you necessarily, but he would make you sick as a dog." Harry said wiping the moister from his eyes.

Just then the door opened and a haughty blonde boy stuck his head in and looked around at them, seeming to search for some one. He's eyes briefly rested on Harry before he looked at the other occupants.

Harry smiled in a friendly way.

"Hello why don't you come on in? First year also?" Harry asked in a light tone.

The boy seemed to stare at him for a moment before entering the compartment and sitting down beside of Ron with a slight snarl of the lip.

"Hello my name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." Draco said with his hand held out.

Wondering where his two dogs were Harry took the boy's hand and shook it.

"Harry Potter, and that's Neville Longbottom, and the one beside you is Ron Weasley." Harry replied.

At Ron's name Malfoy only slightly narrowed his eyes. He nodded to each of the other boys in return. Harry slightly gazed at the other boy's thoughts to see what he was thinking.

While what he found was certainly better than what his Malfoy would be thinking, it was still a far cry from what he would have wanted to hear. Seems like in this world Draco still values the pureness of blood. However he had learnt to keep those thoughts to himself.

He also found out that Draco's mother had 'advised' him to become friends with Harry, or at least not get on the boy's bad side.

Well that served his purpose just fine. By the time the food cart rolled around he wouldn't say the atmosphere was friendly, but a fight wasn't about to break out between the other boys either.

"Anything off the carts dears?" The nice lady asked as she poked her head in through the door.

Harry immediately bought the whole load for his friends and himself.

"Why'd you buy the whole lot Harry, I'd have bought my own." Neville said with a laugh.

"What Neville? With the way you eat you'd eat yourself out of a fortune, figured I might as well save you an arm and a leg." Harry replied good naturedly.

After that the boys tore into the candy with the eagerness of starving hippogriffs.

They even enjoyed playing a game similar to dare using the every flavor beans, which surprisingly enough Draco won. Slowly but surely Draco was relaxing to the point where he seemed to be enjoying himself, even in the presence of a 'Weasley'.

"So what houses do you want to get in?" Neville asked finishing off another chocolate frog and reading the card.

Ron went white, and Draco's eyes narrowed as if he was nervous.

Harry however just smiled.

"Well I want to be in Gryffindor, my whole family has been for generations, but I suppose that Ravenclaw wouldn't be that bad, but they do read too much." Ron said turning green.

"Well I want to be in Slytherin, but Ravenclaw wouldn't be that bad. If I get into Hufflepuff I think I'll leave though." Draco said in a drawl.

Ron turned to look at the boy with something a kin to disgust on his face.

"Why would you want to be in Slytherin?" He asked.

Harry frowned and looked over at his old friend.

"What's wrong with Slytherin Ron?" He asked before Draco could respond.

"There hasn't been a witch or wizard who hasn't been dark from Slytherin." Ron said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"What do you mean by that?" Neville asked intrigued.

"All the Death Eaters were from Slytherin, even he-who-must-not-be-named." Ron practically yelled.

"Who?" Harry asked annoyed that his friend didn't say 'the name'.

"You-know-who!" Ron said with wide eyes.

"Sorry I don't, who?" Harry said with a confused expression.

Draco gave Harry a side ways glance amused, for he could tell that he was joking.

"The Dark Lord." Ron stuttered.

"You'll have to be more specific, you mean Grindelwald?" Harry asked with wide eyes.

Draco turned his head to the side to hide his smirk.

"No he-who-must-not-be-named! The Dark Lord! Leader of the Death Eaters!" Ron yelled out in annoyance.

"Oh him you mean Voldemort. Why did you just say so? Would have saved us a lot of trouble." Harry said with a sigh and a shake of his head.

The other boys turned to stare at Harry.

Noticing this he called them on it. "What are you three staring about?"

Neville smiled at him, "You said You-know-who's name."

"Of course I did, it's not like he's the candy man." Harry said annoyed.

"The Candy Man?" Ron asked confused.

Harry in return just smiled back, "Voldemort, Voldemort, VOLDEMORT!" He looked around as if he expected something to appear out of thin air.

Seeing no one he turned back to the group.

"And for your information Ron, not all the Death Eaters were/are from Slytherin." Harry said picking at a loose string on his shirt.

"Yes they were. Name one that wasn't." Ron adamantly replied.

"Peter Pettigrew." Harry said simply.

Neville looked sharply at him, he knew of Pettigrew, but he didn't know that the Potters had told Harry about the rat.

"Who is Peter Pettigrew?" Ron asked.

"Peter Pettigrew was one of my parent's best friends, he was a Gryffindor. He was also a Death Eater and spy for Voldemort." Harry said firmly.

Ron looked taken aback at the information, and a bit embarrassed at his accusation.

"There are untrustworthy people in every bunch, just as there is some one trustworthy in the most unlikely place." Harry said, but then decided to lighten the air a bit.

"Well anyways, who wants to play some chess?"

Ron immediately brightened and pulled out his favorite set. As they were about to begin there door opened and a girl walked in.

Everybody stopped what ever they were doing and looked towards the door and where the young girl stood.

"Ok which one of you did it?" The bushy haired girl demanded.

The confused boys exchanged glances before Ron demanded, "Did what?"

Suddenly they heard frightened whispers from outside their door. The girl went back out to see what the person had to say, and when she returned to the compartment she was bright red.

"Sorry about that wrong compartment, by the way my name is Hermione Granger." The small girl said holding out her hand.

Harry took it and shook it with a grin. "Harry Potter." He said happily; glad to have his best girl friend back.

"Are you really? You are the Boy-That-Vanished! You are in three of the books I've read." She replied very fast shaking his hand furiously.

Harry however groaned, "I'm in what? Good Lord not again!"

As Hermione looked confused at his reaction Neville started to laugh at his friend's dilemma. She looked pointedly at him, "And you are?"

Neville just grinned back at her icy tone.

"Oh how rude of me, allow me to introduce myself." He said as he got to his feet.

"I am Neville Longbottom, extraordinaire." He said while giving an extravagant bow.

At the name Hermione's eyes flashed recognition before she answered, "Right."

"Ron Weasley." Ron said avoiding the girls glaze and blushing slightly, causing Harry to raise his eyebrows.

"Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." Draco said with a slight inclination of his head. At the sound of the name there was a startled and frightened yelp from outside the compartment.

Once again the boys looked at each other and shrugged.

"Well it was nice meeting you, but you had better be getting our robes on, I expect we will be arriving soon." Hermione said as she started out the door.

However, before she was all the way out she stopped and turned back to Ron.

"By the way did you know you have something on your nose?" And with that she was gone.

Ron sputtered indignantly and muttered under his breath, "Bloody annoying know-it-all."

The boys laughed and started to get changed for the welcoming feast. Their destinies would be decided soon.

CH19

Draco left the compartment to go and change while the other three boys pulled out their robes and slipped them on over their muggle style clothing. Ron took the opportunity to try and scrub the black smudge off of his nose, Harry didn't comment about it, but was highly amused. Mentally he laughed for he knew that Ron would not be able to remove that dirt before the sorting. Fred and George had told him in seventh year that they had placed it there with a candy they had given Ron earlier at the Burrow. The spot would take at least twenty-four hours to wear off. When the train started to slow Draco reappeared looking slightly ruffled and upset, his hair looked unkempt and his cheeks were pink.

"Something the matter Draco?" Neville asked while trying to tie his tie correctly.

"I'm fine." The blonde haired boy replied forcefully.

"Fine mate if you say so." Neville said in frustration messing up the tie once again.

"Honestly Neville, if I can tie a tie surely you can." Harry joked while he showed the boy how to tie it correctly.

As the train came to a full stop Neville grinned gratefully at Harry and led the way off the train and through the crowd to where a booming voice could be heard.

Neville turned to the other boys and motioned to the giant of a man.

"That there is Hagrid, good chap and all don't let his size put you off." He said with a grin.

Just then Hagrid spotted the group and gave a wide grin at them.

"Hello Neville, who're your friends there?'

"This is Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Draco Malfoy." Neville replied pointing the boys in turn.

The only sign of surprise was the widening of his eyes at Malfoy's name.

"Right, reckon I oughta get the others to the boats now." Hagrid said and went back to calling for first years. The four boys huddled together and watched the other children crowd around. Harry could easily pick out who the muggleborns were, the purebloods, and the half-bloods. The muggleborns looked out of place and uncomfortable in robes, the purebloods looked stuck up and were wearing dragon hide boots(the majority of them), and the Half-bloods looked just as if they belonged, even down to their leather shoes and t-shirts beneath their robes. Looking back he wondered if he had looked so out of place during his first year at Hogwarts, he had never thought about it at the time, too wrapped up in this whole new world. Frowning in thought Harry didn't notice Hermione had came up beside of him until he felt a tap on the shoulder. Startled Harry quickly spun around with his wand out pointed at the young girl. Hermione looked surprised but the girl beside of her jumped and quickly took shelter behind the busy haired girl.

"Sorry didn't mean to frighten you, you just startled me." Harry quickly apologized trying to avoid a situation.

Hermione merely huffed and turned her back on Harry to talk to the girl.

Harry was surprised to see Hannah Abbott looking terrified behind of Hermione.

Shrugging he turned back around to his friends to see Draco looking anywhere but at the two girls, and Neville looking on with a pitying look in his eyes.

As Hagrid started to lead the way to the boats Harry determined that he would ask Neville about it later if he got the chance. The boat ride was just as he remembered, and he even gasped along with the rest of the children in amusement. It was true that Hogwarts was a beautiful site to behold, but after seven years of seeing it every day it lost some of it's' affect. After the boat ride Harry pulled Neville to the side and let Ron and Draco continue on with a bit of distance between them.

"Neville who is that girl with Hermione?" Harry enquired trying to keep from being over heard.

Neville nearly stumbled on a root when he heard the question. Straightening he glanced around before leaning in close to Harry.

"That is Hannah Abbott, her …" Neville paused and licked his lips, "her parents were tortured to insanity by Death Eaters, and they made her watch the whole thing."

"Who were the Death Eaters?" Harry asked pity clear in his voice for the little girl.

After he asked the question he noticed how uncomfortable Neville became.

"Doesn't matter they were caught." He muttered before pushing ahead to join Ron and Draco.

Shrugging off the feeling of uneasy that had came over him, Harry pushed his way forward also.

When the doors opened to reveal a stern looking woman Harry grinned in happiness, it had been years since he had seen his old professor. After Dumbledore's death Minerva had stepped up and ran Hogwarts and was the co-head of the Order along with Moody, she had been a great asset in the war and for the 'light'. Minerva had become closer to her younger students in the Order and D.A. during the war, so much so that many would have considered her part of their extended family. So when Minerva's eyes swept the body of students, Harry couldn't help but to grin widely at her in happiness. Seeing this McGonagall did something that would have shocked her older students; she gave a slight smile in return, before leading the students into a room to wait to be sorted.

As they waited for McGonagall to return many of the students whispered about how they were to be sorted.

Ron who was looking extremely pale muttered out, "Fred and George told me we had to wrestle a troll."

Draco just snorted and Harry had to hide his smile at the statement Neville however wore a serious expression.

"That's right Ron, depends on how you go about doing it that will decide what house you are in. Gryffindors just attack the troll with everything they can muster, Hufflepuffs will call on their friends to give them a hand, Ravenclaws use their knowledge to defeat it, and Slytherins trick it into letting them pass." Neville said with a nod.

"See watch." Looking through the crowd he pointed out random people and said a house, finally stopping on Hermione who was telling anyone who'd listen all the spells she knew. "Ravenclaw."

Ron was looking even whiter after Neville was done talking.

"Well Hufflepuff for me guys. You will help right mates?" Ron asked looking around at the other three.

Draco just rolled his eyes and finally muttered, "Really Weasley can you get any more stupid? Do you honestly think they would make untrained first years fight a troll? You'd be squashed before you could get a spell off of your lips."

While Ron looked slightly more comforted at this he was still extremely pale.

He shot Neville a glare before rubbing at his nose again, trying to remove the dirt but only causing his nose to turn red. Something that stuck out greatly as the rest of his face was almost white.

Shaking his head Harry turned and looked across the assorted students, every one seemed to be there, except for Ernie Macmillan. He had never known Ernie that well, besides that he was in Hufflepuff and in his year, but what would have caused the boy not to show up at Hogwarts? Harry frowned in thought, he would have to look into it later, and perhaps something would be in the news papers?

Several children screamed behind their group. Harry didn't even have to turn around to know that it was just the ghosts talking about Peeves. He would have to talk to Peeves soon and offer him a deal. Harry was brought out of his plotting by a sharp voice.

"Move along now! The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."

The group of frightened students immediately stopped whispering and looked at the stern professor as if she was about to announce their doom.

"Now, form a line and follow me." McGonagall demanded and started to lead the line into the Great Hall. As they walked Harry could hear Hermione telling Hannah about the incanted ceiling, and he had to bite back a grin every time she mentioned Hogwarts: A History. He glanced around at different tables and was mildly surprised to see that some students here were in different houses than they were in his world. The Weasley twins had their eyes glued on their younger brother with identical smirks on their faces. Ron who wasn't looking at them didn't notice, but Harry did. Catching their eyes he gave a smirk and winked at them. He almost laughed when he saw them exchange surprised glances and turned to study him more closely.

"Hey Ron." Harry whispered out of the corner out of his mouth as McGonagall was reaching the stool.

"Yeah?" The white Ron asked back.

"Tell your twin brother I said that they shouldn't give you candy."

Ron turned to look at Harry as if he was crazy, but then turned around muttering, "How did he know about that time with the Acid Pop?"

When the Sorting Hat had finished its' song the crowd of students clapped politely, most of the older students looking bored, and the first years extremely nervous. 'Right here we go.' Harry thought with a sigh, knowing that it would be a good while until he was sorted.

The Sorting was quiet interesting though, some of the students were placed in different houses than what he remembered them, and the hat took different amount of time oddly enough. Such as for Neville, the hat back in his original world had taken a long time to sort him, but here as soon as the hat touched his head it shouted, "Gryffindor!" When Neville made his way to the table the Weasley twins pulled him over and patted him enthusiastically on the back. Neville just grinned good naturedly and winked at Harry and the others. However when Draco's name was called Harry paid particular attention.

The blonde-haired boy strolled confidently forward and placed the hat on his head. Instead of screaming out Slytherin, the hat seemed to be considering something, and if the conflicting emotions on Draco's face were any indication, it was not to his liking.

The young Malfoy heir turned a bright pink before calming down and returning to his natural shade of white, before the hat screamed out, "Ravenclaw!"

The Ravenclaws clapped politely, but not too enthusiastically, after all, the boy's father is a convicted Death Eater. Draco for his part let no emotion show as he made his way to the blue clad table, taking a sit close to the end of the table and turning back to watch the sorting. Harry however was shocked. He would have to alter his whole plan now; everything was based on Draco still being a Slytherin. Harry felt like cursing the boy, it would seem whatever dimension he was in Malfoy would always foul his plans up. Sighing he waited for his name to be called.

"Potter, Harry." McGonagall read off the list looking up at the boy.

Harry gave Ron an encouraging smile and the marched up to the hat and placed it on his head.

"Ah it's nice to meet you Mr. Potter. I must say I never thought I'd have the pleasure after you were kidnapped."

"It's a pleasure to see you again Seanan." Harry said to the old Hat.

Seanan paused in his browsing of Jamie's memories.

"How is it that you know my name?" Seanan asked intrigued.

"Promise not to yell in surprise, or divulge any of the information you gain from my mind?" Harry thought?

"Of course I won't, I can not tell any information I gain from a person's mind; I can however give vague references."

"Fine, but like I said do not yell." Harry said as he let down his mind shields for Seanan to see his other life."

True to his word the hat didn't show any signs to the outside word of surprise, but many exclamations of surprise filled Harry's head, some which would have made aurors blush.

"Honestly Seanan where did you pick up those sayings? After all you do live in the Headmaster's office." Harry said suggestively.

"Well you'd be surprised at how much some first years know the last one I picked up from your father." Seanan said with a chuckle.

Sorting through his memories the hat became increasingly quieter until he reached the end of Harry's memories from his other life.

"Ah so you met old T Silenius?" The hat asked referring to the old man that had sent him to this world.

"Well he never did say his name…who is he by the way?" Harry asked the question, for it had been bothering him for quiet sometime.

Unbeknownst to Harry and the Hat, the rest of the Hall was becoming quiet restless, all except for Professor Flitwick, who was staring excitedly at a watch.

Snape who was near by looked at the Professor pointedly.

"What are you doing?" Severus enquired in an annoyed drawl.

Not looking up from the watch the tinny Professor explained.

"Timing Mr. Potter, he could break the all time sorting record, he is already rounding on it now. Set by Corbett Velox-Nex in 1292 with the time of seven minutes and 45 seconds."

Suddenly the small professor let out an excited squeak, "He's done it, he's broken the record."

Severus just snarled his lip in annoyance. Any child of Potter was nothing special, just like his father more than likely, trying to show off already. Snape knew who the boy was as soon as he walked through the door, but he was not raised by the Potters, perhaps he wouldn't so insufferable after all.

Seanan seemed to consider the question. "Well he is the companion of Dionysus; You must have impressed him in your other world to be granted a chance like this."

Harry just nodded his head in agreement, he was lucky to have a family now.

"Anyways back to the sorting, where do you want to go?" Seanan asked in an amused voice.

"Well as you know my plans have changed, so I think I'll have to go into Ravenclaw, but could you do me a favor?" Harry asked.

The Hat just nodded and heard him out.

A full minute later the hat called out, "Ravenclaw!"

The usually reserved house jumped to their feet and cheered loudly, excited to get the famed Potter, even the charms professor was bouncing in his seat in happiness. However, when Harry did not stand to join his table the cheers died down and the Ravenclaw students looked confused.

"However I give Mr. Potter the right to be resorted at any time he sees fit, more than once if he wishes."

A stunned silence settled over the hall as Harry got off the stool and went to sit next to Draco at the end of the table. Even the teachers looked shocked, for no one had heard of the hat doing such a thing before.

After another few seconds Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and proceeded with the sorting, which ended up the same as he remembered.

When the food appeared the two boys immediately began to pile their plates full of food. Harry grabbed some tender meat and placed it on his lap for Zantose to eat.

Draco's eyes widened fractionally as he saw the snake but did not comment; instead he studied Harry's face as if searching for something. His mother was correct; it was a good idea to become allies with Harry Potter.

"Are you happy with your house?" Harry asked while glancing around at his new housemates, many of which were not even talking just eating their food and observing the rest of the hall.

"Quiet, like I said it could have been worst." Draco replied looking around at his housemates also, trying to pick out the other first years.

Harry sighed and looked over to the Gryffindor table where Neville, Ron, and Hermione were sitting. To his surprised the Weasley twins were staring back at him with something akin to awe on their faces. Figuring it was about the whole candy thing Harry winked and tapped his head, in a universal sign that said 'I know'.

The twins looked even more shocked by that and put their heads together and began to whisper frantically, every once in awhile looking back over at Harry.

Draco who noticed the exchange didn't say anything just looked over to the Slytherin table with a scowl. He had tried to convince some of his 'friends' not to let the hat put them in Slytherin as it would not be to their best interest, but they had refused, saying that they had their family's pride to keep intact. Personally he thought their family's pride was already in the dirt, after all their fathers and some of their mothers were named Death Eaters, ruining their reputations. If they had not been sorted into Slytherin, the name of which had been dirtied by the Death Eaters and Voldemort, they might have stood a chance at making their families names respectable again. Not that he disagreed with the Dark Lord on all of his policies, just about how they went about putting them in action. Sometimes subtlety was not something the Dark Lord practiced, not very Slytherin of him. He was brought out of his musings by a question directed his way.

"Who is that man sitting by Professor Quirrell?" Harry asked.

Harry already knew the answer of course, but would much rather watch Darco's reaction.

Draco merely raised his eyebrows in response, "How do you know Quirrell?"

Harry noticed that Draco had not called the man professor; perhaps he already knew something untrustworthy about the man. Like the fact that he had a dark lord's spirit sticking out of the back of his head? Harry knew for a fact that Quirrell was once again working for Voldemort here, for his scar was already burning.

"I met Quirrell in Diagon Alley when I was shopping for school supplies." Harry replied placing another piece of meat on his lap for Zantose, then turning to watch Draco.

"The man is Professor Severus Snape the Potions Master here at Hogwarts," Draco said with something akin to pride in his voice, "he is also my Godfather and protector."

Harry nodded his understanding and sat back to think about what he had just learned.

A protector in the magical world was an adult guardian that took on the role as a parent to a child when one of his/her parents were sent to prison. The logic behind the law was that the child would be taught good morals by someone who was considered 'upstanding' in the magical community. So while Draco lived with his mother, Snape had just as much right to the boy as a parent would, and had to visit with him by law every so often to enforce his duties of raising a virtuous young man.

As Harry pondered away he had no idea that he was being closely watched by three set of eyes.

CH20

"So brother of mine what do you think of young Potter?" Fred whispered watching the mentioned boy closely.

"Odd. How do you suppose he knew that we gave Ron prank candy?" George asked taking a bite out of a roll.

"Lucky guess? We'll need to keep an eye on him. I wonder what he is doing with Malfoy though. Does Harry not know that Malfoy's dad is a Death Eater?"

George just shrugged in response to the asked questions, and turned to look at Neville Longbottom who was sitting next to him.

"Say Neville do you want a piece of candy?" George asked holding out a candy in a golden color wrapper.

Both the Weasley twins looked perfectly innocent as they looked over at the younger boy.

Neville simply just stared at the two for a moment trying to figure out what they were up to, for Ron had told them on the train about the twins' pranking nature. Noticing how they had been discussing Harry earlier he decided to give them something else to think about.

"No thanks, after all I spent the last week with the Potters. I've had enough pranks to last a life time!" He said sincerely and went back to his steak.

Fred and George frowned at each other and turned their worried glaze back at their new competitor.

Albus Dumbledore was considered one of the most powerful wizards in the world. Many looked up and revered the aging headmaster, incorrectly thinking that he knew everything and could solve any problem. He did however know a great deal, and was usually very wise and insightful. Lately however, one person kept throwing him for a loop, said person was just an eleven-year-old boy named Harry Potter.

One moment the boy was the perfect example of a Gryffindor while the next he was being as sneaky as a Slytherin. Never had he thought the boy would end up in Ravenclaw. True young Harry was extremely bright, but so were his parents and they had both ended up in Gryffindor. If he had been sorted into Ravenclaw like any other student Albus would not have worried in the slightest, however the conditions the Sorting Hat set gave him some concern.

As far as the headmaster knew, no one had the choice to be resorted at wish. However, it was a little known fact that at the headmaster's discretion that students could be resorted if a situation arose. Eating his meal he turned his gaze back to young Harry Potter. Once he got back to his office he planned on having a long discussion with a certain hat.

The Ravenclaw common room could be described in one word; efficient.

It was a blend of comfort and rationality. While the Gryffindor common room offered comfort and an inviting feel, the Ravenclaw's seemed to be made for study, and discussion. There was even a whole wall taken up by bookshelves, which were full of reference books and books other students had donated that they found time worthy.

Harry had to mentally cringe at the room's appearance, while not nearly as cold and unwelcoming as the Slytherin common room, it just didn't feel like home.

Draco on the other hand seemed thrilled with the room's appearance and after looking around gave a small nod of approval.

The dorm rooms however were a complete surprise. Harry had expected them to be 'efficient' like the common room; instead they were very similar to the Gryffindor's dorm rooms, just different colors. There were also bookshelves and desks for each boy, as well as wardrobes.

Harry's trunk sat at the end of the bed nearest to the bath room, and he vaguely noticed that Draco's bed was right next to his. Terry Boot was across from his bed, and to his right were, Michael Corner's, and Anthony Goldstein's beds.

Harry had never really liked Michael that much, especially after he had joined the D.A. the boy was a prat if there ever was one. Anthony and Terry on the other hand he got along with alright, both were part of the D.A. and helped him out after fifth year when Malfoy and his little gang tried to ambush him.

"Hi I'm Terry Boot." The light brown haired boy said nodding to the other boys amiably.

"Draco Malfoy." Draco said nodding back with slight displeasure in his voice; Boot was clearly a muggle name.

"Anthony Goldstein."

"Michael Corner." The dark haired boy said looking a Draco with something akin to discuss.

Then Anthony and Michael looked at Harry excitedly. Terry just looked confused as to why they would be so excited.

Harry looked around and gave a pleasant smile, "Harry Potter."

"Are you really? I heard that you were found living with some muggles." Michael said excitedly.

Mentally Harry frowned and narrowed his eyes; Corner was just as irritating in this dimension.

"Yes that's correct, but those muggles I consider my grandparents, they're good people."

Terry looked confused, but didn't ask anything about Harry's life, trying not to be rude.

The boys talked for a few more minutes before all of them were getting tired.

Terry grinned back and headed over to his bed to change; the others after a brief good night followed his lead and also changed for bed.

While the others slipped off into sleep, Harry got a quill and some parchment to write to his parents, siblings, and grandparents, after all they would want to know what house he got in. He also grabbed his copy of Hogwarts; A history for his grandparents to read.

After taking a sticky note and placing in on the correct page for easier use he placed everything on his nightstand to mail in the morning. Zantose curled tightly around his legs before they both drifted off to sleep.

Headmaster's Office

"What do you mean you won't tell me!" Albus said in surprise at the hat in front of him. Never before had it denied him information on a certain student. It never told him the memories of a student, but it would usually give him a reason why he put a child in a certain house.

"Exactly that Albus, I won't tell you. It really is none of your business, all you need to know is that I felt that he had the right to chose to move to another house if he wished to do so." A certain Sorting Hat replied in an annoyed voice.

"But that has never happened before, why would you give him the choice to do that?" Dumbledore asked just as annoyed as the hat was. This conversation was not going his way at all; he just hated not knowing things. It wasn't so much as just not knowing the reasoning, but rather being caught off guard when it would have been beneficial to have known before hand.

"I gave him that choice because he could easily have gone to any of the houses. If he lived in the Founders time they would have been fighting over him, and been a prized student."

Dumbledore sat back to think about the information he just received. Examining the boy's action he had to agree with the Sorting Hat, Harry Potter did have many traits that the Founders appreciated.

The next morning Harry was up around six to shower and head down to for breakfast. To his surprise when he had finished his shower and went down to the common room Draco was already there and waiting on him.

Nodding in greeting they both turned and headed to the Great Hall, something that felt extremely odd to Harry since they were coming from the Ravenclaw dorms. He noticed that Draco had brought his bag and books along with him also; perhaps Snape had already told him the first years' schedule?

Both Harry and Draco headed over to the spots they had occupied the previous night. Surprisingly enough there were quiet a few people already at the Ravenclaw table eating breakfast and reading books. The other three tables were practically bare; however, some of the teachers were up at the head table eating. Professor Flitwick was as bouncy as ever though, and seemed extremely happy.

Half way through his breakfast Hedwig flew in and landed right in front of him. After petting her for a bit he retrieved the bundle for her to deliver and tied it on her waiting claw. Soon she took flight and made her way to transport the package for her master.

Close to the end of the meal when the Hall was almost packed with students, Flitwick passed out the schedules, and Harry let out a mental groan, for the first class of the day was double potions with Hufflepuff. Given the class wouldn't be bad because of the Hufflepuffs, rather the over bearing bat. Later that day he would also have herbology with the Slytherins.

Draco on the other hand seemed excited that they would have potions for their first class of the year; he was already very 'good' with potions since Snape was his godfather and protector.

Hearing Draco babble on about potions he mentally rolled his eyes, however it was better than having to listen to pureblood bigotry, perhaps Draco really was different here.

The two boys quickly made their ways to the dungeons before breakfast let out to avoid the crowd. Harry followed behind Draco as if he didn't know where he was going, and soon found himself in front of a very familiar door. Sighing he mentally braced himself to the torture that was sure to come.

Potions class was in one word, confusing.

After the two boys had entered Malfoy insisted that they sit right in front of Snape, something that Harry had never done, nor had he ever expected too.

Seeing his godson and Potter together Severus merely raised an eyebrow and caught himself before he sneered. If Draco got along with the boy, surely he couldn't be that bad, unlike his father and godfather.

As he was calling the roll he paused at Harry's name as the whispers started up and Snape peered at the boy who looked as if he was doing his best to ignore the muttering around him. Severus was surprised that the boy looked used to the whispering and pointing, but still seemed to dislike it and hid his emotions well. To most the boy looked as if he hadn't heard a thing and was simply bored. He quickly finished calling role and began to give his first year speech.

Harry was happy that Snape seemed to be leaving him along for the moment, maybe having Malfoy as a friend had benefits after all. The potion Snape put on the board was something Harry could complete in his sleep so he quickly got the ingredients and helped Draco prepare them with ease only practice and experience could produce. At the end of the lesson their potion was the only one that was perfect, but there were some other ones that were quiet good for beginners.

As the bell rang Harry was about to rush out of the room with the rest of the students but Draco grabbed his arm and held him back.

"Hold on Harry I want to introduce you to my godfather."

Harry gave a slight nod and waited for the other students to leave the room as he pretended to be packing up his books.

When the room was empty he followed Draco to stand in front of the desk in which Snape sat in front of an open potions book.

"Hello Professor Snape." Draco said with a smirk stressing the professor part.

Snape glanced up then sat back in his chair with a slight smile on his lips.

"Hello Mr. Malfoy."

"Uncle Severus I'd like you to meet my new friend Harry Potter." Draco said with a smile and a tilt of his head in Harry's direction.

Snape studied the boy for a minute. He held an air of confidence around him, but which was quiet different from the arrogance of his father and godfather held. He also seemed to be extremely intelligent and observant, a trait that his father did not possess in his opinion. Maybe the boy would be more like his mother than that prat of a father, Evans always did have more intelligence, why she would sink to date and marry Potter was beyond him.

Snape nodded his head in acknowledgment, "Pleasure to meet you Potter."

Harry blinked his eyes; did Snape just say what he thought he said? Well better keep on his good side for the moment.

"Pleasure to meet you too sir." Harry replied with a nod of the head also.

"As much as I would like to sit around and chat it is lunch time and I am quiet hungry." Snape said standing up from behind his desk and straightening his robes.

"Care to accompany me to the Hall?"

Draco and Harry quickly retrieved their bags and followed behind the potions' master, one in shock the other one in irritation.

CH21

"Your uncle is much more personable out of class." Harry said as he and Draco took a seat at the end of the Ravenclaw table. Harry was still in shock that Snape had actually been some what polite, especially to a Potter.

Draco just snorted his amusement at the statement and started to pile his plate full.

"Uncle Severus is always a personable individual, however he chooses not to waste his time on the unworthy."

"The unworthy?" Harry asked thinking that he knew where this conversation was going.

Draco paused with his fork halfway to his mouth and looked over at Harry as if he only just realized who he was talking to.

"Yes the unworthy, you know, people who are waste of time, to him that is mostly the Gryffindors." Draco replied with a smirk and a wink.

"You do realize my parents were in Gryffindor right?" Harry said with a grin of his own, if he didn't know any better he would say that Draco was actually bantering with him.

"Of course I do Potter, how two Gryffindors could produce a Ravenclaw is beyond me." Draco said with a mock thoughtful look.

Harry just rolled his eyes and was about to reply when Neville plopped down beside of him and threw an arm around his shoulders.

"Mate you've already forgotten about me!" Neville exclaimed with mock dread.

Harry frowned back.

"Of course I have Longbottom, after all according to Malfoy here Gryffindors are a waste of time and therefore I am forced to cleanse my hands of you."

Draco made a show of examining his fingernails while Neville sputtered with indignation, and Harry smiled in amusement.

"Fine then mate, I see how it is; I'll just go back to the Gryffindor table and tend to my wounded pride." Neville said and made to get up, only to be pushed back down by Ron who took a seat beside of him and began pilling his plate.

The three boys turned to look at Ron as he kept piling his plate higher and higher, finally Neville decided to say something, "Umm Ron do you plan on eating the Ravenclaws out of all their food?"

Ron just grunted through his mouthful of food.

Draco snarled his lip in disgust, "Honestly Weasley didn't your parents have enough time to teach you any manners, I mean maybe because there are seven of you they didn't have time to spare on the youngest ones."

Ron chocked on his food, turned bright red and glared across the table at the blonde haired boy. After swallowing his mouthful Ron snarled back, "Shut up Malfoy, apparently your mother hasn't fed you well enough, notice how much taller I am than you. I am actually growing unlike you, you stunted midget." With that statement he went back to his plate of food leaving a very pink Malfoy frothing at the mouth.

Silently Harry applauded Ron for his comeback, something which was extremely unexpected. Usually when Ron was younger he just skipped words and went straight to using his fists. He was also amused to see Draco pile his plate a bit more and started to eat pointedly ignoring the rest of them, to which Neville just shrugged and started to talk about Quidditch.

After lunch the group went their separate ways. Harry and Draco went to the greenhouse, luckily for Harry Draco seemed to know where he was going so he wouldn't have to pretend not to know the way. Deciding to see how Draco knew his way around so well Harry called him on it.

"Oh simple, during the summer I usually stay with Uncle Severus here, when I was younger I would often get lost, but all those years of being here has paid off."

Harry nodded at his explanation, for he figured something of the sort.

During their lesson they were joined at their table by Terry Boot and Blaise Zabini, neither boy Harry could honestly say he knew well, but he did like Terry, and he had never had a disagreement with Zabini.

Both Blaise and Draco pointedly ignored Terry while Harry ignored them for doing so. The class passed that way with Harry only talking to Terry and giving Draco the cold shoulder. Terry was a bit put out by this but was friendly to Harry none-of-the-less.

After Herbology the Ravenclaws had a free period and Harry decided to help Terry with his essays and ignore Draco until dinner at least. The two boys quickly made their way to their dorms and began their work. Harry was surprised at how quickly Terry caught on to the homework, but then again there was a reason that he was sorted into Ravenclaw.

Just as he was finishing up on his potions work he heard a rap on the window and looked up to see a very pleased Hedwig sitting on the ledge with a letter in her beak and a package tied to her leg.

Harry quickly let her in and relieved her of her burden and gave her a fond pat on the head. Not even bothering opening the package he quickly stored it in his trunk and tore open the letter and began to read.

Harry,

Your father and I are so proud that you were sorted into Ravenclaw, which wasn't surprising because you are such a bright young man. I hope that you take your studies seriously and try to do your best in all your classes. I will let your father write now.

Hey hey Prongsie, a Ravenclaw? I am shocked, I hope that you aren't going to spend all your time with your nose stuck in a book; after all you do have the family's name to up hold. Actually I am extremely proud of you and know that you will exceed at Hogwarts, just throw in a prank every now and then for my sake.

With love,

Your parents.

P.S. I hope you like the package!

Since they were done with their homework Harry and Terry went to the library in search of Neville and Ron. Harry sorely wished that he had the two way mirrors to use to contact his friends, and decided to write to his dad asking if there were any communication devices that could be used to contact his friends. Hopefully he could get more than one set to use, as he did have more than one close friend, or he would.

The library was unsurprisingly enough devoid of either Neville or Ron; however he spotted a familiar head of bushy hair in the corner hard at work. He made his way over to the table with Terry trailing behind him, and took a seat. Hermione was so engrossed in her book that she didn't even look up to acknowledge their presence. Harry coughed loudly to gain her attention. Hermione jumped startled and quickly looked up at the other two boys.

"Hello Hermione, this is my friend Terry Boot. Terry this is Hermione Granger of Gryffindor." Both of them nodded heads to acknowledge the other but Hermione still kept her eyes narrowed at Harry.

Harry sighed, "Honestly Hermione I didn't mean to scare your friend last night, and you guys just startled me." He said in a regretful tone that he knew Hermione couldn't resist.

She nodded her acceptance and started to go back to her work but was stopped by a question from Terry, "How are you enjoying your classes so far?"

Harry had to stop himself from sighing as Hermione started off to what he knew would be a very long conversation.

By the end of the conversation the trio was late for dinner and Terry and Hermione had both become tentative friends, and Harry sported a headache from the endless words pouring from the other two's mouths. Harry was used to Hermione's talkative nature, but he had not been exposed to it for some time now. Terry decided to sit with Hermione at the Gryffindor table while Harry made his way over to Draco to give him a talking to.

When he sat down Draco turned to stare at him as if he was thinking about something important. "Ok Potter I apologize." Draco muttered looking at his plate.

"Apologize for what Malfoy?" Harry asked with his eyes narrowed, he'd be darned if he was going to let Malfoy off easy.

Draco sighed again and leaned back in his seat, while he didn't really care about the muggleborns, he might as well treat them somewhat reasonably, after all it was best to play your card close to your chest.

"For ignoring Boot today in herbology, it won't happen again."

"You shouldn't be apologizing to me Draco, you don't even know the boy, and yet to judge him by his blood. Your prejudice is stupid and uncalled for, you need to learn to think for yourself and question things you've been brought up to believe. If the purity of blood is all you care about then you shouldn't even be talking to me." Harry said forcefully, he didn't think that Malfoy would back out of his friendship now, but he would be sulky for a few days.

Malfoy turned slightly pink but nodded his head in agreement. Malfoy wasn't a fool, if Potter wanted him to be civil to muggleborns then he would at least appear to do so, perhaps over time he would be able to sway him to his views, after all he was kidnapped by muggles.

The next week passed in the same manner, he would wake early and go to breakfast with Draco. Halfway through the meal he would be joined by Neville and Ron, who tried their best to get Draco riled up, something that the rest of them found highly amusing. Go to classes, eat lunch, go to classes, free time/dinner, and homework in the library with Hermione.

Harry was careful not to 'catch' on too quickly to the assignments, but he was usually first in his classes followed by both Hermione and surprisingly Neville. It would seem that many of Neville's problems in his other world steamed from low self esteem, which was not surprising really.

The most amusing class had to have been Defense Against the Dark Arts. To Harry who knew the truth about Quirrell every time he stuttered, he would have to hold back a laugh. Harry pretended to pay rapt attention to the stuttering follower, never letting his eyes leave the Professor, something which unnerved the man greatly, and caused him to actually stutter.

When Dean Thomas asked about how he got rid of some zombies for an African Prince and received his purple turban, Quirrell started muttering off topic. Harry just grinned and raised his hand whipping the smile off his face and taking on a serious expression.

"Yes Mr. Potter you have a question?" Quirrell asked desperately.

"Well yes sir, I saw a movie a few years ago, and since this is DADA I was wondering if using an exorcist really works?" Harry asked with crinkled brows.

Many of the purebloods and some half-bloods looked confused at his statement, however all the muggleborns leaned forward intently.

"Exorcist? What is an exorcist?" Quirrell asked as confusedly as his students looked.

"You know a catholic priest, who expels demons and on such." Harry said with a shrug and leaned forward waiting for an answer.

When Quirrell continued to look confused Hermione spoke up, "An exorcist drives out spirits that possess a person. I believe he is asking if catholic priest can truly do this."

Harry nodded his head in agreement with a totally serious face.

Quirrell went extremely pale and stuttered out that he had never heard of them and would look into the topic and give them an answer at a later date. Needless to say the first years thought he was a stuttering idiot, no pun intended.

Even after a week Snape had still behaved civil towards him, something that was honestly beginning to unnerve him. Severus Snape being civil to any one, especially a Potter was unbelievable; perhaps he wasn't a slimy git here after all, which Harry highly doubted. However after talking to Neville and Ron he was relieved to know that Snape was still a cranky bat to the Gryffindors, the only one he seemed to tolerate was Hermione.

So far everything was going exactly how he wanted it in this world. Smiling he laid back on his bed and reminded himself to write to his dad about the two-way mirrors in the morning.

CH22

Harry was sitting eating breakfast at the Ravenclaw table when a snowy white owl landed in front of him with a package.

"Hey Hedwig!" He petted his friend while she nipped his fingers in affection; Zantose simply hissed his greeting to his feathered companion.

The owl patiently held out her leg for him while he untied the parcel. Quickly reading the note attached to it, he placed the small package in his pocket and grinned. He finally had a way to communicate with Ron, Neville, and Hermione while out of class. Draco and Harry quickly finished their breakfasts and started for the door, only to be stopped by his head of house.

Harry and Draco looked down at the diminutive professor.

"Mr. Potter follow me please."

Shrugging Harry said good bye to Draco and followed the small charms teacher, he was certain that he wasn't in trouble for he hadn't done anything…yet.

Flitwick's office was filled to the seams with books. Every where he looked there was a book, even the large desk was filled with books, along with papers. The walls were painted in the house colors and were covered with paintings of famous witches and wizards. Whatever he had been expecting Ravenclaw's head's office to look like, this was not it. The books, yes; but the clutter he would never have guessed.

"Now Mr. Potter have a seat." Flitwick said pointing to a comfy blue chair.

Harry quietly took the seat and looked at the small professor who took a seat behind the desk quite excitedly.

"The Headmaster has informed me that you are quite the quidditch player! Since you are so skilled you will be allowed to try out for Ravenclaw's house team." Flitwick beamed at the small black haired boy. If young Harry was half as gifted as his father he'd make a great asset to the team. Minerva was going to be so jealous, not only was James one of her favorite students, but he was also why they won so many quidditch cups back in the 70's.

"Now the quidditch trails will be tomorrow starting at nine. Since first years aren't allowed to have brooms the headmaster will provide you one for try outs. If you make the team you will be allowed to have your own broomstick. Do you have any questions Harry?"

Harry thought for a minute, smiling he thought up of a good plan.

"Well sir…I was thinking, since I am going to try out, there must be other first years that could possibly make the team, why not just open the tryouts to all the years? That way no one can claim that I had special treatment, or just made the team because of who I am."

Flitwick looked thoughtful for a minute.

"Is there any one in particular in first year that could make the team Mr. Potter?"

"Well I think Draco possibly could, or at least make the reserve squad." Harry replied with a grin, it would be great to be on a broom again, even if he would be playing against his old team.

"Very well Mr. Potter, I will open try outs to everyone, and will talk to Professor Dumbledore about getting some decent brooms for the event, Lord knows the school brooms won't do at all."

He smirked as he left the office…Wood was going to kill him.

After classes for the day Harry led Draco back to the dorms to give him a gift.

"What's this Potter?" Draco asked as he took the mirror and peered at it.

"Well Malfoy, I noticed that you were a bit stuck on yourself, so I decided that you'd appreciate a way to admire yourself at all times." Harry replied with a serious face.

With his face tuning a dark shade of pink Draco nearly spat out, "I am not STUCK on myself." He glared at the boy-who-vanished, "Besides…it's not my fault that I happen to be better looking than you."

Chuckling Harry picked up four more mirrors, placing them in his pocket he started towards the common room entrance.

"Potter, I'm serious what is this for?" Draco shouted running after his friend.

Before Harry could leave the common room Michael Corner ran excitedly up to him. All around the board in the far corner a crowd was gathered whispering, some of the upper years looked angry.

"Hey Harry guess what!" Without giving the other boy time to answer Corner plowed on, "first years are being allowed to try out for the Quidditch team! I am so going to make beater!" Harry mentally rolled his eyes, he remembered very well Corner trying to play Quidditch, and while he was ok in his fifth year, he was totally abysmal right now. Not to mention that the boy had taken to practically stalking Harry, another drawback of being famous. If Corner made the team, Harry seriously would reconsider playing, or perhaps he could just get Zantose to put the annoying prat into the hospital wing.

Draco came up behind Harry and stopped looking around just catching the end of the conversation, "First years are being allowed to try out?"

Michael's lips narrowed in distaste, "Only the ones who can actually play Malfoy."

"What, Corner you mean to tell me you actually know how to fly?" Draco said in a cold calm voice.

"Better than you Malfoy. Why don't you go crying to your Death Eater of a father." Corner snarled with narrowed eyes.

Needless to say after the first introduction the animosity had only intensified between Draco and Michael Corner. However, as much as Harry hated to admit it he was on Draco's side. As far as he was concerned Draco had been civil to every one who wasn't a muggle born, he usually just ignored them.

"Honestly Corner if the only fault you can find with Malfoy is with who his father is you really need to get a life. Every since you knew Draco's name you've treated him like something you find on the bottom of your shoe!" Harry hissed out. "If you can't look past something as simple as whom his father is and at who he is, I don't think I want to associate with you (not that he wanted to associate with him in the first place)."

Turning Harry left with Draco following quickly, leaving a very red faced boy behind with many students glaring at him.

Pretending to be very angry (he really didn't have to pretend that much) Harry muttered under his breath and led Draco to an empty class room.

"Are you ok Harry?" Draco asked quietly looking at his fingernails.

"Fine just ticked at that little prick Corner. What gives him the right to judge you because of who your father is?"

Draco blinked. He had never really thought of it. He was used to some extent of being judge by his name, he may not like it, but he didn't really blame people for not liking him. After all his father was a convicted Death Eater, who was in Voldemort's inner circle. He had harmed and killed many wizards and witches in wizardering society, as Draco saw it their families were just getting even. His name was dirtied and it was up to him to clean it up and make it respectful in the eyes of others.

Seeing Draco's blank stare Harry pressed on, "It's not like you can help who your father is, or even what he did. Just because your father is a Death Eater doesn't mean you are lower than the other students."

Draco was shocked. No one that wasn't sympatric to the cause, besides Dumbledore, had ever treated him as an equal, as a person. Most people were wary of him and distant, even when he was a young child.

"Why did you stick up for me Harry? Why do you treat me like a friend?" Draco asked clearly confused, for here was the Boy-that-vanished, some one Draco knew was most likely kidnapped by death eaters, a member of one of the greatest light sided families in history; a person who was raised by muggles, torn from his family twice, simply because of people like Draco's father. For the first time in a long time Draco really did feel unworthy, dirty, and ashamed.

"I stuck up for you because Corner was wrong, wrong to judge you because of who you were born, who your parents are, and what they did. None of that you could help. It's wrong to treat some one lowly just because of their family, or who they are related to. And as to why I'm your friend…because you are my friend. Friend doesn't mean that I believe or agree with everything you say or do, friends mean that I trust you Draco, that I'd protect you if I could, and I know you'd do the same for me because I am your friend too." Harry said in a fierce voice that left no doubt in Draco's mind that he believed in every word that he said.

Draco was shocked as the words sunk in, Harry considered him a friend? Draco never really had a friend before, sure he had alliances, but most of who he considered friends were just people who weren't his enemies. Did he really trust Harry?

Draco looked over at the black haired boy and was surprised with how quickly and strongly the answer came. Yes, he'd trust Harry with his deepest darkest secretes, things he wouldn't even tell Uncle Severus. So did that make Harry his first true friend?

Trying not to let any of his emotions show Draco looked up from his nails.

"Thanks Harry…now what does this mirror do?" He asked thoughtful, for he was sure that the conversation had another meaning that he would have to look for later.

After their discussion they made their way down to dinner, sitting down Harry motioned for Ron and Neville to join them.

"Harry what did you do to Fred and George, they won't stop asking questions about you. If I didn't know any better I'd say that were about to prank you." Ron said while stuffing his mouth.

"RONALD WEASLEY! What did I tell you about talking with your mouth full!" Neville yelled in a high pitched voice and glared over at Ron who choked ok his mouthful.

"Bloody Hell Neville would you stop doing that! It's bad enough when Hermione does it, but do you have to pick up for her when she's not here?" Ron muttered while the other three boys chuckled.

"Yes, I do because she does have a point." Neville said grinning.

"Well Harry what did you do to Fred and George?" Ron asked turning his back on Neville and ignoring him.

"I didn't do a thing; I have yet to even talk to your brothers."

"Oh that reminds me, remember how I was complaining about how hard it was to find you guys since were not in the same house?" Seeing the Gryffindors nod he continued, "Well I wrote to my dad, and he sent me a little something for us to use."

With a smirk he passed each boy a mirror, who in return just looked confused.

"Harry as much as I like looking at my gorgeous face, why do you think a mirror will help us?" Neville said batting his eyelashes. At the question Draco snorted, 'and Harry thought he was stuck on himself.'

"They are two-way mirrors. All you do is look into it, whisper the name of the person you want to talk to, and they'll answer. Kind of like a cell phone."

"Cel fone?" Ron asked clueless, while Neville was grinning.

"Brilliant!"

Draco had to agree, it really was brilliant and expensive.

"So are you two trying out for Quidditch?" Malfoy asked Ron and Neville.

"Can't we're first years after all." Ron replied gloomy as Neville just nodded his head in agreement.

"Oh…" Draco raised his eyebrows, "I guess it's just a Ravenclaw thing then."

"What!" Ron demanded loudly.

Harry looked over to the Gryffindor table and noticed that Hermione wasn't there, more likely than not she was in the library doing her weekend homework. Scanning the table his eyes came to rest on two identical heads of hair, both of whom were watching him.

If Harry hadn't been through a war, and grew up with the Weasley's, their constant staring would have unnerved him; as it was…Harry just grinned and winked back.

He quickly turned back to his companions, "Listen I am going to go find Hermione, I'll meet you back in the common room Draco. Oh and Ron tell your brothers…that I solemnly swear that I am up to no good. That should give them something to worry about, after all if they are going to attempt to prank me."

Ron nodded looking confused as Harry hurried off to the library.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good?"

The other two boys shrugged.

The next morning found Draco and Harry on the Quidditch pitch at 8:30; the only other first years from Ravenclaw were Michael Corner and Anthony Goldstein. Anthony waved brightly at them, while Michael just glared.

A few minutes later Professor Flitwick walked on to the pitch levitating five nimbus 2000s, which he handed one to each first year and kept the extra one in case some one else showed up.

Promptly at 9:00 David Chambers, the team captain and leading chaser, walked on to the field. Cho Chang was trailing behind him with an adoring look in her eyes.

"Alright Ravenclaws listen up! Beaters go to the right over there with Jason Samuels, chasers will be with the keepers, so follow Grant Page, and seekers will be with me." Chambers yelled.

Once every one was where they were suppose to be at, Chambers went around starting them on drills before coming back to the seekers. Only Harry, Draco, and Cho were trying out for the position.

"Now you three, I will choose a starting seeker, and then a reserve seeker. If either the starter or the reserve seeker is injured then I'll call in which ever person who doesn't make it to be the new reserve, until the other seeker is recovered."

Seeing the three nod he continued, "Right first off I will be releasing ten snitches, I'll be keeping tract of how many each of you catch and how quickly. After a thirty or so minute rest we will do the same thing except with the beaters. Understood?"

"Excellent let's begin!" Chambers went over to a crate and released the golden balls, then waited a few minutes before allowing the seekers to take chase.

Harry quickly took off and started searching the area almost immediately he saw a snitch and dove for it. Catching it swiftly out of the air he placed it in the pouch he had been given and took off again.

With in the next five minutes he had caught four more snitches, and Cho was trailing him very closely. At first Cho had blown off his catching the snitches as luck, but by the third catch she had began to trail him.

Both Draco and Cho had caught two snitches and were frantically looking for the third. Knowing that the lone snitch was close to Draco, Harry decided to give him a hand, and went into a steep dive. Cho quickly followed him, trying to beat him to the 'snitch'. As they came closer and closer to the ground, Draco snatched the snitch from out of the air close to the goal post and turned around to tell Harry. He gasped just as Harry pulled out from a dive and Cho nailed the ground.

Professor Flitwick and Davis Chambers quickly ran over to the young girl as she groaned and rolled about on the ground.

Most of the other people had stopped flying and were staring at Harry in amazement, unable to believe that an eleven-year-old had just pulled off that unbelievable move.

"Miss Chang are you ok?" The small man asked nervously as he cast some diagnostic spells on her.

The only response he got was another loud groan.

Levitating the girl Professor Flitwick quickly headed back towards the castle and to the hospital wing, while the diagnostic charm didn't show anything dangerous it would be best for Poppy to check the girl over.

Chambers was still staring at Harry in amazement when Jeremy Stretton threw the quaffle and hit David in the head.

"Um right, welcome to the team." Chambers said and shook Harry's hand and then turned to Draco's and repeated the action. "You guys can stick around, or leave. We'll be having a meeting after dinner though, so stick around the Great Hall."

Both boys nodded and left the field, intending to find their friends and telling them the great news, but as they entered the castle Draco grabbed Harry's arm and started to drag him towards the dungeon. Mentally Harry groaned.

Not even bothering to nock Draco threw open Snape's office door and walked in, dragging Harry with him.

"If you were a Gryffindor Mr. Malfoy you would have just gotten a month worth of detention for that little stunt." Snape glowered with narrowed eyes.

Waving the statement aside as if it was meaningless Draco said, "Good thing I'm not a Gryffindor then Uncle Severus, guess what?" He asked out of breath with excitement. Draco was practically bouncing where he stood, for Harry who had never seen Draco show that kind of emotion it was highly amusing.

"You made the reserve squad for Quidditch." Snape said sarcastically, but with a touch of pride in his voice.

Draco looked shocked and asked in a voice that had a hint of a whine, "How did you know? How do you always know!"

Snape merely smirked, "A little bird told me."

CH23

"Welcome all! Lemon drop any one?" Dumbledore cheerfully asked holding out a bowl full of his favorite treats.

All the teachers present just stared at the smiling headmaster before shaking their heads in the negative. Snape held in his snort of contempt at the sour tasting candy; he had learned his lesson after his first experience with that candy, not to mention that Albus spikes the candy with calming draughts.

"Ah pity," Dumbledore said disappointed and popped one in his mouth in delight.

"Well now, let's start shall we?"

The other heads of house nodded in agreement and started to discuss their new students.

All the heads were in agreement that both Harry and Hermione were exceptionally bright, and were far ahead of their classmates. Snape even suggested private tutoring for their classes instead of attending normal ones, Dumbledore seemed to wholly agree with the idea, and even suggested that he give some private lessons to both of them, which surprised the others. Private lessons with the headmaster were not unheard of, but were very rare since Dumbledore was such a busy man; the offer alone was a great privilege.

Once the teachers had left, the headmaster leaned back in his chair and placed his hands in front of his face in thought. Private lessons with young Harry were the perfect way to slowly start pulling him to their side, without seeming to do so.

&Gryffindor Common Room&

"He said what!" Fred asked going into a state of shock.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Ron said watching his brothers closely.

George let out a small whimper of surprise and quickly locked eyes with Fred. Both of them were shocked that Harry knew the password of the Marauders Map. Perhaps one of his relatives had the map before? As soon as the words left Ron's mouth both of the twins started ways to trap Harry and force the truth out of him, after all the Marauders were their role models.

Ron rolled his eyes in annoyance at his brothers who for some odd reason were extremely pale.

"He said and I quote, "I solemnly wear that I am up to no good." "Now that that is out of the way, I'm going down to dinner."

Fred and George both grabbed Ron around the shoulders.

"Now Ron…"

"Not so fast…"

"It's about time to meet…"

"Your friends…"

Ron looked at one twin to the other, confusion clearly written across his features.

"Come on Ronny it'll be fun!" Both Fred and George said in unison to their younger brother's despair.

Harry looked up to see three heads of red hair approaching the Ravenclaw table, just as Draco decided to make a snarky comment.

"The weasels are growing, oh the horror!"

In his other life Harry would have instantly been at Malfoy's throat for such a comment, but now he knew that the blonde hair did not truly mean it. Draco's way of being friendly oddly enough was insults most of the time. The only people whom Malfoy was civil too all the time was Harry and Professor Snape.

"Now Draco, do you really need to be so over dramatic? After all you really shouldn't be talking about your cousins like that."

Draco frowned in thought.

"They are distant cousins to the Malfoy family, hardly related at all." The blonde boy replied with a shrug.

Harry didn't look up as he answered the statement.

"I wasn't talking about the Malfoy family; I was talking about ferrets being related to weasels."

"What does ferrets…" Draco trailed off and adopted an extremely offended look on his regal features.

"I do NOT look like a ferret!" Draco spat a bit too loud as many of the surrounding students looked at them and stifled their laughter at the look of outrage on the young Malfoy heir's face.

"Actually Malfoy you rather do look like a rodent." Ron said with a grin as he took a seat across from the other two boys.

While Draco glared the others snickered and began to pile their plates.

Harry glanced at both Fred and George who were openly staring at him as if studying a new interesting animal that would attack if provoked. Simply raising his eyebrows at the twins, he continued on with his meal pointedly ignoring the two staring offenders.

Five minutes later Ron finally noticed his brothers' obsessive stares at one of his best mates. Slightly unnerved Ron roughly elbowed each one in the ribs and gave them a pointed glare, which was returned ten fold.

"Harry, Draco, these are my older brothers Fred and George. They're third year Gryffindors. Um they play on the Quidditch house team as beaters." Ron said nervously, he didn't know why, but he felt an almost unreasonable urge for Harry and Draco to accept his brothers.

"Pleasure to meet the both of you." Harry said with a nod of the head and a slight smirk. He knew that the mystery surrounding his knowledge was killing them. The smirk did not go unnoticed by Fred and George.

Draco studied the two but eventually nodded his head in greeting and then promptly went back to ignoring the red heads in favor of his dinner.

The group made small talk until the end of the meal in which the Gryffindors parted ways (reluctantly on the twin's part) as Harry and Draco waited for the Quidditch meeting.

David Chambers waited until everyone from the other houses vacated the Great Hall before he would begin. Many of the upper classmen in the other houses knew that this was the Ravenclaw's team meeting and they kept shooting the two first years curious looks on their way out.

Once the last straggler was out of the Hall, Chambers turned to the remaining Ravenclaws with a scowl on his face.

Harry grinned, instantly reminded of Oliver Wood.

"Ok team…if you are here you obviously made the team. That means…YOU will work to keep your position. I don't care if you are the best flyer on the field…you will work hard at every practice or you will lose your position to the reserve. That means reserve players…that I expect you to do everything in your power to out fly, out smart, and out play the starters. If you show me in practice that you are a competent player, you will get a chance to play. This is the best team we've had in years, and I will not throw away our chance at winning the cup just to have fun! So if you are here to have fun…you can leave now!" David barked out at the assembled group, glaring at each of them in the face.

Many of the new players looked shell shocked and their eyes were wide.

Both Harry and Draco held no emotion on their faces; they simply started back at the fiery eyes in determination.

When no one made a move to leave Chambers relaxed a bit and smiled at the other Ravenclaws.

"Now…since we've got that out of the way…here are the starters." David placed a sheet on the table for the other members too look at.

At the seeker's name many of the upper classmen out right stared at the boy. Of course every one knew who Harry Potter was, but it was still a bit of a shock that two first years made the team, in the same position no less.

Already the other players respected Harry as a player, as many of them had seen the Wonski Feint he pulled off, and those that hadn't had heard about it. James Potter was well known for his quidditch skill, but none thought that Harry would have such natural ability; after all he had lived with muggles most of his life.

"Right now team, practice begins immediately. The first practice will be on Monday afternoon at 6:30. Do not be late, or there will be consequences. See every one then." The fifth year boy said and nodded his head in a dismissive way.

As Harry and Draco walked out of the Great Hall and back towards the common room an arm shot out from behind a tapestry and pulled Harry behind it. A minute later the tapestry was pulled back and Fred and George found themselves faced with two wands pointed at their faces.

"Well now Fred…George…if you wanted to speak to me you just had to ask." Harry said with a slight grin putting away his wand. He then turned to Draco who still had his wand pointed at the twins with narrowed eyes.

"Draco why don't you head back to the common room, grab our books and go to the library; I'll meet up with you later to do our homework."

Malfoy looked questioningly at his black haired friend before pocketing his wand and moving back towards the common room, glancing over his shoulder at where the passageway was hidden in annoyance.

Once Draco's footsteps had receded until they could no longer be heard, Harry turned back to the Weasley twins in amusement.

"Ok you two, what do you want? Your constant staring is getting to become bothersome."

"Who are you?" Fred suddenly demanded.

"Would you believe me if I said Harry Potter?" Harry asked with raised eyebrows.

"No we know who you are, but how do you know the pass word for the Marauder's Map?" George demanded in the same tone as Fred.

"The what? I'm afraid I can't help you with that." Harry replied with a straight face and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Fred yelled out grabbing Harry's arm to prevent him from leaving the passageway.

"Please tell us, the Marauders are our heroes! We'd do anything to know who they are." George begged getting down on his knees and doing his best impression at groveling.

This was simply too much for Harry, just the image of the George he knew groveling was enough to make him laugh. Both of the twins were like brothers too him, albeit brothers who could hold their own in a fight against death eaters. They had both grown up to be excellent fighters in his dimension.

George continued to grovel and Fred followed the example.

"Please, please, please…" Both boys said in unison.

Mentally Harry rolled his eyes, but in the end gave into their pleading.

"Okay, okay already, I'll tell you, just stop begging."

Instantly both twins were back on their feet wearing wide grins.

"The Marauders were a group that came through Hogwarts back in the 1970's." Harry said.

"How do you know when they came through school?" Fred asked with a touch of awe in his voice. Both boys leaned in to hear the answer that Harry would provide.

Harry did not disappoint either. With a smirk he decided he would tell the twins the truth.

"Because I know them, well all of them except Wormtail, I suppose."

"Who are they?" George asked excitedly.

"Wormtail is Peter Pettigrew," Harry said with some distaste in his voice, "Padfoot is Sirius Black, Moony is Remus Lupin, and Prongs," here he paused purposefully as the twins leaned even farther in, "is James Potter."

Both of them seemed to be in shock. They simply stood there staring at each other with thoughtful expressions on their faces.

Harry grinned in triumph and turned to leave, but once again an arm snaked it's way around his shoulders.

"Harry…old pal…"

"Old mate…" another arm was slung around his shoulders.

"Marauder spawn…"

"We'd like to welcome you to our little group…"

"Any son of a marauder…"

"Is a friend of ours!"

Harry glanced from one face to another to see that they were dead serious.

"What?" This was totally unexpected.

The twins shared another look.

"Well…"

"We understand that you…"

"Wouldn't want to just be…"

"A member…"

"So what do you want to…"

"Do now great leader?"

Surprised silence was the only thing that met their ears.

CH24

"You know Harry, that since you are now our new leader that we'll need code names." Gred said with a very prominent smirk.

Harry silently groaned. Sure when he told the twins who the marauders were he expected them to give him some respect and distance, not induct him into their pranking group and make him the leader. It would seem that he would need two additional mirrors now.

"Well Gred and Forge," at the nick names two pairs of red eyebrows shot up, "I have total faith that you can choose your own names, just call me Emeralds."

"Right you are, our most wise…"

"and brilliant…"

"not forgetting…"

"genius leader…"

"and son of a marauder!"

Bowing the two made their ways out of the secret passageway and back to their common room.

Harry quickly made his way to the library to finish his homework with the others. When he walked in he saw them in their normal place, heads bent together discussing something quietly. To his utter surprise Draco was sitting beside of Hermione and looked rather relaxed, almost as if it was Harry whom he was sitting by.

As he approached Draco quickly looked up and locked eyes with Harry's, breaking off in the middle of his sentence as he did so.

Immediately Hermione and Neville turned to look at Harry as well.

"About time mate, I was beginning to think you were lost or something." Neville grinned nervously pulling out a chair for Harry as he did so.

"Oh?" Harry asked raising an eyebrow at them.

For a moment there was an uncomfortable silence as the three avoided Harry's eyes, unsettling him a bit, obviously they had been talking about him.

What could they have been discussing? He silently pondered to himself. Harry turned his head slightly catching Hermione staring at him intently. When she realized he was watching her she blushed and quickly looked away.

"So where's Ron?"

Draco snorted at the question.

"Weasley did not see the reason in coming when he could simply copy Granger's essay in the morning."

"He most certainly will not," Hermione huffed indignantly and Harry couldn't help but to chuckle a bit at her narrowed eyes and thin lips, which quickly turned his way, "and don't you even THINK about letting him copy yours either."

"Hermione you wound me! I, Harry James Potter, Boy-Who-Lived, Boy-wonder, let Ronald copy my transfiguration homework? Posh!" Harry waved his hand dismissively and stuck his nose in the air.

Draco snorted at the comment.

"Honestly Potter your head is so big you even gave yourself another hyphenated name." Neville said with a dramatic sigh, and placed a mocking hand over his eyes in exasperation.

Harry paused a moment in panic before wiping his face void of all emotion.

"Now now Longbottom my ego doesn't need to be toned down at all, I deserve as many hyphenated names as I want."

All the boys chuckled at the uppity voice Harry used except for Hermione who was still studying the dark haired boy closely.

"Draco?" Harry turned to look at the blonde as he flipped through his transfiguration book.

"Yes?"

"What were you guys talking about before I came in this evening?"

Immediately the boy looked up and seemed to blush a bit at the question.

"Nothing why would you ask?" Draco seemed desperate for some escape route as he glanced a bit nervously around the room.

With slightly narrowed eyes Harry answered the question, "Because Draco the whole way to the library my ears were positively itching."

At the statement Malfoy looked confused.

"Why would your ears itch if someone was talking about you?" Draco asked a split second too late not realizing his mistake quick enough.

Harry smirked at his stunned face.

"Ah I thought so…why were you three talking about me, and about what?"

Draco muttered something under his voice not meeting the green eyes that were staring curiously at him.

"Sorry Draco didn't catch that. Speak up!"

Resignedly Draco rasied his eyes and repeated the sentence firmly, "Neville's in love with you, and Hermione is in love with Neville."

The black haired boy eyes bulged out of his head in utmost surprise as he tried to not hyperventilate.

"WHAT!" Harry yelled loudly trying not to pass out from shock.

Him and Neville? That was just wrong on so many different levels…did Neville like him like that back in his other dimension? The thought was just so bizarre and so unlike what he thought he knew about Neville that it made him shudder.

Then Hermione and Neville? That he could imagine quite a bit easier, after all this Neville was a lot more personable and had yet to blow up a caldron, so he could see why she would be attracted to him…after all Neville wasn't a bad looking bloke.

At the thought of what he just said Harry groaned and smacked his hand to the side of his head.

Neville…Neville Longbottom was gay?

Harry tried to think past on his time with Neville in this universe looking for an indication that the boy was indeed gay, and he came up at a blank. Were there universal signs for being gay…not that he found anything wrong with it, just that…Neville was gay? Harry was totally speechless.

Well ok one of his best mates is gay, he could deal with that absolutely fine…all the more power to him, but Neville was in love with HIM?

Again Harry groaned and smacked his head.

Malfoy who was watching all this smirked a bit.

Why did Neville have to be in love with him? He already had enough drama in his life without having his best mate fawning over him, just the idea of Neville 'fawning' over him made him blush and feel ill at the same time. Why couldn't he settle down with a nice normal wizard who didn't have half the crazy life that Harry did?

No wonder Hermione was staring at him the whole time they were in the library, she saw him as potential competition. At the thought of being competition for Neville he once again shuddered.

Neville and Hermione? Why hadn't he seen it before? There must have been signs.

Harry thought as hard as he could back to times when Neville was around Hermione and drew up at another blank. Maybe he was just hopeless at seeing the roots of the relationships…

Finally Harry turned his desperate eyes back to the Malfoy heir.

"Please Draco, tell me I heard wrong."

The statement came out in a weak whisper.

"No Harry you heard perfectly right."

Harry lowered his head but frowned for he heard something in the other boy's voice.

Was that amusement he heard?

Glancing up quickly he frowned fiercely at the other boy.

"Malfoy I am so glad you seem to find this amusing, for I certainly do NOT!"

"Of course I find it amusing Potter, it's not every day that you get to tell a friend that he has a crush, and a guy one at that."

The black haired boy simply glared at the now smirking ferret.

"No it's not…any suggestions as to how I get out of this situation?"

"Well you could always talk to Neville about it, I am sure he'll understand that you just aren't that way."

The idea was the best one he could think of also.

With a sigh and a pale face he once again set off to find Neville so that they could talk in private.

Were eleven-year-olds even supposed to have hormones and think that way? Looking back on some of Jamie's memories he could say yes. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Once he had contacted the boy Harry convinced him to meet him in a private room close to the Gryffindor common room to explain things.

Neville asked no questions and came immediately, seeming as nervous and anxious to talk as Harry was.

Once both boys were there they stared at the other a bit uncomfortably.

Harry stared at Neville and paled a few shades further if that was even possible.

Was Neville blushing?

He looked even closer at the boy and indeed he was blushing.

Harry cringed as he figured that it was because Neville fancied him.

Neville finally broke the silence unnerved by Harry's staring.

"Look Harry…there's something I need to tell you."

The Gryffindor refused to meet the other boy's eyes and blushed even more becoming extremely bothered.

"It's ok Neville I already know, you don't need to explain anything."

Relief instantly flooded the other boy's face.

"You already know? You aren't angry at me?"

"What no of course not!" Harry quickly assured the boy trying not to wince while he spoke, "It's perfectly normal that you would feel that way. I mean after all you are one of my best friends and all."

"Exactly! I mean…but I really couldn't picture us as anything different than from what I'm comfortable with."

Harry was about to nod but then thought about what Neville just said, 'what I'm comfortable with?' Did that mean that he wanted something more than a friendship?

Sighing Harry thought that he should be more direct.

"Look Neville I am not sure I am comfortable with that kind of friendship."

The color instantly drained from his previously red face.

"What do you mean Harry?" The question was asked in a voice that cracked causing Harry to flinch.

"What I mean is…crap…Neville look I really don't think that it'll work out, I am just not the guy for you."

Confusion flooded the other boys features, something that was shown in his next question, "What do YOU mean that YOU'RE not the GUY for ME?"

'Oh no. Please don't cry.' Harry thought urgently frantically trying to find a way to defuse the situation.

"I mean that I don't deserve you and that I think you'd be happier with someone who will treat you right." He tried to phrase the question in such a way that he couldn't possibly insult the other boy.

"Oh no Harry don't be like that…you're a great guy," Here Neville paused and seemed to pale a bit more, "it's me that doesn't deserve you."

Mentally Harry groaned…so much for that working.

"Listen Neville see the thing is Hermione is in love with you, and I couldn't possibly get in way of our friendship like that. I think it's best if we just keep it on cool for the time being."

Neville quickly nodded his head in agreement and then paused like a deer caught in the head lights.

"WHAT! Hermione likes me?" The voice said in a mixture of shock and…was that revulsion?

"Listen Neville I know you only like guys, but still I couldn't possibly date you and mess up our friendship and Hermione's. You know what I am saying?"

Neville looked like a fish out of water and he stared at Harry as if he was crazy.

"Harry what in the world gave you the idea that I only like guys?"

The boy just blinked back at Neville in shock, so he also liked girls? Then why couldn't he just love Hermione back?

"Well Neville I just assumed after I heard, but it's still fine by me if you are bi, after all it really doesn't make a difference to me."

Neville looked like he was about to pull his hair out in frustration and bewilderment.

"Harry what made you think I only liked guys? I thought that you said you already knew?"

Harry's frown of confusion increased at the last statement.

"I do know…someone told me."

"What do you mean someone told you?"

Suddenly Harry narrowed his eyes in suspicion, something was extremely wrong here.

"I was told that you were in love with me and that Hermione was in love with you."

"WHAT!"

Neville was blood red in the face with embarrassment and anger.

"Somebody told me that YOU liked me and wanted to 'get' personal." The usually calm boy snarled in fury.

"Oh?" Harry snarled equally as disgruntled.

Both boys locked eyes and said in unison, "MALFOY!"

Harry and Neville after plotting intensively returned back to their respective dorms to set their revenge in action.

Draco was still up 'studying' his transfiguration book when Harry arrived back in the dorm room.

Immediately he placed the book away and looked at his room mate inquiringly who looked extremely pleased at something…which was not what he was expecting at all.

"Harry why are you so happy? Didn't you just break Longbottom's heart?" The blonde aristocrat asked with a bit of confusion leaking into his voice.

"Actually surprisingly no Draco. It would seem that you were wrong and Neville doesn't like me like that at all, actually Hermione doesn't even like him either."

Draco simply raised an eyebrow. How could his plan backfire so drastically?

"Oh and who do they like then?" He asked, hopefully he would be able to get some blackmail information to use on the pair, after all who wants their crush to know that they are obsessed with them?

Here Harry grinned as if Christmas came early.

"You!"

Hermione had been let in on the prank and while she was extremely upset at what Draco had done and thought that he should be taught a lesson so agreed to go along with the plan.

The next morning both Neville and Hermione seemed to be paying extra attention to Draco and ignoring each other as best they could.

However, before they could leave for their first class Professor McGonagall approached them in her usual no nonsense manner.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger please follow me."

Hermione instantly looked as if someone had shot her dog; worry lined her features as she stood from her seat. Harry followed after the older woman with out any emotion on his face for he had picked up what this was all about from her thoughts, and it was nothing to be overly concerned with.

The two first years followed the deputy headmistress to a very familiar stone gargoyle statue.

Stopping Minerva quietly whispered, "Snickers" and the statue immediately jumped out of the way to allow the group passage.

Hermione looked around in keen interest at the spiraling staircase and the gargoyle, but Harry who had seen this all many times followed the transfiguration teacher without hesitation onto the stairs, trailed quickly by Hermione.

Once they reached the top McGonagall knocked politely and waited for the soft 'come in' before entering shooing her baggage in front of her.

"Ah hello Minerva, Miss Granger and Mr. Potter! Please do come in and have a seat, Filus will be here shortly."

The three took their seats Harry and Hermione taking the two chairs in the middle, while Minerva took the chair to Hermione's left.

Once they were settled the door flew open and a very excited professor came bouncing through the door.

"So sorry I'm late had to deal with fight between a Gryffindor and a Slytherin in the corridor, I don't see how they haven't killed each other off yet." The diminutive professor exclaimed cheerfully and playfully at McGonagall who simply raised an almost amused eyebrow.

"Oh indeed."

"Excellent, now that we are all here on to the important information. Lemon drop?"

Albus held out a bowl full of the sweets and as usual everyone declining in Hermione's case having a valid excuse, after all her parents are dentists.

"Now I am sure the both of you are wondering why you are here," Dumbledore paused to peer over his glasses at the pair of them, "so therefore I will not delay the information any longer."

Hermione eagerly leaned forward in her chair seeming have gotten over her earlier fear of being in trouble

Harry fought the urge to roll his eyes. For not wanting to stall he was sure taking his sweet time about it.

"Now I have been informed about your excellent progress in your studies, and your teachers and I believe that such skill indicates that you should move on to advance study. Before you ask any questions let me explain." Dumbledore said efficiently stopping the outburst of questions from Hermione.

"Now as a student on advanced study you would each have private lessons with each instructor, and work at your own pace. Once you pass seventh year material on a certain subject you would then become a teacher's aid in that subject and begin to work on your masters."

With each passing word Hermione was becoming more and more excited at the prospects of such an offer. Harry however was not impressed, he could sense a 'but' coming in here somewhere.

And after several more minutes of Dumbledore's voice droning on about what they could expect and the benefits would be in such a program the 'but' suddenly popped up.

"Of course I will be offering you personal training as well, since both are you are such skilled and excellent students."

"Headmaster surely you are too busy to tutor two first years?" Harry asked in a confused voice making Hermione's shoulders droop as if she just realized the truthfulness behind the statement, for everyone knew the Dumbledore was an extremely important and busy wizard.

Dumbledore however smiled benevolently at the two children.

"Harry there is nothing more important to me than teaching such talented students."

Harry smiled slightly back at the statement but instead thought of one sarcastic remark after another. No doubt Dumbledore was trying to train him to be the perfect weapon or some other nonsense, for he knew that the man had heard the prophecy, and all that it entailed.

There was no way that he wanted to play that game again with the headmaster; one time was enough for him. This time things were going to be done his way, and be damned with what everyone else thought.

So Dumbledore wanted to play his games did he? Harry thought mentally giving a ruthless smile that scared many a death eater in the past. He would play this game, but he had no intention of following the rules.

"Now Miss Granger would you be interested in our offer?"

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and looked at the girl across his desk seriously.

Hermione immediately agreed with a happy smile.

Minerva smiled slightly at the now hyper girl.

"Now Mister Potter would you also be interested in this offer?"

To the outside world Albus looked perfectly peaceful, but inside everything was on pause waiting for the answer. He was sure that he boy would say yes, but it was never a sure bet until the words were spoken. He could always get the boy in the program another way for Lily would be thrilled to have her son be advanced, so that was not the problem, but he would rather Harry chose it rather than feel as if it was forced on to him.

"Of course Headmaster, the offer is simply too good to pass up."

Too good indeed. Harry thought sarcastically.

"Ah excellent please returned to your normal classes today as we draw up your schedules and you will receive them at breakfast tomorrow."

Once every one had left Albus popped another lemon drop in his mouth as he leaned back in his chair. The meeting went excellent in his opinion, getting Harry to agree had been his top priority and that went smoothly. However as he sucked on the muggle candy he sudden felt a little apprehension enter his heart.

Did things go a little too smoothly?

Shrugging he went back to his candy, after all he was most likely imagining it, things were going exactly towards his plans.

CH25

"Very good Harry!"

Albus smiled slightly at the black haired boy.

Three weeks had passed since that faithful meeting in the headmaster's office. Both the Potters and Delhommes were ecstatic that he was chosen for such an educational opportunity.

Lily wrote him a long letter praising him, while James went on awhile about up holding the family name, but Harry could tell that James was also very proud. David and Alice sent him a nice long letter including cute little stories about his siblings that he enjoyed immensely, and some new materials to fiddle around with. As long as it did not require batteries all the machinery would work fine at Hogwarts.

The Delhommes usually spent the week at their house in North Carolina during the week, and then flooed to the Potters for the weekend; Lily and James where happy to welcome them with open arms, especially since the kids were beginning to view them as grandparents. Alice absolutely adored all of them, and tended to spoil them worst than even Sirius. Jalene already had both David and Alice eating out of her palm.

Most of his education was to be independent study, since the teachers usually had full schedules until dinner.

Hermione and Harry would usually begin their day with breakfast with their friends, once the others left for classes the pair would make their way to the library and study anything they desired until lunch time.

After lunch they would walk to a practice classroom where materials would be left for them to use, and they would attempt all they had studied. Harry was careful not to get too far ahead of Hermione, and would often spend the lesson helping her improve this or that.

At three they would split up and attend private lessons. Every Tuesday and Thursday he would head to the headmaster's office for private instruction, Monday was potions, Wednesday transfiguration, and Friday charms. Hermione met with the Headmaster every Monday and Wednesday, Tuesday she had transfiguration, Thursday potions, and Friday charms with Harry.

Usually after dinner they would either go to herbology, astronomy, arithmancy, or runes together, except on Tuesdays and Thursdays when Harry had Quidditch practice. On those days Hermione usually went to the library to finish her essays.

Much to her annoyance and Harry's amusement she never figured out how he always seemed to be finished with his essays. Little did she know that he had every essay he ever wrote stored in his trunk upstairs and would usually tweak it a bit to perfection. Many times she would run across lines that she could swear that it sounded just like something she would say.

They were already close to the end of the second year material, and once they finished that they would be joining a third year Care of Magical Creatures class for some hands on experience that a book just could not provide.

The private lessons with Dumbledore were a mixture of defense against the dark arts, dueling, wandless magic, and some little known spells. Harry was being extremely careful to keep control of his magic at all times and not show too much potential in front of the meddling old man, something that he had been planning to use to his advantage.

Dumbledore had on many occasions looked into Jamie's mind, and while he had nothing 'important' there he still resented the fact that the headmaster dared even try to look into his mind. So therefore he came up with a plan….

Harry's holding back confused the headmaster to no end. He knew that the boy was far more talented than he showed, but why was he restraining himself?

"Very good Harry." Albus repeated smiling.

The only 'real' skill the boy had shown was in the more unknown spells. Albus was extremely surprised when Harry showed next to no skill in wandless magic. He wasn't sure if the boy truly had any skill in it or not, for he appeared to actually concentrate quite intently while trying.

"That's enough for today Harry."

Harry nodded politely and placed his wand back in its holster, but before he could turn to leave Dumbledore indicated for him to take a seat. Harry slowly took a seat while Albus rounded his desk and took a seat.

"Now would you like to talk about anything?" Albus asked steeping his fingers in front of himself and giving the boy a grandfatherly smile.

Harry gave a curious look back.

"Well nothing that I can think of at the moment, sir. Perhaps my progress?"

Albus' eyes twinkled a bit in amusement. How ironic that the boy's question would lead right to where he was going.

"Ah…yes, you have shown yourself to be most skilled. However, I feel as if you may be holding back." Dumbledore peered over his glasses inquiringly, "Harry are you holding back?"

Albus watched the oldest Potter child closely and was privileged to see surprise and then a bit of unease pass across his features. Concern? Perhaps he was hiding something?

"No sir…" The sentence was stuttered out and they both knew immediately it was a lie.

"Oh?" Albus left the question out there stating plainly that he did not believe him.

"Well not intentionally." The sentence was muttered with his eyes downcast, avoiding the piercing gaze.

Dumbledore took on a confused expression and motioned Harry to continue.

"Well you see sir…I'm not really comfortable when I'm around you. It's nothing that you've done, but rather just a feeling." Harry trailed off.

Inwardly he smirked. If Albus wanted to 'control' him he would have a much more difficulty if he was afraid of him.

"What sort of feeling?" The older man was intrigued at what he was hearing.

"A deep resentment…a need for, well…revenge."

The confusion was clear on the first year's face.

"I never felt it until I saw you at Hogwarts on the first night, but the more time I spend in your presence the more the feeling grows…it makes absolutely no sense!" Harry scowled fiercely.

"And I always have a headache after every lesson, I'm more irritable and…well just not myself." Harry ranted on, rubbing his forehead as he did so.

Albus' eyes narrowed slightly at the action.

"So I've been trying to not stand out in my lessons. Obviously I didn't succeed. I thought that if you believed I wasn't talented enough then you wouldn't waste your time teaching me, and the problem would be fixed."

"Harry why do you think you feel this way?"

"That's the point…I don't know, it's almost as if they're some other person's feelings and I am just picking up on the."

Suddenly with eyes narrowed Dumbledore made a connection. It couldn't be…could it? A connection between Harry and Voldemort…was it even possible? But why would it wait to manifest here at Hogwarts?

"Harry would you mind letting me examine your scar, for I think that it could give us a clue as to what is happening."

Naturally Harry frowned at the request and leaned back from the headmaster appearing to do some quick thinking.

Finally the black haired boy nodded, frown still firmly in place.

Albus raised his wand and saw intense anger suddenly flare in the boy's eyes and the tension was plain to see in his shoulders.

"Ostendo sum nex iunctio!"

An orange light shot out of the wand and hit Harry squarely in the forehead.

Instantaneously a black shadow enveloped the lightning scar, and red, black, and white lines spanned out from around the darkness in a spider web like patterns, covering the majority of the boy's face. Further more, a golden glow surrounded his whole body, and for a moment even his eyes seemed to glow gold.

Dumbledore did not let it show on his face, but he was down right confused. The spell he had just used was supposed to show any mental connections Harry had from death or from souls. The black he could easily conclude was from Voldemort, and the red must be from Bellatrix Lestrange for her sacrifice was by blood, but what of the white? Not only that, but he had never heard before of a glow that surrounded the whole body using that spell.

Harry looked down at his hands and stared in wonder at the golden glow.

What was going on?

He looked up and saw the confusion in the older wizard's eyes as well. Frowning he walked over to a mirror on the wall near by and looked into its reflective depths. Green/gold eyes stared back at, studying the lines that covered his face.

Harry frowned at the lines; black was for Voldemort, red for Bellatrix, and white was for him, he knew that each line represented a part of another person's soul. When Riddle failed to kill him he accidentally transferred part of his soul and power into the young Potter while Bella transferred blood protection and some of her talents as well. Harry obviously transferred his soul, but what in the world was the golden glow from?

Studying the lines Harry wondered silently what other talents Bella had left him besides being able to burn his enemies to a crisp.

Sharp blue eyes watched as small hands ran over the multi colored lines in wonder.

Another person left the boy a gift or protection, but who and when?

Both headmaster and student jumped when they heard hearty chuckling from a shelf.

"Really Harry the gold suits you…from a mutual friend I am sure."

Dumbledore stared at the sorting hat as Harry processed the new clue.

The old man surely? Silenius wasn't it? What did the gold indicate protection wise? Could he even get in contact with this Silenius?

Harry frowned thoughtfully, hardly noticing that the headmaster was now watching him closely, until his soft voice asked a question, "What mutual friend would that be Seanan?"

Once again the sorting hat let out a chuckle, "Honestly Albus it is really nothing that would concern you, just something for young Mr. Potter here."

Wishing to question the sorting hat further Dumbledore quickly dismissed the oldest Potter child.

Unfortunately a few days after his lesson Harry really hadn't made any headway in finding out what his new protection was, however his over all plan had worked famously. Dumbledore had sent him a note after breakfast stating that instead of having lessons with him he would continue his lessons with Professor Snape until his 'condition' was under control. As far as Harry knew Snape would be teaching Jamie how to defend his mind against attacks, something that would come in handy in the future. He was getting sick of Dumbledore prying into his outer mind all the time. It was interesting to note that once again the headmaster decided to not tell him why he needed to learn to defend his mind; after all he was only a first year.

The Halloween feast had passed the week before without anything really interesting happening (if you discounted the Weasley twins' prank), not that he expected something to occur after how jumpy Quirrell had been lately. Quirrell had been avoiding him like the plague, careful to never be caught alone in a corridor, or a room, something that was amusing Harry to no end…he had a plan to deal with that two face git as well.

Both of the twins would regularly meet up with Harry in an abandoned classroom telling him of their great pranks and asking for ideas in return. While Harry had yet to lead a prank, many of his ideas had been used on the Slytherin population, and he had even suggested many pranking candies that they could make in the future. The twins straight away latched on to the idea of a joke shop, or inventing pranking items as brilliant. Fred had even mentioned that he would be very interested in starting a business if they could ever get the funding.

They were already in November, and the weather had cooled drastically. The group had started to wear their warm sweaters, and both Harry and Draco dreaded the hours of long flying in the evening cold. Chambers, while not nearly as bad as Oliver, worked them almost to exhaustion every practice, and encouraged them to get in extra practice on their off days. Malfoy would usually grumble under his voice when he heard that suggestion, muttering exactly where Chambers could go, giving Harry great amusement.

On the other hand Draco had taken to dragging his best friend to visit 'Uncle Sev' every Friday afternoon for tea, of course Draco had also invited Hermione, Ron, and Neville, but the first would always head to the library and the last two looked sick at the thought of tea with Snape and would run off to visit Hagrid instead.

Harry had to admit while this Snape was his usual snarky self, he had an edge to him that was more caring and plain to see as with how he dealt with his godson. Even Severus had picked up on the slight changes in his godson. Draco while he seemed to still hold prejudice it was not nearly as strong as before, and the boy was actually starting to think for himself. Honestly Harry contributed it to the fact that Hermione was so brilliant and some of the ideas he had been pushing. It is hard to say that muggleborns are inferior to purebloods, when one of them is wiping the floor with you, as the bushy haired first year was.

Harry was happily looking forward to the first quidditch match of the season which would feature his old house against the snakes. Interestingly enough Ritchie Coote a second year became the new Gryffindor seeker. Ritchie had played Harry's sixth year as a chaser, and while he was weedy looking he had excellent speed, skill, and aim, so honestly he was the lion's best selection.

The first Ravenclaw game would be the second weekend after the Slytherin/Gryffindor match, and the whole Potter clan, alone with his grandparents and uncles were planning on coming to watch the match. Draco had also mentioned that his mother would be attending since there was a slight chance that he would get to play.

Privately Harry was very interested in meeting this Narcissa, and judging how different she truly was from the death eater he knew. From the memories he could recall she did not seem like the woman from his world, but then again her change might have been totally to do with her sister's death, Bellatrix and Narcissa were extremely close.

Harry let out a loud sigh, for only time would tell whether or not he could trust the people of this world.

CH26

The quidditch match against the Slytherins and Gryffindors was an exciting affair that took place on Saturday November 9. Both teams were about evenly matched and it was a long drawn out game, which lasted most of the afternoon. However the longer the game lasted the more violent the Slytherins became, foul after foul was awarded to the Gryffindors and soon the score difference increased. Higgs finally caught the snitch, but they were so far behind they only won the game by ten points.

Neville and Ron were depressed the whole afternoon, declaring their disdain that they had lost to the Slytherins. Malfoy of course was ecstatic and wore on his friends' nerves until finally Harry sent a silencer at him, efficiently shutting him up. After that Malfoy stalked off to find his godfather, silencer still firmly in place.

The first Ravenclaw match took place on the twenty-third against the Hufflepuffs.

While Ravenclaw's strategy was radically different from his old team, he soon became adequate at the precise planned plays and the different styles the players had. Luckily for him he didn't really have to participate in the plays…just catch the snitch.

The match was pretty single-sided as the only player on the Hufflepuff's team with any significant talent was Cedric Diggory, who put up a good fight but Harry easily caught the snitch before Diggory was able to.

With the win by a land slide Ravenclaw was easily in the lead for the quidditch cup. After the game he had been swamped by the Potter clan and Sirius. It was hard to tell who were more excited, Sirius or Jaden and Raidon.

The two boys excitedly chatted to their older brother and Harry discretely sent them over to the Weasley twins who were gazing at James, Remus, and Sirius in what could only be described as awe.

Harry was never able to meet with Narcissa simply for the fact that Lily was hanging on him, and mothering him until dinner when the families left for home.

Sadly to say Harry had ransacked the library and had not found a speck of information that helped his research into the connections that he saw in Dumbledore's office. Furthermore there was next to nothing on contacting any of the spirits, or higher powers. As soon as he got home for the holidays he planned on barricading himself in the Potters' library and searching threw the whole thing until he found something useful.

On a better note though, the occumency lessons with Snape were coming along great. Jamie was 'developing' basic shield by the time Thanksgiving rolled around. How quickly he picked up the art surprised the potions master, but he had heard of people mastering the art faster than his student so he really didn't pay it too much time.

On Thanksgiving (the 28th of November in 91') Harry was surprised when several pecking noises were heard at his bedroom window early in the morning and even more so to see a large basket carried by several owls.

When he opened the window the owls flew over to his bed and landed, waiting patiently for someone to relieve them of their parcel.

Wonderingly he untied the birds from their burden and then picked up the letter tucked into the side of the basket.

His eyes rose as he took in the note's appearance, whoever sent it had a sense of humor since the note was folded into the shape of a turkey.

Harry grinned as he unfolded the letter and began to read the tidy cursive writing.

Jamie,

We are missing you greatly especially at this time of year when families gather to give thanks for all they have. I know how much you always enjoy my Thanksgiving dinner so enclosed is a small bit to tide you over until the holidays. I hope you and your friends will enjoy the special dinner.

Hugs and kisses,

Gran & Pops

P.S. Lily has placed a heating charm on the package to keep the food warm until after dinner at least.

Smiling Harry folded the letter neatly back and placed it in his desk drawer with the rest of the letters he received from home.

From the outside the basket looked to be able to feed a person two or three good meals, so Harry smiled thinking about what he would be eating for lunch and dinner.

Gingerly he pulled back the basket top and gasped at what his grand mother considered a little bit. There was enough food to tide over a small army…it could easily feed up to thirty people!

Draco walked out of the bath room with a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair still dripping wet.

"What's that?" He asked curiously.

Harry grinned back at his friend before replying, "Dinner."

During the day Harry wrote several (ok more than several) invitations, twenty-six in all, and sent them out by owl to the students he wished to invite to the little get together. On the invites the time and place were mentioned so every one would know when and where to meet, without bombarding him with annoying questions throughout the day.

The message told them to be on the seventh floor corridor at seven o'clock for the party.

Harry and Draco went to the Room of Requirement to set up for the party, the former lugging the basket while the former whined about this and that.

The large room Harry created was very homey and informal, and reminded him strongly of his grandmother's house; even the smell was comparable, like the pies his grandmother was so fond of making during the holidays.

The tables were draped in a red table cloth with white cloth napkins, and a wicker basket filled with different types of gourds. Harry quickly began setting out the different foods, still ignoring Draco's complaining he had been doing much of it lately. In the corner there were many couches situated around a fireplace, with a pack of cards, and a few more board games on a shelf which Draco went to look at.

He muttered to himself, "Let's see…turkey, mashed potatoes…where did I put the gravy? Ah here it is…corn, peas, green beans…PUMPKIN PIE!"

Harry was distracted from the food as the door opened and Hermione, Neville, and Ron walked in, looking around the room curiously.

Draco waved them vaguely over to the couches and continued talking.

Hermione walked over and helped Harry finish setting the rest of the food on the tables.

"Harry who sent you all this food?" Hermione asked curiously.

"My grandmother sent it for Thanksgiving since I'm not home."

"Oh."

Over the next twenty minutes the rest of the students began to drift in, and when finally every one was there Harry gave a short welcome speech and the students sat and began to dig in. The only students that really understood the concept of Thanksgiving was Hermione and a few other muggleborns.

The students that he invited were mainly lower year students, none over fourth year, and composed from all of the houses.

In deciding which Slytherins to invite Draco vetoed many of his original choices on the grounds that 'they're not what they seem.' So in the end he only invited three Slytherins and the majority of the lower Ravenclaws.

The affair was very enjoyable, loud, and joyous. The students were set to leave in two weeks time for home and many were excited to see their families again, especially the first years.

After the dinner the group sat around playing games and holding their bulging stomachs, some even unbuttoned their now tight pants, and leaned back with contented sighs.

Harry leaned back with a satisfied grin and sigh also. Just like home.

Severus Snape was curious about the relatively large number of students that had not been at dinner that night, including his godson. The majority had been from Ravenclaw…actually most of the younger year Ravenclaws were gone from their table. A party perhaps? But today was nothing special, unless one of the students decided to throw a birthday party.

Severus looked over to the Gryffindor table with a frown. No Ron, Fred, or George Weasley, Neville Longbottom, or Hermione Granger. He noted that there were students up to the fourth year missing from each table, even Slytherin was missing some students, but at such a small number that it could just be a coincidence.

The other heads of houses had noticed the missing students as well but they were not relatively concerned, coming to the same conclusion as the potions master.

After the dinner Severus walked slowly back to his office to finish grading the third year essays thinking the whole way about his godson's best friend, Harry Potter.

Never in a million years would he have thought that he would actually be able to stand a Potter, but this boy was different…nothing like his father.

Truth be told Severus had been extremely worried about how the other children would treat Draco, after all his father is Lucius Malfoy…the Death Eater who single handedly tortured the Abbotts to death.

People said that after the couple had already lost their mind, Malfoy became creative and started to take them apart piece by piece until both died from blood lose and then were dismembered the rest of the way.

Their four-year-old daughter saw the whole ordeal and didn't speak for nearly five years. The poor child was still terrified of her own shadow, and avoided his godson like the plague.

Severus sighed and pushed his office door open, cursing the dark lord and all of his minions, mostly though he cursed Black and Potter.

The only real reason he joined Voldemort was to have his revenge on those two. They had made his life at Hogwarts living hell, all for their sick little amusement.

James Potters' face drifted into his mind's eye wearing an exceedingly satisfied smirk, causing Severus to snarl his lip in disgust. Even years after had graduated from Hogwarts, his fingers still itched to wrap around the annoying man's throat and throttle him until he turned blue.

The potions' master smiled a bit at the image as he took his seat behind his chair, the smile soon drifted off his face as he glanced down and caught sight of a plastic…something…on his desk. There was a short note beside of the thing and Severus picked it up carefully to read.

Dear Professor Snape,

We were having a little Thanksgiving celebration, and we had an outlandish amount of food and thought that you may enjoy some. We've placed a heating charm on the container so the food should stay warm for quite some time. Hope you enjoy!

Harry Potter

Slowly Severus opened the container and peeked in side, the delicious aroma that reached his nose almost convinced him to scarf down the food at that instance. However what if the food wasn't really from the Potter boy? Quirrell had been up to something, always hanging around the third floor corridor, and they had exchanged words.

Severus threw several of the most potent spells on the food, searching for any sign of a poison, or potion. Finding none Snape looked around before conjuring a spoon and taking a bite of the pumpkin pie.

The last two weeks passed amazingly fast to Harry and Hermione who were swamped with their school work. Even Harry had to admit that the work lode was extreme compared to what the other first years were doing. It was almost as if the teachers were trying to cram as much information in their heads as quickly as humanly possible.

The two first years had joined the third year Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff care of magical creatures class weeks before to many odd looks and jealous stares.

Harry had to admit, compared to Hagrid's lessons the current class was a breeze and hardly interesting. Kettleburn seemed to be unusually clumsy around the animals, and received many bits and burns from the disgruntled creatures, many which seemed to take pleasure in annoying the man.

It was hardly a wonder that the teacher was missing many fingers and looked as if he had been pulled threw a meat grinder at one point or another. While he wasn't as scared as Mad Eye, Kettleburn was certainly close.

Harry's request for the Weasley's to come and spend Christmas with the Potters was immediately accepted, much to Harry's pleasure. Percy, however, politely declined and wrote to his parents to go to Romania with them to see Charlie.

Fred and George however were absolutely thrilled about staying at the Potters, so much so that on the train ride back to King's Cross both boys were practically bouncing. Ron kept shooting them annoyed looks and finally told them to leave their compartment, which they did after turning their brother's hair green.

Both Neville and Draco were planning on coming over for some visits after Christmas, since Draco would not be able to attend before the 25th because of parties, and Neville's parents wanted some alone time with their baby boy.

Hermione on the other hand was joining her parents on their annual skiing trip, and would not be available until they returned to school. Over all the holiday was shaping up to be a more enjoyable affair than in his previous universe.

The train ride to platform 9 ¾ passed in exploding snap, chess, and plenty of candy. Hermione silently sent glares over her book, Hogwarts a History, at Neville and Ron as they stuffed their mouths full of chocolate and proceeded to attempt to carry on a conversation. Every time food would fly from their mouths Hermione's right eyebrow would twitch slightly in disgust and she would cough loudly, but both boys ignored her.

When they were almost at the platform, two identical heads of red poked through the compartment door.

"Harry could we borrow you for a moment?" Fred asked with an evil grin, a look his twin shared.

Ron and Neville's eyes narrowed at the look, but Harry simply shrugged and left the compartment with them to see what they were up to.

"Harry just how good are you at wandless magic?" George asked curiously.

The black haired boy looked suspiciously around before waving his discretely and a bottle of butter beer appeared in his hand.

"Decent…why?"

The Weasley twins stared at him in shock.

"That's pretty advanced magic Harry, even we don't know how to summon things." Fred said in awe.

The boy blushed a bit and looked down at his feet.

"Well anyways we were wondering, since wandless magic isn't traceable, would you help us pull some pranks while we are your house?"

Two pairs of brown eyes started at him pleadingly.

"Please…please….please!"

Harry just stared at the pair considering the proposition.

"Do we need to get on our knees and beg?" Fred asked while George started to bend down.

"Ok ok, but not a word to anyone else about it ok?" Harry finally sighed out.

"Why our most…"

"Noble leader…"

"We'd never, ever…"

"Even consider it!"

The train came to a lurching halt and Harry quickly ran back to his compartment to grab his trunk and Zantose who he left snoozing in his seat. He had sent Hedwig ahead the previous day with a note to his parents and had told her to simply stay there, she had happily agreed.

Harry and Hermione shrunk the others' trunks before they did their own and placed them in their pockets. Hermione placed a timer on hers which would automatically de-shrink at the appropriate time since her parents were muggles.

Even before they were able to get off the train Hermione gave an excited squeal and hugged each boy before taking off to where she saw her parents at. After the girl had hugged Draco, a slight blush had come over his face and he tried his best to look disgruntled at the contact. Ron too was blushing, while Neville looked smirking on.

Harry grinned and left the compartment, with three first year boys trailing behind him.

Once outside on the platform the group started to scan the crowd for any sign of their families.

Mentally Harry cringed at the large crowd, thinking at how easy a target they all were at the moment. Back in the war they had stopped using the Hogwarts Express from transporting students, and simply issued certified portkeys.

The portkeys were timed and prevented large crowds from forming, and also prevented potentially large attacks from death eaters, if they were able to get their hands on the keys.

Harry shuddered as he remembered the attack on the Hogwarts Express in his seventh year. Half the lower years had been slaughtered while nearly a quarter of the older students were seriously wounded or dead.

The only thing that stopped the attack from being a total massacre was the fact that the parents were there, and did their best to protect the children. After that the ministry immediately changed to the portkeys.

With these memories Harry fingered his wand and stared around the large crowd with a darkened expression on his face.

Draco let out a delighted yell and grabbed his best friend's arm and dragged him forward in the crowd, the other boys following closely behind.

"Mother!"

Draco let go of his arm and quickly hugged an aristocratic looking women, dressed in the finest of clothes.

"Well hello Draco, who are your friends?" Narcissa asked as her eyes lingered on the boy who she knew was Harry Potter.

The boy's green eyes stared unwaveringly back and a small smile pulled on his lips as he gave a slight nod in her direction.

Narcissa's blue eyes broke the contact as her son began to introduce the boys.

"This is Neville Longbottom, Ron, Fred, and George Weasley, and this here is Harry Potter." Draco was smirking proudly as he introduced his friends.

"Pleasure to meet you all, but I am afraid we must be going. Say goodbye Draco."

Draco turned back to the boys and whispered a few short words before following his mother out of the train station.

After Harry could no longer pick Malfoy's platinum blonde hair out of the crowd he turned back around and began to scan the crowd for his family.

He needn't have bothered though since Sirius was pushing his way through the throng looking between the group and the spot where the Malfoy's had disappeared last, the older man wore a very worried expression on his face.

Fear and displeasure lingered in his blue eyes as his eyes locked with his godson. Words were sure to be exchanged soon.

CH27

The look on Sirius' face was not one for endearing eyes and Harry really didn't feel like getting into a discussion concerning Draco in front of his friends. He quickly placed a large smile on his face and waved excitedly at the approaching man.

"Uncle Sirius!"

At his godson's obviously happy voice the darkened expression cleared almost completely from the handsome face, and a pleased smile snuck its way to his lips.

"Prongslet!"

At the man's name Fred and George turned and gawked at the man with open adoration.

Harry quickly gave the man a one armed hug, careful not to squeeze too hard for Zantose wouldn't like that. Sirius seemed pleased at the show of affection and hugged his godson back, holding on tightly for a few long seconds.

Harry eventually pulled away and waved his hand at his friends, "Sirius this is Ron, Fred and George Weasley."

Sirius studied the three with a large grin on his face.

"You must be Molly's and Arthur's sons. The last time I saw any of your parent's children Percy was still in diapers!"

"Couldn't have been that long ago then." Fred said with a smirk causing his brothers to grin widely, and Sirius pause in confusion.

"You two really shouldn't pick on Percy he's your brother and a prefect after all!" Harry admonished in a very uncanny impression of Mrs. Weasley causing the group to laugh uproariously.

"Wow Harry you sound just like my mum." Ron said with a grin.

Fred and George nodded with identical grins before staring at Sirius again.

"Err, right I guess we should probably go meet James and Lily." Sirius said uncertainly while staring back at the twins. He then proceeded to lead the four towards their left in search of the Potters.

Harry grinned widely when he saw his parents scanning the crowd. When Lily caught sight of him she ran forward and pulled her oldest son into a tight embrace causing the Weasleys to erupt in snickers. Placing her head close to his ear she whispered, "Oh my baby I've missed you so much!"

Harry relaxed into his mother's hug simply basking in her warmth and let a pleased smile play across his face.

"Lily you are embarrassing him." James said with a chuckle ruffling his son's hair once his wife had pulled back.

"I've miss you all!" Harry exclaimed causing his parents to smile.

"Mum, dad, this is Ron, Fred and George Weasley."

Lily gaped slightly at the youngest red head, "Ron? This is little Ronald? The last time I saw you, you were entertaining Ginny with that cute little doll…Miss Daisy if I remember correctly. My you have certainly grown!"

Fred and George turned identical evil grins on their younger brother, "Miss Daisy?" They both whispered in unison.

By the time Lily finished Ron was blushing heavily and had a look of horror on his face.

"You were such a little sweet heart. Always waiting on Ginny," Harry quickly cut in trying to save his friend's trampled dignity. "Mum where are Gran and Pops?"

Her expression immediately changed causing fear to clench his heart, "They're ok right?"

"Oh they're absolutely fine…visiting your great uncle Morris, something about a hunting accident."

Harry cringed before asking, "What did he do this time?"

James looked genuinely intrigued, "He's injured himself before?"

Harry simply nodded before asking, "Was it a gun or bow?"

"Bow…right foot." Lily said with a shudder.

The black haired boy sighed while shaking his head.

Ron and the twins looked confused and Fred finally asked, "What's a gun?"

Harry grinned brightly, "I'll show you later."

"Harry James Potter, where did you learn to use a gun at?" Lily demanded brows creased in anger.

"Great Uncle Morris of course!"

The adults looked at him incredulously, "The same one that is in the hospital?"

Harry nodded brightly while Fred and George snickered.

"I think I need to talk to Alice about her brother. Come on you lot, Remus and the kids are excitedly waiting at home for you."

Sirius and James quickly led the group off the platform while Lily snaked her arm around her son's shoulders and gave it a happy squeeze.

Harry barely had time to step through the front door before he was hit in the middle by a small child.

"Harry!"

At the excited squeal running footsteps were heard from the floor above and soon four children were seen at the top of the stairs. In their eagerness to get to the bottom they practically fell over on another trying to beat their siblings to the door.

The oldest Potter child grinned as he shuffled through the door dragging the five-year-old along, coming to a halt at the bottom stair as the rest of the group followed him in.

Angel and Cassie gave him a quick hug and placed kisses on his cheeks. His brothers however bounced on the balls of their feet sending their mother a slightly guilty look. Luckily for them Lily was preoccupied with dabbling her eyes as she watched the girls interacting with Harry.

"Harry you're back!" Jalene yelled excitedly.

"I'm back!" Harry agreed with a laugh and twirled the little black haired girl around causing her to giggle happily.

"Did you get my packages?"

Jalene nodded excitedly, "Mummy about fainted when she saw me eating the blood pops. They're my favorite."

The Weasley's chuckled while the Potter children wrinkled their noses in obvious disgust.

"Yes, we traded our Blood Pops and Bloody Peppermints for all the Chocolate Balls and Sugar Gushers she had." Jadon said happily as Cassie and Angel rolled their eyes. Cassie looked over and blinked when she saw the twins and then smiled slightly for identical twins in the wizarding world were extremely rare.

"Guys this is Fred, George, and Ron…yes Angel the Ron I wrote about." Harry said introducing the three for what seemed the hundredth time.

Ron's eyes widened at the end of the sentence and shot his friend a look, to which he simply received a grin.

"Well why don't you five show our guests where they'll be sleeping." James indicated before walking into the living room.

Jadon and Raidon quickly grabbed the twin's trunks and started to lug them up the stairs while Cassie and Angel led the way. Harry discretely placed Fred and George in a room next to his brothers' rooms much to the pleasure of Raidon and Jadon. In his letters to his brother he had made sure to mention just who and what Fred and George did at Hogwarts. He then place Ron in the room across from his which was decorated in the Gryffindor red and gold. Once he finally shook off his sibling he invited Ron to his room to show him the chess set Sirius had gotten him as a late birthday present.

Ron stared around the room interestedly. Harry's shelves were filled with all sorts of muggle items that would leave the average wizard totally baffled. Harry grinned as Ron discretely poked the shiny CD player.

"Want to listen to some music then?"

The red head shrugged as Harry flipped through his music collection, looking for something his young friend should like. Finally he pulled his R.E.M. CD and popped it in the player, and then unwound Zantose from around his left arm and placed him on his bed. Harry had to smother his grin as he saw Ron's front pocket quiver, a tell-tell sign that Peppers was there. To the boy's utmost amusement Zantose loved tormenting the black rat. Most people might find that terrible, but to Harry he could care less; you could even say he loathes them for obvious reasons.

As the music blasted the two moved to the window seat where the chess board was set up and took a seat.

"Sirius got it for me." Harry said with a grin. Instead of the usual pieces different breeds of dragons took their spots, snarling up and baring their teeth at the two boys.

"Brilliant." Ron breathed poking an Australian Sand Dragon in the side eliciting as his.

The two started to play, and even with all his extra years of experience Ron still handed him his battered dignity on a platter.

Harry scowled as his Chinese Long-Snout was literally torn apart by Ron's much bigger South American Red, its red body glistened in the sunlight and it's golden eyes gleamed as it licked it's blood covered claws.

"Wicked!"

The game ended with all Ron's surviving dragons charging his Hungarian Horntail and ripping the poor thing to pieces

Harry nursed several burns and cuts on his hands from the feisty pieces. After a while his dragons knew he was a crappy player and would not listen to his orders so he was forced to move them by hand which caused his injuries.

"Good game mate. Another?"

Harry looked at his watch and the dimming side outside before answering, "Maybe after dinner. It should be ready soon, and I still need to say hello to Remus."

The two boys walked out of the room and down the hall to where the twins were staying and paused as they heard whispering before a burst of laughter. Harry softly pushed the door open and peered in, to see four heads together peering at something out of sight.

Silently Harry tip-toed through the door and motioned for Ron to follow. Discretely he threw silencing charms on their feet, and the moved forward until he was leaning over the four boys.

"What are you four up to?" Harry asked in the best impression of Lily he could.

At the whispered question the boys jumped and quickly turned around.

"Bloody Hell!" Fred and George breathed out together.

"Make more noise next time Harry!" Raidon yelled before Jadon added his input, "We thought you were mum for sure."

"Guilty conscious? Harry asked with a smirk.

"Us guilty? Never!" Jadon exclaimed with a grin causing Ron to grin widely.

"So what were you doing then?" Ron finally asked trying to look over Fred and George's shoulders.

"Swear you won't tell?"

"Why...is it something mum will punish me over if I don't?" Ron asked cautiously.

"Promise." Both twins said with a glare.

"Ok, ok I promise, but if mum finds out I never knew."

"Right, we were showing our new protégées some pass pranks."

"Oh?" Harry asked with a grin which was returned from the two thirteen-year-olds.

George picked up some photographs and held them up for the pair to see. Ron took in the photograph on top and gawked.

"Is that Lucian Bole?"

Harry let out a soft chuckle as he took in the boy's scowl; the silver hair accented his green skin quite nicely in his opinion.

"When did you pull this one?" Harry asked with a grin.

"Last year…"

"End of year feast!"

Fred started to flip through the pictures while George told the story behind them making the group laugh loudly.

The merriment continued until Cassie came and called them to dinner. Dinner was a loud cheerful affair and Lily and Remus had outdone themselves with the amount and quality of the food that loaded the table.

Harry spent the majority of the meal talking to Remus, Lily and his twin sisters catching up with what they had done since he was gone. Both Cassie and Angel were almost through their first year of magical theory, and almost halfway through the first year in potions brewing, quite impressive since they wouldn't be ten until April.

Both Lily and Remus thought that the girls could be ready for Hogwarts by next year, but Harry was very reluctant about the idea considering that the stone happened this year, the Chamber of Secrets could happen next year. He wasn't willing to risk his little sisters to that kind of danger when it could be avoided.

Alice had convinced James and Lily to send the children to muggle primary school the following school year since they had never had any interaction with muggle children, and it would be good for them to learn about the muggle world.

After Christmas they planned on focusing on mathematics, muggle history, and sciences; and since the children were already adequate on their reading and writing skills for their ages they would not be giving that too much mind. Alice volunteered to help teach the children math since she was a teacher before she retired, and truth be told, missed her career.

"And how are your studies going Harry?" Remus asked interestedly, for he knew that the boy was extremely sharp, after all during the summer he hadn't missed a single question on his quizzes.

"Excellent, Hermione and I are almost finished with the third year material, but we'll still be attending practical lessons in Care of Magical Creatures with the third years. In our other lessons we are doing just as well, Dumbledore knows a thing or three, as does McGonagall."

Lily beamed at the news smiling proudly while Jadon rolled his eyes.

"I don't know why you are pushing yourself Harry; they'll just expect more of you." Raidon whispered his eyes big. Jadon nodded his agreement with his younger sibling.

Harry shot his little brothers a grin and sent a sly wink their way.

"So Harry who are your friends at school?" Lily asked eagerly.

He mentally cringed for that was a topic he had been avoiding until at least some time private. He would rather not have this conversation in front of Ron and the twins.

"Well Draco is in my house he's a good guy not that popular though, Terry Boot is in my house, absolutely brilliant in my opinion, then there's Ron of course…the lord of all things chess and obsessed with anything about the Cannons," at the comment Ron brushed brightly, "Hermione the most brilliant witch of her age, Neville…well yeah Neville. Oh and who else?" As he paused he looked over at the twins who were looking at him.

"Well I guess Fred and George are ok…."

Both boys took on affronted looks before turning away.

During the conversation Sirius looked sharply at his godson.

"Draco, as in Lucius Malfoy's son?"

Harry turned to look at his godfather making his face impassive as he stared at the man, "Yes I suppose he is but I don't see why who is father is would matter." Harry said with a wave of his hand.

The conversations paused around the table with the younger children looking around in confusion.

Sirius' eyes were dark as he answered, "Malfoy's are nothing but trouble…keep away from him."

Harry quickly stood up from the table and threw his cloth napkin down on the table his eyes glaring, "I would appreciate a word with you in private, please."

Everyone looked uncertainly from Sirius to Harry's retreating back; the silence was so thick in the air you could cut it with a knife. With Eyes still as dark as a raging storm Sirius quickly followed after his oldest godson.

Once they were in the library Harry quickly closed the door before turning on his uncle with a cold glared.

"How dare you! You dare to treat Draco like a mini death eater simply because his father was one…the same could be said of you dear uncle."

Sirius stiffened at the words as if visibly smacked.

"Harry you don't know what you are talking about, you're just a kid,"

"He's just a kid Sirius." The dark haired boy viciously cut in.

"He is Lucius Malfoy's son! Do you have any idea what that means?"

Harry walked slowly over to where Sirius was standing until he was staring up into his face.

"It means he will be judged the rest of his life for crimes he never committed! He will never be able to move out of the shadow of his father…he'll be considered dirt as soon as he speaks his name. You stand there and claim that you aren't bigoted, for you don't care about blood purity, but then you dare judge someone for who their father was." The words were spoken softly and so coldly it could freeze water.

Two emerald fires bored into his before one last question was spoken, "Who were your parents?"

Harry gave his godfather one last sharp look filled with sadness before he promptly turned on his heels and marched out of the room.

At the door he paused and without turning around said, "Tell the others that I am going to bed."

As his godson shut the door Sirius stared at it for a moment.

"Who were my parents?" He whispered quietly and then flinched.

"But I'm different…"

Harry sighed as he paced his room, hands behind his back in deep thought. Out of all of his family he had thought that Sirius would understand the most about being rejected for who your family was. In frustration he rummaged through his trunk for a sleep potion tossing his clothes every which way until finally he pulled out a half full bottle and poured himself a cup full. Replacing the items with a wave of his hand he quickly changed for bed still brooding about the whole ordeal.

Jumping in bed he pulled the covers up around him before chugging the potion with a shudder. Personally he thought whoever made potions that tasted that bad should be shot, brought back alive and shot again. His thoughts became darker as he thought of his uncle, and then that ponce Michael Corner. "Stupid git." He muttered sleepily as his thoughts became increasingly foggy and finally he dropped off into oblivion.

Rough hands began to shake him softly and Harry quickly opened his eyes only to shut them quickly from the light.

Slowly he opened them again and looked around the pure white space, finally his eyes rested on the old man wearing a purple robe with shooting stars.

"Hello Mr. Potter!" The old man said cheerfully.

Harry gaped for a moment before speaking.

"Silenius!"

CH28

"Silenius! But what are you doing here? Actually where is here?" Harry asked curiously looking around at the white expanse.

"This is Here Harry." Silenius replied in amusement.

The young man resisted rolling his eyes, "What do you mean this is here, of course here is here. I mean where is here?"

"This is Here." The old man said with a wave his hand indicating the whole area.

"Fine don't tell me." Harry muttered sitting down on the ground.

Silenius simply smiled at the boy's frustration which soon turned into a smirk. "Let me explain young one…currently only Here exists. We are in fact out of time."

Harry stared at the old man in some surprise, "You can pause time?"

The old man laughed again.

"No one can pause time, as you say, since time is always in motion…the past and the future are happening at this very moment. I have simply taken you out of time for our discussion, and I will place you back in time when we are through."

"So it does not matter how long I spend here? No time will pass in the real world?"

The man nodded with a slight smile, "No time could pass, or I could place you were ever I would like. Time does not pass as you say, time is."

Harry pondered what he was just told looking around in distaste.

"Why is it white?"

Silenius actually looked surprised at the question and confusion flooded his features, "I forgot that mortals are not use to so much white. Some color perhaps?"

He quickly snapped his fingers and a grasses field appeared around the pair. Harry ran a hand wonderingly through the lush grass that he sat on.

"Who are you…you never did get around to telling me the last time we met." Harry asked curiously.

Blue eyes twinkled in an eerily familiar way and an amused smile pulled at the man's lips, "Someone made a wish, I answered it." Harry stood up and brushed off his pajama bottoms out of habit, though no dirt or grass was on them. "How is it that Seanan knows of you? He was the one to tell me who you were."

Silenius turned away and began walking, "A topic for another time I believe. Now what is it that you wished to speak to me about?"

The boy walked quickly to catch up to the purpled robed man.

"The golden tint."

"Golden tint?"

Harry narrowed his eyes in frustration, " Silenius you know what I mean! The golden glow…what is it from?"

"Oh, that glow. It is a gift from your chosen…he felt that it would benefit you in your new life." The man said with a small smile.

"Benefit me how?" Harry asked until the next computed. "Chosen? Who is my chosen?

Silenius pulled out a large pocket watch and looked down intently, "Will you look at the time? I must really be going!"

"Silenius!" Harry made to grab the older man but instead fell through him, landing painfully on the ground.

The man smiled slightly with that all knowing twinkle present in his eyes.

"Goodbye Harry."

Harry's eyes snapped open and he began to curse softly.

Looking down at his hand he could see that it was red and developing a bruise where he had landed on it during the talk. He had hoped that he would be able to get the answer to that annoying question. What did the man mean when he said it was a gift that would be of benefit and in the bloody hell was his chosen? He growled slightly in annoyance.

Looking out of the window he noticed a slight pink to the horizon so he slowly got out of bed and dressed for breakfast. Hopefully his grandparents would be flooing over this morning to see him.

Taking a quick shower he dressed in some muggle style clothing before going down to the kitchen. The clock barely read 7:30 as the early rays of winter light filtered in through a window lighting the darkened room. The house was still silent as he rummaged through the refrigerator looking for food to cook for breakfast.

Silently he began to cook humming a slight tune as he did so.

The still young man stared blankly up at his off white ceiling. His wife had an arm draped across him in her sleep with her head on his shoulder while he naturally had an arm wrapped around her shoulders. Sirius Black was lost in deep thought of times far gone, of his own miserable childhood. Actually his childhood had been fairly pleasant until after he was sorted into Gryffindor.

After dinner the previous night he had flooed home and went straight to his room to think. Sarah had yet to get home so he laid in bed staring at the ceiling thinking of the words his godson had so easily thrown at him. The words were cutting enough but added to the contempt and disappointment Harry's voice contained they became heart wrenching. When Sarah had finally come home he had feinted sleep until she had dozed off and then he laid awake the rest of the night thinking.

Sirius sighed and looked down at his wife.

Why should he care about what an eleven-year-old thought? Harry was simply a boy; furthermore he didn't even grow up in the wizarding world and shouldn't act as if he did. Why would a mere boy think that he had a right to tell his own godfather what to do? Never in all his years mentoring Raidon and Jadon had they ever gone against what he told them to do. Didn't Harry understand that he was simply trying to protect him? Lucius Malfoy was scum, always had been and always would be. But Draco was also the child of Narcissa Black, his own cousin.

Sirius had some fond memories of his blond haired cousin from their younger days when to him she was still Cissy. Cissy was only four and a half years older than him and since she was the youngest child and he the oldest of their families they did spend plenty of time together. While his favorite cousin was Andromeda, he was closer to Cissy until he was eleven. Their relations became strained when he was sorted into Gryffindor and they broke off completely when she became engaged to Lucius Malfoy. From the first time Sirius laid eyes on the pompous pureblood dislike instantly flooded his veins and dislike turned to hate when he found out that Cissy was marrying him.

He hadn't known at the time that Malfoy was a death eater but when he found out from something Bellatrix said he wasn't overly surprised. When he found out that Narcissa was pregnant with that gits child he knew without a doubt that it would turn out to be just like his father, after all it was in his blood. Stuck up, bigoted bastard! If it wasn't bad enough that the child was Malfoy's he also had the distinct dishonor of begin named the godson of the greasiest bat Hogwart's has ever known, Severus Snape. What would possess the courts to name Snape as Draco's Protector after Malfoy was arrested? Snape was just as bad as Lucius when it came to pureblooded bigotry. More than one time had the bat found himself looking down a wand for his lip.

Suddenly words jumped back in his mind, "What makes you different?"

Sirius frowned at the thought. What made him different from the rest of his family? He had been brought up the same way, and in all respects he was the perfect pureblood until he got to Hogwarts. Hogwarts? All of his problems with his family had started when he was sorted into Gryffindor…a disgrace to the family's name his mother had called him.

He let out a slightly rueful snort as he remembered her screeching howler that she sent to him as soon as she found out. That's why he was different from his family; he had been sorted into a house other than Slytherin. Only a perfect, pompous little pureblood could be placed into Slytherin…

He trailed off at that thought. Draco was sorted into Ravenclaw not Slytherin. Could it be possible that the boy wasn't as much like his father as he had previously thought? He had only caught a brief glance at him in the train station and the first year looked amazingly like his father, but then again Harry looks astoundingly like James and yet they are hardly alike.

Sirius ran a hand tiredly through his hair. Perhaps it was time that he put his differences behind him and made up with Narcissa…after all he would like to know his youngest cousin, even if he was the spawn of a Malfoy.

Slowly he whispered, "I am different because I can look past the body and into the person."

With a sigh he ran his hand through his wife's flowing hair before he gently placed a kiss on her forehead.

By the time 8:15 rolled around Harry had finished cooking breakfast and the smell of cooking sausage and bacon seemed to have awoken James and Lily. Lily came into the kitchen looking as if she had been awake for hours while James trailed behind her still in his pajamas and bath robe.

"What's this?" He asked curiously.

"Breakfast of course." Harry said with a slight smile at his father.

James speared a sausage and took a bite his eyes widening at the taste.

"Wow this is really good!"

Harry snorted slightly and rolled his eyes with a smile, "Thanks dad, way not to sound surprised."

Lily smiled widely as she began to levitate some of the plates to the table and then turned around and began to set out the places.

As the trio sat and ate Lily informed him that his grandparents had flooed the previous night and he needed to floo over to their house around lunch so that he could visit his great uncle.

"Can I take Ron with me? I'm sure that he's never been to a normal hospital before, and it would be rather informative."

Both Potters didn't seem to have any qualms against it so after breakfast Harry sprinted up stairs to the bedroom across from his own to wake his red headed friend. Ron grumbled about being awoken at nine in the morning, but perked up immensely when he learned that they were going somewhere.

After Ron ate a quick breakfast he took a shower and put on the clothing that Harry had laid out for him so that he would 'fit' in. The clothing seemed a tad too big, but the black haired boy assured him that that was the fad in America.

Harry was dressed similarly wearing slightly baggy 'blue-jeans', a soccer jersey, and a 'hoodie'. The two sat down and played another round of chess with Harry's dragon set before finally giving up and flooing almost an hour early to the Delhomme household.

David and Alice seemed to still be in bed as no stirrings could be heard, and the morning light had yet shine through the windows. Harry quietly lit the end of his wand and motioned Ron to follow as he led the way down stairs to the converted basement.

"Harry! We're not supposed to use magic outside of school you could get into serious trouble." Ron hissed wide eyed.

Harry simply smirked and turned on the light at the bottom of the stairs, lighting the room.

"Ron but you are forgetting something very important. We are not on British soil, and in America we are allowed to use magic outside of school."

"What?"

"This. America." Harry said slowly pointing at the ground causing Ron to scowl and blush slightly.

"I know that but why do they get to have different rules?"

The black haired boy's smile only grew wider as he answered, "Maybe because they are a different, separate government?"

Ron threw his hands up in the air in defeat, "I give up!"

His friend chuckled as he walked over to an odd looking table and picking up an object.

"Say Ron, want to learn how to play air hockey?" Harry asked curiously.

The slightly gangly boy glared for a few more seconds before he finally slowly nodded.

Sirius toyed with his quill as he sat at his desk.

He threw a quick glare over at the pile of paperwork towering on his desk before looking back down at the blank parchment in front of him. Why, oh why did this have to be so difficult? He had written hundreds upon hundreds of letters before, but never had he found himself in the position where he was totally wordless.

James wasn't helping his nerves any. Every few minutes his friend would look up from his own pile of paperwork and throw him a concerned frown. It's not that he didn't want James to know what he was about to do, but he feared if he told him that James would talk him out of it. James had never liked Narcissa very much and Sirius knew that his friend wasn't too fond of his son being friends with the Malfoy heir. But this wasn't about James, it was about him. It was time for him to confront the small about of blood family he had left and settled his differences.

Letting out a shaky voice he dipped his quill in the ink well and brought it to the smooth parchment.

Dear Cissy,

I would like to invite you and Draco to dinner with my wife and me. I know this may come as quite a surprise, but I've been thinking recently and I've realized that we need to put our differences behind us and begin anew. There once was a time in my life when I could never imagine us not speaking to each other for more than a day, but I find myself now struggling even to pen this letter. The last day I spoke to you was when you told me you were engaged. I've realized now that it was stupid of me to ignore you for who you married and I would love to meet my young cousin.

Yours truly,

Sirius O. Black

Before he could lose his nerve Sirius closed the letter and put his seal on the back. At his actions James raised an eyebrow but Sirius pointedly ignored him as he got up from his seat and went to owl the letter.

Harry and Ron played games for about an hour and a half before Alice found them downstairs and invited them up for some breakfast. Ron eagerly followed her even though he had eaten less than four hours ago. Harry followed at a more sedated pace, rolling his eyes at his tall friend.

Luckily for them Alice decided to just fix some lunch items to eat instead of breakfast as both Ron and Harry had already eaten one breakfast.

After a quick introduction of Ron to both of his grandparents he turned to his plate and gladly dug in. The Delhommes were pleased to answer any questions Ron had after they found out that he was a pureblood wizard. David was fascinated that Ron had practically no knowledge of the muggle world and promised that they would go to the movie theater to watch a movie after they visited Morris. The closest thing to a movie that they had in the wizarding world was a pensive memory, but Harry highly doubted that Ron would even know what a pensive is.

Great Uncle Morris was very happy to see his great nephew who he hadn't seen in nearly a year.

"Jamie my boy!" He called cheerfully when he caught sight of the black haired boy. He noticed the red haired boy's confused frown as Harry came quickly forward, a large grin planted on his still childish face.

"Uncle Morris! How did you manage to shoot yourself in the foot…again?"

The old man burst out laughing and launched into a tale that Ron tried to follow the best he could but by the end he was utterly lost and it showed on his face. Harry gave him a grin and asked his grandfather to show Ron around before Morris could question his odd behavior.

Once Ron was out of the room Morris turned to his great nephew and raised both eyebrows, "Odd friend you've got there Jamie. Where ever did ya find him?"

Harry took a seat still grinning, "Goes to school with me. He's from the UK."

"Ah." The old man waved his hand in the air as if that simple word explained everything.

"Probably couldn't understand a word out of your mouth." The black haired youth stifled a smile, for it was true that Ron didn't understand half of what Morris said, but it wasn't for the reasons the man thought.

After the visit was over, much to Ron's relief, the foursome made their way to a local theater to watch a movie. Harry toyed with the idea of taking Ron to a horror movie, or perhaps simply renting Arachnophobia but decided against it in the end not knowing how his friend would react.

The visit to the hospital had left Ron a bit queasy especially after Morris had insisted that they see his foot. Poor Ron had never seen a healing wound before and he had instantly turned a sickly green and excused himself from the room.

The movie they finally settled for was a new Disney one that while it wouldn't hold Harry's interest would definitely impress Ron. During the whole movie the boy sat gawking at the screen and eating popcorn, occasionally he would mutter 'amazing' under his breath or an exclamation of surprise. Even after the show on the drive back to the Delhommes Ron sat silent with a look of awe on his face, much to the enjoyment of everyone else in the car. They small group arrived home to floo back to the Potters just in time for supper.

For those of you who have read this story I have made a few slight changes to the original verse. I have changed Chauncey to Silenius. No real reason as to why, only the name suited him better for where I plan to take this story. I have also made several slight corrections to the story, but mostly I have left these chapters how they are. Please leave a review!

All my love,

Basill