Chapter 1:
A week into summer life at 4 Privet Drive and life was exactly as it had been the summer before; no one passing by the house would know there was a teenage boy inside whose life had been turned upside less than 2 weeks before. You could even say no one inside the house, minus the boy, even knew the world had changed. Vernon and Petunia went on with life as usual. Vernon went to work everyday, making the money to support his loving wife and son. Petunia played the loving housewife, spending her days ironing and cooking for her lovely husband and precious son. She continued her practice of spying on the neighbors and reporting the neighborhood gossip around. And then there was Dudley, the much loved son of Vernon and Petunia. Yet another year at Smelting had done absolutely nothing to reduce the tub of lard this 16 year old carried around in what some may call a stomach. Alas, his parents did not seem to care because to them Dudley was a healthy young man who was still the top wrestler in his weight division. Dudley was never home much. He spent the majority of his time with his friends, smoking and drinking, unbeknownst to his parents.
And then there was Harry, the boys who life had changed so much in only a week. Harry was used to surprises; that's for sure. Not knowing your parents were wizards who were killed by an evil wizard until you're 11, when you got your letter to attend the same school they did, is a pretty big surprise. But finding out you were destined to severely cripple the evil wizard the first time he came after you and then learning that either he or you must die before it's all over is a little harder to swallow. Even adult wizards would have a hard time comprehending and dealing with all, so how does a teenage boy do so? Rebel is what his natural instincts told him to do, so starting from the first day he was "home," he did what he wanted. Dursley's be dammed! It's not like they could kick him out; Dumbledore would have a fit if that happened.
Rebelling at 4 Privet Drive, though, wasn't exactly rebelling against what was angering Harry. Sure the Dursley's were not the nicest people on the planet to Harry, but, as much as it pained him to say, they weren't the cause of his problems at the moment. That didn't stop Harry from purposely ignoring anything he was told. He did his homework in the open, let Hedwig out, and talked about his school all he wanted. He'd leave the house whenever he felt like it, still always being careful because Voldemort was still after him. Even the Dursley's knew better than to accidentally anger Harry, just look at Aunt Marge 3 summers ago. Plus, Harry had saved Dudley's life the summer before, and as much as Vernon would not admit it, he was thankful to Harry for that. It was on one of Harry's walks that everything changed.
Harry was walking the store one morning a week after school was out. He didn't have a reason to be going, but it was still immensely better than staying in that house. Just as he was about to go in, a girl around 16 came out the same door and they both fell over, the contents of her bags spilling all over the ground.
"Sorry," Harry says, rather apathetically. He stood up first and offered the girl a hand.
"It's my fault, Harry. I didn't check to see if anyone was coming in as I was leaving. How's your summer?" Michaela asks, bending over to pick up her spilt groceries.
"Oh, hey Chaela," Harry answers, his voice warming up immediately. No matter what his feelings towards the wizarding world, it's always nice to see a familiar face. "It's okay, I guess. Same as usual. No news from the Order, though. I didn't expect any, but I sent the owl letting them know everything's still okay here. By the way, what are you doing here? I thought you lived in London."
During their 5th year, Michaela and Harry had become better acquaintances, almost friends. Michaela's mother and grandmother were members of the Order, so Michaela had believed Voldemort's return from the beginning. She had been one of Harry's primary defenders, not that anyone really took her more seriously than Loony Luna Lovegood. She had also been one of the first to sign up for DA and had been there in the Ministry of Magic when the showdown had taken place. She never tried to join Harry, Hermione, and Ron's group, even though they offered her the opportunity quite a few times especially at the end. No one knew why, but they still knew her to be a trusted ally.
Harry helps Michaela pick up her groceries and carries them for her as they walk to her house. "My grandmother and grandfather lived on Magnolia Crescent, but after Voldemort's followers killed him, she moved into my mom's place in London. She'd kept the house in working order because she knew she'd want to go back one day. Seeing Sirius killed just brought back too many memories of the last time, so my mom wanted out of the city. And I have the sinking suspicion I am supposed to help keep an eye on you-to stop you from doing something," Michaela says, laughing at the end.
"Why's that funny?" Harry asks, somewhat crossly. He doesn't need a babysitter. He's not stupid.
"First off, you're not stupid enough to run off or something. Everyone would kill you. Second, well, I don't feel like being responsible. I'm responsible during school. Summer's the time to be stupid. I think I want to get my ears pierced again and get a tattoo."
Harry looks at Michaela who has two piercing in each ear and is currently wearing a blank spaghetti strap tank top and khaki capris, something stylish for her normal wear. "Where can you pierce your ears again? And your mom would let you get a tattoo?"
Michaela looks at Harry who's wearing jeans that actually fit (surprise) and a red shirt. "Well, I'm probably going to pierce the cartilage of my right ear. I've wanted that for a while. As for the tattoo, that's easy enough after enough pushing. My mom's letting me rebel to a point. I just have to tell her to be thankful I'm not out there sleeping with every guy I meet, and she'll let me have it. I don't have a tattoo yet, but I don't want one of those stupid, girly ones on the small of my back. I think I'm going to get the Japanese or Chinese characters for brave or loyal. It's two characters each, so I'd have them small on my shoulder blade. Maybe heart." Harry laughs at her indecision. "I haven't thought that far," she says, defensively. "Now, see if I invite you in to hang out."
"Ah, you'll still invite me in," Harry says, cockily. "I'm carrying your groceries for you, and you're too nice. Plus, you're tired of adults. Admit it."
"I guess," Michaela says as they walk up the walk to her house. "My mom and grandmother are probably here. They'll both want to meet you, for sure. My grandmother is an awesome cook, so you'll have to come over one night for dinner." She unlocks the door and continues sarcastically, "And it is the least I can do since you carried my oh-so-heavy groceries for me."
"Of course."
"Mom, Grandma, I'm home," Michaela yells into the house.
"We're in the kitchen, Kaylie. Bring the groceries in," someone yells from inside the house.
"This way," Michaela says leading Harry to the kitchen, where he sees two women cutting up vegetables.
"Hey. I met a friend at the market," Michaela says, bringing the women's attention to Harry.
The younger of the two, obviously Michaela's mother, drops the knife she's holding and gasp in shock at seeing Harry. Michaela's grandmother merely smiles and turns to Harry. "I know you're probably tired of this, but you look identical to your father. Except for dear Lily's eyes, you have her beautiful eyes."
"Did you know my mom?" Harry asks interested. "Everyone I've met knew my father a lot better than my mother, and I want to know more about my mother."
"I knew Lily," Michaela's mother says, coming into the conversation.
"You did, Mrs. O'Connor?" Harry asks.
"Call me Fiona, Harry. Your mom was my best friend from the day I got to Hogwarts until the day she died. In some ways, she is still my best friend. I'll tell you anything I can, Harry. You deserve to know your mom. She was a phenomenal woman. I always looked up to her."
With that, conversation in the kitchen died into a heavy silence. Harry and Fiona thinking about Lily, Michaela's grandmother still cutting up vegetables and thinking about her husband and son, and Michaela thinking about how little she knows about her family and its past. She knew her mom knew Lily Potter, but she never knew how close of friends they were.
After about 5 minutes of Michaela and Harry putting up groceries and Fiona cutting up vegetables, Michaela decides this silence just isn't working. "Hey mom. Can I get a tattoo?"
That definitely breaks the spell as Harry starts laughing so hard he begins to cough. Michaela's grandmother, Maggie, chuckles lightly at her granddaughter's straightforwardness.
"Michaela Katelyn," Fiona warns, stifling a smile, "I believe I said we'd discuss this later."
"Well, technically this is later. And, I would just like to point out that I want a tattoo only. Well and my cartilage pierced, which you okayed. I could be sleeping with every guy I meet instead."
"Later Michaela. How bout you take Harry upstairs to watch a movie or something? Harry, you're more than welcome to stay for lunch. After that, we can talk about Lily if you'd like. I have to go talk to the Order now, and I'll ask them what I can tell you kids about since you're here," Fiona says as the clock chimes 11 AM. "Behave, kids. I should be home by 12, and Maggie is here if you need anything."
"Bye mom."
"Bye Fiona."
"Bye Mrs. O'Connor."
"Call me Fiona, Harry. Mrs. O'Connor is Maggie over there," Fiona says before she apparates.
"Alright, Grandma. Harry and I are going to go upstairs and do something. Maybe watch a movie or something. Call us if you need any help with lunch," Michaela says, heading up the stairs.
"Okay, Kaylie. What sandwiches do you two want? It's chicken noodle soup, so I hope you like it, Harry. It's homemade," Maggie says, smiling warmly at the boy she feels sorry for. She had met Petunia one time, and she was not a pleasant child.
"Grilled Cheese, please, Grandma."
"Sounds great to me, Mrs. O'Connor. I've never had homemade soup. Grilled Cheese works for me, too," Harry says, ever the polite young man.
"I'll call you when lunch is ready," Maggie says, "And call me Maggie, Harry. Your mom and dad always did.
Michaela takes Harry's hand and pulls him up the stairs and into her room. "The bathroom's attached if you need it. My movies are by the TV; pick one you like," Michaela says, plopping down on her bed and pulling her laptop onto her lap.
"Your house is very Muggle considering you live with 2 witches, and why does your grandmother call you Kaylie?" Harry asks, as he peruses the movies. He picks out The Recruit and puts it in the DVD player.
"Well, we're living in a Muggle neighborhood, so it's easier. I like Muggle stuff; it's a lot of fun. Plus, growing up both Muggle and Magical will make it easier when I get a job later on, even though I want to be a Auror. I love the music and the movies from Muggles, so I just chose to live both," Michaela says as the movie starts. "Oh, Colin Farrell. I love this movie."
"Oh God, you go for that type of guy? I'll say its better than that Justin Timberlake guy Hermione's going on about. Or that Chad Mitchell Michael or something like that that Ginny loves," Harry says, laughing and shaking his head.
"I think you mean Chad Michael Murray," Michaela says, trying to hide her laughter.
"Whatever. Give me Lindsay Lohan any day. She's HOT."
"You would think so. Thank God you didn't say Britney Spears. THEN you would be getting kicked out of my room. You know you could sit on my bed as opposed to sitting on the floor; I don't bite."
"I have a feeling Malfoy would beg to differ," Harry says thinking back to mid last year when Malfoy insulted Luna Lovegood and Michaela cursed him.
"Ahh…" Michaela says, giggling, "The Hermit Curse. A great one to know. I'm sure he appreciated the feeling of Hermit Crabs biting him everywhere. And I do mean everywhere. I may have gotten points taken from Gryffindor but it was damn worth it to hear that little pansy moaning and groaning."
"I wondered why Snape didn't make you baby-sit him during Potions like Ron and I had to after he provoked Buckbeak," Harry says, finally sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Cause he always respected my parents. He didn't like them, but they never did anything to him. Snape was one to hold a grudge. I'm actually surprised he isn't a prat to me anyway because our dads became really close in 7th year and after. My mom said your mom calmed your dad some and then they just all got along after that. I think he respect me, in part, too. I maybe in Gryffindor but I have qualities Salazar liked…or so the Sorting Hat told me. But I knew I'd get Gryffindor."
"It tried to put me in Slytherine, but I wanted Gryffindor. Dumbledore said that's what makes me different than anyone in Slytherine," Harry says, playing with the corner of Michaela's comforter, a Gryffindor Lion.
"Well, he's right. Your decision made you stronger than any person in Slytherine. Slytherine's the easy way out." Michaela says, smiling.
"I'm tired of being strong. I want to be normal," Harry says, almost to himself.
"How 'bout I help you make this summer as normal as it can be?" Michaela asks, surprising even herself. "We'll do what we can to let you be a normal teenager for a while. Not Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived and the boy everyone looks up to, but Harry Potter, the normal guy."
Harry smiles at her. "I think I'd like that. Now, why does your grandmother call you Kaylie?"
"Ah, easy one. My middle name is Katelyn, after my aunt who died a year to the day before I was born, and my mom says my dad called me his little Kaylie the day I was born. The name's stuck."
"Kids, lunch is ready and your mom's home, Kaylie!" Maggie yells up the stairs.
"Coming, Grandma!" Michaela yells. "You hungry? It's so good!"
"Yeah," Harry says, following Michaela down the stairs. "It smells really good, Fiona and Maggie."
"Thank you, Harry," Maggie says, smiling. "Wash your hands, you two."
Harry and Michaela wash their hands in the kitchen sink before sitting down at the table to eat. The group eats quickly and in silence, both Harry and Fiona want to talk. When lunch is done, Harry and Fiona move to the living room while Maggie and Michaela clean up.
"Grandma, do you think maybe one day before school starts I could talk to you about Daddy, Granpa O'Connor, Grandma Green, and Grandpa Green? I realized that I have you two to talk to, unlike Harry, and I've never really asked you about them. I want to know about my dad," Michaela asks quietly."Of course, Kaylie," Maggie says, hugging her granddaughter. "We'll talk whenever you want. Now, why don't you go upstairs and watch a movie while your mom and Harry talk."
"Okay. Thanks Grandma," Michaela says, hugging her back. She heads upstairs to watch a movie and wonder what's going on downstairs
Alright, Chapter 1 is up. Yay for me!! I hope you guys find this interesting. I want to continue it. I've had this idea for a long time, and I finally got the effort up to write it down. I really hope you like it. Let me know if you want me to update! :-D I'll warn you, though. The chapters may not be as long, and it may take me longer to update. Especially towards the end of August when classes start back up and my life gets crazy hectic. But til then, hopefully things will go smoothly.