Okay, this is out about halfway written. I decided that If I have it out, I'll get the next chapter written faster.

For those who went to Sakura Con: I hope you had a fantastic time!

Harry sighed as he got off the train. He was hugged by Mrs Weasley, and shook her husband's hands. They, along with Alastor Moody, Nymphadora Tonks, Remus, and Kingsley Shacklebolt, went to the muggle side, where the Order members warned his uncle.

That wasn't a good thing. Upon entering the house, he was pushed to the ground by a punch. Seconds later, kicks rained down on him. He pleaded, prayed, that someone would save him. He didn't want the abuse to start up again.

As his uncle finished, he was thrown into the cupboard under the stairs for the first time in six years.


"I don't fucking care if you were ordered to keep me safe! Do you have to do it, by living in this house?" Harry yelled at the fully capable Auror before him. Caleb Thorton smirked at the teen before him as he ranted and raved. Eventually the sixteen year old calmed down. "Why?"

"Okay, so I may have lied. I wasn't exactly ordered to make contact with you. I am just curious about you...I like you." Harry shivered, backing up into a corner as the man advanced closer to him. "So far, everything I've seen about you, in person, I like. I don't care about you being some famous wizard. You're strong on your own, and you help people, or try to."

"You don't know me, you can't like me!"

"Ah, so then let me get to know you, and in return, get to know me!"

"BOY!" Harry flinched violently, looking over his shoulder, into the threshold of the house. "GET THE FREAK OFF MY PORCH!"

"I'm sorry to intrude." Caleb said, smiling tightly. "I'm afraid that I've been ordered to protect Harry...we don't want the savior to die." Harry stiffened, "or a lord to suffer." Greed entered Vernon's eyes. "But you already knew that he had money. After all, you've been getting 4000 pounds to take care of him." Harry's breath hitched, as he turned to stare at his uncle and aunt, who had came up at the screaming.

"You've been getting money to take care of me? This whole time, you've had the money to give me a proper life? My mother wouldn't have done what you did, upon finding Dudley on her steps. She would have raised him as her own. Why can't you love me? I can't help that I was born with magic!" Tears were falling. "I'd rather be normal! But I can't, because they won't let me! I've tried so hard, for years, to please you!"

"Harry-" Caleb started. The green eyed boy turned to glare at him. His eyes red, and his nose was stuffy, but his voice was strong.

"I'm through. I'm not doing this anymore. I can't. No one will help me, no one cares!" Harry turned, pushed pass Caleb, and down the street. Caleb didn't hesitate to follow. Sharp turns, dashes, and sprints to the park. Harry's breath was uneven as Caleb tackled him to the soft grass. "Let me go!"

"Calm down, now, Harry." Caleb said, arms tight, even as he rolled the teen over, settling between Harry's legs. "You do know, there are people who care for you. Remus, Hermione, Ron, Molly, Arthur, the other Weasleys, Neville, Luna, and other classmates. They love you like their own child, or brother. There are people, who see you as a child, that thinks you shouldn't have to go through these things."

"Then why I am...forget it. Get off me." Caleb shook his head.

"You're still upset. Until you're completely calm, I'm not moving."

"Get off of me!" Adults were looking, but not coming to help him. They knew he was 'That Potter Boy' that lived with the Dursleys. The one that was always trouble. "Please, get off me! Get off!" Tears were falling as the young boy shook in grief. His hands reached up an covered his face as sob ripped through him. "Please, stop looking..." Caleb's hands fell from Harry's shoulders. He watched as the Potter heir tried to stop his tears.

"It's not a show of weakness to cry, Harry."

"Yes it is!"

"No it isn't. Or are you saying me crying over my mother's death makes me weak? That crying over my familiar makes me weak? Harry, you're not weak. You're the strongest boy alive. Yet, you still are a boy. You're allowed to cry. It's okay. It just shows how human you are. That you are still able to feel hurt. It's what separates you and Voldemort." Caleb sat up, pulling Harry into his lap. "And you have friends that will protect you when you are defenseless. Not matter what you do, people will have your back."

"I'm Harry bloody Potter, I can't have a weakness! I'm the bloody Boy-who-Lived, I can't be hurt." Harry spat. Even a s he spoke, his voice shook. Passersby stopped to watch. "I'm the one who has to stop Voldemort, so I must be all powerful." Everyone winced, even the muggles.

"But you're not all powerful. You're just a kid, Harry. It's okay. You have people who care. That's all that matters."

"I don't understand. Dumbledore says it's my power to love unconditionally...what is love, Caleb?"

"Love has many different meanings, Harry." Caleb whispered. "There is love for family. Love for friends. Love of a pet. Love for a lover. A love for a hobby...what type of love do you not understand?" Harry closed his eyes.

"None of it...I like to think I love my friends, but..."

"Love's definition is deep affection." Caleb smiled softly. "A lot of people believe they are in love with someone, but it's just attraction. I admit, I feel attracted to you, but I want to get to know you. If we end up just being friends instead, I'll be happy about it." Harry opened his eyes. "You love your friends, and you love Hedwig." Caleb smiled, "how about we stop with the depression, and I take you to lunch? You look like you need the food."

"Thank you." Harry mumbled as they stood. The smaller boy stumbling into the nineteen year old.

"Hey, no reason to thank me."

"Yes there is." Harry smiled a small smile. "My friends don't understand why I get so mad when they say they understand how I feel." The wizard-in-training admitted.

"That's because they don't know what it's like to not be loved. They have always had someone that loves them. I was orphaned too, Harry. Voldemort's follower, I think it was a man called Avery, killed my parents right in front of me. The aurors arrived before he could get to me. I was only four." The two males started walking to a cafe Harry liked.

"Caleb?" Harry asked softly after placing his order.

"Yes, Harry?" Harry opened his mouth to ask his question, but quickly shut it again. His eyes were on the people who just entered. "Harry?"

"Shh."

"What's wrong?"

"Please don't attract them." Harry whispered, as if praying. Caleb looked over his shoulder.

Two boys, one looking like a rat, another looking like a pitbull, had walked in. When up at the counter, they started to flirt with the barista. She uncomfortable turned them down, stating she had a boyfriend, before taking their orders. They laughed boisterously before turning around to find a seat. The stopped, staring at the green eyed boy, who looked like a deer caught in the headlights of their fathers' cars.

"Well, well, well, look what the dogs dragged in." Harry glared, the next sentence making him flinch. "Out on a date, or working for money?" The black covered head bowed, red streaking his face, and tears threatening to fall. "Little faggot, can't even get a proper-"

"Shut up." Caleb growled, standing. He was a good head taller than the two, and twice as buff. The teens baulked at his defense of the 'freak' of the neighborhood.

"Caleb, don't. Please, don't start trouble for me."

"But Harry-"

"Your job is to protect me from getting killed. They are just children, acting their age. Sure, not everyone is a bully, but I'm used to it. I'm doing my job, so that way people won't get hurt. So what if I have to grow up a little faster than everyone else?" Harry looked up, tears still trying to fall, but he smiled brightly at Caleb.

"Harry, it's not right. You shouldn't have to face that wanker by yourself."

"But I do have to. I'm the only one that can." Seeing the man wanted to argue, Harry shook his head. "You see me as a child, Caleb, but I'm not. Not really. What child knows how to do every chore in the house by the age of five? How many face off with HIM at one year old?"

"But..." Harry stood, walking around the frozen bullies he grew up being chased by. When he reached the door, Caleb stood, following him. "Stop following me!"

"Kind of my job-"

"Either walk beside me, or disappear." Harry growled, looking at his feet. "I don't need followers."

"Oh." Caleb caught up. "So, those kids used to bully you?"

"Until last year. When Dudley is around, he doesn't allow them to touch me." Caleb nodded in understanding. "I...half the time I wish I didn't find out I had magic, Caleb."

"I know, because you have gone from being treated as a slave to a hero, right? From the shadows to the spotlight." They reached the house, and Harry went right to his room to work on his school work. "What house were you in, Caleb?"

"Slytherin." Harry started to laugh, then choke when he couldn't breath. "What's so funny?"

"I have a friend that is in Slytherin. He is the only one who acts like you. The rest are bullies. I wish Snape could see, I'm not like my father. I don't like bullies, because I know what it's like."

"I'll talk to him. I still have the planned reunion dinners with him and the others from my year."

"Okay." With that, Harry got absorbed into his potion's essay.


The next day, when they got home, they found parchment torn up all around the room. With a deep breath, Harry started once more on his homework. By the end of his defense paper, his hand was cramping, and Caleb was rubbing the appendage.

"Does this always happen?"

"I know the material...I really do." Harry reached out with his left hand and started writing with nearly identical handwriting.

"You're ambidextrous?"

"Yeah..."