Disclaimer: The characters belong to J.K. Rowling. The text in bold belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 2: The Vanishing Glass said Remus.

"Accidental magic?" asked Sirius.

"Yes", replied Harry, smirking.

"Why are smirking?" asked Remus.

"You'll see", said Harry, still smirking.

"I've got a feeling you are going to say those words quite a lot", said Sirius.

"May be, and depends on what questions you ask" said Harry cheekily.

"Don't give me that look", said Remus, "your father gave us that look when he was planning a prank".

"Not at all", exclaimed the twins, with George fainting onto Fred. "The Burrow changes everyday".

The Weasley twins started snickering at the mental images. Harry just outright smirked at the memory of the photographs, as he had already lived through it once. The rest just totally ignored them, with Snape thinking typical Gryffindor's.

"Did she lose a bet or something, Harry?" asked the twins, straight faced but with their eyes full of mirth.

"No she didn't," replied Harry. "As long as I have lived with them, she has always been like that."

"Are you still there, Harry?" asked Remus.

"Yes, I'm still there, unfortunately", replied Harry.

"Then why aren't there any photos of you."

"I don't like my photograph being taken."

"Aaagghh", screamed the twins with their hands over their ears changing, "just like mum, just like mum." Snape sent the twins a stinging hex at them to try and shut them up.

"Give him time", muttered the twins.

"That's because it's a memory, Harry", said the twins mockingly.

"Well, I know that now, guys", replied Harry.

"You remember my bike…" said Sirius with his eyes goggled. He was clearly impressed with Harry's memory.

"You…cooked…" said Remus, in a disbelief voice.

"Yes, since I was six or seven", replied Harry. Everyone else's eyes suddenly popped out. Harry then realised that this was the wrong thing to say. "I cook because I love to cook, plus if Aunt Petunia cooks, it's basically crap. It turns out I'm the best cook in the house. It's the only thing they know that I enjoy, even if it's a chore. If Aunt Petunia had the chance to, she can burn water." Everyone laughed at that.

"He didn't say anything, you wretched woman", both Remus and Sirius growled out.

"Wish I had forgotten", muttered Harry. For once, he wished he had a proper birthday, with friends, like all the birthdays Dudley had, except for the excessive amount of presents.

"You…slept…where?" ground out both Sirius and Remus.

"How long where you under the stairs for?" asked Remus, his usual brown eyes glowing amber.

"For the first ten years, until my first Hogwarts letter", replied Harry. The rest of the room exploded.

"Why did they do that?" asked Sirius.

"They said I was a freak, a burden that my parents died in a car crash…" Harry trailed off.

"CAR CRASH", shouted rest of the room.

"I killed your parents, why did they lie to you that they died in a muggle contraption", asked Tom, his voice almost serpent-like.

"To keep me, sad, depressed, tried with all their might to get rid of my magic in any way, shape or form, apart from physically beating, apart from Dudley, who regularly tried to beat me up", replied Harry.

Snape stomach just dropped. He just realised that Harry had a similar upbringing to him, if not, worse than his. Snape made a metal note to talk to Harry when they are at Gringrotts, in order to apologise for all the nasty comments he made to him over the years.

Everyone present, their jaws dropped, thinking how many presents did he get.

"I never get that many!" exclaimed Draco.

"What are those things, Potter?" asked Draco.

"They are all muggle inventions. The computer can do a variety of things, from typing documents to playing electronic games on it. A television is like a mixture of a wizarding photograph and a pensieve but with sound. The racing bike is equivalent to a racing broom. Sorry if that answer is pants, but Hermoine is better at answering such questions", said Harry.

All the purebloods still didn't fully understood, but they definitely understood about the broom/bike.

"Hope that's not you", growled Sirius and Remus. Harry just ignored them.

"That's good, I suppose", said Sirius. "Why do you look so pessimistic?"

"We've seen Harry run in first year", said Fred, sniggering. "All of the Gryffindor Quidditch team couldn't keep up with him".

"Oliver did a training programme, and Harry was the only one, apart from Oliver, that was still standing after two hours practice in the beginning," said George.

Everybody was looking at Harry, how in the wonder that someone that small can be so strong, so feisty, so determined, in what everybody expected of him and more, yet can be so very different.

Everyone looked green. Harry then stood up, un-tucked his t-shirt, "This t-shirt was Dudley's, four years ago". Everyone's eyes popped out.

"How big can this kid get?" asked Snape, minus all the usual sneers and snark.

"He grows out a few inches every year, sir", replied Harry, "and trust me sir, that is literally and laterally."

"James", whispered Remus and Sirius, lost in their memories.

Lily, thought Snape.

"How many times have you punched on the nose, Harry?" asked the twins.

"Too many to count," replied Harry. "Every time he broke my nose, I had to realign it myself." Everyone winced at the thought of straightening a bone, let alone a nose.

"You liked it", gawked the twins. "What happened to make you hate it?"

"That was before I know what had happened to my parents. It was something that the Dursleys couldn't take away from me. I hate it now, along with my fame. I don't want to be remembered as the Boy-Who-Lived. People forget that my parents died that night, and I became an orphan. I want to be remembered for something that I remember doing, not something that I can't remember", said Harry, panting slightly.

Draco and Snape both looked down in shame, as they both bullied and belittled Harry regarding his fame. Lucius noted that both his friend and son doing this and raised his eyebrows and had a quiet conversation with Tom. They both needed to talk to them regarding this.

Remus and Sirius were looking at Harry, thinking that he is one hell of a leader when he finishes Hogwarts. Hell, he's even better than James at making speeches, and that was saying something.

Fred and George were grinning at Harry, they already knew from past experience and from listening to Ron, Hermoine and Ginny about Harry when he gets going. And how they were ready to help him, whenever he makes these sensational speeches.

"Still can't believe she lied to you about that", said Sirius.

"She lies to me all the time, so whilst there I've developed a very thick skin, and whatever she says know, I don't believe it", says Harry.

Remus looked scandalised. "Harry, how do you learn by not asking questions?"

"You don't. But I've got a few tricks up my sleeve to help me with my learning, even if you totally disapprove Remus", replied Harry.

"Minerva keeps telling the rest of the staff in staff meetings that you don't ask questions in classes, even though you don't get the required topic," stated Severus. Harry ducked his head ashamed.

"Not going to work", sing-songed Fred, George, Remus and Sirius.

"Your father's hair was just the same", said Sirius. "He tries to make his hair even messier, but you just don't try. Come to think of it, you try and get it tidy".

"How do you get it to be tidy?" asked Harry.

"Your grandfather's hair was just the same. Your grandmother gave up on both your father and grandfather on how to get it straight," replied Sirius.

Sirius and Remus shook their heads in fond memories. Snape growled at the images of his abuser.

Fred and George ended up on the floor in hysterics. "I…didn't…know…you…had…it…in…you", in between breaths.

"Good one pup/cub", said Sirius and Remus. Harry shook his head at their antics.

"Thirty six!" exclaimed Draco. "I never get that many for a birthday. Maybe over the year, yes, but at one sitting".

Both Remus and Sirius turned to Harry, gobsmacked. "His face fell for thirty-six presents", said Remus, "how many presents did you get, Harry?"

"Maybe one or two", said Harry in a small voice.

"Don't choke pup, can't afford to lose you just yet", cried Sirius.

"Sirius, I'm still here", said Harry, giving him a poke in the ribs to make sure he understood.

"How many times did he overturn the table, Harry?" asked Remus.

"A few times before then, and a few times since", admitted Harry.

Snape's stomach was now in total knots. He now knows that Harry's childhood is a lot worse than he's, yet he can't get his head round that Harry is such a nice, kind-hearted child, much like Lily.

George and Fred, knew it was bad, since they rescued him from the Dursleys in second year, but they can't believe that Harry is so nice and kind, especially with all the crap he had to put up with over the years, both at the Dursleys and at Hogwarts.

"It was hard work for him", stated Harry.

"Merlin, he can't count", exclaimed Remus.

"It's not his fault that he can't count", said Harry. "He's got dyslexia. Primary school has offered to teach Dudley with some extra lessons, and one-on-one lessons to help him, but Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon totally disagreed with these. They think that Dudley is really, really smart. I had to restrain myself with them, because I wanted to tell them that these lessons are more of a help than an hindrance. These lessons will help him when he leaves school".

"Harry, how do you know about all this?" asked Remus.

"I read up on it when Dudley first got diagnosed", said Harry.

"This "atta boy" attitude will not help Dudley in any way, shape or form", seethed Remus.

"I know Remus", said Harry, "he's already got anti-social behaviour problems".

Remus didn't look too happy at this. Snape was incensed that a child is worse that Potter Senior at his age (at least Dudley doesn't have any magic).

"They more muggle materialistic things", stated Harry, before any of the pure bloods opened their mouths. "If you really want to know what they do, write them down and I can be able to explain them better later on."

"He has a name" seethed Sirius and Remus, cocking their heads towards Harry.

"Cats?" stated Sirius. "I hate cats".

"What have cats done to you Sirius?" asked Harry.

"One word: Minnie", stated Sirius.

Remus started chuckling. Sirius looked over to Remus "Don't you dare tell him about it, Remus!"

"What about Crookshanks? He seems to love you," asked Harry, which Remus nodded.

"Crookshanks doesn't count. He's a really smart pussy."

"Good on you, Harry", said Sirius, in a joyous mood.

"Feeling's mutual", said Harry.

"Isn't she the one you-", said the twins grinning.

"Yes", said Harry, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Rest of the room looked at Harry wondering why Harry hated this woman so badly, that he did something to her and that he's smiling like a cat got the cream.

"Third book if anything this book is going," answered Harry mysteriously.

Slytherin tendencies thought Snape. Why have I missed all this?

"He's not a dog", yelled Remus.

"I take offence to that Remus", stated Sirius, causing Remus to look at him thinking he's gone mad again.

Cue the twins on the floor laughing like hyenas.

"Git!"

"Baby faced git!"

"If I was in the cupboard, I wouldn't have been at Hogwarts", stated Harry before anyone could open their mouth.

Snape didn't like it that he didn't believe Harry did things. Hang on when did Potter become Harry thought Snape.

"Are you a metamorphous", asked Sirius.

"No", replied Harry.

"Because your great-grandmother on your dad's side was a Black, and it runs in the genes. We can get you and Draco checked with Tonks".

"Petunia would have known you have done accidental magic", explained Remus, "she grow up with Lily, for goodness sake".

"She should have known, but she hated magic, remember," replied Harry.

There was a collected "Eww" going around the room.

"What a relief," said Sirius in a relief. "I'm glad you didn't have to wear that horrible jumper."

"So I'm I. I think Aunt Petunia is colour blind," said Harry.

Everyone suddenly turned to Harry, gobsmacked.

"How old were you when you did that?" asked Remus.

"About seven", replied Harry.

"To be honest, I think I flew up there", said Harry, thinking back to that incident.

Snape's face paled, "Your mother could fly", suddenly stopping with realisation to whom he was speaking to. Harry just gave him a curious look but let it drop for now on how he knew his mother.

"We need to teach you how to lie properly, Harry", said the twins.

"He likes you Harry", sang the twins.

"Yah", shouted Sirius.

"What an idiot I was", said Harry, shaking his head. "More to the point, what was I thinking saying that?"

Snape rolled his eyes, typical Gryffindor trait.

"Mine does", shouted Sirius excitedly, bouncing up and down in his chair.

"If he crashed Sirius, I would have died," replied Harry, which made both Sirius and Remus paled.

"You really shouldn't have said that while he was driving then," replied Remus, which Harry nodded to.

"Still wishing I kept my mouth shut", mumbled Harry.

"Where would we find these cartoons", asked the twins and Sirius excitedly.

"I let you know", said Harry. Snape groaned internally, Harry could still let them see those idiotic children's cartoons.

"I like lemon ice pops", stated Harry, smiling.

"Lemon ice pops was your mum's favourite", stated Sirius and Remus together. "She was pretty upset that Diagon Alley, Hogwarts of Hogsmeade doesn't sell them. She tried to get the elves at the school to make some for her".

"Don't insult the gorillas, Harry", scolded the twins, with their faces straight, but their eyes were full of mirth.

"Come to think about it, it does insult the gorillas", replied Harry with a straight face to the twins. The others in the room snorted at that action between Harry and the twins.

Growls went around the room, but Sirius' and Remus' were more feral, due to their canine backgrounds.

"What a brat", stated Draco. "My backside won't take it if I talked to my parents like that".

"You got that right", replied Lucius.

"Definitely not a good way to wake up in the morning", mumbled Remus, shaking his head.

"Snakes don't have eyelids", stated Remus.

"This one did, Remus", said Harry, smirking.

"Are you a parselmouth, Harry?" asked Remus.

"Yes".

"I know that the Potter's done have that particular gift. Lily's muggleborn, so she wouldn't have it", said Remus plainly.

"I got from a certain person in this room", stated Harry. "You will find out eventually who gave it to me, but at present, don't push further on it, and you read more about it in the second book".

"Okay", said Remus. "At least I know that Rita Skeeter was making it all up".

Apart from the people who were in the Great Hall in Harry's second year (Remus and Sirius excluded), all looked at Harry in complete and utter awe, that he could speak to snakes and that he's not a dark wizard.

"Can't believe you just had a conversation with a snake about Brazil?" stated Sirius and Remus, shaking their heads.

"Oh, shut up you, you rat faced kid", said Sirius, with his face scrunched up. Remus looked at Sirius thinking he's lost it, because usually he swears a lot worse.

"Oi, get away from him you piggy", shouted the twins. Everyone else snorted at that comment.

"Ouch!"

"What happened, what did you do?" asked the twins and Sirius excitedly.

"What a polite snake!" stated Harry, smirking.

"It went bye-bye", smirked Harry.

"You are now going to get it kid. Stop getting my cub/pup in trouble", stated Remus and Sirius.

"No…meals…" growled Remus, eyes started to turn amber.

Harry went over to Remus, "I'm still alive, Remus, I got some food later on," stated Harry. He kept repeating it until Remus' eyes started to turn to his normal brown colour and he looked at Harry, appreciating that he could calm his wolf side down like that. "I snuck out of the cupboard under the stairs and be able to take to take food that the Dursley's don't eat all that much."

"Still can't believe on how good you are sneaking about", mumbled Snape, thinking of the times that he could have been caught outside of curfew.

"You…remember…that!" stated Sirius and Remus.

"More so now, thanks to the bloody dementors", stated Harry.

Tom looked on in horrified that he could remember him murdering his parents when he was a child. Harry noticed this, "We will talk later, Tom". Tom nodded.

"Diggle", stated Harry.

"Apparition", sneered Draco.

Harry did the mature thing he did and just ignored him.

"Anything is better than Dudley's gang", muttered Harry.

"Right that's it, that's the end of the chapter", said Remus, "Do you want to read next Fred?"

"Yes", replied Fred.

Hi everyone

Hope you are enjoying what you have read so far.

Just to let you know, food will be arriving in a second. For you purebloods, even though you hate muggles, you will be sampling some muggle type foods, starting with Pizza. There will be 9 pizzas in total, please take a slice or sample as many as you want from the pizzas, as each one will be different – i.e. with different toppings on.

Severus and Harry, just to let you know that when you are finished with Gringrotts, there will be some people coming back with you. Till then, I let it be a surprise.

T.R.L. & G.W.

Seating arrangements:

Couch 1: Sirius, Harry and Remus

Couch 2: Fred, George and Draco

Couch 3: Lucius, Tom and Severus

10