Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the world of Harry Potter , J.K.R owns it all, and I'm not her.

The question caught me by surprise. I wasn't expecting that one. Nope. Not at all.

"I am 10 years old. Will turn 11 this 31st July. Why?"

"No reason dear. How about you go take your breakfast and watch some TV?"

"Umm, okay!"

I was never allowed to eat and watch TV at the same time. It was always, finish your food fast and clean up the mess. Then go up to your cupboard and do something that does not include them. They said they loved me, that the things they do are good for me. Was it?

Did they really love me?

Or did they just cheat? Like Ron said, brotherhood isn't about hitting or beating someone.

So what was that I had with the Dursley's?

I knew I was a Potter. My mother was Aunt Petunia's sister. My father's name was James Potter. And according to Aunt, he was good for nothing.

I never saw my parents. Not even their photos.

So did I really believe them, about what they said about my parents?

I know I believed some part.

Like how they left me here, without them. It must prove they don't want me or love me.

But the rest?

I looked good. Fairly good. Perfect green eyes, tousled black hair. So my parents must look good too. Since Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon are not that good looking, I must believe I fell for my parents on the looks wise.

Thank god for that. If I turned out to be like a walrus, I would definitely go into hiding.

I giggled at myself, for even thinking something like that. It was not me. I was changing.

Was it for the good?

Family to the Weasley's meant different to the family of Dursley.

Here, it was more about what the others wanted. There, it was mostly what I never should get.

Here, I don't have to eat less than Dudley. Here, I do not need to hide my tears.

Here, I don't feel out of ordinary.

Here, I feel like I'm at home.

I guess.

Ginny was talking to me. She was going on about her school. How people from all around Europe came. How it made her feel different. And how she had only one year there.

That confused me.

Didn't we study till we were 18? She was just 17 right?

Maybe she skipped a year. Yea that must be it. She is smart.

She is very smart. Beautiful too. Did I mention smart?

She seems interested.

But am I?

I don't know her.

I could never be the person she needed me to be.

I had to get back to Dursley's. My life belonged there.

I was an adopted kid, with no parents. Living in a house of my aunt and uncle. I owed them.

I owed them this life.

And by staying here I wasn't paying them back in any way possible.

I stood up. Walked to the room they gave me, and started packing my stuff.

I needed to get out of here.

Now.

By the time lunch was announced I was packed and ready.

Ready to leave, leave the only place that gave me true care.

But no, I did not belong here!

This was not my world.

I took my trunk down, made damn lot of noise I must say, but I got it down anyway.

Faces. Faces of eight frowning Weasley's crowded my exit.

"I need to leave"

"No you do not Harry. You are staying here." Said Mrs. Weasley.

"I am not staying here Mrs. Weasley. You have your family to take care of, I have mine…"

"But we are your family" stated Ron.

"Family? You say I am a part of your family, and yet I know nothing about anyone present in this room. I do not belong here. I cannot look you into the eye and say; yes I remember that, I was there when that happened or something like yes that was a great time. For goodness sake, I killed your brother. You cannot keep me in the same house. No frikkin' way. I'm leaving. I have places to be, things to do."

"This is where you belong Harry. Where you will be safe!"

"I am safe nowhere. Absolutely nowhere. Especially when Roy is still alive"

I exit and walk straight out the road, and into the sandy path towards the gate. After which I have no idea how I will ever reach back home.

Highway. There is a highway up ahead. Maybe 100 miles or so. Thank god I did plan on wearing my walking shoes today.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

My footsteps make an even sound while they crush the sand beneath. My breath takes its toll as the sun bares all its heat on me.

I never noticed, it is really hot in mid May.

More than normal.

There were no cars in sight.

And I grew even more tense. I was out. Out in open. Open to Roy's eyes, where he can see me and hunt me. And then there will be no Harry Potter.

Would the world be a better place without Harry Potter?

Aunt Petunia always said so.

So did Uncle Vernon, when he would come home every night, and show me how much of a nuisance I was to him.

Yes, the world would be better off without me.

After all who would miss me?

I had no friends. Hell I don't talk to anyone in the first place to make friends.

But Ron and Hermione….

Are long gone. They are not my friends.

I have to remember that.

Remember what?

Dammit.

Yes.

No friends.

A car horn.

Another one.

Hitch my hand high up, and ask the car to stop.

"Would you let me hitch a ride to, Privet Drive? That's in Little Whinging"

"Umm, I don't usually take strangers with me. Sorry"

"Its okay."

Time passes.

No car stopped.

Sweat ran freely under the shirt.

My glasses slipped off many times.

Sweat.

On my nose, hands, forehead, chest and back.

Sweat.

Everywhere.

Finally a car stopped.

"Would you let me hitch a ride to, Privet Drive? That's in Little Whinging"

"Yea sure, but that would be 10 dollars."

"Sure I have got cash" rather than, the borrowed cash I still had in my sock when I had planned to run away from the Dursley's. It held a couple of hundred's.

Swoosh.

Away went the moist area of… where ever this is.

I will never see the Weasley family again.

Ever.

Right?

A little before the sunset, I reached Little Whinging. Walking up to 4,Privet Drive took me about 5 minutes.

Usually it would take 2, but returning here. It felt like I was seeing this after a lifetime.

Like I was sucked into some alien universe, and now I am back.

Aliens don't exist, I told myself, and rang the bell.

Half expecting it to be unanswered.

Half expecting.

And you know what they say about expectations.

They are always disappointing.

Yes.

The door opened.

The view took me by surprise.

Aunt Petunia saw me and dropped her favorite vase.

Yes.

She dropped it.

Not me.

For the first time.

It was her fault.

And she was in tears too.

What the hell did that mean?

"Vernon… Vernon he's back!"

"Who is back darling?"

"Harry. He is umm.. Standing at our threshold."

"Say what?"

"Harry. At the threshold. Right now!"

"Get him in, before the neighbors see him!"

I felt hands grab at my tee shirt and pull me in.

Pull me into my worst nightmare.

Yet it was familiar.

The familiar smell of burning dinner.

The usual clutter of the plates.

The voice of the TV.

The screeching sound of the chair moving back.

And finally, the big pompous usual look of Uncle Vernon.

I was back.

Back home.

Back in doom.

It hurt to be back, yes, but it was familiar.

Aren't people supposed to be happy with familiar.

Then why wasn't I?

What was missing from this life?

"Hello Uncle, I'm back. I'm sorry, I ran away"

"Its uh okay, Har- boy!"

After 10 years of calling me "boy", I was surprised when even half of name slipped his lips.

He did know my name.

Yes he did.

Victory?

I guess so.

Dudley looked at me.

His eyes were wide.

He grew up!

A lot!

Just like me!

"Look at you Dudley, you actually did grow up!"

Dudley cracked a smile. He seemed hostile. Better than before.

What happened here while I was gone?

How long was I gone?

"You were gone for 5 days"

Did I say that out loud?

"Yes you did it, and before I repeat, you are doing it again." Dudley cracked a smile at me.

5 days. I disappear for 5 days and this is what I get!

If only I know this before would have left early and would have come back after a month or so.

I finally feel a part of the Dursley's.

They don't need to be afraid of the neighbors any more.

I wouldn't let them down.

Not again.

"I am sorry I left Aunt Petunia. It won't happen again. I know Roy is up at large. Don't worry, I won't leave home again. And I promise to scrub the floors right, never to leave the water un-dried, I won't burn the breakfast. I promise! Just don't punish me!"

Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had the most dumbstruck look on their face.

"It is okay boy, you are forgiven! No go to your room and sleep. Umm by the way, your stuff has been moved into the second bedroom! You will no longer sleep in the cupboard. We need that for… umm.. For storage. Yes we need that for storage"

"Harry, I want you to take your things and settle into the second bedroom. You are not to come out of that room without permission. And we are taking you to a doctor tomorrow. No you cannot excuse yourself from this. We need to know what you have been up to this past days. You and me, we will both leave at 10 am sharp. I want you awake and ready by 9:30. Got it?"

"Yes Aunt Petunia. Thank you"

I dragged my trunk up, or at least some steps. Dudley helped me out in the halfway. That's a surprise.

"Since when do you start helping me?"

"Ever since you disappeared and I thought I will never see you again Harry. Don't ever do that again okay?"

"I thought you all didn't want me here in this house. I was after all a nuisance right?"

"Bullshit! We want you here. And this is where you will stay! Got that?"

"Yes Duds"

"Welcome back Harry"

"Glad to be Dudley"

And they parted ways on the first landing.

Harry stepped into his new bedroom.

My new life.

New improved life.

Everything had changed. My new room had a new bed, which actually fit mine size. New curtains, cleaned windows and even a table on the side of bed.

Things were looking good.

Exceptionally good.

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