Harry was woken by a soft buzzing noise. In his groggy state, he couldn't remember where he was or why he was in an unfamiliar place. Then it came back that he was in the guest room, where Dick was staying, in Privet Drive. He was surprised that he hadn't had any more dreams since going to sleep.

"Hey, go back to sleep," Dick whispered to him. And Harry could hear the rustling as Dick made his way out of bed. "That was just my alarm. I've been going for runs in the mornings. I'll be back in about an hour."

Harry nodded, still groggy, and he looked at the clock. Seeing that it read six am, he decided he really didn't need to be awake right now. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

When Harry next woke up, it was a slow gradual waking. The kind that he had at Hogwarts on the weekends when he had the whole afternoon to worry about how far behind in school work he was. He allowed himself to take a couple minutes where he just laid there, basking in the comfy bed and the warmth of the covers. Finally, he convinced himself that he should get up, it was probably past eight, and he liked to be out of the house before Dudley was up around ten. Rolling over to look at the clock, Harry was struck by how well rested he felt. He hadn't felt like this since Cedric. No, probably since his name came out of that damned cup.

Eleven am.

Harry had slept over twelve hours last night. Admittedly, the first few had been restless and full of nightmares, but he hadn't dreamed at all since coming into the guest bedroom around three last night. Harry flopped back onto his back in the middle of the bed. That had been a really restful night.

An annoyed hoot pulled Harry from his relaxation. Hedwig was glaring angrily at him from her perch above him on the headboard. Harry blinked in confusion. Hedwig was not allowed around the house unless she was in her cage, and Uncle Vernon only allowed that grudgingly. But, there she was, perched on the headboard above him, glaring down at him with her bright eyes. Now that he was awake, she seemed to have no qualms about clicking her beak to encourage him to get up.

"Relax, I'm getting up," Harry mumbled as he did so. "I'm sure you're hungry, girl."

Harry noticed how the window was open and how there was a nice breeze coming through. He got out of the bed and made his way over to Hedwig's cage. There was a note in front of it in a fastly scrawled hand.

Sorry, I didn't know if you kept food or if she was supposed to be let out to hunt. So, I let her out in case she needed to leave, but she seemed to just want to be closer to you! Hope she doesn't wake you up!

-Dick

P.S. I'm gonna be at the park if you wanna hang.

Harry smiled, it felt like it was something he hadn't done in a while. "Were you worried about me, girl?" He asked as he stroked over his head. She turned her beak up at him, as if to say of course not. But, her disdain was ignored as she pressed her feathers more into his gentle fingers. Harry folded the note and carefully put it into his pocket. He convinced Hedwig to go back into the cage, because if he was seen in the hallway with her just on his arm, he would be in serious trouble.

She put up quite a fight, but eventually was coaxed back in. Harry made his way quickly through the hallway, back into his own bedroom. Going through his trunk quickly, Harry found some of Hedwig's food and gave her some.

That done, Harry went back to his trunk to get dressed for the day. His trunk was such a mess it took him some trouble. His wand was on top as well as some clearly magical textbooks, and Harry was momentarily reminded that Dick had dug through his stuff for a couple seconds last night. It must have been too dark for Dick to read the titles, Harry pointed out to himself. And Harry himself could have easily accidentally put them on top when he was digging for clothes at three in the morning. Dick would have asked about it.

Reassured, Harry finished getting dressed. Hedwig had finished her food and was going back to sleep. She was keeping weird hours for a nocturnal bird.

Making his way downstairs and contemplating grabbing a quick breakfast, Harry stopped on the staircase when he heard voices coming from the kitchen.

"Honestly, Pet," Vernon was saying. It was a sunday, so Vernon being home wasn't unusual, and it was lunch time, so it wasn't an odd time for his uncle and aunt to be in the kitchen, but the topic they were discussing was interesting. "How long do we need to keep this circus freak in our house? There is a reason Marge hasn't wanted to see him. There is a reason we have never wanted contact with our good for nothing sister. She wasn't like us, she left on her own, she knew what she was leaving, and I damn well don't want her orphaned brat wandering around my home like he owns the place."

Harry knew there was only one person they could be talking about.

"Vernon, you know who his father is," Petunia soothed, and Harry could hear her bustling around.

"Yes," Vernon shot back angrily, his voice grew louder as he continued. "His father was a good for nothing gypsy who seduced my fool of a little sister into his bed and out of our lives."

"Shhh," Petunia hushed, and Harry heard a window close before she continued. However, her voice was still hushed enough that Harry had to strain to hear her. "Well, he's dead." Her callous tone about Dick's father made Harry flinch. "And right now that boy gets anything and everything he wants from Bruce Wayne."

Harry recognized the name of the man that Dick said was like a father to him. Dick had said Bruce was going to formally adopt him, so obviously they meant a lot to each other. Petunia continued.

"The same Bruce Wayne that was rated the eighth richest man in the world last year. The same Bruce Wayne who legally made Richard his heir years ago. The same Bruce Wayne who is formally adopting Richard to make sure that boy gets his inheritance when it is due," Petunia stated to Vernon. Harry felt his breath catch.

The only experience Harry had with people with more money than anyone needed was with his long time rival, Draco Malfoy. Malfoy was a pureblood wizard, with a father in a high ranking position in the wizarding government. He always had the best of everything and wasn't afraid to throw the money around to get himself things. He had bought the entire Slytherin Quidditch team new brooms just to get a place on his house team. Harry himself had a small fortune from his parents, but he would never use it like that. He had even given away his small fortune of winnings from the Tri Wizard Tournament to Fred and George Weasley, people who actually deserved it. Dick had seemed really nice. But, words like heir and inheritance did not put him in a good light.

Harry tuned back into the elder Dursley's conversation. "But, Pet, dear," Vernon was saying. "It's unlikely that he is the sole heir. You, yourself, told me about the football team worth of children the magazines say Wayne is adopting."

Petunia sighed with the air of someone explaining something very simply. "Vernon, the street rat boy Wayne adopted is dead. The other boy is already the heir to the Drake fortune, what would he do with Wayne's money? Richard is the sole heir if Wayne dies. Besides, even if Wayne doesn't go anytime soon, he seemed very open to helping with finances when Richard visits. He even mentioned flying us over to the states to see them! On a private jet. A private jet, Vernon!"

At Petunia's harsh words regarding Dick's family, Harry felt ashamed of himself. He almost forgot that the Dursleys ruined everything. Dick had been so kind to him. So open to him. And he almost let the Dursley's twisted facts turn him against Dick. Getting up quickly, Harry creeped his way down the stairs and out the door before he could hear anything else. The Dursley's were putting up with Dick in the hope of getting money. They were his only living family, and they wanted money from him. Apparently, Dick's own Aunt didn't even want to see him. It made sense why Marge, didn't like Harry, they weren't actually related, but Dick was Marge's sister's child. That was awful.

Harry completely forgot about food in his haste to get out of the house. Dick was so nice. Definitely one of the nicest people Harry had ever met. Harry didn't understand at all how someone as nice as Dick could come from such awful people as the Dursleys.

Making his way down the street, Harry totally forgot that Dick said he would be in the park until he caught sight of him. Dick was surrounded by kids, looking to all be less than ten. He seemed to be teaching them to do a handstand. Harry froze in the street. The neighborhood children didn't play in this park, especially not in the Summer. This park was where Dudley and his gang go to beat up the kids who are stupid enough to go there. The broken swings and other playground pieces were evidence of times when all the children were smart enough to stay away and Dudley's gang had to take their anger out on the playground itself. It was weird to see it populated again.

Dick was walking around on his hand, to the excitement of the kids. Some were sitting on the ground watching, seeming to have given up trying and just wanting to enjoy the show, but a few were wobbling unsteadily on their own hands.

A couple of the kids caught sight of Harry coming up the road, and couldn't seem to decided if they liked him or not, if their whispering and gesturing were anything to go by. On one hand, most people knew he lived with Dudley, but on the other, Dudley usually picked on Harry too. Harry wasn't sure if he should approach the group based on the children's wariness, but Dick had other plans.

"Hey, Harry! Come over here," Dick called over, still upside down. The children, and Harry if he was being honest, were awed when Dick picked one hand off the ground to wave to Harry. Only having one hand to balance on didn't seem to phase the man a bit, since he was just as stable with the one hand as on two. Two of the kids still attempting to intimate Dick fell over in their haste to copy him, but a little dark haired girl was still stubbornly remaining upside down.

Harry waved back, and made his way over to the group. Dick let himself fall forward, and the kids screeched. But, he simply let himself fall into a roll and ended up sitting cross legged next to the little girl still upside down. The shock of having someone roll right next to her, made her fall over right on top of Dick.

"Oh, sorry Abbie!" Dick apologized as he helped her up. "I didn't mean to startle did a really good job."

The little girl smiled at Dick as she stood back up. "I"m going to try again," she informed him happily. A chorus of other voices agreed with her. By the time Harry reached the group, Dick was sitting in the middle as all the kids were in various stages of a handstand. He was offering encouragement and advice to each of them, and Harry wondered when he had time to learn all the kids names. Harry had lived here most of his life and had no idea who half of these kids were.

"Can you do a handstand, Mister?" One of the kids asked Harry. The boy was one of the younger ones, and had already fallen on his butt from his latest attempt. Surprised at being addressed, Harry hesitated. Most of the neighborhood didn't talk to him. The Dursleys spread lies about what a trouble making delinquent he was to the neighbors, and they tended to keep their children away from him. However, Harry supposed that the younger kids probably didn't recognize him since he hadn't been around all year.

A bunch of the other kids were staring at him curiously now. Some of the eyes were upside down, but most of the kids were back on the ground again. "So, can you do a handstand, Harry?" Dick prompted after a moment of silence.

Harry turned his thoughts away from the kids and thought about the question. "I don't know," Harry answered honestly.

Dick mock gasped and the children giggled at his exaggerated horrified expression. "You don't know? Have you never done a handstand before?"

Harry thought about it for a second. "No, I don't think so."

Dick grinned and looked at the children, who were now all right-side up again. "Well, you guys better teach him," he told them. The kids looked excited at this prospect and Harry felt some apprehension at the thought. "Since you're all such experts now, I'm sure Harry will be a professional in no time."

The kids all started offering advice and comments at once, most of them about how Harry should try not to fall down. Harry shot Dick an overwhelmed look at all the voices and Dick laughed.

"Come on it's gonna be fun," Dick promised, and he started directing the kids into talking one at a time.

An hour later, Harry was upside-down with both hands firmly on the ground. "I'm gonna let go now," a little boy, Gordon Harry suddenly remembered, said to him. Gordon was 'helping' Dick hold Harry upright, so Harry wasn't too worried about the little boy letting go. Although, Gordon seemed to consider himself one of the key reasons why Harry wasn't falling on his butt.

"Yup, you can let go Gordy, and we can ease Harry into doing it on his own," Dick told the boy. Harry would bet that Dick was smiling, but Harry was a little bit busy with trying to stay upright. Dick wasn't holding on too tightly, so Harry was trying to keep balanced on his own. His arm muscles burned from supporting all his weight. Usually, he was in better shape than this, but skipping a whole year of Quidditch did not do well for his physique.

"I'm going to let go too, Harry," Dick told him, and Harry braced himself. When Dick let go Harry stayed up for seven whole seconds on his own; a girl named Eliza helpfully counted out loud. As Harry hit the soft grass, he heard the children celebrating his success of staying upright on his own. Harry sat up with a grin, taking in the happiness around him.

Dick flopped down next to him and nudged his shoulder playfully. "Looks like you're an expert too now, Harry."

Harry smiled and basked in the moment of his success with the children cheering and trying to show him up around them. The moment was broken when Harry's stomach growled loudly. Dick pushed himself off the ground and pulled Harry up with him.

"Looks like it's time for lunch, everyone," Dick announced to the kids disappointment, but they all seemed to realize that they were pretty hungry, so they left quickly with a lot of thank yous and happy goodbyes. Dick waved bye to them as he started leading Harry away. Harry realized they were heading away from Privet Drive, and where food normally was.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked curiously as he walked beside Dick up the road.

"Let's go to the pub a couple streets over," Dick suggested as they continued their walk. Harry had passed that pub, The Dancing Tiger, many times when walking, but had never eaten there. "That house can be a bit…" Dick trailed off, and seemed to be looking for a polite, but accurate word.

"Awful?" Harry suggested harshly. "It doesn't take long to figure that out."

"Yeah," Dick answered, sounding troubled. "I didn't know what to expect when I heard about living relatives, but it wasn't that. I sort of hoped they would like me, you know?"

Harry was surprised that Dick had noticed the Dursley's dislike. They seemed to be trying to get into his good books. But, Marge did refuse to see him, and that probably wasn't easily explained away.

Dick seemed to shake off his glum mood and swung an arm around Harry's shoulder. "Well, I'm sure you aren't glad you're there, but I'm glad I'm not alone with them. So, tell me about your life at school, I'm sure it is better than here. Tell me about your friends and classes."

Harry noticed that Dick didn't mention the name of the school. He wasn't sure if it was to save Harry the embarrassment of talking about St. Brutus's or whatever the lie the Dursley's were telling now, or if Dick knew Harry didn't go there. Harry didn't see any harm in talking about his friends, and maybe some of the classes and teachers as long as he lied about the subjects. So, he started to talk about how smart Hermione was and how nice Ron was, and how awful his long time rival Draco was. Dick laughed and talked about how Hermione seemed a lot like his long time friend Barbara. Dick talked about his friend Wally, who could apparently eat more than Ron, which Harry wasn't sure he believed.

Harry and Dick were deep in conversation about their friends when they got to the pub. Sunday afternoon was not a busy time, so they were seated with menus almost immediately. When the nice and homey waitress came over and asked if they wanted something to drink, Harry caught himself before he said pumpkin juice and just murmured a quiet "Water." Dick added another water, and the waitress smiled and nodded before heading off.

Harry took a moment from the conversation to look at the menu. He could count on one hand the number of times he had eaten out with someone else. When he was twelve, Harry had spent the last month of his Summer at a wizarding inn where he ate out everyday, but that was with his own money. Suddenly, it occurred to Harry that all the money he had was in wizarding currency. Somehow he didn't think The Dancing TIger would accept a galleon.

Dick, who had been telling a funny story about a visit to the zoo with his friends and a bad reaction to the monkeys from his friend Conner, trailed off when Harry put his menu down on the table a little harder than necessary.

"What's up?" Dick question from over his own menu. "Not seeing anything you like?"

"I don't have any money," Harry said quickly and quietly, ashamed at not having thought of this before.

"I didn't think you did, Harry," Dick said gently. "I invited you, so I'll pay. You can order whatever."

Harry picked up the menu slowly. "Are you sure?"

Dick smiled tightly. "Positive." Harry went back to scanning the menu, focusing on the house salad, the cheapest item on the menu. Dick interrupted his thoughts. "I got the fish and chips a couple days ago when I came. It was good, you should try it."

Harry looked at the price, and saw while it was not the most expensive, it definitely wasn't the cheapest. However, not wanting to argue, Harry ordered it when the waitress came back over. Dick ordered the Shepard's Pie, after having a short conversation with the waitress over the best item on the menu.

After ordering, Dick turned to Harry with the intent of continuing their conversation. "So, you were saying how Hermione's cat might be a demon in disguise?" Dick prompted. And Harry launched into a tale about how even when they met, the damn animal it had been trying to kill them.