Chapter Four: The Tenant

Six years have gone by since Harry had been left at his Aunt Liz's and currently the child could be found sitting at the table in the kitchen with a sketchbook laid out in front of him. All around were various colored pencils, erasers, and dragon sculpture which looked almost regal, it's violet eyes watching the young boy draw with curiosity for it's finished piece to be revealed.

A rather hesitant knock on the door roused his attention as his adopted mother opened the door, a nervous smile on her face. It must be the tenant he decided before straightening his mess of pencils and moved to help his mother who was stepping aside to let the man inside.

"Mother, is there something I can do?" Harry questioned, fingering the dragon sculpture he had taken with him.

Liz Pennykettle merely shook her head and smiled softly, "No, thank you, Harry. You can go back to your art work if you wish."

Harry nodded with a small smile before glancing at the tenant with an odd gaze for an eleven year old. The calculating and protective gleam caused the other male to nervously shift his duffel bag but after a close look, Harry decided he wasn't a threat and greeted him warmly, "Hello, I'm Harry Potter-Pennykettle."

"I'm David Rain." The man finally introduces himself in response, eyes watching the dragon with surprise.

Liz placed her hands on Harry's shoulders in a firm grip as she explains the puzzlement about his last name, "Harry is my nephew but after his parent's death, I took him in." She could feel Harry stiffen slightly in her hold and squeezed his shoulders gently in comfort.

David nodded, "I'm sorry for your loss." Came the usual response and the two simply continued the trip while Harry slipped outside to see Lucy searching through the stone garden.

"Lucy, you shouldn't mess with Mother's garden. You know she doesn't like it." Harry scolds his younger cousin with a light frown as Lucy spun around, green eyes wide with surprised fear.

"Harry! You can't tell me what to do!" Lucy hissed irritably, "Sides, I was looking for Conker." She sniffed, glancing around again for the grey squirrel.

Harry sighed. Taking Lucy's arm, he headed towards the house muttering, "Conker will appear when he wants to, Luce. It's no use to be looking through the mud and rain. He's probably hiding and won't come back out until it passes so please come inside and get rid of that mud before Mom realizes you went out."

The red headed girl sulked before stomping off her room after placing her muddy shoes on the run beside the door. Harry simply headed back to the kitchen to find Liz rummaging through the freezer and he quietly asked, "Mom, do you remember that letter we got this morning?"

"Yes, dear." Liz's smile turned strained and Harry admitted to himself that he didn't like bringing that expression on her face.

"Is it really that bad there?" Harry finally muttered, having secretly been thrilled at the prospect of going to a school in Scotland.

Placing the food into the oven and setting timer, Liz pondered on how to finally explain to her adopted son and nephew why she was so reluctant to send him off to that school even with the knowledge that her sister would want him to attend. With a small sigh, she beckoned for him to follow her to the living room where they could have a some what private talk.

Harry settled down beside Liz on the couch and leaned his head on her shoulder with a tired sigh. Having finished his homework for his last day in high school, he felt exhausted and was more than willing to just fall asleep but stayed awake in order to help Liz or keep an eye on the various dragons around the house such as the one which was dusting the unused fireplace mantel.

"While your parents would've wanted you to go, Harry, I do not feel that it is safe for you to go." Liz began, "I know for a fact that Lord Voldemort isn't gone for good and the Headmaster will do nothing but try to control you. I don't want you to be in the middle of that while I'm so far away."

"I know." Harry murmured, eyes half closed, "I really do wish to learn though."

"I'll get in contact with the Deputy Headmistress and I'm sure we can come up with a suitable negotiation for allowing you to go. I don't want you in harms way but I do know that you need to go in order to control your magic." Liz finally relented, running a hand through Harry's untamable black hair.

With a yawn, Harry whispered, "Kay."

Chuckling, Liz got up and carefully maneuvered him so he was flat on the couch before pulling a blanket off the back and covering him up. Planting a kid on his forehead, she sighed again, knowing that he would wind up going but she would make sure it was under her terms and not that manipulative fool's. With a protective glower on her face, she stalked towards the letter that had been placed on the kitchen counter, she sat at the table and began to write a lengthy letter to Professor McGonagall.