Gosh this is my longest chapter ever! Over 10,000 words I hope you enjoy and remember to review nicely!

WARNINGS: DEATH OF VOLDEMORT. NICE SO NICE MRS WEASLEY, GINNY AND HERIOME.

Friday 13 December 2013

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything but Lawrence, Atticus and Silas at this point!

Chapter Five: Forever and a Day

Harry's leg was killing him, literally. The wound from the spider's venomous bite was causing his lower leg and foot to burn and his blood to boil. He didn't dare look down at the bloody mark, fearing how sick it might make him.

Cedric's bite injury had been much worse, meaning that Harry had been forced to send the emergency red sparks and pray that help got to the other boy in time. He on the other hand had to move on. Harry knew that both Viktor and Fleur were out, leaving only himself in the running. He had to get the damned cup but not to win, just to end this sickening nightmare of blood, mud and fear.

Harry walked on and when he began to fear that his blood lost would cause him to crumple to the ground he paused. The cup was just a few steps away from him now and he just stood there for a moment, hugging his middle, with a mind flashing to Cedric, the Spider, the Sphinx and the rest of the bloody maze. He tried to control the pain from not just his leg but from his back, head and mouth where a rock had caught his lower lip when the spider had knocked him to the ground.

Only when Harry had gotten his breath back and his mind straightened out did he take the finial few steps towards the cup that had caused all of this pain and hurt. The cup that he had seen once golden and bright now looked as dull and deathly as the rest of his surrounding.

Harry went to grab the cup with his right hand only to find it to not only be a mix of black, blue and red in colour but also twice the size it should be. He sighed and lowered the obviously broken hand only to raise the left in despair.

The tip of his middle finger touched the cups handle, nothing happened. His fingers curled around the handle, palm touching its icy metal surface, nothing happened. His hand was gripping the cup, his mind of relaxing in relief and his body falling into itself when the most unexpected happened. He felt a sort of jerk behind his navel, one he was sure he had felt previously but before he could even try to remember where, his feet left the ground and he couldn't seem to let go of the suddenly burning bright cup.

The trip seemed to take only moments but Harry had learnt not to trust magical travel methods and so didn't judge the time travelled by feeling alone. Not that the sky would be any help either. It was just as dark and cloudy here as it was back in the Third Task maze. Around him were weed filled graves and their broken headstones and there were large stone tombs most seem to be long out of use.

Out of the corner of his eye Harry saw movement and as he turned to face it, the blur he had seen became a human-like figure and the figure soon became clearer as it took more and more steps towards the injured Potter boy. After a few moments the figure was, in Harry's eyes, through broken glasses, a short, tubby man, or even a woman with manish shoulders, with a hood covering their face and in their arms a bundle of moving robes.

Mind still dazed from his Port-Key travel and from the pain he was in he spoke without thinking. "Err sorry to bother you but you wouldn't happen to know where I am would you? It's just I ...err... I'd tell you but you really wouldn't want to know what's happened to me just now." An embarrassed laugh fell from Harry mouth. "Just. Well. I'm Harry."

The feeble laugh that followed his weak words didn't seem to have come from the hooded figure but from the bundle of dirty robes in the hooded figure's arms. Suddenly the movement from within the bundle stopped and the figure placed the bundle gently on the ground at their feet before stepping over it carefully and taking another step towards Harry, who took steps backwards with his eyes jumping from the advancing figure and the strange bundle on the muddy ground.

The figure was gaining some speed and in retaliation Harry took faster backwards steps but because he didn't want to take his eyes off the figure and the bundle that some how radiated a feeling of coldness and smug glee, he didn't see the large tombstone until his back slammed against its icy, unmoveable surface.

Harry didn't have time to understand what was going on before he was suddenly bound to the cold surface behind him. A quick glace down at his arms and feet confirmed that they were bound tightly to the tombstone with thick, magical rope and another quick glace but this time towards the figure showed Harry how stupid he had been not to run as soon as he had landed. The figure was not a helpful Muggle or an old wizard willing to show him the way to Hogwarts. The figure was none other than Peter Pettigrew and Harry was sure that he had nothing helpful in mind.

Harry's mind turned once again to the 'Bundle of Evil' as his shocked brain had named it, thinking that if the idea in the back of his head was right then his subconscious had a bloody good instinct, better than his conscious mind anyway.

A cough from Wormtail told Harry that his attention was wanted else where. The short, fat man before Harry had a smug smile upon his balding head but fear lined the rest of his dirty face.

Another cough before Wormtail's snivelling voice filled Harry's ears. "Well, well, well! Look how the mighty have fallen! Your bastard father would weep to see his precious, powerful little boy so very weak. So very pitiful! Why if I could see..!" Wormtail's droning voice was stopped in his tracks by whispers from the bundle of robes, whispers Harry couldn't catch the meaning of but made Wormtail's face pale to almost while only a few seconds.

Another glace towards the bundle told Harry that whatever was while the robes was moving and whatever it was, it was in charge, meaning it could really only be one person or one err 'thing'.

Wormtail nodded before realising that the bundles contents couldn't see the movement. "Yes Master. I know it is time. I shall, Master." The rat-like man seemed to fight a bow and walked away from Harry, towards a large cauldron that Harry had failed to notice earlier.

The ritual that followed left Harry feeling a world of emotion. He felt so sick with fear that his stomach clenched. He felt anger at the turncoat traitor and his vile demon master who had worked so hard for so long to destroy his life. The pain from the bite in his leg had been joined by the still bleeding ritual cut on his arm. Panic at the very real feeling that this would be the end of his rather short life.

His instinct had been right as he had feared and now Voldemort was standing in front of him in all his hideous glory. The face was not wholly human but a mixture of snake and man. The body of the 'new' Voldemort was tall and thin, almost skeletal. The eyes were as dark as his broken soul and as red as the blood that should have flowed through his veins, but with skin so pale Harry wasn't sure. Long white fingers now held a pale wand and by his feet, a long and fat snake.

Voldemort may have gotten a new body but his personality was still very much the same as before. And so was his need to gloat like the victor he always seemed to think he would be. After he had risen from the ritual cauldron he had taken a few moments to examine his pale form and seemed to have been pleased with what he had seen. Harry couldn't understand why, not that Harry was a vain person but he wouldn't be please to live with a body so cold and creepy looking.

"Poor baby Potter. So close to victory and yet also so close to failure and therefore your death. You mother died to save you and yet you will join her faster than she could ever have wished." Voldemort's chuckle was sinister and his smile ominous. "You have been a bane on my life and I am glad to see the end of you but I will not have anyone suggest I have no mercy for the weak so any last words before I end your life in a timely manner." The sinister chuckle made another appearance but so did Voldemort's wand, straight in Harry's face.

He took a deep breath and smiled grimly. "Well, not really. Not to you anyway, if Ron or Hermione were here I'd have a few but I guess I can't think of anything." He ended with a sigh and another downtrodden smile.

Voldemort didn't seem to care or perhaps he was pleased Harry was so miserable and forlorn. The point of the wand was now touching Harry throat and Voldemort's eyes were gleaming with glee. The snake seemed somehow to be just as pleased as its master.

"Well Potter, I have one last thing to do before I end your wretched life. I must call my followers you see? I want them to see that their glorious Master has returned to victory and with you out of the way I can once again fight to rule the Wizarding world!" What must pass off as a grin when you have no lips and pointed teeth now covered Voldemort's face. "WORMTAIL! Come." And the rat ran obediently towards his master. "Give me. Give me."

Something odd happened right before Harry's eyes. Voldemort's pale face flushed pink, and then red and veins of black appeared upon his cheeks. The breathing that had sounded slightly winded now sounded wheezy and Voldemort seemed to be gasping for air that didn't look to be there. The wand dropped through long, pale fingers to the cold, unforgiving ground in such a way it snapped. It seem to be the last straw for Voldemort's suddenly weakening body and as the magic left his wand he fell to his knees.

Wormtail was backing away, unsure if he should help his master or run like the coward he was born to be. He backed into one of the other tombs and fell on his arse, staring at his master's pale, broken form. The snake was twisted round and round itself, seemingly in agony.

Harry on the other hand looked rather confused. He had been about to face death, hadn't he? He had look down the end of that wand and seen his death in the eyes of evil but now that evil was on the floor, seeming to be dying.

The skin on Voldemort's hands and arms gave the impression of rotten flesh and his face looked to be melting away? Here was the greatest evil of all, dying for no obviously observable reason.

With what must have been the last of his strength Voldemort stood on his weakening legs and stepped once again towards Harry, rotten hand held out towards Harry's neck.

For someone looking so close to death he has a bloody strong grip! Harry thought as he struggled for a breath.

Voldemort's eyes were still burning red, the colour of blood and the devil so many muggles are so very afraid of. His thin lips moved and crocking words came out. "Boy! What did...?" He paused for breath. "What did you do?" He looked towards the now still form of the snake that lay only a few steps away and his fury only increased. "What did you do Potter! Damn you, what did you do?" His hand released Harry throat and after a deep breath to chase away the black dots Harry replied.

"Nothing! I swear, what could I have done away?! I've been bound to this damn stone forever and I." Whatever he was about to add was lost as Voldemort slapped him across the face so hard his lip began to bleed anew.

"You are a stupid, stupid boy! I may have lost this time but I will be." A sound from within Voldemort's chest stopped him speaking and he glanced downward for a moment and then looked back up towards Harry, blood and other liquids leaking from his mouth. Another look towards Wormtail made the man's master grim in displeasure before taking steps back, towards the cauldron and away from Harry.

Voldemort closed his eyes and pulled his rotten arms towards his chest. Muttering nonsense words he looked like a lunatic on the run and strangely Harry found this funny but what happened next was so sickeningly disgusting that Harry found he had to look away, half formed giggles dying quickly.

Like a Port-Key must look like from a distance Voldemort began to disappear but instead of the whole body going, only the rotting flesh from his arms and hands did, leaving white and red stained broken bone behind.

As he wasn't looking, had his eyes closed in fact, Harry didn't see the smoke or the fire or the blinding light. He only felt the rush of tainted power and heat. Only heard the crackle of burning flesh. Only smelt smoke and other unnameable things.

A single scream made Harry's eyes open and flashed towards what had been Voldemort but was now a burnt figure with dying red eyes.

Dead red eyes.

Light. Burning. Pain.

Nothing.

Harry woke to silence, still tied to the tombstone and now very, very cold. He blinked, took a deep breath and choked on smoke. Slower, shallower breaths meant he could bring himself to then look around and slowly through the smoke and fog Harry could see the remains of the Muggle graveyard. Only the larger tombs and the cauldron were still standing. A tree was burning lowly and Pettigrew was still by the other tomb but now knocked out cold.

Taking a closer look at the cauldron Harry could see a pile of burnt mess next to it, right where Voldemort had been standing who knows how long before.

A sound from behind him had Harry tense hoping it wasn't death eaters looking for their Master, their very dead Master.

The sound had now become voices, three, no four voices! Four beautiful voices that Harry could listen to for hours and hours.

He tried to call out to the voices, which he was sure were Tonks', Remus', Dumbledore's and Snape's but his own voice was so weak and his throat hurt so much from the smoke that he couldn't manger more than a whisper.

"I'm telling you Albus, the mark is gone. Not faded or weaker just gone but how?" It was Snape and Harry was sure he was talking about the Dark Mark on Snape's left arm.

Dumbledore's reply was harder to hear and Harry only caught the last few words. "...I'm not sure what has happened, my boy, but I'm hopeful."

More muffled talking, followed by foot steps coming closer.

"Do you think Harry is alright Professor? I mean he's been missing hours and with what happened to all those with a Mark something big has had to have happened." The worried voice of his godfather's best friend washed over him and Harry smiled.

But the reply from Dumbledore wiped it away. "I must be honest with you Remus. Harry has been trapped with evil for many hours and no one can say if he yet lives and if so what state he will be in." The voices were behind the tombstone now and as a group they came round the right side, stopping within Harry's view, gasping at the gory sight that greeted them.

It was Tonks who voice her shock first. "Holy mother Mungo! What the hell happened here?"

No reply from the others, they were to busy staring at the mess before them. Harry on the other hand smiled grimly at Tonks words. The graveyard was a shocking sight and Harry had no doubt they believed him dead, his blood and body mixed in with the mess that covered the grass.

He had to change that, not only because he didn't want Remus to worry but his arms were beginning to ache badly and he was sure that he needed to see a healer for most of his wounds but the spider bite on his lower leg most of all. But how to get their attention with making them draw their wands and fire first, no questions asked?

A cough was what Harry finally decided on and they still turned fast, wands at the ready with spells on lips before they caught sight of who had coughed and then they stared at the sight before them. Harry Potter with wounds and burns and covered in blood. Tied to a tombstone. Smiling.

"Well you took your time didn't you? I've been waiting ages and my arms are killing me!" His chuckle wasn't as clear as it could be but he blamed the smoke.

Remus didn't care how dirty Harry was or how much blood would get on his clothes, he just hugged him. Smiling in relief that one of the most important things to him in the world was safe.

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Harry woke to screaming and quick sat up in his bed at Grimmauld, heart pounding away in his chest. He blinked and grabbed his glasses off his bedside table, almost knocking the remains of a cup of tea from the night before onto the floor. The scene out of the window told Harry it was morning and going to be a sunny day.

A glance around his room calmed him from his nightmare, a nightmare he hadn't had in weeks. A nightmare he hoped never to have ever again. A nightmare of an event that both gave him a new life and ripped his old one to shreds. Deep breaths bought his heart rate down to normal and a few seconds of listening told him that both Sirius and Remus were up and about down stairs and that Silas wasn't very happy for some reason.

It's my birthday today. Thought a grinning Harry, nightmare all but forgotten. 15 today!

Soon the covers were removed and replaced correctly on the bed, which was a habit Harry had gained at the Dursley's and one Harry was sure he would never grow out of, and he was dressed and leaving the room before he had time to think.

The stairs were so gloomy and cold that Harry shivered and practically ran down the rest of the steps. The snobbish portraits of Sirius' Black family ancestors on the other hand didn't sneer at him or mutter any insults under their breaths today, which made Harry wonder if Sirius had had a word with (Read that as 'Threatened') them at some point. Whatever the reason for their silence Harry was pleased and arrived in the breakfast room with a smile on his face which quickly dimmed when he saw the look of horror of his godfather's face when said godfather noticed his godson was at the door. The rounded eyes and thinned lip told Harry that Sirius was unhappy with something and at that point in time he could only see himself as the cause and he prepared himself to be shouted at.

But he breathed out in relief when he heard what his godfather had to say. "But... but," whined the black haired man "I haven't finished making breakfast yet and I've been so busy that I haven't wrapped the gifts!" Harry could see so much panic and worry in Sirius' eyes but couldn't help laughing in relief that his beloved godfather wasn't anger or upset with him but was simply having one of his freak-out moments.

He wasn't the only one and his godfather's lover, Remus, soon joined in with his deeper, wolfish chuckles. "Padfoot I don't think Harry cares too much if his breakfast is ready and I'm sure he understands that there hasn't been much time to think lately, never mind wrap presents!" Harry was pleased to see the werewolf so relaxed so close to the full moon.

Sirius huffs for a moment before pouting. "I wanted to make it the best birthday Harry's ever had!" Neither Sirius nor Remus heard Harry's muttered 'That wouldn't be too hard!' "It's going to be Harry's first birthday with us for ages and I have to make it as special as I can." Harry's love for his godfather grew a tiny bit more at his words; it had been so long since anyone had really thought to make a day special for him with out having other motives to drive them on.

He rushed and gave his godfather a hug before walking over to a still crying Silas. Picking up the unhappy baby Harry let a blinding smile cover his face before kissing the infants tear stained right cheek and then the left, knowing in his heart that it was going to be a good day.

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Dressed in his smartest Wizarding robes Harry walked towards the floo, belly full of delicious birthday breakfast and mind full of hopeful thoughts that Mrs Weasley wouldn't feel the need to feed him to much of her home made cooking.

Harry would be the only one from their little family going to his birthday party at the Burrow. Silas had a check up with the new Black family healer and Sirius didn't want Remus to go on his own. Harry didn't mind, in fact he wished that he was going with them! As much as he loved the Weasley family he wasn't very happy with Ron or Hermione. They had only sent him one letter since they had all left Hogwarts about a month ago and while Harry knew that both of his best friends had their own lives to live it would be nice to have their support once again.

Plus there was Ginny to deal with. Lovely, sweet Ginny who, in Harry's eyes, was his best friend's little sister and nothing else. Not that Ginny seemed to understand that! She was pretty with her red hair and shiny eyes but Harry simply didn't care for her prettiness or her in general really. Over his Forth Year he had seen her watching him many times and he was sure that Ginny had been waiting for him to ask her the Yule Ball, which had been why he didn't.

A quick peek into the breakfast room proved to Harry that Sirius must have herded his lover and Silas to the Living Room that held the floo fireplace. He was right.

"Harry! Don't you look smart and all grown up?" Sirius was grinning ear to ear with a watchful baby in his arms. "Doesn't he Silas, your godbrother is all grown up and off to meet the lady of his dreams, eh?" Sirius winked down at the unimpressed infant who just closed his eyes to the world and its annoying wizards who wouldn't let him sleep in peace.

The smile that Harry had walked into the room with faded from his face as soon as the words left his godfathers mouth and he sighed heavily. He had hoped that Sirius didn't think that he had romantic feelings for Ginny because he didn't and there was very little chance that he would anytime soon or you know, ever.

Sirius may have been oblivious to Harry's sudden emotional turmoil but Remus wasn't and when he saw the smile slip so swiftly from Harry's lips he was sure that he knew why. Standing from his chair Remus walking towards Harry and placed a supportive hand on his shoulder and kissed his forehead.

Remus stood looking into Harry's eyes for a moment before asking a very important question; "Harry is there something wrong? You were so happy that the Weasley's wanted to hold you a birthday party but now you don't seem too pleased about going?" His smile was so reassuring that Harry knew that his second godfather wouldn't care if Harry said that he thought Ginny looked a bit like a pig and acted like an obsessed, creepy fan girl.

Deep breath in and confession out. "It's Ginny." Those two quiet words got Sirius' attention faster than if they had been a scream. Placing Silas down safely, Sirius placed his supporting hand on Harry's other shoulder and looked into his eyes.

"Those don't sound like the words of a man who has found the girl of his dreams, the love of his life. They sound like the words of a man going to prison for a rather long time. I thought you liked Ginny?" Sirius' words held no accusations over Harry's words or unhappiness at his feelings.

A shrug of Harry's shoulder's told the older men much. "She's so... Ah! I can't even find words to describe her. Innocent maybe? Naive even better. Ginny thinks she loves me but she's been thinking that for years, longer than I have even known about magic. She wanted to go with me to the ball last year, she kept dropping hints but I guess she thought I was too stupid or too busy to pick them up and went with someone else." Nose pulled back and lips tight showed his godfather just what Harry thought of Ginny's actions last year.

"Sorry for saying something stupid Harry but its just when I would get new of you I would always hear of Ron, Hermione and Ginny too. I know you think Hermione and Ron will end up together so I just thought that left you and Ginny as a likely couple." A chuckle followed Sirius' words. "Not to mention how much Molly spoke of you and Ginny as future boyfriend/Girlfriend!"

A despondent groan came from Harry. "You mean she's got our wedding planned and the three kids we'd have together already have little bootie knitted for them. I love Mrs Weasley but she isn't my mother and Ginny isn't the one for me!" It felt so good for Harry to finally get all this off his chest; it must have been weighing him down for much too long to be healthy.

Remus, the more observant of the two, noticed that Harry hadn't said the 'girl for me' but had said the 'one for me' and that could open up a whole other kettle of fish if it could mean what Remus thought it did.

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The first thing that hit Harry as he stepped out of the floo was the noise. It was like the whole of Hogwarts had congregated in the Weasley's small home and the site that greeted him as he walked into the garden almost confirmed that, there were that many people.

Harry had thought that his party was going to be a small gathering of his closest friends from Hogwarts and a few of the other Weasley's sibling friends. But this must not be the case as there were around forty people milling about the large garden that was at the back of the Burrow and Harry only knew around half of them.

There were his friends from school sat in one big group by the food table. Harry could see Ron, Hermione, Neville and Seamus from his Gryffindor year group but there were so many others. A short brown haired boy that Harry was sure was from the year above him and a Hufflepuff at that! Another boy but this time from Ravenclaw sat next to the lad from Hufflepuff and Harry had an idea that his name was Jeff or something similar. On the other side of the group to the unknown boys were Fred, George and their friend Lee and team captain Oliver. Harry was glad to see them, even if he was a bit confused over some of the other guests, many who were years older than him; some his parents ages and some even older. There was a few that looked to be Ministry workers that Harry guessed were friends of Mr Weasleys and there were others he had no clue about who they were or why they would be at his birthday party.

"HARRY!" Shouted a giggly voice from his left; a giggly voice he sadly knew well.

Shit.

Within moments of hearing his name being shouted the owner of the giggly voice was standing in front of him with a giant smile on her made up face.

Ginny Weasley.

A nervous laugh leaked from Harry's mouth. "Oh... Err Hiya Ginny. Lots of people here today. Didn't think there would be so many. How are you anyway? Enjoying the summer hols?" Harry did wonder if Ginny could tell how much he didn't want to talk to her or if she was so blinded by her 'love' for him that she couldn't tell.

Harry guessed the later. "Oh you are a silly boy Harry! They are here to wish you a happy birthday, the guest list was much longer but dad talked mum down a few people. Not sure why, I'm sure you are pleased that so many people want to wish you luck." Harry knew that telling Ginny his real feeling on the subject wouldn't be the best idea.

"And as for me, I'm great now." A suggestive look towards Harry. "The holidays have been a bit boring but it's been fun to have Hermione about for the last couple of weeks."

Now that had been something Harry hadn't known. What had Hermione been doing at the Weasley's? And why hadn't they told him? He can't see why they'd have thought it would have bothered him now he had a loving family to stay with. But he bit his lips from saying anything to Ginny, knowing that she would just spread the word that he was unhappy with his best friends.

So instead he gave her a weak smile and mumbled some words about how 'nice' that was and how 'glad' he was for her before walking off to find Mr and Mrs Weasley to thank them for the party and that they really, really shouldn't have gone to so much trouble for just him.

It took him a good five minute to find them in the sea of people that covered the lawn. Mr Weasley was talking to one of the people Harry had thought to be a Ministry worker, a woman in her late sixties she was short and had what Harry was sure was dyed blonde hair. Mrs Weasley on the other hand was talking to her oldest son, William, who Harry was sure didn't live in Britain and was therefore confused at his presence at his party.

It didn't take long for Mrs Weasley to see him walking in the direction of them and come rushing towards him, smile wide. "Harry! Oh you do look better my dear, bit thin but I can't expect to men like your godfather to know how to cook proper meals for a growing lad! Now how have you been? You're a bit late; I thought you knew the party started eleven? It's closer to twelve dear? Everyone's been waiting for you." The motherly smile didn't quite hide the fact that she was rather annoyed that he was late. And Harry's smile didn't quite hide how much he didn't like the little dig into his godfathers ability to look after or that he couldn't do most of it himself.

"It's nice to see you Mrs Weasley and I apologise for being late; I didn't mean to but Silas had a bit of an accident and I got him cleaned up while Sirius and Remus got ready after the lovely breakfast Sirius made me this morning." He hoped she got his little hit and the fact he wouldn't listen to a bad word against the three most important people in his life so far.

She didn't. "Silas? Oh the baby, well you should have left it to your godfathers to deal with. After all he is their responsibly to care for him." She frowned as she said it; as if she didn't trust them to care for the baby either. "Now come with me, I have a few people who want to meet you before you go off to meet Ron and your friends. Over there is the Head of Arthur's department at the Ministry, Arthur says that when he asked if he could have a day off for the party he asked if he could come, he even hinted that Arthur might be getting a raise sometime soon. I thought it would be a lovely idea for you to meet more people and so said yes straight away but Arthur on the other hand thought you might not want too many people but I was so sure you wouldn't mind." Mrs Weasley looked at his face to see a slightly overwhelmed expression. "Are you alright my dear?" She smiled. "Of course you are! Now after you meet Mr Figglesbury there is Mrs Kalvinhoe to talk to..."

Bloody fucking hell this is going to be a very long day.

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Flying had always made Harry forget his problems and today would be no different. Apart from problems it would also be useless names he would be forgetting. Mrs Weasley had introduced him to about 20 people after Mr Figglesbury, who had been a rather short, thin man with a girly voice, and Mrs Kalvinhoe who had been the woman Mr Weasley had been talking to when Harry had first seen him.

After he had escaped from Mrs Weasley by claiming hunger, Harry managed to find his most of his Hogwarts friends apart from his 'best' friends, Ron and Hermione, who seemed to be avoiding him for whatever reason. An hour of joking with Fred and George and laughing at Seamus later it was Oliver who suggested they play a game of odd sided Quidditch to which everyone readily agreed.

It may have taken ten minutes to find everyone a broom but good old Oliver had come prepared for a game and so had bought will him the rest of what they needed. Then it was twenty minutes of arguing over team names and who would be with in what team. Team A named the Flying Dragons had Harry as Seeker, Oliver as Keeper, Fred as Beater and two Chasers, Lee Jordan and the Hufflepuff Bertie MacBride who was the son of one of the many Ministry workers at the party. Team B were hopefully named the Windy Winners, which made Fred and George laugh while Ron, whose idea the name was, looked on confused, consisted of Ginny as Seeker, Ron as Keeper, the Ravenclaw whose name wasn't Jeff but Virgilius Kalvinhoe, the grandson of Mrs Kalvinhoe (How Harry had gotten Jeff from that he wasn't sure!) played the first of the two Chasers and Seamus played the other. Lastly George played team B's Beater.

The game had started smoothly and everyone was enjoying themselves. After a few minutes of play everyone on the ground joined those who were already watching and as it was Harry's birthday his team got the most support. Game play was lazy with neither team wanting a quick win and after about an hour The Flying Dragons were only 20 points in the lead. It was then that Harry saw the Snitch for the first time that game. He was weighing up whether or not it was the right time to try and grab the Snitch when he saw his Godfather and Remus with Silas in his arms walking slowly towards the watching crowd and it was that which made the decision for him; he knew that now they were here it wouldn't be long till they could go home and the faster he got the Snitch the faster they could leave.

The Snitch had moved slightly and was now lower to the ground, by a large oak tree. Harry saw the light bouncing off the Snitch and headed straight for it but as soon as he started to move so fast and with purpose Ginny started to follow him in the hope of getting the snitch first and it was mainly pride which made Harry fly fast in order to win.

They were now neck and neck but Harry had the advantage because he actually knew where the Snitch was unlike the silly girl who had now fallen behind. The snitch flew left when Harry was only a metre away and Harry had to think fast so as not to lose sight of it. He no longer had any idea where was Ginny was doing, his eyes were only for the prize. He didn't even hear the loud cheers come from the ground.

A quick turn to follow the snitch took him over the still cheering crowd and Harry risked a glance downward in search of Sirius, Remus or both and was glad him had taken the risk when he saw his proudly grinning godfather and the happily waving werewolf by his side.

Eyes up again and they locked straight onto the Snitch which was now only a few feet ahead of him. With his right hand gripping the broom tight Harry stretched his left as far forward as it would go and pairing that with a late boost of speed Harry's hand wrapped around the Golden Snitch forcefully and held it up to the cheering crowd. As much as Harry disliked attention he loved praise for things that he actually did.

Landed in front of the mass of people Harry dropped his broom and rushed straight towards his godfather but upon seeing Silas in his arms, he hugged Remus instead and that pleased Remus to no end.

"Great job Harry! It was great to see you fly again; you truly have a talent for Quidditch. Your father would be proud but then again so are we! Right Padfoot?" Remus realised Harry from his hug and gave Sirius a kiss on the cheek.

It looks like that was the last straw for Sirius, who could no longer contain his excitement or glee or pride. "Oh my gosh Harry! That was beyond great, that was tremendous and breath-taking and I'm just so proud!" Harry was sure that his godfather's face must ache from his grin. Silas, who was much too young to understand, was never the less very happy with Sirius' bouncing movements and smiled madly and made little sounds because of it.

Harry's happiness was interrupted by an unhappy voice from behind him spoke. "Yeah Harry well done! That was just so close right? I almost had you there; I guess you must have gotten the better broom." Harry didn't need to look to tell it was Ginny and he also didn't have to look to tell how displeased and even angry she was; like he hadn't beaten her fair and square.

He rolled his eyes at his godfather who, after Harry had turned to face the very unhappy red headed witch, whispered in his ear. "No wonder you don't like her!" and Harry had to hold in a chuckle that would only make things worse.

It wasn't just Ginny standing in front of him, it was her Mother, Father, Brother Ron and Hermione and Harry prepared himself for a disagreement. "Yeah, Ginny I guess I just got lucky today; maybe the wind was on my side or something." He said this with a straight face but heard a muffled giggle from one the men behind him. "Better luck next time." Ginny must not have caught what he had really meant because she smiled at his words and walked off towards her three friends with her Mum and Dad following her after a quick 'Well Done' was thrown in Harry's direction.

Ron on the hand had caught his meaning and far from being annoyed or even angry he laughed as soon as Ginny was out of hearing range. "Brilliant mate! That was absolutely brilliant, she's been bugging me for the last week talking about you and stuff. I knew you weren't her biggest fan and was kinda looking forward to whatever you would end up saying to her today!"

Ron may not have cared about what Harry had said to his sister but it seems that Hermione had taken a pretty dim view of his words. "Well Ronald I thought you better than that, I thought you would at least stick up for your sister."She turned her burning eyes from Ron to Harry. "And you! That was a very rude thing to say, she might have been right and it was only luck on your side. Ginny has been looking forward to seeing you for weeks and then you speak to her like that? Like she's stupid? That's just a horrible thing to do." Hermione looked so pleased in her self righteousness that Harry felt he had no choice but to shoot her down and fast.

"Well you know what I think is horrible Hermione? Right now I can think of two things that you have done." His words may have been spoken in anger but the meaning and rage behind them had been boiling for weeks.

Hermione looked confused for a second before she jumped straight back on her high horse. "And what would they be? Sticking up for those weaker than myself? Not letting praise go to my head? Or maybe that I haven't bowed before your greatness today?" Harry could see that she was pissed off but couldn't really understand why. It wasn't like he hadn't tried to talk to her over the last month and it wasn't like he had ignored her today.

Whatever the reason her response made Harry's anger grow and he could feel the tension from the two men behind him. "Don't be so stupid! I've never been like that, when have I even wanted you to bow to me or anything of that kind of shit? I've always treated you beyond fair AND I've always stuck up for you from the bullies at Hogwarts. No! None of that was what I was talking about!" He was so pissed off that his finger nails were digging into his palm so much he feared that they might begin to bleed.

Hermione didn't seem to have taken on anything Harry had said or even listened at all. "Fine, tell me what 'horrible deeds' I have done." She almost looked smug in the knowledge that she was always right so she must be again.

Harry didn't understand why she was acting like this. She was always the level headed one, the calm one who thought things through. Hermione had never been this judgemental witch before.

"Well for starters I'd like to know why I've sent about 8 letters to you over the last month and yet only got one in return." Hermione opened her mouth to speak. "Wait I'm not yet finished! The second thing is why didn't you get both sides of the story before you started having a go at me about Ginny? It's never been you to jump in without hearing all of the evidence first. Ginny hadn't seen the Snitch and just started following me in the air. I didn't pick the better broom, I took the one given to my by Fred. And lastly I don't like the fact that she seems to think I should be pleased that there are so many strangers at a party I had been looking forward to being just family and friends." By the time Harry was done he was out of breath and glaring towards Hermione who was glaring right back.

"Write to you? I haven't had time, I've been much to busy for friends and..."

Harry had to jump in at this point. "Too busy with what? What could make you too busy for someone you claim to be best friends with? How long does it take to write a short letter? Ten minutes?" Harry was in disbelief at what he was hearing.

She glared at his interruption. "Yes I have been to busy to write stupid letters okay, so leave it! As for my other 'horrible deed', I didn't need to hear anymore evidence. I know what happened and I know you were unfair to Ginny for no reason at all! Have you anything else to say before I go and comfort Ginny? No, fine I'm leaving." And with those last few words Hermione turned on her heels and walked towards a very happy and laughing Ginny Weasley and friends.

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Well Harry couldn't say that he was going to forget this birthday in a hurry; no matter how hard he'd try to. It was coming up to about four in the afternoon and to Harry it was a perfect time to leave but Ginny, Mrs Weasley and a number of other guests had other ideas.

"But dear it's rather early to leave your own party isn't it? Why there are still so many people who would love to talk to you again and Ginny here has been missing you, you should really write to her more." Mrs Weasley could see that this wasn't working and tried to change her tactics. "Plus dear Harry you haven't eaten enough today. I'm sure I've only seen you eat a few bits and pieces here and there and then your rather small slice of birthday cake just now." While she did look genially worried over Harry's eating habits he really didn't want to stay any longer.

"It's alright Mrs Weasley, Sirius and Remus are taking me to an Italian restaurant that they say my mum took them and my dad to when they first started dating. It is in the Muggle world and I'm really excited to be going!" Harry truly was and that's why he didn't want to be held up by fussy women who weren't his damned mother.

Mrs Weasley didn't look pleased when she heard the words 'Italian' and 'Muggle'. "Are you sure that a place like that could provide a healthy, hearty mean for a growing boy Sirius? I mean he would be better off staying here and eating some more home made cooking." Now she looked pleased. With herself that is.

Now Harry was getting a little beyond annoyed and he could tell that Sirius wasn't happy with Mrs Weasley dig at his parenting. "Actually Mrs Weasley it was my idea to go there after I saw a photo of my mum and dad there. Its called Tetallies and it's not far from the British Museum." Harry really hoped that she would leave it there.

Which she didn't. "Oh I know that sounds lovely Harry but I've heard how unclean those Muggle food places are. I wouldn't want you to get sick now."

Harry wasn't the only one who had had enough and Sirius stepped forward to back up his godson. "Mrs Weasley, I'm sorry but we have to leave right now or we'll be late getting Silas to the babysitter and therefore late to Tetallies." Harry had to tell himself how bad laughing would be at that moment because Mrs Weasley's face was a picture.

"You mean to tell me you are not taking the baby with you? Why don't you leave the little dear here with me?" Asked Mrs Weasley. "I'm sure he would like it here much more than some stranger's house!" Harry didn't really have a mean enough heart tell Mrs Weasley that to Silas her house was a stranger's home.

It was Remus who replied and that was most likely for the best. "He isn't going to a stranger's house Mrs Weasley; he'll be going to stay the evening with Sirius' healer and her daughter who is a full time child sitter. Now I must apologise for rushing but we have to get moving. Goodbye and We'll see you soon." With those last words Remus turned towards the house and its floo fireplace with Sirius and Harry not far behind.

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The outside of the Italian restaurant was beautiful in a classical way. It had a Renaissance style front and the dinning area had very medieval feel to it with its brightly painted walls and it painted religious scenes.

Silas had taken to the child minder well and Harry, Sirius and Remus has arrived at Tetallies in time for their reservation and were shown to their table with was right next to an open fireplace.

"Wow this is great Sirius! It's so bright, the colours so bold and it still looks like it did when you two and my mum and dad came here so many years ago." Harry was gleaming in his delight. Of course he didn't want to tell his godfathers that this would be his first proper time going out for a meal with family; best not to spoil the mood and make Sirius upset over what is now nothing.

"I know," Smiled Sirius "I remember this place really well and I can't even see a little difference but the true test is if the food is still as good as it was all that time ago! What's everyone thinking of ordering?" Sirius took another look at his menu before almost screeching in glee. "They still serve what I had last time I was here, in fact I don't think that their carte du jour has changed at all since me, Remus, James and Lily were here."

Remus was going to add his own ideas about the restaurant but didn't have time before a young waitress was standing before their table. "Good Evening Gentlemen! My name is Ellaroe Latin and I'm going to be your Waitress this evening! Now are you ready to order or would you like me to get you your drinks and come back in a few minutes to take your order?" The waitress, Ellaroe, was a pretty blonde 20 year old girl with a piercing through each cheek and one through her lower lip.

Harry glanced down at the menu again before looking towards the other men at his table, who both nodded. "I think we can order now if that's okay?"

She smiled a bit too brightly and took a purple pen and pink notepad out of her dark blue apron. "Of course! Now who would like to order first?" She gave Sirius a flirty look which he returned until he saw his lovers face.

Red cheeked he told the waitress his order. "Oh I'll have a goat's cheese, red onion and pancetta Calzone and a pint of local ale please? No starter for me, been eating all day at my godson's birthday party."

The waitress looked at Sirius and then at Harry and then back again. "Oh I thought he was your son? You have the same dark hair and smile." Although Harry's face flushed brightly he was secretly pleased at the older girl's words.

Sirius looked pleased too but he made no secret of it. "I know my love! It's like some kind of magic gave him some of my amazing good loo-ks!" Sirius sudden stopping in mid sentence was almost with out a doubt down to him being kicked in the leg by Remus.

"Sorry about him. Can't keep his mouth shut for more than a minute." Remus said to the slightly embarrassed waitress. "Now I think I might have the seafood Linguine and a glass of sweet white wine, Italian if you have it."

"Of course Sir, and what does the birthday boy want?" She smiled politely and nodded in Harry's direction.

"Oh I thought I was ready but there is just so much that sounds so good! I could eat almost anything off the menu. Is the Carbonara made with egg like in Italy or is it made with cream?" Harry loved Carbonara. He made it once a week since living with his godfathers and while he enjoyed in when made with cream but he much preferred it to be made with egg.

The waitress looked taken back by the question. "Umm we can do either sir, as its made fresh to order."

Harry nodded, pleased with himself. "Well that's great; I'll have egg Carbonara and a glass of ginger beer please?"

The waitress finished writing down their orders and took their menus from them." Okay Gentlemen, your meals should be along shortly but in the mean time I'll gave your drinks and some complementary bread rolls. What you like brown or white bread?"

Harry sighed; he knew that his godfather hated brown bread with a passion and that while Remus would eat white bread he must preferred brown or grainy bread. "What you mind doing us a mix of both? My godfather and his boyfriend are both rather fussy eaters?" He asked the waitress who in turn stared wide eyed at the two lovers.

"Why, yes, I'm sure that would be fine." And with that she turned and walked straight back to the kitchen area.

Remus was laughing and Sirius was pouting. "Well done Harry! That was a bit evil but better for her to understand now than later."

Sirius on the other hand was still caught up on being called a fussy eater so sat back and glared at his laughing godson and werewolf partner.

The food had been exquisite and the ginger beer refreshingly cool. The waitress returned to take their plates, bowls and other such things and take their dessert order.

Remus wanted chocolate, Sirius wanted cream and Harry wasn't too fussed as long as it was sweet and light.

"How about our sharing chocolate and clotted cream cheesecake with optional icing sugar dusted raspberries? It serves five to six but if you don't eat it all I'd be happy to put the rest in a box for you to take away." The waitress had calmed down and no longer flushed pink if she saw Remus or Sirius kiss the other.

Both of his godfather's eyes lit up at the works 'Chocolate', 'Clotted Cream', 'Cheesecake' and 'Icing Sugar dusted Raspberries' so Harry went ahead and ordered it.

"Hey guys I'm just going to pop to the loo for a moment, is that alright?" Harry stood and asked.

Remus waved him on and Harry took off towards the sign that pointed in the direction the loo.

The toilet wasn't far from Harry's table and it didn't take long for him to make his way there but what he saw sitting at a very large table next to the toilets almost gave him a heart attack he was that shocked.

Hand to heart Harry stared at two people he never thought he would see ever again and they were just sitting there calmly with their family until the dark haired one heard his shocked gasp and turned to see where the sound came from. When he, Atticus was his name if Harry stunned brain remember rightly, his own face showed confusion, surprise when he remembered Harry's face and then finally his handsome face settled into a rather pleased and smug look.

Harry saw Atticus gently nudge the blond, Lawrence. Who in turn looked to where his boyfriend was pointing.

By this point Harry was very wide eyed and bewildered but still bursting for a piss so he walked a quickly passed the smirking boys as he could without making himself seem out of place. He didn't walk fast enough not to here the words Atticus whispered to Lawrence as he walked passed.

"Well, well, well Lawrence! Look who it is? It's our little watcher!" muttered the overly smug brunet and the younger male dashed into the loos.

Harry sat on the toilet in the cubical after he had done what was needed, wondering how he could walk out that door and face them. He ignored the funny feeling in his belly and just sat there trying to forget their smug faces from the dining table. Their lustful expressions from the ally way. Their pleasure filled moans as they touched each other so...

NO! Enough! Thought Harry as he gave himself a smack on the forehead and became so focused on forgetting and hitting himself for being so stupid that he didn't hear the door to the loos open, a person walk in and then the door close.

After another moment or two Harry had convinced himself that if he was quick, quiet and didn't look towards their table, then he might just make it back to his own without any problems. Sighing he stood and with face to the floor he opened the toilet door but took two steps back and slams the door right after he saw just who was sitting on one of the sinks that were opposite the toilets.

Atticus.

Shit!

Harry quickly locked the door right back up, cursing under his breath before sitting on the closed lip toilet, arms around knees, hoping that the older boy would just leave him be but the amused chortling from the other side of the door told him other wise.

The amused laughed faded and silence ruled for a minute or two before the sound of a body jumping lightly to the floor was followed by a gentle tap at the cubical door and smart dress shoed feet became visible through the gap at the bottom of the door.

Silence.

A sudden question from the other side of the door startled Harry into making an embarrassing little noise. "Are you alright? I didn't mean to make you freak out or anything like that..." Worry seem to made the slight Italian accent become more pronounced and although Harry was trying desperately not to listen the accent still put a little fire into his lower belly.

Harry was supposed to be a brave Gryffindor, the 'slayer' of the evil Voldemort but he couldn't even get himself to face one other boy? One embarrassing situation? Ha, thought Harry as he ran his hand through his dark hair again, making it messier, it seems I'm only brave in life or death moments! Fat lot of good that'll do me it the rest of my life with no big bad Voldemort going about trying to bump me off.

Harry had made up his mind; he would open that door, apologise and then walk as fast as his legs could carry him back to his table. He opened the door just as the other boy began speaking again.

"I can go if you're really that upset? I mean I just wanted to talk and well I might have gone about it the wrong way..."

By the end of that sentence the door between them was opened wide and they just stood there staring at one another. That was until Atticus saw Harry scar that is.

His dark eyes shot to saucer size in moments and Harry didn't know why, until he saw where he was looking. Harry quickly flattened his unruly hair us much as he possibly could but he knew that the damage was already done. Atticus knew without a doubt who he was and most of his life story too! This wasn't what Harry had planned and wasn't going to help him get away swiftly like he had hoped too in his plan.

Damn it! He thought grumpily, Could this get much worse?

A fleeting look at Atticus' face made Harry pause. That wasn't the expression he had expected to see! It fact it was almost the very opposite; the smile was a pleased one (No frown in sight), the eyes glowed in delight and the Harry could almost see Atticus' mind become full of what Harry was sure must be sinfully delicious ideas.

The simply pleased smile developed into what Harry was beginning to think of as Atticus' signature smirk; it made his eyes glow like coals on the fire and the left side of his lips lifted slightly higher than the right. It all it made him look gorgeous, strikingly so.

Atticus placed his cold, long fingered hand on Harry's chin and lifted his head till they were looking into one another's eyes, darkest, warmest black, meeting brightest, loveliest green.

"Don't think this will stop me, us, my little Osservatore, it's just going to make me more determined and make the whole thing more interesting." With a wink he turned and walked out of the toilets, never looking back.

In a daze, Harry made his way out of the toilets but was rudely broken out of his bewildered state by a slight stinging back to his rear end. Someone had slapped his arse and that someone was a not seated Atticus.

Harry wasn't the only one staring at the smug Italian in shock, the boy Harry believed to be Atticus' boyfriend, Lawrence, was looking between them both in confusion but no anger oddly. At their table there were four other people who all looked to be related to Atticus with their dark Mediterranean looks. There was an older version of Atticus, a woman in her early forties, a teenage girl and a little hair haired toddler.

After that quick look Harry turned back towards his table and almost ran the rest of the way but not before catching the blown kiss sent his way by Atticus.

When he got to the table Remus and Sirius had already started on their bit of cheesecake.

"You took your time Harry. You feeling alright?" Asked a slightly worried Remus.

Harry looked startled. "Oh yeah, I'm fine but there was just a queue for the loos." Remus didn't believe a word of it but said nothing, knowing that pushing Harry was never a good idea.

The cheesecake ended up being the best Harry had ever tasted and the clotted cream was just to die for when mixed with the sharp tasting raspberries. By the time they had their second piece there was none left for the waitress to box up for them to take home.

Sirius and Remus left to pay the bill and Harry just sat back thinking that while some parts of the day had been very odd, others had been rather awesome. He loved spending time with his godfathers and knew these birthday memories would stay with him for a long time.

He had just closed his eyes for a moment when he felt a hand on his shoulder and his eyes snapped back open. It was Lawrence but he didn't look angry.

He smiled kindly down at the younger, smaller boy who was so wide eyed. "Don't worry I'm not here to have a go at you or tell you to stay away from my boyfriend but I will tell Atticus to leave you alone if you so wish, he doesn't mean any harm but I know he can become a bit much sometimes. I'm Lawrence by the way."

Deep breath. "I'm err Harry." He smiled weakly in return.

Lawrence laughed smoothly. "I know. I'll see you at school." With those last words he turned and walked to a waiting Atticus and family.

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Harry got home and while Remus and Sirius went to pick Silas up from the child minder he made himself a cup of milky, sweet tea and thought about his day. It had been an odd one but what's a Voldemort free life without a few surprises.

After the tea was finished Harry found himself drifting off to sleep and before he could fall asleep where he was sat he dragged himself to bed, not even bothering to change clothes before throwing himself onto his bed. He was out like a light.

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CHAPTER END.

WELL? It was good wasn't it? I enjoyed writing it and I just want to thank Jaz aka TotalBrit and my lovely reviewers! You are great and I hope you know how goo you make me feel!

Bit more of Laws and Atti in this chapter but I don't think you'll see much of them in the next chapter as the second half is Harry off to Hogwarts! Yaya! Plus you get to find out where the title of this fanfiction comes from! ;)

Laters,

FeelingKingishToday.