Disclaimer I do not own Harry Potter and everything recognisable belongs to J K Rowling.

Chapter Seven

The chatter in the room hushed into a sudden silence. Every eye, Auror, Order or otherwise, was fixed on either Alastor Moody or Harry Potter and of course, the wands pointed at each other. No one had expected a duel at a birthday party, let alone the two individuals concerned to be a fully fledged Auror up against a mere ten year old child. But Moody smirked at the sight of Harry's wand. A glint of triumph lit his human eye, whilst his magical one, rolled around the socket, taking in everyone's shocked expressions.

But James didn't look shocked. Rather, he looked like he had forgotten how to breathe. He stood, gaping at the sight. His mouth open, eyes so wide they bulged outward slightly. He took a stumbling step forward.

"Where-where did you get that wand?" he asked.

But Harry didn't reply. His eyes were fixed on Moody, seemingly ignoring everyone else. James held out a hand.

"Lower that wand, Harry."

"Tell your friend to lower his first." came the boy's simple reply.

Moody smirked, raising an eyebrow.

"Got a pair on you," he commended, "good for you, kid."

James slowly edged himself closer, aiming to stand before Harry, so the wand would be pointed at his own chest and not Moody's head.

"Harry, put the wand down." he repeated.

Harry met his eyes but shook his head.

"Not until he lowers his first."

"Tough luck, kid," Moody replied, "I'm doing nothing of the sort, especially now that I know you're armed."

"Alastor!" Alice was by his side in a flash, "put your wand down, now!"

But Moody ignored her, eyes fixed on Harry and Harry alone.

"You know how to use that thing or is it for show purposes only?"

Harry smirked.

"Why don't you try and curse me, you'll find out yourself."

"Alastor! Don't you dare!" Lily was suddenly in the way, blocking Moody's aim.

"Calm down, Lily," Moody said, in a biting tone, "I wouldn't curse him, not until he gives me a reason."

"Alastor, enough," Frank came forward, "what do you think you're doing?" he asked, "lower your wand, immediately!"

Moody obliged, letting his arm fall to his side, wand still gripped tight. Harry did the same. The small gesture was enough to break the tension in the room. The guests let out relieved breaths and whispers broke out, fingers started pointing, mostly at Harry. Ron and Neville watched with dry mouths as Harry still held onto his wand, white-knuckled.

James, looking a lot calmer, reached out to Harry.

"Give me the wand, Harry."

Again, the ten year old met the gaze but shook his head.

"I think I'll hold onto it, for now." he threw Moody a dark look.

"Give me the wand," James repeated, fast losing patience, "now."

Harry met his angry gaze.

"No."

James stared at him, stunned at his defiance.

"Still think he's your kid?" Moody asked with a chuckle.

James whirled around, fists clenched. He was so angry he was ready to throw punches, the muggle way.

"Just shut up, alright!" he snarled.

"What's going on?" Frank asked, truly bewildered, "what are you talking about?" he addressed Moody.

"It was just a suggestion," Moody said, "but I'm beginning to think I was right."

"About what?" Frank asked.

"Alastor, don't," Lily warned, "this has nothing to do with you! Just keep-"

"I don't think he's James' son." Moody said with a nod at Harry, ignoring Lily completely.

The room hushed once again. Every eye was on Harry, but Harry's startled gaze landed on his parents.

"What?" Frank asked, "are you insane? Have you looked at him?" he gestured to Harry.

"Have you?" Moody repeated, "didn't you see him just now? When he pulled a wand on me?"

"You pulled one on me first." Harry defended in a quiet, yet furious voice.

"I'm an adult." Moody quipped back, "are you one as well? Under the glamour, I mean?"

Harry didn't say anything.

"We're leaving." James suddenly spoke, anger laced in ever syllable of his words, "come on." he moved forward, took Damien's hand and reached out for Harry's when the boy stepped back, moving his hand out of reach. James stared at him, surprised, "Harry?"

But Harry simply stared back at him. His gaze moved to Lily before finally settling on the smirking face of Auror Moody.

"What were you going to do?" he asked, "see if there were any glamours on me?"

"That was the plan, yes." Moody replied.

"To prove who I am?" Harry asked. His gaze darted to his parents again before he straightened up. Silently, he moved towards the window, the room watching him intently. Harry picked up one of the glasses from the tray, resting on the sill, and held it in his hand. He turned back around to stare at Moody, "I'll give you one better," he said, "to really prove who I am."

The tip of his wand touched the glass.

"Transferro Pudelīte."

The crystal glass shrunk in Harry's hand and transformed into an elongated vial. Harry turned to look at his parents, seeing the sheer shock in their eyes at his effortless transfiguration. He met his dad's gaze, as he moved to do the next part. A hissed incantation and the tip of his wand sharpened. Harry saw the alarm on his dad's face.

"Harry, no," James stepped forward, "stop, right now!"

"Don't, Harry-" Lily started.

"You need proof of who I am?" Harry asked, halting both parents mid-step, "then this is the only test that can't be manipulated."

Harry ran his wand across his palm, slicing the flesh open. He didn't as much as wince, but the people present gasped, as if it were them that had been cut. Harry closed his hand into a fist, a thin line of blood trickled down his hand and dropped into the vial. Ensuring there was plenty in the vial, Harry pulled his hand away, flicked the glass tube closed and casually threw it at Moody.

"Here," he said, "knock yourself out."

Moody caught the vial, but was too busy staring at Harry, something akin to anxiety flashed on his face when he stared at the bleeding hand. But he glanced down at the transfigured vial and put his wand to it at once, whispering the blood identity spell. Words carved themselves into the air, directly above the vial. Harry James Potter.

"There," Harry said, a satisfied smirk on his face, even as he wrapped two paper napkins across his bleeding hand, "now you have no reason to point your wand at my face."

Moody didn't say anything, but his grip on the vial tightened.

"I think there's something you owe, Harry?" Frank said, quiet anger laced his words.

Moody smirked and took a limping step closer to the boy.

"Until next time." he said.

Harry glowered at him.

"Anytime." he replied.

Moody chuckled, as if finding the small boy hilarious.

"Alastor!" Frank called to him, "you disrupted my party and insulted my guest," he said, "an apology is due."

"I'm sorry," Moody said, turning to face him, "I never meant to disrupt your party."

"Not to me," Frank shook his head, "apologise to Harry. You falsely accused him and brandished a wand at him for no good reason."

"I don't know about that," Moody said, turning to look at Harry again, "it seems there may be a very good reason to point a wand at him."

Harry smirked back at him.

But James had appeared by his side. He took a hold of Harry's arm and pulled him away.

"Come on," he said, his voice gruff, "we're leaving."

Lily held Damien's hand while James led Harry out. Frank and Alice ran behind them.

"I'm so sorry, James, Lily," Alice profusely apologised, "please, don't leave like this. Stay, just until the cake-"

"Sorry, Alice," James cut across her, "we can't stay. I'm sorry."

A handful of floo powder, green flames and Harry was spinning his way back to Godric's Hollow.

xxx

The evening was tense. As soon as all Potters were back at Godric's Hollow, James and Lily had rushed to the kitchen, pulled out the first aid box and taken their seats in front of Harry. Damien had been sent upstairs to change out of his formal robes. James took Harry's injured hand into his own and pulled the paper napkin away.

"It's okay," Harry said quietly, "I can do it myself." he made to take the box from Lily's hand but she pulled it back.

James glanced up at Harry, hazel eyes wide and clouded.

"No one should be left to heal themselves." he said.

Harry stayed silent. He sat rigid and still. Not a sound left him, as Lily and James cleaned the cut. Lily brought out her wand and pointed at the red line across Harry's palm.

"Episkey."

The cut closed, leaving behind only a faint, pinkish mark. James brought out a tub of salve and applied a thin layer.

"There, it won't leave as much as a mark." he said, sounding very much like he was comforting himself, rather than Harry.

Harry pulled his hand back, resting it in his lap, his head bowed. He didn't want to look up and see their angry faces. He knew he didn't have it in him to deal with that.

"You shouldn't have done the identity spell." Lily said, while she packed away the box of supplies.

"I didn't have a choice." Harry replied without looking up.

"What do you mean by that?" James asked.

Now Harry did look up, meeting his dad's hazel gaze.

"You wanted proof." he stated, ignoring the way his heart clenched with pain, "you didn't trust me, had doubts about who I..." he paused, pain flashing in his young eyes, before he shook his head, "forget it. It doesn't matter."

Lily moved forward, so she was kneeling in front of Harry.

"Not even for a single moment, did we have any doubts whatsoever, that you were our son." she said.

Harry stared at her.

"But, that man, he said-"

"Moody is an idiot." James cut him off, "he was being his usual paranoid self. Take no notice of him in the future."

Harry's eyes narrowed.

"He was pointing a wand at me. Kind of hard to not notice that."

The room hushed to silence. James' gaze darted to Harry's robe pocket, where he knew the wand was hidden. Lily looked conflicted, before she moved forward, lips parting to speak.

"Harry, I-"

"MUM!"

Damien's shout came from upstairs.

Lily paused, her face turned to the door.

"What is it, Damy?"

"Come here!" came the reply.

Lily got to her feet.

"Give me five minutes," she said to Harry, "I'll get Damy to his bed first." she smiled and brushed a hand through Harry's hair before turning to the door.

James and Harry were left in the living room. For the first few minutes, no one said anything. Then, bracing himself, James edged closer to Harry.

"Where did that wand come from?"

Harry raised his head to look at him.

"You mean who made it?" he shrugged, "not sure."

"No," James closed his eyes, shaking his head a little, "I meant where did it come from? How did you get it?"

"Oh," Harry shifted in his seat, "I had it with me, the night I...came back."

"You had the wand with you, all this time?" James asked.

Harry nodded, the lie sticking to the back of his mouth, like syrup. He did his best not to grimace and give himself away. Luckily, James was too preoccupied to notice.

"I never thought you would already have a wand." he said, looking pained, "that day, at Diagon Alley, you were looking to Ollivanders like you wanted a wand."

Harry swallowed, shifting to face his dad.

"I was just curious if my wand came from that...that shop."

James' eyes widened.

"You don't know who made your wand?"

Harry shook his head. At least this was true. He had been presented with a selection of wands, all of which had failed to work. Then his father had stopped, smiled and went off to return a day later, with this one. He had handed it to him, remarking 'this one will choose you. I know it will.' Of course, he had been right. The wand glowed as soon as Harry touched it, shooting out red sparks.

Harry closed his eyes, forcing the memory back, not wanting to remember how warmly his father had smiled at him then. The glint in those red eyes as he beamed with pride. 'Brother wands, how fitting...'

"Harry?"

Harry snapped his head up, blinking.

"Yeah?"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Harry shook his head, "nothing at all."

James studied him with concerned eyes. His hand lifted to rake gently through Harry's hair.

"You sure, son? You look a little...lost?"

Harry smiled. Lost. That was one way of putting how he felt.

"I'm just...tired." he mumbled.

James nodded but he didn't send him off to bed. He continued to sit, in strained silence.

"That, um," James shifted uncomfortably, "that was a very impressive display; the way you transfigured the glass into a vial." he nodded, "it was...surprising."

Harry only nodded.

James looked at him, studying him with intense eyes.

"You're really good at Transfiguration," he commented, "you must get that from me," he smiled, "I found a had a knack for Transfiguration at my very first lesson."

Harry simply nodded, preferring not to say anything.

"Of course, I was older than you before I even had a wand." James said, "I had a training wand, but I broke so many my father refused to get me anymore," he shook his head, smiling at past memories, "but even I couldn't have done what you did at such a young age." his hazel gaze roamed Harry's face, "can you do other spells? Or is it just Transfiguration?"

Harry was lost. He hadn't expected this from his dad. He was mentally preparing himself for a telling off. He thought his dad would be angry at the magic he had performed tonight. But instead, his dad was asking what else he could do?

"I...um," Harry shifted again, pulling at the collars of his robes, "I don't know," he shrugged, "I can do other...stuff."

"Other stuff?" James raised his eyebrows, a smile tugged at one corner of his mouth, "what kind of stuff?"

Again, Harry shrugged.

"I don't know, spells and hexes," he started, "like for duelling and things."

Now, James' eyebrows shot up so high, they disappeared behind the messy bangs that fell onto his forehead.

"Really?" he asked, "what spells and hexes do you know?"

Harry stared at James, trying to figure him out. He didn't look angry, but Harry knew he should be. His dad should be freaking out that Voldemort had taught him magic, so why was he sitting so calmly, and grinning at him like that?

"I...uh, I know most of them." Harry replied.

James threw back his head and laughed, the sound and sight startled Harry.

"Most of them?" James asked, his eyes gleamed in amusement, "I know that's not true. I don't even know most of them and I'm a fully fledged Auror."

"Well, yeah, I mean, I don't know all of them, but...but I know quite a few duelling hexes." Harry revised.

"Defensive or?"

"Both." Harry replied.

"I see." James seemed a little more subdued now. He took a moment before he spoke. "Can I see your wand?"

Harry stiffened. He glanced warily at his dad.

"I...I don't think-"

"I only want to see it." James assured. "I'm curious."

Harry paused before slowly reaching into his pocket and pulling the stick out. He held it in his hand, silently relishing the rush of warmth it brought to him. He glanced to his dad's outstretched hand and had to force himself to place his wand into the waiting hand.

James held it up, studying it with curious eyes.

"It looks like an Ollivander wand," James said, "same high quality, flawless craftsmanship." he looked to Harry, "very nice."

Harry suddenly had the mental picture of his dad snapping his wand in two. He could actually see it happen and it brought a heart-wrenching shudder to him. He had to suppress the urge to grab the wand.

But all James did was give the wand a last sweeping glance before holding it out for Harry to take. Surprised that his dad was giving it back, Harry took the wand and pocketed it, all the while staring at him.

"What?" James asked.

"Nothing," Harry swallowed heavily again, "it's just...I thought...I thought you would get...angry."

"Angry?" James frowned, "about what?"

Harry avoided meeting his gaze.

"That I know magic."

"You're a wizard, Harry," James smiled, "why wouldn't you know magic?"

"I meant, you might get angry that I learned magic, from...from him."

James stilled, the smile vanished. He stared at Harry for a long moment, making the child wish he hadn't said anything. Then, with a sigh, he dropped his head, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm not angry," he assured, "not at you anyway. How can I hold anything against you? None of this is your fault." he said, "if anything, it's my fault. I was the one who failed to protect you. It was my friend that took you away." his eyes hardened as guilt filled them, "everything that's happened to you, whatever it is that you've been through, it all comes down to me. I'm the one to blame, not you."

Harry gave a small nod. He didn't believe him. How could it be that whatever he had done would become his dad's fault?

"I am annoyed at you though." James said.

Harry snapped his head up to look at him.

"What?" he asked, his heart beating fast, "why?"

"You didn't listen to me," James said, "at Frank's, when I asked you to hand over your wand, you didn't listen. You answered me back."

Harry swallowed heavily. He didn't like that look in his dad's eyes. It was terrifyingly similar to the glint he remembered in his childhood memories of 'James Potter', the one that would tell him how disappointed he was, right before he was hurt. Warily, Harry's gaze travelled to James' hands, watching them, tensing at the slightest twitch.

"I hope next time, when I ask you to do something, you respect me enough to do it. It was rather embarrassing having my own son tell me 'no' in a room full of my friends." James continued.

Harry couldn't answer. He was horribly aware of how close he was sitting. If his dad struck him, he would have no space to dodge the blow.

"Harry?"

The hands moved and Harry flinched. But both hands simply moved to each of Harry's shoulders, the grip warm and comforting, not brutal in anyway.

"Harry, hey? What's wrong?"

Harry finally dared to look up, only to see concern and confusion on his dad's face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" James asked, "you're sweating," he touched Harry's brow, where beads of perspiration had gathered, "what-what happened? What's wrong?"

Harry managed a tight smile, mentally berating himself. His dad wouldn't hit him, not even to 'drive home the message', like the dad in his childhood used to. That was Voldemort, not James.

"Nothing," Harry lied, "I'm just...I'm...sorry," he struggled with the simple word, "I didn't mean to embarrass you."

James smiled, but his eyes still had confusion and concern in them, as he studied Harry.

"That's okay," he said, giving his shoulder a comforting squeeze. "just don't do it again. I was afraid Moody would do something stupid if you didn't lower your wand."

"He shouldn't have aimed at me," Harry said, "I was only defending myself."

James nodded.

"I do understand," he said, "but Moody is an experienced Auror. You are a ten year old child," he smiled warmly, "however skilled you may think you are, you wouldn't have stood a chance against Moody."

Harry's lips turned upwards into a small, proud smile.

"You reckon?"

James smiled.

"Yeah, I do."

Harry shrugged, giving a playful little sigh.

"It's a shame, how deluded you are."

"Is that so?" James asked, both eyebrows raised, "alright, little scamp, how about a duel then?"

Harry's eyes sparkled at once.

"Against you?"

"Scared?" James challenged, "come on then, show your old man what tricks you've learned."

Harry turned a little solemn, but the proposition of a duel was much too exciting to dampen his mood for long.

"For real?" he asked.

"For real." James confirmed.

Harry looked around the room.

"We can't duel in here." he said, gesturing to the small living room.

James glanced to the window.

"How about the garden?"

Harry grinned.

"Let's go."

xxx

"First we bow," James said, bending at the waist, "can't forget our manners, even when duelling." he winked.

Harry sniggered but obliged, bowing slightly, keeping his eyes fixed on his dad. His cloak fell about him, the one James had insisted Harry wore to protect against the cold chill.

"Alright son," James gestured to himself with both hands, "give it to me."

Harry shook his head

"I don't take the first shot."

James stilled, the mirth disappearing from him in an instant.

"Sorry?"

Harry tried his best to remain composed.

"In all the duelling lessons I've had, I've never taken the first shot."

James looked marginally calmer, but his pallor had turned almost white.

Harry berated himself. He had to watch himself, otherwise his dad would find out he wasn't trained to duel for educational purposes only.

"Okay," James gave himself a shake, as if to clear the awkward moment, "I'll start then."

Harry planted his feet on the grass, wand gripped in one hand, eyes focused on his dad.

"Go for it."

James took in a breath, locked his gaze with Harry and lifted his wand to aim at him.

"Expelliarmus!"

Harry ducked and the spell flew over his head and hit the tree, upsetting a nearby cat.

Harry raised himself, grinning.

"A disarming spell?" he asked, "what are you, eight?"

James looked affronted.

"Oh? So let's see your skill set, genius."

Harry squared his shoulders, raised his wand and shot out his first spell.

"Immobulus!"

Harry's freezing charm soared through the air and would have hit James square in the chest if it wasn't for the shield that he had conjured. The force of the spell still had James stagger a step or two back. He looked up at Harry, first with surprise, then with a beaming smile.

"Bloody hell," he breathed, "that was some force behind that spell."

Harry just shrugged, but couldn't help smile back.

James straightened up, shoulders squared, feet apart, taking the duel a little more seriously now.

"Locomotor Mortis!" James yelled.

Harry side stepped to avoid it.

"Oi!" James yelled, but he was laughing heartily, "you can't just step to the side."

"Why not?" Harry asked.

"Because...because..." James was struggling to think of something, "because it makes me look stupid, that's why!"

Harry grinned.

"I can't stop the inevitable."

"Why you cheeky little..." James took aim and sent another curse, "Petrificus Totalus!"

Harry ducked again, chuckling as his dad sent another two curses at him, which he avoided by diving to the ground.

"Reducto!" he aimed at Damien's football, lying forgotten under a tree. The ball flew back and hit James, square in the stomach, winding him.

"Oof!" James doubled over. The wand in his hand was suddenly wrenched out of his grip. Panting, James looked up to see his ten year old, holding both wands and wearing a victorious grin.

"You're disarmed." he stated, "I win."

James straightened up.

"No, no, no," he waved his hands about, "I demand a rematch!"

Harry shrugged.

"Okay," he threw James back his wand, "I don't mind how many times I beat you."

James stood tall.

"I was being soft on you," he said, "now, all bets are off."

Harry sniggered again.

"Yeah, yeah."

They started their playful duel again, with James yelling and bright flashes of spells lighting up the back garden. Lily stood at the door, watching father and son as they laughed and ducked and dived from each others spells. Looking at them now, it didn't seem like there was any tension between them, or that Lily had walked in on James trying to interrogate information out of Harry. Lily smiled, her heart swelled with happiness at the sight of James and Harry laughing, getting along.

She watched as James finally gave up on duelling and threw his wand to the ground, choosing to confront Harry physically instead. Harry let out a surprised yelp as James tackled him to the ground, pinning him to the grass.

"Ow! Dad! No, this is...this is cheating!" Harry yelled, still laughing as he wrestled against James.

"I don't care." James returned, with a beaming smile.

Lily muttered a prayer under her breath, asking for her family to remain like this; happy, laughing and together and that no evil eye should befall her family again.

xxx

The torches flickered to life, in one big burst of flames. They cast an eerie glow across the darkened chamber. Tonight, there were only three people in this chamber. Three people and a giant serpent, curled under her master's chair. Snakes don't have expressions. But still, one look at Nagini tonight and anyone would swear the serpent looked miserable. She too, was mourning the loss of her young master.

Bella stood, watching the serpent with her dark, heavy-lidded eyes. She had seen Nagini and Harry talking many times, their hissing a strange comforting noise in the background when she was busy carrying out her master's bidding. She too could see the effect Harry's disappearance left on the serpent. And as strange as it was, Bella found herself getting jealous and annoyed.

Nagini only had Harry in her company once, maybe twice in the month. She, on the other hand, was with Harry constantly. She taught him lessons daily. She accompanied him at the table if Lord Voldemort wasn't home. She was the one who attended to any tiny scrapes or scratches Harry may get during training. She was the one who would get up in the middle of the night and tiptoe to his room, to ensure Harry was sleeping soundly. She was the one who had neither slept nor ate anything properly since Harry had left. It was she that felt the loss stab her in the heart she had forgotten she had. It was she that cared, not that stupid snake!

Nagini lifted her head and turned to look at Bella, as if she could feel her thoughts. The forked tongue flickered out and a gentle hiss rang in the chamber but that was the extent of it. Nagini put her head back down, curling tighter and lay still.

"Bella?"

Bella snapped her gaze to her master.

"Yes, my Lord?"

"Having a staring contest with Nagini would be foolish," Voldemort said, "she had no eyelids."

Bella only nodded and dropped her head.

"My Lord," Lucius, the third and last person in the chamber, addressed his master, "I have it in good faith that...that Harry is...he's settling down with the Potters."

Bella felt that stab in her chest getting tighter, the pain peaking until she felt like she couldn't breathe. She shook her head. How could Harry just leave like that? How could he stay away for so long? Didn't he know he belonged here?

"Have patience, Lucius," Voldemort said, seated in his chair, calm and composed, "Harry's living a dream right now. But sooner or later, he's going to have to wake up and when he does, he'll return home."

"My Lord," Lucius bowed, "and if...if he doesn't?"

Voldemort turned to look at him, red eyes sharpening a fraction.

"Are you doubting me?"

"No, my Lord," Lucius protested, "I could never dream of such insolence." he raised his head a little, "but pardon me for saying, the Dark Prince is stubborn and strong willed. What if he makes it work? What if he manages to stay with the Potters?"

"He won't." it was Bella who spoke, needing to say the words out loud, to convince herself as much as Lucius. "He needs to come home, he will come home."

"Indeed, Bella," Voldemort smiled, "he will indeed."

Frustration was beginning to show on the blond aristocrat. His hands fidgeted with his snake-headed cane and his pale complexion was now tinged with pink.

"The Dark Lord knows best," he said, "but what if the Minister or that fool Dumbledore harass Harry for information? Yaxley and Brentford have reported that Harry has already made one visit to the Ministry. What if information is forced out of him?"

There was a hiss in the chamber as Nagini raised her head and bared her fangs. At the same time, Bella made a spitting noise.

"No one will dare do anything to the Dark Prince!" Bella stated, "I will rip them to shreds first!"

Lucius focused his attention on the Dark Lord. He knew his sister-in-law was insane at best of times. When emotionally distressed, she was downright crazy. He waited for Lord Voldemort to address his worries.

"Harry won't say anything to anyone about us." he assured, "if he was, he would have done so by now. Like you said, my son is stubborn and strong willed. Nothing can break him. Besides, Potter will shelter him, deluded by the notion that he can protect him." he scoffed. "Let them live in foolish fantasies for a while longer. It will only help."

"How?" Lucius couldn't stop himself. "How will this help?"

Voldemort straightened up in his seat, red eyes burning.

"Nine years," he stated, "for nine years, we have led Harry, step-by-step, feeding him the information needed to shape him, to make him strong and loyal." he met Lucius' gaze, "but imagine if Harry decides to come back on his own. No more memory charms, no more struggles of keeping the truth from him. When those mud-blood loving fools realise Harry isn't an innocent boy, when they learn Harry has already taken a life, they will turn on him. They will cast Harry aside and then Harry will believe, truly believe he has nowhere else to go, but here. Then, Lucius, Harry's loyalty will be ironclad. He will never waver from my side and he will do as I say because he knows that I am the only one that will accept him and his darkness."

Lucius nodded.

"You're right, my Lord," he said, "but time is slipping past us. Tomorrow will mark one month since Harry..." he trailed off, unable to say the words, 'left us'.

Voldemort's eyes flashed but his cruel smile remained fixed.

"Harry will come back," he assured again, "I thought he would have been half way home by now, but no matter. He only needs a slight nudge in the right direction," his smile widened, "and I know just the push he needs."

xxx

"The what?" Harry asked, blinking in surprise.

"The circus," Lily repeated, "oh come on, don't look at me like that. It'll be fun."

"A muggle circus?" Harry shook his head, "what's so fun about that?"

"Petunia took Dudley to the circus last year and he loved it." Lily said, trying to button up Damien's coat, but the boy was adamant he was going to do it himself.

"I can do it, I can do it." the seven year old repeated the mantra as his little fingers fiddled with the buttons.

Lily turned to Harry.

"It'll be nice, James got the day off work, the whole family will be together," she tilted her head to the side, giving him a pleading look, "can you pretend to be excited? Please?"

Harry smiled, shaking his head at her.

"How would that help? You would know I'm being fake."

"At least I would get to see what you look like when you're excited." Lily replied.

Harry rolled his eyes but flashed her a big smile nevertheless.

"I'll get my coat." he said, turning to go upstairs.

"Harry?" Lily called, "it's a muggle circus, so no wands needed."

Harry faltered, mouth opening to argue.

"The only one taking his wand is your dad." Lily said, "even I'm leaving my wand behind."

Harry shut his mouth and gave a curt nod.

"Fine, I'll leave it behind." he promised and went upstairs.

xxx

When Harry came back downstairs, he slowed down at the sight of the dark haired man, waiting in the hallway.

"Hi Harry," Sirius beamed, "how do I look?" he held out his hands to either side, showing off his jeans and hoodie. "Do I look like a Sirius muggle?" he chuckled at his own joke.

Harry forced himself down the rest of the stairs.

"You're not coming with us, are you?" he asked, hoping against hope the answer was no.

"Of course I'm coming!" Sirius laughed, "did you think I was going to miss the trip to a muggle circus? Who do you think I am? Remus?"

Harry didn't say anything but his previous, albeit strained, excitement fizzled away at the thought of Sirius with them. He knew it wasn't fair. He knew Sirius had done nothing to warrant his dislike, but no matter how hard he tried, Harry just couldn't get comfortable around him.

James walked out of the room, head bowed as he counted the strange notes, his wallet tucked under his arm.

"Forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty. Lily? Is One Thousand and Fifty pounds enough for the circus?"

"Oh, for goodness sake!" Lily rushed out behind him, grabbed the wad of cash, rifled through it and handed James a thin pile, "there, that's more than enough." she took away the rest mumbling, "Honestly, a thousand? I'm going to have to get this exchanged again...the rates I'm going to have to pay! All for what? Men!"

James turned to look at Sirius and Harry.

"Thank God, I was going to exchange Two Thousand first."

xxx

The circus was like nothing Harry had ever seen. There were colourful tents set up, wooden stalls that sold balloons, toys, food and drinks were situated between the tents. One tent had acrobats, doing all sorts of death defying tricks, the other had a boneless woman, twisting and bending her body into all sorts of inhumane positions. But the one Harry and his family enjoyed the most, was the Magician's show. The muggle in a cape with an enormous hat, from which he pulled out rabbits and flowers and all sorts of rubbish. Harry and Damien had tears of laughter, watching him.

"That's...that's what they call magic?" Harry was in hysterics, "oh, God! I can't breathe!"

James had to shush him repeatedly, albeit barely holding back his own laughter.

"Give the poor muggle a break." he whispered.

After the show, which had left Harry and Damien gasping for breath, the Potters and Sirius went outside to wander from stall to stall, pointing out all the weird and wonderful muggle trinkets. Lily held back at the one selling jewellery, while all four males hurried away from her.

"Dad! Look!" Damien pointed to the Ferris wheel, among other rides set up behind the tents. "Can I go on it? Please, please, please?"

James looked to Harry.

"Whatcha say, Harry?" he asked, "you wanna go on the rides?"

Harry shook his head.

"No, I don't like getting dizzy."

"I love getting dizzy!" Damien hopped at the spot. "Please, please, please!"

"Alright, pup, alright," Sirius reached down and grabbed the boy around the middle, hoisting him up. "Let's go get dizzy and throw up."

"Yay!" Damien cried, throwing both arms around Sirius' neck.

Sirius carried Damien away, leaving Harry behind to stare at them with something akin to longing, hidden in his eyes.

xxx

James and Harry worked their way through all the food stalls. When they got to the balloon one, James stopped and stared at the animal shapes.

"Which one you want, Harry?"

"I'm ten, dad," Harry pointed out, "I don't want balloon animals."

"Come on, choose one," James urged, digging his hand into his trousers pocket to pull out the paper money, "Damien's probably going to want the dog, what about you?"

Harry glanced over at the assorted, colourful balloons.

"The giraffe will do." he said.

James grinned and bought the two balloons, handing the string for the Giraffe-shaped one to Harry.

"There you go."

Harry took it, feeling like a right idiot.

"I wonder where you mother's at?" James said, scanning the area, "she's going to be annoyed at me for leaving her at that stall."

"Go find her," Harry said, "I'll wait here."

James shook his head.

"Come with me."

"Dad, it's fine." Harry said, reading the unspoken worry in his eyes, "nothing's going to happen to me. I'll wait here. I can't be bothered to walk all the way back, looking for mum. I'll wait here and you go find her."

James didn't look happy.

"It's fine, your mum will find us-"

"Go," Harry urged, "trust me, I'll be fine."

Finally, James moved back a step.

"Stay right here, at this exact spot, okay?"

Harry smiled,

"Feet are glued to the ground." Harry assured.

James smiled and darted back, weaving his way through the crowd. Harry let out a sigh and looked up at his balloon.

"I'm setting you free, Mr Giraffe." he said, then paused, "I'm talking to a balloon. What is wrong with me?"

With a shake of his head, Harry let go and the yellow giraffe-shaped balloon soared in the air, the gentle breeze picked it up and whisked it away.

Harry let out another sigh and glanced around. Not sticking to his word, Harry moved forward a few steps, admiring the trinkets set up on the closest stall. He moved forward only a few paces when he saw another stall, but this one was set up differently.

Firstly, it was a table, small and round and it had two wooden stools perched opposite each other. One one stool was a young woman, blonde and worried looking, clutching her handbag to her chest as she sat uncomfortably. Her hand was placed palm up on top of the table, clutched in the hands of a dark-skinned women, with wild curly black hair. Harry couldn't help stare at the dark-skinned woman. She was young, dressed in a pale yellow skirt and top, baring her midriff. Gold coloured discs dangled from her skirt and top, glistening every time the sunlight caught them. Harry wondered how the woman wasn't freezing in those clothes.

The woman was sitting with her head bowed, seemingly deep in concentration as the blonde woman looked more and more anxious. Suddenly, the dark-skinned woman stopped, snapping her head up, as if she had caught the scent of something. Her head turned in Harry's direction and her dark eyes met Harry's. She stopped, frozen in mid action, the blonde woman's hand still clutched in hers. It was as if she had turned to stone, her unblinking gaze fixed on Harry. Then suddenly, she smiled, revealing a flash of white teeth. She let go of the woman's hand, ignored her completely and sauntered up to Harry.

"My, my," she licked her lips as she scanned him from head to foot, "aren't you a delicious sight?"

"Excuse me?" Harry asked.

She smiled at him, moving to circle him. Her every movement brought a clinking chime as the gold discs on her skirt danced into each other.

"Your Aura," she said in a breathless voice, "it's like nothing I've seen before."

Harry narrowed his eyes.

"You're a witch?"

The woman stopped, looking affronted.

"Good heavens boy, no!" she protested, "I'm Gazelle, a Gypsy," she bowed before him, "real and in the flesh."

Harry smirked.

"A Gypsy?" he asked, "aren't you supposed to be...extinct?"

The Gypsy's dark eyes flashed with something akin to anger and she licked her lips again before smiling.

"Almost, child, almost," she said, "we've been driven out, but a few still remain, dwelling between Hell and Earth," she came to stand close to Harry, "survival is difficult, but we make do," she leaned in closer to him, her gaze dancing all over him, "mostly by devouring magic, such as yours, but your Aura," she took in a shuddering breath, "it's mouth-wateringly delicious."

Harry stepped back, his eyes cold and jaw set.

"Nice try," he scoffed, "but I know how you work. You can't take anyone's magic, they have to give it to you by their freewill."

The Gypsy shrugged.

"Technically, yes," she admitted, "now you know why we're almost extinct," she laughed; a tinkling sound much like the chime that echoed with her every move, "but no matter. The ones that know how to survive, like me, always find a way."

"Oh?" Harry mocked, "how's that?"

Gazelle moved closer, her curly black hair framed her face as she tilted her head to stare at Harry.

"Here, take this." she held up a coin.

"Thanks, but I have plenty of money." Harry replied.

She grinned again, the white of her teeth contrasting with her dark skin.

"This will be your most prized possession," she said, "you will need it, oh boy, will you need it," she chuckled, "and it will be your only way."

Harry rolled his eyes.

"I've had enough." he moved to leave but Gazelle had suddenly closed in on him, so close, her peppermint breath caressed his cheek when she spoke.

"I've read the lines on your brow, boy," she said, "trust me, your fate is not kind." she pressed the cold coin into Harry's hand. "Take it and use it when you need me."

"Need you?" Harry asked, "why would I need you?"

She took Harry by the shoulders and leaned in to whisper in his ear.

"To help you, of course."

Harry backed away from her.

"Help? From you?" he scoffed, "I'm a wizard, I don't need help, and from a Gypsy no less." he flicked the coin back which Gazelle caught, effortlessly.

"Be not so arrogant, child," she said, "I can do what you cannot."

"Yeah?" Harry crossed his arms, "like what?"

The Gypsy smiled, rolling the coin in her fingers.

"I can do what you can't," she repeated, walking towards him, "magic is one that is unrestricted, limitless. There are no rules when it comes to magic," she scoffed lightly, "but you wizards and your endless rules. You build barriers that trap you. But Gypsies can do what wizards can't. We can tear open the sky, rule the Earth, break anything, possess anything, manipulate everything, living-" she came to stop in front of Harry, "or dead." she pushed the coin into his hand again and turned to walk away.

"You're wrong," Harry said behind her, "you can't manipulate death. No spell can bring back the dead."

She chuckled as she turned back around.

"My dear, sweet child. Who said anything about spells?"

She smiled at Harry's silence and turned around to walk away.

"Keep it, you're going to need it." she said and just like that, she disappeared into the crowd.

Harry glanced down at the strange coin, sitting in his palm. It was a Talisman, bronze, no bigger than a Galleon. It had strange engraving etched on both sides and a two-headed serpent in the middle. Harry snorted at it.

"Need it, my arse." he flicked the coin so it landed in the bin, a foot away.

He turned around to walk away, just in time as he saw his mum and dad approaching. So engrossed was Harry in his parents that he never noticed the man, half hidden behind one of the tents, staring at him. The long blond hair had been pulled back into a pony-tail. Dressed in jeans and a top, the pure-blooded Lucius Malfoy could easily pass for a muggle. But Lucius didn't have the time to worry about his appearance. He had a mission to complete.

"That's him," Lucius pointed to Harry, "take a good look at him."

The boy standing next to him nodded, a glazed look in his eyes. Lucius' wand took it's aim, hidden from view by the long sleeve of his top. He strengthened the Imperius as he spoke directly to the sixteen year old muggle.

"You are to provoke that boy," Lucius instructed, as the charmed muggle nodded, "you are to continue provoking him," he said, "until he kills you."

xxx