AN: Happy New Years to everyone. I hope you enjoy the new chapter. Review and I will update soon. Harry will be eleven soon and school.

Harry settled into his new family and really began to flourish. His Uncle Moony taught him his non-magical studies, while the paintings, Nicholas and Pandora worked with him on his elemental. His work with animals was encouraged. Though his cats and chickens were his only pets, the phoenixes often came to visit. Nicholas never sent them, they seemed drawn to Harry, and liked to visit the child. Even Fawkes had been known to come. Nicholas was working with Harry to be able to hide his powers from the likes of Albus. Though reluctant, his Uncles wanted him able to attend Hogwarts one day. It was the family school and Albus would not drive him from it. The school was literally in his blood. Few people knew, or would suspect as most were Slytherins, but the Blacks were the descendants of Godric. It was where their power stemmed from.

Harry was about to turn ten and a year away from starting school. He was still very close to Luna and Draco who were his closest friends. He had also got to know a few like Susan and Neville. His Uncles Sirius and Reg both officially did work for Moody, and knew Augusta and Lord Bones well. Harry was excited for the first time he was getting a chance to travel. Lady Krum had come for visits but they had been invited to come.

Harry was excited. "Can we go? Can we go?"

Sirius smiled. "I have never seen you so anxious."

Regulus agreed. "Not even Christmas."

Harry reminded them. "They have hawks and horses and…"

Sirius ruffled his curls. "Draco would be more excited Viktor is a quidditch player."

Harry smiled. "Well maybe we can fly too."

Remus just laughed. "May learn a few tricks from him."

Harry looked to him. "I wish you were coming."

Remus hugged him. "I will be there for your birthday cub."

Sirius added. "And you have the cool uncle coming anyways."

Harry had a coy smile. "Yes, couldn't leave Uncle Reg behind."

Regulus grinned. "Always knew he had good taste."

Sirius grumbled. "Has spent too much time with my mother."

Remus handed them a portkey. "I will see you in a few weeks."

Harry had been told that Remus was staying to do some work which was true. He would join them for Harry's birthday, coming with the Malfoys. In the years since they were reunited with him, none had missed his birthday. Harry was being allowed to take Buttertail and Rummy with him. He had been told he could choose two cats. Buttertail had always been his favorite, his first cat. He loved Mr. Paws and Snowy but ever since Rummy saved him, he had a new bond. They wondered how Harry would handle when one of his cats passed away. Arabella had fortunately made him understand early on. He had done well when the chickens had died. They had replaced chickens as they went along. Harry liked caring for them and training them was good with his magic as well. Even when old, the chickens never got eaten, they always died naturally. Harry didn't have a problem with eating store bought chicken, or their eggs, but his pet chickens were another matter.

The Krums were waiting for them when they arrived. Harry had only met Nadia, not her husband and son. Viktor was fourteen and at Durmstang, but already had promise to be a professional player one day. They knew Durmstang or Beauxbautons would be an option for Harry but wouldn't.

Nadia smiled when they arrived. "I am happy you guys accepted."

Sirius shook her hand. "Thank you for having us."

Harry was bouncing. "Can I see the Hawks? And the horses and…."

Regulus laughed. "As you can see he was not certain about coming."

Borden laughed. "Reminds me of our own son."

Viktor looked at Harry. "Come with me kiddo and I will show you the hawks."

Harry beamed. "Draco said I need to get you to show me how to fly."

"From what I hear, you are pretty good already."

Harry smiled. "But I want to get better."

Viktor lead him off. "We will work on that too."

Nadia smiled. "Viktor has been well instructed by Draco on what to teach him."

Sirius shook his head. "If there is anything he likes near as much as animals, it is flying."

Regulus agreed. "Wonder if it has to do with his bird friends as much as his cousin."

Nadia actually agreed. "Viktor often finds it easier to connect with the Hawks when he flies too."

Viktor was a half veela through his mother. Nadia had of course been introduced to Harry at the suggestion of Pandora. Veela were not elementals in the human sense but they did have their own link to nature. For an earth elemental like Harry, the similarities were strong. Powers though passed mainly from mother to daughter in the veela. Though he didn't look like his mother, Viktor did inherit a bit. Neither mother nor son could communicate with the animals like Harry, but they did have a link. Nadia could see through their eyes with the ones she was linked, her son to a limited extent. Harry had differing levels. Beyond his cats, he wasn't able to have conversations with animals, except for magical animals like the phoenixes. The chickens and other animals simply understood him when he asked them to do things. As his power grew, his connection and ability with animals was growing. They thought he would adopt a zoo of animals if allowed, he loved exploring different animals.

Harry was in sheer heaven as he was taken out into the stables and the area with the hawks. He loved horses and riding, but he knew he didn't bond with horses well. Uncle Luc had them and he didn't connect more than any other rider. But he was always fascinated by birds.

Viktor showed him the Hawks. "Father taught me when I was a bit younger than you."

Harry looked at the birds. "Does he have a bond?"

"No, dad is a full human. He just likes working with them."

"I am a full human too." Harry reminded him.

"A pretty special one." Viktor agreed/

Harry blushed. "I guess/"

Viktor brought out a hawk. "This is mine, his name is…."

"Hunter, you call him."

Viktor smiled. "I do."

Harry watched the bird. "Nicholas uses the birds real names."

"Unfortunately I can't ask them."

Harry stroked the bird. "It's okay, he seems happy with your name for him."

Viktor wondered. "Can you speak to him?"

Harry shook his head. "I can understand him a bit, but not like my cats or the phoenixes."

Mentally he could communicate with his cats and phoenixes, ask questions and converse. Most animals he could get them to listen but he couldn't understand what they were thinking. He could pick up on emotions sometimes. The hawks it was mainly emotions but he got an image here or there. The hawk did have his own name, but he seemed happy with Viktor's nickname for him, so Harry didn't tell the older boy the real name.

Borden came for them. "We should show Harry his room and have lunch."


Harry was having a great time in Bulgaria. He was working with Viktor and his dad with the hawks. He liked the birds and wanted to learn more. His Uncles vetoed him taking one home but he was promised he could come back. He was reminded he'd have an owl for school next year. They wondered how he would take to leaving his cats behind when he went to school. He was getting better about it though. As he got used to his home and family, he didn't see the cats as his only family any more. He was still very bonded with them and the paintings to this day though.

Remus arrived as promised the day before his birthday. He brought not only the Malfoys with him but the Lovegoods had been invited. They weren't at the main manor any more. They had headed to the Krum's summer home on the Black sea in Romania.

Harry was amaze when they had an outing for him the morning. "Where are we going?"

Borden smile. "Do you remember the sanctuary we mentioned?"

Harry was excited. "The dragons? We get to see dragons?"

Sirius nodded. "We thought you guys would all like."

Viktor nodded. "It's cool. Dad is an investor."

Draco beamed. "I haven't gone before."

Luna was a bit spooked but nodded. "I have only seen in books."

Remus watched the kids. "Perfect pick for them."

Sirius agreed. "Harry has read enough books on them."

Regulus laughed. "I think it has a bit more to do with a certain host."

Remus laughed. "He does idolize him."

"I have never seen my cub blush so much. He is a bit young for a crush though…." Sirius worried.

Regulus clapped his brother on the back. "No worries about dating for a few years."

The men shared a smile with Nadia and her husband as they went into the sanctuary. It had not gone missed how much Harry idolized Viktor, or how much he blushed. It was right now more like a big brother and Sirius didn't need to have a heart attack just yet. All three Uncles saw him like a son. None of them were remotely close to being ready for him to be dating age. It was had enough to picture him being ready for school. They knew they had a few years before they had to worry about the girls or boys he may have a crush on for real.

Borden invested in the sanctuary and he had got them a private tour. They got to see some of the big dragons from a distance but there was a hatchling area and they were able to spend some hands on time with the baby dragons in the area.

Luna was surprised when she saw someone. "Charlie."

Harry looked at her. "You know him?"

Luna nodded. "He is Ginny's big brother, one of them."

Sirius looked at Remus. "Good thing he is disguised."

Remus agreed. "I don't like to think Molly or her kids a risk…."

"But we know Albus speaks to them." Lucius finished.

Charlie spotted them and came over. "Hey Luna."

Luna smiled. "Ginny told me you were working with dragons."

Charlie nodded. "I moved last month, studying to be a vet and working with the babies."

Harry smiled. "Oh. Do they breathe fire yet?"

Charlie knelt. "Not until they get a bit bigger."

"Will they get big as those?"

Charlie took Harry and let him hold a little one. "Did you see the ridgeback?"

Harry nodded. "He was my favorite."

Charlie motioned. "This is a baby one."

Charlie took the kids to see some of the other babies. Harry was delighted when he got to name the baby ridgeback when they learned it was his birthday. Charlie was quite good with the kids and all three quite liked him. Remus and Sirius thought Charlie was a lot like his Uncles, especially Fabian, who they were both close to. They had not allowed Harry to be introduced to the Weasleys yet. He would know them at school but for now they were cautious. But with his disguise Charlie was no concern and the kids all had so much fun with him.

Back at the manor the party was on the beach. Draco asked. "You have been flying right?"

Viktor looked serious. "Flying? You wanted me to take him flying?"

Draco took him seriously. "You were supposed to. He needs to be a seeker."

Viktor laughed. "Do you think I didn't get him on a broom?"

Harry agreed. "Every day."

Sirius looked at Lucius. "They will be vying for brooms for school."

Lucius agreed. "Nimbus is coming out with a new one next year."

Narcissa shook her head. "I don't think the boys are alone."

Remus agreed. "Grown children."

Sirius shrugged. "His one obsession I understand."

Regulus smirked. "You understand animals. It is the cat part you don't like."

Sirius grumbled. "Of course Mum had to give him a cat."

The focus went back to the kids and to the party. They were still working on a way for Harry to go to Hogwarts. They had every right to Harry and the ministry had known they had him all of this time. But they didn't need Albus knowing the full extent as it would be more of a risk. Severus and others like Filius would keep Harry safe at school. As long as Harry could hide his powers, they would send him there. Nicholas encouraged it. Within the school, around his family heritage, he would flourish more. It was simply a matter of ensuring his safety.

Everybody cheered as Harry later blew out the candles. "Happy birthday."