I HAVE NOT ABANDONED THIS STORY!!!!!

Dude if I owned it would I live in a bungalow?

I am very sorry about the poor updating; I have had a very bad year and everything has just kind of caught up with me. But upon realising that I started this fic a few years ago now I have a renewed determination to finish it.

I have changed as a person a lot and my writing style has changed but I hope everyone still likes it! Thank you for reading this story, it is the first one I have told to others so it will always be important to me.

STUFF TO KNOW:

"Speaking" (In Japanese)

"Speaking" (In English)

'Thinking'

"Parselmouth"

*Flashback*

The Calm After The Storm.

By AThousandYearsOfPain

Nine

Everything fell back into normality. Excluding the looks that Harry would suddenly be graced with, from the people he had gradually fell into the illusion of family. It was as though they were trying to escape when he was not looking, much of his feeling could be put down to his paranoia and expectations of upcoming loss but that did not change the fact it was how he felt. It was a harsh and bitter emotion that he could almost feel on the back of his mouth surging up from his lungs in a silent scream of loss.

The burst of adrenaline that had borne him through the confession of his not so ideal heritage had long run out, and despite his paranoia of suffering no acceptance, Tohru and the Sohma's had not been able to shock him out of his apathetic stupor. He would only allow himself to talk to Uo, for she could hardly dismiss him as she was from the same world as he was, and Hana for reasons no one could define.

Uo had already tried to reason with his but even she master of all that is violent and yet strangely understanding couldn't get him to see the light. So it was in a desperate plea from Tohru, Uo, Yuki and a hesitant Kyo that sent a campaign Hana into talking to Harry. They had not expected it to go as well as it had.

* Hana sits chewing on a riceball, hoarded from a picnic made by Tohru, under the branches of a tree; a book rests on her lap. On anyone else the scene would have been peaceful, many people it the nearby area shudder and continue with their day oddly remembering scenes from 'the grudge' in an inexplicable terrified manner.

Four teens on a mission work their way towards her, looking determined and ready to use all means possible to force her into doing her duty as Harry's friend. Even Kyo, who secretly missed the annoying wizard, was ready to fight to the death to aid his European friend.

Tohru begins, "Eh, um, Hana, we would like to ask you… what we mean is…"

Uo realises the futility and quickly steps in, "We want you to talk to Harry." The two males stand behind her nodding in acknowledgement to the plea, bravely letting the women do the talking.

Black hair stains a pale forehead as the girl lifts her head up eyes boring into the people facing her, leaving a few seconds before her answer. Anticipation rises before the scary beauty speaks, "Sure." She looks back down at her book.

The world collectively sighs in relief. *

So it was now, a week later from Harry's 'coming out' as a wizard, so to say, that Hana made her move to talk to Harry.

It was a depressing scene she walked in on. Harry sat on his window ledge staring deeply into the night outside as he absently drew spirals into the condensation that rested in the glass. Fabric coated socks peaked out from underneath striped pyjama bottoms, he wore a baggy black top, his hands caressed a red and gold lion embossed scarf. She walked towards him and sat on the floor, her head rested near his feet she waited for him to speak.

"I'm a freak, you know. It killed everyone before. But now…I just wanted to pretend for a while, that I was normal and that the people I care for wouldn't get hurt because of me. And now they know, how can they forgive my selfishness." His voice wobbled and it was at that moment Hana realised, Harry was just a boy. He had had to grow up far to quickly and at some point along the way his emotions got stuck so he had been forced to ignore them but now he was having to face years worth of pain and loneliness, unsurely and depravity.

Her monotone voice did not speak of her understanding, "I nearly killed someone once," Harry looked at her shocked, "Suffering and pain stains you, it goes straight to your heart and there is only one way I have found to wipe away that pain."

Harry's head lifted and looked deeply into her eyes, "What," he was a broken toy; he had discarded himself many years ago. Only kept by others for a purpose for murder and love, and with every breath he took he live on borrowed time because there would be a day when he stopped and breathed one last time in relief.

But now it seemed Hana had come to save him.

"Tohru saved me. She loves you, we all do no matter what you are, what you can do, and if you will have us we are your family. Harry Potter when will you realise you have found a home?"

Realisation hit him like the lightning bolt he wore shamefully on his forehead, he had understood before that they had wanted to help him, for him to talk to them and make them understand. But in the past it had been from people concerned about the Dark Lords effect on him, unaware of their unconscious selfishness, of people who were concerned about a murderer. The ones who did truly care were dead and it had made him feel so old that he had never thought of redemption.

A smile graced his face, the first true one in such a very long time the beauty of it broke Hana's heart, and she waited as he opened his mouth praying he had understood. "Don't tell Arisa that it took you to get it through to me. She's been trying to forever and I just couldn't get it."

Harry stood up pulling the girl up with him, he stiffly moved to the door and down the stairs into the teen filled kitchen. All there paused almost fearfully for him, "I think its time I just have a talk with Tohru."

Whew that was difficult getting back into the flow!

Please review…all questions are welcome and flames will be used to dry my tears! Please don't mistake constructive criticism with flames, those who do in either direction need social lessons!

Review my darling ones….