Disclaimer I do not own Harry Potter and everything recognisable belongs to J K Rowling. Also this story is inspired by 'A Shattered Prophesy' by Project Dark Overlord.

Chapter Twenty One

"What in the name of heaven, did you think you were doing?" screamed James.

"I don't see what all the fuss is about, it was only a duel!"

Harry was looking quite bored as he watched Damien and James shout at each other.

"Only a duel! Only a duel! Merlin Damien, don't you realise how much of a risk you took? I can't believe you would do something so stupid!"

James was red in the face from screaming and momentarily forgot that Harry was in the same room. All three Potters were in James' living quarters at the moment. Damien was equally angry. He had been dragged from the hall by his dad and was now being shouted at just because Malfoy had gotten a beating. He didn't understand how that was a bad thing.

"Dad, please stop with all the risk talk, nothing bad happened. Malfoy only got was coming to him. And anyway, Malfoy's the one who threw two curses at Harry. If Harry hadn't brought up that awesome full body shield, he would have gotten really hurt."

James stopped talking and looked over at Harry, having only realised that his eldest son was still in the room.

"You conjured the full body block again?" he asked Harry quietly.

Harry only responded by meeting James' gaze for a minute and then looked away again.

"What happened? Did anyone say anything to you about it?" James asked thinking how he was going to explain to inquisitive students why a sixteen year old can perform magic that usually can't be performed by most fully grown adults.

"Professor June was ecstatic, I don't think I've ever seen her that happy. She asked Harry to come to the club ever fortnight so that he can teach us." Damien quickly told James before Harry could respond. Harry growled at Damien.

James was shocked. Professor June knew the truth about Harry, and even so, she requested him to come to the club every fortnight. Was she mad?

James looked at Damien again and then turned to Harry.

"What did you say?"

"He said that…"

"Damien! I'm not asking you. Harry can talk for himself." Damien was cut off by James

Damien made a face but didn't interrupt again. James turned back to Harry.

"Well?" he asked.

Harry leaned back against the wall and folded his arms across his chest.

"Maybe" he replied, enjoying the colour drain out of James' face.

"What do you mean by 'maybe' you can't possibly go and teach the rest of the students? How are you going to explain all the advanced dark magic you can do?" James asked.

"I'll them the truth that Lord Voldemort taught me, it's not like they'll believe me anyway." Both James and Damien took in a sharp breath at the mention of the Dark Lord's name.

Harry was enjoying this immensely. He had no intentions of teaching anyone his skills, but watching James freak out at the mere thought of Hogwarts students learning Dark Arts was too good an opportunity to miss. Damien had caught on as well and had decided to get his dad back for embarrassing him, by dragging him from the Duelling club.

"Yeah, Harry is an instant hit anyway. Everyone is talking about his cool duelling and now everyone is going to want to be taught by him. Professor June said that she would let him do private one-to-one duelling with certain students as well."

Harry and Damien only just stopped themselves laughing out loud as they saw James react to Damien's words. He was standing with his hazel eyes opened wide in shock and had his mouth hanging open.

"She…she said what!"

Damien winkled at Harry and continued.

"Yeah and when Harry said that he would think about it Professor June said that she wouldn't take no for and answer and that she would make sure that Harry attended all the duelling classes."

Harry was watching Damien with new found respect. 'The kid really is going all out with this' he thought to himself.

James didn't say another word and rushed out of the door, stumbling over his own feet as he headed out of the room. He was going to see Professor June. As soon as he left Harry and Damien burst out laughing. It was the first time that Harry had laughed properly, since getting captured by the Order. Damien laughed along with Harry and only realised afterwards that this was the first time he had heard Harry laugh. Both boys calmed down and just looked at each other, not quite sure of what to say to one another.

"That was some white lies you told there." Harry said at last.

"Yeah, well he deserved that, can you imagine what he'll say to Professor June? Then when he finds out that we were having him on, he'll be so embarrassed." Damien chuckled again.

Harry observed the young boy for a moment before speaking to him.

"You're not afraid of him?" he asked all the while studying at the boy's face for tell tale signs of lies.

"Afraid? Of dad? Why would I be afraid of him? Dad is probably the most laid back father I've ever seen. I know the last couple of months have been rough, but he usually doesn't even tell me off. He really is a cool dad." Damien replied while looking confusedly at Harry. Damien wondered what made Harry think James was a scary father.

Harry seemed to be lost in thought, he looked at Damien once again and Damien felt a chill run though him. It was the first time he saw Harry look at him like that. There was an emotion in Harry's eyes that Damien had never seen before. It almost looked like, envy? 'No that can't be right' thought Damien. Why would Harry look at Damien like that? Damien was beginning to feel nervous as Harry seemed to be lost in thought again.

"Um, Harry? You alright?" he asked.

Harry snapped out of his thoughts and gave Damien a small smile.

"Yeah, just thinking about something." he replied.

Damien was about to say 'well duh' but thought better of it. He asked Harry if he wanted to play exploding snap but Harry told him that he was tired and decided to go to his room. Harry and Damien made their way up to the common room so that they could go to their respective dorms. All the while, Damien wondered about the strange look Harry had given him.

They bumped into James as they were entering the common room. James just looked at Damien and the two boys laughed at how red James was.

"That was so not funny, Damien Jack Potter!" James yelled, but his face was more relaxed, obviously relieved that Harry was not going to be teaching the students the Dark Arts.

"I would have to respectfully disagree dad. That was bloody hilarious."

Both boys chuckled at the bemused looking James, before entering the Gryffindor common room.

As Damien got ready for bed he realised that after being with Harry for nearly one month, Damien still had no idea what kind of life Harry had lived. What his childhood must have been like? All the things that Damien took for granted must have been very different for Harry. As Damien fell asleep he promised to himself that he was going to help Harry enjoy the things that he must have surely missed out on, while growing up. What those things were Damien never got a chance to think abut as his mind drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep.

xxx

The weekend came and with it came the first Quidditch practise. Damien and Ron hurried down to breakfast and were busy talking over the new strategies that they were going to put in place. Ron was the Keeper for Gryffindor and Damien had been made a Chaser last year. Their team captain was a sixth year girl, Angelina Johnson, and their team beaters were none other than Ron's brothers, Fred and George. To keep the Gryffindor Quidditch team an entirely Weasley team, Ginny was the Seeker. The four Weasleys worked well together and had helped win many games. However the Quidditch cup had been won by the Slytherin team for many years now and every year the Gryffindor team worked harder than the rest to win the cup. This year was no exception.

Ron sat down with Damien and helped himself to some cereal while Damien grabbed a slice of toast and started spreading jam on it. Just then they saw a very harassed looking Angelina rushing towards them.

"Hey Angie, what up?" asked Damien as he took in her distraught look.

"You guys are never going to believe what's happened! We've lost Kelly Adamson."

"What!" Ron and Damien exclaimed at the one time.

"I know, it's terrible. Her mum and dad have just split up and she's going to be taken away from Hogwarts at the end of next week. Apparently they're going to be moving abroad and she'll be going to another Wizarding school. It's just horrible!"

Damien and Ron didn't know what was horrible, Kelly's parents splitting up, Kelly having to move to another school or the fact that they were losing one of their Chasers. Knowing Angelina, it was probably the losing a Chaser thing more than anything else.

"We're going to have to cancel the practise and instead at 5pm I'm having tryouts for a new Chaser. I want all of you there it's vital we choose someone the entire team is happy with." Angelina finished looking sadly at her two team mates.

"Err, Angie, don't you think you've not given much of a notice period for tryouts, I mean you've not even given one day. How many people do you expect will turn up at one mornings notice?" Ron said a little hesitantly as Angelina's temper was something he didn't want to risk.

"Ron! We don't have time. Kelly only got the owl yesterday and so I didn't have time to announce this earlier. We only have three weeks before the first game! This calls for desperate measures."

Angelina was a little red in the face as she finished shouting at Ron who only looked back at her with a terrified look on his face. Damien held in his laugh as Angelina stood up and rushed off to find more team mates to deliver the terrible news.

Damien and Ron looked at each other and sighed silently. They knew Angelina was going to get a lot worse before she got better.

After breakfast Damien decided to spend some time with Harry as Ron was dragged up by Hermione to finish some homework that Ron had promised to complete yesterday. Damien saw Harry standing talking to Professor Snape in the corridor. Damien could see Professor Snape looking absolutely livid with Harry. Harry was standing quite relaxed and answering Professor Snape with much ease. 'God I need to learn how to do that' thought Damien as he watched Harry smirk and ridicule Snape. Damien stepped as close as he would dare and caught some of the conversation.

"…I will not tolerate this type of behaviour Mr Potter, you should know by now that I am not someone you can scare." Snape was saying with anger and frustration in his voice.

"Of course not, why would I want to scare the Defence Professor. I mean if I step out of line you might befuddle my mind in actually paying attention to your pointless lectures. Now that is true punishment." Harry replied in his fake innocent voice. Damien stifled a snigger.

"Mr Potter, I am warning you to hold your tongue!" Snape was actually shaking with rage now as pointed a pale white finger at Harry.

"Warning me? What are you going to do Severus? Put me in detention, take away house points. I think we've already established what effect that has on me, and now, if you wish to keep that finger of yours I suggest you put it away." Harry had said the last part with such sweet venom that it brought a shudder to Damien.

Snape looked at Harry dangerously and then without another word, turned and swept down the stairs and was gone. Harry turned around and saw Damien standing a short distance away.

"Merlin Harry, how do you not get scared when he stares at you like that."

Damien hated to admit it but Snape scared him a bit. Even though his dad always told him what a 'greasy git' Snape was, Damien still tried to stay out of the Snape's way.

"That's all he's good for, making strange faces at everyone. He doesn't have the guts to do anything else, so why fear him?" Harry shrugged and walked with Damien.

"Anyway, where were you going?" Harry asked.

"To look for you." Damien answered.

Harry groaned.

"Why? What do you want now?"

"Nothing, actually I was wondering if you wanted to hang out, maybe play something, anything you want really." Damien was hoping that Harry was in a good mood and would give in to Damien.

"Damien, I'm sixteen, I don't want to play anything and especially with you, so bugger off."

Damien smiled as he thought about what Harry said.

"I didn't mean play like a kid's game I meant like…I don't know, anything like, maybe…Quidditch?" Damien decided that even if there was no team practise today, it was still a relatively good day to fly around for a bit.

Harry looked at Damien and then shook his head.

"No, I don't want to."

"Aww Harry come on, it'll be fun."

"Shove off Damien, stop annoying me." Harry glared at Damien and tried to intimidate him into leaving but that never seemed to work with the thirteen year old.

"Look, just half an hour and then you can do whatever you want, promise. I just want to play one game with you." Damien pleaded with Harry.

"Damien!" Harry tried to walk away from the teen put Damien was once again chasing after him like a puppy.

"One game, promise."

Harry stopped and looked at Damien.

"Damien, you won't enjoy playing with me." Harry said a little resignedly.

"Of course I will!" Damien replied, glad that he had talked Harry around into playing Quidditch with him.

"No, Damien you don't understand, I've never played Quidditch before." Harry said without any emotions.

Damien stood still and just stared at his brother. Harry had never played Quidditch before! He didn't know how to play Quidditch! How was that possible? Everyone knew how to play Quidditch. It was just something you grew up knowing to do. It was a natural thing. Not everyone was good at it, mind you, but still it was normal for everyone to know how to play the Wizarding world's best sport. That was when it hit Damien. Harry didn't have a normal upbringing. He wasn't allowed to be a normal kid, who went to Quidditch games and played them in his back yard with his friends. 'Merlin, he probably doesn't even know how to ride a broom' Damien thought and his heart broke at the thought. Damien had played Quidditch from a very young age. His dad being so fanatical about the sport had encouraged him to play from the very beginning.

Damien looked at Harry and felt a lump at the back of his throat.

"You've…you've never played Quidditch before?" Damien asked wanting to be certain he hadn't misunderstood Harry.

"No, but it's not like I really care. It's just a stupid game with pointless flying around. I have better things to do with my time." Harry replied.

The next thing he knew Harry was being led out onto Hogwarts grounds. Harry was stunned into silence as Damien had held onto Harry's hand and had led him out though the main doors. Harry had never had anyone hold his hand like that. The gesture had shocked him into following Damien without really meaning to. Before Harry knew what was happening Damien had left him standing and had disappeared into a small building and had almost instantly reappeared holding two broomsticks.

He held out one to Harry and as Harry took it he saw the words 'Nimbus 3000' etched into the handle of the broom. Harry had the same one at home and his stomach jolted at the memory of home. He looked at the broom that Damien was holding and saw that is was quite old looking, compared to the Nimbus 3000. It had twigs sticking out at all angles and looked like it had been used by many people. The Nimbus in Harry's hands looked almost brand new. Not one twig was out of place and it was gleaming in the sunlight. Harry looked at Damien confused.

"Damien what…?"

"You ride on my Nimbus 3000. It's the newest model. Dad got it for me."

Harry looked at the tattered looking broom in Damien's hands.

"Don't worry, I'm just going to use the school's broom for today. It's a cleansweep 500, ancient thing but still does the job."

Damien was looking at Harry with a strange gleam in his eyes and at once Harry understood what had happened. Damien had misinterpreted Harry's answer about Quidditch. Harry had said that he never played Quidditch before, he didn't mean that he had never ridden on a broom before.

"Damien, listen you don't…" Harry was cut off by Damien.

"Harry, don't say anything. Just listen to me and you'll be flying better than everyone in no time." Damien said in a strange grown up voice.

It took everything in Harry's power not to laugh at Damien as he continued to explain the basic flying techniques. Harry just stood there, amused with how Damien was dictating the correct procedure to mount a broom and how to come back down to the ground.

"Okay Harry, you got that? Good. Now we'll start off slow. It can be a weird feeling but remember to hold on tight and you'll be fine. Okay?"

Harry had enough, he mounted his broom and waited for Damien to stop talking.

"Good Harry, now like I said, just bend your knees slightly and then kick off from the ground, not too hard though."

"Like this?" Harry asked before kicking off at an amazing speed that left Damien gaping at Harry with an open mouth.

Harry felt the amazing exhilaration that flying always brought to him. He had never played Quidditch before but he had been flying since he was six years old. His flying skill and style had saved his life when he was only seven years old. Harry felt the cold wind rush at him as he raced high up. Harry swooped down and did a couple of loops in the air before zooming straight towards the goal hoops on the Quidditch grounds. Harry showed off his flying skills as he looped the goals at an amazing speed. Before he knew what was happening he felt something zoom beside him. He turned around to see Damien smiling as he came to hover near him.

"You jerk! You said that you had never ridden before!" Damien shouted at him, but he had a smile plastered over his face as he said it.

"No I didn't! I said that I had never played Quidditch before, I didn't say anything about flying. You just assumed that yourself." Harry laughed back at him.

Damien came towards Harry to playfully attack him and Harry turned his broom around sharply and zoomed away from him. The two boys played chases, all the while laughing uncontrollably. They had not seen the small group of students that had gathered around to see the amazing flying of one Harry Potter. They also didn't notice James standing a short distance away watching his two sons flying around and laughing at one another. James felt tears sting at his eyes as he imagined, that this was what life would have been like for Harry and Damien, if Wormtail hadn't betrayed the Potters that fateful night.

Harry was the first to notice the large group of students standing below them. He signalled for Damien to stop flying and both boys landed back onto the grounds as swiftly as they could. Harry was met with applause as he touched the ground. Many students were asking him where he learned to fly like that and why he wasn't on the school's Quidditch team. Just then Hogwarts Quidditch teacher, Professor Hooch made her way over to Harry and Damien. She was looking at Harry as if he were made of Gold.

"Mr Potter, that was some exceptional flying. I must suggest that you come to the tryouts for the Gryffindor team this afternoon."

Harry looked at her for a second before replying.

"Look, Madam Pooch…"

"It's Hooch, Madame Hooch." she corrected at once.

"Whatever, I don't think that I would be very suited to play in a team, you see I don't work well with others. I'm kind of an individual and I want to stay that way." Harry gave her one of his smirks and started to walk away from her but Madame Hooch was not going to give up that easily.

"Oh, don't worry about being an individual, after all Seekers usually are on their own during the game."

Damien quickly spoke up at this.

"But Madame Hooch, we already have a Seeker, Ginny Weasley. We need a Chaser."

"Mr Potter, Ms Weasley has requested to fill the position of Chaser since that was the position she originally wanted. The tryouts are to be for Gryffindor Seeker and I think that Mr Potter, here would be an excellent choice."

Damien looked at Harry in awe, Professor Hooch never suggested anyone for Quidditch teams. She was not one to show any house any favouritism, but here she was suggesting Harry to be Gryffindor Seeker. There really wasn't much more praise you could get from her. She looked at Harry once again before leaving.

"Think about it Mr Potter, it would be a waste of your talent if you decided against it, but the decision is yours."

Harry was left standing and wondering how he had gotten into this mess and more importantly, how was he going to get himself out?

xxx

"Please Harry, please come to the tryouts, you really should try out for Seeker, you're perfect." Damien pleaded with Harry, back in the common room.

"No! You're the reason I got into this mess in the first place. 'One game Harry, only one' now look what you've down!" Harry scolded him.

"Madame Hooch was right, you would be wasting your talent is you were not to try out. After all what's the point in being an excellent flyer if you can't play Quidditch?" Damien gave Harry another pleading look.

Harry put his head into his hands. He really didn't want to play for Gryffindor, the more he wanted to distance himself from this house the more he was getting sucked in. His thoughts were interrupted again by Damien.

"Gryffindor haven't won the cup in years Harry, with you on the team, we actually might have a chance in winning."

At this Harry looked up at Damien.

"Who's won so far?" he asked, knowing the answer already.

"Stinky Slytherin." Damien said making a face.

Harry smiled to himself. There might be some good in him becoming Gryffindor seeker after all.

"Alright Damien, I'll go to the stupid tryouts." Harry said as he faked defeat in front of the dark haired boy.

Damien whooped with joy and ran towards the boys dormitory saying that he'll get changed and then both of them can make their way to the tryouts.

Harry watched Damien leave and smiled to himself again.

As they neared the small group of people standing at the Quidditch ground Harry couldn't help feel excited. All he needed was a couple of minutes and the Seeker position would be his. As Harry and Damien approached the stands Harry noticed the four Weasleys turn a shade of red.

"What's he doing here?" Ron spat at Damien.

Harry only responded by raising his eyebrows at Ron but Damien started explaining right away.

"Harry's going to try out as Seeker."

This earned a good laugh from the four red heads and Damien could feel a blush creep into his cheeks.

"Piss off guys, you really don't have a clue." Damien said and then went to have a private word with Angelina.

Harry sat and watched the other kids fly around pathetically trying to catch the tiny golden ball. Harry couldn't understand why they were all flying as they were in slow motion. It really wasn't that difficult to see the ball.

At long last Harry was called and at once Damien had thrust the Nimbus 3000 in Harry's hands once again. Harry watched as Ron's eyes widened with shock. As Harry kicked of the ground he vaguely heard Ron say to Ginny,

"He never lets anyone touch that broom of his!"

Harry didn't even try, he caught the golden snitch in record time, three times and came back to the ground, to see everyone looking at him in awe and shock. He saw Ginny look at him with a weird look on her face. Harry quickly ignored her and walked over to Angelina who nearly had tears of joy in her eyes.

She enthusiastically shook hands with Harry declaring him to be the new Quidditch seeker. Even the Weasleys couldn't argue with her. There was nothing flawless with Harry's flying. Ginny however was feeling very uneasy. Harry's flying seemed very familiar and as she had watched him speed towards the snitch she had felt her stomach flip at the familiarity of him flying. She shook her head to clear her thoughts 'it's not possible, not possible at all.' she told herself as she watched Harry shake hands with Angelina.

Harry headed back towards the castle with a chattering Damien next to him, going over the team's strategies of how they were going to win the cup this year. Harry wasn't even listening to him. Harry had been made Seeker for Gryffindor. Harry was lost in his own thoughts.

'The fools haven't even realised they've just sealed their fate. If only they knew that they've made the worst decision in letting me play. Let the nightmare for Gryffindor begin'.

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