The last week of March had been horrible for Harry. By April, Dudley still hadn't talked to him, not even once. Harry was sitting with Blaise, learning about becoming an Elemental, having dropped his Animagus lessons, as well as his Legilimency sessions.

He had finally managed to see his animal form in shadow and smoke, yet he no longer wanted to pursue it, not until he and Dudley were talking again. After around half an hour Blaise was becoming annoyed.

"Look Harry, you need to focus. I can't teach you if you're still thinking about your cousin. Lamenting on it won't help, I should know I tried to ignore my family for months."

"You didn't see the look on his face, he hates me, Blaise. I'm just glad that Neville and Theo are keeping him company so he isn't alone. They're in Animagus lessons right now, I know you wanted to continue your journey down that path, thank you for being here with me."

"Harry, if it wasn't for you and Dudley I'd have offed myself a long time ago. It's funny, I hated him, actually hated him, and he never returned my hatred with hatred, even when I was ganging up on him. I was a horrible person to him and he forgave me, give it time, Harry."

With that they began their lesson properly.

/*** **-** ***/

"No, Theo, he KILLED my father. I'm not going to forgive him, in fact today I sent my mom a letter to tell her. I imagine she has it by now."

Dudley responded to his friend after he and Neville had badgered him to forgive Harry.

"Dudley, I'm your friend, I couldn't use my wand if I wasn't, but you know that he was possessed. Do you blame Ginny for your petrification, that could have killed you?" Theo decided he would try a different tactic than he had so far.

"No, but that's…"

"It's not different at all mate, she and Harry were both possessed by Voldemort and, if he had had his way, the Basilisk would have killed instead of petrified the victims. Harry told you about it as soon as he had the chance." He saw a look of understanding flash on Dudley's face before it turned to anger again.

"He could have not done it in the first place. If you're just going to defend him then I'm going to leave. Have fun discovering your animal form."

At that Dudley got up and left, heading for the Owlery to send Nora a letter, she would understand.

/*** **-** ***/

It had been two weeks since Dudley had sent off the letter to Nora and he was worried, this was the longest she had gone without replying to a letter. April was half over when, at breakfast, Dudley received her reply. He had to wait till lessons were over to read it.

Dear Dudley

I know this isn't what you want to hear, and I'm sorry to have to say this, but for once I think you're wrong. I've seen possession first hand, it's not pretty at all. In the best cases the possessed remains unaware of the acts they committed while under someone else's control, in the worst they can see and feel every action their body performs.

You know I love you, but family is incredibly important, you remember how upset I was when Blaise fell out with the family.

I'm not going to push this any more, as I don't wish to cause any arguments between us. I just thought you'd want an honest answer.

Look forward to hearing from you soon

Love Nora xxxxxxxxxx

Dudley's smile fell off his face as he read the letter, he wasn't wrong, he couldn't be. Harry had killed his dad, "Doesn't that count for anything?" Dudley was thinking miserably to himself.

/*** **-** ***/

Harry had written back to Lucius to agree to a discussion, nothing more. The man had replied and Harry had the letter sitting in his bag. He would get around to answering the letter soon enough. He was currently in Herbology, the wards were restored and Professor Sprout was back to full health. Harry was working with Neville, as the Slytherins and the Hufflepuffs were together during this lesson for the third year, and due to Neville's almost encyclopedic knowledge when it came to plants, both magical and mundane, they were working on plants usually reserved for fifth year.

Neville was explaining how to properly handle Bubotuber pus, the salient point being not to let it touch your skin, but Harry wasn't listening to him. He was looking over at his cousin, who still hadn't spoken to him, not since that day. It was hurting Harry more than he cared to admit, he loved his cousin and aunt and to be ignored by both of them, Petunia still hadn't replied to any of his letters, was unbearable.

Neville hadn't noticed his friend's lack of attention and asked Harry to demonstrate that he knew what Neville meant. Harry replied that he did and reached out to grab the Bubotuber, causing it to release the corrosive pus onto his hands. Immediately his hands began to blister and swell, it was rather disturbing in Neville's opinion, and he was dismissed, along with Neville, to go to the Hospital Wing.

"You need to listen, Harry, it's a good thing this wasn't a massively poisonous plant."

"I was overdue to talk to Madame Pomfrey anyway. I always enjoy our chats, I tell her how I injured myself, and she calls me an idiot," Harry joked, more amused than Neville would have been if he was burned.

/*** **-** ***/

Herbology was going really well for Dudley, he was deep in concentration, repotting the newly sprouted Venomous Tentacula, when his concentration was broken by the commotion at the front of the greenhouse.

His cousin (no, Harry) had burned himself with Bubotuber pus. Dudley told himself he didn't care about him, but he knew that was a lie.

He glanced over at Harry in time to see him leave.

/*** **-** ***/

It had been a month since Harry had told Dudley about the possession and resulting murder of his father. In that month Harry had managed to successfully identify the element that called to him. It was air. He hadn't actually managed to influence the element yet, but he could feel it's resonance with his soul.

/*** **-** ***/

For two days now Harry had been trying to help Ron find Scabbers, but they had been unsuccessful and Ron was incredibly worried about his pet. Harry told Ron that if they were unable to locate him then he would buy him whatever pet he wanted.

"Consider it a birthday present," Harry said with finality after Ron said he couldn't accept it, which made Ron feel better about possibly losing his pet. They would try to look for him throughout the year, Harry didn't have much hope, but Ron insisted the rat had lived with them for 13 years, and survived whatever tore off his toe, so he would survive anything.

/*** **-** ***/