It had been only three days at Potter Manor and Harry could tell that he was exceptionally discomfited. The Manor was far from comfortable, having suites and large bedrooms and lots of places to go, no it was the company that he found tedious.

Harry had quickly found out that Jem Potter was a spoiled prat who had never gone a day without being denied. Whenever he did something that he oughtn't to be doing, he got off with a pat on the head and a warning. He asked for something and the next day, it magically appeared. And on top of it all, he considered himself Merlin's gift to humanity, boasting and swaggering all the time.

His parents weren't much better. Whenever he came up on James, he would hear a lot about Quiddich and Gryffindor and his brother Jem and how he was this and that and to take clear of some nasty guy called 'Snivellus' at Hogwarts whom Harry would definitely search out now. His mother on the other hand would stare at him with undisguised sadness and get him to open up which he definitely did not want to do.

They meant good, he was sure of it but it tired him out and he had taken to camping in the Potter Library which was large and extensive and amazing. He had duplicated books he especially liked and stocked up his own trunk's bookshelves. He had added learning spells and practicing them in the dueling compartment of his trunk, to his schedule as the Trace didn't actually work where two or more adult wizards resided and the Ministry couldn't confirm who cast the spell.

So, today Jem had invited some of his friends again and Harry did not want to deal with them. Ron Weasley was a good chap but too much under Jem's influence and too eager to please him. Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown were both from minor houses, encourage to marry up, and that probably resulted in their giggling and flirty attitude. Parvati was alright if a bit bookish and Harry had much fun discussing the theory of transfiguration with her, but her sister was more than pleased to get into shouting matches with her and that kind of ruined the atmosphere.

Ron's brothers, Fred and George sometimes came with him and Harry liked them when they were not going too far in their jokes. Ginny Weasley was a fiery tempered girl who was absolutely different from her brothers in every way. Harry discovered that she had read all of her brother's school books, and she stole their wands and practiced spells at night. At the same time, she was very cunning, and could give Harry a run for his money when she acted innocent and pulled the puppy dog face.

The short thing was that Harry was that Harry wanted solitude and it certainly wasn't going to be easy for him in the Manor today, so after asking James about it, he shrugged on his casual robes and floo'ed to The Leaky Cauldron. From there he made his way to Cora's Cafe and got a soundproof table and ordered butterbeer and scones.

He took out the potion book he was reading and his pen, since he really couldn't get the hang of a quill, and settled down to reading it and making notes in the margins. When James had again been ranting about slimy Snivellus, Harry had asked innocuous questions until he had discovered that whoever James was talking about, taught Potions, one of his favourite subjects, and he really needed to memorize the whole book to not get on the teacher's bad side.

"Potter" a voice called out and Harry turned to find himself face to face with a tawny-haired boy who was standing on the side with his arms crossed.

Harry blinked. And then he blinked again."Do I know you?" he asked confused.

The blue eyed boy arched an eyebrow, tilting to look at the books piled up on the table, and then Harry's appearance and the lightning bolt scar on his left temple.

"Sorry, I mistook you for someone else.""Theo Nott, Heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Nott."

The corner of Harry's mouth twitched upwards.

"Well met, Heir Nott. Harry Potter, Heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter."

Nott gaped in shock, blinking rapidly.

"Are you related to Jem Potter?" he finally managed to ask.

"He's my twin." Harry said distractedly, writing down another use of aconite.

"I didn't know the Boy-Who-Lived had a twin."

Harry sighed, closing his book.

"I've lived with muggles my whole life."

Nott nodded, catching sight of the Potions books that littered Harry's table.

"Is that a fourth edition to A Guide to Potioneering?" he asked excitedly.

"Yup" Harry replied popping the p.

"Wicked" the boy grinned and they fell into a discussion about the first year potions curriculum. Harry noticed after a while that Nott had been clutching his right wrist ever since they had been talking and by the way his hand was twisted grotesquely, it looked broken or offset. Trying to remember the incantation and wand movement Lily had practiced when Jem had broken his ankle when flying, Harry fell into thought. He grabbed Nott's hand gently as the boy gaped, looking at his distrustfully. He peeled apart the homemade bandage, looking at the swollen skin.

"Episkey" he whispered softly as the bone set and the swolling deflated.

Nott opened his mouth to say something as an elderly man came around the corner, his blue eyes cold and reserved.

"Theodore, don't gape." he said in a warning tone as Nott gulped.

"Yes, uncle." he said blandly.

Harry lifted his head to see the ice blue eyes focused on him with an intense fascination.

"Do introduce your friend, Theodore." he said commandingly.

Nott gulped again, breathing heavily to calm himself.

"Uncle, this is Heir Potter of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter. Heir Potter, this is my uncle, Jeremy Nott, Proxy of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Nott."

Harry bowed his head, keeping his attention on the man and the cunning glint in his eyes.

"Well met, Consort Nott."

Consort Nott bowed his head, though not as deep as Harry, and replied steely;

"Well met, Heir Potter."

"Tell me Heir Potter, if I may be so forward, Why were you housed with muggles, when a veritable fortune is there for you?"

Translation : Why on earth would James Potter leave you with a bunch of muggles and tell no one about you, if you are rightfully the Heir.

Harry's eyes narrowed.

"With all due respect sir, I don't know you well enough to state all the reasons but it was a security issue so that I may remain safe even if I did not posses magic."

Translation: I will not tell you anything because you and the other death eater scum types would probably go after me. I wasn't named the Heir Apparent because they thought I was a squib but since I am not, I therefore take the title.

"Very Well, Say goodbye to your friend, Theodore. Your grandfather is waiting."

Harry glared at the man as he turned a corner and disappeared.

"I'm really sorry about him." Nott said, grimacing but Harry could see that he was trembling.

Without thinking he moved forward and wrapped his arms around the boy in a hug. He felt a strange urge to protect him, a fiery glint that wanted to protect this scrawny boy. Theo flinched, relaxing slowly as he stared astonished. It felt as if no one had ever showed any kind of affection to him before. "Write to me" Harry said softly as the Nott Heir waved to him and disappeared around the corner.

It didn't matter that he had never hugged someone before, it didn't matter that he had never been shown any kind of affection. He felt a surge of protectiveness to the boy who had definitely been abused. And Harry Potter realized that the people who have the same kind of scars on their souls, are called kindred spirits.

And Harry Potter smiled at the first friend he had ever made.