Harry shouldn't have thought as long about the name allowed to him by some street thug with a bleeding heart but the name Roma made him feel things he hadn't felt in a long time. Resentment for one. Harry didn't really feel resentment towards Voldemort, Snape, or even Dumbledore. It was something muted more akin to annoyance but he went about it in a 'That's just how it is ' kind of way. Tried to kill him? He could get over it. Slandered his dead father's name? Harry wasn't going to engage them. Purposely withholding information to protect a childhood Harry had never had. Kinda sweet if a bit annoying. Harry had always felt detached from Harry. Harry was a loud, rambunctious, Gryffindor character that he played as he saved the Wizarding Worlds sorry asses each year and got repaid with distrust and obsession. He had never identified with the name, not when Hagrid first told his full name in Diagon Alley, not when it was called up to be sorted, and not even when he saw the list of Harry Potter's throughout the Potter line. Not like he had felt attached to Freak. Not like he had felt attached to Roma.

Roma was short for Rosemarius. Yes, it was pretentious but in his defense, it was made up by a starving orphan boy who had just learned his mother's name was Lily. A boy who had spent hours in the library learning the language of flowers in order to find one for him because he wasn't Freak anymore. He was the son of a Lily. Rosemary is the flower for remembrance and love and arent we all what we lack? Remembrance and love sounded great to Harry back then before he knew that it was impossible for anyone in the Wizarding World to forget his name and his mother died for her love of him.

He had never used the name Roma again.

He thought about Roma as he waited for Theo inside a small diner near The Leaky Cauldron. The staff looked like they wanted to kick Harry out with his manky clothes and the purple bruise spreading over the side of his face but Harry had paid generously and tipped so they just ignored him.

Harry pondered why this was so important to him. Maybe it was because Rosemary was a survivor. Didn't his friends have certain variations of themselves as well? Ron was only Ronald when he was in trouble. There was Ron, the judgemental git, and Ron the jealous ass but there was also Ron the funny supportive friend. Ron rode into battle with him time and time again. Mione was Hermione the smartest witch of her age and Mione the kinda bad friend as well. So it wasn't just him. Maybe Harry didn't feel attached to his name because of his parents. He had never known them, how could he trust that they had chosen a name that fit his character? Ron and Mione had been raised into their names, into their persons which were after all an impression of their parent's character. Harry was the baby they had died for. Roma's parents had abandoned him in a world that was harsh and cruel at every turn. Harry was a sweet and brave boy who looked just like his father. A Gryffindor boy who would have never been considered so strongly for Slytherin.

Roma was more than Harry could ever be. If he had to be Harry then he would have been crushed underneath his uncle's cruel hands, died in his first fight, shattered from being a warm body. But he hadn't. He had been able to shed his skin year after year from something soft and moldable to something that refused to die, something that thrived where others would have withered. A part of him was proud of that. The rest of him was tired.

"Harry," Theo greeted.

"Roma," He corrected. He slid over a plate of bacon, eggs, and hash kept warm with his magic. Theo blinked but nodded slowly accepting.

"Roma," He tasted it with a click of his tongue," May I ask why?" He did ask before spooning some eggs into his mouth with a pre-packaged plastic fork.

"I was at a fight last night," He started. Theo hummed as he swallowed.

"Did you win?"

Harry nodded," He didn't have the stomach for fighting kids," Theo snorted into Ha- Roma's, it was Roma's drink. Roma didn't really like the bitter drink but Theo loved it.

"He made the announcer let me choose my name. I chose Roma," Harry explained wringing his hands with a napkin and throwing it down on the table. Theo's pale eyes followed Roma's movements before continuing to eat with a small shake of his head. He muttered something like 'barbarian' underneath his breath.

"Why?"

"It's something I named myself when I was younger," Roma told him," It's something Ari used to call me," Roma confessed. Theo peered at him quietly over the lip of his coffee cup.

"Why?"

"Well, it's short for Rosemarius a variation on the scientific name of Rosemary," Theo didn't buy it. Instead of accepting it he narrowed his eyes and folded his hands in front of himself on the table near his nearly empty plate.

"Remembrance, love," Theo verbally poked and prodded him for a more in-depth answer.

"A herb. Not pretty but useful," Harry challenged with a raised brow. He crossed his legs under the table and crossed his arms over his chest defensibly even if he did wear a teasing smirk on his russet lips.

"Rosemary?" He hummed," Muggle religion?" Roma stiffened. He didn't really want to be reminded of any religion. He shook his head silently. Theo looked vaguely apologetic but Roma knew he would have no issue getting even more invasive if it got him answers.

"Was it Harry Potter you felt detached to or was it the Boy part that never really fit you?" Theo couldn't have shocked him more if he had actually poured cold water down his spine.

"Theo," Roma whispered threateningly. His green eyes started to glow slightly growing more vibrant and the purples almost looked elongated like a snake. Theo would be surprised if he had spit venom at him.

"Were clothes shopping today," Theo changed the subject.

"We need to stop at Gringotts then. I only brought enough for books," Harry accepted it as the kinda apology it was.

"Luckily, I did," Theo said sweetly. It was only a few minutes after when Harry realized wht he had truly said.

"You're not paying for my clothes," Harry hissed.

"They're already paid for, Roma," He purred with a smirk. Roma wanted to reach over and cuff the fool, he was so angry.

"Why would you do that?!" Roma tried to keep his voice down when he saw a few heads turning their way. Theo just shrugged.

"It's a birthday present,"

"My birthday isn't until next month,"

"You need clothes," Theo shut him down," I'm getting you clothes. You had no issue paying for my music device and engraving the runes. You will let me do this," Theo insisted quietly.

"You don't owe me for any of that, Theo," Roma told him softly. He grabbed Theos hands with one of his even though his left leg was jumping irritable under the table.

"And you will not owe me for this," Theo assured him. Roma groaned.

Roma was sweetened nicely walking out of the bookstore with bags upon bags of shrunken books on all kinds of fascinating subjects like Enchantment, Illusions, Element Manipulation and Greek Mythology which he had learned the Potters were pretty into being descended from that guy who fell in love with his own statue then enchanted it to come alive. Not that Nott could talk since he had a couple more bags than Roma did.

"Are you ready?"

"Where are we going first?" Roma groaned dramatically. He was more open to the idea of getting clothes since he had paid for both his and Theo's books. He didn't want to be a friend that only accepted handouts.

"There's an alternative alley that sells more, well, alternative clothes. It's something I think you'll be into and there are some more normal stores too so you'll have lots to choose from," Theo placated him. He caught his hand in his and pulled him along the streets until they reached a small pub called The White Wyvern and ducked inside. It wasn't very full but they still had to duck around a few strangely dressed individuals with glowing eyes and crazy colored hair. Theo pulled him to a door leading to the back and whispered,

"Ebullience," To the door. He twisted the lock and they stepped into a gothic-styled market full of shops and vendors waving their wares wildly to crowds of teenagers. It was beautifully immersive almost blinding in its brilliance. There were colorful fabrics everywhere and strange accessories pointed out to him by huge neon signs.

"Woah," Roma sighed.

"Yes, it is quite wonderful," Theo chuckled quietly. Roma noticed he was a bit stiffer surrounded by crowds and his expression was cold and imposing. He played with his knife with the hand that wasn't holding Harrys.

"Don't strain your neck looking at everything," Theo instructed close to his ear so that Roma could hear over all the loud voices," We're going to be here for a while."

"That- THAT WAS BRILLIANT!" Roma panted. He was a bit short-breathed from the hours they spent running around the alley for new clothes and accessories. It wasn't long until Roma forgot whose tab he was on and Theo didn't remind him either. They had spent a total of nine hours trying strange foods and chocolates, buying clothes and accessories, getting Roma's ears pierced, and just having a great time. With Roma by his side, Theo thawed out a lot until he was laughing just as loudly as Roma was delighted by the street performers making dragons out of the smoke and defying gravity with their dancing and loud outfits.

"Haha- Yeah! Yeah, it was," Theo agreed. He had used a fun spell to expand their pockets so that they could carry all of their shrunken goods. It turns out that Harry had very little interest in the calmer outfits. Instead, he had drifted to the vendor's stalls with all of their handmade and beautiful goods.

It had started pretty calmly with sweater vests and poet shirts with billowing sleeves. He got tops with bright but plain designs. Tunics with moving mythic creatures sewed in, high-waisted slacks, and cargo pants fitted at the waist and ankles. Then the shop ladies convinced him to try on some of the fitted corsets and bodices. Again, it had started calmly neutral colors with a splash of red and black but slowly grew out of his control. What was once the plain color was now decals of paintings and constellations. Crop tops and halter tops with buttons and words and just plain weird designs with matching shorts and platform shoes. The magic of the alley snowballed Harry's excitement until there were straps involved. Long shelve shirts split down the middle to only be held together by collapsable straps like there were in cars. Fishnets with all kinds of designs sewed in, turtle necks that were sheer or shimmery, leather pants and waistcoats, capes, jackets, boots, and heels. And there was so much more.

When they did finally move on to accessories, Theo insisted that daggers counted and forcefully introduced Harry to the artistry of dagger making. Theo took his time picking out many while Roma glanced around at silk scarves and earrings. He picked out a set of small black-bladed knives with golden filigree and foggy pink quarts, a longer set of four knives that were steel grey and a crowned skeleton for the handle, and a simple silver knife with nothing adorning it but an intricate dragonfly and slim deep blue handle.

As Harry chose his jewelry he found out that his friend was part niffler. Small shiny glimmering things ended up in their bags that Harry had absolutely no memory of ever seeing before. Harry himself chose out weird jewelry. A few were shaped like swords or daggers with small gems embedded in the hilts, hair clips and combs, large belts made of ivory with scenes of epic battles painted on them, circlets and pocket watches, unsettling filigree back pieces shaped like spines or wrapped around his torso like ribs, casual armor pieces like breastplates and gauntlets, ad many rings and necklaces with shells and pearls.

Getting his ears pierced was Theo's idea. While he himself checked out stores with cursed objects or blades with long bloody histories, he came across a tattooing place. They had already done the spell themselves for tattoos but they did want to get their ears pierced professionally. Honestly, Roma would have ended up doing it with a sewing needle and a cold slice of apple. Roma was surprised that Theo chose to get his done too, though he didn't get as many as Roma did. Roma had a standard lobe piercing like Theo but had also gotten an orbital piercing, an upper lobe piercing, a helix piercing, and an industrial piercing in both of his ears. Theo had small subtle steel grey studs while Roma had gotten a pair of drop earrings, a small stud, two circular barbells, and a dangly double piercing earring. Theo had been exasperated and muttered something like 'Gryffindors' and 'Unable to resist poking holes in themselves '.

Roma had replied that at least this time was on purpose. Theo promptly threw his hands up and visibly gave up on Roma's sanity.

That's where they were now after Theo had apparated them both back to Surry near the Surrey Sunny Park for Youngsters that Harry used to hide until he had to make dinner. Roma plopped himself down on the bottom of the slide and started to sort his things into his new trunk. He would need to move some things over but Dudley's hand-me-downs were no longer his only things to wear. Hell, he just might burn them. He knew Theo would be in favor.

Speaking of unfairly handsome, rich, emotionally stunted but sweet blond Slytherins, Theo had hopped up onto the playset and was laying staring up at the stars. Harry glanced up but continued packing away his things in silence. The air between them was compatible, nice. It wasn't long after that the comforting smell of cigarettes burning filled the air.

"Thank you," Harry uttered after nearly thirty minutes of companionable silence.

"Your welcome," Came Theos smooth velvety voice," Have you figured it out?"

"What?"

"Why Roma?"

"Does it bother you?" Roma asked carefully.

"I don't care about your name," Theo said caustically. Roma winced away and continued packing away his small accessories and installing his hand mirror. He heard Theo sigh long and heavy.

"But I care about you. I care about you so fucking much and I want you to be safe," He look a long drag of his cigarette and let it out slowly," But I can't have that so I'll settle for having you happy," His jaw tightened.

"Theo," Harry swallowed harshly," I'm always happy when I'm here," Harry confessed.

"... at a muggle playpark?"

"With you! You fucking idiot!" Harry laughed. Theo chuckled with him until their giggles tapered off.

"Why?" Theo asked curiously.

"...For the company," Harry blushed hoping his long hair covered his reddening face from the other boy. Behind him heard Theo huff in amusement.

"Yeah," Roma could feel his intense eyes on his back. With a fond tone, Theo said," That's nice too."