The few days since Harry's birthday had not been good. Looking back on it the best part of these past few days was his aunt waking him up by bashing on his door and shouting at him to cook breakfast. Harry's birthday then revolved around him cooking vast quantities of food for each meal barely managing to get enough for himself to eat. That alone wasn't the low point of the day, no that was being told that his Aunt Marjorie was coming round to stay for the week and her subsequent arrival.

The following days of constant chores and belittlement from Aunt Marge left Harry physically and mentally exhausted every night. So much so that Harry hadn't managed to talk to his future self, now named James, as he fell asleep as soon as he laid down when given a break.

It all came to a head though on Aunt Marge's last day of her visit. Seven days, that was how long Harry had managed to keep his anger in check.

"Just one more night. Just one more night…" Harry repeated to himself like a mantra, if he could just get through this last dinner. He had somehow managed to convince his uncle to sign his Hogsmead permission slip if he promised not to show any of his 'freakishness' around Aunt Marge. So far Harry thought he was doing a good job of it, he couldn't think of any time he had shown anything magical or 'freakish' as his uncle would put it.

"Stop muttering to yourself boy" slurred a very drunk Aunt Marge "What did his parents do again Vernon?" knowing the answer and following conversation wasn't going to be pleasant, Harry tried his best to block it out. Harry's eyes were shut, his fists clenched under the table, he could feel his anger rising, a raging inferno begging to be let out.

"Listen when I'm speaking to you boy!" bellowed Aunt Marge as she kicked Harry under the table. Harry could feel his control on his anger slipping, the hairs on his body started to stand up, his magic started to tingle across his skin.

"Just ignore him, Marge," Vernon tried to cut off Marge " if he's quiet we can pretend he's not here. Out of sight, out of mind, I say"

"No Vernon the boys got to learn respect. Otherwise, he'll end up like his wastrel father and bike of a mother" Marge somehow managed to get out around the mouth full of food and Brandy.

"Shut up" Harry managed to get out between clenched teeth.

"Don't talk back…" was all Marge managed to get out as she attempted to lean over the table to grab hold of Harry. Harry didn't hold back the anger anymore he let his magic wash over him. Everyone could see Marge still shouting but no sound seemed to be coming out from her as she managed to get hold of Harry's shirt pulling him up from his seat.

"Get off" Harry shouted as he pushed his aunt's hand away from him. What Harry didn't expect was for his Aunt Marge to go flying back across the room before landing on the sofa that then fell over from the force.

"I said none of your freakishness boy" Vernon rose from his seat seeing Harry trying to leave the room.

"Fuck off" came the succinct reply from Harry as he left the room. The lock on the cupboard under the stairs blasted off as Harry approached, quickly grabbing his trunk from the cupboard before heading upstairs.

Harry quickly threw the rest of his things into the trunk, and let Hedwig out the window. Grabbing his wand and heading back downstairs to see Vernon standing in front of the door blocking him from leaving.

"Where do you think you're going?" a rapidly purpling Vernon asked Harry

"Move" Harry commanded slashing his wand through the air as he dragged his trunk behind him. Seeing his Uncle Vernon sliding down the hallway from whatever Harry had done, Harry decided to quickly open the door and get out of the house.

Harry was halfway down the road before he realised that he had no idea where to go. He supposed he could go to Diagon Alley, he had a few galleons on him. Maybe he could stay the night somewhere and get a letter to someone about what to do. Stopping suddenly and blicking a couple of times, Harry's brain finally caught up to what he had just done. He had somehow managed to do two wandless spells, without incantation at that and another spell with his wand without an incantation.

"I'm so screwed" Harry whispered to himself thinking back to his warning last year that if he did any more magic in front of muggles then he would be expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Harry all of a sudden felt like he was being watched. Quickly looking around Harry couldn't see anyone on the road or pavements, he couldn't see anyone looking out their windows at him. A large black dog, the largest that Harry had ever seen, emerged from the alley between two of the houses.

"Stay back" stammered Harry as the dog slowly made its way into the light of the streetlight where it proceeded to sit down, head cocked slightly to the side. Harry stared at the dog in confusion for a moment, it looked like it was studying him. Harry hoped that it wasn't trying to decide if he would make a good meal or not. Harry was sure he wouldn't make a filling meal with how skinny he is and the size of the dog.

A few moments later and the two were still locked in some form of staredown. Looking into the dog's eyes Harry could have sworn he recognised them from somewhere, "another dog perhaps? Certainly not one of this size though" thought Harry "And those eyes seem more intelligent than a normal dog". Deciding to take a chance, trust his gut and since no one else was around to see him make himself look like an idiot.

"I… I don't suppose you know a way to get to Diagon Alley do you?" asked Harry feeling all the more stupid after. What was he thinking asking a dog, although one he was sure wasn't an ordinary dog, it is still a dog how was it going to answer him. Harry's answer came in the form of the dog lifting its front right paw in the air like it was trying to reach for something or give him a high five.

"I'm not sure what you want me to do?" Harry was really confused now, it looked like this dog understood him. Deciding that weird things have been happening around him since he joined the magic world that he would just put it down as one of those things.

The dog gave out a sound, that Harry could only describe as a sigh in dog form, before slowly making its way over to him. Deciding he had come this far Harry decided to just stand still and see what the dog wanted. It hadn't attacked him so far, so as long as he didn't do anything to spook it Harry thought he would be fine, he hoped. As the dog got closer to him Harry realised just how large it was, the top of its' head reached just below his chest and the fur looked matted and unkempt. The dog reached its' head down to Harry's hand where he still had his wand tightly clenched and began to nudge underneath it.

"You want me to lift my wand?" Harry asked, his confusion now reaching its highest point, he was talking to some random dog that wanted him to lift his wand into the air. A short rough yip was Harry's only reply, deciding that he had nothing to lose Harry lifted his wand so it was pointing up in the air, arm outstretched.

A bright flashing light and the sound of a car backfiring was the only warning Harry got before he heard a bored voice going through what must have been a practised speech.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus, transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Name's Stan Shunpike and I will be your conductor this eve". Blinking out the spots in his eyes from the bright lights that must have been from the front of the so-called Knight Bus Harry could see who this Stan Shunpike was. He appeared to be a young man, early twenties Harry guessed, face covered in pimples and wearing a purple suit that looked a couple of sizes too big topped off with a purple conductors hat. Now that Harry could see the bus it could only be described as bizarre, three levels tall and in a deep purple colour, it was unlike any bus Harry had seen before.

"You just gonna stand there or get on?" came the annoyed voice of Stan

"Errmm, yer, how much to get to the Leaky Cauldron? enquired Harry.

"Eleven sickles, it's always eleven sickles. Not used the Knight Bus before have you?"

"No, I haven't"

"Well it's eleven sickles for the ride but for thirteen you can get a hot chocolate, and, for fifteen you can get a hot water bottle and a toothbrush in the colour of your choice" stated Stan in what Harry guessed was another one of his practised speeches.

"Just the ticket, thanks" replied Harry as he fished out a galleon from his pocket to give to Stan. Getting his change and quickly moving to near the back of the bus hoping they got to the Leaky Cauldron before Stan recognised him. To be honest, Harry was surprised he hadn't seen his scar and figure out who he was already, Stan didn't seem like the sharpest tool in the shed though.

Harry tried to look for the dog that had somehow managed to help him out the window. Not being able to see it Harry assumed the bright light and noise of the bus arriving scared it off. More things to add to the list in his head of weird magical things that happened to him. The magic world was brilliant but weird and Harry hoped that he never lost that feeling as it seemed many muggleborn did. Even Hermoine who was once so amazed by all the magical things going on around them seemed to have lost her wonder and got caught up in the whole 'it's just magic' attitude that those brought up around it had.

The Knight Bus ride was an experience that Harry never wished to go through again. Somehow the bus managed to fit through gaps much smaller than it, drive on the pavement, skip red lights and likely a long list of other traffic violations before arriving at the Leaky Cauldron. Getting off the bus Harry was subsided to come across a man in a green suit, nervously clutching a matching green bowler hat in his hands that looked like he was waiting for someone.

"Mr Potter?" the man in green spoke, taken a bit by surprise it took Harry a moment to get out that that was him "Glad I found you. Cornelius Fudge, Minister Of Magic. Let's get you inside" the man vigorously shook Harry's hand during his introduction before pulling him through the door into the Leaky behind him.

Inside Harry was panicking wondering why the Minister for Magic would be looking for him, was he here to snap his wand? Harry's hands were now beginning to sweat as he followed the Minister into what looked like a private room that Harry didn't even know the Leaky had.

"I'm happy you're safe Harry, you don't mind if I call you Harry do you?" seeing the shaky nod from Harry the minister continued "Good, good. Now you can't go running off with Black around no, it's best you stay here till you go off to Hogwarts don't you agree?" Harry was beyond confused at this point, Black? Stay Here? Go to Hogwarts?

"Sorry Sir, but what about the magic I did when I left my relatives?" Harry knew it was stupid to ask when the Minister said he was going to Hogwarts but the question was out before he could think about it.

"Don't worry about it Harry, all accidental I'm sure" the Minister gave him what Harry could only describe as a politician's smile "and we can't punish you for that, I'll get it all cleared up". Harry couldn't help but relax and let his shoulders drop from the tense posture he had upon hearing that.

"Yer, all accidental, Minister. Sorry" Harry knew it wasn't but if the Minister said it was who was he to argue at a get out of jail free card

"Now please stay here or in the Alley Harry, my Aurors can keep you safe from Black. I've already got you a room, Tom will take you up in a moment. Now must be off Harry. No rest for the Minster of Magic you know?" and before Harry could blink or say goodbye the Minister was gone replaced at the door to the room by Tom the barkeep

"This way Mr Potter" deciding he had nothing to lose following the man, and the Minister had asked him to stay here or the Alley.

The room was not what he expected, but then again he wasn't sure what he expected. There was a large faded red rug over most of the floor, a small table and chair under a window that the outside was so dirty you couldn't see through it, a four-poster double bed and a door to what he assumed went to the bathroom. For Harry considering what he had called a bedroom for most of his life this was still a big step up at least he didn't need to cook here and wouldn't be disturbed.

Deciding that he needed some advice on what he should do Harry took off his necklace, tapped his wand to it twice and watched the metal morph into a red book. Undoing the clasp and opening the book Harry saw the ink on the page slowly began to morph into the face of James.

"I need help" Harry wasn't even sure what he need help with at this point, just that he needed it.

"I'm guessing back at the Leaky? Should be about that time at least" the smirk that was on James's face just made Harry angry again.

"You could have told me this would happen! I've been worried, scared, angry, panicked…" Harry began to rant at his future self.

"I could've but I'm here to advise not to tell you what will happen because it might not, then what are you going to do when it doesn't?" James interrupted Harry

"I know but silencing Aunt Marge then knocking her across the room without a wand, and then moving Vernon without an incantation" explained Harry, the day's events starting to get to him now and he felt like doing nothing but going to sleep now.

"That proves my point then"

"What do you mean?" questioned Harry

"I inflated Aunt Marge, caused her to blow up like a balloon and start to float off. So timeline's already different from what I know" explained James.

"What do I do now then?" asked Harry as he laid down on the bed

"Tomorrow, write to McGonagall about swapping to runes, pick up some books that you will need and then start training and practising runes," said James

"And tonight?"

"Could either sleep now, learn to meditate a bit or ask some questions if you want"

"Meditate?"

"It helps, especially after days like today. Can either use it to relax or think back on what happened and learn from it or get a better feel for your magic"

"How do you do all of that from meditating?"

"Easy to show than explain, so get comfortable, sitting, laying doesn't matter let me know when your ready and we'll do a bit of each"

Hary decided he would try whilst sitting up against the headboard, he was worried that if he laid down he would end up falling asleep. Getting into what he felt was a comfortable position Harry called out to James telling him he was ready.

"Some people find it easier with their eyes closed or fixing on a point on the wall or ceiling," James began to instruct "Now focus on your breathing, long, deep breaths in through your nose. Don't force it breathe at a pace that feels natural until your lungs are full but not uncomfortably so." Harry began taking a long slow breath feeling his lungs begin to fill up. "And breath out through your mouth, don't force the air out and let yourself relax. Let the tension leave you as you breathe out, Now inhale… Exhale… Inhale…" Harry wasn't sure at what point James became silent or how long he had been sitting for. "Let your mind wander back to what Aunt Marge said, let the memory wash over you, let the feelings flow through you and while you feel that think about how that memory makes you feel now. Did you do the right thing? Could you have done something better? Only focus on that first thought, yes or no, don't doubt yourself. If it's yes move on to the next memory if no think about what should you have done and then move on, learn but don't dwell"

Harry let the feelings of anger wash over him as he remembered his Aunt Marge's comments about his parents. It still made him angry but it had only been an hour or so since, but he also felt ashamed at his outburst. Did he do the right thing? "Maybe, she deserved it that was for sure," Harry thought. So what could he have done better? "I could have stood up for myself earlier and not let it get to that point or just left earlier and stayed out the way."

"What now?" Harry asked out loud to James

"Try and remember that feeling of magic when you used it wandlessly, the magic dancing upon your skin filling every fibre of your being and try to recreate it". Harry tried he could remember the feeling vividly, he felt so powerful, so free like he could do anything he wanted to.

Try as he might Harry couldn't get that feeling again. He felt something that he assumed might be his magic but it felt sluggish, nothing like that rush of power earlier and even then he only felt it for a second.

"I can't do it"

"Makes sense," said James "after all you've used a lot of magic today and you've not felt for your magic before"

"Then why did you get me to do it?"

"If you could do it now you would have no problem doing it when your magic is full. Plus it was just to introduce you to the idea of it, you can't succeed at everything the first time you try" lectured James.

"I suppose. I do have some questions to ask you…"

"Tomorrow" interrupted James "It's late, you're tired, get some rest and we can talk in the morning, then the letter to McGonagall, then some shopping"

"Fine" came the petulant reply from Harry. It was only when he got up to get changed he realised how tired he was, his body ached from all the chores he had been doing and now the added stress of this evening on top. Checking his watch Harry saw that it was almost 11,

"No wonder I feel so tired," Harry said as he climbed under the covers and fell asleep not long after his head touched the pillow.

A/N
Before anyone mentions that I could have had Future Harry/James tell Harry about Sirius it will be explained later why I haven't