Harry couldn't sleep, he wasn't sure if it was the light from the moon or Ron's snoring. Now that he was thinking the excitement of being back at Hogwarts was probably the culprit. Regardless, sleep wasn't heading his way. Harry sat up hot and frustrated in his four poster bed, no longer able to ignore that he was full of energy. He grabbed his invisibility cloak, and slipped on his shoes before stealing off into the night.

The castle was surprisingly busy considering the time. Harry passed a second year attempting to fight off two prefects, McGonagal walking a fifth year couple back to their dorms, Filch yelling at several seventh years. All the ruckus helped Harry slip through the castle unnoticed. He was surprised at the luck and was grinning as he carefully closed a side door into the entrance hall courtyard.

The air whipped at Harry's face, it was cool and Harry was thrilled to feel the breeze on his skin. He quickly pulled on his jacket and shoes before heading out onto the lawn. He sat in the grass and the smell reminded him of a different time and a different place. He could remember hiding as a child in the early mornings at Private Drive. The sensation stilled him for a moment letting the memory wash over him.

At the time he had been young, very young, just starting elementary school. Aunt Petunia would sometimes leave the backdoor unlocked in the morning. She used to go out and weed every morning before the sun got too hot. Harry would sneak down while she was in the shower and creep out the unlocked door.

He could remember running, sometimes barefoot away from Private Drive. He would run, and run as fast as he could to the school he and Dudley attended. He would hide in the bushes and grass waiting for a teacher to arrive. The grass always smelled so sweet Harry would worry he'd fall back to sleep.

Soon the teachers became suspicious of the strange Potter boy who would arrive so early, covered in dirt, wearing clothes that didn't fit and on occasion missing shoes. Eventually they called the Dursley's who had nearly killed him for drawing so much attention to himself. It was the start of Harry's time as a permanent fixture in the cupboard under the stairs. After the meeting with his teacher Vernon gave him his first real beating, and Petunia hadn't given Harry breakfast for a week. Only letting him out of the cupboard when he had to go to school.

Still Harry couldn't help smiling, those mornings in the bushes had been peaceful. The last bit of peace for a long time, until he adjusted to the cupboard.

He could feel that peace laying in the grass at Hogwarts looking up at the beautiful stars. He could remember the names of most of the planets from astronomy but a lot of their meanings were blurry. He traced out the constellations he recognized ursa major and minor, across to gemini, then Orion and Perseus. It was just so quiet, just the breeze and Harry, the forbidden forest sat dormant at his feet, and the endless castle that was Hogwarts sat perched just above him.

This night was too perfect to waste. Harry could feel his energy still gnawing at him, he had to experience more of this night. Then he felt a strong pull start in him, the need to move, to run, to fly…

He was surprised to see his broom already sitting in the gryffindor change room. He picked it up with ease and braced himself as he lifted off the ground. He slowly hovered out of the quidditch pitch and back out into the valley. Then he flew straight up, up into the stars.

He couldn't help the laughter, it boiled up from deep within him and seemed to just spill out into the night. Up here in the clouds the air was freezing, and laughing was all he could do as he reveled in how insane his whole stupid life was.

After a moment Harry nearly fell off his broom from laughing so hard. He let out a long sigh. This year is going to be normal, someone else is going to risk their life and limb. A fucking adult this time. Harry was high in the sky now, the quidditch pitch a circle far away, the castle was nothing more than an overgrown house.

He dedicated himself right there making a promise, to fucking enjoy this strange experience he had been handed. To enjoy every moment he could this year, to enjoy Hogwarts and his friends and life. He looked at the moon larger than he had ever seen it before. The World Cup was the end of Harry's misadventures this year was going to be different.

He flew for hours quickly falling into practice following one of Oliver Wood's drills. He stopped every once and a while to admire the night sky.

"Another night flyer!" A voice broke out, Harry swiveled in the air turning to see a person. They were in the air flying just over the treeline of the forbidden forest what must have been a hundred feet below. "They're so busy inside that castle they never think to look outside!" It was a boy from the looks and sound of it. Harry was certain of it, he was probably around his age too, maybe a little older from the height.

"I've never done this before! Do you go out often?" Harry shouted down to him.

He felt so stupid yelling into the night air. A part of him wanted to fly off before the boy could respond, if he did at all. Instead he waited nervously. To his horror the boy started flying closer, instinctively Harry flipped up his hood hiding his face.

As the boy came into view Harry let relief wash over him. The boy had his hood up too. "Not as often as I'd like," The boy enunciated his words projecting his voice from a good distance away.

"Maybe I'll see you out here again?" Harry asked a little too loudly and the boy let out a brassy laugh, that reminded Harry of something orchestral.

"Maybe you will," The boy turned slightly. "Have a good evening!" He said politely before he flew off back into the treeline and out of Harry's sight.

Harry let out a little sigh, it wasn't exactly normal but it was getting there.

Harry had just made a new friend.