Anthem
By Serendipity

Author's Note: My friend is insane. Just thought that I'd let you know. I realized that I wrote the last chapter as if Hayden was talking directly to you, and I also realized that I like that way of writing. So I'm going to try my best to continue writing like that. This chapter is going to be in Hayden's POV again. I think the whole story might be in his POV, not sure though. Anywho it starts on Hayden's last day of school and he's going to Harry's the next day. And I'll warn you now; he's been angsty. I mean just look at the friggin' chapter title! But the laughs will continue!

Disclaimer: If I never had to write another disclaimer again, I'd be happy. Don't own, don't have money, don't sue. There.

Chapter Two

God Must Hate Me

I have been angsty. I admit it. Ever since that night I have done nothing but mope around. I've been wearing nothing but black (a sure sign to adults to stay away) and I haven't said more than two words to my mother. I hear her crying at night and it hurts me because I know that I'm being a spoiled brat about the whole thing, but still, something is preventing me from just giving into this whole thing. I think that it's the fact that everyone has such high expectations of me, and that I know for a fact that I can't do magic if my life depended upon it.

I'll be letting so many people down. My family for one. And then there's going to be the whole damn magical world watching me mess up royally. I can see the headline of Witch Weekly now: Hayden Potter, Worse Wizard of the Year! I am in such deep shit.

That's exactly what I was thinking as I drove Ash to the beach. We were supposed to meet some friends and goof off, you know, to celebrate school ending. Of course I didn't feel much like celebrating. No, I felt more like digging a hole in the sand and burying myself alive.

Ash wasn't talking. He knew that I was in one of 'those' moods. I guess it was because I was driving at a sluggish 50 m/p/h down a deserted road, hunched over with my chin lazily resting on the steering wheel. Finally Ash got fed up with it.

"What the hell's wrong with you, man?" he asked, raising his arms in frustration.

"Wha?" I asked lazily coming out of a daze.

"You've been like this for the past week!" he explained. "You weren't even happy on your birthday, and your mom got us those cool concert tickets and everything!"

I sighed. I had to tell him something. I couldn't tell him the truth obviously, but he had to know that I wasn't going to be around for the summer.

"My mom's forcing me to go to England this summer," I told him, concentrating on the road.

"Why?" Ash asked.

Ah, American's! Just can't understand why anyone would want to leave the good U S of A.

I took a deep breath.

"Because she wants me to get to know my father. I'm going to be staying with him."

Ash looked utterly confused.

"You have a father?"

He obviously never passed biology either.

"Yes, and I'm being forced against my will to spend the entire summer with him!"

I have nothing against my dad. Not really. But for some reason I was beginning to realize why so many people hate their fathers. There's no explanation for it, they just do.

"That really sucks!" Ash said next to me.

"Hmm," I said, for lack of anything better to say.

Then Ash gave me a brilliant idea. Or at least it seemed brilliant at the time.

"Just be a jackass."

"What?" I asked him, lifting my head from the steering wheel.

"You heard me. Be a big pain in the ass, then he'll just get fed up with you and realize why he didn't want you in the first place."

The idea was so insane that it just might work! My spirits were raised immensely and I had a hell of a good time at the beach. Everyone was there. The druggies were trying to rob a soda machine (and having terrible luck at it), the brains were doing experiments for summer science camp (not to mention their science slumber parties), and the popular people looked on my friends and I with disgust as we went into the salty ocean water fully clothed.

I came home around 10:30 p.m. still soaked. My hair plastered to my head, my shirt clinging to my chest and the water in my shoes made that squish sound as I walked. Mom was in the living room watching an old home DVD of my third birthday. She was crying. I came up behind her.

If she turned around she would have seen me, completely soaked looking on with my puppy eyes and a hurt expression. A teenage boy completely confused and scared and wishing that his mother would tell him that everything was going to be okay. Unfortunately, she didn't notice me and I showered and went to bed feeling just as lost and alone as I had before I got to the beach.

My dreams were haunted with visions of people laughing at me and of my parents hiding their faces in shame because their only son was a loser at magic. I woke up many times that night, much to the annoyance of Tai who sleeps with me. Finally around six in the morning I fell into a peaceful sleep only to be woken up an hour later by Mom.

She threw my curtains open and yanked off my covers. I squinted up at her. Tai gave her a look that seemed to say, "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He blinked one eye sleepily before he curled up and went back to sleep.

"Come on, Hayden, you don't want to be late for your plane!" she exclaimed cheerily.

I glared at her and rolled over, petting Tai.

She got mad. Don't ignore your parents; nothing good comes from it. As you are about to see.

She had her wand with her. She got it out and pointed it at me. I can't really explain what happened next. All I can say is that everything got bigger. Much bigger. Mom used her wand and made me bounce. Bounce! I was bouncing. As I went up in the air, I managed to catch a glimpse of myself in my mirror. It was terrifying! I was a ferret! I'm still traumatized by it. I began squirming in ferret form. I woke up Tai. Tai likes ferrets. He got into pounce position.

Not. Good.

But Mom has excellent timing and made me bounce right when Tai lunged. My poor cat hit the wall. He was disoriented for a few moments before zipping out of the room as fast as he could. That's when Mom turned me back. I stared at her, flabbergasted.

"You just punished me with magic!" I exclaimed angrily.

"Yes," she replied. "Yes, I did."

And then she left.

After the initial shock of being another animal wore off, I got up, dressed, and made sure that I had everything. Mom drove me to the airport. I guess to make sure that I would go and not just skip off to Ash's for the summer or something. We didn't talk much, but I did mumble a good bye and kiss her on the cheek just to let her know that I wasn't going to stay mad at her forever. She was smiling as I entered the terminal.

I slept on the plane. I had nightmares. I scared the elderly man sitting next to me. That's okay, because he scared me too; he thought that I was his ex-wife. He kept calling me Peaches. His nurse said that that was normal.

Finally I arrived in London. I haven't been here since I was one week old. I wondered vaguely if Harry would take me sightseeing. I snorted. Yeah, he probably doesn't even leave the magical world. Suddenly I saw a head of red hair.

"Oh, Harry, are those escapators?"

Harry. I came closer. Yep there was Uncle Ron staring stupidly at some escalators. And standing next to him was my old man, who paradoxically didn't look old at all. He had black spiked hair and was wearing really expensive looking clothing. He was currently laughing at Uncle Ron. Did they know each other? Now that was a stupid question. My dad only had sexual relations with Uncle Ron's sister. Ahh! My conception. Don't think about that, Hayden!

"Hayden!" Uncle Ron finally tore his eyes away from the escalators and saw me. He came over and gave me a hug. Harry came over too. He looked about as nervous as I felt. What were we supposed to say to each other? Were we supposed to say anything? Well I wasn't going to say something first. Uncle Ron looked like he wasn't sure what to do.

"Um, Hayden," Uncle Ron said, forcing me to come a few steps closer to Harry. "This is your father."

Really, Uncle Ron? I thought that he was the mailman!

"Hello, Hayden," Harry said to me, looking me over. I wondered what he thought of me. Was he disappointed in me? I was wearing baggy black pant with a belt and chain, a black tank top and a black jacket. My hair was spiked messily as usual. I was only an inch shorter than he was. When I didn't reply, he continued:

"Wow, you've grown so much since I last saw you," he said, smiling. It was supposed to be a compliment, I didn't take it that way.

"Whose fault is that?"

Shit! Did I say that out loud! It was then that I realized that even though I understood why he left mom and me, I still resented it. But why? My life back home was perfect without him. Why did I need him now? Uncle Ron grabbed a hold of my arm tightly.

"Hey!" he scolded, forcing me to look at him.

He looked angry.

"No, Ron, it's okay," Harry said, prying Uncle Ron off of me. "I deserved that."

Ah, at least someone sees it my way! We stood in silence for awhile.

"I'm hungry," I said at last. And it was true. All I had was a muffin on the plane.

Harry's parental mode kicked in.

"Of course you are," he said, taking hold of one of my bags. "What do you want to eat? Steak? Pizza? There's a Mac Donald's down the street?"

He knew of Mac. Donald's? Oh, yeah, he grew up as a muggle didn't he? But Uncle Ron was shaking his head.

"Harry, Hayden can go there whenever he wants, we have to take him to The Leaky Cauldron."

The Leaky Cauldron? Were they going to take me into their freak show world all ready?

Harry shrugged and looked over his shoulder at me. (I was trudging gloomily behind them.)

"Is that okay with you, Hayden?" he asked.

I shrugged, keeping my eyes on my shoes.

"Um, all right, The Leaky Cauldron it is then!" Harry exclaimed brightly.

We were out in the parking lot. Harry's car is brand new and more expensive than Mom's is. I ignored my sudden urge to lift the hood and check out the engine. The car was also unique in the way it seemed to just cut around traffic. We were at this The Leaky Cauldron in no time. I looked at the place as I got out of the car.

"Dear God, it's horrible!" I exclaimed looking at how small and run-down it was.

Uncle Ron slapped me on the back of my head.

Harry laughed.

"What's so funny?" Uncle Ron asked him.

"That's what I thought the first time I saw this place," he replied, looking at me proudly.

Note to self: Just don't talk for the rest of summer. You might make Harry proud of you. Isn't that a good thing? No! I want him to hate me so I can go back early and enjoy the rest of summer!

We went in and immediately several old witches came up to Harry and shook his hand.

"So delighted to finally meet you!" one said.

"This is my third time meeting him," commented another.

Several pictures were taken and a young male reporter came up to Harry with a notepad and quill.

"So tell me Mr. Potter, how was your journey into the muggle world?" he asked, quill ready.

"Fine," replied Harry.

The reporter looked at Uncle Ron, recognized him and dismissed him. His grey eyes wandered over to me.

"And, uh, who is this young man?" he asked.

Oooo, what's Harry going to say to that? Probably say that I was someone else's kid. Harry looked at me, almost as if he wasn't sure what I wanted him to say. Uncle Ron nodded at him. Harry proceeded by climbing onto the bar. Uncle Ron made damn sure that I stood by him on it too.

"Excuse me, can I have everyone's attention, please?" Harry called out.

The room was silenced. Harry placed an arm around my shoulders. For show probably.

"I would like to introduce everyone to my son, Hayden James Potter."

PANDIMONIUM!

Chairs were turned over as everyone came up to greet me. I was pulled down from the bar. People were shaking both of my hands, and several came back for more. There were also three teenage girls there who pulled at my clothing. I think that they were trying to undress me. I smiled shyly. Harry was telling the reporter something. The reporter was writing so fast that he looked as if he were going to break his quill. Then suddenly there was a big bang. Smoke was issuing from Harry's wand.

"Please, my son and I are here to eat a quiet dinner."

Everyone was back in their seats and talking loudly to each other. It seemed as if we were forgotten, even though everyone's conversation was about us. Was Harry that famous that he could make people obey like that? Well it sure as hell wasn't going to work on me!

We found a secluded booth and sat down. Uncle Ron ordered for us. Some dish that I never heard of before.

"Now, wait, Ron!" Harry scolded, signaling the waiter to stay. "What if Hayden doesn't want that!"

I wasn't paying attention. There were three men in black capes sitting at a table close to ours. They looked like vampires. Vampires! Jeez, I'm going insane. Next thing you know I'll be talking to a werewolf.

Uncle Ron chuckled.

"Don't worry, Harry," he said, waving the waiter away. "Hayden will eat anything. Ain't that right, Hayden?"

I tore my eyes off of the vampires or whatever they were.

"Um, yeah."

Uncle Ron smiled.

"There, you see!" he exclaimed brightly.

We sat in silence for at least five minutes after that. I noticed that almost everyone was staring at us; mainly me. It made me uncomfortable. Uncle Ron noticed. He tried to make small talk.

"You know I never noticed how much you two look alike," he said indicating Harry and me. "Same emerald eyes, same strong jaw, same messy hair!"

Harry leaned over the table a little.

"I'm really sorry about that," he said apologizing for my inherited messy mane.

Uncle Ron smiled.

"All you need now is a lightening bolt scar," Uncle Ron said, prodding Harry's with his forefinger.

"I have one," I said without thinking.

Damn it, Hayden, I told you not to talk! Why don't I ever listen to myself?

Uncle Ron and Harry both fell silent. Their eyes became huge with shock and I noticed that the room became hushed.

"When did you get the scar?" Uncle Ron asked.

"When I was seven," I replied. "I fell out of a tree."

"Why wasn't I informed about this?" Uncle Ron asked yet again.

I shrugged.

"It freaks Mom out. She thought that you would be too and decided to tell no one. That's why she always makes me where long-sleeved shirts when you or any other family member is around."

"Excuse me, excuse me!"

That damn reporter was back.

"Young Potter, can I get a picture of this scar for the Daily Prophet?"

Uncle Ron and Harry got up and shielded me from the reporter before I could even answer.

"Please leave my son alone for now," Harry asked politely. "You'll get your picture eventually, but he's not used to all this right now. He was raised as a muggle, you know that."

The reporter knew (I guess Harry told him while I was being mobbed by old people and sexually harassed by teenage girls) but the rest of the people there did not. Whispers filtered about and I heard one of the vampires say, "Ah, dat is how he hid him from de vest of us!"

The reporter walked away glumly.

Our food (which was surprisingly good) came and we ate quickly, talking very little. Uncle Ron paid after he and Harry fought for about ten minutes whose turn it was to pick up the check and then I grabbed one of my bags and Harry took the other. We walked away from the table, but we didn't go to the door. We went to the fireplace. Harry explained that his car was a magical rental and that it should have disappeared by now.

"Floo Powder then?" asked Uncle Ron.

"Floo Powder?" I asked confused.

Harry's parental mode kicked in again. He looked alarmed.

"Wait, Ron! Do you think Hayden's ready for Floo Powder? I mean I hated it the first time I used it and I was considerably smaller than him at the time. I don't want him to get hurt!"

"I can take care of myself!" I said, trying to keep my voice down. "I'm not a little boy anymore!"

"Fine, but don't say that I didn't warn you!" Harry said, raising his hands in defeat.

"Here I'll go first to show you how," Uncle Ron suggested.

He stepped into the fire and reached into a pot, taking something that looked like ashes.

"The Bookshelf!" he exclaimed, throwing the powder at his feet.

Green flames ate him. That's the best way to explain it.

I must have looked like a scared rabbit because Harry was laughing.

"What?" I asked.

"That's the same way I must have looked when Ron showed me how to travel by Floo Powder!"

Oh.

I was confused again.

"Why did he say, 'The Bookshelf'?" I asked Harry.

Harry laughed again.

"We name our homes, and that's what he named his."

Oh again.

"Well what did you name yours?" I asked.

"The Potter Pad!" he said smiling.

I laughed. I didn't mean to. Laughing is admitting that you think that someone is funny. If I was going to get out of here, I shouldn't be laughing at Harry.

Harry, glad that I laughed, shrugged.

"I was drunk at the time."

I laughed again.

"Can I get drunk?" I asked, I didn't know why I said it. I told myself to be moody and to stop laughing.

Harry's smile faded.

"No."

And that was the end of the discussion.

So I got into the fireplace, took some of the powder, threw it at my feet and said, "The Potter Pad", feeling really stupid.

I started spinning. I hit my head on something. I woke up an hour later in a dark bedroom. I sat up. My head didn't hurt even though it had bandages on it. I was hot so I took my jacket off.

The room was plain from what I could see. No stereo, no TV, no nothing. Just a bed, closet, dresser, desk and my bags sitting untouched in the corner. I got up and decided to find Harry.

His apartment was nice. No electrical appliances from what I saw, but it had a huge bathroom across from my bedroom and the whole place was decorated nicely in silvers, blacks, and whites. Harry was in what I assumed the living room, reading. He looked up when I came in.

"Feeling better?" he asked brightly.

I nodded.

Silence once again. I sat down in the chair next to him and picked up a newspaper. The Evening Prophet. I watched amused at my picture. The girls were clawing me.

"So there it is," Harry said suddenly.

I followed his gaze to my bare arm. He was looking at the scar. It was the spitting image of his. Our eyes met. I looked away.

"I'm going to bed," I said, getting up.

"Good night," Harry called after me.

I grunted. It has been a traumatizing day.

Author's Note: Yay! Chapter Two done! I didn't get off yesterday. I should have. Lots of snow. Roads were terrible. I swear, our schools wouldn't even close if the apocalypse was coming! But back to the Author's Note. Okay, um, Hayden is trying to go home, as you know. He's going through some internal conflict because he doesn't hate Harry, he's just confused. I realize that introducing Hayden to the whole wizarding people so soon was a bit sudden, but I figured that it would be better than Harry lying. And, uh, if you have any questions just ask. Toodles!