Harry Potter and the Forgotten Friends

by RaiLei

What if Harry had a friend when living at the Dursleys? Two friends for a fact. At the age of nine, Harry's alone and friendless. That is until his past comes back to find him... only he doesn't know it, and he cannot find out. But will he anyways? FINI.

18. Catch you later

Harry Potter and the Forgotten Friends

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Catch you later!

.:. Two Weeks Later .:.

Well, Riley had actually managed to keep the party secret from Harry. How she managed to do that, no one knows and probably never will. The party plans had gone on for the past two weeks, and was finally done. The planning stage had taken longer then they had expected –and had to push back their return to the Order of the Phoenix, because of this– as getting Riley out of her house without Harry coming as well. The two had gotten into another fight when Riley accidently told Harry just to leave her alone and stop bothering her when she left. After that the two wouldn't even be in the same room as each other, it got to point where Harry probably wouldn't even want to come to his own surprise party. That was until Riley was forced to apologise to Harry about what she said, and everything was fine again.

And today, was the party.

And the final goodbye.

For now.

"Harry! Come on, get up!" Riley laughed, looking down from her comic book.

"Why? It's seven a.m.!" Harry muttered from under the covers.

"Fine."

Riley put the comic book back down on her bed and crawled off it and kneeled down on the floor, smiling evilly. She reached for the pillow under Harry's head and yanked it out. Harry yelped when his head hit the carpeted floor.

"OK, OK. I'm up." Harry grumbled, throwing the covers off.

"Works like a charm. Now, come on. We have to go somewhere today, and we can't be late!"

"Where?"

"You'll see. Just get dressed," Riley flung some clothes at him. "Meet you down stairs." And with that, Riley bounded out the door, slamming it behind her.

Harry shook his head and looked down at what Riley threw at him. Where exactly were they going today? Sounded really important.

'Hmm… something's up.' Harry thought.

.:.

Harry walked into the kitchen a couple minutes later. Riley looked up, after stuffing toast in her mouth.

"Hi 'Arry. Wan sum brekfest?" Riley asked.

Arabella looked over at Riley and rolled her eyes. "Riley! Don't talk with your mouth full, you're acting like your father!"

Riley looked up, slightly, scowling.

"And what's so bad about acting like me?" Sirius said, walking into the room.

Arabella looked up and shook her head. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

Sirius nodded slowly, and made his way over to the fridge.

"So what time are we leaving today?" He asked, swinging the fridge door open.

"Viola said to be there by twelve. They have mostly everything ready, except for the last minute things." Arabella muttered, and Sirius nodded. "So, anyways, what do you want for breakfast Harry?"

"Um…" Harry looked over at what Riley was eating. "Toast is fine."

Arabella nodded, and went to grab some toast, throwing it into the toaster. Harry sat down next to Riley, looking at the tablecloth. Where were they going at twelve? And just who was Viola? Were they getting rid of him, like the Dursley's had threatened for the last seven years? He had always thought that the Black's were nice –minus Riley's dad– who was a mad murderer, like he had seen in his dream. Arabella walked over to where Harry sat, placing the plate of toast in front of him.

"Thanks." Harry muttered, and sub-conscienceless started eating the toast.

After eating the toast robot-like, Harry was dragged outside behind Riley. Totally bypassing their shoes lying at the front door, Riley swung the door open and walked out, barefoot.

"Don't we need shoes Riley?" Harry asked, looking back at the closed door.

"Harry! You know meee, we don't need shoes! This is waayyy more fun, you can feel the grass and dirt between your toes." Riley said, grinning like madman.

Harry nodded slowly, as they made their way across the lawn towards Rileys' tree house. They reached the base of the tree house, and started up the ladder, Harry decided to break the silence.

"Riley? Where are we going at twelve?" Harry asked, looking up at the dark-haired girl.

Riley froze on the ladder.

'What am I going to say? This isn't good,' She thought, and then saw Harry staring at her, curiously. "I think we're going to a movie." She said, praying that Harry would buy it.

"But… the movies don't start till two." Harry said as an afterthought.

Riley sighed and crawled up into the tree house and flopped down on a beanbag. "We're going out for lunch to…  um, where are we going… McDONALD'S! Yeah, that's it!"

"O…K…" Harry said, climbing into the tree house as well.

The time in the tree house passed by slowly as they had four hours till they went to… McDonalds. Harry was saying that they should go and get Alexis to hang out with them as well; Riley was quick - to quick - to answer with a no. Although Harry was puzzled by Riley's' answer, he let it go. After that the two decided to pass the time by reading comics, playing cops and robbers, making fun of Dudley and his cronies and climbing to greater heights in the tree. Eleven came and went, and still they had another hour to go… but the action was just starting to heat up in two different houses.

.:.

The kitchen door closed shut, but Alexis didn't notice. Draped in her mothers apron that went down to her feet, dishcloth in one hand and a plastic cup in the other hand. Singing along to the new Spice Girl song on the radio, bee-bopping around to the music, she didn't notice her dad enter the room. He shook his head and walked over to her.

"Having fun?" He asked, leaning against the counter.

"AAAHHH!!!" She yelled, sending the cup clanging to the ground. "You scared me!"

"I noticed. So how's it going?"

"Fine. How's everything else going on? When are Riley and Harry getting here?" Alexis asked, scooping up the cup.

"Their leaving at twelve, so about twelve thirty."

"I see. Are you guys done outside?"

"Just finished. Your mothers' just outside putting the final touches on."

Alexis nodded and dunked the cup back into the dishpan, laughing as bubbles came out of the pan. Her dad shook his head, and left the kitchen, unnoticed by Alexis.

.:.

"Riley! Harry! Come down here!"

Harry and Riley's heads' popped out of the tree branches, looking down at their caller.

"What is it?" Riley called, swinging her body down to hang from a branch. Her mother called an answer back and Riley nodded. "We're coming – Harry were leaving. Come on!" And with that, Riley let go of the branch and fell to the ground, landing somewhat cat-like.

Harry however took longer coming down. He climbed all the way back into the tree house and came down the ladder. By that time both Arabella and Sirius were out of the house, and in the car while Riley was leaning against the tree trunk waiting for Harry. Riley then grabbed Harry's arm and dragged him off to the car, muttering something about being late. How could you be late to go to a McDonalds? Must have been a big deal to Riley and her parents. The two finally reached the car, and Riley threw the door open, shoving Harry inside.

"Ow! What was that for?" Harry muttered, rubbing his head.

"Never you mind that, Harry! Just move over!" Riley half-yelled, jumping in, excitedly.

Harry rolled his eyes, Riley was way to hyper for her own good. But, nonetheless Harry did what she said and moved down, allowing her to get in the backseat as well. Riley jumped in excited and swung the car door shut behind her; a loud slam could be heard upon the impact. She grinned sheepishly up at her parents, who were looking at her.

"OK, OK. I won't do it again." She muttered, buckling her seatbelt and blowing a black strand of hair out her face.

Sirius backed the car out of the driveway, and onto the road. Harry looked out the window, taking in the scenes. As Harry looked around he noticed that they were going in the wrong direction. McDonalds was in the other direction, he should know, Riley and him had been there on the weekends every now and then. Harry panicked a little as he continued to stare out the window. Where exactly were the Blacks taking him? Were his fears coming true; were Riley and her parents giving him away? Was he going back to the Dursley's or were they taking him to this Viola person they were talking about earlier? Maybe they were working for the Dursley's… and way to get Harry out of the picture; maybe they were in league with the Dursley's all along? All these thoughts chased around Harry's brain, until Riley broke his train of thought.

"HARRY! You in there?" Riley yelled, waving a hand in front of Harry's face. "You spaced out there, for a minute. What're you thinking about?"

Harry honed in on Riley and took a fleeting look out the window. He sighed when he recognized where he was. He knew this place. It was only a couple blocks from Alexis' house. Maybe they were all going over there.

"I'm fine, Riley. Really. I'm just thinking about stuff."

Riley nodded, and went back to bee-bopping her head to the music that was now coming through the radio. It was a new Spice Girls song. Alexis had gotten her on the Spice Girls when they first arrived here in the muggle world. Harry went back to staring out the window thinking about what had happened since Alexis and Riley had shown up here in Surrey, he was actually having fun and Dudley couldn't come near him without panicking. What more could he ask for? Not much. Harry looked up when the car came to a stop. Harry looked up and saw they were parked in front of Alexis' house.

"ALRIGHT! We're here! C'mon Harry!" Riley yelled happily, and flung the car door open.

Harry slowly opened the door and rolled his eyes at Riley. The girl could be crazy one minute, spunky the next. Riley ran up the driveway and up to the front door, knocked once and disappeared inside. The Blacks' had already disappeared inside, and Harry walked up to the front door and knocked. He looked at it confused when no one answered it, Riley and her parents had just gone in there, hadn't they? Harry shrugged and opened the door, wandering inside, closing the door behind him. It was dark in there; the only light filtering into the house was the light coming through the curtains on the window. This was so weird, where was everyone? He already was nervous about being in there, no one had technically invited him in. He took one more step then stopped. Something was moving in the living room. He looked wearily at the living room, and took one step into the living room.

"SURPRISE!!!"

The lights flicked on, and Harry stared surprised at what he saw. The living room was decorated in streamers and balloons of all different colours, and Alexis and Riley there with party hats smiling goofily at Harry, while their parents hung back smiling at the three.

"Harry, ha! You should have seen your face! It was priceless!" Alexis said, grinning and grabbing Harry's hand.

"And I got a picture of it! This will be awesome, don't you think Harry?" Riley said, grabbing Harry's other hand.

Harry nodded, confused. "But, what is this all for? I mean, it's only November, my birthday isn't till July… and your birthday's aren't till December and April!"

Alexis and Riley stopped pulling Harry behind them when he said that. They turned around to face him, then beamed.

"That's right, we had to keep it a secret from you!" Alexis said, dropping his hand.

Riley dropped his hand too. "You see Harry, we have to move on now. My dad has been summoned to come back to England. His job wants him to come back, which totally bites!" Riley said, scowling back at her parents, her hair falling in her face.

"A summon, back in England? You make it sound like your magical or something… a summon. That's a good one." Harry said, shaking his head.

Riley cast a glance over to Alexis, needing her help. Alexis nodded, answering Riley's silent plea for help. "You know magic isn't real Harry! But anyways, since it isn't nice to leave your pal behind when you're leaving, we thought that we would throw you a going away party. Even though you're not going away, we can't just leave like that!" Alexis snapped her fingers for emphasis.

Harry nodded, while the two girls smiled and continued dragging Harry out of the living room, down the hall and to the door leading outside. The backyard of Alexis' house was just as decorated as it was on the inside. Balloons and streamers were everywhere.

"Alright! Let the party begin!" Alexis shouted, and ran to crank up the volume on the radio, as music started to blare through the speakers.

And sure enough Harry, Riley and Alexis did have a blast at the party. They spent most of the party playing the latest Nintendo system, watching a bunch of movies, and dancing around to the music; doing the average nine-year old party fun. Time flew by as twelve thirty suddenly became seven o'clock and was dark outside, forcing the three kids indoors.

"That was fun! You should have seen how far that flew!" Riley said, swinging the side door open.

"That was gross Riley, why'd you do that!" Alexis countered, looking semi-revolted.

"What are you talking about, Alexis! That was so awesome!" Harry said, closing the door behind him.

"Whatever you two say. It was still gross!" Alexis said, kicking her shoes off, and wandering down the hall.

"It flew the whole length of your backyard! That was the best spit ball I ever made!" Riley protested, stalking off after Alexis, Harry behind her.

The three wandered into the living room, Alexis and Riley still going on about the backyard spit ball, while Harry followed behind them. Alexis all the sudden turned around facing Harry, and pushed him unto the couch.

"What was that for? Some host you are!" Riley shouted, shoving Alexis.

"Be quiet Riley! Harry – since we're leaving tomorrow for… England… we wanted to give you something," Alexis pulled something out from behind her. "So I got you a present! Here, take it." Alexis smiled, handing the present over.

Harry nodded numbly and took the present. It looked like it was wrapped haphazard, but that didn't matter, this was the best present he had ever actually received. The Durlsey's never actually saw the point in giving Harry birthday or Christmas gifts. It was known that Dudley got Harry's share of the presents, but they were better toys then the ones Harry would receive. Harry quickly threw off the paper and bow and threw the lid of the box off. Inside of the box was a Winnie the Pooh photo album. Harry opened it up and inside all the pictures taken over the past couple of months with him, Alexis and Riley. He smiled as he looked at the first picture. It was Riley and Alexis making goofy faces at the camera. He guessed this was before they met him because he didn't recognize the background. He looked back up at Alexis and Riley who were standing there, smiling at him.

"So what do you think there, Harry? We did it ourselves! See those stickers," Riley pointed to the stickers scattered about the pages around the pictures. "That was my idea! They look awesome don't they?" Riley said going kind of hyper again.

"Hope you like it Harry. Don't forget us, and we'll all meet again. I'm sure of it." Alexis said, winking at him.

Harry nodded, wondering what Alexis meant by that. The world's huge, but was the chances that the three best friends would meet back up again?  Slim to none.

"How could I ever forget you two? You're crazy and definitely turned this town upside down. And, besides you're the best friends – and only – friends I've ever had." Harry said, smiling at the two.

"Awe Harry, we'll miss you!" Alexis said, and then drew both Harry and Riley into a hug.

The hug was broken apart when Arabella and Viola appeared in the archway of the living room. The three friends broke apart and looked at the two adults.

"Are we leaving, now?" Riley asked, scowling at her mother.

"Yep. Come on guys, we have got to get going. We have to drop Harry off at the Dursley's then get ready to leave Surrey. Harry – we'll miss you."

The three friends sighed and ran off to get their shoes, then ran out the door in a race to the car, trying to get there first to get the best backseat. The adults rolled their eyes at the kids' enthusiasm, not like they weren't enthusiastic still. Viola leaned against the doorframe of front door, shaking her head as Riley and Alexis fought to get in the car door first, while Harry just slipped in, unnoticed. She laughed, and turned back to Arabella.

"Are you going to miss Harry?"

Arabella's gaze shifted from the window to Viola. "Of course! I mean you know what Harry is to us. We only have to wait for two more years to pass then he will be able to know the truth," Arabella said, getting the spaced out look. "All that we've been keeping from him… I feel like such a bad person."

"Don't talk like that Bell. You'd tell him if you could, but Dumbledore told us all not to."

"Dumbledore told us what?" Sirius said, coming into the hallway.

Arabella and Viola turned to look in the direction of the new voice, as Sirius and Remus came crashing down the stairs from upstairs.

"About not telling Harry who we are. Who he truly is." Arabella muttered, staring off into space again.

Viola looked from Arabella to Sirius then to Remus, then back again. She started rooting through her pockets for her car keys, considering now that the fighting to get in the car had stopped, either Riley or Alexis were honking the car horn now. Getting agitated with the car horn and not able to find the car keys looked back up at the other three, and saw that none of them were really paying any attention to the car horn and her agitation. Arabella was back to staring out the window, while Sirius looked at her quizzically and Remus watched the sight in amusement. Viola rolled her eyes; Arabella could get so moody sometimes. Then she spotted it, the keys to the car, hanging on the key rack. Duh! Why didn't she look their first? She shook her head, no time to answer her own questions. She grabbed the keys and sprinted to the door, the car honks getting to her.

"Alright! I'm coming!" She yelled, storming over to the car, as Riley quickly darted back into the backseat.

Viola shook her head, Riley surely inherited Sirius' knack for getting in trouble. No surprise though, Riley had usually had a knack for knowing things about the Order that no other nine year old should know, but hanging out with the Weasley twins on the side, couldn't help matters. Nope, not at all. She sighed, and opened up the car door, trying to figure out why Arabella could be so moody like that. She hadn't been like that for the three months they were here in Surrey, watching over Harry. But, having to give him up to the Dursely's for a second time probably wasn't the most-easiest thing to do. She smiled, knowing that in two years everything would be back to normal and Harry would be back with the people that cared most about it. She looked up at the sound of her front door closing, as the other three walked out of the house.

"Are we ever going to move the car, mum? Or, we going to sit here in the car all afternoon?" Alexis asked, pushing past Harry to peer up at her mother.

"Yeah, we just got to wait for your father to get into the car." Viola replied, and Alexis nodded, slipping back into her seat, beside Harry and the window.

"Well… to get him to hurry up, you can only do one thing!" Riley laughed, leaning past Harry and honking the horn a couple times.

The three adults outside turned and looked at the car, narrowing in on Viola, whom they thought had honked the horn. Then they saw Riley waved crazily at them, and shook their heads, and then turned to depart to the separate cars.

"Finally!" Alexis exclaimed when her dad got in the car, and her mum started to back out the driveway after the Blacks.

The car ride back to the Dursley's was quiet, as no one wanted to mention the 'truth': Harry going back to the Dursley's. They drove for a while, until they finally reached their destination: Privet Drive. Viols looked around, all the houses looked the same, kind of creepy. Looking like the neighbours wasn't exactly what she would call the funniest thing, in her world none of the houses looked alike. She pulled into the driveway of number four after Arabella and Sirius and shut the car off. The seven people clambered out of their cars, and walked up the pathway to the front door. Surely Petunia would remember them from their days in the middle of summer at Lily's house. Once they reached the front step of the Dursley's, they rang the doorbell and waited. Shuffling was heard inside the house and then the door opened, and Petunia stood there, looking at the seven.

"Hello, Petunia. Nice to see you again, after all these years." Sirius said, in a mock grin.

Petunia looked up at him confused for a second, then remembered. It was Black, one of her weirdo sisters' friends. She looked backwards as another person came to the door; it was none other then Vernon.

"What's going on here, Petunia? And, who are all these people?" Vernon glared, his eyes never leaving the seven people on their doorstep.

"We're just the parents of Harry's friends, and we're here to return him to you." Arabella said, gently pushing Harry in front of him.

The gaze of both Vernon and Petunia looked down and saw Harry standing there, in better clothes then what he left in. They were about to say something when they saw that on either side of Harry, Alexis and Riley stood there, glaring up at Harry's aunt, arms folded tightly across their chests.

"Mum, Dad, we'll be right back, we have got to go and get Harry settled back in here. We'll be back in a couple minutes." Riley said, and pushed past Vernon and Petunia and went inside, Harry following her.

Alexis turned back to her parents. "We'll let you guys all get reacquainted to each other." And stifling a laugh, Alexis followed after Harry and Riley.

The four adults on the porch shook their head at what Alexis was hinting at, she knew too much for her age. But whatever, that didn't matter right now. Viola looked from Petunia and Vernon to Arabella and Sirius and then to Remus. She wondered who would be the first one to break the silence that had fallen around them; she didn't know Petunia and Vernon that well, as she had only been a friend of Lily and the rest of them since the seventh year.

"So, how you been keeping, Petty-dear? No more mysterious things happening?" Arabella asked, walking over to Petunia and draped her arms over Petunia's shoulders, like she was greeting an old friend.

Petunia looked simply repulsed, at Arabella's gesture. She pushed Arabella's hand off of her shoulders and retreated back behind Vernon. Vernon looked at Petunia with confusion, then looked at the other four. He looked at the two girls, but they didn't register in his brain, neither did the two guys at first… until… he saw a wand sticking out of one of the guys' jeans pockets. Magic! These were some of these freaks that used to hang around with Petunia's freaky sister and husband.

"What do you want with us?" Vernon demanded, going purple in the face.

"Simply to bring Harry back to his house. Where not here to cause any trouble… yet." Remus muttered, glaring at the Dursley's.

"Well then, since you don't want to cause any trouble, take your bratty stupid kids and get the heck off our property before we have to call the cops." Petunia half-yelled, coming back into their view.

"We'll leave in a second. There's just one more thing we have to take care of before we leave to go back to our world," Sirius said, stepping forward, closing to the Dursley's, who were starting to look flustered. "We just want to make sure that you don't treat Harry like the crap you used to treat him like."

The Dursley's looked taken aback at the request Sirius had simply asked for. It seemed simply enough… but… what about his magic? The Dursley's were about to reply, but Sirius cut them off again.

"I know what your thinking, you say yes and don't do it, how will we ever find out? But you see, we have magic and we can come back any time for a little visit… and just think of the bind that would put you in." Sirius said, with a bit o mischief.

"Fine, Fine, whatever. We'll take care of Harry and not treat him like we used it." Petunia said, with a fake grin, waving off the answer.

"But remember we'll be back, and, we'll also be writing a letter to Harry every now and then. And, due to our magic only Harry can touch the letter," Viola said, grinning at the two stunned Dursely's, the swept into the house. "Alexis, Riley! It's time to go."

In a thumping sound of noise was heard coming down the stairs as a mix of brown and black hair and assorted coloured clothing stood in the hallway. They slowly walked down the hallway and outside. Riley and Alexis then turned and looked at Harry, and Alexis grabbed Harry into a hug.

"Harry, I'll miss you. But we'll see each other again, it's a small world!" And with that, Alexis let go of Harry and silently stood back until she was standing between her two parents.

"Harry, you know I'm always around the corner. One way or another," Riley winked, flashing him the 'peace' sign. "I'll see you around, and don't forget we're the three musketeers till the end of time!" Riley then too, with a quiet hug for Harry, stepped back with her parents too.

Alexis, Riley and her parents turned to leave, when with a shove and a 'hey!' from Harry, Dudley stepped forward. Riley stopped walking, jolting her parents back, and stared at Dudley, who hadn't noticed Riley yet, was picking on Harry.

"Yo, Dudley!" Riley hollered across the lawn. Dudley stopped and looked at her. "Watch your back, because you never know when I'll be pounding on it!"

Riley balled her hands into fists and made a jump to pound Dudley to show she meant business. She never made it to Dudley though as Sirius grabbed onto the belt loop on her jeans.

"Riley none of that. We'll see you later Harry!" Arabella called, waving back to Harry, then disappeared into her car, waiting for Sirius and Riley to get in the car.

Alexis sadly waved bye to Harry, then got into the car with her parents, and vanished into the night. Soon Riley and her parents disappeared as well, and Harry was left standing with the Dursley's.

"Come on boy. Get in the house." Uncle Vernon snapped, towering over Harry.

Harry nodded numbly and followed Uncle Vernon inside. Deep down Harry knew that nothing the Black's and Lupin's had told Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia wouldn't help at all. They had no way of keeping tabs on him, so things would go back to the way it was before. But hopefully, Riley and them would come back for him, before they all forgot him.

If only things could be like that.

*~*~*~*

Q&A:

Bridget S. Black: How many more chappies till Hogwarts? We're at Hogwarts next chapter!!

Sorry for taking soooooo long to update guys! (Yes, I know it was almost four months). I had lots of stuff to do during that time though. I managed to figure out how many more chapters I needed (One more to go!) and I solved some issues I have had to go through in my life. But, I'm back and I think everything is all sorted out. Good News: I started Chapter 19, and maybe have one page done! Yay! See you all next ti—Oh! Wait! I got another story coming out soon, called "Convicted". It's like a prequel to this story, it's more in depth about some of the characters like Riley, Alexis, Viola, what exactly happened between Sirius and Peter that night and why Sirius is actually allowed to have Harry at his house, and such. I'm in the midst of writing out chapter five out of maybe nine. Should I continue with it or drop it? See you next time.

11/27/03