A/N Helloooo! I'm not dead, although I'm guessing that the wait will make some people want to kill me! LOL! Well, I've nothing useful to say here, except: sorry if anyone seems ooc here, but how can you write something like this with everybody in character, when you've nothing to go on? Oh yeah -  HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

*****

"Here y'are Neville, and here's one for you too, Thomas." Stan's cheery voice reverberated through the hollow Knight Bus.

Harry and TJ were ushered onto beds behind Ernie who gave them a toothless grin and blasted the bus off to Dover Port with a big 'bang'. Harry found that Ernie's driving hadn't improved any, and trees, cars and houses were diving out of the way.

After about an hour, Stan went off to wake up Monsieur Dubois, who was to take a connecting portkey out to Calais.

"YOU'RE LATE! YOU'VE MISSED YOUR PORTKEY!!!!" Yelled Stan.

Harry had found that Stan's favourite wake up call was to yell down the poor unsuspecting sleeper's ear. That's how he'd learned half of his curse words.

TJ started to doze off after a tirade of mumbles all involving 'bloody stupid people who can't even get my name right!'

It was about forty-five minutes later that Stan tapped Harry on the shoulder; bringing Harry out of the trance he had slipped into.

"Leaky Cauldron, Neville. Should I wake Thomas?" Stan said softly.

"NO!" Yelled Harry, "Uh, I mean, no, it's okay, I'll do it. I wouldn't want to put you to any trouble."

Stan shrugged and wandered off down the bus to find their luggage. Harry crouched down by TJ's bed and whispered to him lightly, attempting to not wake the hag snoring in the bed next to TJ's. He needn't have worried for the hag gave a loud snort and turned so that her back was towards Harry.

TJ sat up, rubbed his eyes sleepily and yawned. When his eyes had focused in onto Harry, he grinned and leapt out, collapsing on the floor as his legs gave way.

Harry smiled, amused and picked TJ up, carrying him off of the bus setting him down onto the pavement outside the Leaky Cauldron. As Harry looked around for their luggage, it dawned on Harry what Stan was like with bags and trunks.

"DUCK!" Harry threw himself at TJ, sending them both flying to the floor just in time.

Two trunks flew over where Harry's and TJ's heads had been a few seconds previous. Hedwig's cage – with Hedwig inside! – came whooshing across soon after. The cage burst open upon making contact with the ground. Hedwig squawked indignantly and took off for refuge.

Harry pulled TJ up from the ground at the same time that the Knight Bus disappeared.

"STUPID! Is all the buses like that?" Asked TJ.

Harry felt like correcting him about the use of his grammar but managed to stop himself at the last moment.

"Shall we go in then?" TJ paled at Harry's innocent enough question. He steeled himself to be faced with an army of monstrous wizards bearing evil laughs and things that can only happen in nightmares.

Dragging the two trunks up the pathway, Harry left TJ to bring Hedwig's cage.

Checking that TJ was right behind him, Harry pushed open the door to the entrance of Diagon Alley. The chatter of everybody inside immediately hit them. Harry bounced inside; glad to be back around others of his kind. TJ slunk in, watching the crowds warily. He followed Harry up to the bar, where Tom the barkeeper was waiting for them.

"Hi Tom, we'd like a room please."

"Already sorted Mr Potter." Holding up a hand to stop Harry's protests, Tom carried on. "I received an owl from Albus Dumbledore this morning. A double room has been paid for until September 1st in the name of Mr Harry Potter." Handing Harry a key, he finished his tirade. "Room fourteen, if you'll leave your things just there, I'll have somebody take them up." Tom then went to the other side of the bar to serve another customer, signifying that no arguments could be started.

Harry sighed, piled the trunks in the corner, placed the owl cage on top and herded TJ off to look at the menu when:

"HARRY! Hey Harry, over here mate!" The freckled face of Ron Weasley towered over many of the other patrons in the Leaky Cauldron. He laughed and beckoned Harry over.

Harry dodged around crowds of cackling hags and scheming goblins keeping a tight grip on TJ's hand. Falling level with the crowds of Weasleys, he was drawn into a bone crushing hug by Mrs Weasley and then each of the other Weasleys, with the exception of Ginny, who gave Harry a quick kiss on the cheek and drew back, blushing furiously.

Realising that someone was missing, Harry stepped aside to reveal an extremely scared TJ by now.

"Guys, this is TJ. TJ, this is Mr Weasley, Mrs Weasley, Ron, Ginny, Percy, Fred, George and Bill, who is working over here now. He used to work in Egypt but now he, um…doesn't."

"Hi." TJ's voice cracked as he clutched Harry's hand as though it were a lifeline.

The Weasleys looked at each other and then back at TJ, an approving smile on each of their faces.

"Hi, TJ, I'm Ron, Harry's best friend…um…." Ron seemed unsure of what to say. He didn't get a chance to say much as he was elbowed out of the way by Fred and George who curtseyed to TJ and acted as though he was the king. TJ found the twin's antics hilarious and was on the floor crying with laughter.

Molly Weasley sat the twins on chairs away from TJ and each other. The rest of the Weasleys were busy examining TJ and introducing themselves. Harry took this opportunity to talk to Ron in private.

"So have you heard from 'Mione at all?" Harry asked; he hadn't had much contact with everyone during the summer.

"Yeah." Ron's voice took on a bitter edge. "She's in Bulgaria with Vicky!" He spat out the last word, he still couldn't get over the fact that he thought Hermione was abandoning them.

"Oh." Harry hurried to change the subject. A look at TJ, who was nestled on Mr Weasleys knee, gave him inspiration. " So what do you think about TJ?"

"He seems cool, if a little nervous."

"I don't think being in that Orphanage did him any good, Ron"

TBC……

Sorry about cutting it off there, I need to sort some things out.

Kandra: The Dursleys WILL suffer, that just may have to wait until the next summer. It is coming though.

Mars Raven: Hi Mars, *blushes* thanks, I'm flattered

Npetrenko: this okay?

( person with no name): I'm working on a site with art and fics and stuff, but I'm not that good a drawer, so TJ may not come out like I want him to!

Shades: You'll see……And Skeeter's in the jar, but she'll make an appearance, somewhere

Kenaz Astaroth: Look out Lockhart! * grins* Don't worry about it, everyone needs a break, right?

Whitethorn: Answer your question?

Brady2003us: put…the…stick…down.

E.R: I'm here, I'm here

Phoenix G Fawkes: Harry didn't show his surprise over the letter as this sort of stuff gets worked out in the end. Thanks, I liked this plot too.

(Another person who insisted on leaving no name): Don't die, I'd hate a death on my conscience!

Sailor-Knight Shadowstar: Cheers

Another A/N: Does anyone feel like writing the scene where Dumbledore tells the staff about TJ, cos I'd love to see that!