Streams of brilliant afternoon rays trickled their way into the dim room, striping it black and white. A white downy comforter shifted, an arm dislodging to dangle limply over the side of the four-poster bed. Incoherent grumbling came as a gentle breeze ruffled the white curtains, causing light to flicker over the bed.

Harry yanked the covers more over his head, desperately grappling at sleep.

"Rise and shine Rip Van Winkle."

More grumbling.

"Up and at 'em, sleepyhead, you can't stay in bed all day."

Grumble.

"Hey, you're the one who asked for a wake up call at noon."

" Well, I was wrong, I don't want one. Go away." Came the pillow-muffled reply.

Cienna giggled softly and tossed her hair behind her shoulder as she glided over from the wide open window to Harry's bedside," Come on, Harry. Its a beautiful day."

The covers were viciously clamped shut over a mop of messy black hair, inaudible mumblings filtering through the girl bit her lip mischievously before plunging her hands straight through what she assumed would be Harry's back.

" WASSIT! Who? " Harry jolted up, the covers flying from his body as he straightened. Spotting Cienna and her triumphant smile, he scowled.

"I said, up. Come on," She said before turning and exiting the room on the good faith that he'd stay up and get dressed.

Harry bickered with himself for a few minutes before dragging his tired body from the warm sheets and hissed as the cool air hit his skin. Resisting the urge to dive back under the blankets, Harry shoved his glasses onto his face and trudged to his wardrobe to yank out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt before setting off towards the bathroom.

Feeling a good deal more alert after his shower, he made his way downstairs where the smell of breakfast still lingered. Licking his lips at the mere thought of such delicious things, Harry entered the kitchen to see Periwinkle curled up in what was usually Jimmy's chair while Max gnawed at a rather grubby bone.

Both animals paused their activities to acknowledge him before resuming what they were doing. Hedwig fluttered down to his shoulder to deliver 2 letters, nipped his finger affectionately then took to her perch for a much needed rest.

Harry gave a sigh as he plopped down at the table, thumbing his letters absently. All three pets were fed, watered and content. There was one task he didn't have to do today. It also seemed that Jimmy had taken the liberty to cleaning Hedwig's perch from the way the wood gleamed bright beneath her talons.

"Sometimes..." Harry muttered , shaking his head.

"Whats that?" Cienna asked as she crossed into the kitchen.

"Jimmy. Sometimes I think he goes a bit overboard. I mean, its MY house too, you know."

Cienna smiled," Oh, you know how he is. He likes taking care of you, Harry."

Harry shifted on his stool, his forehead crinkling a bit," Yeah, but who'll take care of HIM. Merlin knows he won't let ME do it."

"Which is why I say you go ahead with your plan," The girl replied as she made her way over to him.

Harry got up and walked over to the fridge to rummage for something to eat," I already talked it over with Dumbledore before he left, so, it should be all set."

Cienna nodded then wagged her finger at him as he pulled a soda and bologna from the fridge," Jimmy left some breakfast for you."

Harry blinked before making his way over to the stove. Sure enough half a pot of cream of wheat, scrambled eggs and several slices of bacon waited for him, each still piping hot from a Heating Charm. An entire pot of coffee was still on, the creamer, sugar and his favorite mug sitting next to it. Indeed, even a plate, bowl, fork and spoon was set out for him.

"Sometimes..." he mumbled under his breath. Jimmy had been like this ever since they moved into the cottage. Indeed, it had gotten worse over the months, and it seemed to pick up excruciatingly last year round New Year's, right after Jimmy got back from his business trip to the Philippine Ministry of Magic. Harry hadn't even realized there were enough wizards in the Philipines to MAKE a Ministry. But he believed Jimmy anyway. Something about the whole thing still plagued him though, and Jimmy's occasional abrupt Disapparations, absence at dinner and nightly letters from an unknown writer didn't help ease his mind.

"I'm sure he'll be grateful for his birthday present," Cienna commented as Harry started in on his meal.

"Not as grateful as I'LL be. I just feel awful taking advantage of him like this."

Cienna shrugged," Its not like you have his arm behind his back, Harry."

"I know," Harry grumbled and took a sip of his coffee. What was it that bothered him so much? That Jimmy did so much for him ...or that he couldn't seem to do the same for Jimmy? He only had Jimmy in his life, the only family left, and he knew he wasn't doing a good job making his brother happy. The boy was secretive and guarded , even if he didn't show it, and he continuously treated Harry as if he were porcelain. Ok, so, sure, Harry never really slept anymore and when he did manage an hour or two, the nightmares were horrendous. But still. Was that enough to pretty much patronize him? Harry wasn't this pitiful little mess. So why was everyone believing that he was just this bundle of tears and frayed nerves? Its not as if he ever slept good before anyways. All those restless nights back at Hogwarts were evidence of that...Maybe he should get Ron to vouch for him, since Hermione was blatantly avoiding him like a plague. Harry sighed as Cienna eyed his silence suspiciously and couldn't help but feel uneasy as he continued to eat his late breakfast. " I'll be able to sleep easier knowing he doesn't have to do everything himself."

"And I'm sure he'll feel better knowing you sleep easier, too."

Harry whipped his emerald gaze up at her just to find the girl retreating into the living room. He chewed sullenly on his bacon as he debated whether to discuss what was really going on with his brother or to shrug it off, yet again. Sighing once more, he decided on leaving the matter till later and reached into his pocket to pull out his letters. One had familiar fancy red scrawl on the envelope, while the other was blank. Harry sighed popping the rest of his bacon into his mouth before opening up the one with the red writing.

Flicking his eyes over the parchment, he suddenly gasped and shot up from his chair. Hastily banishing his dishes to the sink with a flick of his wand, Harry bolted back upstairs to retrieve his burgundy Academy robes. He yanked the robe over his head as he scrambled into some shoes and snatched his dragon-hide hair tie from his dresser. He took the stairs three at a time pulling his hair back into a pony-tail, then raced into the sitting room.

"Have you seen Big Blue?" He panted at Cienna, who had been lounging peacefully amidst the afternoon rays.

The raven-haired girl chewed on her lip thoughtfully before pointing at the sofa.

Harry dove onto the forest-green couch, digging his hands beneath the thick cushions before clasping onto something hard," AHA!"

A large rectangular, bright blue book emerged in his grip.

"Why do you need that?" Cienna inquired curiously.

"They popped a mandatory class on all second years," Harry replied, eyeing ' Seeing is Forseeing: An Indepth Guide to The Sight ' with a grateful smile.

"Well, what time does it start?"

" In about," Harry began then glanced at the round clock poised above the mantelpiece." Now!"

Cienna smirked as Harry shoved the book in his rucksack and hastily threw Floo powder into the fireplace.

"Auror Academy!" He shouted then almost leapt into the flickering green flames. He vaguely heard Cienna call after him' Dont have too much fun now!' before he was whisked away.

0==()========

"I did not say that!"

"Oh yes you did."

"Nu-uh, no way."

" Yes , you did."

"Harry, help me out here."

Harry looked up from his pop-quiz results at his wheat-blond friend, Phillip Mitchell, and gave him a confused smile," You didn't say that."

"Ha!" Philip exclaimed to the other boy with a grin, his brown eyes twinkling in satisfaction.

"Harry, how could you," Cullen Manlow groaned, burying his face in his hands.

"How could I what? I don't even know what you're talking about," Harry replied, tucking his homework inside his bag as he and the two boys made their way out of their classroom and into the hallway.

"We were talking about a little monologue Philly here was making while he slept involving Shakespeare and a certain Ms. Claudia Shunpike." Cullen explained.

Harry burst out laughing, receiving a very generous shove from the indignant blond.

"Shut up, Harry! Its not funny!" Philip snapped, his face flushed with embarrassment.

"Yes, it is," Harry managed to choke out through laughs." So, where was I during this momentous event?"

" Rushing into class late at moch five," Cullen chuckled shoving wavy light brown hair out of pale-blue eyes.

"And I missed it? Bugger it all. Would you mind re-enacting it for me, Phil?"

Cullen and Harry enjoyed a rather good laugh as Philip shoved past them in clear annoyance and stormed out of the first available door leading to the grounds.

"So, did he really do a bit from Shakespeare to Claudia?" Harry inquired as they trekked towards the dining hall.

"Sure did. It was bloody brilliant, too."The blue-eyed boy said through a wistful grin.

"Damn, I would've LOVED to see that. And to Claudia Shunpike, of all people!" Harry exclaimed, plopping down at an empty circular table.

"I know, right? She's this beanpole and all she does is read those muggle novels when she's not trying to outshine every other second year," Cullen said as he sat opposite Harry at the wooden table."And she's Stan's little sister, for Merlin's sake. I don't know how Philip could stand the thought of being associated to someone thats related to the bellhop of the Knight Bus. I mean, really."

Harry shrugged, absently reaching into his bag. Cullen sometimes reminded him of how Malfoy used to be. Harry supposed it was how ALL Purebloods acted." He's not all THAT bad now. Seemed nice enough all those times I rode on that horrid purple bus."

Cullen chortled," Only the benevolent Harry Potter could find anything pleasant about that bus."

The brunette shrugged again, then blinked. Looking down, he fervently searched his bag, only to confirm what his hand first suggested, and hissed in Parseltongue under his breath. " Sod it all!"

"What?"

Harry sighed in exasperation at himself, secretly thankful Cullen didn't have the best attention span in the world. Having new friends know he was a Parselmouth was something he wasn't quite ready to deal with yet. The Daily Prophet had barely stopped stalking him everywhere and demanding interviews and exclusives on his account of Voldemort's demise. He seriously didn't need to give them a new reason to bother him." I forgot my bloody lunch."

"Well, here, you can have some of mine," Cullen offered, setting his lunch bag atop the table.

"No, its all right. I'll just go nick something from the cart," Harry replied and walked over to the food cart parked at the other end of the room. Rummaging in his pockets proved fruitless as he realized he'd also forgotten his coinbag in the disorganized rush of earlier that afternoon. He gave a frustrated groan, alerting several persons nearby of his mood, and made to stalk back to the table and resolve himself to a fast when a familiar grin caught his eye.

"Hey, Harry!"

The boy blinked, stopping dead in his tracks as his twin walked jauntily over to him," Jimmy?"

"Heya bro! Damn, you look horrible, haven't you eaten yet?" The coal-haired male said as he approached him.

"No, actually. I was a blooming git and forgot both my lunch AND my money," Harry answered, his mind still racing through the various reasons as to why his brother would be here.

"Ha, lucky I stopped by then. I was on my way up to the Headmaster's office to drop off a personal letter from Fudge. Like I'm his fucking barn owl, for god's sake," Jimmy sneered as he fished in his dark crimson robes for something.

Harry had to smile. After almost two years, his twin still hadn't lost his casual annoyance or his sharp American accent." Well, you do sort of resemble Pigwidgeon."

"May I remind you, OH dear brother, that we are twins."

Harry scowled as he got the implication." So, did you deliver the letter?"

"Yeah, and now I got to lug this thing back to Fudgie," Jimmy motioned to a bulky package protruding from his bag.

"What is it?"

"How should I know? If the weights any clue, its a god damn rhinoceros." His brother fumed, emerald eyes livid with irritation. "So, lets deal with your food crisis."

Harry tried to hide his embarrassment as Jimmy thrust a paper bag into his arms then dropped a few Galleons into his pocket," Gee, thanks MUM."

"You're welcome, darling," He retorted plainly. "Now give Mummy a kiss cause he's got to get back to work."

Harry grimaced and quickly shoved the boy away as he moved in to kiss Harry's cheek." Bugger off, you prat!"

Jimmy pretended to look offended and gave him a stern wag of the finger," Just you wait until your father hears about this. You know how Draco hates when you act up."

The older twin rolled his eyes, trying to keep back both bile and horrible images of Jimmy and Draco in a romantic relationship, then watched as Jimmy gave him a cheeky smile and departed.

"Was that your brother?" Cullen inquired after Harry had returned with the bagged lunch Jimmy provided, a butterbeer and a chocolate frog.

" I'd like to think it was just a freak spell gone wrong," Harry replied simply.

Cullen smirked, then leaned forward eagerly, " So, is Draco the boyfriend or something?"

Harry almost choked on his juice and turned wide eyes on the blond. "WHAT?!"

Cullen blinked," Isn't this Draco, Jimmy's boyfriend?"

"NO! "

Harry proceeded in ignoring all further questions and sunk into his chair, desperately blushing from all the stares and sniggers he was still receiving from the scene between him and his twin. Jimmy just always knew exactly how to draw attention to them and escape before he had to deal with the consequences. And the bit about Malfoy was always a personal favorite of his. It wasn't suprising someone would eventually think the retard was gay. Oh well, serves him right if the Daily Prophet gets wind of this and does a huge article about the indepth sexual preferences of Jimmy Potter. Harry would eagerly await that day and laugh in Jimmy's face.

Cullen entertained himself with a hearty laugh as Harry moodily munched on his food, secretly hoping the next two classes went by quickly so he could kill Jimmy as soon as he got or more of his professors were sure to give him extra credit for successfully transfiguring his brother into a girdle, or a pair of dirty grey knickers or perhaps an exact replica of a pile of ash.

Harry smiled to himself. Oh yes, a great big pile of ash formerly called Jimmy sounded quite nice right about now.

"You got that look again, Harry."

"Look? What look?" he asked innocently.

"That look that says 'I'm going to take advantage of my Auror training and inflict bodily harm upon a family member'," Cullen replied.

Harry gave an aloof smile and twirled his wand between his fingers," What good's vigorous training, if I never put it to use?"

Cullen shook his brown head and sighed, getting up with his companion to go to class," You're awful, you know that right?"

The green-eyed boy merely grinned as they walked off to their next class.