A FRIEND TO TALK TO

CHPT 2: FRIEND

Disclaimer: I dont own the Harry Potter series.

"So how old are you?" Claire asked.

"Sixteen. Well, today is my birthday." Harry said. She grinned.

"That's awesome! Happy Birthday!" She said.

"Thanks."

"So what are you doing for your birthday?" She asked.

"Nothing really." Harry said.

"Oh that's not good…hey, come with me, I have an idea!" She exclaimed, and walked back.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked.

"Just come on!" She walked past the Dursley's house and walked to Number 6, Privet Drive. "This is where I just moved in." She said. Claire walked through the door and into the house. It looked nothing like the Dursley's house, but it had the same structure. It was much more mellow. Harry liked it. He hesitated to come inside.

"Come on Harry!" She said, and pulled him inside. "Mom! Dad! I found a friend and he's here!" She called. Harry heard someone say something from the other room but he couldn't understand.

"When did you move in?" Harry asked. She walked to the kitchen and pulled out a pan thing. She dug in the cabinets and grabbed a box and set it on the counter. She also grabbed some stuff from the fridge.

"Uh…yesterday." She said.

"Wow. You unpack very quickly!" Harry said. He looked around. It looked like they had lived there for a while.

"Yea we had…. um…help." Was all Claire said. Harry smiled. She changed the subject.

"So, are you hungry?" She asked, and Harry shrugged. He handed him a candy bar. Harry thanked her and ate it. "BRIAN!" Claire called. A little boy around ten years or so came running into the kitchen. "Brian this is Harry. Harry this is Brian, my little brother. He shall entertain you for about ten minutes. BRIAN, ENTERTAIN HARRY FOR TEN MINUTES!" She said. Harry laughed and Brian looked at Harry, starry eyed.

"Come with me! How old are you? How long have you lived here? What school do you go to-" Brian started saying, but Claire cut him off. She grabbed him and whispered something in his ear. Harry looked curiously on what she was doing.

"Okie dokie Claire-y okie!" Brain said. She smiled and waved them out of the kitchen. Brian pulled Harry into the den. He wondered what Claire had told him. Brian ran on the couch and pointed to the big screen TV.

"Ooo Harry wanna play a video game!" Brian said, bouncing off the walls. Harry laughed.

"Alright. What games you do have?" Harry asked. He really never played them that much, since Dudley would never let him, and it was really more of a muggle thing.

"Um…" Brian picked up a whole stack. "Pick one!" Harry smiled.

"How about this one…" Harry said. Halo 2.

"Ooo I like that one!" Brian said, and ran to put it in the XBOX. He handed Harry a controller.

"You have to excuse me for being so bad at video games." Harry said, warning Brian. "I haven't played in a while." Dudley had tons of video games, but he never let Harry play.

"That's alright, I'll teach you." Brian said. He pressed start and they began to play.

Claire was in the kitchen, happily mixing the ingredients together in a big bowl. She always baked a cake for a friend for their birthday, it was her trademark. When she lived in America, everyone invited her to their birthday parties since she made such good cakes. Claire's mom walked into the kitchen.

"What are you doing?" Mrs. Beaumont asked. She knew what Claire was doing. She just wanted to know why.

"I'm baking a cake!" Claire said.

"Well obviously. It's not Brian's birthday. In fact I don't think it's anyone's birthday." She said.

"Yes it is! It's Harry's birthday!" Claire smiled, and poured the batter.

"Who's Harry?" Mrs. Beaumont asked.

"My new friend." Claire said, putting the pan into the oven.

"So you found a British boy already… Well, don't break his heart like you did to that Japanese boy …what was his name? Arima?" Mrs. Beaumont thought.

"MOM!"

"What?" She laughed. Claire glared at her. "Alright, alright. I'll stop. I think its funny how fast you can find a boy of your favorite nationality. So I guess this time it's British…and I bet next time it's going to be Nigerian… or was that before Japanese…" Claire blushed madly. "Where is he?" Mrs. Beaumont asked, referring to Harry.

"He's in the den playing with Brian. AND he lives two houses down, isn't that great?" Claire chimed.

"Harry Potter?" She asked. Claire shrugged. Mrs. Beaumont nodded. "Alright then. Offer him a soda or something, don't be rude to your guest!" She said, and Claire nodded. She walked into the den, where Harry and Brian were playing Halo 2.

"Hey Harry, want anything to drink?" She asked.

"I wanna Sprite!" Brian said, pausing the game.

"Well that's nice, I was asking Harry." Claire sneered. Brian stuck his tongue out. Claire did the same. Harry laughed.

"No that's alright."

"Are you sure? He have a lot of stuff, its alright."

"Er… what do you have?" Harry asked. He was starving, but he could use a drink.

"Um… we have sprite, coke, mountain dew, orange soda, coffee, and beer." Claire said, smiling.

"I think I'll have the beer." Harry joked, and Brian's eyes widened.

"He was kidding, retard." Claire told Brian. He laughed.

"I'll have I coke." Harry said. He liked it here. Everyone was very… family like. It was just like Ron's house, except this house was much more luxurious.

"Alrighty then, I'll be back." Claire said. Brian had stared the game already.

"Hey!"

Harry and Brian sat on the leather couches playing video games while Claire sat next to Harry, watching. They talked about themselves while Harry played. The air smelled really good and sweet. So did Claire.

"Its smells good!" Brian said. Harry nodded in agreement.

"Oh!" Claire stood up. She ran into the kitchen and pulled the cake out of the oven with oven mitts. She cooled it off quickly and stuck a candle it in. She lit the candle.

"Harry! Come here! Quick!" She called. Harry walked over and Brian followed.

"What's this?" Harry said. She presented the cake.

"Happy Birthday!" She said.

"Its your birthday?" Brian said. Harry smiled.

"Thank you Claire, you didn't have to…" Harry said. She was so nice. He only knew her for about forty minutes and she was already baking him a cake for his birthday.

"Yes I did! It's like my trademark. I do it for all my friends… then I tell them why they're my friend… so its your turn." Claire said. She cleared her thought. "Alright Harry. You're my friend because we meet about a half an hour ago and I made fun of your cousin, and you thought it was funny. I thought I was funny to, thus, we became friends." She said. Harry beamed. "And I like you because you are British and you have an accent, and I think that's hot." Harry blushed. "Oh and you are very polite and you seem like a very nice guy." She said. Harry smiled.

"Thank you… so, do I have to tell you the same?" He asked.

"No, but you can!" Claire smiled.

"Alright…er, I'm your friend because you embarrassed my cousin and I like anyone who embarrasses my cousin. Also, you are very nice and pretty and you baked me a cake so now I'll love you forever!" Harry said. Claire grinned, and hugged him.

Harry spent the rest of the day at Claire's house. They clicked right away and could talk about anything…well, almost everything. They had tons of fun eating cake and sandwiches, playing DDR and Halo 2. He had the feeling that this was the best birthday he'd ever had.

An: Edited Version of Chapter Two. Tell me if i missed something, yes?