A FRIEND TO TALK TO

CHPT 3: CLOSER

Disclaimer: I dont own the Harry Potter series.

Author's Note: I read this funny little thing online called "Harry Potter Fanfic rules" I'm going to try and break most of the rules by the time im finished writing this fic. Hehe. Gosh im tired! I drank this cold pill that may cause drowsiness… now im drowsy!

Harry only knew Claire for 6 hours, but it seemed like he known her for years. They got along great. They sat on her couch eating sandwiches and watching South Park.

Claire's dad came home with a huge box.

"Claire, help me with this box please!" He called from the living room. Claire stared dazed into the TV.

"Busy!" She called. Harry smiled at her and got up. Maybe he could help.

"Hullo." Harry said to Mr. Beaumont. He looked at Harry confused.

"Hello, are you…Claire's new boy toy?" He said loudly. Claire ran from the den and into the living room.

"DAD!" She shrieked. Harry flushed.

Mr. Beaumont laughed. "I'm just kidding!" He turned to Harry. "I bet you aren't, I was just trying to get Claire in here. By the way, I'm Ayden Beaumont… Claire's father." He held out his hand and Harry shook it.

"I'm Harry." Harry said.

"Nice to meet you Harry. Do your parents know you're here? It's already 11:00." Ayden said.

"I live with my aunt and uncle. I'm sure they wouldn't mind." Harry said.

"Oh okay. Well you two can go back in the den and play. I'll have my wife help me then." He said, and Claire pushed Harry into the den. She smiled sheepishly.

"Well, that's my dad!" She said. They resumed watching TV and eating their sandwiches.

By the time is was 1:00am, Claire and Harry were trying to stay awake. Harry got up.

"I think I'd better do now." He said.

"Okay."

They walked out the front door and over to Harry's house.

"Night Claire." Harry said.

"Night Harry. Happy Birthday." Claire said, and walked back to her house.

Harry tried to open the door, but it was locked. He would try knocking, but then we would be angry Dursleys' to deal with. He didn't have his wand on him but even if he did, he still wouldn't be able to use magic. He decided to go to Claire's house.

The door was still open.

"CLAIRE!" Harry whispered.

"Huh?" She was still there. "Harry? Still wanna party?" She laughed.

"Er. I'm locked out of my house." He said.

"Oh. Well, do you want to sleep over or do you want to help you break in?" She asked.

"They both sound good but I think I should go with the second one." He said.

"Oh alright." She walked with Harry over to his house. "Is there an alarm system set up?" She asked.

"No."

" 'Kay good." She took two pins from her hair and slid them through the lock. She knelt down so that her face was level with the doorknob. After a minute passed, there was a 'click!' and the door swung open.

"Thanks Claire!" Harry said, and walked in.

"No problem. See you later!" She said, and walked back to her house.

Harry tiptoed up the stairs and slid into his bedroom unnoticed. He changed into his second hand pajama pants and fell onto his bed. He noticed that Hedwig, his pet owl, was gone. He rolled over on his bed and fell asleep.

x

Harry woke up in the morning with a start. He checked the clock. It was 8:00. He changed into regular cloths and even took his wand.He went downstairs for breakfast. Aunt Petunia was still trying to press the Grapefruit Diet on the family. Harry took the grapefruit from the plate and headed outside.

"And where do you think you're going, boy?" Uncle Vernon snarled.

"Outside." Harry said, and reached for the doorknob.

"Wait just one minute! Where were you last night? With those-those friends from that school I suppose…" He asked.

"Outside. I feel asleep." Harry said.

"And how did you get back in?"

"Magic." Harry smiled.

"But you're not allowed to do magic! You'll get expelled from that ruddy school of yours…"

"They allowed me to do it since my godfather died." Harry lied, and waved his wand at him. "I'll be outside." Harry smiled at the petrified expression on his uncle's face.

Harry lied under the bush under his window, eating the grapefruit. He never really liked grapefruit, but he got used to it. He lied there and thought about everything that had happened to him. Sirius dying, his parents dying, Voldemort, his friends. He got up and decided to see if Claire was awake. He pushed his withdrawn ways away and knocked on the door. A woman answered the door.

"Hello!" She said.

"Er, hullo. Is Claire awake?" Harry asked.

"No, I'm afraid not. She usually doesn't get up for another 4 hours." She said.

"Oh."

The woman laughed. "But I'm thinking I could change that. Come in!" She said. Harry walked inside.

"I'm Candice, by the way. Candice Beaumont. Claire's mother, obviously." She said.

The room smelled lovely. Mint and coffee.

"I'm Harry, Harry Potter." Harry said. She blinked.

"Oh okay. Do you live two doors down?" She asked. Harry nodded. "Would you like a cup of coffee? Or tea? Don't you British folks drink tea?"

"Tea would be great, thanks." Harry said. Mrs. Beaumont nodded and walked to the kitchen.

Harry sat down on a couch in the living room.

"Mom! I ran out of-" Claire said.She walked into the room in her pajamas.

She stopped. Her hair was messy and a sleepy halo hung over her head. She looked at Harry and ran back. Harry smiled. Mrs. Beaumont poked her head from the kitchen.

"Was that Claire?" She asked. Harry nodded. "Well she's up awfully early. So what kinds of tea do you prefer? Lemon, sweet, raspberry… um...plain…honey…"

"It doesn't matter." Harry said.

"Ooo okay! Raspberry for you then!" She smiled, and went back into the kitchen.

Ten minutes later Claire came in the room. She was wearing khaki Capri pants and a red tank top with sandals and a shell necklace. Her hair was slightly curly.

"Hi Harry!" She said, and set next to him.

"Hi Claire." Harry said. Mrs. Beaumont came in with a cup of tea and toast for Harry.

"Thanks Mrs. Beaumont." Harry said.

"You're welcome, and please, call me Candice." Candice said. Harry smiled. "Claire honey do you want anything?"

"Yea. Peach tea, heck yes!" She said, and Candice laughed.

"Alright then. There's cereal in the kitchen if you want anything." Candice said, and walked away. Five minutes later she came back and gave Claire tea and toast. Harry hadn't even touched his yet.

"Thanks mom." Claire said. Candice smiled and walked into the den.

"So Harry…" Claire said, sipping her tea. "What brings you here?"

"I was in the neighborhood…" He said.

"You're always in the neighborhood." Claire said.

"Exactly." Harry said. They laughed.

Later in the day, Mrs. Beaumont made them lunch. They listened to music and Claire yelled at Brian. Harry spent the rest of the day with Claire. When he was with her, it took him mind of- certain things. When it was late, Harry went beck to the Dursley's. He went into his small room and noticed the window was open and Hedwig was perched on Harry's desk with a few packages.

"Hedwig!" Harry exclaimed, and petted his friend. Hedwig nipped Harry lovingly and waited patiently for a treat. Harry gave her a cracker and she ate it. Harry opened his packages.

One was from Hermione. It was a book. Harry read the card from her.

Dear Harry,

Happy Birthday! I am sorry that I couldn't be there with you, I currently am in Paris with my parents. I hope you are doing well. Cant say much, but I'll see you soon! Stay strong!

Much Love From

Hermione

Harry smiled. He opened the next package. It was from Ron. There was an odd shiny thing.

Harry,

Sorry I couldnt be there for your birthday, you know how it is. Have a happy late birthday. Can you guess what your gift does? I bet Hermione would know. You're finally 16! Well, cant talk much, see ya later

Ron

Harry got a package from Fred and George, Remus, and Tonks. They all said the same thing.

Can't say much, see you soon.

Harry didn't think much of it. He changed into his pajamas and drifted to sleep.

He woke up in the morning like he always did, changed, got a grapefruit and walked outside to meet with Claire. It had become his daily routine. Claire was sitting on the sidewalk, licking a Popsicle. Harry sat next to her.

"Hey Harry."

"Hey Claire."

"Want a Popsicle?"

"That's alright."

"You sure?" She asked. Harry nodded.

"Alright then, your loss." She was wearing a black tank top and jean skirt with black sandals and a puka-shell necklace. Harry was wearing a black tee shirt and jeans. Not too shabby.

"Hey Claire. Did you live by the beach?" Harry asked.

"Yeah. How did you ever figure that out?" She said sarcastically, tugging at her shells.

"There are some people who wear stuff like that and don't live close by the beach." Harry said.

"Yea, that's true."

They say in silence. Funny thing was it wasn't awkward. Harry had known Claire for a week and a half now.

Claire's mom made them peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and tea for lunch. She did it every day. They went into Claire "backyard" which was really a small porch that was surrounded with plants. One plant that Harry liked was the willow tree (big plant). He and Claire would sit under it, completely hidden from the rest of the world. They would just talk or eat under it. They went under the willow tree. There was a radio/ CD player.

"So," Claire said. "Where are you going to school?" She said, sipping her tea.

"Er." Harry paused. He wanted to tell her about Hogwarts but he couldn't. "Some private school. You?" He asked.

"Same here."

They ate their sandwiches. Claire leaned over and turned on the CD player. She smiled. It was an American song.

"Harry, do like to dance?" She asked.

"No." Harry said automatically.

"Why not?" She stood up.

"Because…I just don't." Harry said. She laughed.

"Because you don't know how. Get up." She said and started shifting her shoulders.

"That's okay." Harry said. Claire grabbed his hands and pulled him up.

"I'm gonna teach you how to dance since there nothing better to do." She said. She rocked side to side, moving her shoulders. She danced in a subtle manner.

"Come on!" She said, and Harry shook his head. The song ended and another one came on. Claire gasped. "I love this song!" She grabbed Harry and danced to the song. Harry had no choice but to go along with it. Claire sang along with the song.

Automatic supersonic hypnotic funky fresh,
Work my body so melodic,
this beat flows right through my chest…

After about 30 minutes of dancing around, Harry got the hang of it. He danced with Claire to the modern hip-hop songs and enjoyed it. He new how to dance and it was fun. Claire seemed to be having fun too.

"There you go Harry! When you go to school, all the little girlies will be all over you…" She said. Harry laughed. "Do you ever have dances at your school? Or prom?" She asked. Harry thought about the Yule Ball.

"Not really." He said. She shrugged and they continued dancing.

After Claire said she was tired, she stopped her lesson.

"Harry, smile!" She said, and Harry looked at her.

"What?" He said. There was a flash. Claire had a camera.

"Hey, I wasn't ready!" Harry said. He snatched the camera from her and took a picture. She smiled as he took the picture.

"Ha! I'm always ready for a picture." She said, and flipped her hair. Harry took another picture as she did. "Hey!" She took the camera back.

They took pictures of each other and off the tree. Finally there were only four pictures left.

"Arg! Harry, there only four pics left!" She whined. They were on the floor. Harry snatched the camera away from her. He scooted next to her. He held the camera over both them and clicked the button.

"I wasn't ready for that!" She said, and sat up. She snatched the camera and held her arm out with it. Harry hugged her as she took another picture.

"Ha!"

"Ooo, that one's gonna be cute!" She said.

"Okay, second to last picture." Harry said.

"We should have Brian take one, he wont screw it up. Probably." Claire said. She called Brian. He came running over.

"OoO! Claire and Harry sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-" Brian started singing, but Claire smacked him…in a normal sister kind of way.

"Shut up! Can you take a picture of me and Harry? Please?" Claire asked.

"Okie sissy!" Brian said. She handed him the camera and they posed.

Brian took the picture and ran off with the camera, expecting Claire to chase after him.

"Aren't you going to go after him?" Harry asked Claire.

"Nah, he'll be back. Eventually. There was one more picture left." She said. They laid down and turned on the radio. "Hopefully he wont stick the camera down his pants and take a picture." She shuddered.

"Oh. Thats gross. Wanna dance?" Harry asked. It was a good song.

"Sure." They got up.

The song played. The sun disappeared over the horizon. A little while later, Harry and Claire were on the roof, staring at the stars. Harry talked about his past. His parents died in a car crash. His aunt and uncle hated him because he was so wealthy. Claire lived in California by the beach. Her past wasn't tragic. It was a past. Just like any other, it was filled with regrets and happiness.

Meanwhile, the fireplace of the Dursley's house spat people out.

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