5) Somehow familiar

Next on the list was a boy who just had his eleventh birthday that day. Harry was sure to drop in a party and had decided he would first have a look and make himself visible when the party was over. He walked through a quiet suburban street, looking here and there to read the signs. Everything here was reminding him of Privet Drive, the well kept lawns, the sounds, the people staring at him as though he was an intruder.
The boy he was supposed to visit was called David Green, living at his uncle's house, because his parents were dead.
Harry smiled as he thought that there was no way there was anyone as cruel as the Dursleys. But he was proven wrong.

As he apperated inside the house it was all quiet except the television playing in the living room. Harry peeked around the corner to see a boy and two grown ups sitting on the sofa, all of them more than fat and steadily eating.

"You know where that boy is hiding, Greg?" the man asked.

"Nope, he is probably in his room doing crazy stuff like always." Said their son and the mother took in a breath and shouted so loud that Harry jumped: "COME DOWN HERE IN AN INSTANT IT IS ALREADY TIME FOR DINNER AND DON'T YOU BURN A THING!"

There was a door opening upstairs and a skinny, small boy came down. He had red hair and was constantly looking at his much too big shoes.

"Sure, Aunt Fiona." He muffled and turned to enter the kitchen. Harry went after him. Feeling very sorry for that boy knowing exactly how it felt to be treated like dirt. He had to find out how to help him getting out and not to have to return again. He did remember his holidays, alone at the Dursleys, how he had hated it.

First of all he had to get him out. So Harry apperated outside the front door, changed into some decent muggle-clothes and stuffed the invisibility cloak in a black briefcase.

He rang the doorbell.

"GET THE DOOR!" He heard. Then footsteps and the door opened a crack and David was peeking out.

"Yes, Sir?"

"Good afternoon. I was thinking if I could talk to Mr. and Mrs. Fleming?"

"If you want to sell them something, they don't like travelling salesman. I am sorry." He closed the door and turned around.

"WHO WAS IT!" his uncle yelled.

"Oh, just..." he stopped dead with his mouth still open as Harry appeared out of thin air in front of him.

There was a rustle and the fat man entered the hall followed by his wife. "Didn't I tell you not to let strangers in the house? And shut your mouth, boy before you catch flies!" he shouted. Before he could go on Harry said.

"He didn't, Sir. David knows me quite well, I was a friend of his parents." Harry hoped David would take on that story. There was a sharp intake of breath, one behind Harry coming from the boy and one of the man in front of him. It was hard for Harry to keep smiling, remembering how he had been treated, but right now it was time to stay calm.

"They are dead, so what do you want!"

"Well, I was hoping to have a quick chat with David as I still have some belongings of his parents in my custody and some money I owed them."

Money always works on people like this, so it did now. Mr. Fleming's eyes widened and he was a little taken aback for a moment.

"How much..." he started, but his wife kicked him against the leg. He cleared his throat and started again. "How much time will you need?"

"Well I thought about a little stroll through the neighbourhood. Maybe an hour, but he'll be back before dawn." He turned to David. "Only if it's all right with you."

David just nodded, staring at him.

"Sure he will! Just give me a minute to talk to him, you can wait outside."

That was rude, but Harry tried to look as though he hadn't realized it and went out giving David a hidden thumps up.

Harry hadn't shut the door the moment David's Uncle started giving the boy instructions. Harry pulled out a flesh coloured string and wiggled it in the gap under the door, then he inserted the other end in his ear.

"... you are going to behave properly! Your parents left us nothing, but you. There should be some reward. And none of your funny stuff, did you hear me?"

"Yes, Uncle Garry." When Harry heard the footsteps he pulled out the Extendible Ear and let it vanish, he took some steps from the door so nobody would think that he had been listening.

When David came out they walked a short distance to be safe from the Flemings view. Than David asked: "You are no friend of my parents, who are you?"

"No, sorry David. I have never met your parents, but I had to make up a cover story so that I could talk to you in private. You will have to tell me their names though. I might need them later on."

"What for?"

"Well, David. It is hard to explain. I don't really know how to begin."

"How did you get in the house?"

Harry chuckled. "I am a wizard and so are you."

David stopped walking; Harry went on heading for the swings on the empty playground. The boy joined him soon, sitting on the swing next to him and rocking slightly as his feet drew pictures in the sand beneath.

Harry waited.

"This is weird." Said the boy and looked at the kind man sitting there, watching the sky with his green eyes. His hair was black and all messy and there was a thin scar, barely to be seen shaped like a lightning bolt on his forehead.

As though he read his mind he said: "I got the scar when I was a year old. My parents were killed, I survived. It was an attack by a dark wizard. I was left at my uncle and aunt. They were as nice as your relatives over there. Oh, I forgot. Happy birthday. I hope you'll forgive me that I didn't bring a present, I was not expecting this. I thought you were sitting in a pile of presents not needing any more. I will make it up, I promise."

"You mustn't. You took me out, that's enough. But why did you come anyway and am I really a ... a wizard?" David looked at him with his round eyes longing for his answer.

"Did you ever let something happen, that you couldn't explain? Have you ever annoyed your relatives doing stuff they thought weird?"

First David's face was blank, and then he smiled broadly and so did Harry remembering setting a snake on his cousin.

"On my eleventh birthday I got a letter like this." He pulled it out his pocket and reached it over.

David opened the letter trembling. Then reading it with his lips moving silently as fast a he could.

"Sir, does it mean..."

"You are to leave your relatives on September the first."

David's eyes began to fill with tears and out of a sudden he sprang of his seat and hugged Harry. Harry stroked the boys head. "I still have to figure out how to manage, but I promise you will never have to come back here.
Tomorrow I will take you to a place where we get your school supplies. And then you just have to hold on another two weeks."

"Sir, why can't I come with you right away? They wouldn't care."

"Yes, but even in the wizard world this would be considered kidnapping. I think I know a good story I'll tell your uncle. They will be happy and you will be, too. I know you have lots of questions, but we'll have time for that tomorrow. Now we should head back it is getting dark and I promised not to stay out with you until dawn."

Harry smirked and got up. David followed: "But, I don't have any money. How am I to buy all those books, and a wand?" David was shaken with fear.

"Don't worry, there is a certain amount of money that is used to supply students in situations like this." Harry said and promised to himself to create such a fund as soon as he was back to Hogwarts.

Before they turned the street corner, David ran up to him again. He had been walking a little behind, deep in thoughts and probably dreading to return to the house.

"My parents were called Daisy and Jim Green. They died in a car crash when I was seven."

"Thanks. I'll have to be a little different in there, David. Don't take it personal, but they probably won't let you go if they think you are going to be happy. Just stick to the story."

They reached the house and the door swung open almost immediately. Mr. Fleming probably wearing his best suite and the entire house was clean.

"Mr..., sorry I didn't get your name."

"Potter, Harry Potter. I am sorry to have to take some more of your time this evening, but I would like to discuss the boy's future with you." Harry tried to make his voice sound official.
He was taken into the living room were the television was turned off now. Harry was sure that he heard a rustle at the door to the kitchen. Probably David's cousin trying to catch up what was going on.

"I was given that money by your deceased sister and I did not return it, before they died. Recently I came about a fair amount of money and I did not want to be in the dept of anyone, not even of dead friends."

"Right you are, Sir." Said Mrs. Fleming and Harry thought he would get sick when he smiled at her.

"So as you cared for him for all these years part of the money will belong to you. The other I'll use to sent the boy, with your permission, to a private school were he will learn manners and he will be there all year. I'll take him on holidays to have a close view on his progress. So you will not have to bother ever again. I'll make sure though that you will receive proper letters on his whereabouts if you wish."

Mr. and Mrs. Fleming looked at each other just for one moment. And then they looked at their nephew who was really playing his roll well, looking at the adults with fear.

"Letters won't be necessary, where do I have to sign?"

Harry took his briefcase on his knees and opened it. As David stood next to him he could look in it without his relatives seeing. Harry closed his eyes shortly and summoned an appropriate form. It appeared inside in an instant. He took it out and asked for a pencil, because he could only remember the spell for feather quills and just in time he realized that it would have looked very odd.

David's uncle and aunt signed fast.

"That's settled then. I am staying in a hotel tonight and will be here by ten to get him to buy his school supplies. The term starts at September the first and then you will be rid of him for good. You will also get your money on that date." Harry got up, pretended to ignore David, shook hands with his aunt and uncle and took off. When he turned around after he walked adistance he saw David looking after him from an upstairs window. He didn't dare to wave, but apperated to the pub, just to let David know that he hadn't been dreaming.

The pub was even more crowded as Harry appeared. He was even able to smile at some of the people before taking the flo to his office.

"You are late, Harry!" Ginny was sitting on his couch when he entered his room. "What's wrong?"

Harry was absolutely exhausted and just sitting down next to her first not talking at all.

"They just sold him to me."

"Who?"

"David Greene."

"That boy you were supposed to inform?"

Harry nodded. Than told her everything. He cried and then fell asleep in Ginny's arms.