Albus Dumbldore stood outside on the driveway of the Parker household and watched as the last light in the house dimmed and gave way to the darkness. He had just performed the blood charm, and had felt its strong protection bond already surround the house. When he had performed the charm, fifteen years before and Petunia had taken Harry into her home, he had felt no strong bond between Aunt and Nephew. Harry had not been able to win Petunia's love of a caring aunt but he knew somehow that this small family were very different, they accepted Harry without question, regardless of his magical background, and they were willing to sacrifice their safety to ensure Harry's well-being.
Dumbledore looked up at Harry's bedroom window and smiled. The Boy-Who-Lived had finally found a home, and with the knowledge that Harry would be safe and loved he disappeared into the night. His new goal was to find out about this new strong connection the blood bond had, and how Peter Parker's parents were murdered.
Many days passed and Harry had settled himself into his new life quite easily. Peter was also on summer break from University for a few weeks, so he thought this would be the best time to introduce Harry to the city. Over the past two years Peter's abilities had grown exceptionally, his spider sense was so attuned he could now sense something happening miles away in the city, he could web-sling from any building and had created new techniques of trapping his "prey". Peter was glad for the break; he had a lot to catch up on but knew that as long as he was still taking photographs for the Daily Bugle, Spiderman would always be seen as some sort of menace to the city.
As he and Harry sat having breakfast that morning, his thoughts turned to Mary Jane, he had seen less and less of her since that fateful day in the cemetery at Uncle Ben's graveside when she had told him that she loved him. Since that day whenever they had run into each other their relationship had been strained, and Peter thought it best not to involve himself as a close friend in her life, as it would only put her in danger. His thoughts were interrupted by a whooshing noise from the living room and a letter floating into the kitchen.
"Oh sorry, Aunt May I forgot to mention that the Professor hooked your fireplace up to the Floo Network but he has put a detection spell on it, so it will only let Order members through and close friends" said Harry as he picked the floating letter from the air and opened it.
Hey Harry,
Congratulations mate! You've finally escaped the muggles! How did you do it, did you escape during the night? Only joking, Dumbledore told us about what you found in the attic and that you found out about your cousin and aunt, what are they like? Are they treating you well? If not we will send Fred and George round and you can come and live at the Burrow forever how does that sound: )
Anyway just thought I would send you a letter to check you were okay, we will more than likely be staying at the Burrow until everything is sorted with well …you know where. Haven't seen much of Hermione, she's still a bit ill from the effects of that curse but is doing fine. Oh yeah, and Ginny and the others all say Hi!. We are hoping to maybe go into Diagon Alley before the term starts, and Mum and Dad said they would be escorting us, they are going to check with your Aunt and cousin though first to see if you can come. Hope this letter reaches you by Floo not to sure if you've been connected yet to it, and you know you're more than welcome to our house anytime. Oh no I hear Mum shouting "Ronald" again, wonder what I've done this time.
Talk to you soon mate!
Ron
Harry smiled at Ron's letter as Peter looked over at him. "From one of your friends?" he said pointing at the letter. Harry nodded as he drained his glass fresh orange juice.
"So Harry what do you say we go into the city for a while today, get us out of the house a bit?" said Peter as he took his dishes to the sink. Harry stuffed the letter into his pocket and moved towards the sink. "Yeah, I mean we have been cooped up a bit too long in the house, and as I've never been to New York before I guess it would be a good idea." Said Harry as May watched her two nephews conversing in the kitchen.
"Good! It's settled then, Uhh Aunt May would we be able to borrow the car? It's just that the tail light on my bike's been damaged for a while and I could probably get pulled over again" he said with embarrassment.
May chuckled and took the car keys from her purse and handed them to Peter. Harry emerged from the kitchen and Peter threw his jacket at him. « Come on, we're going into the city » Harry made sure his wand was in his pocket and smiled at May who stood up and looked at her two nephews. « Now, I want you both to be on your best behaviours » Peter rolled his eyes and Harry laughed « Yes Aunt May » said Peter cheekily as he kissed her on the cheek. Harry smiled at his aunt nervously and then walked past her and then turned and waved at her through the window as they got into the car.
As Peter drove into the city, Harry looked around at the huge skyscrapers. « Woah, I can't believe you live here » he said. Peter shrugged his shoulders. « Yeah, its great and you should see some of the views from some of the buildings » Harry looked at him as Peter looked ahead of him longingly and then snapped out of it. « Oh Harry, would you mind if we stopped off at the Daily Bugle, I need to drop off some more pictures for my boss » he said nodding towards the glove compartment. « Yeah, it's fine with me, could I see your photographs ? »
« Yeah, sure go ahead » he said as he turned the car left down the highway towards the Bugle.
Harry pulled out the manilla folder onto his lap and opened it. He looked at the picture of the strange red and blue costumed figure scaling his way up a wall, then of him spinning a web round a bank robber. « Who is this ? » said Harry amazed at the clearness of the shots. « Uh….a friend, he's a sort of protector for the city »
Harry nodded and put the photos back inside the folder again as they pulled up outside the parking meter « Do you want to come up ? or you can wait in the car, I will only be a few minutes » he said as he and Peter got out of the car. « I'll come up if thats okay » closing the car door and making their way into the building. As they got in the lift Harry looked at Peter. « You seem nervous » said Harry.
« Yeah, just a little, my boss has a bit of a temper » said Peter as the elevator bell chimed for their stop. As they made their way into the busy office Harry looked around him as they walked up to a Secretary's desk. The woman looked up and smiled. « Hey Pete, you here to see Mr Jameson ? »
« Yeah, Betty is he free ? I just came to drop off these photos for him, for tomorrow's edition. »
« Sure, I'll let him know that you're here, hey who's the kid ? » she said as she got up to put a file away looking at Harry.
« Oh, this is Harry, my cousin, he's come to live with me and my Aunt May. »
« You moved out of the city ? » she asked raising an eyebrow.
« Yeah, couldn't find another job, so I moved back home » he said.
Betty walked into the office of J Jameson. « Parker ! get in here ! » he shouted. Harry walked in behind Peter as he handed over the manilla folder to his boss.
« I'll give you two-fifty » he said while smoking his cigar
« Three fifty » said Peter.
« Done, Betty go and write a cheque for Parker. Hey, who's the kid ? » as he glanced at Harry suspiciously.
Peter went to answer, but was then cut off by Jameson as he turned to Harry. « Ever delivered newspapers……eh……..what's your name kid ? »
Harry looked at the man. « It's Harry, Harry Potter and No, I've never delivered a paper before but I'm a fast learner » he said eagerly.
« Hmmmm, I like your attitude Kid, Alright I'll give you a trial run this week, and if you pass, then you can keep the job »
« Thank you Mr Jameson » but he too was cut off when Jameson called on Betty to give Harry a newspaper delivery bag.
A few minutes later as they got outside the building, Peter laughed. « Well, you got yourself a job for at least a few weeks until you go back to school. »
Harry laughed too as they got in the car and drove off to do some sightseeing.
As the day wore on, the boys realised it was time to get back, they stopped off at the supermarket and made their way back home. During the time when they were gone Mary Jane had stopped by to visit her mother, and decided to drop in on Aunt May.
Peter pulled the car into the driveway as he and Harry got out of the car with the groceries, Harry opened the door and made his way into the living room and then the kitchen saying « Hi, Aunt May ! » as he looked over the bag of groceries he spyed Mary Jane.
« Harry dear, I would like you to meet someone, this is Mary Jane Watson, she was our next door neighbour, she was in school with Peter. »
« Hi, my name's Harry, nice to meet you » said Harry putting down the groceries on the countertop and reached to shake MJ's hand.
« A pleasure to meet you, your Aunt May's been telling me all about you, so how are you enjoying living in America, it must be a lot different than living in England » she said as she shook his hand.
Harry was about to answer her when he heard the door shut and saw Peter standing at the living room door, his eyes dropped to the floor and his smile vanished as his and MJ's gaze met.
« Hey Pete » she said nodding to him solemly. Harry and Aunt May could sense the tension between the two and Aunt May stood up and moved towards Harry. « Harry, why don't we go into the kitchen and put away these groceries » Harry went forward and took the rest of the bags from Peter who thanked him and tried to pull his eyes away from Mary Jane.
Harry closed the door behind him so that the two of them could talk alone.
« How have you been ? » said Peter suddenly finding his voice as he moved to the chair opposite MJ.
« I'm good, I've been getting a lot of auditons but nothing permanent has come up yet » she said smiling.
Peter smiled back at her, his heart felt as if it was pounding in his ears, the more time he spent around her. The two fell into silence, as they looked around the living room, trying to think of anything to say to each other.
« Harry seems a nice kid, you never told me you had a cousin. »
« I only found out about him a few days ago, it was a little surprising but he seems to be settling in fine » he said.
MJ nodded her head and then stood up slinging her bag over her shoulder. « Well, I better go and catch my bus Bye Aunt May, nice meeting you Harry ! » she shouted as the door opened. Harry and Aunt May raised their hands in goodbye.
« Let me walk you to the bus stop, it's getting kind of dark out, and I want to explain about not calling you » said Peter as May and Harry went back to what they were doing.
As they opened the door, Peter could have sworn he saw Harry and Aunt May peeking from behind the door. Harry turned to May as he opened the kitchen door as he watched MJ and Peter walk past the house. « Something's not right between the two of them, I thought you said they were friends Aunt May ? » said Harry confusingly.
« So did I dear, so did I » she said sighing as she put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Peter and MJ finally reached the bus stop. « Well, this is my stop » she said looking up at the signpost and then back at Peter. Peter nodded and looked down at his feet, his hands stuffed in his jacket pockets. « I better get back to Aunt May and Harry, I'll uh….. see you around, I guess ? » he mumbled as he tried not to meet her stare. He was about to turn round when he felt her hand reach out and grab his arm, his hand falling from his pocket « Wait » she said barely above a whisper, a pleading look on her face, begging him not to go just yet. Her hand went into his as their fingers entwined automatically. The feeling of her hand in his sent a warmth spreading throughout Peter's heart, but then he remembered what he had told her that day at the cemetery.
« MJ, don't do this, not now, you know we can't » he said as he pulled his hand from hers.
MJ nodded as she let tears fall down her face. « I just wanted to….to »
« You and I can never be MJ, we both want different things in life, I will only ever see you as a friend » he said trying to swallow the emotions that surged inside him. MJ pulled her hand from his as the bus came into view and stopped on the sidewalk.
« I'm sorry » said Peter as he looked into her heartbroken face as she turned and walked onto the bus the doors closing behind her. She hadn't even said goodbye. Something inside of Peter knew he wasn't going to see her again for a very long time.
He watched as the bus pulled away with the only girl he had ever loved on board it and for the whole two years he had been Spiderman he cursed, his gift, his power.
Peter walked home and went straight to bed after dinner, not speaking much to Harry and Aunt May. He decided to do some patrolling in the city trying to take his mind off of MJ.
At least three weeks passed and Harry became much more confident in travelling around the city, he was always wary incase someone from the Wizarding world would recognise him, but so far so good nobody had, and he enjoyed delivering the newspapers for the Bugle, meeting up for lunch with Peter and learning more about the city. Peter knew that Harry's birthday was coming up and sent a letter to Professor Dumbledore asking in how they could purchase a Quidditch set for his sixteenth birthday after Harry had shown him his Firebolt and his book of Quidditch Through the Ages. The night before Harry's birthday, May and Peter agreed to have some friends over the next day.
It was 10.30pm and Harry was lying in bed reading a book when he suddenly heard a thud come from next door. He got up and took his wand from his bedside table and opened his door walking down the hallway and looking in on Aunt May to make sure she was alright, he closed the door when he saw her sleeping peacefully in bed. The noise seemed to be coming from Peter's room. Harry opened the bedroom door and saw nobody there except the bedroom window was wide open. Harry sighed and reached over to close it when he saw something fluttter on to the floor, he picked it up and realised it was a mask. Peter looked down at Harry from the ceiling and stayed very still, slowing his breathing so that he wouldn't be heard. As Harry flattened out the mask in his hand he was surprised to see it was Spiderman's. « Hello , is anybody here ? » he said as he looked around the room, then as his gaze began to move upwards, Peter started to crawl his way towards the door, so he wouldn't be seen but as his hand reached for the doorknob, Harry's quick instincts alerted him and as he spun around with his wand at the ready. He almost dropped it as Peter shot a strand of web at Peter's wand grabbing it. « Peter ?….you're…..you're….Spiderman ? » he said barely above a whisper.
« Shhhh…. Keep quiet Harry or you'll wake up Aunt May » he said walking towards Harry and handing him back his wand as he handed the mask back to Peter.
« I can't believe this » said Harry in awe looking at Peter as he slipped his jeans and pullover on over his costume.
« Well its true….there's not point in me lying to you like I do with everyone else, you're a smart kid, you would've found out about me sooner or later » said Peter sighing and sitting down on his bed, his head in his hands.
« Have you always been like this ? » said Harry sitting on the other side of the bed.
Peter shook his head and went onto explain what happened the day he got his powers. As Harry listened intently, he realised that Peter and himself had something in common. A destiny, a path laid before them, willingly taking on the burden of fighting evil, the weight of humanity on their shoulders.
« The last thing I remember about Uncle Ben was that he said : With great power, comes great responsibilty, back then I didn't know what he meant, but now I do….. and if anyone found out about me then my enemies would use that against me to hurt the ones I care about. » said Peter.
«You don't know how much we have in common Peter » sighed Harry sitting on the edge of the bed. Peter looked at Harry as he stood up and walked around the room staring out the window.
"Do you remember you're parents Peter? » said Harry solemly. Peter's brow creased in confusion but then understood Harry's question. « Well, I was about four when they died, I guess I tried to keep this image of them built up in mind, I was scared of forgetting them, like I am about Uncle Ben."
"In my first year at Hogwarts there was this mirror, it could show a person's deepest desires, in my case it was my parents, I had never known them, it was the first time I'd ever seen them up close, over the years I lived with the Dursleys' I didn't once see a photograph or anything of them but when I slept at night I always had the recurring dream of being with a family that loved me and then this green light would take it away from me and I'd wake up. A few weeks ago I learned a truth about myself, that I had asked myself constantly over the years, why was I the only one to survive the curse ? what was so special about me ? why did he choose me ? and here is the truth I learned of why I survived and why he chose me "The One with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...And either must die at the hands of the other, for neither can live while the other survives...The One with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..." said Harry trailing off the last few lines of the prophecy.
"You're…..you're the Chosen One?" said Peter astonishingly as if looking at Harry in a new found light.
Harry nodded. "What is the unknown power that you have, will you be able to kill Voldemort?"
"I don't know, I guess I won't know until I am faced with that situation." He said standing up and shrugging his shoulders and pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing in frustration.
"Hey…..you're not alone, you know that Harry, when it comes to things like this, I'll help you, all you need to do is ask, that's what family do, they look out for each other" Peter said putting a hand on Harry's shoulder reassuringly.
"So……. Spiderman, Care to show me the city from you're perspective?" said Harry grinning raising an eyebrow and nodding his head towards the window.
Peter laughed. "Yeah of course, but only if you can keep up with me little cousin."
Harry walked towards the door and opened it walking to his bedroom and picking up his Firebolt and walking back into Peter's room, who was now in his costume. Both boys moved out onto the window ledge Harry mounted his broom and kicked off into the air zooming over rooftops. He looked behind him to see Peter gaining on him leaping and web swinging from each building as they found themselves further in the city. All of a sudden Harry leaned his weight to pull his broom a little slower as he did so, Peter shot out a strand of web and swung right up and over Harry.
"C'mon let's head towards that building over there" he shouted to Harry who followed him eagerly. At the top of the building stood a flat statue and Peter jumped onto it with ease as Harry came behind him and jumped off his broom. Peter took off his mask and sat down folding his arms and sitting against the wall "I come here a lot to think, you can see the whole city from here" he said motioning to the horizon in front of them with his hand. Harry sat next to him and leaned against the statue as he breathed in the summer air and looking up at the stars twinkling above them. Both of them stayed in silence for a while just staring out into the night and then decided to head back home.
As they silently went through the window, Harry made his way to Peter's door. "Hey…Harry, thanks for understanding about everything, about the other side of me"
"Anytime Peter, Oh and don't worry I won't tell anyone about your secret, it's safe with me"
"And yours with me, until you're ready to tell the others, Goodnight Harry" said Peter as he smiled at him as he made his way out the bedroom.
"G'Night Pete" he heard Harry say as the door clicked shut and both the boys went to their beds relieved that they had less weight on their shoulders and they had been honest to each other about their pasts. It was a step forward for the both of them now, and unknown to Peter, his past would soon become his future and he would have to choose the life he was ultimately destined for. Being Spiderman, or fulfilling his destiny as the Chosen One's Saviour.