Harry didn't even think of where he was going. All he knew was that he had to leave the house and leave behind the negative energy that had crept inside his body, acting like a chronic and infectious virus Harry understood his parent's anger, but the hatred his sister had for him he could never comprehend. Why should another Harry's actions affect his stay with parents he had never been around before? If only he could go back further in time to find out what the fake Harry had been like...

No. He had to return to his real home...What home? The Burrow? The Durlseys? Grimmauld Place? He had no one...except for Ron and Hermione, but they were just friends...No matter what measures he took, he was never going to have as much as other people. Harry couldn't leave with those disappointing looks on his parent's faces. He knew what they were thinking at that exact moment: What had they done wrong in raising their Harry? That boy has no common sense and no respect for his brothers and sisters.

Harry shook his head in shame as he glanced at his surroundings, noticing how peaceful it was. The air had the perfect amount of moist. The clouds were partly shielding the sun's rays, forming wide cotton-like shapes. The thin layer of grass was emitting a waft of earthy and raindrop scents. He chose a flat spot, bereft of a cluster of weeds, and sat down with his legs stretched out. The grass wasn't as sharp as he'd thought, half expecting it to prick him like everything else had for the past few weeks.

A few minutes hadn't even passed before Harry perceived two miniscule figures in the distance, approaching him at a fast and childish pace. The twins...uh, exactly what he needed right now...

"Harry, Harry, Harry!" Clint yelled repeatedly, while Mase asked vociferously, "Teach me that yellow light! I want to learn!"

"That's the first time I've heard the world 'learn' come from a kid's mouth." Harry muttered as the twins were now a few paces from him. Both began pulling at his arms to the point where he was on his feet again. He had to admit that he felt like smacking the both of them. It had, after all, been their fault that he had gotten into trouble.

But as he stared at them, his resentment melted away in an instant. They were so small, so goofy, so innocent...How could he have ever thought about hitting them? This was what normal kids were supposed to act like. Only he had experienced a strange life with a horrid childhood; he could not remember ever sitting on a bicycle seat.

"I can't do magic anymore, but if you want, I'll play a game with you."

After they gave hoots of agreement, Harry explained the game of tag (Harry knew they had not listened) and then chased them, keeping in their haunting distance like a ghost. They were fast, so fast that he became tired and had to stop to catch a breath.

"Ha ha ha ha! You stink!" Mase teased him.

"Fine..." Harry panted, bending his knees slightly, "I give up."

Mase came running to him to tease him some more, and Harry got his chance. He tagged his brother's shoulder and laughed like a maniac, "Ha ha ha ha! That's the oldest trick in the book! Now you're it!"

Harry's youth had invited itself back and his heart had lifted a great amount, comparing with ten minutes before. Mase ended up chasing him and Clint all the way back to their house. Mase had become so good at the game that Harry didn't have to let him win - he would win anyway. Harry found a place to hide behind an unusual thick looking plant with faded pink petals. He was lucky to be so thin.

As he stood there as still as a statue, Clint peeked over and saw him behind the plant. Turning around, he bellowed, "Behind the plarisies! Behind the plarisies! Mommy's favorite plants! Get him!"

"YOU'RE NOT TEAMED UP!" Harry screamed, laughing his head off as he sprinted across the backyard, to the porch, and skipped into the house without thinking of the presence of their parents. All he could think of was hiding from Clint and Mase. The bad luck eventually ended up being in the kitchen, the room the backdoor lead to. There were his parents and their furious expressions...and Mr. Weasley?

"Mr. Weasley?" Harry blurted.

"Yes, how did you know?"

"Uh...Dad told me about you."

"No I did not." Dad snapped, glaring at him. Perhaps he would have gone along with Harry's story if he hadn't been so angry.

"And what are you doing, coming from outside? I thought we told you to stay upstairs and-"

At that moment, the twins burst in, screaming, "There you are!"

Dad shook his head, while Mum followed their screaming, "Harry! You took your brothers outside? You are the worst! Is this the kind of example you intend to be for your younger siblings?"

So he did know something about his Mum and Dad after all...

"No. I needed to clear my head, so I went out in the hallway, but ended up Disapparating outside, and they-" Harry pointed at the twins, "came looking for me."

"You expect us to believe that? You're excellent at Apparating! Do not come down this time, or outside, until we're ready to talk to you! I'll have your food sent up when i think you need to eat."

"Yes, Mum." Harry grumbled, and led Clint and Mase out of the kitchen. Just as Harry was ready to hit the stairs, he heard a loud CRACK originating from the kitchen. Someone had Apparated. Harry knew he shouldn't have stayed to snoop, but he couldn't help it. Every event that occurred in this house contributed to teaching him about his family. However, he heard one voice he had never expected. It was high pitched, too high for it to be Marissa, it was-

Hermione.

Harry practically ran to the kitchen. There they were - Ron and Hermione, gazing at the sights in front of them with utter confabulation evident in their eyes. Harry had never been happier. He swore he was standing on clouds. Ron and Hermione were showered with hope and meaning. All desire of wanting to live in this illusion left him.

"Ron!" Mr. Weasley said, startled by his son's appearance, and turned to Hermione, "Who is this lady?"

Ron's eyes widened at the sight of his father, "Uh, hi Dad. She-uh, Hermione, is a friend from Hogwarts, as is Harry."

"Really? Harry never mentioned you." Harry's Dad said, giving him a calculating look.

"Well, not close friends, Mr. Potter," Hermione jumped in, and Harry knew this would save him, "We need to discuss something about the item list for this year. He called us over yesterday but we were both busy, so we -erm-decided to come today. I'm terribly sorry we didn't leave an Intruder Charm at first."

Dad was impressed by her maturity and hospitality; it was as effective as a spell. "It is quite alright...Hermione? Seat yourselves in the living room, but do keep in mind that Harry only has ten minutes to talk. The rest of his life will take place in his room."

Ron raised his eyes in surprise, looking to Harry for an answer which he didn't receive.

"That's okay, Mr. Potter. I am sure it won't take long." Hermione assured Dad and then signaled Harry to go into the living room.

"What were you thinking, coming-"

"Have you lost your-"

"Thank Merlin you two found me! I mean, obviously, I knew I'd be able to get back, but I can't pretend I wasn't worried!" Harry said, louder than the others.

"Shh! They'll get suspicious." Hermione scolded, making no notion of sitting down. Ron, on the other hand, did.

"Oh, I think they already are. Did you see the look on Dad's face? I mean, the Dad here. I mean-oh, I'm so confused!" Ron showered with frustration, "And what were you doing, thinking of pulling something like this? Are you mad? How could you have even thought about deserting us?" Ron rambled.

Harry covered his face. Everything was such a mess.

"Harry. Harry." Hermione shook his arms to reveal his face, "Forget everything Ron said. Listen. We need to get you back. It is dangerous staying here."

Harry frowned, "What do you mean?"

"The longer you stay in an illusionary world like this, the more you become attached to it and less the desire becomes to return back."

"What are you talking about? The second I saw you, I felt like going back home with you two."

Hermione sighed, "That might be, but I still think we should take you back. I don't like you staying here where you're treated differently."

"So, you ready to go?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded, taking deep breaths. Of course he was ready. He himself had thought about leaving everything here and returning just minutes ago. Surely he didn't want to stay here? But the more he thought about it, the more he realized...

"I-" Harry paused reluctantly, "can't."

"WHAT?" Ron jumped up from the couch.

Harry heard Hermione whisper 'relax' before he explained, "I have so many things to do, so many people to talk to. I need to apologize to Lupin and tell him I would never divulge his secrets to someone else. I need to fix things with my sister and get her to like me. I need to spend more time with-Sirius. There are many things I need to learn and experience before I can go back. You should leave before they get curious."

Hermione looked at Ron worriedly, expecting him to return that look, but he was too busy staring at Harry with an open mouth.

"Wait a minute...did you say sisters? Were those twins your brothers also?" Ron interrogated.

Harry nodded, leaving Ron astounded.

"No." Hermione stood her ground, interrupting their little side discussion, "We are not leaving without you."

Ron nodded, "That's right."

"Seriously. Go."

Hermione folded her arms and shot him an I-don't-think-so glare, "We have a problem then."

"Look, I know what you're thinking-" Harry started, but Hermione cut in, "Do you really? Tell me, what am I thinking?"

"That I'm terribly irresponsible to run off without telling anyone and worrying you to death. Right?"

"Wrong." Hermione whispered, as if it was too painful of what she was about to say, "I'm afraid that you came here because you feel you don't belong in our world, that we are not enough for you."

For the first time, his mouth could not open. He could not think of any retorts or replies that could justify her question. Honestly, he didn't know if it was true or not. He knew that moments ago when he had been outside, he had counted Ron and Hermione as just friends...

"Tongue tied?" Hermione asked.

Harry turned to Ron, who looked extremely uncomfortable all of a sudden, being caught in the middle of the feud.

"Just come home. Please." Ron pleaded.

"We love you, Harry, and...we can't live without you. Please come back." Tears trailed down Hermione's cheek; her nose had turned red.

What guy could stand to see a girl cry?

"Alright, I'll come back...just not now. Give me a day."

Her nostrils flared.

"Half a day?"

She shook her head.

"An hour or two?"

A smile flickered as she shook her head, approaching Harry and practically collapsing onto him.