Sorry for the delay, I had massive writer's block and then fell into a bit of a spiral. But the chapter's out now! I hope you enjoy it, please R&R and let me know what you think. Feel free to catch me at my tumblr - erikablair


Harry stopped himself from skimming his fingers self-consciously over the makeup concealed bite mark, his fingers flexing at the unusual weight upon his skin. Grimacing at the orangish tinge, Harry hoped that the discolouration wouldn't be noticed. If they knew, people would look at him differently; he would be seen as more of a freak than he already was. Clenching his eyes shut, Harry breathed through the memories, the sensations, determined to keep his breath even and his mind from skirting.

It was early, and the sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon; the sky, an ashen blue as the sun chased the night. Dressed in his uniform, Harry listened at the door for any sounds of the outside. Quiet. Escaping his room with silent steps, he hesitated at Dudley's door, hearing the tossing and turning of those bereft of a good night's sleep. He thought of offering an olive branch to his cousin, but as his fingers skimmed the doorknob, his spine ached from the collision with the balustrade, and his ears rang with the words that he inevitably caused ruin.

Turning away, Harry continued his trek through the house to the front door. Noting the dent in the front door, Harry wondered when Petunia would insist on covering it up. Or whether Vernon would seek to preserve it as a trophy. He buried the persistent thoughts and memories before they could tug him into another panic attack, and with a slight tremor in his hands, opened the front door and made his way to school.

Caleb's eyes latched onto the orange brush of skin beneath Harry's ear, the onyx curls grazing the edges of the stained skin. His stomach roiled at the implications of Harry using makeup to hide his marks but resisted the temptation to interrogate him. Instead, he reacted as if he had seen nothing. He knew what happened when he pushed too far.

Maybe his arm was around Harry's shoulders just a bit tighter; maybe he walked a bit closer, sat nearer. But Harry didn't comment, even when his voice gained an edge that bespoke only of a barely concealed rage and concern. He was glad.

When he confirmed if Harry was coming to his house for dinner tonight, he felt the body beside him go taut, and a trail of dread followed. A few moments passed before Caleb felt Harry forcibly relaxing his figure, a brittle smile breaking across his friend's face.

"Don't look so down, Caleb," Harry teased, bumping their shoulders together. "I can come and meet your Dad. It's just-" he paused, a shadow ghosting behind his eyes. "I can't stay for long; Ver-Petunia doesn't want me out too late."

"She didn't seem to mind before," Caleb pointed out.

Harry shrugged non-committal. "Things change," Harry uttered, a bitter twang to his voice.

"Harry," Caleb started hesitantly. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Harry's fingers unconsciously rose to the fleck of orange skin. Noticing his movements, Harry baulked, lowering his arm down quickly.

"Wh-why would you think that?" Harry stuttered, a nervous laugh following.

Caleb's frown deepened before switching gears, a playful smile taking its place.

"Well, we haven't been hanging out as much anymore. And you seem to go home earlier when we do," Caleb mused. "Did you find yourself someone?"

A startled laugh escaped Harry before shaking his head wearing a mirthful smile.

"No, nothing as glamourous as that," Harry replied.

"You sure?" Caleb teased, "I've heard that a lot of the lads have been meeting up with the birds at St. Augustine's. Those Catholic girls love us, bad boys." Ignoring Harry's eye roll, Caleb continued, "or maybe it's not a bird, but a lad? I have seen Reggie eyeing you since he came back. Is all the antagonism between you two just a cover?"

Harry spluttered, a blush burning his cheeks before shoving Caleb. Caleb allowed himself to roll off the side of the bench, laughing raucously as he went. Grunting as he hit the ground, Caleb rested for a few beats as he calmed his breathing.

"Sleeping on concrete now?" Harry joshed.

"Hm, yes. It's very comfy, in fact," Caleb retorted.

Rolling his eyes, Harry stood, moving in front of Caleb with an outstretched hand. "Come on then."

Caleb took Harry's hand, making a move to get up before pulling Harry down on top of him, groaning as the sharp angles of his friend dug into him.

"What was that for?" Harry asked indignantly, glaring at Caleb.

"I wanted you to see how comfy the concrete is," Caleb deadpanned.

Harry huffed before complying, rolling off Caleb, making sure to dig every joint into the soft body below him as he did. Harry conceded that although hard and unyielding, the sun-baked ground was easing the persistent frost that seemed to have soaked into his bones. They laid like that for a few minutes, hands still clasped, basking in the warmth of the slab below. Caleb felt a weight on his side and, turning his head, saw Harry curled up and softly snoring.

Arms slung around the other, Caleb and Harry made their way across campus towards the school gates, a glistening black 1989 Lexus LS 400 waiting for them; Harry recognising it from the magazines Dudley obsessed over. Seeing them approach, a broad set man straightened up from his lounged position against the side of the car, flicking his half-finished cigarette onto the tar, grounding it with his boot a moment after.

Caleb shot the man a cheeky greeting as he opened the backdoor for them, that from the twitch of his mouth, the man tried not to smile at. Smiling nervously at the intimidating figure, Harry crawled into the car after Caleb. Entering the driver's seat, the man adjusted himself before setting off at a lazy speed.

"Len," Caleb called.

The driver, Len, flicked his eyes in the rear mirror before returning his eyes to the road tilting his head to show he was listening.

"I haven't seen you around for months. Where did my father have you squirrelled off to?" Caleb inquired.

Len's eyes darted to Harry briefly before fixing back onto Caleb. Caleb's face hardened, his lips twisting into a snarl before reluctantly nodding at the silent question.

"I've been helping Mirren settle into her new home in Russia. You know she likes things a particular way. Your father also wanted to ensure certain investments were continuing smoothly. You know he hates being cheated out of a deal."

Caleb laughed humourlessly, "Oh, I know. So how is my dear sister? What was that brute's name again, Vas?"

Len snorted before coughing to hide the amused noise. "Mirren has settled in well with her husband. She's already used her Sylvan tongue to wrap the poor bastard around her fingers. I wouldn't be surprised if she's got everyone on strings the next time you see her."

"I doubt the Morozov's knew they were headed to the gallows when they agreed to the marriage," Caleb commented, smiling predatorily.

Harry watched the byplay curiously. He remembered Mirren. She had been quite a bit older than Caleb, already studying at Cambridge University when he and Caleb had moved onto more amicable relations. She shared the same azure eyes as her brother, but her hair was a burnished bronze that curled around her delicate features that were always sprinkled with freckles no matter the time of year. Doe-eyed and wispy-figured, Mirren impressed an innocent and vulnerable character that belied her pointed tongue and jagged wit. Harry was sure she had already procured a lab for herself. For whenever she wasn't wrapped in silk shawls and chiffon dresses, she donned her many pocketed overalls with grease stains on her cheeks, and a soldering iron wielded like an additional appendage.

"You've never been to Russia, have you Harry?" Caleb queried.

Shaking his head, Harry gave Caleb an indulging smile, "you know I've barely been out of Surrey."

"Hmmm."

"No."

"What?" Caleb's voice affecting innocence.

"You're not dragging me to Russia with you just so you're not bored," Harry asserted.

Caleb waved his hand dismissively, "please. Like you're not excited to see Mirren in a new habitat. You know how anal she is, plus I'm sure she's already given the household staff several strokes by now with all her experimenting."

"There is that," Harry conceded. "But you know the Dursley's would never allow me to go," Harry finished quietly.

Caleb's face blanked, all joviality disappearing at their mention, "you could just not tell them."

Snorting disparagingly, Harry shook his head, "he won't let me leave." Vernon's avaricious expression passed through his mind, and he held in a shudder.

Caleb's jaw clenched at the unspoken confirmation, but before he could press it, the gates of his family's estate came into view. Awkwardly clearing his throat, Len announced they had arrived, steering towards the entrance where Caleb's Father and Grandmother were eagerly awaiting.