DISCLAIMER: If it is recognizable from the Harry Potter series, I do not own it. I hope you enjoy

Harry was literally having the time of his life living with the Tonks. No one was there to bully or hurt him. They truly seemed to care which was something he was not use to. Now, to make the situation even more exciting, he got to take part in another dueling tournament one in which his new family were actually coming to cheer him on. He had someone besides professor Flitwick cheering for him.

This time, there were 24 people in the competition and it was run differently than the earlier competition. It was a medal competition with prizes for those who scored high.

Flitwick explained it to him as they met before the competition. There were technically two competitions. The staff duels and the magic duels. Each of the top three competitors in the competitions got a prize. 50 Galleons for first, 25 galleons for second, 15 galleons for third, as well as medals similar to those he recognized from primary school, gold silver and bronze though they were almost like coins on a chain. ruins engraved around them.

Something else that made this competition different was that it was a knockout competition. You dueled but if you lost you were out of the competition. The competition would have a round with 12 pairs, then 6 pairs and then the final three would all duel each other and would be judged on victories as well as skill levels meaning there would be four duels for the top group. He only hoped he did not get knocked out the first round.

Flitwick led him into the grounds where the others were waiting and he was greeted by those he knew from Hogwarts. "Nervous," Cedrick asked the first person to say anything besides hello.

Harry glanced up towards his new guardians before nodding. He wanted to make them proud of him. They took time out of there busy schedules to see him compete and he wanted to make them proud. "Just like the other one," Pucey returned. "Just better odds. I have to say, 50 galleons is a really nice prize even amongst the wealthier families. Medals are nice too. Plus, you have to place top three in each section in one of the next three summer medal comps to get a place in the end of summer tournament."

All of them got excited by the mention of that, "Heard the prize this year was actually 500 galleons for first," Cedrick stated. "that's more than some people make in two months."

Harry tried to remember what he knew of galleons; 1 galleon was about seven pounds meaning that would be about 3,500 pounds. A lot of money for anyone let alone a person still in Hogwarts. He had known there would be prizes but he had not known that they would be so high.

All too soon, they began the competition and Harry was actually called first, along with a third year boy he had not met in the previous competition. As soon as his name was called, many from the crowd cheered for him. He was clearly a crowd favorite, but he could also hear Tonks voice going above them, shouting a 'go Harry'. The other boy looked at him as if he was insane to have been in on the competition and had no chance at all of winning.

Harry however, just took him on and fought his hardest, taking the boy by surprise and knocking him out of the competition after a four minute duel.

In the crowd, Tonks gaped shocked, that was not the same boy who had been in there house the last two weeks. He was skilled, practically dancing on the dueling platform. People who had never seen him duel were left gaping.

"Wow," Tonks said shocked. "He's...merlin's tits."

Flitwick chuckled clapping for his student. "Impressive isn't he, I'd take credit but it's all him. He is both naturally talented and driven. I have no doubt he will beat my record for world competitions someday. Perhaps even beat the current record holder of five wins."

The Tonks were left slightly in awe, they of course knew he dueled but to be that good at it was a surprise. "I know you said he could duel but...wow," Ted returned.

"He lights up when he duels," Flitwick said still very proud of the child he had chosen to teach. "He is a different child when he is on the platform. Its where he can let loose and be himself. Fight and not worry about consequences. It is amazing to see."

Andromeda just settled back remembering one other she used to watch duel, her cousin who came alive on a dueling field. It was like watching him once again light up on the field, even if the comparison made her uneasy with his betrayal.

Harry won the second competition for staff dueling as well much to his glee. Finally, he just relaxed, this was where he belonged. He fit. something he was good at and he knew it. He went up against Endric for the third round knocking him out but he just grinned good naturedly. "You're not bad Potter," he decided.

Harry gave him a shy smile. "Well done kid, top three," Carista Nott said. "Do me a favor, kick Adrian and Edmunds ass. Adrian's too smug for getting me out."

"Will try," he offered her getting a grin in return.

Adrian beat Edmund as did Harry meaning it was just one more duel, Adrian and Harry. Both moved swiftly, evenly matching strike for strike.

Finally, Harry sent a blast with his staff sending Adrian flying in one direction and his staff in another. Everyone looked shocked at the pure power behind it. The match was called to an end as Adrian cringed calling out. Harry went to him as did another judge to heal his broken foot.

"You've gotten better," Adrian decided not at all bothered by having the kid out duel him even with the age difference. "You definitely deserve that win. Damn kid you got power. I am so kicking your ass in wand duels though."

Harry smiled knowing it was in good fun. Harry to his own shock made it to the final round of the wand duels as well. He knew he was weaker in wand dueling but luckily he still managed to get into the final competition which went by quickly. After the duelists were healed, the judges called the ranks for each competition.

"Our medal winners in staff duels," The judge stated as the room watched silently. "Third place, Edmund Octoven age 14," he went forward and took his medal standing on the platform. Adrian gave Harry a grin as he was called for second place. Finally, Harrys name was called for first. He had known he had won the medal, but it was still a surprise to him. He couldn't believe he had managed to place. Next came the Wand duels, and he took his third-place medal, while Carista took second and Adrian first.

Harry made his way to the Tonks's though Tonks nearly knocked him over with a hug. "Well done kid, you kicked arse. Bloody brilliant."

Harry blushed as she roughled his hair. "well done Harry," Andromeda said impressed. "You are a very talented duelist."

He blushed even more, unused to any praise. "Thank you."

"Really well-done Harry," Ted said copying his daughter by roughling the boy's messy hair. After an initial flinch at the touch, Harry couldn't help but grin. "I think this means that we should all go to a celebratory meal. What do you think?"

Harry looked surprised by the offer, unsure whether or not he heard the man correctly, "w-what..."

"You did brilliantly, you deserve a treat," he returned. "Whenever Dora did well on exams or in activities, we went on a celebratory meal. Go out to eat, lots of ice-cream. You definitely deserve something special. You worked hard for today. Filius here can join us."

"There's this new restaurant in muggle London. Bit fancy but have the best pie and ice-cream," Tonks offered him seeing as he was still looking slightly overwhelmed by the idea. "Dads treating us. Smile, nod and come have fun. I bet I can out eat you in ice-cream. It's all you can eat."

Harry smiled up at her as they went home quickly, changed and then went out. Harry was amazed since he had heard all of the places the Dursleys had gone out to. His cousin liked to brag about it, but he'd never been to eat anywhere but the leaky cauldron with Hagrid and Flitwick or to the ice-cream shop with Hagrid before school and the Tonks on the way home. This was a real family dinner, one he was part of. He thanked everything that Professor Flitwick found him on the astronomy tower and taught him to duel, gave him a family. It all seemed too good to be true.

Harry was left once again, both overwhelmed and shocked when he saw a picture on the wall. It was just sitting there, beside Doras graduation photos and a number of others of the metamorphous throughout the year. On the wall was a picture of him getting his dueling medals. He had never had a picture of himself before. The Dursleys had never ordered school photos or let him take part in family events so he had never seen a picture of himself framed let alone placed on the wall.

Ted had come down behind Harry and saw him looking at the wall, "You okay Harry."

"I...you put up a picture of me," he whispered amazed. "Wh...why?"

It worried Ted slightly that the boy was so surprised. He wondered if he thought this was only a temporary placement. He couldn't understand why the boy was so surprised to have such an event marked and framed but he also knew that he was badly abused and wondered if this was connected to his previous home. "Your part of the family now," Ted offered him. "That means your pictures go on the wall, and in the photo albums."

Family. He was part of the family. Ted had said it so easily, but Harry could hardly let himself believe it. "No one ever...the Dursleys never put a picture of me up. They...they didn't want the reminder I was there," Harry said in a small voice. Suddenly overwhelmed by the life that was so different then what he was used to. "Wh...why are you all so nice to me? You gave me a real room and even helped me decorate it. You play games. You came to my dueling competition. You took me to dinner. You kick a football with me and, and you put up pictures of me and..."

Ted crouched down, so he was closer in height to the young boy needing for him to understand that. "Harry, that's what a family does," Ted stated. "This is what a family does."

"w-why do you w-want someone like me in your family," he asked since it was a lot to take in for a boy who knew nothing but abuse and ridicule. To suddenly have what he had always wanted was almost too much for him.

"Because you deserve a family that loves you," Ted said. "Because you did not deserve what the Dursleys did to you. Because every child deserves to have a family that cares for them and we are happy to have you in ours. Because you belong with us."

Harry broke down crying and Ted just pulled him into a hug comforting him. Not much else could be said about the situation. Ted could only hope that Harry would some day believe his words and Harry could only hope they were true.