Disclaimer's in the prologue.

"Hey Harry thanks for letting me stay," Theo said gratefully two days later. "I guess my father finally want me to go back to the house."

Theo stayed for two days in his house. A letter flew in the second day and Theo looked graved before smiling, probably a forced one, and telling Harry that his Father already wants him home. Harry, however, thinks that that was a lie because for one if Nott Sr. really did want Theo to go back, Theo wouldn't stop by anywhere else.

"Be careful." he said as his friend stepped in to the fireplace shouting "Diagon Alley!" As soon as Theo left, he called out to his house-elf, Porthos.

"Master Evandrus?"

"Follow Theodore, will you?" he ordered Porthos. "Don't show yourself. If he gets into trouble, help him in any way, just don't get seen. Follow him around, and don't come back until I call for you. Understand?" The elf nodded, before popping away.

Theo's the first person he met and offered to be a friend of his and did not change afterwards. He had little to no friends because of his aloof nature and he will treasure every friend he will have.

After instructing his elf he began fixing things. He pulled out his trunk from the cupboard under the stairs and started putting his school books in a box then, his robes in the wardrobes in his room and the Slytherin Quiditch flag in the rubbish bin. He also used the cupboard under the stairs as a temporary storage room for some potions ingredients and materials. He was tempted to use magic, just for brewing mind you, but he knew that it was against the law. He wouldn't use magic unless it was absolutely necessary.

After having his meal, then consequently washing the dishes, he started reading about the topics of his homework. The sooner he gets it done the better. There was no point in doing it at a much later time when he can do it now.

Harry did nothing but read afterwards, only stopping to rest and had some snacks at 3 in the afternoon.

After having his snacks near four in the afternoon he grabbed a book and went out of the house and headed to the park. He sat on a swing and read silently while slowly rocking it back and forth.

In the middle of his reading, a letter dropped in front of him and a snowy white owl perched itself on his shoulder. Hedwig his beautiful white owl that he had bought at Diagon Alley before school started.

"Hey girl." He cooed touching lightly the beak of his owl. "Wonder who sent this." He opened the letter and looked for the signature at the bottom, Draco's signature.

"You're spying on Draco?" he asked his owl teasingly and Hedwig lightly bit his ear. "Not much of a sense of humour, like your owner then huh." he chuckled then began to read the letter.

The letter read.

Phantom

I saw your owl and I recognized it at the owlery in Malfoy Manor. I know not why she was here though. Reckon you might want her back so I sent her.

By the way I hate you for owning this owl. I wanted this owl when I was in Diagon Alley and it bit me.

Anyway, can you please come over at Malfoy Manor? Please mate I'm begging, scratch that Malfoys don't beg, imploring you to come over. I'm also inviting Theo. I invited Blaise, but he's still indisposed as of the moment. (There is absolutely no bleeding way, I'm inviting Macnair, Crabbe, and Goyle). I am royally bored here, really, really, bored. Father's always in a meeting and Mother, well she's here but I couldn't possibly chat and play with her could I?

Send a reply, Ares is following your bird, he's the brown owl. Anytime before I die of boredom would be preferable.

D.M

"Well, his owl isn't here yet." he said, glancing around the park. He took a look at his watch and found that he still have an hour before he goes back to the house.

"Hey give it back arseholes!" Harry heard someone shout. He turned and saw that it was Dudley's group ganging up on a brown haired boy. They were passing something through the air and the boy was jumping up and down to catch it, but the boy was smaller and couldn't quite jump high enough to reach his stuff.

Harry sighed and closed the book with the letter inside of it before he stood up with Hedwig perched on his arm. "Help the little kid." he whispered to his owl.

Hedwig flew and caught the rectangular thing that they were passing to each other and dropped it to the boy before Hedwig perched on his shoulder. Hedwig patted the boy's head with her beak and screeched at the bullies before flying back to Harry's arm.

"Five against one, very brave." Harry said with a sneer on his face as he walked towards them, removing his eyeglasses on the way. The boy took it as a safe time and ran to Harry then hid behind him and said "Thanks." Harry looked over the boy and saw that the rectangular thing was a chocolate bar.

"Sod off new kid." Crony number 1, a.k.a, Rat boy said.

"This is highly immature." he told them. "I suggest you stop before the lot of you get into trouble."

"And who's gonna tell on us? You?" Crony number 2, who looks like giraffe with his long neck, said. Harry mused that the group are like a horde of animals, a pig, a rat, a giraffe, an owl-like one because of his big eyes, and a beaver.

"I don't have to tell on you." he said nonchalantly. "Once the other kids here get tired of you lot bullying them, they'll do it on their own." It wasn't like he's going to be a permanent resident of Privet Drive anyway.

"Don't get yourself involve in what we do." Fatso said, walking towards him and then grabbing him by the collar. Harry didn't flinch, nor did he fight off Fatso's hand, he just stared with that emotionless look in his eyes. "I don't care if you're my cousin, but I'm not doing a thing you say." And then Fatso gave him a push.

Harry coughed. "You don't scare me, Dudley Dursley." he stated flatly. If that idiot thinks he can scare him, then he better think again. "Your threats do not work on me. In case Aunt Petunia hasn't told you what I am." Dudley just stood there with an odd look in his face, most likely Aunt Petunia had never told them that he is a wizard.

Harry took a deep breath. Losing his temper because of an idiotic bully would not help. "Look Dudley," he began calmly, "I don't want to fight any of you. I'm giving a cordial warning of what would happen if you keep this up. Those kids, my friend, they didn't do anything to you, how would you like it if they terrorize you." He said diplomatically before turning his back on them along with the boy. He returned to sit on the swing.

"And your name is?" he asked the boy.

"Mark Calvert, I'm ten." The boy beamed. "Your bird is beautiful, Mum doesn't like pets too much says their dirty. Do you have a dog? I like dogs, they're cute," Harry smirked as he remembered the three headed dog, see if that is cute, then again if you're like Hagrid when it comes to creatures, then you'll probably think that that Cerberus is a cuddly little pet even if it, in reality, is not.

"Look, kid don't you have anywhere else to be?" he asked when the boy was still just sitting there on the swing beside the one he's sitting at.

"Nope," the boy replied, popping the 'p'. "May I hang out here with you?"

"Would you leave if I said otherwise?"

The boy looked at him before replying "Nope," with a grin. "You didn't tell me your name."

"You didn't ask." Harry retorted.

"Righty then, what's your name?"

"Harold Evandrus but you can call me Harry." He held out his hand and the boy shook it.

"Sooo...is that fat tub of lard really your cousin?" Harry smirked at the 'fat tub of lard' comment.

"Well, his mother is my Aunt, so yes, unfortunately he is my cousin."

"Hmm... yeah...really unfortunate, I wouldn't want him as my cousin. Can I play with your owl?"

"Why not?" he replied, burying his nose on the book that he was reading while the boy plays with Hedwig.

"What's her name?"

Harry looked up from his book. "Hedwig."

"Nice name." The boy remarked. "From the Germanic name Hadewig right?" He looked up from his book once again and gave the boy a nod to continue what he was saying. "Derived from hadu which means 'battle' or 'combat' and wig meanin' 'war' or 'fight'." Harry's impressed. The boy knows etymology, that's useful.

"Is that why you named her that?" Mark questioned. "Is it because she's sort of like a...battle owl maybe?"

"Not exactly." he replied. "Just partly, I read the name from a book. It has a nice meaning, and a nice sound to it wouldn't you agree?"

"Yep, it does." Mark agreed before firing up another question. "So was it a history book?"

Harry raised an eyebrow. He had read that name in his copy of A History of Magic. "Yes, as a matter of fact it is. How do you know that?"

"There were nobles and saints who had that name." Mark said before looking upwards. "Let's see... there was Saint Hedwig of Andechs, Saint Hedwig the daughter of King Louis I of Hungary...hmm...then there's Hedwig of France, Hedwige of Saxony, Hedwig of Nordagu, you know the wife of the first Count of Luxembourg...and...I can't remember the others."

"Impressive." He commended. He stood up from the swing after a glance at his watch, it was a few minutes before 6 P.M already.

"I have ti go home now." He informed the boy as he stood up from the swing. "And I think you should as well. Come on, what's your address?"

"Number 9..." The boy said.

"Where's she going?" The boy asked him when he let Hedwig fly away.

"My house, where else?"

The boy was silent on their walk away from the park. Once they were at number 9, Mark rang the door bell. A lady opened the door. She was probably in her late thirties. She had white hair mixing with her brown hair already.

"Hi Mum!" Mark hugged his mother. "He's Harry, he helped me get my chocolate from those ar - mean boys...his owl is beautiful too..." The boy's mother smiled and halted him from rambling.

"Did you say thank you, dear?"

"Yes, Mum, he was really cool."

"Thank you," She said to Harry. "You must be the new boy in Number six."

"Yes, ma'am." Harry drawled before handing out his hand. "I'm Harold Evandrus, Mrs. Calvert."

"Polite young man, aren't you." She said kindly as he shook his hand. "Thank you for accompanying him home."

"No big deal," He replied. "I was on my way by this side of the road anyway."

"Would you like a cuppa before you leave?" She asked kindly.

"No, thank you Mrs. Calvert, I should go home now."

"Bye Harry!" Mark said gleefully while waving his hand as Harry walked on.

Harry saw, before entering the house that Draco's owl was already there, and so was his owl and another grey one perched on the iron bar outside of his house.

He glanced at the clock as he entered his house. He's nearly ten minutes behind his schedule. There were two letters on his doorstep that he set aside for later. He hung his coat on the coat rack then went to the kitchen to cook his dinner. Omelette sounds good enough.

He read the letters while eating. The first letter was from Sirius.

Dear Harry,

How have you been doing Harry? Are you doing well there in the Surrey, no disturbances? Lars told us that you are living alone, is that true? Well you wouldn't lie about it now would you? Maybe you should stay with us in my manor for the rest of the summer holidays just so it's safer and, you'll have other people around you. Lars is still grounded though, so no playing Quiditch for him, maybe you could help each other with a few things.

Sirius.

The second letter was from...Draco, again. Harry sighed.

Opera Ghost,

In my last letter, I said preferably before I die of boredom, right now I'm really dying of boredom, really, really, really, just by waiting for your reply. The Malfoy Manor owlery might ran out of owls before I receive any reply from the pair of you. The second owl, the grey one...well honestly I don't know what his or her name is...anyway just give it a treat it'll go away.

Seriously, send a reply. Even oddball is not replying to my letters, wonder what the git is doing, probably sulking and just burying his nose in a book at his house. Did you know that that is the only thing he does when he used to come to the manor, for soirees? He always has a book with him, and just reads it instead of talking with us, unless his father tells him to chat with us. Truth be told, I'm quite surprised he's acting all jolly around you.

Your royally bored acquaintance,

D.M.

That's a surprise, Harry thought. He wasn't aware that Theo was quiet around Malfoy's group. Well, probably he was very jolly around him because he's not like that.

Harry took a spare ink and quill from his cabinet after he finished washing the dishes. He placed the parchments on the centre table in his living room and started writing a response, to Sirius first.

Godfather,

I'm doing well, thank you for asking. There are no disturbances here, only a few knows that I live here.

Thanks for the offer but I think I'll just stay here for the time being.

If it's not too much to ask, do you think you can let Lars come here on Saturday evening? I met Aunt Petunia, she lives here in the Surrey with her family and she invited me to dinner and she also asked if maybe Lars could come along as well.

-H

Next, he wrote one for Draco.

-D

I have other things to do, perhaps some other time. Frankly I don't know why you would want me to come over to your manor. I won't play Quiditch with you, just so you know. If you're bored, try and finish your assignments so you won't have to worry about it any longer. That might take your boredom away.

So he wasn't all boisterous around you, quite a surprise. Speaking of him did you hear that he was left homeless for two days because of Macnair? He got punished for befriending me, the twin of the 'boy-who-lived'. Muggle lover.

-H

"Fly back afterwards alright?" Harry said to Hedwig as she set off with the letter for Sirius.

"Go on shoo..." He waved his hand to the grey owl, he had already given it a treat but it was just staying still, perched on the iron bars. He just glared at it before slamming the door. To hell with it if that bird doesn't go back to the Malfoys, he wouldn't care less if the bird gets shot on its way there.

The following morning, Sirius' reply arrived. That was early, Harry thought because the letter arrived just sometime after he was done having his breakfast. The content of the letter is Sirius' permission for Lars to join the dinner with the Dursleys, and another offer that he should stay at his Godfather's manor. Maybe he should, maybe he shouldn't. What would be the difference anyway?

Harry went out of the house before lunch and went to his Aunt's home. He knocked on the door and his Aunt was the one who opened it. His Aunt greeted him with a smile.

"Hello Harry." She said. "Would you like to come in?"

"Uh no, Aunt Petunia, I just want to say that Uncle Sirius allowed my twin to have dinner with your family."

Aunt Petunia smiled. "I'm glad to hear that Harry. Speaking of the dinner, Vernon decided not to have it in the house anymore, but in a restaurant in London instead."

"I see. Very well, I'm looking forward to it. I better go back now." He gave his Aunt a small nod and went back to the house.

In the afternoon he went to the park once again. No horde of animals this time, thank goodness. He can finally sit on the swing, and read his book, in peace without any kids shouting at Dudley to give their toy back. His cousin gave him a lot to think about. Why do other people enjoy bullying others, sure he read that it was because the bullies wanted to feel superior, and cool, or whatever crap they can think about. Personally, he found no reason to feel proud of yourself if what you do is degrade people. Of course he sounds like a bloody hypocrite thinking that, what with all the times he made some unfriendly comments to Weasley, but still it's different, even if he made those comments, he wasn't above praising the red-head, especially when it comes to chess and being brave.

While Harry was reading, someone suddenly grabbed both of his shoulders while exclaiming "Gotcha!" He forcefully shrugged it off before quickly standing up, and drawing his wand from inside his coat then pointing it at the person.

He sneered at the sight of Mark grinning at him like a mad man then laughing his arse off afterwards.

"Very funny, boy." he said gruffly. "Don't you ever do that again."

"Sorry, didn't realize that you're that easy to startle."

Harry sneered once more. "Doesn't give you any right to do it."

"Ok...I'm really sorry." Mark said quite apologetically. "I just wanted to see if I can startle you, you didn't give any impression that you can be startled...so say...what's with the stick." Harry blinked before he realized that he was still pointing his wand at the boy.

"It's a wand." He stated flatly.

Mark looked at him before laughing again. "Really? Come on do some magic trick with it." The boy's tone was with a bit of mockery.

"I'm not allowed to." he simply replied, placing his wand back in his coat.

"I think I can do it." Mark said confidently. "I turned my teacher's hair and face red once. That old witch deserved it anyway."

"You do realize," drawled Harry, "that that makes you sound like you're crazy right? People will think that you're stark raving mad."

The boy's eyebrow rose. "Do you?"

"A bit, yes." he answered quickly. "Considering that there was no way for you to turn your teacher's face and hair red, unless you showered her with dyes."

Mark shrugged. "Well, I don't know how I did it apart form I was thinking that it should turn in to that colour, so that's my conclusion, it was magic."

"Any weird things before that?" he asked curiously. He was just simply amazed that there is a wizard in the Surrey. He knew that there is a squib living in Wisteria Walk, old cat lady Mrs. Figg, a friend of the old man.

"Hmm...I don't know, but there was one time that I was reaching for the cookie jar, well I was smaller so I can't reach it then it flew to me, then one time, I ended up on the tree when some dogs came after me." Mark paused. "You know, I really don't think that you think I'm stark raving mad at all."

"And why not?" He wanted to hear the boy's reason.

"Well, for one, you wouldn't ask about it if you think it's barmy. Of course most people will only bother to ask again just so they won't burst the bubble of a 10 year old boy like me. Those are nice people," Harry did not fail to notice the boy's emphasis on the word, "and no offence, but you clearly aren't one. You may be quite diplomatic, and a pacifist, like yesterday when you spoke calmly to that fat oaf, but you're certainly not a nice guy type."

"I see." There was no doubt that this boy is a wizard, a clever one too, he has a potential to be in Slytherin. Oh how he would love to see the faces of the others when this kid gets sorted in Slytherin.

"Well nice chatting with you kid, I need to leave."

"This is almost the same time you left yesterday." The boy called out to him. "Near 6 P.M, it's like you have an appointment or something."

"I don't have an appointment, but I do have a schedule to follow." He called back before walking away.

There were new missives on his doorstep once again, one from Draco, and one from Lars. He decided to open his twin's letter first.

Hey brother, I asked Uncle Sirius if I can come over at your house before Saturday and he said I can on Friday, just before night time. See you then.

L.P

That was brief, Harry thought, and very direct. He read Draco's letter next.

G.L

Oh fine some other time then or maybe I could come over. Never mind.

Right so, I don't know that part about oddball getting kicked out. I pity the guy I really do, but well that's just daddy dearest, that man's a horrible arse, did I mention cruel as well? He's as bad as Macnair's father. Speaking of him, they're the best of friends just so you're informed. It's a surprise that oddball and him didn't become best friends. I rue the day, I absolutely do.

So you're birthday's coming up right? Are you going to have a party?

D.M

Harry only replied one phrase to Draco's letter. 'I don't know.' He's alone, so he's not sure if he's going to celebrate his birthday. Maybe not.

On Friday, Harry didn't go out of the house at all. He just waited for his brother to come out of the fireplace while reading a book.

When evening came, Lars wasn't the only one who came out of the fireplace, Sirius was also there. Sirius' entrance was flawless, well as Lars...well not so much considering that he stumbled out of the fireplace. Harry mused, he has the same predicament as his brother they both can't stay on their feet while flooing even when they have done it loads of times.

"Hello scamp." Harry scowled when Sirius tousled his hair. Next time, he would really need to put a jinx on his head so that people who'll tousle his hair will get a burn or something.

"Hey, uh...Harry." Lars said between coughs while standing up. "Miss me?"

Harry shrugged. "Not really no."

Lars threw an arm over Harry's shoulder. "Oh come on, you just don't wanna admit that you miss your adorable twin."

Harry made a choking noise. "I think I need to vomit."

"Ok..." Sirius called for their attention. "Uncle Padfoot still here, and doesn't like to be ignored."

"We're listening." The twins chorused.

"Ok then...you sure it really was Petunia?" Sirius asked him with a sceptical look on his face. "Maybe it was polyjuice, I don't know. Last time I saw her she wanted to kill us all for playing a prank on her husband...well that's a story for another time."

"Lars, please behave alright." Sirius said imploringly at Lars. "Harry, keep him on his toes."

"Of course, Uncle." he replied.

"Harry, are you sure you don't want to stay at the manor? We'll be happy to have you there."

Harry bit his lip and answered "I'll think about. Thanks Uncle Sirius." Sirius nodded in understanding before bidding them goodbye (not to mention reminding Lars that he's still grounded when he gets back) and leaving.

"So..." Lars began after a moment silence.

"So? Why are you here? You could've just floo tomorrow afternoon."

Lars shrugged. "Just wanna sleep over, then convince you to come to the manor."

"Right...have you eaten yet?"

"Yeah." Harry nodded and showed Lars the room that he's going to use. The same room that Theo used since, it's one of two rooms that has a bed in it, the other one being Harry's room, obviously.

"Hey Lars, may I ask you something?" Harry asked his younger twin while he was about to exit the door.

"Fire away."

Harry turned back to face his younger twin. "For example you're somebody's friend, and you got kicked out of your house because of that certain friend of yours, both of you were doing nothing bad, yet you still got kicked out because your parents doesn't want you to be their friend because of their difference in opinion. Would you still be their friend?" It still bugged him for some reason that Theo got kicked out because of him, yet that Slytherin still did visited him.

"Yeah," Lars replied in a matter of fact tone. "I mean, like you said, they're not doing anything bad, not a bad influence per se, so why would I stop being their friend? It's unfair, it's not right."

"Why would you do that?" Harry questioned, genuinely curious and confused. "You already got kicked out because of that friend, homeless for crying out loud, forsaken by your family. Why would you still continue being their friend when you're bound to lose everything?"

"Because that's what it means to be a true friend Harry." Lars said it like it was the most obvious answer in the cosmos. "No matter what others say, they'll be your friend. They'll do anything so that the boat will not get broken, the boat that both of you are in. If there's a will there's a way Harry. True friends are hard to come by, even I know that. Material things are never a match to bonds that you can create with people."

"Maybe things will work out with Theo's family someday, whatever their problem is." Sometimes, Lars can be quite perceptive when he wants to. His twin brother really is optimistic.

Harry smiled for a bit then nodded in understanding. "Thanks Lars...good night."