Disclaimer's in the prologue.

Not a week after their birthday, Sirius found out about the snake that Lars had given his brother as a gift. Least to say, Sirius wasn't completely alright with it. Well who would be? Considering that snakes are dangerous creatures, caution is advised.

After Sirius scolded him, not to mention guilt tripped him, on giving Harry such a dangerous creature, he eventually allowed the snake inside the house, with a strict warning that they better make sure that it would not bite, nor even try to hurt, anybody or else it will either go to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, it was a rare snake after all, or it'll just be disposed of. Lars was relieved after that, but he was still annoyed that he did felt guilt when Sirius told him that it could have been bitten Harry. He almost blurted out that they can talk to snakes ergo they can instruct, or control the snake by speaking with it, or that Harry would just kill it if it even tries to do such a thing.

When August tenth came, Harry was waiting for the portkey to be activated.

"Hey scamp good luck on your test." Sirius said as they waited for the clock to hit nine o'clock.

Lars huffed, not giving his older twin time to say his gratitude. "He doesn't need luck Uncle Padfoot," He told them. "He's a blood-...ehm...Genius with a capital 'G'." He saw his brother's notebook once when it was left opened on the desk. It was filled with alterations of all the potions that they created in first year. Lars knows that Harry dislike writing on the margins of the book hence uses a separate notebook unlike the others who scribbles on the margins.

The clock struck nine and Harry said the password after saying bye again to Lars, Remus and Sirius for he will be at Merlin-knows-where the test will be held.

"So you guys wanna make a bet if he's going to be accepted or not?" Sirius suddenly asked. Remus smacked him on the head and admonished him for encouraging Lars to have a bet. Lars did not mention that Theodore and he did have a bet during the school year, best not mention it.

Sirius left as well a few minutes after that, he just stayed in the Manor to bid Harry good luck. Now Lars just went back to his room while Remus is in the kitchen (probably eating dozens of chocolate).

When he entered the room, a house-elf was jumping up and down on his bed. It wasn't one of the Manor house-elves.

"Lawrence Potter, such an honour it is." The house-elf said as soon as it got a good look at Lars.

"Who on earth are you?" he finally asked after just standing still. He closed the door immediately and then took his wand from his pocket and casted a privacy charm around his door, picking up Harry's fear of having eavesdroppers around, even if Remus is the only one in the house, and even then, Remus is in the kitchen, far from his room.

"Dobby sir dobby the house elf." The house-elf said as he bowed his head.

"Yes, obviously you're a house-elf...what are you doing here? You're not one of our house elves."

"Oh, no sir, Dobby is here to warn sir...and Dobby wonders where to begin." The elf said.

"Well starting at the beginning would be preferable." he said in a matter of fact tone before grabbing a chair nearby and sitting on it. He motioned for Dobby to sit on the bed. "Sit down."He told Dobby and then Dobby sobbed before breaking out into a cry.

"Dobby hush, hush, I don't mean to offend you alright, so calm down please." Lars frantically tried to make the elf to stop crying after mentally smacking himself that he should have known that other house elves would react like that.

"Great Lawrence Potter" Lars frowned at the title, "did not offend Dobby. Dobby has heard of your greatness sir but never been allowed to sit down by a wizard, like an equal." The elf said softly, sadly.

"Well, call me unorthodox, and very untraditional or whatever they call it, but I think everybody, even those who aren't humans, have a right to sit down." He said kindly. He allows the house-elves in the manor to sit down if they want, so why not this one.

"Thank you Master Lawrence Potter Sir."

"You're welcome but look, just tell me why you're here and why now when my brother left." He said suspiciously, just wondering why suddenly a house elf appears in his room exactly the same day his brother would leave.

Dobby looked down at his shuffling feet. "Your brother would have Dobby thrown out Sir, and Dobby don't want that Sir." Lars didn't really know what the crazy elf meant by thrown out, but he was guessing that maybe the elf thought Harry is cruel because he is a bit sharp tongued.

"My family might punish Dobby, but Dobby has to come sir Dobby has to protect Lawrence Potter, to warn him, Lawrence Potter must not go back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year there is a plot, a plot plot to make the most terrible things happen." The crazy elf said tremulously.

"What terrible things? Who's plotting them?" Lars asked and again the elf started banging his head on the floor much to his chagrin.

"Lawrence Potter, please listen to Dobby, Hogwarts isn't safe, tell them that you are not to go back to school this year." The elf pleaded looking very, very sincere with his big beady eyes.

"I'm sorry Dobby but I can take care of myself, leave now before I call my Uncle and if he finds you here your family will find out." The elf looked horrified but nodded his head and left after giving one last warning to Lars.

Lars sighed when the elf left, he felt so proud of himself for being able to bluff the elf though in all honesty even if the elf didn't leave Lars would not tell on the elf because he doesn't want to risk the elf being punished for warning him.

That visit gave him something to think about, 'plot to make terrible things happen'. Lars grumbled. Can he not have just a year, just one whole bloody year without someone trying to kill him or at least plotting to kill him? It's getting tiring and tedious. Oh how he wished that he wasn't the 'boy-who-lived' he'll be willing to do anything to be just like other kids, just like his brother who can have a normal life, even if things didn't start in the most pleasing way.

He decided to read a book first, it certainly wasn't enough to relieve him of his boredom, but he still read it anyways. It was better than doing nothing. He read the book until Remus called him for lunch. The lunch was just quiet. There was no Harry to make sarcastic, though sometimes funny remarks to things that he talks about. And speaking of having lunch, he wondered if Seraphim had already eaten yet.

"Seraphim where are you?" he called out while holding a raw meat of fish which is the snake's favourite food. The snake slowly slithered towards him.

"Oooh, fish." Seraphim said enthusiastically as Lars gave the food. "I thought you will forget to feed me Lawrence now that bossman isn't here."

Seraphim has taken a liking in calling Harry 'bossman' these past few days stating that Harry acts like one, and a snappy one at that. Lars petted the snake's head while he was eating. Snakes definitely aren't that bad just a bit misunderstood, now he's really looking forward to go to Gringott's though he can't, not yet until Harry comes back.

"Nah...I wouldn't forget." he assured Seraphim.

"Bossman's really different from you lot you know?" Seraphim suddenly said after he finished eating the fish, pulling Lars from his thoughts.

"What?" Lars asked. He really wasn't sure what the snake meant.

"He'sss very different from you, lesss cheerful, and lesss wanting for companionship. He likesss making some unfriendly remarksss, not to adultsss, but nevertheless, bossman pretty much seemsss like a loner to me, it'sss like he alwaysss want to be alone, unlike you who looks like you enjoy being in other people'sss company..." Seraphim explained.

Seraphim continued, this time to ask questions. "Also, why on earth are your surnamesss different? I asked him before what hisss name wasss and he said 'Harold Evandrus' whilst you are 'Lawrence Potter', and where are your parents? Why are you with your godfathersss? And why haven't I seen him before? I've been here for monthsss and I didn't even see bossman around."

"Didn't you ask Harry those questions?"

"Oh I asked alright." Seraphim was nodding his head. "All response I got wasss a that it'sss none of my business." Figures Harry would reply that way. That's what his brother replies most of the time when he doesn't want to talk about something to someone.

"How many times did you bug him?"

"Once." Seraphim replied. "I asked him only once. Your brother isss seriousss when he saysss that he doesn't want to. I have only been here for barely a fortnight ssso I doubt that he'll open-heartedly tell me anything...but I think you will...so what'sss the answer to my questionsss?"

"Well, Harry left, hadn't seen him for years, when he came back he's Evandrus already. Our parents our dead. Sirius is my legal guardian...and for the last question, well, Harry doesn't technically live here...he had his own house before."

"Why'd bosssman left?"

"Because my dad was a complete arse to him." he responded immediately as if saying a line that's well-rehearsed. "You know what? Let me tell you something about what happened years ago, the last time I saw my brother before starting school."

-Seven years ago-

A five year old Lars was sitting on the dining table drawing things about Quiditch. He stopped when he heard something crash on the ground and his dad yelling things at his older twin.

"You useless stupid boy! Look what you've done!" He heard his dad say, or rather yell, to his brother. He left his drawing then peeked where he heard his dad's voice. The sight frightened him his father violently shoved his quietly crying older twin brother into a broom closet, there were shards of glass on the ground that his dad vanished with his wand. Lars sobbed then ran back to get his drawing then went to his room.

A few hours later his dad was already sleeping after playing with him. He went to the broom closet, bringing along with him some food that he can carry, and opened it. He saw his brother sleeping, curled up in a ball with tears in his eyes.

"'Arry, wake up, I bring food see." He said shaking his brother a little. Harry woke up, startled. Harry looked at him with those sad green eyes of his. "I bring you food see, you like choc'late," Lars suddenly frowned "I forgot juice, I go get it." He stood up to leave when Harry took hold of his hand.

"Water," Harry breathed out Lars nodded and ran then came back with a glass of not just water but also pumpkin juice. Harry ate the food that Lars brought for him.

"I'll get more?" He asked Harry who finished eating. Harry shook his head in a negative response.

Lars hugged his brother who still hasn't said anything besides asking for water. They both heard footsteps coming from above, Harry shooed him out of the cupboard and closed the door.

"Lars! Where are you?" He heard his dad say. "Oh there you are, my precious little boy." His dad said fondly when he found him sitting on the couch in the living room. "What're you doing there my little man? That useless boy's not bothering you is he?" Lars shook his head.

"Daddy, why you mean to 'Arry?" Lars likes that his father loves him and gives him everything but he doesn't understand why he doesn't like his twin.

"Because he's not my special little boy, unlike you, you're brother is useless, you defeated 'you – know - who' when you were a baby, you're brother is just a burden." He doesn't understand what his Father meant by that but he can't do anything but nod. His dad playfully ruffled his hair then left the manor after instructing the house elves to look after his 'precious little boy' for a short while.

"'arry come out Daddy gone." He said to his brother after opening the closet again "'arry read with me please." His brother smiled weakly at him and nodded. Lars took their favourite book, 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard', and together they read it, but Harry read better so he was the one who continued to read a whole chapter of the book.

"'arry, you're not bad boy, why daddy mean to you?" Lars asked while his brother was reading. Harry just sighed and shrugged off his question then continued to read. "'arry hungry?" Harry shook his head.

"You're a good boy." Harry suddenly said, the longest he said that day, and patted Lars' head. "I'll go back to my room now. You should go sleep little brother." Harry smiled warmly at him. Lars yawned and nodded his head. He always gets sleepy after his brother reads with or rather to him.

Later that night was their fifth birthday party, Lars managed to convince his brother, who was staying in his room upstairs so as to not let the visitors see that he was locked in the cupboard, to be with him on their birthday party. In the middle of opening the gifts he didn't notice that Harry had left.

Moments later the Headmaster called his Dad to check on Harry, his Dad hesitantly complied and went upstairs. Lars also followed and while the adults were talking he found a note, he couldn't read well so he gave it to his Dad who just said that 'He's gone'. The Headmaster read it, there were notes not only for him but also for the others, but only one message in all of that, Harry's gone, his older twin, the one who reads to him whenever he likes is gone. He had left. They were all shouting then suddenly when he saw his Uncle Moony getting angry, his vision darkened when a cold hand covered his eyes, the hand of the Potions Professor.

He had spent the whole week crying for his brother, demanding that he wants Harry. In a fit of rage, his Dad suddenly slapped him. He became scared of his dad and never cried for Harry in front of his dad again, not when he can help it.

Present-

"I think it was a glass statue of a stag that Harry accidentally dropped." Lars said, thinking back. "That was Dad's favourite figurine in the house."

"Just that incident and bossman left?" Seraphim asked Lars who negatively shook his head saying "Harry's not that illogical to leave after just one incident."

"A few times that I can remember he always locks Harry in the cupboard or tells bad things to him like he's 'useless' or things like that, he sometimes slaps Harry then shove him in that cupboard instead of letting him sleep in his room, which was the smallest bedroom by the way." Lars sighs. "Sometimes, I don't know why, he'll stare at Harry then out of the blue he'll suddenly hurt...suddenly hurt him...it's like a part of him can't bear to see Harry."

"I mean no disrespect to you, but I hope your father died painfully." Lars nodded. The snake was at least respectful.

"I don't know if drinking a lot of alcohol until you get poisoned by it is painful."

"Liquor poisoning?" Seraphim questioned in what seem to be an incredulous voice. "Why the hell did your father drink himself to death?"

"Depression maybe?" Lars replied, shrugging. "Maybe because he lost me? He lost his magic?""

"Can you tell me the story? That is if it's okay with you?"

After looking at the snake, Lars replied. "Why not? As long as it will be kept between us." and then he began retelling some things.

"See when I was 7 years old, so that's two years after Harry left. Uncle Sirius challenged my dad to a duel when he found out that Dad tends to yell at me sometimes, you know when he sees me whining about Harry, or sometimes telling me to forget about Harry because he was useless...so it was the House of Black against the House of Potter...anyway it was a private duel, I don't know but they didn't want the Prophet to get a hold of it...so the duel, the conditions of the duel was that if dad lost, he'll sign over the guardianship to Uncle Sirius...so yes, he lost...my dad tried to dishonour the duel, he didn't sign over the contract, I stayed with him for a week, then all of a sudden he lost his ability to do magic when he was teaching me some things in Transfiguration."

"Why'd he lost magic?" Seraphim asked.

"Well that's where Dumbledore comes in..." Lars replied. "I sort of eavesdropped on them one time, and I heard Dumbledore say that he sort of tricked my dad into entering a binding magical contract, when Uncle Sirius and dad shook hands after saying a sort of ritual like oath, which by the way my dad didn't know was a magical oath...so anyway it was old magic, a very old form of wizard's oath, that is no longer used...or if it is...it rarely has been...of course no one can give answers of what really happened, other than saying that dad broke a contract...you know who people think I am in this world, so naturally they don't want me living with someone who doesn't have magic, or at the very least doesn't have the ability to protect me...Dumbledore pulled some strings and Voila, I became the ward of Sirius Black."

"Weird..." Seraphim hissed.

Lars furrowed his brow. "What do you mean weird?"

"You humansss are weird...they fought over you...a duel to death..."

He looked at the snake in confusion. "What's weird about that?"

"They fought just for the guardianship of you...I mean I don't get it...isss that even allowed?"

After looking thoughtful, he shrugged. "Frankly I have no idea...but it's common to duel with bets...just think that the bet was the condition, Raph."

"Raph?" The snake repeated.

"What? Yeah, Harry's name's long for you...you don't mind me calling you that do you?"

"Nah, I like 'sss better than 'Potionsss ingredient'...back to your story...didn't you...I mean, it wasss alright for you to be away from your father? If I were a human, I wouldn't want to be away from family."

Lars shook his head. "Of course it wasn't, Raph. The first few days with Uncle Moony and Uncle Padfoot, I was always crying for my Dad, for Dad and Harry of course. They were very patient about it even when I was acting like a total brat, they still comforted me. So anyway, seeing that I really miss him, they took me to meet with him." Lars coughed.

"First it was alright, it really was...but then...but then Dad's attitude was suddenly changing, telling me sometimes that it was my fault that he lost his magic, sometimes he will grip my shoulders tighly that it almost hurt while saying things...well least to say I was really sad about that...then...and then Dad started drinking, I know that he drinks when I'm not around...I mean he does that in Potter Mansion but, what was more sad was even during the days that I was with him, mostly during Fridays and Saturdays he still drank and drank...he was barely sober whenever I'm with him, but I never told anyone about it, I told them that I was ok...it went on for a few more weeks before I did."

"I was 7, Raph, but I wasn't stupid, I can see that my dad is a total wreck, it wasn't doing us any good to be with each other so I refused to see him again...I was hurt and saddened when he didn't complain," Lars lightly pressed his thumb over his eyes, "when he didn't even argued, or quarreled with them that he has a right to be with me...really sad that he didn't change his ways so he'll have me back...it was like he doesn't care about me at all." Lars sniffed. He hadn't had this conversation with anyone before. It was painful to bring back those memories. He doesn't even know why he's having this conversation with the snake. Oh the irony, just earlier they were talking about Harry now they're talking about their father.

Lars cleared his throat. "In the concluding months people who gets a sight of him said that he always drinks liquor, day in day out, until...until one day Uncle Remus found him in Godric's Hollow, in the wreckage of Potter Cottage during Halloween, a bottle in his hand he barely had a pulse left...Remus went out the house to get some help, and as fate would have it, Snape was there, he tried to help Dad...tried to resuscitate him but it was no use, he was already dead...there was nothing they can do about it, nothing." He took a deep breath to prevent himself from breaking down.

"What about the old man...Dumbledore you called him...were you not angry with him?" Raph questioned. "For tricking your father into that deal."

"Maybe a bit, before...but then..." he sighed. "One of the rules in duelling is to honour the agreement between the duellists...if Dad just honoured the agreement, he wouldn't have lost his magic...he would still even have me even if I am no longer in his custody."

"Sorry to hear that. But, I'll be frank with you. I think he deserved what happened to him, for what he did to you, for what he did to bossman. The downside of it of course, was that you two would never know if he would have changed if he's alive..."

Lars chuckled darkly. "Your bossman told me once that there are no ifs in this world, that we shouldn't keep thinking on what might have been but what might be."

"Do you get what it means then?"

"Don't dwell on the past?"

"Yesss...it also meansss that you should alwaysss move on, no matter how many rejectionsss, how many failuresss, how many heartbreaksss, how many wrongsss you've had...you must rise up once again...you can't always be below...never forget the past, always remember the it, learn from it, but never dwell on it, use it as your guide for the future."

"Thanks, Raph...really." he said sincerely. "So, did my stories satisfied your curiosity?"

"Yesss it did...thanksss for telling it to me, I don't think bossman would tell me thingsss like that."

"Don't worry, he will...in time. He opens up a bit to his friend, Theodore, so why not you." He paused and looked amusedly at Raph. "You know what I just noticed, I've been speaking to you for quite some time now, I mean just weeks ago I think this language is well, no offense, evil because...well you're a snake."

"I gathered that. In the course of history we have become like symbolsss of evil, wickednesss and deceit. One reason wasss because of the bible saying that Lucifer coaxed Eve into eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in hisss serpent form."

Lars chuckled, the snake is definitely smart really fitted to be Harry's pet, or familiar even. "You're one extraordinary snake, heck you even know that...that muggle thing right?" He laughed.

"It'sss called Theology, studies concerning a deity." Raph informed him. "Thank you for that, by the way, very few recognizesss the intellect of usss snakesss."

"Well then at least I'm the one of those few who does." Lars frowned after he said that, right now only he and Harry can understand snakes, so in reality they're the only who can be able to recognize the intellect of snakes by talking to them.

"Bossman'sss not going to use me for potionsss right?" Lars snapped out of his thoughts by Raph's question. Lars knows that Harry wouldn't do that, the threat is just something he imitated from the Potions Master who threatens to use his student's limbs for potions if they muck up in class or disobey his orders.

"Don't worry he wouldn't." He said then grinned at the snake, "come to think of it tell him to get his own catch phrase by the way, threatening someone as potions ingredients is soooooo not original on him..." He suggested.

"You're basically suggesting me to, what wasss you humansss say, tell him off."Lars grinned mischievously at him. "No thanksss lion boy, I do not have a deathwish."

"Scared?" Lars teased.

"Of course I am, if he snapsss, the next time you'll see me, I'll be in piecesss in different glasss jarsss or, or, or vialsss...or...or..." Raph continued to rant on where and in what places Harry would put him if the soon to be Potions apprentice suddenly decides to chop him off.

"Yes, you definitely are scared," Lars chuckled. "Well just spit on him, snakes can do that right?"

"To humansss with magic like you?" The snake shook its head. "That would be sssuicide because you can heal yourselvesss immediately, and besidesss, bosssman is too calculating to not notice."

"Yadda, Yadda. You're making it sound like my brother is paranoid git."

"Oh, isn't he?" The snake challenged.

Lars frowned. Maybe his brother is a little paranoid, though not as paranoid as mad-eye moody whose favourite catchphrase is 'CONSTANT VIGILANCE!' but still paranoid and calculating nonetheless. "Hm, alright, maybe a little...bit."

"Lawrence!" Lars immediately stood up when he heard Remus' enhanced voice volume call for him. He cancelled the privacy charm and then exited the room.

"Yeah, Uncle Remus?" He called back.

"It's nearly four!"

"Oh, be right down in a sec." He almost forgot that he was going to the Burrow.

"Oh sorry I gotta go, don't worry Mopsy, the other house-elf will bring you food, just don't scare her too much."

"I don't scare people Lawrence they are just inherently scared of snakesss."

"Whatever you say... don't worry before you know it your bossman's here already, oh please don't burn my room and don't let anybody see you..."

"Will you just leave? You're a real worry wart you know that? I don't have a deathwish mind you, so just go play with the red-headed idiot." Lars frowned at the snake after calling his friend a 'red –headed idiot' before leaving.

"Remember..."

"I know, I know don't cause too much trouble Uncle Moony." Lars cut off his Godfather before entering the fireplace and exclaiming "The Burrow."

"Ow, damn it I hate flooing!" he cursed as soon as fell down on the ground of the Weasley's house. The Weasley twins helped him up.

"You alright mate?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine...I just really, really hate flooing."

Ron laughed at him "Should be used to that by now."

"You should say that to my brother," He remarked with a huff. "he mentioned that he uses the floo these past few years every week and even then, he still lands up on his arse whenever he uses the floo...I wonder how he reacts to portkeys."

"He is at the..."

"Apprentice exams..."

"In Greece isn't he?" The twins asked.

Lars blinked confusedly at them. "I don't know...where'd you get the idea that he'd be in Greece?"

"Well Gryffin Larrykins..." Lars frowned at the nickname.

"The base of the International..."

"Association of Potions Masters..."

"Is in Greece."

"Oh...I didn't know that...anyway...why so interested?" Lars asked.

"Because Gyffin Larrykins..."

"If Slyther Harrykins agrees..."

"We want some help..."

"In our inventions."

Ron snorted at that. "Like you don't know what that snake's attitude is." he said. "He's an antisocial git who insults everybody!"

"Actually Ronniekins..."

"He only insults..."

"You..." Fred and George finished with a grin on their faces.

"He's a Slytherin!" Ron exclaimed. Oh boy, Lars thought, here we go again with the anti-Slytherin talk.

"Yes but..."

"He's a genius..."

"And he's Larrykin's other half."

"You mean evil genius half right?" Lars said with a laugh.

"Exactly!" Fred and George exclaimed at the same time.

"Besides, we will give him..."

"Compensations for..."

"His contributions..."

"To our work." They finished together. Lars wondered why he and Harry never spoke like that, even then before Harry left, they never finished each other's sentences, that'd be cool if they did that, it would seem like they're reading each other's thoughts.

"Compensations huh...what do you think Harry would ask...or what would you offer him as a compensation?" Lars asked.

"Unlimited supply of our products." Fred and George responded.

"Joke products?" Lars questioned. "He's not fond of pranks and jokes, or at least that's what I know...try giving him books and I think he'll help you." All he knows is that his brother's life revolved around books, which is exactly why his brother no fun most of the time.

"We'll think of something." George, or Fred, said.

"Think fast then..."

"We will Gryffin Larrykins...toodles..." They chorused before leaving Ron and him, alone in the living room.

"What now?" Ron asked.

"Quiditch?"

"Sounds good..."