A/N: Whoo! Another chapter! ^^ I actually managed to do a rough outline of where I want this story to go. However, sometimes when I write I end up going in a whole other direction, so we'll see. Oh! And sorry about any grammar or spelling mistakes, this story is not betated! (is that even a word? Whatever, you know what I mean.)

Disclaimer: Once again, I do not own Harry Potter or Beetlejuice, they belong to their separate creators.
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Chapter 2: Discoveries

Scrambling, Harry desperately tried to hide Beetlejuice behind him just as the Dursleys entered the house.

Vernon squinted suspiciously at the young wizard who was standing awkwardly in the middle of the living room.

"What are you up to boy?"

Shifting Harry hurriedly replied, "Nothing, Uncle Vernon!"

Receiving only a grunt in reply, Vernon went on to inspect the room, hoping to nitpick anything out of place.

Beetlejuice was looking bemusedly at the back of Harry's head. Floating so that he was in the kids view, Beetlejuice crossed his arms, "Ya know they can't see me, right?"

Smirking, he waved his arms right in front of Vernon's face. Beetlejuice even went as far as to make faces at him. Harry was greatly relieved to see his Uncle pay no attention to the ghosts' antics.

Apparently satisfied with his inspection, Uncle Vernon turned to Harry and said, "Go get the things out of the trunk."

Nodding his head in acknowledgement, Harry went out the front door, Beetlejuice following at a much slower pace. The demon couldn't help but glance back at the whale of a man (he didn't even know breathers could get that big). He felt like something was off with this suburban family, but couldn't quite put a finger on it. Deciding to shrug it off Beetlejuice continued on his way.

He came out to see Harry struggling to carry all the luggage with his skinny arms. Grinning, Beetlejuice extended an arm, "Need a hand?"

Harry looked up to see the ghost hold out a severed hand, blood still dripping from it. Normally, Harry would have snickered at the ghosts antics or rolled his eyes at the lame pun. But Harry felt like this wasn't the time for jokes, not when the Dursleys were here and could potentially overhear him talking to himself.

Brushing past Beetlejuice, Harry carefully entered the house and deposited the bags in the hallway. Gesturing for the bio-exorcist to follow him, Harry quietly and quickly climbed the stairs towards his room. It wasn't until he closed the door that he finally acknowledged the demons presence.

"Bee-"

"Nah-ah-ah!" Beetlejuice waved his hands, "What have I told you about my name, babes? Don't say it unless you mean it!"

"Right." Harry nodded sheepishly, "I forgot."

Beetlejuice shook his head, "What was that about babes? Usually you're much more fun to hang around with! So what's the big deal?!"

Harry took a deep breath and squirmed in place, "W-well...the thing is…"

Before he could even start his explanation there was a shriek followed by commotion downstairs when a sudden big bellowing roar echoed throughout the household.

"BOY!"

Harry startled, swallowing nervously he gave Beetlejuice a fleeting glance before bolting down stairs.

He entered the kitchen to see Aunt Petunia clutching Dudley close, covering his eyes while she stared wide eyes and pale faced at something behind Uncle Vernon.

"Y-yes Uncle Vernon?" Harry cursed at the audible crack in his voice, showcasing his fear.

"What. Is. THIS?!" Vernon pointed a sausage of a finger at the refrigerator.

Harry shakily turned to look at the refrigerator and found the door wide open showing, quite clearly, the contents inside. Harry could only gape in horror as he realized that all the food had rotted and was smelling of something pungent. On top of that some sort of slime dripped from the ceiling onto what could only be a human skull. Not to mention the various severed body parts piled in there.

Harry wanted to run. Beetlejuice had used the refrigerator to store all the items he had for the pranking they had done earlier, he had done so with the promise to clean it out as soon as they were done. At the time, Harry had been satisfied with the arrangements, not wanting the blood to get everywhere.

But now. Now, Harry was regretting allowing Beetlejuice to bring such grotesque things into the house. Harry was too busy falling into a deep pit of fear and despair that he did not notice Beetlejuice coming up behind him and uttering a soft 'shit' when he took stock of the scene before him.

Running out of patience (as if the man even had any), Vernon grabbed the front of Harry's shirt and lifted him up so that he was up close to his purpling face, "You're going to clean this up with your bare hands until it's spotless! Do you understand, Boy?!" He yelled out the last part causing Harry to turn his face in hopes of protecting himself from the spit his Uncle spewed out.

Satisfied that the wizard had been scared enough, Vernon flung him towards the refrigerator where Harry landed with a crash.

As he was scrambling to get up, Harry caught the eyes of the ghost who, up until now, had been an unusually quiet spectator. Harry ducked his head down, face burning in shame. He hated the fact that someone had seen the treatment he endured during his stay with the Dursleys.

At this moment, Harry was starkly reminded of that time in second year after Ron and the twins had rescued him. He remembered how Hermione made him promise to let them know if the Dursleys ever went too far again. Harry had reluctantly agreed only so that he could get his friends off his back. He never wanted anyone to see this. Ever.

Yet, here was this guy who he barely knew, witnessing his greatest shame and embarrassment.

Trembling, Harry went to work, grabbing the nearest wipe he robotically started cleaning. As he wiped, Harry bit his lip as his eyes blurred with unshed tears. How embarrassing.
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Beetlejuice was frozen.

He could do nothing but stare as the kid he had become quite fond of in a short period of time (he let him keep body parts in the fridge for fucks sake! Not even Lydia was okay with that!), mechanically wiped his mess.

That's right.

His mess.

….

This was his fault, wasn't it?

If he hadn't insisted on keeping that stuff here none of this would have happened! Then again…

Since when did he care?

Beetlejuice had a sinking suspicion that this situation. This feeling. Was going to be a regular occurrence, and he did not like it. Being this vulnerable was...aggravating to say the least.

Ever since the whole fiasco with Lydia, Beetlejuice has felt more unstable than he ever was before, if that was even possible. Of course, it alwayscomes back to her and those damn Maitlands. Their little stunt at the wedding showed just how weak the human body could be, and he was a bit- no- deeply scared by the experience. So caring this much, so soon after, was jarring. Watching his...friend? Yes. Friend. Getting yanked around like that by this brute, and now knowing, first hand, how much pain the kid was probably feeling, lit a fire in him like no other.

Beetlejuice felt the rage bubbling up to the surface like a volcano ready to erupt; slowly but surely replacing his earlier shock. Never before did he want to scare the life out of a breather as badly as he wanted to right now. The more he replayed the previous scene, the more he wanted to strangle the living shit out of these disgusting animals.

SO WhY DoN'T YoU?

Feeling as if he was in a trance, Beetlejuice slowly turned his head, his body staying in place: like an owl catching sight of its prey. Glaring at the carefree family sitting in the living room watching TV as if nothing was wrong. His eyes glowed acid green and a disturbing smile creeped upwards until gums and teeth could be seen by all. Feeling demented, Beetlejuice clenched his hands, long nails puncturing his palms. He was shaking with the need to kill.

The demon from hell stood there for what felt like hours, trying to reign in his powers. His aura pouring out of him in wisps.

Fortunately, Harry was too busy in his own world of hurt and pain to notice the turmoil Beetlejuice was going through. If he had, Harry would have left the room screaming...probably.

Finally, Beetlejuice relaxed, cracking his neck and muscles, he pinching the bridge of his nose. Sneering at himself, Beetlejuice murmured, "Barley even known the brat and I'm already this attached. Pathetic."

Gazing at the 'brat' in question, Beetlejuice realized that he was still scrubbing blood off the shelves.

Growling under his breath he carefully approached, the kid. Clearing his throat he said, "Uh, kid?"

No response.

Feeling awkward at the continued silence, Beetlejuice sighed, stretching out, he put a hand on the boy's shoulder and with a false cheer said, "Don't worry about it kid, I can vanish it all with a snap of my fingers!"

Harry jerked up in shock, having thought that the ghost had left him after seeing how pathetic Harry truly was. Feeling a strange warmth in his chest that quickly dissipated once he processed Beetlejuices' offer. Shaking his head rapidly, he croaked, "No. That'll just make things worse! The Dursleys have the ability to tell when anything weird happens!"

Beetlejuice frowned, "If you're sure-"

"Yes," The young wizard nodded seriously gazing deeply into the troubled eyes of his (temporary) companion, "I'm sure."

Hesitating a bit, Beetlejuice felt slightly helpless. Hating the vulnerability that this child brought out in him. Beetlejuice did what any emotionally stunted ghost would do; he fled.

Not dazed in the slightest by the ghost-demons' sudden disappearance; knowing that he could just summon him back, Harry continued on cleaning.
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It wasn't until much later on, when the Dursleys had all fallen asleep, and the moon was high in the sky, did Harry call upon the bio-exorcist once more.

"Hey, um, Beetlejuice?"

With a poof of smoke, Beetlejuice arrived wearing a black and white striped bathrobe that showed way too much ghost chest to be appropriate.

Casually throwing a beetle into his mouth he greeted Harry, "Sup babes. You called?"

Deadpanning, the wizard asked, "What are you wearing?"

Smirking, Beetlejuice got uncomfortably close to Harry, "Why, you like it?"

Wincing in disgust, Harry shoved him away, "Ew, no! No offense but I'm not into blokes! Besides, you're old enough to be my dad!"

"Actually, I'm old enough to be your ancestor." He stated smugly.

Staring blankly at the floating demon, Harry choked out a quiet, "What?"

Beetlejuice looked at him knowingly, "When did you think I died?"

Harry frowned, "I dunno, maybe eighty years ago?"

Beetlejuice felt offended, crossing his arms he snorted, "As if. I'm the most powerful being in the Netherworld for a reason, sweetheart!"

Sitting down on his rickety bed, Harry frowned, "You keep saying that: Netherworld. What's that?"

Waving his hand in nonchalance, Beetlejuice said, "Just where everyone goes after they die. No biggie. Now-" Gazing into Harry's eyes he said, "About your relatives…"

Resisting the urge to ask questions, Harry sighed, knowing this was coming from the moment BJ witnessed Uncle Vernon's anger.

Wait.

BJ?

Well it is easier than calling him by his full name. True. Besides, was Beetlejuice his real name? Or was it his last name? Who named their kid Beetlejuice? He had so many questions!

"So?"

Snapping out of his thoughts Harry sighed once more, "Well…. It all started on Halloween-"

Harry talked and talked and talked for hours about the Dursleys, how he was a famous Wizard, as well as his many adventures at Hogwarts with his close friends. He left nothing out because, really, what did he have to lose? BJ had already proven he wouldn't intentionally hurt him. Right?

As Beetlejuice listened to this crazy ass story that the kid was spinning he couldn't help but look at this young wizard in a new light. He knew witches wizards where a thing, how could he not? Those pompous wand wavers loved to strut around like they owned the place. Yeah, he had his fair share of run-ins with those assholes, (and if part of that bitterness was due to the fact that, despite all their 'magic' they still couldn't see him? Well, that was his business and his business alone). But to find out Harry was one of them? How was he still alive?! Beetlejuice had seen many people cower and run from the smallest of things (chihuahuas), but this kid. Jesus, this kid ran into danger again and again with no fear of what lay beyond. That-that couldn't be healthy. It was borderline suicidal. At the thought of the 'S' word, Beetlejuice felt a fear like no other grip his non-beating heart.

After a long pause of silence, each lost in their own thoughts Beetlejuice gripped Harry's shoulders and fixed his gaze on him, "Kid. Listen. This is important, okay?" Beetlejuice waited until he had the kids full attention before continuing, "If you need me for anything. Anything at all, just say my name. Got that?"

Harry felt bewildered at such an oddly serious request coming from such a mischievous being. Despite this, however, Harry felt how important this was to Beetlejuice so he held out his pinkie, "I promise."

Lips twitching in amusement despite the serious atmosphere, Beetlejuice scrutinized the kids face for sincerity before raising his own pinkie and intertwining it with his. "I'll hold you to that...Larry."

Face dropping in disbelief Harry gawp, "Did...did you just call me Larry?"

"...No?" Beetlejuice's response came out more like a question.

Putting a hand against his chest, feeling a bit perplexed Harry carefully asked, "BJ, what's my name?"

"Well I- wait. Did you just call me BJ?"

Caught off guard Harry responded distractedly, "Yeah, Beetlejuice is too long so I thought, you know. But! If you don't like it I can change-!"

"Calm down kid! I never said I didn't like it! You can call me whatever you want! Beej, BJ, Beetle, Mr. Juice, or hey! You could call me Daddy!"

Harry deadpanned, "I'm not calling you "Daddy", not in a million years."

"Well then, after a million years." Beetlejuice bobbed his head sagely.

"What-no." Throwing his hands up in frustration he pointed accusingly at BJ, "Stop trying to change the subject!"

"Okay, okay, okay," Beetlejuice made a 'calm down' motion with his hands, "I know how important this is to you...Garry."

"No."

"Jerry?"

"No."

"Perry?"

"No."

"Terry?"

"No."

"...Fernando?"

"No! Beetlejuice! Where did you even-?"

That's how they spent most of the night. Dark thoughts driven away by their teasing and light bickering.

Eventually, Harry fell asleep and Beetlejuice, satisfied that the wizard was in a deep sleep. Proceeded to tuck him in, "Goodnight, Harry" Beetlejuice softly whispered. Watching over the boy throughout the night, (not in a perverted way!). Both satisfied with how the day had ended.
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A/N: Wow. Thank you so much to those of you who reviewed! It means soo much to me! As for those of you who didn't review but liked or followed this fic, I also appreciate you! To be honest, I wasn't really feeling this chapter towards the middle, it just wasn't flowing. But I got through! Originally this chapter was going to end with the dementor but I just really liked the 'happy' ending. And I thought I'd cut you some slack and not end in a cliffhanger... this time. ^^ So please review, review, review!