Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Hrry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

The Vanishing Glass

[Page 19 - The Vanishing Glass]

When they heard the title, the Weasley twins literally bounced up and down with wide grin, barely containing their excitement. The others just rolled their eyes at them, not that the twins cared.

"Ah, are we going to hear about our infamous Boy-Who-Lived's accidental magic?" Fred asked eagerly, leaning towards Harry. George also bounded to Harry and slung his arm over the younger boy's shoulder.

"Care to explain what happened?" George asked with twinkles in his eyes that scarily resembled Dumbledore. Harry just shook his head, causing the twins to pout. Harry, however, paid them no mind because there were more important things to worry about. He was sure that this chapter will bring up about mistreatments that he received from his relatives. He had no idea how his friends will react to the information and he definitely did not want to find out.

While everyone else were busy trying to get comfortable, Harry casted a Silencing charm and Body Bind curse on Sirius, who froze immediately in his position. Thankfully, he was sitting next to Harry with his front paws on his lap that no one else noticed it.

"Sorry, Sirius." Harry mumbled an apology and thanked Merlin that not even Remus, who was sitting next to Sirius, noticed it. But despite of how suspicious and confused Sirius might be feeling, Harry was determined to at least keep him from running to the Dursleys. He was certainly in no mood to explain to the Minister why his 'pet dog' had tried to kill some muggles.

As the book started reading itself, Harry wondered what he should do to the others.

[Page 19 - The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house, too.]

"Why is there not a single picture of yours, Harry? There should be at least a few of yours." Hermione frowned, half-puzzled and half-suspicious. Her parents almost always took a camera with them so they could take pictures of their family. Merlin knew just exactly how many pictures there were in their house and it wouldn't be an overstatement if she said a stranger would know their family's history just by looking at the pictures.

"Yeah, mate. I'm sure you are much more better looking than him." Ron joked, but he, Fred, George, Ginny and Hermione exchanged glances. Ron and the twins had told her about how they had rescued Harry in their second year, but they didn't give much thought to it, until now and they had a feeling they were going to regret that.

"Oh, I just don't like taking pictures of me. Makes me feel awkward." Harry shrugged, but he could feel beads of sweat trailing down his forehead. "If you say so." Hermione replied, but she didn't seem to be entirely convinced.

[Page 20 - "...I want you to look after the bacon."]

"She. Made. You. Cook?" Hermione snarled, but she wasn't the only one. Mrs. Weasley, Professors and members of DA also looked enraged. Harry tried to scoot away from his friend, but with no such luck. "Just when did she make you start cooking?"

"When I was six or seven? When I was old enough to handle stove, I guess." Harry said, trying his best to sound casual. Unfortunately, it only made the others angrier. "But I like cooking. It's really relaxing." He quickly added.

"You shouldn't have been allowed to cook at such a young age. It's dangerous." Hermione muttered, then proceeded to explain what a 'stove' was to the Weasley family. Harry gulped, trying to slow his heart rate down. The Dursleys were dead, that was for sure. But what he wanted to know is what would they do to him? They'll probably lock him in Hospital Wing and don't let him do anything alone that threatened his health even the slightest, which included Quidditch. He shuddered as he imagined living like that.

[Page 20 - Harry was used to spiders...]

Harry was used to spiders, because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them...

"How can you be used to the spiders?" Ron asked shuddering. But Harry didn't say anything because he was getting his wand out as quietly as he could, and was revising all the spells he might have to use.

"Yeah, why are you used to them?" Ginny frowned, but Harry didn't reply and just fiddled with his wand. Ginny frowned even more. She was sure it was because of the Dursleys, but she wasn't sure how and she wasn't even sure if she wanted to find out.

"And what does a cupboard have to do with this?" Remus demanded, narrowing his eyes. Harry was now glaring at the table gloomily, which worried the former DADA teacher more. He merely continued looking at the table muttering about how he would 'explain later'. Just then, the book finished its sentence.

...and that was where he slept.

For a second, only silence was heard. People tried to process the new information with stunned expression while Harry mentally count downed.

5. 4. 3. 2. 1.

"WHAT?!"

Almost all people screamed in rage, while others who still thought of Harry as a liar just gaped at Harry. They had all thought the infamous Boy-Who-Lived would have lived a perfect life. Not in their wildest dream did they ever even considered him getting abused. Professor McGonagall whirled around to Dumbledore and started yelling at him.

"I TOLD YOU! I TOLD you those muggles were the worst kind! But no you didn't listen and said it was SAFE for him! Now what did they do? They ABUSED and NEGLECTED him!" She went on screaming at him, but the Headmaster was lucky that she only did that instead of hexing him. Though seeing how white her knuckles were from gripping her wand too tightly, it looked as if she was barely managing to restrain herself.

Snape was having a very difficult time controlling his expression. He had thought that Potter would have lived like a prince with his relatives serving him from brushing his teeth to giving him meals. He did not expect that he had a life similar to his. In fact, too similar for his comfort. He glanced at Potter, hoping against hope that the book was just loaded with trash but that thought vanished instantly. The teen's face was wary, reluctant and defeated, just like what he looked like when his home life was first discovered.

He knew the old man would try to force them together, claiming since they had so similar background, they should try to understand each other and 'get along'. For once, he was thankful for the Head of Gryffindor's fiery temper for it was the only thing that prevented Dumbledore from sending him a knowing look filled with twinkles that drove him up the wall. He leaned back with a sigh. Since it was apparent the old man would arrange the meeting between himself and Potter, he figured he would try to hold a civil conversation with him. Perhaps by trying to do so, Lily might forgive him for failing so much. But for now, he was going to enjoy the show in front of him.

Draco was having a hard time processing the information as well. His arch enemy, Harry bloody Potter, abused? It was complete bullshit! He would never have been treated so badly, especially by his own blood!

But now he thought about it, Potter was far too short and thin than any other students. When he first saw him on the train, he was pale as well, looking far too unhealthy that made him wonder the cause of it for a moment in his mind. Draco bit his lips and started chewing it, a bad habit of his that his parents always scolded him for. So since Potter was abused, it would be unlikely for him to have a friend before. So Weasley was his first friend, which was why he stood up for him when he insulted Weasley on the train. He shook his head ruefully when he thought about that. He could have befriended Potter if he played a little nicer to Weasley! His parents had been slightly displeased when they heard that he made enemy with one of the most influential and rich person in the Wizarding World. After all, it would certainly help to have the savior of the Wizarding World on their side.

Rest of the students started whispering among themselves about the new information they had just received. The twins - who were feeling extremely guilty along with Ron because they had known Harry's relatives had locked him up during their rescue in his second year, and they had done nothing - instantly got out a piece of parchment and started writing on them furiously. People near them glimpsed at the words, 'misery', 'neon pink' and 'stinging curse', and decided not to pry. They did not want to be at the wrong end of the Weasley twins' wands, thank you very much.

But Harry hardly noticed any of these, because he was having a battle of his own. As soon as he properly understood the piece of information, Sirius, despite the Full Body Bind Curse on him - how did he even break free from the curse? - ran for the door, only to be caught by his godson.

"Snuffles! Stop!" Harry desperately tried to pull the dog away from the door. Remus also joined in, because he needed to distract himself from the wolf inside him. The wolf was howling to be let out and go after those muggles, which Remus actually wanted. After wrestling for few minutes, Sirius finally let the teen drag him towards the bench. But he gave him the look that plainly said, 'We are going to talk about this.' Harry sighed in relief and turned around, only to be facing his friends.

"Harry, why didn't you tell us?" Hermione asked softly, hurt that he didn't tell any of them about it and Harry flinched at her expression.

"It never came up." Harry murmured as reply, and rubbed his eyes tiredly. "Can we talk about this later, please?" His friends just stared at him and only when Umbridge 'coughed', did they focus on the book, but not without occasional concerned glances thrown in Harry's direction.

[Page 21 - Dudley's favorite punch-bag was Harry...]

Tension was so thick that you could almost touch it. Everyone, even Slytherins and people who thought him as liar (except for Umbridge and Fudge, of course), were glaring at the book. He was a bit surprised that it didn't burst into flames or a hole appeared in middle of it by now from the sheer amount of hatred directed towards it. Occasionally, random people threw in some very rude insults at the Dursleys and the professors didn't even bother to scold that person. In fact, they seemed to agree with it whole-heartedly, and Harry could swear he saw some muttering their own selective choices of words under their breath.

Madam Pomfrey was silently berating herself. He had visited the hospital wing numerous times, and she didn't even notice the signs of abuse! She vowed to herself to do a proper health check of the boy as soon as the break came. Harry shivered, looking around wildly until he looked at very determined healer looking straight back at him. This will not end pleasantly for him.

[Page 21 - ...all he had to wear were old clothes of Dudley's...]

"Did they ever buy you anything?" Colin Creevey asked, upset at how his hero was treated. Harry shrugged in reply.

"They did buy me some things in rare occasions. But only when they had to." At this, Remus and Sirius exchanged glances and mentally noted to spoil Harry just a bit on his birthday. Sirius was already brainstorming some ideas for the party. There should be at least fifty presents just from himself. Hmm, perhaps a motorbike, just like his? Oh, and enormous cake as well! He should ask Molly for that. Maybe some fireworks and a game of Quidditch at the end?

After some prodding, puppy eyes and yipping from the black grim, Remus sighed and asked Harry what his favorite color, food, animal and other little things. After their monthly sessions during their schooldays, they understood each other better than anyone else, even when one of them wasn't human. The wolf inside him helped as well by reading the grim's body language.

"Uh, why do you ask that?" Harry blinked, looking confused. Remus gave him a tired smile. "I just wanted to know since I just realized I have no idea about your favorite things and thought I would like get to know you better." He lied smoothly. He wasn't a Marauder for nothing.

"Um, okay. Well, I didn't really think about what I like so do you mind if I answer you later after I think about it?" Remus nodded and turned to focus on the story. So he didn't see Harry eyeing him and Sirius warily, guessing correctly about what they were really planning.

[Page 22 - Aunt Petunia often said that Dudley looked like a baby angel - Harry often said that Dudley looked like a pig in a wig.]

"I suspect those poor people's minds are overrun with the Wrackspurts." Luna commented as she hummed to herself. Cho, Marietta and some other Ravenclaws either sneered or scoffed at the blond. "Yeah, right. Why don't you go tell your daddy about your fantasy creatures and spare us all from the details?"

Harry frowned. He never liked bullies, and he was not going to let Luna suffer this all alone like he had to if he could help it. "Well, I want to hear about it." He declared and scooted closer to Luna in almost protective gesture. "So what are Wrackspurts?" He asked, genuinely curious. Shock flashed within her blue eyes as if she couldn't believe someone would actually listen to her, but it was gone as the girl happily explained.

"Wrackspurts are these invisible creatures that floats in the air and goes into your brain through your ears, causing your brain to go fuzzy, unable to think straight." Harry cocked his head to the side. "Huh. Do you think Voldemort (people flinched, shrieked and jumped at this, which was skillfully ignored) has them too?"

Ron snorted, looking amused. "Imagine that. You-Know-Who actually just an ordinary man with Wrackspurts after him." They snickered, not noticing Hermione shaking her head muttering, "Boys. Completely insane", under her breath.

[Page 25 - "...any funny buisness, anything at all - and you'll be in that cupboard from now until Christmas."]

"They punished you for accidental magic?" Susan exclaimed, shocked. Just like her aunt, she did not let any act of injustice go past her if she could help it and this was too much for her. How could some people mistreat their own blood this bad was beyond her. "But your aunt should know that you can't control them! She should've saw her sister doing it."

"Doesn't really matter to them. I mean, they hated everything that had to do with magic and they loathed looking anything other than like ordinary people to their neighbors. So by punishing me, they thought it would stop magic to kick into action." Harry shrugged, looking not concerned. Susan blinked, anger slowly building inside her, ready to erupt. Hannah noticed this and immediately directed her attention to something else, anything, in order to avoid her temper exploding.

"Susan, look, the twins look like they're up to something. Why don't we join them, hmm?" True enough, the Weasley twins were bent over some parchments and were scribbling furiously on it, occasionally whispering to each other. They had been like that since finding out about the Dursleys, and it was a great distraction source.

"You know what? That's actually a great idea! Come on, let's go!"

So the Weasley twins found themselves being offered help from the two very enthusiastic supporters which they gladly accepted. Who were they to say no to such bright, hopeful faces? Besides, if they were going to pull this prank - they named it Make The Dursleys Life Miserable Mission, or MMM for short - on the Dursleys successfully, they were going to need every help they could get. Already the two Hufflepuffs were bursting with ideas and inspirations. Now, if they could get Hermione to join them. With the smartest witch of the year, even complicated spell works won't be problem to them and nothing will be able to stop them!

Harry blinked, rubbed his eyes and blinked again. Nope, he wasn't hallucinating or hearing things if the dumbstruck look on everyone's face was anything to go by. But he asked aloud anyways.

"Are the twins... Cackling?"

"Yes, they are. Like classical old villains." Hermione face-palmed, groaning. "Why is everyone going insane?

That only made the cackles intensify. Harry shook his head and focused on the book. At that moment, Susan shot a message by her wand into the air, which said:

For your ideas on pranking the Dursleys, please contact us during break! Does not matter how humiliating or violent or impossible they may be.

Everyone, including some professors, looked interested in this. Remus was already writing down some stuff with Snuffles barking here and there. Harry frowned when he turned around to see everyone with quills and parchments.

"Am I missing something, here?" No one answered him as they were too absorbed writing down their ideas.

[Page 26 - Next morning, however, he had got up to find his hair exactly as it had been before Aunt Petunia had sheared it off.]

"Hey, your hair grew up, just like that?" Tonks grinned, slinging her arms around the younger teen's shoulder. "Hey, maybe you're Metamorphmagus, just like me! I mean, it's entirely possible, since we are technically related."

"Wait, we're related?" Harry blanched, his eyes wide with shock.

"You didn't know? Well, every pure bloods are related to each other in some way. My mother was a former Black and your father's mother was a Black." Tonks brightened up. "Hey, since we are related, maybe my mother can take you in, y'know, like adopt you. I might have a little brother." She ruffled his hair, ignoring Harry's indignant squawk of protest. "Oh, this is going to be interesting!"

"Wait, do you actually mean that? Adopt me?"

"'Course I am. There's no way you're going back to those horrid people. It will be fun, with the three of us and some of your friends. I'm sure Remus and Snuffles would stay as well. Right?" The last part was aimed at the two. Sirius, of course, started barking happily while Remus tried to protest.

"I don't think that's a good idea-"

"Ah ah, none of that 'I'm-Dangerous-So-You-Should-Stay-Away-From-Me'. Oh, please, Remmy? Pretty please with a new book on top?" Tonks and Harry gave their best puppy eyes which resulted to the werewolf's reluctant acceptance. Harry and Tonks fist bumped. They had a feeling they will get along with each other pretty well. Sirius let out a bark of laughter at his friend's discomfort and his godson and cousin's antics. Remus shot a betrayed look at him but its effects were ruined by the shadow of smile tugging against the corner of his lips.

[Page 29 - "I know," Harry murmured through the glass, though he wasn't sure the snake could hear him. "It must be really annoying."]

"He goes to this 'zoo' place - which I'm guessing is the place where muggles put animals in and look at them - and he talks and compare himself to the snake without even thinking it was at least a bit odd? Am I the only finding this strange?" Astoria demanded, looking seriously confused that it was adorable.

"That is one of the reasons why us Slytherins stay away from Gryffindors. They tend to be very reckless and idiotic, and I believe it is safe to assume you will stay away from them now on? I'd hate it if those habits rub off on you." Daphne commented casually, hiding her smirk when Harry's face immediately heated up.

"What? I was eleven and confused why things like that were happening to me!" He protested feebly when people started snickering at him.

"I think it was very nice of you to talk to it. It must have been really bored and lonely in that container." Luna commented, beaming at the DA teacher. Harry let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Luna."

"And we are really glad you managed to release it. It is really inspiring." George whispered the last part to his prank team with a wink. Hannah took the hint and scribbled, 'snakes' on their growing list of ideas.

[Page 30 - Harry sat up and gasped; the glass front of the boa constrictor's tank had vanished.]

For several minutes, only silence and the book's reading were heard as people stared at Harry in awe. The teen shifted uncomfortably under their gaze, helplessly confused. "What? Why are you all staring at me like that?"

"You made the glass disappear." Fred said in a hushed whisper, his eyes wide as saucers. "Forge, I think we have a new role model."

"That we do." George muttered back then the twins proceeded to kneel in front of Harry's feet, bowing repeatedly.

"Okay, what the hell? What are you two doing?" Harry was definitely freaking out now and his panic increased when Colin and Dennis joined the ginger-headed teens. He looked around frantically, his arms flailing around in his panic. "Hermione!" He let out an involuntary whine, his face an ideal example of deer-caught-in-headlight expression as he practically begged for her to do something.

"Alright, you four. Stop embarrassing Harry." Hermione scolded lightly, drawing a relieved sigh and grateful smile from Harry.

"But Hermione," this time, it was George who whined, pouting like a petulant child. "He's our new role model. We need to express our loyalty to him. It's not like we do this only for him, we do this everyday for the Marauders, see?" He showed her a parchment of detailed schedule about their worshipping ceremonies of the Marauders. "I mean, it's too bad we don't know their real names but at least we know their nicknames."

"Forge, you are not bowing!" Fred said in alarm and in instant, they were back to worshipping Harry. The emerald eyed teen chewed on his lower lip in thought then phrased his sentence carefully. "Well, I, uh, order you to stop...whatever this is because if you keep doing this, um, you'll lose your time to...prank?" Apparently this was a right thing to say as they bolted upright, beaming brightly as they declared how they just received 'wisdom'.

"You do realize your just encouraged them to prank more, right?" Ginny asked, her eyes crinkling in amusement. Harry shrugged, flashing her a grin. "They could be telling every muggles they meet about magic or dying everything pink for all I care as long as they don't do...that." Harry shuddered at the reminder, scrunching his face as if he smelled something foul.

[Page 31 - He couldn't remember his parents at all. His aunt and uncle never spoke about them, and of course he was forbidden to ask questions.]

"I could show you the pictures of your parents of mine, if you want Mr. Potter. I could even let you view my memories." Professor McGonagall said, dabbing the edge of her eyes. Harry immediately brightened up at this and thanked her over and over.

"I can show you my memories as well. Trust me, some of them are about your father's prank going wrong and it's really funny." Remus chuckled fondly as he remembered the incidents and Harry beamed at the idea of seeing it. Sure, he would never meet his parents again - unless he died, but he doubted his parents would like that. Plus, if he did die not because of old age, his friends will drag him back to life only to yell at him for his stupidity - but this way, he could learn about his parents, not just listen to other's biased opinions about them.

Just then, the chapter ended and Madam Pomfrey stood up, looking straight at him, her jaw set determinedly. When Harry tried to run away, he found his wrists held tight by Ginny and Hermione.

"I don't think you can get away with this, mate." Ron grinned, for once agreeing whole-heartedly with Hermione. Sirius and Remus also nodded, causing Harry to groan.

This was going to be a bad day.