In the end, eight students from the Howard's Home for the Blind signed on to give this new school a try. Interesting, at least to Harry, was the fact that most of the students were the ones who looked to Harry for guidance, and they were all a fairly tight knit group, though Arthur and Henry weren't as close as the rest of them. They were a few years older than the others, though having lived at home until they were nine put them in the same year-group as the others. A representative from the new school would explain things to their families, with the exception of the Dursleys, whom Harry insisted must not be told. He didn't need their pettiness.

Flashback

"You'll be staying here, boy," Uncle Vernon said gruffly. Harry clutched, panicked, at Mitch's arm.

"W- what?" He turned wide, sightless eyes towards his uncle.

"We're tired of you slowing us down. You're staying here."

"W- where's here?" Besides somewhere in the middle of Oklahoma, America, that is. Mitch moved up the two stairs and into the building that they had been standing in front of, Harry perforce moving with him; he didn't want to get lost in this new place.

"It's a school for the blind. They'll teach you how to live with your disability," Mitch explained; at the time Harry had thought it was his twin's love for him that led him to be the one to explain it to him, but looking back he realized his aunt or uncle had ordered it, not wanting to deal with him any more than they had to.

End Flashback

Harry didn't know what he had expected from this new school, but it wasn't what he found. The entry was a huge, echoing room. He could hear the sharp tap of a steel cane as someone approached. The person stopped about thirty yards away.

"Howards students!" a kind yet commanding voice said. "Please assemble here." They followed the tapping of the cane to stand in a ragged group before her. "You are here to learn skills that will be necessary for you to continue your education in our world." Our world? "I know many of you have no idea of what I speak. I speak of the world of Magic, of which you were born to be apart." OK, now I know she's just batty. He turned to walk off. "Immobulus. There will be no walking away from my lectures, young Mr. Potter." Harry started to panic, as he could not move at all. Moments later, she released him. When she spoke again, her voice was infinitely kind. "Do you believe me now, Mr. Potter?" He nodded vigorously.

"Yes, ma'am!" She looked around, gauging the other students' reactions, noting the way Harry's eyes followed her every movement as though he could see her.

"Is there anyone else who requires convincing?" she asked finally. A chorus of 'no's, and headshakes answered her. She smiled gratefully; this was the easiest class she had taken into her school yet. She wondered how much of that was Mr. Potter's influence, and just what a British boy was doing at a school in the middle of America. "Any questions?" Harry raised a hand.

"Dean said we'd be rooming here during the term. How are our rooms going to be? Individual rooms, common dorms, what?" She smiled; the boy seemed to be reading her mind.

"Follow me." She walked off, the clicking of the cane she carried giving them something to home in on. "Our rooming system is a little backwards from most schools. You will be two to a room, and when you have more control and consciousness of your surroundings, you'll move up to dormitories to prepare you for life at the various schools of magic. You'll receive more information about them once you turn ten, as eleven is the traditional age to start learning magic. The skills you learn here will assist you throughout your life, as well as enabling your education, as quite a few schools depend solely on written texts for the majority of their instruction." She stopped in the entrance to a dead-end hallway. "This will be your hallway. All your classes will be on this level so you won't have to deal with staircases yet." There was a snort, and the mental image of a tiny boy struggling up a steep, rickety staircase lugging two huge suitcases flashed through her mind. She frowned, knowing it was a flashback from one of her new students, but didn't comment. "The cafeteria is also on this floor. You may room with anyone you wish, but boy/girl rooms will not be allowed." Harry separated himself from the group, coming to stand mere feet away from her, with his back to her. An odd clicking sound issued from his mouth, and the other students formed up into a circle with him as the point closest to her. Arms went around shoulders in what was obviously a well-practiced gesture of togetherness. She could hear nothing but a vague whispering; even through the enhanced awareness spell she had placed on herself before meeting with them. She wondered which of her new students were strong enough to subconsciously cast a secrecy spell, as that was the only thing that would counter the spell she had cast.

Moments later, they had divided themselves up, though she couldn't see how they were divided it was obvious that they had, and she smiled approvingly, never mind that they couldn't see it. The organization within this group was astonishing.

"Which rooms will we be in, madam?" Harry asked politely, and she realized that she had yet to introduce herself.

"Any room you want, on this hallway only. And please forgive my rudeness. I am the principal here at Belleview, Anna Karinsky." A slight bow from Harry.

"Harry Potter." The rest of the group echoed him raggedly.

"Lukas Kites."

"James Sinclaire."

"Peter Schillings."

"Arthur Brown."

"Franklin Georgetown."

"Henry Pierce."

"Lolita Jennings." She smiled, nowhere near being able to connect the names and faces together.

"I'm afraid it'll take a few days, at least, for me to be able to remember all of your names, and get them connected to the right faces. They nodded their understanding. "Anyway, you can have whatever room you want, but boy/girl rooms are not allowed, anymore than they are at Howards or will be at whatever school you choose to attend later in your life." Harry nodded, making that odd clicking again as he moved hesitantly down the hallway. She half expected Harry to be the boy in his own room, as Lolita was the odd woman out in the group and left an odd number of boys, but instead a tall, blonde boy ended up being the one on his own. Harry and his chosen roommate, Luka, were in the room at the end of the hall, with Peter and Franklin in the room directly to their right, and James on the one on the left, leaving Arthur and Henry in the outside room in the right, and Lolita in the outside room on the left. Though, actually, defensively speaking it wasn't a bad setup, at least for Harry, she mused silently, glad they were blind so they couldn't see the thoughtful look on her face. The three strongest except for Harry on the outside, then the three weakest, then Harry, who was obviously the leader as well as being the strongest in the group, and boy in the middle with him. She wondered yet again what had happened to this boy that he instinctively arranged his group in defensive arrangements. Well, besides the obvious that anyone with relations to the English wizarding world knew. She didn't think his parents' murder when he was a baby would have that sort of effect on the child, especially as it was likely that he couldn't even remember it, no matter what else had happened, or what his twin was said to have done. She shrugged slightly; it wasn't like she was going to treat him any differently no matter what had happened, she just wondered.

"Students." She had learned long ago that most incoming students would not appreciate being called 'my children' no matter that this was exactly what they were to her. "There will be somebody here to guide you to breakfast at exactly 8:45 tomorrow morning. Make sure you are awake and ready; please be waiting in the hallway for him. Just command the alarm clock to wake you at the time you require. There is only one clock per room, so make sure you're rooming with someone you can stand to get up at the same time." She turned and left them to settle in on their own; they'd neither need nor want her assistance. She almost missed Harry's murmured 'seven, as usual,' as she headed off. She smiled again; she was sure this group was going to set the school on its ear. She couldn't wait.

At exactly 8:15 the next morning, the entire group was assembled in Harry's room. Not that this assembly had taken much, as during the night everybody except Arthur and Henry had crept to Harry's room, tumbling into bed with either Harry or Luka.

"Is everyone here?" Harry asked lazily, as a way to get their attention, as he could distinctly hear everybody's voices.

"Yes," they chorused. He grinned.

"So, shall we stay here and wait for a guide like good little kiddies, or do you think we can find the caf on our own?"

"Stay here," Arthur said darkly. Lolita scowled at him even though it could have no effect.

"Well, I think we can find it on our own. We don't need anyone to lead us around by the hand."

"Hmm, I wouldn't mind waiting here," Luka said sleepily. Hearing his tone of voice, Harry frowned.

"Luka!" he said harshly. "Up and dressed!" Luka groaned, but obediently rose and dressed, which he had avoided doing until then. He sat down beside Harry once he was ready for the day, still pouting at having to get ready at all.

Once Luka was forced to abandon his bed, everyone except Arthur and Henry were in favor of trying to find the cafeteria on their own. The two dissenters chose to remain behind and wait for their guide, and would send a search party after them if they weren't in the cafeteria by the time the guide got there with Arthur and Henry.

Fifteen minutes later, the entire cafeteria was silenced in shock as the newest group of blind students walked in, fifteen minutes early and without their guide, who was still eating breakfast himself. He jumped up and hurried towards them.

"Hi, I'm Jeremy, and I was supposed to guide you here. Guess you didn't need me, huh?" he laughed, taking their actions as the wish for independence it was, and not in scorn of him.

"Hi, I'm Luka."

"Lolita."

"Peter."

"Lin."

"James."

"And I'm Harry. Arthur and Henry decided to wait for you. No hurry though. You've got fifteen minutes before they'll be expecting you." He had his own ideas of why they had wanted to be left alone, and wondered if they would make it back outside by the time Jeremy came to get them.

Jeremy laughed and nodded. "I'll get them as soon as I finish eating," he promised. "Want to join me?" Harry didn't say anything, letting the others give their opinions.

"Are you eating with a big group?" Lolita asked distastefully. Jeremy laughed again.

"I usually do, but since I'm eating quickly to go get you guys, I sat by myself today." There were murmurs of assent at this, and Harry smiled.

"We'd love to join you, as soon as we get our food. Just click your heel on the leg of your chair or something." He turned accurately towards the food counter, smelling the sausage and bacon, and heard the light click of Lolita's high-heels as she moved quickly towards the food, having slept through dinner yesterday. He smiled to himself. Lolita was the most volatile of the group. One of the administrators at Howards had started inquiries into getting her tested for bi-polar when they left.

Fortunately, Jeremy had chosen a seat at a large table near the buffet, so they could easily follow the clicking of his spoon on the table next to him as he ate. Almost as soon as they all sat down, Jeremy stood again.

"I have to go and fetch your friends. I'll be back in a bit." They nodded, and he walked quickly to the door, leaving them to eat. He returned ten minutes later, slight blush across his face, though they couldn't see it. Harry could tell, however, that all three were embarrassed, which could only mean that he was correct, and Henry and Arthur hadn't made it back out. Now if only he knew how he could tell that. . . . .

"Got caught, did you?" he asked idly as they drew even with him on their way to the food. They both blushed bright red, and shrunk together, confirming his guess even without Jeremy's laughter. He seemed to laugh a lot.

"You could say something like that, yeah . . .." Arthur elbowed him in the side, and Henry wacked the back of his head, and he fell silent, still grinning. Harry grinned at Jeremy. "That's kind of creepy, you know."

"What is?" Lolita asked curiously.

"It's like Harry can see me. His eyes follow me." She tilted her head.

"Can you see him, Clicks?" Jeremy raised an eyebrow at this odd nickname. Harry shrugged.

"As much as I can see anything, and more than I can see a lot of things, but not really." They all nodded, not looking at all confused at this odd explanation. Jeremy shrugged, dismissing it.

"Clicks?" he asked curiously. Harry laughed slightly. An odd clicking sound issued from his mouth.

"Nobody else can do that," Lolita explained. "Only him, out of the whole school, back at Howards anyway. He's the only one that clicks." Jeremy nodded understandingly. She sensed the motion, and knew he understood.

The eight friends continued their schooling together for the first year, as they all needed the basic spells that would enable them to function normally in their chosen schools, such as spells to cause their books to read themselves silently, so they were the only one who could hear it so they wouldn't interrupt class, and spells that would give them the layout of any room they entered within the duration of the spell, which lasted for a full 24 hours per casting.

Second year, they could start on lessons that interested them, and Arthur and Henry grew away from them then, not having the same interests. They had grown up with families that loved them, and wanted to return to them, so they worked on things that would enable them to return home. They weren't interested in the opportunity they had to advance their magical education. They wanted to spend the year they had before school with their families. The rest of them had mostly been in the way at home, told to sit in one place all day as they couldn't see to interact with their families, and had gone to the school by the time they turned five, in hopes that it could help them. Harry was the only one who's family disliked him, but the love the others had received was an impatient love, only shown to them when their family had time for them. Harry and the Five, as they came to be called, were interested in everything. They took courses in every form of magic available. They all worked hard, and by their tenth birthdays, they were up to the fourth year levels in Transfigurations, Charms, History of Magic, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Healing, and Care of Magical Creatures. Belleview had no Potions class, or they would have taken it, but the principal had decided that the highly volatile process of Potions making and highly distractible children younger than eleven shouldn't be mixed. There were enough accidents from children over eleven. They were, however, instructed in the theory of Potions, and were up to third year in that.

Once they had all turned ten, as everyone had learned that separating them caused problems for everyone, they were told about the magical schools.

There was one in France, called Beaubatons, and it mainly took girls, but there were a few boys every year, and the teachers were assured that they would all be accepted should they choose to apply. It excelled in Transfigurations, Charms, Herbology, Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, Warding, and specialized magics used to keep a home; though they didn't shirk from Defense Against the Dark Arts, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy or other subjects, they were not emphasized, or required for graduation.

Another was in England, called Hogwarts, and Harry was ready to reject it just from the name. It was known mostly because it's headmaster was famous for defeating the Dark Wizard Grindlewald. It specialized in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, and Muggle Studies, and completely rejected anything considered even shadowed magic, and Dark magic was forbidden. It was also where Mitch would go, no doubt. The Dursleys wouldn't pay to get him to a school in another country when there was one in England.

A third was in Bulgaria, called Durmstrang. It was known for it's willingness to teach Dark Arts, and that was most of what the populace knew about it. However, in order for the students to make an informed decision, the teachers had collected information from Durmstrang teachers and alumni. Durmstrang was a school that taught the lesser-known magics, of which the Dark Arts were only the most famous, as well as the better known Defense, Potions, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, et cetera. They also taught elemental magic, wandless, voiceless, and mental magics, the discipline of multiple casting, and a number of others that most people hadn't even heard of. Besides magic, Durmstrang taught hand-to-hand, staff fighting, and fighting with daggers, all with the 'sound of body, sound of mind' theory. They ensured that the students were fit and disciplined. It was a hard school, but none of them were afraid of hard work. Harry was intrigued, and he could tell the others were too.

One was in Japan, and its main emphasis was on Martial Arts, Defense, and Potions. They seemed to be mainly muggle, only teaching containment and necessary skills to live in the magical world. The rest was interest-based individual study.

There was one in Australia, which specialized in Herbology, Potions, and Defense. Again, it looked mostly like a muggle survival school, with classes necessary to the environment added, though it was more structured with the magic classes than the one in Japan.

The last school was in Canada, called St. Julian's school of Magic. They seemed to be fairly neutral, though they didn't teach the Dark Arts, and no classes were required for graduation, though you had to have a certain number of credits each year.

They gathered into a group to discuss the schools. "Thoughts?" Harry asked.

"I think we should go to Durmstrang," Lolita said, and Harry practically glowed at the assumption that they would all stay together. There were nods all around; they were close enough to feel each other's heads moving.

"If we go to Durmstrang, people will watch us more. Remember, all most people know is they teach Dark Arts." Luka pointed out, though he didn't seem bothered.

"That is something to keep in mind," Harry agreed. "But will it really matter? It's not like we'll be able to see their distrust. Though some of us will feel it." Luka and Lolita were both empaths, which is what made them the comforters of the group. They were also firmly attached to each other, to many people's disappointment. Apparently it was a trait of both their families to find their mate early. Harry could see power, either spelled objects, like his mother's books and jewelry that he had found as a child, or the magical energy in people. It had used to be only the strongest enchantments, like those on Lily's things that allowed only her sons to find them, or the strongest people, like the principal, Jeremy, and a few other people at the school as well as the Five. Since then, he had learned to read auras, so he could see people even when they weren't powerful enough to 'shine'. Peter was a bard, meaning he could guide magic through music. He wanted to go to Durmstrang in hopes that they would be able to teach him how to guide it better, and none of them were heartless enough to deny him that. Frank and James were normal, or as normal as you can be when you're an immensely strong wizard. They were practically bound at the hip, always together, and Harry was willing to bet that they would be another pair when they were older and actually interested in sex, though of course he'd never said anything. That was their business.

"I think the benefits will outweigh the drawbacks, for me at least," Peter said. Harry nodded.

"Yes, Peter has to go to Durmstrang, at least. It's the only one that sounds like it could teach him."

"Well, we're not breaking up," Lolita declared. Luka nodded firmly in agreement. Harry smiled.

"Anyone have a different opinion?" he asked, though he could sense their assent. 'No's answered him, and he smile broadened. "Then it sounds like we're applying to Durmstrang." They broke up to let the teachers know that they all wanted to apply for Durmstrang. The applications were finished ten minutes and five drops of blood later, and sent off. They would get their response in a matter of weeks, early enough to apply to another school if they weren't accepted.

The wait for their acceptance letters, which they were sure they would get, did not interrupt their studies any. When they came, they celebrated with their year mates, most of whom were still waiting for their letters, or too young still -they were the oldest in their year, their birthdays all falling within a two week time span- and some of the older students, who had chosen to come back to Belleview for the summer instead of going home, kidded that their orgy wouldn't be broken up, and got their patented blank stare in return.

Most of the students went home in the summer, the pure enablement students and the ones whose education needs required more one on one than they were given at most schools, but the advanced studies students were allowed to remain over the holidays, as well as students who had moved on to the regular education schools. There were many families who didn't want their children to come home while they were learning magic, for fear they would attempt magic in the home and destroy something, or cause some kind of horrible accident because of their imperfect control, especially the parents of the disabled students, who had mostly been in the way at home, no matter how loved they were. Their parents came and visited them often during the summers if they cared about their children, but it wasn't the same as living with them. Harry and the Five didn't care, as they preferred to use the time to study anyway, and Harry definitely didn't want to return to his family. He wouldn't have minded returning to Howards, but one school was as good as another, and there wasn't much any of them could learn from Howards anymore.

Just before their eleventh birthdays, they received their official acceptance letter, detailing what supplies they were required to bring. The list was two pages long, written in a neat, even hand, which translated to a smooth, even voice when they were read. The first year would be used for basic assessments of aptitude and placement and the basics of all types of magic taught at Durmstrang. At the end of the year they would choose their classes for next year, once they knew what they would be getting into. Some classes were required, like both physical and magical Defense, Potions, Charms, and Transfiguration, but everything else would be based on your aptitudes and decisions. And from fifth year on, everything except physical Defense was elective. The Dark Arts were not offered until 6th year, when they had more of a grip on their personality and would be less likely to be overwhelmed by the highly addicting magic.

"It seems like the list of don'ts is longer than the list of dos," Lolita laughed, listening as her letter read itself. Harry grinned.

"We knew when we signed up it was a hard school." He was the only one who had not gotten his letter yet, as his birthday was last, and the others were enjoying teasing him about what the letters said, refusing to let him read theirs. He didn't think it was quite fair, but didn't complain, as they had held all the others in the dark until their letters came. Besides, it didn't really matter now. His birthday was in four days, and the principal was going to take them to get their school supplies three days after that. School started in roughly two months, that the Five would tell him. The first day of August they had to be at a port. It didn't matter which port, they just had to be by the ocean. The principal was taking all of the Durmstrang students down to Galveston, TX, to send them to school.

"We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Harry's head jerked up.

"What?" he exclaimed as the letter continued to read itself.

"What is it, Clicks?"

"I just got a Hogwarts acceptance letter."

"Probably because you're from Britain," Luka said. "They probably send it to everybody. They just don't know you're going to Durmstrang." Harry nodded, reassured.

"We await your owl by no later than July 31st.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress."

"Well, I guess I have to owl her to tell her I'm not going to Hogwarts," Harry said thoughtfully. "Though technically, I'm still waiting for my Durmstrang letter. You think they've changed their minds about accepting me?" he asked teasingly.

"As if!" Luka exclaimed.

"No way they would accept us and reject you," James agreed. "You're the strongest of all of us."

"And what makes you think that?" Harry asked curiously. James shrugged.

"I can feel it." Franklin nodded, the bells he strung through his dreadlocks ringing; this was the whole reason he had put them on, of course. They rang differently when he nodded and shook his head, so the others knew what he was doing.

"You can too, Lin?" Franklin tilted his head.

"Not exactly, but I know anyway."

"I can feel people's minds. Your mind feels different the stronger you are. And Franklin's just feels alien." He looked confused. So did everyone else.

"Alien?" Harry asked. James nodded.

"Yeah. Totally unlike anyone else's, but not like more powerful. He's about as strong as I am. I don't know what it is."

"I wonder if he has Magical Being blood in him that was repressed because his relatives don't have magic." Franklin shrugged, causing his bells to bounce slightly.

"Never heard nothin' of it," he opinioned. "Other than folk tales from my family."

"What kind of folk tales?"

"That my five times great grandmother was an angel. You know, wings, beautiful voice, and all. Anyway, it's said she ensnared my five times great grandfather, taking him away from his family to live alone with her. Twenty years later, he returned with five children, the oldest being eighteen, the youngest ten. He told his family his wife had died, and left him alone with the children. He had come back to have help raising his children and be a part of a community again. They had lived all alone up in the mountains. The only one who had any contact with anyone was his wife, as she flew to the nearest town for supplies. His youngest daughter had wings like her mother, but she was the only one. Every few generations there is a child with wings, and they always disappear on their eighteenth birthday, never seen again."

"Hmm, Could be veela. Other than that, I have no idea."

"Well, it doesn't really matter. You're still our friend, no matter what."

"Unless I disappear on my eighteenth birthday, and you never see me again," Franklin said morosely. Harry laughed.

"You said the children with wings disappeared. Have you ever sprouted wings?" Franklin shook his head.

"Not that I know of, and no one ever said nothin'."

"Then I think we're safe." They all laughed.

Dear Ms. McGonagall,

I regret to inform you that I will not be able to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, namely because I have already accepted a place at another school. My thanks for your interest, and I would be grateful for you discretion.

Thank you,

Harry Potter.

"Finite Dictus." The dictation spell ended, and the paper folded up automatically as soon as the ink dried, courtesy of another spell cast before he had started writing. He placed the letter in an envelope, sealing it and dictating the intended recipient to his quill. Moments later, he was on his way to mail it.

Three days after his Hogwarts letter, his letter from Durmstrang arrived, right on time. There was a lot of good-natured kidding at breakfast, as it was his birthday and everyone knew it. Harry was one of the most popular kids at the school, as he was so kind and fun. All the older students from Durmstrang congratulated him on his acceptance, as they had congratulated all of the Five in turn, though once Luka had gotten his letter, everybody knew that they were all going to Durmstrang. The Five would never separate, or leave Harry.

-

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I just wanted to warn people, alot of the begenning os mostly background and such, I won't really be getting into the story until fourth year. I'm really sorry, and kind of upset with how it's coming out, but I just don't have much insperation until the tournament begins. I would have just started there, but the background is important. MAybe at somepoint, I'll rewrite it, and include the background as flashbacks or something, but i need to get things more solid in my head first, which means writing. Other than Harry, all the characters I'm working with are new, and I'm still getting to know them. It'll get better once I understand them more.