A/N: Well here's a new chapter to a story that hasn't been worked on in awhile. Still trying to get back into the swing for IP but at least while I'm making you wait for that, I gave you this, right? Lol

Enjoy.

Chapter Three:

By noon the next morning, Harry's room was a complete mess. The eleven year old's version of unpacking consisted of taking everything from his trunk and throwing it on the floor. Heero stared around the room in disapproval and made a note to make Harry clean it when he was finished training with Wufei and Trowa. Until then he shut the door and entered the nursery. Lulu had just woken from her nap and was crying to be fed. Carefully, Heero picked the child up and held her as Quatre had instructed.

Lulu stared at him with wide blue eyes that matched Quatre's perfectly. Heero was always slightly awkward when holding the little girl as she always seemed to be looking through him. In the past, Heero had been upset that he never knew Harry as a young child but after being with Lulu, he was now slightly glad for it. He liked kids but toddlers were difficult to handle. They cried for unknown reasons and required a great amount of care. Harry at least, could feed himself.

Heero walked the baby downstairs to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle from the fridge. He warmed it on the stove while the girl cooed and tried to pull his hair. While the bottle heated up, Harry and Wufei entered the kitchen from the basement, both sweating from their morning workout.

"Morning Heero!" Harry exclaimed, running forward. He gave his brother an awkward hug while kissing Lulu on the nose. The baby laughed and squealed loudly and Heero gladly handed the child over to his little brother.

"The state of your room is unacceptable," Heero stated. "After you shower, you will clean it."

Harry made a face. "Awe come on, Heero! It's the holidays! Can't I skip it, just this once?"

"No."

Growling, Harry put Lulu in her high chair and handed her her bottle.

"Your school has made you lazy," Wufei stated unhappily. "You have been lax in both your training and studies and have become spoiled, not having to pick up after yourself."

Harry pouted at Wufei. "I told you, I'm not allowed to use a sword at school or practice martial arts! Ask Hawk if you don't believe me! We both got detention our first week when a teacher caught us training!"

"That is not acceptable," Wufei stated unhappily. "Perhaps I will contact your headmaster and speak to him about it."

"Go ahead. He's a little strange though so good luck."

Wufei frowned at the boy's flippant attitude. If Harry thought he wasn't serious the little boy would be in for a big surprise.

"So where's Duo?" Harry asked, turning to Heero.

"He has paperwork to finish that he's been neglecting," Heero stated. "If he focuses and does it properly he will be home by noon."

Harry snickered. "See Wufei? You should be getting on Duo's case not mine. At least my school work is never late."

"Duo is not an eleven year old child who requires direction, no matter how much he acts like one."

Harry laughed and even Heero smiled slightly at the joke. Lulu finished her bottle and threw it on the floor, yelling loudly for attention. Wufei sighed and picked the girl up. She was also growing up to be very spoiled. Between Trowa's doting and Quatre's mother-henning, Wufei knew the girl would be difficult the older she got. It amazed him how five former terrorists couldn't manage to properly discipline two children.

"Harry, go shower and clean your room," Heero ordered. "Quatre wants to start decorating for Christmas this afternoon."

Excited, Harry ran from the kitchen, slamming the door loudly and shouting sorry from the other room. Wufei sighed.

"He is excited," Heero defended his little brother quietly.

"That is not an excuse to slam doors and run through the house like an animal. I am glad he is home and happy but he needs to be reminded of his manners."

Heero nodded. They would have to work on it during the two weeks home they had.

*!*!*

It was Saturday and everyone had the day off from work. Just as they had promised at the beginning of the school year, the five former-pilots had not decorated for Christmas until Harry returned home. All of them now stood in the living room, Heero with his arm resting comfortably around Harry's shoulders, and Quatre with Lulu perched on his hip. The group was staring at a mound of boxes in the center of the room that the maids had brought up from storage.

"I don't remember there being this many decorations last year," Harry mused as he toed a box.

"You said that last year too," Duo pointed out. "I think Quatre has too much money."

Quatre sent his friend a shrewd look while Harry titled his head back to look at them. "I think you all have too much money."

"Enough you two," the blonde scolded playfully. He set Lulu down and rubbed his hands together. "Let's get started!"

Harry and Lulu dove for the boxes excitedly and began pawing through them. Duo and Trowa knelt down next to them and helped while Quatre carefully stepped around the kids and began neatly searching everything. Wufei and Heero weren't very big on decorating and chose to sit on the couch, watching the fun and offering opinions when asked.

Harry pulled out a long line of silver tinsel and wrapped it around Lulu carefully. The little girl practically screeched with delight and twirled so quickly she fell. She laughed and nuzzled the tinsel before diving into a box full of packing peanuts. The material flew everywhere and Harry cheered, jumping in after her.

"Man, the maids are gonna hate us tomorrow," Duo pointed out cheerfully.

"I'm going to give them a large Christmas bonus," Quatre assured.

Duo looked thoughtful. "I think that just proves my point about you having too much money."

"Oh shut up."

"Ah-ha!" Harry suddenly emerged from a box with a photograph in his hand. He leaned over, still standing in the cardboard, and held it out to Duo. "Look look!"

Duo took the frame and smiled, his heart warming. It was a picture of the family's first Christmas together. Everyone was standing in the living room wearing "nice" clothes, as Quatre had insisted. Duo had Harry lifted off the ground and the boy (who was ten years old in the picture) had the largest smile on his face. Quatre's blonde head was right next to Harry and their cheeks were slightly squished together. The other three stood in the background, their faces stoic as usual, but their body language suggested they were holding back laughter.

"Let's take another one!" Harry demanded. "This is Lulu's first Christmas with us! She needs good memories!"

"That sounds like a wonderful idea, Harry," Quatre agreed. "I'll set it up and we can take one after all the decorations are out."

"Let's take it right in front of the tree!" He looked around. "Where are we putting it this year?"

"I was thinking over there," Quatre pointed to a corner of the room. Harry jumped from the box and ran over eagerly.

"It we put it here, we can get an even bigger one!"

Duo snorted. "And who's going to carry it?"

Harry whipped out his wand with a wicked smile. "I'll levitate it!"

The men blinked at his declaration and Duo shrugged. "Actually, I kinda wanna see that. We'll go tomorrow and pick one out."

"Yes!" Harry jumped up and down and hurried back to the boxes. Trowa disappeared to the kitchen to make hot chocolate while Harry walked around with Lulu and helped her put up decorations. Quatre discreetly pulled out a camera and took candid shots of his family. He sighed, his heart warmed at seeing his adoptive daughter so happy with his adopted little brother.

"We are so lucky," Duo said quietly. Quatre looked over and noticed the happiness in the braided man's eyes matched how he was feeling perfectly.

"We are."

*!*!*

Harry barely managed to keep from groaning as Wufei went over his progress report from all of his teachers. He was focusing very hard on the one from Snape and Harry was bracing himself for an unpleasant conversation. Most of his teachers had said he was doing a good job except Snape. No, evil slimy bastard Snape had written nothing but terrible and nasty things for Wufei to read.

Finally, Wufei set the note down and looked at Harry thoughtfully. The boy picked at the table top in the kitchen, bracing himself for a lecture.

Wufei surprised Harry by turning away and calling loudly, "Heero! I need to speak with you."

Curious, Harry glanced up and waited until his brother entered the kitchen. Wufei held out the progress report.

"Have you read this?"

Heero took it and absorbed the contents quickly. He frowned. "This does not sound like Harry."

"I agree. I know Harry is a hard worker and dedicated student, even if he did allow himself to slip at the beginning of the year." Wufei shot him a disproving look and Harry glanced away. "I do not believe this man's claims that he slacks off and turns in sub-par work."

"Agreed," Heero nodded. "Harry, what is your relationship with this man?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. He hates me. He's hated me since the moment we met. I figure it has something to do with me being the boy-who-lived." He paused. "Well that, or because he hates my dad."

"You father?" Wufei repeated.

"Yeah, he's always saying stuff like, 'you're just as arrogant as your father' or 'your head is just as big' or something like that. I don't know the whole story but from what I can gather, Snape and my dad were not friends."

"He should not be taking his frustrations out on you," Heero stated coldly.

"This Snape should let go of his grievances. He will never conquer a dead man."

Harry shrugged, not sure what to say. Wufei looked at Heero again. "We should set up a meeting."

"Agreed."

"Oh no, don't do that!" Harry blurted out. "Please Heero, Wufei! Snape's a total arse! If you guys go in there and tell him not to pick on me, it'll just get worse!"

"Harry, he is your teacher," Wufei began.

"He's a stupid bully!" Harry insisted. "I can handle it, really! And he doesn't let his dislike of me affect my grades, just the way he treats me. Please don't talk to him!"

The two frowned. "Heero and I will have to discuss this," Wufei decided. "Go to your room and begin your homework. I want at least one subject completed before the Kuramas come over tonight. If you are not finished before they arrive, you will not be allowed to visit with them until you are."

Harry sighed. "Yes Wufei." He slid from his chair and dragged his feet all the way upstairs. Once he was gone, Wufei turned to Heero.

"What would you like to do?"

"I do not like the idea of anyone mistreating my brother," Heero said. "However, I do not wish to make things worse for him."

"Perhaps we shouldn't interfere?" Wufei suggested. "It may do Harry good to learn to stand up for himself against authority."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "You want him to grow up to be a terrorist?"

Wufei's mouth twitched slightly at the question. "No. However we can not deny that Harry is famous in the magical community. As he grows, I foresee trouble with his famous name. I worry that with the hero worship the wizards have displayed towards him they will attempt to force him into political situations or use him for some means as he grows. Perhaps by allowing him to learn how to stand up to his teacher, it will help him in the future."

"So you suggest we do nothing?"

"I suggest we teach him how to properly handle such irrational behavior and attitudes."

Heero wasn't entirely convinced. He could see the logic in Wufei's words and knew it would do Harry well to learn to stand up for himself. So far Harry's teaching had been focused on fighting and defending himself and others with his fists but Wufei was correct that Harry would also need to learn to fend for himself in a situation where violence wasn't appropriate. However, it was hard for Heero to sit back while he knew his brother was being mistreated.

"I will think about it," Heero decided.

Wufei nodded. "Whatever you decide, I will abide by your choice."

*!*!*

Duo yawned and flopped onto his bed, face down. His hair sprawled around him in a curtain. The bed dipped as Heero sat next to him.

"Sit up," Heero ordered. He was tired and wanted to go to bed but couldn't until they had finished braiding Duo's hair.

"No," Duo grunted. "Too tired..." he turned his head slightly so he wasn't smoothing himself with the blankets. "Eight kids, Heero. Eight. How the hell did we go from being the most feared soldiers in the world to entertaining eight crazy hyper kids? Six of which aren't even ours!"

The Kurama family had come over earlier that night and the children had run the adults ragged all evening. The non-magical children demanded to see any and all types of magic Hawk and Harry had learned so far. The two oldest had enjoyed showing off immensely.

Everything had been fine until Lulu saw the magic and decided she wanted to join in. She had somehow managed to float herself six inches off the ground while simultaneously giving Quatre and Trowa a heart attack. While Duo had found that hilarious everyone stopped laughing when the youngest Kurama child, Makayla, had also decided to start floating. No one had known until that moment that the other baby was also a witch.

"So that makes four wizards," Duo continued. "Somehow, we not only ended up with eight kids but half of them are wizards."

Heero began brushing Duo's hair, grunting to show he was listening. He also had trouble at times believing what his life had become. He was a trained assassin, soldier, a murderer by all accounts, and yet his life had become so peaceful. He was raising a child while helping his dear friends to raise theirs. And he often assisted with the family down the street. It was all so normal that Heero sometimes had to take a step back and just stare in wonder at the life he never even dreamed he would have.

"I wish to ask your advice on Harry's schooling."

Duo glanced at him curiously. "What's up? Wufei says he's doing pretty good."

"There is a teacher who Harry describes as a bully."

Duo sat up quickly, ignoring the hairbrush that got caught in his hair as he did so. "Some asshole is picking on my kid?" he demanded. "Who the hell it is? I'll introduce him to the God of Death and we'll see how he likes being bullied!"

Heero shook his head at Duo's dramatics and reached out to untangle the brush trapped in his hair. "From what Harry has informed me, the teacher once knew his father when they were younger. The man hates James Potter and is taking his anger out on Harry."

Duo crossed his arms. "That's ridiculous. The guy is dead. You gotta let grudges die with the people you're pissed at."

"Hn. Wufei doesn't want to report the mistreatment but instead teach Harry how to hold his own in a verbal argument and how to act when faced with such irrational behavior."

Duo thought about it. "Well the kid already has a mouth on him. I guess we could teach him how to use his sass for good." He grinned lightly. "I mean, I like Wufei's idea of teaching him to protect himself but on the other hand..." Duo crossed his arms into a pout. "I want to go to the school and kick this grudge-holding bastard's ass."

Heero smiled to himself. Leave it to Duo to not only agree with exactly what Heero was thinking but to be able to voice it out loud so elegantly.

"I was uncertain of what to do."

"Let's try it," Duo shrugged. "We'll teach Harry a few things before vacation's up and if he gets it, we'll let him take care of his teacher. If not, we'll step in and handle things."

Heero nodded, approving of that idea. "Very well. I believe both you and Quatre will be adequate teachers."

"Both of us? Why not just me?"

"I would like Quatre to teach him tact."

Duo spluttered. "I'm tactful!"

Heero grunted in disbelief.

"Shut up. I'm tactful, damn it."

*!*!*

Hawk and Harry were sitting in Harry's room grumbling as they did their homework. The two families were going to get Christmas trees that night but all the kids had been told if they didn't make progress on their school work, they wouldn't be able to join in the fun. The boys were currently working on a potions essays, the hardest and longest assignment they had received.

"Snape is such an arse," Harry complained. "I hope he is the one who stole the stone just so we can fight him and I can punch him in his stupid face."

"You're going to have to find a different excuse to punch him because he's not after that stone," Hawk muttered, hunched over his potions book. "I don't like him either but he's innocent."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Quatre and Duo are going to teach me how to talk back to him without getting into trouble."

Hawk paused and looked up. "Really?"

"Yeah. They're mad because of the progress report he wrote. They want me to learn how to stand up to bullies on my own."

"He was pretty crappy on mine too. My mom practically broke my eardrums screaming when it said I wasn't a hard enough worker. She was like, how can someone with near perfect marks not be working hard enough?"

"Are they going try and have a meeting with him about it?"

Hawk shook his head. "I convinced them not to. I don't want my parents going anywhere near Snape or the school until we figure out this whole Philosopher Stone thing."

"Hah! So you do admit it could be Snape!"

Hawk frowned at him. "Of course it could be him, Harry. I just don't think it is."

There was a knock on the door and the two looked up when Shadi poked his head in nervously. They leaned back from their work and stared curiously at the young boy.

"What's up, Shadi?" Hawk asked. "You need help on your work?"

"No, I've finished with my stuff for the day," he answered and slipped inside, closing the door behind him. "I just wanted to hang out." He sat next to his brother. "What are you two doing?"

"Potions," Harry grumbled.

"It's kinda like chemistry only more unpredictable and slightly more dangerous."

The ten year old stared at the books curiously. "Are you going to still study normal stuff?" he asked as he flipped through the pages. "Like math and economics?"

"Dad says I am," Hawk muttered unhappily. "He's going to get me a private tutor for the summer."

"Quatre too. I am, technically, the heir to his company. I don't have to run it or anything but I do have to at least have a proper education. Wufei's going to work with me on it during the summer."

"Hey, maybe he can teach me too!" Hawk suggested. "At least it wouldn't suck so bad if we could study together."

"I'll ask."

Shadi picked at the corner of Harry's textbook, looking thoughtful. "So... so how did you two know you were wizards?"

They boys were surprised by the question. "You know how. It was that weird tingly feeling."

"Yeah, we did all sorts of magic when were kidnapped," Harry pointed out. "I did a couple things before that too."

"Like what?"

"Well... one time, my Aunt Petunia cut my hair and it looked awful. I was mad and hated it so much but when I woke up the next morning, it had magically grown back. She was furious and tried to do it again but the same thing happened."

"So it works when you're mad?"

"Or scared," Harry agreed. He smiled slightly. "One day I was running from some bullies and ended up on the roof of my old school. I got into so much trouble and no one could figure out how I even got up there as the door was still bolted shut."

"That was right before you met, Master Heero, wasn't it?" Hawk asked.

Harry nodded. "It was the final straw for me. I tried to run away after that but Heero caught me and told me he was my brother."

"I didn't know you tried to run away," Shadi said, surprised.

"I couldn't take the Dursley's anymore. They were just too much to handle and too cruel. Things got better when Heero came along though. Way better."

Shadi nodded and looked back down at the potions book in his lap. Hawk frowned. "What's wrong, Shadi?"

"The tingling feeling... what's it feel like?"

Hawk and Harry glanced at each other and shrugged. "It's just like it sounds. Your hand tingles and feels kinda warm," Hawk answered.

"Sometimes it feels like someone's pressing on you for a second before it snaps," Harry added.

"Why are you asking, little brother? Have you felt something strange like that?"

Shadi turned red. "Maybe..."

"Tell me," Hawk ordered. "I can help."

Shadi relaxed slightly. Probably the one thing he respected most about his older brother was Hawk's ability to listen without judgment. He knew if he went to his other siblings, they would just laugh and accuse him of wanting attention. His parents would probably frown and not believe him but try and be nice about it. Hawk, however, would listen. Shadi could tell him anything and the older boy would sit there with a serious face, taking everything in.

"I've felt my hands tingle like that a few times," Shadi admitted. "How you two described. But nothing really happens and it goes away after a minute, so I'm not sure."

The two older boys looked thoughtful. "Well, we can try testing it," Harry suggested. "Here." he pulled out his wand and handed it to Shadi. "Wave it around."

He did but nothing happened. Hawk grabbed his and handed it over instead. "Try mine."

Shadi grasped it and waved. Sparks shot out the tip briefly and they jumped back in surprise.

"That's promising," Hawk grinned. Shadi stared at the wand with hopeful eyes. "Well every time we used accidental magic we were scared or angry. We should try and do something to trigger yours."

Harry's eyes lit up. "Let's push him off the roof!"

The brother's turned to him with wide eyes and their mouths hanging open.

"No, no, listen!" Harry quickly continued. "At school, Neville was telling me how his family was worried he was a squib because he hadn't done any accidental magic. He said one day his Uncle or someone was holding him out his window and dropped him. He was so scared that instead of getting hurt, his magic just made him bounce."

Hawk looked thoughtful while Shadi looked sick to his stomach. "We could do it from the second story window so that if it doesn't work, he won't get hurt... hopefully."

"I don't want to jump out the window," Shadi said quickly.

Harry stood up and opened his bedroom window, shivering as a gust of cold air rushed in. "I don't think the window would work," Harry pointed out. "He has to be scared for this to work."

"Hmm..." Hawk joined his friend looking down the two story drop to the snow below. "We could cover his eyes."

"That wouldn't work. His magic wouldn't know when to activate to protect him."

Shadi joined the older boys at the window and looked down. He gulped nervously. "I think if I jumped I would be plenty scared."

"Why? Dad taught you how to jump from the second story without getting hurt."

"Yeah, doesn't mean I've ever done it."

"Well then let's give it a shot," Harry shrugged. He stepped aside and gestured at window. "Just make sure you don't land on your head."

"We've got healing potions with us so if you break something we'll fix you right up."

"Break something?" Shadi exclaimed, stopping his climb onto the windowsill. "you think I'll break something?"

"You'll be fine. You've broken bones before."

"Yeah, and it hurt!"

Shadi stood on the windowsill and took a deep breath. His whole body was shaking from nerves and cold. He stared down at the dangerously far drop and bit his lip.

"Come on, Shadi, you wanna know, right?"

Nodding firmly, Shadi took a deep breath. "This is not a good idea."

"I guess if you're too scared we can try doing some research to find another way," Harry offered. He didn't really want to do research but he didn't want to force his friend either.

Hawk whipped around. "Seriously? Come on, research—" He didn't get to finish his sentence as Hawk's arm accidentally hit Shadi's legs when he turned. Shadi made a startled while flailing his arms. He slipped from the windowsill and screamed as he fell. Hawk and Harry shoved their heads out the window, their jaws dropped and eyes wide.

"Shadi!"

*!*!*

Downstairs in the kitchen, Heero was typing up a report for work while drinking a cup of tea. Duo was sitting across from him, tinkering with a mechanical piece of some sort. Quatre was next to him, reading the business section of the newspaper while Wufei stood at the stove, preparing lunch for himself. Trowa was sitting with the Lulu, trying to feed her lunch.

"So where are we going to find a tree tonight?" Quatre asked the room at large. "There are a couple places outside of the city that let you cut down your own but they can be a bit of a drive."

"I'm more worried about how we're going to get it back here," Duo muttered. "Kid wants a big one but we don't really have a good way to transport it."

"I could rent us a truck for the night," Quatre suggested.

Heero suddenly stopped typing and looked up. His eyes narrowed as he got a strange feeling in his gut that something was wrong. He stood abruptly, startling the others in the room. Before anyone had a chance to ask what was wrong, a muffled scream met their ears. As one, they turned towards the window just in time to see a small body falling towards the ground. The person came to a quick stop a mere three inches above the snow. He hovered there for a moment before plopping harmlessly onto a snowbank.

After a moment of stunned silence, Shadi threw his hands into the air and cheered. Hawk and Harry's muffled voices could be heard, laughing loudly.

"HARRY!" Quatre screamed, his eyes furious. He and Duo ran outside quickly to check on Shadi while the sound of footsteps pounding downstairs could be heard. Just as they got Shadi inside and shook the snow off of him, Hawk and Harry charged into the large kitchen.

"It worked!" Shadi yelled. "I didn't get hurt!"

Hawk threw his arms around his brother's shoulders, beaming with pride.

"Welcome to the wizarding world, Shadi!" Harry congratulated.

Quatre's eyes widened. "Did you two just... did you two just throw Shadi out a window to see if he had magic?"

The celebrating suddenly stopped as the three boys realized they were about to get into trouble. A lot of trouble.

"Well, we..." Hawk stuttered.

"We didn't throw him. He fell when Hawk bumped him," Harry tried.

Quatre felt a vein in his neck pop. "What is wrong with you boys? I know we've taught you better than to do something so idiotic and reckless! What possessed you to do something so dangerous that you could have seriously harmed Shadi? You're grounded, all of you!"

Harry flinched, staring at Quatre with wide eyes. It was the first time the blonde had ever yelled at him. Quatre usually used disapproving looks and a firm voice to get his anger across. Seeing him yell left Harry and others speechless.

"We just—just wanted to know if Shadi was a wizard," Hawk defended weakly.

Quatre rounded on him, his blue eyes blazing. "I'm calling your father right now." He grabbed Hawk's arm and marched him into the living room. Shadi followed quickly, his eyes wide.

Heero stared down at Harry. "You are grounded. You will not come with us to find a tree tonight."

Harry gasped. "But—but we were just trying to help!"

"Throwing a person out a window is never helping," Heero stated.

"I told you, we didn't throw him! He fell!"

"Why was he on the window in the first place?"

Harry paused. "Er... well we..."

"You did a foolish and dangerous thing. You are grounded. Go to your room." Harry hung his head and began to shuffle out of the kitchen. "And lock your window. If I come up there and find it open, you will be punished further."

"Yes Heero," Harry muttered and slunk from the kitchen.

"They threw the boy out the window to see if he had magic," Wufei stated, his tone disbelieving.

Duo couldn't hold it in anymore and doubled over with laughter.

A/N: Well I'm not all that sure of what to say about this story. There's so much I want to write but it's all jumbled in my head. I have a bunch of different scenes written but there's no flow or order to them. I've been reading through old reviews to get more ideas. You guys are super helpful with reviews.

Have we ever discussed pairings for this story? I feel like we have, I just don't remember. There's still a few chapters before I'll bring in any romance, as Harry is still eleven, but I'd like a direction to work towards. So on that note...

Go vote on the poll! There's a poll on my profile asking about pairings. Go vote on it! Please. And, as always, please REVIEW!