Tom watched the little boy's dreams. Jumbled, confused, and repetitive. They did not hold much interest, yet he remained vigilant. Sophia would on occasion enter the dreams.

How much time did he have? How much time was he willing to give himself? In the months since he'd awaken and despite his most desperate efforts, he had been completely incapable of channeling magic or interacting with anything but the boy and the woman. She knows he thought to himself, and it filled him with dread. Her intentions remained unknown, yet her affection towards the boy seemed genuine. Regardless, Harry was the key.

The dreamscape around him dimmed and went dark. Am I cut off? It sometimes happened. No, there was pin point of purple light.

------

Harry found himself in a dark place. Strangely he was not scared. He looked around, yet all was dark. A small point of purple light appeared thrumming with magic. He tried to go to it, but he could not move. He tried reaching out to it, but could not touch it. The light exploded around him.

He saw a small palm sized stone. It had the appearance of a blood red crystal. Surrounding it floated many circles of glowing golden runes. He recognized a few of the individual runes, including those for time, youth, and change, but was completely overwhelmed at the complexity around him.

The inner most and outer most rings of runes flared purple. He recognized some of the markings. They were similar to the way Sophia had anchored the various runes of dust to his stone.

------

Sophia let escape a small gasp when the philosopher's stone had exploded into view. She looked in amazement at the runes circling the stone. It took just a couple of moments, but she greatly suspected that she saw the complete description of the philosopher's stone. Fascinated she examined the diagrams, mesmerized by the magic that was described, trying desperately to understand it. Then she caught herself. This was dangerous. She cut off the link to Harry's dream.

-------

"Mom, I'm bored." Dudley complained loudly. He and Harry were seated on a courthouse bench dressed in their best. Despite Marge's and Vernon's best efforts, Ripper had already been put down. Now Marge had to face her own judgement. Dudley continued to fidget, but Harry sat patiently. His mind returned again and again to his dream. He had not mentioned it to Sophia or Tom yet. He felt that dream had lasted for a very long time. As he reflected, he still could not make much sense of what he had seen. He knew just enough to recognize a spell diagram when he saw it, but he was completely unprepared to work out its meaning. He had tried puzzling it out, to no effect. Yet... The inner and outer ring had responded to his inquires. Whenever he gave his attention to them, their purple light pulsed like an excited puppy.

Aunt Petunia blanched at Dudley's continued protestations of boredom. She sat next to him dressed in an outfit purchased new for the occasion of Aunt Marge's court appearance. Harry, immediately returned a unrevealing expression to his face. He was learning, or trying to, to watch his reactions, there had been several instances were he had reacted to his companions at inopportune times. Although her very presence could distract him, Sophia was considerate of Harry's environment. She generally didn't distract him in the presence of company. Tom...

A well dressed man and woman stood nearby engaged in intense conversation. Tom stood with them, nodding his head as if he was included in their conversation. Harry smiled a bit, Tom wasn't one to make a fool of himself, but he seemed to take delight in mocking everyone. Unfortunately, his Aunt seemed to have noticed the small smiled that had development on Harry's lips. "Harry, don't be simple. I have too much going on right now to watch you and your idiocy."

"Mom. I'm. BORED." Complained Dudley again.

"Duddles, please be patient."

"But I'm bored."

Petunia with a harried look on her face quickly looked around. "If you promise to wait for us out front, you can get up and stretch you legs."

"I want a treat."

Petunia passed a little bit of money to her son. "There are some stores across the street, you may buy yourself a treat there."

Dudley jumped up and went towards the front entrance. Petunia seeing the distracted look on Harry's face said, "Go with Dudley, Harry."

-----------

Harry and Dudley crossed the street examining the business facing the judiciary. Dagget's was indistinguishable from any other small store. It had it's assortment of snacks and drinks; periodicals and small knick knacks. It was not particularly noteworthy, but an adventure to two young boys and little bit of pocket money. Tom considered it all with disinterest. Harry's cousin Dudley was eagerly sizing up the selection of candy. Harry stood by, nearly as eager.

Tom noticed something interesting flicker at the edge of Harry's perception. Carefully, Tom tried to make out what it was. It was a rack, but different from the others in the store. It too held periodicals, candy, and some small knick knacks, but these were far more interesting. Sophia did not appear to have noticed. How to handle this?

Tom decided the direct approach would reveal the most about Sophia. Careful not to attract Harry's attention, Tom signaled to Sophia. She noticed him. Discretely, Tom tried to point out the merchandise rack that had caught his attention. Sophia noticed, and puzzled at the things at the edge of Harry's perception. She nodded.

Sophia lay a hand on Harry's shoulder as he continued to marvel at the selection of candy with his cousin. He turned his head slightly towards her. She pointed towards the rack that Tom had pointed out and asked, "Harry, could you look over there for a moment?"

Harry moved away from his cousin and looked towards the area Sophia indicated. Among the metal and plastic merchandise racks in the small store stood a wide wooden rack. For some reason it held a mix a different goods: magazines, newspapers, candy, toys. He schooled his actions carefully; aware that he was not alone with his companions. Even then he could not hold his surprise. There were photographs on the cover the newspaper and various magazines, and they all moved.

He approached the magical pictures with a wide grin forming on his face. He reached and took a newspaper. The Daily Prophet. It's large baroque print loudly proclaimed the latest quiddich results and the latest tips for vanishing stubborn potion stains. Harry did not see this however. His attention was entirely absorbed by the the photo in the center of a page. Two men in robes, apparently flying on broomsticks moved in the picture. They threw a misshapen ball between themselves as the background blurred behind them. Harry touched the photo with the tip of his finger, yet he only felt the rough surface of cheap newsprint.

Harry opened the paper and leafed through the following pages. The photos and illustrations all moved. "What's that?" Dudley had moved to stand just behind Harry. In his hands he held a collection of treats. Harry closed the newspaper, and thrust it towards his cousin with the animated photo of the flying men prominently displayed.

A soft "Oh" escaped from Dudley. He eagerly put down his treats and took the paper from his cousin. As Harry before, Dudley traced the movements of the figures with a finger. "Where did you get this?"

Harry pointed to the lone wooden rack, and said with a smile, "Right there."

Dudley's eye followed his cousin's finger, but he furrowed his brow and returned to looking at the paper. "It's just like a TV!" Dudley held the paper to his ear and his face scrunched in concentration. After moment, he freed one hand from the paper and held it over his other ear. "But it doesn't have any sound?"

"Where did you get this?"

Impatiently, Harry again pointed towards the rack. "I got right here." Dudley's gaze followed his finger again, but his face remained dumb. Dudley turned back to The Daily Prophet.

Dudley flipped through the pages of the newspaper. Then scratching the back of his neck started to look between the treats he had previous chosen. Frowning he turned back to the front page and began examining the masthead. "Harry. Where did you find this paper? I want to know how much it costs."

Harry opened his mouth to say something rude, but Sophia interrupted him. "There is a muggle repelling charm up. Wave your arm and protest as much as you wish, your cousin is not going to recognize it."

Harry glanced at Tom and received confirmation. Dudley didn't notice Harry's hesitation as he continued to examine the newspaper. "Hmm" Dudley strained to divide his attention between the paper and looking around the store. "I think that this is the price" Dudley pointed to a "5 K" printed just below the masthead. "But I don't know what it means."

Sophia shrugged her shoulders a bit, "I don't know what you should say. You might just tell him that you found it stuck on a shelf by itself."

Tom quickly waved a palm, before Harry could react. "No wait. You have a much better option. Just tell him the truth. Tell him that the newspaper is enchanted. Tell him about the muggle repelling charm."

"Uh.." Harry tried to work out what he would say. He was tempted to follow Sophia's advice and deny knowing the origin of the paper. His companions and the magical world they introduced him to was a secret that had brought him a happiness he had not had before. He didn't really want to share any part of it with his family, no matter how little they could see it. But, as much as Dudley was fascinate by the paper and desired it, Harry wanted it more. There in cheap black and white was a greater manifestation of magic than he had ever achieved on his own.

"Dudley, It's a magic newspaper."

"You think so? I don't know. This is kinda of like my gameboy. Only.." Dudley held the newsprint between two fingers, "...thinner."

"It is magic. There is a whole rack of magical items right here." Dudley looked, his eyes glazed, and he turned back to the Prophet. "I wonder how much this costs?"

"Uhgg" exclaimed Harry in frustration. "Its a magic newspaper Dudley. I can't show you where I found it because there is a magic spell that stops you from seeing it."

"Uh huh," stated Dudley dubiously.

"Look... I mean don't look. Turn around, and I will show you something else."

Dudley stared at his cousin, then reluctantly turned away from Harry. Harry looked at the magic items. He picked up a bag of Jelly Beans, 'Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans'. Harry was sure that candy would peak Dudley's interest.

"Okay turn around." Dudley turned back to Harry, who then gave him the bag of candy.

Dudley looked at the candy, "So these are magical jelly beans then?"

"Yes, I mean... Turn around again."

Dudley shook his head a bit, and turned away from Harry. Harry looked over the wooden rack. The candy, while potentially interesting seemed unlikely to convince on his cousin. Harry considered the magical magazines with their moving pictures, but no. Harry smiled as he found the perfect item.

"Okay, turn around again." Dudley did so. Harry gave him the object, "Be careful."

"Ohh," Between his thumb and forefinger, Dudley held an animated figure of a robed man. He was beating uselessly at Dudley's thumb with a broom. "So how much does it cost?"

Harry grinned.

--------------

The sales clerk was willing to accept muggle money instead of wizarding money, but they did not have enough to purchase the animated wizard figure. It was, then, with the newspaper and bag of Bertie Bott's every flavor beans, that they left the shop.

"So these are magic then?" Asked Dudley with the bag of candy in his hand. "You don't plant them do you?"

"No, I don't think so. I think they're just candy."

Sophia nodded.

"What do they do?"

"Uhh.."

Sophia smiled at Harry, "Just give it a try." Tom smirked but did not add anything.

"I don't known."

Dudley held the bag out to his cousin and said, "You try it first."

With some evident trepidation, Harry picked out a red bean and put it in his mouth. He paused a bit, then closed his mouth. Slowly he chewed, pushing the pleasantly cherry flavored candy around his mouth. Harry paused taking several deep breaths through his nose. He held his hands in front of himself, and turned them back and forth examining them carefully. Then he swallowed.

Dudley watched his cousin anxiously.

"It was good, I guess."

Harry own puzzlement was matched by his cousin's. Dudley's expression quickly turned to disappointment. He took a green bean of his own, then hesitantly put it his mouth and chewed.

"What is supposed to happen Harry?"

Harry examined his hands again, then patted his arms and face. "I guess I don't know Dudley. I am pretty sure they are supposed to be a magical candy."

"I suppose that they are okay. Good flavors. At least we have the newspaper. It is pretty cool."

The cousins were now back in front of the judiciary and sat down on a bench to wait for Harry's aunt and uncle.

"How, do know about these things Harry? If there was a spell that hid this newspaper, how did you get around it?" Dudley asked his cousin.

"Go ahead and tell him the truth, Harry, you may as well continue." prompted Sophia.

"It was my parents. They were a witch and a wizard. I have inherited their gift."

"Really, You've never shown me anything before. You've never told me."

"Privet drive isn't a very magical place."

"Yeah..." Dudley turned back to the daily prophet and absently placed a small handful of jelly beans into his mouth.

Harry thought about this, but was interrupted as his cousin began to cough, then violently spat the glob half chewed jelly beans on the ground in front of him.

"Are you okay?" Asked Harry. But Dudley ignored him. He was now wiping his tongue on his shirt sleeve.

"Horrible. Ugly. Nasty. Ugh." His cousin sputtered.

Harry noticed both Tom and Sophia were both chuckling. He took another jelly bean from the bag, a purple one. He placed it in his mouth and carefully chewed it. Eggplant.

"I think, I have figured it out." Harry told his cousin who was now trying to work up the saliva so that he could spit again. "I think it really means 'every flavour'. I mean really who makes an eggplant flavored candy?"

"I had a lot worse." Dudley moaned.

"Really?" Harry took another piece, yellow this time. "Hmm. Lemon." He swallowed the candy, and took another. This one a pale grey. Harry began chewing, but then made a face, "Yeah, its confirmed ... I think this one is boogers."

Dudley stopped focusing on his own displeasure, and look now on Harry. Harry chewed a couple of times, then with visible effort he swallowed. Dudley smiled. "Okay, let me try again." Dudley took a single piece and hesitantly tried it.

They continued, taking turns to eat a piece. Laughing at one another's reaction when a unusual or disgusting flavor was found.

This was how Aunt Petunia found them.