Konichiwa!
Harry "I'm guessing you had fun at Fanime."
You have no idea! -grins- For those who have no clue what I'm taking about, Fanime is the biggest anime convention held in California. It's a 4 day event that starts the Thursday of Memorial Day weekend and has everything an anime fan would love. If any of the readers were there you might've seen me walking around, I was a blind Itachi with a cane. :P
Jin "Get on with the story!"
Okay, okay...you're annoying now that I've made it so that you can talk...


"How's it going, Ritchie?" Harry asked the mirror.

"Been a bit boring without you around, but then with all the crazies around here that doesn't last long," Dick answered with a laugh, "So how's the how magic thing working out for you?"

"Not half bad, but I'm ticked off with all the staring," Harry muttered, glaring at a group who was doing just that, "I'm famous for something I don't remember, dumb innit?"

"A bit," Dick responded, "Anything interesting happen yet?"

"Other than it nearly falling off a staircase when it moved, not much," Harry answered, chuckling at the look on Dick's face, "Also, there's a lack of comics."

"I could send some though your uncle," Dick offered.

Harry smiled, "I'll bring back some wizarding candy to thank you with."

"That should be interesting," Dick responded.

"You have no idea," Harry muttered, remembering his first thoughts about chocolate frogs.

Dick's name was called from somewhere beyond the sight of the mirror, causing him to look over his shoulder, "Be there in a minute, Bruce! I gotta go, talk to you later."

"Bye, Rich," Harry spoke as his friend's image disappeared and tucked the mirror away into a pocket.

"Who were you talking to?" Bruce asked as he checked to make sure his gauntlets were fastened securely.

"Harry," Dick responded, attaching his cape, "He gave me this neat little mirror that lets me talk to him, magic's pretty cool."

"But it could be overused," Bruce pointed out, "Next time you talk to him, tell Harry not to lag on working himself physically."

Dick gave a shrug as he applied his domino mask and watched Bruce pull the cowl on.

--__--__--

"I was looking for you guys," Harry stated with a smile as he approached Fred and George.

"What for?" Fred answered.

"You guys know your way around the school pretty well, right?" Harry spoke.

"What makes you say that?" George responded, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"The first rule of pranking, know your surroundings along with any and all escape routes," Harry stated with a grin, "me and my dad, both blood and adopted have written books on the art, but I've perfected it. So tell me where the kitchens are or else."

"Or else what?" Fred asked.

Harry grinned widely, "You'll be subjected to a prank that involves duct tape, a lot of toothpaste, glue, and the assistance of Peeves…I'll let you guys try to figure out what I'll do with that stuff."

Fred and George looked from each other to Harry and back before George spoke, "We'll show you the way, Mr. Prince of Pranking." The two grabbed one of Harry's arms and dragged him off, Jin staring at the sight before chasing off after them.

"Here we are!" Fred announced, the group was standing in front of a painting of fruit.

"All you have to do is tickle the pear and you'll get in," George informed.

"I'll try to remember that," Harry muttered as the two left.

"Fox Twins remind me of Odd Human and Alpha," Jin remarked.

"I sorta get that 'Fox Twins' would be Fred and George…but 'Odd Human' and 'Alpha', who's that?" Harry questioned.

"Odd Human is the one who plans things for Alpha, who takes care of me, Tonik, mom, and dad when you're busy," Jin answered.

Harry thought over what was said before realizing who Jin was talking about, "Odd Human is dad and Alpha is mum?"

"Yes, I thought that was clear," Jin answered.

"Not to me," Harry shrugged, "But enough stalling, I've got plans to finish."

"Brother, what're you planning?" Jin asked.

"Just a little something for Hermione," Harry answered before noticing that Jin looked a bit clueless, "She's the one with the brown, bushy hair and reads books all the time?"

"You mean Paper," Jin responded.

"…'Paper'?" Harry questioned, "Why do you call her that?"

"That's what she smells like to me, it's easier to call someone what they smell like instead of the things you humans do," Jin answered.

"We want to be unique, but that usually doesn't work out too well. There are only so many decent names out in the world," Harry reasoned.

"Still, the names humans come up with are weird," Jin muttered.

'Like yours are any better,' Harry thought as he reached up to the painting and tickling the pear as instructed, he arched an eyebrow when the fruit turned into a doorknob, "Not like that's the weirdest thing here…"

"You're one to talk," Jin remarked, earning a glare from Harry as he pulled open the door and was met by the slightly odd sight of creatures about the height of his knees staring straight at him.

"…if you don't mind my asking, what are you guys?" Harry inquired, staring down at the odd creatures while keeping a hold on Jin's collar.

One of the creatures stepped forward a bit, gave a bow, and spoke, "We are house elves, young master."

"House elves…why're you here?" Harry tugged on Jin's collar in warning when he tried to get closer.

"We take clean and take care of Hogwarts and do the cooking for all the meals," the house elf spoke.

"Are there a lot of you?"

"Over 100 at least," another house elf spoke.

"Do you guys have names or something?" Harry was a little surprised when they stared at him and started whispering, "Did I say something offending?"

"Wizards don't ask our names or worried they offended us," the first house elf spoke.

Harry gave a shrug, "I'm not like most people…do you guys mind if I make something? My friend's birthday is today and I want to give her a cake."

"We can do that for you!"

"I'm sure you can, but I want to make sure my cooking skills don't get rusty," Harry smiled.

"Brother, meat!" Jin begged.

"Do you have some raw meat you can give to Jin here?" Harry asked.

Before the words left his mouth, a plate of several different types of meat came forward.

"Wow, you guys sure do aim to please," Harry joked as he set the plate down, "Jin, only eat what's on the plate, don't eat any of the house elves."

"MEAT!" was Jin's only response as he attacked the plate.

"When it comes to food, you've got a one track mind," Harry laughed before turning to the house elves, "I need some ingredients, what do you guys have?"

"What do you need, we have everything one would want."

Harry grinned before listing off the things he would need, which the house elves scrambled to get and despite their offers, he proceeded to make the cake himself.

"Okay, who wants to try some?" Harry asked after the cake had cooled a bit and was met with odd looks, "…what?"

"Most wizards—"

"I'm not like most wizards, how many times do I have to say that?" Harry retorted, "I need someone to taste test this cake so I can be sure the next one is good."

It took some convincing, and near pleading, on Harry's part to convince one of the house elves to actually step forward and try; the reaction that Harry got surprised him, the house elf burst into tears.

"I guess it was bad…" Harry muttered, trying to sooth the creature.

"Anything but, young master!" the house elf answered, "No wizard shares something this wonderful willingly with a house elf!"

"I'm glad you like it," Harry responded with a wide grin before addressing the others, "You guys can have this one for yourselves; I need to make a bigger one for me and my friends."

Jin tilted his head in confusion as he saw a large portion of the house elves jump on Harry, yelling about how kind he was. He stared at the sight a moment longer before turning back to his food, 'These things are weirder than humans…'

--__--__--

"Long night?" Luna half asked, half stated.

"It was worth it though," Harry responded, covering his mouth as he yawned.

"What was worth it?" Hermione asked, curious.

"You'll see," Harry cryptically answered, "You guys head down to breakfast, I need to grab something real quick."

Harry separated from his friends and headed down to the kitchens to grab the cake, greeting the house elves with a quick hello, and headed up to the Great Hall, nearly crashing into Neville on the way.

"Sorry about that, Nev," Harry apologized after making sure his cake was unharmed.

"It's okay," Neville responded before noticing what Harry was carrying, "What's that for?"

"It's Hermione's birthday, so I decided to celebrate a bit," Harry responded, "Come on; you're sitting with us today."

"What for?" Neville asked as he walked alongside Harry.

"You're my friend too and it's good to have fun with friends," Harry explained, "It's not going to kill you sitting at our table for once."

"I guess so," Neville responded as they walked into the Great Hall.

"Hi Gred, hi Forge," Harry greeted upon seeing the twins.

"Hello to you," George responded, "What's with the cake?"

"It's for Hermione, you're welcome to join us for a slice," Harry offered.

"Free cake, good enough reason to join," Fred joked.

"Free anything will convince almost anyone to do anything," Harry laughed.

"That's actually a valid point," George spoke.

"Happy birthday, 'Mione," Harry smiled, setting the cake in front of her, "It's chocolate with a raspberry filling."

"Thank you Harry, you didn't have to really," Hermione responded, blushing slightly at the attention.

"It's no problem, you're a friend and I won't let your birthday be boring!" Harry stated, "Go ahead and try some."

"My parents wouldn't think it's a good idea," Hermione retorted.

"Some cake on your birthday won't kill you!" Harry laughed, "Just eat a small piece then if you're worried."

Hermione gave in and took a small piece while Harry divided up the remainder amongst himself, Luna, Neville, and Fred and George.

"This is pretty good," Fred remarked.

"I love it when people compliment me," Harry joked.

"You made this?" George responded, surprised.

"With my own two hands," Harry boasted.

"…you're eleven years old, you know how to cook, you slide down multistory staircase banisters for kicks, you love explosions, and you're extremely smart," Hermione stated, "You're really something…"

Harry grinned before looking up, "Here's the last part of your gift!"

Everyone looked up in time to see an owl swoop down and land in front of Hermione, sporting a carefully tied ribbon with a tag saying 'To Hermione'.

"She's beautiful Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, hugging her friend tightly.

"Glad you think so, I figured that your own owl would be more reliable to send letters home with than the schools'," Harry spoke, "What're gonna name her?"

Hermione thought for a moment before smiling, "I read a name in one of my books that would be just fitting I think."

"What is it?" Luna asked.

"Hedwig," Hermione answered, carefully stroking the white feathers of the owl before her.

"What is it, Severus?" Dumbledore spoke.

"I believe there's something wrong with Potter, other than the obvious," Snape responded.

"What you cause you to think that?" Dumbledore asked.

"I had wondered if his time with those lunatics had affected him worse than what he's let on, so I checked his mind," Snape half-lied.

"What did you find?"

"It looked like another version of Potter but his hair was green. He grew angry that I was in their mind and pushed me out," Snape answered, "But the problem is when that occurred…the Mark started to burn…"

Dumbledore narrowed his eyes slightly, "I believe a chat is order with young Harry…"