Harry knew how to tell the time on an analog clock, and he thought that 7 o'clock was too late to still be at school.

It seemed his prayers to leave the place were answered, and the suit lady- Maddy came to collect him.

She motioned with her hand by bending her fingers inwards in a silent command of 'come,' which Harry easily obeyed.

She guided him through the giant maze they called a school, passing by teachers with a combination of relieved and saddened faces, to outside where it was lightly raining. They stopped underneath the school's overhanging which partially blocked them from the contemptuous weather. It only kept Harry dry- the cold wind still bit at him through his thin clothing.

Maddy did not seem to notice the effect the weather had on Harry. Even though the wind swept her hair around her face, she seemed to be rather unaffected by its presence.

A black car pulled up in front of them, the driver easing it so that its' side doors were slightly under the roof.

Maddy stepped onto the curb and towards the vehicle. She pulled open the back door of the vehicle and moved aside so that Harry could climb in.

Before he could move to his appropriate seat - the Dursley's always made him sit on the floor- Maddy had buckled up his seat belt and was telling the driver to go ahead.

Harry paid no mind to his surroundings as they drove, he decided that he couldn't care less. Instead he stroked the leather seats beneath him.

He didn't realize they had arrived until the vehicle stopped and the door was already open.

He trailed behind Maddy into a large building and through an elaborate amount of corridors until she opened one door for them. She briefly stepped into the room before exiting and leaving Harry alone.

The door shut with an ominous clang. He felt like he was being locked in solitary confinement and could've sworn he heard a bolt hit home in the doorknob.

Spying a window ledge with a cushioned seat, Harry headed that way. He planted himself down on top of the blue cushions and regarded the scratched white window panes. They might've been beautiful at a time, with light streaming through into the room, but after years of children sitting in the same spot as Harry they were now a pathetic sight.

Each scratch held its own story, of some kid who was removed from their home. Harry felt the urge to make his mark, and etch himself into the isolated world of kids.

He could feel the white wood pulling up underneath his nail and biting into his skin. He paid no mind to it and continued, letting his scratch reach horizontally along the bottom of the window.

Content that he had left his mark he settled down once more and gazed through the glass.

He could see across the lawn that another vehicle, similar to the one he had driven in, had pulled up. The tinted windows prevented any view of the people within and the back doors opened seemingly of their own accord as the passengers were not visible.

On either side of the vehicle a single foot stepped out, followed by another.

From Harry's point of view, he could see only the side closest to him. The single foot was pudgy, it seemed as though the foot was too fat for the shoe. The possibility that a shoe could contain that much volume seemed astounding. But Harry didn't care, especially when the second foot came out and he recognized the feet that had often pummeled into him. His Uncle Vernon stepped out of the vehicle still wearing his work clothes, along with Aunt Petunia on the other side.

The two of them strode forward alongside two beefy looking men. If it weren't for the severity of the situation their attempt to look prestige would have amused Harry. But their nerves were visible and everyone in the building knew the real reason they were here.

The window allowed a view only up until the main entrance, and when Harry's relatives reached that point, they disappeared from his view. He wondered where they might be going; if he hadn't been allowed to go home all day, surely they wouldn't let them into the same room.

His assumption was wrong, moments later both his relatives entered the very room Harry sat within. They didn't appear shocked when they caught sight of him, merely continued to glance around nervously.

They didn't have much of an interaction as the two were marched past Harry to another set of doors which Harry had failed to notice.

"Harry, this might be hard for you to understand, but you need to try."

Madeline spooked Harry with her sudden reappearance.

His reply was slightly stuttered as though he didn't fully comprehend her words, "I can do my best."

"Tonight, you are not going to be sleeping at your Aunt and Uncle's house." Harry made a move to interrupt, but Maddy continued, "You're going to spend the night with a couple of other children in the same situation as you. Do you understand? Harry?"

His young mind slowly caught up to the meaning of her words, "Not with the Dursleys...but with other kids? Is this like a sleepover? I've never been to one of those."

Her lips twitched as though she were fighting a smile that would've been tinged with sadness, "I suppose you could think of it like that. Now come along, it's time for you to say goodbye."

"Goodbye to who?"

"Your aunt and uncle of course, it's only polite."

Harry did as suggested since it were the polite thing to do, if he didn't he thought he might be beaten for being rude in public when he returned.

He prepped himself with a deep breath and summoned his courage to walk over to the door he had previously seen the Dursleys pass through. Without being told to he opened and passed through the door, using all the courage he had so that he wouldn't wimp out.

The sight before him wasn't quite what he expected. He took a brief moment to let the image sink in and let his overwhelming shock calm down.

"Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia."

His family didn't even spare him a nod of acknowledgement. They continued to stare at the wall in front of them, one might even say that they did so in a sort of trance.

"Miss Madeline told me to come say goodbye to you...so um, bye."

Harry's eyes sought them out, searching for a shred of concern or approval that he hoped his family might have. However they still hadn't bat an eyelash in his general direction.

He was slightly depressed when he realized they didn't care. But he pushed it down and turned his back to them and followed Maddy once more.

He followed her through doorways and down corridors, into the rain and then the black vehicle once more.

"Harry, you should know that you might not be seeing your aunt and uncle for a little while."

Harry didn't answer, his down trodden eyes hidden beneath his hair gazed outside to the damping weather.

The sun had set already long ago and the streetlights were illuminating the city. As they drove they would momentarily light up the inside of the car and then darken once more. The car breezed through stoplights and past some stop signs, into a secluded area of houses.

The subdivision appeared friendly enough with outdoor lights at every door.

The car pulled into a house located near the end of the street, with only a few buildings next to it before a line of trees started.

When the car doors slammed shut, light filled the driveway as the door opened. A woman's figure was shadowed02 by the light, the outline of her lithe form appeared moving down the steps towards them.

"Madeline, I just got your message. Thank goodness one of the kids told me about it." Said the stranger.

Harry didn't fail to notice the mention of other children in the house and figured he would be having his sleepover at the building in front of him. The realization made his mind more aware of the condition of the house. It seemed like a proper house, not like the Dursley's where everything was so perfect, but not a rundown shack either. It was the perfect mix giving off the feel of a group of friendly people living within.

"Thanks for getting back to me within the day. It would've been difficult to find a place anywhere else, this case just got sprung on the service at the end of the day."

"Oh goodness me, that might've been a disaster. You know my house is open to the kids anytime they need it." She replied honestly.

"Harry this is Mrs. White, you're going to stay the night with her. I've already collected some of your clothes from Petunia and Vernon's house." Maddy spoke down to Harry, appearing ready to leave and continue with her life.

Seeing Maddy walking around the car, the driver released the trunk which popped open. She bent over and when she arose, in her hands was Harry's school backpack. Immediately he walked over and she helped him slip it over his shoulders.

"Come along, let's get inside before we freeze in the cold and rain." Mrs. White said, "Maddy you can come in for some tea as well."

The two of them followed Mrs. White into the house and Harry was glad when they pulled off their shoes on an entrance carpet. He was finally able to rid himself temporarily of his petite shoes.

He made note of the fact that all the scrubbing he put into them this morning had been of no use. Now, after a full day, his shoes had accumulated some dirt in them and rubbed against his sockless feet, effectively dirtying his wounds. It also appeared as though there were more and newer blisters from his feet being contained within for a longer period of time than usual.

He duly noticed that the carpet ended and shiny, spotless tile flooring began. Harry thought that surely his feet would track and then he would be in trouble.

So he was at a dilemma, did he continue through the house and get punished, or did he stay where he was and get yelled at for not following.

Harry made up his mind and before the two woman could get too far away, he called out to them, "Mrs. White? My feet are all dirty!"

They paused mid conversation that Harry didn't bother to follow, and retraced their steps to him. Mrs. White glanced down at his feet briefly, then his shoes and seemed to come to a conclusion. She opened a closet door and seemed to pull a new pair of socks at random.

"Here, you can wear these to keep your feet warm and the floors clean. After we get you settled in, we'll get you cleaned up as well."

He awkwardly received the new socks, not used to having things given to him, and sat on the ground to slip them on.

As soon as Harry's feet were beneath him once more, Mrs. White wrapped her arm around his shoulders and pulled him tight against her side. Harry never would've thought that a fragile elder woman, with hair already turning white, could have such a strong grip. But they continued like that, her hold never once wavering, until they reached a kitchen where a kettle had already been boiling.

"Honey?" Mrs. White asked Maddy as she heaved the kettle from its place and poured the water into two teacups.

"Sugar, please." Was the correction that Maddy made.

Mrs. White placed the two teacups into small plates and carried them over to the counter where each of the women plunked themselves onto a stool. Their teaspoons clinked lightly along the cup edges as they stirred the liquid before landing on the plate.

Harry was at a loss at what to do while they raised their cups to their lips. Mrs. White didn't seem to have forgotten him as most adults do, instead she had pulled a jar across the counter to herself and lifted the lid off. She offered the open end to Harry, and with encouragement he stuck his hand into the unknown.

When he retrieved his hand, in it was a homemade chocolate chip cookie, one of many held within the cookie jar.

"Donovan!" Mrs. White yelled up a staircase, "Donovan! Come here!"

Although she was yelling, it didn't seem rude, it was more of a gentle calling to Donovan. She was nothing like his Aunt Petunia and Harry decided he liked this woman.

A heavy set of footsteps that were almost loud enough to make Harry flinch came trotting down the stairs. It seemed that Donovan was only a boy around 16. In Harry's opinion he looked like a nerd with his button down shirt and big glasses pushed high up his nose.

"Wassup?" He stuck his head around the entry way.

He took in Harry with a questioning gaze but didn't say anything.

"Donovan come here." Mrs. White repeated.

From the doorway he answered, "I am here."

Clearly agitated with Donovan's difficulty, Mrs. White emphasized her words, "Donovan, come here."

Getting the vibe that Mrs. White was not in the mood for games, Donovan exaggerated taking one step into the room.

"Ok."

"Harry, this is Donovan, one of my elder boys," Mrs White spoke to Harry. Then with a pointed look to Donovan, "He's going to show you around the house. Donovan?"

"Oh my- what?" heexclaimed.

"Entertain him for a while too, would you? Just while me and Maddy discuss." Harry's existence is what Harry thought the end of the sentence was.

Knowing they had been dismissed, the two boys filed out of the room.

"This way Harry, I'll introduce you to the boys."

The two trudged up the stairs together, Donovan seeming like a giant compared to Harry's dwarfed, young height.

"You gonna eat that?" Donovan asked while he waited for Harry to catch up at the top of the stairs, "because I don't mind taking it off your hands."

Harry followed Donovan's gaze down to his hands where he saw he still held his cookie. Instead of handing it over, he took a huge bite and smiled in delight, while Donovan spun away unbothered by not gaining the sweet.

"Come on, this way."

They pulled to a stop at the first door on the left which easily swung open with a small amount of pressure.

Inside the room were two more boys who looked younger than Donovan. They didn't look up at their entrance, instead keeping their attention on the TV screen in front of them. They were shouting into microphones that sat atop their heads.

"Guys." Donovan called at them.

Their shouts of profanity and cheers of joy maxed out Donovan's voice and they took no notice.

"Guys!" He tried again.

"Guys!" He tried once more, his voice almost a yell.

When they didn't answer he walked over and pulled a plug from the wall. Immediately the screen, sounds and shouting stopped, the entire system was shut down.

"Boo!" One yelled in sync with the other complaining, "awwwww."

"Johnny, Jack this is Harry. Harry, the blonde one is Johnny and the donkey looking one is Jack."

"Hey!" Called Jack at Donovan's crude description of himself, "I heard that!"

"You were meant to."

"You say he's Harry?"

"Yeah boys, this is Harry, he's bunking the night with us."

"Oh sweet, new roomie." Bellowed Jack.

"Well little guy, looks like you're stuck with us, hope you're good at video games." Johnny told him happily.

"I don't know, I don't really play." Came Harry's response.

"Then get over here while I teach you." Jack said as he pulled Harry to their position and shoved a remote in his hands.

"Sorry boys, but it's bed time." Donovan said smartly.

Harry looked out the window, and although the rain was still coming down hard, he realized that it had unknowingly been getting extremely late.

"Here Harry, you get bottom bunk. And the bathroom's right across the hall for you to brush your teeth. Johnny will be in the bunk above you, and me and Jack will be in the ones on this side of the room."

Hurriedly, used to having only a few minutes in the washroom, Harry got in there, changed, brushed his teeth and exited.

He still wasn't too sure about if he was allowed to sleep on the bed.

"Boys! Why aren't you in bed?" Called Mrs. White as she came up the stairs.

No one answered and instead they all climbed into their beds, Harry being the last one into his.

"Goodnight boys." She said as she flicked the light off.

"Goodnight," was the chorus of replies she got as she closed the door, Harry's echoing along with them.

Harry stayed like that for what seemed like an hour. He looked forward at the bunk atop of him without really seeing, he could not shake the feeling that he was forgetting something and couldn't sleep without knowing.

Turning on his side he pulled his arms close to himself and realized what it was.

He hopped off his bed, all the while trying to make no noise and not succeeding. He could hear Donovan or Jack spinning on their bed to face him.

"What are you doing?" Came the whispered request.

Harry simply didn't answer, instead grabbing the backpack Maddy had handed him. He tore open every pocket, flipped the bag upside down and shook it, but there was nothing for him to find.

"Harry, get back in bed." He heard once more.

Dejectedly, he listened to the advice, but refused to close his eyes. Instead he could feel tears slowly forming in the corners of his eyes and trailing down his face.

He crushed himself into a ball, holding his knees to his chest and squeezing into the corner of the uncomfortably soft bed.

His tears turned to sniffles, and soon he was sobbing and breathing heavily under the effort of crying. Whoever had called out to him before, finally realized that something was seriously wrong. They climbed out of their bed and over to Harry.

"What is it Harry?" Donovan asked as he sat on the edge of the bed and reached for Harry.

He got no answer and instead Harry flinched away and sobbed louder.

The other two boys in the room stirred, only becoming briefly aware of the situation.

As Harry's cries loudened, the house seemed to awaken. Jack and Johnny both jumped down from their top bunks and made their way to Harry's.

"Harry? It's alright, what's the matter?"

Their condolences only irritated him further and his hysteria grew.

"Go get Mrs. White." Donovan whispered to the other two.

Relieved to get away from a crying child, both boys went in search of the woman.

She appeared only moments later in a light blue bathrobe and flicked on the lights. Upon seeing Harry, she rushed over to him.

"Harry, speak to me." She commanded in a soft tone.

Between sobs Harry was able to get out two words, "My bear."

Seeming taken back that a stuffed toy could get him riled up like this she grabbed for one from the shelf and offered him it. His head fiercely shook back and forth, he wanted his bear.

This interaction went on for almost an hour before Mrs. White made up her mind.

She grabbed a set of keys and lifted Harry into her arms. She carried him out of the house and to a car where she strapped him into a car seat. She climbed into the driver seat herself and turned back to him, "Where is it?"

Harry's sniffles forced him to answer in a whisper, "At the Dursley's."

She put the keys in the ignition, pulled out of the driveway and the car took off.