It was now only half a month before Harry was to go on the train to Hogwarts. His stay at the Leaky Cauldron was comfortable, but lonely. He was reminded of the days he spent in the cupboard under the stairs at the Dursleys. This was definitely infinitely better than his living situation then, but there was still no one to talk to, no one with whom to play. So, being eleven years old and having nothing else to do, Harry entertained himself by toying with his newfound abilities.

He would spend the day stopping time and raiding Tom's pantry. At one point he decided to see what fire whiskey tasted like and found that it tasted horrible and accidentally spit it out over one of Tom's patrons. Needless to say, the man was quite surprised to find himself wet with fire whiskey after Harry started time back up again. Harry also developed the bad habit of transforming whatever Tom gave him for meals in to less healthy, but more delicious fare. He would always make sure that no one else in the place was looking, but one time an old woman who was sitting close to him at the bar seemed to notice that the food on his plate was changing. Fortunately, she was not a busybody and kept any comments to herself. In his room, Harry would make the furniture float and dance. During the course of learning how to levitate himself and the objects around him, Harry was able to figure out how to fly around his room. After he got enough practice moving around in the air, he decided to see how fast he could go. Grant it, he didn't really have much space in which to fly, but he still zipped from one corner to the other. He found from these experiments that he could move fast enough that it was almost as good as stopping time. Harry was very pleased with himself.

One day, Harry was feeling ill. He managed to catch a very bad cold. Tom had brought him up a tray of tea and some sandwiches. Naturally, Heathbert came to call.

"Hey Harry! How are you doing today?"

"Nod too good, Bert. God a bit of a cood"

"Ooh, nasty stuff. Glad I can't catch it from you."

"Haha, fuddy."

"Mind if I have a bite or two of your sandwich"

"Nod at all. Go ahead and hab sub."

"Are you taking anything for that nasty cold?"

"Well, Tom gab me sub stuff from a place called St. Mungos"

"Oh, that's good. You'll be well in no time. I've seen that stuff work on loads of people."

"I wish I was well already. I hate my nose being stobbed up."

"Well, why don't you use some of that magic of yours? I've seen healers do it."

"Healers?"

"Yeah, they're the wizarding version of doctors and nurses."

"I'b neber healed anyone, much less myself. I wouldn't know where to begin."

"There's a first time for everything. Besides, if it doesn't work, there's no loss. There's no one else in here to call you stupid for trying."

"You'b got a point." Harry took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He imagined the illness coming out of him and being well again. He felt a distinct warmth come over his body.

"I think it worked. It worked! I can breath again! Thanks very much Bert"

"You're welcome! Although, technically, I didn't really do anything," Bert said with a chuckle.

Now that he was well again, Harry's appetite came back. Harry could taste again and reached for a sandwich. He also poured himself some tea. The water was scalding hot. Harry poured some crème and sugar into it and stirred it with his wand. Harry was thinking it would be much better if the tea cooled off a bit. Before he took out the tip of his wand, he saw that the tea was getting cooler. In fact, it was turning to ice. Harry's wand was now stuck in the cup, frozen in the tea. Harry waved it around a bit to show Heathbert what he had done. Heathbert clapped his little paws and squeaked a laugh. Harry wanted to see if he could reverse turning the tea to ice, so he concentrated on having heat flow through his arm and into his wand. Within a second or two the water was boiling. It became so hot that the cup exploded. Reflexively, Harry formed a protective sphere around the exploding cup. Once again, Harry was amazed at what he had done. He floated the globe over the trash can and let it go.

"Bert! Did you see that?!"

"I was right here! Yes, I saw it!"

"Bert, how is it that I can do all these things all of a sudden? Up until now, I haven't really done much magic. Yeah, there were some times when I could do peculiar things, but half the time I thought I was just daydreaming. Now, I feel like I can do just about anything I can come up with in my head!" Harry said, tapping his head with his wand. "I just don't get it. Can I actually do anything? Anything that I want to do? This is great! I mean, I feel like a kid in this fantastic game, but … but at the same time I've got no one to play it with. I've got no one to show it to. I don't think I can even show Hagrid. He was shocked enough when I transformed the Durselys into … um, I'll tell you about that later.

"I'm here."

"Well, of course I have you, Bert, but it's different. I've always wanted friends. Kids I can play and have fun with, but there's no one."

"Harry, just you wait. Soon you'll be at school with loads of children that are like you. You're most definitely a wizard and your going to a wizarding school, aren't you?"

"Yes, but … if Hagrid thinks I'm odd and you say that I do things that you've never seen another wizard do before … I was a freak to the Durselys, to muggles. I just don't want to be a freak to everyone else at school either."

"Like I said before: don't worry about it. Just be who you are."

"But what if who I am is too different from everybody else?" harry said getting frustrated with himself. "Why am I even thinking this stuff? Aren't I just supposed to just have fun with it and never mind anyone else? Why am I even hiding it? Is this what puberty is like for wizards? I mean, aren't I about that age? Maybe a little early."

"I'm not sure about puberty. I don't even think mice have it, whatever it is. What I do know is that you are going through a lot of changes and anyone in your position would be troubled the same way. You're a good kid and so you think this stuff through and don't just brandish your abilities at every turn. There's something to being humble. Then again, don't let that hamper you from showing other people your true self. Or else you may never be able to make any true friends."

"You've always got good advice, Bert."

"I try. You know what? It would be fun if you could see what I do for a change. I mean I do have my own adventures here and there. I bet it would get you out of the doldrums. If you're a kid and can't play with other kids, then I wish you were a mouse so you could play with me."

"That's a funny idea, Bert, but I don't think I could do that. I turned my Aunt into a mouse once, but I'm not sure about turning myself into one. Then again, let's see." Harry concentrated on his body, trying to will it to change shape. He felt his skin twitch and within moments, he had turned himself into a mouse.

"This is wonderful! Thanks Bert."

"You know, you keep thanking me for stuff I didn't do."

"Well, you're the one who came up with the idea. How do I look as a mouse?"

"Pretty good. My sisters would love you."

"So what do we do now?"

"Lets see. The cook will be preparing dinner soon and I think she's making stew. We could go raid the kitchen and pick off a couple of vegetables and some cheese."

"That stew. Eww. I hate that stew. I usually change it to pie or something more appetizing. I'm not sure if I'd go for all the vegetables, but the cheese sounds good."

"Great! Then follow me and keep close. The cook's cat is a mean, feisty devil."

Harry jumped off the bed and met Heathbert by the floorboard. It felt funny to run along on all fours. It took some getting used to. Having a tail was obviously something else that was new. He thought it might be hard keeping his tail in mind while he's running around. Other than those two things, being a mouse didn't feel much different from being human. Once they were together, they both skittered to a hole in the wall.

Seeing the world from a mouse's perspective was exciting. Harry was seeing things that he never observed before. Things that were too minute to notice were now gargantuan. As they ran through the wall, Harry found buttons, balls of dust, and spiders in his way. He recalled the spiders in his old cupboard at the Dursleys, but they were tiny in comparison the ones he tried to avoid now. They ran through another hole and they found themselves on a shelf, overlooking the kitchen. Harry could see the cook moving around the kitchen, putting vegetables in a stew that was cooking on the stove. Right below them, on the floor, lay the cook's cat in her basket.

"That is Turtle. We want to steer clear of that one," warned Heathbert.

"Turtle? Oh, the cat. That's a strange name for a cat. It's a slow cat, I hope."

"Don't let the name fool you. She's a swift one. I don't know why they named her that. All I know is that she doesn't fool around. Listen, the cheese is in a cupboard on the that far wall by the stove. We have to go past these jars and climb down from the shelf. From there we'll jump to another shelf that goes straight to the side of that cupboard. Once we get to it, there's a hole that we can go through to get the cheese. Got it?"

"I think so."

"Just follow me and do what I do. Be careful."

Harry's heart was starting to race. He could see Turtle breathing and to him she seemed enormous. What would have been a few easy strides across the kitchen, now seemed so difficult to negotiate. Then things happened very quickly.

The cook had reached up the shelf to get one of the jars. The jar pushed Heathbert to the edge of the shelf. The cook, upon seeing Heathbert, screamed. Turtle jumped up. The cook swatted Heathbert in mid-air. Harry ran to the edge and slipped, falling off the shelf. As Harry was falling, he reached for Heathbert, who then disappeared and reappeared back on the shelf. Harry, forgetting to fly, continued to fall. The cook ran across the room to get a broom and Turtle, confused, ran after her. Harry finally fell into Turtle's basket. He quickly hid under the folds of the blanket in it. By the time the cook and the cat came back, neither Heathbert nor Harry could be seen.

Heathbert was still on the shelf, breathing hard and not knowing exactly what happened. At one point he was falling and suddenly, he was back on the shelf. He knew it must have been Harry that saved him, but where was Harry? Heathbert looked all over the shelf and around every jar. He could not find Harry anywhere. He was hoping that somehow Harry was also able to get himself somewhere safe. He decided to wait on the shelf and see if Harry would turn up.

Harry was afraid for his life. His little heart was beating a million times a minute. He was thinking of how to get away from Turtle. By now, Turtle had settled back down in her basket with Harry underneath her. Harry was in a pinch and saw no way out of it. He then came to his senses and got the courage to act. He jumped out from underneath the cat. The instant the Turtle realized his presence, Harry stopped time. All was still. The cat was amid swatting her paw at Harry with her claws bared. Harry cautiously moved away from Turtle's claws and stood by the wall. He looked up at the shelf and wondered how he was going to be able to get back up there. While he was thinking this, he reached up and started feel himself being squeezed into a tight space. He could hardly breath, but the next moment he was standing beside Heathbert, who was frozen still. Harry made a gesture with his paws and time started once again.

"HARRY! My god are you ok? How did you get here?"

"Whew! For a second there, I didn't think I would. I fell into Turtle's basket and had to figure my way out."

"About that cheese, Harry, I think I've completely lost my appetite. My stomach is still falling!"

"Yeah, me too. I'm also starting to not like cats very much."

"Ha ha ha. That tends to happen when you're a mouse."

"Hey, watch this. I learned how to do it the other day. I was wondering when I'd be able to use it." Harry looked over the shelf at the cat who was still circling around looking for her quarry. He pointed his finger at it and a bolt of electricity shot out from the tip of it. The little lightning bolt hit Turtle's tail and she wailed, running out of the room. Harry and Heathbert hung their feet over the shelf and shared a good laugh.

"Well, what do you think of being a mouse now?"

"It's definitely exciting, but a bit too dangerous. Do you have adventures like this everyday?"

"Nah. This was just for your pleasure."

"Yeah right, my pleasure, huh? I think I've had enough of it for now. Let's get back up to the room and finish off those sandwiches."

"Sure. Let's go."

They clambered back up to the room where Harry transformed back to his normal self. He and Heathbert talked more as the evening drew on. Tom came up to check on Harry around dinner time, but Harry told him he was not hungry. Tom said he heard what sounded like mice squeaking coming from the room. He said that he might have to set some traps in the morning. When Tom left, Harry told Heathbert not to worry and that he'll take care of it.

The following morning Harry got a visit from Hagrid. Hagrid had been visiting him every week just to see if he was doing well. This time Hagrid had some important news for Harry.

"How yeh been doin' Harry?"

"Oh, keeping busy"

"Make any new friends?"

"Well, there's Heathbert. He comes around every once in a while."

"Good to hear it. I guess he's one of the boys that lives close by?"

"Uh … yeah … yes. Yes, he is."

"Harry, I think we may have sorted out where ye'll be livin' from now on. Dumbledore thinks that now that ye're no longer under the protection of yer relatives, we're gonna need a safe place ter put yeh. And there's no safer place than right in the shadow of Hogwarts castle. He said that he knows that barman at the Hog's Head tavern in Hogsmeade and there's room there fer yeh. There'll also be some ministry people posted around the place fer extra protection. O'course we can't have enough for the-boy-who-lived. Now, during the school year, yeh'll be staying at the castle with the rest of the students."

"Ministry? The-boy-who-lived? Um, I'm not sure I completely understand. Why so much protection again? Is this all about the celebrity status I've got around this place?"

"Let's just call it that fer now. It's better that yeh figger it out as yeh go along than fer me ter have ter explain it all at once. Are yeh ready ter start school? It is in less than a couple of weeks you know."

"Yeah, I think I'm ready. I've been talking to my friend Heathbert and he's had a loads of good things to say."

"Good. Ye'll probably be seein' him on the train then when you go. By the way, the ministry is sending an Auror fer yeh to take yeh ter the station. Don't worry, he'll recognize yeh," Hagrid continued looking at Harry's puzzled expression. "He'll probably be better ter explain to yeh what an Auror is, too. Anyway, here's yer ticket and everything else yeh need. I won't be visiting any more since it's getting so close ter the school year. There's a lot of preparations that need ter be made. Next time I see yeh'll be at school."

"Ok, so I guess I'll see you there, then."

"Yeah, well, I have ter get a couple of things from Diagon Alley and head back ter the grounds. So, this is good-bye for now."

"Alright. Good shopping"

With that Hagrid left Harry. Harry was relieved to know that he now had a place to stay. He would never have to go back to the cupboard under the stairs. Even though he was scared, he was still brimming with excitement. It was all so new. So many things to consider that a boy his age would rarely ever have to deal with. But Harry was going to survive; the most powerful wizard of all time would find a way.

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A/N: This one's a tribute to my late cat Turtle. May she rest in peace. She was never very good at catching mice—or anything else for that matter.