Hello again people! Long time no see this is because: I was on vacation, almost lost a finger and had a writers block. I know this chapter isn't the most exciting but 't is necessary, a little background info. It was however fun to write, so enjoy!

A friend for Life

He ate is breakfast, methodically and fast. He didn't want to see it but not be part of it. It tore at him, ate him away from the inside. His defenses had already fallen once and he would not have it happen again. At least not in front of them, he wouldn't give them the satisfaction. Once he finished he cleaned his plate and left. As he trecked up the steps, the sound of laughter slowly caught up to him, making him speed up. He didn't go to his room, which was situated in the attic, he went to the owlry. The owlry was right above his room, the staircase leading up there adjacent to it. As he arrived in the highest part of the house, he couldn't help but marvel the view. The early morning sun casting a soft light upon the surrounding forest. He looked around the circular room and found two owls on their respective perches, a barn owl and an regal looking eagle owl. It wasn't Aphrodite or Eduard he was looking for though. He looked up and found who he was looking for. Up in the right corner, on a ledge, sat his avian companion, one of his few friends. Her pearly white feathers, be speckled with black spots here and there. He called out to her affectionately " Hedwig." As he spoke her name, the snowy owl opened her eyes and elegantly swooped down towards him. As she settled down on his stretched out arm, he could see her once closed eyes. They were a pair of striking yellow eyes, intelligent, all seeing eyes. He petted her while he talked, talked because she was the only one willing to listen.

" Hey girl, did you have good hunt last night?" a confirmatory hoot was his answer.

" Thats good. You know today's important right?"

'Hoot?'

"Yeah it is, were going to Hogwarts today!You ready to show them what were made of?"

Two sharp barks and a puffing of her chest.

"Heh exactly what I was thinking!"

He then stared forlornly out to the rising sun still petting the snowy, he had time after all. His sadness fading with each new ray of the sun, but never truly leaving. Misery, it always kept him company, the one friend he didn't want. Hedwig, like always, noticed his moping and gave him an inquiring look and hooted softly, as if questioning him.

"I'm fine Hedwig, no really I am!" It wasn't Hedwig he was trying to convince, not really. It was himself. He knew that and so did she, but it worked. It showed that somebody still noticed and cared about him. It brought a warmth to him, a warmth that battled the cold apathy that was slowly taking him over.

"Thanks Hedwig. Go on then, sleep some more on your perch before I put you in your cage!"

She nipped his ear affectionately, albeit a bit sharper because of his comment and flew back to her perch. He grinned, she could always bring his spirits back up! She had been here for only a month , but it was as if they had know each other a lifetime. He remembered how they had found each other, both outcasts.

-Flashback-

It was because they had gotten their acceptance letters for Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry that they went to Diagon alley for their joint eleventh birthday. Well, more like for Charlie's birthday and he had tagged along. And he was truly tagging along, he walked behind the Potter entourage, as he had dubbed it. The Potter entourage consisted of James, Sirius and Remus forming a triangle at point, then his siblings and then his mother who closed the diamond formation. The needed to do that because else the BWL's fans would completely swamp them, preventing them from accomplishing anything. He looked around, looking at the hustle and bustle with a childish curiosity. He always enjoyed it, just watching people come and go, trying to guess what they were here for. It had been a game of his for as long as he could remember. He watched as an old woman chewed out the store clerk over the price of some potion ingredient. He snickered at the cowed look on the clerks face, dang that women must be one hell of character. He didn't even need to look where the 'P.E.' was, the sounds of squeals and shouts of awe painting his way. Even if that wasn't the case he knew Diagon alley better than most, those of his age anyway. They walked shop in shop out, his parents buying things for Charles, he hurriedly bringing the books and supplies he needed lest they be forgotten. Finally they ended up at Olivander's wand shop. He'd walked the alley many times, sometimes its complete length, yet he had never entered this age old shop. This would be the first time and he was jittery with nerves; what kind of wand would he get? Would it be strong, weak, mediocre? For that matter could he even get one? He'd been presumed a squib for the longest time after all. He shook that depressing thought from his mind, of course he would!

His brother stood in the middle of the shop, boasting about getting this great and powerful wand. Suddenly a voice came from behind them causing them all to jump in surprise. " Well if it isn't the Potters! I've been expecting you for some time now" Said the man that was presumably Olivander. He was willowy and old with hair almost as unkept as his and his father's. It was his pale eyes though, that made him so mysterious. They shone with knowledge and wisdom that came with age. Harry wondered how old he was. "Ah James, an 11 inch mahogany wand quite pliable if i'm not mistaken." A nod from his father was the answer. " And Sirius black a 15 inch oak wand, yes quite powerful. For Mr. Lupin a flexible 12 1/4 inch elm wand and last but not least for Mrs. Potter a 10 1/4 ich willow, quite swishy and good for charms work and as you have shown, apparently healing. I do hope that they are still in the same good condition as when you bought them here" He gave the adults all a soft glare, making them chuckle. "However to hear my miraculous memory is not what you are here for now is it? Come on up boy, I have to measure you!" And so Charles puffed out his chest and stepped forward. He got measured by the floating measurer. All the while Mr. Olivander watched it with an experienced eye. Suddenly he nodded and ordered the length to stop. He then went on to the back, all the while muttering to himself and a few moments he came back with a box in his hand.

" A 14 inch willow with unicorn hair." He had just given it to Charles who was about to give it a wave when it was immediately taken out of his hands. " That just won't do! Won't do at all!" The next wand that got chosen was a 16 inch oak wand with dragon heart string as its core. This time it didn't get immediately snatched out of his hands and so Charles waved it. The effects were that the box that this wand had been in exploded. Nope, not that wand either and so 5 more went through Charles' hand and none of them fit. Charles, Harry saw was getting impatient, it seemed that Mr. Olivander saw that too because he suddenly ran back to into the shop while muttering: "Either that one... or I wonder..." he came back with two boxes: one looked real dusty, and he meant REAL dusty. Harry, who had had to clean the attic to make it his room had seen dust, so he should know. That must have been something rather special, even the adults had their full attention fixed on that box. " Mr. Potter please try this one. It is an eleven inch Holly wand with a phoenix feather at its core." And so Charles gave it a swish and all the boxes on one of the shelves attacked them. Mr. Olivander swiftly took the wand away and the boxes fell harmlessly to the ground. " It seems this one will not do." Said Mr. Olivander disappointedly. " But I want that one!" came Charles dissonant shout. The disappointed smile on the old wandmaker's face made place for a strained one: " Mr. Potter please be aware that it is not the wizard that chooses the wand. It is rather the wand that chooses the wizard. It would do you good to remember that. Now please try this one. I think that his one would fit you quite well." With a frown on his face the oldest of the twins swished his wand and a lone red spark shot out of the tip. Immediately the frown turned into a bright smile. " I did it mum! Dad! I did it!" he shouted with glee. "That Mr. Potter is a 14 inch Mahogany wand with a dragon heart string as its core. It is quite pliable, good for transfiguration and hexes. It seems that you follow in your fathers footsteps Mr. Potter." Harry smiled wryly at that statement ' More than you know Mr. Olivander, more than you know.'

Harry then stepped out of the shadows and said: "Could I get one as well Mr. Olivander?" He seemed surprised to see him: " Oh dear, my age must be catching up to me, I didn't notice you there young man! "Not many do Mr. Olivander. My name's Harry, Harry Potter." The old wandmaker's eyes widened and they flicked over to his parents. "Well come on then lets measure you!" and so the process repeated its self. Harry watched with disappointment as everyone was pulled into the BWL's ramblings. It seemed that even less wands liked him, because he went through and handful more then his twin. The thought he had banished before he entered the shop returned with a vengeance. What if no wand accepted him?

The odd thing though was that the more wands he went through the happier Mr. Olivander became, instead of morose like he! "A hard customer? No problem!" and he once more went into the depth of his own shop. The unsurprising thing was that Charles seemed to becoming rather impatient and restless. And so another wand passed through his hands. It was just as the wand maker stepped towards the towering amount of wands that he abruptly turned around and strode towards the dusty case with the Holly wand. " Try this one Mr. Potter" "But, that one- " "Just try it." And so Harry did. It was unlike anything he'd ever felt, not even all those times could compare. It was even warmer, even nicer. It slowly all went to his wand hand and out of the tip came loads of yellow sparks. He smiled which eventually turned into a smirk. He'd gotten the wand his brother had wanted. " Curious, very curious." spoke Mr. Olivander. " Whats curious?" he asked.

"The phoenix from which the feather is in that wand of yours gave one other. And its just so happens that its brother, why it's brother gave your brother his famous scar! We can expect great things from you Mr. Potter. You-know-who did great things, terrible yes, but great." answered Olivander. Harry gulped and looked nervously at the rest of his family to see if they had heard that little fact. It seemed not, thank Merlin for that! " If we could keep that just between the two us, Mr. Olivander. that'd be... great." he whispered. The shop owner wryly smiled and answered in the same tone: " Of course my boy, Of course. Mum's the word. " "Thank you." "Well than i'll package both wands, and that'll be 14 Galleons in total please." he spoke loudly so everyone could hear. A tinkle of bell later and they were out of the dusty shop ready to go home. That had been the plan, but it seemed that as they passed Eyopels Owl Emporium that Charles had decided he wanted his own owl. So they all entered the owl-filled shop. It went from great greys to pigeon owls. Harry wandered around, looking at each bird with interest. He'd always liked animals, and they had always liked him in return. He walked around until he came to the very back where one lone snowy owl sat on a perch. The other birds seemed to avoid it, not one was within a 5 meter radius, which was a feat considering the size of the shop. It was then that the shopkeeper came around the corner as well muttering obscenities under his breath about pesky brats. Harry couldn't suppress the smile but soon once more turned his attention on the owl. It was beautiful specimen, a snowy but the gender he did not know. He stepped closer to the avian, ever unaware of the stare of the shopkeeper, who looked on with interest. It seemed it that the owl had noticed him, and opened its eyes. Green met yellow. He kept on stepping closer, his eyes never wavering. Harry was now in front of the snowy and lifted his hand, the owl following his hand with ease. His hand soon felt the soft touch of feathers and the owl closed it eyes in pleasure. " Well I'll be damned!" came the shopkeeper's surprised voice. "What?" he asked while still petting the softly cooing owl. " She's got a nasty temper, that one does! Caused me loads of trouble that girl did! Can't get along well with the other owls, much less us humans! Its the first time she hasn't bitten anyone or just plain flown away! Moved her back because I thought i'd never get to sell her." A she, he should have know. Harry smiled at that and whispered to the owl: "Its kind of musky in here, I bet you feel cooped. Do I know what that feels like, bloody Daniel. Anyway, want to join me and stretch your wings in the open air?" She suddenly removed her head from his hand and watched him closely, before hooting and.. did she just nod? "Seems you were wrong, sir!." and a laugh escaped the man. "Seems so lad. Just as he was about to ask about the price when the sounds of his siblings got louder and louder. The birds didn't seem to appreciate the noise, adding to the cacophony. The shopkeeper went back to the front, a frown marring his bearded face. Harry stayed here because he knew how it would proceed. The man would gulp at actually being fully aware of who just were "those pesky snot nosed brats" and would lose all that anger in one swoop. His brother would get the avian at a discount or for free, depending on how affected by the war the man was. It always ended up that way. Then they'd "ding" leave the shop, without him once more.

He sighed. Why couldn't they remember that it was his birthday as well?

The shopkeeper came back to him and spoke: " Sorry about all that lad but I had some important and tricky customers, as you might have heard." His lips took the form of soft smile, tricky indeed. "So, sir how much does she cost?"

" Lad you're the first one in 3 years to take her, I'm happy to have her taken out of my hands! How 'bout 10 Galleons, she is a beauty after all!" Harry almost jumped in joy. 10 Galleons! He had taken 5 times as much just in case! The money was of course not his own but all stol-... lent from his brother's grand allowance of course, its not like it changed much for his twin. Once finished paying for the snowy and some necessities that were required when taking carer of an owl. He left the shop with his wallet weighing a lot less but his arms filled to the brim. The bell tinkled and he joyously bid the man goodbye. He walked in the hustle and the bustle down to the leaky cauldron. He entered the dingy bar and it was not as full as it usually was, although that may have had to do with the time. It was only around 3 after all. He was soon spotted by Tom, the kind old bar tender. Tom might not have had the most handsome face or body, but his personality more than made up for it. The bleu eyed man nodded to him, and waved his hand around the bar in a questioning manner. Harry shook his head, smiled sadly and said: " Not today my friend, not today. Got to take this beauty home." He lifted up the sleeping owl. Tom smiled: "Alright Harry take some floo then, free of charge. That is only on the condition that the next time you do stay and help out this old man. Oh, and before i forget, heres your gift." Harry smile almost split his face: "Thanks, just add it to the pile and next time for sure! Bye Tom!" A letter was added to the pile and he stepped into the hearth after he'd thrown the powder in the fire, making it a vibrant green.

He fell in an empty house, his spoils of shop scattered around him, and glared avidly at the fireplace; flooing was something his parents had also neglected to teach him.. " Sorry about that. Welcome... home" It sounded hollow to him, and it had for years. It was his house, yes, but home? He wasn't so sure anymore.

He then took the rudely awoken owl to his room.

"I've got to give you a name. Alright lets see." and so he started rattling of names all which got rejected by him or her. He went from Maria, to Snowflake. He suddenly went over to the names of famous witches he knew and said : " How about Hedwig?" She hooted happily and bobbed her head up and down. " Alright then, Hedwig it is!"

He talked to her while he opened the letter of Tom which contained a secret recipe for Lamb chops. He talked to her while he waited for his family to return, the hope that they'd jump out and yell: "Surprise, Happy birthday Harry!". This turned out to be the rest of that day to late into the night.

-End flashback-

Yes that had been a fruitful trip to Diagon. He had in the mean time reached his room and fingered the holly wand which laid upon his desk, put it in his pocket and started packing his bag. He looked around his meagerly decorated, compared to his siblings anyway, room. A bed all nice and made up, a desk cluttered with papers, writing utensils, books, a block of wood and a knife. The walls were filled with astronomical charts and views. He learned the secrets of the cosmos just like it learned his. Across from his bed stood his book case, filled with books of all sorts and next to it a chest, a shrinkable one at that. He could have done it magically, but this kept his mind off of things he didn't want to think about. Once he was finished packing, the desk empty, the walls blank once more, the book case emptier and the chest shrunken and hanging around his neck. He grabbed Hedwig's cage and collected her as well, although this was easier said then done. Hedwig passionately hated the cage. He carried her down, still arguing with the pesky female. Ready to go, he was ready to start stepping out of his brother's shadow.

I hope you enjoyed it and any criticism is welcomed. I will aslo try to update faster now that i can type normally again.

-SK