AN: Again sorry for the long delay, but this chapter had to come out right and i have a feeling it did! So I say: Enjoy!

Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter I'd be woman, and I assure you, I am not a woman.

Of Memories and Maybes

"Well Harry, how has your first day been so far, better than St. Peterson's I expect." drawled Charles as he stood in front of the door that led into room 102. The tone was one of Mockery, the one that was always used by Charles when he directed a rare comment at Harry. The subject this one simple phrase breached brought his mood down Nicolas Potter had no right to speak of that, none whatsoever.

So, of course, Harry could not stop a frown from marring his previously smiling face. In that instant, he almost spoke in a way he had not in years, but he knew that if he bit to this bait Charles would've won, and that was just unacceptable. It was a game of old they played here, except it had long ago lost its friendly vibe. Besides if there was anything that Charles Nicolas Potter could not stand then it was being ignored, it had always been that way.

So Harry Potter carried on the conversation that he'd been having like his arrogant twin had never disturbed it, as if he weren't in front of him at all. 'A taste of his own Medicine' and a very satisfactory smile took place of the frown.

They now stood in front of the haggle of Gryffindors, who were looking on in interest as to what Harry would answer.

"So Sally, you any good with plants?"Asked Harry, very well aware that Charles could hear him.

"H-Harry I-I think Charles wants to..talk to you." whispered Sally, looking at the now slightly frowning Boy- Who -Lived.

"Well he can wait; this is a much more interesting conversation "whispered Harry back. He wasn't even lying; these conversations were loads of fun. " So you any good?"

She nodded " Y-yes m-my mother owns a flower shop!" she smiled a smile, one filled with pride.

" Missing Daniel yet?" Harry almost lost his composure, almost. Charles should not, could not know that name.

"Oh that's nice! Any favorite plants or flowers?" The question had a sharp tone it, but that's all that showed Harry's irritation and anger.

She edged a look at him and then the redhead that was his twin before she answered. "C-chrys-santhemums"

What made that last statement slightly better was that Charles and Neville were both frowning now.

"I don't know about flower, but I do know my favorite tree. It's an Elm." The face of his twin was starting to color, which made Harry smirk. It still worked, like a charm.

Charles practically shouted:" ANSW-" he never got to finish his starting tirade.

"No shouting in the halls, please." came a warm, but slightly stern voice. Everyone turned around to see the plump women with graying hair and a pot containing three flower held in her arm moving towards had brown eyes and a ready smile.

"Sorry about that dears, but the Tap Dancing Tulips were being uncooperative. Hopefully they'll put on a good show. Well dears follow me,let's get started with Herbology!" spoke Professor Sprout as she entered her teaching abode. Charles glared at him one last time before following the cheerful woman muttering all the while with Neville. The Hufflepuffs followed the Gryffindor and took their seats, this time Ernie took a seat next to him.

"I can't believe you did that!"exclaimed Ernie in a whisper as they got out the things they needed such as the book, parchment, quills and ink. Which set Harry on a different train of thought, why did they still use quills? In his own opinion they were a most annoying writing utensils ever invented; the wrist pains he was starting to feel a definite reminder of why they were replaced by pens and pencils, much more practical writing utensils. Not to speak of how his quality of writing had gone down, reading these notes was going to a nightmare. Then there was the whole thing with the parchment, which was expensive as hell, it being made of calf skin and all. Then he wondered why cows weren't extinct with the amount of parchment the wizarding world used, but then he supposed a spell that multiplied was available, making things a lot simpler. But still paper was a much cheaper commodity even if it was more prone to being ripped and thus less lasting… maybe it had something to do with the rate of..

"What?"Asked a slightly confused Harry as the exclamation of his neighbor had finally reached him, disturbing his train of thought.

"Ignore the Boy-Who-Lived!"

"You can do it too you know, it's really not that hard."And fun, but maybe that was his vindictive streak talking.

"No I can't! He's the Boy-Who-Lived!"

"And?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

" He's a hero! A celebrity!" Right he was hailed as next Merlin, god forbid ignoring the prick.

" Be quite dears! Open your book to page 7!" and so they did.

The slight annoyance that had still filled the youngest Potter flowed away as they started to read into One thousand Magical herbs and Fungi by Phylida Spore. He enjoyed reading about them a lot, these flora, especially since they were much more interesting than their muggle counterparts. They were beautiful and useful in their own way, those muggle plants, but they couldn't compare to the magical equivalents, if there were any that was. Magical plants had all these little odd quirks, like the tap-dancing tulips, they, as their name suggested tap-danced, though they were stationary if they were potted. Uproot them and set them free and they would dance, though what the purpose of this was however none could discern, because besides as a source of entertainment they didn't have much use.

Many a herbologist speculated that the flower had become this way because a charm had accidentally hit the flower, and it had adapted to it and so the dancing tulip was born. The most likely culprit would have been an eccentric Dutch wizarding trader whom went by the name of Carolus Clusius, as they had started popping up around the year of 1595, but no-one was sure. For all they knew it could have already started to exist within the Ottoman Empire. The point however was that many different types of Dancing Tulips existed, each one correspondent to a different kind of music genre, The Tap Dancing Tulip had been influenced by Jazz, which was coincidentally Professor Sprouts favorite music as they found out. Seeing the three flowers go all out, each one wanting to get the most applause, as they loved it and flowered a bit brighter. Eventually it was the red one that won, making the Gryffindors crow in joy, to Hufflepuffs disappointment. All in all it was a very fun and intriguing first lesson of Herbology. The Hufflpuff's, eager to finish the day, left the room 102 to go to Defense Against The Dark Arts which was held not held in the room 31, which they had been told, was situated on the second floor. So they left really fast as it was quite a walk from the south tower all the way there, if everything went right they would pass by their History class room. They were out of the room before most of the Gryffindors had even left their seats, which suited Harry more than just fine.

On the way there they talked about how fun the class had been and how nice their head of house was. Sally and Hannah also got some praise because both girls had earned points, meaning Hufflepuff's second bout of points that day, making it a total of 20 points so far. This all made Harry very happy, especially since it seemed no one was going to bring up the confrontation, if it could even be called that, he'd had with his elder brother.

Defense against The Dark arts was to be only subject in which they were paired up with the Slytherins, which Harry found to be a very smart decision.

Suddenly the staircase on which they were lurched and started moving, everyone groaned after the initial shouts of surprise. This made getting to Defense against the Dark Arts somewhat harder; because they were now two floors above their destination, not mention that the hall that was the steps new destination went in the completely wrong direction. Justin put the groups collective thought into a phrase of eloquent speech: " Bugger."

Fifteen minutes had gone by, and they were still completely and utterly lost, though they thought they were finally going in the right direction, and one floor down to boot. Another split came up and the group once again came to a halt. " I say right." " I say left." Said Zacharias and Megan at the same time. The blondes glared at each other. The rest of them all groaned, again. For this was another part of why it had taken them ten minutes to arrive at the spot they were currently at, the bickering this pair brought about.

" I listened to you this morning Jones, and look where that us!"

"Ha, and who was right about History, huh, Smith."

"Padma Patil, she was the one who got-"

" She just confirmed what I- "

"SHUT UP!" everyone looked at Ernie as he glared most meticulously at the pair.

" I don't care whose right, or whose wrong. I don't care about who was right or wrong this morning neither! All I want is to get to Defense against the Dark Arts, as soon as possible, and with you two bickering like a married couple isn't going to help!" Both looked indignant at that snub and were both about to comment when the rest glared at them as well

The plait wearing girl took over: "Yeah, so lets get along and get there shall we? You guys can continue this discussion another day, tonight for all I care. Just not now! Okay?" they nodded " Good."

" So now that that's solved lets go about this in an orderly fashion. We go the way the majority agrees on. All in favor for going right raise your hands." Megan, Susan, Hannah, Justin, Wayne and Eanie raised said appendages.

" All those in favor of going left raise your hands." Zacharias, Harry, Leanne, and Sally were the ones who did this time.

" The majority voted right so right we shall go."And go they did, it seemed Susan shared more with her aunt than just physical likeliness.

" What I don't understand," spoke up Justin after a few minutes of silence, " Is why there's no map handed out to us first years!" Harry suddenly had to think of the stories of the Marauders his father and Sirius used to speak of and all they told.

" Yeah, it shouldn't be that hard." Agreed Leanne.

" It tests your memory, maybe that's why they don't. To see whose smart and all." voiced Wayne.

"Probably, but at least the teachers are lenient this week, and only this week, but still. Its something." Added Hannah with a shrug.

" Not Snape, if I heard the third years right at lunch. Lost five points, each, even when they explained that peeves had gotten in the way." Lamented Earnie, having calmed down now that they were actually moving.

" That's not too surprising you know, what I heard he's a right foul git, that Snape. Not looking forward to that class. At all." Everyone nodded, agreeing with Wayne's feelings about potions.

" Yeah thank Merlin peeves hasn't-" Smith never finished that statement for another voice interrupted it making them all jump and shaking Harry out of his thoughts about the Mauraders.

" Did someone say my name?" came the somewhat high-pitched voice, that was somehow nasally at the same time and it came from their right.

Everyone looked up in to the right and a few colorful words, courtesy of Megan, were thrown around while Sally moved somewhat behind Harry because there floating was the poltergeist that they had mentioned twice now in their conversation.

" Ooh icklefirsties, wandering about! Huffers to boot, this is going to be a hoot! " Everyone had slowly been edging forward, away from the spectre that would make them even more late than they already were.

" Ah, Ah now don't walk away, were going to have a blast, so don't look so aghast, for there's a game I want to play!" the gleeful tone and the less than reassuring smile made them realize that they wouldn't like the game he wanted to play.

" What do we do?" whispered Susan who was looking at the poltergeist and then for a possible escape route.

Harry was doing much the same, as well as racking his brain for any other options, devising escapes had somewhat become his specialty. Suddenly he had an epiphany, and he had no idea how he came to it, or if it would even work, but he whispered it back nonetheless. " I think I've got an idea, I don't know if it'll work, but it's worth a try."

" Give it shot, now!" hissed Megan, who was quite pale now that he looked at her.

He turned his sight back on to the smirking and slowly advancing spectral being. " So you want to play a game right?" he asked whilst getting the most odd looks form his companions ranging from the " are you absolutely mental" to the " You've doomed us" and even one plain old " Fuck you ".

" Firstie can listen, he deserves some applause!" and the floating little man did clap, except that there wasn't really any sound produced.

" Well I've got a proposition for you, if you would, an idea. "

" Do you now, little puff?" mocked the ghost that wasn't really a ghost.

" I do. You see, we'll play a game with you." Looks of pure loathing were being sent his way now.

" Really?" asked the nasally voice in surprise.

" Yes really, however, it'll be the game I choose." The glares had receded, somewhat.

" How about mine first and then yours, duffer? Offered the geist, a look of interest in his see through eyes. He was getting somewhere, that was always good, but it was the last part that was of importance.

" I say the other way around, you are the one who wants to play with us after all. " Hook

The being in front of him really seemed to be thinking about it, and finally nodded to itself, having apparently made a decision. Was he actually going to get a line on the first try?

" Peeves sees this puffler has a point, and peeves agrees. So speak the game peeves will now play. " Line

Apparently he was.

" The game, guys, and Peeves, that were going to play is going to be a the timeless classic of tag, and Peeves is it!" 'and sinker!' thought Harry as he and the rest of the first year badgers ran off at full speed, the black haired youth pulling along one Mrs. Perks.

"Left!" shouted the short blonde known as Megan.

They were almost at the fourth corner, now in territory they did know, or rather it seemed, Megan did, and even Zacharias, for all of his prior grumbling, followed her every command.

"Right!" they ran down a small staircase of about 7 steps.

"Left!" They never quite got into that corridor.

What met them there was Nasally laughter, Megan shrieks of warning, though probably more in surprise than the former, and a blast of ice cold water. " Tag, you're it! HAHAHAH! Catch me if you can, you huffers!" and the poltergeist zoomed off, still cackling in malicious glee and delight. Where he'd gotten the water from, least of all how he'd beaten them here, were puzzling facts. That could wait, his breath however couldn't. So they stood there a few moments, wet, and puffing from the running.

"Potter, " muttered Megan after a minute or three apparently having caught her breath.

" Yes?"

" I hate tag."

He couldn't help but laugh.

Twenty-five minutes in total it had taken them, but they had finally reached the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom. Since none of them had known a drying charm they were still soaking.

"A-a-a-b-b-bout t-t-time. W-what t-t-took s-s-so l-long" Stuttered Quirrel, while in the background the snickers of the Slytherins could be heard.

" We met Peeves on our way here, professor." Explained Hannah.

" A-ah I- I s-see. T-t-take a- s-seat." He looked just about ill at the thought of meeting Peeves.

" Professor, could you please, before we do so, dry our robes?" asked Megan, who had made it point in case to let them know on the ten minute trek to the room that she was very displeased with her current state of being. Not to say that Harry, or any of the other first year hufflepuffs enjoyed their wet robes, but none had been as displeased about it as her, except for maybe Zacharius. Though it should be mentioned that hadn't complained as loudly, but his mutterings and dark looks were more than clue enough as to how he felt about it, but then having water dumped on to you twice in one day wasn't exactly happy making material. It appeared that the young Smith blamed him for this wet experience as well, though if he were fair he had been the one to organize the one this morning.

Even if the rest of the class was practically a joke, most of what the teacher said being unintelligible and for Harry headache inducing, due to Quirrels extreme and not to mention consistant stuttering, the man did know his charms, drying all the hufflepuff's drenched robes.

This particular class hour he sat next to Megan, as apparently it was either that or letting her sit next to Smith, which seemed a bad idea, as Susan readily agreed sitting herself next to the previously mentioned blonde boy, plus that their current foul moods definitely didn't make it the right time to try it out. He hoped that in the foreseeable future they could at least get along without making it a shouting match, though the chance of this happening looked particularly slim at the moment.

She immediately let him know that she was still quite miffed with him, even if he was "slightly better than that stuck up ponce." Besides that the communication between them was rather sparing; being made up of the glares she sent his way and the comment of " Will you be quite, I want to at least scavenge something from what's left if this first lesson!" making it quite apparent that she was in no mood at all for small talk.

So since conversation was out, and trying to listen to the man that taught this class wasn't very informative, he decided to follow Wayne's example who was doodling in class for the second time that day. When the bell rang he'd filled his page with drawings while his neighbor had filled her page with sporadic notes, he felt that his time had been spent better, it had been an introductory class anyway.

They all exited room 31 all eager to fill their stomachs with the positively godly food that the great hall served and having run away from Peeves, from the third floor to the second definitely made that a very nice prospect. A less nice prospect, as was soon noticeable, was that they had to trudge this journey alongside the Slytherins. The Slytherins being whom they were had to make a cracking comment about the fact that they were spectacularly late.

" Hey Malfoy, any idea why they were so damn late?" asked a boy with brown eyes and black hair that reached his shoulders.

The now appointed Malfoy, whom had grey eyes and slicked blonde hair answered in drawling voice: " Well they had to take the purple out of his hair sometime Nott." while nodding in Harry's direction.

" Ah true, purple hair is a bit rebellious for Hufflepuff." Agreed Nott with a smirk.

As far as Harry was concerned the barb could be let go, the purple hair was nothing and it was a pathetic attempt at riling up. Megan was apparently in a very bad mood, or just that easy to rile up, he currently couldn't decide, didn't see it for the invitation it was and spoke back. A novice mistake, one he'd learned not to make for that's exactly what they wanted.

" Hufflepuffs can be rebellious, Nott!" snapped the blonde hufflepuff girl.

" Apparently, getting that late into class! What rebels!"

" And drenched no less, wetting the floors! Oh Dear!" and the pug-nosed girl giggled at her own crack.

He looked around and saw that everyone was by now blushing and or glowering at the offending preteens. Not at all trying to put a stop to Megan who was about to tell them about their meeting with the poltergeist, in detail, a very bad idea because that was giving them more ammo. Which was the exact opposite of what they wanted.

He sighed and reluctantly intervened. " Ah, but at least we got to smell less like garlic." It had hung heavily in the air that particular smell, the whole class long.

That took them by surprise, surprised by the fact that he understood the game. Oh if only they knew.

Malfoy went for an old classic. " So, he can speak."

" More than I can say for your two grand companions." the two big set boys stopped guffawing sending him promises of death with their eyes. He didn't take a step back as the rest of his companions did; he'd dealt with worse.

" As that may be, Potter, do keep in mind that they have.. other talents." The veiled threat, he had to give to the blonde ponce, for an eleven year old it was well done. Sadly for the Malfoy, he'd seen better.

" Probably, but I don't think they apply in front of the Great hall. " Using your surroundings, something that had to become natural to him as well, for they had reached their destination.

Nott took the parting shot, for he had taken the starting shot, as was the custom. " Maybe not Potter, but then neither do yours, if you have any that is. You were after all not known of before the sorting. "

Harry's eyes narrowed as the slytherins moved towards their strung a cord all right. 'Well played.'

They all took seat at the table and as soon as he sat down people talked.

" How could you let them get away with that!" fumed Megan

" Yeah, especially that last one!" spoke up Wayne

" Because if you," He glared at Megan, " hadn't bit to the damn bait he would have maybe shut up!"

" Maybe," agreed Susan " but they were being so utterly infuriating, taking a jab at our house!"

" Yeah got to protect house honor." Added Earnie

" How important that maybe, telling them about the incident with Peeves is about as bad as you can go about it! I understand if you want to defend our honor and shut them up, really that's all good and well and I want that too, but next time please think before you talk!" defended Harry

" Well sorry if I had a bit of a short fuse because I was wet, because of somebodies little game!" grumbled the blonde girl.

" Yeah did you want us to just stay quite about it when they said that?" muttered Smith.

" Yes." Said Harry unabashedly "I ain't saying it's bad, just that next time they are trying to rile us up you don't rise up to the challenge. Keeping quite should eventually bore them and they won't bother us. "

" I-I-I agree with H-harry." added Sally whilst looking down at her plate.

" I do too," said Hannah," it's just that I wanted to show them whose boss!"

" I find it quite hypocritical that we can't talk back, but you can!" complained Zach.

" That's because I know how to deal with them without blowing up in fit of anger. " pointed out the black-haired youth.

" Can't deny that, the comment about the two gorrila's was priceless!" said Wayne

" Also thanks about the situation with Peeves ," spoke the redheaded girl, " I had no idea what we could do to get away. "

" No problem, though next time I'll see what I can do about the waterworks." Everyone chuckled.

" Yeah, you should know all about that. " Zach gave him a pointed look, Harry grinned.

" That was actually Wayne's idea you know."

" Hey, unintentionally!"

" Unintentionally?" Smith's statement was laced with disbelief.

" Yeah."

"Bullshit."

And so they delved into that argument and eventually other topics of conversation came about until the diner was over.

A short walk and they were back in the commons where they all grabbed their books and read what the texts they had gotten assigned.

Soon enough they lay in their beds and the five boys talked about their first day, but sleep was a wanting mistress and one by one they fell to her charms. One Harry Potter though didn't, for he was far away with his thoughts, going down memory lane. Thoughts that had once again breached the surface because of Nott's and Charles' comments.

The year of 1986:

Harry Potter, deeply fowning, stepped out of the bus and looked at the grey building that loomed ahead of him as the other students that were on his bus passed him by. He looked around; at the cars that were being driven, the parents holding their children's' hands. He closed his eyes took a deep breath, shouldered his bag and walked on resolutely.

He wasn't jealous. He would be fine, he'd make friends,he didn't need his brother. Yes, he'd be fine.

As he walked on he looked at the ripped paper that was in his hand, the one he'd looked at while he'd rode the bus. The one the he hoped was an illusion and that the old man he'd sat next to would turn into one of his parents. When that didn't happen he'd glared at it like that would make it spontaneously combust, it didn't. Not then and not now, it stayed exactly as it was relaying the message he knew now by heart.

Harry,

Emergency calls at work so sorry we can't take you to your new school. Take bus 38 and your stop is St. Petersons and you should be fine. Your class is 3C in room 5

Love, Mom and Dad

He crumpled the message when it still refused to combust. So convenient those 'Emergency calls'. He threw the paper on the ground and for good measure stomped on it three times, he felt slightly better.

He passed the gates, which had black sharp spikes at the top preventing anyone unwanted from getting in once they were closed. The school, St. Peterson was made up one big, rectangular building. It was grey (the drab, morbid kind) flat surfaced and plain. The only thing that stood out was the giant emblem of a shield with two axes, which was engraved proudly above the main entrance of the building. As Harry walked towards the big wooden doors that were the entrance he notice kids of many ages walking towards the building, showing that St. Peterson was an institute that gave children an education all the way from lower-school to high-school. All in all St. Peterson didn't give of a very child-friendly vibe, at least as far as the exterior was concerned, Harry though trudged along, slowly, but nonetheless he moved on, not once stopping to stare at the intimidating sight as many did, after all he was Potter.

Finally he entered his new school and found that the interior was somewhat warmer, the light brown color of the wooden doors that were dotted in the corridor gave of a sense of familiarity, for this kind of wood was often used in the area. The Softly glowing lamps from the ceiling illuminated it making the wood seem more vibrant and alive than it really was. Harry weaved through the sea of people; looking at each door until midway down the hallway he found classroom 5. He entered the room and looked around, trying to see if he saw a familiar face. It was not to be; he saw not one of his former schoolmates. He moved to the last row, since that was the least crowded. He claimed the middle desk, and from there he watched the proceedings of his soon would be classmates.

Some of the children his age were crying, not wanting their parents to leave them in this strange building in which they had only been a certain amount of minutes whilst others apparently already knew each other and were having conversations of their own. Finally it seemed class really needed to start and the parents that had stayed behind until now left the room, all saying soft good byes to each their own child. It was during all this that a big boy, with spikey black hair came over to Harry's desk and unabashedly stated: " That's my desk, move it."

Harry, already in a foul mood for various reasons stoutly answered a " No. It's mine."

" I'm Timothy Cox. " Spoke the boy again, in the same haughty tone, as if the name meant something. To Harry Potter it currently didn't, through in time to come it would.

" And I'm Harry Potter, nice to meet you." The sarcasm was practically dripping off the words.

" Potter? As in from number 30? What are you doing here?" sniped the spikey haired kid.

" I don't know, maybe school?" The boy was turning a color of puce, the one he'd seen Uncle Vernon turn that one time. Harry snickered.

Though before the boy could open his mouth to return a scathing comment the teachers voice intervened " Everyone take a seat!" the way she was looking at both of them it told them to stuff it.

The boy wisely did, and took seat down the row though not before saying: " This isn't over!"

The brown haired woman that stood in front of all their desks introduced herself as Mrs. Dally but she insisted they call her Mrs. D. She was young, for a teacher. Brown hair and black eyes that surveyed all within the room, nothing escaping her notice, as a few of his classmates found out. Two hours passed by and Harry decided that he liked the class and the teacher.

She called break and sent them to the courtyard. The courtyard was at the other side of the building. It was quite simple: a few trees here and there, a jungle gym in the middle and and a wall that stood out, a short alleyway behind that which was the place where the Concierge entered the building.

Harry had only spoken to two people besides Timothy, one was a blonde girl by the name of Charlotte. She said her mother was French and was quite proud of it too. The other was Gary, a red-head whose father worked in a small office, in a small town a little bit south of Godrics Hollow. Charlotte was loud and pushy, but Gary, being from the same town, assured harry that she was nice.

They were playing with the marbles that Gary had brought along when Timothy came over to them. In an expectant tone Cox said: " As repayment for earlier: give me your lunch money."

" No." he answered without hesitation.

"No?"

"No."

" Potter, I'll ask one last time: give me your lunch money." The bigger boy cracked his knuckles.

" Not going to happen. " Timothy proceeded to take swings at him, Charlotte and Gary exclaimed their surprise.

Most of them Harry dodged until Timothy also learnt to feint and hit him squarely on the noes.

Harry fell to the ground and groaned, that hit had hurt. He cracked open his right eye and glared at Timothy, who was smirking. Harry's already bad mood spiked, he was going to make the Cox boy regret that.

" How about now Potter? "

" You really want it?" he flinched; his nose hurt more when he spoke.

" Yes."

"Okay," Harry stood up closing the distance between them, moved his left hand to his pocket and took out his wallet making the smirk on the bigger boy grow, and promptly kicked Timothy in the balls. Hard. Gary winced.

The bigger boy fell to the ground with a whimper and lay there, tears streaming down his face as he rolled from side to side. The satisfaction he felt was even greater than when he had stomped on the message his parents has left him.

He couldn't help but smile, until that smile was wiped off his face by a voice " What is the meaning of this?"

He turned around and there stood Mrs. D, black eyes glaring at him accusingly. He looked down at the ground, all satisfaction leaving him. He knew that look; it was the same one that his mother used.

He peeked through his fringe "Well?" Her hands were on his hips now, an expectant look on her face. Exactly like his mother.

He was about to open his mouth when Gary told the tale, Charlotte nodding along.

In the end they still both got detention, much to Timothy's outrage. Harry thought that worth it, just to see Timothy having to Sweep the Courtyard as well.

" I expect you two to behave yourselves now. I do not want to see this again, got it?"

" Yes, Mrs. D" they chorused, Timothy glaring at her.

"Good. I'll see you two after school." She left, a last lingering glare on the both of them.

As soon as she was out of sight the Cox boy growled: " You'll regret this."

He scoffed. " Sure I will.' He would.

The rest of the school day went of without a hitch and Harry's mood cleared somewhat. The detention was doable, and hearing Timothy grumble was music to his ears. He came home relatively happy, only to find another note.

The next day the morning passed, they had to attend a school wide assembly but he talked and joked with Charlotte and Gary through most of it. He smiled; he was making friends without Charles!

That break once again the spikey haired youth interrupted their game of marbles.

This time he spoke differently though, with an unsure and sincere voice: " Hey Harry, sorry about yesterday. My brother told me to bring you to him so that he too could apologize for me. Is that ok?"

Harry looked at him shrewdly, but he never noticed the shine in the boys grey eyes. " Sure!"

" You guys have got to wait here though, my brother has a secret hideout that he doesn't want everyone to know about. Ok?" The other two children nodded, though a look passed between them, one that Harry was familiar with. It was a look that said they would do just the opposite.

He followed Timothy and they eventually came to behind the wall, where he saw a group of older kids smoking in a small circle.

" Daniel, I'm here!" announced the younger Cox. The group broke apart, letting them in. Harry never noticed that it closed off behind him. He was too focused on the person that was infront of him.

A blonde boy, buff, towered over him and with bleu eyes looked at him.

" Welcome, Harry. I'm Daniel Cox and now I'm going to thank you." The voice was rough, probably from the smoking, filled with a tone he couldn't place at the time. It was a tone he was going to be familiar with.

Suddenly, way faster than Timothy could punch; by the scruff of his shirt, he was lifted him of the ground, high off the ground. The teen growled the next words out.

" Listen well Potter. I don't care if you're from number 30 or if you're the prince. In this school I am king! This schoolyard is my kingdom! Do you know why?"

Harry got out a shaky " no".

" Who else has the name Cox?" Who else had the name Cox? Timothy and, and.. His eyes widened as he just realized whom shared their last name.

The principle.

Daniel must have seen the recognition in his eyes.

"That's right, boy, the principle. Now, I'll let you of the hook this time, and only this time. You don't want to anger me do you?"

His voice had left him, so he just nodded.

" That's smart of you. To do that keep this in mind: There are two other people, besides me whom you will listen to at all times! Suzanne Cox" he pointed to tall black haired girl with the same sharp bleu eyes," and Timothy Cox. If I so much as hear you pull a trick like that again the consequences won't be… nice. Understand?"

Harry nodded frantically.

"Do you?" cold bleu eyes bored into his green ones.

" Yes!" he all but squeaked. He was put back onto the ground.

" Good, now go and be a good boy and play with your friends." Harry didn't need any more persuasion, he ran. He arrived breathlessly at the big group of children in which he saw his two friends. The words that were spoken next confused him: " You can't play with us?"

"What?" he asked bewildered.

" You can't play with us. " said the same boy.

Harry looked at Gary and Charlotte, they avoided his eyes, but not before he saw the look in them.

Fear.

They knew. They'd seen.

Anger chased away his own fear.

" Fine!" he spat and ran away to the biggest tree in the courtyard. Sitting behind the large oak he realized something.

He missed Charles.

Harry's eyes focused back onto the yellow and black cloth that hung over his bed, having succeeded at pushing away the oncoming memories. He didn't want to relive them all. He stood up and walked to the window. The moon was waning, but it was far away from being a crescent yet. As he watched the moon he thought on what a friend was and all it entailed. Who was, could be? Maybe. Yes, Maybe. It was so that he finally fell into the arms of sleep, a smile on his face, dreaming of maybes.