Chapter 2: Finding An Old Friend

Disclaimer: All things Harry Potter belong to J K Rowling

It was a warm summer evening, the sun was starting to set and I was eager to get back home. 'Alright Jack I think that's enough for today, we'll move the second batch in tomorrow'. When Luna and I moved to the muggle world the only thing I could think of doing was opening some kind of a plant shop and Hermione was glad to help us set it up. We had received whole heap of hippogriff dung a week ago and had some help from my neighbour, Jack. ' `bout time wev been at it for hours' he said as he took his gloves off. 'Yeah lets go home bud'

We got changed into our cleaner clothes and came out of the shop. As I locked the glass doors I saw Jack's reflection, his dung covered face, the sun setting just over his head and a scrawny little kid hiding in the alley in front of my shop. At first I thought it was a black cat but the soon it was obvious that the black haired kid was trying to get some food from the rubbish tin. I felt compelled to help the kid mostly because he looked about my sons age and I couldn't bare to just leave him there for the night. Jack didn't notice this however and probably wondered what I was up to when I headed for the wee alley.

I slowly approached the mouth of the alley not to surprise the kid. But he seemed to be aware of my presence long before I reached the alley because he was frantically looking for a way out, trying to climb the 2-metre wall. ' hello, I'm not going to hurt you. Don't worry' I softly whispered. that clearly wasn't the right thing to say `cause he started scraping his nails against concrete trying even harder to escape.

I stood there for a while almost too sick to continue watching but not wanting to drive the kid mad by coming closer. Jack came over ' wuts goin` un'. I thought 'oh no what's the kid going to do now'. The kid broke, he quietly wept as he gave up trying to escape. I felt it needed to be done so I came over and hugged him and said ' it'll be alright from now on'

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I quickly bid farewell to Jack and walked back home where I knew Luna and my dear son Frank would be waiting for me. As we walked home I asked the kid what his name was, he didn't reply it seemed like he didn't hear me so I said louder this time 'Hi, my names Neville, you can call me Nev if you want. So what's your name? ' I couldn't hear him but by the movement of his lips I knew he had said something.

I subtly took my wand out and 'hiralis laetifico' put a cheer up charm on him. I wondered if the charm had worked since there wasn't any clear result. ' My name's Ha… Harry…. but ma… my uncle calls me boy' he replied louder this time however not cheery by any chance.

I briefly wondered who his uncle was but thought it wouldn't matter much any more. The kid… no Harry was too dirty and grubby for me to see him clearly but him seemed to be English and fair skinned, his hair colour was hard to decide as to whether it was black because of the dirt or it was his natural hair colour.

He was about half a metre tall and he was always hunched and looking down.

'Ok Harry we're almost there'

'Where are we going?' Harry asked. He seemed to regret asking as soon as he said it but I didn't comment and replied. 'My home'

We reached the doorstep to a wee cottage with a beautiful garden full of exotic plants and wondrous flowers. I knocked on the door and said 'Luna I'm home'

Luna opened the door.

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