Harry looked the papers over again. He read every line carefully. Finally he set them down on his lap and ran his fingers through his bangs again. He could think of no one to sign the papers. He had gotten the Durselys to sign them so easily. They had almost tripped over one another to sign the papers in joy. But he could not find the second person to sign the papers. He sighed and raised the papers, ready to burn them. They were dangerous for him when already half signed. Like signing a blank cheque and leaving it to tempt someone.

Just as he was ready to call the fire, to burn them, a hand snaked past him and grabbed them, long nails delicately holding them. Harry froze. He had never been snuck up on like that. Even Noir and Maen had only gotten within five feet before he had noticed them. D had snuck up so he was barely a foot behind him, reading over his shoulder. They, Noir and Maen, and he had been right. D was dangerous. D gently tugged the papers from his tense hand humming lightly behind him. D rested his chin on Harry's shoulder and reached his other arm around Harry's waist to read to papers.

"Oh? You need a new guardian to escape this Dumbledore man?"

Harry didn't reply as the breath ghosted over his skin.

"But you can't find one."

Harry tilted his head just slightly so his green eyes met the mismatched purple and gold. A smile spread the blood red lips giving the man a look of kindness, yet cruelty at the same time. He stroked Harry's cheek.

"I don't think you can hope to find a wizard that would be your guardian and understand you." He purred. "That's why you're friend are a vampire and a werewolf. Why the only ones you trust are a snake and an owl. Why you hide and lie to your two human friends."

Harry shuddered just once as the long nail slid down his cheek to his chin.

"So misunderstood." He said in sympathy. "You're human, yet you aren't."

Harry shuddered again.

"Poor Harry." He cooed.

Then with a flourish he had a pen in hand. His name was signed with a flourish. The papers were then gently pushed into his chest. Harry grabbed them as D pulled back smirking. Harry looked to the papers to see the magic around them seal. It was official. D was his guardian. He shuddered.

.--.

Harry looked at the book store in slight interest as D was moving around the pet shop across the street. He sent a glance through the window to the man. D. D was as confusing as all the other people he had met, if not more so. The man gave off an air of patience, calm, kindness. He could act so utterly kind while being so terrifyingly cruel. He didn't like many humans. It only made Harry wonder if he was human even more. The man essentially left him be though. Besides the passing words he gave Harry could leave for large amounts of times, come back bloody, and still D would just give that kind yet cruel smile. Like he always knew what Harry had been doing.

Harry found himself oddly respecting the man. While he could do a lot being his guardian he did nothing. Harry found himself feeling free with D as his guardian. He had no restriction. He had no rules. D did not care about laws, magical nor muggle. D did not care about killing. He could do anything. He felt the weight on him slowly lesson. But he did not feel completely free. He would not feel completely free till he could go anywhere, do anything. At the moment he was restricted to London not because of anyone. He couldn't leave London knowing if anyone found out he'd be hunted down.

Harry shook the depressing thoughts off. Someday he'd be free, whether in death, or when he had finished with the world and could do as he pleased, no one seeking him out for what they wanted. He looked back to D. The man would be fine on his own. Though he acted ignorant of much he knew quite a bit, and he definitely knew quite a bit of magic, even if Harry knew he couldn't use magic like wizards or witches. Harry strode over to the book store and slid in ignoring the crowd.

He stared when he found out what they were starring at. A man. A man with gold hair, a bright smile, and blue eyes. Utterly Fake. They were drooling over this man? Harry just shook his head and moved to grab all the books he needed. When he saw the DADA books were utter rubbish he chose some extra in this section. Harry then move to the till and paid with the till minder, a girl who was drooling over Lockhart. Harry tried to slip through the crowd but found him-self being pulled out, almost dropping the bag that now held his books.

"Harry Potter? So nice to meet you!" Lockhart crowed pulling him free of the crowd.

Harry would never know how the man had spotted him. He saw flashes from the camera's go off.

"Smile Harry! You and me on the front page tomorrow."

He rested a hand on Harry's back giving a dazzling smile. Harry felt his hand sink lower and tensed. Now if anyone had done this he would usually slit their throat but as he was in front of witnesses he did the only thing he knew appropriate in this situation. He slapped the man hard. Everything froze as Lockhart raised a hand to his cheek in shock.

"Pervert." Harry said in a distraught voice, which was of course fake.

Immediately flashes were going off twice as fast and Harry hurried from the crowd as Lockhart got some very angry glares from the women. Harry slipped from the crowd giving only a small sigh. As he slipped from the crowd though he ran smack into someone else. For a moment his vision was blurred by black material. He almost fell backwards but a gloved hand on his back stopped him. He looked up into beautiful silver eyes and felt his own eyes widen just slightly. Lucius stared at his eyes a moment before a smirk formed.

"Ah, Harry Potter. Nice to finally meet you." He said in a deep voice. "I saw what Lockhart did. No one should do that. Even if it is tempting."

Harry gave a small shiver.

"Let the boy go Lucius." A voice came.

Harry spotted a red head family out of the corner of his eye and recognized the twins immediately. They were glaring at Lucius. The man who spoke appeared to be their father.

"Aw, you have my intentions misread. I was merely helping him from falling."

The red head glared and Harry could see they had met quite often, and did not get along.

"Is something wrong gentlemen?"

All spun to look at D, who stood right beside Lucius. Everyone tensed. No one had noticed him get so close.

"No." The red head answered immediately.

'Then I shall be taking Harry."

Their eyes all fell to Harry who gently stepped from Lucius and looked to D.

"Finished D?" he asked slowly.

"Yes. The pet shop was quite wonderful. I've already bought about five. We must go get them." D smiled. "If you gentlemen will excuse us."

The smile seemed to reassure the red heads. But Lucius just tightened his grip around his cane. The man hadn't been a Slytherin for nothing it appeared. He could see the cruelty in the look.

"Come along Harry."

Harry turned to follow easily.

"Mr. Potter…"

Harry paused as D walked on out the store. Lucius was looking at him oddly.

"That man isn't…" He seemed to trail off.

Harry heard the unsaid word. Human.

"I know." He said bluntly. "But sometimes Mr. Malfoy, I don't believe I am either."

Lucius stared sat him a moment. Harry just dipped his head slightly and followed after D.

.--.

Harry gazed at the pillar in confusion. He had tried to walk through to find it blocked. 'Someone doesn't want me catching the train.' He thought idly. Then he gathered his energy and shoved it at the pillar. The barrier around the barrier (ironic, no?) shattered and he walked through with no resistance. 'They will have to try better then that.' He thought as he hopped on the train a moment before it left.

.--.

End Of Chapter 12.