Chapter 3. Vanishing Glass, Missing Hurts and Bright Colors
"Anyone else confused by the chapter titles?" Sirius asked getting some nods.
It's been close to ten years since that Halloween night, yet barely anything changed on Privet Drive. Every lawn was neat and tidy, not a twig out of place.
"Is that even possible?" Barty asked. "Maybe if they're all bland golems rather than muggles." Septimus said, which caused Abarax to snort derisively.
The morning light hit the brass number four of the Dursely's home. The living room with the pillows arranged in their perfect order, tables and knick knacks free from dust.
"Boring!" The marauders groaned.
The only way to tell that the years have passed was the photos on the mantel piece. Pictures of a pink baby resembling a ball in shape in many colorful bonnets, pictures of the large blonde ball on his first bicycle, at the fair, playing computer games with his father, getting hugs and kisses from his mother.
"I don't ever recall seeing a child that large." Augusta said. "These muggles aren't properly feeding their child if he resembles a ball." Arcturus said monotonously. Lily glowered a bit. Not all muggles were bad. She thought bitterly.
The whole room lacked any sign that three other boys lived there as well.
"If that's the case where are my great grandchildren then?" Arcturus questioned. "Hopefully with their proper families." Charlus said.
But there were in fact three other boys in the house, sleeping peacefully.
"Damn!" Dorea snapped. "Don't worry ma'am I'm sure the Heliopaths and Blibbering humdingers will protect them." Xenophilius said in an even tone. It silenced the group and Lucius was seen looking slightly nervous, and Abarax was looking a bit pensive. "Right. Thank you Xenophilius." Dorea said awkwardly. Xenophilius went back to reading.
Petunia Dursely was awake and made her presence known to the three. "Get up! Up! NOW!" She shrilly demanded rapping her bony knuckles against the door.
"I would rather have Padfoot screaming it's Christmas over that." Moony said, and James nodded his sentiments.
Harry woke with a start; Aries got up groggily and was shaking Leo awake. Harry heard Petunia, or rather Aunt Petunia, walk into the kitchen and put a frying pan on the stove.
"Is their room downstairs?" "I don't know Prongs." "Both of you shut up." "Yes Lana."
Harry flopped on his back trying to remember the dream he had. It was a good dream, with a flying motorcycle in it.
Sirius looked shocked. "He remembers my bike?" "It would seem so." Arcturus said.
Leo got up with a huge yawn, when he stretched he hit Harry in the face, who in turn smacked Aries in the stomach.
James and Moony snickered. "Like father like son." They chorused. Sirius beamed a smile.
"Are you three up yet?" Aunt Petunia demanded. Guess she was back outside the door.
"No duh." Shizuka said. Sirius laughed and hugged his future deadwife.
"Yes, ma'am." Aries replied rubbing his stomach.
"Guess my nephew is like Sirius." Regulus said, remembering when something similar happened between them.
"Well, hurry up. I want you three to look after the bacon, fry the eggs and get the pancakes going. And don't you three let any of it burn, I want everything to be perfect for my Duddy's birthday."
"Is this muggle treating my kin as house elves?" Arcturus asked hotly. Parents present and future were angry and appalled. "If my kid gets hurt-" "Get in line James." "Huh, paternal instinct there Reg?" "Shut up so we can read." "Yes Cissa."
Harry groaned. Dudley's birthday, how was it he seemed to forget it every year?
"Cause he's a git." James said. "He has your selective memory, dear." "Mum!"
"What did you say?" Aunt Petunia demanded. "He didn't say anything." Aries said glaring at her voice.
"Maybe she'll petrify. I'm sure Reg's glare could freeze hell over." Sirius said. His cousins and Barty nodded. "You can be scary when you're mad." Barty added. "No my daughter in law is scary." Septimus said. "Which one?" Augusta asked. "Molly. I've seen her glare daggers and spit fire one second and the next she'll coddle you and knit you a sweater." Septimus said. "That I need to see for myself." Dorea said, crossing her arms.
The boys shuffled around their shared bed and looked for socks in Harry's case, a shirt in Aries case, and a belt in Leo's case.
"They share a bed?" Nymphadora asked. "So it seems Dora." Ted told her. "Are they like you and Mummy then? Cause you and Mummy shares a bed?" She asked innocently. Sirius started to splutter. James resembled a fish. Regulus' mouth hung open. "No sweetie. They're not like Mummy and Daddy. They just share." Andromeda answered trying to bite back a smile. "I never want to hear those insinuations again." Sirius said. "I'm sure that's the only one." James said uncomfortably. "You might have jinxed us Potter." Regulus moaned into his hands.
Harry pulled a spider off of his sock.
"Ew." Many females there said.
Leo took the spider from Harry and put it on their shelf.
Those stated before repeated their action with more gusto.
The boys were used to spiders, the dark and small shared spaces, because the cupboard under the stairs fit that description perfectly, and that was where they slept.
Everyone sat still. There were yells of outrage, Dummies destroyed, tears shed, and this went on for a while. After several minutes everyone sat down glaring at the book.
When the boys got dressed, they wandered into the kitchen down the hall.
"I hope they get food." Minerva hissed quietly.
Aries said it probably had something to do with living in a small cupboard, but the three boys had always been small and skinny for their ages.
"That could easily stunt their growth." Andromeda said clutching her daughter closer to her as if the Dursleys would pop out of the book and hurt her too. Everyone looked angry or sorrowful.
And since they wore Dudley's hand-me-downs, or in Leo and Aries' cases "hand –me –ups" since they were older than Dudley,
This caused some laughter. "I wonder who came up with that one?" Remus asked. A note fell from the ceiling. Aries was all that it said. "That's my nephew!" Sirius said proudly, causing a few smiles to spread especially on Regulus. Arcturus looked at his estranged grandson intensely.
they looked smaller and skinnier since Dudley was four times their size.
The smiles dropped.
Aries and Leo were a bit taller than Harry, but were still shorter than most kids their age.
"So he's a midget with knobby knees and bed head." "HEY!" "It's true Prongs." "Shut up Sirius."
Harry also thought they looked girls with their long shaggy black hair that went past their shoulders.
Regulus and Sirius were flabbergasted as their friends howled with laughter. "HEY!" They yelled turning to their friends. "You two did look feminine when we were younger." Arcturus said with a smirk. Many looked shocked, but James, Remus and Barty kept laughing.
Leo said Harry was a specky green eyed bed headed midget with knobby knees.
Sirius blinked. "Anyone finding that remotely creepy?" Remus asked. Several hands were raised.
Aries told them to shut it, because they were gorgeous compared to the Dursley's.
And the laughter was back.
Vernon Dursley was a large beefy man with no neck, and a moustache that Aries compared to a walrus. Aunt Petunia was a tall, bony woman with blonde hair, and constantly looked like she was sucking a lemon. Dudley looked like his father, minus the moustache, plus his mother's blonde hair.
"Aries was right." Sirius sniggered. "Truer words were never spoken." Barty added. Regulus gave a small smile.
The only part of Harry's appearance Dudley was jealous of was the cool thin lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. He had it as long as he could remember, and when he asked Aunt Petunia about it, it was always the same answer."In the car crash that killed your parents. And don't ask questions." She told him.
"But that's how children learn!" all the current mothers said in exasperation. Lily glared at them for making fun of her older sister.
The Dursleys don't like it when Harry, Leo or Aries ask questions. Aries would always scowl when she said this.
"Why?" "If you let him read we'll find out." "Ok Moony."
"She's lying." was all that he would say about it.
Regulus blinked. "How much does my son remember?" He asked. "Who knows the mind is a mysterious thing." McGonagall answered the young Slytherin.
Every time Harry or Leo would ask him to clarify, he always got horrible nightmares so Harry and Leo would leave it be.
Regulus paled. "Do you think he remembers that night?" he asked nervously. "Hopefully not." Bellatrix said.
Other than that Harry and Leo would always ask Aries about stuff they didn't know.
"It's kinda sad that the boys are like this." Andromeda said hugging her daughter.
He read a lot and helped them with school work, even if he got held a year behind.
Regulus spluttered. "Why was he held back?!" "Who knows how muggle schools work, Regulus?" Barty shrugged. "He might've gotten bad grades or skipped a lot of classes." Lily added. That seemed to grate on Regulus' nerves and worries.
Uncle Vernon walked into the kitchen as Harry was turning the bacon. Aries managed a fancy flip with the pancake.
"Nice."
"Comb your hair!" He barked as a "good morning."
Remus and Sirius shared a look. "Hey James." Sirius said. "What?" "COMB YOUR HAIR!" The werewolf and dog Animagus chorused to a rounding groan.
Leo was grumbling as he fried the eggs. "Maybe if he had a comb that wasn't broken…"
"That might make things easier." Remus said.
But was ignored by the Dursleys.
Sirius frowned.
Every week, Uncle Vernon would look at the boys from his newspaper and say they needed haircuts. Aunt Petunia gave up on Leo and Aries trying to look "presentable."
"I don't want to know what she thinks is presentable given what her son and husband look like." "Agreed Siri."
Harry had to have had more haircuts than all the boys in his entire year, but it would always grow back messy and all over the place.
"THE AWESOME POTTER HAIR LIVES!" James bellowed triumphantly. Remus smacked him upside the head which Liliana kissed. Remus and Sirius mimed gagging and Lily was green with envy.
Dudley came into the kitchen with his mother, his watery blue eyes glittering at the sight of the food being put on the table.
"Muggle garbage disposal ladies and gents." Sirius said earning some laughs and cracked smiles.
That was rather difficult since the table was buried under Dudley's birthday presents.
"Please be a small table." Shizuka pleaded. "I highly doubt it Shi-chan." Liliana said solemnly.
Harry, Leo and Aries were eating quietly and quickly, wanting to get away from the Dursleys as much as possible.
"Who wouldn't?" James asked. No one answered him.
Dudley was counting his presents. "Thirty-six," he said looking up at his parents "that's two less than last year."
"I don't get anywhere close to thirty!" Lucius spluttered. "These muggles are horrible parents Lucius." Narcissa said patting his arm. "I feel a foreboding of bad parenting." Augusta said. "Agreed." Septimus said.
Aries glared at his plate and skewered his pancake violently.
Regulus looked curious and concerned for his son.
He would skip school to head to the local library, or to nearby towns to earn money singing in the streets.
Many jaws dropped. "My great grandson performs in streets for money?" Arcturus asked with wide eyes. Regulus looked pained. His son was treated like a house elf, and worked like a street urchin.
He used half of the money he earned to buy things for Harry and Leo,( a quarter for food and saved the rest), but they were mostly old books the library sold, or cheap supplies to actually sew some things for them with Aunt Petunia's thrown away sewing kit. Aries was always lucky if he could get Harry and Leo one present for either their birthdays or Christmas.
"That's depressingly sweet." Shizuka said thickly. "Aries is a good kid to use do this for them." Septimus said slowly. "I wonder why he goes to the library?" Lily asked. "Probably to read and buy books. He needs to find the answers to the questions the Dursleys won't let them ask." Regulus said sadly. His son grew up far too quickly and isn't living the life he deserves.
While Aunt Petunia was distracting Dudley with a large present from his Aunt Marge bringing the count to thirty seven and Aries' pancake had more holes that pancake in it causing Leo looked at Aries from the corner of his eye. He nudged his foot and Aries went back to eating.
"Aww." Many of the women and girls cooed. Sirius and Shizuka looked proud at the mention of their caring son.
Aunt Petunia was bribing Dudley with two more presents to prevent a tantrum that would cause Dudley to flip the table again. Harry could see the tantrum coming as he started inhaling his bacon much like Dudley would.
"He flipped the table?" Remus asked. "His parents let him flip the table?" Barty asked at the same time.
"So I'll have thirty…. Thirty…" Dudley tried to think,
"He's supposed to be eleven right?" Sirius asked with a snort. "For the love of Merlin, I think Crabbe and Goyle are smarter than him." Regulus groaned. "I think you're right." Lucius added.
but Leo could only snort at this monstrosity he lived with.
Sirius laughed at his son's description of the Dursley spawn.
"Thirty-nine you moron." Aries snapped.
"Thank you Aries." Regulus said relaxing into his chair a bit.
"Mum, he makes me feel stupid!" Dudley whined to Aunt Petunia.
"You must be joking." Abarax said in surprise.
"Don't make my son feel stupid you freak!"
"WHAT DID SHE CALL MY SON!?" Regulus bellowed in icy rage. Many glares were sent at the book.
She snapped at Aries while failing to put her arms around her son.
"How fat is this kid?" "Probably the size of Crabbe and Goyle put together after an endless buffet." "DAMN."
"Oh I'm sorry, but did your eleven year old son in fact have a hard time adding two to a number?" Aries said dryly.
"That's all Reggie there folks." Sirius said. That caused some sparse laughter.
Harry groaned, and Leo looked elated.
"I guess Harry just wanted to eat." Liliana said concerned. Shizuka smacked Sirius. "You had to have a trouble maker!" She huffed.
But before a full blown battle could begin the phone rang.
"That could have been ugly." "How ugly Sirius?" "Cross 'tween a Dursley and a slug, Remmy."
Dudley decided to unwrap his expensive presents which included a video camera, a remote control airplane, sixteen new computer games, a VCR and for some reason a racing bike.
"I bet Arthur would love to learn about these." Septimus said happily. "Those are all really expensive gifts. Close to hundreds of galleons worth." Lily said in shock. "Not even the snobbiest purebloods do that and they could easily afford it." Severus said for the first time in a while, surprising several people. Most had forgotten he was there.
The only exercise Dudley like was Harry Hunting,
Liliana growled viciously. James looked ready to jump into the book and save his son.
at the memory Harry nudged the round glasses he wore held together with scotch tape from all the times Dudley hit him on the nose.
Charlus looked livid and Dorea scowled deeply.
But every time Dudley went Harry hunting, Aries and Leo went Dudley Hunting.
Regulus looked shocked that his son would do something so…Gryffindor. The Marauders, Shizuka and Liliana cheered for the boys hoping they were as vicious as possible.
They were the only two people that scared Dudley and his gang,
"The kid has a gang?" Augusta asked. McGonagall shook her head. "Life of troubles for these brats." She sighed.
especially after the prank where they put Ipecac into their food and they couldn't stop throwing up.
The Marauders were laughing themselves silly, and decided to devise new pranks using muggle items.
The Dursleys chalked it up to food poisoning so Aries and Leo didn't get in trouble that time.
Regulus let lose a breath he was holding. At least Aries isn't taking this treatment lying down.
Aunt Petunia came back into the kitchen with an angry and worried look as Dudley began unwrapping a gold wrist watch from his father.
"What now?" Many groaned in despair.
"Bad news Vernon" she said "Mrs. Figg broke her leg she can't take them." She jerked her head at Harry, Leo and Aries.
"They have names use them you sour bitch!" Shizuka snapped. "Watch what you say about my sister!" Lily yelled turning as red as her hair. "Your sister is abusing my son!" "Maybe it's karma for all the bullying his father has done!" Lily countered. Out of all people it was Professor McGonagall who shot up first. "MISS EVANS! Under no circumstance is child abuse acceptable! You should be ashamed of yourself!" The Transfiguration teacher said to a stricken looking Lily Evans. She looked around the table and was met with angry, disgusted looks, even Nymphadora looked mad. She slumped down feeling disgraced and ashamed.
Dudley's mouth fell open in horror, but Harry's heart gave a strong leap.
"Why?" Liliana asked curiously.
Every year on Dudley's Birthday, Harry, Leo and Aries were left behind at Mrs. Figg's who lived two streets away.
Many sad and angry looks appeared when everyone remembered her attack from Dumbledore.
Leo called her a mad old cat lady whose whole house smelled like cabbage.
"Rio!" His mother admonished. (Japanese pronunciation of Leo)
Harry hated it there as well.
"Hadriano!" Liliana scolded. (Italian version of Hadrian)
Aries wouldn't have minded it if the smell was better and she didn't make them look at photographs of every cat she has ever owned.
"I can sympathize with my son there." Regulus added.
"Now what?" Aunt Petunia said as if they had actually planned this.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "The only people who deserve a broken leg are in the kitchen, and it's definitely not Leo, Aries or Harry." He said. Xenophilius looked at him. "He really is like you." "Huh?"
Leo rolled his eyes. The only people he wished had a broken leg were here in the kitchen and Harry and Aries weren't on the list.
Sirius stared. "That's even creepier than last time." He said. Everyone nodded.
Aries looked at Harry. He could tell Harry was happy not having to look at Tufty, Tibbles, Snowy, and Mr. Paws again, but he hoped Mrs. Figg was ok.
"Aries is like Regulus then, always reading people." Barty added offhandedly. Dorea cooed at her literary grandson.
"We could phone Marge." Uncle Vernon supplied. Aries and Leo's faces grew dark at the mention of her.
"Why do I get a bad feeling we'll meet her." Sirius asked. "I hope not based off Ree and Lee's reactions." Alice said. "Ree?" Regulus asked. "Lee?" asked Sirius. "Of course! Every kid needs a nickname." She said. "What about Harry?" Bellatrix asked. Alice shrugged. "I think Harry is his nickname, He'll probably be named Hadrian." She said. Many nodded.
"Don't be silly Vernon, she hates the boys." Aunt Petunia said.
"Ree and Lee feel the same." Nymphadora added turning her hair turquoise.
"Don't you lot feel the same?" Leo grumbled lowly,
Sirius and Shizuka shared a sad look beforse entwining fingers on a silent promise; a promise to shower Leo with love and affection when they raised him.
only Aries heard him and decided he'll make him something really great for his birthday.
"That's sweet." Septimus said. "When is his birthday?" Sirius asked. A pice of parchment fell into his lap. August 21. He and Shizuka memorized this freverently.
"What about- what's her name-your friend, Yvonne?" "On a vacation in Majorca." "You could just leave us here." Harry put in hopefully
"Why?" James asked.
(he wanted to watch TV. with Aries and Leo and maybe play on Dudley's computer games).
"Okay." Was all he said.
Aunt Petunia looked like she swallowed the proverbial lemon. "And find the house in ruins?" She snarled. "We won't blow up the house." Harry said missing the shared look between Aries and Leo.
"Do it, do it, do it." Sirius chanted.
"I suppose we could take them to the zoo…" Aunt Petunia said nervously "and leave them in the car." "The car's new they're not sitting in it." Uncle Vernon said without looking up from his newspaper.
"They're children, not animals!" Ted yelled.
Dudley scrunched up his face and wailed, knowing that will get his mother to do anything he wanted. "I-I d-don't want then t-to come!" He wailed in pretend sobs.
"I have given up all hope on this child." McGonagall sighed tiredly. "You actually had hope?" Moody asked.
His mother's arms flew around him as much as they would go. "Dinky Duddydums"
Everyone laughed themselves silly.
Leo choked a laugh and Aries snorted with a piece of bacon on his fork
"Losing battle boys, just laugh." James said sagely.
"don't cry, Mummy won't let them spoil your special day!" Aunt Petunia cried.
"This is your sister Evans?" Liliana asked disbelieving. Lily shot her a glare.
Dudley shot them a nasty grin threw his mother's arms.
All mirth dissipated.
Aries lost his appetite, and Leo had a hard time finishing his eggs feeling disgusted.
"I'd do that just by looking at him." Frank said seriously, causing some scattered chuckles.
The doorbell rang. "Oh, good Lord- they're here!" Aunt Petunia said frantically, going to greet Dudley's gang.
"Seriously a gang?" Charlus asked incredulously.
Dudley's best friend
"This spawn of gits actually has friends?" Remus asked shocked.
Piers Polkiss, a scrawny rat faced boy walked in with his mother.
Many dark looks were spread at the word 'rat'.
He usually held people's arms behind their backs as Dudley hit them,
"Charming." Abarax drawled sarcastically
and was convinced Aries was actually a girl and tried stealing kisses from him.
Regulus spluttered. "WHAT!?" He cried out in shock. Many, including Sirius, laughed at his expense. "IT'S NOT FUNNY! HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF YOUR SON WAS IN THIS SITUATION!?" He asked. Sirius and James looked a tiny bit worried but shrugged it off.
Dudley stopped pretending to cry at once.
"Real friends won't care if you cry." Sirius said looking at his two best friends.
Half an hour later Harry who couldn't believe his luck was sitting in the back seat of the Dursley's car going to the zoo for the first time in his life.
The Potters and Liliana looked sad.
Unfortunately Harry and Leo were sitting on Aries' lap since there was only one seat left.
Regulus hung his head. "My son isn't a house-elf, girl or furniture…" Barty heard him and patted his shoulder.
Before they left Uncle Vernon took Harry aside. "I'm warning you now boy" putting his large purple face uncomfortably close to Harry's "any funny business- anything strange at all, and you and the other two freaks will be in your cupboard 'till Christmas."
"WHAT!?" "JUST TRY IT DURSLEY I DARE YOU!" "KONO YAROU!" ( Japanese-YOU SHIT!) "YOU WON"T EVEN SEE NEXT THURSDAY DURSLEY!" "GRASSONE BASTARDO!"(Italian- FAT BASTARD). Several broken dummies and mannequins later everyone was calm enough to continue.
Harry tried to assure him that he won't do anything, but nobody believed him but Aries and Leo.
"That's just sad." Alice said.
Stuff just keeps happening around them and they can't explain why.
"They're still doing accidental magic?" Arcturus asked shocked. Many of the adults nodded numbly.
Harry managed to grow his hair back over night when Aunt Petunia sheared all but the fringe off
"It's UNTAMEABLE!" James boasted with an overdramatic pose.
which got him a week in the cupboard.
And he deflated like a popped balloon.
Once Aunt Petunia tried to put Aries in a brown with orange puffball sweater that used to fit Dudley
"Crime that thing was even created." Sirius said.
("a crime that thing was even created" Leo said),
"I'm starting to pity Leo." Remus said. "Why?" asked Sirius. "He has your brains." "HEY!"
it shrunk to the size smaller than a hand puppet, and she decided it shrunk in the wash,
"Ok then." Ted said flabbergasted.
so Aries wasn't punished.
Regulus relaxed slightly.
One time though Leo got in trouble because he was trying to go skip school and ended up on the roof of the cafeteria.
"Brilliant!" Sirius cheered. "But school's important." Shizuka and Remus admonished. "Why did Leo skip school?" Liliana asked. A note landed in front of her. Creepy Janitor smelling kids' P.E. shoes. "That is creepy." Narcissa said.
The Dursleys received a very angry letter from their headmistress, and Leo got stuck in the cupboard with no meals.
Sirius and Shizuka were yelling various cuss words and insults (although Shizuka's were in Japanese."
Harry tried to help but his lie that Leo was so small and skinny, the wind caught him didn't help.
James groaned into his hands at his son's horrible lie.
But today nothing could go wrong.
"Jinx." Remus said
It might even be worth spending time with Dudley and Piers.
"Doubt it." James said
The drive was rather boring, with Uncle Vernon complaining about a lot of things.
"Of course." Sirius said.
Mostly Harry, Aries and Leo.
"HEY!" chorused several future parents.
Then he brought up motorbikes, and how bikers were no good hoodlums.
"Untrue." Sirius sniffed. "So are you going to end up in Azkaban?" Remus joked. Sirius stuck his tongue out.
Leo thought motorbikes were cool,
Sirius smiled.
and Aries remembered a motorbike vaguely.
Regulus looked shocked.
"I had a dream about motorcycles." Harry said "it was flying."
Everyone groaned.
Dudley and Pierce sniggered as Uncle Vernon did a good impression of a beet with a moustache.
Nymphadora went purple red and sprouted a hanging moustache which made everyone laugh.
"MOTORBOKES DON'T FLY!" He bellowed.
"Mine does." Sirius pouted childishly.
"I know they don't" Harry defended "it was only a dream."
"But they do and it's a memory." "Sirius." "Yes Remus?" "Shut your cakehole."
The Dursleys don't like anything out of the ordinary and seem to think anything will put dangerous thoughts into their heads.
"Possibly with Marauders as fathers." "What about my son then, Barty?" "His Uncle's one and you pulled a couple tricks Reg." "Really?" "Moving on." "But Reggie-" "MOVING ON."
Leo leaned against Aries. "Sounds like an awesome dream." Leo told Harry with his usual smile.
Shizuka smiled as she leadned against Sirius.
"Sounds like it'd be a lot of fun." Aries added with a small smile.
Regulus copied his son's actions.
Aries didn't smile often, but when he did it was comforting to Harry.
"AWW." Many females cooed.
Unfortunately Piers saw the smile and wanted to get one too.
Regulus' smile dropped like a sack of bricks.
"I had a dream where I was a king on a hunting trip chasing after a pretty girl to make my queen." He said smugly.
"I don't know if I should feel sorry for the animals he hunted, or the girl he was chasing." Regulus said dryly.
Aries' smile dropped as quickly as it came. "I don't know if I should feel sorry for the animals your hunting or the girl you're chasing." Aries added dryly,
Regulus blinked slowly. "I don't know if I should be happy or concerned." He said. "Be happy, just be happy." Barty said with a pat on the back.
promptly ignoring a downtrodden Pierce.
Regulus nodded.
Dudley was explaining his dream about drills much to the pride of his parents since Uncle Vernon worked for a drill company called Grunnings,
"Boring." The Marauders, Frank and Barty said.
Leo tilted his head back slightly and his grey eyes met Aries dark ones. He whispered "Ma'erd do'og a ekil sd'nous." back.
"I don't recognize the language." Arcturus said. Charlus, Dorea, Abarax, Shizuka and Liliana seconded their confusion.
Aries had read a book about codes and taught himself to speak in a code he worked on for a month.
"Oh. What is it?" Lily asked excitedly. A paper plane flew by and unfolded itself. We'll let you figure it out. Moody nodded. "Why spoil a good advantage?" he asked.
This was they're secret way of talking when they want to keep things secret. And to keep people from guessing Aries added a few fancy tricks.
Moody nodded. Maybe the boy could be an Auror. He thought.
On this sunny Saturday the zoo was packed with families. When the Dursleys bought Dudley and Piers large chocolate ice-creams, the smiling lady in the van asked what Harry, Aries and Leo wanted before the Dursleys could hurry them away.
"Yay!" Liliana cheered.
They bought Harry a cheap ice popsicle,
"I actually like lemon flavored." Liliana added.
Aries a strawberry one
"My favorite flavor." Regulus said.
and Leo a small scoop of vanilla,
"I kinda like vanilla." Shizuka said.
which the lady gave them saying "One for this handsome young man, and his two lovely sisters."
Sirius and Regulus looked petrified.
Aries and Leo didn't complain and just gave her smiles in return.
"COMPLAIN!" The two Black brothers urged for the sake of manly dignity.
Harry wanted to laugh but just giggled when he thanked the lady.
His parents were laughing themselves to tears.
"It's not funny." Aries grumbled.
Regulus nodded freverently.
"Yes it is.
"It isn't." Sirius insisted.
How many times have I told you two you look like girls?" Harry joked.
"Several based on their fathers' experiences." Charlus said with a chuckle.
"I'm actually happy she thought we were siblings." Leo said
Sirius smiled.
before eating his first ice-cream.
And the smile died.
That made Aries and Harry smile. They don't have any real family left except for Aries and Leo who were cousins.
"But the Black family is HUGE." Sirius whined.
Aries was pretty sure the Dursleys were related to Harry as much as a carrot is related to a flying squirrel,
Regulus got lots of questioning looks. "He didn't get that from me." He defended.
and Aries was the only one with any memory of their families, even if they are few and hard to remember.
Many women sobbed a bit.
All Harry could remember was a bright green light and a pain in his forehead.
The Potters looked pale. Liliana looked like she might be sick. "Did my baby witness the killing curse?" She asked sickly. No one answered her.
"We'll I'm glad I have such great sisters." Harry joked while licking his lemon popsicle.
Sirius and Regulus went back to grumbling as people laughed.
It didn't taste bad.
"Good to know." Abarax said sarcastically.
They spent the day walking behind the Dursleys and Piers, joking and sharing their treats with each other.
"That's pretty sweet." Dorea said happily.
They ate at the zoo restaurant and Uncle Vernon let the boys finish Dudley's first dessert since his Knickerbocker glory didn't have enough ice-cream on it.
"I guess that's good." Frank said awkwardly.
But then things took a turn for the worst.
Everyone groaned.
They went into the reptile house. It was cool and dark in there with all sorts of lizards, snakes, and "scaly things" as Leo put it.
Sirius laughed at his son's words.
Dudley and Piers wanted to see the dangerous ones to be cool or in Piers case to impress Aires.
Regulus looked sick.
They stopped at an exhibit that housed a large python. It was sleeping, coiled up in the heat of the exhibit lamp. "Make it move." Dudley ordered his father who tapped the glass.
"I'm pretty sure you're not allowed to do that." Ted said.
Aries looked at the sign that said "Do Not Tap The Glass" in bright red, and was wondering if either of them could read.
"Regulus snorted at his son's humor.
Eventually Dudley got bored and they left.
"Finally." Andromeda said.
"I'm gonna go check out the Black Mamba." Leo said poking Harry's shoulder. "Is Aries dancing again?" He joked.
Everyone laughed.
Leo laughed and walked off. Aries was quickly walking through crowds trying to lose Piers who wanted to try and steal a kiss.
Moody nodded at his evasive maneuvers as Regulus prayed it work.
Aries quickly found refuge at the King Cobra exhibit and soon began chatting with a girl there.
Regulus sighed in relief.
Harry moved to the front of the tank and stared intently at the python. He knew how it felt to never go out and to feel lonely. But he got to visit the rest of the house, and he always had Aries and Leo.
"Is Harry comparing himself to a caged animal?" Remus asked. Many nodded uncomfortably.
Then the snake opened its small eyes, and leveled its head with Harry.
"Okay." James said weirded out.
The snake winked at him.
"Um…" Charlus said feeling as weirded out as his son.
Harry looked to see if anyone was around and winked back.
"Why?" Dorea asked.
The Snake jerked its head to Uncle Vernon and Dudley, and then raised its eyes to the ceiling.
"Huh?" Liliana asked.
A look he'd seen Aries do plenty of times that said "I get that all the time."
Sirius gave a nervous chuckle.
"I know." Harry murmured, putting his head in his arms. "It must be really annoying."
"My son is talking to a snake." James said.
The snake nodded his head vigorously in agreement.
"And the snake is answering him." Liliana said in surprise.
"Where do you come from anyway?" Harry asked curiously. The snake pointed to a sign that said Boa Constrictor, Brazil, with its tail. "Oh was it nice there?" Harry asked. The snake pointed to the sign again, below what he read earlier it said specimen bred at the zoo. "Oh, you've never been Brazil?" Harry asked feeling bad for the snake. It shook its head.
"How is Harry a Parselmouth?" Septimus asked. Liliana raised her hand. "It runs in my family." She said. Lily narrowed her eyes. "But I thought it was a dark power." She said. Liliana scratched her cheek. "Back in Italia we don't have a stigma for it. You Brits only have it because of some evil wizards, but snakes are associated with healing in Italy and other cultures." She said.
Suddenly there was a loud shout from Piers that made both Harry and the snake jump. "DUDLEY! ! COME AND LOOK AT THIS SNAKE! YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT IT'S DOING!"
"Shut up." Liliana and Shizuka chorused.
Dudley came waddling as fast as his stubby legs would take him
Many laughed at his description except for Lily who was eyeing Liliana suspiciously.
but Aries and Leo sprinted and vaulted through the crowd and exhibits knowing Harry was over there and beat Dudley there.
Regulus looked pleased. "WOOT!" Sirius cried with pumped fists.
Dudley shoved Leo out of his way causing him to hit the back of his head with the metal railing,
Sirius growled like his animagus form and Shizuka fumed, "OI!"
and punched Harry in the ribs,
"HEY!" James cried out. "Marmocchio!" (Brat!) Liliana cried
knocking him to the floor. Harry glared hard at Dudley and suddenly something happened.
"What?" Sirius asked like an excited puppy.
The tank to the Boa Constrictor's tank vanished.
Many guffawed at the magic behind the action.
As the python slithered out of the tank, Aries kicked Dudley in the back with all the force he had and he went into the exhibit with a splash.
Many laughs ensued.
Aries ran to Leo to check his head when the snake slithered up to Harry. "Obrigado amigo." It hissed to Harry.
"At least it's polite." Liliana said.
"No problem." Harry replied back stunned. "Brasil here I come." It hissed while slithering away and out of the exhibit causing screams and hysteria.
"A spectacular exit." Sirius snorted.
Leo's head hurt, so he clutched it and formed a defensive ball.
Shizuka looked concerned.
When he blinked he was shocked. He didn't see people or the animals in the tanks. He saw they're outlines in various glowing colors.
Shizuka's mouth hung open. "What is going on?" Lily asked. "He's seeing auras." She said numbly. Lily looked skeptical. "I thought Divination was nothing but guesswork." She said. "Actually, aura reading is seeing aspects of the present and past." Shizuka said.
The figure to his left was glowing silvers and blues. The one towards his right was glowing gold and green. A large bulbous figure was a violent red. And a tall faded figure was a dull silver he barely noticed.
"That's a departed spirit." Shuzuka said. "But everyone can see ghosts." Lily pointed out. Shizuka shook her head. "This is a spirit who cannot manifest themselves, yet they linger, unseen and unheard by many." She said solemnly. Lily didn't look convinced.
He shut his eyes again, and when he opened them everything was normal again, but his eyes burned badly.
"That was his first time seeing auras." Shizuka said sadly. Sirius put a comforting arm around her.
He saw Harry to his right, Aries to his left and a very angry looking Vernon Dursley, but no one where the silver figure was. Aries and Harry were laughing hard for some reason.
"Why?" many asked.
Leo followed their sight and saw Dudley trapped in the snake tank, completely soaked with dirty water and snake droppings. The sign changed to "The Talking Pig, bred in a dull prison." Leo joined the laughter, and they laughed until their faces hurt.
Ditto for everyone in the Room of Requirement.
They stopped laughing though when Piers said Harry was talking to the snake. The laughter died slowly, at the sight of Uncle Vernon's face.
Many were anxious and dreading what may be heard.
When they got back to Number Four Privet Drive, Aunt Petunia was coddling a wrapped up Dudley who was whimpering.
"Big deal." Remus grumbled.
Uncle Vernon grabbed Harry and Aries by their hair and dragged them inside.
"LET HIM GO!"
"WHAT HAPPENED?!" He bellowed. Harry didn't say anything. "I don't know it was like magic!" Aries yelled, trying to get himself free. He threw Aries into the cupboard, and then he threw Harry in.
"OI! HANDS OFF MY SON!"
"LEAVE THEM ALONE YOU COMPLETE ARSE!" Leo bellowed with a terrifying glare that seemed to scare all of the Dursleys, especially Dudley.
"This will get ugly." Bellatrix muttered to herself.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME BOY!?" Vernon yelled back.
"You heard him just fine you pig!" Sirius yelled.
"You heard me! Unless you're as stupid as your son and his gender confused friend then-" His rant was cut short because Vernon Dursley had punched him hard in the gut.
Shizuka was shaking with anger and Sirius walked to a wall and punched it till his knuckles bled.
A sickening splutter came from Leo as he was thrown in the cupboard as well. Uncle Vernon had slammed the cupboard door closed, and spat out "There is no such thing as magic." Before closing the shutters leaving them completely in the dark.
"When I get my hands on him." Sirius muttered darkly as Shizuka swore in Japanese.
They couldn't risk sneaking out to get food from the kitchen yet so they just laid there in the dark.
Many of the women were sporting teary eyes.
Aries had pulled Harry and Leo up against him. "Someday, we're gonna go someplace far, far away from the Dursleys." Aries said softly. "A place where we are accepted, loved and where we belong." Aries whispered.
Regulus swallowed back tears. Sirius had no problem letting them fall.
He saved up as much money as he could. He kept it hidden in a small can hidden by his favorite books. He's saving up money for bus tickets.
Hardly a soul there could ignore the bitter depression at this knowledge.
He knows Harry dreams of some unknown relative coming to whisk them away, but Aries stopped dreaming that a couple years ago.
"I'm sorry…" Regulus whispered into his hands.
He's the oldest, and he's gonna protect his small broken family. He read as much as he could, learned as much as possible when he went to school, and knows that it's bleak, but he'll do what he can for his family.
"He shouldn't have to protect them from this." McGonagall said into her lace handkerchief.
When he was sure Harry and Leo were asleep, he took a deep breath and concentrated.
Xenophilius' mouth opened in shock. "What? What's going on?" Regulus asked worriedly.
He could feel the hurt Harry and Leo felt from Dudley and Vernon.
People winced from that.
He could feel them move from his arms and into his chest and head as he hummed a made up tune.
Jaws swung unhinged.
He felt exhausted and drifted into an uneasy sleep with Harry and Leo's bruises on him instead.
Sorry it was so long! My next few chapters might be lengthy too, but I'll try to shorten them a bit. Anyway sorry for any feels felt. There will be some more violence, drama, and hurt in my story, just a warning. Oh, and I'll include some mythology as well (it is magic after all). I'll try to add more humor and fluff to make up for it!