Harry fondly watched the two spiky-haired brunets working on Tsuna's homework on the dining room table. Heads bent over a piece of paper, Teddy - Reborn - was using Leon as a pointing stick as he was tutoring Tsuna about math, if he wasn't mistaken. Teddy absolutely loved math and one of his aliases was Dr. Borin, the genius mathematician, so he shouldn't have a hard time ensuring that Tsuna would get a perfect score in his math homework.

Ensuring that Tsuna understood the lesson though, was another thing altogether.

A frown appeared on Harry's face as he ran his fingers through his hair. Teddy was exhausted, trying to understand Tsuna, who still wouldn't speak his mind. As amazing as Teddy was at reading people (he knew his cub was observant but to see him seemingly read minds still astounded Harry no matter how many years have passed), it was impossible to figure out Tsuna's needs through non-verbal - and non-visual - cues.

(But Teddy was his son, which practically makes him a Potter. And doing the impossible was a Potter's version of normalcy.)

And he hated seeing his baby boy (literally) so tired and frustrated at the end of the day. For one, it made him quite violent, though he never showed those tendencies towards Tsuna, who has already experienced too much violence towards himself. (Thankfully, he had the foresight to prepare a reinforced training room in the basement for those occasions.)

For another, Teddy shouldn't have a reason to be so exhausted and frustrated in the first place. Tsuna shouldn't be so meek and submissive – so broken - for Teddy to be so exhausted and frustrated.

(But he was, and it was up to them to change that.)

He sighed as Teddy poked Tsuna on the arm with the Leon-turned-stick because the child most likely hesitated in answering, didn't answer, or stuttered while he answered. Teddy was harsh, despite his well-meaning intentions. It must be Hermione's influence; she corrupted his sweet darling cub and turned him into a taskmaster with perfection as the only acceptable result.

Which made him worry some more because Tsuna shouldn't get failing grades, much less zeroes, on his assignments with Teddy tutoring him for this past week.

When Tsuna looked up with wide pleading eyes, practically begging for a break, Harry glanced at the wall clock and noted that they have been working for at least two hours already. It was the perfect time for a break, which Teddy tended to forget. (He blamed Hermione for this as well.)

"So, Tsuna-kun," he started, his tone light and kind, as he tried and failed to smother a smile. It was difficult for him not to because he endeavored to look at the world through rose-tinted glasses (both figuratively and literally). He had to remind himself that there was still good in the world, despite spending most of his days in the Underworld. But then life gave him Tsuna, who wasn't in the Underworld - who didn't belong in the Underworld - yet shuddered when he was smiled at.

Sometimes life was a real bitch.

(Death, on the other hand, was a bugger.)

"How's school?" he asked, serving peppermint tea with white chocolate cookies. Teddy, on the other hand, was given an expresso in his favorite mug. It was prepared to his liking, dark and black, like his soul.

(Reborn accepted the mug with a dubious look because he either read Harry's mind or believed that his drink was tampered with. Both of which were possible.)

"Fine," Tsuna answered without a stutter. Teddy was a truly miracle-worker because despite his methods, Tsuna was speaking without stuttering or hesitating for the most part. And it has only been a week. But Harry wasn't surprised because Teddy always pushed himself relentlessly towards his goals and his current goal was to make Tsuna stop stuttering and to speak up.

(That was why Teddy needed Harry because he did not know when or how to stop pushing himself. He always relied on Harry to pull him back before he forgot himself and went overboard. And Tsuna obviously needs them both - one to push him forward and one to pull him back before he broke.)

"Are you really?" he asked as he set aside Leon's cookies on his own platter, lest the mischievous chameleon steal his cookies. Again. (How unfair was it that he never stole Teddy's cookies? Why was he Leon's favorite when it was Harry who prepared the cookies?)

"Yes," Tsuna said, his head ducked low as he drank the tea. Harry did his best not to pout because Tsuna did not react. Again. He still had no idea what Tsuna liked or disliked and the boy wouldn't tell him anything.

"What did I say about lying?" Teddy said, flicking Tsuna's forearm.

"Not to," he answered softly and Teddy gave a sharp nod.

"And is being bullied fine?" Teddy asked, taking over the conversation. Harry's heart broke at the confused expression on Tsuna's face.

"No?" he said, obviously unsure of his answer.

"It's not. Being bullied is not fine," Harry continued, a little sharper than usual. Then he sighed because he should be the kind and gentle one; but it was hard considering Tsuna looked so unsure at the idea of not being bullied. He managed to put on a calm even expression as he asked, "Have they been stealing your homework?"

"Yes?" he answered with a questioning lilt, only confirming Harry's suspicions.

"Is that a question or an answer?" Teddy practically growled and how unfair was it that Teddy was allowed to sound angry while Harry wasn't. (And the brat had the gall to smirk at him.)

"Yes," he said, though still hesitant.

"Okay," Harry said calmly though his mind was whirring with ideas on how to deal with them. "Will you please help me cook dinner, Tsuna-kun?" he asked, ending the conversation. Though he knew the boy wouldn't refuse, but Harry needed to make him relatively comfortable in his presence.

And besides, he was a much better cook than Teddy.

. . .

Harry waited by the gate of the Sawada residence with two bento in his arms and Leon on his shoulder. A glance to the seemingly blank wall to his left made him smile because Teddy could never really hide from him. (That's why Teddy absolutely hated playing hide-and-seek with him; his cub could never win.)

Eventually, Tsuna came out, a bit disheveled and wide-eyed at the sight of Harry.

"Good morning, Tsuna-kun," Harry greeted him with a small smile before reminding himself not to. Leon rubbed his head on Harry's neck, understanding his discomfort.

"Go-good morning, Hari-san," Tsuna replied, a little breathless with surprise, Harry assumed.

"Do you really go out, practically half-dressed?" he said, slightly frowning as he slowly entered Tsuna's personal space. He didn't want to scare the boy but he couldn't stand Tsuna's state of dress or undress.

(Harry knew that he was the reason why Reborn was so meticulous with his own clothes. So sue him. He just wanted the best for his son.)

After he practically attacked Tsuna's uniform (and hair, but that was just a lost cause), he cheerfully said, "Come on then. It's nearly time for school. You don't want to be late, now do you?"

And so, the two (three, counting Leon) of them went to school with an invisible shadow stalking them. (Also following them was the curious gaze of someone Harry did his best to ignore.)

"You're allowed to ask questions, you know," he lightly commented, glancing at the shorter boy to his side. The boy only ducked his head and Harry couldn't help but sigh. He was so unused with this awkward silence and it was grating on his nerves, if he was honest. But the gentle expression on his face didn't change as he waited for Tsuna to look at him.

"Why?" he whispered and he glanced up, not fully looking at Harry.

"Why am I walking with you? So your homework won't get stolen along the way. Why am I carrying a bento? Because you're too thin and you need to eat more. Why two bento? Because I'm not stupid and there may be bullies who would steal it from you so don't show the other one unless they steal the first. Or if you're hungry, you can eat it as well. Or you can just bring it home if you're not hungry. Or you can give it to a friend. It's up to you, really," Harry said, listing down all the possible questions Tsuna wanted to ask but didn't. He really wished he could at least read Tsuna's mind if only to spare him with all the guesswork.

But it seemed that none of his questions were the one Tsuna wanted to ask, judging by the curious look still on his face. "But none of those was the question you wanted to ask," he sighed.

Tsuna's eyes grew wider before blinking, most likely in shock. "No, I am not a mind reader," he guessed and Tsuna gave him a skeptical look. "Really. I suck at mind magics. Reborn, on the other hand, he could read minds," he added. (He grinned when he heard the snort from the sign post to his left.)

"Why are you doing all of this?" Tsuna asked, bemused and bewildered as he looked up to fully face Harry, breaking his heart once more.

Harry had at least a dozen reasons why but he knew Tsuna wouldn't understand and so he kept the calm gentle expression on his face as he said, "Well, I'll get back to you on that, yeah? We're at your school now." And then he gave Tsuna the bento. Leon, on the other hand, jumped off Harry to give Tsuna a small lick on the cheek. (He was notably not jealous that a chameleon could show affection to his cub while he can't.)

"See you later!" he said with a wave when Tsuna walked, rather dazedly, to his school. He was about to go back home when a black-haired teen stopped in front of him. "Hello?" he said, curious.

"You, herbivore, are loitering on school grounds," he said coldly and Harry wondered what he was trying to say. (Herbivore? Was this a new slang or something?) "For that, you will be bitten to death," he finished as a tonfa targeted his stomach.

He blocked the tonfa with one hand and met the boy's steel grey eyes. They shone with cunning and intelligence with a dash of bloodlust. Harry was reminded of a snake hunting its prey, and found it simply adorable on the child.

"I was only dropping my cousin to school," he explained with a grin as the other brunet pulled away with his tonfa. "Is that a problem?"

The teen seemed to give it some thought before he struck; this time his strike was stronger and faster. Harry was not strong or hardy but he was quick and agile as he jumped back from the attack and the successive strikes that followed.

Harry didn't make an effort to attack the child, because that was all he was essentially. A child who was stronger and faster than the average child but so quick to anger and so uncontrolled. In fact, Harry didn't even feel the need to make that big effort in jumping away from the attacks because they were too wild, too unrestrained. What the other brunet was doing was basically wasting his strength and stamina because all it takes to take down an enemy was one good hit. Even the tickling charm could fell the strongest of enemies if used timely and accurately.

Harry knew this and it was a pity this boy grew up learning that strength was everything. Harry could teach it to him right now, but with Teddy just a few feet away, watching like a hawk, he decided otherwise. He'd hate for Teddy to think this child was a threat to Harry of all people and suddenly attack this poor defenseless child because of his overprotective tendencies, which he most definitely inherited from Harry.

(Honestly though, Teddy should know that this child was no threat to Harry. Teddy wasn't a threat to him when they both went all out; and he knew his cub knew that.)

"You..." he breathed out as he (finally) backed off as he looked at Harry with a little anger and even less awe. "You are not an herbivore."

Harry let out a self-conscious chuckle because how was he supposed to answer to that? "Well, I tried being a vegetarian for a day but I didn't even last for a meal. So I guess, I'm an omnivore?"

"I see..." he noted as he stared at Harry for a moment. Harry just grinned at his appraising gaze before jumping out of his way when he charged at him once more.

"Ah, I still have things to do, so I'll be on my way now," he said as he ran away with the boy chased after him. But he had no chance in capturing Harry because Harry was faster. (He was also an excellent player of tag, another game Teddy didn't play with him anymore.) As soon as he ducked into an empty alleyway, he apparated home.

"Well, wasn't that fun, Leon?" he asked the chameleon, who seemed to agree with him.

First Encounters - end.

late again. and this time i'm actually sorry about it. i wasn't able to go through the whole thing for the umpteenth time so if there's something wrong with it, just tell me. i can take it. i am also sorry for not yet replying to your reviews. i'll get to them soon.

to Grayfia, thank you for humoring me and giving some sort of name. and for answering my question from the last chapter.

to KK, well i can't take away reborn's love for costume. i mean khr wikia had a whole page dedicated to his costumes alone. i'm also glad you liked the names, i had to put some thought into those. xp as for tsuna's friends, i already have plans for them. and i wish you the best for your story. x3

also, thank you Allykrau who also gave your thoughts about hibari. here's to hoping that hibari wasn't ooc.

and question, would you like to read about harry and teddy's past? like what they did when teddy was younger and stuff like that. if you'd like to read that, would you prefer to read it in a separate fic, which will not be updated regularly, or in this fic but as interludes or omakes? and would there be any specific scene you'd like to see, like teddy hanging out with the weasleys (ron and hermione's family) or teddy's time as reborn or something like that...just a thought.

thank you for dropping by and i hope you enjoyed your read~