September 2003

In the few days they'd been back in town Harry couldn't get over the feeling that he was being watched. Everywhere he went, the townspeople seemed to be staring at him. At least now it wasn't for his scar and rotten status as a celebrity, but something more mundane– his skin color.

It hadn't helped him when he was a child stuck in white middle class suburbia and the neighbors believed the Dursley's lies because his dad must have been a foreigner and poor Petunia, having a sister who married beneath her.

Now stuck in western Montana, there wasn't a lot of diversity. There was a nice black man who worked at the local mechanic shop and a family of Latinos where Harry wasn't sure exactly where they came from in the world, but they were polite and eager to help him when Severus wasn't available. But he was for sure the only asian in town, maybe the only south asian the town had ever seen.

He kept his head up and watched for people who seemed more likely to solve problems violently. Today, Severus had a half day from the ranch and they were going to discuss the living situation. Harry couldn't stay at the inn above the saloon for much longer and Severus was ashamed of his continued poverty, living in a rundown trailer just outside town.

They met at the saloon and walked to the diner down on Main Street. As soon as they entered, a plump middle aged waitress ran up and hugged Severus. He didn't flinch so he must have expected it.

To Harry's surprise, he smiled at the woman and hugged her back.

"Harry, this is Connie. Without her supporting me when I first moved her, I might not be where I am today. Connie, this is Harry, a…friend from back home. He's thinking of moving out here with his godson."

Connie smiled and gave Harry an eager handshake before deciding it wasn't enough and wrapping him in a bear hug.

"Welcome to Whitefish, Harry! I'm so glad you're liking our little town. Why don't you two sit down and I'll bring you some water."

Severus smiled at her and guided Harry into a corner booth.

"Connie lost her son to AIDS and likes to be involved as a den mother to the local group." He whispered.

Harry's eyes got soft as he thought of the kind woman he'd just met going through that loss. Then, he sat up straight.

"Is there a local group of people…like us?" Being vague as he remembered Vernon's rants on fairies and poofters from his childhood and knew those ideas weren't uncommon as the men on the ranch had shown.

"There is. It's only a handful of people. Mostly me, Connie, and Anne and Rose. Lovely couple. Their yard was lit up with a flaming cross last year. They've been debating on moving with their son, Tyler. George also comes sometimes when he's in town. He's a truck driver for a big long haul company."

Connie returned with the waters and a couple of menus. "You boys take your time. I'll check on you in a few minutes."

They smiled at her and began to look over the menu. It seemed to be standard American food: greasy, protein and carb heavy, with very little in the way of rabbit food.

She came back and they ordered a couple of burgers and home fries, which Harry had never tried.

While they waited on their food, Severus looked at Harry with a serious look. Harry thought he'd never looked more handsome with his shorter hair tousled from wearing his cowboy hat all morning. He looked like a dark haired version of the Sense & Sensibility actor who played the colonel.

"Harry, we have to discuss our situation."

"I agree. I'm thinking of buying a house. One with enough room for you, me ,and Teddy. Maybe a room for Andromeda. I took a look at the real estate catalog, you know the one in the bin outside the general store, and there are some nice options."

"I'm not sure how safe it would be for me to live with you and Teddy. The other ranchers already suspect me of being…different. I don't want them to try anything with you."

"Severus," Harry reached a hand across the table and intertwined their pinkies. "I'm glad you're thinking of our safety. But don't forget, we have magic. I know, I know, some of the ranchers have magic too. But do they have access to the best ward schemes built and designed by the Blacks? I'm sure you remember the defenses on Sirius' house."

Severus furrowed his brow, trying to come up with another argument. Harry lightly tapped their feet together, smiling smugly as Severus realized he had lost the discussion.

He scowled as their food came. "Alright, but we do it my way. The safe way."

"Deal."