Harry lay in bed. Not reading this time but bone tired nevertheless. A satisfied smile on his face. The last three days numbered in the best of his short life. And while it would not top some of the memories of his first go around in Hogwarts it was an all together different feeling to finally be able to do something he had never once been able to do before. Play with other children.

Barnaby Park had rocketed to his 2nd favorite place in the world behind Hogwarts. On his first day since he did not have a swim suit he ran over to an obstacle course children were playing in. A mock wizard battle was taking place with children of ages ranging from 7-10 were shooting multi-colored sparks at one another from toy wands. Miming wand movements and spewing incantations that may or may not be real. Whenever the multicolored sparks hit someone temporary splotches of color would decorate them person hit. Many children were a rainbow of colors giggling and taking cover in mock combat. While Harry had a real wand he was mindful of the underage restriction on magic not wanting to get in trouble before he got to Hogwarts. So, he also got a toy wand at the emporium that day though he had just been throwing in whatever looked interesting.

Quickly bringing out his toy chest he quietly said.

"Toy wand."

And out popped the wand hitting Harry on the cheek. Falling on his butt he shook himself. Right he had not unshrunk the chest. He had been warned when still shrunk it spat the items out with much more force. Rubbing his face he got up put the chest back in his pocket and picked up his toy wand.

"Are you alright?"

Harry looked up. A boy he vaguely recognized from his year in Hogwarts was reaching his hand down to help him up. Ernie he thought. Harry had not interacted with the other houses so much except with Malfoy and his goons. So he was not sure. He accepted the hand and got up. He was a stout young boy with blond hair. He was wearing purple play robes to Harry's red. Sticking out of his robe pocket was his real wand same as Harry and in his hand was a toy Wand. He had red splotches on his left cheek and his robe had pink splotches every which way. His smile was really reassuring.

"I am alright just accidentally summoned my toy wand wrong."

The boy nodded.

"I saw that, must have been expensive. I just have a regular one at home. The name's Ernie. Ernie Macmillan. I will be going to Hogwarts soon so my mum is taking me to the park pretty much every day because she says the castle is too cold. What's your name?"

Harry thought quickly. He did not want to lie but just giving his name would give the game away. Thinking fast he thought of his mother and blurted out.

"Harry Po- Harry Evans."

He quickly Ernie either did not catch the slip or was too polite to call Harry out. The boy simply smiled back and pointed at Harrys toy wand.

"Hi Harry, you want to play with us?"

Harry nodded, smiling, and the game began. Giggling and laughing Harry figured out you only needed to jab the wand forward and think of the color you wanted, and he quickly joined the fray. Though in the time it took to figure it out he had already been washed over by sparks of every color of the rainbow. But it did not hurt so Harry simply laughed with every hit on himself and crowed victory with every hit he managed. There was no danger of hurting anyone. His incidents with Malfoy and Quirrell quickly forgotten.

Whenever they took a break Harry and Ernie would trade stories and learn more about each other. They ran through the obstacle course that was ever changing, never staying the same from minute to minute. It resembled a miniature medieval castle.

Almost Hogwarts in miniature. But you always got a sense that if you ever wanted to leave you would simply have to turn around. By the time most of the other kids went home it was just past 5 and Harry and Ernie were almost dripping with Color from head to toe sitting on a bench together. Exhausted but completely satisfied. Harry's hat was practically vomit green instead of the ruby red it was before. But his cheeks were flush and he was panting. A balm to his soul. Though for a brief moment he still looked around as if he was afraid Aunt… no… Petunia would come and drag him off by his ear hitting him along the way. But there was no Petunia or Vernon or Dudley in sight. Just Harry and his new friend. So Harry relaxed and chatted with Ernie for a few minutes more. His friend would have to leave soon as his mother said 5:30 sharp. He bit his lip in indecision. But decided to be honest with the boy he would share Hogwarts with. He would find out soon anyway and he honestly liked the honest boy. He was in Hufflepuff before Harry's loop so he knew he was loyal. Bunching his hands in his hat where the colors were beginning to fade Harry frustratedly gnashed his teeth.

"What's wrong Harry?"

Ernie looked at him concerned. That gave Harry the proof he needed this should go alright.

"I was not exactly honest with you earlier Ernie. While my name is certainly Harry, Evans is my mother's name."

The boy looked confused pouting out his lips.

"Then what is it? Is it bad?"

Harry ripped the Band-Aid off once more taking off his hat he showed his scar making the other boys eyes widen in shock. Harry really hoped it would not become Hero worship.

"Not exactly though I don't much like the name Potter right now. It makes people treat me differently. I never did anything to deserve all this praise. I am just Harry and I only want to play and make friends right now. I have never had friends before."

The boy's initial shock made way to thoughtfulness. Rubbing his chin in thought. Before he smiled at Harry.

"Well just Harry I would be happy to consider myself your first friend. Will you be here tomorrow?"

Relieved, Harry exclaimed. A mutinous part of Harry's mind insisted 'not first, third.'

"Definitely."

Looking down at a watch the other boy jumped up and started making his way to the cabin. And told Harry.

"Tomorrow will be a busy shopping day so the fountain won't be as full bring a bathing suit."

The boy stopped looking at where Harrys scar was covered by his hat. He stopped to think. "It was a good idea to hide your name you would have been swamped otherwise. Hmm. But you cant wear a hat in the fountain. Your mother had red hair right?"

Harry did not know how to feel about a random boy no matter how friendly knowing more about his mother than he had just a short year ago for him but he did not comment. Instead pondering the point.

"Yeah?"

Ernie said.

"There is this shop my mother goes too near the entrance to Nocturne alley all the witches go there. Circes Cosmetae, I think. They sell all kinds of makeup and hair changing potions. They might have something you can use to hide your scar and change your Hair. No one will recognize you."

Harry shrugged.

"Its worth a shot."

Ernie surprised Harry by giving him a quick hug.

"Alright I will see you here at 11:00 or 11:30 after lunch. Till then Harry."

He gave the teenager a couple Knuts and flashed away in the floo.

The end of day rush was coming as he saw throngs of Parents and children making their way to the cabin. So Harry decided to give it a rest himself. Maybe he could make it to the shop before closing?

He had in fact been able to make it to the shop as the sign said they closed at 6:30.

The lady at the counter. An old crone he was almost certain was older than Albus Dumbledore and covered in immaculate makeup called him out as soon as he entered.

"Harry Potter. I never thought I would catch a glimpse of you here. What could a boy your age be doing in here I wonder."

To his surprise the ladies in the shop only glanced and paid him no mind. He would later learn in another loop there was etiquette in this shop. All the women here were shopping to either beautify themselves or cover up some defect of deformity. What happened in the shop stayed in the shop. Though he would not be surprised to find out that the rumors of him being in the alley started from the women here. Though no mention of this shop or his new look thankfully.

"It has been a long time since I saw your Mother. I miss her. Dirigible peach blush was her favorite."

The old crone reminisced as Harry walked up to the counter miserably taking off his now useless if comfy hat. Did everyone know his parents more than he did and had?

"I was wondering if you had something waterproof that could cover up my scar. And maybe something that could change my Hair color. Maybe my mother's hair color?"

The lady huffed.

"You boys never come in here to look pretty. Always just for scars or hair color. If you ever come at all. But no matter sit here Harry."

She pointed to a stool in front of a vanity. Harry hopped up on the stool and sat with his legs kicking in the air.

"Let's see what the damage is."

She lifted Harry's fringe and out floated a skin tone chart next to her reminiscent of Olivanders measuring tape.

"Oof that's a nasty curse scar. It should be having been made by the killing curse. This will require heavy-duty stuff. Hold out your hand."

The women in the shop abandoned their feigned disinterest and watched Harry like he was a hot meal making him squirm. But he did as he was told. Various jars of makeup made there way down with small streaks being made against his skin. He had no idea what the woman was doing but the other ladies were nodding sensibly. So this must be normal. Finally, she set two Jars aside. Crimping his hair back she dabbed first a white powder that felt funny and almost numbing going on blotting out his scar. Finally, she opened and gently brushed on a crème that matched Harry's skin color. Dabbing it until when Harry looked in the mirror it was like he had no scar at all. He blinked. He looked almost entirely different.

"The Concealer will be a sickle but curse scars don't like being hidden so the foundation needs anti-magic properties. 20 sickles, powdered troll teeth are expensive."

Harry made a face at the ingredient causing the women to giggle. The old crone chuckling like she smoked 2 packs a day.

"This brush and pad will automatically apply it every morning if you want. 5 sickles."

Harry said.

"I will take it. What about my hair?"

She pulled her hands through Harrys messy mop. Making Harry a little uncomfortable.

"Be patient Mr. Potter we were getting to that. So you have two options a temporary and a permanent one though since you mentioned water I suppose you want the permanent one?"

Harry nodded. The loop was temporary after all and this was something new. Maybe if he did not look so much like his father professor snape would not be so mean and antagonistic towards him. Though the feeling was now mutual to Harry.

"Permanent hair potions are tricky, no magic truly lasts forever so the best one is one that relies on your own bloodline only needing to switch things on. Unfortunately for most this just means slightly different shades of black or brown but in your case Mr. Potter it's a good thing you mentioned your Mothers hair color as that is your option."

She placed a black potion vial on the vanity stand.

"50 sickles please."

Harry got out the money he owed the woman and she unstopped the vial and gave it to him.

"Bottoms up Harry. If you want to go back to your current hair color simply purchase another one of these and it will go back."

In for a Knut in for a Galleon Harry figured and quickly swallowed the potion having to cover his mouth to stop himself from vomiting. An apt description because the potion tasted like vomit but after choking it down Harry heard one woman gasp.

"It's a little Lily."

Harry opened his eyes over the unpleasant aftertaste and looked dumbfounded in the mirror. A completely different boy, it seems looked out at him. He now had both his mothers Hair and eyes. With the scar gone he could see what the woman who gasped meant. Though his hair was still untameably messy.

"Pleasure doing business with you Harry."

She gave the gossiping women a sharp look cowing them and making them go back to their own shopping.

"That should last you a month. If you'd like I can set up a monthly owl order for you at Hogwarts?"

Harry nodded, bringing out his money pouch again and placing a couple Galleons on the counter. Taking his purchase he loosely put his hat back on it was kinda growing on him. Not bothering to hide his forehead now he freely walked around the alley and other than being an unattended child no one looked at Harry twice as the bustle of closing time went on.

In his pajamas later that night after his bath (a toy whale that squirted him with water this time and swam around him) he marveled in the mirror at his new appearance. For a brief moment he felt closer to his Mother than he ever had before. Before tucking in to read. He had enough children's books to last him a couple loops at least. And it helped bring him into the stories of his heritage. He was better prepared this time when he placed the blanket over him watching it slowly float down as he could literally feel himself fall into dreamland as the blanket gave him a warm hug.

(Even now a great many loops later Harry always made a point to grab this blanket. He had never suffered a nightmare with it even though he probably should. It was almost a greater possession than his invisibility cloak. His wand even. Though he could never say anything was more precious than Hedwig.)

He dreamt of Ernie and fierce noble battles and stories of Great witches and wizards.

That next morning, he quickly made his way to muggle London and purchased prescription goggles, sandals, a towel and a pair of swim briefs he could wear under his trousers. He did not see a changing room at the park and he certainly was not going swimming in the black lake at Hogwarts so it was perfect for Summer.

It was just a quarter past 9 so Harry still had some time to kill he made his way to the cinema. The new Ninja Turtles movie had just released not two days previously. He had never seen a movie in cinemas before so it was a nice pace changer from the magical world. He was beginning to be overwhelmed no matter how ravenously he wanted to tear into every experience. He had been able to watch the first one on the Telli when Ms. Fig was babysitting him when the Dursleys were out. He had enjoyed himself so naturally he paid for it later when he came "home" with a smile on his face. Harry violently shook his now red haired head to clear it. No he was not going to let them ruin this. He got a big tub of popcorn and a soda with candy and settled in to the packed theater. It was a little tacky as compared to the magical world, but it was certainly convincing to Harry and he had a lot of fun finishing his bucket just as the credits rolled. Checking the time, he made his way back home and put on his swim gear and a blue play robe this time without the hat. Though on second thought… He stuffed it in his robe pocket anyway. The hats were growing on him. He floo'ed to the park at about a quarter past 11 almost bumping right into Ernie who was spat out of the fire immediately after him.

It took him a moment to realize but the boy gaped at the difference the simple change had made in Harry.

"Harry?"

Towel slung over his shoulder and sandals in hand Harry grinned.

"In the flesh Ernie."

The other boy gushed.

"Wow you look good Harry I think I like you with red hair."

The annoyed teenager manning the entrance shooed them out into the park.

Harry blushed heavily matching his hair at what the other boy said. He had never been told he looked good before. Maybe this red hair could stick around awhile?

They both ran to what Ernie called the fountain. The park's centerpiece. As Ernie had said there were only a couple kids and two teenagers this time. The alley had been so packed he was almost unable to move. Stripping down Ernie told Harry the rules as he spread a sun potion over his skin. Offering some to Harry who thanked him.

"Its spelled so you cant really fall out unless you really try to. No 'rough housing' whatever that means. When you want to go to a sphere above you swim up and reach out your hand the bubble will float you towards it. You have to will yourself forward when you want to do what those teenagers are doing."

He gestured to two teenage boys Harry did not recognize shooting from one colored orb to another acting like a dolphins. Ernie seemed to have a thought and grimaced.

"Oh yeah if you have to pee at any point get out and go somewhere else. It's spelled to shame you and it will let everyone know you went."

Harry looked at him puzzled.

"Did that happen to you Ernie?"

The boy winced.

"A few years ago, when I was six. Everyone laughed at me."

Harry did not giggle at him instead simply commiserating that the Dursleys would have never let him live that down and would have shared it as another nasty rumor.

"Sorry that happened to you."

Ernie waved him off chuckling.

"Its no big deal it happens to every little kid here the first time they swim."

With that Ernie jumped into the bottom pink sphere without any further prompting swimming up to the top waving at Harry from just below the golden sphere above him. Harry wondered what this would feel like as he jumped in after him the water cool against his skin and the concealer thankfully not washing off. It took him a precious moment to orient himself as Gravity felt weird here. Harry had no doubt he could poke his head out the side and stay floating sideways. It was an interesting, wonderful feeling that felt like flying without the falling part. He swam up gasping for air and was immediately splashed by Ernie causing Harry to shriek. He reached up put his hand in the golden sphere and he was sucked up. Harry tried too and found himself under…? Overwater? In any case he was at the center of the "Sun" if we are sticking to the constellation analogy. Ernie swam up to him cheeks puffed up and grinning. He spat out an air ring around Harry making him almost gape and take in water. He swam up to the top of the 'sun' gasping for air joined by ernie doing the same before he started laughing.

"I have not gotten the hang of that yet. Little wandless magic trick my dad taught me."

Harry was impressed. 'I love magic.' Harry thought to himself.

"That's amazing Ernie I heard wandless magic was really hard!"

They started splashing around mindful of some younger children swimming past them.

"Aww its nothing Harry."

He tried to downplay.

"Bollocks it is Ernie."

Harry countered. And things continued that way for the rest of the afternoon pausing only for bathroom breaks of course. It was five once more and both boys sat on a bench wrapped in towels waiting to dry off. All too soon it was time to leave and Harry again sighed contentedly in his bed. (An Octopus had patrolled the tub this time. With how wonderful they were so far why were they considered young children's toys again?)

He settled in to a scary story that night, the tale of the three brothers. But his dreams were only about swimming and large anthropomorphic turtles this night.

Wearing a green robe and deciding to loosely wear the hat this time Harry made his way to Leaky Cauldron for lunch feeling lazy today. Making his way to the park meeting Ernie they decided on Quidditch today. The park had three pitches and you could rent brooms. A little league pitch that was quite small for children from 4 to 7 only toy brooms were allowed. The bludgers were in fact just stuffed toy versions of themselves. A game was going on and Harry looked on Fondly. Instead, they made their way to the middle pitch for older children and Hogwarts students. The third pitch was only for adults and was larger than both the smaller ones. They both rented a cleansweep model for 30 Knuts. Which Ernie claimed was expensive. So, Harry waved him off and paid hushing his protests. The cheaper brooms had already been taken anyway. They were just in time to join a pickmeup game and when Harry kicked off the ground he rediscovered his love of flying. He already missed his Nimbus.

They played for the rest of the afternoon switching positions every so often and focused on having fun and not winning so much. Harry wowed the audience of parents by pulling stunts. Impressing several of the other kids. The game continued until finally the snitch had been caught by a member of the opposite team near closing time of the park. Harry was playing keeper at the time. And though his competitive spirit burned it was no big deal. He had fun and was making a new friend and that's all that matters.

Lying in bed Harry thought to himself.

'Yes life is good'

Though thinking of flying made him think of Hedwig. With no Hagrid to buy her for him Harry would have to find her himself. His Birthday was still a week away but that did not matter to him.

He dreamt of flight and birds though the multicolored birds looked funny to him peering back equally curious. Oblivion swallowed him before he could finish the thought.