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Twice Upon A Time	By : kimberjingle1 Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 2136 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
TWICE UPON A TIME

By Kimberjingle

Chapter 2 � Finding the Lost, At Miss Asta�s, The Injury on
the Farm

His breath was like white steam coming from his mouth as he
closed the barn door and latched it securely. Early March was still frigid and
the sun had yet to make an appearance but Harry knew it was a few minutes after
five in the morning, which was the appropriate rising time for a hearty
breakfast before beginning a full days� work in the dark morning. The crunch of
the frost under his boots as he walked to the farmhouse was the only sound to
be heard in this remote land so early. Even the chickens were still dozing
huddled warmly in their nests. Continuing his morning chores, he dumped a scoop
of the feed into a bucket and unlatched the hinge on the coop. Pouring the
chicken feed into the trowel for the feathered occupants, he shook out the
bucket and began sorting through the nests of straw for the eggs he knew he�d
find there. There were just over two dozen of the light tan eggs that he placed
carefully into the bucket. Closing the coop door again securely, he picked up
the egg bucket in one hand and the full milk pail in the other. He crossed the
length of yard to the porch where the smells of hot breakfast wafted. Kicking
off the bit of mud from his boots, he entered to the smiling faces.

�How many?� his kind mother�s voice asked as she turned out
the freshly baked loaf onto a cutting surface.

�Fourteen, mum,� Harry said taking them to the butcher-block
type counter surface in the tiny kitchen area.

�Harry, look,� the little girl�s voice said in a bright,
happy way. Harry smiled to the four-year-old when he saw the six letters she�d
written all by herself on the page.

�Very good, Little Bea,� Harry complimented taking the plate
of steaming bread slices to the table.

�Morning,� the man�s voice said as he came from the side
bedroom to kiss his lovely wife on her cheek. He checked the bucket of eggs and
counted them. �We�ll take these to Albert after midday. Did you see any fox
tracks this morning, son?�

�No, dad,� Harry said. �The coop was untouched and I saw no
tracks in the mud. I�ve already milked, hitched up the plow to the mule,
watered the horses and put out two bails for them this morning.� The man nodded
in a pleased way as he sat to have coffee his wife was pouring. The yawning ten
year old came from the other room rubbing her eye and Harry grinned to her.
�Sleepyhead.�

�I am not,� Dorothea said sitting on the bench at the table
in her white nightgown. Her mother put a dollop of eggs onto her plate with a
slice of ham. �I want bread and butter.� Harry buttered the bread for his
little sisters. Dorothea, the oldest,
was ten, Emmaline was seven and little Beatrice was only four. �Emmy, daddy
said no books while we�re eating.� Emmaline closed her book quietly and put it
beside her on the bench and Harry poured each of the girls a glass of the fresh
milk he�d procured from their six cows that morning. The pitcher of milk was
for their own use and the remainder would be left in the bucket and put into
the cold cellar for use at a later time or to take to the mercantile to be sold
or traded for the farm goods required. The ham slice was cut into small pieces
for his youngest sister and Harry cleaned the blade of his pocketknife, which
was his prized possession. His father had given it to him last year on his
sixteenth birthday. It was a two blade knife and Harry kept it sharp and
perfect. After the prayer of blessing, the breakfast was eaten while the girls
spoke of the new dresses they were being made by their mother. Jakeb, their
father, grinned as he ate and talked to his son about the day�s work ahead.
Harry listened to everything his father told him and admired the man.

Breakfast in the McCrear home was warm, hearty and delicious
as it had been since Harry had arrived at only seven years old. It was still a
mystery as how a four year old had arrived in Proustenberg in the middle of the
night standing in the street of the city. He had been crying when the old woman
peeped outside to see him standing naked wearing not a stitch of clothing
except for the scratchy wool sack he�d picked up from the back alley of the
grungy city. Not having a pence to feed the lad, she�d taken him to the mill
where she thought he�d left and gotten lost. The mill proprietor was thankful
to the old lady giving her a single pence for the healthy boy who would make a
fine worker in the child labor house. Harry was given a pair of old pants and a
shirt and forced to stay locked within the confines of the mill with at least a
hundred fifty other children between the ages of four and sixteen.

The work in the mill began at six in the morning and lasted
until eight at night. It was dusty, hot and cruel. The overseers loved to use a
cane to stripe the backs of the disobedient and Harry, like so many others,
remained very quiet doing his work and getting paid with a single cup of gruel
or rice per day with water and a crowded room with a tattered blanket to share
with two others at night. There was the constant pestilence of lice, cockroaches
and dysentery in the sleeping rooms, but in these hard times of starvation,
couples were leaving their sons and daughters at the wool mills so they could
at least be fed and given a chance to live.

From four years old until he was seven Harry worked the
daily routine sometimes feeling the stress even at so young an age, but then at
times was grateful that he had a bite of food filling his grumbling belly. At
night the young lad would wonder how it was that he had come to be naked in a
city. He had no recollection of parents of any kind, didn�t know where he was,
how he�d got there or even his last name. All he could remember was that his
name was Harry and that was good enough for the greedy proprietor seeking the
cheap child labor. He�d made friends in the workhouse, but he watched the older
children fall victim to the diseases and lung conditions from being in the
dusty environment for so long. Some died without the medical treatment, which
they couldn�t afford and the ones who did happen to survive had permanent
disabilities and breathing ailments.

All of that changed one day, however, when Katherine and
Jakeb McCrear had come to the mill. The couple walked through the busy aisles
of weaving, bundling and tatting watching the children work. Harry had ignored
them at first until many of the kids had stalled on their work so that he had
to stop his job to wait on them. The woman was very beautiful and the man
looked to each of the boys as if judging their worth. Katherine was eyeing
Timothy who was standing two boys down from Harry. She gleaned over him, then
Lud, then Vick stopping at Harry who was looking timidly to the floor. When he
saw her shoes he looked up slowly to her not knowing why she was there. She
smiled kindly to him and knelt to look into his eyes.

�Jakeb,� Katherine said never looking away from Harry�s
sooty smudged face. �I like this one. What do you think? He looks healthy to
me.� The man came over and took Harry�s arm to turn him around and feel of his
arms.

�Open your mouth, boy,� Jakeb said and Harry opened his
mouth a little not knowing what was going on. �I need to see your teeth, son.
Open up.� Harry opened his mouth and they both peered inside. �Can you lift
these bundles?� Jakeb pointed to the bundles of cloth tied up with twine and
Harry nodded that it was his job to do so. �Are you sick?� Harry shook his head
saying nothing. �Do you know how to talk?�

�Yes, sir,� Harry said. After looking to his hands and
having him raise his shirt to see his stomach, Jakeb nodded in a pleased way.

�How old are you, boy?� Jakeb asked.

�Seven, sir,� Harry said quietly. �But I�m strong for my
age, Mister Kinnard says.�

�Very well,� Jakeb said. �Katherine, if this is the one you
want, we�ll take him.� Harry froze and was afraid.

�It�s okay,� Katherine smiled detecting the child�s fear.
�We�re here to select a child to come with us to work on a farm.� Not believing
his good fortune, Harry grinned just a bit. �What�s your name?�

�Harry,� Harry said.

�What is your family name?� Jakeb asked.

�He don�t have none,� one of the older and jealous boys said
going back to his work now that the selection was finalized.

�Oh. Well, Harry, would you like to come with us? You�d have
your own room and be out in the dells,� Katherine said. Harry nodded eagerly
for the chance to leave the workhouse at any cost.

�I�ll go pay the twelve pence for him and we need to be on
our way,� Jakeb said to her and then put a burly hand on Harry�s shoulder.
�Come with me.� Harry followed the man and woman out of the loud and dusty room
into the proprietor�s office. �Mister Fouther, we�ve made our selection.� Jakeb
dug into his pocket for the few coins he put on the desk and the man behind the
desk smiled greedily. �That is what you asked. Twelve pence?�

�Yes,� Fouther said taking the sum happily. �He�s a fine
worker for his age. If you need another field hand, we can do business again.�
Jakeb said nothing else to the man but led his wife and young charge out of the
dusty place into the grim, overcast day and to their wagon. Katherine motioned
to the back and Harry climbed aboard with his bare feet and smile to see the
outdoors and all the people passing by. That was ten years ago and at
seventeen, Harry was in every way but blood, the son of Katherine and Jakeb
McCrear. Although the fair-haired and pale skinned couple didn�t at all
resemble Harry�s dark raven locks or olive complexion, they claimed him as
their own when others asked and he had been given their last name. As Harry
grew and worked the land and livestock with his father, he was joyous and
grateful always remembering his time in the cruel workhouse as nothing but a
child slave. Katherine had given birth to three daughters who knew Harry only
as their older brother. When each tiny tot had been born, their family grew and
Harry worked harder to make sure that his little sisters always had fresh milk,
eggs and a full plate of cooking so that they weren�t hungry as he so often was
as a tiny child. His parents recognized his efforts for his family and were
pleased that they�d raised such a diligent, caring and dedicated son.

The breakfast was finished and after pulling on a cap and
taking his work gloves, Jakeb kissed his lovely wife and Harry followed him
outdoors for the first day of working the thawing ground. Spring planting time
would come and the land needed to be ready. It was a day filled with hard work
and in the mid afternoon Harry accompanied his father into the small village
two miles away to take the jars of milk and basket of eggs to Mister Albert, the
aging man who was a talented blacksmith for the locals. Harry and the old man
were very close. During the summers the elderly blacksmith had chores to be
done in his business with cleaning out stalls, painting, repair work and other
odd jobs of delivery and Harry was given the opportunity to help him for pay.
It was an opportunity of mass proportions for any young man to work for a paid
sum and especially so since Albert paid a nice wage. It was especially good for
Harry because Albert and he shared many interests. One of which was reading.
Albert had a vast collection of reading material on every subject in his home
and Harry was allowed to borrow a book to read and then return at his leisure
for nothing. With his meager few pence a week earnings, he�d saved for the last
three summers so that he had a tidy sum hidden away. He tried to give some of
his earnings to his mother to purchase whatever was needed for their home, but
she refused to take her son�s hard earned coins insisting instead that he
wisely save his wages for one day a young lady may catch his eye and he may
need to woo her. At his mother�s words, Harry would blush profusely and not say
a word in his very shy way. A trait for which he was known in the village of
Wynd.

Each day for the next six weeks was filled with the same
routine of milking, feeding the livestock, plowing the fields and readying the
grains for planting. There was a new field to the west that the laborious pair
were readying to plant their rotating crops. Jakeb and Harry had worked very
hard together now that Harry was able to burden a two man�s share of the
physical labor. Although in his early forties, Jakeb was a robust man working
each day from daylight to dark alongside his son who was also lithe, strong,
healthy and an excellent worker taking direction even though he rarely needed
to be told what to do. During the course of the work of the day, Harry never
spoke during his work. Jakeb would sing, hum or whistle his Gaelic tunes as he
plowed and was pulled and jerked by the straps from the lugging mule. Harry
loved to hear his father�s songs of his youth that he�d learned from his own
father during the same type of work but farther north where he was born. The
mules were put up for the night and the tools cleaned and put away
appropriately for the next day�s toiling before the tired and hungry men came
in for the evening meal. A hot stew bubbled and the mouthwatering scent filled
the large open room which was the kitchen, living area and all around work room
of the rough hewn farmhouse with it�s wood flooring, outsized open hearth,
fireplace cooking area and the long wooden table that fitted their needs.

At the evening meal after a hard day of plowing, Jakeb sat
at table. The girls were putting away their books from their reading and little
Bea was playing in the floor with her rag doll made from an old tattered quilt.
After washing up in the basin of water and towel drying his hands and face,
Harry sat to a good portion of stew and hot bread as did his father and the
girls.

�I spoke with Albert today, Harry,� Katherine said and Harry
nodded. �He asked about the planting and if you would be interested in
accompanying him to Forksquire next week. He needs more tools and asked if you
would assist him with the loading.� Harry looked to Jakeb who was eating but
hoping he would be allowed to visit the largest town nearest them a full day�s
wagon journey away.

�You can go if we�ve made good progress with the west
field,� Jakeb said. Harry smiled as he ate knowing they�d ahead of schedule.
Katherine also smiled to her son knowing he was pleased.

�Yes, sir,� Harry said. Katherine buttered her bread.

�I also saw that Hanley girl today at the mercantile,�
Katherine said lightly. �She and her mother were unpacking the latest wares
onto the shelves and she asked of you, Harry. Belinda said that she couldn�t
wait to share a dance with you this year.� Harry chewed slowly and nodded still
looking to his bowl which was much more interesting to him than hearing about
the girl in question. �Mrs. Hanely told me that the first village gathering is
in three weeks. She is making her pear tarts for the event. I thought I�d make
the crabapple fritters. Belinda said she�d be bringing some frosted scones.
Those are your favorite, aren�t they?� Harry stopped eating to nod again still
interested in the consistency of his stew and Dorothea laughed softly. Harry
gave her a look to shut up and she giggled again.

�She likes you,� Dorothea said in her ten-year-old way.
�Will you marry her?�

�No,� Harry said softly in a shy way and then dug into his
stew again. Jakeb and Katherine exchanged a small grin and then ate as the
conversation thankfully changed topic to the upcoming village gathering.

When the weather was a bit warmer, families gathered on
Saturdays in the village bringing wares to the feast. The men folk would talk
about the weather, their crops, and of other sordid news while sharing wines or
ale and smoking their pipes. The women all brought their sewing baskets and
enjoyed much gossip as they worked communally on quilts for needy families or
for their own needs. Scraps of cloth were exchanged and recipes shared along
with stories of their children�s escapades. The younger children would play
games and the teens would socialize with friends. The boys would usually
compete at various things or fish at the large lake nearby with the girls
accompanying them in groups.

After the feasting, the musicians would play their
instruments and there was group dancing. It was a mixer social where the
younger generation could meet up for fun and potentially seek out a wife or
husband.

For the last three years Belinda Hanley had set her sights
on Harry. Probably the most shy of any of the boys his age, Harry had never
given her any reason to think he was remotely interested, but the Hanley�s were
wealthy since Dervin Hanley owned the mercantile and Harry�s parents were most
pleased. Harry, however, would much rather spend his time with his friends Sam,
Willy and Rondell who, like himself, were seventeen and worked on their
father�s farms.

When the stew was filling his belly and the evening was upon
them, Katherine and Dorothea washed the dishes and Jakeb sat by the fire
smoking his pipe and carving some little trinket out of wood with his knife.
Emmy and Little Bea would nightly sit with Harry in the floor and he would spin
some imaginative tale of knights, queens and kings with the lovely princess and
the prince who had to destroy some evil foe or fire breathing dragon. The
always-victorious, valiant and brave prince always married the lovely princess
and they lived happily ever after. The girls loved their older brother and
their nightly story time was his special moments with them before bedtime. The
two youngest were put to bed and Harry read to Dorothea from one of the many
books Katherine owned. She had taught Harry to read and write and instilled in
him a love and thirst for learning as her own father had encouraged in her many
years ago. When Dorothea was sleeping soundly on her brother�s lap, he would
nightly carry and tuck her into her own bed.

With a kiss from his mother, Harry left the farmhouse and
headed toward the barn, which was his own domain. The farmhouse was small and
held two bedrooms and was full with the girls and the parents. Knowing his son
might like some privacy now that he was older; Jakeb and Harry had worked on
the barn for over a month building in a bedroom in one end of the loft. There
was an iron stove and Harry kept a small fire of coals burning at night when
the temperatures would drop. With the small stove it stayed comfy warm and
Harry had built his bed with his own hands. The space was small, but was his
alone and held what few things he owned and treasured. There were a few books,
some wood carvings, pages of drawings from his sisters on the walls, a chair
and small table holding a wash basin, and his lantern. The only other piece of
furniture in the room was his feather bed that he continually stuffed with
feathers from the chickens and ducks. Pouring the cold water into the basin,
Harry stripped down and washed off the sweat of the day with the lye soap
before washing his hair and slinging out his wet head. After towel drying, he
put on a pair of fresh long johns and covered up with the quilts. The moonlight
through the tiny seams between the wood slats from the barn put the lighted
stripes over his arm and he rubbed one lighted beam twirling his finger and
making the light swirl and dance in a magical way.

His family knew he could do the special things, but it was
never mentioned to anyone outside the family. During these times of
Christianity, any suspected witch or sorcerer was burned publicly as a warning
to societies of doing the work of the devil.

Even with the threat of public death, there were still
groups of gypsy travelers who came to Wynd once a year to peddle their
tapestry, silk and fine cloths, bottles of herbal medicines, brewed liquors,
trinkets, talismans, jewelry of odd colored stones and other strange things.
Usually they would camp near the village to stay a few weeks bedding down in
their traveling covered wagons, which folded out like a storefront during the
day to sell their wares. Even though it was taboo and never spoken in polite
company, the beautiful and scantily clad women of the travelers would entertain
the men folk of the village for a certain price either dancing for them or
offering their bodies. Jakeb had warned his son of the charms of the loose
women and Harry kept a good distance from the odd group when they drifted into
their part of the world occasionally.

Still twirling the light around his finger magically, the
owl outside hooted bringing him from his thoughts of the travelers. Harry, when
alone at night, would practice doing things with his special gifts as long as
no one could see him and he was in his own room. With a move of his finger or
even with only thinking in his mind, he could move one thing or another,
regardless of its weight, across a room. He could change one solid object into
another solid object nearly perfectly now. Also with his hands or thoughts,
Harry was able to make a ball of light, a flame of fire, send out some type of
wave that caused damage and other acts. Even though he didn�t understand why he
could do these things and his family didn�t have these abilities, he felt secure
with his close-knit relatives knowing that they didn�t fear him because he was
different from them. After he�d played with a twirling stick of light and had
shaped it into many forms, he sighed wearily and turned over when the lull of
slumber was too much.

Severus Snape had taken Draco Malfoy�s leather pants with
the metal snaps up the sides and had grimaced at the fad fashion for the
younger generation. Upon testing and re-testing each snap for it�s exact metal
composition, he was aggrieved to learn of the properties of the metal which
contained both aluminum and iron traces. After taking an average sample of many
of the snaps around the waist and hips of the expensive wizarding designer
garment, he totaled each alloy. Using some brain boggling formula, Severus
concluded that with the composition of metal in the snaps, combined in relation
to the supposed amount of potion to which Harry had been in contact, would lend
him to have gone back in time approximately two hundred and twenty four years. The
year he would suggest to Albus for the first search for their lost time
traveling hero would be 1773. Upon further study of old maps of the area, the
magical field strengths and magnetic wave pulses affecting magical strength
pockets in their area of Britain, Severus came up with the name of a town
closest to the point where Harry may be. It was called Forksquire. Writing all
he had come to derive on a parchment for Albus on the morrow, Severus put down
his quill. It was after four in the morning already and he was exhausted after
all his testing and scientific study.

Albus had roused earlier than usual and had taken the
opportunity to complete his packing for the journey ahead of him and his three
young companions. Their journey could be a long one in search of Harry Potter
lost in time, but Albus was certain that he could easily discern Harry�s
magical signature if in a certain large radius of the boy. He packed a few
books, modified clothing and a few other items that they may need. With great
care, Albus packed Harry�s wand into his tattered tapestry bag.

After breakfast in the great hall, the students were sent to
class, but Draco, Hermione, Ron, Severus and Albus gathered at the head table.

�With much research, I�ve come to believe that Harry was transported
back farther than we had originally thought,� Severus said. �The testing on the
metal snaps on Draco�s garment along with the magnetic and magical pools of the
area lead me to the conclusion that Harry was taken back two hundred and
twenty-four years. Approximately 1773.�

�Oh dear lord,� Ron said. �That far?� Ignoring the comment,
Severus went on.

�The location I�ve selected is a larger village called
Forksquire,� Severus said. �It is now the town of Harrisburg. I have brought
some materials you may each need to read regarding the culture, clothing,
beliefs, economy and other relative material. I suggest you each take time to
read these resources this morning and modify your clothing and other items
appropriately to blend in. Take note that the year was just after a great
famine in the country only years earlier and that in 1773 the active practice
of publicly burning suspected witches and wizards was something of a novelty.�

�Yes, I know all about it,� Hermione said. �It was a
terrible time for magical people during those years of persecution. We�ll have
to be very careful with our use of magic.�

�I suggest using as little magic as possible,� Severus
commented leaving the books and studies for them on the head table. Albus and
Hermione began to read immediately taking seats at the teacher�s table and
Draco took two books to the nearest student table of Ravenclaw. Ron looked over
the remaining reading material passing the more invasive historical, political
or economical study opting to read about the styles of homes, people,
agricultural and farming environment during those times. Throughout his
studies, Draco could feel Ron�s sneaking gazes on him. He tried his best to
ignore the quizzical brief looks until he couldn�t take it and slammed the book
closed to look Ron in the eye from across the aisle.

�What?! Why do you keep staring at me?� Draco snapped. Ron
looked to Albus and Hermione who were giving Ron questioning looks.

�I�I just�,� Ron shrugged. �Nothing.�

�No. Let�s hear it,� Draco said still in a huff of
irritation. �I want this over before we go back to some other place and are
under more stress, weasel. What�s your problem?�

�My problem?� Ron asked taking up with Draco�s irritated
tone. �I don�t have a problem, Malfoy. I think you are the one with a problem.�
Draco�s cool demeanor and lack of surprise at the admission was classic and he
knew exactly what Ron was implying.

�This is not even about me, Ron,� Draco said wisely. �You
are wondering how and why Harry could ever allow himself to be kissed by me. Is
that it?�

�Yes, that�s exactly it,� Ron said. �Harry is not like that.
I have to wonder what kind of game you are playing with him. You know Harry
doesn�t know anything about dating or that he has no interest in guys. I want
to know what you did to him.�

�I did nothing that Harry didn�t want,� Draco said. �And
speaking of Harry�s own lack of dating�� Draco tried to speak but the words
wouldn�t come out. His blood bond with the Gryffindor kept him from saying a
word as much as he was attempting it. �I can�t say anything. I have a blood
bond with him that prevents me from speaking of it, but I can say this. Harry
is a catch. He�s a great Quidditch player, very bright, very powerful,
talented, a good conversationalist, friend, and to be blunt he�s as sexy as
hell. He and I keep up this petty fighting to keep the pretense that we�re
still enemies because we have to.�

�Are you saying that you and Harry are having some type
of�like a�a relationship?� Hermione asked in awe.

�No,� Draco said. �I�m not saying that at all. We don�t have
that and to be truthful I don�t think we will ever have that because of who we
are in the wizarding world. But I am not blind nor am I a fool. I can see that
Potter would easily be relationship material. He�s loyal, caring, and kind. But
there is a reason he hasn�t dated and neither of his friends knows it. I can�t
say anymore than that.�

�But why you?� Ron asked. �You had to have done something to
him, Malfoy. Harry has never kissed anybody and then we learn that not only did
he kiss you, his supposed enemy for years, but then an hour afterward he
disappears. Doesn�t that strike you as odd?�

�As a matter of fact it does,� Draco said. �But not in the
same way that you see it. Severus told me that it would take tremendous emotion
from Harry to activate the amount of the potion he was exposed to. The only
thing Harry had done to bring about that amount of emotion was kiss me. So you
figure it out.�

�You can�t be saying that Harry feels anything for you,� Ron
said.

�Ron, you know that Harry has only kissed three times,�
Hermione said. �And never a boy. I can�t believe he did that.�

�Why not?� Draco asked.

�Because he�s not gay!� Ron said.

�Are you sure?� Draco asked. Ron looked to Hermione who
seemed in thought.

�Yes, I�m sure,� Ron said confidently. Draco only shrugged
giving Ron a questioning look. �He�s not gay, Malfoy. I guarantee it.� Albus
kept reading as if he heard nothing while the three looked to each other. �I
still think you tricked him into something.�

�And no matter what I say you will believe that,� Draco
said. �That�s fine. I don�t care what you think. Harry shared some things with
me that he couldn�t speak to you and Hermione about. Very, very private things
about how he feels. Not only that but he�we um�we talked. It was nice.�

�Nice,� Ron said as if it were stupid. �I bet he was nice.
You were just trying to take advantage. We all know how you sleep around.�

�You�re one to talk,� Hermione said to Ron. �Ron, I don�t
know. Harry has been acting odd for weeks and weeks. And whenever either of us
mentions him dating, he goes through the roof. Maybe he�.I�m not saying Harry
is gay, but he�what if he�s�wanting to um�maybe experiment and doesn�t know how
to tell us.�

�No way,� Ron said denying any of it. �He�d talk to me about
stuff like that. We�re best of the best of mates.�

�Maybe that�s exactly the reason why he can�t talk to you,�
Draco said as he turned the page of the book he�d opened. Ron and Hermione
looked to each other hearing things and thinking about all that Draco had said.
After three hours of reading the four came to the same table and talked about
what they�d need to do before they left. The plan was that Albus would be the
grandfather of the three students while on their journey. He asked them to call
him Albus during their stay. Not knowing exactly what to expect when they
arrived, it was decided to go with the flow and let Albus make the decisions.
The foremost priority was to blend in and not draw attention in any way. The
importance of not causing any event that may influence the future was paramount
and the four decided to stick together closely until they could be comfortable
in their surroundings. The story would be that the grandfather had inherited
the grandchildren upon the deaths of their parents. The unlikely four were
traveling to find a nice, quiet town in which to settle and put down roots.
Albus told the four that they were in prime marrying age and that if asked to a
social gathering of their age group, that it was a good idea until they could
at least find their missing friend somewhere in the countryside. That was the
first order of business. Find Harry.

Two hours later and after everything they�d packed was
inspected, modified and they had made enough currency to tide them over for a
length of days, they were dressed appropriately as common folk. Albus wore
brown wool pants, tied up boots, a worn, weathered shirt and suspenders. His
long beard was modified short only to his chest and his long white hair was
charmed up to his nape where he donned a floppy, old brown hat typical of what
an old man would wear. Hermione wore a long beige skirt and matching top with
lace up boots underneath. Her hair was placed into a bun at the back of her
neck and a bonnet was worn tied appropriately under her chin. Ron and Draco
were very simply dressed in dark pants and light colored shirts with the
scuffed up boots. Draco wore a hat similar to Albus� but in the darkest of
bluish-black. Their clothing showed the wear and tear of hard work in the
course of daily life typical of what the poverty stricken populus would be
wearing during the time. When all was settled, Albus took Minerva from her
classroom and gave her their goodbyes citing that they�d be leaving from the
dining hall. She joined them at the end of the Ravenclaw table and watched.
Each was given a vial of the potion from Severus, which they drank without
question. The four held hands around the pyramid TriForce and Albus muttered
the spell incorporating the date of April 1773 in Forksquire. A cool wash of
feeling and slight dizziness penetrated into their minds and each watched the
other fade in and out of solid to transparency several times. The TriForce
flipped open with the dial set to the time Albus had specified and their
translucent forms looked as if wind was blowing them. The swirl of their smoky
forms started to circulate around the TriForce faster and faster until there
was a small whirlwind of light. The swishing tunnel of the travelers was being
drawn into the TriForce that began to glow softly. With the last loud swish the
entire whirlwind was sucked into the center of the TriForce, which closed,
glowed a bright white and then vanished. Minerva sighed and nodded.

�Good luck,� Minerva whispered into the empty dining hall
before she left and went back to her classroom of waiting students.

When the swirling light around the little pyramid stopped,
the four were dizzy and breathing heavily as four translucent forms hazed in
and out of opaqueness and solidified.

�Oh dear,� Albus said holding his spinning head as the four
looked around. They were in a meadow in a clearing of trees in some forest.
They noticed that what would have been the sun except that it was covered by
dark and rolling gray clouds, was directly overhead so it was near noon. They
noticed one more thing.

�I�m freezing out here,� Ron said rubbing his arms as they
heard the first small roll of thunder.

�Oh great. It�s going to be pouring down in a few minutes
and we�re out in the middle of nowhere,� Draco complained.

�Albus, do you know which way is to the town of Forksquire?�
Hermione asked looking one direction and then the other. Albus sensed and
looked about pointing to his left. �I suppose we should start in that direction
before this storm comes. Severus� information said there would be an inn there.
I hope we can find a room before this storm hits.�

�Ron, Draco could you find two living creatures, please?�
Albus asked. �Anything will do. Insects are fine.�

�Why?� Ron asked.

�He�s going to use the creatures and transfigure them into
horses, I�d guess,� Draco said kneeling near the small bush and moving the
limbs to find a large black beetle. Hermione was given the task of finding four
rocks and some sticks as Albus waited. The tiny creatures were put on the
ground and Albus waved a powerful spell over them transforming each insect into
two large black horses. The rocks became the four wheels of their wagon and the
sticks transformed themselves into the wagon body. Taking the small vine from
around a tree trunk Albus tossed it casually and swirled his hand to make the
vine into the collars, harnesses, bridles, check lines, mouth bits and reigns.
The old man who knew about such things from his own lifetime took a few extra
minutes to show the boys and Hermione about each piece of horse gear and wagon
assembly. Showing the students how to maneuver the horses in a gentle way, the
two boys rigged up the wagon as they were told and shown.

�This is going to be one very interesting experience,� Draco
said wiping his hands on his trouser thighs. �We�ve been here less than a half
hour and I�m smelling like a horse.�

�Even though the living conditions are somewhat primitive
than what we�re used to, I�m sure we can keep proper hygiene,� Hermione said as
Ron assisted her to take a step up onto the wagon to sit in the bouncy seat.
Draco assisted Albus onto the step of the wagon as he pulled himself up. The
old man groaned and then sat next to his female student. �Are you alright,
Albus?�

�I�m fine, child. Just old,� Albus said glancing back to see
the two younger males hurdling over the sides to take seats in the wagons.
�Let�s resize our baggage here and look like we�ve been traveling. I�ll add a
tarp hood to our wagon in the event that we find the rain before we find the
inn.� With a few swishes of his hand, Albus had added the bowing spines across
the wagon sides and a thick off white tarp was edged and soon taut across the
rounded stakes. Ron sat inside the wagon and grinned.

�It feels like I�m inside a white whale,� Ron said. �These
things look like ribs. I was some big fish�s dinner.� Draco smirked and saw the
relevance of Ron�s statement. Taking the reigns, Albus slapped the long leather
straps with a click of his jaw to get the beasts moving. The oddity of the
situation was almost too much for Draco and he sighed with a short silent laugh
of mockery as he rubbed his face with his palms.

�Potter is always getting into situations,� Draco said and
the others couldn�t help but give a very tiny grin at the complete truth of the
statement. �This is just dandy, this is.� The gentle loll of the wagon crossing
the uneven earth had them all gently swaying to the movement of the wagon. It
was over an hour when they saw the first house in the distance. It was a crude rough-hewn
log structure with a fence near a haphazard looking barn. Several cows dotted
the pasture nearby and even though there were no visible occupants, signs of
daily life were everywhere.

�Take a good look,� Albus said. �These types of houses and
farms are likely what we�ll find all over this type of country during these
times.� A conversation of their guesses as to where and how Harry was living
ensued. Ron thought his friend was most likely working in some town for a low
salary and bunking out with a group of fellows his age. Hermione mentioned that
Harry could be married since the age of marriage was only fifteen during these
times. Draco laughed.

�Yeah, I can see that,� Draco said sarcastically.

�He could be,� Ron said in a defensive tone. �You said
yourself that Harry was cute.�

�I never said that,� Draco said. �I said he was sexy.�

�Same thing,� Ron said smugly.

�No, it most certainly is not the same thing, you idiot,�
Draco said. �Cute is fluffy, pink and safe. Sexy is liquid and fluent with the
hint of danger.�

�That is so untrue,� Hermione said. �To be sexy one must be
dangerous? That�s ludicrous. Sexy is mannerisms. Kindness. Attention to one�s
partner and noticing the small things.�

�No, that�s a relationship,� Draco said. �Sexy has nothing
to do with that either.�

�Sexy, if you are speaking in the physical or nature of
attractiveness of an individual is in the eye of the beholder. Each of us would
define the term in a different manner because each of us would have an opinion
of what we find attractive in another,� Albus said in his knowing everything on
earth way.

�Yeah,� Ron said to Draco who rolled his eyes and lay his
head back against the tarp closing them. Another hour later, the group of four
was just entering the large town of Forksquire. Buildings lined the narrow
cobblestone streets and many patrons were walking the narrow ways from
storefront to storefront passing some and peeking into others. Hardly anyone
paid any attention to the newcomers and Hermione pointed to the direction of an
inn. Albus and Ron went inside and Draco sat with Hermione on the seat of the
wagon to wait on them. Fifteen minutes later Albus and Ron came out. Having
paid the innkeeper for services to tend their horses and wagon, the four
brought their travel bags inside and were seen to two rooms. Ron and Draco
would room together and Albus would room with Hermione putting up a barrier in
the room for her privacy. He apologized for the room situation but these were
the last two rooms and the other two inns were full. Hermione understood and
each put away their bags.

�I don�t believe this,� Ron said throwing his bag onto the
bed.

�What? You wanted to room with Granger and bang her
nightly?� Draco joked tossing his own cloth bag onto the only other piece of furniture
in the room.

�No. There is one bed, you stupid fuck,� Ron said. �We�ll
have to either share it or you�re in the floor.�

�Hell no,� Draco said. �I�m not sleeping in the floor. If
anyone is, it�s you.�

�Well, I�m not sleeping with you,� Ron said.

�Fine. Take the floor,� Draco said. �I could care less.� Ron
looked to the floor and sighed dragging his bag to put beside the bed and then
sit on it.

�I guess I�ll live. But you are not to touch me in any way,�
Ron said.

�Like I would even consider it,� Draco sneered with disgust.

�You considered it with Harry,� Ron said.

�That�s different,� Draco said opening his bag and Ron
turned to him.

�Why is it different?� Ron asked. �He was just there for you
to take advantage of. You knew Harry didn�t know anything about your carnal
ways. The way you rack up on fucking everybody in the school.�

�You listen to me, weasel,� Draco said in a controlled yet
angered way. �I don�t sleep around, okay? I have had short relationships with
others and yes, I have shared intimacy with my fair share. But I�m no whore
like you�re trying to imply.�

�Bullshit,� Ron said.

�Believe what you want, I don�t give a shit,� Draco said
putting his bag on the floor and a tense silence was had. Ron was the first to
give in.

�I just don�t understand it,� Ron said. �I can�t believe you
kissed Harry and he allowed it. It�s not right.�

�And what�s not right about it? That we were enemies for so
long?� Draco asked. �Yeah, I can see that me and Potter getting together would
be front page news, but there is nothing to me and Harry. There is no �me and
Harry� anyway. It was one kiss in a moment. We�d shared some heavy shit with
each other that night. It was�� Draco paused and thought of those soft warm
lips on his own in the deserted dungeon corridor. Even from it�s beginning that
kiss was perfect and not awkward like some first kisses with a new person. When
Draco had felt Harry�s hands touching his hips and then slip across his back
like the pleasure of silk against his skin, he�d mentally crashed into the
oblivion of pleasure. Harry had wanted that kiss and not only that; Draco could
easily tell that he�d wanted more.

�It was what?� Ron asked when Draco failed to answer.

�It was um�it was okay,� Draco said.

�Okay?� Ron asked. �What the hell does that mean?�

�It means you�re too damn nosey,� Draco snapped.

�You know, we were talking in the dorm one night and Seamus
said that maybe Harry�s problem with dating was that he was dating girls,� Ron
said. �I thought it was stupid but Harry freaked out, closed his curtains and
never said anything else about it. I could tell we really hit a nerve with him,
but I thought we�d pissed him off or something.�

�You may have,� Draco said. �Ron, listen, I know that we
never got along, okay? I�m not pretending that our past at Hogwarts never
happened, but we have to get along while we�re here. We�re Order members on a
mission to save a comrade. If that makes it easier for you, then think of it
that way. But I will not apologize for being the son of a DE and being one
myself. I think I�ve helped more by being in the Dark Lord�s ranks and serving
as a spy than I could have done otherwise. So let�s put this petty bickering
aside while we�re here. It serves no purpose. I know you hate my family and
that�s fine. I could care less, but this is about bringing Harry back. He�s our
priority right now.� Ron was taken off guard by Draco�s dedication and drive to
their mission.

�Yeah, okay,� Ron said. �And I think you�re doing a good
thing by being a spy and all. I know it�s dangerous and you�re risking your
life. That�s more than most of us other Order of the Phoenix members are doing
most of the time.� The two locked gazes and nodded to each other. �But I still
can�t get over the fact that Harry kissed you. That blows my fucking mind.�
Draco smirked.

�He�s not bad,� Draco said pointedly and Ron snorted.

�No way,� Ron said. �He can�t be. Harry has kissed three
times. That�s it.�

�I�m telling you he�s a natural,� Draco said. �Like every
other fucking thing he tries he has succeeded masterfully with no guidance
whatsoever. It makes me sick. Harry just does stuff perfectly and it pisses me
off.� Ron laughed softly.

�I know it,� Ron said. �Believe me, I know exactly what you
mean. I was so jealous of him for a long time because he�s always doing that
same shit. Everything he touches turns to gold and everything he does is
magnificent. And there I was right in the middle of all his crazy shit and
nobody noticed me at all. Harry hates the attention and I�d love it.�

�You were jealous of him?� Draco asked. Ron nodded
embarrassingly. �I can see that. I guess I was, too, until I figured out his
life sucks just like the rest of us.�

�His is worse, I think,� Ron said. Draco nodded and several
silent thoughts were given by each of them. �But I still can�t believe you
kissed him.�

�It wasn�t just me,� Draco said. �Ron, Harry kissed me back.
I wasn�t forcing anything on him.�

�I just can�t believe it,� Ron said shaking his head. �He
never said anything to me about maybe wanting to date a guy.�

�Probably because he didn�t want to hurt you or take a
chance on ruining your friendship,� Draco said.

�It wouldn�t have bothered me,� Ron said. �Hell, half of
Hogwarts is bisexual, I think.�

�I don�t think Harry is bisexual,� Draco said with the look
of honesty. �I personally feel that Harry is gay. Has he ever had an interest
in any girl?� Ron shook his head. �There you go then.�

�Maybe he just hasn�t met the right girl,� Ron said.

�You�re in denial,� Draco said.

�I am not. I�m just saying that maybe the person Harry is
supposed to be with hasn�t come along yet,� Ron said.

�Possibly, but you won�t even consider the fact that this
mysterious lover may, in fact, be a male,� Draco said. Ron looked to the bed
quilt picking at a thread and then away.

�I think it just hurts because I�m his best mate and he
never said a word,� Ron said in a hurt way. �I tell him everything.�

�You said yourself that Harry is a very private person,�
Draco said. Ron nodded.

�But he�s not supposed to be like that with me,� Ron said.

�Don�t take it that way,� Draco said. �Don�t be pissed
because he didn�t say anything. Think of it that Harry values your friendship
so much that he would deny his own self for fear of losing the closeness that
you and he have as friends.� The truth set into Ron�s head and he nodded. Draco
stretched and yawned. �I hope I�m not sore from riding in that damn wagon.�

�Yeah,� Ron agreed but still thinking on Draco�s previous
words. A knock at their door sounded and Hermione stuck her head inside.

�Not killed each other yet?� Hermione asked. Draco flipped
her off. �Albus says we�ll go to eat in the dining area of the inn. It�s not
much and I think they only serve bread and stew, but I�m starved. We missed
lunch.� The boys joined Hermione and Albus at a rickety table in the smoke
filled room. A young man brought them all a wooden bowl of the thick brown stew
with two slices of bread. Albus allowed the boys to have Ale, but Hermione
opted for water that was the slightest tinge of light brown. Ron snorted as he
looked at Hermione�s facial scowl when she saw it. Albus lightly touched the
glass with his finger making it crystal clear and safe to drink and Hermione
patted his hand in thanks. Draco nearly choked on the horrible tasting stew. �Sir,
do you sense anything in the town?�

�No,� Albus said softly. �I would be able to tell if Harry
were within miles of us, but he isn�t at this time. I plan to ask of the
neighboring towns. I plan to stay here for a few days and gather the
information. I would like for you all to keep together and take the opportunity
to observe the mannerisms and speech of the locals. Also if you hear or see
anything relative to finding Harry�s location, that would be most helpful.�

For the next two days Albus left the three on their own with
a small amount of money each so that they could purchase a meal. He went to the
libraries, stores and factories asking anyone if they could assist in his
search of his grandson Harry. The three teens looked into the shops, spoke with
others their age in the city of Forksquire. Meals were of two degrees. Bad and
horrible. Luckily, Hermione had her wand in her long sleeved dress and was able
to master the art of reaching for her glass and muttering a spell to change the
flavors of their bowls of brown stew to an edible level.

Harry�s mother kissed his cheek after he�d eaten breakfast
and his three sisters all vied for a hug and he gave each of them what they
wanted.

�I�ve packed you and Mister Albert sandwiches for your
journey,� Katherine said putting the sandwiches wrapped in cloth into the
knapsack with a jar of pickles and one of peaches. This should feed each of you
two meals. Did you get the water?� Harry nodded putting down Emmy from her hug.

�Yes, mum,� Harry said. �I need to go. It�s almost six.
He�ll be waiting on me.�

�I doubt that,� Katherine said. �He�s a late sleeper, isn�t
he?�

�He�s not exactly very young,� Harry said. �I�m glad to help
him. I�ve brought some money with me. Do you need anything from Forksquire? It may
be a month or more before we have the opportunity to get into the city again.�

�We need nothing,� Katherine said. �And even if we did, I�ve
told you that your earnings are for you to enjoy. Take an hour and shop for
something you may like to have. A book, perhaps.� Harry nodded obediently.
�Don�t forget your hat. It�s very cold out this morning.� Harry kissed his
mother�s cheek and she hugged him. �Be careful, Harry.�

�I will,� Harry said. �I should be back tomorrow night after
I unload his supplies into his shop. I�ve already milked, fed the coop, and put
out bails, dad.�

�Good job,� Jakeb said. �Take your mother�s advice and use
the time wisely when in Forksquire. Albert will have business to attend and
you�ll have a few hours. There are many things to see in Forksquire.�

�And some you shouldn�t be seeing,� Katherine said in a
warning way.

�Harry is nearly a man, Katie,� Jakeb said finishing his
coffee. �He no longer hangs to your apron like the girls. Leave him be.� She
nodded to her husband but gave Harry a look of caution.

�I promise I won�t be where I shouldn�t,� Harry said softly
to his mother with a smile. She loved him even more if it was possible.
�Dottie, the chicks should be hatching today or tomorrow. Take Emmy and Bea to
see them if they have.� The eldest daughter nodded with a smile to her request
from her big brother. �Bye, dad.�

�Have a safe journey,� Jakeb said. �I�ll walk you out.�
After a kiss to his wife before setting out for the day of labor outdoors with
the chores, Jakeb followed Harry out of their home and closed the door
securely. Harry put the sandwiches and canteen of water into the side pouch of
the saddle and he tugged the straps to make sure they were tight before putting
on his hat. Jakeb was donning his gloves and Harry did the same. �Harry, I want
you to do me a favor while you�re in the city. Your mother�s birthday is three
weeks. She likes books like you do. Take this and buy her something she would
like from me. Could you do that, son?�

�I�d be happy to, dad,� Harry said taking the tiny sack of
coins and putting them into his jacket pocket. �Is there anything in particular
you�d like for me to get her?�

�You know I don�t have the reading skills like your mother
or you,� Jakeb said. �But she loves Latin and poetry books. She reads me the
verses at night before we sleep. Maybe something like that if you can find it
or�well, whatever you think she�d like.� Harry nodded.

�I�ll find something for her,� Harry smiled sliding his foot
into the stirrup and easily hoisting himself up and into the saddle. �I�ll be
back tomorrow. I�ll miss you, dad.�

�Same here,� Jakeb said. �It�s lonely on the fields without
you there. Get going.� Jakeb patted his son�s thigh and Harry set off on
horseback on his way to Wynd and to Mister Albus� shop. Jakeb watched his son
until he had cleared the hill far away before pulling his jacket tighter around
him and heading toward the barn. There he found a good deal of the work of the
day already completed by his hard working child. Jakeb thanked heaven again
that Katherine had chosen him years ago from the lot of young boys at the mill.
He had not seen the potential that his wife had so easily picked up on, but he
had been eternally blessed by her selection. Never a more perfect son could be
found, Jakeb thought as he noted the clean stalls, tools and kempt barn.

Harry rode at a steady pace taking the familiar way to the
village. He crossed the creek in the half light of morning noting the memorable
sight of the fog which rested over the black water of the stream at dawn. His
mare was young but gentle and he�d trained her himself over the last few years.
After riding the miles to the village and climbing the last hill, Harry topped
the knoll and looked down into the tiny town, which was only six buildings. He
immediately spotted the smoke from Albert�s shop and he headed in that
direction. After he�d roped his horse to the hitching pole, Harry knocked and
waited as his breath misted through the frigid morning air. Albert opened the
door welcoming him in.

�Care for a hot cup of coffee before we go?� Albert asked.
�Just made it.�

�Thank you, sir,� Harry said taking the last hot drink to
fill him before they set off for the long day�s journey. The two warmed by the
fire speaking of their trip of the day. Harry admitted that his father wanted
him to choose a gift for his mother�s birthday approaching in only a few weeks
and Albert complimented Harry on taking the responsibility to choose a gift for
a lady. When the two cups of warming liquid was filling his belly, Harry hooked
up his own mare to the wagon alongside one of Albert�s and they sat in the open
wagon. The old man had put an old quilt on the seat and used another to cover
their legs for the cold morning part of the journey. Without delay, the pair
set off in the direction of Forksquire.

It was just after eight when Ron rolled over and yawned.
Opening his sleepy eyes, he gazed into the peaceful face near his own.

�Shit!� Ron yelled and jumped. Draco immediately woke and
drew his wand from under his pillow.

�What the fuck are you doing?� Draco screeched.

�I�I forgot that�.you and�I woke and saw you in bed with me
and�.,� Ron ran a hand through his hair. �I freaked out.� Draco snorted and
turned over pulling the blankets with him.

�It�s freezing in here,� Draco complained. �And you snore
like a wet pig.�

�Been sleeping with wet pigs, have you?� Ron torted tugging
the blanket over onto himself and it came off of Draco completely. Draco pulled
back and Ron pulled again. The tug of war lasted until Draco elbowed Ron in the
ribs. �I�m cold, too. Share the blanket, ferret.�

�Go to hell,� Draco grouched. �I�m exhausted. I didn�t sleep
all night.�

�Me, either,� Ron said. �Well, at least share the blanket.�
Draco moved back and Ron did as well so that they were closer but still not
touching at all. After the blanket was arranged each tried to doze again until
the knock at their door roused them. Albus came inside dressed and bright eyed.

�It�s time to wake,� Albus said. �Breakfast has already been
served.�

�We missed breakfast?� Ron asked hoping he was wrong.

�There is some bread left,� Albus said. �Hermione has you
each some bread and jam.� Ron visibly relaxed hearing he had food in his future
and the old man left the boys to dress. Wearing their modified garments from
the day before, both were dressed in minutes. Draco used his wand to give
himself a tooth cleaning and breath freshening charm and without hesitation
gave Ron the same. The boys went downstairs and into the tabled area where some
men were already starting their day with ale and poker playing. The separation
of the dining area for the guests and of the bar where the ruffians stayed was
nothing but a small open length of room. The fire in the hearth gave the only
heat and was unfortunately on the side with the open bar and a surly looking
barman wiping off the countertop with a messy apron tied around his neck and
back. Ron and Draco smeared the jam on their bread and had three slices each.
Not much sustenance for two growing teens, but the only thing they had at the
moment. They were brought hot, bitter coffee but were past the point of
complaining. The heat of the warm cups felt good in their cold fingers.

�Is it permanently cold here? It should be warm,� Ron said.

�We have not only come to this place in the past, but also
months,� Hermione explained. �It�s April here.� Ron looked confused.

�I thought we�d arrive in October like it was back in the�I
mean forward in our�um�in the time we�err�,� Ron said.

�Albus chose April to arrive here because that�s what
Severus suggested,� Hermione said.
�That�s why it�s so cold out.�

�Albus, since we were sent back here with spells we chose
the month,� Draco said as he scowled in deep thought as he picked at his bread.
�How are we to know that Harry wasn�t sent back as an infant?�

�A baby? He can�t be a baby here,� Ron said. �He�s seventeen
so he�d be the same age as us. Right?�

�Actually there is a complicated formula Severus used to
determine that this is the year that Harry is seventeen in this timeline,�
Albus said. �Regardless of whether or not Harry was thrown back into time as a
baby or as his seventeen year old self, the formula dictates that this is the
year he is seventeen.� Ron and Hermione looked confused. �Severus has studied
the theories of time distribution as a hobby since he was thirteen. I trust
his� judgment and until we find our missing person, then I�m assuming that
Harry is, in fact, seventeen.�

�But if this is April, then he may be sixteen,� Hermione
said. �Close enough for us to recognize him, though.�

�Are we leaving this morning for a neighboring village?
We�ve not seen or you�ve not sensed him here in Forksquire,� Draco asked
sipping on his coffee.

�I have taken the liberty to speak with the inn proprietor,�
Albus said. �Since we may be on the road for two days before we reach another
town or village, I am having benches attached into the wagon bed. With them
Draco and Ron will have a more comfortable place to sit and I have also
arranged to have bedding rolls purchased for us in case we have to sleep either
in the wagon or on the ground at night. Also, we will be on the road and may
need a crude weapon of sorts. The man suggested a rifle and shells and I will
pick those up this afternoon. The wagon and bedding will be ready by seven this
afternoon so I have arranged for us to stay another night in the inn and leave
tomorrow. You have the whole day to yourselves. Do you each have currency?� The
three nodded. �Very well. I plan to visit the library and a few other shops today.
I would encourage you each to keep learning about the culture here and blend
in. Keep a watchful eye for anyone looking like Harry.� Again the three
students nodded to their direction and knew it was another day wasted before
they would be on the road to locate Harry. It was like trying to find a needle
in a haystack. He could be anywhere.

Harry and Albert were grateful for the tiny bit of sun they
had for nearly two hours until the dark clouds rolled overhead again. When it
began to drizzle with rain, the pair pulled the wagon underneath a tree sitting
in the back of the wagon they ate the last of the sandwiches, pickles and pears
Katherine had sent them. It was after four and they�d arrive in Forksquire in
another two hours. When the light sprinkle of rain thankfully lifted, they were
on their way again heading toward the city. Finally it came into view and Harry
bit his lip in anticipation of shopping for his mother�s gift.

�Oh god, I�d love to have a pizza,� Ron said as he ate his
supper, which was chicken stew and cabbage. �And a butterbeer�just anything
except this crap.�

�It�s not so bad,� Hermione said. �You�ve eaten three bowls,
Ron.�

�I know. I�m starving,� Ron said. �That brown soup junk we
had at the inn is the worst. Their food is horrible.�

�Well, I�m done,� Draco said pushing away his bowl. �What do
you want to do?�

�Like there�s so much to choose from,� Ron said looking out
the window of the restaurant in the city. The many wagons were passing by and
folks on the walkway also passed. The impoverished conditions of the common
people were evident in their dress. Several beggars on the street sat near the
alleyways with their cups held out hoping for some tiny pence to help them out.
Draco paid it no mind, but Hermione had slipped single pence into a few cups
that day much to Ron�s complaint. Draco put an arm over the back of his chair
and looked out to watch the passersby. The wagons were everywhere and Draco
noticed several families in small wagons and a few which held only one driver or
the older and younger man riding together. Both had on hats and Draco looked
back to Ron.

�Hurry up and finish that,� Draco said. �This may be the
last city type place we�re in and I want to look around this evening. I heard
some music coming from somewhere last night. Maybe it�s a tavern with
entertainment.�

�No, Draco,� Hermione said. �We�re not going to some crude
brothel.�

�I didn�t mean that,� Draco snapped. �I meant maybe there is
some type of�I don�t know. Dancing girls or whatever. It has to be better than
just walking around looking stupid.�

�You want to see dancing girls?� Ron smirked. �Too bad there
aren�t any male strippers in this day and age, huh, Malfoy?.�

�Tell me about it,� Draco smirked back to him in his most
boy-loving way and then looking out the window again. Hermione huffed and
crossed her arms in irritation at the two idiots.

After checking into the inn for a single night, Albert told
Harry he�d be at the smith supply for a few hours and then planned to have a
drink before heading up to sleep. Giving Harry free reign to visit the last
remaining shops open, the old man headed down the walkway leaving their wagon
with the inn keeper. Harry pulled his coat around him and tilted his hat down a
bit to avoid anyone speaking to anyone. He walked across the busy street of
wagons passing and down the other side of the street where he�d seen a bookshop
earlier. The tinkle of the bell sounded when he entered and a thin, young lady
peeped behind from a shelf.

�Can I help you?� the young lady asked.

�I�m trying to select a gift. Thank you,� Harry said. �I�ll
find it.� The girl nodded and went back to dusting the shelves. Harry sauntered
down each aisle of books coming to the selections of poetry along one wall.
After looking through three of them, he put the slim one on the shelf again and
heard the tinkle of the bell.

�I don�t know why you want to come in here,� the young man�s
voice said. �You have more books than anyone I know.�

�I want something to read while we travel on the wagon,� the
lady�s voice said. �Honestly, Ron, you could try reading. Heaven forbid you
actually learn something.� Harry grinned to himself at the banter of the young
likely married couple. Another young man wearing a hat had entered with them
and was looking over a few books on the far wall. After finding a fine book
filled with all types of poetry, a few literary works and some Latin verses,
Harry smiled and took the book to the counter where the young lady stood.

�I�ll take this, please,� Harry said quietly. Handing her
the amount of pence she asked for, the book was wrapped in brown paper.

�Oh look,� Hermione said to the other young man in the hat.
�This is a compilation of works by Anete DiBelaneu. I�m buying this to read
while on our trip.� The young man took the book and flipped a few pages as
Harry watched over his shoulder at them. The young lady behind the counter had
finished wrapping the book in the paper and twine. Harry nodded to her and left
the store heading toward the inn for the night.

�It�s getting late,� Ron said. �These shops will be closing
soon. We may need to go.� Hermione paid for her book and left with the two
young men in her company. The evening on the walkway was still busy and it was
just before nine. Ron yawned.

�You can�t be tired,� Draco said. �We slept until after
eight. I�m so wired up after all the damn coffee we�ve been consuming I�ll
never sleep again.�

�There�s Albus,� Hermione pointed across the way to see the
man standing. Three scowled at what he may be doing. �He�s usually getting
ready for bed by now. Let�s go see what he�s doing.� The three crossed the
muddy wagon-wheel grooved walkway and came to the old man who was leaning
against the wall of an inn.

�We thought you�d be getting ready for bed,� Ron said.

�I found him,� Albus said and the three faces lit. Before
they could ask, he decided to tell them. �I felt him arrive earlier in the
evening. He is in the company of a much older gentleman who is a blacksmith
here to buy supplies. This is the inn and they have a room for the night.�

�Good work, Albus,� Draco smiled. Albus nodded his thanks.
�So now what do we do?�

�I�m not sure how long Harry will be in the city with this
man,� Albus said. �We�ll need to keep watch on the inn and follow then when
they leave.� The three nodded.

�I suspect that since it�s night, that the two will bed down
and leave in the morning after their supplies have been loaded into a wagon,�
Albus said. �We�d better get to bed and sleep while they are sleeping because
we�ll be traveling tomorrow.� The three stood on the walkway to speak near the
large open window.

Inside the inn, a young man sat with a hot cup of tea in the
back corner unnoticed. He swirled around the tea, took a sip and held the cup.
Looking out the window, he caught sight of a young man turned to the side. His
skin was very light and pale. Harry�s eyes were drawn to his face and the young
blond nodded to the others he was with. Sitting alone in the dark, privacy of
the corner he was occupying, Harry took the opportunity to note the young man�s
pleasing cheekbones, sculpted features and thin, yet, attractive form and even
his nice rounded buttocks.

With a blush that he was looking there, Harry looked around
the room to the other three guests who were intoxicated at the bar. No one was
looking at Harry, so he looked back to the young boy outside who was so
appealing. For the life of him, Harry couldn�t draw his eyes away. He was
attractive. Very, very attractive. Harry felt his pulse quicken when the blond
smiled to the others he was with. The growing twitching in his trousers made
Harry blush again and look to his cup of tea.

This was another boy he was admiring. It was supposed to be
girls. Rubbing his eyes and willing his erection away but knowing it was there
for a while, Harry sighed and put his elbows back on the table. With his head
hung he looked again slowly to the boy in the window. Such nice legs, hands and
shoulders�. How beautiful he is. Harry focused on the few words the young boy
spoke outdoors. He couldn�t hear them, but was mesmerized by his warm, wet
juicy lips as he said the words. When the old man outside walked past the boy
and across the street, the light-skinned boy looked inside the inn window
briefly and Harry�s breath caught at seeing his face. It was angelic. For some
reason the boy smiled as if smiling to the entire building before he turned and
followed the old man and two others.

Harry never moved from seeing that face. So absolutely
perfect. After his brief daze and lingering thinking of the young man in his
thoughts, Harry looked back to his cup in guilt. What would anyone say if they
knew that Harry had looked at other boys in this way? It was sinful and wrong,
Harry felt, but he had tried. He had honestly tried to be attracted to girls.
He�d danced with them at the social feasting over the years in his village.
Belinda even kissed his cheek one time after holding his hand under the table.
Harry had allowed it and had tried to focus on her and not her cousin Benjamin
who was so nice looking. He wondered if this was just some young teenage thing
he was suffering with because his father had told him about sexual urges of
young men and that it was a natural reaction to seeing some beautiful woman.
Only for Harry it wasn�t. It was lithe, young, attractive males that boiled his
blood and made him yearn to touch them in certain ways. Sinful ways. Exciting
ways that Harry had never touched another person other than himself in the dark
and privacy of the loft of the barn at night. He still felt guilty over touching
himself to cause the reaction, incredible feeling and fluid his body would give
up when he did so even though he knew other boys did it. It seemed wrong but
nevertheless Harry sat alone in the dark room of the inn finishing his tea
wondering what it would be like to touch another boy in that way.

He waited and tried to think of other things but his body
was rock hard and seeking the relief that only one act could give. Putting a
pence on the table to pay for his beverage, Harry headed out the back toward
the silence and darkness of the outdoor toilet. When the latch on the rickety
and filthy smelling outhouse was secure, Harry unbuttoned his trousers and sat
on the wooden bench with the hole beneath his bottom. Taking his privates in
hand he stroked slowly at first and let his imagination return to the
attractive boy he�d just seen. His light colored skin and beautiful lips were
like poison in Harry�s mind. Was the rest of him as pale, smooth and glowing
like moonlight on rippling water? His hand sped up quickly thinking of the
young male fantasy in his long johns or even without them. Breathing heavily,
Harry bit his lip to keep from screaming out when his body tensed and the pulse
of white fluid shot from his stiff body part and across the wood floor covering
his hand in the process. The pounding intoxication of his mind in the brief
moments of relief felt fantastic and he sat in silence reeling in the
sensations of the most powerful brief moment of heaven he�d ever experienced.
When the chill of the night air finally made it�s presence known, Harry stood
with his sticky hand. No one was near the outdoor facility, so Harry held up
his hand and looked at it.

�Go away,� Harry whispered and his ejaculate vanished. It
was a magical act and Harry was warned not to do anything of the sort in the
vicinity of others, but he was alone. After dressing, he headed back inside the
inn and up to his room where Albert was already asleep. With silence, Harry
slipped out of his clothing leaving on his long johns and lay on his side
underneath the covers beside the man but daring not touch or wake him. In only
minutes after his recent draining act, Harry was asleep.

�Albert?� Harry shook the man�s shoulders. �Albert? Sir,
it�s after five. We need to eat and be on our way.� The old man opened his eyes
and then pulled up the covers over him again.

�An hour,� Albert asked for the remaining time of sleep.

�Sir, I could go load the wagon from the smithy shop, if
you�d like,� Harry said, but Albert snored. The man would probably sleep all
day if allowed. Seeing that he was awake already, Harry left the man in the
room and went down to the eating area where a few were already enjoying coffee.
After ordering bread and ham, he sat with coffee. His meal was adequate and
filling. Fastening his coat and putting on his hat, Harry headed out into the
frigid morning where several wagons were already in passing and a few men were
walking here and there to take care of their morning business. The man at the
smithy shop recognized Harry from the previous times he and Albert had been in
loading supplies and pointing to a load near the back wall. After his
backtracking to attach the team of horses to their wagon, Harry brought around
the cart and began the task of loading the heavy crates and other things Albert
had come to Forksquire to purchase. It took almost two hours to load the
supplies, and Harry�s arms ached from the strenuous duty, but he was thankful
that he was young, strong, healthy and able to assist the kind old blacksmith
who he�d befriended years ago. The wagon was brought back and left in front of
the inn while Harry went inside. On his way past the barmaid Harry ordered six
bread and ham sandwiches to be wrapped in paper. He took the jars from the day
before and filled them with water from the pump on the street placing the jars
in the wagon for their trip. While the lady was cutting his bread and making
the food to go, he took the stairs up and found Albert still sleeping. Rolling
his eyes with a grin, Harry shook the old man�s shoulder again.

�Albert,� Harry said kneeling in the floor. �Albert, sir,
you need to wake. It�s time for us to go.� With a groan, Albert sat up and
scratched his chin covered in his short beard.

�I�m not a spring chicken, Harry,� Albert said. �I need my
rest.�

�Yes, sir,� Harry said. �I�ve taken the liberty to rig the
team and load all your supplies. The wagon is ready to go and I�ve ordered us
some ham and bread to take on the trip today. We have water in the jars.�
Albert patted Harry�s shoulder.

�You�re a fine lad,� Albert said. �I don�t know what I�d do
without you, son. I think I�m too old to be working. At my age I need to settle
down with a wife and live the remainder of my days sipping tea and working some
small garden.� Harry smiled to the man.

�I think you�re fine,� Harry said. �I�ll be downstairs
waiting on you.� Albert nodded and Harry left.
The load of sandwiches was wrapped in several layers of paper and Harry
paid for the plentiful amount. He sat next to the window looking out and trying
to spot the young man from yesterday. He watched the passersby and waited on
Albert to dress and relieve himself before they headed home.

�Ron!� Draco yelled and Ron finally opened his eyes. �Good
lord are you always this hard to wake up? Get dressed it�s nearing eight and
Albus just left. He said to be ready in a half hour.� Ron rolled out of bed to
put his bare feet on the cold floor of their small, dumpy inn room. Slipping on
his pants and shirt over his long johns that Albus insist they wear, he tied
his boots and tried not to think about the wool socks that were itchy and
horrid. �Come on. Hurry up.� Draco
pulled Ron along and they took the stairs down where Albus and Hermione were
eating already. The breakfast was oatmeal, bread and eggs with coffee.
Surprisingly the oatmeal was much better than anything else they�d had or it
was that they were used to the food by their fifth day in this world.

�I�ve watched Harry all morning,� Albus said. �He took the
wagon to the blacksmith shop and loaded a large load of supplies and then took
the wagon back to the inn where I suspect the old man was waiting on him. They
should be leaving soon and I don�t want them to see us following. I can track
his signature for a long way, so they won�t have to be in sight while we
follow. After Harry had taken the wagon to the inn, I asked the blacksmith
supply clerk who he was and where he was headed. The clerk was kind and now I
know where they are headed.�

�And where is that?� Draco asked.

�It�s a very tiny village to the north of Forksquire,� Albus
said. �A full day�s ride. It�s the village of Wynd.� Their breakfast was
finished and after they�d paid, taken their bags from the inn and procured
their wagon from it�s makeover, Albus took the reigns with Hermione beside him
and they headed out on the bumpy north road. The wagon Harry had loaded that
morning was nowhere in sight but Albus told the three students that he was
within a mile up ahead. They were all relieved to finally have found him within
such a short time, but then again this was only their first task. Befriending
Harry and convincing him to come with them would be another grand undertaking.
Ron and Draco sat on the benches of the wagon underneath the cover of the tarp.

�What smells so good?� Ron asked.

�I bought us some rations for our journey,� Albus said.
�There are six cases of food and some fresh baked bread and dried meats for us
to have today. We�ll stop later to eat.�

�I took the liberty of picking up some paper for um�for us
to use,� Hermione said. Albus nodded. Ron scowled.

�Paper for what? We�re not having school are we?� Ron asked.

�No, stupid,� Draco said. �Paper for�you know.�

�For what?� Ron asked.

�For when we need to take a crap, you imbecile,� Draco said.
Ron nodded.

�Oh. Yeah, okay,� Ron said. �I never knew how much I�d miss
toilet paper. Why didn�t we bring some?�

�I did,� Hermione smiled to the two. �But you are not
getting mine so don�t ask.�

�I remember the days when there wasn�t such an invention,�
Albus said and the long hours of travel were filled with Albus� tales of his
youth and his delight at traveling by wagon again as he had millions of times
with his own father before the invention of steam autos. The three listened to
every word the man spoke and were enthralled.

�I wish Harry could be here to hear you tell about your
childhood. He�d love that,� Ron said.

�Harry knows already, Ron,� Albus said. �Harry and I spend
mass amounts of time together. Especially last summer during his training with
Remus at his cottage. Sometimes I think I know Harry but then he comes up with
the oddest questions. I think it�s because he was alone so much as a child and
has a bit of trouble relating to others sometimes.�

�Yes. Harry definitely has that,� Hermione said. �He was
always so quiet when school began again after having been locked in his room
for the entire summers with the Dursleys.�

�They locked him in?� Draco asked. Ron and Hermione nodded.
�I would kill somebody if they tried to lock me into a house.�

�Not in the house, in his room,� Ron said. �Harry was
allowed out to do work for

Vernon or Petunia and then locked up again. He got out of
his room maybe four hours a day. They hardly fed him at all and when he�d come
back to school, he was bony as a skeleton every year.� Hermione nodded.

�And it would take him weeks to adjust to being able to roam
the hallways at will or to eat as much as he wanted,� Hermione said.

�I noticed that he always bought every remaining sweet cake
and candy on the cart before we�d leave the train. Every year he did that and I
just thought he was a pig,� Draco said.

�No. He would buy those things to hide in his trunk so that
he could eat at home,� Ron said. �The Dursleys were so mean to him. I�m glad he
don�t have to see them no more.� There was a light mist of rain but with a
spell to keep them dry, they kept traveling over the bumpy and mushy roadway,
which finally ended, and they were traveling on grass and mud. Hermione came to
the back of the wagon and Draco sat up front with Albus who let him hold the reigns.
The old man rested and looked as natural as everything swaying to the lull of
the wagon movements for a long time until he cleared his throat lightly.

�Do you mind if I ask you a personal question, Draco?� Albus
asked.

�Of course not,� Draco said. �Anything you want to know.�
Albus nodded.

�It�s no secret that I have tried to be a parental figure to
Harry somewhat over his years,� Albus said. �He had no one to explain things to
him because the Durlseys didn�t want him there and avoided him if possible. You
mentioned that you had kissed Harry.� Draco nodded and said nothing as of yet.
�Was it a spur of the moment decision to do so?� Draco held the reigns and
thought of what the man was asking.

�No,� Draco said quietly and that was the end of the conversation.
Albus didn�t ask anything else, but Draco had just admitted to months of
wondering and even his secret desire to be more than friends with the
Gryffindor. But not knowing that Harry could have an interest in other boys,
Draco had not approached him in that way. He didn�t even know how. But when
Harry had admitted his feelings of attractions to boys, Draco�s mind had though
all his Christmases had come at once. After inviting Harry back to his room for
a drink of alcohol, Draco had planned to make a move and show the innocent,
virginal Potter what kissing was supposed to be. When his housemates had
interrupted and his plan ruined, Draco couldn�t let go of his want to taste his
lips that were so inviting. Harry�s sweet and soft mouth was like unexplored
territory because no one had been there and Draco was high on the adrenaline
that he was the first to brave the barrier. He�d not expected Harry�s
willingness or his inexperienced aggression at pulling Draco close and
participating in the kiss so passionately. Draco could easily remember the
taste of him and he unconsciously licked his lips savoring the flavor of some
sweet, rich caramel, the hint of peppermint, summer, the light airy citrus of
lemon and clean smell of soap or laundry detergent. That was Harry�s scent and
the taste of him. It was innocence, goodness and that feeling of carefree
summer. But it was also the fragrance of safety, comfort, security and the
general awareness of being protected in his presence.

�Draco!� Hermione yelled rousing him from his daydream.

�What?� Draco asked.

�I�ve been yelling at you for five minutes,� Hermione said.
�Are you alright?�

�Yeah, I�m fine,� Draco said. �What do you want?�

�We want to stop and eat,� Ron said from beside Draco and
the blond scowled at him.

�When did you come up here?� Draco asked. Ron looked to
Draco as if he�d lost his mind.

�I�ve been here for over an hour,� Ron said. Draco marveled
at his loss of time and the fact that thinking of Harry had consumed him so
fully. He nodded to Ron and pulled the wagon beneath the tree line giving them
some privacy. Each took a turn in the woods to relieve themselves and they sat
on the wagon and enjoyed the bread, meat and a sealed jar of fruit jam with
their bread. Albus told them that Harry and the other old man whose name was
Albert had also stopped up ahead to eat. He also mentioned that the weight of
the cargo on their wagon would require them to stop several times to rest their
horses. Ron wanted to drive the wagon, so when they were finished eating and
taking the time to walk around and stretch their legs, Albus sat on the front
again with Ron while Draco sat in the back with Hermione who had unrolled one
of their comfy bedding rolls and was reading as they traveled. It was much
warmer in the wagon back and Draco found himself dozing and nearly falling over
onto the bench after awhile.

�Come down here and rest,� Hermione said.

�I�m okay,� Draco said.

�Draco, come down here and rest,� Hermione said. �Albus
slept for over an hour while you were driving the wagon and following their
wagon tracks in the mud. So you can come down here and rest.�

�Really, Hermione, I�m fine,� Draco said. Hermione stilled
and then grinned to him.

�You called me Hermione,� Hermione said. �I think that�s the
first time I�ve ever heard you say my name.�

�I could call you mudblood if you really want me to,� Draco
smirked in humor and she smiled to him.

�That�s alright,� Hermione said. �My name will do fine. Come
down here.� She moved and Draco gave in. He lay on the soft bedding and quilt
with his head near her thigh. �You may need to rest while you can. Albus may
need you to drive again. He said that the village of Wynd was far away and that
it was so small they may not have an inn. We may have to sleep in the wagon.�
Draco nodded and closed his eyes. The constant lull of the wagon rocked him
into a deep sleep not much later. The sound of light singing woke Draco from
his napping and he noted that it was late afternoon and he was still on the
bedding in the back of the wagon. He listened again and knew it was Albus
singing some Gaelic tune of long, long ago. Hermione was still reading in her
book and Draco yawned. �You�re awake. You slept a good two hours.�

�I feel better. Thanks,� Draco said as he sat up. �Do you need
to rest?�

�No. I�m fine,� Hermione said. �I don�t sleep very well at
night generally anyway.�

�I sleep like a log when I know I�m safe,� Draco said.
Hermione put down her book.

�When you know you�re safe?� Hermione asked of the odd
response.

�Living at Malfoy Manor, you get used to interruptions,�
Draco said. �Dad has been a Death Eater for years, Hermione. There is always
some type of commotion going on at home. The leagues meet at my house to make
plans for doing their thing. Luckily, I�m there to spy on it.�

�I never thought about that,� Hermione said quietly. �I
don�t mean to sound condescending, Draco, but I�m so glad that you�re on our
side now. I thought you would be the worst of the DEs.�

�I am still the worst of them,� Draco said. �I am not loyal
to them, therefore I am the worst.�

�You are the best of them in that case,� Hermione said. �At
one time I thought you believed in what Voldemort was trying to achieve.�

�I did,� Draco said with a nod. �I honestly believed
everything my father and others brainwashed me with when I was young. I felt
that anyone not a pureblood was filth. My rude awakening came when I took this
mark on my arm and was pledged to give my life in service to a half-blood
psychopath for the remainder of my days. The first time I had to kneel and kiss
his robe, I knew it was for real. But after my own father ratted me out to
Voldemort for falling back and not killing two muggles during a raid just to
gain favor with him and I was given the pain curse three times for it, I changed.
After that, I saw others differently. I saw you differently. You are a muggle
born and as talented with magic as any pureblood witch. Then I couldn�t
consciously serve Voldemort because of my own convictions. I talked with
Severus and then became a spy. The rest you know.�

�Your father gave you over to the Dark Lord for a pain
curse?� Hermione asked in awe. Draco nodded. �I�m sorry, Draco. I�ve never had
it, but Harry says it�s terrible.�

�It is,� Draco said. �Believe me you don�t ever want to have
it. It�s like painful death eating you alive and there is nothing you can do
about it except scream in agony. I prayed to die during those few minutes. I
didn�t sleep for days afterward.� The silence mounted and Draco moved to the
other side of the wagon so that they were facing. �But you say you never sleep.
Is that a Granger family trait?�

�Well, my father never needed much sleep, but my mother
needs hers. I suppose I take my sleeping habits after him,� Hermione said. �But
while at Hogwarts knowing Harry is there, I sleep very lightly. When he had the
nightmares so bad in fifth year and would wake screaming at night before he
mastered his Occlumency, he�d wake the entire tower. None of the Gryffindors
slept the entire year, I think. But now it�s just like a habit that I try to
listen at night if�well, if he needs me to take him to the infirmary for
sleeping draught. I know it�s stupid, but Harry is my best friend along with
Ron and it�s just something I do.� Draco nodded.

�We knew that Potter had those nightmares and would wake up
screaming at night,� Draco said. �Of course the rumor in Slytherin was that he
was weak. But I know differently. I�ve seen him casting with Albus during their
lesson time together before. He�s far from weak.� Hermione nodded. The evening skies were darkening and the light
rolls of thunder warned of their approaching fury threatening to open up to
pour out the heavy drops at any moment.

�Look, you guys,� Ron said back to the two. Draco and
Hermione knelt behind Albus and Ron who were sitting in the wagon seat up
front. �Buildings. That�s the village of Wynd. We�re here.�

�I don�t see anything that looks like an inn,� Hermione
said.

�It�s possible that one of the houses you see there is an
inn,� Albus said. �We�ll find out.�

�Is that the wagon that Harry was on?� Draco pointed to a
wagon pulled beside a building and an old man there checking the wheel. �Where
is he?�

�We saw a horseback rider heading in that direction
earlier,� Ron pointed to the east. �I think it was him.�

�It was,� Albus said. �I can sense him but he�s nearly two
miles away. We�ll take cover before this storm hits and work on finding out
more about where Harry went tomorrow.�

�Can we ask that old man Harry was with?� Ron asked. Albus
pulled their wagon into the small village and up to the open barn doors of what
was undoubtedly the blacksmith shop. The man came to greet them.

�Can I help you?� Albert asked looking over their horses and
then to the four of them.

�Yes, thank you,� Albus said. �Is this the village of Wynd?�

�Yes, sir,� Albert said. �Not much of a place, but good
enough. You have family in these parts?�

�No,� Albus said. �We were seeking an inn or place to stay
for the night. The storm is approaching.�

�Down the way to the white house there,� Albert pointed.
�That�s Asta Derkin�s place. She has some rooms and I don�t think anyone is
staying there. We don�t get many visitors in these parts.�

�Thank you,� Albus said. �My grandchildren and myself were
considering purchasing a parcel of land and settling down near a nice village.
Would you happen to know if there are any parcels of farmland available for
purchase here?�

�Well, let me remember,� Albert scowled in thought. �There
was some land in the west there a few miles. The Hardings came upon some bad
times and sold some of their land a few months ago when their daughter was
married and moved off.� Albert looked to the young men as if judging their
strength and abilities. �The growing season is here and some of the farms will
pay a small wage for farmhands and few of the families will take sharecroppers
for the year. I have to travel out to the Ditzels tomorrow. I�ll see if Claude
knows anything. If you�re staying at Miss Asta�s place, then I�ll find you
there tomorrow afternoon and let you know what I hear.�

�That would be most kind of you, sir,� Albus said. �And
you�re the blacksmith in the village?� Albert nodded. �I may seek your services
on shoeing my team and getting a few things we may need tomorrow when I see you
again.�

�I�ll look forward to it. I�m Albert. Albert Bibbing,�
Albert shook Albus� hand.

�Albus Dumbledore,� Albus said. �These are my grandsons, Ron
and Draco and this is my granddaughter, Hermione.� Albert nodded to them all.

�It�s good to have you fine folk here visiting with us,�
Albert said. �This storm is going to be a dilly. If Asta forgets to tell you,
there�s an old horse barn out back where your boys can put the rigging and tend
your mare and steed. There�s hay in the barn and I keep it stocked up. There�s
a lad living a few miles east who works for me doing odd jobs like that during
the year. I�m just too old to get around bailing up the hay and he�s good
worker and a fine boy. Tell Asta that that I sent you and be sure to try her
pudding. It�s the best thing until Christmas around here.�

�I will. Thank you, sir,� Albus said Albert threw up his
hand to them and went back to his barn to put away a few more things. Albus
snapped the reigns and the four headed out.

�I just know he was talking about Harry,� Ron said. �The
hard working boy?�

�I guessed that as well,� Hermione said. �It�s so odd. I
wonder where Harry lives? Or with who?�

�There is no way to tell,� Albus said. �We�ll wait until
tomorrow to find out.�

�I wonder if he�s married,� Ron scowled. Draco snorted and
went back into the wagon to sit.

�It�s possible, Draco,� Hermione said. �We are seventeen.
That�s the age that most are already married here.�

�Unless Potter settled down with a farmhand, I don�t see it
happening,� Draco said. Albus chuckled to himself and Ron only grinned slightly
taking himself off guard at his own acceptance that his best friend may just be
gay and never said a word.

Miss Asta Derkin was a very kind old woman reminding them
immediately of Minerva McGonagall with her hair back in a bun, her tiny
spectacles and her long skirt of darkest green. She was most glad to see Albus
and his grandchildren and even more glad that they had the four pence per room
to pay for their stay. There were three rooms available and Albus took all
three for them. Hermione was given her own room, the smallest, but the most
frilly and dainty for a lady. Ron and
Draco had the attic room, which was toasty warm from the heat rising in the
house, and Albus had the room just below theirs which was plain, but comfortable
with a firm bed like the other students had. It was so much nicer than the
scraggly inn in which they�d stayed for days, but the best part was that it was
a real home of the widow Derkin and she tended it as such. She brought them all
tea and scones in the dining room along with some fresh cream. Draco thought
he�d died and gone to heaven tasting the buttery flavored delight with cinnamon
and the fresh cream. Ron ate his share of the tasty treat and all four had full
tummies of hot tea and the delicious scones. Hermione took the task of putting
their bags into their rooms and unpacking what little they had while Albus went
with the boys out to the barn to unhitch the horses and to show them what
needed to be done with the livestock after such a journey. The wagon was pushed
back into the barn to keep it dry from the storm and the boys learned about
wagons and how to care for them. After the horses were watered and the bails of
neatly stacked hay were put out for them, the horses were allowed out into the
fenced area behind the barn.

�Do either of you know how to ride a horse?� Albus asked.

�I do,� Draco said. �I own two mares at Malfoy Manor.�

�I�ve ridden before, but it�s been years,� Ron said.

�Can either of you put on a saddle and bridle?� Albus asked.
The boys shook their heads.

�Our houselves did that for us,� Draco said.

�I�ll be teaching you both how to do that tomorrow,� Albus
said closing the barn door and latching it with Draco�s assistance. �I wanted
to tell you boys that this is the season for much work on a farm. It may take
time to get to know Harry so that he trusts us so I�m planning to either
purchase a farm for us or to sharecrop while we�re here. I worked on my
father�s farm as a lad until I married and became a teacher. But the work is
hard and the days are long. I hope I can depend on each of you because what we
grow and harvest will provide our meals during the cold weather.�

�Cold weather?� Ron asked. �It�s just April, Albus. Summer
is coming up.�

�Yes, Ron, but during the course of days here, Harry may be
assisting on the farm where he lives. He won�t have time to socialize with him
and we�ll have to work our way carefully to get to know him,� Albus said. �We
may be here through the winter. Possibly not, but Harry�s very nature is
untrusting. We�ll have to go slow with getting to know him. I will try to find
some land near the place where Harry is staying if possible, but if not, we�ll
have to work around that hurdle.�

�I didn�t realize it would take so long,� Ron said. �What
will we do? I can�t stay gone a year from home? My mum would kill me.�

�It will be as if you never left, Ron,� Draco said. �We used
the time device so we can go back to the moment we left and nobody will ever
miss us. That�s why we didn�t have to tell anyone where we were going.� Ron
realized and Albus nodded that Draco was correct.

�Will we remember being here?� Ron asked as they came near
the house and Albus pumped the water from the pump so that they could wash up.
Albus slid out of his coat and suspenders to take a water and hand bath
refreshing himself. Draco washed his face with the water and Ron did as well.

�Yes, we will remember,� Albus said. �But only because we
used the spells. I�m not sure Harry will remember anything or not. Severus was
uncertain as well.�

�I hope he don�t,� Ron said. �That might throw him over the
edge.� Draco was listening to all they�d said and the three entered kitchen
from the back of the house to see Hermione assisting Miss Asta with some menial
chore of preparing things for their next meal of breakfast.

�I�ll do that, dear,� Asta said to Hermione. �I know you�re
tired from your journey. There is hot water if any of you would like a bath.�

�A bath?� Draco asked in hopes. �You have a tub?�

�Yes, it�s in the small room off the hallway. You�ll have to
forgive me, lads, I can�t carry the buckets of water anymore,� Asta said.

�A bath,� Draco said. �Oh please let me bathe first.� Draco
begged his traveling mates who gave their permission. Ron and Hermione
volunteered to pour the hot water into the oval shaped tub of wood and metal.

�That think looks like a skinny coffin to me,� Ron said of
the tub.

�That�s the typical tub of this day and age, Ron,� Hermione
said. �I�ll have a bath tomorrow while you and Draco are with Albus. I think
I�ll warm more water for Albus to have a bath after Draco is finished. He said
he�d like to bathe.� Ron brought in buckets of water and it was warmed in the
large black belly pot over the fire by hanging on a pivoting hanger. Miss Asta
and Albus sat in the sitting room speaking over tea while Draco was in the tub.
Instead of the lye soap they had used at the inn, Miss Asta had a chunk of
soap, which smelled like some type of flowery scent, and Draco couldn�t have
been happier as he scrubbed and took the liberty of lying back in the hot water
for nearly a half hour. Draco went to his and Ron�s room and lay in one of the
twin beds. He had a bath and his own bed. It wasn�t so bad. Albus had a bath,
the stopper was pulled and the water from the tub was drained from the hole
through a small channel in the floor. The groove in the floor directed the used
water toward the wall where it drained out of a hole to the outdoors. When
they�d all settled in for the night, Hermione blew out her oil lamp next to her
bed and snuggled down into the down softness of the pillow and small bed that
would be hers for a small time. She smiled slightly. Draco lay and watched out
the window hearing the rain and thunder. He wondered if Harry had a warm bed
and the opportunity to have a hot bath. Albus was in his own room with nearly
identical thoughts that stemmed into other areas of concern. Hoping his young,
lost charge was somewhere warm with a full belly and safe from the raging
elements outside, Albus sighed.

�Goodnight, Harry. Wherever you are,� Albus whispered before
he slept.

The next day Hermione was up early and offered to assist
Miss Asta with the cooking duties for them all. The old woman kindly accepted
her offer and was surprised that Hermione had never cooked in a kitchen as such
and knew nothing about preparing meals in such conditions. She was patient and
kind and Hermione simply adored the woman in less than an hour. Miss Asta
hummed as she worked and the smells of bacon, eggs, fresh bread, hot coffee and
the hint of some sweet delight filled Albus� nostrils and he woke. When Draco
and Ron came down from their attic room, the breakfast was just being put onto
platters for serving. They looked at the mass amount of food and Ron�s eyes
went wide before digging in.

�It�s so good to have young men with good appetites in this
house again,� Miss Asta said as she put the sweet marmalade on her bread. �My
boys have been married and gone for nigh thirty years. When my Ranston died,
God rest his soul, I was alone for the first time in my life.� As they ate
heartily, the kind lady told of many things about her life, the house, the
village of Wynd and how she and her late husband had five children, but the
youngest had died a crib death which was common during the times. Albus shared
as well and Miss Asta listened intently smiling and nodding to him kindly as a
lady would. After the lovely breakfast they all offered to help with the
dishes, but Miss Asta shooed the boys and Albus out of her kitchen so that she
and Hermione, who she�d taken to calling Minnie, could speak of women�s gossip.
The boys laughed and left with Albus for the barn and their saddle lessons of
the day. Even though still overcast, the skies were friendly and the day not as
cold as the last.

That afternoon Albert did come by but with no news of any
land for sale or any sharecropping opportunities. It was learned that Albert
and Asta were second cousins and often took tea or a meal together twice a week
usually on Tuesday and after church on Sundays. When asked of some of the
families in the area, Asta told of many of the people who lived around and
visited the village regularly.

��and the McCrear�s,� Albert said. �Their son is the one who
helps me. He�s such a fine boy. Very shy, but a hard worker.�

�Helen Hanley was speaking to Katherine, Albert,� Asta said
in great concern. �She mentioned that Katherine may not teach the children in
the school this year. Have you heard anything? Did Harry mention anything about
his mother?� The four were immediately immersed in hearing the name.

�Nothing but that her birthday was coming soon. He bought
her a book while we were in Forksquire,� Albert said. �Katherine is such a kind
lady and so good with children. Especially her own four.�

�Those girls are just the sweetest things,� Asta said. �And
they adore their brother even though he doesn�t look a thing like any of the
rest of his family. Jakeb must have some dark haired relatives. That has to be
where Harry gets his dark hair.� The four looked to each other and grinned.

�Funny thing happened on the way back from Forksquire,�
Albert said with a grin. �We had stopped to eat at midday and I didn�t see
anything, but Harry just seemed to know that there was a wolf nearby. You know
how he uses his flipshot, Asta.� She nodded. �He picked up a few rocks and when
I finally saw the wild dog, he got the shite scared off him when Harry hit him
dead on with a rock. That dog bellowed to high heaven and followed us a long
way until he went on into the trees again. Harry�s good with his sling. He won
among the boys during last year�s feasts at hitting targets.�

�That doesn�t surprise me,� Ron said and the two Wynd
residents looked to him in question.

�Do you know Harry McCrear?� Asta asked.

�Um�err�.no, but I�if he�s as hardworking as Mister Albert
says then he�s probably worked on his skills,� Ron covered and the two nodded.
Draco gave Ron a look of �how-stupid-can-you get� and Ron said nothing else.
Mister Albert and Asta had tea with her guests and they spoke of the upcoming
feasts held on weekends on Saturday nights. The first such feast would be in
two weeks. There would be dancing and the opportunity for them to meet some of
the folk living in and around Wynd including the McCrear�s and others. Asta
hinted that maybe Hermione could meet some nice fellow like Harry McCrear.
Hermione only grinned and sipped her tea. Draco grinned as well to Hermione and
it was their secret that Harry might not be interested in her at all.

Weeks later, the work was strenuous and Harry pulled hard on
the reigns to stop the mule pulling the plow. There were clods of mud
everywhere and the new field had rocks that Harry had to clear out before he
could plow any more. Jakeb was following the plow using the hoe and breaking up
the largest of the muddy clods while Harry threw the rocks to the side of the
field. Taking a break from his hoeing, Jakeb came to kneel at the plow and pull
out the caked on mud. He was leaning over and couldn�t get to the vee of the
blades. Bending over the back of the plow, Jakeb was pulling out the muck not
seeing the slithering creature. The mule spotted the snake and jerked quickly.
Jakeb put a hand on the horse�s rump to calm her, but when the snake slithered
closer the mule panicked, jerked hard and kicked back hard kicking Jakeb in the
head. Blood spurted over the plow and ground and he screamed before he fell.
Harry turned back and ran to his father who was passed out cold on the ground
with blood everywhere. The injury was massive and Harry was breathing heavily
in a panic of his own. Assessing the damage, Harry had to do something quickly.
He tore off his shirt and tied it around his father�s head. Simply taking the
hoe and killing the snake, Harry unhitched the mule and with great effort put
his father across her back and quickly led her to the house.

�Mum! Mum, help!� Harry yelled from outdoors. Upon hearing
her son�s call, Katherine opened the door to see Harry with no shirt and her
husband lying motionless across the mule�s back. Harry explained what happened
as he carried the heavy man into the house and put him on his parent�s bed.
�I�m riding into the village to get Doc Murphy.� Katherine nodded and Harry ran
to the barn. Not taking time to saddle the horse, Harry took her out and slid
upon her bare back before kicking her hard and riding at breakneck speed toward
the village of Wynd.

Albus and Ron were with Asta near the front porch of her
home assisting Albert with the axel of their wagon that could use a few new
rings. Ron was holding up the front and Draco came around from relieving
himself at the outhouse to assist and hold up a part of the corner of the
wagon.

�That thing is awful,� Draco whispered to Ron of the
outhouse. Ron nodded that he was aware of the stench of the only facilities
during the times. Albert had just removed the second ring when Albus turned to
look back. A figure was speeding toward the village bareback. Ron gasped and
looked to Draco when they recognized the lone rider. The rider passed them on
the other side of the village and jerked hard on the horse�s mane to halt her
and at the same time slid off the side of the animal with agility and ease. The
young man ran to the side of the mercantile store and pounded on the door
peering in the windows impatiently.

�Albert, that�s Harry,� Asta said. �He�s at Doctor
Murphy�s.� They watched as the doctor opened the door and Harry was explaining
something quickly. The middle aged man nodded and went back inside his office
home again while Harry ran around the side of the building and hitched up a
horse to his two person cabby wagon. Harry pulled the horse and buggy around
and handed the doctor the reigns when the man sat in his seat. Doc Murphy
slapped the reigns and took off in a hurried pace in the direction from which
Harry had come. Immediately, Harry effortlessly slid up onto his bareback mare
and with a kick to her sides, he quickly passed the doctor and headed up over
the far hill out of sight. The whole episode had only taken two minutes. Asta
walked down the steps of her porch to be with the men who were watching the
doctor�s wagon disappear behind the hills. �I hope it�s nothing serious. I pray
it�s nothing to do with one of the baby girls.� Asta wrung her hands in
nervousness and Albert put an arm around her.

�He didn�t use a saddle,� Draco said to Ron. �Did you notice
that?�

�Doc Murphy is the best, Asta,� Albert comforted. �I�m sure
it will be alright.� Albus squinted in the direction Harry was traveling and
looked to Ron and then to Draco pointedly before Albert went back to his work
on the wagon. Draco kept his eyes on the far hill where Harry had just gone
wishing he could have seen him up close. With a thought that they may not see
Harry again for days or possibly even weeks, Draco went back to assisting with
the wagon.

Six days later was Sunday and the day that the villagers all
gathered for church services in the tiny building on the outskirt of the
village, which only twelve benches. The blackboard behind the minister and the
desk-like tilted work surfaces attached to the back of each bench told that
this was also the school. Albus, Ron and Draco took the opportunity to put on
their wool suits and Hermione her nicest black skirt, white top with her heavy
black shoulder shawl. Albert and Asta sat with them and introduced Albus to the
many men who owned farms around the area. Draco, Ron and Hermione stayed
together and were introduced to a few of the families as well.

�So. You living here now?� the pock faced boy asked with his
buck teeth. They learned his name was Oliver, but everyone called him Pudge
because of his slight overweight condition. They noticed Pudge eyeing Hermione
and smiling to her a lot. Ron nearly laughed.

�We are here with our grandfather,� Hermione said. �He�s
looking for some land for a farm so that we can settle near a nice village.�

�We�d take sharecropping, if you know anybody that needs
it,� Ron said. �Me and Draco can do farm work.�

�Hey, Pudge,� a dark haired boy said and came near them.
They were introduced to Rondell Vasker. �Did you hear about Jakeb?� Pudge shook
his head. �Him and Harry was working when the mule kicked him in the head. Hurt
him up pretty bad, my mum said. Me and dad are going to see if Harry needs any
help over at their place after church. You want to come?�

�Excuse me,� Hermione said. �Did you happen to hear if
Mister McCrear�s injury was permanent or will he recover?�

�Um�well, I�,� Rondell
said looking to Hermione. �Um he�I don�t��

�No, it�s not permanent,� Belinda said coming near. �Jakeb
has a concussion, a dislocated shoulder, some pulled tendons in his neck, a
broken jaw and Doc Murphy says his eye will clear up and not be blinded after a
few months.�

�Thanks,� Rondell said sarcastically to Belinda.

�I�m taking Harry and his parents some stew and those scones
Harry likes,� Belinda smiled sweetly to them. �Harry and I have danced at every
feast social for three years.� She said proudly. Draco nearly sneered or
laughed and didn�t know which.

�Really?� Hermione asked. �I�m Hermione. And you are�?�

�Belinda. Belinda Hanley,� Belinda said. �My father owns the
mercantile and the lumber yard here in Wynd. Are these your brothers?�

�My cousins,� Hermione said. �This is Ron and this is Draco.
Albus is our grandfather.�

�Where are your parents?� Belinda asked bluntly.

�They were killed,� Hermione said. �All of them. It was a
tragedy and our grandfather doesn�t like for us to speak of it.� Belinda nodded
with a scowl at the oddity and the three who looked nothing alike.

�Well, I heard my mum speaking to your grandfather,� Belinda
said. �The land here in Wynd isn�t for purchase. However, there are many
parcels of land for sale near Beckendell. That�s about twenty miles east of
here. I�m sure you all may end up there.� Ron, Draco and Hermione looked to
each other.

�I think my grandfather likes it here in Wynd,� Ron said.

�I just told you that there isn�t anything here for you,�
Belinda said pointedly.

�Perhaps we can find something,� Draco said. Belinda gave
the three of them a look.

�Suit yourselves if you want to waste your time,� Belinda
said and then smiled with her venom encased. �The feasting social is in a week.
If you�re still here, I�m sure you can come. I�ll introduce you all to Harry.
Good day.� Belinda held her nose in the air and sacheted away with all her
frilly lace layers on her imported dress.

�Don�t mind her,� Pudge said. �She�s like that. Nobody likes
her much.�

�And between us, Harry can�t stand her,� Rondell whispered
to them and the small group all snickered. �He just puts up with her because of
his mum.� Draco smiled to Ron in a triumphant way.

�Belinda has her claws in Harry and is convinced that one
day he�ll ask her to marry him,� Pudge said. �He might one day, but I don�t
think so.�

�He won�t,� Rondell said. �You know how shy Harry is. He
won�t say a word to anybody unless we make him.� Ron looked to Hermione and
Draco hearing the classic nature of the Harry they knew. �Well, I got to go.�

�Rondell, you said you and your father were going to the
McCrear farm?� Hermione asked. Rondell nodded. �Do you think that since Jakeb
McCrear has been injured, that he would sharecrop some of his land? Ron and
Draco are good field hands and we wouldn�t ask a salary from him at all. We
would just ask for a portion of the bounty of the harvest to last us through the
winter and Jakeb�s permission to build a small place to stay on the edge of his
property. We know that Harry can�t do all the work on a farm by himself.�

�You�d be surprised what he can do,� Rondell said. �Harry
works hard. But I think you�re right. He�s going to need some help. Let me get
dad.�

�I�ll get Albus,� Hermione said. She brought Albus over to
speak with Rondell �s father, Clifton Vasker. The men were introduced and what
Hermione had suggested was discussed. Albus thought it was a marvelous idea and
offered to go with Mister Vasker to the McCrear farm. Clifton was a very kind
and soft-spoken man and advised against going to the McCrear place while Jakeb
was injured. Clifton and Jakeb had been friends since Jakeb and Katie had moved
to Wynd years ago, so Albus heeded the man�s advice. The four newcomers to Wynd
gave Clifton their well wishes for Jakeb McCrear and tarried at the church
making new friends and acquaintances before they left and walked the way to
Miss Asta�s. Hermione and the elderly lady went to the kitchen, donned aprons
and began the final preparations for their Sunday dinner. Albus, Albert and
Nigelus Finney sat in the sitting room speaking of farming and other local
interests. Ron and Draco had met Sam and Will, two of Harry�s best friends and
the four boys had walked the length of fields for a long way to the large lake.
The boys talked about farming, girls, and other teenage boy things. Sam and
Will told Ron and Draco that they attended school three times a week in the
fall, winter and spring until it was planting time and the older boys had to
stay home and work the land with their fathers, but that the younger kids still
attended after the planting was over. It was obvious that farming was the only
way of life in these parts and everything hinged on production of the farm
harvest, which was their main priority. Ron and Draco told that they had gone
to a school where they lived at the school and the other boys were impressed.
While at the lake, Sam showed Ron how to use his flipshot that was like a
slingshot with a �Y� and a band between the forks. When drawn back, one could
flip a rock or pebble a long way and it took great skill to use one.

�We heard that Harry McCrear was good at using his
flipshot,� Draco said opening up the conversation of Harry.

�Yeah. He�s the best,� Sam said. �I can�t ever beat him at
anything.�

�I know the feeling,� Draco said under his breath and Ron
grinned.

�I hope Jakeb don�t lose his sense because of his head being
hurt and all,� Will said. �My uncle fell off a barn years ago and it busted up
inside his head. Since then he�s been crazy. The doctors can�t do nothing about
it.�

�The concussion will heal,� Ron said. �And his broken bones
will heal, too. If there isn�t any damage to his brain tissue then he should be
fine.�

�You sound like a doctor,� Sam laughed. �Was you wanting to
be a doctor?�

�No,� Ron said. �I just�I know a little bit about�stuff like
that, I guess.� The boys walked around the lake and came to one of their
favorite places which was a meadow and someone had built a long bench there out
of a fallen log. They all sat on it and looked out over the water. The overcast
skies that had brought the rains of the past few weeks, were now clearing away
but slowly and it was still very chilly.

�I think I�m going to ask Beth Tarber to dance,� Will said
and Sam laughed.

�Yeah. Okay,� Sam said. �You have been saying that for a
year and you never have asked her yet. She won�t dance with you anyway.�

�She might,� Will said in his defense. �She only danced with
Charlie and Ben last year. And I don�t remember you asking Mary to dance
either.�

�Mary was busy helping her mum,� Sam said.

�Every weekend?� Will asked with a smirk. �I�ll ask Beth if
you ask Mary.�

�Fine,� Sam said and Will nodded.

�Girl troubles?� Ron asked with a grin.

�There aren�t many girls our age that�s not married
already,� Will said.

�Tell us about your cousin Minnie,� Sam said. �She�s very
pretty. She�s never been married?�

�Hermione? No,� Ron said. �She did have a boyfriend one
time, but�well, they ended their relationship.�

�I thought Pudge was going to be sick from looking at
Hermione�s beauty,� Will said. �Pudge is a good friend, but he�s not a good
worker and his mum babies him like he�s five years old. His family hires
farmhands.� Sam nodded and Draco looked to Ron knowing that meant that Pudge�s
family must be wealthier than some of the others around Wynd. When it was time,
they all walked back to the village. Saying their goodbyes, Sam and Will parted
and Draco walked with Ron to Miss Astas where the group was eating dinner. The
two boys washed up and came back inside.

�You are late,� Hermione scolded. �It�s impolite.�

�Forgive us, sir,� Ron said to Albus. �We had just met Sam
Lester and Will Jenkins. They are friends of Harry McCrear.� Albus nodded with
his understanding.

�Harry seems like a popular boy here,� Draco said. �Is he?�

�Hardly,� Albert said. �He never says a word and doesn�t
attend school anymore. Katherine, his mother, is the teacher of the school and Harry
is smart as a whip. Very bright, but he is shy. He loves to read and I think
he�s read every book I own. We all know who he is, but he�s not the most
popular boy in the village, I would say.�

�I think that honor goes to Carter Von Weiss,� Asta said.
�He�s the son of George and Lillith Von Weiss. They own the largest farm in
these parts. George Weiss is a very formidable man with his business dealings.
He did own four wool mills in Proustenberg before he sold them. There is rumor
that the wool mills were operated by children who were beaten and starved. For
some reason Carter and Harry never got along well from the first time they
met.� Draco looked to Ron and Hermione in wonder and they shrugged. The fine
meal of beef roast, gravy, mashed potatoes, beans, bread and apple pie was
delicious and Miss Asta took the host of compliments on her cooking skills with
a light blush and ladylike embarrassment.
She and Hermione with Ron�s assistance took the dishes into the kitchen
to be washed and the men folk all came to the sitting room to have a smoke of
their pipes. Miss Asta, who in no way encouraged any type of drinking on Sunday
because she was a model Christian, offered them just a taste of her late
husband�s apple Brandy he�d made himself years ago. The fine liquor was enjoyed
by the three older men as they all chatted. Miss Asta brought out her
needlepoint and Hermione sat with her on the lady�s settee and watched her
closely. The pair of women was with each other every minute of the day and
Hermione was enthralled by all she was learning from the woman who was eating
up the attention from the young girl.

Sundays were lazy days in the village and no one worked on
the Sabbath day of church. No one, that is, except Harry who had milked the
cows, fed the chickens, tended the horses, and plowed the field all day from
morning until dark. With his father ailing and sleeping from his injury, Harry
bore the burden of taking care of the duties himself. Harry�s friend Rondell and his father, Clifton Vasker, had come
by to visit with an interesting proposition for Jakeb and Katherine. Clifton
had mentioned the newcomers to the village and that one old man and his three
grandchildren who had two healthy boys Harry�s age were seeking land to
purchase or a setup of sharecropping to tide them over the winter. Katherine
and Harry listened to Clifton ideas.

�I�ll have to ask Jakeb,� Katherine said.

�Mum, we don�t need any farmhands or croppers on our land,�
Harry said. �I can do the work until dad gets better. I�ll work harder.�
Katherine put her hand on Harry�s own.

�I am very grateful that you are such a hard worker, Harry,�
Katherine said. �But the help of two other boys your age would be invaluable. I
know you are doing your best, but you have no time for yourself working so
hard.�

�I don�t need time,� Harry said. �Mum, please. I can do the
work. I don�t want them here.�

�The old man has a lovely granddaughter, as well,�
Rondell said. �Makes Belinda look like
a sick sow.� Harry�s eyes never left his mother�s face and she nodded slightly
to Rondell but was more concerned about her husband and child.

�Harry, it�s not that I think you can�t do the work. I have
every confidence in you,� Katherine said. �But these folks need a place to
sharecrop and we can use the help. I think we could invite them to dinner and
meet them. If we don�t like them, then we�ll not ask them to sharecrop. Is that
alright with you?� Harry nodded but warily.

�I met the boys,� Rondell
said. �One of them has red hair and his name is Ron. The other one, I
forgot his name, but he is so light skinned. It�s weird looking.� Harry turned
to Rondell and remembered the light
skinned boy in Forksquire briefly. �They was nice to me, though. They met
Belinda, too.� Harry rolled his eyes secretly to Rondell and he almost laughed.

�The upcoming weekend is the first festival social in the
village,� Clifton said. �Perhaps you can meet Albus and his grandchildren and
then decide if you want to ask them to dinner. They seemed most eager to find a
place soon.� Katherine nodded in thought.. �Katie, I know you�re apprehensive,
but I have a good feeling about these people. They are kind and willing to work
and not take charity undeserving. That�s good people. And the benefit to you is
that they want nothing more than their share of the harvest bounty to last them
through the winter. It�s a good deal for you. I hope you consider it.�
Katherine nodded again and looked to Harry who knew the deal was too good to
pass up.

Everyday for the next few days, Harry worked as hard as he
could trying to let his mother know that he could do the work. She recognized
his efforts and appreciated them. Jakeb was still very sore, and kept sleeping
as much as possible. There were some herbal brews and medicines that Doctor
Murphy left for them each time he�d come to check on Jakeb�s progress. The
medicines were keeping him sedated for the sleep he needed.

When Harry had put his little sister Dorothea to bed, he
closed her door and came to see his mother sitting in her rocking chair with a
cup of tea. She motioned to the other chair that was his fathers, and Harry sat
with elbows on his knees.

�I want you to know that I have seen how very hard you�ve
worked since your father was hurt,� Katherine said. �You are a fine son, Harry,
and not just a field worker in your own home. I want you to have time to do
some things on your own and be with your friends and your family. If you are
working the fields every day from dawn to dusk, you have not one moment to
yourself. That�s not good for a lad your age.�

�But mum, I�m only working like this until dad gets better,�
Harry said.

�Harry, your father�s injuries are more serious than you
have been led to believe,� Katherine said. �The brain matter inside his head
has swollen. It�s a very dangerous time for him and I keep him as cool as
possible because of the fever.� Katherine looked into her cup again and sighed
but with inner strength. �I hope your father can recover from this injury
quickly and without lasting effects, but if he doesn�t, then we will have to
make do the best way we can. I want to meet the man that Clifton recommended
for the sharecropping. He says the two boys and one girl are all your age. If
you were working in the fields with them, then at least you�d have company your
own age. Maybe they could go to the socials with you on the weekends.�

�I don�t want them here,� Harry said kindly. �I can do this,
mum. I don�t need to go the socials. I don�t even like it. The girls want me to
dance with them and Belinda is just�.� Harry shrugged. �I don�t like her, mum.
I have tried to like her, but I don�t. I�m sorry.�

�There is no reason to feel sorry,� Katherine said. �Maybe I
did push her at you. Please forgive me, but you are seventeen, Harry. Your
father and I were married when he was eighteen.� Harry nodded but looked at the
floor. �I think we should keep an open mind to the sharecropping idea.� Harry
stilled but then nodded. �I know you could plow every inch of these fields,
keep our crops growing and even reap the harvests all on your own, but I don�t
want that for you. I want you to have time with your friends to enjoy being
young. I want you to meet a girl, fall in love and get married. Like every
mother wants for her son.� Harry nodded again, but in a saddened way. �It�s not
that I wouldn�t want to keep you on my apron strings like my little green eyed
baby.� Harry grinned slightly looking to her shyly. �You know I love you.�

�I love you, too, mum,� Harry said and sighed knowing the
old man and the three with him would be sharecropping with them. �If we take in
the sharecroppers they�ll need a place to stay on our land. The old homestead
is a quarter mile from here on the east corner. I could fix it up for them with
my�with my�the things I can do.� Katherine nodded fully aware of Harry�s
capabilities in that regard. �It wouldn�t take anything for me to make it ready
to live in. Nobody is there during the day and I could go tomorrow and Friday
and fix it after I do my chores and plowing.�

�It would be wonderful if you could that,� Katherine said.
�Would you like the last piece of pie before you head out to the barn for bed?�

�No,� Harry said softly.
�I think I�ll go now. I�m tired. Good night, mum.� Harry kissed his
mother�s cheek and left the farmhouse. When nestled into his soft bed, he
thought of the new visitors he�d never seen. Hoping he�d get along with them,
he vowed to do his best with the attempts at being on his best behavior when
meeting them. Sleep came quickly to ease his tired, aching muscles.
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Twice Upon A Time