Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Pure and Simple	By : CondemnedForLife Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 7673 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters and I make absolutely no profit from writing this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
Summary: The Dark Lord�s return is the beginning of the war. Harry meeting a certain auror is the beginning of something else entirely. Harry/Kingsley

Main Pairing: Harry Potter/Kingsley Shacklebolt

Genre: Romance/Adventure

Rating: M/NC-17

Warnings: Mature themes, slash, gay (male/male) relationships, violence, some angst, attempted noncon (just in one chapter), possible threesomes.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters�but can you imagine the possibilities if I did�

Author's note: I want to apologise for the extremely late update as I didn't have the internet for a long time and when I got it back my inspiration for this story had waned. My updates will probably be irregular but there won't be such a long break between updates again! So here�s an extra long chapter to make for the over a year long wait. Yes, I know, I�m ashamed of me too.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Another list of chores awaited Harry when he returned home from the gym that evening. He ignored his aunt's apologetic looks in favour of accepting Dudley's help once again in the hopes of getting it done faster. They quickly worked through the numerous chores Vernon had set and Harry gratefully stretched his back as he dumped the white-stained paintbrush into the nearly empty bucket. He glanced down as he heard a thump and felt a grin spread across his face at the sight of his panting cousin, sprawled across the grass and covered in white paint.

The two had spent the last two hours painting the fence that surrounded the Dursley's garden and Harry could feel the sweat dripping off of his back as he chuckled at his exhausted cousin. His humour earned him a glare.

"Shut up," Dudley grumbled. "I can't see anything funny from here."

"I beg to differ," Harry replied dryly. He tore his eyes away from a panting Dudley and ran them over the white, pristine fence. He nodded, satisfied with the result and felt gratitude towards Dudley at the thought of how long he would have been working without his cousin's help.

"Thanks." It was blurted out quickly and Harry attempted to suppress a blush when Dudley squinted up at him through the glare of the sun and the sweat in his eyes.

"Huh? Oh right, no problem."

Feeling uncomfortable now, Harry grabbed the nearly empty paint buckets and tripped in his haste to get to the shed. While Harry was comfortable with his decision to forgive his aunt and cousin, he still felt ill at ease around them when Petunia fussed over his face every time she saw him or when Dudley tried to act friendly with him. He knew they were sincere in their actions and could only hope that this feeling of awkwardness would eventually evaporate.

After helping his aunt with preparations for dinner and insuring her that he would be down for his own after the Dursleys were finished, Harry retreated to the privacy of his room in the hope of achieving some peace.

On his third attempt at a series of complicated aerobic positions and the third time falling back on his ass and hitting his head off the edge of the bed, Harry admitted defeat rather reluctantly, accepting that his mind was far too preoccupied to attempt anything more complicated. He feared he might get a concussion if he hit his head for the fourth time in under an hour.

Huffing in frustration Harry threw himself on the bed and then winced at the pain that shot up his side when his sore ribs were jostled. After thumping his head against the pillow rhythmically for the next few minutes Harry grinned as an idea came to him. He quickly sat up and settled himself Indian style on the rickety bed.

Taking a deep breath Harry closed his eyes, cleared his mind of everything he had learned that day and for the first time since before The Third Task attempted the first part of the four stages of the Animagus transformation: finding and accepting your inner animal through meditation. Harry had yet to even get a glimpse of what his Animagus would be but he wasn't discouraged. Sirius had told him via letter in had taken him over a year to find his animal form when his godfather had inquired after their progress in training,

Harry sighed in contentment when he felt his magic rise up when he gently brushed along the core of his magic located. A variety of colours met him as he delved deep within the pulsing magic. He felt his magic embracing him happily and Harry allowed a small smile and a shiver as the hairs on his arms rose up in reaction to the magic dancing along his skin. Concentrating now, Harry searched his combined core and thoughts in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the elusive animal that would portray him. Time faded as memories and spells brushed his consciousness reminding of everything he already knew, but that one image he needed avoided him all together and he couldn't help giving a small growl of annoyance. The pulsing magic flinched away and Harry quickly calmed down. His magic slowly following his example and he proceeded on his search again.

"Harry."

Harry felt like screaming when his magic began to slowly retreat back into his core. God damnit!

"Harry."

He was going to murder his cousin. Slowly. He knew exactly where to hide the body too.

"Harry. Mum wants you downstairs for your dinner now."

Harry's eyes snapped open, his mind suddenly flooded with thoughts and sounds among which was Dudley's voice. His cousin smirked at him in amusement when Harry glared and nimbly dodged out of the way as the smaller boy lunged at him. Laughter floated towards the young wizard as he heard footsteps running down the hallway, followed by a door closing.

Harry sullenly made his way downstairs, not wanting to leave his aunt alone with his uncle for any longer than necessary. He was never going to be able to complete the animagus transformation. Harry sighed glumly upon entering the kitchen.

Aunt Petunia was already washing the dishes and Harry's dinner was on the table with a glass of orange juice. Harry ate hurriedly, savouring the taste of the roast beef and potatoes. He dumped his empty dishes into the sink, splashing it as he did and grinned sheepishly at the mocking glare his aunt threw at him as she wiped the soap off her blouse. Picking up the dishtowel beside the sink, Harry dried the wet, soapy dishes and helped his aunt put them into the cabinets.

They left the kitchen together, both relieved that they hadn't been left alone with Vernon. Harry gave his aunt a whispered goodnight outside his bedroom door and then slipped inside, suddenly exhausted and blinking rapidly in hopes of keeping his eyes opened. He stripped down to his boxers and slipped beneath the cool fabric of the blanket. Slipping his wand from the waistband of his boxers, Harry stuffed the long piece of holly wood within reach beneath his pillow and frowned when his fingers brushed off something smooth and warm.

Harry grinned, pulling the leather diary, forcing his drooping eyelids to remain open as he unfasten he clasp of the small book. He smiled, immediately noticed three separate notes from Ron, Hermione and Ginny.

Harry,

Mate you have to help me! Gin told Mum about the whole training thing and now Mums restricted my food because she thinks its a great idea. Not the training for war part which she sort of freaked out about but the healthy eating part. I can only have only have one serving of dessert at dinner! One! And she keeps piling vegetables onto my plate. -Harry snickered. Only Ron would be that concerned about food.

-Fred and George think its very funny, the bastards. I found my room full of carrots and rabbits last night. I mean, where the fuck do you find that many rabbits anyway? I had to get them all out myself and now there's shit everywhere. Some of them were pure vicious and I have the scars to prove it. I'm nearly as afraid of rabbits as I am of spiders now-shit Ginny can see this and she'll never let me live it down!

Anyway Mum and Dad have been acting strange since we got back home. They're really nervous and I know its normal and all because of You-Know-Who being back but they keeping receiving letters and floo calls. Another thing is that Bill hasn't gone back to Egypt yet. He's staying with us and acting the same as Mum and Dad. I'm probably imagining things though.

No news on You-Know-Who yet but its only a matter of time, isn't it? Hope your relatives are treating you ok. Let me now if I can do anything to help and if you need it I'll try to sneak some food to you (Mum will probably think I want it for myself though). Hope we see ya soon.

Ron

Harry grinned and shook his head. Ron was afraid of rabbits now? He frowned at the other parts of the letter. Why had there been no news on Voldemort? Surely he would be active and trying to be as destructive as he could be. He smiled again at Ron's concern for him and turned his attention to Ginny's looping letters.

Harry

Ignore Ron and his idiotic complaints, he has no sense of fun what so ever. Rabbits are very adorable in my opinion- Harry sniggered as he imagined Ron reading Ginny's words. It was fuel for another few months of fighting between the siblings.- although I admit a few of them were a little grumpy. There's no need to worry about me Harry. Do you seriously think I would have suggested the book if I wasn't going to use it? Seems a bit stupid really. It's genius though isn't it? I mean I know Voldemort (yes I can say the name Ron) is a psychopathic sociopath who is hell bent on taking over the world but he really had brains didn't he?

Ron is right in one thing though (I know I can't believe I said those words can you?) Mum and Dad have been acting odd. Dad's always looking out the window and Dad and Bill seem to disappear every night and sometimes even during the day. We've asked but they won't say anything. I'm positive it has something to with Voldemort. I've heard Sirius' and Professor Lupin's names quite a few times as well.

I have to go and avoid helping Mum clean out the chicken house. Joy!

Love Ginny.

Harry frown became more pronounced. So Ginny had noticed her parent's behaviour as well. And they had mentioned Sirius and Lupin? The trio had informed Ginny about Sirius' innocence at the start of the year and she had accepted it willingly, happy to know that Harry had some kind of family left. Harry had kept in close contact with his godfather this year and had no doubt that Sirius would probably write to him again soon. But he also remembered that Dumbledore had assigned Sirius the task of finding numerous people including Remus Lupin, Harry's old Defence professor.

Harry smiled softly at when he remembered the kind, gentle man. He would love the chance to get to know his father and Sirius' friend better. He moved his eyes to the next page where Hermione's immaculate writing stood out in blue pen rather than the usual black ink.

Dear Harry,

Like Ginny said try to ignore Ronald's crude language, it leaves much to be desired. Have you spoken to your aunt yet? I hope she has a good explanation for what she's put you through. Your uncle being his usual pleasant self? Well I can't say that doesn't exactly sound promising. . . I hope he's not taking his anger out on you though. I found a gym here as well. Its part of the local swimming pool.

I've read both Ron and Ginny's letters and to be honest it sounds like their parents are planning something. There is no news of Voldemort in the muggle world as you probably already know but I would recommend you send out a subscription for the Daily Prophet Harry. I know how much you hate that newspaper but its best that your up to date on everything in the Wizarding World while your isolated from it.

I hope you're keeping yourself safe Harry. I know how hard everything must be for you and I hope you'll talk to one of us rather than letting it build up inside. Don't dwell on what was never your fault and know that I'm hear for you whenever you need me. We're going to Edinburgh tomorrow to visit my grandparents, but I'm bringing my books with me so write back soon.

Love, Hermione.

Harry sighed but gave a tremulous smile at his friend's obvious concern for him. While Ron and Ginny were fantastic at distracting him from unpleasant thoughts and pretending that nothing had happened if that's what he wanted, Hermione was always blunt. She let Harry know what she thought without any reservations, listened to him and then offered the comfort he needed.

Fingers wandered beneath his pillows as Harry searched for the pen he had left there. His fingers closed over it quickly as he began to write back a separate response to each of them, informing them all of the conversation he'd had with his aunt earlier that day. He questioned all of them on the validity of his aunt's reasons despite believing it to be true. He knew Hermione probably already knew the answer but both Ron and Ginny were purebloods and it was possible that they knew about it as well. Harry also delighted in telling them about Alexi and the friendship that had sprung up between them. They would know that Alexi was Harry's first muggle friend and would therefore understand how much the friendship meant to Harry.

After sending greetings to both their families, Harry penned his goodbye and shoved the notebook and pen under his pillow again. He made a mental note to send Hedwig away with a subscription to the Daily Prophet the next morning, never getting the chance to clear his mind before he fell asleep.

Harry's dreams were filled with images of a blood covered Dudley and Petunia cowering away from a menacing Vernon who spat insults at them as he beat them while Harry stood and watched beside them unable to move to help them. Useless. Worthless.

This eventually faded away to leave the memories of the night of the Third Task repeating itself over and over again. Harry whimpered and cried out as he watched Cedric die over and over again. Heard the Death Eater's laugh at him as he was tortured by Voldemort. Once again these dreams disappeared and gave way to blood-red eyes that followed his every movement. Those eyes haunted his every waking and sleeping moment. Harry gasped as all light faded, leaving behind only the eyes. The consuming darkness pressed against him. Captured him. Trapped him. Stealing his every breath until all he could hear was the sound of his heartbeat thumping in his ears.

Harry scrambled up in the bed, panting and gasping for air as he clawed at the blanket that had become stuck over his face. He blinked at the darkness of the room and quickly reached for the lamp on the bedside table. After waiting for his eyes adjusted to the suddenly blaring artificial light and after giving a sigh of relief he worked to slow his breathing until the harsh pants gave way to soft, even sighs.

Closing his eyes, Harry drew his knees up to his chest and rested his forehead against them. While his breathing might have been calmer his heart was still determined to try and makes it's way out of his chest. Those last dreams were always the worst. While watching Cedric Diggory die over and over again or hardly gave Harry the incentive to sleep they could not compare to the fear he felt for that dreaded darkness. The darkness was inescapable and the feeling of weakness and self-loathing were overwhelming every time he experienced it. It was like he was being isolated from everything and he felt so alone.

Harry couldn't remember exactly when he had closed his eyes but they shot open now as he heard the soft, almost inaudible creak of a floorboard out in the hall. The young wizard had almost decided he imagined it when a much louder creak sounded, this time it was closer. His eyes shifted to door where the light from the hallway seeped beneath the small space beneath it. The light was suddenly obscured when a dark shadow moved in front of his room.

Was someone going to the bathroom? Harry wondered. But the shadow stopped outside the door, the width of it covering any light that had been shining through. Harry could hear the shuffling of footsteps and harsh breathing of the person outside his room and he reached beneath his pillow to firmly grasp his wand as a sense of fear and dread began to grow in him. Just as swiftly as it had disappeared, the light from the hallway crept underneath the door again and Harry heard a door closing at the end of the corridor.

The sweaty grasp on his wand loosened as Harry let out a breath he hadn't realised he had being holding. The fear and anxiety faded away and left a mixture if curiosity and caution behind. As much as Harry wanted to believe it had been Dudley or Petunia going for a midnight stroll, he wasn't naive enough to convince himself of it.

Instead attempted to figure out what the hell Vernon Dursley was doing standing outside his door at three in the morning.

With a sense of wariness Harry tried to dismiss his thoughts as he reached for the lamp switch. But as much as Harry tried to convince himself that he was undaunted by the strange visit from his uncle, his grip on his wand never lessened when he shifted restlessly in the bed and the tenseness in his body remained for the rest of the night.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Harry hummed under his breath as he walked down Privet Drive with Dudley, ignoring the nosy neighbours who peeped through their curtains or put the cat out in the hopes of discovering the newest scandal in the neighbourhood.

Harry had awoken that morning grumpy and sullen due to the lack of sleep the previous night caused by relentless nightmares. He felt just as tired, if not more so, than before he had went to bed the last night. Since he had woken later then usual, Harry had accompanied Dudley on his jog rather than on his own as he had been doing since arriving at Privet Drive. The companionable silence between the two as well as the crisp morning air had served to rouse him and rid him of his bad mood.

"So your having a martial arts class this evening?" Dudley breathed in time with his steps.

Harry hummed his confirmation.

"With Alexi yeah?"

Harry grinned and rolled his eyes at his cousin's failed attempt at subtlety but nodded.

"I don't suppose there's any places left? I mean I saw you practicing the other day and it looked cool, so I wanted to, you know, try it out."

Harry's eyebrows nearly disappeared beneath his long bangs, and he gave Dudley the most sceptical look he could muster, indicating that he clearly didn't believe a word his cousin was saying.

"Sure, I'll ring the gym when we get home and seen if there's any places left in the class."

Harry could see his cousin grinning happily as he sped up his pace. Probably to reach home faster Harry mused. He shook his head at his cousin's obviousness but smiled as he sped up his own gait in order to catch up with Dudley, wondering what Aunt Petunia was going to think when she saw the, admittedly rather creepy, grin on her son's face.

They arrived home shortly and after taking a shower, Harry asked Aunt Petunia for permission and rang the gym off of the Dursley's phone, hoping that Alexi was working. He breathed a sigh of relief when his friend picked up the phone.

"Good morning, Jenison's Gym, Little Whinging. How can I help you?"

Harry chuckled at the business-like tone he was greeted with and compared it to the atrocity of a mess that was Alexi's desk. Although the receptionist still seemed to know where everything was.

"Very professional Alexi."

"Harry?"

"The one and only."

"I doubt that sincerely. Harry is a rather common name."

"Hey! Not all of us have Italian parents who can name them Alessandro."

"Its Alexander!"

Harry barely withheld a snicker.

"Are you sure 'Lexi? I'm almost certain you told me it was Alessandro."

"No, I'm quite sure I didn't."

"Why on earth would I say it if I didn't think it was true?"

Alexi breathed deeply down the line and Harry couldn't hold in his chuckles as he heard a few expletives thrown in to the whispered mutterings.

Alexi's voice was not annoyed, but amused when he spoke again.

"Did you actually have a reason for calling or was this just a spur of the moment decision?"

"Is that any way to treat your customers?" Harry sniffed. "Yes actually, I do have a reason. Is there any places left in the kenpo classes?"

"Yeah, there is a few places left. Not many though. Why?"

After explaining who exactly it was that wanted to join the kenpo classes, Harry allowed a smirk to grace his features as he received a breathless reply.

"Of course! I'll sign him up straight away. See you this evening." And Alexi hung up.

Harry stood motionless for a moment, staring at the phone in equal parts amusement and disbelief before shrugging and putting in pack on its holder. He turned to walk into the kitchen, only to bump into something rather solid and fall back on his ass letting out a rather unmanly shriek as he fell.

I swear there wasn't a wall there last time I checked, Harry thought dizzily. A hand suddenly popped into view and Harry grasped hold of it without thinking. He found himself being pulled quickly to his feet and the wind was knocked out of him as he was once again collided with the newly formed wall.

'The wall' or Dudley as he was more commonly referred to seemed not to notice Harry's breathlessness and quickly fired questions at his cousin.

"Well, is there room? What did he say? Did he ask why I wanted to join? What did he say?"

Harry gasped gratefully when his contracted muscles began to loosen and managed a wheezing reply. "He�he signed you�up. There...was room�left."

Dudley grinned triumphantly and Harry founded himself panting once more when Dudley gave him a brief but firm one-armed hug. He winced at the contact. His ribs were still sore from Vernon's attack but Harry couldn't find it in him to mention this to his cousin and ruin Dudley's happiness.

It couldn't possibly take much longer for Dudley to crack and admit his feelings to Alexi. Then again, Dudley could be exceedingly dense sometimes and it was feasible that he was unaware of what his actions and feelings towards Alexi were. If that was the case Harry would simply take matters into his own hands, which involved locking the two boys into a small room and waiting for teenage hormones to take their course. Ginny and he had contemplated doing the same to Ron and Hermione several times during the year but they feared Hermione's wrath far too much to risk it. However, Dudley and Alexi were a different matter all together.

Dudley grin faded to a smile as he spotted the slowly forming smirk on Harry's face.

"What?" he asked suspiciously.

Harry shook his head and cleared his expression. He quickly changed the subject as Dudley eyed him warily but followed Harry as he left the kitchen and walked out the back door onto the garden where he flopped unceremoniously onto the grass.

"Do you still hang around with your 'gang'? You know, Piers and Malcolm?"

Harry wasn't particularly interested in the bullies who had made his years in his muggle school hell but he made an effort to look interested.

Dudley grimaced slightly at the question as he sat down beside Harry, clearly remembering the same thing his cousin was.

"Yeah, I see Piers and Dennis often enough. They're planning on coming around this weekend." He glanced at Harry as he said this.

Harry groaned silently at the thought but fought to hide his feelings from his face. Dudley had apparently seen something in his expression anyway because he continued quickly.

"Piers was in the same volunteer programme at Smeltings as I was. His mother remarried and his stepfather told him he could start living in the real world or he'd kick him out the moment he turned eighteen. Doesn't take a genius to guess which one he chose. Anyway he's changed nearly as much as me. Seriously," he added at Harry's doubtful look.

"Dennis was never really that bad to begin with. He just followed our lead, not that that's an excuse. When he went to Stonewall High he had a chance to be himself and that's what he did. He's the top in his class at Science and Maths now. Malcolm moved away about three years ago and I haven't really kept in contact with him."

Harry nodded thoughtfully. He supposed he could put up with Piers and Dennis for one afternoon, even though he didn't exactly cherish the thought. Besides he could simply lock himself in his room for the duration they were here. He startled at the soft nudge he felt against his leg and instinctually reached for the wand in the holster strapped to his leg. Harry relaxed when he realised it was only one of Mrs. Figg's cats. It was a beautiful tortoiseshell cat and she purred contently as Harry ran his hand gently down the length of her spine. Cats, for some unknown reason, completely relaxed Harry and adored him in return. He found their silence and elegance calming, although he would never confide this in Sirius who seemed to detest all cats on principle apart from Crookshanks. When asked why would immediately clam up and turn an interesting shade of fuchsia.

The cat who had been preening under the attention it was receiving suddenly turned and hissed viciously at something behind the boys. Startled Harry and Dudley turned their heads in unison towards the house where�there was absolutely nothing except the house. Harry's eyes flickered over the walls and the corners of Number Four, searching for what had caused such a reaction from the cat but found nothing out of the ordinary unless it was invisible. The black-haired boy's eyes narrowed as he ran his eyes over the house and garden again but after a moment he turned back to the cat who was looking adoringly at his hand as though fascinated by the long-fingered appendage.

Harry chuckled and held out a hand to the cat who eagerly pushed her self beneath it and seemed to vibrate with her purring.

"You're an odd little thing aren't you?" But despite his words Harry's free hand rested on his concealed wand and every few moments his eyes darted around inconspicuously. The cat on the other hand meowed her agreement and arched her back happily as Harry's fingers stroked her multicoloured fur.

Every so often the cat would wander over to Dudley and bow her back, demanding that he pat her but after only a few minutes she would make her way back to Harry, only to eventually end up falling fast asleep in his lap.

"We had better be going," Dudley said after looking at his watch. "We only have a half an hour before the class starts."

"What exactly am I supposed to do with this?" Harry replied, gesturing at the blissful sleeping cat curled in his lap.

"Bring it with you."

Dudley received a glare for his comment and sighed.

"I'll grab your bag while you figure it out."

Dudley left before Harry could protest and he found himself staring at the oblivious cat. It was only a cat he reasoned with himself, he should just push it off him and leave. Sighing Harry carefully cradled the cat against his chest and stood up. The cat opened one eye blearily, gazed at him and then closed it and actually snuggled into his chest.

Dudley snickered when Harry came around the corner of the house.

"Shut up," Harry grumbled. He couldn't really explain the need to keep the cat safe but�this was the first time he had ever cuddled an animal. Sirius was an Animagus so he didn't count and Hedwig wasn't really the soft, cuddling type nor was Crookshanks. That an animal trusted him enough to fall asleep in his arms and simply hope that he would take care of it made Harry feel odd, but pleasantly so.

"I'm going to drop her back at Mrs. Figg's house on the way to the gym."

Dudley shrugged and threw Harry's bag and his own over his shoulder as he set off down the path, with Harry following at a slightly slower pace.

Mrs. Figg gratefully accepted her cat, who was called Sophie, back exclaiming that she had only recently bought her and she seemed to constantly wander off. Harry received her thanks modestly and didn't notice the curiosity in Mrs. Figg's eyes as he practically pried Sophie's claws from his shirt or how the old lady softly cooed to the cat as she meowed pitifully after Harry.

Harry noticed with increasing amusement that Dudley's walk seemed to gain a bounce and his grin grew with each step they took towards the gym. They entered, dodging several people who were exiting the busy gym and immediately made towards the white door near the receptionist desk. He noticed that Alexi had been replaced by a blonde, bubble gum blowing young women who winked at them flirtatiously.

"She's got nothing on Alexi." Harry was almost positive he heard Dudley whisper and while it was true he couldn't help sniggering. Maybe his cousin wasn't as oblivious to his feelings about the dark-haired receptionist as Harry had presumed.

The white door led into a large dojo that was almost half the size of the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Three of the four walls were made up of shining wooden panels from floor to ceiling. The last wall however, was made up clear glass windows and the bright summer sun shone through them, illuminating the polished floor beneath their feet. Several parts of the floor however, were covered in the large mats of the same material Dudley's exercise mat was made of.

Harry glanced to his right and glimpsed the immense foliage that surrounded the building through the glass and couldn't help wondering whether they had built the gym with the windows on this side for that exact reason. The beauty of the outside did cast a rather peaceful setting within the large hall.

Harry turned as he heard Alexi speak and noticed the other people in the hall for the first time. There was at least a dozen people gathered at the opposite end of the hall. They varied in age groups but appeared to be mostly in their late teens or early twenties and Harry knew that he was one of the youngest there. Each person was dressed in loose white cotton pants that fell just at the ankle and a white tunic tied with white satin ribbon. Most were also barefoot, although Harry couldn't help noticing that one women had a pair of bright yellow socks on, with what appeared to be various coloured planets on them. He grinned in amusement at what Dumbledore would think of such socks, knowing that his esteemed Headmaster had a love for extremely unusual socks.

Alexi has stood up from his crossed legged position on the ground and was making his way towards them. He too was dressed in the customary clothes worn for martial arts, but Harry could see that they had been previously worn like his own.

"Hey Harry, Dudley," Alexi chirped brightly when he reached them. "Class starts in about ten minutes. There are spare uniforms over there for anyone who hasn't brought their own." Alexi added shyly to Dudley, pointing out a wrack of white pants and tunics beside the door and then gestured to a door beside the racks. A small plague on the door indicated that it was the changing rooms.

Leaving Dudley talking with Alexi and picking out an outfit that would fit him, Harry entered the changing rooms. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny had all ordered outfits made from acromantula silk when they had first begun training. Hermione had insisted upon it, saying that it was one of the most powerful clothing materials in the world. It held great protection and was even said the bring luck in a fight. So despite Ron's complaints about the cost they each ordered a silken tunic and trousers and Harry had to admit that it allowed greater flexibility than cotton clothes would have.

Harry stripped to his underwear and tank top quickly and slid the tunic over his head, relishing in the texture of the material as it glided over his skin. He was pulling the trousers on as Dudley came in and waited for Dudley to finish comparing their clothes. The differences were very slight and Harry hoped that no one would be able to see them. It was only the slight shimmering of the cloth over his skin as it passed beneath the light or the feel of it that would alert someone to the differences. Before they left the changing rooms, Harry removed another piece of ribbon from his bag pack and hastily tied back his hair in a messy ponytail.

A man entered the room from a door at the very end of the hall at the same time that they did and Harry and Dudley hurried to join the people gathering in front of him in the middle of the hall. He had quickly moved to the middle of the room, gesturing to them to gather in front of him. Only when he was amidst the other potential kenpo students did Harry clearly see his soon-to-be teacher.

Although he appeared to be only Harry's height and was of a slender build, his sleek muscles and confident stance radiated power. He looked to be in his late twenties and of Chinese heritage. He slowly walked back and forth in front of them while scrutinising his possible students, Harry couldn't help comparing his poise and gracefulness to that of a wild cat, a tiger perhaps. And we're his prey, he thought in amusement.

Harry held back a small smile when those dark brown, almost black eyes paused on him, then allowed it when the teacher continued. The young wizard allowed himself a moment to admire the silky, black hair tied tightly at the base of the man's neck before turning his attention back to his teacher who had now finished his appraising his students and wasted no time in introducing himself.

"My name is Jiang Xing," he began, his voice soft but firm. "but you will refer to me as Sensei."

"I understand that this will be a mixed class. Some of you having had previous training in martial arts and others none at all. Therefore we shall begin my testing your fitness and decide whether you could truly keep up in this class. After which I will speak to you all individually and you may inform me of any previous instruction you may have had. Now, we'll begin with laps around the hall starting at a nice, steady pace. Go."

Harry, Dudley and Alexi immediately took off at a slow jog with about half the class, while the other half stared at the Sensei as though making sure he was serious, and then followed the rest of the class rather reluctantly. It was clear from the start that Sensei had absolutely no time for anyone who was not prepared to do as they were told. He was going to teach them kenpo, but he was going to teach them his way. Rather than standing watching them jog, Sensei ran with them, observing who was struggling for air, who was just panting and who continued to jog confidently.

After almost half an hour more than half the class were wheezing and dragging their feet in an attempt to keep up. Harry, Dudley and three other men kept pace beside the sensei, panting slightly and sweaty but none the worst for wear. Alexi, five women and two more men followed shortly behind them, while the rest of the class were either walking, or in the case of three teenage girls, had collapsed on the ground shortly after beginning and instead spent their time ogling the men as they ran past them.

Harry and the other men in front kept up light conversation with each other, and Sensei Yang took the time to inquire whether any of them had had previous training in martial arts. He stopped them all shortly afterwards and gathered them in the centre of the room again. He glared disapprovingly at the teenage girls as one of them dramatically claimed to have sprained her ankle and asked Dudley for help.

Harry couldn't decide which was funnier, the terrified look on Dudley's face when he allowed the girl to lean on him or the spiteful glances Alexi through the girl's way.

"Alright then," Sensei said," I can see that I have some work ahead with some of you." He cast a furtive glance in the direction of the giggling teens.

"Firstly, I want those of you who are obviously less fit to work out a plan for yourself when you go home. Jog, swim, I really don't care but you have to be able to keep up in this class and to do that requires a higher level of fitness that many here have portrayed.

"Secondly, those who are already reasonably healthy keep up the good work. Now, for the remainder of the class I'm going to be demonstrating a number of exercises used to help the muscles before starting into the actual actions themselves. Those who have had previous training will already remember these, so I want you to go to that side of the room and go through them slowly. The rest of you follow me."

Sensei spun swiftly and stalked to the end of the room followed by most of the class. Harry and Alexi waved to Dudley the followed the four men and two women to the other end of the hall, where the picked a spot for themselves and quickly lost themselves in a familiar routine of stretching sinewy muscles.

Before long the second half of the class was up and Harry rubbed his sleeve over his forehead when Sensei Xing announced the end of the class.

"I will see you all next Friday." The Chinese man bowed from his waist and the sentiment was returned by most. He then turn on his heel and quickly made for the door off the hall.

"That was a good first class," Alexi remarked as they entered the changing rooms again. "He knows what he's doing at least."

Harry hummed his agreement, pulling his ordinary clothes out of his bag.

"It was a good idea to test out our fitness levels," Dudley agreed.

Harry opted to stay silent when they began to discuss the class. He agreed that Sensei Yang certainly knew how to teach a class. He was strict, but encouraging and obviously took teaching defence seriously. If those teenage girls continued acting as they had been today, they would soon find themselves with a few extra hours of freedom on a Friday afternoon.

"..rry? Harry!"

Harry glanced up startled then admonished himself internally for allowing his thoughts to lead him astray. He found an amused Dudley and an exasperated Alexi looking at him and grinned sheepishly.

"What?"

Alexi gave a quick glance to the ceiling as though hoping that divine intervention would give him some patience before asking his previous question again.

"Are you coming to the gym tomorrow?"

Harry opened his mouth the reply with an affirmative, but suddenly remembered his aunt's parting words yesterday morning as he and Dudley had attempted to escape and groaned.

"No, I can't. We have to go shopping with Dudley's mum tomorrow," Harry moaned, clutching at his eyes.

Dudley's face had paled at those words. "You know I had completely forgotten that, and was living in blissful unawareness until you had to ruin it. It's so unfair, she only needs to go shopping with you, why do I have to be subjected to it as well?"

Harry glared at his horror stricken cousin with disbelief. "I doubt your going to be stuffed into a changing room and suffocated with clothes. I swore to myself I would never to that again. . ." he trailed off. It wasn't that he was ungrateful that his aunt finally wanted to buy something for him, far from it. But Harry still had forgotten that single day of shopping in Hogsmeade with Ginny. He shuddered slightly when he recalled Ron telling him to shut up and bear it like a man. The youngest Weasley had spoken with experience on his side and had bluntly told Harry that there was no getting away from Ginny Weasley when she wanted something. She was Molly Weasley's daughter after all.

The sound of laughing snapped Harry and Dudley out of their self-induced misery. They were now outside the gym and were walking towards Privet Drive. Alexi had stopped on the path in front of them and was staring at them with an incredulous expression while chuckling.

"You-you both sounds like wimps," he giggled. "You're afraid of a woman, who is no doubt not only smaller than Dudley but is also several years older than you, while you're both in your prime and all because she wants to take you shopping?" He leaned against the a wall chuckling for a moment as Harry and Dudley gaped at his shaking frame.

Until Harry did the only thing he could think of and stuck out his tongue at him and proceeded to pout which caused Alexi to giggle again.

Harry suddenly smirked. "Well 'Lexi if you think it's so amusing you can come with us. Shows us your expertise in dealing with shopping with middle-aged women as it were."

"Really?" Alexi asked, eyes still bright and shining from laughing. "Cool," he said walking past Harry and Dudley. "What time will we be leaving?"

Harry declined to answer, instead he scowled at the abrupt turn of events and it only increased when he saw Dudley's cheerful smile. Someone was obviously more eager for tomorrow to arrive now. Harry aimed a kick in the direction of his cousin and mouthed traitor, to which Dudley only grinned mischievously and jogged to catch with their Italian friend.

"We'll probably be leaving around eleven o' clock in the morning." Dudley answered Alexi's earlier question in Harry's stead. "Our house is Number Four, Privet Drive."

Alexi smile shyly under Dudley's attention. "Alright then, I'll see you both tomorrow." Alexi waved at them before turning towards Magnolia Crescent, head bowed and blushing furiously.

Harry tiptoed up to deadly and waved his hand in front of his cousin's vacant gaze.

"Oh," Dudley blinked, then grinned goofily at him at the began to walk again. "I suppose tomorrow won't be too bad."

"Uh-huh." Harry replied, amused.

"I mean Mum usually wants to be back before five anyway because one of her soaps is on."

"Sure."

"And if you think about it Mum isn't really that bad. As long as you agree to everything she says, it's fine."

"Mmmm," Harry was struggling furiously to choke back his laughter while fighting to keep up with Dudley's bouncy new pace.

The day seemed to pass quickly after that and Harry began his chores shortly after they arrived home. Harry shifted back onto his haunches and rubbed his knees which ached from being pressed on to the hot ground as he and Dudley planted new rose bushes in the garden. The heat seemed to have increased since yesterday and Harry and Dudley were happy to remain silent, working quickly and efficiently. After almost an hour of comfortable silence Dudley collapsed backwards onto his arse, groaning in discomfort.

Harry shot his cousin an amused grin as he dramatically whined about never being able to walk again, but continued with his work. After years of back-breaking work courtesy of the Dursleys, an hour on his knees wasn't going to stop him. He chuckled at Dudley's impressive whinging, yanking up a weed and placed a bulb into the newly dug soil instead. With his cousin's next words however, the bulb in his hand was dropped unceremoniously to the ground.

"Harry," Dudley's voice was nervous. "Will you tell me about the Wizarding World?"

Harry sucked in a sharp breath and was slow to let it out. He admitted to himself that his reaction was probably irrational, but he couldn't just suddenly erase everything Vernon had engrained in him. He associated talking about magic at the Dursley's with the word punishment and the delivery of the word 'freak'. Freak. A word he detested more than anything in the English language. Harry could tell Dudley was sincere in his inquiry just by his voice alone. Still�

"You don't have to if you don't want to," his cousin continued hurriedly, looking embarrassed. "I shouldn't have said anything."

"No, its alright," Harry said slowly. "I guess it doesn't really make a difference now. Plus Uncle Vernon's not here," he added.

"So you'll tell us then," Petunia asked softly.

The boys turned in unison to look at her, and she chuckled at the look of surprise on their faces. She was wearing an old pair of grey sweats and a tight red t-shirt.

Harry and Dudley, who had never seen her in anything other than skirts and blouses, gaped unabashedly.

"You'll catch flies," Petunia smiled, as she knelt down to pick up a shovel and joined them.

Dudley snapped his mouth shut and Harry chuckled. Slowly, almost cautiously Harry began his story of life in the Wizarding World. He started with the moment he left them on the cabin during the storm and Hagrid introducing him to the world of magic. He recalled his first trip to Diagon Alley with the same amount of shock and awe he had felt at that time, and felt his cousin and aunt sharing his delight at his first glance of what was soon to be his world.

Harry found it suprisingly easy to discuss his magical life with Petunia and Dudley. They portrayed the same complete attention that Hermione and Ron always gave him when he was retelling one of the adventures that they had miraculously missed out on. He felt an unexpected sense of relief in being able to confide in someone who had no idea of Harry Potter's life in the Wizarding World and therefore held no prejudices or misconceptions of him. He found amusement in their varied emotions of wonder, fear, shock and pure disbelief. There was moments of recognition from his aunts well when he mentioned certain things he was sure his mother had previously spoken of.

Time passed rapidly and Harry spoke almost absentmindedly while continuing to dig. Dudley proceeded to find himself covered in dirt before long as every time Harry said something that surprised him he upended the shovel on himself. He spluttered through a mouthful of dirt after Harry recounted the tale of Norbert, Hagrid's pet dragon.

"A-a dragon?!" Dudley gasped while making a face at the taste in his mouth. "An actual dragon?"

"Yup." Harry nodded, smiling reassuringly at his aunt's pale countenance. "It was a vicious little bastard, but Hermione and me worked it out in the end."

His explanation was interrupted at regular intervals as he patiently answered his relatives' questions.

"Quirrell!" Dudley exploded as Harry neared the end of his first year. "How the fuc-fricken hell could it be Quirrell?"

Harry and Petunia both gave him an almost identical 'be-patient look' that led the blonde boy to mime locking his mouth shut and throwing away the key. After a last warning look Harry relayed the final events of his first year while now methodically planting lilies.

The dark-haired wizard was giving Dudley an exuberant account of his and Ron's adventure in the Chamber of Secrets when Petunia declared them finished for the day and they followed her into the kitchen. At this point Harry was attempting to convince Dudley that he actually had seen a basilisk beneath his school.

"I swear," Harry said as he wiped his muddy feet on the mat in front of the door. "It was at least fifty feet long and it was a right moody bitch as well. It bit me just as I shoved Gryffindor's sword up it's throat."

"You did what?" Aunt Petunia shrieked. She was standing in the middle of the kitchen, her yellow glove-covered hands planted on her hips, pieces of hair in her scowling face and a piece of dirt on her nose. She looked truly terrifying and Harry couldn't help grinning at her.

"I was fine," he replied brightly and rolled up his sleeve to show then the scar that remained where the basilisk's fang had pierced his flesh.

Petunia gazed at it in concern and appeared to be fighting the urge to get out the first aid-kit for a wound that was over two years old. Dudley on the other hand gazed at the scar in open admiration.

"You killed a giant snake?" he exclaimed loudly. "That's awesome!"

Harry grinned at his cousin, purposely ignored the disapproving gaze his aunt was shooting them.

While they made dinner Harry carried on with his story and found great amusement in telling them that the man wanted for murder they had seen on the television the summer before his third year was in fact a wizard and the first person to ever escape from the heavily guarded wizard prison Azkaban. They simultaneously shuddered at Harry's extremely accurate description of the Dementors.

By the time they had finished making dinner Petunia had tears rolling down her face as he recounted learning about Sirius' false imprisonment and Pettigrew's subsequent escape. Harry's face was forlorn as he watched Dudley clench his fists and mutter obscenities about Pettigrew under his breath.

"I don't think I had ever been so happy in my entire life," Harry spoke quietly with his eyes closed and long lashes laying on his smooth, slightly bruised cheeks bones. "Even if it was only for a few minutes. When Sirius asked me if I wanted to live with him, the idea that he actually wanted me was overwhelming. It wasn't because I was Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived. Sirius loved me because I was me. Just Harry."

Harry chuckled bitterly he even as felt a single tear slip out of his eye to slowly trickle down his cheek. He always attempted to convince himself he was over this, that it was in the past, but every time he thought of it that terrible searing sensation of loss burned through him like a raging fire and he knew he wasn't the only one. He could see the same despair, the same longing in Sirius' eyes every time he saw him and could see he was thinking the exact same thing. If only. . .

The sound of a car door slamming shut quickly vanished his wistful thoughts as three heads snapped in the direction of the front of the house.

"Shit," Dudley muttered.

Harry sprung from the chair and ran out of the kitchen. His hair in it's ponytail whipped out behind as he grabbed the banister at the end of the stairs and swung around it to take the stairs two at a time.

Sprinting into his room Harry closed the door softly behind him and then slid down onto the floor because his shaking legs wouldn't hold him up. His heart was racing furiously and Harry tried to remember ever feeling this afraid if his uncle before. Vernon had certainly succeeded if he had been attempting to frighten him with his attack the night before.

Harry, Petunia and Dudley had all agreed that it was best if Harry stayed out of Vernon's way. Although he had been violent towards Petunia as well, Harry seemed to bring out the worst in the walrus-like man. Harry shook his head to try and dispel his fear but an image resurfaced of the maliciousness in those beady eyes as he stood over him and he shuddered.

Sighing, Harry resigned himself to staying out of Vernon's presence despite knowing that it would limit his time outside of his room. Hoping to follow the theory of "out of sight out of mind" the teenager picked himself up from the floor and dropped onto his bed groaning when he remembered that he still had his yoga to do. He also needed to work on the first stage of the animagus transformation.

Harry swiftly slipped off his shirt, shoes and socks and sat on the soft mat beside his bed. He closed his eyes while concentrating on his breathing and after a few minutes felt relaxed enough to proceed. Flowing through the movements gracefully and relishing in the sense of tranquillity he received from his magic. He smiled as it hovered just below his skin, careful not to allow it to rise above and breathed deeply, he bent backwards with his arms above his head.

"Yuck," Harry mumbled as he finished and wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.

Harry thoughtfully considered his options. He really needed on a shower, the smell of sweat from the martial arts lesson earlier combined with the new perspiration covering his body on the grime from gardening gave his body on overall putrid smell. However, he also wanted to practice his animagus training before being interrupted. The smell combined with the heat quickly won out and Harry grabbed an old, but clean pair of sweatpants and a much too large t-shirt.

Quietly as he could, Harry slipped out of his room and into the water was warm, but refreshing and Harry eagerly climbed into the shower, knowing that while food was being served Vernon would be too preoccupied to look for him. He sighed contently as the hot water soothed his aching body and grabbed the sweet smelling soap to lather on his body for a thorough washing. The black-haired boy had always adored warm water, and delighted in having as many baths and showers as he could in Hogwarts because of the rarity of being allowed to use the warm water in the Dursleys.

Soapy hands began at his neck and travelled slowly down to his shoulders and across his arms. He watched as the soapy mixture gathered on his arms only to be cleared away within seconds by the torrent of water. Harry lathered the soap again and breathed in the scent of jasmine, his hands moved across his chest and then slowly as he pressed his thumbs across his nipples, uttering a low moan as he did so.

Harry felt his penis twitch in interest and repeated the action. His body was generally sensitive, something he had found out during his brief relationships, but after trying to remember the last time he had masturbated, he came up blank, realising that it must have been before the Third Task. Merlin, that was a long time.

With one hand caressing and tugging his nipples, Harry moved his other hand down his flat stomach and gasped when his already stirring member hardened considerably more as his finger tips brushed against it. Heat began to pool in his stomach and his entire body felt hot.

Grasping his cock firmly, Harry bit his lip to hold back a moan and slowly began to pump his hand up and down. Thrusting his pulsing organ into the tunnel created by his hand. Rubbing his thumb over the sensitive head, the wizard flashed through images of Blaise and Xavier, looking for the right one and soon found one. He whimpered as he recalled that day. They, he and Blaise, were in an empty classroom just off the Great Hall and Blaise had warned him to keep quiet because it was nearly dinner time. The dark-skinned boy had then fallen to his knees, opened Harry's pants and with a wicked grin had taken him into his mouth.

Harry moaned lowly and sped up the movement of his hand, closing his eyes as he recalled that hot, wet mouth slowly sucking on the tip of his cock, those dark brown eyes shining up at him mischievously. He released his hard nipples and reached down to cup his balls, rolling the tight sacs in his hand as his hips began to snap forward in time with his hands. Remembering how he had bitten down on his own wrist to stifle the groan that he had wanted to release when Blaise had hummed around his length, Harry whimpered.

Crying out as he felt the pleasure building and spread out to encompass his body while he attempted to keep a reign on his magic. It always seemed to come to the surface when he was experiencing sexual pleasure and usually erupted causing damage to the surrounding area. Once he had shattered every chair in the room during an intense orgasm with Xavier. He tightened the hold he had on his member and gently squeezed his balls while he leant back against the cold shower tiles, throwing his head back in pleasure as he panted. The feeling of his wet hair cascading around his and touching his oversensitive skin did it and with a stifled cry of pleasure Harry's hips bucked forward and he came over his hand and stomach.

Harry closed his eyes in contentment when tingles of pleasure continued to course through his body as it recovered from his orgasm. He straightened up after a few minutes and washed the cum from his hands and stomach. Then he re-soaped his hands and finished washing the rest of his body.

The young wizard groaned when remembered his hair and grimaced at greasy feel of it. He reached for the strawberry and cream scented shampoo and washed it meticulously, rinsing and conditioning it afterwards. Happy to be done, Harry turned off the water and stepped out onto the damp tiled floor and steamy room.

Spotting the pile of clean towels Harry reached for them while trying not to drip everywhere and wrapped one around his soaked hair while draping the other one across his hips. Feeling rather lazy and deciding to allow himself to dry instead of attempting to dry himself, Harry turned towards the bathroom mirror to examine the bruise on his face. It stood out in stark contrast compared to his pale skin but Harry was happy to see that the dark purple bruising was already fading away to a slighter lighter blue with a tinge of green. His ribs and back were already a motley of different colours ranging from purple to yellow.

Harry turned away from the mirror and deeming himself sufficiently dry, proceeded to dress himself. He hastily put his still dripping hair in a messy bun and decided to deal with it later. Aunt Petunia would most likely call him down for dinner any minute now anyway.

After dumping the wet towels in the laundry basket beside the sink, Harry opened the door and made his way to the top of the stairs. He could hear the television in the sitting room and deduced that Vernon was finished his dinner and had retired to his usual evening routine.

Cautiously Harry made his way downstairs, deftly avoiding the stairs he knew that creaked and headed towards the kitchen where he could here Dudley and Petunia speaking in soft voices. They turned as he entered and Dudley grinned at the sight of Harry's bedraggled hair.

Harry merely scowled at his cousin and shoved past him to get to the table where the delicious aromas were coming from. His tummy grumbled loudly at the appetizing sight of chicken and rice and he quickly pulled the plate towards him.

"Thanks Aunt Petunia," Harry mumbled through a mouthful.

Petunia looked torn between reprimanding him for his table manners or simply leaving him to enjoy his meal knowing that he rarely got fed well during the summer holidays.

"I was just asking Mum if Alexi could come with us tomorrow," Dudley told Harry quietly, glancing towards the sitting room where the noise of the television blared out.

"Of course he can," Petunia replied, dropping the used dishes into the sink. "As long as he has permission from his parents I don't see why not. And I want to meet this new friend of yours'.

Harry smiled at that. Alexi was the first muggle friend he had ever had and he was rather eager to keep him. He was clever and funny and seemed to genuinely like Harry. An upside was the fact that he had never even heard of the Boy-Who-Lived. His happy mood began to evaporate at his aunt's next words.

"We'll be leaving at half ten tomorrow morning, so I want you ready for a long day of shopping," Petunia chirped cheerfully, ignorant to the horrified glances being passed between her son and nephew or perhaps purposely ignoring them.

Harry ate the rest of his meal in silence, content to listen to Dudley answering Aunt Petunia's questions about Alexi. Harry couldn't help chuckling at his cousin. His ears picking up the words "sweet" and "funny. The smaller boy could almost see the wheels turning in his aunt's head and when she gave him a questioning look over Dudley's shoulder Harry nodded and smirked.

Harry couldn't help being curious as to how she was going to take this development and was happy when he was rewarded with a gleeful smile in return. It looked as if he wouldn't be alone in Operation Get-Dudley-and-Alexi-Together if Dudley didn't pluck up the courage himself soon.

After the dishes were finished they left the kitchen and quietly made there way upstairs hoping not to attract Vernon's attention.

"I could help you with your hair if you want Harry," Petunia offered. "It will probably take hours to do it by yourself."

Harry readily agreed and after getting fetching his hairbrush and dressing into a pair of cotton sleeping pants from his room he knocked on the door of the guest room and entered after the soft "Come in." He hid his surprise at seeing Dudley sitting on the floor the end of the bed with his feet propped up on the foot of the bed. Both he and his mother were already dressed for bed and Harry obediently climbed up onto the bed beside his aunt when she patted the space beside her and gave her his brush.

Petunia knelt back against the pillows and positioned Harry so that he was sitting Indian style in front of her. She reached up and pulled out the hair, fascinated at the damp curly hair tumbled down the boy's back in waves. It was incredibly beautiful she mused as she picked up her comb from the bed.

Harry practically purred in contentment as he felt the comb running through his hair.

"Will you finish telling us about Hogwarts?" Dudley asked after a few minutes of comfortable silence.

Harry grinned and after a moment trying to remember where he had left off he began to speak of the summer before his fourth year at Hogwarts.

Dudley who had quickly fallen in love with Harry's description of the most popular wizarding sport Quidditch, expressed his awe and envy as Harry gave a detailed account of the match as Petunia watched in amusement. He spoke, almost tentatively of the appearance of the Dark Mark following the end of the match and how he, Ron, Hermione and then Ginny had become closer after that. How they been drawn together that summer when everyone else was too busy to notice them and it hadn't changed when they had returned to Hogwarts. Even though Ginny continued to mingle with her year mates she was more often than found in the company of the fourth year Gryffindors instead.

As his fourth year progressed Harry could feel his relatives becoming steadily more dismayed when the early tasks of the Triwizard tasks occurred. However, Dudley had him blushing bright red as described the day Xavier had asked him to the Yule Ball and then the day of the Yule Ball itself. He declined to inform them of what he and Xavier had got up to later that night when they were finally able to escape.

Neither his aunt or his cousin expressed any qualms about his sexuality. Not that Harry had expected them to given that Dudley was no-so-subtlely pining after a certain brown-eyed receptionist.

By the time Harry was describing his arrival back on the Quidditch pitch with a dead Cedric Diggory in his arms both Dudley and Petunia were shaking. Petunia sobbed as she cradled Harry to her chest, tears streaming silently down his face. Hermione and Ginny, even Ron had tried to comfort him after the Third Task but this embrace, an adult's comfort and understanding, was what he had needed. Sirius hadn't had anytime to console him that night however much he wished he had and Harry relished his aunt's hold. He buried his head into her shoulder as she cooed to him softly and stroked his hair, rocking them both slowly back and forth.

"I know it wasn't my fault," he whispered into he satin pyjamas once his sobs died down, "not really. But its still so hard to accept that if I had just taken the cup alone, he would still be alive."

Petunia exchanged a sad glance with her son, who had moved up onto the bed beside them after Harry started crying and now had a hand on his cousin's shoulder. That single glance between a mother and son shared so much not visible to the naked eye. It showed their sympathy and sadness for the boy between them who had accomplished so much and seemed to ask for nothing in return. It expressed wonder over the training Harry and his friends had put themselves through just to survive. They shared their hatred of a man who seemed to want to destroy his own world over meaningless prejudices. A man who would no doubt plunge all of Britain into a war.

"Sorry," Harry mumbled in embarrassment, removing himself from his aunt's hold and hastily wiped his eyes on his sleeves.

"There's absolutely no need to be sorry Harry," Petunia said firmly. Then, almost hesitantly asked, "Have you spoken to anyone about how much this has affected you?"

"No," Harry muttered. "I don't want to bother Professor Dumbledore. He'll be busy enough at the moment trying to make sure everyone knows Voldemort is back and I wouldn't feel comfortable talking to any of the other teachers.

"What about your friends?" Dudley prompted.

Harry hesitated before answering. "I love my friends, and they're the best friends anyone could ask for, but they don't really understand. They can't comprehend what facing Voldemort is really like. The fear, the pain, the humiliation of it. They've never witnessed murder and I don't want to be the way to show it to them. No doubt they'll see it for themselves soon enough anyway."

"What about Sirius? Or Professor Lupin?" Dudley asked. "Someone who lived during the first war."

"I-I'll think about it," Harry replied inaudibly. He closed his eyes, savouring the gentle strokes to his hair.

They sat in a comfortable, almost sleepy silence and Harry began to doze off with his head cushioned on his aunt's lap. Petunia hummed a lullaby as Dudley lazily played with the frayed edges of one of the blankets. The peaceful atmosphere was broken reluctantly by Petunia.

"Bedtime boys."

Harry and Dudley groaned, but dutifully left the warmth of the bed and bid Petunia goodnight.

"Night Diddykins," Harry mumbled as he slipped into his room. He glimpsed Dudley's scowling face as he shut his door and chuckled lowly.

Startling when he sensed something in his room Harry blinked at the sight of a familiar tortoiseshell curled up on his pillow. Shaking his head in bemusement, the young wizard pushed the cat over a bit and climbed into bed. He felt content, very nearly safe that night as he snuggled into his bed beneath his comforter. His wand was, as always, tucked under his pillow just inches from his fingers right beside his little black book He fell asleep with a rumbling purr in his ear.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Thank you so much to my reviewers lazycrazykitten, Winky, BRM, tinkita, Wynter Ravenheart, Cassandra Malfoy, Sweet Wisteria, maggi, SandRene, dominique and Dark Poetic. Hope you all enjoyed the chapter!
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