28 small mends.

"Richard, merry Christmas" Harry was the first to notice Richard who had stood still behind them. Ron looked back as well before sheepishly wishing him a merry Christmas.

"Merry Christmas to you too" Richard wished ," I hope you liked my presents"

"Yeah, it was great " Harry and Ron replied in unison." But I still don't get why you gave me seven galleons. Is it some kind of superstition? And where did you get that amount of money?"

Richard felt like face palming himself into a coma." No Ron, that money was for you to buy a new wand. I saw your one looked old and second hand wands aren't good for students to practice magic"

An awkward silence descended after Richard finished his piece. Ron looked red, his face flushed in embarrassment while Harry digged his brain hoping to find a topic to converse on without making things more awkward.

"Look," Harry finally broke the silence."I'm sorry about last time_"

"Don't be" Richard interrupted before he could finish. "Different people have different priorities. It's okay to put somethings behind if others are more important"

"Did you open your presents?" Ron too finally joined in, unable to keep quiet for a long time.

"Yeah, Hermione sent me a spell book" Richard replied, "I've already read it before she sent it, but still I appreciate her sentiment. However, it would've been better for her to send me some comic books. I miss the muggle world a little " then his gaze turned serious.

"Do not tell her anything I said right now"

The other two boys nodded their heads .

"What about your family?" Ron asked before realising his mistake" Right, sorry. "

They talked for a little bit about classes and other common subjects before Ron finally mustered his courage to ask a question he wanted to know the answer quite badly.

"Say, Richard, what are you doing everyday in the morning and after classes."

"I was training"

"Like spells or hexes?" Even Harry looked interested. Richard had no qualms about sharing information, so he confessed.

"Charms, hexes, transfiguration and physical excercises. However I only train the practical ones, for example 'scorgufy' "

Suddenly all the dust and dirt on Richard's clothes flew off before leaving them sparkly clean.

However, as they were engaged in their conversation, Richard was seriously pondering on whether he should kill Harry or not. Honestly, that option was more than tempting to him. If Harry's to die, it would destroy one of Voldemort's horcrux, effectively weakening the dark wizard. That would also shatter the route of original story, destroying the stubborn will that tried to affect Richard constantly.

But he dismissed it after much consideration. Harry was innocent. And Richard, no matter how cold hearted , couldn't bring himself to kill an innocent eleven year old....yet.