Chapter 2

Drenched in sweat, Harry frantically gasped for air. This was a living hell. No matter how much he had exercised in the past, his fourteen year old body simply couldn't maintain the amount of strenuous activity for six hours. His body was strained, stomach muscles burning, arms and legs throbbing in pain. It wasn't training, it was torture.

Despite the ragged breaths he was sucking into his lungs, Harry had a glorious feeling of satisfaction. Finally, after two months of daily training, the old man's ridiculous demands were finally paying off. Harry had successfully mastered the art of casting spells wandlessly. Give him even the most powerful of spells, and he could cast it proficiently without a doubt. Years of channeling and focusing his magic made casting spells an effortless task.

Damn Merlin. He was probably the kindest, calmest, nicest, most selfless and caring guy around, but he was strict in regards to training. One time, he had confessed to Harry that the boy was his first student, a shocking statement, or perhaps not so much.

Even though Harry had been training with Merlin since he was eight, he had not taken a single spell from Merlin. In the six years he had known Merlin, he had not learned a single spell from him instead all he got were lectures and more lectures. For the past six years he had been instructed in spell casting, conjuration, transfiguration and wandless magic. Merlin also coerced Harry to study the way Muggles were forced to defend themselves. A strange and difficult talent the Muggles referred to as martial arts. Believe it or not, Merlin's immense magical skills were equal to his knowledge of magic-less defense. Merlin had once twisted Harry's hand and to Harry's painful surprise, his whole body twisted as well. Because of the demonstration, Harry willingly underwent the study of martial arts without a single complaint or comment on its uselessness.

The moment Merlin told eight year old Harry of a spell that the old man had been forbidden by the Ancients to pass down, was the precise second he began to age like a mortal, albeit faster. Merlin knew that he was incapable of hiding his rapidly increasing age from Harry and therefore allowed himself to expose his true appearance. He looked no more than thirty, flaunting around a few white hairs.

"Excellent job, Harry. It would appear that you are quite efficient in casting magic without need of a wand. A congratulation is in order, I presume." Smiling, Merlin sat on a beautiful chair he had conjured, relaxing carelessly, his legs crossed. "Quite honestly, I do wonder how silly it is for magical people these days to insist on using a wand instead of exploiting their magic in normal way. I do say, hands are far more efficient in utilizing magic."

Harry was out of breath. "Easy for you to say."

"If one merely trained as diligent as you have, Harry, they could accomplish it in no time at all. Remember this… in my era, there were no wands. We relied solely on our superior enchantments and knowledge. In my young days, I had to rely entirely on my eyes to use my magical abilities. I did not wave my hand, or pronounce some spell incantation. I knew nothing of the strange art before coming to Camelot. Ah, the memory I recall the day I arrived, humiliating Arthur in front of his people with my magical abilities. Frankly, Harry, I was no different than the children of your age. I often abused my magic, especially if matters relating to chores."

Still breathing heavily, Harry's eyes widened. "You u-used magic with your eyes? Is that even possible?"

Gazing into Merlin's twinkling cerulean eyes, Harry caught the slimmest of Merlin's eyes into the color of gold. Promptly, Harry was pushed by an unknown force and sent soaring backward, his spine slamming into the wall. Rising to his two feet, he groaned painfully, his body was trembling. See what Harry meant by torture? He only inquired about the eye magic, not demonstrating it on himself.

"As I taught you before, it is imperative that you engulf your body in an invisible shield, Harry. You never know when your enemies may strike." Harry looked up, seeing his tutor still sitting calmly with his legs crossed. He gently slid down against the wall, exhausted mentally, physically, and magically. "My, done already? I dare say, the force of my assault wasn't that hard."

Crazy, paranoid, old immortal bastard. He calls that weak? Could he even see how I flew meters away from where I was? And the cracking sound was audible enough. Old bastard. Both his ears and eyes must be impaired from living so ridiculously long.

Merlin cocked an eyebrow at Harry's limp form. "May I remind you that I am the root to your goal, Harry?

"Stop digging my head, old man!"

"If you would place a concrete barrier in your mind as I instructed you to, I might not have to."

"Even with the barrier, you could still read my mind like an open book," Harry remarked. "Sometimes you underestimate your own magic. You know you can use telepathy, a lost magic. You're not exactly a normal wizard of modern age…"

"I suppose you do have a point." The moment Merlin removed himself from his chair, it vanished. "Well then, you have exactly one and a half weeks left before you return to your school. Use that time wisely to improve your mind and body, Harry. This marks the end of your training for the next year."

"W-wait, two years?" Harry struggled to match Merlin's height, his feet shaking too violently. "You mean there's no training next year? B-but why?"

"A word of advice, Harry. If you wish to create a name for yourself, there are other methods to be applied. Making yourself stronger is one way, but sometimes there are other tactics much more suited to you."

"Huh?" was the bewildered sound that came from Harry's mouth. "Is this one of your psychopathic lectures? Because if it is, my ears might have gone deaf."

Merlin smiled. "You will come to understand during your stay at Hogwarts castle. But before you leave, I wish to warn you. The choices you make will lead you on many different paths. Disastrous consequences are around every corner so do what you feel is right and treat it with vigilance. Goodbye, Harry...at least for now..." Harry fiercely objected when suddenly his eyelids felt very heavy. Darkness swarmed around him, and the last thing he saw was an enthralling smile.

Harry shouted Merlin's name as he jolted awake, bolting into an upright position. Immediately, Harry regretted doing so, as the strain of his body started its onslaught. Damn Merlin to the seventh layer of hell! He hypnotized him asleep with that captivating smile of his. How irritating. If only Harry could get the opportunity to wring his hands around his neck and without any hesitation, he'd throttle the old man to the point of suffocation. That is, if suffocation was even possible on the greatest wizard in history.

Shielding his eyes from the light streaming through the curtains, Harry realized it was morning. He must have been really exhausted from his last night of harsh training. Scrutinizing his location, he wasn't surprised to find himself in his own bed. That was Merlin's style. After a full day of training, he just hypnotized Harry to sleep, dispatching him back to his own room. Nevertheless, it was annoying to leave him in such a rough state. Damn that old bastard.

Grunting as he shoved those thoughts to the back of his mind, Harry stiffly rose and walked to the bathroom. In compliance to his everyday routine, he washed his face and brushed his teeth. He groaned at the tighten muscles all over his body as he went to the shower. He let the water drain the stench from his body. A thought struck his brain. He had just mastered wandless magic, so why not apply it? Could he perform a healing spell? It was worth a shot. Disregarding the water pouring over his body, Harry muttered a healing spell he had found in a book from the Potter library. Surprisingly, the heavy weight burdening his body was alleviated.

Grinning madly, Harry childishly cast any spell that passed through his mind. Hexes and charms splashed from his hands, lighting up the shower. As expulso spell lashed from Harry's right hand and hit the wall, he abruptly paused, blinking his eyes in shock. Apparently, he had overdone it. Nonetheless, he couldn't help but be excited - who wouldn't be? Luckily, silencio was one of the spells he had performed before the expulso incident, and accordingly, no one had heard the explosion.

His grin converted to awe as he watched the bathroom disappear from sight, replaced by his common room. Slowly, an arrogant smirk worked its way onto his face, feeling his magical core elevating. Harry wasn't the slightest bit tired. Shaking his head in amazement, he used his new abilities to repair everything he had damaged. He felt enormous satisfaction as his bathroom reverted back to normal. Dropping his hands, he concluded his shower, whistling a happy tune all the while.

Casually sauntering down the stairs, his happy expression dropped. He stared hard at the dining room table filled with his family members. James and Harry's little brother were discussing pranks and Quidditch. Lily was doting his younger sister, helping the little girl eat breakfast. There was a little food stuck around her mouth and she giggled as she tossed the food around. Harry clandestinely swept to the kitchen, planning to rustle a meal together for himself. He had been doing it since he was five, and as such, was exceptionally good at cooking. Nonchalantly casting a cleaning charm on the stove, Harry leaned his body over the counter. Munching his meal, his eyes glued onto the spotless stove. A smirk graced his lips.

He still underwent a rush of excitement at the sheer abilities he possessed. He would never admit it but he was deeply grateful for meeting Merlin, even if it wasn't logical for a dead man to walk around the face of the planet. Because of him, Harry had a purpose in life. Encountering the greatest wizard of all time had revived the lifeless hope inside him and for that, Harry was forever indebted to Merlin. It was a shame Merlin had decided to perish alongside history.

Though, Harry was genuinely mad at Merlin for not using his immortality, he respected the man's wishes. If Harry were to look through the old man's perspective, he would find that it was painful for him to live alone, watching people he knows died, humans killing each other and destruction human can cause. The endless cycle horror of history. Harry couldn't possibly imagine someone enduring so much with no one by their side except maybe Skip, the holy elemental. Now that Harry thought about it, it was quite a peculiar moniker that Merlin had given to the holy elemental.

"Mom, Dad! Look, it's my Hogwarts letter! It's finally here!" The excited shout from the dining table disrupted his thoughts.

Harry raised his head from his meal.

"Well, open it then, don't keep us waiting," Lily's soft voice called.

Harry frowned at the hint of smile on her lips.

24 July 1988

His small hands trembled as he ripped open the Hogwarts letter from Professor McGonagall. He had been accepted to Hogwarts and they patiently awaited his reply. He felt a tiny smile creep through the corners of his lips. He quickly pursed them. Should he tell his parents or not? A dispute erupted between his mind and his heard. His heart wanted badly to notify them but his mind told him otherwise, stating it to be meaningless. Trusting his heart, he moved from the bed, the letter firmly in his palm. He walked through the halls and down the staircase, his ears picking up the sound of laughter amid scolding.

He peeked through a window that looked over their garden.

Both of his uncles were laughing along with his little brother, Daniel. He was sitting on Uncle Sirius's shoulders. His mother was admonishing his father while holding his baby sister, ranting on about permitting her son to ride a broom. His father was begging her to forgive him, reasoning that he had been on the broom alongside the little boy, initiating a new round of laughter from the other three. Harry gripped his letter tightly. He would just make a fool of himself if he announced the arrival of his Hogwarts letter. Closing the curtain tightly, he carried the letter back to his room. A single tear streamed down his cheek, the laughter banging against his eardrums.

20 August 1991.

"...You'll have so much fun at Hogwarts! Oh, just think, my son at Hogwarts! I'm so proud! I'll call Padfoot and Moony tonight for a celebration! Just think of all the pranks you're going to do!"

"James, I will not let my son get in trouble for pranking! I swear, you and Sirius can be such bad influences on Daniel!"

Harry shook his head as the conversation of his brother's acceptance to Hogwarts continued. He levitated his plate to the sink, casted another cleaning charm and walked indifferently back to his room. He walked swiftly to his room, locking his door with charms before diving onto his bed and burying his face in the pillow. Wheeling his body around, he gazed at the ceiling in boredom, marveling on what to do for the rest of the day. A few minutes later, his eyes closed resignedly, falling into a deep slumber. It appeared the effects of training harshly for two and a half months had finally taken a toll on him.

Harry looked around him, identifying every of his environment. Facing the front, his half-lidded eyes laboriously stared at the crowd. Three of his family members were being swarmed by reporters, the center of attention, as always. Fortunately, he had managed to sneak Rosaline out of the spotlight, although to do so he had pushed people away quite roughly. His right hand held his sister's. She was innocently inspecting every bit of her surroundings, a doll clutched in her free arm. Harry rolled his eyes good-naturedly. His baby sister wouldn't be satisfied unless one of her dolls was with her everywhere she went. Right now, the entire family was in Diagon Alley, buying his brother school supplies.

Focusing on the tiny being by his feet, Harry asked her, "Rosaline, do you want to go over to the emporium where they sell all sorts of animals?"

Her chestnut eyes shone brightly, jumping up and down by his leg. "Oh, can we? Can we?"

Bobbing his head, he swept his sister into his arms. He strode away from the crowd and in the direction of the emporium. Harry was thankful that there were so few people in the shop due to his brother being outside. Harry tightened his grip on his baby sister, much to Rosaline's displeasure. She was squirming to break free from his brother's clutches, squealing gleefully as they passed by owls, toads, cats, rats, baby wolves, and more. Harry waved off the salesman, telling him they were there only to look and not to buy. The sound of hissing emanated from the snake cage, Harry paid them no heed.

All they did was complaining, despising their locked cage. When he was eight years old, he had discovered he was a Parseltongue. Snakes were no big deal to Harry. At first, he had been confused when he heard voices coming from the snakes. Merlin had reassured him, mentioning it was a rare talent but it did not mean that a person's heart would turn to darkness. As a matter of fact, Harry knew he was lucky to have it, as he could use it to his advantage on the battlefield. And so, at least for now, he planned to keep that talent of his a secret from everyone.

&...When our king of ssserpentsss essscapess from itsss prissson, you humansss will all be dead!&

That perked Harry's ears. That wasn't something you heard everyday. Wasn't the snake king a Basilisk? He walked over to the cage where the snakes were being held, adjusting his baby sister in his arms. &Tell me, what do you mean by king of the ssserpents?& he hissed in their snake language.

&A ssspeaker!&

&You ssspeak our language, two-leg!&

&Interesssting...&

&Free me, two-leg!&

&Yesss, free usss from thisss cage!&

&We demand you free usss...&

&Ssshut up, all of you! How dare you command me! I'm a ssspeaker of your kind, so ressspect me and obey my command!& Harry hissed angrily, and all the snakes piped down at his acid tone. &Now, tell me, who isss thisss king of ssserpentsss? Isssn't it a Basssilik?&

&A Basssilisssk? Thossse beassstsss is no king of oursss. Don't mock our king by comparing him to that beassst, great ssspeaker. Our king could incapacitate three sssimilar beassstss with eassse. Our king once lossst a battle to a wizard of your kind. The wizard imprisssoned our king for yearsss becasssussse our king isss immortal. Sssuch tragedy that itsss prissson location wasss hidden. But for the lassst sssix yearsss, our kind can hear itsss voice inssside our head, calling to usss... It won't be long before it isss free and forges a war againssst your kind...Beware, you have been warned& The oldest snake slithered its head to Harry's eye-level, hissing.

Harry's eyes went a little wide in shock. Not being a Basilisk is one thing, but incapacitating three Basilisks with ease? That was some beast. A Basilisk was enormous, larger than any other beast. It was extinct now, after many years. The king of snakes must be powerful and very dangerous if it saw the Basilisk as an insect. The last six years? That's when Harry met Merlin for the first time ever...

&How are you ssso sssure of hisss exissstence?&

&All of our kind knowsss of itsss exissstence, why mussst we wassste our breath telling you? The only thing that mattersss isss we can feel the king of ssserpentsss; so lucky for usss to hear itsss whisssper...Great ssspeaker, do not force me to ssspeak of my king any longer& The snake's tone ended the discussion and Harry choose not to badger the snake any more.

"Hawwy speaking to snake. Rosy can too!" Rosy claimed cheerfully. She tried to follow the exact language, producing a hissing sound and continuously sticking out her tongue. Her eyes crossed as she gazed at her tiny tongue.

"Y-y-you speak Parseltongue!" Harry sighed at the aghast salesman for interrupting them.

Glaring at the salesman, Harry removed the memory from the salesman's mind. That was why Harry refused to show anyone. The minister had the stupid idea in proclaiming Parseltongue to be Dark magic. Harry brought his sister out of the shop, gazing at the crowd gathered around Madame Malkin's robes. Harry heaved a sigh. Everyone was gradually losing their sanity these days. Rolling his eyes, he moved away from the crowd. He would bring Rosaline back later. Right now, he could afford to spend a little more time with his sister, who was eager to see new things.

For a half an hour, Harry carried his sister. At the present, she was sleeping soundly.

Earlier, he had spotted Hagrid walking out of Gringotts. Harry thought of greeting the big guy, but didn't when he noticed Hagrid moving warily through the streets. Harry swore he saw something red in Hagrid's coat, wrapped haphazardly in brown paper. Whatever it was, it had flickered red in the sunlight, shining inside of Hagrid's pocket. Harry shrugged his shoulders, disinterested. It was none of his business and the big guy was probably just running an errand for Professor Dumbledore. That being said, Harry decided to meet up with his family at Ollivander's wand shop. He could tell the crowd had subdued as the hours passed. Thank God for that. Harry entered the shop. His eyes glazed as a fresh memory overtook his mind.

19 August 1988.

"You don't have to do this, old man," an eleven year old Harry Potter protested. "You already bought my school supplies for Hogwarts and the uniform. Also, other stuff. I think I have enough money to buy my own wand now."

Merlin smiled enchantingly under his white cloak. "Now, now, Harry. I would rather spend my money on you than on my own selfish needs, so be grateful."

"Don't think this will change the way I talk to you." Harry scowled, blatantly disrespecting the man's generosity.

"It never crossed my mind, dear child... I would never dream of it." Merlin chuckled merrily, ruffling the boy's hair. Harry grunted at the gesture, slapping the hand away and mending his messy hair. "My, what coldness..."

Harry glared at the man who was smiling at him in interest. He scurried his small feet quickly to Ollivander's Wands, hoping to distance himself from the old man. Entering the shop, his anger was swiftly replaced by curiosity. Harry felt like he had stepped in a very strict library. The tinkling bell rang for the second time as Merlin entered, effectively restoring Harry's scowl.

"Harry, what did I tell you about smiling? It brightens up the area."

"I don't want to be like you, let alone be another you."

"Just a moment now," a soft voice came from deep inside the tiny shop. An old man, then, materialized out of the blue, causing Harry to jump and let out a little shriek of surprise. Merlin remained calm, not perturbed in the slightest by the man's sudden appearance. "Good afternoon..."

"Um... It's good to see you again, Mr. Ollivander," Harry said awkwardly. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Oh my," said the man, smiling creepily at the young boy. "Is that little Harry? You have grown over the past few years. It seems it was just yesterday you stared my window, gaping at my wands."

"I did not gape. There must have been a mistaken identity going on at the time!"

The chuckle behind him initiated a new round of glare from the boy. "I cannot imagine you doing something like that, Harry," the old man laughed.

"Shut up," Harry hissed irately.

Mr. Ollivander, in the meantime, was startled by the stranger's presence. Tilting his head, he rubbed his chin. "Hmm... How curious. I remember every wand I've ever sold, but I don't recall selling one to you, Mr...?"

"Carter, John Carter," the man responded, smiling mysteriously at the wand maker. "I am a squib and I am merely accompanying young Harry as he buys his school supplies, an errand for the Potters'."

"Oh, such a shame. Forgive me for asking." Mr. Ollivander frowned, bowing his head slightly.

Harry looked away from Merlin's satisfactory expression. He was a little too good at manipulating people.

"That is fine... Now, about Harry's wand? Let us delay no further, shall we?"

"Ah, yes. Yes, indeed. Do wait a moment, please... First, allow me to measure your hand, Harry."

The tape measure stretched across Harry's palm of its own accord.

Just as Ollivander was about to leave to find a suitable wand for Harry, a bang sounded from the back of the shop. Fast as lightning, a white wand dashed to Harry. Harry yelped, closing his eyes fearfully as he grasped the wand in his hand. He slowly opened his eyes to find Mr. Ollivander fixing his eyes on him in shock. Before he could comment, the wand vibrated vigorously in his hand and a burst of fireworks erupted from it. Several colors jumped to the ceiling of the dim shop, illuminating their faces.

"Oh, dear me. Marvelous! Marvelous indeed!" Mr. Ollivander gloriously declared. "Never in my years would I have imagined... Oh, what my predecessors would say… It would seem that the time has finally come..."

"What? What is it, Mr. Ollivander? Is something wrong?"

"No, not at all, Harry. Do you know what that wand is?" Harry rapidly shook his head. "That wand, my boy, is no ordinary wand. I, myself, did not create it. As such, I do not know its magical core, nor what wood it is made of. Such a strange wood, though, to make it white. Where does it come from? I do not know... However, in all the years it has lived in this store, it has radiated a magical aura of its own. So curious it has made me. It must be ancient, I once thought."

"W-what do you mean by ancient? And once thought?"

Ollivander's wide pale eyes shone ever so brightly, his smile nearly splitting his face. "You see, my dear boy, that wand has been here since the shop was built, even before then. Never once have I nor my kinsmen before me, have ever found its owner. I was saddened by the thought of leaving it in storage with the other unused wands, but now, I am delighted it has chosen you. You must be a special person to deserve such a wand, Harry. Do take care of it. I expect great things… Yes, I look forward to the day it changes our world."

"So that means it has no tracking charm?" Harry concluded smugly. His eyes gleamed at the thought of using magic freely.

Mr. Ollivander chuckled happily. "Such a sneaky thought for a child. You would do well in Slytherin, Harry... However, it is still a wand, and as such has a tracking charm, just as the rest. You will have to wait until you are of age, just as everyone else, if you wish to use magic freely, Harry."

Harry brooded over this information. Merlin smiled, patting his head affectionately. "Now, that's done. What is the price of this wand? It must be expensive, knowing its history."

Mr. Ollivander pondered this. "I will make this an exception, my friend. I will give this wand as a gift, Harry Potter."

Harry frowned. As much as he enjoyed a present, he did not want something that was sold for free. "But-"

"But, no, Harry. You have made an old man's day happy. Happy day, indeed! All I ask is for you cherish that wand."

Harry reluctantly succumbed at the sight of the old man's shining moon, tearful eyes. "Alright. Thank you," Harry mumbled half-heartedly.

"Best we get going then, Harry. You will be wanting to get home, as night is about to fall." Merlin ushered Harry out of the shop.

Harry looked over his shoulder, gripping his newly acquired wand tightly. "I'll take care of it, Mr. Ollivander! I swear!" he shouted with determination.

Mr. Ollivander smiled brightly, nodding his head in appreciation at the motivation written across the young boy's face.

20 August 1991.

Harry slipped his hand to his pocket, confirming the presence of his wand. While Harry no longer required a wand, he still believed that it would be of great use to him. His musings shattered as he looked to his family members.

"Be patient, Daniel. I'm sure there's a wand for you somewhere. We just need to wait a little longer while Mr. Ollivander looks." Lily soothed softly.

"Well, it's just only a matter of time... Right, Lily?" James hesitantly whispered.

On her toes, Lily examined the wandmaker over the counter, concern plastered across her face. "I don't know, James. What's taking Mr. Ollivander so long? We've been trying different wands for the last thirty minutes, and none of them have chosen Daniel."

A rustling emerged from behind the counter as a familiar voice became clearer and clearer. "Ah, do forgive me for taking so much time to look for this wand... Here you are, Daniel Potter. Do give this one a try. An unusual combination, I dare say. Holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple. You're a tricky customer, Mr. Potter."

As he grabbed hold of the wand, it vibrated in Daniel's hand. He raised it above his head and brought it down, swishing it lightly. A spark of red and gold burst from the tip like fireworks, dancing on the walls. James whooped, grinning widely. Lily hugged her son from behind, smiling happily. Harry surveyed the scene with boredom.

Mr. Ollivander was wary. "Curious... very curious."

"What's so curious, Mr. Ollivander?" Daniel questioned politely.

"I remember every wand I've ever sold, dear boy. It just so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather. I'm quite confident this is no coincidence. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined to hold this wand, when its twin brother gave you that scar." The atmosphere sunk, and Daniel's hand insecurely loosened its grip on the wind, allowing it to slip to the ground. The faces of his parents became ashen, an audible swallow coming from James. Harry whistled at the declaration, less astonished than amused. Mr. Ollivander paid no attention to their reactions, and persisted on, "Curious how these things happen... First, that ancient wand, and now this... But the wand chooses the wizard, remember? We expect great things from you, Mr. Potter... You must make up for the terrible things He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has done with that wand's brother. Great, but terrible things..."

1 September 1988.

Eleven-year-old Harry exhaled a breath of exhaustion and relief. He had finally packed all of his things. Nodding his head in satisfaction and hands on his hips, he checked once more to ensure his wand in his pocket. His wand was the most important thing he had to bring to Hogwarts. Inside, he was bursting with excitement at the prospect of Hogwarts, despite the fact he studied most of the spells already.

"I see you are ready to go, my dear boy."

Harry whirled around to glare at the man smiling on the edge of his bed. "You can't just pop into a house that's not yours! Don't you know trespassing is a very serious crime? How can you call yourself the greatest magical person of all time when you can't even follow one simple rule?"

"You forget that modern laws do not apply to me, as technically I am not from this age."

"Then why can't you just vanish from the face of the plant? That would make my life a whole lot easier."

The man merely chuckled. "Your unwelcoming attitude often amused me, Harry."

Harry contained a scream of frustration as he threw a pillow at Merlin. The pillow disappeared directly before hitting Merlin and reappeared to strike Harry repeated from behind. Harry yelped, slipping and face-planted to the ground with a painful thud.

"Well, then. Enough playing around for now... We have to leave Harry, the train will depart soon." Merlin flicked his finger at Harry, and suddenly the pain from the boy's fall vanished. "My thoughts, Harry, are that you should tell your parents of your departure. You won't be seeing them for a year, after all."

Harry's angry expression visibly changed as he sighed sadly. "They won't mind. Let's just go."

Merlin simply shook his head and motioned Harry to the door. Seeing Merlin's face, Harry reluctantly followed him down the hall, dragging his feet all the way. He followed the voices that echoed up the stairs, knowing them to belong to his parents, uncles, and brother. Trailing the sound to the dining table, he peeked over the railing. There was his family, at the table, enjoying each other's company while they simultaneously excluded Harry. They had even forgotten that today was the day he would leave for Hogwarts. How could he just waltz in and inform them of his departure without creating an awkward situation?

But Merlin was a stubborn man and refused to hear any of Harry's excuses. Furthermore, it would be a stupid idea to lie to someone who people worshiped as a deity. Biting his bottom lip, Harry descended the stairs without a choice. Laughter rang Harry's ears as he stole a glance to the table. How could they sit there laughing and forgetting about his important day? Or his existence, for that matter? Gradually, a scowl worked its way onto Harry's face. They didn't deserve to be a part of his life after missing six years of it. Still, he expected their attention and yet all he got was pointless hope.

He had given them far too many chances to notice him and they always failed to. Now Harry had decided it was better this way. He wanted to hate them for this, but he couldn't - he wasn't the type of person to harbor anger that deeply. Tears fell softly from his eyes as they lingered on his mother for a moment. He gave her another chance to notice him. As it passed, he marched back to his room without another glance. He ignored their laughter, slamming his door roughly and staring at the old man smiling sadly at him.

"This is just the beginning of your journey, Harry. You must stay strong. The future will be better, I promise. If it is worsen then remember to never give up and fight for tomorrow. I'm afraid your step to your destiny has not yet begun so stay strong, Harry." Harry nodded, sobbing and wiping his tears furiously.

"Can we go now, old man? I don't want to stay here anymore," Harry mumbled quietly, grabbing the trolley that was packed with his things.

"Yes, my dear child, we shall." Without a sound, the two disappeared from the room, no one there to take note of their absence.

1 September 1991.

September first had finally arrived. Just as Callista had said three months ago, time often passed by too quickly and Harry failed to take notice of it. Towing his trunk behind him, Harry strolled along in a casual manner, lagging far behind his parents. They were at the King's Cross Station, walking toward the Hogwarts' Express. Harry had brought his favorite Ascot hat with him, concealing his face from others. As was the custom, Lily, James, and Daniel scarcely registered he was with them. Only Rosaline occasionally sent a brief smile his way from Lily's arms before she was once again distracted by her surroundings. Harry felt a slight sting in his heart. This was the first time his family had accompanied him to King's Cross Station and it was only for his little brother.

Harry pursed his lips. One thing was for certain, he unquestionably hated being week, feeble, or dependent on others. And now he was acting like his old five-year-old self, shedding tears and weeping for affection. His eyes lazily turned to the family of flaming red heads who were greeting his own family up ahead. Their smiles were a bit too sweet, particularly the mother's. The plump mother of six boys and one daughter, hugged Lily. Next, she hugged Daniel tightly and instantly began to mother him.

What kind of family consisted entirely of identically haired individuals? Oh, that's right - the Malfoy's. How ironic that the two families were pitted as mortal enemies since the beginning of time. Fate does twist lives in strange ways. Harry sat deliberately on a stool, tolerantly waiting out the tearful reunion and endless chatting. He would not be going through the platform with them. If he had to guess, they'd be showered by flashing lights from the cameras of reporters on the other side. As the families walked together through the barrier, Harry trailed far behind, intentionally slowing down.

Just as Harry had predicted, the two families were swarmed by reporters. Harry shook his head pitifully at the hopeless lot of them. A familiar voice caught Harry's attention, sounding rather childish for a grown adult. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw his godfa- Black, running over to his family, calling for their attention. Lupin was chasing behind him, smiling widely at the Potter's. They passed Harry without a single glance, never even noticing him. Harry marveled at this. It was as though he'd cast a disillusionment charm upon himself. He smirked. The old man would be proud if it were the case. Speaking of the old man, Harry wondered what he was doing right now. Probably watching that famous Muggle invention, the television, laughing at the comedy and ordering Skip to fetch some snacks.

Harry's thoughts shattered when he heard laughter. Sirius was in the middle of making some kind of joke, crackpot or trying to look funny. Harry grunted at this, walking ahead to distance himself from the merry folk. He positioned himself on a safe spot where he could no longer see their spectacle. With no warning, Harry's hat fell from his head. His silky hair fell smoothly and he was pulled into a huge hug, the person holding him evidently not wanting to let him go. He blinked his eyes, flabbergasted. A mass of raven hair blocked his sight until the owner of said hair placed her hands on Harry's shoulders. Harry was confronted with engrossing light green eyes, very similar to Daphne's.

"Harry, it's splendid to see you again! How was your summer? Did you already buy your school supplies? Has your family been treating you better? Tell me if they didn't, and I'll go talk to them this time." This last bit sounded more or less like a threat.

"Lady Greengrass, it's a pleasure to see you again," Harry greeted politely, a small smile instinctively toying his lips. "Uh... Me? Y-yes, I've been doing fairly well. My summer had been very…interesting and productive. And, yes, I've already purchased all my things. As for my family... They're treating me quite well. Very well, actually."

What Harry meant by well was that they had left him alone all summer. He felt bad for lying, but didn't want to worry the woman, let alone cause her to angrily face his family. A beautiful smile etched across her face, only to be replaced by a frown. "How many times must I tell you to address me by my name? There's really no need for formalities and such."

"It would be rude for me to do that." Her frown intensified. She opened her mouth to counter, but was disrupted by the arrival of a new stranger.

"There you are, Elizabeth. You shouldn't rush off like that. It's quite hard to follow you, what with you moving so quickly through the crowd." A tall, well-built man, with a quite an intimidating figure, butted into the conversation as he gently scolding his wife. His large hand held the tinier hand of an eight-year-old girl. The girl was gawking at Harry doggedly. She blushed when her eyes clashed Harry's gaze, silencing herself in her mortification.

"Oh, hush, William. I simply went off to meet Harry," Elizabeth Greengrass objected to her husband. "There's nothing wrong with that. The poor boy was all alone in the crowd."

"Oh, dear mother. Your daughters are fine, there have been no broken bones or loss of consciousness, I'll have you know - thank you very much for your concern. Now, you're free to continue spoiling this illegitimate son of yours, not by blood, of course. So go on and smother him some more." The sarcastic tone was undeniably from Daphne. She materialized behind her mother, folding her arms over her developing chest as she tapped her right foot. Tints of red surfaced to Elizabeth's cheeks and she tittered shamefacedly at her eldest daughter. Daphne moved her attention to Harry. "I blame you for stealing our mother's affection, Potter. You even caused her to forget her own daughters were with her today."

"And her husband." William Greengrass's smirk matching his daughter's.

The comment served to further heat the lady's face. "You two! I've missed Harry, that's all. It's been so long since I last saw him."

"Right. I believe you mother, I sincerely do. But if I'm not mistaken, didn't we invite him to dinner? No, wait, that's not right. Wasn't it, let's say three days ago, that you forced him to join us for dinner?" Daphne's smirk widened. Her blushing mother turned an even brilliant shade of red.

"Daphne Greengrass!" Elizabeth cried out in embarrassment.

"You called, precious mother?" she asked sweetly. William chortled at the display before glancing to the smiling Harry. Such a young lad to have experienced so many responsibilities. William respected the boy and cared for him greatly.

"How have you been holding up, lad? Well, I presume?" The man kindly offered his hand.

Harry shook the man's rough hand. "Yes, very well, Lord Greengrass. Thank you for your concern."

"You don't have to be so polite with us, lad. I've lost count on how many times I've asked you to call me by my given name." The man laughed merrily. "It's been three years, you should have dropped the formalities by now."

"Yes, too stubborn for his own good," Elizabeth chided tenderly, a slight scowl marred her beautiful face. "Just call us by our given names, Harry. There's no harm in doing so, and it's frustrating when you act so polite to us. You don't think of us as strangers, do you?"

"N-no! Not at all! I'm so grateful to your family for all you've done for me, Lady - uh... I - I mean Elizabeth."

Elizabeth beamed in happiness. "That's better. Now try to get used to it, Harry, you understand?"

"Y-yes, of course. Although it will take some time..."

Although shuddering a tad, Harry's smile never wavered. His heart was pounding furiously. For the hundredth times, Harry marveled if this was how other children felt toward their parents. After all, he had come to think of the Greengrass's as parental figures. Elizabeth mothered him continuously every time they met, always tending to his needs and supplying him with plenty of gifts no matter how much Harry opposed. As for William, he always questioned Harry's well-being, talked to him man-to-man about politics, provided him sound advices on Quidditch tactics and constantly made sure Harry had everything he needed, no matter how many galleons it cost the man.

"There you go. Now that wasn't too hard, was it? Either that, or my dear wife was just too forceful for you, lad." William laughed out loud.

Smiling sadistically, Elizabeth whacked the back of her husband's head. "I was merely being insistent, not forceful, darling... There's a difference, wouldn't you agree, my sweet husband?"

William nodded his head shakily. "Yes, sweetheart, of course I agree... Absolutely…Most definitely, indeed…"

Harry chuckled noiselessly, so much for William's frightening appearance.

"It's best we be going now, the train will be departing anytime," Daphne briskly intruded. "We need to find a compartment as well and it won't be long before other students occupy the best ones."

"Yes, you two really should be going now," Elizabeth said, her tone indicated disappointment.

Elizabeth kneeled to the ground and snatched Harry's hat, smiling as she dusted it off for him. This had been her first gift to Harry to celebrate his twelfth birthday. She had purchased it at Madam Malkin's robes since the hat had fascinated her, never mind the high price it had cost her. Her daughter had recently informed her that Harry cherished the hat and it was, in fact, the only hat he ever wore. Not to mention, he refused to let anyone near it, much less touch it. Elizabeth's heart warmed at hearing this piece of news. She placed the hat on Harry's head and gently maneuvered his hair underneath it.

"You take care of yourself, Harry and please keep an eye on my daughter. She has a tendency to look for trouble wherever she goes."

"Mother! I do not!" Daphne argued hotly.

Elizabeth grinned teasingly at her daughter, jerking her girl into a big hug. Breaking it, she kissed her daughter's cheeks and forehead. Daphne grumbled at the gesture before offering swift hugs to her father and younger sister. As Daphne dragged her trunk to the train, Elizabeth presented four pouches of galleons to Harry.

"Harry, this is for you. I want you to spend your money wisely, is that clear?"

Harry held both hands in the air and waved them rapidly, his eyes widened. "This is too much, Lady Greengrass. I still have some of the galleons you gave me last year!"

"Now what did I say about formality?" Elizabeth reprimanded flippantly. "And Harry, we give you money so you can buy your own necessities and save some of it for the future. Consider them gifts from William and I. If you don't accept it, I'll be very, very hurt."

Harry reluctantly accepted the four pouches of galleons, slipping them inside his coat. He didn't have the heart to hurt the same woman who had looked after him for the past three years as if he was her own son. He promised her that he'd spend it wisely and Elizabeth yanked him into an embrace before kissing his cheeks affectionately.

"Right, then. Off you go, or the train will be leaving without you." Harry bobbed his head affirmatively, obeying her.

"I just need to get my trunk," he said, a tint of red on his cheeks. He squirmed awkwardly by her affection. "I left it with my family."

"I'll accompany you, Harry," Lord Greengrass said. "There is a matter I'd like to discuss with you. Wait for me by the signs, sweetheart."

"Goodbye, Astoria. See you soon," Harry said, smiling.

Squeaking, Astoria blushed madly. She hid behind her mother, causing both parents to chuckle. Every time the girl was confronted by Harry, she became soundless. Harry and William promptly left in the direction of Harry's trunks while Elizabeth and Astoria stayed behind to where William had requested.

"What did you wish to talk about, Lord Greengrass?"

"Listen, Harry…" William began as Harry grabbed the handle of his trunk.

"What do you need, Lord Greengrass? Are you going to ask me to watch over Daphne at Hogwarts? Because I do that anyways."

William arched an eyebrow at this information, smiling appreciatively. "Thank you, lad. Though it's not what I wish to discuss with you. Does Hogwarts still hold Quidditch tournaments?"

"Yes, of course they do, but you would know that, sir... You once went to Hogwarts, right?" Harry answered in confusion.

"Yes, years do cause a man such as myself to overlook certain details. What I want from you, Harry, is to do your best in every Quidditch match you play in and win the cup."

"If that's what you'd like, then I will. But if you don't mind me asking... why?"

"No reason, my boy." William's eyebrows pushed together in contemplation. "Let's just say that Elizabeth and I will be at one of your games to watch you play."

"Really? That would be fantastic."

"Yes, we wish to see you play. I desperately wish to see how exactly excellent you are, Harry."

If Harry wasn't so exhilarated, he might have noticed that the man was lying through his tongue. "Alright then. I'll do my best, Lord Greengrass."

"That's splendid news, my dear boy." William laughed, patting Harry on the back and feeling proud of the boy.

"Harry..."

Harry stiffened and the temperature around him sunk rapidly. He spun his head to meet Lily's confused face.

"Ah, Lady Potter. It's a pleasure to meet you again." William bowed his head slightly. "How is life treating your family?"

"A pleasure to see you as well, Lord Greengrass. Our family is doing well, thank you for asking. It's been a while, hasn't it?" Lily returned the gesture, bowing her head as well.

"Yes, indeed it has. Unfortunately, I am unable to stay and catch up. My wife and youngest daughter are waiting for me and I have many official matters to attend to. I must take my leave, Lady Potter." Lily forced a smile upon her face, nodding politely. William smiled warmly at Harry, squeezing Harry's shoulder before vanishing into the throng of people.

Harry's smile for William faded. He twirled around to his mother, who was perplexed as to why his smile had so quickly disappeared. His smile was so cheerful, full of warmth and comfort, and she was just realizing how much it put her at ease. She discarded the people shouting her name and locked onto her son's gaze, distinguishing that her son had her emerald eyes. Both ended clashing stares when someone grabbed Lily's arm.

"Lily, Daniel is boarding the train! Come on, or you'll miss him! Sirius can only stall him for so long!" James said hastily, adjusting his daughter in his arms. Rosaline giggled at the crowd, so many people.

"Not now, James," Lily hissed, still gazing at her eldest son.

Harry stood motionless, as though his feet were glued to the ground.

"James, where is Lily? Oh, for Merlin's sake, your son is about to board the train! You're going to miss him!"

The agitated voice was none other than Molly Weasley, appearing at Lily's side.

Lily overlooked her presence, far too preoccupied on interrogating Harry. "Harry, tell me why you were talking with the Greengrass's?"

"The Greengrass's?" Molly and James mouthed simultaneously, one puzzled and the other horrified.

Harry smiled tightly, his lips twitching. "They're nice. I talk to them regularly. We have decent conversations. Nothing to worry about."

Lily could sense that her son was hiding something from her, she just couldn't tell what. Before she could say anything more, she was promptly interrupted.

"The Greengrass! You spoke to them? They're working with You-Know-Who!" Molly was appalled.

Harry restrained the immense urge to roll his eyes at the flabby woman. "Oh, is that so, Mrs. Weasley? They declared themselves to be neutral in the last war. They never sided with Volde-" Harry deliberately cleared his throat. "You-Know-Who." He often forgot the name was forbidden.

"Everyone knows that's a lie. They're a Dark family. They only said that to cover up the truth! I forbid you to talk to them anymore."

Harry's eyes twitched. "I would watch your tongue if I were you, Mrs. Weasley. It's a very serious offense to accuse someone without evidence. The Greengrass's have a major role in the Wizengamot, just as much as the Potter's, Black's, and Malfoy's. Their votes are vital, and if they happen to be nearby the next time you open your mouth, they could have ship you off to Azkaban in no time at all," Harry spoke, smiling sweetly all the while.

"Well, that's true," James agreed. "They are rather important figures in the wizarding world."

Molly scowled at James for consenting with his son and immediately reproached the father. Now that they were distracted, Harry promptly dropped his facade and scowled in irritation as he lugged his trunk to the train. He waved at Rosaline with his free hand and she innocently waved back.

Geez, that Weasley woman had no respect for privacy. She just intercepted in people's lives whenever she deemed it necessary. Who did she think she was anyway, forbidding him from socializing with the Greengrass's? They had taken far more care of Harry in the past three years than either his or her family. Harry was so engrossed in these thoughts that he failed to sense a pair of emerald eyes, so similar to his own, looking at his retreating figure. The owner to those eyes, was lost deep in thought, baffled as to why Harry hadn't bid her farewell.

Harry was calmly gliding through the corridor of the train, walking with no direction in mind. One of the compartments suddenly swung open. Harry met the gaze of a pair of wide violet eyes. It belonged to a slender Italian girl with strikingly smooth black hair.

Barbara Zabini twirled her hair. "Searching for a compartment, Potter? Care to join us then?"

Half-lidded eyes glanced over her shoulder, perceiving the three other females whose names Harry could not recall. He identified the two of them to be Slytherin, both in the same year as Daphne. The two girls, along with Barbara, were Daphne's roommates.

"No thanks, Zabini."

"My, so cold it gives me shivers. What a delight..."

Harry arched an eyebrow. "Are you flirting with me, Zabini?"

"So what if I am? Though, Daphne would be angry with me. Very, very angry."

"What? Why would she be mad?" Harry's eyebrows crumpled in bewilderment.

Barbara rolled her eyes. "No matter how talented you are, Potter, you're still as clueless as ever when it comes to girls. You can't honestly tell me you didn't notice anything different about her? Or the other girls you're hanging out with all the time, like that Gryffindor," she said the last part with a sneer on her face.

"Cut the chase, Zabini. What are you getting at?"

"I'm not in a position to tell you that, Potter. If you want to know, ask her yourself. Daphne's my friend, so my lips are sealed." Barbara smirked at Harry's annoyance and the dissatisfied expression on his face. "Thankfully, I'm not one of your crazy admirers, so I'll never tell. Tough luck, Potter."

Her smug smirk was short-lived. She froze as Harry smiled appealingly at her and cupped her left cheek in his hand, rubbing it tenderly. "Really? Is that so? I seem to remember you cheering for me from time to time." Harry tilted his head, leaning in at close range.

He was luring in for her to see his alluring emerald eyes that were currently staring deeply into her own. Barbara's cheeks heated at an alarming speed, and her face soon drowned in red. She could have sworn there were steams emerging out of her ears. Inwardly, she cursed at whomever was responsible for creating Harry Potter. She knew damn well how handsome and dashing he was, unlike the other males in Hogwarts, and more than one time, she had received a front row seat to check out his well-built body when he showered in the Quidditch locker room. That was very Slytherin of her and her two mates. Merlin, they hadn't been able to sleep that night. They were too busy replaying the memory of his body over again and again.

"Now tell me, what's this about the girls?"

Barbara shook her head, stubbornly refusing to surrender. Her eyes went large as he shortened the distance between them even further. She could feel his warm breath. "Now, now, Zabini. I know you and your two friends over there snuck into the locker room last year. So naughty of you three..."

Her blush appeared to escalate even further, if that was even possible. Her breath became ragged and her eyes grew more wide at the surprise of being caught. Her friends inside the compartment blushed furiously at Harry's knowledge as well, admittedly not at the guilt or shame of being caught in the act. Rather, they were blushing at the memory of Harry Potter's body.

"Harry!"

The two shrieks caused Harry to shift his eyes at the voices. However, he did not let go of Zabini's chin. Barbara, herself, wasn't showing any signs of struggle and resistance. In fact, her eyes had by now clouded over in a haze. Daphne, Callista, and Regine were gaping at him, blustering at the sight.

Daphne stomped her feet, gritting her teeth infuriatingly. She moved closer to Harry and glared at him crossly. "What the hell, Potter!"

"Just grilling her about you. Zabini informed me that you'd be mad if you caught her flirting with me. I wanted to know why, but she wouldn't budge. So I used a different approach," Harry responded casually.

"What!" Daphne's face flushed red. "That's enough! You're coming with us!"

She grabbed the back of his collar and forcefully hauled him away from the other girl. "See you later, Zabini. Don't miss me too much..." Harry winked good-naturedly, smirking at her futile effort to dim her bright red cheeks.

One of the many things that gave Harry pleasure at Hogwarts was instigating for the opposite gender to blush. He had done it many times with the girls, especially when he was in a good mood. He was proficient in the field, so why not exploit it? Even Merlin approved of his behavior, affirming it to be a good way to relieve some tension. Regine and Callista seized Harry's trunk and dragged it with them, glowering at the Slytherin all the while. Barbara never noticed their glares, her mind still stuck on the handsome boy.

It crossed her mind that Harry Potter was a very dangerous weapon.

Harry Potter was, under no circumstances, afraid of anything. No danger could possibly shake his willpower. He took whatever fate threw at him with serenity. Nonetheless, luck seemed to be against him today. Harry shrunk into the compartment seat underneath four withering glares. This was the kind of situation he had not yet learned to handle. He reminded himself again to seek the answer to this dilemma with Merlin. How to deal with four beautiful, yet angry, teenage girls.

"This has gone too far, Harry," Regine growled, splattering the silence. "The first thing you get onboard the train is- is... that... instead of looking for us?"

"Um... What are we discussing again?"

Callista, who was generally gentle and rarely fancied violence, glared terrifyingly at Harry. "Don't go all clueless on us, Harry Potter. What were you doing, flirting around so blatantly? Have you no shame? What do you have to say for yourself, mister?"

Harry didn't even get a chance to answer before another person cut in.

"Slytherin, of all people! Why is it had to be them? They're sneaky snakes!" Sheila looked at the blonde girl, grinning sheepishly. "Of course, that's not counting you, Daph."

"So, technically, what you're referring to is the fact that you girls were all jealous that I flirted Zabini? ...Is it because you were jealous of the position Zabini was in? I wouldn't blame you girls for that, especially since the guy was me..." Harry's smirk spread at the blushes forming on each girl's face.

"Don't you dare even try to use that trick on us like you do to the other girls, Potter! We're not like th-"

Daphne abruptly discontinued her sentence when he moved closer to her. His right hand rested on the compartment seat as the other held her chin, purposely raising her head up so she could stare deep into his emerald eyes. The other three girls fell silent, their mouths slightly ajar for two reasons. Their only male friend had moved with astonishing speed and the sight before them was so, so hot. Chuckling, Harry dropped his teasing and released Daphne from his grasp.

"Don't worry about it. I am not interested in Zabini. It's just amusing to watch her blush. I'm not quite sure why you girls are so uptight about it..." Harry eyed the girls suspiciously. "As a matter of fact, why are you girls so mad? I mean, after watching me does it on so many occasions, you'd think you would get used to it by now. It's not like there's anything new..."

All four were strangely taken aback, their former blushes returning. Daphne folded her arms and looked outside the window. Sheila avoided Harry's gaze profusely, pretending she didn't notice as she whistled in familiar tune. Callista's eyes were glued downward, as if she had just discovered how fascinating her feet were. Regine plopped down on the seat next to the door and stared outside the compartment, apparently in search of someone.

They thought they could fool him after all these years.

"Well? I'm waiting for an answer here..."

Regine was the first to reply, spluttering. "U-uh, I-I should find Anna, she's probably lonely all by herself. I'll see you guys later." She sprang from the compartment, leaving the door ajar.

Seeing an opportunity, Sheila swiftly made an excuse for herself. "I need to find Wood, um... about Quidditch and stuff. You know what they say, planning ahead is the best way to prepare for the future!" She chuckled nervously and she dashed away from the compartment.

Callista cleared her throat and she rose to her feet, steadily avoiding eye contact with Harry at all cost. "There's something I wish to talk about with Penelope and Xi. I have to go."

"Clearwater and Li? What for?" Harry inquired inquisitively.

"Um... you know, Harry... preparation for this semester." Harry was about to say something, however, she had already gone.

He budged to Daphne, expecting a similar excuse. She merely stood and scurried out of the compartment, deserting Harry to himself. What the hell was that all about? Forget how long he had known them, he just would never understand girls. Heaving an exhausted sigh, he flicked his finger tiredly and the door snapped shut. Whatever it was, Harry could deal it sometime later. Right now, he really needed some sleep. It would be a long time before the train reached Hogsmeade, so it was best to rest. He was still tired from his training with Merlin. Physically, no, but mentally, yes.

In the Potter mansion, Lily Potter quietly tucked her youngest daughter to sleep. She smiled softly at her child.

They were the only two in the mansion. James had gone off to report to their boss with Sirius - both were Aurors. Both men, Remus as well, had worn a large grin all day. They were so proud of Daniel. But the mansion was far too silent now that Daniel was at Hogwarts. He would certainly be taken care of, she wasn't concerned about that. What gave her worry was the thought of how much trouble he would get himself in. It's in the Potter genes how troubles constantly chasing after them. She watched her daughter sleep soundly and dropped her cheek to Rosy's forehead. It wouldn't be long before her dear Rosy left her behind just like her brother... brothers.

A strange abnormal sound of bell-like echoed...

Lily inclined her head, forehead creased at the suddenness of a dashing boy with her emerald eyes floated to mind. She recollected how her son had reacted to her presence earlier. If she didn't know any better she would almost think that her eldest son's smile for her had been fake, unlike the way he smiled to the Greengrass family. Lily deeply respected Elizabeth Greengrass. She was a very beautiful woman who fit the role of a Lady, unlike her. They saw each other occasionally at formal parties, and that was it. Elizabeth had elegance and beauty itself, though the thought of her own son smiling so warmly at that woman… it raised negative feelings inside Lily Potter. Never before had she felt any hatred toward the Greengrass matriarch but now, she was starting to feel it.

She remembered their interactions, the way her son chuckled with Elizabeth Greengrass. The rough feelings inside Lily began to take shape.

When that woman had hugged and kissed her son so affectionately, it was as if Harry was her own son and with that thought, Lily's heart tightened and her hand clenched to a fist. What was more, her son had responded to the woman in the same manner, his smile never faltering. He never smiled to Lily like that. Lily had been forced to contain an immense urge to go over them. She knew she would only make a fool of herself in front of the people at the train station. All she knew was that she was jealous.

Detaching herself from her daughter, Lily walked to the door, pondering about her eldest son. The second before she entered the master bedroom, she halted in her steps. Her head gradually rotated until her eyes transfixed upon the last bedroom in the hallway. Her heart hammered just looking at it. Her feet started moving on their own accord and she suffered a dreadful feeling as she passed Daniel's bedroom. Reaching the door at the end of the hall, she hesitantly rested her hand on the knob. Her heart beats quickened, sweats trickled down her neck as she opened the door.

Peering into the room, she gazed around. She couldn't remember this room ever belongs to anyone but it seemed as though it had been occupied for a very long time. Confused, she moved to the bookshelves, attempting to remember who lived in here. Casting a swift glance at the books, she recognized them to be the books from the Potter library. Her eyes traveled to the singular bed, neatly in place. Now that Lily thought about it, the room was spotlessly clean. She couldn't remember any time she had ever cleaned this room. Come to think of it, she hadn't been in this room for... many years.

A memory of a raven-haired boy and herself flickered through her mind, both figures laughing as she tickled the boy on the bed.

Her brain was processing at a fast rate and she didn't like the way her stomach twisted inside her, the way she felt almost nauseous from the memory. Her eyes grasped in a pile of paper compiled neatly on the desk. She rushed to it. She lifted the first paper and was surprised to stumble on the Hogwarts seal. Scanning the paper, she recognized it to be a report card. What was even more surprising was the scores are all outstanding, including Potions and Ancient Runes. Each professor complimented his marks, encouraging him to strive more in his efforts, save for Potions, which was blank. Whoever had received this paper was the top student last year.

Lily's breath hitched once she came across the name, which was none other than Harry Potter, her eldest son.

The paper dramatically slid from her fingers and frantically, she seized another report card. Likewise, this one also detailed his exceptional marks. A report card for each year, and they were all the same. Lily nibbled her lips, her stomach twisting even tighter. Her eyes, then, trailed to the framed pictures hanging on the walls. She walked to one of it and witnessed four girls encircling her son. Harry was smiling in the middle, whilst the black-haired girl grinned widely, the blonde smirked, the scarlet-headed girl beamed, and the last one smiled softly. Each child was dressed in their school robes. It dawned Lily that each girl belonged to a different house and not to mention the fact that there was a Slytherin in their group. This was the first time Lily had realized that Harry was not in Gryffindor.

In fact, he was in Ravenclaw. The picture before her looked to be like it had been taken at the end of his first year.

Lily's heart constricted as soon as she saw a picture of Harry with the Greengrass family, Elizabeth hugging him tenderly from behind. William had his hand on Harry's shoulder and two of the Greengrass daughters sprawled across the floor, each bearing a smile to match Harry's own. There were more pictures, all including the four girls and even a few more with the Greengrass parents. Hagrid made several appearances, eagerly introducing the children to magical creatures in one. One of it was him grinning widely at them while the scarlet-headed Hufflepuff girl pulled Harry by the hand, passionate to learn more about the wonder of such dangerous creatures. And yet another photo, this time of Lily's own daughter, squealing cheerfully in Harry's arms.

Why had Lily never noticed any of this before? When was the last time Harry had taken pictures with his own family?

With the question fresh in her mind, she hastily took off to her own bedroom. Rummaging through the shelves, she flipped through the photo album, her teeth gritting in determination. When she found no photos of her eldest son, she threw the album aside and snatched another. But no matter how many photos she fumbled through, she simply couldn't locate her eldest son. Only Daniel and Rosaline. Where was a photo of him receiving his Hogwarts letter? Where was his first trip to Diagon Alley? What about his first time at King's Cross Station? Or his first time reading a book? His first wand? More importantly, where was his birthday? Pictures of him with his uncle, his siblings, or with her and James? Nothing. There was nothing. He was absent even from the Christmas photos. Tears instinctively slid down her cheeks, leaking profusely from her eyes.

Weeping silently, she abandoned the most recent album and grabbed another, determined to search what she was looking for.

She tossed the final album roughly when she came up empty. She mentally tracked through all of her memories from the previous years and understood that most of them consisted of Daniel and Rosaline. No Harry. She remembered, in all of these memories, having caught a blur of raven hair fading away whenever people gathered there, or even when Sirius and Remus came by to visit. She was certain it had been Harry, watching from the shadows as they all laughed and forgot he was there.

Her eyes widened as the realization hit her. She had forgotten his birthday all these years. Never once had she accompanied him to King's Cross Station, bought his school supplies or picked him up for the summer. When was the last time she had bought him anything? She gasped, horrified, legs wobbled and weakened. Covering her mouth with both hands, she contained her sobs. What kind of mother was she? What had she done? All this time he had been by himself. How had he managed that? It must have been lonely. He would never forgive her. After all, she wouldn't if she was him - she had left him to fend for himself.

Her tearful eyes landed on one final picture slithering out of an old book, a story book... Slowly and shakily she rose to her feet and moved to it. Seizing it, she raised it to her face and found a picture that had been taken long ago, when Harry was four and Daniel still a baby. It was before the Dark Lord incident. In this picture, they were having a family picnic in the garden, James securely holding Daniel as his other hand patted Harry's head. She herself was hugging Harry lovingly, stroking his hair and smiling at him. Harry laughed happily and clutched his small hands onto her gown strongly, his eyes sparkling with cheer and warmth, unlike now. She remembered his emerald eyes and how the light in it, faded when they met her own earlier at the King's Cross Station.

And that was the last straw for Lily Potter.

She broke down, crying loudly in the empty mansion. She clutched the photo tightly to her chest. Her heart was aching from the way she had treated her own son. Back then Harry was always seeking her protection, wanting to hold her, smiling whenever he saw her, forcefully yanking her to his room to read him a book. But now that had all changed. She never saw Harry smile genuinely at her anymore. If he smiled at her at all, it was fake. Harry's warmth of a four-year-old rushed flooding back to her, causing her to yearn for the warmth to return. Now, the damage had been done, and it was too late for her to mend it. She had neglected Harry, and this was the consequence. Her own flesh and blood had become a stranger to her.

The strange abnormal sound of bell-like chimed one last time...