The Crowell's

(IRYAN'S POV)

Mids of chaos and destruction of my poor mind from yesterday's legilimency training, I was woken up by the sound of neighbors' new rooster groggily.

Why must you wake me up at this ungodly timing? Ugh...

I sat up and focused my magic on my eyes and looked at my surrounding. This is simple self-training I've been doing lately. It's only a faint light blue outline drawn on top of a black outline… but I could somehow see a bit, though it only lasted for a while before everything went back to darkness.

Sigh,

It's been a good several years since I have stayed here. In those years, I went to the local school like the other kids, mostly to avoid suspension from neighbors, made several friends (?), and played-- though not as harmless as the Crowell couple had hoped it would have gotten.... At the very least no one ever got fatally injured.

I also learned about the basic materials for the magical world under the Crowell couple's guidance during the times they are available, what were they busy at? I have no clue and can't get any info. They covered everything up, to the point it's frustrating for me, and I can't dig to dip less I want to get captured by them.

They also add several additional lessons. For example; Mrs. Crowell teaches self-defense like offensive or defensive magic and I got Legilimency training from Mr. Crowell.

I also occasionally wrote letters to Matty after Mr. Crowell's request. The reason was to… "deepen our bond".

As for why… well if I were to take a wild guess, it's probably related to the Crowell family's past. My mum once did say something about the Crowell's being-- one who moves in the dark, a family who only serves other families. But is that really the case? And, is it related to the Favor dad had over the Crowell's?

Sigh,

Either way... deepening our bond, huh? I only personally met him like-- once a year, even then it's not like he visits every year. But I swear, he's becoming more and more annoying to deal with lately. It was hard enough to figure him out before. Now? I can't read him at all. What the heck is he doing out there? Learning to become a true bot??

"Kiddo, Time for breakfast!" someone called,

"Coming!" so I answered

...

I went downstairs and the scent of freshly baked bacon and eggs immediately reached my nose.

"Morning kiddo," Mr. Crowell greeted me, "did you have a good sleep?"

"Yes," I went to the chair near the door and took a seat, "it smells as great as usual uncle"

"Thanks, it's a classic Bacon-egg bread my mother used to make for me. Though she used to add some mushrooms… pity that we ran out of those yesterday, I couldn't add any" I could hear the sound of the knife cutting through the bread and hitting the wooden board.

…

(THIRD POV)

While Iryan was having his meal, Mrs. Crowell entered the room with a couple of letters and a newspaper in her hand, reading through them one by one. And stopped her steps when she landed on a particular envelope.

"What's the matter, dear?" Mr. Crowel asked, putting down the plates filled with the Bacon-egg bread to the table

"Letters from Hogwarts," she said, "two of them"

"Heh... so that old man still remembers to send it huh?"

"Apparently so,"

"He probably couldn't send it to Mateo since Flickchered is with him. Knowing her, she probably erased all tracks that could lead anyone to track her down without her permission" Mr. Crowell said without missing a beat, carefully putting the forks and knives to the table, and poured the orange juice to the three empty glasses with a subtle smile,

Mrs. Crowell simply eyed her fuming husband. He was annoyed- pissed, even. To outsiders, he may simply sound like he's throwing the subject around. But she had known him for years now. She still didn't know the full story. But she did once hear that the reason he had bad blood with the headmaster was ... Related to his parent's death?

"So, coffee or juice?" He asked, giving a cup to her

"Coffee,"

"It's juice, Too bad. Try again Latte" He chuckled,

"Oh" Mrs. Crowell took a seat and quietly ate her breakfast, Mr. Crowell soon followed and took his own seat and ate.

Meanwhile Iryan... he sat on his seat there and pretended to not exist. Though times like this almost never happened, this also wasn't the first time Mr. Crowell became irritated and simply ended it with a joke or two and just chuckled it off. In all honesty, Iryan was probably more terrified of the older male than the older female.

"So," Mr. Crowell started, "Are we visiting the alley? There's something I have to do in the next two weeks but I think I can spare some time. Saturday?"

"I'm open next Saturday, what about you Iryan?"

Iryan nearly choked when the attention was directed at him all of a sudden, "I also have nothing to do that day, mam"

"Good, we'll go there at Saturday then" Mr. Crowell concluded

Iryan probably already swore about it at one point in the past but-- Never get on Theo Crowell's bad side, ever. He'd rather do Mrs. Crowell's training times ten than having to deal with an angry Mr. Crowell.

.

.

.

Saturday, the day where Iryan had to go to Diagon alley for the first time after a while and the day Iryan finally understood the meaning of "enviable family gene" Harry once said to him at one point.

…

In the morning before they went to Diagon alley via the floo network, Mr. and Mrs. Crowell had told him that they'll be getting most of the items in the list and he was to wait in Madam Malkin to get his school uniform-sized, before meeting with Mateo and Mrs. Flickchered in the bookstore. Iryan agreed with no complaints.

And so they went on their floo powdery way to Diagon alley,

Reaching there wasn't much of a struggle, well, Iryan probably felt a little woozy- but there weren't any problems other than that. Mr. And Mrs. Crowell sent Iryan to Madame Malkins as they had planned and told him that they would be back after buying the cauldrons, and gloves.

Entering the place Iryan immediately heard a small bickering happening inside but ignored it.

"Welcome, are you off for Hogwart too dear?" A lady greeted him,

"Yes ma'am"

"Ok, please wait for a while"

"Alright, thank you ma'am"

The lady chuckled at Iryan's polite response and brought Iryan, who followed her by the sound of the footsteps, to a waiting stool.

"--look at that man"

"That's Hagrid, He works in Hogwarts"

"Oh? I've heard of him, he's some sort of servant isn't he?" Said a voice

"He's the gamekeeper" retorted the other,

Iryan listened to the bickers and couldn't help but noticed one of the voice owners sounded familiar.

"Harry?" He called out softly, and the bickering stopped.

Harry and the other boy looked at Iryan, and almost immediately Harry smiled, "Ryan!" He greeted the honey-blond haired boy, his face looked relieved and so did his tone,

Iryan listened to Harry's voice in slight confusion, Harry Potter, the boy who would prefer to stay quiet in class and always kept his voice at a reasonable level. Was now screaming his name as if he was a savior. "Yes, it's me. I didn't expect to meet you here"

"Same- well actually, I kind of guessed I would run into you sooner or later"

"Oh?"

*EHEM, the white- blond-haired boy beside Harry cleared his throat, his face sour

"My apologies, you are?" Iryan asked for formality sake,

The white-blond smirked and puffed out his chest with pride; "Malfoy, Draco Malfoy" he stretched out a hand for a handshake, and Harry stared at the extended hand from the side but did not say anything.

"Iryan Crowell," Iryan nodded his head in acknowledgment,

Draco frowned and slowly dropped his hand, he scrunched his nose and sneered, "I see, Crowell... the freak of the pureblood families who only serve other families from generations. I heard my father say the family has a special contract that makes themselves slaves to other purebloods."

At his comment, Harry nearly screamed bloody murder if it wasn't for Madame Malkin's intrusion. "The measurements are done, dear,"

Draco looked at the Madam and nodded, "Well, I suppose I'll see you at Hogwarts,"

'And I hope to never meet you again,' Harry thought, hoping to never even have to deal with Malfoy ever again.

Dismissing Hagrid was one thing- slandering the Crowell's in broad daylight, the family who practically cared for him more than the blood-related relative is another thing.

Harry stared at the white-blond haired boy till he left the store before completely directing his attention to Iryan. He knew Iryan was strong, but he still was worried the rude boy's words affected him.

"Ryan?" Harry called gently,

"Yea?" He answered absentmindedly

"...nevermind"

Harry hesitated after seeing the blank look on Iryan's face. The small smile he always had was nowhere to be found. He wanted to say something but was afraid. Afraid that if he accidentally said something when his friend was down- it might end up ruining their friendship.

On contrary to Harry's fear. Iryan was quiet for a different reason;

'Freak of the pureblood family, and … slaves?' Malfoy's words did echo in Iryan's head, but for another reason, 'seems like the Crowell's have quite the history, more than I first anticipated, how... amusing' a completely different reason.

…

After Harry got fitted, he went outside and told Hagrid that he's waiting for someone to finish their fitting and went back inside to Iryan's side when he got the 'ok'.

It was a quiet and peaceful atmosphere if you can ignore the nervous energy that's just seeping out of the Potter.

"Ok, that should be it" The madame announced, "now run along now"

Iryan immediately snapped out of his daze and thanked the madame. He walked a few steps before finally remembering something. "Wait Harry, why did you never tell me you're a wizard before?"

Harry, who was behind him blinked, "oh, I just found out recently after i got a letter from… Hogwarts?" Harry didn't noticed it himself, but he slowly felt less nervous as he continued to talk, "Things in the Dursley's was a bit hectic, so I couldn't get the chance to tell you"

"Tell me now then," Iryan urge him

Harry's smile got wider, "You wouldn't believe it!" He started with that sentence and continued telling from when he got his first letter to the moment the living room was just filled with mountains of letters.

"Well would ya look at that, having a fun time there ay' Harry?" Hagrid chimed, looking at Harry who was opening the door for Iryan.

"Hagrid!" His smile grew wider, he grabbed one of Iryan's should and showed the boy to Hagrid "This is Ryan, the person I told you about. Ryan, this is Hagrid"

"Good morning sir," Iryan bowed slightly

"Well hello there," Hagrid extended a hand for a shake

This time, Harry didn't just stared at it and nudge Iryan's side, "handshake," he whispered,

"Oh, right!" Iryan also extended his right hand and shook Hagrid's hand.

"So, yeh also going to Hogwarts?"

"Yes sir,"

"Wabbout yer guardian? Can't be goin' on this busy place alone?"

"Yes, my… parents will be picking me up soon after they got the cauldron and gloves, will be going to the bookstore next to buy the books, and probably go to Olivanders later." Iryan's ears picked up two sets of footsteps which were coming close, "speaking of which, seems like they're here"

"Kiddo!" Mr. Crowell called, "and… Harry?" He was unsure.

"Hello Mr. Crowell, Hello Mrs. Crowell" Harry politely greeted them,

Mrs. Crowell nodded her head in acknowledgement while Mr. Crowell just mused, "Guess you'll be going to Hogwarts too?"

"Yes sir,"

"Well it aint that surprising since you did do some accidental magic that time, and …" he turned his head and faced the stiff figure behind Harry, "Hagrid," he greeted him with a nod

"Yea-- I mean, yes"

"Seems your doing well," Mr. Crowell said it nonchalantly

"Yea, Dumble-- I MEAN, the headmaster been treatin' me well"

"Good to know. Now," he gave his attention back to Iryan, "lets get those books shall we? Harry, would you like to join us?"

With the offer, Harry almost immediately said yes. But stopped when he saw Hagrid's expression. He wanted to, but looking at Hagrid… yea, he dont think he can. "Thank you for the offer sir, but I still need to find several other things first,"

"Aww, that's a shame kiddo. Ok, have fun then~" said Mr. Crowell, waving at both Harry and Hagrids moving figures that started to blend with the crowd.

While Iryan idly stood at the side, listening it all happened;

He couldn't get much info in the Crowell's house before because of the lack of sources, but now. He already got a decent amount of info (dirt) about the family he had been staying with for over six years now, even if it's not 100% true nor that believable.

One, the head of the family has some kind of bad blood with the headmaster of Hogwarts,

Two, the family has an… interesting history,

And three, seriously. never cross Mr. Crowell, what did that poor man (Hagrid) do???

Although he doesn't trust the Crowell's 100% he could cross off the list that they are related to his biological parents "accident". At least, it doesn't seem like they'll just kill him off all of a sudden without warning.

.

.

.

The bookstore was more crowded than Iryan first thought.

He immediately got separated from the Crowell's and ended up bumping into someone.

"Ah-- sorry,"

"Hnn"

The stranger's voice was a bit monotonic and soft. Iryan couldn't help but be reminded of a certain someone he hadn't met for a while and couldn't help but wonder what the other is doing right now.

"Again, sorry for that, I'll be taking my leave then," he nodded to the stranger and went to where he remembered the door was at. But heard footsteps following behind him.

"Do you need anything, sir?"

"... not really,"

"Ok, have a good day sir"

He walked away, but the footsteps still followed closely behind. Iryan frowen, he stopped his steps and looked behind, "Sir?-- "Did you seriously forget about my voice already?"

"Eh?"

"This is why I call you a doofus"

Iryan stood there blankly with his closed eyes slowly opening,

"Why are you standing around like an idiot?"

He could faintly see the outline of his surroundings after injecting magic to his eyes. And what he saw surprised him,

"Oi,"

Mateo was a bit taller than him now, probably a good 2 inch taller than him. He was looking at Iryan with sharp half lidded eyes- seemingly bored, though his brows seemed to start to crease in the middle. His silk like hair was cut short, it was very neat.

"Ryan?"

There was only one thought that could slip through Iryan's blank mind,

'Damn' He finally understood what Harry meant by being envious of someone else's family genes.

"Hello? Earth to Iryan??"

"Y-yea?" Iryan closed his eyes back, it'll be bad if he ends up having a migraine from overusing his eyes.

"You were spacing out, and are you sure it's ok to use your eyes here?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

Iryan knew the answer and so did Mateo, so none of them bothered answering that stupid question.

Mateo stared at Iryan for a while before taking the Honey blond haired boy's hand and started helping him walk through the crowded to the 1st year book section.

He was bad with words, and he knows that. It's usually Iryan who starts a conversation between the two of them. So the only way he could squeeze out of that situation was to direct the attention to something else,

"Do you even know which books you need?"

"Didn't you bring the list?"

"I'm not an idiot, here"

Iryan gave the list in braille to Mateo to read. It was filled with the types of books needed with their respective authors.

"Speaking of which, have you met your parents yet? If you did where's aunt and uncle?"

"I did, just before I saw you. They told me they're gonna be in another section, the advanced books" Mateo read through the list and took the books needed from the shelf's and handed them over for Iryan to hold.

"Oh,"

Iryan's face was now barely visible from the stacks of books he was holding.

"That should be all," Mateo finally said after checking off the last book. He pocketed the list and took more than half of the stack Iryan was holding to his own. "Lets go," he took Iryan's right hand with his left and went to where his parents were at.

(OMAKE)

In the section where Mr. and Mrs. Crowell was at;

"What are you reading?" Mrs. Crowell asked, glancing at the suspicious looking cover Mr. Crowell was holding,

"Hm? Nothing special," he said as he immediately closed the book and put it back on the shelf. "Don't mind it,"

"Ok?" Mrs. Crowell said unsurely,

"I'll be looking in the cooking section next, call me when the kids are done"

"En…"

Mrs. Crowell watched as her husband's back became smaller and smaller before it completely disappeared into the crowd. She looked back at the shelf the suspicious book was put on, and took it out. Her brows scrunched together,

"I knew it," she mumbled frustratedly,

It was a yellow covered book with a suspicious looking smiling cat design with a title '101 amazing Dad jokes your kids will hate'

"I frikin knew it" She grumbled, gripping the book hard-- But then yelps when she felt an arms wrapped around her waist

"Guess the cat got curious, and now she's 'cat'ptured" warm breath tickled her neck- sending chills down her spine.

She nearly Judo slammed her husband…, Nearly. He was lucky this was a public area and many eyes were watching. Or else his face would be forever captured in the floorboard of where they were standing right then and there.

"THE.O.DORE…." Aquilla hissed, her face was mostly devoid of emotions but her eyes was dead staring at Theo,

But Mr.Crowell didn't flinch at the intense glare, instead, he smiled. "You should really be careful dear," he tightened his hug, "I may always be near to save you whenever. But even I won't be able to save you from all possible dangers." He dropped his smile "Your curiosity will really be the end of you one day,"

"..."

"But you don't have to worry," a mischievous glint came to sight, "since I will always 'Cat'ch you whenever"

"....."

"Tehee 😋😳"