Pie!... and... A PHOENIX?!... again?

I walk down the stairs, and down the hallway to the dining area. The table is already set, and Mr. Culver is sitting at the head of the rectangular table.

"Hello Harry." Mr. Culver greets me with a smile as I sit down at the table.

"Hello Mr. Culver."

I feel out his emotions. He's concerned... and angry.

I look at him with my eyebrows furrowed. He focuses on the wall as though it is very intriguing.

'Why is he angry? He wouldn't be mad at me, right? I haven't even done anything.'

Mrs. Culver brings in a tray of freshly cooked pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, and corn. She comes over and sets it all down in the middle of the table.

My eyes go wide at the sight. Not even the Dursleys had food that looks and smelled this good!

*Growl*

"Dig in Harry!" Mr. Culver must have heard my stomach.

My face flushes a little even though I know my stomach making noises like that is perfectly normal for me.

I smile slightly.

"Ok" I say.

I shovel some food onto my plate.

Taking the first bite, I pause a moment.

It is freaking delicious.

We continue eating in silence...

Mostly...

Well...

I may be eating a little noisily...

I still try to eat with some manners. At least, what little I know of proper manners. The Dursleys didn't want me to seem like more of a freak at any time of the day, so they told me how they wanted me to act. Sometimes... forcefully.

But I'm very hungry, so basically, I'm trying to eat with my mouth closed and keeping clean while scarfing the food.

The Culvers eat as well, and I can feel both satisfaction and sadness from Mrs. Culver at seeing me enjoy her food so much. Mr. Culver is sad and angry.

My eyebrows furrow a little. It's not very pleasant sitting at a table with two people who are feeling like this.

We continue to eat silently for a little bit until Mr. Culver breaks the silence.

" So, Harry, did you get your stuff unpacked yet?"

"Yes." I say shortly.

"That's good." He nods.

We all eat a bit more, and I think if there's anything I want to talk with them about.

"Mr. Culver, Mrs. Culver?"

""Yes?""

I look back and forth.

"Haha..." I laugh quietly.

'They responded the exact same way. As soon as I spoke up, they looked up from their food and said the same thing. Maybe it's a couple thing?'

I shake my head a little.

"I wanted to ask if I could call you by your first names."

They both feel confused for a moment.

"Of course, Harry. You can call me however you wish." Mrs. Culver says kindly.

Mr. Culver looked over at his wife for a moment.

"Same for me, Harry."

"Alright. I'll call you Rosalyn and Arthur then?"

Mrs. Culver smiles. I can sense happiness and... a faint feeling of expectancy?

"You could call me Rose as well. Rosalyn can be a bit long."

"Alright."

We polish up our plates after a few more minutes.

"Are you in the mood for some dessert, Harry?" Rose asks with a wide smile.

'I'm pretty full... but I guess there's always room for dessert.'

"Sure."

"Would you like pie?"

"Pie? Never had it."

Both Rose and Arthur become sad.

"I'm sure you'll like it." She gives a little smile and goes to get it from the kitchen.

'Geez. It feels like everything I do makes them both sad.'

Rose brings back 3 plates with a slice of pie on each one.

"This is my personal favorite. I made it just yesterday. It's huckleberry and peach."

'Huckleberry and peach pie? That's seems like an odd combination to me.'

I take a bite to try it out, and instantly my mouth loves me for my actions. I devour the slice in record time even against the protests of my full stomach.

I sit contently in my seat with my upper body leaning on the table.

'That. Was. Delicious.' I smile.

Both Rose and Arthur burst out laughing.

I glare weakly at them with my chin resting on the table next to my plate.

However, I can't hold it, and a couple seconds later, I stop.

I smile crookedly and shake my head.

'Do whatever you want... that was a good pie.'

It seems I am a pie fiend.

--- Time skip ---

I'm lying in my bed trying to fall asleep.

When I turned out the lights to start going to sleep, I discovered there was a nightlight, but I turned it off.

'I ain't scared o' no ghosts...'

My mind starts roving as I get sleepier.

*Sigh*

It's been so stressful ever since I called the police on my aunt and uncle.

It's been one thing after another these last 5 days.

Had the physical, went to a psychiatrist, had the trial, and went to a foster home.

Now that I sum it up like that, it doesn't seem like a lot. It's only 4 things, but it feels like more.

My body isn't in the greatest shape too. I am a malnourished ten-year-old after all.

'It's as though I am Harry Potter, but with a little of the personality and a few additional memories from Not-Harry. I recognize the Dursleys as my family, but don't like them as much now.' My fists and jaw clench tightly. I hate the Dursleys.

'At least they got punished...'

Shaking my head and disregarding my slight identity crisis, I can't even remember my name from my other life... I only have the name Harry.

On another note, I should be getting my Hogwarts letter around the 24th of July. That's if I remember correctly. Just a few days before my eleventh birthday.

Tomorrow is Monday. It'll be the 1st of July.

After I get my letter, it'll be another month until I go to Hogwarts.

*Groan*

'So far away~...' I complain mentally.

Not that I don't like Rose and Arthur, but I am getting a little tired of knowing I have powers but not being able to actually use them. Of course, that's excluding my empathy.

Well. I don't think I will be able to somehow learn some wandless magic in the short time I have before Hogwarts starts, but I can at least try meditating. In the stories I read, the MCs could meditate in order to connect with their magic. It might even be extra beneficial to me since I have a power relating to the mind.

I try to meditate and clear my mind, but I just get tired, so I let myself drift off to sleep.

--- Unknown Location (3rd POV) ---

Somewhere in the depths of the Andromeda Galaxy, can be seen a giant burning sun. As of yet undiscovered by human scientists, it continues to release its warmth into the cold embrace of the emptiness of space.

The truly odd thing, however, is that inside of this glowing white star, is a bird.

Normally, birds couldn't survive the full heat, light, and gravitational pressure that is within any sun, but this one is quite unique.

Any self-respecting mythology and/or fantasy lover could tell you that this bird in particular... is a phoenix.

Currently, it is basking in the warmth of something equivalent to a nuclear explosion. The core of the sun.

It suddenly opens its eyes and gives a light-hearted trill and unfurls its wings.

With a single flap, it is propelled hundreds of thousands of light-years in the direction of the lovely blue and green planet known as Earth.

Within minutes, it arrives.

Slowing incredibly fast, it went down towards the planet in a skillful maneuver that sent it hurtling straight towards a foster home located in Hampstead.