Another chapter! Please see previous chapters for all notes, etcetera…

Chapter 27 – Harry’s POV

I wish I knew what Yuki did to make my relatives so edgy. It was probably the cash his relatives paid them to host him.

It was a great three weeks though!

I didn’t have to do any chores or anything, and we went to all the amusement parks and parks and other public places I’ve always wanted to go to. The zoo was especially fun.

We spent an entire day there, and almost three hours in the reptile house alone. I really can talk to snakes! It was so cool…

They’re all locked up there, poor things…

Maybe I can get a pet snake or two? That would be nice.

Of course, before all that, he stuffed a hundred pounds in my hand, and dragged me to the mall. I don’t like shopping generally, but I did need new clothes, but for some reason, I don’t see this as charity…

He’s actually just doing it out of friendship.

Nothing wrong with that! He’s a great friend, really. If only I could go visit Ron’s family. Who knows, maybe Dumbledore will let me visit sometime?

Anyways, I got these cool new glasses, sleek black frames and cat-eyes, which is good, since my old ones weren’t doing too well – my eyesight is genetic and it seems to be getting worse. Besides, now I won’t look like such a dork.

Not that I have anything against dorks, but… point taken. And it’s nice to have fitting clothes for once…

Sometimes I wonder if Yuki has something against rabbits. Because when we went shopping, he came back with a cat. It’s a very nice cat, pure, snowy white with blue eyes. Kind of like Hedwig! Something’s bothering me though…

Why on earth hasn’t Ron sent me any letters?

I know why Yuki isn’t writing since he’s living with me, but Ron ought to be writing, right?

So why isn’t he?

I thought he was angry with me, until… the incident. It happened two days before Yuki left. He was going home to Hong Kong, apparently.

There was a house-elf on my bed. I later learned that it was there because it was spying on me!

It kept babbling “Harry Potter must not go to Hogwarts!” That really got on my nerves. Why wouldn’t I want to go?

Even if the muggles were nice now, I mean – my relatives – I still want to go back to school. I don’t belong here.

Am I turning into a pureblood like Malfoy? I hope not! But they really were abusive freaks. I can see that now.

And they called me abnormal!

That stupid annoying elf had been blocking all of Ron’s letters! I was so angry… especially since my birthday cake was one of the things that got stuck in the mail.

Hagrid had sent me something too, but it’s far from edible by now…. Heck, even Snape sent me a letter! It was odd, but I think I don’t hate him as much now.

He explained how he and my father were enemies back in their Hogwarts days, and James saved his life.

That must suck… I mean, if Malfoy saved my life I’d probably hate him more. And since I look like my father…

Well, that kind of makes sense.

He promised to try and be nicer this year. How weird…

I never thought Snape could ever be civil. I guess you learn something new every summer. He sent me these four books on basic potions, and those really helped me with my homework.

Why is he suddenly being so nice? Is it a trap?

Can’t be… Dumbledore trusts him, right? Besides, his countercurse saved me from Quirell, so that means…

He was trying to save my life! Quirrell said so himself. Okay. I will try to see him as more than a greasy git then. I promise.

Mom and Dad would probably want me to do that…

Anyways, right now I’m sitting next to the window watching Hedwig fly out to deliver Ron’s letter. I’m so glad…

He’s not ignoring me then!

The new jeans I got are nice, black, not scratchy and ugly. I’m so glad Dudley’s scared of me, the pig.

He deserves it.

I hate getting beat up all the time. Hm. Some angel he is. At least now they’re too scared of me to punish me or force me to work.

Fear is better than love in this case…

Rather interesting books in this second bedroom. I didn’t know they had works on Machiavelli, and all that philosophy… no wonder Dudley didn’t want to read it! Well, it’s interesting just the same.

Yuki’s stroking his new cat – Moonlight, a nice name for a cat, – and reading up on his defense text from last year.

This year… I wonder which books we’ll need?

Our Hogwarts letters haven’t arrived yet.

“Harry Potter must not go back to Hogwarts!”

Oh great, it’s back again. I can’t help feeling annoyed. Yuki looks up from his book. He’s all packed, although he looks worried.

Hopefully his family is better…

“I have to go back to Hogwarts, Dobby!”

“I can’t let you!”

“Then I’m glad it’s not your choice, is it?” That sounded kind of mean, but I’m angry. Wait a minute…

House-elves are only found in prominent wizarding families… like the Malfoys!

No wonder!

“You’re Malfoy’s house elf! I bet this is some prank! Get out of my house!” That worked. It’s gone in a flash.

Stupid thing…

Yuki sighs. “Annoying little… aren’t they?”

I have to nod in agreement. “Do you really have to leave?”

“I haven’t seen my family in almost a year, Harry. I miss them. I only hope things will be all right.”

“Right me please. I know you don’t have an owl, but…”

“Oh, mail delivery will not be a problem.” He smiles. “I’ll see you around Harry.”

“Huh? You’re leaving now? How? I thought you couldn’t use magic…”

“I lied. I can’t use a wand… but I’ve never needed one.”

“You mean… you specialize in wandless magic?” That is so cool… although I wish he’d told me sooner.

He laughs. “No, it’s a different focus.” He concentrates, and in his hands appears a slender staff… silvery in color, at the top is a crescent moon, with white wings sprouting out of the side, like elegant angel’s wings… inside the moon twinkles a black star, and from the top sprout eight spikes, red-gold, like the sun… the staff reaches to his feet, it’s taller than he is, but the end is a blade, at least a foot long… sharp and silvery.

“That looks really powerful.” I comment. He shrugs as it shifts into the image of the wand I’ve seen him use all year.

“Illusions, concealing charms, whatever you want to call them. I will promise to write, Harry. See you at school.”

Then, he just… vanishes like that. Bloody wicked! Maybe it’s his other half of magic? Not his wizard half…

End Chapter

Completed 3/27/05