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The Remaining Summer

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Harry had finally explained to Adam the circumstances regarding his own position in the wizarding world. Adam had at first been shocked and then angry at Harry's parents. "How could they do that? You should demand your magic back!" Harry then went on to explain that the magical transfer was only possible in infants and how he had learnt to accept it over the years.

Adam had by now calmed down enough so Harry started speaking, "Well, you being a wizard is a pleasant surprise but I'll understand if you don't want to associate with me anymore." Harry spoke softly, voicing one of his greatest fears.

"Gosh No Harry, you're like a brother, guardian and friend to me. I can never repay you for all the kindness you have shown me. I'm with you till the end and never think anything else." Harry used his occlumency training to control his emotions. Speaking of occlumency, he needed to teach Adam that.

Harry taught Adam the basics of occlumency for three hours straight until it was time for lunch. Adam didn't even question why he was being taught this, such was his trust in Harry. Telling Adam to keep practicing, Harry made his way towards Master Li's house.

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"Yes, bend your body like a snake, poising for attack, excellent, now imagine your energy building up as you pull your arm back, and now the release must be instantaneous, straighten your body as you throw your dart ,like a spring that is compressed and released." Harry heard Master Li, instructing him as he poised his body and suddenly straightened his body as his arm flew forward releasing the dart that was in it. He was finally practicing with the professional metallic dart set that Master Li had given him last Christmas.

The dart flew like a bullet as it hit the board with a resounding thud. Harry looked up to see a proud smile grace Master Li's face. It made him revel in his success. He had been practicing this technique with Master Li for the last week with plastic darts ( which he had previously used at Hogwarts ) and finally he had used the metallic dart (which was capable of some real damage) and succeeded.

Adam had also come along excellently in his occlumency training. He seemed to pick occlumency up even faster than Harry had. In only a week, Harry hadn't been able to sense Adam emotions any longer. With Master Li, Harry had kept up his training in full. At home, he had been practicing legilimency. His days were full and he wasn't even noticing the ever widening gap that had been appearing between him and his family...and apparently, he didn't care anymore.

As Harry wiped his sweat, he heard Master Li calling him. When Harry approached him Master Li invited Harry to sit with him and drink some tea. "We have reached a point in your training where I am unsure whether to continue or not" Master Li started.

"Why is that?" Harry asked bluntly not really knowing where this was going.

"When I accepted you, you were being bullied and you needed desperately a way to fight back. I gave you that and I believe you can successfully defend against any school bully. But last year you went to a boarding school and I believe that the reason for your learning is now beyond any school bullies..."

"but..." Harry wanted to say but Master Li cut him off.

"I am not asking you to explain it to me. Your reasons are your own. But I do need to know one thing before I can continue to train you in the more...violent...martial arts. Are you still the hunted or are you seeking to become a hunter?"

It took a few moments before Harry was able to understand the meaning behind that last question. But the answer came to him naturally. "I am seeking to become a hunter to prevent being hunted, if you can understand that..." Harry looked questioningly at Master Li.

A look of understanding passed Master Li as he nodded. "Perfectly. Tomorrow we will start a new stage of your training...blades."

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As Harry made his way towards Adam's house, it was with a smile. It had been a week since Master Li's acceptance and he had started to learn how to wield a dagger. Master Li had been really impressed that Harry could already wield a dagger quite confidently. He gripped his Slytherin's dagger inside his jacket reassuringly.

He recalled that today was the day he was going to go with Adam to Diagon Alley to buy his things. He sighed in contentment. It had been a very drugged (with potions) uncle of Adam that had finally accepted for Adam to go to Hogwarts and reluctantly had signed the required check for his school fees. But his uncle still didn't give any money to buy his Hogwarts things.

Harry could feel the weight of the fifty galleons his parents had given him for his own school things. Harry rang the bell and soon Adam came out. As soon as their eyes met, Harry instantly pushed forward with his legilimency attack and was met by quite some shields. Harry sliced through the shields with pure force, he could've done it subtly but Adam already knew he was using legilimency so no need to hide it. Harry reveled in the feeling of legilimency, as he found the memory that he was looking for it. But as soon as he found it, he was kicked out of Adam's mind.

They both stood there panting from the effort. This was an everyday occurrence when Harry met Adam and helped improve both his legilimency and Adam's occlumency. "You're getting better" Harry told Adam who smiled, "but I'm getting even better." Harry smirked at Adam.

Soon both boys were chatting as they made their way towards Potter Manor from where Harry decided they would floo. To anybody observing, they would appear to be two normal young boys, but both had their own demons to face.

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Harry pulled Adam along with him who was too shocked at everything he was seeing to come along on his own. Harry remembered how he had felt when he had seen Diagon Alley the first time.

First thing, the robe shop. Harry decided to continue with his robes from his previous year and payed for brand new Hogwarts robes for Adam. Adam knew that arguing with Harry about the money would do no good so he followed along.

After robes, they went to the apothecary to buy their potions stuff. Harry already had an owl level kit so he didn't really need anything therefore he only bought Adam his stuff. They decided that a pet was probably too much and really, they didn't know how much the wand would cost.

Adam was really eager to get his wand but didn't want to show it in front of Harry, who couldn't use a wand. Harry understood as Adam gazed longingly at Oleanders. So they made their way towards there.

"Hello there Mr. Potter, Unfortunately I can't have the chance to find you a wand." Ollivander came out from behind. "Unfortunately" Harry muttered. "And, I can't remember any family with those looks, you must be a muggleborn." Adam nodded.

After a few minutes of searching, Ollivander finally found the right wand for Adam. As soon as Adam held it, crimson red sparks shot out of it like fireworks. "Ah. Dragon Heartstring in Holly, a perfect combination to make a defense wand." They soon left the store fifteen galleons lighter.

Their final stop was Flourish and Blotts. They bought Transfiguration and Charms books for Adam. When they headed off towards the Defense section, they could see that it was pretty crowded. And for good reason, Harry saw his brother standing on a podium with another wizard who was apparently famous too.

They heard from someone that the other wizard was Gilderoy Lockhart. Harry asked Adam to give him his list. Looking at it, Harry could see that all the defense books were by Gilderoy Lockhart. Harry picked up all the books that were by Lockhart and saw that they didn't actually contain any spells. They were like bedtime stories! "We don't need to buy these useless expensive books. I can tell that the defense professor is crap if he assigns these books. Harry picked up a book from the shelf and showed it to Adam (who nodded) before putting it in the bag. 'A beginners guide to Magical Defense'

Their last stop in the store was the potions section, having decided that Adam would take Harry's first year History, Herbology and Astronomy books. Harry picked up a brand new copy of the first year potions text for Adam. "Why don't I take your first year potions book Harry? We don't need to buy a new one." Adam explained.

"All my potions books will be paid for by Professor Snape as I am going to accept apprenticeship in potions from him." Harry said before putting the Potions texts for year two to five (owl) in the shopping bag. "He must be a really nice teacher," Adam commented. "Yeah...real nice," Harry replied sarcastically.

After a few more minutes in which Harry looked around the potions section, he finally found the book he was looking for. "No one really cares about semi-dark potions books around here. A book like this on defense would have been banned." Harry muttered. He showed him the cover, ' Magical Tracking : The Potion Master's approach'

"What do you need that for?" Adam asked. Harry muttered 'later' as they went up to the counter to pay for the books.

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Harry and Adam were both sitting in the ice cream parlor eating ice-cream. It had been a tiring day. After getting their things, they had gone on to different stores including Quality Quidditch supplies and Zonko's, where they didn't actually buy anything but Harry did introduce Adam to more of the magical world.

By the time they were done, it was nearly nightfall. They hurriedly went to the Leaky Cauldron from where they flooed to Potter Manor. They had decided that Adam would put all of his stuff (except his wand) at Potter Manor until the day that they were to go to Hogwarts. As they both flooed to the Potter Manor living room, it was to see his parents and John sitting their chatting.

Everybody looked at them when Harry and Adam flooed in. "Who's your friend Harry?" Lily asked. "Adam Mathew" Harry introduced him. There was an awkward moment of silence before Lily asked Adam to join them for dinner. Adam looked up at Harry for permission who nodded, knowing too well how little Adam got at his home.

Dinner was a tense affair. His parents asked simple questions to Adam who answered them. John glared at both Adam and Harry and Harry kept quiet with his eyes on his food. After dinner, Harry went with Adam to drop him off. The night was starting to get darker as they made their way out. Adam wisely kept quiet about Harry's family.

"So what was with that Potions book that you bought from Flourish and Blotts?" Adam asked as a way of starting off a conversation. Harry's bad mood instantly vanished as a smirk lit his face. "Well, we have to remove the tracking charm on your wand, don't we?" Adam pumped his fist into the air as he too smiled. He was about to say something when Harry raised his hand for him to be quiet.

"Somebody's following us." Harry whispered to Adam. Adam knew how sharp Harry's senses were so he didn't question him. Harry cautiously looked around as his hand flew into his pocket to grab his dagger.

"Grrr.." Harry whipped around as a person jumped out from behind a tree, his dagger already in his hand. The person was middle aged with dirt on his face. He wore ragged, torn clothes. The man smiled in a particularly menacing way. Harry's dagger gave a warning pulse. This wasn't your everyday beggar if his dagger had reacted that way.

The man lunged at Harry who neatly side stepped. Harry roundhouse kicked the man in the stomach as he did so. The man only grunted in annoyance at the kick as he gripped Harry's leg. He swung as Harry went flying and landed into a bush. Adam was now staring wide eyed at the fight. He pulled out his wand, unsure of what to do.

Harry slowly got up as he saw the man running at him at an unusually fast speed. Harry watched in slow motion as the man came at him. He picked up quite a large rock and threw it at full speed at the man. It hit the man in the face, who merely shrugged it off. Harry put his dagger in front of him and the man halted his approach.

"I don't know where you got that but you don't have the guts to use it kid." The man pulled out his own dagger from his pocket. Harry yelled at Adam to run but Adam was rooted to the spot. Adam was waving his wand and saying whatever came to his mind but to no effect. The man came forward and slashed his dagger at Harry who ducked and punched the man between his legs...hard.

The man stumbled back this time and Harry had the opportunity to run. As Harry was running, he saw that Adam was left behind. When he turned around, he saw that Adam was cornered with the man standing in front of him. That man has got to be something to be standing even after his punch.

Harry felt fear then, as the man raised his knife towards Adam. He didn't know what had gotten into him but he yelled as he ran as fast as he could towards the man and plunged his dagger into the man's midriff. The man fell to the ground this time and started bleeding. In a few seconds, the poison from his dagger killed the man.

Harry fell to his knees as he saw the man die in front of his eyes. Adrenaline was now gone and replaced by resentment. He had killed a man, he looked at his hands. He had taken a life, everything that his father had said about him being in slytherin was probably true, he was 'evil'. Adam put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Adam slowly pulled Harry up. They made their way towards Adam's house, neither knowing what to say. When they finally reached his house, Adam started to say, "that man would've killed me if it weren't for you Harry, thank you." Harry only nodded as Adam bid him goodbye.

Harry felt hollow as he made his way towards his own home. He was careful to avoid the same path that he had came from. When he reached home, everybody looked up to see who had come but went back to what they were doing when they saw it was Harry. Harry was tempted to say something, to yell out that he had killed a man, but looking at his family chatting happily between themselves, he didn't.

It was with great difficulty and a lot of use of occlumency that he went to sleep that night. And even then, he was haunted with nightmares of being sent to prison/hell.

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It was a week later that Harry finally came to his senses again. The past days had gone by in a daze. He did his training like before but beyond that...nothing. Adam had finally gotten tired of trying to get Harry out of his shell and had explained the whole event to Master Li. Master Li had then explained to Harry that sometimes, killing was necessary and had calmed most of Harry's fears.

After that Harry had slowly began regaining his spirits. He had finally brewed the potion to remove the tracking charm from Adam's wand. Adam had started training in defense against the dark arts. He could now easily perform the disarming charm and the simple protego. A leg-locker and dizzying curse were soon added to the list.

Harry meanwhile was becoming so disjointed from his family that he couldn't stand them anymore. On his and John's birthday, he had gotten an expensive robe from his mother and a flying golden snitch from his father. He didn't think that expensive gifts could make them a happy family again and he disliked his parents the more for their presents.

He planned to run away the next summer and for that he needed a place to stay. He could always stay with Master Li but he didn't want to burden the old man anymore than necessary. Adam had also wished to stay with him and so they both began searching for a place to live for the next summer.

In the end, they decided to buy a flat in an old building. All the flats in the building had two bedrooms with a single bathroom and a living room and kitchen. They checked out the cheapest prices that were on offer and noted down the amount they would have to make by next summer, which was roughly equal to three hundred galleons. Harry didn't know how they would get such an amount but he had a few ideas in his head that he was willing to try, to make money during the year.

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Harry was sitting in his compartment reading his second year potions book while Adam was sitting across from him reading his defense book. They were finally going to Hogwarts. It was a while before the door flew open.

Draco Malfoy stood there flanked by his two goons. "What have you got yourself here potty, A mudblood?" Malfoy sneered at Adam. "I can tell you what you'll get yourself if you don't leave, a broken nose." Harry replied calmly from his seat. "Crabbe and Goyle here will be willing to do that to you two." Draco replied and his goons cracked their knuckles.

"Oh yeah?" Harry asked in a bored voice, raising an eyebrow. "Later Potter, I'll be watching you and your friend. So watch your back!" Malfoy said before turning to Crabbe and Goyle, "Come along, let's find the other potty, this one's boring."

The door slammed as they left. "He's a jerk who's in Slytherin. Don't worry he's just like the dog which only barks. But you better learn a locking charm before the next time we board this train, I tend to get a lot of unwelcome visitors." Harry said to Adam.

When the train arrived at Hogwarts, Harry and Adam parted their ways. As Harry went towards the carriages, he could see the black winged horses in front. Confused, he entered a carriage which contained other slytherins.

Harry entered the hall soon enough. He was anxious to see where Adam would be sorted. Pretty soon the transfiguration professor entered the hall followed by her bunch of first years. Harry smirked, he had 'forgotten' to tell Adam how the first years were sorted.

Adam looked at him questioningly at that moment but Harry only smirked in reply. The sorting hat was then brought in and it started it's song telling the characteristics of each house. But Harry could care less about that, it was finally when McGonagall called out "Mathew, Adam" that he actually leaned forward.

Adam confidently strode towards the stool and placed the hat on his head. It was quite some time before the hat finally reached it's decision. The hat finally yelled out Adam's new house.

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A/N: I seem to be ending with cliffy's a lot :P. Next chapter we'll find out what house Adam is in.