Harry patted his hair. They were heading out to the village down the hill that day for his birthday. Harry was already excited since this will be his first birthday that he will actually celebrate! But Mum and Dad wanted to take him out so that they can celebrate properly. Nanna can't come though. She was too weak to join them for the walk down the hill. Dad had tried to convince her to celebrate in the house but Nanna insisted that they go down for Harry. In the end, to not stress her out further, Dad agreed.

Harry promised to get her something from the village.

Mum said that it was only polite.

But Harry remembered the bad man that hit Mum and tried to take him when they were in London. He still remembered that day. Mum was clinging to both him and the kidnapper, making as much problem so that the bad man can't take Harry from his Dad and Mum and Nanna. The bad man hit Mum a lot, her body was black and blue like Harry's when Uncle Vernon got mad. This time, he promised himself to not freeze up like always did and bite whoever he didn't know that tried picking him up so Mum won't get hit.

Dad would then throw the bad people into the river.

But still, Mum did something on his scar. Mum and Dad never liked the scar. They said it was bad. At first Harry thought it was because it was ugly and it made him a bad boy. But Mum only kissed him and said that the scar brings bad people towards him so she must hide it. She used her magic to cover it.

It felt cool. He never noticed how his scar felt angry before. Now it wasn't as burning.

Dad then gave him a haircut but he made sure the bangs were long enough to brush his brows. Harry's hair used to look like a porcupine or a bird just made a nest out of it. He would know. He had seen one of the Other Lot hanging around with a bird's nest in his hair. He think it was cool that he have a bird's nest in his hair but his hair looked so tangled it must be painful. So even if bird's nest hair looked cool, Harry didn't want it for his hair. He's just a boy, not one of the Other Lot.

Dad called his haircut the Asian wolf cut. Harry wanted something like his but Dad said that they needed to hide the bad scar. So now Harry waited for his parents while patting his hair down over his scar. His hair was rather long, brushing against his neck and curling all around his face. Nanna said his hair was the Potter's trademark hair and at a certain length looked like he just came in from the storm. But Mum used her magic to make them more manageable.

Mum stepped out, "Harry?"

Harry looked up at her and marveled once again just how pretty his Mum was. The Other Lot always praised her for being pretty and now that he wasn't being a 'Dudley', he agreed with them. He stood up from where he was sitting on the steps to hug her and praised, "You're very pretty, Mum,"

She was pretty everyday but he wanted her to know too.

Mum giggled, "And you are a very handsome young man,"

Harry blushed. Everyone always said he was a handsome young man but Harry think that Dad was even more handsome. Nanna said he took after Dad and Harry hoped to look like him one day when he's bigger. But he also have Papa James that he took after so maybe he'll look more like him?

Dad finally showed up, "Ready?"

Harry grinned, "Yes!"

As they stepped out of their gate, Harry looked at their hands and decided to hold both in his. Mum smiled when he held hers and Dad squeezed his hand a little with his bigger ones. Harry giggled and skipped as they walked. At one point, they swing him between them and Harry squealed, happier than he had ever been. Harry saw a few of Mum's Other Lots around, peeking between trees and over grasses. Mum always warned him to not get too close because the Other Lots might be friendly but they were also dangerous. He can wave at them if he wanted to but he mustn't interact with them. They don't understand that human like Harry can be very fragile.

But Harry also know that they were all scared of Dad so they won't come close. A tiny part of him whispered at him to play a prank on them but then he remembered the snake and how just because they won't hurt Harry didn't mean that they won't hurt Dad or Nanna. Well, Dad might not get hurt but Nanna certainly would. So he smothered the 'bad voice' and focused on being a good son.

They finally reached the village and his green eyes sparkled at the sight. It wasn't very busy but he was itching to run around but there might be bad people that can recognize him even when Mum already hid his bad scar. Instead, he hopped excitedly between Mum and Dad. Mum giggled and looked at Dad before Dad nodded, "Go ahead, Harry. I'll keep watch,"

Mum added, "Gale will be with you,"

Realizing that he was safe, Harry squealed in excitement as he zoomed off to look at everything. He remembered to look behind and see if his parents saw him before dashing off again. He felt the wind blowing around him and he knew that just like Mum promised, Gale raced along with him. He was running around, having fun, when he bumped hard into someone.

He looked up and curled away from the tall man in black with a curtain of oily black hair framing his saturnine expression, staring with dark eyes over his hooked nose. He looked very unhappy to see Harry but then his eyes caught Harry's and they widened slightly. He breathed, "Lily...?"

"Harry! Buddy! Watch where you run!"

The man pulled away from whatever he was thinking about and looked to see Dad coming close. Dad waved his hand, using his not-magic power to pick Harry up. Dad grinned at the stranger, "Sorry about that. It's his birthday and he's a tad excited,"

The man hummed, "I see,"

"Harry. You bumped into someone. What should you say?"

Harry looked at Mum who reminded him of his manners and blushed before looking back at the man, bowing at the waist with a hand on his heart, "I'm sorry for running into you, good sir. Please for give me,"

The man blinked at the sight and Harry just waited. After a moment, the man harrumphed, "See that you watch where you go next time. Some people could be carrying dangerous things in their arms. Fortunately, I am just heading for the potion store and have yet to buy anything dangerous,"

Mum smiled, "Thank you for the kind reminder, good sir,"

Dad then asked, "Do you work in Hogwarts?"

The man studied them before sniffing, "Prof Severus Snape. Potion Master,"

Dad stared at him before suddenly laughing, "Lily's friend! Jazz told me about you! She was wondering about you and where you were since you graduated! Said you moved out completely when you could from that old place you grew up in!" He grinned at the bewildered man, "Ah, I get it! You're confused! My name's Dante, Jazz's lost younger brother, but call me Danny! I know, I know, I looked young for my age! But I'm serious! Anyway, you should come visit the Shrieking Shack when you could! I'm sure that Jazz would be very happy to see you," He softened, "Just another piece of Lily. She will be very glad to see someone else that knew Lily well,"

Professor looked at Dad, "Y-you..." He looked at Harry, "So he's...?"

Dad pushed Harry closer to Mum, "Yeah. But don't tell anyone though. Almost got a scare in London. We are just here to celebrate his birthday and get used to Hogsmeade," He then looked at the Professor, "Say, Severus – can I call you Severus? - do you know of any place that can send children to study prior to coming to Hogwarts? I mean, I have been looking around but everyone in the magical community seemed more into home schooling over sending them to an actual school. Do you know?"

Mum decided to move on, "Danny, I'll take Harry around. I think listening to two adults discussing school will be too boring for Harry," She nodded at the Professor, "See you around, Professor Snape,"

Dad waved, "Sure! Let's meet up at the Three Broomsticks for birthday lunch!"

Mum pulled Harry away to look at more fun things while Dad kidnapped the Professor Snape to talk about school. Well, he seemed to be a teacher with how mean he looked so he would know, right?

As they looked at the toys, Harry asked, "Why can't I just study at home like now?"

Mum hummed, "Because you need friends,"

Harry pouted, "But I have friends!"

Mum giggled, "Harry, playing charade with the elf in the forest is not enough friendship for you. And practicing how to swing a wooden sword with the Fright Knight is also not enough friendship. Sure, you are friends with Gale and Bruni. But they are not people. You need people friends, Harry. It is important to make friends with other people your own age,"

Harry hummed at that and looked around. Maybe if he just nab someone his age here, his Mum will stop lecturing him about making friends?

Mum pulled him along, "No kidnapping people to be friends with, Harry,"

Well, there goes that plan.

Harry had a lot of fun looking around. But there were little children around and none of them his age. The older kids would stare at him meanly and the younger kids were all babies. In the end, he didn't make any friends 'his age' and followed Mum to the Three Broomsticks. They had passed by a tea shop but Mum took one look at it and decided that it wasn't worth her time. Harry thought it was weird because there seemed to be a lot of girls in that shop. Maybe because all the boys looked like they were bring tortured?

They have the same looks on their faces like when Dad had to sit in on people arguing in his computer screen.

Yikes.

Mum pulled him into the very cheerful place and kept her hand around his shoulders, making Harry cling to her skirt. He thinks that Mum have a better sense of fashion than most of the women in the building. She took him to where he can see Dad laughing with the Prof Snape. Well, Dad was the only one laughing openly while the Professor looked part horrified and part interested with whatever it was they were talking about.

Mum greeted Dad and Dad stood up for her, pulling out a chair for her to sit in while Harry climbed into a different chair that sat across from Prof Snape. He watched as Dad kissed the back of Mum's hand and Mum's cheeks turned slightly red by the action. Harry leaned forward to the Professor and whispered at him, "Dad loves Mum,"

The Professor just stared at Harry before saying, "I see..."

Harry grinned at him before asking, "I have never met a wizard besides Grandpa Gandalf before. How does it feel being a wizard?"

Prof Snap stared at him with a slight frown on his brows before saying, "It felt great. You can do just about anything with the wand. But I prefer potions,"

Harry's eyes sparkled, "Is that like chemistry? Dad do chemistry a lot in his lab. He never let me stay for long though. Too dangerous. Is potion dangerous too?"

Prof Snape hummed, "It can be...if you are big dunderhead,"

Harry tilted his head, frowning, "Dunderhead?" He tested the word, "What's a dunderhead?"

Dad laughed, "It means idiot!"

Harry gasped before looking at Prof Snape, "That's a bad word!"

Prof Snape sniffed, "They were bad students,"

Harry was flabbergasted before sitting back down, "I'm not a bad student. I just need to try again because I don't understand how the first time,"

Prof Snape watched him before saying, "They are bigger and smarter than you. But they still can't read directions or listen to lectures. They didn't bother to correct themselves either. That's why they are dunderheads,"

Mum chuckled, "Harry. There is a difference in being ignorant and still learning over being stubborn to stay ignorant and refusing to learn. Pride have no place in learning,"

Harry frowned at that, "You mean they just don't want to learn because they are proud?" He thought about it, "Well...if that's true...I guess they are dunderheads," He looked at the Professor, "I feel sorry you have bad students..."

Prof Snape blinked at him, "And what if I'm a bad teacher?"

Harry stared at him, "Are you?"

Prof Snape sat back, "Maybe,"

Harry smiled, "Then you are a dunderhead too!"

Dad snorted out into laughter at his conclusion. Mum shook her head just as a witch brought over a birthday cake with sparklers. It wasn't a big birthday cake but it was Harry's. Harry's eyes gasped as Mum and Dad, and even Professor, sang him a short birthday song. He always heard Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia sing this song for Dudley. He won't have known his birthday had his aunt and uncle not teased him with how he was unwanted on his birthdays.

Mum hugged him, "Thank you for being born, Harry,"

Harry blinked, tears falling down his cheeks, "I'm good?"

Dad stared at him before smiling softly, "Yes. You're a good boy,"

Harry's lips trembled, "But...my Mama and Papa...they died because of me?"

Mum picked him from his chair and sat him on her lap before hugging, crooning, "Oh, Harry. They died because they loved you. Sometimes, love meant sacrifice. So you must never think like that. Your Mama and Papa will be very sad if they hear you think like that, yes darling?"

Harry sobbed as he clung to Mum, "It's okay that I'm born?"

Mum kissed his head, "More than okay. You're loved, my dear,"

Harry didn't notice Dad's hands clenching into fists under the table despite the smile on his lips, green energy flickering over his gloved fists. He didn't notice Prof Snape staring at him before noticing the tenseness in Dad's seemingly relaxed form. Didn't notice Dad mouthing 'relatives' at the Professor as if it explained everything.

All he felt was love and the feeling of being wanted and belonging.

After his tears of gratefulness dried, Harry eagerly destroyed the cake made just for him and chattering all the things he saw and heard to Prof Snape who looked like he didn't understand why he was still there. He then grabbed the man's hand when they were walking out, wanting him to meet Nanna since Dad said that Nanna missed the Professor.

Dad laughed after him while holding Mum's hand, "Slow down, Harry! Severus have classes to return to!"

Harry gasped in disbelief, "But he just got here!"

Prof Snape tried to pull away, "Your father's right, I have to go,"

Harry pouted, "But it's my birthday-!"

The man looked slightly annoyed, "Young man, just because it's your birthday-,"

"-and you're my friend! Can't you stay longer?" Harry finished what he wanted to say. He stared at the wide eyed look the Professor sent him, "I thought we are friends?"

Mum pulled away from Dad and picked him up, "Perhaps another day? Also, he's not your age, Harry,"

Harry whined, "But he's a people!"

Dad chuckled, "Yes. But he's a big people. He have things and work to go back to. You don't want to give trouble to your friend, do you?" He ruffled Harry's hair, "Say goodbye now,"

Harry burst into tears, his lips wobbling as he reached out to the Professor, "Goodbye, Professor. Promise you visit? I'm sorry I'm being a bad friend,"

The bewildered man accepted the hug before pulling back, "Excuse me,"

Harry had never felt more sad in his life than when he watched his first people friend walk away from their hill. But he understood that his friend was a big man like Dad and that means he have important work to get back to so Harry can't be selfish.

Even though it was his birthday...

Mum and Dad took a while to calm him down. Harry liked his first friend. He's so weird but he's nothing like Dad. He's sort of scary but Dad can be scarier. Besides he still have his head, not like the headless horseman that he sometimes saw outside his window.

When he returned home, he gave Nanna her present; a book he found in the bookstore that looked fun to read together with her. He then regaled her stories about 'the Professor' that working in the big castle. He flapped his arms, "He wore these big black robes and his arms looked like giant bat wings! Do you think he can turn into a giant bat?"

Nanna looked both happy and sad, which was weird, when she heard his stories about 'the Professor', "Oh Harry! I hope you didn't say that to his face. He might be offended!"

Harry gasped, "Oh no! Was I a bad friend, Dad?"

He looked at Dad who just smiled, "Friends can tease each other, Harry. But I think Severus is used to people whispering about him looking like a bat behind his back,"

Harry pouted, "That's not a nice thing to do,"

He'll apologize to 'the Professor' when he saw the man next. In the mean time, he still need to regal Nanna about the adventures he had while in the magic village! He didn't want Nanna to feel left out!

For the next few days, he would ask Dad about 'the Professor' and when they can meet again. But Dad will always tell him that 'the Professor' have classes to attend and he can't just leave the castle whenever. But Harry decided to try and read books on potions so that he have something to talk to 'the Professor' with the next time they meet. He wanted to impress on his friend that he wasn't like his 'dunderhead students' so that when he finally go to Hogwarts where his friend worked, he can be a good student!

Harry have no idea how much he reminded the sad Potion Master of his dear friend. Although he was a boy and she was girl, he have black hair while she had red hair, their eyes haunted him. A letter from Dad will reach him every morning during breakfast, chronicling stories of Harry Potter talking his Nanna's ears off about potions to try and be a 'good student' from 'the Professor'.

He was no dunderhead!

Dad even sent him a short essay on a potion ingredient, saying that Harry was practicing for when he go to Hogwarts, for 'the Professor' to grade. Considering the boy's age, he was gentle in correcting Harry. But that was enough for Harry to start practicing his calligraphy and reading comprehension. He never had a friend that can also be a teacher. His Mum and Dad and Nanna were his teachers but they weren't his friends, they were family. Family is more special than friends!

Still, he felt like a big boy whenever Dad returned his essay with red marks all over by 'the Professor'. He felt like one of the big students in Hogwarts. But he'll prove to his big friend that he'll be better than them!

Harry have no idea what he had started in Hogwarts when Minerva McGonagall saw the adorable short essays he wrote for Severus Snape to grade.

She wanted in.