The Rise of Harry Potter

"This is cold rain."

"It's snow actually. It's called snow when it's white and fluffy like this. It's frozen rain."

Lutain poked his head out of Harry's coat, his small tongue flickering just under Harry's jaw. "Snew?"

"Snow." Harry corrected, teaching Lutain yet another word. Lutain had been a very fast learner - actually suspiciously fast. If it wasn't for the fact that Harry was almost certain that Lutain wasn't a magical species, he would have suspected Lutain had been charmed.

Lutain had grown marginally longer. He had always been of decent length, now he was nearing two feet, which wasn't at all spectacular in the serpent world. He had thickened, something he boasted proudly over since he could now consume large mice.

Winter had come quickly, snow falling just after the end of October and carrying with it the biting chill everyone seemed to hate. The orphanage was not at all insulated against the cold and everyone became as frosty inside as it was outside. Madam Clover was more snappish, David more ruthless, and other children more avoidant. The entire building seemed to whisper of all the strange occurrences, rumors about Harry, ranging from being possessed by demonic beings to the offspring of a cult leader were widespread.

Harry learned that nobody could be trusted and everyone wanted something from you.

(Lutain was the one to point out that by making yourself necessary for everyone else, it secured your position as irreplaceable.)

Harry didn't have warm clothing; he had only what was brought to him. Of course, families donated clothing or money to the orphanage, but that money and the donations went to the other children first, because Harry had the misfortune of Madam Clover's frustration and annoyance.

Not that she could ever actually pin anything on him.

Harry stiffened when he was hit in the back by something cold and wet. Pausing, he could hear the snickers of David and Ralph, boasting likely to the younger children about how great their aim was. Harry heard someone, practically an infant, laugh gleefully as David hit Harry once again.

"Flea-coated rodents." Lutain grumbled, nestling further into Harry's coat to avoid the freezing cold of the melting snow. Harry twitched as a single trail of water slid down under his threadbare jacket and touched his spine.

"What's wrong, little Harry?" David laughed, sauntering over in a jacket not looking that much better, tossing a baseball-sized wad of snow in one hand to the other, "Don't like the cold?"

David snaked his left foot out to whack into Harry's foot. Ralph, having snuck up behind Harry, ran forward to knock into his shoulders. Not anticipating the tag team, Harry's arm windmilled as he yelped and crashed face first into the thin layered snow.

David laughed, posing something which made more of the newcomers laugh wildly.

Harry winced and glared at David who looked suddenly more interested.

"What was that?" David gasped, squatting to try and listen, "Are you trying to say something to me?" He clapped loudly, "Well done! I thought you were mute!"

"I don't have anything to say to someone with your intelligence." Harry grumbled, propping himself upright on his elbows.

David frowned, and promptly knocked Harry's face back into the snow.

"Aw, don't be like that little Harry," His eyes sparkled in amusement, "Are you giving me the cold shoulder?"

"Bite me." Harry hissed out, causing David to frown.

"You're lucky it's winter," David casually mentioned, "If you said that in summer, I bet I could get Clover to think that was a threat against me, with that weird snake that you had." David sniffed, "Creepy thing, I hope it froze."

"Snakes hibernate," Harry dryly pointed out, "I don't think you could convince her that I can suddenly talk to snakes."

"Oh I don't know." David shrugged, his gaze suddenly very intense, "People think a lot of things about you. Supernatural things," his lip twitched, "That you can move things without touching them, or I don't know, push my sister down a flight of stairs."

David looked much too friendly for the conversation to actually be that.

"So!" David chirped, "I just have to protect the rest of all of us from your weirdness and make sure you don't go around messing with my sister."

"Don't play with fire, David," Harry warned, "You'll get burned."

David's expression fell somewhat dark, his one hand moved instinctively to the faint burn scar around his wrist.

"You'll pay for that, Harry."

"You're the one who kisses up to Clover. You have more money than I do." David's nostrils flared and he looked up at Ralph who was waiting for some unagreed signal. He seemed at a loss. "Why don't you just leave me alone for once? You don't want to start something you can't stop."

"Oh shut up." David howled, punching downwards messily.

....

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