This is a Bigger World: A Harry Potter fanfic

CHAPTER 4

*few weeks later* Harry and Joe had moved into the basement of the abandoned building. Harry's dog now had a name, Duffy. Harry thought it fit the dog's personality, and he even looked a little like the bassist, Duff, with the crazy blonde hair on both. Harry liked the name he had chosen. The abandoned basement was slowly being converted into a cosy little home for them. Joe had taken the liberty of going to the suburbs and finding abandoned furniture. He had found a couch, a mattress, and a bookshelf. Harry had stolen more things from the music store and some more money from businessmen. He now had a decent selection of band posters as well as some old clothes that were in the back room. He put all the tapes on the bookshelf, as well as all the food that he could forage. Harry finally had a home that he felt he could live in. The dumpster that Harry had slept in for so many nights was painstakingly hauled over the entrance, so that only Joe or Harry knew how to get in. If you were a guest, then you would just have to be shown. Harry didn't mind living where nobody could find him or Joe.

"Harry! I'm home!" Harry ran to the odd door and gave Joe a huge hug. "Harry, I got it." "You got the job?" "Yup! Your friend Joe is gonna work on a road, and get paid decently to do it." "That's awesome! When do you start?" "Tomorrow, at 5. You might want to train yourself then, or look for some more furniture and stuff. Also, I'll need you to wash the clothes for me." "Ok. That sounds cool." Harry then tilted his head a little. "What's that behind your back, Joe?" Joe then revealed what he had been hiding. It was a tennis ball, and a studded dog collar, with the name Duffy spelled straight on it. "I figured that you should have your very own present, and because you love that damn dog that much..." Joe trailed off when he saw the tears in Harry's eyes. "Joe, nobody has ever given me a present. Ever. My aunt and uncle thought I was a waste of space, and you..." Harry burst out in tears of joy. He had never thought that he would have ever gotten a present from anyone, nor that anyone would love him. Joe's thought was that Harry's relatives must have been far worse than he had originally anticipated. Joe's greatest satisfaction was that the relatives must have not told anyone, so he would be able to protect Harry from any sort of action that went their way. Plus, Harry had similar hair to him, as well as a similar skin tone. You could even see a little bit of a similar face shape and nose shape. It wasn't a perfect match, but if he wanted to, he could claim that Harry was his son. Harry then looked up at Joe. "Thank you," he whispered, Joe's heart breaking.

"Harry, how would you feel about being my son? It may not be a legal adoption, but I can always call you my son." "You mean it?" "Yup. You're the best kid." Harry grinned, he was finally home.

*meanwhile*

Dumbledore was getting impatient. The wards over the Dursley home had finally fallen, they had been deteriorating without Harry there, but then they suddenly shattered. Why, oh, why had he not put a tracking charm on Harry when he was younger, why? Now, wherever Harry was, he still had his mother's protection and love, but he still was somewhere in the streets. Dumbledore decided to pay a visit to the Dursley family.

When three knocks sounded on the door, Petunia Dursley quickly smoothed her hair and dried her hands. It would not do if she were to seem unkempt, especially around visitors. When she opened the door, there stood a white-bearded man that she had not seen since the time that her sister went off to that school. "Hello, Petunia." "Get out of my house! Vernon, it's one of the little freaks kind!" Dumbledore stood in the doorway, only slightly shocked at this reaction. "Petunia, we must talk about Harry and his well being. He seems to have run off." "Damn right he ran off. And on my little Dudder's birthday too. He was supposed to make the meal and the cake, and he completely ruined it all. I had to run to the bakery and take Dudder's out to a restaurant!" "Mrs. Dursley, we want to return Harry to you so that you could take care of him, nothing more, nothing less." "You can't make me take him back! He is worthless, and is a waste of space and money! He never was good for anything, and the only thing he was needed for was the work around the house!" Dumbledore stepped back. Yes, the chosen one was abused, but he had put compulsion charms, the compulsion charms! "Petunia, I am leaving now, and I will find Harry for you." "Out! Now! Don't bring it back!" Dumbledore left to the porch and appearated away, ready to take the next step in attempting to return Harry to his loving relatives.