Twins: A Different Life

The Ride to Hogwarts

It took Harry more effort than he cared to admit to get up off his bed and put his things away.

He had briefly forgotten that there was no house-elf to do it for him. Usually, when he went shopping, his belongings were left in the main area of his rooms to be put away while he went to lunch, dinner, or lessons. Aressa was there to hiss soothingly to him, and he reminded her that she would have to stay hidden around the Potters.

One of the things Merlin repeatedly reminded him of was that people viewed the gift of Parseltongue as an evil and dark trait. Harry was still outraged by that, especially since Merlin wouldn't tell him why—something about needing to do his research.

He was about to continue reading his new potions texts, now even more eager to learn potions with the teacher revealed, when there was a knock at the door, and his mother's voice drifted through.

"Harry, it's time for dinner." He mentally sighed, dragging himself away from potions and down to the dining room.

Harry didn't say a word throughout dinner, though he did watch and listen to the interactions of the others. The main topic of conversation, to Harry's great disgust, was his sister, and it was basically a retelling of how great she was. And he had been called arrogant? Circe almighty!

He didn't even finish his meal; the food left much to be desired, and he felt his intelligence fading the longer he stayed. So, he rose to his feet, planning to escape to his bedroom when Lily stopped him.

"Why don't you stay down here with us for a bit?" she suggested. "It would allow us all to get to know each other."

"Why would I want to do that?" Harry replied, confused. "I am not the one who decided I should be removed from my original family simply because it was decided one child was better than the other."

He eyed the three of them disdainfully and then swept out of the room, not giving them a chance to respond. He missed Lily's shoulders drooping, not that he cared much, as she murmured to her husband.

"I knew this wouldn't work."

"I told you, Lils, he'll adjust," James assured, with an underlying layer of steel in his voice.

Lily sank back into her chair, her hands coming up to cover her face as she took a few deep breaths. She didn't care what James said; deep within her gut, she knew that Harry would never accept them as his family. It was much too late for that, and she felt they deserved it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Time skip brought to you by Lily's common sense ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry had never resented being right as much as he did at that moment. Two weeks was an exceedingly long time, and by the time September 1st arrived, he was ready to give up and find his own way back to the Founders' time.
He had been forced to hibernate in his somewhat dingy room for most of the week, which had completely disrupted his normal routine. He ventured out only to explore the alley and to confront his family to ask a few questions he couldn't answer himself. The most pressing being when he would be reintroduced to Sirius and Remus.
Harry was stunned and worried when he was sharply and curtly informed that the House of Potter did not associate with families like the House of Black. When he pointed out that their grandmother was a Black, his father glared at him until he left the room; Harry found that amusing. However, he was very confused; he didn't know what to expect when he finally met his godfather and uncle again.

Merlin had assured him that they cared deeply for him, and Harry had felt nothing but love and longing from the bond that Merlin had opened. However, they were no longer in contact with the Potters. Did that include him as well? He would have to wait for them to approach him, just in case. If they did, he would latch on to them with both hands.