Date: Sat, 06 Jul 2002 02:47:07 +0000 From: chris lerman Subject: Me and Percy [Disclaimer: This story is fiction and is also based from the Harry Potter books where some characters are pure out of my own creation I have no idea as if any of the characters depicted here really are gay or straight and in now linked with Schoolastic or J.K. Rowling's original Harry Potter books or characters.] Me and Percy Chapter 1 My name's Mike Roberts and today's my 17th birthday. I am 5'8, 175 Lbs not slim and yet not stocky and I just know how to eat well and take care of myself. I have light brown hair and blue eyes. I am not a major sports fan but I do very well for a boy my age in school and I actually like school and learning new things. I am an avid theatre fan and since my family lives in New York City I manage to go to the theatre whenever I am able to get the funds whether it be after school jobs or summer jobs and the great thing was that my 17th birthday fell on the last day of school for the summer so it all works out well for me. I have one older brother named Danny and he is the coolest big brother anyone could have. He is 26 and he always makes time for me and he always made me feel wanted when he was with his friends or by ourselves. I love him a lot and I don't know what I'd do without him. Danny is 6 foot tall and he weighs a little more then I do around 180lbs because unlike me Danny works out at the gym whenever he has the time. Danny is engaged to be married to a girl who he happened to meet at school and I like her and know that she will make Danny very happy. Danny and I were both born and raised in New York City and Danny made sure that I learned my way around at a very early age. He also took me to the theatre when he could and those times I really valued not just because he was special but because only Danny knew the deepest secret I had and that was I was gay. I had only come out to Danny and thank God he accepted me and loved me no matter what and he told me that he had many gay friends and that if I ever wanted to tell mom and dad he would be there behind me every step of the way. You can not ever ask for a better brother then Danny, he also was to help me through a very dark time in both our lives but I will get to that point later in my story. Mom and Dad are another story altogether. My mother Diane Harriet Roberts is in her late forties. I never really focused on ages in our family other then Danny and myself. Mom is a high-class lawyer in a very distinguished Law Firms in the city and yet ever since Danny and I were born she made time for both work and for us also. Mom is 5'8 with very beautiful blonde hair and dazzling blue eyes like mine and I guess that I got mom's eyes and dad's brown hair. When Mom had Danny she was just getting started with Law and she was a stay at home mother while dad went off to work. Once Danny was old enough to go to Day Care mom hired a housekeeper and went back to work until I came along. I do not even know if I was even meant to be but I guess Mom loved me just as much since she really spoiled me when I was little and not that I was ungrateful and she never overdid it but as I got older I began to notice that maybe mom wasn't so happy in her life since mom had to leave all her family behind in New England where Mom was born and brought up. I guess she loved my dad for her to take that sacrifice and to move to another place and make a new life for herself and her family. I never knew either set of my grandparents and with mom's brothers and sisters spread all over the country we never really saw much of them. I know that I was loved by mom, dad, and by Danny and that was just fine with me. My dad is the greatest man I have ever known and my best friend besides Danny. My father, Daniel Morris Roberts. Dad is also in his late forties and stands about 6'1 a bit taller then Danny, he has brown hair like mine, and brilliant green eyes, dad also works out and keeps himself fit and also watches what he eats and I admire him for that. I to this day have not figured out what he does as far as work is concerned it has always been hush-hush and even mom when I ask her even side-steps the topic. I always have loved my dad and he does things with Danny and I we go to the movies and have pop corn fights, we go to ball games, and I loved when I was little just being held by my dad and that I felt that nothing could ever hurt me. I was told that my very first word was either Daddy or Da Da. Whatever it was I know that my dad is very proud of me and has always been there for me when I needed him and it helped especially when Danny was away at boarding school which I never knew where it was or what he did there but I would soon find that out. I have this feeling that mom, dad, and Danny have been keeping something from me all my life. This was the one birthday that would stick in my mind all of my life for it is also the time that I learned who and what I was and I am not talking about being gay either, but another thing that was really bothering me was the fact that Dad has been working quite a lot and was hardly ever home. That was very strange and even Danny agreed with me and so I decided to ask mom flat out what was going on but she would not say anything and when a parent does not tell you what is really going on it is very irritating. I have noted that there have been times when late at night I heard them fighting and I used to feel quite alone and frightened when that happened. Danny and I shared a room back when I was younger and when we heard them fighting and I would start crying, Danny would come over to my bed and just hold me and rock me and tell me that everything will be ok and those were the times I actually knew that it would be all right and that things will work out and that we all could be one happy family. Things do not always work out the way we want them to though! As I said earlier I am very bright and I got very good grades and I was a model student that every teacher would love to have. I was not smug or over confident and I was modest and wasn't a bragger. I know that if you are a brain you will be snubbed and not have any friends at all. I did not really have that many friends except for one girl who was in my class and in the same year I was. Her name is Katie Bell and we have known one another since we were babies since our parents were friends. But mine and Katie's bond was much stronger then our parents and Katie also knew I was gay and she was the second person I came out to besides Danny. Katie is about my height with raven black hair and blue eyes. She is very bright and loving and everything you could wish and hope for in a friend and we shared everything and were always there for one another if we needed help with homework, or personal problems or just kicking around and having fun. Katie also loved the theatre and I loved going to see shows and going to museums and other places of culture with her and that is what a friend is for to help you get through the good and bad times in your life. Katie's parents were divorced and it was tough on her since she was an only child but I helped her deal with things by just being there for her and I only hoped that what Katie was going through never happened to me and Danny. My story basically starts on my 17th birthday and the day began quite normally. I woke up and got ready to go to school and this was the last day before the summer holidays were to start. I knew that tonight was going to be an annual thing where my parents took me to dinner and to see a Broadway show for my birthday and that was something to look forward to! The morning was sunny and bright as I got ready. I made my bed, brushed my teeth, took a shower, got dressed, ate breakfast, and met Katie to walk the 3 blocks to the High School. I loved these walks because we were able to be as goofy as we wanted or as serious as we wanted to be. The day seemed to just breeze by and so when the bell rang at the end of the day, I went to meet Katie. I was really on top of the world and feeling very happy as we walked home laughing and talking about what we were going to do for my birthday. We got to our building and since Katie lives on the same floor as I do it is easy for us to see each other. I asked her to come in but she had to do some last minute things for her mother and so I said good-bye and walked into our apartment. We live in a decent apartment that Dad had been given by his work since it was close to where both mom and dad worked, and it was close to the school and things like that. Mom did not like it as much as Dad had wanted her to, but she had made the effort to make it her own as well as dad's. Danny and I had grown up here so it was full of good memories for us but I am not sure about mom. Earlier that morning before I left for school as I said good-bye to my mom I overheard her talking to someone on the phone but I did not have the time to find out who it was since I was in a hurry to meet Katie. "Mom, I'm home." I yelled as I let myself in with my key. "I'm in the kitchen making dinner and could you bring me the mail for me." "Sure thing" I yelled back and I bent down to pick up the mail and shifted through it. There were 2 bills, some junk mail and a heavy envelope addressed to me in bright green ink and as I turned it over I noticed a seal with the name "HogWarts" on it and I wondered what it was as I walked into the kitchen and got my usual snack which is cut up celery and carrot sticks. "Here's the mail mom! " I yelled as I put the bills and junk mail on the table. I kissed my mom on the cheek. "Happy 17th dear." "Thanks mom, why are you making dinner mom? Aren't we going out to eat and then to see a show? Where's Dad?" "He's working late again Mike. He will not be able to make it tonight and I have had a very tough day in court and so what I did was try to figure a way that it will not spoil your birthday so I made a special surprise happen and it is waiting for you in your room." Mom saw my face register hurt but then when she called out "Ready...now mike close your eyes." "Why Mom?" "Just close them." I closed my eyes and then I heard a very familiar voice say "Happy birthday Squirt" it was Danny! So that was whom mom was talking to on the phone this morning and it all made sense to me. "Danny, what are you doing home?" "Well, Mike I would not miss my baby brother's birthday and also I got it so that I can spend the whole summer here at home with you and mom and dad." I was overjoyed! Spending the whole entire summer with Danny and what fun we would have just like the old times! Mom asked me what I had in my hand and I showed her the envelope and then she got a mix of happiness and yet shocked look in her face and when Danny saw the envelope he also looked like he was ready to bust with joy but yet with some tension in his eyes. I just sat there looking very confused. "Mom... Danny what is going on and why are you reacting this way? It is just a letter... isn't it?" "Mike...I think that this is as good a time for you to learn the truth about things and I am not even sure I should do this on my own. Maybe we should wait for your father to get home." "Mom I want to know what it is you have to tell me and if it concerns me I have a right to know what it is." I stated. "Open the letter first and read the first few lines Mike." She said. I opened the envelope and took out the heavy parchment and began reading the first few lines of my letter. "Dear Mr. Roberts you have been accepted into HogWarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...Mom, what does this mean?" I said, puzzled "Mike...dear... you are a wizard and so is Danny, your father and I am a Witch." She said. I was stunned to say the least. "I am a WHAT? WHY DID YOU KEEP IT FROM ME ALL THIS TIME?" "Mike please don't shout and I know it is quite a shock to find out this way and we were going to tell you when you turned 18 but the letter came sooner then we thought. I think you will make a fine wizard. What do you think Danny?" she said. "I think you will make the family proud squirt." Danny said. So mom and Danny filled me in on all the secrets that I was not even aware of and I also found out that dad works for a place called The Ministry of Magic and that there were branches all over the world. Danny also worked for the Ministry also but doing something completely different. Dad's field was in Muggle (Non Magic Folk) Studies and Danny was in Communications and that Danny also had gone to HogWarts and had graduated from there. Then came the shock of finding out that Katie also was a witch and that she had known but had kept it a secret also from me. I felt very hurt that for 17 years of my life that this secret was kept from me. I tried to find some sort of anchor to make everything make sense. Mom then pointed out one of the perks was that Katie also had been accepted into HogWarts and that I would know at least someone who would be there and that I would not be lost. All this coming from my mother just at this point did not really seem the type of thing that I really wanted to hear and to think that at the beginning of the day I had been very excited about turning 17, and that I was going to do the one thing I loved best that I have been looking forward to. Now that this bomb had been dropped on me. I just sat there trying to fathom all this information and just at that moment the phone rang and my mother went to answer it. When she said "Mike, it's Katie and she wants to talk to you..." I cut my mom off by bursting into tears and running into mine and Danny's room and slammed the door and flung myself onto my bed sobbing. "Danny, did I make a mistake by not telling Mike the truth way back when we should have?" mom asked Danny with tears in her eyes. "Mom I think that it is great that Mike has been accepted into the school but this is all too sudden and I think that he is going to need time to get used to the idea. I am going to talk to him and I know that all will be ok Mom. I know Mike will be all right." "I certainly hope so darling." Mom went back to cooking dinner as Danny left the kitchen to come into our room and while I was lying on my bed sobbing I felt Danny sit down on the bed and began to stroke my hair to calm me down like he used to do when we were kids. "You ok Mikey?" I hadn't heard Danny use that nickname for me in a long time so I know that he was really worried about me. "H-h-how long have you known about this Danny?" "I knew all along and as far back as I could remember. But bear in mind I was first and started showing signs before I could even walk and then when my letter came mom and dad had told me on my 11th birthday. I got used to the idea and it is a wonderful thing, Mikey. Yes I know it has been a shock with everything going on right now but I am here for the whole entire summer and we will spend it together. I want to really make it up to you that tonight was spoiled so I spoke to Katie and she has managed to get all three of us tickets to see The Lion King. We are going out to eat and celebrate your 17th and also your coming of age into the wizarding world." "How did Katie manage to get tickets to Lion King?" I asked Danny raising my head from the pillow. All he did was give me a grin and said "Don't worry. Now I want you to rest a bit and I will make sure that you are not woken up. I really am sorry that your birthday evening was spoiled." "I don't care about that I am just very happy to see you Danny and I am glad that you are my brother...I love you so very much." "I love you also Mikey." He then tucked me into bed like he used to do and then stayed with me until I drifted off to sleep and then left to go into the kitchen to help mom. A few hours later I was woken up to a soft rapping on my bedroom door and heard Katie's voice. "Mike...are you ok? May I come in?" I raised my head and called softly out, "Sure Katie, come on in." The door opened and Katie came in and gently sat down on my bed and gave me this comical look and she was trying to stifle an acute fit of the giggles. "What's wrong?" "Nice case of bed head ya got there sweetie." I looked at my bedroom table mirror and saw that my hair was all tousled and messed up from sleeping. I began looking like I was going to just break out into the giggles also but then I realized what had been happening the last couple of hours and I began to feel the tears coming back again. Katie saw this instantly and she looked at me and then asked me, "How are you really doing Mikey?" I looked at her and paused for a few seconds and then spoke. "Let's see how am I doing? On my 17th Birthday I find out that my family and my best friend have kept something from me all my life and that I am supposed to just pick up and go to a strange school that up until now I have never heard of and that today which should have been something to celebrate and has now turned into something. I just don't know what to really think and what with the problems here at home that nobody but me and Danny seem to see how do you think I am feeling?" Katie looked at me with one of her best Katie "looks" that I have come to know over my entire friendship with her and she just gave me a huge hug and I knew she was trying to get me to cheer up and look at the good and not the bad with this situation that we were really both involved in. "I know that this is a HUGE shock to you finding out this way and all and I know that I should have said something but your parents and also mine told me that I shouldn't say anything to you. It just tore me up but I knew it was all for the best and that it would turn out all right which it turns out so far it has. I mean we've both been accepted into the best school for our kind in the entire world." "I just hate to pick up and leave in Junior Year with only 2 years to graduate here and now having 7 years to go through that again. Doesn't it make you feel bad to just pick up and leave a place you've known all your life?" I said. "But we're not picking up and never coming back. We will be home for vacations and they are very great with special family events as well. This is our time mikey and we have to make it the greatest time in our life since we are only young once. I know that maybe you will even find yourself the perfect partner since I know you have never had one before." I had to admit that Katie was right. In her own magical way she had managed to make me feel better about this. I asked her "How did you manage to get tickets to Lion King?" "I have connections and don't you worry about that." "Come on Katie fess up." "Ok I met this really CUTE guy on the train a few days ago and it just so happens he is in his first and last year in the show since he is going to HogWarts also. I will introduce you when we are there at the show but I wanted it to be a surprise and but the joy when I found out he was also one of our kind." She said. "Our kind? Why does everyone refer to "OUR KIND"?" I asked Katie. "Our kind is a term for people who are witches and wizards and normal every day people are considered to be called "human beings." I interjected just hating the term Muggle and Mortal since I did a lot of tv that had anything that had to do with fantasy and magic in it . I never had ever heard of the term Muggle before but I would have to get used to it so Katie told me. "Let's go out and celebrate with Danny." Katie said to me. "Just give me a few minutes to get ready." I got up and took a shower, changed and then me, Katie, and Danny all went out to dinner and a movie and an ice cream sundae. I had a very good evening for my 17th Birthday. My brother and Katie made everything that happened earlier that day bearable for me to at least begin to adapt to it. We went to dinner to The Olive Garden in Times Square and me and Katie shared a green salad and a dish with sea food with noodles and we both had an ice tea and Danny had a green salad but he went with the Broiled fish with garden veggies and he had an ice tea also. "Danny, how is Angela doing?" I asked while we were waiting for the food to arrive at our table. "She's doing well Mikey but she couldn't make it since she is getting ready for the wedding and Mikey she is also a..." he said. "Don't tell me she is a witch also?" I asked. "Yup, the best choice I ever made with Angie and one day soon you'll meet the right guy Mikey" he said. "I sure hope so," I said. We ate and laughed and Danny and Katie filled me in on some of the things that were part of the wizarding world and I must say that it was very interesting. I was also happy that Danny and Katie had found someone that they were happy with in the relationship department. I was still hoping that someone would just come my way and make me just as happy. We then went and saw "The Importance of Being Earnest" and I liked it but Katie and Danny had trouble with the plot and some of the lines. Afterrwards we all decided to go for an ice cream sundae so while we were sitting and eating our ice cream, I explained the movie and the line between the actual play and the film. Since it was only 10 30pm on a warm Friday we ended the evening with a Handsome Cab ride through Central Park. Danny and Katie would not let me pay for anything that night since it was MY birthday and I was so happy when we said good night to Katie. I hugged her and told her I would talk to her in the morning and thanked her again for the wonderful evening and that she was able to spend it with me "What are friends for?" she said. I was so lucky and knew it to have a friend like Katie. Danny and I let ourselves into the apartment and it was quiet and it looked like mom had gone to bed. I was getting ready for bed when Danny walked into our bedroom from the bathroom. "It looks like dad's home and that their light is still on." He said. I did not know what that meant. Normally they were in bed by this time and as I walked to the washroom to brush my teeth I heard mom and dad fighting in their bedroom. When I came out I heard dad's voice saying, "I can't believe you did not even wait for me to get home before you told him." Mom said, "What did you want me to do? Besides I never know when you are going to be home and I had Danny and he helped by telling Mike-" "That is not the point. The time that Mike was to know we had both said that we would tell him together" Dad said. "Well I am sorry that I went over on our agreement." I had had enough I ran back into our bedroom and looked very upset and very scared and Danny instantly noticed this. "What's wrong Mikey" he got up and walked over to me. He took my hand and led me to the bed as I was just barely able to get out what I had heard, which was something in all my life I never heard mom and dad do and that was argue. I knew the problems Katie went through dealing with this exact problem. "Mom and Dad...they were fighting...they were really fighting and angry with one another." I said in a very small voice trying to hold back the tears and the fear but I could not hide my emotions from Danny. "Let it out Mikey...it's ok." He said The tears started flowing down my cheeks and Danny was right there. "Shhhhh just let it out it is ok I am here for you Baby brother...I know that mom and dad were having trouble but I just did not know how bad it really was getting." "You knew and you did not even tell me?" "I wanted to not believe it myself mikey and I wanted to also believe that things would be all right." "It WILL BE ALL RIGHT!" I managed to scream out and burying my face into Danny's chest. "I hope that you are right Mikey but we have to be able to be there for both of them if they ever do need us" "I-I-I'm scared," I sobbed and Danny then took me into his warm and strong protecting arms and again I was back in my childhood where Danny was there to protect me from harm. No matter what would happen Danny and I had to stick together and that we had to be strong for both Mom and Dad and also for ourselves. "Danny would you sing me to sleep like you used to do?" I asked. "Of course Mikey," and he climbed into bed with me and rocked me in his arms and started singing and stroking my hair until I went to sleep. Before I closed my eyes I said to Danny, "I love you Danny." "I love you too Mikey" and he kissed me on the top of my head and then fell asleep next to me. I awoke the next morning to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and then smells of all my favorite breakfast foods being prepared for my birthday breakfast and when I sat up in bed I noticed that Danny was just finishing getting dressed and had been up for awhile and just had let me sleep "Good Morning Sleepyhead" Danny said as he came over and ruffled my hair in a playful way like he used to do when I was little. "What time is it?" I said halfway through yawning "almost 11am and Mom has been making you a special birthday breakfast and I have been helping" he said in his most proudest tone of voice but yet not to overact and I looked at him with love and admiration and hoped that when I got to be his age that I would be able to make him as proud of me as he was of me. "Boys, Time for Breakfast" Mom called from the Kitchen and so we went into the kitchen and there was Dad drinking his coffee and smiling at me and I knew that maybe last night was just in my mind and that there was nothing to worry about..."Happy birthday Squirt" Dad said and he got up and gave me a hug and then I noticed that there was a small pile of gifts set up in the corner and I eyed them with such excitement but my mom saw this and she said "First sit down and have your breakfast and then you can open your presents" it was a breakfast fit for a king there were all my favorite things to eat Mom had really put a lot into this meal there was freshly squeezed Orange Juice and freshly brewed coffee, Scrambled Eggs with Bacon, Ham, and Sausage, Waffles with Syrup, Corn Beef Hash, Rye Toast with Jam, and an assortment of fresh fruit and berries with whipped cream and I loved every moment of that whole meal and Dad had decided that I was to learn the joys of drinking coffee and so at the end of the meal when I could not be any more stuffed Dad said "Mike I think you are old enough to experience your first cup of coffee" I stared at him with my mouth wide open "Dad, do you really mean that?" I asked with hopes that he was going to say yes and then he said "Your Mother and I talked it over and we think that you are growing up and so you are ready for it" I looked at Danny this time with a proud manner and accepted the cup of hot steaming coffee and I added a cream and a sugar to it and slowly took a sip and it was wonderful and I knew instantly that I liked coffee and I said "Thank you both for thinking I am ready to drink this stuff" "It wouldn't be natural if one male in this family didn't" Danny said with a huge grin on his face and we all laughed at this. It was great to have dad home even if it meant for whatever time he was with us for as he explained that the Ministry could always call and need him at any time and since he was in charge of his branch he had to go and when I was little I used to hope that I would have him be able to stay home and take care of me and since Mom was always working she never really had enough time to really spend with me as she had had with Danny and that is where my father decided to work from home so he could take care of me until I was old enough to go off to Day Care and I loved spending time just him and me and those were some of the most happiest memories of my childhood and I did know that both mom and dad loved me both equally but I had a stronger bond with dad then I had with mom. "Now is it time for presents" I asked "Yes, it is time for presents my mom said and so we moved into the living room and I sat down on the couch and took an envelope from the coffee table "Those are the tickets for the show" Danny told me and I knew it was from Katie and reminded myself to thank her when we saw her later in the afternoon for the evening out, "This is from your Father and Me" my mother said as she picked up a cage gently from the floor which was covered in a brightly colored cloth and I began to take the cloth off slowly and then I heard a hooting type sound coming from the cage and inside there was a beautiful white snowy Owl gently hooting "It's Beautiful but how come I got an Owl for a pet?" I wondered "We got you an owl for when you go to School and since it says that you may bring either a toad, or a cat, or an owl we thought that an owl would be an excellent choice" "but why would I need an owl for school?" "Because that is the way you send mail and parcels back and forth from Hogwarts back home and vice versa" Danny told me and it seemed a wonderful idea for Owl Post and I knew Katie had an owl and she named hers "Snow Drop" "what are you going to name her" mom and dad both asked me "I think that I will name her "Willow" Do you like that name girl?" I asked her and she replied with a gentle nibble on my finger which meant that she liked me and that she trusted me and so I took her out of her cage and began gently stroking her soft feathers and it seemed that she like that because she was gently hooting so I put her back in her cage. I then proceeded with the last and final present which was from Danny "I did not really know what to get you and so I decided to make you something instead" and when I opened it there was a book that looked like a photo album and on the cover there was a picture of Danny holding me as a baby and the things was it was moving "the pictures are moving? Pictures do not move? Do they?" "Mikey, in the Wizarding world things work a lot differently then they do in the real world and so I decided to put together an album with pictures of you growing up that I was a part of and that way you have something to always remember me by when you are lonely or sad or even scared and you can just look at your album and know I am thinking about you even though I am not always there with you" "I love it Danny!" I threw my arms around my brother in a thank you hug and I knew that he saw I was pleased with his gift. I had a decent birthday with my gifts and the hope that things could work themselves out with my parents. Later that day while waiting for Katie to get ready to pick Danny and me up so that we could go for dinner before the show. I was lying on my bed while watching Willow get used to her new surroundings when Danny walked in from the bathroom to tell me that I could use it and as I walked to the bathroom I heard the phone ring and Dad answer it as I came back from taking my shower I heard Mom and Dad fighting again this time about Dad being called into the Ministry to do some heavy paperwork on a case and that he will not be home for the rest of the weekend except only to eat and sleep...so much for the family weekend we were supposed to have and this proceeded the whole summer but yet there were good and there were bad moments between my parents and Danny and I tried to just have the best summer we could have since this was the last time for awhile I would get to see Danny with him going back to work and me going off to school. Katie came over around five in the afternoon which gave us some time before the show which was at eight that night, "whoa, Katie you sure do look beautiful and all for this mystery person I'll bet" I said with a grin "I really do like what you are wearing Sweetie and I am sure you will be very well behaved when I introduce you to Dean later tonight" Dean, so that was his first name and I thought that this may not be such a bad thing for Katie to have actually find someone she is really interested in, and when Danny came out he looked very handsome and I was very proud that he was my big brother. "Let's get going so we have time to enjoy our meal" Katie said "Bye Mom, Bye Dad see you later if you're still awake" "Bye Boys, Katie have fun tonight" my mom called back. And we left the apartment and proceeded to the theatre district. We went to the Olive Garden again for dinner since it was close and also my all time favorite place to eat. Katie and I shared and Danny got his own meal we laughed and had a great time and then went to the theatre to get our seats since we only had a few minutes left to spare but since the theatre was only a 3 minute walk it did not bother us. The show was fantastic and I loved every minute of it and then at Intermission we met Dean Thomas an ensemble member who was actually with the show only a few months but was going to HogWarts with Katie and I . Katie was hooked and I was so glad to see her smile and have that twinkle in her eye and knew that Dean was the right guy for her. Katie had Dean, Danny had Angelina when was I going to find my special someone I wondered and you know it's really funny how fate works because you never know when good things are going to happen to you. After the show we waited for Dean to change and meet us and then we went to a local Karioke bar that Katie and I knew of and had the best time while just acting goofy and singing and even Danny joined the fun, what a great end to a perfect evening out. When we got home and said goodnight to Katie, we then stumbled into our bedroom and got ready for bed. Danny had given me a photo that someone had taken of the three of us and I placed it into my photo album that Danny got me for my birthday. When we got ready to bed Danny climbed into bed with me and we lay there cuddling together "Did you have a good 17th Birthday Squirt?" "Oh, Yes Danny!" I breathed with contentment and Danny gave me a hug "I'm really glad I was able to get off work for the summer to come visit and spend time with you" "I know and I am grateful Danny, I just wish mom and dad would be all right" "They will be Mikey, I just do not know when and even if but things will work out and I always will have time for you and I do hope you know that" "I know Danny and I do and I love you so much Danny and I am so proud to have you as my big brother" I yawned as I said this and Danny had replied while ruffling my hair and tucking me into bed "I am also very proud that you are my little brother and I love you so very much and I am so very proud of you also" and I fell asleep and Danny quietly got up and kissed my forehead and said "I love you Baby Brother...Happy 17th" and he went to bed and fell asleep. Over the Summer Danny and I did a lot together we went swimming, boating in Central Park, went to movies with Dad, went to Ball Games with Dad when he found the time, we went to the theatre, and we also got to spend lots of time with Katie and Dean and got to learn all about who he was and we both knew Katie was floating on air and they would be together for a very long time as I had said earlier fate works for all of us very differently. Mom and Dad's relationship had it's ups and downs over the course of the summer and it worried Danny and myself that things were very upside down and we knew that we had some rocky roads ahead but Danny had told me that he would always be there for me when I needed him and that gave me comfort in my mind but that did not mean I was not scared or worried but as I said Danny was there and was going to be there for this summer so we could deal with any problems together. I also had trained Willow to come to me when she heard my voice and rewarded her with table scraps and she would respond with a loving gentle nip on my finger and that in turn made her happy as it made me. One day towards the end of the summer Danny and I packed a picnic lunch and went to Central Park for the day and we took a boat ride across the lake, went to the Petting Zoo, and had our Picnic lunch and while we were sitting on the blanket admiring the boats going by, we also were feeding the ducks which as a little kid I had loved doing with Danny this was something we did just he and I together. Danny had over the last few weeks had been talking to me and telling me things about HogWarts so as to prepare me for what I was going to experience and wanted me to be ready to handle whatever came my way. Danny explained about Owl Post and how it worked and the ways to take care of Willow, he told me about The Sorting Hat Ceremony and how you get sorted into the 4 Houses that you will be living in while at school and they are Gryfindor, HufflePuff, RavenClaw, and Slytherin. Danny was in Gryfindor and he talked about how things worked with the wizarding sport of Quidditch, he talked about how open they are at HogWarts and that they have a fair number of gay students but yet some people did not like or even agree with it, he talked about the ways of transportation by way of BroomStick or Floo Powder but first year students were not allowed their own broomstick and had to use the ones the school provided, and finally he told me about Diagon Alley which I found to be the most wonderful and fantastic places ever and this is where wizards and witches were able to get whatever they needed and not just the students but grown up witches and wizards also frequented Diagon Alley also. We talked all the way home and by the time we got home it was time for supper but Mom was working late so we were on our own but she had left money for Pizza and videos so we invited Katie and we watched movies and had Pizza and Cola and then around 11pm Katie went home and Danny and I went off and got ready for bed. That night in bed we had a talk about what was going on "Are you really ok Squirt?" "No,...I think so, I'm worried Danny what if I go off to school and mom and dad can't fix things and they get a divorce?" I asked with tears in my eyes, Danny rushed over and gave me a warm hug and told me that if that ever happened he wouldn't let me go through that alone if I ever needed him just send Willow with a letter and he would be there for me no matter what it takes "Baby Brother, we'll be fine and I want you to concentrate and focus on school and all the fun you are going to have and I have some good news we are going to go to Diagon Alley in the morning to get your school supplies and I know you are going to love that." "Really?" I asked my eyes wide with wonder and excitement "Yup, but we have to get some sleep in order to get an early start" "I love you Danny and I am very proud that you are my big brother and I am very proud of you." "I am also very proud of you sweetie and I love you so very much and I will stay with you till you fall asleep and then I will go back to my bed" "Danny will you sing to me?" "Of course I will Baby Brother" and so Danny sang me to sleep while gently stroking my hair and I lulled off into dreamland and dreamed about the joys and wonders that awaited me in Diagon Alley as I fell asleep little did I know that I would soon find the love of my life and experience the good and the bad times but little did we both know that we would find one another in Diagon Alley. [That is the end of Chapter 1 and I hope you all liked it and I love to hear how you like the story and if any ideas could help make this a great story please e mail me at chris_lerman@hotmail.com and I will gladly get back to you and I also love positive feedback since you authors know what it is like to post your very first story here on Nifty.]