Date: Sat, 06 Jul 2002 02:47:07 +0000
From: chris lerman <chris_lerman@hotmail.com>
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.]