"Oh for goodness' sake! HARRY - what's the matter with you? You've been falling asleep in classes, you've been running off by yourself and you have terrible circles under your eyes. That's not good if you want to pass Third Year!"

"Yeah! And mate, you've got to be on the lookout! Everyone knows Sirius Black is after you. What if he shows up one day and you're all wonky? You wouldn't have a chance! Besides, you've got to be in shape for Quidditch!"

"Even Professor Lupin wouldn't let you face the boggart that day in class. Speaking of, I wonder why he's afraid of a glowing ball…"

"Nevermind that Hermione," Harry interjected quickly, "Besides, Professor Lupin thought my boggart would be Voldemort -" he ignored the sharp gasps from the two Gryffindors, "- and he didn't want to terrify the class."

"Don't say his name!" Ron hissed. Harry rolled his eyes as the Golden Trio came to a stop in front of a massive crowd along the corridor towards Gryffindor Tower. Harry looked around and spotted Fred standing with Angelina. He waved them over.

"What's going on?" Harry asked Fred, who furrowed his brows in confusion and shrugged. Angelina was trying to peer over all the heads.

"I don't know Harry. I think Katie's in front, maybe she knows..."

"Maybe Neville's forgotten the password again -" Ron joked meanly.

"Oi!"

Ron spun around to see Neville glaring at him, "Oh oops, sorry mate."

Ginny suddenly pushed her way through the crowd, "The Fat Lady! She's gone!"

"What?"

There was a swift movement of students behind them as the Headmaster, Filch and Percy Weasley pushed their way through the crowd, "Move! Excuse me! The Headmaster is coming through!"

Filch and Percy shoved people aside roughly, allowing Dumbledore to glide past towards the portrait of The Fat Lady. Harry peeped from behind Fred, whom he'd been shoved behind.

There were deep long gouges ripping the portrait apart, like claws had carved into them in rage. Dumbledore whirled around to Filch, his glittery yellow robes billowing. The maddening twinkle in his eye had vanished, leaving behind a cold facade.

"Send the ghosts on a search, we must find the Fat Lady."

"No need, Headmaster," Filch croaked, a gnarled, leathery finger rising up to point, "She's over there."

There was a huge stampede as everyone who'd congregated in the hallway shifted and pushed towards where Filch had pointed. Dumbledore ignored all of this and simply allowed himself to be led to a painting of a rather large hippopotamus.

"Dear Lady, who has done this to you?" He asked softly, comfortingly. All Harry could see was that he was digging for answers, and that being comforting was merely being polite.

"It's him! Sirius Black!" She screamed in terror, and dived behind the hippopotamus again. There was a pin-drop silence... and then an immediate outbreak of shrieks and screams and tears.

"Percy," Dumbledore said gravely, "Alert all the Prefect and Professors. Bring all the students to the Great Hall at once."

"Yes sir!" And he ran off.

Harry could barely blink before Fred grabbed him. Fred jogged him all the way to the Great Hall amongst the throng of students, avoiding Ron and Hermione's calls and shouts to wait. They met George and Ginny in the Hall, and Ginny instantly took his hand. He could see Ron and Hermione looking for him, but he couldn't deal with them now. He knew all they would do was ask and question and talk about Sirius Black, and that was the last thing Harry wanted to do tonight.

The four of them dragged their sleeping bags to a corner near the Professors' table, avoiding Ron and Hermione. He caught Vince's eye across the hall and Vince gave him an imperceptible nod. Harry felt strangely comforted. Ron and Hermione were moving closer to where Harry was, sleeping bags on hand under the pretence of finding a spot. Harry swore he saw Hermione share a look with Dumbledore. They were looking for him on Dumbledore's orders then. Now he really didn't want to talk to them.

"Ginny, be a dear and distract Ron will you?" George whispered, half-joking.

Ginny looked questioningly at Harry, who avoided her gaze and fiddled with his sleeping bag. She nodded once and walked over to Percy, sleeping bag clutched in her arms. Percy called Ron over and Hermione followed, though her gaze wandered. Ron's shoulders tensed in irritation while Percy spoke authoritatively, but he took Ginny anyway. The odd trio found a spot in the centre of the hall and set up there. Percy was already insisting everyone sleep. Ron and Hermione resigned their efforts for the night.

Harry crawled into his sleeping bag and sighed. He was used to sleeping on hard surfaces. Harry had had to make do with a tiny cot inside his cupboard for eleven years, and throughout his whole life he'd taken to taking naps outside in the parks or playgrounds when avoiding the Dursleys. Harry shifted when he felt the tingle of magic run over him.

"Easy, Harold," soothed George, "Just a cushioning charm. We're doing it for everyone."

"Oh. Thanks."

The Hall had fallen almost silent, except for the restless shifting and crunching of sleeping bags and low murmurs of students. The Professors were patrolling the corridors and the entrances to the Great Hall. Harry briefly saw Remus - haggard and utterly miserable, though not without anger and determination in his every step. Harry hoped Remus would be all right.

"Harry," came Fred's whisper, "You all right, mate? You look mighty uncomfortable."

"Don't be dim, Fred," George hissed.

"You know I don't mean it like that, Georgie. Was the cushioning charm weak?"

"I'll have you know, Frederick," hissed George indignantly as he rolled over to face Harry and Fred, "That I beat your Charms score last week by 5 marks and topped the class."

Harry snickered, and he felt the tension loosen. Fred huffed, "All right, all right. Why are you so uncomfortable then Harold?"

Harry picked at his sleeping bag, "Actually - Could you - could you take off the cushioning charm?"

George and Fred looked at Harry in bewilderment, "What?"

"Take it off. Please."

George immediately did so and Harry felt the tingle of magic fade away into the stone floor.

"Harry… why do you want to sleep on the hard floor?"

It was late, and Harry was exhausted. It had been an extremely long, emotionally taxing day and he really just wanted to go to bed and wake up without someone wanting to off him.

"I'm used to it," he mumbled, "slept in me cupboard remember? And on park benches. Nice. Quiet. No Dursleys."

Harry yawned, unaware of the whispered, "His cupboard?"

"Night Freddie, Georgie."

He was fast asleep by the time they returned the sentiment.

Two weeks later and Sirius Black attacked again. Only this time, he got into the Gryffindor dormitory, tried to kill Ron and then ran off. McGonagall had dragged Neville off for a very thorough chewing off, and while Harry knew Neville wasn't at fault, Harry couldn't help but feel utterly terrified that Sirius Black had been in the same room as him.

Harry sat with Ron and the other boys in the common room, while Sir Cadogan was removed from his post and an empty frame was put in place so the surrounding portraits could pass in and out to allow entrance.

Ron seemed shaken up, but he was all right, Sirius Black hadn't done anything to him. Harry felt bad for his friend, right until Ron opened his big mouth.

"What the bloody hell Harry! Of all the beds he decided to loom over, he loomed over mine. Your bed's right next to mine! What's he playing at having a go at me?"

Harry stiffened, and the rest of the Gryffindors turned to listen raptly. Ron continued his indignant spiel, "We all know he's after you, why the hell he'd go for me? Or is this some sort of sick thing in his head? Wasn't you had to roll under the bed last night to avoid getting cut to ribbons! A person could die being your friend, Harry!"

Fred shoved his way in front of Ron, such a fierce and angry gleam in his eyes that Ron immediately backed away, "You watch your mouth -"

"Fred! Stop it, leave it," Harry said, though his voice came out harsher than he intended and he felt something tingle in his veins. Fred looked at him in surprise and backed off, and when Harry looked around at the gathered Gryffindors, they all fussed at their things and avoided his eye. How 'd never known them to be the tactful sort.

He brushed it off and turned to Ron, "I never asked you to be friends with me Ron. You approached me remember? But I suppose if it's so hard being friends with Harry Potter, maybe you shouldn't be. It's not much of a loss to me."

With that, Harry stood up with much more grace than he usually had and glided off, "I'll be in Fred, George and Lee's room tonight, I doubt even Sirius Black will want to be on the receiving end of a nasty prank."

Ron spluttered and Hermione tittered somewhere off in a corner with the Gryffindor girls. Fred and George flanked Harry and helped him get his things. The trio were silent all the way to Harry's new dorm, where Lee had already commandeered a troupe of house-elves to make Harry's bed. He stuck an arm out to Harry and smiled, bypassing Harry's hand gripping him at the forearm. Harry stumbled but gripped Lee's arm too, slightly confused.

Lee grinned, "Pleasant stay, Harry." Then he walked to the bathroom, whistling on his way out. Harry looked at Fred and George in question.

"That's his way of making friends. Lee's cool that way, doesn't do that with a lot of people," Fred said.

"Means he likes you, and you're under his protection or what not, we don't really get it," George shrugged.

Harry sat down on his bed and began to untie his laces. Meanwhile, the twins flopped carelessly down onto his bed and yelped.

"Blimey Harry! Why's your bed so hard? D'you honestly like sleeping like this?"

"What do you mean? Aren't all the beds like this?"

George shook his head and rubbed his sore bum, "The beds are all catered to student preferences. Haven't you sat on the other boys beds before? You must have noticed."

Harry scratched the back of his neck, his long fringe falling into his eyes, "Um, no. Dean blew up at Ron first year. Ron tried to touch his stuff. And I've always been taught not to. Y'know - about touching things that aren't mine."

They were silent for a bit and Harry felt like Death knowing he kept slipping up and telling Fred and George things he'd kept quiet for years. The twins didn't press, though Harry knew they were burning with questions. He appreciated them much more for it.

Harry knew he'd have to tell someone about his childhood one day, about the things he went through and still went through every summer. He had yet to figure out his thoughts on his childhood as compared to others, but Harry supposed as he began to trust Fred and George more, he'd eventually tell them everything. And they'd give him time and try their best to help, like they did with Ginny.

He really couldn't be more grateful for Fred and George Weasley.

A/N:yo yo guess whose birthday it was! Mine! YAYYYYY, that's why i'm posting today, sort of a present to myself hehe, hope you like it! fave and follow if u like this story!