Title: International Magical Cooperation: To Make Friends
Pairing: Pre Harry Potter/Viktor Krum
Other Characters: Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Sirius Black, OMC
Rating: PG
Chapters: 12
Summary: Summer after 3rd year, Hogwarts students are assigned international pen-pals. What started off as a distraction from worries surrounding Sirius and the Dursleys quickly turns to more as Harry finds himself growing increasingly attached to his mysterious, anonymous new friend. What will it take for him to give someone the chance to see 'Just Harry' beneath the Boy-Who-Lived mask...?

A sweet, intriguing little story that I've returned to on and off again during bouts of writer's block with my other story. Finally finished just in time for a '12 Days of Christmas' gift to my lovely readers! Will be posting a short chapter every day until the last chapter-and the revelation of the Triwizard Champions-on December 25th. Will happily consider a sequel if there's interest!

CHAPTER ONE

The last few days of term had dragged on for Harry Potter. He had been plagued by never-ending speculation and gossiping on the capture and escape of Sirius Black. Sirius Black—Ministry's Most Wanted, the most feared criminal of the day… and unbeknownst to most, Harry Potter's godfather.

As he normally did, Harry had been building himself up to face the end of term (and thus the dreaded summer holidays) for weeks now. With the briefest glimpse of freedom from the Dursleys, though, when Sirius had talked of taking him away and giving him a home, all of Harry's carefully constructed defenses had come tumbling down. Of his three years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry had felt the least prepared this year to leave the castle and return to Privet Drive.

Harry sighed as he looked around the empty train compartment. Hermione had offered to run interference with Ron, reminding Harry that Ron always got over his moods eventually, and surely they could all sit together on the ride to Platform 9 ¾, but Harry had seen the anxiety in her eyes. He knew she hated conflict, and he hadn't wanted to put her in that position. As for Ron and his 'moods,' Harry supposed he really shouldn't have been surprised that his best mate had succumbed to jealousy once again after being left out of the time-turner rescue. Harry didn't know how to make it better: they couldn't have brought Ron, with his injured leg. And really, what exactly did the red-head regret missing? Running through the forest chased by a werewolf? Almost having his soul sucked out by a mob of dementors? Watching Sirius fly away on Buckbeak, no idea when they would ever see each other again…?

Harry rubbed his temples tiredly. He had spent the final days of term sneaking away into deserted classrooms and towers to brood and finally figure out that there never was any logic in Ron's jealousy. Now, sitting on the train and waiting to see who would end up stuck sitting with him as compartments filled up, Harry just felt incredibly lonely.

"Oi, Lee—"

"—over here!" Harry looked up at the cheerful shouts from the corridor just as the compartment door slid open and Fred and George Weasley bounded inside, sprawling onto the seat across from Harry.

"Well hello there, fancy—"

"—finding you here!" They greeted enthusiastically, but Harry was sure he saw concern hidden behind their smiles, and they were watching him closely. He mumbled a hello, and slid his eyes back to the door, grateful for the distraction as Lee Jordan, Quidditch commentator, joined them in the carriage and snapped the door shut behind him.

"Hey, nice find! I didn't think there'd be any empty carr… Oh." He trailed off as his eyes finally landed on Harry, the small boy tucked into the corner by the window, knees drawn up to his chest. "Sorry, didn't see you there," he added sheepishly, shuffling awkwardly for a moment before he suddenly stilled and narrowed his eyes slightly. "Hey, wait, Harry Potter!" He said, grinning widely as he made the connection. Harry, for his part, concentrated on neither blanching nor hiding his face in his knees, though he couldn't stop his shoulders from tensing up defensively.

"Um… yeah. Hi, Lee," he said quietly. Lee, though, simply clapped him on the back a few times in a friendly manner before dropping onto the seat beside him, leaving plenty of space between them so as not to crowd the younger boy.

"Wicked. Man, I love announcing Gryffindor games; I didn't get to announce such crazy stunts even when Charlie Weasley was on the team. Epic." With that, he turned his attention fully back to Fred and George, drawing them into a heated debate on the profitability of their latest 'invention.' With one last look at Harry, the twins gave their full attention over to their friend, and Harry quickly relaxed. This was… nice, he realized. He let the energetic chatter wash over him for a few minutes while he watched the Scottish highlands race past outside the window. Eventually, he pulled out a piece of parchment and some ink, as well as the silver-trimmed card detailing their new summer assignment.

All Hogwarts students years three through six
will be randomly paired with a student from either:

Beauxbaton's Academy for Magic
~ or ~
Durmstrang Institute

Both premier wizardry and witchcraft institutions.

You will send a letter to your foreign counterpart within
the first two weeks of the summer holidays, extending a
hand of international friendship and cooperation. Pending
reply from your writing partner, you will maintain this
correspondence until the start of term.

Be advised that this assignment has been dictated by the
Ministry of Magic, and thus any student found to have
neglected their obligation will be disciplined accordingly

It would behoove you to represent your House and your
school well.

Happy Holidays,

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

Below this was a hand-written note in Professor McGonagall's tidy script:

Potter -
I brought your request to the headmaster, and he was able to ascertain that
one other student in this 'pen-pal' program similarly wished to be matched
namelessly. Professor Dumbledore has worked out arrangements with the
other school, and spoken with Hedwig. She will know where to take your letter
simply by telling her it is to go to your pen-pal. The other student has been
likewise debriefed and knows to use only your owl to return post. She will
therefore have to stay on with your partner until a return letter is produced,
but I trust you will bare this gracefully given the trouble the headmaster has
gone to in order to grant your request. Best of luck.

-MM

Harry refolded the instructions and tucked them away, tuning into the conversation between Lee and the twins just enough to note that the topic had changed (whether or not Percy would notice if they shaved his eyebrows in his sleep) but that his riding companions were no less distracted, before pulling out parchment and a quill and beginning his letter.

Dear Stranger,

(Believe it or not, that was actually the LEAST awkward greeting I came up with… suffice it to say you may regret being stuck with me as your 'pen-pal.')

First of all, I just wanted you to know how grateful I was that you had also requested to correspond anonymously. I won't ask your reasons—I am sure you have no more desire to share yours than I have to share mine—but I do hope you are at least as curious as I about this letter-writing assignment. It may just be the dread of the summer holidays finally upon me, but I find myself oddly eager for someone to talk to, even in so unconventional a way.

I suppose, as this is my first letter, I should tell you something about myself. Though, if I am honest, I don't think it makes for very interesting reading. I am a Hogwarts student, turning fourteen this summer. I spend my summers in England, with my mother's relatives. I have a secret talent for cooking, though only on rare occasions have I truly enjoyed it. It is admittedly less of a pleasure when you don't have someone to appreciate your creations. Does that make me conceited, I wonder? More than cooking, however (more than anything else I have ever experienced, to tell you the truth), I love to fly. Although I have flown with the aid of a hippogriff, a phoenix, and an enchanted muggle car on a few memorable occasions, nothing compares to the freedom and joy of speeding through the air on a broomstick, of veering off into harrowing turns and dipping down into bold dives with nothing more than the tilt, twist, and sway of your body…

I just remembered that it is summer now; I won't be flying again until I return to school in the fall. Ah well; what's one more reason to count down the days? I am actually on the train away from school now, and with each turn of the tracks I realize I am that much further away from Hogwarts and am more and more glad that I now have one more person to write to this year.

I can't think of anything else too interesting about me. Or at least, nothing else I am comfortable sharing, I'm afraid. Hopefully if I've left anything terribly important out you will just ask me in your return letter. I am looking forward to learning about you. Considering I had no idea what I might say to you when I started this letter, I suddenly find myself full of questions. I want you to have the same chance to introduce yourself on your own terms, however, and so will be patient. Hopefully, when the time for questions comes, I will keep my curiosity in check enough to not be too prying.

I hope this letter finds you well and—if nothing else—makes you smile.

Sincerely,

A Friend

Harry was re-reading his letter a second time, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth absently as he concentrated on his carefully penned words, when someone cleared their throat and he suddenly noticed how quiet it had become in the carriage. He shielded his words hastily under a spare bit of parchment and looked around, quickly noting that Lee was absent and both twins were watching him, expressions curious but without the usual glimmer of mischief.

"You alright there—"

"—Harry, mate?" He was sure he heard concern now, and he blinked a few times before furrowing his brow.

"Yeah, of course. Why do you ask?" He was genuinely confused and sure it was showing, but the twins simply shared a meaningful glance before turning back to him and leaning forward.

"Oh, we don't know, we suppose—"

"—it could have something to do with how quiet you are—"

"—how quiet you've been for days—"

"—and that you're sitting in here—"

"—conspicuously not where our ickle baby brother and the bookworm are sitting—"

"—and that you flinch—"

"—and frown—"

"—and walk away—"

"—every time someone mentions Sirius Black—"

"—as if it hurts to hear his name." Harry gaped at them when they stopped talking to watch him expectantly, then flushed, bit his lips, and looked away. He knew he couldn't say anything; he was just surprised that he wanted to.

He wouldn't say he was close with the red-headed twins—not like he was with Ron and Hermione, anyway—but after his two best friends, Fred and George were probably the next best thing he had. While he never really spent time with them outside of Quidditch practice, they had always seemed to be waiting in the background, watching his back and keeping an eye out for him.

His first memory of the twins was from the day he first boarded the Hogwarts Express. He had been terrified, left at the station alone with no idea how to get on the platform. Then had come a sharp wave of embarrassment when he had been forced to eavesdrop on the Weasley's conversation, and bud in to ask for help. The twins had caught his eye just as he blushed, and had immediately proceeded to banter back and forth, tease their mother as though she had forgotten their names, and in general pull attention away from a very self-conscious Harry and onto themselves. He hadn't been sure they were doing it on purpose until they both sent him a wink before taking off and running straight through the brick wall. When he got the train, the twins had popped out of nowhere to help him lift his trunk on board. He had seen the excitement in their eyes when he told them his name—not that he quite understood it at the time—but they hadn't pestered him or deluged him with questions. Instead, they had parted with a cheerful "Wicked!" and matching waves, before disappearing once again.

Then there were countless times, of course, that they had shown their friendship in Quidditch practices and games over the years, but none more clearly than the rogue bludger second year. The twins had abandoned game tactics altogether, completely ignoring Oliver Wood's shouted admonishes in favor of circling around Harry to keep him safe. Knowing how important Quidditch was to a Weasley, it had meant a lot to Harry that they had been so willing to ignore the rest of the game in favor of protecting Harry.

There were other moments, too: including Harry in their Christmas celebrations his first year… rescuing him from the Dursleys the summer before his second year… giving him the Maurauders Map his third year, for Merlin's sake.

Harry's heart ached with the thoughts that surfaced when he remembered the map. Rummaging into the pockets of his robes which were bundled in a ball in one of the luggage racks, Harry carefully extracted and sat back down, brushing the parchment softly with his fingers before looking up at the twins. He looked up to see soft smiles on the twins' faces, and suddenly he couldn't remember why not telling them was ever that important.

"Can you keep a secret?" Harry asked, eyes suddenly alert and intense, as he looked from one red-head to the other. Without even pausing to check with each other, both twins were nodding solemnly at him.

With a deep breath, Harry told them everything:

Sirus.
The Grim.
Illegal animagi.
Scabbers, who was really Peter Pettigrew.
His parents' secret-keeper.
Professor Lupin, and what happens when he doesn't take his wolfsbane potion.
The dementors.
The Time-Turner.
Buckbeak.
Ron's jealousy.

And finally, Harry smiled down at the map and finished explaining.

"I always wanted to pay you back somehow, for giving me the map. Now I know I'll never be able to." Pulling out his wand, he quickly activated the map and ran a finger lovingly over the word 'prongs.' "Moony, the werewolf—Wormtail, the rat (he couldn't help but snarl here)—Padfoot, the dog—and Prongs, the stag." He looked up, eyes shining, and found the twins watching him with eyes wide and jaw hanging open.

"They… you… Prongs…?"

"My dad, yeah," Harry said softly, finally choking up. The next thing he knew, he was being crushed between two red-heads on his side of the compartment, warm arms heavy around his shoulders.

"Wicked," was all they said, and as the train rolled closer to Kings Cross Station, Harry was grateful for the arms that stayed around his shoulders, and the rare quiet moment with his friends.

When they reached the station, the twins lifted Harry's trunk down, and Harry took the opportunity to fold up his letter to his pen-pal and send it off with Hedwig. He figured not dragging the owl through the muggle part of the station could only help with his reunion with the Dursleys.

Before they parted, the twins each put a hand on his shoulders and looked him in the eye.

"We won't tell you how to live your life, mate—"

"—or how to choose your friends—"

"—no matter how big of a prat we think Ron is—"

"—but if you ever need us—"

"—need anything—"

"—at all—"

"—you only need to ask." They squeezed his shoulders simultaneously as they finished speaking together, and then they were gone, and Harry let himself think that maybe—possibly—this summer wouldn't be so unbearable after all.