Starpatterned Gifts

A/N: Don't judge me, guys! xD I've just had this baby in my head for ages… And so this is me giving birth, Athena-style.

OuO Behold my child, dearest Followers of the Cult of The Magnetic Witch! (No, srsly – you're all my cult now.) … I'm almost ashamed to post this, so be gentle. :,3

And send ideas for One-shots! :D

*Edit 2017, edited age for Harry's... Lack of. ;)

CHAPTER ONE –

Harry was eight – and didn't that seem forever ago now? – when he first found his first and best friend. He was exploring the woods behind Number Four when he noticed the blue glow further in the distance. Harry had glanced back warily, unsure how far he really wanted to go, before steeling himself and deciding his curiosity was far more important than something silly like safety or commonsense.

The closer he got, the better Harry could begin to make out what sounded like pathetic groaning followed by mumbled, biting curses that sounded strange from such a young voice. Harry peered around a tree, and gasped loudly.

There, in what could almost be called a hollow crater if for any reason other than the fact there was a crater at all, was a black and yellow being. It – he? – was much bigger than Harry, but he certainly wasn't taller than any of the houses on Little Whinging. The being glanced glowing blue eyes – Harry thought they were eyes, maybe optics? – up quickly upon hearing Harry's gasp, and then it stared in a bemused fashion after locking eyes with Harry, who couldn't seem to move his legs suddenly.

The being and Harry stared at one another for a long, silent moment where neither moved, and Harry quietly stammered, "U-uh, who-no, what are you, uh, sir?" The being gave a weird, confused half smile at the quickly added sir part of Harry's statement, and Harry was almost afraid he'd offended the being when he gave a slight, pained and wheezy laugh.

"I'm Bumblebee, and I'm an Autobot from Cybertron… Though, uh, I have no idea what you are," was the sheepish afterthought. Harry inched slightly closer. "I'm Harry, and I'm a, uh, you know, a human? Um, are you hurt, Mr. Bumblebee?" Harry worriedly asked upon seeing a trail of pink blood-like substance. Bumblebee followed Harry's line of sight and grimaced.

"I-yeah, a little bit. I was battling the leader of the Decepticons, Megatron – and wow, but it just hit me I'm still online! And I think I technically won!" Bumblebee gave a slightly hysterical, disbelieving laugh, and Harry walked a few paces forward, enough to be within arm's reach now.

"Mr. Bumblebee?" Harry worriedly called. Bumblebee's hysteria-tinged laughter quickly died down, and he placed his head in his hands – servos? –. "I – oh spark, I'm so fragged! How am I gonna get home? This is such a remote sector of the universe… Oh my spark!" Bumblebee's panic rose with each word, and Harry felt his worry intensify.

"Mr. Bumblebee sir!" Bumblebee paused, made an obvious attempt to calm down, and looked back down at Harry. Harry stared up at him in a determined manner, shyness gone in sight of the larger, alien male's dilemma.

"I don't really know what's going on, but your, like, an alien from space, right?" Bumblebee gave a morose nod, "Then, uh, is there any way I can help you? I mean, you're really hurt Mr. Bumblebee, and kind of, um, bleeding." Bumblebee vented, looking down at himself where there were thin trails of the pink liquid, oozing out from behind cracks and scratches, dents that looked painful and deep, and trails of mud and dirt over yellow and black paint.

"I don't suppose you have some paint, do you? I kind of like my yellow." Bumblebee said sheepishly after a heartbeat. Harry brightened immediately, "I-I can get you some, Mr. Bumblebee sir!"

"Oh, right, you don't have to call me Mister or sir, just Bumblebee works fine!"

"Then you can call me by my name, Mister-I mean, Bumblebee!"

"Right, let's do this again – hi Harry, my name's Bumblebee!"

At age ten, Harry was finally able to complete all of Bumblebee's necessary repairs. Pounding out dents, finding enough paint, and just getting a necessary fuel source was something that might have been easier if Harry had help, but taking two years was worth it if Harry took into account how his relatives might react if they ever found out about Bumblebee.

When Harry wasn't sneaking around and stealing whatever Bumblebee needed, however, his time was spent just talking with the Cybertronian. Both had a fun and easy time of just trading stories and sharing their individual planets histories, and Harry even went to the library for entire history books on more than one occasion.

Harry found that Bumblebee thrived off of driving at high speeds, enjoyed cubes of what he called Energon, and just generally liked pranks and taking it easy. Of course, by Earth years Bumblebee was somewhat ancient at over a hundred Earth years old, but he was still considered a "youngling" by Cybertronian standards, which to Harry meant could have been anywhere from being equal to ten Earth years old or nineteen Earth years old. Harry figured Bumblebee was between thirteen and seventeen by that calculation even if he was over a hundred by technicality. Apparently Cybertronians matured at a much slower rate, who knew?

Bumblebee, of course, was deeply interested and invested by Earth culture. He found the whole nature thing distasteful, but Harry soon figured that was only because he was used to being surrounded entirely by technology and had never truly seen organic substances up close before crashing on Earth. In fact, Harry was even able to sneak and show Bumblebee whatever game systems Dudley had gotten upset with and thrown away. Harry had never seen Bumblebee as gleeful as he'd been when slashing away at Ninja Zombies: The Ninjapocalypse .

It was on Harry's tenth birthday, however, were Bumblebee's suspicions regarding Harry's family proven correct.

Bumblebee had always heard yelling and screaming in the house Harry made his way to and from each and every day without fail, but it was the first time Harry was unable to make his way over. Or at least, the first time Harry hadn't been there by the appointed time. Bumblebee inwardly deliberated for several long seconds before deciding yes, discovery was worth it to check on his younger, unprotected – by his standards – friend.

The closer he got, the more worried Bumblebee became. It was late according to this time zone and internal clocks of most of the lifeforms in said time zone, and yet Bumblebee's audio receptors could still hear gruff muttering that might have been intended to be whispering but was instead harsh speaking.

Bumblebee uneasily peeked over the white fence that separated the woods from Harry's "backyard" as he called it. There was a large organic standing over Harry, the hair on his face – which was red from an overabundance of blood rushing to it – quivering, and eyebrows were strung together tightly. Meaty fists were pulled into tight, white knuckled grips that instantly rang alarms bells in Bumblebee's processor. He remained light on his pedes just in case Harry should need him.

As for Harry, Harry was on his backside, apparently having fallen – or pushed, Bumblebee acknowledged darkly – onto the ground. Harry's hands were searching for his optical enhancers, or his glasses, which were two short paces to the left out of his sight and reach. There was a crunch, and Harry's posture slumped slightly as his primary caretaker, or his uncle as Harry said, held up Harry's crushed frames and cracked lenses with a wicked, gleeful grin as he barked out several harsher words.

There was a cold, unforgiving intensity that seemed to ignite itself deep in Bumblebee's spark, surging through every bit of his being in that instant. Bumblebee wanted nothing more than to bring out his stingers and electrify that stupid, weak, fleshy organic… But Harry would surely, most definitely be upset at seeing his organic caretaker die in front of him. So Bumblebee held back, but not for Autobot ideology or thoughts of being like a Decepticon, but for Harry's sake – even if it didn't feel as though it was for Harry's sake to Bumblebee in that instant.

Harry looked as though he were about to start crying, those clear green optics of his filled with clear liquid that led to that strange organic leaking, and Bumblebee's rage was suddenly more a blazing inferno or an arctic blizzard in his spark. Bumblebee didn't pay attention to whatever harsh words the undeserving caretaker spat at Harry's taut, quivering figure curling into itself on the ground; Bumblebee focused on how to undo this sort of damage.

Bumblebee had never had Medi-bot training or processor repair classes back in Boot Camp with Bulkhead, but Bumblebee was pretty sure those wouldn't have helped in this case. Instead, Bumblebee waited with what may have very well of been the patience of one of those human religious Saints, carefully making his way over the fence and to Harry after the large, repulsive organic stepped back inside the stationary home unit.

Harry was wiping his nose and hiccupping when Bumblebee gently touched him on the shoulder. Harry jumped, looking up at him, and Bumblebee felt as though his spark were surely going to break into two. Face red and blotchy, jade optics wide and organic leaking evident. Bumblebee made a soft, upset whrr-crick-krrshkt noise, a small murmur of apology and his own version of what might have been crying.

Harry clutched at Bumblebee like a lifeline, and Bumblebee very-very-carefully picked Harry up and carried him back to their usual spot in the woods. He paused a moment, unsure if he should transform, then decided he should despite the risk of being discovered as the Cybertronian automobile. Because Bumblebee would never choose an Alt-mode that just wasn't satisfactory in aesthetics, he was obviously still using his Cybertronian Alt.

Harry normally thought it was cool, but Bumblebee quickly transitioned without giving Harry the chance to observe the transformation, turning up his inner heating ducts in an attempt to warm Harry back to an acceptable level as necessary for his organic body.

Harry sniffed once, twice more. Bumblebee remained silent, engine rumbling, frame tense and anxious. It took several long, quiet minutes before Harry finally relaxed into the cushioned seat. Bumblebee stayed silent, uncertain as to whether or not he should actually say anything when he didn't really know what had happened.

Harry rested his head against Bumblebee's window.

Harry let out an aggrieved sigh.

Bumblebee looked up from the tiny Gameboy he had fixated his attention on.

"Another letter?" Bumblebee asked. Harry nodded, holding up the slip of strange parchment.

"Yes!" Harry cried, arms in the air. "Yes, and I don't know where their coming from!" Bumblebee gave an apologetic shrug. "Hey, I offered to blow up your, ahem, caretaker's house and ditch this Primus-forsaken island, but you vetoed that." Harry shot Bumblebee a glare.

"Oh, I wonder why I would object to the death of my relatives, Bee. Really, no idea whatsoever." Bumblebee chose to ignore the sarcasm and nodded sagely. "See, that's what I keep telling you – no reason to object at all!"

Harry snorted lightly. "Oh hush you devilish bot, you." Bumblebee struck a pose. "You're just jealous of this hot bod, mech! Jea-lous!" Harry waved a dismissive hand before frowning down at the parchment. Bumblebee paused, too, as he observed Harry's tense and worried expression.

"You 'kay there, boss?" Bumblebee asked quietly, using one of his many names for Harry. Harry pursed his lips before turning a green eye to stare at Bumblebee. "I-yeah, maybe? I don't know, I guess I'm just… Worried, I guess, at how these letters always arrive wherever I'm at. What if I have a stalker or something, Bee?" Bumblebee sat next to Harry, silent for a moment before speaking.

"So. A possible stalker is official. Wanna ditch town if they don't stop within a week?"

"Bee, have I ever mentioned how much I love you?"

"Sure, but I could always hear it again!"

"Yeah… I think I'm good, Mr. Hagrid."

"W-wha'? But, but yer parents went ter Hogwarts, 'Arry!"

"Right, got it, but I think I'd prefer to live as a, er, a Muggle if it meant technology would stop working around me…"

The giant of a man stared in a horrified and flabbergasted manner.

Harry hopped back into Bumblebee's passenger side.

"Nice meeting you, though, and please don't send anymore letters!"

Bumblebee was quiet. Too quiet. This instantly set Harry on edge.

"Harry," said Bumblebee quietly. Harry hummed an acknowledgement.

"Are dogs supposed to have the same strange energy that you and those Ministry organics have?"

…

"What?"

"I mean, organics have weird energy, but you and those Ministry humans are even weirder – no offense – and this dog has the same type of energy, so I was just wondering-"

"Bumblebee," hissed Harry lowly, "wizards can turn into animals. Remember what they said about Sirius Black yesterday?"

There was a beat of silence from both boy and mech.

"Oh. Oh! Oh, frag!"

The gruff, dirty, scraggly looking man stared with wide eyes up at the minibot, who certainly seemed big enough to him. Bumblebee glared down imperiously with the glowing blue optics typical of Autobots.

"So, I'm gonna ask you once," Bumblebee said casually, "and If I don't like your answer, I'm going to fry your processor… Which I guess would melt it, but not my problem. Any objections?"

Sirius Black shook his head frantically, before shaking even more frantic and desperately at the sight of Bumblebee's stinger crackling with electricity dancing across the smooth metal. Bumblebee gave a particularly pleased and unpleasant grin.

"Good, let's begin with introductions. My name is Bumblebee, and I'm Harry Potter's, your supposed target's, best friend."

If Sirius Black was a strange organic pale before, he was pale as the morning horizon now. Black made a strangled noise deep in his throat.

Harry wouldn't even have to know about this little… Encounter, so to say.

"Harryyyy…"

Harry studiously ignored the minibot.

"Harryyyyyyyyy…"

A tic mark was probably developing on his forehead, but Harry was determined not to give in! He was fourteen, frag it, and he could decide for himself whether or not it was worth it in running away. So Bumblebee could go kiss his aft.

"Harryyyyyyyyyyyy-"

"For the love of Primus, Bumblebee! Is it seriously that important to you?!"

Bumblebee gave Harry a look that spoke volumes even as he replied, "Of course it is! I've only been suggesting it since you were eight… that's about six stellar cycles now! You hate it here, Harry, wouldn't you seriously rather be anywhere else by now?"

Harry spared a look back at the fence of Number Four, grimacing.

"Fair point, but I can't just leave without a set goal in mind, never mind about supplies and money."

Bumblebee gave a rather evil grin, "Actually, I have a couple ideas!"

Harry figured he would later regret it, but cautiously asked, "Really? Like what?" anyways.

"Well, we could just leave in the middle of the night with any money in either your caretaker's or caretakers biological offspring's stash of money, right?" Harry nodded reluctantly; that wasn't too bad.

Bumblebee finished shortly. "And we could go to America!"

Harry stopped short, sure he heard wrong. "Er, what? Sorry, but I could have sworn you just said America."

Bumblebee gave a slight shrug. "Well, yeah. Technically, if I get a good rest, I could totally drive you through the ocean if we hitchhike on a couple large boats or take a break on an island whenever. Water can't really get through my auto systems or anything and… What?"

Harry was giving Bumblebee a very complicated look, facial expression changing and twitching as though he genuinely had no idea which face to express first before giving a slightly hysterical laugh. "So-so that's it? We're driving from Surry to America through the ocean?"

Bumblebee shrugged and nodded nonchalantly even though he was obviously enjoying Harry's expression. Harry knew beyond a doubt, knew, that this would probably somehow come back and bite Harry either way, refusal to move or not… He also knew that this was possibly one of the only chances he'd ever have of saying he was the first person to drive across the ocean to America.

"Yeah, okay. Why not?"

Bumblebee peered down at Harry, uncharacteristically quiet but appropriately somber for such a serious and depressing topic.

Harry looked tongue-tied and strangled, face pale and optics wide and according to Bumblebee's heightened senses Harry's heart was pounding rapidly in his cage and shut up for a second, useless processor-

"So… So, that is, I haven't physically aged, really since… three years? Since I was fourteen?"

Bumblebee sagged on his tires for a moment, slightly relieved Harry couldn't see his expression when he was in his alt mode.

"It's… Not exactly the simple, boss. Organics require a physical growth, but since everything about you is the same as the day you had your fourteenth Sparkling Day, your chemical makeup and processor – your brain – is exactly the same, too."

Harry vented deeply, leaning back into Bumblebee's seat.

"What does that mean for me, exactly? I'll never mature, never get older?"

Bumblebee hesitated.

"I'm… Not totally sure. I mean, you've kind of always been a bit mature for your designated age group, right? But I'm also not exactly the best at telling how long this is if it's even temporary. Cybertronian's don't have this issue since we live for thousands of Stellar Cycles anyways. But it's also possible this is just a purely physical thing in which you've been, I don't know if contaminated is the right word, but maybe you've been in contact with some energy I've been carrying I didn't know about? And otherwise you'll age just as every other organic, maybe?" Bumblebee vented,

"But I just don't know, Harry. I'm not a qualified medic, so I don't have any answers. The only bot I can think of would be Ratchet, and we still haven't even triangulated my team's location outside of eliminating the southern hemisphere."

Harry made a heartbroken keening sound and Bumblebee's engine rumbled soothing, the urge to scoop the small, organic-but-not male up and to rub his back comfortingly was even stronger than it had been.

Harry swallowed heavily for a moment, before a hand rested uneasily on Bumblebee's dashboard.

"You'll… You'll help me, right Bee?"

"Of course Harry," Bumblebee didn't hesitate to answer.

"We're partner's, right? And it's not like this'll take fifty years to get to the bottom of."

"I'm… Pretty sure you just jinxed us, mate."