Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Harry’s lungs burned as he desperately ran through the street, his guardians yelling drowned out by the blood pumping in his ears and his feet hitting the wet asphalt beneath him. He ran like that until his lungs ached and burned like hot coals took up the air he breathed, and the smoke filled his esophagus, making sure that every ounce of clean air never made it to his lungs.

After a few blocks, his frail body gave out, and he fell into the middle of a short alley and desperately clawed at the collar of his shirt, but it was in vain as it did very little to help the burning sensation spreading through his chest. Slowly, the cold breeze filled his lungs and soothed the aching as the bitter winter air cooled his small body.

His lungs continued to have a dull aching as he steadied his breathing and looked around the empty alley he found himself in. A large garbage bin sat on the side of a small family restaurant, across from it, a few townhouses towered above him, cold and uninviting. When he went to rub his hands together, he flinched and let out a small hiss as a sudden pain reminded him of the small circular wounds Uncle Vernon had pushed into his skin when he had accidentally burned dinner earlier that night.

When he looked back up at the dull townhouses, he saw a peculiar sight: a door now sat in the previously plain brick wall. The door was old, a fair wood with a metallic knob. It looked wildly out of place and compared to the metal doors of the buildings around him, it was almost welcoming, and as he touched the circular doorknob, it felt warm. A welcome change to the cold dampness of the London weather.

The door opens easily, and the small boy was able to push it open silently despite its old appearance. On the other side was what looked like a doctor’s office, with white walls and minimal decorations on the floors and walls. Wanting a better look, he stepped inside, his eyes quickly glanced around, when his shoe made a high-pitched squeaking sound on the vinyl flooring. As he took in more of the room, the door behind him shut with a loud thud, and he heard someone coming closer.

Carlos was cleaning up a conjoining room when he heard a loud bang from the main lab. This wouldn’t have been strange if everyone hadn’t been sent home earlier in the day due to an event happening in the town square.

“Nils? Are you still here? It’s almost a quarter-” he cut himself off as he entered the room to see a fragile young boy staring back at him with wide eyes. The boy turned to look between him and the wall he stood next to. He looked like he was about to burst into tears at any moment.

“Hey buddy,” Carlos knelt to the young boy’s level, though the kid avoided looking him in the eyes. “How did you get in here?” The kid just looked at the wall once more before looking at his feet and mumbled an apology. Carlos looked over the kid, he was small, probably around five or six, his clothes were dirty and very baggy on him, while his shoes looked like handme downs that were a size too small for him.

They both stayed there in silence before Carlos got up and went to grab his lab coat from a nearby rack. Walking back over, the young kid watched him closely, his green eyes trailing his every step behind taped-together glasses. When he bent over and put the white coat over the boy’s shoulders, he saw the smaller figure flinch slightly before looking up at him, bewildered.

“I have a feeling that you are lost,” he gave the boy a small smile, “you can stay with my partner and me until we find out where you came from. We have a kid around your age who would love to meet a new friend.” Carlos slowly reached a hand out, and the boy in front of him hesitantly took it. After a few seconds of contemplation, unease and surprise filled the young kid’s green eyes.

They arrived at a house much bigger than what Harry was used to seeing. It had a porch and a small yard in front, and a second story sat comfortably atop the main floor. When they entered, the living room had dark gray seating with varying shades of purple pillows scattered on it that complemented the neutral color of the walls nicely. Carlos, as the man had introduced himself, gestured for Harry to take a seat and disappeared behind a wall leading to what Harry assumed to be the dining area.

When he came back, he was with another man, he wasn’t tall nor was he short, he stood only a few inches above the scientist who had brought him here. The newer man had bright white hair that contrasted with Carlos’ black hair, and he seemed to approach Harry with a sense of caution, like Harry would break if a slight breeze tipped him over.

“Hello there,” He seemed excited as he sat on the floor across from a glass table placed between them. “What’s your name, kiddo?”

Harry stared at the man, noticing the purple ink on his arms lying across the glass surface in front of him. The ink seemed to move the longer he stared at them, but it was subtle enough that you wouldn’t notice right away. Finally, Harry looked down at his knees hanging off the couch.

“Harry…” It was barely a whisper, but it seemed as though he had heard him perfectly fine.

“Well, Harry, I’m Cecil.” Cecil leaned back, his white hair catching Harry’s attention once more, only this time, there was a glowing purple eye partially covered by his bangs. At some point, Carlos had disappeared as he entered the room once more. Both Cecil and Harry looked at him as he entered.

“I made the guest bed for you. I know it can be difficult to sleep in a new place, but you look like you need rest.” Carlos frowned as he looked over Harry once more, a look of concern on his face, but why would anyone be concerned about him? Most adults just ignored him or looked the other way. “Upstairs, I prepared some cleaning and bandaging supplies for your injuries,” Cecil looked at his partner when Carlos said this, “and there are some clothes that should fit you as well.”

The two led Harry upstairs, where they cleaned his wounds, apologizing many times whenever the cleaning solution made him flinch. After that, they left him to get dressed in the clothes they had left out, and both gave him hesitant “goodnights” before leaving him to sleep in the open room. Despite their kindness towards him, he found himself making a barrier of pillows around himself before he finally passed out, exhausted.

Chapter Text

Harry had been living in Night Vale for almost five years now, and he had quickly grown accustomed to living in the strange town. He enjoyed being around his family; he and his brother Esteban were in the same grade, and after both Cecil and Carlos had officially adopted him, he had started to see Night Vale as his home. However, a few weeks after his 11th birthday, a very tired and slightly dehydrated owl had arrived and given the family a letter.

“What is it?” Harry and his brother sat on either side of Carlos as he opened the small envelope.

“It’s a letter for Harry.” He said as he began to read the paper inside. “It was dated July 31, 1991.”

“My birthday?” Harry leaned over to read with Carlos.

“It’s very late.” Esteban did the same.

“Yeah,” Carlos flipped the paper over a few times in his hand, “I guess that’s why the owl was so dishevelled.”

The two boys picked up the now empty envelope.

“4 Privet Drive” Harry frowns as his brother reads the front.

“But that means it's not addressed here.” The two boys look at Carlos once more.

“Well, that must be your address from before you started living here and they could've had trouble finding you again.” Carlos handed Harry the letter, “It's for a school of magic in Scotland.”

“He has to leave?” Esteban looked between Harry and Carlos with a mix of apprehension and fear.

“Only if he wants to,” Cecil entered the house quietly, so the three hadn't heard him walk in. “We're not going to force either of you to do something you don't want to.” Carlos nodded before getting up and walking over to his husband.

“I'll come back right?” Harry had the same expression as his brother.

“Of course, during breaks throughout the school year.” The two boys shared a look before looking back to their parents.

“You can also stay here if during your first year you decide it's not for you.” Cecil explained seeing his sons expressions.

“It sounds like fun,” Esteban glanced at Harry, “but you have to promise to write to me every week.” Harry nodded, knowing when his brother wasn't going to budge.

“Okay,” he still seemed hesitant, “if I make any friends can they visit?”

“If it's alright with their parents.” Carlos answered, “The school is far away, so some parents might not agree.”

Harry nodded before he and Esteban went upstairs.

“Well this is interesting.” Carlos said, “Scientifically speaking a separate wizarding world would be very hard to hide for so long.”

“Yes, even Night Vale gets the unsuspecting Interloper every now and then” Cecil looked thoughtful before snapping back to his cheerful demeanor. “When does the train leave?”

“September first, 11am at King Cross station”

Cecil hummed, “so we should travel to get his supplies next week”

“Yes, that'd be best I think”

Chapter Text

The family arrived at London City Airport a week later, Carlos being trailed by his three family members who stared at their surroundings in awe. He takes out a little device that people use to contact each other from afar and types in an address before the group starts towards the airport’s rental cars.

Eventually, they had parked the car and found a small side street that held a small pub with a black exterior. The inside was dimly lit, only relying on the natural light and whatever small glow the candles around the room supplied. The bartender at the front watched as the family inspected the alien building.

“Can I get ya men anything?”

Carlos slightly jumped at the sudden acknowledgement, but Cecil quickly jumped into conversation with the man who finished cleaning a glass before putting it on the counter behind him.

“We’re looking for directions to a Dragon Alley.”

“Diagon Alley, eh?” the man behind the bar looked at Carlos and Cecil before continuing, “You two don’t seem the type.”

Carlos speaks up, nodding at Harry between him and Esteban, “Our son needs to get supplies for school.”

“Alright,” The bartender walked towards the back while waving them along with him. The back was a small outdoor area, where barrels lined the right side of the stone walls. The bartender took out a long stick and tapped it rhythmically on the wall before it started to move and open into an arch. “There ya go, Diagon Alley.” He gave a short nod to the family and headed back inside the dimly lit pub, no further words to be exchanged.

The crowds surrounding them were full of people wearing pointed hats and robes that flowed behind them like capes as they passed each other in a seemingly fluid motion. A few people glanced at them before quickly hurrying down the crowded path or into nearby shops, and as they walked, a few whispered or gave their small family more space than others.

Carlos stopped in front of a large building on the corner. The tall, slightly warped building in front of them was a bank, as gathered by the large letters carved into the stone above. The two young boys stood there beside Carlos in awe before Cecil made the first move and dragged the three inside behind him.

The inside of the twisted building was much larger. Rows of desks lined the pathway inside, where small human-like people worked. Now, they needed to figure out how to get the correct currency, as they had only travelled with American dollars thus far.

-

The first thing needed on the list was a uniform. Carlos eyed Harry for a second before sighing. He already pitied whoever was in charge of his son, as they would not be getting him to wear any uniform correctly for very long. “First stop, we have to get you a uniform.”

Harry spun around quickly, his face a mix of terror and dread. Beside him, Esteban failed to suppress a laugh behind his hand, earning him a punch in the arm from Harry.

After a few minutes of listening to Harry whining, they finally made it to the shop they needed, a small shop for robes, and Harry was brought back to be measured.

“You think he’ll be alright?” Carlos glanced towards the door that led to the room Harry had been taken back to before turning to his husband. Cecil watched the door but didn’t look worried.

“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Cecil turned to him, “he is a very resilient boy, you should be worried for his fellow students.”

Carlos sighed before nodding, a fond smile across his face.

-

In the back room of the shop, the woman, Madame Malkin, told him to stand on a platform and began to pull and pin fabric around his body. From beside him, a voice greeted him.

“Hello,” Harry turned to see a blond boy getting fitted beside him, “Hogwarts, too?”

Harry simply nodded before the boy continued talking, “My mother and father are getting my other supplies, then I’m going to drag them to look at brooms. It’s unfair that first years can’t get one, you think I can get my father to buy me one?”

Harry grinned, “Maybe, that sounds fun!”

“You play Quidditch at all?”

“No,” Harry slightly frowns, “What’s that?”

The boy seems taken aback before continuing the conversation, if a bit more proud than before, “It’s only the best sport in all of the wizarding world, father says it’d be a crime if I am not picked to play for my house!”

Harry nods thoughtfully, absently wondering if the punishment would be like when Night Vale High School lost to Desert Bluffs before the boy’s voice cuts him off from his thoughts.

“You know what house you’ll be in yet?”

“No”, Harry wondered why a school would have multiple houses for students of the same age.

“Oh well, no one really knows until they get there.” The boy stops for a second to look at Harry before continuing, “I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been — imagine being in Hufflepuff, father would pull me, would yours?”

Harry didn’t know what to say to that, he slightly tilted his head and hummed a noncommittal response before the two were both led back to the front.

“Woah! Look at that!” The boy was looking towards the front window, where Cecil was watching Carlos and Esteban look through the letter in the former’s hands.

“That’s my dad!” Harry looked at the boy.

“Oh, I thought he was,” he pointed towards where Carlos and Esteban were sitting.

“He is, too, and that’s my brother.” Harry was excited to talk about something he knew with the boy.

“Where’s your mother?” The blond boy looked confused and slightly concerned as his eyes looked between Harry and his family members.

Harry just shrugged before Cecil looked over to the two and waved.

“I've got to go, it was nice talking to you!” Harry waved, the boy hesitantly nodding back, before following his parents and brother out of the store. This was already going much better than he thought!

Chapter Text

After a few hours of gathering the supplies needed on the list, they finally came to a bookstore, the green trimming sticking out against the grey bricks of the buildings surrounding it. Inside wasn’t very busy, only a few families walking around or parents watching their kids pick out books from the towering shelves around the store. As they walked inside, Carlos gave Harry the list of books he was required to buy before giving him a soft smile and quickly following Esteban, who had booked up the stairs on the left side of the room.

He walked around the shelves for a few minutes before stopping and watching a girl about his age struggling to grab a book above her head.

“Here you go!” Harry quickly climbed one shelf and grabbed the book before placing it in the girl's hands. She stared at him, puzzled, for a bit before picking up the small pile next to her feet.

“Thank you,” her bushy hair falling around her shoulders as she stood up again with the books securely in one arm. “I’m Hermione, what’s your name?”

“I’m Harry!” he held out his hand, and the girl, Hermione, took it eagerly.

They stood in silence before Harry realized the books she held. “You think you could help me find those?” He pointed towards the stack in her arms.

“Sure!” She grabbed his arm and pulled him to the other side of the shop. ”It’ll be easier if we start over here and make our way around, that way I can find the ones I’m missing and we can find yours.”

The two made quiet conversation as they walked around, pausing every few minutes to grab a book on the list. The girl talked about how she and her parents were new to the magic world, as they were only dentists. Harry offhandedly mentioned how the dentists in Night Vale insisted that bricks were bad for your teeth, which caused a confused glance towards him before Hermione burst into laughter, almost dropping her books.

-

As the two approached the front desk to buy their books, Harry noticed his dad had started talking to two other, extremely anxious adults. As he watched, he realized they were probably also parents and could guess by the father’s unruly hair whose parents they were.

This was only proven when Hermione followed him towards the door and stopped by her parents, excitedly showing her mom the new books in her arms. Her mother, eagerly flipping through the books alongside her daughter as Hermione’s father talked with his papa.

“It’s great to know that there will be other kids around,” The brunet man said, “Hermione tends to favor books instead of people.” He laughed, a bit of sadness and worry leaking through the cheery sound.

“Yes, it will be an interesting experience having him away from home,” Cecil rubbed his hand in Harry's hair, messing it up, “Not many kids deviate from the usual subjects in our classes.”

The other man nodded before his attention turned to Carlos and Esteban, who was waving a book above his head while his dad held two more under his arm.

“Mr. Granger, this is my wonderful husband Carlos and our older son, Esteban.” his dad shook Mr. Granger’s hand before the man spoke up.

“Please just call me Nick,” The man, Nick, gestures to the two behind him, “this is my wife Helen, and our daughter Hermione.”

Carlos nods in greeting before Cecil speaks up once more, “It was a pleasure meeting you three, but we must be on our way to gather the rest of Harry’s supplies.” After a few short goodbyes, the four of them left and headed down the crowded path once more.

-

The building they entered was a cramped space, cages and tanks lined the walls, and an assortment of sounds made the many types of creatures in the small room sound panicked and stressed. Esteban and Carlos had gone to a different shop full of sweets that had caught the two’s attention. Before the two left, they had promised to find some treats for Harry and Cecil.

Cecil looked around the shop with a frown as the many animals seemed to become desperate for their attention as they entered. His eye caught a litter of small black cats in a cage, and his frown only deepened as he thought of Khoshekh and how the animals acted, as the stressful environment made them all on edge.

As Cecil walked around the shop, the shopkeeper recommended an owl for Harry to send letters back to Night Vale, and the young boy picked a light brown and white owl. As he talked to the shopkeeper, Cecil caught the slight movement of a creature escaping the small cage it had been held in, but before the woman turned back around to face Harry and Cecil, the creature had disappeared into the shadows once more.

-

The owl Harry had picked chirped happily as it nuzzled against Harry’s hand. Brown feathers dusted its head, creating a heart-like shape around the bird’s face. Esteban immediately ran up to him as he held his new pet, a slightly disheveled dad following him and muttering about crazy children, before he looked up and noticed the owl on Harry’s arm.

“An Eastern barn owl?” Harry looked up at his dad, who had bent down to get a better look at the bird. “We have these guys back home as well,” he paused his petting of the animal and looked up, “and not just the ghostly versions.” As his dad got up, Esteban quickly decided that it was his turn and started petting the feathers.

“Do you have a name for her?” Both boys looked up at their papa, who tilted his head to the side, causing his bangs to reveal the third eye also staring down at them. Looking back at the owl, he was quiet for a few seconds before responding.

“I think I’ll name her Emma.” His three family members looked at him with a questioning look, but otherwise left the name alone.

“She’s so pretty!” Esteban excitedly jumped when the owl nuzzled his hand, causing the bird to lift its wings in surprise.

Harry just laughed with his dads as his brother’s face turned from shock into laughter. A few people watched them before quickly hurrying away from the group.

-

To the side of them, just under the cart that holds all of Harry’s stuff, a small rodent-like mammal hides among the belongings before being carted away as the family above talked amongst themselves, oblivious to the creature below.