Chapter Text
“Thick as Thieves”
August 5, 1991
Harry sat inside the Leaky Cauldron, gazing around in wonder at all the people around him.
Just last week, he was in a gross little shack with his relatives, and now?
Now he was a wizard going to a school for magic.
And, Harry was never going back to the Dursley’s house again.
He was really feeling kind of smug about it. Hagrid had offered to take Harry home and Harry had assured him that he could find his way there on his own. He told Hagrid that he did it loads of times and Hagrid just believed him!
So Harry went right back in the Leaky Cauldron and rented a room from the friendly barkeeper and planned on enjoying the rest of his summer.
And he was.
He’d explored all the stores in the area. He even found a neat second-hand clothes store that had muggle clothes for ‘wizards who need to blend in’ and bought new clothes. He found a used bookstore that had a book exchange program like a library so he could just borrow books and return them when he was done. And he’d met so many people.
He met a nice boy named Neville Longbottom who had a toad and whose Gran had known Harry’s parents.
He met a pair of red-headed twins named Gred and Forge who said that if Harry was in Gryffindor then he could sit with them at the Welcoming Feast.
He met a quiet boy at the bookstore, a boy with dark brown hair and curious brown eyes, named Theo. They didn’t talk much, but Theo told Harry he should check out the potions section since he heard the potions teacher was very strict, so Harry liked him quite a bit already.
He even met a pair of girls, a blonde named Hannah and a red-head named Susan, who said he could sit with them on the train. Susan even offered to pick Harry up from the Leaky Cauldron on September first so that he could ‘floo’ to the platform with her.
All in all, being a wizard was the greatest thing to ever happen to Harry.
And it was just the beginning.
Harry was fidgeting with his trunk and his new clothes and his satchel with his robes and wand in it on September first.
He hadn’t really considered it at the time, but what if Susan had been lying about picking him up? Or if she forgot? What happened if Harry missed the train? Would he—
Knock, knock.
Harry threw open the door to his room and felt incredibly relieved to see Susan standing there in a crisp and clean collared white dress with her dark red hair in two braids and a wide, slightly gap toothed, smile on her face.
“Hiya, Harry!” Susan was bouncing in place and looked as excited as Harry felt. “Are you ready? My aunt’s downstairs and she’s sooo excited to meet you!”
“Yep!” Harry grabbed his trunk and tossed his bag over his shoulder. “Let’s go!!”
Susan led the way down the stairs, talking nonstop at the speed of light as she went. Harry had no idea what she was saying, as quickly as she said it, but her excitement and cheer was infectious and had Harry’s stomach bubbling with anticipation. Susan didn’t stop talking until they entered the main part of the pub and ran smack dab into another witch.
“You’re going to break your neck at Hogwarts,” the witch said fondly as she steadied Susan. She turned to Harry and smiled kindly at him. “You must be the Harry that I heard all about?” She stuck her hand out, “I’m Susan’s aunt, Amelia Bones.”
Harry was relieved that she didn’t even glance at his scar and he accepted her handshake. “Yes, ma’am,” he said politely. “Harry Potter.”
The woman smiled a little wider and Harry thought she looked very kind. Much kinder than his aunt was anyway. Susan’s aunt had dark blonde hair pulled back into a neat bun. She had lines around her teal eyes, the same color as Susan’s, and she was dressed in very official looking robes.
“It’s for the DMLE,” she explained when she noticed Harry inspecting the badge on her robes.
“Aunt Amelia is the head of the DMLE,” Susan said with an adoring smile for her aunt. “It means she’s in charge of it all!”
“What’s the DMLE?” Harry asked, feeling a bit dim.
“The department for magical law enforcement,” Amelia said. She didn’t sound like she thought Harry was dim, so he relaxed a little more. She did check her pocket watch though and raised her brows. “And we need to get you kids off to Hogwarts! Harry, are your relatives here? They’re welcome to floo with us if they’d like. I can ensure they get back safely.”
“Er…” Harry shifted and ducked his head. “No, ma’am, they’re not here.”
Harry missed the supremely unimpressed look that Amelia sent Tom for renting an eleven year old a room. He also missed Tom’s returning shrug and grimace.
“Harry, does your family know where you are?” Amelia asked Harry.
Harry shrugged his shoulders up by his ears a little bit. “Probably not,” he admitted. “They don’t care though, don’t worry,” he added hastily as he looked up at her and gave her an earnest look. “We don’t really get along, I’m sure this has been the best summer ever for them too.”
Amelia pursed her lips and checked the time again before sighing a little. “We will discuss this at a later date,” she warned Harry. Not that he had any idea why they needed to discuss anything. “Let’s get to the platform.”
Harry and Susan smiled at each other before listening while Amelia explained floo travel to Harry.
In the end, Amelia wound up flooing with them both. Harry didn’t think she trusted him much.
“This is so neat!” Susan squealed as she pulled Harry along the train they boarded together. “Can you believe it, Harry? Can you? We’re finally going!!”
“I know!” Susan’s excitement was contagious and Harry was quickly filling with joy. “It’s amazing!”
They found an empty compartment on the train and quickly claimed it for themselves. Susan mentioned Hannah joining them later, but Harry wasn’t too fussed, he was just happy to already have a friend.
His first ever friend.
Harry and Susan were talking rapid-fire about their classes when a boy, Ron Weasley, asked to join them. Then Hannah showed up, and Neville with his toad and a witch named Hermione. Theo also popped in midway through the trip and asked to join them. And before they made it to Hogwarts, the rude blonde from Madam Malkin’s had shown up as well.
Harry probably wouldn’t have let Draco join them, as he looked like he wanted to be mean to Ron, who was the red headed twins’ little brother, but Susan ushered him in and it wound up being fine.
It wouldn’t have mattered if a fight did break out, because Harry looked at Susan and they shared bright smiles— they were going to Hogwarts and everything was going to be brilliant.
Everything was not brilliant.
Harry’s friends kept getting sorted-
Hannah went to Hufflepuff.
Susan went to Hufflepuff.
Hermione went to Ravenclaw.
Neville went to Hufflepuff.
Draco went to Slytherin.
Theo went to Slytherin.
And then it was Harry’s turn, and where did he go?
Bloody Gryffindor.
He’d argued with the dumb hat about going to Hufflepuff and it laughed at him; said he wasn’t loyal or fair, which was bollocks! He’d nearly accepted the hats offer of Slytherin, but when he asked for his other options (thinking Ravenclaw would be fine with Hermione if he couldn’t be in Hufflepuff with Susan) the hat just yelled ‘GRYFFINDOR!’
Harry shot a morose look to where Susan sat, smiling and clapping with Neville and Hannah as he drug himself to the screaming and shouting red and gold table.
“Way to go!” One of Ron’s twin brothers ruffled Harry’s hair and smiled at Harry. “Best house in the castle!”
Harry forced a smile, one that felt a touch more genuine when Ron joined him, but he would have much rather been a Hufflepuff.
Despite Harry’s secret worry that he and Susan wouldn’t be friends anymore, it was Susan who waited for Harry to walk to breakfast together the very next morning.
“Harry!” She grabbed Harry’s hand and pulled him along as she walked, barely slowing her pace for Ron to catch up. “How’s Gryffindor? Are the beds very comfortable? Do you love it? Oh you look wonderful in red! Yellow isn’t my color, but I’m very proud of my house.”
Ron shot Harry a bewildered look as Susan’s chatter continued clear to the Great Hall where she led them to the Hufflepuff table where Neville and Hannah sat together. Harry didn’t mind Susan’s quick conversation; before he met Susan, he’d never had anyone that wanted to talk to him, so he was happy to listen. Plus, it was funny the way Susan wanted to compare their timetables and she marked hers with all the classes they shared.
Harry shuffled his feet and smiled shyly at Susan when the bell dismissed them for their first ever classes. “I’m glad we’re still friends. I thought…”
“You thought I cared about silly houses?” Susan asked knowingly. She smiled and then startled Harry as she threw her arms around him in a hug. “We’re best friends forever, Harry,” she declared. “No matter what!”
And Harry, who never had a best friend but always wanted one, hoped that she never changed her mind.
Their friendship seemed to be tested all year that year. First, Susan and Hermione didn’t seem to get along much, which made Harry uncomfortable as Hermione obviously wanted to be his friend. The two girls bickered a lot, causing the boys and Hannah to become exasperated, up until Halloween when a troll got in the castle and nearly killed Hermione.
“I’m sorry!” Hermione wailed after Harry, Susan, and Ron knocked the troll out with its own club. Harry and Ron were shocked when the two girls embraced as if they were sisters. “You saved my life!”
Susan patted Hermione’s back. “The boys helped some,” she said simply with a quick grin for Harry over Hermione’s shoulder.
Harry rolled his eyes at Susan, but he was rather glad to not have had Hermione hugging him. He liked her well enough, when she wasn’t being bossy about rules and homework, but he really only liked it when Susan hugged him. She never squeezed too tight or cried on his shoulder.
They were tested again when Susan returned from Christmas holidays with her aunt and noticed Harry’s despondency.
“Talk to me,” she insisted when she cornered him in the quidditch stands one night. “Please? Something’s wrong.”
“I’m fine,” Harry snapped. It was cold out and Susan’s teeth were chattering. “Go inside, Susan, you’ll freeze to death.”
“So will you,” Susan said.
Harry tugged on the scarf and hat that Susan sent him for Christmas. “I’m fine.”
“You are not fine.” Susan crossed her arms and glared at him. “Talk or I’m going to hex you.”
Harry blew out a huff of air, pushing his fringe upward before it landed right back on his forehead.
He didn’t think Susan would hex him, but he also thought best friends should share everything.
“I found this mirror…” he said slowly. Susan inched over beside him, laying her head on his shoulder and they sat outside together, sharing warmth, while Harry shared his discovery.
Harry didn’t know if it was the blanket of darkness that loosened his tongue, or just the fact that Susan let Harry talk uninterrupted, but he told her everything. How much he wished he had a family like the rest of their friends had. He told her how the Dursleys didn’t like him, couldn’t stand him, really. How much it hurt seeing his parents for the first time in a mirror whose sole purpose seemed to be taunting Harry. How Dumbledore moved it and now Harry couldn’t see his parents again and it was so unfair it made his chest ache.
By the time he was done, Harry’s insides felt like jelly, like he’d given Susan his bones along with his complaints.
“Sorry,” he mumbled. He scrubbed his face with his robe sleeve, thankful that the dark kept Susan from seeing the embarrassing tears that escaped him.
“For what?” Susan asked quietly, her voice thick and her head resting on Harry’s shoulder.
Harry shrugged. “Whining, I guess.”
Susan’s arm that she wrapped around Harry’s waist tightened. “It’s not whining,” she said firmly. “I’m glad you told me. Also,” she lifted her head and Harry could see her eyelashes were wet and glistening in the moonlight, “can I borrow Hedwig?”
Harry laughed at the change in subject, relieved that she didn’t want to ask a million questions. “Sure, c’mon, let’s go inside, it’s cold.”
They used Harry’s cloak to get in the castle, and Susan gave Harry a hug before he left her at the entrance for the Hufflepuff common rooms.
“You’re my best friend,” Susan said. She pecked Harry’s cheek and smiled shyly at him. “Thanks for telling me everything.”
Harry’s face was still hot when he made it to the Gryffindor tower.
And, two mornings later, Harry realized Susan hadn’t been changing the subject at all when she asked to use Hedwig.
“What’s this?” Harry asked curiously when his beautiful owl brought a package to Harry at breakfast.
“A box, obviously,” Draco said haughtily. He rolled his eyes at Harry. “Open it, Potter.”
“Do it,” Susan urged Harry on when his hands faltered. “It’s brilliant, I promise!”
Harry felt rather on the spot as his friends all leaned forward to watch him open the box. There was a letter on top of the paper wrapped contents, so Harry read that first.
Harry,
I received these from an old friend and thought you might like them. Also, I would be delighted if you’d like to come over during the Easter holiday.
I’ve already obtained permission fromthe nasty peopyour relatives. Let Susan know if you would like to come.
—Amelia Bones
Harry shot Susan a curious look before he unwrapped the items inside the box and let out a gasp that drew more attention than usual to their odd group at the Hufflepuff table.
“What is it?” Ron asked from across the table.
Harry swallowed and turned the frame to show the others.
“My parents,” he said. He was grateful when he felt Susan’s hand squeezing his knee beneath the table, a reassuring anchor when he thought he might do something embarrassing like cry in front of the others.
While Harry’s friends passed around the wedding photo of James and Lily Potter, Harry pulled out the thick album and began slowly, carefully, turning through pages.
“I’ve seen some of those before,” Neville said quietly as he peered over Harry’s shoulder. “I think Gran still has a box of photos from when my parents were at school, your parents were in a bunch. I- I can see if I can get copies over the holidays?”
Harry’s quick agreement must have made him look more desperate for the photos than he meant to, because Ron and Draco both quickly offered to ask their parents for photographs as well.
“My mother is cousins with your father’s old friend,” Draco explained. “She may know where some of the photos were stashed.”
And, a week later, when Draco, Ron, and Neville all found over a dozen total photographs of Harry’s parents to add to his collection, a few from Draco that even included baby Harry in them, Harry had Susan to thank.
“You’re the best,” he told her happily as they sat together in the library, organizing Harry’s photos ‘in chronological order’ in his new album.
“I know.” Susan grinned at Harry, her eyes crinkling around the edges as they always did when she was really happy. “You can tell me how amazing I am over Easter break.”
“Deal.”
Except Easter break wound up testing Harry and Susan’s friendship rather harshly.
“YOU TOLD HER I WAS- WAS…abused?!” Harry hissed after slamming his way in Susan’s room and glaring at her.
He’d just sat through an hour long conversation with Susan’s aunt about Harry’s ‘home life’. Apparently, Susan told her aunt just enough to send her aunt to go ‘investigate’ and she found ‘unsatisfactory results’. And now Amelia was at the ministry, ‘looking in to options’, and Harry was left at Susan’s home with his best friend and a burning sense of shame coursing through his body.
Susan looked up from the book she’d been reading, looking more curious than ashamed of herself as Harry thought she should be.
“I told her you were locked in a cupboard, they refused to feed you, and that they insulted you more often than Professor Snape does,” Susan said simply.
Harry crossed his arms, standing firm in her doorway, and glowering at her as harshly as he could manage. “Well she called it abuse,” he said angrily, his throat constricting at the word. Other kids were abused, the ones with the bruises and foster homes. Harry was not abused.
“That’s because it is abuse.”
“No it isn’t!”
“It is.”
“NO IT ISN’T!”
“Fine.” Susan uncrossed her legs and got to her feet. She smoothed down her jumper and grinned at Harry. “Come on then.”
Harry was bemused, angry, and still embarrassed and self-conscious as he followed Susan down her staircase and to the foyer. He felt his breath hitch when Susan approached the little wooden door build in to the stairs. She opened it up, ignoring how Harry uneasily stepped away to the far wall, and Harry saw that it was roughly the same size as the Dursleys, though more clean and distinctly lacking a bed.
Susan poked her head in the cupboard, then shot Harry a determined look over her shoulder.
“What’s the longest you stayed in a cupboard at the Dursleys?”
Harry shook his head, his shame fleeing and a muted sense of shock freezing him.
“A day? Two days? Four? A week?”
“Without leaving? A… I dunno… a week, maybe,” Harry said, his voice shaky. “Sue, c’mon, let’s do something else. I’m sorry- I’m sorry I yelled at you.”
Susan smiled, but it was faint and more pitying than genuine. “Call it abuse.”
He couldn’t.
Susan must have seen that, because she shrugged her shoulders and ducked in the cupboard, pulled the door shut, and yelled through the vent, “I’ll see you in a week then.”
Harry stayed against the wall, his palms flat on the smooth and hard surface at his sides, his insides a horrible mix of anger and shame and fear and…
It felt more like Harry had just seen Susan walk in to a cave filled with horrifying monsters than a clean and small cupboard.
“GET OUT,” he yelled at Susan, feeling as if he might be sick. “YOU DONT BELONG IN THERE!”
“Why not?”
Why… why not?!
It felt like Harry was moving through sand as he struggled to get across the foyer and to the cupboard door. He reached up for the handle and jerked his hand away at the last second.
“Please, Sue, come out,” he whispered through the door. He rested his heavy and swimming head against the door and tried to find his best friend through the tiny slats. “Please?”
The doorknob didn’t so much as jiggle, but Harry could sense Susan leaning against the door just as he did.
Only she had to be more hunched over because you couldn’t stand up straight in a cupboard past a certain height. You had to be hunched and uncomfortable. You couldn’t ever stretch out either, which meant your muscles were always tense and strained and aching. And cupboards were stifling, especially in the summer months, so the air was always heavy with the stench of sweat and dust and misery.
“Why can’t I stay in here for a week?” Susan asked, her voice sounding brave instead of terrified- it was dark in there, the lightbulbs always burnt out and nobody replaced them because it was a waste of money.
“What if there’s a fire?” Harry asked, rambling and trapped in his own swirling fears. “They won’t unlock the door. They’ll forget you. You’ll be trapped and you’ll burn to death. What if you get hurt? There’s nails in the wall, you could cut yourself and bleed to death and nobody would know because they can’t hear you. Or what if the door never opens again? And you just suffocate slowly or starve to death? Please, Sue, please just get out.”
“It’s cruel to trap a kid in a cupboard.”
“It’s horrible!” Harry cried. He smacked his head on the door, frustrated. “You could die. Please come out?” He was whining, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. “Get out.”
“If Auntie Amelia made me stay in here for a week, would it be abuse?”
“YES!” Harry yelled. He smacked his head on the door again and saw more than felt when a tear dripped from his face to the floor. “IT IS ABUSE! It’s cruel and mean and she would never do it because she loves you! Come out, now.”
Harry was knocked backwards, hitting the wooden floor on his bottom, when the door beneath him was shoved open.
Susan took one look at Harry’s pale face, the tears that were still trickling down his cheeks, and his wide eyed look of hurt, and threw herself on the floor beside him. She pulled Harry up in to a hug, their heads buried in the crook of each other’s neck as if being held in place by magnets.
“I’m sorry,” Susan whispered, her voice thick as Harry’s emotions twisted her insides and upset her. She rubbed Harry’s back with one hand and stroked his hair with the other. “That was mean, I’m sorry.”
“Why… why?” Harry asked, unable to form the words for the thought that plagued him.
It was like he didn’t need to. Susan didn’t need Harry’s words because she seemed to just get him.
“Because they’re horrid people who don’t deserve you,” Susan said. She held Harry as tightly as he did her. “Fuck them.”
Harry snorted, nearly choking on his own snot to do so. “Fuck them,” he agreed.
When Amelia returned home, bursting with good news and a floo address for Andromeda and Ted Tonks, it was to find Harry and Susan snuggling on the sofa, sound asleep.
“Yeah, there’s a reason Harry couldn’t stay here,” she whispered to herself with a chuckle as she summoned a blanket to toss over them. “Thick as thieves, these two.”
Their friendship wasn’t tested again after that, not for a while anyway.
When Harry met the Tonks family- Andromeda (“Call me Andy, please.”), and Ted (“Nice to meet you, son.”), and Tonks (“Don’t you dare call me Nymphadora or I’ll jinx your skin blue.”) -Susan went with him.
When Harry went in the chamber beneath the castle, desperate to keep the stone from Voldemort, Susan went with Harry and Ron.
When Harry panicked on the last day of school, anxious and worried about spending his summer with people he didn’t know very well (despite the nonstop flow of letters between himself and Andy since meeting), it was Susan who calmed him with promises to come over as often as he wanted.
Susan was Harry’s best friend and he hoped that her promise to be lifelong friends would hold true.