Chapter 2

Jude never really got the whole wizards' way of traveling. Muggles' way? sure. Cars were easy to drive in and comfortable since they sat more than two people. But wizards and witches didn't seem to know how to use those and instead used other means.

Now Jude stood on his best friend's lawn, trying desperately to hold in his breakfast as Hannah rubbed his back sympathetically, "It'll pass, Jude. It happens to everyone when they first apparate."

Jude could barely hear her over the ringing in his ears that served to cause him more nausea than before. He felt the saliva on his cheeks loosen and knew he was going to empty his stomach's contents.

"Oi, Jude. You alright?" The glasses wearing boy paused, feeling his stomach lurch unpleasantly. He lifted his gaze up to the Potters' front door and saw James gazing back at him with slight concern.

He stared confusedly before grinning, completely forgetting his nausea episode, "James!" He ran up to him, pointing at the other boy's face, "What's with the glasses?"

James flinched, blushing slightly before pointing at his friend as well, "Oi, shouldn't I ask you the same thing?"

Jude laughed, holding out his hand. James broke out into a grin as well as they did their secret handshake. The blue eyed boy scratched his head, grinning still, "It's good to see you again, James."

"You too, Jude," James grinned back.

Jude moved his gaze behind his friend and gulped when he noticed a glaring Harry Potter, "O-oh, hello Mr. Potter."

Harry continued to glare at him with his arms crossed. He looked deadly and Jude could feel himself dying a bit inside. He blinked when he felt a hand on his head ruffle his hair. He glanced up, seeing Neville's reassuring smile directed at him. He let himself smile at the man, relaxing his tense shoulders.

Neville gave Harry a friendly smile, "Hello, Harry. It's good to see you again." He greeted him like he would any other time, but Jude could hear the hard edge in his tone. He felt happy that someone cared for him enough to go against his own friend.

Harry sent Jude one last dirty look before letting the Longbottoms and Jude in, "It's good to see you too, Neville. You as well, Hannah. How have you guys been?"

Jude smiled at Hannah when she rubbed his shoulder reassuringly before leaving to the dining room with Neville, Harry and Ginny. The blue eyed boy turned his gaze to the other youngsters there. He grinned, holding out his hand, "Hi, I'm Jude Porter. I'm a friend of James'."

The red haired girl, who he assumed was Lily, smiled back and shook his hand, "Nice to meet you, Jude. I'm Lily; James' younger sister."

Albus stared blankly before shaking the boy's hand as well, "I'm Albus; James' younger brother."

The boy in front of him really was an exact replica of Harry. James himself looked like Harry when it came to his facial features, but the green eyes were the only thing that made a difference in their appearance. That, and Jude didn't think James was a wanker.

Jude took his hand away, keeping his smile on, "So, you're going into Hogwarts this year?"

Albus nodded stiffly, "Yes."

Merlin, it was so hard to hold a conversation with someone this boring. "What house do you think you'll get in?"

"Gryffindor," Was the slow reply.

James patted his friend's shoulder, helping him walk past the tense conversation. He called over his shoulder, "We all want to be in Gryffindor, but that doesn't mean we won't be in other houses as well. You might be in Slytherin or something."

Jude flinched when he heard the younger boy's sharp intake of breath. Albus ran out of the room, "Dad! James said I'm going to be in Slytherin. I don't want to be in Slytherin."

James rolled his eyes, snapping his fingers, "And just like that, I'm in trouble. It was nice knowing you, Jude."

Jude smiled sympathetically as they walked up the stairs. James led them into his room and Jude watched in awe as the posters moved with life. He had many posters of quidditch players and bands. The blue eyed boy as he stared at them; he never heard of any of these people. He'd have to ask James to listen to them later.

James stretched out his arms dramatically, "Welcome to my humble abode. This is where I sleep and get away from everything. You are the first person who I've actually brought in here. Usually, my family just barges in and tells me to do stuff."

Jude felt his stomach constrict uncomfortably. He didn't want to say that he never brought friends over to his old house either. He didn't have friends and he didn't think anyone would want to see the poor, pathetic little corner he called a room.

While he knew James loves his family deeply and that their situations differ from each other greatly, it's the fact that Jude understands what James is going through and doesn't judge him. The grass may be greener on the other side, but sometimes you have to notice whether it was cared for and nurtured or just fake.

James sat on his bed, gesturing for his friend to do the same. Jude followed and gazed around the room once more, "So what do you usually do for fun? I always seem to get bored with things too easily."

James shrugged, crossing his arms, "Nothing really. I get on the broom and practice a lot. I'm gonna try out for the quidditch team this year. I really wanna make it."

"You will, James," Jude grinned. "You're sure better than me at quidditch. I don't really get how I made the team and you didn't."

James laughed, grabbing him in a headlock and giving him a noogie, "It's 'cause you're special, you wanker."

Jude laughed with him, throwing him off. He fixed his untamable hair, speaking to his friend, "So the glasses; why'd you have to get them?"

James was silent for a beat, pushing the glasses up his nose. He sighed, frowning, "I didn't want to tell you over the letters because I didn't want you to feel guilty."

Jude felt his chest cave in as the other boy continued, "My parents don't know this, but apparently, even though the cruciatus curse only lasted for a minute, give or take, it was enough damage. My body shut down a bit in shock so my eyes weren't able to adjust fully. I had to get glasses. Mum just said it was 'cause of Dad's genes since my gramps had glasses too."

Jude shut his eyes tightly, willing the sting of unshed tears to go away. James said it wasn't his fault. He and Emma reassured him many times that they brought themselves into the mess because they were his friends.

He inhaled shakily, swallowing thickly, "'M sorry."

James shook his head, putting on a small smile. He patted his friend's shoulder reassuringly, "Like I said; it's not your fault so don't feel guilty over it. Now come on," He stood from his bed and walked towards the door. "Let's get some food. I'm starving over here."

Jude cleared his throat, feeling the mucus put up a fight before it went down and followed his friend. Now he'd have to have a stare down with an ever angry Potter but luckily, he had James, Neville and Hannah on his side. With them there, he felt safe.