Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

AN: Mrs. Figg is slightly Ooc.

Chapter one: Rain, tea and the cupboard under the stairs.

It was raining, and eight year old Harry Potter had taken shelter under a tree. He couldn't go back to his Aunt's and Uncle's house until his cousin Dudley's ninth birthday party had finished, and that wasn't for another three hours.

Not that Harry wanted to go back to the Dursleys, but he didn't have any choice in that, his parents had died when he was fifteen months old and Harry had, been dumped on the Dursleys.

It was clear to see from an early age that not a member of the Dursley family wanted him there, but their loathing of him didn't come into full force until he was six, when Lux appeared.

Lux was Harry's best friend, she was his only friend and she was imaginary, and only he could see her.

Yes, the only friend he had in the world was a figment, of his own imagination who seemed more real to Harry than anything else in the world.

Lux sat next him lessons, she hid with him from Dudley and his gang, she slept in the cupboard under stairs beside him and she was standing under the tree with Harry right at that moment,

"I think it is unfair that we have to stay out in the rain while the two whales, the horse's butt and their idiot friends are nice and dry," Lux huffed, Harry was going to point out that only he was cold and wet, but he knew Lux would take it as a reference to her being imaginary, Lux hated being reminded that she wasn't real even though both she and Harry knew she wasn't, so he said "Because life is unfair Lux," instead.

"Yeah well, I think we should make life a little fairer," Lux said, with look on her face that Harry had seen many times before, the look that always resulted in trouble.

"Whatever you're going to suggest, we are not doing it," Harry said, causing Lux to start pouting.

"Harry, I was going to suggest we go back to the house of boredom and embarrass the Dursleys," Lux told him, Harry knew that if he did what Lux suggested they'd be hell to pay.

Harry felt drops of rain fall on his head through the branches of the tree, the rain was falling harder and quicker.

"Lux, you know that Uncle Vernon would flip out, just like he did with the slug incident,"Harry told her, his teeth chattering slighty

"I suppose you're right, but we can't stay here you'll freeze to death," Lux said, disappointed at not getting to embarrass the Dursleys and worried about Harry having to stay out in the rain for another two hours and forty-three minutes.

Harry nodded in agreement about not staying under the tree, but where to go until he could return to the Dursley house hold.

Then it struck him, he could go round to Mrs. Figg's, she lived near the Dursleys house and Harry had gone to her house several times in the past to hide from Dudley and his gang in the school holidays.

Mrs. Figg's house smelled like cabbage and she was very fond of cats, she often gave Harry a slice of stale chocolate cake when he visited and she always offered Lux a piece too; she was the only other person who acted as if Lux was real.

When Harry arrived at Mrs. Figg's completely soaked from head to toe, she quickly ushered Harry into her home and offered him a towel and a hot drink.

Harry sipped his tea slowly, careful not to spill it which was difficult when Lux kept making faces and he was struggling not to laugh.

"How is Lux?," Mrs. Figg asked.

"She's good, keeps getting me into trouble, but that's Lux's for you," Harry said, earning a mock hurt look from Lux.

"I do not get you into trouble, I make you have fun," Lux told Harry, while standing behind Mrs. Figg clapping her hands loudly as if miraculously Mrs. Figg would hear her.

Mrs. Figg said nothing as Harry told Lux to quit clapping her hands and insisted that she did get him into trouble,

"So why were you and Lux out in this weather anyway?," Mrs. Figg asked, knowing the answer would involve the Dursley family, why Dumbledore insisted on keeping Harry with that family she'd never understand.

"It's Dudley's birthday and he is having a party, and I wasn't invited," Harry said, before taking a slow sip of his tea.

"Yeah, like we wanted to spend time at the mini whale's party anyway," Lux snorted.

Harry ignored Lux in favour of summoning the courage to ask Mrs. Figg a question,

"Mrs. Figg, you've lived here a long time and I was wondering if you lived here when my parents were alive?, and if you did, did you ever speak to them when they visited the Dursleys?," Harry asked in a rush.

Arabella Figg replied by telling half the truth,

"When I moved here, you were already living with the Dursleys and from what I've heard I don't think your parents ever visited the Dursleys," Mrs. Figg said, not mentioning the times she'd met James and Lily at Order meetings, because they'd led to questions that Dumbledore had forbidden her to answer.

Harry sighed with disappointment and Lux scrunched her eyes up in suspicion, getting the feeling that her best friend and creator wasn't being told something, then again she often got the feeling something was being kept from Harry.

"She's in on it," Lux told Harry.

"Lux, not this again,"Harry groaned.

"I am telling you, the Dursleys are keeping something from you and so is she, I mean don't you think it is odd that the Dursleys didn't take you to see the doctor that the school recommend when you started talking to me in class, these people love normal and yet, when given the oppituinty to see why you're not they pass it up," Lux said, her eyes pleading with Harry to trust her judgement.

"Lux, we will talk about this later, Harry promised.

Mrs. Figg looked between Harry and the space he was talking to,

"Do you know what time you're able to return to the Dursleys?," Mrs. Figg asked

"Um, about nearly two hours," Harry muttered, he worrying that being there that long would, be imposing.

"Well, you and Lux can make yourselves useful and help me untangle the wool in that box," Mrs. Figg said, pointing to the box on Harry's right side.

Lux shifted towards the box and peered in it,,"Untangle the wool, we'd have more luck convincing Vernon to wear a pink Tutu to work," Lux told Harry, who shuddered at the mental image.

Mrs. Figg got up to collect the box an walked straight through Lux when she got to it, causing Lux to shout "Hey,".

When Harry saw into the box he released Lux was right, there was more chance of Uncle Vernon wearing a Tutu to work than untangling the wool.

Nearly two-hours trying to do something that seemed impossible , Harry and Lux left Mrs. Figg's to return the Dursleys.

The moment Harry set foot in the house he could hear Dudley whining over not having enough presents,

"How long do you think it'll take for him to have a tantrum?," Lux asked.

"I don't know, but from the sound of his voice it won't take long," Harry whispered, not wanting to draw attention to the fact he was home.

"I think it's time for a game of screeching whale," Lux suggested, giving Harry puppy dogs eyes in the hope he'd play the game.

Harry took a few seconds to ponder whether to play the game or not, screeching whale was a game Lux had invented, Harry would encourage Dudley's tantrum until he started screeching like a banshee while Lux did a mocking commentary on the Dursleys which luckily they couldn't hear,

"Okay, but the moment he starts throwing things we're out of there, Harry said quietly

"Deal," Lux said, with a big grin spreading over her face.

Harry walked into the living room to see Dudley glaring at his parents, "So did you get any good presents this year Dudley?,"Harry asked, his voice sounding innocent, but the twinkle in his eyes said differently.

"Of course, I did, but I am a spoiled brat who always wants more, "Lux said, trying to make her voice sound like Dudley's and failing miserably.

"No, and a lot of the, present's from my friends are for girls and don't count because I'm a boy," Dudley wailed, not hearing or caring about how ungrateful he sounded.

"Dudders, Sweetie, You've still got Daddy's and I present's,and the present's from Aunt Marge,"Petunia Dursley told her son, making no effort to scold her son for his behavior.

"We are buying your love, because we're scared you'll figure out how horrible we really are," Lux whispered directly in Dudley's ear, in the hopes he'd hear her and freak out.

Harry rolled his eyes at Lux, she did that every time in the hopes that if one person heard or saw her then she wasn't just a figment, of Harry's imagination.

"I am sure, it is not your fault Dudley," Harry said, cryptically.

"What's not my fault Potter?," Dudley asked.

"That your friends brought you girly gifts, I'm sure it probably has something to do with that rumour going around," Harry told his cousin, trying not to laugh.

"The rumor we started," Lux said, grinning.

"What are you babbling on about, boy?," Vernon Dursley asked, glaring at his nephew.

"There is a rumor going around that Dudley is really a girl, but you and Aunt Petunia wanted a boy so you've forced Dudley to live as a boy," Harry explained.

"Who started that rumor about my son?," Vernon asked, his fat cheeks turning red.

"I told you we did, you never listen you idiot," Lux hissed.

"Lux, you know he can't hear you," Harry said.

"Boy!," Vernon growled, either wanting an answer to his question or for Harry to stop talking to Lux, Harry wasn't sure.

"I don't know who started the rumors uncle Vernon," Harry said, trying his best to look innocent.

"People think I'm a girl, Mummy do something," Dudley ordered.

"Yes, do what I say or I'll become hysterical," Lux said, still failing to capture the likeness of Dudley's voice.

"Sweetie, mummy will fix everything," Petunia said, in the hopes to defuse a tantrum, but with no luck.

Dudley who resorted to what he always did when he was angry, throwing whatever was in sight around the room which was Harry's and Lux cue to leave.

Harry and Lux went to Harry's room or as Lux referred to it, the cupboard of boredom, to have the discussion that Harry promised at Mrs. Figg's.