MIT: Magic Incorporating Technology

A/N: Told ya Jerry was a jerk.

Harry's not going to _say_ anything to Jerry's girl, no. Or do anything to either of them, actually. He's going to be nice and mature about this.

Kreacher's not though. He's a house-elf, and his master got hurt. Vengeance will be his.

Remus has a similar reaction to you lot. Gotta love a protective werewolf.

Loving the responses to this, you guys are very vocal about what you do and don't like! Which is great for an author, means I know what works. Ash starts worming his way in from this chapter on.

I'm about to move interstate, so probably won't be able to update for a few days. Since, y'know... don't actually have a house yet. Heh. Yay for 10+ hour drive to new city. Why is Australia so friggin big? Methinks I'll be cranky tomorrow night.

WorriorBookWorm: Must warn you, Ash is only in a couple of episodes in season two. And this fic will contain spoilers for all of 'em. Then again, I read a crossover dealing with seasons one and two before watching it, and it just made it even funnier. "Here's where Harry... wait, where's Harry? Oh yeah, that was just a fic. Whoops."

-MIT-

Chapter Four: Getting Back On Track

Harry woke to the feeling of someone running a hand through his hair. He sighed in contentment, before he remembered why it was he was sulking in bed. His eyes flew open, half-dreading, half-hoping it was Jerry.

It was better.

Remus sat on the edge of the bed, stroking Harry's hair gently, and looking at him with a tenderness he reserved only for his cub. Harry whimpered and threw himself at his honorary godfather, who caught him and held him.

"It's okay, cub. It's going to get better. I promise."

Harry couldn't help but believe him. Remus always kept his promises, and he had a way of making things better. Plus, he was one of the few adults who always seemed to have Harry's best interest at heart, even though plenty claimed to.

Afte a few minutes, Harry felt brave enough to lean back and look Remus in the eye.

"Remus, not that I'm not grateful, but how did you know I needed you?"

"Kreacher," Remus shrugged. "He came and got me. Said, and I quote, 'the blonde tramp is breaking Master Harry's heart. Filthy wolf needs to fix it.' I gather he was asking me to come help you."

Harry flushed at Kreacher's name for Remus, but the werewolf just shrugged it off, as he always did.

"So, want to tell me about it? I take it he was talking about Jerry, your boyfriend."

Harry nodded, and soon had told Remus everything. The older man rubbed Harry's arm as he was talking, but by the end, Harry was sitting on Remus' lap, being held like a young child. Remus had pulled him there partway through in an effort to stop himself from going and ripping Jerry's throat out. He'd started growling softly when Harry mentioned not being gentle with him, and it had just gotten worse from then on in.

When Harry had finished, and laid his head on Remus' shoulder to soak up the comfort, Remus took a deep breath. He had to be calm and mature about this. Blast it.

"Cub, I know it doesn't seem like it, but things will get better. I know it hurts like hell right now. But just think - the next guy can only be an improvement. He'll be someone who takes care of you, who wants to be seen in public with you. Someone who'll be yours, and claim you as his. Someone who can keep up with the crazy leaps your mind makes, and who can understand your magical side."

"You think so?" Harry whispered. Remus was describing his perfect man, someone that Harry wasn't sure even existed.

"I know so. Think of Jerry as... a stepping stone," Remus nodded. "Don't shut yourself off, let someone else in, and it'll all be okay. Maybe not straight away, but eventually. Although next time," here he gave Harry a pointed look, "don't screw him until you're certain that he's good for you."

Harry looked down at his fingers. Yeah, he'd screwed up with Jerry, right from the first day. But Remus was right - if he could think of it as a learning experience, he could move on. He snuggled closer into Remus, who chuckled and held him. Sometimes being both mother and father to Harry could be exhausting, but it was all worth it in the end.

They stayed like that for a while, until Kreacher popped into the room, carrying a tray with Harry's favourite sweets on it and muttering under his breath.

"Stupid blonde bastard is getting what he deserves, oh yes. Kreacher will be teaching blonde bastard not to mess with Master Harry."

Harry and Remus looked at each other, shocked by Kreacher's language.

"Harry..."

"Yeah?"

"You taught a House-elf to swear." Remus looked a little shell-shocked, and Harry gave his best unsure-but-game smile. "Sirius would be so proud of you."

Harry burst out laughing, and it lifted Remus' spirits. If his cub could laugh already, it boded very well. Then he recalled the other part of Kreacher's statement, and gave the elf a pointed stare.

"What did you do to Jerry, Kreacher?"

"Kreacher is not answering filthy wolf. Filthy wolf will be making Kreacher take it back."

"Kreacher..." Harry said warningly.

The elf looked at his feet, hands behind his back, looking like a reluctant school-girl, and Harry couldn't help but smile.

"Blonde bastard is using Master Harry for sex. Kreacher is taking away blonde bastard's... pointiness."

Harry took a moment to translate in his head, then stared at Kreacher in shock.

"You made him impotent?!"

Kreacher gave Harry an evil grin.

"Blonde bastard can get pointy if Master Harry wishes. Whenever Master Harry wishes. Even if Master Harry is wishing for it when blonde bastard is in important meetings. Or in lockers after sporting things. If Master Harry is not wishing it, then blonde bastard is staying floppy."

Remus and Harry looked at each other, then burst out laughing again. It was a brilliant punishment.

-MIT-

Despite Kreacher's fears, Remus hadn't made him take the curse off. The werewolf's Marauder side had kicked in with a vengeance, and he even encouraged Harry to have fun with his new gift.

Once Remus had left, satisfied that Harry wasn't going to sulk for long, Harry decided to get on with his college work. He was actually enjoying it a lot, even if Biotechnology hadn't been his first choice. Harry was curious by nature, and enjoyed the experiments into how things worked. He'd managed to take computing as a minor subject, and was looking forward to the course in advanced programing next semester.

In all, things were starting to look up again, and Harry was determined not to let Jerry drag him back down.

-MIT-

More time passed.

The next semester came, and Harry was excited about his programming course. He'd learned a lot about putting a computer together, now it was time to learn how to create his own programs.

He sat in the computer lab, waiting for the class to begin. He recognised a few people from his other classes, and smiled hesitantly. Most smiled back, and Harry thought that maybe this 'friendly' thing wasn't so hard.

Then a familiar face came in, and Harry's eyes widened in surprise. What was Ash doing here? He was in his third year, why was he in this class? Then he started to speak, and Harry was even more confused.

"Hey guys. I'm Ash, but you can call me Dr Badass. I'll be taking the tutorials. I might sound like I'm stoned, and chances are pretty good that I will be outside of class, but I can work my way around a computer passed out. Any questions?" No one raised a hand. "Good. The excercises are in your lesson schedules. Get to it. If you need help, holler for me."

With that, Ash sat down at one of the spare computers and got to work on something of his own.

Throughout the lesson, Harry kept stealing glances at the odd man. When looking at a computer screen, it was as if a switch was flipped, and he came alive. His fingers were moving faster than Harry thought possible, and he obviously knew what he was doing.

Harry started to wonder if maybe Jerry had been completely wrong about Ash.

Then he realised what he was thinking, and scoffed. Of course Jerry had been wrong - had probably lied on purpose. It had been obvious that first day that Jerry and Ash didn't like each other, and Jerry had probably just wanted to make sure that Harry didn't talk to the other man.

Harry glanced at Ash again, then blushed and turned back to his own screen when he realised Ash was looking back at him.

He didn't see it, but a slow grin worked its way across Ash's face.

-MIT-

A few weeks later, Harry was at the local computer supply store. He'd become something of a regular customer there, always buying the latest and best parts for his computers. He could certainly afford to. While Jack was with another customer, Harry took his time looking at the external hard drives, thinking that he should probably get one to use as a backup.

He looked up at the sound of a chuckle, only to meet Ash's gaze.

"Heya Harry. Knew you'd know your way around a computer store."

"Hi," Harry smiled shyly. Now that he was actually standing close to Ash, he found himself relaxing a little. The guy had an aura of friendliness, like he didn't have a care in the world. It was calming, and Harry didn't have a lot of calm in his life.

"Y'know, I think you're the only one in the programming class who hasn't come bleating for help over something stupid," Ash commented, turning his gaze back to the products. "Actually, you haven't come bleating for help over anything. Is it me?" He had a grin on his face, as if to say that the answer didn't really matter. Harry had the feeling it did though.

"No," he shook his head emphatically. "It's just... I understand what to do. I love computers, and it doesn't take me long to work out how to get them to cooperate with me."

"Great," Ash turned the grin on him, and Harry smiled back. He actually seemed like a nice guy. "So, you here for anything in particular?"

"Not really," Harry shrugged. "Just thinking that I should really back up my computers to an external drive. I'd go nuts if I lost all of my work."

Ash nodded in understanding, and the two spend some time talking about the various drives and which would be best. Before he knew it, it was time for Harry to leave for his afternoon lecture, and he apologised to Ash. The man just smiled again and shrugged it off.

"Classes take precedent. I know. Hey Harry?" He asked as Harry was about to leave.

"Yeah?"

"You can just call me over to talk during the tutorials. Save me from listening to the useless sheeple."

Harry ducked his head and smiled. It looked like he'd made a friend, for the first time since Hogwarts. He just hoped that Ash wouldn't freak out when he eventually came clean about magic.

Given his attitude so far, though, Harry doubted that Ash would freak out over anything. Except, maybe, a computer blowing up.