Harry Potter - Urchin, Thief and Wandmakers Apprentice.
Chapter 1 – Dust
Disclaimer – of course Harry Potter isn't mine you dolt.
Graphic Violence, Trigger warning: abuse
Dust, it wasn't something one usually thought about in much detail, it just kind of was. Why are we talking about dust you may ask? Well, it was just about all our hero – wait maybe not hero, anti-hero? No bit to pretentious. Our…Harry, yeah let's settle with that shall we? Anyway, yes dust – we are here speaking of it because it is all our young Mr Harry, could think of speaking about at a moment's notice - Hey, be nice he's only young. You see dust is, eloquent as a muggle once said and it had been Harry's constant companion since his birth. What little he could remember of it anyway or chose to remember – either way. Dust had been the only thing that had never, ever gone away. How's about we have a gander at our young Mr Potter, through his trials and tribulations as he makes his mark on humanity with a deft and subtle hand.
Privet Drive, Surrey
"What on Earth are we going to do with it Petunia?! What does that letter say?! DON'T IGNORE ME!" Thundered a voice belonging to a large whale-like man with hardly any neck, directed at a slim woman who sat on a floral-patterned sofa clutching a letter in her clenched fist – her eyes blazing with both fury and fear.
The reason for this uproar, was laying asleep on the carpet between the two. Just that morning when the woman had been putting out the milk bottles, she had stumbled across the sleeping babe with a letter clasped in his tiny fist. She had quickly brought the thing as she called it, inside before the neighbours could see and thus found herself in the situation, we now peer upon.
"It's a letter from them! The freaks that she was a part of, the slut's worthless husband must have knocked her up. It can't stay here, I told her years ago I wanted nothing to do with her or her ilk. I don't care what Dumbledore says!" She spoke in a venomous tone that made even Vernon take a step back.
"What do we do with it though Petunia?! I s'pose I could take it up to an Orphanage, in London so it's far away?" Vernon spoke in a voice that trembled, this sort of scandal could ruin his reputation and that simply was not allowed.
"Do it, make sure nobody sees you – this cannot lead back to us in any way. Go now." Petunia spoke in a tone of finality. With that Vernon took his coat of the hanger, snatched his car keys from the bowl by the door and then hurried into the living room where his wife still sat. "I'll be a few hours; all this will be over soon" He said before hurrying out the door with the sleeping babe bundled in his arms.
Grindeyve Orphanage, London
Selene Browhurst, head of Grindeyve Orphanage was not an overly patient woman – so why she pursued a career in the child care industry was anyone's guess. So, when a screaming baby was found on her doorstep even before her 9:00 am coffee – she wasn't in the best of moods. Walking out into the cold morning air, her high heels clicking on the iron grey stone she spotted the source of the horrendous racket laying on the bottom step, not a person in sight. Walking down the steps in a huff she stopped and looked down at the screaming child. However, she did not make any move to pick it up, or to even check if it was ok – instead she stood glowering down at it before saying "Oh shut up you little brat!" swatting the child across the face harshly, to which the baby's screams only amplified in decibels.
With that she picked it up and walked inside screeching "KELLY! Get your arse down here and help me!" Kelly, a thin twenty-one-year-old with shoulder length blonde hair and way too much make-up on came running down the stairs a moment later wearing a pair of loose-fitting jeans and a vest top.
"Shit what the fuck is going on here?" She said walking into hers and Selene's shared office to a screeching that she was sure most opera singers couldn't reach "Found this screaming on the front steps about five minutes ago, best process him and find him a room. Couldn't find any sort of identification on him, we'll get the doc to check him over once he's in. Well? What you gawking at, get to it!" Selene said
While Kelly took the screaming baby away, Selene sat down at her desk and thought "One thing after a bloody other today"
Two hours later
Dr Graveson had been called in early that morning, apparently some little tyke had been found screaming on the front steps this morning by Miss Browhurst. And thus, the good doctor was needed to process the child, he felt a tingle of excitement go through him – he always got excited when someone new arrived.
"Ahh Kelly, so what have we here then?" Dr Graveson asked
"No clue, no sort of identification on him – just found him on the steps" The woman said
"Ahh I see, so we have a mystery on our hands? Very well, you may go now my dear" The doctor said nodding towards the door. As Kelly left, he turned to the now silent child, then he picked up a syringe and said, "Well then, let's have a look at you, shall we?"
8 years later
He never, ever wanted to see a bowl of fucking porridge ever again. Every day, he was forced to eat the grey slop. On top of listening to the grating voice of Miss Browhurst, the scathing drawl of Kelly, the sickly-sweet voice of Dr Graveson, or even worse the booming aggressive voice of Father Brennan.
"Oi! Dust head, you're being spoken to!" Came the voice of one of the other children, breaking his reverie "What?" He said indignantly, unfortunately Miss Browhurst heard him and she quickly made her way over to him and said in a venomous voice "Remember your manners boy, else you'll suffer the consequences" he paled at that and muttered a stuttered "S-sorry" under his breath.
She smiled that false smile she plastered on whenever prospective foster parents would come by and said, "That's better, now through to the chapel – Father Brennan would like to speak with you." He inwardly groaned, he couldn't stand the man with his preaching about God and the Holy Bible, from what he had read – the Christians weren't as, forgive the pun – Saint like as they would like to appear. The residents and staff of the orphanage (or Prison as he called it) all hated him, mostly because of his unnatural evolution. He had been the one to learn to walk first, read first and write first – even the school he was forced to go to where more concerned than impressed. Hence his name, Dust Head – all the kids mocked him because of his intellect, calling him freak and weirdo.
Walking into the chapel, he found Father Brennan waiting for him "Boy, follow me – we must speak" He said in his thick Irish brogue. He simply nodded and followed – he was never one to speak unless necessary.
Stopping at a small table, Father Brennan invited him to sit down – well it wasn't really an invite, more of a command masquerading as an invite. He sat and looked at the aged Father with trepidation.
"Miss Browhurst has told me of her concerns about you, your unnaturalness as it were." He internally rolled his eyes; the old man was trying to get him to trust in God and Jesus Christ.
"And I propose a solution" That brought him back to reality, he nodded for the man to continue. "I would propose that more direct action, is needed in your case – so as the light of the Lord can shine upon you and chase away any dark unpleasantness. I am proposing that my wife and I, adopt you – All the paperwork is done, and we only need to pack up your stuff then we can go to your new home." The old man smiled a smile that lacked any real warmth behind it, to him – he was giving the boy in front of him a brand-new start in life, he would have a child to mould and shape to however he wanted.
"B-but what i-if I d-don't w-want y-you, t-t-to a-a-adopt m-m-me" He said shakily, then wished he hadn't – the mans face flushed scarlet and he was on his feet with a speed that belied his old age. And before the boy could move, he had him by his hair and threw him to the cold hard stone, where he proceeded to brutally kick the boy in the back and stomach.
"YOU UNGRATEFUL LITTLE SHIT!" He bellowed as he levelled a kick at his gut "I OFFER YOU THE LIGHT OF THE LORD AND YOU THROW IT BACK IN MY FACE!" He bellowed louder still and savagely booted the boy's ribcage "YOU. WILL. TAKE. WHAT. YOU. ARE. GIVEN. AND. BE. GREATFUL. YOU. HAVE. IT." He punctuated every word with a kick to the boy's gut, he lay there in agony as the older and stronger man towered above him.
But then, the unexpected happened – as the man was getting ready to level a kick at the boy's head. A sudden burst of silver light exploded from the boys chest, and the scar on his head prickled slightly. What was more interesting however, was the fact that Father Brennan was suddenly thrown bodily to the very end of the hall where a large ornate golden cross hung by what seemed to be a large silhouette of a man made completely of dust and cobwebs, the cross came crashing down onto the mans back, and he moved no more.
In all the commotion, Miss Browhurst along with Kelly and half the residents of the Orphanage had all come running into the chapel. Stunned silence reigned, until a sudden cry split the silence.
"MURDERER!" The cry came from Kelly who was rummaging in her pocket for her phone "Call the police. Now." Said Miss Browhurst glowering evilly at the boy.
In his daze he didn't even notice, with strength he didn't know he had. He leapt up and raced towards the front door, the cries of "STOP!" Falling on deaf ears. All he could hear was a voice he didn't recognise shouting a name he didn't know, was it Harry? Then a high, cold cruel laugh permeated his ear drums and he swore he could see a burst of green light.
He had run nearly five miles before he stopped for breath, the memories of both the event with Father Brennan and what followed still plagued him. With a weary head, the boy walked for a bit – until he heard a police siren. He knew who they where from what the kids at school told him "Bad men who'll take ye away" So acting on some unknown instinct he ducked into an alleyway, behind a large bin. The ground was wet, and everything around him reeked and was covered in dust but oddly, the grey specks floating in the air – disturbed by his presence, and the dark shadows covering the alley brought him, peace the sort of thing that most find in the sun. He decided not to muse on this, and instead leant his head against the rough brick wall, letting his scruffy raven hair fall over his eyes he pulled the hood of his thin jacket up and – for the first time in his whole life.
Harry Potter slept soundly.
A/N – Hello there people of the Interwebs, this is something I have been thinking about for a while. It will run in conjunction with my other story. As can be expected with me, both stories will be updated as and when I can. If any of you have any questions feel free to leave a review or PM me, this chapter dealt with the first few years of Harry's life, which lead up to "The event" Now you may notice I do not refer to Harry by name till the end of the chapter, this is done intentionally don't worry. The whole thing with dust and shadows being prevalent will be expanded upon in later chapters, just know that they will be a major thing in this fic. There will be romance in it eventually, I do have a pairing in mind (if you don't like it you don't have to read it sweet cheeks) anyway, the next chapter will deal with the aftermath of what happened in the Orphanage, both from the OC's perspective and Harry's, don't worry this isn't going to be "Eight year old Harry murders man and is inexplicably fine" Fic. And also we will see what happens with Harry while he's out and about in Muggle London.
Until next we meet,
Seya soon my freaky darlin's!
Grae