Paint the Pages Black

When Harry Potter was younger, about five, optimism was the only thing that got him by. Small things that held a greater impact on his short life than most would think. Like school - Primary - he would think, it will be better this time. Dudley won't stop me from making friends. I'll have someone to talk to and prove to the Dursley's I'm a normal child and then they won't hate me anymore.

This was proven false as he had missed the first day of school... and the second... and the third - before he knew it, the week had passed and he was still in the Dursley's household having been punished for something that certainly wasn't his fault. But the Dursley's... if it wasn't Harry's fault, it was Harry's fault.

Cliques had been formed and Dudley ruled over them like the big bully he was at the Dursley's. It seemed adults were all the same when it came to Harry. They believed the rumors - such a troublesome boy, always getting into fights - and fell for such abominable acting skills when parents called up and complained about Dudley's bullying.

"It's not me," Dudley blinked watery blue eyes at the Primary School teacher, actually having a glint of hurt in those devilish blues. "I don't do nothing. I innocent, they start it, I perfect, they mad and jea- jea - jellous, etc."

Not that Dudley would actually use the words such as innocent and jealous as those were too big for such a limited vocabulary. Of course, it didn't stop the teachers from falling for it every time; hook, line and sinker. It also didn't help that Vernon - while being a whale would be considered a full time job to some - was also Vice-President of Grunnings. His son was practically untouchable.

If the teachers weren't so against the green-eyed kid, Harry would've found the trickery amusing.

Eh, such was the life in a small town.

Something similar and along that train of thought was, They won't believe Dudley. They'll trust me and love me and know that I never lie. And of course, it would never happen, but it was something and once a happy thought.

Now though, at age seven and a half, Harry knew differently and also thought differently. Harry was also very observant.

No. 7's wife is cheating on him with the milkman - Looking out the window, the child watched with bored eyes as the tall 'Adonis' walked out of No. 7's house with a smug grin on his face. - who uses his easy access position to gain the neighborhood's trust. There had been a recent string of robberies. To Harry, it was obvious who it was to blame. With such a free-pass, it's a wonder the milkman lasted so long. I certainly would have started sooner.

But such a thought brought the little he had for breakfast - a measly piece of bread that was actually considered 'nice' of the Dursley's - back up. To use such methods... it made Harry sick and feel a vague sort of respect for the milkman rose.

A couple days later, Harry found out that the milkman wasn't just brawn, but brains as well. Watching with awe-filled eyes as the milkman proceeded to extort and blackmail a tidy sum of money for his - eh hem - silence to No. 7's husband. So not only was he the one breaking and entering, he was also bleeding money off his victims.

How... admirable.

It brought back up an old thought. To use such methods in the eyes of the court and law would be considered illegal and would send the person immediately to prison. But one would have to have the balls - the bravery i.e. cowardliness to do such a thing. But to Harry, it opened up a whole new world of opportunities.

Hm... to use... such methods...

A thin and evil smile curved pink lips - a smile that would have made more than one person pause and pale before running in the opposite direction.

"Kekeke..."

#-#

Three Months Later

His first victim. The Milkman.

Name: John Dekko ( Picture )

Age: 25 ( Pictures - Ages ranging: 6 - 25 )

Job: Thief/Milkman/Blackmail... ist

The Dirt: - See Pictures -

Harry grinned widely and innocently, fangs shown as the Milkman paled and blue eyes widened. "H-how-" Harry cut the other off with low cackled, "Kekeke..." A chilling laugh, one that shuddered down John's spine and then the kid had to pull out a gun. Innocuous if it wasn't aimed directly at the other's groin. You'd be surprised what one could find in the attic of the Dursley's.

"You're options." Harry waited, knowing John was professional enough to know where this was going. And it showed when the Milkman grimaced and held out a wallet.

"How did a kid like you get into a thing like this?" The vague way he spoke showed Harry that the other was probably just humoring the child, but Harry continued to smile, even though the irritation showed through green eyes.

"You showed me when you let yourself relax." The puzzlement didn't fade from the Milkman's eyes. Sighing, Harry crossed his legs and let the gun dangle securely from his slim fingers. It had took him the better part of the three months to learn how to use the damn gun - a handgun without much of a recoil - and only a few weeks to get the information on John.

For intents; John was actually married, had two kids and was only in Britain for six months and was leaving in the following week.

This made this blackmail all the more sweeter. One such as John did not deserve to have such a happy life. But, the man was smart. It only took two gunshots and a kick to the balls for the man to take him seriously, something that made Harry flash fangs.

Five minutes later, three thousand dollars richer and anonymous photos being sent to the States, Harry was happy. But - "Kekeke..." Today was merely the beginning of a hopefully long and profitable life.

#-#

Three Years Later

Intimidation, Harry had realized early on, was the key in most transactions. Fingering his old ear piercing, he bit down on his bottom lip, trying to stifle the smile that wanted to escape. Today was the day - he finally had enough information in his WEBB ( White Extortion and Blackmail Book ) that the Dursley's wouldn't know what had hit them.

Dressed for comfort ( and slight intimidation ) Harry donned a pair of worn - not Dudley worn thankfully - black jeans and a dark green, also faded, t-shirt. In his mouth - between sharpened canines - he popped a pink bubble and in both ears - triple piercings from the cartilage down. Green eyes, cynical and amused as he watched many Cul-de-sac-ians scramble away from his slight form.

Let's see; No. 3 had gotten a new car - to Harry's experienced eyes, it looked like a newer model too. - a car that No. 3 hasn't got the money for. What would buy that car, hm? Brown and green eyes connected, as the soon-to-be-Wizard allowed the man to see that he knew, and he wasn't letting it go. No. 3 flinched and backed away from the child, slamming the door behind him.

His gambling and selling of his Wedding Ring would be noticed soon enough, but little-miss-wifey won't find out about his lay-off from the man of the hour. She also wouldn't find out that he was now in massive debt to certain people who would pay a pretty penny to know where their next prey laid. No. 3 certainly covered his tracks well.

An impish smile spread across his face. Both Wifey and Mafia wouldn't find out from him... if the man paid enough.

"Freak!" More than one person flinched and scuttled back into their homes when they heard the less than stellar 'name' for their tormentor. Usually when the Dursley's called the black-haired child that, it made many... many people unhappy in the days that followed. Vicious didn't even come close to describe the hell that was thrust upon them at the time.

When they didn't hear the accustomed screaming that typically supervened, some looked up and then wished they didn't when they saw the completely angelic smile on their tyrant's lips - conveniently covering those demonic fangs for teeth - all knew something was up. Angelic was not what Harry was. Hell, even childish wasn't an adjective.

With ears wide-open, they listened to the prospectus' that fell from the boy's mouth like melted sugar. A prospect both frighteningly sweet and terribly wrong.

"Vernon Dursley - " The whale had opened his mouth to scream some more, but seemed unable to speak. A feeling the Cul-de-sac-ians knew and felt empathy with; though some of the more vindictive ones appreciated the just deserts about to be handed out.

Without the interruption, Harry continued and repeated, "Vernon Dursley; child abuse to the nth degree, embezzlement of a major firm, embezzlement of child welfare, bribery to the nth degree ( teachers and police officers were so predictable these days ), attempted murder, gambling with the Mafia -" He said this part with a pointed look towards No. 3 who paled significantly. "and other major Underground players and guilty of being the offspring of a shitty whale and fucking goldfish."

Nervous chuckles were scattered through the crowd that had gathered around No. 4 Privet Drive.

Hands opened and closed in an action that herald violence, one that was easily avoided when Vernon dove in for a quick attempted strangle. "Kekeke!" That particular laughter sent shivers neighborhood wide. "I should add another attempted murder to my list, but it would be overkill as I have something would brighten up anyone's day-!" The unholy glee that followed would be remembered for many years. "Pictures."

What Harry showed Vernon Dursley isn't known, but it had certainly and easily scared the large creature off if the softer - there was no such word where Harry was concerned - way the green-eyed devil conducted his dealings indicated anything. The kid seemed a little more lenient with his victims and a bit more happier.

That is, if you couldn't tell with the sound of cries of mercy and "Ya-Ha!'s" going on. The Ya-Ha's being courtesy of an excitable Harry.

There were many good things Harry received when finding data on the Dursley's - and he still had a long list along with pictures dedicated to Petunia - like, for example; more minions. From the Police - their eyes were no longer on him - to the teachers - all A's from then on along with more difficult work - the Neighbors - blindness seemed to be catching - and then there was something even more than sweet. (1.)

Magic. Kekeke...

#-#

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

#-#

(1.) The Police will not bother him as the ones under his command will do anything to keep him out of the system. The Teachers and Neighbors for their blind ignorance and favoritism. The Teachers will give him A's no matter what happens. But he's smart enough that he needs advance work anyways. From the Dursley's - or rather Vernon - he found out about Magic.

* Personality Quirks: Himura Yoichi from Eyeshield 21 if anything sounds similar.