If You Tilt Your Head And Squint
'BOY! This week you'll be cleaning and fixing the loft! I've already ordered the wood and the insulation and it'll be here in two days, and Dudley's kindly agreed to let us put the stuff in his room, but only if he can still get to his toys! If that loft isn't empty by that point then so help me you will suffer! NOW GET!'
'Yes uncle Vernon'.
The obese man smirked and lumbered down the stairs. Harry reached up to pull the ladder down and hauled himself into the roof space. He grimaced. The loft was the one place he hadn't cleaned during his time at the Dursleys, and it showed. The floorboards, if he could call random pieces of unsecured wood floorboards, were old, partly rotted, and creaked ominously even under his light weight. Vernon and Dudley would come crashing down to the level below, maybe even further, if they so much as took a step up here. Sniggering at the image Harry got to work. Along side the bad floor, and the really horrible smelling cheap looking insulation, was years worth of crap that had been dumped with no regard as to health and safety. He spotted what had to be more of Dudley's old junk, moved up from the toy room, and a heap load of unidentifiable rubbish that quite frankly should have been binned years ago.
He finished moving things down within the time limit, but only just, and that was in addition to making fattening meals for his relatives and his other chores, something Vernon wasn't going to let him slack off in. Sweating and ready for sleep he made little protest about being stuffed into his cupboard, falling asleep the moment his head hit the poor excuse for a pillow.
The next day the floorboards and insulating arrived, on time though Vernon didn't seem to think so judging by his yelling, and Harry was back up in the loft, toolbox at his side, hammering and screwing in planks of wood, all under the piercing gaze of Vernon who'd managed to squeeze his bulk through the tiny space of the loft hatch. Fortunately, for all people involved, the man had remained on the ladder, and even that was protesting his girth.
'That plank's uneven! You're putting the screw in wrong! YOU CLUMSY TWIT NOW THERE ARE HOLES EVERYWHERE!'
For three days Harry endured as best he could, considering his age, hunger eating away at him as he hammered in nails, sawed wood, put down insulating and fixed screws in place. For someone so young he was rather competent with hand tools. Finally the place was done and his uncle stopped complaining, mostly anyway.
'I suppose that will do, but don't think you're getting any dinner for your shoddy work boy!'
Harry suppressed the urge to snigger as the man got himself somewhat stuck trying to get back down. And of course that was Harry's fault as well, but eventually Vernon got down to the landing.
'We're heading out to dinner. I want all the old wood in the skip when we get back! And remember, you've only got two more days to get everything back up in the loft and neatly organised. You hear me?!'
'Yes uncle Vernon'.
Thank small mercies that this whole loft cleaning thing was an effort to show off wealth to the neighbours, and thus Vernon had deliberately hired a skip to let them see all the work that was being carried out. That Harry, the local delinquent, would be doing most, well all of the work, mattered very little to nosy neighbours. What loft cleaning had to do with wealth was beyond Harry, but at least he wouldn't have to lug heavy and smelly wood to the local tip.
It was as he thought this that another thought crept into his head. Vernon and Dudley couldn't go into the loft, Petunia wouldn't go into the loft, bad fear of heights, so really the only person who knew what was in the loft was Harry.
And considering all the crap he'd taken over the years, was it really so bad to pawn some of the stuff off?
Mind made up Harry quickly got to work carting the wood down to the skip. Nearly half an hour later he'd finished with the dirty work and turned to the piles of stuff left, stopping by the kitchen to make himself a sandwich and a nice cold glass of orange juice.
Thank small mercies again that the Dursleys were thick enough to believe he'd actually obey them regarding food and cleanliness when they weren't around.
It took about an hour to sort through the waste from the good stuff, and figure out what his relatives would completely miss compared to what they wouldn't even notice disappearing. His pace was hurried, more so because he needed to hide the stuff he wanted to sell, but he knew that with the kind of appetite Dudley and Vernon had, plus the large probability that Dudley would demand to go somewhere else afterwards, that they'd be out a fair few hours.
Within the next two days, something Vernon grouched about, Harry had got the remaining stuff back into the loft and neatly boxed and labelled. The rest he hid in various places in his cupboard, and if he had something too large to fit, or too easily found by his relatives then he put it back in the loft but separated from the rest. He felt his rummage would be quite fruitful, and really even if he got pennies for the lot, at least it was pennies for his relative's junk.
He only wished he could do something about Dudley's old mostly broken toys, if only he could fix them so he'd make more money.
It was a few days later that he was able to sneak out with some of his haul, making his way to the pawn shop a few streets down, a building he could find his way to blindfolded thanks to his uncle's complaining about seedy businesses ruining property values.
'Where'd you get this lot then?'
Thankfully it was asked more in a curious manner than an outright accusing one.
'We were cleaning out the loft and decided this could all be sold. There's more at the house, I just couldn't bring it all down at once. We're putting it into the holiday money. Fingers crossed for Disney world'.
The man at the till laughed and asked for some id, which Harry was able to produce in the form of one of Dudley's borrowed bank statements and library card, both of which were useless really since Dudley would never go near a library and spent everything he got practically within the hour. But the guy in the shop didn't know that, although he did joke a little about Harry's inability to save money, there were a lot of zeros on the statement. He rang up the purchases while making small talk over what kind of rides Harry would like to go on, and some time later handed Harry a small wad of notes in a money bag.
'You take good care of that, don't want to loose it and have to wait longer for that holiday, and no spending! I'll see you again for the rest yeah?'
'Thanks! See you then!'
Fifty two pounds and thirty six pence. Who knew all that junk would be worth so much. And better yet he had more to bring in. Harry smiled brightly as he headed back to the Dursleys, money tucked away in his oversized trousers. During the next couple of weeks he was able to sneak out more of the stuff, and the guy who was really nice and chatty waded through the lots and sorted out money. He was even nice enough to show Harry how to value some of the items, joking that he couldn't show too much otherwise Harry might give him a run for his money. It was all in the markings, stamps on the bottom of vases and certain patterns in plates. Not that there was too much good stuff there, but since Harry didn't care how much an item went for he happily accepted ten pence for books and a couple of pound for photo frames.
'Know what you're buying lad, that's what I always say. Something could look right fancy, but half the time you'd get nothing more than a few quid for it. And save well, always good to save, even if it's just coppers and silvers, all that adds up in the end. You buy a toy and have a few pennies left, you put those pennies in a tin and you leave them there, you do that for all your spare change and you'll see how fast it adds up. And if you're out and about be sure to keep a sharp eye out for any coins lying around, as the old saying goes, finders keepers. When you get enough you can bring it to a bank and they'll pop it in your account no problem, and be sure to keep your pin a secret, regardless of how much is in that account'.
By the end of it he made a tidy two hundred and three pounds and eighty seven pence, and the only reason he made over the two hundred mark was because of a fancy looking gold pendant on a broken chain which earned him almost forty pounds all on its own. Gold, the man explained, was something that rose and fell with the trends, and at this point in time it was quite valuable. It was something Harry hadn't thought about, to him gold was gold and that was it, he really hadn't thought of gold as something that could get more or less valuable. It was a good life lesson, along with the tips the man mentioned about saving and spending.
He left the shop and decided to follow the guy's advice, spending a pound on a small money tin and putting the rest inside. He would also be on the look out for any loose change that people had dropped outside. The tin he would hid under his mattress, right back in the far corner of the cupboard.
Of course, now that he had the money, he really didn't know what to do with it. Clothes of his own would be nice, same with shoes, although he had to be careful his relatives didn't see the new tops and trousers. He could stock up on non perishable food and drink items, and since people rarely came into his cupboard, yelled at the doorway sure but never came in, then he could spring for some better sheets and pillows. On second thoughts, it was better he didn't with that last, heaven knows what Petunia would do if she saw new things where new things shouldn't be.
And thus, Harry Potter learned the value of saving and sensible spending, and of keeping his personal information to himself, something which carried over to his introduction to the magical world.
OOO
When Hagrid came to collect Harry and take him shopping, the only thing he thought he had to be worried about was getting through the crowds of people desperate to shake hands with the Boy Who Lived. That was until Harry let loose with his secret weapon.
The puppy dog eyes.
It was because of those puppy dog eyes that Hagrid was persuaded to let Harry stay a bit longer at Gringotts, to allow the boy to ask about any other vaults he might have and to sort them out the way he wanted them.
It was those puppy dog eyes that had Hagrid standing impatiently inside, or at times outside, each and every shop in Diagon Alley while Harry used his new found fortune to shop to his heart's delight.
It was those puppy dog eyes that convinced Hagrid that Harry would be fine going into Knockturn Alley to explore the shops there, as long as Hagrid stayed by his side.
And when those puppy dog eyes were fixed at the eye specialist, Hagrid wondered if it was a really such a good idea to allow Harry to run free at Hogwarts.
Finally they came to Ollivander's wand shop. Mr Ollivander came to the front desk with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. Both faded when faced with the puppy dog eyes, and Hagrid had already run for the hills, exhausted and in desperate need of a drink. Giving a glare to the dust trail the half giant left behind, Mr Ollivander started handing Harry wand after wand.
Thirty wands in and the man was begging that the next wand would be the one. Hell he was ready to hand the entire shop over just to get rid of those wide watery puppy dog eyes.
Finally, before he went insane, Mr Ollivander decided to make the boy a custom wand. He gave a sigh of relief when Harry was handed a wand that accepted him, and in his relief Mr Ollivander made a rather silly mistake. He warned Harry about underage magic and the trace on the wand. The moment the words were out his mouth, Mr Ollivander whimpered as the puppy dog eyes came back to haunt him.
He swiped the wand out the boy's hand and removed the trace, praying that the ministry didn't find out.
Harry smiled widely and thanked the man, leaving the store to find Hagrid. Mr Ollivander sighed, god help Hogwarts when that boy came a calling.
Hagrid was rather proud of himself. He'd bought Harry a gift, and got them both a nice meal from the Leaky Cauldron. And he'd answered all the boy's questions about the magical world. The day was nearly over, and not once did the puppy dog eyes resurface. Hagrid was so pleased with himself that when Harry asked about the mysterious package, the half giant blurted out the secret without thinking. Which started a conversation about why such an item was going to Hogwarts, which brought the subject onto Voldemort. Which brought the puppy dog eyes back full force.
Harry wanted to go back to the book shop for any information related to Voldemort and his death eaters.
Hagrid thumped his head on the table. Damn, so close!
OOO
'What is this transaction?'
The Goblin leaned over.
'That would be a withdrawal by your magical guardian'.
Harry nodded.
'And this one?'
'That is a monthly payment to your muggle relatives for taking care of you'.
Another nod.
'Shouldn't I have more than just money?'
'Your magical guardian decided that it was in your best interests to sell off everything else and put the profits back in the family vault'.
'Ah. So I guess that means if my family had any houses, or businesses…'
'They would have been sold alongside the assets. You currently have thirty five million galleons between your family and your trust vaults. You also have the family ring. I do believe your magical guardian saved one other item, he mentioned he would give it to you when you were ready'.
Harry nodded thoughtfully.
'I saw someone with what looked like a bottomless pouch. You wouldn't by any chance have any of those, would you?'
'Yes. We also have special cards that you can use in the muggle world. The cards can be keyed to your pouch if you prefer to use only the money inside, or keyed to your vault. Both the pouch and the card will be keyed to you, so if they are stolen or lost they will automatically return to you, and no-one will be able to access them except yourself'.
The Goblin was getting impatient. This snot nosed brat had been in his office asking questions for close to an hour. It was with reluctance that the Goblin had handed over the list of transactions since the boy's parents had died, it was the right of the customer to ask for such transactions after all. But now he just wanted the boy to withdraw some money and leave. He didn't care about what the magical guardian did, it was within the man's right to sell off items. Finally the boy spoke.
'Alright. I'd like to buy a bottomless pouch and a card for the magical world'.
Finally!
'And how much would you like to withdraw?'
'All of it'.
The Goblin stuck a finger in his ear and twiddled it around. He could have sworn he heard the boy say he wanted all of it.
'And I want my family ring as well' Harry then said.
'You…You do realise that if you withdraw all of it, that you won't receive any more interest and you will be putting your money at risk?' the Goblin asked.
'It's more at risk here. Now I want my money, and I want it now'.
The Goblin began to sweat. Surely the boy wasn't doing what he thought he was doing.
'Are you absolutely sure?'
'Yes. This bank has allowed some stranger to sell my items and take my money without once informing me. I want my money please'.
For the next half hour the Goblin threatened, pleaded, even went down on his knees, but Harry was past caring. Eventually he got what he asked for. He slipped the ring on his finger, placed his fortune in his pocket, dug out a single knut and tossed it at the creature.
'Here. If anyone asks you can say I at least left my account open'.
OOO
Harry came out of the bank raring to go. His gaze swept over the alley, wondering where to start. He paused as he spotted a small tatty looking shop squeezed in between two larger buildings. There was nothing remarkable about it, and yet it was calling to him. He had to go there first.
'Righ then Harry, lets see bout gettin yer a trunk then' Hagrid spoke.
'Could I go there first?' Harry asked, pointing to the shop.
The giant man squinted in the direction.
'Yer mean the menagerie?'
'No the other one'.
'The book store?'
'No, the one in between them' Harry stressed.
Hagrid's eyes went wide.
'Yer can see that one?!'
'Um...yes?'
Harry was treated to a large grin.
'I knew ye'd be a great wizard Harry!' Hagrid boomed, ushering his charge down the alley.
Entirely confused, Harry allowed himself to be herded to the shop.
'Why's that Hagrid? It's just a shop'.
The large man leaned down and whispered his reply.
'Not just a shop Harry. Only the great can see it'.
He tapped his nose like it was a big secret, and gently pushed Harry inside. Bewildered Harry headed to the counter. The old woman behind it looked up and gave him a grin.
'Good morning young man, how can I help you today?'
'Um...well...I'm not really sure. I saw your shop, and I just had to see inside'.
She gave a chuckle.
'New to the magical world?'
'Kind of' Harry replied.
'Got your school list?'
Harry pulled it out his pocket. She held out her hand and he handed it over. She peered at it.
'Old Hogwarts, never changes!' she laughed, glancing at him.
'I've got all sorts here child. You can get most of your list here'.
'Really?' Harry said in some surprise.
She grinned and leaned forward.
'Let's start at the beginning, shall we?'
She sat the list on the counter.
'One black pointed hat. Got just the thing!'
She reached up and plucked a hat from a hook, plonking it down on Harry's head.
'Nothing remarkable about that child, just a used hat. But it'll do ya. They only wear them for special events'.
Harry reached up and adjusted it, it fitted him well.
'Alright then. Dragon hide gloves. You're in luck lad! I just had some hide brought in last week. Got some gloves and holsters!'
She hobbled over to a cabinet and flicked the doors open, bringing out the required pieces.
'You will be wanting a wand holster? Much better than putting it in your pocket'.
'Oh, er...Sure' Harry replied.
Grinning she placed the pieces on the counter.
'Next then'.
She glanced at the list.
'The robes and such you can get at Madam Malkin's. Best in business she is, wouldn't want to take that from her'.
She nodded firmly.
'Now then, one thing this hear list doesn't tell ya to get is quills, ink and parchment. I've got just the thing for you'.
Reaching to a shelf behind her she brought out what looked like a small wooden briefcase. She gave Harry a wink and opened it.
'Got your ink bottles and your quills and your knife for cutting the ends. Take this level out and there's a while lot of parchment underneath'.
'I've never used a quill before' Harry admitted sheepishly.
'Well then I've got something else that might help'.
Reaching back to the same shelf she brought out another smaller briefcase.
'Practice set. Spelled to help young hands figure out their quill and ink. Tap the symbol at the top corner and it'll spell out your ABCs for you to follow. You'll learn in no time'.
'Thank you' Harry sighed in relief, giving her a smile.
She smiled back and clapped her hands together.
'Potions!'
Once more she hobbled away, this time to the back room. After some crashing and muttering she returned with a chest.
'This'll have all you need, besides ingredients of course'.
She tapped the lid and it sprung open to reveal an assortment of potion equipment. Harry frowned.
'I'm sorry, but won't I need bigger cauldrons?'
She answered with a chuckle.
'Muggle raised! Always a pleasure!'
She then leaned forward.
'Special chest this child. Three shrunken pewter cauldrons, tap with a wand to unshrink them. Then we've got the crystal vials, scales, the stirrers, and the knife set, all good solid quality, guaranteed to last'.
'Oh!' Harry said, impressed.
She grinned and closed the lid.
'Thought you might like that. Now then, a telescope. Be a dear and pick up that black box over there'.
Harry nodded and went to where she pointed, picking up the shiny black wooden box.
'This one?'
'That's the one child. State of the art telescope, complete with prism of the solar system and instruction manual'.
She took it from him and sat it with the other things.
'Last but not least, you'll be needing a trunk'.
She gave him a long thoughtful look.
'Hmmm...I think...I think you'll be needing...'
She snapped her fingers and shuffled away to places unknown. Harry waited a few moments, and jumped when she returned with a trunk levitating behind her. She grinned at his expression.
'Remarkable thing magic'.
She sat the trunk down and the lid popped open.
'A four level trunk. Level one has a greenhouse and a potions lab, both with the required equipment, of course you'll need the plants and ingredients'.
'Then I wouldn't need the potion chest' Harry said.
She tapped her nose.
'Trade secret child, never mix classroom potions with lab potions. One for learning, one for stocking'.
Harry nodded, not exactly sure what she was saying but it seemed sensible.
'Level two, a training room. A must have child for the years ahead. Just needs stocking. Level three you've got a living room, kitchen, nice big bedroom and bathroom. Level four a library and an office. Special bookcases in that library, each one holds five thousand books, I've left the how to manual for you'.
'Wow!'
'Good amount of storage elsewhere as well. Special trunk this, temperature regulated and able to have muggle technology. Kitchen larder has a preservation spell on it, living room has a one way "window" viewing outside. Whole trunk well lit with plenty of space, each room accessible regardless of where you are, almost indestructible. Access to the floo network, shrink via touch feature using this crest here, feather light, strap on the back to attach to a belt. Put a drop of blood on the crest and no-one but you will have access to it'.
'That's amazing!' Harry said in awe.
'That's magic! So then, we have all but clothing, potion ingredients and wand'.
'And books' Harry pointed out.
She thumped the counter with her palm.
'Great Merlin I almost forgot!'
She reached under the counter and brought out a large dusty tomb with a dull leather brown cover.
'Special this. The Book of Books'.
She leaned very close and gave a wide grin.
'Got a feeling you'll be needing it child. Not gonna stop you from getting more to fill those bookcases, this one however gathers information that won't be written in other books'.
'Really?!' Harry whispered.
She flipped the cover to the first page, winked at Harry, and touched the mark on the top corner.
'Hogwarts'.
And the book began to fill with information on the school that would never be found on Hogwarts: A History, and when the pages ran out, the book created more. Harry watched in amazement as the woman flipped through pages and pages of written word'.
'Anyone who passed this shop has their mind scanned by this book, and any new information is stored within its pages. It won't tell you about the man who prefers to wear ladies underwear, but it will tell you if he's harmless or a threat'.
'So it won't pry?' Harry asked, to be sure.
'No child. Anything truly personal you will have to find out yourself' she replied.
He nodded and watched as she tapped the mark to make the words disappear.
'That's your lot. Let me see...shall we say, three hundred galleons?'
Considering what he's just seen, Harry thought three hundred was very fair a price.
'Deal'.
He left the shop with the trunk on his pocket, making a note to buy a belt. Hagrid grinned at him and they headed off to continue shopping.
OOO
Harry eyed his…err, new room. It was bland, it was dark, and it was messy.
'Welcome to Dudley's toy room, please leave your manners at the door'.
He fingered his wand, his traceless wand, and grinned. Time to put everything he'd learned into good use.
'First things first'.
Everything in the room vanished to the loft, leaving an empty space. Another wave of the wand and it became a dust free empty space.
'I think we'll start…here'.
The plain brown crumbling and nail filled walls became smooth and even, painted with a nice deep blue, with dark wood panels covering the bottom half. The horrible sky blue paint was taken from the door and the wood underneath was varnished.
'Nice. And now for the floor'.
The ugly carpet was taken away and vanished to placed unknown. The floorboards were varnished to make them a few shades darker, and a dark blue fluffy rug was placed in the middle of the room.
'Can't forget the windows'.
A flick and they were sparkling clean, and the bars removed. Another flick and a pair of short curtains the same shade as the rug appeared. Harry opened the window to remove the stuffy smell.
'Alright, I have my space. Although…it would be nice to have a bathroom of my own. Now where to put it…?'
The closed space above the stairs would be perfect. It just needed a little reinforcement, and some pipes to attach to the main plumbing. Easy peasy. Some flicks and the area became a nicely spaced bathroom, furnished with the usual toilet, sink, nice big bath and some storage. Another flick and a small high window appeared.
'No more sharing with the walrus and the whale. Now for some furniture'.
The bed returned, it was placed in the left corner near the window, and with a flick the frame was repaired and varnished to match the wood in the room. The mattress was replaced with a nice new clean bouncy one. A crisp white fitted sheet appeared, and then a pair of plush pillows with one white pillowcase and one deep blue. Then the cover appeared, the same deep blue and nice and thick.
'Perfect. And the wardrobe…Actually I won't need that I can just use the one in my trunk. But I could use a desk'.
A desk appeared and sat where the old wardrobe was, repaired and varnished like the bed. Another flick made a comfy chair appear.
'And…Hmm I really don't need the chest of drawers either. But I could use some new toys'.
Dudley's broken stuff appeared. Harry sorted out the things he wanted from the junk, vanishing the useless stuff back to the loft. The rest was repaired and put in his trunk.
'That's about it, Hedwig's perch can sit at the end of the bed. It's getting a little crowded though, perhaps a bit more space…'
The room began to expand. Not a huge amount but enough to give some walking space between the bed and the desk. The door and window moved to fit, and the master bedroom next door shrank just a little.
'And I'm done. Wait, just one more thing'.
The door became firmly locked from the inside. Harry grinned and slumped onto his new bed.
'Lovely!'
OOO
'Harry Potter!'
The hall became flooded with excited whispers, people craning their heads to see the boy saviour. For a few moments no-one moved.
Then a tiny black haired boy made his way forward and sat on the stool. He could have passed for an eight year old. He wore all black, robes, t-shirt, trousers and even trainers, creating a desired gothic look. His long, slightly unruly hair swept over one side of his pale face. The eye that wasn't hidden was a haunting shade of green. He had a twelve inch weeping willow wand with a black Unicorn hair core in a holster up his left arm, and a shrunken trunk strapped to a black leather belt on his waist.
The hall paid little heed to his attire, falling silent as they eagerly waited for the hat to be placed on his head.
A few seconds past, then a minute, then a few more. The hat began to look frustrated.
'How in the world am I supposed to sort you when all I can see is darkness?!'
Harry didn't answer.
'A little communication would be helpful you know'.
It was ignored.
'Oh very well then! I have a mind not to sort you at all. But I have orders, so I'll put you in GRYFFINDOR!'
The house of lions started cheering as he sat down. Professor McGonagall gave the hat a curious look, before continuing with the sorting.
Harry got several pats on the backs and many students tried to introduce themselves and talk to him. The persistent red head boy from the train soon joined the table and made out that Harry was his best friend, proudly answering any questions the students sent his way about the boy saviour. The headmaster stood and spoke a few words and then all talk died as food appeared on the tables.
No-one noticed tiny fists clenching small knees to stop them trembling. No-one noticed that Harry had stopped eating after just one small slice of chicken, spending the rest of the meal sipping out a flask of slightly warmed milk that had been summoned from his trunk
No-one appeared to realise that he had yet to speak a single word.
OOO
'Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?'
The tiny boy said nothing, staring blankly ahead. Severus sneered.
'You don't know, then let's try again, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?'
Still he received no answer. Not even an "I don't know sir".
'And what is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?' he spat.
The brat didn't even flinch. Severus was not about to pamper a spoiled arrogant boy who decided he was too lazy and famous to open a book.
'Ten points from Gryffindor!' he snarled, then spelled instructions on the board and barked at the class to start.
At the end of the class, if anyone had cared to notice, they would have seen Harry put a sheet of crumpled parchment in the bin. It read:
"Powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood? Draught of the living death.
Location of a bezoar? Goat's stomach.
Monkshood and Wolfsbane? Same plant".
OOO
'When I blow my whistle, you will kick off hard. You will bring your brooms a foot off the ground, hover for a while, and then touch back down'.
Neville had just gotten the hang of sitting properly on his broom when the whistle sounded. He whimpered as the bloody thing began to rise, getting higher and higher until it decided it was high enough to shoot forward. He hung on for dear life, until he could hang on no longer and dropped to the ground like a dead weight.
As Madam Hooch escorted the boy away, Draco spotted a remembrall and smirked. Harry spotted it as well, and drew his wand.
That night in the hospital wing Neville woke up with a need for the bathroom. On the way back he discovered his remembrall sitting by his bed, along with a little note.
"Just because you've made mistakes doesn't mean your mistakes get to make you. Our problems are really our blessings if we use them to get stronger. It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are".
He picked up the remembrall and immediately it turned red. Neville frowned. It was always turning red. He was always forgetting something, or doing horrible at something, or being picked on because he did something stupid. It was the wake up call he needed. Someone believed in him, he didn't know who but someone brought his remembrall back to him, and someone had left that note. Tomorrow he would write to his gran and ask that she take him to get his own wand, and if he had to fight with her to get it, then he would. Neville Longbottom would be a pushover no more.
In the dead of night no-one noticed the tiny black haired form head back to the Gryffindor common room.
OOO
'It's levi-OOOOH-sa not levioSAR! She's a nightmare, honestly. It's no wonder she hasn't got any AHHH!'
The student laughed as Ron picked himself up from the ground, muttering about tripping over a root or something. As Hermione ran off crying, Harry slipped his wand back into its holster and followed at a casual pace. She headed into a bathroom and he hunkered down in a corner, wrapped his robes round him and kept an eye on the door.
Some hours passed, yet he remained still. No-one noticed him in his little corner, and he watched as within that time a trickle of girls entered and left the bathroom. Hermione didn't make an appearance, and so he continued to sit.
When a Troll came lumbering down the corridor, the only surprise Harry showed was a slight widening of his eyes. He slipped his wand out its holster.
Hermione eventually came out the bathroom, and the hours she'd spent alone and sobbing in the cubical had made her think. It was time she let others do their own work, let someone else answer the questions. She'd been in the bathroom for hours and yet no-one had come to find her, teacher or otherwise. It was a blow to her authority figure worship, but it was the wake up call she needed. She headed for the common room, promising herself that this was the last time she'd ever be bullied.
She had missed the Troll by minutes. It had been distracted by a crash further down the corridor and was captured by the teachers.
Harry had already left the scene.
OOO
Madam Amelia Bones was just finishing off some paperwork when a gorgeous snowy owl flew through the window and placed a parcel on her desk, leaving as gracefully as it arrived.
Inside was a scruffy looking rat in an unbreakable cage, and a note:
"You may want to put up anti animagus wards before letting him out, and have some veritaserum handy".
OOO
Harry wasn't entirely sure what had happened. He, Ron and Hermione had gone down to try and stop Snape from taking the stone. They'd worked their way through the traps until eventually it was just Harry left to confront the man. All that, and it was the wrong man entirely. Quirrell had fooled them all.
Except.
'Mr Potter. Harry. Child you need to wake up'.
Harry gave a weak groan and wrenched his eyes open, wincing at the flash of light before his eyes were able to adjust. In front of him, was Quirrell.
'Oh thank goodness! You had me so worried there. How do you feel?'
Well enough to grab his wand and point it between the man's eyes, not that he'd be able to do much in his sorry state. When Quirrell did nothing, Harry grew puzzled, and finally the man's previous words entered his mind.
'Why should you be worried? You're trying to kill me!'
His head may be fuzzy, but he could easily remember the mirror, and the stone, and Voldemort, and Quirrell lunging for him. After that was when things got hazy.
Quirrell gave a soft sigh, an oddly sad expression on his face.
'It was not exactly me, although I cannot excuse my actions, and the events that led up to this point'.
Harry blamed the little demons pitchforking his brain for his response, and for the fact that he was having a conversation, a polite one, with a man who not moments ago had tried to kill him.
'You're saying this was all Voldemort?'
The man sighed again.
'As I said, not exactly. It is rather a long story'.
'Not like I'm going anywhere' Harry muttered, wincing as he tried to sit up.
Quirrell gave a small smile and aided his student, admiration for the lad's bravery.
'I suppose not, at least not for a while. The backlash did cave us in'.
Scrunching his eyes Harry peered over at the spot he'd entered, and although his glasses weren't on, he could clearly make out the pile of rubble blocking the entrance. It would indeed be a while before anyone could dig their way down to find him, even with magic. He hoped Ron and Hermione were ok.
'Where are my glasses?'
'Ah, I believe I spotted them over here…'
Harry watched the blurry form move away then return a few moments later, and he felt the familiar frames of his glasses slide over his eyes.
'Thanks'.
'You are welcome'.
Quirrell looked like he'd gone through three rounds with Fluffy, and lost. It made Harry feel a little better about his own aches and pains.
'So, about that story?'
A chuckle.
'Very well. It started not long after I finished up as the muggle studies professor…'
And so Harry was treated to the reasons why Voldemort had leeched himself to Quirrell, and the more he heard, the more he realised that he really couldn't blame Quirrell. The man hadn't known Voldemort had hidden out in Albania, he had simply gone there for research purposes. He'd heard rumours about a spirit living in the forest and gone to investigate, and when that spirit turned out to be Voldemort he'd fought as much as he was able. However once the wrath had taken hold of him, he found it easier and far less painful to go along with the mad man's plans. Quirrell was no warrior, and his dabbling in the mind arts hadn't nearly been enough to overpower Voldemort, even in wrath form. The man had, over the year, been slowly drained of his powers and his life, and there was little he could do to stop it. His stuttering was a side effect of this drainage, Quirrell was very aware that he was slowly loosing the fight. His own soul was being destroyed piece by piece, even now, with Voldemort out his mind, he still had much healing to do. But he wasn't dead, and that was a gracious miracle.
A miracle that would never have happened without the brave efforts of the child in front of him.
'Um…how do I know you're telling the truth?' Harry asked hesitantly, showing that he could indeed think before acting.
'I can provide you with an oath, one which will ensure that I speak the truth' Quirrell offered.
Harry nodded and took note of the wording as the man raised his wand over his head and made the oath. It didn't sound like there were any loopholes, it was a simple enough oath, and the wand flash at the end signified that Quirrell had indeed told the truth.
'Alright, I guess I believe you. So what now?' he asked.
'Well, it would appear I owe you a life dept, Mr Potter' Quirrell spoke.
'You don't owe me anything sir' Harry replied.
The man shook his head.
'In the magical world, a life dept is more than a saying. I am bound by magic to repay that dept'.
'Oh. I really have to read more on the wizarding world. Um…so do I need to do, or say anything?' Harry spoke.
Quirrell smiled.
'Normally you would state that you acknowledge the dept, nothing more. It will then be up to me to aid you as best I can in order to fulfil that dept'.
Harry idly brushed some dust off his robes with a frown. He wasn't sure he liked having someone bound to him like this. It felt too much like having a slave.
'What happens if I don't acknowledge it?' he asked.
'To be truthful, nothing would happen. However I would still feel the need to pay you back. To acknowledge it would allow you to set the payment, leaving it open ended lets me come up with my own form of payment' Quirrell replied.
'Right. Well then, I won't acknowledge it. It would feel too much like you being a slave if I did' Harry said.
The man chuckled.
'Not many students would turn down a teacher for a slave. Not if they would never have to do homework again'.
Harry smiled at the joke, then a thought came to him, and he just had to ask.
'Why all the garlic sir?'
Quirrell leaned in close.
'I really, really, hate Vampires, Mr Potter'.
Harry couldn't help but laugh.
That evening, in secrecy, Quirrell faded into the darkness of the forest, a promise on his lips to return to Harry and fulfil his life dept.
Many people assumed that Cho, or perhaps Ginny, had taken Harry's first kiss. Of course they were wrong. How could the girls possibly compare to the warm sensuous feeling of experienced lips burning a trail over his, a hot tongue probing past his weakened defences to explore the sweet offerings within. How could a simple fumbled kiss in a broom closet measure up to ghost like touches over his neck, whispered promises of more in his ear, soothing hands caressing away any notion of protest. That honeyed voice had done more than whisper sweet nothings, it had helped Harry formulate a plan for the future, one that he found himself agreeing to with little complaint.
But that was a few years away yet.
OOO
'Alright that does it'.
Harry climbed up onto a table and turned to the students.
'CAN I HAVE EVERYONE'S ATTENTION PLEASE?!'
The Gryffindor common room fell silent. Hermione discretely wiped her eyes and gave Harry a curious look.
'Thank you. If you could all do me a favour. Would those who are muggleborn please raise your hands'.
Several hands rose into the air.
'Alright. Those of you considered half bloods please raise your hand'.
Harry lifted his hand and others followed with some confusion.
'Those of you who are pureblood now'.
More hands went into the air.
'Ok, now I want those purebloods who were called blood traitors to keep their hands in the air'.
No hands went down.
Harry nodded and turned to Hermione, giving her a wink and raising his palm up
'Alright. I, Harry James Potter, Boy Who Lived, do hereby decree, that the term Muggleborn and Mudblood, shall hereby be changed to Human Born. I decree that the term Half Blood and Half Breed, shall hereby be changed to Half Born Human. I decree that the term Pureblood shall hereby be changed to Alien Born. HOWEVER, for those of you classed as Blood Traitors, you have been deprived of the chance to be called Alien Born, and thus shall be called Born'.
He could see his idea working, several muggleborns and muggle raised half bloods were laughing, Hermione included. Those who didn't get it were quickly being let in on the big secret.
'Human Borns out there, repeat after me. I am proud to be a Human Born!'
Hermione, Dennis and Colin were the only ones who called out loud enough. The rest were a bit quieter.
'Come on guys! I AM PROUD TO BE A HUMAN BORN!'
'I AM PROUD TO BE A HUMAN BORN!'
'Perfect. Half Born Humans, repeat after me. I AM PROUD TO BE A HALF BORN HUMAN!'
Seamus led the way.
'I AM PROUD TO BE A HALF BORN HUMAN!'
'Borns, repeat after me. I AM PROUD TO BE BORN!'
'I AM PROUD TO BE BORN!'
Harry grinned as the entire common room let out a cheer. He hopped off the table and went over to Hermione.
'Don't suppose you could come up with some badges could you?'
She hugged him tightly, Draco's insult forgotten.
'Of course I will!'
OOO
The next morning a group of Gryffindors, led by the golden trio, headed downstairs for breakfast, and somehow managed to walk into a group of Slytherins, headed by Draco.
'You got guts mudblood, showing your face' the blonde smirked.
The lions glanced at each other, and with a collective breath, they let loose.
'AHHHHH! ALIEN BORNS! RUN BEFORE THEY SUCK OUT YOUR BRAIN!'
The snakes stood confused as the lions barrelled down the hall.
'Hey Harry, why suck out our brains?' Hermione asked as she sat.
'Simple enough, standing long enough in the presence of an alien born will destroy your brain cells. With every breath they take they may as well be sucking out your intelligence' Harry replied.
Ron almost choked with laughter.
OOO
Three days later and the epidemic had spread to most of the students. Hermione's badges were being snapped up left right and centre. A slight hiccup occurred when those purebloods who weren't called blood traitors, and who didn't try to lord over and insult others, protested the movement. Most of these people could understand what the movement was about however, and it made them reconsider their pureblood status. Hermione had a badge made especially for them, reading "I'd rather be proud to be Born". By the end of it everyone except for the gloating purebloods were wearing badges of some form. And it didn't take long for complaints to reach the professors. Draco in particular was incensed that people were calling HIM an alien! He hadn't the foggiest what it meant, but he wasn't about to take it from a bunch of blood traitors and mudbloods.
OOO
'Come in my boy. Lemon drop?'
Harry closed the door behind him and sat, politely declining the sweets. Alongside the headmaster, the four heads of house were also sitting.
'Now then Harry. I understand you were behind this new craze' Professor Dumbledore said.
'That's right. I was sick and tired of Malfoy insulting Hermione, so I thought I'd so something about it'.
'And so you chose to call purebloods aliens. Could you explain your reasoning?' Professor Flitwick asked.
'Sure. You see alien is a word that means a being from another world. The magical world had claimed to be a different world from the muggle, and thus the term is in no way insulting. I wanted those purebloods, like Malfoy, to understand how it felt to be called something that could potentially be an insult. Alien born just means that they are born from magical parents, and that the magical aspect of the family goes back for centuries. They sneer at the muggle way of life, and yet they don't understand that on Earth it's the muggles that rule. Magical humans appeared AFTER muggles did, and there aren't many of them' Harry explained.
'So in essence, Mr Potter, you are calling yourself a half alien and a half human?' Professor Sprout asked.
'That's right, except that the purebloods that are being called aliens don't seem to realise that. They are focused on this new word that's being aimed towards them and because they scorn muggle ways they aren't willing to go to the muggle world, or ask someone from a muggle background, what the word means'.
'That is rather clever Mr Potter' Professor McGonagall remarked.
Professor Snape made a noise of disagreement. However he actually did agree with the badges. Being a half blood himself he found no insult to being called half born human, nor did he see anything wrong with the word alien. He wouldn't tell Harry that though.
'Well then my boy, now that we know what you are trying to do, and that no-one is really being insulted, I suppose there is really nothing we can do about the issue' Professor Dumbledore said, a cheery twinkle in his eye.
'Thank you sir' Harry said.
'Well I won't keep you. Sure you don't want a lemon drop? No? I'll let you go then. Thank you for explaining this to us'.
As Harry left the five turned to each other.
'It's really quite clever. A pity I can't wear one of those badges myself' Filius spoke with a smile.
'Who's to say you can't?' Albus replied, opening his drawer and bringing out several corresponding badges.
Chuckling the others pinned them inside their robes.
'And one for you Severus' Albus said.
The man grumbled, but took the pin, slipping it into his pocket. Albus chuckled.
'Well then I'll leave you to hand out the rest of them. Meeting dismissed'.
Harry grinned to himself, he couldn't believe he'd gotten away with it. Better still the headmaster had asked for badges for his staff, and of course himself. They just wouldn't be displaying them openly. Sniggering Harry headed back to the common room. Wait until Hermione heard about this.
OOO
'THAT'S IT BOY! IN YOUR CUPBOARD AND STAY IN THERE!'
Harry blinked as the door slammed shut. Now what the heck did he do this time?!
'Rotten uncle shutting me in…didn't do anything…turn them into frogs and use them for potions…'
All of Harry's belongings were upstairs. And judging by the thumps, Vernon was trying to get into his room. Oh crap!
'I need a new place to sleep!' Harry cried.
And just like magic…wait, it was magic, there was a sudden flash of light. Dazed, Harry rubbed the sparkles out his eyes and looked round. Nothing appeared out the ordinary.
'Typical, I make a wish and all I get is pretty light'.
Huffing Harry slumped against the back wall, and promptly fell through the small door that had appeared during the flash.
'Oof! The hell?!'
Harry stood and looked round, only just realising that he was able to stand at all.
'Where the heck am I?!'
The door was still there, showing the cupboard with the door to the hall on the far wall. Harry appeared to be in a corridor, a really narrow corridor.
'Bit of light would be helpful' he muttered, then blinked as another flash lit up the area.
'Bit of warning already!'
Rubbing his eyes once more Harry was able to see the corridor more clearly. On one side, a little further down, there was another small door, on the other there was a set of dark wood stairs. And then of course the door he fell through. Harry looked left and right, where to go first?
'Eenie meenie minie…mo'
And so he headed towards the other door and gave it a tug. He found himself outside, just on the boarder between the Dursleys and the next door neighbour. A buzz around him showed a notice me not charm up.
'Secret door to the outside world, cool'.
And now for the stairs. Harry closed the door and headed back, quickly closing the cupboard door as he passed, to ensure Vernon didn't notice the new secret passageway. The stairs were only a few steps away, and he headed down.
'Basement. It's gotta be a basement. I didn't know the Dursleys had a basement'.
He passed a section of wall that looked a bit newer than the surrounding bricks, figuring the stairs had shifted to sit behind the cupboard.
'Definitely the basement'.
His foot hit the bottom and he asked for some light, closing his eyes to stop the blindness. He cracked open an eye, and his jaw dropped.
'No way!'
The entire area of the basement had been transformed from whatever it was before, into a huge duplicate of his previous bedroom, complete with his bed desk and chair. Even Hedwig was there. The area was well lit with several high windows, one of which was open to allow his familiar to take flight outside. Even the bathroom he'd created had been moved into a corner. Harry walked into the middle of the space and just stared. His pitiful amount of furniture didn't look so crowded anymore.
'I…am going to need some more stuff'.
Vernon could never work out why the boy looked so darn happy each time he was thrown into his cupboard after that day.
OOO
Harry watched as Dobby and Winky fixed the last few in place. He smirked. Let Dumbledore the Manipulator try to keep information from him now.
He'd had a stroke of genius one day while wondering why people weren't telling him anything. Of course he still kept up his correspondence with Quirrell, but as the man was in hiding he didn't have much to tell. So he had used the floo in his trunk to go to the Leaky Cauldron and headed to the trunk store. He asked for several identical trunks to be made, with the same protections his own had, and to have ruins carved on each to make them permanently invisible and shrunken. No spells would reveal them, and not even Mad-Eye would be able to see them. In them he put a sitting area, small kitchen and a bathroom. One wall was turned into a one way "window" where he could watch the goings on outside, and he could move from one to the other effortlessly via either the floo or via apparition. Dobby and Winky were tasked to scatter the trunks. One in Dumbledore's office, one in the Minister's office, one in Grimmauld Place, one in Hogwarts staff room, and one at the old Riddle mansion. The Elves had been a godsend, and had even added their own protections to all the trunks.
Let the secret be revealed.
OOO
'What do you think Hedwig? It took me forever to get it just right'.
Harry spread out the blueprints for her scrutiny.
'See? We've got the rock climbing area over here, and underneath it will be a secret maze with funky mirrors and things, and the ball pit and soft play area will be over here, I don't care if I'm too old to play with those things, they're fun! And here we have the one man bowling lane and over there I'll put a pool table, and I really want a lava lamp, those things are so cool! The adventure area will be set up here, and over here is the games court, I've always wanted to try football and tennis, and here will be a nice pool. Won't it be great?! We'll have to make the place taller that way I can fly around on my broom as well, but I don't think the Dursleys will mind loosing a little height from their rooms'.
Hedwig rolled her eyes and indulged Harry with a few hoots of agreement. He grinned.
'And I can't forget the super deluxe bird cage which will sit riiight here, with its own little doorway outside and lots of perches and toys and treats'.
Now that was more like it! Hedwig hooted impatiently. Well, come on and get it done then!
Harry laughed and rolled up the blueprints, that big empty looking basement won't be so empty soon. He did promise himself that he'd use up the space not taken by his bed and desk.
And the best part was, when he was old enough to leave the Dursleys, all the stuff can be shrunk down and packed away in his trunk to come with him. Harry took out his wand and rolled up his sleeves. This time tomorrow he'll be swimming in a sea of colourful plastic balls, and no-one was going to tell him he was too old to do so!
A week later Vernon grumbled as he banged his head on the top of the doorway for the third time.
'Are you sure the house isn't sinking?' Petunia asked nervously.
'No pet, house is as sound as a rock. I'm sure we've just had one of those adult growth spurts. You remember that man who grew a whole foot in less than a month' Vernon replied proudly. He rather liked the idea of being taller.
Petunia hummed in agreement, being taller would be nice. She could see over the fence with ease.
'Oh did you ever figure out where those funny noises were coming from?' she asked.
'Probably the neighbours built something in their basement. I'll have a word with them about it' Vernon replied.
He was also pretty sure someone was tapping into his water and electricity, how else could he have a sudden increase in his bills. Well he wouldn't be paying for another person's fun.
'I'M THE KING OF THE WORLD!' Harry yelled from the top of the rock climbing structure.
'And now the kind shall do his famous broom dive!'
And he soared into the sky, did a back flip in the air and dove into the pool. Life was good!
OOO
'You sure this will work?'
The spirit of Lily smiled at her son.
'It will work Harry, as long as you focus'.
Harry ran his hand over his chest, where a small white lily had been tattooed over his heart.
'Let's get started then'.
Harry placed the finishing touches on a ruin and stood, stripping off and sitting in the middle of the circle. He picked up the dagger and touched the tip to his forehead. Lily watched as her son chanted a ritual no teenager should ever need to know. Tears pooled in her eyes as Harry began screaming in pain, dropping the stained dagger and thrashing around as the soul piece inside his scar called out for the others. From around Britain several other soul pieces began to stir, being pulled one by one to Harry's location. The piece inside Harry was suddenly detached from his scar, hovering above his body as the others floated in and joined it. They swirled, melting together to become most of Tom Marvolo Riddle. And then, with one last burst of energy, they were blasted into the afterlife.
In a creepy old manor close by a graveyard, a withered form shrieked. He'd been trying to figure out why his snake suddenly started thrashing before it gave one gasp of air and lay still. Voldemort dropped like a stone, gasping as his life was pulled from him, his soul piece yearning to join with its counter parts. Voldemort reached for his wand to summon someone, anyone, but it was too late.
He had only had his new body for a few weeks.
R.I.H* Tom Marvolo Riddle
(Rest in hell)
OOO
People looked at him and saw a tiny, weak looking boy. He either had delusions of being a savior, or was an arrogant lying lazy bully of a freak.
Which was why it was so ironic that when Voldemort fell, Harry took his place.
Sitting in his gothic mansion, sprawled over a platinum throne, eighteen year old Harry felt that life couldn't get any better. He had his fortune, his spying trunks were scattered in important places around Britain, Dobby and Winky were devoted to him, and best of all, he had his "pets".
He ran his hands through the platinum locks of the one by his feet. Lucius Malfoy looked so good wearing naught but a pair of loose black shorts and a gold collar round his neck. The man was kneeling submissively, eyes closed as he enjoyed being petted by his master.
Sitting on the corner of the throne room was a large golden cage. Inside was Draco. The boy had taken a temper tantrum earlier in the day, and was being punished. Wearing only loose shorts, forced on his knees with his arms behind his back, the blonde was glaring at the floor, part in embarrassment of being on display in such a way, and part in shame at seeing his own father submitting to Potter.
Next door to him was Ron, in exactly the same position. He'd also taken a temper tantrum, but unlike Draco who knew when to shut up, Ron had been gagged and was furiously trying to remove the thing so he could yell at Harry for tying him up and putting him in a cage.
Around the throne room were scattered many large cushions. Harry's other pets lounged on them, sipping away at sweet wine or helping themselves to the delectable chocolates. The twins Fred and George were licking chocolate from each other's bodies. Hermione was reading a book, a hand occasionally reaching out to pick from one of the many plates. Bill and Fleur were napping, Fleur lying over the red head's chest. Gabrielle was severely thrashing Gilderoy in exploding snap, the older blonde looked bewildered that a child was beating him. Charlie, Sirius, Cedric and Oliver were in a debate over quidditch, Lee watching the byplay with an amused grin. Blaise lay quite happily, and rather smugly, with Alicia, Katie and Angelina curled round him. Nymphadora was flirting with Remus, holding a chocolate between her lips inviting him to take it. Percy and Severus were engaged in a riveting game of chess. Narcissa was trying to make sense of what Luna was saying, the little blonde talking about Nargles and Crumple-Horned Snorkacks and other such beasties. Xeno sat beside his daughter and smiled, nodding away and further confusing Narcissa with his little added comments.
Yes life was perfect. The world owed him a huge favour since they had left him with abusive muggles, and all the blame was being passed to one Albus Dumbledore.
Warm hands trailed over his shoulders, amused lips pressed against his cheek.
'Am I to assume that you are happy with my suggestions master?'
Harry pondered over it for a moment, pulled Lucius up for a kiss, then turned to the other man and grinned.
'Yep, I'm pretty happy'.
Quirrell chuckled, sliding into place by his master's side. He quite enjoyed teaching young Harry, quite enjoyed having such an enthusiastic student, and hoped to continue teaching him for many years to come. The little plan he'd suggested many years ago was now bearing the fruits of their labor, and he for one couldn't be more content with his new place in magical Britain.
Harry smirked and nuzzled the man's neck. Voldemort had really been missing out. If this is what was it meant to be a dark lord, then who was he to argue.
