Chapter 2 Diagon alley and abrupt bonds
Harry cursed his luck, of all the pea-brained, annoying and viscous vermin he'd ever encountered, Fred was the worst. Thank fuck for rapid regeneration skills, his left hand was once again bitten clean off by the carnivorous little plant and had only just reached two thirds of its original size as they walked out of the front door. He kept his hands stuffed in the pockets of his pants as he and his aunt Petunia got into the car, ignoring the rantings of Vernon Dersley, a fat walrus like man who used to stalk petunia until he noticed she had greenish skin. He moved next door into number 2 along with his fat whale and bully of a daughter Delighla and horrid wife Pheobe, who always tried to ruin their garden, two years ago and tried to make their life miserable. Not that it ever worked.
As they pulled out of the driveway and headed towards London harry had to stiffen a laugh as Mrs. Figg chased Delighla down the street for kicking one of her cats.
It was a short drive to London and finding the leaky cauldron was a breeze, parking however was a nightmare. After 40 minutes they finally succeeded. As they walked the two blocks to the leaky cauldron they noticed a family, mother and daughter in wheelchairs with the father helping the daughter along. They quickly noticed the language.
$ Why must we take the human entrance?$ the girl hissed.
"English Hermione." The mother chastised the girl. "And we must as it was you who insisted that we stop at the pizzeria first."
Harry raised an eyebrow. $Its nice to meet another speaker.$ he hissed.
The woman and girl stiffened and their heads shot in his direction in shock, prompting the father to stop and see what was going on.
$A speaker! $ Hermione hissed in joy.
"Nice to meet you, I'm harry potter and this is my aunt Petunia." Harry introduced as he gestured to his puffing aunt who regretted having a large breakfast.
"Hermione, Hermione granger, Heiress of the Longbottums from mum's side thanks to her being blood adopted." Hermione smiled and in English as they all continued to walk to the leaky cauldron, keeping quiet enough to stop easedroppers.
"Emma Granger nee Longbottum nee Assad." The mother introduced.
" Daniel Granger." The father introduced as he wheeled hermione into the leaky cauldron while harry held the door. They all agreed to sit at the table in the corner of the room due to how quiet it was. "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise." Petunia smiled as she shook Daniel's hand.
$Smellss here.$ Hermione hissed his disgust.
$Agreed.$ harry muttered, the place smelt of rot. His two least favorite smells, rot and fire. Both were instinctual.
"so, how do you know snake?" Harry asked with interest. He'd been in and out of diagon a few times while in disguise and once in Knocturn Alley and yet he'd never met a non snake speek the language.
"Oh, I'm a Basilisk." Emma explained patiently. " The longbottums made me the family guardian seven hundred years ago and I've been free of the duty as of the last 302 years. During the first muggle world war Xavier Longbuttom granted me semi human form."
Harry looked interested in the idea as it was quite similar to nymph legend of how they were created from the flower a man loved enough to grant life and form to so he could marry it... Ancient wizards were perverts he decided.
"Uh, dad, can you help me out?" Hermione asked.
"Sure, hand me the blanket I'll keep a good hold of them." Daniel replied. Hermione nodded and handed her father the blanket revealing a emerald green snake tail where her legs should be, the upper portions covered by a black short skirt. He then lifted Hermione up and Emma pulled the wheelchair back and folded it up as Hermione was placed on the ground.
Harry decided to help at this point by carrying her wheelchair for her. Hermione smiled in thanks and Emma and Petunia took the lead into the alley as only Emma had a wand.
The alley was a twisting and winding road lined with the most unusual shops. Toad warts, three shicles a pound, perfect for anti-sweat potions and fertility charms. Another sold cauldrons. Gold, pewter, copper and steel. Only 19 Galleons and less today only.
The people were even more diverse, among the witches and wizards different species walked along. High Elves, who came out of hiding seven years ago, half giants, Goblins, Ents and harry could of sworn he saw a nekomata boy chacing after a giggling red haired girl who's hair was made of fire.
However both parties agreed that the first stop was the gleeming white marble building called gringotts. The major bank in the wizard world which was run by goblins. Two goblin guards stood at attention either side of two heavy oak doors which were inscribes with runes and the words:
" Enter, stranger, but take heed Of what awaits the sin of greed For those who take, but do not earn Must pay most dearly in their turn So if you seek beneath our floors A treasure that was never yours Thief, you have been warned, beware Of finding more than treasure there."
Harry knew this was actually a challenge rather than a warning. The dwarves had a similar one.
Once inside harry turned to look at hermione while both families waited in the same long line.
" so, what's it like to have to hide in the muggle world the way you do?" Harry asked, trying to start a conversation.
" it honestly ssuckss." Hermione sighed. A worn and longing look flashed across her face for the briefest of moments.
"STOP THIEF!" a goblin bellowed as a man wearing a purple turban sprinted through the atrium and barged through the lines. He spun, raised his wand and bellowed, " AVADA KADAVA!" A sickly green jet dropped the goblin dead. People his the deck and one man shoved Hermione forwards and into harry, their lips met with a flash of gold.