Betrayed then needed
Chapter 2: Kidnapped
~Five years later~
It was a Saturday, sunny and warm, and July 31st. Also known as ' the birthday-of-the-boy-who-lived'. So, of course, there would be a political party in the morning with Kristopher Potter shaking hands with all the important people of the world, getting congratulated for turning six, on the way to becoming a important young jerk… err… I meant on the way to becoming a important young… man.
Now, if it wasn't bad enough that ' Kris' got everything he wanted if he asked for it and he had to have a thing for pranking. Especially if it caused his brother to suffer in whatever way possible. Turning Harrison's hair neon green or silver, turning him into a kitten for days at an end so that he could try torturing his older brother in a Gryffindor way without seeming too Slytherin.
Not that Kris' parents ever complained. They, along with Sirius Black, his godfather, seemed to encourage it. Sure, Remus Lupin, werewolf and Harrison's godfather, wasn't too thrilled but a prank here and there would never hurt… Would it?
What no one in the family seemed to realize was that Harrison did not think that getting pranked was fun. No, after having his teeth turned into snake fangs for a day and being unable to eat because of it ended his love for pranks. Now, he absolutely loathed even hearing the word prank. He could only shudder in sympathy when the three Maurauders told Kris about their 'glory' days of pranking Severus ' Snivellus' Snape with Harrison eavesdropping from behind the door.
Sometimes though, usually in his room in the west wing of the mansion where no one went anymore, Harrison wanted a family that he could play pranks with, laugh with and receive hugs from. He did try pranking Kris once by turning his brother's hair brown instead of red, he thought it was funny but apparently no one else did. Sirius glared, James put on his 'I-am-disappointed-in-you' look and Lily slapped him across the face. After that, no more interacting with the people 'that gave birth to him and let him sleep in their house'.
Sure, Harrison made breakfast for them every morning and made dinner, but the Potters brushed it away thinking it was the house elves.
When James decided to dare and go to the west wing to talk to Harrison, the child nearly had a heart attack. Some irrational part of him hoped that maybe, just maybe, they had decided to let him into the family for some reason but he quickly trampled that hope down. No use hurting himself any more than he already was.
" Henry, I know that we haven't been the parents that we should have been but I was hoping to make it up to you after you get the items on this list for me," he paused and handed me a piece of paper filled with writing, " the password to Gringotts is 'Kristopher our son'. And while you're at it, get yourself something small too." With that, James made a dash for the door, not even realizing that Henry was not Harrison's real name.
So, Harrison leaped up, put his book away and jogged to the fireplace with an innocent grin on his face. He threw some Floo powder in, called " Quality Quidditch Supplies" and feels himself moving.
Taking a tumble, he falls head over heels. Quickly shooting up, Harrison extracts money from Gringotts and starts getting the supplies James asked for. At the bottom of the list, the very last item says Basilisk Venom from Knockturn Alley, delivery under 'Jamy'. Harrison takes a deep breath and tries to casually find the snake shop.
Harrison turns down a narrow street and tries not to turn around and go back to the nice part of the Alley. Finding the shop, he breathes a sigh of relief. Harrison quickly enters the shop and stops, trying to adjust to the heat in the room.
" How can I help you?" whirling around, Harrison finds himself face to face with an old and scarred man.
" Hi. I am here to pick up a delivery under the name Jamy. I believe it's Basilisk Venom. Can I look around… sir?" Harrison asks quietly.
" Ah… Jamy, a frequent customer. Fine. Don't agitate the snakes. Or you're as good as dead." With that, the man turns around and disappears behind his desk.
Arching an eyebrow, Harrison turns to look at all the cages. All of them contain snakes. Magical, muggle, legal and illegal.
"Who are you? You sssmell clean. Pet usss. We only bite if you get rude to usss." Hissing fills the small room.
" You mighty reptiless talk. How can I pet you if you are all in cagess like petss? Who sshall I pet firsst?" for a moment nothing happens. Harrison can hear his own breath after talking to them.
" You are a ssspeaker. Egg of SSSlytherin. Pet me firssst. I am king. I am known as Regulusss." Came the reply of one voice.
Following the voice, Harrison finds himself facing a snake the length of his arm. Black with green and red marking spiral along its long body. ' Unknown Species. Highly poisonous. Male. Don't look in the eyes, paralyzes. Feed with care. Eats mice and other small rodents. Sells for two Knuts.' That's all it says on the name plate.
" Don't touch that snake." The man is back, holding a brown bag.
" Why not? He asked me to." Harrison frowns, doesn't the man like his reptiles? Who doesn't pet their snakes to keep them happy?
For several seconds, nothing moves. Then, the man shoves the bag at Harrison and takes the boy by the neck until the boy faints.
" Jamy is going to have to pay a lot to have me give back a young parselmouth."