AN: Another chapter rewrite. I'm doing this every time I have writer's block.
Disclaimer: You know it.
Gornuk stared at the nervous boy sitting across the table from him. "Mr Potter," he began, watching him carefully. "You do realise this sounds an awful lot like wishful thinking." Harry's face fell and Gornuk winced at his choice of words. "Listen Harry, I understand that you don't like the idea of your godfather being an evil man, but he was sent to Azkaban for a reason. A full court-"
"There was no court," said Harry suddenly, blurting it out. "I checked in those records. He never had a trial."
Gornuk blinked. He hadn't actually had a chance to read the boxes of files one of the information brokers had found for him. Now he was rather hoping he had. "Are you sure?" he asked unsteadily.
Harry nodded vigorously. "There's a record of the order for his imprisonment in Azkaban, but that's it. They caught him in the street near the explosion and just asked a few of the muggles who'd been standing close enough to hear the conversation between him and Pettigrew." Harry's face fell a little at his point. "They didn't find any evidence that Pettigrew could have apparated away, but this world has magic right? There must be some possibilities. And there was only the word of others that Sirius was my parents' secret keeper. It could have been Pettigrew." The look of hope on Harry's face was painful.
Gornuk sat, considering what Harry had said. Perhaps giving Harry those documents had been a mistake. He'd meant to resolve the issue, but thinking back on what he'd heard of Black, he shouldn't have been surprised by this turn of events. Hated by his family, apparent friends with muggleborns and 'blood traitors'. He had a horrible feeling that Sirius' poor home life made Harry sympathise with him more, made him feel like he had a connection with the man. "Mr Potter, I seriously doubt any of this is possible. However," he said, holding up his hands to forestall the boy, "I will look into the matter and see if there is any possibility that there might have been a mistake."
"Its not that I think he's a hero," said Harry, shifting uncomfortably. "Actually I think he sounded like a bully. Along with my father." The pain in his voice was palpable. "But he just seemed far too loyal to his friends and distant to his family. Do you understand Sir?"
"I understand Mr Potter," said Gornuk, looking sadly at the boy's small form. "Now we better get a move on, or we'll spend the entire day sitting in my office." Gornuk had a feeling that a long conversation with his mentor was going to be called for after he sent Harry home. Bogrod might think he was a bit odd for caring about a wizard boy, but the man certainly had enough children to know how to deal with them.
HPHPHP
Th rest of the holidays flew by in a blur of activity for Harry. He was beginning to wonder what exactly Gornuk had done to the Dursleys to ensure their cooperation and Harry's peace and quiet. Harry had asked the goblin one time and received an evil grin as his only reply. After that, Harry remembered what Gornuk had taught him of goblin ethics and shuddered a little. Retribution was expected for unrepentant sins and thinking on it Harry doubted the Dursleys came off as repentant.
But now the holdiays were over and Harry soon found himself being walked throught the barrier at Kings Cross Station onto Platform 9 ¾. It was spectacular. The Hogwarts Express was a bright red steam train, like the one he'd seen in one of Dudley's torn, abandoned books. A small cough drew Harry's attention to Gornuk, who'd been standing just to his left.
"Mr Potter," he said grinning like the cat who ate the canary. "You seem to be missing something from your luggage."
Harry looked back at his luggage carefully. What was Gornuk playing at? Everything was there, sitting as it should. He turned back to Gornuk a question forming on his lips, but it died as he saw what was sitting in the large cage Gornuk had apparently hidden somewhere. A large snowy owl sat in the cage, blinking up at him.
"She's a girl, in case you were wondering," said Gornuk, whose face seemed to be half shark-toothed smile right now. "This means I expect you to write, understand? No doubt Ted will too."
Harry nodded, a little stunned. "Thank you sir. It means a lot to me."
Gornuk looked around quickly before shifting closer to Harry. "You also need this." Harry stared in horror as the goblin slid Griphook's vicious dagger into his jacket.
"What are you doing sir?" he said in a panicked whisper. "I could be expelled for having that."
Gornuk chuckled. "Relax Mr Potter. Its enchanted to remain concealed until you need it." Harry stared at him dubiously. "Believe me, this world is a dangerous place. What's worse is that most of the monsters in it aren't the ones you read about in school. Its a gift from all of us."
Harry was shocked. A goblin gift was a permanent change of ownership. That he was being given one... Harry teared up a little before he could stop himself. "Thank you sir."
"Good luck Harry," said Gornuk, grabbing his hand, "and don't underestimate anyone." And with that last comment the goblin turned away and walked into the crowd before disappearing.
"Well let's find you a compartment. Come on Harry." Harry followed Tonks through the rapidly growing crowd towards the train, his mind full of worries. Thinking back on everything he'd heard about the wizarding world from Ted and Gornuk, it was indeed a terrifying place. His parents had died protecting him from what sounded like the wizarding version of Hitler. The fact that he had somehow survived while Voldemort had been destroyed was no comfort. And now he was walking onto a train with a large knife and the brother wand of the one that scarred him and killed his parents. He was beginning to have second thoughts What would Hogwarts be like? Maybe-
"Watch out Harry!" cried Ted. "You're about to squish someone's pet toad. Grab it, quick!" Harry looked down and quickly scooped up the toad, which gave an indignant croak at being manhandled. "Anyone lost a toad?" called Ted into the crowd.
"I have," came a reply. A round-faced boy walked up to them alongside an older witch wearing a vulture topped hat. "Yeah, that's Trevor. Thank you for finding him."
"No problem. I'm Harry." He handed Trevor over grinning.
"Neville Longbottom," replied the boy, tucking Trevor into a pocket of his robes and buttoning it securely. Harry quickly hid his emotions. He remembered reading about Frank and Alice, Neville's parents. The witch must have been his grandmother.
"Well Neville, how about you come with Harry and find a compartment?" said Ted, holding out his hand for Neville's trunk. Neville handed it over, before his gran grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him close, whispering something into his ear. "Is there a problem?" asked Ted, concerned.
"Not at all." The woman turned her head to her grandson. "Goodbye Neville. I expect great things from you young man."
As soon as the woman moved away, Neville and Harry followed Ted onto the train, finding him placing their trunks in the overhead. "Well, I'd better be off boys. Good luck."
"Later Ted," said Harry, smiling as the man slid past them and closed the door.
Neville looked at Harry curiously. "Is Ted your step dad Harry? It's just that you two don't look much alike."
Harry sighed and pushed his fringe out of the way, revealing his lightning bolt scar. "No. Ted's just been helping me that's all. I've never really had anyone I could call parents in any real sense of the word."
"Oh," said Neville, looking embarrassed. "I'm sorry I didn't realise who you were. My parents... were taken from me too."
Harry nodded. He knew they'd been tortured into insanity. They sat quietly staring out of the window until the train pulled away from the station and began the trip to Hogwarts.
