AN/ Thank you everyone for reviewing, favoriting, and reading. I apologize for the wait, and wish to announce that I am now requesting a Beta in order to improve the quality of the writing that I post. Please enjoy the next installment of "A Demon's Soul."
"Seven-year-olds Harry Potter, Dudley Dursley, Piers Polkiss and three others from Little Whinging Elementary in Surrey were visiting London earlier today in what was supposed to be a routine fieldtrip. However, in a tragedy of errors, this fieldtrip became a tale that has this reporter questioning not only the parenting of these children, but the integrity and dedication of their teachers. We here at Channel 17 wish to congratulate Harry on his exemplary bravery and calm in the face of the mortal peril he faced when he found himself the hostage of one of London's most notorious gangs, the Vamps. This unfortunate situation wouldn't have even been conceivable had it not been for Harry's cousin Dudley Dursley, and four other boys, including Piers Polkiss, all of whom are currently recovering from serious injuries they sustained from running into a four lane street. And now; a short break for the weather forecast."
Channel 17 News Anchorman Stanley Granger sighed, cradled his coffee in his hands, savoring the warmth and smell of hazelnuts. He drank deeply, shaking the tired from last night, and preparing for the long, long night ahead of him as he covered the story. He started, nearly sloshing himself with his delicious coffee when his cell phone went off. Taking a calming breath and setting his coffee down on the desk in front of him, his free hand going to his pocket to pull his phone out. Glancing at the caller ID, Stanley flipped his cell open.
"Aayyy," he drawled, spinning around in his chair, a lazy smirk spreading across his features, "How's my favorite doctor? Practice going well?"
"I'm doing swimmingly, and your niece is fine as well." Dr. Daniel Granger drawled right back. "The practice is fine as well. I'm looking forward to rest of the story, do me proud."
Stanley hung up, seeing as he only had thirty seconds until the weather report was over. He drained his Styrofoam cup and lobbed it at the rubbish bin, missed, not even close. Making sure his hair was perfectly in place, he glanced back at the clock; two seconds.
"And we're back!" He said shooting a dashing grin directly into the camera and t into the hearts of London's young single women. "Tonight we will be looking at what exactly happened earlier today from the perspectives of a rookie officer, Miss Rose Thorne, Mr. Dudley Dursley, and young Harrison Potter. Unfortunately Dudley Dursley is not able to physically be here, as he is suffering from a ruptured testicle and a smattering of broken ribs. I was informed as I walked checked into the hospital in order for an interview that Mr. Dursley had been released from said hospital as recently as a week ago, the result of a severe mugging that occurred two months ago. I have with me a paper copy of the interview that I was granted earlier this afternoon.
I opened the interview directly, asking how exactly he had managed to end up seven blocks away from the rest of his group without adult supervision. His answer, to say the least, was both shocking and appalling. Dudley replied that he was "Harry Hunting", a game he and his friends played all the time with his cousin. When further questioned about "Harry Hunting", Mr. Dursley revealed that object of the so-called game was to hunt down his cousin Harry, chase him down, and beat him with fists and other weapons until they grew bored. Stanley sighed heavily, taking a pause before continuing.
"Understandably horrified, I asked Dudley why he would do such a thing, and of course what his parents would have to say about this atrocious behavior and gratuitous violence. He cocked his head at me as if confused, before answering: "Because he's a freak," as calmly and straightforwardly as if we were discussing the weather. When again asked what his parents would say, this little boy gave his most disturbing answer yet, stating that his father, Vernon Dursley, age 31, would likely pat him on the back, tell him once again that he was growing up to be a fine young man, and that in the past, he had often been rewarded with ice cream in similar situations,"
"Unable to the continue the interview, I left, heading down to Scotland Yard to see if the despicable man had a criminal record. As it turned out, he did. Starting almost exactly six years ago, with various lawsuits for sexual harassment filed by many of the female employees at Grunnings, as well as a dismissed case of sexual assault and attempted rape. Vernon Dursley is currently serving an eight year prison sentence for the attempted murder of his nephew, Harry Potter, almost two months ago, which was coincidently the same night that his son was apparently mugged, and consequently hospitalized." He said, glancing at his watch. "We'll be cutting for commercial, and the live interviews of Officer Thorne and Harrison Potter are up next."
Stanley pushed himself out of his chair and went to go meet Harry before the interview to familiarize himself with his interviewee. Walking backstage, he sighed, rubbing the heels of his hands against his face. Blinking a few times to adjust to not being under the glare of the stage lighting, he barely managed to restrain himself from flinching when he saw the bloodied gauze wrapped around the boy's, no, young man's left eye. He knelt so that he was as close to eye level as possible, knowing that his 6'2" frame tended to strike fear into the hearts of younger and smaller children.
He spoke softly, so as not to frighten Harry. "Hello, I'm Stanley Granger; I'll be asking you some questions about earlier today if that's alright with you."
"O-okay," Harry said shakily, "but why are we whispering?"
"Umm…" Stanley said, thrown for a loop, "Because some people think I'm intimidating." He whispered a little more loudly, "Do you?"
Harry scoffed, surprising himself and Stanley, "You, scare me?" he drawled incredulously, wondering where his sudden attitude change had come from. "Please," Harry said shaking his head as if at a naïve child. "I've recently been shot for the second time in my life. Did you really think that just a little height and a deep voice are gonna make me piss myself?" Harry walked away, leaving Stanley to wonder what the hell just happened. He was still in this state when one of the techies reminded him that he was on in five minutes.
AN/ Sorry for the delay, and in response to Blue Strawberry Fang, Ichigo will be showing up, but not until 4th year. If this story goes the way I want it too, that may be a long time from now. That said, I'll work faster at updating.