Title: View from the Streets

Author: Knife Hand

Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated

Spoilers: Nothing Specific, general for first few books.

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I do not own Hermione, or Luna, or Ginny, or Cho, or... I would buy them all but I am broke.

Summary: The Dursleys do not keep Harry, so his life is very different and even tougher. Extreme AU

A/N: there have been numerous reviews about the economics in this story. The major comment is how expensive it is for a one bedroom apartment in Hogsmeade. Hogsmeade is an exclusive location and the majority of Wizarding Community lives in vastly separated locations around the UK and given Wizarding Transport like Floo then the commute from London to Hogsmeade is a few seconds. The rent for the apartment does include all 'utilities' as they are all handled by spells or runes incorporated in the apartment itself. With Harry's Trust Fund providing 32 Galleons per moth, and Rebecca's job providing 20 per month, it leaves them 12 Galleons a month for expenses.


Like most First Years, Harry, Su and Padma spent a fair bit of time during the evening of their first week, after they completed their homework, exploring the Castle. Unlike most First Years, at Harry's insistence, they did not begin by exploring the corridors or grounds; instead they began by exploring the Ravenclaw dormitories. It was a habit for making sure his sleeping area was secure and he knew every way in or out, a habit that had been instilled in Harry by Rebecca based on her bitter experience and it had saved their lives more than once.

They had found nothing in Harry and Padma's private room, but they had found a concealed stairwell at the end of the private corridor that led both down to an open space directly under the two Head Boy/Head Girl rooms and up to the roof of the tower, which was a small flat circular space, just large enough for the three of them to lay down on, that was enclosed by four foot high wall. They had also found a hidden door in the Common Room, one that was not overly hard to locate it was just no one had ever bothered to look, that had led to what seemed to have been Rowena Ravenclaw's office and personal armoury.

That discovery had caused quite a stir when Professor Flitwick examined the room. There was a hutched writing desk with a scattering of papers on it, a bookcase along the back wall filled with ancient tomes. A portrait of Rowena, dressed in sleek segmented silver armour with blue highlights with a detailing that implied feathers and holding a long, beautiful spear hung on the right hand wall. The spear itself and the armour were housed in a special rack across from the portrait, with the exception of the diadem that Rowena wore in the portrait. The diminutive Professor made his way directly to the bookcase and gave the occasional squeak in surprise as he came across a particularly rare or interesting tome. Harry, who had followed the Professor in along with Su, made his way to the desk and began to look through the papers, after a look to the portrait for permission which the Founder granted with a gentle nod, which was slightly odd from an armed and armoured woman. Su on the other hand was examining the armour on the rack, admiring the workmanship.

Ten minutes later, as Harry determined that most of the papers related to general administration and a few course outlines which indicated that there were some interesting classes during the Founders time like Archery and Battle Tactics, The Grey Lady floated into the room and 'sat' down on the chair behind the desk and glanced over at the portrait. Harry instantly recognised the look on the ghost's face.

"Professor, I think we should finish this later." Harry said. "Lady Ravenclaw would like some time alone with the memory of her mother."

Professor Flitwick kept looking between Harry and the Grey Lady in shock. It was well known that the Grey Lady and the Bloody Barron, the Slytherin Ghost, were the two oldest ghosts who inhabited the Castle but, as far as he knew, their identities had been lost to time.

"What's your name, young one?" the Grey Lady asked, further shocking the Professor as she had not spoken to anyone in decades and had only spoken occasionally prior to that.

"Harry Potter. My Lady." Harry replied.

"You may call me Helena, young Harry." The ghost said. "And thank you."

The Professor and the two students exited the formerly hidden office and closed the door to leave the ghost in peace.

"How did you know she was the Founder's daughter?" Professor Flitwick asked.

"It was obvious." Harry replied. "I've seen the expressions on Helena's face too many times before. Loss is part of life on the streets, so you quickly learn to read people, especially when they need time with their memories. Also she blames herself for something to do with mother."

"Well, you certainly don't do things by halves do you, Mister Potter. Here less than a week and you have already rewritten history." Flitwick said.

"How so, Professor?" Su asked.

"It is generally accepted that Rowena Ravenclaw had no children to carry on her legacy when she died." The Professor said.

"You are assuming that Helena survived her mother." Harry replied

Harry and Su left the Professor considering Harry's last comment as they joined up with Padma and disappeared into Harry and Padma's private room.


The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were packing up at the end of their Friday afternoon Transfiguration class.

"Mister Potter, don't forget to report to me tomorrow morning after breakfast." Professor McGonagall said.

"What was that about?" Padma asked as they left the classroom.

"Oh, Professor McGonagall arranged for me to spend the weekends with Mom in Hogsmeade." Harry replied. "I leave Saturdays after breakfast and get back before seven on Monday mornings."

Padma looked at Harry for a second and then stormed off, Su pausing only long enough to ruefully shake her head at Harry before following after her Indian friend. Harry dragged his feet as he returned to the Ravenclaw Dorms. Harry knew enough about girls to know that he had upset Padma with the news that he would be going home for weekends, but to his mind it was obviously not too serious because she had not tried to stick a knife in him or attacked him with a heavy blunt object. When he arrived at the Common Room neither Padma nor Su were anywhere to be seen.

"Little advice." A fifth year boy said. "I would give that friend of yours some time to cool off. She looked mightily ticked off."

"Yeah I got that." Harry replied.

Harry still went into the corridor that lead to his private rooms but he did not enter them, knowing Padma would be in there with Su trying to comfort her, instead he made for the concealed staircase and went down to the empty space below and, drawing one of the knives he always kept about himself, he began to practice the moves Rebecca had drilled into him long ago. Defensive strikes aimed at an opponent's hands designed to make them drop weapons. Fast stabbing motions designed to penetrate vital organs. Sweeping strikes for slicing open veins and arteries in the neck, upper arm or thigh. He got lost in the motion of the moves until his muscles turned to water and he his breath became laboured.

It was almost bed time when he climbed up the stairs and returned to his rooms, to find Padma already in bed, still awake but turned to face the wall on her side of the bed. Harry took a quick shower and climbed into the bed.

"Why did you not tell me earlier?" Padma asked, still not turning to face him.

"Habit I guess." Harry said. "I've seen too many people hurt because they someone knew what they would be doing."

Padma rolled onto her back and looked over at him.

"I'm not going to hurt you. Neither is Su." Padma assured him.

"I've never been able to trust or rely on anyone besides Mom." Harry replied. "I am trying with you, Su and Professor McGonagall, but it is not easy."

"Yet you allow me to sleep with you." Padma said with a quizzical expression.

"We both need that." Harry replied. "Besides I sleep with a knife under my pillow."

"And here I thought we were friends." Padma pouted.

"We are." Harry said, completely seriously. "You're still alive, aren't you?"

With an exaggerated sigh, Padma rolled onto her side and slipped her arms around Harry as they settled into their regular sleeping position.

"How are you going to sleep while I'm away?" Harry asked.

"Su agreed to sleep in here with me." Padma replied.

Harry simply nodded and settled back into her arms before they both dropped off to sleep.

TBC…