Warnings: child abuse, homicide, slash-sex, bdsm, spanking, torture, lots of kinks and Chan/Shouta
Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter universe. If I did, there would be no doubt in your minds. I assure you, the change would be noticeable.
Warnings this chap: None. Still fun though.
A/N: So yeah, a bit late, but I started writing a oneshot for a challenge on the side. And Star Wars fandom caught my eye! Go vote on the poll on my profile if you didn't already.
Behind Green Eyes
By AtrumMaximus
Knockturn Alley was more interesting than Opliviaon had been, even if it wasn't any less creepy. The laughter and decadence was gone from the mood, and instead everyone was jumpy and sending each other suspicious glances. People still walked in the shadows.
The shops were interesting though. Many of them dealt with less than legal artifacts and books, and Harry saw several shops he wanted to visit as soon as he had money. He didn't let himself linger though, since he had a limited amount of time and the priority was accessing Gringotts and determining if and when he would be allowed into the Potter family vault, and possibly if he could get money without alerting any magical authorities. That was essential for his future visits to the Alleys and the wizarding world in general.
Also, he thought it far beneath him to gaze at anything with stars in his eyes, no matter its supposed fascinating abilities.
Which was why he was trying not to.
He largely succeeded too. Most of the time.
Harry sighed. Okay, he was being pathetic at the moment, but thus were the harsh realities of being eight. Sometimes your age just caught up with you. He would persevere.
When he spotted the bright entrance to the 'respectable' Diagon Alley, he took a moment to straighten out his clothes and conjure a small mirror to check that the rest of his appearance was impeccable as well. When that was done he moved swiftly into the Alley walking with purpose, so as to avoid any questioning from people who would without a doubt think him lost.
Diagon wasn't at all as interesting as Knockturn. It was a cheery place with lanterns hanging out in front of little cafés and coffeeshops. People where still milling about the Alley, since the shops were open late.
Everything there was bright and glamorous, trying to impress, but Harry didn't see any reason to be impressed by flashiness, when just around the corner you could be impressed by magic and knowledge.
He continued his determined stroll among the many people, heading straight for the large white building at the end. Gringotts could be seen from anywhere on the alley. He pretended not to notice the looks he got from surrounding wizards and witches, some clearly scrutinizing and trying to find out what family he was from since his clothes and attitude was screaming old money, and others, the majority, wondering about who he could be and why he was alone. Harry cursed his age.
The people in the bank were sending him looks too, but the goblins were ignoring him. Which was fine, because Harry was staring rather rudely at first. Again the principle of the difference between knowing and seeing.
He got his bearings together soon though, and made his way hesitantly to one of the counters with a goblin behind it. He needed to know if he had access to any of the Potter vaults or if he would have to get money by himself.
When Harry walked out the bank an hour later, he was feeling rather angry. As it turned out his parents had left him a big trust vault with founds enough to cover the next, say, 50 years of Harry's life. Only Dumbledore hadn't seen it fit to inform him of this, or in any way let him have his own bloody money. Instead he'd used his power as Supreme Mugwump to close the vault down until Harry reached school age, and even then only allowing them to let him in when he was in the presence of an adult with Dumbledore's own authorization.
Of course, the goblins didn't care about the Wizangamot at all and had been more than happy to let him in.
Still, it was the principle of things! He was really feeling his hatred for the old man at the moment. And his annoyance was only magnified by the goblins refusing him access to his family vault before he came of age, because 'their traditions forbid them'. Silly little creatures.
Now, with about 3 hours left before he had to be back at the Dursley's to pretend he had been there all the time, Harry had to prioritize what to buy. Books first of course. Then maybe some potions equipment? Yes, that had to be the most important. Also, he should definitely buy an outdoor robe. It was getting colder, and his outfit would stick out if he didn't.
He walked past Flourish and Blott's without even stopping. That was not where he would find the books he needed – he would come back for to flesh out his collection some other day, when he had read the dark arts books and felt settled to exploit other parts of magic. Instead he stopped in front of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions debating with himself whether to go in or not. It was the only Robe shop on Diagon he knew of, but on the other hand, he really didn't want to deal with it.
Sighing, he went in.
The witch – as predicted – fussed over him extensively and kept asking him about his parents. Harry mostly ignored her or answered in single syllables.
He ended up ordering two everyday robes, dark green and black with silver lining, and an outdoor cloak in dark grey with a silver fur lining he found almost irresistible. She only had to do some minor edits and some serious shrinking before it fit.
At the corner at the entrance to Knockturn alley, Harry walked into someone. As in literally. The small, almost disguised entrance made it impossible to see people walking towards you until they were right in front of you, and Harry evidently hadn't been paying attention. He gave a sharp disgruntled sound as his forehead collided with a very male chest. He had the time to notice the tensing of the body in front of him, before he was stumbling back, trying to get his bearings.
He looked up with an angry scowl. Looking down at him, with annoyance shining out of every feature, was Lucius Malfoy.
Harry quickly ran through everything he knew of the man. It wasn't much, but apparently it had been enough for him to recognize him. A pureblood and a politician. Some brawl and suspicion after the war ended. Had he been a death eater?
Harry blanked his face. He brushed his clothes of and picked up his shopping bag from Madam Malkin's, which he'd dropped when they'd collided.
Malfoy was eying him curiously now, obviously noticing his lack of parents and his rather obvious route towards Knockturn. Not exactly a place most little boys went.
Also, his disguise would make the pureblood ask himself who Harry was. The Wizarding pureblood society was a closed circle, at least, the light ones were. Harry was guessing the dark might be even worse. So a politically interested pureblood would do his best to know every single one.
Harry wasn't known. Therefore he was interesting.
Which really sucked for Harry's incognito plans.
"I'm sorry, I did not see you. You are not hurt?"
Harry mutely shook his head, determined to get the conversation over with before it actually became a conversation.
"That's good then. Tell me, what are you doing here? Are you lost?"
Harry didn't answer at first, trying to figure out what to do. The man narrowed his eyes slightly, but continued, pretending not to notice Harry's hesitation. Harry mentally hit himself.
"Oh how terribly rude of me, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Lucius Malfoy. What is your name, child?"
He put an extra empathizing on his last name. Harry didn't roll his eyes, but it was close.
"I'm Nathaniel Crowe Sir. And no, I am not lost."
Lucius' eyebrows went up a bit. Clearly he hadn't expected Harry to be quite as confident in his manner. In reality Harry wasn't feeling very confident at the moment.
"That is… good I suppose. But tell me then, where are your parents. And Crowe…"
He trailed of, probably trying to remember where he'd heard the name before. Harry saw this as a good time to put his new persona to the test.
"My parents are dead. I am the last living Crowe, and thus Head of the Family."
Lucius' eyes narrowed. Harry resisted the urge to swallow nervously.
"I see. A Head of family so young… Do you have no living relatives? And please enlighten me young one, as to where exactly the Crowe family resides."
It wasn't working. Harry would have to put some serious attitude on, or Lucius was going to look through him any moment.
"No. I do not have any living relatives, and this is really none of your business. My family home is unplottable, and I see no reason to change that for a passing stranger, not even you Mr. Malfoy."
Harry gave Lucius a cold, insulted look. This time he seemed to have put the right amount of snobbish into it, since the man's distrustful face shifted into one of interest.
Which wasn't so great either, since having a politically powerful man interested in you could be rather stunting for your freedom.
He would just have to be sneaky.
"My apologies, Mr. Crowe. You are right; it is none of my business."
Harry decided this was as good a time as ever to make his escape.
"Apology accepted. It was a pleasure meeting you Mr. Malfoy." He gave a small polite bow, and moved determinedly around the man, walking briskly down Knockturn Alley. He could feel Lucius' eyes on his back the whole way.
It didn't take long for Harry to find a bookstore with the appropriate amount of evil aura to indicate useful books. Actually the Alley was full of them. The big problem would be finding the right one.
Well, he didn't have the time needed to determine that, so he just walked into the nearest, a creepy place called Obscurum Invictus. Cheery name too.
The books were actually neatly places on shelf all around the little shop. There wasn't a spot on the wall not covered with a bookshelf. Harry found it almost cozy, even though the books in themselves gave of ominous waves. Some of them were clearly cursed, since they were huddling in the shelfes, shaking and growling and seemingly alive.
Harry wouldn't be buying that sort just yet.
Instead he went around looking at the titles, bypassing the more interesting ones for some basics. He found one called Dark and Neutral Arts and the slight Difference by a Nicodemus Gardings and one called Hexes and Curses for the little Prankster that he wanted to buy. Not that he was planning on pranking people, but it had to be somewhat easy spells. He would have to do them without a wand after all. And this time without any background knowledge from Vanessa.
After finding the two easy books, he picked one about Magical theory, one on Legilimency and Occlumency, one on Potions and finally he gave into the temptation and bought an advanced Dark Arts book with torture spells. He probably wouldn't use them, but let's just say it was for reading in his free time.
He paid the scowling man behind the counter, sparing nothing but an icy look. He was sure the man was wondering what the heck he would need the books for, but Harry would gladly let him think he was shopping for someone else to curb the man's curiosity.
And anyway, anyone who showed interest in Harry would have no idea where to start looking for information. Considering that he didn't really exist that is.
Hopefully Lucius wouldn't be too frustrated.
The books bought, Harry stopped in an Apothecary on his way back through Knockturn. He only bought a set of the most common ingredients and potions kit, figuring he would come back for more if he needed something specific.
His bag was becoming very heavy to carry.
Maybe next time he would buy some kind of fancy trunk with a Featherlight charm.
At the moment though he was a bit busy. He had about an hour and a half left, and he had to get on train and sneak in the house. The trip through Opliviaon was bound to take some time too, if he was to avoid getting in another brawl with someone.
He noticed with some amusement, that there were already people recognizing him. He supposed it had been a pretty public display back there with the dog, some of them was bound to have seen it – and passed it on. Gossip thrived between whorehouses and alcohol.
Luckily most people where too far gone to notice anything.
And the good thing was that no one thought to approach him this time.
Two hours later, back in his cupboard, Harry concluded that going to the Alleys had been a success. He had gotten what he came for, hadn't been recognized and there had only been some minor interferences. And now he had all the time in the world to look through his new books.
He was hiding away his new things behind one of the wooden panels that he had loosened with magic. The muggles would never find it there, and he had free access.
He wouldn't get any sleep the next many nights.
A/N: Finally! It's finished!
I have to tell you – I really hate writing (and reading) shopping scenes, since no matter what you do, they just become cliché. So I'm glad it's done… Next chap will be a time jump!