Harry had seen Dumbledore do it, he had read about it, and he had started practicing, straining at the bonds on his magic,trying so hard to do even the slightest thing without a wand. The teachers had told him that it was because most wizards were too weak to channel magic on their own that a wand was needed to gather and focus magic.. well the truth of it was that the inbred purebloods were weak, and magically sickly, they didn't want anyone to know that they had to have a wand to channel magic, and that without the wand they were disarmed, helpless. sure a few of them who were able to do a few tricks with one spell, usually something gaudy or attention grabbing, but for the most part, no wand, no magic.
Harry , however was not limited by inbreeding or weak magic, he had it in spades.. his particular problem was that he was taught that there was only one way to do it, and all other methods were for naught. He found out otherwise sometime in his second year that he could indeed channel magic in more ways than one.. the more he tried, the more was revealed to him.. soon he was learning every single spell both without word or wand. This he kept to himself, no one, not even Hermione heard or saw this, new and private skill. He experimented with different things, making people trip from a distance, making things float up and drop on unsuspecting Malfoys and the like. He took a small delight in making Auror Tonks trip over the stupid umbrella stand every time she walked by it.. The young Auror was vexed with the thing, and considered blasting the object with a reducto the next time it happened, but somehow, just never got around to it.
One summer day when the Dursleys went away for the whole day, so Harry did a wandless Alholmora charm and let himself out of his room, ordered up a pizza and sat for a few hours watching Star Wars.. He was impressed by Darth Vader's choking spell, and Obi-wan's Jedi Mind tricks.. he thought about it for a bit and worked it out. The Mind Trick as he began to think about it was somewhat like the Imperious curse.. so the next day he followed Dudley as the fat boy went about his thuggish business. Harry followed about ten feet behind Dudley projecting thoughts into his cousin's head.. and internally jumped for joy when the behemoth obeyed.. He made Dudley go into a shop and order an italian sub, and a meatball sub and a soda. when the order came, he sent a thought to eat one and leave the other on the ledge where he was sitting, and forget about it. This done, Dudley ate his sub, got up and walked away leaving the other sub and soda waiting for Harry to consume. Satisfied that his technique worked, he wandered off, leaving Dudley with a command to not hurt anyone and act like a decent person. Harry watched from a distance as Dudley went through his usual haunts and did not take the opportunity to bust some kid's head, or steal anything.. "Huh!" he thought.. "This has possibilities..just watch to see how long it lasts."
over the next couple days, Harry watched as Dudley went about his rounds, when the 'suggestion' seemed to wear off after about two days.. He recalled somewhere reading or hearing that if you could quit doing something for two weeks, you could change your behavior. Since he didn't have anything better to do, he decided that Dudley would be his project for the next month.
Over the next week, Dudley was reminded that it's not nice to hit people or steal from them, that it's polite to be polite and that he needed to eat better.. and a lot less. Dudley began a habit of running and working out, and was unaware that his cousin was running right there beside him, goading him on, while under a 'notice me not' spell.. so Harry was able to get out, exercise and alter his cousin's behavior all at once. After a week of this, he backed off on the mental commands and watched for another week to see if he needed more work. Vernon noticed the change in his son and thought it was a good thing he was working out and kept pushing unhealthy food and excess towards him. He was nonplussed when Dudley refused the greasy, deadly treats. Vernon, being the suspicious type immediately threatened his nephew.."What did you do to Dudley, he's not acting right, it better not be any of your freakishness.. " he began to raise a hand to slap some of the 'abnormality' out when he suddenly lost interest, and wondered what he was doing, where the freak was..
The next week went on like that first episode.. Vernon would get angry and try something, and Harry would not be there.. He had been working on adjusting his Aunt as well as Dudley and found that there had been some kind of magic done on her in the past, and suspected that there was tampering. He worked on her attitude for a week before he raised the question with her.
"Aunt Petunia, I suspect some magical person put a spell on you, and with your permission, I would like to see who it was, and what it was so I can call my solicitor to file charges against them.. " he drank a bit of tea, while she tried to speak. The fact that she was bound with a spell and silenced helped the conversation along nicely. Usually with these afternoon conversations with tea, he obliviated her of the session, so it was all good.
He stood and gathered his magic. She looked up at him with fear in her eyes. He then cast a spell, the spell was designed to be a forensic and diagnostic spell, normally used by a magical coroner, the last one in line, so to speak, the one who finds out who killed you, and with what. Hermione had shown him the spell out of a Healer's training manual she had acquired. She was perusing the different careers available to see what would be best for her in the future, and thus, had books on several skills and trades.. The recruiters for Stonehenge University were chomping at the bit, anticipating her arrival at their facility. The fact that she was being scouted by not only the UK's premier magical Uni, she had gotten inquiries from European and American schools as well, and they had not even passed their fourth year at this point. Because of her potential, she was given many interesting textbooks and brochures.
The spell was cast, the display came up, revealing that Petunia was actually a squib, and had a minor bit of magical talent, except at her age, it had been suppressed for almost fourteen years, just about the time that Harry was thrust upon her. There was a charm to promote a certain obliviousness to him, and a compulsion to be harsh against him.. and the charms were placed by none other than Dumbledore. With an overpowered Finite, he broke the compulsion and her inert attitude. fire welled up in her eyes and demanded that she be set free. Harry nodded and with a flick of his finger she was.
"That horrid old man, get him down here, right now, call him, send an owl, something.."
she spluttered and swore, and acted noting like the aunt he had suffered under for so many years. He was shocked that it seemed none of the anger was focused on him. He poured some tea and did it up the way she liked it, and sat, looking her in the eyes. "Tell me" it was almost a command. It was also one of the skills he had picked up, inspired by the movie. "I'm supposed to beat you down, to keep you weak, so the old man can manipulate you.. Vernon hurts you because he likes to hurt people, when you are not here, he beats me.. nice normal people.. hah!" Harry was shocked, then angry, then very angry. Petunia reached into the cabinet and took out a bottle of Glenlivit , poured some in her teacup and drank it. Harry reached out and took her chin in hand and forced her to look at him. His eyes captured hers, forcing her to open up her mind.
He controlled the images by speaking keywords.. ""The night I was dropped off" Images of the sound of a motorcycle, the door opening, and seeing the baby in a basket on the front step. The letter explaining her sister's death and the need for her to take care of her nephew. The shock of seeing an old man appear in her dining room and stunning her. Seeing the old man do something with a wand and speaking charms over her. The feeling of suppressed anger and rage that came out whenever she saw the child. The careful escalation of anger toward him. "The day Dudley broke my arm" The old man again appearing after her nephew collapsed on the floor in pain, the internal demand that she keep the kid out of sight, throwing him into the cupboard, the escalation of rage. The problem hiding the bruises from Mrs Peavey across the way, where Vernon had clubbed her . The fear when he returned home, angry or drunk or both.. the violence both physical and mental.. the fear. the gottdammed compulsion to beat her nephew and agree with Vernon that it was all right to starve the freak. This was Lily's boy, Lily wouldn't treat my Dudley that way..
violence
more violence
fear
the old man again..
fear.
He will kill me
fear
he will kill my son
fear. they will find out.
help
help
help
no..
no.
don't
hit
me
please
no
no
______________________________________
Harry slumped back in his chair, his aunt unconscious.
it seemed she was as much a victim as he was.. well, had been.
He made a decision
"Dobby"
the elf popped into the kitchen, looking about furtively
"No muglies around now?" he was looking at Petunia, who had not yet regained consciousness.
"No, Dobby, no muglies, just my Aunt Petunia, and she is a squib, what magic she had has been suppressed for so long, that she can't access it anymore.. " Dobby looked at Petunia quizzically.. ""Auntie Petunier has magic on her" "Yes Dobby, she has, I'm trying to remove it, I suspect someone has been trying to make her hate me and abuse me.. for whatever reason. Shall we wake her, do ya think?" Dobby looked at her funny and nodded, "Dobby hide from Muglie auntie for now"
"Sounds like a plan." Dobby did a n elf magic something on Petunia, and he faded away. as he did he spoke. "I have removed bad magic from Auntie Flower."
Harry nodded and waved his hand over her head, waking her from her faint.
"How do you feel?"
she turned her head, as if trying to see around an invisible corner, or shake some water out of her ear.. she shook her head, clearing the imbalance, and looked up at him, clear eyed and coherent.
"I feel..better.. more......" she closed her eyes and you could see her sensing her surroundings.. "I feel like all my windows have been washed and the rooms aired out.." she opened her eyes again and looked at him with a friendly squint, you could see the smile in her eyes. Harry leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms. "Hmm. are you feeling any compulsions or blocks, unusual anger or fears?"
She searched her mind and heart. "No, nothing, at least none that I can tell"
"You don't hate me or want to abuse me today?"
"No! why would I want to do that?.. I know that in the past I have done that, but we both know it was the old man's doing, You are my nephew, my sister's son, I would never treat family that way.."
"And what do you feel about Dudley and Vernon?"
fear raced across her face.. "Oh my.. Vernon..,what will we do about Vernon, if he finds out I have been freed, he'll kill me.. " she fretted and was working herself into a tizzy, for there was a real threat here..
"No, he won't, I will protect you, I will make sure you are safe, both when I am here and when I am back at school.. I have a friend who will watch over you while I am away, so don't panic, ok?"
He fear subsided somewhat, as the question arose. "How can he watch over me when he isn't here.?" "Because he is here and if he wasn't he can be here in literally seconds.."
"Dobby?"
the Elf appeared, "Yes, Harry Potter sir??"
"Dobby, I would like to introduce you to my Aunt Petunia, She will need protection while I am away at school, from Old snooping Headmasters, against Death Eaters and other wizards, Ministry employees, obliviators and most of all, Her husband, Vernon."
"Dobby can do that, all Auntie Flower has to do is call Dobby, and Dobby will come, If Dobby cannot come, one of Dobby's friends will come, and protect Auntie Flower."
Petunia looked at the strange creature, fascinated by his odd clothes and demeanor.
"What are you, are you a goblin, like Lily told be about?"
"No, Auntie Flower, I am Elf, I am House elf, I serve Master Harry, and take care of his houses, and anything he needs"
"Houses?, how many houses does ...Harry have?"
Dobby looked to Harry for permission, He nodded and Dobby answered.
Harry sir has seven houses, from the Potter side he has Potter Manor, Godrics Hollow, an apartment flat in the Black Tower near Diagon Alley, and a cottage in the mountains of Switzerland, near Basel. From the Black side he has A house that cannot be named in London, another flat in the Black Tower, and a beach house on Black Island in the Fiji Islands." Harry was surprised , he didn't realise that he owned so much property. Dobby continued. "Harry also owns this property at 4 Privet Drive, Seven Privet Drive, and 17 other muglie properties that have no magic."
"hmmmm, I suppose the Goblins would be able to get me the particulars..So I own Number 7, that's Mrs Figg's house." he looked to Petunia. "Do you know when she moved in there?" Petunia pinched her nose trying to think. "I think it was just after you were left here, now that I think of it.."
"I guess until we prove otherwise, that she works for the old man. are you aware that he has members of his Order guarding this property?"
she looked shocked.
"And they let us get away with treating you like we did?"
"yes, apparently the old man wanted me beat down enough to see him as a rescuer when he let me out of prison."
"That's horrible.." realization crept across her face.. "What about Dudders?"
"I have been working on him for the last couple weeks.. maybe you noticed a change in behavior?"
"well, my eyes have been opened today and I can now recall all the things he has done wrong and we covered up for him..my own son, a thug and criminal.."
"Don't hate Dudley, I don't.. he needs retraining, he is a victim of his environment, to some extent.. but he does have some of the predisposition to violence that Vernon has.....what?"
Petunia was crying, fearful.
"When Vernon comes home he will kill me.. at least hurt me.. his usual outlet is you, and that kept me somehow safe..now you are not around to ..to.."
"Tell me, Petunia, realisitically, if it were not for the Old man's fiddling, would you still be with Vernon?.. as far as I can tell, he is really just as you see him, violent, angry, vicious like a bad dog."
"No I probably would have left him ten years ago, when you and Duddrs went to primary school, he would sometimes take a day off work and ..and....." Harry could see the horror creeping across her face.. "He held it back for the first six years after Dudley was born,'couldn't do it while the kid was around'.. was how he put it.. Harry saw flashes of violent, sadistic behavior, degrading behavior. he saw a room behind a locked door in the basement..Petunia was terribly afraid of that door, and what was behind it.."Somnus' he quietly put his aunt to sleep.. he had ten, fifteen minutes at most.
He bounded down the stairs to the basement, to the back room behind the furnace and hotwater tank. the door was heavy, and locked with a industrial grade deadbolt lock.
"alholomora". He waved his hand over the lock, it clicked open.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the door.
He closed the door. and let out the breath he was holding.. he didn't even have to go inside to recognise the smell of blood. He relocked the door, realising that if he went inside he could contaminate the 'crime scene'
He stopped in the loo, and emptied his stomach, washed out his mouth and washed his face.. then went back to his sleeping aunt. He went upstairs to his room , wrote a quick note and had Hedwig take it. Once his familiar was gone from sight, he went back down and woke Petunia.
"Here, Aunt Petunia, you should drink this.. it will help you stay calm.." he held out a small container of calming potion, standard wizard medicine cabinet stuff. She looked at hin oddly and then drank it down in one gulp. The facade of calm spread over her face.
"all, right, what did you find.?"
"I'ts not pleasant, I sent off Hedwig to get Madam Bones, she's the head of the DMLE, the chief police commander for the wizarding world."
Petunia didn't react much, she was medicated after all.
"so there's a crime involved?"
"I believe so., I figured she would have the resoruces to see that justice was done, and not covered up, while protecting my family in the process."
That statement did more to recharge any wards around Privit drive than many months of unwanted prescence inside the property.
Amelia Bones emerged from the floo at Arabella Figg's home at 7 privit drive. Mrs Figg was dithering, wondering weather to call Dumbledore or try and deal with this herself.. She knew Amelia Bones by reputation, but since she herself was a squib, she didn't have much traffic with the magical world on a daily basis.
"Madam Bones, How are you, can I get some tea?"
"Not at this time, Mrs Figg, I need some answers, and right now. first, who is your first loyalty to, Dumbledore or Harry Potter?" That solidified it. "Harry. That young man has been through too much at the hands of Dumbledore and all his scheming.. I have told that old man soo many times about his treatment, and nothing has ever been done about it.." Mr Tibbles jumped up tot he back of the couch and tapped Mrs Figg on her arm. "Yes?" she looked him in the eye. "Who's watching him today?"
"I see." Figg returned to Madam Bones. The guard currently on duty is Miss Tonks."
Amelia Bones frowned. "Where is she?" she addressed the Kneazle. He looked her in the eye and got he impression of the tree at the rear of the back garden. Bones looked out he window at the property and saw the sightlines were fairly good from that location. She looked to Mrs Figg. "I want you to stay here and wait for my call, some more of my people will be coming through the floo. Do not call Dumbledore or anyone else, or I will charge you with interfering with a criminal investigation, understand?" Mrs Figg nodded. and sat to wait on the next ones through the floo.
Bones looked out the window toward the hidden off duty Auror, and apparated to that location.
Nym Tonks jumped at the sound of an incoming apparition, he wand drawn. "Stand down, Auror Tonks." Tonks gulped in a bit of fear, her boss, he bosses boss.. the Head of the DMLE was standing there looking sternly at her.
"Auror Tonks, are you aware of the oaths you swore when you joined the Auror Corps?"
"umm, yes, Ma'am"
"Do you recall the part about upholding the law and protecting all, regardless of who they are, muggle or magical?" Tonks just nodded, her voice taken from he.
"Good, follow me.." she started to walk tooward the backk door of Number 4. "and we will be talking about your extracurricular activities later.." Tonks drooped and her hair turned white as she followed her ultimate boss.
Harry watched the situation in the back garden, and when Madam Bones approached the back door, he opened it and greeted them. "Welcome Madam Bones, Thank you for coming."
"Yes, Mr Potter, your note got my attention, and I thought we might talk."
she spoke vaguely on purpose, letting him lead the conversation.
"Well, my note indicated decades of abuse and conspiracy, probable murder, use of the unforgivables on muggles, and much, much more.. So, why is Tonks here?"
"Because her activities may be in conflict with her oaths as an Auror, that remains to be seen.. "
Tonks cringed.
Harry indicated the dinning room table. "Shall we?"
They sat. "Dobby?' the elf appeared. Tea and biscuits please?" The elf nodded and was soon back with the items. While he was doing that Harry went and retrieved his Aunt and helped her into her usual chair. "Auntie, I would like you to meet Directer Amelia Bones of the DMLE, she is like the head of Scotland Yard for the magical world" Petunia was a bit logy form the calming draft. ""M pleased to meet you, welcome to.. whatever this is" she indicated the house. she kept mumbling. "damn ugly place.. cold and unfriendly.. " the look on her face said it all.
Harry explained. "I found a long term confundus and compulsion spells on her today and ended them.. she has not been in control of her life since I was dropped her 14 years ago.. also we just had quite an emotional shock, and I gave her a calming draft, which may have been a bit much, since she's actually a squib.. enough to see and recognize magic, but not do any"
Bones pulled out a dictation quill and pad, handed them to Tonks and set her to work. "Initial interview, don't miss anything" Tonks hunkered down to fill in the information requested, glad to have her mind off how much trouble she was likely in.
"before we begin, are there anylives in immediate danger, threats?"
Harry pondered. "Dumbledore has been manipulatin my life directly since I was born, maybe before.
I have just found out my Aunt has been under a spell for at least 14 years, her husband is most likely an abuse, if not a murderer, her son has to be retrained so he can have anything like a normal life, I have an apparently immortal Dark Lord after me, and Dumbasses idea to end the threat is to make me a martyr.." he looked at Tonks. "He apparently thinks he can use Ministry resources at will." "I don't know.. I don't think there are any immediate threats today.. other than Vernon, but we can take care of him.." shall we begin?"
Bones nodded. "Start from the beginning, tell me everything. "
Dudley had wandered back in looking for food. Harry asked Dobby to get something together, and shortly they were all seated and eating soup and sandwiches.
this will possibly be a story eventually.