[a/n]Vixen ...thankyou for this, keeping me on my toes… I know you sometimes take prompts. a dark one where Harry dies due to being made to go back to his so called home after Hagrid takes him shopping.
Harry Does Different CCLXXXV
Hagrid's Lament
The Great Hall was full of grumbling returning students who just wanted to eat and Firsties who looked all around in awe. A bushy haired girl commented to the redhaired girl beside her "The ceiling is charmed to look like the sky outside. I read ALL about it in Hogwarts: A History."
"Hannah Abbott!" "HUFFLEPUFF!" "Susan Bones!" "HUFFLEPUFF!" the Sorting began in earnest with Deputy Headmistress McGonagall calling names and the Sorting Hat processing preteen brains. "Mandy Brocklehurst!" "RAVENCLAW!" "Kevin Entwhistle!" "RAVENCLAW!" "Daphne Greengass!" "SLYTHERIN!" "Theodore Nott!" "SLYTHERIN!" "Padma Patil!" "RAVENCLAW!" "Parvati Patil!" "GRYFFINDOR!" "Zacharias Smith!" "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Quite unnoticed by the excited children, a name was missed. The Headmaster flashed a look at his deputy, both locked eyes with the groundskeeper, who almost knocked the half-goblin Charms Professor from his chair.
"Nitwit, oddment, blubber, tweak!" announced the bearded Headmaster as he offered a cup in toast to the student body. Then returning his voice to normal, he allowed apprehension to creep in "Hagrid? You DID take young Mr. Potter shopping? Did you not?"
The half-giant almost knocked the whole Head Table over "Course I did 'Fessor!"
"Hundreds of other students and we're supposed to panic over Potter's snot-nosed spawn?" Severus looked down at his plate and commanded "Roast beef, boiled potatoes, cornbread."
Minerva shot a cold look "I thought you learned if you cannot say something nice, don't speak. Albus, if you have no better idea, I intend to appropriate a broom and retrace the Express route." She stood, drawing the attention of the eating students.
"Before that" said the Headmaster, also standing, he touched his throat with his wand "Everyone, your attention please. It has come to my attention one of your classmates is missing. Did anyone happen to encounter a Mr. Harry Potter on the train?"
There was much confused head shaking and general gasps of surprise. The obvious conclusion was The famous Boy-Who-Lived did not make the trip.
"I think we can work on the assumption Harry never left Surrey and start there." Said Albus "Fortunately I have had a friend keeping an eye on the lad for some time."
Minerva looked disturbed "I will come with you."
"Me too 'Fessor!" exclaimed Hagrid, this time knocking over the Head Table, Flitwick and two other Professors besides.
Abcij
Appearing some minutes later in the fireplace of #11 Privet, the unusual trio were greeted by a disturbed resident "Albus! I'm so relieved you're here! The police have been here for hours! The Dursley residence is surrounded! No one in or out since early this morning! Even that busybody Paula Polkiss can't get any information!"
"Troubling indeed, Arabella, most troubling." Said Albus in his usual calm tone "We are perhaps better equipped to learn what is going on. Hagrid, Minerva. I think the appearance of … I believe the muggles call them bannisters… would be best. And to learn the most, the Dursleys should believe Vernon's employer sent us."
Figg nodded "He works for Grunnings Drills PLC." She looked at the giant with an appraising eye and found him wanting. But who was she to argue with the man who paid the bills?
Abcij
"Good evening…err…captain, I believe?" a man with an overlong white beard and a garish purple business suit from out of the Victorian era approached #4 Privet "May I and my associates inquire as to the situation here?"
The officer frowned "Sir, I am a sergeant who doubts his superior would appreciate that misunderstanding. This is a police matter and civilians will keep back."
"Oh I apologize for my manager sir." Minerva slipped in smoothly "He always claimed a bit of seer blood. Perhaps looking into your prosperous future. Forgive me, but Grunnings sent us after word came that one of its valued employees might have an issue. You see, we're attorneys."
The police sergeant's face went through a range of emotions at the compliment then the mildly annoying revelation that might suddenly disrupt a quick result. But he had no choice under the law. His face went still "But, of course, lady gentlemen, this way please."
"I gave you orders, sergeant, no civilians." A plainclothesman, or in this instance woman, spoke rather crossly. She was most displeased at the interruption. She looked mildly alarmed at the huge man, but snapped "Well? Wha'd'ya want?"
Albus smiled grandfatherly "My team is here to represent the Dursley family, surely any misunderstanding can be rectified with little trouble. Before we speak to them, can you please explain what they might be charged with? Oh! My card." He handed over a business-card-sized piece of paper that was blank, but a little twinkle filled in all that was necessary.
"Very well, I'm Maggie Smith, 15th District Surrey Special Victims." The woman introduced herself "We don't have any solid evidence of a crime, however, what we have is a string of odd occurrences. Starting July 20, flocks of owls seemed to inundate this residence. On July 25, the family vacates, neighbors were told they were going on vacation. Almost unheard of is the nephew…a Harry Potter…went along. Almost every prior occasion, the boy stayed with one Arabella Figg of #11 Privet. August 29, neighbors reported an alleged gunshot that seemed to come from here. Everyone in the house denies the presence of a gun, yet there is an Enfield 303 registered here. The nephew is unaccounted for as well. And explanations of his absence fall FAR short of believable."
Nodding thoughtfully and stroking his beard Albus muttered briefly then "Did you get all that down, Minerva? Now, Miss Smith might we have a word with the Dursleys? And, not to seem too pushy about it, their right to representation IS guaranteed under the law."
"Oh very well." Smith allowed reluctantly "In the living room. We will be continuing our AUTHORIZED search. Here is a copy of the properly executed warrant."
Abcij
"YOU!" exclaimed Vernon as soon as the magical trio entered, only to be shoved back into his recliner by Hagrid "Get out of my house!"
Minerva snapped "Where is Potter?"
"Ran off! Quiet Diddums!" Petunia snapped, waving a silencing gesture at her son "Threatened us with that stupid stick of his and disappeared. Well rid of him as far as I'm concerned."
Albus sighed impatiently "We have little time for dissembling Petunia." He pulled his wand, swept it at Dursleys and cast "Legilimens!"
Memories
"I won't have it in my house!" blustered Vernon the moment his good-for-nothing nephew appeared "That FREAK trunk is staying in the cupboard under lock and key!"
Dudley complained "NO DAD! I'm NOT giving up my second bedroom!"
"Stupid fat Muggle!" Harry whipped out his wand. A little of the way that arrogant blonde boy he met crept into his thoughts. He slashed it inexpertly and declared "Going to be some changes around this stinking hole, or I might get mad. We clear?"
The Dursleys fell into a resentful, intimidated, silence. But in the middle of the night, Dudley slammed the bedroom door open and yanked his sleeping cousin out of bed. Slamming him against the wall, he shoved a metal tube into Harry's mouth and snarled "No one threatens me in MY house FREAK! And it's MY room!"
BOOOOOOOOM! There was blood and brains all over the wall. Harry's dead body simply dropped.
"Well this is a right mess." Vernon burst in, followed by Petunia. He ordered "You two get the Lysol and start scrubbing. I'm going to take the brat someplace they'll never find him. And Dudley, no allowance until you paid me back for my rifle!"
There were memories of Petunia and Dudley working with mop, vacuum cleaner and brillo pads on wall, rug and bed. Dudley whining about wanting to goto bed. Petunia berating him for his protests. Burning of sheet, blanket, pillow cases in the basement.
Vernon unceremoniously dumped the Freak into the trunk of his BMW and drove off into the night. He got on the highway going opposite to his drive to work and drove for an hour or more. He exited in a fairly wooded area, then turned onto a dirt road complaining all the time how the Freak caused this whole mess. He dragged the body out, into the woods and tossed it in a ditch overgrown with weeds. Back to his beloved car, he ripped out the trunk lining and disposed of it as well. Rather clever, Vernon thought, he dumped a pound of sugar on the Freak to draw any wild creatures.
Done
"What did you see, Albus?" asked Minerva at the horribly paled expression on her mentor's face.
He replied in a raspy harsh tone "These creatures are a disgrace to everyone who calls himself human. Professor, call in the police please. They have a confession to make."
"What do you mean?" she wondered.
He commanded, gathering his power "Do as you're told, Professor! Hagrid? Can I trust you not to repeat what you're about to see?"
"Corse sir. I'm loyal to you." The bearded giant answered, unquestioningly.
As soon as the Head of Gryffindor left the room, he fired three "Imperio!" spells in rapid succession and ordered "Vernon Dursley Petunia Dursley Dudley Dursley as soon as my colleague returns with the officers you will, in turn, admit to precisely everything you did to Harry Potter. Vernon, you will guide them to Mr. Potter's body. None of you will offer any excuse or defense for your crimes. Either now, during trial, or at any time in the future. Verbally acknowledge your orders."
"Yessir." They replied dully.
A worried looking Detective Smith reentered with McGonagall "What, Mr. Dumbledore, have you and your clients decided?"
"On my recommendation, dear girl" the faux-attorney began with a touch of condescension "Petunia Vernon and Dudley are throwing themselves on the mercy of the law. They will answer, of their own free will, any questions you have. To get started, might I suggest starting with Where is Harry Potter?"
Abcij
Despite his immense and intimidating size, Rubeus Hagrid was an impossibly soft touch. Barely was the first question answered that he ran out of #4. He yanked up the WELCOME mat and used it like a hanky. The surrounding officers watched the spectacle of the massive man sob for a solid hour. Sitting on the stoop, he was still nearly as tall as most of them.
"There there Hagrid." Albus consoled his groundskeeper.
*snort**sob* "All my fault!" he wailed "Poor lil tyke! Left'im with them evil muggles!"
Minerva scolded him "The statute Hagrid!" while squeezing his arm.
"I am just as much to blame." Declared Dumbledore as they stepped around the yellow CRIME SCENE tape. "Perhaps if I had gone I would have prevented young Harry from returning."
Hagrid jumped to his defense "Oh NO sir! This'll my fault. I was the one you trusted."
"The only thing surprising me, Albus" said Minerva with a suspicious tone "is the way the muggles confessed so readily after going through all that work to cover up killing the boy."
Dumbledore merely offered "Ah…Professor McGonagall… ask me no questions I'll tell you no lies." By then they were in Arabella Figg's home and soon to vanish forever from Privet Dr.
LITTLE WHINGING POST
January 7, 1992
Mysterious Prison Canine Attacks
The local prison system was rocked over the past week by three deaths. A brief history about the victims. In August 1991 a young boy named Harry Potter, an orphan himself, was murdered. Convicted of the crime was his relatives Vernon, Petunia and Dudley Dursley. Vernon and Petunia were sentenced to 25 to life for conspiracy after the fact. Dudley, a minor, was to be held until his 18th birthday whereupon his case would be reevaluated.
Highdown, the local men's prison reported the death of Vernon Dursley on January 4. Downview, a nearby women's facility, reported Petunia Dursley's death on January 5. And just last night, St. Brutus' Home for Criminally Insane Boys revealed young Dudley's death.
The obvious connection here is all three inmates were convicted of the same crime. The murder of Harry Potter. Someone connected to the murdered boy is assumed to be suspect. What investigators cannot explain is the other coincidence, all three were apparently killed by a dog. All had clear canine bite marks and dog hair in their cells. Sparing our gentle readers the details, all three scenes were quite gory. No video exists of the attacks and no dogs are on staff at the prisons, further, visitors are not allowed to bring pets.
We at The Post wish authorities luck in solving this odd riddle.