Author notes: Dudley tries to make sense of the magical world and its laws. Makes his own choices as well
Warnings: Time travel, Redemption, Bisexual Harry Potter, Bisexual Dudley Dursley, Wizard Dudley Dursley, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Racism, WIP, Relationships will be added later on, The Dursleys are terrible parents, Based on a Tumblr post, updates will be random and without order, Unreliable Narrator, POC Harry Potter, POC James Potter, Indian Harry Potter, Indian James Potter, Liberties with Goblin Culture.
Chapter 9: Technicalities and Loyalties
Dudley stared down at the rolls of parchment that the Head Golbin provided for him, attempting to make heads or tails of it, from the comfort of his bedroom. It's been a few weeks since the pair of cousins went to the bank.
He still couldn't quite wrap his head around the value of Gallons, Knuts and Sickles. The exchange between them was relatively simple, twenty-nine knuts in one sickle, seventeen sickles in one galleon, and four hundred ninety-three knuts in one galleon but it was on how much that was worth that confused him.
With one gallon Dudley learn he could buy a week's stay, including meals, at the Leaky Cauldron for one person but apparently it couldn't buy school robes? He needed four gallons for that, while a new wand was seven gallons. Things that should be expensive weren't and things that shouldn't be were. He would understand if this was due to say, someone having rare magic or had some kind of special credentials backing up the sell but no, apparently robes were just deemed more important then a roof over one's head and food in one's stomach.
Dudley was mildly disgusted. Where were these people's priorities at!?
Then there was trying to figure out the exchange rate into pounds because Dudley tried some maths and discovered that a Galleon was somewhere in between fifty pounds and two hundred pounds. That was a huge difference. It meant that those who exchanged their money may be getting more or less than the last person before them and there wasn't a deciding factor? It just was. Why wasn't this illegal!?
Dudley suddenly had flashbacks to his uni days were numbers mocked his nightmares and the professors' assigned essays on them. Just how did the wizarding world do anything!?
The Head Goblin had given him a grin, slightly less disapproving of him after hearing Dudley's outraged questions. "Wizards don't care. They don't want to care. It's why our people are in charge of the currency."
He could see why. Given the fact that wizards honestly had no quells with finding out there were no set prices for any everyday items. In fact, the Head Goblin recommended they do they're shopping on Mondays to Wednesdays since those days magical people tended to lower their prices on such days. Weekends had them raising them again, and they changed them on a whim for no apparent reason.
Witches and Wizards could walk into a store pick something up that is seven knuts one day go "Oh this is nice. I'll get it tomorrow since I have some errands to run" and come back tomorrow to learn in the few hours they were away it suddenly went up to ten knuts instead. It was illegal to raise the prices higher than five of whatever was previously was asked but it didn't change the fact they could ask for more whenever they wanted.
What did this mean for minorities? For people who were discriminated against? For the economy? Supply and demand? Fraud? There were so many factors that it gave him a headache just thinking about it much less trying to use his accountant training to figure it out. He hadn't been aware of any of this when Daisy had first gone to Hogwarts as Professor Longbottom had taken care of everything for them.
The following years Daisy had just used the muggle-born scholarship which paid for everything for her. She only needed to flash her special card to the store owners and they would hand over the items without a fuss. Some students qualified for this program for their whole Hogwarts career other did not but the very first year for all muggle-borns was paid for, it was a fairly new program put in by the Minister of Magic Hermione Weasley three years before Daisy started.
Dudley had never given it much thought about how things were before this bill. He had exchanged his muggle money before since the scholarship covered the basics and Daisy deserved nice things, but he honestly never question the actual worth. He just assumed he was given the fair exchange each time.
It made him angry he never noticed, never bothered to ask.
Dudley sigh putting the parchment back under the loose floorboard of his room. It was one of the few places his parents never thought to look and he really didn't want to explain to them why he had the wizarding version of bank statements for Harry's family account. It took him three hours just to hackle and negotiate with the Head Goblin to even see them, he wasn't about to lose them when he yet to get Harry's books in order.
Dudley planned on being his cousin's accountant so no one else would ever rob from him again. This meant his parents and whatever asshole had the Potter Key.
After learning they didn't have Harry's key, the Head Goblin had nearly thrown them out and it was only due to Trox- bless that teen- that the pair of cousins were able to make their case. As it turns out it wasn't uncommon for young wizards to not have the key to their family vaults since it was the entire family combination of wealth but they were at least aware that it existed. Harry had no idea where his family key was, and as the sole living member of the family line, he really needed that information.
It was the exact same situation as losing or having someone steal one's credit card information. That much was clear to the time travel when he was first given access to the records, while Trox and the Two guards- who had been called to escort the cousins out after Dudley refused to leave until this issue was resolved- argued on Harry's behalf against the Head Goblin. The oldest goblin had eventually given in to his kin favoritism and Harry had rewarded his new goblin friends with a hug each.
Trox had run into the wall from how fast he tried to get away from the young wizard, screeching like a dying cat. The other two goblins had merely watched the teenager with shakes of their heads but given the boys thumbs up as they returned to their posts.
Dudley had been able to easily see that someone had been making monthly withdraws for the past ten years after giving the parchments a once over and the goblins were livid to learn this meant the money had been in all sense of the word stolen. Whoever had the Potter key had gone off with nearly three hundred thousand galleons, a huge amount even if it was only a third of the overall vault.
The Head Goblin had then taken their case very seriously after that, getting down to business and Dudley had been quick to learn everything he could. He did regret that he was frustrated however and it showed when he was discussing things with the Head Golbin. But in his defense, Harry and Dudley had been at the bank for nearly four hours by then and someone else was stealing from his pure kind-hearted cousin.
Dudley thinks any business with the goblins was like pulling teeth since the tiny creatures refuse to give an inch if they didn't like you. Sadly for him the goblins didn't seem all the fond of him, even though Harry had been able to charm them without trying at all.
He felt a bit justified in his frustration.
"Isn't there a way to put a stop to the key from having access?" Dudley demanded all but foaming at the mouth. Harry hadn't really understood much of what this meant just that someone stolen his family money and apparently they couldn't get it back nor did the stranger face any charges since keys were all that was needed for withdraws. He stayed silent allowing Dudley to take the reins of the conversation. "This is an identity thief!"
"The keyholder never claimed to be Mr. Potter." The Head Goblin growled. "No one will care if you try to claim it as an identity thief."
"But that wasn't Harry taking the money!" Dudley protested "Surely there is something that can be done?"
"Anyone that has the vault key can take the money out of the vaults, wizard. It's a shame, Mr. Potter wasn't aware of it, but no nothing can be done about the lost gold now. What we can do now is cancel the current key but that would mean all access to the vault will be closed until the next head of the house either marries or turns seventeen."
Dudley remembers giving the Head Golbin the most intrigued expression he could manage gesturing for the goblin to continue. The Head Golbin snapped his fingers and a large old looking book slammed onto the desk between them. He flipped through the brown parchment until he landed on a page that was titled Wizarding Inheritance Laws.
He tapped a sharp fingernail on the words flipping the book around for the boys to read.
"All Wizards and Witches are not allowed into the main family vaults until they are of age, which is seventeen. There are special cases such as becoming an emancipated minor at age fifteen but most wait till seventeen. You are allowed into the trust funds that guardians or older wizards and witches set up for you. Those are the vaults with the one and a half added to their title. The gold comes from the vaults whose numbers correspond and are deposited automatically on a bi-weekly schedule with the amount the vault creator set. You must have seen it when Trox gave you a Blood Identification."
Dudley nodded suddenly understanding what granted access to vault 687 1/2 and 711 1/2 finally meant. "Would closing access to the main vault stop the transfers if Harry was to cancel his key?"
"Yes. Whatever money Mr. Potter has in his trust fund vault will remain that amount until the main vault is unfrozen. These trust funds, however, can only be accessed when a child turns eleven and seeing as Mr. Potter is still a few weeks away from officially becoming eleven, he can not touch those vaults either. At the moment Mr. Potter can only look at the door of them. Come back on his birthday to have your trust fund keys created. Right now there are no keys for the one and a half vaults. It's to ensure the child does not waste the money on anything else since they are created for your education mostly."
Dudley gave him an unimpressed look which caused the goblin to sneer "I didn't make that law. Your precious Wizengamot did."
Harry had made a confused face. "Wizengamot?"
The Head Goblin sneered "A council of idiots."
"Wizards have councils!?" Harry jumped in his seat tugging on Dudley's shoulder "Ley wizards have councils. Do you think we can challenge them? Like in my books? Let's punch a councilman in the face, it will be awesome!"
The Head Goblin has given a long, lough and rough laugh. "Mr. Potter you are interesting."
After that, the process of canceling Harry's key went smoothly. Even though it pained him to think that Harry would no have to wait six years before he could see his real inheritance it was the only way to protect his gold. They would have to budget with the two trust funds vaults once Harry turned eleven but Dudley thinks he could survive well on them once he figured out the value. He did know that Harry had quite the amount in both anyway.
Right now, in the vault 687 1/2, Harry had twenty-three thousand galleons and in Vault 711 1/2 he had thirty-five thousand galleons. This meant he would have fifty-five thousand galleons for the next six years and if Dudley could start investing wisely then Harry would see some income in a new vault that the cousins planned on opening when Harry turned eleven.
The Head Goblin had seemed almost impressed with Dudley for making that suggestion and he had even gotten an almost compliment. "I see not all wizards are idiots when it comes to finances."
Among the finical records of the Potter family, Dudley had learned that well Fleamont Potter- Harry's grandfather- had been the one to make the family extremely rich with his invention of the Sleekeazy Hair Potion- whatever that was- the Potters had always been upper-middle class due to having made smart investments before Harry's grandfather's time. Most of these investments had dried out but a few were still active today and are currently still bringing in money.
As Harry's self-appointed accountant, he needed to keep an eye on the increase and decrease of those profits. Fleamont was also a very well known Potion Master, a feat that was quite difficult to manage. Dudley knew this since becoming a Potion Master was what Daisy wanted to be. She claimed it was like getting a Ph.D. in a program that only accepted four students every five years or so. Apparently higher education was only allowed through apprenticeship. There were no universities in the magic world and it was one of the reasons Dudley worried about his kids.
Fleamont made potions in a private company that was sold off alongside his Sleekeazy Hair potion production rights. However, since he created Sleekeazy Hair Potion the recipe belongs to the Potter family, and Harry had full rights to create and alter it should he choose to. Dudley was thinking of setting up an investment profile to discuss with the goblins and see about using the Sleekeazy as the main funding for the new vault they planned on opening.
But this would take time to set up, maybe even years. He may have years of experience as an accountant but it was almost like he was transferred to a new country and all nations had different laws, and processes. Dudley didn't even know if there were applicable taxes or tax benefits yet. He planned on buying some books with the magical world's laws once Harry turns eleven.
His parents hadn't seemed to notice that they no longer got money from Harry, but it was only a matter of time. Hopefully, Harry would be in Hogwarts by then, It was only two more days till his cousin's birthday after all.
A knock broke him out of his mussing as Harry shifted in his doorway. The baseball cap still on his head, shadowing his eyes. His cousin had come to really like the thing and wore it every day since getting it. "You ready to go Ley?"
Dudley smiled at him "Give me a minute to grab my shoes."
The time traveler shook his head clear of all the previous thoughts about vaults and keys. Today he was going to spend time with Harry at the local store, shopping for Dudley's school supplies and that all he wanted to think about. He had waited this long since he wanted it to be an outing for the two cousins without his parents to ruin it and he needed to save up again seeing as he had exchanged his money with Trox before talking to the teen's father.
The money he spent at the owl post office in order to send Hogwarts the replies.
"Ley?"
"Coming!"
"It says we need black, blue and red ink pens. Two of each." Harry read from the StoneWall supply list. Dudley pushed the cart along filled with his necessaries. Strangely Harry had insisted they buy two of everything but Dudley had the money and went with his cousin's demand since whatever he didn't use Harry could take to Hogwarts. There weren't any rules that said he couldn't. Better prepared anyway. "What kind do you want?"
"The plain ones." He answered looking at the cheapest option. "Is there any ballpoint?"
"Right here!" Harry pulled the package off the little hooks that filled the aisle. He placed it inside the basket before his eyes landed on the glitter pens and widen. Quickly his green eyes flickered to Dudley, filled with an unasked question and the blond snorted. Harry didn't ask for things, not really, but he did make it obvious when he wanted something.
It was loads better than before when he didn't do or say anything at all. Dudley felt happy knowing he could tell when the boy wanted something.
"Go ahead."
"You're the best Ley!" Harry cheered putting the package of twenty-five different colors glitter pens into the cart. Dudley wondered what the kids in Hogwarts would say when they saw his cousin use them. Walking further down he spotted some pens specifically meant for shading, knowing Harry would like them, he put them into the chart without prompting.
Harry beamed at him obviously aware they were for him. Dudley returned the smile, enjoying himself greatly. Both his parents were working and Ms. Figg had allowed them to go collect the supplies on their own while she did some groceries in the same store. They were to go back to her once they finish and they weren't to leave the store.
"What's left on the list?"
"Highlighters, white-out, three-ring binders, loose paper, college ruled notebooks, and index cards" Harry read. He scrunched his nose a little " Why do we need five hundred index cards?"
Dudley shrugged "Studying? I used them for flashcards which really help."
"You don't need to study Ley. You're already too smart. Let us mere mortals catch up"
Dudley reached out to friendly punch Harry in the arm. "You're smart too brat. Don't think I haven't noticed your marks. You nerd."
Harry's eyes sparkled as he punched him back. "I'm not a nerd like you. Oh, we should go see if they have the school uniform too."
The boy pointed to the racks of clothes organize by the colors of various schools. StoneWall's ugly gray stood out next to the greens of their rival school. Before he could stop him, Harry walked quickly in its direction forcing Dudley to give chase. Together the two stopped before the sweaters and shirts, the wizard quickly going through them for a certain size.
Dudley frowned at him "Harry I already have the uniform."
"Yeah." His cousin answered distractedly, holding up a grey shirt with a calculating eye. Deciding he didn't like it, the boy returns the shirt back to the rack and picks up the black one instead. "This would look better with the gray undershirt don't you think?"
"I suppose. But why would I get another uniform? It's just a waste of money to get more" The blond insists pushing the hanger back onto the rack. Harry takes it again to put it into the cart making him frown. "Harry?"
His cousin gave him a look, the same strange one he been directing at him for the past few weeks before the boy smiles. It's challenging and defiant in equal parts but Dudley has no idea why. "We need more uniforms."
"Why?"
"We just do." The boy says firmly. He takes some more shirts off the racks to place into the cart. Dudley makes some mental calculations before shaking his head.
"Can't afford this. Put it back."
"No. We need these. I'll put back the glitter pens and the extra scetch books I picked up instead."
What on earth? True to his word his cousin was already gathering the few things he wanted to buy form the cart and Dudley could only gape as the boy put them on the closest shelve. "Harry-"
"There you two are. All ready to go?" Ms. Figg said walking towards them with her own cart. She had it filled with various foods but mostly cat cans. She spotted the objects on the shelve before raising a brow. "What's all this?"
"Just some stuff I wanted but we can't afford it" Harry answered with a shrug.
Ms. Figg clicked her tongue then placed the objects into her own cart much to both boy's astonishment. It wasn't that she was mean per se, but the older woman never really, did anything nice for them either. She often acted like the two pre-teens were more of an unwanted chore than anything else.
The old woman gave them an unimpressed look, jerking her head to the front of the store with a small scoff "Are neither of you going to go pay for your purchases or are you going to stand there catching flies with those open mouths? Come on! We don't have all day, my babies need to be fed. Chop chop."
They left the store and it wasn't till two days later that Dudley realized the extra uniforms were missing from his room. Even though Harry insisted on them, the boy only waved a hand at his worry about accidentally forgetting them at the store. "It's fine Ley. They weren't for you."
"Who else were they for then?" He demanded hands on his hips. He didn't like the way Harry didn't seem to care about the money lost. Was it because he found out he was rich? Did he not understand he couldn't touch the full amount for another six years?
His cousin only laughs then pulled on his cap a little more. He straightens from where he had been tying his shoes, offering his fuming cousin a charming little smile that didn't make him any less suspicious or upset. "We need to get going if we're going to make the movie on time."
"Only because it's your birthday I'm letting this go but we will be talking about this tomorrow" Dudley swore fulling the amuse harry out the house for their traditional birthday celebration. His parents would be gone all day since his mother was throwing some charity dinner at the town hall and come nine' o clock Ms. Figg would be over to take care of them. Right now, all adults thought Harry and him were at the library special book club event which supposedly ran till that late.
The perfect cover for movies, ice-cream, and visiting some goblins for Harry's trust fund keys. The two were planning on watching the American trail: Fievel Goes West which Harry had been dying to see ever since he saw the commercials. As a fellow artist, the animation was in his words "A true masterpiece in the making.".
Things were finally looking up for the boys, as they return home with two new shiny keys.
That is until a half-giant ripped down their door while the boys were preparing dinner around seven that night. Since they would be alone for some time, Dudley wanted to cook Harry's favorite for his special day and his cousin had wanted to help because he genuinely liked to help cook. Dudley had been the one who was going to answer the knocking on their door but had instead ended up screaming at the top of his lungs when a man he remembered and feared greatly, ripped the thing off the door hinges.
The same man who held the terrifying pink umbrella in one hand and a letter in another. Dudley suddenly felt the ghost pain of the pigtail, which had to get surgically removed and released another scream of pure terror, hand moving on their own to cover his bottom. Don't look at him like that, it was a traumatizing event for him! The giant blinked down at him looking confused by the screaming child but he honestly had no idea why. This monster just broke into their house what did he expect Dudley to do?
Offer him tea?
Harry ran out of the kitchen with a carving knife not a second after his other scream, paused to take in the room then run before Dudley with his blade pointing upwards. "Who are you?! What did you do to my cousin!?"
Dudley tried to get around Harry since he should be the one protecting him, but his cousin had thrust out an arm and pushed them back until Dudley was securely against a wall. For such a small kid he was surprisingly strong. Using his body to keep him there, Harry sneered "I'll color the floor with your blood if you laid on finger on him!"
The giant looked more startled than before. "Harry? Harry Potter?"
"I'll cut your testicles off and feed them to you!" His cousin screeched taking some slashes in the air that had the intruder backing up slightly. At any other time Dudley would worry about this behavior, but right now he 's glad Harry's developed some bloodthirsty tendencies.
"I'm not going to hurt you or your cousin, Harry," The giant said. He had a thick accent that made it sort of hard to understand him but Dudley could if he paid close enough attention. "I just wanted to talk to you."
"Oh yeah? Why did you break our door then?"
"I didn't mean to break it." The giant actually sounded remorseful. "Just knocked on it a little too hard is all. I'm Rubeus Hagrid and I was sent by Headmaster Dumbledore to talk to you about this."
He held out the letter which had Harry stiffening up the moment he caught sight of the writing but Dudley hadn't the slightest clue why until Hagrid continued. "Why did you refuse to enroll in Hogwarts Harry? What do you mean no!?"