Note from the author:
I usually write stories for the Zorro 1990 series, but after reading a few Harry Potter inspired ones I've seen that there are several stories that I have found interesting in which someone realizes the situation Harry is in at the Dursley's house, so I've decided to write my own version.
The original story and characters belong to JKR, I write as a fan of the books and I don't make money with this story.
English is not my mother language, I translate my stories with the help of an online translator and then correct them, but I may miss mistakes or use words that are more American than British, I don't distinguish them well.
I have rated the story T because it contains adult themes, such as psychological, economic, and to a lesser extent physical abuse. There are no scenes of sexual content.
Chapter 1. Letter from the estate agent.
Vernon picked up the mail personally. It was one of the tasks he didn't want to entrust to the little freak.
"Bill, bill, bill, advertisement,... a letter from Marge," he said passing the envelopes one by one and pausing to set the letter aside. "And this?" he said looking at an envelope.
Harry was still washing the breakfast dishes and glasses, perched on a stool because at eight years old (almost nine, he reminded himself) he wasn't yet tall enough to reach the dish drainer without using it.
Vernon looked up at Petunia, who was sitting finishing her second cup of tea.
"It's from an estate agent, and it comes in your name."
Harry glanced sideways at his aunt, glad that he wasn't the target of his uncle, who seemed to be angry about something.
"I don't know what an estate agent could want from me." said Petunia trying to remain calm.
Vernon looked at her suspiciously and opened the envelope.
"It says that the tenants are leaving your parents' house, and they'll need your signature to re-rent it." Vernon stood up and approached her menacingly. "What's the meaning of this, Petunia? You told me your parents' house was a rental." he said frowning and shaking the letter in front of his wife.
"It's just a misunderstanding." she said trying to calm him down. "What I meant was that it was rented. Shortly after my parents died some neighbors offered to rent it, and Lily, as usual, couldn't disguise her enthusiasm. She closed the deal right there and then, and on top of that she put in a clause to limit rent hikes." said Petunia, knowing that blaming her sister would deflect Vernon's fury elsewhere.
"I see, Lily." said Vernon looking at Harry, who continued to scrub the pots pretending he hadn't heard the conversation. However the distraction was short lived and Vernon looked back at Petunia.
"And what about that rent money?" said Vernon with a glint of greed in his eyes.
"I didn't want to bother you with that matter, love, because I know how uncomfortable it makes you that that little freak's family has any influence in our lives. You see, my parents' will left the house in my name and Lily's, equally, but when she died her part of the house passed into the boy's name." Petunia lowered her voice, but still Harry could hear her, he had very good hearing.
"The thing is, I decided to open an account in Dudley's and the boy's name, so the money goes in there. As I'm Dudley's mother and the boy's guardian it's all legal. It's an account for his college studies. I thought that way I could take the money out when Dudley goes to college without it showing that the other one isn't getting any, because people like him clearly don't go to college."
"All the money's there?" he said suspiciously.
"Every last penny. I don't need any more than you give me. You're the breadwinner in this house, you know that. I just thought it would be a good way for Dudley to be able to study at the University of his choice, and so the money we can give him is to get him off to a good start in life."
That seemed to placate Vernon a little, who scratched his double chin thoughtfully. "I want to see the statements on that account." he said at last.
"Of course, my love. You'll see that all the money is there."
"But now the house is empty. I remember that house. It was the best area in that neighborhood, and I'm sure if we give it a facelift, maybe a little renovation, it could be rented for a lot more than the previous tenants paid."
"I'm sure you can, honey. You're a better negotiator than any of those real estate clerks, I'm sure if you take care of it you'll get a lot more."
The compliment seemed to accomplish its purpose, for Vernon smiled. "Yes, I'm sure I can get a good price. I'm busy tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow we'll go over there and take a look. I can call a friend who knows a contractor in the area. As soon as I know what repairs the house needs, we'll take some of the money out of that account and invest it. I'm sure we'll more than recoup it in less than a year."
I, too, am convinced that with your intervention everything will be fine."
Harry hadn't understood everything they had said, but they had mentioned his grandparents and his mother, and he had seemed to understand that he shared something with Dudley. From experience he knew that Dudley would keep everything, so he didn't give the matter any more thought.
Vernon sat back down to continue going through the mail, and Petunia finished her tea trying to hold back tears.