Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling, and I do not own Harry Potter. I make no money from the writing of this fan fiction.
Chapter Eight
His examination and treatment finished, Harry was helped to get dressed by Amy Greengrass before he left the Manchester Clinic to go to his new home. His new home. It would seem so ordinary to someone else thinking that, but to Harry Potter, the phrase filled him with hope. He didn't think this 'Lord Black' person would make him get up before dawn to do chores or cook. He expected there to be rules to follow, every boy his age expected that, but Mr. Stanton had promised him that Lord Black would probably only give him a couple of light swats to his backside for punishment, and then only if he really messed up. Mr. Stanton also told him Lord Black would probably explain his rules when Harry arrived. Harry could understand that, and he would do his best to not break any of the rules, because even at his aunt and uncle's house, he tried to be good.
"Are you ready, Harry?" Amy asked him, seeing how hopeful he looked.
"I think so, Mrs. Greengrass. Will it take long to get there?"
"I don't think so. Maybe an hour or two. Why do you ask?"
"Well, ma'am, I was hoping we had time to get something to eat first. I'm hungry."
"What about a small snack? To hold you over until we get to Lord Black's house, because he'll probably want you to have dinner with him, and we don't want to spoil your appetite now, do we?"
"Okay! What kind of snack? Aunt Petunia always gave Dudley cookies and candy when he wants a snack."
"I was thinking you might like a couple of pieces of fruit. Maybe some grapes or even an apple or two? I'm sure that either Kyle or Bryan could even find some juice to go with it, so you don't get thirsty. Would you like that?"
After thinking about it a moment, Harry grinned.
"Okay! That sounds good."
Amy chuckled, and grabbed a couple of apples and a bunch of grapes from the bowl in the break room of the clinic, then also taking a juice box from the icebox. After putting the fruit and juice box in a small bag to make it easy for Harry to manage to carry, they walked to the waiting area where Kyle and Brian were sitting.
"Harry is ready to go to his new home, then?" Brian asked, seeing them walk into the waiting room.
"He'll need to have a regimen of medicines for a week or two and take it easy and rest for a few days, but yes. I have the instructions Lord Black requested here, as well as the list of prescriptions for his medicines. The Healer that also examined Harry made sure to include some 'first dose' bottles of his medicines to give Lord Black time to get Harry's medicine prescriptions taken care of at the apothecary."
"Mrs. Greengrass?" Harry asked, confused.
"Yes, Harry, what is it?"
"What's 'apothecary' mean?"
"An 'apothecary', Harry, is similar to a pharmacy, except instead of the medicines being brought to the building by a company, the way it is at a pharmacy, an apothecary is able to make the medicines people need right there in the building, or even sell them the ingredients to make their medicines themselves if the person who took care of them says they're allowed to make them. Understand?"
"Like when Aunt Petunia goes to the market and gets different loose teas because she likes to mix them up to taste the way she likes?"
"Very like that, yes. Some things that are wrong with people need special medicines to make better, and pharmacies don't usually know how to make them or where to go to have them brought to the pharmacy, so people use an apothecary for those medicines."
"Okay."
"Then let's get you to your new home, alright? I think Mr. Greengrass knows how to get there, so we'll just go with him. You can eat your snack on the way."
As the small group left the clinic, Harry's eyes widened. There was a horse and carriage in front of them! Smiling widely, he rushed over to start stroking the animal along its neck before patting it on the nose.
"Nice way to get around trying to explain apparition, Brian," Kyle said quietly.
"The child is already injured and likely ill from the aunt and uncle not allowing him to eat. No reason to make it worse by apparating with him. Plus, it's a novelty that he'll enjoy."
"Very true. And as soon as I reach the office tomorrow, I'll be contacting the muggle authorities about his aunt and uncle. At the very least they should be charged with child neglect, if not outright abuse depending on what evidence the authorities are able to find. And I will consider it my honor and privilege to turn those animals in for what they did to Harry," Kyle snarled quietly in an attempt to keep Harry from overhearing.
"Then I suppose it's a good thing I asked for three copies of the report the clinic made about Harry's condition, isn't it? A copy for Lord Black, a copy for your records in the office, Kyle, and a copy for whatever authorities deal with those people," Amy quipped with a feral grin.
"Amy?"
"Yes, Kyle?"
"Remind me to never make you angry with me."
OOO
After arriving at Lord Black's estate, the small group stood in front of a large, wrought iron gate. Seeing Harry was becoming nervous, Kyle looked over at him and smiled.
"It's okay, Harry. Lord Black has this big gate to make sure that nobody that lives here can get hurt. There are some animals around here that can hurt someone if they get scared, and the gate keeps them out."
"Oh. Okay, Mr. Stanton."
With a chuckle, Brian pushed open the gate and they walked toward the house. Harry was looking around, eyes wide. This house was huge! How would he have time to finish any chores Lord Black gave him if there was so much to clean? Before they reached the door, Brian stopped a moment.
"Harry, have you ever heard of Father Christmas?"
"Yes, but Aunt Petunia said that only Dudley was good enough to get presents from him."
"So you know Father Christmas has elves that help him make the presents, right?"
"Yes. Why? Does Father Christmas live near here?"
"No, he doesn't, but his elves have some cousins that like to help people who can see them with their chores and things. One of the people the cousins of the elves that help Father Christmas helps that way is Lord Black. So if you see one of them, don't be scared, okay? They're just helping."
"Okay, Mr. Greengrass," Harry said, looking a little confused. Nobody had ever helped him with chores before.
They finished walking to the door, and Brian lifted a large door knocker and knocked on the door twice. A few moments later, the door opened, and Harry saw something about his size, maybe a little smaller, with huge eyes and floppy ears. It was wearing something that looked like the kind of towel Aunt Petunia said was a 'tea towel'. He remembered she would get angry when he would wipe dishes dry with one.
"I's be Jilly. Please to come in, Master is expecting you."
"Thank you, Jilly," Brian said, removing his hat and light coat, and handing it to the little creature.
Jilly quickly snapped her fingers and the coat and hat hung themselves up on the coat rack at the end of the entry way.
"Please to follow Jilly, Master not liking to be kept waiting."
Following Jilly, they were led into a dining room. The table had been set for five, two places on either side of the table, and a single place at the end. Harry saw an elderly man sitting in the single chair on the end of the table.
"Lord Arcturus Black III, Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, may I present Mr. Harry James Potter, scion and Heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter, my partner in the firm, Mr. Kyle Stanton, and my wife, Healer Amy Greengrass," Brian said, formally bowing.
"I'm pleased to make your acquaintances," Lord Black replied, "please, join me for dinner. I hope you'll forgive me not rising when you entered, Healer Greengrass, however, at my age standing quickly is not always possible."
"Sir?" Harry asked in a small voice.
"Yes, Mr. Potter, what is it?"
"What would you like for me to call you while I stay here, sir?"
"For now, either 'sir' or 'Lord Black' will be fine, Mr. Potter. That might change after we have had time to get to know one another."
"Yes sir. Thank you for taking me in. I'll do my best to be good."
"And your best is all anyone can ask you to do, Mr. Potter. Always remember that. If you always do your best while here, I won't be disappointed."
"Yes sir, I promise I'll always do my best."
"And I will hold you to that promise, young man. Now, ordinarily it would be the height of bad manners to discuss such things during dinner, however I would like to see the diagnoses and instructions for Mr. Potter's care following his examination. Healer Greengrass, do you have the report and instructions?"
"Yes, Lord Black. Harry is also supposed to take several bottles of medicine, one of them with his meals. There is a list of prescriptions he should have, as well as dosage and frequency. I've included it in the report."
"Thank you. And as you have also reminded me, Mr. Potter is supposed to take one of these potions with meals, so allow me to rectify that delay. Jilly?"
"Master calls Jilly?" the little elf asked, appearing at Lord Black's side with a small pop.
"We are ready for dinner to be served, Jilly, thank you. Also, please be sure that there are things which Mr. Potter will be able to eat and tolerate. He has been injured and will be taking potions with his meals."
"Jilly will make sure Master Harry Potter sir has the bestest food to eat. Jilly will bring the dinner now for Master and his guests," and popped away. Moments later, food appeared in dishes on the table.
"May I assume Mr. Potter that you have been told next to nothing about your family?"
"I was told my parents died in a car crash, sir. My aunt didn't let me ask questions about my parents."
"Then I shall see about engaging a tutor for you, Mr. Potter. It is plain that you have not been taught anything about your heritage, a fact which we shall remedy soon. It will take me a few days to find a tutor that would be a good fit for you, but when I have, I expect you to listen to him or her, and complete your assignments to the best of your ability. If you do not understand something your tutor tells you, I expect you to say so and ask for your tutor to explain. Do you think you can do that?"
"Yes sir. Would I still be going to primary school in Little Whinging?"
"No. You no longer have to live with the people you did before, so attending that primary school would be inappropriate. Your tutor will be able to teach you once I have found him or her, not to worry."
"Thank you, Lord Black."
"You're quite welcome, Mr. Potter; now please, finish your dinner. Jilly went to a lot of trouble cooking it, and you wouldn't want to hurt her feelings by not eating it, would you? After you finish your dinner, I believe Jilly has made a pudding for dessert."
Lord Arcturus surreptitiously watched the young boy as he ate dinner. He was almost painfully shy, but he could see a good bit of childish mischief in the lad's eyes as well. He hoped to see more of that mischief in the days to come.