Chapter 4: Shopping, the gift and Pink hair
Harry drifted back into consciousness, the whole ordeal with the crazed elves but a hazy dream the rectangular weight on his chest attested that it was not, any how the bit with the elves was fuzzy but the words that the elf Zobly spoke were not 'One last gift do with it what you will, time is off the essence' they resounded in his mind and seemed to appear more important than all the others for some reason he couldn't put his finger on.
He was back at the Dursley's his aunts screeching in the kitchen to come cook breakfast told him that, you would think the orders warning would at least tone her down a bit. It was odd she sounded louder than she had in years, 'she must be practicing,' he thought. He stretched out on his bed which seemed harder and lumpier than he remembered, as he reached upward his hands came in contact with the ceiling… what the fuck he opened his bleary bespectacled eyes and looked around he was in the cupboard under the stairs, why was he hear didn't the Dursley's have any sense at all Moody was going to kill them. Gazing about the claustrophobic space he came to a realization he was nearly sixteen he wouldn't fit in the cupboard any more this was crazy, what was going on he needed answers. Putting the elves book aside Harry crawled out of the cupboard to face his aunt as her screaming reached even higher crescendos.
As he stepped out of the foul cupboard Harry was met immediately with the sight of number 4 privet drive as it had been six or seven years previous, no big screen television or new leather sofas that they had purchased before his fifth year as a reward for Dudley who had won that stupid boxing tournament, instead the room was furnished with the same crap he remembered cleaning more times then he cared to remember when he was ten… What the fuck had those elves done? Was he in the past did they turn him back into a child? As Harry looked around more the horrifying truth became more apparent, those psychotic elves had sent him to the past, shit!
Harry stood stunned for a few moments struck speechless with the magnitude of what had just occurred, as Harry looked around in his scrawny ten year old body it was irrefutable he was in the past the many pictures of a fat faced ten year old Dudley hanging on the wall said so, his aunt would consider it a crime if she didn't have new pictures of perfect dinky diddydums to put up every month obsessive bitch. His heart sunk even further he would be forced to put up with their shit, no wand, no magic, no friends, they didn't even know he existed or at least Hermione didn't, he wouldn't attend Hogwarts until next year and Neville and Luna were really only acquaintances, and probably as shocked as he was, with a heavy heart he moped. Suddenly he came to a realization Sirius was alive! In Azkaban but alive, he could get him out of that hell hole, he could get to know his godfather, he could live with him, Dumbledore could shove his blood protection up his ass, it hadn't kept him safe before why should it now, even if it did death eaters were better than the Dursley's any day, Harry's heart was significantly lightened and he made a promise to himself to keep a cool head and to try not to get into stupid situations that could possibly endanger his godfather.
Harry was ripped from his thoughts by his uncle, who he hadn't heard thunder down the stairs, surprising really the man could wake the dead or shake a house to pieces with a single footfall. Harry felt an fat hand grab him by the scruff of the neck and drag him bodily into the kitchen.
Where he began to berate him "Boy what do you think you're doing? Useless layabout, ungrateful freak, you are to cook breakfast every morning, we take you in out of the goodness of our hearts and you can't even pull your far share of the weight around here!" Uncle Vernon even managed to be louder than his aunt a feat really since the woman could practically shatter glass. He was finally silenced when his Aunt noticed the next door neighbours looking curiously through their living room window at the commotion and managed to calm her livid husband before they could lose even more face.
With things calmed down, Vernon sent Harry a swift kick, who had been watching the scene with an amused sneer, to hurry him to the stove. Resigned to his fate Harry began to prepare the bacon and eggs wishing he could slip poison, laxative, any thing to making his relatives suffer, hatred and vengeance feelings he had long since repressed surged forth as he was forced to endure the same crap he thought he was finished with years ago was forced on him again, the memories as well began to trickle slowly forth from the deepest depths of his mind.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Breakfast was done with, Harry hadn't received anything as punishment for sleeping in but it was punishment enough to have to listen to his aunts grating voice gossip over the meaningless comings and goings of the various families through out privet drive, Mrs. Whocares was doing this Mr. Dontgiveadamn was doing that, and Mrs. Figg was off to visit relatives in Scotland. His uncle was off to work without further incident but not before shoving a list of chores into Harry's hand that were to be finished before he got back from work, same as usual weed the garden, mow the lawn, trim the hedges, clean the house from top to bottom until it shined and buy groceries.
Gritting his teeth in frustration he began to wash the breakfast dishes, his aunt left for the day with Dudley to go do something, Harry didn't quite catch what, but not before threatening Harry with the most severe punishment if he bought anything for him self, as if she would be able to tell if he took anything she was quite bad at math, but she might set Dudley on him, so he had to be careful not to leave any evidence behind.
The wheels in Harry's head spun faster and faster as he went through his chores lightning fast, years of practice had made him quite efficient, he didn't bother cleaning the house, since there wasn't any thing to clean really, everything was sparkling unnaturally and no one was overseeing him so he was able to omit doing that by sprinkling cleaning various cleaning products at random intervals throughout the house, and giving him at least a three hour window to do what he wanted, after that he ran and quickly got the shopping done under the disapproving gaze of the shop keeper, he was a delinquent after all. With all his chores finished Harry was ready to set his plans into action, putting the few pounds he had nicked from his aunt into his pocket of his over large faded pants and an ugly black hat to cover his scar. He left the bright clean white of the house and went out to see if plan A would work.
After careful deliberation Harry had come to the conclusion that the crazy elves had given him the gift of time to train up to defeat Voldemort since he had half assed his study of magic the first five years he was given six to get up to speed and get up to speed he would, double time. First he had to get to diagon ally he was helpless without a wand, had no money, he would have to see the goblins about that, and needed to get books and other wizarding paraphernalia to make his quest for knowledge and power succeed. Voldemort was going down he killed his parents and he was going to make him pay with blood or what ever shit was running through his veins.
Fingers crossed Harry stepped out of number 4 into the noon time sun and the perfectly manicured lawn that he himself had tended diligently since he was four, it brought no pride only anger how he wished he could burn it all down and piss on the ashes, memories he had long since repressed were coming back, with no time to deal with painful nostalgia Harry beat them back down and continued with plan A, which was to see if he could summon the Knight Bus without a wand it might work they did after all advertise for stranded witches and wizards maybe that extended to ones without a wand, if not He would have to wait a week or two to steal enough money to by a train ticket to London to get to Diagon Alley he vaguely remembered the route he took with Hagrid five years ago or rather one year into the future so he wouldn't get lost.
With his fingers crossed when he reached the curb Harry extended his right hand and thought with all his mental prowess on the Knight Bus and wished it would appear. After a few moments he was starting to be discouraged when the large purple triple-decker bus popped into view and the conductor was there to great him, a old man with wiry grey hair beady black eyes, a crooked toothless smile and skin that look two sizes too big. He began to recite the welcome to the Knight Bus, but it had a strange dry quality about it, as though it had been said for far too often for too many years.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus I'm Brutus Wandtrod… Bah get on the bus wasting time! Where you going?" Wandtrod was obviously wasting no time.
Harry a bit taken aback replied "Diagon Alley."
"Alright that'll come to five sickles," the old man held out his hand.
Harry handed him the notes, which Wandtrod accepted dubiously, after muttering something about filthy mudbloods Harry was beckoned aboard, Ern the driver was there griping the wheel with both hands and staring purposely ahead with glasses so thick Harry wondered how he could se at all. Taking a seat on the first level and griping the chair in preparation for the jolt that came as violent as ever, was soon followed by quick turns and stops for passengers getting on or off. The old lady carrying a lurid pink knitting bag across from him was getting progressively greener, so green Harry questioned his choice of sitting on the first floor, He swore that if she didn't get off soon she would explode. Wandtrod didn't seem to care he was watching the old lady with a perverse anticipation. He was rewarded soon enough and she leaned to the side and vomited spectacularly towards Harry, She could have put the Weasley twins puking pastilles to shame with how far her vomit flew. Harry had to quickly jump to a further seat to avoid getting sprayed. Wandtrod was giving him a toothless grin, thankfully the Madame Marshes stop was next, and her vomit spelled away by the next passenger in.
Fifteen minutes After he got on Harry got off right in front of the Leaky Cauldron dank dingy and practically screamed wizard, he entered the pub and thankfully his disguise of a hat was enough and he wasn't swarmed by all of wizard kind, he was blessedly ignored people thought him to be some little muggleborn off to get his school supplies. Brushing off Tom the bartenders suspicious glances Harry walked timidly towards the back and touched the brick in correct order to make the Alley appear nothing happened, sighing in exasperation and unwilling to wait for someone to come through he went back in the pub.
Putting on a meek appearance Harry went over to the bartender and in a shy quiet voice asked "Sir could you possibly open Diagon Alley up for me the professor said what bricks to hit but I don't have a wand yet so it didn't seem to work?" With a frightened look he waited for a reply.
After sizing him up Tom agreed and followed him out back, the old man took out his wand and was about to tap the bricks but before he was able to the portal melted open an a large family of red heads appeared at the sight of the family that he had considered his own Harry was taken aback he hadn't expected to see them at all looking at them hoping the elves had tinkered with there minds but they had not they didn't even spare him a glance… Harry was depressed for a brief moment as his hopes were crushed, that was until he saw the rat on the eldest boys shoulder, all other feeling were crushed by unadulterated hate and the urge to crush the life out of the filthy little beast of a man that had betrayed his parents.
Just as quick as they were there the Weasley's were gone all that was left was Tom giving him an odd look not wasting any more time Harry thanked Tom profusely and ducked into the ally before he could start asking questions. The Alley was the same as he remembered it magical, quirky, bizarre, and so many other words at once it was hard to describe. Harry made his way through the droves of people shouting loudly, bargaining at various stalls selling every thing from singing spoons, to concentrated dragon dung pellets great for whistling hydrangeas. As he made his way to Gringotts he mentally made note of which shops he would need to visit, Flourish and Blotts was a given as was Ollivanders tucked away in a secluded corner, Eyelopes Owl emporium maybe Hedwig needed a home he would find some way to care for her, the trunk shop, and a few junk shops that seemed interesting, he was weary of entering Knockturn Ally he did after all have the body of a nine year old in age but he looked about seven a fact that was sure to draw the creepier inhabitants of that dank street like flies to honey.
He had finally reached the impressive white marble building that was Gringotts, thick roman style columns framed the golden doors at the top of the wide pale steps, above the open doors was a poem briefly telling the customers that potential theft would significantly lower ones life expectancy. Entering the through the tall and ornately fashioned doors of pure gold into Gringotts main Harry couldn't help but be amazed at the wealth on display in this room alone jewels the size of ostrich eggs of every colour, gold, silver, platinum being weighed, distributed all by stumpy goblins with long beards and miniature teller suits, sitting at delicately carved desks. Striding purposely towards one of the short, sneering tellers Harry inquired "Sir I was wondering if you were able to replicate lost keys, you see I seem to have lost mine and was wondering if you could help me?" the goblin looked at him sceptically believing him to be trying to scam them or pulling a childish prank.
"You can prove who you are?" the goblin asked with a board condescending voice.
Smirking Harry replied "of course," and removed his hat and lifted his fringe quickly and positioning himself so his forehead was only visible to the goblin in front of him as soon as the sneering little goblins eyes widened in surprise Harry put his hat back on, the other customers oblivious to the fact Harry Potter the Boy-Who-Lived graced their presence.
The goblin blinked his eyes a few moments and ushered him towards on of the many doors to his back, this caught the eye of a few of the surrounding tellers as they went about their business. Following the goblin, who set quite a quick pace for such a small fellow, through one of the doors on the opposing wall into a long hall lit with crystal chandeliers, with doors at even intervals following the goblin through one of the last rooms on the right into an sparsely furnished office whose goblin inhabitant was wearing a severe business suit and sitting at a dark wood desk littered with neat piles of paper. Harry unsure of what to do stood still near the door while the teller went and whispered something in the other goblins ear a few seconds later Harry's guide bustled out the door leaving Harry alone with the other goblin who seemed to be appraising him.
After a moment or two the goblin behind the desk initiated the conversation, "Please Mr. Potter take a seat we have much to discuss," and he motioned to the chair opposite him, which Harry graciously took he began again "I wonder Mr. Potter how is it you come to Gringotts this day, we were under the impression you would not be knowing any thing about the wizarding world until next year?" The goblin was looking at him shrewdly
Shit, shit, shit Harry had not thought about that his mind was working over time to make some believable story that would satisfy the goblin in front of him, the truth that wouldn't work they might ship him off to Saint Mungo's. Then he had it his aunt might have letters that his mother sent her that was it, he doubted it was true and if she did she would have burned them all but the goblin in front of him didn't know that.
Harry started talking "Um you see I found letters my aunt kept, that my mum sent her while she went to Hogwarts and stuff and she mentioned in the latter letters about having a vault at your most magnificent bank and about Diagon Ally in some of the earlier ones," Harry watched the goblin in front of him carefully to see if he bought his story. The goblin was shaking his head and chuckling lightly, Harry's heart fell.
"Good story you aren't a good liar are you or don't you get enough practice?" Laughing at Harry's crushed look he added "goblins are natural Legilimens we can tell if your lying or not only a trained occlumens can fool us," at Harry's understanding look began again "perhaps you could tell the truth or will we have to torture it out of you?" at Harry's horrified look he laughed again "just kidding," with a look that said other wise.
Not wanting to be put on the rack or any thing Harry began his story about actually being fifteen not nine and the crazed elves and that whole fiasco and how he was sent back to the past to train up to kill the death eaters who had killed his godfather in the future, omitted the bit about the prophesy he hopped the goblin would understand when he was done he looked at the goblin expectantly, he was nodding his head in understanding.
After sitting in silence for a moment or two the goblin continued "I have heard of these mad elves you speak of they are an important part of goblin history and legend the guardians of the plant and many other names in gobbledegook but that is the closest translation they are different with each meeting with mortals in number, personality, and reason for the meeting there is always a different reason unique to each person summoned, I have my suspicions about your summoning but I think it would be best for you to find out for yourself. Oh where are my manners I am vault keeper Rockgag pleasure to meet you Mr. Potter," Rockgag extended his hand with that.
the sudden change in tone took Harry by surprise but he took the goblins hand none the less and added "call me Harry Mr. Potter makes me feel old I am only nine after all, and such formalities seem awkward between friends." How smoothly he answered surprised Harry and he wasn't the only one.
"Harry if I may call you that, it is not often a wizard extends friendship towards goblins, I believe we are to expect great things from you," Rockgag smiled as he said that. "Well on to business concerning your vault your grandparents left you certain parties have tried to make it unavailable to you until your eleventh year, to control your spending, and even to monitor your purchases, and send bimonthly notices of all transactions to the person who requested we due such things even though it is against Gringotts policy money talks loyalty can only extend so far in a goblins eyes when gold is involved." Rockgag gave him a suggestive look.
Harry taking his hint replied "but of course a goblins loyalty is to his purse, it will be well worth it if you were to remain loyal to me, and even more so if you could send false reports, and even more so to tell me who this person is and don't you mean the vault my parents left me," Harry was surprising himself with this new honey coated tongue he possessed, he would think on it latter. With a sinking feeling about the identity of the meddler of he finances he waited for the goblin to continue.
"Forgive my mistake, you are too kind Harry, such things are all available for a price, I will say no more as much as it pains me to do so business is business,."
"Very well before I commit to anything thought might I get a balance of my account to see how much I can afford and the fee the requestor paid you?"
With a greedy smile Rockgag began leafing through a stack of papers towards the middle he found what he was looking for "Aha here it is the Potter trust vault number 453, balance 200 000 galleons, we weren't paid a thing it was to pay off a life debt of the previous manager of the Potter account, who incidentally died last year, I owe nothing to the requestor so no worries there,"
Smiling widely Harry began "so how does 10 000 galleons sound for telling me the name and keeping my transactions away from prying eyes and an extra thousand to keep this quiet?"
With a greedy yet surprised glint in his eye "that is most generous Harry I hope to do more business with you at a later date. It wouldn't be wise to go to your vault it self at the moment you never know who is watching so I will give you a bag with twenty thousand now and I will get the money from your vault later tonight how does that sound?" Rockrag handed him a small money bag that was made of a dark purple velvet.
That was more than Harry had ever spent in all his life multiplied by one hundred of course it was more than enough too much really but Harry had an odd feeling that he would need it in the future so he graciously accepted. Harry was about to get up when Rockrag stopped him and he remembered the name… "Ah Harry before you leave to answer your question the measures were requested by one Albus Dumbledore."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Harry heart sunk the man he considered a grand father had gone behind his back and had been meddling in his finances for years trying to control him, that bastard what else had he been doing, he promised him self he would find out and made a note to think on this later right now he had two hours to finish his shopping and get back before his aunt came home.
Deciding to get a trunk first Harry made his way down the alley to where he saw trunks advertised he entered the small shop. A bell rang in the room beyond the counter that seemed to be a workshop and swearing was heard, the shop was much larger than it looked on the outside it must be magic he could do this to the cupboard maybe… There were stacks of all sorts of trunks large and piled on large shelves in the center of the store and around the walls there were so many types and makes, shapes and sizes, that Harry didn't know where to start and didn't want to waste time looking around so he went up to the counter just as a burly bearded man covered in wood chips and swearing in a thick Scottish accent walked scowling out of the workshop in the back.
His glower did not relent as he laid eyes on Harry "I don't sell school trunks here, go bother someone else," with one last glare he moved to go to the back room.
Before he could leave Harry replied in a curt business like tone "I'm not looking for a school trunk sir, I'm hoping to get some thing with more than one compartment, maybe a small room, with shrinking capabilities, numerous antitheft wards, and maybe a few concealment charms thrown into the mix," this caused the grumpy trunk builder to turn around with an interested look thrown in with the scowl that seemed permanently etched onto his face.
"Aye I might have something like that but how do I know a little brat like you can pay?" The man said taking in Harry's scruffy and poor looking appearance.
Smirking in reply Harry Pulled out the purple velvet money bag and dumped a small pile of gold onto the counter this had the effect of totally changing the mans demure though it didn't erase the scowl. The man strode off into his workshop and a few moments later, after much crashing and swearing came out carrying a trunk that seemed to be made of some type of dark brown wood, bound with highly polished brass, and a matching brass key hole or rather key holes since there were six of them. The man dropped the trunk heavily onto the counter. "This is what you want six compartments the first three are regular storage space, the next one number four is a bit larger about three times the size of one of the smaller compartments, the fifth is twice as big as number four lots of room in there, then there is number six that's about a twenty foot by twenty foot room with a ladder to get down in to it wraparound shelves are optional for a slightly higher price. Last but not least is compartment seven that's at the bottom hear," he said pointing to a small knot in the wood near the bottom it was hard to see and Harry hadn't noticed it until the man pointed it out, the man pricked his finger with a pin he had pulled out of one of the pockets in his robes and pressed the bead of blood to the wood it shimmered a drawer shot out nearly catching the side of Harry's head. "This is a secret drawer only accessible by the one who is keyed into the ward stone here," he said pointing to the flat pulsating stone on the bottom of the drawer, Harry had to stand on his toes to see. "There are three sizes full size, half size, quarter size, and match box," the man tapped the trunk with his wand and shrunk it down all the way showing each size. "So do you want it?" man asked with a scowl that said he had better not be wasting his time.
"It looks like a fantastic trunk I'll take it," it really was an excellent trunk far better that the one he had before Harry happily handed over the large pile of gold that was needed to pay for it, 200 galleons more than he had spent in all his years at Hogwarts in one go, and the grumpy trunk builder not so happily took it. After the wards were keyed over to him and the trunk was shrunk match box size Harry left to go get a wand.
Harry entered the dark and dusty old shop, the musical bell heralding his presence, and waited for the strange old man to appear, he was starting to get apprehensive when a soft voice that raised the hairs on his neck "Ah Harry Potter I wasn't expecting to see you until next year, getting a head start are we," the creepy silver eyed man stared impassively before him "I seem to have sold you a wand before haven't I? Holly and phoenix feather eleven inches, yes. Fine wand that fine wand indeed," he continued to stare with a odd knowing expression on his face.
Frowning Harry asked "how do you know that sir I haven't bought a wand yet?"
"That is for me to know and for you to guess. Now wands, wands, wands," the old man bustled into the back rustling could be heard. He came back out with an arm load of wand boxes "lets see holly and phoenix feather 11 inches," Ollivander handed him his old wand and unsurprisingly it shot out red and gold sparks. With a pensive look he handed him another wand.
"Aren't wizards only allowed one wand sir?" asked Harry confused.
"Not so wizards are allowed a second wand it is just uncommon that two wands would accept the same wizard. As I recall you went through nearly all the wands in my shop these are the only wands you didn't try," he handed him the boxes one by one he tried them to no avail sighing Ollivander gave up it was no use Harry wasn't compatible with any more of his wands, so he threw up his hands in defeat and went back to wait for another unsuspecting customer he could be heard muttering "Damn those misleading elves annoying bastards."
Harry was just about to leave when Ollivanders chilling voice called him back "Mr. Potter I nearly forgot," he handed him a vial that held a silvery gold liquid "drink this it will negate all tracking charms on you, neither the ministry or anyone else will be able to monitor the magic you do." Smiling mysteriously he watched as Harry downed it in one go.
Licking his lips Harry smiled back "that was the tastiest potion I have ever had, old shoe and tar a delicious combination I must say,"
"Indeed, well you had better go Mr. Potter time is off the essence." with that the odd old man departed back into the depths of his shop.
Harry departed the shop but not before leaving seven galleons on the counter. Out in the Alley again Harry went straight to Eyelopes Owl Emporium to set his good friend Hedwig free. He quickly spotted those familiar amber eyes and the recognition he saw in them attested that Ollivander wasn't the only one set upon by those crazed elves. Opening her cage she hoped out onto his arm and waited calmly while the attendant watched surprised at the odd owl behaviour, Harry bought a large bag of owl treats and a traveling cage as well which he put in the trunk. When they go out side he told Hedwig to go fly around and hunt and not approach the Dursley's until after nightfall, she nipped his ear affectionately and flew off.
Deciding it was prudent to get some dark detectors, perhaps it was wise to begin heeding Madeye Moody's advice he was attacked nearly every year and it would be good to get some warning this time around. Stepping into a bright, cheery, but cluttered junk shop that was tended by a girl that couldn't have been over fifth year with bubble gum pink hair. Walking up to the counter Harry smiled he never knew Tonks had a summer job when she was younger.
Smiling under his hat Harry approached and asked in an innocent voice, "might you have any dark detectors, sneak scopes, or foe glasses"
Tonks frowned at him suspiciously "what would a kid like you want with something like that, you look a bit young to have enemies after you?"
Harry had to use all of his will power to stop from laughing, once he got control of himself he replied "think what you what but I have money, if you won't sell me what I want I will simply take my business elsewhere,"
Tonks was grinning at this "mature little boy aren't you?" Harry clenched his teeth and scowled "no need to get mad cutie I'm sure we could find you some nice child size dark detectors for you to play with." She was smiling wickedly now.
Not wanting to waste his effort trying to retort he simply pulled out his money pouch and dumped a significant sum of money on the counter. Harry watched as Tonks' jaw dropped and eyes widened to the diameter of tea cups, after regaining some of her composure she began to dash around the store plucking items from various barrels and shelves, Harry had a sinking feeling, Tonks was running full speed around the shop with an arm load of magical gadgets, she was about to pass him to pull something off the shelf to the left of him when she tripped over her own feet and careened into him sending them both to the floor, Harry's hat and Tonks' armload of dark detectors skidding to the other side of the room.
Harry watched in horror as Tonks' eyes widened even further as she starred at his forehead with a mixture of shock, and the glazed look of an obsessive fan girl. Tonks was more almost the most excited she had ever been in her life and opened her mouth to scream. "Oh my god it's Ha…..," Harry had quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.
"I don't want to make a scene, I am not supposed to be here, and I really don't want to be mobbed by all of Diagon Alley, I'll remove my hand if you promise to not shout, scream, or anyway alert the masses of people out there to my presence, giggle, profess your undying love, offer you hand in marriage, or another behaviour that would suggest I am any thing but a normal customer, do you agree?" She nodded her head, and Harry slowly took his hand off the shocked girls mouth.
After blinking her eyes for a few moments to compose herself she started "I'm so sorry, um I didn't mean to do that, erg I had better pick that up my boss will kill me if he finds out I've dropped more stuff," with a sheepish grin she began to gather up the fallen dark detectors as Harry put his hat back on, carefully keeping the distinguishing red scar far away from the eyes of curious by passers walking the street outside. After he finished hiding his scar away again he helped Tonks gather up the rest of the dark detectors and carry them over to the counter, thankfully none were damaged.
Regaining her composure Tonks began to explain each item all the while throwing Harry questioning glances. Harry finally settled on a tuneable sneak scope with ten degrees of detection, simply by holding the whistling ball and saying the password followed by a number, alas there was no volume control, a small foe glass that was tuned into him with a strand of his hair, a black pocket watch with three faces one the time, one the level of danger he was in seven degrees in all, and the third face that if pressed opened up to a small circular holder of some kind that had little claws latched on to little bottles, with a pop it enlarged lit a monstrous appendage off the face of the little watch, it was an emergency supply of healing potions and poison antidotes over two dozen in all, if he ran out they would have to be made or bought but it was great any way, with another press in popped back into hiding. He also bought a light dragon leather vest that was covered with hidden magically enlarged pockets, and protection runes, and nicely charmed to fit him and gradually grow with him, magic was wonderful. The last purchase was a wand holster to protect he buttocks thankfully it adjusted small enough to fit his arm, all in all it was 150 galleons well spent towards protection. Into the trunk it went.
He was about to leave when Tonks grasped his arm looked like a cat who had caught a canary, or whatever that saying was, she whispered into his ear "Harry unless you want the entire alley to know you're here I would suggest you give me your address."
Harry starred disbelievingly at her, she opened her mouth and seemed about to shout out, when he finally gave in "fine but on a few conditions, no howlers, no suggestive photographs, and tell your owl not to deliver the letter until I am out side and alone it is a smart owl right?" Harry quickly scribbled his address with the quill and bit of parchment Tonks had with her. Giggling Tonks took the address, kissing him on the cheek she skipped back into the store humming happily to herself. Shacking his head he went to his next destination.
It was a dimly lit little store, squeezed between a large robe shop and a used cauldron depository, a small creaking sign named it Rare Objects. It was filled with a plethora of rune etched object of all shapes and sizes. Harry browsed through the many items that layered the walls of the tiny shop until he finally found what he was looking for, a pensive but it wasn't like Dumbledore's large bird bath, it was small roughly size of a basketball with the middle section cut out, and could only fit a small fraction of the memories. It was made of a smooth whitish stone with greenish veins running through it that glowed if the faint light hit it right, plus it had a lid that opened like a clam shell revealing the empty basin within. Carefully He carried it over to the counter and paid 500 galleons to the owner who was looking at him questioningly. With the precious magic artefact secured in his trunk he left.
Heading to the Flourish and Blotts Harry bought a large number of books more than he had ever bought be for he needed knowledge to get power to defeat Voldemort, he bought the standard books of spells grades one through seven, beginners, intermediate, and advance transfiguration, a few books on magical creatures, curse compendiums, large tomes on hexes jinxes and magical theory, herbology books, rune dictionaries, and arrithmancy charts, school potions books, a couple books on magical history, volumes on wizarding customs, and the few books on advanced spells, and others the theories behind them, and a lone book titled 'How to learn potions if your teacher was Severus Snape'. Harry paid the gold for his many books and dumped them into the fifth compartment of his trunk leaving little room to spare, the other customers were watching shocked as the strange little boy bought so many books or that he owned such an expensive trunk. When he inquired about books on Occlumency and Legilimency he was told by the owner in a quiet voice he would have to travel down Knockurn Alley to get those in one of the more specialized shops down there. The owner looked shocked and scandalized that he had just given that information to a child and started to warn him over and over that it was far too dangerous for a little boy to be venturing down alone or going down at all.
Undeterred and knowing that if he wanted to guard his mind from attack he would have to go through Knockurn Alley deciding to make him self appear a little more menacing he slipped into a used clothing store (Madame Malkins was far too busy and he wanted to make this quick) and purchased a large, but not too large cloak with deep hood to keep his face in the shadows. Draping the cloak over his small frame and covering his face he darted into Knockurn Alley and began to walk purposefully and confidently down the dark and smelly street, the stores unlike those in Diagon Alley which were bright and welcoming, were dark gloomy half with boarded up windows hiding what he didn't really want to know after passing numerous grubby signs he finally thought he found what he was looking for. Pushing open the door to the grubby room ahead books seemed to be placed on shelves all about the room with no order entirely chaotic he would never find what he was looking for, with a sigh he took in the rest of the room, a salt and pepper haired woman running the till was lounging on a black arm chair behind the counter watching him with humorous hawk like eyes.
Harry approached the woman behind the desk and asked "Um Miss er Madame is there a quicker why to find the kind of books I need, rather than sifting through all of these," Harry waited while she eyed him up and down then stared at him as though weighing the pros and cons of her answer.
"I suppose I could you don't act like most brats that walk through the doors of my shop Mr. Potter," Harry nearly choked on the breath he was holding.
He stuttered "how did you know my name?'"
"I saw it I have good friends in high places you could say," she said with a mysterious smile.
'Those bloody elves get around,' Harry thought.
"Enough chatting I suppose you want your books huh? Well just think of what you want and snap your fingers."
Harry closed his eyes and thought books that he could to help him learn to defeat Voldemort holding that thought in his head he snapped his fingers and opened his eyes there were over a dozen books each bigger than the last, he looked over their titles Mind Magicks an in depth study of Occlumency and Legilimency, Moste Potente Potions (which he recognized from his second year), A Beginners Guide to the Dark Arts, Harry's breath caught after being drilled for five years that the dark arts were the most terrible thing ever he was understandably uneasy, followed by An Intermediates Guide to the Dark Arts, and unsurprisingly An Advanced Guide to the Dark Arts, Mastering Your Inner Animagus, Conjuring and Summoning and Animation not for beginners, A Complete Compendium of Wards, Charms Master, Duelling for Dummies, Darke Olde Potions, a book that seemed to be written in squiggly lines, Rituals of Power, and a book that he could practically feel the taint off oozing off, Black Magicks.
The lady watched as Harry gazed with horror at the last book and spoke "I feel the taint of that book to Harry the knowledge inside has only been used in malice and hate to cause innocents pain and death. You must understand Harry that the knowledge it self is harmless and can be used for good or evil it is how you wield the power you are given that decides or allegiance light or dark, perhaps you should take this book as well it might help you change your mind," with a sad smile she handed him Light or Dark by Wallace Slinkhard.
Smiling at the name of the author Harry asked "Any relation to Wilbert Slinkhard?" recalling the bitch who didn't teach fifth year defence against the dark arts.
"Yes I do believe they were brothers, apparently Wallace jinxed Wilbert and forever changed his brothers views on magic," smiling she continued "I heard through the grape vine he turned him into a human toad." The humour was not lost on Harry and he laughed lightly. She continued "read the book Harry things aren't always as they seem, you need to see that to succeed. You had better get going you only have an hour left, buy some cauldrons and potions supplies don't let Snape turn you off potions, he may be a potions genius but he can't teach at all, if your quick you could buy a broom as well." With a benevolent smile she shooed the short seemingly nine year old out of her shop after storing the more questionable books in the secret drawer.
Taking her advice to heart Harry left Knockturn Alley with out incident and made a large order of potions ingredients and several cauldrons of different sizes and materials including a one silver and one gold cauldron because they were needed for more advanced potions if he remembered Hermione's lecture on NEWT potions. It would take a half hour or so for the staff at the store to compile his order so he went and bought a Magic Ice Trunk (it would be illegal to use a enchanted refrigerator, but not own one and not use it so wizards invented the ice trunk food wouldn't perish and it would stay warm, cool or frozen depending on which of the three magically expanded partitions you put it in) and filled it with all of his favourite food and sweets, no longer would he starve on the Dursley's meagre scraps, he discreetly slipped it into compartment six.
He still had 10 minutes until his potions order was ready so he grabbed a large ice cream from Florean Fortesques and ran to Quality Quidditch and perused the brooms and after much lamenting, no nimbus' or firebolts, finally settled on a vintage silver arrow quite fast if no longer league standard, but still quite a good broom, he was addicted to flying and there was no point buying a 2000 galleon broom that would be outdated next year. He left the Quidditch store 250 galleons lighter, and left to retrieve his potions order.
He needed help lifting the two large boxes into compartment five, it was far to heavy for him to lift and he couldn't levitated it in those underage weren't supposed to do magic, so he had the owner do it for him. After paying an extra fifty galleons for there silence, devious Slytherins the didn't believe his story of actually being sixteen but with the body of a child after a potion spell combination gone wrong as a reason, he left. His trunk full of what he needed to succeed, Harry left Diagon Alley ready to begin training to defeat his arch nemesis.
A relatively quick ride on the Knight Bus and Harry was back at Privet Drive, just on time too his aunt and cousin had just pulled up, much to his chagrin, quickly he pretended to be weeding one of the front flower beds. Petunia gave him a suspicious look before screeching at him to go cook dinner. When he got in side he realized it was four o'clock it was Saturday and uncle Vernon usually got home a hour early he would be back in a hour, and he demanded that dinner be there when he got back. Putting water on and chopping things in a flurry of activity and covertly using his wand to speed things up he was luckily finished just before the pig like man walked through the door. At six every thing was finished the human pigs had devoured everything, Harry was given nothing, and made to do the dishes afterwards, at seven Harry was thrown bodily back into his cupboard.
Cursing his relatives Harry pulled out his wand and made his trunk one quarter size he unlocked, compartment five and pulled out the book on wards, flipping through the index until he found silencing wards, turning to that section, he choose the one he wanted, to block all sound from escaping his little cupboard, it took several minutes for him to read and memorize the wand movements and short chant in Latin, at last he was ready flicking his wand in perfect unison with the chant the spell was done, Screaming at the top of his lungs Harry tested it out… His relatives could be heard watching some program on the telly. No bellowing or screeching for him to shut up, it worked. It was now that Harry noticed the book the elf gave him the night before. Warily he picked it up unsure of what to do, after debating with himself for a bit he opened it, nothing even the pages were blank, "what the hell," suddenly the book erupted in light and the holograms of the four elves appeared.
"Fuck finally you open the book, we wait all fucking day. Everyone else opened their book, but noooo you make us wait all mother fucking day, stupid fuckup!" Screamed Tobly the vulgar little house elf.
"You is wasting time you is Tobly," stated Nobly the elf that spoke like a house elf.
"See if I fucking care Nobly, the time I waste pales in comparison to what shit face here wasted," retorted Tobly who pointed at Harry.
Bobly was twiddling his thumbs and humming to himself with breaks of mad laughter or arcane speech that was until Tobly through a silencing spell at him. "Can't you three behave for one moment?" Interrupted Zobly as the other three were preparing to brawl, he threw a immobilizing jinx at them. Turning to Harry Zobly began "you have a dark lord to kill and much to learn we give you the gift of mind…" He through a ball of crackling blue light at Harry which hit him square in the forehead.
All Harry saw before darkness and pain consumed him were the four elves fighting tooth and nail, as Zobly's immobilizing jinx had expired.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
That was a long chapter next on should be just as long and titled 'blood, guts, and Marge'. No idea for a new title yet I don't think Harry Potter and the Silly, Silly Dark Lord would work.