A/N: Hello again! Thank you everyone! I was very surprised to see so many visitors to this story and even more so seeing the follows, favorites, and reviews.
Now, you might see Harry do something in this chapter that is going to make you go, "WHAT? HE CAN'T DO THAT! HARRY IS OP! FF 15 GO NEXT STORY!" I assure you, what he does will have a consequence and will be revealed in due time. I hope you stick around for that but if not, I understand. I can't exactly make you stay, can I?
Harry will most definitely not be OP this story. But he will grow stronger over time.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any works by J.K Rowling
Chapter 2
Harry started making his way downstairs. He was taking in the sight of manor, still in shock that he was finally outside of his prison. He was walking down the hall towards the kitchen to get some food when he heard voices through a pair of white double doors.
"-birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Jamie! Happy birthday to you!" The sound of candles being blown out and whooping cheers could be heard through the doors
Harry froze right outside the living room. He slowly creaked open the door a bit to reveal his family plus Sirius and Remus surrounding a birthday hat wearing Jamie. On a round table in front of them was a big birthday cake with the numbers '12' for candles.
"Presents!" Shouted an excited Sirius Black. Everyone started bringing out their gifts to a grinning Jamie. Sirius and Remus got him a broom servicing kit and necklace. His mother, a potions enthusiast, gave him his own potions making kit and a promise to allow him access into her potions room. His father went last and brought out a long package that Jamie eagerly tore apart. When he saw what it was, he let out an excited squeal.
"No way! A nimbus 2000? Can I go fly it now?" Jamie exclaimed
James chuckled and ruffled his son's head. "In a bit, son. I uh…think Sirius has another gift for you." he said a bit awkwardly before giving Sirius a weak smile.
Sirius gave a small frown before letting out a sigh. He walked over to a corner of a room where a dark green box was kept. Picking it up, he stood in front of Jamie holding it.
"On behalf of Arcturus Black, head of the noble and most ancient House Black, I present Heir Potter this gift as a token of our alliance on his 12th name day."
Jamie looked at the box hesitantly before turning to his father questioningly. His father gave a small nod and Jamie turned back to address Sirius.
"As heir to the noble and most ancient House Potter, I graciously accept your gift," he pronounced formally before taking the gift.
Jamie yelped when he saw what was inside and immediately dropped the box, quickly jumping away from it. Thankfully, Sirius was quick enough to catch it.
Inside was a gray medium sized snake that started hissing at everyone, causing them all to move back. Sirius however was roaring loudly with laughter.
"Wha-wha-what is that Sirius?" Jamie asked fearfully.
Sirius tried holding in his laughter but was finding it difficult. Eventually he calmed down enough to answer. "That is a cobra, courtesy of my grandfather. As per the useless agreement that the ancestors of our houses wrote, each house head must give the heir of the other a formal gift on their 12th birthday to strengthen the alliance."
"But Sirius, why does it have to be a cobra?"
"Because pup!" Sirius said, roaring with laughter again. "I told him you liked them!"
"But I don't!" Jamie whined. "Actually, I absolutely hate snakes! So why did you tell him that?"
"Be-because it was funny! Oh man you should've seen your face!" Sirius was absolutely dying on the floor while clenching the box close to him. Jamie tried looking behind for support but saw that James and Remus were trying their best to hold in their laughter while Lily just looked furious.
"Sirius Orion Black! What were you thinking!" Lily hissed before turning to her son and pulling him into her embrace. "It's okay Jamie hun. Mommy's here, I'll protect you. I promise nothing bad is going to happen to you."
That was the last straw for the men behind them and suddenly James and Remus burst into laughter, joining Sirius on the floor.
"Hey, it's not funny guys!" A beet red Jamie shouted while trying to squirm his way out from his mother's hug.
The sight before Harry left him dumbstruck. While he was starved, imprisoned, left to suffer the terrors of after effects of the cruciatus curse, his family were just having a party?
A loud slam could be heard towards the direction of the double doors to reveal an angry Harry Potter.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?" Harry roared.
Everyone in the room froze. For the Potter family, it was their first time seeing the estranged Harry since 3 months ago. The usual dark blue robes he was wearing now seemed too big for him and hair that was so untangled and messy you'd think he had lived in a jungle all his life. One look into the sunken sleep deprived eyes of Harry made them all hesitate to say anything. The Potters all stayed frozen for a good 15 seconds before James realized who it was.
"YOU!" James spat. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUTSIDE YOUR ROOM?"
"Room? You mean that PRISON you stuck me in before even trying to hear anything from my side?"
"UNGRATEFUL BRAT! I FEED, CLOTHE, AND GIVE YOU A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD AND YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR ROOM?" James roared while taking a step towards Harry.
Sirius tried to put an arm on James. "James calm down! We need to tal- ARGHHH!"
Suddenly the snake on Sirius' arm started hissing at Harry and twisted tighter around Sirius causing him to wince.
"UNGRATEFUL?" Harry bellowed. "I TRIED AND TRIED ALL THESE YEARS TO MAKE YOU PROUD OF ME. BUT ALL YOU COULD SEE WAS JAMIE, EVEN WHEN I LAID THERE ON THE GROUND AFTER TAKING THE CRUCIATUS CURSE FOR HIM!
His eyes started turning red and droplets of tears started falling. His voice now barely above a whisper.
"Every night I saw his face. That man. He was just laughing…and my body…it just…it…so much pain. It hurts, every night. I just wanted someone to help me…I just need help…" Harry trailed off remembering all those sleepless nights.
But it wasn't what everyone in front of him heard. To them, it was a loud, almost ear piercing hiss that slowly got quieter after a couple of seconds. Those in front of him stood frozen in shock but not for the reasons Harry thought they would be.
It was James who was the first to react. Immediately his wand was out and pointed at Harry, a spell already being cast.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
The full body bind spell hit dead on and Harry fell back on the ground, frozen. James stood over Harry with his wand directly pointing at his face.
"Parseltongue!" James spat with disgust. "I always knew something was wrong with you boy! Always off hiding somewhere with those books. You knew you couldn't catch up to him so you learn the dark arts! Bah! I should end you right here before we have another dark lord on our hands."
A horrified Lily ran up to him yanking his arm. "James! You can't!" she pleaded. "He's still our son! A Potter!"
While laying frozen there, Harry could hear everything. He wasn't exactly sure what his dad was talking about, but one thing was clear. His dad wanted to kill him and inside he was freaking out. Still, Harry was surprised when his mother who always ignored him started defending him.
Yet whatever hope he held for a change of heart in his mother was shattered with her next few words.
"What would the public do when they find out you killed your own son? Even if they hate him, they'll still turn against us because we're light sided! And you know someone will be bound to come looking! We won't be able to hide it forever."
'Of course. The only thing she really cared about was her fame,' were Harry's thoughts. He didn't have much time to grasp that fact before he felt a strong pull inside of him and a sharp pain with the next words James spoke.
"He is no son of mine. He is no Potter. The only son I ever had is Jamie Potter. I don't know this evil boy in front of me. I don't want something like this here disturbing our family. I want him gone and I'll be damned before I let another Dark Lord rise inside this household!"
The world started to spin for Harry and the next minute he knew, he was outside in the rain in front of a large black gate staring at an empty plot of land that was supposed to have his house on it.
Harry was trying to process what had happened. Everything had felt so surreal to him. But he knew that right now, he had to move. After what just transpired, he couldn't stand another minute being so near to his so called 'family'.
His hand shakily reached inside his robe pocket to pull out a small pouch. The boy emptied the small amounts of knuts, sickles, and 3 galleons onto his palm. He was feeling scared seeing the small amount, knowing that it wouldn't be enough to stay in a place for long. He knew that he was on his own now and if he wanted to survive, he would need to get more money to live.
Suddenly Harry thought about the secret account he made at Gringotts last year. With his allowance every week, he made sure to store them safely at the bank and hoped to gain a bit of interest in them as well.
But the problem was how to get to Diagon Alley. He didn't have his wand with him to call the knight's bus nor did he have any muggle money for a cab. His wand was taken and locked away before he was trapped in that room and he would need Gringotts to exchange his money anyways. The only other way he knew to travel was to apparate but he was underaged and had no practice.
"Well. I read the theory. At the worst I'll get splinched and maybe die if no one helps me." Harry muttered. "But what does it matter? There's no way I'm making it there on foot anyways with the conditions my body is in." Harry started to close his eyes and breathed in.
He imagined the destination. The front of Diagon Alley.
He focused and willed with all of his determination. He wanted to be in front of Diagon Alley.
He felt himself leaving the space he was at, moving with deliberation. He stood in front of Diagon Alley.
Harry opened his eyes to see the bustling sight of Diagon Alley. Witches and wizards bustled around shopping for wares or just catching up with each other on the streets.
"Bloody hell…I actually apparated!" He exclaimed in shock.
The boy started briskly walking through the alley heading as fast as he could to Gringotts. However, it wouldn't be long before the people around noticed him. Shocked gasps and muttering could be heard from the people around.
"It's him! What is HE doing here?"
"So power hungry that he would sacrifice his own brother…"
"If I had a son like that, I'd bloody hell leave him on the streets…"
Harry did his best to ignore the muttering around him but inside he felt a pang of hurt. These people didn't know what he went through. They didn't know how hungry or exhausted he felt right now, because truthfully Harry was on the verge of collapse from trying that apparation.
The doors of Gringotts swung open to the weary boy who almost rushed to the counter clearly out of breath.
"I need to make a withdrawal!" Harry said, almost shouting. He started panting heavily, finding it hard to breathe. If the goblin noticed, he clearly didn't show it.
"Key, please." The goblin said monotonously.
"I uh lost it. Can we use a blood test or something for identification?"
"It'll be 20 sickles for the testing, wizard."
Harry inwardly cursed while reaching inside his pouch. He forgot they charged for it and it was his stupidity for not grabbing his key and other essentials before leaving the room. He didn't think that somehow he'd end up kicked outside his own home.
The goblin reached behind the counter and pulled out a stone bowl before placing it in front of Harry. "Name to be tested?" The goblin asked.
"Harry Potter."
"Place your hand inside the bowl. You will feel a prick and blood will be withdrawn."
Harry complied and placed his right hand inside it. When his blood filled a bit of the bowl, the Goblin pulled it back over the counter and the bowl had a blue glow to it. The goblin started looking through a ledger before frowning.
"It appears there is no longer a Harry Potter within the Potter family. The name has been crossed out." The goblin stated.
Realization came to Harry. When his father said those words he effectively disowned Harry. That's why he suddenly appeared outside Potter Manor. The wards no longer recognized him as a family or friend.
"B-bu-but what about my account?" Harry sputtered. "I made it myself with my money!"
"It was created under the name Potter. The head of house immediately gains control of it when the Potter who made it is deceased or no longer a Potter."
Harry's face started to get even paler than it was before. His hand gripped the counter to try and steady himself.
"Okay... what happens to me now?" Harry asked the goblin almost fearfully.
The goblin in front of him snorted at the tone of Harry's voice. "You now hold no last name and belong to no family. In muggle society you would be placed within an orphanage. However, wizarding society rarely has disowned children from pure blood families at such a young age and has no system in place for it, therefore you are now considered an emancipated minor."
Another inward curse from Harry. It seemed that his luck was just getting much worse and worse. It dawned on him that now he was truly and most totally screwed. At least he was considered an adult now but without any money, what does it matter? He wouldn't hope to make it to next week with the state his body is in right now. And with the way those people outside were acting towards him, who would want to hire Harry previously 'Potter' to work for them?
"Okay. How about investments? What can I do with this amount?" Harry asked before dumping the few galleons, sickles, and knuts he had."
The goblin quickly glanced them over and sneered at Harry. "3 galleons, 37 sickles, and 78 knuts won't get you anything, wizard. It's a minimum 7 galleon deposit and a 50 sickle fee to open an account. Now begone from here and stop wasting my time, wizard!"
A red-faced Harry angrily picked up the coins back into his pouch before stomping out of Gringotts. He kicked a pebble in frustration.
"DAMN IT!" Harry shouted. "DAMN IT ALL!"
Harry defeatedly fell down to the steps of the bank, contemplating everything that happened. It truly was a bad day for him. He was disowned, he had only a few coins to survive with, he starved and was exhausted, and to top it all off, while this was happening his brother was celebrating his birthday in a nice home full of food and family.
Oh. Speaking of brothers and birthdays, he realized that it was also his birthday as well. He was a twin after all.
"What a 12th birthday, huh?" Harry muttered. "I mean at least it can't get any worse than it already has, can it."
Harry just had to poke at fate. And fate does not like being poked at.
A gray blur ran right past him, quickly snatching his pouch of coins before running off down an alley.
Harry immediately started running after the person while shouting after them. "Hey! That's mine! Hey! Come back! I need that!"
The chase would lead Harry down different alleys. He had to weave through different people until finally he caught up with the thief. He grabbed the arm that was holding his pouch and the contents spilled all over the street.
The thief forcefully shoved him away but found themselves in a dead end. Another smaller figure was behind the thief clutching to their leg almost as if they were hiding from Harry.
"Get away from us!" Came a distinctively feminine voice under the hood. She shifted slightly and it revealed her face under the sunlight.
Harry blinked. The two cloaked figures in front of him looked very similar to each other. Both of them had noticeably silver blonde hair and startling blue eyes. The state of their robes and dirt and grime on their faces would suggest that the two girls have been on the streets for quite a while. Harry hesitatingly held up his hands and stepped towards them.
"I mean it! I-I'll hex you!" The girl shouted.
"Wait! I don't have a wand." Harry said, his palms showing. "And well…I don't suppose you have one either from the looks of it."
"Of course I have a wand! It's underneath my robes!"
"Well then pull it out."
The girl froze. He had called her bluff and wasn't backing off. She cursed and tried changing tactics hoping it'll work. Her face contorted to a snarl. "Come any closer and I'll hurt you! Wand or no wand!"
Harry let out an audibly frustrated sigh. "Look. You just tried robbing me and I'll be well within my right to turn you into the aurors."
The girl's blood froze and she started silently shaking. Normally she'd never let herself be in a situation like this but a wrong turn and she ended up in the alley she and her sister were staying at.
Harry contemplated actually turning them in. On one hand he'd be helping society by stopping more crimes. On the other hand, said society hates him right now for actually helping stop a crime 3 months ago. Add to the fact that he wasn't exactly mentally stable right now with all the stress inside…
'You know what' Harry thought, 'Screw it! I need this more than whatever the hell is supposedly the right thing to do!'
"But," Harry paused before continuing. "I'm not going to. Do me a favor and I won't turn both of you in. I'll even buy you girls a meal."
A favor? Scenes started playing in the girl's head and none of them were good. It was one of things she swore she would never do, no matter how dire the situation. But lately things have been getting worse. Her little sister got skinnier and weaker by the day and with this failed robbery, her sister wouldn't make it to see next month.
Harry watched the girl go to battle within herself before she let out a sigh, her mind made up. "Okay…what's the favor?" she cautiously asked.
"Listen to my story."
"Huh?"
"Listen to my story." Harry repeated.
"I'm sorry but you have us, at your mercy, and you just want us to listen to your story?" The girl asked incredulously.
Harry only blinked and just said, "Yeah."
Both of them stared at each other before suddenly the girl started bursting into laughter. Her sister beside her started looking at her weirdly but couldn't help but let out a little giggle when the infectious laughter got a little louder.
Harry scowled but his face had tinges of red from embarrassment. "Well? Are you going to?"
The girl had to catch herself from laughing too hard. Wiping a tear from her eye she replied, "yeah. Sure. I'll listen to your story."
Harry let out a small smile before holding out his hand. "Well, we should at least have each other's name. My name is Harry Potter-well actually it was. Now it's just Harry…"
The girl in front of him raised an eyebrow. She knew who he was. The months she spent on the streets she had heard rumors of him, none of them good. But now that he was in front of her, he didn't seem anything like those rumors said. This was going to be a story indeed.
She extended her own hand. "Daphne. And this little one here is my sister, Astoria.
A/N: I had no idea how to get Harry to Diagon Alley. He didn't have a wand to call the bus nor any muggle money on him. So I said screw it, man is going to apparate. I believe that it is possible for him to do it with at least some knowledge of how. In the books, I remember it implying that he used accidental magic to apparate away from Dudley and his gang. BUT, apparation when done wrong does have consequences. That's the hint that I'll be giving :D
Thank you AgentRip-Off, xiaoulrich, and Freudentraene, for being my first reviewers! I am so happy that you're enjoying the story!
Freudentraene: I definitely do agree that it seems very cartoonish. I really struggle with starting out stories so I might stick to things very cliche like. I hope that each chapter gets better, because the more I write, the more I learn. Thank you for the criticism, I will definitely look to improve on that in the future!
Goals: I hope to post at least once a week, preferably on a Friday night. I live in Pacific Standard Time so it'll be between 6-10 PM. I want each chapter to be at least bare minimum 5k words. This is sort of a special chapter because it's the day after, so it's only 3k words. I hope to finish this story by the end of the year and improve my writing.