Harry got his food, finished up his conversation with Tom because Tom had to start to help other patrons since it was getting close to the daily noon rush (albeit being lighter since it was a Monday), and focused on eating the delicious food, so his stomach could handle it. Soon enough Harry was full and still had a bit of fruit and a sliver of a small piece of toast left. Harry finished his milk, took a deep breath, felt his shrunken trunk in his pocket, resmoothed and checked his fringe was properly covering his scar, readjusted his hood to hide his face, made eye contact with Tom and nodded goodbye, who nodded back with a smile in his eyes since he was talking to another patron, and stood up and left the Leaky Cauldron.
Harry looked at the bank once he entered Diagon Alley, following another patron who also was leaving the pub. Harry did not want to take a chance of his magical signature being caught by even as something as small as the needed magic to tap the on the brick and open it into the alley. He decided he would go to the bank after looking in Knockturn Alley and getting a room at the White Wyvern for a night. He had enough wizarding money to do some light shopping and to get food and a room at the Wyvern for a night or too from his time last year in the Wizarding World and at Hogwarts. Unlike many people thought, Harry was not a pampered by his relatives and because of this he knew how to save the little muggle money he was able to get from the Dursley's, mainly change that Petunia let him keep from whatever was left from his grocery run for the Dursleys, when Vernon was not home, or not looking. He also knew how to save his wizarding money despite splurging for once in his life, for candy on the trolley for first year and every year since.
Harry double checked his hood was covering his face, hunched over a bit while still trying to look like he knew where he was going and walked into Knockturne Alley.
"Come and get these fresh fingernails," screeched an aged witch. She shoved the jar of what looked like human fingernails in some murky liquid into Harry's face.
Harry firmly spoke from under his hood and made it so he was looking the witch, but she could not see under his hood and he said, "No thank you miss," in his best attempt at a firm voice, and kept walking. A few more peddlers asked him if they wanted to buy their wears, for instance a hag was trying to sell him some type of creature's eyeballs in a jar, and another haggard wizard tried to sell him a potion that was supposed to make its drinker sing bawdy songs repeatedly, until it ran out, or they could be given the antidote potion, which came with the purchase at a higher fee of course. With all these peddlers, Harry remained firm and repeated what he said to the first witch, but just phrased differently depending who he was talking too, and soon enough the peddlers decided he was not there to spy on the alley or was there for trouble.
With the peddlers no longer haggling him, Harry quickly stood off to the side of the alley and looked down the streets to see where he wanted to go first. There was a tattoo parlor, Borgin and Burkes which he passed at the beginning of the alley, what looked like to be a wizarding barber, an apothecary, and various other stores that probably sold darker artefacts. Harry also saw the sign for the White Wyvern farther down in the Alley. Harry decided he wanted to get a tattoo and see if they could also pierce his ears, like he saw at the few muggle parlors that were in Little Whinging. Whenever he walked past with the Dursleys in his childhood, Petunia and Vernon, would always sneer at the shop, and Dudley and Vernon both made fun of any male who they saw coming out of the shop with their ears pierced. Harry remembered one time when they were about to walk past the small tattoo shop in Little Whinging, "The Dancing Skeleton."
Before they could walk past, a man walked out with a sleeve of tattoos on both arms and cool, small black gauges in his ears and the top of his cartilage on both ears had one silver ring in each ear. Harry thought the young man looked wicked at the time, but the Dursleys disagreed. Vernon sneered and shoved passed the man with Dudley right behind him, and spoke loudly to Dudley and Petunia, "Men shouldn't pierce, their ears, that man was probably a fairy and only freaks get tattoos. I bet he will never be able to get a decent job."
Harry who was multiple feet behind the Dursley's carrying the few bags they had already in their shopping trip and was able to see the frown of consternation and anger on the young man's face as he heard what the Dursley's said as they shoved past him. Harry thought the young man was probably around the Weasley Twins age, or a bit older and he had sandy blond hair. He was wearing black skinny jeans, black slip-on vans, and a dark blue round neck t-shirt, with a brown leather jacket, hung over his shoulder with two of his fingers. Harry thought he was quite handsome. Even before, the Triwizard Tournament Harry knew he was gay, but he also believed he fell somewhere on the asexual spectrum as well. He could appreciate someone who looked nice and who had a good personality, but he never felt, or understood the sexual attraction that his dorm mates said they felt and explained to him.
Before Harry passed him, he decided he would speak to the young man because he felt bad for the Dursley's rude comments to him, since he was used to it being directed at him all the time, and the young man was now looking at Harry, since Harry had been lost in thought in front of the parlor for a good chunk of time without noticing it.
Harry cleared his throat and said, "Excuse me sir," Harry began, although Harry knew he was still young he felt to address others with respect because it was beaten into him as a child and it also it was just who he was as a person.
"I am sorry for how my relatives treated you, pushed you out of the way, and insulted you for no apparent reason, but their own misguided view of what is acceptable and what is not. I am used to their rudeness, but they should not treat anyone that way regardless and for that I am sorry on their behalf. I for one like your gauges and tattoos. May I ask, did the hoops that are on the top of both of your ears hurt a lot, or did it not hurt that much?"
The young man looked surprised for a bit, but quicky recovered and said, no its ok, I am used to people making snide comments about my appearance and normally I just ignore them, since it is the norm of being different in a relatively small, close-minded town. Thank you for apologizing on their behalf and I am sorry that you are used to them treating you that way. If it helps at all, my family is not the nicest to me either," he said with no hint of pity in his high, but empathy, and a small smile on his face.
"What's you name mate? My name is Augustus Grant, but you can call me Gus, that is what my friends call me. As for the rings in the cartilage of both of my ears, they did not hurt too bad, just a bit of a sting and ache, but it went away quickly. You just must make sure you clean it regularly, even more so right after you get it done, or else it will get infected. Although you seem like a tuff and smart chap," he said with a wink and a larger smile on his face.
Harry took a deep breath and didn't think it would hurt to tell this stranger and what appeared to be a muggle, his name, "My name is Harry Potter," Harry looked at Gus and his face didn't show any recognition of his name, unless he was very good with creating a mask with his emotions, and if he was Harry couldn't do anything about that, so he just had to trust his gut that he could trust Gus.
"Thank you for answering my questions Gus and thank you for your compliment. You seem like a pretty swell chap yourself; I have to go so I don't get left by my relatives, but maybe we could go to a café, or something later and talk more," harry said with a blush and a small smile on his face, his fringe was covering his eyes a bit as well.
"Hahahaha," laughed Gus, "don't worry I am not laughing at you mate, I just like your personality, I would love to get to know you better too; here is my contact information." Gus then wrote down his number and address on a crumpled piece of paper and with a pen he pulled out of his pant pocket.
"By Harry," Gus said with a small smile and a wave.
"By Gus," Harry said with a smile and a wave as well and he dashed away to catch up with is horrid relatives.
With a destination in mind and a deep breath in and out, Harry headed into the direction of Markus Scarrs Indelibe Tattoos.
Harry walked towards the shop that had that exact sign above it and walked through an old, groaning, black door, the hinges rusty from age, yet silent due to some magic and a touch of oil in between the hinges. The shop had an interesting smell to it, it smelled like ink one would find in freshly printed books, but it had a more musky, human smell to it. It was not a stinky sort of smell, just the smell coming from someone who has just started to sweat, but does not stink, it is sweet, acidic, and tangy.
At the main counter, in the front of the shop, there was a young woman who seemed to be in her mid-20s to early 30s, harry could not tell. She was quite beautiful, but in a unique way, her features were sharp, and her body was angular almost like a man, but she was surely a woman, she had a big bosom as one of his dorm mates might describe a lady they like. She had dark auburn hair and chestnut colored hair that curled down to just above her shoulder. She was wearing a velvet short green sleeve top, which showed the tattoos going down her right arm and the tattoos swirling up her neck and across her collarbone, and back down swirling to her bosom, but Harry could not tell where else it went, since the tattoo of swirling images was hidden by her top. Harry could only see what he could get a glimpse of under his hood and he was not one stare, since he knew how rude and uncomfortable it could be to have unwanted attention on oneself.
The lady fully looked up at Harry as he made it to the counter, as she was only eyeing him as she quietly observed him as he surveyed the tattoo parlor before fully making his way in, as if she were used to people being a bit apprehensive, or at least curious of the shop. "What can I do for you laddie, my name is Griselda?", she said in a low, sultry voice.
Harry took a deep breath and said, "Firstly, ma'am it is nice to meet you, secondly, may I ask do you keep the identities of your customers secret? I do not mean to be rude, but I do not want anyone to find me. I honestly came here to look into getting a tattoo and perhaps getting my ears pierced if you do that as well?"
When Harry started speaking Griselda remained calm and still had a neutral smile on her face, she only raised a curious eyebrow when he asked about to keep his identity hidden, but she did not look like she was about to judge him.
"Well, I would like to say we have a tight confidentiality with every one of our customers. One might be surprised to find, that it is more common than not for a customer to be worried about others finding them in our establishment, whether it be because those around them do not agree with adorning one's body in the way this shop offers, or others might not want others to see them in this alley, sometimes people worry about both factors, and sometimes people do not care who sees them in our establishment. Also, do not be worried about being rude lad, it is sweet that you said that because most wizards who walk in here asking about keeping their name hidden do not ask about it as nicely as you did and some of them even demand, or expect. Also, I can give you a tattoo right now since it is slow in the shop today and you are right in the assumption that we also do ear piercings like parlors that are offered in the muggle world. Please, follow me to my station and sit down on the chair, what were you thinking of regarding a tattoo? While you think, do you mind if I do your ears first, so you have time to think and ears are done rather quickly depending on where you want the earrings to be place? Also, lad, you do not need to call me ma'am it is sweet of you, but please call me Griselda, or Gris." quipped Griselda.
"Thank you, Ma-, Gris.", Harry said, and he walked over to her station and laid down on a chair that looked like a muggle dentist chair that he had seen on the telly since the Dursley's never bothered to take him to the dentist. "I wouldn't mind you doing my ears first, I would like one piercing in each lobe and then I would like 3 silver hoops if possible, right next to each other closer to the top of each ear. What kind of piercing should I get on my lobes that would look the best? Also, I think I know what I would like to get for my tattoos. If they are small can you do them in more than one area today?"
"Your welcome lad and may I know your name, and could you pull your Hood down so I can do your ears? I believe hematite studs would go well in your lobes, since they are small enough to not draw that much attention unless one was looking, but also stunning enough to still compliment any outfit. Also, they will look well with the hoops in both of your ears. And yes, I can do a tattoo in more than one area and they do not have to be small, since the shop is quite slow today and magical tattoos are easier to create then muggle tattoos. You do not need a needle machine with the ink, the person giving the tattoo just needs a certification in tattoo magic and know how enchant and embed the ink into the customers skin, in the way they want to; it will still sting like a needle, all I need to do is place my hand on the area you want tattooed and then I can work my magic. The tattoos can be moving, or still and be in any color you want.", said Griselda.
Harry blushed under his hood and said "I can lower my hood Gris, sorry I forgot to do it, since I was going over what kind of tattoos, I want for a second time, just to be sure. I like your choice, I did not think to choose earrings of Hematite, but it is a very pretty, black stone. I read a book about gemstones at the library once and it was quite interesting," Harry said with a smile.
Harry lowered his hood and said, my name is Harry Potter Miss Gris, and I would like to get a lily on my left bicep and have deer antlers curling around it on both sides. Above that on my left shoulder I would like a grim and a wolf howling a moon above it. Then on my right shoulder I would like to get a snake slithering all the way around my neck so it can end somewhere close to my left ear. I am unsure with the color choice I will let you choose if you could please. Also, I want all the tattoos on my left arm to be colored, but still. The only tattoo I want to be magical and move is my snake tattoo please."
"I can do that Harry, thank you for trusting me with the color choice of your tattoos and thank you for trusting me with your name. On my behalf as the owner of the Dancing Skeleton I can say that all my workers and myself included do not believe the absolute Horse shit that the prophet says about you and we have your full support. Also, I would like to say before begin piercing your ears and doing your tattoos, know that if you ever need someone to talk to, or a friendly face, you are always welcome at the Dancing Skeleton. I do not normally get so personal with my clients, but I like you child and I am sorry that the wizarding world places all their weight on you. I know you are strong, so please do not take offense, but you are a child, and it is disgusting how almost all wizards and witches in Britain put all the weight and blame on a single child, an orphan no less. Ohh forgive me lad for being so abrupt with my thoughts, but I thought you should know that you have people in your corner. You have only just entered my shop Harry and yet I am drawn to you. Being the boy who lived is part of it, I would be lying if I said it was not, but it is also that you seem like an interesting, kind, and polite young man," spoke Griselda.
Harry felt tears welling up in his eyes as a stranger was seeing him for who he was and not just the boy he lived. Harry was shocked at how a mere stranger could care for him and speak so highly of him when they just met, normally life had taught him that people always had an ulterior motive when being kind to him. It was only entering Hogwarts and when he made his first friends in Ron and Hermione when he felt people could be kind him without a motive. He still did not trust many people, adults, and youth alike, yet he felt like he could trust and felt a connection with Griselda, like she said she had for him. It was almost like when he first became friends with Tom at the Leaky Cauldron in his first year at Hogwarts, even though he barely knew him then, his gut told him he could trust this person.
Harry cleared his throat and sniffed, it felt like there was a heavy lump in it and said, "I, I do not know what to say Miss Gris, but thank you. Being honest, I cannot understand why you care so much about me, yet I just met you, but I am not worried about that, I feel a connection with you too. You have been kind to me and actually listen to me, you and another older person I know, are some of the only people so far in my life that truly look at who I am and not as my moniker the boy who lived and for that I thank you."
Gris also cleared her throat, she looked like she wanted to hug Harry, and she asked just that. Harry nodded, stiffly due to being surprised.
Gris hugged the too thin boy who lived around the shoulders and felt as if this was the start of a great friendship. She had always wanted a little sibling to love, but she was the youngest of her family and only had one older sister who she loved dearly. With another squeeze before letting go, Gris let go of Harry, took a deep breath, and said, "Now let's get down to business (to defeat the Huns 😊)," she said with a small smile.
Three hours later Harry left the parlor with plans and instructions to write Gris periodically and to visit whenever he felt like it. Now it was later in the day and he was a bit sore, but not horribly so, considering all the pain he went through at his relatives.
"Now to go to the White Wyvern", thought Harry. With that in mind, harry strode down the alley with his hood back up and quickly found himself outside of the White Wyvern. A sign next to the door said, rooms open.
Harry walked into the loud pub, since it was getting closer to dinner time and people were there for an early supper, or some afternoon food, and went to the bar that took up the left side of the room. The room was an open space except for the kitchens that could be seen a bit behind the bar and in the right side of the room was a bunch of chairs, tables, and couches spaced around to not be cramped, but cozy. People could choose to move chairs together, or find a place to sit alone, while still experiencing the atmosphere in the pub that could just be described as cozy. The pub was made up of hues of brown, dark purple, plum, and gray thrown about. The only other thing in the room was at the very end of the bar there was a staircase that led to what was most likely the boarding rooms.
Harry went up to the part of the bar, where an older witch was cleaning a glass with a clean cloth, she had hexagon glasses, gray eyes, a plum tunic, black pants, and a tan almost coffee colored apron around her front, that ended just below her knees, and said, "Excuse me ma'am but would you happen to know where I could talk to Madame Florence about a room?"
The women looked at him with grey eyes that he could now see were speckled with lavender around the iris and said, "You are looking at her son. How long would you be staying here?"
"I am not sure how long I will be staying here ma'am, but if I had to guess most of the summer before school starts back up. I only have money with me, for one night now, but I am going to the bank tomorrow and I can pay you the rest then. Also, if I do not have enough, I am willing to work ma'am, I know how to clean and to cook. Mr. Tom at the Leaky Cauldron told me to come to you," Harry said with a small fond smile.
"He did now do he," smirked Madame Florence. "You can stay here young man, we can look over the pricing and logistics later, it looks like you are about to fall over your own two feet in exhaustion, and anyone Tom sends over, will be taken care of. What is your name young man, and would you like me to send you up some of today's special soup, in a few hours when it is dinner time? Not to be rude, but it seems a rest would be good for you son," spoke Madam Florence.
"Thank you for the concern ma'am I am tired, it has been an exhausting day. I would love it if you could send up some soup for me at dinner time perhaps with a glass of apple juice if it is not too much trouble. My name is Harry."
"I can most certainly do that for you Harry, here is your room key to room 1209 and do not hesitate to ask if you need something," Madame Florence said gruffly, yet still kindly.
"Thank you," Harry said and nodded to Madame Florence and took his room key from her outstretched hand and turned around and headed to the end of the bar and went up the stairs. On the 1st floor of the bar there were rooms that were in the 1100 section and he went one more flight up and he was in his section. Once off the landing harry headed down the hall and shortly, he came to his room on the right. He put his key into the lock, opened the door, shut the door, and locked it from the inside, and felt the built-in privacy and silencing wards in his room activate. He placed his bag down by the bed, took off his shoes, and promptly fell on the bed. Not even a few seconds later he was in dreamland.