As soon as the Edding's vehicle stopped outside of his uncle's house, Harry got out of the backseat. As nice as they were, the ride had been an uncomfortable one. Mr. Eddings had driven incredibly slowly, apparently very interested in the neighborhood, while Mrs. Eddings had politely inquired about his summer holiday. Knowing they were important to his uncle's business, Harry had been tempted to tell them exactly what his summer had been like, and his entire childhood for that matter, out of bitterness. Knowing he would only be punished later, and that they were unlikely to believe him anyway, he instead spoke as if he had been having a perfectly boring, though normal summer.
He realized it would be rude to go inside without them and stood awkwardly to the side of the driveway as they got out - or attempted to get out in the case of Mr. Eddings. Harry pretended not to notice when the rather large man seemingly underestimated the size of his belly and fell back into his seat on his first attempt to get out of the car.
If it was his uncle Vernon, Harry would have gotten a good laugh out of it. He couldn't help feeling a little bad for this man though, as he had been perfectly nice to him - especially when his wife wasn't bothering to hide her amusement over the situation. Given their obvious age difference and that Mrs. Eddings was quite pretty for her age while Mr. Eddings was plump and balding, Harry thought she might qualify as what he had heard his aunt refer to as a 'trophy wife'.
Harry watched Mr. Eddings' second attempt at getting out of the car, this time with more success. When the man's eyes landed on Harry, he knew it was obvious that he had been watching him. Harry tensed, knowing what his uncle's reaction would be if he had witnessed him in a similarly embarrassing situation.
To his surprise, Mr. Eddings chuckled. "This old body isn't what it used to be," he said good-naturedly.
Harry relaxed and offered a half-smile. "If you want to follow me, I'll take you to meet my aunt and uncle."
"Lead the way," Mr. Eddings said affably.
Harry noticed then that Mrs. Eddings was carrying only a small handbag. Remembering the box that had been in the car, he asked, "Mrs. Eddings didn't you bring a cake… or something?"
She seemed to startle slightly at his question before answering, "I did, but it seems Ben here has enjoyed a few too many sweets lately," she grinned at her husband, who merely patted his stomach in response as if completely unconcerned by her teasing, "I think I'd better leave it. I was a bit unsure about bringing it anyway to be honest with you. I'm not very familiar with the customs of England. We're actually from the United States of America, I think we forgot to mention."
"Oh," he answered lamely, realizing that must have been why his aunt had developed a sudden obsession with American culture in the past week.
He supposed their being from America also explained the different inflections in their words from what he was used to.
"My aunt would not have expected you to bring anything, but she would not mind if you did." All she really cares about is your husband's money, he thought to himself.
"I think we'll just leave it then," she smiled.
Harry led them inside the house. He was just about to announce their presence when he heard his uncle's booming voice.
"Let's go over our schedule once again. Shall we? Petunia, when the Eddings' arrive, you will be-" Harry glanced apologetically at the couple before making his way towards the kitchen.
"In the lounge, waiting to greet them graciously to our home."
"Good. And Dudley, you will be-"
"I'll be waiting to answer the door. Last time I counted fifteen seconds first. It seemed-" he stopped mid-sentence, having caught sight of Harry as he poked his head into the kitchen.
Uncle Vernon's face turned an impressive shade of purple as he demanded, "What are you doing here, boy? I told you to get lost and not come back until after dark- at the earliest! Not coming back at all would-"
"Hello," Mr. Eddings greeted mildly as he made his way around Harry and into the kitchen. The Dursleys collectively froze in their seats around the table, obvious horror in each of their expressions. "I apologize for turning up like this, but I'm afraid the directions provided by your office were a bit confusing. It's lucky we managed to run into your nephew at the park, less we might have just gone back to our hotel."
"I'll speak to the office about this first thing tomorrow," Vernon answered as he rose clumsily to his feet. "Such incompetence is unacceptable!" he blustered.
"W-welcome to our gracious- welcome to our home," Harry's aunt greeted as she stood from her seat as well.
Mr. Eddings gave her a passing glance before shifting his attention to Dudley as he too made to stand. His eyes narrowed slightly at Dudley's appearance causing Harry to think he found the obvious strain on his cousin's shirt buttons to be less amusing than he did. The man gave no impression of anger, though Harry felt a chill emanating off of him, and noticed the Dursley's drew slightly closer together.
Mrs. Eddings entered the room then. "Hi, I'm Libby," she announced, with a broad smile as if to show off every one of her glistening white teeth. Her presence seemed to ease the tension in the room, allowing more appropriate greetings and introductions to occur from there.
After the introductions had concluded his uncle addressed him, "Harry, I believe you mentioned you had some place else to be for dinner?" he asked, nodding his head emphatically to ensure he knew he wasn't welcome.
"I hoped that he would stay," Mrs. Eddings objected. "It's just that you never know what trouble teens left alone in the park might find themselves in these days. Besides, it's supper time and it looks as if there is plenty of food."
His aunt and uncle exchanged nervous glances before his uncle answered, "Of course Petunia has prepared plenty of food. But as we are going to be talking about business-"
"Nonsense," Mr. Eddings waved his hand dismissively. "We would have arranged a meeting for lunch if we were going to discuss business. This is more about getting to know you, Vernon. I like to have the peace of mind that the people I am doing business with are the good sort, especially when we are talking about such a large investment that is to be made. Besides, don't you think Dudley might be more comfortable if there is a second teenager dining with us?"
"Oh… if you insist... very well then," Vernon stammered before throwing Harry a look that clearly meant he had better be on his best behavior, meaning silent. And no magic.
At his aunt's request, Harry left the kitchen to go and 'make himself more presentable.' As he was walking out, the doorbell rang, prompting Dudley to come barreling through the door after him.
"Be sure to wait fifteen seconds," Harry muttered to Dudley as he skirted around him and up the stairs. Dudley began to make a rude gesture with his hand in response, but caught sight of Mr. Eddings watching them and settled for pushing his hair back from his face instead.
As Harry made his way into his bedroom and closed the door behind him, he couldn't help but grin at the prospect of crashing his uncle's business dinner. After being forced to live on scraps since term ended, being allowed to eat something his aunt had prepared for people they wanted to impress would be worth whatever punishment awaited him later.
Regulus exchanged a meaningful look with Maliah as they were directed by Mrs. Dursley to their seats around the table. While it was perhaps too soon to draw anything conclusive regarding Harry's treatment, there was certainly a suggestion of inequity between him and his cousin. While their size difference could be put to different eating habits and genetics, the glorified rags in which Harry was dressed compared to his cousin's attire was enough to raise anyone's eyebrows.
As he pulled out the chair for Maliah to sit before taking his own beside her, the pink-faced boy came back into the kitchen, nervously requesting his father's assistance with whomever had knocked on the door. Regulus withheld a smirk, fairly certain that the visitor would be someone from the Order checking in.
"So how was your flight over?" Petunia asked as she brought them each a cup of tea.
"I was surprised by how quickly the time passed," 'Libby' answered brightly.
Regulus took his cue from Maliah, and adopted a more cheerful attitude. Chuckling slightly, he said, "Easy for her to say. She managed to sleep most of the way- much more easily done from a window seat, I might add."
"Well at least we won't have to make the trip back too many more times," Maliah said. "We are looking at properties to purchase in London since Benjamin will be needed here permanently with his company's expansion."
"I can't imagine picking up and moving to another country," Petunia said. "And from America! Had you ever even been to London before?"
"Oh, yes. It was a favorite place of mine to visit as a girl," Maliah answered with a wistful smile.
"It is a great city," Regulus added lamely.
He was reticent to say anything further about the city in which he was born and raised, even as his wife and the Dursley woman discussed their favorite aspects. His parents would have been appalled by the number of muggle references his wife could make in the span of a few short minutes. While it should boost their credibility as muggles, it garnered little pertinent information. When Regulus caught Maliah's eye, she understood to redirect the conversation.
"You know, Harry reminds me of our son," she said casually.
The smile plastered on Petunia's face instantly became more forced. "Dudley, do you mean?"
"No," Maliah answered simply. Petunia looked as if she had bitten into something sour.
"I did not realize that he lived with you when we met him," Regulus said offhandedly.
Under his and Maliah's expectant gaze, she had little choice but to respond. "Yes... ever since his parents died... in a car crash when he was a baby."
There was a moment's pause before Maliah spoke. "It was good of you to take him in."
"Yes, it was," Petunia agreed at once. "Of course, we had little choice in the matter once he was left on our doorstep."
Regulus was careful not to react. In the wizarding world, it was usually left to the remaining family of an orphaned child to take them in. Formalities became murkier when the only relatives were muggles. He wasn't exactly sure how custody worked in the muggle world, though assumed that anything that resembled ancient folklore, complete with a doorstep delivery of a baby, was outside of the norm.
"Left on your doorstep?" he said curiously.
Petunia had become oddly flushed. "I meant that figuratively, of course," she laughed unconvincingly. Her eyes darted around the room as if for inspiration on what to say next. "I should go and check on Vernon," she decided, excusing herself.
"She is the picture of a loving aunt," Maliah said dryly when they were alone.
"You do get the sense there is a bit of resentment there, don't you?" Regulus answered in an undertone.
Their brief encounter had left him with little doubt that Harry was taken in out of obligation rather than out of any feeling of goodwill on his aunt and uncle's part. He wondered whose idea it had been to leave the Potter boy with them in the first place. Surely there were a number of suitable wizarding families who would have been agreeable to taking him in. He suspected Maliah's parents would have wanted to, if they had survived themselves.
His attention was pulled to the doorway when Harry eloquently announced himself with, "Er- hello."
"Welcome back," Maliah greeted him brightly.
Regulus was careful to keep his expression neutral as he glimpsed the oversized and faded clothing which had evidently been deemed his most appropriate for company. Especially as the pristinely dressed Dursleys filed in behind him.
"Sorry about that, some aggressive girl guides, they were," Vernon explained boisterously as he wiped sweat from his flushed face. "Wouldn't leave until we agreed to buy a sampling of all of their cookies," he chuckled as he angled his enormous gut to fit into his seat at the table.
"Nothing worse than being forced to buy something you don't need," Regulus commented.
"I brought wine," Maliah chimed in quickly, procuring a bottle of her preferred brand from her much too-small-to-have-fit-a-bottle-of-wine handbag, "It's supposed to be French I think… the label could be in Italian for all I know, but the bottle was the prettiest Heathrow had to offer so that has to count for something!"
Sirius impatiently paced the front entryway of Grimmauld Place, waiting for an update from Remus. Tonks had been on guard duty in Surrey when Harry decided to jump into the backseat of some stranger's car. Instead of contacting him immediately, she informed Dumbledore, who happened to be with Remus at the time. Remus went to help Tonks, while Dumbledore was apparently not concerned enough to go himself.
By the time Sirius had even heard of the incident, Remus had already met Tonks in Surrey. The quick patronus charm that Remus sent him, told of both the incident and that Harry was now 'safely' inside his uncle's house. Along with his kidnappers.
Just as his last vestiges of patience were leaving him, the door opened, admitting Remus.
"What took you so long?" Sirius demanded.
Remus smiled slightly, "What, no, 'are you okay, my oldest friend'? No, 'I'm glad you weren't kidnapped by the evil couple that was after Harry'?"
"Where is Harry?" Sirius asked, slightly calmer since Harry was safe enough to warrant Remus being less serious, yet annoyed that he felt this to be an appropriate time for their former marauding antics.
"He is with his aunt, uncle and cousin at their house. The muggles whom he rode with are work associates of Harry's uncle. Apparently they insisted that Harry have supper with them and that is why they picked him up."
"Did Harry tell you that?"
"His uncle told us that. We knocked on the door and Harry's cousin answered. When he realized we were wizards he went and got his father who told us in no uncertain terms that we were to leave his property at once." At Sirius' look of disbelief he added, "He's fine Sirius. He is spending an evening with muggles, likely in the capacity of a butler, but at least he should get a good meal out of it for a change."
"Yes, because being fed proper meals on a daily basis is too much to ask for from the muggles he lives with, isn't it?"
"Sirius-" Remus began in a placating tone.
"I know it's for the best… but is it really?" Sirius asked bitterly. "What did Harry say?"
Remus looked around the room for a moment before answering uncomfortably, "Well his uncle wouldn't actually let us see him-" Remus began, "Where are you going?" he demanded as Sirius made his way towards the door.
"I am not going to just take the word of the Dursleys," Sirius answered, his words echoing slightly in the foyer before the door slammed behind him.
"Wine servings are much bigger here," Mrs. Eddings remarked as she surveyed the glass in front of her that Harry had refilled to the brim. Harry watched as she carefully took a sip, unsure if he had done something wrong. Noticing his gaze, she nodded approvingly, "I think the Britons have got it right."
"Of course you do," Mr. Eddings answered drolly, perhaps realizing a fourteen year old wasn't a good guide for what a standard serving size was. Instead of pointing that out though, he addressed the room at large, "Now, we've heard about Dudley... Harry, why don't you have a seat and eat something. Tell us about yourself."
Harry's eyes widened as he looked at Mr. Eddings before glancing to his uncle. He realized he had been too optimistic when he thought his 'invitation' to dinner would actually entail him being allowed to eat.
Despite his uncle's warning when he came downstairs that he'd better do everything that was asked of him without complaining, Harry didn't know if those orders applied to such a bold request as actually joining them.
"You- you don't want that," Vernon answered with a nervous chuckle. "He's got- a horrible disease."
"He's been serving our food," Mr. Eddings answered bemusedly.
"Yes, well- it's a disease- for when he is around people- a phobia around strangers."
"He seems perfectly fine around us," Mrs. Eddings answered as she stood to pull out the last remaining chair.
Harry's eyes drifted from the chair to the vein throbbing in his uncle's neck, waiting for the outburst that was bound to come. As such, he hadn't noticed Mrs. Eddings approaching him, and lurched away from her touch the moment he felt a hand on his arm.
"Don't you want to eat, Harry?" she asked gently as she withdrew her hand.
"I could eat," he conceded, taking the last available seat and trying not to laugh at the indignant looks on his relatives' faces. The feat became nearly impossible a moment later when Mrs. Eddings proceeded to fill his plate with near-Dudley-size portions of roast and vegetables.
Unsure of how long he had before he would be 'asked' to leave, Harry immediately started in on the food. He was careful to keep his eyes on his plate rather than risk making eye contact with anyone.
He was vaguely aware that conversation between the adults had resumed but as he was more concerned with trying to at least enjoy the meal, that would certainly be his last, he mostly ignored the conversation. It was only after he had made considerable progress on his roast that he was engaged in conversation again, this time by Mr. Eddings.
"Do you attend Smeltings Academy as well, Harry?"
As he quickly made to swallow a large bite of potato, his aunt cackled.
"Oh no, he could never keep up with the rigorous curriculum of Dudley's school," she answered nastily. Harry looked up, slightly taken aback, not by the tone itself, but that she had used it while speaking to guests as important as the Eddings. Of course the fact that she was watching him eat may have explained it. It seemed she was rather offended that he had been invited to eat her cooking without her consent. Smirking at her slightly, Harry took another bite as she added, "He attends St. Brutus' Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys."
Harry felt his cheeks redden as the Eddings family looked back at him but did his best to ignore it as he took a drink of water.
"Ah, I haven't heard of that one," Mr. Eddings answered in an odd tone, "Though it seems an odd choice based on the name. I mean what good is a self-fulfilling prophecy if it has a negative connotation?"
"Well it's certainly not that we want him to be a criminal," Vernon answered. "It's an embarrassment! But we know the facts. He's been tested. It's inevitable."
"I can certainly understand why you would be embarrassed," Mr. Eddings answered dryly, causing Harry to almost lose the rest of his appetite as he looked up from his plate. To his surprise though, it seemed the elder man's disdain was towards his uncle rather than him, "Do you know what most criminals have in common?"
Vernon smirked at Harry obviously excited to have someone else to share in his favorite pastime of bullying him before answering proudly, "Poor bloodlines."
"No," Mr. Eddings answered sharply. "It has been proven time and time again that the vast majority of people who find themselves in trouble with the law did not have proper guidance in their youth. Often, they were without a good father figure. One must consider that perhaps the problem doesn't lie with Harry."
"N-no proper guidance?" Vernon spluttered, "I put a roof over his head when no one else would do it. I have given him clothing and food. Are you suggesting I'm a poor father figure? Look at Dudley! We haven't had any problems out of him!"
Mr. Eddings glanced at Dudley who Harry saw had his mouth hanging wide open before looking back to Vernon, "You'll have to forgive an old man's musings, but from what I can tell, it looks as if Harry is wearing your son's hand-me-downs, which will likely never fit him, while your son's clothing looks to be brand new. Harry was only allowed to eat after everyone else - and only then at our insistence. You've sent him to what sounds like a second-rate school…. And worst of all you're bragging as if you've done him so great service when it sounds very much as if he has not received equal treatment to another child in your household.
"And despite the reasons you've given, Harry has been nothing but polite since we've met him and has certainly not given me any reason to believe he is 'incurably criminal'. Quite frankly, the way you present him is far more telling of your own character than his. So much so that I'm not sure that I can, in good conscience, do business with you in the future."
For a moment Mr. Eddings words hung between them. No one spoke as the two men stared at one another. Harry's aunt was looking back and forth between the men as if afraid she might miss something. Dudley remained with his mouth hung wide, apparently too surprised someone had actually called them out on their treatment of him to show any composure himself.
Harry's eyes dropped to his plate. It was clear his uncle was furious though Mr. Eddings hadn't even raised his voice. He vaguely wondered where he should go after his uncle kicked him out. He was certain it was about to happen. There was no way he wouldn't be blamed for this.
"I've been meaning to take him to get new clothes!" his aunt Petunia nearly shouted in desperation. "He just got home a few days ago and has outgrown everything from last year. You're growing like a weed... Harry," she added more quietly, causing him to actually look at her. Not because of the prospect of getting new clothes but because it was the first time he could remember ever being addressed by his actual name by any of the Dursleys. Even Dudley and Vernon were looking at her in surprise.
"See there?" Vernon asked more cheerfully. "He's simply outgrown all of his good clothes from last year. We'll get him some more."
"You know... for how terrible everyone talks about the Dursleys, from the outside looking in, they seem almost normal," Tonks remarked from beneath Moody's invisibility cloak as she moved to stand beside Remus.
It had taken both of them to convince Sirius that forcing their way into the Dursley's house without any evidence that Harry was in trouble was both illegal and stupid. After wasting an exuberant amount of time arguing about it, they had spent the last couple of minutes observing the Dursleys having dinner through the kitchen windows.
Sirius scoffed, "Yes, well considering this is the first time anyone has ever bothered to watch them from closer than the curb... we can't hear anything they are saying, and they are of course acting on their best behavior for company right now... Your assessment doesn't count for much."
"Geez, mum was right about you having anger issues," Tonks answered only somewhat under her breath. "Since you seem to have missed it from our last meeting- we are supposed to be guarding him in case any of Voldemort's goons manage an attack, or if the Ministry intervenes for some reason. We aren't supposed to spy on his family... But as I'm sure you can imagine, watching a house from the street is painfully boring, so this is not the first time I've ever done this. How do you think I knew we could see into the kitchen from here?"
"You've watched them before and still think they seem normal?" Sirius asked derisively, "Clearly the Black genes live on through you."
"Of course I have Black genes," she answered unconcernedly. "How else could I be so attractive?"
"And arrogant," Remus muttered.
"You're a metaphorphagus," Sirius answered smugly, "Does anyone know what you really look like?"
"Are you always this mean or do you reserve it for family?"
"Enough," Remus interjected. "This isn't the place for bickering. And I think we've seen enough to know Harry isn't being mistreated - at least no more than usual. Sirius and I should leave."
When Sirius made no effort to move away from the window, Tonks indicated the family inside.
"This is only my second time 'spying' on them. Harry got in trouble last time... but I think it was something to do with staying out too late and missing dinner. His aunt handed him bread and a hunk of cheese before sending him off to bed a few minutes later."
Sirius snorted, "That would have been his dinner no matter what time he arrived home. And you think that's normal?"
"No, I would think that's horrible considering what the other men in that house must eat in order to look like they do, but I am trying to give them the benefit of the doubt for now."
A moment later Vernon seemed to raise his voice as he looked derisively in Harry's direction. Sirius growled in response and put a hand on the window, which Remus promptly knocked away,
"Calm down," he whispered exasperatedly.
"Do you think maybe Dumbledore hasn't let you do guard duty yet because he worries you won't be able to... be discreet?" Tonks asked tentatively.
"Considering he let's you do it," Sirius answered bitingly, "No."
"Alright, on that note, Sirius, you and I should leave. The last thing we need is to draw attention to ourselves. Harry appears to be perfectly safe and-"
Suddenly Tonks was sprawled on the ground amidst a broken bird bath which she had apparently attempted to sit on, causing an almighty crash upon its downfall.
"What was that?" Vernon demanded as Petunia rushed to turn on the back porchlight. Seeing nothing, Vernon started to open the back door only to have it forced the rest of the way open by a giant black shaggy dog.
His aunt began screaming as the dog ran through the kitchen, tracking up her painstakingly clean floors. Mrs. Eddings went into a fit in her own right, flailing her arms and shrieking,
"I'm allergic! I'm deathly allergic to dogs. I'm sorry, I have to go!" before running out.
Harry was baffled as to why Sirius had shown up, but was determined to ensure his uncle didn't do anything to hurt him- not that that was an issue at the moment as Mr. Eddings seemed entirely at ease with the situation. While his wife had presumably gone out to the car already, he calmly spoke to his uncle- thanking him for dinner, imploring him to think over what he had said if he hoped to collaborate in the future. Most interesting was that he seemed content to stretch out the conversation for as long as possible while his uncle happily took every last moment to attempt to win him over.
As his aunt retrieved a broom from the cupboard, Harry felt Padfoot lick his hand just before leaping onto the table and helping himself to the remaining roast.
Harry might have been able to withhold his laughter if not for being all but certain that Mr. Eddings subsequent cough had been an attempt to cover his own. It truly was as if he found the chaos surrounding them amusing.
As his uncle finally went to escort Mr. Eddings out the front door, completely ignoring the rabid dog in the room in favor of attempting to salvage a potential business deal, Sirius inexplicably followed them out as well.
"Where do you think you're going?" his aunt demanded as Harry made his way to follow Sirius.
"I just-"
"You will not further encroach upon their meeting, do you understand?" she somehow managed to shriek while keeping her voice mostly under her breath. "You- will clean this up!" she commanded as she shoved the broom in his hand before storming into the next room.
Harry rolled his eyes as he heard her make yet another fuss over the state of the carpet that 'disgusting animal' had made in there. Naturally Dudley had ran and hid at the first opportunity to ensure he wouldn't be asked to help clean.
When his uncle came back inside a few minutes later and began talking in hushed tones to his aunt in the living room, Harry quickly went out the back door and around to the front to find Sirius. He did not want to miss out on the chance to talk to his godfather - maybe he could even convince him to take him when he left.
However, after careful observation, and to his great confusion and disappointment, Sirius was nowhere to be seen on Privet Drive.
Adding to his discomfiture was when the front door of Number Four opened a moment later.
"Boy," his uncle began in his normal harsh tone. Apparently, realizing what he had just done, he quickly looked up and down the street in a bit of a panic. When he spoke again his voice was unnaturally serene, "Your aunt needs you to help clean up…when you have time."
When Harry did nothing but stare at him in confusion at the odd request, his uncle let out a huff of exasperation before retreating into house, slamming the door behind him.
Harry stayed outside for another minute thinking about the evening's events. And Sirius. Why had he bothered showing up if he wasn't going to at least talk to him? Maybe he realized only after getting here that it would be too risky? Maybe he hadn't realized the Dursleys would have company?
And why had his uncle acted so funny just then. 'When you have time,' he had said. Was the risk of losing Mr. Eddings' business actually enough to make him be nicer to him- even when the other man wasn't around? And why did Mr. Eddings, a stranger, even care how he was treated? Those who cared about him had never been concerned enough to do anything about it. To be fair, there wasn't much they could do, and he supposed Mr. Eddings was only looking out for his business.