Chapter 2- Retribution

August 8, 1991, One month before Hogwarts

Anger. It stuck in his craw, a smoldering simmering anger just waiting to be fanned into an inferno. He used all his will to keep his emotions in check. Harry was cunning. He was calculating. He did not show it; yet it lurked beneath the surface, like a max predator waiting to strike. He was not going to let the last spring's beating from Dudley and his gang that almost killed him sit and forget about it. Even if the Old Man had made them forget the last one, it was just another one of their beatings. There was enough for him to strike back now. The issue was how to do it and not let it get back to his uncle the Big Whale, or anyone else for that matter.

While he was washing the breakfast dishes, he told his aunt that he would go to the park today. He said it in a loud enough voice for Dudley to hear and a moment later he heard him pound his big feet out the kitchen door. She was happy to be rid of him for the day and out of her sight. Every look at him caused anger at her situation. Her being forced to take him in with no discussion, just a basket on the doorway, the Old Man using magic she hated and feared on her. She knew it. She knew deep in her heart that her behavior was compromised by him and was certain he had done mind magic to make her forget things. She even suspected that he did something to make her act unnaturally. "Just be back by three so you can cook dinner. Your uncle won't like it if dinner is late."

Harry simply smiled on his way out the door. The trap was set and now for the trigger.

He walked an around about way to give time to the little Whale to collect his gang and set his ambush at the park. He approached the park from the far side at the point were two streets intercepted. A direction they did not expect. As he hoped, Malcom was leaning against the fence facing away from him looking towards Privet Drive. Dudley was in the middle next to the swing set and Piers with Dennis were on the far side while Gordon hid near a car on the near side. If he had been foolish enough to step into the park, he would have been quickly surrounded.

He quietly moved up to Malcom whom he had targeted for this exercise in vengeance. If he pulled this off, he'd have the rest of summer peaceful, without their interference. Only the fence separated them. When close enough he quietly called out:

"Hello Malcom, looking for me?"

The boy turned at the voice instantly realizing who was standing where they did not expect him to be. As he turned to face Harry, Harry's fist impacted the center of his nose spraying blood in an ark. Malcom sat down in surprise and pain. Harry looked at him as he backed up. "Catch me if you can," giving him the two fingered salute as he turned and bolted as Malcom came to his feet in pursuit and screaming for help. Harry led a chase down the main business street towards a row of take away food emporiums. He eased up slightly to allow Malcom to close the distance and with perfect timing darted into a dead-end alley which Malcom over shot. When he turned into the alley, he did not see his quarry but only a big green waste dumpster.

Malcom smiled as he walked to the dumpster. "I got you now freak!"

Malcom walked closer and closer and was intent only on the dumpster. He never saw the doorway in shadow, nor Harry stepping out with a metal bin cover that he smashed into his already bleeding face. Malcom went down hard, and Harry leapt onto his chest straddling him and punched him with each fist as hard as he could. Then he leaned down and pressed his forearm on his throat and put his face very close to the boy.

Harry's eyes glowed with an eerie intensity that caused Malcom to wet his pants.

Harry spoke in a low growl, "Listen good Malcolm. If you ever raise a hand to me again I-will-kill-you!

Harry then stepped up and wandlessly made him feather light, picked him up and tossed him into the waste bin head first. Gordon and Piers arrived next, and Harry made a false attempt to run past them but stopped abruptly and kicked first one then the other in their knees.

As they writhed on the ground, he kicked them both in the face, stepped on their hands and then a violent kick to the ribs. "How do you like it scum, now shoes' on the other foot," asked Harry? He cast a feather light charm and picked them both up and tossed them into the dumpster with Malcom and the other refuse from the take away shops.

He looked up and saw Dudley had finally arrived, red faced and out of breath. Harry stepped up to him and punched him in the stomach before he could react. As he bent over, he kicked him in the face. Grabbing him by his hair he got really close to his cousin's face. Dudley was terrified by the glow in Harry's eyes.

"I'm only going to give you one warning cousin. Today was pay back for all the times you and your pals beat me up and tormented me. This is only a taste of what can come your way. You know what Hagrid did to you. Nod if you understand."

Dudley nodded, his fear palpable.

"If you ever raise a hand to me again, if you ever insult me or call me a name like FREAK again, I will turn you completely into a pig, not just a tail like Hagrid. Then I'll take you to the butchers and have him make bacon and pork chops out of you. If you haven't figured it out from what you have seen and parents have said the past week, I am a magical person. I can and will do more than Hagrid did. Time has changed and you are no longer the top dog. Don't cross me cousin. Keep you boyfriends away from me. Also, you say nothing to your parents. Make up a story if you have to but say nothing about what I did here today. Remember this is the only warning you will receive. Oink, oink oink."

He smirked and then picked up his cousin and tossed him into the dumpster with his gang. He noticed two rats scavenging near the dumpster and levitated them into the container, slammed the lid closed, put the chain on the catch to lock it and walked away. He smiled as he heard them screaming. He felt no remorse for what he had done. They were lucky he went easy on them. Afterall, they had made a game of beating him up. They had tried to kill him. They were lucky to be left alive.

oOoOoOo

He did not sweat it that Dudley would say anything to rat him out. A simple question of "Would you like a slice of bacon Dud," as held out a fresh cooked platter and a smirk told Dudley that discretion was the better part of valor. He kept his mouth shut. When Petunia got nervous over his condition which he blew it off by telling, "We were playing rugby in the park, and it got a bit rambunctious. "The rest of gang was terrified and kept their mouths shut and he never had to worry about Harry hunting again.

oOoOoOo

The rest of the month Harry took the knight bus into Diagon Alley. Harry had explored the alley, did some shopping to buy additional books that interested him, including a half dozen books that were not on his list but seemed to be on the list of the muggle raised students. Books about wizarding culture, law and government. He had noticed that the new magical first year students were shown around by professors from the school, named McGonagall, Sprout and Flitwick. He changed his appearance slightly, put a ball cap on, pulled low of course, made himself blend in and stood close enough to learn much as he followed the professor shepherding a chatterbox of a girl with extremely curly hair and what seemed one million questions. He thought that the Old Man may have been meddling some. He got the big oaf to show him around and not answer questions and everyone else got a professor. Another strike against the Old Man.

He also visited several apothecaries with his sample of nutrient potion. He convinced one potioneer, Jigger's, to make him a month's supply. He had gleaned from him that was the usual course to help someone who was malnourished and received instruction that he need to add many calories to his diet for it to work. He said he'd turn a blind eye to the fact he did not have a healer's order but he would not see a child hurt for his lack of action. He swore Harry to secrecy and only charged his cost which was about 25% of the advertised price. Harry got an education when he asked about the disparity. Store overhead was 50%, ingredients were 25% of the cost and he made 25% profit. He would not make money off a malnourished child. His profit was enough to keep the doors open and make a modest living with the long hours his shop was open. He would never say a world. This was the first adult who helped him without having too.

He visited Gringotts and came away intrigued and angry. His accounts were whole, no one was stealing from him, but money was taken to pay for his support and given to his aunt and uncle. They had received 350 pounds each month since he had been there. His vaults, and he was surprised it was plural were locked down. He found out that the Old Man had suppressed the wills of his parents. Unless a copy was in his vault, he would have to petition the ministry to have them read and with the Old Man's influence that was a non-starter in Harry's opinion. The goblins shut down access as per his father's standing instructions in case of his death, which stymied the Old Man who had tried to exert control. Harry was allowed an allowance for all his school needs plus fifteen galleons per month once he began school. He also found out that he received royalties for all the Harry Potter adventure books. The Old Man had miscalculated, and the Goblins had directed them into his vault and the Old Man could not get his hands on them. One of the bright lights he found in his visit. He debated with himself if he would say anything to either his relatives or the Old Man when he met him. He needed to ruminate over this question. If he questioned, then he revealed he knew more than the Old Man intended. Perhaps the fog of war as according to Sun Tsu and Von Clausewitz would suit him better in this case. Bide his time keep the Old Man in the dark. Maybe later. His activity this last month reinforced his conviction that the Old Man did not have his best interests at heart.

He had a long chat with the Goblins. It was obvious that the relationship between wizards and Goblins was strained to say the least. He did not understand why the Wizards wanted to piss all over the ones who controlled the economy and safeguarded their wealth. He hired them to tutor him on the magical world and his place in it and finances. They agreed to take it from the family vault. It was money well spent to be educated. As his magical guardian was incarcerated, then someone had to teach him his responsibilities. He was gratified that he'd have full control over his estate when he turned fourteen. He did not even think to ask who his magical guardian was.

His month in Diagon Alley had opened his eyes to the cess pit of the magical world. While it had its good points, it was also incredibly backwards and extremely bigoted in many areas. He did not know or understand the insane interest the Old Man had controlling his life. It reinforced his certainty number 6. Albus Dumbledore could not be trusted. Why did he have such an unhealthy interest in him?