If He's Anything Like Me
By Ammie Hawk
Disclaimer: LIFE! THERE IS LIFE!
AN: So, I haven't died… neither have any of my fics, I've just been going through a lot of RL stuff and haven't had much time for writing. Anyway, I had hoped to have this up yesterday as my Christmas present to my readers, but I didn't finish writing it till after ten and typing it up took longer, thus my posting it today. Anyway, happy belated Christmas, hope your holidays are well.
Chapter 4: A Trip to Diagon Alley
Dumbledore sat behind his desk in the headmaster's office of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry silently seething. Not only was his pawn out of his control, thanks to the meddling of the Muggles, but his most trusted and till now loyal spy was rebelling against him. That he blamed solely on that creature his Potions Master had been bewitched into mating with. If Severus had just focused his attention on Lily Potter instead of taking in the Veela boy he'd found then none of this would be happening.
Well, all that aside, he could fix things, it wasn't too late. Harry Potter was still coming back to Hogwarts in the fall, and he could get him back. All he had to do was separate the boy from those who had taken him from the Dursleys and send him back there when the summer came around again. Now he had a plan, all he had to do was gently coax the boy back into the fold. The Weasleys could help with that, the youngest boy was already a big influence over Harry, all he had to do was convince the redheads that what he was doing was in Harry's best interest and they'd be eating out of his hand. And perhaps he could throw a little extra money their way as well.
With those thoughts in mind, the twinkle returned to his eyes and he popped a lemon drop into his mouth. It would take a little time, but he was a very patient man after all. Things would work out in his favor, he would make sure of it.
He had just decided to write the Weasleys a note, asking for their assistance, when an owl flew in through his open window. He recognized the official seal on the letter as the bird landed on his desk and held out its leg. It was from the Board of Governors. As soon as he removed the letter, the owl took off the way it had come, indicating there was no need for a response. With that thought in mind, he broke the seal and pulled out the letter and began to read.
To Headmaster Albus Dumbledore,
Due to recent events within Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and also due to your lack of finding a suitable teacher for the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts, we, the Board of Governors, have decided to evoke our right to staffing appointments. As such we have appointed Heero Yuy to the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor.
Also, in light of several complaints from concerned parents and dropping O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. scores, we are also giving Professor Binns his much deserved retirement and are filling the position of History of Magic Professor with Wufei Barton-Chang.
Hoping this letter finds you well,
The Hogwarts Board of Governors
There were all twelve signatures, so there was literally nothing he could do to overturn this course of action. In a fit of uncontrollable rage, Dumbledore swiped his hand across the top of his desk, shattering all the little gizmos and sending the letter fluttering to the floor. This was unprecedented and swift, it made him wonder if the governors had some scheme up their sleeves. He took a deep breath to gain control again. It was no matter, he would deal with things accordingly. After all, everyone said the Defense Against the Dark Arts job was cursed, this new professor wouldn't last longer than the year, and things would be back within his control once again.
888888
It had taken awhile for the former pilots to readjust to each other, as some of them hadn't even seen each other since the end of the Mariemaya Uprising. However, by the following Wednesday, things around the house had settled into a tentative routine for all members.
The mornings began with Wufei being the first to rise, following the training routine he had had since he was younger than Harry. The next up would be Heero, who would grab something to eat from the kitchen and then set up his laptop and do whatever it was he did on the machine. Severus and Trowa followed shortly, with the latter starting on making breakfast for the others. Shortly after, Harry would get up and go to the kitchen, where Trowa and Wufei, who had by that point finished his exercises, would already be eating and would be given a plate of food to eat and then told to start on his summer homework. Quatre was the next, and after he had eaten something, would disappear into his office and begin working. Duo was always the last to rise, around lunchtime, when all the members of the house would meet up in the dining room for the noon meal and then separate again to their various pursuits. Through all this, Harry had managed to keep to himself and out of everyone's way, spending most of his time in the room that had been given to him, much to the disappointment of his newfound family.
However, the routine changed on the following Wednesday, after Harry had asked if that could be the day they go to Diagon Alley for his school supplies. The adults had agreed, since three of them needed to get their own supplies for the coming term. On this morning, everyone was up just after dawn, preparing for their trip into town. After a rather hasty breakfast, they made their way out front where a large black SUV was waiting for them. Heero got behind the wheel while the others organized themselves in the other seats, Harry ending up between Trowa and Wufei.
When they arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, the Muggle entrance to Diagon Alley, they all exited the vehicle and made their way into the pub. There were several people within the Leaky Cauldron, as it was almost the start of term for Hogwarts, though most notably was a family of redheads all huddled close to the fireplace. As they made their way toward the back, the youngest male redhead broke off from the group and made his way over to them.
"Harry!" he said rather loudly.
"Ron!" the raven haired boy turned to his best friend. "It's good to see you."
"We've been worried about you, mate," Ron put his arm around Harry's shoulders. "Hermione said you called her and were fine, but we haven't heard from you. And Dumbledore wrote saying you'd left the Dursleys."
"Why would Dumbledore write to your family?" Harry frowned.
"We will figure that out soon," the tall unibanged man put his hand on his son's shoulder. "Right now, though, the others are waiting for us in the alley."
"Right," the boy gave a nervous half smile. "We should go. I-I'll see you later, Ron."
"Wait!" the redhead grabbed his arm. "You don't have to go with him! You can come shopping with me and my family. Then you're coming home with us, Mum and Dad said so."
"I believe that is a discussion for the parents," Trowa's brow lowered in his version of a frown. "Come, Harry."
He gave Harry a nudge toward the door, clearly done with the conversation. Ron, however, clearly wasn't as he didn't let go of the brunet's arm.
"No! Who do you think you are? I'm his best friend."
"And I am his father," the former Heavyarms pilot said, lifting Harry up into his arms and leaving the pub.
As they made it to the small alcove that marked the entrance to Diagon Alley, Harry started to squirm slightly.
"I can walk you know," he pouted, though he was secretly enjoying the attention and was very pleased that Trowa had claimed him as his son.
"I am aware," the elf shifted the boy to his hip and touched the wall with his right hand, causing the bricks to shift. "Your friend was just being obstinate and some of the others aren't very patient. Now as to what he was saying, I'm sure he can join us for shopping, however I don't think the others will agree to you spending the rest of the summer at their house. I know I don't."
"I-I understand," Harry looked down.
It's not that he wanted to go to the Weasleys, he actually liked his dads' house, he just didn't know how to act around them. With the Dursleys things had been easy, he just had to pretend he wasn't there, and at Hogwarts he blended into the crowd, for the most part.
Trowa didn't say anything else as he rejoined the others and neither did Harry. The fact that the unibanged man was still carrying the boy earned various reactions from the group. Heero quirked an eyebrow in some amusement, Quatre and Wufei both wore soft smiles, Severus rolled his eyes and scoffed quietly, while Duo pouted with jealousy.
"So," Quatre said jovially, "where should we go to first? I suggest the bank. There are several matters we have to attend to there, aside from getting money for the day."
"Excuse me," the redheaded woman from the pub interrupted before anything else could be said.
"May we help you?" Wufei asked incredulously.
"Harry, dear," she looked at the raven haired boy, "why don't you go over with Arthur and the boys. He'll take you to Gringotts and you can do your shopping with Ron. I would like to have a word with these gentlemen."
"Quatre, take Harry ahead to the bank," the former Wing pilot said, his voice laced with steel.
The blond nodded and moved to take the boy from the former clown's arms. Before the transfer could happen, another voice cut in.
"Trowa, go with him," Wufei said, pulling a key ring from his pocket and tossing it to the unibanged male. "We'll handle this."
Trowa nodded as he caught the keys one handed. Without another word, the trio took off up the street, heading toward the glistening white marble building at the end of the street, Harry still held securely in Trowa's arms.
Molly Weasley made a noise of protest, before squaring her shoulders and turning her attention back to the others.
"Gentlemen," she said patiently, "I think there has been some sort of misunderstanding. You see, Harry is a good friend of my youngest son, and we know that he lives with his aunt and uncle, but we have gotten permission to have Harry come spend the rest of the summer with us. So whatever obligation you think you have is now over, we'll take it from here."
"Who do you think you are, onna?!" the Chinese man snarled, before anyone else could say anything, though Duo had opened his mouth. "You have no right to talk to us like that! If you cared for that boy as much as you are pretending to, we would not have found him a little over a week and a half ago locked in his bedroom at his supposed aunt and uncle's house. Do not tell us our obligation to your son is over, the obligation you had, and emphasis on had, you failed. Now back off before I make you."
The redhead puffed up her chest, like a raging hen, and opened her mouth to start what was sure to be an impressive rant when she was cut off by a deceptively smooth voice.
"Molly," Snape stepped between the woman and the three former pilots, "I would suggest you desist. You don't seem to realize who you are about to piss off. You see, you are about to piss off five of the most volatile men in the entire galaxy by coming between them and their progeny. So, I would suggest you turn around and go back to your family while they return to theirs. Come, Duo, we have business to attend to."
He grabbed Duo's arm and began leading him off in the direction of the bank. The other two pilots spared the Weasley matriarch one last condescending look before following the pair down the street. When they reached the stone steps of the bank, they found Quatre, Trowa and Harry talking to a couple and a young bushy haired girl.
"Oh, there you are," the blond grinned. "Heero, I'd like you to meet Hugo and Jean Granger, and their daughter Hermione. This is my husband, Heero. And that is Wufei, he's Trowa's husband."
"It's nice to meet you," Mr. Granger shook hands with the two other pilots. "Our daughter has told us a lot about your son. They are very good friends."
"That's good," Heero nodded. "However, I believe we have business to attend to in the bank, so we should be going."
"Right," Mr. Granger agreed. "We probably should head in as well. We have quite a day ahead of us."
The two families made their way inside, followed by the Weasleys The Grangers made their way over to a free teller to exchange money, while the redheads, as well as Snape and Duo, were led off by another pair of goblins to retrieve money from their vaults, Quatre, however, led the remaining group to a rather astute goblin that was sitting a little ways back from the main desks.
"Excuse me, Ragnok?" the blond said politely. "I believe we have an appointment."
"Ah, Mr. Winner," the goblin gave the group a shrewd look, "yes, if you will follow me."
He pushed to his feet and led them all through a door to his right, which turned out to be a lavish office. It was obvious, however, that this was not a room used for large groups, such as themselves as there were only three chairs, aside from the one the goblin had taken behind the desk. Quatre, Heero, and Trowa took these, the latter sitting Harry on his lap, with Wufei taking up position behind his husband.
"Now, Mr. Winner, how can Gringotts help you today?" Ragnok pulled a large leather bound ledger from a drawer and set it on the desk.
"Well, there are several matters I'd like to discuss today," the former Sandrock pilot began. "As I stated in my letter, this also involves the Barton-Chang accounts."
"You did," the goblin nodded. "And as they are present, and if I have their permission, I can discuss this with you."
"You have our permission," the unibanged man answered, knowing the goblin trusted his word over his hot tempered husband.
"Very well," he pulled another ledger out. "You may proceed, Mr. Winner."
"First, I'd like this taken from my account and put into a trust fund," Quatre slid a piece of paper across the desk.
The goblin took the paper, nodded and started writing in the first ledger. "And whose name will this account go under?" Here he looked up at the other people in the room.
Aqua eyes turned to regard the youngest member of their makeshift family. They hadn't had the opportunity to discuss a name change or if that was even something he would want. He shook his head, that would be something they discussed later, after the chibi had warmed up to them a bit more.
"For now, put it under the name Harry Potter. If that changes in the future we will let you know."
"Very well," Ragnok's eyes darted in Harry's direction and lingered for a moment on his scar before going back to his book. "It will be taken care of immediately."
"Thank you," the blond nodded. "Now, secondly," he pulled a file out of a bag Heero had with him, "both Heero and I have adjusted our wills. All monetary donations to various charities shall remain, however, all properties, share holdings, and physical assets, as well as monetary assets remaining will go to Harry Potter."
"That all seems to be in order," the goblin accepted the file and gave it a quick once over. "I will have a new will drafted up and sent to you before the day is out. Was there anything else?"
"For me, no," Quatre shook his head. "I will turn it over to the Barton-Changs now."
Ragnok nodded once more and took up the second ledger turning his gaze to Trowa and Wufei.
"We would also like these funds added to the trust fund set up for Harry Potter," Trowa said, as Wufei stepped forward and handed the goblin a paper. "Also, we would like to change our will so that Harry Potter is the sole beneficiary. And we'd also like to make a withdrawal from our vault."
The Chinese man handed over a second file as well as another paper. The goblin accepted them, looked them over and then tapped a bell on his desk.
"Right," Quatre smiled slightly. "I need to make a withdrawal as well."
Ragnok nodded again as another goblin entered the office. Within ten minutes they were on their way out of the bank with their now full money pouches. Harry had remained silent during the entire meeting, having not really understood what was going on. It was as they finally reemerged into the sunlight that he finally spoke up.
"Wait!" he protested, looking back at the bank over Trowa's shoulder, as he had yet to be put down. "I didn't get any money. How am I supposed to buy my stuff for school?"
"Harry," Quatre turned to look at him, "we are your parents. As such, it is our responsibility to take care of you, and that includes your school supplies."
"With that being said," Wufei interjected, "I feel our time would be best spent if we divided up. I know Heero needs a few things from Knockturn Alley, and I have a few bookstores to visit. Harry more than likely needs robes and potions supplies, as well as his books for the new term."
"We'll get the potions stuff," Duo interrupted, having just joined the group with Severus. "Sev needs to get his own, so it'll be easier that way."
"Trowa, didn't you have a few things you needed to get as well?" his husband inquired.
"Right," the unibanged man nodded.
"That leaves Quatre to take Harry to get his robes," Heero looked around at all of them, motioning for the blond to take the chibi. "We'll meet up at Flourish and Blotts in one hour."
The other five nodded and they all took off for their specified destinations. Hermione and Ron joined Quatre and Harry just as they were finishing up at Madam Malkins. The Winner CEO treated the trio to ice cream before they made their way to the bookstore.
"So," the redhead said as they made their way down the street, "what's going on with you, Harry?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, confused.
"Well, what was that back in the pub?" Ron scowled. "You've always wanted to come over, why would you let that guy say no?"
"I don't really have a choice, do I?" Harry shrugged. "He's my dad."
"WHAT?!" Ron almost shouted. "Harry, that's stupid, everyone knows your parents are dead."
"About that," Hermione cut in, noticing the dejected look on the bespectacled boy's face, "you didn't really explain very well on the phone, how did this happen?"
Harry explained everything that happened with Dobby and the Dursleys, and how he had been rescued by the Preventers. Hermione was appalled by what she heard the Dursleys had done but Ron looked skeptical.
"That sounds dodgy, Harry," the redhead frowned. "You see, house-elves can't just go against their master's wishes, it was probably just someone like Malfoy having a laugh, and you blew it out of proportion, like you did with the Stone and that mirror last year."
"I didn't blow either of those out of proportion," the green eyed boy said defensively. "Voldemort was after the Stone and even Dumbledore warned about the mirror."
"Alright, children," Quatre interrupted, having felt his son's distress from the short distance he was behind them. He had been trying to give the trio some privacy and not try and eavesdrop. "It's time we meet up with the others at the bookstore."
With that he began herding the children toward Flourish and Blotts, he'd have a word with Harry later about what happened. They were by no means the only ones making their way to the bookshop. As they approached it they saw to their surprise a large crowd jostling outside the doors, trying to get in. The reason for this was proclaimed by a large banner stretched across the upper windows:
GILDEROY LOCKHART
will be signing copies of his autobiography
MAGICAL ME
Today 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
"We can actually meet him!" Hermione squealed. "I mean, he's written almost the whole booklist."
"He did?" Harry frowned in thought and then looked up at the blond in slight panic. "I didn't get my list."
"I have it here," the former Sandrock pilot ruffled the messy black locks fondly and pulled out a parchment from his breast pocket. "It arrived early yesterday morning. We just have the books left, but here, take a look."
Harry took it and opened it. His eyes darted quickly down the page until he found what he was looking for.
SECOND-YEAR STUDENTS WILL REQUIRE:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2
by Miranda Goshawk
Defensive Basics: A Guide
by T.K. Rada
Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart
Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart
Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart
Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart
Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart
He looked up from his list and noticed the crowd seemed to be made up mostly of witches around Mrs. Weasley's age. A harassed-looking wizard stood at the door, saying, "Calmly, please, ladies…. Don't push, there… mind the books, now…."
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Quatre squeezed inside. A long line wound right to the back of the shop where Gilderoy Lockhart was signing his books. The three children each grabbed a copy of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 and Quatre picked up three copies of Defensive Basics and sneaked up the line to where the rest of the Weasleys were standing with the Grangers and Snape and Duo.
"Oh, there you are, good," said Mrs. Weasley. She sounded breathless and kept patting her hair. "We'll be able to see him in a minute…."
Gilderoy Lockhart came slowly into view, seated at a table surrounded by large pictures of his own face, all winking and flashing dazzlingly white teeth at the crowd. The real Lockhart was wearing robes of forget-me-not blue that exactly matched his eyes; his pointed wizard's hat was set at a jaunty angle on his wavy hair.
A short, irritable-looking man was dancing around taking photographs with a large black camera that emitted puffs of purple smoke with every blinding flash.
"Out of the way, there," he snarled at Ron, moving back to get a better shot. "This is for the Daily Prophet—"
"Big deal," said Ron, rubbing his foot where the photographer had stepped on it.
Gilderoy Lockhart heard him. He looked up. He saw Ron—and then he saw Harry. He stared. Then he leapt to his feet and positively shouted, "It can't be Harry Potter?"
The crowd parted, whispering excitedly; Lockhart dived forward, seized Harry's arm, and pulled him to the front. The crowd burst into applause. Harry's face burned as Lockhart shook his hand for the photographer, who was clicking away madly, wafting thick smoke over the Weasleys. The five former pilots sent their best glares at the man who was manhandling their son, but they seemed to have no effect.
"Nice big smile, Harry," said Lockhart, through his own gleaming teeth. "Together, you and I are worth the front page."
At this comment, Heero stepped up behind the photographer and whispered so only the man could hear, "If you release any photos of my son, Harry Potter, I'll kill you."
The photographer shuddered slightly and quickly lowered his camera.
When Lockhart finally let go of Harry's hand, Harry could hardly feel his fingers. He tried to sidle back over to his fathers, but Lockhart threw an arm around his shoulders and clamped him tightly to his side.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said loudly, waving for quiet. "What an extraordinary moment this is! The perfect moment for me to make a little announcement I've been sitting on for some time.
"When young Harry here stepped into Flourish and Blotts today, he only wanted to buy my autobiography—which I shall be happy to present him now, free of charge—" The crowd applauded again. "He had no idea," Lockhart continued, giving Harry a little shake that made his glasses slip to the end of his nose, "that he would shortly be getting much, much more than my book, Magical Me. He and his schoolmates will, in fact, be getting the real magical me. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have great pleasure and pride in announcing that this September, I will be taking up the post of Assistant Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Heero's already stony expression turned murderous as the crowd cheered and clapped and Harry found himself being presented with the entire works of Gilderoy Lockhart. Staggering slightly under their weight, he managed to make his way out of the limelight to the edge of the room, where Ginny was standing next to her new cauldron.
"You have these," Harry mumbled to her, tipping the books into the cauldron. "I'll buy my own—"
"Bet you loved that, didn't you Potter?" said a voice Harry had no trouble recognizing. He straightened up and found himself face-to-face with Draco Malfoy, who was wearing his usual sneer.
"Famous Harry Potter," said Malfoy. "Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page."
"That's enough out of you," Duo appeared behind the blond Slytherin and smacked him upside the head. "If you don't behave you won't be coming home with us."
"But Uncle Duo," Draco whined, "that's not fair!"
"Life ain't fair," the braided man replied. "Now, if you can't get along with Yasu, you're not coming over. Period. End of story."
"Fine," the blond shot one final glare in Harry's direction, knowing the former pilot was very serious, before taking Duo's hand and leaving the shop.
"Come on, Harry," Wufei said, having come up behind him with the others, just as the elder Malfoys appeared on the scene. "It's time to go home."
The bespectacled boy looked up and nodded. Together with the other pilots and Snape they all made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron, where they met up with Duo and Draco, and then out into Muggle London where the car waited.
Ammie: Okay, so better late than never, right? Hope you all have a great holiday season, and let me know what you think of the latest chapter.