Chapter 5: Within the Cauldron
Summary: The night Lily and James Potter died is well known. What no one suspected, or even imagined, was that their spirits remained with their son.
Disclaimer: As much as I would love to own (or live in, magic rocks) the 'Potterverse' … I do not.
A/N: With the birth of my daughter and the fact that I'm mainly caring for her on my own, I will not be able to update often. I do intend to continue and eventually finish this story; it's just going to take a while.
Harry deposited his shopping at the Leaky Cauldron, and a quick change of clothes later was on his way in to Muggle London, mulling over the rather bizarre, and almost one sided conversation with Ollivander and the entire experience of shopping for a wand.
Arc may have all she would ever need, but Harry still had an apartment of his own to furnish. Wandering through Muggle London, he finally found a furniture store that drew him in: "Heal's, since 1810." Whether it was the window display or the "SALE!" sign he wasn't sure but he took his time, and wandered through the store, looking about in awe at everything on display from solid wood bed frames, dining sets, and wardrobes, to plush seating. The salesman let him wander around for almost fifteen minutes before wandering over himself. Almost immediately, Harry felt that same something that had drawn him in to the store in the first place. An odd tingling that seems to trickle and trail across his skin, and his parents were quick to confirm what he suspected: Magic. And it was coming from the salesman himself. Harry smiled brightly as this would make it a lot easier to get his purchases in to the trunk.
"I need to purchase enough furniture to fill a flat; including bedroom, living room, dining room, office, and kitchen sets." Harry said, shaking the man's hand and leaning in close, "I trust your service to be magical."
The salesman suddenly matched Harry's smile with a grin of his own and nodded, "Of course, sir. Magical or Muggle, we at Heal's cater to all needs and lifestyles! Allow me to show you our lovely mahogany bedroom set to start with, unless of course you are searching for a particular style?"
Harry broke into a full grin as he was lead through a selection of fancy four poster beds, his parents reminiscing fondly in his head of the similar beds in Hogwarts. He finally settled on a mahogany four poster with ivy carvings running throughout the wood, complete with taupe, crimson, and indigo bedding and hangings that rather remind him of the British flag. Finishing off the bedroom with a matching wardrobe and dresser, a pair of bedside tables, some wrought-iron table and floor lamps and an area rug that matches the bedding; he moved on to deck out his living room.
Matching overstuffed black suede leather couches, a mahogany coffee table and end tables, a few book shelves, more wrought-iron lamps, and a large television and entertainment centre that the salesman assured him would function without a hitch around magic. His study was filled with more mahogany bookshelves and a matching desk that he stocked with the parchment, ink, and quills he had purchased at Flourish and Blotts.
For the dining room he chose, again, a mahogany set with four chairs, and a wrought-iron chandelier that the salesman helped him mount above the table. The table and chairs also had ivy carved into them, reminiscent of his bedroom set.
In the kitchen Harry went all out, purchasing mahogany cupboards with black marble countertops, and top of the line appliances; from a double door refrigerator that he could stand in comfortably, to a stainless steel stove/oven combination. Rather like a bull in a china shop, Harry went crazy on chinaware, cutlery, tools, and utensils to make even top chefs go green with envy. The salesman even helped Harry move everything in to the trunk, although leaving the actual positioning and final placement at Harry's discretion; something that was going to take a while, he realized.
The sun was just beginning to retreat behind the clouds and set in the Western sky. He made a last stop at Harrods to stock up on all the food he had always wanted before and could never have. By the time he reached the checkout counter, he had everything from the British fare he'd grown up cooking to some decidedly exotic things that covered Mexican, Chinese, Italian and even America. It would have been tricky without his trunk to manage the quantity he had. As it was, he took the risk of popping it out to drop his purchases inside before shrinking it back in to his pocket, his room in the Leaky Cauldron had a lot of furniture organizing awaiting him.
Three hours later Harry placed the last of his books, school and otherwise, on the new shelves in his study, he took down 'The Boy-Who-Lived and His Defeat of the Dark Lord' and began to read, learning of how the wizarding world viewed him, while Arc headed into her room to relax and hunt for her dinner. Only about ten minutes went by before a chime was heard throughout the flat, announcing that someone was trying to get his attention outside the trunk. Having sent his new post owl, Hedwig, off with his reply to Hogwarts as soon as he had returned to his room, he and his parents had a good feeling who was attempting to get in touch with him.
As he exited the trunk there was another knock on the door and Tom could be heard on the other side, "Sir, you have a visitor. A representative from Hogwarts wishes to speak with you. He is downstairs in the pub."
Harry smiled, and shrunk his trunk, dropping it in to his pocket. With a gentle, almost easy going smile, he opened the door and is greeted to the sight of a smiling Tom, "Thank you. Do you know who it is? I would rather go down there at least a little prepared. I have a feeling they will not agree with my staying here until term starts."
Tom frowned at this implied slur on his establishment, "You are perfectly safe here young sir. Professor Dumbledore should know that with all the times he's stayed here in the past."
Harry nodded, "I have no doubts that I am in no danger while here, Tom. I am quite pleased with the services at the Leaky Cauldron and fully intend on remaining here until the 1st of September."
Tom smiled and led him down to the private room that Dumbledore had asked for. His parents' voices bolster his courage, feeding him information about the few failings they had witnessed during their time in Hogwarts and out of it, removing the all-knowing mystique that the headmaster liked to surround himself with. Harry stepped into the room and immediately realized why he needed to see the Headmaster in a human light, there was a strong aura of magic radiating off the man in such concentration that it was almost a palpable wave. Dumbledore rose to his feet with a congenial smile, "Harry, my boy…." He began and that was as far as he got.
Harry had already raised a hand, and followed his mother's lead on how to address the headmaster he was already beginning to ever so slightly dislike, "If you please, Headmaster: 'Boy' is a moniker turned in to a derogatory slur by my abusive blood relations. I prefer not to be referred to by it. Also, as my Headmaster, it is rather inappropriate for you to refer to me by my given name. Therefore, if you please, it is Mr. Potter, sir." Harry said stoically as he took a seat without it being offered, James laughed loudly in his head, and Harry had to fight to keep a grin off his face.
It happened in less than a second, if his father had not tipped him off and if Harry had not been looking for it, he would have missed the slight downward twitch at the corner of Albus Dumbledore's mouth and an ever so brief darkening of his eyes before all was as it was. It was clear already that Dumbledore did not like his forthright and independent demeanor. "Of course, Mr. Potter, may I offer you a sherbert lemon?"
Within the confines of the only private room that the Leaky Cauldron had, Harry was quick to note that while it did not have any windows, or a proper door, there was a magical something in the doorway itself. No doubt something that ensured privacy and prevented eavesdroppers. Harry found himself wishing he could cast the spell to do that. Taking a breath, he met the gaze of his future headmaster, "Headmaster, I value my time now that it is mine to spend on my own terms, without having my days devoted to chores I am able to do as I please. In preparation for entering this new society, I have decided to study the culture and history of the wizarding world; I also have many interesting new school books to read. I am afraid I must insist that we keep this meeting short and to the point, so I may return to my studies as quickly as possible."
Another ghost of disappointment flitted across the old man's face before disappearing, "Very well Mr. Potter, I do not believe it is safe for you to remain here and request that you return to the safety of your Aunts' house."
Harry couldn't help it; he hardly wanted to, his laugh barked out: fast, loud, and dark. "Forgive me, Headmaster, but the idea that my relations house could be considered safe is, at best, morbid humor. Those people did everything short of beat me to keep me 'normal'," Harry actually paused to phrase the word normal with air quotes, "or at least their version of it. I feel I am perfectly safe here and," Harry had the slyest of smiles on his face as a something clicked in his mind, "Honestly, headmaster, what would I have to fear, to need to seek safe lodgings of any kind?"
Dumbledore shook his head, all traces of a smile now gone, "I am afraid I can't tell you that Har- Mr. Potter. There are things you are too young yet to know. However, I must insist you return to your aunt's house."
Shaking his head in return, Harry frowned, "I am sorry, sir, but you have no control over where I go or what I do outside of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Even as Supreme Mugwump there is nothing you can do unless I break a law, which I haven't done. Seeing as there is apparently no reason for me to live in a 'safer'," Harry again made air quotes, "location until school starts, I will remain here."
Dumbledore frowned as well, "There is reason Mr. Potter, just because I chose not to divulge it to you, does not remove the reason."
Harry stood, "Well then, I thank you for your concern and advice. However, based on the information at hand I have decided to stay here at the Leaky Cauldron until the 1st of September. Now, as I said before, sir, I have a mountain of studying awaiting me. Good evening, sir." He swept out of the room in a manner that reminded Albus Dumbledore of Severus Snape. The only thing missing from Harry's determined and slightly more dramatic exit was the billowing of a cape or robes that normally accompanied the Hogwarts Potions Master.
Dumbledore did not bother trying to call the bo - Har - Mr. Potter back… he was probably more than halfway up the stairs. In fact, by the time he had stepped from the room, Harry was back in his trunk, a can of soda balanced precariously on one knee as his parents laughter echoed through his mind. Even though he was trying to study, he couldn't help but share a smile with them, "Can you two keep it down in there? I'm trying to learn out here!"
Their laughter continued, "You should try relaxing and coming in here instead!" retorted his father. To Harry's chagrin, even his mother seemed to agree with the sentiment.