Sorry, kind of short
Three hours later, Jaden Leonus Lefey stepped out of Gringotts bank for the first time.
Jade squinted in the afternoon sunshine. The day was almost as cheery as the stupid grin that was most likely plastered across his face. With a new skip in his step, he set about his errands. He ordered an entirely new wardrobe from Madam Malkin's, changing into a set of midnight-blue robes in the process. Then he set off down Knockturn Alley. His next errand was not legal in the strictest sense. He had run across the potion in question while attempting one of Snape's essays. It was only considered dark because some of the ingredients used were a bit unsavoury. He found a likely apothecary and affected a perfect pureblood drawl to get what he wanted from the man. A flash of coin and one downed potion later and Jade took great delight in explosively detonating those ridiculous glasses. The shop keeper, a gruff looking middle-aged man with a permanent scowl, was trying desperately not to laugh. Jade flashed him a grin and practically skipped from the store.
He proceeded to run smack into a rather firm chest. Hands wrapped around his waist to steady him. They trapped him in place, though he doubted that was their intention. Looking up, he found himself gazing on the bemused expression of his favourite potions professor. He let out an unmanly squeak and tore himself from the man's grasp. It looked like this adventure was destined to be over before it could begin. Snape was going to turn him in and then he would have to face everyone's disappointed expressions and let the entire order scold him for recklessness. Harry closed his eyes and waited for the man's wrath ...and waited.
He opened his eyes. Snape had not moved. He was simply studying Harry intently with an amused smirk and a raised eye-brow. He doesn't recognise me. How can he not recognise me? He must think I'm absolutely insane, reacting like that. He gave the man a self-deprecating smile and felt his cheeks heat up. "Sorry sir, I wasn't watching where I was going," his voice was soft and tentative, a tone he had not used in Snape's presence since his first class with the man.
"It is foolish to not be aware of your surroundings, particularly down here with the current state of conflict. I suggest you take the necessary precautions if you intend to recklessly venture alone into a hostile location that you clearly have no business setting foot in," it was a positively gentle chiding by Snape's standards, though anyone not familiar with the man would be sent scurrying by the threat in his voice and his ominous glare.
Jade flashed him a grin. "I'll be more careful next time," he promised. He was shocked to realise that he meant every word.
"I rather hope there will not be a next time. You, clearly, have not the necessary mind-set to blend into this environment. You are entirely too... vivacious for a place with so little life. Your presence is bound to attract the wrong sort of attention. For your own safety, kindly limit your wanderings to the other alleys." The words were almost kind, the tone was not, nor was the fact that the man had stepped into Jade's space and was looming over him.
I'm pretty sure there was a compliment in there somewhere. It must help not to be a Griffindor. Not to be deterred, Jade simply skirted the man and took a couple steps away before flashing him another grin. "While I appreciate the concern, it's not really needed. I can take care of myself, and anyone else I drag with me. Enjoy the rest of your day." With that Jade turned and strolled down the street.
The inhabitants of the alley began to close in the moment he stepped out of Snape's immediate vicinity. Harry ignored the flashbacks to second year and used years of practice in avoiding mobs to simply dodge through the crowd. He was back in the sunlight of Diagon before the lot of them even noticed he had given them the slip. He tossed a cheery wave in Snape's general direction and disappeared down Diagon Alley.
Jade was exhausted. He had been shopping all day. He even spent over a couple hours in muggle London for new clothes. He couldn't wait to burn his old wardrobe. There was only one thing left to do. His hair had been getting pretty long over the summer. Jade found this mildly peculiar as it had only grown about two inches between first and fifth year. Jade wondered if it was a nutrition thing or if his hair had been reacting to his unconscious desire to look like his father. After the pensieve incident he hoped to be nothing like his father.
Jade stepped into the hair salon with just a touch of trepidation. The stylist sashayed up to him, "Well your timing is just perfect. I just happen to have an opening you can fill, or maybe two," he said it with a grin and a wink. The man was very clearly flamboyantly gay. He was tall and attractive with purple highlights in spiked black hair and three piercings in his right ear.
Jade shifted uncomfortably, "I think I just want a trim. I like the length and my hair tends to stick out in all directions when it's short. I also have a scar on my forehead I like to keep covered whenever possible for personal reasons."
"I see. Are you willing to give me room to play? I think I know just what to do with you."
"Sure, I guess. Nothing too unusual please, my school is a bit conservative. And do you know where I could get my ear pierced?"
"Hmm, sounds like we have a rebel among us. We can do piercings here and you can have whatever your heart desires, darling."
Twenty minutes later, Harry was staring at himself in the mirror. No wonder Snape failed to recognise him; he barely recognised himself. He had gained some weight over the summer, mostly muscle, that his painted-on tee and low-sitting cargos, which clung in all the right places, showed off perfectly. He wore a silver, thorny-vine patterned, choker and had an inch long dagger with an emerald set in the hilt dangling from his ear. His face had filled out a bit, softening his features and making him appear a bit feminine, especially since he had lost the youthful roundness. His hair had developed red highlights from his work in the sun and had been trimmed into layers that just barely brushed his shoulders and fell artfully into his face. It was still unruly but now gave the impression of untamed rather than unkempt. He was still slender and a whopping 5'5" but for some reason the thought made him grin instead of cringe like usual. The term 'pocket rocket' bounced around in the darkest recesses of his mind.
The stylist declared him "Yummy" and made him promise to come back the next time he needed a trim. The man also scribbled his phone number on Jade's hand with a playful wink and the assurance that he was more than willing to make house calls. By the end of their appointment the man left Jade feeling a great deal more comfortable with flirting. He was unsure whether that was a good thing or not.
Home sweet home.
Harry pushed open the door to his new house. It was part of the potter estate but had sat empty for decades. It was a five story manor, elegantly furnished and well cared for. The long stone drive connected to Lupi Lane, one of the roads adjoining to Diagon. The lane was situated in the country side just beyond the outskirts of London. Jade was still having difficulties wrapping his head around the fact that it was also walking distance from the heart of London. He finally shrugged the concept off as 'magic' and let it go. It helped that he had a forest and a private quidditch pitch in his backyard. Some things just do not need to be explained. The neighbourhood was quiet and old fashioned, with a high enough concentration of magic that electricity refused to work properly. The inhabitants were mostly wizards and witches, with a few muggle families that were familiar with magic, a number of squibs, and a few magical beings thrown in to keep things interesting. The goblins had given him a quick rundown of the area's history.
The moment Jade stepped inside a house elf appeared before him. It was an elderly creature that wore a tidy pillowcase turned tunic embroidered with the Potter crest. "Master has returned to us at last. We has been waiting Lord Potter."
Jade smiled at the dignified little creature. "It's Lord Lefey now. And I am sorry to have kept you waiting. I only recently learned of your existence. May I ask your name?"
"I is being Tabby, Master, head-elf of the Potter estate."
"It's nice to meet you Tabby. I will meet the rest of the staff tomorrow, but for now I want nothing more than a sandwich and my bed."
When Jade fell asleep that night, he dreamed only of the future and its possibilities.
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