The Lion and The Snake - Scales of Justice
Chapter 6
Information Gathering For Knockturn Alley
The first week went extremely fast, Harry learned more about Potions and Defence than he had during his five years at Hogwarts. Severus was, as always, a ruthless teacher. Them getting on did nothing, especially when it came to teaching. A better part of his eduaction had been reading, then trying the spells and potions. He'd written ten essasy's, five for Defence and Potions respectively. He was however, always there for Harry when he needed to talk. His workload was extremly exhausting, as he had been forewarned. When Severus was teaching, Harry was with Poppy learning basic spells and potions healers used. Since he hadn't been taking the class since third year, he was behind everyone else. Poppy had to hand it to him though, he was truly doing his best to catch up. He had a long way to go though, two years of work did add up. Poppy had told him he would need to take an exam, the one the others had taken for their O.W.L's. He may not have used his bag for the first day, but now it was bulkier than Hermione's on a bad day.
So when Harry did manage to get to see his friends, he was mostly writing his homework or answering quiz questions for Poppy and Severus. Hopefully he would get more used to it, and be able to spend real quality time with Ron and Hermione. He had been forgetting about Knockturn Alley, but tonight, with no homework - he finally asked them the niggling questions annoying him.
"What do you guys know about Knockturn Alley?" asked Harry, both his friends stared up in curiosity, why would he want to talk about that place? he'd never been interested before.
"Why?" asked Hermione curiously, putting her Ancient Runes textbook down, regarding Harry with her shrewed brown eyes as always. They always came to the Room of Requirements now. If they went to the tower, everyone badgered Harry with questions. It was too cold to sit outside, so they only had a few options. So they had chosen this one, and they had complete privacy while they were here was also an added bonus. She and Ron weren't the only ones here, Draco Malfoy, Neville and Luna were also with them. Neville and Luna were comfortable with Draco, but Hermione and Ron still weren't used to the change in the blonde yet and were understandably weary.
"I'll explain later, what do you know?" stated Harry shaking his head, wondering if any of them even knew much about it.
"It's the poorest part of the wizarding world stays, also the most dangerous part too. It's reputated to be steeped in Dark Arts, criminals and where Dark wizards like to hang around." said Draco quietly, he was grateful for this room, it was a safe heaven from other Slytherin students. Severus had spoken to them, but it hadn't done any good. "It's where Ron and his family would be staying if it wasn't for Muriel giving them money to keep the Burrow."
"Us as well, when mum died, but dad got enough together and started the Quibbler." stated Luna before Ron could open his mouth, no doubt with an explosive arguement on his lips. Thankfully he'd turned back to normal, and remained silent after Luna's remark.
"Most of the inhabitants of Knockturn Alley are innocents, stuck in poverty." stated Draco.
"What about all the Dark Art shops?" asked Hermione frowning.
"There's only four shops that deal in the Dark Art's, they had to make an income somehow. The rest are rather modest shops, odds and ends, stuff they buy from Gringotts and sell for a higher price to make a bargain." said Draco.
"What about the raids?" asked Harry, determinedly.
Draco shuddered as if he was remembering something very unpleasant. "It happened when my father took me one time, I was five - I had nightmares for weeks afterwards. It was ruthless, they never stood a chance against the Aurors."
"Auror's?" asked Hermione wide eyed. She could scaresly believe her ears, there was no way Auror's attacked innocent people. There had to be a reason for it, there must! unfortunately things were still rather black and white for Hermione.
Draco simply nodded solemnly, "Yeah, it's raided quite often, no warning, no reason - many hurt, seriously injured or killed. The seriously injured ones don't have a hope of surviving, they cannot afford to live never mind medical bills. They don't get formal education, they learn what they can from their parents which isnt much. No wand, no hope of being able to fend of an attack."
"There was an attack last week," said Luna sadly, "I think the total is now up to thirty seven since the attack happened." apparently Harry wasn't the only one to notice the injustice. What surprised Harry the most was the fact it was mentioned at all.
"I read about that," said Neville nodding his head. "We have a shop and house above it down there. Its not been used for around three generations, I have no idea to its conditions though."
"I do as well, the property unlike the other places is protected heavily and under the Fidelus Charm." said Draco.
"Yes, I do too," nodded Harry.
"Why did you want to know?" asked Ron speaking for the first time since Harry had begun the conversation. He'd felt furious and embarrased when Malfoy had said what he did. He was ashamed by his lack of fortune, then he'd realized he wasn't the only one nearly living there. He was just grateful Malfoy hadn't sprouted that information out years ago! or he really wouldn't have been able to show his face again.
"I read the newspaper, I asked Severus because I couldn't believe they'd reported so many deaths in the corner as if hoping nobody would notice. What I found out was shocking. They don't deserve that." said Harry angry on their behalf.
"Nobody from Knockturn Alley has been awared a scholarship to Hogwarts since Dumbledore became headmaster. A few of the parents were angry, they believed their child had proven to be smarter than some that got in." said Draco.
"Why didn't they try the other schools?" enquired Hermione extremly baffled. Ron just knew there was another ...S.P.E.W heading their way. When Hermione believed in a cause - she obsessed about it.
"Only those country you live in can you apply for scholarships," said Neville shaking his head.
"It's not like that in the Muggle world," said Harry, Hermione nodded in agreement with him.
"It is here," said Draco simply.
"So that's it? they're stuck with no education and no way to get help to get out of the poverty they live in?" asked Hermione deeply disturbed by this new information. She'd taken Molly Weasley's warning to heart about Knockturn Alley and hadn't thought about it again.
"Sometimes they get lucky and a wand fits them, some Witches and Wizards give donations, food, clothes and clean bedding things people take for granted. Occasionally a few books." said Luna. "My father always sends care packages to as many as he can at christmas. So they at least have something then."
"Do my a favour, draw a map of every place, shop, home you know in the Alley, especially anyone you know from the ages of eleven to seventeen." said Harry taking out a huge wad of parchment. He spread it out and they all gathered around and watched Draco draw the map, Luna and Neville occasionally added to it.
Half an hour later everything they knew about the Alley was inked on the parchment. Harry left it there to dry as they continued to talk about it, Hermione and Draco got into a debate about it.
"I have to go guys," said Harry grabbing the map and folding it, they didn't ask why - they already knew. It was Sirius' will reading today, no doubt Harry would want to be alone afterwards. They knew the will reading would make it final for Harry, only Luna knew how final. She alone had seen Harry at his most vulnerable, asking the Hogwarts ghosts about someone coming back as one.
"We'll see you later Harry." said Hermione sadly halting in her heated debate with Draco as soon as he'd spoken.
"Bye," said Harry as he swung his bag over his back and left the room, the rest all waved wordlessly.
Harry quickly ran down to the Dungeon's, passing Slytherin's as he went - they didn't dare say anything to him. They'd done it once but never again, the magic leeching from the wizard had been terrifying. He had come into his magic, and they weren't taking any chances. The two idiots who had tried (Crabbe and Goyle) had ended up in the hospital wing. To top things off they were serving detention every night for a month 'for getting caught'. Added with long essay's as punishment they were keen to avoid him as much as humanly possible.
Harry plopped his bag down at the side of the sofa, gratefully sitting down again. Severus knew he had to be at Gringotts, and wouldn't be late. He would ask him to add more if he could to the map he'd created. With that in mind, he went through to his room and grabbed his inheritance sheet he'd gotten from Gringotts. Avoiding the list of items Dumbledore had illegally taken from his vault. Two of the items he'd gotten back, his cloak and pensive. The rest were books and of course some money which admittedly wasn't much. They hadn't known until an audit had been done to his vaults.
Harry knew every penny he'd ever removed from Gringotts and the dates. Always during the summer and always only enough for his school stuff and some extra money for sweets. There had been other withdrawals not made by him.
Sifting through his properties until he came to the one he wanted to know about, the one in Knockturn Alley. Unfortunately the address wasn't familiar to him, and not the area's Draco, Neville or Luna had known about either. Hopefully Severus would be able to find out for him. The place was big, big enough for him to help people down there survive the war that was looming on them. It was obvious nobody else could or would help, perhaps he could raise enough for the kids to get wands, the money from the Basilisk he'd gladly donate. Unfortunately that wasn't enough, they'd need to learn magic as well...he'd need to get a tutor but how? he'd taught the D.A perhaps he could help them? question is though could he? his workload was immense.
"You're here. Good, ready to go?" enquired Severus putting a stack of homework on the table.
"Yes, do you know this address?" asked Harry handing over the property list.
"Yes, it's one of the better buildings in Knockturn alley, protected unlike the others." said Severus after raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Is there anywhere you can add things to the map?" asked Harry pointing towards it. Even Neville and Draco's shop and house was added to it. His family hadn't had a shop, it was just a was their's now (Nev and Draco) - their fathers were gone and they were the heir's to the property. Thankfully Lucius hadn't been able to disown Draco before being killed.
"Of course." said Severus, Harry was up to something, before long the map Harry had wanted was complete mostly in Severus' spidery scrawl. "What are you up to?"
"I'm going to help them." said Harry with confidence he didn't feel.
"Be warned they don't take kindly to charity, spin it so they have to think of their children and family. Only then will they do it." stated Severus calmly.
Harry nodded thoughtfully taking Severus' words to heart.
"Let's go, otherwise we will be late," said Severus sternly back to his teacher mode.
"Yes sir," said Harry immediately standing, stopping in mid motion, realising he did not need his schoolbag. Masks up, they left the quarters, getting out of Hogwarts before Dumbledore. Harry had avoided the old man like a plague, even refusing to go up for tea and a chat. Severus had of course made excuses when it became apparent he was sticking to his guns. Dumbledore hadn't asked again since Severus told him he had detention all week.
Once out of Hogwarts they Apparated to Gringotts once again. This time Severus' wasn't going in. He had not been invited to the will reading, not surprising really since they did not get on. He was only here to take Harry there and back, and be there just in case the man-child needed him.
Harry took a deep breath before venturing inside, Severus taking a seat outside the room a blank mask on his face. He didn't even say anything when Dumbledore or Lupin appeared. In better robes than he'd ever seen the mangy, manky cur in before. He also knew Lupin hadn't once been in touch with Harry. It infuriated him but considering he didn't like the wolf, he wouldn't do him any favours. Harry in his opinion was better off without him, if he wasn't interested.
There we go next chapter - Sirius' will :) so will hogwarts students help train them? will zabini nott and other slytherin's take harry up on his offer? so they do not inevitably have to be sold off to a madman? will this story be a mpreg? or just a friendship story or slash? its up to you! i can spin it any way i haven't decided :) although severus does have some feelings for him ;)