Hello again.
I am back for my second FanFic, which i'm hoping you will all find is as good as the last.
(FYI The Legend of Harry James Arthur Gryffindor Pendragon Potter is my other story just ignore the title and try it)
Why don't you have a go with this one and i hope you enjoy it.
it is quite similar to others in this chapter but its gets different in future chapters.
Founder's Phoenix
Harry was once again lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He had finished all his homework a week into the holidays and had started looking at his muggle books that he had brought his first summer after first year. But, at that moment, he was on a break, thinking.
He had learned to finish his chores in the morning and on the weekends he would spend the afternoon doing the manual work. Harry enjoyed this part of his life because it meant he could get into shape and not being the skinny, short kid everyone at school knew. He had left school about a month ago and had grown considerably since then in muscle definition and height. Spending most of your time doing chores in the garden in the summer was sure to keep you fit.
The first summer he had after Hogwarts was extremely boring for him so after a week he went to bookstore close to him and bought a book on every subject he knew they taught in an ordinary secondary school. He finished the whole year seven topics in a month and a half and started the second year.
This summer he had started his year eleven topics to prepare to hopefully take his GCSE's next summer in secret at Hogwarts. Everyone taking them had to take them at the same time. He just hoped they didn't clash with his OWL's.
He lay on his bed staring at the same ceiling that he saw every day. He wanted something different. He had had the same routine for five years now and it as annoying him. He would study and do his chores in the summer and in term time he would be researching with Ron and Hermione about something interesting but dangerous, then just after their exams they would figure it out and then nearly die. You probably wouldn't call it boring but four years in a row, Harry wanted a change.
This last year had been the worst after-exam experience of his life. If being in a life-threatening competition wasn't already bad news. In the final task the first person of the second war had died before Harry's eyes. Cedric Diggory. It was supposedly to only be Harry that had to go to that graveyard. But he was being his usual kind, sharing self that wanted to share the prize of winning the tri-wizard tournament, but instead it lad to him being killed by Voldemort, or by Pettigrew on the orders or Voldemort.
He didn't want anyone else to die because he had brought them into it o just by association but he didn't see any way round it, until that moment, when he was lying in his bed staring the ceiling.
He could just de-attach himself from everyone he loved so he didn't hurt them. It may sound hard but he could do it if he lived in the muggle world and studied at a normal school. He could do his GCSE's at normal school and OWL's in his spare time. He knew it would be hard but what else could he do? How long would it be until it was Neville dead, or Mrs Weasley, Ron…Hermione? If Hermione died he didn't know what he would do.
He had loved her since seeing her petrified in second year. Of course he didn't realise it then but it just got confirmed in third when she was squeezing him tightly from behind when riding on Buckbeak to rescue Sirius. He would love to have had the rumours about both of them this year to have been true, but he didn't want to ruin his friendship so said nothing. If anything ever happened between them, he knew he wouldn't be able to stop himself if you know what he meant.
It turned out the next day was his sixteen birthday and when you turn sixteen in muggle Britain you can move out and live on your own as long as you keep on with your education whether it was at college or school.
He sat up straight and walked over to his belongings and began to pack everything he owned in the room. He needed to leave; he had enough money to survive for year until he gets his full inheritance.
It turned out he didn't have enough room for all his things in his school trunk and he couldn't shrink it, but then he realised; if he wasn't going back to Hogwarts what was stopping him from using magic? Even with this realisation he decided to do it in the morning, just before he left, so as not to draw attention to himself.
He was about to start on a bit of biology, when he was called down for his dinner which s usual was half the size of all the Dursley's. He tidied up and all the dishes, washed them and put them away. Afterwards he went straight to bed he wanted to get to bed early so he could get up early to leave the house by seven and arrive at Diagon Alley by five past. He was always tired at the end of the day in summer, so it wasn't hard. He got changed into some oversized slacks and fell asleep a few minutes after he had climbed into bed.
-oOoO-
By seven he had been ready to leave for nearly an hour. That's the thing about going to sleep super early; you tend to get up earlier as well.
All he had to do now was shrink down a few objects put them into his trunk and leave before the letter from the ministry arrived to tell him he was expelled.
Before he went to sleep last night he decided to send Hedwig to Hermione to keep because he obviously wouldn't be using her for anything and it's mean to keep living animal in a cage for the rest of their lives. He would send a letter just explaining he was leaving and Hedwig was now hers and leave it at that.
He wrote the letter first;
Dear Hermione,
I am leaving the magical world and returning to normal school, don't worry I have been studying for it. I am also leaving the Dursley's so that no one can find me. I don't want to keep Hedwig in a cage for the rest of her life so I am entrusting her to you. I know you will care for her as much as you care for Crookshanks.
Goodbye Best Friend
Love
Harry
That was probably the most thoughtful thing he had ever written and it had taken him a while, actually most of the time since he had woken up. But he was finally ready to say goodbye to his one constant friend since finding out he was a wizard.
"Hedwig, I love you and your my closest friend I am sure Hermione will look after you just as well as I hope I have. Goodbye old friend." cried Harry in tears. Hedwig hooted at him sorrowful and pleadingly, not wanting to leave, "you'll get bored living in the muggle world with nothing to do. You can go back to Hogwarts with Hermione and see your owl friends in the owlery. Of course I'll miss you, but it's for the best."
He quickly shrunk down her cage with some feed in it and her perch, and gave it to the owl, telling her to go to Hermione with the letter. After that he knew he had to be quick. He shrunk everything else as quickly as he could and put the whole trunk in his pocket and ran down the stairs. He briefly heard his aunt shout after him 'to be quiet' or 'help with breakfast' or something he wasn't sure because he had already opened the door and left, running down the street, before pulling out his wand for the knight bus.
As it arrived he could hear a rather sleepy voice behind him shout his name. He jumped on the bus as it arrived and pretty much shouted Diagon Alley at him and gave extra for him to drive quicker. He sat down as the bus shot off and he caught a glimpse of the distraught face of Remus Lupin running up the street for the bus. He wanted to turn the bus back and say goodbye to one of his father's best friends but he knew he'd make him stay at the Dursley's. He gave Stan more money so that the next stop would be Charing Cross Road before picking anyone else up; so that Remus or anyone else couldn't get on to get him off.
Stan didn't speak to him on the short trip which was unusual but he might have looked a bit tense considering the situation.
He jumped of the bus and darted into a dark alley way where he grabbed his invisibility cloak and put it around himself. He knew what he had to do and he had to do it quickly. He knew some people, Moody, could see through his cloak so he ran into the Leaky Cauldron and through the wall to Diagon Alley. He rushed down the empty street until he reached Gringotts Wizarding Bank. He checked no one was watching him and took off his cloak. He pushed the big doors open to reveal an empty bank with only a couple of Goblins working at their cashiers.
Harry went to the first one.
"What do you want?"Said the Goblin in their usual heart-warming fashion.
"I would like to take some money out of my trust fund?"Asked Harry, nervously.
"Name?"
"Harry James Potter"
The Goblin looked up and saw the dishevelled boy in front of him in big, old clothes and his hair hanging over his forehead with the bottom of his scar showing, but it wasn't noticeable.
"You've got to be joking me! You're not Harry Potter. I may be a Goblin but THE Harry Potter wouldn't wear clothes like you are. Get out before I force you" the Goblin said a little but louder, standing up.
Harry just lifted his fringe and the Goblin sat down.
"I am sorry I raised my voice Mr Potter, how much would you like to take out and what will it be used for?" the Goblin said quieter, pulling a piece of parchment closer and a quill.
"I would rather not say that out loud."
"I will fetch your account manager assuming it's a large sum of money?" asked the Goblin subtly. Harry nodded his head slightly.
"Follow me, Mr Potter."
He jumped off his podium and led Harry around to a corridor. They walked down for a bit until they reached a door which had something in gobbledegook written on it.
"It says 'High Paying Clients Lounge'. Usually for our wealthier clientele, like yourself." He said opening the door to a very posh room that would have been comfortable in Buckingham Palace, "Wait here and I will come and collect you when Griphook is ready"
Harry sat down in a high-backed, uncomfortable chair and felt extremely out of place in this purebloods heaven, especially now, as he was here to leave to live in the muggle world.
After a while he was brought through, by another un-named Goblin, to a moderately sized room with a modest desk. Behind that sat another Goblin and he was wearing more posh clothes and seemed to be in a higher position than the cashier.
"Mr Potter, have a seat and we will get started." asked the aforementioned Goblin.
Harry sat.
"How much would you like to take out of your fund today, Mr Potter?" said the Goblin, going straight into it.
"As much as I can before I turn seventeen" said Harry, confidently.
"And why is that, Mr Potter?"
"I intend on living in the muggle world, so I need money so I can live while I continue with my education"
"Fair enough, but do you want two and a half million pounds hiding under your bed?"
"WHAT!"Harry shouted. He knew he had a lot of money in his account but not that much.
"You have fifty thousand Galleons in your trust funds and that converted to British pounds is around two and half million. It should last you a good while considering how much you will inherit when you turn seventeen." Griphook was un-flustered and just kept reading and analysing as he went.
"Okay, that should get me a decent flat and into a good school, I suppose..." replied Harry in a daze.
"I would suggest that instead of carry that amount of money around with you; especially in the muggle society today, is a bad idea. I can offer you a card that many of our muggleborn customers use which when you are in a shop or using a cash machines, it will work like a muggle credit card but without any perks or down points. It is just a way to use your money without having it in your hand" said Griphook finally looking up at Harry, "I would suggest your first trip is to get some new clothes, glasses and perhaps a haircut."
"I agree that would be a good idea and that is what I'm doing when I've left" agreed Harry trying to sound as professional as possible.
Griphook had one on his desk in a second with his name on it. He passed it over.
"What's the PIN number?" asked Harry.
"You do not need one. It will know it is you and will pay for something or let you have money. If it is anyone else it will not work"
"Very handy" said Harry impressed, "is there anything else you need me to do? I am not going to be back for a while"
"No, there is nothing you can do anyway until you are seventeen."
"All right then and just so we are clear this is all strictly confidential. No one can find out about what we discussed?" asked Harry nervously.
"No one will know about this Mr Potter" said Griphook, reassuringly, "But Mr Potter. I know that most of the witches and wizards don't believe you about Voldemort, but Goblins can sense if someone is a liar and you, are not. If what you say is true, our world is going to need you and you are not going to be there. Be aware of that Mr Potter. Many people have died by Voldemort's hands, including some very close to yourself and more will if he is allowed to rise once again."
"I am saving as many people as I can by leaving so they are not in the danger zone that is me. I will try and defeat him but when I'm stronger and not a small, skinny kid who can't protect himself. Voldemort will pay for the childhood I have had. I am not leaving this world behind I am protecting it from me" said Harry strongly. He didn't want to leave anyone behind but in around five years he should be strong enough to at least try and fight Voldemort, then he would receive the backlash for everyone but that didn't matter.
"That is definitely good to know, Mr Potter"
"Until next time Griphook"
And he left quickly down the corridors and out of Gringotts altogether. He had no idea what the time was since leaving Privet Drive so just went and got as many supplies from Diagon Alley as possible. He got all the books needed for OWLs and NEWTs from Flourish and Blotts plus a bit of extra reading (Hermione would have been proud of him). He then got himself a good cauldron from Potages Cauldron Shop and also got general supplies from Slug & Jiggers Apothecary. He also brought general other items he thought he might need for his studies. He thought about going into Madam Malkins robes for all occasions and decided not to. He was going to live in the muggle world, when would he need wizard's robes?
He did all of this without his invisibility cloak on so just before he went into the Leaky Cauldron for the final time he put it over his head. He looked at the clock as he walked through. It said it was ten o'clock which meant he was being quick, now was time to look for the shopping district of London.
He didn't have to hide now so he put away his cloak and walked down a street until he found a nice hairdresser with people in it. He decided first he should get a haircut.
"How can I help you, sir?" the young girl behind the counter said with a sneer on her face.
"I was wondering if there were any appointments free for today?" he asked, politely, ignoring her face.
The girl looked like she was about to say no when another slightly older girl came over.
"You're in luck we have just had a cancellation and I am now free for an hour and you look like you can fill that hour nicely. I'm Naomi. How long has it been since you had it cut? And what is your name?" asked Naomi, leading him over to a chair.
"Years. My Aunt tried to cut it once. It didn't turn out well, if you know what I mean!" Harry said pointing to his hair, making her laugh, "oh and my name's Harry Potter."
"Why now then?" Naomi asked interested, putting an apron around him.
"Just got my inheritance from my parents, finally, and I'm sixteen, so I'm moving out." He said cheerily.
"So a new look, for a new start, right?" she added.
"You could say that"
"Anyway what are we going to do to this mess then?" she asked, honestly, pulling bits up and trying to style it.
"Surprise me, but not around my clothes, I'm going to get a new wardrobe full after this. Do anything, money is no object today"
"Alrighty then. It's been a while since I've done one of these" she said excitedly.
It seemed to take hours of brushing, cutting, shaving, colouring and gelling of his hair until Naomi thought it looked up to her standards. She had covered the mirror so he couldn't see what she was doing. He was anxious to see what she'd done.
"You said you had an inheritance? Was it a Grandparent?" she asked innocently, while still doing his hair earlier on.
"No. My parents died in a car accident when I was one. I'm sure you were dying to ask about my scar. It's from that accident." Harry said not worried.
"I'm so sorry! How come you only got your inheritance today then?"She asked, interested.
"I've only been sixteen for a few hours and you can only inherit stu..."
"IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!" she cried, smiling, "How come you're not with your family?"
"We don't really see eye to eye" he explained
"Friends?"
"I used to go to a boarding school. But I left at the end of the year. Something happened which meant I couldn't go back" 'that something just happened to be a murdering evil dark lord that tried to kill me and actually killed my friend.' He added in his mind, "They all live miles away so I can't go to them."
"Well then, we are just going to have to make it a good one ourselves then." She said still cutting his hair, "I think I have somewhere we could go after this."
"You don't have to do that" Harry said, quickly.
"It's only a clothes shop my sister works at that, if you have as much money as I think you have, you will enjoy."
"Thanks"
By the time she had finished and removed the cover on the mirror harry was a little drowsy and looked completely different. His hair that had been pitch black was now a dark brown with a few lighter streaks and was short on the sides with a messy but styled bit on top. His scar was on full show but he didn't mind, it wasn't like everyone would stare at him like they would at Hogwarts. His glasses now didn't suit him and he knew he had to get new ones.
"I would suggest getting contact lenses or new glasses now but I have to say, now I can actually see your face, you're quite good-looking if I didn't already have a boyfriend, I'd be straight after you, especially with the cool new clothes we are going to get you now" she said, observing her handy work. She then took off his glasses, "and those eyes, any girl will fall at your feet."
"Thank you for the compliment Naomi but I can assure you that will never happen, but I will be back in a few weeks to get it neatened up. Before we go could you show me how you styled it, so I can actually do it every morning?" he asked, blushing from the compliments.
"Of course. Then I will take you to see Natalie, my sister." She added, "But I wasn't lying when I said girls will swarm to have a bit of you."
She told him everything he needed to know about his hair and then led him over to the counter to pay. He expected it to cost about thirty pounds.
"How much will it be?"
"Hundred and fifty." She said casually.
"What?!" he cried, he knew he had it, he was just surprised.
"You do have enough to pay, right?" she asked cautiously.
"Yeah, sorry, I was just surprised." He added, "How did it get to that much?"
"Well, we washed, shaved, cut, coloured and styled, also including my service and the gel for home. Also this is the higher end of London, where almost everything is more expensive than the rest of the world." She said, matter-of-factly.
"Is it really? Well, I've got plenty of money and I'm on a bit of a spending spree today. New clothes, first apartment. That's my only job for today. Oh and I've got to look at schools in the area."
"Cool, now you've paid and I've finished for the day, shall we go and see what we can get done off your list?"
"Yeah, let's go" said Harry, "but I think that clothes would be a good idea first so I make the right impression on everyone else"
"Just what I was thinking!"
During the walk to her sister's shop Naomi told Harry about her school, The Harrodian School that she had been to since she was four. She was sixteen but hadn't taken her GCSE's yet, like Harry, because at Harrodian you take them the year after everyone else, not because they're not smart, it's so they can get higher grades. Her boyfriend was called Benedict, Ben, and they had known each other since he'd started at Harrodian when they were eight. It was made very clear from the start that they would just friends, as both had feelings for others, even if it was only Naomi that had a partner. They told each other about their lives and soon became very good friends and soon Harry was telling Naomi more than he'd ever told anyone.
Naomi expressed her wanting to leave home but didn't want to ask her parents to pay for a flat. She had some money herself, but that wold only get her a flat in the countryside not the high end of London. She was happy to let them pay for her schooling but she wanted to move out. She told Harry, she knew they wouldn't mind her moving out and they wouldn't mind paying for a flat to start with but she wanted to make a go of it on her own. The one thing she did know is that if she moved out it wouldn't happen for a very long time.
Harry told Naomi a bit about Hogwarts but missing out the name and all the magic. He told her about Ron and Hermione, but mainly Hermione. He left out Ron and the rest of his friends on purpose because there wasn't a lot to talk about them except magic so he just mentioned he was one of seven children and talked about Hermione. He had never been able to talk about her before to anyone so he just spoke about her personality and her love for books. Also, about her looks, with her subtle beauty when she was younger and now she was older just how beautiful her chocolate brown eyes were and her soft, curly brown hair. By the time he was finished Naomi knew everything that Harry knew about Hermione.
"So when am I going to meet the love of your life?" said Naomi, smiling
"Is it that obvious?" asked Harry.
"You have just spoken about her for most of the walk" laughed Naomi.
"I am never going to move on from her" moaned Harry.
"Why should you have to? If I loved someone that much, I would have been riding them months ago." Said Naomi
"Reason number one: She goes to boarding school ten months of the year. Reason number 2: I am pretty sure she doesn't like me that way. Reason number three: I am pretty sure she likes my friend Ron that way. Reason number four: I mucked up so no one likes me there anymore and that is why I left. Do I need to say anymore? I am never seeing her again and that's final. I just need to find a way to get over her." He lectured without meaning, "I need a new start and that starts with a new image that's not the scrawny boy from the boarding school."
"I get the message." Said Naomi, slightly intimidated.
"Sorry, I'm still a bit upset about it all." Said Harry
"I understand, but let's get you a new image that's not baggy clothes, that makes you look crap to be honest"
"That was one of the main reasons for this and I do know I don't look good in these clothes but I've not had much choice. I plan on living the high life for once since I haven't ever."
"Good for you is all I can say and that means this shop is right up your street." Said Naomi as they reached a shop called Dolce and Gabbana, which Harry had never heard of, "It's quite high end so I hope you have enough money for it"
"I'm pretty sure I do"
They walked in and girl, with a sneer on her face came over to them.
"I think you're in the wrong shop." Said the girl straight out. She then muttered under her breath, "Maybe completely the wrong end of London."
"Nope, we're in the right place." Naomi said confidently, walking straight past the girl that looked insulted.
"A lot of people around here, look down their snobby noses at people that don't act like them or where the same clothes. It's not nice and I hate to fit in so I where the expected clothes but try to stand out as much as possible. It's boring to be normal." Said Naomi, educating him as they walked over to a girl that looked similar to her.
"How can I… oh hey sis. Who's this?" she said.
"Harry Potter, Natalie Allen-Parker, my big sister. Nat, Harry, my new best friend." Said Naomi, introducing them to each other.
"Nice to meet you" said Harry, shaking her hand.
"You too" replied Nat, "Well, sister what can I do for you today?"
"Harry needs a new wardrobe as you can see" Naomi told her sister.
Natalie looked unsure and whispered to her sister, "Are you sure he can afford it, Mimi?"
"He just paid for that haircut a hundred and fifty pound hair on his card…and it didn't bounce. I think we're okay. After this were going apartment hunting once were done here." Explained Naomi, "Oh and did I mention he turned sixteen today"
"Remember you have Ben" said the twenty year old.
"I know, he's not my type and anyway he's getting over his own heart break" said Naomi.
"Excuse me, but I'm still standing right here" Said Harry, a bit uncomfortable.
"Well, you will stand out more with some new clothes that actually fit." said Naomi.
"Is there anything you are particularly looking for?" asked Natalie.
"Nope. I'm giving you full reign. I need a whole new wardrobe. I am prepared to just try n clothes and for you to say yes and no to them." said Harry, bravely.
"I have never had one of these and I am sure this is going to be the best day of my life." said Natalie excitedly, "Go into the changing rooms and go down a corridor until you find the door, there's only one. Wait in there and will bring clothes for you to try on."
They pushed him towards the changing rooms and went looking for clothes. Harry looked around as he went to the changing rooms, he liked all the clothes he saw and was looking forward to his new style.
He walked down the corridor with the changing cubicles and found one door right at the end. He pushed it open to find a room with two sofas, a coffee table, a wall of mirrors, a desk top, hooks on the wall and a podium in the middle. He sat down on one of the sofas and poured cup of tea for himself that was on the coffee table.
He had nearly finished it when Natalie came in with a couple of tops, jeans and shoes, also some accessories.
"Right, try this on first and come out into the shop to show us" she said pointing out black converses, white/grey skinny jeans and a long sleeved tight grey top with a few buttons on the top. (There was also some Calvin Klein underwear)
She quickly left and Harry took off Dudley's old clothes for the last time. He had been wearing black trousers a blue t-shirt and a hoodie over the top and some old trainers. All had been too big and were hanging off him. He took off all of this really quickly and reached for the underwear. He had it half way up his legs when he heard a cough behind him.
"Nice butt, Harry" said Naomi. Harry quickly pulled them up and turned around.
"Naomi, have you heard of knocking?" said Harry annoyed, but she couldn't take him seriously as she had been staring since he'd turned around.
He was standing in his underwear with his hands on his hips, arms bulging and his six-pack on full show and he didn't seem too bothered by it.
"Harry, you didn't tell me you're unbelievably fit and sexy. You're gonna be the talk of which ever school you go to. Girls are going to be chasing you down the street."
Harry pulled on the shirt and trousers Nat gave him.
"No I'm not I've not even been working out for a month and I'd still rather you knocked." said Harry still a bit self-conscious.
"You look good in that Harry, we're keeping that one" said Natalie, walking in with more clothes. She looked again, "you look really good in that. I didn't now baggy clothes could hide so much."
"Tight tops are the best for him I think" said Naomi.
"Agreed" said Natalie, walking out to find more clothes.
"I'm telling you Harry you need to start believing in yourself" said Naomi leaving as well.
Is it alright? as it's the first one of the story i'd like to see if you want more.
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see you next time
Founder's Phoenix