Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners i.e. J.K. Rawlings, etc. The original characters and plot are the property of the author i.e. J.K. Rawlings, etc. This work is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Not for sale or profit but at least I can give it away.
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Chapter 26 –I just don't care
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The rapping on the door sounded familiar from some long ago past time. I opened my eyes and came fully awake in an instant. On the wall I saw the birthday cake I had drawn when I lived in the cupboard under the stairs so many years ago. I automatically reached and found my glasses and my world started to come crashing down. I was back in my ten-year old body with bad eyesight. Bad eyesight that I had corrected during my sixth year at Hogwarts.
Petunia had rapped on the cupboard door as she did every morning to get the lazy shit up and making breakfast. She would be returning in a few minutes for some coffee if the brat, me, knew what was good for him.
Vernon Dursley was heading down the groaning stairs when he heard a yell.
"No…never…not again…SHIT!
Vernon stomped down the stairs at a quicker pace to teach that little cretin some manners. Vernon heard the fount door slamming at # 4 Privet Drive. How dare that little shit leave before making breakfast?
/Scene Break/
Albus Dumbledore sat in his majestic golden chair reviewing his plans for Harry Potter. Albus was a bit over a hundred years old but long ago solved his immortality problem by tying himself to his immortal bird Fawkes. In this time and place Albus Dumbledore had lost a few things like the difference between right and wrong. Albus only had his plans which lead to the greater good regardless how many people died. Harry Potter was going to die towards that Greater Good and all his estates would be turned over to one Albus Dumbledore the great leader of the light. Harry Potters stay with the Dursley's would make him pliable and Albus had a new way for him to die in each year of his up coming schooling. All the paperwork was signed and all the kid had to do was die as that would fulfill the prophesy, and allow the Great Albus Dumbledore to then eliminate that stupid Riddle incompetent. Albus had yet to face the word Horicux in his lemon drop haze.
/Scene Break/
I ran to my special hiding spot in the park where Dudley's gang could never find me. After I caught my breath I started to take inventory of my options. That took two seconds. I was too young to get anything from Gringotts so there was only one other option. I seemed to remember everything from before this insanity which were my abilities and my lost loves. The 'Fates' and them guys must be at it again but why didn't they just bring me to them and tell me what was going on? Next project was trying my magic. I remembered all I had ever learned but when I tried a serious spell I got dizzy…too much for a young body and core to handle especially wand-lessly.
While I was waiting for my core to catch up with my body my mind started grinding out the facts as I saw them. This was going a lot further than just feeling sorry for myself. Eighty-five years of abuse, fighting, fixing everyone's problems and now it appeared they wanted me to start all over again? My wife, kids and grandkids were gone and I wasn't that big a fool to expect them being returned to me. No, my last and only option was to clench my teeth and get to work…bullshit!
This had the smell of let Harry Potter clean up the mess again but where was here? Why did this all seem familiar? Let's see, no one asked me if I wanted to be involved, no one explained squat and making me start up in a preteen body was manipulation to the higher level in my mind. So I am just supposed to do it one more time for god and country…no its time to take a crap on their pristine plans.
/Scene Break/
Mrs. Figg had not seen Harry toiling in the yard in weeks so she had to get closer to #4 Privet Drive to find out if there was a problem. That was her job according to Dumbledore. She had been involved in the first war but now she was supposed to be retired and tending to her cats not tending to the mess that was in #4 Privet Drive which of course Dumbledore wanted nothing to do with.
"Petunia dear could I impose on you? My phone is on the fritz and I need to make a doctor's appointment."
"Oh, yes come in." Petunia was none to happy with the old busybody.
"How are you children doing my dear?"
"Dudley is just a darling, the school is very happy with his progress."
"And how is the other lad? Harold isn't it?"
"Harold isn't here any more; some relative picked him up a few weeks ago."
Minutes later the 'floe' of Albus Dumbledore sprang to life. "Albus you have a problem, Harry is missing."
Within minutes a man hunt was in progress to find Harry Potter.
/Scene Break/
I slowly worked my way to where I wanted to go. A simple 'accio' and I snitched the pound tip off the restaurants table. A simple duplicating spell and I had a couple of quid. That would take care of my immediate food problems. I noticed that my wand-less magic was not so draining the more I used it, so I kept doing spells that I could without exhausting myself. Traveling was slow but I was determined, no, I was not going to relive my pathetic life once again, I would die first.
I was now able to cast a Disillusionment Charm on myself. The muggles didn't notice the shimmer when I move through the airport and hid on a plane. The status board said New York, USA. A quick change of planes and I was in Sacramento California.
My excuse to myself was that it was a long trip and I was tired and slow-witted. My dress was not normal for the area and stupid me lost the minute I opened my mouth. The police officer asked where my parents were. I just said in my English accent, at the hotel and I was just looking around. I got to look around the squad car and then the police station before I got delivered to the orphanage. I actually thought that this was sort of funny, am I Tom Riddle number two in the making? I also asked myself, "Now what?"
/Scene Break/
Dumbledore made a mistake by taking Kingsley and Tonks with him as he barged into the Dursley's residence.
"Get out of my house you Freaks!"
"Where is Harry Potter Mr. Dursley."
"One of your kind picked him up, said she was a relative. Now get out!"
Dumbledore was ready to do a mind rape but couldn't, not with Aurors present. There was always later after his minions were dispatched in the right direction. Kingsley picked up the phone and about a half hour later an unmarked car pulled up. The Chief Superintendent accompanied by a Constable entered the house. Vernon was his polite self and automatically assumed that the new arrivals were Freaks, squibs would be more descriptive. Kinsley had rules he had to follow so he called in the muggle police who knew about magic.
"Mr Dursley you wanted the police called and we are now here to ask, 'Where is Harry Potter?'.
Vernon's reply of "Freaks" and his fat fist to the Police Constable face was followed by a stunner from Kingsley thus quieting the inquiries, Vernon Dudley was quietly lying on the floor.
Things rapidly slid through Dumbledore's manipulative fingers. The police officer called for a transport wagon for Vernon while the Chief Superintendent started nosing around. "Mrs Dursley let me see the missing boy's room." Woops. The cupboard under the stairs with locks on the door brought more officers from welfare to forensics.
Dumbledore left with drooping shoulders. There was no way that Harry could be returned here if he was still alive. They found blood in Harry's cupboard and drugs in Dudley's room. The Dursley family was led out in handcuffs in front of the entire nosey neighborhood. Dumbledore suddenly smiled and 'apperated' to Hogwarts to check on his silver instruments, if he was lucky Gringotts would be turning over the Potter vaults that afternoon. As in the normal life of Harry's Potter this was information Harry never received on which to base a rational decision in the future.
/Scene Break/
At least the orphanage provides better cloths than I had arrived in but they made me go to school which was way too boring. The food was there but not like at Hogwarts but I wasn't starving. In the last year at the orphanage my magic was way stronger but full of disappointments. I had tried to transform into my animagus form…no luck. I was able to 'apperate' without draining my core so I was not restricted to the orphanage. 'Apperating' I think was my big mistake in trying to hide.
Saturday arrived and now that I was eleven I needed to get to Gringotts. With some cash I could disappear in style. I 'apperated' to Los Angles to where I thought there was a magical alley. There was a magical alley and a Gringotts but there also was a gaggle of Dumbledore's stooges waiting for me as I left the Bank. I made a run from them but I didn't make it to an 'apperation' point. Tonks and Kingsley had me frozen and by the arms with Madeye huffing and puffing to catch up to us.
"Nice try me buck'o. Its magical suppression cuffs for you and a long trip back to see Dumbledore." At least once the suppression cuffs were on they unfroze me and took their grubby hands off of me.
"Damn I hate international port-keys." Tonks added. As she applied a notice-me-not charm on the four of us.
"Dumbledore had the ICW to insure the Ministry here would get us out immediately." Kingsley stated as he gave me a nudge to keep walking out of the magical alley and into the muggle part of town.
Tonks and Kingsley walked on either side of me with Madeye right behind. We left the alley but we had to wait as there was a light rail train barreling down the tracks in the middle of the crowded walking plaza. We stopped so it could speed by and my mind wandered as I thought, back to Privet Drive, Dumbledore's manipulation, Snape, Voldemort, and my life to live all over again. Vernon would be sure to beat the crap out of me the minute these idiots turned their backs on Privet Drive or I would use magic and kill the whale.
"I smiled and said aloud, "I've had enough!" and I jumped in front of the train.
/Scene Break/
I woke up in my cupboard under the stairs looking at the wall. I froze as the wall did not have my hand drawn birthday cake on it. Wait didn't I just step in front of a speeding train? The door to my little room is ripped open with Vernon screaming obscenities. He drags me out and starts beating and kicking me. No…No more! "Crucio" I scream and then Vernon's screaming seeps into my consciousness and I smiled.
For someplace that is supposed to protect me from hostile people Dumbledore's wards aren't worth a farthing. Dumbledore and a dozen Aurors arrive, probably because the unforgivable curse registered at the Ministry. I greet them with several nasty curses.
"Harry it's us calm down." Dumbledore yells, like I am supposed to know who he is? At this time in my current life I had never met the bum.
"No I won't!" I yell as I wand-lessly send a 'crucio' at Dumbledore. The Aurors I was giving stunners as they were only following the law. The rest of the jerks were getting blasting curses as my curses are now getting progressively more deadly. Initial they are off balance but soon start throwing their own dangerous curses, survival is a nasty instinct. I shield most of the spells and curses but then I see the cutting curse heading at me, I drop my shield and step into it and the blackness of nonexistence takes me.
/Scene Break/
Its evening and I am sitting in my preteen body by a pool that is surrounded by a high fence. The gate is locked of course. I almost chuckle thinking that whoever is doing this to me is persistent. Then anger flares as I think of the pain I get by dying and still they won't let me move on to my great adventure and my parents. I head for the back door expecting Dumbledore or Madeye to answer my knock. I have no idea who is playing with me or what they want to accomplish but I'm not going to play. They can either leave me alone or leave me dead, I just don't care. To my surprise Hermione Granger answers the door followed by her parents.
"How did you get into our backyard?" Dan Granger demanded.
Interesting I thought, as no one recognizes me. "I was trying to escape from my Uncle. I think he will kill me this time so I ran and accidentally fell into your yard."
"Your exaggerating I'm sure, so what's his name and phone number?" Dan demanded.
I lifted my shirt to show my back full of scars which caused Hermione and Emma to gasp. The time meddlers have dumped me here and I am sure that what is coming has been prearranged so I will just follow along till I can show them I am not going to play their games. Dan did phone but he phoned the police and not Vernon. Somehow I got lucky (yea right, manipulation on a cosmic level) Dan had a friend in the local police constabulary. Dan got the information about Vernon being arrested without saying he had me at his house. Before Dan could do anything else I requested a private talk with him.
"Mr. Granger please do not take this any further. This Uncle of mine has people in high places and he will get out of this mess like it never happened. That same person will insure that I will be returned to my Uncle regardless how he has to do it. He has plans for me later which will be detrimental to my heath. My birthday is in a couple of weeks and I then can get access to my trust money. I plan on hiding out till then, grab the money and head out of country." Hermione did not recognize me so school had not started.
"You're too young to be trying all that, by the way what is your name I didn't get it from my friend and you haven't said anything."
I had been twisting the truth in my explanation so I just twisted it some more, "Jerry James Jones and I like to be called James." I was planning to make a run for it as soon as they turned their backs. (A white lie or two couldn't hurt, right?)
The next thing I know is I am a house guest at dinner after being assigned a room. Why not I thought, they are nice people and Hermione use to be a friend in another life or not.
"So Hermione what is your favorite book?" That I knew would start her off. Her mother must have thought so too as she tried to hide a snicker.
/Scene Break/
Well the one night turned into a pleasurable turn of events and the beginning of a strong friendship with Hermione. I also got along extremely well with her parents. So far my time manipulators were doing well towards my new life. I was surprised to be asked to be a permanent guest at the Granger's home. It seemed that Hermione had no friends other than books and my present was beneficial in their opinion. I knew that Dan and Emma were up to something but I figured I could pull a disappearing act when needed. I hoped they were trying to get foster parent status for me and not an orphanage.
/Scene Break/
How can I blame old age for forgetting when I am in an eleven year old body? It was Saturday morning and I just happened to look out of the second floor window and I saw trouble striding up the walk. Striding up the walk was Professor McGonagall.
"Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Granger, might I come in as I need to talk with you about your daughter."
I hid upstairs while McGonagall did her, "You're a witch" talk and proved it by turning into a cat.
"I will be returning tomorrow to escort you to Diagon Alley to obtain your necessary supplies." McGonagall stated as she left the house.
Hermione was bouncing around like Dobby which brought back a lot of memories one tends to forget and some you wished you could forget. Hermione bounced into the kitchen leaving both Grangers and I alone for a moment.
"I need to talk with you two privately when bouncing girl in not around, it's important." I just got nods and I let Hermione bend my ear with questions about what I knew about witches and what she had read about witches. I did get a stare from her parents when I joked. "Well as a witch you must ride a broom, have a number nine cauldron, get a cat familiar and have a wand choose you. I would pass on the wart on the nose if I was you."
I made myself scarce Sunday morning for the Granger's departure with Professor McGonagall to Diagon Alley.