Hi everyone! Here's chapter three! I know these first few chapters are a little dull, but it gets better—I promise. Also, just a heads-up, I plan to update every Saturday (it's the only day I have time). Enjoy!
I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 3: Planning
After his morning run, Harry decided to dedicate the day to planning and organizing. Then, if he was able to find a house or apartment, he'd move out the very next day. No point in lingering where he wasn't wanted. It was a great feeling, being emancipated. He'd casually mentioned it over breakfast when Vernon tried to give him a chore list. Vernon had turned purple when Harry refused it, and when he "accidentally" mentioned that he could legally do magic now, his uncle turned white and practically ordered his family to leave Harry alone. They wouldn't even trust Harry to make the meals anymore.
"Who knows what the boy would do to it?" Vernon had said when Dudley asked, herding his wife and son out of the kitchen.
Harry, of course, was perfectly fine with not having to deal with them, though he would miss cooking. It was the only chore Harry enjoyed.
Once the Dursleys had gone, Harry headed to the library to do his planning and begin studying. He selected a few of his new books and a spiral-bound notebook from before Hogwarts and put them into his school bag. His books he spelled to look like ordinary textbooks.
At the library Harry located a table in the back of the non-fiction section, where it was mostly deserted. He put down his bag and went in search of some exercise guidebooks. He sat down at the table and proceeded to make a more detailed plan for himself regarding his studies as well as a list of things he needed to do before the summer ended. He even wrote out some lesson plans for himself in Occulmancy and Ancient Runes. The former was vital and his top priority now that Harry understood how important it was to learn. Ancient Runes was just the subject he was most interested in learning. As September approached, Harry would request to test out of the OWL levels for Ancient Runes and possibly even Arithmancy and take the NEWT-level classes at Hogwarts.
After coming up with a tentative schedule—which had Harry studying all day long with his only breaks for lunch and dinner—Harry decided to start looking into getting his own apartment. He asked the librarian if she had a list of available real estate in London and surrounding communities and she gave him a website. Harry thanked her, despite her surly attitude, and found an open computer.
After more than an hour of searching and sifting through options anywhere between mansion and vacation cabins, Harry found the perfect place. It was little more than a cottage, but it was sufficiently big for one person. The location on the outskirts of London on a huge plot of land was a plus. It was out of the way, which meant less interference and less likelihood of being discovered. And the plot of land was big enough that, after erecting some wards of some sort, he could even put in a Quiddich pitch if he wanted. At the very least he had the space to go flying.
According to the information, the house itself would need a lot of work, but it was nothing a little magic couldn't fix. With a little help from Remus, it would be good as new in no time. The only obstacle Harry could see was getting the agent to sell it to a fifteen-year-old. A disguise is what he needed. So Harry looked through his Charms and Transfiguration textbooks to see if there were any spells he could use to make him look and sound older.
After another hour of searching and making lists, Harry had a handful of spells that would work. He returned to the Dursleys and put a locking charm on his door to keep his relatives from bothering him. Then Harry taught himself the spells he didn't know. It took several hours for him to feel competent, but he managed it. Working in front of a mirror, he spelled his hair chin-length and not quite as black, muddied his eye color to be less memorable, and grew himself a moustache. Another spell deepened his voice and he was ready.
Harry donned all new clothes—dark trousers and shirt, plus his dragon hide jacket and boots. Glancing in a mirror, Harry was pleased to find that, with the alterations and the new clothing style, he looked at least five years older. Ready, Harry left Privet Drive and took a bus to central London. He stopped at Gringotts to change quite a few galleons to muggle money. He was wary of carrying a wad of cash through the streets as he walked to the agency selling the property, but Harry made it without incident.
It took quite a bit of convincing before the secretary was even willing to let Harry meet with the agent. Harry was forced to channel his inner Slytherin, but he finally got in. It took quite a bit more persuasion, but after some smooth talking and a mild Confundus charm, the property was Harry's.
He was excited to see the property that was now his, but it was already nearly six in the evening. So he reluctantly returned to Number 4. There he made a full meal for himself and the three Dursleys; not out of charity, but simply because he liked cooking. Harry took his share and left the rest on the stove on low heat for his relatives should they choose to eat it. He knew Dudley at least wouldn't pass up a free meal.
Harry brought his meal up to his room and began idly flipping through one of his Occlumency books while he ate. Hedwig returned from her hunting soon after, soaring through the open window and alighting on Harry's shoulder, hooting softly in greeting. Harry absentmindedly stroked her feathers while he finished eating.
A short while later Harry's reading was interrupted by a loud knock on his bedroom door. Harry jumped in surprised and Hedwig hooted indignantly, having been dislodged from her perch. A little uneasy, because no one ever knocked on his door unless he'd supposedly done something wrong, Harry warily called, "come in!"
The door opened slowly but finally revealed Harry's whale of a cousin. Dudley looked around nervously and eyed Hedwig apprehensively.
"What do you want, Dudley?" Harry asked cautiously.
"I—I just…thankyouforthedinner."
"What?" Harry would swear that Dudley—spoiled Dinky Duddydums—had just said "thank you."
Dudley seemed to debate within himself but then he repeated, clearly, "Thank you, for the dinner."
Harry raised an incredulous eyebrow. "You're welcome. Then, taking a chance because so far Dudley had been civil, Harry asked, "Do you want to come in?"
His cousin hesitated but nodded and stepped across the threshold. Harry noted with some amusement that he tensed as he stepped forward, as if expecting some unknown spell to throw him back out. But of course there was no such spell. Harry moved from the chair in front of his desk to the bed and invited Dudley to take the chair (Harry doubted his bed could take his cousin's weight). He also sent a quick Scourgify at his dinner dishes, whispering the incantation. Dudley started at seeing the plate suddenly clean itself, but he lowered himself nervously into the chair.
His eyes lingered on the holly wand Harry absently twirled around his fingers as well as the owl perched on his shoulder. Harry noticed his cousin's unease, but he did nothing. He wanted to see what Dudley would do. After a few seconds, Harry sent a charm at the door to close it, whispering the incantation. Dudley jumped as it shut, but there was more than just wariness in his eyes. In fact, if Harry wasn't mistaken, it was curiosity.
"Can you show me more magic?" Dudley suddenly blurted out.
Harry barely concealed his shock. "Why the sudden interest?"
"You saved my life with it last year," Dudley answered without hesitation. Then he added, "I've always been curious. But mum and dad forbade it, so I never asked."
"So why now?" Harry was more than a little surprised at the intelligence and depth his cousin was showing.
Dudley seemed to hesitate, then he spoke again. "I learned the hard way that a lot of what my parents think is wrong. And last year you proved that magic isn't bad, either." There was a silence, Dudley realizing what he'd said and Harry trying to come to terms with this new side to his cousin he'd never seen before. But it was gone when Dudley next opened his mouth. "So will you show me more magic?"
Harry gave a startled laugh. He sounded like an eager child. "What do you want me to show you?"
"Show me how you saved my life last year."
Harry's brief amusement vanished. To summon a Patronus, he had to be happy. And Harry was still fiercely missing his godfather, not to mention the prophecy and everything else weighing on his shoulders. He wasn't sure he could do it. But he supposed he could try.
"All right. It's called a Patronus charm. It summons a Patronus, a sort of guardian. But it required more than just magic words to make it work. It takes concentration. And for this particular charm you have to stay completely focused on a happy thought. The more powerful the emotion, the more powerful the Patronus. Ready?"
Dudley nodded, his face reflecting rapt attention. Harry didn't pay it much heed; he was too busy concentrating.
Harry closed his eyes, trying to decide which memory would be the best to use. After a moment, he summoned an image of his parents, Sirius, and Remus. Though tainted with grief, Harry allowed his love for each adult fill him. Then he raised his wand.
"Expecto Patronum," he said softly, just loud enough for Dudley to hear.
From the end of Harry's wand burst the magnificent silver, translucent stag. Dudley gave a cry of surprise, but didn't flee. Harry opened his eyes and held out his hand, palm out. "Hey, Prongs," Harry murmured. The stag bobbed its head and bumped Harry's hand with its snout. Harry didn't feel it. Suddenly Harry realized that all the Patronus represented was out of his reach. Grief and despair clouded his mind and the Patronus vanished instantly. Harry sat down hard on the edge of the bed, not having even realized he had stood.
"Where did it go?"
Dudley's voice made Harry jump in surprise. He'd completely forgotten his cousin's presence. "I lost my concentration," Harry answered, somehow sounding normal even though he was fighting a losing battle against the grief.
"You said it only works when you're happy. It's gone, so you're not happy," Dudley stated simply, and Harry cursed his cousin's newfound intuition. Then Dudley asked a question in a tone Harry had never before heard his cousin use. "So, why aren't you happy?"
There was genuine concern in his tone, and Harry had no idea how to respond. "Why do you care?" There was no accusation, only curiosity.
Dudley paused, then spoke the most Harry had ever heard him say at once. "You've come home every summer looking like you've been through hell and back, maybe even several times. But I never bothered to find out why. I was selfish, and glad you were unhappy. Then you saved my life when you didn't have to, and got in trouble for it. And I had no idea how or why. So I decided I'd actually try and get to know the cousin I've lived with for fifteen years." Dudley's words were clear and sincere. It took Harry by surprise.
"Well, my story would take far too long if I tried to tell you everything now. And I'll be leaving in the morning, probably never to come back," Harry said succinctly.
"I don't blame you," Dudley said miserably.
"I hold no grudge against you, Dud, since you've made an effort to be nice. But I have…things to do that I can't do here."
"Why not?"
"Because it involves a lot of magic, and I could still get in trouble if I use too much magic in an area with no wizards. But if you want, you can visit me every so often." Harry still marveled at his cousin's change in behavior and attitude.
Dudley nodded in response to Harry's offer, then the two made their reconciliation official with a firm handshake. Dudley then left the room, leaving Harry unsure what to do next. But he sent a note to Remus telling him that Harry had a house and he wanted to meet again so Remus could see it and help Harry get settled. Then Harry lay in bed for a while, pondering the evening's events before drifting to sleep.