I Do Not Own Harry Potter. I would like to, but I don't. So this Fanfiction will do for now.
Chapter 2: Preparations
Harry woke up in the last place he expected himself to be. His old bedroom at Godric's Hollow. And it was just as terrible as he remembered it to be. Small, cold, and not exactly the cleanest place he'd slept in.
He was considering his next move when he realized at this point in time he was about three years old. 'This is around the time I started getting neglected and left alone by Lily and James.' He thought of an idea that may work for him that regard.
It had taken him several psychiatrists, a couple near death experiences, and about four pleasantly violent relationships to realize he was partly to blame for his rough childhood. For whatever stupid reason the child version of himself thought of, he let himself get ignored.
Granted that Lily and James never really paid as much attention to him as they could and should have, ultimately it was him not trying to get their attention that actually sealed the very complicated deal.
'Whew. I actually feel better after that realization. I'll need to thank the women of my past life for that.' That's when it really hit him. 'I'm in the past. I can do anything with the knowledge I have. No one could stop me if tried hard enough.' This thought left him partly relieved but also slightly lonesome.
'No. I'll make things different…I know. I'll create a confidante out of someone I know. They'll be the one to keep me on track. I don't know who it'll be, but I should probably take my time with my choice.' Silently he apparated to an alley right across from Gringotts bank: the first phase of his plan.
Casting a heavy duty Notice-Me-Not charm on himself he walked into the bank. Harry was surprised to see the bank so empty. Usually wizards and witches were here constantly to deal with their financials.
As he walked through the bank and to a nearby teller he recognized as Griphook, he noticed that several security Goblins and even some of the tellers themselves watched him as if seeing through the charm; they probably saw through the charm.
Discreetly the guards began to follow the invisible Harry who, to their surprise, stopped at the teller's desk and cancelled the charm. The looks on their faces were, in Harry's opinion, priceless.
In all fairness, anyone would be thrown off guard at the fact that a small child managed to even make it partway through Gringotts unnoticed. But the Goblins were conflicted with themselves. On the one hand their culture had always made it clear that children were to be protected and cherished as they were the future of the world. But on the other hand they had duties that required those who tried to sneak into Gringotts be punished.
Conflicted on what to do they decided to keep wary eyes on the little boy. Griphook on the other hand had only just noticed the child standing in front of him. He had the same thoughts as the guards until he saw the boy's eyes. The eyes that could never belong to an innocent child.
"What may Gringotts do for you today Mr….?"
"Greetings Griphook. I seek an audience with Director Ragnok. My name is Harridan James Potter and I have come with a proposition. You may call me Harry or Mr. Potter. Whichever you prefer."
Griphook could not believe what he was hearing. How could a wizard know how to speak gobbledygook?
"Well Mr. Potter, what would this proposition be? And how exactly do you know our tongue?"
Switching back to English he says "Go inform Ragnok that should he not listen to my words we would both stand to lose tremendous amounts of money. As the heir to the Potter name I would rather stop the problem now before it hurts us all."
Griphook was a smart Goblin who knew when to keep his head down and when to put himself in the spotlight. This was one of those moments where informing Ragnok of this boy might end with his head being taken off or with a major promotion.
He made his choice. "Wait here Mr. Potter, I shall inform him of your request." He jumped off the chair behind the teller's desk and scurried to Ragnok's office.
Several minutes later Harry found himself sitting in Ragnok's office waiting for him to speak.
"What is this proposition you have for me Mr. Potter? You have shocked us with your ability to speak our tongue. Not to mention that at this age you should not act the way you do nor should you be able to speak your own language as well as you do ours."
To his words Harry just laughed. He just couldn't help it. 'Goblins and their desire to know. Hehehe.' "Director Ragnok, I assume you've read through my family's records before meeting with me. So I will just say this. My father will soon put us both in a position where we lose substantial amounts of money. His gambling will soon bleed us dry with nothing more than the clothes on our backs. It is my intention to prevent this from happening."
At the news of not only losing gold but being blind to it happening under his nose Ragnok was less than pleased. But he held in his anger rather than risking this possible solution walking out the door. Because even if children are to be treasured, they can be temperamental things.
"It is rather unfortunate that this issue has been allowed to go on. I apologize for Gringotts errors." Usually witches and wizards of Pureblood standing see fit to blame Gringotts for personal errors. Apologizing like so pacifies any problems that may occur between either parties. But again, Ragnok was surprised by Harry.
"Please Director Ragnok it is not the bank's fault that my father has gambled away most of our savings." Ragnok's eyes slightly widened 'Eugh. Saying 'father' just doesn't feel right' "Suffice to say it is up to me to fix what he has nearly put to ruin. So here." Harry takes a piece of paper out of his pocket and slides it across the office desk.
Scene Break
Harry left the bank with a feeling of accomplishment. As he walked down Knockturn Alley he figures he has about a month before his father finds out what he has done. 'That leaves me with a month to get my family to recognize that I exist beyond the realm of my brother's shadow.'
He turned down an empty alleyway and apparated to his room in Godric's Hollow. As soon as he appeared in his room he called out to the family elves. "Hokey." A soft pop echoed through the small room. "Yes young master Harry?"
Looking at Hokey brought a smile to Harry's face. He had a soft spot for house elves because of all the magical creatures he had met the house elves were the ones who appreciated the small things. And whether it's because of the terrible treatment they're used to or because they're just naturally like that Harry liked them all the same.
"How are you today Hokey?" Small talk was all he really wanted right now. It had been such a long time since he's seen her. "Hokey be doing well this morning young master Harry! How is you doing?"
"Better than I have in a long time as a matter of fact. Tell me Hokey. Are you loyal to the House of Potter or to my parents?" The smile on Hokey's face faltered ever so slightly. It was a dangerous territory Harry was treading on. If he didn't say the right things, Hokey would be required to tell the Master and Mistress they were being plotted against. House elf rules required her to do this.
"Hokey is loyal to house of Potters young master. But if Master and Mistress tell Hokey to do things then Hokey must." Slight regret could be heard in her voice.
Most house elves are strictly in a master and servant relationship with those who own them. However, Harry and Hokey are a minor exception. Harry had always treated Hokey as an equal because that is how Harry sees her and any other house elf.
"I see. So if the House of Potter were in danger of collapsing you would do what it takes to keep it from happening, right?" Harry spoke cautiously.
Hokey became frantic "House of Potters is being in danger!? Hokey must tell Master and Mistr-" Harry cut her off. "No! Hokey we musn't tell them anything. They're the reason this is happening." It took an hour to convince Hokey not to say anything to James or Lily. No one can say Hokey isn't at the very least loyal.
Harry usually ate in his room as a kid so when he was brought dinner by Hokey he told her that he would be joining the rest of the family at the table. Hokey was bouncing in excitement. "Yes young master Harry! Yous be eating at the table!" She popped away as he began to head down to the dining room.
He froze as he saw them sitting together laughing and having a wonderful dinner with one another. He felt the anger rising within him and had to force himself to be calm. From that came an idea. An idea to bring him and his family closer together; also to see them suffer a bit but mostly to bring them together. He gave an inward smile. 'This is going to be fun.'
He walked to the table and took a seat to the right of his mother and across from his brother. Yet they didn't notice him. At least not until he decided to speak.
"Lily." She jumped at the strange voice. 'Oh yeah. I forgot. I didn't really start speaking to them until I was like, five.'
His mother looked next to her and saw the little boy sitting there waiting for a response. She wondered why he didn't say mum or mummy like Henry did. "Hello Harry." She smiled at him until the next words that came out of his mouth were "Why do you hate me?"
Now James was looking at Harry as well. It took everything he had not to laugh at their faces. He even bit his bottom to stifle of laugh. But rather than stifling a laugh they thought he was choking back a sob.
With a sad look in her now watery eyes she said "W-what do you mean honey? We don't hate you. We love you." Harry had to mentally remind himself that this wasn't the future. This was during a time where Lily still had love for him in her heart. He needed to hold back a bit more than he wanted to.
"Then why didn't you celebrate my birthday yesterday." Today was coincidentally the day after his and Henry's birthday. 'A perfect opportunity to guilt trip her into my trap' He was rather proud of himself for coming up with it.
His father spoke with indignation in his voice. 'Gambling bastard' "What do you mean Harry, of course we celebrated your birthday. We had cake and balloons and we even invited some other children for you and Hank to play with."
"No. You did that for Henry. The only name on the cake and balloons was his. You-" he looked towards his dad"-told me to go to my room and stay there." Lily was mortified. A look of horror that left a guilty feeling in Harry's stomach. He may have had a grudge with both of his parents but it was really only James that Harry was angry with.
Lily, as nice as she may be to others, was too weak to say no to James. She did not do well with pressure from her peers. In fact as Harry learned from his potions tutor, Severus Prince, a few years after starting Hogwarts, James was the one who instigated her breaking off the friendship she had with him.
"JAMES CHARLUS POTTER!" 'This'll be fun to watch' Other than some muttering under his breathe James was silent and merely looked away as if none of that had anything to do with him. Lily took her sweet time to go from angry screaming to apocalyptic silence.
'Time to bring it home' "It's okay if you don't love me anymore mum- Lily. I'll just stay in my room and away from sight." And before his mother could say anything he quickly ran to the stairs and up to his bedroom.
Once he got there he realized that while it was fun giving James hell, doing it to Lily made him feel awful. Hearing her come up the stairs he dashed to a corner of the room and faced the wall with his head in his arms.
Scene Break
Lily was sitting at the dinner table with her son and her husband laughing away at some of James' stories about him and the Marauders. She remembered those days fondly as well. Albeit for different reasons. Mainly, Severus. She had always regretted destroying her friendship with him.
When she discovered she was a witch her sister had shunned her while her parents couldn't really care less. But it was Severus who had been there to introduce her to the magical world. He had shown her nothing but understanding and compassion while she took it for granted.
And she had known how lonely a life Severus had lived with a mother who tried to provide and an abusive drunk of a father. So she knew just how much it hurt him to have her end their friendship because it honestly hurt her just as much.
But with James and the others there to distract her from the pain she never really dealt with the issues between her and Severus. She now wondered how he was without her. Happier? Sadder? She would never know. She lacked the courage to find him and ask.
She was taken out of her memories by her son Harry. She didn't know it was him because he had never spoken before this. Not even a 'ma' or 'da'. They had assumed he was just mute. Kind of irresponsible now that she thought of it. Also, where was he until now that dinner was nearly half way over?
And then his question was asked and her heart broke. 'How could he ask us why we don't love him? Of course we love him. He's Henry's brother….Henry's brother? What am I thinking, he's more than just Henry's brother. He's our son. My son.'
The rest of the conversation after Harry left the table was spotty to her as she lost herself in her anger at James for doing what he did to Harry, disappointment in herself for not stopping or noticing it, and now in tears for Harry thinking she didn't love him.
She walked carefully up the stairs so she wouldn't accidently hurt the baby and walked towards where she thought Harry's room was. 'Why would we put him in the small bedroom when the room Henry sleeps in is big enough for both of them?'
Lily softly knocked on the door but was met with silence. Slowly she opened the door and went inside. Looking around she noticed that the room was very dark and very small. She noticed Harry huddling in a corner of the room.
"Harry?" No response. She walked up to him and kneeled down "Sweetheart?"
"What did I do wrong? I'll fix it, I promise." He sounded so devastated. Lily let out a tiny sob and brought him into her arms. "I would never hate you my love. I love you. Forever." Much to her surprise he didn't wail or cry; all he did was turn to give her a tight, silent hug.
"So you don't hate me?" he asked after several minutes. "No. Never. I'm sorry Harry. That never should have happened and it never will again. Okay?"
They sat there in silence until "Okay…mum." Lily smiled as she picked him up put him in his bed. They laid together on the bed until they both fell asleep to the soft lullaby gently being hummed to them.
A soft pop went unheard by the two as a certain house elf left the room with a small smile on her face.
Scene Break
After putting his pride and joy, Henry, to bed James sat in his office at his desk drinking fire whiskey and thinking about the events of dinner. 'She's beginning to think more about that little cretin again. Can't she see that Henry's more important? And it looks like the repulsing charm I placed on him broke. Maybe I'll place a repulsing charm on Lily instead and key it to Harry.'
After James discovered Henry was the 'Boy-Who-Lived' Harry had lost any meaning to him. In James' mind nothing Harry could ever do would be good enough. In fact, Harry to James was nothing more than a distraction to Henry's development as the future savior of the wizarding world.
That's why James did everything in his power to separate Harry from the rest of the family. He even went as far as to keep his own parents away them knowing that they would love Harry to pieces.
'I think Lily and I will have a nice long chat about Harry tomorrow night. If she can't be gently guided to see reason then I'll just have to push and shove until she does.'
With that in mind he downed his glass and got ready for bed on the pull out sofa in his office. He may be a grown man but Lily Potter had an explosive temper that would frightened anyone.