Hey, Everyone! This chapter, Duncan returns to Diagon Alley to pick up the finished items he commissioned from the goblins. But by now, his picture has appeared in the Daily Prophet, so he's easily recognized. Voldemort has marked him for death, so what is any self-respecting Death Eater to do when one of their Master's 'most wanted dead' is out in public alone? Why, unknowingly bite off WAY more than they can chew, of course! LOL!
Justice also comes knocking on the Durlseys' door this chapter in a scene inspired by Dragon-Raptor's "Harry Potter and the Curse's Cure"! Yes, I'm referencing it a lot in this work, but it is just that damn good! Seriously! Go read it! Enjoy!
Chapter 6: Shocking Surprises
The first of September was just a few days away, and Duncan was finishing the final details of his updated Non-Magical Studies class. Late yesterday, he received an owl from Gringott's, informing him that the 'special items' he requested were ready.
So now he was walking down Diagon Alley from the Leaky Cauldron after having lunch with Hagrid. The half-giant had agreed to meet and give him a run-down of all the factions of creatures around Hogwarts and the best ways to approach them. Duncan also asked his advice on teaching his class while he was away. Under his duster, Duncan had a charmed messenger-bag to carry everything he was picking up. He was a striking figure, and his passage was noticed by many.
Just before he entered Gringott's, he had the vague feeling of being watched intently from the nearby Knockturn Alley. He shrugged it off as the bank door closed behind him. He was about to go over to a teller when Griphook met him.
"Prin….Mr. Rosenblatt, High King Ragnok has requested your presence", he said, catching himself before saying too much. Duncan looked up at the large window overlooking the entire bank floor, and saw a shadowy figure there.
"Ok. Thank you, Griphook. Please lead the way", Duncan replied.
Duncan followed the goblin up a spiral stone staircase at the back of the bank to an upper-level and through an ornate archway. Before him was a large open space with a slightly smaller space in the center with a few steps down into it. Around the periphery were walkways and deep alcoves; each with a clan crest above it. A dueling arena. They followed the path to the right to the far end where stood a lavish desk with a throne positioned behind it. To the sides of throne and desk, well-used and cared for weapons and armor were on display. At the moment, the back of the throne was facing him. Griphook knelt down on one knee.
"Prince Duncan Rosenblatt, your Majesty."
"Thank you, Griphook", a strong, gravelly voice replied. "You may return to your duties."
"As you command, High King Ragnok", Griphook replied, and took his leave.
"Greetings, Prince Duncan", Ragnok said as the throne turned to face Duncan. The elder goblin who grinned at him had a face that told of the wisdom of the ages, yet bore a strength that could not be denied and a twinkle in the eyes that reminded him of Dumbledore. "I apologize for not greeting you on your earlier visit, as is proper Royal protocol. But the burdens of being King never cease, as your father well knows."
"No apology necessary, King Ragnok", Duncan replied. "I understand completely."
"And speaking of your father, how is that old lizard Belloc?", he asked with a playful grin.
"Cranky as ever", Duncan chuckled. "And not surprised that you sent your Queen in your place to the first official meeting of the GFMC ruling council. He said you were probably too busy swimming in your gold and jewels, and I quote, 'like the greedy old goat he is', en-quote."
"Hah! But that did not stop him from sending you to us to forge these items you required, did it?", Ragnok laughed. "He knows goblin craftsman are the best in the world. And given the materials you provided, I commissioned my personal master craftsman. He nearly had a heart-attack when he saw the ingots of mithril. It was believed all mined out and lost during the goblin/dwarf wars centuries ago. It is rarer and far more precious than platinum these days."
"Except in the kaiju territories", Duncan grinned. "I trust the left-over mithril was sufficient payment?"
"Yes indeed", Ragnok grinned. "And given what your cousin and allies are up against, these are a wise investment."
"I'm glad you believe the truth despite what the Ministry says", Duncan smiled gratefully. "And I know we can trust to your discretion; something goblins are as famous for as your honesty and cleverness with money."
"Of course", the king smiled, appreciating the respect. He then placed several bundles on his desk. "Here they are. Hammerfist commented that the hide you provided was harder to work with than the skin of that thousand-year-old basilisk your cousin killed."
"I'm not surprised", the Kaiju Prince chuckled as he stuffed them into his charmed bag. "And the other items?"
"Here", Ragnok replied, placing a box on his desk. Duncan opened it to reveal several rings, all forged to resemble a dragon made of flames wrapped around the finger of the wearer as if trying to bite its own tail. "Neither Hammerfist nor myself have ever seen this alloy before. He said it was nearly as difficult to work as the mithril and it seemed to resist any forging techniques that use magick. What is it?"
"It's an alloy created by MEGTAF", Duncan told him. Ragnok tensed. The entire magical world was aware of MEGTAF; a muggle military agency that was aware of their world. Their primary focus was defense against kaiju should the treaty ever be broken, but it was rumored that they were also creating weapons to deal with magicals should any break the Statute of Secrecy and go rogue, attacking muggles. "I don't know what it's made of or how, but they call it 'Nth metal'. While it can conduct electricity, it has a dampening effect on the supernatural. A net made of Nth metal wire could capture and hold a ghost."
"Fascinating", Ragnok mused. "And impressive! A pity it was all used for the rings. We would have loved to analyze and try to replicate it. Just imagine how profitable such a material could be!"
"I'm sorry, but if there was any left, I gave my word to return it", Duncan said. "That was part of the deal I made to get the amount that I did. Probably for that very reason."
"I suppose even muggles must keep their secrets", Ragnok sighed as Duncan placed the box in his bag with the bundles. "I believe our business today is now concluded, Prince Duncan. So I bid you good day. May all who oppose you burn in the flames of your wrath and your mines never run dry of riches."
"May your enemies taste your steel as you empty their vaults of gold", Duncan said with a bow as he left.
xxXXxx
When Duncan stepped out of the bank, he felt he was being watched again. He looked toward Knockturn Alley, and caught a glimpse of someone ducking a corner. Growling softly, he headed toward them.
"Dammit! Reducto!", the figure cursed at him. Duncan ducked and the spell struck the wall, blasting chunks from it. The dark-cloaked figure then began running deeper into Knockturn.
"Dobby!", Duncan called, snarling. The elf appeared with a *pop*.
"Great Master Harry Potter's cousin calls Dobby?"
"Take this and return home", Duncan ordered, handing him the bag. "I just caught someone spying on me and they tried to kill me. And I'm gonna find out why!"
Duncan charged away before Dobby could reply. The worried elf could only pop back to Potter Manor as ordered, then tell Great Master Harry Potter and his Lady Auntie about this.
The twists and turns of Knockturn could be disorienting to the uninitiated, but Duncan would not be deterred. He was catching up, able to keep on track thanks to brief glimpses of the figure running ahead and the other denizens of the alley getting out of the way.
Suddenly the alley opened up into a somewhat wider space, and there he was; just waiting for him in a dark cloak and metal skull-mask.
"Why are you spying on me?", Duncan demanded.
"To lure you here, cousin of Harry Potter", he sneered, as two more emerged from the shadows to stand at his sides. An ambush. Duncan thought it had been too easy to follow that dirt-bag.
"If you think I'll tell you Death Eater scum where he is, you better think again", Duncan smirked.
"I would be more concerned about myself right now if I were you", the mystery man said. "Potter's time will come eventually, at the hands of the Dark Lord. But he wants the boy to suffer first. He made a standing order to us all to just kill you on sight, but imagine how the Dark Lord will reward us if we also bring him Potter's location and use his own cousin as a spy! IMPERIO!"
Duncan felt the magick pressing against his mind, trying to force entry and control. All it did was feed his rage. "You're gonna have ta do better than that", he snarled as he started to advance.
"CRUCIO!", the man shouted as his fellows pulled their wands. The red bolt struck Duncan, but instead of writhing on the ground in agony, he barely flinched! The Death Eaters began to panic, hurling stunners, blasting curses, fire-balls, paralyzing hexes and anything else they could cast! Duncan artfully dodged most of it as he started running toward them. Yes, he was angry, but he had to keep up appearances. He back-handed the leader, sending him flying to the ground twelve feet away(gotta be gentle with humans), then grabbed the other two by their throats, knocked their heads together, then shook them like rag-dolls. Being 'superior' wizards, they were utterly clueless when it came to melee fighting. The leader, completely terrified now as he stood back up, watched as the other two were thrown bodily to either side of the alley.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!", he cast quickly as the American stepped toward him again, now just a few yards away. The killing curse struck Duncan, knocking him back about twenty feet and to the ground on his back. The Death Eaters breathed a collective sigh of relief…..then gasped in horror as he stood back up, growling like a dragon.
"That…hurt!", he hissed angrily through clenched teeth.
The Death Eaters apparated away in fear when he stepped forward again.
xxXXxx
"CRUCIO!"
The three low-level Death Eaters suffered pain beyond any they could imagine as the Dark Lord Voldemort vented his rage. Only Voldemort had sufficient power and control to torture more than one person at a time. So when these three reported failing to kill Potter's cousin, this 'Duncan', he made an example of them. He was just one man! Killing him should have been a simple matter after luring him into an ambush.
"Crucia!", Voldemort hissed, breaking the curse. "Now, explain how three experienced pure-bloods could fail to eliminate a single half-blood mongrel so many years their junior?!"
"My Lord, he was impervious to the Imperius Curse", Bryce, the leader of the three told him. "And the Cruciatus didn't even slow him down! He was fast, agile and I've never seen such strength! He dodged or shrugged off everything we threw at him!"
"He tossed Malthus and me to opposite sides of the alley with just one hand each as if it were nothing!", Billings added.
"You mean he didn't even pull his wand?!", Voldemort hissed indignantly.
"N-no, my lord!", Bryce confirmed. "A-and he showed no fear! None at all! I hit him with the killing curse at point-blank range, and I thought he was finished, but he got back up! So the only thing we could do was….."
"Run away like frightened children!", Voldemort scoffed. "You must have missed with your killing curse, you fool! NO ONE survives that! Only Potter, and that was only through sheer luck and his mud-blood mother's trickery! CRU….!"
"Wait, my Lord!", Lucius said, then turned to the three men. "Was he wearing that unusual coat of his?"
"Y-y-yeah! He was! That's how we recognized him in the first place!", Bryce stammered.
"Your point, Lucius?", Voldemort hissed.
"My Lord, everyone who has seen it has said it appears to be reptile skin of some kind", Malfoy explained. "If it is dragonhide, that would explain his resilience. And unlike most wizards here in Britain, he may have been trained in how to fight without magick, something no one could have known before now."
"Perhaps", Voldemort considered, putting away his bone-handled wand. "But in any case, Bryce, you three underestimated him! You should have summoned more back up for such an ambush. Anyone who can incinerate three Dementors singlehandedly is not to be taken lightly!"
"In light of this incident, my Lord, perhaps we should accelerate your plans to free our brothers and sisters from Azkaban?", Lucius suggested.
"Yes, that would appear prudent, my slippery friend", Voldemort replied, the grinned wickedly. "And I know the perfect night to do it for maximum effect. In the meantime, summon your son."
Moments later, Draco Malfoy was kneeling before the Dark Lord.
"How may I serve you, my Lord?", he asked.
"I have a special mission for you when you return to Hogwarts, young Draco", Voldemort said. "Three years ago, when I was nearly brought back in the Chamber of Secrets, I explored the entire chamber in the weeks before Potter killed the basilisk and destroyed the diary. I discovered that Slytherin's basilisk was not alone. It had laid an egg. When you return to school, you are to enter the chamber, retrieve the egg, and have it delivered here to me."
"As you command, my Lord", Draco said. "But how will I get in, my Lord? I'm not a parselmouth."
"A wise question, with a simple answer, young one", Voldemort smirked as he stood and approached the boy. "Your arm, Draco Malfoy."
A look of shock and pride crossed Draco's face while he extended his left arm to Voldemort, pulling back his sleeve. Malfoy Senior looked supremely proud as the Dark Lord applied the Dark Mark on his son's arm; who gritted his teeth to keep from crying out in pain.
"Your father will explain to you the bulk of the nature of my mark", Voldemort said as he finished. "But the important thing for your task is that it will allow me to speak through you for a short time, long enough for me to give you access to the Chamber. You will be my agent, my instrument, in Hogwarts; under the very nose of the great Albus Dumbledore!"
"Thank you, My Lord! I will not fail you!"
xxXXxx
"Duncan!", Margaret rushed to check him over upon his return. She'd been worried sick after Dobby returned and reported that Duncan had been attacked and had run into Knockturn Alley after his assailant. The place'd had a dark and dangerous reputation for centuries, even more so whenever a dark witch or wizard rose to enough power to be a real threat.
"I'm fine, Mom", he sighed. "They barely mussed my hair. I wiped the floor with them, but they got away."
"They?", Harry asked.
"Three of them", Duncan explained. "The first one led me into an ambush. All three were wearing black robes and cloaks and different styled metal skull-masks."
"Death Eaters", Harry said with disgust.
"I figured. Looks like the 'Dark Lord' sees me as a threat standing between him and you, Harry", Duncan smirked. "I wish I could've seen their faces when none of the three 'unforgivable curses' worked on me!*chuckle!* Ow! Although, that 'killing curse' did feel like getting hit in the chest with a sledge-hammer. Then again, I was at point-blank range."
"WHAT?!", Harry and Margaret both gasped.
"Relax. I'm half-kaiju, remember? And since I was wearing my coat, they'll think that's what protected me, so my secret is still safe."
"Be that as it may, I want you in bed to rest and recover for the rest of the night", Margaret said in the typical 'mom' voice that would brook no argument. "It's 'D-day' tomorrow."
"I can't wait", Duncan grinned wickedly. "And you're sure Vernon's hippo of a sister will be there, too, Harry?"
"With her slobbering little beast, too", Harry confirmed. Marge's visits were so regular you could set your calendar by them. And as difficult as it was to imagine, the bitch was even more horrid than her brother! She had often set her 'precious' bulldog 'Ripper' on him, he still had the scars on his leg. "Hermione asked to come, too, and I think I'd like her there with me for this. Is that all right?"
xxXXxx
Ever since 'that night', Vernon Dursley's anger had been constantly swinging the gammut from mere annoyance, to seething, to ranting, and back again. Bad enough he was sure the freak was somehow responsible for whatever had happened to Dudley, but by leaving that night with that disrespectful American cousin of his he had left a lot of chores and projects around the house unfinished, forcing the three of them to do them! Granted, Petunia didn't seem to mind cooking and cleaning the house, as she normally did while the boy was at his freakish school, but the yard-work and other projects that had built up over the school year fell to him and Dudley. While he was happy to be rid of the freak, taking up the boy's slack was irritating. Normally, it would be Harry who bore the brunt of his anger, but now he was without an outlet. Hence his mood-swings.
On the plus side, Dudley had recovered fairly quickly from whatever trauma had afflicted him, though Vernon disliked the fact that the freak had been correct in his advice to give Dudley chocolate to help. And his mood was not helped by Dudley's complaints about having to do the hard work that his cousin normally did.
Dudley himself was conflicted. He still didn't know what attacked them that night but as thick as he was, even he realized that Harry had saved his life. After all the years bullying, torment, and treating him like crap, his cousin still chose to save him when he could have just walked away. It had been bothering him for weeks. He reached for another tea-biscuit as he stirred another sugar-cube into his tea.
"You ask me, Vernon, it's good riddance to bad rubbish", Marge said before taking a sip of her tea. "Where the bloody hell were these relatives years ago? They should've taken him from the start! But no, they don't show up until he's been a burden to your family for fifteen years? Disgraceful!"
"The ungrateful freak hadn't even finished half of his Summer chores", Vernon growled. "And that ill-mannered American freak had the audacity to insult me in my own house! I'd have thrown him out on his ear if we hadn't needed to take Dudders to the hospital right away."
Petunia was unusually silent as she served the tea and drank her own. She was happy that her freakish nephew was gone for good! Constantly seeing her 'perfect' little sister's eyes looking out from his face every time she looked at him was unnerving; as if Lily herself was watching the mistreatment of her son through his eyes and judging her sister from beyond the grave.
She and Lily were close when they were small; loving, supporting and inspiring each other to early academic achievement and social standing among their peers. But then Lily's freakish abilities appeared and they learned the truth about her. Their parents doted on the younger, prettier witch; sidelining the older, 'more accomplished' Petunia. Compounding it, Lily only grew more and more beautiful as the years passed! It was just so dreadfully unfair! But then Petunia met and married Vernon Dursley, and built a perfect, normal life. She was happy. She could just deny she even had a sister. But then just a few months after Dudley's first birthday, Lily and her freak husband were killed and they were saddled with the freakish brat!
"I'm just so happy my little Duddy-Poo is all right!", Marge gushed, hugging and giving Dudley rapid-fire little kisses on his cheeks, much to his discomfort. His aunt simply refused to believe he wasn't a child anymore! When she released him he went into the kitchen to sip his tea alone with his thoughts.
Just then the front doorbell rang.
"Who the devil knocks this early on a Sunday?!", Vernon grumped. "Petunia, go get rid of whoever it is. I'm not in the mood for any nonsense!"
Petunia opened the door wearing her most disinterested expression, ready to make whoever it was rue the day they rang that bell, but then paled at who she saw there. A ghost from the past.
"Hello, Petunia", Margaret smirked. "Long time, no see. The last time I saw you was at James' and Lily's wedding. I thought Lily was being an exceptionally good sport in inviting you, considering how badly you treated her once her magick was revealed. You never did say how your parents managed to make you attend with them."
xXx
(outside, a few minutes ago)
While Harry and his group were preparing to go ring the Dursley's bell, a few of the neighbors had taken notice of the activity.
"Excuse me, but what's going on?"
Hermione looked and saw a bookish girl in her late teens peering over the hedge with her parents. Hermione walked over.
"My friend and classmate Harry is getting justice for all the abuse he's suffered from his so-called relatives", she told them.
"But surely he must be lying?", the mother said. "They've always told us he was a troubled, even dangerous boy that they had to take in. A hopeless case they were saddled with."
"Wait, classmate?", the girl queried. "But he attends St. Brutus's School for Criminally Disturbed Boys, so how can he be your classmate?"
"I don't know what you're talking about", Hermione said, appalled at the blatant lies the Dursleys have been telling the neighbors. "He's been my classmate and friend at Wellington Academy for four years now, and about to start fifth-year. Look."
Hermione handed them a pamphlet for 'Wellington Academy', the cover-story for Hogwarts' muggle-born students. They flipped through it, finding pictures of beautiful grounds many students and teachers; including Hermione as head of the Science Club, Neville as head of the Gardening Club, even Professor Snape wearing a lab coat as the chemistry teacher, and even a photo on the back of the pamphlet showing the school 'football team', which was actually a group picture of various quiddich team players, with Harry front and center!
"I have to wonder why they told you what they did", Hermione said, grinning to herself. "Maybe Harry's cousin didn't have the grades to get into Wellington, and they were embarrassed. Who knows? I mean, it's not like they were paying his tuition, his birth-parents set up a trust for that. Harry's parents went there, but it was his IQ score that really made them want recruit him when he was 11. He's been one of the top students ever since."
xXx
(now)
"Margaret", the horse-faced woman breathed with disgust. Yes, she remembered James Potter's older sister from America. She thought she had an ally in her since Margaret had been born without her family's freakish abilities. But no, Margaret not only felt no such resentment, but had somehow gained those abilities in America! Petunia saw a few strangers, plus Harry and Duncan, behind Margaret.
"What are you all doing here?", Petunia sneered. "You have the freak, and we don't want him back. Our lives are finally back to normal couldn't be better now. So what more could you possibly want?"
"Justice", Margaret replied. "Harry here has told us everything about his life here. Everything."
Petunia blanched. Her eyes frantically flitted over the others. Standing next to Harry was an attractive 'girl-next-door'-type around his age with slightly bushy brown hair. One of the strange men was wearing an expensive suit and carrying a briefcase and had an air that very clearly said 'lawyer'. Behind him was a tall, well-built man in plain clothes and a trench-coat. The lawyer stepped up.
"Mrs. Dursley, we have some rather important matters to discuss with you and your husband", he said, his voice all-business. "May we step inside?"
His tone indicated that it wasn't a request. Still a bit in shock, Petunia stepped aside to let everyone in. When she did, the plain-clothes man turned and nodded to another man standing at the corner of the property. The uniformed officer returned the nod and spoke into his radio. Two vans and two cruisers pulled up, all bearing the markings of the Surrey Police Department. All the activity in such a normally quiet neighborhood was starting to attract the attention of more neighbors.
When Vernon saw who walked into his house, he turned a dangerous shade of purple, trembling angrily as he stood. His sister Marge simply scowled from her seat.
"What the bloody hell are you doing here, freak?", Vernon snarled at Harry, his rage blinding him to the others, until he saw the smirking Duncan; the American freak who'd dared to insult him! "You?! Get out of my house! And you, you ungrateful brat of a freak, you're gonna get everything you deserve now!"
"Yes he is", Margaret smirked, slicing right through Vernon's rage. He paled as he remembered this woman from the wedding he and Petunia had been forced to attend to stay in her parents' good graces. "Justice."
Dudley had never seen this woman, nor the attractive girl with her cousin before, but he looked at them with no small amount of lust and envy. He might be reluctantly grateful to Harry for saving his life, but how does the freakish punk rate being around such attractive ladies?
"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley", the lawyer spoke as he stepped forward. "My name is Sloan. I am a lawyer representing Gringott's Savings, Investment, and Merchant Bank."
"Never heard of them!", Vernon sneered, his surly attitude returning with a vengeance. Behind him Petunia stifled a nervous gasp, while Marge continued to scowl at all the 'intruders'.
"Unlikely, given the purpose of our business here today, even with our…select clientele", Sloan replied dryly, smoothly pulling a file from his briefcase with practiced ease. "The Potter family has been one our most prestigious and profitable clients for centuries, a family who holds some of the largest accounts at present for generations. Which leads us to our business with yourselves." Sloan flipped open the file.
"On Nov. 1, 1991, you took into your home one Hadrian 'Harry' James Potter, son of Lord James Charles Potter and Lady Lily Marie Potter nee Evans. As part of this, you were granted a monthly stipend from the Potter Family accounts direct-deposited into your own account at Bank of Britain, Mr. Dursley, of four hundred and eighty-five pounds to pay for his care, food, and schooling". He then looked up at the Dursleys, who were displaying various emotions. Petunia paled while Vernon shook with rage, his face purple. Dudley was shocked by the sheer amount while Marge's eyes narrowed in calculation. "It has come to our attention that you failed to live up to your end, spending that money on yourselves while mistreating and abusing young Harry."
"We never wanted the freak in the first place!", Vernon roared, shaking his finger at them. "The worthless freak was dumped on our doorstep in the middle of the night! I knew he'd be trouble from the start!"
"Yet you still took him into your home, and accepted the money earmarked for his care, spending it on yourselves", Sloan cut him off with an ice-cold tone. "We at Gringott's consider your actions as fraud and a crime against one of our most important clients.
"Additionally, this house was a gift from Lady Lily Potter to you upon your marriage to her sister."
"What the bloody hell are you talking about?!", Vernon roared.
"Don't you remember, Petunia?", Margaret smirked. "Lily handed you the keys at your reception, but told you that you needed to pick up the deed at Potter Manor? But you never did, did you? Of course not, because I found it amongst the documents in James' desk. Still in the envelope that Lily had written your name on."
"Dear Lord! She's right, Vernon!", Petunia blanched. "Mum and Dad insisted I invite them, but Lily knew we didn't want them there, so she did give me the keys just before they left at the beginning of our reception!"
"You said the house was an inheritance from some distant aunt!", Vernon accused when he whirled on her. Petunia wilted under his scowl.
"As you have been living here in a home owned by the Potter Family, we at Gringott's consider you as living in a rented accommodation", Sloan continued in the same deadly serious tone. "We have had this house appraised by three separate experts, and they have concluded that with the standard annual rent increases calculated, the average monthly rental fee for a four bedroom house with garage, atrium, front and back yards/gardens such as this in this area works out to 450 pounds, assuming you have been paying for utilities, upkeep costs and repairs yourselves. As the financial advisors for the Potter Family, we are calling all rent due immediately."
Vernon was spluttering and trembling with rage, his face turning such a dangerous shade of purple that Harry wondered if he was finally going to have that long overdue heart attack(unlikely, given that he needed to have a heart in order to have an attack!) or stroke. Marge's scowl deepened, while Petunia and Dudley paled further, seeing where this was going.
"H-how much are we talking about?", she asked finally.
Mr. Sloan checked his notes. "Factoring in all the years of unpaid rent, the money earmarked for Harry and accrued interest on said funds…" He looked sternly at Vernon. "The total due as of this day is just under two million, three hundred-thousand pounds."
Silence. No one had any words for several moments. There was a dull thud as Dudley had fainted hearing the sheer amount. Even Harry was shocked at the total. Hermione had told him the monthly value, but he hadn't considered how much it could add up to over the course of almost fifteen years since his arrival at the Dursleys' home! Petunia looked close to joining her son on the floor.
It took a few moments for Vernon's brain to re-engage. "THIS IS ABSOLUTE RUBBISH! TOTAL SHITE! I WILL NOT STAND HERE AND LET FREAKS LIKE YOU DEMAND MONEY FROM DECENT, HONEST, HARD-WORKING PEOPLE LIKE US! I SHOULD HAVE TOSSED YOU IN THE RUBBISH AT THE START LIKE I WANTED, YOU WORTHLESS LITTLE SHIT! YOU'VE CAUSED NOTHING BUT TROUBLE AND MISERY IN OUR LIVES!" Vernon's eyes were wild with rage and his hands curled into claws as he stepped toward Harry. "YOU AND YOUR FREAKS COME INTO OUR HOME AND PUSH THIS—THIS TRYPE?! WELL, I WON'T STAND FOR IT, DO YOU HEAR ME, YOU FREAK?! WHEN I'M THROUGH WITH YOU….!"
"That's quite enough, Mr. Dursley", the trench-coated man said firmly as he stepped forward, with a hard and unyielding glare at the fat man. Vernon glared back at his audacity.
"And who the bloody fuck do you think you are to order me about in my own home?!", he snarled indignantly.
The man was completely unfazed as he reached into his coat to pull out an ID wallet. "Oh, sorry, I forgot to identify myself…"
"I don't give a flying fuck who the bloody hell you….!", Vernon's next words died on his lips as the man held open the wallet and the golden badge flashed brightly in the light.
"…I'm Detective Chief Inspector Michael Weston of the Surrey Police Department", the man said as two uniformed officers stepped up behind him; both of whom were clearly struggling to contain their disgust.
Vernon blanched as he looked from the ID/badge to Weston to Harry.
"Are-are you going to just let them get away with this nonsense?!", he spluttered in disbelief. Surely the police wouldn't allow freaks to extort normal, upstanding citizens like this?!
"The Rosenblatts and Mr. Potter brought this matter to the Essex force last week", DCI Weston glared hard at Vernon. "It was then passed to me. I could not believe that anyone could treat their own nephew with such utter contempt. I had to see for myself. But photos, x-rays, and medical records do not lie. And observing you here today, now there is absolutely no doubt in my mind. And I sincerely doubt there will be any in the minds of any of the jury, either. Mr. Vernon Dursley, I am placing you under arrest for fraud, theft, child abuse and causing grievous bodily harm to a minor; one Harry James Potter. You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say will be used against you in court."
"You little shit!", Vernon's face twisted and hardened, erupting like Vesuvius as he turned toward Harry. "You squealed on your justified punishments?! I'LL KILL YOU, YOU WORTHLESS FREAK!"
He lunged at Harry, intent on throttling him, but two beefy officers stepped around Harry and restrained his arms. Enraged beyond reason, he thrashed and struggled in their grip while he continued to threaten Harry.
"I'LL KILL YOU, YOU FUCKING LITTLE FREAK! I'LL THRASH THE LIFE OUT OF YOU!" His furious gaze snapped to Margaret. "AND YOU, YOU FUCKING SLUT! YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN AMERICA WITH YOUR DISRESPECTFUL FREAK OF A SON! I'LL MAKE YOU FUCKING WISH YOU WERE DEAD, YOU FUCKING SLUT!"
A third officer stepped in and gave Vernon a sustained blast of pepper-spray to his face. He screamed in rage and pain, but surprisingly kept struggling and resisting.
"That's it! Taze him!", DCI Weston snapped. The third officer drew the pistol-like tazer device from his belt. A snap later and Vernon shook violently as the voltage kicked through him for several seconds, and then he slumped into the arms of the officers, still concious but having temporarily lost all motor function of his limbs. "I'm now adding a charge of intent to commit murder on Harry Potter, and threats against Margaret Rosenblatt…."
"Release my brother at once, you pigs!", Marge Dursley barked as she marched in to intervene, grabbing the arm of one of the officers holding her brother. "That worthless brat has deserved every slap or stroke of the strap he ever got! And that American whore deserves a good slapping!"
"You have nowhere near what it takes, hippo-hips", Margaret smirked as two more officers restrained the obese hag. DCI Weston turned toward the fat bitch.
"As for you, Marge Dursley, I'm placing you under arrest for child abuse and causing grievous bodily harm to a minor; one Harry James Potter by setting your dog on him", Weston said with disgust. "As well as fraud, illegal business operations and tax evasion. Our investigation in this matter has uncovered that your bulldog breeding site is lacking all the permits, licences, and registrations required by law."
At that moment, Marge's old bulldog Ripper trotted in and whined to his mistress. Her head snapped around to see him.
"Get the brat, Ripper!", she yelled, her fury over-riding all reason.
Though almost blind with age, old Ripper could still smell Harry. He growled threateningly as he charged toward Harry's leg. Before anyone else could react, another growl, much deeper and far more powerful came from Duncan as he stepped in front of Harry. Sensing the presence of an alpha apex predator, Ripper skidded to a halt with a whine, then began to whimper in submission with his head down. Duncan knelt down, eyes locked on the bulldog, still growling. Marge was flabbergasted.
"Down!", Duncan commanded, and Ripper flopped to his belly without hesitation, still whimpering and quivering. "Stay!(he turned to two more officers behind them) You can bring the crate in for the mutt now, officers."
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY PRECIOUS RIPPER?!", Marge shrieked.
"You should worry more about yourself Miss Dursley", Weston scoffed. "The dog is going to be put down as a biter of humans as it is, and now I'm adding another count to the charge of setting your dog on Harry Potter, as well as resisting arrest."
Marge spluttered incoherently at this as Weston turned to Petunia and Dudley as she helped her large teen son stand back up after fainting earlier.
"Mrs. Dursley, I'm taking you into custody for child abuse, neglect, and fraud. Do you understand?", Weston asked. At her nod, he turned to Dudley. "Dudley Dursley, you are also being taken into custody pending charges including but not limited to vandalism, theft, and assault. Additional charges may be levied, as our investigation is ongoing. The other members of your 'gang' are already in custody. Do you understand?"
"Y-yessir", Dudley replied with humility, realizing there was no point in pushing his luck. He could hear other officers already searching upstairs, including his bedroom. He might be able to hide things from his parents, but not seasoned coppers. He knew his life as he knew it was effectively over. The sins of his past were returning to bite him in his considerable ass. He could do nothing but resign to his fate.
"Very good", Weston nodded. Maybe the boy had inherited at least some brains from his mum's side of the family.
As the Dursleys were escorted out, Weston went over to Harry and his group, who had moved to a corner of the living room so as to not be in the way of the officers.
"That was a brave thing you did, young man", Weston told him. "I'm not sure I could face such people again if it had been me."
Harry could only nod, his shoulders slumping slightly. It was clear to those close to him that some of Vernon's enraged insults had gotten to him. Margaret pulled him into a comforting embrace, while Duncan turned to DCI Weston. "Do you need us for anything else today, Inspector?"
"No, Sir", he replied. "The mister and his sister have already damned themselves, that much is clear. It remains to be seen just how much all of this will count against the missus and the boy, but they are sure to see at least some jail time. I'm sure a thorough search of the house will only yield more evidence to ensure conviction."
"Good", Margaret said. "Be sure to give the cupboard under the stairs a full forensic analysis. I think you'll find it disgustingly enlightening."
"Mrs. Rossenblatt nee Potter", Sloan called, closing his briefcase as they started to leave. "We'll hold off on evaluation of everything until after the police complete their investigation of the premises, but as of this moment I doubt the Dursleys will be able to repay everything they owe your family."
Margaret simply nodded, more concerned with getting Harry away from this place. "Just let us know the final value, then we'll go from there."
"Just one last thing before you go", DCI Weston called, stepping closer to speak softly to Harry. "I just want to wish you luck in dealing with your other demon. That 'Dark Lord' is out of my league and way above my pay-grade. But I know you'll beat him once and for all."
The stunned group looked at him in surprise. Hermione was the first to put it together. "Are you…?"
"No", he said shaking his head. "But my sister, she was the first magical in the family, and became an auror after graduating Hogwarts. She was killed, brutally, in a Death Eater ambush in '89. It was small consolation that she took two of them with her before she fell. The family has kept in touch with the magical side ever since, and we trust the word of a proven hero over a politician any day. (he placed a reassuring hand on Harry's shoulder)You're a good young man, Harry Potter. You'll win in the end. I just know it."
"Thanks", Harry smiled humbly.
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Author's notes: The confrontation and arrest of the Dursleys was inspired by a similar scene written by Dragon-Raptor. His was perfect, so I just had to follow his lead. I will follow up on their fate later.
The "Wellington Academy" angle is borrowed from "Summer at the Dursleys" by Mastercardin42. As the pamphlet makes the rounds of the neighborhood, the Dursley's carefully cultivated proud, respectable social standing will erode along with the lies they told about Harry for years!
"Nth Metal" originates in DC comics, but I am using my own version of it from "Monster High: Primal Hearts". And "Mithril" is from JRR Tolkein's "Lord of the Rings" series. However, I'll let you all guess on the hide Duncan provided for his 'special orders'! LOL!
To those who might say that I've turned Duncan into an OP'ed Gary-Stu, I say this: Duncan is half-kaiju! Your argument is invalid! Besides, if you look closer at the fight in Knockturn Alley, you'll see that he is not completely immune to magick. He had to avoid the paralyzing 'Petrificus' charms, and a strong enough blasting curse, like a 'Bombarda Maxima', might actually have enough force to hurt him. And while stunners would only piss him off, he can still be knocked away by impact-type spells.
Long reviews and suggestions are always welcome! No flames, please.
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