Author's Note:
Please read the AN in my other fic The Bodyguard for more information. Same goal applies to this fic.
After suffering through what amounted to a slightly less intense Umbridge-style torture session with the blood-quill accompanied with some dabs of concentrated Dittany, Harry was finally let go, and Goldfang scheduled their next meeting for discussing the wards around Privet Drive and Rose's guardianship.
It felt odd, acknowledging that he had a female counterpart with the nickname of a flower much like his mother. What did she look like? Was she a carbon copy of his mother with her beautiful auburn locks? Or did she inherit his father's hair? They were not his parents anymore, so it wasn't accurate to refer to them as such. Still, he couldn't help but think of these things.
It took some time for him to weigh his options, but he decided to not go to Ilvermorny. Being constrained to a rigid curriculum wouldn't help him in the long run. He already had knowledge of the core wand-based subjects in spades, what he needed was instruction in the ones he didn't have a solid grounding in.
His understanding of Arithmancy and Warding was subpar, only bolstered by his ability to use Parsel runes that only he could understand. Alchemy was also a very useful subject he had considered far out of his reach due to his lackluster experience with Potions.
'Maybe tutors in the subjects would help? Perhaps I would improve my brewing skills if I'm taught by someone who doesn't hate me because of my father.' A snort came with that thought.
After a short shopping trip to gather some books on the Ilvermorny list that he hadn't previously read, along with some supplemental reading material, he returned to the orphanage. He was greeted by several children who were all bouncing around excitedly.
They peppered him with questions on what the letter he received had said, where he had gone for the day, etc. The bombardment did not stop until he answered to their satisfaction, and he was left winded by the constant talking.
The orphanage's matron, a woman named Emma, lightly chastised him for not informing her he wouldn't be returning for the night. It was awkward trying to tell her where he had stayed without any mention of magic, but she had ultimately accepted his explanation.
Citing tiredness, he retreated to the room he shared with 4 other boys his age and collapsed onto the bed with his name on it. This was all a little too surreal for him. Taking a deep breath, he let it out as he felt the firm mattress beneath him.
He had to move out. There was no way he would stay in an orphanage for the next however many years it would take him to earn his N.E.W.T.s and start working.
There was a chance Gringotts could help him with it, so he made a mental note to check his options with Goldfang during their next meeting. In the meantime, the ward analysis on Privet Drive would be completed and he could explore how to make his counterpart's life better.
Even if there was a female version of him in existence, he felt the Dursley's were still terrible people regardless of the circumstances. It would come as a genuine shock if they were treating Rose decently. That would be the very best scenario, but as he had learned over many years, it was better to expect the absolute worst.
If she wasn't being treated properly, his priority after securing his own situation would be to ensure that she gets the help she needs. To that end, Gringotts would also be indispensable. They had eyes and ears in many places, including the merc market. Perhaps someone with a good reputation willing to sign a long-term contract would be able to be there for her if he couldn't.
Ensuring that his book covers were charmed as he requested in the bookstore, he got to reading. It was basically revision for him, but refreshing the basics never hurt, especially in the unique situation he found himself in. Who knew? Maybe he would learn something new that he didn't know before.
To the rest of the rambunctious boys, he was reading a math textbook. It was in truth, a book on Ancient Runes. He wanted to get a head start on practical rune crafting and enchantment, and the bookstore owner had recommended this guide as the go-to text for all those aspiring to the craft.
It was a bit dry, but the discipline he had inculcated in himself helped him get through it without complaint. Knowledge of enchantment would help him create practical items that would make his life easier. Rune crafting would also help him understand how to cast more advanced wards.
He didn't know if his talent in Parseltongue had survived the trip, but he would have to find out, as several of his most powerful protection wards could only be cast using the language. It was better to not rely on a talent he may no longer have and learning more was never a bad thing.
After reading a few chapters, he took a break and started mentally working on Occlumency exercises to rebuild his barriers. This was a trick he had picked up from one of Dumbledore's journals. Instead of clearing the mind completely, singular focus on recall also helped form barriers. Any stray thoughts would automatically be discarded in pursuit of a single thread.
There was a reason why mind magic was such an often-overlooked field. Not only did it take discipline far beyond what a child is capable of learning, but the time it took to get any returns on investment was simply unacceptable for most people. Not to mention, Legilimency was quite limited in its scope.
True, you would be able to suss out if someone was lying to you, or whether they had malicious intentions in their surface thoughts, but that was about it. If a wizard tried to go beyond those limited abilities, there was a good chance of getting permanently trapped inside another's mind. Melding magic with the mind was risky enough, actively infiltrating the mind of other wizards was considered suicidal. Of course, there were certain ways to forcefully rip out information, typically involving dark spells.
Ironically, the best time for someone to start forming barriers was around the time their formal magical education began. Unfortunately, children were just not built to sit down for hours and focus their attention solely on meditation. By the time they gained enough discipline to begin meditation practice, their minds would be far more difficult to clear than when they were younger.
Some were able to doggedly focus and build some rudimentary barriers. Strong enough to keep the average Legilimens out. Most simply abandoned it in favor of using enchanted items that offered a similar protection. This was why all Heir and Lord rings were enchanted to detect and repel mind magic. It was also why many were unaware of the true benefits that came with mastering Occlumency.
He was in a unique position right now. He was young enough to clear his mind, but his transfer to this reality made the exercise harder than it should be. To counteract this, a proper plan to study, exercise, and meditate was the best method for success. After all, a healthy mind is nothing without a healthy body.
They were fed well, seeing as the government set aside a decent amount of funds to keep the orphanage running, as well as the local communities coming together for donation drives and the like. The children in St. Philomena's were lucky. He was lucky. It could always be worse.
Bringing himself out of his meditative trance, he glanced at the clock. He had managed to go under for 2 hours. This was not a bad start, but the almost immediate rumbling that emanated from his stomach told him that he had missed lunch. Eating properly would go a long way in curing any nutritional deficit and ensure he would perform at his peak capacity.
Sighing, Harry decided to pick up another book on basic Arithmancy while he waited for dinner time. He would have to create a concrete plan tomorrow for both his studying and exercise. For today, he could relax a little. Things would get hectic soon, dealing with Rose's situation and all.
After a few hours of constant study, he finally heard a set of footsteps thumping towards the room. The door burst open, and an excitable boy poked his head in. "Hey, Henry! Emma wanted me to tell you to come to dinner, seeing as you missed lunch!" With nary another word, he ran out, leaving Harry perplexed at the sudden intrusion and disappearance.
Shaking his head, he put a bookmark into the page and closed the book before storing it inside his newly purchased bookbag. Making his way down to the dining room, he heard laughter and excited chattering as he neared his destination. Upon arriving, several boys called out to him. They were his roommates if he was remembering correctly.
Taking a seat next to them, he started serving himself while making small talk. From the conversation he started to get the idea that the previous inhabitant of this body was a lot like him as a young child. Intelligent, curious, soft-spoken, yet willing to stand up for what he believed in. The teachers at the local elementary school he attended often spoke about how polite and studious he was. They gave glowing reviews on his report card, which was always filled with A's and nothing less.
It was as if he had somehow become this world's version of Hermione. That thought brought some pain with it. He missed his friends. If the timelines were roughly the same, then they were children right now, and who knew whether they would grow up the same way as they did back in his old world.
No. They were lost to him, much like he to them. He had no choice other than moving forward and trying his best. At the very least, he would ensure that his counterpart would meet them at Hogwarts and become friends. While Rose would grow up in better circumstances than him, he just knew that eventually, Hogwarts' Golden Trio would form again. Call it a hunch.
After a filling dinner, he went to bed. After ensuring his roommates were asleep, he sat up underneath his blanket and focused his magic into the palm of his hand. Rudimentary wandless magic was wonderful, as such small instances couldn't be tracked by the Ministry of Magic. He didn't know if the American Ministry was as draconian as their British counterparts, but he wasn't going to take any chances.
After a few minutes of concentrating, a tiny ball of light formed above his palm and slowly floated up. Breathing slightly heavily from the exertion, Harry took some time to calm himself while silently cheering his success. It should not have taken anywhere near as long as it did, but it was progress. He now had a base he could work up from.
Slipping out his book on Runes, he studied for another 3 hours before lying back down and using the recall technique to work on his Occlumency. Waking up at 7AM on the dot, he stretched and gently rubbed his eyes.
Looking to his left, he spotted an envelope that hadn't been there when he went to bed last night. Glancing around, he saw that none of his roommates were awake. Picking up the envelope, he turned it over and saw the Gringotts seal. It was addressed to Heir Henry Peverell with the address of the orphanage.
Opening it, he felt a slight burst of magic. Probably a charm to let the goblins know their correspondence had been opened. Taking out the parchment he read it and started planning. Goldfang had mentioned the ward analysis was finished, and they would be able to discuss the results in their meeting today. He had taken the liberty of getting a goblin to escort him to Gringotts under the guise of school administrative business.
Thankful for the goblin's forethought, Harry got out of bed to begin his day. He finished his morning ablutions and went into the living room with a book. Emma was in the kitchen, cooking breakfast. Apparently, Sundays were pancake days, so she was busy preparing the batter when he walked in.
"Henry! Good morning. What are you doing up so early?"
He smiled and replied. "Good morning, Emma. I just woke up and couldn't go back to sleep, so I got out of bed and thought I could read for a while before breakfast."
"Oh, dear. Was it a nightmare?" she asked worriedly.
Harry shook his head. "No. Just got up for no reason."
Emma smiled. "That's good then, dear. Feel free to read on the couch. Breakfast will take a little while. The older kids don't wake up for another hour or so."
Harry nodded and went over to the sofa. Settling into a comfortable position, he began his Arithmancy studies. Usually, he would keep a set of scratch paper next to him for calculations for the numerous exercises in the book, but he didn't want to get caught writing down anything that would look odd to the average muggle. Unlike what muggleborns thought, the more you learned about Arithmancy, the less it looked like traditional muggle mathematics.
He immersed himself in the book while Emma bustled around in the kitchen. While in the middle of a chapter, he heard his name being called out.
"Henry! Time for breakfast."
Marking the page with a bookmark, he walked over to the table and sat down. Being so focused, he hadn't even noticed that the table had filled up with children, his roommates included.
Sitting down for a breakfast of pancakes and maple syrup, he found himself quietly eating his food, ignoring the rambunctious children around him. Restlessness could be seen from his shaking leg. He was worried about Rose. He wanted to know how she was faring at the Dursleys. Every second he spent here, on the opposite end of the world, made him feel terrible.
What if she was experiencing the same abuse he faced? She would have started primary school by now. Did she have any friends, or was Dudley still bullying everyone away from her? Not knowing was the worst part.
He loathed child abusers with a burning passion. He had killed his fair share of them during his many years traveling in the boonies. They came in all shapes, sizes, and colors. To him, if you were willing to beat a helpless child, you didn't deserve any mercy. Niklas would always give him a slap on the wrist as punishment, but he knew the ICW tacitly approved of his actions, though they would never outright state it.
'Just wait, Rose. I'll help you as soon as possible.' Harry thought while nodding along to one of his friend's conversations. He needed to first hear the results of the ward analysis before he could do anything.
After breakfast he went back to his book, studying further and then going outside and laying down under the shade of a large oak tree while furthering his Occlumency. He denied several invitations to play with the others before eventually giving up and playing a few games of hide and seek or kickball.
A little before lunch, Emma called for him. Making his way inside, he saw a tall man in a navy pinstripe 3-piece suit waiting next to her. He looked like one of those fancy hedge fund managers working in the London financial district. It was obviously his goblin escort under glamour.
"Henry dear, this is Mr. Silverstone. He's an administrator at that private school you were accepted into. He wanted to take you to the bank to go over some scholarship papers for your tuition. Do you need me to come along?"
"That won't be necessary, Emma. I'll accompany Mr. Silverstone to the bank and get the paperwork finished. How long do you think it'll take Mr. Silverstone?"
The goblin consulted his watch, a fancy looking silver Rolex. "If we leave immediately, I believe we should be finished within 3 hours. There are quite a few forms to get through, but lunch will be provided."
"Okay. So, I'll be back in the evening then, Emma."
Emma nodded. "Alright, dear. You take care now, and listen to Mr. Silverstone, okay? Your finances are important."
"Don't worry, I will." Harry smiled and accompanied the goblin out the door.
They walked down the street before ducking into an alley and portkeying directly into Gringotts. Harry saw the glamour had faded, and the human banker now looked like a slightly young goblin.
"Account Manager Goldfang is waiting in his office, Heir Peverell. Let us make haste. Time is money, after all."
Harry followed the goblin down the long, labyrinthine halls of Gringotts. Several turns later, they stopped outside an office and the goblin knocked. "Heir Peverell to see you, Account Manager Goldfang."
"Send him in!" Goldfang's voice came from inside.
Entering the room, Harry was greeted by his account manager. "Heir Peverell. You're right on time. Take a seat, let us get straight to business."
He slid a folder across the desk. "These are the results of the ward analysis you requested during our last meeting, and they were quite surprising, to say the least. In summary, the wards around your cousin's home are by far the strongest we have ever seen outside one of our Egyptian dig sites.
You can see a breakdown of the different wards and their various effects, but the overarching magic that ties them all together is a blood-based intent ward. An extremely powerful ward built on blood-magic that ensures any witch or wizard with malicious intentions against Rosaline Potter cannot even enter the street, never mind the house proper.
Our team had to conduct their analysis from the street across. They were worried what might happen to any wizard, regardless of their intentions, who crossed the ward boundary. If you are worried about how protected your cousin is, do not be. Nobody short of the Dark Lord himself could hope to break through that ward, and even for him, it would be an exceedingly arduous task."
Harry absorbed the summary while going through the analysis. From what he could tell, Goldfang was correct. Number 4 Privet Drive was a fortress. That made it more difficult for him to ascertain the situation inside. Then he got an idea, he might not be able to get in, but they had to come out.
A plan started formulating in his mind. He needed to put in his own protection for Rose. As nice a lady as Ms. Figg was, she would be a liability in a fight. She had no way of protecting Rose if something went wrong away from the house.
"Goldfang, does Gringotts have any contacts in the merc market?"
The goblin nodded. "Yes, Heir Peverell. What services are you looking for?"
"Protection. Long-term. Preferably female, on the younger side. Experienced in combat, and willing to teach a little bit of what they know. They must also be willing to sign a Secrecy Contract and give a Vow of Détente to House Potter."
Goldfang noted down the requirements. "We shall investigate potential candidates and create a list of profiles that fit your requirements. Gringotts can send it directly to you by tomorrow evening. I assume you are intending to place this witch near Privet Drive?"
"Correct. Please also check if you can purchase property near the house. I authorize you to use magic to vacate a house if none are available, however, I ask that you fairly compensate the previous owners." Harry stated firmly.
He felt guilty affecting the lives of people who didn't know any better, but Goldfang would follow his instructions to the letter. Of that, he was confident. Rose's safety was of utmost importance, and a squib would not be able to help her as well as a witch. If some pieces needed to be moved around to facilitate her protection, then so be it.
It was at times like these he felt like Dumbledore. The chess master who moved his pieces in the background to ensure that his desired outcome came to pass.
"How much are you willing to pay? Many contractors often require a clear indication of pay before they even consider taking a job. Especially one so vaguely defined."
"How much do you think would be fair for a job like this?" Harry asked.
"With the parameters as is, we would require an experienced fighter. Someone who can blend in seamlessly among wizards and muggles. Housing would be free. Living expenses would have to be negotiated, but 300 Galleons per month is usually the minimum for a single witch. For the actual protection job, most would charge 700 to 1000 Galleons per month. It is dependent on multiple factors." Goldfang outlined.
Harry hummed. "Can House Potter afford the monthly costs?"
Goldfang grinned. "House Potter could hire 30 such contractors before having to worry about the monthly costs."
"Then we can afford to be generous. Send me all the profiles, I'll narrow it down and we can schedule in-person interviews. I do not want Rose's identity to be known prior to securing the contract. We do not want to draw attention. I request you to be as discreet as possible in your inquiries."
"Of course, Heir Peverell. Only the highest quality of candidates shall be invited for interviews." Goldfang promised.
"Good. Now, let us discuss how we're going to get me out of St. Philomena's. I have decided to opt for tutors instead of attending Ilvermorny…"