Chapter 1
It was a regular morning, like any other that changed everything. For three years the Potter elves had taken shifts and happily cared for the child. While the Dursleys had yelled often, and much, the Potter elfs looked after their charge with smiles. The young child didn't mind at all being sent to his cabinet, because he knew the elfs would be there. This regular day Harry sat on a chair that was too big for him at the table for breakfast. His cousin, Dudley, sat in a booster seat on the chair next to him and Harry knew to watch out for flying arms. Dudley sat higher on the chair and could easily hit Harry with those beefy arms.
Harry had been given toast while Dudley had bacon, eggs, toast and grapes. Four year old Harry had tasted bacon before and wanted a piece. There was a large plate of bacon just out of Harry's reach. This wanting led to a piece of bacon floating in the air from the center of the table towards Harry's plate.
Young Dudley thought this was vastly amusing and clapped his hands and laughed. Vernon and Petunia looked at each other in horror.
Vernon stood and hit the bacon out of the air. "Petunia, we can't have this in our home." he said, his face getting red.
Petunia stood up. "We always knew he would be a freak, but what are we going to do Vernon?" She asked.
Vernon was looking at four year old Harry. "I know what we're doing for now, OUT!" Vernon said and opened the back door.
Harry looked at the man that was usually loud, but thought this was different. He had never been ordered out of the house before, usually he was sent to his cabinet.
"You will get out till we decide how to get rid of you!" Vernon said and pointed outside.
Harry slowly walked outside and then turned around when he heard the door slam.
There had been quick messages sent from elf to elf and in about a minute Hanbey stood a few feet away from Harry. The four year old smiled with relief and walked over to greet Hanbey.
"Hello." The little boy said happily.
"Hello Master, it seems they are talking about what to do with you." Hanbey said and tried to gauge the young child's response. He had already heard them talking about orphanages.
"I wanted a piece of bacon." Harry said and looked down. He wasn't sure what it meant to do something with him but he figured it wasn't good.
"It's alright Harry. You know, the elves and I live in a home that was owned by your Grandfather before his death. Would you like to live there with us?" Hanbey asked.
There were tears on Harry's face when he looked at Hanbey. "Could I really?" he asked.
"Yes, Harry, it's your home too." Hanbey said, then, to the air it seemed, Hanbey said, "We need all the bacon, shoes and a coat. Also to put Dudley in the backyard when we leave." Hanbey said and there were two loud pops from the invisible elves that were nearby.
A minute later saw Harry with a coat and shoes on, holding a plate of bacon. Hanbey took Harry's hand and apparated them home. The split second before Harry felt the squeeze, he saw Dudley in the backyard and heard Aunt Petunia scream.
A day later Dumbledore was sitting in his office wondering about a problem with the Wizengamot when he felt a tingle in his head. He immediately looked to the shelf where strange little gadgets sat, most in a perpetual motion. Only one wasn't moving. It was two children on a seesaw that was still and this was alarming. He checked it for magic and was sure the problem was not the magic. He immediately sent a message that he had to leave the castle to his Deputy Headmistress and he apparated away.
Dumbledore landed behind a dumpster one street over from the Dursleys. He disillusioned himself and walked to the Dursley home where he stood in front of the house and performed the check to see if Harry was in the house. His children on a seesaw would only stop moving when Harry was not in the wards in twenty four hours but the other Dursleys were there. Dumbledore knew there was no malfunction, the Dursleys had been there and Harry had not.
Dumbledore walked up to the front door and knocked. The door opened and Dumbledore slipped inside before reappearing. He knew their feelings about magic and thought this would make things better. The screams and the attempted punch from Vernon made Dumbledore realize this was maybe not the best attempt.
"Get out of my house you freak!" Vernon shouted.
"Perhaps you would lower your voice, your neighbors have no idea who is in your house. Now. But that could change." Dumbledore said because he knew just the right buttons to press.
"What do you want?" Petunia asked.
"Where is Harry?" Dumbledore asked, projecting more calm than he actually felt.
"Gone." Petunia said.
"What do you mean gone? Gone where?" Dumbledore asked.
Petunia and Vernon looked at each other, and Petunia shrugged.
Vernon told Dumbledore the whole story. How Harry had tried to 'steal' a piece of bacon by making it float. How he had put the little freak in the backyard, then justified what they had done by telling him they were planning to drop him off at an orphanage.
Dumbledore's inner panic was rising. He knew these were not good people but he thought they would care for their nephew.
"Where is Harry now?" Dumbledore almost yelled.
"We don't know, but we're not taking him back and you need to get out." Vernon said.
"You don't understand what you've done." Dumbledore said, pinching the sides of his nose between his eyes.
"We know exactly what we've done, got rid of the freak you left on our doorstep. I read that letter and you lied, how could a child provide protection? Just get out!" Vernon said.
Dumbledore walked to the door and left, just as he was in his colorful robes and apparated back to Hogwarts when he was behind the house.
The next several months were the best Harry had ever had.
For Dumbledore they had been frantic. He visited orphanages and tried to look at all the young boys for the tell tale scare he knew Harry would still have on his forehead. He went to all the magical homes where he could get an invitation to visit to see if any news of Harry Potter was available. There was nothing, and eventually, he had to admit only time would give him access to Harry Potter. Dumbledore still had the mail ward on him so he couldn't send him a letter.
Life was good for the four year old Harry Potter. He could eat food anytime he wanted and had a real bed in a real room. During the day he played with the elf children and listened to stories at night. At Christmas he made presents for the elfs and they made him gifts. They sang songs together by the Christmas tree and ate cookies. Harry Potter was finally a happy child.
A few weeks into the new year saw another Potter elf meeting. It was decided that they couldn't just hide the young Master Potter away. The elfs made the difficult decision to go to the Goblins at Gringotts and explain what happened. It had been decided to start there because they needed more money to raise the human child and the Goblins would need to know. It would also be safer than going to wizards.
February saw Harry learning about Goblins and the elfs taught him about Gringotts and how to act in the bank. At the end of February, the head Potter elf Hanbey, and the elf in charge of Harry's lessons, Mariy, apparated Harry to inside Gringotts, to the elf apparition point.
The two elves and the child made their way to see a teller.
Ricbert, chief teller inside Gringotts, was having a good day. That two elfs and a human child had just walked up to his station was of little consequence. He knew the humans often had elfs taking care of their children.
"Yes." Ricbert said without looking down to see the little group.
"We would like to see the account manager for the Potter family accounts." Hanbey said after he stood forward. He was trying very hard to keep the fear out of his voice.
Ricbert looked down at the group now. "What right do elves have to see account managers? Who are you child?" He asked gruffly.
"Hello sir, I'm Harry Potter sir." Harry said and Mariy squeezed his arm a bit.
Ricbert stood there for a second. He knew his Director would need to hear of this. "Have a seat." he said and left his station to talk to his superiors.
Hanbey, Mariy and Harry sat in the waiting area. Harry went over his letters with Mariy to stay calm, but only ten minutes later they were walking behind Ricbert through tunnels and into a large office.
The chairs provided were high and Hanbey knew they had been provided so they could speak without looking up or down.
"Welcome, my name is Norack and I am the Potter family accounts manager. If you are claiming this is Harry Potter I hope you understand a blood test will be required. " Norack said.
"We understand that, and have prepared Master Harry." Hanbey said.
Norack took a small box from one of the Goblins standing behind him. He walked around his desk and opened the box to show the little group.
"Mr. Potter, this is going to prick your finger to get a drop of blood to test who you are, do you understand?" Norack asked.
"Yes sir." Harry said and held out his finger.
Norack pricked his finger and the drop of blood was placed on the enchanted paper. Harry watched as the writing started. Not being five years old yet meant he didn't know what it said but the writing without ink and a quill was fun to watch.
"Notify the Director, this is Harry Potter." Norack said and walked back around his desk to sit. One of the Goblins by the door left.
"Can I get your names?" Norack asked the elfs.
"Of course, I am Hanbey, the Potter family head elf and this is Mariy, she is the Potter elf in charge of child care and teaching Master Harry here." Hanbey said.
"Thank you. Since young Mr Potter here is the last heir, can you explain who is in charge of him?" Norack asked.
Hanbey explained everything that had happened. About Dumbledore leaving Harry on a muggle doorstep. About the Dursley's and how they 'cared' for Harry before putting him out and planning to drop him off at a muggle orphanage. About how the elfs then took Harry back to Potter manor.
Hanbey could see Norack growing angry. "Dumbledore left a child on a doorstep?!" Norack said and pounded his desk.
"Yes sir, we kept him warm and safe." Hanbey said, proud of the elfs that worked under him. Norack took a breath to calm himself. He had no love for stupidity, no matter their race.
"It sounds like you have done well. How long have you had him?" Norack asked.
"Five months." Henby answered
"And there is no human adult with you at Potter manor?" Norack asked.
"No sir, it is just Master Harry and the Potter elfs." Hanbey said.
"And why are you coming to us now?" Norack asked.
"We need more money out of the vault for Harry first, and we've been wondering if Master James and Mistress Lily made a will to state where Harry should go if they died." Hanbey said.
"Do you no longer wish to keep the child?" Norack asked. This had Harry grasping Mariy's hand.
"No, we would very much like to keep him with us. We just don't want to do so if he should be elsewhere." Hanbey said.
Norack sat and looked at the little group. He had no love for wizards, but this boy had been respectful because of the elf's. He knew little of elfs, except that they bowed and scraped to wizards. This elf seemed different though, he had taken a child from where a wizard had put him for the child's safety.
"I can tell you that James and Lily Potter made a will, and there was a list of people that Harry should have been raised by, Vernon and Petunia Dursley were not on that list." Norack said.
"Why was Master Harry left with them if his parents had made other plans?" Hanbey asked in an angry voice.
"It seems that Albus Dumbledore does what he wants no matter the cost." Norack said and he saw the anger on the little elf's face.
"Can the will be read and made public?" Hanbey asked.
"At Gringotts, the will can be read by Harry's request when he turns seven years old. There is a copy registered with the ministry of magic but Albus Dumbledore has sealed it." Norack said and saw both elves' faces were red with anger. "He also made himself Mr. Potter's magical guardian so no one else can have it unsealed without his permission." Norack said, and the distaste was evident on his face.
"May I have ice cream?" Harry asked, looking around.
Mairy took the child's hand, "We told you we'll get ice cream after our bank business. You need to wait." She said and Harry nodded and apologized.
Norack laughed. "The little tyke knows his priorities. I would like to make some suggestions." He said.
Hanbey nodded, "Please go ahead."
Fifteen minutes later the two little elves and a four year old child that was Harry Potter but didn't look like Harry Potter were walking out of the bank towards an ice cream shop.