A/N: Hello once again everyone! I've been on a roll so far with the chapters so I'm looking to keep that going as much as I can while the muse is paying me a visit. This chapter we will step back into the Gamer Harry that started all of this, and show some of the growth and plans that he has in store. As well as growth in the Gamer powers at his disposal!
Review answers below.
Nina0116: Thank you for the review! I love Daphne as the kind of quintessential 'blank canvas' character for fanfictions, and fanfics that have her and Harry together are usually among my favorites. This iteration of Daphne battles her upbringing along with social anxieties and perhaps a hint of abuse in the rules she's had to follow. I hope to bring more depth to her character in the coming chapters. Quidditch has been hinted at, obviously, and I'll definitely be doing some scenes that focus entirely on the game. Yes Harry will have some advantages, especially with his skill boons, but it hardly makes him unbeatable. Or at least, I won't let it make him unbeatable.
Frankieu: Always love seeing your comments! Dumbledore will definitely be entering the picture soon, but Harry has also low-key been avoiding the Headmaster. Some of you may have noticed that I removed the Dumbledore bashing warning from my story summary. I'm looking to give him a bit of a chance, and see how I end up writing him. The man was flawed, as all men are, but Harry has begun noticing some butterfly effects in the world around him and these may end up affecting the Headmaster as well.
Beccasullivanwrites1: I loved writing those scenes! Harry is much much more down to earth and observant this go around, and is picking up on things that he was oblivious to before. Daphne's similarities to his own struggles in the social scene brought out a side of Harry that I hope to explore more in the future!
Slocuautla: Thank you SO MUCH. You are my 100th review and such a wonderful review it was! You are correct that Harry has been levelling up some skills in all this planning, playing, and partying! And Ron was one of the largest butterfly effects that Harry has noticed so far. Bill played a large role in Ron's life as a role model and older brother, so I saw a chance to give Ron a chance to grow a lot sooner than canon with Bill's help. There was even a little bromance that made me tear up in the presents scene. The Gamer lifestyle has taken a step back for the moment, but I simply chose not to flood the last chapter with Gamer Notifications but rest assured that Harry had quite a few.
Firetemplar415: You are in luck my friend! This chapter focuses heavily on the Gamer. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for the review!
Kairan1979: You're in luck, I go over a few of these in the chapter below!
TheGreatBubbaJ: Yes, yes he does. But in the chapter below we start to see him use some of his powers to get that money back. Good to see your comments again!
Britgar: Probably not going to happen to the degree that you'd like. I've only met a few British people in my life and definitely don't know the mannerisms well enough to give him that vibe. I, unfortunately, am from the US and a lot of that is going to bleed into my writing whether I like it or not. I'm sorry if that prevents you from reading further but I thank you for the review.
SkylerHollow: Thank you for the review!
TheGreatBubbaJ: He will not be doing all of the classes, sorry if that was confusing. Muggle Studies will not be making an appearance in my fic, sorry. And yes, Dobby's interaction with Hermione will be preventing SPEW. Good Catch! Thank you for the reviews!
And away we go!
Chapter 11: Tutors, Teachings, Training, Tellers and Tension
Sweat sizzled off of the metal that was held tightly in tongs. The hammer came down efficiently and banged off the red-hot iron. Slowly, the metal yielded under the steady rhythmic blows. Harry wiped his brow with the rag that rested on his shoulder before resuming the shaping of the metal before him. He had finally given up on trying to learn the art of Blacksmithing through trial and error and was currently in a forge that was not his own. Scotland's wonderful scenery rolled out behind him but Harry ignored it to focus on the metal before him.
"Again." Came the gruff voice.
Harry obediently dipped the iron into the oil to temper it and put it back into the forge. He stripped the thick dragonhide gloves from his hands and stepped away from the forge and into the brisk Scottish air. He was deep in the northern reaches of the land learning the ins and outs of shaping metal.
"Yer learnin' quick. I like that. But your hammer placement is off, you need to follow the angle of yer strikes or the metal will come out misshapen. Then you'll have to start over and that's no good for anyone 'specially the metal" Balduff said once he too walked out of the forge. He lit his pipe and took a long puff. The man was the definition of burly. His arms were massive, and covered in pockmarks of scars the man had earned from years of dealing with hot metal. He was also one of the best non-Goblin smiths around. A squib, but one that put no stock in magic instead trusting hard work and good steel.
Blacksmithing skill has increased! It is now 18!
Even just talking to the man usually yielded insight in the art of Blacksmithing and Harry knew that it was well worth the trip up here. The man made his home in a small village near the Northern Sea, enjoying the briney and brisk air when he stepped out of his forge. Harry was enjoying this air as well as it was such a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere of the forge. Harry had found the man with the assistance of the Goblins, who had eyed him peculiarly when he inquired about learning Blacksmithing. In their eyes nothing compared to Goblin-Forged so why even bother? But with a bit of coin to make them see it his way, he had received an address.
Initially Balduff had wanted nothing to do with Harry, thinking him a rich boy looking for a hobby to look good for the ladies. The gruff man had told Harry exactly where to shove it, and said to look into fencing like the other noble brats. But when Harry showed up again the next day and the day after that, simply watching the man work, Balduff had acquiesced and put Harry to work shoveling coals thinking that a bit of sweaty work would send the pretty boy running home to Daddy. But Harry had done everything asked of him, until finally the man put a hammer into Harry's surprisingly callused hands and showed him how to swing it. That had been 3 days ago and already Harry was learning more than he had thought he would.
Balduff had scoffed at the idea of Harry only staying to learn for a week, telling him that the metal wouldn't give up its secrets so easily, but again Harry had surprised him with startling growth. The boy was a prodigy if there ever was one, and Balduff gave him increasingly difficult tasks and maneuvers to do in the forge. He also never seemed to tire, able to keep up with the practiced man for a full day of forging.
Tomorrow, Harry knew that he would complete the quest he had received when he got into the town.
Learn the Arts of Smithing. Reach skill rank 30 and successfully forge an Iron Sword! Rewards: 15 skill points, a 5 point bonus in the art of Smithing, and title Smithing Apprentice!
***Break****
His week-long stint in Northern Scotland was over. And for a guy that wasn't really able to get tired he was pretty exhausted. Balduff had been a taskmaster, criticizing every small mistake and making Harry start over repeatedly until finally, blessedly, Harry produced a finished product. And on his last day at the forge, no less. No words of congratulations other than Tyran's voice telling him that he had in fact completed the quest. Indeed Balduff almost looked disappointed.
The gruff man had come to enjoy Harry's company oddly enough. The young man, for Balduff had stopped referring to him as a boy at some point during the week, had been tenacious in his pursuit of the craft and there was no fault that Balduff could find in the sword laid out across the table. It was not a pretty sword nor one masterfully forged but it showed a firm understanding of the basics. It was solid metal work which was all that Balduff had wanted out of Harry. The man simply exited the forge and took the familiar seat on the bench outside. Harry soon joined him and they watched the waves roll in from the Northern Sea.
"So that's it then?" Harry said from his position on the bench. The silence had been companionable but Harry was simply too curious not to ask.
"Aye" The man replied. Harry nodded, Balduff noted from the corner of his eye and the burly man nodded as well. The brisk wind carried no sound but the sound of waves and a refreshing burn from the cold sea.
***Break***
Harry stepped into his Study for the first time in a week and crossed Blacksmithing off of the list on the board. He stepped around his desk and sat in his seat. An unfamiliar clang of metal echoed through the room and Harry observed the sword on his desk. Balduff had been right, it wasn't the prettiest sword. It was rough, almost crude, but it was undeniably a sword. The handle had a simple leather grip that Balduff had wrapped around it. Focusing at it, Harry saw it glow in his eyes.
Iron Sword.
It was just a sword. But it showed commitment. It showed hard work. Hell, Harry was pretty sure that along with his sweat there was probably some blood in there too. Pride swelled up in Harry and he picked the sword up again to observe the geometrical integrity of it. Practice would let him produce fancier, better, stronger swords. But they would probably pale in comparison to how this sword made him feel.
Harry could have made the sword with his Gamer crafting system, and likely finished his quest in even faster time but Harry had learned surprisingly quickly during his foray into Scotland with Balduff that the act of doing things yielded better results than abusing the Gamer privileges. He had finally picked up a Feat from the trip into the Chamber, choosing Mage-Sight. It was this skill that had led to his impressive growth more than anything. With it he was able to Identify things and see the flaws of created objects. Using this method he was able to refine the process and usually produced a better product after each attempt. It was this along with Balduff's tutelage that had produced the sword before him.
"Dobby" A pop of arrival sounded in the room "Put this over the mantle please. Maybe a glass case or a wall mount. Use your judgement. Thank you"
"Of course, Master Harry" A pop of departure.
Harry grinned at Dobby's professionalism. The Elf had been a constant companion since he moved into the manor, and had come a long way the same as Harry. Gone were the odd mannerisms and twitches developed during the Elf's time with the Malfoys. In its place was a perfect servant and companion. Dobby had paid extreme attention to Harry in the short time that he had been at the Manor and astounded Harry every day with his attention to detail. Without even asking Dobby seemed ready for the next steps in Harry's days. Always ready. But they also talked, and joked, in companionship that had won Harry the loyalty of Dobby more than anything else.
Shaking his head to clear it of the musings Harry looked up at his to-do list. It had grown and shrunk but showed progress. And that was what Harry felt like he needed at the moment. Progress. Term was set to begin in 3 weeks and there still felt like so much to do. Balduff had shown him that practice and tutelage would yield him better results than anything else, so for the first time in a while Harry stood up and walked to the board with an eraser in his hand. The board was clean for only a moment before Harry started writing with clean confident purpose.
Logistics skill has increased! It is now 23!
***Break***
After his return from his visit to Balduff, Harry dove into his training regimen with a fervor. Every day started at 1 AM after an hour of sleep, still leaving him plenty rested of course as he didn't need sleep anyways, and had him in the Dueling room firing a storm of spells at the walls and the targets. Mage-Sight served to improve his aim with its inherent increase to Perception. The mirrors in the room showed a boy that was growing fast, looking almost 15 despite being 13. Harry reviewed various compendiums of spells during Magicka recharges and actually completed a Quest that he had completely forgotten about on his 2nd day.
Opportunity Seized! Timed Event Completed. Master 10 spells by the end of the Summer to receive a unique reward!
Rewards: Wandless and Silent Casting Skills unlocked!
Harry took the towel floating before him without a word and dabbed his hair dry as he walked through the manor. A sandwich floated towards him from the kitchen, courtesy of a wordless and wandless Wingardium Leviosa and he made short work of the quick meal. Taking a sudden right to head into the basement, Harry stepped into the Potions Lab already pulling ingredients from the wall and his Inventory. A reference book was opened in front of him, and he started the fire beneath the cauldron.
Letting the soothing process of Potions occupy his mind was a wonderful part of his morning routine. Regulating the heat with a critical eye that he had not had before his tutelage from Balduff, Harry was able to produce cleaner and more efficient Potion results. That was another thing that he had noticed pretty early on with his new routine. The progress that he made with various skills and new boons was addicting in the sense that as he increased his skills in one area it would actually tend to bleed insight into other areas. It was a glorious feeling. Plus the growth was tangible and quantifiable, which served to give Harry a giddy feeling whenever a Notification popped up.
Potions Skill has increased! It is now 35!
***Break***
Madeline smirked at Harry who returned the look. They circled one another carefully, a dance in its own right before with a flurry of activity their swords cracked against one another with a sharp and sudden sound. They separated and the dance began anew. His first few duels in the Swordsmanship class had shown that while he had talent he lacked experience and skill. But with the help of Madeline and their instructor Cadence, he had come a long way. Now Harry was able to take Madeline on even footing and it had only taken 6 days!
The wooden swords came together again in a blur of speed, this exchange lasting for a series of blows. The dancer used her fancy footwork to position herself to meet Harry's surprisingly strong strikes and he was unable to score a clean hit. They separated once more, both grinning from the exertion.
Sword Skill has increased! It is now 50! Boon Unlocked!
This Notification had come 2 days ago, and with the introduction of the boon Heavy-Handed: Strikes with a held object deal more damage! (+1 to Strength Base Score), Harry had proved a hard challenge for Madeline.
"Time!" Came the almost sing-song voice of Cadence, a woman almost a decade younger than Madeline.
Harry and Madeline released their breath that they had been holding in preparation of the next exchange, and smiled at each other. Harry had used the card that he had received from his dance classes and enrolled into the Swordsmanship class not being sure what to expect. He had been pleasantly surprised by the instructor though. Much like Madeline Cadence was a picture of fitness. But whereas Madeline struck an image of a dancer, Cadence struck the image of a warrior. Her blonde hair was styled in a purely practical manner, usings braids and a bun to keep it out of her face giving her almost a viking look. Her arms weren't large but they had a wiry muscle that only came from repeated use. The woman was a monster when it came to swordsmanship though, and if it weren't for the healing perks of the Gamer Harry would still have the bruises to prove it. A winner of multiple competitions in a sport typically dominated by men she was definitely a force to be reckoned with even, if not because, of her young age.
"How the heck are you getting so good so fast?" Madeline asked after she pulled the towel she had just used to clean her face away from her mouth. In the 2 weeks since Harry had joined the class he had risen up in skill very quickly, officially facing her who was a top student in her own right, after just 5 days in the class.
Harry grinned cheekily. When he joined the class he hadn't been expecting the rate that he had grown to be so extreme, but with the points he had already earned in Sword during the Chamber run the official tutelage had made the resultant growth explosive. And unlike skeletons Madeline was able to strike with speed and ferocity while also defending against Harry's own strikes. This had yielded chunks of Skill experience in every exchange.
"I've had a good teacher" Harry replied simply, which made Madeline snort.
"No you just want to impress the cute teacher" She quipped. The two students, more apart in age than Madeline was going to admit, made an unlikely friendship. But Harry had enjoyed Madeline's sheer… Muggle-ness after his time in the Wizarding World and the two had paired off almost exclusively since Harry joined the class.
"Is she cute? I hadn't noticed" Harry busied himself putting his gear away in his backpack.
"You can't fool these eyes, Harry. I see you checking her out during class" Madeline placed her wooden sword in the locker and clipped the padlock closed.
Harry grimaced unseen. It was true, Cadence was very cute. It bothered him that even with his growing relationship with Tracey he still couldn't keep his eyes in check. Madeline clapped him on the shoulder to shake him from his self-deprecation.
"There's nothing wrong with looking, as long as you stay on the right side of the fine line between curious and creepy. I'm sure your girlfriend will forgive you" Madeline had done this very sort of interaction after about a week since Harry had started the class. It was almost a big sister vibe which made sense given that Madeline lost her little brother a few years ago when he was around the same age that Harry was now. She wasn't looking to adopt him or anything of the sort but she felt a small sense of protectiveness for the boy and really enjoyed the moments where she could share some nuggets of wisdom that she was unable to share with her late brother.
"Are you coming with me today?" Madeline asked as she laced up her shoes. Harry was doing the same next to her.
"Of course" Harry said and they waved farewell to Cadence and started a light jog out the door. They had started this on the 2nd day when Madeline noticed that Harry had the same routine as her, a run after class just for a little more sweat in the day. There wasn't a good reason not to so they both started running together, introducing a bit of companionship and competition to their midday jog. Sporadic sprints from them both kept the interaction light but challenging and they made it to their lunch spot. It was here that they made small talk before going their separate ways for the day. It was a fun break from the busy days for Harry and he found himself looking forward to it often.
Today though there was just a little bonus for Harry.
Running Skill has increased! It is now 25! Boon Unlocked!
Long-Winded was a no brain choice for Harry, as it offered increased lung capacity and a bonus to his Constitution score that was very welcome. He received a teasing remark from the intense look he unintentionally was giving some woman, who he couldn't see through his Character Sheet, but he took it in stride and took a few shots back at Madeline when she side-eyed a very fit runner that passed their small cafe they had chosen for lunch.
***Break***
What Madeline didn't know was that some days after the run and lunch, Harry would go out for even more exercise. The boy knew that once term began he'd be focusing more on Magical and Mental Skills so Harry wanted to cram as much Physical training into his time left that he could. This was why he could be found at a large gym 3 days out of the week where he made use of the weight-training equipment and other facilities the place had to offer. It had also prompted him to take a Swimming class that had yielded fantastic results.
Swimming Skill has increased! It is now 25! Boon Unclocked!
Amazingly this skill also had the Boon Long-Winded which did the same as the Boon from Running and was again a no brain choice for Harry. It had seen a lot of growth though, after some practice at home as well, and was already in the 40s with another Boon just over the horizon.
The gym was only used for about 3 hours so that Harry had time to pop over to Hogsmeade and help Hagrid with the Skinning, Tanning, Leatherworking and Groundskeeper duties. His forays into the Forest had been stopped after a word to Hagrid from Albus, but that didn't stop Hagrid from teaching Harry more about the work he did over the summers including opportunities to practice Harry's Clipping on some of the plants that Hagrid grew in his personal garden. The shears were unwieldy in Hagrid's hand so the man appreciated Harry's help as the boy was able to get a lot of yield from not a lot of plants.
Skinning Skill has increased! It is now 25! Boon Unlocked!
Tanning Skill has increased! It is now 25! Boon Unlocked!
Leatherworking Skill has increased! It is now 25! Boon Unlocked!
Clipping Skill has increased! It is now 31!
Archery was also something that Harry enjoyed immensely and he was able to practice with Hagrids help, shooting at a log the giant man had stabbed into the ground for Harry.
Archery Skill has increased! It is now 25! Boon Unlocked!
Harry honestly felt like he had made crazy progress these past 2 weeks. More and more he noticed Boons layered onto Boons and skills bled into one another and it looked like he was going to be taking the next year by storm. His new Boons included his Archery Boon Pin-Point. You are able to easily track your target, and have a greater chance of landing shots. His Tanning Boon Tanning Extraordinaire. Hide you prepare is produced at a higher quality. Leatherworking provided Scrappy. Leather Armor you Dismantle returns more of the materials. His Skinning Boon intimidated him a little but knew it could help in some situations. Flesh-Peeler. Your skill with a knife is noticeable. Attacks with Blades and blade-like Spells are more likely to cause a bleeding effect. Clipping had seen a lot of growth, but the Boon was a little boring. Clipper Proficiency. Yield from plants increased 5%. These joined the Hammer Boon he had unlocked from Blacksmithing. Hammer! Your blows hit with an unexpected force. Results Vary. (+1 to Strength Base Score).
***Break***
Breath! Stroke, stroke, stroke. Breath! Stroke, stroke, stroke. Harry speared through the water of his indoor pool. The day had finally come, he could feel it. Excitement pushed Harry hard and he flipped in the water to kick off the wall and shoot off in the opposite direction. He wasn't going to stop, or quit, not with it so close. His lungs burned even with his Boons, but he pushed on. His arms were a blur as they swept through the water, pulling him through the water like an arrow. Blessedly, just over the noise of his feet kicking and arms splashing he heard it.
Swimming Skill has increased! It is now 50! Boon Unlocked!
Timed Quest Completed! Acquire 10 new Boon Unlocks! Reward: 100 Skill Points, you rapscallion you! 2 Feat Points awarded! 5 Perk Points Awarded! Level Up awarded!
Ding! Level Up! You are now Level 10! 20 Skill Points awarded. 120 Points unspent. 5 Stat Points awarded. 5 Stat Points unused. 2 Feat Point unuseds. 5 Perk Points unused.
Congrats! You are Level 10! Class Specialization Unlocked! You are now a Sorcerer! Class Specialization bonuses doubled!
"RAHHHHHHH!" Harry stopped and jumped out of the water in excitement, letting loose a triumphant roar. He had done it. The very reason that he had pushed himself so hard these past 2 and a half weeks was finally realized. The Quest that had taunted him since just before he went to sleep on his Birthday night.
Happy Birthday Harry! Timed Quest! Acquire 10 new Boon Unlocks! Reward: Unknown*** Time Limit: End of Summer!
The Reward Notification was the first time that anything, anything, in the Notification field had been gold and not the typical white-gray. So tough to achieve but so tempting, it had occupied every thought and every action of the last 2 weeks. And for it to provide a Level, 2 Feat Points, his Class Specialization to get better, and 5 bloody Perk Points?!
"AHHHHHHHH!" Finally Harry spent his breath and flopped back into the water, letting the water hold him up and just floating in victory. Tears of achievement tickled his eyes but he had a face-cracking smile on his face. What a wonderful feeling!
'I love being The Gamer!' Harry thought to himself and pulled himself out of the water. He had to see Tracey, this feeling demanded it. Luckily they were scheduled to meet up in Diagon today for shopping for supplies. He cast a silent and wandless drying charm on himself and sprinted through the hall, almost breaking the door off the hinges when he reached his room.
"DOBBY WHERE ARE MY PANTS!" Harry roared across the house.
***Break***
Tracey applied the make-up with a practiced hand. Normally she just applied the basics but wanted to doll herself up a little for the trip to Diagon. The supply letters had come a week later than usual for some reason, so the place was going to be packed. She was meeting Harry and Daphne at the Leaky Cauldron, under the watchful eye of Lord Greengrass as her father was stuck in some meeting with Lucius Malfoy today.
She almost stabbed herself in the eye with her applicator when Litty popped into the room next to her.
"Milady, Lord Harry Potter has arrived" Litty said, clicking her fingers to get the clothes off of the floor that Tracey had piled there.
"Already?! I'm not ready! Errr… stall him!" Tracey panicked a bit. She was maybe halfway through her make-up, her hair was still a bit wet and unstyled, and she was in her under-clothes for Merlin's sake!
Cursing Harry for his early arrival, Tracey adjusted accordingly and finished the task she was on at the moment. Using techniques that her mother taught her she pulled her hair into a tight bun and let it fall before repeating the process again a few more times. It lent her hair waves and actually worked well with the slightly wet look. She hit it with a light spray of hairspray courtesy of her Muggle-ish mother to prevent frizzing.
Clothes! Ugh, Litty had moved her clothes off the floor! She had been sorting those dammit! Knowing that Lord Greengrass was a stickler for etiquette she selected a blouse and skirt combo to wear under her nicest robes. It'd have to do, she thought to herself. Litty met her outside the room, and with another clock of the Elf's fingers flattened the wrinkles on Tracey's clothes. She simply nodded at Tracey's thankful look.
"Harry! You were supposed to be here in 2 hours!" Tracey called down the stairs, taking them 2 at a time to the disapproving eye of her mother at the bottom. She stuck her tongue out to her mother who replied with a light swat to the arm and stepped towards the sitting room.
"I know, I know, I'm sorry. You look great, have I told you that?" Harry grinned from where he was standing next to the Floo.
"What are you doing here so early?" Tracey blushed a bit at the compliment and gave Harry a curtsy, not risking a hug or a kiss with her mother right behind her. Harry bowed in return, lingering on her knuckles for just a moment longer than was considered appropriate.
"Am I not allowed to surprise you?" Harry asked cheekily. He took a moment to bow in front of Lady Davis, kissing her knuckles as well. Litty had greeted him at the Floo so he had yet to see either lady of the house before now.
"Not when I'm getting ready, no! What if I had been naked!" Tracey's eyes were accusatory, she didn't like rushing to get ready.
"Well-" Harry coughed when Lady Davis shot him a 'watch yourself' look "You're right, I'm sorry. I received great news this morning and got excited"
Tracey's eyes softened just a bit, "Oh? What was the news?"
Harry's eyes got big. What was the news? He couldn't tell them about anything Gamer related. "Errr…" He racked his brain, reviewing the letters the two had been exchanging during his training.
Luckily Lady Davis came to the rescue, "Tracey, you know it's impolite to inquire about business matters with a Lord"
Harry hid a sigh of relief, and they sat in the seats in the sitting room, occupying themselves for a short while with light conversation under the caring watch of Litty who served them tea and biscuits.
***Break***
Whoosh! Harry held Tracey tightly as they spun through the Floo, Tracey insisting on going with Harry as an excuse to get close to him at least once today. She chose to ignore the disapproving look of her mother at the familiar contact between the 2 teens. Suddenly the spinning stopped and Harry gracefully led them out of the fireplace of the Leaky Cauldron, his Lord persona at full blast in preparation of meeting the esteemed Lord Greengrass. Originally Harry had planned to go shopping with the Weasleys and Hermione who had gone yesterday but could not ignore Tracey's request to come with them when Tracey had heard that it would be Lord Greengrass escorting her and Daphne today instead of the usual Lord Davis. Tracey did not like the cold man.
And 'cold man' described Lord Greengrass perfectly in his dark Acromantula silk robes as he loomed over the rest of the Patrons in the Leaky Cauldron. The man cut an imposing figure with his slicked salt and pepper hair and thick moustache. A silver cane not unlike Lucius Malfoy's was gripped firmly and planted directly in front of the man. Where Daphne's striking blue eyes were cold and guarded, the Greengrass patron's eyes were cold and calculating. They seemed to measure anyone and everything that they pierced through. It was this man that Tracey walked up to and curtsied deeply.
"Heir Davis" even the man's voice cut through the air as if it were bothered that the air was in the way of his voice in the first place.
"Lord Greengrass, please allow me to introduce Lord Harry Potter" Tracey indicated to Harry next to her, worried about the next exchange. She knew that if the man felt like it he could make both her and Harry's life hard, his reach being very far-reaching in most circles.
Harry eyed the man in front of him, immediate dislike being hidden well behind a mask. "Lord Greengrass, what an honor. Your recent work in the Wizengamot has been widely discussed. Congratulations on a close vote on your recent legislation"
"Quite. It's a shame that you were not there Lord Potter, I would have been interested in your thoughts on the matter" He shook Harry's hand, unable to match the firm grip that Harry gave him.
Harry hid his annoyance, the recent legislation that Lord Greengrass had spearheaded had set Werewolf rights even further back.
"Indeed. Unfortunately I have been busy with other matters and have not yet found a proxy that matches my views. I would have enjoyed the chance to help vote" Harry omitted the fact that he would have been voting against Lord Greengrass's legislation.
Harry turned to Daphne and bowed lower than he was required, and bowed before her curtsy, a double sign of respect for the girl. "Heir Greengrass. You look well"
"Lord Potter, you as well," Daphne said in her controlled and monotone voice. She curtsied.
Lord Greengrass fumed silently at the boy in front of him. He could tell based on the exchanges that Harry had slighted him just a bit, but could not call him out on it without slighting his own daughter. Something he could not do in public.
Tracey took Harry's offered arm and the odd and tense group headed into the Alley.
***Break***
Diagon Alley was bustling. With the late arrival of the supply letters there were multiple families keeping the Alley very busy, and if not for Harry Potter and Jackson Greengrass cutting through the crowd like a ship in water the group would have had trouble getting anywhere. Luckily the two commanded a presence that was almost palpable and sent child and adult alike out of the way.
Tracey looked discreetly at Harry in amazement. It was like seeing someone else. Gone was the fun-loving, sweet, excitable boy that she had grown to like quite a bit. In his place stood a young man that seemed every bit the equal of the Lord Greengrass that he walked next to. To her right she could tell even through Daphne's mask that she was having the same thoughts. It was almost scary the transformation Harry had gone through almost immediately upon their arrival.
Harry however was a storm of emotion behind a mask of stone. He really did not like Lord Greengrass. Something about the man just rubbed him the wrong way, and ruined his good mood from earlier that day. The cold eyes, the way that he seemed to generate no warmth towards Daphne. He reminded Harry of Lucius Malfoy, if Lucius had no love for his son. Already Harry was ready for the day to end.
They visited Twilfit first for robes, Harry selecting 2 sets of school robes and paying for Tracey's 4 sets. She seemed shocked at his gesture, but caught his nod to Daphne where the blonde was pulling out her own purse to pay for her robes. Harry's grimace was caught by Tracey as well but missed by Lord Greengrass who was getting fitted for his own robes.
Tracey nodded at the unasked suggestion and stepped next to Daphne, where she slipped the shocked girl her own coin-purse. Tracey knew that Daphne was forced to pay for her own tuition and supplies from her late mother's inheritance. It had been a hardship that Daphne rarely commented on. They argued for a quiet moment, with Tracey nodding to Harry drawing Daphne's guarded blue eyes to his green ones. Harry nodded and Daphne finally added the coins to her own with a nod at Harry.
The group made short work at Flourish where the teller was actually a good acquaintance of Harry's from his time in Diagon, who had them squared away with that year's books in record time given the crowd in the store. The teller also slipped Harry a catalogue of their newest additions that he slipped into his inner robe pocket for a later perusal. Harry wordlessly shrank the books and carried them for the girls, to a grateful and surprised look from Tracey who had dreaded carrying the books for the rest of the day. Lord Greengrass was known to the girls to not bother casting magic on their behalf. His Inventory made it no issue but he smiled slightly at Tracey showing the first bit of warmth in a while. Lord Greengrass did not miss the casual display of wordless magic, a feat in and of itself and all the more impressive from a 13 year old, but again could not comment without being rude in a public setting. It made his rage boil just a little hotter.
Their next stop at the Apothecary brought the tension to a head when Lord Greengrass's hand latched onto Daphne's wrist when she went to pay for her supplies. A well manicured hand plucked the purse out of her hand and a careful eye counted the contents.
"What is this" His cool voice echoed ominously across the store. His eyes stabbed into his daughter's own.
"Charity? Or have you started whoring yourself out? Answer me" Lord Greengrass's voice was just low enough that only Harry, who had stepped closer when the man had grabbed his daughter, was the only person besides Daphne to hear his cold accusations.
"I've been saving" Daphne replied carefully, mindful of the look in her father's eyes.
"When? How? I have tracked your mother's inheritance for every Knut. I know how much you brought today and this is much more. So what is this. Payment from Potter for service?" His grip tightened and a flash of pain crossed Daphne's face, prompting Harry to intervene.
"That's enough, Lord Greengrass" Harry stepped forward, eyes locked onto Daphne's face.
"DO not… Do not tell me how to manage my family's affairs, boy" Jackson responded cooly, the anger at being called out by a 13 year old simmering just below the surface "You do not need to protect your whore while she is part of this family"
Boy. That word was so infuriating to Harry, memories of dark nights in the cupboard after hearing that word coming to his mind. It was second only to Freak.
"I'd advise you to watch your tone and accusations with me" Harry warned. Tracey placed a hand on Harry's arm when she noticed that their voices were carrying just a little farther and starting to get the attention of the other patrons in the store.
"Or what? Come on, Daphne, we're leaving before you get the urge to spread your legs for this fool of a Boy Lord any wider" Lord Greengrass started to pull Daphne away from the counter and to the door.
"Greengrass" Harry's voice echoed over the store with chilling authority. Both Greengrasses stopped and turned at the tone. A glove whistled through the silent air and slapped against Lord Greengrass's face with an audible noise. As it fell off of Jackson's face seemingly in slow motion, it revealed a face of outrage. Lord Greengrass threw Daphne's wrist from his grip and stepped angrily into Harry's personal space. Harry's face didn't flinch at the intrusion.
Etiquette Skill has increased! It is now 34!
Intimidation skill has increased! It is now 30!
"You dare?" the voice was cold and angry, and perfectly matched the face that Lord Greengrass had.
"I dare." Harry replied, shoving the man away from him with both hands with shocking force, causing the man to be thrown back and bounce off of the wall. Ingredients clattered to the floor next to where Lord Greengrass fumed from his position on the ground.
Fisticuffs Skill unlocked! It is now 1!
*Fin*
Oooooo, oh no he didn't! Stay tuned! That last scene wrote itself, and I'm actually giddy at the ideas for the results of that exchange.
'Til next time!