“Hello me...” he whispered to his reflection. His slightly rounded face, large shamrock green irises set in soft almond shaped eyes combined with his soft, full, blood red lips, high cheekbones and a cute Irish sloped nose, he was the picture of masculine beauty. He stepped away from the cracked mirror in Dudley's second room, a disgusted sneer flitted across his face, and turned to the door grabbing his bathing supplies and, quietly as possible, crossed the hall to the bathroom.
Entering the bathroom and softly closing and locking the door behind himself, he turned the shower on to let it heat up. He quickly undressed and brushed his teeth and put his body-wash, shampoo and conditioner in the shower before getting in. He quickly wet himself down, and continued to scrutinize his body. At almost 15 years old, he was still considered to be below average height, and he certainly looked underweight. 'But what do you expect when you've spent the first eleven years of your life shoved in a cupboard' he groused to himself.
He mentally compared himself to his dorm-mates and knew that while he might be small in comparison, he had skipped the 'gangly' stage the other boys were in and had gone straight through to a nicely developed body. His legs were well muscled, unlike Dean who still had knobby knees. And his arms, while not large, had nicely defined muscles that spoke of a quiet strength. His chest and stomach were hard, but only lightly defined. He was pleased with the way his body looked. While he might look small and fragile to others, he knew that his compact body allowed him a greater advantage over most opponents.
He knew he was good looking; Seamus, Parvati, and Lavender's constant flirting alluded to that very fact. All of Hogwarts knew they only paid attention to the best looking blokes or birds in the school. Now all he needed was to rid himself of his cousins horrid hand-me-down clothes. And that really got him thinking. Weren't Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon getting a monthly stipend to take care of him? He knew in the muggle world that some governments paid a monthly amount to those that took in orphaned children. 'Merlin, what is that old coot up to...? I know they should have got something...'
He looked around, “He's hiding something...I just know it. Too many things just don't make sense.” He'd come to some conclusions at this point, one: Dumbledore wasn't trustworthy, and that meant Dumbledore's 'Order' was under suspicion too. Two: After the death of Cedric at the end of the school year, why was it still deemed safe for him here? What good would blood wards do now that Voldemort shared his blood? And three: He needed to put his Gryffindor side on the back burner and his Slytherin side on the flame.
He looked at himself in the mirror and gave his reflection a surprisingly Malfoy like smirk, “Hello me, meet the real me...,” He let out a decidedly dark giggle, “in my misfits way of life. A dark black past is my most valued possession, Hind sight is always twenty-twenty...,” he trailed off. His past was definitely dark and everything wasn't quite twenty-twenty yet, but it was getting there.
'Hmm...misfits way of life...' he thought to himself, he really was tired of looking like some starved, begging wisp of a child. Quickly dressing in some slightly newer, but still huge, hand-me-downs from Dudley, he made his way back to his room, an idea forming. 'Now I just need some help pulling this off...' He paced back and forth in his room, going over the pros and cons of his possible choices in people to help him.
“I could ask Sirius...no, he'd flip, rant and rave...tell Dumbledore. Okay no Sirius. Remus? Gred and Forge? No...Remus would report to Dumbledore thinking it was for his own good, Gred and Forge would be hounded by Mrs. Weasley until she found out what he wanted from them if they even hinted that he wanted their help.” He sighed in exasperation. “Maybe Hermione, she's about as Slytherin as I am. Knows more about...” He was cut off by a timid knock on his door.
“Harry?” He heard his Aunt ask through the door. “Breakfast is ready...” he heard her steps pause as she started to walk away, but she continued down the hall and he heard her soft steps descend to the ground level.
Somethings wasn't right around here. His families' behaviour was odd, not at all what he was used to. He was perplexed by his families’ behaviour... “Some thing's not right!” he whispered, reaching for the door. There hadn't even been any snide comments about all the 'freaks' when they had gotten him from King's Cross Station. “This is weird...even for me!” He whispered harshly, thoroughly confused by his relations.
The Dursley's had been down right friendly so far this summer. Uncle Vernon hadn't ignored him, nor did he engage him in any kind of interaction. Aunt Petunia had been quiet, not ordering him to clean the house, mow the lawn or tend to her flowers. But she watched him, with an intensity he had never seen his Aunt give to anything, not even Dudley, almost like she needed to learn what he was like. And Dudley, he really made Harry wonder about the mental stability of his 'family'. Dudley hadn't been rude, degrading... or annoying. He stopped his friends from going “Harry Hunting” and had even stuck-up for him to one of the neighbors.
He cautiously entered the kitchen, his Aunt, Uncle and cousin already seated at the table waiting for him. His Aunt looked up at him as he entered the kitchen and gave him a grim smile. “Harry,” she began. “We've some things that we need to speak to you about. But first let's all have a bit of breakfast. Then we can talk.”
“Alright, Aunt Petunia,” He replied, trepidation seeping into his words. 'This can't be good,' he told himself. 'They NEVER speak to me; much less discuss anything with me.'
Petunia started to serve everyone at the table. Harry could see the fear, sadness and self-loathing in her eyes as she handed him his plate. After she had served Dudley, Vernon and herself, the room fell silent. The only sound to break the uncomfortable silence was the clicking of the silverware on the dishes."
Throughout the meal Harry kept looking at the members of his family every couple of bites. He couldn't figure out what was going on, and no one would meet his gaze. They slowly finished their meal, Harry helping his Aunt clear the table, the years of doing so having hi unconsciously moving to do the task.
They quickly had the job done and Harry sat down to wait, with His Uncle and Cousin, as his Aunt made a fresh pot of tea. As she returned to the dinning room, Harry gradually felt a case of nervousness overtake him.
His Aunt finally sat down after pouring everyone a fresh cuppa. Petunia cleared her throat as she stirred her tea. “Your Uncle received a visitor at Grunning's just before you got back from your school.” She shared a look with Vernon, who gave her an encouraging nod, and took a sip of her tea before continuing. “He told your Uncle that there were some issues concerning my parents Estate, and that he'd like to make an appointment to meet us here to discuss it.” She paused, trying to compose and steel herself.
Harry looked at her, wishing that she would just get on with it. He hated surprises, and this was definitely going to be a surprise. He could feel that this was going to throw a metaphorical wrench into the machine that was his life. Excited, yet fearful of how this discussion would change his life. “Alright,” he said slowly, “I understand so far, but what has this got to do with me?”
“Well,” she said daintily clearing her throat, “It turns out that this gentleman was actually a wizard.” He had to strain to here the last word, his cup half way to his mouth stopped when what she said penetrated his brain.
“Wah..What...?” he asked, as excitement, fear and disbelief warred for dominance in his mind. Excitement that a wizard had been to see his muggle Aunt about the Estate of her parents, fear that a wizard he didn't know had enter into this house where he was supposedly safe from other wizards, but disbelief seemed to be winning. His Aunt had said WIZARD!! Not Freak, not abomination, not “one of your kind”, but wizard.
She gave him a sad smile, as if what she had to say pained her greatly. “He's an Irish man by the name of Liam Clealand,” she replied gently. “He told us that my father hired him after Lily was born,” A small sad smile ghosting across her lips. She cleared her throat again. She continued when she caught Harry's eyes, “I'm sure you know what Obliviate does, correct Harry?”
“Yes!” He croaked out around the lump that was forming in his throat. The many things that one word implied running through his mind.
“And memory charms? You know that there are many of those too, right?” He nodded at this, words failing him. “My father had this man place memory charms on us. Well, everyone but Lily.” Harry's eyes widened at that.
“B...bu...But that means...,” he trailed off.
“My father, Lily's father, your Grandfather,” she emphasized, “was a wizard and our Mother was a muggleborn witch. After Lily was born, your Grandfather wanted to ...,” she paused searching for the right word, “wanted the Evan's family to vanish from the Magical world. He feared for our family, our magical line, and felt hiding it in plain sight was the best thing he could do. The memory charm affected everyone in the family but infants.”
Harry looked at his Aunt and Uncle in disbelief. His eyes wide and bright, “But why? What's so important about the Evan's line?” Anger slowly building in him, like a pot of water on the hob. He could feel it growing, almost as if it were a living, breathing entity. His Aunt's voice broke into his thoughts.
“Apparently the Evan's line can be traced back to each of the founders.” Harry just nodded for his Aunt to continue, their eyes still locked together. “My father was very good at charms, and the one that Mr. Clealand used on the family was created by my Father. It was very complicated; the spell didn't truly remove our memories, just everything that had to do with magic. This also made it impossible for us to use magic. It took away our belief in the supernatural.”
Uncle Vernon cleared his throat with a hardy cough and every-one's eyes fixed on the, until now, quiet man. “It turns out that the charm was to be reversed after your Mother had you. However, your Grandfather died a few months beforehand and...” he paused, looking very uncomfortable. Once again clearing his throat, he straightened his back and looked Harry dead in the eye, “I'm just gonna get to the point in this entire story Boy", he grimaced at his words and tone of voice. "Mr. Clealand finally found us through the public records of students that attend Hogwarts and while he was here he removed the memory charm from your Aunt. And along with it a charm that your Headmaster put on us when he left you here.”
Petunia placed a hand on her husbands arm to stop him. “I loved my sister, Harry. No matter what I've said to the contrary, I loved my sister. She was my best friend and greatest confidant. When she received her Hogwarts letter I was upset, but we wrote each other every week and spent our summers attached at the hip." She stopped, having to dab at the tears running down her cheeks.
She gripped the handkerchief in her hands, wringing it mercilessly. "By the time Lily married James, Vernon and I had been married for six months. Shortly after, we found out I was pregnant with Dudley and she with you." She reached out towards Harry, wanting to caress his cheek.
"You were such a happy baby, Harry! Lily would bring you over and we'd take you and Dudley to the park to play. And then, all of the sudden, we couldn't do that anymore." Petunia now had tears streaming down her cheeks.
"That mad man," she spat out, anger mixing with her pain and sadness, "that madman ruined it all! That Headmaster of yours told us the information of where you were couldn't be trusted in the unshielded mind of a muggle."
Harry could see the anger shining in her eyes and he could feel his own anger doubling. 'The Headmaster! What? Why does everything bad in my life have to come back to him!'
"And then, all of the sudden, late at night one Halloween, I hear a knock at the door. And who's standing there! None other than Albus Dumbledore holding a wrapped bundle. He handed you to me and asked if we'd take you in and raise you. He told me that 'The Dark Lord' had somehow found you and your parents and that they were now dead." She got up from the table, her anger making it hard for her to sit still.
"The last thing I remember from that night is a red glow surrounding you and I, then Dumbledore holding his wand to my temple," she paused as her eyes clouded over in remembrance, lightly touching her temple with her free hand. "Oh dear! The words that man spoke to me, I can hear them so clearly. 'We can't have you loving him now, dear Petunia. He won't be the good little soldier I need him to be. Obliviate!'
Her eyes cleared as the memory finished playing out in her minds eye and she went and knelt next to Harry. "I'm so sorry Harry! I knew that the way we were treating you was wrong, but I couldn't stop. No matter how many times I tried, and I did try so many times, I couldn't stop the way we treated you.” She placed her free hand on Harry's arm, “Dumbledore placed a charm on us that insured our mistreatment of you."
That was it. That last statement was the straw to break the camels back. "That fecking bastard! Why! I would fight Voldemort no matter what. He killed my parents for Merlin's sake!"
Harry stood up, violently slapping his hands on the table and knocking the chair to the ground with a clatter. Petunia didn't move from where she was kneeling, but placed a gentle hand on Harry's arm. "I know this is hard for you Harry." She whispered to him, "It's hard for me too. To know that you've been forced to live a lie and know that there's nothing you can do to change what's happened..."
"But look what he did Aunt Petunia! He tortured us, he made me live with hatred and loathing. And you! You he toutured with the knowledge that for as long as the spell lasted, you'd have to loath me and hate me." His voice beging her to tell him why this had been done to him.
"Oh sweet Merlin! What if the Weasley's knew all this time? Remember second year? Fred, George, and Ron are the ones that used that flying car." Harry collapsed onto the floor, the pain shooting through his knees barely making him flinch.
"I don't know Harry," his Uncle spoke for the first time, "but I'll tell you this. Throughout history, societies make and break Heroes. And whoever controls the Hero, truely has the power." He slid a fresh cuppa towards Harry, while Dudley righted the chair and helped his mother and then Harry up from the floor.
"From what I've seen of the Weasley family though, I'd say they're living by the 'To the victor goes the spoils'. And in this case," Vernon paused to take a sip of tea, "I'd say you're meant to be the spoils, Harry."
Harry couldn't stop his mouth from falling open. Shocked at the level of insight his Uncle had just shown. "Do you think he'd make other people act the way you had to?" He cleared his throat to dislodge the lump that was choking him.
"It's alright now Harry. We're allowed to be a family now, and I promise you that we will make that meddlesome old man pay!"
Petunia got out of her chair and walked over to Harry and pulled the slight boy into her arms. Her tears falling faster as she felt Harry shake with each sob. "I'm so sorry Harry. So very sorry and I know there's nothing I can do to change what we've done, but we can change how we are now. We can try and put this behind us and be a family like we should have been.
Harry nodded his head, tears of anger and sadness still filling his eyes though his tears had abated. “I'd like that Aunt Petunia, but why did you wait so long to tell me?” He briskly wiped the tears still clinging to his cheeks and eye lashes.
“I needed to come to terms with what I'd," she paused when Vernon cleared his throat, "we did to you. I had to make myself understand that even though I wasn't the cause of my horrid behaviour towards you, I did nothing to stop our behaviour. I knew that something was terribly wrong with me and your Uncle never had a problem with magic before you were left here. But even then I didn't try to get us any help, something might have helped, but I refused to do that.”
“Thank you Aunt Petunia. It means a lot to me that you told me,” Harry beamed at his Aunt. He stood up and returned her hug. The first hug he had ever given his Aunt and it felt good. Better than any hug from Molly Weasley.
“Now can we go shopping in London?” Dudley spoke up for the first time since they'd come down for breakfast. Harry started giggling and was soon joined by his Aunt and Uncle. With one simple question fourteen years of misunderstandings and manipulations started to heal.
It had been two very productive days since his Aunt had explained Dumbledore's machinations towards his family and today was looking to shape up the same way. Today he'd be meeting with Liam 'to go over the Estate of the Evan's family'.
Yesterday his Aunt had explained that since Lily had been the last magical child of his Seanathair Evan's, the Evan's Estate went to Lily instead of going to the first born child. And since he was Lily's son, it became his upon his mothers death.
And so, here he sat, waiting for Barrister Clealand to knock on the front door and tell him exactly how his summer and life were going to change. Half an hour and one pot of tea later, the long awaited knock came at the door. He heard his Aunt answer the door and the quiet foot falls as the two adults walked towards the sitting room where Harry was waiting.
Harry stood up to greet the man as his Aunt introduced he and Liam to one another. "Harry, I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Liam Clealand. Liam, this is my nephew, Harry Potter."
Liam grasped Harry's hand in a firm handshake, "Mr. Potter, it's a pleasure to finally be meeting you." The mans lilting cadence flowing through him and calming his nerves. "Shall we go ahead and begin our time together with a discussion?" And so began a very long day for Harry and his family.
Harry, Petunia and Dudley spent the better part of the morning and afternoon being tutored in all it took to ward a house against everyone but those you want in. At the end of the day Harry also found himself the owner of an untraceable, unmonitored, un-hexed eleven inch Holly with Phoenix tail feather cored wand!
“Aunt Petunia? Is it alright if I invite my friend Hermione over?” Harry asked his Aunt as he leaned around the corner to see into the kitchen. He and his family had been getting on well over the last two weeks, but now Harry really wanted to go shopping for his type of clothing. And, really, who better than Hermione to help him find just what he wanted, she did know him better than he knew himself.
Petunia looked up from her chopping, “Do you trust her enough to keep our secrets? We can't have Dumbledore getting wind of this Harry. It took Liam over two hours just to disrupt the monitoring charms, and another three to put the dummy surveillance charms in place. I don't want all that hard work to have been for nothing.” By the time she had finished she had both hands on her hips and Harry was doing all he could to keep from laughing at the sight. She looked so very much like Molly Weasley at that moment.
“Yes Aunt Petunia. She's already agreed to a Wizards Oath to not reveal anything she's told about our family,” Harry pecked his Aunt on the cheek. “Besides, she's a genius! She can help you and Dudley with your magic...well at least get you the right books so you can learn to control your magic.”
Harry had found out the hard way that suppressed magic was just as bad as, if not worse than a child's accidental magic after Aunt Petunia told Dudley he was going back on a diet. Later that day he'd meet Liam Clealand, The Evan's Family Barrister. Harry had begged his Aunt to call the man so that he could at least help Petunia and Dudley control their magic enough to avoid the Ministry of Magic should they still have monitoring charms around the neighborhood.
She smiled at him and pointed towards the phone. “She’s your muggleborn friend, right?” Harry nodded and picked up the phone, “Why don't you invite her over for dinner, Harry? Not tonight but maybe this weekend?”
Harry smiled brightly at his Aunt, “Thank you Auntie. I was going to ask her to go shopping with me. I want to go somewhere other than London, but I want to take someone with me.” He dialled Hermione's number. After a few rings he heard Hermione's soft “Hello?”
“Hermione! I'm so glad I caught you. Do you want to go to Saint *Aibhistin Square with me tomorrow?”
“Harry! I'd love to go...,” She started, “but what about your Aunt and Uncle? Won't they freak out? And what about Dumbledore?” Harry could hear the concern and confusion in her voice. With his next words he thoroughly confused the young witch.
“It's alright Hermie! Liam took care of it already!” Harry started to giggle as he heard Hermione's breathing get faster.
“Who's Liam, Harry?”
“I'll tell you all about him tomorrow, Hermie! Besides you'll get to meet him at the Square. He's going to help me explain everything to you then." He smiled at his Aunt, as she waved the spoon she held at him, admonishing him for his teasing of Hermione. "Oh, Aunt Petunia wants to know if you'd like to come to supper on Saturday?”
Hermione sighed heavily and answered in her lecturing tone, "Alright Harry, but you better have a very, very good explanation." He heard the smile as she continued. "Tell your Aunt I'd love to join you for dinner.”
"Great!" Harry exclaimed "Do you want to meet here or.... Damn Dumbledore! Would it be alright if I sent Liam to come get you? He'll make it so you can't be seen.”
"Alright Harry. What time will he be here?” She asked, her voice sounding unsure about what she was agreeing to.
"Around half ten, Is that alright for you?”
"That's perfect Harry. I'll see you then! And I expect a good explanation Harry James Potter!" Hermione replied in her best Molly Weasley voice.
Harry chuckled softly, "Yes mummy 'Mionie. See you tomorrow then. And wear some comfortable shoes. Going to shop till we drop!” He put the phone on its cradle after he heard the click of the other line being hung up. Harry turned to his Aunt and gave her a bright smile, “Thanks Auntie, I'm glad you invited her for my birthday. I'm going floo Liam and let him know to pick Hermie up before coming here.”
Petunia smiled indulgently at him and excused him with a careless wave of the spoon she wielded.
He was not a weak man, mind or body. But strength of one's body or mind mattered little when it came to the Imperious curse. If one was fed potions and plied with will charms, strength was of little import.
That's what found him sitting in a room warded against magic and cursing the existence of his wife and wishing he could bring his father back and kill him with his bare hands. It had taken him years to fight against the the effects of the charms placed upon him and years more to learn and perfect his Occumency to weaken the hold of Narcissa's Imperious.
"Lucius, darling, you really should have stayed hidden away within that mind of yours." Narcissa purred into his ear, making him shiver. He turned his face away from her, the sweet smell of her perfume making his stomach roil.
"But that wouldn't have been any fun, Cissa dearest." He sneered at her from his bound spot. "I do know how you abhor boredom."
She smiled wickedly at him, :Ha... you are so right Lucius, darling. But now you've gone and ruined all the Dark Lord's plans."
If he could have moved his hands, he would have brushed away her words with a careless wave. "As if I would care about the foiled plans of that half-blooded psychopathic megalomaniac!"
Rage overtook the petite blond at Lucius' words. "Oh dear, that wasn't the smartest thing to say Lucius dear." She replied carelessly, while slowly removing the cloth that was draped over the little side table next to him. "I guess I'll just have to punish you for your hurtful and oh so traitorous words words."
She slowly pulled out a thin silver dagger and with a devious gentility, ran the blade across his cheek. "I do so hope that I don't damage you to bad. It would be so terrible if Draco were to lose his father at this pivotal point in his life." With those final words the deceptively sweet looking blond cut into Lucius with savage glee. She sis not stop her torture until Lucius could no longer contain the pain and screamed, and blessed darkness took him.
At exactly half ten in the morning there was a polite knock on the door of one Hermione Granger's home. She had been looking out the window watching the door carefully, but hadn't seen anyone walk up the path. She got up from the chair she had been sitting in and went to open the door just a crack.
“Miss Granger?” She heard, yet she still did not see anyone. “Please come out and act as if you are checking post, when you come back in I will follow you. I do not wish for Dumbledore's Order to know of my presence should they be watching this house.”
She gave a slight nod of her head disguised as her just flipping her hair back over her shoulder. She walked down the path to the post box and looked inside. Knowing there was nothing in there; she closed it and made her way back into the house.
Once inside she was faced with a man of middling age, a handsome man with mossy green eyes and messy brown hair that reminded her of Harry. “Miss Granger? I'd like to introduce myself,” the man said with a slight bow of acknowledgement. “My name is Liam Clealand, and I am the Evan's Family Barrister.” He finished, hold his hand out to her.
“A pleasure Mr. Clealand.” She grasped his hand firmly and smiled at him. “I was very worried when Harry called me like that, and was completely un-fazed about the Headmaster finding out.”
Liam gave a smirk that she had only ever seen grace the lips of one Severus Snape, and she felt chills run down her spin at the thought. “All in good time Miss Granger, all in good time.” The smirk quickly fell from his face, “Now I believe Harry is waiting our arrival. Are you adverse to my usage of magic on your person?”
Before she had fully given a shake of her head, she felt the tingle of a disillusionment spell wash over her. She felt Liam grasp her arm and lead her out through the back of the house and into the garden. “On the count of three I will apparate us to Privet Drive.” Hermione steeled herself for the squeezing feeling of apparition. “One, two, three,” And with an almost silent pop they were gone.
Harry looked up from the cutting board, when he heard a soft whistle and then a knock. Harry peaked around the corner into the dinning room where his Aunt was setting the table for Tea. “Auntie, they're here.”
She looked up from the china set she was placing onto the table. “Well... let them in then, Harry,” she answered, laughter tinting her voice.
Harry felt a light blush steal up his face and practically ran to the sliding door that led into the garden. Before the door was even completely open, Harry found himself full of an invisible form, invisible bushy hair in his face.
“Hey 'Mione! You ready to do some shopping today?” Liam cancelled the disillusionment spell with a quick flick of his wrist and Harry led Hermione over to the table. “Auntie Petunia, I'd like to introduce you to my best friend Hermione Jane Granger. Hermione, this is my Aunt Petunia Anne Dursley nee Evans.
Hermione extended her hand to Petunia, “It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Dursley.”
“Likewise Miss Granger. It's nice to finally be able to meet one of Harry's friends.” She replied, leading Hermione to the table. “We're going to have a bit of tea while Liam, Harry and I explain to you what is going on.”
“Don't worry Hermie, nothing is too terribly wrong,” Harry told his friend with a sad smile. "At least it's not a Basilisk or a possessed DADA professor."
Aunt Petunia poured and fixed the tea to everyone's liking. While they partook of morning tea they explained to Hermione the manipulation and life threatening decisions of one Albus Wulfric Percival Brian Dumbledore.
Hermione was one the most level headed people Harry knew, and the simple fact that she had at one point sprayed tea out of her mouth when she'd become ... well sputtering mad, really showed him how much she thought of him. She met his eye and patted his hand, “Whatever you have in store for that manipulative old goat, I'll be more than happy to help you with it.” She looked at him with an intense steely look in her eyes.
Harry smiled at her and winked, “I wouldn't want anyone else, and seeing as we don't know if Ron's trustworthy, it'll be you an me 'Mione!” Hermione's eyes became stone at the mention of the Wesley's. She'd confirmed for him that they constantly reported to Dumbledore everything that he wrote to Ron over the summers. But whether it was of Ron's own free will or just the overbearing presence of Weasley matriarch was yet to be seen.
“Well,” his Aunt said a bit loudly, “enough of this depressing talk! We've got shopping to do!!” She started to gather the teacups and saucers, Harry and Hermione jumped up to help her clear off the table so they could get going sooner.
Once the table was cleared and wiped down, the leftovers packed up and put in the chill-box, and everything washed up and put away in the cupboards, they stood in the hall at the bottom of the steps. Liam reached into his waist coat and pulled out a chain that was at least three feet long, and held it out, “Wrap this about your hand. We don't want to lose anyone on the way.”
Hermione and Petunia both looked at Harry and laughed. Harry reached out with one hand a wrapped the chain around his hand, ignoring the snickers from his Aunt and best friend.
“Are we all ready then?” Everyone nodded to the man, “Alright then, we'll be landing on the steps outside the Irish branch of Gringotts.” He informed them, and with a whispered *Síofra they were whisked away to the Irish countryside.
As they landed on the steps of Gringotts, Liam unwound his and Petunia's hands from the chain, turning to Harry and Hermione, “Keep the chain with you at all times, just as it is. If you come into danger, just say my name. You will be brought to me.”
Making eye contact with them both, he continued, “Let us continue on then shall we Síofra, Faoileann?” He turned towards the doors of Gringotts and opened them for his companions. He chuckled lightly at the confused looks on Harry and Hermione's faces.
They walked up to the queue-up line and waited for the next available goblin. A goblin yelled “Next!” And Liam led Harry up to the counter. “We have two transactions we would like to make.”
The goblin nodded to Liam and motioned for him to continue. “Young Mr. Potter here would like to make a withdrawal from his vault at the London branch to start with. Half of which needs to be converted into muggle currency."
“Yes, alright,” the little goblin stated in his gruff voice. “And what amount would you like from your account Mr. Potter?”
He shared a quick look with Liam, “I believe that 2000 Galleons would suffice. What is the current exchange rate, if you will?”
“1000 Galleons will be 4979 pounds and 99 pence,” the goblin informed him in a matter-of-fact toned voice. “And the other transaction you wanted to make gentlemen?”
Liam looked at Harry as he informed the goblin, “Mr. Potter here is the heir to the Evans account and the Founder's vaults. He needs to unlock the blood wards on them.” He turned to the goblin at this, “I do not need to impress the importance that this stays quiet, especially from those in England, do I sir goblin?”
The goblins eyes shone brightly, and with a minute shake of his head, the goblin motioned for another goblin to take them to the proper vaults. As he handed the other goblin the parchment stating which vaults were to be visited, he told his fellow, “Secrecy is of the utmost importance.” He turned to Liam and Harry, “I must inform you that unless a change is made to the guardian of your school account, one Molly Wesley nay Prewett will be informed of the withdrawal.”
“If you could, please have it changed to Petunia Anne Dursley nee Evans, of #4 Privet Drive, Surrey, England.” Harry informed the goblin briskly, his indignation rising as the seconds ticked by. 'Why hadn't she told him that she held a second key?'
Liam glanced at Harry, “As Mr. Potter's Barrister, I would like you to conduct a full audit of all accounts from the Potter holdings he stands to inherit, including his school vault.” He glanced at Harry when he heard a sharp intake of breath from his young charge. “Calm yourself Síofra, we will correct any frauds committed against you and see that those responsible are properly penalized.”
Harry nodded harshly at this, his hands shaking in rage. He gave the goblin at the counter a curt nod and turned to follow the other to the cart that would take them to the bowels of the bank.
While Harry and Liam took care of business in Gringotts, Hermione and Petunia walked around to the shops directly around the bank. They chatted and Hermione pointed out nice little trinkets that could be found in wizarding homes all over Great Britain.
Petunia found she loved the wizarding clocks, and felt it would be excellent for her family. It would allow her to know what her boys were up to. She paused at that particular thought, her boys, and she collapsed onto the large window ledge.
Hermione stopped in her perusal of the shop windows when she noticed 'Auntie Petunia', as she insisted Hermione call her, was no longer next to her. She quickly spotted the newly revealed witch as she half collapsed half sat on the ledge of one of the shops window, and quickly hurried over to her.
“Auntie Petunia, what's wrong?” Hermione asked the obviously distraught woman, and gasped as Petunia looked up at her. Tears of sadness brimmed up in eyes that glowed with anger and twinkled with vengeance.
“That horrid, horrid man stole my beloved sisters baby from me,” she spat out, hatred thickening her accent, while she turned to look at the clock once again. “He turned me into a monster! A monster!” she exclaimed. “I will see that man burn in the deepest, darkest part of hell if it's the last thing I do!” she swore and a deep gold light shone around her and quickly sank into her skin.
Hermione smiled at the woman and they shared a look, one that only women share when they have a common enemy and a common goal. “It will be my pleasure to assist you in whatever endeavour you need my help in!” Hermione replied in a solemn voice.
The moment was quickly broken when a growl of frustration and anger rent the air. Both women looked up to see a fuming Harry stomping down the steps of the bank, Liam following behind with a dark look clouding his face.
“What's wrong Harry?” Petunia and Hermione asked in unison.
Liam stepped in and answered with, “Do you really need to even ask that question ladies?” Both women shook their heads, shooting Harry worried looks.
“Come along, Síofra, Faoileann, *Marta Bláth, we have shopping to do, and little time to do it in!” Liam announced loudly. “Síofra, wrap the chain I gave you around your hand and then around Faoileann's hand.” Harry did as he was bid to do and he and Hermione followed after the adults.
Liam led them through St. Aibhistin's, past the apothecary's store and up a set of wide stairs between Dagda's, a local pub, and Flourish and Blotts. As they topped the stairs, Liam turned to them, “To your left are all the clothiers, the ones furthest from here are on the muggle side of the square, so no foolish wand waving.” Harry started to choke as the last part of what Liam had said shocked him. Hermione just laughed as the adults looked at Harry in concern.
Liam then pointed to their right, “Marta Bláth and I will be going in this direction. It is noon now, so we'll meet downstairs in front of the Dagda's in three hours time. If you need to do any more shopping of some such we can do so after a late lunch.”
With a smart ass salute from Harry, which Hermione smacked him in the back of the head for, Liam and Petunia went on their way. “So...?” she prodded, jumping up and down and clapping her hands in excitement.
“A needle pulling thread...,” he chuckled, dodging another blow to the head.
“Fine be that way then!” she said in a mock hurt tone, flipping her hair over her shoulder and sniffing lightly. “But really Harry, what style are you going for? Are you going to ignore the dress code and only wear your robes over muggle clothes?”
“Yes, that's pretty much the idea of it,” he told her. “I want Old Dumbles to really, really, understand that I'm not a Knight in his game of chess against Moldy Shorts”
Hermione snorted at this, Harry throwing her a wry grin as the walked by clothing, shoe and accessory stores. “I was thinking that I want to mesh punk and goth,” he answered to her other question.
She looked at him oddly, “What? Like worn, holy, baggy, plaid pants and tight mesh shirts and band tees?” She asked him in disbelief.
“Well, yeah...kinda. But you forgot the chains and tattoos and improper piercings. Oh, oh, and don't forget the dyed chunks of bright or neon coloured hair!” He looked at her with a mischievous grin. "No, I was thinking more along the lines of tight pants, well, more like form fitting pants and shirts."
"So you still want plaid, but you also want leather and jeans too then?"
Hermione made an odd face at his declaration, she had decided to help her friend buy clothes and she would, no matter how riské his choices might be. “Alright then Harry, how about that store up there?”
He looked towards where she was pointing, a good sized shop, shirts with runes on them, “No clue what any of those mean, but...', and swirling, pulsing lights flashing out every couple of seconds. He nodded to her and she grabbed his hand, dragging him the two doors down to the shop.
As the door opened to them, a klaxon blared out and the heavy music tore at their ears. A tall brunette man peeked out from behind a curtain, and with a quick wave of his wand the music volume lowered and the klaxon stopped.
The man smiled at them, “Greeting little *Ailills! What can I do for you today?” His voice was smooth and even, the barest hint of an accent showing through.
“My friend needs a new wardrobe,” Hermione told the man, pulling Harry behind her. “Could you help us out? I don't know what would look good on him in his chosen...style.,” she replied.
“What style would that be?”
“Punk and goth and lots and lots of leather...” Harry answered, putting a hand over Hermione's mouth. “I just want to have clothes that can express my mood while being funky and free.”
The clerk smiled brightly at them, “Got just what ya be wantin' *grá! We'll have you a new wardrobe before ya even know it.” He went around the store, and starting with pants and working his way up, he loaded Harry and Hermione's arms with clothes. He finally stopped picking clothes when he saw them resting against the wall.
“Let's get ya into a changing room. You'll want this stuff ta be fitting ya right.” He told them, while quickly levitating the clothes from their arms. He quickly dragged Harry to one of the changing rooms and pushed him inside, pulling the curtain shut behind him. “Start with the pants, then we'll move on to the tops grá.”
Harry groaned as he stared at the pile of clothing, 'Why oh why did I want to do this...?' With a deep sigh and a shrug, he grab the first pair of pant and put them on. He pulled the curtain back and was greeted with a wolf whistle, making him blush. And so they spent the next hour and a half in the shop, Harry trying on pairs of pants and shirt after shirt with Hermione and the store clerk, telling him what looked good on him.
Two o'clock found Harry and Hermione running back towards the steps, Harry being weighed down by his purchases and praying to Morgana that Liam wouldn't yell at them for being late.
Harry and Hermione entered the quiet pub with a bang and a curse of 'sweet Circe's tits'. They quickly spotted Petunia and Liam at a both not far from the door, Liam looking at his watch and up at them with a raised eyebrow. Harry and Hermione quickly took there seats across from the adults, each throwing Liam a sheepish look.
“Sorry we're late, but the store clerk was a very enthusiastic chap.” Harry lifted up the two bags that were at his side, “Two bags full and they're even shrunk!”
Liam waved off the explanation, smiling at the two teens he handed them each a menu, “I assume there is more you with to do, so let us order our lunch and be on our way.”
They waved the bar keep over, and ordered their food. When their food arrived Harry and Hermione dove into they're selections, shopping was a very tiring activity. Petunia giggled lightly at the two and started to eat her food at a more sedate pace.
As everyone quickly finished up with their meals and paid their tab, Hermione couldn't keep her excitement contained any longer. She quickly grab Harry and Petunia's arms and pulled them towards the door. “Slow down Hermie, there's no rush!” Harry exclaimed as her tried to keep his balance.
She grinned back at him, her eyes twinkling, “But Harry!!” she exclaimed, “I finally get to see something done with that mess you call hair!”
Harry rolled his eye at his friend and let her drag him , until her ran into her as she suddenly stopped. Harry let out a small ooof and tried to keep himself from falling. “You could warn a guy when you're going to stop,” he grumbled, trying to hide a smile.
“Where's a good Salon Liam?”
“There's a wizarding salon upstairs from Hair Court, Just round the bend on Market Yard,” he replied, already leading the way to the salon.
They walked for a ways down one of the muggle streets and turned right onto Market Yard. They stopped halfway down the street where it turned left and followed Liam up a set of stairs after he made sure no one had noticed them. At the top of the stairs they were greeted by a soft hoot of an owl perched on the banister that closed in the patio they found themselves on.
“What, exactly, are you going to have done with that nest you call hair?” Liam inquired, his voice betraying hit thoughts about Harry's hair.
Harry shrugged his shoulders, “Not to sure really. I think having it longer would make it more manageable.”
Hermione pulled the door to the salon open and unceremoniously pushed Harry in ahead of her. “That's a great idea Harry. I think you'll look absolutely delicious with long hair...,” Hermione trailed off at the odd look Harry was giving her. “I mean, you know, if you weren't my best friend...”
He just smiled at her and turned to the counter where a witch with spiky platinum blond hair waited. “Welcome grá! What can we be doin' for ya today?” She asked in melodic Irish accent.
Harry just pointed to his hair and gave her a wry grin. “No, no you need say nothin' grá, I be seein' exactly what we'll be doin' for ya today!” She beckoned him to follow her around the counter and to the back of the store. “You too deary, he'll be wantin' yer input, that he will.”
The receptionist led him to a barbers chair and waved him towards it. “Scarlett will be with ya in a jiffy grá.” She told him, with a pat on the shoulder. “Do ya mind if I be takin' yer picture, for a before and after?”
“You'll have to ask my guardians, they came in just after us,” He told her politely, sharing a guarded look with Hermione.
She came back shortly, a smile on her lips, wiggling a camera at him. “Well, tis a good thing I be knowin' ol' Liam there,” she told them, quickly snapping a picture. “Tha' man is like a lioness protecting her cubs. Vicious and deadly. Be glad he's on yer side deary.” She gave them a quick wave and returned to the front of the salon.
“Good day ta' ya!” a bright tinkling voice exclaimed, pulling Harry and Hermione from their respective thoughts. “What 're ye wantin' done today?” she asked, quickly looking off to the side in thought, “I be forgettin' somethin'... Ah-Ha!” She exclaimed. “I'm Scarlett by the way, your humble hair stylist for the day.”
Harry and Hermione burst into a fit of giggles when the happy witch curtsied. “I'm not particular really. I just want it long, but not to long mind you. Just a bit longer than what will make it manageable,” he told her , peering at her through what currently passed for bangs.
“Don't forget the chunks of dyed hair either, Harry,” Hermione piped up from behind him. She gave him a small yet mischievous grin when their eyes met. “I think silver streaks would look wonderful, don't you?” She asked both of them.
Her grin was returned threefold by Harry and Scarlett clapped her hands joyously. “I do so love silver and black together. Oh and with your gorgeous green eyes....,” she finished with a breathy sigh and a dreamy look on her face.
She grabbed her wand and sent a blinding hex at the mirror, effectively darkening it. “Can't have ya be seein' our progress now, can we?” She winked at Hermione, who was standing at her side, ready to glean all the information she could from the witch.
“Now, first things first, we need to get ya growin' a bit more hair.” She pulled a potion bottle from the drawer in-front of Harry and poured a bit into her hand and attacked Harry's wild hair, massaging the brew into his scalp.
He felt an old tingling sensation and soon he felt his hair growing. 'Really, this is a very odd sensation...' he told himself, but shrugged it off. 'I hope I don't regret this...'
TBC....
AN1:Finally, finally it's done!! I am soooo sorry it's been this long before I got the first chapter out, but the couple days I did have to work on it all my 8 pages disappeared! POOF GONE just like that. I cried...I really did. Soooo....anyway. Till next time.... Also, I'm looking for a Beta that uses or realizes that English in the U.S. is different than English in Canada, New Zealand, Africa, etc.... I had to beg my hubby for two days to go over it and make sure I got all the edits changed back.
*Seanathair -- Grandfather
*Aibhistin (AH-stin) -- Augustine
*Síofra (SHEE fra) -- Sprite, changeling, precocious child – this will be used to refer to Harry and his cousins...shh...
*Faoileann (FEE lyan) -- graceful – Liam's name for Hermione
*Marta Bláth (MAR ta BLAW) Lady Flower -- Liam's name for Petunia.
*Ailill (AL yil) elf -- this'll show up a couple of times...
*grá (GRAW) -- love
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