Dumbledore
After Harry finally stopped crying, he felt very, very embarressed. He broke away from Terzo's embrace and wiped at his eyes, avoiding the older man's gaze. Oh Merlin, he thought, he'd just cried in front of people. He couldn't remember the last time he had done that.
"Sorry." Harry mumbles, scuffing the floor, but Terzo just chuckles, going back around his desk to sit down in his office chair.
"It's fine, I get it." Terzo replies, leaning back in his chair. "I'm sure you are overwhelmed. Mist- the one who brought you here- will be your guard from now on. I have heard many things about this 'boy-who-lives' thing, and I don't want anyone hurting you. I don't know why your guardian- dumbledore, yes?" Harry frowns, looking up at Terzo.
"No, My guardians were my aunt and uncle." Terzo crosses his arms, shaking his head, like Harry was lying to him. His guardians were his aunt and uncle, why...
"No, no, your magical guardian." His... what? What the heck was a 'magical guardian'? "That is Dumbledore. He put wards up at your house, but with the right rune's, someone could bust through that thing quickly." Terzo waves his hand, brushing it off. "Anyways, This whole boy who lived thing sounds stupid, and dangerous. While I know nobody in this church would touch you, expecially since you are now Il mio piccolo mago," Terzo flashes a grin at him, but Harry has no idea what he just said. It seems to make Terzo happy though, so he just grins back at the older man. "I don't know how wizards outside the church will act. For now, I have some work to do. Later on, I will collect you and Neville, and we will go to Gringotts with Primo to check your accounts and make sure everything is good. Oh, and Mist should have some letters from your friends. We had some sort of little creature-"
"They call them House-Elves here, remember?" Omega butts into the conversation, padding over to the desk. He still had his mask on, but it was wonky, like he'd taken it off. Harry wonders why he and Mist had them on. Was it some sort of worshiping thing? Or maybe it was tradition?
"Yes! Right!! That little thing was apparently stealing your mail. Omega caught it, and we got your letters back. Your friends have been owling you every day." He thought they were ignoring him. "I will see you later." Harry nods, before leaving the room, seeing Mist leaning against the wall, once again reading a story. She seemed nonplussed about everything going on, glancing over when he steps out.
"Did he explain everything?" Mist marks her page before closing the book, and thats finally when Harry realizes that the woman has a tail. He stares at it for a solid minute as she huffs, digging into her pocket and shoving letters into his hands before turning him back twords were they came. "First, your letters. Omega gave them back to me this morning. Second... Do you know about... hell, Harry..?" Harry nods hesitantly, and Mist huffs, sounding a little annoyed. "Cant belive Papa didnt- I'm a Demon from hell. Although we call ourselves Ghouls. Makes sense?" Somehow, it... did. "Does that make you feel a little better knowing that I am? I'm a Water Ghoul, by the way. Omega's a quintinsessial. Dont worry about the word, It just means magic."
"I... You wont..." Harry had heard alot about demons and devils from the Dursleys. He was told he was one of them, so... He'd just... come back to his people. Harry laughs at that, knowing he's making Mist confused. The Dursley's always complained about him being a freak- and even while he felt accepted in the wizarding world, he still had that little nugget of doubt- but right now, he felt happy and accepted. Take that Dursleys- hes with his people now!! "Yes. As long as you dont like, eat me or something." Mist chuckles, shrugging.
"Who knows." She pushes open a door to a new room, and Harry is met with a little kitchen and living room. It's completly empty inside, but from how lived in it looked, and how the TV in the living room was still on, someone had just been here. "Ah, good. Copia must have them out practicing. Welcome to the Ghoul's Wing. Here, only ghoul's live. We have about... thirteen of us that live here, and now you and Neville are living here too." Right, he'd forgotten about Neville. "Cmon. I'll show you to your room for now." Its not to long a walk, just a short walk up a flight of stairs to the second floor. "All the other ghouls sleep on the first floor, apart from Phantom- whose right across from you- Aurora- who lives in the room right by the stairs- and me. I live in the room between you and Neville. Mountain didnt want to move his stuff, so I took the room."
"Why are we here then? Me and uh, Neville. Is Neville alright..?" He should have asked that the first time, but he'd been so busy..
"Papa's Terzo and Primo, along with Sister Imperator agree that someone may try to hurt you because you are the 'boy-who-lived'." Harry scowls at that. He hated that title. "And Neville is here because he didnt want you to be alone. He thought you might need a friend while you're here. And yes, Neville is alright." Mist pulls a small key out of her pocket, unlocking the light grey door they'd stopped infront of. Inside, the space was small and sparsely furnished, but it held a certain charm that was not lost on him.
At the center of the room stood a modest four-poster bed, its wooden frame adorned with faded curtains that hinted at former grandeur. A vibrant Gryffindor red rug lay sprawled across the worn wooden floorboards beneath, adding a splash of color to the otherwise muted surroundings. In one corner of the room, Harry noticed his trunk, still battered and broken from its journey. He made a mental note to replace it after their visit to Gringotts later that day. In another corner, an oak bookcase stood, void of any books at all.
Nearby, a majestic oak perch stood proudly by the window, where Hedwig, his faithful snowy owl, perched regally, surveying her new surroundings with a watchful eye. The soft afternoon light filtered through the window, casting a warm glow over the room and illuminating the simple yet comforting scene before him. Against one wall stood a sturdy dresser, its surface adorned with a few scattered belongings-a mirror, a comb, and a small stack of books. It seemed to beckon Harry closer, promising a glimpse into his new life and the adventures that lay ahead.
Across from the dresser, a closet stood sentinel, its doors closed tightly as if guarding secrets yet to be revealed. Harry's mouth once again hit the floor that day as he stared at everything. He'd never had anything like this before.
"Wow.." He mumbles, and Mist pushes his mouth closed, her hands cold.
"Like what you see? The books are from Copia- he said you seemed like the kid who liked fantasy books- and Omega said that he was going to give you his old trunk he'd brought from Italy." This.. this was too much. Harry stumbles to the bed, where, on the nightstand, he found his wand in what looked like a wand holder. It fit perfectly on his arm when he placed it on, and he looked up at Mist, who was leaning against the door frame. "I'll let you get situated, alright? If your not up for seeing Neville at the moment, thats alright. We'll see him when we go to Gringotts and the Ministry. If you need me, I'll be right next door." She's about to leave, when she pauses. "Oh, and," Mist steps into his room, holding up a key. "While Sodo and Swiss know to not go snooping around others rooms- they still try it from time to time. Lock your doors when you leave- otherwise, they'll most likely go through your room." She places the key on the dresser before leaving, and Harry flops down on his bed. HIS bed. Holy Merlin- or, would it be Unholy Merlin? Either way, he had a room now. He wouldnt have to go back to the dursleys. And he had a friend here. Harry stepped over to his trunk, throwing it open. All of his old clothes were gone, and instead, his trunk was full of new clothes and his books. He feels giddy- like hes floating on air. This was his life now, and he was very, very excited.
-
Thirty minutes away, two men step outside of one Arabella Figg's house. One of them was Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, while the other was Severus Snape, Potions Teacher at Hogwarts, and known former Death Eater. Dumbledore quickly heads over to Number Four Privit Drive, a frown on his face.
The wards had fallen just a day ago, and he'd been in a meeting and hadnt seen it till today. It seemed like the Dursley's were gone, and had taken Harry with them. While the wards would reinact the moment they stopped and started living somewhere else, it had not reinacted at all, which means that they hadn't chosen to live somewhere else and had genuinely fled, taking Harry with them. Damnit.
"This is bad, Severus. We must find Harry." Severus scowls, glaring at the ground. He'd been here with them years ago- thought it was a great idea that the brat was being placed here. And yet, Petunia and her fat arse husband didn't beat him well enough since he was still as rude and as horrible as his father. Snape also knew Dumbledore didnt know about the abuse happening in the home. The old man was stupid- thinking Petunia could change. He keeps his scoff in, watching the man's wand. "Point me Harry Potter." Dumbledore's wand spins, but doesn't stop, and Dumbledore mutters a small 'finite'. That either ment he was out of the country, or that he had been taken by Wizards. However, Dumbledore knew they would never allow any 'freaks' on their property. "He needs to be safe behind his blood wards. I don't want death eaters anywhere near him."
"The boy will be back on September first, just wait until then." Snape snaps, but Dumbledore's eyes widden.
"His birthday! I'd almost forgot it was on the thirty-first. I'll just have young Ronald Weasley send him a letter to invite him over on his birthday, and make sure to go back with him to the Dursley's to get them out of wherever they are and back here at Privit Drive. Severus, you'll come with me- just incase Harry has got himself entangled with Wizards." Snape frowns, but nods.
"Of course." Dumbledore claps his hands, placing his wand away. Harry Potter would be in their grasp once more soon.
"Now, let's get back to Hogwarts. Lots of potions to brew for you and lots of things to do for me."