From One 'Family' to the Next
Harry didn’t hesitate before launching himself up and towards his door, shoving the cat flap open so his voice would carry down.
“Gerard, I’m up here! Gerard!”
“Hadrian?” Marcus’s voice was closer, and soon steps were coming up the stairs.
“Marcus, in here, the room with all the locks.” Harry sat back as he saw the familiar boots of his Quidditch captain and friend, nearly in tears.
Soon enough, Marcus was peering through the cat flap. “Bloody hell, kid, what’d you do?”
Harry reached through to flick his nose. “Get me out, knobhead.”
“Language! A week in the muggle world has hardened you.” Marcus stood. “Da, the door’s locked, either need you or some keys.”
“Locked?” Another voice came up the stairs, and Harry instantly pressed himself against the door.
“Ron?”
More footsteps up the stairs. “Harry? We’re here, mate, we’ll get you out, hang on a mo’. Where’s your stuff?”
“My trunk’s locked under the stairs, my old room. My bag and Hedwig’s cage are in here with me.”
“Susan! Check under the stairs!” Ron called down.
“Got it!” Her falsely cheerful voice echoed up in response.
“Blimey, how many people did you lot bring?” Harry settled on the floor next to the door, smiling widely when Ron did the same.
“Gerard would only let me and Susan come. The rest are waiting in Diagon: Anthony, Hannah, Ginny, Neville, even Parkinson and Nott, no idea why. Hermione and Justin couldn’t get away, but they’re waiting to hear back from us. So’s Sue’s aunt, she and Gerard have been having meetings almost nonstop since Gerard got your letter.”
“Hedwig’s alright?”
“Yeah, I’ve been feeding her,” Marcus called, seemingly from the top of the stairs. “Here comes da.”
Harry scooted back when heavier steps came up the stairs.
“Hadrian? I’m unlocking the door.” Metal on metal sounded as each lock came undone, and soon enough Harry was looking up to see Gerard standing there, furious, and Marcus peering over his shoulder.
A flash of red and he was tackled by his best friend, who had somehow grown taller in just the past week and a half.
“Never do that again,” Ron whispered.
“I can’t promise they won’t do this next year, too,” Harry responded, his own arms brought up to wrap around Ron’s waist.
After a moment, Gerard coughed pointedly. “Alright, Weasley, let me get a look at him.”
Ron pulled away, sitting on the floor next to Harry, and his face fell at the sight of the black eye and cut.
Gerard’s jaw worked as he eyed Harry’s face. “Where else?”
Harry winced as he reached a hand up to Marcus, who immediately pulled him upright. Harry pulled his shirt up, showing the bruises from Dudley’s brute force.
“Merlin’s balls,” came from the doorway, and the boys all turned to see Susan Bones standing with eyes wide as she saw Harry’s torso.
Harry let his shirt drop with a sheepish grin.
Gerard rolled his eyes. “I’d say ‘language’, but Merlin knows your aunt says worse than that when her tea’s too hot.”
Susan grinned at him. “She does. Hadrian, we’ve got your trunk out and on the sidewalk. We’ll take the Knight Bus back to the Alley when Gerard’s done scaring the shit out of your muggles.”
Ron lifted a hand to trace the cut under Harry’s eye. “Which one?”
Harry’s gaze flickered between all of his friends, who were watching him with various levels of anger. “The cut was Petunia’s ring. My ribs were Dudley pushing me around. I don’t know if it was Vernon or Petunia who left the shiner, they were a bit close together.”
“We’ll take pictures back at the Alley, get you checked over at the clinic. I have some documents to go over with you, but that can wait until you’re more settled.” Gerard tapped Hedwig’s cage, shrinking it. His eyes caught on the bars outside the window and his jaw clenched. “Let’s go. I need to have a conversation with those... people and then we’ll be on our way.”
Harry was vibrating with excitement as he pulled his bag from its hidden spot, and quickly shoved what few things he had scattered across the room into it. He kept his to-do list firmly in his hand, and gave Ron and Susan a hug as they filed out of the room.
Ron kept an arm around his shoulder, even on the narrow stairs. All of the kids shot venomous glares at the three Dursleys, all of whom were standing in the hallway watching the proceedings.
Vernon sneered at the sight of Harry. “Go on, then. Get out, and don’t bother coming back.”
Harry felt Ron tense, but leaned into him. “No worries, there. I will literally only walk through that door if forced. Cheers, Dursleys.”
He melted into Ron’s side at the feeling of the sun on his skin, sorely missed even after just three days. Ron pulled him even closer. “Can’t even leave you alone for a week before you get into trouble, can we?”
Harry laughed as Susan tucked herself into his other side. “Don’t kid yourself, Ron, if you were around we wouldn’t even have lasted a day before getting into trouble.”
“More like an hour, knowing you two. Maybe if Hermione was around, it would be a full day.” Susan pulled Harry’s bag from his shoulder onto hers. “Expect her tomorrow, by the way.”
“Am I at the Alley tonight, then?” Harry asked, looking back at Marcus, who was shrinking his trunk with a tap.
“No, Tom couldn’t get a room set up in time, some early-summer convention from France.” Marcus rolled his eyes. “Instead, Ron’s taking you home so Molly Weasley can fatten you up.”
Harry’s head whipped to his friend. “I get to see the Burrow?”
Ron laughed. “Just for the night, mate. We’ll have you in the Leaky by tomorrow morning, Tom’s kicking himself that he left you in a lurch.”
The door slammed, and they all looked to see Gerard on the stoop, tension and anger near palpable. “Let’s go before Amelia has to come arrest me.”
Marcus laughed as he handed Harry’s trunk to Susan, who tucked it into Harry’s bag. “Da, you’re never allowed to yell at me about my anger issues after this.”
“That’s what your mother’s for, Marcus, to yell at us both.” He pulled out his wand at the sidewalk, and a fraction of a second later, a loud boom signaled the arrival of the Knight Bus.
“Welcome to the Knight Bus. Well, back to the Knight Bus, you lot. Quick stop, then?” A girl stepped down, braided hair swinging as she gestured towards the door. “Well, well, well. Alright, Hadrian?”
Harry squinted at the girl before grinning. “Hey, Julie. Doing well, yourself?”
“Alright. Gonna be at the Alley again this summer? You promised to tell me all about your first year.”
“Course. Stop by the Leaky one night, I’ll buy you dinner and tell you all about it.” Harry grinned as she nodded, pushing him into the bus lightly.
“Alright, Ernie, let’s get going. Diagon Alley, two stops away.”
Harry had barely stepped through the door to the Leaky when a flash of blonde tackled him.
“Hiya, Hannah.”
“Hadrian James, you’re going to make us all go gray.” She hugged him fiercely before pulling him through to a table where Anthony was sitting.
“Not yet, Hannah, remember? He’s not starting the Grey faction until at least fourth year.” Anthony grinned as he stood, reaching to shake Harry’s hand even as the other kids glared at him. “Welcome back to the real world, Hadrian. You’ve put us all right out of sorts going incommunicado like that. Even Rolf was worried when you didn’t respond to his letter last week.”
Harry laughed. “Gotta keep you all on your toes, no?”
“I was hoping for a relaxing summer, Potter. You couldn’t have even given me a week?”
He turned to see Pansy standing with her hands on her hips, Ginny and Theo just behind her. Harry laughed as he stepped forward, hugging each of them, ignoring Theo’s stiff response. “You’ll have the rest of the summer to laze about doing nothing. Don’t act like you wouldn’t miss me if I didn’t bring some gossip for you to spread around.”
Her face dropped as she eyed his face. “Some gossip doesn’t need to be shared.”
Ginny hadn’t left Harry’s side after her hug, even as she eyed Pansy with a calculating look. “Mum’s going to go mental when she sees your face.”
“She won’t have to.” They turned to see Gerard walk off from a conversation with Tom, who waved to the group. “We’re going to the clinic now, they should be able to sort him out. Anyone who’s not a Weasley or my kid, go home.”
“Wait, I thought you said Neville was here?” Harry turned to Ron, who just shrugged.
Theo spoke up from behind Pansy. “His uncle came back through, needed him at home or something. I’m not sure.”
“Oh. I’ll have to write him later, to thank him. Speaking of, thanks to you all for being here, for being worried. ” He looked around at the group of people who were so concerned for him that they spent their day to ensure he got to the Alley safely.
Pansy rolled her eyes. “Can’t have the Boy-Who-Lived skiving off school. The year would be so boring without your drama. I’ll be around, you can buy me ice cream another day.” She bussed Harry’s cheek and waved at the rest, heading towards the floo.
“I’ll be working here all summer, so we’ll see each other loads.” Hannah hugged him again.
Susan followed suit, handing Harry his bag after pulling away. “Auntie Amelia said she might start bringing me here while she’s at work so Tom can keep an eye on me, so we can explore the Alley together. See you soon!” She walked off with Hannah behind the bar.
Anthony shook Harry’s hand again. “I’m off to Germany for a bit, then the States after that. Keep in touch, though, yeah? I should be back by the time book lists come out, we’ll meet up around then.”
“My cousin works down Knockturn, so I might come round quite often as well. Maybe we can talk about the potions assignment. I’ll let Flick and Terry know you’re safe and around.” Theo nodded awkwardly at the group and turned to disappear into the back towards the Alley.
Soon, Harry was left with Ron and Ginny on either side of him, Marcus trailing after his dad.
“C’mon, you lot. Let’s get to the clinic so I can get back to work. A lot of people are waiting on this information.” Gerard gently took Harry’s shoulder, guiding him towards the Alley entrance.
Harry whipped his head around. “Like who?”
Gerard sighed as they walked. “Amelia Bones, Professor Snape, Griphook, your aunt, to name a few.”
“My aunt? Narcissa?”
“Aye. Part of what I’ve been doing this past week is looking into other options for you to stay with. She’s blood, and of a high enough standing that not many could argue against it. Other than-”
“Dumbledore.” Harry groaned. “This isn’t going to be fun.”
Marcus spoke up. “We’ll take care of it. Either we’ll get you out of there legally, or we’ll just kidnap you off the train every year.”
Gerard shushed him. “Don’t joke like that out here. Wait.”
They weaved through the crowds, Harry tucked into Ron’s side, trying to hide as much as possible, wishing that he had his trusty beanie from his trunk.
The last thing he needed was for someone to spot him with a black eye heading towards a clinic and tell the Daily Prophet.
Why hadn’t he asked Gerard to do some masking spell on him?
He let out a sigh of relief as they turned off the main road onto one of the side alleys, Ginny wrapping herself around his arm, holding his hand. “We’ll be at the Burrow soon enough, no wandering eyes there. Just the twins, Percy, and Mum and Da.”
Harry smiled at her as Gerard knocked on a door.
A woman opened it, tall and proud, hair black and sleek, and Harry had to blink at the surge of familiarity, not quite able to place it.
“Andi. Got your patient, here. Able to go ahead and fit him in?” Gerard moved so the woman could spot Harry hiding between the Weasleys.
“Of course. Come on through, Mr. Potter, we’ll take a few pictures, then get you scanned and sorted shortly. Gerard, I’ll send the documents out to you immediately if you’ll wait outside the room. The rest of you, there’s a waiting room just to the right, you’ll have your friend back in just a few.” She moved back, allowing them entrance.
Harry followed with a furrowed brow, Gerard a step behind. It wasn’t until he spotted a picture of the healer when she was younger, with apparently a sister, that he was smacked with the realization.
“I’m sorry, Andi as in Andromeda?”
The healer paused and looked back at him with a polite smile. “Yes. I’m your cousin, Mr. Potter.”
He grinned. “Hadrian, please. We are family, after all.”
She nodded, the picture of pureblood grace. Even knowing she was ostracized from the family for marrying a muggleborn, Harry never would have guessed she was anything but the perfect pureblood daughter. “Well, then, Hadrian. What do you call my sister? I suppose you should do the same with me.”
“Aunt Andi, then?” He gave her another grin when she smiled wider, a bit more real.
“It’s been quite a while since I’ve had family outside of the Tonkses. I’d like that. You’ll have to come back around and meet Ted, he’s at a healer’s conference this week. And Dora, of course. Our daughter. She graduated the year before you would have started Hogwarts, training to be an Auror now.”
“I’d love to meet them. I’m always looking for more family.” He followed her into a small room, sitting on a raised, inclined bed when she prompted.
She let her gaze flicker between his scar and his eye. “I’m sure you are.” She pulled out a strange looking camera and her wand. “Pictures first. Feel free to close your eyes. These are for evidence only, no need to worry about them showing up in the Prophet.”
Harry nodded and shut his eyes, ignoring the flashes. After a moment, when the lights faded back into the blackness of his eyelids, he slowly blinked open, watching Andi fuss with the camera.
She nodded to herself and turned back to him. “Now, I’ll do a few diagnostics, so Gerard has documentation for whatever he needs to do. Then I’ll go ahead and heal everything. I’ll need you to tell me if I’ve missed anything, or if anything feels off, okay?”
He just nodded, leaning back and closing his eyes as magic started to wash over him. When he opened them, a parchment was levitating next to her, ink filling the pages.
She didn’t tsk or gasp, just watched as his medical history appeared in front of them.
When it was finished, she looked over it with a critical eye, before making a few copies.
One she handed to Harry. “I’d suggest leaving a copy somewhere you can access while at school, just in case it’s needed. I’ll be sending a copy to Poppy, but you never know. Other copies are going to your account manager at Gringotts, Gerard, Amelia Bones, and my sister. I’ll keep a copy here as well, if it pleases you. Gerard mentioned making our clinic your primary care facility.”
Harry was nodding before she finished. “Please. I’d much rather things like this stay within the family.”
Andi smiled at him. “Of course. Anything for the heir of the House. I’ll start the healing now. A spell or two to keep everything where it’s supposed to go, and then I’ll give you some potions. Some of these injuries hadn’t healed quite properly in the past, so we’ll keep you on a mild Skele-gro for a few months, which should take care of it. If not, we may have to rebreak a few bones and reset them.”
Harry winced. “Sound.”
“That’s not for today, however. Today should be quite painless. Hold still.”
Things felt stiff as her spell cascaded down through his skin.
A few bottles later, and he felt he could breathe properly again.
“Brill, thanks Aunt Andi!” He stretched with a grin.
He almost felt like Hadrian again, back to his normal self even in Dudley’s castoff clothes, and not the slip of a Boy that he was at Number Four.
Andi was watching him with a small smile. “Now, you’ll still need to take it easy for a few days. Stop by tomorrow to pick up your potions. And if anything feels off, I expect you to come round.”
“I will. And I’ll owl to stop by and meet the rest of the family.”
“I’ll make dinner next week for us.” She paused at the door. “I’ve heard great things about you already, Hadrian. Even before we knew you, Ted and I were quite proud of you. I know James and Lily would be, too.”
He looked up at her with suddenly misty eyes. “Thanks. I’m trying to be something they’d be proud of. Someone worth their sacrifice.”
She hesitated before rushing forward, wrapping him in a hug. “You already are. And if you ever feel like you’re not, write me, and I’ll tell you how wrong you are.”
He laughed into her embrace until she pulled back, smoothed her dress, and put on what must be her pureblood mask. “Let’s get you back to your friends, yes?”
Gerard straightened from where he was leaning against the opposite wall as the door opened. “All better?”
Andi gave him a wry smile. “I’ll have him on a potions regimen for a few months. Skele-gro, a nutrition potion, maybe some energy revitalizers come the colder months. But he’s as healthy as we can hope right now. Ribs fixed, bruises gone, though the malnourishment will be a longer fix.”
She turned to Harry. “Focus on getting your weight up, okay? It may be hard to eat a lot straight away, but just do what you can. Smaller snacks throughout the day instead of three large meals. And I’ve heard that you intend to play Quidditch, make sure Poppy clears you beforehand.”
Harry groaned. “C’mon, Aunt Andi, you’re keeping me from Quidditch?”
“No, I’m saying you could seriously injure yourself further if you start playing before you’re at a healthy weight.”
“I played fine last year,” he complained as they got back to the reception area. “Marcus, she’s trying to keep me from Quidditch!”
Marcus looked outraged until he caught a glare from Gerard. “Best to do what they say, Hadrian. Better to delay starting then start right away and end up having to stop because you were too eager.” He blushed when Ron snickered behind his hand, coming up with Ginny. “Shut up, Weasley. Like you’ll do any better if your mum has this conversation tonight.”
Ron shrugged as they left the Tonks Clinic. “Fair enough. Gerard, are we good to go? Mum’ll have lunch on soon.”
His question was waved away. “Hadrian, Tom will have you set up starting tomorrow night. If you decide you’d prefer to stay at the Burrow, owl me and I’ll let him know, but either way I’ll expect you in my office by the end of the week. We have a few things to go over.”
Harry nodded. “Will do. I’m expecting to be in the Alley tomorrow, however. Maybe in time for dinner, so I’ll catch you the day after.”
“Cheers. Marcus, don’t let them linger too long, Molly will have my head. I’ll be in the office if you need me before I head home for dinner.”
“Ta, dad.” Marcus wrapped an arm around Harry’s shoulders as they watched Gerard disappear down the back alley, crossing down a backstreet.
“Hey, Flint, will you train me this year like you did Harry last year?” Ginny asked from the other side of Ron, walking on her heels like an energetic puppy.
“I won’t train a lion, Weaselette.” He didn’t even turn to face her.
Ron and Harry looked at each other, expressions both incredulous and laughing, and then immediately took a few steps back, ducking under Marcus’s arm so they weren’t in the way.
Ginny’s hair flew as she turned to bore holes in the side of his head. “Then we won’t have a problem, will we? I’ll be in green just the same as everyone here. And since Harry’s obviously bribed you into letting him be seeker, I’ll have to settle for star chaser.”
Harry held up a finger. “Uh, excuse me, there was no bribing.”
She rolled her eyes before watching Marcus expectantly.
He sighed. “If you go green, I’ll see what I can do about training you. I do have NEWTs to worry about, you know. And Terry will be focusing on OWLs. Now, c’mon. Are you flooing back or taking the bus?”
“Floo.” Ron shoved Ginny out of the way, ignoring her push back. “The bus charges extra for going out to Ottery St. Catchpole, cheaper to just toss Tom a knut and head through the floo. We just need to hope Mum hasn’t put the kettle on the fire, especially with how shite Harry is at landing on his feet.”
He laughed when Harry thwacked his side.
“Ginny, do you want to be my favorite Weasley? My current one seems to be defective.”
“Oh, no, nope, you’re stuck with me.” Ron pulled Harry back towards him, dragging him by the shoulder towards the Leaky. “C’mon, before mum has a fit. Later, Marcus. I’m sure we’ll see each other, I’m not about to let this one around the Alley without supervision for too long.”
“Yeah, alright. See you lot around.” Marcus watched from the bar as Ron told Harry how to floo, Ginny laughing from next to him. “Merlin, Weasley, don’t lose him on the first day.”
Ron glared as red crept up the back of his neck. “Shut it! He’ll be fine.” He turned to Harry. “Literally just throw the powder down, say The Burrow, and step through. Close your eyes if you need, brace yourself to land. It’ll feel weird, don’t expect to look pretty coming out.”
Harry rolled his eyes. “Ouch, Ron, are you saying I don’t normally look pretty?”
Ron ignored him, reaching forward to take his bag. “Watch Ginny, then you’ll go, then I will.”
Ginny flipped her hair. “See you in Slytherin, Flint. The Burrow.” A whoosh of green, and she was gone.
Harry stepped forward, pushing his anxiety to the side. “I’ll be back soon enough, Marcus, you’ll have to take me flying so I can get some practice in.”
“Yeah, alright. Just go eat something so the wind doesn’t blow you away. I’m off to have lunch with Oliver anyways.” He sighed at the twin looks of disgusted glee. “Shove off, I’m not going to be embarrassed about having lunch with my boyfriend.”
“No, course not. Have fun on your date!” Harry stuck out his tongue before grabbing a pinch of floo powder. He stepped forward, closed his eyes, and shouted “The Burrow!”
An almost uncomfortable warmth stole through his body as he was shoved down what felt like a drain. He risked peering through an eye, regretting his choice when flashes of passing fireplaces appeared, barely seeing glimpses of rooms beyond. He screwed his eyes closed again, and tried not to move as his empty stomach churned.
It felt like an eternity before he was shoved forward, tripping on empty air through a flash of green fire, spat out onto a stone floor with a worn rug laid on top.
The only thing stopping him from heading face first into said rug was a pair of skinny arms catching his shoulders.
“Cor, Hadrian, how are you so good on a broom when you can’t even floo?” Ginny asked as she helped him right himself.
Harry laughed as he brushed off his jeans, moving back so Ron wouldn’t trip over him. “I’m apparently all about contradictions, Red. Thanks for the save, again.”
“Anytime. Looks like you need people to keep an eye out for you,” she smirked. “Mum, Harry’s just fallen through!”
Harry couldn’t help a grin when he heard Molly squawk in another room, and immediately start heading towards them.
“Harry! There you are!” She walked into the kitchen with arms open wide, wrapping him in a hug, one that grounded him from the butterflies in his chest, pulling him back down for the first time all day. Ron stepping out of the fireplace helped even more.
Ron tousled Harry’s hair as he ducked out of the room. “Don’t bug him too much, Mum, I don’t think he’s been sleeping properly.”
Harry groaned but his grin didn’t fade. “Hi, Molly. Thanks for having me for the night.”
She tsked. “Of course! Ron’s been worried half to death, let me look at you.” She pulled him away and scanned him, eyes lingering distastefully on his too-large clothes, the slight stretch of the skin around his face. “Lunch, yeah?”
He smiled. “Yeah, cheers.”
She gave him a wink and turned towards further in the house. “Boys! Food!” She pulled Harry towards a table set at the side of the kitchen. “Now, Harry, these boys may eat like wolves, but feel free to shove them aside if there’s something you want. Just watch how Ginny does it, she never goes hungry.”
Ginny rolled her eyes as she sat down next to Harry, her voice dropping. “Such a surprise, the girls have to adjust their behavior so the boys don’t have to.” She leaned forward to grab a few buns from the table, tucking them into a cloth napkin. “It helps that I hoard some things for later on. I’ll keep these for you, if you’d like. The boys try not to come into my room unless absolutely necessary. Not even the twins know how I set up all the traps in there.”
He nudged their shoulders together. “Did anyone think you’d actually be a Gryffindor?”
She blushed, but put on a grin and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “I could have made it work.”
Harry laughed as the twins’ footsteps trampled down to the main floor. “I don’t doubt it. Though I definitely wouldn’t want to be in the Gryffindor common room with you and the twins.”
Fred entered the room and immediately went mock-defensive with a grin. “Oi! We are a benefit to our House, Potter, watch it.”
“You two are the only ones who think that,” Ginny smirked.
“You’re not even at school yet, Gin, how would you even know?” George asked as he sat across from Harry. “Alright, Hadrian? Heard you got in a pickle already. Ron was so worried, we were about to take Da’s flying car out to Surrey.”
Molly appeared, hands on her hips, dishes flying to their place on the table. “Excuse me? You were planning on what?”
George swallowed, trading a glance with Fred, who sat next to him. “On telling you all about our concerns so you and other adults could find a legal, safe way of checking on Harry?”
She just shot him a look. “We were all worried when Ron told us Harry wasn’t responding to anyone. No need for an Auror investigation on top of everything.”
“Sorry, Mum.” George gave Harry a wink before digging in.
“Ron, Percy!”
Ron immediately peeked back in. “Sorry, I’m here. I was tucking Harry’s bag in my room.” He sat at the empty place next to Harry. “Thanks for lunch, Mum. Looks great.” He started serving himself and Harry.
Molly gave him a wide grin. “Oh, of course, dear. And here’s Percy.”
Harry looked up to wave at Percy, who was trying to rub ink off of his hands. “Hey, Perce.”
Percy blinked a few times. “Oh. Hadrian. I didn’t realize you’d be here.”
“Mate, I told you he was coming for the night like, three days ago. Who are you writing to so much that you don’t remember conversations anymore?” Ron peered down.
Everyone at the table watched as a furious blush overtook Percy’s face. “No one. I’m working on my assignments. I apologize for not realizing you’d be here, Hadrian.”
“No worries. It’s only for tonight, then I’m back to the Alley.” Harry met Ron’s poorly concealed smirk with a raised brow.
Ron mouthed tell you later and dropped a roll on Harry’s napkin.
“Right.” Percy looked down and started filling his plate mechanically.
Fred and George kept trying to catch everyone’s eyes for the rest of the meal, but one look from Molly cut their teasing down. Soon enough, everyone was chatting about the upcoming professional Quidditch season.
It was almost like being back in the Great Hall; laughing over good food, peas being thrown across the table, Ron a warm presence at Harry’s side.
No one mentioned how little Harry ate, or his brief visit to the toilet shortly after.
The afternoon was a breath of fresh air in comparison to the week that Harry had just had. He bullied Ron into at least reading through their potions assignment, and was almost too thrilled at being able to spread his work across the floor and actually study, and write to his friends.
(He honestly thought the only reason Ron let him bully him into studying was because of how happy Harry was about being able to do it at all.)
((They both chose to ignore that fact.))
It was also a first-hand look as to how a family was supposed to work.
Any fights were inconsequential, for one, more likely to end in a grin than a bruise. Ron and Ginny fighting to get to the bathroom first, laughing when one ends up in a wall instead of in the loo. The twins poking fun at Percy for seemingly hiding a penpal, but knowing when to stop when the blush got too bright. Ginny chasing Fred through the house for finding her stash of sweets and eating a handful before she caught him. Molly just smiling at their antics, only occasionally needing to step in before bloodshed happened, and always leaving the room with a gentle hand squeezing someone’s shoulder, or running through someone’s hair.
The one moment that gave Harry pause was the deep voice of the Weasley patriarch echoing through the house when he got home from working at the Ministry that day.
The weight of his voice chilled something in Harry’s mind, slowing his movements down even as his heart began to race. It was only the familiar sensation of Ron’s weight leaning into his side as they read, that kept him from shaking as Mr. Weasley peeked his head into the sitting room to introduce himself to Harry and greet his family.
Harry gave the tightest smile at the introduction.
All it took to push his fear to the side, however, was a few minutes of talking to call me Arthur, please, and having to stifle his laughter as he was nearly begged to explain the importance of a rubber duck.
The fact that Arthur took out a scroll to start taking notes, and nearly squealed when Harry offered a muggle notepad, made any apprehension fade completely away.
Harry made a note to himself to ask Hermione to bring muggle books like those For Dummies books that had just started to become popular.
Arthur would be obsessed.
Ron would hate it.
Their discussion lasted well into dinner, skating over the basics of everything Harry could remember about electricity, the Underground, muggle money, and the school system.
They finally had to stop when George started to threaten throwing himself off the roof, and Fred threatened to lock Harry in the attic with the ghoul.
Ron immediately smacked Fred’s shoulder as Harry’s smile got tight again, at the mention of locked up.
“Watch the jokes, prick!” Ron muttered, eyes flickering between Molly and Harry.
Fred went a deathly pale. “Oh, blimey, sorry, Hadrian. I…”
Harry shook his head. “It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean it.” He wiped at his mouth with a cloth napkin. “Dinner was delicious, Molly, thank you. Do you mind if I head on up to bed? I have some reading I’d like to do before I meet with Gerard tomorrow.”
Molly blinked at him, but smiled as she nodded, obviously missing the tension. “Of course, Harry, dear. Just shout if you need anything, or let Ron know, he’ll make sure you get it.”
“Thanks.” Harry nodded slightly. “Night, all. Ron, see you in a bit.”
He quickly stood and left the room and his mostly-full plate, ignoring Fred’s broken expression.
Harry entered Ron’s room with a sigh, immediately going to a far corner and curling up on the floor, taking comfort in the harsh planes of the two walls bracketing him. He read for a bit, but there was a stiffness in his shoulders that he couldn’t quite shake, a tightness in his chest that wouldn’t loosen. He didn’t make it more than a few pages in the packet Gerard had left with him before he put it to the side with a frustrated huff, collapsing on the cot and pulling a blanket over his shoulders.
By the time Ron crept in, Harry was turned away from the door, breathing deeply and dead to the world.
Waking to the sound of Ron’s snores and a faint light filtering through the window was almost as healing as the full night’s sleep Harry had gotten. He sat in the cot for a moment, running through a few mental exercises, smiling to himself at the comfortable shifting throughout the house. The sun was just creeping over the horizon by the time he centered himself once more, still grinning.
This was the home he missed out on having for so many years.
But this family let him in so easily, maybe he would have it again.
Not even the slip from Fred the night before marred the lightness of his morning.
He stretched, standing and leaving the room as quietly as he could. He padded out of Ron’s room, wincing at every creak of hardwood under his feet as he descended towards the kitchen, where he could already smell coffee and tea brewing.
Harry shyly peeked his head through the doorway, smile widening at the Weasley parents.
“Morning, Molly, Arthur.” He didn’t raise his voice much, not wanting to shatter the quiet atmosphere that came with the early morning.
“Harry, dear, you could have slept in. Are you hungry? Breakfast won’t be for a while yet, but I can make you some toast while you wait. There’s tea, juice…” Molly wandered over, skating a hand along Harry’s arm as she went past with a cup of coffee for Arthur.
Harry shook his head. “I’ll take some juice, but I’m fine waiting until breakfast. It’s a bit of a habit waking up early, and it’s such a beautiful morning, I couldn’t fall back asleep.”
“Oh, to be young and not have to worry about anything more than if the sunrise was worth waking up early for.” Arthur chuckled to himself.
“Going into the Ministry today, Arthur? It’s Saturday.” Harry asked as he sat at one end of the table, a few chairs down from the Weasley patriarch.
“Yes, yes. Just a few things to tend to this morning, a few reports of ever-shrinking door keys in Liverpool came in on my way out last night, and even something as simple as that is a serious case of muggle baiting.”
“What, people just use a shrinking charm on muggle keys so the muggles go mad thinking they’ve either lost their keys or their minds?”
“Exactly that. Some people have strange senses of humor, Harry. Remember that.” He gave Harry a wink. “Molly, love, I’m off. I should be home by lunch as long as nothing else happens.” He stood and pressed a kiss to his wife’s cheek before heading towards the back door.
As the door swung closed behind him, Molly set a glass of juice in front of Harry.
“Now, are you sure that you want to spend the rest of the summer at the Leaky Cauldron? It’s no trouble for you to stay here with us.”
“I’m sure, Molly. I love it here, but I have a lot to do before school starts back up, and I don’t want to worry you with all my comings and goings.”
“You’re so young, you should be able to enjoy your summer, not worry about all of these political dealings.” She shook her head as she began ducking into the cold box in the kitchen, pulling out meats and bread.
“There’s plenty I’m going to enjoy. And I have a lot of friends that work and live on the Alley, it will be nice to see them again. Yes, there are a few less fun things I need to take care of, but it will help in the long run.” He sipped the juice.
Molly was still shaking her head. “This world makes you poor kids grow up far too quickly.”
Harry shrugged. “The muggle world wasn’t much better, unfortunately.”
“Oh, dear.” She shuffled close, slowly moving to run a hand through his hair when he didn’t flinch away. “If you ever need a place to stay, to hide, or just to have a good home-cooked meal, you better come here, you hear me?”
Harry nodded slightly, not wanting to dislodge her hand. “I promise.”
“Good.” She smiled softly down at him. “We don’t mind having another kid in the house. We’d be honored if you’d think of this as a home, as your family.”
He swallowed back the tears that threatened to fall. “I already do.”
She pressed a kiss to the crown of his head. “I’m going to go gather some fresh eggs. Help yourself if you need anything.” She bustled out the door, wiping at her own face.
Harry sat there in a warming silence for a few minutes, relishing in the comfort of the kitchen as the sunlight grew stronger and stronger through the pane of glass above the sink, past the dishes washing themselves and onto the gingham tablecloth.
A squeak on the stairs made him turn, and he watched a stumbling Ginny fall into the room, eyes barely open, sleeping shorts barely visible under a massive sweater with the letter G on it.
Harry shot Ginny a questioning look as she sat down across from him. “Got on the wrong side of an enlarging charm, Red?”
Ginny blinked a few times, blearily rubbing at her eyes with a too-long sleeve of a sweater. “Huh?” She looked at her hand, covered in a teal blue. “Oh. Must be George’s. Whenever Mum is behind on laundry she sometimes gets our Christmas jumpers mixed. It’s still warm, so I don’t care.”
Harry shrugged as he passed her a cup of her favorite tea. “Morning, then.”
“Cheers.” She sipped the tea for a moment. “Ron still sleeping?”
He nodded. “As you’ll find out, Slytherin dorms are singles, which makes it easier to ignore his snoring. Wasn't so lucky here. Plus, I get up early anyways. Holdover from making the Dursleys breakfast every morning.”
Some of Ginny’s tiredness went away as resentment overtook her face. “Bastards.”
“It’s fine.” It took every fiber of strength Harry had to not curl into himself. “At the very least, I’ll never go hungry.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m moving in with you after graduation, then.”
Harry laughed and nudged her foot under the table. “I’m sure I’ll have plenty of room, even if my plan to kidnap Ron and Hermione works.”
“Not much of a plan, you’d just have to ask and they’d be there.” Fred appeared at the door, stretching to wrap his hands at the top of the frame. “Morning. Hadrian, when are you heading back to the Alley?”
“I was hoping to hang out for the day, and get back to the Leaky for dinner, as long as your mum okays it.”
George peered over Fred’s shoulder. “Of course she’ll okay it, you’re already her favorite and you’ve only been in the family a year.”
Harry blushed as he stared down at his plate. “I’m not…”
Ginny kicked his foot. Hard. “Shut up, Potter, you might as well be. It’s not like Ron’s going to leave you alone anytime soon, and the rest of us don’t completely hate you.”
Harry shot her a sheepish grin. Before he could respond, however, George caught sight of Ginny’s outfit.
“Gin, you know our deal. If you steal one of my jumpers, that means I get one of yours.”
She rolled her eyes.
“That would be like a crop top on you, mate.” Harry looked back over.
George ducked under Fred’s arm. “And it would look bloody fantastic.”
“Language!” Molly called as she came in from the back garden, apron pulled taut around a handful of eggs. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll have everything ready. Boys, sit and eat quickly, it’s supposed to be warm again today, so try and do all your chores before lunch. Harry, dear, feel free to hang around the house, I don’t expect you to help.”
“You’ve fed and housed me, Molly, helping is the least I could do.”
Ron shoved Fred out of the way and wandered in. “Harry’s ace at gardening, mum, you should have him take a look at those gardenias you’re worried about.”
“Well…”
“I’d love to, honestly.” Harry gave a winning smile. He tried not to wince as he swallowed past a strange mix of pride and fear to keep going. “Anything for family, after all.”
Everyone gave him a pleased smile at his words, and he ducked his head down to hide his blush.
Ron leaned against his side as he sat down next to him. “Damn right,” he whispered in Harry’s ear, where Molly couldn’t hear.
Harry laughed as he shoved Ron back. “Get away from me, you kept me up with your snoring all night.”
The look of mock offense on Ron’s face sent the whole table into laughter, and they settled into a comfortable chatter as Molly began to get all of the breakfast prepared. The twins asked Harry about ideas for potions, which Ron and Ginny simply leaned back to watch it turn into an argument over brewing techniques. Percy appeared a few minutes later, just as the last plate of meat landed on the table. Harry instantly started peppering the older boy with questions about sixth year material, drawing him into the conversation easily.
Molly stood to the side as the kids, all her kids, started to reach for various plates, watching her family with a fond smile.
Harry, grinning in between all of the red heads, like he had always belonged there, even if he was still adjusting to full meals again. Pulling at Ginny’s hair, poking Fred in his side, slapping away Ron’s attempts to steal a piece of bacon.
Like he was just another Weasley.
All of her kids, even Percy, who had started to pull away the year before, as his ambitions were so different from his siblings, laughing and arguing just like they had before Hogwarts.
She turned away to hide the sheen of tears in her eyes as The Burrow was filled with joy.
Harry was almost tempted to stay at the Burrow. After not even a full day, the sun on his skin, the quiet of the countryside, so many redheads flittering around with wide grins and gentle hands… He could imagine his own home like this, in the future.
It was going to be hard to leave.
But Molly’s words of come home anytime echoed in his head.
Not to mention the laundry list of things he needed to discuss with Gerard and Griphook.
And a hug from each of the Weasleys, even Percy, spurred him to the floo powder on the mantle.
Ron stepped up with a grin. “I’m meeting Sue for ice cream, so I figured I might as well make sure you don’t end up coming out of the wrong grate. Diagon Alley. Firm, but slow.”
Harry bit back a chortle. “You got it, Professor.” He stepped forward with a pinch of powder, nodding again to Ginny and George who were watching the proceedings like it was the start to their favorite show.
Harry needed to introduce popcorn to the wixen world, if only for the purpose of comedic timing.
“See you around, Red, George. Diagon Alley!” Harry screwed his eyes shut, barely breathing as the heat enveloped him. A few moments later, he felt himself shoved forward onto hardwood, and he opened his eyes to see the familiar candles lighting the ceiling of the Leaky Cauldron.
He groaned quietly, but not quietly enough that a shadow didn’t fall over his prone form.
“Hadrian!”
Harry looked over to see Tom ducking from behind the bar to move to help him up.
“Cheers, Tom. Second time through the floo, not any better than the first.” Harry stood and brushed off his casual clothes.
Tom laughed. “Good to see you, lad, Hannah’s been mad with worry about you.”
“Hopefully she hasn’t been driving you mad.” Harry picked up his bag from where it had fallen off of his shoulder. “Thanks for having me again this summer. I truly appreciate it.”
“Of course! Got your room set up, same as last year. Feel free to decorate it, if you want. Just make sure not to use Permanent Sticking charms, yeah? The clients during the school year may not be a fan of your choice of posters.” He winked and pushed him lightly towards the stairs. “Go on up, let me know if you need anything.”
Harry had to dim the smile that overtook his face at the genuine kindness from the man. “Thanks, Tom. Would you mind sending Ron up when he comes through in a moment? I’d like to go ahead and unpack a bit.”
“Sure thing. Hedwig’s already in there, by the way. Was at the window when I cleaned it up this morning.”
“Brill.” Harry nodded at the man and took the stairs up to his room two steps at a time.
As amazing as The Burrow was, there was something both calming and exciting about the thrum of the Alley through the open window of his room, something that made him settle even further back into Hadrian, the last chokehold of boy fluttering away on the wind.
The wide grin of his best friend in the doorway a moment later made everything better.
The next morning, Harry awoke with a smile before he even opened his eyes.
He could smell breakfast wafting from downstairs, and Hedwig hooted from her perch near the open window, just as the Alley shops began to open for the day.
There was a letter tied to Hedwig’s leg, and he blinked a few times before reaching for it.
“I didn’t even notice you leave, how in the world did you go get a letter for me?” He opened it carefully, grinning at the familiar sight of Hermione’s practical cursive waiting for him.
Harry,
Ron slipped a note off with Hedwig while you were eating, I guess, letting me know everything went to plan.
Thank Merlin, I was about to just get a taxi to your neighborhood and start knocking on doors, no matter what Gerard said about ‘patience’.
My parents have moved up our timetable for the summer, and we’re leaving for France today to visit family for a whole month. I won’t have time to see you in person before, but feel free to write once we all have a day to pick up our books. I’m sure you’ll see the others plenty this summer; I’m honestly a bit jealous that I can’t explore the Alley with you. I’ll be sure to get souvenirs for you all, though!
I can’t wait to see you and Ron; this is the first time I can’t wait for school for something other than classes.
Don’t do too many experiments without me! I’ll expect to see your journal (can we call it a grimoire yet?) as soon as I’m back, I don’t know if I’ll have time for any research between my family, sightseeing, and practicing my French.
Speaking of your journal, I think I’ll start one, too. Just the most important notes from our research… maybe we should combine them to make a grimoire for the Nook.
My mom just knocked and told me I need to finish packing. She’s only letting me bring three books! Remind me when we’re shopping in August to grab one of those expandable bags, I’m still insanely jealous of yours.
Tell Ron not to get into too much trouble while I’m gone.
See you at the end of August!
Love,
Hermione
He folded the letter with a smile, tucking it into his too-full journal before he got dressed for the day.
“You don’t have to come with me,” Harry whined as they walked down the main Alley. “I’ve gone to Gringotts loads.”
He laughed when Gerard cuffed the back of his head. “Calm down. Griphook needed to talk to me anyways.”
Harry fixed the beanie over his hair and forehead. “No Marcus today?”
“Nah, he and Oliver were going to some scrimmage or something.”
“Aww, of course their dates are quidditch themed.”
Gerard rolled his eyes as he followed Harry into the bank, watching the boy with a wry smile as he nodded to the guards at the entrance.
Harry didn’t even stop at the waiting line as he led Gerard through the bank. The man just watched the kid wave at one of the tellers and duck between desks, heading towards a back hallway.
He stopped at a nondescript door and knocked.
The door opened by itself, and Harry grinned as he stepped through. “Manager Griphook. I hope this past year has been bloody and profitable for you.”
The goblin sneered as he stood on the chair behind the massive desk in the room. “It certainly has been for you, Heir Potter-Black. This must be Counselor Flint.”
Gerard bowed slightly. “Aye. Manager Griphook, a… pleasure to meet you in person.”
“Is it?” Griphook’s sneer turned solely to Harry. “You seem ill.”
Harry rolled his eyes. “And yet, you have yet to offer me a chair.”
A small chuckle escaped the toothy grin. “Indeed.” Griphook snapped and two chairs appeared, one with a comfortable cushion in front of Harry, one just plain and wooden off towards Gerard.
Harry smirked as he settled on the cushion. “Gerard should have a copy of my medical results from the other day. I’m in the Alley until school, so you’ll have plenty of time to ensure I don’t waste away. I would hate for your gold purse to lighten due to any misadventure on my part.”
“I, too, would hate for such an event to occur.” Griphook pulled a few papers from his desk and scanned them. “You were meant to have a meeting with us three days ago. You’re late.”
“I had a bit of a run-in with a rogue house elf. My muggles didn’t take kindly to it. Or me, in general. A rescue mission was necessary. Did you happen to get my da’s journal out of the vault for me?”
Griphook peered over the glasses perched on his crooked nose. “Indeed.” He slid a journal across the desk, one that Harry immediately lunged for. “A rogue house elf? Interesting. Counselor Flint, please sit, it seems we have quite a bit to discuss.”
Gerard waved him off as he leaned against the wall between the two. “Hadrian, did you find anything out about the family?”
Harry shook his head. “Obviously he was from an older, well-off family. But he was very careful to not say anything about his owners. Only that they were helping along some evil plan, one that could see me, if not others, dead in the school.”
“Start from the beginning. I need to alter a few insurance policies if there’s a known threat to the school.” Griphook took out a charcoal pencil and began scribbling.
Harry sighed and nodded. “Alright, so it started when I realized I wasn’t getting any letters…”
An hour later, Harry was leaning back with a bored scowl as Gerard and Griphook were shooting solutions and problems back and forth, and various other goblins came in and out of the office to either take or give messages from other solicitors and apparently Dumbledore.
Harry, for one, was idly doodling on the notebook that was always in the bag at his side, where his dad’s second year journal now sat. The bag that always sat precisely on his shoulder.
Except for that time it wasn’t, but was instead somewhere in the Forbidden Forest.
He also couldn’t tell if the conversation was still about him, or just about the threat on the school.
He was idly circling a few names written on the page in front of him, staring into nothingness as the words of the few adults he actually trusted flew around the room.
When Harry finally focused on his doodles, he furrowed his brow.
He had circled Sirius Black’s name multiple times. Uncle Arcturus suspected misconduct! was scribbled underneath it.
There were lines connecting Sirius Black to Narcissa Malfoy nee Black, Malfoy underlined with just the words political power.
Harry blinked at his own writing a few times before smiling to himself and rejoining the middle of the conversation in front of him.
“Gerard, you said that anyone over seventeen could be my proxy, right?” Harry looked over his shoulder at the solicitor, who hadn’t sat down.
“Aye. The only legal limitations are age and race. No creatures, so Griphook here can’t represent you.”
Griphook sneered. “Ridiculous wixen laws.”
Harry grinned at the goblin but turned back to Gerard. “How long have you known Aunt Andi?”
Gerard snorted. “She was a few years above me in Slytherin. Known for always getting her way, either through sheer determination or through the weight of her name.”
“Sounds like someone I might want making decisions on my behalf. A Slytherin pureblood princess that turned down a perfect life for love and still carries all the weight in the room.” He nodded to himself. “I may bring it up with her at dinner this week. See how much of the Black manifesto is left.”
“Plus she’s family. Rumor has it she was never actually thrown from the family magicks. Not likely to screw you over, even if she doesn’t agree with you. Just tread carefully. She’s been out of the political world for a while, she may not want to dive back in.”
“Fair enough. But I should probably find one soon anyways, I don’t want to let another year go by with the House Wizengamot seats empty. And if something was off about Sirius Black’s trial, the sooner we get that sorted, the better. Can’t have Lord Black suffer in Azkaban longer than needed. Can we start the paperwork on a contract?”
Gerard waved him off. “Aye, I’ve got some drawn for another client, won’t be hard to update with your situation. Just let me know if there are any particulars you want to include. Mind waiting outside for a mo’ so Griphook here and I can chat?”
Harry narrowed his eyes as his gaze jumped between the two of them. “Ooookaayyy…” He got up and backed out of the room, not knowing if Griphook’s feral grin was a good thing or if he needed to start saving money in his trunk.
He leaned against the wall, nodding to each goblin as they passed. One of them faltered, eyes catching on the beanie pulled down over Harry’s head.
“Heir Potter-Black. Has Griphook already tired of your nuisance?” the goblin sneered.
Harry looked down at the goblin (thrilled that there were people he could look down on) and matched his scowl with one of his own. “Guard Jaggedtooth. They still let you roam free?”
The two eyed each other for a moment, before Jaggedtooth grinned. “Just as much as you, apparently.”
“The adults wanted to have a conversation without me, it seems.” Harry rolled his eyes. “Most likely concerning my shitty accommodations, with me out of the room for plausible deniability.”
Jaggedtooth’s eyes narrowed. “Trouble?”
Harry laughed, waving him off. “Nothing you need to bring your axe into. By now we all know that muggles aren’t always the best place for wix to grow up. And until there’s better legislation in place, I’m just a byproduct of the system.”
“Foolish wixen. Can’t even protect your young.”
“You say that being barely an adult yourself, mate.” Harry chuckled as Jaggedtooth puffed out his chest.
“I am still older than you in every sense of the word, human.”
“Jaggedtooth! Leave the client alone and get back to your duty!” A sharp voice echoed down the hall, and they turned to see an older goblin glaring down the hall.
“Apologies, Staffhand.” Jaggedtooth bowed as the other goblin disappeared further into the hall, and then immediately scowled at the receding back. “Hardass.”
Harry had to shove his hand over his mouth to stifle his laughter.
Jaggedtooth shot him a grin just as the door to Griphook’s office opened. “I should go. Hadrian, may those who’ve wronged you suffer tenfold. I’m sure we will see one another again before you return to school.”
“May any intruders bleed at your feet, Jaggedtooth. Good to see you again. I’ll have to tell you about my battle last year next time we meet.” Harry held out a fist, and grinned widely when the goblin rolled his eyes and gave him a fistbump and continued down the corridor.
Gerard watched the exchange with a concerned look. “Friend of yours?”
Harry looked up. “Huh? Oh, yeah. He’s one of the younger goblins, not much older than me maturity wise. Agewise, who knows, they don’t really keep up with age like that. He was guarding the front my first week last year. We kept sniping at each other as I came to see Griphook, and eventually just turned it into being friends.”
“How you manage that…”
“What?”
Gerard shook his head. “I don’t think I can name anyone outside of Gringott’s employ who would actually claim a goblin as their friend.”
“I can’t help that your average wixen is a racist idiot.” Harry shrugged. “Are we good to leave now? If Hardfoot sees me he’ll try to feed me and I can personally attest that goblin cuisine is not for human consumption. Waaay too much salt.”
Gerard watched him for another moment, then nodded. “C’mon, kid, we’ll go out the back way.”
Harry immediately turned to Gerard with a wide eyed expression. “Seriously? You’ll take me down Knockturn?”
Gerard grinned. “Only the main road, don’t get too excited. We’ll stick to the more neutral areas until you’re older. But there’s a bookshop you’ll enjoy, at the very least. Hood up, though.”
Harry skipped at the man’s side as he pulled his hood up. “This is brill, thanks, Gerard!”
The man just rolled his eyes and tugged at the edge of Harry’s hood.
Harry followed him eagerly, his smile only hidden due to the depth of shadow that now crossed his face.
“There’s a bookstore I’m sure you’ll enjoy. But I want you to promise that you’ll only come down with either me or that Higgs girl. Only someone of age, Hadrian. You’re too influential to wander around Knockturn without someone who can legally protect you.”
“If that’s what you think’s best, fine.” Harry kept craning his head to peer down various alleys off the main street. Most of the shops seemed themed, and he was enjoying trying to determine the purpose behind each. He could only assume that Nite Bites was something to do with vampires, and Evil From the Needle seemed to be a magical tattoo shop, if the person leaving gave any clue.
Gerard flicked his head. “Listen. Knockturn isn’t necessarily evil , but it is Dark. The shops and housing are for those that don’t… qualify for Ministry help. Until you are more settled in your positions, you don’t need to draw attention to yourself, not for being down here, and definitely not for going into shops that you have no business going into.”
Harry turned back to him with his hands spread innocently. “I get it. I’ll follow the rules.” He ignored Gerard’s sigh when he spotted a familiar head of hair through a window of a bookstore named Leery Literary. “Theo!”
The boy looked up from a scroll with wide eyes at the small, hooded figure that burst through the door.
Behind him, a tall, thin girl rolled her eyes as she flipped a page. “Volume, please.”
Gerard closed the door behind himself as he followed Harry into the store. “Anyone else here?”
The girl looked at him over her glasses. “No. Bit early in the day for most down here.”
“Fair. Keep your hood up anyways, if you would, Hadrian. Passersby don’t need gossip to fuel the political fires.”
Theo ducked down to look under the hood, and almost laughed at the eager face of Harry trying to peer out from underneath. “You may need to alter your robe, Hadrian, it seems the hood is a bit long.”
Harry groaned as he adjusted it. “If only. Apparently I have to keep it a suitable length for lurking in the shadows.”
“I expect a full length letter filled with gratitude and platitudes when you get older and realize just how many misdeeds I’ve saved you from over your school years, Potter.” Gerard sighed again and began moving through the stacks. “You have half an hour before I need to get back to the office. You can catch up with your little friend another day.”
“Thanks, Gerard,” Harry called even as he rolled his eyes. Dropping his voice, he leaned towards Theo. “I swear, he treats me more like his kid than he does Marcus.” He pulled back and began peering at the handwritten signs over various aisles. “Any fun potions books?”
Theo grinned, ignoring the raised brow of who Harry could only assume was his cousin. “I know of one in particular that you’ll thoroughly enjoy. But you have to be careful at school, it’s in the Restricted Section, and I’m not sure of the actual rules for a student having it.” He grabbed Harry’s wrist and pulled him to the back corner, nodding politely at Gerard scanning history books. They stopped in front of a thin bookcase shoved between the corner of the store and a door marked Employees Only.
Harry instantly reached, jaw dropped, towards an old tome, leather thick over the heavy pages.
Moste Potente Potions.
He hesitated, looking back to the girl at the counter. She rolled her eyes again. “If Theodore trusts you, I don’t mind you looking at it. I can only assume your surname, and I know you’re good for it if something were to happen.”
He nodded and pulled it out, reverently tracing the title. “How much?”
Theo winced. “Three hundred. Natalie just got it in this past week, and she’s not sure if she’ll ever get another copy.”
“Merlin.” Harry flipped open to the contents, fingers skating as he skimmed the list. Venoms and Poisons, Long-Term Effects, Trait Changers… Even just the types of potions had Harry itching for a stirring stick.
A shadow fell over his shoulder, and Harry shot a pleading look towards Gerard’s judging expression.
He rolled his eyes. “Morgana knows you’ve got the money for it. Just don’t get caught with it, and don’t brew unless you know it’s a safe room for ventilation, explosions, and unwanted guests.”
Harry grinned, wide and pleased, and pulled out a bank slip as he headed towards Natalie.
A few minutes later, Theo’s cousin was shoving them both out of her store, Gerard trailing behind as they headed back towards Diagon proper. They just crossed the threshold of the alley when Gerard pulled Harry to the side.
“One thing before I let you loose for the summer. Griphook and I have completed a contract that we are sending to Dumbledore. He seemed… amenable to the idea, and we don’t see any further issues on his end, not with the new information brought to light about your muggles. He maintains that there is a ward on the Dursley house, one that is needed as a safe haven for you in future emergencies, at least until we find another place that can guarantee your safety. He will not cause any issues for you in terms of your residency if you spend one week each summer with them. The rest of your summer can be wherever we deem fit.”
Harry sighed. “One week?”
He nodded. “I promise you, Hadrian, that I will be the one to collect you from there every year, and that I will do whatever is necessary to ensure you are safe and sane for that week.”
At Harry’s hesitation, Gerard kneeled in the middle of the street, pushing Harry’s hood back. “This is the best resolution as of now. You’ve trusted me this past year, don’t stop now. It’s just… Sometimes, we have to make concessions, if only to gain leverage further on.”
“Okay.” Harry’s voice was small, but he took a deep breath and straightened. “I’ll talk with Griphook later in the summer, but I want us to focus on the proxy for my seats this year.”
Gerard’s eyes flickered between Harry’s, clearly trying to read the change of topic. After a moment, he nodded. “As you wish, Heir Potter-Black.” He stood and bowed slightly, then turned and did the same to the waiting Theo.
Before he got more than a few steps away, Harry called after him, voice timid. “Maybe I could come for dinner sometime this week?”
Gerard didn’t turn back, trying to hide a soft smile. “Aye, I think Marcus and his mother would enjoy that quite a bit. We can talk more then. Don’t get into trouble, Hadrian. I don’t need more paperwork.”
Harry laughed as he watched Gerard weave through the crowd and disappear towards his office.
He turned to Theo, grin in place. “Ice cream? My treat. Justin’s supposed to meet me.”
Theo’s lips twitched. “Alright. Sure.”