the visit(Finally the start of the book getting interesting)”
CHAPTER 3 THE VISIT.
The escape of the Brazilian boa constrictor earned Harry his longest-ever punishment.
“How long was that then boy?” surprising alastor asked harry who frowned he doesn't have a clue on how long he was in the cupboard he loves it there one of the only places he feels safe yes maybe it's not a safe place to others but harry grew up in it and got attached to the cupboard under the stairs,
“I'd say around a month? I don't have a clue.”Harry replied, getting horrified looks and gasps from those who see Harry as a sibling, son and crush. No way is staying in a cupboard for around a month healthy.
“Harry that's not healthy” Luna said horrified ever since she met harry in her first year she knew harry was like her in a different way they both like the quiet but when it gets to there interest they could talk about them for hours and in harry's case 5-10 minutes he always looks done with the world after a few minutes of socialising so since first year luna has seen harry as the big brother she would of loved to have while harry sees luna as his little sister just like he does with ginny and the rest of the weasleys they are like the family he never was given hermione sirius and remus included yes he might not be close to bill and charlie but he still sees them as an older sibling even percy is there even if it's not as much as the others.
“I know its not healthy but i can't control the past can i.'' Harry replied many nodded he has a point it's just upsetting knowing that a child had to go through that treatment Amelia seemed to be writing a few things down before shutting her notepad and putting it in front of her.
Well could you call it a punishment really if Harry was happy about it?
“It still counts as a punishment.”
“Right okay cool.” harry replied leaning back in his seat hermione looked at harry like most of the gryffindors and ravenclaws she also sees harry as a little brother she always wanted one and harry has taken the role for her so she will look after him even if he doesnt s thats why when harry got back he had told hermione about what he was told he trusts her not to tell anyone.
He has always loved being inside of the cupboard(apart from when he's been put in there after having 10 minutes at the hand of his uncle.)
“I doubt it was by the hand.” Molly muttered his uncle doesn't seem the type to just slap him around.
“Harry was it just by the hand?” Hermione whispered she's worried about him she knew he was in a bad environment the whole group did but never did he mention how and it got apart from the fact he was locked into his bedroom because of something that happened in second year or the accidental mention of scars on his back which just get reopened each summer so there's definitely something else going on there he's not saying but hopefully poppy knows and can get him help.Harry shook his head slightly so hermione knew it was worse than the book is saying
He loves being in the cupboard mainly because it gives him time to make plans on how to do the garden, clean the house and make the day just as he usually does. He hates change in routine.
“I despise the routine changing, it's okay if it was a week before but as it's suddenly like this i don't like it.”Harry muttered getting an agreement from Charlie Weasley cause how can one actually not be organised you will be able to find your things easier.
Just like his aunt but she can be okay with it Harry just wants to go back to his cupboard and not do whatever was changed say it was a few minutes later it would cause him not to want to go.
“It's just not the same i just don't want to go because it's not the time we set it and if it's the wrong date it's not the same either i can't do so
He also gets the time to organise his soldiers and books yes he might not need his school books he had to use in class for writing but if they aren't how they were when he left he will simply put them back but if it keeps happening he doesn't like it cause he knows then he for sure didn't leave them like it.
“Agreed, I hate when someone moves my things”Charlie said along with hermione.
“I dont get how one is able to just leave everything unorganised even if its a messy organised its cool but not organised i really don't understand”charlie said harry nodded it makes so sense hermione said over christmas she went to see ron and his whole dorm was a mess well his area she ended up fixing it for him she doesn't care if its not organised like he and charlie d do but she said it felt nice to do as ron can never keep his focus up when he has to but when he doesn't his focus stays up its very concerning.
Over the month of harry's punishment dudley Dudley had already broken his new video camera, crashed his remote control aeroplane, and, first time out on his racing bike, knocked down old Mrs. Figg as she crossed Privet Drive on her crutches.
“How can someone break that much in a month? Yeah I got the aeroplane as those are actually hard to control but how did he break the camera?”
“Don't ask me it's always been like that in a year he's broken almost everything.”Harry replied while angry muttering was coming from the adults on how much money must have been wasted.
“He's so spoiled.” Ron and Luna said disgust in their eyes, surprisingly showable in luna.
“You think?” harry muttered under his breath confused
“What did Mrs Figg even do?”
“I dont have a clue he just did from what i've heard “
“Poor lady.”
“She was only on a walk.”
Harry was glad that school was over. Yes, he might like studying.
“Especially potions and magical creatures.”Many said getting nods if it wasn't for the extra potions lessons he gets on the weekends every other week and hes usually seen helping hagrid set up for his lessons harry for sure had the most fun with the hippogriffs though,
“He loves animals as it is anyway
But the bright lights hurt his eyes making him want to cover them while walking in the corridors. He wants to cover his ears but last time he did he was given detention for distracting other students.
“They were in the corridors how would that distract the students.” Flitwick and Trelawney said, confused, how can covering your ears distract someone? That doesn't make any sense.
“Don't ask me.” harry shrugged he hasn't got a clue
Harry didn't understand it but if that's what the teacher says then he must of that's how it works isn't it?
“Not in that case it sounds like they just didn't like you harry.” Tonks said getting looks from everyone.
“Wouldn't be surprised.
But then it also wasn't much of a difference as piers dennis malcolm and gordon had visited all summer so far.
Groans echoed around the hall.
“Of course they did probably played that game.” Blaise hissed in anger, shadow from where she was on Harry's robe nodded her head.
“Wait, can she understand us?”
“She can understand the tone and learned to understand the word game so probably.” Harry replied, getting shocked looks.
“I mean she is a basilisk. They are smarter than other snakes so it makes sense.” Snape said also getting weird looks.
“Don't blame me for researching snakes because students in my house have them.” He said staring at them many looked away as that does make sense but nobody expected Snape to bring it up.
they were all so happy to join the favourite game for the freaky weirdo in the school called harry hunting most of the school joined in
“Excuse me!”Poppy yelled along with Molly “The whole school?” they added
“Harry, is the book trying to say that your whole school bullied you? Because if so, that's messed up.” By getting no reply they knew it meant yes.
“Was it just the older ones?” Harry nodded, many sighed at least they knew it must have been worse years before his first year.
never getting to harry only dudley's gang did they just joined in to see him get hurt and nobody would believe him when he spoke up about it.
“Why?”
“Everyone liked Dudley, nobody actually liked me in school so that's why.” Harry shrugged.
“Weird if you ask me because how can one like dudley.”
“How can you not like him.” Umbridge whispered, getting looks of disgust from those who heard her. They soon moved away because nobody wants to sit near an adult who looks like a pink obsessed toddler.
That's why harry visits mrs Figg a lot of the time looking after her cats cats and owls are his favourite animal but if harry had to choose out of the two and a snake he would go for the snake they are pretty and can have some really pretty colours the one thing he dislikes though is being able to understand them but unknown to him it would become useful later on in the story.
“what? “
“Why?”
“I told you he's dark! Nobody believed me!”Shouted Umbridge, getting looks from people how does that prove he's dark even fudge the idiot didn't understand the reasoning.
“He's a parselmouth. Of course it would come in useful because of you know who.”Hermione said, getting a look from Harry. She corrected herself and said his actual name.
“You said his name”
“Having fear in a name only increases fear in the thing itself the less you fear the name the less you will be scared of the actual man if we are to ever defeat him it would be from not fearing the name simple as that you don't fear the name you wont fear him as much making it easier to fight.” ron had said with a shrug getting looks from people he only said it so harry didn't he wouldn't explain how that works,
“How on earth does that make sense?”
“You don't understand?” Harry questioned.
“No I do, it's just annoying that a 15 year old makes us realise.” tonks replied harry made a o shape and nodded
Harry for once was excited for his birthday and isn't that surprised when he lives with the dursleys.
“Very surprising.”
“For sure.”
he's also excited for the start of the school year but were not talking about that.Harry is excited for his birthday because something exciting is happening that's if its real harry believes it is as with a lot of practise and not getting side tracked mainly harry had managed to open his cupboard door with his eyes.
“Seriously?” Tonks said in jealousy.”
“I mean yeah it's one of the first year spells so it makes sense it's easy but spells above second year i cant do without a wand.” Harry replied with a shrug he usually only does levitation charms without his wand and in the first place he usually uses parseltongue to do spells as it comes out better so you know it makes sense.
“Still not fair that before Hogwarts you were doing controlled magic wandless.”
“Technically everyone can do wandless as your accidental magic is without a wand but usually when you get a wand your accidental magic stops meaning you will have a struggle with wandless.” Neville and padma patil said many soon realised and voiced agreements.
turn the coffee machine on also with his eyes and one time with the most struggle he managed to clean the dishes with a wave of his hand. Harry suspects that there's more he could do but it makes him tired if he does too much so he will prefer the normal way to do things.
“The muggle way is more fun anyway.” Hermione and Harry shrugged yes with magic. It's faster but the muggle way of doing things is more fun cause you know you did it without being lazy and it feels better seeing something clean.
and if this hogwarts place is real harry will be going. Now the reason Harry is excited for the school year is because no matter what he will be going to a different school to Dudley and if that's not awesome Harry doesn't know what would be.
“Agreed not going to school with Dudley would be awesome.” was heard while Umbridge scoffed at least someone knows how to put the boy in his place especially that Vernon guy it's good he was placed there but now hes going to be probably removed from the household and no one will do what the dursleys did and that's not good because its not allowed to physically harm students in hogwarts it never has been if she had her way she would be taking a page out of the dursleys book.
At the moment the Dursleys think Harry is going to stonewall high the local public school.
He should be going there better then him going to Hogwarts at least then there isn't someone who shouts at me over a lie he made Umbridge thought.
“No, you're going to hogwarts.” The twins sang, getting rolls of eyes from many and laughter.
“I knew that it's just what the dursleys thought at the time.”
Dudley thought it was funny Harry understands what causes people to laugh. He laughs a lot too but he sometimes doesn't understand why people laugh.
“I still don't.” Harry said under his breath but at least he knows why now.
“Did you know they stuff peoples heads down the toilet the first day at a stone wall?” Dudley asked Harry with a smirk. Harry just wanted to punch right off his face but he must not.
“I'll do it for you.” Draco whispered Harry sighed “Please do” He whispered back hermione snorted from where she heard.
“Want to come upstairs to practise?”
“What's in it for me?”
“We won't… uh.'' Dudley frowned, and Harry took that moment to run off to Mrs Figgs; he knows he's safe there.
You will always be safe with her.” Harry smiled, getting many others to smile.
“She's a wonderful caring woman.” Pomona sprout said getting many agreements from those who met her.
One day in July, Aunt Petunia took Dudley to London to buy his Smeltings uniform, leaving Harry at Mrs. Figg's. Harry loves being with Mrs Figgs. He probably would be more if there wasn’t a horrible cabbage smell coming from each room and near the fire all he wanted to do was scratch his neck as if something was touching him.
“Magic sensitive?”Alastor and Kingsley questioned Harry who nodded at them.
“Bet sometimes it feels like there's someone watching you?” Kingsley asked as he's also magic sensitive.
“Most of the time, yeah worse in full magical places like Diagon Alley and Hogwarts are always the same.” Kingsley nodded his agreement. "It can be worse for others and not as bad for some he fits into that role harry fits into the other one where it's worse for him probably because he grew up in a muggle household so he wasn't brought up around it
After a while of it bothering Harry had tried to stop it and all he saw was multicoloured particles surrounding the fireplace and around Harry's body he soon moved away from the fireplace.
“Would have done the same.” Many laughed.
“I was really confused.” Harry said rubbing his neck he was really confused when all he could see was particles. Yes he couldn't see all the colours but he knew it was multicoloured from the way some were lighter and others were darker.
That evening, Dudley paraded around the living room for the family in his brand-new uniform. Smeltings' boys wore maroon tailcoats, orange knickerbockers, and flat straw hats called boaters. They also carried knobbly sticks, used for hitting each other while the teachers weren't looking. This was supposed to be good training for later in life Charles felt like being nice so he put a photo above the book,
“What is that-”
“Is he going to the god damn circus!?”
“Idk but that's where he belongs.”
“And I thought our uniform was bad.” Lavender and the Patil twins said in disgust.
“My mother would have died from that”Sirius said louder than he wanted, causing agreement or laughter from the thought.
As he looked at Dudley in his new knickerbockers, Uncle Vernon said gruffly that it was the proudest moment of his life.
“Proudest moment to find out his child will work at a circus.” Fred said, getting laughs all around the hall.
“Glad they are actually saying it outloud i love this”Tonk whispered getting a nod of agreement from bill and kingsley.
Aunt Petunia burst into tears and said she couldn't believe it was her Ickle Dudleykins, he looked so handsome and grown-up.
“Yeah because he's going to work at the circus.” George shouted.
“That's an insult to the people who work there.” Harry said.
“Oh my god.” Remus said he's being reminded so much of Lily here James didn't do many jokes he was all the pranks Lily would make jokes just like Harry does Harry doesn't look like he's even realising he's making a joke.
“I'm so sorry mr clown , I insulted you dearly.” Ron said.
“Oh my god.” Percy muttered pinching the bridge of his nose what is the witnessing and why it is like this
“No but seriously we should leave the poor circus alone. We are really insulting one by saying Dudley would work at one.”
“Yeah.”
Harry was in disbelief what is he staring at what is that why it the seams built like that why it there a boater on dudleys head what on earth is he witnessing and he thought he has seen some things he never should of in his life this is now being added to the list cause that should not be called clothing.
“Agreed because what Dudley was wearing was the clown collection.”
“Oh my god yes.” Angelina said snickering.
“Those poor clowns.”
“Let's leave the clowns alone”
When Harry woke up he just knew today was a bad day his shirt felt unnaturally tighter around his wrists.
“How does that work then?”
“How can clothing feel different some days then normal on others.”
“I'm so confused.”
“Aren't we all.” this was said while remus had a realisation on why and looked at harry in shock it makes sense to be honest.
his jeans didn't fit right.
“Why?”
“I mean they are too big for him.”
“No those fit me.”
“Why didn't they fit right then?”
“They just didn't.”He got loads of weird looks for that.
They are the only type of trousers he owns so he has to wear them but he hates jeans his socks felt like they were eating him alive his glasses were fitting weird colours felt brighter everything felt louder and smelt stronger.
“I'm not even joking how that even works, I'm literally so confused.”
“Aren't we all?”
“Nope.” Harry Remus, Poppy and Hermione said.
“I need an explanation, I'm so lost.”
“That's none of your business,”Harry replied.
There was a strong smell coming from the kitchen that morning too so that wasn’t very nice. Harry climbed out of his cupboard shaking off the feeling as if he's walking on sand and walked into the kitchen to go and try to make himself some breakfast. He stared at the metal tub in the sink and went onto his tippy toes to look inside. The tub was full of what looked like rags of some sort swimming in dirty water Harry glared at in disgust the smell was putting him off making food so in the end he just made himself a cup of coffee he would have coffee but no not even a taste to it just leaf water.
“You like tea?” said many in shock.
“Oh yeah, I've had the good ones from Mrs Figgs. Chamomile is my favourite and helps me sleep.” Harry shrugged while he got looks
“There's different types of tea?”
“You're joking.” Hermione said since when were there different types of tea?
“Oh my god.” Harry said horrified.
“Concerned you're supposed to be British and you dont know there's different types, our whole deal is tea.”
“I'm expected to know? I dont go shopping. I don't look into things like tea.”
“Oh right, I forgot that most of you guys don't actually do the shopping.” Harry said rubbing his neck in realisation
Harry glared at Dudley's chocolate covered toast sitting on the table as Dudley got ready for the morning. It wasn't even cut evenly; it was all awkward. Vernon and dudley both walked into the kitchen with wrinkled noses at the smell of the rags in the water harry knew it was probably going to be his new ‘uniform’ no way is he wearing that. Dudley banged his smelting stick on the table a few times.
“He keeps it on him?”
“Yep there's dents in the wall from it.”
“That's just sad.”
before beginning to eat his breakfast vernon following but with sipping on his hot coffee. Harry was just about to wash the dishes when there was a knock on the door. Harry walked into the hallway and pulled open the door stood There was a rather tall, strict looking woman with dark green robes and black boots. Her black hair was tied back into a tight bun Harry supposed it was uncomfortable.
“Sometimes it is not all the time, usually around night.” She said with a nod it's not the most comfortable thing.
“Thought so.”
her eyes stared down at him
“Are you Harry Potter?” she asked with a different accent to what Harry was used to.
“I'm used to it now though.”
she also was giving him a look Harry didn't understand so he frowned but nodded. “My name is Minerva McGonagall. I'm a professor at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. I'll explain it all if you let me inside as I will need to speak to your relatives.” Harry narrowed his eyes but he moved and she walked inside. She seemed shocked to see no photos of Harry but not surprised.
“I'm camera shy anyway, I don't like cameras.” Harry said Colin nodded he found out when Harry threatened to break his camera if he took photos of him unknown to Colin Harry wouldn't actually break it just not happy as photos he dont like as they flash.
“They should be in there uh what should i call you?”
“Just use what you want, Mr potter.”
“ ‘Kay professor simply won't forget” Harry said while he walked into the lounge.
“Who wa- Oh hello Minerva McGonagall you must be here to take harry to get his school things? If so yes you can take him to get them he needs to be back at 7 pm” she suddenly stopped talking fake tears building up
“Everything she just said sounds so fake.”
“I can't believe I never realised she was faking.''Minerva muttered, slightly annoyed as she should be able to notice these things.
“I never managed to tell him what happened to his parents and I feel terrible for it. I must not lose Harry here like I did my sister”She sobbed putting Dudley into shock, Vernon was glaring at Harry before hiding it when Mcgonagall looked his way.
“Mcgonagall definitely noticed.”
“I did. I just suspected it was because he shouldn't have answered the door for them.”
“So you didn't tell him a single thing about what happened to his family?” she said sadly she didn't expect that she would have to.
“I feel terrible for not telling him please if you can, would you?”
“I guess I could mr potter can you take me to your kitchen please” Mcgonagall asked harry it sounded like a demand so he span on his heel and left the room the professor following both not seeing the glares harry was getting from the two adults in the room.
“No, I felt them but didn't see them.” Harry whispered .
Harry sat in his usual chair the hogwarts professor sitting in front him and soon started explaining what happened with his parents he was in shock about all of it he knew they didn't die in a car crash it made no sense so here he was finding out they were murdered
“We really should set off if you ask me it's nearing 10 and they want you back home for seven so want to go on the train?”
“I like trains but I don't like sitting in them because they are so loud. Is there a faster way?” Harry said with a slight stammer with the longer words days like these he prefers quiet.
“I still don't get how days he can be fine then like that day he isn't” Said a first year hufflepuff boy.
“I think it's getting pretty obvious.” Said the boys neighbour they got a look but they never replied to the other boy
“Mr potter it looks like you sign while talking if you would rather that you can we were demanded to learn how to sign just in case something like this happened.” Harry let out a breath of relief before nodding.
“Why do you have to learn signs? I mean Hogwarts translates it?”
“A deaf student or one whos mute it so we can sign while talking if we have to and so we can understand if they are signing while we are not at hogwarts it's only the defence teachers who don't learn it as there's a new one every year.”Mcgonagall and Sprout said together many soon understood.
“There are quicker ways apparition or the floo i think apparition we should do as the floo is the messier version if we apparate at least we don't have to go through people wanting to meet you” she said harry had completely forgotten that he was famous so he sighed’ Can we go the apparition way? It sounds easier’ Harry signed finger spelling apparition.
“Yeah a lot of the words in the wizarding world don't have signs as it's all unusual words and sign language was first created by a muggle.”
“I do know what's on your list so if you want to see what's on it I can give it to you.”
“You have to give it to him, it's the best thing you get before getting your school things.” When she heard in the hall hermione nodded she kept hers even with the offer of not to read it.
she said while holding some yellow parchment with words on it Harry couldn't read as they were also a darker yellow so he suspected it was green.
“Wait, you can't read the green on the parchment?”
“I can now thanks to Pansy getting me those glasses in third year which match my eyesight making it so i can see colours better but not like you guys but before then no i couldn't see the green.”
“Good we went with you in second year then isn't it.” the weasleys said Harry nodded.
“I wouldn't have been able to see what was on it maybe just about after focusing a lot.” Harry replied he's getting to the point he just doesn't want to talk he just wants to sit here and be quiet the rest of the day but he doubts he will be able to.
so he shook his head as it's not like he will be able to read it because of the colour and two he's not a fast reader let's save some time.
“That's true he takes a while to read but he reads faster than the Weasleys and sirius.”Draco said, getting gasps from those mentioned.
“That's insulting.”
“Is he lying though?” Remus questioned Sirius who glared.
“How dare you think so low of us Dragon i'm so insulted”
“You won't let me live it down after you realise Draco means dragon.”
“Never.” he glared at the twins who smirked.
She smiled at him and nodded but still gave it to Harry who took it and tucked it into the pocket inside his shirt.
“I was going to say he better get the letter.” Bill muttered
“We will need to walk down the street to apparate so shall we leave. Do you have anything you want to take with you?”He shook his head again and they both got up from the table, Harry leading the way out of the weirdly tidy house to her as there are two children living there but they could just be really tidy .
*cough* “Harry has to clean” *cough* came from the twins
She gave the cupboard under the stairs a weird look when she saw chips in the paint on the door and surrounding it showing it's obviously been slammed shut multiple times.
Harry noticed how he was getting weird looks again so he sighed.
“It has.” He replied hermione and poppy could see harrys had enough of social interaction but they also know he most likely will have to keep talking and that might end up with a bad day tomorrow.
she also could see a small light inside it. Harry waited for her at the door she stood outside while harry shut the door before signing towards her ‘How will i pay i haven't got any money’
“Yeah right.” many scoffed.
“More than you think”
“I know.”Harry said making many remember this was the past
“Oh you do Mr potter don't you worry.” Harry narrowed his eyes for a second before shrugging as she started to walk out of the front garden. It has loads of pretty flowers and bushes near the sidewalk which were almost perfectly cut, unlike the neighbours bushes which were not the flowers that looked like they were watered every day. All the flowers on this street do.
“I'm bored during the day so I just water the whole street's flowers. It makes my brain happy.” Harry mumbled under his breath.
as soon as they got a few streets down it was an area where hardly anyone goes now. Mcgonagall told Harry to grab onto her hand or arm which he did and soon they vanished.
“Now this is going to start getting exciting. I wonder what Harry's thoughts of us were.”
“Shit.” Harry hissed to shadow who hissed back.
“Harry, what does parseltongue actually sound like to you?”
“Some letters like s draw out more than other letters so it sounds like hissing as much as it does human i don't know how to explain it.”
“Sounds cool.”
“I think you will see it more when I get shadow.”
“Cool.”
CHAPTER 4 DIAGON ALLEY