Time skip necessary because the author is all thumbs. Sorry
After a few weeks in the company of Xuanyu, being caught by the young master, avoiding him in more cases than not, patching wounds, caring for Xuanyu when his mentality took cliff-dives, Harry now called Xuanyu A-Yu, and is in the middle of a week-long stint of trying to convince A-Yu to leave with him.
Young Master Mo had snatched his bag two days ago, so Harry was trying his luck in buying food from the vendors in the street with the handful of coins he kept within easy reach in his moleskin pouch around his neck. He was glad that he had the foresight to remove some of his coins from his bag into his pouch, since he had to wait for a bit before sneaking into the young master’s room to get his bag back in the middle of the night. At least the young master would not be able to open the bag, since it was keyed to his signature and blood.
Subtly weaving through the streets, avoiding areas were beggars and pickpockets usually linger, he approached the edges of the shopping area to try and purchase some food for himself and A-Yu. Though most of the shopkeepers rebuffed stiffly in the beginning, when he would just quietly retreat without creating a fuss, and instead come back near closing time or when the customer flow was slow, they allowed him to approach and purchase some food. So, he approached the Auntie who presided over a baozi cart, and when the crowd slowed to a trickle, he went up and asked for half a dozen, holding out a couple coins to pay for them. Thankfully they relied on the decimal system, instead of the rather whimsical exchange numbers of the wizarding world. Really, seventeen sickles and eleven knuts? Or was it the other way around? At least he wasn’t the one calculating the change.
Harry took the wrapped package of baozi and dipped his head shallowly in thanks towards the auntie, and after sending a smile through his slightly-too long bangs, he turned and made his way back to the shed to share his purchase with Xuanyu.
Though it had been a while before A-Yu’s fits, recently he had been showing signs of distress and falling easily into a state where he would be more prone to lashing out and referring to himself as A-Yu.
He quickened his steps up the dirt path to the shed, and encountered the servant of Young Master Mo at the entrance, with a sickening smile on his face.
Harry bristled, and like the British born and raised he was, wound up to give the greatest tongue-lashing he could muster, lips curled into a snarl. “Leave him alone you great ape! You lack the brains to thought process then you should go grovel at the feet of your master and leave him alone you animal!”
Eyes widening at the sudden assault, the servant quickly recovered and sneered, “Well if it isn’t the foreigner taking care of the dog that lives in the shed!”
“You should be the one locked up in a shed like an animal! You certainly bark and bit and wag your tail when your master orders you to!”
“You little-“
“You get what you deserve you son of a pig! You should treat others the way you want to be treated! You’ll regret it one day when you are kicked around like the little beast you are!” Harry delivered a swift kick to the shin and the answering high pitched yelp was satisfying enough when the servant curled over himself. That was definitely going to leave a nice bruise, dragonhide, even slightly disillusioned, beat straw sandals any day.