Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Beyond Good and Evil	By : Bladewater Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 7863 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter universe, no copyright infrigement intended. I make no money/profit with this. All chracters, plots and places not compliant with the books belong to me. See full disclaimer and warnings in the prolog.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
A/N: So here is another chapter for you to enjoy. Chapter is betaed.
dak388: I am glad that you enjoy my story so far and I hope you will continue to do so in the future. If I did not keep Harry on his toes it would become boring quite quickly. Well you will see what happens in this chapter so enjoy it.
ANON: Thank you, enjoy the chapter.
Warnings for this chapter: blood, (gore,) violence, swearing and whatever I forgot to mention.

Chapter 2: Diagon Alley

Harry stretched his arms above his head, opening his sleepy eyes. A loud yawn escaped him when he carefully sat up on the creaky bed. Slowly he moved towards the edge of the bed, careful not aggravate his bruises and pained muscles any more than necessary. His feet touched the ground while he listened for any noise in the house. It was silent. Nearly too silent. Harry guessed that the Dursleys had already left the house. Before he realized it he was already standing on the threshold of his room, looking up and down the corridor of the upper floor.
After ten minutes of silence, only broken by the footfall of Harry’s steps, he came to the conclusion that he had been right in his assumption. The Dursleys had left. Feeling giddy and a bit happy, Harry took a long hot shower. He washed his hair when his left arm started to hurt a lot and his body in general started protesting every movement. He pressed his lips together to stop any sort of noise to escape. It took him a few more minutes to finish showering and toweling himself dry.
Harry stepped in front of the mirror and looked at the damage his body had suffered in the last weeks. His friends would probably be upset if they could see him now. Ron would start ranting and waving his arms around, Hermione would try lecturing him about defending himself or at least taking care of his wounds.
>Well easier said than done.< he thought and prodded his ribcage for any broken or fractured ribs. He was not allowed to use magic. >Not that it stopped me from using it unintentionally.< he mused. He had waited a few days after the incident for a letter to arrive. But none had reached him or his family.
Potions would probably help if he had any with him. Which sadly, was not the case. >I knew I should have nicked a few from the infirmary over the last few weeks…< His thoughts trailed of when his fingers found a bruised rib and the pain made him dizzy for a moment. Besides spells and potions, there was always the option of using Muggle methods. He discarded that idea quickly, because they rarely helped and took too much time until they had any effect at all.
Dressed he walked back to his room, opened the window and looked around for Hedwig. She was sitting on her cage and her amber eyes stared at him. He sighed and walked towards her.
“Hedwig. I think it’s time we leave this place. I don’t think we will get another chance like this anytime soon. Fly to Hogwarts and stay in the owlery, yeah?”
She hooted softly spreading her wings and took off towards the window. He was glad that his stupid relatives had not put bars in front of it again. Harry stared after her until he could barely see her anymore. His eyes left the ever shrinking spot of his owl and turned towards his room. He searched for anything left that he wanted to take with him. He gathered a few small things in his arms and walked down the stairs towards the cupboard where his trunk was kept. He dropped everything on the ground and walked towards the jackets hanging in the hallway. He rummaged through the pockets, cursing every time his hands found nothing in the pockets. >Damn it. Where did Vernon put that key?< When Harry had searched every pocket of the jackets he began rummaging through the kitchen and the living room. Becoming more and more frustrated the longer the search lasted. With a huff he stalked the stairs up to the bedroom of his aunt and uncle. Again the search ended fruitless. >Seems like I have to use force to open that stupid cupboard<
Harry stared at the lock, his hands pressing into his sides and gasping for breath. He had tried quite a few things to pry the lock open, but a frustrated kick was what had done the deed. Still gasping for breath he pulled the heavy trunk from the cupboard and fell onto his butt the moment it was lying on the carpet of the hallway. He put the things he had carried downstairs into his trunk closing it with a groan. He stood up after finally having calmed his breathing down to a manageable level and walked into the kitchen. He grabbed a glass and poured some water in it only to guzzle it down greedily and refill it as soon as it was empty.
A noise startled him and some of the water dripped onto his shirt. Slowly he lowered the glass into the sink. His ears strained to pick up the sound again. Just when he thought he had imagined it he heard the noise again. It sounded like electric static, crackling along something. When the sound reached him for the third time he had already inched towards the window. A soft blueish spidery image appeared close to the edges of the garden. Harry froze.
>Somehow I don’t think those…cracks are meant to be there in the first place.< Harry stared at the cracks that started spreading towards the sides and upwards. His breath caught.
>The wards are falling apart.<
That definitely meant nothing good. He ran towards the hallway grabbed his trunk, threw it open and grabbed his wand, which luckily had not been covered by the pile of things within his trunk.
>What the hell am I going to do? I can’t send a patronus and Hedwig is already gone. I hope she got away before whoever is trying to pick the wards apart could hurt her…< His left hand reached up to tug at his hair in frustration and panic. He worried his lip and opened the cut on his lips. He hissed as blood dropped down his chin. With a shaky hand he wiped the blood away, staring at the red color for a dazed moment. Another sound, this time louder, made him snap out of his stupor. He slammed the trunk shut, grabbed the handle and Hedwig’s cage. He inched towards the door. His heart was hammering in his ribcage. He threw the door open and looked outside. He could not see anything but the spidery image spreading along the edges of the Privet Drive No. 4.
>Idiot. Why not walk right into their open arms, you are sitting duck here and presenting yourself on a silver platter by standing in the door like an idiot.< His eyes tried to see if he could pick up anything out of the ordinary. He could only make out two people that had disillusioned themselves, their charms distorting the scenery around them. Harry was beyond frustrated. He had only one option. Run. And run he did.
He bolted, ran towards the street and ducked when he heard yelling. He had obviously surprised whoever was out there by his sudden movement. A bright red curse flew past him and spurned him on to run faster, which of course was not easy dragging a heavy trunk and cage with him. Curses passed him left and right and smashed into any obstacle in their way. His name was called again and again, threats and curses yelled after him. He ran and ran, wishing for once that he was allowed to use magic and able to apparate. He cursed when a curse send him stumbling into a fence and his trunk tumbled onto his legs. He scrambled to get up, throwing his arm up in the directions of the street.
>Please just once, let it work!<
Another ‘woosh’ sounded when another curse flew past his head and just when he thought that he was an idiot hundred times over and he was going to die here, a loud screech and a thump followed by a crunching sound reached his ears. His hair stood on end when his eyes focused on the violet bus in front of him. Blood smeared the whole front and side of the bus. His eyes followed the movement of the windscreen wiper. For a moment he wanted to laugh at the irony but was startled from his musings when the doors opened and Stan grabbed him, pulled him in and shouted for the driver to get going. His left shoulder slammed into the side of the bus. Stan was waving his hand in front of his face trying to get his attention.
“Hey you alright?” Harry only nodded, in fear of vomiting right here and then. The bus obviously had hit the wizard closest to Harry and squished him flat and thus painting the bus with blood and intestines. He felt ill, the fast and neck-breaking driving not helping at all. He looked at Stan.
“Leaky Cauldron” was all he managed to say before he took another deep breath and clutching whatever was close to him to keep him in place. Nearly losing his balance and briefly wondered where his trunk and owl cage were. He looked towards the back of the bus when he heard a thump and a muttered curse. A wizard in one of the armchairs was spotting a big red spot on his nearly bald head and waving his wand at his trunk and cage.
>At least Hedwig is not in the cage<
The wizard looked at Harry, shook his head and muttered something under his breath. After minutes that felt like an eternity, the bus stopped and Harry hurried towards his trunk and owl cage, grabbing them, mumbling an apology to the wizard and reached a bed not a moment too late. He practically fell on it, sprawling on it when the bus took off again and driving in seemingly random patterns through the city.
After a few more stops they finally stopped at the Leaky Cauldron. Stan gently pushed him out of the bus, gave him a look and within a blink of the eye the bus was gone.
>I didn’t even pay for the ride< He shrugged. He couldn’t care less, at least the ground beneath his feet was not moving and upsetting his stomach even more than it already was. He pulled a cloak from his trunk, putting it on and throwing the hood over his head. He walked into the dimly lit building, heading straight for the bar. He quickly got Tom’s attention, whose eyes nearly fell out of his head when he realized who was standing in front of him. When Tom opened his mouth, Harry hissed, stopping Tom from announcing that he was here to every with and wizard present.
“I need a room, now!”
>I just hope nobody else has recognized me yet.< He neither needed any more crazy wizards or witches hurtling curses in his direction nor did he need any of the order members to get a hold of him, lecture him about his safety and drag him back to his loving family.
Tom reached for one of the keys, reluctantly handing it over to him. Again he opened his mouth, probably intending to ask questions. Once more Harry stopped him from uttering a single word.
“Not a word. To anybody.” >Or else I hex you to the moon and back< He stared intently at Tom who nodded and Harry whirled around, grabbed his things and all but ran for the room. He never noticed the eyes of not only Tom following him, but that of another wizard, tucked into a dark corner. The glowing eyes trailing after the disappearing boy.
Harry had locked the door after himself, falling onto the bed in a heap.
>Well that plan went well, at least I made it here in one piece. But the Order will be searching for me. I can’t stay here for long.<
He laid upon the bed for a few minutes, before getting up again and leaving the room, the hood of the cloak hiding his face once more. He hurried through the room to the little antechamber where he would be able to enter Diagon alley. He stared at the wall for a moment trying to remember which bricks he had to tap. He gingerly lifted his wands and started tapping bricks. The passage only opened after the fourth try. He walked through it before it had fully opened and walked past the few witches and wizards that strolled along the alley. He headed straight for Gringrotts. He could not purchase anything until he had at least a few coins in his possession. He entered the imposing building, quickly shuffling to one of the goblins scratching a quill over a stack of parchment. The goblin did not even spare a glance in his direction when he said:
“State your name and business.”
Harry hesitated for a moment casting a furtive glance around. Making sure his voice would carry only so far the goblin would hear him but nobody else, he responded.
“Harry James Potter. I wish to make a withdrawal from my vault.”
The head of the goblin snapped up, his eyes narrowing and his piercing glare focusing on his face. Harry was so surprised by the sudden movement and glare that he flinched minutely.
“Follow me Mr. Potter. Now.” The goblin stated in a hushed but no nonsense voice. The goblin left the raised podium and hurrying off towards the back of the bank. Harry scrambled to follow him. Silently he mused that the goblins really were quite fast for their size and stature but who was he to judge them?
The goblin ushered him into an imposing office. Another goblin sat behind the large table, stacks of parchment piled around him. The goblin was currently perusing some sort of folder but looked up when Harry and the other goblin had entered the office and the doors had closed with barely a sound. Harry was irritated. Why was he in an office and not on his way to his vault? Warily he walked closer to the desk, where the two goblins spoke rapidly in Gobbledegook. The goblin that had led Harry here left, Harry stared after him and a sound made him turn around sheepishly. He ducked his head, embarrassed he had been openly staring.
“Sit down Mr. Potter, we have some urgent things that need to be discussed before we can be interrupted.” Harry furrowed his brows. >Interrupted? By whom?< He kept silent and sat down in one of the chairs across the imposing goblin. Only now Harry realized that this goblin obviously was taller than the other goblins he had met. Not by much, but at least so much it was noticeable if you looked closely.
“Mr. Potter-“ Harry startled from his inner musings once again “- would you explain to me why none of our letters have been answered and why you have not attended the reading of your godfathers will?”
Harry even more confused looked at the goblin, not quite comprehending what the goblin meant.
“What letters? I never received a letter from Gringrotts. Neither was I aware that Sirius left any kind of testament behind…” Harry trailed off, somehow he had a feeling that he was in for a big surprise and one he wouldn’t like all that much.
“We have been sending letters to for nearly a year Mr. Potter.”
“A year?!” Harry exclaimed, embarrassed at the high pitch of his voice.
“And-and what about Sirius testament?”
The goblin stared at Harry for a moment. His whole demeanor made it clear that he was not pleased. He snapped his fingers, the parchment and folders disappeared and with another snap the goblin held an envelope in his hand. He handed it to Harry. He took it, slightly apprehensive and worried. He turned it around, the wax seal of the bank still in one piece. He opened the envelope, withdrawing the parchment from within. He unfolded it and started reading.
Mr. Potter,

Your presence is required at the Gringrotts bank for the reading of the will of one Sirius Orion Black. Along with the reading you will be required to sign documents pertaining to the inheritance of the Black title, vaults and further fortunes.
It also has come to our attention that you have not yet claimed the inheritance of the Potters –
Here Harry looked up, thoroughly confused.
“What do you mean I have not claimed the Potter inheritance? I got the key for the vault.” The goblin stared at him, his gaze darkening.
“Mr. Potter the key you are most likely speaking of is the key to your trust vault. It is meant to cover your supplies for school, your pocket money if you want to name it as such and other small necessities.”
“Are you saying my family had more than this one vault?” Now Harry got angry. Why had nobody told him? If that money was supposed to cover for ‘other necessities’ why had he not gotten some of it to be able to buy clothes for himself. With a disgusted look he glared at the shirt that peeked through his cloak and at his scuffed trainers. >I could have bought nice, new clothes. Some that would fit! Some that did not have holes…< He angrily thought.
“I advise you may read the rest of the letter. Save your ire until you have finished it.” Harry glared at the letter but did as told.
It also has come to our attention that you have not yet claimed the inheritance of the Potters and the title as head of house and Lord Potter. The title of head of house and Lord or Lady will be passed on to the next, or in your case last, descendant of the bloodline. As Mr. Black named you his heir to the Black fortune and the Noble and Ancient House of Black, you will also be granted the title as Lord Black and head of house if you wish to claim them.
>Sirius named me his heir?<
If you will not do so the titles, duties and fortunes will be passed on to the descendant of one Narcissa Malfoy nee Black and Lucius Abraxas Malfoy. As their descendant Draconis Lucius Malfoy carries the blood of the Noble and Ancient House of Black and is therefore entitled to them in case nobody else is available to claim them.
>Malfoy would get everything? Sirius would roll over in his grave if I let everything fall into the hands of the Malfoys. That means we would lose Grimmauld Place as well. The Order would skin me alive if they lost their headquarters.<
The respective papers will be prepared and ready to be signed on your arrival.
Any questions will be answered to the best of our abilities.

Supervisor of the Noble and Ancient Bloodlines fortunes
Head of the Gringrotts Bank
Crazdak Vorkrulok

Harry stared at the parchment for a moment. His mind was running a mile a minute, trying to make sense of the letter. He lifted his eyes away from the parchment, up to the goblin before him. The goblin in question had watched him closely.
“I fear Mr. Potter that someone has kept you in the dark about the extent of the Potter fortunes and your duties to the Potter line. Am I correct?” Harry only nodded.
“Then I am also right in my assumption that you are also not aware that your parents and your godfather left letters for you along with their wills?” Harry could only shake his head as answer.
>They left me letters? Why? And why would no-one give them to me?<
The goblin sensed Harry’s conflicted emotions and levitated another parchment towards Harry. Harry grabbed the rolled up parchment in mid-air and looked at it blankly.
“That Mr. Potter is the letter of the late Mr. Black. We were instructed to pass it to you and only you. He had informed us that there would be a chance it would never reach you otherwise.”
“Sirius knew…that somebody was keeping these things from me?”
“We are not sure Mr. Potter, he was adamant that you would get this personally and that we would see to it that you would read it. I can only assume that Mr. Black will mention something in his letter.”
“I hope so…” Harry mumbled and pulled at the ribbon that tied the parchment together. >This is so confusing< It unrolled itself and seemed to glow for a moment. Harry raised his questioning eyes to the goblin.
“That Mr. Potter I will only explain once you finished reading the letter.”
With a gulp Harry fixed his eyes on the letter. Blinking the tears away that already gathered in the corners of his eyes.

Harry,

If you are reading this letter I probably messed up pretty badly and am already rotting away somewhere, if there is anything left of me. I would have loved to have spent more time with you but alas I obviously can’t. Not in this realm at least.
But before I get all sentimental and drown in self-pity about what could have been, I will tell you some things. Things that are important and you need to know. Things I couldn’t tell you when I was still alive. I won’t make excuses but know this Harry, a curse and meddlesome people stopped me from mentioning anything around you. Every time I broke the curse it was cast on me again. I was able to write this letter before it was cast again and made sure that only you would be able to read it.
Those people say they want only the best for you and yet they only achieve the opposite. I hope this letter reached you before it is too late and either the Malfoys or the Ministry got hold of everything my family and yours own. Our families have artifacts and heirlooms that both have been trying to get a hold of for years. Well, those and the amount of shiny golden coins. I will be honest with you Harry. Some of those artifacts and heirlooms are powerful and could do a lot of damage in the hands of the wrong people, especially if they have no clue what they are really dealing with.
I know taking on two lordships and the head of house duties that come with our families will be a lot to deal with, but you must do this. It is about time you face the consequences of the actions of the people that only used you and did some questionable things behind your back. Claim the titles and you will be an adult even before you turn 17, then and only then you will be able to get rid of their influence on you. I know prongslet, you are wondering who I am talking about right now. I will not name anybody in this letter, in case you are reading this aloud with one of them in the same room. I wouldn’t put it past them to obliviate you about what you read in this letter. One of the Black vaults holds something that will be of great interest to you, the goblins will tell you, and only you which one I am speaking of.
Your parents left you a letter and a journal for you in one of their vaults. It is up to you to pick up where we stopped. Maybe you will be able to go beyond what we could do and solve some of the secrets we couldn’t.
I know you hate those Muggles with a passion and I understand that. I prepared a place for you where you could stay. Away from them and from people who would likely drag you back to that hell-hole. To access it you need to claim the title of Lord Black and get a hold of the signet ring. Only the ring will grant you access to the property.
One last thing pup, stay safe, don’t let my death drag you down, keep your head up and kick the asses of those Death-fuckers and old snake-face. Oh and kick the Order out of Grimmauld Place if they don’t stop meddling with you.

Mischief managed.

Padfoot

Harry wiped the tears that had escaped him away. Tears of anger, pain and confusion. He lifted his head, swallowed a few times before he voiced his questions.
“Why did the parchment glow? Why would they stop him from telling me things I am supposed to know? I don’t understand…” Harry trailed off unsure if he should voice more of the questions that plagued him.
“The glow of the parchment indicates that you are indeed Mr. Potter.” Harry raised his eyebrows, opened his mouth to ask another question but Crazdak stopped him with a raised hand.
“After the reading of his will, some people returned here with one of them parading as you.” Harry’s mouth fell open in shock.
“Who?” Was the only strangled word he could manage at that moment.
“That Mr. Potter I do not know. The person in question fled as soon as we knew it was not you. His companion on the other hand is another matter.” The goblin clasped his hands in front of him, smiling a somewhat scary imitation of a smile, before continuing.
“The companion of the impersonator was obviously not aware that he was escorting a fake. He assured us that he had not been part of the ploy. I only heard later that he got into a nasty fight with another wizard who ended up in Saint Mungos. He on the other hand ended up with a scar along his left side of his face.” Here Crazdak traced a clawed finger from his left temple down towards his chin, showing where the scar on the persons face would be. Harry nodded. He was not stupid, maybe dense when it came to some things, but definitely not stupid. Crazdak was telling him that out there, the person with the scar could prove to be an ally. Someone he could trust if this assumption proved to be true.
“Now Mr. Potter I am not sure why someone would keep your inheritance from you but I can only make a guess. As soon as you assume the titles of Lord Potter and Lord Black, you will be emancipated and no longer in need of a guardian.” Harry stared. He blinked and then asked:
“Are you implying that I would legally become an adult? Sirius mentioned that in his letter as well.”
“Indeed Mr. Potter. Your guardian would no longer have the right to access your fortunes or make any decisions concerning your education, your future life, or about your living arrangements.”
“So nobody could force me to go back to that hell-hole?” Harry asked hopefully.
“I can only assume that you are…dissatisfied with you current living arrangements?”
“You would be too if the people you are staying with treat you like a house elf and hurt you out of fun!” Harry blurted out. He slapped his hand over his mouth, stopping himself from uttering one more word. Crazdak sat still, stared at him hard and his piercing glare urged Harry to lower his hand.
“Then I think it is about time that you claim both lordships and your inheritance.”
“How do I do it?” The goblin shoved a pile of parchment in his direction.
“You will have to sign some of these documents. As the letter of your godfather confirmed your identity I have no need to test you any further. It was after all tied to your magical signature.” Harry, who had grabbed the first sheet from the pile, nodded and started reading. After a while he asked:
“So all I have to do is sign these? Nothing else? And here I thought I had to do some kind of ritual…” Crazdak chuckled.
“That Mr. Potter is not as farfetched as you might think. Some families still perform rituals to pass on the title of Lord or Lady of the house but this way proved to be simpler and less time consuming.” Harry nodded in understanding. He read the rest of the pile occasionally asking questions and Crazdak explained the things Harry had trouble understanding. Crazdak offered him a black quill with a golden tip to sign the documents.
“Just a warning Mr. Potter, the quill will use your blood to sign these documents so they will be magically binding. It may…sting a bit.”
“A blood quill?” Crazdak confirmed his question with a nod. Harry shrugged and muttered:
“Wouldn’t be the first time I have to use one.” Crazdak stared at the hand Harry was massaging. He unceremoniously grabbed Harry’s hand and eyed the words on the back of his hand.
“Would you care to explain why, Mr. Potter, these words are permanently engraved onto your hand?” Harry grudgingly explained the circumstances behind the words. Crazdak released his hand.
“That Mr. Potter is illegal. Blood quills are only intended to be used to sign contracts or other important papers. They are by no means to be used to write lines of all things. And you were not the only one who was forced to do this?”
“Yes, but I was the only one who was left with scars.” Crazdak made a noise of disgust and waved his hand at Harry, motioning to him to sign the papers.
“Better get this over with then Mr. Potter.” Harry signed wherever Crazdak showed him. The sting was barely noticeable, it felt more like an itch. When Harry finished signing the last line, the parchment glowed and disappeared. Surprised he handed the quill back.
“The documents will be kept safe and away from prying eyes. A copy will be send to the Ministry archives. We will make sure that nobody will be aware of what has transpired here today.”
Grateful Harry mumbled a “thank you” and took two small boxes from offered by Crazdak. He slipped the boxes into a pocket of his cloaks, intending to open them later, for now he needed to get to his vault. He exchanged goodbyes with Crazdak, receiving Sirius will, the keys to all of his vaults, and a pouch that had charms on it to prevent it from ever overflowing, getting lost or stolen. He left the office and followed another goblin, who had been called to take him to his vaults. They spent the neck-breaking ride to his vault in silence. He waited for the goblin to open his vault and stepped inside not caring if he looked greedy when he shoved a lot of galleons into the pouch. The ride back was also silent besides the whooshing of the air around his ears. He bid the goblin farewell and left the bank, but not before pulling the hood of the cloak over his head.
Feeling famished he walked back to the Leaky Cauldron, asking Tom for a small lunch, opting for something light so he wouldn’t upset his stomach. He sat in one of the darker corners keeping an eye out for anybody he knew. He was sure it wouldn’t take the Order long before they would hear about what happened at Privet Drive and start looking for him. He smiled to himself. >Well at least they won’t be able to drag me back to the Dursleys.< He was still reeling over the fact that he was now legally an adult, allowed to do what he wanted. He was finally allowed to use magic. He was not going to delude himself by thinking that some people would be happy about what he did, but he had enough of them telling him he was ‘too young’, that he wouldn’t understand or some such nonsense. He snorted. Did they really expect him to get rid of Voldemort with a tickling charm? He shook his head, he had no time to sit around, he had some things to take care of.
He left a few coins on the table and went back into Diagon Alley. He took a deep breath, steading himself and opened the door to the shop of Madam Malkins. A soft chime sounded and the door closed behind him. He looked around at the clothes and eyed the woman that approached him. He recognized her from his first year in the store. It was Madam Malkins who was approaching him.
“Hello dear, how can I help you? Are you searching for something in particular?” Harry shook his head. >If I keep this up I am going to end up with either a headache or a cramp in my neck.<
“No. I…I need new clothes…” Harry gestured at his shirt, hoping she would understand. She pursed her lips when she eyed his worn shirt.
“Now those simply are disgraceful, dear.” She looked him dead in the eye and raised an eyebrow.
“Anything you have in mind dear?” Harry fiddled with the hem of his shirt, not quite sure where to start.
“Uh…” >Yeah real intelligent of you, idiot.< She chuckled.
“A whole new wardrobe I guess?” Cheeks tinted red, he nodded, feeling more and more embarrassed with the minute.
“Now no need to be shy, dear. Just come with me.” The next two hours were spent with picking new clothes, adjusting them when needed and Madam Malkins chatting away. Harry was not bothered at all, he was grateful she told him about what had happened during his stay with the Dursleys. He had after all not even gotten the Daily Prophet and had had no clue what had been going on in the magical world. She even made a few jokes about a few clothing articles that looked just plain weird or hilarious on him. He smiled at her, feeling at ease. He should have known that the peace was about to be interrupted.
The chime sounded and Harry looked towards the front of the store. A tall, dark skinned man stood there and looked around. >Crap, isn’t he an Order member?< Harry was grabbed from behind, roughly cutting his musings short and dragged out of sight, shoved into a room at the back of the store. He spluttered and turned towards Madam Malkins. She held a finger to her lips, indicating for him to stay quiet.
“I will explain later. Stay here.” Confused and a bit suspicious he stayed where he was. Madam Malkins left. He heard her speaking with who he assumed to be Kingsley Shacklebolt. He stood in the room for what felt like an eternity, eyeing the boxes with the different fabrics. He tensed when he heard footsteps coming closer to the room. The door cracked open and Madam Malkins stepped into the room. He faintly heard the chime of the shop door in the background.
“Before you start firing off questions dear, I am sorry to have dragged you here like this. A…friend…asked me to hide you, should some people come looking for you if you came here alone. He asked me tell you this ‘Don’t trust the Order’.”
“Who told you this? How can I trust you?” She arched an eyebrow.
“I did not ask you to trust me, I only did what our friend asked me to. He was quite unhappy about the stunt they pulled at Gringrotts.” Harry relaxed a bit. So she was talking about that person. He sighed.
“They are probably searching every inch of the alley about now. I am stuck, I guess.”
“Now don’t be downhearted dear. I will get your things and we can finish your business here. You still need some clothes for school after all.” Harry laughed at the absurdity of the situation. Here he was, stuck in room at the back of a clothing store, while the Order members probably are running around searching for him and he was trying on new clothes. Madam Malkins chuckled and shook her head. She left the room and came back with clothes trailing behind her.
“Won’t it look suspicious if you are not seen in the front of the shop?” He asked worried.
“Don’t worry about that, dear. My daughter is quite capable of taking care of the business. She is tending to the front of the shop while we will finish with these. So nobody will get suspicious.”
The rest of the day dragged on slowly and Harry felt tired and exhausted. His stomach grumbled in protest just in time Madam Malkin’s daughter stepped into the room.
“I have closed the shop for today. I didn’t see any other people looking for you.” She said the last to Harry. She spoke to her mother in a hushed voice. Madam Malkins turned back around to Harry.
“Well, I think I kept you here long enough, dear. It seems like, whoever you are hiding from, is not yet actively searching for you.” Harry frowned at the women.
“I spoke to some of the other shop owners, nobody has been asking them if they had seen or heard anything about you. And there was no strange activity in the alley.” Her daughter said. Harry sighed, his shoulders slumped and suddenly he felt even more tired. The women packed his clothes into bags, which he in turn managed to put into his pouch after procuring the galleons to pay for them. He left the shop after exchanging his goodbyes with them and hurried back to the Leaky cauldron, the cloak safely hiding his face from prying eyes.
He hurriedly ate the small dinner, scowling when he was unable to finish it all. He grabbed the apple and got another drink from Tom, climbing the stairs to the rented room. He closed the door and leaned against him, letting his head fall back and wincing slightly at the hard ‘thunk’ it made upon contact with the wood.
With a heavy sigh he pushed away from the door and trudged to the bed. He placed the apple and the drink on the bedside table. Wearily he stuck his hands into the pockets of his cloak withdrawing everything that had found its’ way into them over the course of the day. When the last item landed on the bed he shrugged off the cloak, throwing it onto the end of the bed. He took a sip from his drink and then walked to his trunk. He opened it and stared at the chaos before him. Annoyed and tired he began to empty his trunk, forming different piles. It took him longer than he had hoped. Frustrated, he crumbled a ripped sheet of parchment and threw it into the waste bin. Which burped rather loudly and startled Harry so hard that he had to laugh. He spent the next hour completely emptying his trunk, putting back only the things he wanted to keep and stowed away all the things that laid on his bed. He stuck his hand into the pouch, intend on pulling out the bags of clothes. He was waving his hand around, touching coins left and right, his arm sinking deeper and deeper into the poach before finally finding the bags. >Merlin, I must look like an idiot doing this.<
The bags landed in the trunk which Harry promptly threw shut, threw the cloak over it and put the pouch back onto the table before throwing himself on the bed. He kicked off his shoes, shimmied out of his trousers and managed to pull the blanket over himself before promptly falling asleep…
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Beyond Good and Evil