Chapter Text
Harry Pov
I was laying on my mattress in the cupboard under the stairs. Even though I nearly outgrew the small space, the Dursleys still thought it to be a good idea to lock me up in there so that I couldn’t perform any ‘freakish stuff’.
Of course i was still let out during the day to attempt to finish the extra long list of chores they gave me, knowing well that I would never be able to finish them in time before Uncle Vernon came home from work.
Today had been such a day where I didn’t finish the chores on time, resulting in a beating not only with Vernon but Dudley got to join in too. After Dudley grew tired of only beating me with his fists and kicking me didn’t resonate in his much anticipated crack, Vernon took over with his belt and now my whole back was aching and bleeding. I haven’t bled that much in a long time. ’Hopefully my magic can heal this’ I thought as I started to lose consciousness.
The next time I woke up was to my aunt screeching at someone on the front door. “I don’t know who you are talking about but we want nothing to do with you and your sort!” She slammed the door shut and banged loud enough only for me to hear but not if someone were to stand at the door. “I want you in the kitchen in five” she whisper shouted.
Quickly I made my way to the kitchen, assessing the damage which wasn’t yet healed by my magic. It wasn’t too bad, I only sported a few bruised ribs and the scars on my back but the worst was healed. That didn’t mean that it doesn’t hurt like hell.
“Start with the bacon and make sure nothing gets burned” Petunia demanded. “Yes, Aunt Petunia,” I responded. The bacon was sizzling and was soon ready. Petunia meanwhile set the table for three and urged me to finish cooking breakfast faster.
A few minutes later Dudley was heard stomping down the stairs, he threw open the kitchen door and complained loudly why breakfast was taking so long even though it was already placed right in front of him. Petunia scolded me for being so careless around her ‘Duddykins’. After Dudley finished his breakfast I got a few hits with the frying pan for ‘taking too long’.
After the hits I was told to do my chores while Vernon was at work, Dudley was with his gang and Petunia was out shopping. And for being so careless during breakfast a few extra cores were added. Naturally I was much slower than if I weren't injured and as expected couldn’t finish my chores when Petunia first returned. She raised an eyebrow and calmly asked “What didn’t you finish?” I merely showed her the list. She disapprovingly tutted and said “Kitchen. NOW!”
In the kitchen she disciplined me the way she always did. Meaning I got hit with the frying pan a bit more than in the mornings but not too much to get serious damage and my hands were placed in hot water.
Shortly after Aunt Petunia was finished with her ‘Disciplining’ Uncle Vermin - I mean Vernon - came home. I only heard Petunia talk to him in hushed voices but I could imagine what they talked about and my suspicions only got confirmed when he said “Basement, after dinner.”
Time Skip
Vernon threw me down on the floor. “Petunia told me you didn’t finish your chores again.” he growled. I merely nodded my head in confirmation and mumbled “Yes, sir”
A punch to my gut followed, “And why didn’t you finish your chores?” “I’m sorry” “Sorry doesn’t finish your chores, boy!” A swift punch - kick combo followed that exchange. Vernon continued to kick and punch me, mumbling all the while “We took you in… Ungrateful freak… gave him food and a roof over his head…” That is until he got tired of getting no response from me. Then he switched to the blade he only kept in the basement for this purpose and began to carve words like ‘Freak’, ‘Boy’ and ‘Useless’ onto my back and torso which was still not fully healed from the beating the day before.
A few hours later as I lay in the cupboard losing blood faster than I would like, I lost consciousness. My magic was working in overdrive trying to keep me from dying, it was a losing battle and I slowly but surely slipped from the realm of the living.
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When Harry woke up everything was white. Weird, the cupboard isn’t this bright Harry thought. ‘You left the realm of the living’ a voice spoke from behind me. Who are you? ‘I am Death, youngling. And it is not yet your time to die.’ Wait..I’m dead? ‘Yes, but not for much longer I am sending you back. Fate would throw a fit if you would die. But since you have died, you will be a new person. Your name will still be Harry Potter but if someone tampered with your person those effects would now be gone but still visible on any test you would do.’ Death calmly explained.
I think I understand. Since I’ve died I can’t be the same me that I was before I died, right? ‘You would be correct’ And when will you be sending me back? ‘That would be about now. I’ll see you soon, Harry Potter’
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Everything went black and I woke up to my Aunt pounding against the cupboard door “Up, get up!”
“I’m up, Aunt Petunia.” I responded. “Good, get in the kitchen and start working. Then get out of the House for the day we have guests coming over.”
Since the fiasco in second year the Dursleys thought it would be better if I was gone for the duration of the visit so I could always do whatever I wanted. Most of those times I’d just visit the library but today I wanted to do something different.
After finishing what I was told to do I timidly asked “Aunt Petunia, would it be possible for me to get some of the money my kind uses?” She visibly blanched at my request. “And why, boy, should we allow that?” “‘cause then I’d be able to get out of your hair and you wouldn't have to hold back on anything.” I mumbled timidly. She thought about that proposition for a minute. “I’d have to ask your Uncle about that.” I nodded and went back to the cupboard.
Soon I heard Petunia coming back to my cupboard. “Freak, we talked about it and we allow you to take as much money as you need to get to London and stay the night but that stick of yours and everything else has to stay here.”
I nodded but then remembered that I'd need my wand to call the night bus. “I don’t want to sound ungrateful saying this but I need my stick to call the bus for my kind.” She merely raised an eyebrow at that. “Fine, take it with you but for that you’ll have to stay away until tomorrow evening.” “Yes Aunt Petunia.”
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3rd person Pov (or Harry, it can switch at random - I’m sorry 😓)
Harry was standing just outside of the Dursleys' property right outside the wards - yes, he could feel them - swished down his wand and waited for the Knight Bus to appear.
A few seconds later and with a bang only audible to Harry appeared the Knight Bus and he was greeted with “Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this midday — Neville what’re ya doing here?” “Uh..I’m hoping to catch a ride to the Leaky Cauldron?” “Well then get on. That’ll be eleven sickles.” Harry counted the sickles and handed them to Stan.
And learning from his last ride with the bus he quickly found a bed to sit on - not a second too soon as Stan shouted “Take it away Ernie!”
And off they were with another deafening bang. After around half an hour of dropping stranded witches and wizards off all over Britain and Scotland Stan announced “Leaky Cauldron, London. Have a good one Neville.” and Harry left the bus with a mumbled “You too” with the Knight Bus already gone again to pick up the next witch or wizard.
Taking a deep breath Harry entered the Pub and was immediately greeted with loud and cheerful chatter. He really shouldn’t’ve been too surprised afterall it was a friday midday. Walking up to the counter where he knew Tom, the bartender, would be, he waited till he got served.
“And what can I get ya lad?” “A room for the night if possible.” “Aye. That'll be 1 galleon for the night. If you want breakfast included it would be 10 sickles and 6 knuts extra.” “With breakfast please.” Harry told him while sliding the money across the counter. “Breakfasts from 7 to 9 every morning. Here’s yer key. Room 11, right up the stairs, third door to the left.” Harry nodded in thanks and went up the stairs to his room.
Upon entering his room he immediately noticed that it was a bit bigger than the one from third year. His room consisted of a king sized bed at the one end opposite to the windows, his room also had a small sitting area right next to the door and a small door which led to the bathroom. All in all his room was great, way better than his cupboard.
Exhaustion finally caught up to Harry and he changed into his sleep wear, fell onto the bed and was out as soon as his head hit the pillow fast asleep.
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The next morning Harry awoke early as usual, having been taught to do so since he was but a child. Checking the time it read 7.00. Remembering that Tom told him breakfast was available from 7 to 9 he went downstairs to grab some.
His breakfast was a full English one, with hash browns, eggs and bacon. After finishing his breakfast he decided to go out in the alley and maybe get some of his supplies stocked up or to just look around in Flourish and Blotts.
In the back of the Leaky Cauldron Harry tapped the bricks in the order Hagrid had shown him when he took him for the first time. As the bricks moved to form the archway to the alley Harry couldn’t help but stare in awe, still fascinated with how beautiful magic can be.
‘First stop Gringotts’ Harry thought ‘can’t buy anything without money’. And so Harry walked down to the grand marble building at the end. It wasn’t easy walking through the crowd but he managed. There were more people than expected in Diagon and it was taking him a lot of agility and cunning to not get recognized.
Finally he got to the stairs leading up to the massive entrance door at Gringotts and for the first time he could read what was engraved beside it:
‘Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn,
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.’
Harry thought it quite the warning to put at an entrance but could understand where the goblins were coming from. Afterall someone tried to steal from Gringotts in his first year.
Entering the bank Harry noticed that compared to how many people were outside the bank was pretty empty, so he walked straight up to a teller and said “Good morning, I’d like to take some money out of my vault.”
The goblin looked down on Harry with an arched eyebrow “And does the sir have his vault key?” Harry frowned. “I never had my vault key..” he said. Intrigued, the goblin asked “Who wants to access their vault again?” “Harry Potter sir,” now most intrigued the goblin responded “Please wait while I consult with another goblin.”
Patiently Harry waited for the goblins' return. “This is Nagnok. Please follow him so we can confirm your identity.”
Harry nodded and quickly followed Nagnok who was already leading him deeper into the bank. The corridors were long and made from the most valuable materials (mostly white marble). After a few minutes - which felt like hours to Harry - they arrived at a door with the nameplate ‘Nagnok - Potter account manager’ .
Nagnok opened the door. “After you Mr. Potter” and Harry entered without hesitation. Nagnok quickly closed the door after them and Harry was standing in the middle of the small office. He saw that a few shelves lined one side of the room, the other part was occupying a rather large desk - presumably made out of mahogany - behind which Nagnok took a seat and then gestured for Harry to do the same in front of him.
“I took the liberty to have everything we need to already be brought to my office,” Nagnok pointed at the ritual dagger, the parchment and the small bowl, “all you need to do is prick your finger and let seven drops of blood fall into the bowl.” Harry did as told and after seven drops his little wound was healed magically. “Now I’m going to dip this feather into your blood and set it on the parchment, then we wait.” Nagnok did as he described. A few seconds later the quill began to write on the parchment. Harry went to grab it but Nagnok stopped him. “Wait for the quill to finish,” was all he said. And then they waited…
A.N.: Nagnok is Gobbledegook and means Stone-faced, so he isn’t likely to show emotion or similar reactions