Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Donna gave a small smile as the jar lid stayed sealed meaning she had done it right. She and a few others of her group have been canning jars all morning, it was a slow process, but it was a process all together. Seeing as the garden was suddenly producing so much all of a sudden. Donna found herself spending more time in the garden and greenhouse picking the fresh vegetables. It had started a month ago, one morning they had come out and found the tomatoes vines heavy with the biggest tomatoes Donna had ever seen.

That wasn't even the strangest part, no, the strange part was as soon as they picked them, they grew back at a fast rate, in two days they were having to pick the garden all over again. Now they had too much food and needed to try and preserve them as best as they can. So here Donna was canning her twentieth jar of tomato's soup. The pantry was starting to fill up with nothing but jars and soon they would need another space to store the jars.

She would need to clean the basement out and put some shelves down there. Donna wasn't sure what to make of the sudden abundance of food, this god forsaken place was strange already with monsters coming out every night to torment them. She didn't know if it was a good thing that the garden is prospering so much. Maybe it meant something was coming? she didn't know. But it wasn't just the Connally house gardens producing well, the towns gardens were also doing well from what Boyd told her. 

The man at the moment was doing the same as her, with whatever jars they could find around the town, they had been lucky to have a few stacks in the basements but soon they would run out. 

" Does anyone know how to make jam?" Fatima appeared coming through the kitchen door holding a basket of blueberries in her arms, Ellis was behind her with his own basket though smaller. Donna raised an eyebrow at the girl who set the basket on the counter.

" The blueberry patch to?" Donna asked.

" Yeah, there heavy with berries, Nicky and Patria are still out there picking them," Fatima answered moving to the sink and grabbed the strainer out of the dish rack and began the task of washing the berries. " by the end of the day well have a wagon full" she added with a smile.

" I know the basic of making jams but was never any good at it" Donna told her. She pushed the thought of her older sister away, her sister had been great at making jams, the woman would use whisky as her secret recipes. " But hold off on that, we still need to can these soups" Donna added, food was more Valuble than making jams. It would be nice to be able to make the jams and have something sweet but there was only so many jars to go around.

" Yeah, I understand " the girl said nodding her head. 

Donna returned to her task; she had five jars set out and ready for the potato soup " someone go find me some more jars " she yelled noticing that there was only maybe twenty left on the counter. " On it" Dale said already leaving the kitchen in search. 

" What do you think is causing this?" asked Fatima while helping herself to the blueberries. " Honesty, I don't know but I'm not complaining " Donna said hands working as she dipped the wooden stick around the edges of the jar making sure to rid the bubbles trapped.

" But once we run out of jars we need to switch over to the drying method" Donna said eying the large bundles of tomatoes on the counter along with the potato's cabbage and egg plants. " I can start it, I know how to. My mother taught me when I was young " she said remembering the long afternoons with her mother in the apple orchid, her mother would sundry the apples.

Donna looked to her, " that would be great Fatima" she smiled at her. " No problem" the dark skin girl returned her smile before she was out the kitchen pulling Ellis with her and arms full of tomatoes. 

Donna smiled at the couple those two were made for each other. She returned to her task, but something caught her eye, and she looked out the front window, she spotted their newest addition to the town. The boy was young; no older than seven with unruly dark hair, and the greenest eyes Donna had ever seen. He had come in with his aunt a month and a half ago, they had come in the middle of the night.

Donna still remembered Boyd picking up the pieces of the boy's aunt or whatever was left of her. She remembered finding the boy hiding in the barn, he had managed to fit himself into a small cubby hole. The only reason they had been able to find him was because of the blood trail leading to his hiding spot. The boy had been tortured. His leg had been cut open and bleeding heavy along with mutable cuts along his body, his right cheek had been cut open which had made Donna sick when she saw it and had proceeded to empty her stomach on the ground. She didn't know how the boy had managed to survive with those injuries. 

Even though Kristi had been there and was able to do the best she could, the boy was strong that was a matter of fact.

The boy had been quite and kept to himself, most of the time he wondered the gardens caring for the plants. No one could get him to speak, Donna sighed, it breaks her heart a child so young was stuck in this place.

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" Where the fuck did a peach tree orchid come from!" shouted Dale staring at the large orchid that wasn't there the day before, there was at least thirty peach trees in rows of fives in the large field behind the colony house. It was closer to the tree line, the gardens sudden producing well and regrowing every two to four days was one thing but a whole peach orchid appearing out of nowhere was another level of strangeness. 

Boyd stood next to donna watching as the towns people picked the large and juicy peaches off the branches, Victor was having a field day, peaches were the man's favorite fruit have been for a long time. Canned peaches were a special treat to him when he was able to find them or when people brought them before they got stuck in the cursed towns loop. The man had a wicker basket that was already full of peaches. 

Next to Victor was the small, scarred boy, Harry they learned his name was after he had written it in one of Victor's crayons. Harry stayed close to Victor. The two shared an interest in drawing and coloring. Most of the towns people found them drawing together in random parts of the Conlay house or around town. The two had become inseparable, always joined at the hip. 

Donna knew the two had a tree house out in the woods where they hang out most of the time, she had come across it one day while walking, she had climbed into it and found it filled with both of their drawings and art supplies and toys and whatever they had found of interest. Donna never knew how they both able to build a tree house in a short amount of time and where they got the wood from. When she asked them, Victor had told her they just found it.

Donna wasn't sure what to make of it considering she was sure the tree house wasn't there before, but she just shrugged it off and blamed it on the town weirdness, just like the peach orchid that appeared out of nowhere. Just like the garden growing so fast they can't keep up with it or the jars that kept appearing in random places of the town, sometimes they found a few under stuff or out in the woods.

Chen Liu had found some in the cafe pantry one morning under a few boxes that she swore up and down hadn't been there before, the woman kept an inventory of everything down to the last item. No one questioned it since it was normal by now. with more jars they were able to can more soups. The basement had been converted into a pantry. They had Buit shelves out of whatever they could find. So now shelves lined the walls and were filling up fast which was a relief to Donna.

Before they had been doing alright even though they had been rationing no one really went hungry. now they had more than enough but she still wanted to ration incase the gardens suddenly stared to slow down. She didn't want to risk it and get too comfortable.

Chapter Text

Harry walked through the woods careful to not go too far from town and made sure to tie red ribbons around the tree husk to find his way back. He did not want to get stuck out here after dark. It was still morning from what he could tell so he had plenty of time before nightfall. It had been six months since he found himself trapped in this nightmare of a town. He shivered in memory of the night he and his aunt drove into the small town.

His aunt had been angry with him, he had done something freakish again, he didn't mean to. He couldn't help it. He had been cleaning up after dinner when the plate had slipped out of his wet soapy hands and broke in the sink, it had shattered into three big pieces and he had panicked in fear and suddenly the plate wasn't broken anymore, it had fixed itself. but not before his aunt had walked in and saw it.

She had lost it, the next thing he knew his aunt was grabbing a fistful of his dark hair and dragging him out the kitchen and screaming. Harry had been lucky his uncle wasn't home since the man had decided to stay late at work which was rare itself. If he had been here, he would have beat him black and blue for doing something freakish. 

The next thing he knew he found himself in the backseat of the car with a bruised cheek and his aunt behind the wheel, " this is the last time, I don't care what that old coot will do " his aunt muttered more to herself. harry had stayed quite not wanting the woman anger directed at him. They drove for a long time, he didn't know where they were going, his aunt said nothing, eyes focused on the road until they came to a stop at a gas station.

Something about the gas station set him on edge but ignored it as his aunt had gotten out and that was when they came.

Harry shook those thoughts away not wanting to remember that night and those monsters, his scars ached just thinking about them. He continued his quest which was to find anything useful to the town. 

Harry was good at finding stuff, the woods were full of stuff and there was even more stuff in the caves, but he didn't go near them, that was where the monsters slept from what Victor told him one day when exploring the woods. 

Brushing fingers along the trees small honeysuckles started to appear and wrap around the trees, that was another thing he had learned to do, he could make the gardens grow and grow peach trees with a single thought, it made him feel sick afterwards and sleepy. He had wanted to help the towns people when he learned how limited food was. Maybe his freakish could be used for good. He hadn't told anyone about his power. He feared their response. 

Everyone here were so nice and didn't hurt him, they treated him like one of their own, like family. He didn't want to lose that. 

Harry continued walking eyes tracking the forest floor for anything useful when suddenly something caught his eye, on the other side of some trees was an old wooden wagon that had seen better days, one wouldn't have noticed it since it was hidden behind some bushes and overgrown with vines. Harry had one spotted the wheel that was sticking out and he was shorter; an adult would most likely walk past it.

He made his way to it and started to pull the vines away, with the help of his garden shears he carried everywhere with him and using his powers to levitate some of the vines away. he figured out how to do that last month when he had explored the basement of the Conlay house, there had been a trunk that caught his interest but it had been too heavy to lift, he didn't want to go and find someone to help, he wished it could just float and it did, just an inch before it fell back to the floor with a thump making his eyes widen in shock. 

Since then, he had been practicing on smaller objects when no one was around, now he could lift up to twenty pounds but that was his limit. If he went past his limit, he got a headache and nosebleed, but he would still keep practicing.

Once most of the vines were cut and pulled free Harry stuck his hand out and tried to focus on pulling the wagon forward, it moved forward a few inches out from the bushes before Harry felt a headache coming on. 

Harry decided to move on,he could come back to the wagon later, it wasn't like it was going anywhere, he would have to tell Victor about it later, maybe they could use the cow to pull it around town? 

he hopped over a fallen tree and tied another red ribbon to the tree.

after an hour of walking he finally found something worth bringing back to the town, there in a small patch of clearing was a rooster pecking at the ground, it feathers white with black streaks, he looked healthy and was a good size. back in town all they had were three hens that Boyed had found himself when he was scavenging. The hens were getting older, and they had no rooster to reproduced, this was a big score in harry mind.

Harry eyed the rooster that had seemed to notice him now, Harry was glad he hadn't over strained himself with the wagon now, the rooster weighed less than twenty pounds and would be easy to catch. this was the first time seeing a rooster in person, the only reason he knew what it looked like was because of Donna, the woman had given him a book she had found in the house on animals. 

Outstretching his hand and focused on the rooster that was now wary of him and was crowing at him, the rooster lifted off the ground and it flapped it wings angrily. Harry wished he had a cage but hadn't brought one. 

He couldn't float it all the way back to town either, the risk of being seen was too great, he walked closer to the rooster that was now crowing louder at him, harry swears he could see murder in the rooster eyes. harry unzipped his bag and pulled out some rope, he would tie the rooster feat together and wings. with that in mind he got to work, the rooster wasn't making it easy for him, its wings flapping aggressively at him and trying to spur him, after ten minutes of fighting the white rooster Harry managed to tie his feet together.

He couldn't get his wings and in fear of breaking them decided against it, holding the rooster tightly against his chest and ignoring the struggling and pecking at his neck and sharp spurs digging into his skin, he slung his bookbag over his shoulder and started to make his way back to town with his prize.

Donna had just sat down in one of the many rocking chairs on the front porch, a glass of water in her hand, taking a break from the chores when she heard the familiar sounds of a rooster crowing. She turned her head, and her eyes widen when she caught sight of Harry walking out of the tree line with a large struggling rooster in his arms. The sounds caught the others attention, most of everyone was on the front porch or in the front yard enjoying the morning coolness before it gets hotter. Fatima and few others were hanging clothes on the clothesline to dry.

Donna hadn't been sure where the boy had wondered off to but now, she had the answer, The boy had a knack for finding stuff. The boy would disappear and then show up with his finds, sometimes toys, sometimes canned goods, or jars that Donna wasn't sure how he found. it's been six months, and the pantry and basement were busting at the seams with canned jars and abundance of food. 

They had a sun drying station set up by Fatima where they dried out the fruit, mostly peaches, blueberries and apples and whatever vegetables that couldn't be canned. After the peach tree orchid, it was three weeks later an apple orchid appeared surprising them once again.

Donna set her glass of water down and stood up, Harry was now closer to them, " holy shit kid" Nicky said from the porch steps, the short haired girl eyed the rooster, by now everyone had abandoned their spots and were surrounding the kid who looked uncomfortable with so many eyes on him now. Donna pushed her way through the crowd until she was standing in front of the boy.

" Where did you find him?"

" How did you catch him?"

" Shit kid your bleeding?"

Harry finally let the rooster go, its wings flapping but Donna quickly grabbed it by its tied feet, she passed it to Dale, " go put him in a cage " she told him knowing the man knew how to handle a rooster, a few other broke away to follow him, excitement running through everyone. they knew what it meant to have a rooster; they could breed the hens now and be able to get more eggs and maybe even meat in the future.

Donna turned her attention back on the boy, there was blood on his neck from where the rooster had aggressively pecked him and cuts on his arms from the spurs. She got to one knee and reached out a hand ignoring the slight flinch that came from him even if he tried to hide it. Even after all these months he still flinched at her touch. it made her angry at how someone could abuse a child, at first, she had felt sorry for the boy aunt, in the beginning she hadn't known his past, she had thought the woman had been his mother.

It had taken months for them to piece together some of the boy's life, since he hadn't spoken to anyone, it was with time she figured out the women had been his aunt and that she and her family hadn't treated him right.

" Come on let's get you cleaned up " she told him wanting to clean the cuts right away and not risk infections. That was another that grated on her nerves, the child had no self-preservations, if he got hurt, he just shrugged it off. 

" it's not that bad " harry voice was a whisper, Donna almost didn't hear him, the boy was starting to speak again though not much. " doesn't matter how small an injury is, it needs to be cleaned " Donna said in a rough voice before getting up off her knee. " come on" she said making no room for argument. Harry sighed but followed her anyway, he felt slightly giddy that she cared enough to treat his cuts even if they wernt that big of a deal.

" so where did you find the rooster" Donna started curoius how he came across a rooster, the two made there way inside to the bathroom where the first aid kit was kept, Donna listened as Harry told her the details and his little adventure in the woods.

Chapter Text

Harry lazily pushed the Mary go around until it picked up just enough speed, he heard the girl across from him giggle as they spun around and round, Victor was next to him holding onto the bars, his own foot helping them go faster. Emily was new, the girl and her family had drove into the town a four months ago, they had been lucky it had been during the day. 

She was older than Harry by two years, her eleventh birthday having just passed. She was the only other child in the town. She was the only other one who would play with him and victor. At first Emily had been wary of them and her parents hadn't liked Victor hanging out with them. Harry didn't understand why? Victor was nice and wouldn't hurt a fly.

As time passed Emily began to become part of their group, a trio of sorts, they explored the woods and played in the tree house. Emily's mother Suzy would sometimes appear checking in on them. Right now, they were at her house; after spending an hour coloring and playing with her doll house, they went outside to the rusty Mary go round. No one batted an eye at them used to the three by now.

Suzy was on the front porch knitting something, Harry wasn't sure what, it looked to be maybe a sweater. Harry wasn't sure why they would need sweater it never got cold here. The weather was always the same.

Harry looked at the town as the world spun, there were people mulling around, most likely doing chores, there was Kelly riding by on her bike, there was Linda and Elain sitting on their porches across from them, the old ladies chatting with each other. He spotted Kenny with Boyed down the street. 

He spotted Eathan by the barn surrounded by clucking chickens at his feet, since Harry had found that rooster year and half ago, they had been able to breed the hens and now had young hens running around and baby chicks. 

There were more livestock that had either showed up or was found, Harry had found a couple hens on his scavenging hunts, he had found another cow with Kenny one day when checking traps. the dairy cow had been just crazing in the field.

With the gardens and orchid, it seemed to draw in the animals, they had caught a few rabbits in the trap cages and now were breeding them for their meat which was a game changer for them.

The barn was becoming crowed with the goats they had been able to find in the gardens, one was pregnant and would be due any day now. 

" All right lunch time you three " Suzy announced from her spot on the porch, she included the other two also having come to terms with victor, at first, she had been wary of the man playing with her daughter. who wouldn't be wary of a grown man playing with children, but as the months passed, she started to realize the man meant no harm and really was like a child. After speaking with Donna and Boyed, she learned of his past, the man having grown up and the horror he had endured broke her heart.

Her husband hadn't been too happy with her letting Emily hang around Victor, but she had put her foot down.

The blonde woman looked at the three, Emily lit up at the mention of food, they had been playing all morning and had worked up an appetite." coming" she yelled out before looking back to the other two. " After lunch lets go explore okay" she said excitable as Harry jumped off the marry go round, Victor stayed where he was. 

" I brough my own lunch" Victor said proudly while opening his lunch box to reveal a few peaches and apples, Harry ignored the gun that was hidden in a cloth, he was lucky Suzy didn't see it.

" I've got some soup heated on the stove, come on you two" Suzy urged Victor to come in, Harry pulled the man with him and into the house following Emily and her mother.

Harry ignored the blood running down his nose as he tried to lift an old minivan and move it to the other side of the graveyard of cars, there had to be at least a hundred cars here or more. it was sad that was how many people likely had come before him and met a gruesome end.

This was the third car he had lifted in the twenty minutes he had been here, the first two hadn't strained him that much, but by the third one he was straining. He dropped the minivan with a gasp and fell to his knees; his head hurt from the strain.

He had learned a lot in the last two years, he could now make water appear out of nowhere and it would be cold, he could summon small stuff across the room to his hands, and the most recent was flying a broom. After overhearing a conversation from some of the girls talking about movies, about witches. he had taken interest in their words. Nicky had said that witches could fly on brooms and had a black cat as a familiar.

He had found an old broom in the kitchen one day and had been testing the theory, he had only gotten a few inches off the ground before his nose had started to bleed and a pulsing headache. But it was possible, and he would continue practicing. if he could fly maybe he could cover more ground?

Harry wiped his nose and sat down, it was midday, and the sun was beaming down on him. He was supposed to be out scavenging for supplies but had gotten distracted, he looked over to the wagon that was empty, Lulu the cow was crazing on a patch of grass. They didn't have a horse to haul the wagon, so they used cows which didn't make much of a difference to Harry. 

Harry sat up and made his way to the cow, they had two wagons now, this one was his along with lulu, it was the same wagon he found that day two years ago, he had managed to bring Victor to help him haul it back to town, the wheel had been broken and it needed some repairs but when everyone came together to fix it. Fatima had found some black and yellow paint.

The other one was found a few months after he found his, Nicky and few others had been wandering around the bronks when they came across old wagon half in the swamp. It took everyone to get it out of the mud, but they managed it. The wagons came in handy for getting around and getting stuff around. it saved them from having to use the van that was only in case of emergency.

There was only so much left and had to spare.

Harry petted lulu on her head before pulling on her reins and leading her toward the small path, it was small and bumpy, but they could manage. The reason he like going by himself was because he could easily clear a path for himself and the wagon.

Making sure to leave red ribbons even though he knew these woods like the back of hand he was still careful, keeping his eye out for anything of use, lulu was munching on every branch she could reach.

After an hour of searching he came across a small cave, the hair on the back of neck prickled. he stopped and stared at it, he knew the monsters were in there, it was where they slept. He looked around making sure nothing was around. Even with his freaky powers he didn't think he could take on the monsters. 

Deciding this was far enough; it was time to head back to town or at least search somewhere else. lulu mooed but followed behind him.

Chapter Text

Harry made quick work of his dinner that was potato soup with a side of blueberry and peaches. Donna was next to him with her own bowl, there was no more need for rationing since they had plenty to go around and more than enough in the pantries. Every house in the town had a full pantry, no one went hungry. Harry made sure the gardens were always producing, he never wanted to feel the way he felt before he came here, before he was lucky to even get a slice of bread or water. 

He eyed the wooden bowl of pears in the middle of the table, he had decided to grow a few pear trees on the towns tree line, he had grown a patch of banana trees on the backside of the bronks pond. He had added small patches of strawberries to everyone's front porches. The town had come a long way since his first day, in the past year they had even been able to expand the barn since it was becoming overcrowded with livestock.

Cutting down a few trees to build onto the barn and add fencing to the fields and gardens, mostly to keep the livestock out of the gardens, the chickens were ruthless when it came to the garden. Eathan and a few others had built a makeshift chicken coop and was in the process of building another with scraps and wood there able to get their hands on. They now had more chickens than ever, going from three hens to close to sixties and counting was a boost.

Harry ignored the knocks on the windows and doors. So used to the noise from the monsters outside the house, he ignored their whispers in favor of his warm soup and listening to everyone talk. The smell of weed was drifted around him like a haze, he was very familiar with the smell now and almost everyone smoked. 

They had a new addition to the house, a young girl in her mid-twenties, it had been over a week since she drove in through town in her little red car, the girl sat next to Nicky and Sam who her proxy. The girl had been quite not saying much. She was taking it hard. Everyone was keeping an eye on her though.

Harry eyed the new girl curious but that was all, he was pulled into a conversation with Victor who appeared with a drawing pad. harry quickly finished his dinner and gulped down his water making Donna smile in approval.

He then hopped up and followed victor upstairs to their shared room, " look what I found " Victor held out his hand to show him a set of coloring pencil. " cool" Harry smiled in delight.

They entered their shared room, and Harry beelined to the small table in the middle of the room, there was two twins' beds on each side, drawings covered every inch of the walls along with paintings. The room was full of toys and arts and crafts. There was a doll house in the corner for when Emily would come over to play, a few of her dolls laid strewn around. 

The two sat down at the small table and started drawing with the new pencil set, Harry enjoyed drawing, it was peaceful. He had gotten a lot better, and Ellis had been teaching him to, Victor liked to use his crayons and stuck to his old ways.

It was quiet, the two just drawing, and the quite chatter from the hall when someone past by their door, it was getting late and everyone was settling in, at some point Donna would come up to check in on him. She was the closest thing he had to a mother even though he never said it out loud. To scared of her reaction even after all these years. In a few months he would be eleven.

Suddenly there was a scream, Harry heart nearly jumped out of heart as more screams followed behind the first, " There in the house!" he heard someone yell and thumps could be heard. Victor shot up and grabbed his lunch box and pulled it over his head and then his to go bag, Harry did the same already knowing they would need a quick escape. Victor was already opening the window and tossing the rope out. 

" Go" Harry told him, as much as he wanted to follow Victor, he didn't he needed to go and find Donna, he ran out the door and into the hallway, he shut the door behind him. running down the stairs, he noticed everyone heading towards the kitchen where the van was parked in case emergency. 

Harry heard a blood gurgling scream behind him, he turned just in time to see Kelly at the top of the stairs, his eyes widen as one of the smiling monsters had her by the hair and was dragging her backwards, Harry froze in horror, time seemed to slow as he watched the smiling monster face morph into something else and long nails drag across Kelly stomach, gutting her open like a fish.

" No!" Harry screamed as Kelly screams died down and the light faded from her eyes as the monster tore into her, another one was coming towards them. Time seemed to speed up and he was flinging his hand up and used all his strength to fling the monsters away into the wall, he succeeded.

One last look to Kelly body cold body he ran down the stairs and into the kitchen, he noticed the van was gone meaning they had already left, he wondered how many made it into the van? he continued out the door, screams could be heard all around them and the screeching of the monsters, his heart thumped in his chest as he ran to the woods, he needed to hide and wait until morning.

He ran as fast he could while keeping an eye out for danger, the woods were crawling with monsters, he slowed down and ducked behind a bush, his eyes adjusting to the dark. He could see the monster in a wedding dress not far from him.

He needed to move and find a place to hunker down in, Harry as quietly as he could started to move away from the bride, she didn't seem to notice him, his attention was focus on her that he didn't notice one coming up behind him.

Harry cried out in pain when he felt something tearing into his back, he fell forward onto his knees and turned his head to see the familiar face of cowboy, " got you again " the monster grin was wider than ever. He was the same one who tortured him and his aunt the first night they came here, he could remember his aunt screams and begging's as they tore her apart limb from limb.

It was cowboy who had torn his cheek open with his claws, leaving him disfigured. Harry glared hatefully at the monster while trying to back away, his back felt like it was on fire, just like all those years ago.

Harry heard a twig snap behind him and he looked up to see the bride monster looking down at him, her claws raised ready to strike, Harry was faster, he raised his hand and flung her away, right into a tree, he heard a crack from the force, but he wasn't sure if it was her or the tree breaking.

He heard a whistle from cowboy who hadn't moved from his spot, just watching with a curious expression,

Harry backed away from the monster, while trying to keep his eye on Cowboy and making sure nothing else was hiding in the dark, the bride was slowly getting up, she looked to not have been affected at all. " Now that is interesting" Cowboy spoke catching Harry attention, he kept both his hands raised and directed at him and bride monster, using his power to keep them at bay. Surprise it was harder than it looked, he had gotten better at lifting stuff, he could lift a car without too much trouble, but he could feel himself straining to hold the two back, especially Cowboy.

Was it pure strength? Harry didn't know. he had been able to fling the bride monster with ease, but that had been heat of the moment. he needed to run, find a place to hide. his vision blurred slightly and suddenly something white was Infront of him, before he could react a clawed hand wrapped around his throat. harry tried to push the smiling monster away with his powers but couldn't, fear shot through him, he was weak and helpless in Cowboy hold. 

" what's the matter? where that special gift of yours hm" cowboy smiled cruelly as Harry struggled to breath, he felt his claws cutting into the back of his neck, " fuck you" Harry cursed. He was trying to muster up as much power as he could, he was in too much pain to focus. He felt his eyes water, he didn't want to die like this, he felt a tear escape and run down his cheek and he hated himself for crying in front of Cowboy who looked even more fucking delighted. 

" You know I've always wondered what was so different about you? " Cowboy spoke face close to his, Harry tried to push him away physically this time with his arms when the smiling monster stuck his tongue out and licked his right cheek that was scarred. Harry had never felt as gross as he did now, he glared hatefully at the man, " you even smell different?" he continued while leaning down, his face close to Harry throat as if he was sniffing him, the monster grinned while tighting his hold on Harry throat, Harry could see even more black spots as his air was cut off, it was getting harder to breath and Cowboy was being even more creepy than usual.

Suddenly the grip on his throat went loose and he could breathe again, but it was shot lived, he felt piercing pain between his shoulder and neck, he cried out in pain as cowboy bit a chunk out of shoulder. " Even taste different" Cowboy grin never left his face. 

Harry tried to focus all his power, he needed to escape, he didn't want to die, all he wanted was to crawl into a hole and curl and hide. Harry struggled in the man's hold, he could feel his power rising somewhere deep inside of him, his head felt like it was splitting like never before, he could feel himself draining and with one last effort to try and push the monster away, he release the burst of energy he had stored up, it worked, he flung the cowboy into a nearby tree, it wasn't very far but it was enough.

Harry took the chance and ran, not waiting around for cowboy to make his move, he ran blindly, his back and shoulder ached with every move, and he could feel blood pouring out.

Suddenly when he went to put his foot in front of the other but found nothing solid, making his heart jump when he went face first into a hole, he fell, and everything went dark.

Chapter Text

Harry awoke to the blinding sunlight and the chirping of birds and sounds of cars passing by, wait cars? Harry shot up from the ground but regretted it when a searing pain shot through his back, he bit his lip waiting for it to dull to a throb.

He blinked at his surroundings, he was in what looked to a be a park, it was familiar, but he couldn't place it, the grass was cut and playground well taken care of, not like the rusty Mary go round he and Victor and Emily played on.

The thought of Emily and Victor made him freeze, were they okay, he knew Victor had gone out the window, but he didn't know where he went after, Emily should be safe since she was in town with her parents and her house. How did the monsters get in? did someone not close a window properly? or did they open a window? Why?

Was everyone okay? he didn't know, he hoped everyone got to safety.

He could see a Neiborhood through the park, houses lined up and cookie cutter yards, suddenly it hit him why he knew this park, it was the same park that was down the road from his house. The same park he and Dudley use to play in after school.

That couldn't be right? he was just in the woods with cowboy and bride monster and being chased? he didn't know how he ended up here. Harry slowly got to his feet; every move made him wince. It has been a long time since he felt this much pain. Other than the time he had broken his leg falling out of the barn loft when he was nine and giving Donna a heart attack while doing so, he hadn't been hurt much.

Donna and the others never laid a hand on him either, not like Aunt petunia or Uncle Vermon did. If he ever got in trouble Donna would send him to time out or ground him. 

Harry hobbled his way to the gate that led into the neighborhood, he needed medical attention, he wondered if Uncle Vermon still lived in the same house? he wasn't sure, harry made his way to the sidewalk and towards number four, there was no car in the driveway. Harry stopped by the mailbox and opened it; he glanced at the mail inside and spotted Vermon name on a few of them. so, they still lived in the same house. 

He put the mail back and closed the lid door, he glanced around the street and found it empty, he then made his way to the front door, he checked the fake rock by the step and smiled when he found the key was still there. He unlocked the door and quietly stepped inside. Closing the door gently, he wasn't sure if anyone was home, he assumed Vermon was at work due to the car not in the driveway.

But he wasn't sure if Dudley was here or not, he was most likely in school, but he didn't know what day it was either.

Back in the town days blended in together along with time.

Taking in sight in front of him, Harry blinked, the once clean and spotless house was now a wreck, the kitchen was a mess with dishes left in the sink and on the counter, the microwave door was left open and the inside looked to not have been cleaned since aunt petunia. the floor was a mess, what was once the dining room table was full of laundry and just stuff, along the hallway was boxes of stuff, the living room was messy with what he guessed was Dudley video game set, there was dishes everywhere and junk food lying around.

There were also beer cans everywhere and cigarette buds. 

This was not the house that Harry remembered, the house that use to smell strongly of cleaning chemicals, the house that you never find a speck of dust in. Aunt petunia would die of a heart attack if she wasn't already dead. Harry hobbled up the stairs stepping over stuff until he made it to the second floor, he spotted Dudley door that was wide open, the room was a nightmare.

Vermon's door was closed, Harry made his way to the bathroom, he eyed the disgusting toilet and bathtub. It seems they don't clean the bathrooms either, Harry gagged at the sight of black mold and whatever else was growing in the tub. As much as he hated Aunt Petunia at least she kept the house clean, even if she forced him to do most of the cleaning. Even the Conlay house was cleaner than this and the house held over thirty people.

Deciding to check Vermon's bathroom, it wasn't much better, maybe even worse, Harry sighed before digging around to see if they had a med kit, he found one in the small closet and made his way back to the hallway bathroom, he found some bleach and cleaned the sink as best he could. He poured the rest of the bleach into the tub. The med kit was only half stocked but it would do.

Harry cut away the shirt that was ruined anyway. He winced when he caught sight of the mess his back and shoulder in the mirror, there were three long gnashes going down his shoulder blade, it matched the scars that already marred his back and legs. his shoulder was missing a chunk of flesh where cowboy had taken a bite out of him. he shivered in memory.

This time he didn't have Kristina, he had to do this himself. first thing, he needed something for the pain. He rambled the cabinet but found nothing. he then went to vermin's room and Dugged through his cabinet, he found a prescription bottle that had a word he couldn't pronounce but the description said it was for pain. The bottle looked like the ones that Kristina kept locked away behind key.

He shrugged and popped one in his mouth; he looked around his uncle room some more until he found a half bottle of whisky. taking that he returned to the hallway bathroom, he stepped into the tub and turned on the water and the shower head, it was going to hurt but he needed to clean the wounds and sterilize them with the whisky. He took a breath before stepping under the shower head and gasp in pain as the hot water irritated the gnashes. After a few minutes he turned the water off and opened the bottle of whisky and poured it down his shoulder and back.

" Fuck " he cursed hitting his hand against the green tile, his back was on fire, the pain pills were taking their sweet time. Harry stepped out of the tub and sat on the toilet. He picked up the needle and thread and began sewing as best he could, it was hard to reach around his back, and it was most likely a terrible job. He wished someone was there to help. 

After thirty minutes of struggle, he finally finished stitching himself up, he dropped the needle onto the sink, his lip was bloody from him biting his lip each time the needle went through his skin, he took another pain pill hoping it would kick in. He felt lightheaded, most likely from blood lost and the pills.  He put a gauze over the wound on his shoulder with some tape.

He didn't bother cleaning up his mess, instead he poured the last of the whisky on his back ignoring the burn, it was duller now since the pain pills were starting to kick in. with that done, he left the bathroom, he needed a new shirt, something that wouldn't irritate his injury, going into Dudley room made him want to gag. It smelled like something had died in there and maybe something did. Harry wasn't sure, he opened the closet door to find more garbage and stuff piled high, he sighed and decided to go downstairs, at least the clothes on the table were clean.

Once downstairs he picked through the laundry, it was thankfully clean, he found a button up flannel shirt and put it on, he kept his pants since they weren't too dirty and were his right size. He needed to get back home, but he wasn't sure how, he didn't even know how aunt petunia got there and from what Donna and the others told him, everyone just found the town, from different states and countries.

How had he gotten out? he remembered running from cowboy and then falling into a hole, that was it, maybe the hole was the answer? but he didn't see one when he woke up in the park? Harry sighed tiredly, he couldn't think, the pills were doing their job now and he was tired. 

Harry decided he needed to find somewhere to sleep that was safe, he glanced at the clock on the wall, it was just pass one in the afternoon. at some point Vermon or Dudley would be home in a few hours, and he didn't want to be here when they did. Searching the house for a trunk to put stuff in, he needed supplies, he remembered his aunt had one at the foot of her bed maybe it was still there?

Harry went back up the stairs and into his uncle's room, he was right, under clothes and trash was an old trunk that had seen better days, he used his powers to lift it up in the air, he removed everything from inside. He took the med kit and toilet paper from the bathrooms along with the pain pills. He headed back downstairs and picked through the clean clothes, he folded a few pair or shirts and pants and socks, he didn't touch the underwear.

In the kitchen he cleared out the pantry, taking the canned goods, the fridge was empty and nothing worth taken, he took the skillet and some cups and plates and silver wear. having what he needed, he made his way out the back door.

The backyard had seen better days, what was once cut grass and a well-maintained garden was now an overgrown jungle. Harry went into the shed and out of habit picked up the small garden shears. He placed them into the trunk along with a small shovel and rake that belonged to his aunt.

Hearing a car engine pull into the drive way, harry quickly jumped the back yard fence and into the neighbor's yard, he continued a few more until he felt safe enough to cross the street, a few house down while hiding behind a power pole, he could see Vermon slowly making his way out of the car, the man looked even bigger than before and limped heavily on his right leg, the man was cursing up a storm as he made his way inside the house, not even noticing the door was already unlocked. 

Not wanting to stick around harry left making his way back to the park, he needed to find somewhere to sleep before he passed out.

Chapter Text

Harry held his breath as he listened to rustling of leaves, it was a dark and moonless night, he was curled up under very thick bush in an old park, it had been a few weeks since he found himself back in the normal world. Having to pick pocket money to take the bus hoping to find his way home but no such luck. He tried telling a passing cop about his home and the people trapped in and the smiling monsters, but they didn't believe him or thought he was crazy.

When they tried to take him in, he had run away, he had been staying in the park for a week now, he hated it when the sun went down and night fell, there was no talisman to protect him. he wanted to go home, he missed everyone, he missed Donna most of all, Harry shivered as the wind picked up. 

He didn't sleep at night, to wary and the danger that lurked in the dark, he only slept during the day and even then, the nightmares plagued him, Kelly death haunted him, Petunia screams and all those who arrived in town when night fell, he remembered a family five arriving but it had been dark, he remembered the monsters had been on them the moment they stopped the car after driving through twice in the loop.

He remembered the mother and her little girl running up the hill to the Cononley house injured, he remembered her so close to the door, but Donna couldn't open the door since red head nurse monster was blocking the way, he remembered the womans screams and begging's for help as they tortured her and her child right there on the porch.

 Harry heard the screeching of a n owl and the scream of a small critter, most likely a rat by the sounds of it being snatched up. Harry curled into a tighter ball waiting for morning.

Morning did arrive along with the chattering of people beginning there day, Harry watched as a young girl jog with her headphone in, he watched an old couple walk pass without a care in the world, only eyes for each other, he watched a mother and daughter at a hot dog vendor. harry eyed the vendor. he was hungry and chili sounded good, even though he had canned goods left, he wanted to save them for a raining day. He had been shop lifting from stores when he could or growing fruit trees or plants.

He needed a distraction, something that would get the man away from his vendor, maybe setting a tree on fire? Harry eyed an old oak tree, he had a lighter, but he needed something that would burn fast and quick, maybe a trash can? harry wished he had some gas. 

After finding a trashcan far away from the vendor, he used his power to float the lighter over to it and some paper bags he found on a bench. he lit it and dropped it into the trashcan, after a minute the trash was blazing. Harry watched as the woman and daughter pointed the trash out and the man behind the vendor quickly grabbed his fire exstinger, Harry smirked as he quickly ran over to the vendor with his bag, he stuffed as many hot dogs as he could and filled one of the cups up with chilly, he grabbed a few sodas and even took the money from the box before running off.

Harry crawled into his hiding place that was in some bushes, he let himself calm down, his back still ached but not as bad as it was, he had been so sure it would get infected but didn't, he had been breaking into people houses and using there bathrooms to clean up in and taking their first aid kits. 

Harry pulled the hotdogs from his bag and placed them on a plate he had gotten out of trunk, the container of chilly was still warm, he took a few bites of it, the chilly was good and warm, it wasn't something he normally ate, the hot dogs weren't too bad, he was so used to vegetables that meat tasted strange. Of course they had meat back in the town, the rabbits they bred to eat but it wasn't every day, and Harry preferred his vegetables over meat, he opted for the potato soup or bean soup.

Harry counted the money, forty dollars was all the man had in the box, Harry felt slightly guilty but pushed it away.

Harry sighed as he tossed the book aside, he was in a corner of a library surrounded by books, another week had gone by, and he was still no closer to finding his way home. he was sure his family would call him insane for wanting to get back to the town. He should be thrilled to escape the nightmare town, but he wasn't, for him that was where his life began. before that was nothing but misery.

Harry leaned back against a book shelf and closed his eyes, maybe he wasnt able to go home? maybe he was stuck here for good? he wondered if it was all a dream and if any of it was real. but the scars on his body told him otherwise. he wondered if donna thought he was dead, not showing up in the morning. harry balled his fist and punched the floor, ignoring the pain in his knuckles.

he hated this, hated being so weak and clueless.

he was about to punch the floor again when a hoot stopped him, he looked up to see a brown barn owl perched on the chair, harry frowned in confusion, that was strange? how did the owl get into the library, maybe a window was left opened. harry stood up from his spot and walked to the owl that watched him with golden brown eyes. it hooted again once he was closer.

Harry looked around and found a window, he went to open it and pointed for the owl " here you go" he spoke to it like it was a person, the owl stayed rooted to the chair and hooted again, this time looking annoyed. 

" Your free?" Harry pointed again confused. it was then that he noticed a letter tied to the owls foot, he tilted his head in confusion and stepped forward, the owl left its foot out to him. Harry untied the letter, he was surprised to find his name written on the letter.

Harry James Potter

What the hell? was this a joke? he looked to the owl that just stared at him, harry tore open the letter and read through the contents, some words he couldnt read but he got the gist of it.

" wizard? " he frowned at the word in surprised, there was more like him? those who had freaky powers like him and there was a school? he sat in the chair as he reread the letter. " there was no return adress on the letter so he didnt know how write to the person to learn more. maybe the owl could send it for him, he looked back to the owl that was still there, he quickly wroke a quick response down and tied it to the owl leg, " can you send that for me?" he asked the owl.

The owl hooted before taking off with a flap of its feathers.

Chapter Text

Harry sat at the library table, books spread across the table, it had been two days since he sent the owl with the letter, he hoped someone would respond, he had no idea how to get to this Hogwarts school of magic.

Magic, he still had to get use to that word, he was a wizard. Were his parents like him, did they have powers to. Harry sighed, he had more questions than answers at this point. He had been hanging around the library hoping someone would show up, the lady behind the desk was starting to eye him like he didn't belong. 

harry heard heavy footsteps and looked up to see the biggest man he had ever seen walk through the front door of the library, he had on a big brown robe? and a pink umbrella in his hand. He had long thick hair and beard. Harry couldn't help but to stare, he had seen a lot of strange things, but this man took the cake. The man looked to be searching the room for something until his eyes fell on him. 

harry blinked when the large man beeline to his table like a happy dog, Harry was glad to be wearing his mask, he had stolen a plain black mask out of a store to hide his scar, his disfigured face drew a lot of attention and questions. Harry was used to everyone back home already use to his face and knew the story behind it. He had already made several smaller children cry in fear and few people give him looks.

" Harry Potter" the man asked looking hopeful, " um yes" Harry looked unsure as the man smiled, " I haven't seen you since you were this little" the man made a gesture with his hands. Harry paused hearing the man's words, " what? you know me?" he asked confused. He thinks he would remember this man but couldn't.

" Know you, I was there when you were born" the man told him making Harry eyes go wide in shock. " You knew my parents " Harry asked leaning forward in interest, he expected a lot of thing but not this.

" of course, I knew James and lily " the big man said like it was common knowledge. 

There was a shushing sound from the librarian making both turn to her, " ah I guess we should go somewhere a little more aprorate" the man said slightly bashful. " yer hungry?" he asked. 

That was how Harry found himself following the giant of a man, people moved out of the man way since he took up most of the sidewalk. after ten minutes of walking they finally came to their destination. Harry frowned when they walked into a rundown bar and inn. The place was covered in a layer of dust and cobwebs. He spotted a few people spread out, there was a woman using what looked like to be a stick stirring a spoon in her cup. 

These were people just like him, he felt excitement run through him.

The giant man found them a seat in the far back corner away from prying eyes, a bald man with a hunched back appeared, " what can I get for you " he asked note pad in hand. " Pumpkin juice and some ham sandwiches" the man ordered for harry, harry hearing the word ham cringe. " Um do you have anything veggie?" he interrupted.

The bald man blinked, " we have tomato soup and potato soup" he told him. Harry sighed in relief, " tomato" he said making the man nodded. After their order was completed, the man left. Harry turned his attention bac to the man.

" I never got your name?" he frowned behind his mask, " ah my names Hagrid" the man answered making harry nod. " Okay, Hagrid you said you knew my parents? can you tell me about them?" he asked curious. he wanted to know if what aunt petunia said about them was true? that they were nothing but drunks that got themselves killed in a car crash.

The man smiled as he went into stories about his parents the spoke of his mother's love for charms and his father pranks, Harry listened as Hagrid chattered, they didn't sound like no good drunks.

" You have your mothers' eyes" Hagrid pointed out making harry eyes widen, " and you look so much like your father, that bird nest of hair" Hagrid added just as the bald man returned with their order.

" Thanks tom" Hagrid smiled as the man set their plates down, Hagrid had three loaded ham sandwiches and a large goblet of juice, Harry had tomato soup and a side of garlic bread to dip it in.

" Thank you" harry started to pull out the cash he had on him but was stopped by both tom and Hagrid " that no good here" both said at the same time. " What? I can pay?" Harry looked confused.

" Muggle money isn't worth much here" Hagrid said making Harry even more confused until Hagrid pulled out a small pouch and pulled a few gold coins out and handed them to Tom.

" what's muggle mean?" harry asked them, " its mean non magic folk" Hagrid answered. Harry nodded in understanding, but he didn't comment that the word sound like mutt to him, something aunt marge would call her dogs.

There was so much he needed to learn, he finally decided to ask the question he been wanting to ask, " Hagrid what happened to my parents? did they really die in a car crash?" he asked.

Hagrid went still hearing this, " what? James and Lilly didn't die in no car crash" he looked offended, " that's what I was told" harry continued watching as the man went red in the face, " no they died fighting you know who" Hagrid voice went from loud to low at the end of his rant.

" Whose you who?" he asked as Hagrid paled. " a very bad wizard, so bad I can't even say his name" he said taking a sip of his drink. " what's his name?" Harry asked anyway, " I can't say it" Hagrid said.

" Can you write it down?" harry asked slightly annoyed.

" no " Hagrid shook his head.

" All right I'm only going to say one time ' he said leaning in close, Harry leaned in also, " Voldemort" Hagrid whispered while his eyes shifted around the room like the man himself was going to jump out of the shadows.

Harry couldn't help himself, he laughed, the name sounded like a five year came up with it, like what dark lord calls himself Voldemort. Hagrid looked at him like he was crazy. Harry forced himself to calm down after drawing attention to himself.

" Sorry is that really his name?" he asked. 

" yes " Hagrid said taking a bite out of sandwich, " he also the one who gave you that very scar" he pointed at Harry face, Harry hand raised to his cheek that was hidden behind the mask.

It took a moment to realize the man was talking about his lightning bolt scar, " you're the only person to have survived the killing curse" Hagrid continued telling the story of how the dark lord came for him, his parents sacrifice to protect him and then a man named Dumbledore sent him to live with his relatives. Harry scowled at that little bit of information.

" Arnt yaw going to eat yaw foods getting cold, also what's with the mask? ya sick or something?" Hagrid asked noticing that Harry hadn't touched his food, Harry wasn't in the mood for questions, and he was still learning about magic. Learning that there was a whole world that knew his name and scar put him edge. These people seemed to know more about himself than he did.

" I've lost my appetite; can I get it to go?" he asked not wanting the food to go to waist, it looked good to. Hagrid nodded in understanding. " sure" he raised his hand to tom who was cleaning glasses behind the bar. Tom appeared with a light green container that floated midair, he waved a stick in the air and harries food plated itself neatly into the container and his drink went into a sealed green cup. 

" It was an honor to meet you harry potter "Tom said with a shine in his eye making harry pause, right everyone knows him for something he did as a baby, great, it looked like if he wanted to go under the radar who kind of be hard to do. Back in the town, he had been able to wander off when he wanted to, if he wanted to be alone, they let him be.

Who knows maybe they would forget? I mean this was years ago and it was his parents who defeated the dark lord not him? what could he have done? he was a baby not even a year old?

Harry followed Hagrid towards the back of the inn and into a room that lead to a red brick wall, harry frowned in confusion before Hagrid did a little patterned tap with his pink umbrella, a minute later the wall opened up to a whole town that was bustling with people, all wearing the strange robes Hagrid and tom had been wearing but all different colors. there wall different shops full of stuff he had never seen before and so many colors and flying objects?

Harry stared in wonder as he followed Hagrid through the crowd, it was busy and hard to get through, if not for Hagrid he would have trouble getting through. " All people coming through" Hagrid grumbled as he made a path for Harry. 

" First up the bank" Hagrid look back at Harry making sure the boy was still behind him, Harry nodded letting him know he heard him before he continued on to the giant white marble building that was tilted?

Once inside Hagrid went straight to already forming line and the two waited " Hagrid I don't have any money?" Harry spoke wandering what they were doing here, his cash was useless here and he had no gold to buy stuff, if he remember correctly there was a whole list he needed for school. how was he supposed to get that?

" Course you do, you didn't think your parent left you nothing" the man said making Harry raise an eyebrow, it was finally there turn, Harry watched as creature of some kind looked down at them from its desk. Harry had to resist the urge to run, its face was awful similar to the smiling monsters when they morphed into their true selves. Only this creature was sneering down at them like they were the gum on the bottom of their shoe.

" Here to withdraw for Harry Potter " Hagrid spoke as the creature eyes harden, " does mister Potter have his key?" the creature asked as Hagrid went digging through his pockets " it's in her somewhere" Hagrid said before pulling out an old looking silver key and handing it to the creature.

" Going to need to confirm your identity, you are the tenth person this morning who has tried to make a withdraw" the creature said voice rough has he pulled out a knife and paper. " Three drops of blood is all is needed, be warned if you are not who you say you are there will be consequence" the creature warned, Harry could see its upper lip curling into a smile, and he was reminded of cowboy.

Harry nodded picking up the knife and easily cut his index finger, he held his hand over the parchment paper hand let his blood drop onto the blank paper, suddenly the blood started to form swirls then words, his name appeared in neat cursive writing. Harry stuck his finger in his mouth and sucked on it.

" hm " was all the creatures said before he waved them to follow him, Harry was surprised to find the creature was short, very short. " What is he" asked Harry curious as Hagrid and him followed the short creature that ran as fast as his legs would let him.

" Goblins, very nasty creatures, don't want to get on their bad side" Hagrid told him. Harry nodded.

They were led to a large iron door, the goblin lead them inside, " your accountant will be right with you mister Potter" the goblin said with a sneer. it was then Hagrid decided he needed to get his other errand done, he held up a letter that littery said "Top Secret" written on it. Harry almost wanted to laugh as Hagrid was led out by the goblin, Hagrid was not the brightest person, but he had a good heart from what he could tell.

Harry sat in one of the comfy plush armchairs near the fireplace that was lit. the office was large with red carpet the walls had many weapons of all types hung on display. there was a large desk in the center of the office with two armchairs in front of it. Harry watched the door waiting for the goblin he was supposed to meet to come, and it wasn't long before he did.

The door opened and a goblin appeared with a folder in his hands, Harry stood up mostly out of awkwardness and respect, he was in the man's office after all. the goblin made his way to the desk, " Mister Potter, I am Silverclaw, I will be taking over you're as your accountant since it seems the one before me is nowhere to be found, which is odd in itself" Silver claw told him while taking a seat behind his desk.

Harry went to one of the armchairs and took a seat facing the goblin who was busy flipping through the folder, Harry frowned but said nothing. " I was told you wanted to make a withdrawal?" Silverclaw asked.

" uh yes, for school supplies" Harry nodded as Silverclaw only hummed while continuing to flip through papers. " well I don't think that will possibly seeing as you have no money" the goblin looked up at him.

Harry stared at the goblin not sure how to respond, the way Hagrid said made it seem like he had at least something? " Um yeah, I guess so, I wasn't sure if I did or not, I still knew to this whole wizard thing" he shrugged not surprised he didn't have anything to his name.

the goblin frowned at him, " Mister Potter looking at these papers, there have been several large withdrawals over the past ten years have drained your accounts " Silverclaw said.

" What?" Harry frowned in confusion, he didn't even know he had money much less an bank account, and that was exactly what he told the accountant whose eyes widen in disbelief. " I only just found out I was a wizard today" harry told him.

silver Claw watched the young boy, he knew the child hadn't made withdrawals, not like these ones, he had gone to go and find the boys accountant when he had seen the boy in line with the half giant wizard. They had been updating their files and security for the past month now, so when he went to inform the accountant that was suppose to be In charge of the potter vaults, the goblin was nowhere to be found, in fact no one had seen him for quite some time now, the goblin only had one family to manage and that was the potters.

silver claw eyes narrowed in suspicion, there was only one person who had access to potters' vaults and that was Dumbledore, Potter's magical guardian. The potters had been well off, enough to not have to work for decades until James's potter started making large withdrawals to fund the war against the dark lord. But even after that there was enough to live off of if used correctly, but with no money coming in and these large withdrawals had drained the vaults.

The only thing left was a trust fund meant for the potter heir, it was only spending money for during their seven years in Hogwarts. Other than that, there was nothing but maybe ten gallons. How could this have gotten passed them, it was a breach in security.

" Mister potter, do you know who Dumbledore is?" silverclaw asked watching the boys face, but it was hard to see his full reaction since the boy wore a black mask over his face. Silver claw could see just a peak of a scar above the mask but only just, he wondered what nasty scar the child could be hiding.

He could see it in the boys' eyes, the surprise, " I know the name but have never met the man, Hagrid told me it was Dumbledore who sent me to my relatives" the boy explained, his hand reached up to his face but paused before setting it back down, SilverClaw narrowed his eyes at that but didn't comment.

" well, it is he who had been making withdrawal and quite large ones at that" Slverclaw frowned, he would need to look into this some more. If what the boy was saying is true, then that would mean Dumbledore has not been in contact with his ward and has taken advantage of the potter Vaults. He would need to look through the records and investigate.

Harry licked his lips, its sounds like he had money and a lot of it, he remembered Andrea and Liam mentioning trouble with money before they came to the town, he remembered Liam had told them they had been on their way to a lawyer to sort out a will, his mother had passed and left behind a will.

They never made it to the office instead drove right int town, they drove the loop until they ran out of gas and Boyed had gotten to them in time before nightfall.

" what about a Will?" he asked curious, his parent had to have left him something other than money, he remembered Liam mentioned that the person could leave anything they want to who they choose to, it could even be a car or house.

SilverClaw sighed " that is also at the moment missing, but trust me we are on it, it is shameful that this has been going on for this long without anyone catching on, including myself" the goblin snarled. If it wasn't for updating their security system this error would not have been caught. 

" What about a house?" Harry tried again hopeful, he didn't want to have to keep sleeping in the streets or park and finding a place to hide. It was different here, you needed money to have a house and money to buy the things you need and well money was everything here, back in town the town and Conlay house all supported each other and shared. Silver claw grinned, now that was something he could do, the Potter manor had been sealed since the death of James and Lilly potter.

" Yes Potter Mannor " he flipped through the papers until he pulled out an old black and white photo of the Mannor, Harry leaned forward and had to hold back a gasp as he saw the photo, the place was bigger than even the Conlay house. He now was starting to understand what Hagrid and the goblins meant now. His parents must have been loaded, and it was confirmed when Silverclaw passed over the records he did have of transactions going back ten years.

" We will need to further investigate before we start making accusations " Silverclaw told him, Harry bit his lip, it irked him that this Dumbledore guy had been stealing what was rightfully his, he grew up having nothing but the hand me downs from his cousins and his relatives' scraps. 

" It will be hard to prove and even if we managed it, Dumbledore is a very powerful wizard, he has many supporters, he's headmaster of Hogwarts and on the wizard council" Silverclaw warned making Harry blink.

" But until then we will start the investigation at once, the next time we meet I hope to have more " Silvercalw added gritting his teeth. 

Harry nodded in understanding.

" I will take you to your vault and you will get what you need " Silverclaw stood up from his desk, harry followed him out the office and down the large hallway until they arrived at a cart.

" Can we do that again?" Harry asked when they finally stopped at the destination, that had been the most fun he had in a long time, the cart was like a roller coaster he had seen on the tv he had seen on when he was younger and still lived with the Dursley. Dudley used to beg his aunt to go but they had never gone. 

Harry jumped out the cart, looking around curious as Silverclaw walked ahead of him to a large door, harry watched as he touched the runes on the door and stuck the key into the keyhole, a second later there was a small click and the vault door opened. 

" Holy shit" harry stared at the inside of the vault, it was large inside and cave like, the ceiling was at least twenty foot high, there was a small pile of gold in the sitter and silver. surrounding it was items, there was shelves full of books, trunks scattered everywhere, he could see weapons on a far wall such as swords and daggers and a cross bow.  There were even furniture's and tables full of stuff.

harry picked up a small red gemmed dagger and twirled it in his hand, it was beautiful and well crafted.

silverclaw appeared next to him, the goblin holding a small pouch in his clawed hands, Harry resisted the urge to flinch at his claws, he had to remind himself he wasn't one the smiling monsters.

" This is a bottomless bag, it is used to carry and store money and items" Silverclaw told him, harry nodded and took it, " thank you " he smiled and turned to gather as much cions not sure how much he would need or what his school supplies would cost. He didn't notice the surprise look on the goblin face.

Silverclaw watched the young boy look through the vault's items, curious, he noticed the way the boy had flinched at his claws, he wasn't stupid. It was strange though; he was used to wizards looking at him with disgust or though he was beneath them. He couldn't tell what the boy thought of him. He narrowed his eyes at the way the boy no child carried himself, the slight limp in his leg or the way his haunted green eyes scanned for an exit. 

like a soldier?

It concerned him that a child had such behaviors.

" There may be a trunk in here somewhere that might be of use to you" Silverclaw decided to give a helping hand to the child who looked at everything in the vault with wonder, even the old potions jars seemed to excite him.

" A trunk?" the green-eyed child looked to him as silver claw moved to the stack of old trunks, the child barley had any money to afford school supplies, he would make it with the trust fund if he spent it correctly.

" Yes, it will save you the cost of buying one and these are much more valuable" he told the boy who crouched next to him watching as he flipped open a walnut-colored trunk, it looked like a standard school trunk, but it wasn't.

" whoa" Harry stared in awe as Silverclaw pulled back a trap door that revealed a latter that went down, " hm this one is of high quality and was created by Bergus Kelson he was well known for making compartment trucks in the early 20s and 30s" Silverclaw explained as they entered the trunk.

Harry eyes went wide when they entered what looked to be a living room, it was large and well decorated with hardwood floors and a red pattern rug, the walls were a crimson color, there was a connecting kitchen that was decent size with a small kitchen island in the middle.

Harry ventured down the hall, there were three rooms and a small jack and jill bathroom.

" How is this possible" Harry gaped in shock, the rooms were a good size, and he noticed the theme seemed to be red. whoever had this before him must have liked the color red a lot.

" Magic is wonderous" Silverclaw smirked as Harry explored the trunk, the rooms were already furnished with beds and wardrobes and a vanity mirror in the corner. " This can be your private space while at Hogwarts and you can bring what you need and put it here" Silverclaw told him. 

Harry nodded, he had already been thinking of a way to store the books at least, a few had already caught his eye. ' Mystical creatures of the world' and creatures of the night' had caught his eyes. 

Maybe they held the answer to his troubles? maybe there was a way to kill them and free everyone from the town? 

" Now we have pondered much too long, you still have much to do" Silverclaw said looking at his silver pocket watch. " Take what you need, and we shall be on our way " the goblin added, they had been here for over thirty minutes now.

another twenty minutes of harry quickly grabbing any books of interest and placing them in the trunk with the intent of sorting them out later, he also grabbed a few potion jars both empty and full.

He grabbed the crossbow off the wall, with limited time the boy and goblin left the vault, Harry glanced back at the vault, he intended to come back and properly search through the items, he knew there was much to explore.

Harry bit his lip in thought, he wondered if the goblin would know what the smiling monsters were? maybe he could help, he had been very helpful so far, he had thought about asking Hagrid but decided against it. He didn't know who to trust yet and Hagrid seemed loyal to this Dumbledore guy.

" silverclaw?" Harry started stopping in the hallway, they were close to where the office was, the goblin stopped sensing the boy hesitant pause, he turned to see the masked boy watching him with guarded eyes.

" yes?" he frowned as the boy seemed to hesitate, " are there smiling monsters here?" harry asked making Silverclaw frown deeper, " smiling monsters? silverclaw repeated confused. he had never heard of such a term. the boy tensed, " I don't know what they would be called in terms, but they look normal only their smile gives them away it's the only thing they can't fake" the boy said making the goblin even more confused than before.

He had never heard of anything like that? at least nothing that comes to his mind, this world was full of creatures that haven't been discovered yet or he hadn't ever read about it. I don't think I know what that is" Silverclaw finally said after a minute.

Harry felt the slight hope he had go up in flames, he had hoped the goblin would know and maybe have a solution. " lets continue this conversation in my office" Silverclaw said seeing the boy's expression. Harry nodded and followed the goblin back into the cozy office, this time they took a seat by the fireplace, suddenly with a snap of Silverclaw fingers a tray of tea and sandwiches appeared on the table.

Seeing that it was chicken and tomato instead of ham, Harry sighed in relief and helped himself to one, not realizing how hungry he was but stopped when he realized he still had on his mask.  " Tell me more about this creature you've encountered" Silverclaw started curious.

Harry looked to the goblin that was sipping his own tea, after a few minutes of debating he finally decided to remove the mask, it took every control Silverclaw had not to gasp, he had been expecting a scar of course but not this, his eyes widen in horror as the child helped himself to the chicken and tomato club sandwiches.

It looked like someone took a dagger or claw and ripped the child right side of face open, from his mouth up to his ear was a large smile like scar, even parts of the boy's mouth was missing and showed his teeth. If he didn't know better, it looked like the boy had been mauled by a werewolf.

Silverclaw was sure the scar wasn't caused by the dark lord, at least he didn't think so, there was nothing in the reports or newspapers beside a lightning bolt scar which the boy did have.

" Let me guess the smiling monsters?" Silverclaw quickly deduced, Harry leaned back in his chair after finishing his sandwich, " yeah" he nodded. " It happened a long time ago" he added eyes dull.

" Me and my aunt came across this town a few years ago, let's just say she didn't make it" Harry said turning to look at the fire, Silverclaw stayed quite seeing how hard it was for the boy to speak. 

" it's a town you can never leave, the road is looped and those who try for the woods and don't make it back before nightfall are never seen again or we find them in the morning" Harry continued.

" Looped?" questioned Silverclaw, he has never heard of anything like this? a town that traps people and monsters? " Yeah, no matter what we try no one has gotten out" Harry nodded.

" But somehow, I did, and I don't know how to get back home? My family I don't know if there alive or dead" Harry added frustrated, he tugged on his hair. He wanted to go home, wanted to see everyone and the Conlay house and town, wanted to play in the gardens with Emily and Victor, wanted to hear that stupid radio that always came on at random in the cafe, wanted to run through the peach orchid, wanted to paint with Ellis and make jams with Fatima, wanted to see lulu the cow, and most of all he wanted to see Donna again.

Hell, he even missed the knocks on the windows and doors and smell of weed that always hung in the air.

Silverclaw sat up seeing the child become distress, " the house, they got in somehow, I don't know how but they did, I don't know if there alive " Harry curled up in the armchair, weeks of pent up emotions boiling over and most of all loneliness, since he was seven he had never been alone, everyone was family in the town, everyone survived together and was there for each other.

Now he was alone in this strange new world without his family. Harry tugged on his hair harder, he couldn't breathe, it was like the air was sucked right out of lungs, it felt like the room was closing in on him, he tried to breath but couldn't.

Suddenly he felt hands on his shoulders making him flinch, " calm down your having a panic attack" He heard silverclaw gavel voice, Harry tried to focus on him but couldn't, " can't" Harry gasped trembling as silverclaw cursed and called for a house elf " bring me a calming draught " he ordered, a second later he had the potion in hand and was forcing it down the boy throat.

A few minutes later and the boy was slowly calming. " What is that?" asked to harry looking at the vile in Silverclaw hand. " a calming draught, it does as it name suggest" the goblin answered. 

" I will have to research this and see what I can find " Silverclaw said. This was not how he expected his day to go, it has been over two hours now and he knew that the half giant wizard would return any time soon. He was surprised Hagrid hasn't yet.

" I'm sorry to say our time here is limited here, is there anything else I should know before I began my research?" asked the goblin, he wanted to help.

Harry nodded, " um there's the talisman that keep them out " he added, Silverclaw perked up hearing this, " I see" he muttered while Harry grabbed the note pad and quill off the table, he sketched the rock talisman from memory. The quill made it hard to work with, but he managed.

He passed the Sketched to Silverclaw who studied it before setting it down on the table.

" Harry stood up, " I will arrange a time and place for our next meeting, we will visit the potter manor " Silver claw told him.

" Thank you" Harry smiled and did something Silverclaw wasn't expecting, the boy hugged him shocking the goblin. Before Silverclaw could respond the boy was already pulling back and leaving out the door.

Chapter Text

I'm curious on who to pair Harry with? at the moment I don't have any idea on who. 

Now there won't be any romance between them at the moment [ there 11 years old] will be future.

Draco Malfoy?

Fred Weasley?

Geoge Weasley?

luna Lovegood?

Neville Longbottom?

Percy Weasley?

Any other suggestion please comment.

Chapter Text

Harry found Hagrid outside the bank, The large man was holding a bird cage with a Beautiful snowy owl with golden orbs that seemed too intelligent for a normal owl. " Ah there you are, you get everything sorted" Hagrid smiled down at him.

" Yes, they just wanted to go over a few things " Harry said vaguely, he didn't know if he could trust Hagrid at least not yet. Hagrid didn't push and didn't question why it took two hours with the goblins, he was too excited to show Harry what he got him, plus he had been busy trying to find anyone who was in the market of dragon eggs which he had no luck in finding.

He held the cage up, " got you a little present " he said excited to show him the owl.

" For me?" Harry blinked

He remembered the school supply list had stated to have a familiar, the options had been an owl, cat or toad. Silverclaw had also mentioned sending him a letter through an owl, so this must be how they commutate with each other. He was glad Hagrid went out of his way to buy him an owl, it saved him on having to buy one himself with what little money he had left.

He was going to have to figure out a way of income.

" Thank you, Hagrid, " Harry smiled while admiring the white owl that hooted at him. " Yeah well, it's a birthday gift" Hagrid rubbed the back of his head. " Well let's get going were already running a bit behind " the half giant said and lead him to their next stop which was Olivers wand shop.

Harry frowned looking at the shelves full of wands in boxed cases, " you use wands?" he questioned," well yes, it's what makes us wizards, you need a wand to wield magic" Hagrid told him and that made harry frown deeper.

" You can't just use your hands?" Harry asked as Hagrid paused, " well there's wandless magic but not many can use it, you have to be Relly powerful like Dumbledore to do that kind of magic and even then, it's not much, like the summoning charm some can do without a wand " Hagrid explained.

" What about growing plants?" asked Harry while demonstrating his ability by making small honey suckles grow from thin air, the yellow flowers weaved themselves through a shelf, Hagrid stared in awe, " hm well ant that something, " he said.

" Yes indeed" a voice spoke making both jump and turn to see an old short man with bright blue eyes behind wired glasses " ah yes Harry Potter knew you would soon come" he said in a faraway voice.

" It seems only yesterday you mother was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inch long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work." the old man said making Harry eyes widen in surprise. 

The man continued "Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it — it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."

" It is rare to see someone as young as you perform wandless magic, well the person I " the man trailed off not finishing his sentence " ah it doesn't matter " he turned and plucked a case off the shelf " try this one" he started passing the wand to the boy.

Harry didn't feel anything when the old man told him to give it a swish, " ah not that one " the man took the wand away and replaced it with another, an hour later and still nothing Harry was starting to worry, of course he could do magic without a wand but he wasn't sure if the school would allow him without a wand? he didn't know.

Oliver seemed to get more and more unhinged as he went through wands, a few broken windows and shelves and the man was running into the back pulling out more boxes. " Try this one Holly wood, 11inchs and phoenix feather as its core" the man appeared with another case.

Harry blinked cause unlike the others he could feel something come from this case, like a pull, he reached into the boxed case and the moment his fingers wrapped around the wand suddenly a peach tree started to grow in the middle of the store, and it hurt because it reminded him of Victor.

" Never seen that before? hm" Olver tilted his head in wonder while Hagrid picked a peach off the branch and bit into it " its ripe" he said in surprise while Harry smiled, there was no headache not even a pulsing throb, it had come to him so easy.

He wondered what else he could do with the aid of a wand.

He looked up when something caught his attention, it seemed with the wand in his hand, everything was much clearer and he still felt a pull, similar to this wand, he followed the pull ignoring the other two as he walked into the back of the store until he came to a shelf, there was a role of books that looked like they would fall apart with one touch, the black scaled one caught his eye, he grabbed it and flipped it open.

" Oh, now this is interesting " Oliver said sounding even more giddy just as the pages begin to glow, and a red rose started to grow fully blooming. " A grimoire, a grimoire chose you, no one has used a grimoire in well a thousand years " the old man said eyes wide.

Harry turned around, he still felt a pull, Oliver must have read his mind because he started jumping up and down, " I know that look, you feel it don't you " he said knowing the boy was feeling the pull of wands. It was rare for this to happen; he watched as the boy walked to the other shelf before picking up an old wand that had been made with threstel bone and dog wood.

This time a spider Lilly sprouted from the tip of the wand.

Oliver was surprised; the boy had two wands and a grimoire choose him.

" Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember... I think we must expect great things from you, Mr Potter... After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things — terrible, yes, but great."

The man continued speaking with a faraway look in his eye that made Harry shiver; there was something about this man that set him on edge.

"I remember every wand I’ve ever sold, Mr Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather — just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother — why, its brother gave you that scar."

Harry paid for the one wand while Oliver let him have the other two for free since by his word a once in a lifetime experience. He bought two dragons hide wand holster, one for his arm and the other to strap to his thigh.

After the events in the wand shop the rest of shopping was normal, he got his book, and supplies for potion class, he didn't need a trunk since he had the one from his vault, he stored everything inside the truck and later he would sort it out later. he didn't let Hagrid know about the mini apartment inside the trunk, as far as the man knew it was just a normal trunk that was slightly bigger on the inside.

By the end of the day and he had everything he needed, Hagrid had left him at the bus station, Harry rode the bus until the next stop and from there walked to the familiar park he had been staying in. since he had the trunk he could live inside of it and silverclaw had even warded it to keep intruders out. the trunk already had a few wards placed on it and connected to potter blood. harry had cut his finger and placed his hand on the trunk, the wood absorbed his blood.

It was then he could the magic surrounding the trunk.

Harry found a spot that was well hidden, at least he hopes so, he didn't need someone finding his trunk, night was falling fast making him enter the trunk and close the top, he cut his hand and pressed it to the top and felt the trunk lock. 

He didn't know if it would keep a smiling monster out though, so he wouldn't let his guard down.

He sighed and plopped down in one of the cozy red armchairs, the living room was a mess with the stuff he had gotten from the vault and new school supplies. He wasn't planning on sleeping so he would spend the night going organizing everything. He didn't sleep at night, to afraid, Harry went to the kitchen and started making himself dinner.

Dinner was just the left over from the pub he and Hagrid had been in that morning. There was a small round dining room table in the kitchen, he was glad the trunk was already furnished, it saved him the trouble of searching for furniture and each rooms had beds with mattresses. He didn't care if they were used, he was used to it, from living under the Dursley to even the town, the stuff they had was always something that belonged to someone else or was shared.

There was also already a large bird cage in the last bedroom along with everything needed for the snowy owl Hagrid had gotten him, the only thing he had needed to buy for her was food and treats. after dinner he would need to set her cage up so she could have her own space. Right now, she had taken to perching on one of the chairs in the kitchen, the owl watching him with gold eyes as he heated up the leftovers. 

He broke off bits of the bread and mixed it in with her bowl of food before placing it across from him.

He still needed to find a name for her.

He finished dinner and quickly got to sorting out his room, he chose the first room on the hall, they all looked the same size, he noticed this one had a built shelve. There were already a few books and nik nats on them, as was the wardrobe full of robes. the bed was a full size and already had sheets and blanket made up, of course matching the theme they were red. 

There was a full-size mirror on the other wall along with a vanity dresser and chair that was most likely for a woman, he had seen the girls back at the Connally house have them to store there make up and whatever items they had in them.

He pulled the robes out of the wardrobe and replaced them with his own school robes and normal clothes, after that was done he started to sort and place the most interesting books on the shelf, he put the ones that had been there to the side, he glanced through them and realized they were school book 1 through 7 years. 

After an hour and half of sorting books and rearranging the room, he moved what he wasn't going to use to the next bedroom, it would be a storage room for the moment. He smiled at his handy work before moving back to the living room and sorting the potions jars.

He didnt know what the potions were even if they were labeled so he just stored them in the kitchen cabnit until he was able to know more, it was already getting pretty late now and he was growing sleepy, it had to be nearing two in the morning.

 He wasnt going to sleep though, not until morning, he busied himself with cleaning, mostly dusting since the place was pretty clean. 

After that he finlly sat down in the arm chair, he decided to look through the many books he had, there had to be over a hundred book on the living room shelf, the ones he brought and the ones that were already here. The shelf in his room was also almost full.

He decided to read his school books to pass the time and then head to bed, it was nearing four now, it was almost getting close to morning but it was still so far away. He settled back in his armchair and opened Hogwarts A history.

Harry awoke to the hoots of the snowy owl that he still hadn't given a name yet, Harry groaned and sat up from his spot on the living room floor where he had fallen asleep while reading. He had managed to get halfway through Hogwarts a history before falling asleep at sunrise his body sensing it was safe to sleep.

Harry blinked and looked to the clock on the wall, it was just passing noon, even though he fell asleep at seven when the sun came up and was already getting up was habit. Everyone back in town had odd hours and chores that had to be done before nightfall. 

He got up and started on breakfast, the owl following him hooting. " Alright aright on getting you food" he said as her hoots persisted, he grabbed her bowl and filled it with dry food before placing it Infront of her.

Watching her eat and trying to come up with a name, " how about Hedwig?" he said outload remembering a book he read once, the owl looked up at him and seemed to be considering the name before giving a hoot that sounded like approval.

" Hedwig it is " he grinned and sat down across from her, he would need to go shopping at some point, now that he had a proper house slash trunk he could stock up on food.

He planned on turning the last bedroom in to a garden room though, he just needed to clear it out and find some pots and dirt, then he could grow his vegetables. He couldn't grow his fruit trees since there wasn't enough room, but the park he was staying in he had already used his magic to grow a few apple and peach trees and scattered them across the park, he hoped no one pointed them out.

Hagrid had told him that the wizarding world and muggle world were separated.

He planned on going back to the magical village and explore, this time without Hagrid over his shoulder and to get a better feel of this new world he was in. With that in mind he finished his breakfast and grabbed the bottomless bag and along with his wands and grimoire.

The snowy owl hooted and flew out the open trap door; Harry watched her as she glided through the sky, he guessed she needed to stretch her wings, it would be cruel to keep her cooped up in the trunk. He felt she would come back so he wasn't to worried, just hoped she made it back before nightfall.

Harry locked the trunk and covered it with broken bushes and limbs hoping no one would find it while he gone, after that he made his way out of the park and retracing his steps.

Diagon Alley seemed to be even more crowded than before, he noticed a lot of children in the crowds and guessed it must be nearing the start of school, and everyone was racing to finish's school shopping.

Now that his own shopping was done, he could explore, he didn't know where to begin though, there was so much, there was a store that had broomsticks on display and a crowed of children staring in awe.

There were a few books stores, an apophony store, the Gringotts bank standing tall at the end of the street, there was a candy shop and a small inn next to it. Harry walked eying the signs and noticing some of the prices, he would be flat broke if he bought anything without making sure, he had enough to get him through school.

It was then he found himself in a less colorful section of the village, the walls seemed greyer and rundown, no longer the busting crowd of witches and wizards or colorful shops, this alley seemed darker and the people that hovered around seemed to eye him. Harry shivered as he made sure his mask was still on. He thought about turning back but stopped when he came across a store, it was a secondhand store, but the prices were cheaper, he decided to go in and see what they had.

The store was full of stuff, from mirrors to creepy bones on shelves to dozens of books on shelves, he walked around curious. he looked through the books with interest, ' blood magic' he read the title before grabbing it and flipping through it, what caught his interest was the healing spells, maybe it would be useful in the future.

He heard steps behind him and turned to find a boy with white, blonde hair staring at him. He was dressed nicely in green and silver robes, what caught Harry attention was his silver eyes, he had never seen such silver eyes. The closest was Rachel who had blue eyes with a hint of silver. She was an older woman who came to town after leaving her soon to be husband at the alter after getting cold feet.

" What do you have?" the boy asked with a demanding tone, the blonde stepped forward to get a better look at the book title. " Blood magic? that's dark magic" he said, his voice slight snobby.

" So?" Harry frown not sure what the problem was, was there something wrong with dark magic? the book held healing spells and didn't seem harmful, there were some curses and ritual like spells in, but he didn't plan on using them, he was only interested in the healing spells.

The boy frowned as Harry decided to ignore the boy and continue scanning the shelf for anything else. " Where are your parents?" the blonde asked looking around the shop, there was only his father and the shop keeper up front. 

" Not here" Harry shrugged and pulled out another book this time it was a book on animal transformation, he flipped through it curious. 

Draco had been bored and decided to wonder the shop, his father had been busy negotiating with the shop owner, he wondered to the back looking at the different items on the shelves, he made a face at the scull on one shelf. It was when he turned down to the bookshelves did, he see a boy his age with a book in his hands, Draco grimaced at his state of clothes and hair.

The boy wore those horrid muggle clothes with a cloak over them, the blue jean pants were ripped, and dirty and flannel shirt was oversized, he wore some sort of green sturdy boots, the cloak was plain black with a hood attached to it.

When the boy turned half his face was covered with a black mask, his long black hair was messy with flowers braided into it, the small yellow and purple flowers stuck out at all angles. Draco noticed the boys' ears were pierced, they were mismatched one ear was a rose while the other was a triangle with small green gems.

The boys' emerald eyes landed on him when the boy noticed him, Draco was about to ignore him since he clearly wasn't a pureblood and most likely a muggle born by the looks of it. But he noticed the book in the boys' hands and couldn't help himself. 

And now he was here, the boy had the gall to outright ignore him, rude, Draco grits his teeth. 

Before draco could respond, the boy turned back around, " you seem to know more about than me? is blood magic wrong?" the green eye boy asked clearly confused which made draco pause.

The other had zero clue that dark magic was banned by the ministry.

Taking pity on the other he sighed, " no but it's banned by the ministry they think its evil " he told him making the boy frown " I don't understand, how can it be evil if there healing spells in here" the boy asked.

" They don't see it like that" Draco wasn't sure how to answer.

" There are healing spells in that book" he asked after registering what the boy said, " yeah, though I haven't really read it yet, that's just from flipping through the pages" the raven shrugged.

Draco nodded, " well don't let anyone see you with that book or it's a one-way ticket to Azkaban" he said and had to resist the urge to sigh at the questioning look on the boy's face.

" Merlin balls you're a Muggle born you don't know what that is" Draco growled.

This time the boy scowled, " I don't like that word" he said tense. Harry was reminded of his anut Marge calling him a mixed mutt when he was younger and she would come over for the hoildays and get flat out drunk.

" What muggle born? that's what you are" Draco said.

" Draco!" a voice sounded behind both of them making them jump and turn to see a tall well dresses blonde man who stood in the arch way, Harry was sure this was Draco father judging by the Simler appearance and exact copy of each other.

" I told you not to wonder off" the man said voice hard.

" But I" Draco tried but the blonde man cut him off, Harry clutched the book to his chest now wary of the man, something about the man set him on edge.

" Yes father" Draco nodded deciding better not to argue.

" And who do we have here" the man's silver eyes turned to the messy boy with flowers in his hair and ears pierced, if Lucuis didn't know better, he would have thought Lovegood had another child.

" Someone's who leaving " the boy spoke deciding he didn't want to be here anymore, there was to many eyes on him, and he didn't trust the adults here other than SilverClaw.

Harry moved passed the man and to the front counter where the old shopkeeper was sitting on a stool, he wore purple robes and had a greasy smile, deciding to just buy the one book and leave, he paid the price, the man not bothering to ask questions.

When Harry turned, he was met with man watching him, " not many children wonder to this part of alley without a parent, it can be quite dangerous" the man voice was silk as he spoke.

" Can take care of myself just fine" Harry scowled as the man was blocking the door.

" And what child your age would have interest in blood magic for? it is a rather dark book " the man continued curious to who child this was and what parent let their child wonder alone in this area, or maybe the boy was a muggle born judging by his clothes, but something told him he wasn't and there was something familiar about the boy he couldn't put his finger on.

The boy glared up at him; his face half covered in a black mask. 

" My interest are none of your concern" the boy growled as he went to move around the man only for a cane to block his way, " not so fast " Lucious stopped him. " You know this is really getting really creepy, a grown man stalking a kid " the boy said before raising his hand " excuse me" the blonde man was cut off as bowl of floo power on the fireplace mantle and ashes from inside the fireplace flew directly into Lucious face.

Harry took his chance and ran out the door while the man was coughing up a lung from the ashes and green powder. Lucious growled as he looked down at his clothes that were now ruined. " That brat" he scowled as he tried a cleaning spell, but floo powder was hard to come off and it made him even more irritated.

He didn't expect the brat to use wandless magic and was caught by surprise. 

" Are you alright father?" Draco appeared from where he had left him, his eyes wide in shock as Lucious composed himself, " were leaving, your mother is waiting for us" he said knowing his wife was waiting for them at the restraught they had made reservation at for lunch.

Draco nodded and followed his father out the shop not commenting on the mess his father outfit was, the green powder sticking to his robes, " but first I need a change of clothes" he stuck his arm out so they could apparated to the manor.

He was going to be caught dead in these dirty robes.

When the walls started to have more life in them was when harry finally stopped running, the man didn't give chase which was good for him, he didn't think he could go up against a adult wizard who was older and more experienced and had proper schooling. Harry magic was all self-taught, from the books he had been reading there seemed to be so much he didn't know.

Some of the charms in his books he wanted to start practicing when he returned to his trunk, he needed to get a head start since he was so behind. He needed to become stronger, the last time he went head-to-head with cowboy, the other had somehow been able to stand his ground, and it had taken everything in him to survive. Honesty if not falling into that hole he wondered if he would have been able to get away.

Harry looked around the alley, there was still quite a few people bustling around, he placed the book in his bag making sure no one saw it. If what that boy draco was his name said was true, he didn't want to be caught with a dark book.

Deciding to explore the shops in this area instead of the dark alley, but that wasn't going to be the last time he went down there. he made his way to the candy store, maybe he could get away with shop lifting? just levitate the candy into his bag when no one was looking? as far as he could tell there were no cameras from what he could see, everything here looked to be from mid evil times.

Maybe he could do that with other stores, but first he was going to test it at the candy shop, he didn't know if there were spells to detect thieves, if he got caught maybe it would be a slap on the wrist.

The shop was full of children running around and a few parents lingering around, there was a group of girls gigging with a pink bottle in their hands, there was a boy walking pass him out the door with a big lollypop in his hands and an old lady with fur robes and bird hat right behind him.

" Neville use a napkin your hands are going to get your hands messy" the old lady snapped as the door closed. 

Harry walked to the back, he was curious now, there the shelves were busting with all kinds of candies, there was a large chocolate fountain in the center of the shop with a floating dish of strawberries next to it, harry could see people sticking the strawberries under the chocolate. He might try that later; he glanced too the cash register who looked overwhelmed with a long line of people.

Making his way to the back where there were less people, he placed his bag on a shelf before going to the other side of the aisle, he glanced around making sure no one was looking, most of everyone was up front distracted with the fountain and it seemed the better candy was up front.

Anyone who was nearby was busy looking the other way, he raised his hand and started to levitate some chocolate frogs into the bag on the shelf, seeing that no noticed he continued to levitate a few Lolly pops and whatever looked interesting.

He would read the labels later.

" Watcha doing" a voice spoke in his ear causing him to flinch, he jumped and turned to come face to face with a pair of red head twins that had somehow snuck up on him. " nothing" he said quickly putting his hand down.

He wiggled his fingers, and the bag flew down and under the shelf hidden.

Geoge eyed the younger who he was sure just now shoplifting candy and doing it wandless, what caught his attention was the anti-theft alarms weren't going off, he and Fred had watched the kid levitate at least fifty pieces of candy into his bag.

They knew this store had anti thief charms because they themselves had tried to shoplift some of the prank products and candy but had failed when the charms would sound an alarm once put into a pocket or bag. this kid was able to somehow get pass the charms somehow.

" I won't tell anyone " Geoge started a grin appearing on his face, they didn't have the money to fund their little projects, and they didn't want to burden their parents more by asking for supplies for their hobbies. 

" If you help us" Fred finish his sentence a matching grin on his face as the boy scowled at him, the boy must be a first year at least with how small he was, he definingly wasn't a pureblood judging by how he dressed, heck they were poor and they dressed better and were clean, he had a black mask covering the bottom of his face and his hair was a mess with flowers in it and clothes to big on him. 

" You want me to shop lift for you? no way do it yourselves" the boy hissed stepping away but Fred blocked his way, " we would but you see, there just this very small tines problem" Fred started

" The anti-thief charms" Geoge finished making the boys eyes widen in shock.

" Fuck" the boy cursed.

" But somehow your able to get around that, how is that?" Fred asked curious, if they could get around the charm then they would be golden, there was so many possibilities and maybe it would help them in the long run. 

" I don't know?" the boy just shrugged.

Geoge frowned in thought, " cold it be your using wandless magic and not a wand?" he asked in wonder, every time they had tried to steal they had used their wands.

" Like I said I don't know, I just levitate it and put it in my bag" the boy told them and in demonstration he flicked his finger and the bag appeared in his hands, he reached in and grabbed a piece of candy, Fred was behind him blocking anyone's view so there were no witnesses.

They held their breath hoping an alarm wouldn't sound, it didn't, they sighed in relief. " Holy cow" the twins grinned as Harry placed it back in the bag, " can you do that with anything" asked Fred excited.

" I guess so" the boy said.

" Okay, look over there, do you see that stack of fireworks?" Geoge pointed to the shelf full of fireworks, " that's risky, it's closer to the front" Harry said unsure. " What about the back? where they store everything?" he asked looking back to the twins.

" Maybe if it isn't charmed locked" Fred said in thought.

harry glanced around, there was still a line up front, he moved further back into the store looking for any doors there was none or so he thought until he spotted a curtain hanging on the wall, he could see the bottom of a door hidden behind the curtain, he smirked " bingo" he waved to the twins who were still by the shelf.

Who knew he be robbing a candy store with a pair of red headed twins. oh, if Donna could see him now, she would smack him silly.

Entering through the door lead to a storage room of sorts, it was large and dull of boxes and crates. " Merlin balls " Geroge stared in shock, all this time and they never once thought there was a hidden door behind the curtain.

" It leads behind the cash register" the boy said moving to the crates.

" We never introduced ourselves " Fred said making the boy look up curious

" I'm Fred Weasley and this is my brother in arms "

" Geoge Weasley " the other twin finished.

Harry nodded, " I'm Harry" he answered in return purpose not giving out his last name, if he was right then that would mean everyone knew his name, he was lucky his long hair hid his lightning bolt scar.

" Well Harry we will be in your dept if this goes according to plan" said Geoge already eyeing the stacks and stacks of fireworks on the other side of the storage room just sitting there for the taking. 

" Well let's get moving before someone catches us" Harry said sitting his bag down in the middle of the floor, he was told it was bottomless so he should be able to fit a lot of stuff into it, he had ordinally planned just to steal the candy and leave

He raised his hand and levitated the fireworks into the bag, after that was more stuff, the twins pointed out like a stack of charmed cards to mor candy that were charmed to do different stuff like turn your skin different colors or make animals or train noises when eaten.

After a few minutes of digging through the stuff they made their way to the back and climbed out the window with their haul. Harry wondered if he could sell some of this to earn some income of sorts.

The three quickly walked a good distance away from the shop until they were a few blocks away, by now the crowds have thinned down as it was midafternoon now. " Holy shit I love magic" Harry grinned, he should feel bad he just robbed a shop, but he wasn't. With the crowd that was in there and if it was like that everyday then the owner then it wasn't too big of a lost for some items to go missing.

At least he hopes so.

Geroge laughed as Harry looked around the alley, he was getting kind of hungry now and it had been since morning since he had been here, he had pretty much explored the stores without buying besides that book and run in with the two blonde snobs.

It was also going to be nightfall soon, his heart froze, he had been having fun he hadn't realized how late it was getting, shit. 

" Well, this was fun but I'm going to have to go now" he said as he looked to the sun that was slowly descending, it was going to take a at least thirty minutes to get back to the park and to his trunk.

He started to leave but the twins stopped him, " hey whoa Arnt you are forgetting something?" Fred asked making harry frown before it dawned on him, the stuff was still in his bag, and they still needed to sort it out.

" Oh yeah, you have anything to put it in?" he asked as the twins looked at him funny, " no we don't have a bottomless bag" Geroge shook his head, only their parents had them. They had one but it was at home, and it was only charmed big enough to hold their school supplies and books and that was it.

" Well, I have to go " Harry said, he didn't trust them enough with his bag, he didn't know if he could get another one.

" How do we know you will keep your end of the bargain" said Geoge as the boy scowled, " well where are we going to put it?" Harry asked. 

it was then a loud voice caused them to jump

" Fred and Geoge Weasley where have you been I have been looking everywhere for you two" a plump red-haired woman appeared with a trail of red heads behind her. all boys minus one little girl who was holding her mother's hand and half hidden behind her.

Harry had to hold back a gasp, the woman looked too much like Donna, only Donna hair was longer, her face was rougher and more lines from stress and her accent was different, American, she had a country accent that Harry had always tried to imitate but couldn't get down. Her voice was harsher even when she tried to sound soft.

" Now what have you gotten into now" the woman continued stepping forward, " nothing we promise " Geroge said even though everyone knew he was lying but couldn't prove it. 

Harry tried to slip away but found Geroge hand had wrapped around his arm and was holding him hostage, " we made a new friend, we wanted to know if he could spend the night" George smiled as Harry glared up at him. 

This Mother fucker.

The red head womans eyes fell to him, now noticing him, " oh hello" she said sweetly, " oh dear, I don't know about that, are your parents all right with this" she asked while she looked around trying to find an adult that would be accompany a child.

She took in his clothes and appearance, it seemed he hadn't had a good meal in a while or shower.

Harry paled hearing this, he was screwed if they realized he didn't have parents and was an orphan, he didn't want to go to the orphanage no thank you, he was fine in his trunk where he had everything he needed.

" Um my parents are on an errand " he told her, "But that fine, I don't have to stay the night" he tried to say, " nonsense, we can wait until there back " the twins mother said kindly making harry groan internally.

" it's going to be a while" he said trying to back away.

That didn't seem to deter her, " well how bout we have dinner at the three broomsticks while wait and I'm Molly by the way" the woman smiled while ushering him back to the entrance and into the inn where they found a table to fit the entire family.

that was how harry found himself sitting next to a tall boy with red curly hair and horned glasses, Percy he learned his name was, the twins had tried to sit next to him but harry had sat between Percy and a red head that looked his age.

" I'm Ron by the way" the other introduced himself, Harry nodded but stayed quiet, thinking of a way to get away. " Why do you have flowers in your hair" asked Ron looking at the yellow and purple flowers he had braided into his hair this morning.

" Because I like them" Harry blinked, why else would he have them? he heard a laugh and looked to see another red head, this one older Charlie he thinks his name was, his hair was put up in a man bun. 

" So, Harry are you a first year?" asked Molly after finishing ordering, Tom had glanced at him but said nothing which Harry was thankful for.

" Um yes" he answered looking to the door, it was starting to get dark now, he wondered if Hedwig has returned yet.

Molly looked to the boy, he looked uncomfortable and kept glancing around, she could tell he wanted to leave. she wondered if what he told them about his parents running an errand was true.

" what's is your parents' name? maybe I know them?" she asked making the boy pale. " You don't know them" he said shaking his head, " there muggle" he added thinking of Donna. It really wasn't a lie either.

" Oh" Molly nodded, it made sense to why he was wearing muggle clothes.

" I have to go to the bathroom" suddenly the boy shot up and left towards the hall without looking back. 

" Well, he seems jumpy" Charlie commented just as the food was served,

 " Yeah, like a scared rabbit" Bill took a sip of his drink and eyed the hall where the bathrooms lead to and also the rest of the inn. Something about the boy sent warning bells off, he didn't know what though, the story about his parents being away had to be a lie and the way the twins were on edge in their seat let him know they were up to no good or had already done something they shouldn't.

" Where did you say you met him?" asked their mother curious as the twins looked at each other " candy shop" they said together. 

before anyone could respond tom spoke up " ahh it seems Mr. Potter is back so soon" the bald man said making the table go still at the name, Ron nearly choked on his mash potato as he stared at the man in shock

" What?" George looked to the bald man in confusion, that couldn't have been Potter. could it? didn't he just say his parents were muggles? 

" You must be mistaken?" " Fred said as the man frowned, " he was in here the other day, saw the scar myself" tom said before leaving. 

" Lily and James's boy?" Molly gasped shocked, she realized why he looked familiar to her, even with the black mask covering his face she would recognize them emerald eyes anywhere, though his were darker than lilies. 

Minutes passed and Harry still hadn't returned, the twin finding an excuse to go check on the younger went to the restrooms along with Percy, told by their mother to keep the twins out of trouble.

The men's restroom was empty saved the open window and a letter stuck to the wall, Geroge grabbed it before Percy could see it, ' had to go, sorry.....find me at school and we can do business' Geroge red quickly before stuffing the letter in his pocket. 

He was upset about not able to get there haul of goodies, but it was most likely better to wait until school started, at least at school they had more privacy, and their mother wasn't over their shoulder like at home.

" Where did he go?" Percy frowned in confusion, " must have had somewhere to be " Geoge shrugged while Fred gave him a look.

The three left the restroom and made their way back to the table, " he's gone" Percy said making Molly frown in worry. " What do mean he gone? " She asked " I don't know I think he left, he seemed like he didn't want to be here anyway" Percy told her.

He had noticed the boy looked ready to bolt.

It was dark when Harry made it back to his trunk which was thankfully still where he left it, Hedwig hooted from her spot on a tree branch before flying down and landing on his shoulder and nuzzled his cheek and pecked his hair. " Hey girl I know I'm late" he smiled while opening the trunk and climbed inside and closed it behind him, once down in the trunk he made sure to check for any threats but found none.

Once making sure the coast was clear, he made himself a quick dinner of soup and settled down into his armchair and opened his charms book, he would begin practally the cleaning charm, it seemed useful.

After that he would sort through the bag and see what was of interest, he was wary of the candy now, the twins had explained some of the candies effects and he wasn't familiar with the product to try it.

He would go through to see what he wanted and what he could sell for a profit, then the rest would go to the twins as promised.

Chapter Text

Harry stared at the massive Manor that had belonged to his parents, the place he would have been raised in if they hadn't been killed. He didn't know how to feel about that, so he pushed the thoughts away and focused on the task at hand.

It was even bigger than it looked in the photograph Silverclaw has shown him. It was ten times the size of the Conely house.

SilverClaw had finally contacted him after a week, the short goblin had told him to come to Gringotts to sort out the Potters Manor, that was how he found himself here, he had needed to cut his palm and place it on a tree that runes engraved into. 

The Runes on the tree started to glow red as it adsorbed his blood and the wards opened for him and the invisible veil that was keeping the out disappeared. The front yard was large and overgrown and a few fallen trees, the front of the manor looked to need work with the lack of care in the past ten years. 

" The manor has Sixty rooms " Silver claw spoke making Harry eyes go wide in shock, " and how many people lived here? were the potters a large family?" Harry asked curious. " hm different generations I supposed but in the last few small, your grandparents passed sadly from dragon pox many years ago, that was when we didn't have the potions we have now" Silvercalw said.

Harry had to wrap his head around the thought of having grandparents, the closest thing to a grandmother he had was Conny, a woman had ended up in the town a few years ago, before him, she was originally from America a place called Florida, she had been driving up to South Caralina to visit family. She taught him to sew and paint, the two would spend mornings painting in the cow pastures and eating dried peaches and apples. 

He missed home, he missed everyone and thinking about them hurt. 

Harry eyed the small black balls that were floating in the ceiling, " magical infestation, the place is going to need to be cleaned and cleared out before its livable " Silvercalw said seeing where the boy was looking.

" So, there was no other relatives except my aunt Petunia?" Harry asked, this place at one time must have been lively with family, a generation living under one roof, now it was empty and void of life.

Now he was the only potter left, last of the line.

Maybe when he rescued everyone from the town, he could bring them here, this place could house everyone and had plenty of space, he hadn't even looked at the rest of the manor or backyard but if he had to guess it was large.

" As far as I'm aware there are none, James's potter was an only child " Silverclaw told him.

The two began walking through the old manor, it was in shambles and needed to be cleaned, Harry wasn't sure how he would be able to manage this place by himself, he was no stranger to hard work, but this place was just massive and even with magic it was going to be a challenge. 

Even the Conlay house it took everyone to keep it clean and organized.

He didn't know how to get rid of the magical pest that have taken up residence either nor the money. 

Silverclaw answered his thoughts thankfully, " for a fee I can find someone who specialized in pest control, you wouldn't need to pay right away " silver claw told him making Harry sigh in relief, everything else he could manage.

" Thank you, I will pay you back" Harry said happy, the goblin was going out of his way to help him, and he was glad for the help, he was walking blind in a new world and still learning.

Silverclaw only nodded his head, he knew once the boy was older and took on lordship it would benefit him in the long run, the Potters and gridnots go a long way back. Plus, he owed the child that had been robbed of his inheritance, he still hadn't found the will yet.

" Until then the house is not livable" silveclaw said, harry blinked? " I can still stay here, can't I?" he asked as the goblin stared at him in surprise. " The pest can be harmful, those small black balls are called kiru, enough of them together they produce a chemical that can cause hallucinations and paranoia" Silvercalw explained.

" And that's just the tip of the iceberg, there are at least a dozen more species I done seen since being here" he added shocking the boy, he didn't realize how dangerous the pest was.

" What about outside, I can just stay in my trunk like I have been doing?" harry asked, Silverclaw was silent for a few minutes before answering. " You can stay with me, at least until you start school" the goblin said shocking Harry even more.

" Really?" Harry stared as the goblin looked uncomfortable " yes but no one can know " Silverclaw warned, he couldn't believe he was considering this, but knowing the young child was living alone and no adult to protect him rubbed him the wrong way. 

Dumbledore couldn't be trusted, the man hasn't even realized Harry wasn't where he was supposed to be and that the boy's aunt was dead. If word got out that the boy didn't have a proper guardian there was no telling where the boy might end up.

" No one can know, these are unusual circumstances, " he said making the boy frown, " what do you mean?" Harry asked confused. " I'm a goblin, if the wizarding world knew I was taking you in, the boy who lived no less, it would, no will cause a stir, maybe even a war" Silverclaw told him seriously.

" Why? I don't understand?" Harry even more confused as the goblin sighed. 

" You don't know our history nor how wizards treat my kind" Silverclaw said, " wizards see my kind as a lesser being, just like they see any creature as a lesser than themselves" he added.

" So there racist" Harry blinked, " in a sense yes" Silverclaw was familiar with the muggle term. 

" I can just stay in my trunk like I have been doing, it's too risky if I stay with you " Harry shook his head not wanting to get Silvercalw in trouble. " I'm used to taking care of myself" he added wanting to reassure the goblin.

" I'm not taking no for an answer " Silverclaw crossed his arms, " it is my risk to take " the goblin added seeing the look on the boy's face. 

" It will only be until school starts which isn't that long" Silverclaw pointed out.

Harry bit his lip, he really did want to stay with the goblin, he didn't want to be alone, being by himself in the trunk without anyone near was hard, so used to his family right there, his shared room with Victor and Donna coming to tuck him in at bedtime. Everything was so different now, even the smells, no longer didn't the scent of weed and wood linger in the air.

" Alright" he gave in, he felt guilty, but he didn't want to be alone anymore.

" Well with that, lets gather your things" Silverclaw said smug that he had won, Harry nodded agreeing, " it's at the park" he said thinking of his hidden spot.

" This will be yours " Silverclaw opened the large wooden door, Harry stared inside the room, one would think with how short and small goblins were you think they lived in smaller homes that suited their size.

They didn't.

Silverclaw home was in a large village that was underground, a cave of sorts full of houses and shops and goblins bustling around and floating lights in the sky that resembled the sun but smaller.

The house had four bedrooms and two bathrooms, the room Harry was looking at was decent size with full size bed and wardrobe, the wallpaper was green and floor was hardwood.

They were lucky since they could use the floo and avoiding others.

" You can't go outside and no looking out the windows, can't risk anyone seeing you, even my own kind" silverclaw warned him. " yeah" harry nodded as the goblin nodded. " Dinner will be served at eight and breakfast seven in the morning" silverclaw told him.

" There are rules, you will keep your room clean and clean up after yourself " Silverclaw rattle off his list of rules as Harry just listened, he was pretty good about keeping his room clean anyway and cleaning in general. That was one thing aunt Petunia had instilled in him from a young age.

" I want you to focus on your books, read everything you can before going to Hogwarts " the goblin continued, " you can use your magic here, the trace shouldn't pick up since you're in a magical community, though that wouldn't matter since I can just take it off your wand" silvercalw added in thought making harry sit up.

" Trace?" he asked concerned, he didn't like the thought of someone tracking him.

" Yes, all wands have a trace, though only on children, until your seventeen you will be traced for each time you use magic, if caught using magic outside of school can have consequence's, though there's a loophole, if your next to an adult who had magic or in a magical community the trace won't pick up" SilverClaw call explained.

Harry frowned hearing this, he hadn't used his wand yet and he was glad he didn't or else someone would have found him, there was so much he needed to learn. A thought struck him" but doesn't that make it hard for muggleborns to use magic? like during the summer or holidays?" he asked thinking of the two blonde snobs he met; he was pretty sure they were pureblood by the way they dressed and spoke and considering the blonde boy draco called him a muggleborn told him his thoughts.

He remembered Hagrid explaining this but not in detail.

" Yes, and it's why purebloods have a head start on many subjects" Silverclaw nodded in agreement.

" that's just unfair" Harry said.

" It is but that is the way" the goblin sighed.

" Now get your things unpack, I will start on dinner" Silvercalw told the boy.

Harry stared at the massive train that was blowing red steam, by some miracle he had found the entrance that was platform 9 3/4, he had been lucky to see a family of three going through a brick wall even though Silverclaw had told him where to find it, he hated to admit he might have got lost.

He had gotten here four hours early not wanting to miss the train. 

The last few weeks before the start of term he had spent at Silverclaw house reading every book he could get his hands on and practicing whatever spells he found interesting or useful. without the risk of a trace on his wands and grimoire he could use his magic freely, silverclaw had removed the spells placed on the wands, though there had been none on the grimier.

To say the goblin had been shocked was an understatement, it was one of the few times Harry had seen him lose his composure when he learned that Harry had not only two wands, but a grimoire as well had shocked the goblin. It was rare to have a grimoire, no one used them anymore since it was easier to use a wand for everything.

He had managed to get the levioso spell down and could use it with ease, he also realized he could even lift heavier stuff without straining himself. He was getting the hang a few of the charms, they came easy to him.

He only made one more trip to Diagon Alley using the floo system, he had managed to steal a few books from the stores. He even managed to find a few books written about him. It was there he learned more about the war and Voldemort and death eaters. 

He kept those in his trunk, he didn't let Silvercalw see them, he didn't want the goblin to know he stole them.

Harry made his way on to the train, there was already a crowd of people and growing as parents dropped their children off, harry wanted to find a compartment before they filled up. Hedwig wasn't with him since silverclaw told him she would find him anywhere. So, he had let her out and she could fly to Hogwarts instead of being cooped up in a cage for hours.

He found a compartment that was thankfully empty, he smiled and floated his trunk onto the shelf, he wondered if he would run into those red head twins? he took a seat and pulled out a book on potions. He had already read first and second year and was onto to the third-year potions book.

" Come on he's got to be here somewhere" Fred hissed as he opened and closed compartment doors looking for the boy, they met weeks ago who apparently was the Harry Potter, boy who lived and somehow, they didn't realize.

They litterly met an idol and didn't know.

Geroge sighed as they closed the hundredth door, they had gotten to the train station late like always with their family, there overwhelmed mother trying to make sure everyone had everything packed and ready to go, but it never was that simple, Ron hadn't packed like he was suppose to, Percy was trying to cram every book he could into his trunk, mother cooking a whole last breakfast feast for them since it was last day for them to be home until the holidays and summer.

They had gotten just in time before the train was set to depart, now they were spending their time looking for the first year who ran off with their loot.  

Fred opened another door and was about to shut it but paused when he realized who it was, the boy still wearing his black mask was curled up against the window with a book in his hands, He was wrapped in a white and red quilt that looked cozy, his messy black hair still had small yellow daisies braided into it, he was wearing frog earrings this time but they still didn't match, one was bright yellow while the other bright green, it was odd.

The boy looked up hearing the door opening and blinked seeing them, " oh it's you two" he said as Geoge pushed Fred forward into the small compartment and closed the door behind them.

" Yeah, it's us, the ones you ditched if I recall " Fred said half joking half serious looking down at the boy who didn't look sorry at all.

" Where did you run off to?" Geoge asked taking a seat across from the boy, " I told you I had to go, didn't I?" Harry shrugged closing his book but not before placing a bookmark. " And it wasn't like you had anywhere to store the stuff anyway or would you wanted to risk your mother finding it" Harry added with a smirk.

The twins glowered at him, but knew he was right, they would have never been able to hide everything in their room or even on the property, it would have been found and that would have lead to big trouble.

The daily profit was already blowing up with the story about the theft and if there mother had found there stash she would have connect two and two.

At least at Hogwarts they had more privacy and freedom to do what they wanted in the unused classrooms no one ever checked.

" do you have it?" asked Geoge leaning forward, harry rolled his eyes, " yeah I got it, I already took my half the rest is yours" Harry said thinking of the candy and fireworks he had stored in his trunk along with a few other things, maybe he could sell to make a little money on the side. The rest would go to the twins, flicking his hand and his trunk floated down from the shelf and opened and the bottomless bag zipped forward into his hands.

" Here" Harry handed the bag to Geoge, he didn't have anything else in the bag so it wouldn't get mixed up with their stuff.

Geoge took the bag and opened it, his eyes widen, there was still a lot there from what he could see even though the other said he took his half. He pulled out a chocolate frog and some other pieces of candy, he passed a few to Fred.

" You mind if we hold onto this until we get to Hogwarts? at least until we can store it away somewhere safe, we can't fit this into our trucks" Fred asked taking a seat next to Harry." sure" harry shrugged.

He knew now that the bag he had was a more expensive one from his family vault, the charms were stronger and had more space. The twins' trunks must not be big enough to store the stuff, though to be fair they did take a lot from the store.

Harry went back to reading his book, he was only halfway through the book.

" I thought you were a first year?" Fred asked seeing the title of the potions book, it third year, the year they were in. wasn't Harry Potter a first year?

" I am?" Harry answered not looking up.

The twins glanced at each other, " you are Harry Potter Arnt you?" Geoge finally asked, he couldn't see the lightning bolt scar since the boy hair was long covering his forehead. They had been dying to know if the boy really the boy was who lived, the same one their mother told stories of.

The one who defeated he who shall not be named, the man and his death eaters who took away their uncles Fabion and Bill. They had vague memories of the two men who used to sit in armchair next to the fire with a guitar and sing. Geroge remembered Uncle Fabion always used to smoke his pipe, something their mother hated for some reason, he remembered the smell. 

He never smelled it again, whatever Fabion used to smoke no one else smoked it and his mother didn't tell him what it was.

It didn't escape George how the other tensed at the name and dull emerald orbs met his brown ones, the boy scowled at them. " I don't know what you're talking about," the other denied making them frown.

" We saw the scar" Fred lied knowing they didn't.

" And what if I am" Harry gripped his book tightly, he knew that people would know him, know him for something he apparently did as a baby? he had already run into a few when out shopping in Diagon alley and heard people talking about him all from young children to gossiping adults. 

Even heard a few women talking about arranged marriages, that sent a shiver down his spine.

" let's get one thing straight, I may be Harry Potter, but it was my parents who defeated the dark lord, not me, don't know how everyone came to that conclusion that a one-year-old killed a full-grown wizard" Harry told them.

The twins stared in shock as Harry finished speaking,

" They say that the killing curse rebounded off of you and killed him" Fred said in confusion, 

" Did anyone see it happen? not even the cook Dumbledore knows from what I read, it was vague, and everyone just took his word for it? I don't buy it, what makes me so different to survive the killing curse?" Harry shook his head.

" I don't know" George muttered trying to think, Harry had a point though.

" If anything, it should be my parents celebrated for defeating Voldemort" Harry added making both twins pale at the name, " y...you said his name" Fred stuttered in fear. Harry blinked, " yeah so, he's dead isn't he, it's just a name and a stupid one at that, I mean what dark lord calls himself Voldymort? I can come up with a better name ten times better than that" he shrugged.

Geoge hearing the nickname burst out laughing.

" Voldyshorts?" Fred laughed and nearly choked on his chocolate frog,

" And what better name would you choose" George asked curious, " I don't King of darkness or some shit " Harry shrugged.

" Well, when you put it that way, it does make more sense " Geroge said calming down, even the books they read never really went into details, honesty the people who wrote the books probably made up some of the stuff just to make a name for themselves.

Before Harry could answer the door slammed open revealing a very familiar blonde in the doorway, there were two bigger boys behind him like bodyguards, " I'm looking for Harry potter has anyone see him" the blonde voice irked harry even more, somehow, he sounded more snobbish than at the bookstore.

" Oh, it's just you" Draco sneered down at him making Harry glare up at him.

" You know what you did to my father is unforgivable you know" the blonde crossed his arms.

" Maybe your father should learn how to keep his hands to himself and not be a creep" Harry said making the blonde flush, " what did you just say" draco hissed as harry just shrugged not caring, " you heard me or do you have a hearing problem, if so let me say it louder maybe your father shouldn't be such a creep" Harry shouted at the end making the blonde go redder with anger.

Fred let out a small laugh making the blonde turn to him, " let me guess red hair and hand me downs, you must be a Weasley " Draco sneered at them with disgust, while the blonde was distracted Harry pulled out a small box of what he guessed was itching powder in his hands, he raised his hand growing tired of dealing with the prat. 

" Exscuse me" Geoge went to stand up but was interruppted as Harry raised his hand.

" I think you should go, your unwelcomed and quite frankly rude" Harry said from his seat just as the box zipped towards the blonde and spilling all over him along with the two boys behind them, before they could even move to react Harry used his magic to push them out of compartment and slammed the door shut and locked it. It was then they could hear the cursing and angry cries as the powder took effect.

" Geroge I thought you locked the door" Fred turned to his twin questioning, " I thought so to, but I guess not" he shrugged. 

" I hope we are not in the same house" Harry muttered, silverclaw had given him the run down on the four houses, coming to stay with Silvercalw had benefited very much, the goblin was able to share his knowledge and answered what he could.

" I don't think so, he most defiantly Slytherin" said Fred eyeing the door, " so? I could be in Slytherin?" Harry turned to them. " No way your way to Gryffindor to be in that house, there nothing but dark wizards and cowards" Geoge said making Harry frown.

" I thought it was for the cunning and ambitious? that's what I read" he tilted his head.

" Well yeah but most are cowards" Fred added, Harry sighed but didn't comment, the two seemed to dead set in their opinion of Slytherin. Though harry really hoped they weren't all like Draco who was a total snob.

Living in the town, everyone had come from different places, everyone had different personalities, but he was taught to never judge a person, and he wasn't about to judge a whole house just because of its history either and a few bad apples.

" Was that itching powder you threw at him?" asked Fred changing the subject and the three fell into a conversation of jokes and pranks and Hogwarts.

Chapter Text

Hogwarts was the most beautiful sight he had ever laid eyes on, from the dark waters to the stone castle that sat on the hill overlooking the black lake with lit windows and it was just earthly. He was in a boat with three others, a bushy brown hair girl named Hermione Granger who was naming off facts left and right, the twins younger brother Ron and a shy boy named Neville Longbottom who clutched his pet toad to his chest like it was going to disappear.

The twins had gone a different way he wasn't sure were, but Hagrid had gathered all the first years and on to the rowboat that paddled themselves, he could see why now, it was a sight he wouldn't forget. " wow" Harry stared in awe at the castle, he wished the others were here to see this, Victor and Emily would love this, they would have loved to explore the castle for hidden passenger ways and secret rooms.

Harry looked down into the dark water, he thought he saw something, he leaned forward trying to see, he caught sight of a silver tail fin in the dark water or so he thought, before he could pull back, he felt himself loosing balance and he fell into the cold water, he gasp at the sudden coldness, he could hear laughs and snickers all around him and Hermione panic voice calling for Hagrid.

Nevelle and Ron were able to pull him back on the boat just in time for Hagrid to appear in his own boat, " yer alright Harry?" the man asked holding his pink umbrella in one hand, it must be his wand.

" Cold" Harry stuttered shivering, he was not use to this weather, back home it was always warm, the pond they swam in was just perfect temperature most of the time, he wasn't used to cooler weather nor water this cold.

" Ah someone always falls into the lake the first time " Hagrid chuckled waving his wand and muttered a spell, Harry found himself dry, still cold but no longer wet. 

" Thanks" he smiled as the man tossed him a thick red quilt.

" Awe my flowers " Harry pouted as he looked at the yellow daisies floating away, he sighed and opened his palm and thought of lilies and roses, they started to sprout, he begins to braid them into his hair.

Hermione eyes widen in surprise and wonder, " how do you do that?" she asked curious noticing he wasn't using a wand from what she could see. " I just do" Harry answered not sure how to answer, when he wanted to do something, he just thought about it. It didn't work all the time.

" that's wandless magic " Neville looked at him in awe.

" Just think of what you want and focus" he added and in demonstration created another rose and gave it to her, the girl blushed as Harry continued to braid his hair, he wrapped the lilies and roses together.

After that they made it to the docks after another ten minutes of crossing the Black Lake. 

 Following Hagrid through the large stone hallways until they reached an even larger wooden door where they met a tall and stern woman dressed in green robes and pointy witch hat, it reminded him of the pictures Emily used to draw.

" Ah about time Hagrid, your late" the stern woman said in disproval, the half giant only looked sheepish, " ah sorry, Professor McGonnell had a situation with the lake" he said with a knowing look and rubbing his head. A few giggles could be heard through the first years While Harry rolled his eyes but said nothing.

" Well before we enter, I suggest you smarten yourselves up " she said eying them, her eyes falling on Harry who was still in the red quilt Hagrid gave him, his robes wrinkled and mask covering his face. Harry looked down at himself, he thought he looked alright maybe a little dishelved but he recently showered and not really dirty.

" Is there a reason you are wearing a mask Mr." the stern woman trailed off in question, " Harry, just harry and yes, I have bad allergies" Harry lied. She raises an eyebrow, but she didn't comment further on it.

He shrugged not caring while everyone else were trying to clean themselves up, he spotted Draco between his two goons, the blonde was covered in small whelps from the itching powder Harry had thrown at him only ours ago, the boy had changed robes. The two larger boys' large forms help keep prying eyes away from the blonde prat.

The sound of a toad broke Harry from his thoughts and he looked down to see Neville toad had somehow gotten to the stern woman's feet, " Trevor!" the shy boy ran forward kneeling down to grab the toad.

" Um sorry" Neville face went red as the stern lady and everyone in the hallway watched him as he shrunk in on himself. 

" Well, if everyone is ready let begin" the woman said and flicked her wand and the doors opened to reveal a large hall with four long tables that were already crowded with children one to seven years. Harry spotted the red head twins at the table with red cloth; they were next to a short black boy with dreadlock.

Looking up to the ceiling there were floating candles and a stormy night sky, most likely a spell of some kind.

At the end of the hall was a long table that overlooked the entire hall, Harry narrowed his eyes when he spotted the man known as Dumbledore in bright blue robes and funny hat, heading Silverclaw warning he adverted his eyes making sure the man couldn't read his thoughts.

This was the man who dropped him off at his relatives, the one who robbed him of his family money, who was supposed to be his magical guardian. man, aunt petunia was right he is a cook, he remembered her angry words that night she was driving, now he understood what she meant. Not his wardrobe though, nothing was wrong with his outfit, in fact Harry was tempted to charm his clothes to twinkling stars to match the blue and maybe add a comet to it. 

Nope the man was just a crook.

Harry looked to the other teachers, there was a woman in a nurse uniform, but it was old and traditional looking nothing like nurse monster back home, there was a man in a purple turban and a man in all black sitting next to each other, Harry winced as his scar started to hurt, he looked away confused. That had never happened before? In fact, he had never had even phantom pains from it, not like his other scars.

He looked to the rest of the table, he spotted Hagrid sneaking in through a back door he assumed, he sat at the edge of the table with his large size overshadowing the others, there was a hippy looking women holding a crystal ball in her hands talking to a short goblin looking man, Harry wasn't sure, he didn't look goblin though, maybe half?

He wondered if the hippy woman had any weed?

He was pulled out of thoughts when he felt a tap on his shoulder, and he turned only to get a face full of powder? " Hah got you" Draco grinned, he had collected what he could off his robes and was saving it for this moment, Harry rubbed his eyes as powder got into his eyes, his face began itching.

" Fuck this stuff works fast" Harry growled scratching under his eye while Draco laughed, though he was also still scratching.

" What is going on here" Professor McGonnell appeared after hearing the commotion, Hermione was the first to speak up " he threw something at him professor" the bushy hair girl pointed out making the stern woman snap her head to the blonde.

" Was only returning the favor" the blonde hissed while Harry flicked his hand and a pie went flying off the table and right into Draco face, " consider this returning the favor prat" Harry rubbed his eye as more laughter rand around the great hall.

" Alright that is enough, the both of you " the woman snapped having enough, Harry only snickered as Draco wiped what was once pumpkin pie off his face, his face went red before he lunged forward grabbing Harry by the collar, Harry reacted with a punch to his cheek.

" Someone help me" monoalgal snapped back to the table, Snape was already up and around the table, his wand in hand, annoyed he pushed passed the students and with surprising strength considering his thin frame, he pulled Harry off of Draco who had a bloody nose.

" That is enough!" the dark-haired man said coldly making Harry freeze.

" You haven't even been sorted yet and already causing trouble" snape hissed, " is that a record or something?" Harry asked making the man glare at him with coal black eyes. They were like looking into the void with how empty they were, and it made him shiver.

" He started it" Draco whined, " my father will hear about this" he added as Harry rolled his eyes, " that creep?" Harry tilted his head thinking of the senior blonde who set off warning bells in his head.

" That is, it, the both of you will have detention for the next two weeks and whatever house you are sorted into will be minus fifty points" Mcdonnall snapped angry. "Now I want you to stand on the opposite of each other " she added face red.

Harry pouted but did as he was told, Draco did the same going to stand next to the big goons while he stood next to Ron who stared at him with a look in his eye, " whoa you really showed him" the red head grinned.

When both teachers had their back turns, Harry couldn't help but stick his tongue out at the blonde who face went red once again, but he didn't react.

When the sorting begins, after the hat sang its song and the stern woman held a long list of names started to call out names, Harry listened to the names called and where the hat sorted them.

Hermione Granger went into Ravenclaw

Neville Longbottom went into Hufflepuff

Hannah Abott went into Hufflepuff

Ron Weasley went into Gryffindor

When it came to Draco turn, the blonde had turned into a hat stall, it took ten minutes until the hat finally called out Gryffindor and a very pale blonde climbed off the stool and slowly walked to the red table, there were no cheers or claps that had come before. Only confused looks as the blonde kept his head down not looking at anyone and sat on the very edge away from everyone.

Harry frowned at the others, he noticed even the teachers were quite as they eyed the blonde, like he didn't belong.

He heard the quite mutters from the older kids nearby table though, 

" A Malfoy in Gryffindor?"

" The hat must have lost its mind"

" But he's a Malfoy, all Malfoys are Slytherins"

When his name was finally called Harry nervously walked up to the stool, he wondered what house he would be in, he heard whispers from students at the tables that he would be sorted into Gryffindor like his parents were.

Harry glanced over to Draco to see his surprised face; funny the boy was looking for him but didn't realize he was who he was looking for. Harry sat on the stool and the hat was placed on his head, the hat was large and just swallowed his head.

" Hm interesting, already detention and not even sorted, you are defiantly your father's son" he heard the hat voice, but it was in his head. Harry was once again relived silverclaw had warned him of the ceremonies of placing students.

" Ah a goblin taking in a wizard child? now that is interesting" the hat said making Harry freeze, before he could panic the hat spoke again, " do not worry, I am bound by magic, whatever we discuss or see I cannot tell anyone, not even the headmaster himself" The sorting hat told him.

Harry sighed in relief hearing this.

' You can see my memories?' Harry said internally.

" Yes, it is how I place students " the hat said before going quiet, Harry could feel him prodding though his memories, it felt like a mental poke, " hm quite a bit of bravery, Gryffindor would do you well, but" the hat paused.

' I am not brave' Harry thought thinking of the people they lost, people he could have saved with his magic but had been too scared to, too scared to confront the smiling monsters.

' I am sorry you had to go through that" the hat said and Harry realized the hat could really see all his memories, ' I couldn't save them, even though I had magic, it wasn't enough anyway' Harry shrugged thinking of cowboy.

' No but fear keeps us alive, if you had tried you may not be here today, here you can grow stronger' the hat said.

Harry didn't respond.

" You would do well in Ravenclaw with your thirst for knowledge but" the hat trailed off while Harry waited.

" Slytherin would be perfect with your ambitious nature and strive to become stronger" the hat continued, talking more to himself. " You would become the target of many children of Death Eaters" the hat added.

" With the heart of a Hufflepuff, someone who doesn't judge and loyal to a fault, someone who could help the Slytherin children "the hat said.

" Help how?" Harry frowned as the hat chuckled, ' if you haven't notice, the houses are at odds with each other, since the last war, Slytherins have a bad name, and no one helps them. The other house bullies them and even some of the teachers turn a blind eye, even our headmaster' the hat told him.

" Most seem to forget other house had followers of you know, not as many as Slytherin but enough" the hat continued.

" I don't know how I would be able to help them? " Harry said.

After ten minutes the hat finally called out to the great hall that had been waiting.

" Hufflepuff!" 

Many eyes widen as Harry jumped off the stool and went to the yellow cloth table with a hop in his step, he took a seat next to Neville, Harry ignored the whispers around him. He noticed his uniform changed slightly, a crest of a yellow and black Bagner appeared on his uniform, it matched the banner over the Hufflepuff table. he was still itchy from the powder draco had thrown on him, his eyes were irritated and red, he hoped the stuff wore off soon, after dinner he needed find somewhere to shower to wash the powder off.

" I thought for sure he would go into Gryffindor, like his parents?"

" He's a puff?"

"Hufflepuff really? there weak"

" At least he didn't go into Slytherin"

After the last of the first years were sorted, the headmaster stood up and said a few words before sitting back down and a second later food magically appeared in front of the students. Harries eyes widen in shock, he had never seen so much food, there was so much, platters of roasted chicken and roast beef, mash potatoes and gravy, peas, corn, carrots, soups and so much more.

Harry avoiding the meat plated himself some potatoes and soup with bread, he didn't think he could eat anymore, so use to rations. everyone back home ate well but they still rationed. though everyone ate fruit through the day since there was plenty to go around, Donna being paranoid had still wanted to ration incase the gardens ever stopped producing not knowing it was Harry using his magic the entire time.

Harry eyes widen, he hadn't even thought about that, with him gone, there was no one to keep the gardens producing so much and fruit trees, though the towns people should be find, the last few years they have canned and dehydrated everything they could, they had enough to last them and the gardens were still producing, just it would be normal speed, no longer every week harvesting like before.

They still had the livestock to and chickens, so they had eggs and milk from the goats and cows, Harry sighed in relief. He was glad for Donna and Boyed foresight, Harry hadn't thought about what would happen if something happened to him, well he had but not in detail. They had been living everyday with death at their doorsteps, all it took was a window or door left open or someone opening the door, but Harry had always been good at hiding and running.

But something had happened, somehow, they got in.

" Hey, you going to eat" a voice made him look up to see an older boy with dirty blonde hair and boyish charming smile that harry was sure the older girls adored, he was older maybe third or fourth year?

" I'm Cedric Diggory " the boy smiled brightly.

" Harry Potter, but I guess you knew that" Harry said as the other laughed, " yeah kind of hard to miss" Cedric said as Harry turned back to his food. 

" Well, if you ever need anything, I am head boy of my years and Terresa over there is head girl" he pointed to a dark-haired girl down the table, she was talking with a few first-year students.

Harry nodded and filed that information away for later.

" I do have a question" he said making the older boy perk up curious, " shoot" he smiled as Harry rubbed his eye, " how long until itching powder wares off?" he asked making the boy laugh.

" Depends on the brand and how much but normally comes off with a few washes" he explained, " okay" he nodded and turned back to his plate but was stopped when he spotted McGonnell speed walking towards him along with a plump woman.

" Can't believe you already picked a fight before even sorted and with a Malfoy no less" the older boy said then frowned, " an already fifty points negative" he crossed his arms.

" Oops" Harry rubbed his neck nervous, it seemed there was a point system here, he would need to be careful not to earn the ire of his housemates.

" Mr. Potter" the stern woman looked down at him, her face pinched.

" I will see you Tomorow evening and we can discuss your detention" the woman said voice clipped then added, " after dinner you will go and see madam Pomfrey to get those injuries looked at" she said pointing out the small cut on his nose and already forming bruise.

He only nodded not wanting to argue with her, he was already in enough trouble as it was.

" Yes professor" was all he said, she left and went straight to Draco who was still sitting alone while the other didn't even attempt to speak to him. 

harry turned away and back to his plate, then came the big issue, he was still wearing his mask, he sighed, he didn't know why he wanted to hide it, maybe because it was different here, this wasn't the town where everyone understood him even at some level at least. These people wouldn't understand what had been done to him, they wouldn't know the horror he lived and the fear he felt when the sun went down.

But it was better to rip the band aid off now than later, sooner than later everyone would know anyway. He pulled his mask down to his neck ignoring the gasp and stunned looks from his future classmates and started to eat.

" Your face?" a red head girl eyes widen in shock as Harry took a mouthful of mash potatoes with gravy, it was good, back home salt was limited even though Harry had been able to find a bag of it in an old bunker that must have been a hiding spot in the past.

" Was that from you know who?" a boy with glasses asked leaning forward in interest, he looked to be a second year. The girl next to him hit his shoulder, " ow Selene what was that for" the glasses boy scowled, " that was rude, that's not something you ask" the brown-haired girl hissed.

" excuse him he's an idiot" the girl said.

" I rather not talk about it" was all Harry said not wanting to bring up bad memories.

" I'm Selene fowler by this way and this dummy is Andrew " the girl introduced herself.

Cedric couldn't help but stare, he had heard the story of a lightning bolt scar left by who shall not be named, but that wasn't a lightning bolt, and it wasn't on his forehead either. The scar he could tell was gruesome and old, even with it healed it was still a sight, he felt sick in his stomach just looking at it, he turned away. He listened to the conversation as Andrew asked the question and Selene hit his arm.

Harry was full by the time he finished his plate, for dessert he munched on some apples that he was lucky to find in the piles of cakes and pies, he frowned not seeing much fruit.

Maybe he could find somewhere to grow his trees? he wanted to have his own source of food here, he needed to find a safe place for a garden, somewhere out of sight and away from teachers and students.

When dinner was over and the food disappeared, but not before harrying stuffed a few apples in his bag and loafs of bread, what he could without anyone noticing at least.

Dumbledore stood up and raised his wand to his lip, " now a few words before bed, Tomorow going to a busy day, first the forbidden forest is forbidden to all students, the east tower is off limits to all unless you wish to die a painful death" the headmaster said watching them.

Harry frowned at the words, that was strange.

The headmaster said a few more words that Harry wasn't sure were words and released everyone, Harry didnt bother standing up since he had to stay behind anyway. He placed his mask back on, he waited as his housemates to make their way out the great hall.

When everyone had cleared out, Harry glanced back to McGonnell who was standing next to Draco, the blonde was scowling, arms crossed though Harry could see he was still scratching his hands and arms.

" Mr. Potter this way" the stern woman called, Harry sighed and followed the two out of the great hall, Draco glared hatefully at him while the teachers back as turned, " this is all your fault" Draco hissed at him, " I'm not the one who threw the first punch, by the way you punch like a girl"  Harry shot back making the boy go red.

" When my father's hear about this" he started as Harry rolled his eyes, " does your daddy fight all your battles for you " Harry tilted his head. Draco looked ready to punch him again but held back making Harry smirk.

Harry rubbed his eye, it was more irritated now, he groaned, " and why did you have to go for the face? I didn't throw it in your face" he added, he had aimed for his body, not his face. Draco smirked, " that look painful, now you know how I feel" he gloated as Harry glared at him.

" And what the heck, why didn't you say you were Harry Potter" Draco looked at him, Harry gave him a look, " you didn't ask " Harry blinked at him.

" I did, you didn't say your last name, I thought you were a Muggle born" draco shot back angry.

" No you just assume I was, you know it's rude to call people mutts you know, you call everyone you meet lesser than you? for a pureblood you got a fitly mouth" Harry deadpanned.

" What I do not, and I didn't call you a mutt" Draco gasped offended.

" Yeah, you did, muggle sounds like what my aunt would call me, she used to compare to the dogs she uses to breed, a half breed mutt" Harry said making Draco stare at him in shock, even McGonnell had stopped walking having been ease dropping on the conversation behind her.

" Excuse me?" she turned surprise in her eye as the boys jumped, having forgotten about her, she knew leaving the boy with Lilly muggle sister was a mistake, but she had hoped Dumbledore was right, but it seems he wasn't.

The stern woman stared at the small child, if that was true, she wondered what else the boy endured, she hoped she was wrong though.

" She called you a what?" she asked watching him.

" It was a long time ago " he shrugged not caring, he hadn't seen Marge in years and hope he never did again, she was a foul woman, maybe even worse than Aunt Petunia and Vermon. He wondered if she was even still alive? much like Vermon she was just as unhealthy and drank way too much.

Mineva waited for the boy to continue but he didn't, she sighed and decided not to push it, but she would bring it up to Dumbledore the next time she sees him. she started walking again and heard their footsteps behind her. 

Harry watched them with dull green eyes, wanting to distract them from his little slip up he flicked his fingers towards Draco who had his head down in thought.

Draco was silent in thought as he walked beside the other. It concerned him that the other Aunt compare Harry to a dog, he was the boy who lived for merlin sakes, Dumbledore golden boy. He hadn't thought that the word muggle sounded like mutt, his father and everyone had always used that word. It was what you called a person who didn't have magical parents, someone with muddy blood not pure. He scowled, why was he even thinking about this, muggleborns shouldn't be at this school at all.

Suddenly he felt something pull his leg forward and he went falling face first into the floor, " oops better watch where you step" Harry grinned looking down at the fallen blonde, " you did that on purpose" Draco glared up at the raven hair boy.

" You two that is enough" the professor snapped turning back to the boys who were bickering. Harry didn't know why, but messing with Draco was fun, something about the boy was familiar, he didn't know what though.

Minerva sighed, she swears these two are going to give her a headache for the next seven years, the two boys already butting heads.

The three continued their way to the nurse where they found Pomfrey already waiting.

" I've brought them" McGonnell said voice tight, " ah thank you Minerva" Madam Pomfrey smiled kindly while she went towards the two boys. " Now I understand you threw itching powder on each other?" she asked blue eyes raking over them for any other injures, she frowned seeing Harry mask.

" yes" Harry answered, he pulled out the box he had and passed it to her, " Pomfrey took it and read the contents, " well your lucky this is not that strong, it comes off with a shower, though I can see you got it in your eyes by how red they are, I'm going to give you a potion for that, but I want you to rinse your eyes out as best possible and if it continues come and see me" she told them.

She turned and went towards her potion cabinet and started rummaging through it, Harry took a seat on one of the beds, it was soft and firm it reminded him of his bed at home. Harry remembering her words grabbed his wand, the phoenix tail and holly, the first one that chose him and decided to do the Aquementi spell he read in one of the books. He wanted to rinse his eyes; he pointed the wand to his face and muttered the spell.

A jet of water shot out and into his eye, it was uncomfortable but necessary, he could already feel a difference as the powder was rinsed out of his eye. His robes were getting soaked but he didn't care, he would change out them later.

Minerva looked surprised, she didn't think he knew any spells yet, what surprised her was that it was a fourth-year spell, she wondered where he learned that spell from? 

Harry blinked his eyes and wiped his face with the sheets.

Madam Pomfrey retuned with a potion in her hands, " this will help with the irritation just put one drop each morning and before bed for the next three days" she told him, she opened the vile to reveal a light blue liquid, " put your head back" she told him and Harry did as he was told, the nurse put a drop in each eye, Harry blinked already feeling the effects.

" Thanks " he muttered and the nurse smiled kindly.

Now let's get those healed up shall we" the nurse pulled her own wand out, " I'm going to need you to remove your mask please" she said making Harry sigh, everyone at Hufflepuff had seen his face and was sure everyone would know by Tomorow morning do there was no use in delaying it.

Both women gasped seeing his face, Minerva looked sick to the stomach, her eyes wide and mouth open but no words came out, the boy looked to be mauled by a werewolf. From his mouth to ear looked to have been sliced open by something.

Harry didn't even bother asking if the nurse could heal him, Silvercalw had already tried himself, he had called in a goblin healer and had her swear an oath. The female goblin known as Glenda had not been too happy to discover what exactly she had sworn an oath to.

When she caught sight of Harry, she had cursed silverclaw in their mother tongue.

Glenda had scowled at them, not liking the fact silverclaw had taken a wizarding child under his wing, if anyone found out it would be war. She had tried healing the child, but her spells wouldn't work on him. It felt like something was blocking her, something dark and ancient and she didn't like the feel of it.

When she tried to scan the child with her third eye, an old goblin spell past down from her grandmother, she had screamed as she was nearly blinded by whatever was in the boy. she didn't go near the boy, too afraid of whatever of him or what was in him, she was a goblin, not much scared her race known for warriors but whatever she saw had scared her. 

Harry didn't like the fact there was something in him. He didn't know what it was, he had a theory, but he wasn't going to go there.

Glenda had left in a hurry after that.

" You can't heal me, it won't work" he told the nurse who frowned.

" Who did this?" asked the stern women voice shaking as she tried to progress what she was seeing, she knew this wasn't from who shall not be named, no this happened after, how had they not known about this? Dumbledore had assured her the boy was safe.

" I don't want to talk about it" the boy looked away, he really didn't, he didn't trust them, the headmaster was the one who left him at his aunt house, Hagrid said so himself and he was the man who brought him.

He eyed the stern woman, he didn't trust her either, she looked to be close to Dumbledore, maybe close friend and in cahoots with the man, he didn't know.

Draco stared at Harry from behind the two women, he couldn't look away, his silver eyes traced the long ugly scar marring the other boys face, he had never seen anyone with a scar before, at least not like that. Having magic, you could heal from almost anything and rare for a scar to be left behind.

" That's not an answer, we need to know who did this?" McGonnell said voice tight, she needed to get to the bottom of this, this wasn't something she could just let go, someone had hurt the boy, and she wasn't about to let it continue.

Harry was silent, not moving.

" Was it your aunt?" questioned Minerva making the boy tense but he didn't give an answer.

Madam Pomfrey tried a few spells, but they didn't work, she frowned, " the scars won't heal, they must have been caused by dark magic just like his lightning bolt scar" she said making Harry lift his head in surprise.

McGonnell lips thinned, that ruled out his relatives, but she want going to forget about that either. She sighed, they were getting nowhere, and the boy seemed determine to stay silent, it concerned her greatly. 

Minerva glanced to Madam Pomfrey before sighing, " you may go for now, but this isn't over " she decided not liking the idea of letting him go, she needed to speak with Dumbledore and the other teachers immediately.

Harry was quick to get up off the bed and was halfway to the door before he paused, he turned to the two women, face blank" where are the Hufflepuff dorms?" he asked realizing he didn't know how to get there.

" you two are going to stay the night here " Minerva told them, she wanted Pomfrey to keep an eye on Harry, and she didn't have time to take them both back to their new dorms. she wanted to call a meeting soon.

Plus, she didn't think the Malfoy heir was ready to face his new housemates either, she didn't miss the way he sighed in relief at her words.

" If that alright with you madam" Minerva turned to the nurse, " it's fine, they can stay here tonight" she nodded in agreement.

Harry frowned but said nothing, he didn't mind, the beds were comfy anyway though it was going to be kind of hard to hide, it was well into the night now and the big bay windows were way to open for him, the moonlight streaming in and candles lit. He might drag the mattress into a cupboard once Madam Pomfrey left and draco asleep.

Draco sighed in relief when Professor McGonnell told them they would be stay in the med bay for the night, he did not want to go to Gryffindor tower, he couldn't believe that stupid sorting hat put him in Gryffindor.

What was his parents going to think? all his life he had thought he would be Slytherin like his parents, all his family was Slytherin, there had never been a Gryffindor, a few Ravenclaws maybe and one Hufflepuff but never Gryffindor.

He feared they reaction when they learn of his sorting, what would his father do? he didn't want to find out.

Draco looked up to see McGonnell already gone and Madam Pomfrey was already making up two beds up and adding extra quits for them. She gave Harry a yellow and black blanket while passing Draco a red and gold blanket, Draco gave the color a look of disgust but didn't comment on the clear Gryffindor colors. He was too tired to care; he wanted to curl up and cry.

What would his friends think of him now? everyone he knew was in Slytherin, they known each other since diapers, his only friends, the right sort. He brought shame to his family by being sorted into Gryffindor.

Draco laid down on the bed, he tried to get comfortable, but the mattress was hard and firm, not like his soft and plashy one at home. He held back the tears at the thought of home.

Harry laid down in his own bed, he glanced at Draco who was in the next bed over, his back to him, the blonde had been quite for a while now. since the sorting he could see the difference in him.

Harry sat up and stared at the blonde, from what he heard from the older years, the boy came from a long line of Slytherins. His father was a death eater that had gotten off Scott free after the fall of the Dark Lord.

Harry looked to the blanket Madam Pomfrey had given the boy, it didn't escape his notice the nurse had given them house colors. Harry waved his hand and watched as the red and gold color turned to green and black.

The bot didn't move nor seem to notice the change, he must have already fallen asleep, Harry glanced to the door where Madam Pomfrey had gone into twenty minutes ago. He climbed out of the bed and silently started to look for a place to hide.

The med bay was large with rows of bed with plain white sheets and one pillow for each, Harry explored until he found a decent size cupboard, it would be due for now, he went back to his bed and grabbed the thin mattress and used his magic to float it into the cupboard. 

He laid down and closed the door behind him, inside was dark but secure, he used his wand to cast a Lumos spell, a small white ball of light floated above his head lighting up the small room. He would need to find a better hiding spot in the future, hopefully there was a secret room in this large castle.

Though he wouldn't sleep that well even if he found a room, not having the talismans he didn't feel safe enough to sleep at night. He didn't know how he was going to keep up with class.

Harry sighed, he didn't have his books to keep his company, he looked around the room, it was where they kept cleaning supplies, it was going to be a long night.