Chapter 6 - It Begins
-Home Life-
Petunia Dursley wrapped harshly on the door then released the numerous locks while demanding, “BOY! Go make breakfast and hurry. Vernon has to leave at 6:30 he has a very important meeting today. Do not dare burn ANYTHING or you will not eat!”
Harry sat up slowly at hearing the harsh voice of his aunt. It was only 5:30am and she’s already being bitchy. The day could only get worse. Then he remembered… today he was going to Gringotts; things were going to get better if he had to take a crowbar and force them to. He pulled on the only set of clothes that even halfway fit him before rushing downstairs to get breakfast on… he didn’t want to be late for his meeting and he only had so much time to prepare.
Vernon entered the room straightening the new tie to his expensive new Gucci suit and addressed Harry pompously, “Boy, you will do your chores today and help your Aunt. You will not complain or lay about and there will be none of your abnormality. IF I have to feed and house you the least you can do is pay for it in service and proper behavior.”
More than tired of taking his so called Uncle’s crap Harry responds in a derisively civil tone, “Sorry Uncle Vernon, I won’t be here today to do the maintenance of your house and grounds as I have to go to Diagon Alley on business. It’s unfortunate that you are too cheap to actually hire a real gardener or handyman. As for earning my keep, I understand from my banker that you receive a stipend for any expenses incurred for taking me in; which includes buying me new clothing, paying for food and other necessities like shampoo, soap, towels and bedding, school supplies and uniforms when I was younger: I’ve been paying for everything for Hogwarts. You’ve never spent a penny of this stipend on me; you’ve only ever given me Dudley’s old worn out clothing and notebooks that he’d messed up and had replaced; and that was only grudgingly and if I was lucky I got one meal a day. You better think long and hard about your treatment of me from here on out Sir as I’ve appointed a new banker to be in charge of that fund it would only take one word from me for it to be reduced or stopped entirely. I know you’ve received 1500 pounds a month for me for 14½ years; maybe you’ve spent 30 a week on me. I suggest you get an accountant or setup a budget; that way you can see where the drain on your finances truly is because you’ve a mountain of money being wasted somewhere.”
Vernon Dursley started turning red, then headed towards purple before he started speaking, “BOY How DARE YOU!!! This is my house and you only stay here with MY permission. You will get your unnatural things and get OUT. You will not darken my doorstep again!
Harry being infinitely polite, “If that is what you want Uncle Vernon, but that means you won’t get this months payment of 1500 pounds and there won’t be anymore either as they will stop the very minute that I leave. The goblins use magic you know to keep track of their clients and they’ll know without me even sending them a note. Did I mention that my Banker is a goblin?”
Seeing his Aunt go very pale at the mention of goblins he asks, “Did you get to see the goblin’s at Gringotts Aunt Petunia when my Mom went to get her supplies? They are a bit scary looking all teeth and claws and they can be quite violent too. We’ve spent the past 3 years studying the Goblin Wars alone in History of Magic. Did you know that I’ve made friends with a couple of them? Other wizards seem to have a problem with them but I don’t. I think they are a remarkable race of people; a bit possessive and protective of those they favor. They really don’t appreciate their clients being mistreated especially ones that have goblin friends.”
Petunia turns to Vernon and states unequivocally, “He stays Vernon! We need that money and we don’t want trouble with those… those things. Lily said…” she had to stop and swallow hard to continue, “Lily said they eat their prey. That means they’d eat us Vernon. They’re not human, they have teeth like daggers and they’d rip the flesh from our bones with us still alive. The boy stays and you will leave him alone. He will eat meals when we eat and he will do whatever it is that his kind do during the day. He knows the rules of his kind and he won’t risk loosing his place in that society. You and Dudley will act as if he doesn’t exist.”
Vernon knowing there’s no dealing with her when her mind is made up finally agrees, “Very well Pet but if he gives youany trouble, he’s out. No more chances. I’m getting a big promotion today we don’t need his money that bad.”
As soon as Vernon was gone, Dudley went back up to bed; nothing was different in his little world so he didn’t care. Harry went back up to his room gathered up his things (robe, wand, and money pouch and invisibility cloak). Then he closes and locks his trunk then using wandless magic puts a Muggle repelling ward on it to keep his nosey cousin from getting anywhere near it.
Harry heads downstairs after putting on his robe and cloak then steps out into the backyard where he asks softly, “Ready to go Mooney?”
“Yes Harry whenever you are,” Remus said as he slid the cloak open so Harry could see where he was located. When he felt Harry grab hold of his arm he adds quietly, “Hold on tight Harry and think only of me you’ll feel the pull, then it will feel like you are being pulled through the head of a needle; whatever you do don’t let got of me!”
They promptly arrived in Diagon Alley within sight of the doors to Gringotts. Harry walked up the stairs and through the doors before taking off his invisibility cloak, Remus right at his heels. The guards on duty swarmed the doors right after his entrance flipping signs and lock-warding the doors before taking up guard positions.
Griphook steps forward, “Greetings Mr. Potter if you would come this way?”
Harry inquired energetically, “Hello Griphook. I hope I didn’t cause you too much trouble. How did things go?”
