Harry Gaunt - Chapter 16

Harry stumbled into his room in the early hours of the morning, his new house not quite as easy to move around in as his tent. He'd tripped on the step through the front door, scuffed his foot on a pointy bit of wood when climbing the stairs and just now, he'd banged his head.

This would clearly need some getting used to. Harry hadn't lived in a house for years as he flopped on the bare mattress, unmade as it'd been left. Harry curled into a ball.

He'd had just spent all night trying to find a particular breed of magical snake, one which if found would provide amble income for House Gaunt. "Stupid thing," murmured Harry, feeling a fatigued shiver trickle down his back. "It didn't work."

There had apparently been a trick to catching them, which Harry clearly hadn't grasped yet as he felt cramps begin to form in his legs. It wasn't a surprise really, Harry had spent the last few hours traipsing across the dessert in the middle-east, unable to find the snake that could see the future.

That's why they were so valuable. They'd see you coming and run away. Harry would just have to try again later once he'd rested, but not today. Harry had plans to retrieve his supplies for Hogwarts in a few hours, the new term just two weeks away.

He was eighteen now too. Harry birthday Harry as he rolled onto his other side. He'd done nothing to celebrate, only think of Hagrid and the cake they'd shared.

Harry rolled again, trying for naught to push the memories away. Sleep wouldn't come to him, nor did it ever anymore as he rolled a final time before perching at the edge of the bed, his feet resting on the floor.

He sighed. It was pointless, they wouldn't leave him.

Lumos.

Harry opened his hand in a cradle for the light, holding the softly shining Lumos within his palm. It shined like a touch against the walls, making shapes as he moved his fingers. He used to do this in his cupboard too, lie awake at night with that little light just above him. Harry smiled just thinking of it.

He didn't have toy soldiers anymore, just the house of a dead man and the bed he'd left behind.

But Harry supposed that didn't matter as he pushed to his feet, walking out through the dark with his Lumos in hand.

He'd find something to do till morning.

Break.

Flip… click… flip.

Harry blinked awake from the floor by his sitting room window, which was open to streets beyond where children played.

He blinked in confusion, the light shining across the smooth carpet. It was day time, he must have fallen asleep while sorting his things on the floor.

He was late, the time mid-morning as he read the Tempus floating above his hand. The shops were already open as he apparated to the bathroom, getting ready in a hurried dash.

Flush.

Harry appeared a few minutes later, ready to go with a small box in hand.

Crack.

Harry apparated outside the door to Borgin & Burke's, walking in to a ding from the bell above the door.

He'd been here a few times before, and it was still just as old and full of things few really cared for. It still had the Vanishing Cabinet tucked in the corner, just waiting for Draco to find it.

"Welcome," intoned a man in a quiet voice from the counter. "Mr Borgin, at your service."

He tilted his head to the young man who'd come, his first customer of the day on this fine weekend.

Harry nodded. "I'd like to sell these to you, if you're in the market?" he said, carrying the small box to the counter. "Feel free to rummage."

Harry smiled pleasantly.

The box was filled with bits he'd collected in trunk for a rainy day. There was a Sneakoscope, a foe glass and a ring that if worn could be used to conjure a Protego when disarmed.

"I see," said Borgin, a touch of disappointment as he glanced around his store. "You don't want to buy anything?"

Borgin had so many things one could buy as Harry looked around as well, agreeing perhaps that there wasn't much room for anything else. "For yourself then," he corrected. "I just need enough to buy some supplies for Hogwarts."

Harry didn't think it would evoke any sympathy from the man, but sometimes being honest was appreciated.

"You're not a first-year," stated Borgin, a finger moving up to smooth his greying hair. "Nor I for that matter."

He chuckled, looking pleased when Harry smiled a little.

"I am a seventh-year," explained Harry after a moment's thought. "So I won't need all the usual things, just what's on here." He brought forth the page with his items on. "If you have them, we could trade."

Harry looked hopefully as Borgin took the list from his hand, reading it through with a soft hum and a steady frown.

He was different from Burke. Older and less greedy. Harry was reminded of Slughorn as he set the list down on the counter. "It shouldn't be a problem," he returned, calculating it all in his head. "But let's see what you've got first."

Borgin reached for the box and pulled it near, beginning to look with an interested eye.

Harry liked moments like these, waiting while another did something to pass the time. And Borgin did that very well as he picked up and placed aside different things that caught his eye.

He even hummed.

"I've not seen one of these in years," smiled Borgin, holding the ring that Harry had made. "Tricky to make, and they never do seem to last very long."

Borgin took on a wistful expression, lamenting how such items had fallen out of fashion. What good was a ring that could only save you a half-dozen times.

"Would you like to test it?" offered Harry, knowing what Borgin was thinking. "It's hardly been used, more a curiosity really. Here."

Harry gestured for the ring with his hand, which Borgin readily returned. "You want me to stun you?" he said sceptically.

"Yes please," returned Harry, a smile on his face as he slipped the ring on. "When you're ready."

This took Harry back to when he and Slughorn had tested it, his fellow muggle squatter more than happy to try it out. They'd had fun together.

"Okay then…" Borgin readied his wand, still not sure this was a good idea. "If you're sure."

Harry beckoned him on.

"Stupefy."

A flash of light sprung from Borgin's wand, which was promptly blocked by a shield appearing before Harry. It rebuffed it with a ping, sending the stunner flying across the store.

Smash.

A shelf fell down.

"Yes!" cheered Harry, unbothered by the proceeding smashing sound. "It hasn't changed."

Harry smiled.

"Good show!" clapped Borgin, waving his wand towards the fallen shelf. "It's in good working order. Quite the rarity."

The shelf clicked back into place.

"So we have a deal then?" asked Harry, placing the ring on the counter between them.

"Oh yes, the ring for the items," confirmed Borgin. "It's fair trade." Borgin didn't worry about the ring's saleability, there were only too Pureblood's who would gladly wear it. "Will that be all?"

Borgin wondered if there was more as he looked at Harry.

"No, that's it thank you."

Borgin nodded, leaving the counter to retrieve Harry's supplies.

"I should come here more often," concluded Harry was he was gone, deciding to shrink the small box with a tap from his finger.

The truth was that Harry didn't really need to sell these things, he still had money left over the Sand-Skin, though not a lot. It had all been Greycup's idea, he didn't want Harry's account to dip into the red when he was away at Hogwarts.

Greycup was such thoughtful accountant, and unlike teenage girls didn't ask questions about his past or where he went to school. The Goblin had never asked, so Harry had never answered.

"Here we are."

Harry looked back through the door as Borgin returned with a bundle of books and boxes. "They're a little older," he advised, glancing at the books. "But as with everything magical, things take a while to really change."

Borgin handed them over, which Harry took with a grateful hand. "You have a library?" asked Harry. "Where?"

It wasn't here in the shop as Borgin gestured behind. "By request," he supplied. "You have need of something?"

Now that was curious, most Hogwarts' students weren't interested in library's like his.

"Would you…" Harry stopped himself from asking outright. "Could I take a look? If it's not a bother?"

If Harry were to take a guess as to where his family's wealth, property and knowledge had ended up, it would here.

And Harry had no need of property, and the wealth was gone.

"I am afraid I can't." Borgin gestured with his hands as if it were out of his control. "But should you tell me what you're looking for, I can promise that no other will hear of it from me."

"Truly?" Harry looked him in the eye. "You wouldn't tell a soul?"

That was hard to believe.

"By my honour," placed Borgin a hand over his heart. "Now if it were Burke, you'd have no such luck. The man's only merit is that he's far younger than me."

Borgin was without sons. He'd been friends with Burke's father.

"Alright then," began Harry. "Tell me what books you have that were once owned by the Noble and Most Ancient House of Gaunt."

Borgin stilled. "Gaunt?"

Harry nodded, waiting for Borgin to frown, blink or do anything that wasn't staring at Harry's face.

He took a step back. "So it's you," he let out with a whisper. "You come as he did, how could I not see…" Borgin wasn't afraid to look upon Harry, only see who it was that had come before.

Another man had once asked him the very same thing.

"And who would that be?" returned Harry with a tightened jaw, hating it when ghosts and old men compared him to the man that he would never be.

Harry hoped Myrtle was enjoying her toilet.

"Be gone." Borgin moved away with watchful eyes. "There is nothing left for you. BE GONE!"

Harry saw him reach for his wand, his expression fierce with rage as he slashed it through the air

Harry apparated, disappearing with his bundle of things with a fierceness of his own.

He appeared a moment later on the streets of Diagon Alley, almost bumping into a man that stank of cologne.

"Watch it!" he snapped, butting arms with Harry.

Harry shoved him away, watching with an empty gaze as the man tripped over his own feet.

What did it matter, thought Harry as he turned away. Borgin thought because of his name he was like Tom?

"I will never be him," ground Harry through clenched teeth, ignoring the passers-by as they murmured disapprovingly.

They knew nothing. He was their only chance.

Harry would do anything to prevail against Tom.

"Excuse me lad," snapped a voice that had hurried after him. "Do you have a licence to Apparate?"

The placed a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"No." Harry came to a stop with a rigid tense. "Now let go."

Harry felt himself boil at the man's scoff, combined with the hushed whispers pointing his way from women, men, and children.

Harry refused to be humiliated.

"Then I am afraid you'll have to come with me," said the Auror, drawing his wand as he stepped away. "Arms out!" he shouted.

He levelled his wand at Harry's back, his other hand ushering the onlookers back towards Flourice & Blotts. There was something not right about this boy, he still hadn't turned to him.

"And what should I do with this?" asked Harry innocently, tilting back with the bundle in his hands. "Will you shrink it for me?"

Harry offered the bundle to the Auror who said nothing, his wand still out and his eyes narrowed. He was on edge, why hadn't the boy apparated away like the rest usually did?

"Set it down," said the Auror harshly, catching a glimpse of Harry's smirk "I said drop it!"

"No."

Harry turned to him fully, smiling while Auror sent a stunner straight towards him. Harry batted it away, sending it right it back with a watchful gaze. The Auror barely had time to dodge it, he was slow and unprepared. It gave Harry a moment to shrink his things and stuff them into his pocket. "Let's see what they're up against," he murmured, taking aim with his own wand as the Auror recovered. "Stupefy."

The spell smashed into the Auror's shield, buckling it with fissuring cracks as Harry sent another, and another of screaming strikes through the air. He didn't let up, not even as the man screamed in pain, a spell like lightening scorching through his shield and across his torso.

Harry sent another to end it, a sound like thunder which boomed through the air and tossed the man away. He flew back, tumbling across the stone.

He smashed into the wall outside Flourice & Blotts.

Harry watched idly from his spot, feeling disappointed at the Auror's performance. Harry had used all the spells taught at the Auror Academy, the man should have known how to rebuff them yet he hadn't. "Perhaps this will open their eyes."

Harry raised his wand, focusing the tip towards the sky above him as ball of light began to form, pulsing a pale blue.

This would show them the truth of how easy it was to wreak havoc on a holiday weekend.

Maybe then they'd have a chance.

Pulse.

Maybe then they'd be saved.

Pulse.

Let it be then.

BOOOOOM.

The alley exploded in a fiery blue, spreading in a wave that ripped through every door and window as far as the eye could see.

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