Ch11. Shopping
Harry had three more weeks until he had to board the Hogwarts Express. He was not going to waste them!
First, he found an empty house in London and broke in. With his wandless telekinesis, it was almost a child's play.
He was not stupid enough to try and get a room at Leaky Cauldron! Dumbledore would be on his ass the very next morning! Right beside the tens of reporters, aurors, and Minister of Magic himself. Nay.
As for getting a room in a hotel on the muggle side? He was a minor. No, scratch that. He was a damn kid! He would be sooner shipped to the authorities than getting a room, no matter how much he pays. And those establishments that could provide him a room no questions asked would not be the safest or cleanest of the sort. Double nay.
He had no other way than to find housing for himself. And with London filled with people, there are bound to be some empty houses with their occupants on a vacation!
His housing provided, Harry made his way into the first drugstore, buying a lot of make-up. Especially a skin powder that could hide pimples. He then applied it to his scar, completely hiding it. No matter how many spells for recognizing magical disguise wizards know, they are utterly useless when facing muggle means of disguising. Their little brains can't even comprehend why would someone use such 'inferior' methods, after all!
As such, Harry Potter, completely unrecognizable without a bolt-shaped scar glaringly obvious on his forehead or glasses that were by now his trademark because of all the fantasy books Dumbledore had published, walked right into the Leaky Cauldron. Nobody paid him any attention after a first glance. He smirked.
…
Harry didn't feel safe entering magical Britain. No, he was downright terrified! His reasons always came crashing down to one magical discipline. Mind magic.
Even if he didn't have future knowledge in his head for taking, he would still be queasy about it. How those pure-blood pricks can deposit their kids in Dumbledore's care without an inkling of worry, he will never understand. One mind-scan and Twinkles knows who is and who is not willing Death Eater and much more!
Heck, Twinkles should be sacked on the sheer principle of protecting the family secrets of pure-bloods!
That should have happened the second people gleamed he was an accomplished Legilimencer. And let nobody tell you people don't know! Voldemort knew! Therefore every single of his followers knew too, of which most sat in Wizengamot itself! Yet, somehow, nobody cares.
Harry knew the reason though. He knew it well. Almost too well.
Fifty years of service in Hogwarts. That's why he was so trusted.
Fifty years of shifting the opinion of little kids to his advantage. Our glorious Leader of Light, Albus Manipulator Extraordinaire Dumbledore, targeting the most malleable minds of all.
Harry had no other way than to dutifully train Occlumency every night, no matter what, he didn't skip even a second of it. Yet, somehow he could not make any significant breakthrough. He tried his own ideas, the ideas from fanfiction, even Snape's way, without being invaded, of course. After a week at light-house and having accomplished almost no progress, Harry felt it was high time to buy himself some much-needed literature.
He put a brown cloak on and entered the Knockturn Alley. His goal, Borgin and Burkes, the best shop in the entirety of Diagon Alley.
Harry entered the shop and quickly attracted the attention of the shopkeeper.
"Go away, kid. This is not a candy store." He dismissed him in disinterest.
Harry knew he can't really fight against a wizard yet but he also knew a wizard without his wand is just a cripple. He felt many magical presences in the shop, most dark, coming from various artifacts. He also felt one in the shopkeeper's pocket and another, very much similar, on the counter. There on the counter was lying a thirteen inch long, dark ebony wand. Harry smirked.
He quickly reached his hand towards the shopkeeper and flared his magic, yanking the wand out of the table with his magic. The shopkeeper's eyes widened in surprise but as an experienced seller of the darker oriented art, his hand shot towards his spare wand in his pocket. He jerked his hand, holding his wand towards Harry and screamed. "Diffindo"
Nothing happened. Harry was still smirking at the shopkeeper, now with unveiled amusement as the man's eyes stared at him in horror. The man looked at his wand in disbelief and found out, he was holding only a half of it with the second half still being safely stowed in his pocket.
"You didn't really think I would forget about your spare wand, did you?" Harry mockingly barked, holding back his laughter. "Now, you will treat me as a proper customer and we will do business. No back-stabbing, no trying to swindle me, and certainly no overpricing, or else! Capiche?" Harry's smirk morphed into an innocent smile as he uttered the obvious threat.
"Yes." The shopkeeper breathlessly nodded, still about to shit his pants from witnessing such powerful magic. Wandless magic. From a kid! Delightfully unaware it's the only magic Harry can currently muster.
An awkward silence ensued between them, as Harry was gauging the shopkeeper who was hopelessly waiting for Harry to decide his fate. Not like he could defend himself.
"You can call me Hadrian, Mr.?" Harry introduced himself.
"Martin Borgin." The shopkeeper grunted, somewhat subdued.
"Okay, Martin," Harry said, making him frown. "I need books. Occlumency and Legilimency. Also get me a book on Gemino Charm, please." Harry took out hundred galleons. "And don't worry. You will be paid well, Mr. Borgin."
Mr. Borgin was at first surprised. Then he contemplated trying a Legilimency probe on his 'customer' but quickly decided against it after he saw the 'boy' avoiding eye-contact. In the end, his greed won the internal fight against his pride and he scrambled to the back of the store to collect the best books on those subjects.
Harry was pleased with his purchase. While hundred galleons were a lot, he bought five books! Two on each subject and one for Gemino Charm. Better yet, four of these books are outlawed and can't be found anywhere else! Yes, he was extremely pleased.
As he was exiting the store, he turned around to look at Mr. Borgin whose expression was almost glowing as he looked at his newly acquired hundred galleons. Especially since the books were altogether worth at most forty. But who was he to complain!
"I will be back. With more galleons and more orders. I am sure both of us will be pleased afterward." Harry amusedly quipped.
Mr. Borgin flinched as his face drained of color. He realized the 'kid' in front of him knows the books were basically overpriced. After his brain finally filled in what his customer just said, he finally relaxed. His expression again twisted in glee as he started to rub his hands together.
"Of course, Mr. Hadrian! I will make sure to have more books of the darker nature prepared!"
Harry left the store with an amused headshake.