บท 10: Harry Gaunt - Chapter 10
"So here you have the on-suite," showed a man with beautifully trimmed hair. "And through here the walk-in wardrobe, a favourite among the fair ladies."
He gave Harry a conspiratorial wink, missing entirely Greycup's disgusted look. "I think we can show ourselves around from here," he said, giving the man a look that said it all. "Wait for us downstairs."
The man hurried away without a word. Goblins had that affect sometimes.
"He wasn't that bad," offered Harry who still glanced about the room. "Friendly. I don't mind people like that."
It helped Harry forget how friendless he was.
"I am sure," said Greycup in a clipped tone, checking a small notepad in his hand. "Are you certain about the location?" he asked, looking up. "Harry?"
Harry had gone, then a moment later his voice echoed from inside the walk-in wardrobe. "It's a good spot," it said before Harry poked his head out the door. "And I like Islington, it's a good a name."
Harry came out from the wardrobe, yet wore a dissatisfied look. "But this one hasn't been well-maintained," he concluded, on account of the carefully concealed damp by the windows. "Where's the next one?"
Greycup flicked a page on his notebook. "Thornhill Square," he said. "It's a town house. Well-placed near Angel Station. It has a cellar too."
"Cool," said Harry with a nod. "I need one. Let's go."
Greycup gave a pleased hum as he followed Harry from the mouldy bedroom, then down the stairs that were tall and steep.
Greycup could barely get down them.
"Need a hand?" asked Harry with a smirk.
"No." Greycup curled his lip. "Stupid stairs."
He ended up going down backwards, much to Harry's amusement as the two finally arrived at the bottom.
"Thank you for showing us around," said Harry pleasantly to the polished Estate Agent. "Onto the next one please."
"Of course," replied the agent with a smile. "Oh, actually. Thornhill will be with my colleague, she'll meet you there."
The agent seemed caught between apology, and sympathy.
Greycup swiftly walked past him, leaving Harry to bid goodbye to the friendly man. He arrived outside a moment later in the weekend air. It was a good thing Greycup had his Goblin trinket with him, otherwise the muggle's walking past would have had quite the fright as Harry came to his side. "Guess we're walking then," he concluded.
"Yes," said a suffering Greycup. "It's this way."
He set off down the street, followed promptly by Harry who matched Greycup's pace. It was a pleasant day for a walk as Harry looked at the various things going on, a mother with her children, a man with his dog. They seemed happy.
Harry smiled at them.
"My Lord, as we've a few minutes before we arrive," said Greycup with a glance. "Have you decided on a course regarding the creditors?"
"Creditors? We've already paid them. What more do they want?" Harry couldn't believe the nerve of some of them, greedy old washcloth-
"Lord Black I mean," corrected Greycup, before turning left down a street. "He still insists on meeting you, and unlike the others, he will not take payment until he has done so."
Greycup tutted in displeasure, not appreciating Lord Black's intent while Harry hummed - he remembered now. He'd put it off long enough, it had been weeks.
"Arrange a meeting," instructed Harry. "If he accepts suggest Gringotts, and if not…" Harry gave Greycup a look.
Greycup nodded.
"I'll make arrangements," he confirmed, his eyes ahead as they arrived by a small park. "This is it."
Greycup gestured to the building across from it, which was a row of stylish townhouses.
"Two, three, four… six." Harry counted to the top. "Amazing."
They must be huge inside.
"Seven if you count the cellar," added Greycup. "You can also expand the space at your leisure, and risk." Greycup crossed the street, followed by Harry who listened still. "They don't come up very often."
And for good reason, thought Harry as he spotted a tall woman waiting for them by number 17. She looked very much like a Pureblood, like Narcissa Malfoy.
"Good morning," she greeted cordially to them both. "Excellent timing, most manage to be late," she smiled as she shook Harry's hand. "Capacia Rowle."
"Harry Gaunt," returned Harry with a polite nod. "And this is Greycup, my Accountant."
Greycup nodded curtly.
"It's an honour, Lord Gaunt." Capacia didn't even glance at Greycup as she held Harry's hand. "I've heard good things about you. I was so pleased to hear of your return."
She let go of Harry's hand with a trailing touch.
"Yes, well. I do my best," smiled Harry politely, trying to ignore whatever it was she was doing. "Shall we?"
Harry looked at the door to number 17.
"Follow me," she said, turning with a smooth motion towards the stairs. It was a short climb to the front door. Harry tried not to look at how tight her dress was as they did. "You'll welcome to look around," she said over her shoulder as they came to the door. "I'll be there if you need anything."
She unlocked the front door with a flick from her wand, then stepped in to welcome them inside. The entrance was surprisingly narrow as Harry stepped through, but as he shuffled to make room for the door to be closed, he found he rather liked it. It was homely.
He looked at the paintings on the wall.
"Stunning, aren't they," came Capacia's appreciative tone. "The artwork is for sale too. You see, the previous owner died quite suddenly." She looked sad for a moment, then checked to see if Harry was looking. "Do you paint my Lord?" she added.
Harry was busy poking at the skirting board with his Goblin.
Capacia sighed.
"Not really," said Harry idly, looking still at the hallway they were in. "May we go on?"
He wanted to see inside, the sitting room was just through there.
"Of course," Capacia gestured him through. "Feel free to roam at your leisure."
Capacia followed behind as they walked on through, watching still as the young Lord discussed things with the Goblin, then checked and poked at various things in the room. It was a little unsettling to see how familiar they seemed, and though Capacia could see that Lord Gaunt was in charge, it was like they were... friends.
"I understand you'll be joining Hogwarts my Lord," began Capacia as she stepped near the kitchen table. "It's a wonderful place. And with a history unchallenged."
She waited for a response from him.
"It is," confirmed Harry as he inspected the walls, which were a woodish brown.
"You've visited?" returned Capacia with surprise. "I had assumed - well, as you've only now…"
Harry tapped the wood with his finger, listening with Greycup who nodded satisfactorily. "Sorry?" said Harry, looking over at her.
"My Lord," she demurred, coming near with elegant steps. "I had assumed you'd never visited Hogwarts, as we've only now had the pleasure of your house."
She smiled brilliantly at him, finally getting his attention.
"I see," said Harry. He could understand the confusion. "I had a meeting with the Headmaster just yesterday, so I was able to see the castle. And you're right, it's magnificent."
Harry wished she'd go away, but something in what he'd said only heightened her interest. She tittered towards him.
"Ah, the Headmaster," she expressed in a way that made it seemed like she'd forgotten who he was. "He was always very strange when I attended. Always a speech about nonsense things."
Capacia sniffed in a haughty way.
"Miss Rowle," came Greycup to the rescue as he appeared beside Harry. "Could you enlighten me on a few points?" he asked, tapping his notepad. "This property has been refurbished recently, can you tell me…"
Harry stepped away, ignoring Capacia's need to stop him as he walked out from the kitchen. It was entirely expected from someone like her, and as Harry climbed the staircase, a part of him didn't mind it. She was pretty, young yet still older than him - why shouldn't Harry enjoy her company?
But it just wasn't real as Harry arrived at the upper-levels, it always came back to the same thing, just like with Cho in his fourth-year. Their interest wasn't his, it belonged to the Boy Who Lived or Lord Gaunt, both doing nothing to represent who Harry Potter truly was.
He was just Harry. Yet none of them would ever see that, only Ron and Hermione had carried that privilege. And they were gone now.
Harry came to a stop in the doorway of a guest room, looking in with a sad gaze. He missed his friends, he didn't want Capacia Rowle.
"Hogwarts," he said aloud, remembering the reason he was going back there. "And the shack. The ring."
Harry had only ever found two Soul Shards before using the Hallows to finish Voldemort off, just after Snape had explained what his scar really was.
There had been two options at the time. Either find them all and destroy them, or, use the Hallows to kill both Harry and Voldemort for good. So Harry had chosen the latter, but that wouldn't work now his scar was healed.
"I have to find them," he decided. "And there should be less. Less…"
Harry scratched his chin, turning away from the room as he continued through the house. "Five," he concluded. "Horace said seven, but he hasn't made Nagini yet."
Harry nodded, that was the best he could discern from everything he knew as checked the other rooms, then headed downstairs to a scene of fierce debate between Greycup and Capacia.
"But it's the principle of the matter," seethed Capacia from the kitchen. "You do not ask how the previous owner died, it had nothing to do with the house!"
Capacia felt like drawing her wand.
"So you say," clipped Greycup with a grunt. "But how should we know, you've revealed so little about the owner already." Greycup didn't feel confident that the house was safe.
"Why you little-" Capacia reached into her robes. "-ah!"
Her wand flicked away, wrenched from her hand with a wave from Harry's own. He caught it in his hand, regarding her with a cold expression. "That's quite enough," he declared. "Greycup, we're leaving."
Harry stepped aside to let him through. "Your wand, Miss Rowle."
Harry flicked it back to her through the air, which caught it girly fumble. "My Lord, I apologise," she hurried, doing her best to suppress her shock. "Allow me to-"
"Good day."
Harry followed Greycup out, leaving Capacia to gape until the door closed with a loud thump.
"Merlin," she said, taking a breath to settle herself. "I've never seen that before."
She looked at her wand in amazement, the feeling of it leaving her hand strangely invigorating. Perhaps it was his magic.
"Yes…" smiled Capacia. Lord Gaunt was a powerful wizard.
She'd remember that as she left as well.
Break.
It was a short time later after Harry had bid Greycup to return and complete the buy, that Harry arrived at Thornhill Park. It was a pretty little compound, with metal fences and carefully arranged trees.
Harry found a spot at the top of the hill. "You'd have thought," he said into the soft breeze. "Sirius."
Harry could see his house from here, it wasn't far at all, just there in the distance beside those trees. What Harry wouldn't give to see Sirius again, he was the closest thing he'd ever had to a real father, and then he'd died.
Harry shut his eyes. It was his fault. "I'll take a look," he decided with a nod, apparating down to the quiet street.
Harry walked briskly along the pavement, the time slipping by with every step before he came to a stop outside, his eyes settling on the gap between number 11 and number 13. Harry wasn't even sure that Sirius was still here, he might be at Potter's already. "Never mind."
Harry shook his head, beginning to turn away but then, as he took his first step the building began to move, welcoming him back with a soft rumble.
Harry smiled.
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