Chapter 14: Meetings
Despite what Hermione might argue, Harry wasn't stupid.
His bushy haired best friend probably wouldn't have actually called him stupid to his face, but Harry wasn't an idiot. He saw the way she looked at him when he didn't memorize the entire history of Hogwarts like she did, or didn't finish the reading for the entire year in one night.
He knew something was up.
He knew his sister. Regina didn't get this nervous among most people. But her body seemed positively stiff when she saw him, almost protective he dared say.
He didn't see what she had to be scared of. The woman standing next to her was hardly scary. She seemed a little older than Gold, though he doubted she actually was. Gold had mentioned in passing that he was over three-hundred years old the other day. And Harry didn't think he was lying, though Gold looked to be about a hundred or so years younger than Dumbledore—who according to his chocolate frog card was half Gold's age.
"Who's your friend, darling?" The woman asked Regina.
"Just a peasant." Regina said her tone positively icy. "I'm off mayoral duty tonight. Go."
"Oh, come on, darling. That's not how you treat your constituents." The woman smiled at Harry. There something sickening sweet about the way she looked at him. It reminded Harry vaguely of Aunt Petunia when she wanted to make a show of what a caring aunt she was. He shuddered remembering just how caring she turned out to be.
"I'll talk to you later, Mayor Mills." Harry said.
Yeah, he wanted to get out of there. There was something extremely off about this woman. He turned to leave when he felt his arm grabbed.
Harry instantly flinched as his eyes met the woman. Her eyes seemed familiar. They were brown, like Regina's. Yet they didn't share the same warmth his sister's eyes held.
The woman decided to direct him again, "Do I know you?"
"I doubt it." Harry said.
"What is your name?" The woman ordered.
"I told you," Regina spitted out. "He's just some peasant."
"Then it won't hurt him to answer the question."
As previously stated, Harry wasn't stupid. He knew just by the woman's tone that he shouldn't give her his real name. Which was why he answered, "Draco."
Yes, that would serve Malfoy right. Have that crazy woman go after him.
There was a look of relief in Regina's eyes he noticed when he said that. The woman seemed annoyed. "No, it's not." She said.
"Leave him alone." Regina sputtered out.
Now Harry was stunned. He tried to run, but found he couldn't. Someone had immobilized him.
He turned around to see the woman mere inches from him. "I don't like liars, Draco."
"Leave. Him. Alone."
The woman turned around and out of the corner of Harry's eye he could see Regina holding what appeared to be a fireball of some sorts.
"Really, darling." The woman said. "For another peasant."
"Don't test me." Regina said. "Let the boy go. I don't want Henry to find me totally unredeemable."
The woman frowned. "But I was having fun. I haven't had fun with a peasant since that stable boy."
Now Regina went completely rigid. The woman had touched a nerve. "You'll let the boy go now. Or help me, God."
"You never really were the religious type."
Regina glared at her.
"Fine." The woman said and Harry felt his limbs relax and he ran as quick as he could.
He might've been a Gryffindor, but he wasn't stupid. Whoever that woman was, she was dangerous. And even Regina, who could hold a freaking fireball in her hand was scared. He needed to get help which was why he ran on his bad leg as fast as he could to the pawn shop where Belle and Gold were waiting for him.
By the time he go halfway there, he felt like he had pulled a muscle and he could barely breathe. He started coughing heavily before he could move an inch further and had to sit down on the pavement.
"Are you okay?"
Seriously, this was not the time.
But sure enough, there was Sherriff Swan eying him. "Just Harry, right?"
Harry glared at her. Obviously, he couldn't answer her. He was coughing and…well, now vomiting. He did not feel good.
"I'm taking that as a no." Emma said as she kneeled down besides him. "Kid, do you know where I can find someone to help you?"
Harry couldn't answer her. Instead he was concentrating all his effort to getting up.
Emma shook her head as she put her hand on him. "Don't try to get up."
"I have to get help." Harry said, "My sister."
"You're ill." Emma said. "You need to see a doctor. I'm a cop, I can help your sister."
Harry shook his head before he threw up again on Emma's shoes.
She grumbled something that sounded like expletives. "Come on, I'll give you a lift to the hospital."
Harry shook his head. "Whale's a quack."
Emma couldn't help, but laugh. "He might be, but he's the only MD in this town."
Harry shook his head. "Can't. Go. To. Non-magic doctor. I need Gold."
Yeah, that sounded about right.
Now Emma really was staring at him. "You need Gold?"
Harry nodded. "My parents…they made a deal."
Yeah, that sounded really good. Gold always talked about how he made deals with the townspeople. It could work.
It was better than being dragged to the hospital.
Emma sighed. "I am so sorry, kid."
Harry shrugged. "Better than a quack."
Emma shook her head. "Still, it's Gold."
Yeah, she had a point there.
He sort of wished she would've taken him to Whale. At least there would've been a smidgen of bedside manner there. Instead, he was getting potion and potion poured down his throat and he hadn't been able to say a word.
Then again, Gold hadn't really said much to him since Emma had brought him to the shop and had been refusing to leave until Gold made her disappear via magic. Not even the threats of turning her and her son into snails had worked.
She kept threatening Gold that if one hair was touched on Harry's head…Harry could see Gold rolling his eyes throughout the entire threat before waving his hand at her and causing her to disappear into a cloud of red smoke.
Harry wondered if it was really true, about turning people into snails.
He couldn't really ask though since he hadn't really been able to stop vomiting and the pain in his leg was just awful.
Finally, though, he managed to get down a couple of potions and was relaxed enough to talk. Which allowed Gold to become relaxed enough to say one word to him. "Explain."
Harry sighed. "Regina."
Gold went rigid. "Regina did this to you…I should've known better than too…"
"Rumple," Belle said. "I don't think Regina did this to Harry, did she?"
Harry shook his head. "There was a woman."
"A woman?" Gold asked.
Harry nodded. "And she didn't do anything. Well, except stun me. Regina got her to let me go."
"She stunned you." Gold said.
While his face wasn't the same shade of purple that Vernon's was, he still exhibited all the symptoms of an adult that was about to explode. Except with Gold, there was something even more frightening about the whole experience.
"Rumple." Belle said, "Please."
His father looked at Belle, "I'm trying to figure out what happened."
"You could calm down."
"I'm perfectly calm." Gold said.
Harry laughed.
"What happened to you though, is not funny. And is not a reason to be calm." Gold added. "Where was your sister?"
Harry muttered how the woman had cornered them right outside the library.
"Make sure he takes his potions," Gold said looking at Belle before he disappeared in another cloud of red smoke.
Belle sighed.
Harry looked at her, "Sorry, about that."
"You have nothing to be sorry for, sweetheart." Belle said. "I just wish Rumple had a little impulse control."
Harry laughed. "I guess that's where I get it from."
Belle raised an eyebrow.
"Impulse control." Harry said, "I've been told I'm reckless."
Belle kept raising her brow, but didn't press. That was one thing Harry really liked about her. Besides the fact that she was gorgeous, and kind, and well…why did she have to be his future stepmother?
Somehow, Harry found himself continuing, "Sometimes being impulsive can be good. It's how I saved the Philosopher's Stone this spring."
"Philosopher's Stone?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, my headmaster was guarding it for its owner. It's a long story….you think…Gold went to help Regina?"
Belle looked at him. "I'm sure Regina can help herself, Harry. I'm going to get you the calming draught that Rumple left for you."
Harry shook his head. "I have to see if Regina is okay."
Belle sighed, "You are in no shape to be awake right now."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I've been worse."
The way Belle looked at him then made Harry want to cry. The pity in her eyes was just too much.
Harry shook his head at her. "Don't. Belle. It's in the past."
"But it still hurts," She said. "I really wish you'd talk about it or something, Harry. I know it has to be eating you up."
He shook his head. He didn't see the point of talking about the Dursleys. It wouldn't change anything. And besides, it would just make his sister and father even more upset than before. He decided to change tactics, talk about the woman that had immobilized him. Not the most pleasant of topics, but it could get Belle away from psychoanalyzing poor Harry.
"So, do you know who that woman was?"
Belle shook her head. "No, idea. Did Regina know her?"
Harry had a feeling that wasn't the whole story. He believed Belle at least suspected who the woman was. So, he tried a new tactic. "She was scared of her. I didn't think Regina got scared."
"People get scared when their love ones are in danger." Belle said, "Now, let's get you that potion before Rumple has my head."
He had to ask after he took the potion. "Why do you call him Rumple?"
"Pet name." Belle said.
"It's funny," Harry said. "I don't even know his real name. I just call him Gold. You know, names are important."
Belle smiled. "You don't say."
Harry felt almost loopy. "I didn't tell her my name, the woman. That's why she stunned me, I think.
"Because you didn't give her your name?"
"Because I lied about my name." Harry said, "And you know what, Regina seemed relieved."
"I'm sure she was." Belle said.
Harry couldn't keep his eyes open anymore.
When he woke up, he was no longer in the pawnshop. He was on his bed. It was still dark outside too. Three in the morning, according to the digital clock Gold and Belle had put in the room. It was then he noticed someone was in the chair watching him—Gold.
"I'll get you another dose of your potion." His father said.
Harry shook his head.
"You need to sleep." Gold said. "Your system is in shock because of that wretched woman."
"Regina?" Harry asked.
"She's fine." Gold said. "She'll be over tomorrow I'm sure with some of those nasty bake goods of hers.
"I want to see her." Harry said. "And her bake goods aren't nasty. You just wish your pancakes were half as good as her strudel
"You're staying in bed." Gold said. "You've had a regression. Don't deny it, you know my pancakes are better."
Harry glared at him. "I need to make sure she's okay."
Gold sighed. "I assure you, she's fine."
"But that woman…"
"That witch won't be bothering you anymore." Gold said getting up out of the chair.
"Who was she?"
"Does it really matter, dearie?" Rumple asked.
Sort of.
Well, if she wasn't bothering him again than not really. But still, Harry would sort of want to know.
"Someone you don't want to be around with." Gold said when Harry pressed again.
Harry frowned as Gold got up. He noticed how tired looked. "Are you okay, sir?"
Gold looked taken aback. "Me?"
Harry nodded.
Gold laughed. "I am just fine, I'm worried about you. You gave me quite the scare, Harry."
"Sorry," Harry said. "I didn't…"
Gold shrugged. "I know. Regina filled me in."
"Who was that woman?" Harry asked again hoping something would slip.
"As I said before, some loon. You shouldn't bother with her."
"I don't believe you." Harry said.
"Well, you should. You really shouldn't bother with her."
Well, that part was true. Or at least Gold believed it. Looking at Gold he asked, "What was in that potion?"
Yeah, he was changing the subject, but he was interested in what was in the calming draught. It was the first time that he had been able to sleep in awhile.
Since after that night.
He honestly, didn't know why it bothered him that much now. Maybe because he repressed it all those years. The Dursleys weren't exactly the nicest relatives, but he never thought he was traumatized by them, but the dreams he had. Flashes to his childhood made him shudder.
And then there were the dreams about Hogwarts and the stone.
He didn't even know why that bothered him so much.
The whole Voldemort thing might've taken fifteen minutes and it was pretty much the cliché bad guy gives evil speech and gets defeated alarmingly easy thing, but he couldn't help but having recurring nightmares with it where the ending wasn't cliché.
Gold peered at him suspiciously. That was one of the many things that bothered Harry about his newfound father. Gold had a way of reading him that was unnerving. It was almost as if he could peer in his mind, and Harry really wouldn't have put it past him.
Harry was learning very fast that they didn't call his father the Dark One without reason.
"You're having nightmares." Gold finally said.
Harry didn't say anything. He really didn't want to talk about this. He had said everything that needed to be said about school and the Dursleys. There was really no need to go further.
"I'm not a stupid man, Harry." Gold said looking at his son. "Or an inattentive father. Why do you think you're able to go back to sleep every night?"
Harry shook his head. "You didn't say anything?"
"Because I was hoping you'd open up to me," Gold said. "That's not going to happen. And calming draughts, are only hiding a symptom of the problem, dearie."
"But it's nothing." Harry said, "Really, it's nothing."
"I used to say that too." Gold said. "I told you that my formative years weren't great, remember?"
Harry nodded. "Your dad…."
"Abandoned me." Gold said. "And I had held in those feelings for years."
"And you turned out to be the most powerful sorcerer in your realm, so that turned out well." Harry said.
Gold shook his head and said wearily. "Despite how wonderful it is, power isn't everything. The memories they crippled so much of my life. I don't want that happening to you."
Harry sighed. "It really shouldn't be bothering me."
"And my father really shouldn't have bothered me." Gold countered.
Harry sighed. "It's just these things, they never bothered me before."
"These things meaning—"
Harry sighed, "The Dursleys and Voldemort."
"Voldemort?" Gold said. "I remember that the Dursleys were vile specimen that I'm going to have to deal with for making you sleep in a broom closet."
"Cupboard."
"Whatever. That's besides the point, I know they were horrible to you did they ever…"
"Physically hit me?" Harry said. "Occasionally. It wouldn't happen very often. And after awhile, I got smart. Learned Vernon's triggers, but yeah occasionally things would get violent."
Gold went rigid.
Harry sighed.
"I'm sorry,' Gold said. "I just don't like hearing that you were hurt."
Harry shrugged. "Really, it didn't bother me that much."
"It should." Gold said. "Now about this Voldemort."
"You got his name right on the first try."
"Because name's hold power, dearie. I thought I told you that."
Harry shrugged.
"Now, who is he?"
"A psychopath revered as the darkest wizard of our time.'
At this Gold started laughing.
Harry gave him a strange look.
"Sorry." Gold said, "But that title has already been taken by me."