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***
When the hitman was a kid in his past life, there were many Harry Potter films: the original one based on the book, several remakes and prequels. All of them were different from each other. For example, the magic in "Fantastic Beasts and Where They Dwell" was much stronger and more spectacular than in the original film. In the remakes and in general, the level of special effects was off the charts and many scenes were changed in favour of legislation and tolerance. For example, the hero's girlfriend became black, the teacher-antagonist - gay, and the best friend turned into a vegan.
Only these films were not watched by the hero, although he had heard a little about them. He was not interested in the flat picture. He hadn't read the Harry Potter books either. But when the remake holographic film came out, he saw it... partly. But according to the rumours in the voiceover, it was different. Firstly, the plot was changed to suit modern times. Mages coexisted alongside the world of humans, who used antigravity kars and flyers, communicators and other benefits of civilisation. Secondly, the special effects were on a completely different level. And to make the world of magic more attractive to the viewer, the magicians in the film turned out to be incredibly powerful. Child wizards could cause a hurricane or a tsunami with their wand, while magloreborn mages actively used communicators and the haloset, and the most powerful wizards could arrange a planetary apocalypse. This was needed to explain how mages could hide from highly advanced technology. Thirdly, the scriptwriters left the entourage of the old castle and the adventures of the main character. Because of this, for a person brought up in modern society, it felt as if the main villain in the film was the school principal, who allowed dangerous situations for students in his institution. The whole film did not let go of the feeling, as if the director of the school of magic deliberately creates situations, because of which the protagonist is on the verge of death, as if the old man set a goal to kill Harry Potter by other people's hands, without considering the victims among the students.
In general, the holoserial popadan did not particularly like it, so he watched only the first series and squandered the next couple of episodes. Yes, yes, it was a TV series. Each season stretched over ten episodes, describing one student's course of study at a school of magic. Seven seasons in total.
The first episode I watched just showed a scene with a house of villainous guardians, who in the world of the future would have been put behind bars long ago for abusing a foster child. But Harry Potter was pretty much the same as the actor playing him in the series. Except that the film Harry was older and denser, and his scar was prettier and bigger.
And now Richard wondered what canon to orientate himself on. What was true and what was not? Are the wizards here mighty or just so-so? Although all these questions are useless, because the trainee is not familiar with any canon of the Harry Potter world. So, superficially knows that an orphan boy lived with his mother's sister. There was some evil wizard who was trying to conquer the human Empire or destroy the solar system. And at the end Harry had to destroy the villain and save the world. There was also a villain-director, a kind of grey cardinal, who pitted the protagonist against the antagonist.
***
After Richard's exclamation, there was silence for a few seconds in the living room of the house on Tees Street.
John asked his ward:
- 'Sir, I'm sorry, what?
- Nothing," Richard pretended as if nothing had happened. - I was just thinking that Mr Potter would look good as an actor in the future when holographic cinema is invented. Madame Taylor, are you seeing what I'm seeing? I think we should make sure that the neighbours' complaints were not in vain.....
Petunia gasped, turned sharply pale, and put her hands to her mouth.
- What, the neighbours' complaints?! - she said quietly.
Vernon turned black, his cheeks flushed with blood. He wiggled his moustache angrily, shifted his gaze to Madame Taylor and asked her sharply:
- Who the hell are you?
The old woman was not confused. She wrinkled her face, as if offended by the man's words, and replied:
- I'm Jessica Taylor from child welfare. Mr Conor, the charity representative," she said with a nod of her head to indicate who she was referring to, "and Lord Grosvenor and I have come to see how well you're taking care of the orphan you've taken in. There's been a report from your neighbours that you're not taking good care of the child. And now I can clearly see that you are. Your son is much better dressed than Mr Potter. And he has no manners whatsoever. I think you spoil him too much, and not enough of Mr Potter.
Mr Dursle paled sharply, his skin, which had just been scarlet, had turned as pale as coated paper. The man swayed and clutched at his heart.
- It's all because of you, you scoundrel! - he hissed angrily, turning to Harry.
A policeman entered the dialogue. He turned to Mr. Dursle:
- 'Sir, I must warn you that everything you have said will be used against you in a court of law. Mrs Taylor, work, please.
- Yes, yes," the old woman nodded. - Mr Dursle, show me where the child lives.
Vernon's eyes darted round nervously. He glanced at the closet under the stairs, swallowed convulsively, and looked up at the stairs leading to the first floor.
- Uh..." he said. - Let's go to the first floor!
Vernon felt as if he had thought of a brilliant move. The man was going to show his son's room, pretending it was Harry Potter's bedroom. Except he hadn't taken into account the fact that he'd raised his son abominably.
Petunia's hand, which she had been clamping over the child's mouth, loosened and dropped. Dudley broke free of Mrs Dursle's grip and exclaimed indignantly:
- 'Daddy, but that's my bedroom and toy room in there. It's also the guest room where Aunt Marge stays and your bedroom. The insane one lives in the closet!
The eyes of all the uninvited guests present widened. This was a revelation that the guardianship authorities, the police and the foundation had not expected to hear. And Richie was astonished. It's one thing to see in a film that someone lives in a closet with two spare rooms. It was another thing to find out that such a thing was happening in reality.
- Oh," Richard said. - It's much worse than the neighbours described. Mr Policeman, will you take a look in the closet?
- Certainly.
The constable went in the direction of the storeroom. Vernon's carcass was in his way. Mr Dursle spread his arms out and said nervously:
- 'It's a child, don't listen to him, he's lying out of spite.
- But it's true! - Dudley shrieked hysterically and stamped his feet.
Petunia tried to grab her son, but he escaped her grasp.
- Dudley, shut up!" hissed an angry Mrs Dursle.
- Mr Dursle, step aside, or I'll be forced to treat your actions as resisting an authority figure," the policeman said calmly.
There was nothing left for Vernon to do. He turned even paler and stepped aside.
The constable, Madame Taylor and Mr Conor went to the closet under the stairs and opened the door. There they all three stood frozen like statues. The huge eyes betrayed an inordinate astonishment.
- My God! - the old woman from the care authorities exclaimed in amazement. - You really put a child in a closet! You monsters!
Harry watched the events unfold with excitement. He had never seen his uncle and aunt so frightened. Even Dudley realised that something terrible was happening, which made him quiet.
Vernon sighed heavily and stepped closer to Harry. He said to the boy:
- Erm... Harry, about that closet. Your aunt and I thought about it a long time ago and decided that you were old enough to live there next. We thought it would be best if you went to live in Dudley's second bedroom.
Madame Taylor gave Vernon a disapproving glance and said:
- "Mr Dursle, that won't do you any good. We are instituting a case of improper custody. You and your wife will now be judged by a judge.
- Please," Mr Dursle said quietly, "we'll make it up to you. Don't look at the way the boy lived. We just thought it was best for him. He's... Erm... Afraid of big spaces.
- Don't make up nonsense! - Madame Taylor replied sharply. - I've seen this kind of foster carer's attitude to a foster child many times in my career.
The old woman approached Harry, squatted down and asked in a soft tone:
- Harry, tell me, did your uncle and aunt beat you?
- Um... No, ma'am," Potter mumbled.
- Did they? - Mrs Taylor interjected. - 'Don't worry, they won't hurt you again. You can tell me everything.
- No, definitely not, ma'am," Potter shook his head.
- Did your uncle touch you in different places, put you on his lap? - The guardianship representative continued her questioning.
Petunia mumbled something quietly and rolled her eyes. She seemed to have stopped breathing. The woman was in a pre-fainting state.
Vernon's eyes went to his forehead. He was so frightened that he held his breath.
- No, ma'am," Potter replied. I've only been beaten by Dudley and his friends.
- I told you your son had a terrible upbringing! - Madame Taylor said, turning to Petunia. - It's very clear: you should be deprived of parental rights, and both children immediately sent to the Foster-family.
- I don't want to go to an orphanage! - shrieked Dudley, who realised that this was a hot mess.
Petunia leaned against the wall and by some incredible effort of will remained conscious, but was ready to collapse at any moment.
- My little boy... Harry... How could it be! - she sobbed hysterically.
Harry, too, was shocked and frightened at the prospect. He put his chest behind Aunt Petunia and said:
- Ma'am, please don't send me to the orphanage. Auntie and Uncle aren't really that bad. I go to school, I eat, I get dressed. I'm doing fine. Really, really, really! Please don't.
The journalist was the only one left out. She stood quietly aside and recorded everything that was happening on a dictaphone. She was also quickly scribbling something in her notebook. Her eyes were burning with enthusiasm, and you could read the word "SENSATION" in them!
- Ahem..." Richard snapped to attention. - Ladies and gentlemen, please don't get too excited. I realise that the situation looks unpleasant, but perhaps it's not so bad. Mr Dursle, are you working?
- Yes," Vernon answered uncertainly. There was a glimmer of hope in the man's voice. He replied in a more confident tone: "I have a wonderful job. I'm the manager of the Grannings Drill Company. I earn a good living and provide for my family. Please, Lord, believe me... I would never hurt a boy!
- Then why are your children dressed differently? - Madam Taylor asked sneeringly. - And I have a second question: what do you spend the money the state allocates for the orphan Harry Potter? I'll need a very detailed report.
- Mr Dursle was puzzled. - What money? We received nothing! I spent personal funds on Harry.
- What are you talking about?! - Madame Taylor was outraged. - An orphan should be paid an allowance of two hundred pounds a month, and you, as his guardians, should give the guardianship authorities an account of the money spent, with receipts.
- No one from the guardianship authorities has ever come to see us before," Mr Dursle replied, still more perplexed.
- Madame Taylor," Richard intervened again. - I believe there has been some bureaucratic error. We need to investigate this incident. In return, I am giving Harry Potter a stipend of two hundred pounds a month through my charitable foundation. These funds will be monitored by representatives of the charity. Mr and Mrs Dursle will be required to submit a monthly statement of the money spent. Mr Potter will be given a minimum of five pounds a week for pocket money. And God forbid the boy doesn't get the money or has it stolen from him by your son Dudley and his friends. The criminal responsibility lies with you as guardians.
- Lord Grosvenor," Madame Taylor looked at the boy questioningly, puzzled. - Are you suggesting that we leave the child with this horrible family?
Harry, realising that this strange boy lord was in charge, looked at him tearfully and whispered quietly with his lips:
- Please!
- 'Madam Taylor,' Richard replied, 'let's give this family a chance.
Petunia and Vernon exhaled simultaneously with relief. But realising that this was not the end, they held their breath again and waited impatiently for the guardian's reply. They had never been so frightened in their lives.
- Hmm... Well, if the Lord asks..." Madame Taylor hesitated.
- Please, ma'am," Richard said. - Let's not separate the family. Especially since Harry himself says he's not treated too badly. Besides, I'm not suggesting we just leave it all to chance. Naturally, since there is more than one signal, this family should be closely monitored. A representative of the guardianship authorities will have to visit them weekly. I understand that Mr and Mrs Dursle and their child are more likely to be monitored than Mr Potter. For my part, I will engage a detective to make periodic discreet checks on the fulfilment of guardianship duties.
- I think we can turn a blind eye to what's going on for the first time," said Madame Taylor thoughtfully. - But only for the first time! - She added sternly, looking first at Mr Dursle and then at Mrs Dursle with a menacing glare.
Vernon and Petunia exhaled with relief.
Harry Potter looked gratefully at Richard and whispered softly:
- Thank you! Thank you so much!
Madam Taylor pronounced:
- Mrs Dursle, I need all the papers on Mr Harry Potter.
- Ma'am, we have them in our room," Petunia replied in a trembling voice. - Please come with me.
Mr Conor went with the landlady and the guardian.
At the same time the constable took Mr Dursle aside and spoke to him. Vernon listened attentively to the policeman.
Richie's ears perked up and he caught the subject of the conversation.
- Mr Dursle, you're going to have a visit from the Home Office and the charity. If you don't want to get in trouble with the law, you'll have to give these people a full accounting.
- Yes, yes, Constable," Vernon nodded his thick-necked head.
- 'You should also remember a few rules,' the policeman continued. - Your children must be equally well dressed. God forbid the caretaker sees Harry Potter in tattered clothes, you'll be in trouble. And take care of your son Dudley. The child welfare authorities will be checking to see if you're being too bad parents. In the meantime, you're one of the worst carers and could lose your parental rights at any moment. If your son will be a bully, beating other children - it will certainly be recorded in your personal file. And bruises or other injuries of Harry Potter will be recorded and it is unlikely to be able to prove that beat the boy not you. In that case, you could face jail time.
Vernon was frightened and nodded in agreement with the policeman's words.
Richie realised that he was not interested in this conversation. He found that the only people left in the room were the valet, the journalist and Harry, who had come close to him.
- 'Hello, Harry,' Richard said.
- 'Hello... er... Lord,' Potter replied uncertainly.
- Harry, you can call me Richie. We're the same age.
A smile lit up Harry's face. He said with sincere gratitude:
- Thank you for helping!
- You're welcome. I did what I had to do. You know mate, you're going to save humanity one day, maybe more than once.
- I... humanity?! - there was a look of bewilderment in Potter's eyes.
- Yes, you.
- What makes you think that?
- You're a wizard, Harry!
A wry smile graced Potter's face.
- No, I'm just Harry. Harry Potter. There's no such thing as magic.
- You think you're just Harry. And you're wrong about magic. Look.
Richie showed Harry his empty palms and then pulled a gold coin from behind his ear.
- Ha ha! - Harry laughed heartily. - It's a simple trick!
- Simple, isn't it?! - Richard raised his right eyebrow upwards. - How about this?
A moment later, Richie was clutching an old, shabby and holey sock with the fingers of his right hand.
Harry felt a chill go down his right leg. He lowered his head and was surprised to find that it was the same foot that had been left without a sock. Then he raised his eyes to Richard and, looking closely, recognised his sock clutched in two fingers. At that moment you should have seen Potter's face; it showed an amazing range of emotions: from happiness and belief in the miracle, to inordinate amazement.
- How did you do that! - he asked.
- It's magic, Harry! - Richard said with a smirk. - Abra-Cadabra, alle op!
The young Grosvenor swung his toe and it disappeared. Harry realised that he could no longer feel the draught in his foot. Except the amazing thing was that the socks were definitely not his. They had been Dudley's old black socks, which were too big for him and worn out. Now he wore new navy blue socks that looked very expensive. They also had a monogram in the form of the letter "G" on them.
- Unbelievable! - Harry Potter whispered excitedly. - Can I do that?
- Sure you can, Harry," Richie whispered, leaning in close to the boy's ear:- 'In a couple of years, an alcoholic giant will come and give you a ticket to the School of Magic and Wizardry. There they'll teach you how to use mutant powers. Just like in the X-Men comic book.
- Um..." Harry was confused. - Does that have to happen? I mean, do you have to have an alcoholic giant come in? It's just that my aunt and uncle don't like weirdos and alcoholics.
- It's a must for you. - Richard said with firm conviction. - You're the future saviour of the world, Harry. For everyone else, it's usually the prim Scottish girl who's the vice-principal.
- If the vice-principal comes to everyone else, who comes to me? The headmaster himself? Is he a giant?
- Ha!" Richard grinned. - 'Take it up a notch... You've got the Headmaster himself coming to see you!
Harry looked at Richard with a look that without telepathy could be read:
"Are you messing with me!"
There was a stink of disbelief from Harry. He thought Richie was joking and the stories about magic were made up to cheer him up. It's just magic tricks. Yes, magic tricks and no other way!
In any case, Harry was very grateful to Richard. This boy, a complete stranger to him, the prince's godson, that is, almost a prince himself, had come to him and helped him. Now Harry would have pocket money, just like Dudley. And he would also get good clothes and a room with a window!
The day after the visit of the young lord on the channel "BBC" TV presenter read out the news, among which sounded the following:
- Prince Charles' godson, the Duke of Westminster's son, young prodigy Richard Grosvenor, who completed his second year of secondary school at the age of nine, has taken up charity work. He spent his first money, earned from the production of staples, on helping orphans. Young Grosvenor visited a dysfunctional family, where he discovered that the director of a company producing drills mistreated his orphaned nephew, whom he took into care. Thanks to the actions of the Duke of Westminster's heir, the orphan's living conditions were improved and the dysfunctional family was put under the control of the state and a charitable foundation. Young Grosvenor provided the orphan with a substantial stipend, which will be paid to the boy until he comes of age.
In addition to the TV news there was a large newspaper article. Mr and Mrs Dursle had gained what they feared more than anything else in the world - publicity. They used to think a lot of things were abnormal, and now people around them thought they were abnormal. The Dursleys, on the contrary, thought that their behaviour and treatment of their nephew was right.
The Dursleys had a long history with the neighbours. Although the paper did not mention names, it did mention a town. Little Winging was a small town, so it was obvious to everyone who they were talking about. After the article, the neighbours stopped visiting the Dursleys' house, and Petunia no longer received invitations to the housekeeping club. This was a serious blow to Mrs. Dursle's ego, but it also made Petunia and Vernon reflect on their behaviour.
From that day on, the parents began to raise Dudley more strictly, and Harry Potter's life began to change.
Harry was over the moon. Uncle and aunt did not treat him kinder, they were indifferent and tried not to scold the child unnecessarily. Harry was less stressed with housework, and Dudley joined him in cleaning and tending the garden.
His cousin tried to get back at Harry a couple of times, but he was severely punished for it and his attacks on Potter died down.
Harry moved into his bedroom, albeit a small one, but it had a window, a bed, a wardrobe and a desk. What more could one want? On top of that, the boy had pocket money, he was better clothed and better fed.
It wasn't that Harry had been poorly fed before, just that Dudley had been given a larger portion, but now Mr and Mrs Dursle tried to dress both boys equally, give them the same amount of food, and treat them equally in public. If Dudley got an ice-cream, Harry got the exact same portion. If Dudley wants cake and cocoa in the café, Harry gets the same. After all, there were now two inspections coming to Yew Four every week, which, naturally, the Dursley couple were not happy about.
Vernon, on the other hand, was finding advantages in his new position. Previously there had been no payments on the boy, though the Dursleys had formalised the guardianship. Now four hundred pounds came into Harry's account every month, two hundred from the state and the same amount from the charity fund. Vernon was also glad that the scandal had not affected his career. Although he was terrified that the news would reach the management and he would be sacked.
Petunia and Vernon now shuddered at the mention of the royal family when watching television. They used to be frightened of wizards and all things abnormal, but now they realised that the normal world was more to be feared. Wizards can ruin the mood with a bad joke or a set by enchanting it. And a powerful Lord could ruin a life. They were well aware that the "little shit," that is, the young Lord, could easily put them both in jail and deprive them of the most precious thing - Dudley's son, sending him to an orphanage. And to ruin the career of her husband, the only breadwinner in the house, the godson of Prince Charles is even easier. It is enough to start a rumour among the business elite, after which Mr. Dursle in the UK will not be accepted for a position higher than a watchman or loader. You can forget about normal income and work as a manager.
A new fear of Mr and Mrs Dursle was the attention of the aristocracy to their simple family. God forbid they should turn their gaze upon them.
And somewhere in London in the guardianship authorities, the executives furtively took a breath and crossed themselves (even the unbaptised) that the young Lord did not dig into "where is the money that was not transferred to the orphan, and at whose expense to correct the mistake."***
Richard, after meeting Harry Potter, finally realised what universe he was in. And it made him think seriously.
Now it was clear that he was not a mutant, but a wizard. And he faced several questions at once.
Firstly, how to live on? After all, if the series did not lie, then at the age of eleven Richard will be forced to study at the school of magic and wizardry. And he had hoped that by that age he would be rid of the obligation to attend school. Naturally, this could not help but upset the guy.
To this it should be added that the series the world of wizards was characterised by increased danger, therefore, there still need to manage to survive.
Among other things, the wizards in the film had an unspoken hierarchy and a racist division into purebloods, half-bloods and muggleborns. In the ordinary world Richard has a very high status, and in the magical world he will be at the bottom of the hierarchy, which did not suit the young man at all.
But there were advantages, no doubt. Still, being a mage is much better than being an obscure mutant.
Secondly, Richie, knowing that he was a wizard and in a couple of years it would be known at least to his father, began to realise that he wouldn't be able to keep his superpowers a secret. And since it was so, maybe it was worth to confess to his father, to tell him about his magical gift?
There was one more conclusion to be drawn from the known information: Richard was most likely a half-blood. Most likely, his mother was not a foreign spy, but a sorceress. And she was not drugging Gerald with pheromones, but with a love potion. What do we do with this information? If you tell his father about his superpowers and the world of magic, he, being a shallow man, will guess that Richard's mother is a sorceress. And who knows if the father's attitude towards his son won't change after that? But then again, sooner or later Gerald will know Richard's secret anyway. In that case, the sooner he learns the truth, the better... I guess.