The Contract

Chapter 4

Harry had never felt so many positive emotions in his life, he quite literally felt fit to burst. In his excitement, he forgot everything, and impulsively rounded the table and hugged Rabastan tightly who had stood in alarm. "Thank you," he said, yet again elation and jubilation making him act a little out of character. He was never one for physical contact, not with his history. Every touch he'd ever known was ones of extreme pain. It might have been muffled by Harry's head planted in Rabastan's stomach but they both heard in the silence of the monotonous room.

Rabastan stared down at the boy, almost as if he had never encountered a child before in his life. Utterly stunned by the display of affection, it wasn't purely because of the decade spent in prison either. Pureblood's had more decorum than that, they didn't randomly go around hugging people, even those close to them. The only people who had ever hugged him was his father and brother and a few partners he'd had before prison. Rabastan glanced up at his father, almost looking as though he was pleading him for help.

Corvus Lestrange's lips just quirked up a little in amusement, watching the scene before him. This scene gave away just how Harry had been raised. If he had been in the magical world, he would know that hugging strangers just wasn't done. Although he had a handle on his emotions, but that was quite self-explanatory. Survival instincts at the fore.

Just as quickly as the hug began, Harry hastily withdrew, looking just as surprised as Rabastan by his own display. At least he didn't apologise, which Corvus felt extremely pleased by. His eyes did narrow in on Harry rubbing at his chest as though the simple hug had caused him great pain. He was subtle about it, if he hadn't been paying such close attention, he'd never have noticed.

Scuffing his shoes along the concrete floor, he asked, "What now?" very clearly lost, evidently getting free of the Dursleys and Dumbledore had been as far as his thoughts had gotten. Which indicated a lack of preparedness, the lack of preparedness may be one of two things, one the belief it wouldn't work out in his favour or two he was impulsive. Given his statements during the contracts negotiations Corvus didn't believe that was the case. So, he had come here without hope that it would work out, despite that he had brought in gifts for Rabastan anyway. Which lightened Corvus' heart, did the boy know what his sons were in prison for? Perhaps the goblins hadn't shared that with him, but he didn't think so. The goblins wouldn't risk their reputation, especially not with the last Potter heir.

"Now, Mr. Potter, we are going to visit St. Mungo's and have you checked out by a healer," Corvus stated firmly, having a feeling how this conversation would go.

Harry's head jerked up ,"What? No way!" he protested vehemently.

"I understand the urge to hide your injuries, to avoid hospitals, it's ingrained no doubt." Corvus nodded as if he understood, and in a way he did, but only intellectually. He couldn't understand why anyone would abuse a child, each child was special, cherished and should be treated thusly. Unfortunately, it did happen, more often than they'd like. His own uncle had abandoned his children, treated them appallingly like they didn't matter. His father had been disgusted by the behaviour, but hadn't disowned him regardless of his antics always hoping he'd grow up and change. He hadn't, his own children had died before him and he'd died a lonely man, and quite frankly, Corvus didn't think his uncle had changed even one whit towards his end. To think he had been named after him. "You need not hide, nor endure pain any longer. The healers at the hospital are bound very tightly by confidentiality, and cannot reveal anyone's private records, which means, whoever you see, will keep it quiet. Magic is involved in their profession, only healers, Medi-witches don't have the same vows to keep." He added the last part only as an afterthought, Harry needed to learn everything he could about the magical world so he summarised, he'd be doing this a great deal.