The Contract

Chapter 5

Corvus shortened his stride through the bank, seeing as Harry wasn't at his side, his shorter legs finding it difficult to keep up with him. There was also the fact the young boy definitely had to be in pain, oh, there was nothing glaringly obvious about it. Any less observant wizard definitely wouldn't notice, in fact, most people wouldn't think he was at all. He however, had spent the morning watching him closely, he spotted only little signs. It didn't take long for the boy to step up beside him clutching the portfolio tightly.

"What is your previous address, Mr. Potter?" Corvus queried, making it clear it wasn't his current address and if he had any say, he would ensure it remained that way.

"It's number four Privet Drive, Surrey," Harry replied, anxiety crawling its way up through his stomach. "I'll go in by myself," he did not want Corvus Lestrange to see how bad his life had been, or what they called him on a daily basis. 'Freak' or 'Boy' were the only names he'd known until school, where he found out what his name really was.

Harry was largely unaware of just how much Corvus Lestrange was going to find out, and soon.

"Very well," Corvus feigned agreement, that was not happening, he was going whether the boy liked it or not. He wasn't about to let those filthy Muggles lay a single hand on the boy again. "We are going to Apparate near to Privet Drive and walk the rest of the way, once there grab everything you wish to take with you and I'll take you to Lestrange Manor,"

Harry nodded his agreement, wondering absently if 'Apparating' was anything like using a Portkey.

"Apparation is different from using a Portkey, you need to remain still and allow the magic to guide you in the right direction." Corvus explained, refraining from mentioning the minuscule chance of being splinched. He didn't want to make the boy sick or refuse to be apparated. He definitely did not wish to travel by Knight bus, or wait around for a Portkey from the Goblins or the Ministry. As soon as he touched Harry, he cringed yet again, a pang of sympathy shot through him, had the boy ever received a gentle touch before in his life? And why was it always the most powerful of their kind that ended up abused?

Corvus kept a tight grip of Harry, without exerting too much pressure, worried he was injured under those baggy clothes of his as they apparated. As predicated, Harry stumbled a little, but the wizard did not let him fall. They were in Little Whinging, Corvus observed, as he looked around the perfectly ordinary landscape. There was nobody out this early in the morning, except an occasional jogger, or someone wandering down side streets with bags filled with groceries. The Muggle items strewn in peoples gardens were very alien to him, but he paid little to no attention to them.

"I will follow," Corvus stated, allowing Harry to take the lead, he knew a lot of London, mostly the shopping areas where they'd been hunting down wizards and witches who were on the Dark Lord's shit list. Most of them were Order members or those who were doing something despicable in the Ministry of Magic, such as trying to pass laws that were contemptuous. So many had already been passed as it was, adding more was just further restricting life out of people. It had steadily gotten worse in ten years since the Dark Lord wasn't opposing the opposition. Dumbledore was slowly destroying their way of life. With the added power of Harry's seats, nothing anyone did make one bit of difference.

The knowledge that he was going to lose that power very quickly, made Corvus very hopeful that they could at least undo some of the damage Dumbledore had done. If not, at least more damage couldn't be piled upon top of the crumbling magical world. A lot of people were in Dumbledore's corner, beaming at him as he made the chances not realizing what this was going to do to them long term. It made Dumbledore a very dangerous person to be around Harry, but he could do nothing, the boy wanted to attend Hogwarts. He would need to be open and honest as possible so that the child didn't end up drawn into Dumbledore when he actually met him. He was a master manipulator, there was no way an eleven year old could possible hold his own against him.