cloudy with a Chance of freedom

chapter 3

Skull took one look at the letter and smirked.

He knew making a detour to private drive and hiding in his old 'home' (which had been discreetly bought out by the goblins to keep up the ruse) would make the entire thing worth it. Even if he had to stay in the cupboard until the letter came.

Convincing Hagrid that his relatives hand opted to 'spend the day in London' since they really didn't like magic was tragically easy, even if he hated having to lie to the man. Hagrid couldn't keep a secret to save his life, especially if the one to come asking was Albus bloody Dumbledore.

The entire trip was a total nightmare the first time. Though at least the goblins had 'cleared' his trust vault from their audit, so Hagrid had zero idea that there was anything wrong with the key he had.

Playing the 'quitely awed but still impressionable' Harry Potter was tiring. He much preferred to be Skull de Mort, the immortal stuntman.

He put-up with it, before he calmly mentioned to Hagrid that his relatives had called him a night before to say they were going to be visiting his aunt Marge "for a while" and that perhaps it was best that he rented a room at the least cauldren until term started so he didn't accidentally miss the train.

Hagrid fell for it hook line and sinker. Skull really hated doing this to him, but he knew far too well that Hagrid was one of Dumbledores elements and report everything if asked without thinking twice about the matter.

At least he got Hedwig back, who was as beautiful as the day he got her.

Apparently death had a sense of humor, because once safely in his room his owl have him a good "talking to" in bird speak (thus revealing that she had been sent back as well, though it wasn't as surprising considering she was his first familiar) while batting him with her wings at being such a fool. Once she got her rant out of the way, his beloved owl promptly took her usual perch on his right shoulder and started peening his hair with an exasperated air around her.

Skull would never regret learning how to speak bird, even if people used to give him looks until he met someone who spoke reptile.

He sometimes wondered how Reborn would have reacted to hearing skull using parseltounge around him, just to see if the sun actually understood what what he was saying.

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Skull was able to intercept Hermione in the book store much to his releif.

Hermione was so happy to have an explanation for all the weird things that she was about to run right into.

"You know I find it funny that all the new bloods are excited to learn about magic, yet are so quick to dismiss the fact that they're basically dropped into a subculture living right alongside London," he said casually "Almost like their rather unfortunate culture shock experienced by the European settlers when they first encountered native americans."

Hermione paused in her reading to look at him.

"New bloods?" she asked.

"A less insulting term for muggleborns. I mean most of them are actually descendants from squibs who are people born from magical families, but for one reason or another lack the ability to use their pathways correctly. Most of them are lucky to be tossed into orphanages , while some families will kill their children outright if they can't use magic, thinking it a mark of shame," said Skull.

Hermione looked appalled.

"Thats completely barbaric."

"Most new bloods actually consider a lot of the traditions and ways to be barbaric without bothering to learn why they exist. How would you like it if someone came into your home, and then proceed to call you uncivilized for something you've been doing for generations, like saying your prayers before eating?"