HP : TRIUMPH

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(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)

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Harry groaned and rolled over at the annoyed hoot. He peeked out from under his blankets to find a large majestic barn owl glaring at him from its perch on his headboard/shelf. A large brown package hung from its talons. Harry sighed and grabbed his glasses. He sat up and gently untied the package and letter from the bird. It gave him a hard hoot and flew back out the window.

Harry leaned against the headboard and gently set the package down on his covers to open the letter.

Lord Potter,

I sent a few books for you along with some papers. Read them.

Griphook

Harry ripped the package open to find two books stacked together. They looked old. He tipped them so he could read the spines. Wizarding Traditions, Customs, and Culture and The Hierarchy of Magical Beings. Harry grinned and set them aside to look at the papers that had been at the bottom of the package. He blinked at them. They were a list of his vaults. Both his Potter vault and his school vault. They listed every thing in each.

He gently set the papers aside as he finished gaping at them. He'd have to stick those in a file labelled important. In fact, he needed to add that to his list of things to get. A small filing cabinet. He had too many papers to just stuff in his desk.

He glanced at his clock and sighed. It was time to get up anyways. He swung out of bed and stretched widely going over his plans for the day; more studying.

.-.

Harry fingered the small wooden case that had his piano in it. He hadn't played it yet but at the moment he could use a moment of music. He pulled the small piano out and set it on the floor. He pulled his wand out and tapped it saying the incantation to reverse a shrinking charm. The piano grew immediately and Harry looked over the beautiful instrument.

Finally he moved to the bench which had appeared with the piano. He sat down and ran his fingers over the keys. He pressed one down and let the sound ring out. Then he pressed another. Soon his fingers were dancing in a familiar pattern his muscles had never forgotten. There were a few mistakes but just listening helped him correct these.

When he finished the soft tune he looked up to find the three cat kneazels sitting on the top of the piano and watching him, tails flickering about. He grinned at them.

"Want to hear a song?" he asked eyes sparkling.

They didn't answer but continued watching him. He laughed happily and quickly started another song.

.-.

July 9th

Saturday

.-.

"Good morning Mrs. Smith." Harry smiled at his old next door neighbour, who stood outside his front door.

"Oh Harry Sweetie, just call me Dorothy."

"Of course." He nodded. "Was there anything I could help you with?"

"Yes actually dear. You remember that cake you brought for our first meeting?"

"Of course."

"Would you mind making another for me? I'd pay you of course. It's my granddaughter's birthday and I promised to bring a cake for her party and yours was one of the best I have ever had."

Harry blinked then smiled. He needed a break from studying anyways.

"I can do that. When do you need it?"

"Well her party is at three but I need to leave a bit earlier. If that's too soon I can just go buy one. It's not a big deal."

"I can easily have a cake done by then."

"Can you make it a bit larger then mine dear? I believe she is having a few friends over."

"Of course Mrs. Smith. I'll bring it over after I'm finished."

"You are such a darling. Now I have to run! I've got to get her a present."

"Good luck Mrs. Smith."

"It's Dorothy, Darling!" She tsked as she shuffled back down his path.

Harry smiled at her and shut the door. Ideas for this cake popped into his mind and he headed for the kitchen. It was only ten but he would get started now.

He'd never get tired of cooking. It was one chore he'd never minded at the Dursely's. Though he'd hated watching them eat. The pigs had had no taste for fine food. They'd get mad at him if it wasn't 'good enough' but then never admitted it was good. Harry had heard all their guests cooing over the delicious meals and desserts and listened to Petunia take all the credit and he had hated them for it. He enjoyed cooking, but not for people who didn't appreciate it.

.-.

"Oh dear, this is marvellous." Mrs. Smith cooed looking over the cake in her arms.

It was a triple layered white cake. It was circular and stacked, the bottom layer being bigger then the second and the second being bigger then the first. He'd covered it in white icing and added small pink designs around the edge with strawberry slices covering most of the surface area.

"It's a Japanese Shortcake. Each layer of the cake is split in half and a strawberry mix is added then you put them back together and add strawberries to the top. I also added pink icing to add to the display."

"Well it's wonderful." She cooed. "And you really didn't have to drive me."

"This is far easier then you catching the bus." Harry smiled as he pulled up to a smaller road and pulled onto it.

"Well I appreciate it dear. Oh! This is the house!"

Harry parked his car in front of the small white house and hurried to the passenger door. He opened it for the 80 some year old woman and took the cake from her so she could step from the car. She smoothed her dress and tucked her purse into the crook of her arm. Harry smiled and offered his arm for her, balancing the cake easily enough. She took it and he kicked the car door shut and helped the woman shuffle up to the front door where she knocked

A moment later it was thrown open and a fifteen year old girl with a ponytail stood there.

"Oh, it's you grandma. I thought it was one of my friends." She scowled.

Harry smothered his glare and glanced at Dorothy. She just smiled sadly. Suddenly the girl squealed.

"Is this my cake? It's so pretty."

The girl grabbed it from Harry's hand and ran back inside with it. Harry grabbed the screen door before it swung shut and smiled at Dorothy as she stepped up.

"Mum!" A woman called rushing up to hug the old woman. "I'm so glad you could make it. Was the bus okay? No one bothered you right?"

"Oh honey." The old woman asked. "You worry too much. And this young gentleman gave me a ride. He's my new neighbour. Harry this is my daughter Hazel."

"Pleasure to meet you ma'am." Harry said bowing slightly and taking the woman's hand to kiss.

The woman giggled.

"Well come in! You too young man. You can stay as a guest." The woman said.

Harry blinked but allowed Dorothy to drag him in. He was surprised lately by how friendly some people could be. He supposed he was only used to the Dursely's and the Privet Drive neighbour hood which had been poisoned against him. And really, wizards who were obsessed over him couldn't be called friendly, just fanatic.

He was soon sitting at a kitchen table with a cup of tea in front of him. The girl had set the cake on the counter and ran off with her friends but Hazel and Dorothy both joined him at the table, chatting together. Harry silently sipped his tea.

"So where did you get the cake Mum?" Hazel asked looking at the triple layer shortcake. "It looks absolutely wonderful."

"It'll taste absolutely wonderful too. I had one of the smaller ones the other day. And Harry here made it. The boy is a wonderful cook."

Hazel blinked in surprise and stared at Harry.

"Wow. Do you plan to be a pastry chef?" She asked.

Harry frowned internally. He'd never really thought on what he wanted to be. He was always told he'd defeat Voldemort but…That wasn't really a career. Unless he wished to be one of the Dark Wizard hunters. But…Harry gazed at the cake a moment. He enjoyed cooking much more then life and death experiences. Sure he loved the adrenaline and thrill of chasing Quirell and the Basilisk and Sirius, but he didn't want to live his life like that.

He smiled at the women.

"It was one of my ideas yes. I enjoy cooking."

They smiled at him and fell into conversation again. He took to staring at his cake. Her question had actually made him think quite deeply. Yes, he wouldn't mind a job cooking. Maybe not for some restaurant which he stayed in the kitchen all the time, but maybe a small bakery or café…

"Yo mom! Who has the radical car outside? It's like, totally Awesome."

Harry blinked from his thoughts and glanced up at the doorway to see what looked like an eighteen year old boy.

"Oh, Randal. That car belongs to Harry here. He drove your grandma here and delivered your sister's cake.

"Cause like, your car is cool." The guy said. "Like awesome to the max!"

Harry hid a chuckle at the boy's speech.

"Randal please! You know how much that annoys us."

"Of course mother, that's why I do it." The boy smirked.

He'd went from punk, to a mixture of Percy and Draco in a split second. He sat beside Harry and poured himself a cup of water.

"Though your car is quite nice. I myself only have my father's old car but it works. Your parents must be rich to buy you a car like that."

Harry smiled at the boy softly. Unlike Draco and Percy, nothing about this boy rubbed him the wrong way.

"Yes, my parents were rich. They left everything to me and I felt I needed a good reliable vehicle."

"…Your parents are dead? Sorry." The boy said awkwardly. "My name is Randal by the way. Randal Belden."

"Harry Potter." Harry smiled shaking his head. "And don't be sorry. I didn't know them that well as they died when I was too young to remember."

"Yes, poor Harry here lives by himself." Dorothy tsked. "But he's a responsible young man."

"By yourself. How old are?" Hazel asked curiously.

"I turn fourteen in a month."

There was a long silence.

"You're thirteen?" Randal asked in disbelief. "I thought you were just short. You look older. Not older then me, but older. You got this way you sit and this look in your eye."

Harry pondered this. He was used to being called young because of his height and how skinny he was. But then again…. He looked down at himself. He had filled out a bit. He wasn't big, he'd never be big, but he wasn't skin and bones either. Just lean. And this look in his eye? The way he sat? Maybe that was from all the times he'd almost been killed by the dark lord or almost died because of something. He wasn't completely paranoid, but he was slightly. He was always aware, always ready to react; ready to flinch away from a strike or fight death head on.

He smiled at the older boy and tilted his head to say 'I understand'. Dorothy and Hazel started to chat again ignoring the two boys.

"So, what sports do you like?" Randal asked.

"I don't do many sports." Harry admitted with a chuckle. "I spend my spare time reading."

Randal gave him a mock look of horror.

"Not you too! The book bug has also bit me and my friends were right horrified when they learned that."

Harry laughed softly. Soon they were chatting over novels they'd read recently. Harry had actually read quite a few. He'd read a lot at Hogwarts to, sneaking in a chapter or two here and another over there. Harry found his favourite book so far was Alice's Adventures In Wonderland and it's sequel Through the Looking Glass. After half of an hour Harry and Randal retreated to the older boy's room where they continue to chat. Randal had quite a few books in his room and was soon shoving some in Harry's arms telling him to read them.

Harry accepted them after some arguing. Harry was wondering if the boy trusted everyone he met as he was quite friendly and open with Harry. As if reading his mind Randal informed him is grandmother Dorothy was a good judge of character. He said she never really was friendly with anyone, so as soon as he saw her cooing over Harry he knew Harry was a good guy.

"She actually assaulted this guy on the bus during her last ride over here." Randal informed him. "He hadn't done anything wrong that anyone could see but she glared at him from the moment she saw him. Then when he went to get off at a stop she threw her cane at him. Nailed him in the eye she did. He went down and she calmly informed the shocked bystanders that 'the young whippersnapper' had stolen from the guy next to him, picked his pocket. She was right too."

Harry chuckled. He could actually see the always slouched, shuffling 80 year old woman to do that to.

"Randal!"

Harry blinked at the high pitched call. Randal sighed.

"What is Rose?" He asked as the birthday girl burst into the room with two girls trailing after her.

They all blinked at Harry and her two friends giggled and blushed as he looked at them. Harry hid a wince. If there was one thing he hated it was fickle girls like those.

"Where did you get the cool car Randal?" Rose questioned.

"It's not mine." Randal said. "This is Harry, he's grandma's neighbour. It's his car. Harry this is my sister Rose."

"Hello." Harry said politely, his usual smile missing.

"Hi." She giggled, batting her lashes at him. "Me and my friends were wondering if you could take us for a ride?"

She leaned closer to him, giving him a good look down her shirt. He politely closed his eyes and held up his hands to put a barrier between them. He gave a frigid smile.

"I'm sorry. I just recently got my license. I am allowed no more then one passenger."

"It's not like anyone would notice." Rose said. "We could just stay on these back suburb roads. You can get going pretty fast on them I'd bet."

Harry narrowed his eyes. So she wanted him to both break the law by taking all of them and then speed in an area where little children played. Not going to happen. His smile turned even more frigid but they didn't notice. Randal eyed him though, but didn't say anything.

"I'm sorry miss, I don't see a thrill in taking you for a ride and speeding."

"Now shoo." Randal said, jumping in and taking control of the situation.

He shut the door behind the three and eyed Harry. Harry just shook his head ruefully.

"I've had a lot people try and use me for some reason or another."

For some reason a picture of Dumbledore popped into his mind. He shook his head to rid that thought.

"Ah." Randal said as if he understood and maybe he did

Loving the story so far? There's a whole world of magic and mystery waiting for you with over 85+ chapters still to come! By supporting my Patreon.

You not only get early access to new chapters but also exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, and special perks just for fans like you.

Join us on this enchanted journey and help shape the future of the tale. Your support makes all the difference—discover more and become part of the adventure today!

http//patreon.com/BLAKE025

(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)

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