Chapter 81: Meeting the Patlis I

AN :

Many people pointed out grammar mistakes and wording issues in the last chapter. I've gone ahead and fixed them—check it out for yourself! Believe it or not, I don't use any apps for that. I'll do my best to improve from now on!

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"So, where is your family then?" Tonks questioned, while Harry went about dumping his stuff. 

"Dead, as you know. If you're talking about my relatives, I don't know—because they're not my family. I live by myself," he answered seriously before walking to the kitchen and calling out, "Do you want anything?" at the same time as getting himself a cola. 

"What do you mean, you live by yourself?" Tonks demanded, forgetting about the offered drink. 

"Simple, Tonks. I live by myself, take care of myself—no relatives, just me and Serenity here," he said, gesturing toward the sleeping owl in the corner while making himself comfortable on one of the kitchen stools around the table. 

"Surely it's not safe! Let's go back to my house, contact my parents, and see if we can arrange for someone to look after you," she said. 

"No, I'm far safer by myself here in my own little bolt-hole than I ever was at my relatives," he said seriously, waiting for Tonks to sit down rather than just stand there like a lemon. 

"Harry, you can't live by yourself—you're eleven, Merlin's sake!" she beseeched desperately. 

Forgoing saying he was closer to twelve than eleven (which would just prove her point), he replied, "Let me tell you a little story, Tonks. After that, you can judge why I say I can look after myself." 

"Well, here's my life story: I was placed on my aunt's doorstep in the middle of the night with just a note. For the next decade, I was beaten, starved, and abused—all while being treated as a slave, cooking and cleaning just like a house-elf would. You know how many times I fell asleep in my own blood?" He watched Tonks' face pale. 

"No, you don't. I didn't even learn my name until I went to school. I was called 'freak.' My relatives literally tried to beat the magic out of me. I've got scars on my back to prove it—and even now, after nearly a year's worth of potions, they're still there, barely faded. It was me who kept their house clean and tidy. You know this year was the first time I had Christmas dinner? Or gifts? I learned long ago to look after myself, since no one else would. So tell me now—do you think I should go back to my relatives just to be starved and beaten?" he questioned coldly, seeing no answer forthcoming. 

"I thought not. But that's the tip of the iceberg. I learned long ago that the strong take what they want, while the weak suffer. That's the hard reality. Despite every beating, despite every time I bandaged myself up, I kept going. I don't need anyone, Tonks, to take care of me—because I learned to survive," he said, somewhat proudly. 

"Now sit down and have a drink before you fall over," he ordered, getting another cola for the pale girl. 

"Now, what do you want to do?" he asked, hoping to move on to a happier topic now that he'd drilled the point home. 

"Harry, you really should tell someone," she whispered. 

"Just so some pureblood elitists can twist it and use it as proof that they're right? That non-magicals should be wiped out or enslaved? No thanks. I will not have what my parents died fighting for be twisted and used as ammunition by the same people who murdered them," he said seriously, waiting for Tonks to say something else so he could shoot it down. 

"Harry…" she said unsurely, struggling to respond. 

"Tonks, you know I'm right. My story would just become a political issue. Besides, it's only for the summer. I'm here in a house with some of the best privacy wards my account manager could arrange. I'm safer here than I've been in a long time. There are no trolls here—or a Cerberus," he joked, referencing Hogwarts. 

"Harry, you really need someone to keep an eye on you. You're eleven!" she said desperately, ignoring his joke. 

Seeing she wasn't going to let this go, he decided to try making a deal—while silently wishing he hadn't bothered going to the Cauldron in the first place. "I'll make a deal with you. You can come around anytime you want and check on me, if it makes you feel better," he offered, knowing it wasn't much of a concession. 

When no answer came and his stomach rumbled, he added, "How about I make us something to eat so you can see I won't starve to death?" before heading to the cupboards to make homemade pizza. 

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### **Sometime later…** 

Over the next hour, he showed Tonks how to make homemade pizza and explained that his cousin had been a very picky eater who would only eat it if it was made a certain way. As a result, from the age of five, one of his primary tasks was to cook dinner and prepare breakfast. 

"As you can see, I know how to cook," he said, taking the pizza out of the oven and placing it proudly on the table. 

"Just because you can cook pizza doesn't mean you can take care of yourself," Tonks stated seriously. 

"Tonks, I am truly fine," he said for what felt like the hundredth time before summoning some knives and forks to the table with a flick of his wand. 

Tonks' mouth dropped open. "What?" 

"Harry, you just used magic!" she said in shock, looking like she was about to panic. He took a moment to realize why before explaining. 

"Yeah? The house is warded so the Ministry's tracking charm doesn't work while I'm inside," he said, waiting for his pink-haired friend to catch up. 

"You mean you can do magic?" she asked. 

"Yup. And so can you, as long as you stay inside the wards. Consider this a place where you could train this summer without the nosy Ministry butting in—or your parents, as long as you keep this place secret," he said carefully, trying to get Tonks to see the benefits of the arrangement. 

"Harry…" she started, but he cut her off. 

"Just think about it—being able to practise your duelling, your spellwork. Wouldn't that put you in a better position to get top grades next year? If I remember correctly, you told me the top academy students get the best mentors. Think of this as a way to get ahead of your rivals. Plus, I could help you with another skill you'll need if you want to reach the top ranks," he offered, considering Tonks as a potential partner for practice. He could even offer Penny a similar deal—he was sure she'd be interested in having a place to practise spells for next term. 

He took a bite of his pizza, enjoying the taste of ham and sweet pineapple—one of the things he'd truly missed at Hogwarts. One thing he *didn't* miss? Mashed potatoes. It seemed they were served at every meal, which probably explained why so many wizards were fat—if they kept eating high-calorie food without exercising or casting enough spells to burn off the energy. 

Looking back, he saw Tonks deep in thought, weighing the pros and cons. "Like I said, you work with me, keep my secrets, and I'm more than happy to protect you and help you out. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours," he said, flashing a smile while gauging whether his offer had taken root. 

After all, everyone could be negotiated with—you just had to find the right buttons to push for the best result at the lowest cost. Some people could be bribed or threatened; others required negotiation. But most deals came down to whether the person liked you. The more they did, the easier it was to get favorable terms. 

His internal analysis ended when Tonks finally spoke up. 

"You mean… I'd come under the protection of the Potter household?" she asked carefully, her expression intrigued. 

"To a point. I can't *actively* do so until I'm fully recognized as Head of the Potter House. So for now, it'd be more of a symbolic gesture—a promise. But as soon as I'm seventeen and receive my full lordship, I can fully protect you. You'd be considered part of my extended family," he explained. He didn't want to reveal he was already a lord (thanks to the Peverell title), nor did he want to lie or overpromise. 

"I understand it's symbolic for now. But would this include my parents?" she asked cautiously, though hope flickered in her features—clearly, it meant something significant to her. 

"Sure. I understand everyone needs a good lawyer they can trust," he said, thinking over what he knew of Tonks' parents. He knew her mother had been cast out, but they'd never discussed it. 

Tonks' face brightened at his words, and she practically leapt out of her seat to hug him. Wrapping his arms around her, he could hear faint tears—but he needed the full story. He'd rather know which House had disowned her mother so he could prepare for any backlash. 

"Tonks, I need to know which household your mother was cast out of. That way, I'll know who might act against this," he explained, hoping she'd share the full story. 

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