A Little Help from a Snake // Tomarry

1: The Letter*

Harry hit the ground, anger thrumming through him. That was the first time Dudley had hit him in a long time. What happened next made his anger evaporate. The glass suddenly vanished, and the boa constrictor uncoiled itself and slithered out onto the floor. 'Brazil, here I come... Thanks, amigo.'

It snapped at Piers' and Dudley's heels playfully and slid away. The boys, of course, greatly exaggerated this by proclaiming it nearly killed them. Piers managed to calm down enough to speak more normally. "Harry was speaking to it, weren't you, Harry?"

Once he had gone home, Uncle Vernon turned on him.

"I didn't do it on purpose," Harry said before he could speak. "The glass just disappeared. Like magic." He said the last word tauntingly, and Uncle Vernon sent him to his room, repulsed by the word.

His Hogwarts letter finally came.

Mr. H. Potter
The Smallest Bedroom
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey

Inside, it read that Harry had been accepted and gave a list of supplies. 'I've finally got it,' he told Azure.

'Perfect,' she hissed. 'You should send a reply.'

Harry did and watched the owl take off. 'Now I need to get my supplies.'

'No worries. Just have your uncle drop you off.'

'Okay.'

He waited until Azure was settled in his pocket before approaching Uncle Vernon. He agreed to take him, if only to get Harry away from his house.

'Where to first?' Harry asked once he was dropped off.

'To the bank. They'll give you your money.'

'Got it.'

Now Harry approached the counter to where a goblin was seated. "Greetings," he said. "I am Harry Potter. I was told that I have money here for my education."

"Do you have your key?"

Harry frowned. "I'm afraid not. Is there any way I can prove it's me?"

The goblin nodded and beckoned him. "You should speak with your account manager."

Harry followed the goblin into a private room. A moment later, another goblin entered. "Greetings, Mr. Potter. I am Griphook. I have been told you were not give your vault key?"

"No, sir," Harry said.

Griphook frowned. "That is strange. Your magical guardian was expected to deliver it to you."

"Magical guardian?" Harry echoed.

Griphook looked even more displeased. "Yes. Your magical guardian is Albus Dumbledore."

"The Headmaster?" Azure had told him about this man, and she hadn't sounded very enthusiastic about him, either.

"He is the guardian for those raised in the Muggle world," Griphook informed him.

"Then why hasn't he made sure I was okay?" Harry asked angrily.

"Pardon?"

"A guardian is supposed to take care of their charge," Harry said. "But I wasn't exactly treated well."

"You weren't? Mr. Dumbledore had implied that you were spoiled."

Harry couldn't help it. He let out a bitter laugh. "He must have been referring to my cousin," he said. "Dudley is the one who gets everything handed to him on a silver platter." He shook his head. "Sorry, Griphook. Can I get a new key or...?"

Griphook pulled out a piece of parchment and a dagger. "We will make you a new one. But for now, just prick your finger and let two drops of blood fall."

Harry did as he was told, and words appeared on the previously blank parchment.

The first few lines showed the basics like his and his parents' names and his current dwelling. After that came a list of vaults and properties- Harry's eyes widened at the sheer number of each- as well as several compulsions. Every single one was set by Albus Dumbledore.

"Compulsions?" Harry murmured questioningly.

Griphook looked at the parchment and muttered something under his breath. "We need a healer." He called out in Gobbledegook and in came another goblin. They conversed briefly, then turned to Harry. "Mr. Potter, I believe it would be best if we remove these compulsions before we move forward."

"That sounds ideal," Harry said, a bit mystified.

He was led to another room, where Azure was instructed to come off so she wouldn't get hurt. The dark snake had grown since Harry had first met her, and now she was roughly three feet long.

"This is going to hurt," the goblin healer warned him.

Harry nodded and braced himself. After several seconds of low chanting, he felt pain explode in his body, and it took all his strength not to cry out. But it was worse, much worse than his beatings and soon he let out a scream. Perhaps mercifully, he blacked out a moment later.

Writing out the full letter would be pretty tedious since it's the same as in canon, so I didn't bother