Chapter 9: Bullies
Nick was surprised how no one seemed to notice the brilliant ring on his right hand in the orphanage or on the bus ride to school. The only time this changed was when he sat next to Harry after turning in his homework. "Where'd you get that ring?" the bespectacled boy asked with clear confusion. Harry knew from the previous day that Nick was an orphan just like him so he was worried that it was gotten through thievery even if Nick didn't seem the sort to do such a thing.-
Nick chuckled at how good natured Harry was despite the life he's led so far. "Not to worry mate it's not stolen , honestly made it just last night. Try to keep that quiet though as it'll cause problems for me if others found out." he said honestly. Nick had no intention of lying to Harry since even in the books the boy was extremely perceptive to lies. Harry's eyes widened when he heard that and he grew excited "You know how to make jewelry!?" he asked with a very interested expression. Nick didn't blame Harry since thanks to his aunt spending large amount of money on jewelry as a sign of status he knew jewelry crafters probably made loads of money.-
Harry might not have ever been given any real money but he was perceptive enough to notice that those with it could live comfortably. Learning that the first person who wanted to be friends with him could make jewelry thus excited him greatly. 'Poor guy doesn't even have a clue how valuable what I make really is , can't tell him either since the old mind raper might pick it off his mind.' Nick thought with a sigh. "I'm no master but I know a little about the craft." he told Harry honestly.-
"Does this mean you can get rich?" Harry asked with sparkling eyes. Nick chuckled "And who would buy jewelry from a brat like me? Nah mate unless I get an older business partner getting rich is impossible at the moment." Nick shot down that idea immediately with cold hard logic. Harry paused for a moment but nodded in a depressed agreement at that truth filled statement. "Besides the metal I need to make stuff doesn't exactly grow on trees and don't get me started on the tools." Nick said in exasperation. "Then how did you make that ring?" Harry asked confused.-
"Got lucky enough to have some metal fall in my lap and borrowed some tools temporarily to make this ring and the unfinished form of another." Nick said without technically lying since what he said was true , just missing some details. "You have another ring!?" Harry asked surprised at this information. Nick was about to reply when he was interrupted by Harry's cousin and his gang of two other boys each looking stupider than the last. "OI! stay away from Harry , he's a freak!" The fat boy said rudely with his arms crossed.-
Harry seemed to shrink at the boys presence and words and looked at Nick with teary eyes expecting him to agree with his cousin like everyone seems to. This didn't happen however as instead Nick stared Dudley in the eyes without restraining his magic making the boy recoil in instinctive fear. "How so?" Nick asked calmly and clearly without any emotion at all. Dudley froze at the question as his atrophied brain cells tried to find an answer but he could only spew out "Because my parents said so!" angrily trying to justify himself. "I didn't ask what your parents said...." Nick intensified his magical pressure on the boy "I asked how he was a freak." he said coldly.-
Harry watched in amazement and awe as Nick didn't even need to stand in order to bring his cousin to heel despite the size difference between them. Dudley looked like a goldfish as he opened and closed his mouth trying to find and answer but eventually gave up and simply left angrily. Harry looked like he wanted to cry tears of joy over how Nick defended him and swore to himself he'd never betray his trust even if it killed him.-
Nick was totally unaware that he had basically just kicked Ronald Weasley out of his spot as Harry's bestest friend before he even got it! What he did know was that Dudley was bound to report this to his parents who would try and cause problems for Harry or even Nick himself. He sighed at this knowledge since he had only just made Harry's life a little harder but he couldn't help himself as he can't stand bullies. In his previous life he himself had been the subject of attack by bullies due to his intelligence and it showed in his borderline antisocial personality.
_____________________________________
my patrons can read at least five chapters ahead along with using the site as a way to directly contact myself rather than needing to hope i respond to your comments.
pa treon.com/user?u=81578854