Chapter Text
Hadrian “Harry” Potter can talk to animals. However, he was somewhat of a squib. Really, his only magical power was talking to animals.
And the vengeful spirits, but that’s more of a side hobby. Afterall, he does have a muggle plant shop to run.
“You’ve got to be shitting me.”
The mouse shook their head and squeaked.
“Really? There’s somebody living there?”
Not much happens in Little Hangleton, but the animals around tell him everything. It’s almost like they have nobody to talk to. Oh right. They really don't, unfortunately.
“And this concerns me how?”
Squeak. Squeak squeak. Squeeeeek.
“Nope, still don’t get why I should care, that sounds like a problem for my brother, who’s family quite literally dumped me here after that discovery, if you don’t remember—”
Just then the bell above the door jingled and a rather peculiar customer stopped abruptly, taking in the scene.
“Are you talking to that mouse?” The figure seemed rather put-off about it, despite wearing what has got to be the weirdest set of clothes the Potter twin has ever seen. At least, on a living person. In the present. This person is clearly not from around here, as all the villagers have gotten used to Hadrians's hijinks and little "quirks", as Mrs. Abernathy likes to say.
The vengeful dead wore odd outfits like this person.
“Nope, they were talking to me. Quite annoying really; who wants to hear about the latest in cheese harvesting?”
“...Right. Well. I don’t suppose you’d have any…” He trailed off as he eyed at one of the shelves in the back. “Are any of those for sale?”
Harry looked behind him. Those were the plants he was saving for the… special customers that the spirit of one Marvolo Gaunt told him about.
“Well, yeah—this is a plant shop, no?” The botanist walked over to the shelf. “Which one would you like, sir?”
“The dit— “ he cleared his throat. “The one with the rather bulbous looking leaves, if you would, please.”
Well, at least he’s polite.
“Oh! The dittany, I believe. Took me forever to get it to grow right. Did you know it’s believed to heal werewolf bites? Not their lycanthropy of course, but it would make sure they don’t bleed out. I really would not recommend using its properties every time you get a papercut, that’s for sure, but you seem like the kind of person who wouldn’t and- I’ll just shut up now.”
“Right then. Here you go, one plant of dittany. Would you like anything else?” Harry was at the register now, holding out the potted plant to the customer, who picked it up with surprising ease.
“Not at the moment.”
“Well then, your total is…actually, I’m not quite sure. What’s the exchange rate between galleons and pounds?”
The customer blinked and abruptly brought out their wand. While still holding the plant in one arm.
“Oh honestly. There’s no need for that!” Not like an obliviate's gonna work, anyway. “You wizarding folk really should get out into the outside world a lot more. Nobody’s gonna burn you at the stake, not with aliens running amok and the Avengers being broken up after that whole debacle but—” He might be lying out of his pants but he did just watch Avengers: Endgame for the fiftieth time and it's not like the wizard is gonna know.
“Shut. Up.”
“Yep okay shutting up.”
“You will not, will not, tell the other muggles about me.”
Harry snorts but quickly rectifies that when the wand pokes his nose harshly. “Yeah yeah, Statute of Secrecy and all that—”
“You will not speak to me like that, muggle—”
“Squib, actually. And if you really must, No-Maj is a much better name than muggle.”
Abruptly, the annoyed wizard apparated out.
“HEY! YOU STILL NEED TO PAY FOR THAT!!”
Slowly, all manner of creatures crawled out of their hidey-holes. Hadrian brushed off his green apron, unashamed that he annoyed the wizard. He always wears his favorite apron while working. It matches quite well with his black jeans and white shirt.
“Well that was refreshing. Should we visit Ole Jim and tell him the good news?”