I am no ordinary teenager, and today, my sixteenth birthday, would be just another ordinary day in my life. My name is Harry Potter, and I am one of the most well-known wizards in Britain. This has led to me having some very unfortunate events in my life, the last happening at the beginning of this summer.
But today, started off like any other day in my life. I awoke to the sound of my uncle pounding on my bedroom door and demanding that I wake up. I quickly rolled out of bed and threw on some semi-clean clothes. I haven't done laundry in a couple of weeks and have continued to put it off. I then tossed a couple of owl treats into Hedwig's cage in case she returned, and then ran down the stairs.
"Hurry up boy! Help your aunt with the breakfast and then I have some chores for you to do today," my Uncle Vernon yells from the table where he is reading the paper.
"Yes Uncle Vernon. I live to serve you," I mutter under my breath. I usually know better than to talk back to my uncle, in the past this has never resulted in anything good but I'm not in the right frame of mind. You see, I have not been sleeping well, in fact I can't even remember the last time I slept a whole night through.
"Potter, if you know what's good for you, you will watch your attitude. I got an interesting phone call this morning from a man named Remus Lupin. He wanted to inform our family that he and your godfather would be stopping by this evening before dinner. He told me that you should be packed and ready to go."
I couldn't suppress the smile that appeared on my face and knew that the day could only go up from here. With that in mind, I did not waste any more time and quickly made breakfast and hurried along with my other chores. After a quick lunch of a cheese sandwich, I hurried up to my bedroom to pack up my trunk.
I then sat on the front steps of number 4 Privet Drive, waiting for my godfather and surrogate uncle to arrive.
"Alright Harry?" Remus asks appearing from the shadows and nudging me awake.
"Remus! Sirius!" I yell jumping up and giving them both a big hug. I haven't seen them since I spent nearly a week in St. Mungo's at the beginning of the summer.
After falling into a trap that drew me and a group of my friends to the Ministry of Magic, we were captured before the Order of the Phoenix could arrive and help us. Neville, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and I all spent two weeks trapped in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor. There we were tortured for information on the Order and Dumbledore, even though we did not have very much to tell. We didn't all make it out alive. In fact, Ginny, Luna and I are the only one's back home. Neville is still in St. Mungo's and Ron is in a coma.
"How are you feeling?" Sirius asks with concern as he holds me close. He wanted me to immediately come stay with him after I was released from the hospital, but Dumbledore wouldn't allow it. "Are you all packed and ready to go? We are heading straight to Remus' and once there we have a lot to discuss. We won't have time to come back."
I nod my head, ignoring the majority of their questions. I don't know if I'm ok. I wasn't ready for everything that has happened to me, and I definitely wasn't prepared to deal with it now that it is over, for the time being.
"Alright then, let's get going. Sirius, you take Harry and I will take care of Hedwig and the trunk," Remus says pulling out his wand.
Sirius pulls me close, and wraps both of his arms around me, holding me to his chest. Then without further warning he apparates us into the kitchen of Remus' house. As soon as my feet hit the ground again I double over and dry heave.
"Sorry about that, I probably should have given you a bit more warning. I didn't want to waste any more time. Are you alright? Still nauseous?" Sirius asks rubbing my back.
I nod my head before flopping down into a seat at the kitchen table.
"What's going on? Why did you come get me so soon? I thought that the plan was to pick me up next week, and then I was going to stay at headquarters until the first of September when it was time to go back to school…" I trail off, worriedly looking between the two men I trusts most.
"There is no need to panic Harry. Nothing bad has happened, there just has been a change of plans. Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Snape have discovered some information that will help us defeat the Dark Lord. Because of this, for the time being it has been decided that it would be for the best if you went into hiding for a bit," Remus says preparing a kettle to make some tea.
"What caused the change though? I thought that I was the only one that could defeat him?"
"Well, about that. Dumbledore and I have had a bit of a chat about that. You are only sixteen years old Harry. The fate of the world does not rest of your shoulders, no matter what some bloody prophecy says! The future is not set in stone. Prophecies are not definite things. Because of this, I decided that it was time that we got you out of here," Sirius says sitting down across from me.
"What! I can't! I can't leave my friends! After… After the… I just can't leave them, it's not fair. I have to do everything I can to keep them safe!"
"Harry, this is exactly what we are worried about. After everything that you have been through you still show a lack of self-preservation. You are just a child. You may not think so, and I understand that you have seen things in your life that many adults could never face but in the end you are still young. You deserve to live your life without all of this fear and pressure. And Sirius and I know that you are not dealing with these tragedies. We fear that you aren't allowing yourself to heal," Remus says coming to stand next to my chair, resting his hands on my shoulders.
"Regardless of all of this, we have come up with a plan. With a way to take you out of the war. We have gotten Dumbledore's approval, so there is no fear of that…"
"So? What's this plan?" I say, getting annoyed with all them not being straightforward.
"Well, we are going to hide you. Sirius and I contacted a distant cousin of mine who lives in the states. He is rather well off, and fairly well known, but after telling him of the situation he agreed to help us out and to allow us to move in with him."
"Basically, the three of us are going to take a potion that is going to change our appearances. You will in the end look like a mix of what Remus and I will look like and you will become our son. Along with the potion, you will be de-aged to help further hide your identity. It'll be like witness protection! It'll be fun, a new adventure!" Sirius yells excitedly, trying to pull a shocked me out of my thoughts.
"When?" I ask, it is all I can manage to get out. My mind is whirling with all of this new information.
"Tomorrow. Professor Snape agreed to make us the potions that we were going to need and they should be ready tomorrow. Then we have a flight to the United States on the next day, Friday," Remus says, turning me towards him. "Are you sure you are alright with this. If you aren't, then we need to discuss it now," he says looking me right in the eye.
"I think so? I don't know… it's sort of a lot to take in. How old am I being de-aged to? Will I remember everything?"
"You are going to be de-aged to six years old, and yes you will remember everything. But you will have the emotions and impulses of a six year old. Look Harry. We know that this is a lot to take in and that it is a big decision, but just think. You will finally get to grow up the way you were supposed to! With Remus and I as your guardians."
"Alright. I'll do it."