Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. Twilight belongs to Stephanie Meyer. I own nothing.
The sun broke fair over the battle-scarred castle in the highlands of Scotland. A young man in a traveling cloak and a bundle in his arms made his way quietly through the corridors. As he swiftly descended the grand staircase a figure stepped out of an alcove.
"Where are you going Potter?" asked the blonde with bags under his eyes.
"Away, Malfoy," he said quietly. "I just need to get away," quickly averting his eyes from the Great hall. It had been twelve days since the final battle and Harry was still haunted by the pale faces and unseeing eyes of the dead.
"Take me with you," came quietly from the blonde. "Please, I don't think I'll survive here much longer. The hatred in their eyes is too much. I… I can't …"
"It's alright Draco. I understand. Are you all packed?" Harry hoped.
"Yes…Harry," Draco said uneasily.
"Since we'll be traveling together, we may as well use each others first names." Harry said with a small smile. Draco gave him a small smirk in return. "We'll go to Gringotts first and get our affairs in order. I've already corresponded with the goblins and they understand our need for confidentiality. They'll help get our travel arrangements in order."
"Apparate?" Draco queried.
"No, we'll floo from Hogsmeade to Gringotts, then use muggle transportation to get to my new house in America. It'll be harder to trace for those that would like to get their hands on us," Harry responded as they made their way through the school gates to Hogsmeade. They looked back at the castle one last time before the flooing to Gringotts.
When they reached the bank Harry went to the first teller and stated his name and that he had an appointment with the Head Goblin. The teller took the trio to the goblin's office and knocked twice. A growled 'Enter' was quickly heard and the teller ushered them in and quickly left.
"Mr. Potter, I am Ragnok, Head Goblin of the London branch of Gringotts. It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person," the goblin said with an almost feral grin revealing his pointed teeth. "We have made the arrangements requested for you and your godson, but I did not expect another, " he said with a pointed look at Draco.
"It is a recent development," Harry replied. "I think Draco would like the same arrangements to be made for him. He is coming with us."
"Very well. Master Malfoy we have arranged for all of Master Potter's accounts and assets to be put under the name Harrison Black and set up a trust vault for Teddy Black," at the mention of his name, Teddy gurgled and looked towards the goblin. Harry looked Fondly at his godson.
"We have also purchased a car and house in a muggle town in Washington State. According to the papers we have given Master Potter, his parents recently died and he was emancipated and gained custody of his brother, Teddy. We could make similar arrangements for you,' Ragnok quickly explained.
"I think it would be best if he was also given the name of Black and we can say that all three of us were adopted by the same couple and he was also emancipated upon their deaths," Harry said quietly while playing with Teddy. "If that's alright with you Draco?" Harry queried looking up from his godson.
"That would be best, I think," Draco responded quietly. "Are you sure you want me to be a part of your family Harry?"
Harry looked at Draco and said, "Our experiences are similar and there are very few who could understand what we went through. I would be proud to call you family Draco."
Draco sat back in his seat stunned by Harry's words. He could not believe that his childhood rival would so easily forgive him, but then again Harry had always been rather forgiving and Draco had always initiated the animosity.
He gave a small smile to Harry who returned to doting on his godson and Draco turned back to Ragnok, saying, "Please make the arrangements as Harry specified."
"Excellent. It will be done as quickly as possible. Pleas sign these papers," handing Draco a stack and a quill.
"Now here are all your papers and your plane tickets, Master Potter. Here is your portkey; it is untraceable and will drop you at a private part of Heathrow airport," Ragnok said giving them a thick folder and muggle pen. "Please give me a moment to get Master Malfoy's travel arrangements in order."
Ragnok summoned another goblin and directed him get a ticket for Draco on the same flight as Harry and Teddy. Harry was now making faces at his godson with Teddy trying to imitate his godfather as Draco finished signing the papers and handed Ragnok the forms. The goblin Ragnok summoned walked back into the office and handed him the new plane ticket.
"Here is your ticket," Ragnok said handing the ticket Draco. "Your portkey will activate in 45 seconds. Good luck Messrs Black."
"Thank You, Ragnok," Harry said. "May your gold multiply and your enemies diminish."
Ragnok gave him a fierce smile and said to them, "May your cups overflow and peace be your friend."
The portkey then activated and the trio found themselves in a small room. They exited a door in Heathrow with no one noticing and checking their tickets made their way to their gate. They quietly checked in at the counter and showed their passports to the clerk. As the plane was already boarding, they quickly made way to their seats. As soon as the were settled in, Draco turned to Harry.
"Thank you, Harry. I don't know why you've shown me such kindness with our less than pleasant history, but I appreciate it," Draco said.
"We both deserve a new life Draco. It may not be easy living with each other at first, but I am willing to try," Harry responded. "Friends?"
"Friends," Draco said taking Harry's extended hand.
They both sat back in their seats with smiles on their faces looking forward to their new lives. Teddy gurgled, smiling in Harry's arms.
Those currently residing at Hogwarts made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy looked for their son, Draco, but figured he was still off sulking somewhere. Harry Potter's friends glanced around and not seeing him figured his godson, Teddy, had woken up early and Harry had taken him for a tour of the castle. All thought they would simply go to the kitchens later since they missed breakfast
When lunch came around and the wayward trio had yet to show themselves people started to get worried. Lucius and Narcissa arrived at the head table as same time as Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
"Professor McGonagall, have you seen Harry and Teddy? They weren't at breakfast and we haven't been able to find them," Hermione said while gaining the attention of everyone in the Hall.
"Draco is also missing. We haven't been able to find him, either," Lucius stated primly.
As the Great Hall descended into chaos a beautiful tawny owl flew through a window and delivered its letter to the acting Head Mistress. McGonagall opened the letter and quickly read through the contents her face growing more grim by the sentence. She then read the letter aloud.
Dear Professor McGonagall,
As you have no doubt already realized Draco, Teddy, and I are gone. With help from some diminutive friends we have made our departure secretly and untraceable. Please take this as a hint. If you attempt to find us it will only serve to drive us further away, figuratively and literally. We have decided to start new lives away from the painful memories that haunt us here in Britain. We ask you to respect our wishes.
Thank You and Goodbye,
Harry J. Potter, Teddy R. Lupin, & Draco L. Malfoy
The people in the Great Hall sat stunned for a moment before the shouting started. The volume continued to rise as theories, plans, and accusations flew. Narcissa glanced over at her sister, Andromeda, and noted the serene look on her face.
"Andi, you're taking the disappearance of your grandson, his godfather, and your nephew particularly well," Narcissa stated suspicious of her sister, who looked back at her calmly.
"Indeed, Cissy."
"Where are they, Andi?" Narcissa demanded.
"I don't know. I just know they planned to leave," Andromeda replied. "You and Lucius have been so wrapped up in re-establishing your station in life that you completely neglected to notice that others were vilifying your son and he was slipping deeper and deeper into depression. We talked and he asked if he should leave. I told him he should do what would make him happy."
Turning to McGonagall and the others, Andromeda said, "While all of you have begun to rebuild, you've completely ignored Harry's well being. You joke about his 'Saving-People-Complex', but you fail to realize he really does blame himself for all the deaths. The faces of everyone haunt him in his nightmares. Not to mention he is so hounded by the press he can't even leave the castle. This place he once saw as his home had become his prison filled with the memories of everyone he lost. His words, not mine. When he asked to take Teddy with him when he left and I assented on the condition he send letters and pictures from time to time."
Everyone stood still horrified by her words. She looked at all of them and stated, "They, all three, deserve a quiet life away from the press and their pasts."
"Be that as it may Ms. Tonks, there are still dangers out there and I must insist they return," said the acting Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shaklebolt. "The letter said 'diminutive friends' would that be the house elves?"
"Mixy!" called McGonagall.
"Professor, ma'am, called Mixy," squeaked an old house elf decked out in Hogwarts livery.
"Yes, Mixy. Did you and the others help Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy pack their things and leave this morning?" McGonagall asked.
"Oh, no, Headmistress ma'am," Mixy replied. "Dissy did asks if they wanteds our help, but both says noes. It is good the young misters are gone though. Their nightmares were being very bads."
Everyone was stunned, none of them had known that the boys were having nightmares. With everything going on after the battle and then trying to rebuild the school and their country, nobody had thought to look in on the boys.
"We must find them," said Narcissa.
"Cissy, I should warn you, Sirius was not officially disowned and he made Harry his heir. That means Harry is now Lord of the House of Black. If you go against his wishes he could annul your marriage and disown you," Andromeda said looking at her sister. "And Minister Shaklebolt it will be very difficult to go against a Lord of two Houses. Leave the boys be."
Again people were stunned. None had known of Harry's status as the Lord of two noble houses. Andromeda looked around at the overwhelmed faces and then strode out of the room knowing her work was done.