Title: Nemesis

Author: TardisIsTheOnlyWaytoTravel

Pairings: Harry/Luna.

Rating: PG-13, I s'pose.

Story Summary: After the DoM fiasco, Harry's friends abandon him. Nemesis appears and poses the question: if you have nothing left to fight for, why fight? With her help Harry vanishes, leaving a big ol' mess back in wizarding Britain. Contains a talented Harry, stupid self-righteous friends, and one GoodGuy! intelligent, caring, furious Dumbledore.

Setting: Summer after fifth year. AU.

Author notes:

No Dumbles-bashing in this fic! I know, it's fun… but for once here's a Dumbledore who honestly cares for Harry but is between a rock and a hard place. It's about time disloyal friends got verbally bashed around the head by a seething Dumbledore, don't you think?

Some inspiration came from Missing: Presumed Missing? by Seel'vor and the fantastic Bad Week at the Wizengamot by DisobedienceWriter. Neither features goddesses, though.

NEMESIS

PROLOGUE

The last day of school, several days after the battle in the Department of Mysteries.

Harry was surprised to be cornered by his friends just before they all boarded the train. Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny; everyone but Luna, still in St Mungo's from the Department of Mysteries battle a few days ago. They looked grim.

"What's going on?"

It was Ron who answered.

"It's over Harry."

His tone filled Harry with dread.

"What's over?"

"This," Hermione replied. "Us. Specifically, our friendship with you."

It was, of course, Ginny who was blunt enough to tell him why. Harry had often wondered if Tom's possession of her was the reason for her diminished empathy, or if it was simply natural. Whatever the reason, when Ginny felt injured she had no regard whatsoever for anyone's feelings. Harry had written her off as a mild sociopath.

"You nearly got us killed, Harry," she spat, "taking us to the Department of Mysteries. You put us all in danger, got us hurt, and to cap it all off, got Sirius killed."

Harry turned so white it looked as though he were going to faint.

"You're dangerous," Neville added. "Stay away from us."

Harry could only stare blindly as they walked away.

-

The letter from Remus came a day later. It was short and to the point. Sirius was dead; it was Harry's fault. Remus thought it was best if Harry didn't contact him for a while.

-

In one short burst, Harry had lost his only true family, all of his friends, and his hope for the future.

He had nothing.

-

END PROLOGUE