A/N: So my next attempt at a Fan story starts again. But I think I'll take my companion since childhood days on this attempt. It's also known as HARRY POTTER! Hope I can do better than last time though.

BTW, this is in an A/U Setting so no magic unfortunately.

CHAPTER ONE: Meet the Boy Who Changed

He sat at the window of his posh London apartment. Although the talks of an economic downturn had been going around for some time, he really didn't believe it. He would believe it once it came. Not before that. And when it did come, he would take the appropriate measures to keep himself safe from termination. That would involve calling in a few favours.

His mind reminded him of the irrelevancy of his situation. He was still young and he needed to enjoy it while he could. Work hard, party harder. And he was no stranger to parties. He was famous at the party scene for his drunken outbursts and for sleeping around. In a way, he had become his father or at least what he knew of his father. But according to his godfather, his father had changed for his mother. And then they had him and one year later, they died in a car crash leaving him with his uncle and aunt and their fat portly son. He left them to live with his godfather when he had found out about him. He considered it to be the best decision that he had ever made.

He sighed. One day, he would have to write an autobiography about himself. Maybe he would ask that Rowling woman back at the office to write something that would be interesting to both adults and kids and showed him in the light that he knew this parents would have wanted him to be seen in.

"Oh well. One day definitely. But for now, a cup of coffee should be good for me."

He got up and went to the kitchen and prepared a cup of coffee. He was about to start drinking when he heard a groan from his bedroom. He smiled a little and then started to prepare another cup. He picked up the other glass and walked to the bedroom. He opened the door and found himself face to face with an extremely beautiful woman who was smiling at him.

"Hey, naughty boy. Thank you for last night." She said.

"You're welcome. I love pleasing my women."

"Oh do you now? But funnily enough, I don't think I was entirely convinced last night."

"Well, how can we solve that?"

"Oh, I can think of a few ways. How about we start your redemption right now?"

**************************************************************************He was irritated without any reason to be. His day was going well, his analysis had just been proven right but for some reason, he felt off. Maybe it was the traffic he was stuck in. Perhaps the office would make him feel better. Not likely but he could hope right? It wasn't like he loved what he did but he had to make a living. Being the CEO was dry but it paid handsomely and got him anything he wanted. That really made up for the dryness of the job. He pulled up at the office and parked his Camaro. Other employees wished him when he walked in and he merely nodded before heading towards the elevator. He pressed twenty five and waited for an uninterrupted journey. His thoughts were interrupted when the elevator unexpectedly stopped at two and a very attractive woman walked in. He grimaced and opted to ignore her for a while.

He knew who she was. Who she was with. Who she'd been with. He knew everything about her. He wasn't a stalker. She was just his best friend. In fact, she was his only friend. The only woman he'd known emotionally since kindergarten. And he's been in love with her since he was sixteen. She didn't reciprocate the feelings though. She told him that he was mistaking his affection for her for love.

See, all of this would have been fine if she hadn't gone and gotten herself engaged to his assistant. HIS ASSISTANT OF ALL PEOPLE! The incompetent baboon who was kept around solely because of his expertise in extracting information necessary to keep the company at the top of the food chain. He shook his head slightly and he sensed that she had noticed it. She turned and glared at him.

"Don't mistreat him or I will have your head."

"Yes Hermione. You tell me that every day."

"Doesn't seem to be working, is it?"

"Nope. Honestly, the only thing that'll work is if you admit that you regret your decision to be with him and not me."

"If that were the truth, I'd have said it already. But it's not and to be honest, you're not the person I once knew. Or at least thought I knew."

"Actually, I'm still the same. You just think badly of me now."

"No Harry. You were always arrogant. But you were also good. Not so much anymore."

"This is all because he doesn't know how to do his job and I get on him for it. I haven't changed. My address hasn't changed. The number of rooms in my flat and the money in my account haven't changed either."

"I'd rather live with Ron in a dump than with you at your mansion."

"Oh well. Your loss, honey."

With that, she walked off and he continued his journey up to the twenty fifth floor. This time there were no interruptions and he walked into his office observing everyone. Although he would never tell them, the people in his office were very good at what they did, some even better than him, but they all lacked the killer instinct that had taken him to the top. He walked into his office and buzzed his assistant in.

"So, Ronald Weasley, why is there a meeting with the Head of HR at eleven for me today?"

"He requested it sir."

"Hmmm. Anything new on him?"

"Not yet sir. But we do know he's considering buying that start up sweet shop in Hogsmeade."

"Call me reactionary but have a financial analysis done of the store. See their long term economic viability and the probable cost of a purchase and expansion. If he's interested, they must be good. I can take it to the board if it's all good."

"Yes Sir. I'll get Lavender on it right away."

"Speaking of Lavender, tell her that she has a nice pair of knockers and that you'd like to shag her."

"Come on sir. You know I'm engaged."

"Marriage is the enemy of fun, Ronald. You have to understand that while you still can. I'm being magnanimous here. Do it or you're fired."

"Yes Sir"

He saw Ronald grimace and walk out the door and up to Lavender. He knew he'd done what he'd been instructed when Lavender slapped him and walked off in disgust. Ron walked back to his desk and sat there, silently stewing presumably. He buzzed Ronald.

"Please tell Lavender to meet me right now"

Lavender Brown, one of his top analysts, walked in wearing a shirt whose top button had been left open. In fact, she'd done it right outside his door with him watching. She smirked and sat down.

"Hello Lavender. I trust that Ron has told you about the assignment. I also wanted to thank you personally for your six years of fantastic work and loyalty. However, I'm sorry to say that this assignment will be your last"

She looked at him in surprise.

"Why Sir? I have done my job well and been loyal to this company."

"Yes but you also just slapped my assistant for no reason."

"Sir, do you know what he told me?"

"Of course I do. I told him to say it. But I also know that had I been the one to say it to you, you'd have shagged me on top of that desk there twice, maybe three times in a row. However, physical violence against a fellow employee is an investigation at the very least. And ummm, I'm sorry. I truly am."

"Sir, you can't fire me like this. I will sue you."

"Go ahead. Join the line. Just remember that when you do try to sue me, you better not miss. If you miss, you won't be the only one suffering."

She looked morose as she got up and left. Just before she left his office, he started laughing. She turned around bewildered.

"I was just kidding Lavender. You're not fired. The slap was funny though. Hilarious. Go back to work. You're not fired."

She immediately perked up and walked off while he kept chuckling at how much people loved to keep a job that they hated doing.

He looked at his clock and seeing that it was close to eleven, figured that he would have to go meet his mentor soon enough. He wondered why he was being called. Perhaps the Board wanted something. He got up and walked towards the only office above his. The Boardroom and the unofficial office of Albus Dumbledore, his mentor, the seventh richest man in England, the ex-CEO of Hogwarts Enterprises and most importantly, the ex-Minister of Education and Finance of England.

He knocked on the door and received permission to enter.

"Good Morning sir. You wanted to see me?"

"My dear boy, you have known me for at least eight years now and yet you still insist on calling me sir? I'm offended."

"Sorry Albus. I respect your more than anything or anyone and you deserve to be called sir."

"Yes Harry, I'm sure you mean that. I appreciate it. Sit. Let's talk."

"About the possible downturn? It can't be worse than the last one. I mean, we're well equipped to handle….."

"Heavens No! I've spent the better part of my life working. I would rather not do it with you right now. The downturn will come and we will survive as we always have. It's not yet time to worry about something that hasn't happened yet."

"Then what did you want to talk about, Sir? I mean, Albus."

"General life, dear child. I know, as well as you do, that there is a life outside of work. You have shielded yours from me as much as you can. And perhaps it is good. But I've also let you shield it from me. You are your own man and you make your own decisions. But I feel like I must advise you now before you lose the opportunity to change."

"Advise me about what, Albus? I'm fine. I'm rich, young, handsome and…."

"Still searching for love."

"Love does not exist Albus. And if it does, then I've already loved and I'm still in love"

"No Harry. You haven't loved yet and you don't love Miss Granger."

"Albus, you and I both know that that's false."

"No Harry. When I met you eight years ago, you were young and bold and used to getting your way. You changed when Hermione told you no. And since then, you've just been sleeping around so that you can ignore the rejection. You want to be loved and you want to love. You thought she was the one. She said no."

"She is the one, Albus. I know it."

"She's not, Harry."

"Even if she's not, I'm still fine Albus. You don't need to worry about me."

"Shagging anything that walks and has nice knockers and a behind does not mean you're fine. It means you're lonely and you're searching for someone who gives some meaning to life. Harry, before we ended up on opposite sides, I regretted letting Gellert go. I still do. When you find that person you truly love, don't let him or her go. No matter what."

"Albus, I found her. And she said no. What do you want me to do?"

"Miss Granger has never been meant to be anything more than a friend to you Harry. You just misunderstood your affection for her as love."

"That's where you're wrong, Albus. I love her."

"No Harry. You fancy her. There's quite a bit of difference there."

"Are we done? Can I go?"

"You're free to leave whenever you want Harry. I just want you to know that I have your best interest at heart when it comes to this."

Harry walked out of the door, stared up and sighed. He'd been hearing this for five years. About how he'd mistaken his affection for love. He didn't believe it but he had to think. What if they were right?

***************************************************************************The night came quickly. And the night found Harry James Potter standing at another night club scouting the crowd. Most of them knew him. And most of them fancied him. He spotted three girls dancing with each other. All of them were very hot. And his criterion just so happened to be very hot. He slowly made his way towards them.

"Hello ladies. Any plans for tonight?" he asked them.

"Well, nothing yet Mister Potter. But umm, you can help us plan." Said one of the girls.

"Well, since you already know my name, how about I know your names? Actually, never mind. We won't need names for what's coming next. How about we ditch this place and go back to mine? I have a king size bed for four and we can see the whole of London while we do it."

The girls laughed and asked him to wait while they headed to the ladies room.

Harry went to the bar and ordered a shot of whisky. It burned his throat but he loved the feeling. He got another one and turned when someone bumped into him. He dropped his glass and he swore. He heard a 'Sorry' and for a second, he found himself wondering about the source of the voice. He looked up and saw red hair walking away. He wondered who she was and ordered another whisky. He turned around and saw the three girls walking towards him. He grinned. Harry James Potter was about to have an eventful night.

A/N: Well that's the first chapter. Hope you guys liked it. Please review.