Chapter 1 –Year 1994

Summer after Third Year

The sun was just setting on the picture perfect neighborhood of Privet Dr. The cookie cutter homes were a wash with the colors of twilight and the street was filled with the silence of a long day's end. The houses were quite and only a few lights shone through the dusk. In all of the houses but one, Number Four was ablaze with light and voices broke the otherwise silent night.

"You are a disgrace to this family boy." The sound of Vernon Dursley's voice echoed into the approaching night. It was such a common thing that their neighbors just turned up their televisions and ignored the loud interruption. "You're to leave this house you freak, and never darken our doorway again. Is that clear boy?"

"Crystal, you fat basterd." This second voice was softer but held just as much fury as the first. The sound of skin on skin ruptured the still night.

"Don't take that tone with me you ungrateful freak." The door of Number Four was thrown open and a small figure was tossed on to the front walk. "If you're still here in the morning I'll finish what that other freak started."

The door slammed shut and the figure pulled itself up to reveal the Dursley's young nephew. The boy made a rude hand sign at the door before he made his way out of their yard. Harry Potter was not a young man often found in a place like Privet Dr. He was on the small side for someone going on fourteen with flyaway ebony locks and glowing emerald eyes. He was different from the inhabitants of the houses he passed, he was magical, a wizard to be exact. However, something set him apart even from others of his kind. A small lightning bolt-shaped scar upon his otherwise smooth brow declared him to be the Boy-Who-Lived.

He was the defeater of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Lord Voldemort, the darkest wizard since the founding of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was a savior, a bloody messiah and that was one of the reasons Harry would not be returning to the hidden world of magic. The other reason was a little more complicated, he was scared but not for himself, everyone he got close to was in danger. His godfather, escaped convict of Azkaban wizarding prison, had almost had his soul removed because of him and it was all his fault.

It was his fault the Dementors had been placed at Hogwarts; it was his fault that Peter Pettigrew, the traitor, had escaped; it was his fault that Ron Weasley his best friend had been hurt and it was his fault that Remus Lupin had been forced from his teacher position at the school. It was his entire fault, but he was going to make it better, he was going to vanish so no one else could be hurt because of him again. Harry just had to make sure that nobody found him, especially not Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts.

He had a plan though; he'd go to London, not a soul would expect him to go there, he'd find some out of the way place and set up shop. Harry realized that it would be hard, he would need someplace to live and a job but he was determined. He'd make it on his own if it killed him in the end; he had to keep going, there was no other option.

Emerald eyes stared up at the star lit sky and smiled a sad smile. It was truly beautiful he decided, but he didn't dare pause too long to bask in its' beauty. He wanted to be out of Surry before anyone noticed he was gone. He had a long way to go before morning and if he stopped he might not get going again. So he trudged on with silent stars and the moon as his only companions.

-0-

Living on his own had been rougher then Harry had first thought it would be. The money he'd stolen from his relatives did not last long but he had found away around that. There were several men in the dirty, rundown motels around where he had rented a room that would pay a lot of money to spend a few hours with a pretty young man. Not that he was a whore; he just found that at that moment it was better to go with flow instead of fighting the current.

Harry looked up at his momentary partner, Jack Porter. The man was built in just the right way to make any man or woman drool. His drool factor was increased by bright blue eyes, long spiky dark blonde hair and a strong handsome face. Not only was he hot but Jack was a good guy, really he always made sure Harry got the better end of the deal. Their sessions didn't always include sex, sometimes they would just sit and read or the blonde would tell him about the bar he owned. Above him Jack gave a strangled groan and Harry let out a soft whimper of pleasure. They lay together for sometime, just basking in the afterglow. It was a nice feeling for the raven, most of his costumers did the dirty then left to return to their ramshackle lives.

"Thanks kid, I'd love to stay for another round but Todd called in sick." The raven hummed quietly as the larger man pulled himself from the bed. Harry turned onto his side so he could watch as Jack struggled with his pants; he smiled as the man jumped around on one foot trying to get the other into the denim material. Finally the blonde was dressed; he opened a thick leather wallet that he'd gotten out of his pocket. He causally placed the money on dresser as he opened the door. "I'll see you soon kid."

Harry sighed as he finally extracted himself from his sheets. With a slight limp he walked to the cabinet and swept up the bills. He counted them slowly not that he needed to; Jack always left too much. The dark haired boy had tried to give it back one day but the man had just smiled and said that he felt Harry needed it more than him. It was another reason he liked the older man, theirs was a give and take relationship. He slept with the other and in return he ate well for a few days and got to keep a roof over his head so he had someplace to sleep with the man again. It was a cycle and Harry knew he'd miss Jack when (if) he was ever able to find gainful employment.

-0-

Jack had a smile across his face as he strolled causally along the upper landing of the dilapidated motel he had been frequenting at least twice a week for the better part of three months. Work was good, the bar was prospering and his side projects had all been wrapped up in a nice little box. He had more time than usual and he planned on spending it with certain green eyed kid. His smile grew as he thought of the quiet young man; oh he knew better then to get attached but something about the kid drew him in, like a moth to a flame. As he stopped before the boy's door he realized he didn't even know green eyes name. He made a mental note to ask the boy later, 'after the fun' he thought with a smirk.

He knocked three times paused and knock again twice. Normally during the day the raven sat at his small table by the door so that he could always get to the door quickly but Jack found himself waiting for far too long. He frowned and rapped against the cold steel once more even as he drew a Taurus PT 911 from his shoulder harness. When he got no answer he cautiously opened the door and quickly checked for any potential threat.

The kid liked to keep the room clean but the pale light from the door reveled a disaster zone. He frown deepened as he flipped the light switch; the lamp by the bed flickered and sputtered but finally decided to illuminate the small room. The dresser had been over turned and the bed was slammed into the wall however Jack's blue eyes were focused on a small spatter of crimson blood on the carpet. He quickly entered and closed the door to block the view inside, it wouldn't do to advertize the drama to someone who might call the constable.

He carefully climbed over the pale yellow dresser and skirted around the bed following the small blood trail, it turned the corner into the dark bathroom. Jack pressed himself against the separation wall; the familiar weight in his hand was comforting. He reached blindly into the lavatory feeling for the switch. As he flipped the small plastic lever he charged around the barrier ready to fire at a moments notice. Inside the small enclosure was a large heaping pile of human.

He stepped forward lightly and kicked a small 9mm away from a fat hand. When he was sure it was out of reach he lowered his own gun but he refused to holster it. He squatted near the things head and felt for a pulse, there was none. Jack used the barrel to shift its hair so he could see the man's face; it was Tony Carter, a local big wig with a taste of rough sex with young boys. The blonde knew no one would mourn the tub of lard. A soft whimper had he turning with pistol ready to the small bathtub shower combo, the curtain was drawn but he could see something moving on the other side.

He took a deep breath and ripped the plastic back; several rings popped loose, showering him in broken plastic. Staring back at him were large emerald eyes, he breathed a sigh of relief. Jack moved a little closer only to stop as the boy raised a blood stained knife.

"Kid," His voice was gentle and soothing. The naked boy was in fight or flight mode and he had no doubt the boy could use that knife to protect himself just fine. He slowly raised his hands in a placating way before he carefully slid his Taurus back into its holder. "Hey kid, it's okay. I won't hurt you."

"… Jack…" The boy's voice weak and tired and Jack wondered briefly how long the raven had been hiding in that shower. Blue eyes watched as the blade slipped from the teens shaking, bloody hands. He only had a moment to process it before his arms were full of a crying raven. Jack didn't know how long he held the boy like that. Finally the boy's tears slowed to an almost stop and green eyes peered up at him from behind black bangs. "Thank you Jack."

"Come on kid." He pulled himself up with a groan; he was defiantly getting old. Jack helped the kid up and led him out of the bathroom. He forced the teen on to the bed before searching around the room for any first aid supplies and some cloths as he saw the kid shiver. The blonde ripped a cast off shirt into a few strips; he dampened a couple in the bathroom before sitting down in front of the kid. "What's your name? I can't keep calling you kid all the time now can I?"

"Deuce Ravennight," Was the soft reply. Jack nodded as he gently cleaned the wounds on the ki… on Deuce's arms. It looked like Tony had started out with the knife but obviously the raven had wrestled it away from the fat man. Jack had the boy cleaned quickly and while the bandages weren't perfect they would hold for some time. Getting Deuce dressed was easy as well, the kid was probably still in shock. "Why are you helping me?"

"'Cause you look like you need help, 'sides you remind me of me." Jack pulled the kid up and toward the door. A quick peek outside told him just how late it was; he turned back only to stop breathing. In the soft red glow of the busted clock Deuce looked so young with his oversized cloths and large gem like eye. It scared him slightly because he was sure the kid was an angel sent down to earth to save him. He shook his head, blonde locks flopping about his face; he didn't have time to fanaticize, he had to get them gone. "You got anything you want to keep?"

"No."

"Good, we should leave before anyone starts missing our dear Mr. Carter." Jack said as he grabbed the kid's hand. It was almost too easy to lead Deuce through the maze of the motel complex and to his car. They had only one run-in; a drunk in 35B who thought they were his kids but after a few slurred insults he tottered back into his room. All too soon they were buckled into tiny a Honda and making a rather quick exit stage left onto the freeway. "So I'm guessing you don't have any place to go, do you?"

"No," The kid's voice was so soft that Jack was glad he didn't have the radio on.

"Is that a no you don't have a place to go or a no you do have a place to go?" The look he received would have killed him but it was contradicted by a small smile on plump red lips. Jack smiled back and they both enjoyed the semi-silence of the road. They drove for some time before the blonde pulled off into a parking lot beside a building with a sign declaring it to be the blonde's bar. He turned to face the small slip of a boy in his passenger set. "Here we are kid; this is my baby 'Home Away From Home', ain't she a beaut?"

Deuce nodded silently even as his eyelids began to close. He pulled them back open at the last second but they just slid down again. He raised a small pale hand to rub at the emerald orb cutely and a yawn nearly split his pretty little face in half. Jack smiled and ruffled the long dark lock before undoing their belts. He jumped out and opened the kid's door just like Mamma G had taught him.

"Come on, you can stay here. There's more than enough room." Jack pulled the sleepy boy up the stairs that ran around the side of the squat building. He easily unlocked and opened the door without dropping the tiny hand that was encased in his much larger one. He only then realized how messy his apartment was, he laughed nervously. "Well it's not the Ritz but…"

"It's fine Jack." Deuce said softly even as he knocked aside an old pizza box. Jack went to reply but at that moment his phone rang. He laughed again as he went on a hunt for the damned thing. He found it under a slightly used Hustler. It rang again in anger even as he picked it up from its cradle.

"Porter here."

"Jackie boy; we have a problem."

"What?"

"Seems like Alex Cain is taking that which does not belong to him. I want this dealt with. Personally."

"Alright, I understand."

"You better leave soon; the little rat might jump ship if he's left alone for too long."

"I'll be there in few minutes." Jack sighed as he dropped it back on to the carrier. He found that during his quick conversation Deuce had fallen asleep. The blonde frowned, he had a job but he didn't want to leave the kid alone. He bit at his lip as he gazed between the door and Deuce; a sigh passed his abused lip. What to do, what to do? "Damn it all to hell."

He would only be gone for a few minutes; a couple of hours at most. Really how much trouble could a kid get into in that time? Jack gnashed his teeth and cursed again, he was really not good with children; though if truth be told he was sure as not a child. With a final sigh he looked around for a pen and some paper. He found a pen under an old People magazine; where the hell did that come from. He ripped off part of the pizza box.

'Deuce I'll be back soon. Make yourself at home

Jack'

He set the piece of cardboard down where the raven would see it if he woke up. A quick glance at his watch had him cursing again as he rushed to find where his keys had gotten to. Jack finally spotted them still hanging in the door, he gave a weak chuckle. It reminded him of an old lady leaving the keys in the ignition, he felt very old in that moment. He grabbed the knob and looked over his shoulder at the sleeping kid. It was a strange feeling to have someone in his space but it was a nice sorta strange; he couldn't wait to get back home. He smiled as he swung the door closed, making sure to grab the keys after he'd locked it.