Time Period: About 7 years after school. Harry is about 24 & flashbacks of his 7th year at Hogwarts.
Spoilers: Hopefully you've read all the books and book five. But it doesn't matter to much. If characters are dead... it's because it's implied that they died in the passing time period. ;D Did that make sense? I hope so. :x
Present Day
He didn't know if this was another dream... but the bright sky above him was captivating. How long had it been since he'd even seen daylight? True, bright, sunlight? The kind on a warm spring day, just before the trains left for holidays.
He'd forgotten what it was like to mess around with his friends.
He could almost see Ron and Hermione sitting under the tree near the lake, the one they studied under on warm days. The same tree Harry knew his father, James, and his long dead friends, had sat.
He remembered the last day there: so clear in his mind that he could have sworn it had just come to pass. The famous trio were saying there goodbyes to the grounds, wishing Hagrid a farewell and a "see you around", and taking one last look at the quidditch pitch, remembering the hundreds of times that Harry had been knocked off his broom and Ron had missed a goal. But, most of all, remembering what it felt like to be out there with the fans cheering you on.
Back then they'd thought that visiting would never be a problem, so farewell to Hogwarts didn't feel so permanent.
They would be back someday.
....
Harsh breathing sounded in his ear, at first he didn't know who it was... but then he remembered as sweat dripped from his forehead. All the while he'd been dreaming: subconsciously wishing life wasn't what it was. A quiet "wake up, Potter" was breathed into his ear and his eyes opened wide.
Looking at him, you wouldn't know who he was right off.
His green eyes had diminished to a dull and almost colorless shade. Never again would someone say, "he has Lily's eyes", for they looked nothing like they used to.
Harry felt a weight on his chest and he looked up, seeing the same face he awoke to every morning. The long silvery hair glistened and steely blue eyes made a once over of Harrys sheet clad body. A cold hand trailed across his bare and bruised shoulder, followed by a small kiss with warm lips. "Did you have a nice rest?"
Harry would barely have called it a "rest", but he nodded his head, knowing any other answer would cause the other boy to be concerned.
"Good." The voice was snaky and smooth, speaking to him against his ear.
"The Boy Who Lived..." the voice mused, "or is it the Boy Who Died?"
Harry, as usual, didn't know what Draco was talking about, or if it was even important. "You've made the front page again..."
"Oh."
Harry resisted the temptation to read it. He knew it would just anger him again, as it always did. He didn't really have a choice, he knew Draco would read him every last detail and then they'd spend 10 minutes ripping apart the facts on the pages.
" 'Harry Potter, missing for over two years, was officially assumed dead today, on the anniversary of his escape from Azkaban Prison. Potter, nearing his 22nd birthday, disappeared from his sentencing on the eve of his birthday. No trace of him has been found since. Close friends, Ron and Hermione Weasley-Granger, Neville Longbottom, and many others still hold hope.'
Really, you'd think they would come up with some wonderful way to explain your escape, Harry. Maybe even throw in a nice little story on where you'd gone. I can see it now, 'Harry Potter sighting in Dublin'."
He was sitting up now, smoothing out his hair, which was the shortest he could possibly get it. Not only did the greenness of his mothers eyes disappear, Harry also made an attempt to rid of his fathers unruly hair. He no longer had a mass of hair going every which way... nowadays it was kept short.
For the 730th day in a row, Harry took a look at his surroundings, thinking in the back of his mind "today is my birthday".
"Do you think if I changed my name people wouldn't recognize me?" Harry inquired.
Draco's eyes shot up to Harry's forehead, "Maybe with some make-up... or plastic surgery."
They both smirked.
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