AN: Getting sick of seeing me already? My third update/upload already today. But it's the last for now. You guys know what I love about universes like the HP universe? It has such a huge room for ideas and such to fill. Like the magic part. You can expand any magic almost infinitely. This is what I do here.

And in case that there are some spelling mistakes, missing words, etc. I am really tired right now but want to get this up. Necessary edits will be done tomorrow.

I hope you enjoy this.

Warnings include: graphic depictions of violence, graphic depictions of sexual situations, extreme language, mentions of abuse

Disclaimer: I wish I owned the HP universe but alas, I do not.

Harry Potter wandered through hills of lush green, trees only being sparse. The air seemed so clean and wilderness so untouched, he couldn't help that tiny smile that stole itself onto his face. He hadn't smiled in what seemed like forever. After everything that had happened to him in the short thirteen years that he had lived there was no world that held any meaning to him anymore. Years of nothing but abuse and neglect was all he experienced in the muggle world. He had nothing in that world but relatives that hated his guts because he was a wizard. And hoping beyond hope that the magical world would be his safe haven proved to be nothing but wrong. A psychopath hunting him even from beyond death after killing his parents and failing to kill him when he was just a baby and no one would tell him why. A school with a giant basilisk in a secret chamber that no one found in hundreds of years, a school being guarded by soul-sucking fiends and after every school year with its near-death experiences he had to go back to his relatives and suffer their abuse. Add to that the fact the he was a celebrity in the magical world for no other reason than his parents sacrificing themselves to protect him, which resulted in the activation of some ancient magic that protected him...or something like that.

He shook his head as he carefully slid down a slope. Not knowing where he was or what he would do felt kind of freeing for Harry. He had no responsibilities and the freedom to live for the first time in his life. Something he lacked for thirteen years. Freedom. And life. And so close to getting at least a bit of that freedom he so craved and the wizarding world took that away too. Again, no trial.

Even being a celebrity was not enough in the magical world. He didn't know what those people wanted from him. At times he wanted to yell in frustration, to shout and curse. Love me or hate me, but stop doing both! And stop whispering! Say what you have to say and say it to my face!

He found a tree and sat down under its shade. Pulling his backpack forward he opened it and sighed. His food, prepared by a wheeping house elf named Dobby, was dwindling quickly. He hoped he would find some sort of civilization soon.

Digging for a sandwich and a photograph of him and a family of redheads he pulled both out. He looked at the photograph and felt himself chocking up. His index finger touched a particular person. The shy smile, the flaming red hair caressed by the wind, the freckles sprinkled across her small nose, the eyes such a bright brown. He knew he loved her, even in his young age he just knew it. Every giggle, every smile seemed to lighten up a fire in his deepest core. But he also knew that he couldn't have her. She was the only anchor he had to the wizarding world but he knew she deserved better. He came with too many problems and this beautiful, gorgeous, impossibly strong girl shouldn't be burdened with any of those. She deserved something that the universe seemed so adamant on denying him.

Ginny Weasley deserved a life.

His backpack was prepared, his two most priced possessions double and triple checked. All he needed to do was to say goodbye. The wizarding world didn't seem to be too bothered about his wellbeing and after Sirius- his godfather, locked away for twelve years without trial- seemed so close to freedom, to become his legal guardian, they took that away too. They didn't just kill, Sirius. No, they had Dementors suck out his soul. Killing him wasn't cruel enough.

He took a calming breath and began to write his farewell to the one person that he wanted to leave the least. Leaving her was something that broke his heart but he knew deep down that it was for the best. He had to do it. Not for himself, but for her.

Dear Ginny,

I don't know where to begin, so I will just write down what I think I need to say.

I thought I finally could get away from the Dursleys but that ended up being taken from me too. It seems that anyone with any relation to me has to suffer. They either die or rot in prison without trial. Who knows what else people close to me suffered without me knowing.

There always seem to be people who meddle in my life, who try to hurt me in one way or another. I don't know if it's intentional or accidental but I can't take it anymore.

So this is farewell. I will be long gone by the time this reaches you. Neither the muggle nor the wizarding world means anything to me anymore. I just want peace, freedom and a life. I don't want to be celebrated because my parents died to protect me. I don't want to be beaten up because I am a 'freak' and get better marks than my cousin.

I am sorry, Ginny. I know that you liked me a lot and that this will hurt you, but it is something that I need to do.

I also want you to know that I do love you. You are the most talented, the strongest and most beautiful witch I know and if things were different I would want to spend every day of my life with you. But they aren't. I know I shouldn't decide things for you, but in this case it is necessary. I just come with too many problems. If something happened to me, and sooner or later that will be the case, it would just hurt you. If something happened to you because of me, I would never be able to live with myself. I am sorry for doing this now, but at least once I wanted to say this. I love you, Ginevra Weasley.

You deserve a normal, peaceful life. I hope you will find it.

Maybe one day we will see each other again. If not, then I will see you in another life.

Yours forever,

HJP

He rolled up the parchment, shouldered his backpack and donned his invisibility cloak over himself before he activated the Maraudeurs Map.

He sneaked up into the owlery and looked for Hedwig. Taking off his cloak upon finding her, he held up the parchment.

"Hey, girl. Listen, this is very important." When satisfied that he had her attention, he continued to explain. "I need you to hide this letter for two days. Find a dry spot, some place that doesn't ruin the ink. After two days, you will give this letter to Ginny Weasley and only Ginny Weasley. If anyone else tries to take this letter from you then you are allowed to bite and scratch. When she gets this letter you are free to leave. Don't wait up for an answer. I will run away, Hedwig. You can follow me if you want or you can be free, that's up to you. If you want to be with me, I will go this way." Harry pointed her the direction. "I will see you soon, I hope." He scratched the top of her head affectionately before handing her the letter. He trusted her that she would carry out her job to perfection. Now it was time to leave and find his own path.

Ginny Weasley was beside herself with worry. The whole school was abuzz with the news of the Harry Potter's disappearance.

He vanished right under the nose of the person who was supposed to never miss anything. Glaring at Dumbledore, she wondered if Harry was okay. She wondered if he was hungry or hurt, if he was sick. She just wanted to hear from him in some way.

She let out a shaky sigh, as she pushed her food around on her plate.

After the Chamber of Secrets fiasco Harry and she had finally gotten close. He noticed that there was more to her than just being Ron's little sister. And he was the one who always offered her a shoulder to lean on when her nightmares got to her again. Not once did he complain. She also got to know him as Harry James Potter instead of as Harry James Potter- the Boy-Who-Lived. It was those little tidbits she found out about him that built the foundation of the new feelings she developed, changing from her hero- crush to true love. She wouldn't know if Harry returned her feelings but she did dare to hope that there was a chance for something between them.

And now this. Harry gone, disappeared without a trace.

"Ginny, you really need to eat something." Hermione said softly, worry etched on her face.

Ginny nodded, without actually eating. It was then when the owls came and an almost perfect collective gasp echoed through the hall at the sight of the infamous snowy owl that everyone knew belonged to one Harry Potter.

Everyone's gaze followed the owls path and Ginny's eyes widened when the owl landed in front of her, a rolled up, dry but dirty piece of parchment between her beaks. Ron reached out for it but Hedwig flew up and scratched Ron's hand with her talons.

"Are you mental?! Bloody owl.." Ron muttered angrily, nursing his bleeding hand.

"Ginny, you should take it. Obviously it's only meant for you." Hermione urged her.

With shaking hands, Ginny took the parchment and as soon as it was in her possession, Hedwig flew away.

Unrolling the parchment, Ginny started to read. First her eyes started to mist over, then her chin started to shake, followed by a 'no...' before she let out a sob and rushed out of the hall, leaving the letter behind.

Hermione reached for the letter and read it herself. "Oh no, Harry..." She sighed, a few tears escaping her. "Why did you have to do this?"

"What is it?" Ron asked her. Hermione handed him the letter without a word and Ron's scowl deepened with every sentence. "Bloody idiot couldn't save his stupid declaration...how is Ginny supposed to live through this?" He ran a hand through his hair, frustrared. "You realize he left us out completely?" He asked his bushy haired friend.

"He probably had his reasons." She shrugged but couldn't stop the feelings of hurt and betrayal.

"I suppose." Ron replied, not feeling convinced.

"Come on, we need to show this to Professor Dumbledore. And then we need to find your sister. She must be devastated."

"Yeah..."

A week had already passed since he left behind everything. His food supply had run out and there was still no sign of civilization. He warily sat down on a rock, tired. With magic out of question because of the trace he had to rely on his limited muggle survival skills, which didn't really help in his situation. He had lost his sense of direction and had no idea in which way he could find the closest settlement or village.

He let out a desperate cry. "Hello? Is anybody out there? Anyone?" Groaning, he let his head drop into his hands when the sound of a giggle startled him.

Jumping up and pulling out his wand he looked around. "Who is there? Show yourself!"

A girl, no older than nine, suddenly appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Startled, he fell backwards. "Holy shite!" He let out. "What the-?! How-?!"

The girl giggled again. "Hey, you! My name's Ali. What's your name?"

"I...what?"

"Your name, silly. I told you my name. What is yours?"

"My name's, uh, James. James Porter." Harry lied, combing his fringe with his fingers over his scar.

"But why," the girl began, snapping her fingers, "lie to us, Harry Potter?" She finished as the air around her seemed to shatter like glass. Suddenly, in place of the young girl was now a woman in a hooded black cloak branding a symbol unlike any he had seen before; a red circle and in the middle of it another smaller red circle, out of which several branches with more symbols seemed to grow out. One looked like fire, another like a star and another like a skull. The other two he couldn't quite make out.

"I...how do you-? Wait! You are alone! Why did you say 'we'? Who are you?!" Harry was really confused now. He backed away slowly, his wand trained on the strange woman, who snapped her fingers again.

This time the whole area seemed to shatter and suddenly he found himself in a small settlement with a large bonfire, a large cauldron with food cooking, children playing somewhere, tents and carriages completing the picture. He bumped into someone behind him and jumped away, tripping over someone else's foot and falling face first into the ground.

"Easy there, Harry Potter." Someone said, reaching for Harry's arms to help him up but he jerked away.

"What is going on?! Where am I?! Who are you people?!" Harry's voice rose with every question as did his panic.

The settlement was now quiet, people staring at him. The children had stopped playing, looking at him curiously.

"We are the Circle, Harry Potter." A man answered. "And I am the Speaker: Xavier."

"What is-? How-? What did she do?" Harry pointed at the woman whom he encountered before.

"Ali is our senior illusionist. Her magic hides us. People walk right through our settlement, none the wiser to our existence."

Harry's mind was reeling. He never heard of something called 'The Circle' before. And illusion magic of this calibre? He knew that glamour charms could count as such but they were directed at single targets. This woman created an illusion over an entire area of solid things like people and tents. She made him think, see and feel as if he was in untouched wilderness! Without a wand!

"Why are you out here? Why did you show yourselves to me if you need to hide? What is the circle?"

Xavier looked around and motioned for them to gather around him. "Let us finish prepare our dinner. We have a guest tonight. Jonah, Valerie, Ali and Siobhan- join us."

"You can't just decide for me to stay!" Harry protested and was about to get up when Xavier held up a hand.

"And where will you go when you leave? We will have to obliviate your memory. There are reasons why we are hiding, Harry Potter. Join us tonight. We will answer any questions you might have and then we want to hear why you are so far away from where you should be right now. Depending on your answer, we will make you an offer."

Harry looked at the man. He looked kind enough, in his late fourties, maybe fifties. He had black hair and a full beard. His eyes were his most outstanding features: a bright sapphire blue.

If they wanted to harm him they could have done so ages ago. And he had to admit, the food cooking did smell wonderful. "Fine." He relented. "I really am curious about you people."

Xavier gave him a grateful smile and motioned for him to follow. Harry got up and walked behind the older man, taking in the sight around him. He couldn't believe that so far out from in the wilderness of Scotland there actually was some form of a hidden magical civilization. It was unbelievable that no one ever found out.

Finally they sat down in front of one of the larger tents. Soon they were joined by Nightingale and three others. Harry noticed that they all were wearing the same cloaks as did several others around the settlement.

A few moments later a couple of the youngsters of the settlement brought them a steaming bowl of some stew which they began to it with a wooden spoon.

"So, Harry. May I call you Harry?" At Harry's nod he continued. "Let me introduce us again. I am Xavier, the Speaker of the Circle and senior healer. Ali here is the senior illusionist. Jonah, the senior death mage." Harry paled slightly at the 'death mage'-part as Xavier pointed at an old man with long grey hair and a long beard who eyed him curiously. "Siobhan, our senior pyromancer." A blonde woman, younger than the rest of the group, smiled at him with a nod. "And Valerie, our only cosmic mage."

"What is a cosmic mage? I...I'm sorry but..." Harry shrugged helplessly. How could so many different types of magic be hidden from Hogwarts? The whole wizarding community?

Valerie, a middle aged woman with dark hair and a pale complexion, spoke up. "Every magic draws its energy from what you see around you. Magic, in the end, is nothing but the manipulation of what is already there. You can not conjure something out of nothing. Cosmic energy is everywhere," she explained, spreading her arms wide, "and it is the very essence of any magic you know. It is the oldest, most ancient and primal form of magic. The cosmos was there before anything else after all and the energy our magic draws from his cosmic energy. We- or I- manipulate the cosmic energy as it is everywhere. We are part of the cosmos. So, a cosmic mage can use that exact energy to manipulate the very space at a proportionally sized cosmic level, if you will. We can also recreate cosmic phenomena- again, on a much smaller scale of course."

"I'm afraid I don't understand. When saying 'comos' and 'cosmic', you mean space, right? Like, outer space?"

"Indeed, I do. Let me demonstrate. Do you know how a black hole works?"

"I don't think so." Harry admitted. "It has to do something with a star, right?"

"In very basic terms, a star has to collapse upon itself. The fascinating thing is that a black hole bends space and alters time. I can do the same with space. Time we can never touch. But I could create a miniature black hole."

Harry's eyes widened. "How?" He asked in an awed whisper.

"I am afraid that I am not familiar with details of the magic. But who is really? Who knows what exactly it is that happens to the molecules and cells of your body when you shapeshift into your animagus form? All I know is how to will it to happen, how to will the cosmic energy to bend to my desire."

Listening with rapt attention he soaked in everything the woman explained to him. "But how come no one else knows about these things? About you?"

Xavier gave a humorless chuckle. "Oh, but they do. Your ministry knows and they hunt us because we practice 'dangerous and forbidden dark arts.' Anything going beyond tickle magic, basic stunners and transformations is deemed dark. And then there are Voldemort's followers who hunt us to enslave us and steal our knowledge."

"You know about-? He knows about-?" Harry's face was stricken.

"Yes. Since his very beginnings he has tried to find us, but so far we could elude him."

Harry didn't say anything for a while. "So you do follow everything going on in the wizarding world?"

"Yes." Xavier answered.

"Why? From what you told me they hate you. You have a nice, peaceful community here, can practice your magic without anyone bothering you. Why do you care about them?"

The old man Jonah gave a low laugh. "You may be right but you think like a young teenager, Mr. Potter." He gave a wary sigh. "I have only ever lived like this. I have never went to school, never lived in a proper house. You can only conjure so many things before you draw attention when you don't want to. We can't rely on illusions forever and we have to keep changing locations. We want a better life for our children and grandchildren." He gave a fond smile to a pair of children who seemed to be around four or five years old. "Our people are dying out, Mr. Potter. We were once far beyond a thousand strong. Now our numbers are well below a hundred."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Harry mumbled, staring at the empty bowl in front of him, deep in thought. "You said you wanted to ask me something?"

"It's more like an offer." Xavier clarified. "We would offer you a place among us, to see were your magical affinity lies and train you accordingly. That way you will be prepared for-"

"No." Harry answered.

"And why is that, if I may ask?" Xavier arched a brow.

"I am done with the magical world as I am with the muggle world. I just want a peaceful and quiet life. Thanks but no, thanks."

"You are a coward, you know that?" Ali spoke up for the first time since she revealed herself to Harry.

Harry felt like someone punched him in the guts.

"Ali..." Siobhan tried to intervene.

"No! Voldemort is about to come back and he just runs away because some things don't go his way! Okay, he had some shit luck, I can see that. But when someone offers you to help and train you, to actually prepare you so you can actually do something, you take it!" She looked Harry up and down before shaking her head. "I told you lot before, he is too whiny and too spineless. I say we obliviate him and drop him off somewhere where he won't bother us again." She got up and left the group.

Siobhan looked at Ali's back, her irritation obvious. "I'm sorry about that..." She told Harry, an apologetic smile on her face.

Harry gave her a half-hearted smile in return, his thoughts running rampant. "How long have you been spying on me?" He finally asked.

"We never did." Valerie answered. "We had followed the wizarding world and in doing so found out in one way or another about what happened in Hogwarts. Though we did have a particularly high interest in you."

"Of course you did..." Harry muttered under his breath. "I don't know if I did the right thing any more..." He ran a hand through his hair. "It's just, I hated all the attention, how in one moment I was so great and in the next everyone hates me. I hoped for a safe place with friends when I got my letter and was so happy to get away from the Dursley's and all I got was the same shite just different..." He ranted, his frustration boiling over. "Maybe it was cowardly to run away but can you blame me?"

"We don't." Xavier answered for the group. "It is something that even Ali understands. But we offer you the possibility to return stronger. It is that what she sees as cowardly; your complete and utter unwillingness to ever return. And if I may be so frank: I tend to agree with her. Running away from your destiny is not a very Gryffindor thing to do."

Sighing heavily Harry felt old beyond his years. "Why did it have to be me?" He wondered out loud. He then remembered something Ali said before she left. "Is Voldemort really coming back?"

"Yes." The Speaker looked him in the eyes. "Do you know what a Horcrux is, Harry?"

"No. Why? What's it got to do with Voldemort?"

Xavier got up, his hands glowing green. Harry eyed him warily. Without so much of a word, the Speaker pressed a hand hard against Harry's scar and the other at the back of his head. His scar burning like never before, Harry let out a scream and then, as quickly as it came, the pain was over. He blinked several times and saw something wraith-like dissolving into nothingness, a disembodied scream echoing into the dark. "What did you do?" Harry asked Xavier, feeling for his scar, shocked that he felt nothing but smooth skin.

"I destroyed the Horcrux inside of you, freeing you of Voldemort's taint. A Horcrux is a splinter of one's soul bound into an object of their choice, essentially binding them into the realm of the living when they should be dead. When Voldemort attempted to kill you he accidentally made you a living Horcrux."

"A part of his soul was inside of me?" Harry paled, feeling sick.

"Not anymore. And to answer your previous question: yes, Voldemort will come back and Horcruxes are the reason why."

"He splintered his soul?" Harry felt sick at the thought that someone would go so far just to escape death.

"Yes. As far as we can tell he made more than one but how many exactly is beyond us."

"So..." Harry sighed. It just seemed like fate had other plans than a peaceful life for him.

"Our offer stands, Harry. We will train you, include you into our community. You will be one of us, safe with us. You will learn magic that not even Voldemort himself knows of."

Harry was quiet for some time, then looked at the adults. "And what would you get out of this?"

"For one, we have a great interest in destroying one of the most vile beings in the history of wizardkind." Valerie answered. "But we also hope that with you as one of us we will get a bigger chance to be reincluded into magic society. That is all there is to our offer."

Harry let out a pained groan. "Fine. I accept."

"Thank you, Harry. We understand why you are so reluctent about this but you don't have to deal with...mediocre newspapers and students staring at you. Now, before you begin your training there are four things that need to be done." Xavier started to explain. "First, we need to remove your trace. Second we need to find out where your magical affinity lies. For that you will drink a potion. Third, we will test if you have an animagus form. There is another potion for that. And fourth, I will correct your eyesight. Glasses are hindering and once you lose them you are as helpless as an infant."

Harry nodded at all of this and handed them his wand. He couldn't help but feel excitement at the animagus part.

"While we prepare ourselves you are free to roam." Jonah said and the adults got up, leaving Harry to his own devices.

He looked around awkwardly, seeing the children play hide and seek, giggling and laughing. He sighed and couldn't stop the hint of bitterness he was feeling. Even living as nomads and constantly hiding, these children were allowed to be children. He really hated the Dursleys.

Standing up, he saw Ali at one of the carriages, looking for something or another. He hesitated but decided that since it looked like they were all going to train him he at least should try and clear the air with her. He didn't want to deal with another Professor Snape out here.

Once close enough, he spoke up. "Umm, Ali? Can I talk to you for a sec'?"

Startled, she turned around and frowned at him. "What is it?"

Sighing, Harry ran a hand through his hair. "I...agreed to the offer. I will stay and train here."

"Good." She gave him a jerky nod.

"Look...you will train me too, won't you?" She confirmed with another nod. "Okay...so, I just want to explain myself to you. I don't want us to be...like this with each other. No one can work like this."

Sighing, Ali sat down at the edge of the carriage and patted the spot next to her. "Alright then, explain."

Harry took the offer and sat down. "I should begin with the fact that I thought my name was 'boy' up until I was five years old." He said and chuckled without any humor at the way how Ali's eyebrows vanished under her fringe. "My relatives never once called me by name. Ever. It's either 'freak' or 'boy'. I got beat up for getting bad marks and I got beat up for getting better marks than their pig of a son. I was pretty much a slave for them. I did every single chore in their house. Cooking, cleaning, you name it, I did it." Harry's voice was low and he looked at his hands laying on his lap, fumbling about senselessly. "Then I get this letter and think that I am finally free and end up getting almost killed every year. And then I have this chance to live with my godfather who was rotting away in prison for twelve years innocently and without trial and they end up killing him...or more like doing worse than that, again without even trying to talk to him." He looked up and saw the others waiting for him with his wand and two potions for him. He slid down from the carriage and glanced back at Ali. "I hope you understand a bit better why I had to leave at least."

She nodded, a guilty expression on her face. "I do. I am sorry for what I said. And aside from being trained and pushed hard, you can have some peace here. We will see to that." Ali promised him.

"Thank you."

"I see you talked with Ali. I assume the air is cleared?" Xavier asked.

"Yes, it is." Harry confirmed as he glanced back at Ali, who was now walking towards them.

"Good. If you will follow us." They walked for a while until they reached a small clearing. "First things first, you wand is now trace-free. You can safely perform any magic you wish to."

Harry grinned at that.

"Next, we will learn your affinity." He showed Harry a vial with a thick, clear liquid. "You will not drink this. This potion shows the magic that runs in your blood by reacting to a drop of it. A hand please." Harry stretched out a hand and winced as Siobhan pricked a finger with a knife. His blood dropped into the vial, mixing with the liquid. Nothing happened for a while and he almost feared that he somehow failed when the liquid started to change into a black void with bright spots sprinkled in it. Valerie clapped her hands excitedly, almost teary-eyed. "It looks like Valerie finally has the student she had longed for." Xavier chuckled good-naturedly.

Harry's mind was swimming. Cosmic magic was his affinity.

I really never do anything half-arsed, do I? He thought to himself.

"Let us continue." Xavier said, drawing the attention back to himself. "This will cause hallucinations that last only a few short moments. In this time you will see an animal if you have an animagus form. If not, you will only feel dizzy for a while."

Again, Harry nodded as he took the while. Taking a deep breath, he downed it. Almost immidiately he saw the environment shift and change and he heard the sound of crows and they got louder and louder until he suddenly saw a single one staring at him. They looked each other in the eyes when it suddenly crowed and he was jerked back into reality.

"Well?" They looked at him expectently.

Harry took a shaky breath and smiled.

"It's a crow."

AN: What do you guys think about the different magicks? Let me know!