Authors Note: I do not own characters or any copyright for Harry Potter. That all belongs to J.K Rowling.
May 02, 2003
Five years. Five years had passed since the final battle at Hogwarts.
Harry sat in his office as the head of the Auror Department at the Ministry of Magic and ran his hands through his hair. He was supposed to be filling out paperwork for the next Death Eater hideout raid in the next few hours.
That's what his life consisted of nowadays: paperwork, interviews, ministry meetings, raids, more paperwork, more interviews, more meetings, and then maybe arriving back at home at a decent hour to eat supper before starting it all over again.
Even after five years, Harry was still working diligently with the Minister, Kingsley Shacklebolt to rebuild this new world without Voldemort. And they were incredibly successful in their endeavors.
One thing was certain: all the sacrifices that Harry made to defeat Voldemort left him as one of the most famous wizards of all time.
Harry was written into history books, people recognized him on the streets every day, and privacy was merely a fond dream. He hoped by the end of today, that he could possibly manage to get some time to himself.
Because today was different. Today, Harry would embark on what he thought of as the craziest idea of his life. With only a few weeks of planning, Harry was sure he had gone mad.
The hour struck three and Harry decided he needed to put his affairs in order before the meeting. An extreme sadness seemed to engulf him, as was a common emotion that he had become accustomed to in the past year.
Harry looked around his office as he leaned back into his chair. He was going to miss this. He had always dreamed of becoming an Auror ever since his fourth year. Though it was kind of hard to fulfill your dream to its fullest when the people you were in charge of didn't exactly respect you. That's what happens when your only qualification for your position is that you're The Boy-Who-Lived.
Harry sighed and put his head in his hands to try and clear his mind. He then bent over and opened a hidden drawer located underneath his desk. Inside were the Elder Wand, his Invisibility Cloak, and some documents bearing a new name and face.
Carefully, Harry hid these items away inside his robes, glanced around his office one last time, and closed the door with a resounding sense of finality.
Harry began to walk over to where Ron was in the ministry. It looked like he just left the Misuse of Muggle Artifact Department and was perusing a stack of papers. He must've just left the department after meeting up with his Dad. Harry thought. He wasn't planning on seeing Ron today. And every other day for that matter.
"Hey, Ron." Harry murmured when he was within hearing distance.
Ron was taken aback by the sudden appearance of Harry and nearly stopped in his tracks. "Oh. Hey, Harry." He lowered the papers that were occupying his mind, if ever so slightly. "Erm, what are you up to today."
"The team and I are about to go on a raid in a Death Eater's old house. They're expecting at least three to four individuals that are going to be apt at coming back to the ministry for questioning." Harry grinned, trying not to feel the weight of his thoughts as he spoke with Ron.
There was an awkward pause before Harry countered Ron's question. "And erh, what about you?"
"I have to go back to George's shop." Ron stated matter-of-factly. "He made me part owner last week since Fred..." Ron said with an expression that was almost annoyed at having to explain.
Harry nodded once and stammered, "I see." Another awkward pause. "Well, I need to be off now."
"Yeah, me too." Ron said, turning his attention back to his papers in order to keep his hands and his eyes busy.
"Goodbye, Ron."
"Yeh, bye." And off he went.
After watching Ron's retreating back for a moment, Harry began walking towards the meeting. He was very much in deep thought. I'm so sorry Ron; I hope everything goes well for you, and Hermione. Call me a coward one day, but I need to do this.
Walking into the huge arches with the entire existence of Aurors' names, alive and dead, inscribed on them still brought the same feeling of awe that he had when he first began his training.
"Shit Harry, I thought you were going to be late. That is a statement that I thought was never going to come out of my mouth." Ramon Galfar guffawed.
"Sorry Ramon, had to talk to Ron before leaving."
"Alright come to room 213A. The portkey is ready."
Fuck! Am I really going to go through with this? I'm going to have to be in constant hiding, and the sadness I'm going to cause everyone is going to be heartbreaking. Harry's resolve was wavering, and internally he knew this was more than likely one of the worst ideas he's probably ever had.
"Come on already, I'm going to have 14 children by the time you get over here." Ramon bantered.
"Merlin, if any girl is willing to give you any number of children, then we know the Gene pool of the wizarding society is going downhill fast." Harry said, gifting him a small smile.
With their entire team laughing at Ramon's expense, Harry began the meeting and then they were ready. They all grabbed hold of the Portkey and felt that pulling sensation on his stomach.
He landed with graceful perfection standing in front of Nott Manor. Now that the mission started every Auror was in battle mode. No joking, no smiling, and serious expressions marred their faces.
Harry took lead as the Aurors followed a V formation into the house. All sides were covered, and they were expecting anything to happen. There are 3 different rooms to go through in the atrium alone, and Harry decided to split their efforts.
"Davis and Ramon, you take the left corridor and Brian and Cynthia take the right stairway. I'll go down the middle." Harry ordered.
"Sir, shouldn't we leave one person by the entrance?" Cynthia asked. "That way we can have a front vantage point in case you get over powered."
"No! We don't want them to have any methods to escape. This is one of the last known uncaptured Death Eaters. We have to take calculated risks." Harry barked. "Now GO!"
There were murmurs of disagreement and rude comments under their breaths, but they listened to orders as trained.
Harry was walking down the long corridor double checking every angle of the place as he walked. One thought was still going through his mind. I guess there's no backing out now. I'm going to do it. Harry reached the end of the hallway and heard muttering on the other side of the door.
Harry launched a blasting spell at the door that made it fly off its hinges. Henry Nott and Theodore Nott were standing, their wands at the ready. Harry saw the flash of the green light, and transfigured the door into a statue in front of him, blocking the curse.
He summersaulted to the side and launched three cutting curses at the two members. One managed to hit Mr. Nott in the face, effectively blinding him. Theodore launched a variety of different curses before having a blasting curse land directly in his chest, knocking him out cold.
Henry Nott was screaming in agony as he tried to find purchase on the old wood floor; and his wand. An easy Flipendo knocked him out cold. Then Harry began his plan.
He picked up Theodore's wand and set scorch marks around him. Knowing that everyone would wonder where he was, Harry left his wand at the place of Theodore's scorch marks. Taking out the Elder Wand from inside his robes, Harry put it in his wand holster.
Shit, I hear them running down the corridor. Guess I'm going with Plan B, and use the invisibility cloak till I'm far enough away to disapparate.
Harry threw on his invisibility cloak, and was tip toeing around his teammates. He was barely twenty feet away before he heard his team crying.
"Why, Harry!" Ramon wailed. "You were the best of us; you were the person we needed most."
"Damnit! Why didn't he fucking listen to me?" Cynthia yelled. The rest became muffled as he drifted further and further from the manor.
I'm sorry, but I need to go on my own instead of ruining everyone's life. I need my fame not to interfere with my life. If Britain ever needs my service then I will be back to do whatever I can. Until then I want to go and explore life as a normal non-famous wizard. Harry thought, excitement and sadness gripping his heart like a vice.
His life was about to start anew for the third time, and Harry felt happiness for the first time in months.
May 11, 2003
Harry sat down in one of the Blacks' many hideout locations that no one living would ever know about. He had all the tools necessary to disappear, and was waiting on his personal Gringotts letter with his fake identity to show up.
The amount of bribery I just did to make a fake identity in the wizarding world is crazy. I mean 10,000 galleons for the initial Identification with 1,000 a year for hush up money. Harry thought as he opened the previously blank documents, and saw his new identity scrolled out before him. I wonder how many Death Eaters got away or had the potential to get away?
"Stupid, fucking owl," Harry said as the owl took a righteous shit on his table.
As the owl flew away, Harry examined the letter with all documentation. Harry's identification showed him as "Jake R. Meier". He was 23 years old, and went to Durmstrang. He was an average student that excelled in Potions. Well fuck, I'm awful at potions. "Guess it's time to learn," Harry muttered to himself.
Harry began modifying himself with glamour spells to match the man that showed in his new pictures.
His hair changed to hazelnut brown and grew out a few more inches, making his hair like it was when he first went to the Quidditch World Cup. It didn't have the tell-tale messiness and was wavier than his normal hair. Maybe I should grow my hair out like this normally. One less step I'd have to do.
His eyes became dark shade of brown, and the remnants of the scar on his head vanished also. Harry then looked down, and noticed the Daily Prophet was lying on his table next to the bird shit.
"Our dear Harry Potter is on his 8th day of being missing. The ministry is unable to locate a body, but did confirm that scorch marks were found at the scene along with his wand. It seems as though a curtain of sadness has fallen over the wizarding community today. Prayers go out to the family and friends of Harry Potter."
Guilt washed over Harry and became unable to gather his thoughts. He felt awful for putting his friends through this because of his own selfish desires. I'm already committed; there is no going back. Deciding it was now or never, Harry apparated to the French Magical customs.
After speaking with a few representatives about moving to a new country, he handed over his bags and identification. This was the final step before putting himself into Magical France; the final hurdle.
"Hello Mr. Meier," the officer spoke.
"Good morning." Harry grinned back at the officer.
"What brings you to Magical France?"
"Looking to work in an apothecary and further my knowledge in the art of potion brewing."
"What school did you attend?" the officer asked in a very straightforward manner.
Oh I see, he's double checking my background.
"I attended Durmstrang Institute."
The officer checked a box and continued asking trivial questions to see if they compared with the paperwork. Harry had, of course, studied his new documents to memorization and hoped he played the part convincingly enough.
After a few more checks and scans the officer said, "Well, all your information checks out. Enjoy your time here."
Harry walked out of the customs, and into what some might consider paradise. It was a large shopping area with a lot of delicious food items. It seemed almost surreal to Harry that this existed with barely any disturbance from Voldemort's war. He kept walking looking at all the shops, and places before coming to a Wizarding Apartment in the middle of the shopping district.
Harry walked into the apartment leasing office, and asked how much it was to rent an apartment for an entire year.
"The price is 35 Galleons (1 Galleon=$25) a month." The lady at the front desk responded. Harry paid the entire year in full.
After Harry secured his place to live, he wanted to go find a place to work. Traversing the entire shopping district, he was denied employment in five shops. This was more than likely because of him having no work experience to show on his new documentation.
It also didn't help that this particular district was also occupied by muggle shops as well. The few wizarding shops he was able to find were only apparent if a wizard stepped into the store. Eventually, he turned the corner and found the last shop in the district.
Harry entered Bernie's Apothecary. Even Harry knew about this shop before entering. It was known around the world as one of the best shops in the world because of the Potions Master who owned the shop.
Rumors about the owner swirled around, but not one had enough validity to even merit saying. Bernie was one of the most mysterious people around from what Harry heard. He was also super cheap. The cheapest person you will ever meet. If a sickle could save your life, he wouldn't give it to you unless you'd give him a wizard's oath to give him 100 galleons for that one sickle. This gave Harry an idea.
"Bernie!" Harry spoke confidently as he strolled into the shop.
A man who appeared to be in his late fifties turned around to gaze at the young man. "What do you want, boy?"
"Well, I want to work here under your supervision, and learn as much as I can from you." Harry said with a serious expression.
"Dear fuck, did your parents throw your head into a wall when you were a baby?" Bernie asked.
"No, they didn't but.." Harry began.
"Well, haven't you heard I hate to pay anyone for anything?" Bernie interrupted. "I can do this entire job myself and I would never have to pay you a knut."
Harry stepped forward as the man turned away again. "That's where you're in luck! I want to work for free to get some job experience and knowledge from the best potions master that's ever lived." Harry grinned.
"Well fuck me silly, this is the first time anyone has come in here trying to work for free." Bernie said in surprise, turning around.
After a moment, Bernie walked forward and sized Harry up, scrutinizing his features. His eyes narrowed suspiciously as his eyes wandered over Harry's face.
"What's your name boy?" Bernie asked, eyes still narrowed.
Harry extended his hand to shake, "Jake Meier."
Bernie took a step back without shaking his hand. "Well Jake Meier, show up in one week, and forget everything you've ever learned about potions. You're about to become my bitch while I'm teaching and working you to death."
Harry lowered his arm and thanked him for his generosity. "Yeah, yeah." Bernie said, waving him off.
As Harry began to walk out of the Bernie's store with a giant smile on his face, a beautiful blonde girl entered the apothecary. She also seemed vaguely familiar. Harry walked slowly to listen in on the conversation before exiting.
"Hello, Bernie." The woman said, seeming to glide over to where the shop owner now stood.
"Well hello, my faithful customer." Bernie chuckled.
"I'm here to pick up that potion for my pa again." Her voice rang in the air like the soothing melody of bells. Harry didn't even realize he was fully stopped and staring at her back. He could have swore he knew her from somewhere.
"As you are and vigilant as ever." Bernie said as he reached underneath the counter. "I brewed it myself last night. That will be 100 galleons."
"Here you are." the woman almost sang.
"Have a nice week, Miss Delacour." Bernie said with a grin as he waved her goodbye.
Harry was fixated on the spot as Gabrielle passed him. He didn't expect to see anyone he recognized this soon, but he had no choice now. He had a one bedroom flat, a job, and now all the time in the world to do as he pleased.
While these thoughts filled his mind, Harry hadn't even realized he was staring off into space: directly at Gabrielle. Her scent filled his senses as she passed him and he almost followed her out the door before he caught himself. Her beauty was intoxicating and although Harry knew she was part veela, he still had to remind himself that she didn't know him.
She almost stopped at the arch of the door, potion in hand to give Harry a faint, shy smile. Harry returned her smile and watched her step out the door and disappear into the crowd.
~Harmonization~