Disclaimer: I own nothing of J. K. Rowling's and I never will. I'm just borrowing them for a bit.


Chapter 1: Desperation

Harry James Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, had never experience the life a normal person. He was the only known wizard who had survived the Killing Curse and Voldemort. Ever since the return of the Dark Lord, Harry lived in fear of his own life as well as those he loved. The death of his godfather during his fifth year at Hogwarts had cemented his feeling of being to blame.

Everyday Harry woke up wondering why exactly he had been given this often lonely and tragic destiny. There wasn't a minute that he didn't worry about the eventual final battle between Voldemort and himself. How would it end? Would anyone else die because of him?

One summer Friday night, Harry once again awoke from the torment of his dreams. No matter what he did, he would always be haunted by the deaths he had witnessed within the last two years. Harry wearily glanced at the alarm clock and sighed. It was no use – he could not go back to sleep. An hour had passed on when he finally decided that perhaps, a walk in the cool night air would do him some good. Grabbing his essential belongings, Harry quietly exited the house.

It's not like I don't deserve a break, he thought to himself.

A sudden thought occurred to him after walking for some time. He could escape this living hell. Nobody but Tonks was watching him at this early hour of the morning. She probably would be too tired to notice his disappearance. Harry slid on his cloak and silently evaded Tonks. As predicted, she looked exhausted while yawning at her position at the side of the house.

Harry did not notice a man in dark robes encroach slowly behind him as he took off his cloak. The Death Eater was about to curse Harry when Tonks ran to help.

"Stupify!" she intoned, leaving the Death Eater still on the ground. "Harry, what on earth do you think you're..." before she could finish, another Death Eater had attacked her.

"IMPEDIMENTA!" screamed Harry. He heard moans and knew that the spell had worked. His relief was soon erased by the arrival of more Death Eaters. Harry had never apparated but seeing as it was his only option, he decided to try. He thought intently about the place he missed most in the world. When he opened his eyes, it was evident that he had successfully apparated to 12 Grimmauld Place. Thankfully, they had taken off the anti-apparition wards. The teen couldn't have been more grateful in his life.

Since all the adults were busy preparing for a counter attack, nobody had seen him enter his godfather's old home. He had slid into the room with the Black family tapestry when Hermione rounded in on him.

"Harry! Why aren't you home?" she shrieked.

"I took a five minute walk and was ambushed." Hermione looked irritated at Harry's stupidity. "Listen, I don't want to do this," Harry gestured with his hand,"anymore. I can't sleep, eat- well, I never really eat at the Dursleys, but that's not the point. The point is that living life like this is too difficult as well as painful. What should I do, Hermione? Please, please do something!"

"You can't just give up, Harry! People are depending on you to get rid of You-Know-Who!"

"I know, Hermione, but I just can't. I don't think I can make it. I can't even imagine living another day." The anger in Hermione's face dissipated and became worried.

"You're not thinking of… doing away with yourself, are you?"

"I can't say that it hasn't crossed my mind." he said steadfastly.

"Oh, Harry! Please don't think that way! You mustn't! You're one of my best friends. I can't lose you!" Hermione pleaded.

"Will you help me then?"

She hesitated for a moment before giving an answer. It was obvious that there was a war going on in her head. At last, she spoke.

"Have you ever thought of disguising yourself?" Her response surprised Harry. He had been sure that she would have rebuked him further and given his hiding place away.

"Plenty of times, but I don't think that'd really..."

"I know this might sound crazy, but how about changing into a girl? And changing your...unique charactersitics?" Harry looked at her as if she had two heads.

"Is there another option?" he desperately begged. Their conversation was halted at hearing another's voice.

"Hermione? Who are you talking to?" yelled Ginny.

"No one! Sorry about that!" Hermione yelled back. She whispered to Harry in a low voice, "I have no other way to help you. It'll just have to do. I'll go to Diagon Alley to get the ingredients. I'm going to send you to my parents with a letter. I'm sure they'll let you stay there. You have your Gringotts key, right?"

"Smart move!" he congratulated himself as he pulled it out of his pocket.

"Shh!" No one else knows you're here." Hermione admonished. She looked at him and said, "So it's agreed. Are you sure, Harry?" He nodded.

"You know where Derbyshire is? Well, it's 82 Repton Road, Hartshorns. If you get lost, ask someone at a gas station. Wear," she pointed to his cloak," your invisiblity cloak." Hermione scribbled the note and handed it to Harry. "I'll send you the potion. Then I'll meet you there so you can obliviate me."

"Obliviate you?" Harry questioned in a louder tone.

"Shh! Yes! I don't want anyone to know that I'm involved. Good luck, Harry!"


Author's Note: Please, disregard the usual canon about the trace being illegally kept on Harry by the Ministry.