Title: Swan Song

Author: Unraveled Bohemian

Rating: M

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, the characters, the settings, or anything else that has come from JK Rowling's imagination.

A/N: Please realize this story is meant as an ALTERNATE 7th book – it was started and planned before The Deathly Hallows came out. I apologize for any congruencies that may occur between this story and the 7th book, but some were to be expected (ie: Harry's search for Horcruxes). I do not plan on giving any spoilers in this story, and there will be very large changes from the 7th book to this one. There will be new and different characters emphasized in this story (along with our old favorites), new (and more) plot lines, and my own take on the quests that Rowling had already set up, through the 6th book, for the trio. Please be advised that this story will also probably be a fair amount more fluffier than the 7th book – it's fanfiction, and that's the way I want to write it. So there. If you have any questions on differences or anything else, please feel free to contact me. Thanks!

Thanks for taking the time out to read this story. I would love it if you would review!

Chapter One

The still mist drifted through the silent houses on Privet Drive, leaving the unnatural – and unwanted – chill in the early July air. The only noticeable change in the weather from the previous summer was the mist getting even thicker. The square, tidy houses of Privet Drive had drawn their curtains closed, leaving only speckles of light to emerge from their windows. Privet Drive, in fact, was (besides the mist) in perfectly normal, tip-top shape, with perfectly normal, ordered families who had more to do than worry about the ongoing mist…or the previous year's hurricane in West Country, the abnormal amount of huge fly-type things (their bites landed people in hospitals), the Charlton's home fire (which burned down a whole small town), or the surprising amount of hikers that became lost (and never found) in area forests.

Yet in Number 4, Privet Drive, something much more spectacular than ignoring the news was taking place. There in the living room, a filled trunk (with a white owl standing on top) sat where it had been unceremoniously dropped by the front door. A sixteen-year-old boy, with untidy black hair, stood by the new leather couch shouting at the pig-faced Vernon Dursley.

"Well, that's it, I'm leaving! You've always wanted me out of your house, what in the bloody world has changed your mind now?!"

A piggy, short boy stood in the corner of the room, alternating between gleefully nodding at Harry's every argument for leaving and scowling when his father roared his responses. "What need do we have for Harry around here anymore? All he does is get in my way!"

Dudley's entrance into the argument went unnoticed as Uncle Vernon sputtered and seemed to turn a deeper shade of maroon. "…Wh…I mean, of course we've wanted you out of this house! But the neighbors will talk. They'll think you've run away and start fearing for their valuables…YOU STAY RIGHT THERE!"

Harry had begun to walk towards his trunk, determined to pick it up and leave. Having lived with Uncle Vernon's temper for his whole life, he found it not so difficult to ignore the screaming.

Aunt Petunia stood at the far end of the living room, furthest away from the two screaming parties. It was actually her fault that Vernon would not let Harry leave...she had told that old man she would let Harry have some room in the house, and yes, she knew she would not have to after Harry turned seventeen…but honestly. He still had three weeks to go before that happened, and she didn't know what the retribution would be if she let him go.

"NOW SEE HERE! YOU CAN'T GO WALTZING OUT, REFUSING OUR GOOD GRACES AFTER SIXTEEN YEARS!"

Harry had managed to get his trunk halfway to the door before finding he had to drop it, surprised to hear Aunt Petunia dive into the squabble.

"I made a promise! And you know as much as anybody I don't care what happens to you when you walk out that door, but…"

"BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT THOSE CRAZED FRIENDS OF YOURS WILL DO TO THIS FAMILY IF YOU WALK OUT THERE!"

Harry whipped around, causing Uncle Vernon to take a few steps back in surprise.

"Scared of Dumbledore, are you? Dumbledore? WELL, HE'S DEAD, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HIM, NOW DO YOU? BUT THERE'S WORSE THINGS OUT THERE, AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW BECAUSE YOU FORCE YOURSELVES INTO THIS LIFE…" Harry's voice slowly gained volume as Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia brought up the promise that Dumbledore had held them to. He was tired of it. Tired of them rambling on about things they didn't know, tired of them saying the names of those he loved and not caring when they found out they had died.

Aunt Petunia's eyes widened as she took in the news. "…dead?"

Uncle Vernon's face broke out in a maniacal grin. "HAH! You might as well leave, there's nothing tying you to this house anymore! We'll be glad to see the last of you!"

Harry didn't argue for once, seeing as though this had been what he had been trying to do since six o'clock that night. Aunt Petunia didn't say a word as he picked up the packed trunk, Hedwig flying up to his shoulder to give him more maneuverability with it. Of course, Harry had thought about leaving Privet Drive much earlier than this. He arrived slightly before the normal date, almost in the third week of June. Ron and Hermione had been quickly whisked off by their parents, though both promised to keep in touch as much as possible, and would make it to Privet Drive to spend some time with him before going to the Burrow. Days passed and there was no sign of Ron and Hermione, and while Harry knew they were both very busy (Ron with Bill's upcoming wedding and Hermione probably trying to self-teach herself the 7th year), he could not help but be disappointed when his best friends did not show up. When it turned July, he figured that (being there were no letters from anybody), it was time to leave and make his way toward the Burrow. It would be, of course, prudent to tell everyone that he would be unreachable for an amount of time and he was grateful for everything everybody had done for him.

A sudden loud pop outside the door made Harry drop his trunk on his foot. Aunt Petunia looked terrified at the thought of who could be at the door – as if Dumbledore had come back from the grave just to speak to her about letting Harry leave. Uncle Vernon, of course, merely looked livid. Yet before he could start interrogating Harry, a loud knock sounded on the door, along with muffled voices in conversation behind it.

Seeing that Uncle Vernon was making no move to answer the door, Harry, hopping on one foot and massaging the one that had broken the fall of the trunk, nervously gripped his wand as he opened the door.

"Harry! Been wanting to bring you back over to the Burrow for weeks now, but Mum keeps nagging and nagging and says there has to be planning, I mean, honestly…you'd think we should be able to transport you safely, right?"

Harry stepped back, startled, as the two figures entered the square house and closed the door behind them. Looking right at the person who first spoke, Harry was met with fiery red hair and a strained, but grinning face.

"Charlie!...and Lupin?!"

Charlie merely grinned and looked around the living room, waving at the Dursleys who still seemed in shock at the invasion. He actually went as far as to mutter that it was mighty fine of them to let Harry stay there for one more summer to Uncle Vernon.

Lupin's robes were still patched and threadbare from many years of wear, but he seemed to be gaining back some of his lost weight. In fact, though he looked more strained and worried than Charlie, he also looked a bit happier than when Harry had last seen him.

"Surprised to see me, are you? We wanted at least two people to pick you up, and, well, you know…it's been quite hectic lately. And Fleur practically won't let Bill out of the house…"

Harry mustered a grin. "You're looking, er…a bit healthier, I guess."

Lupin ran a hand through his graying hair. "Yeah, well…being around Molly and Nymphadora seemed to force me to eat a bit more…"

Charlie, meanwhile, had caught sight of Dudley, who was half-crouching in the corner where he had been standing, trying to look defiant. Pointing at Dudley and turning back to Harry, Charlie chortled. "That's the git that Hagrid almost turned into a bloody pig, right, Harry? Don't tell mum I know…she'll blow a fuse. But it must have been a funny sight, eh, Harry? And what of Fred and George's Ton Tongue Toffees…"

Dudley's defiant glare quickly vanished as he scuttled out of the room, clearly still remembering his past experiences with wizards. Aunt Petunia followed after him with a muffled gasp, leaving a fuming Uncle Vernon behind. Luckily for Harry, his uncle seemed to want nothing more than to make sure the two wizards took Harry away.

"Ah! All packed already? Well then, Harry, we should get going," Charlie continued, seemingly unaware that he had caused the Dusleys to become somewhat upset.

Harry shifted on his feet slightly, but defiantly looked at Lupin when he started to scold. "Not about to leave without somebody watching, were you?"

Charlie cut in before an argument could erupt, picking up Harry's trunk. "I've been trying to get out of the Burrow for days now, but if it's not Bill holding me up, it's Mum. It's crazy in there, you'll see…"

Walking out to the street outside Number Four, the trio stopped in a particularly shady spot.

"You know how to Apparate, right, Harry? No…I don't mean do you have you license," Lupin added, understanding how Harry was about to reply. When Harry merely nodded, he continued. "We're to Apparate about two blocks from the Burrow – got it?"

They wasted only a second waiting for Harry's response, then a resounding "pop" meant that all three had left Privet Drive and on their way to the Weasley's home.