Disclaimer:All cannon characters and story lines belong to their original creators, J.K. Rowling and Electronic Arts.

Departure

Harry Potter was not going back to the Dursley's. His home life was far from pleasant, but it hadn't been unbearable. Blowing up his Aunt Marge, however, was sure to change his treatment for the worse. He was still on the magical side of the barrier at Kings Cross, hoping to avoid his "lovely" family. He had thought about what to do for the whole train ride. No doubt his friends were a bit worried over how preoccupied he had been.

Coming to a decision, he slipped through the barrier with his trunk. He had told Hedwig to wait for him in Diagon alley, since his last resort was to stay at the Leaky for the summer. Looking up, he could see his Aunt Petunia waiting for him. Uncle Vernon had obviously decided to stay at Privet Drive, not wanting to see his unnatural nephew for as long as he could.

"There you are, boy. You've kept me waiting for long enough already," Aunt Petunia spat out. "Get in the car, and no funny business!"

"Actually, Aunt Petunia," Harry began, hoping that this would work, "do you remember that man who escaped over the summer? The one on the news?" Aunt Petunia stared at him impatiently, and motioned him to get to the point. "Well, he's, y'know, one of my kind." His Aunt's face paled to a shade of sickly white. Whether it was from the news of a mass murderer with magic, or that Harry was talking about it in front of other people who could overhear, he didn't know. "He broke into the school, and people were saying he was after me. I'm afraid that he may come after me at Privet Drive, so if you take me to Charing Cross, then I'll be out of your hair for the rest of the summer, and you won't have to worry about Sirius Black coming to Little Whinging."

Aunt Petunia rapidly gained her color back at that, grabbed his arm, and all but threw him into the car. "I will not have you endangering my sweet Duddikins with your freakishness!" She exclaimed shrilly. "I'll take you to Charing Cross, but I better not hear from you for the rest of the summer!"

The drive to the Leaky Cauldron was blessedly short and quiet. Once Harry reached his destination, he made his way to Gringotts with fierce determination. He had thought long and hard on the train about ways to get away from the Dursleys, before he had been struck by inspiration. The only reason Dumbledore had ever given him as to why he had to stay there was that he had to stay because they were family. For him to be protected by the blood wards, he had to live with blood relatives. It was on that train of thought that he came to the conclusion that the Dursleys could not possibly be the last of his blood relatives. Almost all of the old families had ties to each other, after all. Why not the Potters? Harry recalled that his grandmother was a Black, meaning his was related (somewhat distantly) to Sirius. There had to be a close enough relation still living.

The problem then was how to find them. He didn't have any records of his own family, and didn't want to ask around too much, for fear of someone trying to stop him. Namely Dumbledore or the Ministry. Don't get him wrong, he's Dumbledore's man through and through, but he would rather not take the chance that he might be sent back to Privet Drive. So, who would know about the Potters? That is why he was now trying to make his way to Gringotts without being noticed. The Potters must have had a vault at Gringotts for a long time. Long enough that they would hopefully have some kind of records or way to find members of his family. At least, that is what he hoped.

Harry sent up a silent prayer that his guesses were right as he climbed his way up the marble stairs into the bank's foyer. The bank wasn't very crowded at all, and so he went straight up to the nearest goblin teller. The goblin behind the counter was just as strange looking as any other, though he suspected that this particular goblin was slightly older than the others he had seen. Harry patiently waited to be acknowledged, as the goblin seemed to be scribbling furiously in the ledger in front of him.

The goblin finally looked down its nose at Harry, "What business do you have with Gringotts today?"

Harry nervously decided how to phrase his request, hoping not to make a fool of himself. "I was wondering if the goblins of Gringotts had any way to tell me if I have any living blood relatives. Specifically, the Potters. I currently reside with some muggle relatives of my mother's, and we've had a disagreement of late. I would be more than happy to compensate the bank for their services."

The grizzled goblin regarded him silently for a moment, before calling for a familiar goblin. "Griphook, escort Mr. Potter here to one of the available inheritance offices." He then return to his ledger without even bothering to address Harry directly.

Griphook beckoned him to follow and began to lead Harry through a long hallway he was sure he could easily lose himself in. They stopped before a door identical to all the others around it, and Griphook rapped sharply and open the door for Harry once admittance was permitted. Entering the office, Harry silently waited to be addressed by the new goblin. He had a longer, slimmer nose than Griphook, who had already left, and wiry white hair.

"Hello, Mr. Potter. My name is Sharptooth, what can I do for you today?" The Goblin peered at him with what Harry thought to be a slightly curious face. With as foreign as the goblins features were to him, though, it could have just as easily been a look of disdain. He was hoping for curious.

Taking a small breath to prepare himself, he started, "I was hoping Gringotts may be able to identify any living blood relatives I have on the Potter side of my family. I'm aware of my mother's relations, but I'm hoping I may have other family on my Father's side."

"Well Mr. Potter, Gringotts does indeed hold records that my be of use for your purposes. The cost of this service will be 10 galleons. Depending on the results of our search, we may then either arrange correspondence or transportation for you. Correspondence is an additional 5 galleons, and transportation will depend on the location. Will this be acceptable?"

Relief and hope flooded Harry, "Yes, that would be more than acceptable. Can you just take the money from my account? I'm afraid I don't have any money with me."

"Of course Mr. Potter. Wait here while I check our records." Sharptooth then left Harry alone in the office.

Harry was admiring a particularly gruesome painting, from what he could only assume to be about a goblin rebellion, when Sharptooth return about twenty minutes later. "Well Mr. Potter, I've compiled a list of your living relatives for you to look over. I'm afraid that all but one are only related to you through marriage or a very thin blood link."

Harry took the piece of parchment from Sharptooth and read down the list. Some of the names he discarded almost immediately. Malfoy and Lestrange being two names he definitely didn't want to be associated with. Tonks was on the list, as was Longbottom and Weasley. These were discarded from his mind since he knew they would not harbor him if Dumbledore asked them not to. The name that jumped out at him was Hawke. Apparently his grandfather, Charlus Potter, had a child with a woman named Erlinda Hawke before he married his grandmother, Dorea Black. Erlinda had a son, Malcolm Hawke, who was James Potter's illegitimate half-brother. Malcolm Hawke went on to have three children; Garrett, Bethany, and Carver, with his wife, Leandra Amell. The knowledge that he had an uncle was enough to send Harry's mind reeling. Unfortunately, the only Hawke still living was his cousin, Garrett.

Harry sat back, and silently grieved for the family that had been so close. Nobody had even known! They can't have, or surely Dumbledore would have sent him to live with them instead. At the very least he would have heard about his father having a brother, illegitimate or not. But Sirius and Lupin hadn't mentioned this "Malcolm Hawke," so they can't have known. Harry briefly wondered if his grandfather had even known, with how obscure this information seemed to be. Then it hit him. I have family.

Sure, he had the Dursleys, but even in the loosest terms, he could not bring himself to refer to them as family. They were related, but they were not family. Here was his chance to have true family. That is, if this Garrett Hawke even wanted anything to do with him. He hoped his cousin would.

Looking up at Sharptooth, who had been observing him silently, he said, "This Garrett Hawke, where is he? I'd like to meet him as soon as possible. Could you send a letter ahead announcing me, and then arrange transportation there and back? I hope to be able to stay with him, but if he won't allow it I'll need a way to get back here. I want the letter to reach him first so I don't just appear on his doorstep."

Sharptooth regarded him a moment before answering him. "Ser Hawke currently resides in the city of Kirkwall, located in the Free Marches of Thedas." Seeing Harry's completely baffled look, he continued, "Your cousin lives in a separate world loosely connected to ours by a place called the Fade. We goblins, as well as a few of the other sentient magical beings, have doorways we can use to travel between the two worlds. Although, we have not openly used these doorways for centuries, since the fall of the magical Imperium with whom we traded. There are very few of the doorways that are still intact. Many of these 'Eluvian' were destroyed in the revolution that occurred, and so, most of us decided it was best that we no longer interfered. However, every now and then, there are a few travelers. Erlinda Hawke was born in this world, but when she learned she was pregnant, she petitioned us to send her over."

Sharptooth paused for a moment, looking at Harry to see if he needed to elaborate, before continuing, "The world of Thedas is aware of the existence of magic, and has four races of beings: humans, elves, dwarves, and qunari. They call those gifted with magic 'mages' and are under the control of their religious institution, the 'Chantry.' We can allow you to use our Eluvian and give you a portkey that will transport you from the doorway to Kirkwall and back. If you wish to send a message today, you may write it here and we will send it immediately. Transportation can be arranged at your convenience. The letter will cost 5 galleons. Transportation will cost you a total of 50 galleons," Sharptooth finished and looked to Harry for his decision.

Harry thought a few moments before deciding. He had come this far, he refused to give up now. "Please send a letter today, and arrange my transportation for tomorrow evening. Please take the 65 galleons from my vault, and an extra 10 galleons for yourself as a thanks for the excellent service you have given me."

"Of course, Mr. Potter. Please return to the bank tomorrow at 3 pm and you may write your letter now."

Upon the completion if the letter, Harry promptly left Gringotts after a quick trip to his vault. He made his way to the Leaky Cauldron to pay for a room for the night and met up with Hedwig. Once he was in his room, he collapsed on the bed, exhausted from the emotional roller coaster he had experienced in the last few hours.

Harry made it to Gringotts, trunk and familiar in tow, a half an hour before Sharptooth had told him he would depart for Thedas. Harry had decided to think of Thedas like it was a separate continent. He was less confused that way. After approaching the teller, he was led down on the carts be Griphook to a vault door that look very old. Griphook ran a long, gnarled finger down the center, and the vault door swung open on creaky, invisible hinges.

"Just a few last bits of information before you go, Mr. Potter." Griphook said, and handed Harry a silver ring. "This ring is your portkey. Once you step through the doorway, say 'never tickle a sleeping dragon' and you will be taken to a small alley around the corner from your cousins estate. Any passerby will be able to tell you which is his. The same phrase will return you to just the other side of the Eluvian. Also, a word of warning. While Thedas is aware of magic, mages are not always treated well. Tell no one you have magic until after you've spoken with your cousin. Kirkwall, in particular, is magic hostile."

Harry nodded to Griphook that he understood, and entered the vault. It was empty, save for a large mirror in the center of the room which reminded Harry of the mirror of Erised. Taking a deep breath, Harry tightened his hold on his trunk's handle and Hedwig's cage, and stepped through the mirrors reflective surface.

The other side was not what he had been expecting. He was in a room with stone walls on all sides; no windows or doors. Good thing he had a portkey, then. Making sure he had a good grip on his belongings, Harry looked at the silver ring on his finger.

"Never tickle a sleeping dragon."

IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE

First things first. I don't have internet where I'm living so updates will most likely not be a weekly thing. I plan on the story being twenty-three chapters long, including the epilogue. It will cover all major events in both series, though the last two HP books will be heavily AU and more or less take place in the span of one year instead of two. Any reviews you give me I will be able to receive on my smartphone. However, I will not be able to reply. If a reviewer brings up an important point or question, my answer will be given in an author's note at the end of the next chapter.

Also, I am aware that my story will be similar to The Two Champions by Na'hiel. I am doing my best to keep my story different and separate. I do encourage you to read this story, as I liked it and it is what inspired me to write my story.

As far as relationships go, I have yet to make a decision. This is where you readers come in. This story will be M!Hawke/Anders because that relationship is the one that fits my plot the best. If you want my detailed reasoning, let me know and I will include it in my next update. This is the only relationship that I am set in stone about. As for Harry, I will consider any suggestions reviewers give me. I do not plan on pairing him with anyone from the HP world because his time in Kirkwall will change him drastically. Therefore, I am leaning towards pairing him with someone from Dragon Age. Please leave me a review of your suggestion and a short explanation of why. I will consider both slash and het pairings.

On the note of relationships, all pairings will be non-explicit. The most that will be mentioned is kissing or stating that characters have shared a bed. No other details will be written. Isabela's jokes and teasing is about as explicit as I will get. If in the future I decide to change this, I will post an extended version of this story on another site.

I think that covered the most important things, but I will happily do my best to answer any questions you may have.

Cheers!

Pauli Kaye

P.S. Please keep any reviews civil. I welcome criticism as I feel it makes me a better writer. I will not accept "flames." I am doing my best to follow the guidelines of this site, and I would appreciate it if my reviewers did the same. Anyone I find violating this will be reported and blocked, no exceptions.