Chapter 2

Snow was falling in London as Christmas approached.

Harry Potter was also in London.

Things seemed to move in fits and bursts.

He was at least doing something, his lawyers had found him several tutors and offered him up several places to stay, in London and outside of, all with their problems and advantages.

He'd settled on the New Forest and its surrounds. There was a Quidditch field, tutors around and he'd have guaranteed access to London from several floo locations around, should he need so away from his lodgings.

"Lyle," Harry said as he was let into the room he'd become so familiar with meeting the lawyer in. There were several more that he'd not met before.

"Take a seat Harry," he said in a neutral tone.

Several minutes later Harry was stunned.

"Dumbledore?" Harry repeated, surprised, puzzled and... "I know he knew my parents, that they fought with the Order."

He didn't know what his lawyers would uncover, but as they worked through the contract he'd asked Lyle one time in a meeting why, if his relatives hated him and what he represented so much, and by Merlin they did, why he'd not been 'left with the government' as Vernon had threatened more than once when as he grew up.

That had necessitated telling them everything including about Sirius and everything else about living with the Dursleys.

"We believe he placed you with the Dursleys for a reason we have yet to discover," Lyle explained. "Placement of a known wizard, especially one such as yourself; exposed to such trauma at a young age," Lyle paused. "Placing you with a muggle family is considerably against Ministry of Magic standards, even in times of war," he explained. "Albeit the conclusion."

"What should have happened?" Harry asked curiously. "If Sirius wasn't around?"

Lyle leaned back. "The godparent is the next person who would have been contacted Sirius Black in your case," he paused. "Even in the situation he was in a full trial especially given his status as your guardian should have taken place."

"But it didn't," Harry said in a dull tone, thinking on what might have been, not for the first time.

"No. His escape from Azkaban places him a tricky situation regarding the law at the moment." Lyle gave him a look.

Harry nodded. He'd wanted to fight Sirius' battles with the Ministry as well, but had been informed that wasn't how wizarding law worked. You actually had to front up to a lawyer and present yourself, as he had done, or something similar. Supposedly, even though Harry wanted to help and he would be acting in Sirius' best interests, the law didn't work that way. Supposedly a precedent had been set for this at some point in the past.

"Without Sirius Black the Ministry should have sought out your next magical relative or closest magical family relations." Lyle said looking to his notes.

Harry knew the expression of his lawyer well enough by now. "It's complicated?" Harry asked in a slight knowing tone.

Lyle nodded. "Based on your family's state at the time," he said diplomatically. "you may have been placed with either of godfather's first cousins."

Harry must have given him a confused look.

"Andromeda Tonks or Narcissa Malfoy." Lyle provided

Harry laughed, out of surprise more than anything. "I had considered going to Malfoy to request safe haven, to bridge getting here."

His lawyer nodded thoughtfully. "A thoughtful consideration," he said neutrally.

"But that would have required a lot of trust on my part," Harry paused and sighed. "I thought I could trust my friends to support me with the tournament," he shook his head. "Who's Andromeda Tonks?" He asked quizzically.

"The eldest of Sirius Black's first cousins. She married a muggleborn, which may have influenced the Ministry's decisions." Lyle looked through his notes.

Harry shook his past. "I'm not sure I want to worry about what might have been, I've been through enough with Sirius and...everything." Harry mused in a sad tone, he had often thought on what might have been, and instead tried to move forward with what he had now, going forward.

Lyle nodded. "We will continue to pursue Dumbledore concerning a litany of subjects Harry, not just your involvement in the tournament and your placement with your aunt and uncle," he paused. "It will need to pause over Christmas however." Harry looked at him for an explanation. "The Ministry goes on a Christmas break until late January." He shook his head. "Unless you desperately need something done, then like much in the Ministry money greases the wheels. But not for subjects such as ours."

Harry nodded. He had become used to this sort of stuff over the past year.

"I can give a bit of better news. By your birthday next year you will, in the eyes of Her Majesty's Government under extraordinary circumstances be recognised as legally independent of your aunt and uncle. We've thus far found nothing that legally supports your being taken into their custody or support. Despite your enrolment in school by them."

Harry felt himself smiling, but also frowning. There had been some things he had been ashamed of, to admit to his lawyers regarding his time with the Dursleys. Living under the stairs. The worn-out huge hand me down clothes. The burns on his arms from cooking their meals. The bite marks on his legs from Aunt Marge's dogs when he'd been younger. Young enough to think that the dogs would be friendly. Along with what had happened with Dobby and the reaction from them following that.

Lyle must have caught his expression. "It has necessitated using much of that information Harry," he said in a slightly apologetic tone.

Harry shook his head. "I know," he said softly.

"The information is protected by a court order," Lyle paused. "And significant magical charms to ensure only muggles who need to know will be able to read about it."

Harry nodded again, hopeful that his time with the Dursleys was behind him.

-/ - \\-

There was significant snow falling outside, so Harry was somewhat surprised when someone knocked on the door of the gamekeeper's hut. Hanging the hot kettle he'd just boiled up he turned slowly to the door.

Readying his wand, now removed of any and all Ministry tracking, an early Christmas present so his lawyers said he opened the door; to be enveloped in a hug by Hermione.

"Hermione, got to breathe," he said into her coat as he stepped back and shut the door, closing off the source of cold air.

"Harry Potter," she smiled a large, slightly teary smile at him. "It's good to see you."

Harry watched Hermione look around the former gamekeeper's hut that was set at the back of the pub's land. It had, according to the publican been added to here and there over the years. So now it had a small kitchen, lounge and bedroom. Enough for him, there was even a study area to one side of the lounge. And very much unlike Hagrid's hut, this was more like a misshapen flat.

"This is where you've been staying? All this time?" She looked around as she went over to stand in front of one of the fireplaces in the building.

"I'm glad you came, and that you could decipher my message," Harry said. He'd sent Hermione a vague reference using Ordinance Survey information. Just in case his mail was intercepted at Hogwarts.

"My dad was in the reserves before he went off to become a dentist. He knew what to do," she explained. "They're in the pub talking to your landlord."

"He's a wizard," Harry felt he had to explain. "That's how I get around, he's got a floo out the back."

Hermione had walked over to his bookshelf, he'd moved some of the books, mostly old paperbacks into a box to fill it with his studies from the various tutors who visited him and taught him here or nearby, or out in the forest 'where you can't be distracted Potter' as one proclaimed.

"A lot of varied subjects Harry," she said in an approving tone.

"I wish I was still at Hogwarts Hermione," he admitted, sinking into one of the hut's old sofas.

She turned around to look at him and walked over to sit opposite. "Ron's wanted to write. Direct."

Harry nodded. All his mail went via his lawyers, just in case. "It's just in case. The tournament's contract is tricky. There was one situation in the past where the competitor was pulled back via a portkey hidden in a letter."

Hermione's expression shifted through multiple facets. "But that's...that's..."

"Devious," Harry finished for her. "I could have asked Ron to come here. But...after how he reacted."

"He was-" Hermione paused and gave him a look. "Jealous."

Harry snorted, rising from the chair. "Would you like a drink?" He asked picking up the still hot kettle and placing it on the potbelly stove that was also heating the room. "After everything I thought Ron would know me better. After the dangers we've faced."

Hermione looked to him. "He's...Ron."

Harry nodded as the kettle boiled. "I just think..." He trailed off as he made the tea only finishing his sentence as he sat down with the pot and mugs. "Maybe if he and the house had been more..." He trailed off again, not wanting to point his finger at anyone. "I might have stayed. Tried to fight, tried to compete."

Hermione was shaking her head and Harry suspected it wasn't regarding his offer of milk. "Harry, no. Did you hear about what happened with the first task?" Hermione asked.

Harry nodded. "Some of my tutors discussed how I might have survived."

"A dragon Harry," Hermione said. "People have died in the past, I honestly don't know what they were thinking," she shook her head again.

"'That by having your name entered into contract, your safety is forfeit and in your hands, wand and knowledge for the duration'," Harry quoted earning him a quizzical look from Hermione.

"One of the many things that you're not told about the tournament. Supposedly that clause is written down somewhere," Harry explained. "My lawyers are trying to get a hold of it, but according to Dumbledore the 'the clauses, it seems have been misplaced'," He said quoting Dumbledore this time.

Hermione looked surprised at this information. "How might you have done it?" She asked as she swirled the pot and poured herself a cup of tea and accepted a biscuit from Harry.

"Something broom-riding related probably. I couldn't have fought the dragon, if I'd been at Hogwarts, there wouldn't have been enough time to learn how," Harry said pouring his own tea. "I'm not sure I'd have been fast enough."

Hermione nodded as she ate her biscuit in silence. "Will you be able to come back to Hogwarts Harry?" She asked, tension present in her voice.

Harry shook his head. "Not for the duration of the tournament. My lawyers are quite certain of that."

"And after?" Hermione tried, her voice still very tense.

Harry shook his head. He didn't know, and said so. "It's possible I might never be able to set foot on Hogwarts' grounds, nor that of Beauxbatons or Durmstrang."

"But why Harry...?" Hermione trailed off thinking. "Because they're part of the tournament?" She began. "Wizarding law can't be that-" She was cut off by Harry giving her a look. "It can?"

Harry nodded. "I should be able to maybe set foot on Ministry property, even though they're..." Harry trailed off trying to think of the word. "'Underwriting' the tournament. But they're in a different sort of state, since I have to deal with them, via lawyers. But anything else, anywhere else like Hogwarts opens me up to other parts of the contract."

Hermione was silent for a time. "What about in the new year? Some of our house would want to see you. Come to Hogsmeade?" She tried.

Harry didn't say anything at first. He wasn't sure he wanted to return, to be within spitting distance of Hogwarts.

"I'm not sure," He said. "But I'll see."

"Now, Harry, what are you doing for Christmas?" Hermione asked, sounding like she was planning the invasion of France. She had her arms crossed and looking like she was preparing for a fight.

"Nothing much," he said with a shrug. He'd become used to spending time on his own, now that he had to be away from Hogwarts and everything related to it, and all because of a slip of what probably wasn't paper.

He wished the piece of not-paper that the cup spewed back still existed, at least that would have told them something.

"Then you're coming for Christmas with us," Hermione said with some finality.

"I am?" Harry asked.

"We've got the floo connected, in my dad's office, it was too messy in the lounge," Hermione wrinkled her nose. "And he said he wanted to be able to shut it off, if need be." She said with some, Harry wasn't sure what in her voice. Doubt perhaps? With some concern.

"I have been made aware of methods to keep a floo shut and blocked," Harry said conspiratorially and nodded. "I'll have to tell my lawyers that I'll be going, if your parents don't mind?" He asked with some concern.

Hermione smiled broadly. "They suggested it Harry. You can't spend Christmas alone here on the edge of the New Forest." She must have caught an expression on his face. "No matter how much you enjoy solitude."

Harry smiled warmly at his friend. "I'm glad, Hermione. Really, that you understand, and that I can trust you."

"Of course Harry Potter," she paused. "You should also have been able to trust Ron."

Harry stood up. "Well, we should go and see your parents then," he gestured his wand and focused to wordlessly float his coat over, fighting the urge to speak the incantation.

Hermione looked at him open mouthed in astonishment.

Harry grinned. "See, my solitude is not just a holiday," he said as he opened the door and was confronted with an icy wind ripping into the hut.

-/ - \\-

At Christmas Harry had found out that Hermione was missing the Yule Ball to be here at home with her parents, and him. He'd been shocked that Hermione would miss such an important event, considering it was unlikely to happen like this again.

Hermione seemed to be having none of it. "Friendship, Harry is more important than some dance. Ron has been dropping hints since the first task about me going with him."

Harry had teased the she'd have had several suitors, Hermione had confided while they were washing up, something he'd insisted on helping with that Viktor Krum, he of the excellent Quidditch skills had approached her.

He'd also been understanding of his decision to flee and hers to support him. Hermione had whispered to him that she was going to meet Viktor for 'a walk around Hogsmeade' when she returned.

-/ - \\-