Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

A/N: As usual, thanks to my beta Tristifico.

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Proof of Existence

Chapter 1: After the End

After being promoted to the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation four years ago, Percy Weasley had gotten used to handling all kinds of delicate situations. He was no longer the inexperienced officer that he had once been.

So why was he feeling so nervous now?

After all, this was just like any other job, if only a little special in nature… and a lot more personal.

"To welcome Harry Potter back to the Wizarding World," the Minister had said with a pat on Percy's shoulder. "I trust you to help him with all you can, Percy."

Shifting slightly in his chair, Percy glanced at the wooden door opposite from him for what seemed like the hundredth time. He had been directed into this small waiting room more than half an hour ago by the Minister himself, who had then left him alone and headed back to the entrance of the building, no doubt to deal with the reporters.

It was a most irregular arrangement, but since Harry was involved, it was necessary. This little event had attracted reporters from all over the wizarding world. Everyone wanted to find out the truth about the man who was both their savior and betrayer; the man who had spent the last ten years in Azkaban and was about to be released today.

Aside from those who had escaped, Harry had been the only loyal Death Eater who had not been sentenced to prison for life. The reason was simple - Harry Potter had won the war for them.

But Harry had not stayed a hero for long. Three months after the war had ended, Harry had shocked the world by confessing to being a Death Eater, a loyal Death Eater. While he had once been tried with the same charge and found innocent, Harry had requested to be tried again, one year after his original trial. Percy did not know the full details behind that confession; all Harry had said was that his memories had started to return bit by bit after the final battle.

A sudden noise from behind the wooden door immediately pulled Percy out of his thoughts. He stood up from his chair as the door finally opened. An Auror came in first, followed by a pale Harry Potter.

"I'll take over from here," said Percy to the Auror, who seemed very uncomfortable in Harry's presence. Percy wondered it had anything to do with Rita Skeeter's new book on how Harry's tragic childhood had led him to seek comfort from the Dark Lord Voldemort. The book had quickly become a best-seller.

The young Auror nodded stiffly. He pushed the bag he had been holding to Percy and with a not-so-subtle glance at the long scar on Percy's face, hastily headed back through the wooden door.

As the door closed behind the Auror, Percy turned towards Harry. Ten years of guilt and loneliness had changed the young hero. Compared to when he was seventeen years old, Harry was now much thinner and paler. His black hair was greasy and full of dirt. Behind his messy hair, the look in his green eyes was filled with grim acceptance and a kind of maturity that had not been there before.

"How are you, Harry?" asked Percy tentatively.

Harry looked around the room warily. "It feels strange," he said, "being out here."

"It has been a long time," said Percy, not knowing what exactly he should say in this circumstance.

Harry nodded. He glanced down at himself and grimaced. "I look like a real mess."

"You don't look too bad," said Percy gently.

Harry snorted lightly. A tiny hint of amusement entered his eyes. "That's just because you've seen me worse, Percy."

Percy's lips curled up slightly. "True," he agreed. But before he could say more, a sharp voice coming from the direction of the entrance interrupted him.

"- to become the next Dark Lord. Is that true?"

Harry stiffened and Percy barely stopped himself from glaring at the door that led towards the entrance. Even through the closed door, he could still hear the racket caused by the reporters.

"What is this place?" asked Harry, his eyes were sill fixed on the door.

"A Ministry station near the harbor." Percy didn't need to explain that all boats in this harbor had only one destination. "We are not staying here for long," he added hastily, "we are leaving as soon as you're ready."

"I don't think I'll ever be ready," said Harry.

"We're not going out there," said Percy. "We're leaving through portkey. An authorized one, of course," he added. He was satisfied when Harry smiled at his joke, even though the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"But where are we going? I- I don't think I have anywhere to stay."

Percy shifted uncomfortably. "If you want, you can stay at my house until you find a suitable place to move to. It's not big, but there should be enough room for you to stay."

Harry looked taken back. "Percy, you don't have to-"

"I've spoken with Audrey and we both agreed to this arrangement," Percy cut in, smiling slightly as he mentioned his wife. "You are very much welcome, Harry."

"But what about your children?"

"Little Molly was actually the one who invited you. She can't wait to meet you, Harry."

Still looking shocked, Harry hesitated before nodding. "Thank you," he said, with gratitude.

Percy responded by taking out a silver pen from his pocket. He tapped the portkey with his wand and held it out on his palm. "When you're ready, Harry."

--

After showing Harry the way to the bathroom and making sure he had everything necessary for a much-needed shower, Percy walked back to his living room and ran through his mental checklist once again. The Ministry paperwork for Harry's release had been done. The trunk that Harry had left behind at the Burrow years ago was now in the guest bedroom. Audrey had taken the children out and wouldn't be back until the evening so that Harry could rest for the day before having to meet any of them.

Satisfied that he had not missed anything, Percy settled on an armchair before the fireplace and allowed himself to relax.

Today was a special day for the wizarding world. Everyone had been waiting for this day since the trial ten years ago. It was not surprising, Percy supposed, given how Harry's trial had ended. He – like many other – still remembered what Harry had said in the Wizengamot courtroom that day clearly.

The room was in stunned silence. Almost no one could believe what they were hearing. All eyes in the room were focused on one single person – Harry Potter, their savior.

"Let me ask you again, Mr. Potter. Do you admit to being involved in activities of the Death Eaters?"

"Yes."

Several gasps followed Harry's answer. Percy glanced at the first row of the public bench. His family was sitting there. Even from the distance, Percy could see the disbelief on their faces clearly.

"And do you, Mr. Potter, admit to working for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in the war?"

There was a brief pause, then Harry's quiet voice echoed in the otherwise silent room.

"Yes."

Taking in a deep breath to calm himself, Percy forced himself to focus on his court duty. He grabbed his quill and quickly scribed down what Harry had admitted to. His hand was shaking.

"Why, Harry?" someone cried out from the audience – Remus Lupin.

The whispers in the room quieted down at once as everyone waited for Harry's answer. Several in the audience looked as though they were expecting Harry to reveal that it was just part of his plan to defeat Voldemort. But Percy knew Harry was not a spy, but a loyal Death Eater.

"I don't know."

Percy looked up sharply at the unexpected answer.

"What do you mean by that, Mr. Potter?" said a witch from the Wizengamot.

Harry looked downward at his hands, which were not bound by the chains on the arms of the chair. "I don't remember," he said, sounding bitter. "If you check St. Mungo's record, you'll see that Voldemort meddled with my memories a year ago. He made me believe that I was captured and placed under his control. But after the war, the false memories he placed on me began to fade. I started to remember what really happened, but not all of it. I know I- I obeyed his orders willingly, but I don't remember why."

Percy stared at Harry in shock. Harry didn't remember why he had joined the Death Eaters?

"But why would You-Know-Who do that?" In his shock, Percy couldn't see who had spoken up this time.

Harry hung his head in defeat. "I don't know."

Mutters broke out in the room again. Then an old wizard, again from the Wizengamot, asked, almost curiously, "Why did you confess, Mr. Potter? The public considers you a hero, and you could have stayed that way."

Harry remained silent for a while, then, for the first time since the trial had begun, he looked over to where Percy's family and some of the Order members were sitting. He quickly averted his gaze again, as if in shame.

"I am not a hero," he said. His voice was soft but firm. "I can't remember everything that I have done, but I know enough. And I can tell you that to call me a hero will be an insult to those who have fought with their lives against the monster that I called my Lord."

Percy would never forget the look of pain in Harry's eyes as he admitted his betrayal in front of all those he cared for.

Expectedly, Harry's confession had had a huge impact on the wizarding world. There had been a long debate on the Ministry's decision to imprison their 'savior'. Some had protested strongly against it, whereas others had found the sentence too light. At the same time, speculations on Harry's unspoken reasons for joining the Death Eaters had flooded the media, ranging from Harry craving for power to Voldemort being Harry's real father. Even after ten years, the mystery was never solved.

And that was why Harry's release from Azkaban today had attracted the attention of the whole world. Catering to their audience's interest, the media had even made Harry's release into some kind of spectacular public event. Everyone believed that the answer to the largest mystery in the century would finally be revealed today.

While Harry could not hide forever, Percy knew that he was definitely not ready to face the world just yet. Thankfully, Minister Shacklebolt shared Percy's opinion and he had been most supportive with the idea of having a former Order member to watch over Harry. So when Percy suggested letting Harry stay with his family, the Minister had agreed almost immediately, saying that Percy was the person that Harry would probably feel most comfortable with.

If anyone had said that to Percy years ago, he probably would have considered it a joke from the twins. After all, he had never been as close to Harry as his parents and siblings. But everything had changed when Harry lost his memories and Percy suddenly found himself being one of the few who knew the truth.

Knowing what Harry had done as a Death Eater, Percy had had a hard time accepting the innocent verdict in Harry's first trial. Professor Dumbledore had told him that revealing the truth would have broken Harry, even though it might have served justice. With the war raging, Percy had little choice but to keep his silence.

But later, when the war was over, Percy had once again felt the heavy weight of the truth. He had been spared from making the hard decision, however, when Harry threw away his fame and confessed to being a Death Eater.

Well aware of what had actually happened, Percy had felt annoyed with all the far-fetched and untrue stories concerning Harry, who he had gained a new respect for after the trial. And so, when the Minister needed someone to check on Harry's condition in Azkaban four months after the trial, Percy had been the first to volunteer.

Even though the Dementors no longer guarded Azkaban, Percy still had to suppress a shiver as he walked along the dark and foreboding corridor. A sense of hopelessness seemed to fill the place. He turned his head away in disgust as he caught sight of a prisoner trembling at the back of a cell, moaning in hunger.

Everyone in this place deserved their punishments, Percy told himself firmly.

He did his best to memorize his way as he followed the Auror accompanying him and walked deeper into the prison. They walked in an uneasy silence. Finally, the Auror stopped before a quiet corridor.

"That's him," said the Auror, gesturing to the single cell along the corridor.

"You isolated him from the other prisoners," Percy commented.

"For his own safety," said the Auror. There was no questioning that the Death Eaters wanted Harry dead more than anything. "Ironic, wouldn't you agree?"

Percy said nothing in response. He was never one to appreciate irony, and he had grown to hate it since discovering Harry's secret more than a year ago.

He glanced at Harry's cell, barely visible from where he stood, wondering - dreading – what he might find behind the barred door. Steeling himself, he turned back to the Auror.

"Thank you for your assistance," he said. "I should be able find my way back. You may return to your duty."

The Auror looked mildly disappointed. Of course, thought Percy grimly, no one could resist the chance to gain first-hand information on Harry Potter.

Turning away from the Auror's retreating back, Percy pulled out his wand and cast an anti-eavesdropping spell. Being Kingsley's – the Minister's, Percy corrected himself – representative, Percy was allowed to keep his wand. He hesitated for a brief moment before walking down the dark corridor towards Harry's cell.

His heart cringed at the sight that greeted him. Curled up at the corner of the cell was Harry, his knees pulled up to his chest. He looked much thinner than Percy had last seen him, as though he had barely eaten in the past four months. He was staring blankly at the stone floor of his cell, seemingly unaware of Percy's presence.

"Harry?" Percy took a step closer towards the barred door.

Harry tensed and slowly lifted his head. Percy almost flinched at the haunted look in Harry's green eyes.

"Percy?" Harry's voice was hoarse. "What- why are you here?"

"The Minister sent-" Percy cut himself off, realizing uncomfortably that he had never quite treated this visit as a job for the Ministry. "I volunteered to come here," he amended. "I need to talk to you."

Harry hung his head. "I can't remember why I did it," he said tiredly. "I've already told Kingsley that the last time he came."

"No, I'm not here to get information from you," said Percy, trying to sound reassuring. He paused for a while to regain his composure. He had thought through what he was going to say to Harry long before this moment. "I already knew what happened, Harry. And if you want, I can tell you everything."

Harry frowned, growing wary as he looked back at Percy. "What do you mean?"

Percy swallowed. "I mean I knew why you became a Death Eater. I've known for more than a year."

"What?" Harry's eyes grew wide, finally giving Percy his full attention.

"I found out by accident," said Percy. "I was talking to you one night when your Mark burned. I believe it was mid-way through your fifth year at that time."

"But why didn't you say anything before?" said Harry, staring at Percy in obvious shock. "Who else knew?"

"I'm not sure who you have told, but Professor Dumbledore knew," replied Percy. Harry narrowed his eyes. "After your first trial, Professor Dumbledore told me not to tell anyone what I knew. He said it wouldn't be right to judge you when you can't remember what you have done."

"But I still killed them," said Harry tightly, "even though I couldn't remember it at that time."

"He's just trying to protect you," said Percy. Even though part of him wanted to agree with Harry, it would be too cruel to say it out loud. "But it doesn't matter now," he added, unconsciously glancing at the barred door that separated them.

"So that's why you hate me," said Harry quietly, "because you knew all along that I'm a murderer and Dumbledore forbid you from telling anyone. I- I'm sorry, Percy."

"I don't-" Percy stopped again. He knew had not been too friendly with Harry in the past year. He sighed. "When I found out you're a Death Eater, you told me your reason of joining Voldemort. I agreed to keep it a secret for you because I believed you would not run away from what you have done. And I was… disappointed after your first trial," he admitted. "But I was being unfair. I shouldn't have expected you to admit to something you didn't remember."

Harry blinked, as though he didn't know what to make of the situation. "Percy, it's not your-"

Percy shook his head. "No Death Eater would ever confess willingly, Harry. What you did was very brave," he said. Crushing down his own uneasiness at the situation, he continued, "I am here because I want to help you, Harry. I don't know how much you remember, but if you want, I can tell you what I know."

Something flashed across Harry's eyes at the offer. "Of course I do," he whispered. "Please tell me, Percy."

And so Percy did. He told Harry all he knew, about Nicolas Flamel and time travel, about Harry's time with the Death Eaters, and about Harry's real intention in joining Voldemort. It was an odd conversation, since part of what Percy knew had come from Harry himself.

Harry sat in complete silence throughout Percy's recounting. Recalling the past was hard enough for Percy, he couldn't begin to imagine how Harry must have felt at the moment.

"I- I traveled to the past?" said Harry in disbelief. "Fifty years into the past?"

Percy nodded.

"And I went to Hogwarts with Tom Riddle for a year?"

Percy nodded again. "I know it's hard to believe," he added.

"It's not that I don't believe you, Percy, you've already told me much more than anyone else has," said Harry. "But why- why can't I remember anything about travelling to the past? My other memories are returning, but there's nothing about fifty years ago."

"The memory charm is breaking, but it may take some time before you remember everything," said Percy.

He had actually spent some time studying the nature of memory charms in the past year. He had wanted to find out the extent of the damage Voldemort had done to Harry's memories. What he had found was not as reassuring as he had he tried to make it sound. It was a miracle that Harry had been able to recover part of his memories at all, considering that it was someone as powerful as Voldemort who had cast the memory charm.

"I don't understand," said Harry. "What could have happened in one year that would make me- I mean, why would I ever want to redeem Voldemort? That monster took everything away from me."

Percy had no answer to that. What could he say? That Harry had once considered Voldemort his "friend"?

"I remember the day I took the Dark Mark," Harry continued at Percy's silence, staring downward. "I remember begging him to mark me, even though I had to kill someone to make him accept me. It- it's disgusting." He hugged his knees closer to his chest. "I didn't even hate him. All I wanted was to please him. Every time I think of that memory, I feel like I'm in the mind of a total stranger, even though I know that I'm that stranger." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Percy. I'm not making any sense, am I?"

Percy hated seeing Harry looking so distressed and he hated the fact that there was nothing he could do about it. The choices that Harry had made in the past were ones that only Harry himself could understand and the key to understanding everything lay within Harry's memories of what had happened fifty years ago. Percy could only hope that those memories were still intact, for Harry's sake.

After that first time, Percy had continued to visit Harry regularly. Since the paperwork needed to gain permission into Azkaban needed time and Percy refused to use the Minister's name again to gain special entrance, he had limited his visit to around once a year. As much as Percy feared and hated Azkaban, his sense of responsibility had brought him back to the prison year after year– responsibility to monitor Harry's health as a Ministry officer at first; responsibility to help Harry as simply Percy Weasley during the later years.

Probably because Percy had been the one who had told Harry the truth, Harry had expressed a willingness to talk to him which he had not shown anyone else in the Ministry. And that was why Percy knew more about what Harry had gone through in the past ten years more than anyone else. He had witnessed how Harry had nearly broken under the weight of his past crimes, how Harry had struggled to overcome his guilt, and finally, how Harry had managed to push himself back to his feet, if only barely.

And now, more than ever, Percy wanted to be there to make sure Harry didn't succumb to the pressure that he was sure to face very soon.

Lost in his thoughts, Percy nearly missed the sound of the door opening. He looked up just in time to see Harry emerging from the bathroom. After cleaning up, Harry now looked much better than Percy had seen him for a long time. He didn't look as thin as he had been after getting rid of the horrible prisoner rags and changing into clean clothes. His face had also regained some color. Still far from healthy, of course, but it was a start.

Percy stood up as Harry walked over to him. Reaching into his robe pocket, he pulled out what he had brought back from the Ministry earlier that day and held it out to Harry, who visibly froze when he caught sight of what was in Percy's hand.

"Welcome back, Harry," said Percy, smiling gently.

"I thought it was supposed to be snapped," whispered Harry.

"The Wizengamot didn't take away your right to use magic and since you were already of age before the trial, you wand wouldn't be snapped," explained Percy.

Harry stared at his wand for a long time before reaching out hesitantly and taking it from Percy's hand. For some reason, Harry seemed afraid of his wand.

"Do you know how many times I've killed with this wand?" he said quietly, eyeing his wand.

"You've paid for what you've done, Harry," said Percy. "It's time to let the past stay behind."

Harry looked away. "I got much less than what I deserved. You of all people should know that."

"You earned that early release," Percy countered firmly. "You saved a lot of lives by stopping the war, Harry."

Harry glanced at the necklace around his neck. "I didn't save anyone," he said. "All I did was to commit yet another murder."

Percy felt himself tense. Harry had never mentioned to him or anyone else what had happened that day in the Department of Mysteries.

"I used the killing curse," said Harry. His eyes were strangely cold as he spoke. "He wasn't even armed when I killed him."

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A/N: Yes, it's Azkaban in the prologue. Harry was sent to prison after his seventeenth birthday (around a year after Friend or Foe), which makes him twenty-seven in this fic.

The name of Percy's wife and children are from Lexicon. As far as I know, there's nothing known about Audrey Weasley, please correct me if I'm wrong.

And Cherri202 got the title right. "Proof of Existence" is an area near the end of Kingdom Hearts II (Yes, I like that game). It's a graveyard-like place for those who are never meant to exist.