I don't own Harry Potter but I do own my feet.

NEED TO KNOW ∞ Takes Place after Order of the Phoenix ∞ WARNING implied sexual relations, some strong language

Those who really desire to attain an independence, have only set their minds upon it, and adopt the proper means, as they do in regard to any other object which they wish to accomplish, and the thing is easily done. – P. T. Barnum

Independence Day

Harry knew he hadn't eaten anything that day, but really felt no desire to fight with his relatives, and he used that term loosely, for something to eat. The smart thing would have been to get something while he was out, but being used to not eating for so long caused Harry to put it on the back burner. With everything that happened that day he could honestly say food did not make an appearance in his mind until now.

Chapter 4: Freedom

Once Harry made it to the room that he used when residing with his charming relatives, he began to gather his belongings. The sooner he packed the sooner he could leave. Once everything was packed he lay back on the bed and went to sleep.

Several hours later Harry was tossing and turning trying to escape the nightmare that ensnared him refusing to let go. Neville was being crucioed, Ron was being squeezed to death by brains, Hermione was slowly bleeding to death, and Sirius was gracefully into the Veil of Death. Then the dream changed. There was a circle of figures in black cloaks and white masks. "Rookwood, have you by past the wards?" He hissed.

"Not yet my Lord, it will be done by Friday my Lord." The figure responded kneeling down and kissing his feet.

"Make sure that it is. And just a little taste of what will happen if it isn't done, Crucio." He hissed almost lovingly. Pain coursed through his body and Harry woke up screaming in pain clutching his scar.

After he caught his breath he looked over at the clock. It was 5:34 in the morning. Harry continued to lie in bed in order to recover from his nightmare. By the time he got up it was half after 6. He finished gathering his things and putting them into his trunk. He slipped on the invisibility cloak making sure it covered both him and his trunk. He snuck down the stairs and waited for his Uncle to leave to go to work so he could slip out without being noticed.

Harry saw no reason in saying good-bye to people that hated him and he resented. There was once a time that he craved their love and approval, and deep down still did, but he long ago realized he would never get it, so why try?

Harry made his way back to the Whinging bus stop where he got the next bus to London while still wearing the cloak. He wasn't going to take the chance that someone decided to stake out the bus stop in hope of catching him. By the time he got to London it was 11:30 and he decided that he needed a place to stay. He quicfkly located the nearest hotel that did not require ID or a credit card and got a room for a week. He checked in under the assumed name Peter Joshua.

After Harry got his things in his room he decided that he needed a new wardrobe but first needed something to eat. So, he made his way into muggle London grabbed a quick bit at a local diner and then went shopping. He quickly found a department. Harry froze as soon as he stepped in. He had no idea where to begin, the store was huge and he had never been shopping, not for clothes at least.

Luckily he was left there to look like an idiot for long. An attractive brunet sauntered up to him. "Can I help you find anything?" she asked looking him up and down like he was a piece of meat.

"I… uh… I kinda need a whole new wardrobe." Harry stuttered looking down and rubbing the back of his next uncomfortable with the way she was looking at him.

Once he got his sentence out her eyes light up and she went around the store like a tornado picking up things and then shoving him into a dressing room to try things on. She had him come out to show her each item when it became obvious that he had no fashion sense at all. She hm-ed and ha-ed at the clothes. Finally after two and a half hours he was the proud owner of a brand new wardrobe. 5 pairs of dress black pants, 4 pairs of jeans, 3 pairs of sweat pants, 3 pairs pajama pants, 12 casual t-shirts in a variety of colors and some had saying, 20 white sleeveless tank-tops, and 12 dress shirts in a variety of colors. Harry was also subjected to the embarrassment of having her help him pick out boxer shorts.

"I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help Kelly."

"No problem sugar, I'd gladly help anyone as hot as you. You want to repay me than give me a call." She said as she slipped a piece of paper with seven digits on it into the pocket of his new tight black jeans that he was currently wearing along with a plain green t-shirt that complimented his eyes. Harry slipped on a baseball cap that covered his scar as he left. Harry made his way to the court house to make his emancipation official. After meeting with a judge who looked over the papers his uncle had signed, reviewing the bank statement, and asking a bunch of questions, the judge signed the papers making Harry's emancipation legal. Harry left the court house with his heart a thousand times lighter than it had been since finding out about Hogwarts.

He stomach rumbled so he decided to get some lunch at a nearby pub. After eating his fish and chips he went to a barber. After all there were four things that made him very noticeable in the wizarding world his baggy clothes (taken care of), his scar, his eyes/glasses, and his hair. After his clothes, the next easiest thing to change was his hair, provided it co-operated. Luckily this barber knew what he was doing. Instead of fighting with his hair the man cut it short in a messy style that looked really good in Harry's opinion. Harry's next stop was the optometrist office where he got new glasses and contacts. By 4 o'clock he was finally able to drag himself and his purchases back to his hotel where he crashed onto the bed and fell asleep.

After a three hour nap Harry decided to go get dinner before endeavoring into the wizarding world. He decided after finishing his bangers and mash that his best shot at being able to successfully get everything he needed without getting caught was to go to the dreaded Knockturn Alley.

He had been extremely successful thus far, Harry thought as he walked around a bookshop. He had been able to get a multi-compartmental trunk, potion ingredients, and was even able to bribe a shop clerk into removing three tracking charms he had on him one from a light wizard (probably Dumbledore he thought bitterly), one from an auror (he guest Moody the man was paranoid enough to do it), and one from a dark Wizard (definitely good old Snake Face). As he checked out of the bookstore he said thank you to the clerk that had helped him find several books.

"It was my pleasure Mr. Peter Joshua."

Harry left the store and was getting ready to leave altogether when a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks sending the feeling of a ton of bricks settling in the bottom of his stomach.

"Well, well, who do we have here?"

a/n: Brownie points if you can tell me what 1960s film the name Peter Joshua came from. Give you a hint it stars Cary Grant.