Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; I am just playing in the sandbox of my imagination for a few minutes. I leave ownership and all the stress related to it to J.K. Rowling.

AN: Thank you all again for all the reviews. They really are an inspiration to me to keep writing and updating. I would again like to thank the kind reviewers who point out my mistakes so that I can either correct them, or make sure I don't repeat them in the future. Yes, Moody's name is spelled Alastor and not Alistair, I appreciate the heads up.

AN: There is a time skip coming up, but I need to get it set up first. Harry has a ways to go before he can rest, so to speak. During the time skip, there will be a couple of sub-plots that play out. Nothing major, or story changing, just an insight or two into a few of the other players in the game.

Don

-DCM—

Daphne slowly came awake to the feel of someone lightly brushing her hair back from her face, and tucking it behind her ear. She mumbled something incoherent and burrowed deeper into her pillow, trying to recapture the bliss of sleep. It was with a sudden realization that her eyes shot open and she sat up quickly.

"Harry!" She started looking around frantically. She saw her mother sitting on her bed next to her. "Mum! Where is Harry?"

"Shhh, hush now…settle down sweetie…" Her mother calmed her and started checking her over. Her wand made intricate patterns over Daphne as she whispered under her breath. She put her wand away and sat back down on the bed next to her daughter. "No worse for the wear, but you did give your Father and I quite a fright."

"What about Harry? Is he okay?" Daphne was looking at her mother with very intent eyes. Melinda was surprised by how attached she seemed to be to Harry, and how concerned she was for him. Daphne had always been a reserved child, keeping her emotions close and in control. It was only in the last six months the she had started showing signs of letting go of this control and showing her emotions. Melinda wondered just how much of this was due to friendship with Harry.

Melinda sighed and looked down for a brief moment. "He's still missing sweetie. They haven't found him yet, but they are looking for him. Even Headmaster Dumbledore is looking for him."

Daphne put her hands over her face and started to cry. Her mother gathered her up in her arms and let her weep. It was the first time in many years she had cried, and her mother decided it was best to let her cry as much as she needed to. After several minutes crying seemed to slow and then finally stop with the occasional sniffle.

"Do you want to tell me about what happened, and how you came to be friends with Harry Potter?" It was a gentle and loving request, but Daphne knew that it brooked no protest. So for the next two hours she talked to her mother. She talked to her about meeting Harry in the alley, their strange and unlikely bond. Their exploration and adventures, their talks over lunch, of him showing her where he was staying, and finally of his reluctance to talk to most adults. Finally she told her mother of the crystal Harry had made her, his decision to talk to Daphne's parents, and then what happened in the attack.

"He said he had to leave so I would be safe." Daphne had tears slowly running down her cheeks. "He left to protect me…"

Melinda Greengrass was having trouble digesting all the information her daughter was telling her. Harry Potter, savior of the wizarding world, abandoned in London, and living in Diagon Alley for months. There he met and befriended her daughter, and lived as best as he could. To top it off, it seems that if what her daughter told her, he had a gift that had never been seen before. The revelation that he ran away again so Daphne wouldn't be hurt was beyond comprehension.

Daphne held the cold clear crystal in her hands. It's golden inner light giving off a small and steady amount of light. She had held it in her hands the whole time.

"May I see the crystal sweetie?" Daphne handed it to her. It was cool to the touch, but not uncomfortably cold. It was very nearly weightless and had no sharp edges. The light inside was faint, but steady. In a word it was beautiful. Melinda made a decision. "Why don't I go and get a chain and we will attach it to the crystal and you can wear it around your neck so you will have it with you always.

"I would like that mum, thanks…" Daphne took the crystal back and lay back down.

"Okay, I will be back in a minute." She stood and moved towards the door. "Silver or gold?"

Daphne thought for just a brief moment. "Silver. Definitely silver."

-DCM—

Harry came awake in a state of confusion. He was still very tired and sore from the day before. It took him several minutes to remember where he was. He slowly pulled back the blanket and stood up stretching his body and scratching at a random itch on his arm. He wondered again where he was, and more importantly, where the loo was. He started across the room to where he noticed several of the other men headed and hoped he would be able to find one soon.

One of the men showed up at his side and took his arm gently and led him to a room where Harry could wash himself and take care of his morning absolutions. When done he was led to a room with some tables and given a bowl of porridge with some nuts and a couple bits of fruit in it. He was also given a cup of juice from a fruit he didn't recognize. Harry ate in silence, focusing on his food, and on the still unanswered questions from the night before. He was most concerned about the old man's comment about continuing on his journey. 'I just wanted to get away so Daphne would be safe. Now how do I get back? What is a winter's child? Where am I? Silver or gold? What do I do now? Wait a minute…silver or gold?'

It was then that his pondering was interrupted. He was led through the building to a small room where the first man he saw the day before, was waiting next to a table. On the table was a long brown stick about a foot longer than Harry was tall, and thick enough that he knew he wouldn't be able to get his hand around it. Next to the stick was a plain but sturdy looking knife in a worn leather sheath. The last item on the table was a coil of rope.

The man was waiting for Harry and motioned him over. "Come Winter's Child, you may choose one item from the table, and then you must continue on your journey." He looked at Harry expectantly.

Harry couldn't contain his questions any longer. "What is a winter's child? What journey? Am I going home? Where am I?" The questions came out in a rush.

The man looked at Harry for a brief moment before answering. "The answers you seek lie at the end of your journey."

"How long is my journey?"

"As long as it takes."

"What is that supposed to mean? I just want to get back and make sure Daphne is okay."

"All things will work themselves out in time child."

Harry didn't know if he believed the strange man. He wasn't sure the man knew what he was talking about, he sure didn't know how to answer a question. "It is time to choose." The man again gestured towards the table that held the items on it.

Harry looked at the stick, the rope and the knife. The rope he dismissed right away. He didn't know anything about tying knots, so it would be next to useless to him. He thought about the stick next. Sure it would be nice as a walking stick, but wasn't sure what else it could be used for. He knew he didn't know how to use it in a fight. Harry finally chose the knife. At least with the knife, if he found a tree, maybe he could cut himself another walking stick, then he would have two items instead of one.

He reached out and took the knife and put it in one of his pockets. The man nodded once, and turned to the door. He took hold of the handle and pulled the door open and walked out, expecting Harry to follow. When they were outside he turned to Harry and looked at him intently.

"What you are seeking is at the end of this road." Here he gestured at a small trail that lead deeper into the mountains. "Be careful, the road can be dangerous, and leaving it will certainly lead to sorrow." He paused again. "Good luck Winter's Child." With that he turned and entered back into the building and softly closed the door.

Harry stared after the man, and then at the door, after it had closed, for several moments. He then turned and looked at the road ahead of him. With a long suffering sigh, he started walking.