Summary: Three years later, and everyone has found their ending. Except Harry. And he soon realizes that his life has another twist to introduce. Or rather, his death does.


Lower London


"Harry, let me tell you this: You don't need normal. You don't want normal. It may have been what you wanted once upon a time, but now…" It was surprising, both the speaker (in a funny sort of backwards way), and the conversation, but given how he was going about everything like a right coward, like someone who was utterly powerless, he should have expected a reprimand like that. Harry faced down a Dark Lord, survived years of hell on Earth to make it this far.

Just putting everything on hold and running away was something he could not abide. It was a shame to his mother, his family, and everyone who'd fought for and with him. It's silly thinking back on it now, but that slap to the face is something he's grateful for. And now, he needs to-

Get out. He's going to go on a trip to Diagon Alley, and maybe finding something for little Teddy before Andromeda manages to guilt trip a spontaneous visit to his godson. As if he doesn't visit practically every week already. He'd sort his thoughts out, make some real decisions, and decide where to move, or at least how to move, from there. For now, he thinks as he hops out of a Floo, all familiar nausea and and disorienting flashes of other places going through his mind, he's going to take to his path calmly and steadily, hoping it treats him in kind.

Hopefully.

For once.

And he walks out of The Leaky Pub, nodding to Tom and acknowledging the various bowed, pointed hats and whispers of thanks. Harry tries not to grimace at it all when he turns his back to them, as he whips out his wand and proceeds to tap the stones to open the passage to the alley. Pausing, he takes a step back, entering the pub again, as someone walks through, unannounced.

He encounters Draco Malfoy on his entrance to the Leaky Cauldron from the alley, decked out in formal wear his late father must have passed down to him. Looking every inch the pureblood he so touted in his youth, Malfoy stares at him before nodding, and turns back into the entrance of Diagon Alley.

Harry soon follows.


The alley is no different than usual, busy and bursting with all the energy that the Wizarding World can carry, and it's just perfect for a walking conversation between two former enemies, hiding the pair behind its bright energy and endless enthusiasm.

Draco begins, cutting to the chase after grabbing his attention with a soft whack of his cane. "I have been trying to contact you, but whatever charms you have put up have harmed several of my owls in the course of delivery." There is an injured tone, even as cold and impersonal as he tries to make it, and Harry shrugs in apology.

"Sorry, but given everything, I'd rather not get any kind of mail anymore. Good or bad. And my owl's-"

"Dead, yes, I know. I think everyone does after that article Prophet wrote about the deaths. Interesting, how your owl made it to the list when I am sure many other deceased pets went unnoticed." Malfoy's eyes are trying very hard not glare at him, and Harry understands the feeling, experiencing it too, so he tries not to be offended at the callous mention of Hedwig's death. Though he is sincerely tempted to ask whether several white peacocks, in Malfoy's humble opinion, should have made the list.

"Yeah, the Prophet never can get its priorities straight." It's silent for a moment as each is in their own thoughts, until Harry bumps into a pair, one in robes and the other not, who look up at him with a fear he is not sure he deserves. Draco look at him curiously, looking down his nose at him (as well as he can given their similar height) for a reason he can only barely grasp now that he's really going to throw himself into the thick of it. Harry thinks of what he can do, and a curious thought occurs to him, coming to the fore without so many doubts and excuses blocking its path.

"There's a shop, Weasley Wizarding Wheezes, further down where you can buy what you need." He says lowly, smiling reassuringly at the two who seize up before leaping off to do what he suggested. There are no backwards glances as they heartily gallop to the designated location. Turning to Draco, he supplies one excuse of the many he imagines he'll need in the future,

"There were two kids under an invisibility cloak. I just pointed them in the direction of the store they were probably sneaking off to visit."

"Of course," Malfoy mutters, "spreading trouble-making wherever you go." They make it to Gringotts, and at the steps, the pureblood finally explains his intentions.

"We need to talk, privately, about some items you undoubtedly have in you possession." Harry's mind runs circles, imagining different items and different outcomes, for once not having any instinct or hint as to what will happen. Everything seems to revolve around everything else. In his experience, everything is related. Hallows to horcrux, past to future, love to hate, death to life. It's just a matter of collecting the pieces and connecting the dots.

"Some things deathly important," and some of the pieces fall into place, however small they are. Cowering for show at the glares that the goblins give him, and flinching at a particularly rough brush with the club of a guard, they are escorted at Malfoy's request for a safe room, warded against all sorts of spying and scrying spells. Complete and total privacy.

Harry doesn't try to deny he's excited.


A/N: I'm not sure about you, but I felt Harry needed a bit of a kick. Normal, normal, normal. It's all about perspective, and in this story, his wish to be normal really annoyed me. Willing to lie down and let it get to him? That isn't the guy who took out a Dark Lord, who continued fighting even when the odds were against him. Yes, it's off-screen as of yet, but I liked what I did with the tomb-raider chapter with mixing the order of things up a bit so I'm doing it here.

And that character I mentioned in earlier notes, the one I said I found the perfect role for, anyone care to guess who it is? It's a Harry Potter character, by the way.