The moment that he awoke he promised himself that the next time he fell asleep he would do so appropriately in a bed. Sleeping on the floor of a stone cave and sitting upright on a couch had taken a toll on his body and he was starting to feel like an old man. It was almost ten so he figured he would head back to the capitol at around noon. His fire had died out, but the sunlight that was pouring into the room finally gave him a good view of his surroundings. The entire house had been crafted out of wood, of which kinds Harry had no idea. There were four windows spread throughout the main room, two of which were flanking the front door. Now that he could see better he noticed that there were a few oil lamps on the wall, which had been invisible in the darkness. There were deep red curtains around all of the windows that looked like they could use a good beating to rid them of several layers of dust.

Standing up from the couch, his curiosity won out and he decided to venture around the rest of the house. Straight across from the front entrance was another door way which he found led to a surprisingly large kitchen. What was more surprising was the presence of electronic appliance considering that the house had no electricity. The only thing he could guess was that his parents had charmed them to work off of magic. There was a huge kitchen sink embedded into the granite counter tops. Harry walked further in, flipping all of the cabinets open and finding them completely devoid of anything, not that he expected anything. Another door in the kitchen appeared to lead into the backyard of the house, but he decided to check that out another time.

Walking back into the main sitting room, he followed the hallway that was off to the right of the right side of the house. Walking down the hall he noticed a few pieces of artwork hanging on the walls, but no family pictures or anything of that sort. There were three doors along the hall and the first one he stepped into was a medium sized bathroom. Next to that room was a small bedroom with just a full size bed and dresser. Closing that door he moved to the one directly across from it. It was another bedroom, but much larger than the first. The bed was king sized and had a dark red comforter that went along with the curtains. There was another door which he guessed opened to another bathroom, but he didn't feel the need to check. The realization that he was standing in the room that his parents used to sleep was a lot to take in. He walked over and plopped down on the bed taking in the whole room. He tried to picture his parents walking around in the room, getting ready for the day, but it was almost impossible with pretty much no trace of their presence left. Thinking about it, it was hard to believe that his father would even ever come to a place like this. His father was a Marauder, a prankster who looked for adventure. The house was out in the middle of nowhere, civilization absent from view. The only reason that he probably did was because his mother wanted to. He chuckled at the idea of his mother probably having his father wrapped around her finger. He guessed that was what a guy did for the girl that he loved, not that he really had any experience with it. Harry had had one date in his life and that had been a complete fiasco.

Making the decision to stop his tour and do something productive before he drowned in his own self pity, he left the room and closed the door without taking a backward glance. With still an hour left before he meant to leave he went back into the main sitting room, took a seat on the couch, and pulled out the first book he came to. It turned out to be Dumbledore's journal and was the only one of his possessions that he had neglected to shrink down. It was leather bound and looked to be ancient. There was a small strap that kept it closed. On the front of the book written in perfect calligraphy, were the initials A.P.W.B.D.. Those were the same initials that had graced the now broken prophecy. Opening up the cover he was shocked and disappointed to find that the first page was blank. It turned out not to be just the first page either; paging through every single sheet he realized that wasn't a single word written in the whole book. Why would Dumbledore have left him an empty journal? He wouldn't, he answered his own question. Dumbledore never did anything without a reason. That's when the answer suddenly came to him. The problem was that it was hard to believe Dumbledore would do it. Dumbledore copying Tom Riddle was a hard notion to grasp. Reaching back into his bag, he pulled out a quill and dipped it into his container of ink. He though for a second and then touched the quill to the first page in the book.

I have to say Professor, I never expected you to steal an idea from Tom Riddle. After finishing his message, another one suddenly appeared on the page.

Ah, Harry, I knew you would catch on quick, but this fast is very impressive. As for copying from Tom Riddle, while both of us were able to communicate through a journal, we had slightly different methods of going about it. Riddle placed a piece of his soul into that journal which ended up in the hands of Ginny Weasley, which was how he was able to possess her, and almost take her life. My method, I must say, is much less dark. Wizards can leave a small part of themselves with the living community when they die. As you know some come back as ghost, while others come back as portraits. To become a portrait, you must perform a spell upon yourself before you actually die, or else you only have the option to become a ghost or to move on. Instead of placing the spell on the portrait that would have hung in the Headmaster's office, I placed it on this journal.

Wow sir, I'm surprised no one has thought of doing that before.

Oh I'm sure they have Harry, but unlike you, not everybody figures out the purpose of a blank book that a deceased person leaves behind. There are probably a plethora of tomes lying around with small pieces of witches and wizards inside. So I have no idea what has happened since I passed on, would you care to update me on the current situation.

I'm afraid it's not very good news sir. I think England has been completely taken out. I barely escaped Privet Drive and I'm pretty sure that the Death Eaters think that I'm dead. There bound to spread that news quickly. In fact the only people who know that I'm still alive are the Weasleys and the house elves in Hogwarts. They only got a glimpse of me though before there were taken away.

Would you care to enlighten me on your reason for entering Hogwarts Harry?

I had to hide out in Sirius' cave last night because Hogsmeade was completely overrun and destroyed. Unfortunately I didn't plan ahead and pack food in my bag, so I took a chance and snuck into the kitchens. I used the secret passage that my Dad, Sirius, and Remus found while they were in school. All of the house elves refused to leave, except for Dobby who agreed to work for me once I get settled. I'm in Maryland right now Professor. I was planning on going to visit Mr. Bowler in a few minutes.

It's good to know you made it safely out of the country Harry. Just one request, please don't try to sneak back into Hogwarts when it's filled with Death Eaters and presumably Voldemort.

I won't sir, at least not until I'm prepared. I guess I should get ready to leave. There's still the matter of trying to find where your friend lives.

Good luck Harry, I will talk with you whenever you need me.

Goodbye sir.

Harry closed up the journal and placed it along with his writing materials back into his back.He didn't really plan on coming back to the house after he went to visit Mr. Bowler so he picked up his bag and invisibility cloak, locked the door to the house, and stepped out into the warm afternoon. He took a quick look back at the house he now owned and decided to test out his warding skill since the house had no magical protection. Taking out his wand he quickly put up a repelling ward against wizards and muggles. Then, just for fun, he added the stinging ward he had practiced on Dumbledore. Pleased with his work, he pictured his destination and Apparated away.

XxXxXxXx

The street he had been to earlier in the day looked much different in the light. It was Sunday, so he wasn't really surprised that there weren't many people out and about. On the left side of street there were rows of old, but expensive looking row houses. The other side held a row of various restaurants and other businesses. Harry walked up the left side of the street, looking for the correct house number. He wasn't wearing the invisibility cloak because he didn't see anyone around that looked suspicious. Finally finding the correct house, he walked up the front steps and loudly knocked on the door. It took around twenty seconds before he heard someone fumbling with the lock on the other side. He instinctively took one step back as the large door swung open and the man came into view. Dumbledore had been right; there wasn't a trace of a hair on any part of his head. The man obviously new what Harry was looking at because he was rewarded with a growl.

"Think it's funny do you boy? Why don't you leave before I knock upside your head?" The man went to swing the door closed, but Harry was faster and stuck his foot out to prevent it from shutting. "What the bloody hell do you think your doing? Did you not hear what I told you?" Harry saw something peeking out of the sleeve of the man's button down shirt and was almost positive; it was the tip of his wand.

"Listen sir, Mr. Bowler right?" The man nodded. "Right well my names Harry Potter, and Albus Dumbledore told me to come and see you when I got to America," Harry explained.

"I see the scar lad, but how do I know that you're not a Death Eater using polyjuice?"

"Dumbledore told me to tell you that you should never lose sight of the quaffle. He also wanted me to remind you of how ironic it is that your last name is Bowler and that your head also resembles a bowling ball," Harry stated doing his best to refrain from grinning. He watched the man for a reaction and for a second looked like he was about to explode in anger, but then just snorted and shook his head.

"Of course that crazy old man would remind me of that, like I haven't heard it a million times before. It's not my fault I can't re grow my hair. Well, you better come in lad; don't want you outdoors where somebody could find you." Harry followed him in as he led him into the house. Looking around the house Harry noticed it had that Dursley cleanliness to it, but did look somewhat lived in. The floors were well polished and everything looked expensive. There was a mix between wizard photos and regular muggle photos around the house. There was a large television in the living room, along with lots of expensive audio equipment. Mr. Bowler pointed to the couch and Harry took a seat. Bowler went over and took a seat in a leather recliner. Now that he had a good chance to look, Harry found it hard to believe that this man had been in school with Dumbledore. He looked nowhere as old as he did, and moved around rather spryly. He was wearing a pair of khakis with his navy button down shirt and was sporting a pair of slippers. Bowler was about the same height as him and his face gave him the look of someone not to mess around with.

"So, how is my old friend Albus? I reckon he has his hands full with the situation in England."

Harry felt himself cringe inside. He fought himself for a second trying to get the words out. "I'm sorry sir, but Professor Dumbledore was killed yesterday fighting Voldemort at Hogwarts. I'm also pretty sure that all of England has fallen to the Death Eaters. That's the reason I'm here now."

Mr. Bowler's face revealed complete shock. The wrinkles on his ancient face became more pronounced and he started to rub his hand over the top of his head as if still had hair to smooth down. He leaned back in the chair as far as would go and sighed loudly. "It's hard to believe he's actually gone. We were the last two members of our graduation class from Hogwarts still living. Living as long as we have isn't exactly the norm in the Wizarding world you know?" Bowler chuckled, "Not really surprising that he went out fighting, he was doing that most of his life, defending the world against the evils that inhabited it." He stood up from his recliner and went over to a small table that had a cabinet inside of it. Opening the door he pulled out a large bottle of brandy, and instead of taking the time to grab a glass, he simply brought the bottle to his lips. Taking a huge drink he turned back to Harry, "Whatever you do lad, don't take up drinking. It really doesn't help much and you feel much worse afterwards." He put the bottle back into the cabinet and took a seat in his chair again. "So what can I do to help you Mr. Potter?"

"Well, mostly I just need to know what's going on here, on this side of the ocean. I'm going north to train to fight Voldemort, but I need to know how freely I can move about and the type of threat I'm likely to come up against. I figured since you live hear you might have some information that could be useful."

"Oh I have information, but I doubt you're going to like what you hear. You have to understand that in the United States, the existence of wizards and witches is well known by many a muggle, mainly the government," Bowler finished distastefully.

"How do you manage to find out what the government knows?" Harry inquired.

"Please, the only people who have a real say as to what goes on in the government are the ones with money. You don't actually even have be a member of the government to get things to go your way. Pass some currency to the right people and you get what you want. Well, I've acquired quite a bit of money over my many years so I was able to get invited to all the big fancy government parties. I would go and find out the happenings and than report to Albus on the state of things here. The last one I went to was the most disturbing. Apparently Voldemort came to visit at some point spouting off about how he was taking over power. He offered the muggles a deal it seems."

"You've got to be joking right? Voldemort actually made a deal with the muggles?"

"Sorry lad, but it's no joke. Voldemort may be pure evil, but he's not stupid. He knows if he goes directly after the muggles here, the government will unleash the full wrath of its military. You can believe it too, the president's rather trigger happy, and it's not exactly easy for a wizard to stop a bullet. They agreed to let the Death Eaters roam around freely as long they only went after the disloyal wizards along with the muggleborns and their families. Dumbest effing thing I've ever heard of if I do say so myself; frightening as well."

Harry was having a hard time digesting what he was hearing. The government was selling its own people out just because they were wizards and witches. "What about the ministry here, I'm sure they must know what's going to happen."

"Too late for that, Voldemort has already taken it. He's got thousands of supporters over here. There already spread throughout the whole country so you'll have to be careful wherever you go. I can guarantee that at some point Voldemort made sure all of his followers were familiar with your picture."

"As long as I don't advertise myself I should be alright, I think Voldemort believes me to be dead right now."

"Well that's something," Bowler laughed dryly.

"Yeah that's something," Harry repeated quietly and put his head in his hands. "I just can't believe that they actually made a deal with Voldemort. The same thing is going to happen here like it has in England. Once he gets enough followers to infiltrate the government and military he'll go after the muggles too. His goal isn't partial control, it's total control."

"It's going to be bad no doubt. Now can you tell me where you intend on going or would you rather not? No bad feelings if you don't."

"Like I said, I'm going north to train, but I'd rather not give you a more specific location. That way they don't have a reason to come after you."

"I thank you for that lad. Now why don't I go fix us something to eat before you decide to head out?" Harry agreed and followed him into the kitchen.

XxXxXxXx

Lord Voldemort walked into the cavern where he had decided to place his prisoners. He was surrounded by a group of his upper level followers who he trusted the most. This was a glorious day indeed. At first he had ordered his Death Eaters to inform the people about the death of their saviors, but he decided he would like to see their faces in person when their hope was ripped away. He was wearing his darkest cloak with his hood casting a shadow over his face. The only thing that was clearly visible was his haunting crimson eyes. He did not want to show the people that he had been injured, that would only show weakness and encourage them. He acknowledged the guards as he passed them and finally came to the main chamber where thousands of his prisoners now permanently resided. It was like a drug to him taking in the fear that was resonating off of all the people. He cast a charm on himself to project his voice and stared into the crowd.

"I would like to like welcome you all to your own personal hell where you will remain for as long as I see fit. Most of you will die; others may eventually lose their will and join my services. If you see fit to act unruly I have given my followers permission to have fun with you as they see fit. I am clearly on my way to taking control and removing the scum, such as you, from existence. It is with great, great pleasure that I am able to let you know that you are alone now. There is no longer anyone to save you. Your saviors are no more. Yesterday will be remembered for all eternity as the day that Lord Voldemort saw to the deaths of the mighty Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter!"

Voldemort turned on his heel and laughed out as he listened to the cries of anguish from his prisoners.