"I need to find someone with that kind of guilt." Brad sighed and looked at his watch, "The bell will ring in a few minutes and we'll head to the outdoor pitch."

"You have more than one pitch?" Harry asked with a bit of shock.

"You ever spent winter in Minnesota?" when Harry shook his head the coach grinned, "We don't like practicing or playing in blizzards with temperatures hovering around twenty below zero… Fahrenheit."

Harry shivered, "I don't mind the snow or rain but that cold has to make the quaffle as hard as a rock. And numb hands fumble snitches. Do you allow warming charms?"

"If the game is at home we just play inside." He offered, "How long was your quickest game?"

"Five minutes." Harry grinned, "That day's referee hated my guts so I didn't want to give him a chance to give me any penalties."

"And your longest?" he asked.

"Three or four hours I think." He guessed, he couldn't remember one lasting any longer than that.

"Hey coach." A few people approached.

"Harry this is the team, we had tryouts in August, they'll all introduce themselves later." He pointed at the crowd who nodded, "Harry is going to try for seeker."

"With a firebolt?" one kid was looking at the end of his broom with his head cocked sideways, "Seriously."

"What grade are you in?" another asked.

"Uh…" Harry tried to think back to the names that Richard had used, "Sofsomthing I think. My old school named the years differently. I have three years left.

"Sophmore." Coach Brad interrupted, "But I have yet to see if he can ride the broom so he isn't a shoe in yet."

"Sure he is." The second one grinned, "We don't have anyone worth their salt in that position. Sorry Sam."

"Don't sorry me." A blond girl punched him, "If I don't have to play seeker I'll be thrilled." She turned to Harry, "Please be at least passable. I want my chaser spot back. I'll be your back up if you want but don't make me play it."

"I'll try." Harry grinned back. It was the same blond girl that reminded him of Luna. However he quickly realized that the only thing they had in common was the hair.

"How good are you?" the first boy asked.

"I like to think I'm pretty good." Harry shrugged, "I did well in my last school."

At that moment the bell rang. Several players looked at the coach hopefully, "Can we come find out?"

"Nope, off to class. We have practice after school and if he is even close to Sam's talent he'll be there."

After the room had emptied, with the pouting quidditch team last out the doors, Coach Brad turned to Harry, "Let's see if you can ride this thing."

"Ok." Harry grinned and laid the broom over his shoulder.

They chatted all the way to the pitch. When they arrived the coach told him to warm up and Harry hopped on his broom and took a few laps then a couple barrel rolls and one climb and dive. When he was done he returned to the coach and found he was not alone.

"Harry this is Peter." Coach Brad introduced a man about Harry's height and build, "He was our seeker until last year. I see you can fly so I want to see you fly against someone."

"Ok." Harry agreed and reached out his hand to shake, "Nice to meet you."

"Coach Brad says you're new to the area." He shook the hand Harry offered, "How long have you been here?"

"Four days." Harry answered then notice his broom, "Firebolt, how long have you had it?"

"A few months." He shrugged, "You?"

"About two years." He grinned.

"Mount up. I've got a remote snitch so be prepared." He called.

"A what?" Harry asked.

"He can control where it goes." Peter offered as he mounted his broom, "They're pretty new."

"Cool." Harry hopped onto his broom and they were off.

Harry had no idea how long they'd been chasing the snitch but he had been having a lot of fun. At one point some of the players arrived and distracted the coach and he almost ran snitch into the ground. Harry was on it and turned just shy of a wreck and caught it. He looked up to find everyone staring in shock, including Peter.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked his fellow seeker.

"I pull off probably twenty feet before you." He gasped as they landed, "I thought you were going to crash. I can't believe you pulled that off."

"I've been closer." Harry shrugged, "One time I got so low my feet drug in the grass and pulled me off, luckily I had the snitch so it didn't matter."

"Dude, just so you know, I play on reserve for the professional team in town. When they hear about you I'll probably be out of a job." Peter huffed, "At least you can't play for three years. I'm going to have to work harder."

At that moment Harry was tackled by a blond bullet. He found a hand on each side of his face and a pair of lips smashed onto his own. Before he could react she jumped off and cheered, "Yes I get to play chaser."

Harry chuckled and grasped the hand that was now in his face and he was pulled to his feet, "She gets a bit over excited. I'm Mark, Sam is my sister."

"Is she always like that?" Harry asked.

"No sometimes she worse." He grinned and brushed the grass off his shoulder, "Got some in your hair too."

"Thanks." Harry ran his hands through his hair and knocked the grass out.

"Well as Sam has already welcomed you to the team I'll just tell you that practice is every day after school, starting tomorrow for you, unless we have a game." Coach Brad explained, "I'll get you a schedule and you need to get a physical."

"Physical?" Harry asked.

"Seen by a healer who will say if you're fit to play or not." Mark answered.

"Medical exam." Harry nodded, "I had one not long ago I'll see if we can get a note on it."

"Well?" Sirius asked when he got home.

"Can we get a note from the Goblin healer that says I'm fit to play sports?" Harry asked.

Sirius pulled him into a hug, "You made the team!"

"Yes we can." Remus answered as Sirius was still celebrating instead of answering, "You were lucky they were still having tryouts."

"They had tryouts back in August." Harry explained, "They were still looking for a good seeker. They had one but they said she wasn't very good."

"I hope you haven't already made an enemy." Severus huffed.

"When we landed she tackled me to the ground and kissed me then cheered that she could go back to being a chaser." Harry chirped as he headed to his room, "I can deal with enemies that do that."

"Well." Remus blinked looking after the teen, "I'd say he had a good day."

"Harry, tell me about the girl." Sirius whined as he followed him down the hall to his bedroom.

Severus almost smiled, "Good he's bugging someone else."

"Are you going to want my help in the lab tonight?" Remus asked he could still hear Sirius wheedling at Harry, "If not I may need to relieve Harry if he has any homework."

"I do not require any help this evening." Severus bowed his head in a thankful gesture, "I want to start tweeking the Wolvesbane and it might be a good idea for you to be away."

Remus nodded back and went after Sirius, "Come on Pads we need to make a quick visit to Gringotts."

"What for?" he poked his head back out of Harry's room.

"Health certificate and permission to play quidditch." Remus shook his head.

"You can do it, why do I have to go?" he asked as he left Harry's room.

"To give Harry time for homework." He explained and looked at Harry peeking out of his room, "Do your homework."

"Ok." He waved them off and just as they were going out the door he yelled, "She's blond."

Severus struggled not to laugh as Remus grabbed Sirius by the collar and pulled him out the door. He stood to leave the room and reiterated Remus' instructions, "Homework."

"I don't have any yet." Harry's grin widened, "I didn't attend any classes today, just the testing and tryouts for quidditch."

Severus couldn't help the chuckle that escaped as he wondered if Remus knew that. Harry watched the man go and was relieved he seemed to be a different person now. He didn't know if it was Voldemort being dead, being away from Hogwarts or something else entirely but he was glad for it none the less. He had worried that the four of them wouldn't get along. Harry went back to his room and pulled out his photo album and sat on his bed. He slowly turned through the pages that Hagrid had filled and then on to the pictures he had added. He missed his friends terribly but he would not endanger them. Maybe when Dumbledore was dead and gone and no one remembered a magical mongoose with basilisk venom he would be able to reunite with them. However that may be easier said than done. They would likely be very angry until he was able to explain.

***Hogwarts September 6th evening***

"Horace?" Dumbledore called as the man entered the doors to the Great Hall.

"Ah Albus. Be a dear and have the elves put my things in Merryweathers old office." He huffed and made his way to the teacher's platform.

Minerva looked first at the large man making his way into the hall and then at the Headmaster. His confusion made her pay closer attention to what was happening. Her closer attention triggered the rest of the teachers to pay attention and that in turn pulled all the students attention. It was in a suddenly quiet hall that Horace Slughorn arrived at stairs to the dais.

"I'm sorry Horace but what are you doing here?" Albus finally asked as the man walked down the table to Severus' seat.

"What does it look like?" he asked knowing full well Albus had no idea. The goblins didn't fill him in on everything but they did tell him enough to make him agree to return to teaching, "I'm filling your empty potion professor job."

Minerva quirked an eyebrow as the man took the seat to her right, "I wasn't aware it was empty."

"Nor was I Minerva." Albus commented, "Care to fill us in?"

"Wait a minute." Horace patted his pockets pretending to look for the letter the goblin had told him to hand over, "Ah here it is."

He handed it to Minerva who passed it on to Albus. He opened the envelope to find two letters. He read the first with a frown but the frown turned into a scowl when he read the second. Huffing he stood to leave. Minerva gave a small cough causing him to stop and looked back. Still frowning he understood the look that said he needed to explain the missing professor to his house if nothing else.

He sighed and turned to the waiting faces, "Professor Snape has stepped down as Professor for Potions and Head of House for Slytherin. Not to worry he did send a replacement. His own professor and Head of House will return to take his place. Please welcome Professor Slughorn back to the post."

After the announcement he left the room that was still silent. He marched to his office without stopping and went right to the floo calling the address for the Leaky Cauldron. The goblins had some explaining to do. He had given them proof that Severus had personally helped kill Harry Potter. Just because that proof was manufactured and completely inaccurate didn't mean they shouldn't believe it. His word should have been enough.

Back at Hogwarts Hermione turned to the twins, Ron and Ginny were already sitting beside her, "Did I hear that right? Professor Snape is gone?"

"You heard it." Fred looked confused, "I wonder if it has to do with that potions company Harry's mum left him?"

"Undoubtedly but why couldn't he wait until the end of the year?" George asked.

"I don't know but Dumbledore looked… angry." Ginny offered.

"That wasn't angry." Ron snickered, "That was livid."

"I'd say fit to be tied." Neville added with a grin.

"Totally ticked off." Hermione agreed.

"Why are we worried about the Headmasters anger issues?" Lavender asked, "Why aren't we cheering?"

"Because we know how bad replacement teachers can get." Dean offered, "Case in point Quirrell, Lockhart, Moody and Umbridge even though she got arrested before she could do anything."

"That makes four." Seamus stated.

"What?" Dean turned to his friend.

"That makes four." He repeated, "I wonder how many more we'll lose."

"Don't." Luna said from between the twins, "We didn't lose anyone."

"How can you say that?" Seamus looked angry, "They're gone."

"But they aren't got forever." She reached for the pudding, "We'll see them again."

"Not Harry." Ron sighed.

"Well now that's if you believe everything the blibbering humdingers tell you." She offered to the red head, "I believe in things not seen."

Ginny leaned forward and whispered, "You think he's alive?"

"I rarely believe anything a blibbering humdinger says." She shrugged, "They only tell their side of the story."

"If he's alive why isn't he here?" Hermione grumbled, "Why not tell us?"

"Who knows but I'd believe any reason he tells me." She took the last bite of her pudding and stood, "He has never lied to me."

"He can't be alive." Parvati stated after she left, "They executed the will. A legally executed will always has to go through certain procedures. If he's alive they can't go through with them."

"They only read out bequeaths." Hermione told her, "They said Harry asked them to skip the legal stuff to keep from boring Ron."

"Did he give any physical items?" she asked.

"Two, no three letters." Hermione offered, "One to Professor McGonagall, one to Hagrid and a howler to the Headmaster."

"His parents left some stuff to a couple of the Professors." Ron added.

"No money?" Parvati asked.

"Yes his trust vault was split, some to the Weasleys and some to me and Luna." Hermione explained.

"Who got the vault?" she asked.

"No one the money was moved to other vaults." Fred explained, "Hermione and Luna had to sign papers to get vaults started."

"Then Luna may be right." Parvati looked a bit shocked, "If he was really dead then the trust vault would have been given to one of you. They don't dismantle family trust vaults. It transfers over to the new family with the largest share. My father got the trust vault from his family. None of his siblings can enter it any longer."

"Maybe Sirius got it." Hermione shrugged, "He got the rest."

"That's probably it." Parvati agreed with a sigh and everyone got up as the food disappeared.

Ron pulled the twins, Ginny and Hermione into an empty room on the way back to the tower, "What if Luna is right and Harry isn't dead."

"The will was executed." Hermione argued.

"But listen." He stressed, "If he wanted Dumbledore to believe he was dead…"

"He doesn't trust him." Ginny began to agree.

"He could have set this up." Ron suggested.

"But how would he know to do it?" she asked.

"Maybe he didn't." Fred grinned, "Sirius may have cooked it all up. Harry did ask him for a backup plan."

"I don't think any of them planned for Harry to be kidnapped." Hermione deflated their bubble, "I want him to be alive too but I don't know how he could have survived five days in the same house as You Know Who and all the death eaters."

"Ok so maybe he didn't plan that part." George allowed, "The escape after he killed You Know Who could have been planned."

"You mean that Harry already didn't trust Dumbledore so he set up something with Sirius to help him disappear after he defeated You Know Who, whenever that happened." Ginny offered and Fred confirmed with a nod, "But why?"

"To keep from getting in trouble." Ron guessed, "How long do you think it would take the ministry to start calling him dark after he killed someone, even if that someone was You Know Who."

"But he should know that we would support him." Hermione huffed.

"Sure but what good is that going to do?" Ron asked, "Just look how much we were able to help over the summer. The prophet had a field day and no one could stop them. They'd jump on board quicker than a snitch."

"And anyone who supported him would just be grouped in with him." Fred concluded, "He probably already thought of it and moved to protect us. It fits right into his saving people thing. He would try to survive on his own and be happy that his friends had each other to help get over him. Maybe someday after everyone forgets about all this he'll get in touch."

"So you're saying we just drop this on go on with our lives?" Ginny asked in disgust, "We need to find him and make sure he's ok."

"No we can't." Fred shook his head and put a hand on his sister's shoulder, "He'll be fine because Sirius and Remus are with him. If the ministry or Dumbledore find him they'll hurt him. Best thing we can do to protect him is to keep all this to ourselves."

"Then we need to tell Luna to stop." Ginny huffed.

"Not necessarily." Ron looked a bit awkward, "If she spouts on about it people will just continue to think she's loony. The more she suggests he alive the more sure they'll all be that he's dead."

"That's mean… but accurate." Hermione frowned, "He'll be the next crumple horned snorkcack or something."