Obligatory Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any character, story element or plot item originally published in the Harry Potter books or movies that I may refer to in this story. I'm merely playing in the sandbox.

Harry and Luna sat in the living room. It had been a few days since the incident with the Dursleys. Harry had been back and said goodbye, saying he would write them. He wasn't very comfortable with the idea, but he kept telling himself that this was a chance to learn the truth, to counter Dumbledore's lies. Luna had encouraged him through out the conversation, pointing out afterwards that it might help to find out that he hadn't been rejected by them for real. Harry agreed only because he wanted to know who they really were.

Algernon walked in, dropping into a seat. "I'm sorry this took longer than we planned, but we hit a few snags. The Dursleys are settled into their new home and the Department decided to rent their original home. We like to practice our blending into muggle society." Algernon glanced at his notes. "Both Vernon and Dudley are responding to the weight loss potions we've administered. We hope to shave them down to a healthier weight. Not make them perfect, but to change them enough to make them less obvious. It's working so far."

Harry nodded. "The wards did affect their health." He'd signed the draft from the Black vault to do the interest free loan, all processed through a muggle bank that the goblins had ties to. There was a contracted mortgage there, done as a personal loan from a holding company that was created to hide the movement of the money.

Luna eyed him for a moment, then spoke. "Then they should be settled. What about Dumbledore?"

"Furious, but he can't trace it back yet. He's still telling everyone that you've been kidnapped. I have an idea for handling that."

Harry nodded. "I do, too, so maybe we can compare notes."

Algernon nodded. "I'm open to modifications. Now, we need to get some things taken care of. New wands are tomorrow, instead of dance lessons," he grinned. "Harry, you're learning very well, I would say."

"It's all about a good teacher."

"And a good student," Luna said, but she seemed to straighten at his praise. This made Harry smile. He loved the simple things that made her happy but hated knowing that it was from all that had happened at Hogwarts. How can she go back to that? He remembered the events of second year and fourth, the hateful gazes pointed to him and he wondered how he would go back.

"So, tomorrow after lunch, we go have wands made for you. Now, however, we begin with the disguises." He brought out a wide wooden box. As he opened it, Harry could see two rings.

"Rings?" Harry had forgotten about the mention of rings until now. He peered at them and realized that they looked fairly ornate. Eying them further, he thought he recognized the design.

"Uncle…"

"The disguise magic is tied to the rings. As long as you wear it, not only will you look different, but every aspect of you will be different, except for magical signature. That will be familiar, so you'll have to be careful with some spells."

Harry frowned. "So, I have to hide that I can do a patronus."

"Yes, that would be one to give you away."

"Uncle, those look like betrothal rings." Luna glared at her uncle.

Algernon held a handout, as if warding against the dark look. Harry frowned as Luna sat back, folding her arms. He knew he recognized the design.

"The magic is similar, I admit. Harry's ring will only be removable by you, Luna, and vice versa, similar to the enchantments within a betrothal ring of certain types of contracts. You will be able to sense where each other are and if there's a threat. There's also a tie in to allow for detection of poison and control potions, so you can sense if someone's doing something to your food. That, combined with both of your abilities in Occlumency and the ability to repel the Imperius curse, should bring you through this."

Harry looked over to Luna. "You can shake off the Imperius?"

"Unless someone very powerful casts it," Luna said. "Uncle, these rings will make it appear as if we're betrothed."

"We'll discuss some solutions to that. Spells to hide them would limit their effectiveness."

She nodded reluctantly, which Harry found amusing. "Aren't I supposed to trust him on your word?"

Luna rolled her eyes, then punched him in the arm. "Shut up, Brahm."

Harry elbowed her back, pushing her over. "You first, Sarah."

"Enough." Algernon said, then grinned. "Good to know you can remember your names." He held out the box. "C'mon, let's do this. You need to get used to your new faces. I promise, it's disconcerting. Better to start now."

Harry lifted the smaller ring, holding out his left hand to take Luna's, following Algernon's instructions. "Place it on her left ring finger, then release her hand."

Luna was hesitant, then seemed to just accept it as though giving up. This bothered him, but he set his goal in mind: take down Dumbledore. He was startled as Luna began to glow, her skin changing to a more tanned color. Her nose grew just a small amount more pronounced, her eyes returned to that shocking light blue they'd been before, and her hair changed to a dark black.

Algernon nodded appreciatively. "Minor changes from what was done back at the facility. We decided that you two would switch hair colors. Your history with Draco would make anyone who suspects you think that there's no reason you could be…well, you, because you'd never be a blonde."

Harry thought for a moment. "I did avoid that color when going out. The closest I went to blonde was something a lot darker, more like Neville's."

"Well, let's see how you carry mine." Luna took his ring up. "Last chance to back out."

"I trust you. That's enough."

She slipped the ring on his hand and he had to close his eyes at the bright light. As it faded, he opened them and found bright blue eyes staring into his. "Your eyes are hazel."

"Easier to do. Making green into hazel is an easier class spell than say, making them blue. It's strange. For the longer lasting spells, what's easy is hard when considering the shorter class spells."

"So, this is us."

"Until the mission's done, Brahm." Algernon said, lightly emphasizing his new name.

That evening, Harry sat on his bed, staring at the mirror, touching his face. He focused on his forehead for a moment, rubbing his finger long the line where his scar had been. It had been gone for a while but looking so different brought it back to him.

"Brahm?"

He looked over. "Guess we should get used to that. What are you wearing?"

Luna nodded. No, it's Sarah. You're Brahm, she's Sarah. She sat on the edge of the bed, so that they were visible together in the mirror. "I found a pair of fake glasses."

Brahm snorted. "Glasses."

"I think I'm cute in these! You're a jerk!" She got up to stalk off and Brahm reached out and grabbed her hand. She tensed.

"Wait…look in the mirror again. Now, picture green eyes instead of blue…"

She was silent for a moment, then threw the glasses away. "Merlin, I looked like Harry Potter in a skirt."

Harry nodded, chuckling softly, and she sat beside him again. "I needed that laugh, thank you."

She shrugged and they were silent for a moment. "I've done some version of this for years. How are you coping?"

"I'm fine, I guess. Uncle Algie helped. He told me yesterday during training that papers were processed to make me his godson."

"You or Brahm?"

Harry smiled. "Both. It's another line of protection from Dumbledore. He's using the information of one of his aliases in the United States so that I have some legal safety. We're going to hint that I'm heading out of country and let them chase that crazy idea for a while." He was silent for a moment. "When this is all done, the Brahm paperwork will go away and it'll just be…" He sighed. "Harry Potter."

Luna nodded. "Sounds like my Uncle."

Harry weighed her words in his mind. Finally, he spoke. "You seem worried about something?"

"My Uncle has crazy ideas sometimes. I'm just worried we're going to get surprised by one. He can sometimes spring crazy things like a Basilisk out of a cave."

"Seen it." Harry shivered at the thought. "Not an image I'd like to relive."

"Sorry."

"Don't worry about it. So, do you know where we're going?" Harry had left the details to Algernon so far, but he didn't like the lack of information.

"After tomorrow?" She shrugged. "Special portkey to DC, then car ride to somewhere in North Carolina. It's a state over there."

Harry didn't know a lot about the United States, so he shrugged. "So, how much brother/sister do you think we're supposed to be? My cover says that I was made aware that I was adopted, but how close are we supposed to be?"

"We'll discuss this with Uncle Algie. He won't leave that to risk."

They flooed to a special portkey point, then were blindfolded. The blindfolds stayed on after they arrived at the new destination. Surprised at the simple measure, Harry walked along what he assumed was a corridor, being guided by several robed figures, each one having blindfolded them. Soon, they were stopped and a loud sound behind them made Harry realize that a large door had slammed shut.

"Remove your blindfolds."

Harry lifted his and peered around. They were in a room with some familiar implements. Luna spoke "This looks like the Time Room."

Harry nodded. He looked at another large dais and he frowned. "That's another ritual platform."

"It is. This is a large secret, and you will have to take oaths not to reveal it." Algernon spoke, then pulled out a pair of parchments, handing them over. The oaths were simple and straightforward, forbidding them from giving details unless otherwise permitted of what happened in that room. Harry and Luna both recited them, and Harry felt the magic take hold.

"Brahm, Sarah, we're amending the plan a bit." Algernon motioned them to stand on the ritual circle. "We will be returning to this circle at the end of the summer, then repeating this summer to gain additional time."

"I thought we were going to spend a few weeks in that cabin in North Carolina."

"We are, in the last summer. We're going to take a few summers in various locations around the country."

Luna made a face. "Won't we get caught? It's really easy to run into people in the same country."

Algernon sighed, muttering about the education in Hogwarts. "The United States is actually very large. You can drive the long way through England in a day. It can be between four and six days in the US."

"Oh."

Harry shook his head at the image. "So, what is the plan?"

"We'll take a few summers and work on the fleshing out of your education, training in some of the skills you'll need. Some of your backstory includes having time in the nonmagical society. You will need to be able to back that up."

Harry nodded. "Plus, some fun."

Harry looked over at Luna who smiled at him. "I made sure that we're going to include fun things. I got to go and have fun when we weren't on the job." She sniffed. "You get to have some of those memories, too."

"Thanks."

Algernon nodded. "I thought we all could use a few good memories, at least time in vacation. I liked Sarah's suggestion and thought a bit of extra time would help." He gestured to the platform. "Let's go back to the beginning of the summer."

"Adopted? In the United States?" Snape stood at the doorway and pondered how loud the older wizard's yell must have been to breach the silencing wards on the office door. He considered the door again, then decided he wasn't interested. He turned and walked down the staircase and the gargoyle took its guard stance at the bottom as he passed.

He returned to his brewing and considered the report he'd intended on making. Based on the noise he'd heard; his Hogwarts master already knew about the Potter adoption. Voldemort had laughed long enough that he'd wheezed at the stunt Potter had pulled.

He had to admit, he'd enjoyed the chaos the devil's offspring had sown. He'd often compared him to his father or Black, but this was subtle and smart. Lily would have been proud. He smirked, then strode over to his brewing as a timer went off, changing the heat and following the recipe to add more burn ointment to the Infirmary's stores.

Author's note: So, they're off.

Yes, I am American, but I'm not bashing England or lauding the US. Honestly, that scene at the end came from two events. One was a story on the news about a BBC correspondent who was given a small amount of cash and asked to make his way from Chicago O'Hare to DC and spent half of it getting out of Chicago. I remember when the amount was announced, my dad and I burst out laughing. The other event was a similar one where some people I knew from an online game went to visit a friend of mine and were surprised at the drive from the nearest international airport to his house.