Summary: The war is over for everyone but Harry. He is still fighting just to survive, but he won't make it on his own. Just when he's given up, help comes along.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, but I do own my imagination which takes me on wonderful adventures.
Chapter 14: A New Identity
A/N: Please note that I will continue referring to my characters by their canon names, however they will be using their new identities in public.
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Harry was looking forward to the weekend three days away. In the meantime, he took every opportunity to use his magic. Severus looked on with fond amusement as Harry magically added coloured sprinkles to the breakfast scones.
"I need to add you into the wards on the cottage. Come along. It will only take a few minutes." He led Harry outside to the edge of the property. "Close your eyes and raise your hand. Can you feel the wards?"
At Harry's nod, he instructed, "Spread your fingers and push up against the barrier." As he did so, Severus touched the ward with his wand and stated, "Praeter." He lowered his wand, gesturing for Harry to relax. "That's it. You may now apparate in and out of the cottage."
As they headed back inside, Severus asked, "Have you given any thought to the question of your identity? Do you truly wish for Harry Potter to die off and for Harden Prince to become permanent?"
"Yes, I do. I have been giving it quite a lot of thought actually. Harry Potter is a caricature of a person. I remember when I first entered the wizarding world and people would come up to me and ask me about all the adventures I had had which they read about in books – like I was some kind of super hero. I guess to them I was, but other than sharing a name, I was nothing like him. I lived behind a variety of different masks for most of my life. Now I have the opportunity to be a normal human being with a normal life. I want that," he finished, adamantly, then asked, "What do I need to do to make it happen?"
"We will need to go to the goblins. My contact there helped me disappear. I'm sure he can do the same for you. We might as well go now and get it taken care of." Harry nodded.
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After breakfast, Harry and Severus donned their disguises and apparated to Diagon Alley. "I can't believe I just apparated! You have no idea how freeing it feels! I missed being able to do this, even though I hate the way it compresses me."
They slowly wandered their way down the Alley, allowing Harry to absorb the atmosphere permeating the post-war world which he had not been privy to in the last ten years. Everything was bright and clean. There was an impression of prosperity and peace. Despite the anger and sadness he still held for how he had been treated in the aftermath, Harry felt a huge sense of pride that he was one of the reasons such an ambience could exist. He felt even more comfortable with his decision to let his previous persona go.
Finally, they made it to the end of the street and Harry looked up at the white marble walls sparkling in the sun. He took a deep breath and followed Severus up the steps.
Severus led the way to a goblin at a desk nearly hidden in the back. "Good afternoon, Flintfoot. How are your coffers today?"
"Master Prince. It has been a long time. My fortune holds. And yours?"
"Better than ever. May we speak in private?"
Nodding, Flintfoot stood and led them into an office down a long hallway. After they entered, Severus requested and received permission to add his own secrecy wards to those of Gringotts.
"Now then, what can I do for you, Mr. Snape and Mr. Potter?"
Harry started, but Severus ignored it. "We are here because Mr. Potter would like for his identity to be hidden in much the same way as mine. He wishes to be known from here on out as Harden Prince, my nephew."
Flintfoot nodded. "Very well, Mr. Potter. We, in the wizarding world, have not heard from or of you in many years. As such, I believe it will be an easier process to hide you than it was for Mr. Snape. How complete do you wish for your disappearance?"
"Well, I do not want any facsimile of my body to turn up anywhere. It could incite riots or worse if someone believed I was murdered or committed suicide. Harry Potter can remain their hero. Let the public believe that I left Great Britain. I want a complete break from that identity as Harden.
"I would like all documentation for my new identity to show decent enough N.E.W.T. scores to grant me a potions apprenticeship, maybe with a specialty in herbology.
"I do know that most, if not all, of my assets were 'appropriated' by Dumbledore, so I don't know if there was anything at all left in the Harry Potter vaults. I would like an accounting of what is, or isn't, there before I can tell you what to do with it."
Flintfoot nodded again and spoke gobbledygook into a desktop speaker. "I will receive a report in a little while. In the meantime, let's take care of your new identity." He opened a drawer and removed a sheaf of paperwork. "Please fill out this questionnaire while we are waiting. This will help create a history to back up your identity," he said, passing a long scroll and a quill across the desk.
"In the meantime, Mr. Snape and I will set up the account work for Harden Prince." Harry nodded and set to work.
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Two hours later, Severus and Harry exited the bank. "I can't believe it. Sirius was brilliant. A vault under the name of 'Prongslet'!" Harry laughed, "I have enough now to get me back on my feet."
"While there was never any love lost between us, I can agree that he finally did something worthwhile here. I am truly surprised he saw the situation for what it was – he never struck me as particularly observant. For that alone, he has gained some of my respect.
"However, hold onto your money for now. As my apprentice, you will still live with me until you gain your mastery. So, you have no need for any of it yet. Now, let's go get you some appropriate robes."
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They headed towards a small side alley with a variety of clothing shops. Harry could see stores for baby and children's clothing, shoe stores, tailors and seamstresses, bridal boutiques, formalwear for men, sporting uniforms and more. Severus finally stopped in front of a store named 'MacNally's Professional Attire'.
The door chimed as they opened it and they were greeted by a young man. "Master Prince, welcome. How do you do?"
"I am well, Finn. Thank you. How are you and your parents today?"
"Doing just fine, Master Prince. They are visiting Erin. She just had a baby. How may I be of service?"
"My congratulations then," Severus said. "I have recently taken on an apprentice. I need some potions robes for my nephew, Harden, here."
"Right away. Please step up on the stool, sir," he said turning to Harry. "What colours and materials are you interested in? Are there any special requirements?"
"Harden may choose the colours he would like, but as for the rest, please make them like mine."
Finn nodded as he called out measurements which were automatically recorded on a parchment sitting on top of the display counter.
"How many should I get, Uncle Ethan?"
"Three or four should do it. Remember that between the potions and the greenhouses, you will become stained and dirty despite the impervious charms on the material. So I do recommend colours from the darker end of the spectrum."
"Alright. Then I will take two black, one dark green and one dark brown."
Finn completed his measuring and added a few notes to the parchment. "These should be ready by early afternoon. Do you wish to pick them or shall I owl them to you?"
"We have other purchases to make in the Alley, so we will stop back in around three o'clock this afternoon. Will that be sufficient?"
"Yes. Shall I charge them to your account as usual?"
"That will be fine. Best wishes to your parents and sister, Finn."
"Thank you. Have a good day."
"Let's get you some work boots next," Severus said turning to Harry. "Then we will get something to eat before continuing."
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Four hours later, Harry and Severus returned to Dove Cottage. They were laden with bags containing apprenticeship robes, everyday robes and clothing, muggle clothing, work and everyday boots, numerous books and a large variety of potions equipment and ingredients. Additionally, they had picked up some take-away.
Over dinner, they discussed the events of the day. "Not once did anyone recognise me, other than Flintfoot, that is."
"Goblins have an ability to see the magic of the person – there is no disguise that can hide a person's unique signature."
"Oh, I wondered about that and it made me a bit nervous. Anyway, when we went into muggle London to get my clothes, I also had no trouble. No one ran away screaming or attacked me. I have forgotten what it was like to be able just to walk down the street and not cause a riot. I've not been able to do that since before I entered the wizarding world."
"I will admit that I was a bit apprehensive myself," Severus commented. "You didn't know this because I didn't want you worrying about it, but Poppy and I had discussed a visit for you to both magical and muggle areas today in order to test out your cures. It just so happened to coincide with things we needed to do anyway."
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Thank you to all my reviewers! I really look forward to knowing what you think of my story.