Chapter two

Ron and Hermione both got questioned about Harry's whereabouts the following day. They told the truth, they had no idea where he was, but they did say since the castle is so large, he could be anywhere, even the chamber of secrets. Ron even said since Harry could speak parseltongue, he might have slipped down there to get some privacy, since he had done it before. Even though he lied, Umbridge believed him.

Dolores was furious. She knew the governors along with the examination committee would tell her that since Potter had done more than three of his owl tests, he could legally leave Hogwarts. She had hoped to find some way to get him expelled, until she could get the little beast sent to Azkaban. When that didn't work after making him face the Wizengamot, she had been biding her time so she could get her aurors to arrest the boy. Now she had lost her chance. He was gone and she had no way to find him, especially if he returned to the muggle world. There was a chance he was still in the castle but she didn't believe he was. She knew Potter would have left, she just didn't know how he was able to leave. After some investigation she knew Potter hated his muggle relatives so he would not return to Surrey. She just wasn't sure where he would go. She had a feeling Potter would end up with Dumbledore, which meant she would never get hold of the boy. She would have some of her people keeping an eye on the muggles he lived with, just in case he turned up there, then they would have him.

Snape had sent word to Albus that Harry Potter was missing, not taken, just missing. He had seen how Potter's friends acted and they didn't act worried or scared. Snape believed Potter left. It would be up to Albus to find the boy, before Voldemort did. Snape also knew he would need to make sure his Slytherin's didn't tell their parent's the boy left Hogwarts alone, if that is what he has done. He had to work on some story to make it seem like Potter left to go into hiding.

Albus instantly had the order trying to find Harry, but he did admit that for all he knew Harry might still be at Hogwarts and hiding in the room of requirement. If someone was in that room, it meant no one could get the door to appear. It would be the perfect place for Harry to stay out of Umbridge's way. He had to make sure though before Voldemort found out and began looking for Harry. He did find out that Hedwig was with Sirius, but she didn't turn up with a letter, she just arrived and stayed there. Albus knew how Harry felt about his owl, so he probably wanted Hedwig safe so sending her to headquarters made sense. He already knew the owl had been attacked once already, Harry would make sure it wouldn't happen again. Sirius would look after his godson's owl until they found Harry. Albus just hoped they found him before Voldemort did.

Over the next couple of days, Umbridge found that every time she entered the great hall, anything she had on that was pink became red and gold, similar to Gryffindor's colours. Her shoes also changed colour. But the shoes would croak every time she walked. It didn't matter if she changed shoes, she still croaked. Most of the students have been calling her a toad since she arrived at Hogwarts, now she sounded like one.

The twins, with the help of their friends inside Hogwarts, had placed the spells on the entrance to the great hall, her office and her classroom, not on the shoes or clothes but they would only affect her as she always wore pink. The charm would not affect the students who wore pink, it wouldn't work on them. The last prank on her was her hair, it sent her bald and her scalp ended up red and gold, but nothing could make her hair grow back. The twins got the idea of a permanent colour change solution when Harry explained about muggle hair dye. They decided to use it on her clothes and shoes, then send her bald since she wouldn't want anyone to see her without hair. They still planned to use some dangerous pranks on her, since she was such a dangerous woman. But they wanted her and people at the ministry to believe it was just some trouble-making students causing her problems and that it was nothing serious. They had decided to hit her with some harmless pranks first so no one would think twice when she wasn't seen. Since she would hide in her private rooms the moment she ended up bald, everyone would just assume she would not want anyone to look at her. But very soon she wouldn't just be bald, she would be a pygmy puff. They were just waiting for the right time.

Harry did have the twins contact Ron so he would know Harry was okay and Ron could quietly let Hermione know as well. But Harry also wanted to thank Ron for the information on Umbridge and wanted Ron to tell Dobby that Harry owed him. He said he would contact them through the holidays, but not yet, as he knew they would be the ones everyone would be watching. He said he might send letters to Lee or even Neville to pass on to Ron and Hermione. No one would take any notice of the letters those two boys received. He would work that out later.

While staying with the twins, Harry worked on plans and his disguises. He bought the hair dye and showed the twins, they helped Harry dye his hair to light brown. Harry had his eyes tested and ordered contact lenses. He had some clear ones but he also ordered some in brown. He did order new glasses as well, he would use them when he was at the house with Sirius, if that's where he ended up. With his new brown contact lenses in, his hair a different colour and his scar covered, no one would see Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived.

When it was time to visit Minerva McGonagall, when he should have been sitting his history of magic test, the twins sent their present to Dolores Umbridge. By the time Harry got to St Mungo's, there would be a pink pygmy puff sitting in Umbridge's office. They weren't counting on it, but they hoped someone got a photo of her.

Harry hadn't been sure if he would be stopped when he tried to visit McGonagall. He wasn't, he was just told which room she was in. The welcome witch said that many old students had been paying a visit to their old transfiguration teacher. She figured Harry, or Evan was just another one of those students wanting to make sure Minerva McGonagall was alright.

Harry stepped into the room to see his teacher sitting up in bed. Harry thought she looked fine, apart from being a little pale and weak.

'Professor,' Harry said softly as he made his way towards the bed.

Minerva turned, 'I don't recognise you young man.'

'For now, I'm calling myself Evan Black,' Harry raised his eyebrows as he tapped his forehead, then sat beside the bed, 'Due to who those two names represent.'

'Oh dear, what are you doing here P….Black?'

'I saw what they did to you, I had to make sure you were okay. I would have been here a couple of days ago but I had to first work on disguises before I could sneak in here.'

'You should be at Hogwarts.'

'I couldn't, not with her and what she was doing. She attacked Hagrid, she attacked you, had me and others using that damn quill. For all we know she's supporting Voldemort. If not, her and fudge are determined to get me expelled. Ron explained I only need to take three owls, I did all except history of magic. I couldn't take the chance she could fake some charges and arrest me. It was lucky I did, not long after I left, Ron got information that she was going to have her loyal aurors arrest me and take me straight to Azkaban, then make sure things were delayed for my trial in the hope I would die, or lose my soul. I was already gone, so my dumb luck is still holding. But I mainly snuck out to make sure you were okay.'

'I'm fine P…Black,' Minerva sighed, 'But I believe you did the right thing. Many of the staff were watching her to see if she would go as far as to hurt you in some way. Albus believed she had plans for you, yet we could not find out what they were. She waited until Albus and I were gone from Hogwarts and probably had it planned so she could take you. Does Albus know you left Hogwarts?'

'No, he would have made me return to the Dursley's. There is no way that place is safe for me, it wasn't before the dementors. It never has been, not really. I had Hermione do some research into wards, she even spoke with Bill Weasley. The only time I was safe from death eaters or Voldemort was if I remained inside the property. That was impossible. They made me walk to school, walk to the shops to do stuff for them. They even made me leave the house when they had visitors. I used to go down to the local park and I'd be down there until midnight. Before the dementors turned up, I was stuck sitting in that park until after midnight. I had to stay with Figg when they went out for the day or took a holiday. The wards didn't work for the whole neighbourhood. It doesn't matter, even if he said I had to return, I would just leave, then I wouldn't even bother returning to Hogwarts. Anyway, how are you feeling Professor?'

'I'm fine,' Minerva saw one of Harry's eyebrows raise, 'As well as can be expected.'

'That's better. You look tired though. Even though…he still hasn't shown himself, are you safe here Professor, with him I mean?'

'There are aurors walking around, not just for me, but for everyone's safety. Fudge might be trying to deny the truth, but Madam Bones knows he is back so she made sure her aurors were placed where they were needed.'

'I'm glad someone at the ministry isn't as thick as Fudge. But is there anyway she can be punished for what she did to you and Hagrid?'

'I doubt it, not when Fudge is supporting her. We could not even protect the students from that quill of hers. That quill is classed as a dark artefact, yet with how much support she has and who is supporter her, there was nothing we can do.'

'After I got angry at you about the detention, I realised you would have known about it and tried to stop it.'

'I did, I even went as far as have the house elves try to break into her office to remove them. She warded her office using blood and made sure no house elf could enter. I'm sorry Potter.'

Harry smiled, 'Black, remember.'

'Oh yes, Black, Evan Black. Have you spoken with your godfather?'

'No, not yet. I'm sure there is always someone from the order there so I wanted to wait until I saw you before I went there. Ron and Hermione hope you get well soon, so do many of the other Gryffindor's,' Harry pulled out a pile of cards from his pocket, 'These were sent yesterday to the twins so they could pass them on to me. I've been hiding out at their new shop until I could get these disguises done. These aren't just from Gryffindor either, there's some from the Hufflepuff's and the Ravenclaw's,' Harry handed over the pile of cards.

'It's very thoughtful of them,' Minerva placed the cards on her lap, 'How are you not wearing glasses?'

'Muggle contact lenses. Have you ever heard of them Professor?'

'No, I have not.'

'They work like your glasses, but they are small and sit right against your eye. They make them clear, like glasses, but they also make them in different colours. I've heard, though I've never seen any, but they also make them in things like cat's eyes, or black, it's for people who like to dress weird, or go to fancy dress parties. I got some clear ones but also brown to disguise my eyes. I had the twins dye my hair using muggle dye. I figured if anyone got suspicious, then they would try magic to get rid of my disguises, it won't work since it's muggle and not magic.'

'Very clever…Black. Yes, magic would not remove those disguises. Are you planning on going to headquarters when you leave here?'

'I am, it will be safe there and I get to spend some time with my godfather,' Harry was about to smile, thinking he would finally hear stories about his parents, when pain shot throw his head.