Standard disclaimer: Characters aren't mine. Blah blah blah.
Now, on to the story!


End of year five.
Gryffindor common room.

Hermione brushed some hair behind her ear and turned the page of the book resting on her lap. She briefly looked up whenever she heard someone entering then returned to her studying. She didn't stop reading until Harry and Ron came in and sat beside her on the couch.

"Harry, look what I've found!" She pulled out the latest edition of the Daily Prophet and thrust it at him. Harry looked at the circled type.

"Cottage to rent. Jaspher Hills. 1BR, LR/DR, EIK, FP. Must be neat, quiet and responsible. No exotic pets. Easy access to Diagon Alley. Send owl with application to: Lhara Mahr, 3 Jaspher Hills."

"It sounds great! Oh man, your own place!" Ron said.

"Yeah, but I wonder how much it costs. I have to make my money last." Harry said dejectedly.
Hermione sniffed and pulled back the paper.

"You could at LEAST send an owl and find out." She returned to reading, indignant.
Harry sighed.

"You're right. May I have the paper please?"

"Suit yourself." She said, secretly pleased.


Harry was surprised when he received a reply to his owl the very next day.

"Dear Mr. Potter. I was so happy to receive your application today. I have enclosed pictures of the cottage for your approval. The rent will be 5 galleons a month.

On a personal note, I was a friend of your parents, Harry. I remember them fondly and would be happy to rent to you. If your teachers or guardian have concerns about a lack of supervision, please assure them that I live across the road and will be available frequently. Please sign at the bottom of this paper to accept the lease and let me know when you'd like to move in.
Fondly, Lhara Mahr."

Harry was speechless. 5 galleons a month! He could afford that! He looked at the pictures enclosed as they panned back and forth. The cottage was small but clean and bright. The area outside was lush green and rolling hills could be seen in the distance. Hermione and Ron oohed and ahhed over the pictures as Harry signed the paper. Hedwig left with the contract.

"I'm so jealous, Harry. You're so lucky!" Ron said. Ron still shared a very crowded house with his family.

"Oh Harry this looks wonderful! Look, there's a cauldron already! And shelf for all of your potion ingredients! And a spot for a garden in the back!"

"Yeah. Thanks for finding this for me, Hermione." he said, touching her arm. She looked up and smiled back at him.

"You're welcome."

In the weeks to come, Hermione almost seemed more excited about the cottage than Harry. She would bring things to him every day - books, plants, rugs, pictures - ideas about decorating the cottage. Ron and Harry exchanged glances that said they were less interested in the decorations and more interested in the location - so close to Diagon Alley!

Finally, the day arrived. Exams were over and they'd all passed - Hermione, of course, was still the top student out of all of the houses. Hermione and Ron were going home to spend the summer with their families, but Harry - for the first time - would be on his own, in his own house. Ron and Hermione made him promise to invite them to spend some time at his cottage and Harry happily agreed.

He said good-bye to his friends at Kings Cross Station and pushed his cart down the ramp out to the street. Uncle Vernon was waiting impatienty, looking at the other Hogwarts passengers with a mix of fear and disgust.

"Back again, eh boy?" he grunted. His small eyes seemed to shoot daggers at Harry. Perhaps Uncle Vernon had been hoping Harry had met with a tragic accident at Hogwarts? Well, enough of this! Harry straightened up and looked Uncle Vernon in the eye.

"No, Uncle Vernon, I'll never stay with you and your vile family again. I'm an adult now, remember? I've got my own money. I've rented my own place. I've no need to see you or your family anymore!" Technically Harry wouldn't be sixteen (and legally an adult) for a couple of months, but he didn't care.

Uncle Vernon squinted at him as though trying to concentrate and then his face brightened.

"That's right! You ARE an adult now. Legally done with ya, aren't I! Good riddance! Ha ha!"
He jumped into his car and drove away, laughing happily to himself. But if Uncle Vernon was happy, it was nothing compared to what Harry was feeling.

Free at last! He felt like a great weight had been lifted from his chest and wanted to dance with joy.

He took a taxi to downtown London and made his way to the Leaky Cauldron. Once he passed through to Diagon Alley, he charmed his cart to float behind him and walked to his new home. He wasn't walking long before he topped a hill and saw his cottage before him. It was, of course, exactly like the pictures. It was framed by the rolling hills behind it and seemed to be somewhat like Hagrid's hut. He tried to control his excitement and not run the rest of the way.

He stopped first at the home of Lhara Mahr, the woman who lived across the road to get his key. Her home was a large two-story house with latticework above the wrap-around porch, a white picket fence and flowers growing everywhere. It was like something out of a fairy tale! Attached to the side of the house was a small shop containing hundreds of plants. The sign outside simply said "Mahr's ". He knocked on the front door and it opened by itself.

"Hello?"

"He-ll-ooo-ooo!" a cheery voice called out.

"I'm here about the cottage?" he called from the porch.

"Harry?" suddenly a woman came out to greet him. She looked to be in her late thirties with long brown hair and brown eyes. She was bubbly and smiling, wearing a dress with a green and brown leaf pattern. When she saw him, her hand flew to her mouth and her eyes widened.

"Oh! Harry! Of course it's you. You look .... You look ... just like your father." Tears sprang to her eyes but she quickly blinked them away. Harry glanced down at his feet and then back up, secretly pleased that she recalled his parents so warmly.

"Come in! Come in!"

Her home was just like the outside, very pretty and earthy. There were plants and animals everywhere. A delicious smell was coming from the kitchen and it felt ... homey.

Over tea and biscuits, they talked about Hogwarts (Lhara was a graduate who majored in Herbology) and his parents. Harry could have listened to her talk for hours, but they both noticed the setting sun.

"Oh Harry! I'm so sorry! You'll want to get settled! Let's go!"

As they walked outside, a soft glow (lightning bugs!) hovered overhead, lighting the way. Lhara opened the door and handed him the key. Harry squeezed it in his hand. His own key. His own place. She showed him around the cottage quickly lighting lamps as she moved - showed him where Hedwig would be happy and then excused herself.

"If you want to have breakfast tomorrow, I'll be eating about 8:30, ok? But feel free to stop by anytime." She smiled warmly.

"Thank you."

She closed the door and Harry was alone in the small cottage. Suddenly he jumped up and down and shouted out loud.

"Yes! Yes! Wooo Whoo!" Free of the Dursleys! Free to do whatever he wanted! No more Aunt and Uncle and stupid Dudley! No more nasty looks, cutting remarks and nearly starving!

He raced around the cottage, touching things, dancing, whooping, and laughing. Harry collapsed in the bed and before he knew it, had fallen fast asleep, a huge smile on his face.

Over the next few weeks, Harry unpacked and made the cottage his home. Hedwig was happy to be free of the cage; able to roam and fly wherever she wanted. She returned one day with a letter from Sirius Black - Harry's godfather. Harry had written of his new home and even though he knew it was dangerous for Black (still hiding out), he invited him to visit any day.

Harry's sixteenth birthday came with a pile of cards and presents from his friends. Hermione sent him a Potion-Helper kit, Level Six. He touched the leather case with appreciation. Potions class was still his weakest subject and Professor Snape loved nothing more than pointing this out. If this kit could help him, maybe this coming year's work would be bearable. Ron sent him a ticket to the International World Cup of Quidditch in the fall (actually courtesy of Ron's father). Harry was so excited about seeing professional Quiddich that he almost forgot to open his other presents! Hagrid sent a card and a Never-Empty Bag of Berthie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. And the last package was a note from Sirius. The card simply said "Happy 16th Birthday, Harry." Taped to the inside of the card was a key. Written underneath were the numbers 383 and the words "Have Fun!" Harry recognized the key as a vault key from Gringotts Bank. When he checked out the vault later, it contained 100 galleons. Harry moved the money to his vault, but didn't spend it. He decided to save it for when Sirius was finally cleared of the charges against him and they could finally live together.

At last, Harry was safe, warm and happy.