Chapter 2
"I'm not going as Harry Potter."
"What? How is that even going to be possible? They want you. Harry Potter."
"Yes, I realise that. Get the manager over here and I'll explain. I'm hooked up to the Floo Network in one of my rooms. You can also talk to him/her through there. Let's go." Within five minutes they had the manager's head revolving in the fireplace.
"Ah, Sirius! Do you have any news on Mr. Potter?"
"Before I say anything Dan, you need to come where I am so we can talk. Use the Floo Network. Say Newark Mansion and you'll come here."
"All right, stand back." Seconds later a tall thin man with a large bald spot on his head appeared out of the fireplace. "Good to see you again Sirius." he exclaimed while shaking his hand jovially. "Who's your friend? Is this his mansion?"
"Yes it is, this is Harry Potter. Harry this is Dan Smalls, the manager for the Chudley Cannons." Harry stepped forward with grace and shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Smalls."
"Oh please, call me Dan." Harry noticed the flick up to his forehead. "Sirius, are you sure...I mean to say, is this really Harry? I mean, he hasn't got the scar like everyone says."
"No, it disappeared after Harry killed Voldemort."
"The rumours are true then?" he said excitably. "No one has known for certain what killed him because everybody thought he killed you first. How extraordinary." he finished still staring at Harry in amazement.
"Er-shall I make tea, coffee?"
"Tea would be good, thank you."
"Follow me then." Harry led the way to the kitchen and sat them at the kitchen table where there was also a spectacular view of the ocean.
"Wow! What a view you have here! Where are we anyway?"
"Los Angeles, California."
"Oh! I've never been to the States before. Have you even looked here before Sirius?"
"Not in California. I thought that he might stay out east like in New York or Massachusetts. It angers me that I never checked here. I could have found him much sooner."
"Ah well, too late now! We've got him now I dare say! Yes, hopefully he won't slip through our fingers again." He winked at Harry as he brought three tea cups over with some food on a plate. Dan looked around thoughtfully. "Gracious Potter. A house this big and no house elf in sight. However do you manage?"
"Oh well, I've got maids who come and clean everyday on work days. And I can't have one wandering around when I've been living as a Muggle for five years here. My friends would wonder what it was."
"A Muggle? Why would you want to live as a Muggle?"
"Complicated circumstances that I can't even begin to explain right now. And that is one thing that's a problem if you were to sign me onto the Cannons."
"If, is hardly a word in our vocabulary when it comes to you Harry. We want you on the team and will do whatever it takes to get you on."
"OK, well one of the things is, is that I wouldn't want people to know me as Harry Potter."
"What? Why not?"
"Because I don't want to be all over the papers when it comes out that I'm still alive. I know I still will be because I'd be a famous Quidditch player most likely. But there would be all the hype about me beating Voldemort four times until finally killing him. I just don't want to relive it until I'm ready and I'm not ready to yet. And since people don't really know what happened, they would want answers that I'm not willing to give. And so I would want to use the name I use here which is James Newark. And I would expect that to be kept confidential with the top people in the league. I don't know if I even want the players knowing, but if they would need to know then fine."
"OK, yes that's all understandable and I'm sure we'll be able to work it out. Now there's another thing, I understand?"
"Er-yes." Harry scratched his head and continued. "I sort of haven't been on a broom for five years." Dan choked into his tea and his eyes became wide as saucers.
"Good gracious, Harry." he managed to stammer. "Well, naturally I'll need to see you fly then and if I'm satisfied by your flying skills then we will still sign you on. Do you have somewhere around here so I can see you fly?"
"Oh, yeah there's a place we can go to. We can only apparate out of the grounds so we'll need to use Floo powder to get there." They made their way back up to the locked room and walked inside. Harry went to the glass case and took it down to get his Firebolt out.
"I hope it still works all right; the league is using Firebolt 1000's now correct? The 2nd version?"
"Yes, we are."
"Oh dear, it should be all right, I do take good care of it, still do polish it sometimes. Well lets go." They all went through the fireplace and landed in a Muggle gym. Although the Muggles couldn't see them. There was a brick wall with a mural of a large park on it.
"It's just like Platform 9 3/4. Lets just lean on it." Sirius and Dan followed orders and leaned on it and they all fell through and were completely amazed by what they saw. They were in a large open area where there were four Quidditch stadiums situated near each other and then there were picnic areas and open fly areas. It was a bright sunny day out that was almost blinding. There weren't many people yet since it was still only 9 AM. They walked to a broom shed and brought out a golden snitch to let Harry practice on.
"Don't let it go yet. I want a go on the broom before I look for it." Heart pounding loud and hard, Harry mounted his Firebolt and took off. He laughed as the wind whipped past him. He forgot how naturally this came to him. It was almost like flying for the first time again but with no chance to show Malfoy up. He flew up high and started doing loop the loops and zigzagging through the stands, flying upside down, doing barrel rolls and then going into a steep dive before pulling up just before he would have hit. He was laughing the entire time. He hadn't felt so young, free and liberated in such a long time. He felt eleven again. And it felt good.
"OK! Let it go!" he yelled down to Sirius. Harry saw the glint of gold fly out of his hand and he gave it a minutes head start before diving to the opposite goal posts. He caught it within ten seconds when he started the dive. He released it again and started to talk to Sirius.
"I think this was a really good idea Sirius!"
"I knew you would once you got on that broom again!" Harry laughed and searched for the Snitch again. It was high above him. He wrenched the broom upward and flew after it. Harry flew down and landed by the two men goggling at him.
"Great wizards, that felt good. I haven't felt that young in ages!"
"Are you sure you weren't pulling our chain when you said that you haven't been on a broom in five years Harry?"
"No, I was quite serious. That was the first time since I was 19."
"Good gracious; and you actually had me worried about it. Well I can see that you have nothing to worry about. I'll have it fixed so that you'll be able to use the name James Newark. We'll be in touch." With that he apparated.
As soon as Harry and Sirius were back in the kitchen, they heard the doorbell ringing frantically. "Great wizards! What could be that important?" Broom in hand, Harry ran to the front door, turned off the alarm and opened the door.
"James! Thank God you're OK! I've been ringing the doorbell for five minutes. I was ready to call the police."
"Why would you even think that I was in trouble?"
"That maniac last night that I gave a ride here. If I hadn't had alcohol in me I probably would have refused him a ride."
"Steve, calm down! Its all right that you gave him a ride. Its probably done me a lot of good to speak to him again."
"Why?" he almost stopped speaking but then noticed the broom. "Why do you have a broom in your hand and why are your eyes green?"
"Well, duh I wear blue contacts." he completely avoided the question about the broom. Steve stepped into the house and grabbed the broom out of Harry's hand.
"You never do any cleaning beside the dishes. And this broom is all fancy. You can't even buy a normal broom, Newark." Harry shut the door as Steve took a closer look. "A Firebolt? What the hell is this?" He let out a yell of surprise and let go but the broom didn't fall to the floor. It hovered between them as if waiting for Harry to mount it.
"It was vibrating! And now its floating. What the hell is going on here? First that guy tells me that your name is Harry Potter or some shit like that and you're running away from something and now this." He gestured his hand up and down the length of the broom. Harry didn't know what to do. He was frozen.
"Maybe you should tell him Harry. He's seen and heard that much. And he is your friend so you might as well tell him the truth." Harry looked over his shoulder to see Sirius standing behind him. He nodded his head. He had hoped he would never have to do this. Grabbing the broom he motioned the two into the kitchen. They spent the better part of the next couple hours telling Steve everything. Harry hoped that at the end of it all, Steve would still want to be his friend. They had been friends for five years and were just as close as Harry and Ron had been at one time.
"How am I supposed to believe all this?"
"Well for starters, you already saw this broom hovering in mid air. Here I'll show you." He got up and mounted the broom. His ceilings were very high so he didn't need to worry about hitting them the second he took off. He went for a rollercoaster ride through the large kitchen, and even did a barrel roll and almost ran into a glass wall but pulled away just in time. He dismounted and laughed.
"Oh man I've missed flying. Its the best thing in the world." Steve was staring with his mouth hanging open.
"This is unbelievable." he managed to mutter. "And I've never seen you act like such a kid as you did right now. I haven't heard you truly laugh like that...ever I don't think."
"Yeah, well I've had some things weighing me down. Like guilt about not telling Sirius I was leaving in person. Things are going to change now though."
"In what way?" asked Sirius hopefully. They looked at each other.
"Well for one, I'm coming back to England as soon as possible. I've just gotta get some things in order at work. Steve you'll be in charge of it now since you're right under me."
"You're really going to leave? Well what are you going to do over there? Will you even have a job?"
"Yeah, I'm going to play for the Chudley Cannons, a professional Quidditch team. Practice starts in a month just outside London." Sirius got up and hugged Harry.
"I'm so glad that you're finally coming back; even if its not going to be under your real name. I've missed you so much and I've been worried sick out of my mind. I really thought after a while that Voldemort got to you just like your parents. Everyone was telling me to give up but I wasn't going to give up until I found you or proof that you were dead. I've been so worried that I let you down just like I let your father down."
"Sirius, stop! You didn't let him down. It wasn't your fault. You know it was Wormtail and he'll get what's coming to him when he's caught again."
"That was a shame that he got away before the Dementor's could give him the Kiss. At least I got my freedom out of it."
"Yeah, I know. He better watch his back now that I'm coming back. He wouldn't want me catching him a second time."
"You're the one that caught him?"
":Yeah I thought you knew that. It was just a week before the final battle."
"That's probably why I didn't know. We didn't see each other for a while before that battle. Look, why don't we go to my place and we can look for a place of your own tomorrow in London. Steve can come to if he wants."
"Oh I have to be in to work on Monday."
"Oh Steve! You'll be there and I'll be there. Wizards don't travel by plane you know. We do things faster. I'll bring some extra clothes for you to wear tomorrow. Come on lets go upstairs." They went to Harry's room and he stuffed some clothes in for him and Steve. They walked across the hall to the locked door and opened it.
"I've never even been in this room before."
"Well, there's a reason for it. All my wizarding stuff is in here." Harry carefully folded up some robes just in case he needed them. He then quickly walked over to the fireplace and grabbed his wand from the mantle.
"Incendio!" The fireplace was full of flames again. "Steve, we're travelling by Floo powder. You'll have to come with me just in case. Just to warn you, its not the best ride ever. It still makes me sick and I use it all the time. Where to Sirius?"
"Black's pad." Harry laughed.
"Black's pad? Where did you come with that?"
"Well, it's a bachelors pad and Remus and I thought it was funny."
"Yeah you're right, it is funny. Just not in the way you think."
"Shut up and go."
"Maybe you should go first just to show him that it won't hurt."
"Why, what are we about to do?" Steve asked nervously. Sirius took a pinch of Floo powder and threw it into the flames.
"Black's pad!" he bellowed and disappeared into the flames.
"I'm not doing that! As badly as I want to see London. I'll have to pass. No way."
"It doesn't hurt. I promise." Before Steve could protest anymore, Harry grabbed him around the shoulders yelled out Black's pad and they both disappeared into the fireplace. Moments later they fell onto the ground in Sirius's living room. Harry rolled off of Steve who was coughing from the soot.
"That was terrible." he coughed.
"I told you it wasn't pleasant. But then again, only took a minute or less to get to London."
"We're really in London then?"
"Of course."
"Harry? Is that you?" Harry jerked his head up and saw Remus Lupin standing next to Sirius.
"Re...Remus. It's good to see you."
"Bloody hell Harry. Where's your scar?" Harry ignored the question and asked him and Sirius one.
"There's not anyone else here is there?"
"Yes, there is. Why do you ask?" asked Remus.
"Because I don't want anyone else to know about me being alive. Bloody hell! Who's here?"
"Ron Weasley. We came looking for Sirius."
"Shit! Sirius, hide me somewhere."
"You don't want to see Ron?" he asked.
"I already told you my reasons, now hide me! Quick!" he hissed as he heard a door open in the hallway behind Sirius and Remus.
"There's a closet in the kitchen, go, you and Steve." Harry pulled Steve's arm and walked into the next room where there was a kitchen and next to the door going outside was a closet filled with non-perishable food items. They ran into the closet and closed the door but left it open a tiny crack so they could see out. Voices from the living room drifted in to meet their ears.
"Sirius! We've been looking all over for you. Where did you get off to?" It was Ron's voice. Harry desperately wanted to go out and see him but he fought the urge.
"Let's go have some tea and then we'll talk."
"Who's Ron?" Steve whispered into his ear.
"My best friend from school. I'll explain things to you later."
"Sirius did you hear that Draco Malfoy isn't the Seeker for the Chudley Cannons anymore? Seamus told me that they got someone new today. Too bad he's still on the team. He's a Chaser now. I want to know who this new guy is though. They're calling him their new secret weapon. He must be good."
"Er-yeah he must be." Sirius said with a slight smile and his eyes flickered over to the closet to where Harry and Steve were hiding.
"So, where have you been Sirius?" Ron finally came into view as he sat down at the kitchen table. He looked even more muscular and he had on circular gold glasses. He was wearing dark blue robes and Harry could just see some dragon hide boots on his large feet. Ron also had a goatee the same shade as his red hair and Harry thought that it actually fit him. His hair was also cut similar to Harry's and the hairline had started to recede and thin out. Balding at 24. Harry thought with a grin.
"Oh, I uh-thought that I had another lead on Harry so I went to check it out. But it was just another false alarm I guess."
"Damn. I wish he would at least contact us if he is alive. I'd give anything to have him back again. Hermione's starting to lose hope too. It's not helping that she's so emotional lately. Any mention of him is enough to make her break down completely. I certainly can't wait until October so she can be normal again. Man, those mood swings are horrible. Thanks Sirius." Sirius had set down a cup of tea in front of him and when Ron reached for it, Harry caught a glint of gold. He's married. Hopefully to Hermione.
"You have no idea Ron, how glad I would be if Harry would just come out of hiding and tell everyone the truth. I know he's still alive and I wish people would stop saying he's dead." Sirius was looking towards Harry while he said this. Harry bent his head down. Every part of Harry's being wanted to go out there but he kept holding back. The whole time Ron had been talking, he kept putting his hand on the door handle but kept pulling his hand back. Just then he felt Steve's hands on his back and he was pushed out the closet door. Harry looked back at Steve when he caught himself on the table.
"Steve you dumb shit!" He waved his hand over his eyes to enchant them to look blue since he didn't have his contacts in. Harry turned back to see the three staring at him. Sirius and Remus both had nervous looks on their faces, while Ron's face was confused. Sirius and Remus kept taking nervous glances between Ron and Harry. Harry gave a smile when he realised that Ron didn't recognise him. He put on his American accent and strode over to Ron.
"I don't believe we've met. I'm James Newark.
"Ron Weasley." They shook hands, Ron was still squinting at him.
"Oh and this idiot is my friend Steve Legare."
"Nice to meet you." They chorused as they shook hands.
"Er-what were you doing in that closet?"
"Oh well, um for some reason Sirius put us in there to hide us. But that didn't work since he pushed me out. Could I have a cup of tea, Sirius?"
"Sure, would you like one Steve?"
"No thanks. Not much of a tea drinker myself." Harry took the chair next to Ron while Steve pulled one up between Sirius and Remus.
"So you must be Americans. What brings you here?" asked Ron. He was still completely mystified by what just happened but was covering it up. Harry took a look at Sirius, who nodded so Harry started.
"I've actually been offered the position for Seeker on the Chudley Cannons. Thank you Sirius." He took a sip of the tea that had been given to him. Ron got really excited.
"Really? Wow, that's great! I've already heard about you. You must really be incredible. My friend Seamus Finnigan said that you haven't been on a broom in five years and you wowed Dan Smalls a while ago with your skills. It seemed like he was hiding something about you from me. He kept trying to give me hints about it but I have no idea what he was talking about. Do you have any idea?" Harry nervously looked at Sirius.
"No, I have no idea what it could have been. How does your friend Seamus know about me already?"
"Well, him and another one of my friends Dean Thomas bought them this past January. They are the owners now. If you'll excuse me. I must use the bathroom." He walked out and they waited until they heard the door close. Harry let out his breath that he didn't even realise he had been holding.
"Thank goodness Hermione wasn't with him when Seamus was giving him all those hints. She would have figured it out. Are they married?"
"Yes, they have been for three years now. She's pregnant with their first child. Due in October, I think." Remus said. Harry smiled broadly.
"Good I'm glad. That's one thing I'll regret forever. Missing my two best friends wedding. I wish I could be there in the hospital when they have their baby."
"You can be there Harry. Just tell them. You don't have to tell anyone else."
"I don't know. I'll think about it."
"Well, its a start." sighed Remus. Harry drained the rest of the tea and excused himself to the living room. He sat on a couch and tilted his head back onto the couch and sighed. He could hear the whispers in the kitchen.
"Rough day?" Harry looked up and saw Ron standing in front of him with a kind smile on his face.
"You have no idea. It's been physically and emotionally draining."
"How has it been emotional?"
"Oh, long story that I don't want to bore you with. I uh, heard you talking about some girl earlier. Is she your wife?" A smile spread across his face and a glazed look went over his eyes.
"Yes, the love of my life. She's six months pregnant with our baby. We found out yesterday that its a boy. We're going to name him Harry James." Harry swallowed back tears.
"You seem so sure, are you naming him after someone?"
"Yeah, one of our old friends, Harry Potter. Surely you've heard of him?"
"Of course, who hasn't.?"
"Yeah, we've been looking for him for five years now. He disappeared during the last battle with Voldemort." Harry gaped at him. Ron said Voldemort
"You said Voldemort." Ron looked at him funny.
"Yes I did. What's the big deal?"
"Well, no one ever says his name. I personally never understood why but I've never heard anyone besides myself and one of my teachers from school say it."
"I used to be scared to say it but Harry always told me to say it because it's just a name. I didn't start until after Voldemort was killed by Harry."
"How do you know he killed him?"
"Well, because who else would have been able to? Nobody but him would have been able to stand up to Voldemort and come out victorious. He did it four other times before he killed him. Harry's a great wizard." They lapsed into silence for a couple minutes.
"Man, I miss him. It was like losing my right arm when he disappeared." They were silent for a while and Harry almost broke when he saw a tear go down his old friends face. It reminded him of the last time he had seen Ron.
"No. Just go Harry. I don't want to speak with you anymore." But..."
"But nothing Harry. You haven't done anything to deserve my friendship; I've been nothing but a good friend to you all these years and you turn around and do something like this."
"God, Ron. How can you be like this? We've been best friends for eight years and enemies with Malfoy for just as long. I can't believe you're taking his word over mine."
"Why shouldn't we believe him? He's a Death Eater. He knows these things and plus you have the mark on your arm."
"Your family believes my story. Why can't you? You're my best friend, Ron."
"Not since you killed my brother; we haven't been friends."
"I didn't Ron, I swear." Tears started to roll down Ron's face.
"I can't even stand to look at you anymore Harry. Don't come near me anymore."
Harry turned his left arm up and looked up at his inner wrist. There was a raw looking spot of skin where the mark used to be. He had found a surgeon to take it off. He rubbed it and could feel tears running down his face. He quickly wiped them away.
"I heard that you had some sort of fight with Harry before he disappeared." Ron looked at him surprised but didn't ask how he knew.
"Yeah we did. It was a terrible mistake on my part. I actually accused him of killing one of my older brothers, Percy. I don't know how I could have taken Draco Malfoy's word over Harry's. I mean, Harry and I were friends since our first train ride to Hogwarts and enemies with Malfoy from the same ride. I know I'm the reason he disappeared... He did a pretty good job of faking his death though. Everyone thinks he's dead. I know he's not."
"I'm sure you're not the reason he left. It sounds like he led a pretty stressful life. He probably couldn't take it anymore."
"Still I want more than anything to apologise to him. I'm so sorry for what I did to him."
"I'm sure he knows your sorry."
"I hope so." Ron stared thoughtfully at Harry. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were Harry. You kind of resemble him; except you know, he has the scar and green eyes and the most untidy hair I've ever seen," he laughed, "he could never control that mop. It was almost like talking to him right now. You two are a lot alike." He checked his watch. "Oh no. Hermione's going to be worried, it's 11. It was nice meeting you James." Ron stopped dead and muttered James again under his breath and then looked at Harry again with a questioning look. He then shook his head and stood up.
"You should come over for tea some time and meet Hermione."
"Yes that would be nice."
"Good." Remus and Sirius and Steve walked into the living room then. "I need to be heading off guys. Remus did you talk to Sirius about what we came here about?"
"Yes, and thanks for helping." he said sarcastically.
"Oh sorry. James and I were talking. Nice meeting you too Steve. See you all later I'm sure." With that he apparated. Harry let out a deep sigh of relief just as Steve let out a yell of surprise. Remus quickly explained what happened to him and then Harry turned to Sirius.
"I don't know about this anymore."
"Me either. I think you should just use your real name."
"No, I mean, I don't think I should be here anymore. I think I should go back. This was a mistake."
"What? Are you crazy Harry?" Everyone turned to stare at Steve.
"You're about to give all this up? And for what? A meaningless job, a nice house and a couple of friends. From what I've heard so far, you've got a pretty good life going here. You may not have any actual blood relatives but you've got these two, Ron and Hermione and countless other people besides. I can't believe you would give it all up again; I have never seen you as happy as you have been today. Don't miss out on this chance. Take the job with the Chudley Cannons and go play what's it called? Quit-Ditch?" Harry burst out laughing.
"QuiDDitch Steve. Quidditch." he sighed. "Fine but I'm still James Newark."
A/N: Please review!! Try to keep the flames down! Thanks so much to all those who have already reviewed!!
LillSakura Of course this is going to be H/G!! Who else?? :)
BuckyThere's your answer as to why and when Ron and Hermione fell out with Harry. I didn't really say anything about Hermione but she went along with Ron at the time. I will most likely put more into the story about what happened in the past.
Next chapter we get to meet Draco Malfoy once again and the first Quidditch practice and game. I promise this story gets better as I go along!