Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and Co. J.K. Rowling does.

Summary: After one very eventful night ten years ago, Voldemort was destroyed and Harry disappeared. Where did he go? What happened that night? Only one man knows the answer: a teacher named James, aka Harry. But what will he do now that he has faced the two people who were once his best friends?

Chapter 15: Photographers and Photographs

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The last day of school was over. James had packed up his teaching supplies, mailed his letter to the Westin's, and, having nothing else to do, he drove over to Peter's Bakery.

"Wow, it's like there's a celebrity here, or something," commented Emma as she saw that James had just swam through the photographers and entered the store.

James slammed the door closed and swallowed a couple of pills.

"Weird, isn't it?" asked Sarah, looking towards the flashing lights of the cameras.

"Yeah," said James, still a little dazed. "What's it all about?"

"I have no idea. They were here this morning and haven't left yet. I asked them who they were, and why they were here, but all I got in response were a few odd glances."

There was an awkward silence. James could sense that Sarah and Emma were both thinking the same thing: the photographers were there because of yesterday.

The only reason Emma's and Sarah's thoughts were not at least hinted at was because, unknown to James, Sarah had asked Peter, Emma, and Jacob not to nose into James's "turbulent past." She was very much affected by the lawyer story, and wanted everyone to respect James's privacy on the subject.

"Hey James!" said Peter as he walked out of the kitchen. Jacob was following. "How was the last day of work for a long while?"

"Fine," answered James. "And how have you been?"

"Good, but business has been slow with all the photographers blocking up the doorway."

James looked around at everyone. "Say, Peter, how does everyone always get here before me?"

"Huh?" Peter looked quizzically at James.

"As in you, Jacob, Emma, and Sarah. You guys are always here before me. And don't you have any hired help?"

"First of all, I work here," said Peter slowly, "So I'm always here."

James rolled his eyes.

"Second," continued Peter, "Jacob, Emma, and Sarah have no life."

"Hey," said Sarah, "I resent that comment!"

"Me too!" piped up Emma.

"We are just very helpful people," explained Sarah.

"Yeah," agreed Emma, sticking out her tongue at Peter.

"And very mature, too," added James.

"Hush up, Jamesie! You're ruining my argument."

Peter cleared his throat. "And third, I have help from eight to four. They're just not here when you guys come around, which is a good thing if you ask me."

"That's it. I just can't stand the abuse!" said Sarah melodramatically. "I'm under appreciated! Taken for granted! How can I go on living if nobody believes in me?"

Emma giggled.

Sarah looked at her watch. "Well, I'm off to go fight the demons of decay," she said, snapping out of her act. "See you guys tomorrow!"

Sarah helped restore old or damaged buildings. She loved architecture and old irreplaceable antiques, so restoration was one of the best jobs for her. There were flexible hours, too.

Everyone said goodbye and Sarah braved the mob outside the store to go to her job.

There was a heavy silence after Sarah left. It was very strange, because not two minutes ago there had been joking and laughter. Everyone looked at James guiltily and shuffled their feet. Finally Emma spoke up.

"Didn't you say a few days ago that you left Britain because of an argument with your brother over a will? You made me feel very guilty over that."

"No, that was Peter who told you that story," said James, "He was just covering for me so I didn't have to feel so bad."

"Oh," said Emma.

Jacob spoke up. "And what about the pills?"

"Allergies," lied James smoothly.

"Oh."

"Any other questions for me?"

Peter looked at his feet. "The scars on your back were from...?"

James thought a moment. "My house burned down when I was little, and the scars are just burn marks."

Peter raised an eyebrow. "Oh."

"I didn't know you had scars on your back from a fire," said Emma.

"It was very traumatizing," said James factually.

"I see."

Silence was once again present in the bakery.

The door opened and shut very quickly as a customer came in. She looked at the photographers in amazement.

Everyone in the room quickly found things to do as Peter helped out the customer. James stayed a while longer, and then decided to go back home, on account of the awkward atmosphere between him and his friends. Plus, James starting to get nervous with the photographers outside.

"Well, I'd better be going," said James,

Peter went behind the counter. "I'll see you tomorrow, right? Last day of éclair making before the wedding."

"Definitely," said James headed for the door.

Peter smiled. "Thanks. Have a good night!"

"Bye!"

Peter attended to the customer as Jacob and Emma went back into the kitchen to prepare ingredients for tomorrow's baking.

The cameras flashed as James came out of the bakery. James stood in the doorway. He knew that his scar wouldn't turn up in the pictures, but the anxiety and they've-found-me-at-last feeling still lingered. Relax, James told himself. There have probably lots of poor souls who have had to endure this. Harry Potter sightings have probably happened before. It will all fade in a few days.

James knew the photographers and reporters couldn't ask muggles any questions, which meant that James did not have to say a word.

He just pushed and shoved through the crowd, got into his car, and drove away. He tried to stay calm. He knew the whole ordeal would all be forgotten about. In both worlds. It was just a matter of time.

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"You're famous, Mum!" was the first thing Emily said to her mother.

Jack and Emily returned home that late that afternoon. Percy had dropped them off. Jack was talking animatedly to his father, while Emily beamed at her mother.

"And why am I famous?" asked Hermione.

"You're in the newspaper!" cried Emily passionately. "On the front page!"

"Oh?"

"Look!" Emily shoved the Daily Prophet into her mother's arms.

Hermione looked. She looked harder. She blinked and looked again.

"Don't you see it?" asked Emily impatiently.

"Um, yeah..."

How could she not see it? On the front page was a huge picture of Harry-- or rather, the man Hermione thought was Harry. He was standing in a doorway to Peter's Bakery. The figure in the picture gazed dazedly at the camera. He looked shocked and confused. The figure walked out of the picture, stuck his head back in, waved slowly, and raised an eyebrow.

Hermione stared intently at the man's forehead, but there always seemed to be hair right in front of where Harry's scar should be. That scar is the only proof I've got, thought Hermione. If only I could see it.

The headline read: "MUGGLE DENIES BEING HARRY POTTER, BEST FRIEND HEART BROKEN"

The article was about the latest "Harry Potter sighting." It told about where it happened, what time it happened, etc., but what made this article so different from the other sightings was that the sighting was made by Harry's old best friend, Hermione (though it made little reference to Ron, mostly likely because he was less affected than his wife). The article, oddly enough, made Hermione out to be a broken hearted hero, who was only trying to find her best friend and the savior of the wizarding world. The man in the bakery was portrayed meaner and ruder than he had been in actuality, which made Hermione all the more sympathetic. This was odd because it was Rita Skeeter writing the article.

Hermione was sure that Rita Skeeter would do anything to make Hermione look bad, and Rita probably could have gotten away with it with this type of story. People who made Harry Potter sightings were usually fanatical, insane, or wanting attention. They did not get good press. Yet here was the perfect chance for Rita to ruin Hermione's good reputation, and the reporter passed it up. She must still be recovering from the ordeal from 4th year, though Hermione with a rather evil grin on her face.

"Isn't it wonderful?" asked Emily.

"Yes, thank you for showing me; I didn't get a chance to read the paper this morning."

Hermione gave her daughter a hug and asked questions about how things went at the Burrow. Nothing exciting had happened, but Emily gave Hermione a full report anyway.

Once Emily finished talking, she ran over to sit on Ron's lap to tell him all about Hermione's big article. Jack came over to give his mother a hug and to say hello.

"Wow, mum, I never thought you would be one to make a Harry Potter sighting. Usually only crazy people do that kind of thing," commented Jack.

"Gee thanks, son, I love you too," teased Hermione.

"So...was it him?"

"Who, Harry?"

"Yeah."

"I think so."

"Wouldn't it be cool if it was? My mother seeing Harry Potter!"

"Yeah...But Jack, you do know that I knew him in school, right?" Ron and Hermione had never flat out told their children that their best friend used to be Harry, but they didn't try to hide it, either. Of course, they figured that Jack and Emily would know a lot from the media.

"In school?" said Jack incredulously. "Did you have any classes with him?"

"Well, yeah. Why did you think that your father and I had to go speak at the conventions?"

"Because you fought in the war, right?"

"Sort of. But more because we were friends with Harry."

"Ooh, you're on a first name basis with him!" Jack laughed.

"Here, I'll go dig up some pictures to show you." This will also let me do some investigating, thought Hermione.

She disappeared into her bedroom. Ron and Emily came over and Jack filled them in on why Hermione was digging through her desk.

"Really? You and Mum were friends with Harry Potter?" cried Emily, looking at her father.

"Um, yeah..." said Ron distractedly, wondering what had come over his wife to suddenly want to tromp down memory lane.

"Here they are!" sang Hermione as she came out of the bedroom, holding the pictures.

She set them on the coffee table in front of her family.

One picture showed Ron, Hermione, and Harry laughing with each other, their arms wrapped around each other's shoulders, Harry in the middle.

Another picture showed all three of them in their sixth year in front of the Christmas tree wearing the famous Weasley sweaters. There was wrapping paper all around them and Hermione was wearing a bow from a present on her head like a hat.

And there was one of Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Draco, and Harry. The men were wearing tuxedos, Hermione was in a bridesmaid dress, and Ginny was wearing a wedding gown. Ron and Hermione were standing next to each other smiling. Ginny was in the middle grinning proudly. Harry had one arm over Draco's shoulders and was leaning forward, laughing about something, which made Draco look down at Harry and frown.

"Wow!" said Jack, staring at the photographs. "This is really cool!"

"Yeah!" agreed Emily with much enthusiasm.

Ron was smiling.

Hermione started to smile too, partly because she fondly remembered the happy times, partly because her kids were so excited, and partly because she had just thought of a plan that would prove to everyone that Harry Potter was indeed alive.

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