Home Sweet Home

Right people. The second chapter, and I actually feel good about doing this one, as I got reviews!!!!!!! Yay, go me! I will warn you thought, this story could go anywhere. I only have the basic outline- from the dream I had-so I'm working with that. The very, very basic outline. Very. The story could go on for ages, cause I have to fill in the details. But, I know the dream was good, and inspiring enough to get me to write this in the first place, so…

Very special thanks to my reviewers, you made my day…and week…and month, come to think of it!

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Chapter 2

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"Alright people, lets get moving!" Lily Potter called out as she entered her house, arms full of shopping, a trailing daughter, overflowing with the same, behind her.

"Hello?" she called again when she got no answer. "Honey, just put the shopping on the table, I'll get it in a minute. Go finish packing," she instructed Molly, who grudgingly agreed. She then put her own packages on the table beside the others and went to look for her husband and son.

***

Raiders. One word that brought images of pain and suffering to anyone who heard it. Not that that was a lot. No body talked about them. If you did, you were next. They came, usually as swift as darkness, and anyone who stood in their way was taken down as well. The Potters never gave them reason to harm them, as did most other people. No one knew why they were there, what they wanted or what they were doing. It was all secret. And of course, no one dared to spread rumours. No one knew how they did it, how they knew, and they didn't test the theories each individual person built up. There was no point. You wouldn't survive it. They could always tell. They always knew. It was time something was done.

***

Lily only found one of the two she was looking for. She wandered the whole house looking, when finally she headed for the lounge. There, sitting in the oldest armchair they had, facing towards the window, the back high, obscuring the sitter. Lily moved towards it. James always sat in that chair when he had something on his mind. He would sit and watch the world go by.

"James?" she questioned silently. She pulled another armchair over, beside James's, turning it to face him, and sat down. She was shocked by what she saw. James didn't look his usual cheery self. In fact, he looked really rough. Lily could see the tell tale signs that James had been crying.

"Oh James what's wrong?" she asked putting her arm round him. He hugged her hard when she did this, so they were in an untidy embrace. Lily heard him crying softly once more. She pulled away.

"What's wrong?" at that point she noticed the empty glass that reeked of whiskey and the crumbled and tear stained piece of paper clutched to her husbands hand.

"What's that?" she asked, getting impatient now that none of her questions were being answered. James looked wearily at her, before handing her the piece of paper, and getting up to leave.

"He's gone, Lily," he finally said. "Harry's left, and I don't think he's coming back."

He stood up and headed for the door. 'I have to sober myself up for the move,' he thought. 'It still has to go ahead, whither he is here or not. I hope he's alright.'

***

So, by choice or circumstance, Harry was on his own. In a way, he was used to it. He loved his Mum, Dad and Molly, but sometimes he felt like the outsider. Always out looking in. He felt like in another life he must have been lonely, lonely enough to warrant the way he felt. He didn't feel it all the time, and he didn't resent it, but it was there, always lurking. When he fell in love with Severus though, the feeling subsided considerably, and when that love was finally returned, the feeling disappeared completely. He belonged now. He knew he'd found his place.

***

Harry thought about all this while apparating from his home in the magical regions in Walthamstow to the outskirts of Hogsmeade. When Molly was born, they moved from Godrics Hollow because it was too small. In Walthamstow, they found a magic refuge that would be big enough for the four of them, when they would need it.

Sighing, Harry went into a little shop just on the outside of the village. He needed to find Severus. It was summer holiday time, so he could be anywhere. Harry didn't really know why he bothered looking or asking for him in Hogsmeade. As he was the most anti-social wizard Harry knew, no one in Hogsmeade would have a clue where he was, and Severus would have preferred to be found dead in a ditch to having his personal business become public knowledge.

Harry shivered at the thought of Severus dead. It wasn't a good thought. But the question remained. Where was Severus? Harry knew he had to find him. Someone calling Harry's name brought him out of his daze.

"Harry, hey! Harry?"

"Oh sorry, I was miles away. What?"

Harry noticed who it was. His best friend. Paul. A cute Ravenclaw Harry had been friends with since first year and also had had a crush on for quite a while from 4th to 6th year. Basically until Severus. Harry and Paul had become friends whose friendship was very close despite Harry's infatuation. Harry following him around. He had been an impressionable youth, and Paul had a lot to use to impress. He looked not unlike Harry. Black untidy hair but blue eyes instead of Harry's green ones. Paul glowed, that was what Harry said. When they had learned about Veela, that was when Harry changed his opinion to Paul being a Veela, or relation of. He voiced this opinion to Paul, who had laughed and left it at that. Paul knew all the time of Harry's crush on him, but didn't feel similarly towards Harry, and was happy for Harry when he fell in love with their Potion master who eventually returned said love.

Harry hadn't seen Paul since graduation which was a long time ago for friendship sake. He knew that Paul had himself a job, but it was unknown as what. But now Harry found out. A little assorted shop stuck at the end of Hogsmeade.

"You've done well for yourself" Harry noted after being presented with a cup of tea. Paul had shown him to the back of the little shop and left his assistant at the front to take care of things. He had offered Harry something to drink and both settled themselves for a catch up chat.

"Yea, not too bad," Paul grinned, motioning lazily around.

"Ha, ha…"

Paul's expression changed slightly to concern.

"So how's things, you know, with Severus?" Paul ventured to ask. Paul was lucky he was allowed to call him this. Severus had a personal vendetta against everyone but the select few, and Harry had to spend ages persuading Severus that Paul was not that bad.

"Things are good. Although…" Harry paused not knowing what to say.

"Although?" Paul prompted.

"I haven't seen him for a while. This is why I'm here." Harry looked uncomfortable.

"I haven't seen him either. Sorry. He's a very personal man" Paul shrugged apologetically.

"It's ok, I wasn't expecting you to have, he does like his privacy. When was the last time you saw him?" Harry asked hopefully.

"Uh," Paul thought. "Probably last week sometime. Saw him in the Post Office. Thought it odd he didn't use the owls at the school. Probably something personal. What?" he asked at Harry's amused and slightly embarrassed expression.

"Well, that one would have been for me." Paul started laughing.

"Oh well then, no more contact after that, no?"

"No. I better be going, Paul, things to do. I'm gonna miss you." Paul saw the meaningful look in Harry's eyes and knew what he meant. Harry got up to leave. Paul knew he was leaving for good.

"I'll be with you in a minute Harry," Paul said as they got up.

"I'll wait out in the shop. I'll browse your wares!"

Laughing, Harry left and went to the front of the shop. He greeted Paul's assistant and started to look around at the various things. Only minutes later Paul appeared from the back carrying a parcel.

"Here," he said, handing Harry the package.

"What is it?" Harry asked, amazed.

"Just take it." Paul stated, pushing it into Harry's hands. Complying, Harry took the parcel and put it under his arm. Looking into Paul's eyes, Harry could see what was going on.

"No…" he started quietly. Paul cut him of saying loudly.

"I'll miss you," he said, and moved to hug Harry. Only they knew the full meaning of those words. They held onto each other tightly for fear of losing each other, which they knew they would.

"I love you," Harry muttered into Paul's neck, holding back tears.

"I love you too. See you another time, another place," Paul replied quietly and broke the hug. Harry felt something in his pocket, had felt it being slipped there. He turned to leave, and that's when it happened.

Suddenly, about 10 people in masks and camouflage gear, carrying guns burst into the small shop.

"Bye Harry." Were Paul's last words, spoken with feeling as they shoved him up against the back wall, knocking the air out of him. His assistant screamed and ran to the back room. A Raider followed to make sure she didn't try anything 'funny' as he said. Harry could do nothing but stand aside, staring in horror at his best friend, as they beat him till he was unrecognisable. Another Raider stood blocking Harry's view of anything that happened next, but Harry knew. He knew his friend was dead.

What appeared to be the leader of the group then went over to Harry. He pulled his mask off to aid speech. He wasn't bothered about secrecy.

"Sir, empty your pockets. Now" Harry complied immediately, head still reeling from what had happened. A lone slip of paper drifted slowly and quietly to the floor, from where it was picked up by the Raider and pocketed.

The Raider smiled, a twisted toothy grin.

"Have a good day," he said and then motioned for Harry to leave through the door. As quickly as he could he stumbled out of the door, clutching the parcel from Paul under his arm. He made his way unsteadily for a few yards up the street then tripped and collapsed into someone.

"Harry?!" Harry looked up. The last thing he saw before he fainted was his husband.

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End Of Chapter Two

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My god!! I didn't know I had it in me! *sniff* Paul's dead…oh well. I got some good ideas while writing this chapter, and I also have a short chapter 3 I'll put up at the same time as this.

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Note to my lovely Reviewers

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