Disclaimer: See ch.1, I still don't own it.

Notes: I feel long-winded today.

Thank you Japonica, Wynjara, Hunta, Howling Wolf 22, Iavala and Sexy Black for taking the time to review, I really appreciate it.

Again, thanks SO much for the reviews. It makes me so happy! And thanks doubly to the people who reviewed a second time. Please keep reading, also you could tell me what you'd like/wouldn't like to see happen in this story. Also tell me if you think this story is going too slow, or even too fast. I get such bad writer's block sometimes, so keep bombarding me with ideas, encouragement, constructive criticism etc. to give me a kick in the right direction ;) I know where my story's going, I just sometimes struggle with the bits in between.

About the Remus and the silver sickles thing- wow I didn't know that (that silver would hurt him)! Sorry about the mistake. I knew silver bullets killed werewolves, but I never thought of it before. So can anybody tell me how the silver thing works? I may use it in later chapters. I'll give you a clue and say a certain death eater might turn up…

I don't know how the fidelius charm would work. I don't know if Harry or Remus or a third party would perform it, or what would be involved, or what would happen, so I just guessed.

I'm not entirely sure if the fidelius charm would be the best solution for Harry under the circumstances, as I'm sure there's some reasoning to suggest otherwise there I must have missed- but it seems plausible to me, and it was the basis of my idea for the beginning of the story. Plus my excuse is that I suppose that Remus and Harry wouldn't be sure about the best solution either, and given their lack of time it probably seemed entirely plausible to them also. Yes I know they're fictional characters, I'm probably reading way too far into it, and no I'm not crazy; but I like to try to put myself into the mindset of the characters and I'm very critical of my writing.

Anyway, sorry about the overly long notes, here's the next chapter.

CHAPTER THREE- MORNING NEWS

After Remus asking Harry about a million times whether he was REALLY sure, he was finally ready to cast the fidelius charm. He seemed nervous, and Harry was too. He didn't fully understand the implications that being under the charm would bring, but really there wasn't much time. Only god knew how long it would be before the Death Eaters or the ministry went knocking on the doors of everyone Harry was associated with either to kill him, or to take over his life. Of course neither option seemed especially appealing to Harry or to Remus, so they had decided to do the charm right there and then.

"Ok Harry, I promise this is the last time I'll ask, are you sure?" Remus asked yet again.

"I already told you I wasn't going to answer if you asked that again," sighed Harry. "Alright, for the last time, YES! I'd trust you with my life."

Remus, finally satisfied, beamed at Harry.

"Alright then," he raised his wand. "Now remember, in order for this charm to work you have to accept it, welcome it, trust it. I can never perform this charm on you again, we have this one chance. You need to put all your trust for me into this."

Harry nodded. "I'm ready."

"OK. Relax... Fidelio Harry!" Remus said, and for a second there was a red shimmering light, then it was gone. Harry was confused.

"Is that it? Is it done?" he asked, looking around as if he would spot something else.

"Yup!" Remus replied, smiling. "That's it."

"I thought it would be more complex..."

"Well it was rather, if you think about it. Trust and acceptance are complex concepts. It takes a lot for someone to trust someone like you just trusted me. And even then, trust can be misplaced..." Remus trailed off. It was obvious he was thinking of James and Lily's misplaced trust in Peter Pettigrew. "If you ever change your mind, Harry..."

"Thanks, but I won't. So did it work? How can you tell?"

"The red light. If it hadn't worked it would've been green," responded Remus wisely.

"Shouldn't it be the other way round?" Harry asked. Remus laughed.

"Nope. I think you're thinking of muggle traffic lights. Red is for trust. You really trusted me..." Remus sounded slightly surprised and wistful.

"Of course I did! And I only assured you that I would about a million times!" Harry exclaimed, wondering how it could possibly take so much for his professor to understand that he was trusted. He sighed. "So anyway, er... What happens now? Are things much different? You said we didn't have time to talk before but now I suppose we have plenty."

"Yes, Harry, of course. I'm sorry I had to drag you into this head first but considering our other options, I think we did the best thing. As to whether things are different, well... Nobody knows where you are besides myself, nobody knows about the charm besides myself and Dumbledore, and nobody knows the identity of the secret keeper besides Dumbledore- perhaps pertaining to the fact that nobody knows there is a secret to be kept. Yet. Though I think it's only a matter of time. There will be unfavourable people knocking on the door most probably sooner rather than later, but it's important that I stay here and don't act suspicious."

Harry gulped, knowing what desperate people would do for information, and suddenly aware of the danger his friends, Remus and others would be in. Just as suddenly, he became aware of a slight guilty expression on Remus' face as though he was trying to avoid something.

"There's more," Harry said. It wasn't a question. Remus avoided eye contact.

"Well first of all we won't have to worry much about ministry visits in the early stages, It'll be mostly death eaters," Remus gulped and Harry looked on, wide eyed. "Because..."

"Because?" Harry prompted when Remus trailed off.

"Because they're the only ones who'll know you're alive."

"WHAT?" Harry sat bolt upright in the bed, then lay hastily back down again when he realised his head was still hurting a bit with sudden movements. "Why didn't you tell me before? And now because of the charm they won't know where I am... What about Ron, Hermione?"

"Harry I'm so sorry. We just thought- Dumbledore and I- that it would be safer the less people knew. Your friends they... If there was some way of letting them know we would but it's too dangerous."

Harry was rendered almost incapable of speech, but not quite. "What about a letter?"

"Remember your mail was being intercepted. Your friends' probably is too." Remus looked genuinely apologetic, as if he had tried to think of an option himself and found none.

"If I had known, before the charm," Harry started. Remus was now looking desperate.

"Harry, the charm can be removed, but really I don't recommend it! It's for the best, for your safety and theirs. The less they know the better,"

Remus was almost begging Harry to keep the charm, and Harry knew he wouldn't do that unless the benefits outweighed the costs. He knew Remus was speaking the truth- that his friends were safer this way.

"I know this is hard for you Harry, it will be for them too. But until you're at Hogwarts it's not safe."

"When... How long until they, uh, find out?" Harry stammered, defeated.

"It'll be in the Daily Prophet in the morning, I suspect. So not long now. It's four AM right now," Remus said sadly.

Harry turned his head away from Remus. This was all too much. In just a few hours everything had gone so drastically wrong. Harry wondered if it was even worth it. He knew that the predicament was for his friends' protection as much as his own, which was the only thing stopping him from doing something rash. Though Harry wondered how long he would keep this up. Really by hiding from Voldemort he was just delaying the inevitable, if the prophecy was to be believed. They would have to face each other sooner or later. He decided to voice his thoughts.

"People keep trying to protect me. There's no point. Really they should be trying to protect themselves, by having nothing to do with me. Then I'd never get them into these situations."

Remus looked puzzled. "Where did that come from? I've told you before you'll never be alone. It's a matter of free will, and who are you to deny us our right to stand by you when you need us the most?" Remus smiled good-naturedly. "Harry, Voldemort might have an army of Death Eaters and as far as we know he might have the most destructive weapon in the world. But some things can never be destructed and you have the most powerful weapon of them all, love."

Harry smiled, but mostly of the irony of the cliché. "Dumbledore said the same thing."

Remus smiled again, reassuringly. Harry wondered what would happen to that reaction if he told Remus or his friends about the prophecy, if they would still want to stick by him. If his greatest weapon was love, then what would happen when it was gone?

"Well, we should get some sleep," said Remus. "But remember to clear your mind. Voldemort will likely be trying Leglimency as a means to locate you, so it's important." Harry nodded as Remus smiled and walked out the room, leaving Harry in darkness with his thoughts. Harry didn't think he could sleep right now.

There was so much going on. Harry wondered if he had done the right thing by agreeing to hide from Voldemort. He knew it was probably the best for his friends, besides the fact they would probably be reading about his death soon. Harry shuddered at the thought. But what about everyone else? If he was the only one who could possibly defeat Voldemort... But Harry supposed it was naïve even to contemplate that as a possibility. He was a fifteen-year-old boy not even out of school yet, and Voldemort was one of the most powerful wizards in the world. The prophecy said Harry would end up the killed or the killer. Even in the unlikely situation that Harry did emerge alive, he would be a murderer. Dead or evil, Harry thought, didn't leave him with many choices.

He noticed his eyes beginning to grow heavy and decided he didn't want to think about this any more anyway. He was once again thankful for being able to clear his mind to rid himself of unwelcome thoughts, and did so before he allowed himself to drift to sleep.

*****

Harry awoke the next morning to brightness in the room where he slept. He felt surprisingly well rested, and was pleased to note that his head didn't hurt at all any more. Then the reasons he was here came flooding back to him. He groaned and climbed out of bed. He was still wearing Dudley's oversized clothes. A clock on the wall said it was midday- he must have needed the rest.

Harry was now able to fully appreciate his surroundings. He was in a traditional country cottage room, with only the slightest hint here and there that a wizard lived in it. Such as the cabinet full of odd coloured liquids, the slippers that leapt onto Harry's feet as soon as they touched the floor, or the picture on the wall of a field with long grass and trees that literally swayed in the imaginary wind.

Harry also noticed a scraggy suitcase in the corner of the room that he recognised from the Hogwarts train journey in third year, suggesting this was Remus' room. Harry felt slightly guilty and wondered where Remus was sleeping. He decided to venture outside the room.

Harry stepped outside the pine door of the room onto a small landing above a staircase. There was a fairly sized window showing what must have been miles of open countryside, which Harry supposed were useful for Remus' transformations in the full moon. He found it quite fascinating, as he'd never been in the countryside before; the closest to countryside he'd ever been in being the spacious yet cultivated grounds of Hogwarts, and passing through rural land on the Hogwarts Express. He would have to talk to Remus about going for a walk later.

There was another door to the right which was slightly ajar, showing Harry it led to the bathroom. He decided to go down the stairs to see what was there and hopefully find Remus.

As soon as Harry was down the stairs he saw he was in a sitting room. The walls were a light terracotta colour and the chairs and sofa were a sack brown. When Harry noticed the sofa he almost jumped out of his skin on seeing a living body on it. As it were he only jumped backwards a bit, knocking something that made a slight noise causing the figure to jerk awake. As the blankets shifted Harry realised it was Remus, and felt at once embarrassed at the shock he had felt.

"Ughh," said Remus, stretching and opening his eyes groggily. "Oh good morning Harry."

"Sorry I didn't mean to wake you. Why are you sleeping on the sofa? Don't let me take over your bed."

"Oh that's quite alright. I could have transfigured it into a bed if I'd wanted, but really it wouldn't make much difference- it's a very comfy sofa," said Remus as he smiled at Harry.

Harry thought the reason he hadn't transfigured the sofa was probably because he was too tired from being on Harry-duty the previous night and had been too knackered to do it but was too polite to say. That would also account for the fact he was still wearing his robes as well.

As Remus got up Harry took the time to look around the room some more. Half way down the sitting room became a pleasant looking kitchen with a tiled floor and cream coloured kitchen counters. Back in the sitting room area Harry also noticed an owl cage with an open door, and a large brown owl sitting on the perch. Suddenly Harry remembered his own owl.

"Hedwig!" he exclaimed. Remus looked up and Harry explained the exclamation. "I sent her out to give a letter to Hermione."

Remus nodded, understanding. "The fidelius charm means Hedwig won't be able to find you either. She'll probably look for a while then go back to stay with Hermione, since it's the last place you sent her."

Harry lowered his head. If Hermione got that letter, she would know Harry had been at 4 Privet Drive that night. She probably would have heard by now that it exploded, and with even Hedwig not being able to find him... Harry felt slightly sick thinking about it.

Remus walked across the room and busied himself with untying the brown owl's burden from its leg. Harry watched as he unrolled what looked from the back like the Daily Prophet. As Remus saw the front page his eyes went wide and he sank down into the nearest chair.

"Oh," Remus said with an unreadable expression.

"What does it say?" Harry asked, crossing the room to look at the paper over Remus' shoulder. When he saw the headline his stomach dropped.

            HARRY POTTER DEAD

"No I'm not!" Harry yelled in reaction, before realizing the absurdity of the comment. "I mean, they don't know that!"

"Let's just see what it says," said Remus. Harry read the article, which described in horrifying detail how 4 Privet Drive had been found in a million pieces by the ministry. Harry read as far as the graphic description of dismembered body parts charred and mangled beyond identification found within the house, assumed to be those of the Dursleys and himself, before he couldn't read any further. He staggered over to the kitchen sink and threw up. Remus folded up the paper and came over beside him, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder. He started to say something, but then seemed to think better of it and stayed silent.

Harry straightened up, shakily. He had, of course, known of the Dursleys' fate; but seeing it down in words made it so much more real.

"My fault," he said so quietly he didn't think Remus would hear him, but the werewolf responded nevertheless.

"Harry, please don't blame yourself. You didn't know, you couldn't have stopped it. It was Voldemort-"

"They didn't want me, knew I'd be trouble, never wanted anything to do with it. But now because of me..." Harry rambled. "How can I not blame myself? If it hadn't been for me then the Dursleys... And, and my parents, Cedric, S-Sirius..."

"Harry please, please don't," Remus said, his own voice hitching as he enveloped Harry in a hug. "It's not your fault. It's not your fault."

For a few minutes, neither of them moved, but then Harry began to feel slightly awkward. He stepped away from Remus, who sat down on the sofa and rubbed his face tiredly. There was silence for a few more moments.

"Thanks," said Harry sincerely.

"I only tell you the truth. If there's anything you deserve it's the truth."

Harry smiled. That was more than anyone else had given him.

"Anyway," Remus started, jarring them out of another slightly awkward silence. "Go and get washed up and I'll make us some lunch. The bathroom's on the right at the top of the stairs."

Harry was thankful for the change of topic. He nodded gratefully and ascended the stairs back up to where he had seen the bathroom earlier on.

"Oh yeah! You can use any of the clothes in the bedroom wardrobe, just ask it to find something suitable for you," Remus called up as Harry reached the top of the staircase.

"Thanks!" he called back, before it struck him what Remus had said; ask it? Harry shrugged. "Oh well."