Chapter Seven:
Remus attached the letter to the snowy-white owl's leg.
'There you are, Hedwig. I know you'll find him."
It was two days after Harry's disappearance. Dumbledore, Remus, and Snape had gone to
the Dursleys to collect his things. The Dursleys were told Harry had gone to stay with friends for
the remainder of the summer. Dumbledore was taking extra precautions to ensure only the Order
knew of Harry's disappearance, and of course, Hermione, Ginny, and Ron.
When they had all gotten the news, Ginny and Hermione hugged and cried. Ron stood at
their side awkwardly, trying to comfort them. He looked at Remus who tried to give him a
reassuring smile. It didn't work.
"Don't worry, Gin. I'm sure he's alright."
* * * * * * * * * *
Harry stood in front of a three-way-mirror. He wore black pants with numerous chains
hanging down, a black muggle-band tee with a black fishnet underneath.
"It looks ok, I guess."
Harry looked at the various chains, zippers, and straps that decorated the pants.
*You looks like an idiot.*
"Doesn't look bad. Take them," Ian said.
"Er...I don't know."
As awkward as Harry felt, he liked the change of style. He liked the image it gave him. For
once the impression of wearing elephant skin was gone. He did look tough, fearful. That image
made him feel powerful. And Harry loved it.
After two hours of shopping for Harry's new wardrobe, the two teens walked to the park
for an ice cream cone to make the summer heat more bearable.
"Say, where do you get all that money anyway. Must have a really good paying job for
someone who didn't even finish school."
"Yea, I get by."
"Doing what?"
"Selling."
"Selling..."
"Honestly, Harry! Are you that thick? I sell drugs."
"Drugs?"
"Yea, it's not something I'm proud of or anything. But I got into them as a kid and then it
just stuck. You know, they say it's an escape. And it is. But after a while you realize it's not so
great. But then you're stuck. Don't try it."
"An escape.."
"No, trust me. You don't want to."
"Trust you?" Harry laughed. Ian shot him a meaningful look.
Ian wasn't a bad guy like Harry first thought. Sure, he did bad things. But in truth he was
just a lost kid. Harry started to realize Ian was the first muggle Harry had ever gotten along with.
He hand friends, great friends that he's trust his life with. But they were all witches and wizards,
and Harry didn't want to be part of that world for now. In the two days he had been gone, Harry
realized he needed to get away longer than he thought. Just for the summer. A temporary escape.
* * * * * * * * * *
(In Harry's Dream)
The wind was gone this time. The night air was calm, dead still. Harry liked it. For the first
time in weeks he felt some-what relaxed and relieved.
"I still don't think it's a good idea. But it's your decision." Ian sat on a bench across from
him, his face covered in chocolate ice cream. It made him look like a little kid, Harry thought.
All of a sudden, Harry's vision became fuzzy, and he was seeing double.
"Dun' be silly, mate. I'm alrigh'. In fact, I'm feelin' great."
Harry downed the remains of a beer bottle. He dropped it next to him where three other bottles
were sitting. The bottle hit another, causing it to roll off the bench and shatter on the stone
surface of the tower. Harry stood up.
"Ian, ya got somethin' else? Like a cigarette or somethin'?" Harry took a few steps
toward Ian, who was now a boy of no older than six.
"I really don't think you should," said the young boy, still eating his chocolate ice cream cone.
"Dun' tell me what I can n' can't do! I want a cigarette!" Harry stumbled over to the boy
and began shaking him violently. "Give me a fuckin' cigarette!"
"Harry, no! Help, someone help! Stop it, Harry!"
The more the boy cried more the harder Harry shook him. His vision became worse and
his head began to spin. Now the boy was attacking him. Sharp jagged pain hit his arms as his
world spun faster.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Ow! What the- Hedwig! Stop, I'm awake!" the owl immediately stopped after giving
Harry an extra peck at the nose.
"I suppose I deserved that one. Whatcha got there, girl?" Hedwig stuck her leg out and
Harry untied the parchment. He groaned. It was from Remus.
Harry,
I can only hope that this letter finds you. Hedwig has never failed you before so I'm assuming she won't fail me for the sake of finding you. What were you thinking?! The entire Order is on edge and Molly won't give us a minute's rest about you. Ok, I'm sorry. I won't yell, though I know, as well as you know, that I have a right to. Your friends are sick with worry, Ginny has been crying nonstop. I know you're upset at what happened to Sirius. Like I said at Arabella's, So am I. But Harry, you've got a big group of people that are going crazy looking for you right now. Save them the favor and come back. If you can't come back on your own for some reason then just send a letter with Hedwig and we'll come get you. Please, Harry.
Remus-
"Oh, bloody hell. Never going to get a moments peace." Hedwig gave Harry a defining
look and jumped up on her master's shoulders.
"I knew it! You're Potter!" Ian suddenly appeared at the doorway. Harry was shocked.
He had said his last name was Smith.
"How-"
"Your scar, obviously, and now the owl."
"But how- are you a wizard?"
"My aunt. Lovegood. Know the name?"
"Yes!" Harry was shocked beyond belief.
"Luna then, you're her cousin?"
"Was. When my dad lost my mum it was my aunt that kept my dad in line. But then she
died, he started to drink. And we pretty much lost contact after that. Damn, Harry. I knew it!
~~~
A/N: This chapter wasn't exciting or anything. Really it was a chapter I didn't enjoy writing too much. Don't know why. But it needed to be or else the story would be much more confusing then it already is! Oh, about that- are things getting clearer at all? If not just tell and I'll try to answer any questions and what-not.
Remus attached the letter to the snowy-white owl's leg.
'There you are, Hedwig. I know you'll find him."
It was two days after Harry's disappearance. Dumbledore, Remus, and Snape had gone to
the Dursleys to collect his things. The Dursleys were told Harry had gone to stay with friends for
the remainder of the summer. Dumbledore was taking extra precautions to ensure only the Order
knew of Harry's disappearance, and of course, Hermione, Ginny, and Ron.
When they had all gotten the news, Ginny and Hermione hugged and cried. Ron stood at
their side awkwardly, trying to comfort them. He looked at Remus who tried to give him a
reassuring smile. It didn't work.
"Don't worry, Gin. I'm sure he's alright."
* * * * * * * * * *
Harry stood in front of a three-way-mirror. He wore black pants with numerous chains
hanging down, a black muggle-band tee with a black fishnet underneath.
"It looks ok, I guess."
Harry looked at the various chains, zippers, and straps that decorated the pants.
*You looks like an idiot.*
"Doesn't look bad. Take them," Ian said.
"Er...I don't know."
As awkward as Harry felt, he liked the change of style. He liked the image it gave him. For
once the impression of wearing elephant skin was gone. He did look tough, fearful. That image
made him feel powerful. And Harry loved it.
After two hours of shopping for Harry's new wardrobe, the two teens walked to the park
for an ice cream cone to make the summer heat more bearable.
"Say, where do you get all that money anyway. Must have a really good paying job for
someone who didn't even finish school."
"Yea, I get by."
"Doing what?"
"Selling."
"Selling..."
"Honestly, Harry! Are you that thick? I sell drugs."
"Drugs?"
"Yea, it's not something I'm proud of or anything. But I got into them as a kid and then it
just stuck. You know, they say it's an escape. And it is. But after a while you realize it's not so
great. But then you're stuck. Don't try it."
"An escape.."
"No, trust me. You don't want to."
"Trust you?" Harry laughed. Ian shot him a meaningful look.
Ian wasn't a bad guy like Harry first thought. Sure, he did bad things. But in truth he was
just a lost kid. Harry started to realize Ian was the first muggle Harry had ever gotten along with.
He hand friends, great friends that he's trust his life with. But they were all witches and wizards,
and Harry didn't want to be part of that world for now. In the two days he had been gone, Harry
realized he needed to get away longer than he thought. Just for the summer. A temporary escape.
* * * * * * * * * *
(In Harry's Dream)
The wind was gone this time. The night air was calm, dead still. Harry liked it. For the first
time in weeks he felt some-what relaxed and relieved.
"I still don't think it's a good idea. But it's your decision." Ian sat on a bench across from
him, his face covered in chocolate ice cream. It made him look like a little kid, Harry thought.
All of a sudden, Harry's vision became fuzzy, and he was seeing double.
"Dun' be silly, mate. I'm alrigh'. In fact, I'm feelin' great."
Harry downed the remains of a beer bottle. He dropped it next to him where three other bottles
were sitting. The bottle hit another, causing it to roll off the bench and shatter on the stone
surface of the tower. Harry stood up.
"Ian, ya got somethin' else? Like a cigarette or somethin'?" Harry took a few steps
toward Ian, who was now a boy of no older than six.
"I really don't think you should," said the young boy, still eating his chocolate ice cream cone.
"Dun' tell me what I can n' can't do! I want a cigarette!" Harry stumbled over to the boy
and began shaking him violently. "Give me a fuckin' cigarette!"
"Harry, no! Help, someone help! Stop it, Harry!"
The more the boy cried more the harder Harry shook him. His vision became worse and
his head began to spin. Now the boy was attacking him. Sharp jagged pain hit his arms as his
world spun faster.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Ow! What the- Hedwig! Stop, I'm awake!" the owl immediately stopped after giving
Harry an extra peck at the nose.
"I suppose I deserved that one. Whatcha got there, girl?" Hedwig stuck her leg out and
Harry untied the parchment. He groaned. It was from Remus.
Harry,
I can only hope that this letter finds you. Hedwig has never failed you before so I'm assuming she won't fail me for the sake of finding you. What were you thinking?! The entire Order is on edge and Molly won't give us a minute's rest about you. Ok, I'm sorry. I won't yell, though I know, as well as you know, that I have a right to. Your friends are sick with worry, Ginny has been crying nonstop. I know you're upset at what happened to Sirius. Like I said at Arabella's, So am I. But Harry, you've got a big group of people that are going crazy looking for you right now. Save them the favor and come back. If you can't come back on your own for some reason then just send a letter with Hedwig and we'll come get you. Please, Harry.
Remus-
"Oh, bloody hell. Never going to get a moments peace." Hedwig gave Harry a defining
look and jumped up on her master's shoulders.
"I knew it! You're Potter!" Ian suddenly appeared at the doorway. Harry was shocked.
He had said his last name was Smith.
"How-"
"Your scar, obviously, and now the owl."
"But how- are you a wizard?"
"My aunt. Lovegood. Know the name?"
"Yes!" Harry was shocked beyond belief.
"Luna then, you're her cousin?"
"Was. When my dad lost my mum it was my aunt that kept my dad in line. But then she
died, he started to drink. And we pretty much lost contact after that. Damn, Harry. I knew it!
~~~
A/N: This chapter wasn't exciting or anything. Really it was a chapter I didn't enjoy writing too much. Don't know why. But it needed to be or else the story would be much more confusing then it already is! Oh, about that- are things getting clearer at all? If not just tell and I'll try to answer any questions and what-not.