Chapter 1
The Day He Went Away
Following them, were Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, accompanied by Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall.
"Albus," said a worried voice of a woman.
"Yes, Minerva?" Albus asked in a very calm voice and continued following the trio in front of them.
"Is he really here, in Hogwarts?" Minerva McGonagall asked again.
"Of course he is. Why would he send a letter then?" said another voice in a flat tone.
"I doubt it, Severus. It doesn't sound like him, he usually attacks without any warning," she mumbled in a firm voice.
"I think, he wants to end everything tonight," Dumbledore said quietly and looked at McGonagall through his half-moon spectacles, still keeping distance from the trio.
They continued to walk quietly until Harry, Ron, and Hermione stopped in a cleared land. A few shadows could be seen. They decided to hide behind a tree to wait.
"Harry," said a girl voice.
"Hmm?"
"Are you sure he will be here?" Hermione asked.
"Bloody hell! Of course he will, Hermione. He had sent a letter to us, and he definitely will come here," said the voice of Ron Weasley.
Before anyone else could say anything, twenty or so people apparated surrounding them. All of them were wearing black robes, hoods, and masks, except one. The man was very skinny, with a pale skin, and a pair of blood-red eyes. He stepped forward and faced Harry Potter.
"Well, well, well. Hello, Harry Potter. We finally met again, and I'll make sure that this will be the last, because you are going to die!" the man Harry recognized as Voldemort said and laughed coldly.
Harry didn't say anything. He felt anger started building up inside his body. There were an awkward silent for a while but finally Harry started to talk.
"Where is Ginny?" he asked.
"Oh, oh, oh. Young Miss Weasley is somewhere with my servant. She is very well and you don't have to worry about her. You want to see her?" Voldemort said with an annoying tone.
Harry didn't answer.
"I'll take that as a yes, then," Voldemort said. "Wormtail, bring Miss Weasley here now!"
A small Death Eater who stood closest to Voldemort disapparated with a pop and went back with a portkey there, bringing unconscious Ginny Weasley on his back. Her Hogwarts robes were torn up in some parts and she looked very weak. Wormtail, also known as Peter Pettigrew, lied her down beside Voldemort and went back to his position.
Harry could hear a small cry behind him and it was definitely Hermione's voice.
"Enervate!" Voldemort pointed his wand at Ginny and muttered an incantation again, "Petrificus Totalus" Ginny Weasley got her consciousness back, but was petrified by Voldemort.
"HOW DARE YOU, VOLDEMORT!" Ron Weasley ran toward Voldemort, but before he could attack, Voldemort had pointed his wand at Ron and yelled, "CRUCIO!" Ron started twitching and shaking uncontrollably on the ground, as if there was thousands of daggers stabbed on his skin.
"Stop it right now, Tom!!" Harry yelled at Voldemort. Voldemort seemed shocked because Harry called him by his first name and finally raised his wand and the curse stopped. Harry and Hermione hurried to Ron to check his condition. Ron was still shaking so hard and Harry told Hermione to bring him away.
"Okay, Tom. I agreed to duel you and this is definitely the last one. This is the night to end everything," Harry said.
"Harry!" Harry heard Ron and Hermione said in unison but he ignored him and stepped forward, facing Voldemort.
"Very well, Potter. Your bravery in your face reminded me of your father in the night I killed him," Voldemort said and gave a sign to his Death Eaters to stay away.
Albus Dumbledore took a deep, silent breath in his hiding place.
"It's time," he said silently to McGonagall and Snape.
"This is the turning point of the world. Whether it will stay the same as always or change to the world of destruction. It all depends on Harry," said his deep voice.
"I really feel sorry for Harry. He has to face the Dark Lord himself. It's all because the prophecy," McGonagall sighed.
Snape just staid silent and Dumbledore said again, "Yes, Minerva."
He once again took a deep breath and turned back to the duel, so did McGonagall and Snape.
Harry didn't know how long he had been dueling Voldemort. He had learned much these years and now he was able to defend himself against Voldemort. Voldemort's first move was a stunning spell, which Harry defended himself using a shielding charm. Voldemort also used Cruciatus and Imperius curse on him several times, but he was able to get off easily from it. At last, Voldemort lost his patience.
"Avada Ke-" he started to say the incantation of the third unforgivable curse but Harry had shouted, "Silencio!". Voldemort couldn't say any words anymore.
Harry couldn't hold the urge to kill him and at last he yelled, "AVADA KEDAVRA!" A green light beamed from his wand to Voldemort and Voldemort's lifeless body fell to the ground. His eyes were still opened and in the same color.
Voldemort had died. Harry won the war and the Prophecy had been completed.
All of the Death Eaters went to a rush and surrounded Harry with pointed wands. But before they could do anything, at least fifty voices shouted, "STUPEFY!" from behind the trees surrounding the cleared land. Death Eaters lied unconscious on the ground.
Harry looked to the surroundings. There were Tonks, Lupin, Moody, Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Shacklebolt, and a bunch of Ministry workers and Hogwarts teachers. Harry could also see the members of DA, including Draco Malfoy.
Draco Malfoy was on their side now. After Voldemort killed his parents last year, he joined the army and he was dating Ginny now. Harry had been friend with Draco since then. Even Ron admitted that Draco wasn't as bad as he usually was.
Everybody was busy talking to each other and Dumbledore, helped by Tonks, Lupin, and Moody, put an anti apparation ward surrounding the Death Eaters. Harry pointed his wand at Ginny and released the body-binding spell. After that, before he could do something else, he passed out.
"Harry!" Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Draco shouted and ran toward Harry.
"He's okay, everyone. He has just used most of his power, so he fainted. I think he also got injured in the duel. We'll need to take him to St. Mungo immediately," said a voice of Severus Snape. But it wasn't the usual cold voice. It sounded concerned.
"But, Professor, how can we take him there?" Draco started to ask.
"I'll ask Dumbledore to set a portkey to St. Mungo. Take care of Harry when I'm gone," he said and searched for Dumbledore.
"God, Ginny… I'm glad you're all right," Draco said and kissed Ginny on her forehead.
Ginny hugged her tightly and said quietly, "I miss you, Draco…"
Ron and Hermione also hugged each other tightly. They had been dating since sixth year and Harry didn't mind it. A few moments later, Snape showed up. He brought an empty can with him.
"I'll be leaving with Harry. You three can visit him tomorrow, take care," he muttered quickly as he activated the portkey and left with Harry.
"Since when Snape cared about Harry?" Hermione whispered.
Ginny, Draco, and Ron shrugged and walked back to the castle.Harry opened his eyes and saw an unfamiliar room. He got up and walked to the nearest window. The sun had risen halfway. Where am I? he thought. His eyes wondered around the room. It was all white with a shade of blue. Then he noticed someone sitting on the sofa. Black hair, pale skin… But he couldn't see the details without using his glasses. He took his glasses, put it up, and glanced at the man. He was shocked to see his Potions Master asleep at the sofa of the room when he was going back to his bed. It seemed that Snape had noticed that Harry had woken up.
"Feeling better?" he asked in a un-Snape-liked voice.
"Um, yeah, where am I? Where is Voldemort? How is Hogwarts? How about…" Harry started asking questions but Snape cut him off.
"Stop it, Harry!" Once again, Harry was shocked. Not just Snape is un-Snape-liked, but also he called him Harry. This had never happened before. Harry felt like his eyes were going to go out.
Snape took a deep breath and explain it all, "You are in St. Mungo. Voldemort is dead. You killed him. You've been unconscious for a full week. Everybody is okay. Hogwarts is safe. You missed your last feast at Hogwarts. The Death Eaters will be executed during the month, and Peter Pettigrew had confessed the murder he had done and that Sirius Black is innocent. Anymore question?"
"Wow, you managed to say fifty eight words without breathing," Harry joked and grinned at him. Surprisingly, Snape grinned back to him, "I've been practicing that for a week." And the room burst into laughter. It was the first time Harry saw Snape laughing.
"Harry, I, Iwantoapologizeforeveryrudethingsididtoyouinthelastsevenyears," he said and turned red.
"Sorry?" Harry didn't understand what Snape said to him.
"I-I want to apologize for every rude things I did to you in the last seven years," he said quietly and turned redder than before.
It was now Harry's turn to blush. He said, "Uh, I think… Apology accepted, Professor,"
"Thanks. Don't call me Professor. I'm not your professor anymore. Call me Severus, or Snape. You've been graduated from Hogwarts, remember?" he joked and once again laughed.
Harry smiled at his former professor and added, "You know, Severus? The sorting hat almost placed me in Slytherin. But I thought 'not Slytherin, not Slytherin' in my mind and I ended up in Gryffindor."
"Oh, no wonder you are as cunning as Slytherins, Potter," Snape scolded and smiled back at him.
"But, with your bravery, you will always be a Gryffindor," Snape added.
"Oh, here, Daily Prophet. Seems you've become a celebrity once again, Potter."
Harry took the first Daily Prophet and read the headline.
HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED DEFEATED
BY THE BOY WHO LIVED
Saturday Night, 30th of May was definitely the greatest day in the wizarding
world. Harry Potter, the boy who lived, once again defeated You-Know-Who in a
duel in the Forbidden Forest. After the news spread all over the world, wizards
and witches celebrated the death of You-Know-Who all night. Harry Potter, the
boy who lived was now in St. Mungo….
Cornelius Fudge, The Minister of Magic, stated, "We were very happy with the death of You-Know-Who. Thanks to Harry Potter and we are pleased to announce that Harry Potter had just received the Order of Merlin, First Class and ten thousands galleons for an award,"
Harry turned to Snape and questioned him, "Me? Order of Merlin, First Class? He's kidding…""That's true. There will be no ceremony, but you've got Order of Merlin, First Class for defeating the darkest wizard ever," Snape said and smiled proudly at him. Harry felt his stomach flipped upside-down. Is this really Snape? God, am I dreaming? Order of Merlin? First Class? Harry turned back to the article and continued reading.
Peter Pettigrew had confessed that he did the murder of 12 muggles in the street and told the ministry that Sirius Black was innocent. Bellatrix Lestrange, one of You-Know-Who's most loyal Death Eater, murdered Sirius Black in the Department of Mysteries two years ago. (SIRIUS BLACK WAS INNOCENT – PAGE 13)
Harry read all the newspapers Snape had brought for him. It was all about Voldemort, Sirius, Harry, Death Eaters, and the night when Harry killed Voldemort. Harry was full with hatred. He didn't want to be known, he didn't want all of this. Harry threw the last newspaper and it hit the window. Snape jumped from his chair because the loud bang on the window."What's wrong, Harry?" Snape asked.
"Sorry, nothing at all," Harry mumbled. He took the newspaper he had thrown away and arranged it back neatly.
"Here, thanks for bringing it to me, but I don't want any of those," he said and turned his back to Snape.
"I'm leaving," he croaked and started to pack his belongings.
"Harry! Stop! Where are you going?" Snape shouted at him as he was going to open his room door.
"Anywhere but the wizarding world!!!" he yelled back at Snape.
"Calm yourself, Harry. Okay, if you want to leave, but please, wait for the others," Snape plead. Harry was extremely shocked seeing his strict potions master plead to him. He would never believe Snape plead to someone except he saw it with his own two eyes. Snape pleading to me? WHAT A JOKE! he thought.
"WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOU, SNAPE?" he yelled.
"As you see, Harry, pleading you not to leave now,"
"What happened to your usual self?" he questioned him.
"Okay, Harry, please, I need to thank you," Snape said with a bitter tone in his voice.
"I don't need anyone thanking me. I don't want all of that. Why won't anyone understand me?" he muttered and sat on the sofa, his head on his hand, and he started to cry. Snape sat down next to Harry and remained silent until he got his nerve to speak back.
"Harry… Sorry, I didn't mean to," he said.
"Yeah, I'm sorry too. I couldn't control my anger anymore after reading the Daily Prophet," he said as quickly as he could and put his hand over his face.
"It's my fault. I shouldn't bring you the Daily Prophet," Snape muttered quietly.
"No, it's not your fault. Sorry, I didn't mean to shout at you," Harry apologized.
Snape just nodded a little and said, "Well, it's 9:30 now. Your friends will arrive soon,"
"How do you know?" Harry asked as he wiped the tears from his face.
"How do I don't know? They come here everyday, vi…" just before Snape finished his sentence the door opened and Lupin stepped inside the room.
"HARRY!!" he yelled and hugged Harry.
"Thank God, you wake up," Lupin whispered at his ear.
"Remus… I'm back," Harry said and forced a smile.
Just before Harry had a conversation with Lupin, Mrs. Weasley hurried to the room and hugged Harry tightly.
"Oh my God, Harry!" she said when she hugged Harry.
"Uh, thanks Mrs. Weasley, but I can't breathe," he said hesitantly.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Dear," she said and pulled off. Harry forced another smile for her.
Mrs. Weasley left to get the other Weasleys. A few minutes later, all the Weasleys plus Hermione and Draco went inside the room.
"God, you are as good as new, Mate!" Ron said and Draco added, "Yeah, the same annoying and arrogant person."
Ron jabbed Draco on his arm and Harry laughed hardly. After all of his friends left he took a seat next to Snape again.
"Severus, can I talk to the headmaster, please?" he asked.
"Okay, I'll call him. Wait here and don't go anywhere," Snape said and disapparated with a small pop.
Harry went back to his bed and lied there, staring at the ceiling, thinking about what he had done. I've killed Voldemort. The prophecy is completed… I want to escape from all of these… I want more freedom… Three small pops could be heard in the room. Harry looked at the source of the sound and saw Snape, McGonagall, and Dumbledore standing there.
"Harry!" McGonagall cried, looking worried.
"I'm fine, Professor," Harry said quietly.
"I'm glad to hear that, Harry," said a deep voice belonged to Albus Dumbledore.
Harry smiled warmly at him and he could see twinkles in Dumbledore's blue eyes. Dumbledore sat next to Harry on the bed and put his hand on Harry's lap.
"That's my boy," Dumbledore smiled back. "Feeling better now?"
"Much better. As good as before," Harry answered cheerfully. Dumbledore's smile was very comforting and it made Harry felt very calm after the things that happened that day.
"Listen, I just want you three to know," Harry said in a serious tone. "I'm going to leave the wizarding world for a while," he continued but McGonagall gasped.
"But why, Harry?" she said firmly.
"You see, I hate to be famous. And I don't want anyone to thank me for killing Voldemort. I really don't want to. So, I'll leave for a while until the time I'm ready to accept it all. It might be only a year, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, or even 20 years" he said.
"It's your choice, Harry… You think about it wisely. I'll help you," Dumbledore said to him and patted his head like if he was a child.
"Very reasonable. I'll help you too," Snape said.
"Me too," finally McGonagall said after thinking for a while.
Harry smiled to them and said, "Thanks, everyone. Well, I'll need someone to transfer some of my money to a muggle bank, someone to teach me how to change looks, and someone to set me a plane ticket to New York,"
"New York? You are going to New York?" Snape asked disbelieving him.
"Yes, I think it's better to stay as far as I can from London," Harry answered.
"Okay, I'll apply a plane ticket to New York for you. But the ID?" Snape asked.
"Oh, Severus… Are you a wizard or not?" Harry said and laughed. Snape thought a while about it and said, "You're right," and he laughed too.
"Since when you calling him Severus?" McGonagall asked.
"Since this morning," Harry answered quickly, trying to hold laughter.
"Ah, I don't care. Okay, I'll help you transferring your money to a muggle bank," she said.
"Oh, that means I'm the one to teach you how to disguise," Dumbledore said and gave Harry a wide smile.
"Thanks," Harry thanked the three of them. "When can I leave?" he asked.
"When do you want?" Dumbledore questioned him back.
"As soon as possible," Harry said and made a face.
"Well, tomorrow then?" Dumbledore asked him.
"Sounds great. Can I go to the Dursleys first? I want to say good-bye to them," he said.
"Okay. I'll come tonight to teach you how to disguise and tomorrow we'll accompany you to the Dursleys and to the airport," Dumbledore winked at Harry and walked to Snape and McGonagall.
"See you, Harry," McGonagall said and left.Harry had just finished checking up his trunk, making sure nothing was left. Harry had done packing his belongings. Just after the healer in St. Mungo examined him and told him that he had recovered, he packed his things to his trunk. His Firebolt and Marauder's Map were in the bottom of his trunk, covered by his clothes. He would be leaving to New York tomorrow and started a new life.
Harry decided to write a letter for his friends. He waved his hand and conjured some parchments, a quill, and a bottle of emerald green ink. Harry had been doing wandless magic since his sixth year, and it got better from days to days. He took the quill, gave some ink and started scribbling at the parchment.
Dear everyone,
Firstly, I want to tell you that I leave on my own will, not being pushed by anyone. I know this is stupid, but when you read this letter, that means I'm not in London anymore. I'm not telling you where I am going, but I'm sure I'll see you again sometime soon. I'm leaving wizarding world and will start a new life as a muggle. Please, don't try to find me. I want to get out of all of these and this is my chance. I'm sure we'll meet again someday…
For Hermione and Ron, keep everything up in you way, become great aurors and please, never forget me as your best friend. Ron, you'll need to handle your anger. Hermione, I believe you will be an incredibly amazing genius witch. Take care of yourself. I love you and don't forget me.
For Draco and Ginny, please be a good pair and live your life. Draco, I used to think you as my enemy, but now as a mate. You're one of the best ones I've ever had. Thanks for everything, and I'll miss your smirk. Ginny, I always love you as a little sister, and please never forget me. I love you two so much.
For Remus, I still don't have the chance to talk to you but I know Sirius' name had been cleared, I'm also happy with it. Don't worry about me… You know I know how to take care of myself. Please take care of yourself and don't forget me.
For Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, thank you so much for everything. I always love you. Never forget me, and don't worry about me, I can take care of myself.
For Bill and Charlie, keep it up the good work. I don't really know what you two are doing, but I think you as my older brothers. Thanks for everything.
For Percy, I know you always want to be the Minister of Magic, and I'm sure you'll become one.
For Hagrid, you're my first friend in the magical world, and please don't forget me. I want you to take care of Hedwig, I won't be taking her with me. Take care. Give a hello to Grawp from me.
For Fred and George, don't give up and someday, I believe the WWW will be the leading joke shop, I'll miss your products.
For anybody else who also read this, please, don't worry about me. I can really take a good care of myself. Thanks for caring about me and for everything, and take care of yourselves.
Maybe we'll meet again next year, or even next 20 years, but I really care you all as my family. Anyway, thank you so much for all you've given to me and last thing to say, God Bless You and farewell…
From Harry
Harry reread the letter and thought it was good enough. Tears started sliding down through his face and dropped to the parchment. Harry didn't care. He folded the parchment and inserted it to an envelope he had just conjured and sealed it with magic. Harry put the letter to his robes and lied down on his bed until Dumbledore apparated to the room with a small pop.
"Harry? Are you here?" Dumbledore asked in a deep and calm voice.
"Yes, Professor," Harry answered from his bed and walked to Dumbledore.
"Ready for the lesson?" Dumbledore asked cheerfully and Harry nodded.
At the end of the lesson, Harry had been able to change his face shape, hide his scar, change his hair color, grew his hair, change his eyes color, and change his body shape. Dumbledore was very pleased to see this.
"You've mastered it, Harry. Have you decided how you will like to be?" Dumbledore said and overjoyed.
"No, Professor. I don't want any of you know how I will be like," Harry said flatly.
"Ah, okay, Harry. I don't mind it. Anyway, here's your plane ticket and passport. You can change the photo and the name in your passport, but don't forget to change the name on the ticket too," he explained.
"How about my ID in America?"
"You can simply conjured it. Here I'll show you my ID, so you know the form of it," Dumbledore showed his ID to Harry. Harry memorized it quickly.
"You remember it?" Dumbledore asked and Harry nodded. "Okay, now here's your muggle saving book," he handed a saving book to Harry. "It is an international bank," he said again. "And yes, you can change the name anytime. We've put a spell, so when you change the name in your book, the name in the bank data will also be changed,"
"Thanks, Professor. Um, I want to ask you something else. How to make myself owl proof?" he asked.
Dumbledore sighed, "Harry, that's the only thing I don't want to hear from you. If you do that, it means that we lost our contact." Dumbledore sat on the sofa and put his half-moon spectacles off. He rubbed his eyes and stared at Harry without his glasses.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Dumbledore asked in a deep, sad voice.
"Yes, Professor," Harry answered hesitantly.
"Well, it's your choice then. Just point your wand at yourself and the incantation is disowlerians. And to make it back, just say the same incantation," Dumbledore said sadly.
"Harry, I'll miss you…" Dumbledore said sadly.
"I'll miss you too… Albus," he said hesitantly.
Dumbledore's face seemed to be brightened up a bit after Harry called him by his name.
"That's better, Harry. Well, I'll be going now, take a good rest, and see you tomorrow. I suggest you to think of your new name and look," Dumbledore waved and disapparated with a pop.The next morning, Harry got up early and once again, checked his belongings. After he was sure everything had packed up, he shrunk his trunk to a small size and slipped it to his jeans pocket. He was wearing a pair of jeans, and a black tee shirt. Harry brought a leather black jacket Snape bought for him on his left arm. He put the letter for his friends inside his bag and went up to the mirror.
Harry changed his hair color blonde and grew it to shoulder length and tied it up in a green ribbon. He darkened his eyes color into dark green, hid his scar, and made his cheekbones higher. He looked different, very different.
Harry took his ticket, passport and his saving book. He tapped his name in each of them and it changed to his new temporary name, Christian Farandole, and changed his photo in the passport into his current look.
Harry heard a loud pop from his ward. He headed there and saw Severus Snape standing in the center of the room.
"It's me, Harry," he whispered.
Snape blinked at him once, "Not too bad," he said quietly.
"Albus and Minerva were waiting in the Dursleys. Let's apparate there," Snape commanded him.
Harry had mastered Apparation in his seventh year. He imagined Privet Drive 4 and apparated in front of the door. A second later, Snape apparated beside him. Dumbledore and McGonagall joined them and Harry rang the bell. All of them were dressed in perfectly normal clothes, so Harry didn't need to worry about his aunt's comments.
Harry could hear footsteps heading to the front door. Uncle Vernon opened the door.
"Yes? Are you looking for someone?" he growled.
"I'm looking for you, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley, Uncle Vernon," Harry said calmly.
Vernon Dursley gasped and let them in. They sat in the living room while Uncle Vernon calling Aunt Petunia and Dudley. When they were back, Harry could see the confused face of his aunt and Dudley.
"Who are you?" Aunt Petunia asked him.
"It's me, Harry," he said.
"No, you are NOT Harry," Dudley yelled.
"Calm down, Dudley, I'm in disguise now," Harry mumbled.
"So, what are you up to, boy?" said Uncle Vernon. He shot a look at Snape, Dumbledore, and McGonagall.
"I'm here to say good bye. I'm going to New York today, and won't be back until someday when I decided to. So, I just want to say good bye to you," he said.
"That's all? Okay then, bye!" Uncle Vernon yelled and shooed them away.
They went out from the house and walked a few blocks away. They found a small pathway and went there.
"They always act like that?" Snape asked.
Harry just shrugged and he had a feeling that Snape was already going to hex the Dursleys if they spoke out a word more.
"Okay then, let's head to the airport, Harry," McGonagall said and they disapparated to the Airport.
They apparated in an empty room. Dumbledore said that the was created for witches and wizards to apparate to the airport.
"It's time, Harry," Dumbledore reminded him.
"Yeah… here," Harry took the letter from his bag and gave it to Dumbledore. "Please read it for everyone."
Dumbledore took a deep breath and nodded.
"Good bye, Harry. I'm sure we'll meet again someday," Dumbledore said and hugged Harry.
"Good bye, Albus… See you," Harry replied.
"Take care, Potter," Snape scolded him.
"You too, Snape," Harry replied and they burst into laughter.
McGonagall gave him a kiss on his forehead and said, "Take care, Harry,"
Harry nodded and said, "Thanks for everything, Professor."
He turned away and waved for the last time.
Please READ and REVIEW
A/N All characters are JK's. I've just got the idea to write a story like this…
;; So sleepy. I wrote this chapter in half day, so sleepy now… (05/07/04)