Chapter 8 Terra Incognito

The young man that walked down Diagon Alley mid morning did not look remarkable in anyway. He's sandy blond hair and blue eyes were not in any way special and the only second glances were from the odd women who shot him an admiring glance for his boyish good looks. That was how Harry wanted it. He marveled at the ease with which he could hide from the ministry in plain site. A couple of charms to change his appearance and he was indistinguishable from the few other people walking down Diagon Alley. The few that were there looked decidedly nervous and kept glancing around worry showing on their faces. I did this. I managed to put this much fear in people. Even the sky looks the same. Harry thought speaking of the dark, stormy gray sky. I wonder when I'll get a new name. Hmmm I quiet like 'the other you know who'. The thought made Harry burst out with laughter. The few people around him gave him odd looks and then glanced around guiltily, as if laughing was a crime. The looked as if Death Eaters would suddenly apperate in front of them and kill them for laughing and slowly edged away from Harry. This only made him laugh harder and he had to lean against a wall for a while to get his laughter under control.

Harry didn't really have anywhere he wanted to go in mind when he came to Diagon Alley. He planned to wonder around to kill an hour or so in the shops before the meeting he had arranged at a small café in Knockturn Alley. The owner asked no questions and provided service to anyone so it was often used as a meeting place for people on the shadier side of the law or those who didn't want their meeting to be known. As he walked down the street the bright display in Quality Quidditch Supplies caught his eye. The colour of the display contrasted with the gloom of the people walking past. Harry wondered over and saw that it was displaying a new broom, the Speeding Bullet. It was a later model of the Firebolt. As Harry stared at the display he was reminded suddenly that he could no longer play Quidditch. The saddened him greatly. I'm a wanted man now. I can't play for the Magpies anymore. Harry turned away and started walking down the street when a brown owl swooped down and landed on his shoulder. He took the letter off her foot with surprise. He hadn't received one owl since Dumbledore's death. Harry had expected hate mail or something at least but he had received nothing at all. They're probably all too scared I'll come and hunt them down because they sent me hate mail he thought with a smirk. Harry instantly recognised the writing on the letter as Hermione's and quickly opened it.

Dear Harry,

      Are you okay? What's happened? Harry please tell me what's happened. I read the paper this morning and it said you killed Dumbledore. Everyone's saying you're evil and you're the next dark lord. I know this can't be true so please just come and clear this all up.

Hermione

Harry looked with sadness at the letter. What will Hermione think of me when she realises it's the truth? Harry had always liked Hermione and didn't want to lose her. But I will. Hermione always thought the best of people. When she heard the news she instantly thought it was a mistake. She will hate me. Of his friends Hermione was about the only one he would regret losing. She always stood by me and never was my friend just because I'm the boy-who-lived. He too had read the not so complimentary article splashed over the front of the Daily Prophet proclaiming him the next dark lord after killing Dumbledore. They said he had already joined Voldemort and was working for him among many other rumors. They had described him as the hero who had turned evil and had even mentioned that he had a personal vendetta against muggles and muggle borns. They had said that no one was safe from the wrath and hatred of Harry Potter. Harry already knew what Ron's reaction would be. He would instantly believe him guilty and hate him with a vengeance. He would not try to help him or even find out if it's true. That's because he never really was my friend. He only was because I'm Harry Potter. Even then he would often hate me for things I couldn't help. Harry could remember countless times when Ron would become jealous over things that happened to Harry and hate him for weeks. Harry remembered the time when his name had been put in the Triwizard competition in their fourth year and the anger from Ron that had followed. He had eventually got over it and Harry had forgiven him but Harry hadn't forgotten the incident. That whole tournament was so much fun anyway Harry though sarcastically. After the third task the winner was taken by port key disguised as the winning trophy to Voldemort. Because Harry knew of his plans Harry had refused to take the trophy. A boy called Cedric Diggory had gone instead and although Voldemort was furious that Harry wasn't there like he had planned he had used Cedric instead and resurrected his body. It was a long time before the ministry and Dumbledore solved Cedric's disappearance and realised that Voldemort had used his blood to resurrect himself and then killed him and to believe that Voldemort had returned.

Harry stopped his musings and looked at his watch and walked towards Knockturn Alley. Harry walked into the almost deserted café. There was an old man in the corner who looked blankly at Harry with dead eyes. He looked as if he had been under the Cruciatus curse for too long and now he's mind was dead. He probably has considering the war that's currently going on Harry thought. At a table Draco Malfoy sat. He had not changed a great deal physically since Harry last saw him apart from longer hair but he now had an ice cold presence that seemed to surround him. He stood up to greet Harry but the smile on his face was neither genuine nor warm.

'Potter.'

'Malfoy.'

'I hear you have been busy since graduation Potter.'

'I've heard similar things about you.' Harry replied and sat down raising his eyebrows slightly at Draco. He got the point and sat down opposite Harry but never took his eyes off him. He didn't waist his time with small talk but got straight to the point.

'What do you want with me?' Harry didn't bother beating round the bush instead he spoke in a voice with no emotion and he spoke in a way that said if you try to stop me you will regret it.

'I want to see Lord Voldemort.'

Author's note: Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed. I'll try to update regularly still but I'm really busy with work and I'm going away for New Year. So anyway what do you think will happen? Will Harry join Voldemort or will he fight him? You are probably thinking that Harry already knows where Voldemort is because he can see through his eyes but it will be explained next chapeter.

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone has a great Christmas. J