Yes, Harry Potter had definitely changed over the first two weeks of his vacation.  His once sparkling green eyes were dull; he hadn't slept properly in days.  His once messy black hair had acquired a reddish sheen, and had grown a bit longer- not as long as Bill's though.  Because of the extra length his hair wasn't so messy.  But that no longer made Uncle Vernon any happy.

                This summer wasn't any good for Harry.  After the death of Sirius, things began to look down.  Harry had secretly hoped the previous year that when the ministry finally admitted the return of the Dark Lord, that they'd clear Sirius.  Harry would have finally had a good summer.  But alas, fate had not been so kind to Harry.

                Now, because of the death of Sirius, Dumbledore had decided that Harry should stay at the Dursleys- for "additional protection".  Harry wasn't sure whether that was true, or whether Dumbledore wanted him out of the way so that he could further his plots.  As any respectable leader of a secret organisation should.  Use the weapon- or "hero" as he had been called- when it is needed, but when it isn't needed lock it up somewhere, so it doesn't break. 

                Now, Harry wasn't just upset that Sirius had died.  He was angry with Dumbledore for hiding important things from him.  And he was angry with Snape, for not continuing the Occlumency lessons properly.  He was angry with Tom Riddle and Peter Pettigrew for existing.  And he was angry with Ron and Hermione too.  He had just gotten a letter from them- they had acted on their feelings for each other.  It wasn't a big thing really; it was just that so much anger was floating through his body that Harry thought that he was going to explode. 

                But most of all Harry was angry with himself.  He had gone snooping around again.  Something that never failed to cause trouble- but this time it had cost something so much more than house points.  Harry had lost the only parent figure he could remember. 

Well, the only one alive.  The last words of his parents didn't count.  They couldn't count- it kept his sanity intact.  They had been real people and their memories didn't deserve to be tarnished in such a way.

                'Other memories', thought Harry grimly, 'deserve to be banished to the back of my memory banks. Back with the memories when I could trust my friends and teachers.' 

With that thought he scowled and shook his head. Looking in the mirror that had been recently attached to the back of his door he didn't recognize himself.  His skin was paler, as he had opted to stay indoors.  Somehow he had managed to grow taller, and he was skinnier- though not as skeletal as Tom Riddle.  He didn't know how it was possible for him to grow- he had opted out of eating most of the time.

But now, was not a time for reflection.  He had things to do, many things to do.  First thing he had to do was write a note to the order.  It was just dawn, it should be in London first thing.  Taking out a quill and a piece of parchment he began to write.

'Hello,

It's Harry.  I'm checking in as usual, a day early, but that's okay.  There is something important that I must see to.  And it's like order business- so I'm not going to tell you what I'm doing or where I'll be.  See how much you like it. I will contact you when I return.  Don't bother trying to find me.  I've brewed myself an anti-tracking potion- NEWT level I believe.

Well, I must be off now.  I will try to return shortly.  I probably won't.

-Harry James Potter.

P.S.  I got your letter Ron.  I hope you two are happy.  Keep yourselves safe.'

There, that was a good letter.  He was still upset and murderously angry, but he couldn't have them dying. They were in a particular type of danger that fell upon those who befriended the Boy-Who-Lived.

Harry walked over to Hedwig, and petted her.  The owl hooted sleepily at him.  "Hedwig, I need this letter delivered to Headquarters.  I'll leave the window open so you can fly in, but you can stay at Headquarters.  I'll probably be in Diagon Alley if you want to go there.  I'll be staying at the Leaky Cauldron if you want to go there.  But you take care, you hear me?"

The owl hooted at Harry in concern.

"I'm fine Hedwig, just worried."

The white owl hooted at Harry in disbelief, but nipped affectionately at his finger and took off out the window with the letter.

Now it was time to pack a bag.  He couldn't bring too much, he wouldn't be able to bring it with him.  He would need a cloak, to blend in.  As he had grown he would need some more clothes.  But the cloak would do for no.  He'd need his Invisibility cloak, just in case.  He'd also need some money, and he'd need his wand- constant vigilance was a yes.  Just to be safe he took out some parchment, a couple of quills and some ink.  He threw all those into his bag, and slipped out of the room, and down the stairs to the landing.

He then unlocked the door, and he made the walk to Magnolia Crescent.  He thought the wards ended there, as he had summoned the Knight Bus before.  He fished his wand out of his bag and held it out, therefore summoning the bus.

"Hello, and welcome to the knight bus, I'm Bert your conductor for this trip." Said a man, maybe in his late thirties.

"What happened to Stan?"

"He was recruited. Where have you been… uh… what is your name?"

"Uh… I'm James…" seeing the conductor's mistrust, "James Dursley.  I'm new to this area."

"Ok, James.  What was I saying?  Ah, yes, any civilian between the ages of 17 and 30 are allowed to join the reserves.  Young Stan decided to join.  Good boy Stan.  Where are you going?"

"To London.  The Leaky Cauldron to be exact."

"I figured that when you said London," grumbled the conductor, "just because I'm too old for the reserves doesn't mean that I'm daft.  That will be 11 sickles. You can take the bed behind Ernie.  I'll wake you when we get to London, you look like you haven't slept in days."

Harry handed over the previously stated amount of money, and went over to the bed.  He lay down, and soon fell into a light sleep.  He tossed and turned for the entire trip.  When Bert woke him up, he felt worse than he did when he went to sleep.

The sight that greeted him was a sight that filled him heart with happiness.  The Leaky Cauldron was still in business.  Tom was out from behind the counter setting up.  Carrying his bag Harry approached the bar man. 

Tom spoke first. "How goes it stranger?"

"It goes well enough for the time." Came the reply.

A small chuckle. "What is your business here?"

"I need a room.  I have some chores to attend to in the alley."

"How long will you be renting out the room?"

"At least a week."

"You hiding out?"

Harry laughed mirthlessly. "You could say that."

"Lets see your left arm."

"And if I don't show it to you?" challenged our disenchanted youth.

"Then I'll call the aurors."

"Good, good. You know what to do." With that Harry revealed the arm in question.  The skin was bare.

"No offence intended, sir, but these are dark days."

"Dark days indeed."

"Can I have your name sir?  I need it for the registry."

"James Dursley," said Harry with practiced ease. 

"Follow me James, you'll be in room 13."

Tom went behind the counter and found the key to the room and they walked up the stairs in silence.    When they got to the room Tom turned to Harry.  "Is there anything else you'll be needing?"

"I have two questions."

"All right, I might have your answers."

"When do the stores in the alley open?"

"It really varies from store to store.  But they'll all be open by 10.  That's when the rush comes."

"Is there any way I could get a Dreamless Sleep Potion?"

"Yes, just go to the cupboard in the bathroom, and say 'dreamless sleep potion'.  When you open it you will have your potion, and it will be added to your bill accordingly. Potions don't come so cheap any more.  What have you seen that you need the potion?"

"Too much."

When Tom opened the door he gasped.  Harry had to slip in.  On the bedpost sat Hedwig.

"There you are girl, you managed to beat me here. Aren't you smart."

Hedwig hooted happily over the fact that her master seemed happier. 

"Where did you get that owl?"

"I raised her from a owlet." lied Harry through his teeth.  "Her parents were killed, so I took her in.  Why do you ask?"

"I thought that there owl belonged to the Potter boy. He has one just like her."

"Isn't that a coincidence?" was directed at Tom. Harry cooed at Hedwig, "Aren't you happy girl?  You could be mistaken as a celebrity."  He looked at Tom.  "Thank you sir, I will speak to you later on."

Harry sighed as Tom left the room- this was going to be harder than he thought.  Hedwig flew back to the bedpost, and Harry put his bag down in front of the bed, and turned to go to the bathroom.  He really needed some dreamless sleep.

Meanwhile, down in the bar Tom thought.  He knew that boy wasn't who he said he was, but he couldn't prove it.  He'd figure it out though.  These were dark times and Tom was a cautious man.