Disclaimer: If I were J.K. Rowling, I would meet the queen for tea, and not meet my friends at the coffeshop in town and count our quarters to see if we can actually buy anything. If I were J.K. Rowling, I would have a cool British accent, instead of a sad one  because I live in Jersey. If I were J.K. Rowling, I would make a millions of dollars off every story I wrote, and would not be writing this fanfic!

AN: Hello, all (I am hoping there is an all. That there is more than one person, the person who reviewed, reading this!) Here's the next chapter. If you've notice, I like to get creative with my disclaimers. : ) I don't really have much to say…except make sure to check out my other fics too, and REVIEW! (please.)

To the one who did:

Nikki: glad you liked it, here's some more!

Chapter 2

James had been walking for hours on hours, and his feet ached, his legs throbbed. He needed a break, and he needed it now.

He heaped together a bundle of leaves, and let his body fall into them, let them embrace him as he fell into deep sleep.

Harry breathed in and out and in and out, feeling true free oxygen filling his lungs. He heard leaves crinkle beneath his feet, felt his messy hair get more tangled by wind.

He had not felt this happy in a long time…perhaps even ever. He ran through the trees, under their shade from the moon. He just kept running…something he hardly ever got a chance to do.

He just kept running, until he came across someone he couldn't help but stop to look at…

"Dumbledore, what are we going to do?" Minerva McGonagall looked up at the older, wiser man, trying to keep her emotionless expression. "Harry Potter has been missing for four year, since he was nine. He was supposed to start Hogwarts two years ago!"

"Minerva, I am aware of the predicament we find ourselves stuck in. I'm trying my best," He replied sadly, "I have my best men out there looking for him. But they left their house, and apparently are at a secret location as we speak. According to the government, they don't even exist anymore."

"Well, it's obvious what they did, isn't it Albus? They knew he was going to be sent a Hogwarts letter. They're deathly prejudice against magic folk. So they ran away, right under our noses." Minerva rarely disagreed with her employer, but she was feeling righteous, "I hate to seem like I'm saying I told you so…but I did! I tried to convince you otherwise, leaving him with those muggles!"

"Minerva, I am realizing the flaws in my decision. But there is one thing, one very good thing we can be sure of." Albus said softly, "He is safe. If we can't find him, surely no one from the dark side can."

"Well, I don't know if I can completely trust that. What, now with Sirius Black loose and about. He escaped Azkaban; lord knows what else he could do!" Minerva cried, the lines creased on her forehead showing with worry.

"I am aware of that. I am painfully aware of that."

"That's why you called me over here for tea, I suppose?"

He shook his head, taking a sip from his tea cup, which was decorated with little sorting hats, "No, actually, you caught me by surprise when you started talking about Harry. I am guessing you know the Defense against the Darks Arts position was free, yes?"

Minerva's face was blank, "Was free, Albus?"

His blue eyes smiled for his mouth, "Surely you remember the studious Mr. Lupin, friend of Black, and the late Pettigrew, and Potter?"

"Oh, Albus, did you?"

"He will be taking the position."

Minerva gave the headmaster a sly look, "And I doubt your only reason for hiring was how bright he was when he was at Hogwarts? You think he might know a little something about Black?"

Dumbledore gave a light shrug, "Perhaps. I'm not going to pressure him for information on the man who betrayed all of his best friends. He's had a very hard time finding jobs, because of his condition." He gave his bearded head a shake, "It's too bad. I think he's very qualified for anything he puts his mind too."

"So why did you need me to come down to tell me this." She looked at the amused Dumbledore, and sighed, "All right, what do you want?"

"Well, Minerva, I was wondering if you knew were Severus was vacationing this summer, did you?"

Minerva suddenly started to laugh, "Oh gosh, Dumbledore! What on earth were you thinking, hiring those two alongside each other? You do remember they loathed one another?"

"They didn't loathe each other…Severus loathed all of Remus' friends, but I never really believed those two hated each other. Though I know, stubborn Severus will have a problem. That's why I need to talk to him before the term starts."

"I don't know where he went, Albus. You know how secretive he is."

"Yes," He chuckled, "I do. Oh, well. I suppose his in for a shock when he sees Lupin, huh?"

"That's definite." She sighed.

It was him! It was him, twenty years from now! Was it his future self coming back to tell him something?

No, that couldn't be more ridiculous.

But this man…he looked just like him.

It couldn't be…his father?

Harry's head spun as he thumped to the ground in shock.

When Harry woke up moments later, the man he had seen was gone.

I must have just imagined it…maybe he had sat down for a rest, and fallen asleep…he decided, and knew that if he didn't keep going, the Dursleys, I meant the Dodeys would definitely find him when they got back.

He walked until it was so black, he could barely see his feet. He had never been out in the woods before, and he really didn't have any idea as to where he was going.

He could not stop and rest again, he decided. These woods were just too threatening…

So footstep after footstep, he made it a little farther. And when the night finally blossomed into a bright morning, an exhausted Harry found he was reaching the edge of the forest.

Ginny Weasley had turned twelve years old in May. She thought she had learned something important about herself and the world after the experience with Tom Riddle. But no one else saw that aspect of her story. No, now it seemed she had shrunk back into nappies.

Her brothers had always been protective of her. But now…well, she wouldn't be surprised if the held her hand and walked her to the bathroom! They were getting ridiculous. They watched after her as if she would blow up any moment.

She'd woken up quite early this morning, and had climbed the humungous, magnolia tree.

The tree preferred girls, so it wouldn't let any of her brothers climb it. No, Ginny would always go to the tippy top, and talk to the magical tree.

"Oh, Matilda." She sighed, clinging to the tree as she lay her face against the rough bark, "I just don't know what to do. I mean, I suppose it's nice that my brothers care so much. But it's so overwhelming…like I feel I will never be my own person. I will always have brother bodyguards following me around!"

"Well, you can understand why they are upset, Ginevra." The tree said lowly, and softly, so only Ginny could hear, "You almost died at your school, didn't you?"

"I could have died. But I knew what I had to do! I pierced it with a knife before T-tom could make me do anything again…" She sighed, sitting up and looking into the blowing trees at the edge of the forest. "Matilda…do they usually do that? I don't feel a breeze."

"No, they don't. Something is coming…something powerful."

"Oh, no! You don't think it could be Sirius Black?!" Ginny cried, her stomach beginning to churn.

"Ginevra, just because it is a powerful energy does not mean it is an evil one." Said the tree wisely.

With a gasp, Ginny saw no Sirius Black, no evil sorcerer, but a boy…

Harry had noticed how windy it was becoming. He struggled with every step.

Surely it couldn't be this windy in August?

He was beginning to see what looked like a barn in the distance. Perhaps, if he was polite enough, he could ask to use their phone to book a room in a hotel or something…

But where would he get the money for that?

Harry was beginning to realize that his plan for running away might have been a really, really stupid idea. He didn't have any money. He didn't have anywhere to stay. He didn't know how he was going to get any food…

"Oh, crap." Harry muttered, stepping past what seemed to be one of the last trees of the forest, onto flat, grassy land. There were one or two trees in the yard, but that was about it.

Suddenly, as if Harry wasn't petrified enough, an angry looking girl with fiery red hair was climbing out of the magnolia tree, pointing some stick at him.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" She asked, putting on an angry face, that sort of made Harry want to laugh more than be scared.

"My name is Henry Patter. I was just passing through here, but I wondered if I could use your telephone or something. I need to find a place to stay." Harry said very adult-like.

"Wait, you want to use our fellytone?" Ginny said softly, narrowing her eyes, and Harry laughed.

"Fellytone? Sure, I guess I could use that as well." Ginny's brow furrowed, staring coldly at the laughing Henry Patter. "And what on earth are you doing with that stick?"

"It's not a stick." Ginny retorted, putting away her wand, "But I can't explain what it is to you because you're obviously a muggle."

"A what?"

"A muggle. Oh, well, follow me. You can have breakfast, and then I suppose my father will have to obliviate you." She sighed, grabbing his hand as she trooped up to the back door of the house.

Harry didn't really like the sound of him being "obliviated." But his hunger overrun his fear, and he willing followed the girl inside.

"You live here?" Harry asked in awe, as they stepped into the kitchen, and Ginny sat him down in a chair. He saw that the clock read 6:10 in the morning, so it was no surprise the house was quiet.

"No, I just decided to break into this house." Ginny giggled, getting out bowls for cereal, "Of course I live here."

"Does anyone else live here?"

"Yes. My brothers Percy, Fred, George, and Ron live here, as well as my mum and dad. My brothers, Bill and Charlie, used to live here. But they moved out after they graduated." She said very rapidly, and sat down, pushing a bowl of cereal towards Harry.

Through inhaling the cereal, he got out, "You have a lot of brothers. It must be a drag being the only girl than, huh?"

"Sure is." She replied with a laugh, and Harry nodded.

"So, what's your name? And why are you up so early?"

"I'm Ginny Weasley. I always wake up this early, so I can have a few hours by myself. Now, may I ask you a question?" She said, taking a small bite of her corn flakes.

"Certainly. You've answered enough of mine."

"Why were you wandering through the forest at six in the morning?"

"Well, if you must know, I ran away."

"Really? Wow! Why did you run away?"

"Well…" Harry sighed, putting down his spoon. He supposed he could trust this girl. She seemed very kind, and would probably understand, "My parents died when I was baby, and I was left with my aunt and uncle. They hate me very much. For the past five years I've been locked in my room at all hours of the day! I couldn't take it anymore, so…" he picked back up his spoon, and took a bite of cornflakes with a grin, "I ran away."

"That's so terrible, Henry. No wonder you ran away. Do you have any money?"

He shook his head, embarrassed.

"Clothes? A place to stay?"

After he shook his head three times, she grinned, "Well, then you're staying here until we find somewhere else for you!"

Ginny was a very wonderful person, Harry discovered. No one had ever been so kind to Harry like this. He had never truly liked anyone as much as he liked Ginny.

They talked for an hour or so, Ginny moaned about her protective older brothers, Harry his pudgy, privileged cousin, and everything else there was to talk about.

Yes, they talked and talked until Mrs. Weasley ventured down the stairs yawning.