"I'll save you..."
The words echoed in his head as Harry awoke. Pale morning sunlight filtered into the room through the only window and splashed across Harry's face. He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut against the bright light. Slowly the events of the night before came back to him and his eyes snapped open. Had he really tried to kill himself? Had he truly fallen that far? Quickly he sat up and stared down at his left arm. There on the inside of his forearm was an angry red scar, one that looked almost healed. He continued to stare at the scar; his mind was a whirlwind of confusion. How could the wound be almost healed? And who saved him? He remembered the voice in his mind, it had sounded feminine but wasn't a voice he recognized. Did the owner of the voice save him? If so, then wasn't he indebted to the person?
Harry sighed. It was a sigh of relief. He couldn't believe that he had done something so unbelievably stupid, or more to the point; something so cowardly. Really, how had it come to that? So his life wasn't all sunshine and daisies, but it had never been that way either and he had always believed that his past made him stronger. So what had changed? Before, when he had just been Harry and had no one, all that had mattered to him was getting away from the Dursleys. Then, he had become Harry Potter the Boy-who-lived and everything had changed. The first two years of school had been about surviving in a new world that was as amazing as it was frightening. But after...after he had started to become what everyone wanted; a hero. He had lost sight of what was important; being himself. So since he had a second chance to live, he was going to start living his way. No more listening to everyone else or doing what everyone expected him do. He was going to do what he wanted, when he wanted and if anyone had a problem with it, well, fuck him or her. It was well past time to regain control of his life.
Looking at the calendar on the wall next to the bed he noticed that it was three days before he had to be at the station to catch the train to school. Three days, that was plenty of time for him to get his school supplies and to reinvent the new Harry Potter. He rolled out of bed and began to pack. He'd take the Knight bus tonight to London. He'd stay at the Leaky Cauldron until he had to go to school. With a plan formed he finished his packing and went down stairs to do the chores he knew the Dursly's would have waiting for him.
As night came and the Dursly's went to bed, Harry, along with his trunk and Hedwig his snowy owl, snuck out of the house. He pulled out his wand and summoned the Knight Bus. The ride to the Leaky Cauldron was thankfully uneventful, well as uneventful as a ride on the Knight bus could actually be. Another plus was that because of the lateness of the hour the Leaky Cauldron was very much empty.
"Harry?" Tom, the owner questioned from behind the bar where he was stacking away glasses.
"Hello, Tom. I need a room for the next couple of days," Harry replied.
"Of course. Follow me," Tom said as he showed Harry to a room. "I suspect the Weasley's will be arrivin' here tomorrow, that should please ya."
"Actually," Harry said turning from the door to his room to look at Tom, "I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone I was here. Including the Weasley's."
Tom blinked rapidly. "Not that it's my place to be askin', but did ya and Ron have a fallin' out?"
Harry shook his head. "No. I just want to be alone for a few days before school starts."
"Oh, I got ya. I'll do as ya want." With that Tom turned and made his way down the stairs.
Harry watched until Tom disappeared from sight before entering his room. He let Hedwig out of her cage and opened the window just incase she wanted out. Then he slipped off his ragged tennis shoes and fell on to the bed. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
The dream wasn't like Harry's other dreams. Or to be more precise like the nightmares that usually haunted him. There were no images of the sickening green light that killed his parents, no screams, no evil crazed laughter of Voldemort's, or the cemetery and Cedric dying, or seeing Sirius fall through the veil. There was only darkness and he was walking alone through it. Yet he wasn't afraid. Somehow Harry knew there was nothing in the inky blackness that would hurt him. To be truthful it actually felt like the darkness was protecting him. It was comforting in a way.
"I knew you wouldn't be afraid. The other wasn't afraid either. What a fitting match," a voice murmured from the darkness.
Harry didn't bother looking around for the owner of the voice knowing fully well that he wouldn't find her. Instead he kept walking. "Other?" he questioned.
Sweet laughter echoed through the darkness. Slowly it died and the dreamy voice spoke again. "He said the same thing. Surprising how both of you are so different and yet so similar. Both of you more interested about the other than who you're talking to."
"You're not going to tell me who this other one is, are you?" Harry asked stopping his slow stroll through the dark.
Again soft laughter drifted about the shadows. "And just as smart too."
Harry snorted. "I'm sure there are quite a few people who would disagree with that."
"Hmmm...quite possibly," the voice answered.
"So," Harry started sitting down on the floor, "Who are you? Or is that something else you aren't going to tell me?"
"Oh, I'll tell you, in a manner of speaking. I have many names, but you are not allowed to use them. You see I'm given a new name each time I serve someone."
"So what exactly are you? And what do you mean by serve?" he asked a small thoughtful frown marring his features.
"I'm a Guardian Angel for lack of better wording. But I prefer Protector," the voice answered calmly.
Harry nodded knowing that it could be seen even in the darkness. "Are you going to become my...Protector, is that what you're getting at?"
"Yes," was all the voice said.
He gave a dry laugh. "Then you've got your work cut out for you," came his sarcastic reply.
"I'd rather have ones such as you and the other to protect. It makes thing far more entertaining and my abilities far more appreciated."
"If you're protecting this 'other' then how is it you've come to protect me?"
"I've been protecting him since he was six. You see, in the beginning I had to choose between him and you on who I would protect. They wouldn't let me protect both of you and at the time he was in more danger of dying than you were, so I chose him. Another was assigned to watch over you."
"Well whoever he was, he sucked and should find another day job," Harry snorted.
"Yes, well he realized he couldn't handle you anymore..."
"And I bet there was no one else who wanted the job," Harry interrupted coldly.
"I wanted it. I still want it. If you'll let me," the voice whispered.
Harry thought for a moment. "Alright, but if I'm going to name you I will need to see what you look like."
Laughter, warm and rich, surrounded him. "He said the same thing. And I will tell you what I told him. You will name me without knowing me. Someday you may see what I look like. Until then just know that I am watching over you and protecting you."
"Has he seen you?" Harry asked.
There was a small hesitation before she answered. "Once. But I don't think he remembers."
Her voice was sad and Harry had the feeling that it was an unpleasant memory. Something horrible must have happened that had made her show herself.
"Now, there are other things to talk about, but they will have to wait 'til next time. It's time for you to go. Wake-up green-eyes."
Harry drifted up from sleep slowly. He blinked emerald green eyes at the bright sun drenched room. Turning his head he glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table. 7:15. Early, but later than he usually woke up. And unlike usual he felt rested. Rolling from the bed he stretched before moving to take a quick shower. Once dressed, he left the room and made his way down stairs for breakfast. He found a dark corner and enjoyed a cup of tea, toast and scrambled eggs. When he finished he left for Diagon Alley. Upon entering the alley lined with the most intriguing shops, Harry made his way straight to Gringotts the wizard bank. He needed money for his school supplies and to create the new Harry Potter. Leaving Gringotts with a pouch full of gold galloons, silver sickles, bronze knuts, and muggle money; he decided to do his school shopping first. After all, school shopping was easy, reinventing yourself even when you wanted it was far more difficult.
Having finished his school shopping and with the bags placed in his room, he decided to have lunch before tackling the clothes shopping. After lunch Harry left Diagon Alley and ventured out into muggle London. Though it was dangerous for him to be wandering about, alone, in London; he enjoyed it. Out there no one knew him. He was just another faceless stranger in a crowd. For a brief period of time he wasn't the famous Boy- Who-Lived.
The first store he entered was a mix of Goth and rock. Smiling he realized this makeover of his wasn't going to be as bad as he first thought. He felt like a little kid in a candy store. He didn't even know where to start looking first.
"Can I help you?"
Harry turned toward the voice and found himself facing the most unique eyes imaginable. He had only ever seen one other person with such amazing eyes. And like that person, the one in front of him, was just as beautiful. The boy facing him looked to be a few years older than him, probably around nineteen. He had vivid violet eyes and pure gold hair with streaks of russet-gold weaved through the spiky locks. He was tall, a good five inches taller than Harry's 5'6" and more muscular then Harry's lanky frame.
"Actually," Harry started smiling at the clerk, "you can."
Three hours, 400 pounds cheaper, piercings, and a haircut later, Harry made his way back to the Leaky Cauldron. Since it was around dinnertime the Leaky Cauldron was packed with patrons, including the Weasley's and Hermione Granger. Quickly, using his bags and the shadows as cover, he made his way to his room. When the door clicked shut behind him he breathed a sigh of relief at not being spotted. Though he doubted they would have recognized him.
He dropped the bags on the bed and looked at his reflection in the mirror. No, they wouldn't have recognized him at a glance. His trademark untidy jet-black hair was now tamed. Well sort of, now it was short and spiky. A few strands fell across his forehead, but didn't hide his scar. That probably would have been the only reason they would have recognized him, his scar. His forest green eyes were no longer hidden behind glasses having an eye-correcting spell placed on them at the start of the summer. The clothes he wore fit his short narrow frame the way they were supposed to. The dark blue jeans hung low on his narrow hips and the soft cotton shirt clung to the lean muscles of his chest and arms. Quidditch and manual labor definitely had its rewards. He no longer appeared as fragile or abused as he did when he first started school. Of course being away from that house and actually being fed helped a lot.
Harry sighed. There would be no more hiding. Tracing the lightning bolt scar on his forehead he sighed again. Everyone would know who he was without a doubt. Dropping his hand he straightened up and smirked into the mirror. Let them know, it's not like they didn't already. Only now, he didn't give a damn what people thought of him. But there was still one more thing Harry wanted to do before he showed anyone the new him. Luckily he had one more day before he had to be at Kings Cross. Stripping to his boxers, he crawled into bed. Tomorrow was going to be a little difficult. He was going to have to spend the day avoiding Ron and Hermione or being spotted by any other student of Hogwarts. Though he doubted that it would be that difficult since Ron and Hermione were so wrapped up with each other. But as the saying went 'it was better safe than sorry'.
