Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, was trying very hard not to fall asleep. It wasn't that he didn't care what Ginny's bridesmaids were wearing, but he didn't need to know the pros and cons of that color, or why this hairstyle would work well with bushy hair, or why, Oh Merlin!, these robes did nothing to flatter the female figure.

"Harry, what do you think?"

"Er..I...I think that's lovely." he said lamely, pretending that he had been listening to the two females in front of him.

The two females saw right through him.

"Honestly," Hermione chided him, "Unless it involves Quidditch they can't be bothered to pay attention."

"Maybe I should have the whole thing on broomsticks," Ginny said thoughtfully, "Mum would love that."

Harry chuckled at the mental image of the plump Mrs. Weasley vainly struggling to remain upright on a broomstick.

Hermione scowled, crossing her arms and looking away, "I don't know which of you two are worse."

"Hermione is having a spat with Ron," Ginny explained cooly, seeing the expression on Harry's face.

"I am not," she vehemently denied, glaring at him and Ginny.

This, of course, told him that she was.

"Oh, all right, I am," she conceded, when Ginny raised one eyebrow at her, "But it is entirely Ronald's fault."

Harry merely nodded in agreement, years of experience telling him to keep his mouth shut lest he say otherwise.

Ginny took a delicate sip of her tea, "What did he do this time?" she asked wearily.

Hermione sighed, "He only decided that a certain business opportunity was more important than a certain meeting with me."

Ah, Harry thought, Ron blew her off again.

"Does this 'business opportunity' have something to do with Fred and George?" Ginny frowned.

"Them!" the bushy haired woman snapped, "When I see them next..."

Harry truly felt sorry for the three Weasleys, he'd have to warn Ron to watch out later. Fred and George were on their own.

"Please try not to dismember my brothers too much," Ginny said offhandedly, "They may be hopeless, but they are family."

Hermione smiled tightly, "Of course, Ginny. I couldn't deprive the world of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes."

Taking a sip of his own tea, Harry forced the hot liquid down his throat as Hermione and Ginny exchanged glances. Apparently they decided the point was moot, "I really like the periwinkle," the redhead offered, "Weren't your Yule Ball robes that color?"

Harry quietly excused himself from his kitchen table as the two ladies poured over ever possible detail of the up coming nuptials. Ginny had hoped to plan the wedding away from the somewhat overbearing presence of her family and pounced on his space, and him for that matter, when he agreed to hide her.

Of course the whole Weasley clan had congratulated him when she said 'yes', Mrs. Weasley cried into her apron, but after the upteenth handshake and good natured death threat he decided enough was enough. For his own sanity, and safety knowing the twins, he and Ginny were spending some much needed and desired time to themselves- a rare commodity since his younger days.

The isolated and sleepy village of Godric's Hollow was perfect, with its slow progression of days- one dreary one right after the next. So bland and normal after so many years of vivid chaos.

The villagers left him alone- no asking for autographs or pictures. No rapid increase in naming baby boys 'Harry'.

Here it was calm and peaceful... his much deserved rest after a battle that nearly cost him everything he held dear...

A chill went up his spine, a dark memory of those horrible moments of utter despair he felt through his scar. Those wretched moments of complete nothingness before he completed the prophesy.

But those days were gone now, carefully shelved away in the back of his mind and the depths of his heart to be forgotten.

Now was a time for happy days. Golden days filled with a smiling Ginny in this tiny backwater village with nothing of more importance than where they would get takeout tonight- for neither were very good cooks.

Or, perhaps, life would be slightly complicated, he thought with an inward groan upon seeing a sheepish looking silvery terrier in his living room.

Giving his best impression of Hermione's scowl, he approached the dog, "What is it?"

The little terrier visibly slumped his shoulders and looked down as a familiar voice sounded in Harry's head, "Meet me you-know-where. And don't tell you-know-who!"

Rolling his eyes at his friend's cowardice, Harry took out his wand and dismissed the little terrier. The poor thing seemed almost relieved as it quickly vanished, silvery wisps into air.

There was only one thing to do, Ginny and Hermione would just have to do without his presence for a while. I'll would make it up to Ginny later, he smiled.

Pulling on his robes, the spring air was chilly, Harry sneaked out of the house on into his pleasantly unkempt garden. With a loud crack he disapparated.

You-know-where was a deserted alley of Muggle London surrounded by piles of trash and fire escapes on the dilapidated brick buildings. The late afternoon sun made the walls seem even dingier, and a previous rain left the ground littered with puddles and the air rancid with the smell of decaying refuse.

Harry's entrance went either unnoticed or purposely ignored by any tenets in the buildings around him. Any loud unexpected sounds were better left off alone in this part of town.

"Harry!" a panicked voice sounded from his side, "Good of you to finally show up!"

A tall man with red hair and a long nose came from the shadows of the alleyway, he looked pale and worried, his blue eyes quickly darting from one side to the other, "You didn't tell her, did you?" he asked frightened.

"No, Ron."

"Oh, good," he brightened considerably at this and started to swagger to his best friend, "Not that I was worried or anything."

Harry laughed, sidestepping the puddles, "Of course not. So what is so important that Hermione can't know about it?"

"Just a little something on the side..." Ron trailed off, clearly not wanting to elaborate.

They started the short walk to Knockturn Alley, one of the few redeeming qualities about their meeting place, when Harry asked, "Well?"

"Well what?"

A large danger sign hung on the building in front of them, warning trespassers that it was condemned. Yellow tape was strung liberally across the boarded up windows, and the entrance was locked only with a simple muggle padlock.

Harry pulled out his wand and said, "Alohomora!" The door unlocked with a small click, and the two ducked past the low doorway leading to the twisting streets filled with wizards, "Why are you skipping out on Hermione?"

"I'm not skipping out on her," Ron said, shoving his hands into the pockets of his robes, "She's just not supposed to know." he muttered.

"Know what?' Harry asked.

Ron glanced up at his friend, and quickly glanced away again, "Nothing!" he replied, turning as red as his hair before speedily walking away.

Harry stopped in front of a darkened window that had The Great Wizard Pendragon painted in old block style letters on it and crossed his arms, "You know I could send for her and Ginny right now." he threatened.

Spinning around, Ron fearfully whispered, "You wouldn't dare."

He smirked.

"Alright alright," Ron conceded, "I needed some extra money to... get-Hermione-something." he finished quickly.

Harry moaned, he should've known it was something like this, "The Auror office not paying you enough?"

Ron snorted, "The place is full of self serving gits, 'cept Tonks- she's gone on maternity leave now, and I get to play office gofer. Too bad you never joined, you'd have the whole office at your every beck and call."

"Which is exactly why I never joined."

"Ever the humble one," Ron laughed, "But Fred and George needed someone with my connections this time."

"What did they want smuggled in?"

"Runespoor eggs, who knows what they need them for, I wasn't about to ask. However the wizard that was supplying them was also dealing in snidgets- had a whole cage full of them. I couldn't let that one go past." Ron shrugged, "So I had to take him in, wasn't happy about it though. I would've made an excellent deal on that one."

"What do you need all the money for?" Harry asked innocently as they started down the street again.

Ron blushed, "Ah... you know...something I should have gotten ages ago..."

"That's why you can't tell her ."

"Bloody hell," Ron swore, "I'm never going to hear the end of this, am I?"

"Well," Harry considered, "If you do what I think you are planning," he paused dramatically, "maybe she'll eventually forgive you."

"I'm doomed."

Ron decided a drink was in order, to help him face his impending disembowelment, and so he and Harry had a round- or four- at the Leaky Cauldron. And so by the time they left it was dark, the muggle street lights casting a strange yellow glow through the dirty windows.

Diagon Alley was deserted this late, only the few witches and wizards that remained stayed to the shadows, avoiding the two rowdy young men.

"Harry!" Ron shouted, "Remember that time we fought that troll? He was a -hic- nasty bugger."

Harry nodded solemnly, "Nasty bugger alright."

"And remember when Malfoy turned into a -hic- ferret?"

"Twitchy little ferret."

"And remember that time we..." Ron paused, cocked his head to the side confused, "Weren't we -hic- at the Leaky Cauldron?"

Harry just nodded, and threw a friendly arm around a slightly wavering Ron, "Yes, we were."

The redhead seemed surprised at this new information, "Oh!"

Chuckling, Harry lead the tipsy Ron down the street, heading for his tiny flat. He'd deposit him there to sleep off his firewhiskey- Ron could never hold his liqueur.

Besides, he thought, he could always send Hermione over in the morning...

His thoughts must have shown on his face because Ron turned to him looking worried, "Oh no."

"Don't worry, it won't hurt much."

Ron's eyes widened, "No Harry, behind you."

Quickly turning around and pulling out his wand, Harry stared into the shadows, "Lumos!"

The light lit up trashcans and sent cockroaches scattering, but there was nothing there...

"Hahaha -hic- hahaha," Ron laughed, "You should've seen the face on your look!"

"Nox," Harry muttered, "I think you had one too many tonight."

"You just haven't had enough."

He didn't even bother arguing, and started to walk away while Ron had another fit of giggles, "Hahaha -hic- hahaha -Arrrgggghhhh!"

Harry was tempted not to turn around for a split second, however a suspicious flash of red light accompanied Ron's sudden cry. He turned just in time to see Ron sprawled out on the wet pavement.

"Silencio!" a disembodied voice called out.

He didn't even try to say a spell, and instead crouched down, wand at the ready, to check on Ron. It was alright, he was just knocked out. His eyes darted quickly around him, listening for a giveaway of his attacker. If Ron was only stupefied, then he was clearly the target.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

"Protego!" Harry thought, the hex ricocheting into the street. A loud thunk soon followed, and he quickly sought cover nearby in a large doorway, unable to help Ron until he was sure he couldn't be caught by surprise.

He barely made it in time, several beams of red light passing by just as he flattened himself against the oaken door. He could hear several people advancing, their robes swishing against the ground.

Harry leaned heavily against the door, held his wand up, and prepared to give them a fight.

However he never gothis chanceas the door suddenly unlocked, causing him to fall through.

Disclaimer: I still don't own it... as if no one knew who owns Harry Potter...

Harry's life is based off of a best case scenario, where everyone lives and is happy. Whether this actually happens after the seventh book, I can only speculate.

Deep understanding of the book Howl's Moving Castle and Castle in the Sky is not required, everything will be explained. But when I read it, I was surprised at how well it would crossover with Harry Potter, and I couldn't help myself. Actually, you could probably get away with seeing the movie. But I suggest reading both books by Dianna Wynn Jones.

Thanks for the reviews:

Aurora-Sakura: Thanks! It won't matter- since I fully intend on explaining things.

Flamegirl: That was just the prologue, my chapters seem to get longer and longer as I write.

Never Odd or Even: I liked the prologue too, and I hope this is fast enough for you.

Raya: Here you go!