Disclaimer: I own no part of Harry Potter or its associated canon nor, any other already copyrighted material.

(A/N): Never his home, yet where he must go…

Chapter 2

One Last Time

Glancing to the sky he could tell it was already late afternoon and rapidly moving into early evening. The passage of time had been something of a blur during the rest of the day though it came into stark relief now. The spotless car glimmering in the driveway told him Vernon was home and if he was right they would just be sitting down to dinner. Harry almost wished for a moment that he had consented to Ron and Hermione's wish to stay with him, but this he wouldn't wish on anyone and it was something he had to face alone. He hesitated as he reached the door, wondering if disturbing them was really the best idea. Deciding there was nothing for it he reached up and struck the large brass knocker solidly three times.

Listening close he could just make out Vernon's chair sliding back and him speaking to the others. "Who could that be at this hour? A friend of yours Dudley? Can't be that brat…he's not due back for three weeks." Harry could hear the creak of the floor as his uncle paced forward and reached the door. A second and third set of steps told him the whole trio would be 'greeting' him at the entryway. Grabbing his trunk in one hand the cage in the other he waited for it to swing open, which it did a moment later.

Before Vernon could recover from the shock of seeing him on the stoop, Harry's Seeker reflexes slid him through the door and to the base of the stairs. He had reasoned they would have a harder time throwing him out if he was already inside. Carefully setting Hedwig's cage back on the trunk he waited for the explosion so he could explain. He didn't have to wait long.

"What the bloody hell are you doing here! That school of yours doesn't get out for another three weeks!" His face was starting to turn red when a malicious grin crossed his face. "Wait…they threw you out didn't they?! Finally had enough of you!" It was an odd mix of finally met expectations and condescension on Vernon's face that caused a momentary rise in his anger. Harry took a deep breath before responding.

"No. They closed the school early this year because the headmaster was murdered. You met him last summer. Professor Dumbledore. He died protecting me." He was doing his best to be calm and explain things in a way they would understand. He planned to stay for a short while and intended that to be as peaceful as possible.

"You? Who would die for you? That old fool probably had it coming. Waking in here like he owned the place and insulting Dudley. Deserved exactly what he got." Screw it, decided Harry. Before his uncle could continue the fat man was sent reeling back through the door to the living room and crashed to the floor in a heap. Harry's fist retracted and he stared at his uncle with cold rage. His voice was like ice as he spoke in a low growl.

"My parents died protecting me. My godfather died protecting me. And now Professor Dumbledore has died protecting me. Just because you see me as worthless doesn't mean everyone does." Petunia rushed to her husband's side as Dudley seemed to suddenly find courage and rush his cousin. His massive bulk, much of which was now muscle, backed up his swinging fist as he let loose with a powerful right hook. The boxing lessons were apparently paying off as the strike was textbook perfect. Harry's Quiddich reflexes again kicked in and he easily dodged the slow attack. After dodging Bludgers for years his cousin's fist was no sweat.

A moment, and a counterpunch, later Dudley crashed to the ground on the other side of his mother. Dropping his fists and relaxing his now sore hands Harry waited a moment for his aunt's eyes to return to him. When they did he spoke again in the same icy tone he had before.

"Dumbledore told you why my being here matters. Voldemort is on the loose and running rampant. I'm going to make use of the protection of this place while I still can. I need to do some research and work on a few other projects. When I'm done I'll be leaving and you'll never see me again. Make it easy on both of us and leave me the hell alone." Vernon made to get up and fight back but Petunia oddly held him down. Waiting only a second to make sure there would be no response Harry again hefted the case and Hedwig's cage and made his way upstairs into the room he had been allowed.

Kicking off his shoes and setting the trunk aside he opened the window and allowed Hedwig to take off into the coming evening. Not bothering to do anything other than set his glasses aside and keep his wand at the ready he collapsed onto the bed and instantly fell into a dreamless sleep.

Harry rolled over slowly as he woke. After a blissful second of nothing, both where he was and all that had happened crashed down on him. It felt like the weight of the world was bearing now and fought him every inch of the way as he sat up. Dragging a hand through his hair he glanced around. The sun had already risen a good way into the sky indicating it was late morning. Rolling to his feet and slipping his glasses on he headed for the bathroom. Opening the door a glimmer of light caught his eye at his feet and he looked down. What he found nearly caused him a heart attack.

A small tray of immaculately polished silver sat in front of the door. It held a plate of breakfast food that to his surprise still held a little warmth. Picking it up, he retreated back into his room. He began to wonder if some mistake might have been made or perhaps it was poisoned. As he considered this possibility he noticed the corner of a folded piece of paper pinned under the plate. Picking it up he unfolded it to see a short note in his aunt's strict script.

Harry,

Most likely out of fear than anything else your uncle has consented to your staying here until your birthday. He merely asks you spend as little time out of your room as possible and leave Dudley alone. I believe he finally realized just how strong you are and, like I did when I discovered Lily's strength, now fears and hates what you've become. That fear will keep him occupied and I will keep Dudley. If it is acceptable I leave you meals by the door. Hopefully this will appease Vernon.

I'm sorry to hear about your professor. Hopefully he did not die in vain.

Aunt Petunia

Harry sat in shock for fully five minutes staring at the note wondering what the hell was going on. The note counted as the longest conversation that had ever passed between him and his aunt and probably the only time she had addressed him as a human being and not her personal house elf. Harry wondered for a moment just how much Petunia had changed in her attempt to forget what her sister was and create her own perfect life with Vernon.

He began to eat before really thinking about it and quickly finished the plate. Not knowing what to with it he set it back outside the door with a small note that said 'thank you' before continuing to the bathroom. When he returned several minutes later he found both the tray and note gone. Taking this as acceptance he returned to his room and firmly closed the door.

He noticed Hedwig had returned and now slept on her perch. He had told his friends he had things all planned out but he really had little idea what to do. Fortunately he had some time to figure it out. There were a couple things he knew he wanted to do though. Lifting his trunk to the bed he looked though it and pulled out all of his old textbooks. From around the room he also pulled together a few others. Also digging out a quill and ink he set it all on his desk. To the side he set the potions book that was formerly property of the Half Blood Prince.

Laying out a piece of parchment he dipped the quill and grabbed the first of his First Year books. Slowly paging through it he searched carefully for anything that might be useful, no matter how obscure and seemingly weak. It was the unexpected, he had learned, that worked more often than the strong. His mother had proven that. Without teachers this year, without…Dumbledore, he would have to be his own professor and fight with self taught skills when he finally faced Tom.

As he paged through the book he relived certain moments from that year. His first ride on a broom, the first time Ron had mastered levitation and the point at which the trio had been formed. The same three that had stuck together through thick and thin for over six years. Reaching a particular entry he copied the relevant information as well as the necessary incantation onto the parchment. He'd have Ron and Hermione go over the lists and see what they thought. The few pages would be far easier to track and sort than the double armload of books that sat on his desk.

He continued for hours, paging, writing, paging, etc. He stopped when a light tapping came on his door. Rising and cautiously opening it he found lunch sitting on the floor. Pulling it inside, he ate appreciatively while continuing his work. Finishing the first book in the early afternoon he set it aside and checked it off a list he had made for himself. The last in the list was Snape's old book as it most likely contained more unique notes than any other. There was a good chance he would have to keep the book with him anyway or give it to Hermione for all its notes. Feeling worn out and slightly numb from the writing he decided to call it good for the time being.

After setting the tray back in the hall he returned to his bed and laid down facing the ceiling, hands interlaced behind his head. Letting his eyes close his mind began to drift. It slowly put together everything he knew about Voldemort and everything he knew had been done about it elsewhere. Facts began to come together as he ran what he had seen in the pensieve back through his mind. He had four Horcrux to find and destroy and then he had to face Tom and finish him once and for all. Or be finished his mind added unbidden. The familiar litany of cup, snake, locket, something from Gryffindor or Ravenclaw began to run through his head once again. Letting it play in the back ground he tried to make some sort of order to it.

Sitting up and grabbing a piece of paper he listed the Horcrux and the order he found out about them. Next to them he listed what he knew and their status. The diary and ring were gone. The locket had been taken though its status was unknown. The cup still remained in hiding as did the fifth object. The snake was close to Tom at all times. After a moment he added a note that the snake would have to be last. He would notice if the snake disappeared too soon and check his other Horcrux. It might even have to wait until the final battle. The locket and cup would be first. Though he didn't know where they were, he did at least know what it was he sought.

As the days passed he fell into a strange sort of rhythm for what he was doing. Each morning he would search a book for anything useful and each afternoon he would run various strategies and possibilities through his head trying to figure out the best way to approach things. Every day his three meals arrived at roughly the same and the empty plates disappeared just the same. He tried to figure out every way to attack each challenge that what he had to do presented, but some he simply needed more information on. He had been often accused of being reckless and rushing in half blind to whatever the situation called for. It was often luck or the pure nerve and outstanding courage that had won the house cup first year that saved him and pulled him through the most dangerous trials.

This time he wanted to have a plan, if only a rough one to deal with as many possibilities as he could. Many thoughts crossed his mind about the Order, Grimmauld Place, the Burrow, his friends, Ginny and the mission he had set out on. Without any sort of a base it would be difficult for the three of them to survive on their own while hunting across the land but if anyone could do it, they could. His parents' money would help them with that though he'd have to get it exchanged for muggle currency for most of their travels.

At the thought of his parents one afternoon he rose and dug the album Hagrid had given him so long ago out of his trunk and sat down on the bed to page through it. As he went he looked over the many pictures of his parents and came to the one of them with him as a baby. This he stared at for a long time. They looked so happy together. He couldn't conceive why anyone would want to destroy that. And maybe that inability was his advantage. His parents who had both died to protect him, his mother's love which had saved his life. He would not let there deaths be in vain.

Turning the page he came to two pictures he had found himself. Both of Sirius, the first he had recovered from Grimmauld place and showed him in his younger years just out of school. He appeared to be rather happy though there was some darkness in his eyes. The rise of Voldemort had already begun when the picture had been taken. The second was the wanted picture of him when he escaped Azkaban. Despite all his searching he hadn't been able to find another more recent. Though many had considered the photograph to show insanity, Harry had long ago realized it was because Sirius knew he was going to prison for a crime he didn't commit. An innocent man had lost twelve years and ultimately his life because of Tom and his followers. Pettigrew he would save for Remus. Only the last true Marauder deserved to take revenge for the betrayal of one leading to the death of the other two.

At the very end he found a picture of Dumbledore. This he had scavenged from Hermione's copy of the Prophet. It was the official photo for his obituary and looked to have been taken rather recently. The notice of his death had run three whole pages detailing his life and paying special attention to his time as Headmaster. Harry's head fell back, mouth twitching, eyes holding unshed tears. The greatest and most powerful wizard of the age had sacrificed himself to allow Harry to continue on and take his place in the fight against Voldemort.

Looking again over the faces of the people who had stood between him and death he felt a slow fire come to life in his heart. It rose and burned steadily giving him strength and determination. He could feel resolve building in his very soul. It seemed to course through him and warmed his body, removing the tears from his eyes. Those who had been his guardians had each laid down their lives willingly to allow him to continue on. Now he stood alone to face his destiny.

No…not alone. He had his friends. And that was more than Tom would ever have. With them at his side he would face the self named Lord of Darkness and end his bloody reign. It would be a long, hard road but he would walk it and never quit. He could do no less for the memory of those who had fallen.

Owls came frequently in the form of Pigwidgeon and Errol asking when he planned to come to the Burrow. Each seemed more concerned than the last that he hadn't arrived yet. His replies were always short and simply asked they give him some time alone and that he would join them soon. The one he had received from Ginny had effected him most of all. It simply said to hurry back and that we miss you. After a moment's glance he realized that the W had started as an I and that she had changed it some time later. It tugged deep in his chest and a single hot tear rolled down his cheek. It took a great deal of effort to write 'I miss you too' in his reply not knowing whether he wanted it to mean the whole group or just her.

After several weeks of research and dozens of written pages he finally reached the last book, that of the Half Blood Prince. Paging through it he decided not to copy the notes for the potions. For one they were too many and secondly they referred specifically to that page. It would simply be easier just to keep the book. He did write down the spells and unrelated notes however along with the notes about them. These were often just two or three words that gave a rough idea what it did. After his experience last year he knew they would each have to be tested before anyone could be allowed to use them.

It was in the afternoon of finishing the book, which had taken three days due to its many notes; he received the owled answer to a letter he had sent Arthur Weasley. It was at last time to leave this place once and for all. Arthur would be round the next day to help him get to the Burrow. Harry felt relieved, both that he would finally be leaving for good and that he would be returning to his friends. After another delivered dinner and a few finishing details on the few plans he had pulled together he turned in for the night.

Harry felt good. The pain of loss still gripped his soul but the force of having a purpose was stronger and drove him toward his goal. He needed to focus, to figure out what moves to make and when to make them. He needed Ron and Hermione's help to finish off his plans and set their course in the turbulent seas the world was becoming.

After lunch the next day he packed his things and transported them to the stairway landing. He returned to search his room one last time knowing he would never return if he left something behind. Satisfied he had everything that was his, he closed the door for the final time. Knowing both Vernon and Dudley were gone for the day he leaned down and grabbed the tray. Heading for the kitchen he found his aunt quietly drinking a cup of tea. He set the tray on the counter and turned to face her back. She didn't turn around as he spoke.

"Aunt Petunia? I'm leaving. Forever. I'm going after the man who killed my parents and no matter what happens, I won't be back to disrupt your house anymore." After a moment he stared to turn away until she spoke.

"Take this." She slid a piece of folded paper to her side and into his line of sight. Stepping forward he reached past her and picked it up.

"What is it?" Oddly it appeared to be parchment and looked to be rather old. The oddity of his perfectly muggle aunt owning a piece of old parchment that has been well taken care of twisted his mind very slightly. After a moment she purposely turned her head away from him.

"The address of your parents' home in Godric's Hollow." She still hadn't looked at him as he opened the paper and stared in wonder at the address. A myriad of question such as why she had kept this all these years and why she had it in the first place tore through his mind, but he asked none of them. She never wanted magic to be part of her life and he would now grant her greatest wish and leave.

"Thank you." She nodded in response and he turned to the door. "When my birthday comes the protections on this house will fade away. I'm not sure what will happen. Voldemort might attack with a cadre of Death Eaters and they're not the sort of people who ask questions first. They may just destroy the house if they think I might be here. You might want to take a vacation that week." He took a step forward before adding, "Goodbye." Though they had done horrible things he still felt it needed to be said. After receiving no further response he pushed through the door and headed for the entry way.

He paused for a moment and stared at the door under the stairs that led to the cupboard that had been the closest thing he had to a place of his own for the first eleven years of his life. He had considered waiting for Vernon and Dudley to return so that he could tell them off once and for all, perhaps followed by a dramatic exit with Mr. Weasley's assistance. But that would just be stooping to their level, something his experience with Malfoy had taught him never really helped. So instead, he would just disappear from their lives. His final triumph against them would be to deprive both of them of their favorite target for abuse. They would probably throw a party when they discovered him gone and Dudley would take over his room by the end of the day, but it was no longer Harry's concern.

Tapping the cupboard door a couple times he nodded a farewell to what had been his shelter for ten years and firmly turned his back on it. Now he had to focus on the future. Without the specter of returning to this place to occupy that small piece of his mind, he could focus it as well on the long and harsh road ahead. No one could tell him what waited in the gauntlet the coming year would be, but he had to be ready to face anything with his head held high, walking into the arena instead of being dragged in as he so often had been over the years.

Pulling his trunk and Hedwig's cage down the last couple steps, he reached through the bars and gently petted the bird as he faced the door and waited. His wand was hidden in his pocket, just in case. His father's cloak in the other should it need to pressed into service. The Firebolt hung loose at the side of the trunk should a flighty escape be required and his body was tense, waiting…waiting.

It was only a few minutes before the knock came and he opened the door to reveal Arthur Weasley. The man was dressed in a fair, if bizarre, approximation of muggle attire and looked to have arrived in a bush judging by the leaves still stuck in a couple places. His normally happy demeanor was just slightly dimmed as he stepped in. "Hello Harry." He glanced around, looking for anything out of place, his eyes just slightly glowing at the wealth of 'muggle artifacts' strewn about Vernon's house. Harry drew his was spoke before the man could become distracted by the various things and forget why he was here.

"Hello sir." Harry raised his wand a little. "Now…if you be so kind as to tell me what we were last speaking about?" Arthur paused for a moment and Harry kept his wand leveled at him.

"My daughter and your 'reasons' for breaking up. Still think it's the stupidest thing I've ever heard." The last part sounded as if it was supposed to be under his breath but had intentionally been said loud enough there was no way Harry could miss it. He dismissed the argument rising in his mind, knowing it would do no good and instead lowered his wand and grinned.

"Glad you're here sir." Arthur nodded as the wand lowered and grinned himself.

"Glad you finally decided to join us. Ron and Hermione are going crazy wondering why you've stayed here so long. And Ginny…well…she wants to see you again too. Why didn't you come back sooner?" Harry just caught the change in his voice when he mentioned his daughter, but chose not to question it, fearing where it might lead.

"It's just something I had to do sir. Now, can we get going?"

"Of course. Here, hand me that cage." Holding the cage in one hand and extending an arm for Harry to grab as he held his trunk, Arthur prepared himself for the apparition. A second later he turned slightly and both of them popped out of existence to be pulled through space time and emerge near the front door of the Burrow. Smiling broadly Harry headed for the door.

(A/N): If you feel it is warranted feel free to review. I welcome any and all opinions.