Ignorance Isn't Bliss

Chapter 2 - Realization

Harry set up his belongings around his hotel room and relaxed in front of the television. No thanks to his relatives, he had never really gotten to watch what he wanted. He was always forced to watch some silly game show or the news, if he was allowed in the living room at all that is. This was his big chance. Harry was watching some Muggle show about these warriors that killed each other by cutting off their heads. The motto of these warriors seamed to be "There can be only one." 'Seems rather much like my situation doesn't it?' he mused, 'Kill or be killed.' He wondered how many people knew about the prophecy all along. Did Remus? Did the Weasleys? Harry wouldn't have been surprised is the whole order knew and were keeping it from him. When would everyone realize that they shouldn't keep things from him?

After settling in, Harry sent Hedwig, who had caught up with him shortly after he checked in, off with a subscription to The Daily Prophet and was surprised to get it that afternoon. He wasn't surprised by the front page.

The Boy-Who-Lived Missing!

There was a large picture that looked like it was taken first task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. It showed him smiling and waving with smudges of dirt on his face and his hair more wind blown than usual. The story went on to say that his Muggle relatives reported him missing late yesterday. "We were so worried when we got home. I hope he's okay." said Petunia Dursley. Which Harry knew to be a lie. The Dursleys would never care that he was gone. They probably had a party last night when he didn't turn up. Someone from the Order must have reported it to Dumbledore. Come to think of it, where was his ever present Order guard when he had slipped away yesterday? It must have been Mundungus again. The article also pointed out how mentally unbalanced he could be and to not approach him alone. That would be the ministry talking again.

Harry let out a laugh and threw the paper to the floor. He was sure that the entire order would be out searching for him. But he wasn't going to hide himself away completely for a month, so he used his fringe to cover his scar and bought blue colored contacts, a convenience he never would have gotten from the Dursleys. Now, while not completely disguised, but enough to throw people off, he headed back to the Leaky Cauldron for dinner.

Harry continued this new routine daily. He liked hiding in plain view wearing his new black fitted robes with silver trim. He completely changed his entire wardrobe, and enjoyed shopping in Diagon Alley or Muggle London often. Harry was especially proud of his new Muggle clothes, something that his relatives would never have spent money on for him. Most people didn't even know he was still a teenager with the way he had shot up and filled out. He enjoyed the attention he received now because he looked good, rather than because of a damn scar on his forehead.

On his birthday he received the usual owls, and the letters were what he had expected. His friends were worried. 'How bloody nice,' he thought. Harry expected that, but he couldn't bring himself to care about their worries, especially since they were once again not telling him anything useful. Probably Dumbledore's orders.

Harry pondered how owls could find him but their owners couldn't, and decided he should look into that. When he received his Hogwarts owl he wasn't surprised to see a personal letter from the headmaster.

'Harry, I know you ran away. When we searched your room and found your trunk gone and no sign of dark magic used we knew you had left of your own free will. Let me know where you are. I'll make other arrangements. It's not safe for you to be by yourself.

Albus Dumbledore'

Harry pondered the letter. 'Yea, he'll put me with Snape next. What fun that would be. Not safe eh? I feel safer now than I have in years. Safe from you, Albus!'

Harry thought about writing back but decided it wasn't worth the risk to contact anyone; he would save his ranting for when he got back to school. So, he put on his favorite robe and headed back to the Leaky Cauldron for his birthday dinner.

He sat in his usual corner booth and tossed back a celebratory shot of firewhisky, cringing as it burned down his throat. Nobody knowing he was a student was working out well. Harry ate his dinner quietly, thrilled to be on his own, but also a little upset that he was alone on his birthday of all days. He hugged his arms around himself as the last of the firewhisky warmed him. It would be nice to have someone on his side, whatever side that was, not Dumbledore's though. 'Sirius would have been on my side.'

"Happy birthday to me," he whispered, as he blew out imaginary candles.

Harry headed back to the hotel earlier than usual that night, feeling more alone than he had at any time since he left school last month. A steady rain had started falling as he trudged back to his hotel. About halfway to the hotel he heard an odd noise behind him, like a shoe scuffing. He stopped and looked around, not seeing anyone. Walking at a faster pace, he heard the noise again. Harry was pretty sure that he was no longer alone.