Disclaimer: I do not own anything and make no monies writing this.

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Chapter 12

Little did either party realize but they had an audience.

Harry had disappeared to the only place he knew he could and not be found, the Forbidden Forest. Since the Acromantulas had been dealt with, it was safer to wander around the beautiful forest. That wasn't to say he didn't need to be on his guard, just nowhere near as much as before. He had come to the Forest the first time to look for the Resurrection Stone and found that the quiet and stillness was a pleasant comfort. After all the fighting and "noise" of his life, it was a welcomed reprieve. He had then started roaming the Forest when things got to be too much.

It seemed everyone was still looking to him to solve their problems. He felt he had paid his dues and had earned the right to be left alone. The media, the Ministry and the citizens apparently thought differently. He was supposed to lead them still, whether he desired it or not, to be their "poster boy". Then the marriage law had passed with Harry being the first one to be matched. He had been matched to Ginny Weasley and had been happy about it but that was before he found out that Ginny had been spiking his drinks with a mild love potion, Harry had tried to break it off with her but she wouldn't let him go, saying they were meant to be together and all she did was give him a push in the right direction. She had brought up the marriage law match as proof but Harry had looked at her dumbfounded. How could she be so nonchalant about drugging him?

When he had told Ron about it, he had told Harry that he had helped. Then Harry learned that it had been Molly's idea and had encouraged Ron to help his sister, explaining that Harry had so much on his plate that this would "help" him. Hah! Help him! That was a joke! Harry had spent six months at St. Mungo's getting the potion out of his system. It had been rough but worth every moment. Once his body was clean, Harry realized that he really had no feelings for Ginny. He might have at one point but not anymore. What she had done was beyond betrayal. Hell, he couldn't even look at the three of them. They had hurt him, betrayed him, and thought nothing of it.

After he started pulling away from them, he had also learned that Ginny wanted his fame and money more than she had ever truly wanted him. He had been infuriated when he overheard her talking with one of her friends. However, Harry didn't beat himself up over this, nope, he laid the blame where it belonged for a change, at the feet of Molly, Ron and Ginny Weasley. They were the ones plotting for a few years, at least, while he was trying to survive.

Unfortunately, there were few places Harry could actually hide. He had wanted to contact Hermione but had decided against it. He hadn't wanted to put her in the middle. She had already had her falling out with those three due to breaking things off with Ron and he hadn't wanted to add to her stress. When he had finally extricated them from his life, and vaults, which had taken a few months to do, Harry had gone to Hermione's flat. However, she wasn't there. Nothing of hers was there. Confused, Harry had tried, over another month or so, to find her to no avail. It was like she had disappeared. Well, now he knew why. She had disappeared… through a portal and now Snape was no longer here either. He had stepped through to join her. Harry thought about what he had heard.

"Master!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Master Granger. What are you doing there?" he asked, quite curious.

"I, oh, we don't really have time. I wish I could tell you everything, Master. This portal doesn't stay open for very long I'm afraid." She answered him.

"I haven't been your master in over a year; you need not call me that anymore. Are you in another realm?" Severus asked, just to make sure.

"Yes!" Hermione answered enthusiastically. She laughed when Severus raised his eyebrow at her.

"Is this realm safe, Master Granger?" he asked her, wanting to know before he asked if she would mind company.

"Well, as safe as any other I suppose. And please, it's Hermione." She answered him.

"Then, Hermione, would you mind some company in this new home of yours?" he asked her, not wanting to assume, then continued, "Then call me Severus if you must name me, insufferable know-it-all" Severus told her with his usual scowl but it didn't reach his eyes. If she said no then he would bid her a good life and move to another country in his realm.

"Oh, seriously?! I would love company! But do you really want to leave the wizarding world Severus? I don't know if this portal will continue to open or not. You could be permanently stuck here." She told him to make sure he truly wanted to come over.

"I understand the risks, Hermione. I am done with this world and its Ministry of Morons and would very much appreciate one that does not know me over suffering another moment here." Severus said.

Then it hit Harry, Snape had called Hermione Master! What was that all about? As far as he knew, Hermione hadn't apprenticed under anyone. When would she have had the time? As he had approached the portal, it had started to close. Moving quickly, Harry was able to see Hermione disparate Snape and then the two other men with her somewhere before the portal closed completely. Letting out a defeated sigh, Harry turned to walk back when he decided to place an alarm on the area where the portal had been. Apparently it was opening at other times so he decided to take a chance.

After casting the spells, Harry left the Forest with a lighter step. He didn't know how often the portal would open or if it ever would again. However, his spirits were higher and he knew what he needed to do, one way or the other. He would go home and gather all he wanted to keep, then he would go to Gringotts and take from there what he wanted before divvying up the rest to a select few people and closing the accounts. He knew the goblins wouldn't be happy with him but he didn't care. He would smooth it over with them by leaving his estates for them to sell and keep the monies. He figured that would make things easier for him. He wanted away, whether it was through the portal where he could reunite with his "sister", or to a faraway country, he didn't care. He just wanted gone from Britain.

When Harry was finished with Grimmauld Place, making sure to gather all the books for Hermione and possibly Severus, he went to Gringotts. After asking to speak with his account manager, Harry waited patiently. When Thornhoff appeared, Harry followed him back to his office. To say the goblin was surprised by Harry's request was a supreme understatement. When Harry explained that he just wanted to disappear, the goblin gave him a sympathetic look and set to doing Harry's bidding. After spending the day going through his vaults, picking what he would keep: books, specific jewelry pieces, a chest of rare potions ingredients, enough galleons to live comfortably and then deciding what would go to whom, Harry went into muggle London to rent a room for the night. Thinking over his day, Harry was happy with his decisions.

He had given some monies to Fred and George Weasley. They had helped him when few others would and he wanted to repay their kindness. He also signed over his share of their business back to them. He didn't need the income and only thought it fair they owned the business fully. It was their hard work, blood, sweat and tears that went into it, he had just given them some galleons to start them off. He hadn't expected them to sign a third of the store over to him or for them to share with him their profits. Thornhoff had said he would deliver the new deed to the Weasley twins the next day. Harry thanked him and then set up an account for Teddy Lupin. He would miss the little guy but knew he would be well taken care of and honestly, Harry wasn't really ready for the responsibility of being a godfather. With that thought, Harry also set up an account for Remus. He would need the money to raise Teddy comfortably as a single parent and Harry was more than happy to help him out. He also sent a letter to Remus explaining that he would be out of communication and wasn't sure when he would be back, if at all.

The next thing Harry did was to donate a large sum to help war orphans. He knew there were many left without homes or family or both and wanted to try to make their lives a bit easier if he could. Thornhoff helped him with the paperwork and told Harry that there was a manor for sale that would work very well. It would need some repairs but with what Harry had donated, it would be enough to cover the cost of buying the manor, repairing it and pay the bills until it could get on solid ground. Harry smiled and told Thornhoff to make it so. Then he finished up with leaving what was left in his vaults for the goblins to deal with, which made Thornhoff very happy. He hated to lose Harry's business but was appreciative of the boon Harry was allowing them to have. The properties alone would fetch Gringotts a tidy sum and then the other items left behind would only enhance that boon.

After having a light supper, Harry laid down to rest. His mind kept running over what he saw in the Forbidden Forest before giving in to fall into an exhaustive sleep. The next day, around noon or so, Harry's alarm at the portal alerted him to its opening. Grabbing his things, Harry apparated to the area and found a face he had longed to see staring back at him; the only person to ever truly have his back; his best friend and sister of his heart, Hermione Granger.

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