Disclaimer: The rights of Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling and Warner Bros. I am making no financial gain from this story whatsoever.

A/N: In case you don't notice, the first scene's a continuation of the scene in the previous chapter, where Harry and Dumbledore spoke to one another.

Chapter 13
Apprehension

"My boy!" Dumbledore exclaimed, eyes twinkling. "I think I may have a compromise in mind."

Dumbledore explained what he was thinking.

"What's a secret identity going to do?" Harry asked sceptically.

"Think, my boy," Dumbledore said. "You get to keep your identity, while attacking when you have to."

"Yes, but wearing a mask will make others suspicious..."

"No mask," Dumbledore interrupted.

"What?"

"No mask," Dumbledore repeated. "You have to create an alternate identity. This means that people must believe that the person exists."

"What do I call myself?"

"Whatever you like," Dumbledore said.

"Any suggestions?"

"You could call yourself Peter Wayne."

"Why that?" asked Harry.

"They're the names of two cousins of mine. I was quite fond of them," he recalled. "Good men."

"Where are they?"

"Dead," answered Dumbledore. "Died fighting against Grindlewald."

"Do you have any metamorphmagus abilities?" Dumbledore asked. "I remember you once telling me of an incident where you regrew your hair after getting a bad hair-cut from your Aunt."

"My professors in Europe were excited when I told them that," said Harry, "but they couldn't get me to do that again. Sorry, but no face changes on my part alone."

"Then we'll have to deal with glamours," sighed Dumbledore.

"Which can make me look completely different," said Harry.

"Yes, but there are risks," Dumbledore replied. "There are anti-glamour charms. You must make sure that no-one doubts you. As long as Peter Wayne seems like a real person, there's no reason for one to attempt such a charm."

"What about my scar?" Harry asked.

"What about it?"

"Can the glamour charms cover it?"

"You've never done them before?" asked Dumbledore.

"Well, I've been taught how to cast it," Harry replied. "But I've never needed to do a whole body transformation."

"Strange," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "You fought a whole war against Voldemort, and you didn't need to go incognito?"

"I have gone undercover," said Harry. "I just never used glamour spells. I've used Polyjuice potion for that."

"Excellent!" Dumbledore clapped. "If the Polyjuice potion could conceal your scar, so can glamour spells and potions."

"Fair enough," Harry said. "I'll have to come up with a story on the wizard's life."

"Be as detailed as possible, but not too detailed," Dumbledore said. "One more thing..."

"What?"

"Tell nobody about this," said Dumbldore.

"No one?"

"Not even Ron or Hermione," Dumbldore stressed. "This is a precaution in case you die."

"If I die, so does Peter Wayne," Harry replied, puzzled.

"Yes," Dumbledore said. "But who'll know that? A wizard appears one day, helps out immensely, and then disappears. But his legacy will go on."

"Makes a little sense," Harry said.

"Do not make friends, and this will work," Dumbledore said. "As long as this man's known by nobody, the magical society can be emboldened by him. Legendary heroes are never remembered as flesh and blood."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Harry walked into the Great Hall in a good mood that day in mid-January. Peter Wayne had done a few things these past few months, in secret and public. No threatening announcements were made from either government. In fact, if the calm persisted, perhaps people would prefer it this way, and be loathe to strike out. All in all, he was a happy man.

Hermione shifted to give Harry space to sit beside her. He accepted with a smile. When you've been friends with someone for so many years, it doesn't fall apart over a few arguments.

"What's your next lesson in corrupting our youth?" Draco asked.

"I think it's time to go over the Cave of Oblivion," Harry replied.

"The Ministry'll be furious," Draco warned. "That's pushing the line, don't you think?"

"Perhaps," Harry said. "But it's still legal."

"What do you think, Hermione?" asked Draco.

"Nothing wrong with saying it," Hermione replied. "But it's a waste of time. The cave's ineffective to the wizarding world, despite it's potential power."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"You're going to what?" exclaimed Harry.

He was seated in Cho's office. Seated in a chair, with Cho in front of him. Someone was seated beside him.

"It's not that bad, Harry," Cho urged softly. "It will require relaxation only. It's quite common with wizards."

"Why would this be needed?" Harry argued, arms crossed.

"We're just checking your mental state," said the witch beside him. "Hypnotism can reveal far more of your subconcious that your concious thought can."

"Yes, well," Harry pouted. "Freud was an idiot."

"You wouldn't know Freud's theories from the tooth fairy's," Cho remarked. "So calling him an idiot is a bit of a stretch."

"Wasn't he the one who came up with the Oedipal complex?" Harry asked.

"Let's get back to the subject," said the witch beside him. "It's a safe procedure."

"What? Are you going to swing a ball in front of my eyes, and tell me I am sleepy?" Harry asked.

Both witches stared at him, making Harry feel uncomfortable.

"You've been watching too many movies," Cho said, still staring at him as if he had gone mad.

"You drink a potion," the Cho explained, "and Anna here will help me form questions to ask you."

"The method of asking questions is different than how muggles would ask," Anna said. "There are certain moments that could leave one mad if done incorrectly... Harry? Where are you going?"

"Out of this room," Harry replied, his back to them as he walked quickly to the door. "I heard you say mad, and I'm off."

"Harry, please come back," Cho said. "Let's at least discuss it."

Harry obeyed, not without giving both witches cautious looks.

"There are dangers," Cho admitted, "but Anna here is to ensure nothing goes off."

"What about my personal thoughts?" Harry asked. "There are some things I must keep secret."

"I swear not to ask you nothing that is not beneficial to your treatment," Cho said. "Do you not trust me?"

"Sorry," he said. "But trust's hard these days, when everything around you has changed."

"I won't ask you of anything to do with the current political situation," Cho assured him. "You will remember the questions asked and the answers you gave. So you can deal with me should I go against my word. Is that fine for you?"

"Inescapably," he replied.

"Then drink this," she said, offering him a small vial with a black liquid in it.

He tilted his head back, and took it all in one swig (you could never tell how a potion would taste like).

"Not bad," he murmered.

"Excellent," Cho said. "Anna, prepare him."

"Prepare?" Harry asked. "I thought the drink..."

"Sleep!" Anna said forcefully, placing the palm of her hand on his forehead. He relaxed immediately.

"What is your name?" Cho asked.

"Harry James Potter," Harry heard himself say.

"Your age?"

"25."

"Where are you from?"

"England," Harry heard.

"Seems like it's working?" Cho asked.

"Yes it does," Harry heard his voice.

"Sorry, wasn't specific," Cho laughed. "I was talking to Anna."

Harry remained silent. He felt like he was on auto-pilot, with his mouth moving on it's own.

"How are you feeling?" Cho asked.

"I'm fine," Harry replied.

"And mentally?"

"Not too bad," said Harry. "Teaching is a difficult job, though."

"How are your relationships?" Anna asked.

"Excuse me?" asked the hypnotic Harry.

"Your friends," Anna clarified. "How are you dealing with them?"

"Not too bad," Harry said. "I see Hermione almost every day. But I've barely seen Ron, apart from a couple of dinners at the Weasley home?"

"Do you feel bad about not seeing Ron?" Cho asked.

"A bit," Harry admitted, "but Ron works in the Ministry, and the way the country's going, it is understandable."

"What about Hermione?" Cho asked.

"What about her?" Harry asked back.

"Don't fight the question, Harry," Anna warned. "Just answer it. If it's too personal, tell us."

"It's... fine," Harry conceded. "Hermione and I have been having a few fights."

"About?"

"I cannot say what it was about."

"Very well. How do you feel about it?" Cho asked.

"I hate it," Harry said. "Hermione and Ron are the only people who know me so well in the world. I can't bear losing one of them."

"But you think you're correct in this dispute?" Cho queried.

"Indisputably," Harry replied. "But it doesn't make me feel better."

"It never does," Anna remarked. "But is there a reason why you feel so bad?"

"I don't understand."

"I mean," Anna said, "do you have feelings for Hermione?"

"I value her as a very good friend," Harry said.

"Do you want more than that?" Anna persisted.

"I value her as a very good friend," Harry said, calming himself. "And I love her as such." He didn't want to answer this.

"Don't avoid the question," Cho begged. "This is important in your treatment. Please answer."

"Are you attracted to her?" queried Anna.

Harry pushed his anger forward. Couldn't they see he didn't want to answer this? It was a struggle, but he ended up speaking without the hypnotic influence.

"Yes, I bloody well am attracted to her!" he shouted, getting up. "This questioning is over."

"Sweet Merlin," Anna gasped. "Sit back down, we haven't given you the potion to get you out of it."

"Cho," she continued. "Stun him if he moves. A wizard shouldn't be able to stand on his own, under the dosage we gave him."

Harry couldn't hear them. At that moment, his eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he stumbled and fell. Before he hit the ground, however, his concious mind was no longer in the room.

Harry didn't recognise where he was. It looked like a large hall, illuminated by less candles than were needed. He noticed that there were no windows.

He looked to the vicinity nearer to him, and noticed that he was held on each arm by a wizard. He looked ahead of him.

Polanar.

All of the sudden he felt his mouth move, and heard himself speak. Completely out of his control, just like when hypnotised.

"You'll regret it, Polanar," he spat.

"No," Polanar replied with a smile, "I rather think I will not, for obvious reasons."

"It won't work forever," Harry screamed, thrashing about, trying to push away the two men holding him, to no avail. "And when it fails, I'll kill you."

"Just why should it fail?" Polanar said. "A wizard of my caliber won't mess this up."

"You're a coward!" Harry roared, the candles flickering wildly. "I never thought I'd say this, but Voldemort was a better wizard than you. At least his loyalties were to himself. Not like you, you fucking coward!"

Oh my, the viewer Harry thought, things had to be bad indeed if he lost control of himself like this.

"Language Potter," Polanar tutted. "Like the saying goes, it's not personal."

Polanar leaned back, waved his wand, and said something. Harry couldn't tell what was cast as the memory Harry roared, and thrashed about. He couldn't even see the spell before the memory ended suddenly.

"Harry, wake up," Cho pleaded, slapping him in the face.

"Merlin," moaned Anna. "We've killed the Boy-Who-Lived!"

"Shush Anna," Cho snapped. "Get me that glass of water..."

Harry groaned.

"Harry!" Cho exclaimed. "How are you?"

"Apart from feeling as if a truck ran through my head," Harry said, "not too bad. You gave me the potion to get me out of the hypnotism?"

"Yes," Cho replied.

"Good," Harry said, trying to get up, before giving up quickly. "I think I'll lie down for a moment."

"What happened, Harry?" asked Anna.

"Well, I saw myself somewhere else," Harry replied.

"Excuse me?"

"It felt like a memory," Harry explained. "Only I don't remember this one. Can hypnotism do that?"

"What?" Cho asked. "Bring out a memory that a person doesn't recall? It has been claimed to have been done before."

"So it's a real memory?" Harry asked.

"You could assume so," Anna said. "Your mind accepts that it's a memory, so unless it was planted..."

"Doubtful," Harry replied. "I have been trained to resist mind alteration."

"Then it's most likely true," said Anna, "or you've imagined it."

"Either way," Cho remarked. "I think that this is a good place to end it today."

"I concur," Harry said. "Before I go, do you have any aspirin?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Harry sat at the desk, trying to recall the memory. What did it mean? Why did Polanar attack him? Why didn't he remember it? Harry was at a loss, and didn't know what to think of it.

He already told Hermione and she was trying to figure it out, even getting the cute, determined look she always got when she was faced with a confusing situation. Well, he only considered it cute now. Before, when they were kids, he'd just wonder when the hell she would tell Ron and him what she was thinking.

"Sir?" asked someone ahead of him.

He quickly got up, having not realised that the class was filled with the students. He paused in front of the class, trying to remember his lesson. He took a deep breath, and smiled at the students.

"We face uncertain times," Harry said to his upper year class. "So I thought I could tell you some more history."

"Fascinating," drawled a student. Harry chuckled.

"I assure you," he said, "it will be.

"Now, have you ever wondered exactly why we haven't used magic to remove ourselves from society?" Harry continued.

"What do you mean?" a student asked.

"I mean, why haven't we removed us from every record, and mind, of all muggles, of our existence?" Harry said. "There are magic spells that can do this."

"But sir," a girl said. "It would require an immense amount of magic. Plus it's highly complex."

"Yes, it is," Harry said. "That's why the ancient wizards placed a large number of magical artifacts, some of inhuman powers, into one location, to serve that purpose. Some of the artifacts have revealing powers too, making a person capable of finding lost knowledge."

"Where is the cave?"

"The location is known to some wizards," Harry said. "A quick search of the library will tell you."

"What does it do, exactly?"

"When the spells are cast from it," Harry explained, "it will cause every muggle in all of the British Isles, and Ireland, to completely forget that wizards exist."

"Brilliant!" someone roared. "Why don't we use it now?"

"You see, there's a little problem," Harry said.

The class groaned.

"Yes, I know, there's always something more," laughed Harry. "When King William of Normandy took over, he placed us under an oath. The Scottish came into the oath, too, afterwards when they became a part of us."

"What was the oath?"

"That we never use the cave, unless betrayed," Harry said. "Or unless the monarchy allowed us."

"What?" the class was shocked. "Why would we do that?"

"We were beaten by the Normans. It was that, or death."

"Why didn't we use it anyways, then?" a boy asked. "They wouldn't know we were there."

"Because King William was accompanied by Norman wizards, the reason why we were defeated so badly," Harry replied. "No, it was death, or to be under the monarchy."

"What did we gain in return?" someone asked.

"Well, we became autonomous," Harry said. "We rule ourselves as we see fit, with no interference from muggles. As long as we didn't oppose the monarchy, we were left alone. We had to defend the island in case of invasion from another country should the other country have wizards attacking with them."

"Why don't we just use the cave anyways?" a boy asked. "Just break the oath."

"We can't," Harry replied. "Magic entered willingly is the most powerful of all. We took a magical vow never to use it, and it restricts us, even generations afterwards. We can get as many wizards as we can, and a spark won't come out."

"But isn't the government betraying us now?" a girl asked.

"Five points for the question," Harry beamed at her. "Perhaps the muggle government is betraying us, but the monarchy hasn't yet. Our oath specifically stated the monarchy. We had made the error, along with the muggles, of never realising that one day, the power of the nation may not rest with a King or Queen, but an elected citizen."

"But the Queen..."

"The queen hasn't taken any sides in the conflict so far," Harry said. "So we'd have to ask her permission to do it."

"Why doesn't she let us?"

"Yeah, it's clear we're in trouble."

"Simple," Harry said. "Imagine the disaster if nobody knew we existed. We could do anything. Forge documents, spell minds, and obliviate people to make them believe we're millionaires, own their property and companies, rule them. We could literally get away with murder. It's a great risk for the muggles to take."

"What's the cave called, anyways?"

"The Cave of Oblivion."

The class was silent, and then laughter erupted. A few students were actually holding their chests, tears streaming down their eyes.

"That's the name?"

"Probably the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"How cliche."

"Well," Harry sniffed. "I wasn't the idiot that came up with that name."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Gratian stood in front of a mob of reporters.

"Today, science has once again shone a light into the darkness of the world," he said. "I am pleased, no, honoured, to announce that a radical new treatment has been successful that can suppress magical traits in humans."

The reaction of the reporters was explosive. Questions came from all directions, shouted and screamed, drowning out the Prime Minister's next words. The Prime Minister waited for it to subside.

"We plan on administering it only to the individuals who accept it," he continued. "I must stress that no coercion will occur. Only those who wish to rid themselves of this will get it."

"But why?" a reporter interrupted.

"Some parents of magical children do suffer the psychological and social effects of having children so different from them," Gratian answered. "We felt that they should have an option of removing the magic from the children. You can ask any parent how separated they feel from their magical children, going to a far away school, and in a secret society. When the children grow up into adults, they live in this society, and the parents can rarely see them, nor understand what they do. They have a right to want they're children be like them."

"What about the children?" asked another reporter. "Do they not have the right to decide such a life-altering decision?"

"They're too young to decide that," Gratian said. "The parents are the legal guardians of the children."

"Why don't we only allow them to become adults first, and have them decide for themselves?" was another question. "Rather than have their whole lifestyle changed without their consent?"

"Are you saying parents won't take their children's thoughts into consideration?" scoffed the Prime Minister. "How inconsiderate."

"Inconsiderate it may be," shot back the reporter, "but can you imagine the legal ramifications of this?"

"The government is in discussions to propose a new bill giving parents that right," said the Prime Minister. "We'll have a democratic process, where all positions will be considered equally. That is all."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Harry and Hermione were marking papers in her office. The cloak of silence in the room was only broken by the shifting of parchments, and the scratching of the quill on the parchments.

A knock sounded in the door, and it opened enough for Draco's head to extend in.

"Are you busy?" he asked.

"No," answered Hermione. "Come in."

"McGonagall's gone to the Ministry," he remarked.

"Why?" asked Harry.

"She wanted to go over the Ministry's role into the school curriculum. Thinks they're taking it a step too far"

"Brilliant," Harry said.

"What do you think of this Peter Wayne guy?" Draco said. "I just read that he stole the Ministry files that showed they were contemplating a ban on travelling to North America. He sent them to the newspapers."

"They're really scared about the Americans and Canadians entering this mess," Hermione shook her head. "Like they care about us."

"The public's furious, of course," Harry said.

"Yep," said Draco. "They had to send out a quick press release that it was only hypothetical, and they never were considering to actually make that move."

"Not now they aren't," said Harry. "But why did they risk it in the first place?"

"They were waiting for a disaster to strike, and then blame the American and Canadian magical governments of playing a role in it," said Hermione. "That's their tactic. People get distracted by tragedy, and then they throw in another law."

"But what about this Wayne character?" asked Draco. "He's been causing the Ministry some hell."

"Perhaps he's a vigilante," Harry suggested.

"Maybe he's out for revenge," Hermione wondered.

"I think he's brilliant," Draco said.

"You do?" asked Harry.

"Yeah. Look at the troubles he's started," said Draco. "He's gotten the Ministry distracted, and the rest of us can breathe a bit easier."

"But just exactly what does he want?" Hermione asked. "I'm all for allies, but he's a mystery. Is he a new Dark lord in the making? Voldemort didn't announce his plans immediately."

"No, he didn't," agreed Draco.

Harry quickly changed the subject.

"What about the muggles starting the legal process to stop magic in muggle-born children?" he asked.

"Illegal," Hermione said.

"They have no ides what they've done," Draco said. "It's obvious they're trying to weaken us, reduce our numbers. Even die-hard purebloods are furious, from what I've gathered. This can open up a whole lot of trouble."

"Well, let's hope the trouble's at least a year off," Harry said. "We deserve the peace and quiet."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Micheal Gratian stood in the parliament, answering questions from the members of parliament. He had just finished answering a grueling one from the Labour back bench, when another stood up.

"What are your views on a traitorous government?" the man asked. Everyone looked up. "One," he continued, "who has plans to attack the innocent subjects of the Queen, the magical community."

"Who the bugger are you?" the British Prime Minister bellowed.

"Answer the bloody question!"

"Mr. Speaker," the Prime Minister said. "This man is not a member of parliament. I suggest that he be taken out immediately."

The Speaker agreed, and security men came to escort the protester out.

"You will not succeed!" screamed the man, as security approached him.

Suddenly, the security men were flung back, away from the man. They fell painfully on the ground. The parliament grew restless.

The man raised a stick, waved it around, and screamed something.

With him as an epicenter, a great force streamed out, expanding outwards until the whole room was covered by it. It was transparent, but had an ability to bend the light around it, making it visible. Quickly following it, an explosion erupted from the stick, blowing the whole room away.

The man apparated away, not bothering to remain and see the extent of the damage he caused.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this. Please review.