Title: Not Quite Gone
Author: SweetAsheyPie
Summary: Harry leaves the Wizarding world after defeating Voldemort. He then disappears without a trace, and creates a new identity for himself. Then things get tricky when his true identity is discovered.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter (and associated characters, likenesses, concepts, etc.) belongs to J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury Publishing, Scholastic, Inc. AOL/Time Warner, Inc., among others. I make no claim, written or implied, upon Harry Potter. No money is being made and no infringement or disrespect to the creators / copyright holders is intended.

Previously:

The guilt reined down on JR. He needed to get out of there. He couldn't listen to Ginny's somber tone anymore. He hurt the woman he loved so much. He was so confused. He didn't know what to do.

"Ginny," he said quickly, "I'm sorry but I really have to go, okay?"

Ginny just nodded as JR practically ran out the door to the muggle world.

Chapter 7

JR wandered the streets of London for the next few hours thinking about what he was going to do. /Should I just go back to the Muggle World? Should I run away from all my troubles again? Can I really leave Ginny and the Weasleys again/ These types of questions were filling JR's head.

/I will just go back. I will be JR. I will not reveal my true identity. I will try to comfort Ginny as best as I can. Maybe I will try to date her. Yes that would be nice. I could have my life the way I wanted it to go even before I left the Wizarding World. That would be nice. I could marry Ginny and we could start a family. I would be living a lie, yes, but I don't think I could face telling everyone the truth. They would probably hate me./

With his mind made up, he headed back to the Leaky Cauldron. When he was safely back at the desk in his room, he began to write a letter to Ginny.

Dear Ginny,

I am very sorry for running out on you today but I had some thoughts to sort out. Forgive me? I'd like to meet you for tea tomorrow at four P.M. If you'd please meet me at the same table we sat at yesterday I'd be most grateful. Owl back with your response.

Yours,

JR

Satisfied, he took the letter down to Tom to be sent out for a small fee of five knuts. He then tried to fall asleep but to no avail. He had so many thoughts running through his head. It then hit him. He should start another book. He could write about his life as Harry Potter. It would be ingenious! Who knew the story of Harry Potter better than Harry Potter himself?

He sat at his desk and took out some parchment and a quill and began frantically jotting down storylines and plans for this new book. Finally at four A.M. JR went to bed. His last thought before falling asleep was/How will I explain knowing so much about Harry Potter? Oh well, maybe I'll just never publish it./

JR woke up to the sound of knocking on his door. He sluggishly got out of bed and realized that he looked very unkempt. He was still wearing the same clothes he wore yesterday and his hair was tousled from sleep. Shrugging at this realization he opened the door. It was Tom.

"Yes?" He asked.

"You have a letter, sir." Tom said and thrust the letter toward him.

"Oh, thanks." He answered when he took the letter.

He shut the door and went back to his desk. The letter was from Ginny. It said that she had to work until six but she could meet him for dinner at seven if that was okay. He penned that it was fine and sent the letter back to Tom to be owled. /I really need to invest in an owl and a flat./ He thought before going back to work on his story.

Before he knew it, it was already ten of seven and he had written up to his sorting into Gryffindor. /Hmm this story is coming along nicely/ he thought before he left his room and went down to the pub. He sat at the designated table and waited patiently for Ginny.

XXXXXXXX

Ginny was running late. She really liked JR and she just couldn't decide what to wear. She hadn't felt quite like this about a guy for a very long time. She knew this wasn't an official date but she wanted to look fabulous. She had 3 outfits lying on her bed and she just couldn't choose which she wanted to wear. There was her cute black dress, her best jeans and T-shirt, and her black mini-skirt and blouse. She just didn't know what look she was going for. After another 15 minutes she decided on the dress. By the time she reached the pub it was 7:15.

She saw him sitting at the table and sighed in relief. She thought he might have left.

"Oh, JR! I am so sorry I am late. I didn't leave Hogwarts until 6:30. The kids got a bit out of hand at dinner," She lied. "I am sorry you had to wait."

"It's alright I don't mind." He smiled and gestured for her to sit down. They ordered and began to talk. JR learned all about Ginny's life and Ginny learned about JR's adult life. He deliberately skipped over his childhood because he didn't have the opportunity to make up a background story for himself in the Wizarding World yet. He went right into telling her about his deciding to go to muggle university and studies child psychology. Then he went into how he opened up a small practice and decided to start writing books. Ginny sat there captivated by JR's story and hung on to his every word.

When dinner ended JR stood up and turned to kiss Ginny on the cheek but she turned her head at that moment and instead kissed her on the lips. Although surprised, Ginny kissed back and even deepened the kiss. The kiss soon ended and they both smiled.

"I would really like to do this again soon Ginny. As an official date perhaps?" JR asked.

"I would love to!" Ginny exclaimed. "How about I owl you? I am free this weekend maybe we can go out to eat in Hogsmeade?"

"That sounds like a plan. Bye Ginny."

Ginny leaned in to give JR a chaste kiss on the lips before leaving.