"Come on you two." Remus muttered as he gave Harry a quick hug, "We need to get out of here and onto that boat, preferably before anyone catches us. We'll explain as we go. First you need to know magic isn't real."
"I know." Harry sighed as the three of them headed towards another door.
"Evidentially I have several friends who would like me to figure this out and end it." Harry grinned slightly, "I left the kitchen with the intent to find out what was going on. Just a few meters from the kitchen I heard someone coming my way. I hid in the broom cupboard and heard Ginny talking to Luna about the show. Later while I was in wardrobe getting some normal clothes I heard Draco and Hermione about the same stuff. They are together by the way, freaked me out."
"They are quite the couple behind the scenes." Sirius laughed.
They were quiet for a few moments before Harry asked, "Sirius are my parents really alive?"
"Yes they are." He replied, "And they didn't want to give you up. They were tricked by the studio. See you were really sick as a baby and they couldn't afford the surgery to save your life. Howard, the producer, offered to pay for the surgery if they would sign a contract to appear in a reality show about sick babies being cured. They agreed but that wasn't what they got."
"Evidentially." Harry agreed, "So how did you and Remus come up with the idea to let me know what was going on?"
"First of all we are not Sirius and Remus." He said as Remus peeked through the door and motioned them on, "My name is Gary and this is David. Very few people actually get to use their real names. Your parent's names are James and Lily. The escape plan was just jumped into at the last second. I was brought back to be one of the four spirits you saw in the forest, you parents were made to do those lines before they were sent away. Anyway while I was here I found out that David was being killed off too. So we decided to get you out."
"Ok one question that's really bugging me right now." Harry looked slightly irritated, "How did they make Remus, I mean David become a werewolf right in front of my eyes?"
"That was actually a virtual reality scene." Gary shrugged, "They knocked you out with something then slipped you into the equipment. When you woke up they played the scene then knocked you out again to remove it. They've done that to you several times. I'm worried about how they did it and if it will have any lasting side effects."
"Isn't this a show though? What did the audience see during that?"
"They get to see the scene you are in." David was the one to explain this time.
"What… how… what all do they see?" Harry wondered.
"Almost everything, including sleep, though your bathroom time is your own." David shrugged, "If you undress in the dorm they either block your body or only show a head shot."
Harry sighed in relief at that but then asked, "How do I get the nightmares?"
"Another virtual reality thing." Gary answered, "You're normal sleep isn't usually disturbed by nightmares. It's the reason I got killed off."
"What?" Harry asked.
"I didn't like how they were messing with your sleep during your fifth year. I was constantly complaining that they were going to make you ill." Gary sighed, "They got rid of me because I became a pest."
"Almost there guys." David said, "The boat dock is through this door."
"Good." Harry said, "When can I see my parents?"
"Probably another day at least, it will take us a few hours to get to an island with an airport." Gary offered, "Too bad we can't just apparate."
"STOP!" a voice yelled just as they boarded the boat, "Stop you can't leave."
Harry scrambled on board and then looked back. The boat dock was in a huge cavern that was several stories tall. About a story off the ground was a walkway. Leaning against the rail yelling at them was a man in his mid-fifties Harry guessed. Harry watched as the man turned and yelled through a door and then came back to the railing.
"Stop, don't go."
"Sorry Howard we have him and he's not coming back." Gary yelled back.
"I'll have you arrested for kidnapping." Howard yelled.
"It can't be kidnapping if I'm going willingly." Harry yelled, "I want out."
People started streaming through door behind Howard as Harry yelled back and he recognized many of them. The cast of the show was pushing their way out onto the walkway. They spread out so they could all see what was happening. He spied Ginny moving quickly through the crowd. He kept an eye on her as she got to the end of the people but kept running. Half way down the cavern the walkway crossed from one side to the other. When she turned on to that part he spoke up.
"Ginny, what are you doing?"
"Coming with you if you'll have me." She yelled back.
"How?" he asked.
"Like this." She yelled before stepping over the rail and jumping into the water.
Harry didn't think he just jumped into the water and swam at her. He distantly heard a motor start but he was too intent on getting to her to think about it. She bobbed to the surface and started swimming back to him. People were still yelling in the distance somewhere but he could think of nothing else but getting to her. They met not far from where she jumped in.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked.
"I'm fine." She grinned and gave him a quick hug around the neck. She had to let go because they began to sink in the water.
"You're willing to give all this up for me?" he asked.
"Absolutely." She grinned as the boat idled up to them, "Gary you going to sit there watching or give us a hand out of the water?"
David shut off the engine as the two teen swam toward the back of the boat. Gary reached out and gave Ginny a hand before reaching back for Harry. He wrapped them each in a towel and sat them on the seat as they prepared to leave again. A noise from above made Harry look up. Most of the people who had entered the cave were cheering and clapping. Harry noticed Draco standing next to Hermione with his arm around her as they both waved.
"Draco!" Harry yelled, "She's still as good as a sister to me you better take care of her."
"I will." he yelled back giving Hermione a hug.
"Harry, if you leave you'll be nothing outside these walls. Here you're famous and loved, outside there isn't anything waiting for you. You'll be just like everyone else" Howard yelled.
"Outside life is waiting for me." Harry yelled back, "I never liked being famous, I wanted nothing more than to be normal. I can't wait until I'm just like everyone else."
David got the boat started again and it was too noisy to hear anything else. Harry and Ginny waved at the crowd as they pulled away. Gary ushered them down into the boat as they left the cave and started to gain some speed. They were sat down on a couch to rest as Gary went to fix some food to stop the grumbling coming from Harry's stomach.
"Is Ginny your real name?" Harry started the conversation.
"No." she blushed, "Its Bonnie."
"Bonnie is a nice name." Harry grinned, "What do you do when not on the set?"
The two spent the ride talking and getting to know each other outside the show. Harry wasn't able to really share a lot since he didn't have a life outside the show yet. But he revived some of the dreams from his childhood, what did he want to be when he grew up.
***Elsewhere***
"He did it! James he did it!" Lily was jumping up and down on the sofa next to her husband, "That was brilliant."
"That is was darling." James pulled his wife down into his arms, "Settle down now we need to get ready for him."
"Will Gary bring him to us?" she asked and she hugged him back.
"He'll try but we may have to go to them." James said, "I don't know what kind of issues with passport and things he might have. We need to get his birth certificate and medical files just in case it's needed." The phone interrupted them and James hesitantly picked it up, "Hello?"
"Did you see? Where you watching?" a voice yelled over the phone.
"It's your mum." James handed the phone over and headed to the bedroom to change. They had to visit the bank.
"Mum!" Lily yelled back, "I know it was brilliant! Oh, mum my baby's coming home!"
*** back on the boat***
"We have a problem." David yelled down into the cabin a few hours into the trip.
"What?" Harry jumped off the couch and ran up the stairs.
"Incoming." David pointed.
Harry could barely make out some sort of aircraft flying at them, "What is it?"
"Don't know yet." David answered, "Could be the police here to arrest Gary and me for Kidnapping."
"No I won't let them." Harry growled, "It wasn't a kidnapping it was a rescue."
"I'll call James and see if the contract had any limits." Gary started to walk away.
"Don't bother." Harry said, "I'm not going back no matter what. I'd rather be poor than live a lie like that."
A helicopter passed over them then came back to hover. The logo on the side showed it was a television crew, the camera poking out the side proved it. Harry sighed and then turned and went back into the boat followed by Bonnie and Gary.
"Stupid media." Harry grumbled.
"Don't be too hasty." Bonnie grinned at him in that mischievous way he loved, "We can use the media to help us. If we get the people on our side no government will be willing to make you go back or arrest us for kidnapping you."
"Good point." Gary turned and went back up.
"I really hate the fame." Harry huffed.
"I know but just remember you're not famous for killing someone." She hugged him, "You are famous for being in a telly show. You are the show. This fame isn't about death and destruction. This fame is about what you have done over the years, the person you have become. The person they have watched you grow into. This fame is because you are just Harry despite everything you went through."
"I guess." Harry had sat on the couch during her talk. He dropped his head back and sighed, "I guess that's ok. At least it's not because my parents died for me."
"And now you can enjoy Halloween without getting depressed." She laughed for a moment then sobered, "What do you want the public to see?"
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"You have the option to have a public face separate from your private one now." She pointed out, "Do you want to pretend that you like the attention and wave and smile? Do you want to appear to be the broody teen that slumps around? You can either be Harry the person or Harry the actor. Many actors are, well acting when they are being interviewed. They come off sounding calm, cool and collected when in reality they are scared spitless."
"Just like at Hogwarts, the Harry everyone else sees and then the Harry you, Ron and Hermione saw." He nodded in understanding.
"Rupert and Emma." She stated.
"What?" Harry lifted his head and looked at her in confusion.
"Their real names are Rupert and Emma." She giggled at him, "Draco's real name is Tom."
"Ugh." Harry shuddered, "I'm never going to be comfortable with that name."
"You could still call him Ferret boy." Ginny was barely able to keep a straight face.
Harry dropped his head back again, "I'm always going to wonder from now on if what I'm seeing is real or is it more virtual reality."
"I'm sorry." Ginny cuddled up next to him and hugged him.
"I guess I'm just going to life like everything is real until someone proves that it's not." He sighed.
"They're leaving." Gary came back as the sound of the helicopter faded, "We aren't sure why."
"How long until we reach land?" Ginny asked.
"Another couple of hours." Garry sat on Ginny's other side, "How are you doing Harry?"
"Coping." He replied.
Harry didn't realize he had fallen to sleep until Ginny was waking him up, "Harry sorry to disturb your nap but we have another issue."
"Hmm, what?" Harry groggily opened his eyes.
"Wake up." She nudged him, "We're about to get some more company."
"Media?' he asked.
"Military." She shivered, "We really don't know what's going to happen in the next little bit."
Harry hugged her and kissed her forehead, "We'll be ok. I'll insist that you all saved me. They'll have to listen."
They felt the boat slow down so they stood and made their way up on deck. Harry saw some rather large boats in the distance and several smaller ones cutting through the water towards them. He touched David's arm as the man cut the engine.
"Here we go." Gary whispered as the first boat pulled alongside.
Four uniformed men jumped aboard their boat, each one had a big gun and they were all pointed at the four runaways. Gary, David and Bonnie put their hands on their heads so Harry copied them. A fifth man boarded and walked up to them and started patting them down. When they reached Ginny Harry started to protest.
"It's ok Harry they are just looking for weapons." Ginny assured him.
He nodded as the man stepped away after checking her then spoke into a device, "Clear."
No one moved for several minutes until another larger boat pulled alongside. An older man stepped on board and said, "At ease." The guns were all put down but the four didn't move their arms, "Put your arms down I'm sure you're getting tired."
They slowly dropped their arms and waited for what was going to come next. The man spoke quietly to the four gunmen and then to the other man before turning back towards the group.
"We have to take the boat back to the island." He stated clearly, "It's stolen property and if we return it they won't press charges."
"I don't want to go back." Harry stated hotly.
"Well now." The man grinned, "They didn't say I had to return the people with it. If you'll come with me I'll take you to the command ship and we'll be getting you back home."
"Home where?" Harry asked distrustfully.
"To your parents." The man placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, "I'm Charles Potter, James is my son. That makes you my Grandson." Four mouths fell open with his statement, "Come along then."
"Gary?" Harry turned.
"James' dad is in the military." Gary shrugged, "But I've never met him."
"Me either." David sighed, "I don't think we have much in the way of choices."
"Not really." Charles chuckled, "You can either be taken back with the boat, come with me or swim for it. However I have to say if you choose to swim you are miles from any island."
"He's right." David nodded dejectedly.
"I think I'll take my chances with you." Harry turned towards the man claiming to be his Grandfather.
"Me too." Ginny smiled and took Harry's hand. He looked down at her and smiled back.
"We're with them." Gary agreed as David nodded his head.
"Good." Charles nodded, "Avery pilot this boat back to the island. Smith, Wells and Chambers follow and bring him back. We'll take the raft back to command and start back. You'll have to catch up."
"Yes Sir." The men answered and moved to do the jobs required.
Within the hour the four of them found themselves in a small room on board a very large ship. Harry had no idea what kind it was and he was a little worried for his friends. There were several chairs and a table in the room and just after they had entered and sat down a man entered with a tray of drinks. He sat the drinks on the table and left. Charles stepped in a few moments later.
"Have a drink I'm sure you're tired and thirsty. Should I call for some food too?" he asked.
"I just want to know what's going to happen." Harry was worried.
"We're taking you home." Charles said, "I've told you that."
"Ok but what about these three?" he indicated the others.
"They're coming too." Charles smiled at his Grandson's concern for his friends, "They aren't in any trouble. In fact they may get a hero's welcome home."
The others breathed a sigh of relief but Harry was still confused, "Not that I'm not grateful they're safe but why?"
"How much did they tell you about the show?" Charles asked.
"Not a lot." Gary offered, "We were trying to escape mostly. He already knew it was a show by the time we found him."
"He found us." David corrected as Gary took a drink and opened it.
"Harry." Charles turned to his Grandson, "You are the most famous person on the face of the planet. Anyone who has a Telly, computer or even a radio has heard and seen your show. You have your own channels."
"Really?" he asked.
"They run twenty four hours a day seven days a week. When you are sleeping or using the bath they show past scenes to keep everyone hooked. They even have a second channel that runs twelve hours later so if you miss something you can catch it on the other channel." Charles shook his head, "No one has better ratings than the Harry Potter show."
"The Harry Potter show?" he asked with a disgusted look, "That's a bit of a dull name isn't it?"
"Doesn't matter since the top two shows are yours." Charles chuckled at Harry's disgust.
"How did this all get started?" Harry asked, "Gary told me a little bit."
"It's my fault really." Charles ran a hand through his hair and settled his hat back on top, but not before Harry saw black messy hair that resembled his own, "James was sixteen when he and Lily came to us saying she was pregnant. I blew up at them and told James he was no longer my son and then kicked them out. An hour later I'd calmed down but it was too late. They had left. Lily's parents had also kicked them out and so the two of them where homeless. We looked for them but had no idea where they had gone."
"How is that your fault?" Harry asked.