Chapter Three

Okay, so I realised after someone asked me a question about this story I didn't give a very good overview on the first chapter. Obviously, this is a story with no magic. Tom Riddle and the Death Eaters want to overrun the government and Harry and the Order were brought together by Dumbledore, who was a professor at Harry's school and an ex-government member. The Order was given some leniency but most of the members of government thought they were under some weird delusion. The Order continued to work under that scrutiny but never gave the government reason to disband them.

Hopefully that clears some things up.

As always, these characters do not belong to me.

Harry dived behind the brick wall as the place where he was just moments before exploded. The force from the blast knocked Harry forward so he instead of rolling into a crouch he was splayed face first into the dirt. A laugh came from beside Harry as he got up and leant against his protective wall. He scowled at the source of the laugh.

'Nice landing,' Sirius continued to chuckle.

'Shut up,' Harry muttered.

Sirius brushed his long black hair out of his face, along with some dirt and grime. He stood up slightly shooting a couple of times over the wall and then ducking back down again. He grinned at Harry, clearly enjoying their current battle. Harry checked his gun; he only had four bullets left.

'We're running out of options,' Harry panted, wiping his glasses.

'You should really think about getting contacts for fights,' Sirius mused, watching his Godson.

'I'll think about it later.' Harry peered over the wall, only to be met with a ring on gunshots as bullets flew past his head. 'Still too many,' Harry muttered to Sirius. 'Where are they all coming from? I thought we had gotten rid of a least a dozen over the past week.'

'Riddle's getting stronger and with that strength more followers,' Sirius said, lifting the gun over his head and fired aimlessly.

Another explosion rattled the wall. Debris landed on the both of them as they tried to protect their faces. Something brushed across his exposed cheek and Harry felt red hot liquid run down his cheek.

'Aw, damn,' Harry grunted, wiping his cheek.

'Are you alright?' Sirius asked concerned. He had a similar cut on his chin.

'Yeah, takes more than of a scratch to get me down,' Harry grinned at Sirius, letting the blood from the cut flow.

Sirius grinned, somewhat reluctantly. Another explosion blew beside Sirius but this time over their protective wall. Harry and Sirius scrambled further down the wall only to be met by a few enthusiast Death Eaters wanting glory. Harry met one while Sirius dealt with the other two. He was laughing again by the time his second opponent had fallen.

'I missed this,' Sirius said happily, his nose bleeding.

More gunshots fired and Harry and Sirius had to duck away behind another nearby broken wall. Harry, yet again narrowly escaped a rogue bullet that buried itself deep into a steel drum behind them. Harry cast a sideways glance at Sirius, who was watching the drum with a frown as it toppled over from the force of the bullet. Shouts and cries met Harry's ears over the shots and other explosions. They were closing in on Harry and Sirius and their time to escape was waning.

'Harry, go! Go and find the others and get out of here. I will distract them,' Sirius muttered urgently.

'No! Let me stay and help you. Two fighters are stronger than just one.'

'Harry, you are the key to the whole resistance now. You are far more important than I am.'

'But, I am only seventeen,' Harry said, voicing his doubts for the first time. He had heard the whispers from the other resistance fighters but it didn't seem important until now.

Sirius placed his hand on Harry's shoulders. 'And already speaking and acting like a man. Harry, you said so yourself, we have no other choice. You can lead them, I know you can. That is why you are the key. You can keep this resistance going. You are strong.'

'Sirius, no!'

'Take the bike,' Sirius continued, ignoring Harry's protests. 'Think of it as an early birthday present.'

He took a step away from Harry, re-loading his gun in the process. He looked back at Harry as he cocked the gun, smiling fondly at his Godson. The shouts were getting clearer and now footsteps were audible.

'Sirius … please don't do this,' Harry said pained. 'We can figure out another way.'

Sirius' smile grew wider. 'You really do look like your father. They would be proud of you, as I am.'

Sirius fired at the closest Death Eater whilst still looking at Harry. The Death Eater fell as Sirius turned and sprinted away from Harry. Shots were fired as the Death Eaters chased Sirius. Harry was unmoved as he watched his Godfather get surrounded by enemies. It was then Harry watched as a lucky shot from a Death Eater pierced Sirius' chest. Harry felt as though the bullet went through his heart. Time slowed down and Harry couldn't breathe. Sirius staggered but kept trying to run and fire. Another bullet hit his shoulder, flailing him to his knees. Harry's heart was in his throat as he watched in horror as another shot fired and this time, his Godfather fell to the ground, unmoving.

Harry wanted to scream, to cry but he was frozen in shock. His world was ripped apart so why was everything still moving? The Death Eaters were now pointing and running towards him. He didn't care if they killed him. Why would it matter to live, now that Sirius was dead? Harry wanted to crumple in a ball and almost got his wish as he was flung into the air by yet another explosion. Sirius' name was on his lips but it was drowned from noise of the explosion. He tumbled across the ground, blinded, praying for the pain to end …

Harry woke with a start, sweat running down his face. He was woken by a huge bang from behind his head that coincided with his latest dream. The dream was more along the lines of reliving a memory. He sat up quickly, swivelling so he could face the danger that was behind him. His vision was blurry from the lack of contacts and glasses but he was able to make out a blur of red in the kitchen if he squinted.

'Sorry,' came Ginny's voice from the red blob. 'I was trying to find the right frying pan for breakfast and it was stuck underneath another pot. Are you alright? You look really pale.'

'I'm fine,' Harry replied, rubbing his eyes. 'After a couple of nights ago loud noises aren't exactly my favourite thing.'

Harry stretched, popping his aching joints as Ginny apologised again. He sat up, looking around for his rucksack so he could reach his glasses. He stumbled to his feet, wincing at the pain in his leg. He hobbled over to the island bench with difficulty, hearing Ginny working in the kitchen. He managed to brush against his rucksack so he wouldn't look foolish asking where it was. As he bent down he frowned, thinking of something. He stood back up slowly, throwing his rucksack over his shoulder.

'Ginny?' Harry asked, his brain only just kicking into gear.

'Hmm…?' Ginny replied.

'What are you doing?'

'Cooking breakfast. Do you like omelette?' Ginny said breezily.

'No, no, no, no. Ginny, no.' Harry tried to focus on her.

'What? Why not?' Ginny turned so she was facing him. Or that's what Harry thought she did; he still hadn't put on his glasses.

'Because you don't have to. I can get all of my own stuff.'

'I just want to help. Besides, you're injured.'

'I'm not handicapped,' Harry sighed exasperatedly. 'Ginny, seriously, I'll be happy just cooking myself toast. I'm going to take a shower and if you have cooked me anything, I will kill you.'

Ginny laughed and agreed as Harry wandered down to the spare shower. He tried to scrub every piece of dirt he could find but knew that the dirt wasn't the thing he was trying to rid himself of. Leaving the bike behind meant losing his last remaining item from Sirius' and it was a blow to his chest. He knew that was why he had dreamt about their last living time together but it didn't make it any less painful. He ran his fingers along the scar on his left shoulder from that disastrous night, lost in thought.

'Whoa, I almost don't recognise you being so … clean,' Ginny said ten minutes later, smirking over her cup of coffee. Harry had wandered into the kitchen, looking curiously at the array of jars and containers on the bench.

'Ha!' Harry said sarcastically. 'I see you have laid out everything imaginable to have on toast, including the bread.' Harry raised an eyebrow at her.

'Well you didn't know where anything was and I have no idea what you liked,' Ginny said with a shrug.

'Fair enough,' Harry said with a laugh.

He went about preparing his breakfast; replacing the spreads and jams he wouldn't be using in the fridge, feeling Ginny's eyes on him. He ignored it, getting his bread on to toast and pouring himself a cup of coffee from the leftovers in the glass. Ginny continued to glance at him periodically as he made his breakfast and it wasn't until Harry was sitting down opposite did he acknowledge her staring.

'What are you looking at?' Harry asked through a mouthful of toast.

'I haven't seen you wear your glasses since school,' Ginny mused.

'Yeah, well you have no idea how expensive glasses are to repair,' Harry shifted uncomfortably, eating more toast. 'I have had about a dozen pairs more than anyone has ever needed, or so they tell me. I thought it was just easier to have contacts instead.'

'I'm not judging you, Harry. Just making an observation.' She got up, taking her plate and cup with her. 'I think you look better wearing your glasses,' she told him over her shoulder.

He looked at her stunned, his toast halfway to his mouth. 'Erm … thanks,' he said. He ate his breakfast in silence, trying to wrap his head around her compliment.

Ginny left down the hall and Harry heard the shower to the ensuite start to run. Harry placed his elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands. His fingers ran across the raised scratches from the explosion. How was he going to fix this? He needed to find out what was going on first of all and then take action from there. Once he knew how many were left he could get them into hiding safely; he could ask no more of them in this war, they had already risked enough.

Harry got up from table, taking care to wash his used plates to save Ginny the trouble. He grabbed his rucksack from the where he dropped it at the base of the island bench, throwing it over one of his shoulders. He was about to step out of the door when a voice came from behind him.

'Where are you going?'

Ginny was leaning against the wall, her arms crossed over an old training shirt and sweats. Her wet hair was tied up in a loose bun behind her head and she was frowning suspiciously. Harry dropped his head guiltily and with a sigh, he slowly closed the door and faced Ginny.

'I can't thank you enough for helping me out last night –,' Harry began but Ginny cut him off with a snort.

'You aren't leaving. We've been through this, Harry. It isn't safe.' Ginny took a few steps closer, her arms still crossed.

'This is not about me, Ginny.' Harry let the rucksack fall from his shoulder and sunk into a nearby chair. 'I have to find the others and make sure they are okay and then get them away so that they may live to see another day. Don't you see? They were all attacked because I asked them to fight. I asked them to join forces with me and they paid the price and I … It should have been me, Ginny.'

'They joined you knowing the risks, Harry,' Ginny said softly, standing beside him. 'They, we,' she amended. 'Like you, want to make this world a better place. It wasn't your fault.'

'So why does it feel like it is?' Harry asked glumly, wiping his strained eyes from behind his glasses.

'You're burdening yourself unnecessary. You need to stop blaming yourself. You have ever since Sirius died.'

Harry looked at her shocked and she looked calmly back at him.

'Well you have,' she said stubbornly. 'You withdrew yourself from the rest of us and dove into this whole, 'saving the world' business. The entire public just saw you trying to make a difference but all I saw was a coward trying to hide from his grief.'

Harry leapt to his feet, his face contorted. He had never felt this angry at Ginny before. He distantly heard his chair rattle against the tiles but the pounding in his ears washed it out. He was shaking with his repressed anger and he clenched his fists at his sides. Ginny stood too, her face still calm.

'You … have no right,' Harry said slowly, trying to contain his anger.

'Then tell me I'm wrong,' Ginny said defiantly.

Harry narrowed his eyes. They gazed at each other until Harry turned away, biting the insults on his tongue. In truth, she was right. A few months after Sirius had left Harry had studiously thrown himself into finding a weakness to the Death Eaters and Riddle. He had dropped out of school and took up the leadership as Sirius foresaw. He worked so hard he almost forgot about Sirius' death.

The day came, however, when Harry had to stop and take control of his emotions. Ron and Hermione were the driving forces behind it; more Hermione than Ron but they made him see sense. He had calmed down and thought things through with a level head and foresight. He may have learnt how to control his guilt and grief but he never got rid of it completely. As each of his fighters began to die or disappear around him, the guilt built slowly again.

'You aren't wrong,' Harry broke the silence after he had calmed his anger.

'But …' Ginny prompted.

Harry grinned in spite of himself, glad she couldn't see. 'It was still harsh.'

'Made you stay, didn't it?'

'That wasn't why you said it.'

'No, but no one else was going to tell you so I thought I should.'

Harry laughed humourlessly, ruffling the back of his hair. He sighed, gazing at the door again.

'Harry, Ron and Hermione know what they are doing,' Ginny said kindly. 'They would have gotten those people out.'

'But it should be me doing that.'

'Harry, what has made you think like this? I thought I convinced you last night it was better to remain out of sight.'

'Stupid dream,' Harry muttered, picking up the chair. Ginny was still watching him with confusion so he tried to give her a reassuring smile. 'I won't leave yet, Ginny, but I will need to find something to do before I go stir crazy.'

Ginny didn't trust his sudden change of heart but she dropped the subject. 'How long has it been since you watched a movie?'

'Do I really have to answer that?' Harry asked with a wry smile.

Ginny smiled too. 'Well come on. There's this one movie I have been dying to watch.'

'It's not some chick flick, is it?' Harry asked playfully, following her obediently.

She gave him a scrutinising look over her shoulder. 'You insult me, Potter.'

Harry was laughing as Ginny turned on the television so at first he didn't notice the news report that flashed up on the screen until he heard his name.

'Harry Potter is deemed extremely dangerous and if anyone has seen him is urged to contact the police or the new special service implemented to crack down on the rebellious group called, 'Order of the Phoenix' led by Potter. The number is …'

Harry didn't hear the number. He kept his face impassive but inside, his mind was racing. Ginny was staring at him but he kept his eyes on the screen, even though he wasn't focusing on it. The Death Eaters had moved quicker than he thought. Of course, no one but the Order would know it was them infiltrating the legal system. Harry didn't need the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach to know they were in serious trouble.

'I guess you have no choice but to stay here now,' Ginny said softly.

Harry nodded vaguely, sitting down beside her on the couch. 'You would think they would try and mix it up a little bit.'

Ginny smiled glumly. 'At least it's not a mug shot?'

Harry couldn't help but grin at her attempt to cheer him up. He could feel the tendrils of dread surround him as his face once again filled the screen but the tendrils didn't overpower him as they had been. In fact, the dread hadn't been that bad ever since Ginny had been present. It was almost as though they were kept at bay when he was around Ginny. He was confused by that but decided it must have been some strange after shock moment.

'I was always a wanted man. One way or another,' Harry said with a smirk and Ginny rolled her eyes. 'Are we going to watch that movie or what?'

Half an hour into the movie, Harry felt his eyes drifting closed. He tried to stay awake for Ginny's sake but ten minutes later his head lolled onto the couch, his glasses askew. Harry's confused thoughts must have altered his imagination for he had an odd dream that involved Ginny.

He was running, running from something. Or was he? The shouts and crunching of forest litter underfoot came from behind him indicated he was being chased but he was dodging them by taking random routes. He thought they might have not been too random for in his dream he knew exactly which turns to take and what direction he had to go to. He took a sharp left and there were figures ahead of him. The closest figure was dressed all in black and had long, bright red hair and was fighting a hooded figure. As the hooded figure fell, she faced him and a relieved smile broke across her face. Harry, however, was not so relieved.

Harry's heart was pounding and he sensed he was on the verge of panic. Ginny was not supposed to be there but there she was and in the back of Harry's mind he knew she was there because she followed him. He was worried that it would turn out to be another death like Sirius and he would do anything to prevent that. She was still smiling serenely at him as he sprinted closer. His pursuers were gaining and he thought he heard the click of a gun being loaded. A metre away from Ginny, he flung himself at her, embracing her body so she would be protected from the bullets. He felt her own arms wrap around him. With her arms around him, a slow warmth was spreading through his heart and abating his panic. That flowery scent he remembered before the explosion filled his nostrils. Could it be possible she was connected to that particular smell and why was it always coming back to him …

Harry jumped as the ringing of a phone assaulted his ears. He fixed his glasses and saw Ginny leap from the couch, muttering a curse as she went to retrieve the phone from her room. Harry gazed at the television and saw the credits beginning to roll on the movie. He wasn't concerned that he had missed the movie. Truthfully, he was surprised he had lasted as long as he did. His concern was more directed to the phone that was continuing to ring shrilly.

'I don't remember connecting a landline to this house,' Harry called out to Ginny.

'You didn't,' Ginny replied over the ringing. 'It's my mobile. Hang on … Ah, finally. Hello?'

Ginny came back, the mobile at her ear. Harry fell back against the couch, thinking it was just one of her team mates or coaches but leapt to his feet as Ginny cried in shock. 'Ron?'

Harry hurried over to her, questions burning on his tongue. Ginny put a hand up to stop him and he reluctantly paused. She placed the phone of the table and turned it on speaker. Ron's harried voice was suddenly audible and Harry let the breath he was holding escape through his teeth.

'… You alright? I would have called sooner but we've been trying to find a suitable hiding place. Shush, Hermione, she knows I'm with you. I was just about to say that … Can you let me speak?'

Harry ached to be with Ron and Hermione when he heard them bickering. Ginny must have sensed this because she gave him a knowing smile, grabbing his arm briefly. He smiled at her gratefully and they tuned back in to Ron's voice.

'Sorry, Ginny,' Ron continued. 'Hermione reckons I can't deliver a message properly. The reason I rang is because of Harry. You have to ignore whatever the reporters or papers have said. It's not true. The Death Eaters are twisting everything. We are in trouble, Ginny, real trouble but that doesn't mean you're getting involved because you aren't.'

'What is it with you two and thinking I can't put two and two together?' Ginny said infuriatingly at Harry, who shrugged and mouthed sorry. Ginny rolled her eyes.

'Well Hermione said you would realise fact from fiction but you would have questions for us and might do something irrational to try and get in contact with us and we can't risk that,' Ron said, believing Ginny was referring to Ron and Hermione and not Harry. 'And we have another problem. Harry's gone missing and we don't know –.'

'I already have a pretty good idea where Harry is,' Ginny said shrewdly, grinning at him.

'You do?' Ron asked surprised.

'I'm here, Ron,' Harry said quickly.

'Harry? Harry! You're really there? Blimey! Hermione thought you would still be alive seeing as they have a warrant for your arrest, so we were asking around … What happened back there? We know it worked. The Death Eaters are in a right old stink about it but … Hang on, why are you with Ginny?' Ron asked suspiciously.

'I'm not with her. We sort of just, met up,' Harry said, giving Ginny a knowing look, who winked. 'We don't have a lot of time. Did you get everyone out?'

'Ah … We got as many of them as we could, but Harry, there were losses,' Harry felt a brick slide down his throat. 'We're sorry we couldn't meet you at the rendezvous point. There was a Death Eater staking out the place. You should have seen Hermione, she was seriously … anyway, we took care of him but we couldn't risk there being more and we had already wasted time attacking him. Hermione, wait on …'

'Harry,' came Hermione's breathless voice. 'I'm so glad to hear you're alright, and Ginny too.'

'Hermione,' Harry greeted. 'Listen, I'll be able to join you guys soon. I'll just have to wait until nightfall and –.'

'No,' Ron, Hermione and Ginny said altogether.

'We've discussed this –,' Ginny started.

'Blimey, Harry, you can't be serious,' Ron said over Ginny, taken aback.

'Harry,' Hermione said consolingly and the others fell silent. 'We really want you to join us, we do.'

'Well, why can't I?' Harry asked, confused.

'The Death Eaters are looking for you,' Hermione said softly. 'And now it's not only the Death Eaters but the entire public who think you are now a murderer. That means they have eyes everywhere. Wherever you are right now they have no clue that you are there. Our best chance is for you to lay low until we have enough strength again to take them down, this time for good.'

Harry fell silent. Hermione was right, as she always was but it didn't make the choice any less easy. Ginny was staring at Harry although she was asking Ron questions about their family. Harry kept his face blank; he knew what he was going to do and he knew the others wouldn't approve. Trying to find Ron, Hermione and the others would be a waste of time but if he could just get a look on the outside and see what was happening, after that he would be able to be of some use in what he was now seeing as his makeshift prison confinements.

'Harry,' Hermione's voice said clearly over Ron and Ginny's. They fell silent.

'Yes?'

'I know this is hard and I know you didn't want to hear that but your safety is priority. Now that we know you are alive we'll be able to stay in contact with you.'

'Of course, Hermione. Keep your calls sporadic, so they won't be traced. We don't need them on our tails and also have a couple of spare phones so the same one isn't being used constantly.'

'You forget Harry that we were trained with you,' Hermione said and Harry could picture her smiling. 'Good luck Harry and we'll hopefully talk soon.'

'Bye,' Harry said softly.

Ginny and Harry stayed standing around the phone afterwards, each to their own thoughts. Eventually Ginny picked up her phone and placed it on the island bench in the kitchen. She leant against it as she faced Harry, who was still staring at the empty spot on the table where the phone used to be. He let his eyes meet hers, familiarising with the soft brown of her irises. He smiled glumly at her, not really knowing what to say.

'It won't be so bad,' Ginny murmured, before speaking louder. 'I mean, am I really that bad of a roommate?'

His smile widened as he dropped his head guiltily. 'I've never been asked to stay put and watch from the sidelines.'

'It's not forever you know but seeing as it is for a few weeks at least, you can help me set up the spare bedroom for you.'

'A few weeks,' Harry repeated, breathing out loudly.

He had made up his mind; he was going have a look around that night to see what was going on and decide his options from there. He had to keep Ginny under the belief that he had accepted the other's decision. That afternoon Harry helped set up his now bedroom, smiling at Ginny's banter about him falling asleep on the couch. The dream he had about Ginny went to the back of his mind as he planned his route.

The centre of town was the obvious choice to find information but they usually need persuading to talk to nosy strangers. Harry racked his brains and remembered a several pubs in the closest town; they were his best chance of finding information. Harry didn't think with his time frame he would be able to get into all of the pubs and that's if he could get someone to talk to him. There was also the problem of him being on the most wanted list now. He thought he could remember stashing some pretty simple disguises in all of the bathrooms so he could use those if they were still there.

Dinner that night was a quiet affair as Harry's mind was in overdrive. He had gone over his plan in his head, looking for faults, correcting them, devising back-up plans and routes. With Ron and Hermione absent from the plan making, Harry had to try and compensate all the aspects, instead of having the shared minds and differences of opinions. Ginny noticed his silence but didn't comment on it, opting to stare at him every few seconds to make sure he didn't snap, Harry assumed. Harry grabbed Ginny's empty plate and his taking it to the sink. He had cooked tea also, trying to let the menial tasks clear his mind.

Ginny curled up on the couch and read a football magazine, occasionally snorting or grunting at the articles. Harry heard her but chose to ignore it; he needed to focus on the night ahead. Harry had turned on the television but was gazing at it with glassy eyes. His nerves were building as the night steadily drew on and it wasn't until after ten did Ginny say she was going to bed. Harry nodded and had to endure another hour of waiting before he leapt from the couch, hurrying to get changed in his dark jeans, shirt and for good measure a long, thick jacket.

In the bathroom, he opened the drawers hurriedly, only remembering at the last minute to be quiet. He found different variations of fake facial hair, some dried up make up and three different pairs of glasses, all ranging in style and a few pairs of unopened contact lenses. Harry set to work applying the facial hair before applying the contacts; the image of him on the television had glasses so the less he looked like the photo the better.

Fifteen minutes later, Harry gazed at his new persona. A thin, dark moustache lined his upper lip and he had a thick set of sideburns that ran down to the end of his chin. He thought he looked ridiculous, resembling closer to a seventies rocker than the young agent he was. His finishing touch was simply a cap thrown over his hair and placed the bright green of his eyes in shadow so he had the chance of making them more inconspicuous.

Arnold was curled up beside the doorway, so Harry went out through the glass doors of the backyard instead. Harry strode quickly to the fence, leapt over it, ignoring the stab to his calf. Now he was out into the night, racing towards the town. The air was cool and fresh against his exposed skin. He felt free even though he was only at the house for two days. By the time he reached the town, he was out of breath and the cut in his leg was throbbing dully. Harry tilted the cap further down his forehead, pulled the jacket tighter against his frame and set off for the first pub.

Three pubs down, five pints which included two split ones, Harry was getting nowhere. His shirt was drenched from the split drinks and his patience was beginning to wane. The fourth pub he didn't even enter once he saw the fight emanating inside. It was only when he was halfway through his pint at the fifth pub did he finally get news.

'You better drink that up fast before the Government close this place down,' the guy next to him grumbled.

Harry gazed across to him, careful to keep his face in shadow. The man was late twenties, his face unshaven but he was well dressed, although his clothes were severally rumpled. His shirt was untucked and a couple of the buttons were mismatched. Harry guessed from the slurring and gravelling from his voice that he had been here for hours.

'What do you mean?' Harry slurred, pretending to be intoxicated.

'You seen the news? All that talk about the Potter kid going loony.' Harry took a drink from his pint. 'I've been waiting for this to happen for months.'

There was an uproar as a group of men at a table behind them appeared to have won a bet. The man watched them for a bit before ordering another drink from the barman.

'On me,' Harry grunted, throwing some coins in front of him. The man tipped his drink to him. 'I want to hear more about your theories.'

The man chuckled. 'Don't say that too loud, boy. You don't want to be taken away.' The man took a long drink and Harry waited silently for him to continue. 'You work in any business? Government job at all?' Harry shook his head. 'Lucky you. These Death Eaters, as Potter's Order called them, have been in jobs like these for months. Whispering in higher authorities' ears, getting information, positions, houses, buildings, anything they want. The Government is playing right into their hands. The Order was always three steps behind them but at least they knew the truth.'

Harry took another long drink and called for another, knowing he probably shouldn't drink so much. He shook his head in disbelief. He had never felt so stupid. He knew that they were seriously undermanned and lacking certain leniencies from the Government but he never thought they were that undermined.

'The idiots at the Government don't realise they are about to be overthrown. These, Death Eaters, want Potter bad and will do anything to get him. There have already been deaths and disappearances but of course, being in the Government now, they are able to cover it all up. There's a war coming, whether it's a fair fight or a simple take over is up to us. Of course, they will only reveal themselves when they are fully in control and I think that is when Potter is dead.'

Harry and the man finished their drinks and the man became insensible and started insisting Harry take on with him in a bet. Harry faced the front of the bar again, ignoring the jibes from the men behind him. So, it seemed that the hope of overpowering the Death Eaters came down to Harry's survival and that to Harry made no sense. Tom Riddle was a powerful dictator and wanted power but what did Harry have that made him such a huge threat alive?

'I wouldn't place too much in what Barney said over there, son,' the man to Harry's right murmured to him.

This man was in his late forties, his hair greying. He was wearing a simple flannel jumper and worn out jeans. He was wearing a faded cap also but he kept taking it off, ruffling his hair and then placing it back on again. Harry frowned at him, rotating the glass in his hand.

'He is still bitter he was fired from his business job a month or two ago. Starts to see conspiracies in everything when he has had a few drinks nowadays because of it,' the man continued.

'You don't think he has a point?' Harry said, gesturing to Barney, who was now ordering two more drinks. 'You don't think he was fired for the Death Eaters to get in there, or that he knew too much about it?'

The man looked at Barney thoughtfully, then said. 'He has his heart in the right place but if I was you, I would keep out of the way of these Death Eater folks. If they are as brutal as the rumours I've heard, everyone is safer keeping silent.'

'But shouldn't we be trying to stop them?' Harry asked surprised at how easily this man had succumbed to the Death Eaters.

'Young enthusiast,' the man actually chuckled. 'You could try, I suppose. Be like that young Potter, but then what, kid? What if you do save us, what recognition are you hoping for? Do yourself a favour; keep your head low and wait for it to breeze over, like everyone else here.'

Harry pretended to heed the man's words and stood, downing the last of his drink and paying the barman before stumbling out into the night. It had grown colder as the early morning drizzle swept through the air. Harry pulled his cloak tighter and started making his way back to the house. Both Barney and the man had not said anything Harry hadn't already guessed. What they made Harry realise though was his trip out tonight was futile and downright stupid. The only ones who could take down Death Eaters were the Order and any other willing body wanting to bring a little peace to people's lives.

'Hey, you,' a man called out. His friends behind him were murmuring excitedly.

Harry paused under a streetlight, closing his eyes in resignation. He sighed as he turned, facing the man and his friends from the pub who were loud and obnoxious. They were now his drunken opponents. He had hoped he would avoid some moron who wanted to show his friends how tough they thought they were but Harry's luck was running out.

'We heard you in there, talking to that pompous toss,' the man jeered, taking a step towards him. 'Reckon you can be a hero, huh? Reckon you're a tough guy?'

'Walk away,' Harry said quietly, dropping his drunken pretence.

The man was unaffected by Harry's suggestion and continued coming closer to Harry, his friends smiling and nudging each other with their elbows. 'My boys and I were thinking, maybe you should see what being tough really looks like.'

'You really don't want to try and fight me,' Harry continued in his quiet voice.

The man was a foot away, smiling at Harry. Harry stared back, his expression blank. The man chuckled then, trying to diffuse the tension. Harry couldn't be bothered to humour the man, but he could feel the adrenaline fill his body. The man looked back to his posse, receiving nods and identical grins. He swung his fist around as he turned back to Harry, but Harry, being trained in combat, knew exactly what the man was going to do. Harry moved out of the way but grabbed the man's wrist, trapping him.

The man and his friends were surprised as Harry spun the man, gripping his wrist tightly behind his back. The man grunted and cried out in indignation, his friends started to come towards them.

'I wouldn't,' Harry warned and this time they stopped. He directed his next comment to his attacker. 'There are two things I hate the most about alcohol and men. The first is they get so big of an ego they don't stop to think what they are doing, even when they are warned against it. The second,' Harry gripped his wrist tighter. 'Is that the alcohol numbs the pain so you don't even feel what you deserve to feel. I am centimetres away from breaking your wrist or dislocating your shoulder. I'm not really fussed either way but the catch is you aren't even flinching or screaming in pain. It's a shame because now there is only one thing to do to make my point. Would you hazard a guess to what that is?'

Harry let him go and almost instantaneously elbowed him in the ribs, following with an uppercut to his jaw. The man crumpled to the ground with only a tiny grunt. 'Instant knock out,' Harry told his unconscious attacker.

Harry had countered on the others giving up after their leader fell but he was mistaken. A guy yelled and ran forward. Harry dodged three of his wild swings before landing a jab to his stomach. He vomited up bile and alcohol as he doubled over. Harry brought his leg around, kicking him squarely in the jaw. The man fell unmoving to the ground.

One enthusiast decided to smash a bottle against Harry's exposed back. Harry straightened after the force of the blow knocked him down marginally, gritting his teeth. The adrenaline was now coated with anger. He turned slowly and faced his new attacker, who was staring at Harry with alarm. Harry deduced the man wanted to knock Harry out but being drunk, he only managed to clip his shoulder instead of his head. Unfortunately, it didn't make it any less painful. Harry jabbed him in the nose and then left hooked his jaw and he collapsed next to his friend.

'Now, they scatter,' Harry said mutinously as indeed the others ran off. Harry flexed his shoulder and stray glass fell from his jacket to the bitumen. It was throbbing but Harry disregarded this as he continued to walk home.

Harry cut across the dark stretch of forest, listening to the night life fall silent to his footsteps. He sighed, watching his breath mist out in front of him. It took him longer to get back, but only because he kept going over his choices. He had been selfish in thinking he knew more than Ron, Hermione and even Ginny. Ginny was the one who had let him stay with her and if tonight went any worse she would be caught in the crossfire.

Harry climbed over the fence, landing cat-like back inside the boundaries of his house. He gazed at the wooden fence, knowing full well if he continued back into the house, he was making the conscious decision to go back under house arrest. He sighed. He had always been the first one to leap into action at the slightest hint of revolt. He wasn't used to being pushed to the side. Yet was the key to accepting his temporary leave not to keep thinking of it as getting pushed but taking the initiative and stepping to the side?

Harry rubbed his eyes, pulling his cap off at the same time. That question could be dealt with later, he decided. Right now, he had to get inside and get cleaned up; he could smell the alcohol on his jacket, not to mention his shoulder had begun to ache. He reached the porch, took off his shoes and shrugged out his jacket, wincing with his shoulder. He eased the glass door open, careful to avoid making any loud noises so as not to wake Ginny. The room was dark so he had to work his way around the furniture blind. He heard Arnold stir in his sleep and was halfway across the room when a voice spoke from the darkness.

'Were you going to tell me?'

A light flickered on as Harry jumped in fright, bumping into the couch. Ginny was sitting in the recliner in a dressing robe, her hand on the light switch. Harry took in her expression and almost recoiled.

'Ginny,' Harry breathed out.

'Were, you going to tell me?' Ginny repeated, trying to keep her voice even.

Harry shifted nervously. He found he was unable to look at her in the eye, let alone answer her. He had never in his life felt so guilty about betraying someone's trust the way he was now feeling with Ginny. True, he didn't break people's trust that often unless he had a justifiable reason but he knew his reason for going out was intangible. Ginny nodded glumly when Harry couldn't answer her. Her face darkened.

'I thought we agreed on the conditions of our current situation, Harry,' Ginny said quietly, yet Harry could hear the dangerous edge to her tone.

'We did, I just …' he trailed off helplessly.

He couldn't explain his actions and apparently, Ginny knew that too. She stood slowly, her eyes never leaving him even though he could not face her.

'You just what?' she said shortly, her tone sharpening and her voice growing louder. 'Got restless and decided to go and have a stroll in the middle of the night?'

'I … uh, you must understand,' Harry fumbled.

He tried to edge toward the hallway but Ginny cut him off. She was so close to him, he almost felt the waves of her anger hitting him. She frowned at him and sniffed. Harry stiffened and then tried to backpedal. She grabbed his shirt, bringing it closer to her nose. Harry wanted to groan but instead grimaced as her expression went from stony to downright thunderous.

'You decided to risk, not only your life but mine as well for a drink?' Ginny's voice rose an octave higher with her increasing anger. She dropped his shirt from her hand.

'No, for information,' Harry answered quickly. 'A pub or a tavern is the easiest place to get information. I was undercover but I know I wasn't thinking, I know now and I'm sorry –.'

'Sorry isn't going to mean much when we're dead!' Ginny snapped, outraged.

'It wasn't like that Ginny, I swear. The only guys that hassled me were just ones looking to get their macho hit. I didn't even fight all of them …' Harry stopped abruptly, realising he had gone too far from a quick glance at Ginny's face.

'You … did … WHAT!' Ginny yelled. Arnold barked at Ginny's voice.

'Ginny, shush, please. You'll wake up the neighbours,' Harry pleaded.

'Oh you want me to be quiet!' Ginny continued to yell and now Arnold was growling. 'When you went out and decided to fight the first pack of dickheads that crossed your path!'

'Of course I didn't,' Harry retorted, insulted. 'They attacked me! Would you prefer that I let them bash the shit out of me?'

'If it would have knocked some sense into you then yes, I would have! Arnold, shut up!'

Harry sighed angrily, looking away and the dog fell silent. Ginny was too worked up and picking a fight with her would get them nowhere. He knew he was wrong, he admitted that and he was also still feeling extremely guilty. Harry moved his shoulder, wincing when it had stiffened in pain. Ginny's expression of hatred softened a tad when he winced but when he gazed back at her, it returned to its poisonous look.

'You have every right to be angry at me –,' Harry said resigned.

'I do –,' Ginny snapped.

'I am not contesting that,' Harry added, holding his hand up to silence her. 'I already realise it was a stupid idea. I also know I have broken your trust in me but can you believe me when I say I thought of every way possible to hide my identity so I wouldn't be recognized. I mean, come on, doesn't the new facial hair add prove to that.' He gestured to his moustache and sideburns.

Ginny remained stoic. 'How can you be sure your disguises worked? You can't! My family is risking a heck of a lot to help you stay safe and this is how you are going to pay us back?'

'Alright, I get your angry at me,' Harry said annoyed. 'I'm not going anywhere, okay? I'm staying put.'

'You're damn right you aren't because I am staying to make sure you do!'

'What?' Harry said aghast. 'But Ginny, what about your football finals in under a month?'

'They aren't important.'

'Oh, yes they are,' Harry said fiercely and Ginny's eyes widened. 'You need to be out in the public eye so the Death Eaters believe they have you under surveillance. If they believe they've got you, they won't actually realise your association with me or any other member of the Order. The public will shield you Ginny; they will keep you safe.' Harry paused and let that sink in before he said more calmly.

'Look, I messed up. I knew that the moment I went into that first pub. I have upset you and betrayed you but I won't let my awful decisions drag you down with me.'

Ginny sighed and there was a long silence that followed. Ginny was now the one unable to look at Harry. She was looking down at her feet and Harry wondered whether she might actually break down into tears.

'That's the thing, Harry,' Ginny said softly. She turned away from him and started to retreat back to her bed. She paused at the end of the hallway and looked back at Harry, dry eyed but with an odd expression. 'You already have.'

Ginny turned and left, leaving Harry rooted in place. When she gazed into his eyes, however, Harry knew there was something else that was wrong. Her eyes were sad and Harry couldn't understand why if only seconds ago she was ready to throttle him. He remembered an old headmaster giving him the same sort of expression and that was the time Harry had failed to understand an important piece of information the headmaster was trying to betray to him. Ginny's expression was that of hopeless disappointment; Harry had misunderstood the meaning behind Ginny's angered words or had misunderstood something that Ginny thought he would know.

Harry tried to ponder what he had missed into the early hours of the morning, his guilt refusing to let him sleep. He found himself wanting to make it up to her, somehow but knowing his chance at rekindling their friendship after tonight was going to be difficult. A lump in his throat formed every time he thought of losing Ginny as a friend and he was just as confused by that reaction as he was to her disappointment.