Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his world belong to J. K. Rowling.

Chapter 4:

The third week, New York, and a heavy week had been scheduled, including many old, old cases. For a change they had taken notice of Harry, and they were distributed through the week.

Percy and Stan stayed in the hotel, although not usually present in the day. They spent their time in meetings and official functions while the team worked. Jebedee stayed around, sometimes taking photographs, and making notes on cured patients. He thought Harry needed a bit of positive publicity. Anti-Harry feeling was growing, and rumours about the parentage of Beth's baby were circulating widely.

It was a tough week for Harry, although he tried to use the telepathic method of curing whenever it was not too bitterly resented. There seemed to be a constant supply of new observers, and once Harry forgot to warn a newcomer and was interrupted as he began to weave the strong magic in the air. He was brushed aside in the man's urgency to flee, and wound up sitting on the floor, dizzy, and holding his head in pain.

Half an hour later, though, he completed the job.

Catherine had a serious talk with him that evening. Twice she'd seen him hurt when he was interrupted when he was calling up the strong magic, even though once it was at the end, when it was dying down, and once he was just beginning. Maybe it was just too dangerous, and he admitted that there had been an occasion when interrupted, that he'd had a major fit and hadn't been able to work again for days.

He thought about it carefully. He liked the strong magic. It felt good to him, even if other people disliked it, and occasionally, like Justin, couldn't tolerate it at all. He hated to fail his patients. He was not good at the telepathic method - not nearly as good as Beth, even though it was Harry who had invented it. So should he leave some patients uncured because he was frightened of interruptions?

He went to Franz, and they decided to put a ban on observers when he did those type of cures. That would eliminate some potential for interruptions. But also he quizzed Franz further about exactly what had happened straight after the pumpkin-head incident. It seemed he had managed to protect himself from interruption then, even from a stun spell, although he was quite unsure whether it was the same thing as when he worked his cures. Maybe he needed to try and add something to protect himself, some extra magic, as he added the ingredient to keep the patient calm. He'd have to put some thought into it. He wasn't quite sure how to go about it. There was no-one to give him any hints. Power-wise, he was a long way out on his own.

That was Wednesday. Wednesday evening, there were yet more important dignitaries join them at dinner, and two goodlooking women for no stated reason, and Harry again roped in Simon to stay close, and, as he said, protect him from rape.

Wednesday night, weary, Harry went to his room, Justin and Grant following him to take up guard. He paused outside, feeling, and a frown crossed his face, suddenly replaced by a look of wicked glee, and he went in search of black-haired David. Justin followed him, leaving Grant at the door. Harry was very heavily protected in America, although it seemed to Harry that he was only in danger of illegitimate children.

David was persuaded, Harry conjured some clear glasses for him, and Justin, in on the joke, carefully drew in a couple of scars on the face of David. That night, Harry slept peacefully in David's bed, and David put up not the slightest resistance to the seduction of the woman who had been waiting in Harry's room. They were both happy.

David appeared with deep scratch marks on his face in the morning, though. He didn't particularly want illegitimate children either, and early that morning, still on and in the woman, he admitted that his name was David. He was lucky she didn't have her wand close!

Catherine refused to treat his scratches, and tore his character to shreds, deaf to protests from David that the woman had enjoyed herself, and after all, it was she who had done the seducing. David had just gone along with what she wanted...

Harry was ashamed of himself. It was a nasty trick. Justin and Grant thought it was hilarious.

Franz, when he found out, was disapproving again, but disapproving of the woman, too. Waiting concealed in Harry's room, and, as David told it, swaying forward seductively, in sexy underwear, the moment he himself had started to undress. It was shameless behaviour. It was a breach of security, too. It could as easily have been an assassin waiting for Harry.

Still two days to go, and they were not to fly home until Saturday.

For a change Thursday was very easy, and they were finished early. Harry went back to California after work, enjoying the familiar beach again, and the woman there whom he liked so much. He said his goodbyes Friday morning, before reappearing in his hotel room, to find Justin waiting again, dozing in the comfortable chair that Harry had conjured for himself. Mostly he conjured one every evening and vanished it in the morning, before the cleaning lady appeared.

When Justin woke, over an hour later, there was another identical chair in the other corner, and Harry was in the shower, whistling, not very tunefully.

Friday there were a lot of patients again, but again they were all extremely easy, and again they were quickly finished.

Franz waited for Harry, though, saying that Harry absolutely had to attend the dinner that evening.

Harry sighed. "I might disappear again for a year or two," he said. "I'm getting awfully tired of Perce!"

Franz was shocked. "He's the Minister of Magic! You owe him respect!"

Harry tiredly shook his head. He had tried hard to do what Percy wanted, but he was not confident. There was no logical reason that he should be attacked, but there had been no logical reason for Fudge or Daunt to attack him, either. But Percy was a Weasley, and he had always been so close to the Weasleys. Ron Weasley had been his best friend from the time they were eleven to the time he had died. And Ginny Weasley had been his wife.

He found Alex and David in their allotted sitting room. "Three hours free before dinner," he said. "I thought I might just go walking. I could just slip out, of course, if no-one wants to come."

But Franz had just entered. "No, you will not! I'll go with you myself."

Harry smiled at him. "Great, why not? I'd rather have someone with me - I've always disliked being followed." But Franz had already issued his instructions. Anthony and Malcolm were to follow, hopefully inconspicuously.

So Harry and Franz walked and talked. Franz was missing his family, and said that his wife was complaining that he was away so often, and this time it had been three weeks straight.

Harry said, "I wish I had a wife. I was always happiest when I was married. But first Ginny died, and then there was Luna, and she died."

Franz watched him. He'd never seen that expression on Harry's face before. He wondered - what sort of person would it take to be a match for Harry? He was so different now.

Even though Franz was so often annoyed with him, he had developed a profound respect for him. It was not just his magic - he'd recently published another book, and just a couple of weeks ago, there had been some highly respected American intellectuals who had become involved in some very deep discussions with Harry about his theories. Catherine had been listening intently, although not contributing. Simon had been assigned to be close that day, and Franz had watched with amusement as his expression had only become more and more baffled.

They turned their steps back to the hotel, when Harry stopped and retreated behind some parked cars.

"What's the matter?" asked Franz.

"An ambush, I think." said Harry. "Either I'm wrong about no longer being in danger, or someone else is the target." And he turned, looking behind. "We need to warn Anthony and Malcolm."

"Can you tell more exactly?" said Franz.

Harry looked toward the hotel, searching in his mind, even closing his eyes to better concentrate. Franz, irrespective of muggles, had drawn his wand.

Anthony and Malcolm were alert now, and they, too, had drawn their wands.

Harry regarded Franz. "If I show you what I can do, I'll be in more danger from the Ministry . If I don't show you what I can do, someone could get hurt. - It would be good if you told no-one."

"Show me what you can do," said Franz.

Harry, from his shelter, pointed. "There's a muggle with a high-powered rifle up there, another one across the road, and yet another even closer. I can stun them or I can kill them, and from here. They have every intention of mowing us all down in order not to miss me. There's good money promised, it seems."

"Any idea who's behind it?"

"No idea. I thought I was relatively safe these days, but it seems it's open season again."

Franz said, "I suppose you'd best stun them, then we'll do something about them."

So Harry closed his eyes again, concentrated, and a muggle fell. Twice more, and one of the guns discharged as it fell, but only damaged a few walls. Harry carefully scanned the surroundings again as Franz watched.

"I think it's OK," he finally said, "No guarantees - it might be best to apparate."

Franz waved to Anthony and Malcolm. Harry had not been supposed to see them, but it was obvious now that he'd known all along that they were there.

What to do with the gunmen was a problem. Harry suggested casually that the aurors kill them and leave it to the muggles to deal with the bodies, but law-abiding Franz was shocked.

"They're only killers," pointed out Harry, "And the only evidence against them is that they've got large guns."

But Franz only had Harry point out more precisely the positions of the stunned men, went himself to check that Harry wasn't hallucinating, and then sent Harry back to the hotel, apparating, and himself liaised with the American aurors to have the matter dealt with.

**x**

Harry just had time for a swim in the heated hotel pool before changing for dinner. Simon was with him, watching as he swam. Word spread quickly, and a woman with a beautiful body appeared, flaunting herself, although swimming awkwardly, with much splashing, when she finally slid into the pool. Simon watched her avidly.

Harry ignored her, although she checked him over fairly thoroughly when he pulled himself out. Simon was a goodlooking boy, but she didn't seem willing to accept him, even as a consolation prize.

The dinner took its usual tedious course, Percy preening himself as the American Minister spoke of annual visits by the team, the need for it an inevitable consequence of the ancient and respected tradition of wizard duelling. Percy nodded in complacent agreement.

Harry watched from a distance, and he knew that it had not been Percy who had wanted him dead. Percy seemed to be happy with him again.

Franz thought very carefully about the abilities that Harry had betrayed that evening. And in the end, the only mention of the incident in his report was that Harry had suspected danger for no observable reason, and had apparated straight to his bedroom from a couple of blocks away. Harry's feeling for danger was well known. There was nothing new in that.

Harry was impatient to go home. He could just send his luggage home, and apparate himself, but that would be another betrayal of his abilities, and he'd done enough for one day. He was beginning to think more seriously of dropping out of sight again. If he had not felt the danger, and if he had not been able to feel for the minds of his intending attackers, he and Franz, and very likely a few innocent passers by, would have been messily dead by now.

Maybe he could just pretend to be gone, and hide out at home. It was still relatively hidden, as only those to whom he had told the coordinates personally would be likely to remember it - his home was well protected with magic.

He wasn't sleepy, and invited all the aurors and Catherine into his suite for a final party. They had done a lot in the past three weeks, and Catherine finally consented to fix the nasty scratches on David's cheek.

Harry's suite was large, and was surrounded by the rooms of the aurors, so there was no need to be particularly quiet, and the young men became more and more rowdy, as Catherine watched them disapprovingly.

Even Franz was laughing uproariously as they drank the bar fridge dry. He was telling Simon what Harry had said, "Just kill them - They're only killers!"

Harry thought again what a simple solution it would have been. He didn't really understand their objections. Harry himself might have been in trouble if he'd done it, but the aurors would not have been...

**x**

Three days later, Monday afternoon, Jebedee and Zack appeared in the Apparation Zone of Harry's home. Harry and Kinsman could be seen a couple of paddocks away, putting on a bucking bronco show. The beautiful black gelding had neither saddle nor bridle, although he wore a loose halter.

Jebedee and Zack could see even from that distance that Harry was laughing, clinging to his back without the slightest apparent trouble. Chris Barnes, a small child on his shoulders, watched him.

The two wizards were unobserved at first, until two small terrier type dogs raced to them, yapping wildly, and drawing attention to their presence. Harry looked up, but Kevin was quicker, hobbling closer, calling, "Marcus, Judas. That's enough," and patting them. "Well done!"

The tall black horse had thrown his head up, looking in their direction, and Jebedee was not surprised when Harry stayed on the horse, casually jumping a fence, to join them. The little dogs were sitting at the side of Kevin now, very alert, until a tabby cat strolled up to one, and, with sudden viciousness, whacked it twice on the nose. The dog retreated, backing away, tail between its legs.

Zack was finally working again, in the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad. He was no longer fit enough to be an auror, and probably never would be again.

Jebedee noticed several newspapers untidily on the coffee table.

Harry saw him looking, and said, "Just trying to work out whether it might be prudent to leave the country again for a year or two. Some people don't seem to like me much these days..."

"It's only a minority," said Jebedee, "And Weasley's tickled pink with the success of the trip to America."

"I heard one of the aurors had to be rescued," said Zack. "Bit of a slap in the face for them."

Harry grinned. "Franz was hoping to keep that quiet. He raked me down so often for going out without a bodyguard, and it was one of his own that got into trouble. I'm really very good, on the whole."

"That's not what I heard," said Zack. "He was complaining bitterly at lunch today, although when Emil asked him whether he wished to be replaced, he said that he didn't. He reckons that no-one else could manage mad Harry like he could!"

Harry laughed. "I'm not really that mad. The thing is that it's useful to have them around while I work, but afterwards, it's only a signal of my presence. I'm a lot safer when I'm alone and no-one knows who I am," and Harry, for a moment, looked a bit sad and tired. "But, of course, it never has been just for my safety, has it?" and both the ex-aurors looked uncomfortable.

"No death attempts lately then?" asked Jebedee.

"Not for ages until last Friday, and that was nasty!"

"I didn't hear that."

"Franz agreed to keep it quiet, but it was a bit worrying. I was going through the hate mail as well this morning, trying to work out who was responsible. I can't think of any particular reason for someone to want me dead at the moment."

"What exactly happened?" asked Zack.

"It needs to be kept quiet," warned Harry. "The thing is..." and he reddened a bit, "I sort of made myself a bit obvious - but it would have been a bloodbath! They had high powered muggle weapons, and were prepared to kill everyone in sight."

Jebedee was surprised, "They were muggles?"

Harry nodded, "I don't know why they didn't try guns years ago - I might be able to hit away a spell - mostly, but not a bullet, and certainly not a stream of bullets! A friend suggested once that it was probably just snobbery - that most wizards scorn muggle weapons."

"You're not telling it very well," pointed out Zack.

"No, I'm not, am I?" said Harry. "What happened is that Franz and I were walking back to the hotel, Anthony and Malcolm were behind, pretending not to be there, the way aurors do - and we were about to walk into an ambush. Anyway, I felt the danger, searched, and felt the men waiting. They were to get the black-haired man with glasses and a cane - and not to worry if there were other casualties. There was to be a large payment. But it's still possible that it was a case of mistaken identity."

"So what happened then?" said Jebedee.

"I stunned them from under cover, and Franz looked after it from there." said Harry. "And that's why Franz agreed to keep it quiet. If Percy knew I could do something like that, he'd be after me straight away. But I think Percy's OK, now - like you said, he had a wonderful time in America - just what he likes, lots of attention to lap up."

Jebedee and Zack were thinking over his words.

"What do you mean when you said you searched?" Zack finally asked.

Harry hesitated. He was so much in the habit of keeping very quiet about his abilities, but this had been dangerous, and he fully trusted Zack and Jebedee. They wouldn't turn against him. And he finally said, but looking at the wall, "Telepathy. I was able to pick them out, they were waiting, concentrating, and it stuck out a mile."

"How many?" asked Jebedee.

"Three men with high-powered repeater type rifles - there were lots of people around, too. It wouldn't have just been me and Franz get killed - that's why I'm worried. Nearly always, they've just gone for me."

Jebedee said, "The Auror Department would like to know."

But Harry shook his head. "I don't trust Emil, I don't want them knowing."

They nodded, Jebedee still frowning.

"So anyway," said Harry, "I thought you might just keep your ears open - let me know, maybe, if you hear anything."

**x**

There were no further clues as to who was responsible for the attempted murder in New York, and there were no further indications that Harry was in that sort of danger again. Maybe it was just a case of mistaken identity... Some crime figures were gunned down, but that was always happening in America, and Harry never heard that one of those men habitually carried a cane, after a knee capping when he was very young.

Percy Weasley didn't seem to be worrying about Harry being too powerful, and still enjoyed appearing at formal dinners with the team, usually the last night they were in a country. Harry continued to tolerate the functions, finding it easier now, as there were nearly always people invited in whom he was interested. And that had a side benefit; If Harry was involved in deep discussion with intellectuals, the important beaurocrats were less likely to abandon Percy in order to join him.

Beth made a short trip to England in April, black Jeremiah looking exotic at her side. They had their baby with them, of course, and the tiny girl's skin colour made it obvious that Harry could not be her father. They were seen in Diagon Alley, where they strolled for a while with Harry, before visiting Fortescues for the traditional ice-cream.

Harry saw many people he knew, and most of them came to say hello, filled with curiosity about this scarcely known daughter of Harry Potter, her impressive husband, and her baby - obviously brown. Some were disappointed, it had been such a delicious scandal. Others were relieved. Of course they hadn't thought that there could be anything in it - but it was undeniable that Harry was not a normal man.

There were still occasional demonstrations referring to Harry as a wicked and evil, unnatural monster, but the demonstrators took care to have them only when he was known to be out of the country on his spell-breaking expeditions. They didn't want any confrontations with the monster. There was little notice taken of them - none of them were people who'd earned any respect in the world. In fact, many of them appeared undeniably ignorant.

For a while after Beth's visit, Harry hoped that Euan might suggest that he could teach again. But there was nothing said, and when a letter arrived from Kandidria School of Magic, in New York, offering him a professorship, he read it over and over. He refused in the end - it would have meant leaving his home. Instead, there was some talk of a series of lectures.

Alternate weeks, Wednesday afternoons, Ben had his list of clients for spell-breaking, as always. It was routine, even boring. On rare occasions, he needed to make the very slight effort that an observer would feel as a gentle tingling in the air, but he hadn't had a difficult patient for months. Of course, there were seldom old, old cases in England, as he'd been working his cures there fairly regularly since he'd been quite young.

Adolph, one of the German recruits, was rostered to be in with him. Adolph had been with him before, but quite a long time ago. There seemed to be a constant supply of newly qualified young aurors on guard outside, seldom the same one twice.

By May, Percy appeared to have finally tired of being seen with the team. There were no formal dinners arranged in three countries running.

Harry was relieved, and was frequently visiting Britta, since Inge was married. There had been two Swedish backpackers sleeping with Harry when Helmer had been conceived, Britta was the other one.

To Harry, she was as wonderful as she'd been when she was twenty-two. Harry made love to the person, not to the outer image. Not that he was actually averse to beauty.

Franz was still the team leader, but Justin and Grant had taken the place of Malcolm and Anthony who were wanted on different duties. There was still a shortage of experienced aurors.

***chapter end***