Soldier

Disclaimer: See chapter 1. Reviews are welcomed, flames are not.

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Chapter 32: Ride Away

Albus Dumbledore sat in his office, dejected. The holidays were almost over and he hadn't had much to celebrate this season.

He'd looked upon his own mortality and it frightened him. And now, it seemed, his worst fears of Harry was going dark had been realized. The boy had abandoned everything he, Albus Dumbledore, stood for – it was disheartening.

He couldn't understand where he went wrong. He did however have several answers to a few of those questions that plagued him, but they only served to raise more questions.

One answer, he now realized, was the sword that Harry claimed was more than a simple Japanese blade. It was a soul sword which had bonded to Harry. No wonder he couldn't get the thing away from him! He'd been unwittingly dealing Harry a mortal insult in trying to confiscate it, an act punishable by death in Japan he was told.

It now became apparent that Harry spent this past summer in Japan. That would explain the formal speech patterns, and noble attitude, he was showing. Some Japanese noble had obviously trained the boy. His behavior reflected as much, they were a very formal society.

Why was Harry at the Ministry, besides meeting with Amelia and the Unspeakables? What happened to all of the horcruxes? Was Tom really gone?

Remembering those horrible 'Doors of Hell' gave him the shudders. Was it really necessary to send Tom and Greyback through them? Was that the fate awaiting him, as the Soul Reaper implied? Surely his 'Greater Good' couldn't be wrong?

"Greater Good! There is no such thing! I'm warning you right now, Albus," came Amelia's voice breaking into his thoughts. She had spent an hour the day before reaming him out for all the 'misery he'd caused that young man'. Albus had tried to defend his choices, but she had a counter to each and every one of his arguments.

"That young wizard is leaving us because of you! And the 'greater good' you are always spouting? It's only a figment of your own warped and senile imagination! He no longer has any love for us, and especially not for you! You saw to it that he has no roots within our society, and now we are all paying for it. Leave him alone, or you'll be spending time in my holding cells! Your 'greater good' be damned!" She finally dismissed him as if he was a naughty child.

"Oh, and Albus? I'll be calling for a vote of no confidence at the next Wizengamot meeting, be ready," she warned as he left her office. "You might wish to, gracefully retire before then."

Albus glanced over at the ancient wand resting on his desk, her words still ringing in his ears. It was his original, the one he received when he was only eleven. He'd lost the elder wand, and in such a childish maneuver. Albus knew Harry had the cloak prior to winning the wand. Thank Merlin he didn't have the stone as well.

"Albus are your here?" came Minevra McGonagall's voice as she entered. "We have a problem."

Albus sighed deeply. Now what?

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Harry smiled as he exited the plane when it arrived in Japan. He made sure that the letters he wrote would be reaching the headmaster just about now. He never looked back as he walked out of the terminal.

Home. He was finally home. There was nothing left in England that he cared to stay for, except maybe Luna.

She was still on his mind as he stared up at the tall buildings beyond the air terminal. The promise they made to each other before he left meant he would see her again, just not in England. It would be years, if not decades, before he could bring himself to return to his native land. That didn't mean they would not find ways to meet. She was, after all, still under age and in school. And there was always the chance she might be coaxed to come over, in search of one of her mysterious creatures. Once she graduated he would like to pursue a relationship with her, if she wished.

Harry took a deep breath of freedom as he walked over to the dark limo waiting for him. The driver was holding a small sign that said, "Potter."

It wasn't long before his luggage was loaded and the limo pulled away from the terminal into the afternoon traffic.

Harry leaned back into the leather seat. He felt a surge of happiness, which seemed a bit strange when he thought about it. He had, after all, spent only a month here last summer, and yet it already felt like home. A small smile curved his lips as he watched the city go by through the limo's tinted windows.

Eventually the limo pulled up in front of a small high-rise, not far from the Kurosaki clinic.

With the help of the goblins, Harry had purchased the tall building as a foreclosure, for back taxes. He'd then claimed the two story penthouse with its roof garden and pool, plus the condo directly below it. The other thirty condos were still open and waiting for occupancy after being refurbished. The goblins promised it wouldn't take long to let them, as living space was at a premium here in Japan.

The penthouse was ready for him when he arrived, warded, decorated and furnished. It was an open room concept, with shoji screens that delineated the different rooms in the main living areas. It was part traditional, with a slight western feel that was very popular at the moment.

Harry loved it the moment he walked in. The goblins had taken his tastes and needs to heart, and created a new home just for him.

The double condo below the penthouse was reserved for Sirius and Remus. The goblins added a magical door and stairway connecting it to the penthouse. They had wanted, at first, to share the penthouse with him, but Harry vetoed it.

He wanted his own space, plus he was positive that Ichigo and his friends would be hanging out with him frequently. Also, he really didn't want to know what Padfoot and Moony got up to. The basement of the building contained a bomb shelter strong enough to handle Moony on the full moons.

The penthouse kitchen was a modern state of the art kitchen any professional chef would love. Harry smiled, picturing the many creations he would cook up with Yuzu.

Down a short hallway from the kitchen was the first of three bedrooms with a hall bath, a library and an office. Long, open, elegantly curved stairs soared from the living area to the second level, with an expansive open landing overlooking the pool and roof-top garden as well as the floor below. The second guest bedroom with bath, and the master ensuite were situated on the second floor, along with a game slash media room.

Harry plopped onto his huge king-size water bed, exhausted from his long flight. He had decided to take the long way back to Japan instead of a magical international port-key. It was less likely for anyone to track him, especially Dumbledore. The goblins made sure the penthouse was registered under the name of Evan Black, not Harry Potter.

The abrupt ringing of the phone by his bed woke him a short time later. It was the concierge from down stairs.

"Hai?"

"Sir, there is an orange-haired teen, with friends, saying they were invited up," came a voice sounding very disapproving.

"Ah, yes," Harry hid a snicker. "That would be my cousin Ichigo and his friends. Send them up, please." He was quite sure that Ichigo, with his hair and general attitude, would not please anyone on security detail here. Oh well, it was their problem.

Yes, life was about to become good.

The Japanese teens stayed for the rest of the afternoon, talking and getting reacquainted. Although these were Ichigo's friends, Harry felt quite at home with them. In time, Harry may find friends of his own, but that was in the future.

Harry showed off his new house and told Ichigo to claim one of the two guest bedrooms.

"Oi! Are you sure about this, Harry?" Ichigo asked.

"I'm sure, Ichigo," Harry grinned, reassuring his cousin as he claimed the second guest bedroom closest to Harry's master suite.

"If you need a place to crash, you are more than welcome here. Especially if your old man gets on your nerves." A cheeky smirk accompanied the offer.

Ichigo's reply of, "He always gets on my nerves, runt," caused everyone to laugh. They all knew Isshin very well and how he got on his children's nerves.

"Ano, Harry-kun? What about um . . .him?" asked Orihime, nervously waving a hand towards Harry's back.

At her question the spirit appeared beside Harry. Muramasa looked over at Harry fondly.

"Muramasa's staying with me. The Soul Society is aware of him," Harry told them, placing a hand on the spirit's shoulder. "And of course, they've sent people to watch us," He looked out the big floor to ceiling window on the balcony overlooking the pool and garden and shrugged. "I don't plan on invading them. That's Ichigo's department. . . "

"OI!"

Harry ducked as Ichigo took a swing at him, causing everyone to laugh again.

"Seriously," Harry said as he looked over at the spirit. "I just want to live my life. I know I won't have a 'normal life' with him around, but I will never give him up and besides, 'normal's' over rated."

Muramasa smiled slightly as he leaned against Harry.

"Harry, you need to tell them about those artifacts you acquired," the spirit reminded him. "I think you should have Urahara-san take a look at them."

"What artifacts?" Uryuu asked, adjusting his glasses. He didn't look too comfortable around the zanpakuto spirit, but he would learn to accept him for Harry's sake.

Harry sighed and went to get them. He laid out the cloak, the ring with a stone and a wand. "The cloak I inherited from my father which, according to Sirius, has been passed down through the generations of Potters. It's about the only thing I have left from him," he said quietly, one hand stroking it lovingly.

"The stone I found when we took care of Tom, and the wand I took from Dumbledore just before that. They've been glowing or emitting magic since I've placed them together."

Ichigo and the others shook their heads. "Well, it's a puzzle for sure, Harry-kun," Uyruu agreed.

"Ah. Even I can feel the aura," Ichigo said. "If anyone can solve it, it would be Geta Boshi."

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Harry spent the rest of the week accustoming himself to his new life before he went to see the eccentric shopkeeper.

Urahara looked over the three items laid before him as he tapped his closed fan against his chin.

"I say, Harry-kun," he said with a grin. "This is an interesting puzzle. You say you inherited the cloak from your father, and that its been passed down through the generations?"

"That's right," Harry affirmed. "I got the wand and the stone the night we took care of ol' Tommy and Greyback."

"Hmm. . . "

"Do you know something?" Ichigo asked, scowling.

"I do, but it isn't necessary for us to deal with it just this moment. As Harry-kun has said, he is entitled to a life," the blonde shopkeeper said, standing. "Let me research a bit to confirm everything first."

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Albus Dumbledore stood at the welcoming feast for the second term of Hogwarts. The students had just returned after the holidays. He didn't want to say what he had to, but Minerva threatened to not only transfigure all his lemon drops to brussel sprouts, but charm all his fancy robes to black if he didn't.

"I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas," he began to say. He glanced over at Minerva who had her wand out.

"It is my sad duty to announce that Lord Harry Potter has completed his O.W.L.s over the holidays and has withdrawn from this fine institution. He will be seeking the rest of his education else-where. His test results are such that he is allowed to do home study for his N.E.W.T.s, if he so chooses."

Albus sat back down with a huff. He had forgotten that little clause in the charter allowing students to take their O.W.L.s early if recommended by a head of house. That Minera, as his head of house hadn't been asked was telling. It was obvious that Harry had lost his trust for almost everyone in England.

He peered over at the Ravenclaw table.

A lone blonde Ravenclaw looked up at him with a knowing smile. She held all the answers, but barring veritaserum, he knew that he wouldn't get them from her. A few minutes in her company, with her innane babble and chaotic mind, would cause any occlumens a headache that no potion could cure.

"Filius, a word after the feast?" the headmaster asked.

"Of course Albus," the diminutive Ravenclaw head of house agreed. "I suggest that you include the others. We have much to talk about."

It was going to be a long night. And tomorrow would be no better with the Wizengamot session looming.

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At Grimmauld Place Sirius and Remus packed the rest of their things and traded smiles. "So any idea where we'll be staying, Padfoot?"

"Well, Harry has arranged for a condo in the building he is living in. What's a condo?" Sirius asked his friend.

"A very large flat that you own outright and don't rent. We'll be close to Harry," Remus replied with a roll of his eyes. "Ready? I want to be gone before He shows up."

One portkey later the pair left England without looking back. They were taking several International port-keys, unlike Harry. They would be taking their time as to throw anyone looking for them, or Harry, off the track.

They too were looking forward to getting their lives back.

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Hermione sat stunned. She couldn't believe that Harry was gone, just like he had been saying all term. She hung her head as tears started to form.

"I knew it!" Ron Weasley groused. "He's a cowa. . . Ow!"

Neville put his wand away. "Harry is not now, nor was he ever, a coward! He faced You-Know-Who and sent him to Hell, along with Greyback. He left because we didn't give him a reason to stay."

"What do you mean Neville?" asked Seamus. "He's the Boy-Who-Lived. He needs to be here to keep us safe."

"And has no family left. He was raised in the Muggle World where he was abused, and the Headmaster kept sending him back every summer. Why should he stay? According to Harry the Wizarding World took everything from him, but gave nothing back."

"What do you mean?" asked Lavender Brown.

"Well, don't you all still have your parents? Harry lost his when he was a baby. You all have family. People who care if you eat, sleep, chase away nightmares when you need it. Name one adult that has done that for Harry? Wait, no one! He was sent to live in the muggle world in conditions worse than those of a Malfoy house elf time and time again. He was never allowed to learn anything about his heritage. So why should he stay?"

Neville didn't care that the Great Hall had grown silent and that his words carried.

"Quite right, Mr. Longbottom. Well spoken," came Professor Flitwick's voice. "20 points to Gryffindor."

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I had wanted to end the story here but it wouldn't let me. * le sigh *

There is one more chapter left.

Thanks everyone for the comments and reviews.

Until next time – GF and The Frau