All Along the Watchtower

Chapter 2 - Entrapment and Exodus

"If you leave this house don't expect to come back." James Potter said to his son.

Harry faced his Father without flinching. "Why would I want to come back here?" He snapped. "So I can listen to you go on about how James is amazing, how he's a hero, how great his life is? The only reason I have stayed in your house was for Mum, you mean nothing to me!" Harry spat coldly. "When have you ever been my dad? Sure you're my mother's husband but when did you ever say well done; or good job. I'm sure James told you I won the Tri-Wizard tournament, not him. About how I stood for half an hour, waiting for him! I won the Quidditch cup for the past two years for my house. I even outscored James in my OWLs!" Harry shook his head. "Sirius is more of a dad to me than you ever were. He doesn't care that I am a Slytherin, or that Kaden is my best friend-"

James cut in angrily. "-don't ever compare that boy to my friends."

"Kaden would never betray me, not like Peter did." Harry said wickedly, knowing how deeply his Uncle's betrayal was felt. "It must cut you up that one of your best friends served up your golden boy to his Dark Lord. Even worse, that I had to save James' sorry ass from the Dark Lord."

"Don't lie; your brother saved you from the Dark Lord-"

Harry pulled back his jumper, down to the elbows. The scars on his arms were as red as the fire that burned them, that melted them; they were shiny, almost metallic, streaking along his arms like thick, horribly disfigured veins. "Look at this; tell me how this happened any other way. I almost killed myself to save him, to save my brother; I stood my ground against the Darkest of Dark Lords for almost ten minutes, longer than anyone alive outside of Professor Dumbledore. That's the truth!" Harry could see the red mist beginning to descend on his Father and he reached out,he reached out with his magic and tore his Father's wand away and sent it skittering down the hallway. "Let's get this straight."

"Get what straight?" James asked with false calm.

Emerald met sapphire, spawn and sire. "James is not the only boy who lived, we both survived that night and I'll be the one who kills that bastard, not him."

James paled considerably. "How do you know of the prophecy?"

"The prophecy doesn't matter to me and James can keep his title for all I care, but it is amazing what a little bit of Legilmency can do." Harry said. "Be honest with yourself. Do you really think that my brother could defeat the Dark Lord?"

James looked away from his son's emerald gaze, admitting defeat in a way but the silent truth being that he could never stare down someone with those eyes. "He is being trained by Headmaster Dumbledore to that effect."

"That is why he's been going to Order Headquarters?" Harry looked up to find his Father alarmed. "Of course I know about the Order. How is he doing?"

"What is it to you? You obviously don't care very much."

"I care; James is my brother; that should be enough for you." Harry said, he may have seemed uncaring at times, but James was his brother and always would be till the day one of them died; that meant something.

James sighed wearily, "Not as well as we would like, he has become frustrated with more powerful spells and tires greatly most days. Albus said it will take time and I am afraid that we won't have much."

Harry knew his Father was right. "Dad."

James looked up at his son, shock and surprise taking to his face.

"I called you dad for the first time in years, be happy about it." Harry snapped and his Father looked away. Harry saw the look of dejection on his Father's face but he just wasn't a forgiving person anymore. "Look at me."

James looked up found a flare of fire in his son's palm. If it wasn't classed as a Dark Art and illegal James would have been proud of his son's achievement in mastering such an advanced form of magic.

Harry moulded the flames until they resembled a ball of fire. "This ball of fire, while wholly illegal takes more power to maintain than casting a Killing Curse."

James nodded watching as his son's eyes glowed brighter and brighter with his Element; in the Auror Academy they studied basic Elemental theory to identify if a criminal used the ability. One of its disadvantages being the glowing in ones' eyes, it gave away a suspect instantly.

"Since the average wizard can only cast the killing curse ten to twelve times before coming close to magical exhaustion, that tells you Elementals such as me, have a larger capacity for drawing magic than normal witches and wizards such as you and James."

James scowled at the fact.

"We are more powerful, most normal wizards can't compare." Harry had never broken his stare. "Now think; which of your sons is more likely to kill the Dark Lord, the Elemental or the normal son. I know you all thought it was amazing that he managed to knock that basilisk out with the Killing Curse, but any magic user can use that spell. All they need is a pretty concrete reason for not wanting it around anymore and the power to do the spell properly. Which he didn't at the time; James wasn't exactly a prodigy back then either, he just has a habit for getting in trouble."

"Would it matter if I said I believe you?" James asked helplessly.

"No."

James sighed. He finally lost his son; if he was honest the day was long in the making. "Do me one favour, come back to see your mother. She will miss you terribly."

Harry didn't bother to turn back.

The days passed slowly for Harry, his room was lonely but he dared not step out. His mother and the elf contingent were rather distraught by his leaving, the latter often to the point of hysterics with Dobby and Winky at the forefront; pledging to follow him to the ends of the earth and as for the others of the household, Harry was simply glad to be rid. There was little entertainment on offer. He had even read through all of his new school books and practiced some spells but none stood out as particularly useful, it was hard seeing the value of a Cheering Charm when he was fairly certain the Dark Lord could incinerate an entire city should the notion take him.

Therefore his eyes wandered. Books such as the Darkest Book of Dark Arts and the Diary of Tom Riddle were much more useful. Harry found the second book particularly useful. It was interactive and gave him long explanations on spells, their use and wand movements. All he had to do was touch black ink to the page and let the words flow from his quill. Harry didn't have a clue who Tom Marvolo Riddle was; but he was a flat out magical genius at least on par with Dumbledore and if the book was correct, on par with Dumbledore at sixteen. The wards of Hollow Manor thankfully kept his foray into more illegal sorcery under wraps.

James was off training and Harry was unsure of the Headmaster's motives. Magical talent was always a simple case of you have it or you don't. Magical power could not be manufactured, there were rituals to augment and amplify it but they were rarely permanent, most involving the cutting of runes and sigils into a person's skin. So far as Harry read the more permanent rituals were mainly Druid and Egyptian in origin, which required actual human sacrifice coupled with other socially unacceptable acts.

The only bright part of his day was when the mobile phone Kaden gave him lit up with a message from Cho; it woke him from his mid-morning nap. Although Harry figured out how to work the mobile phone to an extent, he wasn't altogether sure about how to reply. Harry gathered it worked when he got a message back saying Lol, but that raised an entirely new conundrum.

The phone began to vibrate again and at least Harry knew how to answer it thankfully. "Hi mate, what's up?"

"Nothing, how are you?" Kaden asked.

From his sitting position Harry lay back on his bed. "I'm fine, just a little tired."

"Okay."

"Any reason for the call?" Harry asked; Kaden rarely did anything without some convoluted reasoning.

"I'm bored and I figured I would mention Karen will be staying with us, not Connor."

Harry recognized the lightened tone that came when Kaden spoke of his sister, Karen was one of the few people Harry knew Kaden liked to be around. "I thought Karen was staying in France with her friend?"

Kaden paused, thinking of how to paint himself in the best light. "I was with them until yesterday, Lana is not the brightest spark mate, I'll leave it at that."

"Alana? Isn't she the ordinary looking one?" Harry retorted with a touch of laughter. If truth be told none of Karen's friends were ordinary looking; it was a prerequisite to be a beautiful girl when attending the Beuxbatons Academy of Magic.

"Such a good friend…" Kaden muttered

Harry rolled his eyes. "Where are you now?"

"The flat."

"I thought you said it wasn't going to be ready until tomorrow?"

"It's not and my dad won't put me up in a hotel and he suspended my cards. According to him it's my fault I got chucked out of Lana's. My fault! " Kaden muttered to himself.

"Have a bit of self-control in the future." Harry suggested.

"Let's see how much self-control you have after you nail Chang." Kaden retorted.

It was Harry's turn to scowl. "I told you that's not why I asked her."

Kaden chuckled down the line. "Sure, you want you some advice Mr Potter?"

"Shoot." Harry said with a fair helping of distain.

"Every girl loves it as much as we do and if she tells you any different, she's an idiot. If there's one thing about me I may be a little man whore-"

"That's being diplomatic." Harry deadpanned.

Kaden ignored him. "I at least make sure they enjoy themselves as much as I do. Probably more now I think about it."

"So did you call for a reason or just to insult my non-existent sex life?" Harry asked, annoyed at the direction of their conversation.

"What's wrong mate, you know I can always tell?"

"I'm just tired, bad start to the day that's all."

Kaden growled in annoyance. "You call a bad day getting into a fight with your daddy, I call that a fun day. Stop pissing about it; I'm sure you could take him if he pushed you."

"I just wish he would piss off… but I guess I'm doing that." Harry said; bitterness well drilled into his tone.

"Whatever, how did you get into a fight so early in the day?"

"It's around four in the afternoon and he brought everything up at breakfast when James was about-"

"-let me guess, Golden Boy couldn't stand the thought of you moving out because he loves you so much?"

Harry shook his head, not partaking in the humour. "No he thought it was unfair I get to move out. I don't know what he's complaining about because he's at the Order's headquarters training with the Headmaster most days anyway."

"Shit...the little fuckwit is getting trained by the Old Man? That's unexpected."

"I know, I told my dad some home truths and he let me in on the secret." Harry said with a smirk, remembering the confrontation.

"Mate, that's one of the reasons I had to give you a call, you have to stop using your Element so much."

"Why? You said the Ministry can't detect it here because of the wards and I need to blow off some steam." When he was younger, heightened emotional stress often caused him to accidently incinerate objects, have bouts of telekinesis and generally cause havoc for the elves around Hollow Manor, which conversely fostered a rather strong relationship with them. They did love to work. So as he got older he found exercising his magic was the best way to stop any random outbursts of accidental magic. When he discovered his Element, it was a gift from Merlin; allowing him to burn away his frustration and mixed emotion.

"Harry that's the thing, the Ministry can't detect it but other," Kaden chose next words carefully, "organizations can."

"Kaden what have you been watching now? Try something funny for once," Harry said jokingly. When staying over at any of Kaden's homes, either the old Ancestral home in Ireland or the Blackwood residence in Scotland, Harry had partaken in watching some of his DVD collection, mostly consisting of TV shows and various films. Harry liked more factual based shows whereas Kaden was a freak for anything rife with conspiracy.

Kaden's tone was level and serious when he continued. "Harry, I'm not being funny or joking. Look, I love nothing more than playing around with my Element but I only do it when I'm in a properly warded area or I don't have any other choice."

"A properly warded area? Don't tell me someone might come to my door and take me away?" Harry asked with mock fear dulling his tone.

"Don't joke about shit like that."

"Then tell me what you're on about." Harry said, frustrated at the lack of explanation.

"I will…Tomorrow once I come and get you."

"Just send a portkey."

"No, we need to go somewhere first and I can't be bothered applying for a Portkey permit, we'll apparate. But I have to go, got some stuff to do. See you around ten tomorrow morning." Kaden said quickly, not giving Harry time press the subject.

"Okay, see you then." Harry set the phone down on the bedside table and his frustration gave way to a complete disregard for his friend's advice. He lit a small pocket of flame in his hand. Slowly he manipulated the flame, making it grow and colour, but due to his less than happy mood the fire flared continuously.

It caught the attention of Shan, his small snake, who slithered the distance from his small wicker basket to the bed. "What is wrong Master Harry, has the conceited one annoyed you?"

"No Shan, I haven't spoken to James since this morning." Harry hissed back, still concentrating on the crimson flare.

Shan moved toward his Master and twisted his body around his Master's scarred arm until his head rested comfortably while watching the flames dance in his Master's hands. "Not the mindless one Master Harry, the conceited one, the one who dislikes snakes." Shan hissed indignantly.

"It would be easier if you just said his name but yes, Kaden has annoyed me." Harry hissed back impatiently and the flame flickered.

"Do you wish for me to hurt him?" Shan asked, his black eyes turned and shined with innocence.

"No, I don't think I that would help me."

"Are you sure you don't want me to hurt him? I will try not to enjoy it."

"For the last time no!" Harry snapped. "What has he ever done to you, it was you who bit him not the other way around!"

"He insulted me; he said I was just a common grass snake." Shan hissed releasing his hold on his Master's arm.

"Poor little Shan; don't listen to him." Harry hissed back.

"Don't patronize me Master Harry; I am both older and wiser than you. You are lucky the feathered one is returning or I would teach you a lesson in respect." Shan said, baring his small fangs threateningly before making his way off Harry's bed and under the desk to his basket.

Harry lay back on his bed and fell asleep as Hedwig glided back in the window.

Hedwig hooted a greeting but quieted when her yellowed eyes spotted her Master resting fitfully. She sighed as best as an owl could.

He was having yet another nightmare.

Come the next morning Harry was more eager to leave Hollow Manor. The Lady Potter thought it would be a fantastic idea to have a family dinner as a send-off and invited Sirius, his girlfriend and Remus. It turned out to be a spectacularly bad idea when another argument broke out.

Sirius and Harry were on one side, his Father and James on the other and his mum, Remus and Arianne -Sirius' girlfriend- stuck somewhere in the middle.

It began when his Father told the room Harry was moving out. Remus understood the reasoning and logic while Sirius shrugged it off, explaining the news was nothing new. Harry's Father was none too happy about that and accused Sirius allowing his son to be driven away. The argument drew out for nearly a half-hour before James Junior and Harry got into a fight. James attempted to use one of the many spells the Headmaster had taught him but couldn't quite pull it off. Harry, pissed off beyond all recognition, decided to show his brother how to use the spell properly and destroyed half the dining room in the process. After that performance Harry was banished to his room where he chose to stay.

Shan of course tried to cheer him up, Hedwig stole worried glances and Sirius called through the two-way mirror. Harry just wouldn't be happy until he left Hollow Manor behind.

A loud knock on his bedroom door drew Harry from his thoughts; he was sifting and sorting them as best he could with his limited Occlumency skills, so he ignored it. The noise wasn't soft enough to be his mum; it was James or his Father. Either way Harry wasn't up for another fight.

Another knock came, louder and impatient. "Piss off!" Harry shouted at the door.

"Harry let me in."

Harry recognized the voice. "James, pissing off is a really simple concept even you can understand!"

"I need to talk to you." James said, his voice still muffled by the door.

"Fine," Harry relented. With a flick of his wrist the locking charm disengaged and the door to his room flew open, revealing his mirror image. "What?" Harry asked impatiently, forcing himself to sit up.

"I wanted to ask, why you are moving out, really, why?" James asked, ruffling his hair nervously. Harry hated that similarity.

"Because I want to."

"Stop talking out of your ass Harry! You have a reason, you always have a reason!"

"I need a reason for moving in with my best and probably only friend thanks to your years of torture at school?" Harry snarled venomously. Out the corner of his eye he noticed Hedwig shuffle toward the window. He didn't blame her; this was not going to end well.

"Stop being so melodramatic, you had friends." James retorted weakly.

"Name one before Kaden came in third year that you and your friends didn't drive away." Silence was his only answer. "Well that's one reason now piss off and leave me alone before I make you."

"Harry I just want to know why you are leaving, why you won't tell me?"

Harry thought for a moment James actually cared, but quashed the notion as quickly. "What difference does it make to you?"

"You are my brother Harry, I care." James muttered, downcast at Harry's coldness.

"I'm your brother all of a sudden?" Harry's face set itself into a sneer second naturedly. "That's a piss-poor joke if I ever heard one! It didn't seem like it in first year when you said that you saved me and the Philosopher's Stone or in second year when I got you into the Chamber of Secrets and your stupidity got that Weasley girl stuck in a hospital for the rest of her life."

James turned away as tears leaked from his sapphire eyes.

The sneer still hadn't left Harry's face, the venomous anger which clouded his mind didn't dissipate either, he had struck a nerve and the knife was ripe for twisting. "Wait."

James stopped and turned, knowing exactly what Harry was going to say.

"What about fourth year when I saved you from the Dark Lord? It wasn't you in the Hospital Wing with third and fourth degree burns after pretty much imploding your magical core? It never took you nearly 3 months to hold a wand again!" Harry's voice faltered and turned fearful as he remembered the searing, piercing pain, how unrelenting, how debilitating it was, how numbing charms didn't hold for long against the burning tide. "Your magic never burned and scarred your arms until you couldn't even recognise them anymore, you never destabilised your core to the extent that Madam Pomfrey was afraid you'd explode and take half the school with you!" Harry pulled at the sleeves of his cardigan, like he always did, he couldn't help it. He hated the scars which covered his arms. They were a painful reminder of his weakness and the six month fight for his life and magic. "Still you took everything in. You became the big damn hero who nearly killed the Dark Lord and escaped without a scratch while dragging your brother's lifeless body back; you didn't even visit me in the hospital wing." Harry said and a tear dripped from his eye." Kaden is more of a brother to me than you will ever be. You wonder why I can't stand to live here? Look in a fucking mirror and think of what I see every time I look at you, just like every time I look at my arms!" Harry could feel how inflamed his arms were, how fiery and red the scars would be as magic threatened to break the surface. "Do yourself a service and leave the Dark Lord to someone who stands a chance!"

James' sadness flipped like a coin to anger. "You think you'll destroy the Dark Lord? The prophecy points to me as the person who will defeat him!"

"You can't beat me in a duel and I think there was something in the prophecy about 'marking his equal'. Who's the one with the scar I wonder?" Harry mocked. "Get out...you don't want to be here and I don't want you here."

James complied.

The next few hours passed with Harry sitting on his bed, calming himself, turning away the dark memories which threatened to overcome him since the confrontation with his brother. He couldn't help as the resentment welled in his stomach, as the anger flared and swirled, as the sadness became a puddle in a rainstorm and deepened. But there was only so much compartmentalizing he could do and Kaden was due to show up.

Hedwig and Shan were in their respective cages, in the hall along with his two cases of clothing and a couple of boxes. Harry figured if he needed anything else he could get it when only his mum was around, he was situated in the large living room of Hollow Manor. It contained mostly uncomfortable Victorian furniture scattered artfully around a magnificent mahogany coffee table.

Harry hated it all.

James was out and his Father at work, while his mum was in her in the basement working on various potions, probably Wolfsbane for Remus. That took up her time along with being the current Lady Potter which was a mostly full time job, what with all the charity and social events she was required to attend. But on any other day she could be found in her basement, working on potion for Remus and his friends and keeping up the Order's stocks. Harry smiled at the thought, knowing her perfectly white skin would be covered in soot and undoubtedly she would be screwing her eyes up in concentration. Harry would miss the time he spent down there. Lily Potter was an amazing Charms and Potions Mistress, second only to Severus Snape whom she often subbed for before he became the DADA teacher. Many encouraged her to take up the position fully when it was available. She had taught Harry little tricks and shortcuts in Portions. It helped him greatly to scrape an O in the subject.

A loud rattle emanated from down the hall and a small house-elf with large ears and big brown eyes popped into existence next to Harry. He was dressed in the strangest assortment of clothes one would ever find with a tea-cosy for a hat, an oversized maroon jumper and a pair of checked shorts that fitted him perfectly as trousers. His voice was squeaky and unsure when he said. "Master Harry, your friend has arrived, shall Dobby let him in?"

"Please Dobby, thanks," Harry said. Before Dobby could pop away he spoke again. "Remember it's just Harry." Harry always tried to be nice with Dobby; he was sad and unsure of himself but loyal to the point of insanity. Harry was sure it was due to his former employers, Dobby didn't like to talk about them.

"Okay Master … sorry, Harry." Dobby beamed with pride as he popped away.

"I'm in the living room." Harry shouted down the hall. A few minutes later Kaden walked into the living room. Kaden was wearing his usual muggle attire which consisted of a pair of light blue ripped jeans, a black t-shirt with some writing printed on it with a slate grey jacket and his blondish-brown hair was messed up like usual. Harry never quite understood why Kaden always had to look like he was going somewhere, Kaden mostly laughed it off saying he usually was.

Kaden laughed.

"What?" Harry questioned, looking down himself to find nothing wrong.

"I can't believe you agreed to this is all." Kaden said, his ice blue eyes twinkling with mischief.

"What have you planned?" Harry asked. He wouldn't put it past Kaden to try and humiliate him for any other reason than simple enjoyment.

"Nothing we've just got a big day ahead of us, well you do."

Sitting up Harry asked. "I thought we were moving in today?"

"We are but we have to do some stuff. Go see my dad for those answers you wanted and you've got a shopping trip with Karen, Fleur and little Penny to go on. They're going to introduce you to a few things, mainly just a sense of style. That's a present from me as I never actually got you anything for your birthday, well except the phone and flat, but they were free so don't count. Then we've got a night of drinking beer with a few of my old mates."

"You call a birthday present going on a shopping trip with Karen and two of her friends…wait did you say Fleur?"

Kaden nodded, knowing exactly what Harry would say.

"As in the Fleur you went to the Tri-Wizard ball with?"

Kaden scowled. "You know the only reason she went with me is 'cause she couldn't be bothered having some guy from Hogwarts drooling all over her and I've known her for years. She just moved to London too and has been hanging around with Karen a lot and shut-up you went with my sister!"

Harry went red in the face. He had fun that night with Karen and she helped him loosen up little around girls with her carefree attitude. That invariably led to their six month romance during the Tournament. Karen was a lot like Kaden in appearance as she had the icy 'Blackwood' blue eyes that all their family had and long dark blond hair. She was the only person he knew who could quiet Kaden with a single word, a talent Harry long hoped to acquire.

"Shut-up," Harry said finally.

Kaden looked at his watch and frowned. "I never knew I was this late, c'mon we need to head; we should have been at my Dad's office five minutes ago." Kaden stood from his seat.

"Wait, what about my stuff?" Harry asked

"I got Dobby to pop it over to the flat; Pepsi told him about the place and showed him around. Elves are scary little bastards at times, all cloak and mops. Now c'mon my Dad is going to kill me." Kaden said heading for the door.

"Give me a minute I just need to say bye to my mum." Harry said.

Kaden nodded.

Harry pushed open the basement door. "Mum, I'm just about to go." Harry shouted down staircase, knowing his voice would carry down. It only took a moment for the Lady Potter to come up the stairs, her long, fiery red hair splayed out behind her and her pale face was covered in soot.

"Hey Lady P," Kaden said as he leaned against the door frame with his most dashing smile.

Harry rolled his eyes as his mum answered with a polite smile.

"Hello Kaden, how has your summer been?" Lily Potter never fully understood why her husband thought so ill of her son's only best friend.

"Not bad Lady P excepting a few incidents; yourself?" Kaden asked.

"It has been enjoyable, thank you." Lily said. She turned to her son sadly. "My little boy is finally leaving."

Harry saw the tears which threatened to spill from her intense emerald eyes and reached his hand to wipe them away; he smiled as happily as he could. It wasn't hard to summon, he couldn't wait to leave Hollow Manor behind. "Don't worry about me I'll be fine." Harry said pulling his mum into a hug.

"I know; it will be strange not having you here. Your father really-"

Harry shook his head silencing her. "There's no need mum, I know where I stand when it comes to him. Don't worry I'm still coming for dinner next week. I'll see you then." Before Harry could turn and walk through the now open front door Harry was pulled into another bone-crushing hug by his mum.

She whispered. "Don't forget that we love you and you will always be welcome here."

"I know mum, I know." Harry said into her hair as she began to sob lightly. This time when he pulled away Harry didn't look back even as he passed the door and walked out of the Manor for the final time of his residency.

Harry and Kaden walked down the weathered stone path which eventually left the grounds and led to the small town of Godric's Hollow. They only ventured to outside the wards, "you happy to be leaving the Hollow?"

"You have no idea." Harry said. "How are we going to get to your dad's office? I don't know where it is."

"I'll side-along apparate you." Kaden said and he took a deep breath as they cleared the gates. "You're going to find out a lot about me. I'll be honest when I say some of it really isn't all that good. "

Harry shot Kaden a curious look.

"This is it."