A/N: Updated pretty much as scheduled. Check my profile to find out the projected date for my next update. It will also tell you which fics I'm actively working on at the moment.

Thank you SilverFox1, Daughter of Death and Avain for your comments.

Ron is nothing less than amazed to see Harry. Harry can tell at a glance that Ron too has forgotten the Lucius incident. This disappoints Harry deeply. It makes the past several years seem futile, meaningless.

Ron asks what Harry does for a living. Harry replies that he is between jobs. Ron jokingly offers Harry a job killing vampires in Romania. Harry nearly gags on the predictability of Harry Potter continuing his legacy of defeating darkness. Then he stops to reconsider it. Romania is far. Lucius would never think to look for him in Romania, would he?

Then he remembers that he has no personal desire to go to Romania. Then Ron suggests Egypt. He even offers to make arrangements for Harry to stay with Bill. Harry declines. He has no desire to impose upon Bill.

"Well, there is a position available at Hogwarts," Hermione says. Harry snorts.
"Please don't tell me it's Defense against the Dark Arts, Potions, or Quidditch related," he replies.
"Harry, you can barely brew a potion to save your life. Why would I suggest you teach Potions?" Hermione asks shortly.
"Never mind," he chuckles.
"Actually, we have an opening in Divination."

There is a moment of dead silence, until Ron simply cannot stand it and bursts out laughing.

"But I'm not qualified to teach Divination!" Harry insists.
"And Sybil Trelawney was? Besides, you're Harry Potter. Who is going to question your credentials?" she asks, tossing her hair. Ron grins at her and then at Harry. Hermione grins too. He knows what they're thinking. This is almost like old times- the three of them together. Harry swallows.

"Hermione, can you make credentials for someone who doesn't exist?" She raises her eyebrow.
"Why?" she asks suspiciously. Ron rolls his eyes.
"Hermione! What a stupid question! The moment word gets out that Harry is teaching at Hogwarts, the Daily Prophet will be all over it!" Ron exclaims. "And then Hogwarts would be swamped with tourists."
"Yes...and the Ministry hasn't caught all the Death Eaters yet, have they?" Hermione murmurs. "No," she answers her own question. "And then they'd all be after Harry." Ron nudges Harry.
"They're always after you. It wouldn't matter if Hermione or I had slain You-Know-Who single-handedly. You still would have gotten all the press," Ron teases. Hermione eyes light up.
"Of course! Do you remember? When we got married there were all those rumors of a new Dark Lord. No wonder you disappeared, Harry!"

Harry knows that he should feel lousy for letting Hermione jump to this conclusion, but a greater part of him is relieved because now he doesn't have to tell them the truth. He wants to tell them the truth. The malicious, bitter part of him that he works very hard to suppress wants to tell them exactly why he disappeared. It wants to tell them what happened the day they killed Voldemort. It wants to tell them why he has to disappear again and that they owe everything to him while he has nothing. But that is a selfish thought and Harry knows it. So he settles for trying to massage the idea out of his skull.

He smiles tiredly. "I need to be somebody else," he says. "Will you help me?" This was not his original plan at all, but he had not counted on his old friends being so hospitable. Hermione and Ron grin again and Harry grins too, because he can feel it also. This is exactly like old times- the three of them together...and plotting.

"Well...you'll be needing a new name. Don't let Hermione pick one out for you. You've met our son, haven't you?" Ron groans.

Hermione promptly hexes him.

Harry has to change his name, but that's okay. It's necessary and he has outgrown his attachment for it. It is discarded like so much of his life. What he leaves behind, he doesn't miss anyway. He leaves behind unwanted fame, sorrow, and a man with a past more unhappy than his own. But then again, he had thought he had left all that behind before.

The spell they use is illegal. Hermione and Ron don't have to tell him that. Hermione does take the time to tell Harry that this spell was a popular one for murderers. Small wonder. The spell is the ultimate for changing appearance. Hermione and Harry get creative while Ron just shakes his head in amusement.

They decide to keep his hair black, but they make it longer and heavier. She makes him taller and lets him keep his overall body shape, but makes him a bit more buff. His face is made more square, his features become a bit bolder and more angular. His scar is erased. She lets his eyes stay green and she gives him a pair of glasses with wire frames and red lenses. And an earring. And a tattoo. And a pair of tight leather pants.

"Hermione!" Ron whines. "How do you expect anyone to learn a thing when you've got him all tarted up like that?"
"Well, they can't see the tattoo when he has a shirt on," she says. Her voice sounds apologetic but her face is positively gleeful as she eyes Harry. He winks at her. She pretends to swoon. Ron rolls his eyes.

"Besides, " she says, recovering. "If everyone is busy drooling, they won't notice Harry's stunning lack of information."
"Because they'll be staring at his stuning arse!" Ron retorts.
"You think my arse is stunning?" Harry asks, grinning.
"Yes, Harry, I think your arse is very stunning. I've always thought your arse was stunning and it has been my deepest desire since I hit puberty to have you and Hermione at the same time," Ron says.
"Whoa, easy on the sarcasm there, Ron. You might hurt somebody," Harry quips. Hermione giggles.

"Do I really look that good?" Harry asks, his curiosity having been aroused. Hermione grabs his hand and drags him to the bathroom.
"Look," she commands, flicking on the lights. Harry's jaw drops open. Hermione claps her hands. "Well?" Harry simply gapes.

"Well, I'd certainly shag me, that's for certain," he says at last. She slings an arm around his shoulders.
"I think you're ready," she says.
"Heaven help Hogwarts," Ron sighs.
So how was it? I'm off to work on the next chapter of this and the much delayed Chapter 22 of Lovers and Family. Until next time, please be a dear and reveiw!

Love,

J. Silver