Harry Potter and the Endless Waltz
"History is much like and endless waltz. The three beats of war, peace and revolution continue on forever."
Warnings: Language (You could see a PG-13 movie with the language though...)
Harry Potter; the boy-who-lived was conflicted. Voldemort had been hideously powerful. His magic had grown daily and his knowledge seemed to exponentially increase by the hour. Harry knew what prophesy said: "The one with the power to vanquish the dark lord approaches." and "...power that the dark lord knows not...."
Yet to his surprise the one thing that killed the evil titan wasn't sheer power, or even skill. It wasn't even Harry's intelligence (he considered himself pretty smart, not as smart as Hermione but smarter than Ron at least...) but instead, the victory boiled down to one thing: Luck.
(Voldemort had managed to resurrect himself using a forbidden art that Dumbledore had refused to explain.)
A single lucky charm* broke through his barriers and knocked the 'immortal' dark lord into a sea of flames, one that Voldemort himself had cast.
Sometimes fate is cruel, but sometimes it is poetically ironic. He died from the inferno's embrace, just to embrace it for an eternity in hell.
At least, that's how Harry felt. If anyone deserved to be condemned it was ol' Voldemort himself.
Sure, the battle had ended when Harry was a mere 13 year old. But, at what cost? Remus, and Sirius both died protecting Harry. Collin and Draco also perished needlessly. And Severus, Moody, and too many more...
Yet, none of that explained his current worries. Voldemort had been bad. But there was only one of him. This was far worse. Somehow even worse than meeting the father of the girl you were dating. (He was merely 14 but that didn't mean he was unaware how scary that would be.)
...
It was the year Eternal Century 0132.
Harry Potter was a fourteen year old boy, who was constantly sought after by the wizarding populace and frankly he was tired. It surprisingly was his uncle Vernon that offered Harry a solution one day.
"Tired of that...world eh boy?" Vernon chuckled as he leaned back in his recliner as he watched the evening news on the VR unit.
July 31st: Harry Potter Day
October 2nd: Victory Day
Month of March: Honor Harry Potter Month
Diagon Alley had a side street named "Harry Potter Lane".
Potter Charm ice cream: The top layer was supposedly bitter, like his life while the bottom was sweet, like his current supposed life.
People were already beginning to swear by his name: (By Potter's name!)
The golden statue in the ministry's atrium had been replaced by a massive golden monolith of Harry Potter himself.
Harry sighed and answered honestly.
"Yes. I'm tired of everyone wanting a piece of me and when I'm not needed I'm dropped off in some alone location. I guess you could say I'm 'out of sight and out of mind'. That is; unless I'm needed to save their hides or be some publicity stunt." Harry said in disgust.
Harry had frankly lost all respect for his jailers; most notably Dumbledore and his vaunted 'Order of the Phoenix'.
Vernon blinked in surprise before a wide grin emerged on his face. His uncle quickly turned off the VR set and turned his head towards Harry.
"Bo-Err...Harry, I realize that we haven't been on the best of terms, but I think I have a solution for both of our problems."
Harry looked at his uncle in interest.
"I'm listening." Harry assured.
"The Federation is looking for pilots. They need extreme reflexes, and incredible skills. After all, the Martian bastards got those stupid super weapons and the colonists aren't helping."
"I'm afraid I don't see how this applies to-" Harry was interrupted.
"Think about it! Your kind is scared of normal technology. If you'd become a pilot or at the very least went to a colony you'd be rid of the people after a piece of you. I'd get you out of my hair and that meddling Bubblebore wouldn't be able to do anything about it!"
Harry rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"I think you might be right Uncle. I'm not gonna get involved in another war but going to the colonies isn't such a bad idea."
"You'd want to assure them that you aren't dangerous kid." Vernon warned.
Harry nodded.
"If I could borrow a computer tomorrow I could check out how much it costs and where I'd want to move. Could I borrow-"
"DUDLEY!" Vernon yelled.
"Yeah Dad?" Dudley poked his head out from the kitchen.
"Let the b-Err...Harry borrow your computer tomorrow-the printer too."
"Dad?" Dudley questioned in shock
"It's to help him find a new place to live son. Help your cousin out would you?" Uncle Vernon suggested.
"Okay. You can use the computer tomorrow." Harry's cousin agreed.
"Thanks Uncle Vernon, thanks Dudley." Harry smiled at the two of them.
"Now would you mind...?" Vernon suggested to Harry.
Harry nodded and silently made his way up to his room.
Hedwig hooted cheerfully upon seeing him.
"Hey girl! I might have found a way for us to be free!" Harry cooed in delight as he stroked his snowy owl's head gently.
Harry suddenly realized something.
"There's only one person that's stood beside me all the while...Hedwig, can I get you to take a letter to Hermione?"
Hedwig hooted an affirmative and Harry hastily whipped out a blank sheet of paper and a pen off from a shelf and began to hastily write in an untidy (for him at least) scrawl.
Hermione,
I'm planning on doing something so I can have a break from all the constant nagging from the Prophet and stuff. I can't say much at the moment but I'd like to talk to you soon. Please call the Dursley residence and when you'd ask for me could you tell them that you're helping me with my plans? There shouldn't be any trouble then.
I know I might be acting selfish in some regards but you're the one person I trust more than any other.
Thanks for everything,
Harry
Harry quickly handed the letter off to Hedwig who spread her wings and took off for Hermione's residence.
Once that task was complete Harry laid down on the lumpy mattress and his eyes closed.
(Granger's Residence Monday 10:00 P.M.)
"Hello Hedwig, what brings you here?" Hermione cooed to the beautiful owl.
Hedwig stuck out her leg.
"Oh, thank you girl." Hermione quickly untied the letter.
Hermione then offered the snowy owl a drink from the glass she had been using.
Hedwig drank deeply before spreading her wings and taking off.
Hermione frowned at the owl's odd behavior, typically she waited for Hermione to write a reply. With a quick shrug Hermione broke the seal, sat on her carpeted bedroom floor and began to read.
Once she had finished reading through it four times Hermione called for her mother.
"Muuum!"
Needless to say she sprinted in less than a second later.
"What's wrong Hermione?" The brown haired woman asked worriedly as she sat beside her daughter.
Hermione flung herself into her mother's arms.
"I need to talk to Harry. He's planning something...dangerous or reckless, or worse, both."
"Oh, dear..." Elaine Granger sighed before she spoke again.
"What do you think he's going to do?"
"I don't know. But take a look at this. He's planning to get away from the fame of the wizarding world."
"That's impossible!" Elaine protested.
Hermione frowned in thought for a long moment.
"Not exactly mum." Hermione replied grimly.
"What do you mean?" Elaine asked curiously.
"What's the final frontier?" Hermione asked rhetorically.
"There isn't any way that a wizard could survive out there!" Elaine protested.
"Unless you're Harry Potter." Hermione replied dryly.
"Okay, so if he's going to space then what are you going to do? There isn't a magic society in space you realize."
Hermione nodded.
"Then I'll have to learn muggle-style too."
Elaine shook her head grimly.
"It's a little late for that dear. You're registered as a drop-out on the Federation Data bases. Furthermore those are easily accessed records. You can't go back to school." Elaine reminded her.
"Then what can I do?" Hermione pleaded.
"You've got to make a decision. Do you stay in the magic realm? It'd be the easiest choice and Harry wouldn't fault you for staying."
Hermione shook her head.
"Where Harry goes, I go." She said adamantly.
Elaine smiled brightly.
"I'm proud of you dear, but that does mean you need to decide on your future in the muggle world."
"What options?" Hermione said grimly.
"The first and perhaps the only non-military option...Become a prostitute."
"Muuuuum! There is no way I'd-" Hermione screeched quietly.
"I know, and that just makes me even more proud of you dear. The next, is to rely on whatever happens. It's the most dangerous choice you realize."
Hermione nodded.
"And the others?" Hermione asked.
"Join the military."
"You have to have a secondary-" Hermione's mother interrupted her.
"Not anymore dear. After the loss of the 302nd fleet and the 555th Armored Attack Division the Federation now allows anyone to join, on the sole condition that they passed the entry tests."
"What happens if you scored poorly?" Hermione questioned.
"You'd be turned into an infantry unit."
"That's suicide in today's battles!" Hermione moaned.
Elaine nodded.
"If you scored higher you could become a pilot for a Mobile Weapon."
"That's almost as bad." Hermione noted.
"If you scored high enough you could be placed into the officer's training school."
"An-officer...? They typically become captains of a battleship class weight." Hermione mused.
"That's right dear and as long as you score highly on the test you could become one of those officers."
"If Harry's really going into space and I need to grab a job then I'll apply." Hermione decided.
(Dursley Residence 5:00 P.M. Tuesday.)
"Well, b-Harry how did your search go?" Vernon asked in a friendly voice.
"I think I've decided on a new home."
"Really? Do you want to tell us about it?" Aunt Petunia asked in a kind voice.
Harry shrugged, deciding he didn't have anything better to do.
"Sure, The colony I plan to move to is in the X sector. X2 as a matter of fact. It's a small peaceful colony far away from the battlefields. Furthermore, the X2 government has vowed to stay neutral."
"Sounds peaceful." Petunia smiled.
"I liked that idea...a lot." Harry smiled back.
Once dinner had finished the phone rang.
"Hello, Dursley residence." Petunia said cheerfully.
A pause.
"Certainly! I don't want to get in the way of my nephew's plans!" She said with a smile.
"Harry! It's for you!" She called to him.
Harry quickly moved over to the phone, thanked his aunt and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?" Harry asked.
"Harry?" A familiar voice questioned.
"Hermione! Thanks for calling. Yeah, I'm gonna need you're help."
"Harry, you're planning to head into space aren't you?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, X2 as a matter of fact."
"That's an out of the way colony." Hermione noted.
"Yeah, I wanted out of the way. Somewhere I could just live peacefully...At least until I'm older."
"What about living expenses?" Hermione questioned.
"I don't need to worry about that. I'll be making a stop at Gringotts after all."
"Right, family fortune." Hermione replied.
"I need you to be able to do this though...Call me selfish but I don't have a clue about..."
"Space Travel? I'd go with you." Hermione suggested.
"You'd do that for me?" Harry asked in some surprise.
Hermione laughed.
"Of course I would. You're my best friend."
"If you do I'm paying."
"Oh Harry...I wouldn't want to impose..." She said hesitantly.
"Really, it's not a burden to me. You're the one helping me after all." Harry replied.
"Thanks Harry." Hermione said in a relieved voice.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked in concern as he caught her voice inflections.
"Could I talk to you later about that? Anyways, what about the flight?" Hermione asked.
"I'll write you a letter and it'll have the time and location. It'll be an English Flight though. Luckily for us the next session of available flights will be in London. Ordering will begin on next Monday, plenty of time for me to get tickets to that."
"Okay." Hermione said in a tiny voice.
"I better let you go Hermione. Thanks for everything and I'll send you the information as soon as I get it." Harry promised.
The next week passed in a flurry of activity.
Before the Monday Flight Harry had finalized his plans with Gringotts. He left a large sum behind which they would invest (as well as use to take care of his homes) and took a great amount and converted it into muggle currency. Next, Harry made arrangements to set up a series of bank accounts across the entirety of the banking system in the world and space. Then, he purchased two tickets for X2.
On Friday night he sent Hermione a letter, notifying her of the time and gate. She was smart enough to know that there was only one Starport in all of England. Any idiots that intercepted his mail on the other hand, would have had to be handed the information on a silver platter to figure out what he was talking about.
His letter was simple but to the wizards that imprisoned him at Number Four it'd have appeared innocent.
Dear, Hermione
How fast time flies? It's already been almost a week since I've sent you a letter, and I know that this Monday's a big day for you so I don't plan on taking much of your time. I was just watching the VR Unit with Uncle Vernon and it mentioned that in some cultures 7 was considered an unlucky number. Maybe it's supposed to be a gate of some sort? Isn't that strange? After all, in our's it's considered one of the best numbers of all. It's actually my favorite number right now.
Wow, I can't believe how much I'm rambling. I betcha that tomorrow I'll be sent out at some random hour to pick up food. Maybe around 10:45 in the morning. I know that the market likes to have it's 'preferred customers' on time but...
Am I rambling again? I guess I'm just lonely for some company.
Anyways, Apparently since my...relatives plan on going out to get new stuff soon that means that I'll probably have to go too to help 'pick' out new beds for the 'family' or in other words, new beds for the guest room, Dudley's and my Aunt and Uncle. If they decide to buy a bed or something else then I'll probably have to help the movers carry the beds back in...
Sincerely Missing You,
Harry
Harry smiled at the letter. He hadn't underlined the key words but he knew that Hermione would get them.
"Hey Hedwig!" Harry called her.
Hedwig happily allowed Harry to tie the letter onto her leg.
"Thanks girl. You're the best."
She hooted proudly at that and with a couple beats of her powerful wings she soared out the window.
...
Finally Monday arrived and Harry was sitting in London's Starport in front of the number Seven gate at 10:00 A.M. He was nervous but excited. He, Harry Potter; a wizard was about to embark on a journey into the stars. It excited him to no end and he knew it was his only chance at freedom.
Beside him was a trunk. It held his most precious possessions. His invisibility cloak, his wand, a large library of books (it was a special trunk after all!), and Firebolt (a precious gift from his Godfather), and his meager wardrobe.
On top of the Trunk a snowy white owl resided. Her cage was covered and so was ignored. While He waited Harry whispered to Hedwig soothingly.
"Sorry Girl, but when we go up it'll be rough. I need you to stay quiet okay?" He whispered.
She cooed softly, assuring Harry that she understood.
"That's my girl." Harry whispered proudly.
"Ahem, are you my close friend?" A young woman's voice asked.
Harry turned and saw a young woman almost five foot tall, bushy, untameable brown hair, and brown eyes burning with brilliance.
"That I am. Are you my best friend?"
She smiled broadly and hugged him closely.
"Heya friend." She whispered.
"Thanks again. You're such a lifesaver." Harry replied as he held her.
"I know." She smiled at him as she sat next to him.
Harry quickly handed her her ticket which she accepted graciously.
"On the phone...Why did you sound so-" Harry asked quietly.
"Not here!" She interrupted quietly.
She then glanced around.
"Have you figured out how we are going to do the travel without the age stipulation?" Hermione whispered.
"The Visa's I arranged are special. Don't worry about it." Harry replied quietly.
"Oh?" She questioned in the same near silent voice.
"Attention: The Flight X3R2 to the X Colonies will be leaving from Gate seven in five minutes. All passengers are to board at this time. Attention..." The automated intercom system announced.
"We better hurry." Harry said as he picked up his miniaturized trunk and Hedwig's cage.
Hermione nodded and lifted her suitcase and purse and the two quickly handed the gatekeeper the tickets and headed on board with the other passengers.
Once they were seated in the craft Harry and Hermione began to look around. Hermione had a window seat near a door and Harry was next to her on her right side.
The spacecraft was much larger than Harry expected. It was designed much like the general use aircraft that had two isles and the rows of seats. The Spacecraft however was tilted slightly and the windows had a special shield plate that could be dropped either by the Pilot or by the passenger. Harry leaned back into the deep navy blue seats and while he held Hedwig on his lap he spoke.
"This is pretty comfortable." He noted.
An old man in a brown business suit chuckled lightly.
"This your first time going to space?" He asked.
Harry nodded.
"Then make sure you keep your body relaxed no matter what. Tensing up makes it so your muscles will be really sore once the acceleration is done." The man suggested.
"Thank you sir." Harry smiled.
The gray haired gentleman waved him off.
"It's my pleasure to help."
A few minutes later Harry turned to Hermione.
"Did you hear that?" Harry asked.
"Yeah. I'll relax." She promised.
A few minutes later the engines started to stir.
"This is the captain speaking, we will be departing as soon as the engines warm up. Please ensure that everyone is seated and properly buckled. Stewardesses please assume your seats at this time as well. Once we have exited Earth's atmosphere you may return to a standing position. Thank you." The intercom system announced.
Harry forced his excitement down and calmed himself. He let his body lose all tension.
Suddenly the large shuttle began to move, slow at first, and then faster, and faster until Harry suddenly realized that they were no longer on the ground.
Hermione and Hedwig both moaned quietly as all of them felt the incredible G's trying to pull them back to the earth.
And then, as quickly as it had begun the pull ended and they were weightless. Harry sighed in relief.
"That was intense." Harry noted.
"It always is." The old man agreed.
"You okay Hermione?" Harry asked.
Hermione nodded weakly.
"Yeah, it was just intense." She agreed.
For the next two days the two of them were suspended in a weightless state as they waited to reach the colony.
Meanwhile, a group of magicals were searching fervently for their weapon. The 'boy-who-lived'; their ultimate trump card was missing.
At the same time, a woman and her husband held each other and cried as they let their daughter go in their hearts.
They had mostly lost her to a world that treated women as second rate citizens, and then to give her hope for a better future, they let her go, completely.
"Oh Elaine…I'm going to miss my baby girl." Demetrius whispered as tears trailed down his face.
"I am too." Elaine sobbed and clung to her husband.
….
Once Harry and Hermione had arrived at X2 they quickly disembarked, got shuffled through security and before they knew it Harry had purchased a small four bedroom home and they were situating themselves in the new home.
The house's outside paint was one both Harry and Hermione could live without, a hideous yellow. However, that didn't extend to the insides of their new home. The walls were a cool creamy color and the carpet was a calm dull gray color. The home had been supplied with furniture and thankfully Harry and Hermione both were satisfied with it.
The next week saw a couple thousand Federation Credits vanish as they bought food, clothes, and appliances that hadn't been included in the house's purchase.
Once they had finished and the two of them were relaxing on their sofa Harry finally relaxed. He finally had found home. And at long last he was…free.
He felt the world couldn't get any better. Where he lived he was unknown by the populace, he had a good home, he wasn't asked to be a weapon, and his best friend, the only one whom had really stuck by him was with him. Life felt perfect.
Suddenly Harry felt Hermione lean against him and sigh in contentment.
"Harry?" She asked.
"Yeah Hermione?"
"What did you mean special visa's?"
"Oh that?" Harry laughed lightly. "I made that up. I figured if we kept our heads down, just handed over the tickets quietly, and slipped off and on we'd be fine and we were."
"You left that to…chance?" Hermione asked incredulously.
"Yeah."
"Oh, Harry…" Hermione sighed and he felt her shake his head against his shoulder.
She then suddenly realized something else.
"How'd you manage to be able to buy a house?"
"That was magic." Harry grinned and gave her a gentle squeeze.
Hermione sighed in contentment.
"Okay." She let it go.
"Now that we're on this topic anyways…" Harry began.
"Hmm?" Hermione looked up at him from his shoulder.
"I wanted to ask, why did you sound so…concerned and worried on the phone?"
"Well…If I have to make a living in the muggle world it's going to be rather…limited in options."
"Because of the Federation Database?" Harry questioned.
Hermione nodded.
"My mother gave me a blunt prediction of my options." Hermione admitted.
"What were they?" Harry asked curiously.
Hermione blushed.
"What is it?" Harry asked in concern.
"The first was…" Hermione's mouth opened several times before she was able to whisper the next word.
"A…prostitute." Hermione's face burned in shame.
"No way." Harry replied in horror.
"Yeah. The next option was 'hope to get lucky', and the last was join the military."
"Those are all pretty limited choices." Harry noted.
Hermione nodded.
"Hermione, as long as I'm around you'll never have to…do that to live. You've helped me out so much and now…you've sacrificed everything for me. It's the least I can do." Harry overrode her objections.
Hermione finally sighed and laid her head back on Harry's shoulder.
"Okay." She accepted weakly.
*Hehe! I couldn't resist! If you didn't catch that reference...then you need to eat more cereal! They're Magically Delicious!
There's about 20 Times I thought about stopping at any one point…
Oh yeah, does anyone have an idea what this one's about? There's a couple hints but the next update to endless waltz would probably give you a better idea about what I'm talking about ^.^
Almost 5k and was a good 13 pages long...This idea was a busy one for me.