The Boy With The Dragon Tattoo

by Federer Rex

The greatest journey begins with a single step. The greatest change starts with a firm decision. Harry Potter has made a decision but it wasn't a firm one, little more than a whim but something inside was content and the damn itching just under his skin had stopped. As a form of compulsion it wasn't pleasant but it was effective. The only problem was, where the did it come from?

6. Chapter Six

Chapter Six

I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the related characters. The Harry Potter series is created by JK Rowling and owned by Warner Bros. This fanfiction is intended for entertainment only. I am not making any profit from this story. All rights of the original Harry Potter story belong to Warner Bros.

Beta'd by Noone yet, any and all errors in grammar, spelling and plot are mine

A/N Before anyone complains about Hotel prices in 1994 I wasn't in any position to pay for a hotel back then and can't find anything on the google. I took artistic licence and guessed.

The week that was his imprisonment at number four Privet Drive was an interminable purgatory of suspicious glances, restrained violence and nasty words. Harry kept his own counsel and made bets with Ryuu. Stupid bets. Ridiculous bets. How many times he will hear 'Boy!' in a day. Which house the postman will deliver a letter to but not a parcel. How many times Vernon will flex his fingers on the rare occasions that they are in the same room.

It had been a week and a day since Professor McGonagall had abandoned him. Today was the day his boredom would end. Both for good and Ill. It was early morning and Harry woke from a restless sleep, nightmares he could not remember plagued his dreams. The quiet hooting from the window ledge was a welcome interruption.

Hedwig's feathers were pressed against the window pane, head tucked under her wing. She was nestled against an unfamiliar barn owl. It looked almost black under the street lights but Harry knew where it had come from. The leather harness with dozens of sheaves or parchment strapped inside was a giveaway, that and the money pouch.

Harry tapped gently on the window and both birds launched themselves off the window ledge and glided in a circle to enter through the now open window. They landed on the owl stand that was big enough for three. Harry retrieved his money pouch and counted out the requisite number of knuts before the bird would allow him to pull a copy of the early morning edition of the Daily Prophet from the harness. It looked like the owl was in for a long day, there were thirty or so left.

The barn owl hooted quietly then flew back out of the open window. Harry exchanged an amused look with his familiar and retrieved three envelopes from the leather pouch strapped across her body.

He huffed out a breath and checked the time.

Four fifty nine. There would be no more sleeping today.

"Dobby."

Dobby appeared with a faint pop. He was dressed like a miniature Roman Butler might dress. White toga, strappy sandals and a black long tailed dinner jacket, his few whisps of hair were slicked back behind his ears. Harry had tried to get him to change but Dobby just smirked, he said he liked the breeze each time Harry asked him.

"Master Harry?"

Harry gestured at the paper, letters and slumbering owl.

"I guess I'm up. Share a pot of tea with me?"

Dobby offered a toothy grin.

"Toast with butter and blackcurrant jam, two avocados and three boiled eggs. Can I suggest you read your letters first?"

Harry looked at the elf perplexed and Dobby clarified.

"You get annoyed by the stupid articles but read them anyway. Your friends make you laugh."

Harry huffed then smiled as he looked around his Dobby expanded room. He sat at one end of the eight seat mahogany dining table complete with silver service and elaborate candelabras and shuffled through his mail.

One from Ron, Neville, Seamus and Dean. Not one each, one between them. Ron's Quidditch career was off to a flyer, three lines. Seamus wrote how Ron made a tit of himself with his Quidditch teammates by mooning over Ravenclaw beater fifth year Talia Hornswaggle, he asked her out for five days in a row and was eventually dragged away by Ginny. Ten lines.

Dean wrote a page and a half on the comedy of it and just how much Ron had made a complete tit of himself. Ginny wrote a postscript asking Harry to hurry up and come back. She needed a second sensible head to control her brother apart from Hermione. Ron's postscript was one word. Hey!

Harry tucked into his breakfast, mood thoroughly lifted and read Hermione's letter and Lavender and Parvati's letter. Nothing groundbreaking, just a pair of nice letters. Harry could see the newspaper out of the corner of his eye but diverted his gaze from the paper until his plate was clear and the pot was empty.

Dobby gave Harry a concerned look and clicked his fingers. Harry pulled the paper across the spotless table and flipped the paper open so he could see the entire front page. He paled, his mouth dropped open and his heart began to pound.

DEATH EATER ATTACK IN MAGICAL MANCHESTER!!

Harry stopped breathing and began to shake. He got a brief flashback from his dream and knew they had been real. Spellfire, flashing lights, red, yellow, green. Harry pulled his glasses off and rubbed his face with shaking hands. He returned his attention to the paper, the headline. Even without his glasses he could still read those words.

'Who died?'

Harry scrabbled for his glasses and scoured the article, he tried to remember that at least half of it would be untrue or at the very least twisted.

"Late last night… twenty death eaters… busy street filled with the usual Friday night revellers… many wounded… several dead… oh God they've listed their names. Samantha oh what was her last name? No Sam Thank Go- No, Oh God, Clare Wainwright."

His hands made their way unconsciously into his hair and gripped handfuls so tight he was in danger of pulling clumps out. He stared down at the name for what must have been hours. Dead. That bright vivacious bubbly force of nature was dead. Harry had only met her once and he felt like he had known her all his life.

"Master Harry?"

Harry looked up without moving from his rigid position and looked into Dobby's worried gaze. He sat back slowly and winced at the pain in his neck and back. He had been there a while, he was stiff and sore.

"There has been a Death Eater attack in Magical Manchester. Someone I know died there."

Dobby's eyes grew even larger and teared up, his ears drooped and he hesitantly reached out to touch Harry's hand but stopped himself.

"I'm sorry, is there anything I can do?"

Harry smiled and shook his head slightly.

"Nothing that will help Clare. I'm going to write to her friend Sam, she is my tattoo artist. Oh god, Sam."

Harry got up and crossed the room to his trunk at the foot of his bed, it was the matter of a few seconds to get a self-inking quill and parchment. He looked down at them in his hand and didn't move for a full minute. Harry returned to the table, and placed the parchment on the table, he smoothed his hands over it and readied his quill.

'Short and sweet, keep it simple stupid.'

Who are you calling stupid?

Harry snorted and put pen to paper.

Scene Break_

The hours since Harry watched Hedwig fly away had been tense, he wanted a reply and yet he didn't. He tried to read, he started five conversations with Dobby and started to write three letters to Hermione. Each conversation died quickly and he vanished each letter before he was ten words in.

Harry was restless.

Several thumps from downstairs and an indistinct rumbling voice indicated that Uncle Vernon had kept his word to Aunt Petunia and finished work at lunchtime. The only silver lining to Harry's living situation was that with Dobby being present and his own ability to use magic Harry didn't have to see or speak to them, the only time he saw any of his family was when he left the house to run to the park and back. The forced inactivity was beginning to grate on his nerves, that and the isolation. He had no one apart from Dobby to talk to.

"BOY!"

The thunderous bellow was so sudden and unexpected, Harry's feet left the ground. Harry sighed and turned to look at the door. He debated the potential pro's and con's of ignoring the summons but decided it would just repeat and get much closer so Harry pulled his trainers on and grabbed his jacket, he could feel his ire begin to spike. After the expected confrontation he fully anticipated that he would need some fresh air. His money pouch and wallet went into opposite pockets and he turned for the door as he slipped his wand into the inside pocket of his jacket.

Harry didn't trudge downstairs, he was so keyed up with frustration and anger that it was more of a stomp. He could hear muffled voices from the kitchen so he turned that way at the bottom of the stairs. The muffled drone resolved into an audible conversation.

"I've had it, Pet. He's been dumped on us again without a-by-your leave and I won't stand for it! I've put up with him lounging around the place.The only time we see him is to go outside. He doesn't even go to the toilet. It's not natural. Ah, here he is."

Well that doesn't look good.

'No shit.'

Harry pushed the door open and watched his relatives' faces change within a second, if he hadn't seen this before he would have thought he had imagined it. One moment rational, the next wild eyed and rabid. Vernon more than Petunia but there was a definite gleam in her eye. The last time he had seen that, she had been wielding a frying pan. Harry paused in the doorway, flexed his fingers and slowly walked to the nearest chair, he made sure to keep the table between himself and Vernon.

"Aunt Petunia, Vernon."

Vernon opened his mouth, his hands clenched into white knuckled fists on the table top but Petunia held up her hand and turned a stone cold glare on Harry.

"You're a parasite, a drain on our resources and goodwill. You either pay us more to keep you under our roof or you're out on your ear."

Harry settled back in his seat and relaxed his hands, as much as he wanted unrestrained violence, this would not end well unless he kept calm.

"I'm a- I've not paid you a penny. I was brought here as a baby. I had no choice, either back then or now."

Vernon leant forward.

"And just how long are you expecting to stay with us?"

Petunia looked like she had had an awful thought.

"You won't still be here when Dudley gets home will you?"

Harry's brow creased and he tilted his head slightly.

"Until after the new year, the letter said so. I was suspended for the rest of the term. Again, this is something I did not have a choice in. Can we go back to that you've been paid? For how long? For what?"

Vernon chortled derisively and aunt Petunia snorted before she held her hand out as if it was obvious.

"Of course we've been paid, do you really think we would keep such a worthless carcass under our roof out of the goodness of our hearts? Why would we do that for a burden."

Rhetorical. Let her speak.

Harry opened his mouth then closed it again.

"We started getting a monthly stipend the day after we took you in, it was nowhere near enough but in my sister's memory we said nothing and did the best we could."

Harry opened his mouth then paused.

"What do you mean you did your best? How much?"

Vernon slammed a meaty fist down onto the table and caused his cup to bounce and rattle its saucer.

"We will not be explaining ourselves to an ungrateful miscreant such as you. All the backchat! All the slovenly behaviour! You should have gone to St. Brutus'!"

'He's right on the edge, I think he's going to do something stupid.'

Don't kill him, you don't need that sort of trouble.

'No promises.'

"How much were you paid to house me? To feed me? To clothe me?"

Petunia sniffed and looked down her nose at him.

"Nowhere near enough to carry a burden like you."

Harry just stared at her as she flicked a glance at Vernon then quirked an eyebrow at her.

"Two thousand a month."

Harry's jaw dropped open and he couldn't withhold an exclamation.

"Pounds?"

Petunia snarled derisively at him.

"Yes pounds, why would we be paid in your funny money? How would that work?"

Harry rested his elbows on the table and cradled his face in his hands, the cups and saucers on the table rattled slightly.

"What have you spent- the holidays, the flash cars. Oh my God!"

Petunia narrowed her eyes at him and pointed a manicured finger directly between his eyes.

"We earned that money. The embarrassment I endured from the neighbours. The hassle of your schooling, clothes, school uniforms. That wasn't at all easy to deal with."

Harry watched his Aunt carefully for a long second then voiced something he had wondered on occasion over the years.

"If I was such a hassle, if I was so, so unwanted, why didn't you give me up for adoption? I Think I'd rather have taken my chances."

Petunia took on a pinched look and looked like she had swallowed a lemon slice, Vernon developed a tick around his left eye and he leant forward slowly.

"Oh how I wish we could. Why do you think we resent you so much? We tried. Maybe a dozen times. That old fart keeps bringing you back and waving his stupid stick. We're all happy families for a while then we started the process all over again."

Petunia held her fist, clenched tight against her lips and glared watery daggers at Harry.

"It got better when you started at that shitty school. We could forget all about you. I could get on with my life again. But then an owl would arrive in the middle of the day. Once it came during my garden party, I was mortified. The letter always said the same thing. Remember my warning Petunia, don't forget to collect you from Kings Cross. Arsehole."

At Harry's look she clarified further.

"He's an arsehole, you are just a burden."

"Huh. You didn't have a choice. You're as much victims as I am."

Both adults froze, their eyes locked on him and time seemed to stop. Harry's eyes widened and he clenched his right fist. Harry could clearly hear Petunia's response but could barely understand the sentence Vernon ground out through clenched teeth.

That touched a nerve.

"I am not a victim."

"This is all your fault!"

Vernon flipped the table and surged to his feet in one smooth motion, Harry's view of the enraged man was blocked for a second. As he stood his head met the swinging fist of Vernon and lifted him off his feet.

The world swam as he spun to the ground and bounced. Harry shook his head and scrambled to his feet as he could hear the stomp of Vernon approach. Petunia had backed away from the table with one hand clasped to her throat and the other scrambling for the phone.

They've been triggered. Did you see the look in their eye?

'So not the time.'

Harry ducked under a swinging haymaker and hit Vernon with two body shots that left him struggling to stay up right and squeezed all the air from his lungs.

Ah good, your subconscious has absorbed some memories from my past hosts.

'I've known how to fight for years, this fat prick's son has been trying to beat me up since primary school.'

Harry stepped into Vernon's personal space to raise a knee into his groin and on instinct brought an elbow around into Vernon's chin, the surge of power he experienced surprised him as much as the audible snap and Vernon impacted the wall and the big man slumped to the tiled floor unconscious.

Petunia screamed. The phone was in her hand.

"You degenerate, you spawn of degenerates! Your misbegotten, no good drunk of a father was always fighting, look at what you've done. Your poor uncle. Your mother told me, both her and that horrid skanky friend of hers. I heard all about the bullying. I am not surprised, mark my words this will be the slippery slope to crime and destitution for you. Hello? Police? My good for nothing nephew has attacked my husband! Send an ambulance!"

Time to go.

'No shit.'

Harry sniffed and took a step towards the door, Petunia flinched.

"That man is no uncle of mine and you're no family of mine. I will never see foot in this house ever again."

The door swung closed behind him and he smiled at Dobby's worried face peeking around the newel post at the bottom of the stairs.

"Time to go, Dobby. Do you have anywhere to go until I get myself sorted?"

Dobby nodded.

"Miss Grangys attic. She gave me permission when I left the Malfoys. I'll pack your stuff."

"Good man, good old Hermione. Can you bring me my messenger bag? I'll be waiting at the park in the little woods."

"Yes master Harry, I'll be glad not to come here anymore."

"Me too."

He's a good friend.

'The best.'

Harry left Privet Drive without a backwards glance and trotted to the thicket of trees which marked the boundary between Magnolia crescent and Honeywood Park.

Scene Break_

Harry stood outside the record store on Charing Cross as the Knight Bus vanished and took several deep breaths.

"What a fucking stupid way to travel. Every magical means is a stupid way to travel."

You could come up with an easy, cheap, convenient method. You could be famous.

'What again? Are you taking the piss?'

…

'I can feel you laughing.'

Well it was funny.

Harry chose to ignore his personal peanut gallery and turned toward the suddenly appeared Leaky Cauldron. The shambolic rustiness was in sharp contrast to the more modern shops either side of it. He stepped forward and pushed open the door.

The dim interior was busier than he had ever seen it. Every age of witch and wizard was present, and several magical beings that were definitely not human. Harry kept his head down, nodded at old Tom who returned the gesture and he was out the back door without much notice.

Absent-mindedly Harry tapped the correct brick with his finger and realised what he had done as the bricks finished moving. He stared at his finger for a few seconds then shrugged and moved off.

You should be able to do more magic wandlessly. Not to the level of Dumbledore, you've not had the years of exposure and training but limited use. Convenient more than anything powerful. Open, close, push, pull etc.

Harry filtered into the foot traffic of Diagon Alley, he poked around and marvelled at how little he had seen the first time Hagrid had brought him here. He had only thought there were two streets, but there were actually eight. He had found some of them easily enough but been told of the rest by his friends with more of a wizarding background. Sam had mentioned five but not about the residential streets.

Three streets branched off Diagon Alley; Knockturn Alley, Market Street and Perchance Crescent which were extensions of Diagon with a similar make up of shops, cafe's, pubs and hotels. Magister Grove was more of a cul de sac residential area at the bottom of Market Street. A mis-matched combination of two hundred year old townhouses, more modern muggle style semi-detached family homes and turn of the century terrace houses. Monty Circle and Piccadilly Row completed the hodge-podge collection of houses, flats, apartments and gated communities.

Knockturn Alley had a darker reputation but it was really the home for thrift stores, apothecaries and a general store. Everything was a little bit ratty and worn. Market Street had stores of all kinds, as the name suggested it was a well stocked larder where matriarchs such as Mrs Weasley would do most of her shopping. He had often heard her apparate out and back in half an hour.

Harlequin square was the place where the nightlife of the Wizarding world could be found, apart from places like Manchester's Wanded Steeple or the Blackfriars in Birmingham and Harry had to walk the entire length of Diagon Alley to find it. It was the centre of wizarding culture and had theatres, pubs, bars, cafes, hotels and several night clubs because what did you do on the weekend when you couldn't turn the television on, Fortescue's ice cream parlour was not all there was.

When Harry walked through at three in the afternoon the foot traffic was sparse and most doors were closed and windows dark. Harry sat at an outside table of Madam Marlene's Cosy Tearooms to fill his grumbling stomach and contemplate his next move. Over a truly massive teacake, melted butter and half a jar of blackberry jam and a full pot of tea Harry managed to calm his nerves and ease his stress.

He was not currently in any physical danger, every hotel apart from a small one had spare rooms available and he was no longer hungry. Harry took a deep breath and leant back in his chair and interlaced his fingers behind his head.

"I need somewhere to stay. I'm not going to ask the Weasleys or Hermione's parents if I can crash at their place."

He glanced around and appraised the nearest hotel, he could see a cat sat in a second floor window and licked his lips.

'I wonder how many cat animagus there are, surely there can't be many.'

"Money, so Gringotts, Presents, erm. I guess I'll just wing it, I've got time. Erm, I guess I'll be eating out for a while too."

Harry sighed, entered the cafe to pay his bill and wandered back towards Diagon Alley. The foot traffic had lightened in the last hour and it only took ten minutes to get back to the middle of the street where the columns of the goblin run bank could be found. Harry had to impose some will power on himself and not indulge in his curiosity to browse all the stores that he passed. He slowed as he saw Quality Quidditch Supplies but carried on with a sad shake of his head.

The two goblin guards watched him mount the stone steps and growled slightly, it almost sounded like a greeting so Harry nodded at them as he passed. He glanced at the plaque which warned of the peril of theft and entered the vaulted building. All the teller desks had queues of various lengths at them so Harry selected the shortest one and settled in to wait. He noticed movement out of the corner of his eye, he glanced across at the next queue over and saw Remus Lupin staring at him in confusion.

Remus glanced forward at the two people in front of him and back at Harry, he pulled a face of frustration and kept his place in line. Harry pulled a face of his own and glanced around for the nearest exit.

'Shit, should I run? I'm not going back there.'

At least get your money first, if the worst happens you might not get back here until the summer.

Harry took several minutes to get to the desk and he could see Remus creep forward at the same speed. Harry regarded the Goblin who perched on his tiny stool dressed in his spotless three piece suit which clashed horribly with his dark green skin, his gnarled bony claw tripped hands and snarling savage features.

'It reminds me of a gremlin.'

Such a good film.

"Yes?"

The brusk question caught Harry off guard even though he had been looking directly at the goblin. Harry cleared his throat.

"I'd like to withdraw some money and muggle money please."

"Key?"

Harry held out his hand palm up to display the small golden key. Sharp black claws clinked as they slipped inside the small keyring and lifted the key without touching Harry's skin. The goblin sniffed the key, darted his black tongue out to taste it and grimaced. He held a monocle up to his eye and inspected the key for ten seconds then placed the key on the desk, returned the monocle to the wooden rest with a built-in fountain pen holder and folded his hands on the desk.

"This is in order, an accounts manager has requested that he be informed on the next visit of the owner of this key to Gringotts. Minar will take you down to your vault and an interview room will be made available to you. Return to this desk and request directions."

Harry blinked and opened his mouth but closed it again and nodded at the stern look in the goblins eye. The teller raised his hand and flicked his fingers once. Harry retrieved his key and nodded to the goblin.

"Thank you."

Harry turned and saw what might be a female goblin step away from the back wall and take short but quick strides towards the desk. Harry mulled over his assumption that she was female because even though Minar was dressed in the same shirt, waist coat and very small trousers she was clearly a goblinette. She was smaller in stature and bulk than the other goblins in the bank; she was also much prettier. Almost to human standards but her features were far too pointy.

On reaching the desk she didn't pause for instruction or to allow Harry to keep up, she stepped past him towards the rows of doors behind the rows of desks. The doors were identical, no mark differentiated them at all, the brass door knobs were the same, the varnished finish was the same and the armed and armoured goblin guards which stood before each door looked the same.

Harry frowned slightly and broke into a trot enough to catch up with his guide.

"Erm, this is different, from the last time I visited the bank. When did that happen?"

The goblin regarded him out of the corner of her eye with a look he couldn't decipher.

"We had a break in several years ago, nothing was stolen but we increased security and changed our policies and procedures. Show your key to this guard, a delay in producing it will result in your detainment."

Harry scrabbled in his pocket for the key and held it out for the guards inspection, he could barely breathe. The guard flicked his gaze between the key, Harry and the goblin several times before he grunted. That was the only sound or movement he made, the intensity of the gaze he fixed Harry with caused the hairs to raise on the back of Harry's neck. He shivered slightly as Minar made directly for the door and opened it to reveal a torch lit stone passage and several cobwebs. As Harry passed through the door it swung shut behind him and slammed closed with such violence a rush of air ruffled his hair. Flames guttered and the goblin led Harry off into the darkness.

Harry eyed the mine cart that Minar led him to with a grim expression, the cart had more rust showing on its metal frame than black paint, the wooden panels were gnarled and pitted slabs which showed significant impact damage, Harry swallowed. He watched from a distance as Minar opened a little door, sat in the front of the cramped vehicle, her hand on a stick just inside the rim and offered him a steady look. Harry forced a long breath out and climbed in the back. He had told several people that he loved the cart rides down to his vault but in truth he hated the loss of control, yes it was like flying in its unpredictable nature but someone else driving was horrible.

The cart lurched into motion and within a metre the descent was vertical and rapid. Harry's grip on the sides of the cart was painful as was the impact of his shoulder on a protruding bolt.

He did not enjoy this ride at all, the eternity of interminable high speed cornering or sudden changes in altitude did in fact end in a sudden screech of brakes and the feeling that someone had just taken several years off his life.

"Your vault Mr Potter, please step this way."

Harry forced himself to put one foot in front of the other and ignore the nauseous feeling mainly out of pride, and by the time they stopped in front of the massive door. The goblin ran her finger down the door and a resonant click echoed throughout the space and the door creaked open.

"Erm, don't you need my key to open it?"

"No, the key only needs to be on this platform and in proximity to the door is sufficient."

"Oh."

Harry stepped forward and passed through the doors which had stopped at shoulder width apart. A dull green light illuminated the vault and piles of coins which were so much taller than Harry was, he crouched down as he pulled his money pouch out and counted out two hundred galleons, a hundred sickles and a similar amount of knuts. He smiled slightly at the money pouch maintaining its size, shape and weight. Magic was magical.

'That should do, for the summer.'

Harry rose and gave the vault a thirty second scan, but he was disappointed to see that there was nothing else apart from his massive pile of coins. He sighed and nodded.

No books from your parents or school chest?

'I was hoping, not even a journal but I guess it would have been kept in our house, like normal people.'

Harry turned to find the goblin three steps behind him, her Inscrutable stare made Harry step back to regard her warily.

"Okay, I'm ready."

She nodded once and they were back in the cart with very little time for Harry to prepare. He sat back and watched the door clang shut as the cart burst into motion, Harry's head slammed backwards and bounced off the rear wooden panelling.

Scene Break_

Harry watched the gleaming point of the pike waver from side above his head as he followed the guard down the corridor, the plush carpet cushioned his feet so well that the only sound in the room was the creak of the guards armour. The guard stopped outside an unmarked door, took up a guard position to one side and became motionless. Harry glanced from the door to the goblin twice before he stepped forward and knocked, there was no answer so he watched the guard as he touched several fingers to the door handle. With no response from the guard Harry pushed the handle down until there was a soft click. The guard didn't move. Harry pulled and the door swung open silently.

Inside the large well appointed room was a single large desk with an elderly goblin sat behind it, a younger goblin stood to one side and a chair was positioned before it. Both goblins watched Harry with the same intense gaze as Minar had. Harry lifted his chin and walked to the chair in the middle of the room. Harry stopped next to the chair and nodded to the aide and spoke to the accounts manager.

"I am Harry Potter."

The elder goblin nodded from behind his steepled finger and gestured slightly. The voice was so dry that it sounded like the rustle of autumn leaves.

"Good evening Mr Potter, please be seated."

Harry sat and glanced around the room, it was a perfect cube as far as Harry could tell. Two doors opposite each other, the desk near the backdoor and a massive red rug covering the stone floor. A portrait of a goblin with a noble bearing was mounted on each wall to Harry's right and left. The aide held out a sheaf of parchment that the accounts manager accepted and left through the rear door.

"I am Magister Plutarg, it's a pleasure. I'm sure you have heard that the goblin nation values time as much as money and I prefer to waste neither. I manage a portfolio of accounts which included those of your mother and father and several relatives of which you did inherit the contents of their assorted vaults and a dozen properties of varying size and value."

Harry couldn't withhold a startled exclamation.

"I have properties?"

"You did, unfortunately they have all been sold by your magical guardian."

"What? Why? I have a magical guardian?"

"You did up until your magical majority. Every orphan does, well every child does but the guardian of every magical orphan is the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"The Professor is my guardian, he never told me. Why wouldn't he tell me?"

The goblin might have looked surprised but Harry wasn't sure.

"He has not? It is his legal requirement to do so. I would suggest that you speak to him. This is not all we have to discuss. The property that we discussed, it has all been sold, every property, and all their contents."

Harry's jaw dropped open, he tried to speak, failed then tried again.

"Sold? All of it? What, why? Oh that old bastard. My family has been paid two thousand pounds a month to let me exist in their house. This is how he paid for it. Why is all that money in my vault?"

The elderly goblin shrugged apologetically.

"That is not all, your guardian attempted to syphon off all of your wealth, what remains in your vault is your inheritance, some dividend and rents. The latter two are none existent now but was a major contributor to your families wealth for several generations."

Harry swallowed and clenched his fists, a tension filled second of silence then he scrubbed his hands through his hair and rested a wary gaze onto the account manager.

"Tell me."

"There is an old law in the Wizengamot Legislature that has remained enshrined in law for hundreds of years despite many attempts to remove it. I hope you will see the reasons behind this shortly, physical wealth cannot be touched by any save the remaining scion. Contracts, property deeds, rent and portfolio dividends come under the auspices of a regent or guardian and are able to reinvest funds or be used as expenses. This was seen as payment for serving for years in such roles. All Potter businesses are now under new management, all properties sold. I am sorry Mr Potter, all I could do was to insist that the vault was unavailable to anyone but you."

Harry's hands shook and he took shuddering breaths, his heart pounded and he surged with emotions.

'Oh god, this is horrible.'

You've been betrayed by one you held in high esteem, breathe and calm. This must be dealt with by a tranquil mind.

'I'll give that fucking old man a piece of my tranquil mind. Nothing left but a stupid pile of metal.'

Ask him if you can invest now, start again?

"Magister Plutarg, can you make investments for me?"

"I can, and willingly but not until you are eighteen. Before then your guardian must give permission for each purchase over five hundred galleons and countersign any property deed."

Harry nodded then felt incredibly tired.

"Thank you Magister Plutarg, is there anything else we need to discuss?"

"No, not currently, there are no accounts to show you barring the total funds in your vault."

Harry nodded again and rose.

"Thank you."

Harry stopped halfway to the door, paused and turned. The aide had returned to the room and both goblins stared at him.

"Can I get some galleons exchanged to muggle money?"

The aide spoke for the first time and took a step towards Harry.

"You may. Ask at the counter you first approached."

Harry inclined his head and left the room. His thoughts whirled as he followed the silent guardsman back down the plush carpeted hallway. Anger raged through him in sheets of white hot flame. Bitter resentment, jealousy, annoyance and hatred ebbed and flowed as he vainly sought some kind of emotional control.

I cannot help you with this. Except to say that you are still alive, you have your health and your friends. You have more money than you could possibly spend and you have me, I will never leave you.

Harry felt his anger lessen despite himself, the fizz he had felt became more analytical and found a glint of humour.

'Oh I'm sure if I tried hard enough I could make a massive dent in that massive pile of gold.'

'That shitty old man, this can't be about the prophecy can it? How does he expect me to win if he deprives me of- he doesn't. No places to stay, kept away from friends and anyone who could help me. I'm to die for him to win. Wow.'

I think so too, there is no proof but it does seem that way. The restricted childhood, the lack of personal instruction, the apparent disregard for your safety. They're all very suggestive.

'All I need as proof is if he turns up here to take me back to HMP Privet Drive. No thanks, I'll leave the country first.'

You can't, you need to get back to your mate.

Harry huffed out a breath and glanced around the long corridor, they had been walking for a few minutes and he hadn't been paying attention to his surroundings.

'Daphne, we haven't even spoken about it.'

You could try sending her an owl.

'Oh yes, and what do you expect that I put? Hi we haven't really spoken yet but neither of us are human and I'm loaded, wanna date?'

Yeah, that sounds good.

'What the hell do you know, you're just a disembodied imaginary voice.'

Ah but Harry, I'm your imaginary voice. Your conscience.

'If you appear out of thin air as a little green grasshopper with a cane and a top hat I think I'm going to run away screaming.'

I can't actually tell if you're joking.

'I'm stressed, neither can I.'

The goblin reached the lone door they had passed through before and opened it, beyond Harry could see the row of desks, several goblins and a very worried looking Remus Lupin. He met Harry halfway between the door and the nearest desk and fell into step with him.

"What's happening Harry? I've just got a summons from the Headmaster that you were missing and to meet in Diagon Alley."

Harry glanced over at him.

"Did you tell him where I am?"

Remus shook his head as Harry reached the counter and nodded to the goblin seated behind it.

"Good evening master goblin, can you exchange galleons for muggle money?"

The goblin gave Harry a cursory look before addressing Remus.

"Are you this one's guardian?"

Remus shook his head as Harry pulled out his money pouch and placed it on the desk.

"No, I'm just a friend."

Harry stared the goblin in the eye and smiled lopsidedly.

"I would like five hundred galleons worth please."

Remus gasped and Harry smirked at him.

"Magical transfer, the equivalent amount will be removed from your vault at end of business plus one percent."

The goblin offered a toothy grin as Harry nodded and scratched his palm slightly as he slapped the money down. Harry pocketed the bank notes and pouch. He glanced towards Remus as they turned for the large double doors. There was a slight trace of blood which followed the life line until Harry dabbed it on his sleeve.

"Well that wasn't necessary."

Remus grinned and shrugged.

"Goblins have a healthy distrust of muggle money and any who would exchange good gold for paper isn't trustworthy either."

The pair made three more steps in silence before Remus glanced around nervously and took a careful breath.

"Harry, I erm, it's good to see you but why are you here? Shouldn't you be in Little Whinging?"

Harry glanced at him and sighed, he stopped at the door and stepped to the side to allow a couple of wizards pass by.

"I had a disagreement with Vernon, Aunt Petunia called the police and an Ambulance so I legged it. That was this morning, I caught the knight bus here and I will not be going back."

"But Harry, Dumble-."

Harry interrupted him with a slash of a hand and a glare.

"I will not have anything to do with that man at all for the rest of my life."

Remus gaped.

"But, where's this come from? He's Albus."

Harry huffed and leant back into the alcove they stood in.

"I've just found out, I've got no property or investments left. He's sold them all off and given at least some of it to the Dursleys to raise me."

Remus frowned.

"That doesn't sound right, how would he have access, they wouldn't be paid for raising you. She was your relative, they are legally required to take you in. Not that your mum would have been happy with that, she didn't have a very high opinion of either of them."

Harry sucked his teeth and thumbed his nose.

"Neither do I. They got two thousand pounds a month for making me dress in Dudleys cast offs and shove me in a poky cupboard when I annoyed them."

Remus stilled and turned flashing yellow eyes on Harry.

"They did what?"

"Huh, I thought you knew. Anyway I've just been told by my account manager that all that is left is a vault full of gold and that's only because an ancient law says my guardian can buy and sell investments and properties but not touch the money."

"I can see why you're not happy. I wouldn't be either. Have you seen the will yet?"

Harry stared at Remus for a second and stood very still.

"No, there's a will?"

"I asked him just after it happened, he said I should worry about myself and that you were in the best place you could be. I asked about the will, James said I was to be looked after if they died, he had wanted me to be your guardian but the law wouldn't allow a werewolf to be in a position of responsibility over anyone, so I knew what was in it, there was a section which stated you were not to go to your Aunt. Under no circumstances whatever. I'm sure I spoke to Albus about it but maybe I didn't."

Remus frowned and Harry kept his silence, Remus looked like he had more to say.

This is a good man who has been dealt a shit hand in life.

'I'm beginning to see that.'

"It doesn't matter now Remus, I'm old enough now to make my own decisions."

Remus shrugged and glanced around, the bank was empty apart from them, the guards and a few bank goblins. He pulled out a medallion from around his neck and looked down at it, the chain lengthened so it wasn't right under his nose.

"Listen, Dumbledore has summoned me three times now, I've got to go but I won't say anything. What you've told me has just confirmed something that I've been thinking for a while now, there is something wrong with him."

"McGonagall and Flitwick think so too. She said that there wasn't much they could do, he is too powerful and says he's fine."

Remus hummed and stroked his chin. His worn features and threadbare robes made him look like a scholar from the twenties fresh from a musty library.

"My life is hard Harry, so you could never live with me. Legally forbidden, but you are all I've cared about since you were born. My only chance at a family. I did not realise the depths to which that old goat had sunk to. I didn't know there were even sides apart from being a Death Eater or not being a Death Eater. I choose you Harry. If nothing else than for Sirius' sake. My loyalty is to the son of my friends. I don't have many friends, any family. All I have is you, I took the Defense position to be as near you as I could, I only wish I could have done more. For you and Sirius. What would you have of me Harry?"

Harry regarded the older man and nodded slowly.

"I could do with someone who could make investments and purchases for me, someone I can trust, a friend. I can't do any until I'm eighteen and Dumbledore would definitely not let me even if I could. If you did that and managed them you could live there, keep a cage like you used to have."

Remus harrumphed in faint amusement and stuck out his hand. "That would help both of us and limit my reliance on the Order and Dumbledore. Yes, if you're willing."

Harry shook Remus' hand then frowned.

"I suppose the first thing to do is to find out how to give you permission to do that, if it could be agreed with the bank or if the ministry would have to be involved."

Remus shrugged and grinned.

"That's a problem for tomorrow. For now let's get you somewhere away from prying eyes for the rest of the year."

Remus turned and pushed the door open, stepped out then paused in the doorway, Harry walked into his back as he caught a glimpse of the group arrayed on the steps of the bank silhouetted in the lengthening shadows of the London twilight.

Albus Dumbledore was the highest of his order, foot paused in midair as he had been climbing. Fifteen members spread out in a V formation behind him, wands out and looking nervous. Harry placed a hand on Remus' back to steady himself and murmured.

"All this for little old me?"

Remus moved to the top of the stairs and Harry followed as he drifted to one side. His lip twitched in an involuntary show of disgust and he squeezed the grip of his wand behind his right leg.

Poor tactical positioning, half of them do not have a line of sight on you, they would have to get around Dumbledore to incapacitate you.

Harry glanced over his shoulder at an unknown sound to see a cohort of armed and armoured guards, four bank tellers and the Magister Plutarg. His gnarled hands flexed his talons repeatedly as he glared death towards the Headmaster.

"Harry, I'm glad Remus has found you, come along we should get you home before dinner."

Harry took note of the aim of all wands present and noticed the space themselves out on either side of himself and Remus. Grunts and the clank of metal and a light breeze are the only sounds. The guards advanced to the top step and gentle but firm hands pushed Harry and Remus backwards. They exchanged a glance and Magister Plutarg snarled a long sentence in a harsh and rasping language, Albus Dumbledore replied in a calm tone but the conversation grew in volume and aggression and finally ended with Plutarg yelling Dumbledore's name like a curse.

"Dumbledore!"

Harry shifted from foot to foot during this exchange and he met the gaze of the few of the Order of the Phoenix members he did know with difficulty. None looked too pleased to see him, Dedulus Diggle looked positively murderous and was twitching his wand in a way Harry didn't like.

"Harry, come now!"

Headmaster Dumbledore looked the least Professorial, calm and collected than at any time that Harry had known him, his eyes seemed a little too wild, his beard looked flyaway and unkempt and his robes still had floo powder smudges on them. A far cry from the all knowing Supreme Mugwump.

"I will not be going back."

Harry's voice remained steady and did not squeak as it had done the previous day,

"You must, Harry, it is unsafe for you to remain in the open."

Dumbledore glanced at various points in the goblin line then over his shoulder at his people.

"Why did you sell all my family's property?"

Harry's demand echoed slightly off the enclosed street and in the ensuing silence the order members glanced at each other. Dumbledore shook his head and held out a beseeching hand to him.

"The goblin nation is renowned liars Harry, you must understand that…"

There was a collective gasp from most present and a muttered curse from Remus had Harry glance at him, the tension in his jaw caused the muscles to bunch as he edged towards Harry. The goblins all took an aggressive step forward and presented their pikes with growls and snarls.

Magister Plutarg was incensed.

"You call us liars! Guards, defend the bank's honour!"

The guards lunged down the stairs and Dumbledore shot a pale blue spell towards Harry in the tumult as the guards charged down the stairs, their shields and pikes clashing, the order members casting spells and shields and innocent bystanders shouts of alarm.

Dumbledore's aim was true and would have struck Harry directly in the forehead if a body hadn't crossed Harry's vision. Remus slumped awkwardly against Harry who staggered under the dead weight of his father's friend.

"Remus? Remus!"

Harry lost his balance under the weight and fell backwards, another spell struck Remus who flopped like a fish onto Harry and laid far too still. Harry wiggled and pushed until he freed his legs and could check out the older man. He felt for a pulse and shallow breath. Harry breathed a sigh of relief.

He looked around and realised that the goblins wouldn't make much of a stand. Already most of the guards were down or frozen still. Pops of apparition echoed off the walls and Harry could see the red robes of Aurors close on the steps of the bank.

Harry made a snap decision.

Run.

'No shit.'

Scene Break_

Harry was blowing hard when he stepped out onto Charing Cross Road in the early evening, at just after six, shops were being locked and there were less people hurrying with purpose than Harry had seen that afternoon. It seemed like a lifetime ago instead of a few hours given all that he had learned, all that had happened. The insanity of a still capable Albus Dumbledore, poor Remus Lupin, the bank guards who had only been doing their jobs.

Harry turned right and started to walk, not staying here was probably a good idea. It had been a disastrous end to a crappy day and something had dawned on him as he hurried the length of a very long wizarding district.

'Bloody hell, this is a long street.'

'Shit that was the hotel I wanted to check into.'

As Harry turned the corner on Shaftesbury avenue he watched a doubledecker bus slide into the bus stop and jerked to a stop with a hiss of air. The driver watched as Harry raised a hand and broke into a jog, the black man inclined his head and the door hissed open as Harry joined the two-person queue and waited impatiently for his turn. He picked a destination at random after a quick glance at the bus stop timetable.

"Shepherds Bush please."

"You've got it mate."

Harry was incredibly pleased that he still had a couple of pound coins in his jacket pocket from his mad dash out of the Dursleys door and nodded his thanks. The bus had seen better days, maybe before world war two. It was grimy and very worn, he sat next to an indian man with a sikh head scarf as he gripped the pole to keep from sliding off the grimy leather.

A sort of plan had formed in his head as he had seen the bus and the longer he sat on the bus the more he could see the merit of it. Harry kept his head on a swivel observing both sides of the road as they drove along. Then a flash of bright lights, a neon sign. Harry reached up and rested his hand around the stop button but he hesitated. He needed more distance.

Harry waited for five more stops and fifteen more hotels before he finally decided that this stop was as good as anywhere. He pushed the button and a ding sounded near the front of the bus, a young woman rose from the seat across the aisle and smiled at Harry shyly as he took a step backwards to allow her to go first. Once Harry was on the street he carefully looked around and seeing no one watching him, wandered back the way the bus had come.

The bright white neon light of the Best Western Hotel shone like a beacon in the twilight gloom, the revolving door was whisper-quiet as Harry pushed his way through into the almost oppressive heat of the lobby. The plush red carpet seemed like it stretched on forever all the way up to the concierge desk and its lone occupant. The young lady tugged her uniform jacket down and flicked her blonde hair back over her shoulder.

"Hi."

"Good evening sir, my name is Rachel. Do you have a reservation?"

Harry glanced around and stood slightly taller.

"No I don't, do I need one?"

Rachel smiled at him, glanced down at the book on the desk before her. Harry looked down too and saw a lot of blank paper.

"No you don't, I can book you in now if you'd like. Just one night?"

"Yes I- actually can I book in until the fifth of January?"

"Three weeks? Yes you can, don't you have a home or school to go to?"

Harry tried to smile which turned into a grimace and he shuffled his feet.

"I was suspended from school for a fight which I didn't start and I don't have the best relationship with my relatives, they don't want me there and I don't want to be there."

Rachel initially began to look at him askanced but her behaviour changed as he continued to speak, she nodded slightly.

"I understand, do you live locally?"

"No Surrey, I really didn't know where to go and took the train as far as it would go."

"You're what? Sixteen, seventeen?"

Harry huffed a laugh then nodded, he clenched his fists and forced himself to relax.

"What's your name?"

Do you give her your real name?

'Am I on the run?'

Do you want to go back?

'Do I hell.'

Well then. Keep it close to your real name as you can.

"Henry Porter."

Harry managed to keep a straight face as he told her and unclenched his fists again.

"Will you be paying for all three weeks upfront or day by day?"

Harry dug a hand into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. It had been a recent purchase and Harry was glad that he had more than just the money pouch he had been stuffing everything into.

"Can I pay for a week at a time?"

Rachel smiled and nodded.

"Of course you can. That will be one hundred and forty pounds. Bed and breakfast."

Harry handed her the notes with little fanfare and smiled at her uncertain look.

"I've been working part time jobs for a while now, one good thing about my relatives is that this was my money to spend how I want. Well I want to pay for a hotel room with it."

"Well then, you're in room twenty eight, if you take the stairs up to the first floor and turn left your room is at the end of the hall."

Harry offered Rachel a warm smile and shifted his messenger bag into a more comfortable position and headed for the stairs. He was dog tired but satisfied with his progress he was warm, safe and now peckish. Time to call Dobby.

The next morning Harry wandered out of the restaurant to see the sun streaming through every window and door and a beaming smile from the receptionist whose name tag read Megan.

"Morning."

"Good morning, is it Mr Porter?"

Harry nodded and felt for his wand through the fabric of his jacket.

"Oh good. Rachel went off shift a couple of hours ago and asked me to give you this."

Megan handed a book to Harry and he looked back up in confusion at Megan, it was a tourist guidebook of London.

"She said you seemed lost, she thought you might want something to do. Lots to see in London."

Harry opened the book at a random page and pulled a face at the depiction of death and misery that was the London Dungeon. He smiled and nodded.

"I'll have to thank her. I was wondering what I was going to do. Now I've got a plan."

Harry's plan to tour London was put on hold for a few days due to the mother of all thunderstorms. He had stood in the hotel lobby and watched the rain bounce off the tarmac driveway. A taxi pulled up and a middle aged couple ran the five metres to the stone steps. In that short space of time they both looked like drowned rats, their clothes completely soaked.

Harry turned around and climbed the stairs and his awaiting television set.

Scene Break_

On day one of his rain enforced solitude Harry received a letter from Sam, the bird that delivered it hooted quietly as it glanced curiously around the room. Harry didn't recognise the owl but he did know the neat cursive that scawled his name on the scroll tied to its leg. It was from Sam and his first impression was that it was short and tear streaked.

Hi Harry,

Thank you for asking how I am. Pretty horrible to be honest. I was in Saint Mungos overnight but I'm out now and at my parents. I tried to go home but I can't do it, I just couldn't stop crying. So many of my friends were hurt or died in Manchester. Gods, I can't even write about it. Physically I'm alright now, I'm not even limping anymore. Magic right? My dad has been and closed the shop down, I can't go back to work yet.

Thanks for asking after me Harry, I won't be around Hogsmeade for a while but if you need anything I'll do my best to help.

All the best

Sam

Harry spent the next hour alternating between pacing his room and glaring out of the rain streaked window. He resorted to intense physical exercise to ensure he would sleep at night, he was watched over by a worried Dobby as he struggled to get to his after a push up too many or when his legs could manage anymore squats and he had to crawl to the bathroom and sat in the shower for ten minutes panting. That night he managed to sleep without dreams.

Two days later Harry was staring morosely out of the window, he had pushed the wingback chair across the room and was flicking through a novel he had taken from the hotel library.

He jumped as a thump and a scrabbling noise pierced his solitude, he looked up to see a barn owl struggling to balance on the miniscule window ledge. Harry flung himself at the window and raised the sash just as the bird lost its fight with gravity and he snagged it around the wings and body to hug it to his chest.

"Hedwig will be so jealous."

Harry's t-shirt darkened with transferred rainwater as he gazed into two enormous amber eyes. The owl let out a Prek noise and Harry settled it on the backrest of his chair. He slid the window closed then pulled the wet shirt from his now cold skin then off completely.

He tossed it towards the bathroom door but it vanished before it made it halfway. Harry smiled, he didn't care what Hermione rattled on about, it was really cool to have a house elf.

Harry pulled a new t-shirt from his bag and slipped it over his head as he approached the owl. It had flapped and shook the excess water from its feathers and now the window, chair and wall were soaking. Harry sighed and removed the letter from the bird's extended leg.

"Hang around please, I might need to reply."

The bird bobbed its head then tucked it beneath its wing. Harry looked down at the letter and smiled slightly at the neat copperplate handwriting depicting his name. He pulled hard enough to break the wax seal and unfolded the parchment.

Harry

First off I am in the hospital wing at Hogwarts and am recovering well. It was the headmaster who tried to subdue you with a powerful stunning charm that I intercepted. I would not have required stay in the hospital wing but the obscure spell he used reacted poorly with the werewolf curse and caused complications.

Suffice to say that when he came to apologise he was taken aback and confused at the length and vocabulary of my annoyance and disgust of how he felt the need to subdue you and his spell selection. I used some bad words.

I was pleased to find out that you escaped and weren't returned to the muggles. After our conversation I asked a few leading questions of Madam Pomfrey qs. I woke up two days ago in Madam Pomfrey's tender care and have a burning need to not be here. As I said at Gringotts you've always been my priority and now I've got the opportunity to honour my friends and be there for you.

Let me know where we can meet and when and I'll be there.

I've been on the sidelines too long.

Remus

Harry looked at Dobby who was sat quietly on the bedspread and casually waved the letter through the air.

"Remus wants to join us, apparently he gave Dumbledore a mouthful."

Dobby stood up and pointed a finger at the television, the sound muted immediately.

"Is it safe?"

"Probably, Remus is no fan of the old man. But I think we can meet in a public place. Trafalgar square I think."

"Write your letter, I will give it to him and make sure he is not under a spell."

"Thanks Dobby."

Harry watched the rain for a few seconds before he rose and headed for the desk.

"After the rain has stopped."

Scene Break_

Harry glanced around as he leant his back against the base of one of the massive stone lions and surveyed the square. There were no suspiciously dressed people near him, or not stranger than usual amongst the dozens of people dressed up in hats and coats against the bitter cold of a British winter. The thunderstorm was immediately followed by a cold front that froze the rain sodden ground and turned London into an ice rink.

Hands thrust deeply into pockets Harry clasped his wand reassuringly as he finally noticed Remus approach from Strand and the Charing Cross tube station. He smiled easily and held out his hand to the older man, Remus pulled him into a brief hug and stood back to regard Harry critically.

"You've got a few people worried Harry. You're looking well though, being on the lam suits you."

Harry smirked and nodded towards Northumberland Avenue then walked off in that direction, Remus fell into step beside him.

"There's a cafe I found down there yesterday, let me buy you a coffee."

"As long as we can sit inside, it's bitter today. Have you done much exploring?"

Harry shook his head and looked both ways as they crossed at the traffic lights.

"No, it's been torrential for days, and only stopped yesterday afternoon. I got out of my hotel room as fast as I could."

They made small talk as they walked down the famous street and both hurried through the door to prevent the precious contained warmth from escaping.

They sat by the long iron radiator as they waited for their coffees to arrive and regarded each other.

"So Harry, you mentioned at the bank you had a proposition for me?"

Harry nodded as he swallowed a mouthful of tea and wiped his hand over his mouth.

"Yeah, something like a business manager. Are you working at the moment?"

Remus sat back and gazed out of the window for a time, he replied as they both watched a black cab drive past. He laughed humourlessly and his face fell for a second.

"I don't even have a place to stay at the moment. I was staying in Sirius' house but I can't stay there anymore, i will have nothing at all to do with that old fucking goat."

Harry stared at him then leant forward earnestly.

"You're homeless?"

Remus glanced at Harry then away again, he transferred his gaze to .

"It's not where I wanted to be in life, I'm thirty six, no wife, no children, no home, not even a picket fence."

"Well you've got me Remus and I'm not going anywhere, I need you now too."

Remus looked at Harry from under his eyebrows and smiled shyly.

"It's meant to be the adult that helps the child you know."

Harry chuckled. "Well, helping me will help you. I'm staying in a hotel across the city. You can stay with me and we can find somewhere more permanent."

Remus' smile lit up the room and he held his hand out for Harry to take.

"You're a good man Harry, your parents would be proud."

Remus drained his cup and stood, clearly energised.

"Come on, lets go see the goblins then you can tell me your plans for a very wet and cold holiday in London. There is always loads to do in the run up to Christmas even if you can't drink."

Harry smirked as he followed him out the door and fell into step as they walked towards the bus station.

"I can drink? What are you on about, I've been educated by the Weasley twins, didn't you have house parties back in your day? All those hundred of years ago?"

Remus gave him the side eye and Harry sniggered.

"I can drink and you'll be paying for them all."

Harry guffawed and side stepped the lamppost that Remus pushed him into.

"I'm glad you're here Remus, I wasn't looking forward to staying on my own."

"Anytime Harry, anytime."

Scene Break_

Harry owled Professor McGonagall on Remus' insistence a day after he had moved into the room across the hall, to let her know that he was safe and find out what had happened after he had run away. The responses he got equal parts amused and horrified him, Professor Dumbledore was in serious legal trouble with the Goblin Nation, the board of governors and the Ministry and had been warned to keep his distance from Harry until the suspension had been completed. The professor was very relieved to hear that Remus was keeping him company.

Even though the weather oscillated between rubbish, crap and horrendous, the three weeks Harry spent with Remus touring the sights and sounds of Great Britain's capital city were the best he could remember. They took a tour of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the Tower of London. Harry boarded a sightseeing boat and sailed the length of the Thames River and saw every football stadium, while Remus stayed in a pub claiming that he was seasick even on a river. Remus made Harry wear a tuxedo to go to the theatre, Harry was hooked and insisted on five more performances of varying seriousness. His favourite was the Pirates of Penzance and the ridiculous modern Major General. He was obsessed by the West End musical Miss Saigon and conned Remus into going to see it twice. He felt so much for the boy Tam that it scared him.

Christmas was a quiet affair, they slept in late and had planned to open their few presents together but Harry had many owls arrive than he expected. He was quite emotional as he read each letter, even casual acquaintances sent him a small present and a note saying they thought his punishment was harsh. Hermione's fifteen page letter repeatedly said that she was so sorry they couldn't meet up, that the school charter forbids a suspended student from interacting with anyone in the school.

They had spent more than a few days in the cinema, wandering the corridors of museums and art galleries. Three nights before the full moon was just after the new year and, Harry went on his own to see a midnight showing of Alfred Hitchcocks' The Birds and it finished very late. He was heading back to Hogwarts the day after tomorrow and probably into a world of trouble if the letters from his friends were any indication.

Harry's feet ached as he trudged back down Shaftesbury Avenue for fifteen minutes longer than he usually did until he realised with growing annoyance that he was on the completely wrong street and was walking in the wrong direction.

He consulted his map for a long minute and heard footsteps behind him just and he decided on a course of action.

"Bloody hell."

He took the first alleyway he came across and moseyed down it for a minute before he realised that the footsteps behind him hadn't changed distance and had doubled. Three sets of footsteps were behind him now. He glanced over his shoulder and saw a pair of looming shadows break into a trot, a third further back.

"Hey son. You best be handing over your wallet."

Harry glanced over his shoulder again and felt up his sleeve for his wand then stilled his movement and closed his hand into a fist.

'Can't do that.'

Of course you can, it might be better. You're not human anymore.

'What do you mean?'

You're stronger than they are, do you want to harm them?

'Not really.'

Well then.

Harry's breathing increased with his pace and as a hand closed on his shoulder he spun and shoved his assailant with all his might. The shadowy man impacted the back alley wall above a collection of circular rubbish bins and clattered them like bowling pins. A combination of the sudden cacophonous noise, the violent move and the impossibility of it caused the two standing assailants and Harry to watch him groan for a few seconds before the realisation kicked in and anger overcame rationality. A knife and a handgun were produced from somewhere as the pair turned back to Harry with murder in their eyes.

I guess you don't have a choice now. Move!

Harry acted on instinct and surged forward, a rage-filled him with more red hot emotion that he had ever felt in his life. As the gun came up, Harry was inside the reach of the knifeman clamped his wrist and slammed his right elbow into his throat. The knife clattered to the floor as the thug clutched his neck with a series of horrendous choking noises.

The bang of the gun was thunderously loud in the confines of the narrow alley, the proximity of the second blast caused a wave of heat flowed over Harry after the crack of the gunshot preceded two strange pings and in the space of a few seconds there was silence as Harry reached up to feel his neck. There wasn't skin there, it felt smooth and scaly, dry and ridged with a groove in one over his adams apple.

Harry saw red. His life was in danger, the stress of the day was peaking and Harry knew only rage. As he turned to face the thug front on, his hands tried to curl into fists but a restriction prevented the full movement. He brought them up into his field of vision and vaguely recognised black elongated nails which could have been claws. Harry stepped forward and the man stepped backwards as he brought the gun back up and pulled the trigger three more times. It didn't matter.

Harry was on the man, arms swinging and claws flashing in the dim moonlight, blood sprayed everywhere. Across Harry's face, stained his skin and drenched his jacket. The body was kept upright long after he was dead, a flayed corpse. Harry stopped his frantic haymakers and stood in the centre of the alley panting.

He could make out the still body lying amongst the spilled trash, the choking man's hands flopped lifelessly to his side and the gentle glug of the blood at his feet filled his senses.

I said that magical defence would be better.

'Fuck.'

"Fuck."

Harry looked down the alley then back the other way and could just make out the signpost for Shaftesbury Avenue and turned that way. He flicked his arms out as he walked off and heard the spray impact the tarmac and brick of the walls. He paused again and bit his lip, his hands were back to normal and his skin was stained black in the dim light.

"What have I done?"

I won't tell you it was you or them, you know that. Tomorrow will be hard.

"Tonight will be hard."

You've got to go.

Harry broke into a trot and managed to look both ways as he left the alley and crossed the road, it took a long five minutes to reach where he thought the hotel was and he slowed to a stop and looked at his blood stained hands in a pool of street light.

"I can't go in through the reception. Oh no, this is the wrong hotel."

'Bugger, I've gone wrong again.'

Harry looked down at the blood smeared map then checked the street signs and tried to pick out a landmark or two. He was two streets over, and even further away from safety. Police sirens echoed in the distance, drew closer and headed back in the direction he had just come. Harry rubbed his forehead distractedly.

'RIght, I need to go that way and that way then I'm back."

He turned and headed for the nearest alley way and gazed down suspiciously, he glanced around and, not seeing anyone nodded resolutely. He made it halfway down the alley and as he paused in a doorway he heard a gasp of surprise and turned to see a masked man pull himself upright from a small stool by an open fire, the man looked shocked, a shock he was quickly getting over if his hand that reached into his robes was any indication.

The man was dressed in a full length black robe and an ornate silver mask which glinted in the moonlight. The fire guttered and banked to mere embers and the silver mask became a floating image in space. The wand was a sliver of pale light that moved and twirled as Harry's instincts screamed at him to move, to kill.

A spell that Harry didn't quite catch was immediately followed by a flash of black tinged yellow light. The distance was crossed in the blink of an eye and the spell impacted onto Harry's rib cage. He strangled out a winded cry and staggered to the side for two steps. This saved him as the second spell was a near miss and charred his clothes with the energy of its passage.

Harry placed a hand to the wound in his side as he gasped for breath, the pain a blocker to his thought process as he recognised the feel of smooth scales under the slipperiness of hot blood. The rage built again and with it a panic as he remembered the savage aggression of just a few minutes ago and being unable to do anything about it.

Harry's features sharpened and took on a reptilian shade, his pupils elongated and darkened. The skin on his arms and hands matched the exposed puckered flesh over his ribcage. Harry growled so deep that it was a vibration in his chest. He sprang forward as the Wizard called out in shock and managed two panicked spells.

"Avada Kedavra! Protego!"

The first spell curled the hair on Harry's head as it passed, the second he just passed through as that, as every student knows, a shield spell blocks energy only and does not impede the physical at all.

The wizard screamed as claws flashed in the moonlight and blood sprayed and gouted. Seconds later it was over and Harry, features returned to normal sagged to his knees in relief, sorrow, and despair.

"What have I done?"

What you had to do.

"I'm so sorry."

Harry knelt picked up the dead man's wand and reached out to touch the body reverently but as his hand came in contact with the puckered flesh of torn chest cavity a wave washed over him, intangible and transparent yet utterly irresistible thoughts and feelings that were not his own.

Ah, I wondered if you would be blessed with this talent.

"Ow."

Images formed in his mindseye, a pair of hands riffled through an official stack of parchment and stopped on one with Harry Potter, Student, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at the top. The fisheye image moved down to see the section titled current location. Best Western Hotel, Room twenty eight, eighty seven Shaftesbury Avenue, London.

The hand moved and reappeared with the wand that was now clutched in Harry's hand, and the address changed to number four Privet Drive, Surrey. The images drifted down to the section titled Magical Trace with one word under it. Yes. The wand reappeared and with a wave the yes became a no.

A silver mask floated in his vision and a brief flash of a snake-like face gazed out over a sea of similar masks and a high pitched voice reverberated through Harry's mind.

"My Death Eaters! We know who one of the dragons is! We shall so know the identity of the other! They will be ours and we will conquer magical Europe and then the world!"

Harry withdrew his hand in shock and glanced around, the wand warmed in his hand and the chill night cooled his skin enough to raise gooseflesh on his arms and neck. He had had the certain knowledge that the dead man's name was Marcus Bradstock, that he was a Death Eater and that he had not spoken to any other person about his recent activities.

He knew that Bradstock had seen Harry flee Diagon Alley three weeks ago and had searched for him in various magical settlements and had grown more and more desperate as Harry's suspension had gone on. He finally took a chance and snuck into his own Ministry Department late at night to sneak a look at the files he was not authorised to access. The rest Harry had to guess at as his brief glimpse was fragmented.

Harry felt various levels of weirdness and a creeping horror that this night could have gone so much worse.

"Fuck."

You'd better hurry, that was not a quiet exchange.

Harry suddenly became aware of the ambient noises that had been in the back of his mind for a while but unimportant. They were very important now, shouts and screams rented the night. Footsteps approached where Harry still knelt by the corpse. Harry lifted the wand and absently noticed that it felt warm and welcoming in his hand.

"Despartum, Despartum, Despartum."

He cast the notice-me-not spell three times on himself, the dead body and the blood splattered across the ground. He then held his breath as the footsteps grew closer and heralded the arrival of two police officers, the luminescent strips on their jackets and hats reflected the various light sources. Their unhurried hushed chatter remained unalarmed as they stopped a few metres behind him and looked around the alley.

"What did the sergeant tell you?"

"That it sounded like another animal attack, twice in one night."

"Must be some kind of escaped pet."

"That's some sized pet, did you see the mess that was made of that gangster?"

"It's bad, but I'm not going to cry over him, he was wrong'un."

"Still, what a nasty way to go. There's nothing here."

"No, wait, does that look like damage to that wall over there?"

Harry twisted from his position by the body and strained to see where the officer was shining his flashlight on the brickwork. Harry winced and looked down at his ribcage, he could just make out that his skin had returned to normal and the star patterned wound was oozing blood and soaking his t-shirt and jacket. He panted slightly and pressed his hand against his side.

"Can't see much, call it in and the dayshift can come back in a few hours."

The two officers left the area and Harry collapsed onto his back with a groan and kicked his legs out, his trainer heel landed onto the chest of the dead man. Harry scrambled backwards on his hands and crabbed until he banged his head on the brickwork of the opposite wall.

'What a shit night.'

Harry managed to reach his hotel without any more drama and had a stroke of luck as he stood in the darkened driveway and watched the receptionist go to the toilet. Harry hustled up the stone steps, shouldered open the main doors as quietly as he could and took the staircase two at a time.

The corridor to room twenty eight was eerily silent as he tiptoed along. It seemed to take an age before he could stick the key into the lock, to access his temporary refuge. The room was exactly as he left it, his messenger bag on the chair by the desk, the bed neatly made and the wardrobe door slightly ajar. Harry sat on the end of the bed and stared at the wall.

He didn't know how long he sat there but a sudden feeling had him dive for the bathroom door and managed to reach the toilet and had the lid up to throw up in the bowl. Harry sat back sweating, his eyes streaming and a tremor in his hands. He took lungfuls of air which became shorter and shorter until he was hyperventilating and on the verge of a panic attack.

Breathe, deep breaths. It's over now. It's alright to let it all out.

Harry scrambled to his feet and almost smashed his head off the door handle before he regained his feet and swung around to stare into the mirror. The boy who looked back was small and pale with dark marks under his eyes and bloody smudges on his cheeks and forehead, he looked so scared and he didn't recognise himself.

"What did I do?"

You survived, you did what you had to do. Both those thugs knew the potential cost of their life choices. Don't mourn evil.

Harry hiccuped twice and nodded. He turned the shower on and held his hands in the warming spray. He watched as the dried blood thinned but some stubbornly remained, Harry scrubbed his hands together vigorously for a second before the stabbing pain in his side caused him to stop. His motions slowed as he panted but maintained the action until his hands were pale and clean. Harry pressed his hand to his side and winced at the pain, he glanced down at his hand and grimaced at the mess.

"Dobby."

Dobby appeared with a pop and took in Harry's appearance in a glance, his eyes grew even wider and his ears drooped slightly.

"Can you wake Remus up?"

Harry adjusted his position enough so he could lay down as Dobby popped away and focused on his breathing.

'Should I tell Remus about the visions?'

Maybe tomorrow, this is part of your life now. It cannot be undone so you may as well. It's no longer a secret.

Harry sighed again as the door opened and Remus shuffled in. Wand in hand he looked a pale shaky shadow of his usual self.

"Harry?"

Harry smiled up wanly at his friend and mentor and slowly stood.

"I was mugged, then I ran into a Death Eater on the way back."

Remus sat on the bed as Harry approached him and shone wandlight over his tattered clothes and battered body.

"Death Eater? Are you injured?"

Harry rotated slightly and painfully raised his right arm, Remus gently pulled his jacket away and winced at the charred skin, the mushy mass of skin and glint of bone beneath.

"Nice, did you see the spell colour?"

Harry nodded then dropped to one knee. "Yellow edged with black."

Remus hummed then cast several spells on Harry, two he recognised a diagnostic spell and a healing spell. The third was unknown to him but the black charring around the wound faded and healthy uninfected skin appeared around the wound. He cast the diagnostic spell again then nodded approvingly.

"Do you have a dressing Dobby?"

"Yes master Remus but better to let master Harry shower first."

"Ow."

Remus nodded and watched as Harry walked gingerly back to the bathroom and closed the door.

"That will be the adrenalin wearing off, you'll stiffen up too. Don't lock the door, I might have to come pick you up."

Harry appeared several minutes later, he was clean with a towel wrapped around his waist and a wrung out look on his face.

"Let me get that bandage on you and you can go to sleep."

Harry sat on the edge of the bed and Remus wrapped the long tails of the dressing around his torso.

"I've checked the wards on your room and mine, they're strong and undisturbed. Do you have anything to tell me that can't wait until tomorrow?"

Harry shook his head and Remus rose and made for the door.

"Alright, get some sleep Harry, it'll be a long day tomorrow, It's time to go back to Diagon Alley"

You will heal fast, it should be a shallow wound by the time you awake.

Harry nodded, watched the door close then pulled on the t-shirt and pants that Dobby floated in front of him and crawled into bed.

Dobby turned the lights off and Harry knew no more.

Scene Break_

Harry awoke mid afternoon to find Dobby snoring gently in the open drawer of the wardrobe. The drawer was padded with Harry's spare pillow and a small towel covered him up to his bulbous nose. The noise stopped abruptly and Harry realised that he was being regarded by two large eyes.

"Can you see if Remus is up?"

Dobby nodded but before he could move the door clicked and swung open on silent hinges. Remus walked in with a room service tray and his haggard features suggested that he hadn't slept at all despite the reassurance of the undisturbed wards.

"Alright there Harry?"

Harry flopped over onto his back then gasped in pain.

"I nipped out this morning and got some essence of Dittany and reserved a twin bed room in the Prancing Duck."

"Duck?"

Harry pulled himself into a sitting position and pulled his t-shirt over his head. The dragon tattoos swirled across his skin in lazy circles and leant him a dangerous aspect.

"I'm still not used to those, they look great though. When your friend opens back up I might get myself a couple. Maybe a Grimm, a stag and a lily."

"Duck?" Harry repeated.

"Oh, The nephew or cousin of JRR Tolkien was a wizard with a sense of humour. The Prancing Pony was in the Lord of the RIngs. He did it to annoy Tolkien."

Remus chuckled as he sat on the bed and twisted the lid off the jar in his hand. He flicked his wand and they all watched the bandages unwind on their own. The wound looked much smaller and less angry than it had the night before, Remus raised an eyebrow and glanced up to meet Harry's confused gaze.

"I heal quick?"

I said that you're not exactly human anymore.

"I guess you do, I think you've also got a story to tell. What happened to get you suspended?"

"Oh that was over a fight that a bunch of Slytherins started but I finished, but even McG agreed that the Headmaster went too far in punishing me."

Remus laughed, "Kids still call her McG? That's hilarious."

"It was either that or Minnie, some of the seventh years still call her that. Professor Minerva McGonagall, deputy headmistress, head of Gryffindor house and transfiguration professor is such a mouthful."

Harry and Remus both chuckled and Dobby could be heard puttering around the bathroom laughing to himself.

"Kitty McG, I'm going to tell Winky."

"So everyone seems to agree that there's something wrong with Albus but that doesn't explain last night or this."

Remus gestured at Harry's side and as the explanation began he gently applied the white healing cream to the healing wound.

"So have I ever told you that I've been hearing voices all my life…"

Scene Break_

Check out was uneventful as was the walk to the tube station and Harry sighed with relief as they left the station at Tottenham Court Road and headed for the Leaky Cauldron. It was early evening and the pub was unusually empty, the only person present was old Tom behind the bar reading a muggle newspaper. Tom looked up as they wandered through without stopping and waved.

"How old is Tom?"

Harry asked once they were on the street and past the cauldron shoppe.

"Younger than he looks, I think it's a glamour. Many Old Toms like the Dread Captain Roberts."

Harry looked at Remus like he was going mad. "The dread who?"

"You've not seen the Princess Bride?"

Harry shrugged. "Don't think so."

"Well I'm going to get you the book and we'll be watching the film in the summer. It was your mum's favourite."

Harry brightened up and turned to face Remus.

"Mum?"

"Oh yes, she loved the book, the film was made after erm, after, nineteen eighty seven I think. We can watch it together if you'd like."

"Romance?"

"It's really witty with the best sword fighting scene ever made in it."

"Any magic?"

Remus snorted a laugh. "A really weird sort of magic and one of the biggest men who ever lived."

Harry had been walking slowly to accommodate Remus' limp and paused outside the Quidditch shop with a sigh. Remus glanced at him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"When you're back at Hogwarts I'll get on to the ministry of education about getting your ban lifted. She's not even with the ministry anymore. It can't be that hard."

"Thanks Remus, I wasn't thinking about Quidditch actually. I just want to fly, I'll have to get a broom again. I had planned to get one while I was here but we've been so busy that I forgot."

"We have tomorrow. I'll come with you and you can bore the pants off me the way your dad and Siri used to. I promise not to sigh very often."

They exchanged smirks and continued to the intersection between Diagon Alley and Perchance Crescent and hung a left and ducked under the low warped lintel of the mediaeval styled inn. Remus stride pattern changed as soon as he was over the threshold and sauntered towards the bar, with not even the hint of the limp which had been dogging him for the last four days. The bar was empty apart from a woman carrying empty glasses to the bar who spun on her heel as Remus exclaimed her name, wand out.

"Susanne!"

The wand disappeared as fast as it had appeared and she beamed with delight.

"Remus darling, where the hell have you been. It's been months!"

The thirty-something woman with voluminous shiny black hair and a very low cut dress bustled forward and pulled the startled man into a fierce hug. She pulled back after a relieved sigh and planted a kiss onto his cheek then turned amber eyes onto Harry.

"I've been busy Susie, this is Harry, and we're going to be spending the night here. I owled."

"Busy my magical arse, I know who Harry Potter and I have been following his completely fictitious escapades in the Prophet and Teen Witch Weekly."

Harry groaned. "Please say you just made that up?"

"I wish, there has been suspected sightings of you everywhere from Hogsmeade to Lands End to parts of Ireland. Not one of them with a recent photo or comment from you. I've been calling them the 'Where in the world is Harry Potter' series. It has been entertaining listening to my waitresses giggling over them."

Remus snorted and then sniggered at Harry's dumbfounded expression, he sent the older man a flat look and slumped into a nearby chair and crossed his arms.

"We've been exploring muggle London Susie, it's been great. But he's back to Hogwarts tomorrow and I've got to get ready for the full moon."

"Great, I can treat you too to the best food in town tonight and a live show then you're staying at my place tomorrow. Wolfsbane?"

Remus nodded initially reluctantly then smiled with growing enthusiasm.

"Fine. Yes I have. You still have the cage?"

She had turned half way towards the bar and gave him a flat look out of the corner of her eye. She turned her back to him and continued on her way.

"Remus Lupin, of course I still have the cage, I couldn't get anyone to buy it off me. Plus it's magically resistant, no one wanted to carry a six foot square steel cage that weighs over a ton without a featherlight charm. You're in room seven sweetie."

Remus smiled and turned to Harry. "Come on, let's take our bags upstairs. She's already got a table reserved for us and the music won't start for a few hours."

Scene Break_

Harry stood on Platform nine and three quarters and grinned, he couldn't stop. The hustle and bustle of wizarding life flowed around him and he stood impervious. A pebble parting the river of life. Beside him Remus chuckled.

"So you enjoyed yourself last night?"

"Can we do that again?"

"You bet."

Remus extended his hand and when Harry took it he pulled him into a hug.

"Let me know if you need anything, I don't think the rest of your year will be smooth sailing. I'll find all the loopholes and get the paperwork ready for your birthday. We'll take this to the courts just as Magister Plutarg suggested. I've got a few ideas. Plus I can invest four hundred and ninety nine galleons into a lot of businesses and owning muggle property is beneath magical notice. We'll be alright and I'll be busy."

"Thanks Remus. They were all bad men, I know that but, I wish. I just wish."

As you said, they were all bad men and it is not your problem that they made bad life choices. Remember though, you're not human anymore and the more you transition what you classify as bad or traumatic will not align with modern human norms.

'I'll be alright?'

Yes.

'I hope so.'

"You know where I am if you need me. This has been a pretty crap end to a very strange year for you. I knew Saturday nights in the Duck get rowdy and that you might enjoy yourself, maybe even live a little."

"My feet are killing me."

Remus' laughter disappeared into the crowd and Harry returned to smiling into the middle distance.

The night before swum back into his mind and a enigmatic smile edged its way onto his lips, Remus had said this morning that the best nights started small and usually innocuous.

After a really nice meal of steak pie, thick cut wedges and more vegetables than he thought could be piled onto a plate Harry was surrounded by the cheerful conversation of Remus, Susanne and her five barmaids. The pub got very busy, the music was loud and Harry started the night next to Remus, bobbing along to the music.

Shortly after the set started one of the barmaids brought her sister Bryony over, introduced them and told her to keep him busy. Harry found himself partying with Bryony and her friends continually being dragged onto the dancefloor several times an hour. He occasionally made it back to Remus who had installed himself on a stool at the corner of the bar for a rest and a drink before being whisked away again.

Remus simply bounced to the rhythm of the music and talked to so many people Harry didn't recognise. Susanne spent half the night behind the bar and the rest leaning comfortably into Remus' side laughing at his jokes and stealing his drinks. That was probably the best part of the night, just how happy Remus had been. He had even seen them kiss a couple of times and it made Harry beam even more.

"Earth to Harry? Come in, space cadet."

Harry snapped out of his memories to see Dean's hand wave in front of his face and click twice.

Harry smiled at his friend, "Hello mate."

"Finally, goodnight? I've not seen you smile like that before."

"Yes it was actually, I've not had a night like that before."

Dean's smile dropped and took on an expectant look.

"A girl?"

"More like twenty."

Dean squawked and Harry laughed at him.

"Come on, I want to tell Seamus too, he'll go green with envy."

"Have you had a good suspension?"

"It's been interesting. I had some good days and a couple of shit ones, but I got through alright. I'm glad to be back though."

By the time he had reached the usual carriage sixth year Gryffindors inhabited he had been greeted by half the school and glowered at by the Slytherins. He smirked at the thought that none were brave enough to approach him, either that or they had gotten smarter. He managed to only tell the story of his stay in London once, and even then the more dangerous parts were left out. They might have wanted to hear all the gory details but he really didn't want to tell them.

The train ride passed in a blur of banter, snack food and good times and before he realised it he was sat at the Gryffindor table surrounded by his friends and the last month felt like a dream. Harry looked up to see a pair of beautiful blue eyes stare at him curiously, he smiled and winked.

It was time.

"Harry? Who are you winking at?"

Ron nudged his arm so hard that he threw what remained of his drink across the table and narrowly avoided covering Parvati in coke.

"Hey! I'm winking at Goyle, we agreed on a midnight rendezvous."

Ron paused with his fork mid way to his mouth. "A what?"

"It's french, it means to snog in a broom closet."

Ron put his fork down. "I've just been a little bit sick in my mouth."

Harry smirked, Harry's smirk slowly faded as he felt eyes on him and he looked around to see where the feeling came from. Several pairs of eyes fell on him from the head table, only Professor McGonagall returned his nod. Harry sniffed in annoyance and returned to his meal, his good humour blunted for a time. Memories of recent events filtered through his mind until he shook them off like a wet dog.

As per usual the feast went on for too long and once the deserts and start of term speeches were done Harry could barely keep his eyes open as he trudged up the moving staircases with his dorm mates. All his worries could wait for tomorrow.

Harry opened his trunk to get ready for bed and smiled, sat right at the top of his neatly folded clothes and stored books was a brand new pristine hard backed copy of The Princess Bride.

"Thanks Remus."

Harry went through his bedtime routine in a daze, it had been a good day and he was so glad to be home. He drifted off to sleep flashes of blonde hair and ice blue eyes.

T.B.C