May 5, 1997…

"Hullo, Harry dear."

"Hello, missus Weasley."

"It was so good of you to come today."

"Fred was a good friend, I just wish this didn't happen at all," I said, glancing over at the marker Mr. Weasley and George were standing over. George had placed his hand on the granite while Mr. Weasley… The fact he was just staring blankly off at the horizon was more than a little concerning.

"Me too, Harry, dear… Me too." Molly choked out, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. "If you'll excuse me… I… I need to be with them."

"Of course." I said quietly, patting her shoulder awkwardly. She nodded weakly before shambling toward her son and husband.

"It was good of you to be here, Mr. Potter. Thank you. Frederic always spoke highly of you."

"Thanks, Percy. Have you seen Ron?"

"No… No, I have not." The third oldest Weasley frowned as he scanned the graveyard pensively.

"He was supposed to be here. He told me he would."

"Ginevra told me the same yet, alas, I have not seen her either," Percy said, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Forgive me if now is a bad time, Mr. Potter, but what do you plan to do?"

"I haven't thought of that yet, actually," I sighed, hanging my head. "I'm thinking something muggle. I… I've had enough of the wizarding world, Percy."

"I cannot fault you for that, but you are currently lacking a proper paper trail, yes?"

"Yeah," I said quietly. "I tried to keep up with the muggle coursework but…"

"You will need more than just muggle schooling papers, Mr. Potter, but our curriculum kept you busy, yes, I understand. Though our curriculum was the least of your bloody worries…" Percy said as the older man put a hand on my shoulder. "I expected you wouldn't want to stay in our world after…Well, after everything you've been through, I suppose. I hope you do not mind that I took the liberty of creating these for you ahead of time," Percy said, drawing a manilla folder from his robes and passing them to me. I looked at the folder questioningly but my eyes nearly bugged out of my head when I saw the contents. "Magic and being in my position has its benefits, after all. This is a copy of your birth certificate, and yes, it's authentic and on file with the muggles, schooling records indicating you passed your secondary education from St. Anthony's Academy - Hogwarts' name to the muggles, you see," Percy clarified. I nodded my head as he went on, "with A-Levels included. Anything and everything else you'll need for a fresh start in the Muggle world is also in here."

"Percy…"

"No, don't thank me, Harry. You've done so much for us, for my family, and for our world that this can't even begin to pay you back. Live well, Mr. Potter, and good luck." Percy said quietly as he held his hand out. I shook it tightly, meeting his eyes as he stepped away. I glanced down at the folder again and pulled my mokeskin pouch from under my collar, slipping the file inside. Once that was done, I glanced around the field and found that there was only one other person here.

"Hello, Luna."

"Hello, Harry Potter." The pixie-like blonde said in a far too serious tone for her. "I have not seen Ronald, nor Ginevra."

"And I haven't seen Hermione." I sighed. The girl's silver eyes started to water, and the next thing I knew, she had wrapped herself around me and began sobbing hysterically. "Luna?"

"I- I'm sorry, Harry, I didn't mean…"

"No, it's alright Luna," I said quietly, patting her back as she clung to me. "It's been a hard few days. I'm headed to Grimmauld now, want to come with me?"

"No, that's alright, Harry." Luna said, letting go of me and taking two steps back. "I hope we'll meet again, Harry Potter. Goodbye."

"Bye, Luna." I nodded, my own voice nearly catching in my throat as I turned my back on the Weasleys and her.

I turned in place and found myself on the stoop of Grimmauld Place. I sighed and pushed the door open, already loosening my tie as I walked into the sitting room but froze at the spectacle playing out before my very eyes.

"What. The. Bloody. Hell?" I growled as Ron and Hermione jerked apart, Ron's hands flying in the air as he relinquished his grip on Hermione's arse. Hermione, though, stared at me as if I were a ghost – and not of the Hogwarts variety.

"H-Harry… Mate… This- this isn't what it looks like," Ron stammered immediately, already blushing the infamous Weasley crimson.

"Really? Because it looks to me that the two of you are in my house, snogging each other's brains out, when today's the day of your brother's funeral!?" I hissed, pushing my finger into Ron's chest. "You said you'd be there! Hell, even Percy showed up, for Christ's sake!"

"Harry, calm down-" Hermione tried to say, but I wasn't having it.

"No! No, I won't calm down! Ron said he'd be at the funeral but he wasn't! He bloody missed it, Hermione! Missed it!" I growled as Ron turned sheet white. Then he looked down at my suit and flushed as red as a matador's cape.

"Oh, and was I supposed to wear a fancy arsed suit too? I never got that bloody memo." Ronald snapped, shoving his own finger into my chest.

"I got this days ago, Ronald, but I suppose you wouldn't know that, would you? No, seeing as I haven't seen you since the battle last week! Where have you two bloody been?"

"That's not your bloody business, mate," Ron spat.

"We were looking for my parents," Hermione said quietly. "We've been in France the past two days."

"Have you found them?"

"No, there's only one place I can think to look left."

"Where?" I asked, dread pooling in my gut as the two of them looked at each other for a long moment. Hermione cleared her throat.

"Aus-Australia. We're… We're leaving tonight. I've got Ronald and I plane tickets already. We were about to leave for Heathrow."

"So let me get this straight." I folded my arms over my chest and glared between the two of them. Hermione wilted while Ron turned even redder. "You left the country trying to find your parents – the ones that you obliviated and assume won't be like Lockhart – on the day of Fred's, one of our oldest friends and your bloody brother's, funeral. You actually told Percy that you'd be there, and you were in the country in time to be with your family for a few minutes before you ran back to Heathrow?"

"Er…"

"That's what I thought. But instead of being there, you two spent that time playing grabass in my house?" The two of them looked down at the hardwood in shame. "Does that about sum it up?"

"Er… When you put it like that…" Ron mumbled.

"We didn't realize the time, Harry, we thought-"

"Don't give me that shite, Granger," I growled dangerously. Hermione's jaw snapped shut with an audible click. "You just told me you were about to leave for Heathrow, you knew the flights were tonight – and you could have bloody scheduled your flights for tomorrow, next week, or whenever the next flight out is but no. You wanted to go immediately on the one day that actually meant something to the Weasleys."

"Harry…"

"No! Both of you damn well knew Fred's funeral was planned for noon today. You could have made the bloody effort, but instead, you both tried to run away. Now, before you leave, do either of you have any idea of where Ginny could be? She didn't show either."

"Ginny?" Ron frowned. "She was supposed to be there."

"Just like you." Ron flushed even deeper as Hermione rocked on her heels nervously.

"Hermione?"

"She… She's with Dean…" Hermione said so quietly I almost missed it. I closed my eyes and nodded. "I- I'm sorry, Harry. She said she didn't want to wait on you forever…"

"She wouldn't have had to wait forever, just a few weeks… Maybe." I said softly. "Go. Get out of my house."

"Harry-"

"Leave." The two of them looked at each other as I stepped toward the fireplace, putting my hand on the mantle and resting my forehead on the rough-cut stone. I heard their footsteps behind me, then the door opened and shut with the finality of the grave. "Goodbye." I muttered to the stones, knowing that the two of them certainly couldn't hear me.

"No, I'm afraid we're not hiring right now, Mr. Potter. Thank you for submitting your application, if an opening becomes available we will be sure to contact you." The lady behind the counter droned.

"Thank you, ma'am. Do you know of anyone else who is hiring?"

"Mayhaps. For what purpose?"

"I… I'm desperate for something to keep me occupied." The lady looked up at me balefully as I shifted in my seat uncomfortably. "I… I watched some of my friends die. Auto accident, you see." I said, and instantly the baleful stare turned compassionate.

"Oh, you poor dear… No, I'm afraid I don't know of anyone hiring yet… But considering your age, you could always try the recruitment center. You certainly look fit enough to join up."

"The Army?" I asked blankly, never having considered that path before.

"Or the RAF, or the Navy, perhaps even the Marines. Oh, yes, you'd make a fine Marine." The lady smiled gently. "The Naval recruitment depot's two blocks down on the left, you can't miss it."

"Thank you, ma'am." I said, running over the option in my head. Well, it certainly was appealing. "I… I think I'll give that a try."

"Good on you, lad." She smiled even brighter. "And good luck to you. Terrible thing what happened to your friends, but maybe this will help you."

"I certainly hope so… Thank you, again. I'll be going now."

"Good luck, sonny." She said, smiling even as I turned back to the door and took a left. Two blocks, eh? Well, this should be interesting. I shrugged the backpack containing the documents Percy had given me, a copy of my (rather slim) resume, and a waiver of emancipation Percy had also forged for me back onto my shoulder and started left. For the first time I could ever remember, the sky was clear, and the sun was shining bright over the city. I didn't know whether to take that as a good or bad omen as I made my way.

It didn't take long for me to find the place though I glanced around anyway. Was this really the path I wanted to take? I thought to myself as I looked up at the banner in the window, then looked down at the door. I sucked in a breath, steeling my nerves as I laid a hand on the handle and pulled open the door.

"Hello!" A man's voice called the second I walked inside. "How can I help you today?"

"I er… I want to join. I want to join the Marines."

"Then you've come to the right place." The man, dressed in a short-sleeved camouflage uniform, grinned as he stood up from behind his desk. "I'm Sergeant Gerard." He held his hand out. I blinked at it before getting the hint and shaking it awkwardly.

"Harry Potter. It's nice to meet you, sir." The marine's eyes narrowed slightly.
I thought he may have recognized me for a moment, but the moment passed quickly.

"You too, lad. So, you want to join her Majesty's Marines, eh? Good lad. Alright, I won't waste any of your time. Please, have a seat." He stepped behind his desk again, gesturing to the seat in front of it while he sank into his own chair. Then I sat down. "First things first, how old are you, lad?"

"Seventeen."

"Hm… That makes things a bit tricky then. You'll need your parent's or guardian's permission before you sign anything."

"I'm an orphan and I don't know where my guardians have buggered off to. I've since been emancipated," I said. He raised his eyebrow, but I gestured to my pack. "I have the paperwork right here if you'd like to see it."

"Yes, I'll be needing it, your birth certificate, and A-levels," the sergeant said. I nodded and reached into my bag, sitting on the floor, digging out the documents in question.

"Here you are," I said, hoping they would pass muster.

"Much appreciated," the sergeant said as he took the manilla folder. I just nodded, watching the man as he flipped through my paperwork. A few minutes of shuffling papers and the clicking of keys later the sergeant was apparently satisfied as he placed the folder back on his desk. "Very good, Mr. Potter. It seems everything is in order here, now a few more questions for you. Your parents were Lily and James?"

"Yes, sir."

"And they died on Halloween 1981? You'd have been… Two? Yes? Just shy of?"

"Yes, sir."

"Who have you been living with since then?"

"My aunt and uncle, Vernon and Petunia Dursley."

"Hm. They've sold their house in Surrey, it seems. They have no address listed anymore."

"I didn't figure they did," I sighed. "I've been living at my godfather's place. He left it to me when he passed."

"Ah, I'm sorry, son. You've had it rough, haven't you?"

"Yes sir."

"Why do you want to join the Marines?" He asked, templing his fingers under his chin as he stared at me.

"Honestly, the thought never crossed my mind until a few minutes ago. I need something to do and no one's hiring, the lady I just interviewed with pointed me here. I… I watched some of my friends die a few days back. The rest of them are alive but they haven't been the same, and then my best friends took off to Australia yesterday. I… I don't have anything left," I said quietly.

"I see. I'm afraid that before I can send you to basic training in good faith, I'll have to order a psych eval. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir, I do."

"Good. When do you want to join?"

"As quickly as possible."

"Alright. Once you sign all the dotted lines, we'll see how quickly possible is," the sergeant said as he pulled a stack of papers from the desk with a pen.

"Thank you, sir," I grinned weakly as he grinned back, pushing the stack to me.

"Mr. Potter, looking at your scores and A-levels, I'd say you might qualify for officer training. Of course, that is if you pass basic and your instructor feels you are capable as well. Typically it's only offered to college graduates but with what I'm seeing here?" He lifted an eyebrow and gave a conspiratorial wink. "Now it's a bigger commitment than enlisting, but the benefits are better too. How would you feel about that?"

"What's the difference between an officer and enlisting?"

"Well, you'd mostly get to command men instead of being the one bossed around all the time."

"Could I still get my hands dirty? I don't know how well something like… Well, like this," I said, splaying my hands out around the room, "would suit me."

"Oh, I think we have just the thing for you." The Sergeant grinned devilishly as he leaned across the table. "What do you know about the SBS?"

"Harry!? Bloody Hell! Look at you mate!"

"Hullo, George." I grinned as the Weasley took me off my feet. For the first time since I joined up with the Marines, I'd taken a bit of leave – and took a shiny new rank to go with it. "How've you been, mate?"

"I've been worse. Bloody Hell, seeing you does this old boy wonders, mate… How long's it been? Four years?"

"Something like that, I think." I shrugged. "I've been kept a bit busy."

"I can see that. What's with the funky colored suit and where can I get one?"

"They're my fatigues, George." I rolled my eyes and grinned, holding my beret against my side. "The name's Captain Potter now, I joined Her Majesty's Marines after the War. I needed something to do out of this world." George may not have said it, but his eyes told me he understood perfectly.

"Yeah, I can relate to that, mate. Since you've been gone, we've opened three new premises: one in Hogsmeade, one in France, and one in the colonies - the Yanks bloody love a good joke - and the money's been pouring in. I've been helping mum and dad when I can but you know how mum is."

"Wouldn't accept your money if you gift wrapped it?" I chuckled as George led me to a back room.

"Bloody right on that. And you've made a pretty knut off this venture too, Harry."

"George-"

"No, it's yours. You helped us open this place and Fred would have insisted you keep your cut," George said firmly.

"Ugh, alright, you win." I groaned, sitting down in one of the wooden armchairs opposite of George. "So, what have I missed?"

"Well, apparently Ron and Hermione went and got hitched without telling any of us. They didn't even invite us to the wedding." George grinned tightly. "But here's the funny bit, just seven months after the service, they had a little tyke running around. Hermione swears the baby just wanted to be here early but…"

"But I think we both know the truth." I chuckled as George set up a pair of glasses.

"No, no, Harrikins, we all know the truth. But if you think Mum was furious about missing the wedding, you should hear the Hell she's raising at not getting to meet her grandchild."

"Don't Bill and Fleur have three already?"

"Aye, they do. Percy and his wife have two too but you know how mum is. Seven bloody kids… I swear she'd have had more if she could have."

"Too much information, George." I shivered. "And what about you? How's Alicia?"

"She joined the Harpies and I haven't seen her in eight months," George said quietly. "She sends an owl every now and again but it's just not the same. Angelina's moved to Germany, and Katie's been kept busy running her parent's shop. The old guard's done, I'm afraid. When you left… Well, there was nothing, no one, holding us together anymore."

"George…"

"No, Harry, I understand why you left, bloody Hell I thought about it but then I reminded myself that my place is here. It's what Fred would have wanted. But you? No, brother, you didn't have a real place. Not really. Even at Hogwarts you were kind of a drifter."

"Ron never let me drift too far away, though."

"And look where he's at now: a daddy at twenty-one and Hermione's a mummy at twenty-two. But you! You're a Captain! I don't know what that means, but bloody good on you mate! Ron's a stay at home dad and Hermione's a researcher on something or other down there that makes enough for them to afford a decent house."

"Then there's us, with all the money in the world but nothing to spend it on." I sighed, rubbing my face. "We've both been running from our demons, George. I've just gained a few more along the way."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm a Captain in Her Majesty's Royal Marines, George. I've done my share of unspeakable things – both for the Crown and against Voldemort," I said quietly, knocking back the Firewhisky George had poured. He refilled both tumblers and picked his up, holding it out towards me.

"Then here's to moving forward, Captain."

"To a better tomorrow." I smiled weakly as George tapped his glass to mine.

"Hear, hear." George said, knocking back the shot and putting the glass down. "Bloody Hell, I wish I could get smashed right about now."

"Me and you both… But I have business with the Goblins to take care of."

"What kind of business?"

"The house buying business." I sighed, rubbing my forehead. "I make decent money but I have my eye on a property I want to buy outright."

"In cash?"

"Bingo," I said. George grinned and stood up.

"Good on you, mate. You'll have to show me the place sometime."

"After I buy it, George." I smirked. "You'll be the first to know."

"It's a deal. I take it you want to go and deal with the Goblins now?"

"I don't really have much choice, I'm afraid." I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "It's either I deal with them now and get the place or deal with them after the property's sold."

"Hah! Alright, I'll show you out, mate. But you've got to promise to come around more often, even if it's only for a few minutes."

"I'll do what I can, George. It really was good seeing you."

"And it was good seeing you, mate. It really was. Let me know when you get that house, yeah?"

"Planning on sleeping on my sofa?"

"Nah, I'd take your guest bedroom." George grinned as I rolled my eyes good-naturedly.

"Maybe I should just give you your own room."

"Where's the fun in that?" George laughed as he opened the front door. We both stepped outside and I pulled on my beret.

"Never change, George. Never change." I grinned and held out my hand. He slapped it aside and dragged me into a hug.

"As long as you don't, Harrikins. Now, go get your house, Captain." George grinned as he saluted pompously. I just laughed and snapped a salute back.

"Take care of yourself, George."

"Me? Never. I'll see ya, Harry." George grinned as he stepped back into the store while I looked up the alley at the giant, melted Praetorium with a newly patched hole in the roof. I winced slightly as I walked up the alley and mounted the stairs. Instantly, a troop of Goblins rushed out of the doors and surrounded me, ushering me into the bank at spear and sword point.

Great. Things had just gotten interesting.

"A quarter of my assets?" I hissed, slapping my hands down on the mahogany desk between the wrinkled Goblin and me.

"Mr. Potter, you do understand that you, Mister, and Missus Weasley caused unfathomable damage to the bank and cost us a week's worth of business! The bank is entitled to reparations for that loss and we are entitled to take it from your accounts!"

"You don't even know why we broke in!"

"You are a thief and a liar! Why should I believe anything you say!?"

"Because a piece of Voldemort's bloody soul was stashed in the Lestrange vault!"

"What!?" The Goblin roared, slapping his own hands on the desk as he shot to his feet. "Why did Bogrod not tell us of this!?"

"Because he was too bloody busy trying to steal the Sword of Gryffindor back."

"Which you escaped with!"

"No, actually, Bogrod was the last person in Gringotts to have the sword that day. The Sorting Hat's enchanted to summon the sword to it. Godric's work."

"Of course." The Account manager hissed. "A thousand years dead and yet he remains a thorn in the Nation's side. So you neither stole the sword nor sought to steal from this bank? You simply wanted to destroy this… Soul fragment?"

"Horcrux."

"He made a Horcrux… Of course. That's how he survived that Halloween. Foul pieces of magic, aren't they?"

"The darkest you could ever imagine." I growled, pushing my hand through my hair. "We destroyed it."

"And you killed him," the Goblin said, stroking his chin as he retook his seat. "In light of that, perhaps we can renegotiate."

"Thank you," I said. "May I?"

"Please."

"Thank you," I repeated, taking my seat in front of the Goblin. "I will, of course, be willing to pay for all damages plus two percent on top of that."

"Twenty percent."

"Four."

"Nineteen."

"Four."

"Eighteen."

"Five."

"Sixteen."

"Six."

"Fourteen."

"Seven."

"Thirteen."

"Will you go ten?"

"Are you happy with that?"

"No."

"Neither am I… Very well, we have a deal." The Goblin grunted. "How else can Gringotts assist you today?"

"I'm in the market for property, I already have my eye on a place in Mayfair. I'd like to know how that would affect my finances."

"We are familiar with the area. Mayfair is expensive for a muggle area, but the Black accounts would be able to buy an entire block in that neighborhood with just the interest payments accruing. We will find you a suitable residence, Captain. Will that be all?" I blinked as the Goblin addressed me by my proper rank.

"Yes, I think it will. This is the address of the place I was looking at."

"Very good. We'll have one of our muggle liaisons look into it on your behalf."

"Thank you…"

"Lieutenant Bronzeax. We will meet again on your next leave, Captain."

"I have three days before I have to get back to base."

"Then Gringotts will have a suitable property ready for you to sign off on by tomorrow."

"Thank you, Lieutenant."

"It was a pleasure doing business with you, Captain. Sergeant Sharpclaw will show you out."

"Alright." I nodded as we shook hands.

XXX

AN: My apologies for the confusion, this is the second time I am uploading this as trying to upload from Mobile is apparently much more of a headache than I expected.