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"One, two, three, and another one done," A dark-haired man with a beard said as he finished chopping a piece of wood into pieces with his axe before he placed them into a bigger pile of wood.
He's wearing a plain sleeveless white shirt, black pants, and brown boots, and even though he's sweating from the hard work he has put into this, he looks happy and it looks like this is something he does regularly, or at at least that's what the muscles on his chest and the ones of his arms were telling.
The young man continued to chop the wood as if it was the most entertaining thing to do in the world, and even though he lives in a world of fantasy where you can use magic to do all possible things you can imagine to make your life easier, a place where you live with incredible creatures that could only appear in books and tales, he doesn't care, he prefers to work like this, he doesn't need magic for something so simple.
This might look like the most boring thing to do in a world like this, but chopping wood in the traditional muggle way would have gotten a person executed in the past, thankfully, those times are over and it's been centuries since that, well, that was until that dark wizard appeared, there's a dark wizard that has been threatening the world for decades and even though he's been dead for more than twenty years, some people speculate he's coming back.
"Hey Harry, it seems like you're still cutting wood in the traditional way…Let me give you a hand," a voice suddenly appeared behind the lumberjack.
It belonged to a man who looked exactly like the one chopping the wood, however, this one had no beard, and another difference was the difference in the color of their eyes and the clothes, this new stranger could pass as the twin of the lumberjack if it weren't because he has hazel eyes instead of green, and also, he's wearing a dark cloak and not working clothes.
"Just because you're the famous boy who lived doesn't mean you have to use magic for everything…Henry," the man chopping the wood said with a smirk on his face before he cleaned the sweat off his forehead.
Henry didn't say anything, he just took a wand out of his robes, and with a movement, he chopped all the remaining wood before he placed the chopped parts on the pile where the other man had been putting all the parts he already cut, and soon, he moved the pile inside a home.
The place was in the middle of nowhere, it seems like the man did this on purpose so he could not be bothered or found but considering Henry Potter, the boy who lived has found him, it seems like it's not a very safe place to hide.
"Luckily you have your older brother to help you with magic Harry," Henry said with a smirk and Harry didn't say anything for a few moments.
"Would you like a cup of tea?" Asked Harry with a calm expression.
He didn't wait for his brother to answer, suddenly, he started to walk back to his hut and soon, he was followed by Henry, and a few moments later they were already sitting on the kitchen table of his hut, and in the table, there were already two cups of tea had been heated at a perfect temperature and with the perfect quantity of water and herbs, there was also a piece of cheesecake with strawberry jam on top and sliced peaches.
"Well…It seems you haven't lost your touch," Henry said as he enjoyed the piece of cake his brother gave him. "Ah, this is strong but good!" The boy who lived added as he tasted the tea.
There was a knowing silence for a while, this wasn't the first time they'd been in this situation, after all, they were not only brothers but also best friends, however, during these days it wasn't usual for them to see each other often due to Henry's work at the Auror department and Harry's hermit life, they're barely twenty-one but they are already living the lives they always wanted to live.
"Harry…Mom and Dad…They miss you, you know?" Asked Henry with a sad expression and Harry didn't say anything.
He just stared at the window and the landscape, it was so beautiful right now at the twilight hour, this time of the day always evoked certain nostalgia and sadness at the same time and the fact that his beloved brother visited him at this time of the day made him feel those emotions with a slight difference, he felt nostalgic and sad at the same time.
"I can't go back to society Henry, I'm a danger for you, our family, and everyone else, you know it well, also, you need to remember you're the Potter heir and I'm a complete disappointment for them," Harry said with a serious tone. "And before you try to pity me again, let's be honest, I'm a failure as a Potter, that's something that even though none of you has ever referred to me like that, I know that's what I am," Harry was happy with the life he had, a life without luxuries, meetings, or any of the other formalities that come from being the son of a powerful family and the brother of the famous boy who lived.
"Harry…There's still hope for you, you aren't a squib you're just…" Henry couldn't finish.
"I'm a danger to magical society Henry," Harry said with a sad tone.
Soon, images of the past came back to Harry's mind, blood, violence, gore, mayhem, all the most gruesome things that happen when he uses magic, and it's something he hates because he can't control it, that's why he decided to stay here, in case he loses the control of his magic, the least contact he has with magical people the probability of his magical core losing control gets reduced, by hiding here he knows that people will be safe, or at least they will be until the time comes.
"Henry, you and I…You know that at some point I'll have to be killed, just like a dog with rabies I'll have to be put down," Harry added before he took another sip of his drink.
"Harry…That prophecy could be something symbolic, when that witch saw in her visions that you would bring the end of the world when the time comes...She was probably talking about the end of the old ways and the start of a new era for everyone, maybe you will be the end of the hate, the discrimination, the injustices…" Henry's words surprised Harry and he couldn't help but smirk.
"Look at you, it seems like you've been reading more lately, I never thought you would be fascinated by words, not even when you won the tri-wizard tournament you acted like that," Harry chuckled and his brother suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
"Well, if I couldn't convince you with magic at least I wanted to try to do it in the way you like…With words," Henry smiled weakly at his younger brother.
"You're a good brother…That's something I can't deny and while your theory about the end of the world is interesting, we can't risk everyone's safety just because you want me to spend more time with you…That's selfish and not the proper way a hero should be acting," Harry told his brother in a cold tone.
"I don't care," Henry slammed his hands on the table and Harry didn't flinch. "I know I'm being selfish…But I've been selfless my whole life, all the things I experienced during Hogwarts, the Horcrux hunt, everything…I did it for the world but it doesn't matter the fame, glory, or money I can get from this, if I can't be with my family then what's the point of saving the world?" Henry said with a defeated tone.
Harry remained in silence for a few moments but then he sighed and moved where his brother was sitting and soon, he placed a hand on his shoulders.
"Answer me one question Henry, if I decided to come back with you and live happily with our family for an unknown period of time but what if I lose control of magic...Would you be able to kill me in a case like that? what would you do?" Asked Harry in a calm tone.
His older brother's eyes widened, that was a very tough decision to make, he was supposed to be the hero, his purpose in life was to defeat anyone who dared to cause harm to the world, but killing his own little brother, that's something he had never considered.
"Just as I thought," Harry said before he got back to his seat.
His brother now understood, but still, he didn't want to go back with empty hands.
"You should attend Mum's birthday at least," his brother said with a serious tone.
"I'll think about it," those words were enough to make Henry feel like he didn't lose and it was the cue to finish this meeting.
"Take care on the way back home," Harry said before he hugged his brother.
"You too, stay safe here," Henry hugged him before he disappeared.
Harry couldn't contain himself anymore and soon, he started to scream due to the frustration he felt, he wanted to be with them with his family, he wanted to have friends, a normal life, he wanted to date, to have fun, a girlfriend, there's a lot of things people his age are doing and he should be doing them too but someone like him didn't have the chance act like a normal human, it was too dangerous for the world if he suddenly started acting like that.
The only thing he could do when he was alone was get drunk, and that night Harry got completely wasted as he finished his monthly supply of whisky until he fell asleep.
Harry…Harry…Harry…
Harry Potter was in a frozen place, he was completely naked but he wasn't cold, he was running as fast as he could trying to reach the voice that was talking to him, he didn't know why but he wanted to reach the source of that voice even if it costs him his life.
Soon, the road he was using split in two, he didn't know if he should choose left or right and he was about to take one road but then, someone touched his shoulder from behind.
"What the—" He asked with a confused expression and then his eyes widened the moment he saw a beautiful blonde woman with pale skin.
"Are you sure you want to take that road, Harry?" Asked the feminine voice, it seemed like it belonged to the woman who touched him.
But then he looked at the road he was about to take and his eyes widened the moment he saw what was happening, there was chaos and there were lots of snakes, and a mysterious dark figure without a nose was standing in front of those snakes, so, Harry decided to take the next road and he couldn't believe it, it was a terrible choice too.
The scene was almost the same, except that there weren't snakes, there were dragons and a figure was standing in front of those dragons, his eyes widened because he realized that the figure looked just like him.
"What the fuck," he could only say.
He didn't know what was happening right now, but it seemed like it didn't matter which path he chose, nothing but disaster awaited him.
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