Chapter 1: The evening before it all...

July 2nd 1998 is a rainy day in London, anybody who had the good sense to stay home would just be making themselves comfortable in front of their fireplace with a cup of hot chocolatte right now. Well, Harry Potter wasnt just anybody now, was he? No, distinctly not, Harry thought, after all he was the Chosen-One, the Boy-Who-Lived, oh how he hated all his many monickers. Rumoured to be the next minister of magic, or headmaster of Hogwarts, even the next dark lord, depending on which source of news one wanted to believe.

Tonight, though, he was just Harry. He was "just Harry" a lot, lately. Ever since that fateful day exactly two months ago, he surmised. After he defeated Lord Voldemort at the battle of Hogwarts, Harry basically fled from the ever-watchful eyes of the public. Everybody wanted a piece of their hero. There were invitations to parties, press conferences and ministry functions that he was supposed to attend.

Three weeks ago, all that became too much for Harry. He had just up and left, and nobody had seen him since. The only people he wouldve wanted to see, Ron and Hermoine, were currently in Australia looking for Mr. and Mrs. Granger. Although, he admitted to himself, theses two lovebirds had become quite annoying in the last days before their departure. That was probably just because he felt a little jealous, Harry chuckled while shaking his head, after all, his love life had just taken a turn for the worse in the days following the battle. Ginny and he decided, that it was for the best, if they didn't rekindle their relationship, mutually, yes, but that didn't make it hurt any less.

All of that meant, that for three weeks the only people who had seen Harry in the wizarding world were Kreacher, who had taken to making sure Harry was taken care off well, because the trusty old houseelf was more enamoured with his master than ever, after Harry gifted him Regulus room in Grimmauldplace Nr. 12, as a token of thanks for his actions in the battle of Hogwarts, and Harry himself.

Being Harry was much easier, especially, if he managed to stay out of the wizarding world, so he decided to practically live as a muggle. None of the reporters, not even the minister for magic, appointed to serve until the next formal election could take place, Kingsley Shacklebolt, had thought of looking for him here. Here, on this evening, was a seedy little pub in London, called The prancing Stag. Nursing a pint of soft cider, Harry looked sullenly down on a sealed envelope in his fingers. It carried the sigil of the DMLE and had arrived just this morning. He hadnt dared look at it, until now, knowing this could be the end of his chosen freedom and anonimity. He took a deep breath and started opening the letter.

Dear Mr. Harry James Potter,

You are hereby summoned to appear before the head of the DMLE on July 3rd 1998 at 9:00 AM to resolve contractual matters that came to light during the investigation of your actions in the war. As the last living representative of House Black, courtesy of the testament and last will of one Sirius Black, you will be presented with all legal correspondence and current obligations that need to be adressed or fulfilled.

Signed,

Amelia Bones

Head of the DMLE

June 21st 1998

'Fuck, thats tomorrow' Harry groaned inwardly while turning the letter over, 'what obligations could Sirius have possibly left me?', he continued, still feeling a bit clammy, whenever he thought of his godfather. His mind was drawing blanks and all the ideas he came up with seemed farfetched, even to him. 'Maybe its about the break-in at Gringotts', he mused, 'But why on earth would this be a matter for House Black?'. How he hated being responsible for the dealings of a 'House' whatever that meant. Wasnt being the fucking hero good enough? Did he really need to be some dignified honorary for ancient pureblood tradition? No, thats not, who I want to be.' Harry thought to himself, 'thats non-negotiable.'

Finishing the last of his cider, he got up to pay and let his feet carry him homewards. Being in the muggleworld meant no appariotion obviously, so begrudgingly Harry started walking through the rain, that by now felt more like a torrential downpour. Every raindrop that hit his face felt like the weight of an obligation Harry had to fulfill. Not even for a full month he was allowed to be alone, to grieve his fallen friends, to be 'just Harry'.

Soaking from the rain and sulking from the unfairness of it all Harry smiled as the steps of number 12 Grimmauldplane drew near, Kreacher would have his head for bringing in mud onto the new carpet in the hallway. So, in an effort to make the old houseelfs job alittle easier, Harry drew his wand and, as soon as he crossed the magical barrier, that the new fidelius charm created, cast a drying and warming spell on himself. 'Tergeo' Harry thought and couldn't help but chuckle at the weak effect his cleaning spell had on his muddy shoes. He never really got the hang of household magic, he thought while shaking his head, but outwardly all he said was: "Kreacher!". As soon as the words left his lips Kreacher appeared with the oh so familiar bang and Harry continued: "Would you be so kind as to help me with the mud on my shoes? I cant seem to get rid of it, tonight.". "Certainly, Master Harry!", and with a snap of his fingers the elf cleaned up, what Harry couldn't just a moment ago. "Thank you, Kreacher, as always 'What would I do without you?'" Harry said and with out missing a beatthe answer came: "Dirtying your rugs and starving!". "Hey! I object to the starving, you know I can cook, you insolent elf!" Harry chuckled at the respond of his friend. Kreacher took Harrys coat and ushered him inside, "If thats what Master says, it must be true. Though Kreacher knows, that Master likes Kreachers cooking better, so the young master may delude himself however he pleases." Mischief almost beaming out of his eyes Harry merely smiled at the old creature, knowing full well, that the elf was fond of the light teasing between them. If only because it meant Harry wasnt wallowing in self pity again. Whenever that happened the elf voiced his displeasure loudly and once even went as far as to invite Harrys old schoolmates, insisting that the'yound master musnt seclude himself'. 'Im glad he has come so far, from whatever happened to him In the past.' Harry thought. In recent weeks Harry felt a kinship with the elf, hoping that he too, could move past all of his past, and settle down at one point in his life.

If only Harry had known, that the fateful day, that changed everything, was going to be tomorrow, maybe then he wouldnt have gone to bed late, after his insomnia finally gave way to the nightmares, that plagued him every night. But, as it were, it was way past midnight when he finally drifted off to a deep and restless slumber, as he did every night.

A/N:

Hello everyone! This is my very first attempt at writing fanfiction ever. I realize its going to be bad in some places, but I hope that in some places it can be good as well. This is mostly a learning experience and I appreciate any feedback, even crass declarations of dislike, so I can improve my writing. That being said, please be nice to one another!

I have read pretty much every Haphne fic I could find, so some of this will likely be inspired by other, way more talented authors. If you feel like I am infringing on anything you wrote, please give me a shout, so I can give proper credit, or if I don't know your work yet, get a new lovely fic to read. I wont copy anything on purpose, without explicitly crediting my inspiratio, but its possible my mind just comes up with something I have read on here and I cant recall that its not my own idea.

Special shoutouts go to Dorothea Greengrass, whose lovely writing inspired me and got me aboard the Haphne ship. If any idea seems familiar, there is a good chance its from one of her fics, because they made a huge impression on me. Another special shoutout goes to u/anoctoberchild and u/amethyst_lover who helped me out greatly with the process surrounding posting and welcomed me so very warmly into the writing community.

This story is cross-posted on AO3 and FFN, I am the author in both cases.