"Missing." The
Daily Prophet,
byline by: Pandora S.
Attestar`
The next two weeks Harry and Remus worked diligently on a formula for new wards
at Privet Drive. Harry was becoming antsy because it was taking forever to
formulate the perfect combination of charms, placement and the issue of whether
to use a blood-ward or not.
Remus finally decided to combine one of Lily's wards, with aspects of a newer
ward created since her death would fuse into an ultimate performance ward.
"Remus, why can't we do this now, why wait?"
Remus shook his head. "Harry, it's because we still need these ingredients, and
one more artifact." He motioned to the list before him. "We�ll need to
communicate with your aunt at least one more time. Besides, your birthday is
coming soon. I don't think we should risk you performing such powerful magic
before then."
Harry growled under his breath as he ran his fingers through his hair, ending
with a pull. Pacing in front of the fireplace, he paused to look at the dent
that was a blaring reminder of Kreacher. Hissing through his teeth, he raised
his hand and ran his fingers over the indentation. It vanished.
Remus' brow rose. "Harry, have you been practicing your wandless magic?"
Harry nodded. "It may come in handy, Remus. You never know when or if I could
lose my wand. I�ve actually been thinking of getting another one."
Remus shook his head, biting his lip thoughtfully.
"Remus..."
"You misunderstand, Harry. I was actually remembering that James'
wand should be in the Potter vault. Lily's was destroyed. I believe that Albus
took James' to the vault along with other personal items left in the cottage at
Godric's Hollow. It may be an excellent backup wand for you, you know, a blood
connection with him."
"I've never been to the family vault," Harry said, shaking his head. "The only
vault I've visited is the trust that mum and dad set up for me. What do you mean
by a blood connection? Neville used his dad's wand, and he did horribly with
it." Harry stopped mid-stride in his pacing. "That's what we should do, anyway.
Let's go tomorrow, okay?" Harry eyed Remus who was frowning and still chewing on
his lip. This action was very unusual behavior for the normally very composed
former professor. "Remus?"
Remus sighed. "Harry," he said very quietly, "your father..." hesitating once
more, he studied Harry closely.
"Remus, what is it? You look as though you are facing your worst fear."
"I
guess it's alright to tell you. The idea of the blood ward your mum created
actually came from James." Inhaling deeply, Remus continued, "James' wand was
treated with a drop of his and Lily's blood. After you were born - he added
yours. That should make the wand compatible with your magical essence."
Silence filled the drawing room. The grandfather clock in the foyer ticked away
the seconds.
Harry sat down on the sofa, breathing deeply. "Will that make it stronger,
Remus?"
"Perhaps."
"You do know that my wand is the brother to Voldemort's, right?"
Remus nodded.
Harry hissed through his teeth. "We are going to Gringotts in the
morning."
Remus nodded once more in agreement, even as he wondered at Harry's new habit of
hissing. Looking back at the formula lying on the desk for the ward they had
decided on, he said, "I'll have Tonks take a message to the delivery service
tomorrow afternoon. We�ll put Lily's wedding band in with it so that we'll have
an arrival point.
"That sounds good. Do you need funds for the delivery?"
Remus shook his head. "No, we've got it covered. I don't want any possibility of
the transaction being traced back to you. That's why Tonks is so good for this.
No one will know who she is.
"Yeah," Harry said quietly, as he pulled Draco out of his pocket. "Remus," Harry
asked, as he settled Draco on his leg, "have we heard from the attorneys yet?"
Remus smiled, reaching for a packet on the desk. "Yes, Harry, this just came a
little while ago. It seems that your Uncle Vernon tried to freeze your assets.
He failed, of course. Robert Woodard, the youngest of the brothers, pointed out
to the Wizengamot that such an action would be unprecedented and would pose a
burden on his client." Remus finished off with a Marauder style smirk as he
handed the parchments to Harry.
Harry snickered, and then looked over the parchments. "Remus, what is this about
Woodard not disclosing my location?"
"It's because of attorney, client privilege, Harry. He actually doesn't know
where you are." Remus shrugged. "It works to your advantage because Dursley
can�t compel your presence at Number 4. I believe that�s why Petunia warned you,
recommending that you leave."
Nodding, Harry yawned. "I'm going to bed, Remus. Goodnight." Harry stood,
draping Draco over his shoulder; he gave a half smile to Remus and went up to
his bedchamber.
Harry woke in the morning to Remus knocking on his door. With a soft hiss to
Draco, he transfigured him into FireEater, and then, he whispered, "Evanesco,"
cleaning the air within his chamber before answering the door. Opening it, he
found himself looking into Remus' concerned eyes. Rubbing his own, Harry asked
huskily, "What's wrong, Remus. You look like a mixture between anxious worry and
subtle amusement."
Remus gave a vague shrug. "I was just wondering if you were missing."
With special emphasis on missing, he handed Harry the early edition of the Daily
Prophet.
Still a bit groggy, Harry studied his former professor before dropping his gaze
to the paper in his hand. Instantly, he was wide-awake. There he was, pictured
in his Gryffindor Quidditch robes, clutching the Golden Snitch. Below the
picture was large print.
Headline News!
Boy-Who-Lived Vanishes!
byline by: Pandora
S.
Attestar`
Confidential sources have revealed to this reporter and seeker of truth, that
the famous Harry James Potter, The Boy-Who-Lived has vanished without a
trace. Friends and family of young Mr. Potter are in an unprecedented uproar
over his disappearance.
Mr. Potter's uncle, Vernon Dursley, Muggle, filed a missing persons
report two weeks ago according to the Surrey Reporter and
London Times.
How this fact has escaped the Ministry's Head of the Dept. of Magical Law
Enforcement is anyone's guess.
"He just disappeared from our home." Mr. Dursley was quoted in the Muggle
Surrey Reporter. "There has been no ransom request or even any hints as to
his whereabouts.� As to Mr. Potter�s friends who claim, they have heard nothing
since the gruesome appearance of the now famous images of Professor Severus
Snape, there has been no forthcoming information. Did the images of the Potions
Master, have anything to do with Mr. Potter�s disappearance?
Professor Severus Snape, former professor of the now closed Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft & Wizardry, was murdered by He-Who-Must-Not-be-Named. Those images
appeared throughout Diagon and Knockturn Alleys. (For an update on Professor
Severus Snape's memorial and famous quotes, turn to page 17. Information
regarding the closing of Hogwarts may be found on page 10.)
Attorneys for young Mr. Potter remain silent in regards to his location as they
face a monumental defense in Mr. Potter's name against the same uncle who has
reported him missing. It seems that Mr. Vernon Dursley claims that since Mr.
Potter was raised as a Muggle, Muggle law should apply to Mr. Potter's majority.
Mr. Potter will become of legal wizard age on July 31, 1997.
Has Mr. Potter gone into hiding after the death of his venerated professor? Is
the claim to two of the wealthiest wizard estates in the UK up for grabs? The
Wizengamot remains just as silent on this issue as Woodard Bros., Esq., trustees
of the Black and Potter estates, valued at a combined estimated value of
50,000,000 galleons. (See page 21 for more details on the hearing scheduled Aug.
12th.)
Harry stood in his bedroom doorway, shaking his head as he read the article
aloud.
Draco drawled when Harry finished, ""And yet again, the infamous Harry Potter
makes the front page, early edition of the Daily Prophet.""
A
look of contemptible annoyance graced Harry's features. "Remus, where do they
get this information? Not only am I not missing, I've communicated quite
regularly with Ron and the twins in the last two weeks. Anyone who really knows
me would go to them for information."
"Harry," Remus said calmly. "You have experienced this before. They don't want
to print the truth. Come down to breakfast, and then we�ll go to Diagon Alley."
Studying Harry closely, he added, "I believe a Glamour Charm is called for."
"Alright, Remus. I'll be down after I get dressed."
Remus took the newspaper from Harry with a vague nod. Turning, he walked down
the hall to the stairs seeking breakfast.
Harry watched Remus as his head disappeared to the lower foyer. Once the hall
was empty and quiet, he closed the door. A short incantation later, he turned to
Draco, stretched out on the bed watching him.
"Does this really surprise you?" Draco asked, stretching languidly, eyeing
Harry with a trace of lust in his silver eyes.
Harry pulled clean jeans out of his wardrobe. "No, I guess not. I was just
hoping that I could face my summer and the things I need to do in relative
obscurity. Maybe I should take Remus' idea of a glamour charm further and really
become missing." Harry pulled a tee shirt over his head frowning. "Tell me," he
asked, popping his head through the neck of his green tee, "why has there been
nothing about you on the front page?"
"Mother probably hasn't told anyone." Draco's sterling eyes seemed mesmerized by
Harry's hands smoothing his tee shirt down. As if hypnotized, he continued, "She
would see silence as a means of protecting me. She isn't as cold as some people
think. She�d do practically anything to see me safe. She made Sev swear an oath
to protect me."
Harry tucked his tee shirt in, amused by Draco's attention until he said the
last statement. Harry froze. "What do you mean?"
"Sev was bound by the Unbreakable Vow to my mother," Draco answered. "She made
him swear upon death that he would protect me. That�s why Bella was the first to
start the cutting curse leading to his death. She was their bonder." Draco's
voice changed from one of sadness to determination. He was resolute - his aunt
must die.
Harry felt as though his mind was on a spiraling vortex of anger. "That's why he
did it then," he whispered.
"That and Dumbledore ordered it."
"What!!"
"Harry, Dumbledore was dying," Draco said gently. "He didn't want me to be
responsible for his death. I thought you had figured that out."
"I
figured out that Dumbledore wanted Snape to kill him. I also figured out that
Dumbledore was dying. I didn't realize he ordered Snape to do it. I even
understand that he offered you protection from Voldemort - he always protected
me, you know."
Draco studied Harry. "I was always told it was because you were the Golden Boy.
You know, famous because you took the Dark Lord down. I think I've come to
realize that Dumbledore protected you because he saw it as probably one of the
most important things he could do in his life. My father always told me that
Dumbledore was a fool." Draco sighed. "I�ve really re-evaluated my
father's opinions in the last year." Draco stared down at the Dark Mark that
scarred his otherwise perfect skin.
Harry noticed, but didn't say anything; instead, he sat on the bed to put his
shoes on. "I know what you mean. That is, I really had to take in
a lot of new things this past year myself. Even though I'd come to terms with
the fact that I'll one day have to kill Voldemort, finding the other Horcruxes
makes it killing more than once. It is a soul - even if it's part of an evil
one."
Draco nodded. "There's a book on Horcruxes in the Malfoy library. Too bad, we
can't get to it. It might even have something important in it. Didn't you say
something about one of the Horcruxes being something of Slytherin's?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, I did. We better go down now, Draco." Harry started to
transfigure Draco, only to have him rise up from the bed and give him a thorough
kiss. Their tongues danced in reunion as Harry moaned into Draco's mouth.
Pulling back, Harry whispered heatedly, "I can't go down looking snogged."
Draco smirked. Running his fingers over Harry's swollen lips, he drawled, "Evanesco."
Harry felt a thrill go up his spine. In response, he pulled Draco's index finger
into his mouth, sucking hard.
"Keep that up and you'll never make it to breakfast," Draco said, inserting
another finger for Harry to enjoy.
Moaning, Harry bit down playfully, and then pulled back with hunger gnawing at
him. ""Serpensortia. Fuck, Draco - I had to do it.""
""I know. Let's go.""
After much debate over breakfast about whether to use a Glamour Charm or not,
Harry finally convinced Remus that a Notice-Me-Not Charm would be much better
than going to Diagon Alley disguised as Tonks. Now, they were standing at the
entrance to Diagon Alley staring at a poster over the trash containers that
graced the back alley behind the Leaky Cauldron - the portal to London's
magical world.
Remus shook his head. "Looks like the work of the twins."
Harry snorted, reaching up, he pulled the parchment from the wall. Written
across the blue died parchment was words combined with flashing stars and
lightening bolts. Shaking his head, Harry read with amusement...
Have
You Seen This Young Man?
Desperately Seeking Harry Potter,
aka:
The Boy-Who-Lived
Where, oh where are you?
Harry, my boy...
Harry snorted once more when an image drawn to look like him skulked across the
page, ducking behind a friendly hippogriff. Folding the parchment, he put it
into his back pocket.
Remus arched a brow at him.
Harry grinned. "Well, I may as well keep it for a souvenir."
Remus shook his head with a smile, and tapped the bricks to open the portal.
Harry watched the bricks move and morph into the archway. Stepping through, he
whispered, ""We're in.""
""What were you talking about saving for a souvenir?""
""Later."" Harry turned to Remus. "We're going to Gringott's first, right?"
Remus nodded as they passed by Eeylops Owl Emporium. "That's right." Remus left
off Harry's name to be sure that no one would notice to whom he was speaking.
Several people gave Remus a strange look only to realize that the werewolf was
just a bit odder than they had previously thought.
Harry smirked. Passing Flourish & Blotts, Harry whispered, "Remus, we need to
get some parchment on the way back. Another thing, how will the goblins know I'm with you?"
Remus wagged his brows.
"Remus?"
""What?"" Draco wanted to know.
Remus paused to look into a shop window. Watching where Harry should have been
reflected, he said, "Tonks tweaked the spell, Harry. The goblins won't be
affected by the notice-me-not charm."
Harry's brows rose as he hissed, "Kewl."
"Harry?"
"It's just slang, Remus. A new internet thing. I saw an instant message that D.
got once. He's the one who told me what kewl is. I thought it was
interesting because of the inflection when I say it - kewl."
By
now, they had arrived at the front doors of Gringotts. Remus opened the door,
entering with Harry close behind him.
Harry and Remus approached a goblin on the left side of the bank. The witch in
front of them, turned, gasped at the sight of Remus - she fled.
The goblin on the other side of the counter arched his brows, and then turned
his gaze to Harry. "Good afternoon. May I help you?"
Nodding, Harry handed his key to the goblin. "I'd like to see the Potter
vault today."
The goblin nodded. Turning, he spoke to another goblin whose back was turned to
Harry, "Griphook, take this gentleman to vault number nine." He handed Harry's
key to Griphook.
Griphook looked at Harry closely. "Follow me," he said, with a nasally voice.
Harry nodded after giving Remus a look. "Come on, Remus. You're coming down with
me."
Draco spoke up from Harry's pocket, ""Did he say vault number nine? That's one
of the oldest vaults in Gringotts."" Draco didn't seem to really expect an
answer since they were in the presence of goblins.
Harry whispered softly, ""Ssshhh."" He pulled the hiss out in an effort to make
it sound as though he was simply breathing out between his teeth.
Griphook either ignored him, or thought nothing of the strange sound coming from
Harry.
"Harry," Remus said hesitantly, "are you sure you want me to come with you?"
Harry rolled his eyes at Remus. "Come on, Remus. I can't believe you�d even ask
me that."
The journey down through the tunnels was just as exciting as any previous trips.
This trip, however, took them deeper than Harry had ever been. Finally, they
arrived before a massive wooden door carved with phoenixes and flames.
Harry pulled in a deep breath as he stepped from the cart. The flames of the
four torches around them flickered, giving the impression that the carvings were
moving. Watching the effect of flickering light, Harry let his breath out
slowly.
Griphook nodded at him, approaching the door with Harry's key. "We will use the
key. However, there is also a password." Turning to Harry, he arched
his goblin brow in inquiry.
Harry had inhaled sharply, he had no idea what the password could possibly be. A
deep frown furrowed his brow as he approached the large door. Scanning the
carving, his heart paused in its beat when he realized that the largest phoenix
held a book in its talons. Slowly, he raised his fingers, tracing the shape of
the book. A soft smile graced his features, he whispered softly, ""Mum.""
"Mr. Potter?"
Harry nodded, and then stepped back from the door. "May the light shine forth -
through the flames of the phoenix." The door swung open. The other side was
dark. Harry frowned. Glancing at Remus, he paused before entering.
Remus shrugged. "Go on, Harry."
Nodding, Harry stepped into the vault. The moment his foot touched the floor,
light erupted - traveling from one torch to another, red and gold flames
journeyed to the back of the very large chamber. Harry nodded, as the back wall
became exposed to the brilliance. The chamber was divided into many sections.
Some sections contained rows upon rows of library styled bookcases that were
full. Other sections held furnishings for the home. Weapons
dominated two other sections. Then there was the gold. Harry stared at the
shining brilliance, breathing in its essence. "Remus," he whispered.
Remus nodded. "I know, Harry. I've been here before with James."
Harry nodded as he approached the center of the chamber.
A
large phoenix statue dominated the center of the vault.
Harry reached his hand up,
touching the wing with awe. "It almost looks like Fawkes," he whispered. Across
the base of the statute was a sign.
For
the Young Phoenix
Harry reached out and took the box that rested next to the small sign. Opening
it, he found several things. Harry pulled out a thick packet of folded
parchments, his father's wand and his mother's wedding band. Harry frowned.
"Remus, didn't dad have a wedding band?"
"Yes, he did." Remus studied Harry closely. "Look at your father's wand, Harry."
Harry looked down. Turning his father's wand in his fingers, Harry realized that
there was a gold spiral encircling the wooden wand. He inhaled as he realized
that the gold had most likely come from a wedding band. The fact that it was
engraved with a filigree pattern that matched the one on his mum's ring served
as confirmation. Looking up, he asked, "Why would he do that, Remus?"
Remus smiled. "As I mentioned before, Harry, your father tweaked his wand in an
effort to strengthen it. The gold encircling it was his wedding band." Remus
hesitated, studying Harry once more. There was more, however, he wasn't sure
if Harry was ready for the next bit of news.
"Remus? Haven't you figured out yet that I need to know these things?"
"Yes, I have, Harry. Your father added the gold band to his wand at the same
time he added your blood. He did it with the intention of one day passing it on
to you." Remus gave Harry a smile, and then continued, �Perhaps even when you
went to Hogwarts. Of course, we all know that that never happened."
Sighing, Harry nodded. "Ok, Remus. I think we should go now."
Remus nodded, giving Harry a sad smile as he turned away.
