Chapter 3
When Harry was getting low on potion ingredients, he headed into Diagon Alley as it had the biggest apothecary of any magical town. He ignored the whispers of his name and the way he looked, Harry had gone into a muggle town and had laser surgery done on his eyes so he didn’t need glasses anymore, then he let his hair grow, it’s long enough that he could tie it back, but he hardly did, only when he worked out or made potions.
Harry strolled casually along the cobbled street until he came to the shop he needed. He walked the aisles searching for the ingredients he needed, he pulled down jars and bags of all different types and sizes, he placed them in his small basket, he also got two more but different cauldron’s, one pewter, one silver, he knew some potions worked better if made in a silver cauldron rather than a pewter or brass one. Once he found everything he needed, he placed all his items on the counter and waited for the sales assistant to add up his purchases. He could see her giving him curious looks but he just handed over the money, picked up his bag, shrunk it and stuck it inside his jacket pocket before leaving the story.
‘We could have used your help.’
Harry turned to stare at Charlie Weasley, ‘None of you helped me when I needed it, so why should I help any of you?’
‘Ron will never walk properly again, Hermione hardly leaves the house she’s so badly scared, don’t you care at all Harry?’
‘No, I don’t, the day Severus was sent away was the day I stopped caring, so don’t blame me for what happened, all any of you had to do was trust me but you turned your back on me, so now I turn my back on all of you. I thought my letters to that bastard of a brother would have told you how I felt, in case you didn’t get the message, fuck off,’ Harry turned and walked away from the second eldest Weasley. So even though he felt a very small pang of guilt about his friends, he reminded himself that they refused to speak on Severus behalf, he hardened himself so he wouldn’t feel anything about his old friends, but he did stop with turning back around, ‘All my so called friends had to do was stand by me and speak for Severus, they refused, I know why they did that, they didn’t like the fact I was with Severus. Oh just so you know, I found out where the death eaters are, but again I don’t care enough to tell anyone,’ with that Harry left Diagon Alley heading back to his cabin.
The next time he appeared in any magical town, aurors would find him and start shouting questions at him which Harry ignored completely.
‘We could arrest you Mr. Potter.’
‘Where’s your proof I know anything.’
‘A close friend of yours told us you knew where they were.’
‘I don’t have any friends, close or otherwise, so you’ve been misinformed,’ the smouldering look of anger Harry gave the aurors actually made them step back which turned his look from anger to a smirk before he apparated away.
Harry gave the same answer whenever he was questioned, he knew they couldn’t arrest him for a rumour, they had no proof. He also knew that the magical world was already upset with everyone from the ministry, if it was known they arrested Harry Potter he knew the ministry would lose all support. So again Harry would glare at them before going about his shopping.
Harry stepped into another shop to look around when an older man approached him. ‘Is there anything in particular you want Mr. Potter?’
‘Yes, a sneak-o-scope, that pensieve and a box of crystal vials.’
‘A box, is there a lot of memories you wish to remove?’
‘More than you could possibly know,’ Harry said dryly.
‘Very well,’ the man took a box from one of the shelves then before floating the pensieve towards the counter, Harry pointed to which sneak-o-scope he wanted so the man also took that to the counter.
Harry paid then shrunk the sneak-o-scope, the pensieve and cabinet, placing them in a pocket along with the box of vials, turned and left the shop.
‘Well, well, well, if it isn’t the minister of magic, have you finally come to your senses and left the ministry to go back to the order of the phoenix?’ Harry drawled.
‘I am still minister and I’ve been told by Charlie that you know where the death eaters are that are attacking everyone.’
‘I’m bored with this conversation,’ Harry turned and walked away only to have a hand clamp over his arm, ‘If you don’t want to lose the hand, then I suggest you remove it.’
‘Then talk to me Harry, we’re friends.’
‘I have no friends, I have enemies, I have people that betrayed me. There is only one person I care about and you took him away from me,’ Harry stood straighter and where he stood was now a large dragon that shot flames into the air before he took to the air himself, then shot flames down towards the minister and his aurors, but made sure to aim just past them before he flew off into the air, with the aurors spells bouncing harmlessly off his scaly body.
The next time Harry ventured into Diagon Alley he was stopped by Tom, the owner of the Leaky Cauldron who said he had a bag of mail for him. When asked why he had it, Tom said they sent it to him as no one knew where Harry lived but since he passed through his pub occasionally Tom had the most hope of passing on the mail. So after doing his shopping, Harry took the bag, shrunk it, stuck it in his pocket then left. When he got home, he checked for any curses or hexes that might be attached to the letters, the ones that had been cursed Harry obliterated them into ash. He sat down and looked through the letters, checking the senders name before placing them in a pile. One letter made him hesitate before finally opening it and reading.
‘Dear Harry, I am so sorry for what they did to Severus. I did try to explain to the wizengamot, but like you they refused to take my words into account. I even spoke with the governors hoping they would allow Severus to teach once he was released from Azkaban, they turned down my request. I know you would not mind me saying this Harry, but I said that you would take up a teaching position if Severus was allowed back as the potions master, that was the only time I saw consideration on their faces. They never said what they would do either way, but I don’t hold out much hope they would ever allow Severus to teach again. He has been wrongly imprisoned, but no one seemed to want to hear the truth. Yes its true Severus was a death eater, but when he changed sides it was only thanks to him that Albus was so well informed and as you stated, if Severus did not give you that last piece of information than Voldemort would still be alive. I have tried everything to make them release Severus but to no avail. I know there are some out there who are blaming you for not helping with these attacks, I do not blame you at all Harry. You finally found someone to love, someone that loved you and he was taken away from you. You have suffered more than anyone realises and everyone has a limit, this with Severus pushed you over your limit. If you ever want to contact me, I will keep that between us even though I do not care what anyone has to say about me. If I did not want to leave the students of Hogwarts under the control of the ministry and the governors I would have left, but like Albus, I will die protecting this castle and those that inhabit it. I would love to hear from you even if it’s just to tell me you are okay, physically okay as I know emotionally you would be a wreck. Know I will always be here for you whenever you want or need me, Minerva McGonagall,’ Harry sighed as he remembered that day in court when Minerva had stood up and spoke on behave of Severus, she even shouted at the members of the wizengamot, but just like with Harry they refused to listen. So Harry knew Minerva was one person who he could count on, so he would write to her even if it was just to tell him he was fine, he was keeping himself together for when Severus was released.