Chapter 90: A Wanted Man
Disclaimer:
Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
I own only the original characters I create.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 90: A Wanted Man
As the morning sun rose over the horizon, Harry stood in the entrance hall of his castle, adjusting the collar of his travelling robes.
He had spent the night preparing. He kept the dragonhide robe safely stored in his room, as it was too distinctive to wear in public. Instead, he wore simple, dark travelling robes that would blend in with the crowds.
His wand was holstered at his thigh, and the Invisibility Cloak was folded neatly in his bag, just in case he needed to hide from someone.
He had also practiced the disguise spell he had learned from the grimoire...a simple but effective charm that altered his appearance. He focused on his reflection in a polished silver shield, watching as his features shifted.
His messy black hair became a dull brown. His green eyes turned brown. His face became narrower and less distinctive.
"Good enough," he murmured. It was unlikely that anyone would recognize him now.
Not to mention that most people who knew him should still be at Hogwarts for a few more months. He did not expect to encounter many people at Diagon Alley at this time.
Dibble appeared beside him, his large eyes filled with worry. "Master Harry, Dibble is concerned. Diagon Alley is dangerous for Master. The evil wizard will be looking for you."
Harry knelt, placing a hand on the house-elf's shoulder. "I know that, Dibble. But I need to do this. I promised Daphne I would come to her birthday, and I cannot show up with empty hands." The truth was that he also wanted to get out of the castle for a bit.
If he stayed here much longer, he was going to start losing his mind.
Dibble nodded slowly, then reached into his tea towel and pulled out a small, silver amulet. "Dibble has prepared something for Master Harry. This amulet contains a Portkey. It will take Master Harry directly to the woods outside the castle if he is in danger."
Harry took the amulet, its surface warm against his palm. "Thank you, Dibble. I'll keep it safe."
He tucked the amulet into his robes, then turned and walked out of the castle.
The journey to Diagon Alley was uneventful. Harry used a flying broom and a series of floo networks from a nearby magical settlement, moving through the country with caution.
Things will become easier once he learns how to apparate, but for now, he will have to do with this.
When he finally emerged into the crowded streets of Diagon Alley, he paused, taking in the familiar sights.
The shops were still there as he remembered them: Ollivander's, Flourish & Blotts, Madam Malkin's...but something felt different.
The atmosphere was heavier, more oppressive. People moved quickly, their heads down, avoiding eye contact.
Harry pulled his hood lower and began to walk.
Just as he was about to venture into Knockturn Alley, something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye.
There were several wanted posters stuck to the walls.
His face stared back at him from a dozen identical posters, his eyes dark and serious, his scar visible beneath his fringe. Beneath the image, bold letters read:
WANTED: HARRY POTTER - TRAITOR TO THE MINISTRY
REWARD: 10,000 GALLEONS
Wanted for conspiracy, treason, and crimes against the Ministry of Magic. Approach with caution. Considered armed and dangerous.
Beside his face were posters for Draco and Crabbe, their rewards slightly smaller but equally damning. They were all being accused of some vague treason charges.
Harry felt his blood run cold. He was a wanted man. They all were.
'I should have expected this.' He thought.
As long as Dumbledore was in full control of the Ministry of Magic, he could do anything he wanted. And fabricating some crimes for Harry and his friends must have been very easy for him to do.
'Good thing I came here in disguise.' He pulled his hood lower and moved on.
Knockturn Alley was very quiet, to an uncomfortable degree. The shops were still there, their windows dark and forbidding. A few figures shuffled through the shadows, their faces hidden beneath hoods. Harry walked quickly, his eyes scanning the street.
And then he saw it.
A small shop tucked between two larger buildings, its sign faded and worn: Lady Rose Antiquities.
Something about it caught Harry's attention. The door was slightly ajar, and a warm, golden light spilled from the window. He approached cautiously, pushing the door open.
'An antiques shop. I bet there is something nice in there for Daphne.' He thought as he walked inside.
"Hello?" he called. "Is anyone here?" The shop was dimly lit, but he couldn't see anyone inside.
Silence.
The shop was filled with antiques...old books, dusty furniture, strange artefacts that seemed to hum with ancient magic. Everything looked valuable, carefully arranged, as if the owner had just stepped out for a moment.
But no one was there.
Harry walked deeper into the shop, his hand resting on his wand. "Hello? I'm just looking. Is anyone here?"
Still nothing.
He examined a few of the items...an ornate mirror, a clock with no hands, a small box carved from dark wood, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Yet the absence of the owner made him uneasy.
He left the shop, closing the door behind him.
Harry turned around and examined the shop again. It was clean and had obviously been taken care of, but the owner, this Lady Rose, was nowhere to be seen.
For some reason, he found this unsettling, as he had just found something he wasn't meant to find.
He decided to leave Knockturn Alley and return to the main road. This place was giving him a creepy feeling. And he was more likely to find some proper gift somewhere else.
Harry found a small stationery shop on the main street of Diagon Alley.
The owner, a nervous-looking witch with spectacles, showed him a beautiful quill set made from phoenix feathers and polished silver. It was elegant, timeless, and perfect for someone like Daphne.
"I'll take it," Harry said, placing a handful of Galleons on the counter.
The witch smiled, wrapping the quill set in soft paper. "A gift for someone special?"
Harry nodded. "A friend."
The witch smiled. "It must be a very dear friend for such a gift."
He tucked the package into his robes and stepped out of the shop, a small smile on his face. He had done it. He had found the perfect gift.
But as he walked through the crowded street, a familiar voice cut through the noise.
"Harry Potter."
Harry froze.
He turned slowly and found a familiar face staring directly at him.
Remus Lupin stood at the end of the alley, flanked by a group of Aurors. His face was cold, his eyes sharp. A faint smile played at the corners of his lips.
"Did you think a simple disguise charm would fool me?" Lupin asked, stepping closer. "I can smell you from a mile away, Potter."
Harry's hand moved towards his wand. "It's you...Remus Lupin." He had not seen this person since that terrible day when he came to pick him up and brought him to his old home...it was the day his family was brutally murdered, and this person here was one of the ones responsible.
He felt an indescribable sense of anger rising through his throat.
Lupin's smile widened. "I was hoping you would come out of hiding eventually. Dumbledore has been waiting for this moment. You'd better surrender and come with me...traitor."
The Aurors moved forward, their wands raised.
"It's kind of ironic that you, of all people, would call me that. Harry didn't hesitate to act. "Ventus Gladius!"
A blade of wind shot from his wand, slicing through the nearest Auror's shield. The man staggered, his concentration broken.
Harry spun, casting a Shield Charm to deflect a curse from Lupin.
"Protego!"
The spell bounced off his shield, and Harry moved. He was faster now, more confident. The grimoire's training had paid off.
"Gladius Incendia!"
A blade of white-hot fire erupted from his wand, forcing the Aurors to scatter.
The innocent shoppers filling the main street of the alley quickly began to scream and run in all directions.
Harry used the chaos to run. He could not let them get their hands on him now.
"After him!" Lupin shouted. "Don't let him escape!"
Harry ducked into a narrow alley, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
The Aurors were close behind; their footsteps could be heard echoing off the stone walls.
"You can't run forever, Potter!" Lupin called out. "Surrender now, and I'll make sure your punishment is swift!"
Harry turned a corner and found himself in a dead end. A high stone wall blocked his path, and there was no other way out.
Trapped.
He spun around, his wand raised. Lupin stood at the entrance of the alley, his Aurors fanning out behind him.
"Nowhere to run," Lupin said, his smile cold. "You should have stayed hidden, Potter. With those terrorist friends of yours."
Harry's grip tightened on his wand. "You were there," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "That day. The day Dumbledore murdered my family. You helped him. You burned them alive."
Lupin's expression flickered...just for a moment. " So what?. I did what I was told to. They were Muggles. They were nothing. Dumbledore gave the orders, and I followed them. That is what loyalty means."
"Loyalty," Harry repeated, his voice dripping with contempt. "You don't know what that word means."
Lupin laughed coldly. "And you think you do? You are just a boy. You think you can defeat someone like Albus Dumbledore? You are nothing but a child playing at war, Potter. A foolish, arrogant child who has no idea what he is up against."
Harry felt the anger boil over. "Maybe I am a child. But I am not the one who murdered innocent people. I am not the monster here."
He raised his wand, his focus sharpening. He knew he couldn't win this fight...not against Lupin and a dozen Aurors. But he could make sure Lupin remembered this moment.
"Ventus Gladius!"
The blade of wind shot forward, but Lupin deflected it with a flick of his wand. "Is that all you've got, Potter? I expected more from the boy who escaped Dumbledore."
Harry didn't respond. He was already moving, his feet carrying him forward. He dodged a curse from one of the Aurors, rolled to avoid another, and came up swinging his wand in a wide arc.
"Gladius Incendia!"
The blade of white-hot fire erupted from his wand, but Harry didn't aim it at Lupin. He aimed it at the ground in front of the Aurors, creating a wall of flames that forced them back.
"Vulnus Sempiternum!"
A blade of dark, jagged energy shot from his wand, slicing across Lupin's cheek.
The werewolf screamed, staggering backwards. A deep gash appeared on his face, running from his temple to his jaw...a wound that pulsed with dark magic, a wound that would never fully heal, leaving a permanent scar to mark his treachery.
Lupin clutched his face, blood pouring through his fingers. His eyes were wide with shock and pain.
"You... you little-"
Harry didn't wait to hear the rest. He reached into his robes and grabbed the silver amulet Dibble had given him.
"Take me home!" he shouted.
The world twisted around him, and he was gone.
Harry landed in the woods outside Potter Castle, gasping for breath.
He lay on the cold ground, staring up at the canopy of leaves above him.
He had escaped. He was safe.
But the image of Lupin's face, bloodied and scarred, lingered in his mind. He had wounded him. He had made him pay, at least a little, for what he had done.
'It wasn't enough,' a voice whispered in his mind. 'It will never be enough until Dumbledore is dead.'
Harry pushed himself to his feet and began the walk back to the castle.
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