It was an old, withered, and ragged man who sat in bed. His body thin and frail. His hair was stark white, with the consistency of straw. His skin, while wrinkled, looked as if it were leather pulled tight over his bones. What substance he had to his frame did nothing to squelch the image of a man who was nothing but skin and bone.

With blankets piled on his lap and shawls pulled tight around his shoulders, the only clue as to this man's identity was the faded scar on his forehead, above his right eye—a thin, pale line in the shape of a lightning bolt.

Even his once-vibrant emerald green eyes had dulled and paled; it almost looked as if he was blind, and the thick lens glasses on his face were just there for show.

If it wasn't for knowing just who this was, one could be forgiven for thinking this man spent most of his adult life in Azkaban.

It would shock many to learn that Harry Potter was quite aware of how he looked. On his better days, he would joke that he looked worse than the old Headmaster the day he died, and that wasn't in reference to the older man's garish choice of wardrobe.

Harry looked more aged and more worn at ninety years old than Albus Dumbledore did at one hundred and fifty.

But that was on his good days.

As he sat there, his heart and mind so battered and bruised, he was practically numb to the pain; this was a bad day.

The cold that seeped into his bones intensified, making it so that even the roaring fire directly in front of him could ward off the chill. Not even the Dementors from his third year at Hogwarts, or the Black Lake's February waters during the Second Task of his fourth year, had him this cold.

No amount of chocolate, fire, or blankets could warm him.

If it had been any other day, he might have chuckled at his circumstances and how his life had come full circle.

He grew up abused and neglected, forgotten by the magical world as they carried on with their lives.

His early childhood was spent in the cupboard under the stairs. Even after the Hogwarts letter and the Hagrid fiasco, they still wanted to lock him in his "room" with all of his school supplies.

They only put him in that little room after a warning from Dumbledore.

Meanwhile, Vernon and Petunia occupied the master bedroom, which took up a whole fourth of the second story. There was still the guest room for Marge when she visited. Dudley still had his main room, which was a bit larger than the guest room.

Not that he complained, it was better than the cupboard.

Although it was summer and the hottest day London had seen, Harry shivered.

Thankfully, his current living situation wasn't a cupboard, but it was the smallest, cheapest room that the Leaky Cauldron had to offer. Not that Harry would ever complain about that. It was still ten times better than his living situation at the Dursley's and Hogwarts.

That was, of course, taking into account that at Hogwarts, there were four other boys. Good hygiene among teenage boys was challenging to come by.

He could stretch his legs at least in this room, and it smelled better than the dorm.

His only clothes back then were Dudley's cast off's. From his toddler days to after he graduated from Hogwarts. Harry didn't own anything new wardrobe-wise other than his school robes up to that point.

No sooner had they graduated did Hermione take him shopping. Those three days still gave him the occasional nightmare.

By now, Dudley was long since dead, and even if he had been alive, he wouldn't have given his cast-offs to the homeless, much less Harry.

While Harry's clothes fit him fine, they were worn and thin. Usually, he'd ignore that, but there was that chill in his bones.

As for his adult life, one merely had to look around to find some of the details. They didn't even have to look far, only stare at the floor where he'd dropped the Prophet's after finishing them. Some of them from recent days, some of them were back issues from over the years.

Still laying where they landed, gathering dust.

Housekeeping would have cleaned it up, and he knew one such witch threw a fit about it, as she did it right outside his door when he told her not to touch them. However, Tom III gave the order to leave the room, and Harry, alone, except to drop off and pick up the food trays.

Tom III stuck by his orders, and if they wanted to keep their jobs, the staff followed them.

The Tom that Harry met at eleven retired when Harry was twenty-nine, and Tom Jr took over the establishment. Tom III took over just before Harry's arrival and extended stay here.

They were among the few that never forgot all of the sacrifices made by Harry.

The Prophet's latest edition lay forgotten in his lap as his gaze passed over all of the others. Harry's life was whittled down his life and able to be viewed within a few moments.

Once, The Daily Prophet, one of the primary sources of news/information for Wizarding Britain, had been nothing but a gossip rag. For sale to the highest bidder, it was always the Ministry, in whatever form it was.

After the second fall of Voldemort, those in charge of the paper were arrested for treason and allowed new management to take control.

From then on, The Daily Prophet was a trusted news source and well respected.

Daily Prophet

The-Boy-Who-Lived Now The-Man-Who-Conquered

Harry James Potter, age 17, once again defeated the Dark Lord Voldemort (aka You-Know-Who, aka He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named).

Voldemort's real identity, and more, to be revealed in a later issue.

The Battle of Hogwarts was described in gut-wrenching detail; one would think Rita Skeeter had been there.

However, she took statements, even viewed memories, and wrote an article that gave the whole truth. It appeared as if Voldemort's second coming had scared the woman into always being truthful, but her drive to chase a story was made worse.

It was the interview with Harry about his part that set Rita thinking.

Daily Prophet

The-Boy-Who-Was-Abused

Everything we thought we knew is wrong.

From the children's books to written texts, even past Prophet articles are as false as Leprechaun Gold.

Everything we "know" about Harry James Potter is wrong.

Rita, working with Hermione and a few others, tracked down and brought light to everything and the truth about Harry's early childhood and years at Hogwarts. The article only gave a bit of information before announcing Rita's second book would be released with all of the information she'd obtained.

Somehow, Harry wasn't sure how, and he was convinced that he didn't want to know, the Dursley's were found from wherever Dumbledore hid them. The book featured their real thoughts, feelings, even their memories.

Even after all of these years, it came as no surprise that all four Dursley's were found dead shortly after the book's release. What was more, Harry still felt nothing.

Daily Prophet

Leader of the Light was a Secret Dark Lord

In the light of the truth revealed by Rita Skeeter's latest book, the true story of Harry James Potter, the Ministry was able to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of Dumbledore's death and the details contained within Rita Skeeter's first novel; The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore.

The truth about Harry's past left a lot of questions unanswered and sparked questions no one had ever even thought of before.

Rita did ask and then went looking for answers with the Ministry's aid.

The article revealed the first book Rita wrote was right, save for a few embellishments that Rita made.

With so much information from the answered questions, Rita wrote The Shadow Dark Lord Dumbledore, the sequel to her first book. It featured all of Dumbledore's secrets after Grindelwald's fall and his manipulations with the Order of the Phoenix in the first war. Such as allowing members to die in the heat of battle to save himself or actively set up individual members to be killed by leaking information. More often than not, through Pettigrew, or Snape, after he joined.

Such was the case with the Potter's and Longbottom's.

More than half of the book featured Dumbledore's plans for Harry and his attempts to Martyr the boy "for the greater good."

The book ended with a detailed outline of what Dumbledore's ultimate plans and goals were.

Those who followed him faithfully received the final shattering blow to their hope that Dumbledore was a good, yet misguided, man.

It didn't take long for Dumbledore's achievements to be stricken from Record and for him to be labeled as a Dark Lord.

Theorists rose as they claimed it was possible that Dumbledore took a troubled youth, Tom Riddle, and made a monster out of him by guiding the boy down a darker path than he would have naturally traveled. All that so Dumbledore could defeat a second Dark Lord and cement himself as the world's ultimate power.

Which he nearly succeeded in doing.

Daily Prophet

Weasley's Attempts to Weasel the Potter Fortune

Weasley Matriarch Molly Portia Weasley (née Prewett) and daughter, Ginevra Molly Weasley, arrested this morning under suspicion of love potioning Harry Potter.

Daily Prophet

From the Burrow to Azkaban

Found guilty of love potioning and attempted line theft of one Harry James Potter, the female Weasley's were sentenced to life in Azkaban for their crimes.

Daily Prophet

Azkaban Assassin

While Azkaban has suffered breakouts, never has it been broken into like this.

Last night, an unknown assailant broke into Azkaban and killed two of its inmates.

Molly and Ginevra Weasley, ousted as part of Dumbledore's plot, mostly their plan to love potion Harry, didn't back off. One would think a spotlight shown on their plot would discourage them, or at least think of something new.

The original plan was to have Ginny pregnant with his heir before the final showdown with Voldemort. However, Dumbledore's death wasn't a part of that plan, and without his leadership and extensive manipulations, everyone could only scramble to pick up the pieces he left behind, Molly especially.

The new plan only focused on the outcome and not how to best get there.

Molly still desired the Potter fortune to be in her control. Not long after Harry and Hermione rejoined Hogwarts' students to finish their education, Molly and Ginny tried again. They knew that love potions would be discovered quickly, so Harry was also given an almost lethal amount of lust and stamina potions.

The goal was for Ginny to be pregnant as soon as possible.

They were caught rather quickly as they knew they would be, but it was technically too late. Their plan for Harry to bed Ginny had succeeded. However, Ginny wasn't pregnant when they were arrested, and their entire plan hinged on success in that area.

The trial happened less than a week later, where they confessed their new plan was to blackmail Harry; once Ginny was pregnant, they were going to hold the child hostage to make Harry do whatever they wanted.

But with no baby, and no Dumbledore, no one even attempted to save them. They were sentenced to twenty years each in Azkaban for attempted line theft and attempted blackmail of an Ancient and Noble House's last scion.

Two months later, someone broke into the prison, but no one escaped for the first time. No one even noticed anything until the next morning when the guards made their rounds with the prisoner's meals.

Nothing was touched, there was nothing to indicate there'd even been a problem, and outside of two deaths, no one was harmed. No one could figure out why it was only Molly and Ginny. Given the dozens of Death Eaters there, convicted of far worse crimes, it was appalling and baffling.

It was worth noting that nothing of the like ever happened again. Whether because the security was drastically changed or no one ever tried again was unknown.

Daily Prophet

The Boy Who Lived Adopts Orphan

Due to his parents and extended family's death, Magical Britain's savior, Harry Potter, has adopted his godson, Teddy Lupin.

Sources say that the boy will keep his surname in honor of his parents.

Hogwarts staff are accommodating and welcoming of Potter's new ward.

Daily Prophet

Hogwarts Heroes Marry

After their graduation, Harry Potter and Hermione Potter (née Granger) marry in a local church in Mrs. Potter's childhood home town.

Daily Prophet

The Potter Duo is now the Potter Trio!

Late last night, Mr. and Mrs. Potter welcomed their third son into the world.

No more! Mrs. Potter declared.

The death of Molly and Ginny didn't slow Harry or Hermione one bit. It seemed as if the couple had wholly forgotten their betrayal. The two had gone back to complete their Hogwarts education, and that's just what they focused on.

With the ousted plans of Dumbledore and the female Weasley's, it was revealed that Ronald Billius Weasley was not their friend after all. He actively worked against them and was furious with the arrest of his mother and sister. He stood by them and the late Headmaster. It saw him disowned by his remaining family and a social pariah in and out of Hogwarts.

He attempted to cause trouble, but they were rather juvenile and unimaginative. Harry didn't even shed a tear when one of Ron's attempts resulted in a fatal accident. Everyone entirely forgot the glutton.

Harry did cry when news came of Andromeda's death. Harry visited her and Teddy every weekend and also spent school breaks with her. It was during Easter when she was found dead at St. Mungo's.

Harry wasted no time in adopting Teddy. He was fearful that someone was after Teddy and barely let the babe out of his sight. It couldn't have been a coincidence that Andromeda's mysterious death happened just after Harry admitted that she was becoming a mother figure to him.

So Harry kept Teddy close, and no one said a word against it.

Shortly after graduation, Harry proposed to Hermione. Of course, she told him when and where to do it and even picked out his outfit. They married that summer in a simple muggle wedding. Which even a week after the event, Harry couldn't tell you a single thing about it.

Twelve years later, they had three sons, James Sirius, Gregory Regulus, and Viktor Arthur, on top of Teddy.

Viktor was home a month when Hermione forced Harry to retire from the Auror corps and become a stay-at-home dad while Hermione worked on her political platform.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Daily Prophet

From Hogwarts Hero to Minister of Magic

Hermione Jean Potter (née Granger) was elected Minister of Magic.

"I promise sweeping changes!" She declares after being sworn in. "No more bigotry and stagnation. I will bring Magic Britain into the 21st Century! Once more, we will be the envy of the world!"

Daily Prophet

Welcome Council of Witches and Wizards

In the light of the Wizengamot's restricted membership, Minister of Magic Hermione Potter (née Granger) has established the Council of Witches and Wizards.

A council whose membership will be inclusive to squibs, muggleborns, half-bloods, and purebloods.

All one needs to do is cast their name on the ballot, and the people vote on who they would like to represent them.

Daily Prophet

Revolutionary Education Reforms Closes Schools Doors

Minister of Magic Hermione Potter (née Granger) revolutionized the educational system taught to our youth. The I.C.W. worked closely and approved of Minister Potter's reforms and pushed them through globally.

Smaller magical schools were forced to close their schools forever. The results have four primary schools remaining open: Hogwarts, Drumstrang, Beauxbatons, and Ilvermorning.

See page 9 for the full list of school closings.

See page 14 for the full list of Asian Schools. What ones remain open, what ones have closed, and what ones are rebellion against this reform.

Daily Prophet

From S.P.E.W. to C.R.A.M.S.

In her days at Hogwarts, the Minister of Magic Hermione Potter (née Granger) created S.P.E.W. (Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare), which didn't reach beyond the walls of the Gryffindor Tower and saw Minister Potter banned from the kitchens for several months.

Riding on the high of her Council's success and the educational reform, Minister Potter has created C.R.A.M.S. (The Campaign for Rights for all Magical Species). It will see rights coming to werewolves, centaurs, mermaids, goblins, and more.

Daily Prophet

C.R.A.M.S. Success! Goblins and Centaurs Sing Minister's Praises!

Gringotts and the Centaurs of the Forbidden Forest release statements to the Media for the first time in recorded history!

Daily Prophet

Veela Nation Outraged!

Again, Minister Potter refuses to recognize the Veela as people and include them in C.R.A.M.S. for the fifth time.

Daily Prophet

Council Changed!

Due to C.R.A.M.S.'s success, the Council of Witches of Wizards has merged with the delegates selected by their races.

The newly named Magical Council now features all the previous members of the former Council, plus representatives of the species who were given rights through the movement of C.R.A.M.S.

Daily Prophet

House Elf Freedom?

Minster Potter announced that it is now illegal to own or bond to a House Elf.

Bill just barely passed in the Wizengamot, but the Minister is moving quickly to enforce the Bill to the fullest.

House-elves everywhere begin to panic. Owners outraged.

Daily Prophet

A Race Dying!

Minster Potter refuses to listen to the Wizengamot and the Magical Council warnings!

House Elves are begging for their lives as their race slowly dies!

"Anyone caught owning or bonded with a house-elf without proper work agreements of pay and time off will be sentenced to Azkaban for a year for every time they refuse to release their slaves!" Minister Potter declares.

Daily Prophet

A Magical Race Lost!

The world is silent on this dark day as news comes to us that the very last house elf in Magical Britain died yesterday.

Family heartbroken and outraged. Minister Magic, Hermione Potter (née Granger), still refused to comment.

"Howey was our friend!" Sobs previous witch (who wishes to remain anonymous). "We gave him his freedom as the Minister demanded, but he died immediately! We were promised that this wouldn't happen!"

An Unspeakable broke the silence coming from the Ministry to explain.

While the race was dying, the Unspeakable was able to study them more than they had ever been able to. It turned out their magic was kind of like a hive mind. The more there were, the stronger they were. When the first ones were "freed" from their bonds, they lived for a couple of years before they died. However, as the race dwindled in numbers, the faster they died. The last one immediately upon the bond being severed.

Outside Magical Britain, many homes owned by Britain citizens were maintained by house-elves. It was discovered that Magical Britain had the largest population of house-elves outside of the schools and Ministries. The more the elves died, the weaker the race became.

Many had thought the race would survive, as they were bonded to families in other countries and safe from the decree in Britain. However, the hive mind that held all of their magic, history, and life force, had been weakened by the panic, fear, pain, and death that the race began to die. After the last elf in Magical Britain died, one by one, the others around the world also perished.

The death of the House-elves changed Magical Britain.

From the bigots who considered the race their slaves or toy things, from those with compassionate hearts and thought the race to be their friends, were outraged.

Former Minister Cornelius Fudge did a pretty good job of angering Magical Britain, but never before had public opinion turned so fast, and so entirely, on a Minster.

Hermione was public enemy number one.

She had been warned, evidence provided, elves dying in droves, the race themselves begging her daily. Yet she didn't listen. Whatever her reasons, the race still went extinct, and she was the direct cause of it.

The Wizengamot and the Magical Council had already started the judicial process of giving Hermione a Vote of No Confidence. But they weren't fast enough for the public.

Daily Prophet

Minister Attacked!

While Minister Potter has suffered attempts on her life before, never before has there been an attack like today!

Before; escaping with cuts and bruises, at worse a few broken bones; this afternoon, Minister Potter was in critical condition and rushed to St. Mungo's

Daily Prophet

Former Minister Potter!

Wizengamot and Magical Council voted in absentia while Hermione Potter (née Granger) was in St. Mungo's intensive care.

The Vote of No Confidence passed with no objections made.

Daily Prophet

Mrs. Potter Held Under Investigation!

While the details are unknown at this time, Hermione Potter (née Granger) is being held for questioning.

Whispers from the Ministry and St. Mungo's say that this has more to do with why she was given a Vote of No Confidence.

Daily Prophet

Potters Arrest and Hospitalized!

This morning, Hermione Potter (née Granger) was arrested while Harry Potter (aka Boy-Who-Lived, aka Man-Who-Conquered) was rushed to St. Mungo's!

Daily Prophet

CONVICTED!

In a shocking turn of events, Hermione Potter (née Granger) was convicted of her crimes.

The death of the house-elves race and love potioning her husband for seventy-three years was already known and confessed to under truth serum.

However, during the trial, it was revealed the many dark secrets Mrs. Potter kept from everyone, including the death of the entire Weasley family by her hand.

The execution date is set for one week from today.

Daily Prophet

Divorce Absentia

Teddy Lupin, the adopted son of the Potter's, announced that Harry Potter had divorced his wife of seventy-three years.

Now, simply Hermione Granger once more, Prisoner of Azkaban, is her only title.

He asks that the public respect his father's privacy during this difficult time and allow him to recover from the shock.

Daily Prophet

A Dark Lady!

The Ministry announced today that Hermione Granger has been labeled a Dark Lady, and she will be executed under that title.

"For our community's safety, we cannot allow another powerful force of evil to breathe still." Minister Hecate Malfoy declared during the announcement. "We must show what the fate will be of those who walk down the path of darkness!"

Daily Prophet

The Potter Trio

During the scandal of recent weeks, one question has been prevalent: where are the Potter sons?

Sources say that the Potter sons disappeared before their mother's trial, abandoning their father without a word, after emptying the Potter vaults from Gringotts.

On the hunt for his adopted brothers, Teddy Lupin vows to bring them back to stand trial for theft and abandonment.

"I suspect they knew what their mother was doing and did nothing!" Teddy Lupin told Prophet.

Daily Prophet

TRIAL TRANSCRIPTS RELEASED FOR THE PUBLIC!

Today the Transcripts from Hermione Granger's trial are now available for the public to read.

They have given us more details than we had before.

Daily Prophet

The Potter Trio, Not Potters!

During the trial, Hermione Granger revealed that James Sirius, Gregory Regulus, and Viktor Arthur are not Potter's sons.

Instead, they are the biological sons of a broken Arthur Weasley potioned and Imperiused by Hermione Granger.

She revealed that she Imperiused Harry Potter to blood adopt the boys before obliviating him.

It's worth noting that due to the use of the curse, they weren't fully adopted to the Potter line. Thus, they have no claim to the contents of the vaults they emptied.

Minister Malfoy has issued official warrants for their arrest.

Daily Prophet

Granger's Contempt of Veela!

The Matriarch of the Veela Nation was outraged and dismayed to learn that her granddaughter, Fleur Weasley (née Delacour), and great-granddaughter Victoria Weasley were murdered by Hermione Granger, the former Minister of Magic.

Teddy Lupin confessed he was suspicious but had no prove, thus never accused his adopted mother of the crime.

Daily Prophet

Midnight Execution

Last night, at exactly midnight, Hermione Jean Granger, formerly Mrs. Potter, formerly Minister of Magic, formerly Hogwarts Hero, was quietly executed via the Veil of Death.

During the wait for the hour, Ms. Granger stood firm, declaring that her husband would save her. He always had before.

The hour came and went, Ms. Granger was pushed through, but our savior, Harry James Potter, did not appear.

Daily Prophet

A Dark Day Dawns

Despite the execution just a month ago, where Magical Britain rid its self of the Dark Lady, Minister Malfoy brings light to another problematic situation.

A group called Neo Death Eaters, who follow "the Pureblood traditions" and the "Doctrine of Voldemort," have become to make demands of the British Ministry.

"We will not cower to these pathetic fools." Minister Malfoy declared.

After the attack, Hermione was unconscious for three whole days as Healers worked round the clock to heal her. During that time, it was only Teddy who questioned where Harry was.

When Hermione regained consciousness and was told how long she'd been out, she went into a rage. Fighting to get out, going so far as to attack and grievously injure several healers before the Aurors on security detail could restrain Hermione.

It was Hermione's statement while frantic that finally had Teddy looking for Harry. "He'll leave me! I have to get home! I can't allow that! I need to give him his medicine! He can't leave! He can't leave me! Not after all my hard work!"

Up until that point, everybody thought Harry and Hermione had fought and weren't speaking. Including Teddy.

Harry had the Quibbler back editions over in the corner. It had become the home for theorists after Colin Creevey bought it from Xenophilia Lovegood. After Luna's death, Xenophilia's state of mind matched that of the Longbottom's in St. Mungo's permanent care ward. With his wife and daughter gone, the man lost the will to live.

While Dennis set out to prove to disprove all of Luna's magical creatures, Colin wrote the theories. Over the years, other theorists joined the once comical publication till it became world-renowned.

The Quibbler from present, whose issues sat gather dust in the corner of Harry's room, held theories about Harry. The one he was thinking of was one written by Colin, who came out of retirement to speak. Colin noted that he believed Harry wasn't at St. Mungo's with an injured Hermione due to his anger. Harry had always been a friend of house-elves and was likely furious about her actions.

However, after Hermione's episode upon waking, Colin published an article where he stated either things are worse between Harry and Hermione than initially estimated, or something had happened to Harry.

Harry wondered if Colin knew how right he was with that last article.

Teddy found Harry on the bathroom floor, and Harry's state was horrific. After being rushed to St. Mungo's and being in their intensive care, the healers revealed that Harry was suffering from withdrawals of love and loyalty potions. A search found those powerful potions all over the house. All of them keyed to Hermione.

Harry suffered weeks of medical treatments as his muscles were removed then grown back piece by piece, as the potions had saturated into his fatty tissue. Once such a state would have been considered permanent, however, the healers, and everyone else, utterly refused to leave Harry in that state.

Hermione, of course, confessed to this and more during her trial. The first being responsible for the "Weasley Extinction."

Molly and Ginny because of what they planned and tried to do to her and Harry.

Ron because he supported that plan and further accosting his former friends.

Bill and Fleur because they offered to take Teddy for Harry. So he could finish school. She missed Victoria then because Fleur's parents had her for a week. Something to do with Bill and Fleur's work.

Victoria had been close with Teddy; despite being raised by her grandparents in France after Hermione killed Bill and Fleur. When Victoria came back to Britain, Hermione wasted no time in finishing off the Weasley Line.

Charlie because of the dragon during Tri-Wizard Tournament.

Percy died along with Fred during the Hogwarts Battle.

George began to notice something was off about Harry, comparing it to when his mother and sister potioned Harry.

Arthur committed suicide shortly after Hermione's 3rd pregnancy was confirmed.

It turned out that Hermione had tweaked the standard recipe of the love and loyalty potions to make them stronger and last longer. But there was an unknown side effect until it was too late; it made Harry sterile.

And that was the real reason why Molly's and Ginny's plan failed. Despite the success of sleeping with him, Harry was already sterile and thus incapable of getting any woman pregnant.

Desperate to keep Harry complacent and everyone else ignorant of the truth, Hermione used a broken Arthur to conceive her sons. With four boys and as Hermione's political career took off, Harry's withdrawal from the workplace was understandable, and everyone loved the fact that Harry supported his wife's ambitions and dreams.

In truth, Hermione wanted Harry hidden away so no one would discover the truth and try to take him away.

Harry shook his head with a sigh. There was more, but he had thought enough about the past.

Ever since his release a month and a half ago, Harry tried to remember his past. The articles helped some, but it was all a blur. As if he was looking out of the Knight Bus window while it traveled at top speeds.

It was as if he was Rip Van Winkle. He fell asleep at seventeen and woke up ninety. So many friends were lost and buried. Half by Hermione's design, some by natural health-related issues and accidents, the rest was old age.

That Colin was still around was a miracle.

Harry cried for his friends, despite the years between their passing and present. The grief was fresh and all-consuming. He wished he could have seen them all just once.

It was a battle every day to not think about the past. At least he could say he was getting through it all faster. While his past was depressing to think about, the present and future weren't much better.

The Neo Death Eaters were not alone. They had a leader guiding them. Thankfully this time, the public/ populace had no issues saying the guy's name. Marcus Flint Jr held fast to his late father's ideals. They adopted Voldemort's plan and the Death Eater dogma and began terrorizing the populace.

Despite the Ministry's stance and good work, this was not the face the masses wanted to defend them.

Articles were asking where Harry was, and why wasn't he helping the Ministry?

It didn't seem to matter to them that his current physical state barely allowed him to walk on his own to the loo. That he'd spent years love and loyalty potioned, and a slave to his ex-wife's every command. They couldn't fathom, or they just didn't care that their savior was well and truly broken.

He looked away from the papers on the floor and thought maybe he should let the housekeeping finally clean them up. He wasn't doing himself any favors by keeping them around. Beating himself up about the past or fretting about the future changed nothing.

So he laid back in bed and stared up at the ceiling instead.

Since his release from St. Mungo's, he'd been living at the Leaky Cauldron. He had no other place to go after Hermione's spawns sold his house. Not like he could care for it himself currently, but it was the principle of the matter.

His room and board were paid for by Teddy, and somewhat unexpectedly, the Goblins as well. He wasn't sure what he did to warrant such kindness from them, especially given the break-in during his hunt for the Horcruxes, but they were unwavering.

Teddy's loyalty, he understood. Even without the potions, his love for the man he raised as his son was strong. Perhaps that's why his sons never liked Teddy; they knew what he didn't; they weren't his sons, and potions manufactured his love for them. Whereas, with Teddy, it wasn't.

Logically, he knew there was a lot more to it than that. But that was the main point.

A knock on the door had Harry looking in its direction. Teddy slipped in with a tray of food and quickly closed the door behind him. Teddy placed the tray in Harry's lap before sitting in the chair beside the bed with a grin. "You really should lock that door."

"What's the point? No one comes to visit 'cept you. I'm in hiding, remember?"

Teddy grinned, "That may change."

Harry looked at him, confused, "What do you mean?"

"I found them!" Teddy declared in an excited manner Harry hadn't seen on him in years. "They were in Australia just like I thought they would be; they were hiding out in some safe house Hermione set up. We finally managed to crack the antitracking wards without alerting them. It shows they inherited that Weasley's intelligence as well. At least from what I heard."

"I don't know about that." Harry argued. "The twins, Bill, and Charlie were all pretty exceptional, Percy as well, I suppose, in his way. Arthur's state of mind can be attributed to the potions Molly fed him. Molly herself wasn't a slouch when it came to brains. Ron and Ginny, however, were pretty dimwitted."

Teddy shook his head, "Whatever you say, dad."

Harry smiled a bit. He never asked for Teddy to call him dad, but as the years went on and their relationship grew, Teddy did call him dad or father. But only at times when he knew Harry needed to hear it the most.

"Anyway," Teddy clapped his hands, "I've got a team ready for dispatch, and we're bringing them back. Hecate assured me a trial for them is already set up; we just need them. I'd give it a week, maybe two, and you'll have everything back." He laid a hand on Harry's shoulder and squeezed. "I'll get you through this, dad. I swear it."

Harry nodded and looked down at the stew and mug of Guinness on the tray. "Thank you, son."

He didn't have to look to know Teddy's lip quivered a bit before he gripped Harry as tight as he dared then left the room. Being emotional was never something either of them could handle. It was only after a complete detox that Harry even felt his emotions. He'd raged and blubbered like a baby when alone but put on a brave, strong face around what could be considered his only son.

He got up, put the food on the bedside table, and went to the desk where there was a clean scroll with fresh writing. His last will and testament, and all it needed was his signature. Harry did it with a quick scrawl, and he handed it to the owl sitting outside the window, waiting. It flew the short distance towards Gringotts, and he knew the Goblins would honor his last wishes.

It all went to Teddy. He hoped Teddy found the selfish brats Hermione spawned, and he hoped they got their just do's. As he lay down in bed, the blankets piled high; he knew he wouldn't be around to see it.

He was old, yes, but not nearly as old as some who had come before him in the Wizarding World. Some had lived to a ripe old age of two hundred before dying. Some, like the Flamel's, were well into their seven hundred's. Yes, in the wizarding world's eyes, he was still relatively young and had a lot to accomplish.

He did not share those views. He felt like he was a thousand years old, and people were still pushing him forward with needles in his back. After a lifetime of being played like a puppet on strings. This life had been full of betrayal, and those who truly loved him lost to death.

He hoped Teddy could get out from under it.

Harry was tired. Tired of fighting, tired of being manipulated, tired of living. He'd been fighting since he was a small child. He struggled to survive at the Dursleys; he fought to survive at Hogwarts, fought against Voldemort. Had he known about Dumbledore's manipulations sooner, he would have fought against those.

Despite what he said, he'd been fighting against the love and loyalty potions since they started. He always had a feeling something wasn't right when he was with Hermione, but no matter how much Harry thought about it, he never broke beyond that thought.

No, he was done. The world could save itself or die; he didn't care anymore. His eyes drifted shut as he relaxed his body for the first time since his detox, and he drifted off into a deep sleep. Knowing deep down, he would never wake to this life again.