Nobody's Hero

Chapter 1: Leaving and Finding

Sirius was dead, there was no denying it, and it was all his fault, so thought Harry Potter as he sat in his bedroom at 4 Privet Dr. But he knew others bore part of the responsibility too.

For too long, he had been lied to, kept in the dark, coddled, denied information when asked, besides being abused, physically and mentally both here with the Dursleys and at Hogwarts, mainly at the hands of Severus Snape.

The thing that made him the angriest was it had nothing to do with anything he had done, it was more that he existed at all. Just living and breathing seemed to be enough for them to torture and abuse him.

Well Harry had come to the conclusion that he didn't need all the bull shit any more. He had reached the end of his limit and he didn't need this to endure the abuse any longer.

Harry checked his back pack one last time, all the he had that meant anything to him was packed inside except for his Firebolt, and he planned on riding it away from the miserable hell hole he had called home for the last fourteen and a half years.

He was just waiting till dark so that he wouldn't be seen, so he had time to think. He was sure people would say he had acted rashly because it had only been a few days since Sirius' death, but he had been thinking about it for a long time.

The only thing that had prevented him from leaving before was Sirius and the vain hope that he would be able to live with him, now that was impossible so there was nothing left to tie him to the magical world.

Hedwig rustled in her cage, as if she to was eager to be free of the prison that she and Harry shared.

He let his thoughts drift to his two best friends, Ron and Hermione. He had written them letters to explain what he was doing and why. He knew if he tried to speak to them they wouldn't let him go, with Hermione probably going to Dumbledore, McGonagall or at least Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

He was actually feeling relieved to be leaving them behind, he had been feeling increasingly smothered by their attention, it was like he couldn't breath anymore when he was with them. Let them bicker and fight all they wanted together once he was gone.

Harry, then grimaced, if he had one regret about leaving, it was because of another of the Weasley family, Ginny. He'd been a fool for so many years and never acted on the feelings he had for her and now she was seeing someone else, so that door had closed too.

Glancing at the clock again, he saw it was only nine o'clock. He wanted to wait at least till midnight before he left.

Harry was laying on his back, hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling, when he heard the heavy footfalls of his uncle coming down the hall to his room.

The door slammed open and his Uncle Vernon waddled into the room. Harry rolled his eyes as he looked at the procine man before him.

"Listen boy! I want you up bright and early tomorrow morning so you can get to working on the list of chores we have for you. Do you hear me boy!" his uncle said, with spittle flying from mouth.

"Yeah, I heard you," Harry said, annoyed.

"Don't take that attitude with me boy, or you'll get what's coming to you. Understand?"

"Yeah, yeah, I heard you, first thing," Harry said, just wanting to get his uncle to leave.

Vernon eyed him malevolently and appeared that he was going to say something, but then with one last glare he turned and left, slamming the door behind him.

Harry smiled a little at the thought of the Dursleys waking up tomorrow to an empty bedroom, no breakfast and no one to do their endless list of chores, cause he was sure that "Ickle Duddikins" certainly wasn't going to do them.

Harry looked back over at the clock, nine-thirty, two and a half hours to go.

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Harry awoke with a start, he must have dozed off while waiting for the time to pass. He heard the hall clock downstairs striking twelve and he smiled.

Getting up slowly so he made as little noise as possible, he went over to Hedwig. He smiled when he got to her, she was wide awake as if waiting for them to leave.

He put his arm in front of her and she hopped onto his forearm. "Ready girl?" he whispered to his owl.

In answer, she hooted lowly, as if she was whispering too and butted his hand with her head. He took her to the window, which he had opened earlier so that he wouldn't make any noise when releasing her.

"I'll see you soon, okay girl?" Harry said.

He was gratified to see her bob her head. He extended his arm out the window and with an up-thrust of his arm he launched her into the sky. He watched her circle up into the clear night sky, soaring around the perimeter of the yard a hundred feet in the air.

Harry took one last look around the room, and to him it was the room, not his. That had been made very clear when they had moved him in there, way back before he had gone to Hogwarts.

He turned and left, knowing that he'd never be back and he couldn't have been happier if he tried.

Harry was surprised, his heart was beating faster, not because of any anxiety, but because he was finally leaving the scene of so much pain and suffering and also because of the exhilaration he was feeling because he was finally taking control of his life.

He made his way down the stairs, along the hall and through the kitchen to the back door. Carefully he unlocked it, and slowly swung it open. He stepped out into the cool night air and he took a deep breath, closing his eyes, relishing the feeling of freedom that he felt.

Harry shouldered his pack, swung his leg over his broom, pushed off hard and soared into the sky! It took all his control not to whoop out loud. He was practically giddy with the feelings coursing through him.

Instead he did several loops and barrel-rolls in celebration as he streaked higher into the sky and swung his broom in the direction of Ottery St. Catchpole.

He planned on dropping off the letters he had written well before anyone would be up and then he would make his way to the city of London to lose himself in the teeming throngs of humanity. Just one small person in the maelstrom of the Muggle world.

Harry smiled when Hedwig pulled up on his left shoulder and flew in formation with him. His one true friend in the Wizarding World, she had been the stalwart anchor that had kept him sane during the long summers away from the world he had preferred. Now she would accompany him away from that world, a world that no longer held anything for him.

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It was an hour before dawn when Harry spotted the distinct silhouette of the Burrow. Though he would miss Mrs. Weasley's wonderful cooking and the attention she gave him, it just wasn't enough, it wasn't really his, he had just been borrowing it for awhile.

Harry spiralled down and landed softly near the back door. He glanced up at the house and all was dark. He carefully removed the small bundle of letters and pulling his wand he cast a sticking charm to attach them to the back door so they would be found first thing in the morning.

"You'll get into trouble for that," he heard from his right, causing him to jump as his heart beat like a sledge hammer in his chest.

"Merlin! Ginny, you scared the crap out of me?" he whispered fervently. "What are you doing out here anyway?"

"Couldn't sleep," she said wearily.

Something caught Harry's attention. There was a deep sound of melancholy in Ginny's voice.

"What are you doing here this time of the morning?" she asked, neutrally, and then glancing at the letters on the door, she nodded her head. "Finally got fed up have you?"

Harry gave a snort of a laugh, "How'd you know?"

"I've been thinking about the same thing," she said darkly.

Harry moved over to where Ginny was sitting on the porch bench and sat down next to her. He saw how tired she looked, dark circles under her eyes with a sadness that about broke his heart.

Ginny looked at him dispassionately, "So you're leaving, just Hogwarts, and the Dursleys?" she asked.

"No. Ginny. I'm leaving the magical world for now. I tired of being lied to, manipulated like some bloody puppet, I'm tired of never being told what I need to know until it's too late." He looked up into her eyes, "I'm tired of the whole thing Ginny. I just can't do it any more, I just can't be what they want me to be and if I stay I can't be myself."

"I understand, Harry," Ginny said softly. Then with glistening eyes, she looked at him with a hard determined look on her face. "I'm coming with you."

Harry's eyes opened in shock, it was as if his mind didn't want to comprehend what she had said. "I can't ask that of you," he said defensively.

"You didn't ask, I told you, I'm coming," she stated fervently.

Harry's mind was racing, trying desperately to process everything she was saying. "What about your family, what about. . . ."

"Harry, I'm suffocating here. I'm not allowed to do anything, Mum and Dad took away my wand because I went to the Department of Mysteries with you. I can't stay her Harry, it will kill me as surely as Tom would have if you hadn't rescued me then," she said fiercely. "I'm asking you to save me again, Harry. Please." she stated calmly.

"You sure Ginny?" Harry asked. "Really sure, cause I don't plan on coming back."

Ginny nodded unhesitatingly, "I'm sure Harry. I'd rather spend my life with you in the Muggle world than remained caged here."

Harry understood completely. If Ginny remained, caged by those around her, her spirit would die. She was too fierce, independent and free-spirited to be kept sheltered and protected.

"Okay, Ginny. How long will it take you to get ready?" he asked.

Harry saw the relief flood Ginny's face, "Thank you Harry, you won't regret this, I assure you. Give me five minutes and I'll be right back."

Harry nodded and surprisingly he found he felt better than he had. Though unexpected, the fact the Ginny was now coming with him lifted his spirits and he felt more confident that he was doing the right thing and that they'd succeed.

True to her word, Ginny was back in five minutes. She had pulled her hair back in a ponytail, changed into muggle clothing and had a backpack similar to Harry's. "Ready," she said with a smile.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the broom shed, and taking her wand she cast "Alohamora".

"I thought you said they took your wand away?" Harry said with a smile.

Ginny grinned back, "I never said that I didn't steal it back."

Harry chuckled, he loved the look on Ginny's face. It was so carefree, and confident. It was warm and it stirred his heart, unlike anything had ever before.

Ginny moved several things around, finally pulling a broom that Harry had never seen before from the back corner of the shed. "Who's broom is that?" he asked.

Ginny grinned, "Mine," she said smugly. "Well, it's actually one that Bill modified the charms on shortly after he became a Curse-Breaker. He didn't want Mum or Dad to know and he hid it in the back. I guess he kind of forgot about it or something, but I'm not going to complain."

Harry looked at Ginny in the light of the coming dawn. It was just a hint of a sliver on the horizon and there wasn't enough light for them to see colours, the world was a mass of greys. He saw how bright Ginny's eyes were now, so alive and full of excitement.

In that moment, all the pent up feelings that he had for her burst forth and he found himself smiling widely. Ginny saw him smiling at him and smiling back she said, "What?"

Harry made a snap decision and reached out and pulled Ginny to him, kissing her soundly. Though taken by surprise Ginny returned his kiss with equal fervour.

Harry released her and still smiling said, "I've been wanting to do that for quite some time now."

Ginny, not to be out done mirrored Harry's action, surprising Harry. Once they broke apart, Ginny grinned at him, "I've been wanting to do that far longer than you have, Harry."

They were startled by the sound of Hedwig landing on top of the broom shed. She hooted lowly, as if to say "We should be going."

Harry and Ginny shared a laugh as they looked at Hedwig and then into each others eyes.

"Let's go, Harry," Ginny said, her face almost split by her smile.

Harry nodded and they mounted their brooms, pushed off hard and rocketed skyward. Harry looked over at Ginny and saw the look of pure delight on her face and he knew that he was totally head over heals in love with her.

Ginny looked over and met his eyes, it was as if she had felt his gaze on her and had to look back at him. They were smiling like idiots at each other, both feeling free for the first time, maybe ever.

Harry spotted a small clearing down below and he motioned for Ginny to follow him down. They landed softly and Ginny came over to him, "What is it, Harry?" she asked.

"I need to cast a few spells on you," he explained as he pulled out his wand.

Ginny looked at him with a puzzled expression, "What spells?" she asked.

"One to make you unplottable and one to remove the trace," Harry said with a grin.

Ginny's eyes widened in surprise, "You found out how to remove the trace?"

"Yeah, Sirius gave me a book of a lot of the stuff the Marauder's did and that was one of them. Plus the one to make it impossible for them to find us by magical means," he said grinning at her.

"Do it, Harry!" Ginny cried excitedly.

Harry pulled out his wand, and smiling at Ginny, said, "Reperio Mihi Non".

As he brandished his wand, a dim blue beam issued forth and struck Ginny in the chest. It enveloped her for a moment before sinking into her.

"And now the trace," he said, smiling wider. "Kancerous Vestigium" he said, and a dim reddish beam hit her, copying the blue.

"They're really gone?" asked Ginny, in wonder.

"Yes Ginny, I tested the trace out on myself and I have no doubt that the unplottable spell will work too.

"Thank you Harry, I can't begin to tell you how much this means to me, I feel free for the first time in my life to do what I want and not what someone else wants," she said, softly, with a air of wonder.

She looked quizzically at Harry, "Harry, I want to ask you something and I know this is going to sound kind of strange but, well, if we're going to be together, I'd like to pledge our. . . .feelings, you know?" she said hesitantly.

"You mean pledge our Love?" Harry asked, stepping close to Ginny.

Ginny looked up into Harry's eyes and blushed deeply, "Yeah," she whispered. "It's a little, I don't know, childish, maybe. Like something out of a fairytale, but it would mean a lot to me if we did something like that."

Harry smiled, "I'd like nothing better Ginny. It's like the ultimate rebellion, we're running away together and pledging ourselves to one another. I think it's a wonderful idea."

Harry chuckled and reached up and undid a small gold chain he was wearing around his neck. As he pulled it out if his shirt, Ginny saw there were three rings on it. "I never expected to need these tonight, but I guess Fate made sure I had them ready," said Harry, tenderly.

Ginny's eyes widened in surprise, "Are those. . . ."

"Yeah, they're my parent's bonding rings," Harry said with a smirk.

Ginny's eyes lit up with wonder, "Oh, Harry, I can't believe it. It's like it was meant to be."

"We can't fight Fate, can we?" Harry replied.

"No, it's never a good idea to do that, all kinds of bad things could happen," she said, giggling lowly.

Harry handed his fathers ring to Ginny and then took his mothers two rings and slid them on her finger, "Ginevra, I pledge my life, my Love and my fortune to you, from this day forward I will honour you and cherish you for all time."

Ginny felt her eyes tearing up, and she took his fathers ring and slipped it onto his finger, "Harry, I pledge my life, my love, and all that I have to you, from this day forward I will honour and cherish you for all time."

As Ginny finished and they clasped hands, leaning in to kiss tenderly, a golden light sprung forth from the rings, encircled them and sunk into them together.

Harry and Ginny looked into each others eyes in surprise, "Harry," Ginny whispered in awe, "That was a bonding light."

A smile crept onto Harry's face, "I love you Ginevra Potter," he said tenderly.

Ginny smiled back at him, "I love you Harry, my husband."

Harry took Ginny into his arms and kissed her with all the emotions he was feeling. When he had left Privet Drive he could never have conceived the way things had played out. He had expected to leave everything behind, cut himself off from all that he knew.

Now, somehow, some way, fate had given him what he had most desperately wished for, someone to love and be loved by. Someone who would be his anchor and partner, facing the world together no matter what may come their way.

Ginny looked at Harry and smiled at him coyly. She conjured a blanket and reached for him, taking him in a passionate kiss. The sank down onto the blanket and Ginny began to unbutton Harry's shirt. "Make Love to me, my husband, cement our bonding so none may ever come between us again.

Harry had no intention of denying her and under the light of the coming dawn, two lives became one.

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Molly got up and made her way down to the kitchen like she did every morning. She was feeling particularly morose because of the fight Arthur, her and Ginny had the previous night.

Her daughter just didn't understand what was required of her as the only female child of a pure blood family. It wasn't that they believed the things that Voldemort and his pure-blood maniacs spouted but there were societal obligations to fulfil.

On top of that it was just too dangerous to have her charging around the Wizarding World, risking her life. It just wasn't lady-like.

She had just put on the kettle when she noticed a bundle of envelopes stuck to the outside of the door. Wondering who could possibly have placed them there she went and retrieved them.

There were three letters, one addressed to her and Arthur, one to Ron, and surprisingly, one to Hermione. Because she was trying to figure out why they were there she really didn't take note of the handwriting.

She started to open the one to her and Arthur when the kettle began to whistle, so setting the letters down, she made the tea first, poured herself a cup, before turning back to the letter.

Dear Mr. and Mrs Weasley,

I can not begin to thank you enough for what you have done. . . .

Molly heart went into her throat and she quickly scanned down the page to find Harry's signature at the bottom.

She quickly reread the letter from the top and was stunned by the contents. Harry had left. The thought struck her in the chest and she sobbed out loud, her heart breaking for the boy who had become like a son to her.

Arthur found her crying at the table several minutes later, and couldn't get a comprehensible word out of her. She just thrust the letter at him and buried her face back into her apron that she had bunched up in her hands.

As Arthur read, his face became more and more crestfallen. He tried desperately to come to grips with what he was reading, but he kept shaking his head, like if he denied it, it wouldn't be true.

"Harry, what have you done?" he whispered. Turning to Molly he took her into his arms and tried as best as he could to comfort her.

It wasn't long till they were joined by Ron and the Twins who were astounded by the state they found their parents in.

"Mum, Dad, what's wrong?" Fred asked, wondering what had happened to reduce his parents to the emotional wrecks that they found.

"Ron, there's a letter here for you," Arthur said, sadly as he handed him his letter.

"Here boys, you might as well read this one," he added giving Fred and George the letter addressed to him and Molly.

The kitchen became very quiet while the three boys read the letters, looks of horror and disbelief forming on their faces as they read.

"Harry, mate," Ron said softly, "Why did you have to go this route," he asked to no one particularly. He glanced up and saw the third letter, "Who is that one for?" he asked morosely.

"Hermione," Arthur said softly.

Ron got an even sadder look on his face, "You mean there isn't one for Ginny too?" he asked.

Molly could only shake her head, "No these were all that were there," she sobbed softly.

"I thought he would have at least written her something," Ron said lowly. "That's going to be a kick in the gut for her," he added.

"Maybe it's for the best," Molly said, fighting her tears.

Fred looked around the kitchen bewilderedly, "Where is Ginny, anyway."

"Probably still up in her room, we had a bit of a go round last night and she wasn't very happy with what we had to tell her," Arthur said, his face a mask of pain.

"I'm pretty sure she isn't in her room," said George. "Her door was open and she wasn't in there."

Molly's eyes opened wide in fear, "She wouldn't have, He wouldn't have," she said haltingly.

Fred jumped up and ran up the stairs and everyone watched apprehensively, waiting for his return.

Fred returned much slower than he had left, he came back head down, holding a piece of parchment in his hand. It's addressed to you Mum," he said softly.

Molly quailed as she shakily reached for the parchment, desperately hoping it wouldn't say what she was sure it did.

She slowly unrolled the parchment and began to read:

Mum,

I can not live the life you have planned for me.

I would die being caged so completely.

Harry came tonight to leave you all some letters because he is leaving the Wizarding world.

I have convinced him to take me with him. Please know when he arrived that he had no plans of taking me, but he all too well understood why I wanted to go, had to go.

Please don't try to find us, it will only cause more heartache.

We need to find our own path and we'll do it together.

Ginny

Molly wailed out wildly, her heart breaking even more than it had for Harry and she collapsed onto the floor.

Arthur bent down and scooped up his distraught wife and began to carry her up to their bedroom. He stopped at the base of the stairs and looked back at his sons, "Fred, George, I need you to notify Dumbledore immediately."

The Twins nodded and looked very grim, "What about me, Dad?" Ron asked.

"You'd better notify Hermione, she'll need to know too." he said before turning and continuing up stairs.

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Harry and Ginny awoke with smiles on their faces. The Muggle inn they had found to stay in was quite cozy.

Ginny turned on her side and looked at Harry lovingly, "Good morning, My love," she said tenderly.

"Good morning, Mrs. Potter," he replied before giving her a passionate kiss.

Ginny snuggled into Harry's side, revelling in the exquisite sensations of their nude bodies pressing together.

"Did you really have to Confund the clerk?" she asked with a giggle.

"Well, It seemed like a good idea. He said he thought you looked a little young to be married," Harry replied with a grin. "Besides I slipped him a few extra Pounds so don't worry, he was well compensated for the trouble."

Ginny closed her eyes and just listened to Harry's heart beat, letting it bring a smile to her face. She felt like she was in a dream, a wonderful dream as compared to the nightmares she had suffered through at the Burrow.

"What do you want to do today," she asked Harry softly.

"We need to go shopping. We need to buy Muggle clothing and find a better place to stay, something small and out of the way for now. We'll worry about the big things later. Right now we're on our Honeymoon so we need to take some time for us."

"Sounds wonderful, Harry," she said dreamily.

Ginny idly ran a finger through Harry's chest hair, thinking about something he had said while they pledged their love to one another. "Harry, I was wondering about something?" she said thoughtfully.

"What's that, my lovely lady," she said with a chuckle.

"Lovely Lady. Are you going to go all sappy on me?" she asked with her merriment dancing in her voice.

"Maybe for a while," Harry replied, placing a kiss on top of her head. "What was you question?" he asked with a grin.

"When you made your pledge to me, you said you pledged your fortune. Just how much of a fortune do you have?"she asked inquisitively.

Harry shrugged, "To tell you the truth, I don't know the exact amount, especially when it's converted into Pounds, but trust me, we have plenty to live on comfortably for a long, long time."

"Are you sure?" she asked, a little worriedly.

"If it will make you feel any better, you can be in control of the money, okay?" he said happily.

"You'd do that?" she asked in awe.

"Yeah, why not?" he asked bewilderedly.

"Well, that's just not done in the Wizarding World," she replied.

"Good thing we're not in the Wizarding World, then isn't it," he replied mischievously.

Ginny was thinking hard, when Harry began to nibble on her ear lobe.

"Harry, that's quite distracting," she said, with a giggle.

"So? I want to make love to my wife again," he said impishly.

"You do?" she said with a smug smile.

Harry rolled over on top of her and captured her mouth with his, "Umm Humm," he said through the kiss.

Ginny just wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the kiss with interest.

It was quite a while before either thought of anything else again.

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A/N: Just something that came to me this evening. Right now it's a one shot, but I could probably be coerced into continuing it as a multi chapter if there is enough interest.

Let me know what you think.