Chapter Nine

A/N: I OWN NOTHING AND I AM ALIVE!

At a clock tower in Paris, Snape could be seen circling a table—on which lied a paper. This paper had the headline "Potter heir found at last!"

"Peter! Find me a comb! Fetch some cologne, I want to look my best!"

"That might take some work sir," Peter said while muttering under his breath about not being a miricle worker.

"We're going to a party!" Snape cried.

"Oh!" Peter exclaimed excited. "I can teach you the latest dance steps. It starts with a "Whoo!" and then you get really crazy with the hips."

"We'll let the little brat have his glory!"

"Oh, who cares about him?" Peter asked, still dancing to unheard music.

"Then we'll kill him!"

Peter stopped, alarmed. "Kill him? But what happened to the party idea?"

"That's when we'll kill him!" Snape said, as if it was common sense to kill someone at a party. "Crush him at the height of his power!"

Peter sighed as bits of newspaper started floating down around him. "And we're back to the crushing," he sighed as he picked up the last whole bit of paper—which happened to be the photo of an eight year old Harry Potter. "Please sir, I'm begging you! Forget the boy and get a life!"

"Oh I'll get a life Peter!" Snape growled. "His!"

Harry, or shall we say Evan, knew nothing of the plan to end his life. He was too busy looking through a basket of memories Sirius had stored through the many years. Sirius helped him fill in the blanks when Harry couldn't remember something. Sirius was able to remind him about Luke's love of reading which he had inherited from their mother—something Sirius found amusing seeing as Luke was the only one who was a total clone of their father. Charles and Damian were born with red hair, as was Rose.

"I remember now," he sighed, running his hand on a photo of his whole family. His little sister Rose kept running from his father's lap to him while Charles kept giving him rabbit ears. "How much I miss them."

He wondered what Rose would look like if she had lived. Would he be chasing away the boys with Charles and Damian, or would he simply tease her like Luke would tease him?

"They would not want us to live in the past," Sirius said with a smile, repeating words that Remus had told him so many years ago. "Not now that we have found each other."

There was a tense silence until Sirius pulled out a drawing of a boy playing Quidditch.

"The drawing you gave me! Remember?" Sirius asked.

"Oh yes! Luke made me so mad, he said it looked like a bunch of squiggles," Harry chuckled. "He was right."

"Ah to hear your laughter," Sirius said, standing up, "I honestly hear your mother Lily and your brother Damian."

He reached into a box to pull out a small crown.

"But you have the regality of your father, James Potter, King of all Britain," Sirius said as he placed the crown on Harry's head. Harry smiled as he looked at his reflection. He took the crown off and went to bed. The next day when he woke, he saw new robes and a note.

Dearest Harry,

Tonight there will be a grand party to announce your return to the public eye. I have laid out these robes for you to wear. You mean, you had a house elf lay them out, Stop it Moony!

-Sirius

Harry smiled at the note and put on the robes. They were a bit scratchy and honestly reminded him of some of the clothes he had to wear at the orphanage. Now the ones he had worn the night before—had it only been the night before? Those felt right.

Those had been picked out by Ginny, he thought and then shook his head. Ginny had lied to him and tricked him. These robes that he was wearing were just as good. No, better!

"Well, who is this good looking man?" Remus raised an eyebrow as he walked down the stairs.

"Hi Remus," Harry said with a slight flush. Little did he know that Ginny was conducting business with his godfather just upstairs.

"You sent for me Lord Black?" Ginny asked, after a curtsy. She had worn her best dress that she could afford on a con-girl's paycheck—which was usually nothing but a few Knuts at a time.

Sirius smiled and motioned to the money on the table. "A million Galleons, as promised. Along with my gratitude."

Ginny sighed. "I'll accept your gratitude your grace. But I can't take your money."

"Young lady," Sirius said after a while. "Where did you get that pensive?"

Ginny stayed silent, the reminder of Evan causing her heart to break painfully.

"You were the girl, weren't you? The servant girl who got us out?" Sirius continued, not realizing the pain he was putting Ginny through. "You saved his life and mine, not to mention you restored him to me. Yet, you want no reward?"

Sirius knew that if he was in the girl's shoes, he would have accepted the million galleons and left by now.

"Not anymore," Ginny said firmly.

"Why the change of mind?" Sirius asked.

"It was more of a change of heart," Ginny said and looked at Sirius. "I must go."

She turned to leave, not realizing Sirius' soft smile. He realized that Ginny must truly love Harry, in order to give up such a huge reward.

Ginny did not know this, as she was going through an inner turmoil of her own. As she walked down the stairs, she could see Harry dressed up in the finest robes and she could remember teaching him how to walk like a royal on that dirt road.

"Hello Ginny," Harry called out as he walked up the stairs.

"Hello," she said shortly. She wanted to leave before she said something she would regret.

"Did you collect your reward?"

"My business is settled," was all Ginny had to say. In truth it was. She would sell the dress when she left the palace and wear her con-girl clothes on her way back to Hogsmeade.

"Young lady," an elderly aid scolded her. "You must curtsy and address the prince as 'your highness'."

"Oh, she really doesn't have to do that," Harry said quickly but Ginny cut him off.

"Please," she said with a curtsy. "Your highness. I hope you found what you were looking for."

"Yes, I hope you did too," Harry said, slightly shocked that Ginny had conceded like that. Ginny never conceded on anything.

"Well then," Ginny said after another curtsy. "Goodbye."

She ran off without hearing Harry's soft farewell in return. Harry sighed and continued up the stairs to his room. He wanted to slip on his glasses and take off his contacts. They made his eyes itch.

"Your father did the same thing," a voice sounded from behind him, causing Harry to jump. He turned around to see Remus.

"Really?" Harry asked.

"Oh yes," Remus nodded. "Your mother tried for ages to get James to wear contacts but every time James would slip them off and simply put a glamour charm on his glasses."

Harry chuckled and did the same thing.

"Merlin forbid that the Grand Duke have glasses?" he asked as he slipped the disguised glasses back on his face.

"Yep," Remus nodded. "The party will be in two hours but the guests are starting to arrive now if you'd like to watch?"

"No thank you," Harry shook his head. "I'll stay here until it is time."

Remus nodded and walked out. Harry sighed and slipped the crown on his raven-black hair.

"Back to who I was, on to find my future," he sang under his breath. "Come on Evan. Let's do this."

He walked downstairs and made his way to the chairs in which he and his godfather would sit. Peering around the curtain, he could see the different royals who had escaped the revolution in Britain.

"Why don't you dance sir?" a house elf asked.

"That is a good idea," he nodded. He sighed but took off his crown to do so. Granted, he was sure to be recognized anyway but it couldn't hurt to dance. Could it? Sighing, he snuck out and went on to the dance floor through the guest entrance.

"Could I ask you to dance?" he asked the nearest female he could find. The lady smiled and nodded. She seemed to have a good time though Harry was miserable. Ginny was a good dancer, he remembered from the boat trip here.

"It's over," the lady said with a smile. "My lord, thank you for the dance. My name is Cho Chang."

"It was a pleasure my lady," Harry said with a smile. He retreated though back behind the curtain. It was better there, and plus he had the added bonus of being able to see if Ginny was there.

"She's not there," Sirius said from behind him.

"Oh, I know she's not there," Harry said blithely and then realized what he said. "Who's not there Sirius?"

"A certain servant girl," Sirius said, "who found a pensive."

"Oh, she probably just spending her galleons as fast as she can," Harry said with a wave of her hand. Sirius smiled and looked out on to the party guests.

"You were born into this world of fancy jewels and fine dancing," Sirius sighed. "But sometimes I wonder if you'd be better off without it."

"No," Harry gasped. "No, I belong in your world. I found out who I was; I found you!"

"Yes," Sirius nodded, "and you'll always have me. No matter what you choose, you would always have me."

Sirius pulled him into a hug and then whispered, "She didn't take the money."

"What?" Harry gasped. Ginny hadn't taken the money. What did that mean?

Sirius gave a vague smile and then slipped back into the party. Harry hadn't noticed this because his back was to the curtain.

"Wait, what?" Harry asked but it was too late. Harry sighed and then frowned as he heard Hedwig's screeching. "Hedwig?"

He ran out the back and through a series of mazes. Merlin, who knew that there were so many hedges in the garden?

"Hedwig!" Harry sighed in relief when he saw her. "Come on, let's go back…"

He trailed off though when a figure came out through the mist.

"Harry Potter," it whispered. "Look how ten years has treated us. You, a well groomed man. While for me, a rotting corpse!"

"That face," Harry gasped, memories flooding back to him.

"Last seen at a party like this one," the figure growled.

"A curse," Harry whispered.

"Which led to a disastrous spin on the ice!" the figure finished. "Destroyed by you and your despicable family!"

A wave of his wand and the entire bridge was covered in ice, as was the river.

"Snape!" Harry growled as Hedwig flew away.

"Snape!" Snape mocked Harry. "Well, looks like the beloved royal remembers his betters after all! Unlike your horrid father!"

"My father was a great man!" Harry defended his late father.

"Your father was a swine!" Snape sneered. "But tell me, your highness, would you like to join him?"

Figures began to come from Snape's wand and tore at Harry's robes and hair, messing everything up.

"I'm not afraid of you!" Harry announced loudly after the attack was over.

"That can be fixed!" Snape promised. The bridge where Harry was standing began to crack. "How about a spin under the ice?"

Harry gasped as he felt his legs lower and he grabbed on to the swinging bridge piece.

"Give up Harry Potter!" Snape yelled with glee. "No one can save you!"

"WANTA BET?" a familiar voice rang out and Snape had to block an on coming Bat-Bogy Hex. That didn't stop Ginny from punching Snape right in the jaw.

"Evan!" Ginny shouted and dove for him.

"Ginny, if we live through this, remind me to tha—"

"You can thank me later," Ginny said, interrupting Harry. She didn't want to think of anyone dying.

"Oh, how sweet! Together again, for the last time!" Snape shouted and Ginny gasped as a Giant Chess piece began to pick her up. It was a Knight and Ginny had to wonder why the royals had pieces like this in the garden.

"Say your prayers!" Snape said with an evil grin and picked up Harry by the neck. "See you later Prince Potter!"

Ginny heard a splash and managed to get off the piece.

"EVAN!" she shouted and dove for the icy water. Another stone piece blocked her though, and it began to buck.

"YES! LONG LIVE THE POTTERS!" Snape cheered.

"Right!" a voice growled, giving Snape pause. "I couldn't have said it better myself!"

It was Harry. Snape quickly found out that it was not a good idea to piss off the last heir to the British throne. He fought like a muggle, and never fought fairly.

"Got it!" Harry growled as he grabbed Snape's wand.

"Give it back!" Snape yelled as Harry began to bend it. It started to splinter, causing Ginny to get knocked out. Harry noticed and glared.

"This is for Ginny!" he shouted as he continued to bend the wand.

"I mean it!" Snape promised.

"This is for my family!" Harry shouted once more and the wand was nearly split into two.

"I'll tear you to pieces!" Snape roared.

"And this, this is for you!" Harry hissed. "See you later!"

The wand was split into two, and Harry gasped as he saw a swirling vortex of light. He ran to Ginny and covered her face as he also looked away. He heard the screams though, and he thought it would last in his memory for the rest of his life.

"Ginny?" he whispered, after the dust had settled. "Ginny, wake up?"

Ginny didn't stir. Harry felt his eyes prickle with tears and blinked them away. It wasn't like Ginny liked him anyway, she only wanted to be with him to get the reward money.

But then why she refuse the money? he thought. It was then that Ginny began to stir. Harry didn't realize it, and so got whacked in the face.

"Oh!" Ginny shouted and pulled out her wand. "Episky!"

Harry's broken nose healed up instantly.

"I thought you were going…." Harry said but trailed off.

"I didn't," Ginny said instantly.

"You didn't take the…"

"I couldn't," Ginny said softly and leaned in to kiss him. Harry leaned in to kiss her as well.

SCREECH!

Ginny sighed. "They're waiting for you," she said sadly.

Harry looked at the crown and then looked at Ginny, at her brown eyes and beautiful red hair. He reached over and took the crown. Ginny looked down sadly.

"I'll be right back," Harry said gently. "I just figure that Sirius should have this crown back."

Ginny beamed. "I'll wait here," she promised. Harry grinned and ran up to the castle. Climbing the vines out side of his room proved to be very difficult as he had to hold the crown along with the vines but he did it. Setting the crown on the pillow, he pulled out some parchment and wrote a note of his own.

Dear Sirius,

Wish me luck! I'm sure we'll be together in Paris again soon!

Thinking that was good enough, he climbed back down and ran back to Ginny. While he was in the room, he grabbed a black box that he had no idea what was in it. He just thought he might need it if he was ever going to run away with Ginny.

"Ready?" he asked Ginny as he ran back.

"I was ready when you left," Ginny said with a smile. "There's a free boat ride twenty meters away that'll take us to the bus station."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Harry asked. Hedwig stayed where she was though.

"See ya Hedwig," Ginny said fondly. That bird was there for it all.

"Keep Sirius out of trouble, will ya?" Harry asked and Hedwig hooted softly. They ran the twenty meters and ended up at the boat completely sweaty and exhausted.

"All aboard!" the captain shouted and they hurried on, despite their exhausted state.

There was an empty deck and they smiled. Ginny curtsied to Harry, and he bowed back. Together they began to waltz, the same dance they fell in love to on the boat to Germany. Harry leaned in and Ginny closed the distance, kissing him gently on the lips.