American Escape Chapter 11

The trip to town was a disaster. Sabrina was extra careful not to get anywhere near Harry. Conversation was stilted and forced. Having been to the coffee shop slash bookstore already there wasn't much more to the town. Roz reminded him a bit too much of Hermione. The other girl, he couldn't even remember her name.

Harry was practically giddy when they made it back to the house. He waved to Harvey then went straight to the car. Honestly, he didn't care if it looked strange. He needed some time to himself. Sirius was waiting for him when he stepped inside.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

Sirius was glaring at an unopened bottle of whiskey.

"I spoke with the name bloke in charge." The man didn't look away from the bottle.

"And?" Harry prompted.

"We're leaving." Sirius said with a sigh. "They wanted us to swear loyalty to their dark lord and sign our names in the book without addressing any of our issues.

Harry's shoulder slumped.

"Sorry, pup." Sirius stood.

He moved to Harry and pulled him into a hug.

"I'm kind of relieved." Harry said after a moment. "Being around Sabrina is stressful."

Sirius nodded as he took a step back.

"There's more." He continued. "I don't trust the bastard. We should leave tonight."

Harry studied Sirius for a moment. He nodded.

"Just like that?" Sirius asked.

"I trust you, Padfoot." Harry smiled at his godfather.

"Did you want to say goodbye?" Sirius asked.

"Not really." Harry looked away. "I don't want to run the risk of falling into bed with Sabrina again."

"Understandable." Sirius nodded. "Let's get going."

The older man walked over to a door on the other side of the room. He knocked on it before opening. Harry watched as his godfather leaned through and said a few muffled words. He could feel the car begin to move once the door was closed.

"Who's driving?" Harry asked.

"Private contractor." Siris motioned for him to join him at the table.

Harry did. His godfather tapped the stack of letters.

"I hope you don't mind." He said. "I read through them."

"No problem." Harry shook his head. "I didn't look at the one addressed to you."

Sirius snagged the letter. He held it out to Harry.

"Are you curious?" His godfather asked.

"Sure." Harry shrugged.

He took the letter and scanned the text. It was an itemized bill for services rendered.

"Thrilling stuff." Harry chuckled.

"Not all of us can get letters from worried paramours." Sirius quipped.

"Paramour?" Harry cocked his head to the side. "Did we read the same letter?"

"Ah, pup, to be young and naïve again." Sirius said wistfully. "She admits to writing you three times already, she wants to know you are safe, and she finished it with love."

"She's worried about me." Harry shrugged. "Dobby told me that Twinkles is saying I've been kidnapped by dark wizards to be tortured."

"Dobby?" Sirius asked.

"Dobby!" Harry called.

The elf appeared with a pop.

"Harry Potter calls?" Dobby asked.

"This is Dobby." He said. "Dobby, this is Padfoot."

"Harry." Sirius spoke in a stern tone. "Are you sure we can trust him?"

"Dobby works for Harry Potter." The elf snapped. "Dobby will protect Harry Potter with his life."

Sirius stared at the elf for a moment. A warm smile crossed his face.

"My apologies, Dobby." He inclined his head in a small bow. "All of this has made me more cautious."

"Dobby forgives you, Padfeet." Dobby said with a solemn nod. "Did Harry Potter need me?"

"I wanted to introduce you two." Harry explained.

Dobby smiled. He disappeared with another pop. A moment later he returned.

"Dobby forgot." The elf hopped from foot to foot looking distressed.

"It's alright, Dobby." Harry soothed. "What did you forget?"

"Luna said she be seeing you soon." Dobby replied.

"How?" Harry asked.

"She said she knows when she will know." Dobby sounded just as confused as everyone else who spoke with Luna.

Harry looked over to Sirius. The older wizard shrugged.

"Do you trust her?" Sirius asked.

"She's in my memories." Harry replied. "When I think about things, the masks of my friends slip, and I see her behind them sometimes."

Sirius nodded. The general good mood that he had from being around Hilda had faded.

"We'll deal with it when it comes." Sirius said. "I need to get some sleep. Did you eat?"

Harry nodded. "It was about the only thing that wasn't awkward."

"Try not to stay up too late." Sirius said. "Dobby, it was nice to meet you."

Dobby smiled. The elf looked at Harry.

"What's up?" Harry asked.

"Dobby waiting for orders." Dobby replied.

"Did you get looked over by the goblins?" Harry asked.

Dobby nodded.

"Could you check on Hedwig please?" Harry asked. "She's going to be grumpy so pick up some treats before you see her. Tell her I'm ok and she'll see me again soon."

Dobby nodded again. "Dobby can talk to Queen Hedwig."

Harry smiled brightly. "Come back once you're finished. I need to write a letter to Fleur. If it's not too taxing, I'd like you to deliver it."

"Dobby will be back shortly." The elf said proudly.

"Take your time." Harry said. "I don't know how long it's going to take me to write the letter."

Dobby disappeared with a pop. Harry waited for a moment before he tracked down some paper and a pen. It felt weird using something other than a quill and parchment, but he couldn't find any.

Harry stared at the paper on the table before him. How was he supposed to start the letter? Dear Fleur, that was the classic opening. Was that too informal? Greetings Fleur. No, that sounded weird. Salutations. That was worse.

He picked up her letter. She had used 'Dear Harry' so it should be good enough for him to do as well.

Dear Fleur,
I am safe. Don't believe Dumbledore. I've learned that he has been altering my memory. It seems that this isn't the first time I have found this out. Sad to say, my memories of you are some that have been altered. I can vaguely recall having dinner with your family. The details are muddled. It feels like we were friends. I'm sorry if I was cold to you.

Harry paused. He wasn't sure how much to tell her.

The conflict with Voldermort is out of hand. I am removing myself from it. It's a good idea for you to stay away from it too. I don't know if you have people that you care about in the UK. If you do, urge them to get out of there. Dumbledore is playing a game that will get a lot of people hurt.
I don't know how to end this letter. It feels fake if I sign it With Love because my memories aren't clear enough. I'm sorry if that hurts. Or I could be a moron.
Yours,
Harry

He looked over the letter. It seemed good enough. At least it was something. Maybe he had let Sirius' joke get too deep into his head. Fleur being interested in him wasn't a bad thing. Wishful thinking? Probably. A guy could dream.

Harry waited for Dobby to return. He read the letter over a few more times. It was tempting to scrap it and start all over. The only thing stopping him was the fact that he didn't know what else he would say. He didn't tell her who he was with, or where he was. It was hinted that he wasn't in the UK anymore, but people could probably figure that out on their own.

Dobby appeared a couple of minutes later. The tips of his fingers had fresh bandages on them.

"Queen Hedwig is rather cross." Dobby grumped. "She was rough taking the treats."

"I'm sorry." Harry offered.

"Dobby understands." The elf sighed. "She is worried about Harry Potter."

"I wrote the letter." Harry held it out to him. "Could you take it to Fleur?"

"Dobby will deliver Harry Potters letter." Dobby said proudly. "The Dobby will get ice for his fingers."

The elf disappeared. Harry let out the laugh that he had been holding. He had expected Hedwig to be upset. She was probably going to nip him a few times once they were reunited.

He hoped it would be soon. Harry shuffled over to his room. The bed was wonderful. He was asleep before he could get undressed.