The Fortress of the Shadows (Sixth Year)

[Tonks08]

Disclaimer: I don't own HP. I'm not J.K.R and not making any cash off of this fic.

A/N: I don't like the first four chapters that much. I stopped typing it for about two months, and I think my writing style is a little bit diffrent.

The Fortress of the Shadows

Chapter I

The dawning of a new generation, a generation full of fear dawned on the whole Wizarding community. It had recently come to light that Lord Voldemort, who most witches and wizards feared to speak his name, had returned at full power once more. Fear instantaneously broke out for everyone, but the fight for the light continued.

Harry Potter was sitting in on the swings in Magnolia Crescent, deep in thought. What if he couldn’t finish Voldemort off when he faced him? What if Voldemort threw the killing curse at him before he could do anything? Would he die, like his father or would he prevail over the Dark Lord once again?

Ever since June he had thought this more then ever. He couldn’t help it and when he wasn’t dwelling on his prophecy he’d think about Sirius’s death and every time he’d think about it he’d just miss Sirius more. Often in his dreams he’d visit the Department of Mysteries and sometimes Sirius would be there, but his spirits would rise for a while and when he remembered that he was dead the air filled with grief around him once more.

He was staring at the ground and saw familiar shadows approaching him. It was Dudley of coarse, and his gang, probably just finished beating up a ten-year-old. He looked up and saw that Dudley was smirking.

“Potter, you’re going to pay for what you did to me last year!” Dudley said through gritted teeth looking Harry in the eye. Harry instinctively broke eye contact.

“Oh, yeah? You weren’t that brave when you were facing the dementors,” Harry said calmly. “I really wouldn‘t mess with Voldemort‘s equal. You know he can kill easily. He‘s the reason my mum and dad are dead. And it‘s because of me, because I am his equal.” He said the word his with loathing in his voice. Harry pulled his wand out once again. Piers looked at his wand weirdly and spoke up.

“What are you going to do with a stick of wood?”

“It’s not a stick of wood,” said Harry calmly. “I’d be quiet, or I’ll jinx all of you. I’m not taking any **** from anyone anymore. Voldemort is trying to kill me; Bellatrix killed my godfather! And I’m not afraid to get expelled, because Sirius was the only reason I wanted to be in the Wizarding community! I can see my friends at will, Dumbledore will have me for loosing my temper, again, but I don’t care.”

“Potter, If you don’t put that away I’ll tell dad!” Dudley spoke up, glaring daggers at the wand.

All of a sudden Harry’s scar seared with pain, at a higher level then he ever knew possible. It was ten times worse then the Cruciatus Curse. He fell to his knees at Dudley’s feet.

“Potter, what are you doing?” Dudley asked, perplexed.

He couldn’t answer, he felt warm crimson blood drip down from his scar. Voldemort must have killed, thought Harry. He could tell when he tortured, or was joyful or infuriated. He closed his eyes in pain, but he couldn’t prevent his eyes from watering.

After about a minute of horrendous pain, it ceased, leaving him breathless on the ground. He had warm scarlet blood on both of his hands. The words on Harry’s right hand burned through the blood and, ‘I will not tell lies,’ was clearly visible through the blood.

“What’s that?” Dudley said pointing at the words engraved in Harry’s hand.

“N-nothing,” replied Harry, who had forgot that Umbridge had made him carve that into his hand. It had been because he told the truth, that: Voldemort returned, which was the reason for the scar on his hand. It was burning, which was strange. Dudley grabbed his wrist and in Dudley’s tough grip he couldn’t break free.

“What’s this?” Dudley said evaluating the words, ‘I will not tell lies’ under his breath. “What did you lie about?” Dudley said amused.

“I didn’t lie about anything, OK? I got in trouble for telling the truth... the truth that Voldemort returned and if I lied about that then I am really going crazy. I probably am as crazy as the Daily Prophet made me out to be.”

“What the bloody hell is the Daily Prophet?” Piers said loudly.

“Er- it’s the Wizarding newspaper. They put in it last summer that I was crazy for saying that Voldemort returned,” Harry said as he turned and walked towards the swing, mopping up his head with his T-shirt.

“Who the hell is Voldemort?” Gordon finally spoke up, who was staring, transfixed at Harry like he was crazy.

“I’m done talking to muggles, like you. I don’t want to talk about it. He already put me through enough. Voldemort is the reason I have this scar, and don’t have any parents or a godfather anymore. He’s the reason I’m so ****ing miserable all the time! I’m so fed up with this lot, No one knows what all I’ve been through! No one has ever escaped Voldemort four times. I wish this war would finish and I would die! So leave me the hell alone, or I will jinx you, and I’m out.” Harry said, walking toward the exit of Magnolia Crescent.

He headed off toward number four, his head spinning with pain and he wanted to kill Voldemort for all the suffering he brought Harry. He wanted revenge, he agreed with Dumbledore at what he had to say to Voldemort, ‘Merrily taking your life wouldn’t satisfy me, I admit...’ For Harry wanted to bring the worst thing possible upon Voldemort. He wanted him to die. He wanted to be the one that killed him.

Even if Harry did die in the process of saving the lives of the innocent he’d die fighting. Fighting for the light. He wanted to save as many lives as possible and end this war before he started. He had the chance. He had two chances, except Voldemort thwarted him. He lost his chance, when he disconnected Voldemort’s and his own wands over one year ago. He had given Voldemort the chance to regain power. He was too late...

The war started once again. Muggles were going missing and people were being found dead... Unmarked... Like his parents... Like Sirius. Voldemort had to be brought down, because Voldemort was getting to him through the people who he loved. That’s why Sirius died, because he cared. Because he was afraid to see anyone he loves in pain and misery.

Even when it’s a dream and he knew it, he believed it. He remembered as Dumbledore once said “Lord Voldemort’s gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust...” It is true, but now when they should be a union, they are fighting more. Someone should take the Sorting hats song seriously, Harry thought. We are divided and weak... we are just about letting Voldemort take over... We need to stay together, united as one... Fight the dark and bring a new era... An era of light, and good... And no pain or suffering or redemption...

It would be nice if it would be that easy. Voldemort had gone unnoticed for a year, he gained his powers back and it would be impossible to bring him down from immortality again. They waited to long. The waiting period was over. Voldemort regained his powers and there is nothing he could do about it, now.

Harry remembered the glint in Dumbledore’s eye at the end of his fourth year, which had gone unnoticed until now... Could it be that with his blood, Voldemort is Harry’s equal? And could Voldemort be killed? But if Voldemort has Harry’s blood, and he was killed, wouldn’t it harm him too?

Harry was thrown from his trial of thought, because he ran head on into a door of number four. His Uncle came busting out, looking furious.

“POTTER, IN, NOW!” Uncle Vernon bellowed, so loud Harry was sure that the people from the other streets would be woke up. Harry walked in, quietly and stood out in the hallway. “WHAT WERE YOU DOING TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT YOUR ABNORMALITY?”

“They asked, so I told! I don’t tell lies like everybody thinks!”

“You don’t tell lies, eh? That’s not what your hand says. What’d you lie about that time, dementy-whatsits attacking you?” Uncle Vernon said strutting back and forth in the hallway.

“For your info I didn’t lie. That’s because I had a crackpot old fool for a Defense against the Dark Arts professor, who didn’t believe that Voldemort returned. Now if you don’t mind... I’ll be in my room,” Harry said walking toward the steps. To late... His Uncle jumped in front of him and placed his beefy hand around Harry’s scrawny wrist.

Harry felt it snap, he didn’t say anything though. He wasn’t going to give his uncle the satisfaction. He stared into his Uncles beady black eyes.

“I see right through you, Potter,” Uncle Vernon said.

“No you don’t. You don’t know anything, and it’s a surprise to me that you can even add up two plus two,” Harry said with hate in his voice. He thought he could make a really painful Cruciatus Curse right at this moment. He was surprised that steam wasn’t bellowing from his ears.

“Boy - I’m - Going - To - Make - Your - Life - A - Living - Hell,” Vernon said all in one breath. He was glaring daggers at Harry. His Uncle let go of his arm and glared Harry in his eye before walking up the steps, as if nothing happened.

"To late. My life is a living hell," Harry replied, through gritted teeth.

After about five or ten minutes Harry ascended the staircase. He walked into his room and collapsed onto his bed. He wasn’t going to go to bed however. He was too deep in thought for that. It was the same thing he’d been thinking about for about a month and a half.

A lot of questions were flying through his mind. Like, ‘Why did Voldemort mark him as his equal? What was so special about him?’ He longed for a normal life, like his friends Ron and Hermione, but what was normal? He was normal for three whole months then he was marked. Marked as Voldemort’s equal... And as the-Boy-Who-Lived.

He didn’t ask for it. It just happened and there was nothing he could do to change the past, but he could change the future. He could stop history from repeating itself for a new generation.

[Tonks08]

A/N: This is still the first part I typed.

The Fortress of the Shadows

Chapter II

As the night went on Harry finally laid his thoughts aside and fell into a deep sleep, even though his arm was aching and his scar still throbbed. The black of night came to dawn and Harry lay fast asleep.

He was woke by his Aunt yelling at him to get dressed. He put on a gold shirt with the Gryffindor logo on, and put on a pair of oversized jeans. He pulled a piece of rope around his waist and then made his way down the stairs.

His Uncle, Dudley and Aunt Petunia were sitting around the table. Harry sat down and helped himself to some toast and his Aunt was the only one that took notice to Harry’s heavily bruised arm.

“Vernon, I think you should take the boy to the hospital, that arm looks broken,” he heard his Aunt say. He say his Uncle glance at him and then to Petunia.

“Well, er- yes, I suppose I should take him, but how dreadful for this to come up er-... I have to work today,” His Uncle replied. And Harry thought he was a really bad liar. He couldn’t keep a straight face.

“Well, then I suppose I’ll have to take him then,” She said and then added, “Dudders do you want more bacon?”

“No,” Dudley replied, which was amazing because he only had seven helpings.

“Potter, this came for you while you were sleeping,” His Uncle said handing him an official looking letter. He looked down at it and saw that it was from the Minerstry of Magic. He opened it and read:

Dear Mr. Potter,

We have received intelligence that you have broken the International Confederation of Wizards’ Stature of Secrecy at twenty-five minutes past six, Yesterday evening.

As you have already been tried for breaking the International Confederation of Wizards’ Stature of Secrecy your presence is mandatory at a disciplinary hearing at in Courtroom 10 at 7:00 A.M. on July 31. You are to be tried by the whole Wizengamot, where we will be discussing your punishment.

Hoping you are well,
Yours sincerely,

Amelia Bones
Department of Magical Law Enforcement

Harry reread the letter five or more times. Until... “Well boy, what does it say?”

“It says I’m in trouble for ‘Breaking the International Confederation of Wizards’ Statue of Secrecy,’” Harry said mimicking Madam Bones’s voice.

“Serves you right, going around blabbing that you’re a you-know-what and carrying that stick of wood around-” He was cut of by Harry.

“It’s not a stick of wood. It‘s a wand.” Harry said his temper rising. “I carry it only because Voldemort is after me. And I do not want to be murdered,” He said coolly.

“Murdered by that freak that killed your parents?” Uncle Vernon said, smirking behind his thick moustache.

“Yeah, or encase you didn’t know he wants me dead. I’ve already escaped him four times and I’m the only one who can bring him down. Either it’s going to end with one of us dieing, because...” He started mimicking Professor Trelawrney’s mystical voice, “The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches.... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies.... And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have the power the Dark Lord knows naught...And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies.”””””””“ Harry said giving up his “Trelawney voice” and using his own once again... “It means that I have the power to conquer Voldemort and he doesn’t know. Even though he can get into my mind...” Harry shuddered at the thought. Voldemort possessed him at the end of the year and Voldemort was trying to get Dumbledore to kill him. “It was a prophecy made about a month before my birthday, by my old Divination Professor.”

“Divination, what is this rubbish?” His Uncle spat out.

“Divination is like fortune telling... It’s one of our elective classes at Hog- I mean my school. I’m no good at it though... I’m not a seer. Well at least I think I’m not,” Harry said.

Harry’s Uncle started looking furious. His plump face turned a light shade of scarlet. Harry was sure that his Uncle was going to go ballistic and launch himself at him.

“What can you do that’s so special, Potter?” His Uncle spat at him.

“I can do a lot of things, or maybe you didn’t notice... I’m a wizard... I must be pretty **** good if Voldemort marked me as his equal!” All of a sudden his scar once more burst with pain like the day before and felt warm scarlet blood dripping down on to his nose and he tasted it. He fell over onto all fours and a vision flew right past his eyes...

He was in a dimly lit dungeon... the walls were lit with torches... It looked like the path that lids to Courtroom ten. He went into the courtroom and saw that the complete Wizengamot occupied it, There was a small person, sitting before the benches on which the Wizengamot resided. The boy had messy black hair and a sick look upon his face. The face looked familiar... He watched in curiosity...

“The Defendant, Harry James Potter is found guilty and sentenced to a month in Azkaban, and shall be dropped off at school by two guards,” He heard the voice of Cornelius Fudge say.

Cold... The room was cold... The courtroom plunged into mortal darkness and what seemed like hours, two hooded figures towering towards the ceiling... They mysteriously glided into the room... hovering about a foot from the floor. They extended their mouldy, scabby hands and placed them around the boys arms... The boys eyes rolled into his head and he knew he was re-living Sirius’s death and Dumbledore’s duel and being possessed by Voldemort...

Harry felt coldness toward Fudge... He told the whole Wizarding community lies... HE put everyone into a false sense of security... Anyone could have been killed... He was the one who appointed Umbridge... But... What if Fudge was a deatheater? And he didn’t want his master to come out into the open? It could be possible...

He was going to Azkaban! The place Hagrid... and Sirius... dreaded... A month with the foulest creatures on Earth: dementors...! It wasn’t fair! ‘I’m not going to Azkaban,’ Harry told himself firmly. ’Dumbledore will help me! He’s back on the Wizengamot! Doesn’t that mean that he’ll have say in the matter? Why does everything happen to me?’

All of a sudden he was spinning in what looked like he was travelling at the speed of sound. Blue, Green, Black, Red, Pink, Yellow were some of the colours spinning around him. The end of the tunnel was dark and he was thrown out of it at high speeds. He landed with a loud, “THUMP”.

He was in the same courtroom, except there was a person who was wearing a dark cloak, with the Slytherin crest on the front. There was at least fifty deatheaters sitting on the court benches and there was about three hundred more standing in a circular shape on the floor. Someone was standing in the middle of all the deatheaters, but Harry couldn’t make out who it was.

“Umbridge...” Said a cold voice. ‘That’s it! That’s why my scar on my hand burnt! This was yesterday!’ “You have disgraced me as a deatheater...You let the boy thwart me once more... Good bye, Dolores Umbridge... Avada Kedavara!” There was a bright green flash of light and a scream of pain.

Dolores Umbridge was lying flat on her back with her toad like face visible. Her face didn’t show surprise, nor pain, but a grin. Had Voldemort tortured her to insanity? Had she know this was her fate? Had she joined the dark side because she despised him so much? Of course Harry hated her, but Voldemort took the lives of too many people... Even though it’s a person he clearly loathed... He hated to see Voldemort kill... Even if they aren’t so innocent.

Over one hundred miles away Harry Potter woke up, with his scar burning as if someone had just pressed a white hot wire to his skin... he was drenched in a cold sweat. His breathing was harsh. He opened his eyes and saw that somebody had taken his glasses off. There were dark blurry shapes moving around the room.

“Is he going to be ok?” He heard a female voice say. It seemed as though someone turned his brain on slow. He knew that voice though... It was Tonks! Tonks was here, but why? Wouldn’t Lupin and other people be here too then?

“Yes, he should be fine;” He heard a male voice say. The shapes came into sharper perspective... A man in a lime green robe was standing at the foot of his bed talking with Tonks. There was Lupin talking to Mrs. Weasley and Ron talking to Hermione, none of who seemed to notice that he was awake. But he saw Hermione look in his direction and she yelled...

“Harry!”

There were whispers around the room. Hermione walked forward, “Harry, we were so worried! You were out for a week! The Dursleys even came earlier! We thought... We thought you well died.”

“I didn’t...er- what’s today anyway?” Harry asked.

“July 30... They postponed your hearing, until you’re well again,” Hermione said calmly, but she looked on the verge of tears.

“I feel fine, honestly!” He said, but as he moved he felt a pain run up his side.

“You don’t look it, mate.” Ron said looking Harry in the eyes. Harry knew he was being truthful with him. “Oh, here” Ron said as he handed him his glasses. Everything came into even sharper perspective... He saw a cast on his right arm... But wizards didn’t use casts... What if he was in a muggle hospital?

“Don’t worry, you’re not at a muggle hospital, mate... You’re at St. Mungo’s. But the muggles took you to a muggle hospital near London and they put a cast on your arm... The healers can’t figure out how to get it off though.” Ron said. Hermione gave him you’re-really-stupider-than-I-thought look. “What?” Ron said.

“What Ron should have said is that the Dursleys took you to a muggle hospital and they put a cast on your arm and it is healing Ok so they’re not taking it off. They think it would be safer if they just leave it on, instead of possibly hurting it further by moving it.”

“Why? I moved it a lot when it was broke,” Harry replied.

“Well er- you’re uncle snapped it pretty bad... So bad that they had to put pins in your arm. So the healers didn’t want to mess with it,” Ron said looking Harry in the eyes, again he knew that Ron wasn’t being dishonest.

The room fell into silence as Professor Dumbledore walked in. Wearing long robes of Navy blue with yellow stars and moons. His eyes twinkling beneath the half moon spectacles and his beard gleaming brightly.

“Ah, Harry, I see that you are awake,” Dumbledore said, his voice calm.

“Yeah,” replied Harry looking up.

“Molly, Nymphadora, please round up the kids, I’d like to have a word with Harry,” Dumbledore said looking at Mrs. Weasley and Tonks. Tonks now had bright blue hair that was spiked up into the air.

“Yes, Albus” they both said and Ron and Hermione walked out of the room with Tonks and Mrs. Weasley. “Remus you should go too,” Dumbledore said to Professor Lupin. He nodded as though he already knew what Dumbledore was going to say and didn’t have any curiosity what so ever. As soon as Dumbledore heard the door shut he began...

“Harry, I’ve given some time for the prophecy to sink in. I believe that you had another apparition?”

“Er- Yes, Professor,” Harry replied not meeting Dumbledore‘s eyes.

“Harry, I must know... What was your visualization about?” Dumbledore asked.

Harry explained his whole vision and Dumbledore listened intently. When he finished he asked, “Professor, do you think I’m going to end up in Azkaban?”

“No, Harry, I don’t. Visions aren’t always correct, but I believe that Dolores Umbridge is deceased. She was a deatheater working for Voldemort.

“Harry, the Order and I discussed letting you join this summer, now that you have escaped him four times that you could handle being in the Order. If you wish to we will change the rules so that you are admitted.”

“Yes, Professor” Harry replied, making eye contact with Dumbledore.

“Are you sure, because there is no way out of it once you join?”

“Yes, positive,” Harry replied.

“Very well... The next meeting is August 15th at 7:00 in my office... I want you to stay at Hogwarts for the remainder of the holiday for apperation lessons and so you may learn useful spells to use against the dark forces... Mr. Weasley and Miss. Granger may come too if they like.” Dumbledore stood and straightened his long robes. “Harry I want you to take Occlumency once again, but I won’t make the mistake of Professor Snape teaching you... I will teach you in N.E.W.T Potions and Occlumency. Professor McGongall wants you to become an Auror and I daresay it would help the Order greatly.”

“Professor, I didn’t get the paper with the scores of my O.W.L’s-”

“You are wondering what you got? Well, I brought my copy of the scores encase.” He handed Harry a piece of parchment. In Defence against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures and to his surprise Potions he scraped all O’s, which were the highest grade that Hogwarts offered. In Divination and History of Magic (Which he passed out during and was the reason Sirius was dead) he got P’s. ‘P’ meant Poor, which was what he thought he’d is getting in Potions. And in Astrometry he got a ‘E’ which was Exceeds expiations.

“I daresay you did dreadful in Divination and you’re a true seer... Your predictions are up to four,” Dumbledore said smiling.

“But, Professor, how could I be a seer? Whenever I did tealeaf reading or crystal ball gazing I didn’t see anything, except fog,” Harry replied perplexed.

“Harry, you didn’t see anything, because you didn’t believe you would see anything. You have to focus your mind. The art of Divination is rare and they’re very few seers left. I think, if I’m much mistaken... it would turn out to be more useful then your visions... I‘m not saying that you have to take N.E.W.T Divination, but it would be helpful;“ Dumbledore said and then added. “Harry is they’re anything troubling you?”

“Yes, Professor,“ Harry said truthfully. “It’s my fault Sirius and Cedric died, and I know it.”

“Harry that is only a weakness Voldemort will feed off of. As I have already told you Sirius’s death is my fault. But Cedric’s is neither yours, nor mine but Voldemort’s. Didn’t I say that, ‘Voldemort’s gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great, We can only fight it by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust-’? He tries to break us apart, by killing loved ones and friends. He destroys families and friendships.”

Harry just nodded.

Dumbledore stood and took out his watch, which had a lot of hands. “Ah, Harry I must be going back to Hogwarts. Enjoy the rest of your holiday.” And he walked over toward the door. “Harry, don’t worry you’ll be out of here soon. I’ll be sure of it,” and he left without looking back.

[Tonks08]

A/N: This is the last part I wrote in the first part.

The Fortress of the Shadows

Chapter III

The next few days were boring. The healers took off his cast and attempted to fix his arm, which worked, but it still hurt more then when it was broken. His recovery was going slow. So slow that a few people in his ward came in and left already. He had a bandage over his scar, which seared with pain every now and then and bled. It now was a daily thing.

Dumbledore came and went a few times over this period... And every time he’d reassure Harry that he’d get out of the hospital soon. His trial was cancelled, Dumbledore assured the Minerstry that it was an accident and they agreed to let him off “under special circumstances.”

Dumbledore was made the Minister of Magic, the whole Wizarding community agreed that Dumbledore would run the magical world better then Fudge. And it never ceased to amaze Harry how Dumbledore found time to be Headmaster at Hogwarts and Minister of Magic.

About three weeks after his collapse, he was going home... And actually going home... to Hogwarts where he belongs. That morning Dumbledore stopped by and told him to get his things for Hogwarts together and as he did so pain seared across his scar, making him feel dizzy. He clung onto his bed for support so he wouldn’t fall face down. He shook it off and returned putting his books away, but he couldn’t get rid of his dizzy feeling. He changed into a red shirt with the Gryffindor logo and a pair of jean cut-offs.

He looked in the mirror and a skinny boy with messy black hair and a white bandage with a bloodstain over where his scar resided. There was blood through out his hair, because he didn’t have a chance to take a shower since he arrived. His right arm was heavily bruised and cut. There were few scars from the surgery at the muggle hospital. As he looked up he saw Dumbledore and a few other wizards and witches following him.

“Harry if you are ready, come here,” He said not making eye contact with Harry. Did he expect to see Voldemort looking back at him?

Harry stood and still felt dizzy. He knew some of the people as Tonks, Mr. Weasley, Lupin, Mad-Eye Moody, and a lot of other people that were apart of his advanced guard and other people who Harry didn’t recognize.

“Hello, Harry!” Tonks said cheerfully. Her hair was now bubble gum pink and spiked.

“Hi, Tonks,” Harry replied not so cheerfully. His head was still spinning and he felt light-headed.

“Are you ready to go, Harry?” Dumbledore asked kindly.

“Yes, Professor” replied Harry who was feeling nauseous. “Er- Professor, how are we getting to Hogwarts?”

“I was going to attempt to teach you how to apperate to get there... It really isn’t a hard thing to do,” Dumbledore replied blissfully.

“Er- don’t you have to be seventeen?” Harry inquired.

“Not since I’ve become Minister of Magic, Harry. I think all students thirteen and up should be allowed to apperate as long as their parents want them. And any student may do magic outside of school... As long they’re not in sight of a muggle,” said Dumbledore calmly.

“Oh,” Harry said.

Soon they were walking out the doors of St. Mungo’s and back into the real world. The sun was blazing and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

“OK, Harry concentrate on my office. Then say to your self ‘pperat-ay Hogwarts,’ It’s as simple as that.”

“Ok,” Harry said and concentrated hard on Dumbledore’s office and muttered, “pperat-ay Hogwarts!” There was a little ‘pop’ and he was gone with in a blink of an eye. He landed instantly right in Dumbledore‘s office. The paintings stirred. There were about thirty tiny ‘pops’ and all of Dumbledore’s guard appeared in the office.

“Very good Harry! Here,” he said and flicked his wand and a tiny card appeared out of mid-air. He handed it to him and there was a picture of him and it had a lot of information about him, like his eye colour, date of birth, hair colour, etc. “Harry if you’re wondering what this is it’s your apperation license. You must have one to apperate.”

“Ok,” replied Harry and took it and quickly put it in his pocket.

“Now, I think you should get some rest Harry, you look pale still,” Dumbledore said, sitting down behind his desk. “Nymphadora, show Harry to his sleeping quarters.”

“What I’m not staying in the Gryffindor common room?” Harry asked looking at Dumbledore.

“No, Harry. I want you to stay somewhere closer to my office. So you shall be staying in a room down from my office, it’s behind the portrait of Godric Gryffindor. It will only let you in or if you tell Godric that you invited them. You are to stay there during the school year also. Ron and Hermione may stay with you.

“It isn’t a punishment, but for your safety, because if Voldemort attacks he’d go to the Gryffindor Common Room, I put an escape chute that leads to a room above the Ravenclaw common room.

“Also I’m going to make you head boy for this year, which will make you the youngest head boy Hogwarts has ever seen.

“I am going to teach you to duel for when the final battle comes you will be ready-”

Mr. Weasley spoke up, “Final Battle? What does Harry have to do with this?” He asked shacked.

“Everything,” Dumbledore replied. “He, Harry, is the only person that can bring Voldemort down again.”

“Even if he gets killed? Albus, this is a huge burden for Harry to have-”

“The greatest of all,” Dumbledore said.

“Harry’s only sixteen!” Said Mr. Weasley furiously.

“Harry has faced as much as you or I, probably more. Harry understands what he must do.” The conversation was over. Tonks walked forward and inclined her head to Dumbledore and then walked out the door with Harry following. They went down the spiral staircase in silence. They turned left and after taking about ten steps they came to the portrait of Godric Gryffindor.

“Who are you?” The painting asked.

“Harry Potter” replied Harry in a small voice.

“What form does your patronus take?” Godric asked, obviously making sure he was the real Harry Potter.

“A stag, it’s always a stag,” replied Harry. The portrait swung forward to reveal a large room. The walls shone like the moon and the floor was wooden. In the main room there was a black carpet with the Hogwarts crest in the middle and the house symbols around it. The fireplace was crackling merrily and there were two leather couches facing the fireplace with two chairs on the sides. There were a few tables with large puffy black chairs. There were bookshelves lining the walls, so many that it looked as if there were more books here then in the library. To his left was a door that led to the dorms. He walked up fascinated and Tonks followed.

The dorms looked even bigger then the common room. The walls were a light blue almost white; there were three beds in each of the fourteen dorms. Each of the beds was four posters with black hangings and silver sheets. He saw that his trunk had been brought up. He walked back down, Tonks once again followed.

“This was supposed to be one of the houses, but the founders kicked out the fifth when she was still in construction, so last year, Professor Dumbledore found it, and he fixed it up. Dumbledore might have told you, I wasn’t paying attention, but Ron and Hermione are coming and also the people who would be in danger of Voldemort.”

“Ok, Are they coming over the holiday?” Harry asked.

“Yes, They all should be arriving here in the next couple of days.”

“Ok,” Harry said and then sat down on his bed.

“Oh yeah, if you ever need to see the Head Master, there’s a secret hatch down in the common room.” Tonks paused; she heard the portrait open.

“Where do you think Harry could be?” One of the voices, the voice of Ron Weasley asked, what seemed to be Hermione.

“Probably upstairs, lets go see,” said Hermione, there was the sound of footsteps coming up the steps and then....

“HARRY!” Hermione shrieked as she wrapped her arms around Harry. “When did you get here? Isn’t this place great? We get to share it with the rest of the D.A.! Because we’re all in danger of Voldemort, Draco told his father and his father told Voldemort! We’re still doing D.A. right?”

“Can’t-Breath!” Harry gasped. Hermione released him, muttering sorry. “It’s all right. Yeah, we’re still doing D.A. as long as the rest of us still want to.”

“Yes!” Hermione shrieked. “Oh, Harry how are you feeling? I felt so bad when Dumbledore brought you to St. Mungo’s.”

“I’m fine, really. So I guess we’re staying here for the rest of this year?” Harry said looking at Ron.

“Yeah, mate, Hannah, Cho, Ernie, Luna, Justin, Parvati, Pandama and Neville, the rest will be here tomorrow.” Ron said looking Harry in the eyes.

Tonks walked downstairs and out the portrait. Harry felt a sharp pain in his scar; he fell to his knees, clutching it.

“It’s getting worse,” he muttered to himself.

“Mate, What’s getting worse?” Ron asked, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“Scar,” was the only word Harry was able to get out before he passed out.

The night was falling over the town of little Hangleton. And in the graveyard, there stood many black cloaked men. All of who had wands pointed out. It was eerily cold for a summer night as this. The coldness was due to the presence of Dementors.

A man stood in the centre, hood down red eyes gleaming in the night.

“The prospect is war, Deatheaters. Now the final step is being taken and soon I will be immortal. All there is, is one more step and then my path to Harry Potter, is complete, all you must do is kill Albus Dumbledore.”

“HARRY! Mate wake up!” Ron was yelling.

Harry saw that he was lying on the floor in the dorms still, yet, he had no memory of ever falling to his back, and he bolted upright.

“Wha-What happened?” Harry said looking up, confused.

“You blacked out and you were muttering, stuff like, ‘Deatheaters, now the final step is being taken and soon I will be immortal. All there is, is one more step and then my path to Harry Potter is complete, all you have to do is kill Albus Dumbledore.’ What was that about?”

“I dunno, It could be-, no. It couldn’t... I have to talk to Dumbledore!” Harry said, alarmed.

[Tonks08]

A/N: This is were I picked up.

The Fortress of the Shadows

Chapter IV

“Harry, I’m going to have you study Occlumency once again. Professor Snape will no longer teach you, but I will. I want you up here every Wednesday at 6:00 after classes.” Dumbledore’s words rang freshly in his mind.

His defense training wasn’t going as good as planed, but all the same. He was improving. According to Dumbledore they all were complex spells that even Voldemort’s closest deatheaters have trouble with at first.

It was two days before Hogwarts was supposed to be starting and him and the rest of the students that were there were sitting waiting for Dumbledore so they could go to Diagon Alley to get their things for the next year.

“Harry, what all do you have this year?” Ron asked. “I mean what classes are you taking this term?”

“Defense against the Dark Arts, Charms, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, Transfiguration and Potions...” Harry said, looking at Ron.

“You’re taking Potions? I’m not, I wanted to be an Auror, but I messed up on my Potions exam. And you know Snape, he only accepts those who have ‘O’s, What are you taking Hermione?” Ron asked looking over to Hermione.

“I really would like to be a Healer, so I’m taking Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Arithmacy, I just can’t stand to drop that,” Hermione said, looking sincere. “So, what are you going to do Ron?” Hermione asked him.

“I er-, Thought I’d work in the Department of Magical Games and Sports,” Ron said flushing red. “All you need is a N.E.W.T. in Charms and an O.W.L. in Care of Magical Creatures. Mum wasn’t too pleased when I told her, though. I think she was afraid I’d turn out like Percy.”

“Is everybody ready to leave, via portkey?” Said Dumbledore who just walked in. Mostly everyone nodded. “All those who can apperate may, by all means, apperate to Diagon Alley.” Harry nodded in return, and Dumbledore picked up an old car tire, “Portus,” he muttered and then handed it to Ron, and everybody besides Harry took hold.

“Has everyone here traveled by Floo-Powder before?” Dumbledore asked and they all nodded. “OK, on three-one, two, three.” And they were gone in a blink of an eye. Dumbledore turned to Harry, “Ready?”

“Yeah, So it would be like, ‘Pperate-ay Diagon Alley’?” Harry asked Dumbledore.

“Correct,” and with that Dumbledore disappeared with a little ‘pop’. Harry imagined Diagon Alley and then said to himself, ‘pperate-ay Diagon Alley’. He heard a little pop and then he was there.

“Bloody Brilliant!” Ron said, who was right next to him. “Where’d you learn?” Ron asked.

“Dumbledore,” Harry replied.

“Everybody meet back here at, four. I want two groups of seven and one of eight. Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley, Cho Chang, Dean Tomas and Luna Lovegood is group one. Group two is Katie Bell, Parvati and Padma Patil, Colin and Dennis Creevey and Lavender Brown. Group three is made up of, Ernie Macmillian, Justin Finch-Fletchy, Hannah Abbort, Anthony Goldstien, Michael Corner, Zacharias Smith. Each group will have a member of the Order of the Phoenix, Group one’s Remus Lupin, Two’s Professor McGongall and Three’s Snape.”

Harry felt bad for group three, Snape... he thought bitterly to himself. He had to endure two more years with Snape... his least favorite teacher at Hogwarts.

“Come on,” Lupin said and started walking toward Grigotts. “I expect some of you need to get some Galleons, Sickles and Knuts?” Lupin asked them politely. Some nodded and others muttered ‘yes’. They walked in and got a cart and a goblin drove them to their vaults. Harry got a sack full of Galleons, and then before they knew it they were walking out and starting to buy their things.

For the first time he looked at his list, he needed:

Defend yourself against the mortal Foe, by Abviforth Sunibe

The Curse and Counter curse, by Tim Sabitini

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6, by Miranda Goshawk

An Advanced Guide to Transfiguration, Ermic Switch

Moste Potente Potions, by Alice Lancaster

Harry looked at the last book again... Wasn’t the book they used for the Polly juice potion in their second year? Harry asked himself. And then said, “Hermione... isn’t Moste Potente Potions the book with the Polly juice potion in it?” She responded with a quiet yes.


After getting all of their books and their coin bags considerably lighter they stopped for lunch, for it was only one. After lunch they had to go to Madam Malkamime’s robes for all occasions and Ollivanders, because Neville needed a new wand. And then to the Apothecary to get things for potions.

***

Harry and the rest of the D.A. were getting ready for term to start, it was 5:00 and the students were due to be there in about a half an hour. Harry just realized something... What if first, second or third years needed protection too?

“Hey, Colin” Harry said, and Colin automatically walked over. “Tell your brother to ask third years if they want to join the D.A., I’m getting Hermione to help me with the First and Second year drafting... Tell everyone if his or her younger siblings are in danger to see me, ok?”

“Sure thing, Harry!” Colin said enthusiastically.

“Oh, yeah, tell the rest of the D.A. to get their things together, because once term starts officially we are going to be staying by houses, gender and year. Even though the floors are already divided into boys and girls rooms... Dumbledore’s going to add a room for wing for each house while we’re at the feast.”

“Ok,” Colin said and then walked out. Harry was all alone once more. The time went by quickly and Harry quickly got deep in though.

I have to kill Voldemort... I must and I know it... Some way or another... I really think I should tell Ron and Hermione about the prophecy. They’d understand...

But what if they didn’t? What if they though him to be the next Lord Voldemort?

“Harry, it’s time for the feast. Are you ready to go?” Hermione asked.

“I need to change into my robes... I’ll be down in a few minutes.” Harry said and started to get dressed into his robes.

“I’ll wait, I’m in no hurry, we do have ten minutes,” Hermione said. He dressed faster and then pinned his Head Boy badge to his uniform and walked out of his dorm. He wanted to tell Hermione about the prophecy. He didn’t know what to think about it.

“Harry why are you looking so down?” Hermione asked, looking concerned.

“It’s just... I mean last year after.... After Sirius died, Dumbledore told me why well, why Voldemort wanted me dead.” It was hard for Harry to talk about Sirius, he missed him alot, and perhaps more then even he knew.

“What, Harry, what is it?” Hermione asked, sympathetically.

“Well, I er- Dumbledore, I mean, told me... I-It was because of a prophecy, made by Professor Trelawney... That’s what was in the bowls in the Department of Mysteries... My fate... And Voldemort wanted to hear what it was.” Harry said, in monotone. He told Hermione exactly what the prophecy said.

“Well, I think you should figure out what that means. And I can’t help you defeat Voldemort, only you can.” Hermione said and pushed the doors the Great Hall open.

Mostly everyone was already there... Malfoy smirked at Harry and Hermione as they crossed the hall to the Gryffindor table. Harry sat next to Ron and Hermione sat across from them both. Harry yawned.

“What’s up mate?” Ron asked.

“N-no-nothing... just t-tired,” Harry said through yawns.

“You slept till noon,” Hermione said, looking at him, “How could you possibly be tired? Unless....”

“Unless what?” Harry asked, slightly confused.

“Unless, you’re getting the Wizard’s flu,” Hermione said, thoughtful. “But don’t worry... It only would last a few days; hardly anyone gets seriously sick from it.”

“Seriously sick?” Harry repeated.

“It happens in about one out of one thousand cases. You just are really sick for a few days, and it’s hard for you to control your magic.” Hermione looked to the teachers’ table, “You should tell Dumbledore.”

“He knows,” Harry said, looking up to Dumbledore. He knew he was right.

Harry sneezed.

“You all right?” Ron asked.

“Yeah, fine...”

“Welcome to a New Year at Hogwarts! To the old comers, welcome back! To the new comers welcome to Hogwarts! Let the Sorting Begin!” Dumbledore said. The sorting hat’s mouth opened and it sang...

“Every year I sort the students
Into there desired house.
It has been almost 1000 years,
Since I sorted my first.
The founders were pleased,
As the first class took their place,
In history as we know it,
For the great halls first feast,

Maybe gryffindor,
Is where you should reside?
In bravery the students
Take their pride.

Or maybe hufflepuff,
Is where you belong?
Those sweet and loyal hufflepuffs,
Will never steer you wrong.

For ravenclaw,
Maybe your new home,
For wise old ravenclaw,
You will be known.

For Power hungry Slytherin
If your ambitions are true
You will never stumble nor fall
People will know the real you.

If you have a future in one of these
Step forward...
And become the majority
At Hogwarts school of Sorcerery.”

McGongall read the first name off of the list: “Arnold, Alexis.” A girl with long blonde hair walked up and sat beneath the sorting hat.

“Gryffindor!” Harry along with the other Gryffindor’s clapped as Alexis Arnold took her seat next to Seamus.

“Anderson, Lauren!”

“Hufflepuff!” The Hufflepuffs clapped.

“Basil, Andrew!”

“Ravenclaw!” Harry saw Cho Chang clapping. She smiled when she saw him looking at her and he returned her smile.

“Basil, Vince!”

“Gryffindor!” Harry clapped welcoming Vince Basil to the Gryffindors.

“Chuma, Jason.”

“Ravenclaw!”

“Copeland, Mike.”

“Slytherin!” The Slytherin table busted into applause.

“Desimon, Melissa.”

“Ravenclaw!”She went and sat next to Jason Chuma. They weren’t sitting far from Cho...

“Evans, Mark,” Professor McGongall said and a tiny boy with red hair and emerald eyes walked up and sat under the Sorting hat.

“Gryffindor!” The hat yelled.

“Everly, Elliot!”

“Slytherin!” The Slytherins clapped as Elliot, who was at least a foot shorter then the rest sat at the Slytherin table.

“Harvey, Julie.”

“Ravenclaw!” She sat next to Melissa and they started talking.

“Hormell, Rhonda.”

“Hufflepuff!” The Hufflepuffs applauded. And she went and sat next to Lauren Anderson.

Harry fell out of attentiveness and only paid attention every once in a while. He heard when “Plummer, Ashley,” was made a Slytherin and “Santore, Ashley,” was made a Ravenclaw. But the rest he didn’t hear. The next thing he heard was Dumbledore stand up and say, “Tuck in!”

Harry wasn’t hungry so he didn’t eat. Ron found this strange... because Harry normally pigged out during the start of the term feast. Besides the sick feeling, Harry’s scar was throbbing... It didn’t bleed though. He took a potion that morning to prevent it from bleeding.

He could see faint shapes, and hear faint whispers....

“Our path to Harry Potter is almost complete.... Very soon he will irk me no longer. For, I Lord Voldemort, will soon become immortal at a very costly price... Harry Potter will share my immortality, and I can not harm him... We have to do it soon...”

Voldemort’s voice faded out... Harry coughed.

“What’s up, Harry? You look even sicker then you did a few minutes ago... and you’re really pale. You should go to the Hos-”

“No,” said Harry firmly. “I’m not going to go to the hospital wing... I’m fine OK? I just... had a though...”

“About Voldemort?” Hermione asked.

“Er- Yeah... How could you tell?” Harry asked, Hermione.

“I could see a tiny trace of red in your eyes... It was as if I was seeing him... And I felt cold. And you had an expression of fear and only one thing would ever cause you fear, and I know this is true... Lord Voldemort.” Hermione sounded frightened. “Are you going to tell Dumbledore?”

“No, like I said before he already knows,” pain seared across his scar again. “And I wish this would quit hurting!” Harry said fiercefully... rubbing his scar.

“You OK?” Ron asked concerned.

“This isn’t normal... something’s wrong... It’s never hurt this bad... not even when he possessed me... I’m going to the common room... the Gryffindor password is ‘Stumfy’ Tell the Hufflepuff prefects that the password to their common room is, ‘Helga,’ OK?” Harry said, rubbing his fist along his scar again.

“Sure, Harry, do you want me to come with you?” Hermione asked, sympathetically.

“Yeah, Harry, I can handle the-!” Dumbledore cut off Ron.

“Now that we all have ate and drank, I have a few announcements. We have two new teachers. Filling the Defense against the Dark Arts position is Professor Remus Lupin.“

The whole Gryffindor table clapped hard...

“And filling the Potions position will be Professor Nymphadora Tonks. We will also, by Minerstry Order, and in confirmation that Voldemort...” most of the students gasped, “returned there will be Aurors positioned around the school.

“Also, Quidditch cup will start in November, House teams will stand the same as before last season. Unless, you were drafted onto the team by the team last year.

“And finally I’d like to announce, if anyone is afraid of Voldemort killing them, or in grave danger in Voldemort’s reign in terror, please come and see your head of house and they will bring you to me, and the people in charge of the D.A., or so they call it, will show you your accommodations... Only those who are worthy of admission will be allowed to enter the D.A. Common Room. I will give the leader a list and he or she will show you the common room.”

They walked out. About twenty, first years, Harry noticed walked up to their heads and about twenty-five second and thirty, third. Harry set off up to his common room ready to turn in from a long day. His scar prickling uncomfortably.

[Tonks08]

The Fortress of the Shadows

Chapter V

“What do you have today, Harry?” Ron asked through a mouthful of pancakes.

“Er- I got a Double period of Potions... And then in the afternoon I have A double period of Transfiguration,” Harry replied. He rubbed his scar. “And I don’t know what’s wrong with this thing... It’s been like prickling since last night... And it just feels weird... I don’t know... It just never did this before.” Harry looked to see Hermione sitting down at the Gryffindor table, “What do you have Hermione?” Harry asked her.

“Oh, yes, well I have, Potions like you, I see, and then Transfiguration like you, of coarse. Ron you should really be an Auror... go and see McGongall... She’ll give you the same class-” Hermione was cut off. The bell rang signaling the beginning of their first class. They bid Ron fair well and headed toward the dungeons.

They stopped at the potion classroom door and stepped in the quince of students waiting to enter.

“Well, Well, Potter, had visions lately?” Draco said walking up behind them, with a smirk glued to his face.

He knows! Harry thought to himself. “No.” Harry lied.

“Liar... The dark lord knows, Potter...”

“Knows what exactly, Malfoy?” Harry said, trying to keep his voice from shaking.

“You know what I mean... Or maybe you are really that thick... Let me give you a hint... S-C-A-R, get it?”

“What about my scar?” Harry said quickly, not thinking about what he was saying.

“Hmm... Lets think...” Draco said in mock-thought, “A, how it hurts when you’re near him, feeling powerful emotion or having a vision about him... B, he knows he can get into your mind-” Harry cut him off.

“I know he can get into my mind... he did it last year. How come you know my scar hurts whenever he’s near me?” Harry asked.

“Just remember, Potter... He knows!” Draco said then walked into the room.

“Git,” Hermione muttered as they started into the dungeon...

Which changed alot... it was now well lit, and no longer looked depressing... there no longer was the jars of strange things hovering along the walls, but extra Cauldrons and books... There were about ten long tables five on each side, each going a step higher in elevation. The floors were no longer stones, but oak wood and the walls were pearly white. There were five burners with cauldrons on them at each table. The Gryffindors were sitting on the left side of the room while the Slytherins were on the right...

Harry saw Malfoy roll up his right sleeve and made it so that Harry could see it. It was red, like a scar... But as Harry was looking on it, he saw the past... He could still see the present though....

“Give me your arm, Wormtail,” Said Voldemort, lazily.

“Thank you, master, thank you,” Wormtail said extending the bleeding stump.

“The other on Wormtail,” Voldemort replied. Wormtail extended his left arm and Voldemort pushed his robes past his elbow... Wormtail gave a fresh sob. Voldemort touched the dark mark with the tip of his long white finger....

“**** it,” Harry said... his scar searing with pain, Harry looked to see Malfoy had a look of pain on his face, more so fear...

“Today class,” Tonks said as she walked out of her office... her hair was now short and black with blonde tips... she was wearing a long black robe with “Minerstry of Magic, Auror,” written on the sleeve in gold letters. She wore a suit looking shirt under it with a black tie, with the Minerstry of Magic crest pinned to it. “We’ll be starting work on Polly Juice Potion, This will take about the first four months, and then we’ll be starting on a potion, for those who wish to become an animigus. But of coarse Professor McGongall will get more into that with you. Then we’ll work on other morphing potions, raise your hands, how many of you are in here to become Aurors?” Tonks asked brightly.

Harry raised his hand, hesitating, and he saw that about 95% of the class had their hands raised too...

“Ok, hands down. Today anyway like I already said, we’ll begin work on the Poly Juice Potion. The ingredients are on the board;” she pointed to the board where there were the ingredients that they’d need for today. “And instructions will be on the paper I pass out in a few minutes. Please get your ingredients and then sit back down.”

The class got up and then walked and picked up all of his ingredients and then sat back down quietly. He put his things in his cauldron and then picked up his bag, it was almost time to leave.

“Oh yes, before class is finished, we have an assignment... I want everyone to write five inches of parchment about the effects of the Polly Juice Potion.” Tonks said then sat down behind her desk.

As they walked up to the Great Hall for lunch Harry said to Hermione, “Tell Lupin that I’m sick... I’m not going to Defense against the Dark Arts.... I’ll be by later to see what I need to do, because I don’t feel good again. And no, I’m not going to the hospital wing... Madam Pomfrey probably couldn’t do anything for me anyway. It’s my scar that’s been making me not feel good.”

“Harry well you should do something... ask Dumbledore, he should know.” Harry just nodded.

“I’ll go and talk to Dumbledore, ok?” Harry said and then shook his head barely, and then Harry fell to his knees and closed his eyes in pain. “Get Dumbledore...” Harry said and then passed out.

***

“Harry,” he heard a voice it seemed distant yet close at the same time. He opened his eyes and saw Sirius there.

“S-Sirius?” Harry stuttered.

“Yes, I can only be here for a while though, then you have to go back. They need you,” by they he meant Dumbledore and the Wizarding community.

“But- Am I dead, too?” Harry asked confused.

“Yes, but you can go back to your functional body,” Sirius said.

“But Dumbledore said there’s no spell that can bring back the dead,” Harry muttered quietly.

“Yes, we can’t go back, but if you know you have to, you can... It’s hard to explain, really... But since your proper body wasn’t destroyed or anything, like mine or your mother and father’s, you can come back... and your mother and father didn’t give up their lives for you to die, without leaving everyone with something they’ll remember.”

“But, I don’t want to go back... I was suffering back on Earth, like my scar kept hurting...” Harry said. And there was no one pointing at his scar. And no one seemed to see him except for Sirius.

“You have to go back, Harry, don’t you see? You must conquer Voldemort... or it will be the end for everyone on Earth.” Sirius said.

“I understand,” Harry said, quietly.
***
“Harry,” he heard Dumbledore say quietly. He heard him turn and then say to Ron and Hermione, “Sorry... He’s dead.”

“No...” Ron said quietly.

Harry opened his eyes barley, all the shapes were blurry, he tried to talk, but he couldn’t. He felt heavy... one of the blurry shapes walked over toward him.

“Harry James Potter,” Dumbledore replied softly. “He looked so much like James, I can’t believe it...” Harry opened his eyes further. “You’re alive?” Dumbledore said quietly.

“Er-” Harry said quietly. Hermione let out a joyous shriek and Ron smiled.

Dumbledore gazed into Harry’s eyes. Which were no longer green, but hazel, like his dad’s. And his scar was no longer red it just now was pearly white.

Dumbledore stood and walked out of the hospital wing and he noticed that he had his glasses on. He took them off and saw that he could see perfect.

Cho walked in and then shrieked, “Harry, you’re OK!”

“Yeah,” He said, he looked at her and she ran over to him and launched herself on to the bed and embracing Harry in a hug.

“Harry, I’m so sorry about last year. I shouldn’t have brought up Cedric,” she said and then kissed him on the cheek.

“Cho, do you want to go to Hogsmead with me on Halloween?” Harry asked her.

“Oh, Yes!” Cho said happily. She kissed him on the cheek and then walked out of the hospital wing humming to herself happily.

“So you and Cho are speaking again, I see,” Hermione said, smirking.

“Er- I guess so,” Harry said smiling.

“Potter, I want you to stay here for the next few days, to make sure you’re fit to go. It shouldn’t be more then three days... Ms. Granger, could you bring Mr. Potter’s homework to him daily?” Madam Pomfrey said who had just walked out of her office and stopped behind Hermione.

“Sure, Madam Pomfrey” Hermione said and sat on the bed to the right of Harry’s.

Madam Pomfrey walked into her office and closed her door.

“Hermione,” Harry said urgently, “When, I supposeivly died... I-I saw Sirius...”

“You-You, saw Sirius?” Ron repeated quietly.

“Yeah, he- well he told me that if I died everyone on Earth, is going to die... Voldemort would conquer all... and something like, they need me... I think he meant us, like the good, it just... messed with me... and I think there was something that wasn’t spoken... Something that I had to do... like to stop Voldemort....”

“Weird...” Ron muttered.

“You know what’s even weirder? Sirius told me the reason I could come back was because I have unfinished business... Like with Voldemort... but he couldn’t come back because he doesn’t have a body to come back to... I wish he would come back though.” Harry looked to the floor.

“It’s OK Harry...” Hermione said and there came a loud yelp coming from somewhere beneath them. And then a Dumbledore followed by Professor McGongall came into the hospital wing in a rushed manor.

“Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger please tell the Gryffindors to go and use the shoot. Mr. Potter please go to your common room. There has been an attack by Voldemort... Mr. Creevey was taken by the Dark Lord.”

[Tonks08]

A/N: I don't really care for this chapter that much... I had a bad case of writers block while writing it.
Right now... I'm finishing up chapter XI as of right now it has a name... "Unasked Questions" it might be two parts though I'm not sure, yet. I have 4652 words but I'm not sure if I'm gunna make a Part I, Part II. Oh yeah and please post your feedback there
--->*Feedback: Fortress of the Shadows* (http://cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=21355) Please post and review and let me know that people are reading it... so I know that I'm not wasting my time typing this.

The Fortress of the Shadows

Chapter VI

The disappearance of Colin Creevey didn’t go unnoticed at all. Everyone from teachers to students to ghosts was about the only conversation heard around the castle. Everyone wondered who would be next. Harry just wondered when they’d capture him.

Harry looked out onto the distance and saw the Quidditch Pitch, I wish I wasn’t banned... wait... I might not be... I gotta ask Dumbledore! Harry thought as he walked down the slopping lawns on the first Saturday of the term. He wanted to relax by sitting down by the lawn. He finished his homework and was caught up in all of his classes.

He laid back deep in thought. How long before Voldemort gets me? Was his main thought...And forgetting about the time. When Harry opened his eyes there was a girl, probably in the first year standing over him.

“You’re Harry Potter?” The girl asked.

“Er- Yeah... I am...” Harry said sitting up. “Who are you?”

“Bella Tonks, Nymphadora is my aunt... I’m a half... my dad is Nymphadora’s oldest brother... He’s really nice, a metamorphigi too... I wish I were one though... you know... It would come in handy some of the time. Nymphadora told me Sirius died... I’m sorry, he was really nice...” She cut off. Then looked at Harry, “You miss him don’t you?”

“Yeah, but I know he’s at a better place with my mum and dad,” Harry replied simply.

“That’s good. Anyways I came to give you something... my dad told me that Sirius was going to give this to you.” She handed him a key, “It’s the key to his Grigotts account,” she explained.

“Oh,” Harry said and took the key. He tucked it safely into his pocket.

***

When he returned to the common room neither Ron nor Hermione were there. He sat down across from the fire on one of the couches. Harry looked over to one of the tables and saw the Daily Prophet. It’s main headline read:

The Fortress of the Shadows, back?

There were two reported people missing since the beginning of term at Hogwarts School, reports Daily Prophet reporter Rita Skeeter. Colin Creevey, 16 and Josh Stalvy, 13 both pupils at Hogwarts were reported missing over the last couple of days.

Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, says this is the thing he feared. And that he will be sure that no other student will be captured.

Few students were able to comment, When asked who they thought would be next some responded Harry Potter, and others just plainly responded with a, “I don’t know,” or no comment.

Ronald Weasley, 16, who has been Harry Potter’s best friend since the first year, didn’t seem to be worried about loosing his best friend. When asked to comment, he simply said, “Harry has been through alot... and I know he wouldn’t let You-Know-Who even try to get to him.”

Theodore Nott, 16, thought Harry Potter would be next and he will end up dead.

Harry stopped reading, because his scar was throbbing. He felt hot breath on the back of his neck. He heard a cold voice, maybe Malfoy Sr.? Say, “Potter, you know how long I’ve been waiting for this?” The voice was too high to be Malfoy... Could it be Voldemort? No.... Harry said to himself Voldemort can’t get near Hogwarts... But what if he could and Dumbledore was wrong? And plus the voice was higher then Voldemort’s....

“Petrificus Totalus!” Harry heard the voice say, Harry felt as if he was freezing. He fell hard onto his back. He looked up to see Wormtail, the murderer of Harry’s father and mother standing above him.

“Wormtail, you dunder-head! You can’t do anything right! Master said bring the boy to him in his normal state not petrified!” A cold female voice said... the voice of Bellatrix Lestrange. He saw her pull out her wand and wave it and the spell lifted and she pulled him to his feet. But she let him fall forward so that he could see the floor. And Harry couldn’t do anything to prevent it.

Wormtail took a piece of cloth out of his pocket and gagged Harry with it. Someone pulled his shirt up and he felt a sharp needle go into his spine, his scar burst with even more pain. The pain in his spine resided, but the pain in his scar was so great that he couldn’t see.

“Come on, Potter” Bellatrix said, quietly.

Harry would have said he’d rather die, but he couldn’t say anything because of the material. Bellatrix pulled him toward the window, and then turned to Wormtail, “Did you bring the brooms?” She asked.

“Yeah, they’re hidden in the Forbidden Forest,” Wormtail replied. Bellatrix took her wand out and muttered “Accio Firebolts!” And there was a zooming sound. Followed by Wormtail and Bellatrix forcing him on the one in between the three brooms. Bellatrix climbed to his right and Wormtail his left.

Harry thought, what if he could pull off a Wroski Feint? Could he shake them off? He could try, he grabbed a hold of the broom handle and pushed it down, he was flying as fast as he could go, Bellatrix was behind him and gaining, Harry sped his broom faster, the ground was coming closer...! He was almost there... He heard Bellatrix yell, “Potter, are you crazy...?” He was at about 10 feet; Bellatrix was right behind him. Five... he pulled up and to his amazement Bellatrix did too.

Where could he go that he’d be safe? And then it hit him... Dumbledore’s office...! Where was it though? He knew where Flitwick’s was, Thirteenth window from the right on the west tower, could he risk it? ...Dumbledore’s office was above his dormitory... Gryffindor tower... Where should he go? What if he flew to Grawp?

He turned and flew up at a seventy-five degree angle, he flew straight and he saw a wall of deatheaters waiting. Where’d they come from? Harry wondered. They were flying toward him, he took his right hand and pulled out the piece of material and threw it to the ground, and he flew straight down and then flew straight trying to get past the wall of Death-Eaters. About five of the deatheaters had their wands out and they cried, “Impedimenta!” And he flew backwards off of his broom and was falling, into coldness and misery. He felt the cold of a dementor, and felt the pain of hitting the ground at full force; he saw blood, his own blood, and millions of red stars blurring his vision.

“Dolohov, go and get the Dark Lord! Malfoy, Nott, Jugson, Rodolphus, Macnair, Avery, Rookwood, Snape make sure Potter stays conscious! Crabbe, Goyal, Rabastan, Wormtail, make sure no one is coming, and I’ll make sure Potter won’t pass out,” she pointed the nose of the broom down and flew straight toward the ground. She landed next to Harry.

“Bellatrix, we can’t - stop - the - bleeding! He’s going to bleed to death if Dolohov doesn’t hurry! Merlin’s beard... I never saw such a bad wound; Dumbledore could save him... even if it means turning one of us in to the Minerstry. Dolohov won’t be back for about an hour,” Harry heard Snape say.

“Get him, Snape, but we’ll be out of here and you’ll be the one to die,” Bellatrix said.

Snape nodded and then hurried to the castle, Bellatrix turned to Malfoy, “Does he have a pulse?” She asked him.

“Yes, but it’s very slight,” Malfoy said. Voldemort followed by Dolohov were walking up the slopping lawns. He stopped next to Harry and said in his cold voice, “give the boy some skele-grow, and stop the bleeding. I just need him to be alive for a few more months, so it doesn’t matter if he’s sick or not.” He looked around as if sniffing the air and then said quietly, “Dumbledore.”

There were about 20 tiny ‘pop’s’ and then they were gone. Except for Bellatrix who was kneeling over the boy. Dumbledore came running over to them.

“Lestrange, back away from the boy!” Dumbledore said, furiously. And she did so. Dumbledore walked over to Harry and knelt down. He pulled out his wand and muttered something and the bleeding stopped.

“Lestrange, summon me a stretcher!” Dumbledore said while making sure Harry was still breathing. Bellatrix did so, and incredibly fast. The stretcher flew to Dumbledore and then he laid Harry on it.

“Aren’t you going to save him...?” Bellatrix said so fast, her words seemed slurred.

“I’ve done all that I can do, the only thing I can do now is sit back and wait... and hope for the best. Harry will be fine, as for you; you are to stay in my office, until I figure out what to do with you.”

“Fine,” Bellatrix said not liking to be at the mercy of her foe.

***

“Harry Potter” said a voice that was far and yet close at the same time.

“I don’t mean to be rude, or anything, but who are you?” Harry asked and then opened his eyes more and saw his dad. “Dad?”

“Yes, Harry. You must go back to your body... If you die one more time I can’t allow you to go back to Earth. You must be careful. Right now your life signs are very weak, last time you were here they were great, you can make it...”

“My body’s completely trashed. I fell off of a broom about 50 feet up onto my head.” Harry said and he could feel dried blood on the back of his neck.

“Yes, you did. You’re a great flyer; I watched all of your games. It wasn’t your fault you fell, it was Dolohov’s, but that doesn’t matter... you have to go back now... We didn‘t give up our lives f0r a you to die at the age of 16,” His dad walked over and touched his shoulder and then he felt a falling sensation. He hit the bottom of time and space and he saw he was back in his body, and the pain was underway once again.

“Ah...” Dumbledore said walking over to Harry. “You’re awake, I’m afraid to say you almost died yet again. I need you to drink this;” he handed him a cup full of skele-grow. Harry took the cup and drank it.

“You should be fine, with rest,” Dumbledore said. He looked deep in thought. “Voldemort doesn’t want you dead at the moment. He was trying to save you, you know?”

“Only because he needed me for something... I heard them... talking...” Harry said quietly.

“Still Voldemort saved your life. You’d be dead now if it weren’t for him.”

“I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Voldemort, if it weren’t for him I’d still have my mum and dad.” Harry tried to sit up but Dumbledore forced him back down.

“Harry now listen to me. I want you to get as much rest as you can, OK? I’m going to leave the room and I’m going to lock you in, no visitors. I will talk to Ron and Hermione and tell them what happened.”

“Ok,” Harry said weakly and then fell asleep once more.

[Tonks08]

The Fortress of the Shadows

Chapter VII

After a few days he was out of the hospital wing, and back in classes. Dumbledore halted his Occlumency lessons for a few weeks or however long Harry doesn’t feel up to it. Ron and Hermione were helping him out with his homework more then normally, but Harry had no problem with it.

For the last couple of days Harry’s temple’s have been throbbing, he asked Dumbledore and he said that would go away in a few weeks. He was improving in potions and his Polly Juice Potion was almost perfect.

He wasn’t allowed to do what the rest of the class was doing in Transfiguration nor Defense against the Dark Arts. Charms were the only class he was allowed to do magic in, because they were just reviewing from last year.

In Transfiguration they were starting human transfigurations. Harry was forced to do a 5,000-word report on human transfigurations and what happens when someone is an animigus illegally.

In Defense against the Dark Arts he spent the whole period defining curses and counter curses.

He walked out of Defense against the Dark Arts, his books in his bag that he slung over his shoulder. He set off for Dumbledore’s office for his training against the Dark Lord.

“You’re not making the circle with your wand, this way,” he took his wand and made a perfect circle and then flicked his wand and lavender light came out of Dumbledore’s wand.

“Ok,” He did the same as Dumbledore and though of something dark happening to Dumbledore, but only a purple vapor escaped his wand.

“Concentrate... Imagine Voldemort in pain; imagine all the pain he caused you to be inflicted upon him.”

“I’m trying!” Harry yelled, and then he dropped his voice lower, “Sorry.” He muttered embarrassed at his actions.

“It’s all right. Try again,” Dumbledore urged.

He thought of Voldemort feeling his pain, and Voldemort feeling the power of the Cruciatus curse. He pulled up his wand and made a circle and then flicked it harder then he intentioned to do. There was a bright neon purple he heard Dumbledore yell, “Stop!” Harry threw his wand to the ground and the purple dimmed. Dumbledore was standing behind his desk.

“You need to learn to control your spells. That could of killed someone, even yourself. I want you here tomorrow after classes, we’ll work on the philosophy of some of these spells. I don’t want you to practice this spell unless you can control it, fully. Now, I’m going to teach you a popular Legitimist charm. If you were facing the Dark Lord, I’d like you to be prepared to read his mind if he could read yours. It would make Occlumency easier. I daresay you’ll find it useful.”

“When do I have time for homework?” Harry asked Dumbledore.

“I’m giving you exemption from homework until you finish training. And you are to do normal classes, no more defining terms,” Dumbledore said.

“Professor, can I ask you something, about my scar?” Harry asked Dumbledore and saw that the twinkle behind his half-moon glasses extinguished.

“I believe you just did, but you can ask me one more,” Dumbledore said looking at Harry.

“My scar’s been hurting, really bad... and. it hasn’t been bleeding, but like when I’m sitting in the middle of a class, I’ll see Voldemort... and I don’t know what’s real or fantasy any more... not after... Sirius died, anyway. Before I thought anything, I dreamt was real... but I don’t know what is real and what isn’t...” Harry started.

“Believe only what your heart truly believes. As for your scar, I think I may know, or I may not, I can only build on the theories I made when you were a child. Voldemort’s growing stronger, on the verge of immortality. But he can’t go yet, without bringing you with him, you’d become Immortal without knowing it. And every step he takes you can feel his pain. Voldemort is still human, and as long as you are here he can’t become immortal, no matter what.”

“Ok, one last question, What if the prophecy wasn’t meant for me at all, but Neville?” Harry asked Dumbledore.

“As I said before, Voldemort chose you finalizing the prophecy. The Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, and he did. Thus, fulfilling the prophecy. So there’s no doubt in my mind that it is you that the prophecy speaks of.”

“So I’m going either be a murderer or the one murdered?” Harry asked, bowing his head a little.

“Yes, I’m afraid so,” Dumbledore said. Harry nodded and then turned on his heal and walked out of the room, somehow knowing he should. At a last glance Dumbledore looked older and wiser then he normally did.

He walked down to the “D.A.” common room and sat onto one of the couches.

“Mate, what’s up? You look depressed,” Ron said taking a seat next to him. Harry sighed.

“Nothing... Just thinking,” Harry said softly.

“Is is about You-Know-What?” Hermione asked him.

“Yeah,” Harry replied. Ron looked baffled.

“You-Know-What?” Ron asked, looking at Harry. And Harry broke his eye contact and looked to Hermione. She nodded.

“Dumbledore told me what was hidden in the bowls in the Department of Mysteries,” Harry said quietly and then told him exactly what he told Hermione. “And I asked Dumbledore tonight if it was possible that it wasn’t me, and he said it is me and he’s sure of it.”

“What does, ‘Either must die at the hands at the other-’”

“’For neither can live while the other survives,’ it means I either have to murder Voldemort or he’ll murder me,” Harry said stressed he stood up, “I’m going to bed.” And then he left. He walked up to the dormitories and changed into his pajamas. As he lay there he wondered, where is Voldemort? He closed his eyes and imagined doorway open to Voldemort’s thoughts. And a voice came to his mind...

“Harry Potter is as good as dead... I will regain immortality and I will be unstoppable... The werewolf venom will soon enter his immune system and he will receive the werewolf powers....”

Harry jolted up and looked around. Did I just read Voldemort’s mind? Am I a Legitimenthist? Am I going to die, for the third and final time soon? Will Voldemort be unstoppable like he thinks? Can I stop him? Am I a werewolf, and not safe, like Lupin? Were just some of the things that were going through his head. He never knew that so few words could mean so many different things... It was so confusing.

He laid back down and tried to empty his mind of all thought, and for once he succeeded and fell into a deep sleep.

“HARRY GET UP!” Ron bellowed, and Harry jumped.

“Ron.... W-what time is it?” Harry yawned, sitting up.

“Nine. I brought you some breakfast, it’s downstairs... Oh, yeah and Dumbledore told me to give this to you,” Ron handed Harry a piece of parchment that was sealed with the Hogwarts crest. He opened it and read:

Harry, I am giving this to you to read because there is a traitor among us. There isn’t anything within my power that I can do and no evidence. The traitor is Draco Malfoy... stay away from him. He is a trained animigus and trained at the unforgivable curses. If you do happen to come in contact with him, use your training.

What I am to teach you is for you to know only. Do not teach anyone in the D.A. or Ron and Hermione.

I’ve changed your schedule thusly:

Monday:

1&2 Potions, N. Tonks
Lunch
3&4 Dark Training, A. Dumbledore
5&6 Quidditch Practice

Tuesday:

1&2 Defense against the Dark Arts, R. Lupin
Lunch
3&4 Occlumency, A. Dumbledore

Wednesday:

1&2 Transfiguration, M. McGongall
Lunch
3 Quidditch Practice
4 Theory of Magic, F. Flitwick - A. Dumbledore

Thursday:

1&2 Charms, F. Flitwick
Lunch
3&4 Legitimacy, A. Dumbledore

Friday:

1 Care of Magical Creatures, R. Hagrid
2 Divination, S. Trelawney
Lunch
3&4 Quidditch Practice


Also, by order of myself, you are to be the Captain on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and you are to redeem your position of seeker. You need to find two chasers and two beaters Mr. Kirke and Mr. Sloper resigned this morning. And Ginny Weasley would like to try out for Chaser.

P.S. After you read this letter burn it with the Flame charm.

“Who’s it from?” Ron asked, trying to peer over Harry’s shoulder to read it, but Harry took out his wand and burned it before Ron could see anything.

“Dumbledore, of coarse, I’ll be back later... I’ve got to do something;” Harry said and then walked out of the room. Ron followed him.

“What’s up? What’d the letter say? Why are you acting so strange?” Ron asked him.

“Look, I can’t tell you everything the letter says, but all that I can tell you is I have a new schedule and I’m Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, and Seeker. Do me a favor and tell Katie that we have practice Monday for two hours after classes, Wednesday third period, right after lunch and Friday last two classes. Monday will be Try-outs for the two chasers and beaters... Kirke and Sloper resigned.” Harry took out a piece of parchment and sat it on the table and wrote.

Gryffindor Quidditch team Try-outs
Monday evening-After Classes
Two Chasers and two beaters
Sign your name along with the position wanted under this sign. Then meet on the field of the Quidditch pitch right after classes. Brooms are not required.

“Make another one and put it in the Gryffindor common room.” Harry instructed Ron.

***

Monday’s class went by in a flash and soon he was in the locker room, with his Firebolt sitting beside him. Dumbledore had taken it from the Security Trolls and escaped without a scratch. He walked out onto the field with Katie and Ron by his side and saw that about 50 people showed up.

Ron handed him the sign up sheet and both were filled up. He looked up and then said, “OK, now could you split into two lines? Those of you that want to try for Chaser.”

They did and Harry sat two school brooms down on the pitch. “If you have your own broom you don’t have to use the schools. OK, now I want two of you and Katie to try to get the most goals out of 20 Quaffles.” He opened the crate and took the Quaffle out. He threw it to Katie and she caught it. “First pair come up here and write your name down on this list so we know who you are.”

The first pair did so and they were Alexis Arnold and Ginny. Ginny had her own broom, which Harry thought it was Fred’s, or George’s. They both kicked up off of the ground and Ginny was a brilliant flier and Alexis wasn’t that great. Katie passes the Quaffle to Ginny and she caught it and scored. Ginny got all 20 in. Alexis got only one in and it looked by accident.

The tryouts went on for about an hour. Finally the last group came up. And it was Hermione and Mark Evans. Hermione was an OK flyer but Mark was really great. Hermione got 19 in and Mark got 20.

All of the people that tried-out formed a circle around him Ron and Katie. Katie and Ron both agreed on Mark and Ginny.

“The new Gryffindor Chasers are Ginny Weasley with a score of a perfect 20 and Mark Evans also with a perfect score of 20. Now we need those of you who’d like to be beaters.” The line was shorter only of about 10 kids. Hermione was in this line too, along with Dennis Creevey, and Lavender Brown.

“This is how this is going to work: you pick your partner and you have to control the bludgers and get them through the rings, which ever group gets the most in are the new Gryffindor beaters.”

The first two were Seamus and Neville. Seamus wasn’t that bad, but Neville was. Neville kept hitting himself with the beater bat and missing the Bludger. They got three through the hoops, while Dennis Creevey and one of his friends who Harry didn’t know their name got nine. Hermione and Lavender’s group was up next. They were superb. They got all ten. The other groups must have been a joke or something, because the other four groups only got from zero to two.

The beaters circled Harry and he announced, “The new chasers are Hermione Granger and Lavender Brown.” There were alot of disappointment in the air, and the people that didn’t make it for either Chaser or Beater walked up to the castle. An owl flew down and landed on Harry’s shoulder. It was Hedwig.

“Read it Harry!” Ron said.

Harry took the letter from Hedwig and read,

Mr. Potter

Since you have drafted half of the team tonight, I would like the whole Gryffindor Quidditch team to select new uniforms. As long as they have Red and Gold on them.

We will be starting a Hogwarts International Varsity and Junior Varsity Quidditch Teams this year. The winners of the Quidditch cup (Which will be held in November.) will be our varsity and the runner’s up will be the junior varsity.

I’d like to see Gryffindor have the Cup and the spot of Varsity this year, and that is why I am sending this. You may get seven new brooms from Quality Quidditch Supplies when you go there for your uniforms.

I’m getting quite accustomed to seeing the Cup in my office; Potter and I don’t want to see it go to Professor Snape. Good-Luck this year.

Professor M. McGongall

“We’re getting new brooms and uniforms!” Harry said to all of the Quidditch team. Harry didn’t really like the idea of getting a different broom. Sirius had given him his Firebolt...

“Brilliant! Is there a limit? Can we get Flame Torch 5000’s? Or could we get the Moon Trimmer 2004?” Ron said, ecstatically.

“We can get what ever we want,” Harry replied, faking a grin.

And at that moment he realized something.... I’ll always be the outcast... I’ll never fit in... I’m tied to Voldemort through my scar... I’ll never be normal....




--Tonks08

[Tonks08]

The Fortress of the Shadows

Chapter VIII

The morning of the first Game of the season dawned and the Gryffindor Quidditch team met in the Common room before going down to the changing room.

“Today, It’s great weather for Quidditch. We better bring back a win and live up to our name of the Gryffindor Gryffins, and most of all we want the Varsity squad!” Harry said. “Let’s kick some Slytherin ***!” And they walked down to the changing rooms as they changed into their uniforms Harry’s scar gave a nasty throb, but he shook it off.

The Gryffindor team had two games that day, four if they won both. Gryffindor versus Slytherin and Gryffindor versus the winners of the Ravenclaw versus Hufflepuff game. Dumbledore had added an extra Quidditch pitch for the tournament.

Gryffindor walked out onto the pitch and it was Mike Copeland from Slytherin announcing.

“Gryffindor’s flying out onto the pitch, Captain Potter, Weasley, Weasley, Bell, Evans, Granger and Brown all riding Moon Trimmer 2005‘s, the newest model!” Mike said with great gusto, “And the Slytherins, Captain Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyal, Bletchley, Warrington, Pucey, Little all riding Nimbus 2001‘s! Captains shake hands... And it looks like Potter and Malfoy are trying to break each other’s fingers!” Harry and Draco were trying to break each other’s fingers until Madam Hooch stepped in the middle and said:

“Now I want a good clean game from all of you,” and then she threw the Quaffle into the air and released the Bludgers and the walnut sized golden snitch. Harry rose to a height he hadn’t reached on his broom since the death eater attack, which seemed so long ago.

“And it’s Gryffindor in position, Weasley passes to Bell who passes it to Evans, back to Weasley she scores! 10-0 to Gryffindor!” Mike was saying over the game, as Harry searched for the tiny snitch he saw that Malfoy was following close behind him.

“Slytherin in position... Pucey passes to Warrington, he misses the pass, intercepted by Evans he speeds up field, and nothing can stop that boy! He shoots-no passes back to Bell; Bell passes it to Weasley, and passes way across the field to Evans he scores! 20-0 Gryffindor!”

“Little takes the Quaffle, Slytherin in position; she passes to Pucey, first shot of the game on Weasley... Slytherin scores! 10-20 Gryffindor!”

“Gryffindor has the Quaffle... Weasley has the Quaffle... A bludger is flying toward Weasley! It misses her by Meir inches! She passes it to Bell; Bell passes back to Weasley... She throws; it’s no good, Slytherin with the Quaffle....”

This went on for about an hour before Harry even spotted the snitch. The score was 150-100 Gryffindor. Harry zoomed downward; Malfoy blasted out in front of him.... Come on Harry urged his broom forward. He was gaining on Malfoy... Harry felt a sharp pain in his side and he knew a Bludger had hit him, he kept flying. His fingers numb against his broom surface. His whole left side was going numb, but he didn’t care, all he cared about was getting the snitch....

The snitch turned up and so did Harry, now he was in the lead.... It was going straight.... He flew after it... he was so close he could taste it.... He stretched out his right arm while his left held his broom.... He felt his fingers wrap around the tiny acorn sized struggling ball and then a sharp pain as he got hit with an uncontrolled bludger. He rolled off of his broom and onto the pitch itself. He felt this sensation once before... in his second year, when he broke his right arm playing Quidditch....

“Gryffindor wins 400-100, but the Gryffindor Seeker is injured!” Mike said.

Harry sat up, wincing at the pain in his arm. Professor McGongall, the Gryffindor team and the rest of the Gryffindors stood around him. Madam Pomfrey came hurrying over to where they were.

“Out of the way, out of the way!” Madam Pomfrey said as she pushed her way through the crowds. “No more Quidditch for today, Potter,” she said and mended his arm and put a brace around it. She then mended his side, where he thought he broke a few ribs when he got his with the bludger.

“But... But...” Harry stammered. “My team needs me! I’m their seeker! If I’m not playing we’ll loose and not have a chance-”

“Potter, calm down! Your team will have other chances,” Madam Pomfrey said.

“No, we won’t, with out team this year! Our team is GREAT this year! We could bring back the National cup for Hogwarts!” Harry said.

“Poppy, he does have a point, Gryffindor is the only team that has good enough players,” and Professor McGongall said looking her in the eye.

“All right! Potter; just keep that brace on under your pads!” Madam Pomfrey stomped out of the pitch. Harry got up and saw Ron grinning.

“You were brilliant! I never saw anyone fly like that!” Ron said enthusiastically.

“You weren’t doing that badly yourself,” Harry told Ron.

“Yeah I was... I let in ten goals....” Ron said looking at his feet.

“Not as bad as Bletchley! He missed twenty-five,” Hermione said.

“Gryffindor! Over here, you’re playing Hufflepuff!” Professor McGongall yelled to them.

“C’mon,” Harry said to the team... they marched to their locker rooms and had a “pep talk” and then walked out onto the field.

“Here’s Gryffindor, Captain Harry Potter and Ravenclaw, Captain Davis. Last Game Gryffindor won by 300 points and Ravenclaw won over Hufflepuff by 100. To progress Ravenclaw has to score 300 points. The winner of this game will play the winner of the Hufflepuff verses Slytherin game, and the loser will play the loser of the other game.”

The game started and within a few minutes Gryffindor was up by fifty points. Ginny, Katie and Mark were playing great and Harry was watching them play, instead of looking for the snitch. He didn’t come back to his senses until a bludger barely missed him. He started his search once more.

“And it’s Gryffindor in possession... Weasley passed to Katie-Intercepted by Davis! Davis flying down the pitch, he shoots-Blocked by the Gryffindor Keeper Ron Weasley! He passes it to Bell.... Ravenclaw seeker seemed to have seen the Snitch! There she goes!”

Harry saw that she indeed saw the snitch but she was out of control... She was going to crash into the ground. The snitch flew toward the goal post and Cho smashed into the ground. Harry flew toward the goal hoops and caught the snitch. He flew to the ground and helped Cho up; she was fine.

“Gryffindor wins over Ravenclaw: 200-20! Ravenclaw will play Hufflepuff, and the winner of that game will face off with Gryffindor in the Finals. Slytherin is totally out of the running.” Ryan Lenk, a third year Ravenclaw yelled over the crowd, magically magnifying his voice.

Hufflepuff beat Ravenclaw, 150 - 50 so Gryffindor was playing them. Gryffindor was undefeated so far and Hufflepuff was 2-1. Gryffindor beat Hufflepuff 200-60. The four teams were standing at the presentation ceremony after the games were over.

“The winners of the Quidditch Cup and the Varsity squad is the Gryffindor team, boys and girls come up here and receive your uniforms and patches for your school robes. Harry Potter,” Professor McGongall said and Harry walked up and took his uniform. It was black with silver stitches and a silver inside. The Hogwarts crest was stitched into the sleeve of the left arm and the Gryffindor on the left side of his robe. He had a black turtleneck with a single silver stripe over his chest, his pants were silver and his pads were black with black converse. Potter was sewn onto the back in silver letters with Seeker under it in smaller letters.

“Ronald Weasley...” Ron got his uniform it was the same except it had Weasley and Keeper written on the back.

“Hermione Granger,” Hermione took her uniform.

“Ginny Weasley,” Ginny took her uniform and carried it gently.

“Wait ‘till I tell mum,” Ginny muttered quietly.

The whole team got their uniforms and then Professor handed the Hufflepuff team the junior varsity team their uniforms, which were silver with black stitches and black insides and instead of the Gryffindor crest on the chest it was the Hufflepuff crest.

“The game is against Durmstrang, All of you,” she pointed to the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff teams. “Will be removed from your classes Friday first period to leave. The game will take place at Durmstrang and you will be spending the whole weekend there, so bring your house robes and Quidditch robes. And make sure you bring your wands, you will be given a Hogwarts duffle-bag to carry your things in.” Professor McGongall waved her wand and fourteen duffle-bags appeared, each with their names embroidered in them. She handed them to every member of the team.

“Now,” Professor McGongall said looking around, “here’s your schedule for all the games. Get to bed.” Professor McGongall started up toward the castle and Harry looked at his schedule and saw that they played teams in America, France, and even China.

When Harry did fall asleep he fell asleep with alot on his mind... and the thought of why hasn’t my scar been aching? Was aching him about as bad as the migraine he had.

[Tonks08]

The Fortress of the Shadows

Chapter IX

The next morning Harry woke up and looked around, he thought it to be a dream. In yet, he couldn't remember anything of last night; all he remembered was blacking out on his bed. But his uniform and schedule proved his theory correct. He was on the Hogwarts Quidditch team.

He walked down the steps into the Common room to see about ten people gathered around the message board all muttering dully to their selves. Harry looked and saw a sign erected above the Quidditch team notice that made Harry's heart sink.

Professor Snape shall henceforth be the permanent Potions Master.

Ryan Lenk, the Ravenclaw announcer muttered something to himself. And so did about fifty other students. However Luna looked delighted. Harry sunk into a chair apposing Luna.

"Why are you so down? I mean you can drop that subject," Luna said happily.

"No, I can't. I want to be an Auror, so I have to have Potions," Harry explained annoyed.

"You'd be good at that," Luna said quietly. And Harry couldn't help but smile.

"Thanks," he muttered.

***

That morning at Breakfast everybody was talking about Snape returning. Some of the students came up with wild stories of Snape being eaten by a basilisk and somehow returning from the dead.

Harry knew where Snape had been, serving the Dark Lord Voldemort, as a spy for the light. He knew this because of what happened the month before when he fell from his broom. Snape looked to Harry and Harry returned his glair, Harry wanted to say something like, 'I'm still here,' but Snape wouldn't hear him. Snape looked as if he understood. Snape turned his head and started talking to Professor McGongall. Harry looked away and his scar gave a nasty throb.

"Isn't it weird? The last time my scar burnt was when Snape touched me, and it hasn't since, but now that he's back it's hurting again," Harry said quietly.

"Harry, you seriously need to think of other things besides Voldemort and his followers. You're driving yourself insane!" Hermione said, and then looked as if she said something foul.

"Going mad am, I? Let's see who's mad when Voldemort attacks! It's not like he's going to pity anyone including a mudblood like you!" Harry closed his eyes and bowed his head. "Sorry, I don't know what made me call you a, you-know-"

"Quite alright," Hermione said, and then opened her Transfiguration book and started to read.

Cho came walking over to his table looking depressed. She sat next to Neville. She didn't look at him or notice he existed.

"What's up with her?" Ron asked. And then Harry remembered he was supposed to have met her on Halloween.

"Cho," Harry said quietly.

"What?" She snapped.

"Sorry I didn't meet you in Hogsmead on Halloween, I was in the hospital wing, again. And I've had so many things going on in my life that I just, I dunno... forgot" Harry said to her. She smiled a little.

"I know you were in the hospital wing out cold on Halloween, with a fractured skull. I don't think this is working out so I think we should just be friends," Cho said sincerely.

"Fine," Harry said and got up from the Gryffindor table and walked out of the Great Hall. Ron followed him and he was muttering about some people being *******s.

***

The next day the Gryffindors marched off toward the Potions dungeon. The day was gloomy and it was raining. This made Harry irritated because they were supposed to be practicing after classes.

"Why couldn't Voldemort have killed Snape?" Ron asked and Harry shrugged. Hermione had talked Ron into taking all the same classes as Harry. Ron had changed his schedule to match Harry's without the training.

"Well, Potty's still here, Pity you won't live to graduate," Malfoy said, weaving in and out of students and smirking. Harry snorted.

"Pity, Malfoy that you cant keep your big mouth shut," Harry said coldly.

"Potter, I know the Dark Lords plans... and believe me none of them are good. You're going to die" Draco spat.

"Well your old mate Voldemort," Draco looked fearful as Harry said his name, "has been trying to kill me for the past sixteen years, I'd be more afraid if Voldemort-" Harry said, but Draco cut him off.

"Potter, you dare speak his name? You filthy half-blood scum. You dare besmirch it, you dare..." Draco was fuming. He sounded like Bellatrix when Harry had a conversation, not actually a conversation, with he about a topic close to this one.

"Didn't you know Voldemort is a half-blood? His dad was a muggle, and his mum was a witch.... I still didn't get my answer whether he's been telling you; Death Eaters he's a pure," Harry said smirking now.

But within a minute the smirk faded and Harry had Draco's wand pointed at him. The wand was pointed straight at Harry's heart.

"Potter, you dare... You'll meet the same sticky end as your parents, soon..." Draco said walking forward. Harry backed up, without a wand out. He looked to his sides and saw neither Ron nor Hermione had theirs out either. "How about a little dose of pain, Potter?" Draco was smirking.

"You know Malfoy, there are witnesses standing around us. And it'd make a nice story for the Prophet, you know, First Malfoy Sr. then Malfoy Jr. to be thrown into Azkaban for Death Eater related crimes," Harry said trying to cover up the fear in his voice.

Draco snorted. "I'd plead bewitchment, and you know I could always slip the Wizengamot some gold."

"Like father like son," Harry replied. "You'll end up in Azkaban-" he was cut off by Draco saying 'Crucio'.

The head-splitting pain of the Cruciatus curse hit Harry at full force... he didn't scream... and he didn't fall. He wasn't going to give Malfoy the satisfaction. His scar was burning and his eyes were watering with pain... then it lifted.

"Malfoy, I know hexes and jinxes by the dozen, some there is no counter curse for, because no body ever saw them, how about that? Don't make me use them on such an unworthy cause," Harry said furiously.

"You just don't want to use them because you can't," Draco said and Harry thought of causing Draco pain, immense pain.... Harry concentrated and pulled up his wand and made a circle, the next thing he knew was that he was flying backwards and his wand was flying up through the air. He hit the ground with a loud thump and he felt a hand pull him by the back of his robes to his feet.

"One hundred points from both Gryffindor and Slytherin for Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter's little duel. Fifty points from each of you two," he pointed to Ron and Hermione, "for letting it happen. And Potter and Malfoy a weeks worth of detentions my office six o'clock. Potter follow me to the Headmasters office, for the rest of you sit in your seats until I return."

Snape turned on his heal and walked out and Harry nodded toward Ron and Hermione to bid them farewell and he set off right behind Snape. They stopped at the stone gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office.

"Bertie Blotts," Snape said monotonously and the gargoyle stepped aside allowing them entrance. They went up the spiral staircase, Harry's scar was burning dully on his forehead, and Snape marched through the door and into Dumbledore's office.

Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, writing something, and Fawkes was looking over his shoulder.

"Headmaster, may I speak to you in private?" Snape asked and Dumbledore nodded. And Snape looked to Harry and said "Potter, sit."

Harry sat, and stared uselessly at the ceiling. He didn't know how long he was staring but he came back to his senses when Dumbledore sat down and Snape slammed the door. Harry looked into Dumbledore's relaxed blue eyes.

"Harry, didn't you take my warning seriously? To stay away from Mr. Malfoy? Ah, of course Voldemort must of put a spell around him, your wand didn't make it I'm afraid..." Dumbledore sat a few pieces of wood up on the table. There was a golden phoenix feather laying in the middle of the ruined wand.

"Professor, how did it break?" Harry was very fond of his wand. It had saved his life once before... When Voldemort tried to kill him the day he returned. He forced the wands to do Prior Incantatem.

"You put a bit too much power through it, I'm afraid; it wasn't quite as reliable as Voldemort's, of coarse." Dumbledore smiled weakly. "I'll be taking you to Diagon Alley in a few minutes, go and get your money and then we'll go."

"I have about twenty galleons with me, professor" said Harry earnestly.

"Ready?" Dumbledore asked him as he stood up.

"Yeah, Pperate-ay Diagon Alley" said Harry and he was gone with a tiny 'pop'. There was another 'pop' and Dumbledore materialized beside him.

"Follow me, Harry," Dumbledore said and led the way to Ollivanders. They walked in and it looked the same as the last time he was here. Cramped from wall to wall with skinny wand cases, a single wand lay on a faded purple cushion.

"Ah, Harry Potter" said a soft voice from behind the counter. The voice of Mr. Ollivander.

"Good day," Dumbledore said cheerfully.

"Mr. Potter, new wand? Ah, yes, you were quite a tricky customer, holly, phoenix feather eleven inches...Quite a different combination... let me see" he pulled a wand off of the shelf and handed it to Harry. "Ten 1/4 inches, Maple, Phoenix Feather, quite swishy give it a wave."

Harry held the wand and flicked it and green sparks flew out of it. Mr. Ollivander snatched the wand out of his hand. After what seemed like the one thousandth wand, Mr. Ollivander said "I wonder..." quietly and took the wand off of the purple cushion.

"Thirteen 1/2 inches, Phoenix Feather, Yew. Inflexible, here try to cast a difficult spell," he handed him the wand.

Harry thought of the Gryffindor team winning the International Quidditch cup and said, "Expetro Patronum!" Immediately a stag flew out of Harry's wand and charged around the shop.

"Bravo!" Cried Mr. Ollivander. "I never thought a wizard would claim this wand! Long ago, my great, great grandfather made two wands; he was a great seer, now he made a prophecy that the two people that will receive these wands would be great. And have a lasting impact on the Wizarding Community.

"Both were of the same wood and everything, it was said that these two were the perfect wands. But one fell into the wrong hands.... Salazar Slytherin's. And it was said that this wand, the so-called perfect wand was handed down through Slytherin's own bloodline for years, until it came to Voldemort's mother, she despised the wand.

"Slytherin's love for sin was only handed down through the male population. Thus, Skylene Slytherin was frightened of its power so she brought it to me to snap it, and I did so. My father made me put it somewhere in the shop where no one could find it.

"But since there were two, I discovered the other one must be a good one and go to Gryffindor's heir. Godric Gryffindor did use this wand, but when he died he didn't want to pass it down through the generations, or so it's told. He was in fear that it would find a dark wizard or witch. He enchanted it so that only his true heir could use it. The heir that could bring down Slytherin's heir.

"It was also said in the prophecy that Gryffindor's heir would bare a mark, a mark of love. And there's no doubt in my mind that you are Gryffindor's heir, and this wand belongs to you."

Mr. Ollivander gave him the wand for free. Saying that he knows Harry would bring he-who-must-not-be-named down.

They walked out of the shop with a brand new question in his mind, am I the heir of Gryffindor?