Harry Potter and the Trip to the Past

[The_Green_Woods]

19 years after the war with Voldemort Harry Potter is thrown 25 years into the past, arriving a month or so before his first year at Hogwarts. Please Read and post your Feedbacks

[The_Green_Woods]

http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=112304


Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JKR.


Harry Potter and the Trip to the Past
------------------------------------------------

Chapter – 1
---------------

Nineteen Years Later after the War with Voldemort

Harry had just said goodbye to his two sons and was walking to the apparition point with his young daughter Lily and his wife Ginny. Ron and Hermione, Harry’s best friends and married to each other, had done the same to their daughter Rose and were walking just behind him and Ginny. Hugo, their son was walking along with Lily, Harry’s youngest child and only daughter, chattering hard with her, both of them speculating about the House Albus, Harry’s second son and Hermione and Ron’s daughter, Rose, would be sorted into.

James Potter, Harry’s eldest was in Gryffindor and in his second year and Albus Severus Potter was on his way to Hogwarts feeling just a little scared he might be placed in Slytherin. While Slytherin did not have the name it did when Harry was a student, it still had a dubious reputation based on the stories of the past and Albus Potter, feeling he may have just enough tendencies to be sorted into Slytherin, was scared.

Harry had done what he could to assuage those fears and had tried his best to tell his young son that Slytherin was certainly not a bad House and there were many brave students who passed out of Slytherin and there were also the Pettigrews who were sorted into Gryffindor. Albus Potter was not impressed simply because he knew if he were sorted into Slytherin, he would be suspected first by the whole School before being accepted if that were even to happen.

Slytherin still had a reputation that was hard to shake. Albus Potter feeling only slightly better after his father told him to argue with the Hat and tell it to place him in Gryffindor if it suggested Slytherin, had waved goodbye rather solemnly and crossed his fingers, hoping for the best.

Harry had invited Ron and Hermione to have lunch with him and Ginny, and all the four adults and the two children crossed the barrier and were now walking to their cars. Lily went with Hugo to ride with the Weasleys and Harry giving a small wave got into his car along with Ginny and started driving to their home in Godric's Hollow.

Harry and Ron had nice cars that were fitted with enough magic to take all of them to Godric's Hollow in about ten minutes. Ron and Hermione had a beautiful cottage walking distance from The Burrow and spent most weekends there with a doting Molly and Arthur.

George had married and had named his first born son after the twin he lost, Fred. He still ran the shop with Ron’s help and was a great success. He would never truly get over the death of Fred Weasley but he ploughed on and time slowly changed his sorrow into fond memories and regret that Fred could not live to see all this success and the peace that ensured after the death of Voldemort.

Bill was now a senior curse breaker at Gringotts and they had one daughter Victtoire and a small son Claude. Charlie was still in Romania married to a girl he had met there. The Weasleys were all doing well and Percy was now a high ranking Ministry official and he had fully patched up with his family.

Kingsley Shaklebolt was Minister for Magic and was doing a fine job running the wizarding government.

Harry was the Head of the Aurors and had gained a formidable reputation as its Head. He had over the years become tremendous at wandless magic and also at the Dark Arts. Harry had learned the Dark Arts to formulate various defences against them and he was simply fascinated by them. He realized that they needed extensive cleansing after use and he was very careful with them, lest his mind be corrupted.

Harry was also an expert on wards; wards of any type, blood wards, wards of intent, all types of wards. He could break any ward and could manoeuvre around any.

Harry was also an animagus, though he had mastered the art only much later. He found that he had three animagus forms in him, one magical and two non magical forms. His magical form was a Phoenix, a gorgeous blue and green ice Phoenix. His two non – magical forms were a snake, a very small sized viper and a stag.

No one apart from Ginny, Hermione and Ron knew about Harry’s animagus of Phoenix and snake, not even his children. That was kept very secret and Harry used the two forms especially the snake form to eavesdrop and snoop around.

Harry had come a long way from the boy who had not been able to cast a crucio on Bellatrix Lestrange. In the search for the horcruxes, he had cast the imperio and the cruciatus with ease. But now many dark spells and the three unforgivables came to him without thought.

Harry used all of them reserving the avada kedavra only as a desperate measure and only when he was in life threatening circumstances, but he used the others to get any advantage whatsoever from his enemies, who were the left over death eaters and new aspiring wannabe Dark Lords.

In the nineteen years Harry had used the killing curse some three times and he realized that the killing curse does not split the soul if it was used in honest self defence and his mind, intent and reasons were honest. The killing curse would only split the soul if it was used with intent to split the soul or in other words to make horcruxes.

Of course killing without reason would embitter and make those who used it recklessly inhuman and sadistic but that was also the case with muggle psychopaths who went on a killing spree or terrorists who did not think twice about killing innocent people with families.

It was nineteen years since the death of Voldemort the psychopath and reckless murderer who had tried his best to tear the Wizarding World apart. It had taken many years before the Wizarding World could stabilize. Population had been at an all time low and so was the economy.

The war had taken its toll and it had been a very turbulent few years after the death of Voldemort. It was almost as it had been when he had started the second war in full swing after the death of Albus Dumbledore.

With Kingsley at the helm and all the Weasleys and Harry, Hermione and so many others chipping in working hard and long hours they had turned the Ministry of Magic and the Wizarding World on its head and brought many, many changes in it.

The first of them all was making all the magical races equal in the eyes of the law and assigning them seats on the Wizengamot and addressing their problems from the base, up wards. Then they had strived very hard to reintegrate all the different magical creatures into Wizarding society. That had taken a good many years to accomplish.

Now for the last few years things were pretty quiet and Harry did not work long hours and he was able to take the weekend off on a regular basis.

All the death eaters except Malfoy had been apprehended. All the Malfoys had escaped because Narcissa helped Harry in the Forest and Lucius spun a tale of being captured and marked against his will. They also told the Wizengamot that Draco had the lives of his parents at stake and he too was forced to take the mark and the proof of their not being death eaters was in the fact that Draco could not kill Dumbledore and Narcissa had saved Harry.

They had got away and after that had made sure by living carefully on the right side of the law and ensuring no one called them dark wizards or death eaters. They kept very much to themselves.

Four years back the Headmasters of Hogwarts along with McGonagall who was retiring that year to give way to a new Headmaster and Transfiguration professor had agreed, after fifteen long years after the death of Voldemort and ten long years of crusade by Harry and Hermione, to put up Snape’s portrait in the Headmaster’s office.

On the day that had been decided by McGonagall who was Headmistress, to request Hogwarts for Snape’s portrait, Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny had been there very early so that they could thank the man for his extraordinary contributions without which they would not have won the war with Voldemort.

Harry had also sent word to the Malfoys about Snape’s portrait appearing in the Headmaster’s office, knowing from Draco the amount of sacrifice Snape had made for that family. Draco had promised to come and he had come just a bit later with his entire family.

Harry’s parents and Sirius and Lupin had also portraits in Harry’s parent’s vault, a vault Harry had known existed only after the war with Voldemort. Lupin also had his own portrait along with Tonks that he had created when their son had been born and had had it hung in Andromeda’s home.

James, Sirius, Lily and Lupin had all been twenty in the portraits Harry had hung in his home (he had destroyed Peter’s portrait) and that morning they had been waiting for Snape’s portrait to appear and the moment Snape’s portrait had appeared, Harry had sent word through a house elf all of them had come in into Dumbledore’s portrait to meet Snape and thank him.

The moment Snape’s portrait had appeared, he had blinked once, only once and then had seemingly understood where he was. He had looked around to see a beaming Dumbledore and had scowled. Then his eyes had fallen on Harry and his black expressionless, inscrutable eyes had widened impossibly.

“You lived.” He had breathed and Dumbledore had told him very briefly about Harry being a horcrux Voldemort had not intended to create and that he, Dumbledore had known Harry would not have died, only the horcrux would have been destroyed. Snape had turned incredulous eyes towards him, his face showing his shock. Then he had not spoken a word more.

He had looked at Harry for a long minute and then he had turned and removed his wand and had created wards ensuring that no one would come into his portrait.

Harry’s mother came genuinely and eagerly to thank Snape and also to speak to him as his friend and his father, Sirius and Lupin very uncomfortably to thank Snape for his contribution to the war and for his many efforts to save Harry. They were there only because Lily had insisted they thank him, with the exception of Lupin who understood more clearly why Snape had to be thanked for all his help.

James was a bit jealous as well as sulky about thanking Snape of all people whatever he did. His contention was so many people had contributed to the war and had died to save their world. Snape had turned only because he had loved Lily and had wanted to save her.

“Don’t forget,” he had added darkly, “Snape had wanted to ask only for Lily’s life and did not care if Harry and I died and if Voldemort had chosen to go after the Longbottoms he would not have bothered at all.” But he had come when Lily had insisted and had tried to thank Snape.

Snape’s eyes had widened impossibly the second time in minutes as he looked for a long minute at a beaming and tearful and just a tad uncertain Lily Potter. Then he had turned away without acknowledging any of them. Not even Lily Potter and Albus Dumbledore. Both of them had been totally taken aback at Snape’s reaction and had tried to call out to him and talk to him.

Only Snape had not turned back and nor had he responded. He had just vanished into a lovely dark green velvet curtain that had hung there behind a simple chair that made up his portrait. Dumbledore and Harry’s mother had tried talking to him and McGonagall, James, Sirius and Lupin had tried to call out to him and stiltedly thank him. Snape had not answered at all.

The Malfoys had come within the next ten minutes and Lucius Malfoy had gone close to the portraits had called out to Snape who had appeared from behind a curtain and had spoken in soft tones with him

That was the first time Harry saw the Malfoys and Malfoy’s son and wife after the war. His wife was not the pug faced Pansy Parkinson but another pure blood witch and they had one son and a daughter. His son’s name was Scorpius and his daughter who was younger was named Rhiannon.

They had come and had nodded only to Harry. They did not even look at anybody else. Not even the Headmaster Dumbledore or McGonagall. Then they had left with Lucius and Draco Malfoy formally thanking Harry and Hermione for fighting Snape’s case and enabling Snape’s portrait to be put up in the Headmaster’s office. They had been there only for a total time of ten minutes and had left at once.

Snape had gone behind the curtain. He was still coming out four years later. Apart from Phineas Nigellus everyone had been shocked and a few of the past Headmasters and Headmistress had been angry. After all the effort Harry had taken to bring Snape’s portrait into the august, esteemed and honoured circle, the man had no courtesy to even acknowledge their thanks and when Dumbledore and the Potters and McGonagall had tried to apologize the uncouth man had just walked away.

But Phineas Nigellus had understood the amount of betrayal that Snape must have felt for him to behave like this. When he had time and again, put his life on the line, he was still remembered only for the mistakes he had made and not for his contributions. He kept quiet though, knowing that at that time no one would understand his remarks. But he would say them when the time was right. The right time came that day itself, though it was not him who defended Snape.

McGonagall had flushed in shame when she had seen Snape and had tried to apologize for not understanding and Dumbledore had looked sadly at Snape, the few minutes he had been there. Lily had continuously talk to him, but Snape had not said a word beyond ‘you lived’ to Harry and had not even glanced at Lily apart from that amazed and astounded look at the beginning.

After calling for him for some time, McGonagall had placed a privacy charm on his portrait so that he would not hear their discussions that would have at best angered him. She need not have bothered because Snape was no longer there; instead the grateful House of Malfoy had created a lovely portrait and had also created links to a potions lab and a portrait of their personal library.

They had done this for the man who had saved their son from a sure death either at the hands of Voldemort for not having killed Dumbledore, or from the Wizarding World had he managed to cast the killing curse. Snape had saved him from both situations by killing Dumbledore and taking everything upon his already bursting head.

Harry had been flabbergasted and shocked that Snape had not even spoken to his mother and had thought that he, Harry would have died. Why should Snape be shocked; after all it was he who had, from the memories he had given Harry that told him he had to go and sacrifice his life for the sake of the Wizarding World. Then Harry’s eyes had widened with understanding and remembrance and he had turned with incredulous eyes to Dumbledore.

“Sir, Snape did not know about the horcruxes, did he?” Harry had asked him more than sure he had not known because he remembered the memories that he must have played at least a million times in his head.

“No Harry I did not tell him.” Dumbledore had said heavily looking very sad and gazing deeply into the empty portrait as if he could compel Snape to come out.

“He also did not know about the Elder wand did he?” Harry had asked with deceptive calm and Hermione had turned sharply to look at him. Ron and Ginny were watching everything, their eyes going from Harry to Dumbledore. They had not noticed Harry’s tone, but Hermione knew that tone and it boded no good for anyone.

Dumbledore had shaken his head and then Harry had asked him the third question to which he knew the answer. “Snape also did not know I would live after Voldemort killed me, did he?” he had asked still calmly.

“No Harry he did not know. That is why he is very angry.” Dumbledore had said and Harry had frozen.

Harry had understood at the time he was with Dumbledore, in his own mind in King’s Cross, fifteen years ago, when Dumbledore had told him about the Deathly Hallows. Over the years, though, Harry had been feeling that too much had been asked from Snape and too little given. Snape had been used not only by Voldemort but also by Dumbledore who had used his terrible guilt and had made him a slave to that guilt until the very end.

It had been almost five years before Harry had even started thinking about the unease that Snape and his memories had brought to his mind, but they had grown slowly and surely over the years and had reached boiling point that day. And the resentment had built up, every time some little information was shared and every time Harry and Hermione were refused in their requests to put up Snape’s portrait.

At seventeen Harry had been too young to realize the horror that was Snape’s life. At thirty six he knew that no one, not Dumbledore, not his mother who was Snape’s closest friend, had been even fair to the Slytherin, instead all of them had taken him, his contributions and later on his very life for granted by playing on that guilt.

Harry had been astounded that Dumbledore had made no effort to have Snape’s portrait reinstated at first and had initially confronted him. Dumbledore had been evasive saying that he wanted all the Headmasters to agree to have Snape’s portrait and not impose it upon them. If he did then, he had told Harry, they might not treat him properly. Harry had agreed reluctantly at the time, but had not been convinced.

“You mean Sir that you sent Snape to his death thinking that Lily Evans’s son would die?” Harry had asked with sarcastic amazement in his voice.

“Harry I did not know he would die.” Dumbledore had begun slightly confused about Harry’s behaviour. He had thought Harry had seen his point of view when they had discussed everything in Harry’s mind before the final duel. But Harry cut him off ruthlessly.

“You mean, even though you knew that Voldemort would think that Snape was the owner of the Elder wand, since he killed you, you still thought Voldemort would spare him?” Harry had asked sarcastically and that was when Ginny and the others had noticed that Harry had been fuming.

“So what mate? Snape’s got his portrait and it is all way in the past now.” Ron had tried only to keep quiet when Harry turned to glare at him.

“You talk as if he begged for it Ron and all of us graciously gave it to him. It has taken Hermione and me fifteen bloody years to get a bloody portrait for a man without whom and whose information we would not have won the war and we would have lost many, many more people. And he did it for Lily Evans’s child, Ron not for me or for Dumbledore” Harry had yelled, his frustrations finally coming out.

“So what Harry? It was because of the greasy git that we died in the first place. Else we would have been living. It was he who told the Prophecy to Voldemort.” James had yelled back.

“You died because you had a lousy friend who betrayed you for peanuts dad. Not because of a greasy git. And don’t call him that.” Harry had replied softly his eyes burning with anger.

“Why are you defending him like that? You saw how he called everyone mudblood including your mum and how much he was into the Dark Arts and why, even your mother broke off her friendship with him because of it. Right from his first year, he was a miserable, dirty kid, a death eater in the making.” James had burst out furiously glaring at Harry unable to understand why Harry was sticking up for Snape of all people.

“I was dirty, miserable and a bum dad. I boarded the Hogwarts express with torn jeans that was three sizes too big for me and I had not had a bath for nearly three days because the Dursleys felt I was not worth wasting good hot water on, and I came faint with hunger because I had not had my breakfast in the morning. Ron was the first boy who smiled at me and he did not mind the stink that I must have had. That was why I refused Draco Malfoy’s hand in friendship. It was because Ron had looked at me as a normal human being instead of a freak.” James stared speechlessly at Harry’s tirade.

“I saw from the memories how you talked to Snape. He was like me. Dirty and unkempt. But you were no Ron and all of us are not as fortunate as you were dad. We were not the cream of society and we did not have parents alive in my case and those who cared in his, to make a difference.”

“But Harry,” his mother tearfully started but Harry had not finished.

“I was sorted into Gryffindor. Snape did not have even that comfort. He was sorted into Slytherin and I think it was extremely brave of him to be friends with mum. She was the one friend he had and she gives him ultimatums and then drops him because he calls her a mudblood in anger and only because she had seen him at his most humiliating and Dumbledore says Snape disgusts him because he asked only for mum’s life from Voldemort. You guys are amazing. ” Harry had burst out just as furiously.

“Mate I think that is a bit over the top. Saying mudblood is not correct and your mum had all the right in the world to tell him to get lost.” raising a hand asking Harry to keep quiet because he had not finished saying his piece, “wait I have not finished. Asking only for your mum’s life and not caring for yours or your dad’s is not right. And remember he came only because of your mum. Had it been anybody else he would not have turned. Your dad is right in that.” Ron had told him calmly hoping Harry would tone down.

“Sure, he would not have asked for the life of Alice Longbottom. But then I would have never asked for the life of Narcissa Malfoy but I would have killed and would have died to save Hermione or Ginny or my kids or yours. If it had been Hermione, Lavender or Parvati, I would have felt devastated but would have chosen Hermione without hesitating for a second. And you know what Ron. If Voldemort had given me a choice between the two of you I would have died before I chose but I would have still chosen her. Because you would have died without her and I would have lost two friends instead of one.

“He can hardly ask Voldemort of all people to spare the child of the Prophecy and James Potter who has been attacking death eaters all over the place and his own personal enemy can he? He asked for mum because he loved her and he could make a choice Ron. Not because of anything else. I ask the Headmaster if he had a choice between his sister Ariana, Grindelwald and McGonagall; whom would he have chosen?” Harry had hissed in sheer rage and Dumbledore had drawn in a sharp breath and had looked in shock at Harry.

“Why should Snape save me or dad? Would I run like hell and sell my soul to save Ginny or Lucius Malfoy? Come on and grow up. This is war we are speaking about. You don’t have to be so sanctimonious and act very pious. And tell me dad would you have died to save Snape? Any of you here? Why should he then? And you were the good, great and honourable guys.” Harry had finished scathingly.

All of them had become silent and Lily Potter had started crying in earnest. James was glaring at Harry, unable to believe what he was hearing and Dumbledore had shrivelled in shock, guilt and pain of another huge mistake.

“So you are saying Snape was a fine guy and calling everyone a mudblood was just peachy?” Ron had asked him, his ears red and his face flushed in anger.

He had been shocked at Harry’s rage and had felt very uncomfortable when Harry had told him about the choices he would make and Ron knew in his inner heart that what Harry had said was true. He would have killed for Harry and Hermione, he would have sympathized for Dean and Seamus and he had lived with them for six years and they were friends. He also knew he would have laughed for Malfoy and that was who James Potter was to Snape.

He thought for a moment where the scene would be Malfoy, Hermione as Malfoy’s wife and their child. His heart twisted and he gnashed his teeth. He knew whom he would have asked Voldemort to spare. And he knew if he had to make a choice between Harry and Hermione, he would have died as well, but he would have chosen Hermione and lived in guilt for the rest of his life. He looked at Harry who was glaring at him itching to hex him.

“No of course not. But that is where he comes from. He has grown up more abused than me. I had you and Hermione and then Sirius. And I had the knowledge that my parents loved me. Whom did Snape have? His father hit him all the time and his mother was a weak sullen witch. Remember how I was in my fifth year? How much I yelled and pushed you guys off because Voldemort was sticking out of my head? I would have broken had you guys run away from me because I had Voldemort in my head. Voldemort would have won the war that year. Snape had no friends except mum and she was not a very good one was she? He could not even bring himself to say a simple hello to her after what, thirty five years.”

“You apologize right now Harry. Right now to your mother.” James had screamed.

“Dad do you know what a friend does?” Harry had asked him quietly.

“I know very well. One friend may have betrayed, but these two were friends Harry and I am a friend to them as well. Your mother put up more than enough with the git and I will not hear you talking like this about her. Apologize right now.” James had glared at Harry. Lily had stared at Harry in horror and shock.

“No I will not dad, because this is my opinion and I am entitled to it. Hermione is my friend dad. She stood by me in my third year when Sirius sent me the Firebolt and we were very thrilled, Ron and I. She went to McGonagall and told her thinking rightly it might have been from Sirius Black, whom all of us at the time thought was a murderer and after me.

“Ron and I did not speak to her for such a long time and even though she was miserable and totally alone, she did not regret her decision. In my fourth year, if she had not been with me I would have collapsed. She kept my sanity for the first task. And in my seventh year, she was already going out with Ron and still chose to stay with me when Ron was angry I was not doing enough and stormed away to Bill’s place. She fought with him and she stayed even though she was so miserable without him, just because she could not let me break with the huge burden I was already facing. She knew I would have broken and would have had no clue what to do, had she packed her bags and gone with Ron, who was so angry and accused her of choosing me over him before he left.”

Harry glared at his sobbing mother. “I had Voldemort in my head mum. My friends did not desert me and I won. He was only friends with Avery and Mulciber. Yes, that was wrong and he was a bigoted git with twisted ideas. But where was anyone to whom he could look up and take guidance from? The only girl he respected was so high up there he was lost.”

Hermione had had tears rolling down her eyes as she listened to Harry whom she loved like the brother she had never had. She had known Harry appreciated her help and that he loved her too, but this was the first time she had heard him speak so openly. He was still extremely closed about his feelings and sometimes even Ginny had trouble understanding him. She could read him like a book, though.

Ron had no answers to that and Harry had turned and glared at Dumbledore. “He came to you because he was desperate and you used him very nicely didn’t you, never respecting him as a human being, all because he hated one Harry Potter and he was frustrated and foolish enough to become a death eater and ask only for Lily’s life. You never trusted him and told him what he needed to know and ultimately you did not even give him the satisfaction that he had done his duty to the girl he had loved by telling him I would live through the curse.

“For sixteen years he had put his life in danger and he died without the knowledge both about the Elder wand and thinking he had failed Lily Evans because all his efforts could not save her boy.”

“Harry I could hardly tell him everything. It would have been dangerous to him.” Dumbledore had pleaded weakly still in shock about Harry’s statements about his choices regarding his sister.

“Yeah you could not. You could tell me about the Prophecy and the horcruxes even though I had no skill in Occlumency but you could not take an oath from him and reveal it to him. Especially when he had been doing so much for so long. You thought Draco, his mother and his father worth saving but not Snape. Lucius Malfoy never ever repented becoming a death eater and all of them would have stayed loyal to Voldemort if Draco had not been targeted. Yet, you did not want to hurt them and while I can understand Draco who was just nasty and a bully I could never accept his parents.

“It was because of Narcissa Malfoy’s manipulations of Kreacher that Sirius died. Lucius Malfoy has killed along with the best of them and done so much harm in the Ministry and still we don’t see you treating them like you did Snape. It had taken all of you fifteen years to acknowledge his contributions and all of you feel indignant he was not thankful enough. All of you suck.” Harry had had enough and he had turned and walked away.

The last four years after that confrontation Harry had never stepped into the Headmaster’s office and had stopped discussing his past in any way to his parents, Sirius and Lupin.

He spoke to them only about the news in The Daily Prophet and about his children and the Quidditch matches played here and there. No Voldemort, Snape, Dursleys, his work, nothing.

He had only pleasant chit chats never serious discussions about anything. James and Lily Potter had broken down and Sirius had tried his best to make Harry see sense. Only Lupin had understood what Harry had been trying to put across because that was how he had been treated because he was a werewolf and he never tried to convince Harry that the way they had treated Snape was okay.

Harry himself had reacted the way he had because he had seen a lot of himself in Snape. He too had been given no information and had not been trusted until it was too late. No one had told him that Snape had been friends with his mother. No one had told him about the connections he had with Voldemort and he had lost Sirius because of that.

Dumbledore had also made him fight his battle alone. He could have done so much better and saved a lot of those who had died if only he had been allowed to tell certain members of the Order under a magical oath about the horcruxes and asked for their help and also have a united front in fighting Voldemort. Snape alone would have helped him with searching out the horcruxes had he known about them.

All this secrecy Harry had felt only made the already tough task colossal. It had been sheer luck he had won and had destroyed all the horcruxes. So when he had realized Dumbledore had played with Snape just like he had with him, he had seen red and had lashed out at everyone.

He also meant every word he had spoken to his mother. He knew that support from your people and your closest circle made all the difference between winning and losing anything. Snape had lost that day when he had screamed ‘mudblood’ to his mother. Her lack of understanding and support and her ultimatums with a holier than thou attitude had made him seek the other side that had already attracted him so much.

He was a git, a bully, and very spiteful but Harry knew he was like that because everyone was like that to him in the first place. Apart from Lily no one had shown him trust, friendship and love. He had been laughed at for his shabby clothes and hooked nose. Snape did not know the meaning of trust, value and love and even with Lily he had had it buried so deep in his heart that he had not recognized it or acknowledged it himself. That had been his undoing.

Snape had been used just like he, Harry had been; only he was not fortunate to survive the war because he had no one, unlike Harry who had Hermione, Ron, the Weasleys and the Order with him.

Ron had never tried to speak to him about Snape after that day. He avoided Snape and all allied subjects like the plague and when Harry and Hermione would discuss Ron and Ginny would sit silently on the sidelines and watch.

Now after dropping off his sons at the King’s Cross station, Harry and Ginny reached Godric's Hollow and walked in along with Ron, Hermione, Lily and Hugo.

They walked in and Harry and Ron who had decided to make lunch for the family went into the kitchen arguing about the merits of Chudley Cannons and all that the team that had not won for over a century had to do to come even close to winning the Quidditch cup.

Ginny rolled her eyes and grinned at Hermione. They were sitting in the kitchen and listening to the arguments between the boys. James, Lily, Sirius and Lupin also walked into the kitchen and a more hilarious discussion ensued and soon all of them were having a delicious lunch.

Ron was looking very proud of the aroma that came from the dishes and Harry was very much amused.

They finished chatting and laughing about that season’s hopefuls and about which matches they would never want to miss and slowly they made their way out to the drawing room and settled down with their coffee.

“Ah this is life.” Ron groaned in pleasure taking a sip of his coffee.

“Don’t you have to go to the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes?” James asked him.

Ron grinned shook his head. “No James I got the day off. My daughter is going to school for the first time and it is so long since I met with Harry so leisurely, I decided to bunk.”

Hermione smiled at her husband and turned to smile at Harry. “You have taken the day off too, today Harry?” she asked him.

“No Hermione, I will be going in the evening and look at some paperwork, but only for a couple of hours.” Harry smiled back at her.

They spent time until Harry was to leave chatting and arguing pleasantly. Just before Harry was to leave for his office, Lily spoke up. Ron, Hermione and Hugo had decided to stay for dinner and Hermione had decided to accompany Harry to the Ministry and look at a few papers herself. She was one of the top officials in the department of Magical Law Enforcement.

“Harry even today Albus was asking after you dear.” Lily said softly.

“Yes mum. That is very nice of him.” Harry said equally softly and only with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

‘Harry he wants to meet with you alone and talk to you about something very important.” Lily said persevering. James, Sirius and Lupin were like Ron. They never spoke about Snape and Dumbledore.

“I think I will pass mum. Really.” Harry smiled at her, a bit of warning in his voice.

“He wants to apologize to you Harry. Is that too much for him to ask?” Lily asked him not caring for the warning in his tone.

“He need not apologize to me mum. He needs to do that to Snape.” Harry replied finality in his tone, “I have nothing against him mum.”

“Then go and see him now. Please Harry. Listen to me this once.” Lily pleaded with him.

Harry was silent for some time. “Okay I will see him tonight after I finish with my paperwork and he had better not sound all knowing or act as if he had only best intentions in his heart.” Harry growled, a bit unfairly because Dumbledore did have the best intentions, only he manipulated everyone to achieve them.

“But he did Harry. He did think the best. Only he lost sight of the fact that he was dealing with persons with human emotions. So did I.” she said very softly. Harry looked sharply at her.

“I was so intent on the obvious sense of right and wrong, I committed a blunder that will make me swim in my guilt until the end of time or until Severus forgives me. As I don’t see that happening, I must live with this guilt Harry. My excuse is I was very young and I was well pathetic.” She finished tremulously.

Harry nodded sadly. “Yes mum. You were very young and you were fighting against the word mudblood to notice more. I do not blame you but Dumbledore should have been able to see more. He did not because he too thought Slytherin was not worthy and those in Slytherin were truly bad.”

“That is not true Harry.” Lily argued with him. No one else was speaking until now when Hermione spoke.

“It is true Lily. I remember Snape’s memories where Dumbledore says Snape is brave and that he feels that they sort too early in Hogwarts. I received the worst insults from Slytherin, but even I know that not all Slytherin is bad just as not all Gryffindor is good. Peter was a Gryffindor and Snape was a Slytherin.” She smiled her eyes showing her understanding at Lily’s plight and guilt but siding with Harry all the same.

Lily sighed and left it there lest Harry changed his mind.

Dumbledore had been deeply upset and he had withdrawn into himself for many weeks before he even spoke a word to the others. He realized once again the mistakes he had committed in the name of the greater good had made Snape and so many others pay a very heavy price for them.

He had sent word to the Malfoy home asking for Snape to come at least once to his portrait but so far there had been no reply. He had been asking for Harry at regular intervals and he had wanted to grovel to Harry and also enlist his aid in trying to get Snape here to Hogwarts or allow Albus Dumbledore to go to even Malfoy Manor and also seek his salvation.

He was willing to do anything to talk to Snape and beg for his forgiveness. But in the last four years Snape had not visited even once.

Harry had not asked to see Snape. He knew Snape hated him and to tell the truth Harry himself did not feel any great love for the man. But he had sympathized and shared an empathy with the man for doing so much for so little.

Now Harry and Hermione got up a little lazily promising to come back in a few hours and nodding to his mother’s anxious reminder to visit Dumbledore and went to the fireplace.

Harry and Hermione threw a bit of floo powder and flooed straight into the Ministry’s auror office and waved goodbye to Hermione who took the floo from his office to hers. Harry sat down and for the next two hours there was only silence as Harry waded his way through a lot of paperwork.

He was putting his papers away when his floo burnt green and his assistant’s head poked out and seeing him, looked very relieved and asked him to come over urgently.

Harry was there the next minute and followed his deputy to a holding cell.

“Harry he was captured because of very dark activity in one of the remote islands in the Outer Hebrides and following that trail we were able to capture him. He has not spoken so far and veritaserum has no effect on him.”

“Where exactly was this place?” Harry asked him and got the place in one of the remotest corner of the Outer Hebrides.

“What else did you find there?” Harry asked him frowning. The man was wild looking and was probably older than Albus Dumbledore. He had snow white hair that looked unkempt and he was dressed very shabbily. His eyes were grey and they were very alert and very bright and right now they were piercing Harry’s face calmly without a hint of fear.

“What else did you find there? Anything at all?” Harry asked still looking at the man who was looking straight back at him.

“We found a potion bubbling away in a cauldron and this chain with a very small time turner hanging on his neck.” The deputy said very helpfully.

Harry was now curious. He leaned forward still not touching the chain or the time turner, took a careful look at it and then looked at the man.

“Sir, there was a huge dark magic registered in the area where you were living. No other magical creature or human wizard or witch was found except you. Do you have anything to say and could you please tell us what you were most likely researching?”

The wild man’s eyes widened at this line of polite questioning.

Harry smiled. “If you have a reasonable answer for our query, there is no reason why you cannot get back to what you were doing.” He said softly.

The man cleared his throat and spoke slowly. “I have been researching time turners Mr. Potter. Yes I am responsible for the dark activity and that was because I was adding certain runes to defeat time and combined they sparked off dark magic. I meant no harm sir.”

The deputy scowled, “You could have told me all that. I wouldn’t have disturbed Harry.”

Harry smiled. “No matter Geoff. Have you been successful in creating them though?” he asked thoughtfully.

“I don’t know sir. I have these notes of my ancestor and they are incomplete at best. I have been trying to fill in the gaps, without much success though.”

“What is this time turner Geoff removed from you?” he asked the one his deputy was holding.

“Oh I bought that in a second hand shop more than a century ago when I started my research for them. This is not real.”

Harry took it into his hands and examined it, sending his magic to it. The time turner was so tiny there were only a few grains, maybe only twenty five or so. Each grain was round and well defined.

Harry’s magic examined it and there was no magical response and Harry concluded the man was telling the truth. He asked a few more questions about the potion and the rune combination and silently agreed that the dark magic was a result of the potion and rune combination and nothing else.

He nodded to the old, wild man and was about to hand over the minute time turner when it slipped from his hand and fell to the floor.

Harry using his seeker reflexes tried to catch it before it hit the floor. But the time turner was faster than him and it hit the floor and broke. Harry wildly tried to grab it and fell on top of it. For a second there was nothing.

Then,

Harry felt everything spinning away. Glimpse of so many incidents came rushing to him and he could only stare helplessly and clutch his bursting head. Then he knew no more.


End of chapter – 1
------------------------

[The_Green_Woods]

This is a Harry going back in time story. Only I have made him go back after the epilogue of the DH. So he goes back 25 years in time. Naturally Harry being who he is changes the past, starting with Sirius. The pairings will also CHANGE, because Harry is not the same person as he was before. So the outlook of Harry changes and as a result of that his friends and girlfriends also change. I have not decided on the new pairings though. This will not be Harry/Ginny because I am not convinced about that pairing in Book 7. Sorry if that offends anyone. Harry though in the next few chapters, will grieve about Ginny and especially his kids. That I think is only natural before he is able to move forward.



Chapter – 2
---------------

Harry woke up after what seemed to be an eternity to the sound of screaming coming from somewhere outside. It was very dark where he was, presumably lying down and the voice was screeching at him to come out and use the toilet.

“Boy,” the long forgotten voice screeched, “If you don’t come now you will have to do without until today evening.” Harry was astounded.

That sounded like his aunt Petunia shouting at him when he had been with the Dursleys. “Okay. Stay there and wallow in your ****. The smell had better not come out.” She threatened and Harry could hear her stomp away.

Harry automatically flicked both his hands waiting for his wands to fall out. Nothing came. It was very dark and he was terribly disoriented. And the lack of his two wands made him feel very vulnerable. While Harry could do almost everything wandlessly, his wands were a part of him and he felt naked without them.

“Lumos.” Harry flicked his hand and a low light came into his cupboard. Cupboard? He was in No. 4 Privet Drive and in his cupboard? What the hell was happening? Harry trembled with fear, an emotion he had not felt in more than nineteen years.

Harry flicked his hand once more and a mirror came and floated in front of him. Harry screamed a little when he saw himself and then immediately flicked his shaking hands a bit uncertainly twice and erected a silencing charm and a muggle repelling one at his cupboard door. He was mighty relieved when the spells worked, forgetting that he had already cast a lumos and a mirror. He was totally disoriented.

For a few minutes Harry simply sat still trying to think and then slowly conjured a steaming cup of tea.

He held the hot rich spiced tea in his hands and slowly sipped it, wondering what had happened that had transported him to the bloody cupboard he had thought he had left it forever along with the Dursleys so many years ago and on top of that he looked like a little boy he had been all those years ago.

Suddenly Harry had another thought that made him pale and sweat and his hands trembled so much that all the tea was spilling onto his lap and Harry was so horrified by his suspicions, he did not even notice the hot liquid spilling onto him, burning his thighs.

He flicked his hand and slowly saw the date that shimmered in front of him; his cup slipped from his nerveless hands and crashed to the floor and Harry just sat there for almost an hour staring at the date.

He had gone back in time. He was about to become eleven and receive his Hogwarts letter in a few days. He was here in his cupboard because of speaking to the Boa Constrictor at the zoo and letting it out, he remembered clearly.

That meant Oh Merlin! Voldemort was alive and so were Bellatrix Lestrange and all his horcruxes.

Then another thought came to him. Sirius! He was alive too and so were Lupin and Tonks and Fred and Hedwig and Mad-Eye Moody!

Merlin! What a joke. Merlin! James, Albus and Lily, his three children. OH NO. His children were not yet born and would not be for many years. Harry gave a huge sob when he thought of his three kids. They were no longer a part of this world, his world, because they were not born yet. Ohhhh! How terrible.

Suddenly Harry’s head snapped up. Snape! He was alive too. And Albus Dumbledore!

But Harry did not want to see any of them. He wanted to go back to his life with Ginny and the kids. That was what his life was now and he wanted his family and his children. They were everything now.

He did not want to fight the bloody war all over again. He did not want to do anything that might change the future and make him lose his kids or Ginny or Ron and Hermione. He had his parents, Sirius and everyone there.

Harry had made his peace with all the deaths starting from Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, Snape and even Hedwig. Today Albus his baby boy would be sorted and he was here in his eleven year body. He was even going to meet Dumbledore’s portrait and sort out everything with him. How could this have happened now?

Harry put his head into his hands in despair. The bloody so called toy time turner was real and it was far more potent than all the time turners he had ever read about or heard about. It had transported him twenty five years back to a horrible world. A world where none of the mess had even started to happen.

A world where Voldemort and all his horcruxes were alive and kicking; where he had seven agonizing years before losing every one again. Before being shattered once again and then slowly picking up the pieces of his life, dealing with his guilt over Hedwig and Lupin and Snape and all the others who had died.

What truly scared Harry was the lack of knowledge about time turners and scarier was the fact that what was known about them was very disturbing. Time turners were not to be used lightly. Definitely not for more than a few hours at a stretch. After Harry’s fight at the Department of Mysteries in his fifth year, all the time turners had been completely destroyed.

It was many years later that the Department of Mysteries managed to create time turners, though not small ones like Harry had stupidly broken and only those that could turn time for a few hours at a time. Harry had one of those time turners himself at his home. He used them for an hour or two when he had a lot of paperwork. But never on assignment and never when he was hunting death eaters or other fugitives.

Too much could go wrong because of time and Harry had never wanted to risk anything by cheating time to win. He knew they would stand to lose a lot more. Now he was caught in a web of total uncertainty and Harry was so scared he was sweating profusely as he sat there in the small glow of his lumos that still had not extinguished.

There were so many what ifs. What if he never married Ginny and had his three kids came at the top and would not go away to be replaced with other equally frightening thoughts.

For Harry the loss of his family was the greatest change that could happen in this time. He knew how much ever he tried to keep everything the same all the bloody same, things had a way of changing and going out of control. Harry couldn’t stop the tears that ran down his face.

Only that morning twenty five years; a quarter of a century later he had comforted his young son. What if time changed in such a way he never saw his children again? He was not so worried about not seeing Ginny; he would after all next year, but he was worried if they would have the same chemistry once again. If they did not then he had seen the last of his kids.

He had lost them. Now the tears poured and Harry sobbed with fear and grief as he sat there all day and all through the night; the muggle repelling charm keeping his aunt and her family away.

He went to sleep still crying and very tired and woke up all disoriented the next morning and felt wretched once again when he remembered where he was. Albus would have been sorted.

But no, wait. There was no James, Albus or Lily. Yet. Still. They were the future. Harry trembled and he prayed to everything that was magic and omnipotent to march through this time and have his kids once again. Have his wife and his family and his sanity and his happiness.

Then he wiped his eyes and squared his shoulders. There was no use crying over this because there was no way to go back and Harry did not want to go to the Department of Mysteries and search for time turners. It would be his luck to go to a future where Ginny and everyone had died and only he was alive. Harry had that kind of luck after all.

Harry had only two options. To sit tight and let everything happen as it did in the past. Allow Sirius to rot in Azkaban for two more years. Let Wormtail escape in his third. Allow Cedric and all the others to die and then he would win the war with Voldemort and get on with his life. Harry smiled bitterly. He knew that this was never an option.

It was time for the second act of his miserable life to begin and Harry knew this time everything would change. He would take everything thrown at him, anything if only he could have his kids again. But he would plan later. Now he would have to get through the bloody day being his aunt’s house elf.

He flicked his hand. At least he thought he had his knowledge and his skills. Suddenly his eyes widened. He flicked his hand and enlarged his cupboard and concentrated for a second and then there was no Harry but a Phoenix, a viper and a stag.

Harry transformed into himself once again and breathed a sigh of relief and quickly went through all his spells and his shields; the Occlumency that came to him in his seventh year and one he had practised very hard and now had impeccable Occlumency shields.

Then he brought back the cupboard to its original size once again sighing in relief. Now, this time around, he knew all about wards and also about how he had been protected here and how he could move around them if he needed to without alerting one Albus Dumbledore about it.

Also the Ministry of Magic had no way of registering wandless magic and he was safe. He also knew Albus had no instrument to record magic performed here and the reason he had got caught with the Hover charm of Dobby’s that had made the cake fall on the Dursleys guest and bloating aunt Marge was because of magic was performed in both instances in the presence of a muggle.

So he was safe. He cancelled all the charms and waited for his aunt to open the door and allow him to the bathroom. He also vanished the tea cup with the tea and sat there.

Half an hour later his aunt came without shouting and just a little guiltily because she had forgotten about the freak living in the cupboard. “Come out Boy.” She was surprised to not to smell anything. She had come with her fingers pinching her nose and looking around in distaste and then was very surprised.

Harry acted faint and stumbled out, closing his eyes to the bright light outside and went to the bathroom and cast a muggle repelling charm on the door. A moment later he heard his aunt go down muttering confusedly to herself.

Harry grinned bitterly. How much he had suffered, all because Albus bloody Dumbledore thought Harry’s fame would get to his head. Harry had blown a fuse and destroyed a few more items in the Headmaster’s office, only it was the headmistress’s office at that time and he had half scorched Dumbledore’s portrait when he had learned of it.

Dumbledore had placidly told him that a few weeks in a year would have done the trick but he had not wanted Harry to fall prey to fame. Harry had stared disbelievingly at him and told him, well shouted, screamed and ranted at him for a good half an hour why fickle fame would have been far better for him than the humbling experience of the Dursleys.

Dumbledore had been shocked. He had known Harry’s life had been less than perfect but Harry’s bitter grief had wounded him deeply. Of course that would be nothing once Snape’s portrait came on the scene.

He stood for a long time under the shower and let the hot water run down. A small flick from his hand ensured the water to remain hot all the time. Then Harry soaked his dirty smelly clothes and flicked his hand blessing his wandless ability and looked on as they washed and dried by themselves.

Harry turned off the shower, removed the charm from the shower nozzle that would heat the water as it sprinkled out and dried himself by conjuring a nice towel. Then he put on his clothes looking at his skinny and starved body in distaste and dressed in the shabby but much cleaner rags of Dudley and cancelled the muggle repelling charm.

In three minutes his aunt came screeching to find Harry looking very small and tired and sitting on the toilet seat. She shouted at him asking him to come out and pointed to the kitchen and placed a plate with two slices of bread, a very thin piece of ham and some stale cheese and told him to take a glass of water from the tap.

Harry silently did all that she said and ate the very insufficient meal; he frowned as he bent his head down over his plate and realized he had to do something about this. For more than twenty years he had been accustomed to good food and he could hardly swallow this **** without retching.

But before that he had to take care of his Hogwarts letter that was due to come in, in a few days time.

Harry finished his meal and with a very slight flick of his hand made his aunt send him to his cupboard for the rest of the day. There Harry conjured a hot cup of good coffee and with a muggle repelling charm sat down to think about his kids and the good life he had lost.

As he slowly sipped his coffee, Harry realized that this time around it would be different for a variety of reasons. One he knew about the future that had been written already and he also knew about all the deaths that would take place, so it was his duty to try his best and prevent those deaths as much as he could and more importantly also make sure that because fate was cheated of taking the lives of all these persons who would die in the next seven years; she would not take away new ones.

He knew by changing fate he was venturing once again into the unknown and he would not be prepared because the consequences would be different and even frightening; but that would not allow him to allow Sirius to languish in jail or allow Snape to kill Dumbledore or Barty Crouch Jr. to kill his father and make a portkey of the Triwizard Cup and ensure Cedric’s death.

That was what scared Harry. The moment he changed a single thing, even Hagrid coming for him, he would be stepping into the unknown. But just because it was the unknown he could not let Sirius rot in Azkaban and allow everyone to die so that Harry could have his life back again.

His lips twisted humourlessly; the choice was so easy; once again fate had told him he did not deserve the happiness he had been having or the control he had over his own life. She did not want either for Harry and so she had cast him once again into this mess.

He cursed once again about coming back in time and do all that he did once again. He was not the same Harry; he did not know how in the name of heaven he was going to strike a friendship with Ron, and then Hermione, and later Ginny.

Harry groaned as he vanished his cup and lay down in the cupboard. He felt so helpless and so unsure, two emotions he had almost forgotten in the long years of calm, quiet and content living.

Tears came to his eyes and flowed once again when he realized what his actions would bring; uncertainty for the future and the almost sure realization that his kids were a part of his memory and nothing more. If only he could be sure that he and Ginny would get together this time too and have James, Albus and Lily, Harry knew he would walk over hot coals, face Voldemort another three times with his horcruxes thrown in, anything.

But he was not sure. He did not know how a thirty six year old Harry, who would become forty one year old Harry, would woo and marry Ginny. A sob came from him. He was so confused; he really did not know what to think.

He had been so happy.

Harry slept off and woke up at around dinner time and removed the muggle repelling spells.

Within ten minutes his aunt opened the door and told him sternly that he could come out of his cupboard but no funny tricks. Harry nodded passively and went to the kitchen to make dinner.

As he set the table, Vernon and Dudley waddled in and Harry saw them for the first time in over twenty years. He did not realize he had been staring until his uncle snapped at him.

“Why are you staring Boy?”

“Nothing Uncle. I am sorry.” Harry mumbled automatically; apparently all these years had not erased the first miserable ten years of his life.

Harry looked around cautiously and went to the kitchen and sat by himself and ate the pitiful stuff his aunt had given him.

“May I help myself to a glass of water from the kitchen tap?” Harry asked very softly.

He got a nod before his aunt went back to piling food on her ‘Dudders’ plate and Harry nauseated by the amount of food on Dudley’s plate, left quickly.

The first thing Harry decided as he cleaned; actually they cleaned by themselves Harry only had his hands in the soap water, would be to ensure he received his Hogwarts letter without any fuss and all the drama and his aunt’s special speech like last time.

With that in mind Harry searched for a few spells in his mind and finally came up with a combination of three spells that would make the Dursleys very eager to send him to Hogwarts.

He needed to charm only Petunia and Vernon, Dudley did not know about the world of magic and so he would not be included in the charm. He had even stopped calling them aunt and uncle when he was about nineteen. Harry scowled.

He went into the drawing room and cast his three spells at Petunia first and suddenly changing his mind he only placed a listening and a mild compulsion charm on Vernon. She turned to frown at him for daring to walk across the drawing room where her family was relaxing and her frown let up when she saw Harry went straight to the cupboard.

Then another thought apparently hit her and her eyes widened. “Boy.” She called loudly.

“Yes aunt Petunia?” Harry stood there deferentially.

“How old are you now?”

“I will be eleven years this July aunt Petunia.”

Her eyes narrowed and she shooed him away to go back to his cupboard. Harry went into his cupboard placing an eavesdropping spell on the drawing room as he went. He sat down there conjuring a cup of cold water; after the dry meal he had been forced to have he wanted only water and sipping it slowly, he listened in on the conversation in the drawing room.

“Dudley pet, why don’t you go to the kitchen where Mummy has made a nice chocolate cake for my Dudders? You may watch the T.V., there pet.”

Dudley would not have answered but for the chocolate cake. He grunted, that was his answer and he stood up and waddled to the kitchen table. It seems to have made his mother extraordinarily proud that her pet listened to her. She ignored the fact that it was the chocolate cake that made Dudley react so intelligently and obediently.

Harry snorted and scowled as he listened to his aunt. How much he had hurt and how much he had felt unwanted and bewildered that his aunt, his mother’s sister had treated him like a slave. Well not this time. Harry shook his head angrily and listened as his aunt began whispering to his uncle.

“Vernon, put off the T.V., I want to discuss something that will help us take Potter off our hands ten months in a year.” she whispered urgently, not realizing that until then both of them had decided to make sure that they would do everything to make sure that Harry would not be magical, they would, if necessary even beat the magic out of their freakish nephew.

“What is it love?” asked Vernon.

“Potter is eleven. She got a letter when she was eleven too. I don’t think this disease can be cured by us Vernon. If we allow Potter to leave for his freakish school, then he will be there for ten months in a year and after his seven years, he will be here for only one year until he is eighteen and then he will be gone from our lives forever.

“This is surely better than having him here and hiding him from our neighbours. He will get the letter one of these days. I suggest we tell him to go.”

Vernon was quiet for a few minutes making Harry sweat. Maybe he had not cast the charm properly he thought groaning when Vernon spoke.

“That is the best idea you have come up with my Pet. We will do that and no need to tell Dudders now. Or even the blasted Boy. We will speak and speak very casually about it, as if it is no big thing and tell him to leave. How is that?”

“Lovely.” And Harry cancelled the spell when he heard sounds of kissing and a slight groaning from Vernon. He did not need those images for Merlin’s sake, he thought and shuddered.

The next few days went by slowly and it was two weeks later in fact that the Hogwarts letter came.

All of them were sitting for breakfast when the letters came.

“Boy go and get the mail.” Venom told him from behind the newspaper. Dudley, who had already been enrolled into Smeltings, smirked at him.

Harry rolled his eyes and went to get the mail. He saw the familiar letter that had come only a month or so ago to his son and his heart felt very tight all of a sudden.

He picked it up and went to the dining room. He was now allowed to sit at the table as his official punishment was over and he sat there and placing the mail by his uncle’s plate, went to his own place and removed his letter and opened it swiftly.

“Mum look, the freak had got a letter.” Dudley said in between huge bites.

Petunia and Vernon looked at each other and waited for Harry to finish reading the letter and then Harry looked up apparently amazed.

“Someone has sent me a joke aunt Petunia.” He said and tucked it into his baggy pants.

“Give me the letter.” His aunt said crisply. “I know what it is.”

Harry silently gave her the letter.

His aunt read the letter. She felt a burst of jealousy burn through her. Then she clamped down on her feelings and attended to the matter on hand.

“Potter, this is not a joke.” She started. Dudley was shocked into not eating by his mother’s almost polite words to the freak.

“What! But aunt Petunia that letter says I am a wizard.” Harry exclaimed properly shocked and taken aback.

She nodded jealously and distastefully. “Your mother was one too, a witch I mean and your father was a wizard. They foolishly died because they were freaks and stupid and after they died the old fool of a man sent you here.” She said not realizing she had used the words witch and wizard, words none of the Dursleys would have dared to use in the past.

“Boy, now listen to me. You will go to this school and make sure you stay there the whole year. If they can keep you during the summer, then you will opt for that also. Alright?” Vernon said growling and staring at Harry.

Harry nodded his head, his eyes wide with shock and amazement.

“How will I write to tell them I am coming there?” Harry asked his aunt and slightly flicking his finger at her.

“You write a letter and we will take you to London to a place where all the freaks meet and you can find out there and also ask this Dumbledore for money to buy all this. We will not be supporting your purchases for the freakish school.” She added, earning Vernon’s approval.

“I have work tomorrow and you be ready by eight, Boy.” He snapped and turned to his paper. Dudley looked at this strange conversation with shock.

“I will explain everything to you Popkins. Now you concentrate on your breakfast.” His aunt cooed, making Harry sick. He asked for the letter to take it with him to his cupboard.

His aunt folded the letter and placed it inside the envelope and then paled.

“Vernon look at this. Are they watching? They must be.” She said showing the cover that had been addressed to the ‘Cupboard under the Stairs”

Vernon Dursley pompously took the cover and paled. “This, this… what is this Petunia. How could they know?”

His aunt wrung her hands. “I really don’t get it.”

She turned to Harry, “Get all your things from the cupboard and shift to the small bedroom. Now.” She barked and Harry ran.

“Mum,” Dudley wailed, “Why does the freak get to stay in my second bedroom? It’s unfair. I don’t wanna give it to him.”

“Popkins, I will explain it to you and mummy will give you a special treat for being so understanding won’t we Vernon?”

“Of course Petunia. Bring Dudders in the afternoon to London and we will have a nice treat for him. We can come back after dinner and Potter can take the bus home by himself.”

Harry grimaced bitterly as the Dursleys chatted and petted Dudley. This was home and according to Dumbledore and he thought that Harry was away from the fame that would have made his head big. Though the Dursleys did not like magic, that was a euphemism, if ever Harry heard one, and they did not like Harry very much, Dumbledore in all his wisdom had felt Harry would be fine here.

Harry softly snorted to himself and settled down in the second bedroom. He first sensed for any magical spell and found nothing just as Dumbledore had told him.

He relaxed and put away his meagre stuff into an old cupboard and using wandless magic, cleaned the bed, the sheets and the pillow and its cover. He also tidied the book shelf and placing a muggle repelling ward, summoned a notebook that was on the book shelf and a pencil and looked pensively at the wall in front of him.

The greatest factor in ensuring that nothing would go like it did the first time was himself, thought Harry as he chewed the pencil. He had changed so much. He was thirty six years after all and he had cast killing curses and he was no innocent that went with so much hope to the station at King’s Cross.

Nor was he so naïve as he was before to accept everything at face value and following all the traits he had developed at the Dursleys of not asking questions.

The only scars he visibly carried from his earlier shunned existence at the Dursleys was that he was still very protective and much closed about his feelings and he knew that apart from Hermione no one could read him completely. Not even Ginny. Ron could very vaguely sense his mood shifts at times but he was pretty clueless and never knew how to act upon his suspicions.

Now knowing so much of the future Harry knew the priority was rescuing Sirius from the hell on earth. Azkaban. By doing that alone, he was changing the future where Sirius escaped only in his third year.

Harry sighed and put his head on the desk and lay down there grieving for his kids, Ginny and his life until evening. He got up feeling hungry and cancelled the charms and not five minutes later his aunt called him down to prepare dinner.

Harry went down feeling wretched and he prepared dinner in record time and ate silently and then cleaning the dishes and the kitchen in no time walked up when his uncle reminded him about leaving the next day to London.

“Be ready by eight, Boy. You will find your way back from there. We will not be buying you your things. You will have to contact the school from there; ask anyone and they will tell you how. Ask them to pay for your things. Tell them you are an orphan alright? That will do the trick.”

Harry felt a sudden rage coming over him. But he simply nodded and left upstairs and lay down on his bed staring at the ceiling thinking of his old life.

He slipped away to sleep.

At half past seven in the morning his aunt woke him up and yelled at him to get ready.

Harry was down in ten minutes time and his uncle told him to wait by the car.

Harry went bitterly to the car. Apparently his aunt and uncle felt he could beg his way from breakfast until lunch and even dinner.

In ten minutes his uncle came out and Harry got in at the back and his uncle drove silently until they reached London. His aunt had told Vernon to drop him off very near The Leaky Cauldron, giving him specific instructions because Vernon would not be able to see the pub. Petunia could not see either but she knew the place because she had gone very reluctantly with her parents to shop for Lily.

Harry got down and shut the door.

“Make sure you get back home today night or tomorrow morning.” His uncle told him before he drove away.

Harry watched him drive away and he wandlessly cast a notice-me-not charm and an obscure but a very nifty charm that Hermione had created in the future that would keep his aura and himself very inconspicuous against magic eyes like those of Mad-Eye’s magical eyes.

He walked to The Leaky Cauldron and stepped inside. There a many people sitting and chatting quietly, the aroma of lovely hot food spread all over the pub and making Harry’s mouth water.

But he could not order anything until he had the money and so Gringotts was his first destination. He waited outside near the entrance to Diagon Alley and about fifteen minutes later the bricks opened from the other side and a few giggling witches made their way out of Diagon Alley and into The Leaky Cauldron and they did not notice a boy who slipped past them.

The said boy with a cap on his head to hide both the scar and his messy black hair went once again into Diagon Alley to purchase everything to start his school years all over again.


End of Chapter – 2
-------------------------

[The_Green_Woods]

Chapter – 3
---------------

Harry stepped into Diagon Alley and walked briskly towards Gringotts. Diagon Alley was a bit subdued compared to the years after the war when it had slowly picked up itself and then had blossomed. The last three to four years Diagon Alley was a bustling centre with huge businesses, all making a hefty profit.

Harry noticed all this as he walked towards the white structure of the wizarding bank. He smiled a little at the goblins standing guard and went inside and chose a counter that was not only empty but also had no one at the counters on each side.

He walked up to the goblin that sneered at him and smiled and pushed a piece of paper towards it.

My name is Harry James Potter and I wish to speak to you in private.

Harry

The goblin looked at Harry and its eyes flicked to Harry’s forehead and looked at his face again. Harry had removed all the charms once he had stepped into the banks not needing to have the goblins suspicious at him. Seeing the goblin trying to peer at his scar, Harry obliged and lifted his cap slightly and pushed his hair.

The goblin’s eyes flicked to his scar once again and it nodded.

“Place a drop of blood on this parchment.” It said, removing another parchment and snapping its fingers at the parchment and handed it to Harry. Harry saw that the parchment had the name of Harry James Potter written on it.

The goblin handed over a small knife when it saw Harry was looking at his finger and trying to cut it with a small pencil, he had found in his pocket.

“Thanks.” Harry told it and did not see the goblin raise its eyebrows at the single word. No one generally spoke to the goblins with so much casual acceptance. Harry returned the knife and placed a drop of blood on the parchment and watched the goblin examine it and then the goblin got up and gestured Harry to follow him and went down the long aisle and into a room.

“Yes Mr. Potter, what can I do for you?” the goblin asked.

“First off I would like to know about my vaults. My family after the death of my parents are muggles and they have not told me anything except to enquire here sir.” Harry replied politely.

The goblin muttered something and snapped its fingers and Harry’s statements appeared on the table. The goblin looked through it and then lifted its head and looked at Harry.

“You have two vaults, yours and your parents vault Mr. Potter. Some of the money is in your vault and the rest in your parents’ vault.”

“How do I access them sir?” Harry asked.

The goblin frowned, “Don’t you have your key Mr. Potter?”

Harry shook his head.

“Very well.” It snapped its finger again and another goblin appeared and after a whispered conversation with the goblin sitting in front of Harry, left the room and shortly with two keys.

“These are the keys to your vaults Mr. Potter. Please keep them safely.”

“Sir,” Harry asked hesitantly, “My aunt told me my parents’ had a house. Do you have any details of their home and any other assets they might have had?”

“You have one property called Godric's Hollow in Wales Mr. Potter. All relevant papers are in your parents’ vault.” It told Harry looking through some files, all marked Potter.

“May I request you to keep my coming here very confidential and I also need something to withdraw both wizarding and muggle money without having to come to the bank every time. Is there something for that?” Harry asked the gobbling his eyes wide and innocent.

“Yes Mr. Potter. There is and I will give you a pouch that will turn to a wallet when you want to use it in the muggle world. I will also bind it to you, so that it will never get lost or misplaced. All you have to do is to state from where you wish the money to come from, your vault or your parents’ and it will come into your pouch from there.”

Harry nodded in satisfaction. Now he had got over the accessing of money properly, he was safe and did not need to depend on Mrs. Weasley or Bill to get money every time for him. And he fervently hoped he would never antagonize the goblins as he had for getting into Bellatrix’s vault and hoped he had a better way of getting the horcrux.

Harry thanked the goblin and went out to go to both his vaults and he came face to face with Griphook. He smiled at the goblin who scowled at Harry before silently leading him down to his vault first.

It was the same as last time and Harry opened it and then he walked around and picked up a few galleons and walking out he nodded to Griphook to tell him he was finished here and would now like to visit his parents’ vault.

They went down to where Harry’ parents’ vaults were and Harry went inside, telling Griphook he would be there for some time.

His vault was actually his father’s opened by his grandfather, when James Potter came of age. This had been his family vault. There were some valuable items, many books, some of them rare and a lot of money.

There were also his family portraits. All of them had been sealed when they had been placed in the vault and to unseal them Harry had to use the Marauder’s password, ‘I solemnly swear that I am up to no good’ and the portraits would come alive.

But Harry did not want to do that because he was not supposed to know the word marauder let alone their password. So he looked at his parents, Sirius and Remus and Peter and let all of them remain even though he wanted to blast off Wormtail off the wall.

He smiled at all of them and shook his fist and cursed at Pettigrew and then walked around feeling at home for the first time after he had come to the past and went to a dark corner of the vault, conjured a few vials and transformed into his animagus form of a Phoenix. He shook out two feathers and then pecked himself and carefully collected a few drops his blood into a conjured vial. Next came his tears and that went into another vial.

Harry changed back and without healing his cut, transformed once again into his second animagus form of a viper and released a little bit of his venom into a very small shallow basin. Then he slowly lifted his body and dropped the viper’s blood into another shallow basin and then transformed back once again.

Then once again Harry transformed into a stag and some blood and tail hair. Harry was done.

Though it was Harry, even when he transformed, he had the properties of his animagus forms, something he did not have when he was Harry. While he would have great healing properties, Harry in his Phoenix form could take the killing curse and be born, in his human, or his other two animagus forms he could get killed. The combinations of all of these into two wands would not only bind the wands to him, but would also make any curse or hex coming from them extremely powerful. Harry figured he had a Phoenix form because he had taken a killing curse two times and had survived.

He finally added his own blood to another conjured vial and he was ready to leave his vault. He healed his cut wandlessly and placing all the now sealed vials carefully into his pockets, Harry walked out.

With various ingredients Harry was ready to craft his wands; two of them. He would not go to Ollivander but to another wand crafter in Knockturn Alley.

He went up with Griphook and thanking him which brought another scowl to the irate goblin’s face and sauntered out into the bright sunlight of the day. He did not go shopping directly but went into a small alley and placed a lot of charms wandlessly on himself.

He first made himself look a little older and changed his battered coat into a thick robe, carefully removing the vials first and changed his hair and eye colour. He also made his dark Brown hair stick to his forehead as a thick fringe over his scar.

Harry satisfied with his changes walked out of the alley and into the main street at Diagon Alley casually, placing a notice-me-not charm on himself. No one gave him a second look and he went first back to The Leaky Cauldron and had a huge meal.

Then he waited for a few minutes and went back into Diagon Alley when a group of people went in.

Harry first went to buy a trunk. He got himself a seven compartment one with many secret places and heavily warded against magical eyes and other devices. From there he visited the stationery shop and loaded himself with parchment, quills and everything he might need.

The next stop was to Madam Malkins. Harry purchased a lot robes, muggles clothes and undergarments and placed them in his new trunk. Shrinking his trunk that only needed him to place his hands on a particular place on the trunk, Harry went to Flourish and Blotts and stocked up on all his first year texts as given in his Hogwarts letter and then went and purchased a great many books on defence, potions, Occlumency, Legilimency, mind magics, charms, Transfiguration, animagus and runes.

Placing all of them in his trunk and walking out, Harry went to Eyelops and his heart lifted when he saw Hedwig there. Harry went straight to her and held out his arm silently, his eyes shining as he looked at her, his heart bursting with love looking at his first faithful friend.

To the surprise of the shopkeeper Hedwig sailed down and settled on Harry’s hand.

“Well, that bird has never done that!” the shopkeeper gasped, astounded by the behaviour of the snowy white bird that had been slightly sullen and refusing everyone until now.

Harry smiled a genuine smile for the first time since he had come back to the past and paid for the bird. “I will call you Hedwig. Do you like your name?” he asked while the shopkeeper was counting the change.

Hedwig hooted softly and nipped Harry affectionately on his ear. She was perched on his shoulder and looked very content there. Harry also bought a nice cage and a smart perch for her and lots of owl treats. He placed the cage and the packets of owl treats into his trunk, shrunk it and left.

“I won’t let you die this time Hedwig. Not if I can help it.” Harry murmured fiercely his brown eyes very bright.

“Wait for at The Leaky Cauldron will you? I have some work at Knockturn Alley and I will collect you on my way back.” He murmured to her and Hedwig hooted and flew away, her white wings soaring high in the air.

Harry watched her for a minute, his heart full and then turned away and walked briskly into Knockturn Alley. He went straight inside the narrow dark alley and walked for a few minutes before he came to a shop that said ‘Akernicks Wand Crafters since 682 A.D’

Harry stepped into the store and walked to the counter. There was a young man there, the same man whom Harry had seen after fifteen years to have his second wand crafted with the same ingredients he had now with him in his vials.

Harry had been introduced to this wand crafter by one of his deputy’s who had his wand crafted by Akernicks and swore by him. Harry had gone with his contributions from himself and his various animagus transformations and had his wand crafted.

That wand had felt so powerful and harmonious even more than his holly wand, a feat Harry had not thought possible until then. After wielding this wand, the holly wand slowly became the second wand and this wand the primary one.

Now Harry went to the counter and spoke to Akernicks.

“I have some blood and snake venom, some tail hair and two Phoenix feathers. I would like to have two wands crafted with them, please. Would you be able to do it for me?”

Akernicks simply nodded, “It will take a couple of hours. Find the wood from the pile there and give me the ingredients here.”

Harry went to the pile of wood and closed his eyes and ran his hands through the different pieces of wood kept there and his hand unerringly picked out a piece of wood that felt very right in his hands. Harry opened his eyes to see it was holly. No surprises there he thought and Harry took the log of wood to the wand crafter.

“I will come back in a couple of hours from now.” Akernicks nodded already frowning over the holly.

Harry left the wand shop and went a little deeper and came to an apothecary that a little tucked inside, almost into another smaller alley of the main Knockturn Alley.

Harry walked briskly inside and ordered a list of normal school requirements and also other ingredients most of them on the banned list and very dubious. He paid for them and went straight into the next shop that was a book shop.

This was not like Flourish and Blotts, but a book shop devoted to the Dark Arts and other darker aspects of magic. He walked around and collected a number of books and was about to make his way back when his eyes fell on a book that was a goldmine.

Self – Updating Book of Spells

Harry lifted that book reverentially and turned the pages inside. They were blank.

“No one has ever succeeded to bring the print on to the pages sir.” A soft voice spoke next to Harry startling him.

“Nevertheless I would like to try my luck. Otherwise I may sell it back here, may I not?”

The old lady who had spoken to him nodded and smiled. “That is what everyone who has taken this book from here does. They return it in about a month or two after trying everything to get it to open for it is very expensive.”

Harry smiled back at her and then paid for the books and opening his trunk, placed them there and shrinking it once more, went back to the wand shop and sat down on a stool there waiting for his wands to be completed.

Harry waited for half an hour before the wand crafter finished the final polish on his wand and looked up at Harry. “You have brought an unusual combination for your wands. I think they will be very powerful and also binding to you and you alone.”

Harry nodded and he slowly took the first wand in his hand. The wand hummed in his hand and then lay still. Harry gave it an experimental wave and red, gold, green and silver sparks came out in a riotous swirl of colour.

Harry repeated the process with the other wand and then smiled truly for the second time in the day. He paid the wand crafter and then went out and walked to The Leaky Cauldron and motioning Hedwig to stay concealed, Harry went inside.

Tom was there cleaning glasses and he looked up with a smile when Harry entered. Harry looked around The Leaky Cauldron as he approached the counter and Harry was mildly shocked when he saw Quirrell sitting at one corner of the room and nursing a drink, a few others sitting around talking about various items in Transfiguration today, The Potions Journal Fortnightly and so on.

“Hello, I am planning to go off on a trekking trip and I don’t want to keep apparating here or to my kitchen or cook in the tent for food everyday. How about packing some assorted stuff for about two weeks? Do you do all that? I am Oldie Back.”

Tom was thrilled. This was big business. He nodded enthusiastically. “Of course sir. I can do all that. Full meals you mean – breakfast, lunch and dinner?” he asked.

“The works; Oh and I would like something to eat now.”

“In a moment sir.” Tom said happily and Harry went to one of the front tables very far away from Quirrell.

By the time Harry had finished, his very full combination of tea and dinner, Tom was ready. Harry went up to the counter to pay and Tom smiled widely at him, “Well Mr. Back, see this bag here, all you have to place five knuts for tea, six for coffee, a sickle for breakfast, lunch or dinner. This bag will transfer the money here and I will place what ever you want into the same bag and you will receive it.

“Breakfast, lunch or dinner will be according to time and if you don’t want to eat for a day, don’t put the money in. Place the empty plates into the pouch and I will receive it back. You will have to pay for one set of plates, cutlery and cups and saucers now. If you break or lose them then you will pay for whatever items you have broken in addition to your meal. That is all.”

Harry smiled as widely as Tom. “This is fantastic. Will I be able to use it even after the two weeks; if I get bored of my own cooking?”

“Yes sir. This is meant for bachelors usually and also for anyone who wishes to have a day off from the kitchen. This will work for as long as you would like.”

Harry heaved a sigh of relief. Food was taken care of. Hedwig was alive once again and he had ready access to the money. He had two wands that would work only for him. At least the basic things were going smoothly so far Harry thought crossing his fingers and knocking on the wooden table top.

Harry smiled his thanks to Tom and went out and apparated behind some bushes behind the small park in Little Whinging. Removing his disguise there, he slowly walked to his aunt’s home. The house was locked and Harry opened the door wandlessly and then locked it behind him.

He walked up to his room and cast a notice-me-not charm at the door and also a muggle repelling charm just to be safe. Then he unpacked everything and arranged his trunk, leaving only his books outside. He enlarged the perch and watched with happiness as Hedwig flew and sat on it, hooting softly with pleasure.

He placed muggle repelling charm on his trunk and his books and placed a sickle into the pouch and was rewarded by steaming hot dinner. Harry ate, not minding the fact he had had a very late tea and relaxed for sometime thinking of everything as he sat there on his chair.

When it was completely dark, Harry stood up and stretched. He had already sent his reply to McGonagall carefully using muggle paper and pen and not parchment.

Dear Professor McGonagall,

I am writing to tell you that I will be attending the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in September this year. Thank you for admitting me into your School.

Yours sincerely,

Harry Potter.

Harry had looked at it and felt it was pretty much okay. If it wasn’t, well that was okay too, he supposed. He had sent it off with Hedwig, patting her and cuddling her, almost cooing to her. He had not realized how much he had missed Hedwig until he saw her once again. This almost made his unscheduled trip to the past worth the while. Almost.

After sending off the letter Harry had sat there on his chair putting his face into his hands for a long time. What he would be doing next would change the future totally.

Harry sighed from the depths of his soul and then changed into his Phoenix form and with a soft trill disappeared.

He appeared in a small village called Ottery St. Catchpole. Harry transformed once again and casting an invisibility charm on himself, walked to The Burrow. He stopped outside the wards and slowly scrutinized them.

They were very ordinary, only basic protection wards and muggle repelling ones. Only later, after the resurrection of Voldemort would stronger wards be added he knew. Harry slowly worked his way through them; immensely thankful he had this knowledge with him when he was thrown to the past and was soon inside the wards of The Burrow.

His heart was beating very fast as he approached what had been his second home since his summer vacation before second year at Hogwarts. This was also where his best friend and his wife lived.

Whether she would be his wife this time and if he would share the same relation with Ron, Harry did not know and it was all this that was killing him inside. While he could save many of the lives that had been lost before because of Dumbledore’s foolish inactive policies, they came at a very high price; by coming here he had just sacrificed that part of his life unless a miracle would happen.

But leaving Sirius for two more years until he escaped and imprisoning him for another two at Grimmauld Place was never an option, really. Harry knew he would not be able to live with the guilt; that to have Ginny and his kids as before he would knowingly allow so many people to die and he had not even started thinking about Snape, Draco and the other Slytherins.

Harry had met initially with Draco, Pansy and a few others after the death of Voldemort and slowly he had understood the extent to which Snape had protected all of them. Harry knew with very little power and hardly no standing and no money, Snape could not and did not dare do more.

Harry had met Draco for the first time about five years after the death of Voldemort. He was already an auror and married to Ginny. They had met when he had come watch his wife at the Quidditch match. Harry was also there along with Hermione and Ron to cheer Ginny and spotting Draco he had nodded formally and had been about to turn away when Draco had come up to him and had caught his arm.

“Potter, if I may have a word with you?” he had asked softly.

“Yes Malfoy?” Harry had asked neutrally. Dumbledore’s death was still raw and seeing Draco Malfoy brought memories of Snape and his parents that Harry was not yet ready to handle.

His mother had wept when she had learnt about Snape’s contribution to the war and she had been inconsolable for days when Harry and Dumbledore had told her it had been his love for her that had controlled him and pushed him until the very end.

James Potter had scowled along with Sirius at the implications of Dumbledore’s and Harry’s information and had been furious that Lily had been so affected by Snape’s sacrifice when so many others had sacrificed a lot more without becoming a death eater in the first place as he had pointed out scathingly to his wife.

Both of them had tried to tell Harry and Dumbledore that the fault was Snape’s in the first place, but Harry had grown up by then and that was the first major argument he had with his father and Sirius, when he had disagreed with them. That had made James and Sirius so angry they had not spoken to Harry for almost a week and James had fought with his wife and had raged against her jealously for almost a month.

But that had been nothing when after meeting with Draco Malfoy, Harry and Hermione had pushed for Snape’s portrait in the Headmaster’s office. That had sparked off a row of mammoth proportions.

Draco had only a question for him, a question that would make Harry introspect a lot before taking a very tough stance with everyone whom he had been listening and agreeing with until then. “Has Professor Snape’s portrait appeared in the Headmaster’s office? If it has, could you get permission from McGonagall for me to speak to him, just for a few minutes only?”

Harry had stared and then had pinked a little. “No portrait had come until now Malfoy. But I will look into it and inform you the moment Snape’s portrait appears.”

Draco Malfoy had nodded and left. Harry had told Hermione and Ron about what Malfoy had asked and Hermione had understood right away but Ron had not been pleased. Harry could not concentrate on the match after that one minute meeting with Malfoy and he had remained distracted. He had gone with Hermione the next day and had spoken to Dumbledore, in fact demanded why Snape’s portrait had still not appeared.

Harry had been shocked by the answers he had received by the other Headmasters and Headmistresses.

“He was not a true Headmaster. After all he was only one of Voldemort’s lackeys.”

“Why should Hogwarts present the portrait of a death eater and Harry that is what he was until he turned to Dumbledore.”

“The regime of Voldemort was a sham and Snape as Headmaster was equally so. He will not share a platform with us.”

Phineas Nigellus had remained silent but had looked very scornfully at Dumbledore who had also remained silent.

“You agree professor?” Harry had asked Dumbledore sharply and Dumbledore had remained silent, though he had shook his head before bowing his head down. Then for almost ten years Harry had argued and fought with only Hermione by his side for Snape’s portrait to be allowed for his bravery and dedication and contribution without which the war with Voldemort would have surely not been won.

It was during those ten years that Harry had met with Draco secretly. Only Hermione had known and she had accompanied Harry to most meetings. They had talked about Snape and Harry had learned the extent of Snape’s sacrifice and slowly he had learned why Voldemort had been able to sway most of the purebloods to his side and how the Light had driven away almost all the Slytherins over a period of more than hundred years by their prejudices towards Salazar Slytherin.

Now as he walked towards The Burrow he knew he had much work to do if he could even think of not only saving all those who died but also all the Slytherins who would join Voldemort and perish. He sighed and realized that he seemed to be doing a lot of that now a days.

Harry slowly levitated from the ground after firmly reapplying his invisibility charms once more and rose up to what would have been Percy’s bedroom. He peered into the room and saw Percy sleeping soundly and Wormtail in a cage. He too, was sleeping.

Thankfully all the windows were open and Harry was not forced to cast more spells to open the window and create an illusion so that Percy and Wormtail would not realize their window had suddenly opened on its own.

Harry stepped into the room and quietly cast a sleeping charm on Percy and then a stunner at the rat. Harry unlocked the door and removed Pettigrew and stunned him twice before placing him into his pockets.

Harry looked for a long moment at Percy before opening the door and stepping out into the narrow landing. From there his feet automatically took him to the top floor of The Burrow. Harry opened the door and saw a young Ron sleeping soundly. Harry stood there for a long time and then his whole frame trembling, went down to Ginny’s room.

He stood outside the door and then slowly opened it and stepped inside. His whole body was trembling and Harry was sweating with sheer nerves as he looked at a small figure that was snuggled under the covers. Harry cast a mild sleeping charm at her and slowly turned the face towards him. Tears fell from his eyes as he looked at the woman who was his wife and the mother of his children something that seemed so unsure now and he slowly bent down and pressed his lips to hers.

A few minutes later he abruptly got up, transformed into a Phoenix and flashed to the edge of the wards. He transformed back and crossed the wards before apparating for the Gaunt House. He landed quietly in front of the run down home and looked at the magic that was swirling in the corner.

Harry thought for a few minutes. He really did not want to disturb the enchantments but at the same time he wanted to remove the horcrux. After debating with himself a bit more, Harry conjured a snake not unlike Nagini and pointing his wand at her and hissed, “Imperio.”

The eyes of the snake glazed over. “Go inside and bring the ring that lies in that corner.” Harry hissed to her and she swayed for a minute before slithering inside.

Harry watched with bated breath. This was merely an experiment. He had had long discussions with Dumbledore before the fights started and he avoided the Headmaster’s office and based on those discussions he was testing something now.

The snake went into the house and was able to penetrate through all the charms harmlessly. It was proved to Harry that Dumbledore’s theory that Voldemort allowed snakes on command by Parseltongue to breech the enchantments around the horcruxes without harm. That was a back up so that just in case he could not be seen at those places, he could possess snakes and remove the horcruxes without anyone being the wiser.

Harry removed the horcrux from her mouth and banished her. He placed the ring into his other pocket and silently apparated to the wards on Privet Drive.

From there Harry changed into a Phoenix and was in his room in no time. It was about three in the morning and he had retrieved a horcrux and Pettigrew.

Harry sat at his desk. Now he had to remove the tiara of Ravenclaw and the locket from Grimmauld Place. That would leave the diary that hopefully Malfoy would see it fit to drop into Ginny’s Transfiguration book.

Even if he did not get his hands on the book at Flourish and Blotts itself, Harry thought he could get the book once Ginny got it with her to Hogwarts. That would make the total number of horcruxes Harry would have with him to four. The one thing that would present a difficulty would be Hufflepuff’s cup that was deep inside Gringotts in Bellatrix’s vault and Nagini.

Harry had no clue about Nagini and he thought that he would need Snape’s help for the last two.

But the thing that would make Voldemort’s death very difficult was Harry himself. Now that he knew he was a horcrux, Harry knew he would not have the same mind set and attitude that he did all those years back to go into the forest and sacrifice himself for the greater good.

Feeling a headache coming on, Harry decided to leave the horcrux inside him until the end. Maybe this time he would need to cast the killing curse on himself to kill the horcrux and his own self. That thought depressed him so much that Harry sat there until early morning thinking of all he had already lost and would lose if it came to that.

It was almost seven. Dawn had come and gone and sunlight was beginning to light up his room when Harry lifted his head and wiped his wet cheeks. He sighed and making sure that his room was secure so that the Dursleys would not see it fit to open and search through his things, Harry transformed once again into a Phoenix and flashed to the cave where he had met Sirius near Hogsmeade.

He looked around the cave in a fit of nostalgia and then he set the stunned rat down. Snarling at the unconscious rat Harry conjured a large brown owl and cast a few spells for the owl to fly straight to Hogwarts and in Hogwarts to the Headmaster and hand over the special delivery only to him.

While Harry was sure that no one would be able to ascertain the place from where the parcel came, he did not want to take any chances that Dumbledore would somehow find out that Pettigrew was sent from somewhere near Privet Drive. That would cast a type of light on him that Harry wanted to avoid at all costs especially since he knew attention would come his way for so many other things.

Conjuring a cage Harry placed Pettigrew inside it and removed all traces of identification magic from the cage and the owl. Then he sat down to write a short note addressed to the Headmaster of the Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

He wrote the note and once again checked the parchment, cage, owl and rat properly and praying that this first step would go well and correctly Harry sent the owl away.

The next minute a Phoenix was flashing back to Privet Drive. The Dursleys had still not come; perhaps they had decided to stay over Harry thought while he washed. He went to his room once he finished and making sure the muggle repelling wards were firmly in place put a five Knuts and a sickle in to The Leaky Cauldron pouch.

Half an hour later a pleasantly full Harry was fast asleep.


End of Chapter – 3
-------------------------

[The_Green_Woods]

Chapter – 4
---------------

It was a truly a spectacular summer in Scotland where the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was located, hidden away from muggles and heavily warded and fortified against any magical attacks, made possible by protection spells from the Founders' themselves and then after them by almost every Headmaster.

Professor Dumbledore himself was responsible for a good many of them, having placed them all around Hogwarts during the time of Grindelwald when he was not even a Headmaster and then later as Headmaster during the time of Voldemort’s first rise to power.

It had been eleven years since the fall of Voldemort and Dumbledore and indeed the entire Wizarding World were enjoying the peace and quiet that came after one Harry James Potter defeated the darkest Lord of recent times.

This year he would be attending Hogwarts. Dumbledore had already seen his reply letter and had been very happy that he had been allowed to send a reply. He had thought that Harry might have needed rescuing but it was not so.

The letter to Harry Potter had been addressed to a cupboard under the stairs and Dumbledore had felt very sad when he had seen that. Usually the letters were sent automatically but in Harry’s case Dumbledore had wanted to see the letter and he had been shocked.

McGonagall had been very scathing and she had reminded Dumbledore about her concerns ten years ago and had left angrily when Dumbledore had not agreed to reconsider his place of residence because of the protections there.

When Harry’s letter had come at breakfast the day before carried by a huge snowy owl Dumbledore’s eyes had twinkled madly as he listened to McGonagall who read the letter aloud.

Snape had scowled and passed rather inappropriate comments that had forced Dumbledore to rebuke him mildly. Snape had stormed out in anger and had vanished for the rest of the day.

Today morning Snape had appeared but was scowling so badly that everyone gave him a wide berth and Dumbledore had looked inscrutably at him before silently attending to his breakfast. It was rather early but almost all the professors were there rising early to take advantage of the great summer they had been enjoying.

Dumbledore was sipping his spiced tea when he noticed a huge ordinary barn owl flying towards the Head table with a cage tied to it. Inside the cage was a rat and it was apparently sleeping. There was a letter tied to the cage and Albus Dumbledore frowned as the owl came to him and held out its leg.

He whipped out his wand and cast a good many spells and finding the rat and the letter harmless, he removed the package and the owl soared away to vanish once it crossed the School wards.

Meanwhile Albus Dumbledore was opening the letter and he skimmed it and his eyes grew big and round with shock. The letter had done the impossible. It had thrown Albus Dumbledore for a six.

He cleared his throat and started to read aloud to his amazed and slightly worried colleagues who were looking at him in shock. They had never seen Dumbledore exhibit emotions so unguardedly.

Dear Headmaster,

The rat inside the cage is an animagus that goes by the name of Peter Pettigrew. Yes, the rat is alive and he was the secret keeper of the Potters and not Sirius Black. He is also a death eater and once you transform him and feed him with veritaserum, you will get all the answers you need.

Sirius Black is in Azkaban for a crime he has not committed. I presume that you are capable of ensuring that justice will be done to both Black and the bloody rat.

Be careful; he can and will transform in a second’s time and will escape if he can.

Dumbledore finished the short, abrupt and very blunt note amidst a deathly silence and looked around at everyone.

“If Sirius is indeed innocent… Merlin! Albus we have condemned him to ten years in that hell hole with the dementors.” McGonagall was horrified.

“This letter is a farce. Maybe the wolf wrote it to save his friend.” Snape snarled in rage. But why now after all these years, came unbidden to his mind and he snarled once more.

The rest were muttering uneasily among them when Albus Dumbledore clapped his hands asking for silence.

Dumbledore stood up, “Severus can you please get the veritaserum at once. I will wait here for you.”

Snape stood for a moment as if to argue but seeing the look on Dumbledore’s face left silently.

Dumbledore levitated the cage and set it in the middle of the room. The House tables were not put up and the Great Hall was very empty. Snape came very soon breathing very hard. He had been running to his office and back and the moment he came and stood near Dumbledore, Dumbledore flicked his wand and opened the cage and levitated the rat.

He banished the cage and set the rat on the ground, stunned it once and then cast the animagus to human transformation spell.

All of them looked in amazement when before their eyes the rat became a man; Peter Pettigrew. Dumbledore’s face became pinched with anger and Snape if one would have seen him then was pale with shock.

“Incarcerous” thick ropes flew out of Dumbledore’s wand and bound Peter tightly. Then Dumbledore flicked his wand once again, “animagus stoppero,” to ensure he would not transform and run away again and finally, “enervate,”

Pettigrew blinked and then squeaked when he saw he was bound and in his human form and in the presence of Dumbledore and other Hogwarts staff members.

Snape went to him and roughly lifted the sleeves of his left arm and gasped. The dark mark could be very faintly seen. Dumbledore’s face flushed in anger and his lips thinned impossibly.

“Please give him the veritaserum Severus.” He told Snape tightly.

Snape wrenched the mouth of the squeaking rat and placed three drops of the truth serum. Dumbledore waited only for his eyes to glaze over.

“What is your name?”

“Peter Pettigrew.”

“Are you a death eater?”

“Yes” came the monotone answer.

“Who was the secret keeper of the Potters when they were attacked by Voldemort?” Snape asked this question in a strangled voice.

“I was.”

“Did you give the information of the secret of Godric's Hollow to Voldemort?” this was Dumbledore.

“Yes I did.”

“When did you become the secret keeper?”

“I became their secret keeper one week before the attack by the Dark Lord on them.”

“Why did Sirius make you their secret keeper?”

“Because Sirius was sure that everyone would think that he was the secret keeper and by doing this he thought that even if he were captured and killed James, Lily and Harry would have been safe.”

Snape’s eyes were emitting fire as he looked at the rat and Dumbledore actually snarled in anger but did not ask any more questions. He stunned Peter and asking McGonagall and Snape to accompany him, called for Fawkes.

A second later the four of them had vanished in a flash of fire.

They landed in the Atrium and Dumbledore swiftly walked right to the Minister’s office, not even waiting for the checking of the wands there. He flashed an aura of power that made everyone run away from his side.

“Minerva will you please go to the offices of Amelia, Alastor and Rufus and ask them to come directly to the questioning centre.” He said not breaking in his stride and stepped into the lift.

He got out at the Minister of Magic’s office and McGonagall continued to bring the said persons.

“Is the Minister in?” he asked stopping for the first time after he had entered the Ministry and waited as the young secretary rushed in to inform Minister Cornelius Fudge that Professor Dumbledore was here.

Minute later Fudge himself came running out and looked shocked to see a man who had been thought dead and in fact had been awarded the Order of Merlin First Class now presumably stunned being levitated by an angry Albus Dumbledore who was leaking so much magic, it was frightening.

“What?” Fudge spluttered in shock, “What is this Albus? How?” he looked baffled, at the stunned Peter, “How… is he alive?” he asked hesitantly.

Dumbledore nodded and then all of them went into the auror questioning chamber and were almost at once joined by Mad-Eye Moody, Amelia Bones and Rufus Scrimgeour. They were taken aback to see a man whom they had known was dead until now. Amelia Bones wasted no time and pulled out a bottle of veritaserum that McGonagall had thoughtfully told her to bring.

They asked all the questions all over again and when they learned that he had been a pet rat of Percy Weasley, all of them were taken aback and Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall’s faces tightened in remembrance of seeing Percy’s pet rat so many times.

Amelia Bones called for Arthur Weasley. The moment he entered the room, rather confused, she asked him not giving him any time to think. “Arthur do you remember this rat?” Dumbledore had changed him into a rat once again.

Arthur smiled. “How did the little rascal come here? Yes Amelia this is Scabbers, Percy’ pet rat.”

“Where did Percy find him?”

“By our garden one day when he was very small.” Arthur Weasley ran down when he saw the serious faces of the others. “Is there any trouble?” he asked looking at all of them.

For an answer Dumbledore flicked his wand and Peter stood there snivelling in all his glory. Arthur shouted in shock jumping a step behind. “Someone knew who he was and where he had been hiding. I received him today morning.” Dumbledore added when he saw the genuine shock on Arthur’s face.

“But why should he hide Albus? After all Black is in Azkaban.” Arthur was confused. Dumbledore told him in a few sentences about his treachery and Arthur was horrified.

“What! A death eater has been in my home and has been cuddled by my children all these years?” he stared at Peter in shock and revulsion and stepped back once more. “But when did someone come to our home and take the rat? I saw him yesterday night.” Arthur was confused.

“Did you leave the house?” Dumbledore asked Pettigrew. Pettigrew shook his head. Dumbledore frowned. How did the person know that Pettigrew was at the Weasleys and how did he bypass the wards?

“Arthur, the wards,” Dumbledore trailed off when Arthur shook his head. “They are fine Albus. They are tied to me and I know. They are fine even now.”

Before he could ponder about it McGonagall spoke briskly.

“We must get Sirius out of that hellhole right now.” McGonagall told Dumbledore who turned to Fudge. He nodded at once. It was early days as Minister and he was very dependant on Dumbledore.

“Yes Albus. We should release an innocent man right away.”

“I want Peter kissed at once Cornelius. Can you call for the Wizengamot right away?”

In ten minutes the Wizengamot gathered and all of them were suitably horrified by the mere presence of a dead person. Dementors were called and two hours later Peter Pettigrew was kissed by orders of the Wizengamot and his Order of Merlin Ist Class was cancelled.

An hour later Sirius Black was a free man.

He was released from Azkaban and was understandably bewildered. Albus Dumbledore was standing at the gates of Azkaban along with Snape, McGonagall, Moody, Amelia Bones and Rufus Scrimgeour.

He walked unsteadily and looked with confusion at everyone. “What happened? Are James and Lily alive?” he asked in a desperate hope.

Dumbledore smiled sadly. “I will explain everything Sirius. First come with me to Hogwarts and then we will talk.”

“Harry?” Sirius asked only one word.

“He is fine and will be starting Hogwarts this year. Come.” Dumbledore said smiling and he held on to the gaunt and dirty man who had not even noticed Snape and McGonagall and calling for Fawkes vanished from Azkaban.

They landed in the infirmary and Dumbledore left Sirius to the mercies of a startled Pomfery who started treating him after Dumbledore assured her Sirius was innocent. He promised Sirius they would talk when he had enough rest. “Suffice to say Peter was captured and found to be a death eater Sirius. He was kissed an hour before you were released. I will tell you the rest later.”

Sirius had to be content with that and ten minutes later he was sound asleep in a bed for the first time in ten years.

It was only after ten days that he woke up fresh enough and sane enough to understand everything and it was lunch time on the twelfth day that Sirius was cleared by the School nurse to be up and about. He dressed in robes someone had left thoughtfully for him, maybe Dumbledore he thought and went down to Dumbledore’s office.

---------------

[The_Green_Woods]

Harry had slept until lunch and then he flashed away to a shady corner of the park and then walked to his home. His aunt waited until he came inside before screeching at him for coming so late and told him he could do without lunch.

She did not listen to his explanations of hitching a ride home and nor did she care enough to ask him if he had managed to get all that he needed to go to Hogwarts. Harry went up and placed a sickle into the pouch had a scrumptious lunch and relaxed on his hard but turned soft bed.

His thoughts scattered in many directions, primarily going to his kids, and then to Ginny whom he had met yesterday and then centred on Sirius. He wondered what was happening and when he would finally get to know about what Dumbledore had done with Wormtail and based on that information, with Sirius.

The days went by slowly and Harry cancelled all the charms he had cast over everything that evening and was now conspicuously reading all kinds of things.

The next day his aunt had come to know through Dudley that the ‘freak’ was reading many strange books.

“Boy who gave you the money to buy all this?”

“Aunt it was from the wizarding bank.” Harry told her innocently and casting a charm at her that made her wordlessly able to accept his explanation without any fuss.

She grumbled and walked back, yelling at him to come down and prepare food and from there everything had gone just fine.

It was the 31st of July. Harry was eleven and thirty seven years old respectively. He woke up as usual in the morning (he had stopped staying up until midnight long back) and started his work at preparing breakfast. His ‘family’ here was never going to wish him a happy birthday. Harry was feeling very morose. His last few birthdays had begun with his children waking him up with birthday wishes, hugs and kisses.

The family had just settled down for breakfast when the door bell rang. “Boy, see who’s at the door.” Vernon Dursley said automatically without looking up from the newspaper.

Harry scowled at the ‘Boy’ and got up and stormed to the door. He was already feeling very bad and now he was the Dursley house elf, he thought angrily to himself. He opened the door and stopped right there, his eyes wide with shock.

Harry gasped and stared at Sirius Black who was looking anxiously, happily, worriedly and expectantly at the door. His eyes widened and his grin when he recognized the person standing in front of him split his face into two, “Harry?” he asked softly.

“Yes?” Harry stammered so many emotions running through him. Sirius was very thin almost gaunt, but his eyes were bright and his smile was lighting up the whole universe.

“Boy! Who is it?” shouted his aunt.

Harry blushed and looked at a frowning Sirius whose wide grin had stopped abruptly at the unfriendly shout of ‘Boy who is it’.

“I don’t know uncle Vernon.” Harry called out and turned to Sirius, “Who are you and what do you want?”

“My name is Sirius Black Harry. I am a friend of your dad.” Sirius told him and watched with a painful clench of his heart when Harry’s face lit up like a Christmas tree.

“You knew my dad?” Harry asked him, inwardly thrilled to see Sirius in the flesh and also slightly worried about his acting abilities. While he was genuinely happy to see Sirius he had to pretend that he did not know Sirius and he obviously could not remember meeting him in the first fifteen months of his life. Harry only hoped he would be able to carry it off.

“Boy who is it?” Petunia came striding and stopped when she saw Sirius. “You…, you are,” she stopped not knowing what to say and looked inside for a second and then, “What do you want?”

“To meet and talk to Harry and take him away for the rest of his holidays until he has to leave for School. That is,” Sirius looked at Harry and gulped, his face flushing with worry, “if Harry would consent to come with me.”

He was shocked a minute later when Harry said delighted, “Of course, I may go may I not Aunt Petunia?” he looked at her anxiously but the charms held and she was pleased to get Harry off her hands sooner than she had thought and she nodded briskly. “You may leave right now if you want.” She told Harry who wasted no time and looking at Sirius for a moment ran off inside.

Petunia did not invite Sirius inside and glared slightly at his robes which looked very nice and upmarket but were not normal clothes after all, “We have told the boy to stay in that School for the whole year and also ask if he can spend summers there as well. If they don’t allow then perhaps you can take him off our hands.” She looked enquiringly at him.

Sirius was shocked. What kind of people were Lily’s sister and her family? He could have been a death eater and all she could ask him was if he could keep Harry for the summers as well. No wonder Harry had run off to get his things and be away from here as soon as possible.

He was going to have words with Dumbledore; he decided and glared at Petunia who flushed under his scornful look. “I will try to make sure he never has to come here and if he does it will be for very brief periods.” He told her stiltedly and scowled when she nodded her head in satisfaction and was not insulted at all.

Harry came back in five minutes with a shabby bag, “I am ready Mr. Black and thank you very much for having me. I promise I won’t be a bother.”

Sirius smiled though it was very strained and nodded his head. He could not speak for the life of him.

“Goodbye aunt.”

“Hmm. Remember stay in the School for the holidays.” Was what his aunt said not noticing the snarl on Sirius’s face.

“Come on Harry. Off we go.” Sirius said making an effort to sound happy and shrugging off the nasty taste the Dursleys left in his mouth. He looked at Harry and took in his small frame and shabby dress and his mouth set itself in a straight line.

He looked down at Harry and seeing the worried look smiled and catching Harry’s hand went to the edge of the wards just as Dumbledore had told him. Crossing them Sirius bent down and held Harry’s hand tightly.

“Harry I am going to do some magic now. Do not be scared alright?” he asked Harry who was amazed that Sirius could be this patient. Of course he was a lot smaller and Sirius thought he really did not know or understand anything much of the Wizarding World but still Sirius was a lot more patient than he remembered.

Harry nodded his head and a minute later Sirius had enveloped Harry in his arms and had almost silently apparated to the small park near No. 12 Grimmauld Place. Harry cast the warding charm wandlessly and silently on the place between nos. 11 and 13, but could not see the house. That meant only one thing. The house was already under the Fidelus Charm.

Harry cancelled his spell and looked at Sirius who was busy scribbling something. “Here Harry. You were not scared were you?”

Harry shook his head blushing slightly. “It was awesome Mr. Black. What was this?”

“Sirius, the name is Sirius Harry, never Mr. Black okay?” Harry nodded his eyes wide. Sirius laughed and held out a piece of paper and asked Harry to read it, “Read that Harry. I will explain everything once we are inside the house. I have been here only since yesterday myself.”

Harry looked at the piece of paper. The Black home may be found at No. 12 Grimmauld Place.

“Read it?” Sirius asked Harry when he looked up. “Now look straight and repeat the words in your mind.”

Harry already had and now he could see the familiar home appearing between nos.11 and 13.

He had Grimmauld Place as a second home and also as a place for meeting contacts once he had moved to Godric's Hollow. Harry and his family along with Ron, Hermione and their kids had also spent weekends there now and then.

But now all Harry could think of was to somehow get hold of the horcrux before something happened to it.

“Wow Sirius. This is cool. Is it magic?”

Sirius nodded happily and taking Harry’s hand went to the door and opened it. Harry was transported to his summer after fourth year when he had stepped in Grimmauld Place for the first time.

“BOOD TRAITORS! BESPOILING THE HOME OF MY FATHERS! FILTHY HALF BLOODS!” Was the welcome Harry received when he got inside and he just remembered in time to stand in shock seeing the portrait that could apparently not only talk but curse as well instead of saying something very sarcastic as he usually did before he flicked his wand and closed the curtains.

Sirius was already running to the portrait to stop her from speaking more. “Stop it.” He roared and at that time another figure came running to help Sirius. Harry almost danced with sheer happiness when he saw Remus Lupin running to pull the curtains to close the portrait.

“What was that?” Harry asked a scared look on his face.

Sirius smiled at Harry’s fear. “That was my dead mother Harry. Wizards and witches can prepare portraits that can speak and talk like them after their death if they cast a particular spell on it. But all that later, now come on. This is my parents’ home and I am going to get it all cleaned up this week. So think of good ideas to decorate and after breakfast you can go around the place and choose your room. Mine is the first door on the left on the second floor and Remus here has the next.”

“Sirius slow down a little. You haven’t even told him who I am and you are acting if he knows everything.” Remus grinned and looked at Harry’s bewildered face and laughed, “Harry I am Remus Lupin. I was also a friend of your dad.” Remus held out his hand at Harry.

Harry took it smiling slightly and thinking that he had changed one more thing. This Remus was not the tired man he had known in his third year but a very happy man who had one of his friends with him and was not suspected of betraying the other and seeing justice done to the traitor.

Harry thought he had never seen Remus so happy. Not when he had been teaching in Harry’s third year and not when he was having an on off relationship with Tonks in Harry’s sixth year and not even when he had finally eloped. Though, Harry thought with a pang as he remembered his first future, Remus had been thrilled when Teddy had been born. He had simply beamed the whole time he had come to Shell Cottage to give Harry and the others the news.

“Hello did you know my dad too?” Harry asked Remus now remembering to speak softly, though the happiness that shone through his eyes was very real.

Remus’s face grew sad. He smiled softly at Harry and nodded. “Both Sirius and I were friends with your dad and mum. Once we get you settled we will tell you all about them. Okay?”

Harry nodded smiling shyly in return. They went into the kitchen and had a huge breakfast much like Harry was used to. Then they went into the drawing room with Sirius throwing an arm over Harry’s shoulders.

“Can I go and explore the house, please?” Harry asked Sirius when they had sat down curiosity in his eyes.

“Of course and don’t forget to choose your room and Remus and I will help you decorate it as you would like.” Sirius told him grinning a bit tiredly. Remus who was looking at his friend anxiously nodded to Harry before turning back to Sirius. “Sirius I think you must rest.” Remus turned to Harry, “He has not been very well, Harry. We will explain everything to you once all of us settle down.”

Harry nodded looking at Sirius with equal anxiety before he was shooed away by Sirius who told him he was feeling sleepy and nothing else. Harry went into the long parlour silently and watched how Sirius slumped and Remus making sure Harry was not there, levitated Sirius to his room.

Harry waited until they had gone and then raced up the stairs. He went directly to the third floor and opened one of the rooms and went straight to a cabinet. He cast his magic to keep Kreacher away and then swiftly removed the locket from inside the cabinet. He had remembered from so long ago when he had cleaned along with Ron and Hermione and Sirius and they had found the strange locket that they were unable to open then.

The locket was where he had remembered it to be and Harry removed it and banished it to his shrunken trunk to lie with the other horcrux and then raced up to the attic. He knew Remus would come after him once he had Sirius settled down and they would not leave him alone for a long time.

Harry was right and he had only opened the attic door and had gone inside and came out directly and went down into the third floor and into the room he had gone before to retrieve the horcrux when Remus came searching for him.

Harry was standing innocently by the cabinet and looking through it.

“Ah, there you are Harry. Come along, most of these things are not fit to be touched. They have a combination of hexes and jinxes on them that could hit out at those who touch them. You did not touch anything did you?”

Harry shook his head and then followed Remus and soon they were exploring the house and Remus was giving him a crash course in Wizarding History and about any item he felt safe Harry could know about.

They chose Harry’s room; rather Harry bagged the next room to the one he had shared with Ron, mainly on account of the now empty portrait of Phineas Nigellus that still hung in his old room. The room Harry had bagged was Hermione’s and Ginny’s before, and Harry went and sat on the bed. Remus summoned his shabby bag from downstairs and earned a ‘cool’ from Harry who grinned at Remus.

“That was great and now may I show you some magic Mr. Lupin?”

“Remus, Harry. The name is Remus.” Remus grinned at Harry and Harry was struck by how much Remus was smiling. He had never been like this before. “What magic do you have to show me?”

“Aunt sent me to Diagon Alley and told me to buy everything I need there. I went inside and watched a few people going out on the other side of The Leaky Cauldron and I too went in.” Harry said enthusiastically. Remus gaped at the boy who continued talking, “Remus the place was fantastic. I just walked along and found that there was a Wizarding bank and you know what Remus, the bank was run by goblins.” Harry had only started his explanation when he was cut off sharply by Remus. “Harry you went to Diagon Alley alone?”

Harry nodded his eyes wide and apparently not noticing Remus’s astonishment. “Remus you won’t believe it. I slipped a note saying I was Harry Potter and I wanted to know if my parents had left me anything. You see,” Harry looked up in shame at Remus who frowned at the look, “aunt Petunia told me to buy everything on my own and I was not sure how to manage that.” here Harry’s voice wobbled a little and Remus looked down at the small boy in sympathy almost snarling in anger at the Dursleys but remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

Harry on his part looked at Remus and reassured by his look of sympathy continued trying to stick to the truth as much as he could, extremely grateful he had told the goblins that under no circumstances should they reveal that Harry had even known about the family vault, let alone gone inside. He wanted the portraits of his parents to remain where they were for the present unless Sirius brought the topic up; then Harry would have no choice but to agree. But until then Harry decided to remain quiet.

“The goblin took me aside and asked a drop of my blood on a piece of paper, but it looked different same as my Hogwarts letter,” Harry looked up at Remus who responded to the unasked question, “That was a parchment Harry, go on.”

“Yes a parchment and then it nodded and told me that there were two vaults one was my family vault that I could get when I turned seventeen, doesn’t it have to be eighteen?” Harry asked wide eyed.

“No Harry in the Wizarding World you come of age at seventeen, but go on. This is extremely fascinating.” Remus told him, hurrying him. Harry was very pleased with himself. He had a sudden on the spur of the moment brain storm and had told Remus about his family vault and that the goblin had told him he could access it only after he was of age. That would keep Remus and Sirius away; at least Harry hoped so.

“Then I went to the vault and taking the pouch the goblin gave me along with a key it told me to keep safely and put some money into the pouch. Then I was wondering how to take money if this was over because,” Harry blushed once again, “Uncle Vernon would not allow me to keep coming to Diagon Alley and if,” here Harry’s voice went very quiet and he became red, “If they knew I had money, they would take it away from me and then I would not be able to pay my way to Hogwarts or for my books or clothes.”

Harry fell silent now beet red and Remus patted him on his head scowling at Lily’s sister and her family. “You did the right thing Harry,” and was rewarded with a relieved smile, “I asked the goblin how I could get money once the money I had taken was over and if I must come and poke my hand and drop blood on that paper every time and if they had branches near Surrey, but Remus, you won’t believe what the goblin did. It did something to the money pouch and told me that I could withdraw money by stating the amount in pounds sterling as well as magic money.” Harry proudly finished with his explanations. Now it remained for Remus to ask questions. Remus did not disappoint.

“What did you buy?” he asked amazed at all Harry had done.

In answer Harry removed the shabby bag from the desk near his bed and putting his hand inside and rummaging it brought out a small matchbox. He placed his hand on the centre where there was a small circle and it turned into a multi compartment trunk. Remus clutched his chest and gaped at Harry.

Harry nodded amicably, “Magic!” he said excitedly and then placed his hands on the sensor and opened it and showed Remus his clothes that he now took away and arranged it in his cupboard and then all the books except those on the Dark Arts and then his wand.

Remus almost drooled over the number of books until he remembered that Harry had done all this alone. He turned to Harry who was now arranging his stationery and his perch and the owl cage that also had a mechanism to enlarge. “I bought an owl. I named her Hedwig and I sent her to Hogwarts with my reply. She is so intelligent Remus. I only told her where to go like the shopkeeper told me to do and she flew away.”

Harry looked at Remus proudly and Remus smiled weakly at him, patting him on his head. “You did very well Harry. So you enjoyed Diagon Alley?”

“And Knockturn Alley. Oh yes, I did. Both were great.” Harry told Remus who gasped and stared at Harry, his mouth opening and closing in a very funny manner. Knockturn Alley, Remus was thinking in shock. Harry was truly James’s boy and Sirius’s Godson.

“I bought a lot of books from there, almost in every subject Remus. For this School, I will be prepared and I will do well.” Harry told Remus fiercely. Remus frowned for a second sensing something behind those words but did not query seeing Harry’s face blush and become slightly guarded.

“Show me your books once again.” Remus told him and from then on both Harry and Remus descended into a lengthy discussion of the various books Harry had bought. Harry had been through in his purchases and had included books on every subject and variety.

“Can you think of a way to unlock this? I got this book at a shop in Knockturn alley and that shopkeeper told me that no one had succeeded in reading this book.” Harry asked Remus handing over the Self – Updating Book of spells.

Remus was flabbergasted. Harry was a surprise; a surprise for which Remus was not prepared and he was shocked and did not know how to deal with the innocent knowledge that Harry exhibited. He took the book in his hands and immediately ran his wand checking the book for any dark activity.

Not finding any Remus fawned and drooled all over it, asking Harry to try many things and then losing patience trying many things himself. “Well there is one thing we have not tried Harry. We will try that and if that does not work, well we will have to go and return it.”

Harry nodded getting ready to poke his finger and drop the blood from his finger on to the book. That was the only thing they had not tried.

“Show me your hand Harry. I am now going to poke your finger and place a drop of blood on the book to see if that would do the trick. If it doesn’t well, we will have to keep it aside.” Remus told him.

Harry nodded his head in understanding. “Just like the goblin asked me to place a drop of blood at the bank.”

“Yes Harry.” Remus smiled and flicked his wand at Harry’s thumb. Harry waited with bated breath when the book glowed. Remus shouted in joy and urged Harry to go ahead and open the book. “I am sure we have broken the charm. This book has found your blood compatible.” Remus told him.

Harry was staring at the book in shock. The lady had told him that so many had tried. Why had they not been able to open it? All of them would have tried the blood first unlike Remus and Harry who had tried it last, Harry knew. He was suddenly afraid of what he would find inside the book.

Remus saw Harry staring at the book and impatiently grabbed it from him and opened the book. He was very disappointed because the book remained blank for him. Harry was a bit reassured by that. He could bluff his way if the book said something that Remus would think it not fit for an eleven year old.

He opened the book and just managed to stop the loud gasp from his mouth when he read the words aloud to Remus Lupin knowing that he would not understand the significance.

“This book belongs to Ignotus Peverell and this is the self updating Book of Spells.” Harry read this to Remus who looked thoughtful but did not recognize the name or the significance of the name.

Harry continued reading. “This book has chosen you as a worthy owner. The moment your blood was accepted, this book has now been bound to you. No one else will be able to read this book except you so treat it with care.

“There are two ways to operate this book; one, to go by alphabet and look through all curses, spells, hexes, jinxes, charms and the like found under that particular alphabet and second, to write in the blank page what you would need a spell for, the first page is left blank only for this purpose. For example, if you would write a spell for levitation, then in the next page you will start reading about levitation, the spell required to cast the spell, the positive effects and negative effects of casting the spell many times if any and the various purposes for which you could use this simple spell. Use your finger to write and your palm to wipe after reading.

“Good luck young man or woman whoever you are. Use it wisely and cautiously.

“Ignotus Peverell.”

“This is great Harry. You could learn a lot of things with this book.” Remus was as thrilled as Harry.

They spent some more time with the book by Harry writing some basic spells that Remus told him to, and reading out about the spell. Then closing the book and putting everything away neatly, Harry got up and went down to the kitchen to help Remus prepare lunch. They peeped in on Sirius on the way but he was still sleeping soundly so Harry and Remus spent the afternoon with Harry asking Remus all kinds of questions and Remus answering everything to the apparently extremely enthusiastic boy who had a thirst to knowledge and a keen desire to learn.


End of Chapter – 4
-------------------------

[The_Green_Woods]

Chapter – 5
---------------

In the evening Remus excused himself for about half an hour and went out. They had spent the whole afternoon and a good part of the evening with Remus pouring all kinds of information about the Wizarding World to Harry who was listening intently and asking all kinds of questions.

The only ones Remus wouldn’t answer were why Sirius was ill and why Sirius and Remus had not come to visit with him all these years. He had only smiled sadly when Harry had questioned hesitantly and had promised Harry that he would have his explanations once Sirius was well enough to talk important issues.

Harry did not ask again and he took out his One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phillyda Spore and started reading. This time around Harry wanted to be ready for Snape and if he could he wanted to make sure the man would not only not die, but also not kill Dumbledore and make himself the most hated individual on earth other than Voldemort, until the war was over and everything came to light.

Harry sat there with his potions book and was also wondering if Gringotts had been broken into. He decided he must ask Remus about wizarding newspapers so that from tomorrow he could start reading them. Harry wondered if Hagrid had been there in time to retrieve the Philosopher’s Stone.

Harry sighed. He had changed everything so much already that he knew there was very little hope that everything would remain the way it did. Harry was brought out of his melancholy thoughts by the arrival of Remus who entered holding a small box and Sirius who was coming down looking a lot fresher than when he had gone up.

Remus went straight into the kitchen smiling at Harry and a minute later Sirius came into the room looking all refreshed. Harry felt like pouncing on him and hugging him tightly, but restrained himself and instead smiled widely at his Godfather.

“Hello Harry, fine? Settled down here?”

“Yeah Sirius, I have.” Harry replied quietly, his green eyes sharply assessing Sirius’s gaunt and pale face. Sirius smiled at Harry and ruffled his hair with too thin hands and pulled him up to his feet, “Come on. Remus,” he called out, “Can we come in now?”

“Come on in.” was the answering shout and Sirius took Harry to the doorway and then went behind him and shut Harry’s eyes, propelling him slowly forward into the kitchen.

A few steps later Sirius removed his hands from Harry’s eyes and both Sirius and Remus shouted at the top of their voices, “Happy Birthday Harry!”

Harry was shocked. He had truly forgotten his birthday after his grouse in the morning at the Dursleys and when Sirius had closed his eyes, Harry had thought he was going to show him another bit of magic. Harry did not know what to say. He stood there feeling a bit overwhelmed that Sirius had taken so much effort after probably waking up the day or two before.

“Thanks,” he stammered and both men saw the emotions run through his eyes and they scowled simultaneously. “Surely your aunt made cakes for your birthday Harry?” Sirius asked gently.

Harry went a beet red and he slowly shook his head. “No, but I helped her make cakes for Dudley’s and uncle Vernon’s birthdays.” He told them shocking them.

“What!” Sirius roared, “She never made a birthday cake for you, the bloody hag. Just wait until I am better,” he would have gone on in this vein, but Remus cut him off, “Calm down Sirius.” He said sharply but Sirius was too angry to take notice.

He had been there for only five minutes and he had seen how eager the Dursleys had been to throw Harry out and how eager Harry had been to get out of that house. Petunia’s parting shot had been to ask Harry to stay in the School all year and to tell him, not request him to keep Harry for the summer until he could get back to School again.

“I will take care of them Remus.” Remus was disturbed by the anger he saw there and wondered what had happened at the Dursleys. Harry had not spoken about them and Sirius had come back very quickly with Harry, in about fifteen minutes. “I will hex them.” Sirius's eyes took on a different type of glint. “Maybe a nice muggle prank with a spell in it. Yeah, that would be fine.” He was now nodding to himself for a minute before he shook his head as if trying to clear it and turned to Harry with a wide smile.

“Come on Harry. No need to talk about those worthless hags. Cut your cake, it looks delicious and then you can open your gifts.” He said gaily to Harry, who noticed along with Remus the angry glint that had not quite vanished from his eyes.

Harry cut the cake blushing furiously; he was too old for this, after all. But a warm feeling enveloped him, taking him by surprise, when Sirius had roared at the Dursleys on his behalf.

All of them had a piece of the delicious chocolate cake and then went to the drawing room where many gifts had been placed on the centre table. Harry had stood there in shock, his memories going to Dudley’s birthday when he had gifts just like this, all heaped on the table.

Harry suddenly felt very happy and he turned a beaming face to Sirius and Remus and thanked them both very shyly. “My first presents. Thanks so much. You have got me so many. You needn’t have you know. The cake itself was great and would have been enough Sirius.”

Sirius's face had gone red once again when Harry had admitted that these were his first gifts and he had looked at Remus who was also shocked and both men nodded, a fact Harry noticed and it totally shocked him to feel so good. He had forgotten the hurt he had had inside because of his so called family’s treatment, Harry thought ruefully and now he realized it did feel good to have someone angry for him.

In his other life, only Hermione had understood the extent to which he had been neglected and hurt, even though Ron had rescued him in his second year from the Dursleys and knew he was not being treated well there. But Ron was always a bit thick when it came to emotions and had cursed the Dursleys and left it at that. He could not understand how much the lack of belonging had affected Harry. Now in a strange perverse way, Harry felt thrilled by the anger Sirius and Remus were showing on his behalf.

Harry went to the small table and started opening his many gifts. There were books, a magical watch, a photo of his parents, Sirius and Remus together, robes, a wand holster and many pranks from Zonko’s.

Harry looked for a long time at the photo and then smiled at Sirius and thanked him and Remus for everything. The three of them had the cake and a light dinner Remus had whipped up and after a hilarious couple of hours, Remus shooed Sirius to rest again. Sirius who was beginning to look haggard, left hugging Harry tightly and whishing him a happy birthday once more.

Harry cleaned up everything and watched when Remus cleaned the dishes with magic. “Remus, can I also try a cleaning spell with my wand?”

Remus thought only for a second before he nodded. Grimmauld Place was very heavily warded and there was no way anyone would detect underage magic and he knew Sirius wanted Harry to learn all the basic spells before leaving for Hogwarts.

“Not today, though Harry. After I finish here, I will give you a brief description of spells and the way to hold your wand and the importance of correct pronunciation; things that are very important for getting the maximum effect of any spell you cast. Then you may read your Transfiguration and Charms text for introductions tonight. We will begin from tomorrow, alright?”

“Great!” Harry told him beaming before running off to get his books. Remus came to the drawing room in about five minutes and took Harry through the basic introduction to magic and half an hour later Harry bid goodnight to Remus and went up to his room and spent the next three hours going through the Self Updating Book of Spells and also his Transfiguration and Charms books just in case Remus would question him about it the next day.

Harry slept well for the first time since he came back to the past, his last thought being that maybe he could just do it this time too and with far less casualties.

He woke up early the next morning and ran to the bathroom to wash and was soon bounding down the stairs. Remus and Sirius were not awake and Harry poked into the cupboards and using a minimum of wandless magic, he did not dare to use his wand in case Remus or Sirius would come in and soon had a huge breakfast prepared.

He sat down and ate until he felt food was coming out of his ears and slowly removed his wand and opening his Self Updating Book of Spells and keeping it conspicuously open on the table, Harry pointed his wand and cast a warming spell on all the dishes. Then he went to the drawing room and sat there with his potions book once again.

Harry had also bought a lot of potions books from Flourish and Blotts and also from the book shop at Knockturn Alley. He was now wading through the One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi and was planning to read a lot more once he had finished with it. He had also bought the Advanced Potion-Making by Libatius Borage, and he fully intended to learn that as well, preferably before he started School.

Of course being thirty seven helped in understanding concepts and made it a lot more interesting, Harry decided. He was reading for about half an hour when Remus and Sirius came in. They looked at Harry reading a potions book of all things and stared at him open-mouthed, their good mornings withering away.

Harry had sensed them when they were descending the stairs and now he looked up and smiled at them. “Good morning Sirius, Remus. Today morning I performed my first bit of magic.” Harry told them excitedly and they stared even more.

Harry dragged them into the kitchen hoping he was not over acting and showed them the dishes. “You made them all with magic?” Sirius gasped.

Harry had, with wandless magic but naturally he could not say so and he shook his head still grinning widely. ”No, I made breakfast as usual, the way I cook at the Dursleys,”

“What! You cook at the Dursleys?” Sirius asked him his blue eyes clouding with anger.

“Er, erm, I… well Sirius I did. That’s okay. What I meant to say was I cast this warming charm over everything using the Self Updating Book of Spells. See everything’s warm.” Harry finished proudly and looked expectantly at them, feeling a total fraud inside.

Remus leaned and at once touched the dishes and grinned at Harry, “Brilliant Harry.” He smiled trying to divert Sirius's attention from the Dursleys. Sirius reluctantly touched the dishes and then sat down. “What book is this Self Updating Book of Spells?”

Remus and Harry filled him on all that they had spoken yesterday and Sirius was alternating between admiring Harry for going alone into Gringotts and Knockturn Alley and raging against the Dursleys. He was astounded at all that Harry had managed to accomplish and was proud of him and was sure he was a true Marauder.

They retired to the drawing room after eating and Sirius and Remus answered all questions Harry had about the Wizarding World. And Harry had a great many of them. Sirius and Remus answered Harry’s questions until he asked the same questions he had asked Remus the day before.

“Why are you so ill Sirius? Is this why you never came to the Dursleys to see me and were my parents drunkards?” Harry had asked eliciting another horrified roar from Sirius and even Remus this time. Harry had shrugged. “Well that was what the Dursleys told me. They said my mum and dad were good for nothing freaks and so was I.” Harry’s tone was normal but he was red with embarrassment of saying all this aloud.

Sirius and Remus looked at each other before both of them told Harry about Voldemort, Peter, Azkaban, everything.

“I was released because someone knew about Peter being an animagus, that is he could turn into an animal at will Harry. Some witches and wizards have this ability and Peter was one of them. I was released some two weeks ago and I spent about ten days sleeping. Remus came here only two days ago, he had been hiding away, since James and I had shamelessly thought him a traitor because he was a werewolf,” Sirius stopped there horrified at what he had just said. Remus looked equally horrified and he was moving away from Harry slightly when Harry caught hold of his arm and dragged him down.

“What! Remus you never told me. WOW! Can you transform now and show me?” Harry asked praying this would go well.

Sirius and Remus stared at Harry their mouths hanging in a very unattractive way that was making Harry want to roll on the ground with laughter and he thought of all kinds of things to keep his face from splitting into two.

“Er what Harry?” Remus asked him after a few minutes.

“Did I say something wrong? Why are you looking at me like that? I only wanted to see a werewolf that’s all.” Harry told them in a small voice and was rewarded with a mighty hug from Remus.

“Hey!” Harry cried hugging him back.

“Thank you Harry.” Remus told him, his brown eyes very bright. Sirius was also beaming now and together they filled Harry of why his statement about Remus was so startling.

“But Remus that’s so silly. This is only a problem that occurs one day in a month. Why should you be shunned for that?” he asked seemingly bewildered and was rewarded by their happy laughter.

“That’s what your father used to say. He used to call it my furry little problem.” Remus told Harry and then they spoke more freely sitting together the whole day and long into the night, talking about Harry’s parents, Hogwarts, the Wizarding World, Voldemort, his death eaters and how Harry had defeated the darkest wizard and saved them all.

Harry was also properly baffled about the person who could manoeuvre the Weasley wards and capture the rat and instruct the Headmaster to set Sirius free.

[The_Green_Woods]

“Whoever it was, I owe them a life debt Harry and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. Else, I would not have been able to bring you here. Remus would have never come because he was thought the traitor by all of us and had hidden away and werewolves are really not treated well by the Wizarding World.” Sirius finished sadly and all of them sat there deep in their own thoughts for a long time before going to sleep.

From the next day Remus started proper training of Harry’s magic and he was amazed at how quickly Harry picked up everything. Sirius though, was a bit disgruntled at Harry’s interest in potions and his enthusiasm for learning the subject.

Sirius and Remus had told Harry all about the professors in Hogwarts and Harry had sighed when they had come to Snape. “Snape is the potions Master Harry and he is a G.R.E.A.S.Y. G.I.T. Like that. You will lose interest in potions once you meet him.” Sirius had laughed while Remus had smiled.

“Then how did mum study under him? You told me she was brilliant in potions and charms did you not?” Harry had challenged and Sirius had scowled but Remus had explained.

“Oh no Harry Snape was a student with us. At that time the Potions professor was a man by name Slughorn.” Remus explained.

“And the git was horrible and a death eater to boot.” Sirius had said very viciously not caring for the frown that Remus gave him.

“Sirius!” Remus’s voice was reproachful. Turning to Harry Remus smiled a bit, “Well it should be obvious that we were not friends with each other Harry. Sirius and James especially were always at odds with Snape and all of us I am afraid fought a good bit with each other.”

Harry finally understood the enmity. His father was jealous of Snape and had always been against Lily’s friendship and Sirius who was closest to James Potter had taken his friend’s side in this. Harry breathed out at the startling understanding. He now knew why his father had always decried Snape’s contribution and had always made light of Snape’s bravery. He had known about his father’s jealously but now Harry knew there was an uncertainty along with the jealousy that made Snape, his father and Sirius fight so.

The same way Snape had belittled James and his son Harry. Snape was cruel and sadistic even after James died because James had got the girl and what must have made that so bitter was the fact Lily went out with James because of Snape himself. Harry shook his head trying to clear it of everything. He looked at them, both were looking uncomfortable and wanted to get out of this conversation and Harry really could not blame them.

Remus while very close to both Sirius and James, was not as close as Sirius was to James, and over and above that he was a werewolf who was shunned by one and all; while he never joined in James’s and Sirius's ridiculing of Snape he never went against those who had not shunned him and had become animagi to be with him during his most difficult times.

Remus and Peter were more onlookers when it came to vicious Snape baiting because they never competed with Snape for Lily’s affection like James did and while all of them played pranks on Snape, Sirius took it to the next level because he understood the jealousy James was feeling towards Snape. Remus did too, but he never participated in the vicious fights, only the harmless pranks. But James hated the friendship Snape had with Lily and he was unsure of Lily’s feelings towards the Slytherin and Sirius naturally chose to side with his best friend and his brother in almost every way.

Even after Harry had yelled at everyone the day Snape’s portrait had appeared in Hogwarts, only James and Sirius had tried swaying Harry’s opinion. Not Remus and not his mother. He sighed and looked at the two silent men who were thinking furiously to somehow change topics and at the same time draw Harry away from potions and Snape. Well they need not worry, because if his other life was any indicator Snape would chew and spit him out this time too.

Harry smiled at Sirius and Remus and they grinned back relieved at Harry. The one thing they had not told him openly was the fact Snape had been friends with his mother and in fact had loved her very much. And they had glossed over their enmity with Snape. Harry was sure that while Snape was no bed of roses, two of the Marauders were no less than him and went out of their way to harass him.

“Well anyhow I love Potions and I am going to do my mother proud.” Harry said smiling at both of them and they had no comebacks for that.

That month passed very quickly for Harry, Remus and Sirius, who was so much better by the time Harry was to leave for Hogwarts. Harry had been to Diagon Alley three times and they had all thoroughly enjoyed it. They had let their hair down and gone using various glamour charms and disguises daring the other to try and spot them. Harry had flooed while Remus and Sirius had apparated. Harry had whined and had wanted to learn apparition and Sirius had promised to teach Harry in about two year’s time and had laughed at Harry’s scowl.

They spent some time everyday in cleaning Grimmauld Place and Harry learned that Kreacher had been sent once and for all to Narcissa Malfoy to work for her. Sirius had expressively forbidden him to take anything from here and had also forbidden him to step inside Grimmauld Place.

“When I came here Kreacher was muttering about what a blood traitor I was and how the Malfoys and Lestranges were the great ones. I was so angry that I told him to get off. Only I made sure he would never be able to come here and take anything from here. There are many dark objects here and the last thing I wanted was to gift all that to Malfoy who is already evil himself.” Sirius had explained and Harry had felt relieved.

That was one obstacle down, though Kreacher had become okay later, he had killed Sirius first and Harry was glad the old elf would have nothing to do with Grimmauld Place and had joined happily in the cleaning of the extremely dirty Grimmauld Place. They had worked a partial transformation in the one month Harry was there and Remus had under Sirius's insistence that Harry needed both of them, made Remus stay at Grimmauld Place permanently.

Sirius and Remus slowly started healing the injuries they had inside them, of the last ten years and Harry was growing more and more confident he could pull it off. Harry’s next thing on his agenda was to retrieve the Ravenclaw tiara from the Room of Requirement and then somehow tame or kill the basilisk and use its venom to destroy the horcruxes. Then Harry would have taken care of three horcruxes and he would have to wait until his second year to destroy the diary that is if Lucius Malfoy would repeat his actions of the past.

Harry had read and re-read both his potions texts and had also read a lot of other books. In his other life his mother had chided him gently for his nonchalant dislike of potions and had taught him the basics all over again and had made him understand the various properties of the different herbs and other potion ingredients.

She had made Harry work at for a few hours every weekend and had made him understand the importance of brewing good potions. While Harry was not an exceptional at potions and nor did he love it like his mother and Snape, he was not as bad as he was before.

In his other life his priorities had been to be accepted at least in the Wizarding World and solve his many problems as and when they cropped up and crop up they did with an intensity and regularity that was creepy. Also after his third year Harry had suffered almost constantly with Voldemort in his head and that did not make for an exceptional student. He was very powerful, Dumbledore had told him that, but he could not apply that power in a proper manner because he was constantly hindered all the time.

On top of that was he had been fighting blind most of the time with no or very little information. That didn’t help either. Now he had the knowledge of his real age and Harry decided he was going to be brilliant. He would apologize to Hermione for stealing her place unfairly later if he could ever tell her about this coming back in time, he decided. He wanted to be a brilliant student and clever so that no one would even think of manipulating him like they had done before.

Everyone had used his innocence; his lack of Wizarding knowledge and the fact Harry had no one speak for him for their own purpose. While Dumbledore had manipulated Harry all for the greater good of course and Voldemort had tried his best to kill him, Harry himself had been given no choice in anything. From the day Harry’s parents’ had died he had been groomed by Dumbledore to take on the job of the Boy-Who-Lived. This time Harry would try his best to do things differently.

On the 1st of September, Harry got up early and went down to find both Sirius and Remus sitting at the kitchen table looking slightly down. The full moon had been only a few days ago and Sirius had bought the wolfsbane for him and Harry had seen the wolf. Remus had tried to dissuade Harry but Harry had crept in to the dungeons that had bars on the doorway and had sat with Remus and Sirius who had transformed into Padfoot, having a one way conversation with them.

Slowly Remus had allowed Harry to touch him through the bars and Harry had softly stroked him. Remus’s eyes were so bright when he had looked at Harry and Harry could see the gratefulness to Harry not being scared. A little while later Harry had slept right there, leaning against the wall and when he awoke, he was in his bed and a very tired Remus was sitting in the chair next to him.

“Thank you Harry, but you need not have.” Remus told him, implying that he understood Harry had wanted to show Remus that he had accepted the wolf.

Harry had grinned sleepily, “But Remus I got to see a werewolf.” And had turned and snuggled down intending to sleep for some more time. Remus had laughed lightly before going to his own bed.

Now Harry was pouring an indecent amount of syrup on his pancakes and still Sirius and Remus were silent. “What is the matter with you two?”

“You seem very happy to go away from here.” Sirius asked him scowling and Harry grinned.

“Hey! I will miss both of you more than you will miss me, Sirius. To tell you the truth I really don’t wanna go.” Harry whined and looked at them. They were still looking down.

Sirius looked deadly serious. “Remus and I will miss you terribly Harry. It seems such a long time until Midwinter.”

Harry’s green eyes softened, “I know Sirius.” A few minutes later Harry looked at both of them and grinned widely. “Why should I go to Hogwarts anyway? I have got you and Remus to teach me everything and I am sure I can take the OWLS and NEWTS on my own. Please,” Harry pleaded hoping this would get Sirius out of the funk he was in, “Please Sirius, say I can stay back here.”

That brought Sirius and Remus out of their depression. “What!” both of them exclaimed simultaneously. “Of course you must go Harry. You will be back in no time for Yule. Hogwarts is fun. After all, your father and all of us found each other only there.” Remus told him looking worried and Sirius nodded his head in agreement.

“You will come back before you know it Harry. It is only three months and a bit for Midwinter. We will have a lot of fun and we will write everyday.”

Harry agreed reluctantly, “Okay. But you will write everyday and I will write too and soon I will be back won’t I?”

Remus and Sirius agreed and then all of them took the old paper and portkeyed to an alley near King’s Cross. They walked for about three minutes to the station and went to the barrier feeling very nervous. He would be seeing Ron and Hermione and the action would start the moment he crossed the barrier.

The Harry who had come to the station in the other life had been a thin, anxious, abused boy praying for acceptance in the new world he was going to enter. This Harry was still very thin but he was not the worried, scared boy he had been. He was confident and knew almost everything about the Wizarding World that was there to be known and was strong enough to take anything that may be thrown at him, head on.

The three of them walked to the barrier and there Harry’s heart stopped. The Weasleys were just before them. Percy and the twins were not there and so Harry assumed they had gone inside.

“Ron you take your sister’s hand and walk through it dear. I will come right after you.” Mrs. Weasley was telling Ron, who had a smudge on his nose. He nodded to his mother and took Ginny’s hand and walked through the barrier and then Mrs. Weasley went in.

“Wow! Sirius, is that the barrier you were telling me?” Harry asked him, slowing down a little, giving the time to the Weasleys to go inside.

Harry had decided this time he would not be the pure Gryffindor Boy-Who-Lived. Instead he would try and unite the Houses as much as he could. For that he had to be seen alone in the beginning and try and mingle as much as he could with everyone. Last time Harry had not known anyone else apart from Ron and Hermione and he had the ‘Gryffindor’ label stuck to him because of Ron, who was never going to see any good in any Slytherin and anyone who would not come inside his preconceived notions and ideas.

To counter that Harry had to meet Ron in a different manner so that Ron would be convinced about Harry’s views and ideas instead of blasé ones like all Gryffindors are good and all Slytherins are evil ones.

In his other life Ron had seen that point of view but that had come after years. Even with Snape’s portrait he had not the right attitude. Hermione and Harry had to really work on Ron before he was anywhere near mild acceptance of a Slytherin. Harry and Hermione had never told Ron of the many meetings they had had with Malfoy. Harry now wanted to avoid all the politics of that time.

With that in mind Harry walked in between Sirius and Remus into the barrier and slowly went in. It was so crowded that Harry could not spot the Weasleys and he was grateful for that.

Harry had his trunk shrunk and had told Hedwig to fly to Hogwarts and had shrunk her cage as well. He hugged Sirius and Remus, promised to write them everyday and received their promise to reply his letters everyday and pulled his hood up and got into the train.

A minute later there was a loud horn and Harry leaned from a window and waved wildly to Sirius and Remus. A second later he saw Ginny crying and waving to Ron, Fred and George. Harry looked at her for a second and then turned his attention to Sirius and Remus who were running towards him. He grinned widely feeling very warm and safe in their love and continued to wave until he could see them no more.


End of Chapter – 5
-------------------------

[The_Green_Woods]

Chapter – 6
---------------

Harry waved until the train turned around a bend and the platform was visible no longer. Harry had not seen or noticed anyone else in his tension to avoid the Weasleys especially Ginny and Ron. Now Harry turned away and bumped into another person. “Sorry.” Harry said automatically and stepped back and his heart stopped once again, for the second time since he had come to King’s Cross.

“It’s okay.” Answered a prim and proper voice; Hermione’s voice. “Her…, I mean er I did not hurt you did I?” Harry stammered and Hermione shook her head and smiled at the boy in front of her. He had messy black hair and gorgeous green eyes and was very thin and as tall as her. On his forehead was a thin scar shaped like a lightening bolt and she gasped.

Harry grinned. He was so happy he felt his heart would simply burst. He had almost spoken her name aloud and had pulled back just in the nick of time. Thankfully Sirius and Remus were not there. They would have picked up something and would have given him the third degree. He thanked his stars that Hermione was only eleven years old and had not clued in on anything. Had it been a fifth year Hermione, Harry knew she would have had him spilling everything by now. She had the special knack to do so after all.

“You are the Boy-Who-Lived.” she said in a surprised voice.

Harry grinned once again. “And I am looking for a place to sit.” He answered.

She looked at him a long moment and with a ‘come on’ walked into a compartment almost opposite to the window she had been standing in front of. Harry stepped inside and couldn’t stop grinning. Inside were Neville, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan.

All of them looked up when Harry stepped into the compartment and he went and sat down opposite Neville and only stopped himself from greeting all of them.

“Hello, I am Harry Potter.” He said making everyone gasp out aloud. After a minute’s gawking the others introduced themselves. “Did you know you are in Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century?” asked Hermione the insatiable.

Harry grinned. “I know. It’s all a load of rubbish isn’t it?” he asked smiling at her startled look.

“What? You think it is a load of rubbish?” Neville asked him his eyes wide in his round chubby and tense face. Neville did not even notice his frog Trevor jump off his lap and hop away.

“Yeah it is. I mean Voldemort,” Harry rolled his eyes when Neville and Seamus gasped and Hermione and Dean looked at them questioningly.

“We never speak of his name.” Seamus explained. “He is called You-Know-Who or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. We never speak of his name.”

Harry smiled. “Yeah? My Godfather, you know Sirius Black,” again Harry was forced to stop by the gasps from Neville and Seamus. He rolled his eyes and spoke again. “Sirius and Remus, who’s another friend of my dad and I live with both of them now after Sirius has been found innocent, always use Voldemort’s name. They told me never to fear the name; anyway it was not me who defeated bad old Voldemort; it was my mother who sacrificed her life for my sake. And these stupid people are saying I did it. How could I? I was only fifteen months old then.”

There was a silence in the compartment as all of them went through all that Harry was saying, in their minds. Then Hermione started with the first question and soon Harry was bombarded by all kinds of questions even Neville asked a good many of them; and Harry answered all the questions as well as he could starting from Voldemort’s fall ten years ago. From there the talk proceeded to Hogwarts and Harry told them about the ghosts, the teachers, and the Sorting. That naturally led to a discussion about which House everyone would go to.

“I really don’t mind any House.” Harry said dropping a bombshell. As he expected everyone stared at him. “But Harry you can’t mean Slytherin. That was the House You-Know-Who was in.” Neville told him hesitantly.

“Yeah, it was. But you know what Neville, Sirius Black comes from the House of Blacks, one of the darkest families ever. His cousins are Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange.” Neville’s eyes widened in shock as he gasped, staring at Harry, his face red and a second later he looked down, clenching his hands together. Harry saw that but ignored it and continued. The others had not noticed. They were listening to Harry in rapt attention.

“His own brother was a death eater,” Harry told them careful to say only those facts Sirius and Remus had discussed with him and not his own knowledge about everything. “His own brother,” repeated Harry, “Regulus Black became a death eater and then tried to run away from Voldemort because he could not stomach the unnecessary killing.”

“What happened to him?” Hermione asked him leaning forward and listening keenly.

“He was murdered by Voldemort of course Hermione. No one leaves his service alive. But I was getting somewhere else. Even though he was born and brought up in such a Dark family, Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor and he ran away from his home, leaving everyone behind because he did not want to join with Voldemort.”

“Yeah but he was in Gryffindor wasn’t he?” asked Seamus triumphantly. “And I bet all his family were in Slytherin.”

Harry nodded his head smiling. “Yes. But you know the person who betrayed my parents’; he was their secret keeper and he was a death eater who went and told the secret to Voldemort and it was because of that Voldemort came and attacked all of us and killed my parents’. That person was Peter Pettigrew.”

“Yeah I know. I read about it in The Daily Prophet.” Seamus told him and Neville nodded, still in shock about Bellatrix Lestrange.

“Peter was their best friend all the seven years they were in School and he was in Gryffindor along with them.” Harry finished and all of them gasped understanding what Harry was trying to say.

“Oh Harry you are trying to say that even in Gryffindor there are bad people.” Hermione said, summing up all the others thoughts.

Harry nodded. “Yeah, and not only that Hermione. With Voldemort you know he is evil and you can be prepared by warding your home against him, fighting him and his death eaters and also if need be run away and hide from him. But Pettigrew was a friend. A friend for whom my dad would have died and he trusted Pettigrew so much that he entrusted not only his, but his wife’s and his baby’s life to his care. And he betrayed that trust and was responsible for killing my parents’ and for Sirius being put in Azkaban for so many years. But just because of him can you say all Gryffindor is bad?”

“So Slytherin is not bad.” Seamus asked Harry thoughtfully.

“I don’t know. But I am not going to make friends because someone is in a particular House or someone’s parents’ belong to a Light family. I am going to make friends because I get along with someone and trust them. That’s it.” Harry said with finality and left it there. The others needed some time to think about all that and also for his not so subtle message to sink in.

For sometime there was only silence as everyone was lost in their own thoughts. Then, “Oh no I have lost Trevor, my toad.” Neville said worriedly.

“Come on,” Hermione told him kindly, “I will help you search.” And she stood up along with Neville.

“Accio Trevor!” Harry called quietly lifting his wand. Sirius and Remus had not asked from where he had got his wand. They had assumed Harry had bought it at Ollivander’s and Harry did not correct them. He decided he would say he was scared to say at first because of their reaction to his venture into Knockturn alley and later he had completely forgotten about it.

The toad came zooming into Harry’s hands and he gave the small toad to a relieved Neville and turned to Hermione who was bursting with questions. “How could you do that?” was the first one.

“I practised all last month. I read a lot too. I bought so many books and I am going to equip myself with a lot of knowledge; as much as I can. Knowledge is power.” Harry said pompously striking a pose and everyone laughed, but it did not deter Hermione.

“But don’t you have underage restrictions?” Hermione asked him puzzled.

“Yes Hermione. But most wizarding homes are completely warded; it is difficult for the Ministry to find out if underage magic has taken place there. I too have tried practising spells, only I have not got a single one right until now.” Neville told her.

Hermione welled up with righteous indignation about the fact that those who lived in wizarding homes could use magic and those like her couldn’t. But thankfully for the others there was an announcement informing everyone that they had reached Hogsmeade and would the students be ready. Harry, Hermione and Neville were already in their robes and Dean and Seamus put on their robes over their muggle clothes and soon they reached Hogsmeade.

Harry, Hermione and the others got down and waited for someone to take them to Hogwarts. Harry might have wondered a bit about the fact that Draco Malfoy had not made his appearance, if he hadn’t cast a notice me not charm wandlessly at the open door. He grinned to himself and waited next to Hermione.

Hagrid was there beaming at everyone and Harry grinned as he called out to the ‘Firs’ years” and told them to take the boats. “Four to a boat” he bellowed and all the new first years went towards the boats.

The five of them went near the water and looked awkwardly and Harry stepped back and pushed the four to a boat. “Go on.” He said when Hermione and Neville protested.

Harry took the next boat with Susan Bones, Hannah Abbot and Terry Boot. All of them sat silently and looked awed as they saw the great castle by night.

Harry felt so much love swelling up at the sight of his beloved School, the fortress Voldemort had been unable to break. He just sat there silently his heart singing at the sight of the castle with her many towers and dungeons.

They went through the curtain of ivy and landed in the rocky harbour and clambered on to the rocks. Harry felt very warm when he saw that Hermione, Neville and Seamus had waited for him and soon all of them were standing behind Hagrid who had lifted an enormous hand to knock on the doors.

Harry looked happily at McGonagall who opened the door and took them inside to wait for their sorting. He was home and it felt so good.

He stayed carefully with Hermione and Neville, Dean and Seamus and saw Malfoy looking at him and turned his face away. Ron was standing in front of Harry and Harry could not see his face. Only his red hair. Harry felt guilty for a second but then McGonagall was speaking to them and all of them got ready for the sorting.

Harry would have been petrified by the Sorting, but for the fact he knew the Hat could not tell what he had seen inside of his head to anyone even the Headmaster. He could hint saying that Harry should be watched and stuff like that but he was charmed so that he could never speak about the students mind to anyone in order to protect their privacy.

Harry was also going to categorically tell the Hat to avoid all mention of him.

“Abbot, Hannah.” The sorting had begun and Harry watched as she was sorted into Hufflepuff. One by one everyone was sorted and Hermione to his relief was sorted into Gryffindor and Malfoy into Slytherin. No surprises there. Neville after a very long time was sorted into Gryffindor and then, “Potter, Harry.” called McGonagall.

Harry walked confidently to the stool and he avoided looking at the Head Table, where Dumbledore and Snape were sitting. Harry put on the Hat and the Hat gasped.

“I hope no one heard that.” Harry said warningly, now all of thirty seven years old.

“Of course they did not Potter.” The Hat replied irritably, not amused that one student had already been here once before and was here once again after so many years.

“I am sorry. It is just I do not wish Dumbledore or worse Snape or anyone for that matter to have any idea of my time travel. I did not wish for it, but now that I am here I would like to have many incidents end differently.” Harry told the Hat and allowed the Hat to see everything.

“You do realize that by changing everything, you might change your life as well?” the Hat asked quietly. It had seen everything and had been mighty impressed.

“What do I do? I can hardly let Sirius stay in Azkaban for two more years can I? I am aware of course. But I really don’t have a choice. I have to live with myself have I not?” Harry asked the Hat heavily.

“Gryffindor?” the Hat asked him.

“Yes please and thank you.” Harry replied and just when McGonagall was about to lift the Hat to see why the sorting was taking so late the Hat cried, ‘Gryffindor’ and Harry took of the Hat and placed it carefully on the stool and patting it once went to the Gryffindor table and sat next to Hermione and Neville amidst great applause and shouts from the twins of ‘we got Potter’.

[The_Green_Woods]

He still had to look at the Head Table. “I am Fred and this is my twin George Weasley. This so high up person is our brother Percy, the perfect Prefect. Welcome to Hogwarts and Gryffindor and may all of us see your scar?” Fred Weasley grinned at Harry while Percy scowled at his introduction to the Boy-Who-Lived but Harry beamed at the boy who had died in the war and who he had not seen for almost twenty years.

Harry lifted his fringe and showed all the second years with whom they were sitting the scar, grinning all the time. Slowly the others were sorted too, and Dean came to sit with them and then it was Ron’s turn. The hat cried ‘Gryffindor’ and Ron came looking very relieved to sit near his brothers.

“This is ickle Ronniekins our ickle little ickle bro.” Fred told Harry, Hermione and Neville who were trying not to laugh at the many ickles that Ron seemed to be. Ron on his part was scowling at his brother and glared at them before turning to all of them to mumble ‘Hi’. Then he looked in awe at Harry and Harry obligingly lifted his hair and showed Ron his scar. Ron gaped at the scar and then blushed and looked down.

“Hi Ron.” Harry said softly looking at his first best friend of the past or was it the future? Harry didn’t know. Ron grinned back and at that time Dumbledore told all of them to ‘nitwit, blubber, oddment, tweak’ and start eating. Soon all of them were eating and chattering hard.

Nearly Headless Nick came smiling and huffed away irritably after Ron called him ‘Nearly Headless Nick’ and Seamus wanted to know how he could be nearly headless.

After they finished there was a sound from the Head Table calling for attention and Harry turned his head from where he had been speaking to a surprisingly chatty Neville; maybe all that he needed was some of the right attention Harry thought before he looked at the Head Table.

McGonagall had been tapping her goblet with her wand requesting for silence and getting it almost at once. Dumbledore got to his feet and his eyes swept around the Great Hall. Harry looked at the man he had been going to make his peace with, to hear his apology and become friends with him once again and to ultimately help him make his peace with Snape.

Harry stared at Dumbledore when he smiled at everyone. His eyes swept the Great Hall and settled for a moment extra on Harry and his smile widened and then he straightened and started speaking.

Harry waited with baited breath for the announcement he had been waiting to hear and Dumbledore did not disappoint. He started with the usual notices and then finally, “And last but not the least the third floor corridor to the right hand side is completely out of bounds to all Hogwarts students. Those who will break this rule may expect to die a most painful death.”

Harry did not hear more; he did not hear about Dumbledore asking everyone to sing the School song nor did he hear so many off – key renderings of the said song.

It had started. The madness had begun and for the first time Harry let his eyes rove all over the Head Table. He saw the stuttering DADA professor Quirrell and sitting next to him was Snape!

Harry looked at the man whose contribution was the single most important one to win the war. All for love. Maybe what Dumbledore said love being the unknown power was not so false?

Snape who had been sitting stiffly scowling at the horrible noise that was the School song suddenly turned his head and stared at Harry. Harry stared back wondering whether Snape would use Legilimency. He didn’t and Harry slowly smiled at him. An innocent, wide, hesitant smile and grinned to himself when Snape scowled and turned away. Point to me, Harry thought vastly amused. Snape was going to be fun.

Harry saw Quirrell who was shaking next to Snape and then moved his eyes to McGonagall and lastly to Dumbledore. Dumbledore was watching him with bright blue eyes and Harry smiled once again and Dumbledore simply beamed back.

Afterwards all the first years were taken to the Gryffindor common room by ‘Pompous Percy’ as he had been dubbed by the twins and Harry finally reached his dorm after he and Neville exchanged good night greetings with Hermione. Already Hermione was different from their past. She had been with Harry and Neville the whole day and her happiness simply shone on her face.

Harry saw his bed, the very same one that he had been using for the six years he had been here and this time he was determined to study all the seven years and not write his NEWTS a year later after private study like last time. He removed his trunk from his pocket and placed it on the ground, enlarged it and opened it. He removed his night things, went to the bathrooms to have a wash and came back and sat down to write to Sirius and Remus about his day.

“Good night Harry.” Neville, Dean, Seamus and Ron called out to him and to each other and Harry wished all of them as well and closing the curtains began to write.

-----------

The next morning saw Harry up nice and early. He was used to getting up early and saw no need to change that. He woke up and went leisurely to the bathrooms and had a long hot shower. Then neatly dressed in Black School robes with his Gryffindor badge gleaming above his left breast, Harry went into the dorm to take his bags to leave for the Great Hall. Today classes would begin.

“’Morning Harry.” a voice greeted him sleepily and Harry turned to find Neville stretching and smiling at him. Harry grinned back, “Morning Neville. I am going down to the Great Hall. Coming?”

“In five minutes.” Neville said turning immediately to search for his robes.

“I will be down in the common room okay?”

“Okay Harry.” Neville called as he ran towards the bathrooms.

Harry laughed softly and taking his bottomless bag he had purchased on one of his trips to Diagon Alley with Sirius and Remus that was filled with all kinds of books including his favourite Self Updating Book of Spells, went to the common room and sat down in his usual place of old.

Harry breathed deeply and took out his Self Updating Book of Spells and started reading about warding spells. There was so much information and knowledge in these books it was amazing.

Ten minutes later a visibly panting Neville came crashing down the stairs looking anxiously for Harry and visibly relieved when he saw Harry waiting for him.

“Thanks for waiting Harry.” Neville told him in gasps and Harry laughed and lifting his bag on his shoulders stood up. “Come on Nev, to the Great Hall for breakfast.” Harry told him gaily feeling guilty he had not done this last time. But then he too had been only eleven and had been looking for acceptance and friendship just like Neville was now. Harry glanced at Neville whose face had bloomed when Harry had abbreviated his name and he had simply bounced all the way to the Great Hall.

They were very early as it was just half past seven in the morning. In fact they were the only two in their year and apart from other five or six fifth and sixth years the Gryffindor table was empty. Harry was sure to ask a few portraits the way to the Great Hall so that it would not look as if he knew everything.

The Head Table was full though and all the professors were there early having a cup of tea and breakfast, mentally preparing for the start of yet another new year.

Harry and Neville sat down, Harry taking care to see he did not look up at the professors and waited for breakfast that came to them in a few seconds. Both the boys were quiet as they busily helped themselves to everything they wanted and then ate in a companionable silence.

They were almost finished when Neville looked down and very hesitantly spoke to Harry, “Harry your Godfather is not friendly with the Les… Lestranges is he?”

“No Nev, of course not. He hates them, despises them.” And then Harry’s green eyes softened and he added very softly, “He told me about your parents Nev.” Harry watched as Neville’s face became red with embarrassment and a fear of ridicule. But before he could say something defensively, Harry continued, “He said they were great people and Bellatrix Lestrange deserved to die a most horrible death for torturing them. He knew them you know.” and Harry saw Neville’s eyes lift to Harry’s face and a ray of hope slowly blooming in them.

“He did?” Neville breathed.

Harry nodded smiling. “Yes and I believe my parents and yours used to meet at special meetings to fight against Voldemort. That is what Sirius said, to discuss the war and the attacks and they only stopped meeting when my parents’ had to go into hiding.”

“My gran says my dad was very powerful and very brave. I am neither you know. They thought I was a squib for a long time. Then one day I fell out of the window and rolled all the way down and my uncle Algie was so happy I had magic inside me, he got me Trevor. I always forget everything you know, I wish I could somehow do my Gran proud.” Neville sighed and then realized what he had said went red with shame.

“Why don’t you?” Harry asked reasonably.

Neville raised incredulous eyes to Harry. Neither boy was aware of the interest they had caused by their serious conversation. Dumbledore sipping his tea at the Head Table knew they had not met. He was very curious about the conversation, but he was not to know. Snape in the meantime was glaring at the boy-who-dared-to-smile-the-day-before. He had been totally shocked by the innocent smile Lily’s boy had sent him.

Lily’s boy. Snape had a very bitter few minutes after those words flashed in his mind. Even after one month with the dog and the wolf, the boy had smiled innocently at him. He had scowled and turned away. But the boy had not been perturbed at all. Today he seemed to be embroiled in a very serious conversation with the Longbottom boy. He wondered what it could be but did not want to employ Legilimency just yet. So he contented himself to keep staring hard like the Headmaster at the two boys.

Dumbledore had decided to invite Sirius and Remus and ask them about Harry. He was very intrigued by the thin Boy-Who-Lived who oozed unheard of confidence for a first year. For a child whose Hogwarts letter was addressed to the ‘cupboard under the stairs’ he was amazingly cheerful and confident. He was very curious indeed. Harry and Neville oblivious of all this, were still talking to each other.

“How can I Harry? I told you I am almost a squib.” Neville sounded desperate.

“What if I say you are not? Neville,” Harry told him seriously, “half the battle is your own confidence. If you were almost a squib you would have never been invited to study here and nor would you have been sorted into Gryffindor. Will you be my study partner? We can do it together.”

Neville beamed and grinned, really grinned at Harry, thanking him fervently and Harry grinned back brushing it off, and the observers at the Head Table watched intently as the serious conversation that almost seemed to leave Neville in tears and then suddenly Neville was grinning so widely and was talking very fast to Harry who was nodding his head and saying something that seemed to make Neville happier.

Harry and Neville started talking about their lessons and the Great Hall slowly filled up with sleepy students and in a very few cases like Percy and Hermione, very eager ones.

Hermione came in looking almost as anxious as Neville and her face and stride relaxed when she saw them.

“Good morning Harry, Neville. When did you get up?” she asked anxiously as if she had missed a good portion of her lessons.

“Oh! I usually get up very early Hermione. Nev and I got up at the around the same time and came down to have breakfast. We were just planning to study together. How about you, will you join us?”

Hermione’s eyes simply blazed and it was all that Harry could do to stop laughing out aloud, because he knew she would feel insulted and all her insecurities would come all at once and kill her.

“Of course I will help you two and a study plan will work wonders and I will draw up a schedule,” Harry started laughing, he could not help it; Hermione’s zeal and Neville’s terror seeing her go was simply too funny for words.

“Hey! Cool down. You are simply great you know Hermione.” Harry told her soothingly, seeing her very hurt, “But this is only the first day. I am sorry I laughed but you were terrorizing young Nev here.” And Harry threw an arm around her and grinned.

Slowly the hurt left her and she smiled. “I did get carried away didn’t I? But we will study together won’t we? I mean,” she blushed at how anxious she sounded but before she could valiantly continue, Harry butted in, “Of course Hermione. We will together, and take the whole of Hogwarts by storm.” All of them laughed and the Head Table was once again wondering what the three of them were now discussing.

Harry and Neville decided to wait for Hermione to finish and at that time a very sleepy Ron, Dean and Seamus came in. seeing the disgustingly fresh three, they blinked and sat down opposite them to start eating their breakfast.

“All of you got up very early?” Dean asked them.

“Yes. Harry woke up first and waited for me to get ready and we have been talking and chatting here. Hermione came just a little while ago.” Neville told Dean. Hermione though, was not listening to the conversation. Instead she had her head and mind immersed in her Transfiguration text book and Ron seeing that nudged Seamus and they snickered.

Harry noticed it but did not say a word. This was why he had not sat with Ron on the train and had been neutral with him. If he did get close, Ron would demand certain rights as a friend, rights Harry could not afford to give him.

He would want to consider all Slytherins as evil, would want to fight Malfoy every time, curse Snape with a hatred Harry simply did not possess and on top of all this Ron would simply kill himself with jealousy seeing an assured and self confident Harry, not to mention a very rich one as well.

To remain casual friends right now was the best thing and Ron’s attitude towards Hermione, already made Harry believe he had done the right thing. Hermione was not aware of the snickering or if she was, she was not showing it. She ate at a steady pace and as soon as she finished she closed her book and looked smartly at Harry.

At that time McGonagall was walking down the tables handing out schedules to everyone. Harry, Hermione and Neville received theirs and immediately Harry looked at his. He had Transfiguration followed by potions for two periods and then lunch. They had all their classes with the Slytherins and in the afternoon they had Charms.

“Well let us get on to Transfiguration class. Coming?” Hermione asked Harry and Harry and Neville got up and telling the others to come fast they left. Harry asked a few portraits about the way to class and soon they were standing in front of the classroom.

Sharp at nine the classroom opened and McGonagall bid all of them enter. They were treated to a lecture that Harry found especially boring and then were asked to turn matchsticks into needles.

Harry got his needle at the first try. He sat back and whispered to Neville who was partnering him, teaching him about how to do it. At that time McGonagall was coming around and was about to scold Harry when she saw the needle. She stopped in shock.

“Mr. Potter.” and placed more matchsticks on his table. “Could you?” she gestured to him and he removed his wand and softly saying the spell, waved his wand.

All the match sticks turned into needles, their ends sharp and pointy. McGonagall gaped at him, but did not say a word and moved on. She watched Harry teaching Neville and after Hermione, Malfoy and Zabini, Neville was the only one to get his needle right at the end of the class.

They left the classroom and Hermione spent the entire time during the walk to the Potions classroom by asking Harry how he could transfigure all the matchsticks at the same time?

Harry smiled and acted innocent. “Well I wanted to change every matchstick Hermione and so I succeeded. When I cast the spell I cast it for all the matchsticks not one by one. That would take so much time.”

They had reached the potions classroom and the Slytherins and the Gryffindors were standing on either side of the door. Harry had his One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi and was reading through the various herbs and their properties. Seeing his example, a few other students were also doing the same.

“Potter?” asked a soft and incredibly superior sounding voice.

Harry looked up slowly and nodded his eyes very cautious and his smile very pleasant. He wanted to pull this off properly.

“Draco Malfoy.” The boy said holding out his hand and looking at Harry expectantly.

“You are Narcissa Black Malfoy’s son?” Harry asked him, completely throwing him.

Neither boy knew that a very interested Snape was listening behind doors. He had wanted to observe the Boy-Who-Lived before banging the doors open and now Potter was talking to Malfoy instead of hexing him. This was beyond interesting and into the shocking and he wanted to hear more.

“Eh, what?” asked Malfoy completely taken aback. He had never expected Harry to reply like this. “Yes.” He managed before steadying himself and then smiled and held out his hand once again.

Harry did not hesitate and grabbed Malfoy’s hand and shook it warmly. “Pleased to meet you Malfoy. My Godfather Sirius Black has told be she was his cousin and that they grew up together.” Harry grinned to himself while an extremely bewildered Malfoy processed all this information before he continued, “Are you prepared for professor Snape’s class?”

“What? Black? Why?” Malfoy was bewildered enough to get confused and stop sprouting off against lesser and betters. Harry held his breath. This was going far better than he had even hoped for.

“Because he is very strict we’ve heard.” Harry said seriously.

“For you Gryffindors. With us Slytherins he is different.” Malfoy told him, nose in the air.

“You mean partial and showing favouritism? That’s how he is different, isn’t he?” snarled Ron.

Harry sighed inside and nodded his head to Malfoy hoping he looked jealous. “I know. Wish McGonagall would take a leaf out of Snape’s book. She could favour us Gryffindors you know, but I believe she is as strict with us as she is with you, Sirius told me. It’s not fair. You Slytherins are so lucky.” Harry pouted and Malfoy who had been about to say something horribly rude to Ron was diverted by this piece of analysis from Harry.

Draco Malfoy stared for sometime trying to get everything straight in his mind and also look as if Slytherins were the luckiest ones, instead of having everyone curse them for being evil, and Snape, for favouring them. He nodded once again not knowing what to say and to his relief at that time the doors banged open and Harry saw Snape billowing away to the front sharply saying, “Come in and don’t dither.”

Harry had been very careful about his Occlumency right since morning. In fact he had been slowly preparing his mind by having Parseltongue spells on all of his other life memories making sure no one would access them. Unless you knew the passwords and spoke them in a certain order you would not be able to access the memories. It was a mild variation of a memory charm and Harry was confident it would work.

He had arranged the memories of his time with the Dursleys and then kept them suppressed like some sort of natural Occlumency then his last month with Sirius and Remus, which was also suppressed. Harry had wanted to give an impression of wanting no one to see his rather sad past and that he had become somehow adept at suppressing all his memories. By projecting a totally different attitude and character on the outside, Harry hoped to confuse everyone.

Harry knew Dumbledore and Snape would peep into his mind. It was only a question of when and Harry wanted his mind to be blissfully empty and hoped they would conclude that Harry had ‘natural Occlumency shields’. So far he had been very careful and had not said anything that he should not have known and Harry wanted to keep it that way.

All of them trooped in silently into the dark classroom and quietly sat down. Harry paired with Neville and Hermione with Parvati Patil. The Slytherins too were very quiet and they settled down with a minimum of fuss.

Harry set his things and slowly looked at the man he wanted the most to make his peace with.


End of Chapter – 6
-------------------------

[The_Green_Woods]

Chapter – 7
---------------

Snape was standing at the front of the classroom and sneering at everyone and his sneer became more pronounced when he saw the Gryffindors. He started by taking register and he stopped when he came to Harry’s name. He looked up and glared at Harry, “Harry Potter.” he said softly, his black eyes glittering, “Our new celebrity.”

Harry simply looked at him with wide eyes and he willed himself to blush. He was rewarded by the famous Snape sneer before Snape continued with the register.

After register Snape gave his now very famous speech and after ending it with a ‘if you aren’t a big bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach’ he turned to Harry, his eyes gleaming with dislike.

“Potter,” he barked, “What will I get if I add the powered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?” Harry stood up before he started answering.

“Please sir; they will together make a sleeping draught so powerful it is called the Draught of Living Death. The potion can put one to sleep for as long as you would want. They will have no heart beat and nor will they be able to breathe. It will be as if they are truly dead but they are not. To wake them you have to give them the antidote. That is all I know about this potion sir.”

Snape simply stared at the deferential Boy-Who-Lived. How many sirs’ had Potter used in that small explanation? Snape blinked once and continued. “A bezoar Potter?”

“It is a small round stone removed from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons sir.” Harry replied promptly and if Snape could have he would have gaped at the Boy-Who-Lived. As Snape did not do gaping, he simply stared at the potions savvy and very reverent and unbelievably respectful Harry Potter. He was so shocked he did not ask the third question and turned away to the blackboard and flicked his wand at it saying harshly to the rest of the class, “Well why aren’t you all writing it down?”

At once, everyone sprung into action and the sound of parchment and quills being removed and a lot of quills scratching on parchment could be heard. Snape had, in the meantime flicked his wand at the board and the method of preparing a simple potion to cure boils same as Harry’s last time appeared.

“Read this very simple instruction carefully on the board and prepare a potion to cure boils. Get down to it.” Snape said sharply and all of them hurried to set their cauldrons. Point to me, Harry thought laughing to himself, setting his cauldron and also simultaneously helping Neville set up his, explaining about the potion all the time, conspicuously looking at the instructions on the board all the time.

Both of them had managed to complete their potions properly and carefully and awkwardly poured his potion into a vial and poured some of Neville’s potion into a vial for him and tightly closed it when he felt the tendrils of Legilimency. So Snape had been unable to resist. Well Harry was prepared and went about his work, writing his name on the vial.

-----------

Snape had not been able to resist. Harry Potter was extremely confident. Not even his father or Black had been like this. And he was almost grovelling to Snape. That alone was wrong on so many counts that Snape was actually alarmed and worried. Potter had spent a whole month with the bloody dog and werewolf and he was still so respectful without a sneer, a smirk or a sarcastic comment, the moment he saw Snape? That was just not possible. On top of that was his almost perfect knowledge of potions. He wondered how Potter had fared in Transfiguration, the class they had before this. Even Lily had no clue of potions and had developed a love for the subject only because of him.

Snape’s lips twisted bitterly and his eyes turned inward as he thought of her. He remembered teaching Lily potions from the moment he had told her she was a witch and had made her love the subject like himself. She became as proficient as he in the exact art of potion making.

He narrowed his eyes and looked at Harry who was pouring a perfect potion into his vial, brewed effortlessly and what was more had made sure the foolish Longbottom boy got his correct as well. Snape knew about Neville and about how late he had shown magic and was expecting him to be a walking disaster and it was almost as if Potter would know about it because he had gone out of his way to help Longbottom.

He wondered what they had been discussing in the Great Hall in the morning and then his thoughts went to the scene outside the potions class with Malfoy. That was very mature and Potter had nipped what would have turned into a major fight and on top of that had bewildered the Slytherin. That was not so easily done especially with Malfoy and Snape was intrigued. Black and Lupin would have done their best to vilify Slytherin House and also Snape, Malfoy and anyone they knew would be in first year this year with Potter. Then why had Potter acted so friendly with Malfoy. It was as if he wanted to avoid confrontations and become friends.

So he peeped. And he was shocked. There was nothing on the surface except his intention to write neatly on the vial. Either Potter was a fantastic natural Occlumens or he really was that empty and Snape would not believe Potter to be empty. He could not go further in without alerting and hurting Potter and letting him know that something was happening inside his head. Well he decided to wait and watch. Snape knew he was after all was very good at that.

---------------

Harry knew he would be watched after Snape saw his very empty mind and grinned to himself. He acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary and walked up to Snape and handed over his vial and waited for Neville to hand over his. Harry was alert to catch the vial if Neville let it slip from his visibly shaking hand.

However Neville managed to hand over the vial and both of them left the classroom, Neville visibly relieved. “Merlin Harry! You saved my life.” Neville gasped the moment they were out of that class. Hermione had joined them and Harry casually brushed it away. “I know if our positions had been reversed you would have done the same for me Nev, so no big deal there.”

Ron, Dean and Seamus came out visibly wiping their faces and shaking their heads. “What a class.” Seamus said feeling fully drained.

“At least we did not lose any points. Fred was saying yesterday that Snape always takes points off us, and it really would have been awful to lose points on our very first day. I was so scared that he would yell at us and take away points from us.” Harry told them and all of them shuddered and agreed. They too had heard Fred yesterday. It would have made a bad impression to have points taken away on their very first day and during their very first potions class.

They walked up to the Great Hall making small talk. That set the tone for the first year Gryffindors and they attended all classes and held themselves admirably. Quirrell was a joke as he was last time and they learned nothing from him in his class.

Harry became firm friends with Hermione and Neville and both of them were fast losing their shyness. Ron, Seamus and Dean, Parvati and Lavender were friendly but nothing more. Ron had got into enough fights with Malfoy and the other Slytherins and had everything from points being taken away from him to being placed in detention at least two days a week. It did not seem to deter him and Harry watching from a distance, was gladder than ever that he had chosen as he did.

Snape was watching him silently and Harry acted as if he was not aware and worked very hard. While the practical came to him without effort, even without thought the correct way of expressing the theory still had to be learnt and sometimes Harry found it excruciatingly boring. But he endured and always made sure he would be prepared for class.

For Hermione it was a novel situation where someone else was better than her and could effortlessly get everything at one go. She could not even say he was from a wizarding family because Harry had lived like a muggle and until he received his Hogwarts letter he did not know he was magical just like her. He had just one month of practising magic that she did not have and he topped every time in every class.

She studied hard and so did Neville. They had their first flying lessons two weeks after start of term and Ron got into a fight with Malfoy as usual and throwing curses at each other, both of them took shakily to the air when Madam Hooch had gone with Neville to the hospital wing. Neville had replayed his injury of bucking on his broom and falling down. Harry did not hesitate and also soared up into the air to separate Malfoy and Ron who were throwing what hexes they knew at each other and Malfoy knew far more than Ron.

He got Ron with a spell that made painful boils sprout all over Ron’s face. Ron removed his hands to cover his face with a howl of pain and was about to lose balance and fall down, when Harry caught on to Ron. Harry held Ron who was now whimpering in pain and dived. Harry had one hand on his broom and with one hand somehow held on to Ron until they were only a few feet from the ground.

Harry pulled up his broom sharply, slowing it down and removing his hand from his broom, held on to Ron tightly with both hands and jerked him off his broom and held on to him. Harry could not stop his broom before he hit the ground because he was now holding on to Ron as well. About a foot or two from the ground Harry let go off Ron and rolled on to the ground, letting his boom crash. Ron’s broom had already crashed to the ground when Harry pulled Ron off it.

Harry stood up shakily and dusted himself off and Hermione, who had run to them along with Neville and the other Gryffindors, pointed her wand at Ron, who had fallen to the ground and was now whimpering in pain clutching his face, shouted a counter spell and vanished the boils in a minute.

That was when McGonagall had come and dragged Harry away and made him Gryffindor’s new seeker. Harry was very thoughtful for the next few days. Some events had changed but some events still happened only differently. He must be careful from his fourth year because that was when the deaths started happening, starting with Cedric.

Harry still felt a sense of amazement when he saw Cedric. Every time he saw the Hufflepuff a small prayer would escape his lips and Harry hoped this time around he would live a long life like just like he hoped for many others, them being Sirius, Remus, Snape, Dumbledore, Tonks, Mad-Eye, Fred and Hedwig and so many others who had died needlessly the last time.

Harry was very normal to Malfoy. McGonagall had seen the fight between Malfoy and Ron and had punished both of them. Malfoy had acted edgy the next time he had seen Harry, but Harry had only scowled at him and shook his fist very seriously at a mildly alarmed Malfoy and then had grinned. Malfoy had rolled his eyes and then they went to playing word games with each other.

[The_Green_Woods]

The first time Malfoy had insulted Hermione, calling her a mudblood while they were arguing about something, Harry and Hermione had stared at him, with Hermione not knowing what the word meant and Harry pretending he did not know, though he felt like punching Malfoy on his snooty nose. Neville had done that, with his fists because he was no where near Malfoy’s range in wand fighting.

Harry had acted shocked and in the silence Snape had borne down on them, asking them harshly what had happened. Neville had kept quiet and Malfoy after a slightly scared look at Harry had looked down. Snape had punished the three Gryffindors by taking ten points each for fighting with a Slytherin and had billowed away.

“What does that word mean?” Harry had asked softly, a hint of warning in his voice, a tone that all the three of them learned never to provoke.

Malfoy looked defiant when he had explained just what the word had meant. “So you are also calling my mother who was a muggleborn the same name?” Harry had asked glaring at him his voice very soft. Malfoy knew that in a minute Harry would start yelling and then he was frightening, his power leaking out of him.

They had argued a few times and rarely did Harry become angry, but when he did he was rather frightening and most of them who saw that anger the first time were invariably careful the next time.

Now Malfoy did not answer and after about two minutes of simply staring him down, “May I request you to never utter that word?” he had asked, holding out his hand for Malfoy to shake. The implication was very obvious. Harry meant that if Malfoy would utter mudblood, Harry would fight him, because his mother was a muggleborn. Malfoy was enjoying his well, not friendship, but something like that relationship with Harry and he did not want to stop being whatever he was with Harry. So he swallowed his pride and nodded once and shook Harry’s hand.

“Thank you.” Harry had told him making Malfoy feel that he had granted Harry a favour, which is what Harry had wanted and Malfoy had walked away feeling he had not lost anything much. Hermione healed Neville’s bruise and all of them went to their common room. But from then on Malfoy and his friends never called Hermione or anyone mudblood, at least when Harry was anywhere around.

It was now just a week before Halloween and Harry was sure Quirrell would bring in the troll somehow into Hogwarts. He would have to make sure this time Hermione would not be anywhere near the girls’ bathroom or indeed anybody else. Now that Hermione was not so bossy and she had someone studying far better than her, she was just a slightly studious girl, helping Neville in most of his subjects.

Before Quirrell brought the troll into the School Harry wanted to accomplish one more thing. He wanted to remove the Ravenclaw horcrux from the Room of Requirement and keep it safely with him. He decided to remove the horcrux that night a week before Halloween. That would take his collection of horcruxes to three Harry thought with satisfaction.

That night Harry waited for everyone to sleep and at midnight, he spelled his curtains with a repelling charm, made himself invisible first and took his trunk, shrunk it and placed it into his pocket. Harry then changed into his Phoenix form still invisible and flashed to the seventh floor. He changed back still invisible and walked three times thinking hard of a place to hide his book.

On his third walk a door appeared and Harry went inside and heaved a sigh of relief. It was the same room. Harry walked swiftly until he came to diadem; it was still there and Harry silently levitated it from afar and placed it into his trunk. He shrunk it wishing that he could destroy the three damned horcruxes safely right now and then shrieked when the room turned into a dungeon with a three shallow basins placed at a distance from each other and filled with what looked like snake venom.

Harry just sat there for some time before he realized what had happened. The Room of Requirement had granted his earnest wish and desire to destroy the horcruxes. This was beyond perfect Harry thought, truly elated and he suspected that the stuff in the basin was basilisk venom. Harry withdrew his wand and cast many warding spells at the door and mentally asked the Room to tell him the method and also requested the destruction of the horcrux not be heard outside. The writing started forming on the wall opposite the door.

Take the horcrux and levitate it into the shallow basin that has basilisk venom in it. Stand behind the blue line drawn on the floor and you will not be hurt. No one else will hear of the destruction of the horcrux.

Harry looked down and saw the blue line running through the length of the Room of Requirement dividing the whole room into two unequal lengths. He crossed it and stepped into the smaller divide and enlarged his trunk and removed the diadem first. He levitated it carefully and placed it into the shallow basin that was on his left. For a second nothing happened and then there was an awful, agonizing scream as he horcrux burned and died. From the blue line on the floor a strong transparent shield had sprung up until the ceiling and nothing came near Harry. The whole exercise had taken five minutes.

Harry sweating with a combination of thrill and fear and immense satisfaction that one part of the psychopath had been destroyed, did not waste time and repeated his actions with the other two.

Fifteen minutes of holding his breath Harry had destroyed three of the horcruxes. He wondered as he shrunk his trunk about whether he could touch the ring, locket and the diadem, when there appeared a big bowl of some solution and words that told him to levitate the three objects and place them in the bowl. Harry did so and the pale pink solution turned a dark blue, removing all residue of dark magic and then vanished leaving only the three objects inside. The Room told Harry that the objects were safe now and Harry went cautiously near the bowl.

Harry used his one wand to levitate the diadem and asking the Room of Requirement for another empty bowl, placed the diadem not into the bowl but holding it over, used his other wand to cleanse the diadem in all ways he knew. Harry put that aside and repeated the same process with the ring and the locket and then held all of them in his hands.

He looked at them and then smiling tiredly to himself and placed them in his trunk, shrunk it and bowed to the Room thanking it fervently and changing into a Phoenix and flashed to his bed. Harry changed and enlarged his trunk and crashed on to his bed and slept the sleep of the tired and hard working.

The week before Halloween went by slowly and Harry was on a new high, destroying three horcruxes safely and securely made him exceptionally cheerful and happy, and everyone wondered what had made Harry so carefree and visibly happy.

-----------

The first staff meeting after School began took place the day before Halloween, two months after start of the School year. All the professors had gathered together and gave their opinions about various issues and tackled various problems that had needed attention in the School. After discussing regular matters; all of them expressed their surprise about the performance of one Harry James Potter.

“He is amazing Albus. That is the word. He will surely be better than Lily in Charms.” Squeaked the little professor Flitwick.

Pomona Sprout nodded. “While he is not the best in my class, he is one of the brighter students Albus.”

Sinistra agreed with Pomona and McGonagall stared at Albus when he turned to her. “On the first day he turned his matchstick into a needle in about one second. Then he was helping Longbottom. I had not noticed his needle until I went close to his seat, intending to scold him. Then I saw the needle and surprised, gave him a bunch of matchsticks and asked him to transfigure them. I thought he would start one by one but he did not Albus. He did not separate them one by one, but waved his wand and transfigured the whole lot of them.”

Dumbledore was surprised. That was truly unheard of. “His incantation was not loud, almost silent and now copying him, Longbottom, Granger, Thomas, Finnegan, Weasley, Malfoy and Zabini are also saying their spells very softly, almost non verbally, though they are not successful always. In fact I would say except for a few times, they have been forced to shout their spells. But I have never seen Potter say his spells in anything more than a whisper.” She finished.

There was a silence after this. This kind of wand work was seen very rarely. “But I suppose it is to be expected after all. The boy has defeated the evil Lord.” Flitwick said.

All of them were a little baffled; Dumbledore and Snape the most. A little while later all the professors started to leave and only Snape, McGonagall and Dumbledore were left.

Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled madly. “Come now, Severus. Tell me about Harry.” Dumbledore said, thinking Snape would sprout off about the blasted son of James Potter.

Snape did not respond at once. He looked vacantly at the wall right in front of him, shocking McGonagall who had been readily waiting with a sarcastic remark to hit Snape with and Dumbledore, who was expecting to be amused.

“I don’t know. Potter seems to be an enigma, a puzzle I am unable to solve.” He said. He looked at McGonagall. “His potions are perfect and he is well mannered, shockingly so. He had struck up a friendship of sorts with Malfoy and he has made Draco respect and like him. When Draco speaks to me, he curses Weasley but never talks about Potter unless I ask him directly and then he is very guarded in his comments. And until now he has not written a word to his parents about being friendly with Potter.”

“How do you know that Severus?” McGonagall asked while Dumbledore was watching very interested in Snape’s observations.

“Lucius asked me about Draco and he told me to tell Draco to act neutral towards Potter. I told him Draco was already doing so. On the first day I peeped into his mind.” Both McGonagall and Dumbledore exclaimed angrily.

“Severus how could you?” asked Dumbledore.

“How dare you abuse a student’s privacy like this?” shouted McGonagall.

“Minerva, I applied Legilimency only on the surface and I am allowed to do so in any suspicious circumstance. It is only the deep invasion of any mind that is illegal. What I am trying to say here is that there was no surface thoughts except what he was doing at the time, that was writing his name on an effortlessly brewed potion.” Snape replied patiently and a little angrily. “You must realize it is suspicious, more so in fact, in the light of what you have been saying about his Transfiguration work. A boy who has been raised as a muggle and one who did not know he was a wizard until a month before starting Hogwarts has shown the work of a Master. I think I am justified.”

Dumbledore was silent and McGonagall was shocked. What Snape was saying was very true. Harry was showing the work of a Master.

“Harry really had no other thoughts Severus?” Dumbledore asked him.

Snape nodded impatiently. “Yes Albus, you may peep and see. Potter at the time I peeped, was writing his name on the potion vial. And that is all there was in his mind. I could have delved deeper but at eleven years of age, your mind is only surface thoughts and they should reflect so much more and be a lot more jumbled.”

There was silence after this and Dumbledore and McGonagall thought about what Snape was saying.

“He has spent one month with Black and Lupin. And coming here, Potter has taken Malfoy’s hand in friendship and he was and is so respectful to me it is alarming Albus. He still is very friendly with Draco even after he hexed Weasley. Now Draco has even started talking to Granger and Longbottom in a civil manner. Slytherin House has no altercation of any sort with Potter and I find it difficult to believe that Black and Lupin would have taught Potter to treat all the Houses as equal.” Snape finished very softly his black eyes very disturbed.

There was once again only silence after this and Dumbledore spoke a little while later.

“Is Harry showing spells that belong to say third year or even second year?” he asked contemplatively.

Both professors shook their head and Dumbledore was relieved. “So Harry is showing his Mastery only in what he has been taught so far. That Severus, Minerva is not so bad. But I really have no answers to what Severus has said and he has raised very valid points. I will invite Sirius and Remus for lunch at Yule to the castle. Harry too, will accompany them, I hope. We may be able to get an idea of what makes one Harry Potter tick then. Until then, please watch him closely.” Dumbledore stood up and the other two stood up and all of them went to their rooms, none of them very happy about the state of affairs concerning one Harry Potter.

----------------

The next day was Halloween and Harry woke up with his mind and senses on high alert. Events had a way of happening even though Harry had changed so much. That had been proved by Harry becoming Gryffindor seeker. Today if things were to go according to schedule was the day the troll would appear.

Harry was distracted all day and he kept as close a watch as he could on Quirrell, and McGonagall, Snape and Dumbledore kept an equally close watch on Harry. Harry would not have known this but unfortunately for Dumbledore, his curiosity got in the way of ethics and he decided to peep as well.

Harry had his Occlumency on every time he entered the Great Hall or any classroom. He was more alert in his potions class. That afternoon Harry was in the Great Hall having lunch with his friends when Dumbledore peeped into his mind. Harry knew right away that someone was peeping. He concentrated on his food, his mind only full of lessons of the previous day and as the presence lingered Harry could discern the presence to be that of the Headmaster’s; so Dumbledore could not resist either. Harry continued eating and a few minutes later he felt the Legilimency stop. Harry knew then that Dumbledore as well as Snape and if these two were involved then most likely McGonagall too were keeping an eye on him.

Harry continued to watch Quirrell the whole day and in fact he had set a mild trigger on the door of the DADA classroom and Quirrell’s office so that he would know the moment the stuttering professor would leave the rooms. Harry was sitting in the common room when he felt the trigger for the office go off. A few minutes later Harry stretched yawing conspicuously and Hermione laughed.

“Feeling very tired Harry?”

“Hmm. May be I should sleep off the afternoon. I had a slightly restless night last night.” Harry said stretching and yawning once again.

“You did look a bit off today. Kind of a bit high strung, compared to your attitude all of last week.” Hermione told him, tilting her head to one side and looking at him.

“I know. I was feeling so happy all of last week and I really did not know why. Maybe I am kinda falling flat now after being so hyper all last week.” Harry said laughing and everyone laughed with him.

Almost all the first years were there in the common room lazing around and spending their afternoon after a magnificent lunch, the second years had told them that dinner would be even better, and they were playing wizarding chess, exploding snap and in Hermione’s case reading Hogwarts: A History one more time.

“Go and sleep Harry.” Ron advised him. He was smiling and very happy because he was winning against a frustrated Seamus who was cursing Ron and his chess set making everyone laugh. This was his third straight loss and he was determined to win at least one game today.

Harry nodded yawing once again and stood up. “I think I’ll take your advice Ron. I’ll sleep off the afternoon and come down all ready for the Halloween feast tonight.” Harry told them and laughing with the others and yawning Harry went to the dorm to sleep.

The moment he had the curtains around the bed, Harry spelled them to repel anyone to peep in. Harry placed another trigger charm on the curtains and the bed that he had left crumpled, so that if anyone did break the spells on the curtains for any reason whatever Harry would be alerted and he could flash into the bathrooms and come from there so that no one would be suspicious.

That completed, Harry removed his second wand from his trunk and cast the invisibility charm upon himself and transformed into his Phoenix form. He flashed to corridor near the DADA classroom. Transforming back Harry wasted no time except to stop for a minute and check if his invisibility spells had held and then placing his wand on his palm he whispered, “Point me Quirrell.”

The wand pointed towards the Forbidden Forest and Harry removed the remaining trigger and transforming into a Phoenix once again, flashed to the edge of the Forbidden Forest just inside the School wards and waited.

Some time later an invisible Harry saw a very steady and confident Quirrell holding his wand high and leading a huge troll in the darkness straight into Hogwarts. Harry took out the second wand and held it in front of him and concentrated until he felt the magic flowing into his hands and wand and then, “Spellumin Breakostos.” He hissed in Parseltongue breaking whatever the spell had been on the troll.

The troll had apparently been under the imperious. It blinked when the curse suddenly broke and swung his huge club at Quirrell. Harry reacted immediately and banished Quirrell who went and crashed into a tree and then casting a silencing charm on his shoes, ran forward.

The troll looked around but not able to see anyone lumbered swinging its huge arms threatening all around all the time walking towards the School. It would have passed Harry in a two steps, when Harry lifted both his wands and pointing one of them towards the troll’s face and another towards its chest, hissed once again, “Reducto!”

The troll’s face and chest were blown away and it fell flat on its half blown away face. Harry quickly made the troll invisible and enervated Quirrell. He woke up groaning and looking around cautiously. He could see no one. Harry waited to see what Quirrell would do when he heard Voldemort’s voice.

“The troll has gone inside, you incompetent. Now go in and announce the troll during dinner.” The incredibly cold voice hissed and Quirrell without a word started running towards the School to go to his office.

Harry cancelled the invisibility spell on the troll with a wave of his hand and using his wand, placed it under a non tracking spell that was password triggered, and removing all traces of his magical signature, changed into his Phoenix form, flashed to his bed, banished his second wand to his trunk, changed into his pyjamas and removing the repelling spells with a wave of his hand and slept.

He was woken up by Neville half an hour later. Harry wiped his eyes sleepily, “Time for dinner?”

“You have been asleep for hours. Come on.” Neville laughed.

Harry was ready in five minutes and all of them went down talking and laughing for the Halloween feast.



End of Chapter – 7
-------------------------

[The_Green_Woods]

Chapter – 8
---------------

They were chatting and laughing, eating the magnificent feast that the School had provided, when Quirrell came running into the Great Hall clutching his chest and stammered out, “Troll in the dungeons.” before he promptly fainted.

Dumbledore flicked his wand at once and the doors magically shut up and placing his wand to his neck he spoke in a calming tone. “All of you take your seats please and continue with your dinner. After dinner you will be escorted to your common rooms where you will stay until you are informed otherwise.”

Harry and the others sat down and continued with their dinner discussing very hard about the troll and the possible ways it could have entered Hogwarts. “You know I thought Hogwarts was protected enough against such things, how did the troll get inside anyway?”

“No one knows.” Fred answered from a few seats away. “But they are really dangerous things trolls. They have no brain, only a desire to do violence all the time and a pat from them will probably kill you.”

Neville shuddered along with Ron and Hermione. Seamus was white. “I have seen one in my village you know. They are such awful things. They have a huge club almost our size and they keep swinging it and bringing down anything that stands in their way.”

This time all of them shuddered and slowly they finished dinner and were escorted to their common rooms by their professors. No one went to sleep and the Gryffindor common room was packed, all of them waiting anxiously for an announcement that the troll had been dealt with. Harry sitting there with Hermione and Neville softly said the password to release the trigger and make the troll visible.

The call never came. Instead there was McGonagall, her face white and strained worrying Harry at once. He pushed down his feeling and let only the information about the troll and his mild anxiety play in his mind.

She had a big book with her and calling everyone to settle down she started taking register. Everyone in Gryffindor had been accounted for and with a huge relief on her face she turned to leave when the door opened and Dumbledore, Snape, Flitwick and Sprout came in.

“Everyone is here professor.” McGonagall told him and Dumbledore swept his eyes around the common room taking in the anxious faces. Harry’s face was just like his friends, curious and mildly scared. But Snape was watching only him.

“The troll was found killed.” Dumbledore could go no further because everyone started clapping. He smiled though his eyes were very serious and he looked straight at Harry. “No one knows how it was killed and if any of you have any information,” Snape had entered Harry’s mind at that point and Dumbledore was till talking, “please get up and inform us.”

Snape saw Harry’s imagination of a troll with a club swinging and after Dumbledore’s words the troll lying in a heap on the potions classroom? Snape scowled and stopped his Legilimency. The boy thought the troll was in his potions classroom. Then he frowned. The images had come perfectly along with Dumbledore’s speech. But once again there was nothing else in the mind except his conversation about the troll at dinner. Not even the events of the morning.

“How was he killed professor?” asked one of the seventh year boys.

“Someone had cast a Reducto to its face and chest.” All the boys shuddered as one.

The students remained silent and the professors went out. “Well Severus, Flitius, Pomona, Minerva did you notice anything from any of the students?”

All of them shook their heads and Snape very thoughtfully. Dumbledore looked sharply at him, but his thoughts were far away thinking of what he had seen inside the mind of Harry Potter.

“Severus?” pressed Dumbledore slowing down and gesturing the other professors to go on.

“I peeped again today Dumbledore. All I found was the memories of dinner and his imagination of the events as we spoke. That is very unnatural. At the very least I have yet to find someone who is capable of this type of a mind that has natural Occlumency tendencies.” Snape paused for effect. “Not at this age, in fact not ever.”

Dumbledore agreed silently. He did not comment though. Instead he asked Snape, “Why Severus do you think Harry had anything to do with the troll?”

Snape did not answer at once. “I don’t know. But there is something about Potter I really cannot seem to put my hands upon. He is,” Snape paused and searched for an appropriate word that would express his opinion but coming up with nothing he sighed, “too confident for a first year, do you not think so?”

“Why would you feel like that?” Dumbledore asked him curiously. They had reached the gargoyle that stood at the entrance to his office and Dumbledore muttered ‘liquorice wands’ and stepped on to the stairs with Snape following him.

“Not even Potter’s father and Black who, Merlin knows came form families that would make them truly overbearing,” and scowled when Dumbledore twinkled his eyes and huffed a bit angrily, thinking for a second about storming off but Snape was highly intrigued about Potter and he wanted to also understand Dumbledore’s reactions to the findings of Boy-Who-Lived’s mind, “not even they were this confident. Not even Lucius was, Dumbledore.”

Dumbledore sobered at that. At a deeper level he knew what Snape was saying. He too had peeped once before and found Harry’s mind blissfully and calmly empty. That was not the norm unless Harry was doing all this unconsciously to suppress his feelings and his childhood which made Dumbledore cringe as he remembered ‘the cupboard beneath the stairs’ on his Hogwarts letter.

Dumbledore had expected Snape to be frothing at the mouth seeing Harry. Snape had been doing just that before Harry came to Hogwarts. But since then he had treated Harry as sulkily as he did the other students and nothing more. He had not removed a single point of Harry until now just because he was Harry Potter. Snape was that much confused.

“Almost non-verbal spells, multiple Transfiguration on the very first day, so far only expertly brewed potions turned in – not even once has Potter handed a potion less than perfect, so much confidence, what would you think Dumbledore? Or is that not my position to ask?” Snape finished sarcastically.

Dumbledore stared at Snape for a long moment and then sighed. “I don’t know Severus and of course I would never tell you to stop deciphering our young Mr. Potter. I peeped once today into his mind and I found it as you said. Nothing. He is an Occlumens Severus.” Dumbledore observed very quietly shocking Snape out of his mind. He looked up his eyes wide and unguarded at the Headmaster who was staring equally sombrely at him.

Already the equations had begun to change. Dumbledore was baffled and Snape was not yelling about the Boy-Who-Lived and everything was different. In the past Snape had only bad things to say about Harry and was forever snubbed by Dumbledore. Here Snape was as thoughtful as Dumbledore if not even more so and they were working together.

The Dumbledore of the past would have chewed Snape for reading his mind and Snape certainly never told the Headmaster he had been reading thoughts straight off Harry’s mind. Dumbledore would have been very scathing to him. This time Snape and Dumbledore were taking turns to peep into the mind of the Boy-Who-Lived and both did not like what they saw or rather what they did not see.

“What do you mean Dumbledore?” asked Snape in a strangled voice.

“He is an Occlumens Severus. No one can do what he does. Either he is a natural Occlumens and if that is the case then he is the first Occlumens that I have seen who can hide his feelings so well otherwise he may be possessed.”

“What!” Snape shouted.

“Well how can someone control their mind like this? Tell me?” Dumbledore demanded highly agitated, something Snape had never seen him being. It was a novel experience and Snape was not sure he liked it. “Since I peeped into his mind I have been very disturbed and now with the Stone here I am very worried.”

“You are afraid Potter may go for the Stone?” Snape asked him carefully.

In answer Dumbledore got up from his chair and started pacing the office. “You have peeped twice Severus and I have seen the inside of his mind once. All the three times without warning and all the times we peeped Harry did not expect it. May be we can excuse tonight because Minerva was already there and Harry would have been on his guard, but not earlier today and not at first when you cast Legilimency on him. Unless he has a permanent shield protecting his mind, like the way you or I do. That automatically means Harry is not a natural Occlumens and that means he knew of magic before he came here.”

They were silent for a while, Dumbledore pacing the floor and Snape staring thoughtfully at the wall opposite him, thinking of the enigma that was Harry James Potter.

“Keep an eye on Quirrell will you?” Dumbledore asked him, not stopping his pacing and Snape slowly stood up and murmuring his excuses, left for the dungeons.

The next few weeks were full of Quidditch and Harry learnt the game all over again from Oliver Wood and took to the skies with the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. He was the youngest seeker in a century and he thoroughly enjoyed his practises and his flying time in the air.

The first match of the season was Gryffindor vs. Slytherin and Harry was much exited. Sirius and Remus had got him an excellent broom a Nimbus 2000 and they had wished him all the best and told him to push the Slytherin players’ faces in dung. Harry did not know how he could achieve that but was willing to try and defeat Slytherin once again by catching the snitch.

Harry woke up that morning with a sense of anticipation and totally forgot that Quirrell would try and pull him off the broom and last time it had been Hermione who had pushed against him to reach Snape and set his robes on fire, thereby distracting him and stopping the bucking of the broomstick.

This time there would be none of that since the first years had still to meet Hagrid and the break in at Gringotts though discussed avidly was left right there and not pursued further. They had not the midnight duel with Malfoy and so they had not met Fluffy the three headed dog.

He wore his robes and taking his new broom proudly with him, went down to breakfast. There Harry ate very little breakfast and was surrounded by all the first years that were encouraging him along.

“Look Harry, search carefully for the snitch and get it and we can wipe it in the Slytherins and Malfoy’s face completely.” Ron was already giddy with imagining that scene in his mind.

Harry muttered something noncommittally. “Potter,” a drawl sounded nearby and Harry looked up to see Malfoy hovering nearby a sardonic look on his pointy little face.

“Malfoy hi,” Harry smiled and gestured him to sit down.

He raised his eyebrows in distaste and shook his head, though to give him credit he did not utter a word, “I only came to wish you all the best and don’t cry when Slytherin wipe you off the earth.”

Harry only grinned and nodded his head. “I will try not to cry.” He replied mockingly and laughed when Malfoy grinned, truly grinned and not smirked.

“Shut it Malfoy, no one asked you?” Ron snarled.

Malfoy looked straight through Ron who was beginning to froth at the mouth and nodded to Harry, and rolling his eyes sauntered back to the Slytherin Table.

“Why do you even talk to him Harry? He is evil as all Slytherins are.” Ron told him angrily.

Harry shrugged and looked a bit helpless. “He is funny Ron.” He said inadequately and concentrated on his eating wishing Malfoy had not come over to wish him and Ron was not such a git.

“What? He is insulting you and you are calling him funny.” Ron spluttered.

“Oh shut up Ron.” Hermione said vexed with Ron’s extreme anti Slytherin tendencies. “He said Slytherin would win. So what, he will say that won’t he? He is a Slytherin after all.”

“You shut up, you know-it-all.” Ron snarled at her extremely aggravated.

“Ron pipe down.” Harry said softly. “Don’t talk like that to her. She voiced only her opinion. And she is right. As far as Draco is concerned he would naturally want Slytherin to win. He is not like us Gryffindors who want our team to win.”

Ron went red. “So you are supporting a slimy Slytherin?”

Harry now thoroughly exasperated, “Do I look like I am supporting a slimy Slytherin? I am merely asking you not to be rude to Hermione who is a Gryffindor.”

Ron was in two minds. He could get up and walk away or even stay there and fight the losing battle with Harry. But he knew after that Harry would never speak to him. He liked Harry. So that decision was a bit difficult for him. And no one else would support him in this. Not even his brothers. So he looked very constipated for a few minutes and there was a tense silence while Ron pondered on the best way to bring back things to normal.

“Ronniekins if you don’t apologize right now,” Fred or was it George said,

“We will truss your pretty little mouth,”

“And make sure that you don’t open it,”

“FOREVER!” Both shouted in unison, glaring at their younger brother before Fred or George continued harshly

“Harry’s got to play a game and if,”

“He loses the snitch today,” and left the statement hanging there.

[The_Green_Woods]

Ron gulped and looked miserable. Harry sighed, “Ron you don’t have to apologize to me.” Ron looked up in disbelief at that statement and small amount of hope. “But you must to Hermione. I am more of a know-it-all than her and if you must really call anyone a know-it-all it should be me.” Harry finished seriously glaring a little at Ron.

“’Am sorry Hermione.” Ron mumbled and got up from there and ran outside.

Harry looked at the twins and shrugged in a kind of apology and helplessness. They understood perfectly and ginned. “Ickle Harrikins now put all the turbulent present behind you and concentrate on the great game of Quidditch.” Fred told him.

Harry grinned back reluctantly and looked at Hermione. “Are you okay?” he asked softly getting up.

She nodded and smiled, “Go and beat the tar out of them Harry.”

“And here I thought you did not care much for Quidditch.” Harry teased her walking away from the Great Hall with all of them, looking and feeling terribly relaxed.

“Oh I don’t.” she retorted. “But,” she continued her eyes slightly clouding with unhappiness, “everyone heard what Ron shouted and everyone saw the blasted Malfoy coming over to our table to talk to you. If you don’t catch the snitch and win us the game, everyone will talk.”

“Very true.” Harry told her and all of them walked in a companionable and a slightly nervous silence. They reached the pitch and Harry and the twins went to join their team and Hermione and Neville went to the stands.

Harry and the twins went to the changing rooms and changed into their scarlet robes and went to stand near a highly tense Oliver Wood. He was gulping every minute and then was glaring at his team and then gulping again.

“We have the best team here today.” He started abruptly. “We have to win this time. We had better. We have the best seeker, the best pair of beaters, excellent chasers and a decent keeper.”

“No need to be modest Oliver and we know the rest of your speech by heart.” Called out Fred understandingly, making Oliver scowl.

Harry grinned to himself. All this was just like last time. And he still did not think to remember what the game itself would bring.

They went out behind a nervous and hopeful Oliver and lined up on the pitch to encouraging screams from the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and half of Ravenclaw stands. The Slytherins booed and shouted at the Gryffindors.

Harry took to the air and felt the wind whipping his hair and was swaying on the broom with happiness. He heard Lee Johnson comment with McGonagall restraining him now and then and flew lazily as both Gryffindor and Slytherin posted goals.

At that time a bludger came narrowly just missing Harry as Harry swerved and flew a bit higher. The bludger came at him once again and at that time Harry’s broom started to buckle and threw him off. Harry went up into the air and came down and managed to catch the broom with one hand. The bludger that came at Harry once again hit Harry straight on his stomach and Harry lost the control and went spiralling down from more than a hundred feet in the air.

Normally Harry would have used his or even his wand to slow himself down but being hit by the bludger very hard made Harry lose consciousness and Harry fell like a rock not hearing the panicked screams from the crowds or knowing that Hermione and Neville had tears running from their faces and had started running down from the stands to try and catch a fast falling Harry.

Nor was Harry aware that his team mates were screaming with fear and were now trying to catch him but Harry was a dead weight and Fred and George and Oliver who came whistling through the air to try and catch Harry all failed and Fred was dangerously hanging by his hand and had to be rescued by his twin for leaning too far.

Twenty feet from the ground Harry started slowing and he hit the ground at a far slower rate than he would have had he crashed at the original speed he had been falling.

------------------

Snape had been asked to keep an eye on Quirrell by Dumbledore and Snape seeing Quirrell looking frequently at Harry and focus on him all the time after the Gryffindors had taken to the air had made Snape suspicious and he had kept one eye on him. A while into the game he had suddenly seen Quirrell start muttering something inaudibly as if he was singing to himself; but his eyes had been strangely fixed at something high in the air. Snape had turned around to see Potter’s broom buckle and he had at once flicked his wand and had started chanting the counter to the buckling broom.

But barely a second later a bludger had hit Potter at a tremendous speed and Harry had let go of the hand catching the broom and had started the fast and free fall to the ground. Snape glanced at Quirrell who was wearing a self satisfied expression on his face and had immediately turned around and held his wand pointing it at Harry and at the same time making sure that Quirrell would not be able to see his actions by casting a disillusionment charm on his hand and had cast the slowing charm usually used to stop falling objects.

By the time Snape had cast the slow down spell at Harry, Harry was only about twenty feet from the ground. So he still hit the ground with some force and crumpled onto the ground. Snape lifted the spell, just in time to see Hagrid run to Harry and pick him up with that Granger girl and Longbottom openly crying and Weasley looking very white running along with Hagrid, who was almost running to the infirmary.

Snape cast a notice-me-not charm on himself and turned to Quirrell. He was standing and stretching himself to look at the fallen boy. He had a look of satisfaction on his face that was very disturbing for someone witnessing a rather serious accident that may have been deliberately caused. Snape looked at him and removing the notice-me-not charm upon himself, when he saw Quirrell looking around and briskly started walking away towards the direction of his dungeons as if he was not bothered about the Boy-Who-Lived, his robes billowing behind him.

He went to his office and using the floo reached the Headmaster’s office and waited in the empty room. It was more than an hour that a very worried Dumbledore came inside and seeing Snape smiled tiredly and went around and sat down in his chair.

“How is the boy?” Snape asked him.

“Harry is not fine Severus.” Dumbledore replied sombrely. “He has crushed his ribs and a portion of his lungs is also damaged. He has cracked his skull and also has multiple fractures on his arms and legs. Did you see what happened?”

Snape told him and Dumbledore closed his eyes and leaned back. “There is so much darkness in Quirrell, Severus.” He told Snape with his eyes still closed. “I am afraid his mind has been somehow manipulated by Voldemort”

“What!” Snape shouted. “What are you saying Dumbledore?” he asked the Headmaster who had still not opened his eyes.

“I told you Severus, did I not that Voldemort would return. I am afraid with Harry’s entrance into the Wizarding World and into Hogwarts had tempted Voldemort to continue from where he had been forced to leave ten years ago. I am afraid Quirrell is acting somehow under Voldemort’s order’s and that was why I had told you to keep an eye on him.” Dumbledore opened his eyes now and stared deeply at a very frightened and uncomfortable Snape. “It paid off today. Because of your prompt action Harry was saved from a sure death, thank you.”

Snape flushed uncomfortably. “There is no need to thank me Dumbledore. I would have done this for any student.” He sneered and got up. “If that is all?” Dumbledore looked at the thin, ungainly man and slowly nodded his head.

Snape turned on his feet and walked to the floo and throwing a pinch of floo powder into the fire, flooed into his office and went to his chair and slumped into it. The Dark Lord was back! Merlin! He would have to go back and spy for the Order. It was so scary and frightening. The killings would start all over again and he Severus would be burning from both ends to the middle, where he would just burst, he knew.

But he could not keep away; would not. That would be his redemption, his personal salvation for the atrocities he had committed as an enthusiastic death eater and for causing the death of Lily. Her child would be hounded even more than he, Snape would be and what a burden he had handed on a platter to her child. It was all because of him, Snape thought bitterly, summoning a bottle of strong Firewhisky and a glass, absentmindedly pouring himself a shot and sipping the fiery liquid.

It was all because of him and his prejudices against people like his father that hurt Lily and made an orphan of her boy who made him clench with guilt inside every time he looked at her eyes; every time he looked at Potter. Snape stayed there drinking and brooding for a long time and did not appear for lunch or dinner. At around ten in the night, he took a hangover potion that he had sensibly summoned to him when he had started drinking in earnest and feeling steadier and better, his awful headache reduced to a dull throbbing at the back of his mind, Snape stood up deciding to go over to the infirmary to see the state of the Boy-Who-Lived.

He swayed on his feet and cursing softly, he snapped his fingers.

“Yes Master Snape? What may Tippy do for yous?” the elf bowed and asked him.

“Bring me some dinner.” He replied curtly, sitting down again.

In a minute there was hot steaming dinner and Snape ate quickly and stood up feeling much better and able to think clearer. He paced his room for a long time before he turned and walked out. It was almost two in the morning and Snape had been brooding over everything the whole of yesterday.

He cast a disillusion charm on himself and walked out, casting a cleaning charm on his robes that reeked of Firewhisky. He walked up to the infirmary, thinking about the buckling broom, the way the bludger had hit Potter and the way he had fallen. He would survive, but it had been a very close thing. Had he not acted so quickly, Snape knew this time they would have been in mourning for the Boy-Who-Lived. He shuddered a little and slowed down when he reached the floor where the infirmary was.

He walked into the infirmary and saw that the boy was sleeping. He flicked his wand and found that his bed was completely warded. So Dumbledore had not taken any chances. Snape walked up to the edge of the wards and peeped. Potter was sleeping and his breathing sounded very shallow. Snape stayed there for a few minutes staring at the Boy-Who-Lived and was about to leave when he saw Harry’s wand on the small table. He sneered. How foolish! Dumbledore had not placed the boy’s wand inside of the wards. Really he was losing his touch Snape though with a sneer. He went close to the wand and slowly picked it up.

He almost dropped it. It was so powerful and it was vibrating warningly in his hands. On an impulse, he cast the priori incantatem on the wand, wanting to know the type of spells the boy wonder had been casting. The wand still vibrating started off with the spells they had been learning and slowly the spells kept coming, going backwards in order of the casting.

Snape watched with a desultory interest when the many first year spells came out and was about to cancel the spell and keep the wand back, when suddenly, the wand showed Reducto, an invisibility charm and an enervate and a non-tracking spell. Then the priori incantatem continued with all the harmless spells they had been taught in School and some harmless charms including Accio, the banishing charm, the cleaning charms and the like before it finally stopped.

Harry had used his second wand for all of his undercover activities, but one Reducto and the invisibility charm and the enervate he had cast from his first wand because he had used his first wand in his wand hand and the other wand in his left before casting the Reducto at the troll. Then forgetting, in his anxiety to be away safely, Harry had cast the invisibility charm on the troll and the enervate on Quirrell and followed it by the non tracking spell before tucking his wands into his robes and flashing away.

Snape stared at the wand and re cast the priori incantatem once again. The spells came in the same order once again and Snape’s eyes narrowed impossibly. He cast the priori incantatem for a third time and seeing the spells disbelievingly and then he looked long and hard at Harry before swirling on his feet and leaving the room.



End of Chapter – 8
-------------------------

[The_Green_Woods]

Chapter – 9
---------------

It took Harry almost a week to open his eyes and then another fifteen days to sit up in bed. Another week rolled by before he was discharged from the infirmary. They were very close to the Midwinter holidays and Harry had hardly three days before School closed for Yule. Sirius and Remus had been daily visitors to the castle, visiting Harry who had been in a healing sleep and then only able to open his eyes and speak a few words to a very worried Sirius and Remus and then go off to sleep once again.

Sirius and Remus came early in the morning and did not leave until late at night. They simply sat there by Harry’s bedside willing him to wake up and get better. Sirius especially was terrified he might lose Harry, his last link to James, the brother he was not born with and also his last link with sanity. Remus was worried about both Harry and Sirius, who was taking Harry’s accident as catastrophic.

Remus was very much afraid Sirius might collapse with the strain and the stress he was taking. But after a week when Sirius had almost not eaten or washed and close to collapsing that Harry opened his eyes.

“Harry?” Sirius's voice sounded raspy with emotion.

“Hurts Sirius.” Harry had muttered groggily, sipped some water and had gone back to sleep. His potions were given intravenously and Harry had slept for another two days before waking up once more. This time he was more coherent and was almost awake for half an hour and also took some three potions before slipping back to sleep.

Sirius heaved a sigh of relief before he accepted a sleeping potion from Pomfrey and crashed on the bed next to Harry’s. Remus took the one next to Sirius. That pattern followed until Harry was awake for longer periods and then after three weeks after his fall, sat up in bed. That day there was a celebration of sorts in the infirmary. Sirius smuggled in Hermione and Neville and Ron, Dean and Seamus also insisted on coming along to see Harry. Ron especially wanted to apologize to Harry.

He had been feeling terrible inside, thinking that Harry had lost concentration because of the fight with him and it was slowly killing him. He had lost a lot of weight and had been too scared to say anything to anybody else.

He had become pale when he saw how thin and pale Harry was and how much he had suffered; the hot headed Gryffindor had blurted his apologies to Harry just reining in his tears.

“Merlin Harry! I am so sorry. It was all my fault.” Ron had spoken through gritted teeth, trying to reign in his emotions.

Harry had blinked. “What! You hexed my broomstick?” he asked unable to believe what Ron was sprouting off. Everyone else was also staring at Ron in some kind of a horrified fascination, while Ron grew more miserable and pale, making his hair stand out even more vividly.

“No,” he had managed to gasp out loud, “Of course I didn’t. But it was because of my stupid argument that you must have lost your concentration and fallen down. I am so sorry Harry. You have been so ill.” Ron’s voice slowed down to a whisper and when he finished, his words could hardly be heard.

Harry had stared at Ron and shook his head in amazement and shock. How much had Ron beat himself up for him, Harry falling down? Harry shook his head and grinned at his first friend of his other life. “Hey Ron come here.” Harry said softly. When Ron came a bit closer Harry caught hold of his hand and gave him a one armed awkward hug.

“I was flying for almost half an hour high in the skies before I was thrown off it Ron. Sirius here told me that some one had used a dark spell to do it. And I am sure it was not you or any of us here.”

The relief on Ron’s face at that was comical. Dumbledore had announced that Harry had been thrown off his broom suggesting a bad broom more than anything else and until that time Ron had thought that it was because of him that Harry had lost concentration. He had been afraid to say anything to his brothers for fear they would strangle him to death and he had been waiting for Harry to have visitors so that he could come and apologize.

After that all of them sat around and chatted for a while. Dumbledore had not called Sirius and Remus to talk about Harry because they had been very worried about the accident. Dumbledore decided to wait until Harry was fine and then talk to them. He did not think he would get anything coherent from them at this time.

After Harry was discharged from the infirmary, he spent the few days he was up and about catching up with all that he missed. Harry noticed that Snape was completely avoiding him, he had stopped staring every now and then at Harry like he used to and in fact he was acting as if there was no Harry Potter.

Harry wondered about it but he was too caught up with being with Hermione and Neville and telling Ron for the hundredth time about how he had been struck by the bludger and had lost consciousness and so did not know who cast the spell on his broom. Draco had not visited Harry in the infirmary and while he had looked long and hard at Harry when Harry joined the land of the living, he did not come up to the Gryffindor table or try and meet Harry to speak to him. Harry wondered about that too, but shrugged it off because he had too much to catching up to do.

There was a huge Gryffindor party the day Harry came back to his dorm and Harry learned that the game had been declared abandoned and would be rescheduled for later. Oliver sought him out and was relieved when he found Harry would be fit to play seeker for their next game against Ravenclaw.

Dumbledore had had to pacify a livid Sirius and Remus who were threatening to remove Harry from Hogwarts and home School him, if Hogwarts could not keep her students safe. While being struck by a bludger was acceptable in a game of Quidditch, especially when with the slimy Slytherins, having a dark spell on your broom to deliberately throw you off with intention to kill was not and Sirius was justifiably angry, making Harry feel very warm inside once again that here was someone to be angry on his behalf. The last time he had had no one.

Harry went to Grimmauld Place for the holidays, inviting Hermione, Neville and Ron and the twins for Midwinter. He spent one week of his holidays recuperating; he still became tired very easily. Hermione, Neville, Ron and the twins had accepted Harry’s invitation and Sirius had apparated to Hermione’s home and activated her floo system. He gave the secret of Grimmauld Place to Hermione, Ron, Neville and the twins and also told them he would activate the floo in Grimmauld Place by afternoon on Midwinter day.

Harry had got a Chudley Cannons robe for Ron, a box of muggle pranks for the twins, a book on Herbology for Neville and a book on magical culture for Hermione. He had one of that himself and he read that conspicuously all that week. In fact Harry used his time recuperating by reading widely inviting anxious and humorously sarcastic comments from Sirius who wondered how Harry could be James’s son and his Godson. Then he would slap a hand to head and exclaim that Harry had taken after Lily and all of them would laugh.

Every time Harry laughed or even widely grinned and rolled his eyes at Sirius's antics, Sirius's eyes would light up and his whole frame would brighten up and he would say something sillier. He delighted in amusing and caring for Harry and Harry revelled in the attention from an exuberant Sirius and a calmer Remus.

Sirius had almost become normal in the months Harry had been away at Hogwarts and he was looking very smart and young, more so than last time. This time he had been declared innocent before he had been released and he was no longer a fugitive from justice and it showed. Remus was looking very young too and Sirius had made him his own personal secretary to help him handle the businesses of the Black family and had him living in Grimmauld Place all the time. Sirius and Remus were also exploring avenues of making the wolfsbane cheaper so that it would be available to more werewolves, especially small children who had been bitten, to ensure a better standard of living for them.

Ron, Hermione, Neville and the twins came in the afternoon looking slightly awed at the huge house that could not be seen. Grimmauld Place it self had undergone a massive transformation. All the dark objects had been removed and destroyed and all those that refused to be destroyed were taken away from their original places and stored in the attic, which itself had been cleaned and heavily warded.

The walls were now bright and windows clean. The elf heads had gone along with the dark artefacts. Only the portraits remained. They could not be removed at all.

Harry received them and they had a fun time after the initial shock of being yelled by Mrs. Black whose curtains opened after Neville tripped and fell with a loud shout. All of them opened their presents and had a huge high tea and Harry was sure that no one would be able to eat that day apart from Ron, who was always ready for a meal this time too.

For Sirius and Remus Harry had created the four Marauders on a largish square of wood and a full moon hanging high. He had approached McGonagall in the three days he had been out of the infirmary to ask her help to create it. She had agreed very happily to help him in his ambitious project and Harry had a tough time trying to make the Transfiguration slightly imperfect and taking many tries to get it instead of simply flicking his wand and creating it.

The stag, grim and the werewolf ran happily through the woods and they were at intervals chewing the rat and then letting it go, only to be attacked all over again.

When Harry had handed it to them, Sirius had become very still and blinked his eyes furiously to clear it and Remus had looked in joy when the werewolf chewed and spit the rat only for it to be stamped upon by the stag’s hoofs.

“McGonagall helped me with it.” Harry had told them shyly and Sirius and Remus who were holding it went carefully to the corner of the room where Remus conjured up a huge table and they placed it there adding lights around it to attract attention of everyone who would come into that room.

After placing the board carefully, Sirius and Remus crushed Harry. “This is the best gift we have ever received, haven’t we Moony?”

Remus nodded beaming at Harry and ruffling his hair. “Of course Padfoot. This is the very best. I love the way the Wormtail gets his dues from Messer’s. Prongs, Padfoot and Moony. Brilliant Harry. You are the best.”

The twins had been attracted by Harry’s gift and their eyes opened wide when they saw the words on the side “Messer’s Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs.” They whispered hastily to each other and then came quickly to Harry.

“Harry, who are they?” Fred had asked urgently gesturing towards the joyous animals running around.

“Prongs is my dad, Sirius is Padfoot and Remus is Moony and Pettigrew was Wormtail. Why?” Harry had asked seemingly bewildered and the twins much to his amusement had gone and fallen at the feet of very bemused Sirius and Remus.

“Hail to the great Marauder’s.

“It is indeed a day of joy to behold one of your idols in front of you.”

“Hail to Moony.”

“Hail to Padfoot.”

“STOP! What are you two doing?” Sirius bellowed totally confused when the twins went on.

“Oh Lord and Master of pranks,”

“We found the Marauder’s Map,”

“Last year when in detention,”

“With Filch, and today,”

“To realise we are actually,”

“In the hallowed presence,”

“Stop! Stop!” Sirius was laughing helplessly along with Remus. And then the explanations of how they had found the Marauder’s Map came out and Sirius and Remus promised to make one for Harry.

“Wait!” Hermione said, her eyes wide, “does that mean Mr. Lupin is a werewolf?”

There was only silence after that hushed question and nobody said anything apart from a terrified squeak from Neville and a backing away from Ron that made Harry very irritated.

“Yeah!” he said into the deafening silence. “In fact I saw him during full moon and with the help of the wolfsbane a potion he takes, Remus is perfectly alright. If any of you cannot accept it, then I think we will part as good friends’ right here.”

Sirius and Remus gaped at Harry. Instead of pacifying them and explaining to them that a werewolf was not dangerous except during the full moon Harry was issuing ultimatums. Remus felt very warm inside as he brushed his glistening eyes carelessly.

The twins shrugged. “We knew the moment we saw that thing. When you told me that Moony is Remus, well,” Fred shrugged and fell silent.

“Makes no difference mate.” George said. Fred nodded, his thoughts already on how he could milk these two for all kinds of pranks and not really caring for Remus’s werewolf status.

Harry beamed at them and they went to Remus and dragged him off to a corner to discuss pranks with him. “I really don’t mind Harry.” Hermione said softly and Neville and Ron nodded their heads, their eyes full of fear.

“So we are fine?” Harry asked his raising his eyebrows in silent enquiry, looking at all of them and when they nodded, he smiled and clapped his hands calling for attention. “Okay folks, may I now suggest a game?” when everyone had gathered around him.

[The_Green_Woods]

“What is it oh son of Prongs?” Fred asked him bowing deeply to him. Sirius laughed, delighted by this show of respect for their pranks and simply revelled in it.

“I propose a prank war now. Let us divide into four groups and attack each other. Gred and Forge you are one unit, we four are one and Sirius and Remus operate on their own.” Harry said, giggling loudly when he saw the eager faces and it was not Hermione, Ron, Neville or he.

“Fantastic Harry! That is what we will do. And none of us will reverse the pranks and at the end of one hour we will see how many of us got each other. Now we will take fifteen minutes to plan and then I will sound a whistle, then the game is on.” Sirius told all of them and everyone scrambled to think for good ideas to prank.

Harry led his group to his room and they planned. Fifteen minutes later the whistle sounded and the war started.

An hour later a previously timed whistle sounded and all of them gathered in drawing room to see who had been pranked the most. Harry was completely bald and had a beard that was plaited with bright ribbons at the end, and added to that he had two arms sprouting from his stomach and back hanging down very unattractively.

Fred had become an elf complete with tennis ball eyes and big floppy ears. He was holding his robes and tripping over them at every step. George had some kind of scales all over his body that were hissing and spitting on their own from the many mouths they seemed to have and his head was in green dreadlocks. He was grinning and howled with laughter when he saw Harry’s hands.

“The hands are good aren’t they?” he said laying claim to his artistry and Harry laughed along with him.

“How do you like green? You look good in this though; green hair with dreadlocks.” Harry told him proudly and Sirius and Remus who had come in agreed completely.

Sirius had his face turned into a monkey and his arms had been lengthened and were almost touching his toes. Harry and the twins screamed in laughter at both Sirius and Remus. Remus who had done this partial Transfiguration of Sirius pumped his triumphant fist into the air. Remus was the least affected; his robes were flashing all colours of the rainbow and had spaghetti straps for his robes that showed off his shoulders and a lot of chest; the neckline of the spaghetti top was very, very low and everyone had catcalled and when he had walked into the room.

Hermione, Ron and Neville who had hidden in various rooms after the first prank played on them came in sheepishly and stopped at the entrance and stared at the five inside. Then Ron who had blonde wavy hair and purple skin that made him look very ugly, rolled on the ground with laughter.

Hermione giggled, slightly horrified at the various additions all of them were having. She had the Dumbledore hair and beard only her hair was white, long and bushy as was her beard, refusing to settle down.

Neville had the hopping jinx on him and his whole body was a nice frog green and he was hopping from one place to another. He had looked at the others with wide eyes and then had started giggling and violently hopping all around the room, making everyone laugh.

All of them decided they had a great time and the twins were sorry to see themselves back to normal. “We couldn’t even get one thing on you guys.” Fred said enviously looking at Sirius and Remus, “But let the next war come, I shall avenge this rectify this defeat and restore the name and glory to the Weasley family.” He finished striking a pose and looking snootily at everyone.

All of them laughed a lot that afternoon and after a round of hot chocolate and cookies, everyone left for their homes, feeling they had had a great time. Harry was almost asleep as he waved them goodbye and Sirius noticing that lifted Harry into his arms, making him squeal and took him upstairs to his bed room. There Sirius flicked his wand and changed Harry’s robes into his night clothes and gave another wave of his wand to clean Harry’s teeth. Harry slept the moment his head touched his pillow.

The next day all of them woke up very late and in Harry’s case a little tired and dull. Sirius, seeing Harry’s demeanour stopped all talk of yesterday he had been chortling with Remus and silently placed his breakfast before him. Once Harry had cleaned his plate, Sirius made him lie down on the comfortable sofa in the drawing room and read. He and Remus joined Harry too and they sat there Sirius reading The Daily Prophet, Remus one of Harry’s books on defence he had wanted to read for a long time and Harry who was looking through his Self Updating Book of Spells.

In the afternoon, just as Harry was beginning to doze off, a brown School owl came to Grimmauld Place and dropped a letter on Sirius before flying to the window sill. The barn owl did not leave indicating that it was waiting for a response.

“Who is it from?” Harry asked perking up a little.

“Looks like it’s from someone at Hogwarts.” Sirius mumbled opening the letter and Harry frowned. Why would anyone send a letter to Sirius from Hogwarts? He looked at Sirius who had read the letter and was looking very astonished. He cleared his throat and read it aloud.

“Dear Sirius,

I hope you have recovered from your unfortunate stay in Azkaban. I realize I have not seen you since the day you left here to go to your home. I would like to invite you, Remus and young Harry for dinner with myself and the other professors at Hogwarts tonight. If you are in agreement kindly send your acceptance with the School owl.

Yours sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore.”

Sirius finished the short letter and looked up confusion in his face. “Why?” he asked.

Harry and Remus had no answers, though Harry frowned a little more inside while maintaining a perplexed expression on the outside. Why was Dumbledore inviting Sirius, Remus and him to Hogwarts for dinner with the staff? Was he suspicious because of Harry’s proficiency or surprised that Harry was a topper in his class? He had made sure that he was a normal brilliant. The only thing Dumbledore could be suspicious was about his Occlumency skills, but even that could be explained as natural because Harry had subconsciously wanted to bury all those feelings inside of him.

Harry looked at Sirius who was looking at him and seeing the small frown on Harry’s face smiled. “You need not come if you don’t want to.” He said and Harry contemplated that statement. He need not go but if they did discuss anything Harry would not know about it. But then, Dumbledore was capable of sending Harry away to discuss whatever he wanted with Sirius.

He shook his head and smiled a little at Sirius. “You decide. I don’t mind either way so long as we get a fab dinner there.” Sirius laughed at the childish answer and scribbled a note to Dumbledore and sent it off with the owl.

“Are you sure you are up to going?” Remus asked him a little while later. “You still look a bit tired Harry.”

Harry nodded. “I do feel a bit tired but it will only be dinner and back. So no problem Remus. Yesterday was so much fun wasn’t it. But it was a bit tiring. I should be alright tomorrow.”

“So much fun.” Sirius grinned at the memory and that started off long discussions about the pranks they played when they were young. Harry listened having heard most of it from their portraits, a long time ago, but still enjoying their nostalgia and laughing along with them.

Harry, Sirius and Remus had written each other almost everyday and once again Harry was struck by how patient Sirius was. Mrs. Weasley was wrong the last time, Harry thought. Sirius never looked upon him as James, only as James’s son and he cared for Harry in a way that touched Harry to the bottom of his heart.

Harry had told him all about the professors in his letters and also about his classmates and about how he had tackled Malfoy; that account brought a lot of appreciation from Sirius who had laughed himself silly, according to Remus. Harry had grumbled that the Slytherins were lucky because Snape was partial to them and McGonagall treated them like Slytherins. Sirius had been very sympathetic and promised Harry that he could have his revenge on McGonagall by pranking her and had sent a whole lot of ideas. Harry had laughed over them, but had not acted upon it, mainly because he was still establishing himself in the School the way he wanted to.

Sirius had been very indignant about Snape questioning about OWL and NEWT level potions to Harry and he was very proud Harry had managed to answer and shocked that Snape had not abused Harry at all. Sirius had thought Snape was scared of him and Remus but sounded doubtful and warned darkly that the great git was up to no good and it would be better for Harry to always be on his guard. Harry agreed with that one. It was always better to be on his guard with Snape. Always.

Now Sirius, Remus and Harry left for Hogwarts through the floo and Sirius and Remus landed gracefully, while Harry landed on his bottom, scowling at their laughter. They had landed in the Headmaster’s office and Harry looked around curiously.

“Hello Sirius. You are looking well. And you too Remus and Harry, you are looking a lot better than when you left.” Dumbledore told them, smiling at Harry.

Sirius frowned. “Have you any news about who it was that sabotaged Harry’s broom?” Dumbledore shook his head at Sirius. “No we do not know Sirius but I have tightened the wards.” and smiled at Harry who was watching him very intently too. Harry’s face showed a mild disappointment and a slight fear?

Dumbledore had invited Harry as a test. If Harry had not come he would have taken it as yet another thing against him, but Harry had come. So maybe this Occlumency was a natural thing. Now he looked at Harry who was seemingly contemplating and Dumbledore peeped again.

He saw Harry’s thoughts and saw his happy thoughts of Grimmauld Place and the prank war they had played yesterday and his current thoughts of who could have sabotaged his broom. The suspects seemed to range from Snape who seemed prime candidate to Dumbledore himself whom Harry thoughts at the time seemed to say, was hiding his violence underneath his benign nature. Harry was wondering whether Dumbledore and Voldemort were actually one, with McGonagall and Snape being his assistants when Dumbledore drew back astounded at the imagination of this boy and biting his cheeks to stop howling with laughing.

Harry was frowning slightly and Dumbledore actually grinned at the boy. “Er, Harry do you read a lot of story books?” he asked.

Harry nodded. “Yes sir. I read a lot of them and I have watched a few crime serials on the T.V. sometimes.”

“Ah!” said Dumbledore smiling. “Come on, the others are waiting for us at the Great Hall.”

All of them stood up to leave when Fawkes suddenly trilled and with a magnificent flap of his wings flew over to Harry and sat on his shoulder shocking the other three, especially Dumbledore, who blinked and then beamed. This was confirmation Harry was a fine boy and he was not dark. Dumbledore never felt so relieved.

Suddenly Fawkes trilled again and flew up and let two red and golden feathers fall on Harry, who caught them totally gob smacked. Then Fawkes flew once more to Harry’s shoulder and stayed there.

“Wow! Harry. Fawkes has just gifted you with a feather for your wand.” Sirius told him awed. Harry was completely shocked. Once again fate was intervening and giving Harry the feathers for his wands. Did that mean Fawkes knew he had two wands? Harry was very confused and slightly alarmed. Schooling his expression and thankful that Dumbledore did not peep then, when his thoughts were so chaotic, Harry turned to Sirius.

“How do I do this Sirius? Should I go to the wand shop again? Wait! I have a better idea. I will ask the Self Updating Book of Spells and then do as it says.” Harry nodded to himself and Sirius who nodded back again.

“I never asked you Harry. What is your wand core?” Remus asked him.

Here it comes Harry thought and grinned to himself while maintaining a perplexed front. “There were so many things Remus. There was some blood, some Phoenix feather and tears, some snake venom and some blood of everything and some stag tail hair. Now I have two of Fawkes, you said Sirius?” Harry asked him and when Sirius nodded dumbly, Harry continued, “Fawkes’s feathers.” He finished sounding extremely satisfied, while the three adults were gaping at him. Well, Sirius and Remus were gaping and Dumbledore was staring inscrutably at Harry, but with Fawkes on his shoulders he could not see Harry’s face fully.

They walked quietly down to the Great Hall, Sirius and Remus determined to question Harry once they got home and Dumbledore determined to do that right now, here at Hogwarts.

All the professors were there and Harry sighed inside when he saw Snape and Sirius scowling at each other, right from the door where they had obviously spotted each other. Then Snape looked at Remus and his lips curled and then his eyes met Harry’s. Snape’s face closed off and he turned away. Harry frowned at that, but before he could decipher the look they were at the table and Harry was seated between Dumbledore and Snape; McGonagall, next to Snape and next to her were Sirius and Remus. There was another table set for all the other professors. That meant Dumbledore wanted McGonagall and Snape to watch him and they had suspicions of their own about him.

“Hello Potter, how are you now?” McGonagall asked him, Sirius was still scowling at Snape and Snape was bending down at his plate. Fawkes was now at the back of Harry’s chair and was trilling very softly.

“Fine professor, thank you.” Harry replied politely, still thinking about Snape.

“Fawkes usually does not come down to the Great Hall Albus, does he?” McGonagall asked him curiously a question in her voice.

Albus smiled. “He has taken an exceptional liking to Harry here, Minerva.” Lowering his voice he added, “He has given Harry two feathers for his wand.”

Snape looked up at that scowling heavily at Harry and then at Fawkes. “What is your wand core?” he asked Harry abruptly. Sirius scowled and was about to tell Snape what he could do with his question when Harry replied.

“Blood, Phoenix feather, tears, tail hair, snake venom and now Fawkes’s feathers. I am going to ask the Self Updating Book of Spells and fix it to my wand sir.” Harry replied proudly.

“That is the second time I have heard that name Harry. What book is it?” Dumbledore asked him with a small frown.

“That is what the name says sir. I found it in a shop in Knockturn Alley and Remus and I tried everything to work the book and finally a drop of my blood did the trick. That book was owned by Ignotus Peverell and it really is the Self Updating Book of Spells sir.” Dumbledore stared completely shaken and so did Snape. Harry looked normal.

“What does that book do Harry?” Dumbledore asked him and at the same time Snape and McGonagall to whom the name did not mean anything much asked, “Knockturn Alley?”

Harry blushed. “Yes professors. I did not know I should not have gone into Knockturn Alley, since I went shopping alone. It was dark but the book store and wand shop was great.”

“You got your wand at Knockturn Alley?” this time there were many voices, Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore and McGonagall. Snape was oddly quiet. Remus explained how Harry had gone shopping, glazing over the Dursleys, but Dumbledore understood in between the sentences anyway and so did McGonagall and by the way she was glaring at Dumbledore, he was going to get an earful of it later on. Snape only sneered but still was very quiet.

“May I see that book Harry?” Dumbledore asked quietly.

“I don’t have it with me now sir. May I show you when I come back to School?” Dumbledore nodded, but Harry could see that he had thrown Dumbledore for a six. Harry wanted all of this type of information out in the open so that no one would think of delving into other things that would be far more dangerous for them to know and for him to reveal.

“Yes Harry.” Dumbledore said and turned the topic away from Harry and Harry’s purchases and they spent a good hour chatting and then seeing Harry yawing not so discreetly, Sirius and Remus took leave and flooed back to Grimmauld Place. Sirius turned to Harry and asked in him great detail about his trip to Knockturn Alley and Harry answered as best as he could.

Before Harry and the other two left Dumbledore’s office, Dumbledore handed him a brown parcel tied up in string. “This was left in my care by your father Harry. Use it well.” Harry’s eyes shone and he opened the parcel and took out the invisibility cloak.

“James’s invisibility cloak. Yes!” Sirius shouted and punched the air, and taught there on the spot how to use the cloak to Harry. After Harry tried being invisible completely and then showing only his head and hiding his body and Sirius trying a few tricks too, all of them left for Grimmauld Place. The moment they stepped in Sirius turned to Harry and asked in him great detail about his trip to Knockturn Alley and Harry answered as best as he could.

“I chose the wand and everything by closing my eye and the wood and stuff felt so right in my hands Sirius. I got a lot of red, gold and green sparks from it when I waved it first. It was thrilling. But with the Self Updating Book of Spells that Remus and I were checking out, I completely forgot about this. I am sorry Sirius.” Sirius was finally satisfied and only then allowed Harry to go to bed.

Before Harry went to bed, he begged Sirius to allow him to try to place Fawkes’s feather into his wand. “Please say we can try with the help of the Self Updating Book of Spells here. Please. Please.”

Sirius laughed and nodded. Harry immediately ran to get his book and he wrote as Sirius dictated the question and soon Sirius followed the instructions of the book and soon they had Phoenix feather fixed into Harry’s wand.

“Give it a twirl Harry.” Sirius told him. Harry lifted his wand that felt so complete in his hand and swirled it high above his head. A riot of colours burst out of the wand and all three of them watched awed by the various colours that mingled with each other and lit up the whole room.


End of Chapter – 9
-------------------------


http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=112304

[The_Green_Woods]

Chapter – 10
-----------------

Harry was wide awake even though he was lying down in his bed. He could not get back to sleep. Once again events had told him that they would happen if they wanted to. Like becoming the Gryffindor seeker, his broom buckling and now Fawkes feathers. It was also disturbing to know that Fawkes had given off two of his feathers; did it indicate he knew about the second wand or had it been two feathers for the one wand.

Dumbledore had been startled by the Self Updating Book of Spells. Harry had wanted to get as many details as possible on the table so that the details of what he was not saying a word about would not be noticed. Dumbledore seemed satisfied by the comments of shopping in Knockturn Alley, but with him one never really knew, Harry thought ruefully.

His thoughts went to Snape. He frowned; Snape was acting oddly. Apart from scowling at Sirius and Remus, he had not said a word, literally. No insulting remarks to Sirius and Remus and no comments about James to Harry. No word about the shopping trip to Knockturn Alley and nothing about the Self Updating Book of Spells. The only thing he had asked was the core of his wands and then apparently he had lost interest. What had happened there?

Harry laid in his bed thinking for a long time before he fell asleep and was up very early. He went down and seeing Sirius and Remus were still asleep, made breakfast and slowly ate it thinking about Snape and Dumbledore. Harry was finishing his breakfast when Remus walked in. Seeing Harry he smiled.

“Up so early Harry?” he asked smiling his thanks and accepting a cup of coffee and a plate of toast and eggs.

“I couldn’t sleep Remus. I kept thinking about the Phoenix feathers Fawkes gave me. I woke up early in the morning and made breakfast.” Harry smiled and placing his plates at the sink and came back to sit at the table with a cup of hot coffee, when Sirius came down and waving Harry to stay put, he helped himself to his breakfast and sat down beside Harry.

“So what’s the plan today?” he asked Harry, ruffling his hair.

“Hey!” Harry pushed Sirius's hand off and grinned at him. “Inspecting my invisibility cloak first; and you two helping me to make that map Fred and George told you they had, second, okay?”

“Fine!” Sirius said, “But what will you do with the map my dear Harry?”

“”Will tell you once I have done something with it my dear Sirius!” and all of them laughed.

That is what they did for the rest of the holidays; Harry sneaked up on Sirius and Remus and pranked them so much that they used homenum revelio every time they came into a room or the Accio cloak, waving their wand all around the room. They also worked hard at the Map and Harry asked a great many questions that Sirius and Remus answered and told him how they had created the Map the first time and many stories about how difficult it had been and fun they had and the research they had done on it.

Harry pretended he had not understood many things. He still asked a great many questions mixing silly and intelligent ones and Sirius and Remus humoured him by answering his queries, smiling when Harry did not quite understand. Harry though, was carefully filing away all this information so that he could include the Chamber of Secrets and a few rare passages that the Marauders’ had not found. He also wanted to try if the Room of Requirement would also agree to be mapped.

Sirius and Remus went back in time mentally every time they worked on the basics of the Map and Harry had a great time listening to so many things his father and his friends had done; many stories he had heard before and rare ones he had not heard. Harry also spent a lot of time studying all that he missed all the weeks he had been in the infirmary.

All too soon the holidays came to an end and Harry was once again seen off at King’s Cross by Sirius and Remus. He waved to them and then sat back in his seat. He was in a compartment with Hermione and Neville. Harry spoke to them about the Map and the spells Sirius and Remus had asked him to do in Hogwarts itself for the Map to activate. They had finished all the basic spells on the parchment and now it was ready for the final few spells.

“We took so much time and parchment mainly because we were experimenting and so many times our spells used to go wrong and it took us many months to complete. Now in a few weeks we are ready and we have been working on the Map for only a little while everyday. Do the spells we taught you carefully and write the results okay?” Sirius had told him and Harry had grinned, nodding his head excitedly.

Now discussing it with an equally excited Hermione who wanted to know about all the basic spells and a Neville who was simply grinning at Harry’s increasingly flustered and involved explanations to her questions that were barked out the moment Harry finished explaining something. Finally Harry held out his hand. “Enough Hermione. I will answer your questions later. Please.” He begged as Neville giggled and Hermione reluctantly smiled. “Okay later. I will not forget you know.” She said half threateningly and Harry nodded just to stop this too-many-questions-at-a-time session.

They were soon at Hogwarts and took the threstal carriages that no one in their year except Harry could see and went to the School and after a huge dinner went up to their dormitories. Harry was putting his things away and relocking his trunk when a small brown School owl came pecking at his window. Surprised Harry opened his window and took the small note tied to the owl’s leg. The owl did not fly away so Harry presumed she was waiting for an answer to whoever had written him.

Potter,

Meet me at the empty classroom on the second floor three doors next to the Transfiguration class at eleven tonight. Confirm.

Malfoy

Harry looked long and hard at the letter and ran a few revealing spells but could not discern any. Well, time to put his beloved invisibility cloak into use, Harry thought grinning and wrote back on the same parchment and tied it to the owl’s leg and sent her off.

Will be there.

Harry

Harry looked at his watch. It was getting half past ten and Harry shouted a goodnight to Neville and said a hello to Ron and closed his curtains and added a mild repelling charm at his curtains.

Then with his invisibility cloak Harry slowly crept out. He reached the classroom and removing his cloak and stuffing it into his bag, pushed the door slowly and went inside. Malfoy was already waiting for him. He jumped off a table, upon which he was sitting and walked towards Harry. He came very close and peered into Harry’s eyes and face.

“Are you alright?” he asked abruptly.

Harry was puzzled and it showed when he answered Malfoy. “Yeah, I am. Why shouldn’t I be?”

Malfoy rolled his eyes. “Nut! Potter, I meant when you were thrown off your broom.” He pinked a bit before turning to stare at the wall and continued. “I couldn’t come and see you in the infirmary. There were people all the time. I even checked after dinner but someone was there. So,” he looked at Harry whose green eyes had softened greatly, “are you okay?”

Harry smiled. “Yeah Malfoy, I am perfectly okay. I used to get a bit tired easily at the start of the holidays but now even that is not there. Thanks for asking.” And Harry held out his hand. Malfoy clasped it tightly. He looked just a bit worried. “None of us in Slytherin had anything to do with your broom, you know. Only the bludgers.”

Harry nodded and went to sit on a dusty chair. “Yes I know. I was here with Sirius and Remus one evening for dinner. Sirius asked Dumbledore in my presence and he said no one knew who had done that.”

Malfoy looked relieved. “Well I thought you might be you know,” he ran down.

“Hey! I would never think of you like that. We are friends.” Then cocking up his face to look a bit hesitantly at Malfoy, “We are, aren’t we?”

Malfoy beamed. “Of course.” He drawled and then both giggled a bit, very uncomfortable at such disclosures and at that point they decided to leave for their dorms to sleep. The next day both of them had potions the first hour and needed to be fresh for it.

The next day was bitterly cold and Harry as he bundled up and started to go down to the Great Hall for breakfast, realized he still had to tackle Quirrell and his attempt to steal the Philosopher’s Stone. Harry was in two minds about the stone. On one hand he wanted to attack Quirrell like last time. But another thought these days was with him continuously telling him to steal the Stone before Quirrell and keep it safe with him and later hand it over to Nicholas Flammel. That would be simpler and would save him a lot of trouble.

“Knut for your thoughts Harry?” Neville asked him while they were walking towards the Great Hall.

“Not even worth that Nev. I was thinking about how cold it is today. Seems colder than what we’ve seen before haven’t we?” Harry asked him putting his hands inside his robes in a futile attempt to keep them warm.

Neville nodded. “It is Harry. Today is colder than it has been ever before.” He said entering the Great Hall with Harry and Hermione and all three of them heaved a sigh of relief. It was warmer here.

They had their breakfast and went down to potions and met the Slytherins there. “Potter.” Malfoy told him smirking.

Before Harry could answer him Ron butted in. “He is fine no thanks to you slimy snakes.” Ron snarled.

“And what do you mean by that?” Malfoy asked him pompously, his hands going to his robes and his wand inside them.

“Well it was you Slytherins who hurt him and now you have the nerve to say something to Harry?” Ron shouted and drew his wand. The Slytherins reciprocated and Harry went to stand in the middle.

“Ron that was not necessary. Remember Sirius told us that it was very dark magic to manipulate the broom. It was not done by the Slytherins.” Harry shouted at him and at that time the doors banged open and Snape came out.

“Detention Potter, Weasley.” He hissed and started to turn inside when Malfoy spoke, shocking everyone and even himself.

“But professor, it wasn’t Potter. It was Weasley.” Malfoy spoke into the deathly silence. “Potter was trying to stop Weasley.” Snape turned and stared at Malfoy who blushed but stood his ground. Harry gaped along with the others. This was probably the first time that a Slytherin had spoken for a Gryffindor.

“Nevertheless Draco, my detentions stand. Potter you will take it with me and Weasley will take it with Flich.” Snape said flatly and turned once again and went up to the front of the class.

The whole class was so silent that day. Snape did not utter a word but flicked his wand at the board and set them to working on a simple potion to heal cuts.

[The_Green_Woods]

All of them finished their potion and handing it silently, trooped out before heaving huge relieved sighs. Harry was scowling, though. Snape was different today. He had not looked at Harry even once and it was beginning to scare him. Snape knew something. What he knew was the mystery and Harry was racking his brains to see if he had said anything out of place or order. Bur he could think of nothing.

“Potter, thanks for standing up for us and I am sorry,” Malfoy was hurrying along to Harry’s side and he slowed down and started walking with him, when Harry cut him off.

“Hey not your fault, but how long do these detentions last with Snape or Flich anyway?” Harry asked him.

Malfoy shook his head, “I really don’t know. Maybe an hour or two at the most. He will make you clean cauldrons or something.”

“He really should not have punished Harry. It was you and Ron who were fighting.” Hermione sniffed. They had planned to study today and she wanted to test Harry on all that he had missed when he was ill.

“Hey it was not me. It was Weasley. I drew my wand only when he brought his out. He was going to hex me and I just could not stand there taking it, could I?” Malfoy protested.

Neville nodded. “Malfoy is right Hermione. Ron was shouting. In fact he need not have said anything, Ron I mean. It was Harry and Malfoy who were speaking to each other. He butted in and now Harry has to serve detention with Snape of all people.”

Malfoy looked to say something rude for a minute before he nodded. Snape was a terror after all and they walked to their Charms class that they had next. Ron was glowering at everyone and he looked betrayed that Harry should be walking in with Malfoy of all people.

Harry though did not say a word and went to sit with Neville and Hermione was shocked when Malfoy sat next to her. Usually she sat with one of the other Gryffindors, but today Malfoy had slid into the seat next to hers. Harry was also shocked for a second and then he grinned widely. Malfoy was acting as if it was an everyday occurrence and he was more than satisfied when Ron simply snarled at him. Malfoy raised one eyebrow and then turned to talk to Hermione. Before Ron could start another fight Flitwick thankfully came in.

“Calm down Ron.” Harry hissed to the redhead and then turned his attention to the class. The classes went by slowly and finally it was time for lunch. “How could you Harry? He is a slimy Slytherin and all of them are pure evil.” Ron burst out the moment they had sat down for lunch.

“He is not, at least not yet Ron.” Harry said calmly to the boy who had come and sat in front of him.

“You-Know-Who was in Slytherin and all the death eaters are all from Slytherin.” Ron started before he was cut off by Harry. “Wrong! Sirius comes from a family that is extremely dark. I hope you will not say he is evil merely because his family was and his brother was a death eater Ron.” Ron started to say something and Harry held up his hand and continued. “Peter Pettigrew, your Percy’s pet rat who was a death eater and who betrayed my parents and most likely killed dozens of people was a Gryffindor and he was my parents’ best friend. So because of Pettigrew, are you saying that all Gryffindors are traitors? Because that is what your argument concludes.”

Ron gaped and everyone apart from those on the train who had heard all this before gaped as well. “Pettigrew is only one person Harry. The entire House is evil.” He managed to come back, though.

Harry shook his head at the stubbornness Ron was showing. “I don’t know Ron, but I am not going to judge someone because their family is evil; because then I have to run away from Sirius. I also will not judge anyone because they are from a particular House because of Pettigrew. I am sorry if you cannot see it.”

Ron opened his mouth to argue but, “Shut up will you Ron.” Fred told him. “Harry has a point here and I vote that is what we all should do.”

“No need to be friendly if they insult us personally or try and harm us, but so far Malfoy has done neither. So…” Harry left it there and turned his attention to his food. Ron scowled and also looked down and all of them ate, an awkward silence in between them and finishing they stood up relieved to get away from a very stifling atmosphere.

The day dragged on and after dinner that was once again full of stilted conversation, Harry stood up to leave for his detention. At that time McGonagall came up to him. “Mr. Potter, the Headmaster would like you to bring that book he had wanted to see, tomorrow morning after breakfast.”

Harry nodded his head and waving to his friends who were heading off to the library, Harry went down to the potions classrooms. Reaching it he knocked softly and heard Snape’s voice. “Enter.”

Harry opened the door and saw Snape sitting at his desk. All the other desks except one were pushed to one side and Harry shut the door and turned and walked towards Snape’s desk. Snape flicked his wand and muttered a few words and Harry stood there dumbly as many warding spells flew past him and warded the door and the room.

Harry checked up his Occlumency shields once more and proceeded with caution to the single desk and chair that was in front of Snape’s desk. Snape had not uttered a word after bidding Harry enter the room and he was gazing intently and unblinkingly at him from the minute Harry stepped into the room.

Harry suddenly had a very bad feeling about this and he was thinking that perhaps Snape had planned for his detention. He had been acting oddly for some time and Harry did not know how to deal with this because this had not happened in the past.

Snape silently pointed a long finger towards the desk and chair, looking at Harry, indicating that Harry should sit down. Harry sat down and looked expectantly at Snape.

“Who are you?” Snape asked him conversationally.

Harry started a little, his heart beating very fast. “What? Sir I am Harry Potter.” He replied his mind, boy and senses on full alert, his eyes open very wide. Snape got out of his chair and Harry sat up straight his nerves tingling with awareness. But Snape paced the floor up and down slowly. The third time he was walking towards Harry, Snape waited until he was close enough and suddenly jumped towards Harry and cast a freezing charm and also placed magic binders on Harry.

“I know you are not boy.” Snape snarled and glared at Harry who was cursing himself for not having expected an attack like this. “Just who are you? No matter, I will find out now.” And to Harry’s dismay took out a bottle of clear liquid. Veritaserum!

Snape took out small filler and drawing the liquid, he bound Harry impossibly tightly keeping the magic binders on. Though he did not know it that prevented Harry from doing his wandless magic and Harry could only gaze helplessly when Snape removed the petrificus totalis. Snape forced open Harry’s mouth roughly and placed six drops on his tongue. Harry’s eyes glazed. Snape looked triumphant.

“This is a special form of the truth serum that can be safely administered to children, if you are really one boy. Now what is your full name?”

“Harry James Potter.” Snape frowned at that answer and was silent for a few minutes before he repeated that question and got the same answer. He scowled and asked his next question.

“How old are you?”

Harry struggled until blood was seeping through his nose. But he could not beat the serum that was a double dose. He slumped.

“Thirty seven and eleven.”

Snape started. He had not been expecting that answer. He stared at Harry for some time before he said ‘Legilimens’.

He tore through Harry’s head that would have brought Harry to his knees and made him faint if it were not for the veritaserum that was still controlling him and started looking through Harry’s memories. He saw all the memories of Harry from the time Sirius took his away from the Dursleys but came up under a block after that. Snape stood there battering away until he could do no more and defeated, he slowly came out of Harry’s mind.

He looked at Harry who had blood coming out of his nose and ears and mouth and his eyes had rolled up and he had fainted. Snape was very puzzled as he removed the antidote potion to counter bad Legilimency attacks and also added a pepper up and another nutrient potion scowling thoughtfully all the time.

The bleeding slowly stopped and Snape wiped off all the blood and still staring at Harry, enervated him, making sure the magical binders and the ropes were in place.

Harry felt his head was breaking into pieces and cursed as he woke up. He looked at Snape with blood shot eyes. “Head hurts Snape.”

Snape scowled at the familiarity and gave him a pain killer potion and a head ache potion.

Harry took it without a word and felt so much better after a few minutes. Then he stared at Snape.

Snape was staring right back at him and after a few minutes of tense silence Snape cleared his throat. But before he could say a word Harry spoke softly. “You know Snape; you could get life in Azkaban for this stunt you pulled.”

Snape smiled and Harry froze at the malice in his face. “Yes I know Potter; that is why I intend to oblivate you before I remove the magical binds and sending you to your dorm. But first tell me why do you have two ages? Even for the Boy-Who-Lived,” here Snape sneered magnificently, “that is a bit too much.”

Harry shivered. “What made you suspicious in the first place?” he asked settling down in his chair as comfortably as he could. This was going to be a long and a weary detention.

Snape stared. “And why, Potter,” he asked softly, “do you think I will tell you?”

“If you want any answers from me you will. Even under veritaserum I am protected from saying some things Snape.” Harry told him with an outward calmness that was not there inside.

Snape stared maliciously at Harry. “I came to see you the day you had fallen. That night.” He started abruptly. “You were in a warded bed so that no one could harm you while you were recuperating. But foolishly some one had kept your wand outside the wards. I took the wand meaning to take it with me and hand it over to the Headmaster the next day when just of curiosity I cast the priori incantatem on it and found a Reducto, enervate and a non-tracking spell that even as a prodigy first year, you should not have known to cast properly. Then I thought back to the troll and remembered that we had found the troll only after some time and how its face had been blasted away and there you are.”

Harry had he been free would have banged his head on the table. Again and again. But he was bound and so he stared at Snape. He remembered he had two of his wands in his hands to blast the troll and he had in his hurry to get back to the dorm, had used his School wand to cast the bloody spells and now he was caught because of Snape’s curiosity of all things. Harry cursed a bit and closed his eyes.

He really did not know what to do now; he thought his eyes still closed tightly when Snape spoke harshly. “We don’t have all night Potter. May be I should bring Albus into this.” Snape said contemplatively and Harry shuddered. Dumbledore with the type of information Harry could give was a walking bomb. Harry would once again be subjected to Merlin knows what. Harry slowly opened his eyes and looked at Snape.

“Remove my binds and take away the magic suppressing restraints and we will talk.” He said softly and watched as Snape laughed humourlessly.

“And I should obey you and believe you because?” he asked Harry softly.

“I am from the future Snape.” Harry suddenly came to a decision and spoke abruptly watching Snape’s eyes widen in shock. So Snape had not thought of that.

“Wha… what!” Snape stuttered still in shock.

“Open my binds and I will tell you.” Harry told him.

“Oh no you don’t Mr. Potter. How many years from the future?” Snape asked him, knowing fully well how many years into the future Harry was.

“Oh no you don’t professor Snape.” Harry replied throwing back his words at him and seeing his face contort into a scowl. “And for this even veritaserum will not help, because I have protected my memories very well. Remove my binds. I swear I will not attack you or run away from here. Please.”

Snape simply looked at him and then, “Give me an oath that you will stay here today until I dismiss you and that you will not attack me.” He told Harry abruptly.

“Given, but I will defend myself in case you attack first. On my magic! I promise I will not attack you first and I will stay here until I am dismissed.”

The binds vanished with a flick of Snape’s wand and Harry slumped into his chair and shivered as the magic surged through him. “May I have some replenishing potions please? My head is so sore after your Legilimency attack and now my head is killing me with this release of my magic. It is surging to my already painful head.” Harry asked slightly irritated with everything.

Snape went to the other room safe in the knowledge of the oath Harry had given him and brought about three potions. Harry did not even look at them but drowned all of them, surprising Snape. “What?” he said sounding a bit better. “I know you won’t kill me.”

Snape flicked his wand and conjured a chair at right angles from where Harry was sitting and asked him once again. “From how many years into the future Potter are you? It is Potter is it not?”

“I replied to that under veritaserum Snape. I am many years into the future. Wait,” he said Snape started to scowl. “I didn’t say I will not tell you Snape. Twenty five bloody years into the future as you very well know. But I will tell you that a lot of bad things happened before the good stuff even began to show its face. I did not plan to come into the past. I did not want to. I had made my peace with everything and everyone. I was married,” here Harry’s voice turned bitter, “and I had three lovely children. I was so happy and then investigating some dark activity got me here to the past.”

“What were you?” Snape asked quietly.

“An auror, Head auror in fact.” Harry’s eyes took a far away look and his face grew very tight as he thought of his three precious children.

“I have already lost that life, you know. My kids are never going to happen because I have already changed so much from the past.” Harry whispered his green eyes shimmering with tears of regret. Harry abruptly looked down and angrily brushed his eyes and stood up and started pacing the room, keeping his face away from Snape, not wanting him to see his vulnerability.

Snape watched Harry’s obvious agitation in silence and after a few minutes, he stood up. “It is very late Potter. But I have still not finished with you. You may tell your classmates that you did not finish the potion I had assigned you to complete during detention, and you must come back here tomorrow after breakfast to finish it. We will continue this then.”

Harry looked up in gratitude and nodded his head. He was talking to someone about his past for the first time after he had travelled here and it was draining him emotionally.

“I need only one thing from you sir. I want your oath on your magic and life that what I say to you will never ever leave you without my express permission. Not even Sirius or Remus knows of this. Please.” Harry pleaded.

“What will you do if I do not give it?” Snape asked and was taken aback when Harry smiled.

“I cannot do anything now. But the moment you dismiss me I will oblivate you and believe me I can.” Harry said just as softly and Snape saw that Harry had already his wand in his hand.

“But I don’t want to do that. I never wanted anyone to know. But now that you do I merely want that information protected.” Harry told him, his eyes begging him not to fight this.

“I swear on my magic and my life I will not betray anything you tell me about your travel to the past without your express permission. Is that alright?” Snape asked mockingly as a golden swirl of magic circled him and went to Harry.

“I accept.” Harry said and waited until the swirl disappeared into him and then he said softly, “Thank you sir. You don’t know how much and may I have a Dreamless Sleeping Draught.”

Snape merely looked at him and nodded once, before going inside once again and bringing a vial of the Dreamless sleep potion. Handing it to Harry he said, “You may leave Potter.” Harry took the potion in his hand and got up rather unsteadily and stumbled to the door. He turned to ask Snape about the potion they were to have done because he knew Hermione and Neville would want to know.

“What potion am I to have half completed?” Harry asked him just as he reached the door.

“The potions for curing curse boils.” Harry grimaced and left the potions classroom and it’s Master.


End of Chapter – 10
---------------------------


http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=112304

[The_Green_Woods]

Chapter – 11
-----------------

Harry walked up slowly, his thoughts a million years away. James, Albus and Lily, his three children came up before him and it was all Harry could do to stop choking. On top of all that the Legilimency that Snape had conducted on his brain had almost fried his brain and being bound for so much time and having magical binds on him, totally chewed him, inside out. He went up to the dorms tiredly and groaned when he saw Hermione and Neville sitting on a couch and waiting anxiously for him.

“Harry?” Hermione jumped up and ran to him. Neville had also got up from his seat and was now coming behind Hermione and he gasped seeing how tired Harry was. “Harry? What did Snape do to you?”

“Made me do a potion for curing curse boils and I kind of messed it up. He told me to get out and come back tomorrow to finish that and he will most likely make me do another potion as well. I am tired Hermione. May I go and get some sleep? I will see you all tomorrow. Don’t wake me up, okay?” Harry told them softly and then another thought came up to him.

“Has Ron come back?” Harry asked. Neville shook his head and so did Hermione.

“It was all because of him that you have had such a tough time Harry. Stupid really, starting an argument for no reason.” Hermione told him sympathetically.

“Yes I know, Hermione. But Ron doesn’t like Slytherins. He has the idea that all Slytherins are evil and bad because Voldemort came from that House.” Harry told her, walking towards his dorm.

Hermione nodded and saying her goodnights to both Harry and Neville, she went up to her dorm. Neville and Harry walked up to theirs and slowly washed and changed. Harry stood under the hot shower and let his tears run along with the water. He only stopped when Neville called him hesitantly and cleared his throat, “Coming Nev. You carry on.”

Harry dried and changed into his night clothes and bidding goodnight to Neville, Harry went to his bed and closing his curtains and gulped the dreamless sleep potion and banished the vial. Then Harry was asleep, totally drained and fatigued, mentally, physically and emotionally.

The next morning Neville got up at the usual time; he and Hermione were now accustomed to getting up early and went to wash. He came back all fresh and clean from the bathroom and put on his robes and then noticed that Harry’s curtains were still drawn tightly together.

Neville frowned, this was the first time Harry had not woken up. He stood there hesitantly for a few minutes, wondering if he should peep in and see if Harry was fine or should he just let go. Finally he decided to check up on Harry before going down. He walked to Harry’s bed and slowly parted the curtains and saw that Harry was sleeping very soundly. He put his hand on Harry’s forehead and was relieved to find it cool to touch.

Neville stood there looking at the boy who had befriended him and had made him so happy and a smile crept out on Neville’s face. He decided that he would do as much as he could to protect Harry and be there for him, just as Harry had been there for Neville when he had started school. Hogwarts had given him nightmares and he had not had a single good night’s sleep after he had received his letter, fearing the jeers and shivering in horror every time he would not be able to do his lessons properly and disappoint his Gran.

Now all that had changed and Neville was so happy, confident and he was also picking up in his lessons and was also able to stand up for himself and the other day he had even punched Malfoy for speaking ill of Hermione. Looking at Harry’s face as he slept, Neville fiercely decided to do his best to be there for him too.

With that positive thought he stepped out and ensuring the curtains were closed tightly, Neville went down. It was a Saturday and there were no lessons, but he had still taken his bag with him, because they had been planning to get on with their homework and also do a bit of extra studying.

Hermione was there waiting for them and she looked worried when she saw only Neville coming down. “Where is Harry?” she asked as Neville started walking towards the common room entrance.

“He is very deeply asleep Hermione and he did tell us not to wake him up yesterday. Let’s go to the Great Hall have breakfast and come back here and wait for him.” Neville answered and both of them walked almost silently to the Great Hall.

All the professors were there and Neville and Hermione saw Snape’s eyes narrow and a scowl come upon his face seeing Harry’s absence. They had their breakfast in silence and were about to leave when Snape came striding towards them.

“Where is Potter? Has he gone to the potions classroom already?” he asked them.

“No sir.” Neville told him with a gulp and he took a step backwards when he saw the fierce scowl come back on Snape’s face and hurried with his explanation. “Harry was still asleep sir when we came down. I checked up on him.”

Snape paused for a minute, glaring at Neville and then without a word billowed out of the Great Hall.

Neville and Hermione gulped down their breakfast and walked back quickly to the Gryffindor common room and sat down opening their work but were unable to start. They kept looking every minute at the stairs that led to the dorm and jumped up in relief when they saw Harry coming down. Harry paused for a second when he saw them and then continued downstairs, greeting them with a smile.

Both the Gryffindors were so relieved to see him smile and Hermione let out long breath, sighing in relief. “How are you feeling Harry?” she asked him, anxiously hovering very close to him.

Harry who was feeling as if he had been dragged backwards through all the hedges in Scotland, shrugged, “I am fine Hermione. Nothing to worry. Have you two had breakfast?”

“Yes Harry. I checked up on you and since you were sleeping tight, Hermione and I went down and… oh Harry, Snape was scowling like anything and he wanted to know when you will come to complete your detention.” Neville told him, looking very distressed. “You will be careful today won’t you Harry, and make sure you won’t get another detention with him?”

Harry shuddered, thinking of more detention with Snape where he would be mind-raped and bound. “No of course not. Today I’ll hopefully finish the potion properly and then be allowed to come back. Where will you guys be?” Harry asked them walking to the portrait door.

“We will be right here Harry. You will be back by lunch won’t you?” Hermione asked him.

Harry shrugged once again. “Don’t be worried if I am mot in for lunch. Snape told me to re-do the potion and he will most likely make me do another one just for spite. It is better I finish everything today and be free for tomorrow. Besides I have to see Dumbledore first. McGonagall told me yesterday remember?”

They nodded looking worried and walked along with him to the Great Hall, where breakfast was just getting over. Harry hurriedly had whatever was there on the table while Neville and Hermione were sitting along with him.

Then all three of them walked together until Hermione and Neville turned towards Gryffindor Tower. Harry waved to them and turned to visit the Headmaster.

Soon Harry was standing in front of the gargoyle and wondering how to get inside when the gargoyle suddenly opened and revealed a flight of stairs. Harry stepped on the steps and went up and very soon came to a door. Harry checked his Occlumency shields and then softly knocked on the door.

“Come in Harry.” a cheerful voice called from inside and Harry opened the room and stepped into the familiar office of the Headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

“Good morning professor.” Harry told him smiling as he entered the room and shut the door after him.

“Good morning Harry. How are you now? All recovered?” Dumbledore asked him.

“Yes sir.” Harry replied politely and sat down in a comfortable chair that Dumbledore indicated to him. A second later Fawkes flew from his perch with a loud trill and landed on Harry’s knee. Harry grinned, “Hello Fawkes, how are you? I have your feather in my wand do you know?”

Fawkes trilled loud and long and pecked Harry affectionately on his shoulder. Dumbledore watched this by play with a smile, but his eyes were looking very puzzled. Fawkes had never reacted to anyone like this and Dumbledore could not understand.

“How does your wand perform now Harry?” Dumbledore asked. In reply Harry waved his wand and Dumbledore was astounded by the riot of colours that came from it.

“Well Harry I was very interested in the book you said was by Ignotus Peverell. May I see it please?” Dumbledore asked him, after a small pause.

“Sure sir, but I don’t think it will work for you. The book said it had bound with me, but the lady at the shop said so many persons had purchased the book but had returned it because no one could read the book at all. But when Remus pricked my finger and put a drop of blood, it worked.” Harry grinned, removing the Self Updating Book of Spells and handing it over to Dumbledore, slowly stroking Fawkes softly. Fawkes was trilling very softly in sheer pleasure.

Dumbledore took the book from him and tried a few spells and then pricked his finger and let a drop of blood fall on the book. But the book did not react or open for him at all. Dumbledore looked extremely disappointed and handed over the book to Harry with a rueful smile. “Well it apparently will work only for you. Keep it carefully Harry. Peverell was an extraordinary wizard and his accomplishments were many. He has chosen you and I do believe it is a great honour.”

“Yes sir.” Harry grinned.

“You are off to detention with professor Snape?” Dumbledore asked him amiably.

Harry’s eyes clouded and he frowned and looked down. “Yes sir. Hopefully I will get the potion right and get the evening off at the very least.”

Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled madly. “You have detention until evening?” he asked.

“Yes sir. The detention was yesterday evening. But I somehow messed it up and professor Snape has asked me to come again today and make the potion once more. At least that is what I think I will be asked to do.” Harry finished doubtfully and looked unhappily at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore smiled. “Well then off you go. Let us not keep professor Snape waiting.”

Harry stood up at once carefully holding Fawkes who trilled at him and flew up to his perch. Harry smiled at Dumbledore and them and turned away. The moment he walked out, away from the gargoyle, Harry started walking steadily towards the dungeons. Harry was very thoughtful as he marched off towards the dungeons, mentally going through everything from his other life and ticking off all that he could tell Snape and that he couldn’t.

There were so many things that came in the category of ‘cannot tell Snape’ Harry could only hope Snape would keep quiet and not run to Dumbledore or worse ram into his brain once again. This time Harry would be ready for Snape’s attacks but Harry did not want to fight with him or worse turn him antagonistic towards him, he really did not want Snape as the enemy. Now, that he had someone who knew about his other life and the fact that it was Snape had both advantages and disadvantages.

While the disadvantages were many, all of them being Snape’s past with Harry’s father and mother and his own sarkiness and bitterness and Harry shook his head, wondering what his mother had seen in this man that she had been friends with him for so long and had been close enough for his father to be jealous from a portrait even after all the three of them had died. But the advantages were much more.

If only Snape would agree to work with Harry and most importantly trust him, Harry knew half the battle would be won in that one step alone. Whether Snape would do it, well Harry shrugged once again, who knew what Snape would do at any given point in time. Not him, Harry thought looking around the empty dungeons and surprised he had reached so quickly, Harry knocked softly on the door of the potions classroom.

“Enter.” Snape’s voice told him and Harry pushed the door open and went inside. Snape was sitting at his desk and writing something and Harry went to Snape’s desk and stood there.

“I’m afraid I over slept professor and I’m sorry for being late. I had to visit professor Dumbledore and show him the Self Updating Book of Spells.” Harry told him softly.

Snape gave no indication he had heard Harry and he continued writing until he finished that sentence and putting his quill down, he stood up and looked inscrutably at Harry. “Come.” He said and walked out of the door and walking a little further, came to his office.

He opened the door and went inside and waited for Harry to step in before he closed the door and added powerful privacy wards. Harry took out his wand and added a few more and turned to Snape, who glared at him and spoke shortly. “You are here to write about your potion while I work. This will be the first part of your detention; to write and let me know where you have gone wrong.” Snape flicked his wand and a parchment appeared on the desk, the side where Harry would sit and it was written and in Harry’s handwriting.

Harry blinked at the thoroughness of the man, but he was the spy and he was probably more paranoid than Mad-Eye Moody.

Snape pointed a long finger to Harry just like the other day, indicating Harry sit down but this time Harry was not buying it and he stood there wand in his hand and looking steadily at Snape.

Snape stared at him and suddenly with a raised eyebrow went around the desk and sat down. “I will not hex you Potter. Not yet. I want answers. While you did confirm you were Harry Potter, you still have to give me proof that you are from the future and that you are not possessed.” Harry winced and cringed at that and he saw Snape’s eyes narrow.

Harry did not say a word in defence and he lifted his wand and looked at Snape who already had his wand pointing at his face. Harry smiled, “I swear on my magic and on my life that I am from the future and I came here by falling accidentally on a time turner that slipped from my grasp and transported me back in time. My name is Harry James Potter and I am the son of James Potter and Lily Evans Potter.” Snape watched with no expression on his face as the magic came out of Harry’s wand swirled around him and again went into him.

Snape put his wand down and looked at him. “How many years from the future are you?” Harry had told him his age yesterday, he knew; it was just like Snape to reconfirm it. Harry shook his head ruefully. This was going to be as long a detention as it was yesterday.

“Twenty five years.” Harry replied softly.

“The Dark Lord?” Snape asked him.

“Died once and for all in my seventh year here. But before that he took half the Wizarding World with him.” Harry replied his eyes far away.

Snape was silent for some time. “So he comes back.” He said in a small whisper.

“Yes. In my fourth year. At the end of it.”

“Who died along with him?” Snape asked him, his face once again expressionless.

“Who didn’t?” Harry asked bitterly.

“Tell me.” Snape commanded in an incredibly soft voice.

“I cannot Snape. That knowledge I will have with myself. One death that did not happen until the very end that time happened very early now. Peter Pettigrew.” Harry said viciously.

[The_Green_Woods]

Snape’s eyes widened. “So I was right in thinking you had a hand in that.”

Harry nodded his green eyes still angry as he thought of the rat. “The rat in my other life was responsible for so much Snape. He was with the Weasleys for almost thirteen years until Sirius broke out of Azkaban and came searching for the rat. Wormtail as he was also known was also responsible for the resurrection of Voldemort and for so many horrible things. Now,” Harry said with extreme satisfaction, “he cannot do any more harm. The bloody rat.”

Snape was silent, his face not betraying anything, though his eyes were shocked. He raised an eyebrow. “Black broke out of Azkaban?” he asked incredulously.

Harry nodded. “In my third year. Everyone thought him a death eater who escaped to kill me and take revenge. I thought so too, at the time. I did not even know he was my Godfather. So many things were kept from me and the others by Dumbledore; if only we had known and had been prepared…” Harry trailed off.

“Do you know of the Prophecy?” he asked after another silence.

Harry looked straight at him. “Yes, I know the whole Prophecy that Trelawney told Dumbledore and also the fact that it was you who heard one half of it before you were discovered and sent away. I also know that you went to Voldemort with it.” Snape started a little and his black eyes flashed with so many emotions so quickly that Harry could not read them.

“I see.” He said quietly after a long time but did not add more.

There was only silence after that. Snape did not say a word, his eyes completely blank now and staring at the wall in front of him and Harry staring at Snape, trying to get a glimpse into his feelings, but could not discern any. After another long silence Snape turned his eyes from that point on the wall where he had been staring blankly and asked, “How did the Dark Lord come back?”

“Before I tell you that I want another oath on your magic and life that what ever we discuss is between us and you will not tell anyone, not even the Headmaster about it. I don’t want his meddling to come anywhere near this. While I do trust him with my life, his meddling will surely create more unknowns and I do not wish for that. It is too big.”

Snape looked at Harry for a long time and slowly lifted his wand. “I Severus Tobias Snape promise to protect all the secrets of Harry James Potter and will never betray him or his secrets for whatever reason.”

Harry waited until the golden swirl came out of Snape’s wand. “I accept.” He said simply.

“Voldemort made what are called horcruxes.” Harry said and Snape gasped loudly. His usually expressionless black eyes were filled with terror, hearing those few words.

“What did you say Potter?” Snape managed to gasp out. He was gripping his hands tightly and looked at Harry in fear.

“He made six of them. He was to have made the seventh on Halloween that night when he came to murder me, but my mother’s sacrifice saved my hide and he lost his body. But because of the horcruxes he cannot die and so he is waiting to be restored to his body somehow. Pettigrew helped him in my fourth year when he along with another death eater, helped lure me to the graveyard at Little Hangleton and used my blood to resurrect, thinking he could have my mother’s protection too.”

“Did he get it?” Snape asked his chest heaving in emotion. Harry was slightly unnerved. Except when he was dying Snape had not shown any other emotion other than distaste, hatred and anger towards Harry and this Snape who was so scared was a novelty. Harry knew this would soon settle and Snape would go back to his old expressionless face and nasty self, but for the moment Snape had totally lost it.

“No of course not. She meant to protect me from him after all.” Snape calmed down a little at that. “Continue.” He said his eyes calmer and looking more alert now.

“I already have three of the horcruxes with me and I have already destroyed them.” Harry told him.

Snape gaped at him. “How…?”

“Those were the horcruxes I knew would be where I found them because they were undisturbed the first time too. There are only two things that can destroy horcruxes; basilisk venom and Fiendfyre as far as I know. I removed the ring from the old Gaunt House, the locket from Grimmauld Place and the diadem from the Room of Requirement here in Hogwarts. The Room of Requirement gave me the means to destroy the horcruxes as well.”

Snape looked very thoughtful at this information. “So now we have three left.”

Harry nodded. “One is an old diary at Malfoy Manor. That diary Lucius Malfoy dropped into Ginny Weasley’s cauldron in my second year. He did not know that the diary was a horcrux and Voldemort almost killed him for destroying that.”

“How did you destroy the diary?” Snape asked him leaning forward.

“Well the diary possessed Ginny and she in turn released the huge basilisk that is there in Slytherin’s chamber in my second year. Later the diary that possessed Ginny, took her into the chamber and started squeezing out her life in exchange for Voldemort’s. Ron who was my best friend then and I went into the chamber but only I could go inside the main chamber and I was bloody lucky to defeat the sixty foot ancient basilisk and destroy the diary. Of course at that time I was not aware it was a horcrux.”

Snape stared at him in silence and Harry continued after a few minutes when he realized Snape did not speak. “This time too we can wait for Lucius Malfoy to put the diary in Ginny’s cauldron and get it when she comes to Hogwarts next year. Otherwise I am hoping my friendship with Malfoy would not only save him from becoming a death eater but would also yield good results regarding the diary.”

“The other two?” Snape asked him and Harry decided to keep the information that he too was a horcrux for the time being.

“Well the other two are those for which I will need your help. They are Nagini whom he still has not made into a horcrux and Hufflepuff’s cup that Voldemort forcibly retrieved from the Smith family. He made a horcrux of that and it is now lying in Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault deep in Gringotts.”

Snape frowned. “Nagini will be easy. I can administer so many potions that are not detectable and kill her easily; will the horcrux also die with her? She is a living thing with a mind of her own?”

“Yes she will die. But remember you cannot kill the horcrux inside her with potions. You must start a fight and somehow attack her with Fiendfyre or cut off her head with a sword dipped in basilisk venom or administer basilisk venom to her; though I do not know if that will kill the horcrux as well. Potions will kill her alright but the horcrux, I am not sure. Last time Neville killed Nagini with the sword of Gryffindor that has basilisk venom coated on it. He cut off her head in the Battle for Hogwarts.”

Snape’s eyes widened. “Longbottom?” he asked disbelievingly.

“Longbottom.” Harry said mockingly.

Snape glared at him and then became thoughtful. “Bella’s vault will be the worst. How did you get it out last time?”

“We broke in and escaped on a Gringotts dragon and were very lucky. This time I really do not know.” Harry said shocking Snape once again. He gaped at Harry who laughed at him.

“Hermione, Ron and I were the only ones who knew about the horcruxes. Not even you knew. We set off after sixth year when Dumbledore was killed,”

“What!” Snape exclaimed.

“Yes,” Harry nodded, “Dumbledore died at the end of that year. He was already dying because of a curse that hit him when he tried to destroy the horcrux at Gaunt’s place. He was killed by death eaters and the three of us without the help of the Order that fell into pieces after his death, and without the knowledge of good magic floundered and stumbled and struggled in total darkness and it was sheer luck we survived to tell the tale.”

“Did Draco kill him?” Snape asked him softly his black eyes boring into Harry’s green ones.

Harry hesitated for a minute. “I really cannot tell you the circumstances of Dumbledore’s death fully, but I will say this without having to resort to lies. Draco let a lot of death eaters into the School and he was killed. Dumbledore would not have survived anyway and until the last moment he was trying to sway Draco to the Light. He also succeeded in his effort because Draco put his wand down, but unfortunately at that time Greyback and Alecto and Amycus along with two others ran in and then Dumbledore’s fate was more or less sealed.”

Snape sighed, showing a completely human emotion. “You are not telling me anything Potter.”

“I have already told you too much. Only I want you to sit on the information as much as you can and allow events to move on as closely as they did the other time. Only then we can even expect have a modicum of control over them. Otherwise we will be caught up in a situation where there will be more unknowns and we may end up doing the wrong thing. I am of course assuming you will aid me?” Harry asked him cocking his head slightly to look questioningly at Snape.

He scowled and glared at Harry. “For all your thirty seven years, you are really not blessed with brains are you? Did you really think I would let you go about destroying horcruxes and taking down death eaters on your own?”

Harry rolled his eyes and smiled his thanks at Snape who glowered back at him.

“Dumbledore has asked me to keep an eye on Quirrell and he is very suspicious about you. So is McGonagall.” Snape told him abruptly changing the subject.

Harry laughed. “I know. I noticed all the peeping you two did and,” Harry’s voice turned serious, “don’t go anywhere near Quirrell. He has got Voldemort at the back of his head. Voldemort at present possesses Quirrell and he wants to somehow get his hands on the Philosopher’s Stone.”

Snape stared at Harry once again and then shuddered for a second before controlling himself. Harry noticed Snape’s reaction but did not say a word and simply continued, “Quirrell will wait until the end of the School year before getting to the stone and at that time if you will come with me we can work through all the enchantments, before I go in and face Quirrell.”

Snape shook his head. “Not admissible Potter. I will not permit you to go and meet the Dark Lord alone, whatever your rate of success has been in the past.”

Harry huffed, irritated. “Understand Snape. You cannot be seen with me before Voldemort’s sprit. You have to take your position at his side when he gets back his body. The Order and I will need you there. Once we are through McGonagall’s chess set you have to go back to your potions classroom.”

“And how, may I know will you take care of the Dark Lord and Quirrell?” Snape demanded.

Harry grinned. “By touching Quirrell of course. Last time I got the stone and was about to run when Quirrell came after me and tried to hold on to me. He couldn’t and the moment he touched me he crumbled to ashes. Mother’s protection against Voldemort works until I am seventeen.”

“And what is your age?” Snape asked sarcastically.

Harry looked at him in shock. Of course he was both eleven and thirty seven now and he had no clue if the protection that worked then would work now. “Merlin!” Harry breathed in horror. “You have a point. I never even thought of that. But we cannot let Voldemort see you as working along with me especially when he would command you to hold me and then kill me.”

“I can polyjuice as someone else.” Snape said thoughtfully, thinking about the protections all the professors had placed.

Harry grinned at the thought of Snape polyjuicing as Neville. Snape saw the grin and correctly assessing it, he scowled. “I meant some one competent, like one of the fifth years or even the seventh year Slytherins or Ravenclaws.”

Harry looked indignant at the slight that no Gryffindor was competent enough and rolled his eyes in exasperation as Snape smirked. “Well,” Harry drawled, “I was thinking of Neville.”

Snape glared again and before he could tell Harry just what he thought of that idea, Harry hurriedly continued, “But I don’t want to wait until the end of the year, just in case we go wrong. If Voldemort gets to the Stone is will be nothing short of disastrous. I vote we go tonight and steal the stone. I will place it in my family vault that no one, not even Sirius and Remus know I have access to, and it will be safe there until the war is over. After that I will return it to Dumbledore and ask him to do whatever he pleases with it. What do you say?”

Snape objected to stealing the Stone and that too almost at once. Harry spent the next hour convincing Snape it would be alright. It was too soon for Snape to go from doubting Harry to stealing the Stone with him, but in the end Harry managed to convince him and heave a sigh of relief.

“This is the best way Snape. This way the Stone will be safe and even if Quirrell escapes, Voldemort will not get his hands on the Stone. Please say yes. I have given you an oath on my magic and if you still don’t trust me…” Harry trailed off hoping Snape would see sense and not be pig headed about everything.

Snape was silent for some time after the heated arguments and then he slowly nodded his head. “Do you know how to tackle the creature inside the door?”

Harry snorted. “Say three headed dog Snape. Of course I know. Are you going to test me until the end of time?” Snape quirked an eyebrow at Harry and simply waited for his next statement.

“Tonight?” Harry asked him. Snape nodded.

“Come to the third floor corridor at eleven. I will meet you there okay?” Snape nodded once again before he spoke, “The moment you remove the stone Dumbledore will know. You must have some plan for that. I suggest we replace the stone with a replica of the original and transfer all the protective charms to it and let it be.”

“Then Quirrell will escape with Voldemort. That is not allowed Snape.” Harry objected.

Snape’s eyes gleamed. “Why don’t we set a trap in there? We could cast spells to attack him if he does touch the stone. And we could set it for anyone who wants to get the stone.”

“We keep the original stone there?” Harry asked slightly confused.

“You are a dunderhead Potter. I meant on the false stone. The real thing, you take it with you and make sure you put it in your family vault at the earliest. And now get out.”

Harry did not even blink at the insult. Instead he stood up cheerfully. “Okay that’s settled. Meet you at the entrance tonight. And I spent the whole morning here writing about the potion and you have that parchment with you now. Hermione and Neville would want to know.” And sauntered to the door and turned back to see Snape looking at him. “Thank you so much sir.” Harry told him softly, his green eyes shining with gratitude and slipped out of the room Snape still staring at him, his face expressionless.



End of Chapter – 11
--------------------------