Return – Chapter One

Harry stepped into the Entrance Hall of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, his blank Emerald Green eyes unblinking as they scanned the room for people.  Nobody was in sight but he could hear the clicking as someone with heels walked towards him.  His eyes flashed as he turned to face them front on.

He'd grown since he'd last been in the school, his body had muscled up and he no longer looked like the wide-eyed teenager he'd been then.  His hair had grown from a short, unkempt mess, to a long tangle that had been braided tightly, and was wound around his neck to keep it out of trouble.  All that remained of the young boy, was a lightening-bolt scar, and Emerald Green eyes.

"How can I help you?" asked a tall, prim looking lady.  Her hair pulled back in a tight bun, she was easily recognizable as Professor McGonagall.

"I will speak with the Headmaster," Harry said softly, his voice issuing the command without appearing to.

The magic around him ebbed and flowed as he manipulated it to prevent too many unanswerable questions.  There was, however, a spark of recognition in her eyes and she looked him up and down.

"Harry!" she breathed, as she led him down the corridor to the headmasters' office, "where have you been? We were very worried…" Harry wasn't responding, so she stopped and just led him onwards, his eyes alert, his posture stiff and ready for battle.

She was about to give the password to the gargoyle, when Harry cut his eyes to it and glared fiercely at it, "Move!" he commanded.  It stumbled aside in it's haste to get out of his way.

Pushing the door open, with her eyes wide, McGonagall motioned to the couch in the corner, "wait here, Potter!"

Harry sat down and eyed the room; it hadn't changed a bit, still littered with books, cold mugs of half drunken coffee and partially eaten biscuits.  He picked up one of the books as he waited, but unfortunately he already knew everything in the book he'd unconsciously picked up; Torture Techniques you never wanted to know!  By Martin Thumbscrew.

The door swung open again a few minutes later as he flicked through to the section on heat, "You can go in now, Potter," McGonagall said.

Rising, Harry nodded briefly and walked through the door, sensing three minds there with him, he was angered that two people were hiding from him in Animagus form and thought about saying something, but restrained himself at the last minute.

"Good morning, Harry," Dumbledore said genially, "Nice to see you again,"

"Padfoot," Harry said bluntly, "transform and get out.  This is a discussion between myself and the headmaster.  Oh, and whoever the other one of you is, get out!" there was a brief pause and then there were two transformations, as Sirius Black appeared, along with Remus Lupin.  Harry blinked at Lupin who, last he knew, had been a werewolf, not an Animagus.  His eyes hardened, "Get out!  And never spy on me again!"

"Professor Dumbledore," Harry said quietly, "I don't appreciate what you did to me, and what I was put through as a result.  I am here to warn you that, as soon as I have dealt with Voldemort, as I swore all those years ago, I will probably never work with you again, and you are lucky I'm even considering working with you again."

"You need me, Harry," Dumbledore said softly, "you need me to help you on this."

"Actually," Harry corrected him, "I don't.  It is you who needs me.  I could do it by myself, it would just be a little more tedious and harder than necessary.  I'm doing this because I want my friends to live in a world free from fear."

Dumbledore nodded, "Your initiation into the Order will be tonight, and it is expected that you will be here, in my office, at least an hour before the meeting begins.  Is that acceptable?"

"Tradition says only twenty minutes grace is necessary," Harry said quietly, "if you want to talk to me, say so.  I only said when this is all over, I wouldn't work with you.  I will be here, an hour early – as you ask."

He stood and then, as an afterthought, turned around again, "Where are Ron and Hermione?"

"Ms. Granger will be in the Head Girl's study, and Mr. Weasley will be in the Prefects Common Room, or else with Ms. Granger."

Harry blinked, "Excuse me, Professor, what year is it?"

"You would be in Seventh year, if you were back at school here, Harry," Dumbledore said gently, "It is not as long for us as it has been for you."

With a wave of his hand, the door opened and Harry stalked out, "Moony!  Padfoot!'

The two of them bounded after him, down the corridor, casting strange glances at Dumbledore who was staring with a bemused expression, at the stand where his phoenix, Fawkes, usually sat.