AN: I don't own anything nor am I making money off of it.

"Good evening Minister, and how might you find yourself tonight" Harry asked tiredly.

"Rather well, though it seems the people are worried" Scrimgeour replied tightly.

The two were standing outside Harry's home at #4 private drive, under a few concealment and privacy charms, engaging in what had become very familiar banter.

"No new arrests today?" He asked with an innocent smile.

"No, none, we haven't arrested anyone, not without conclusive evidence," a small spasm ran across his face "will you please help us now, the death eater have been running rampant, we're out of options, I've almost been forced out of office, FOR GODS SAKE MAN, WE'RE AT WAR!"

Every night for the past two weeks, Harry had been visited by the Minister for magic with pleas for assistance in the fight against Voldemort. At first Harry had just ignored the man, after all, he had been arresting people on hearsay, though after a few days, Harry realized the lengths to which Scrimgeour would go to get help from "the Chosen One" and had begun to subtly suggest small things that could be done in return for little things, like small quotes in the Prophet. It never quite seemed to be enough for the Minister though, so night after night, the two would have conversations that inevitably ended with one barely suppressing their rage. It seemed to be Scrimgeour's turn this night.

"Yes, we are. It always feels so rewarding to have the ministry admit that."

"Yes, yes, we were wrong, you were right, oh Chosen One. Now, will you please help us lesser beings?" The Minister seemed incapable of relaxing tonight.

"Is something wrong Minister? You seem tense"

Harry knew he shouldn't be enjoying this, after all, the Minister was right, everything was going wrong in the war. Once Dumbledore had been killed, all restraint Voldemort once had towards attacking had been lost. There were deaths almost every night, and nothing seemed to be capable of preventing the attacks.

"You mean other than the fact that almost everyone that I trusted around me in the office has been killed and replaced with men that I'm almost positive are death eaters? Or the fact that within the next few weeks I'll likely either be dead or completely under their control? Why would I be fine under these circumstances?"

"And why is it that you think I can help your situation in office? I mean, I have no control over the politicians."

"We've been over this, you'd give me the credibility I needed to make harsh changes."

"You're right, we have talked about it, and I still can't allow you to have a carte blanche within the ministry, you wouldn't be able to help but abuse that power. There is one thing that might persuade me though."

Scrimgeour turned away in frustration, "You know I can't just do that, the public would eat me alive, there's no sort of precedence for this type of thing, no one there would feel protected."

For the past few days, Harry's goal had been to get the Ministry to remove all of its legal power from Hogwarts.

"You're right, it's much better knowing that you can legally have someone torture the student body day in and day out, and avoid any sort of repercussion. I'm sorry Minister, but I must not tell lies." Harry's hands started to shake as he spat at the grass.

A small look a shame crossed his face "Listen, Umbridge is gone, removed from all power, there's nothing more I can do without getting your support first. I'm not Fudge damn it"

"No, you're smarter, but just as willing to do what makes you look best instead of what's right. I refuse to settle for anything less if we're to work together. You have political power and I, as you so eloquently put, have moral authority. You could do anything you wanted and the public would back you on it. The only reason you haven't agreed to it yet is because you don't want to relinquish your power over the school."

Scrimgeour sighed, "We've been arguing this point for the last four days, you're not going to budge, are you?"

"No Minister"

"Fine, there's a press conference tomorrow, 2:00 at the Ministry, be there and we'll announce the end of the Ministry's involvement at Hogwarts, claiming that their independence is a needed action in the war effort, as well as your decision to work with me."

"As long as we're clear Minister, I work with you, not for you, any big decisions you make, you run by me first."

"Agreed, and you agree to a few, harsh changes to the Ministry, even without evidence"

"Agreed"

"Well then Mr. Potter, I'll see you tomorrow for the press conference."

"Goodnight Minister"

Scrimgeour walked out to the end of the lot, and disapparated to the Ministry.

Harry walked back into the house, "Well he agreed to leave Hogwarts alone"

Professor McGonagall greeted him, "Yes, but I still don't like this, you'll be very vulnerable there. Especially if you're going to be spending so much time at the ministry."

"I have to do something. After all, you're not letting me out of your sight."

Ever since Hogwarts ended and Professor McGonagall discovered his plans to leave Hogwarts and go hunting for the Horcruxes, she taken it upon herself to try and convince him to go back.

"Mr. Potter, I was given a few requests from Professor Dumbledore and I will see them through, including your return to Hogwarts"

This had been another argument that was paid attention to daily. Harry couldn't help but wonder why it was that he was the chosen to never possess freedom. Even when attempting to do that which he knew he had to, everyone is still trying to tell him what to do, trying to force him into their molds.

"Did he specifically tell you that I have to go back to Hogwarts?"

"Well…no, he told me to do all that I could to keep the school open and running."

"And you don't need me for that." Harry was getting tired, tired of Scrimgeour , tired of responsibilities, tired of the nightmares, just tired.

"No, but I have found something for you, a letter from Professor Dumbledore"

"Then let me see it"

"If you agree to return, Mr. Potter, than I will give you the letter."

"Why are you so desperate to make me come back" Even to himself, Harry sounded defeated.

"Do you know why it is that Hogwarts is seen as one of the safest places in the country, Mr. Potter?"

"Easy, Professor Dumbledore, Voldemort was scared and so he kept away."

"Not quite, as you have never taken Ancient Runes, you wouldn't know anything about the wards surrounding Hogwarts. V-Voldemort isn't the first Dark Lord to try and take over the country, and I doubt he'll be the last, however, none of them have ever managed to take over Hogwarts despite all of their attempts because there's far more than teachers protecting the students."

Harry still couldn't see what this had to do with him, "Alright, so it's a safe place to be, but I'm not looking to be safe, there's something I have to go do, I have to-"

"Yes your infamous mission that you refuse to tell me about. However, I'm not trying to prevent you from going on your mission, as much as I would like to keep everyone safe, I cannot force them."

"And yet here you are trying to force me, trying to keep me 'safe' and stopping me from doing what I need to do."

"No, I'm trying to keep the country safe. Like you, most of the people believe that it was solely due to Professor Dumbledore that the school remained safe, despite the fact that this past year, he was almost never in school. With him gone, many of the students won't be returning, because they won't think it's safe. However, they also know that you have faced him on a number of occasions, with you being there, they'll be able to feel safe enough to go back. As you said, I'm trying to force you to go back, but I'm not trying to force you to be safe, I'm asking you to keep as many people as we can safe"

"So now you're appealing to my 'saving people' thing"

"No, I'm just keeping you informed, isn't that what you wanted?" There was a trace of a smile around her lips.

"Fine, you win, I'm coming back"

"Excellent Mr. Potter, I'll see you at the latest on the first. Good day to you"

"Professor McGonagall, my letter?"

"On the first Mr. Potter" The door closed behind her.

Harry cursed under his breath, "Yet another reason to make sure I return."

Even with this latest bit of he still felt as though there was nothing left for him at Hogwarts, just memories. Feeling drained, he crept up the stairs, went into his room, and lay down, and drifted into tortured sleep.

He was walking through the graveyard, unknown bodies littering the ground, until he came upon the veil. Dark and flowing with a non-existent wind, the sense of foreboding it emanated was palpable, I shouldn't be here, he thought, I should run, I have to run. But despite his thoughts, he was drawn ever closer, a voice telling him to just go through it, to find peace, freedom. A second voice came to argue with it, saying he had to stay, he had to fight. Standing in front of it, he could neither leave, nor go forward, he felt trapped, looking into death but unable to move. The voices within his head grew louder, more insistent, they were both fighting for control, he couldn't hear his own thoughts, his own desires over the voices. Falling to his knees, he grasped his head in pain, the voices were overwhelming, he couldn't fight them, he felt like a string pulled taught. He saw Sirius come from a distance and walk through the veil, inviting him to join. He saw Ron standing at the gates, calling him back. Dumbledore followed Sirius in. Ginny called him back. Snape and Malfoy were at his side, pushing more and more people through the veil, tens, hundreds, thousands of people walked passed him, within an arms length, some crying, some fighting, some marching sullenly, all disappeared through the veil. He could've stopped them all, he could've held them back, he could've gone first and they'd all have stopped, they wouldn't have followed him, he caused too much pain. A familiar face walked out of the veil, dark, messy hair, glasses, except for the eyes, the brown eyes, it was akin to staring into a mirror. The eyes looked coldly down on, chastising him for his cowardice. A true Gryffindor would have stopped this, would have saved them. He had no right to act noble. Simple acts would have prevented much suffering, you knew that Voldemort was trying to get you and put you in the Tournament, why would he go through all that to try and kill you, it would be easier to do it with a simple curse, you should have been ready, should have attacked when you saw the figure coming towards you. He saw Cedric walking out of the veil, "my father, my mother, Cho, they all know that it was your fault, and what do you do as soon as I'm dead, you don't comfort them, you try to make a move with Cho, not respecting me in the slightest, you sick bastard." Cedric disappeared back through the veil. You never respected the man enough to listen to his crying girlfriend, you simply listened to your own desires. Selfish. Harry couldn't hear, couldn't see, couldn't feel, he only knew the man's voice in his head and the taste of death in his mouth. 'I couldn't do anything' he was sobbing now, his knees gave out, and he collapsed in the dust, feeling the ground move as more and more people walked through the veil, people he couldn't save. He caught the cloying scent vanilla, it disappeared, of ink, it disappeared, of flowers, it disappeared, all familiar scents, those of his family, his friends. He curled himself up, wishing to end, to no longer know what was happening. A light cinnamon disappeared, a heavy animalistic musk vanished, perfumes, colognes, until finally all was gone, he was alone except for the man with cold blue eyes staring down at him. He could feel his gaze more than see it, a scent of lemon drifting through the air. The eyes, they knew what he was supposed to do, he had a task but he failed. He failed. The words ran through his head, time and time again. The weight of the words, of his responsibilities, they were binding, he could barely move. He heard himself begging for death, for release from the torture that was his life. The man with cold eyes simply turned and disappeared through the veil, he and the veil vanished. Harry was truly alone. He couldn't hold it in, he screamed, praying for an end that he knew could no longer come.

AN: A bit depressing and short, I'm mostly trying to set it up so that there are reasons that what happened in the last book doesn't start here, though there will other other changes like Horcrux locations. I don't know if the Hollows will exist or if Harry will be a Horcrux yet.