His eyes filled with fear as they swept the battlefield before him, hundreds of his fellow witches and wizards laid slain on the open field. In one brisk evening, half of the those who wanted to protect Harry were dead by the devastating counter-attack. It had been a miscalculation on Harry's part, he wondered if they would ever forgive his soul, he wondered if he would ever forgive his soul for what he had done this night. Harry's eyes flashed across the slain, he could feel there spirits fading away and could see that there bodies were already starting to decompose. He tried not to feel guilty for there death, they had only been following his orders, he was their leader and now they were dead. All for what? Harry asked himself, it was then Harry's eyes moved across the grassy knoll to see that it was for the small golden chalice in the center on top of a green marble petalstool. It was the last one, after all the work he had done, after all of the losses taken to destroy Voldemort's souls, he gazed upon the final one other then Voldemort himself. But when Harry's eyes moved to the other side of the chalice did he see the one who started it all. Voldemort, with his hood off stared directly at Harry with a malice grin upon his face.
Voldemort laughed at Harry's miscalculation, "Foolish boy, this war was never yours to be won, I simply can not understand how and why so many have put there faith into you. And even more so I did not think you were so bold enough to take me on in such a fashion. I do admit that I'm quite honored that you had taken the war to me." Voldemort's hand snaked down his long black robe and pulled out his wand. "Now, we shall end this foolish war like true wizards."
"This will be the end for both of us." Harry felt a new rise of confidence in his voice. It was if Fawkes was there singing it's song of hope.
"And what makes you think that boy?" Voldemort questioned with a slight hesitation in his voice.
Harry smirked and raised his wand to Voldemort, "Checkmate", was all Harry said as he unleashed the first torrent of spells.
Harry Potter and the Year of lost Souls
Chapter I – The Signs of Hope
"Harry," Hermione said softly and placed her dainty hand on his shoulder. Harry said nothing as he looked at the tattered building in front of him. The building still had scorch marks on the door and on the outside walls. The front door hung off it's hinge leading to the living room which showed signs of a climatic battle which Harry knew the outcome all to well. "Harry, i'm.." Hermione softly spoke again, she knew that Harry was having a hard time looking at what once used to be his home.
"Don't say anything Hermione, he takes it all away hoping that he'll crush everything that I get near or loved, it's not enough that he does it to destroy me, but he also has to bring everyone else into his little game." Harry gripped his wand tighter and walked to his family home. He needed to see his home with his own eyes.
Harry knew that he should have been back with the Dursley's spending the rest of his days of protection with them. Dumbledore would have wanted him to be safe for at least another month. But Harry wanted to move, he couldn't sit back and let things come to him, he was tired of waiting around. Had he listen to Dumbledore's words he would have been safer then he was now, but that was the last of his worries, the war was only beginning and Harry was lost with the headmaster guidance.
Hermione could only pull her hand back and follow Harry, she knew that Harry was hurting inside she wanted to help him, but would he let her, she questioned. She didn't want to see Harry fall apart, not when he meant so much to the world, to his friends, and especially her. She knew he was right about Voldemort, wouldn't let him have peace until he destroyed Harry.
"The area is secured," Ron ran quickly behind Hermione and whispered into her ear. "There's no signs of anything or anyone in the area." Hermione nodded, she only hoped that Ron knew what to look for.
Harry stepped inside the house and into the living room where he stopped to get a sense of his surroundings. His eyes wander up and down the sky blue walls, where once there had been pictures now only stood blast marks. Where there used to be a happy loving family was now just dust and dirt. Harry could almost feel his father's presence in the room where he knew that his father bravely fought against Voldemort in order to save his family. Harry wanted to break down and cry, he wanted to let everything go and curl into a ball. The memories of that night flooded back into his mind, even when he was young the flashes of what happened rolled through like a movie. Harry knew he couldn't let himself go, not now, not ever, he had to finish this war if not for him it would be for the future of the world. Harry moved up the stairs and into the hallway, there he could see three doors, one to the bathroom, one to his room, and one to his parents room. He could almost imagine the first year here at the house. His father beaming at Harry and his wife, his mother cradling Harry as if there wasn't a care in the world even if the wizardry world was in the mist of a war. Harry shook his head to remove the thoughts of a normal life, though, it could have been vastly different if he wasn't the one destine to destroy Voldemort.
Harry couldn't bear the thought of walking into the room, knowing that his mother gave her life to save him and possibly the world. Where the world changed for him before he even had a hand in changing it. He was just a child at the wrong place at the wrong time. His parents were betrayed, his family destroyed, and he was left with nothing other then the knowledge he was to die or kill Voldemort. As he entered the room he could still feel the energy that surrounded the room, such a violent attack left a residue of magic on the walls. Harry felt tainted as he could feel the energy press against his skin. As he walked closer into the room which was decorated with the same sky blue wallpaper as the living room, he could feel the energy change. No longer did it feel tainted, it felt, warming to his skin. He knew this was the place his mother gave her life to save him. Harry felt a tear fall down his cheek as he looked at where his cradle would have been, he could almost feel his mother's presence in the room wrapping her arms around him. The tear turned into many as Harry found it even harder to stop the emotions run through his mind and body.
Harry could hear his friends walking up the stairs behind him and he wanted to tell them to leave the house, and leave him alone. He wanted to crawl into a small hole and just wait out the war, but what he really wanted was his family back he wanted to be with them. But he knew that the only way that was going to happen was if he gave up.
"Harry, we have to get moving if we are going to finish Voldemort off we need to move as fast as possible before he moves against us. You told us yourself that he knows what we are looking for and if he knows that then he will do everything he can to stop us." Hermione pleaded, she did not want to stay in a place like this for to long. She knew what it meant to Harry and she knew that it did not but hurt him by staying here. But beyond just knowing that it was a haunting memory to Harry she also felt a light prick of energy along her skin just before they had entered the house. She wouldn't have thought about it much if the war hadn't been going on but her senses were on high alert and every small thing told her that something wasn't right.
"In a minute Hermione, you two go wait downstairs. I need sometime to think about our next plan of attack." Harry said, he knew that he had no plan. He knew it was almost childish to even think about setting out on such an adventure knowing full well that he was incapable of finishing off all of Voldemort's soul. The first two almost killed him, and it killed the only one that Voldemort feared. Harry continue his wander and memory recollection of his house and with each passing second he knew that his goal was now just a personal matter, it was a matter of the world. Who was to stop Voldemort if it was not him, it was his destiny that he would die or kill Voldemort. It could have been easily changed but instead he was chosen by powers he knew not of.
"You think he knows what he is doing?" Ron plopped down on the hard wooden floor of the living room. Ron pulled one of his knees to his chest and the other looped underneath. "I.. well, i want to go back home. I want to see if my mom is alright, plus she's going to need a lot of help with Charlie's wedding you know." Ron said then watch Hermione wave her wand and conjure up a chair for herself. Ron furrowed his brow, "could have made one for me."
Hermione smiled and took a seat, "Ron, Harry needed to come here. This is his parent's home, he needed to let things go." Hermione looked around the living room and turned her eyes back to Ron. "Harry knows, i'm sure that he wouldn't be taking us around for no good reason. An I'm sure your mother has more then enough help with the wedding." Ever since Dumbledore died, Hermione knew that Harry was not the same. Though she felt that he was more determined to stop Voldemort more so then before, she also felt it was a blind inner rage that was driving him to hasten the attack. But she also knew that Harry was starting to pull away from everyone, even more so then before.
"You don't sound to sure of yourself." Ron looked up at Hermione. Hermione looked right back at Ron and gave smile. Hermione didn't want Ron to think that she was losing confidence, but she wondered how much she would be able to take before she lost hope in Harry's plans. It was Harry's rage that made her stop and think twice about following Harry, but there was something far more powerful then fear and anger that kept her with Harry, something she wasn't ready to comprehend.
"Harry know's what he is doing and it's going to be our job to be right there with him. These things that we are going to find are not something that one man should ever do alone." Hermione was trying to convince herself that Harry was going to make everything okay again.
"I'm glad you have faith in him, because mine is sure starting to slip. Considering that Dumbledore is dead, and the recent attacks on the muggles, not including Alazkban, Stone Hedge, and that new one in the London Tower. It seems that Voldemort has only increased his power by terrorizing everything and everyone." Ron looked at the top of the Stairs to see Harry standing there looking directly at him.
"That creature will die by my hands Ron. Don't you forget that, i won't him take anything else away from me or the people i love." Harry looked at Ron as he felt his temper rise. How could a friend, his best friend, lose faith in what he was trying to do.
"Harry, i'm just saying that.."
"Saying what?" Harry quickly cut Ron off.
"Saying that since Dumbledore died that i can't do it by myself? That because Dumbledore died this war is over?" Harry walked down the stairs and closer to Ron. A prickle of energy and the tension within the room roared to life as Harry moved. Hermione looked up at Harry and she knew that Harry was the cause of the sudden charge in the room. Only Harry had enough power within his soul to make even the bravest of soul cringe and doubt their courage.
Harry looked at Ron straight into the eyes and started to speak but found that no words could express his rage at his friend. "I'm going, Don't follow me i need some time to think. You two can stay here for a few hours or leave, i don't care just leave me be." Harry walked out in a storm. The charge suddenly disappeared as Harry left the house. Ron turned his eyes to Hermione who watched Harry leave the house in a fury. She knew that it was his temper that would get him to trouble but it was also that sort of power he would need to defeat Voldemort.
Harry walked along the dark paved road that lead to the town and towards the cemetery. The clouds covered the moon and a light rain fell down upon the small town. This war made no sense to Harry, in one had he knew that without the destruction of Voldemort souls this war would continue. Harry knew nothing of how to stop Voldemort or even how to stop his soul from continuing. He knew what to look for but no way how to destroy them. This war was becoming far to confusing for Harry, and now without Dumbledore he was even more lost.
"Stupid, Ron, that git. I shouldn't blame him though..." Harry whispered softly to himself as his temper calmed, he had to know that his friends would eventually start to lose faith in him. He wasn't powerful, he wasn't even that smart, he was a kid at the wrong place at the wrong time. Now he had the weight of the world on his back and he felt useless.
A soft hoot broken the night's silence, Harry's eyes turned up into the darkness to see a fluttering white owl swoop down and land onto Harry's shoulder. At first it was a shock to feel the claws dig into his shoulder but Harry could feel how sorry she was for landing on unprotected skin.
"And how have you been?" Harry asked. Hedwig gave a soft hoot and nodded then lifted up her leg so that Harry could pull off the parchment. Harry nodded a thank you to Hedwig before she took off into the night sky to grab some dinner. It took but a second for Harry to open the parchment to see that it was a letter written in a very ordely manner.
Dear, Mr. Potter
I am honored to inform you that after a meeting with the Ministry, the board of governors, and the current staff. We have allowed for our very first student teacher in the history of Hogwarts. Your new position will be the Defense Against the Dark Arts. With your current record and the current situation you are the only one qualified for this position. You will be required to be at the summer staff meeting at Hogwarts on July 31. You will also be required to prepare a lesson plan for the students of all grades. With this new position your duties as a student will still remain, you will still be required to take your N.E.W.T.S and will be required to manage all of your classes. We will work with you in order to provide the necessary education to pass your last year at Hogwarts. Also you will receive a weekly pay and your own teachers room.
Head Mistress McGongall
A teacher, Harry thought about what it meant, he was asked to become a teacher at Hogwarts. Now he really was confused, was the world in that much dire need that they could not find a replacement for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. He didn't even know if he was going to go back to Hogwarts for his 7th and final year. He didn't even know if Hogwarts would be open, yet here was a lettering asking him if he would be willing to become a teacher. Harry could only sigh, not only did he have to worry about Voldemort and the fact he knew nothing on how to stop him, but also what to teach the students how to defend themselves against the Dark lord when he could barely do it himself. Harry set down the note on the soggy grass and then sat down with a the thought of becoming a teacher.
"Plan for the students, pssh, i don't even know what I'm doing now." Harry sighed and looked down the darken road. But the thought passed through Harry, him a teacher, it would mean he would have to come back to Hogwarts sooner then he had expected. Harry rubbed his eyes before he stood up and let the breeze pass through his unruly hair.
Harry did not think about the letter from Mcgongall after he noticed the lights from his parent home were on. He found it almost pleasant to see that Hermione and Ron were working to make the home worth staying in. He knew that Hermione probably changed her mind about leaving and proposed to Ron the idea, that if they were to look for the parts of Voldemort then they would need a home base in which to start. Sirius home was for the order, Harry felt if he was going to do this, at least he could have a home to himself if he ever needed to get away.He figure Hermione had a million and a half thoughts running through her head on how to create the home base. Harry could only smile at the thought, if it wasn't for her he knew that he'd be dead among other things. It was that thought that lead him to a series of thoughts that made his smile grow, it was the biggest smile he had since the death of Dumbledore. It was all because of her that he was living and it happen only till now did he figure it out. The determination in his mind was now set even higher, of all people he did not want to fail Hermione, he couldn't bear the thought that Hermione could die. Harry shook his head of the thought and left only the thought that if they were to get through this he would make sure he showed Hermione how much he needed her.
But those thoughts changed quickly as he felt a wave of energy pass through the air and a sudden but familiar 'crack' which Harry knew that some wizard or wizards had just apparated in the area. At the thought that it could mean trouble Harry pulled out his hand and rushed back to the house. Harry could clearly now see the house and not just the lights but he could also see the kitchen, along with Hermione and Ron with a cloaked man with his back turned to Harry and a wand pointed at Hermione. Harry felt his sense heighten to a new high, why now, why so sudden and how did they know where to find him. But this fright also gave Harry the strength and confidence to push himself nearer to the house. As Harry approached the house he could hear a very familiar voice, Harry felt his temper rise at the voice, it wasn't Voldemort but a far more sinister voice, Snape. Harry assumed that he probably finish the job he tried to do last year. Then he felt his heart and stomach sink when he heard two more 'pops' and two more dark hooded appear and approached the house. Harry continued to watch from a bush not to far from the front entrance of the house. His mind zipped around trying to figure out a way to help his friends and even more so help Hermione. Again that voice cut Harry in half when he could almost hear what Snape was telling the two griffindors. Harry took the time to move closer to the house so that he could hear what Snape had to say.
"Where's Potter?" Snape sneered.
"We don't know, he left." Hermione stated without a inch of fear in her voice. 'Good Hermione' Harry thought and moved to the closer to the kitchen window so that he could see what Snape was going to do. Harry could see that Snape had pulled off his hood and still had his wand trained at Hermione. Snape looked far worse then he had during his years teaching at Hogwarts.
"Don't lie to me Granger, it is important that I know where he is." Snape raised his voice, and for a second Harry wanted to believe that Snape actually meant some good with his words. But the very idea of Snape wanting to help was shut out with the thought he had killed Dumbledore.
"I told you, I don't know where he is, he left, and if we did we would never hand him over to the enemy." Hermione sneered. Harry couldn't see Hermione or Ron because of the kitchen wall, but he knew that they would never die without a fight. Just Snape being there anger Harry, how dare he step into the house of his parents, how dare he even show his face again after what he did. Harry tightened his grip around his wand, how he would love to cast the killing curse on him.
"Tell him that he needs to leave this place, Voldemort knows he's here and he's on his way with many of his followers, we are just the scouting party, find Potter and leave this place or I won't be able to help you if he gets here." Snape said, this time in a more mannerly fashion. He had helped them? Harry thought and then felt the air charge with energy once more. 'Shit' Harry didn't want to think about what was about to happen if they stayed longer, Harry rushed through the door and at full force slammed into Snape sending him into the wall along with Harry. Harry looked up to see Malfoy and another student at Hogwarts he had seen a few times during his years. They stood there, shocked at Harry for cleaning knocking out Snape but quickly recovered and trained there wands at Harry. Very rash, Harry thought but effective when he saw that Snape was out cold on the floor underneath him.
"Leave Potter, he's coming for you." Malfoy yelled and lowered his wand. Harry did not think twice about what would happen if they stayed. As if upon instinct he grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her out into the night with Ron quickly tailing along. With all three of them linked together they vanished into the night with only a 'crack'.
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Hope you Enjoyed the first chapter, I'm trying my hand at some fanfiction. Forgive me if my spelling and grammar lacks, I hope over time it will get better and possible if anyone would be interested in help checking it. Anywho please read and review.
Jack M. Murk