Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters found in the books and the Harry Potter world.
Author's Note: I am currently trying to re-write this fic, I started it seven years ago now (time flies!) and my ideas of where I am taking the fic have changed and develeped somewhat. I hope it turns out a bit better than the old version! Reviews and constructive critisism are welcomed. No flames please - you are entitled to your own opinion but no one is forcing you to read.
Chapter 1: Welcome Back
No one knew where Harry Potter was. He wasn't on the train and people were starting to get worried – hell, even Dumbledore didn't know where Harry was, which was never a good sign. He was currently spouting some drivel about how Harry was away 'training', so not to get concerned.
"Yeah right, like anyone is falling for that crap" Draco Malfoy thorugh as he sat at the Slytherin table during the welcoming feast in the Great Hall, wondering exactly what Potter was doing right then. Sure, he didn't like the guy, but at the same time he did not wish him dead and after all, he was the only hope they had of getting rid of old Voldy.
Draco's musings were interrupted by a crash and sparks as the doors of the Great Hall burst open and a figure stepped out of the smoke. The Great Hall fell into silence as everyone took in the stranger's appearance. He was of an average height and from what they could see, black leather gloves and leather boots protruded from underneath a long, sweeping, heavy black cloak. The hood of the cloak was pulled up over the strangers face, concealing it in an inky darkness.
Draco's heart skipped a beat before he could help himself. He turned to sneer at the nearest first year so no one would suspect his short moment of panic.
The cloaked figure walked straight up to Dumbledore, his concealed eyes scanning the room and lingering on Draco for a few seconds before he turned to Dumbledore and spoke.
"Professor Dumbledore?" the figure asked, his hoarse voice ringing through the silence, "If I may have a word with young Mr Malfoy and yourself in private -" (Draco hoped his gulp wasn't too loud) "It is a rather urgent matter that needs to be attended to…"
Twinkling blue eyes assessed the stranger. "Very well." Dumbledore replied as he quickly gave the notices, "Let the feast begin!" he announced loudly to the hall. "In my office then perhaps?" he said in a quieter tone to the stranger. After seeing the stranger nod his assent, Dumbledore turned to the figure sitting immediately on his right. "Severus, perhaps you should come too, if this involves Mr Malfoy?" Severus Snape nodded and, with the approval of both Snape and the stranger, the three made their way from the Great Hall, Draco following anxiously behind them.
Silence hung in the air as Snape, Dumbledore, Draco and the 'Dark Stranger' (as Draco had taken to calling him) filed in to Dumbledore's office.
The stranger slowly made his way into the centre of the room, and it became almost evident that he was in pain as he took a seat in the empty chair.
Snape cleared his throat and the figure raised his head to look at him. "We haven't got all day, you know. Perhaps if you were to remove your hood and tell us exactly who you are and why you are here?"
After a few moments, the stranger looked up, unaffected but the towering form of Severus Snape.
"I cannot remove my hood, Professor Snape, as you would judge the situation before you even heard me out; twisting what I was saying to suit your own sordid fantasies."
Draco couldn't help it, he let out a loud snort from the corner of the room. Snape glared at the figure and scowled, clearly not amused. He opened his mouth to retort but Dumbledore beat him to it.
"Now, now, Severus, as I believe the muggle saying goes 'we mustn't judge a book by its cover' - you of all people should know that." A pointed look from the headmaster made Snape close his mouth and he once again took to glaring at the offending figure in the chair.
Albus' eyes then turned to the figure in the chair. "And I am also quite sure that the person in question is no coward," the figure felt the slightly uncomfortable feeling of Dumbledore's eyes like an x-ray on his mind, as if searching for answers that the figure just wasn't ready to give yet.
The figure spoke again. "You don't know how right you are Professor Dumbledore, yet so very, very wrong at the same time."
Professor Dumbledore was quite surprised by this little comment and filed this away in his memory for later use, and looked like he would need to use the pensive for a few things after this.
"You misunderstand me completely, Professor. All my life I have been judged by my appearance, my image, my façade. You haven't taken the time to ask what is going on in my life, how I feel, or even what I did this summer. Hell, you have no idea how much pain I went through last summer, when one of the few people I thought cared completely ignored me because he thought that it would be in the best interests for me if he did so.
No-one understands what it is like for me, day in and day out, to suffer internally with the knowledge that your parents are dead, you have a highly abusive uncle *looking* after you, and everyone expects you to be what they want you to be - the brave hero that will conquer Lord Voldemort and save the wizarding world. Everywhere I go, someone is either going 'Oh Merlin! It's the Boy-Who-Lived!', or stealing nasty glances at me and telling their children to stay away from the hardened hooligan who gets shipped off to St Brutus' Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys every summer." He stopped here to take a deep breath and both Draco and Snape snorted.
In his anger, the figure had risen from his seat and had stalked over to Dumbledore's desk, placing his hands on either side of his body as he leaned forward onto the Headmaster's desk, practically screaming in his face. Dumbledore alone looked calm, and this irritated the figure a little. The twinkle in his eye had gone out to be replaced by a serious look. He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by (a slightly calmer) Harry Potter as he held up his hand.
"Do you have *any* idea what kind of hell I go through every day, Professor? I am *not* somebody's pawn to be told what to do and be pushed every which way as others wish - I have feelings too, you know! I thought that you of all people would understand, but *nooo*, and I can tell you right now that you probably don't believe me," here he shot an unseen look at a disbelieving Professor Snape, before he continued, "but let me tell you this - I have been to Hell and back before, Professor, but this time I'm stuck - there *is* no coming back anymore." Here his voice turned a bit angrier as his temper that had been threatening to fall finally broke.
"So take all of you and the Order's fucking plans and shove them up your old, wrinkled, lilly-white ass, *Professor*, 'cause I'm sick and tired of it and I am *not* gonna take it any longer!"
The figure finished his tirade and stood breathing heavily, still leaning on Dumbledore's desk, his head bowed. Everyone in the office was stunned into silence, to say the least, before a small, appreciative, thought entered Draco Malfoy's shocked brain - 'Way to go, Potter!'
Ok, I've combined the old chapters one and two and re-arranged it a bit so hopefully you like it. I will try and get chapter two re-written and the new chapters online within the next week or two.