Warning- This was begun before HP6 came out. Though AU, there are constant spoilers through HP5, (if somewhat manipulated to suit my plot), and starting after chapter 21, some will show up from HP6.

Disclaimer- I own naught but the original plot, characters, locals, and spells. Known elements belong to JKR, etc. I mean no infringement on copyrights thereof.

Chapter One- Return

The noon day sun had slipped over the archaic castle in the middle of an unplottable expanse of land. The tops of the battlements were bathed in light, while the covered areas grew dark with shadow. The shadows bothered not the adolescent residents of the mystical fortress, as they went about their day, deliberately, if unconsciously, sidestepping them. There were those that sought that darkness, that day, but those where few and easily unseen. Why bother with those that knew that the darkness was spreading, that knew that innocence was fleeting, when the day itself was so innocuous. Even the sun knew not to seek those ones out, and so, made their efforts of remaining darkened that much easier.

Two of those such souls were in their obscured place, together, but lost in thoughts both so different, and yet, so similar, that they did not speak. Each saw the threat that lurked just beyond the horizon. The danger that risked not only their lives, but their whole way of life. They knew that it was just the calm before the metaphorical storm that was looming ever closer. As it had been doing for over a year. A year of deaths, destruction, torment, but not yet unimaginable chaos. That would reign quickly enough. Neither knew when, but knew it would.

The two melancholy students rose their eyes to another that slipped into their swarthy shadow.

"Hey, guys," whispered the quiet voice of the slightly younger girl.

"Hi." The male of the group answered in an abnormally subdued voice. At least, abnormally based on the times beyond that last year.

The brunette girl glanced at the others, nodded her hello to the new-comer, and abruptly sat on the darkened window ledge they were against.

"Two years." She spoke, finally, though it was little more louder than the whispers of the others. "It's been exactly two years since we saw ... him." She hesitated at the name of the missing person that should have been with them.

"Why?" The tall, red-headed boy questioned, looking at the swarms of their unnoticing peers, enjoying the peace of the day. Enjoying the break from classes, work, and worry, even if it was only the second day of classes.

"Why, what?" His sister asked, not bothering to glance at the boy.

"Why, everything. Nothing. Both. I don't know."

Neither girl tried to answer. They didn't speak again, just stood with one another until the present reality broke in with the signal for afternoon classes. They then moved off with nary a nod, but each felt the others' comforts.

The next couple weeks continued in that pattern for that trio- they would go to class, eat breakfast and dinner with the rest of the student body, do homework, and the like. But every lunch, they would gather in their little hideaway of shadow and just hang out with each other. Sometimes, they would speak about both serious and inane things, other times they would study their books, and still other times, they would just sit in silence, being there together. Each of them were heavily involved in the war that was coming, each had both people they cared for on the 'front lines', so to speak, and had their own lives resting on it. Not an easy place to be for three teenagers that had already lost so much.

As that group woke in their tower at dawn one day, in another part of the castle an aged wizard walked down the stairs from his living quarters to his office. As the head of the school, he had a duty to be up and ready before the better part of the castle's population made their way through the start of their day. That didn't mean that it was easier for that man to get up, as was shown by the slow movement of the wizened body and in his grasping of the teacup filled with hot tea that he hoped would help him clear his head for the day.

Sparing a glance to the sleeping red and gold phoenix that perched near a window, Albus Dumbledore smiled softly. Though times were bleak and dangerous, with him at the front of the danger, he knew that some things were good enough to make everything easier. The mystical bird was a symbol of that, as much as his faithful companion. He gazed out the window to the dawn as he thought of that.

Then he made to move to his desk, as he noticed that the room was distinctly quiet. The portraits made not a move, frozen as Muggle photos, and Albus's many objects of interest were not making their strange dancing motions on the tables of the office. He shifted the teacup into his left hand with a barely noticeable action, and readied to reach his wand if needed. Suddenly, Albus became aware of another's presence in the room. Though he didn't detect danger associated with it, he nonetheless was unnerved by the other's ability to mask detection by the headmaster's well honed senses. He retrieved his wand and pivoted towards the person that moved out into the light. The darkness seemed not to wish him leave, and clung to his cloak as he raised a hooded face to the headmaster. The man seemed to move with the shadows as the dawn's light in the office fought to reveal him. With a movement nearly unperceivable in its swiftness, the man raised his hand to his hood, and revealed his face.

"Hello, Headmaster."

The teacup dropped to the floor as Albus's eyes widened at the youth before him. Not caring, he left his wand fixed at the intruder's heart, as he looked at the man. His eyes looked the figure up and down, unbelieving. Before him stood a man of average height, but nothing else of him was typical. Ebony hair hung just brushing wide shoulders, framing a tan, sculptured face. Muscles were clearly defined through the half-opened vest the color of the darkest mother of pearl lined in gold and the tight blackish brown leather pants. Boots that reached to mid-calf sported gold tone metal across the front and on one, a dagger was displayed sheathed on the side. The man's upper arms were bare, but for a gold tattoo band around the middle of both. The forearms were encased by gauntlets the same black leather and gold metal of the boots. Another dagger was sheathed at the warrior's, (as the uniform would dictate no other profession), waist. Hung on the other side of the knife, was a very familiar wand.

Pulling his gaze from the impressive attire, Albus's eyes were drawn to the tattoo on the young man's face. A phoenix of gold with spread wings stood out clearly on his cheek. Albus had barely registered this before his sight was sharply pulled to the eyes of the man. Emerald green sparkled with gold pierced through the headmaster. Albus didn't need to notice the scar clearly shown above the man's eye to know who this was. His essence screamed it, even if it was beyond the aura he had ever before exposed.

"Harry..."

The young man looked upon the man he had last seen two years ago. His mentor, headmaster, friend. The corners of his lips turned upwards slightly in a small smile. Harry Potter had returned to Hogwarts.