This is one of the first stories I ever wrote, I have decided edit it and repost it.
AU: 6th and 7th year; After the D.O.M, Harry's heart shuts down and his mind takes over as he prepares himself for Lord Voldemort and the Death Eater's; he pushes his friends away to keep them safe but a pretty Ravenclaw suffering her own grief, captures his attention and refuses to be pushed away or ignored…
AN; I have not decided if the Horcruxes or Hallows will be in this story, will be, Harry/Lisa Turpin, Ron/Hermione, Neville/Luna mainly, others will most likely be mentioned but won't play a big role in the story… oh before I forget I own nothing apart from the plotline.
The Prophecy and Meetings
"THEN-I-DON'T-WANT-TO-BE-HUMAN" Harry roared, and he seized the delicate silver instrument from the spindle-legged table beside him and flung it across the room; it shattered into a hundred tiny pieces against the wall. Several of the pictures let out yells of anger and fright, and the picture of Armando Dippet said, "Really!"
"I DON'T CARE!" Harry screamed at the picture before picking up a lunascope and throwing it into the fireplace. "I'VE HAD ENOUGH, I'VE SEEN ENOUGH, I WANT OUT, I WANT IT TO END, I DON'T CARE ANYMORE" Harry walked over to the window and looked out over the grounds not really seeing.
"You do care," said Dumbledore quietly. He had not flinched or made any move to stop Harry demolishing his office; his expression was calm as only he could be in this type of situation.
"HOW WOULD YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL?" shouted Harry as he spun around to face the old Headmaster.
"Because I too have lost family when I was younger," answered Dumbledore quietly as he gestured for Harry to take a seat in front of his desk.
"Who have you lost?" asked Harry in a quite voice as he took a seat across from Dumbledore and feeling his energy leaving him and making him feel quite tired from the nights events.
"I've lost my mother, father and my sister" answered Dumbledore a bit sadly as he looked at Harry who had suffered far greater than any man should ever suffer let alone a mere child.
"How did you lose them?" asked Harry in that same quite voice desperate for something, anything to take his mind away from the night's events even if it was for a short time.
"My father was sent to Azkaban for jinxing three Muggle boys who had seen my sister performing magic and tried to force her to do it again." Answered Dumbledore sadly, as he took a deep breath before continuing "My sister Ariana was never the same again, she refused her magic but since she could not get rid of it, it turned inwards on her and drove her mad," explained Dumbledore quietly as a single tear made its way down his face and into his long beard.
Harry sat there in silence to allow Dumbledore to collect his thoughts, even though he wanted to hear the end of Dumbledore's tale he realised that this was probably the first time had spoken of his own tragedies and it helped him to forget his own grief for the moment.
"Then what happened?" asked Harry when Dumbledore seemed to compose himself enough to continue.
"Her magic drove her mad and she would have fits of rage where her magic would lash out and destroy anything within reach unless one of us managed to calm her down first," explained Dumbledore quietly as another tear made its way into his beard
"One day Ariana had one of her rages and my mother who had been unwell for sometime was unable to calm her down and she died in the magical lash-out." Here Dumbledore paused to collect himself again this was the first time he'd spoke of this to anyone in over one hundred and twenty years and he was feeling better for it but at the same time upset and sad at the memories that flashed in his mind. After a few minutes, he pulled himself together and looked back up at Harry who was watching him with sadness in his eyes.
"I and my brother returned home from Hogwarts and I took over as head of the family and responsibility of looking after my sister," said Dumbledore continuing with his story.
"You have a brother?" interrupted Harry out of surprise having never heard of his headmaster having a brother; he had of course read of Dumbledore having a sister when he was a first year but the book had made no mention of him having a brother.
"Oh yes, Aberforth who runs the Hogshead in Hogsmeade is my brother" Answered Dumbledore with a small smile as he thought of his wayward brother.
"You mean that scruffy old man with the dusty Butterbeers and dirty pub is your brother?" asked Harry in shock not even thinking about the fact that his question could be seen as an insult but Dumbledore only gave a small chuckle at a question other people might have found offensive.
"Yes Aberforth never was one for hygiene," commented Dumbledore. "But he has a large heart and his pub is more attractive for the shady folks of our community and he passes on anything of interest to me and the Order" explained Dumbledore as he looked at Harry.
"Cleaver, having a spy where people are less like to look for one" commented Harry his grief forgotten for the moment as he was caught up in Dumbledore's story.
"Yes, I thought so," laughed Dumbledore before he sobered up and continued with his story. "Anyway a year after my mother died Ariana had another one of her rages and I was unable to calm her down and this time she died as a result of her magic lashing out and burned my face and knocked me out" said Dumbledore with more tears leaking from his eyes.
"For over I year I blamed myself for her death" Dumbledore went on after he had pulled himself together. "Thinking that if I'd only tried harder to clam her down she would have lived" Dumbledore looked as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders as he finished telling Harry of his own grief.
"How did you get over all that?" asked Harry hoping for an easy way for him to get over the grief of losing Sirius.
"I didn't get over it per-say" answered Dumbledore before quickly continuing at the crest fallen look that was coming over Harry's face. "I didn't get over the pain but it got easier with time and after a time I could think of my family with happy thoughts and feelings and not the sad depressed thoughts and feelings I used to" explained Dumbledore.
"So it gets easier?" asked Harry with a touch of hope in his voice as he did not think he could go through his whole life feeling sad and depressed.
"Oh yes my boy it gets a lot easier with time," answered Dumbledore. "It may not seem like it now but time is the best healer and I promise you that one day you will be able to look back and remember all the good times you shared with Sirius" finished Dumbledore as he heaved a great sigh knowing he was about to place a huge burden on Harry's shoulders.
"Harry I think it is time that I told you everything" Dumbledore said as he took another deep breath and hoping that he would be alive to see breakfast in the morning.
"What do you mean everything?" asked Harry with apprehension wondering what else was going to go wrong in his life.
"The reasons for living with you aunt and uncle, the reason Voldemort tried to kill you as a baby and keeps trying to kill you, the reason Voldemort tricked you into going to the Ministry tonight" answered Dumbledore pausing to look at Harry to see if Harry could work it out for himself or at least some of it.
"This has something to do with that Prophecy thing that Voldemort and his Death Eater's were after doesn't it?" asked Harry after thinking on it a while and coming to the only logical conclusion.
"Yes" answered Dumbledore simply.
"Do you know what it says?" asked Harry with a touch of fear in his voice as hundreds of theories ran through his mind each more unlikely than the last.
"I do as I was interviewing the person who gave it," answered Dumbledore.
Taking a deep breath and releasing it Harry asked. "Can I hear it?" for an answer Dumbledore got up from his chair and strode over too a cabinet that was beside Fawkes' perch and upon opening the doors he reached inside and pulled out his pensive and strode back over to his desk placing the rune covered bowl upon his desk, before he retook his seat and put his wand to his temple and removing a strand of the silvery-white gas/liquid that was a memory and placing it in the pensive he swivelled his wand around inside before the ghostly figure of Sybill Trelawney rose out of the bowl and began to speak in a deep voice that was not her own and one that Harry had only heard once before.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives … the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…"
The figure of Professor Trelawney slowly sank back into the pensive below and vanished. The silence within the office was absolute. Neither Dumbledore nor Harry nor any of the portraits made a sound. Even Fawkes had fallen silent.
"Professor Dumbledore?" Harry said very quietly, for Dumbledore, still staring at the pensive, seemed completely lost in thought. "It… did that mean… what did that mean?"
"It meant" said Dumbledore, "that the person who has the only chance of conquering Lord Voldemort for good was born at the end of July, nearly sixteen years ago. This boy would be born to parents who had already defied Voldemort three times."
Harry felt as if something huge was closing in on him, as his breathing seemed difficult again.
"Meaning me?"
Dumbledore surveyed Harry for a moment through his glasses.
"The odd thing Harry" he said softly, "is that it may not have meant you at all. Sybill's Prophecy could have applied to two wizard boys, both born at the end of July that year, Both sets of parents having narrowly escaped Voldemort three times, one, of course was you. The other was Neville Longbottom."
"But then… but then, why was it my name on the Prophecy and not Neville's?"
"The official record was re-labelled after Voldemort's attack on you as a child," said Dumbledore. "it seemed plain to the keeper of the hall of Prophecy that Voldemort could only have tried to kill you because he knew you to be the one to whom Sybill was referring."
"Then – it might not be me?" asked Harry with hope in his voice for the first time that night.
"I am afraid" said Dumbledore slowly, looking as though every word cost him great effort, "that there is no doubt that it is you."
"But you said - Neville was born at the end of July, too – and that his mum and dad-"
"You are forgetting the next part of the Prophecy, the final identifying feature of the boy who could vanquish Voldemort… Voldemort himself would mark him as his equal. And he did, he chose you, not Neville. He gave you that scar"
Harry sat in his chair breathing deeply as he thought over the contents of the Prophecy and its meaning and could only come to one conclusion that he hoped with his whole been that he was wrong.
"Does it mean that – in the end it comes down to me and Voldemort?" asked Harry, just asking the question seemed to fill his stomach with icy dread.
"Yes Harry in the end the fate of the Wizarding world will come down to you and Lord Voldemort" answered Dumbledore with a sadness that seemed to sap his energy as he bowed his head.
Harry sat frozen, in his seat as flashback after flashback hit his mind.
"Together we can do extraordinary things just give ME THE STONE"
"Your dead Harry Potter, the Basilisk venom will kill you in minutes, I'm going to sit here and watch you die, take your time Potter I'm in no hurry"
"It was love, you see when dear sweet Lilly Potter gave her life for her only son, I could not touch him… that was old magic, something I should have foreseen, but no matter no matter… I can touch him now"
"Avada Kedavra"
"Expelliarmus"
"Kill me now Dumbledore…" "If death is nothing, Dumbledore, kill the boy…"
Harry felt terrified as he saw all of his encounters with the Dark Lord flash before his minds-eye, only this time he knew the reason why. The Prophecy was the reason Voldemort had tried to kill him as a baby, why he had tried to kill him four times since. Harry felt tears prickling at the corners of his eyes as he thought of everyone he had lost all because of a Prophecy, his mum and dad, Cedric, his childhood and now his godfather, Sirius.
Harry sprang from his chair and ran towards the office door, and this time it opened and allowed him to leave. Harry ran down the spiralling staircase and ran through the halls of Hogwarts as fast as his legs would carry him not caring where he went just allowing his legs to take him. For five minutes, he ran before he came to a stop outside the castle beside the black lake panting and sweating as he collapsed to his knees and let go of all the grief he had held inside for his entire life.
"WHY, WHY ME, WHY IS IT ALWAYS ME." He screamed to the heavens.
And for the first time since he was eight or nine, Harry cried, he cried for his mother, his father and godfather, for Cedric, but most of all he cried for himself. For everything that had happened to him in his short fifteen years of life. For over five minutes Harry knelt beside the black lake crying, before the tears subsided into sniffles as he began to bring himself back under control and stop the tears falling. Drying his eyes on the back of his jumper sleeve Harry stood from his kneeling position and moved over to a boulder a few feet away, he sat down and looked out over the black lake deep in thought.
"I have no chance of destroying Voldemort" Harry spoke quietly.
"Then give yourself a chance," said a voice in the back of his mind.
"How, Voldemort has fifty years experience?" Harry asked aloud.
"Get better at what you do best," answered the voice.
"And what is that?" Harry asked never realising that if anyone was to see him now they would think he had gone mad talking to himself.
"Defence against the Dark Arts," answered the voice.
"Ok, but who are you" Harry asked the voice only now twigging onto the fact that there should not be anyone talking to him in his mind.
"I am your conscience," answered the voice before going silent.
"Oh great I've been talking to myself" thought Harry as he stood from the boulder and glanced at his watch "Damn, it's two in the morning" with that Harry made his way back up to the castle, walking at a brisk pace Harry was surprised that he didn't run into any teachers or Filch, but he put it down to pure luck as he gave the fat-lady the password, stepping through the portrait hole into an empty common room, crossing the room Harry crept up the stairs and into the fifth year boys dormitory and over to his bed where he changed into his sleepwear before collapsing on his bed and into a fitful night's sleep.
The next morning Harry awoke to the sounds of Dean, Seamus and Neville getting ready for breakfast, and deciding that he would not get back to sleep Harry got out of bed and grabbed a change of clothes and went for a shower before dressing and heading down to the great hall for breakfast.
Upon arriving he took a seat at the far end of the Gryffindor table as Ron and Hermione were still in the hospital wing, which Harry was grateful for as he didn't think he could handle them asking how he was.
As he was tucking into his scrambled eggs on toast, the morning post arrived. Harry whose only correspondent outside off Hogwarts was now dead, did not bother to look up so he was startled when a brown barn owl landed in front of him with a copy of the Daily Prophet, untying the paper from the owl Harry noticed a note saying this was a free copy for him from the editor of the newspaper, and upon unfolding the paper Harry saw why on the front page.
He who must not be named returns
Potter and Dumbledore telling the truth
Harry through the paper onto the table not even bothering to read it, already knowing what it said, but he did look around the hall to see nearly every student reading the morning paper before looking around the hall before their eyes landed on either him or Dumbledore. Harry just gave the students a dirty look before returning to his breakfast. After finishing his breakfast, Harry left the hall and headed for the library.
Upon entering the library, Harry noticed that only three other students were there, Mandy Brocklehurst, Terry Boot and Lisa Turpin, all Ravenclaw's in his year and members of Dumbledore's Army. They seemed to be reading at their leisure since classes had finished the day before. They all looked up and seeing that Harry had entered gave him a wave before going back to their books, Harry who wasn't paying them much attention in the first place missed Lisa Turpin blush a bit when she saw him.
Harry strode over to the defence section of the library and after browsing the shelves for five minutes picked out a thick book titled The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self Protection, taking the book over a table Harry sat down and lost himself in the book for the rest of the morning. Quite a few key facts jumped out at him and stuck in his mind like, a good duellist is also a healthy duellist or silent magic gives you an advantage over your opponent or jumping out of the way of a spell is just as good as shield charms.
As he was reading Harry decided that he would start running over the summer holiday, to build up his stamina, He also wrote a note on the back of his hand to send a letter to flourish & Blotts asking for a catalogue and order form so he could order some books over the summer. Harry was just finishing chapter six when a soft feminine voice interrupted his reading.
"Hello Harry" said a soft voice from above him.
Looking up Harry saw the pretty, light brown haired, blue-eyed Ravenclaw Lisa Turpin standing over his table with a book under her arm. "Hello Lisa" Harry responded in a quite voice and a small smile on his face.
"I just thought I'd let you know its lunchtime" said Lisa blushing a bit, not that Harry noticed since half of his mind was on the book, while the other half was on Sirius.
"Thanks" replied Harry as he placed his Muggle biro on his page so as not to lose where he was in the book before placing it on the table and standing to walk down to lunch with Lisa. Harry did not talk much just listened to Lisa talk about the DA and OWLS only saying something when he thought he should.
"See you around Harry" said Lisa as they parted ways as they reached the great hall, Harry just nodded his head before going over to the Gryffindor table and quietly starting on his lunch of sausage and mash.
"Hiya Harry" said Neville plopping into a seat across from Harry.
"Hey Neville" said Harry quietly as he took a swig of pumpkin juice.
"How are you?" Neville asked as he plated up some fish and chips for himself and poured a glass of pumpkin juice.
"Surviving" answered Harry as he swallowed a mouthful of mash. "And yourself, how are you" Harry asked more out of politeness than wanting to talk anyone, but Neville was with him too the end last night at the Ministry.
"Oh I'm fine," answered Neville around a mouthful of chips. "Madam Pomfrey patched me up in minutes and sent me on my way."
"Have you seen anything of Ron or Hermione?" asked Harry suddenly realising he had not seen them since he was at the Ministry even though he knew they would most likely still be in the hospital wing.
"Yeh their still in the hospital wing" answered Neville. "They said that they would not expect you to visit considering what happened and all." Neville had been told the story of Sirius been innocent by Ron and Hermione last night as he was patched up.
"I'll probably go see them later, see how they are," said Harry as he finished he lunch and reached for a slice of treacle tart and pumpkin juice.
"I'm sorry about your loss," commented Neville to Harry's surprise. "Ron and Hermione told me the truth about Padfoot," Neville explained at Harry's confused face.
"Thanks Nev" said Harry after he had swallowed a mouthful of tart. Just then, a shadow fell over Harry's plate indicating that someone was stood behind him. Turning his head Harry spotted the headmaster.
"After you finish your lunch Harry, come up to my office please," asked Dumbledore with his eyes twinkling again as he saw Harry at least interacting and not hiding away. "I'm afraid that we have a meeting with Minister Fudge," explained Dumbledore.
"What does that buffoon want with me?" asked Harry with raised eyebrows, his comment causing both Dumbledore and Neville to chuckle.
"I think he wants you to publicly support him so he can stay in office," answered Dumbledore with a twitch of his long beard at Harry's snort.
""And why would I do something like that for him" asked Harry in disgust.
"No idea" answered Dumbledore. "But I imagine Cornelius would give you almost anything for your support" Dumbledore then walked away with his eyes almost at blinding with the twinkle.
"What did he mean by almost anything?" asked Neville with a confused look.
"I imagine he meant that if I asked it of him, our Minister would walk down Diagon Alley dressed as a drag queen," answered Harry, who then spent five minutes explaining to Neville what a drag queen was. He and Neville parted ways at the entrance hall with Harry going up the marble stairs and Neville going to take a stroll around the grounds all the while muttering about Muggle's and the crazy things they did.
Upon arriving at the headmaster's office door Harry knocked and entered when bid to do so, walking into the office Harry found the Headmaster sat behind his chair and the Minister sat in front of the fire with a cup of tea.
"Ah Harry take a seat my boy" said Dumbledore gesturing the seat in front of his desk. "Drink?" he asked as Harry took a seat.
"Coffee please" answered Harry, not even looking at Fudge or giving any indication that anyone else was in the office apart from him and his Headmaster.
"How are you feeling today?" Dumbledore asked as he conjured up a cup of coffee.
"I've been better," answered Harry as he added sugar and milk to his drink.
"Yes I suspect you have" commented Dumbledore as he turned in his chair to face Fudge. "Well you all but begged to see Harry and here he is" Dumbledore said making Fudge turn bright red with embarrassment.
Fudge cleared his throat as he stood from his seat and walked over to the headmaster's desk taking a seat next to Harry.
"You where right about, you know who been back" Fudge said turning his head to look at Harry.
"Yes I know" said Harry without emotion and a blank look on his face; he was not going to make this easy for the bumbling idiot.
"Yes, well I would just like to apologise for the way I have smeared your name through the newspapers," said Fudge as he fumbled with his green bowler hat.
"What else are you after?" asked Harry not even acknowledging Fudge's apology.
"I would like your public support of me" Fudge said as he fidgeted in his seat.
"Why?" asked Harry after he had taken a mouthful of coffee.
"Because you're the boy who lived," answered Fudge not beating around the bush for the first time. "The public will listen to you now that they know you were telling the truth."
"If I was to do that, what would be in it for me?" Harry asked slowly, he had yet to even look at the Minister and he could see Dumbledore fighting a grin.
"What do you want?" asked Fudge with an icy feeling in his stomach knowing he would give anything that would get Harry's support so he could stay in-office. "I don't have much money."
"I don't want money, I have money" answered Harry still not looking at Fudge.
"Then what do you want" asked Fudge as he broke out in a light sweat.
"Well first I want you to declare war on Lord Voldemort and his Death Eater's," answered finally turning to look at the Minister with a hard look on his face.
"W-w-why?" sputtered Fudge completely caught of guard with Harry's response.
"Because Lord Voldemort has declared war on us," answered Harry. "and if you claim war on him, the Auror's will be able to use the more lethal spells when engaging the Death Eater's in battle" explained Harry shocking Fudge, while the headmaster looked on proudly.
"There's going to be a battle?" asked Fudge going pale at the thought.
"No there isn't going to a battle," said Harry to the relief of Fudge and confusion of Dumbledore, but before the headmaster could speak up Harry went on.
"Nah not a battle, but a fucking war" Said Harry in a hard voice not even caring that he just swore in front of the Minister for magic and his headmaster.
"A-a-anything else?" asked Fudge after he had somewhat pulled himself together even if he was still pale and his hands trembling a bit.
"An interview under Veritaserum, about Sirius Black" answered Harry as he glanced at Dumbledore.
"We could do that now" cut-in Dumbledore before Fudge had a chance to open his mouth. "I have some Veritaserum here, and a dictator's quill." And before Fudge could even register what was going on, Dumbledore had set up the quill and had murmured what was happening and the time and date and who was been interviewed and what the interview was about and who was present.
"Shall we precede Minister Fudge?" Dumbledore asked as the quill finished taking down everything he had been saying.
"Yes fine" said Fudge with a sigh knowing there was no getting out of this.
"Excellent" commented Dumbledore with his eyes going full twinkle "now Harry open your mouth so I can place the Veritaserum in your mouth." Harry opened his mouth and Dumbledore placed three drops on his tongue, within seconds Harry felt his body and mind relaxing and his eyes going out of focus.
"What is your full name and age?" asked Dumbledore starting the interview as the dictator quill began recording once more.
"Harry James Potter, 15" answered Harry in a monotone of voice.
"On the night of your third year, that Sirius black escaped from Hogwarts had you seen Peter Pettigrew alive?" Dumbledore Asked going straight for the kill.
"Yes" Answered Harry in that same monotone, causing Fudge to turn even paler.
"Did he admit to been your parents secret keeper?" Fudge butted in hoping that Black was still guilty even if Pettigrew was alive.
"Yes" answered Harry crushing the glimmer of hope Fudge had gained.
"Did he admit to framing Sirius Black for the murder of Muggle's?" asked Dumbledore taking over the interview once more
"Yes" answered Harry as he turned to look at Fudge and if he could, he would have smirked at the Minister but the truth serum forced the drinker into an emotionless state.
"One final question, has Lord Voldemort returned?" asked Dumbledore knowing that this interview was going to be made public and he did not want even the slightest doubt about Voldemort's return.
"Yes" answered Harry who was now feeling the effects of the Veritaserum starting to wear off as the potion only lasted around five minutes unless more drops were taken.
"Thank you Harry" said Dumbledore as he stopped the quill and waving his wand he dried the ink before rolling up the parchment and sealing it with a wax seal.
"So he really was innocent," commented Fudge who had not been in office when Sirius was thrown in Azkaban. Harry just nodded as the last effects of the serum wore off.
"I shall see to it that Mr. Black's estate is compensated for his wrongful imprisonment," said Fudge thinking fast trying to win brownie points with Harry. "And I shall nominate him for an Order of Merlin" and with that one comment he gained a little of Harry's respect.
"Thank you" said Harry sincerely as he did not want any blemish on his godfather's memory. "Now I just want one small thing from you and I'll sit for an interview endorsing you as Minister."
"And what is that?" asked Fudge with a sigh as he had hoped that Harry had taken his pound of flesh already.
"A waver on the underage magical law for everyone who has taken their OWL tests" answered Harry knowing he was going to have to practise over summer instead of just reading the theory.
"Why" asked Fudge proving he really was an idiot.
"So that should Death Eater's attack their homes they can help their parents defend their homes," answered Harry as he stood from his seat showing that he was done talking with the Minister.
"Good thinking I shall get right on it" said Fudge also rising from his chair.
"Minster, Headmaster" Harry nodded at both men and before either could do or say anything he strode out of the office. Harry strode through the halls of Hogwarts making his way back to the library and upon arriving he found the place empty except for Madam Pince, he walked over to the table that he had been sitting at that morning and seeing the book he had begun was still on the table he picked it up before taking it up to Pince and checking it out. Harry then exited the Library and made his way up to the hospital wing to visit Ron and Hermione.
Over the last week of the school year, Harry submerged himself in Defence studies, he only left the library to eat or use the bathroom, and he barely slept, as he was plagued with nightmares of everything from Sirius dying to Voldemort's return. Harry became snappish whenever anyone interrupted his studying, his friends put it down too grief not realising that Harry was pushing them away under the impression that if they were no longer friends Voldemort would leave them alone or at least not target them as much as he would have.
End of chapter…
AN: please review, flames will be ignored while people pointing out mistakes will be answered as will people leaving a good review or asking a question, though I guarantee no answers that will give the next chapter away.