Summary: The story begins right after HBP. It is an HHr story.

I have read many stories in which Dumbledore is portrayed as a misguided old man who is only worried about reaching his end. I shall not be doing so.

But be sure for some Weasley bashing especially the younger siblings and Mrs. Weasley.

The Hogwarts Express does not leave till the day after the funeral. The story starts on the night of the funeral.

A/n: This story has been redone. I have removed the character of Lady Hogwarts. If any of you like the character please tell me. I might write both stories separately.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter universe and all of its characters.

Heck I don't even own the plot. Not that I am copying from somebody, but for the past few months I have been reading fan fictions rather enthusiastically so to be truthful I would not be able to keep some of the ideas I have read out of this story.

But, I pledge to try my best to be original. I can assure you that the stories main plot is mine but if you do see a similarity with your OWN story do inform me so I can properly thank you. However, I won't be deleting it.

There will be a more confident and mature harry. I believe facing death makes one realize life's worth and sadly, JK Rowling has not been able to appreciate this fact. All right, enough of my babbling let us start with the story.

The contemplation:

Harry was lying awake in his four-poster bed thinking about the funeral. The phoenix that he had seen in the fire had been playing at the back of his mind. He somehow knew it to be important, but it had looked like he had been the only one to see it. Hence, he was apprehensive to ask anybody about it. What would others think? Would they believe me?

He suddenly realized that until now he had let his fear of being called a freak rule his life, until a time it was too late. He decided things were going to change. He was not going to let his being different (freak) get in the way of what was important.

He got up and decided to go and look for Hermione to ask her about the phoenix. He stopped in his tracks as he had another realization. He had not been good to Hermione this year neither had Hermione trusted him as she had till fifth year. He shuddered as he remembered the fateful day when Sirius left him. He still remembered how she had pleaded with him not to go walking right into a trap. She had known that it was a trap, yet followed him knowing that near certain death would be awaiting them. What happened that she would not even listen to him this year?

"Oh NO!" he exclaimed. "What is it Harry?" came Neville's sleepy voice. Harry, who had not realized he had said it aloud covered up by muttering a quick "nothing" hoping that Neville would be too sleepy and would drop the topic. Neville did go back to sleep and Harry 

let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. After listening to Ron's snores for a little while longer, he returned to his thoughts.

He had never talked to Hermione about her injury. He was sure she would have waved his apology aside but he had done something that he knew Hermione, did not like, he had taken her for granted. He had probably lost her trust but he pledged he would make it up for her. He realized whenever they had not agreed on something tragedy had ensued. He decided to listen to Hermione, always consider her advice before doing anything. Moreover she was almost always right.

He was lost in his thoughts when Ron let out a loud snore. Coming out of his reverie he glanced at the clock and was surprised to see it reading 1'O clock in the morning.

He remembered the fire phoenix and decided to ask Hermione tomorrow but on second thoughts decided to go and search the library. He had a sudden desire to prove himself to Hermione. He had never felt like this before. However, he decided to quickly go and search the library. He got up and slowly crept towards the door. As he reached the door, he looked back at Ron's closed hangings. He contemplated asking him to come but Ron's voice rang in his ears,

"Do you need the St.Mungo's. I think you have gone barmy, going to the library in the middle of the night, are you turning into Hermione?"

Silently laughing to himself, he started descending the stairs. And then it hit him like a bludger in the stomach,

Ron has always insulted Hermione's love for books in one way or another and I have always laughed along. I have never done anything to stop him. Why have I always supported him when truly it has been Hermione who has stood by me at all times.

He remembered the first task of the Triwizard tournament. It had been Hermione, who had worked so hard with him but after completing the task, he had not even thanked her. No, he decided many things had to change tonight.

Just as he was going out of the common room, a croaky voice stopped him

"Harry Potter Sir! You is not to go out." Harry turned around to find Dobby sitting on the couch.

"But I need to visit the library" said Harry.

"But there are teachers moving around you is getting caught and punished" said Dobby and started moving towards the fireplace to probably bang his head.

Harry promptly caught him by the waist. He struggled for some time and then stopped.

Harry kneeled down so that he could look into Dobby's eyes and said "Dobby would you do me a favour"



Dobby's eyes were glistering with tears as he replied, "Harry Potter asks for favour. Dobby is doing anything for Master Harry Potter."

"Dobby, would you please bring a few books on phoenixes from the library? Here is my bag"

Dobby looked like he wanted to cry but he left with a POP.

Harry sat down heavily on the couch. After some time, knowing that he would not be able to sleep, he decided to finish his packing. As he got up, he remembered that everyone was sleeping. He was about to turn back when he heard a voice,

"Magic is a wonderful thing Harry."

Harry was startled. He looked around searching for the voice but could not find anyone. Harry knew he ought to be scared, but the voice had a strange quality, his instinct told him to trust the voice It sounded familiar...

"Who are you?" Harry said out aloud.

"I am who you are. I am your inner voice."

"What do you mean?" said Harry wondering whether he had gone mad.

"Of course you haven't." Harry was startled that the voice knew what he was thinking. "I am your instinct as you may put it. " The voice said in matter of fact voice.

"Why am I able to hear you now" asked Harry not quite sure of his sanity.

"I have always been there. Indeed it is I who has saved you when you have been in mortal danger."

Harry couldn't have agreed more but he had a doubt, he surely wasn't in mortal danger now, right, so why was Mr Instinct here?

"Mr. Instinct indeed, but I am you. I am not a separate entity. I am speaking as an external agent so as to help you with your contemplation. Today you are in a rare mood of looking back at your past and learning from it. So as always I am here to help you make the right decisions."

Harry suddenly panicked. Is it Voldemort toying with me again?

"Harry I am not Voldemort. I can tell you a way to make sure if you want."

Harry nodded.

"Close your eyes and look within you. Try to look at your soul. Look within you mind. Search for any outside presence. "

Harry did as he was told. As he closed his eyes and looked inside, a strange calm engulfed him. He realized that 'Mr Instinct' was as much a part of him as was he himself.



Satisfied that it was not Voldemort, Harry continued

"Does everyone have a Mr Instinct inside them?"

"Yes and No. Everyone has an instinct but very few are able to understand it and even fewer are able to have a chat like we are having."

"Why me?"

"Because you are a special person, not because you are the Boy-who-lived but because of the person you are. Moreover, it was the last wish of the four founders especially Salazar Slytherin. "

"You mean Salazar Slytherin wanted me to beat his heir? And how could they know about me when they lived a thousand years back?"

"They knew about a lot Harry. Some say a great seer told them about the future, that one of their blood heirs would threaten the very core of Hogwarts. In fact, this finally brought Salazar to his senses. He realized his mistakes. He decided to talk to Godric to find a way to stop the heir. Finally, they decided to make Hogwarts a sentient being. They entrusted her with the task of taking care of Hogwarts, to make sure the spirit of Hogwarts stays alive forever." He paused for a while letting Harry take in everything.

"Salazar realized his mistakes but alas!, He never got the chance to rectify them for he died shortly after the decision was taken. The founders, knowing that one of their blood heirs was going to become evil, decided not to have blood heirs. Hogwarts was given the task of finding the person in whom the spirit of Hogwarts lived. It has been her duty since then to find the heir of Hogwarts, as they liked to call their heir. "

"And Hogwarts has chosen you as her next heir. Do not ask me why, I do not know. After all I am YOU"

"How do you know all this? You say you are me, I never knew all this so you also should not know."

"I know you are the Heir because Hogwarts told me so. About the rest of the things they are all given in Hogwarts a History, I know you never read it. I know you hate to hear this but you are not ready to know the whole truth but at the same time you should also know that you already know the answer because I know it."

Harry was bewildered at the statement, not only the whole world but he himself was keeping secrets from himself, but decided to let the matter drop.

"One more thing, you may not like it but you must accept it that you are a unique person. You are a special person. You must accept your fame."

"What you want me to make use of my Fame. I would never do it."

"That's not what I meant. All I am saying is DO NOT RUN AWAY from it. Trust me when I say that the more you run away from it the more it will bite you"



Harry pondered over the words and realise that it was indeed true, however hard he tried to run away from his fame, he had never been successful.

"Harry, you must also learn to express your feelings. The Dursleys are no longer here, you have to realise this, they won't and can't do anything now. You are free of the dursleys."

"I have to apologise to Hermione." Thought Harry.

"An excellent idea but don't just go to her and say you are sorry. You have to first prove with your actions that you are indeed sorry and then when she notices the changes in you, you can formally apologise."

Harry looked at his watch and found that it was three in the morning, he started worrying about Dobby and hoped that he was not in trouble.

"Harry, do not worry about Dobby. He can take care of himself as he ahs so often proved."

An image of Mr. Malfoy being thrown across the corridor crossed his mind and a smile graced his face at his friend's loyalty. He didn't know what he did to get such loyalty but knew that he would never take it for granted. He had already lost Hermione and didn't want to lose anybody else's trust.

" What do you think about Ron, do you think he is the same child whom you befriended in your first year. Don't you think you have given him way too much lenience just because he was your first friend? Do you think even he knows who you really are? Or is he also enamoured by your wealth and fame?"

Harry pondered over the questions for a long time. He arrived at many conclusions but the most striking one was that Hermione was the only one who stood by him at all times. He resolved to make up with her. Sometime later Harry drifted off to sleep on the couch, a little more at peace with himself, a little more sure of himself... But he still had a long way to go before he became the man he was destined to become and he couldn't do that without the help of a certain girl with bushy hair and brown eyes. Now at least Harry knew that much.

That is how Hermione found him in the morning. Coming down the stairs, she entered the common room to find Harry lying on the couch sleeping with his arm falling to the ground and legs spread wide on the armrests.

She remembered her thoughts from last night (Even she was visited by Ms Instinct). She found herself mesmerized by the site and could not help looking at him for a long moment, he looked so peaceful while sleeping as if he no longer had the weight of the world on his shoulders. She blushed realizing that she was staring at Harry. This only confirmed her thoughts from last night; she had been WRONG in going after Ron. For once, her logical mind had failed her. She pulled herself out of these thoughts, deciding to let the past be and work on the present and future. She resolved to do everything possible to help Harry win the war because she was sure that she could not live without him.

She bent down to wake him "Harry! Harry! Wake up"

Harry groggily opened his eyes to find himself staring into Hermione's brown eyes.

They found themselves lost in each other's gaze when suddenly a cough, a very annoyed cough, not that they realized it, interrupted them.

The turned around to find…………………………..