This story begins just after HBP.
I don't own a thing. It's all belongs to J.K. Rowling. I'm just picking up where her last story ended. And since I was a bit depressed by where the last story ended, I have changed things a bit to suit my own needs.

Thanks much for your reviews on my first chapter. I am new to fanfic writing, so feedback is very much appreciated.

Please read and review.

Chapter 2

Angelth

Fawkes trilled softly as Harry took and unfurled the parchment with and unsteady hand.

My dearest Harry,
If you are reading this note then I am dead and there is and excellent chance that you believe Severus Snape to have murdered me in cold blood. I will caution you now, as I did during life, that things are not always as they appear. Yes, dear Harry, even if you see them with your own eyes. You will notice that on the bottom of this letter there is a small, extremely handsome picture of me.

Harry looked to the bottom of the note to see a likeness of Dumbledore that was only a little bigger than a muggle postage stamp. The little image didn't move like ordinary wizarding photos, but its colors were very vibrant and life like.

Now Harry, you have no doubt discovered that the Horcrux, the golden locket, we retrieved from the cave was a not authentic. In truth this statement is not wholly accurate, however we will get to that in due time. You will also without a doubt have noticed that my tiny portrait does not move as other photos you have seen. I wonder, dear boy, if you can puzzle out how this mini likeness of myself can be animated?

The letter ended here abruptly and Harry flipped the parchment over to see if there might not be more on the back. As he turned the paper back over Harry noticed a small postscript written at the bottom across from the Headmaster's image.

I have every faith in you dear boy.
Albus Dumbledore

Harry removed the locket from his trousers pocket and looked from it to the photo. He tried running a finger nail underneath a edge of the tiny portrait to remove it. Harry decided that it must be held with some kind of sticking charm.

"Finite Incantatum." He said once, tapping the tiny representation with his wand. It slipped free into his hand, and while biting his lip Harry carefully placed the Headmasters portrait inside the locket. It stuck to the inside surface immediately, and Dumbledore's image began toapplaud in triumph.

"Well done my boy, well done indeed. Now if you were able to puzzle that bit out, you have no doubt arrived at the conclusion that our adventure to retrieve the Horcrux was something a test," Harry's face lost some of its color, but his smile at hearing the Headmaster's voice once more was brilliant.

"Yes, my boy, a task designed with the intention of testing your mettle against the many challenges you must face in the near future. It was a very clever and arduous adventure designed by a very dear friend of mine."

"Snape?" Harry bit out suddenly and while his voice was barely above a whisper, the revulsion was clear.

"My dear boy, do you nevergrow weary of my admonishing you as to the proper address of your professors?" The portrait questioned a bit sternly as Harry's eyes widened. "Now," the little portraiture reverted to a kindlier tone. "Are there any questions thus far?"

"I can ask ques...?" Harry sputtered. "I can talk to...you can hear me?" Harry panted, his eyes fairly glued to the tiny portrait.

"Why of course my dear boy," the Headmaster's portrait let out a low chuckle. "What ever did you think?"

"I didn't... think..." Harry stated in confusion.

"Yes, you have been guilty of that in the past," Dumbledore teased playfully. "But you are after all only sixteen." The Headmaster's eyes were twinkling. But Harry felt a slight sting of truth in the Headmasters playful criticism.

"Now, as I was saying," Dumbledore continued. "The search for Voldemort's Horcrux was an assessment of your expected performance in similar situations. And you comported yourself admirably I must say. Although, I must admit, I had not expected our adventure to be quite so debilitating, and have already thoroughly upbraided the test's designer as to this defect."

Harry looked thoughtful at this. Did that mean what he thought it did? Was professor Dumbledore talking about Snape? Was he in contact with him as well? Was Snape not a murderer? Oh but it made no sense. Harry's head began to ache dully. Harry had seen the murder with his own eyes. And Dumbledore was, after all dead.

"Are you a memory Professor?" Harry interrupted the Headmaster. "You know how all the portraits are filled with memories of the dead person?"

"I rather think I am slightly more than that," The Headmaster intoned in an amused voice.

"But how? But what...I don't..." Harry babbled inarticulately.

"Ah," the Headmaster nodded appreciatively. "With your usual cleverness, Harry, you have stumbled upon the next portion of my explanation. Now while the locket we retrieved is not a Horcrux," the Headmaster grew serious. "it is indeed filled with magic. This locket and its twin are imbued with the most powerful light magic known to wizardkind." Harry's brain stalled for a moment at the word twin.

"This locket you hold is called an Angelth. It is like a Horcrux in that it is used as a receptacle for a portion of a Light Wizard's soul." the Headmaster smiled amiably. "One half of a wizard's soul to be exact, and the other half must reside in an exact replica of the first Angelth. The only way for this most powerful magic to work is if the Safekeepers of the Angelths are witches or wizards who loved the deceased with all their hearts. The soul is then able to communicate with the Safekeepers, the mode of communication depending on what type of objects the deceased chose to charm with her or his essence." The Headmaster looked a bit misty at this point. "And I dare say, Harry, since you were able to animate this portrait which held half my essence you must care for me a great deal."

Dumbledore's man through and through. Harry thought as his own eyes began to cloud a bit.

"Now," the Headmaster cleared his throat, as you have no doubt realized you are the Safekeeper of this Angelth. To maintain the safeguard, you must keep the my Angelth on your person at all times. For as long as this portion of my soul resides in close proximity to the protection of your love it will be safe.

"It's a bit like the protection at my aunt and uncle's then sir." Harry observed.

"Yes, dear boy, It is very like that," The Headmaster smiled.

"And so the second Angelth, the other half of your soul, its being kept safe by someone who loves you..." Harry hesitated. He'd almost said as much as I do, but settled for, "someone who loves you with all of their heart?"

"That is correct dear boy."

That rules out Snape! Harry thought with venom.

"And as I said," Albus Dumbledore reminded. "The Angelth would not have been activated otherwise."

Harry tried to puzzle that out. Maybe this had nothing to do with Snape. Snape had killed Dumbledore. He'd killed him. Lots of people loved Dumbledore, anyone could be guarding his Angelth. Maybe it was...

"Professor?" Harry questioned sharply. "Who's R.A.B.?" Harry looked on intently thinking of the note he found inside the locket when it lay beside Dumbledore's body.

"A splendid question, Harry," The Headmaster looked pleased. "That is another mystery you will be unraveling over the next few months. And I assure you that note was authentic. I found it when I sought Voldemort's first Horcrux."

Another mystery? Did that mean R.A.B. could be the Safekeeper of the other Angelth? Another mystery to unravel over the next few months. Harry silently implored that this had nothing to do with Snape. But what had Dumbledore said in his note about things not always being what they seemed.

"An that brings us quite cleanly to your instructions for the next few months," the tiny image in the portrait grew serious again. "When you leave here tomorrow you are to go to your relative's house as we agreed last summer. You need only stay two weeks and then you may go to the Burrow. In July when you come of age you will tap your Angelth once with your wand while incanting "Portus. This will activate a portkey which will take you to a location where you will complete your training to face Voldermort for the final time."

"Where will I go?" Harry cut in nervously.

"I am not prepared to answer that, but I will tell you that you will be trained in identifying magical trace factors. You will need this skill in locating Voldermort's remaining Horcruxes. Your training will also include mastery of non verbal spells as well as Occlumency and wandless magic," The Headmaster paused here, taking a breath. "The person I have chosen to train you has been hand-picked by me, and I trust him implicitly. I trust you will treat him with the utmost respect as you would if I personally were handling your training." The Headmaster finished a tad sternly.

As Harry pushed his hand back and forth through his untidy hair, he was quite literally biting his tongue.

"Do you have any questions, Harry?" the Headmaster asked in a measured tone.

"Maybe one, sir," Harry began nervously, still ruffling his hair. "Sorry, sir. I just can't seem to get it out of my head. Snape wouldn't have..."

"Professor Snape," The Headmaster corrected, as though growing bored with this particular semantical dance.

"BUT SNAPE KILLED YOU!" Harry screamed, suddenly losing control. "HE KILLED YOU! I SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES!"

"Harry?"the Headmaster said.

"Please, Professor..." Harry whimpered.

"Harry?" the Headmaster repeated gently.

"Please, Professor... " Harry wailed frantically" "just please tell me that Snape isn't involved in this in any way. That Snape..."

"Mr.Potter." The Headmaster's voice cracked like a whip, sternly whistling through the air and arriving to thrash Harry soundly, with its fiery intensity. The Boy-Who-Lived was silent immediately and the miniature image of the Headmaster fixed him with a flinty glare.

There was a lengthy silence which Harry maintained for as long as he could.

"Sir," Harry surrendered finally. "Professor Snape," The boy continued bravely. "Does he fit into this anywhere sir? Because if he does," Harry tried his best to sound respectful. "I'm just a bit confused... and concerned...about it...sir," Harry finished up lamely. Then before Dumbledore could interrupt he said, "I really do apologize Headmaster. But you can't possibly still trust him."

"I do indeed, Harry. I do indeed. And for reasons I am unable to explain to you at present, Severus training you to face Voldermort is a decision I make for the Professor's salvation as much as your own." The Headmaster let out a deep sigh. "There are so many who have sacrificed more that you realize, Harry, to assist you on this quest. And I would instruct you again to give Professor Snape all the respect you would afford me."

"But respect needs to be earned doesn't it, sir?" Harry held his breath. He had been going for a respectful tone again. He wasn't quite sure he'd been successful when the Headmaster's expression harden slightly. But it softened again immediately.

"Do you respect me Harry?" The Headmaster asked gently.

"Yes sir," Harry said quickly. "You know I do."

"Then I'm ordering you to do this thing," Dumbledore responded quietly. Harry paused a moment.

"But Headmaster...what if---" Harry began.

"Harry?"

"Let's just say--" Harry tried again.

"Harry?"

"But, Professor I'm only trying--"

"Harry," the Headmaster cut in. "When I say I would like you to treat Professor Snape with the same respect as you would me, I think I should like to amend that."

"Yes, Professor," Harry smiled hopefully

"Yes, dear boy," The Headmaster supplied evenly. "I think that I would like to request that you treat him with slightly more respect than you would me. And perhaps forgo the arguments and answering back entirely." The Headmaster finished tartly, but not without humor.

Harry was about to respond to this when he heard several sets of foot falls on the stairway.

"CanItellRonandHermioneabouttheAngelth?" He asked in a rush. At first the Headmaster seemed quite confused by the abrupt change of subject. But then answered.

"Well, at present I do not believe that is the wisest course of" theoldwizard began.

"Kay," Harry said quickly, slamming the lid of the locket shut just as Ron, Hermione, and Ginny topped the stairs.

"How rude," the Headmaster gasped just before the clasp caught. Harry shoved the Angelth into his pocket.

"There you are mate," Ron approached out of breath.

"Oh, Harry we've been looking all over for you," Hermione scolded.

"All right Harry?" Ginny asked, bringing up the rear.

"Fine. Fine," Harry informed his friends with a warm smile gripping the Angelth anxiously.

"Last place I expected to find you mate," Ron narrowed his eyes. "Sure your all right?"

"I am, Ron," Harry tried to sound convincing, while gripping the Angelth for dear life. "I've been thinking a lot," Harry offered. "I feel...better," he said finally.

"Come on then mate," Ron said, hooking an arm around Hermione's shoulder as she smiled at Harry encouragingly. "Dinner started 20 minutes ago." Harry resisted the urge to take Ginny's hand and followed his friends to the exit.

The walk to the great hall was excruciatingly long and Harry was drawn toward paranoia. What if when he opened the Angelth again the portrait no longer animated? What if he'd proven with all the arguing and back talk that he didn't love the Headmaster at all? Harry chastised himself and thought morosely that he had probably ruined what he now appreciated was the amazing gift of a second chance of sorts with the Headmaster. A chance to be mentored, and cared about and loved, and Harry had screwed it up royally.

It was with this feeling of hopeless panic that he stopped in front of the boys lavatory on the first floor.

"Just a moment guys,'" he tilted his head in a manner he hoped looked casual. "Need to visit the loo. Meet you down there." His friends for once were too caught in there own grief to be suspicious..

"We'll save you a seat," Ginny offered, touching his arm lightly.

"Don't be long," Hermione said. And Harry rolled his eyes with what he hoped was a put upon expression.

He was successful because Ron laughed. "Give the man some privacy for Merlin's sake," he said playfully to Hermione, who blushed furiously. "See ya down there mate," he told Harry as he led the girls on.

Harry stepped inside and waited a second to hear their foot falls. After taking a look into the stalls he whipped out the locket and yanked at the catch feverishly.

"Professor," he began without out preamble. "Are you still there,sir?"

"Where ever would I have gotten to dear boy?" the Headmaster inquired his eyes twinkling madly.

"It's just..." Harry began. "Sorry, they were coming. Ron, Hermione. and Ginny. Sorry about that sir."

"That's quite all right my boy," the Headmaster said in an amused tone. "I may have to get used to that I'm afraid," the Headmaster chuckled lightly.

"And about the other thing," Harry took a deep breath. "Sorry about answering back and all. And I'll do just as you say, sir," Harry nodded firmly. "Just as you say."

"Well done, Harry," the Headmaster smiled proudly. "Well done indeed."

"All right then sir," Harry's face flushed slightly. "I've got to go; their waiting for me." the Headmaster nodded. "See you later then sir?" It was rather more than a question.

"Indeed you shall my boy," the Headmaster assured him. "Indeed you shall."

"Right then, sir," Harry said quietly, and ever so gently, closed the cover of the Angelth.