Revenge Best Served…

Disclaimer: I don't own this series or any other series. I am just floating an idea. I am making no money, nor plan to, off this venture. If you think of suing me over this, then grow up.

I would like to first personally thank all of those reviewing my stories. I enjoy reading your comments, and try to correct the grammatical errors I miss with my final read-through as well as my spell checkers. The suggestions you all make will help make this story better for everyone to enjoy, as well as allow my to fix some plot holes I may unintentionally leave. If you find any, let me know, and I will correct them and repost the chapters.

Dumbledore gave off a slight moan as he returned to the waking world, trying to discern what had occurred.

Let's see; my last memory was arriving at the area of the Burrow with Harry after finishing convincing Slughorn to return to teach. After that, nothing.

Were we perhaps attacked by Tom and his associates?

"Glad to see you finally awake, sir."

"Harry?" he asked, trying to look around. But his captor had also blindfolded him, as well as bound him. Even his wandless magic seemed to fail him at the moment.

"Yes?"

"Do you recall what happened?"

There was silence for a moment, frightening him that Harry may have been silenced by an outside source. However, it turned out for not as Harry spoke once again.

"I have a good idea, sir."

"Were we attacked by Death Eaters?"

"No… I'd have to say I doubt we are in this situation because of Death Eaters."

Dumbledore cursed inwardly. It was obvious Harry had seen the assault. And if not for the blindfold, he could simply read the child's mind and see what had occurred, maybe figure out why this was occurring.

"Sir, may I ask a question?"

"Certainly, Harry," he replied, wanting to keep the boy calm before he tried something rash.

"Was it all worth it to get Sirius killed?" asked Harry's voice, now without any emotional inflection.

"What?" asked Dumbledore, shocked.

"It took me a few days to piece the ideas together," Harry continued; his voice still passive. "I blamed myself of course, not that you did anything worthwhile to dissuade my guilt. But eventually, I moved beyond that, and opened my mind, trying to see what I could have done differently, like summoned Padfoot when Bellatrix stunned him, before he fell into the Veil.

"But then I got to thinking," he continued. "I started to ask myself not why Voldemort planned his trap, but how he planned it; how did he know of our connection."

"I'm afraid you have me at a loss," Dumbledore quickly replied, trying to buy some time. Had Voldemort's possession of him done something to Harry's psyche?

"You see, other than the Weasleys and a few Gryffindors in my year, only a few adults knew that I seemed to have a window into his soul," Harry mused. "Of the three I know, there was Professor McGonagall, you, and Snape."

"Professor Snape, Harry," he inserted.

"A professor teaches students, Snape does not," replied Harry.

"But I digress. I know from Sirius and the Order that Snape was supposed to be a double-agent.

"So I ask once again, sir: how did Voldemort know?"

Albus stayed quiet for a few moments, trying to discern what would be the best to say. However, Harry refused to let up.

"I must admit, it took me a while to reach that conclusion," Harry mused. "But then, my caretakers did do their best to make sure I never bested Big D in any achievement. And what with him being such a poor scholar, I suppose it could be expected."

"Harry, we need to leave now!"

"What makes you think you're muggle-loving ass is going to escape?" asked a familiar female voice.

"Ah yes," said Harry. "The former Lady Black was only too ready to help me," commented Harry.

"Harry, please release me so we can discuss this," he pleaded. "You had no need to do such a thing if you merely wished to talk to me about your suspicions."

"Don't take me for a fool, sir," said Harry. "I release you, and I'll be lucky if I don't end up like Lockhart when you're finished, or Neville's parents," Harry said.

"Just give him the bloody potion and be done with it!" bellowed Walburga's portrait.

"Please, Ms. Black," said Harry. "I want to see what he says first. I trust Kreacher and Dobby's work that he won't … leave before we're finished."

Dumbledore paled slightly. If Harry learned of things too quickly, before he had time to be prepared… "Harry, let me go; we need not drag this out any further."

"On the contrary, Professor," said Harry, "I want the answers you seem always unwilling to give, and I'll have them tonight, no later."

"Harry, what happened after we left Professor Slughorn's?" he asked.

"I waited till we arrived at Ottery St. Catchpole," Harry replied. "Once you turned around, I stunned you with as much power as I had. I knew that with you beside me, either the Ministry would not detect it or could assume that it was you. After all, there wouldn't be any Muggles around for them to claim I revealed myself to. They'd assume you were having the vaunted 'Boy-Who-Lived' show he could defend himself. Sadly from their view, I was taken out by a strong stunner."

"And how did we arrive … here?" he asked. "I assume of course this is Grimmauld Place."

"You assume correctly," said Harry. "And by the by, since Sirius turned it over to me, I was able to convince the wards to throw out any spells you may have slipped in to aid you," Harry replied calmly. "I also had it seal itself off from the outside world. The others will assume that with Sirius's death, it isn't quite safe yet to resume using it as a meeting place for the Order."

A moaning sound could be heard.

"Sadly, Dung didn't get the memo in time," said Harry chuckling lightly.

"What have you done Harry?" he asked, slightly ashen, afraid that perhaps Harry had gone dark.

"Me? I've done nothing. I've simply allowed Kreacher to deal with thieves in my home as he has seen fit. I noticed you didn't deal with that man for leaving me to the Dementors. Really Dumbledore, you need to keep better people on hand for your crusades."

"Can Kreacher torture the traitorous Fletcher again, sir?" came the reply from the decrepit elf.

"Maybe later," said Harry. "I'd rather have what powers I have on hand in case Dumbledore here has a few more tricks on hand," said Harry. "Well, other than his nice wand.

"Not quiet my Phoenix feather wand, but it does have a nice kick to it," said Harry.

Albus paled even more at that. Harry had defeated him! That meant the Elder Wand saw him now as its rightful owner.

"And it did help with that ring you wore," said Harry. "My wand wasn't able to, but your wand was easily able to use the Finite Incantatem on it," he replied. "I didn't know I had the power to negate the … what was the curse named again, Ms. Black?"

"Curse of Withering," came her curt reply. Even Albus didn't miss the tone of respect in her voice. But whether it was for the curse itself or Harry now, he couldn't say.

"Yes," said Harry. "I looked it up in the Black Library," he continued. "No known cure or counter-curse. It did suggest that a curse that made the body swell with water to slow it. But I guess your wand is a bit different from others, eh?"

"And the ring?" he asked, still somewhat in shock. True, he had suspected that perhaps the Elder Wand could negate the powerful curse that had protected the horcrux. But it would need his magic to do so, magic that would speed the spread of the curse. And he was not quite ready to part with the sole Hallow he owned.

"I told you he wouldn't ask about his arm," said Harry, but to who, Dumbledore couldn't tell. "The ring is off your hand, dispelled from the curse. But what is so important about that ring?"

"I'm afraid I cannot say, Harry," he said, trying to gain some control over the situation.

"And can you say just how Voldemort found out about our link?" asked Harry. "Or do you expect me to believe that bilge Snape tried was actually to teach me to shield my mind?"

"I'm afraid I do not understand."

"We have Occlumency and Legimancy books in the library as well, fool," growled Walburga. "Even I don't believe that that traitor was teaching this half-blood bastard how to block his mind. Sounds more like he was trying to open it up."

"And as one who constantly claims to trust Snape with his life," said Harry, "I'm left to wonder how much of that little act you knew about."

"Are you certain it was not just your inability to progress towards blocking the Dark Lord, Harry?" he asked hopefully. He had a bit of hope as a moment of silence progressed from that question.

But alas, it was not a story to be bought. "Since it isn't any of the recommended styles of how to build mental shields, but is in fact listed as one of the ways to damage them in a developing student, I'd have to say 'no' to that hypothesis," said Harry coldly.

"Then perhaps I should have asked Severus to allow me to sit in on one of your tutoring sessions," he finally admitted. "It appears I have become too trusting in my old age."

Harry just chuckled. "Please sir, do you think me stupid? I imagine you wish me to be at a certain level. But I don't buy that for a moment."

"Harry?"

"Ms. Black and I had quite the discussion about your past actions towards me. We had started talking about Sirius. She was quite excited when she found out her supposed traitorous son had been dealing with a half-blood maniac who's done more to damage the pureblood agenda than anyone else."

"At least both of your parents were magical," grumbled the painting.

"She's still a bit upset about that issue," admitted Harry. "But we've come to a compromise of sorts, though most of her side of the bargain was to be included when I questioned you."

"Do you honestly believe that this is the best way to go about things, Harry?"

"Considering our past and your usual double-speak, half truths, and blatant lies; yes, yes I do," Harry admitted. "Oh, and if your stalling in the hopes of calling for Fawkes to rescue you, I'm afraid that won't be happening."

Dumbledore audibly gasped. "What have you done?" To stop a phoenix, surely a sign of how dark Harry had become.

"Nothing," said Harry, as the trill of the phoenix was heard. "I struck a deal with him as well. You see, I'm certain he doesn't want to be seen as dirty either, but he is faithful to the supposed leader of the light. So, I made a proposition that he accepted.

"He's somewhat a barrister for you now," said Harry. "I don't doubt for a moment that I'll have to question you under the potion I acquired thanks to Kreacher and Dobby," Harry continued. "I won't tell you what it is, but I think we'll have fewer side effects to worry about, and I question how well you'd hold up against Veritaserum. I have the antidote on hand, but I don't want to take the risk until I am certain it would reveal something.

"You see, the deal was Fawkes would observe our chat. If we find out that you are truly innocent in what I think you've done or allowed, then I am his to do with as he pleases, though I imagine his anger for putting you through something this painful will be something I might regret later on.

"However, if you are guilty, well, you can forget about any help from him for now on. From what I can tell, he won't like supporting someone … dark enough to pull such things off."

"We must all make sacrifices for the Greater Good," Albus said quietly.

"Perhaps," said Harry, as a sound reached Dumbledore's ears of someone walking towards him. "But," came the near whisper of Harry's voice into his ear, "I don't recall the rule stating such matters were to you to decide which and who should sacrifice.

"And I refuse to be a sacrificial lamb for the current society I see before me," he stated, as he walked around. "But that is a discussion for another time.

"Kreacher, administer the first potion."

"Yes Master," happily stated the elf, before Dumbledore felt something forced into his mouth.

"Time for perhaps the first honest and open chat we've had in our history."

Harry sat in the chair in the Black Library, staring at the crackling fire before him, his mind lost in thought about what he had learned.

Horcruxes, Hallows, plans set in motion before he was even born, the real story behind Snape; it was almost too much for him to bear.

But bear it he had to. No, he had come too far now to give in, to let down all those who had died to protect him.

His eyes slowly turned to the table beside his chair, only displaying two of the three Hallows: the ring and the wand.

Reaching out and grabbing the Elder Wand, he lifted it, feeling its power. He could see how such power would be tempting, a temptation Dumbledore had fallen to. He could never see forgoing his own wand for it. But perhaps he could use it for measures he was not up to yet.

Pointing it at the ring, he called upon his magic once again, pushing all he could towards the wand. He didn't have access to the Sword of Gryffindor yet, and wasn't about to risk going to Hogwarts to get it, since not only would the portraits notice it missing and tell someone, but Dumbledore had admitted to placing several spells around it to ensure it was never stolen.

He'd have to get it later then when he had time for a better plan than simply 'smash and grab'.

But if the Hallows were truly connected, if the Elder Wand had been strong enough to dispel an 'unbeatable' curse, then perhaps it could undo one other spell on the Hallow-turned-horcrux.

"Finite Incantatem!" he called, as he felt his magic lash out, striking at the magic that bonded the dark soul piece to the ring. It took nearly a minute, nearly draining him dry and forcing him unconscious, before he saw a mist rise from the ring, screaming at him. Pain lashed into his core as the image of Voldemort formed in the mist, before it broke apart, finally dying.

His hand dropped the Elder Wand, joining his other hand as they covered his scar, the pain from it dying as well.

"So the Old Fool was correct," commented Walburga. "That cursed scar given to you by that muggle-fathered bastard … is a possible horcrux as well."

Harry just nodded, his breath coming in deep gasps. He was very lucky to even be conscious at that point. But he had just confirmed what the supposed link between him and Voldemort truly was, the reason he could speak to snakes, even the reason his magical core was so much stronger than an average students: they didn't need to power the protections of blood wards as well as that surrounding a horcrux.

"Will you dispel that as well?" she asked.

"Not yet," said Harry. "I still need the window to observe him," he said, voice gaining strength. "It is his weakness now, not mine. When he is out of his other trinkets to stay his life, only then will I remove this last one."

"A plan worthy and devious like a Black," she admitted. "Perhaps your breeding wasn't completely botched."

He just sneered at her, as the two house elves arrived. Dobby was setting up a table for Harry to eat, wanting his master to quickly regain his strength, while Kreacher was holding a familiar locket.

"Is Master truly strong enough to destroy such things?"

"Did you not see it yourself, you foolish elf!" bellowed the painting.

Harry ignored her, focusing on the locket. Dumbledore had said that he only knew for certain that a few things were horcruxes, and if that locket was truly Slytherin's as well. "Kreacher, explain to me how you came to hold such a thing?" he asked quietly, as Dobby moved the fully prepared table to the front of the chair.

The elf slowly nodded, as it began its own tale.

After his meal, Harry took a short nap. He knew that sometime tomorrow, he'd have to return to the Burrow, as well as explain a few new changes in his life.

"So you are simply going to Obliviate him and send him back?" asked the infamous portrait.

"His presence keeps Voldemort guessing," said Harry. "As long as he is present, Tom will be split between dealing with two perceived threats. Besides, I won't have time to try and locate the other items Tom used to hide his soul in. I'd rather leave the tedious tracking of those things to Dumbledore. Without the Withering Curse affecting his arm, it can be healed. And since his Hallow is gone, he'll be worried about his own standing.

"You heard yourself, when Snape informed him about the curse he had already cosigned himself to death. I just need to leave something at that cave entrance that Dumbledore can 'find' on his search and think that someone else has taken care of the locket.

"We know of a few, and we can assume that Tom will make one more, since he doesn't know about me. He'll still believe he has one more left in him, which I can only assume will destabilize him further."

"How many remain?"

"The diary is gone. I've used the Elder Wand to kill the one in the ring and just finished the locket. I'm left, as well as probably a Ravenclaw item and Hufflepuff's Cup. Plus whenever he makes his supposed final one, I'll see that happen and know what it is as well. Albus did suspect it would be Nagini."

"And then?"

"And then I kill him. After that, I'm not quite certain. But I plan to live a long life after Voldemort is sent away for good. Perhaps I'll toss him through the Veil. I assume even if he has one I cannot find, his spirit won't come back from that."

He could tell she was impressed, even if she didn't show it. Considering what remained of the Black Line, she would barely admit he was far more deserving than those that remained.

He doubted she would support Bellatrix, considering that the woman supported not only a half-blood, but someone who was using magic even the Blacks thought too dark, the reason such books were not in their own library. He suspected they might still be somewhere in the ancient manor, hidden long ago by an ancestor of the line. But it was obvious the location of such was never passed along. Perhaps he and the elves could search longer when Voldemort was dead. Albus had said he suspected that the resurrection of Tom had made him a bastardized horcrux for Harry. And to be honest, Harry definitely wanted to make certain at some point he wasn't going to slowly turn into a carnival reject as had the Dark Lord.

And Narcissa? Well, it was obvious the poor breeding that would result in someone like Draco was not from the Black side of the gene pool.

But she would never admit that even as a half-blood, he was still a far better heir than what remained.

But now he had to rest and prepare for tomorrow. Tomorrow he would need to wipe Dumbledore's memories with a potion, something to do what a skilled Obliviator could, but Harry could not. After that, leave some notes that the ring had been taken care of, the Elder Wand stripped from him as payment, and dump them near the Weasley home to be 'found'. Harry would need several items in the house to ensure that when Albus woke up, he didn't peer into Harry's mind and learn the truth.

No, as far as Albus should be concerned after tomorrow, a few things would be certain. He would have lost his prized Hallow, the ring would be removed, destroyed, and no longer a threat. His hand would be partially healed thanks to Fawkes's tears, and he would still be left with finding the other horcruxes and their locations, while continuing his 'plan' to get Harry to sacrifice himself for Dumbledore's self-proclaimed idea of the Greater Good.

Oh how poorly that last idea was going to be when Harry finished with them all. Oh, they expected to save them from their own follies. He would, but not the way they would want. When he finished, at least the Wizarding World would be hard-pressed to allow someone like Tom to grow again.

"I wonder if I should befriend some Slytherins, just to fuck with him," mumbled Harry.

"Nothing wrong with being ambitious," she added. "Sadly, the House has fallen away from those ideals, more desiring easy power than making their own, not like during Phineas's time."

Harry just nodded, adding it to the long and constantly growing list of things he had taken as constant and needed further consideration.

"And Snape?"

"If he thinks he can get into my mind again, I'll have no problem with unleashing some of your suggested mental barriers against him." Say what you liked, the Blacks did come up with some very … unpleasant methods of Occlumency.

"Very well then, have the elf place me back at my spot, and get some rest. You have much to do tomorrow."

Harry nodded as he rose up from his seat, feeling drained from all the magic he had been forced to use that day. Who knew what tomorrow would bring. But at least now he knew more of what to finally expect.

"Kreacher, please place your former Mistress's portrait back on her wall. And do ensure you place some silencing charms around the cell Fletcher is in. I don't want to be woken up by his screams tonight."

"Of course, Master," said the smiling house elf.

"When we leave tomorrow, drop him off at St. Mungo's. Leave a note on him stating that thieves shouldn't steal from Ancient and Noble houses. If we're most fortunate, they may send him to Azkaban for us. I'm sure you'd rather he be tortured for a longer time that what your tender mercies would allow."

The elderly elf appeared upset that his fun would end tomorrow, but brightened up with the thought of Dung being tortured by Dementors. "As you wish, Master."

Nodding, Harry made his way to his bedroom, Sirius's former room. No sense of letting the former headmaster of Hogwarts that sat in his old room, know the house was being used once more by him.

That would be another surprise he hoped to be around to show when the time came.