Hogwarts October 1995:

Harry hated Umbridge with every fiber of his being. He was far too cunning to show this and instead did his level best to show a cooperative side and to keep his head down in her classes. She had tired to shut down his beloved dueling classes, but when Draco Malfoy of all people vouched for them, well she was not going to go against a Malfoy. Harry disliked the ponce but found him useful, and useful he was. While Charlus got up to mischief and caused chaos wherever he went, Harry rarely did. Accept now, the first game of the year, the very first match had been moved up to help moral and what had Charlus done? Started a brawl between Slytherin and Gryffindor. Which got Harry to get into Charlus' face.

"You really are an idiot." Harry said as Charlus walked out of the hospital wing, "Malfoy has clout."

"As do I, I am the boy who lived." Charlus shot back.

"Wow, and you think that helps?" Harry said, "I have stayed out of your life, but right now, now you need to back off, Malfoy is above you, above me, I would say let him be but you have a target on your back now. He will pay you back."

"I had to fight for mum and dad's honor." Charlus snapped.

"He said nothing about them, but about you, and you could not take it." Harry said.

"I did not kill Cedric." Charlus hissed, "I took Vertaserum to prove it!"

"Maybe you did not physically, but sharing the cup? Yea, you, look, just stop causing problems and stay out of my hair, stop messing with my life." Harry said, Cedric had been his friend and though he knew the dark lord V was responsible for the death of his friend he still blamed Charlus, "just stop sticking your nose into places and messing everything up."

Umbridge had heard and in her own odious way wanted to turn him against Charlus. This was not going to happen, Harry was upset with Charlus and hurt at the loss of his friend but he knew Charlus was right about the dark lord V being back. He could not tell Umbridge that and would not, he knew she would punish him. She had him come to her pink office and have a seat across from her desk. Harry had to play this right or things were going to come crashing down, things that he could not afford to loose. People's lives relied on his network and if that network was found out, well he would be the first to hang as it were but not the last.

"Am I in trouble professor Umbridge?" Harry asked.

"No but you seem to be upset at your brother." Umbridge said sweetly.

"No ma'am, I could never be upset at Dudley, sure he is muggle but he is a good young man, he wants to become a businessman like his father."

"I was talking about Charlus." Umbridge said.

"Oh he has not been my brother since I was one ma'am. My parents gave me to my aunt who became my mother and her husband who became my father."

"Do you have any ill will to the Potters?"

"No ma'am, I hardly ever think of them, yes I was upset at Charlus, but I lost a friend in the tournament and took it out on him." Harry said, "Cedric was a good friend."

"I see, what do you think of Dumbledore?" Umbridge said.

"Well, I have not had much to do with him, he is not always here and when he is he seems nice enough. He seemed to care after I was kidnapped and all, he followed the ancient rights in that respect."

"What of what he and Mr. Potter are saying about he who must not be named?"

"Oh the dark lord V?" Harry said, "well I have not seen him, forgive me but I have other things to worry about, my OWLs this year and winning the Quidditch cup for Ravenclaw, that will be hard, but I am a good seeker and we have a good team."

"Well, if you hear anything, or see anything, my door is open and you will come and let me know." Umbridge said rising, Harry did too. "I would think you would want to help."

"Of course professor, I am always willing to help."

Harry was allowed to leave and he knew a threat when he heard it. He headed back to the Ravenclaw common room to find Hermione seated reading a book. He saw it was a book on house elves and he grinned. Trust Hermione to study everything she could, within reason of course. Her bushy hair was tied back from her face and she had a quill behind her ear. Luna was seated by her, radish earrings in place and a bottle cap necklace around her neck. She smiled on seeing Harry and motioned to a seat next to her. Harry sat down with a sigh and Hermione put down her book to look over at her friend.

"Umbridge." Harry said, "she is very dangerous and is so far gunning for Charlus."

"You think she will come after you." Hermione said.

"I hope not, she talked to me, I don't think she is after me now but I can't be sure." Harry replied, "still she talked to me in her office and that worries me. I am a prefect and she could take that away, or have me do things I would rather not."

"I know what you mean, she hates me for my blood." Hermione said, "even though I do my best to follow the unwritten rules of this world."

"Last year was amazing." Neville said walking up, "you both recognized the bond house elves need to a family and argued that treating them kindly made them more of an asset."

"Well Harry here has shown me the art of discretion." Hermione said.

"What about me?" Ron asked taking a seat across from her.

"Patience and restraint." Hermione said frostily, "you are an ass."

"Why this time?" Ron asked, "what did I do?"

Harry took up a book on defense, not the one assigned he had read though interesting it did not teach him all he needed to know. He tuned out the argument and soon was immersed in daring duels of ages past, of new ways to defend one's self and how to avoid, chiefly going dark and evil. After a time Ron stormed off and Hermione went back to her book while Ginny and Luna who had finished their homework decided to have a game of chess. All too soon it was time for dinner and after, Harry and Hermione had to do rounds as prefects. The school was so quiet this year, without the Weasley twins things were almost too quiet. Harry ran into Draco doing his rounds and both were civil to each other.

"Evans, lovely evening would you not say?" Draco asked.

"Very, almost too quiet, I was looking forward to putting the twins in detention, but alas they got their NEWTs early and now are owners of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes."

"Disgraceful." Draco muttered.

"Not really, they are businessmen like your father, he invests wisely and so do I, I take after my father you know."

"Your father is a muggle." Draco said coldly.

"Yes he is, but a good man, a very good man, smart and cunning, if he had magic he would have made a fine Slytherin. He and my mum took me in, they did not have to but they did. They raised me as their son and never have they ever made me feel like I did not belong. They treat Dudley and I equal and Dudley has started to study quantum physics a bit."

"What is that?"

"His way to see if he can explain the energy that is magic." Harry replied.

"I see, you Granger, still trying to free house elves?" Draco said on seeing Hermione.

"No, and that is not what I was about last year, I understand that house elves like to work and need a bond with a family, a healthy bond that is. It is unkind to make them hurt themselves or anything like that. They want to work and praise and kindness go a long way. I should know I have Winky now, she is brilliant."

"You understand the master house elf bond?" Draco said.

"Better than most, like I said they need kindness and a family or place to work and call home. They reflect their family, I am sure you treat your house elves well. They do have feelings and those feelings manifest in their work."

"Is that why Hogwarts looks as new as it does?" Draco asked thoughtfully.

"Yes, in part, and the workmen and women who come and tend to her every year. Look I know I am new to this work and did not grow up here, but I am not your enemy, nor do I want to be." Hermione said, "I don't want to change everything, well okay a few things but they are things that will make this world better."

"Our customs have changed too much already." Draco replied.

"And we muggle raised and born want to change that, bring back the old ways, ways that should never have been lost. That was headmaster Black's problem, he wanted to cater to everyone and in the end Hogwarts lost a lot from that." Harry said, "we better get back to work, there has to be some out and about, good evening."

"Good evening." Draco replied.

Hermione and Harry left and were not aware that a certain professor Umbridge had been listening in. She would still dislike Hermione and all muggleborn but she would not have it out for the girl like others. Harry Evans was another sort, he really cared about this world and would make a great ally. She had to work carefully with him and she would, she would get him on her side soon enough. She continued on glad that one she thought would be a troublemaker was not, unlike his brother. She looked up in surprise to see Severus Snape, severe in his black robes and equally black hair and eyes almost gliding towards her. She walked up to him smiling and he bowed to her.

"I would leave Mr. Evans alone, he has power, and power that the people love." Severus said, "he is well liked."

"What sort of threat is he to the ministry?" Umbridge asked.

"Evans? None at all, he is not a politician, rather he is a friend to all, I find him interesting myself. His aunt adopted him, I knew her as a child, a ugly nosey girl, so much kinder now, and my opinion of her has turned to good muggle though she is. I would have better best if she were born with magic, but she has turned well, along with her husband, solid people."

"Not all muggles are."

"No this is true, I will watch Potter, his temper is concerning." Severus said, "Minerva has her hands full, I am going to take control of the boy his mother wishes it."

"Lady Potter wishes it? She cast aside one son and now wishes to cast aside the other?"

"She had no say in what happened with Mr. Evans, she was in a coma for three years and when she came out she doted on Charlus. She has never quite been the same." Severus replied, "as for Mr. Evans, he is not one to worry about, he is a Ravenclaw."

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Riddle Manor October 1995:

The thing once know as Tom Marvolo Riddle sat in what had been a grand ball room but now was his throne room. It was tastefully decorated, not a spec of dust or dirt anywhere, in fact the whole manor was spotless and clean. Everything was in order, thanks to the house elves that the dark lord Voldemort had clean the place. He treated them better than his followers, after all they would not betray him and he found them for more likable than most other creatures. He was not in a good mood, sure he was back but he had the wrong brat's blood in him and he needed rituals to help bring him to full strength. What was worse is that the prophecy stated the brat was his equal but since taking the other brat's blood was he to go after Charlus or Harry now? Or kill Charlus and turn Harry? After all if he turned Harry then he would not have anything to worry about. He could not even reach out to Harry as there was no mental connection and so he had to settle on tormenting his twin with the unfortunate bond created.

"My lord, supper is ready." An elf said by his ear, bad grammar in a house elf was quickly fixed with a few hexes.

"Good." Voldemort said rising, "make sure none enter."

"Very well my lord." The elf, clad in a black pillow case said bowing deeply to him.

Voldemort retired to an antechamber and there he had a fine dinner spread out. It was food that he liked, and had wanted as a boy and now could have all he want. Steak and kidney pie, lobster, vegetables, all he could ever want. White bread with real butter, good wine to wash it down. For dessert he had cherry tart and apple tart followed by delicate cheeses and nuts. He finished his fine meal with more good wine and sat back enjoying the feel of finely tailored robes in silk. He was ugly to be sure but he had all a dark lord could want, accept Charlus Potter's head on a spike delivered by his brother. Voldemort would bide his time, he was sure to have Harry in his collection soon enough. Being raised by muggles had to have been dull and Harry had to want revenge. If only Voldemort understood love and true family, but he didn't and never would.

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So there is some politics, and yes Umbridge is oily and every bit as evil here as in cannon. She is going after Charlus but he has not acted out in class, his first acting out was on the Quidditch pitch and now Umbridge is after him. Harry is the boy who lived* but not connected to Voldemort, Charlus is due to his blood being used. This will come to play later. To all who reviewed, thank you so much!

Please review and let me know what you think!

*Edited to add Harry is the boy who lived.