Review answers.

Sara: Thanks I am glad that you like the story.

Mich240: I know that I can do whatever I want and not what other people want me to do but this is what I want to write. Thanks. I am glad that you find this story interesting.

jadely31: Harry will have a better life in this story but I have to put some stuff that is unexpected. If I didn't do that then this story won't be that interesting. I will not go right into relationships, in fact I won't have much stuff about relationships because I am not good at writing stuff like that.

You don't have to thank me for thinking up this story. I am doing it for my enjoyment. I am glad you like it.

grendakg7: In this story, I am not going to have Draco and Hermione in a relationship. If you want to read book with Draco/Hermione pairing then these are a few books that you might like.

Fixed PointsBy:NoHinny, Isolation by Bex-chan, Macbeth by cyropi, Under and of the Stars by liliansilver, and An Unexpected Malfoy by RiverWriter.

Ermengarde de Neustrie: Thanks for pointing out the speling mistake. I have corrected it.

In my story, Dumbledore is out of character but he is definitely not evil. I have read some of the stories where Dumbledore is portrayed as a very evil person who just wants Harry to sacrifice himself for the grater good.

In my story Dumbledore is being forced to do this. The thing is, he is given too many positions of power and he is a bit to over confident. He makes a decision and he thinks that the decision he has made is the only way to proceed. He also guessed that Harry will survive but the only problem is that he keeps to many things to himself. Dumbledore will see all the memories in the end after Voldemort is gone. He will retire or become a better man. I haven't really decided what will happen to him in the end. I still think that Dumbledore means well but his way of doing things is just not good.

Tracey Young: Yes, I will continue this story.

Chapter One: Escape, Diagon Alley, and the sorting.

November 2nd, 1981.

I heard Aunt Petunia scream and yell. "Vernon! It's Lily's freak child! The freaks have dumped him on our doorstep! After Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon read the letter, they locked me up in the cupboard under the stairs.

Here we go again. I thought. I was determined to leave this place after a few years.

January 1st 1985.

I had discovered a few things about myself over the next few years. Since the Horcrux had disappeared, I was more powerful, a metamorphmagus, I could do wandless magic, and I could control my magic.

I was not beaten, although I was always getting insulted. All it took was no accidental magic, no crying, no asking questions, and following all instructions to not get beaten. I was still given Dudley's old castoff's, the left overs of the food, and I still had to do all the chores while Dudley did nothing.

It was a few minutes past midnight, and I quietly went into my Uncle's room. I waved my hand and made myself invisible, then I stole 1000 Pounds, grabbed some food from the refrigerator, and after searching for a bit, I found the letter that Dumbledore had written to Aunt Petunia.

I opened it and started to read.

Dear Petunia.

I have thought long and hard this past day about an appropriate way to start this letter and I realised, unsurprisingly, that the truth is of the utmost importance.

A Truth that I will share with you now is that, to this day, I still have the letter you wrote to me all those years ago. I cherish it and it often brings a smile to my face and regret to my heart. I smile at your eager words and your desire to learn, and I regret not being able to invite you to Hogwarts.

Another Truth is that the baby that I have left sleeping on your doorstep is your nephew, Harry James Potter. He is not much older than your own son, I believe.

The third Truth I share with you is a painful one, and one that I am neither brave enough nor strong enough to tell you in person, and one I believe you will know to be true before even reading this letter.

Lily and James are no longer with us.

To say that my heart is heavy as I write these words is an understatement of what your sister and brother-in-law meant to me. As their teacher and friend, I have watched them grow, mature, and blossom from excitable children to determined leaders. From playing pranks on their friends and colleagues to risking their lives to protect people from Lord Voldemort and his followers.

I know that things were difficult between Lily and yourself in recent years. I do not believe any of that now matters. I only know that Harry needs you.

When Lily Potter sacrificed herself to save Harry, she left him with a lingering protection that Voldemort will not expect, a protection that flows through his veins. I have put my trust in his mother's blood. That is why I have delivered him to you. Her only remaining relative. Magic can do many things, and magic bonded by blood is magic that can protect, and it is that protection that Harry now needs. Protection that only you can give him.

I ask you to look after your nephew.

Once you take him in, it will sealed the charm I have placed upon him.

The bond of blood is the strongest shield I could give him.

For a long time, the world of magic has been in turmoil. A Dark Wizard, calling himself Lord Voldemort had brought about a reign of terror that threatened to engulf our world and your world. Lily and James were among those who have strived against this wizard and his followers, and it was he, himself, who took them from us.

When Lord Voldemort fired the killing curse at Harry, the curse bounced back and hit Voldemort instead. The world believes Voldemort to be dead; I do not.

These are the Truths that I am sharing with you, Petunia, and I do so with the hope that you will open your heart and allow Harry refuge and a home there. The magic Lily evoked protects Harry until he comes of age, as long as Harry calls home the place where his mother's blood dwelves, there he cannot be touched or harmed by Voldemort or his followers.

Yours sincerely: Albus Dumbledore.

I packed up everything in a backpack and walked out of Number 4, Privet Drive for the very last time.

I closed my eyes and in a few seconds, I had shoulder-length dark red hair and brown eyes.

The first thing I did was to buy myself clothes that could fit a five year old and clothes that could fit a teenager.

I thought about what name I was going to use.

After a moment, I decided on Fred Smith.

The only thing I needed now was a place to live.

I decided to go and live in my cottage in Godric's Hollow. No one would expect me to be living where my parents died.

I aparated right outside of Godric's Hollow.

Godric's Hollow was small and quiet, and it somehow looked brighter than last time I was here, without the war to dampen the village spirit. I passed the sign that read, "Welcome to Godric's Hollow." As I walked along the rows of houses, I tried to prepare myself for what I was about to do. I was going to live in the house where my parents died. I figured it was better than camping out in the woods without a tent or trying to rent an apartment in London.

Finally, I saw it. The sad, small ruined house that stood at the end of the block. My heartbeat picked up as I walked to the house. It was exactly the same as how I last saw it. The high grass foretold the years the house had been abandoned. The upper right side of the house was caved in from the blast of the Killing Curse that rebounded off my forehead. I shivered as memories of that night flashed through my mind. I placed a hand on the gate and the familiar sign sprang up to greet me. I read the words carved into the wooden sign and sighed.

I pushed open the gate with a creak and walked up the overgrown walkway to the house, each step bringing in a quicker breath.

The front door was locked, probably to keep people out of the house. I clicked my fingers and the door unlocked. The door creaked open. With a soft sigh, I stepped inside.

As I walked across the threshold, patches of dust rose at my feet. My heartbeat roared in my ears. I looked down at the floor, the threshold of the house. This was where my father was killed. I shivered.

I shook my head, blocking out the tears as I walked around the house.

Old pictures covered in dust stared at me. Pictures of my parents during happier times. Times at school, their wedding, and their families. The Marauders dominated many of the pictures, waving and smiling.

The thing that made my heart ache was the amount of pictures of me. They were everywhere I looked. The Dursley's never put pictures of me up in the house.

As I walked into the sitting room, a large family portrait dominated the space over the fireplace. I reached out with shaking fingers to touch the dusty faces of my mother, father, and my younger self smiling and waving, clutching my toy with no idea of the danger we all were about to face and the life I was to live.

I slumped onto the dusty couch and I put my head into my hands. Something bumped softly into me. I looked up to see a dusty wand lying next to my leg. I picked it up and ran my fingers over it. It was my father's wand. I had to grit my teeth to keep the tears in.

Dad never had a chance against Voldemort without his wand.

I pocketed my father's wand before I explored the house, room by room. I knew I would have to clean the house and buy some clothes and food.

With the bottom of the house explored, I felt a sense of dread as I contemplated entering the top half of the house. I hesitated before I climbed the stairs. I was afraid because the house was unstable upstairs and because upstairs was where it all began for me. I gathered my courage with each step until I reached the landing.

Beams and pieces of wood and other things were scattered all around me, yet there was a clear passageway to the side of the house that had once been my room. My breath came in sharp gasps as I manoeuvred around the wooden beams and sharp edges. Finally, I reached the blasted door, which had been knocked off its hinges.

The room was painted blue. Toys and other items lay scattered around the floor. The back wall had been blasted apart by the rebounded curse; pieces of my crib were in piles on the carpet.

Tears came to my eyes. This was where it all began. Where my parents died, where I became a Horcrux, the Boy Who Lived, and the Chosen One. I did not know for how long I was crying. The grief and sorrow took hold of me. Years of sorrow, and years of emotions I did not show to the world. So many people had died.

After a while, I dried my eyes. There was no point thinking about that other future. I was going to try and prevent it.

I explored the upper part of the house, and it didn't take long before I found the room furthest down the hall from my room. It was my parents' room.

I pulled the door open. It was a soft cream colour with pictures plastered along the walls. A bookcase filled to the top with books was close to the door. I ran my fingers over the books. Many of them were on defensive and offensive spells. Hopefully, they would help me with my fighting and duelling.

As I walked around the bed, I saw something on the bedside table. It was my mother's wand, looking dusty from disuse. I picked it up and ran my fingers over it. She had left it here, thinking she was safe to trust a friend.

I began rummaging through the drawers, not sure what I was looking for, but just wanting to find out as much as I could about my parent's lives. Under a dusty book and some spare parchment were two boxes. Inside one of the boxes were three bags. The first bag was filled with Wizard money, the second bag was filled with Muggle money, and the third bag was filled with letters between Snape and Mum.

I explored the house, taking in everything. By the time I had finished, the sun started to rise. Exhausted, I knew that before I fell asleep I had to clean the house.

I started waving Mum's wand around.

Dust disappeared and items flew around the room as they sorted themselves out. Much of the damage was fixed before my eyes yet the top part of the house was still untouched. By three in the morning, I was done. With the house cleaned, I locked the windows and doors. Gathering some blankets and pillows I found in the closet upstairs, I fell into a deep sleep on the couch. I could not bear to sleep in my parents' room.

For the first time in five years, I slept peacefully.

The next day, I went shopping and bought Clothes, food, and other things.

Two days later, I was able to secure a job at the leaky cauldron as Tom's assistant.

A week after I had run away, I aparated to Hogsmeade and went over to the post office. I had a letter to write to Dumbledore.

I read the letter twice before I sent it.

Dear Professor Dumbledore.

Harry Potter has run away from his aunt and uncle's house.

I thought that he might be growing up being spoilt. I was very surprised when I saw Harry Potter somewhere near London wearing old ripped clothes. He is very thin and looks like he has not eaten anything for days.

I tried to bring him along to my house so that he can at least rest. He was reluctant at first but after some persuasion, he is currently living with me.

I am not good at looking after children because I am a teenager myself. I know an abused child when I see one because I have also had a childhood filled with neglect and abuse. My situation was much worse than Harry so I understand why he ran away.

I started investigating.

Surely there were other people who could have taken him in instead of magic hating Muggles?

The information that I have found is very disturbing.

I will start from the beginning.

James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew all became Animagi after discovering that their friend Remus Lupin was a Werewolf. Because a werewolf is only a danger to humans, they decided that they could keep him company during his transformations by turning into animals.

James Potter was a stag, Sirius Black was a dog, and Peter Pettigrew was a rat. They were not registered by the ministry of magic.

Nearly four years ago an innocent man was put into Azkaban without a trial.

Sirius Black is innocent. He did not betray the Potters or kill the 13 Muggles. He was framed by Peter Pettigrew. After Sirius cornered Peter on a street on November 1st, 1981, Peter shouted out for everyone to hear that Sirius betrayed the Potters, cut off his finger, fired a blasting curse in the street, turned into a rat, and escaped.

Currently, he is hiding as Percy Weasley's pet rat.

Stop worrying about Harry Potter. He is safe with me. I will not let you see him because I know that you left him with his relatives knowing that he will be treated badly. One month After Sirius Black is released, I will give Harry Potter back to you. I will give you a time and a location where you can come and collect Harry. I will keep an eye on the Dursleys. If Harry is placed there again, I will personally come and take Harry away myself.

Yours sincerely: Fred Smith.

On February 1st, I went to the ministry of magic.

I kept having flashbacks to my fifth year. It was easy to steal a time-turner. I also destroyed the prophesy just in case I wasn't able to get rid of Voldemort in time.

February 22nd, 1985.

I put an undetectable Extension Charm on my bag, and packed up everything except the furniture just in case I had to come here again.

I had quit my job at the Leaky Cauldron.

I was very excited. I was finally going to see Sirius again.

Sirius had been released a few weeks ago and Pettigrew was in Azkaban instead.

I had sent a letter to Dumbledore telling him that I would be at my parent's graves waiting for Sirius.

10 minutes after I was waiting at my parents' graves, Dumbledore along with Sirius and Remus arrived.

Sirius stared at me for about 10 seconds and asked, "Harry?" Is that you?"

"I pretended to look frightened and answered, "Yes. Who are you? And how do you know who I am?"

Sirius smiled at me and said, "I am Sirius Black. I was your dad's friend. I am also your godfather."

"Who are you?" I asked Remus.

"I am Remus Lupin, he said. "I was also one of your dad's friends.

"Who are you?" I asked Dumbledore.

"I am Albus Dumbledore," he said.

I pretended to look angry and said. "It was you. You placed me with aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernone! And you knew that they wouldn't' treat me right!"

Dumbledore's eyebrows rose, and he looked shocked.

"Yes Harry, I did place you with your aunt and uncle after your parents were killed.

"Why?" I asked.

Before I tell you, Harry, I need to know. What do you know about your parents?" Asked Dumbledore.

I pretended to think about it for a second and answered, " Fred told me that my parents were good people. They were in the order of the Phoenix. My Mum had a friend called Severus Snape. They had a disagreement in fifth year and stopped being friends.

My dad had three friends. Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and the person who betrayed my parents, Peter Pettigrew.

On October 31st, 1981, Voldemort came to our house and murdered my parents. He also tried to kill me but the killing curse rebounded and hit Voldemort instead.

I am known as the boy who lived in the wizarding world.

Fred has also been showing me magic. I have learnt the stunning spell, the levitation charm, and the disarming spell.

Dumbledore was silent for a moment. Then he started to explain.

"I left you at your aunt and uncle because my priority was to keep you alive. You were in more danger than perhaps anyone but I realised. Voldemort had been vanquished hours before, but his supporters-and many of them are almost as terrible as he-were still at large, angry, desperate and violent. And I had to make my decision, too, with regard to the years ahead.

Did I believe that Voldemort was gone for ever? No. I knew not whether it would be ten, twenty or fifty years before he returned, but I was sure he would do so, and I was sure, too, knowing him as I have done, that he would not rest until he killed you.

I knew that Voldemort's knowledge of magic is perhaps more extensive than any wizard alive. I knew that even my most complex and powerful protective spells and charms were unlikely to be invincible if he ever returned to full power. 'But I also knew where Voldemort was weak. And so I made my decision. You would be protected by an ancient magic of which he knows, which he despises, and which he has always, therefore, underestimated-to his cost. I am speaking, of course, of the fact that your mother died to save you. She gave you a lingering protection he never expected, a protection that flows in your veins to this day. I put my trust, therefore, in your mother's blood. I delivered you to her sister, her only remaining relative.

"She doesn't love me," I said at once. "She doesn't give a damn."

"But she took you," Dumbledore cut across me. 'She may have taken you grudgingly, furiously, unwillingly, bitterly, yet still she took you, and in doing so, she sealed the charm I placed upon you. Your mother's sacrifice made the bond of blood the strongest shield I could give you. I see that I did not make the best decision and for that I am very sorry.

After you ran away, I was very worried. There still are people out there who mean you harm. You are very lucky that Fred found you."

Dumbledore started looking around.

"He left after he saw you, Sirius, and Remus coming," I said.

"Come on Harry. We are going to my home now," sirius said.

He bent down and grabbed my hand.

"I am going to aparate us to my house. Don't be scared, okay?

I nodded my head and in a minute later, Sirius and Remus had enveloped me in their arms. We had almost silently apparated to the small park near Number Twelve Grimmauld Place.

I could not see Number 12. That meant only one thing. The house was already under the Fidelius Charm.

I looked at Sirius who was busy scribbling something on a piece of parchment.

"Here Harry," said Sirius giving me the piece of parchment on which the address was written on. ""Read that. I will explain everything once we are inside the house. I have only been here since two days ago myself."

I looked at the piece of parchment. The Black home may be found at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place.

"Read it?" Sirius asked me when he looked up. "Now look straight and repeat the words in your mind."

I already had and now I could see the familiar home appearing between numbers 11 and 13.

"Wow Sirius. This is so cool! Is it magic?" I asked.

Sirius nodded happily and taking my hand, went to the door and opened it. I was having flashbacks to the part of the summer after fourth year when I had stepped into Grimmauld Place for the first time.

"Filth! Scum! By-products of dirt and vileness! Half-breeds, mutants, freaks, be gone from this place! How dare you be foul the house of my fathers?"

"Shut up!" I yelled.

I pulled out a knife from my bag and charged at the portrait. I began slashing at it. After a minute of slashing the thing, I stepped back and pointed my finger at the portrait.

In a couple of seconds it was on fire.

Remus and Sirius put out the fire after the portrait was burned.

"Wow", said Sirius. "I never thought that I could destroy the portrait like that.

This is my parents' home and I am going to get it all cleaned up this week. So think of good ideas to decorate and after lunch you can explore the house and choose your room. Mine is the first door on the left on the second floor and Remus here has the next.

I had never seen Remus so happy. Not when he had been teaching in my third year, and not when he was having an on off relationship with Tonks in my sixth year.

"Can you tell me more about my mum and dad?' I asked Remus.

Remus's face grew sad. He smiled softly at me and nodded.

Remus started telling me about the Marauders during their years at Hogwarts.

I was laughing when I heard about some of the pranks they pulled.

After Remus told me a few stories about my parents, we went into the kitchen and had a huge lunch.

After lunch we went into the drawing room.

"Can I go and explore the house please?" I asked Sirius when we had sat down, curiosity in my eyes.

"Of course you can. Don't forget to choose your room. Remus and I will help you decorate it as you would like." Sirius told me grinning a bit tiredly. Remus who was looking at Sirius anxiously nodded to me before turning back to him.

"Sirius, I think you should rest." Remus turned to me. "He has not been very well, Harry. We will explain everything to you once all of us settle down."

I nodded looking at Sirius with equal anxiety before I was shooed away by Sirius who told me that he was tired and needed some sleep.

Remus levitated Sirius into his room.

I waited until they had gone and then raced up the stairs. I went directly to the third floor and opened one of the rooms and went straight to the cabinet. I cast my magic to keep Kreacher away and then swiftly removed the locket from inside the cabinet and banished it to my shrunken bag.

I quickly ran up to the attic. I knew THAT Remus would come after ME once he had Sirius settled down and he would not leave ME alone for a long time.

I was right. I had only opened the attic door, gone inside, came out directly, and went down into the third floor into the room I had gone before to retrieve the horcrux when Remus came searching for me.

I was standing innocently by the cabinet.

"Ah, there you are Harry. Come along, most of these things are not fit to be touched. They have a combination of hexes and jinxes on them that could hit out at those who touch them. You did not touch anything did you?"

I shook my head and then followed Remus. Soon we were exploring the house and Remus was giving me a crash course in Wizarding History and about any item he felt safe I could know about.

I chose the next room to the one I had shared with Ron. The room I had chosen was Hermione's and Ginny's before.

July 31st, 1991.

The past 6 years had been great.

Sirius and Remus had bought me extra birthday and Christmas presents every year, every Halloween we visited my parent's graves, and Sirius got reinstated as an Auror'.

I also learnt lots of new pranks from Sirius and Remus, and we played lots of Quidditch.

Now it was my 11th birthday and I was shopping for my school supplies in Diagon Alley with Remus.

I kept having flashbacks when I saw Gringots. The goblin bowed as we walked inside. Now we were facing a second pair of doors, silver this time, with words engraved upon them.

Enter, stranger, but take heed.

Of what awaits the sin of greed.

For those who take, but do not earn, Must pay most dearly in their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors, A treasure that was never yours, thief, you have been warned, beware, of finding more than treasure there.

A pair of goblins bowed us through the silver doors and we were in the vast marble hall.

"Good Morning," said Remus to a free goblin. "We have come to take some money out of Harry Potter's vault."

"Do you have his key, sir?"

I took out the key from my pocket and handed over.

The goblin looked at it closely.

"That seems to be in order."

I skouled at Griphook as he came to take us to my vault. We could have been killed when he betrayed us. Hermione, Ron, and I were very lucky to have escaped alive.

We followed him toward one of the doors leading off the hall.

After getting some money we arrived back outside Gringots.

Next, we went to Madam Malkin's.

"Hogwarts, dear?" said Madam Malkin. "Got the lot here, another young man being fitted up just now, in fact."

In the back of the shop, Malfoy was standing on a footstool, while a second witch pinned up his long black robes. Madam Malkin stood me on a stool next to him, slipped a long robe over my head, and began to pin it to the right length.

"Hello," said Malfoy, "Hogwarts, too?"

"Yes," I said.

"My father's next door buying my books and mother's up the street looking at wands," said Malfoy. "Then I'm going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first years can't have their own. I think I'll bully father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow.

"Have you got your own broom?"

"Yes. I got the Nimbus 2000. It is one of my birthday presents," said Harry.

"Play Quidditch at all?"

"Yes. I am a seeker.

"I do. Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree. Know what house you'll be in yet?"

"Not yet. I suppose I will find out once I get there. I am hoping to be in Gryffindor. That is where my parents and uncles were," I said.

"Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been, imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"

"No."

There was silence for a few moments, then Madam Malkin said, "That's you done, my dear," and we left the shop.

After buying parchment, quills, ink, school books, cauldron, scales, potion ingredients, a collapsible brass telescope, and Headwig, we went to Ollivanders to get a wand.

"Good Afternoon," said Mr. Ollivander.

He was standing before us, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.

"Hello, Mr. Ollivander," I said.

"Ah yes," said Ollivander. "Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you soon. Harry Potter. "You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work."

"Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it - it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."

"I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that killed your parents," he said softly. "Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands. Well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do." He shook his head and then, to my relief, spotted Remus.

"Remus Lupin! How nice to see you again! Ten and a quarter inches, made of cypress, and contained a unicorn hair core. wasn't it?"

"Yes it was, sir."

Now, Mr. Potter. Let me see. He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket.

"Which is your wand arm?"

I held out my right arm.

He measured me from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round my head. As he measured, he said, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand. "

Mr. Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.

"That will do," he said, and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor. "Right then, Mr. Potter. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. just take it and give it a wave."

I took the wand and waved it around a bit, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of my hand almost at once.

"Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try,"

I tried – but I had hardly raised the wand when it, too, was snatched back by Mr. Ollivander.

"No, no, here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on, go on, try it out. "

I tried, and tried. The pile of tried wands was mounting higher and higher on the spindly chair, but the more wands Mr. Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the happier he seemed to become.

"Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere, I wonder, now - yes, why not? Unusual combination, holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple. "

I took the wand. I felt a sudden warmth in my fingers. I raised the wand above my head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light on to the walls. Remus whooped and clapped and Mr. Ollivander cried, "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well, how curious. How very curious."

He put my wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, "Curious, curious.

This time, I did not ask what was curious.

After paying 7 Galleons for my wand, we exited the shop.

September 1st, 1991.

I calmly walked through the barrier to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, ignoring all the stares I was getting. Beside me stood Sirius and Remus.

After hugging them good-bye and promising to write, I made my way to the empty compartment near the end of the train.

At 11 o'clock, the train started moving.

After some time the door of the compartment slid open and Ron came in.

"Anyone sitting there?" he asked, pointing at the seat opposite me. "Everywhere else is full."

I shook my head and Ron sat down.

"Hey, Ron," said Fred.

"Listen, we're going down the middle of the train, Lee Jordan's got a giant tarantula down there," said George.

"Right," mumbled Ron.

"Are they your brothers?" I asked.

"Yeah," said Ron.

"Who are you?" asked Fred.

"I'm Harry Potter, said harry.

Ron, Fred, and George gasped.

"Are you really Harry Potter?" Ron blurted out.

I rolled my eyes. Of course I am Harry Potter."

Ron stared at me for a few moments, and as though he suddenly realised what he was doing, he looked quickly out of the window.

The twins got up to go.

"See you later." Said both of the twins together.

"Bye," said Harry and Ron. The twins slid the compartment door shut behind them.

"Are all your family wizards?" I asked.

"Er. Yes, I think so," said Ron. "I think Mum's got a second cousin who's an accountant, but we never talk about him."

"Have you got any brothers or sisters?" I asked.

"Five," said Ron, looking gloomy.

"I'm the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts. You could say I've got a lot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have already left. Bill was head boy and Charlie was captain of Quidditch. Now Percy's a prefect. Fred and George mess around a lot, but they still get really good marks and everyone thinks they're really funny. Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it's no big deal, because they did it first. You never get anything new, either, with five brothers. I've got Bill's old robes, and Charlie's old wand.

After purchasing everything from the trolley witch, I looked at Dumbledore's card.

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE.

CURRENTLY HEADMASTER OF HOGWARTS.

Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling.

After some time, there was a knock on the door of our compartment and Neville came in. He looked tearful.

"Sorry," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?"

When we shook our heads, he wailed, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"

"He'll turn up," I said.

"Yes," said Neville miserably. "Well, if you see him."

He left.

"Don't know why he's so bothered," said Ron. "If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it as quick as I could."

After some time, the compartment door slid open again. Neville was back, but this time, he had Hermione with him.

She was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes.

"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one," she said in her sort of bossy voice.

"We've already told him we haven't seen it, but I can try and summon it", ," I said.

"I have practised the summoning charm. I can summon your toad for you. Come and sit with us."

Hermione and Neville left the compartment to get their trunks.

After Neville and Hermione sat down, I raised my wand and said, "Accio Trevor."

After a few seconds, Neville's toad zoomed into my hand.

"Trevor!" cried Neville blissfully, holding out his hands.

I gave Trevor to Neville and closed the compartment door.

"Well, I think we should all introduce ourselves," I said.

"I'm Ron Weasley," said Ron.

"I'm Neville Longbottom," said Neville.

"I'm Hermione Granger," said Hermione.

"I'm Harry Potter," said Harry.

"Are you really?" said Hermione. "I know all about you, of course - I got a few extra books, for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."

I held up my hand to stop her.

"I wouldn't believe everything in those books, there is no way of knowing if what some books say is the truth, There is also the fact that there were only four people present that night, two are dead, one is missing, and I have never been questioned about it, so where did they get their facts from?"

Everyone in The compartment sat in shocked silence.

Ron broke the silence.

"You said about that night, only being four people there, you said only two were."

I gave him a sad smile, "Yeah, my parents."

Neville interjected, "But what about you-know-who, he died as well… didn't he?"

I looked them all in the eye, "For starters Nev, his name is Voldemort." I gave a small glare at them when they yelped at the name, though I was happy to notice Ron's shudder was quite a bit smaller than Neville's, even Hermione gave a small shudder. "Or if you prefer you can call him by his real name, 'Tom Riddle."

I got some very curious looks. "Oh come on, you didn't really think he was a proper Lord did you?" I got blank looks of incredulity back at me, causing me to roll my eyes. "Fine, I'll show you." I raised my wand, and showed them the anagram that made up Voldemort's name.

Hermione commented on it first, "It doesn't mention that in any of the books about his rise to power."

Neville nodded "Yeah and Riddle isn't a magical name that I'm familiar with. Wait does that mean that…"

I smiled at him and nodded. "Yep, the greatest dark lord in history, one who believes that the mixing of magical and muggle blood is a crime that is punishable by death, is the son of a muggle."

"I wonder if all those death eaters knew they were serving a half-blood all this time.

For the next couple of hours after the heavy discussions finished, we talked about nothing of real consequence, just the classes and quidditch. I was surprised that Hermione seemed more interested in quidditch this time around, and Neville managed to convey his impressive skills and knowledge in herbology.

Suddenly, the compartment door slid open and Malfoy, along with Crab and goyal came in.

"Is it true?" said Malfoy. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?"

"Yes." I answered.

"Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle," said Malfoy carelessly, noticing where I was looking. "My name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

Ron gave a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snigger. Malfoy looked at him.

"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford. "

He turned back to me. "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there. "

He held out his hand to shake mine, but I didn't take it.

"I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks," I said coolly.

A pink tinge appeared in Malfoy's pale cheeks.

"I'd be careful if I were you, Potter," he said slowly. "Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good for them, either. You hang around with riffraff like the Weasleys, Longbottom, and filthy little mudbloods like her, it'll rub off on you. "

Both Ron and I stood up.

"Say that again," Ron said, his face as red as his hair.

I suddenly pulled Malfoy close, and whispered, "I will be watching you, and I will be waiting. If you try to harm my friends in any way, what I did to the Dark Lord will be nothing compared to what I do to you.

Try thinking for yourself for once, instead of blindly following your father. Now, sometime soon, you are going to have to make a decision about your own future. Before you make that decision, you should do a little research on a half-blood who went to this school fifty years ago named Tom Marvolo Riddle. Take a roll of parchment and write out that name. Tom Marvolo Riddle. Now, write out I am Lord Voldemort. You will find it extremely curious that they are an anagram of each other."

I then released Malfoy, and sat down. Draco looked even paler than normal, and surprised. With as much dignity as he could muster, he swept his eyes over all four of us and left, Crabbe and Goyle following.

After a while, all of us got changed into our school robes.

A voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately. "

I let Headwig out of her cage, and in 5 minutes, the train reached Hogwarts.

I smiled after seeing Hogwarts whole. My mind kept going back to the battle of Hogwarts but I tried to put that out of my mind.

There was no battle, Hogwarts was not in ruins, and we were all safe.

"No more than four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Ron and I were followed into our boat by Neville and Hermione.

"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then. Forward!"

And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over us as we sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.

After getting out of the boat, we walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.

"Everyone here? "

Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.

The door swung open at once. Professor McGonagall stood there in emerald Green robes.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

She pulled the door wide.

Professor McGonagall showed us into a small, empty chamber off the hall. We crowded in, standing rather closer together than we would usually have done, peering about nervously.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. "

Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose.

In the great hall, Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of us. On top of the stool she put the sorting hat.

Everyone in the hall was now staring at the hat. For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth - and the hat began to sing:

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty, but don't judge on what you see, I'll eat myself if you can find, a smarter hat than me. You can keep your bowlers black, your top hats sleek and tall, for I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat, and I can cap them all. There's nothing hidden in your head, The Sorting Hat can't see, so try me on and I will tell you, where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart, their daring, nerve, and chivalry, Set Gryffindor's apart.

You might belong in Hufflepuff, where they are just and loyal, those patient Hufflepuffs are true, And unafraid of toil.

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, if you've a ready mind, here those of wit and learning, Will always find their kind.

Or perhaps in Slytherin, you'll make your real friends, those cunning folk use any means to achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid! And don't get in a flap! You're in safe hands, though I have none, for I'm a Thinking Cap!"

The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.

"So we've just got to try on the hat!" Ron whispered to me. "I'll kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll."

Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"

Hannah stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. A moment's pause.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.

The Hufflepuff table cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down.

I saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at her.

"Bones, Susan!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah.

"Boot, Terry!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

The Ravenclaw table clapped this time; and several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them.

Mandy Brocklehurst went to Ravenclaw too, but Lavender Brown became the first new Gryffindor, and The Gryffindor table exploded with cheers. I could see Fred and George catcalling.

"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Granger, Hermione!"

Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head. "GRYFFINDOR!"

When Neville was called, he fell over on his way to the stool. The hat took a long time to decide with him. When it finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR," Neville ran towards the GRYFFINDOR table and took a seat next to Hermione.

Malfoy swaggered forward when his name was called and got his wish at once: the hat had barely touched his head when it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!"

Malfoy went to join Crabbe and Goyle, looking pleased with himself.

The sorting went on and then, finally, "Potter, Harry!"

As I stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall.

"Potter, did she say?" "The Harry Potter?"

The last thing I saw before the hat dropped over my eyes was the hall full of people craning to get a good look at me. Next second I was looking at the black inside of the hat.

I waited. "Well, well, well, what do we have here?" a small voice asked in my ear.

"Time travel and master of death. How interesting."

"Your plan is an audacious one; you seek to meddle with the workings of time and fate."

"We had lost a lot of people," I thought bitterly.

"True. I wish you well in this endeavour. Never fear, I will keep your secrets. The more who know the greater the risk. Don't change too much though, otherwise your future knowledge will be useless."

"Thank you. Er, would it be possible to ask for one small favour?"

"What favour is that?"

"I know you'll put Ron and his sister Ginny into Gryffindor as well. But there is a new student next year named Luna Lovegood. She'll be sorted into Ravenclaw, but she'll have a pretty bad time of it. She'll become a good friend, but I think the harassment from her own house was not a good thing for her. Could you possibly put her in Gryffindor where I can keep an eye on her?"

"I will allow this, unless she is completely opposed to your house, which I doubt will be the case. Are you prepared to deal with the consequences of your meddling?"

"It's what I came here to do."

"Very well. Though I must congratulate you on a plan worthy of the most cunning Slytherin; I had best send you with your future friends into GRYFFINDOR!"

I walked confidently to the Gryffindor table. Percy got up and shook my hand vigorously, while the Weasley twins yelled, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"

After the sorting, Dumbledore got to his feet and beamed at us with his arms opened wide.

"Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!

"Thank you!"

He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered.

The dishes in front of me were now piled with food.

The feast went the same way as it did last time, then Dessert appeared.

As I helped myself to a treacle tart, the talk turned to our families. "I'm half-and-half," said Seamus. "Me dad's a Muggle. Mum didn't tell him she was a witch 'til after they were married. Bit of a nasty shock for him." We laughed.

"What about you, Neville?" said Ron.

"Well, my gran brought me up and she's a witch," said Neville, "but the family thought I was all-Muggle for ages. My Great Uncle Algie kept trying to catch me off my guard and force some magic out of me - he pushed me off the end of Blackpool pier once, I nearly drowned - but nothing happened until I was eight. Great Uncle Algie came round for dinner, and he was hanging me out of an upstairs window by the ankles when my Great Auntie Enid offered him a meringue and he accidentally let go. But I bounced - all the way down the garden and into the road. They were all really pleased, Gran was crying, she was so happy. And you should have seen their faces. When I got in here - they thought I might not be magic enough to come, you see. Great Uncle Algie was so pleased he bought me my toad."

"Your Great Uncle Algie should have not done that," I said. "You were very lucky that you had magic, otherwise you would have gotten badly hurt or even possibly killed. You need to learn to stand up for yourself. The only thing you need is self-confidence. Don't let other people's words or actions affect you. Always believe in yourself. You have been put into Gryffindor for a reason. The reason you have been put into Gryffindor is because you are brave. You have got 3 friends. Hermione, Ron, and myself. We will help you. Then you can show your family how powerful you really are.

You need to stand up to those who hurt you or throw insults at you. You need to show them what you are capable of.

Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. You need to play to your strengths and prove all those people wrong."

Neville nodded. He had a thoughtful expression on his face.

On my other side, Percy and Hermione were talking about lessons. "I do hope they start right away, there's so much to learn, I'm particularly interested in Transfiguration, you know, turning something into something else, of course, it's supposed to be very difficult - "; "You'll be starting small, just matches into needles and that sort of thing - ").

I was starting to feel warm and sleepy.

I looked up at the High Table again. Hagrid was drinking deeply from his goblet. Professor McGonagall was talking to Professor Dumbledore and Quirrell was talking to Snape. I kept having flashbacks about him dying in the shrieking shack.

I respected Snape now, but this time, I was not going to let him be nasty to the other houses especially Gryffindor and myself.

Suddenly, Snape looked past Quirrell's turban straight into my eyes and I quickly looked the other way.

After a while, the desserts disappeared, and Dumbledore got to his feet. The hall fell silent.

"Ahem, just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.

"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that, as well. "

Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.

"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch, "And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

I instantly started thinking about how I was going to deal with Quirrell this time around.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore.

He gave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words.

"Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!"

And the school bellowed:

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts.

Teach us something please.

Whether we be old and bald, or young with scabby knees.

Our heads could do with filling, With some interesting stuff, For now they're bare and full of air, Dead flies and bits of fluff.

So teach us things worth knowing, Bring back what we've forgot, just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot."

Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only Fred and George were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest.

"Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

The Gryffindor first years followed Percy through the chattering crowds, out of the Great Hall, and up the marble staircase. My legs were like lead again, but only because I was so tired and full of food.