DISCLAIMER: I still do not own Harry Potter in any way!

Harry Potter

Chapter Two

Why?

"I think," said Harry slowly, "I went to Hogwarts seven years ago, Hermione."

"Oh, stop being sarcastic, Harry!" Hermione said.

Ron walked up to Harry. "The thing is, Harry..."

"What?" Harry said. Somehow, he knew. He knew it was going to be horrible news. He felt himself sweating all over.

"As it turns out, You-Know-Who had this stupid backup Horcrux..." Ron left it hanging in the air.

"Should all of his other plans fail," finished Hermione. "Except he never told anyone. But now the truth is out."

Harry felt a low, sinking feeling in his stomach. If he could have erased everything he had just experienced from his memory, he would have.

He felt for his wand, still looking at Luna, the kids, Hermione, and Ron. His hands grasped over a thin stick. "Well, tell me more."

Jennifer Willis had turned white. She let out a whimpering noise that made Jimmy Watterson jump. Luna patted their backs to comfort them.

"Okay." Ron played with a horse figurine that Harry had collected. Harry did not care anymore whether Ron touched his things; he was excited about going to Hogwarts. "We need to go back and destroy that last Horcrux. You, me, Luna, and Hermione. Oh, and we could bring these kids along too."

Hermione punched his arm.

"What?" Ron said, evidently perplexed.

"You can't leave kids in this sort of - mess," said Hermione angrily. "That's...that's simply idiotic!"

"Lay off it, Hermione!" Ron cried, ducking her hand. "I won't bring them along. I just thought they were fun. Gosh."

Hermione rolled her eyes. Then she turned to Harry. "Harry," she said. "You must come with us. You're essential. We need you."

Harry took a deep breath. "Fine then.

"Do we have a plan?"

Agatha tugged at Luna's sleeve, who smiled. "Fine, you can say it."

Agatha stepped forward. "Here's the plan, Mr. Harry Potter, sir," she said in a squeaky voice. "You will go to Hogwarts and apply for a job as a teacher. You will be for Transfiguration - "

"Wait," Harry cut in, "if my 'thing' is Defense Against the Dark Arts, why not put me there?"

"Because we don't want people to figure out who you are!" snapped Hermione. "You could be pointed out like a sore thumb!"

Ron rolled his eyes. "You get the picture, don't you, Harry?"

Harry nodded bitterly. "Just tell me."

"Okay, well...that's it."

"What about you?" Harry said, no longer very tired. He was excited, but he was grumpy.

"Um, we'll be disguised as pupils," Hermione said. "Regular old pupils who aren't particularly bright or anything."

"Okay," said Harry. "But why me? A teacher, I mean."

"Because Voldemort's taken the form of a whole new being, and you need to watch him and you know...weedle out of him where he's hiding his Horcrux. We're too chicken to do that. But we know you can do it."

Harry felt a wave of eagerness. He, Harry, was about to be pulled from his relatively now-normal life into a heaving unending spike of action and spells and wizardry and magic.

He roused himself. "Let's do it."

Ron gave him a pat on the back. "Get ready for the ride of your life, Harry."

Harry stared into Dumbledore and Snape's eyes again and knew it was time for another battle.