As the school term came to a close, Hunter refocused on the horcruxes. He made several attempts for the Diary. Unfortunately, Lucius was much more protective when he still had money to spend and Hunter never got close. With Sirius still alive, the House of Black refused to let Hunter in. That meant he couldn't get the Locket. The Diadem was in Hogwarts, and Nagini, well... That really left one to go for. The Ring.

He hadn't killed this one in original time-line, Dumbledore had, so he had to be more careful. He was not careful enough. Hunter arrived at the Gaunt Shack. It looked worse than the memory he had seen in Dumbledore's pensieve, but Hunter was not surprised. There were several powerful wards, and even more enchantments on the shack. Hunter spent hours getting through them. When he finally made it inside, he needed to rest. Hunter was sure that Dumbledore made it only because of the Elder Wand.

Gaining his strength back, he began searching the shack for the horcrux. He finally found it in a box under a loose floor board. He was careful with the box since even it was enchanted with dark magic. When Hunter finally got it open he forgot the curse on the ring. Before he destroyed the horcrux, he got caught by the curse on the ring. He could see it traveling up his arm. Knowing it would kill him, he cast a cutting curse at his elbow and cut off his arm. He screamed in pain but focused enough to cauterize the wound before he bled out. Hunter had to take a few minutes to recuperate before he could move. He looked down and saw his severed arm laying on the floor. It was withered and black, and looked more like a spandex glove over a skeleton. Angry with himself, he wrote a note, much like Regulus Black had, and placed it in the box with a plastic toy ring.

Tom Marvolo Riddle,

Your flight from death is at an end. You got my arm, but I have the ring. Your horcrux is gone.

YOU ARE MORTAL!

The Hunter

Dumbledore would see this first and hopefully leave it for Voldemort. If he didn't Hunter didn't care. This would give Harry the chance to really rub it in the old man's face. Hunter levitated the ring into a box and headed for Gringotts.

The goblins eliminated the horcrux and checked the ring. They found no other curses. It was only a ring, with the Ressurection Stone in it now. Hunter pocketed the ring. Ragnok pointed to his arm and asked what happened and Hunter told him of this last adventure. It didn't take long for Ragnok to get a healer to look at the wound, but as Hunter suspected, there was no saving him. He had slowed the curse immensely but like Dumbledore, it would eventually claim his life. Hunter took the time to set his affairs in order. Ragnok would watch over the accounts and Hunter gave him a few more specifics for future investments, then he left. He needed to prepare Harry.

Harry found a note from Hunter that told him to study on his own for a few days and that he would see him soon. Hunter had gone on short trips before so it was nothing new. Harry just studied as instructed and waited for his mentor to return. There were a couple movies that looked good.

Hunter was struggling to get everything arranged. The curse of the ring was working far faster than it had on Dumbledore. Hunter chuckled at the thought that Snape was very useful when he wanted to be. He wasn't going to get it all done in time, so he changed his plan. He had always suspected that he would fail before his task was complete, and had a portrait made. He was certainly on borrowed time. It was going to be close. He wrote one last letter to Harry. It explained what was happening and what he had left for the young wizard. Then he approached the Dursleys.

Vernon had been suffering for four years with this freak protecting his wife's nephew. They were living in fear in their own home. Their neighbors now judged them for their lies about the boy. What did they know? They wouldn't know anything about be held hostage in their own home. Who were they to judge good folk like his family. Now the freak was giving them orders while he went somewhere. This would not do. He had to do something, but what?

Hunter was speaking directly to Petunia. "Give this letter to Harry. I'll be gone for a while and this will explain it to him. You won't have to do anything extra. He will continue to study and by the end of the Summer, you'll be rid of him for the year. You know about Hogwarts. His letter will come soon. Just let things transpire as they were meant to and all will be well."

Hunter then returned to the trunk. He had one last thing to do. He would put what was left of his soul into the portrait and make it similar to Tom's diary. He hoped it would act as the horcux had and save young Harry. He began the ritual and as the final piece, cast the curse on himself. Now, it was up to Harry.

ACotSoT..ACotSoT..ACotSoT..ACotSoT..ACotSoT..ACotSoT..ACotSoT..

Petunia may have been content to follow Hunter's instructions but Vernon was not. He weighed the pros and cons of what he planned, and finally came to a decision. The trunk and the letter were thrown in the basement. He began eliminating every trace of the freaks' existence there, and waited for the boy to return.

When Harry did return to Privet Dr. that evening, Vernon was waiting with a maniacal look in his eyes. Now Harry was strong, but Vernon was a grown man. Stronger, larger and just a bit mad. No sooner had Harry closed the door, when he was clouted on the head and thrown into the cupboard under the stairs. He was then locked in. and Vernon took his FAMILY out to dinner.

It is said that time is like a river. That you may cause a ripple but eventually, it will return to the right course. That certainly seemed to be the case as July came to a close.

While Harry knew much more than he did if Hunter had never arrived, he was still just a boy not yet eleven. Vernon had beaten him into submission over the course of a week. Harry's spirit wasn't broken, but his body had been. His magic helped to heal him, but he was weak. Not being stupid, he knew to just bide his time and do as he was told. In September, he would be going to Hogwarts. If Hunter had been correct, Dumbledore would need him and that meant he had to rescue him from the muggles. That also brought a question to mind. Where was Hunter?

On July 24th, the letters from Hogwarts began to arrive. If Hunter had been there to see it, it was likely he'd be in hysterics at the stupidity of Vernon. Destroy one ltter, three arrive. Destroy those even more arrive. Board up the house, and the letters arrive in Petunia's eggs. Shred those and they come pouring in through the chimney. Pack up everyone and got to a motel, the letters follow them. Hide out on a hut on a rock in the water, A giant by the name of Hagrid knocks down your door.

Harry was still ignorant when it came to his parents. Hunter had told him much, but with little detail. Hagrid was filling some of those details in, but he was guarded. When they went to Diagon Alley, The changes from Hunter's life emerged. Harry was not shy, he was guarded. When the crowd in the Leaky Cauldron began closing in, Harry stood up to them all and told them to back off. Once he had control of the crowd (aided by Hagrid finally stepping in when Harry bellowed at the crowd) Harry greeted each person and played the hero. When Quirrel wouldn't shake is hand, Harry recognized him as the enemy.

At Gringotts Harry made another step toward his manhood. When Hagrid produced the key to Harry's vault, Harry spoke out. "Hagrid, if that key is to my vault, why do you have it?" Hagrid explained Dumbledore had been holding it and sent it with him when he went to get Harry. That brought a new question and made Hagrid very nervous. "Why did Dumbledore have the key to my vault?" Hagrid explained (nervously) that Dumbledore was was Harry's guardian. A lie Dumbledore had put forth years ago. The Goblin at the desk picked up on the questions and informed Ragnok while Harry and Hagrid conducted their business, aided b Griphook.

Madam Malkin's shop established what house Harry was going to be it without him even knowing it. Harry hated bullies and Draco Malfoy was certainly a bully. Their conversation was reaching the point of Harry telling the blonde ponce to sod off when the seamstress dismissed Draco and began working on Harry.

At the bookstore, Harry was perusing some titles that Hagrid was not in favor of. Harry was pushing and Hagrid pulled him away. It was not until Harry met his new owl, that he began to warm to Hagrid again. Harry knew Hagrid wasn't all that bright, but he had a genuine love of animals that could only come from a pure heart. The gigantic man may be misguided, but he was not a bad guy.

Ollivander was without a doubt, the creepiest individual Harry had ever seen. Even the movie villans were not as weird as that old man. When Harry finally got his wand, he also got a holster for it. Hunter had one and Harry wanted to emulate his mentor.

Upon returning to Privet Drive, Harry decided to re-establish who the alpha was. He was barely in the door and Vernon attacked again. Harry expected it though and ducked. Then he kicked Vernon in the family jewels a few times to make sure he went down. Then a few kicks to the ribs to prove a point before a punt to the jaw, breaking it. Then Vernon knew fear again as Harry pointed his wand between Vernon's eyes.

"If you touch me EVER again, I will cut off your arms and legs before I feed you to your sister's dog and THEN I will finish the transformation on your son into a pig. I wonder how much bacon they could make from him?" So ended the domination of Vernon Dursley.