I have to admit, I really am sorry about how long it took me to update these things. I've been busy and lazy and I've had school work…sheesh I can't believe how many people really like this. I'm really glad you all do so I'll just make the introduction short here. Thanks everyone!

Notes: (X) Point of View change or a jump in time or things like that.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Thank you: Cabuckeye for betaing!

Warnings: It's shonen ai.

Chapter 3: Where to Start

Not really wanting to, but having very little choice, Harry had followed Lupin into the hall silently ignoring all the stares turning his way. None of them cared about him, in fact, they were probably hoping he would be blamed for Mrs. Weasley's death and sent off to Azkaban for it.

He frowned slightly wondering where those thoughts had come from. They cared about him a little bit at least, didn't they? Of course they did. Everyone in that room had risked their lives or reputations at least once for Harry. He had to just be over thinking things. With all the stress and tension going on in number twelve, it had to be a normal reaction to become paranoid.

"Harry, now tell me the truth. Did that shadow leave the necklace last night?" Lupin asked calmly.

Harry thought it over for a few minutes. Had the shadow left? He really wasn't too sure. He'd gone to bed and then silence. Peaceful silence with dreams that he was unable to be awaken from.

"I don't think so…" He responded hoping he sounded convincing. He didn't know what the truth was, but knew if he told that to Lupin, the werewolf would no doubt get suspicious and the necklace would be taken from him. The words however sounded hollow even to him and he understood why a frown crossed Lupin's face.

"You don't think so…Harry, this is a very serious thing that has just happened. If you know anything at all-"

"I know it's serious," Harry screamed his anger rising. "Mrs. Weasley is dead and she died with me holding a grudge against her!"

A silence fell over them and Harry tried his best to get himself under control. He was already being accused of underage magic for the second time, but if the court thought he'd gone and murdered someone he was sure he'd be sent to Azkaban without second thought.

Everyone who'd deemed him evil in the past would say they were right. And then he'd be left alone with no one to turn to. The necklace would be taken away and they'd let the Dementors come in and…Harry shivered at the thought of having his soul stolen through his mouth and tears started streaming down his face. It was horrible that Mrs. Weasley was gone, but he didn't want the necklace taken. Even if the order threw him to Voldemort, as long as he had the necklace…

"I didn't do it…"

If the outburst had caused Lupin any shock, it seemed nothing compared to what he felt when those words left Harry's mouth.

"Harry, I never even thought that you were the cause of it. I know you would never hurt Mrs. Weasley intentionally," Lupin answered immediately.

Harry nodded slowly and they both looked up when Sirius walked into the hall. He looked from his lover to his godson and wasn't completely sure as to whose side to take. He finally decided on staying neutral.

"What do we know?"

"Sirius, you help me out here. I'm worried that the Shadow had something to do with Mrs. Weasley's death," Lupin said filling his boyfriend in as quickly as he could on the subject without getting anyone else dragged into it.

"Remus, didn't you hear? The death was caused for sure, by a witch or wizard, not a magical creature or item."

Harry instantly felt a wave of relief. It was definitely understandable that Lupin had thought the Shadow was behind Mrs. Weasley's death, even Harry had thought that for a moment, but he would still die trying to defend it. Hearing now that there was no way the Shadow, a magical creature, could do it, made him feel that much surer that the Shadow was innocent.

"When did you find this out?" Lupin asked surprised.

"I told him." The three of them looked up as Mad-Eye Moody walked into the hall his magical glass eye swirling around crazily. "Got yourselves into a lot of trouble while I was gone. I told you to always be on guard!"

Everyone shifted nervously at this and Harry found himself getting quite annoyed again. What had gone from a talk alone with Lupin, which he was quite used to having, Sirius had joined in -which was all right- , but now with Mad-Eye Moody it was getting uncomfortable. Ron and Hermione would no doubt be the next to walk over and join in as if things weren't bad enough already.

"Listen…from what I know I have nothing at all to do with this," Harry said flatly all three of the men turning to look at him.

"And what happens if you just don't remember," Mad-Eye asked making Harry's insides turn a bit. What if he really didn't just remember and he had killed Mrs. Weasley? He had after all, gotten very mad at her. And hadn't magic been known to happen without a wand or control if the wizard or witch in question is very angry? Or worse, what if the Shadow had tricked him into doing it?

"Don't go around accusing my godson for something we're not even sure he did," Sirius said emotionlessly.

"I'm only going over things that may have happened," Moody, answered without a second thought.

Lupin sighed. He didn't seem to like the direction this conversation was going. If things went on this way he just knew Sirius and Mad-Eye would get into a fight and it wouldn't be pretty.

"Why don't we just drop this until morning," Remus asked hopefully. Harry nodded quickly and excused himself back into the room they'd just come out of while Sirius and Mad-Eye squared each other off. "Don't do this," he pleaded looking from his lover to the Auror.

Finally, after a few more agonizing long moments, they agreed to just go back into the living room and watch over the others while they slept.

Harry had walked in and scanned the room a bit doing his best to try and not acknowledge the stares Ron and Hermione were giving him.

'They both think I did it,' He thought to himself sitting back down in the chair he'd been in before Lupin had dragged him off to talk. 'Some great friends they are.' Harry refused to look at them and closed his eyes trying to relax. He wasn't going to admit to anything, not unless he had proof that he'd done it.

Sirius and the others walked in a few moments later and took their own seats again. They didn't look at Harry anymore and he was just fine with that. He didn't need anyone, well, no one besides the Shadow.

So what if they thought the Shadow had murdered Mrs. Weasley, it hadn't he knew that. Why would it murder anyone? It was just a necklace and it wanted him only, no one else. It wouldn't waste its time going around and killing people. Harry was all it worried or cared about….wasn't it?

Harry let out a small sigh and leaned back in the chair more. What if the Shadow was just using him? Maybe it just wanted to destroy the Order and it figured the only way to do so was through Harry. Yet, hadn't Dumbledore been the one who'd given Harry the necklace in the first place?

Did that mean Dumbledore was evil? The thought of a death eater in the guise of a headmaster working for Voldemort wasn't a pleasant one. He'd always said he didn't fear Voldemort. Perhaps it wasn't, because Dumbledore was so strong, but because he worked for him.

'No that can't be right,' Harry finally decided. Dumbledore had brought Harry to live with his aunt and uncle and had done everything in his power to keep Harry safe. Though couldn't that work two ways? What if Dumbledore had just kept him safe in hopes that he'd turn sides and go with him to help Voldemort?

Harry let out a small groan and started rubbing his temples. He was thinking way too much.

"Are you alright Harry," Lupin asked cautiously.

"Fine…," Harry muttered back, but he knew he wasn't. Not really. Everything around him seemed to be shattering. What was once his normal life -even if that wasn't completely normal- was gone. His friends were turning their backs on him and even the people he thought loved him as though he was their own child were backing off.

Lupin frowned a bit looking around. Everyone, even if it was just out of the corner of their eyes, was staring at Harry. Somehow, they had all come to the conclusion that Harry had gone out of his way to kill Mrs. Weasley. They had no proof what so ever, but for reasons unknown to him, he was being blamed. Did they also know about the Shadow?

(X)

The night went on uneventful and then finally, morning came. When Harry was awoken to get ready, the thought that he still had to go to court today set down heavily on him. They would go, he'd be trialed and while they were deciding on what to do there, everyone in number twelve would be wondering how they could prove that he killed Mrs. Weasley.

The only thing he had to calm him down now was his necklace. The shadow seemed to be the only thing that wasn't accusing him. It was the only thing that seemed to be okay with what was going on and didn't blame him for what had happened or anything at all for that matter.

In his dreams, he'd been alone again in the long hall, but no matter how alone he seemed…continuously watched. He could never see anything, but he felt it. And not only felt it, but he heard it as well.

Shaking his head and trying to clear it, Harry followed Mr. Weasley into the Ministry of Magic. It was going to be a long morning he knew, but eventually he'd make it into the court and he'd feel even worse.

He wondered after a while, once they'd entered the building, if he'd be able to fight his way out if he lost the trial. It'd be possible wouldn't it? And maybe even the Shadow would come out and help him. He that would never happen, but the thought was the only bit of relief he had, had all morning. Mr. Weasley had barely said anything to him and Harry was feeling awkward that the man who'd just lost his wife had to take time out of his grieving to bring him to the ministry.

After a few moments he realized they'd made their way into the actually court room without his knowing it. Mr. Weasley had left and he stood their alone while about 50 people sat staring at him trying to measure him as best they could.

Without thinking, Harry's hand immediately went up to his necklace and he slowly moved forward when Fudge bade him to do so. He took a seat down in a hard wooden chair with chains all around it. He'd seen those chains go from limp to around a person within seconds if need be. This thought made his stomach knot a bit and he started playing with the necklace more.

"Alright then," Fudgestarted naming off people who were to be in the court. He was almost finished when Dumbledore strolled in past Harry and stated that he'd be the defense for the witness.

Some of the people in the court were angered by this, but Dumbledore either didn't notice or didn't care, no doubt being the later. Harry wasn't too sure how to react. He wanted to thank Dumbledore all of a sudden for the necklace, but at the same time, he felt like getting up and kicking the headmaster for everything else.

While Fudge and Dumbledore exchanged a few words, Harry's eyes fell on Percy whom he'd just noticed was in the same room with him. Percy gave him an evil smirk and then went back to writing notes as though he'd never stopped. Harry wasn't completely sure what that was about, but he wasn't sure he wanted to know either. How could Mrs. Weasley's son be at work as if nothing had happened the night before? Did he even know his mother was dead?

His thoughts were broken off a few seconds later when a large chair appeared beside him and Dumbledore sat down. He wasn't really sure what do or what or think. Was Dumbledore really on his side? Or was he with Voldemort like he'd thought not too long ago.

"It'll be alright Harry," Dumbledore whispered and instantly Harry felt a bit better. The court went on and Harry did his best to try to explain what had happen, of course, no one would let him speak. After a long series of buts, he finally shot a glare at all of them.

"I was attacked by Dementors." Harry growled his hands beginning to tightly clench into fist. The others on the court looked from one another and whispered in hushed hurried tones.

"A Dementor? Ha! Attacked by something only magical beings can see, what an excuse boy," Fudge laughed as though Harry had gone insane.

Dumbledore and a few of the others on the court frowned at this.

"I'm not lying!"

"Do you have any proof of this? Any witnesses," Fudge asked with a self-assured smirk across his face.

"Actually, yes we do," Dumbledore answered for Harry and the look instantly dropped off Fudge's face. He hadn't expected that.

Harry to was a bit shocked to find out there was a witness. He left his gaze fall on the witness and smiled. Of course, there'd been a witness! Hadn't he been saved more or less by Mrs. Figg?

All of the worry in Harry's body left him and he now gave Fudge an evil look that sent shivers down the minister's spine. Harry was safe, and he knew it. Without even bothering to pay attention to the rest of the hearing, Harry felt himself drift off into his own mind to where he could now easily make contact with the Shadow.

'You knew you wouldn't be convicted. If they'd tried, I'd of intervened,' the Shadow mused wrapping its arms around Harry. Harry of course relaxed and everyone else seemed to think this was due to the fact Mrs. Figghad stepped up to help him. No one had to know about the Shadow anyway. What they didn't know and couldn't see couldn't hurt them.

'Or could it?' He asked himself his thoughts drifting back to Mrs. Weasley.

'I didn't do it Harry…you know I didn't,' the Shadow whispered to him in his mind. Harry instantly decided the shadow wouldn't lie to him, that it hadn't done anything to Mrs. Weasley at all. 'I do know who did though,' it went on tightening its embrace around him.

He let out a small sigh and closed his eyes relaxing even more. He couldn't help it; he felt absolutely safe right now. Dumbledore was here, and the shadow was protecting him, he was invincible.

'So who did it?' Harry finally had the mental strength to ask. He was answered by a low chuckle and a kiss on the neck.

'If I told you, it'd hurt you. I think I shall keep it to myself, for now,' it mused and finally stopped giving Harry a hard time so he could pay attention to the rest of the trial.

Harry shivered and looked up when the sound of a high-pitched girl started to speak. He blinked a few times making sure he was hearing the voice from the right person, he was sure he was looking at a frog, not a witch. She went on however questioning Dumbledore if he was in fact saying it was the Ministry's fault for the Dementor attack.

As Dumbledore gave his answer, her gaze fell on Harry who she gave a very cold and evil look. Harry felt the Shadow release him and for a moment, he thought it'd vanished until he saw that the woman speaking started to turn blue. She'd stopped talking all together even though Dumbledore had finished his sentence and had started grabbing at her throat.

All the members of the court quickly looked to her and tried to find some reason as to why she was grabbing at her own throat. They found nothing and seeing no one with any wands out could find no explanation as to why she couldn't breathe.

'No! Stop,' Harry demanded of the Shadow. It seemed reluctant to listen, but sure enough Umbridge was slowly getting her breath back and the Shadow rewrapped itself around Harry.

'I'm not listening to you, because you have control over me,' it warned its hand trailing down the side of Harry's face. 'Rather, I hate to hear you sound so pitiful,' it hissed and vanished.

Instantly all the emotions Harry had been feeling before came rushing back at him. The fears of being utterly alone and being convicted hit him dead on. When he tried to think logically that he had a witness, that Dumbledore was there and he'd be fine, he remembered that even if he was, Ron and the others thought he'd murdered Mrs. Weasley.

Even if he wasn't sent to jail, his life would feel like one anyway. No doubt, the minute they would arrive at Hogwarts Ron would go on telling everyone how Harry had murdered his mother and Hermione would do the same wanting to see Ron happy and Harry punished. He'd likely be called into trialagain and when that happened, he'd be convicted just because Fudge felt like it.

He took in a deep, shaky breath and Harry noticed the headmaster still refused to look at him.

'He thinks I murdered Mrs. Weasley too,' He thought to himself an emotional barrier finally coming up. Everyone was against him and the one thing that hadn't been, he'd gone and made angry. Harry's whole world was once again being turned upside down and there were no handholds this time.

(X)

Harry hadn't been convicted, but it sure didn't feel that way. The necklace didn't have the same warm and comforting feeling it usually did and he wondered if maybe the necklace he'd been given had one wish in it. The case being after that wish was granted -obviously, his not going to Azkaban for the use of underage magic- the spirit within the necklace vanished.

He let out a small groan and Mr. Weasley noticed that he'd finally made it out of the courtroom. He looked down at Harry with worry clearly written across his face. Harry tried to smile, but it wouldn't come.

"I was cleared of everything," he said trying to assure Mr. Weasley. "Everything's going to be fine." The last part was to convince himself.

"That's great," Mr. Weasley said. Neither of them looked happy despite the wonderful outcome though.

They headed up the stairs in silence, not quite knowing what to say. Harry wondered if Mr. Weasley like the others were blaming him for his wife's death. He was in the room though when it had happened maybe he wouldn't blame Harry. Surely he'd of heard or saw something, but he didn't have the nerve to ask him, not so soon.

Both Harry and Mr. Weasley stopped dead in their tracks seeing Lucius Malfoy. Said man turned to look at them, a long, evil smile crossing over his features, as he looked Harry up and down.

"Well, well, well…Patronus Potter," he said as though it was Harry's real name. Harry glared at him, but said nothing. "I see you've gotten out of another mess. How long do you believe your luck will hold out," he asked coldly the smile still on his lips. Harry felt the warmth flow past him and the smirk on Lucius' face vanished instantly. He eyed Harry dangerously and then turned to Fudge without a word. "Can we go somewhere more private?"

"Of course."

Fudge led Lucius towards the stairs so they could go his office, while the Shadow came back taking its place once again in Harry's necklace.

'I refuse to see him harm what's mine,' it hissed inside his mind.

Mr. Weasley wasn't too sure as to what just happened and ushered Harry into the lift and the Gryffindor following blindly. The words didn't do much to harm or insult Harry at all. He was just too happy to have the Shadow back. Even if it'd left him for only a mere few minutes, it had felt like it'd been gone for over a few hours. A few suffocating hours where he'd never be able to escape and the only choice he had was darkness. No, he decided he could never lose the Shadow. If he did, he'd end up losing his life as well.

TBC

Okay than everyone. I'm so glad for everyone's reviews! I loved them all. Read, review, had good times, days, and anything else you can until next time!