Chapter Seven

A New Trio

"Ron!" Hermione half yelled, "Ginny's at the back!"

"Ginny?" questioned Harry as Ron visibly became paler.

"My little sister," he said weakly, "She was seated at the back of the train, we saw her when we were doing rounds."

Harry nodded and got up, drawing his wand, muttering 'lumos', Hermione and Ron mimicked him and together they slipped out of the compartment. There were students in the passage way of the train, talking and looking around.

"What do you think it is?" asked Harry, he got his answer when they heard laughter and screaming from the back of the train.

Everyone froze, everyone turned towards the sound, no one moved.

"They're attacking the students," Hermione whispered, "Whoever or whatever they are."

Some of the students in their part of the train started to move towards the front of the train, away from the screaming. All looking nervously round for an answer.

"We need to help them, Ron!" said Hermione, "We're prefects!"

Harry looked at the frightened faces of the students, he didn't know what was at the back of that train, but it was hurting them. If only they could get the train moving again, then they could get closer to Hogwarts and hopefully closer to help. Harry bit down on his lip and looked down at his wand, it's tip a glow with magic. If there was any point in learning magic, any point in going through all those spells, learning everything, if not to help when he was needed.

"We need to get this train moving," he said softly, his two friends looked at him, "And we need to get everyone as close to the front of the train as possible. You two go, you're prefects, they'll all trust you, see what you can do to get the driver moving this train. I'll go check out the back-"

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, "You can't! Ron! We're prefects and besides-"

"I can help!" Harry protested, "Just trust me, okay?"

"Harry-" she was cut off when Ron placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Harry," said Ron seriously, "What Hermione means is, you're not doing it alone, no offence, but we've been at this a little longer than you. I'm going with you mate. Hermione, you go warn the driver, stay safe."

Hermione's eyes widened for a moment at Ron and she almost looked as though she was going to hit him, her eyes flashed and her face filled with anger. The next, she seemed like she wanted to hug him, Harry and Ron watched the turmoil of emotions, waiting for the overload.

"Neville!" she barked suddenly, making Harry and Ron jump. A brown haired boy poked out from a crowd of kid's behind them, his round face anxious.

"Yeah?" he said a little cautiously, clearly resisting the urge to flinch at the brunette's fierce gaze which was now turned on him.

"Get everyone to the front of the train," she told him sternly, "Get to the train driver, tell the prefects too, I don't care how you do it, but get this train moving!"

Neville nodded, clearly not wanting to elicit her wrath and started making his way up the train's compartments. Ron and Harry exchanged glances, Ron seemed slightly more used to it, but even he was pale, Harry personally didn't know whether to laugh or be scared. She turned back to them, her eyes flashing, and she smiled, stepping past them to lead the way.

"Come on then you two," she huffed with a shake of her bushy head. Ron and Harry grinned and followed her to the back of the train.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHP

The train came to a very abrupt halt, Mickey nearly tumbled on top of Ally and the lights went completely out. Picking themselves up, Ally looked around in confusion.

"Is this supposed to happen?" she whispered to Nick, who merely shrugged. Even in the darkness, his eyes were wide and he seemed more alert than Ally and Mickey. Ally watched him with fascination, he looked tensed up and ready.

"Nick," she said slowly, "What's going on?"

"Something's wrong-" he started, but then the train jerked violently, and there was a loud banging sound and voices. Mickey gave a small yell of surprise and Ally gasped, her head turning towards the sound. Nick got up slowly and moved over to the compartment door. They heard footsteps coming up, doors around them slid open with a bang and they heard cries. Nick was about to open the door as well, to see what was going on, when the door suddenly slipped open and he came face to face with cloaked figure wearing a skull like mask. It looked past Nick, right to Ally. She backed up against the seat, hazel eyes wide.

"Miss Potter," the mask hissed, "So nice to finally meet you."

Mickey screamed.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Peter looked at the train, a hand clenched around his stomach. He looked at his new, silver hand and flinched. This wasn't what was supposed to happen. He'd already taken Harry from Lily and James, now they had been ordered to take Allison. He had never met the little girl, but he'd eves-dropped on Arthur Weasley in the Ministry often enough to know how proud Auror Potter was of his daughter. It was strange, standing here again, watching. He'd watched the last time too, that night that Harry was supposed to die.

Always watching.

Peter sighed, remembering his orders, but the guilt was still there, just a glimmer, but it was still there. The Dark Lord wanted to take his revenge on the Potters, and as Harry was no doubt lying in some ditch, an empty shell stripped of its soul, the next best thing was Allison Potter. She would be the first kill, the first sacrifice to announce the Dark Lord's return. Surely a fitting sacrifice at that, the sister of the child who had defeated him, the daughter of the couple who had defied him. Her blood would mark the dawn of a new era, one in which the pure blood wizard triumphed over the lowly muggle. The world would be set aright and those who helped the Dark Lord in his quest would only reap the rewards.

Power.

Its what this was all about. Peter remembered his master's coming back speech. There was no good. There was no evil. There was only power and those strong enough to take it.

To use it.

He was going to be strong enough.

Pushing all thoughts of his former friends away, as he had done so many times since, he dispelled the guilt he had felt and smiled. Everything was going to work this time. This time they would win. Drawing down the mask that marked him as a follower of the Dark Lord to all, Peter disapparated into the night, his status report ready for his master.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Ginny glared with hatred and anger at the wand pointed directly in front of her face, the Death Eater held her and Luna, cornered them. She was pretty certain that he or she was smirking behind that mask.

"Sit, blood traitors," the voice behind the mask hissed.

Ginny stood as she was and kept her gaze directly on the Death Eater.

"Leave those first years alone," she said calmly, though her voice was laced with defiance, "They're only kids!"

Ginny's eyes only narrowed more as the Death Eater started laughing, a high pitched laugh that sent a chill down her spine. She cursed her stupid Gryffindor mentality of getting involved where she was not wanted and kept her stance firm. The Death Eater stopped laughing as he read her expression, this time, he pointed his wand at Luna. Ginny felt afraid for the first time as that wand turned and she looked frantically at Luna. The Death Eater seemed to know he had found a weak spot and gave a low chuckle.

"Sit," he demanded once more and this time, Ginny did.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Harry took the lead of the three, they heard more screaming as they headed closer and closer to the final cart of the train. All the way through they directed students to the front of the train, telling them to keep moving. They moved through as quickly as they could, checking each compartment as they went. Hermione scanned every inch, as though terrified someone might be left behind and Ron held a grim expression on his face, mimicking her in his efforts. Harry had guessed long ago that the two weren't exactly friends, but he was grateful they had both acted so well with him on the train and he hoped in school they'd find time for him too.

Harry swallowed hard as they came to the door at the end of the cart, it was the last one. Everything had happened so quickly it was barely five minutes since the screaming had first started and he sincerely hoped that Neville was at the front of the train with the driver by now. This train needed to move, that was the only thing he had going in his head, it needed to move and to get them to safety.

He opened the door of the cart, meeting the wet cold air of the outside world, he took a step between the car cables that held it together, grabbing the railing to keep his balance. Ron and Hermione followed, Hermione came last almost falling backwards, Ron reached out and gripped her arm, pulling her right. She nodded her thanks, a little red in the face, any other situation and Harry would have probably grinned at the two. As it was-

"Ready?" he breathed.

"When you are mate," said Ron, glancing at Hermione, she just nodded, her big, brown eyes filled with a little fear, but also a grim determination.

Harry reached for the door and opened it a crack, he peaked in and saw cloaked figures in the passage way. One of them was holding a blonde first year at wand point, the poor girl looked terrified.

"Filthy mud-blood," the figure hissed at her, drawing back his wand to cast a curse on the girl. "Leave her alone!" a small voice yelled and Harry's eyes widened in shock as Ally Potter, red hair and all, ran out of the compartment and tried to grab the attacker. The man let out a laugh and knocked her down, directing his wand at her head. Harry felt a tightening in his chest and his eyes flashed with anger, he was about to open the door and barge in when another kid ran out and placed himself in line of the wand and Ally. Harry blinked, thinking he needed to check his eyesight again, as the boy's hair turned from pitch black to a deep, fiery red.

"Don't you dare!" he spat at the man. The cloaked man hesitated, and Harry had the suspicion that he recognised the boy. He reached out and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and whispered something to the boy. His face contorted with anger and he scowled at the man, his eyes changed to red to show his rage and he pulled away, hissing something. Harry thought he could hear a few words ground out.

"Pathetic…How…you!…Never…hate…Malfoy name…Father!"

The man drew back a hand and slapped the boy clean across the face, he fell with a small whelp and Ally's eyes widened in fear.

"Nick!" she screamed.

That was it, Harry opened the door and aimed his wand at the man.

"Petrificus Totalus!" he bellowed as the magic shot from the end of the holly wand and hit the man square in the chest. He toppled backwards with little fuss, the other Death Eater turned, pointing his wand at Harry in surprise, he raised his hand to perform a spell just as the train lurched and started to move. The lights flickered on automatically and the train started to gain speed.

"Go Neville!" Ron cheered, happily.

One of the Death Eaters cursed under his breathe and grabbed Ally by the hair, dragging her right towards the back of the train. She screamed and thrashed out, trying o get loose.

"Ally!" Harry and Nick yelled in unison. Nick turned in surprise to the dark haired teen that was now rushing towards his friend. He gaped as the boy was followed by two others, a red head kid and a bushy haired girl. The brunette paused and bent down beside him and Mickey.

"Are you two okay?" she asked urgently. The two first years nodded and she smiled with relief.

"Get to the front of the train, okay?" she instructed them, "Don't stop, just get there."

"But Ally-" Nick started to protest. Hermione Granger shushed him.

"We'll take care of it," she said, "We're prefects, it's kind of our job. Now go!"

Nick opened his mouth to protest, but then glanced at Mickey, she looked terrified, her blue eyes wide with fear.

"All right," he grunted, "Just-just look after her, okay?"

Hermione nodded as Nick grabbed Mickey by the wrist and pulled her after him towards the next train cart. She watched them leave and turned back to Harry and Ron who were steadily approaching the Death Eater holding the first year girl, Ally.

"Protego!" Ron yelled, throwing up a shield as a curse was sent their way. Hermione held her breathe, hoping it would hold, Ron wasn't the best at shields. Unfortunately it didn't and Ron was thrown backwards.

"Ron!" she yelled, rushing over to help him.

Harry glared at the Death Eater.

"Let her go!" he demanded.

"I don't think so, boy," hissed a voice beside him and a wand was pointed directly to his head. Harry stiffened as another masked villain came out from a side compartment, he cursed himself, he should have checked for more of them. Harry took a slow step back, glaring at the two.

"What do you want?" he spat.

"Just Potter," he said, gesturing to Ally, "No one else, now be a good boy and run along to your friends."

"Sorry," said Harry, "I don't like that kind of deal. Let her go!"

"Why you-"

"Expelliarmus!" a voice yelled. A blast of red light shot out, whizzing past Harry's ear and hitting the Death Eater on his side, knocking him unconscious, a second yell from Hermione shot a stunning spell to the one in front of him. Harry turned in shock, a red haired girl had immerged from the same compartment as the Death Eater, followed closely by a girl with long, dirty blonde hair.

"Ginny!" Ron cried in relief, grinning wildly at the red head. Harry was a little shocked to say the least, he had expected Ron's 'little sister,' to be, well, little. He had not expected the red haired beauty he saw now, her brown eyes sparked anger and determination. Her wand was drawn and her expression locked between relief and triumph. The blonde eyed him sceptically for a moment, then broke into a large, dreamy kind of smile.

"Hi there!" she said to Harry, "You seem to have a lot of Wagspurts around you."

Silence reigned.

"Excuse me?" asked Harry, frowning in confusion.

"Oh Luna," Hermione sighed.

Ginny rolled her eyes and smiled prettily at Harry, he could feel a slight heat rush to his cheeks at that smile. Her eyes locked on him and Harry could have sworn he had seen them somewhere before.

"D-Dad?" a small voice questioned, Harry turned to the tear stricken face of Ally Potter. He smiled at her gently and shook his head, bending down to help her detangle herself from the unconscious Death Eater's grip.

"No Ally," he said softly, "Do you remember me? I'm Harry, I was a gardener at the Dursley's, I punched Dudley out-"

Her eyes widened at the raven haired boy and she nodded slowly, her lip trembled slightly and she burst into tears, flinging her arms around Harry's neck. Harry froze, unused to the contact of a hug, but he relaxed into it and placed his arms around the sobbing girl.

"It's okay," he soothed, "It's over now, no ones going to take you away."

He pulled her away from the unconscious bodies, picking her up from under her legs as he did, she was a lot lighter than he had originally thought, and he almost felt like he was holding a small bird. Fragile and scared to fly, but ready when the time truly came.

"Here," he said, handing a reluctant Ally to the blonde, "Take her and the others to the front of the train, Ron and I will-"

He never finished his sentence. The spell on the petrified Death Eater had worn off, there was a loud pop and he suddenly appeared behind them beside his fallen comrades. He put a hand to each of them and looked up to glare at Harry and company.

"Run!" Harry told them, bracing himself with his wand in hand, waiting for the Death Eater, he spoke with authority he knew he didn't have, but they didn't seem to argue. Luna nodded understanding and left first, dragging Ginny and a crying Ally with them. Ron and Hermione looked at Harry and stood beside him. Harry glanced at them.

"Go," he muttered.

"Not a chance mate!" Ron hissed back, a little irritably.

"This is our fight too," backed up Hermione.

The Death Eater let out a laugh and pointed his wand in the air and cried out;

"Morsmordre!"

Something shot out into the roof and outside the train, there was a deafening bang, the Death Eater's all disappeared, but they took half the car with them. The bottom part completely separated from the car and was dragged away from the tracks taking with it the back wheels of the train and the it lurched and dragged at an angle.

"Run!" Harry yelled, before the three could tumble forward onto the tracks, something none would have survived. Ron and Hermione followed his instructions this time, running almost up hill on the angulated train car. Hermione went first, jumping over the separation of the two cars, Ron and Harry glanced at each other barely a moment. Ron jumped too, lost his balance and was pulled in by Hermione. Harry jumped next, landing safely. He turned back to the broken car, it was starting to swing from side to side on the tracks, which caused the rest of the train to do the same.

"It's going to tip the train!" Hermione cried in realisation as the mass of metal lurched violently to the left, nearly causing her to fall. Ron grabbed her round the waist to secure her.

"Bloody hell!" he cursed.

Harry tried to think, they needed to un-hook the car from the rest of the train, he glanced down, the lock looked solidly built, he'd need dynamite.

Or a spell.

The train lurched again and Harry found he was holding onto the railing on the side for dear life, his mind buzzing as he tried to remember something that would blast away the connection between cars.

What was that one Lupin had taught him? Bombarding? Bombardment? Bombard?

"Duh!" he cried suddenly, aiming his wand at the lock, "Bombarde!"

The force hit the lock, exploding it to bits, the car became separated from the rest of the train. It rolled down the track, exploding in a fury of flames and metal. The sudden force cause Harry to stumble forwards, but he was caught by three pairs of hands grabbing onto his robes. He stumbled backwards instead, turning as he did and falling right on top of Ginny Weasley.

He rose on his hands, a little disorientated and staring right down at her, she looked up at him with curious, warm brown eyes.

Looked up.

Red hair.

Brown eyes.

Harry paled.

He knew those eyes, he'd seen them in his dreams often enough. She was older, a little different, but essentially, she was the same. The girl from his dreams about the snake. She looked up at him and her eyes seemed to widen in pure shock.

"Sorry!" Harry said quickly, getting up as fast as humanly possible, "So sorry!"

His cheeks were going red, he knew it. But it couldn't be her, it just couldn't, because if she was real, whose to say none of the other things he'd dreamt about weren't?

"No worries," she said, her voice a little shaky, "No problem at all."

Harry swallowed hard and offered her a hand up, which she took with a grateful smile.

"Thanks," she muttered, earning a small, shy smile from Harry too.

"Oh my gosh!" Hermione exclaimed.

Harry and Ginny followed her gaze in surprise, momentarily forgetting to let go of each other's hands. As the train sped away, an image was forming in the clouds, a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth.

"What is that?" Harry breathed.

"The Dark Mark," it was little Ally who answered.

Ron, Ginny and the blonde visibly paled. Harry and Hermione just looked confused.

"What's that?" Hermione asked, her gaze filled with curiosity.

"It's his mark," said Ron softly, "You-Know-Who's."

Harry frowned.

"You mean Voldemort?"

Everyone flinched, including Hermione Granger, who had apparently heard of him. Harry tried not to sigh, he'd had the same reaction with Hagrid, in fact, he'd avoided mentioning the topic to Sirius and Professor Lupin in case they had the same reaction. Ally looked up at Harry wide eyed, but also, impressed. She'd only ever heard her family and uncles refer to the Dark Lord in that way.

"Don't say his name," Ron scolded, "It's bad luck!"

"Okay, okay," Harry groaned, "I won't say Volde-"

"Shhh!" four voices told him, Harry let out an apologetic smile. He looked at Ally again, the little red head was eyeing him curiously. He couldn't blame her, he was waiting for the accusations of what he was doing here, wasn't he a muggle and why hadn't he told her he was magic like her.

"So Ally-" he began.

He was cut off by a fierce popping sound came in behind them and three figures stood there in the half empty car. All three had their wands drawn, the tallest was a large man with dark skin, wearing purple robes. The second was a woman with bright bubble gum pink hair and the third, most strangest of all was a crazy looking man with a mechanical leg, and one electric blue eye that swivelled in his skull.

"You there!" he barked so suddenly that everyone jumped, "What happened here? We got a distress signal from the driver ten minutes ago, said the train was being attacked."

"Tonks!" Ally cried suddenly, running to the pink haired woman. She looked in surprise before enveloping the small girl in a hug.

"Ally Potter!" she exclaimed, "What are you doing here? What happened to-"

"They saved me!" Ally cried, "Harry and his friends, they fought off the Death Eaters and-"

"Death Eaters!" the crazy man barked again, "Here?"

Ally nodded.

"They said they wanted to take me," she explained quickly, "But Harry and the red haired girl knocked them unconscious, but one of them woke up and he Apparated the other two out, but he blew up half the train car. It started to shake and the whole train was going to flip, so Harry blew the cables apart and sent it away, but one of the Death Eaters shot the Dark Mark into the sky and-"

"All right, all right," the one eyed man glared at the remaining teens, "Which one of you is Harry then."

Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione, who each shot him an encouraging smile, he felt a pressure leave his hand and realised with a start that it had been Ginny's. Ignoring the embarrassing flush to his cheeks, he stepped forward and looked at the man who seemed to be sizing him up and down.

"My word!" he exclaimed, "You looks just like Potter!"

Harry frowned in confusion.

"My name is Harry Jameson, sir," he said firmly.

Tonks smiled at him and aimed a glare at the other man.

"Don't mind Moody, Harry," she said, "He's really paranoid about things, and you look a bit like our Head Auror, James Potter, Ally's dad. Thank you for saving her, by the way, I don't think James would have ever forgiven us."

She laughed at her own joke and winked at Harry. The tall man beside her let out a loud chuckle and clapped Moody on he back, the older man grunted.

"Shacklebolt, Tonks," he said, "Get these kids to the front of the train, I'll go check if there's any trace of these Death Eater's left. And you," he pointed at Harry, "Good work, Jameson, we'll be questioning you later."

Without another word, the aging auror Disapperated from sight, leaving Tonks and Shacklebolt to the children.

"Come on then," sighed Tonks, "Let's get you to the front, the train will be arriving at Hogwarts in a few minutes."

She turned to lead Ally away, but the eleven year old broke free from her grip and raced to Harry, she grasped his hand firmly and pulled him along. Harry cast a surprised and pleading look to Ron and Hermione who both looked ready to chuckle. Harry let out a grin at the two of them, he didn't realise it yet, but there were some things that cemented friendships permanently.

Facing a few Death Eaters together seemed to be one of them.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

"Ally," Harry said for the third time, "You need to let go now, the First Years are that way!"

Allison Potter held on tight to her saviour and refused to let go, a million thoughts were going through her head. His name was Harry, he looked just like her dad and he had her mother's eyes. Too many unlikely coincidences for it not to be true. This boy, he had to be, he just had to be, her Harry. Harry James Potter. It just had to be. She had to find out though, she really had to find out.

She firmly shook her head and retained her grip on Harry's arm, she heard him sigh and look at his friends for help.

"The carriages are this way, Harry," said Hermione, "Ally should really go with the other First Years."

Harry nodded and turned to Ally.

"Hey," he said gently, "You need to go now, okay? I'll be waiting for you on the other side, I promise and we can talk all night if you like."

Ally looked a little uncertainly at him, Harry gave her an encouraging smile.

"Come on, Miss Potter," he teased gently, "You need to get yourself Sorted, remember?"

Ally smiled and nodded, he then gave Harry, her brother, a hug, which surprised him yet again. She felt him hug her back and her smile widened.

"Everything will be okay now," she whispered to him, "We finally found you."

Before Harry could reply to her, she turned and ran to the other First Years, leaving a very confused Harry Potter behind her. She giggled, happier than she'd been all week. She spotted Mickey and Nick and ran to them as the assembled in front of Rubeus Hagrid, a true giant of a man.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Harry nearly chocked when he saw just what creatures were pulling the supposedly horseless drawn carriages. The most bizarre and grotesque looking horses with bat like wings. He stood and stared in shock.

"What are those?" he exclaimed.

"What's what?" asked Ron.

"Those!" he said, pointing to the closest horse.

"Did you hit your head or something mate?" his friend asked, "Those are horseless carriages, there's nothing there!"

"Thestrals," came a soft, dreamy vice behind them and Harry turned, met by the blue gaze of one Luna Lovegood.

"Thestrals?" he inquired.

Luna nodded and Hermione gasped.

"Really?" she asked, fascinated, "I thought you couldn't see them unless you've seen someone-"

She trailed off and looked at Harry wide eyed.

"Oh Harry," she said sadly, "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Harry asked, confused.

"You can't see them unless you've seen someone die," said Hermione softly, "They're supposed to be bad luck and-"

Harry wasn't listening though, he was frowning and thinking hard. Had he ever seen someone die? He couldn't remember, his earliest memory was of a lot of green light and screaming, from there on, nothing to do with death. He tried to remember, had he ever seen someone die? He didn't think so, at least, he hoped not. He shrugged and got onto one of the carriages with Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna and the newly introduced Neville Longbottom. Harry smiled at the other boy with a friendly face, Neville had somehow managed to get the train moving along with the driver. According to Hermione he was pretty good with practical things, if not with magic itself. Harry had shaken Neville's hand, pleased when he had returned the gesture, smiling.

"So what happens in this Sorting ceremony in any case?" he asked his friends, trying to ignore Ginny Weasley who had been staring at him for a long time. He hoped it wasn't because she recognised him or anything, he really hoped it wasn't. If she did, then that meant the dream was real, and if the dream was real, so was the snake and the talking hat and the sword and the nearly dieing and…well, it was just better if the whole thing wasn't real at all. He shuddered. He didn't want it to be real, he'd spent the past four years convincing himself it wasn't. Ginny met his gaze, instead of answering his question however, she asked one of her own.

"How did you get that scar on your forehead?"

Harry reached up and realised for the first time since boarding the train, that he didn't have his cap on. He swallowed and shrugged.

"Accident when I was a kid," he said, "Always had it for as long as I can remember."

"Really?" Ginny's eyes lit up, "Always? Even when you were say, twelve?"

Harry froze and nodded, Ginny narrowed her eyes and sat back, she seemed to be contemplating something about him.

Hermione raised an eyebrow before turning to Harry and starting to animatedly discuss the entire Sorting process with him. Harry listened, but the entire trip to the castle, he could feel Ginny's gaze on him.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Dumbledore was pacing again, James and Lily Potter, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin were all seated in his office, waiting expectantly for him to answer them.

"You're sure it's him?" the old headmaster asked his Defence teacher for the third time.

"Yes, sir," said Lupin, his blue eyes searching, "He looks so much like James, but he has Lily's eyes. There was no mistaking it and after he showed Sirius that photograph…well, how else could he have gotten it?"

Albus Dumbledore smiled, a tear running down his wizened cheek, he looked at Lily and James, Lily was close to tears herself.

"I am happy for you," he told them gently, "I am truly happy for you."

Lily gave a weak smile and James clutched her shoulder, they looked at one another, more happy and more anxious than they had ever been before. Lily sniffed and gave a small laugh.

"All this time," she said sadly, "He was right near Petunia's for the past five years, I can't believe it."

"Which is why we couldn't find him when he turned eleven," said Dumbledore, "He must have had his first run in with her around that age, and as long as he was in her employment, the charm held strong, as long as he was tied to a member of your bloodline Lily. Then the Notice-Me-Not, if what you theorised is true, Remus, then it explains why Harry has never been picked up by any kind of wizarding authority for his accidental magic."

Tears ran down her face and she held on tight to James' hand, she was smiling though and happier than she had been in a long time. The last time she'd truly felt like this was the day Ally was born and before that when Harry came into the world. James looked excited too, he had seen the picture of his son and knew the boy looked like him, but he wanted to see for sure this time. He wanted to be able of ruffle his son's hair, teach him to fly, tease him and spoil him. Everything he had always wanted to do for his child, he wanted and would be able to do it now.

"What about the prophecy?" he asked suddenly, "Do we tell Harry?"

Dumbledore sighed and looked down at his hands, the twinkle lost from his eyes.

"For now," he said softly, "I don't think it would be wise, Harry may think we only want him back to fulfil some epic fight for the wizarding world. Voldemort is weakened for now and I doubt he will find a way back anytime soon, not without help. Unless such a need arises, it may be years before Harry has to deal with his destiny, if at all. For now, let us just be happy he is safely returned."

Lily and James' faces couldn't have spread into wider grins if they'd tried, Sirius and Remus looked relieved too. It was true, no one needed to know about their fate like that, and Harry should get a chance to be seemingly normal. Goodness knows how they were going to explain to him that he was famous for defeating the Dark Lord, but to turn around and tell him that he had to do it again if he ever came back, that was too much.

"I have to tell you," Dumbledore said solemnly, "I did some research on Harry Jameson after I found out about him."

"We know he changed his name Professor-" Sirius began.

"I know," said Dumbledore, "So I looked for other Harry's who had lost parents in the past few years in the muggle world, nothing."

"So he lied about his foster parents?" Lily asked, shocked.

"Yes," said Dumbledore, "I did, however, find a record of an orphan who had run away about five years ago, the same time the protection spell should have weakened, the same time Petunia met Harry Potter."

"An orphanage?" James frowned, "We searched all the orphanages! We went to the Muggle police! We even contacted authorities in other countries, just in case!"

Dumbledore nodded.

"Yes," he said, "I think perhaps we should pay a visit to this St. Matthews-"

"Albus!" came a cry from the doorway as a panting Minerva McGonagall entered the office looking very flustered.

"Minnie!" Sirius started.

"Not now, Mr. Black!" she snapped and faced Dumbledore, "Albus, the train was attacked by Death Eaters!"

"What!" chorused the entire office.

"Everyone is safe," McGonagall carried on, "The Death Eaters were after Ms. Potter! Apparently three Sixth Years charged their way to the back of the train to protect the students there, they saved her!"

"Who?" asked James, the thought of them after his daughter making him pale, he would have to thank those three students, "Who saved my daughter?"

"Ron Weasely, Hermione Granger," said McGonagall, "And Harry Jameson."

HPHPHPHPHPHPHP

"Where is the Potter girl?" he hissed to his followers.

They had returned empty handed, beaten by a few students of all things. He watched them all, his serpentine eyes fixed in a cold glare.

"My Lord," one spoke, Voldemort snapped his head around, looking directly at the poor soul who had dared to speak out of turn.

"What's your excuse this time, Lucius?" he hissed cruelly.

"No excuse, my Lord," Lucius Malfoy said humbly, bowing low to the ground, "Punish me as you deem fit, my Lord. But I saw something on the train that may interest you."

"Speak Lucius!"

"One of the student," he said, "Looked like James Potter."

Voldemort froze. His red eyes turned on the Death Eater, disbelief masked by anger.

"You're certain?" he hissed coldly, he could already see Peter give a shudder from his place in the circle.

"Yes my Lord," he said, "There were some minor differences of course, but for a moment I thought I was looking at a teenaged Potter."

"Anyone else see this boy?" Voldemort hissed, "You better not be lying Lucius, I warn you."

"I saw him, my Lord," came the voice of Nott a moment later he was joined by Yaxley.

"I see," said Voldemort, his voice deathly calm. He could already smell the fear coming off Peter. He would have to deal with him later, "Regardless, you all failed me this night."

As his Death Eaters knelt before him, Voldemort could feel only anger rise within him, an anger like a child that had just been told it could not get its own way. And like a child, the famed master of death and darkness did what a spoilt brat does best.

He threw a tantrum.

"Crucio!"

Revision 7-Argh! I just want these revisions done so I can finish the next chapter, but I don't have enough time! Sorry guys, I've got my mocks starting next week, so update might slow down a bit. I say might because at the moment the only stress relief I have is writing this story. Anyway, just a general fix up on this chapter, the next also needs little done to it, so it should be up soon.

Thank you for your patience.

~Southern Hearts~