Disclaimer: The characters depicted herein belong to J.K. Rowling not me

A/N: Ok everyone here's the new update! I apologize for the unusually long wait. I got hit with a really nasty cold and then mono on top of it and then Thanksgiving came and everything just went crazy. But here it is I hope you guys like it. Review and let me know what you think. :-)


CHAPTER THREE: AUGUST AND A NEW TERM

The first half of August past rather strangely for Harry. For the most part it passed much in the way that June and July had; quiet and calm. However what made it strange for Harry was coming to terms with what Severus had done. He had agreed to adopt Harry to make Draco's plan work and that made Harry uncomfortable. It wasn't that he wasn't grateful, far from it; it's just that the only parental figure he ever had were the Dursleys and they were far from a good example. He didn't think that Severus would be like them but that didn't stop the underlying fear he had of an adult being in control of his life.

It was with these fears in the forefront of his mind that Harry stepped through the floo and into private office at St. Mungo's on August sixteenth. Draco's and Narcissa's plan required documentation from a reputable mediwitch or wizard. Madame Pomfrey maybe a superb medic but the documentation had to come from someone that Dumbledore couldn't manipulate in anyway and unfortunately the old bastard could hold her job over her head if he found out about their plans.

"Hello," A kind looking witch that had to be in her fifties at least came out from behind her desk. "You must be Mr. Potter and Professor Snape. I am Healer Wilmot. It is a pleasure to meet the both of you."

"A pleasure to meet you as well," Harry said with a smile as he shook her offered hand. Severus merely shook her hand with a nod.

"Well I'm sure you have plenty of stuff to do so let us begin," Wilmot said as she directed Harry to a chair so she could start running her scans. The exam didn't take more than an hour but it felt longer to Harry since he was nervous about their meeting at the Ministry.

After answering some of Healer Wilmot's questions when she had finished her examination and having her declare that Madame Pomfrey's regime of potions and heavy meals were working, Harry and Severus left her office. Unfortunately for the two of them they couldn't floo straight into office of the ministry person they were going to meet since the wards around the ministry required any unapproved visitors to go through the main entrance. Which meant that they would risk being seen and reported to Dumbledore but with any luck they will have finished with their business before he could interfere.

Before they left St. Mungo's Severus transfigured their robes into clothing appropriate for muggle London and then led Harry out onto the streets. Thankfully St. Mungo's wasn't that far from the Ministry's visitor's entrance. It was just far enough though to get Harry's blood running.

"Are you alright?" Severus asked as the phone booth moved downward. Harry was breathing rather heavily and leaning up against the wall of the phone booth.

"Yeah," Harry said as he took a deep breath to try and calm his heart rate. "The walk was just a little longer than I previously thought."

"Is your chest hurting?" Severus asked as he dug around an inside pocket of his robes.

"No," Harry said with a shake of his head. He was still breathing a little heavily.

"Here," Severus said as he handed Harry a small vial of a light blue potion that Harry recognized as a calming draught. It was a small dose, a mouth full at most, and would help calm both Harry's breathing and his nerves.

"Thanks," Harry said after he had downed the potion. It was actually the only potion that Harry had taken to date that he actually didn't mind the taste of.

"You are welcome," Severus replied stiffly before falling silent. Harry smiled slightly at the potions master. The man was clearly not accustomed to being given gratitude or responding to it.

The two of them walked into the Atrium of the Ministry and towards the security desk at the far end of the hall. At first Harry marveled at the beauty and intricacy of the designs and decorations around the hall but when he set sight on the golden statue in the fountain in the middle of the hall he felt sick and did his best to ignore the statue. He found it disgusting and repulsive. It clearly stated what the Ministry thought the world should be like; wizards in power and everything else in service to them. Harry thought it was much like the way Voldemort thought the world should be. The Ministry was just less violent in the way they brought about this disgusting image.

Wizards used to be much less pigheaded, Orpheus said within the confines of Harry's mind. It is a shame that they have fallen so far. Harry just nodded in agreement and kept his head slightly lowered so as to keep his hair over his scar.

After dealing with the security guard Severus and Harry made their way over to the lifts and filed in amongst the other witches and wizards. The office they were after was on the fourth floor in the Department of Wizarding Family Services. Draco had told him that this particular which was as strict as they came and wouldn't bend the rules for anyone, not even a prestigious wizard like Dumbledore. She was also known for her efficiency. If she found your case legitimate she'd have everything filed and registered by the day's end. Harry hoped Draco was right because once Dumbledore found out about this he'd do everything within his power to prevent this from happening.

"Good afternoon," A tall and stern looking woman said as she stood up from behind her desk. Her demeanor said she could be firm when necessary but her eyes told Harry that she was truly a kind person. The emotions Harry was getting from her also said she had a big heart. "I'm Rose. Please have a seat and we'll begin."

–Scene Break–

Dumbledore sat in his office late at night staring into the fireplace brooding. Less than a month ago when he had been working on signing and sending out Hogwarts letters he had discovered that Harry had somehow gone missing again. When he had signed Harry's name on the envelope no address had appeared. He had charmed the envelopes himself to produce the address of anyone whose name was written on it but no address had appeared. Instead of raising an alarm like he had the last time Harry had mysteriously disappeared he decided to approach the situation calmly. He spoke with the Order members he had asked to watch Harry and make sure he got home alright and they admitted to seeing Harry leave the platform but not actually meeting up with his parents.

After hearing that Dumbledore decided to make a trip to the Dursley's house to make sure that Harry was safely hidden away. Upon arriving at the house Dumbledore received a lecture from an overweight man about freakishness interrupting his business meeting and how he thought they were through with such nonsense when "that boy" ran away last year. When he heard this Dumbledore had gone deathly pale. He quickly excused himself from the Dursley's and made his way back to his office and started casting every tracking charm he could think of. Harry could not be allowed to be out on the streets away from protection. It was far too dangerous. There were dozens of witches and wizards out there that would love to get their hands on Harry for stopping Voldemort all those years ago.

Unfortunately each and every single tracking charm came back empty. Not a single one had been able to locate the boy. Not even the extremely powerful and borderline illegal ones were able to locate Harry. With a little fine tuning Dumbledore managed to discover that he was alive but behind extremely powerful wards that were shielding his presence.

"The Malfoy's!" Dumbledore said in shock. He should have realized it before then and he silently berated himself for not thinking of it before. The most likely place Harry would have gone was the Malfoy's since his best friend was the young Malfoy boy and if that was the case than he seriously feared for the boy's safety even more than before. That Lucius was a right piece of work. Dumbledore had yet to pass judgment over young Draco but he wouldn't be surprised if he turned out exactly like his father.

Dumbledore quickly set about making plans to try and discover if Harry resided at Malfoy Manor and how to extract him if he was.

–Scene Break–

Harry sat in his favorite lounge chair reading a book Draco had given him when the alarm Severus had given him when he asked went off. It had been set to go off an hour and a half before the train was due in Hogsmeade station so Harry would have enough time to get to the station and appear to be arriving with the rest of the students. It was an annoying charade to keep up but he was not yet ready for the public, and especially Dumbledore, to know that he was staying at Hogwarts.

With a sigh Harry put his book into the pocket of his school robe and made his way out of the study. He didn't bother taking his trunk though he had packed it and left orders with the elves to take it to the Slytherin dorms when they took the others from the train.

"You know," Harry said as he walked down the tunnel that would lead him to Hogsmeade with Kane walking beside him. "I was wondering something."

"And what would that be?" Kane asked.

"Are you just going to follow me around while I attend classes or something?" Harry asked looking at the large lion padding down the hallway next to him.

"Hmmm," Kane hummed in thought. He was silent for a moment before speaking. "That would be impractical. I could turn into a normal sized feline however that too wouldn't work since you already have an owl." Kane fell silent in thought. It wasn't until they had reached the outer edge of Hogsmeade that he spoke up again. "Though I do not particularly care for the idea I suppose I could join Orpheus as a tattoo."

"Can you even do that?" Harry asked in shock. "No offense or anything but you're easily three times my size. How are you going to fit on my body as a tattoo?" Orpheus was about ten feet long and took up a great deal of skin as a tattoo and Harry could only imagine how much room Kane would take up.

Kane chuckled before speaking. "Everything is possible with magic young one,"

Without waiting for a response Kane pressed his nose to Harry's chest. Red and gold flecks of light, similar to some fireworks Harry saw once, began coming off of Kane and floated towards Harry. In a matter of moments Kane vanished in a shower of red and gold sparks that absorbed into Harry's skin. Before Harry could search for his new tattoo of Kane he heard someone thumping up the path towards the station where he was standing. He quickly pulled out his invisibility cloak and wrapped it around himself just as Hagrid came up the steps. The large man looked around the platform and held his lantern high.

"I coulda sworn…" Hagrid didn't get to finish his sentence because just then the train loosed its whistle started pulling into the station.

Hagrid shrugged his shoulders and started hollering for first years as students started disembarking from the train. Harry did his best not to bump into the other students as he searched for Draco and Hermione. It didn't take long for Harry to spot the tell tale platinum blond hair of Draco followed by the head of bushy hair that was Hermione.

"Boo," Harry whispered into each of their ears. They both promptly jumped slightly and Harry couldn't help but giggle slightly at their reaction. He did a quick scan of the crowd to make sure no one was looking before pulling off his cloak and stuffing it into one of his pockets.

"Harry!" Hermione squealed. She barely gave Harry a chance to stow away his cloak before wrapping him in a hug. "Oh Harry I missed you! How are you? How was your summer? What was it like living there?"

"Give him a chance to actually answer Hermione," Draco said with a smirk. "And for god's sake let him breathe." Draco moved over to pull the over enthusiastic girl off of Harry so he could actually breathe. "Come on let's get a carriage and Harry can give us all the fabulous details of his summer there and we can do the same."

Harry, Draco, and Hermione managed to find an empty carriage and they climbed in. Harry then insisted that his two friends tell him about their summers before he went into his own. Surprisingly no one joined their carriage so they managed to talk uninterrupted. It wasn't until Harry had finished his recounting of his summer's events that they realized they were not headed to Hogwarts at all.

"What the hell?" Harry said when he looked out the window to see how close they were only to find them nowhere near Hogsmeade let alone Hogwarts. "Where are we going?"

"It looks like we're headed south of Hogwarts," Draco said looking out the carriage window.

"Did something go wrong with the spells that pull the carriages?" Hermione asked as she crowded next to Draco, who sat across from her next to Harry, to look out the window.

"Impossible," Harry said with a shake of his head. He tried to lean out the window a little farther to look at the front of the carriage but couldn't quite manage it. "The carriages are pulled by Thestrals not magic. Someone would have to be messing with the reins in order to lead the carriage astray."

"What're Thestrals?" Hermione asked, ever the academic.

"Later," Harry said before switching to Parseltongue to speak to Orpheus. "Can you slither out the window to see if someone is out there?" Orpheus responded by slithering out of Harry's sleeve and out of the window. Harry idly noted that Draco had decided to take it upon himself to inform Hermione about Thestrals.

"There is no one out there but I do sense the magic of a house elf controlling the Thestrals," Orpheus said as he slithered back in through the window.

"Odd," Harry said in bafflement. He turned towards Hermione and Draco. "A house elf is controlling the carriage for some reason."

"Why on earth would a house elf be controlling a carriage? And why just ours?" Hermione asked in confusion. She had discovered house elves during the second half of first year when Harry had led her down to the kitchens to eat in peace and knew all about them since upon discovering the incorrigible creatures she went to the library as soon as possible and read everything she could find about them.

"I'm not sure but whatever the reason we need to get off the carriage and back to the castle," Harry said pulling out the portkey Godric had given him last year before Christmas. "With any luck we might make it there just as the other carriages arrive and shouldn't look too suspicious."

Hermione and Draco both placed a finger on the jeweled phoenix pendent that Harry held out for them. With a small flare of magic directed into the pendent from Harry the three friends were whisked away. In a matter of seconds they found themselves in The Sanctuary.

"How are we going to slip into the Great Hall without anyone noticing?" Hermione asked worriedly as she rushed down the secret passages with Harry and Draco.

"The cloak," Harry said as he attempted to keep his heart under control. His artery was much stronger than it had been at the start of summer but it could still open up again if it was put under too much strain. "We'll slip out of the passageway just outside the Great Hall under the cloak and slip into the crowds of students filing in and then slip the cloak off as we enter the hall. Hopefully no one will notice anything."

"I still don't understand why a house elf would do such a thing," Draco mused aloud. "House elves are bound to listen to their masters. Who would send an elf to lead a carriage full of children astray?"

"Too many questions and not enough information," Harry said in an annoyed tone. "That's the problem with these types of situations. We can't figure anything out until something more happens."

"Unfortunately," Draco said just as annoyed with the situation.

They all fell silent as Harry draped the invisibility cloak over them before they slipped out of the passageway. Just as the passage door closed the first wave of students came up the stairs. It was a mix of mostly older years but there were a few from second and third years. Among these students, bringing up the rear was Neville Longbottom. Harry smiled slightly at the nervous Gryffindor and quickly led Draco and Hermione into line behind the boy and whipped off the cloak before anyone could walk up behind them. Just as Harry stuffed the cloak into his pocket Neville looked behind him.

"W-where did y-you guys c-come from?" Neville stuttered as they all walked into the Great Hall.

"The carriages of course," Harry said giving the boy a cheerful wink before they split off for their separate tables. Harry gave Hermione a quick hug before walking beside Draco towards the Slytherin tables.

After settling down at the Slytherin table Harry looked up at the Head table and locked eyes with Severus. He politely knocked on the man's Occlumency shields and when he had been let in he gave a quick recounting of what had happened with the carriage. Concern floated back to Harry but he quickly assured Severus that everyone was safe and no one was harmed. Before ending the silent communication Severus told Harry to meet him after the feast was over.

"Harry?" Draco asked quietly with a small nudge on his shoulder. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah," Harry said as he came back to himself. "Just informing Professor Snape about what happened."

"Oh," Draco said in understanding. He was silent for a while as Professor McGonagall brought in the first years. Harry could tell Draco was trying to decide whether or not to say something to him but Harry wasn't going to push his friend so he just sat there quietly and watched the sorting. "I think," Draco finally whispered when almost half of the first years had been sorted. "That my father might be planning something against the school this year."

"How so?" Harry asked as he turned his attention from the sorting to Draco.

"He was acting really strange this summer," Draco explained as quietly as he could with other people sitting around him. "He was very secretive and always hiding away from mother and me in his study. Then at Diagon Alley he went out of his way to confront the Weasley's in Flourish and Blotts. Normally he does everything possible to ignore anyone that even so much as talks about the Weasley's. He even picked up the Weasley girl's books when she had tripped and spilled them. Something he would never do in a million years unless he was planning something."

Harry was silent for a few moments as the sorting finished and Dumbledore made his start of term announcements. When Dumbledore finished and started the opening feast and everyone started rambling on about their summers Harry finally spoke.

"I see your concern," Harry said quietly as he loaded his plate with food. "Now not having actually met your father I can't make a completely accurate judgment but I would say he's up to something as well." Harry paused as he took a few bites of food and a drink of pumpkin juice. "My guess would be that he planted something among Weasley's books when he picked them up. Obviously it's nothing good and most likely a Dark artifact of some kind that wouldn't really be noticed. We should keep an eye on her to make sure that she doesn't do any harm to anyone."

"My thoughts exactly," Draco agreed as he took a sip of his own drink. "I'm just so ashamed of him right now."

"I'm sorry Draco," Harry said. He laid a hand on Draco's and squeezed it in sign of support before going back to eating. Draco smiled slightly at Harry show of support before returning to his own meal.

–Scene Break–

The next morning Harry woke in the second year Slytherin dorm room feeling well rested. The bed wasn't nearly as comfortable as the bed he had gotten used to in The Chamber of Secrets but it was adequate enough. It was a few hours before breakfast would even start so Harry just laid there and relaxed. Eventually though he got bored and since he still had the better part of two hours until breakfast he decided to once again delve into wards of the castle.

Harry traveled along the pathways of the wards just as he had earlier in the summer and he soon found himself once again looking at the tattered and torn wards that the Headmaster was in charge of. Seeing the state of the wards again Harry couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. When wards were whole and complete they were a fabulous sight to behold but these wards only inspired sadness and pain.

Ignoring the sad sight Harry focused on the pattern that the tears formed and tried to follow it to the source that was creating the tears. It was an odd pattern, similar to a spiral but different in a way Harry couldn't identify, and it was circling one of the towers. Harry found this odd considering the tower was abandoned.

"Harry?" Draco called giving Harry's shoulder a shake. Harry jerked slightly as he opened his eyes and searched for the source of the disturbance.

"Yeah," Harry said when he realized it was Draco and then his brain caught up with his surroundings. "I'm late aren't I?"

"Not really," Draco said as he sat down on the edge of Harry's bed. "Breakfast doesn't start for another forty five minutes. I was just wondering why you were staring off into nothing and ignoring me when I called your name."

Harry groaned and rolled out of bed to start getting ready. As he dressed he explained what he was doing and why he hadn't answered when Draco had called his name. Luckily the other boys in the dorm had left already so Harry didn't need to worry about anyone over hearing. The two boys continued their conversation as they made their way out of the dungeons and towards The Great Hall. Unfortunately their conversation was interrupted when they ran into Dumbledore just outside The Great Hall.

"Harry," Dumbledore said without his usual cheery attitude. "I'd like to have a word with you in my office."

"Did I do something wrong Headmaster?" Harry asked not moving an inch when Dumbledore indicated for Harry to follow him. Beside Harry Draco stood stiff in anger.

"I merely wish to have a word with you Harry," Dumbledore said sternly. "Now come with me to my office."

"Did I break a school rule Headmaster?" Harry asked still not moving. He could sense the anger and annoyance coming from the aged man.

"No Harry. Like I said I merely wish to talk." Dumbledore said turning back to face Harry.

"Is it school related?" Harry asked as he discreetly placed a hand on Draco's arm to try and calm him down.

"Again Harry I merely wish to speak with you," Dumbledore said with tightly controlled anger. "Now please come with me to my office."

"Well if you have nothing school related to talk about then I think some breakfast is in order," Harry said cheerfully. He started to lead Draco into the Great hall but Dumbledore was faster than he appeared and was suddenly blocking the way into the Great Hall. Now considering it was breakfast time this also prevented other students from entering the hall as well and a crowd began to gather.

"Harry I insist you come with me to my office so we can talk," Dumbledore demanded.

"Headmaster," Harry said with an annoyed sigh. "If you have nothing school related to talk about then we can either talk here or not talk at all and given the fact that I am hungry I choose not at all. Now if you would please move you're blocking everyone from entering the hall." Harry had deliberately brought the growing crowd to Dumbledore's attention in the hopes of getting the old fool to go away but apparently sense was not with the old man at the moment.

"Where were you this summer Harry?" Dumbledore asked but his tone wasn't asking but demanding.

"At home sir," Harry said in a tone that clearly said he thought the question stupid. Beside him Draco had to bite back a chuckle and fought to keep a smile off of his face. "Just like the rest of the students."

"I checked Harry," Dumbledore said with a scowl. "You ran away from your Aunt and Uncle's house just over a year ago."

"I didn't say I went to their house," Harry said laying heavy disgust upon the word he used to refer to those muggles. "I said I was at home and before you ask no I'm not going to tell you."

"Harry you have no idea what you've done," Dumbledore said in what Harry knew to be genuine concern. Not concern for Harry but for his web of lies that upheld his image. "The blood w–"

"DO NOT LECTURE ME ABOUT WARDS!" Harry yelled suddenly furious. "You have no right to lecture me about wards Albus Dumbledore! Further more you know damn well that there is not one single drop of blood in common between me and those wretched creatures!" Harry's fury was so great that the wards he was tied to started to become visible. They lined the walls, turning them green and silver. The castle even started to groan as if it too were growing angry.

"Stupefy!" Dumbledore cried in fear. He apparently forgot both himself and the fact that they had an audience.

Focused as he was on the Headmaster Harry saw the attack coming. Instead of going for his wand he used a trick he had learned from one of Salazar's many books on mind magic. Without moving a muscle he deflected the curse wide and high so it wouldn't hit one of the other students. He then held out his hand and the Headmaster's wand went flying out of his aged hand and straight into Harry's. Dumbledore, having not expected such a counter, didn't have a chance to stop his wand from leaving his hand.

The instant the wood touched his hand Harry felt an influx of major power. Turning his attention from the now dumbfounded and disarmed Headmaster Harry examined the wand. Harry knew that no two wands were exactly the same but this one was unique even among wands. The runes etched into the wand that marked the handle were particularly interesting.

"Harry," Dumbledore said nervously. "Give me back my wand."

"But it isn't really yours now is it?" Harry asked as he continued to examine the runes. He managed to translate two of them: Elder and Death. Suddenly it clicked in Harry's brain why this wand would generate such magic when wands were only supposed to channel magic despite their semi-sentient nature. "Keeping more secrets than you let on I see," Harry looked up at Dumbledore with a raised eyebrow.

"Harry," Dumbledore started but Harry cut him off.

"I suggest you leave Headmaster," Harry said as he stowed the wand into one of his inside robe pockets. That was when he noticed the intense pain radiating from his chest but he did his best to keep a straight face. It wouldn't do for Dumbledore to find out about his weakened condition. "Before you make an even bigger fool of yourself," Here he gestured at the amazed and dumbfounded crowd of students and professors alike.

Dumbledore looked at the crowd and seemed to realize for the first time that they were there. Gathering what was left of his shattered dignity and his now tarnished image of ultimate goodness, Dumbledore walked away. The stunned crowd parted instantly for the aged man as they watched him walk away; beaten, by a twelve year old.

"Get me to a seat!" Harry whispered urgently to Draco. He started clutching his chest and breathing heavily. His heart rate had returned to normal once Dumbledore had been disarmed but it was obvious that the artery had torn again. "And get Severus and Madame Pomfrey immediately."

Draco snapped out of his own dumbfounded state and immediately realized what was happening. He quickly stowed away his wand, which he had drawn when Dumbledore had attacked, and started helping Harry towards the Slytherin table. Severus, who had seen the entire interaction from the entrance to the dungeons, saw Draco supporting Harry and instantly started pushing through the crowd and was at their side just as Harry sat down on the Slytherin bench.

"Go fetch Pomfrey," Severus ordered Draco, who immediately ran off, as he pulled out potions from within his pockets. They were the same ones that Poppy gave to Harry when his artery had first torn. Severus kept them on hand just in case it tore again. "Drink," He told Harry as handed him one of the potions. Harry obediently downed the potion and felt the burning pain in his chest recede. "It was very foolish of you to confront the Headmaster like that."

"I was hardly the one doing the confronting," Harry argued as he downed another potion. "I just didn't want to be isolated with the man when the fireworks started. Lord knows what the man would've tried with no one else watching."

"Yes things probably would have been much worse," Severus agreed as he stepped aside to let Madame Pomfrey start casting her spells. "However that doesn't mean you should have lost control like that. You need to keep your heart rate low until that artery is healed."

"I know I know," Harry said looking ashamed. "He just hit a really sore point. I'll do my best not to let it happen again."

"See that you don't," Madame Pomfrey interjected with a stern scowl at Harry. "You, young man, are extremely lucky. This recent tear was very minor and thanks to Professor Snape the potions administered so quickly did wonders. I've repaired what the potions didn't but your recovery will be set back about a month. If this happens again mister I will strap you down to a bed until that artery is completely healed. Do you understand?"

"Yes Madame Pomfrey," Harry said with a half smile at the mediwitch. Pomfrey gave a little smile back before leaving the Great Hall with a parting, "Don't you dare skip breakfast,"

Harry couldn't help but smile slightly at the over protective witch. He thanked Severus for his help as well. The man gave a curt nod before walking up to the Head Table to eat his own breakfast. Harry chuckled at Severus' casual dismissal of gratitude and turned around and started to load his plate with food, ignoring the whispers and stares.

"Are you alright?" Draco asked quietly as he settled down next to Harry.

"Yeah," Harry said with a nod. "I just can't blow up like that again. I shouldn't have blown up in the first place." Harry said truly ashamed of his actions. "However my slip in control bore unexpected fruit."

"How so?" Draco asked in confusion. "The only thing you got out of that conversation was humiliating Dumbledore and his wand."

"I'll explain later when there aren't as many ears around," Harry said quietly. "Besides Hermione will want to hear about it too. No doubt she's already hearing about what happened."

True enough it wasn't even two minutes after Harry and Draco had finished eating their breakfast and had barely started walking towards the exit for their first class of the day when they were cornered by a flustered Hermione, asking questions. Harry just smiled and pulled her alongside him and continued walking to their class. The three of them usually had the same classes together but he asked just to make sure. As they walked Harry explained what happened outside the Great Hall to Hermione since she wasn't there. When they reached their classroom, charms, they all sat down and Harry made sure the wards were guarding their conversation.

"So what is this unexpected fruit you were talking about at breakfast?" Draco asked quietly despite the wards.

"This," Harry said pulling out Dumbledore's, now his, wand.

"It's a wand, so what?" Draco asked once again confused.

"It's not just A wand Draco," Harry said as he twirled the wand in his fingers. "Do you remember the book of wizarding fairy tales you sent me over the summer?" Draco nodded knowing that Harry wouldn't make some random segue and that the question was related. "Do you remember the Tale of the Three Brothers?" Harry asked as he pulled out the book and handed it to Hermione who was growing increasingly annoyed and curious at the same time. He had brought the book along to read during a break in classes. At Draco's nod he continued, "Look at these two runes. They're the only ones I could translate but they're enough to convince me."

Draco looked at the runes and it took him a few moments but eventually he managed to decipher them and his face grew pale. "It can't be,"

"If it is it would explain why he seems to be so powerful," Harry reasoned quickly. The room was starting to fill up and class would be starting soon. "And without it Dumbledore is nothing more than an above average wizard with an exceptional knowledge base of magic and spells and of course a manipulative bastard."

"Can I see the runes you're talking about Harry?" Hermione asked as she handed the book back to Harry for him to stow in his back. Harry handed her the wand to look at. After a few minutes she handed it back. "I admit Harry I'm a little skeptical but those runes are hard to argue with. At the very least it was made to make people believe it's supposed to be the wand from the story."

Harry was about to respond but Professor Flitwick brought stood up in front of the class and started the lesson.