Chapter 8: Explanations

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Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

A/N: Hey everyone. It's me again. Sorry this chap took so long but I kept changing it midway though. It got a little irritating because this chapter will help explain a few things. It's a rather important chapter in my eyes. I don't plan on making you wait that long again. Please review.

Thanks to all my reviewers. A special thanks to dementorchic for your review. To answer your question Richard Sheperd yes its going to be a long story. I mean just look I'm already on chapter 8 and school hasn't even started yet. Hopefully I won't let you down.

Again I'm sorry I made you wait so long and please don't call on any ghosts to haunt me. Especially that of Salazaar Slytherin. (Shudders) I'll try to get the next chappie out soon.

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The last week of summer passed without any undo excitement. Harry spent a lot of his time preparing for schools start and training. He transformed many times over the week to allow his body to adjust to the transformation. He was also becoming quite proficient at wandless magic.

The second to the last day of summer arrived, and Harry went up to Dumbledore's office. He wanted to ask him something. He had thought long and hard about it and decided that he had to take care of something before school started.

He said the password and walked up the stairs. When he raised his hand to knock, Dumbledore said, "Come in, Harry."

Harry came in and was immediately pulled into a very tight hug. He tried to break free but was unable. Finally Dumbledore spoke up.

"Hagrid, I'm afraid that if you do not release Harry then he may very well suffocate."

Hagrid finally released him and started talking quickly.

"'Ello, Harry. I jus' got back. I was gonna come visit with yeh when I finished here. How are you doin'."

Harry smiled at the first friend that he ever had. "I'm fine Hagrid. Where have you been?"

Hagrid immediately started stammering about something or other. He said that he went to visit Madam Maxine.

Harry knew that he was hiding something and was about to ask him about it when Dumbledore spoke up.

"Hagrid, you can speak freely in front of Harry now." Both Harry's and Hagrid's jaws dropped as he continued. "After Harry's and my discussion at the end of last year, I've decided that I can no longer protect him by shielding him. Now that he knows what he knows, there is nothing more for me to do but prepare him as best I can. He still cannot be inducted into the Order, but I will allow him to sit in on meetings. Now Hagrid please continue."

Hagrid sat flustered for a minute before continuing. He was wondering what Harry now knew that changed Dumbledore's mind. He just shrugged his shoulders and thought that if Dumbledore wanted him to know, then he would tell him. Dumbledore was a great man after all. He shook his head to clear it before continuing.

"Anyway, Froog said that they were willing to help us. After what happened to Shelga's brother they decided that they didn't care to much for You-Know-Who."

"Good," Dumbledore said as he sat back in his chair. After looking over and seeing Harry's puzzled expression he decided to inform him of what they were talking about. "Harry, you, no doubt, are wondering what Hagrid was talking about." When Harry nodded he continued. "You, of course, know of Hagrid's mission last summer and how it turned out. We thought we had failed miserably. Just after school let out last year Hagrid was visiting with his brother in the forest when a half-giant approached him.

Hagrid was, of course, cautious but still invited him into his cabin. After they talked for a little while Hagrid came and got me. The half- giant, who's name was Pergo, said that his Gurg wished to meet with me. I was unable to go, but Hagrid agreed to in my stead. Hagrid has just returned, and he was filling me in on the details of his mission. It seems that there was another group of giants further into the mountains. Their leader's mate, whose name was Shelga, was Pergo's mother. The leader of the tribe that was killed after Hagrid approached him last summer was her brother. She was enraged when she discovered what had happened. She went to confront the new leader, but that tribe had already left. She searched around for some clue as to where they had all gone. When she discovered a few giants in a cave that were still alive, she asked them what happened. They told her that the tribe had already left to join Voldemort. They also told her of the offer of friendship that we had offered. She took them back to their encampment and told Froog, her mate and the leader of their tribe, what had happened. She then sent her son to find us. They were a bit more civilized than the other group, and Hagrid was able to ingratiate himself to them. They in turn have decided to help us in this war."

Harry sat stunned.

"That's great," he said enthusiastically. This would help out a lot in the war. He remembered how Hagrid's brother, Grawp, helped him and Hermione last year. Upon remembering Grawp, Harry turned to Hagrid and asked how he was doing. Hagrid smiled and said that his brother was doing just fine.

Dumbledore finally spoke up. "Harry, I know I can trust this information with you. You can tell Mr. and Miss Weasley and Miss Granger because they have a tendency to find themselves in danger right along with you. Now I know you came up here for a reason, so what would that reason be?"

"Oh, right. I completely forgot. Could you do me a favor, Professor."

"What would that favor entail, Harry?"

"Well, I would like all these people to come here tomorrow night for dinner," he said handing Dumbledore a sheet of parchment. "I would like to talk to each of them. I'm going to tell them about my new abilities. I want them to know that I can take care of myself so that they don't worry so much."

Dumbledore simply nodded his head before scanning the list. He stopped at the last name on the list. He looked up at Harry with wide eyes. Before he could say anything Harry answered him.

"Yes sir, I want him there too. I need to clear up a few things with him."

Dumbledore looked a little wary but nodded his head nonetheless. He told Harry that he would ask them all to attend. Harry thanked him and left to tell his friends what had just transpired.

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The last day of summer was coming to an end as Harry and his friends walked down to the Great Hall. They were greeted by the entire Weasley family (minus Percy), Lupin, Mad-Eye, Tonks, Kingsley, Hagrid, and Professors McGonagall, Snape, and Dumbledore. Snape, of course, just sneered at him, but he took that for a greeting. Before they could ask what Harry wanted them there for, Dumbledore said that all questions would be answered after dinner.

When they finished, they all turned to Dumbledore expectantly. Harry stood up and started to speak.

"Thank you all for coming tonight. Before we get to the reason for this meeting, there is something that I have to get out of the way."

He walked down the aisle until he stood in front of Snape.

"You're probably wondering why I asked for you to be here." Snape smirked at him before Harry continued. "The reason why is I want to know if I can trust you."

Snape blinked a few times before answering. "What are you on about, Potter?"

"I need to know if I can trust you. If I had trusted you last year I wouldn't have left the school. None of what happened last year would have happened. Professor Dumbledore says that he trusts you and with good reason. But the only way I'll ever be able to trust you is if you let me in on your secret. I have no intention of repeating my mistakes from last year. What have you done that would cause me to trust you?"

Snape raised an eyebrow and peered down the table. Dumbledore spoke when he met his eye.

"It's time for you to tell him, Severus."

Snape looked a little shocked but started nodding his head.

"Fine," Snape looked back to Harry. He took a deep breath before starting. "Four months before your parents were killed, I was on a mission with the Death Eaters. It was actually an initiation. We had just brought Barty Crouch Jr. into the fold. We attacked a muggle family. We were torturing the woman when someone heard something. It was the woman's little girl. Back then I actually enjoyed the torture of muggles as long as they were adults. I've never enjoyed torturing kids. Well Barty wanted to ingratiate himself fully into our ranks so he retrieved the little girl. I'm not going to say what he did because it still turns my stomach. After he finished, he killed the poor child and was congratulated by Lucius. I acted the part of impressed Death Eater, but inside I was raging.

After we went our separate ways, I began to reevaluate my chosen path. I wanted out but the only way to leave the ranks of the Death Eaters is to be killed. At a loss for what to do I went to the only person that I could ever remember being kind to me. I approached Professor Dumbledore shortly after school let out that year and asked him for help. He was of course wary of my intentions but was still hospitable. We talked at length about my role as a Death Eater and my choices in life. I told what had happened and why I wanted out. I could tell that he was still wary so I made a suggestion. I told him that I would become a spy and tell him of any important plans that the dark lord has. He agreed and we parted ways.

A month later he summoned us to his side and told us that we were to search out the Potters and Longbottoms. Once we had found them we were to report back to him and let him handle it. After leaving I went straight to Dumbledore with this information. He informed me that both families were already well hidden. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Two months later, on Halloween night, the Dork Lord (oops) summoned us again. He said that he had found the Potters and would be taking care of them tonight. We were told to continue the search for the Longbottoms and then he dismissed us. I immediately apparated to Hogsmeade and ran up to the castle. I ran directly into the great hall because dinner was already being served. Unfortunately I still had my Death Eater robes on and there was a panic when I entered. Before I had gotten more than a few steps into the hall several curses hit me and I collapsed. I awoke a little while later in the hospital wing I was restrained to the bed, but Dumbledore was there. I told him everything. That's probably the only time that I ever saw Dumbledore that close to panicking. He released me, and we ran up to his office. From there, he contacted Hagrid who was staying near Godric's Hallow so that he could help the Potters if they needed it. We tried for several minutes to reach him and was to the point of apperating there ourselves. Finally he answered, and we could tell he had been crying. He told us that he had heard a crash from next door and ran to assist but just before he reached the door the house exploded, and he was thrown back. Dumbledore immediately told him to get Harry. Hagrid started crying even harder and said that he couldn't have survived. Dumbledore told him again to get Harry and bring him to the alternate location. Hagrid said he would do it and disappeared. Dumbledore turned to me and thanked me for trying. After it was clear that the Dark Lord was gone Dumbledore gave me a job here."

A deafening silence overtook the room as he finished his story. The Mrs. Weasley, Hermione, and Ginny were all crying silently. Harry stood staring at Snape for a long time. Finally he turned around and wiped his eyes. He was not going to cry. He needed to be strong. His hands were clenched so tightly that his knuckles were white. He took several deep breaths before he quit shaking. He stood there for a few more minutes before turning back around to face Snape.

"Thank you. . . for what you tried to do."

Snape simply nodded, and Harry walked back up to the head of the table. He took a few more deep breaths before continuing.

"The reason I asked you all here was so that I could show you what I have learned this past month. I know that you all remember what happened on my birthday. I want you to know that I can perform wandless magic along with several other things. As you know danger seems to find me even when I don't go looking for it. But last year I made a huge mistake, and it cost me my godfather's life. I want you to know that I do not plan to repeat that mistake. Voldemort manipulated me by using my scar. To guard against this happening again I have mastered Occlumency." Snape snorted.

Dumbledore looked on amusedly before asking Snape if he would like to try to penetrate Harry's mind. Snape stood up with a sneer on his face and walked around the table to face Harry. He raised his wand and said the spell. As soon as the light hit Harry Snape flew backward through the air. Dumbledore was already waiting for this to happen and slowly levitated him back to the ground. Snape looked livid.

"What the bloody hell was that?" he shouted.

Dumbledore laughed and said, "Harry stopped you from entering his mind. As you know all that is really required to accomplish this is to really want to and have a sufficiently strong mind. Now that Harry is fully aware of the dangers, he really wants to keep people out of his mind. When his mind forced out his magic pushed you away. It has happened every time that I have tried to penetrate his mind. The first time was really rather scary."

Snape looked at Harry with a newfound respect before speaking again. "You said his magic pushed me away and a few minutes ago he said that he could do wandless magic. Exactly how much wandless magic can he perform?"

Everybody looked back at Harry to see his eyes closed in concentration. Suddenly the plates that were sitting on the table stood on end and started to race around the table. After a few laps they returned back to their spots. Next, two forks and two knives flew to the middle of the hall. The forks transfigured into armor while the knives turned into swords. The two knights dueled for a few minutes before they returned to the table. Finally, Harry cupped his hands together and furrowed his brow. When he pulled his hands apart, a single white rose was floating in front of him. It then started to split into two. He repeated it several times until he had five roses in front of him. He then waved his hand and changed the color of all but one. He sent the last white one down the table to McGonagall. He sent the yellow one to Tonks, the pink one to Hermione, and the red one to Mrs. Weasley. The last one was green, and he sent that one to Ginny. After finishing, he sat down heavily in his chair. Sweat was literally dripping off of him. All of that had taken a lot out of him. He looked down the table to see everyone, with the exception of Dumbledore, staring at him with their jaws askew. He stared back at them for a few seconds before standing back up. He spread his arms wide and said "Ta Da." before bowing. Everyone finally snapped out of their trance and started laughing. They all were telling him that he had done a excellent job.

"There's just one other thing that I have to show you." Harry said.

They all looked at him expectantly. He saw their jaws drop again as he turned into a phoenix. He flew around the room a few times before turning back into himself.

"Now just to let you know I have more forms than that, but with all that I've done so far I've worn myself out. I can also turn into a lion and any snake I so choose."

Everyone stared in shock at him once again. Dumbledore started to laugh and told them that it was getting late. They all bid the kids and professors farewell and left. The kids trudged up to the tower so they could get some sleep before tomorrow.