A/N I have to admit I am in a state of shock. The number of views alone knocked me over. The reviews have been mostly positive and helpful. I know I thank most directly when I answer questions but I really need to give direct recognition to a few people.

Red Phoenix Dragon – REALLY constructive criticism, if this one reviews look it over

teedub – incredibly supportive.

Johnapple - I'll take the compliment, even if I think your too kind, Thank you

erbkaiser – Probably the most involved reviewer, and doesn't pull punches. Questions my mindset and then makes suggestions to help me out. Can't even get mad when I'm Gibbs-slapped because it really is to help me :)

Thanks so much for the help and support. Let's get to why you came here today, shall we?

Chapter 9

The great hall was emptying from the evening meal when a loud crack disturbed the few remaining students and staff. Kreature and Dobby had brought Deloris Umbridge into the great hall and many were angered and pleased all at the same time. Few had forgotten her reign and Headmistress and were already looking for their revenge.

"Master we have returned as you ordered." Kreature and Dobby both bowed. "What is the meaning of this Mr. Potter?" McGonagall shouted. "Professor, If you will indulge me just a moment, all will be made clear." Harry replied.

McGonagal nodded her agreement and Harry approached the toad. She began to say how dare you but Harry just silenced her and took an imposing posture. "Deloris Jane Umbridge, You are in possession of stolen property. My property, and I want it returned. Now."

Harry didn't ask as much as he demanded. Then he released the silencing spell he placed on her. She denied it instantly. "I don't know what you're talking about. I have nothing that was stolen and you will pay for assaulting a ministry official. Auror Tonks, arrest him." Tonks didn't move. "Are you challenging my word, my honor?" Harry posed the question with purpose and Umbridge fell for it. "Yes you're an attention-seeking liar. Who do you think you are..."Harry cut her off.

"Deloris Jane Umbridge, you have impugned the honor of the House of Potter. As the current Head of House, I hereby challenge you to a Wizard's Duel. Professor Flitwick, would you honor me as my second?" The former dueling champion was happy to accept. "It would be my pleasure Lord Potter." He squeaked. Umbridge was beside herself. She was not a dueler and knew of no one who would second her in this fight. Harry made his move. "You have a choice. Return the locket of Slytherin that you took from Mundugus Fletcher or name your second!"

Umbridge was afraid for her life and couldn't speak. Harry pressed on. "Fine, you refuse to return my property, and you name no second. En Garde!" Harry took his stance and prepared to duel. Umbridge threw the locket and screamed for him to stop. Harry hit her with an incarcerous to make sure she didn't attempt anything. He conjured a box and levitated the locket into it. The dark magic pulsed off the locket which did not go unnoticed by Moody.

Moody stepped up to Harry. "Potter. I think the aurors need to question Ms. Umbridge. And we'll need to have that locket also." Harry replied "I think there are a number of charges. Currently she was in possession of stolen goods. She has taken bribes, I have someone who can confirm this if you need. And I have multiple counts of using a blood quill on a minor. As for the locket, I need to do something first but I'll be glad for you to bear witness." Harry smiled at the old auror. Moody had Tonks arrest Umbridge and take her away. Ron went over to Harry and asked what the plan was.

Harry had McGonagall get the Sword of Gryffimdor from the Headmistress' office. He had McGonagall give him the sword and Harry brought out the locket. He stabbed it with the sword but nothing happened. He opened the locket with parseltongue and tried again. Still nothing happened. He had Dobby get him a basilisk fang from the potions lab and tried again. This time the locket jumped away and closed. "Ron, come here and give us a hand." Harry had Ron take the fang. Then he spoke in parseltongue. "open" he hissed.

The locket opened and several images came out. Ron saw an image of Hermione berating him as too poor, too dumb for her then she turned to an image of Harry and kissed him. Then Ginny appeared and did the same. Then he saw his mum, Mrs. Weasley, disowning him. Ron was frozen. All of a sudden he heard Harry, the real Harry, screaming for him to stab now, and Ron drove the fang into the locket. The dark smoke and agonizing scream, and the vision disappearing let him know he had succeeded.

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A few days later they boarded the Hogwarts express to head home. Harry gave Hedwig the option to ride on the train or stretch her wings and meet him at the Burrow. She playfully nipped his ear and took to flight. The trip home was quite peaceful. Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Neville were joined by Luna and chatted amicable along the way. Shortly after the snack trolley passed, the train came to a stop. Knowing they were nowhere near Kings Cross Station they all drew their wands. Hermione saw a Death Eater outside the window, and sent a warning to all DA members via their coins. Harry called Dobby and Kreature.

Kreature was sent to the ministry to report the attack to the aurrors. Dobby was sent to Moony. A small group of Death Eaters were searching the cars. The leader was smaller than the others, and when he gave instructions Harry recognized the voice of Draco Malfoy. Harry told the others to wait in the compartment under a disillusionment charm while he was going out under the invisibility cloak. When Draco and company checked the compartment they were placed in full bodybinds. Malfoy was still in the aisle when Harry disarmed him and put him in a bodybind as well. The teens snapped their attacker's wands and Harry made a port key that sent every one of them to the lobby of the Ministry. They then searched the train for more Death Eaters and found Harry had been a better teacher than expected. Many Death Eaters were bound already. They snapped all the wands and began sending the Death Eaters to the Ministry. These were younger, less experienced soldiers. The train was expected to be easier to capture.

The quintet got off the train to see what else was stopping the train. Luna remained on board to take care of a few injuries. It wasn't long before they ran into the real leaders of the attack and were in a fight again similar to the Department of Mysteries. The difference was this time there were allies in the train that helped defend. Harry was facing one of Carrows. Harry had just disarmed him and sent him to the Ministry when he was hit with a Cruciatus curse. Harry fell to the ground as his body seemed to explode in pain. He could hear the laughter of Rudolphus Lestrange when all of a sudden it stopped. He turned over to look and was amazed at what he saw. Neville was systematically beating Lestrange to a pulp. After various kicks, and punches, Neville finished it with an uppercut that broke his jaw. Lestrange fell in a heap of broken bones and groaned in pain. Neville picked up his wand and snapped it in half in front of him. "That was for Mum and Dad you demented sod!" He told him. They then sent him to the Ministry as well.

The aurrors arrived with members of the Order and ended the battle. As the aurrors took statements from the students, a death eater who had been hiding fired a killing curse at Harry. Just before the ball of green light hit Harry, A streak of white flew past him and intercepted the blast. Harry turned and fired a Reducto at the source and the Death Eater's head exploded, killing him instantly. Harry walked over and saw what saved him. It was his familiar Hedwig. She had been flying along with the train watching over Harry, and sacrificed herself for him. "Just like before. I'm so sorry girl." Harry conjured a small coffin and placed Hedwig in it. He told Dobby to take her to the Burrow and have her placed under a preservation charm. He then entered the train.

The rest of the journey was eerie. Harry went into almost a trance. He was meditating in order to keep himself from crying. His friends encircled him for when he came out of it. Ron and Hermione sat across from them. Neville and Luna went to another compartment so that the steady stream of visitors could congratulate him without disturbing Harry. Shortly before they arrived at the station Harry came out of it. "Sorry everyone. I needed to think." He said alerting them that he was back. The girls wrapped him up in a hug as they all offered their condolences knowing how close Harry was to Hedwig.

When they arrived, The Grangers were there alongside the Weasley clan and Moony to meet them. They gathered their things but before they left, Harry called for his elves. Dobby and Kreature bowed low and asked how they could serve their master. "We are going to the Burrow now. I want you to bring me the dark lord's snake. She is in Malfoy Manor, so be careful." Then Harry's voice became deep and cold with the echo of revenge. "Bring me Nagini!" The elves bowed and left for their mission. Harry shrunk everyone's gear and joined the group, then they all headed to the Burrow.

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Harry asked Mr. Weasley for an ax, and once he got it, began getting things together for the night. He changed the ax into a spade, then he buried his closest friend Hedwig. When he was done, he cleaned up and changed clothes. He returned and there was a very quiet dinner at the Burrow. Nobody wanted to address the white elephant in the room that was Harry.

The silence was finally broken when they were disturbed by a loud crack and the appearance of two elves and a large snake with a bag on it's head. "We has returned Harry Potter." Harry called them out to the yard. He conjured a stone table and strapped the snake down. He then hit it with an immobulus and petrifcus totalis so that Nagini could not move. He told the elves to step back and make sure the snake could not escape. He handed the twins and Mr. Weasley, each a large knife that had a blade coated in basilisk venom. He then conjured a circular wall to prevent anyone from seeing out. He instructed them that when he counted three, they were to each stab the snake. Then he took the bag off the snakes head.

Nagini was staring straight into Harry's eyes. "I know you can see this Tom." He said as he stared into the snakes eyes. You and yours killed my familiar today. Now I kill yours!" They all stabbed at once. Between the wounds and the venom, the snake was quickly dying. Harry leaned in and spoke. "This is for Hedwig."

He then raised the ax and struck the snake between the eyes. There was an unholy scream and a dark mist escaped the head and vanished. Harry stabbed the eyes of the snake and stepped back and set the snake on fire. When the body was charred away Harry told the elves to send the body back to wherever they got the snake. Once it was gone, Harry vanished all the weapons, and the wall and table he conjured. "Any questions on how you destroy a horcrux?" he asked the group. At that point, Mrs. Weasley fainted.

Harry explained to those in question that they had indeed just destroyed a horcrux. Mr. Weasley asked if that was the snake that attacked him a year and a half ago, and Harry told him it was. "Good, I owed that beast one." He said with pride.

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Ron, and Hermione both began chastising Harry for what he had done. It was an incredible offense and actually a crime to kill a wizard's familiar. It was as if they didn't see Hedwig killed just hours ago. When Hermione said "The Harry I knew..." Harry lost it.

"I'm not the Harry you knew! The Harry you knew, gave up when Draco Malfoy stomped on his nose!" He was bellowing and it stopped everyone where they stood. "He was so tired of fighting and being betrayed that he moved on. I guess his best friends not believing Draco was a Death-eater was the final straw!" Hermione had tears in her eyes and Ron was looking down in shame. The rest began to question but couldn't get the words out.

"That's right. I already endured all of it. Even seeing Hedwig killed. She died today just as she did before, protecting ME!" He glared at everyone as he let out all the frustration that had built. "I am from a different dimension. I spent a year on the run in a world where Riddle took over the ministry..."

Harry explained his seventeenth year right through the defeat of Voldemort and snapping the wand, as well as meeting Death and the Fates. "... And then I'm told how my best mate would turn on me yet again and how hermione would save me but he would still become a new dark lord. All because of jealousy. This is before the muggles wiped us all out because the arse couldn't envision any way for muggles to beat wizards!" Ron fell into his chair, shaking his head.

"I agreed to come here, to take your Harry's place so that Riddle wouldn't win. This world was supposed to be almost identicle to mine, but it isn't I have made some major changes. I actually killed his slaves. I didn't stun and give them mercy. I ended the threat! Something you adults couldn't muster the guts to do because you followed that manipulating pacifistic sod and his greater good. Just like you did before until Harry Potter ended the dork lord!" Harry was losing steam now.

"Seven. He made seven of those things. One was an accident. He made me one. But he made himself a horcrux of sorts for me when he took my blood. So when Draco killed your Harry, he had a choice to come back. The death ended the horcrux. So now they're all gone. The bastard is mortal. Anyone can kill him now. Maybe I should just see who will stand up to him. I have more than done my job. Even done your Harry's job." Harry left the room while the rest were still in shock. He grabbed his trunk and headed to Grimmauld Place through the floo. He had had enough.

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Come morning, Harry took the elves on a tour of the house and noted some things he wanted to change. Harry was taking the master bedroom and bath and instructed Dobby to prepare it using Gryffindor colors. Then they went to Sirius' room. "Winky this will be the Guest elf room. Prepare it for you or Dobby to use." Winky bowed and he and Kreature continued to Regulus' room. "This will be the assigned room for the Elf of the House of Black. Kreature, as said elf, this room is yours. If you wish your room to be a shrine to your past masters, do so. It is your room to decorate as you see fit." Tears welled in the old elf's eyes at Harry's instruction. He bowed low and tried to thank Harry, but was too emotional to speak. Harry had another instruction. "Before we go any farther, Dobby, Winky!" the other two elves popped in. "Remove the painting of Walburga Black from downstairs. I don't care if you must remove the wall also, but I do not want that picture there anymore. If you want it, Kreature you may have it, just get her out of my sight."

Harry took a trip on the Knight Bus to Surrey. He didn't really like his relatives, but he didn't want them dead. Aunt Petunia had broken down that last day, and finally showed some feeling for her sister. Harry felt he should give them a chance to survive.

It was mid afternoon when he knocked on the door. Dudley answered it. "Harry?" Harry was surprised, he had blonde hair.

"Hi Big D. Are your folks home? We all need to talk." Dudley nodded and invited Harry in. Petunia and Vernon were also blonde and his aunt looked horse faced and giraff-necked. It took a moment to adjust.

Vernon was very upset to see Harry. "What are you doing back? You're not staying here anymore! I've had enough of your unnaturalness here!" Petunia was of the same mind and made it known. Harry listened to them for a few moments but was fed up. He'd listed to Vernon's rants for sixteen years and was at the end of his tolerance. Harry backhanded his uncle.

"My name Harry. Not boy, not freak, and not hey you." Harry shoved his uncle into a chair. "Got it?" Vernon was both livid and afraid. He couldn't believe this was Harry.

"The wards that protect me here, protected you too. You remember those things that attacked Dudley that night? If we had been withing the wards, they would not have been able to hurt us." That set Vernon off again and Petunia shreiked. "Out! Out boy! I never want you here again. You bring those other freaks here and almost get my family killed! I'll not have it!" Harry walked up to Vernon and punched him, breaking his nose. "I don't need magic to handle you, you worthless hippo."

Harry continued to beat his uncle for the years of abuse. Harry broke Vernon's arm, a couple ribs, and his jaw. Petunia tried to intervene but Harry shoved her off. It was Dudley who finally pulled Harry off Vernon, begging Harry to stop as he did. Dudley knew how badly they had treated Harry and yet Harry had still saved him from the dementors last summer.

"Harry please. I know he deserves it. Mum and I do too, but please. He's my father!" The cousins stood idle for a moment as Harry calmed down. Harry looked into Dudley's eyes and nodded a silent acceptance that they were good. Harry walked over to Vernon and Petunia.

"You have never treated me with anything but contempt. What you feel now is only a fraction of what you put me through. You two are dead to me. I no longer refer to you as family and since you want me out so badly, I will leave. But know that the protections are going to die soon. When they do, the Death-eaters will come for you. They will torture you all. Dudley, you and your Dad will be killed. Aunt Petunia, you as a female, will be used over and over until you are begging for death. These people tried to kill me as a baby, what do you think they'll do to you?"

Harry looked back at Dudley and spoke. "Big D, if you need me, use this." Harry threw him a galleon like the DA used. "Just say what you need and I, or one of my friends, will come to you. Dudley, you are my cousin, remember, if you need me." Dudley nodded. "I would get them and yourself out of here for the summer, maybe longer. If you stay, you will die. Good bye Big D." and with that, Harry walked out of #4 Privet Drive and returned to #12 Grimmauld Place.

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Back at Grimmauld place the elves informed Harry of letters that had arrived for him Mostly from the Weasleys. Harry read them all as the elves told him there were no charms on them. Mr. Weasley's was the one that actually made some sense. Harry took pen and paper, since he knew Arthur would find muggle style fascinating, and replied. Dobby was happy to take it.

It was a week before his birthday when Remus and Tonks came to visit. As the only two who could still even enter Headquarters, it fell to them to be the go between for the Weasleys. Tonks was absolutely beaming and announced they had married. Harry smiled big on the outside, but internally he was praying that he would not see them die. Everyone else so far had not been spared, even Hedwig, so his hopes were not high. It took some doing but they got Harry to agree to visit the Burrow again, but not before Bill came to reset the wards. They removed , and re-applied the fidealus charm with Harry as his own secret keeper.

At noon, Harry returned to the Burrow. He gave the address of 12 Grimmauld Place to each of the Weasleys and Hermione. Then he sat down for lunch. There were many apologies and Harry waved off most of them. It wasn't important. The words were there, but their actions would show him if they meant it. When the meal was finished Harry stayed for a little while, but returned to Grimmauld to rest.

When Harry arrived home Kreature and Dobby were finishing the changes to the house. It was now ready for house guests and just in time since the Delacours were arriving at the end of the week. Harry got an idea. He asked the elves if they would be interested in helping get the Burrow ready for the wedding. Kreature was not keen, but Dobby and Winky jumped at the opportunity. Harry smiled and told them to go see Ginny to find out what was needed. Harry knew Molly and Arthur would be too proud to accept the help, but Ginny or even Bill would welcome it.

He sighed happily as he began to read the Daily Prophet. That is when he saw it. Rita Skeeter had a larger than normal article because she was promoting her book The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore that was soon to be released. Harry had his issues with Dumbledore, but nobody could deserve what Skeeter would write about them. He decided to get with Tonks and Moody and come up with a plan.