DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

Thanks to juliedecarson for beta'ing this for me. Any mistakes are my own

A/N: Pre HBP, no plans to incorporate major events of HBP into this fic (So this is officially AU for year 6-and 7).

TRUTH IS IN THE BLOOD

CHAPTER 10

THE USUAL

"Avada Ke-"

BANG!

Before Voldemort could finish the curse, the front door slammed open.

Harry groaned. 'Why did Mundungus Flethcer have to be on guard duty today,' Harry thought, 'might as well say goodbye now.'

"Finite Incantatum" Dung cried, waving his wand in Harry's direction, causing the ropes to free him.

"Crucio," Voldemort yelled at Dung.

Dung rolled to avoid the curse and yelled "Harry, get out!"

Harry just stared at Dung in silence.

"Now!"

"Crucio," Voldemort incanted again.

This time it was Harry that had to avoid the curse.

"Harry, go!" Dung cried right before he was hit with the Cruciatus Curse.

"Expellarimus!" Voldemort shouted victoriously, as Dung's wand landed in his hand.

'Go Now!' Dung mouthed, recovering from the curse.

Harry nodded sadly as he reached for the portkey and activated it, seconds before a beam of light hit the spot where he had been standing.

Harry groaned as he realized where he was. Dumbledore would set his portkey to the infirmary.

"Mr. Potter?" Madam Pomfrey asked, "Are you okay?"

"Dung," Harry gasped, trying to catch his breath. "He needs help at the house. Voldemort-"

"Now don't you worry about that. Professor Dumbledore and the order are already there. Let's worry about you. Lay down," She instructed as she led him to a hospital bed.

"I'm fine," Harry said.

"Why don't you let me be the judge of that? Come, now, lay down."

Harry lay down on the bed, closed his eyes and sighed. So much had happened this afternoon. A surprise attack on his home by Voldemort was difficult enough to deal with, but when you add the information that the evil wizard shared, Harry didn't even know where to begin.

"What!" he yelped in response to Madam Pomfrey's question. She couldn't have asked him what he thought she asked him. If she knew, then that meant that Dumbledore knew. If Dumbledore knew, that meant that there were more secrets that the headmaster was keeping from him.

"Do you recall what Voldemort said?" Madam Pomfrey repeated.

Like he could forget, Harry thought. It wasn't every day you learned that you might have been adopted. Especially not from a madman that has been trying to kill you for the last 15 years. But how did she know? Maybe she worked for him? No, that wouldn't make sense. Voldemort said that he obliviated everyone. Maybe she discovered it similar in a way that Voldemort did. Perhaps a testing on his blood? After all, he had been in the infirmary enough times for her to discover something like this. Or maybe it was true and everyone but him knew he was adopted. Or maybe she knew legilimency and had searched his mind to discover what happened. Wouldn't be the first time a member of the staff did that, Harry thought.

"Mr. Potter, I'll ask you again, what spells did he use? It would make my job easier if I knew what I needed to treat you for."

"Oh." Harry blushed, realizing that he was becoming as paranoid as Mad-Eye. "Cruciatus a few times, a couple of cutting curses, a binding spell , a half said Avada Kedavra, you know, the usual." Harry shrugged. "No Imperio this time, though, I think he gave up on that spell since he knows I can fight it."

"The usual indeed," Madam Pomfrey repeated with a huff, shaking her head in disgust, as she handed him two potions. "Take these and try to get some rest."

She then set up some screens ensuring his privacy before walking back to her desk to make her report.

Rest, Harry thought, like that is going to happen. His whole world might have been turned upside down and Madam Pomfrey wanted him to 'rest'.

Harry stayed on the bed, his eyes closed as he thought about his encounter with Voldemort.

What was it that Voldemort had said? Oh yeah, 'no real blood connection at all between you and Lily and James Potter'. If there was no blood connection, then they weren't his parents. Couldn't possibly be his parents.

Merlin, if only he knew legilimency, Harry thought, then he might have an idea if Voldemort was telling the truth or if he was just trying to 'play' with him. What if he had been telling the truth? What if he was adopted? Who were his natural parents? Where were they? Did they not want him? Not love him?

All these thoughts filled his mind as Harry drifted off to sleep, fighting the burning behind his eyes.

Harry woke to find Dumbledore sitting on a chair next to his bed.

"Dung," Harry croaked.

"Is recovering nicely," the headmaster answered, his eyes moving to a figure lying on a bed a few meters from Harry.

"Good," Harry mumbled as he closed his eyes, grateful that the wizard hadn't been hurt too badly.

"Harry?" Dumbledore inquired, "Are you up to answering a few questions?"

"Sure," Harry answered as he struggled to set up. "Can I have some water?" Harry rasped.

"Of course, my boy, of course," Dumbledore responded as he conjured up a glass of water and handed it to Harry.

"Thanks," Harry said, one hand holding the glass while the other massaged his sore throat.

"Sore throat?" Dumbledore asked. "I always find that a lemon drop does the trick. Would you like one?"

Harry shook his head no. At least he knew things weren't that bad if the headmaster was still offering lemon drops.

"Ah, Mr. Potter," Madam Pomfrey stated as she walked around one of the screens, "Awake I see."

Not knowing how to respond, Harry just nodded.

"I trust the headmaster didn't wake you?"

Harry indicated 'no' by shaking his head.

"Can you talk?" Madam Pomfrey asked, concerned about her silent patient.

Again Harry nodded.

Madam Pomfrey sighed, "Mr. Potter, if you can talk, kindly do so."

"Sorry," Harry replied sheepishly. "I can talk; my throat is just a little bit dry and sore."

"After effects of some of the curses."

More like after effects of some of the screaming, Harry thought.

"Here, drink this," Madam Pomfrey ordered, handing Harry a vial with a sky blue liquid in it.

Harry grimaced after swallowing the potion. It tasted almost as bad as skele-gro.

"You can talk," She told him as she gathered her supplies, "But you are not to leave this bed, understood?"

"Yes, ma'am," Harry said and reinforced it by nodding his head.

"And you," Madam Pomfrey said, turning to address the headmaster, "Are not to upset him or tire him with all your questions."

"Yes, ma'am," Dumbledore imitated Harry, nodding his head, blue eyes cheerfully twinkling.

"Humph" was all she said in reply as she moved the screens back and place and returned to her office.

"Sir?" Harry asked tentatively, "Why would I be upset? What happened? Was someone hurt?"

"Calm down Harry. Everyone is fine. A few minor injuries, but no one is in critical condition.

"However, since Voldemort not only knows where you live, but can now breach the blood wards, I have had to convince your family to move."

"But they're okay, right?" Harry asked. Even if they weren't the most caring of family, they were family, and Harry didn't want any of them to die.

"Yes, yes, perfectly fine. However, they have requested that you don't contact them. In fact, the only way I was able to get them to relocate to a safe place was if I promised not to tell you where they were.

"I'm afraid that you are quite on your own," Dumbledore concluded sadly.

"Oh." Harry said pausing for a little bit in case Dumbledore had more to add.

"Is that all?" Harry asked when the headmaster remained silent and solemn. This news wasn't as traumatizing to Harry as one might imagine. Actually, Harry wasn't even surprised, he always figured the Dursley's would find someway to keep him out of their life. Harry was quite shocked that the Dursley's hadn't move one day when he was in school.

"I'm well aware of what they think of me, it's not a surprise. Really," He consoled Dumbledore.

"But Harry," Dumbledore protested, "they were your family. Your last connection to your mother."

Connection. No blood connection. "Maybe not," Harry murmured, finally seeing a bright side if Voldemort was telling the truth. He wouldn't be related to the Dursleys.

Dumbledore peered over his glasses to look Harry in the eye.

Harry quickly looked away. Taking the hint, Dumbledore asked, "What happened today, Harry?"

"My aunt, uncle, and cousin were going out. They dropped me off at home so I could settle in. I entered the house and took a moment to rest against the door when I heard someone say 'welcome home'.

"I recognized the voice and sure enough, when I opened my eyes, Voldemort was standing ten feet in front of me."

"Why didn't you use the portkey the moment you saw him?" Dumbledore asked with a frown.

"I tried!" Harry yelled. "Why did you have to make it so small? Yes, I was able to carry it around with me everywhere, but it was so small! It was in my pocket, along with some money, some candy and some candy wrappers. It was bloody impossible trying to get a hold of it and activate it. Especially since I didn't want Voldemort to know what I was doing."

"Ah, yes. I suppose I didn't think about the dynamics of it. I apologize, please continue."

"Voldemort talked for a while while I tried to reach and activate the portkey. I had just gotten the portkey in my hand and was about to activate it when Voldemort conjured ropes to tie my hands together." Harry continued to tell Dumbledore all the events of the afternoon, well, everything except what Voldemort said about his parents. He wasn't sure if he was willing to share that yet.

Professor Dumbledore listened to Harry complete his tale without any further interruptions. Once Harry was finished, Dumbledore had a few more questions.

"Where was your wand?"

"In my trunk."

"My dear boy, whatever for," Dumbledore chided. "You should know that you should always carry your wand with you."

"Constant vigilance. Yes, I know. But my uncle made me put it in my trunk at the station. He didn't want me to carry it in the car with me, especially since his family was in there. He, or rather, Dudley, is afraid of it."

"Perhaps that is understandable after events from previous summers'. But why didn't you retrieve it once you had your trunk?"

"Open my trunk full of magical items outside for anyone to see? My uncle would've killed me if I had given the neighbors any reason to be suspicious of me. Hey, I was lucky that they no longer lock my items in my cupboard."

"Fine, fine," Dumbledore stated absently, deciding to address the last sentence and its implications later.

"Sir?" Harry asked, "what's going to happen now?"

"Now? Well, now you will recover and-"

"No," Harry interrupted. "I meant about the Dursley's and my guardians. Technically I'm not of age yet."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Yes, I think that since there are only a few weeks until you do reach 17, that we can get by without appointing new guardians for you."

Harry sighed in relief. At least that's one thing he didn't have to worry about.

"No doubt tomorrow's paper will carry the story about Voldemort's attack on your home. Perhaps it would be best if you write anyone concerned to inform that that you are safe and at Hogwarts to prevent needless worrying."

"Yes, sir," Harry answered, starting letters to Luna, Ginny, Neville, Ron, and Hermione as soon as the elderly wizard left.

As Dumbledore predicted, the news of the attack was in the Daily Prophet. Luckily, there weren't too many details just that the attack happened on his home; that his family was relocated to a safer location; and that once again Harry escaped alive.

While the paper did state that he was alive, the writers of The Daily Prophet also made it appear that he was critically injured and could breathe his last breath at any moment.

Harry was glad that he had owled his friends. He wouldn't want them to worry needlessly about him. Unfortunately, he hadn't realized until this morning the he never owled Moony.

After years of living with the Dursley's treatment of him, Harry just wasn't use to an adult worrying about him.

"Madam Pomfrey?" Harry asked, "Can you please let Professor Dumbledore know that I would like to speak to him?"

"Certainly, Mr. Potter," she replied, "as soon as you take these potions."

Harry made a face before imbibing the awful tasting potions. If they didn't work so well, Harry wouldn't be sure if they would be worth the taste.

A few minutes later, the headmaster appeared in the doorway.

"Sir, I just realized that I forgot to send an owl to Remus. After reading the article in the paper, I don't want him to worry. Can you let him know that I am safe and not on my deathbed?"

"Already done, Mr. Potter. I figured you might have forgotten him, so I informed him as well as the other Order members that you were safe and sound at Hogwarts."

"Thanks," Harry said, before realizing that Order members most likely included Snape. Hopefully the potion master wasn't at the castle, Harry thought. He had enough to worry about with what Voldemort told him, he did not want to deal with Snape's insults and sarcastic remarks as well.

'It couldn't be true', Harry reassured himself hours later as he lay in the hospital bed. 'I look too much like James not to be his son.'

'Maybe a bit too much like James,' a voice inside answered back.

"Well, how else do you explain how I look if I'm not Jame's Potter's son?" Harry asked the voice.

'Ever heard of magic?' was the sarcastic reply he received. 'Magic can do all sorts of things, even alter someone's appearance.'

"But polyjuice only lasts for an hour, this has been sixteen years."

'There are other things beside polyjuice that might have been used.'

"Well surely someone would've known that I was adopted," Harry reasoned, "Someone would've noticed that my mom wasn't pregnant for nine months before I appeared."

'Maybe they did,'

"They would've told me. Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, they wouldn't have kept this from me."

"Would they have? They tell you everything after all," the inner voice said sarcastically.

At that Harry decided to turn over to get some sleep, trying to block out the voice that was making him doubt not only his friends and mentors, but his identity as well.

When Harry woke, Dumbledore was once more next to him.

"Ah, good, you're awake. Lemon drop?"

"No, thanks," Harry said as he sat up, coming to a decision. "Sir, can I ask you something?"

"But of course, my dear boy, of course."

"Voldemort said something to me during the attack,"

Madam Pomfrey heard those words and came running over to look after her only patient. "Was it a spell? Do you remember what he said? Are you feeling all right? Why didn't you mention that you didn't know one of the spells he used?"

Harry stared at the medi-witch in shock. Who knew that she could talk so fast?

"Madam Pomfrey," Dumbledore answered for Harry, "I do not believe that Harry is referring to a spell, but rather something of a more private matter. If I am mistaken, I will let you know."

Recognized that she had been dismissed, she turned to leave, but not before addressing the headmaster one last time, "Be sure that you do."

"Sir? How do you know that this is of a personal nature?" Harry asked, doubts about what Voldemort said bubbling to the top at the headmaster's words.

"After six years, I think that I have gotten to know you rather well. If it was a spell you would have told both myself and Madam Pomfrey. One, to ensure that you were healed correctly, and two, to add it to your repertoire to teach the DA," the headmaster answered kindly, his blue eyes shining brightly.

"Oh, okay," Harry answered, his doubts somewhat settled.

"Now, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"First, sir, can I ask you to put up some silencing charms. I don't want anyone else to hear this right now."

The twinkle in the headmaster's eyes faded as he followed Harry's request.

"Harry? Are you okay? Did you try something you shouldn't have?"

Harry stared at the headmaster in shock, until he understood what he was referring to. "No, sir, I didn't try any unforgivables. Remember? I didn't even have my wand."

Dumbledore nodded as he remembered that fact, still puzzled over what could have Harry acting so peculiar and wanting so much privacy in a castle that is practically deserted.

"Voldemort said something. I'm not sure if what he said was true. I don't know if I should do anything about it or just ignore it," Harry said.

"I'll be glad to help in anyway I can," the headmaster vowed.

"Thanks," Harry said, feeling relieved, as he relaxed against the pillows.

After a few moments, the headmaster spoke, "Harry? As I said, I would be glad to help in anyway; however, it might be beneficial if I knew exactly what we were talking about."

"Oh, yeah," Harry replied, sheepishly, "Sorry about that."

Harry took a deep breath, before saying the words he wished he never heard. "Voldemort said that the blood in my veins is not the same as my parents."

Dumbledore just looked at his student waiting for him to continue.

"He basically implied that I was adopted by the Potters. That they weren't my real parents." Harry concluded forlornly.

Dumbledore just looked at Harry, indecision on his face, unsure what to say.

"Sir? Is it true?"

END CHAPTER 10

So the question is...Does Dumbledore know?

Thanks to everyone who had read this story & extra thanks to those who take the time to review...

8-13-05