Chapter 11
Voldemort glared at the closed door after Severus Snape left. He sighed before turning back to Harry.
Harry was looking at the far wall trying to make his eyes look distant and dead. He managed to keep his back straight and stiff.
"What is your name?"
Harry held down his terror. He knew Voldemort most likely knew who he was. It wasn't that hard to figure out. His heart was beating so fast he felt his blood rushing through his body as he opened his mouth to answer. "Har…" Suddenly a loud banging sound echoed around the room and the ground shook, making Malfoy, Lestrange and the little boy fall to the ground. Harry landed onto his side and Voldemort somehow stayed on his feet.
"Master, are you alright?" Bellatrix Lestrange asked as she scrambled off the ground, still holding the crying boy tightly in her hand.
"I'm fine." He sneered. "Bellatrix take the boy down with the rest of them. Lucius, take the other boy to the special room." Harry felt a shiver go down his spine at the gleam in his eyes.
Malfoy grinned as he stunned Harry. "Wingardium Leviosa."
The three former Marauder's walked silently through the dark, cold hallway of Riddle Manor. They were under James's old invisibility cloak. Something they haven't used since the Potter's went into hiding.
A sound from behind them stopped them in their tracks. They quickly and quietly moved against the wall to get out of the way. To their luck, they saw Lucius Malfoy with a floating Harry Potter and Bellatrix Lestrange holding a crying little boy.
They waited until the two Death Eaters passed before striking them from behind. "Stupfey!" They said at the same time. Two spells hit Bellatrix and one hit Lucius.
"Come on! We don't have much time until more Death Eaters come." Remus whispered urgently.
Sirius rushed over to Harry and James rushed over to a small boy.
James picked the boy up. "It's alright. We're here to save you." The boy held on tightly to him, burying his head into James's neck.
"Sirius." Harry said in relief as Sirius helped him up off the ground. Harry stumbled when he tried to walk.
"Wrap an arm around my neck, Harry." Sirius ordered quietly. Harry did as he was told and Sirius wrapped an arm around his waist for support.
Remus heard footsteps coming with his werewolf hearing. "Come. Hurry! I hear someone coming!" He whispered urgently.
They all rushed under the invisibility cloak after Remus enlarged it. They started walking away from the scene of the crime.
Remus heard it before the others. The sound of more footsteps then the sound of yelling as the Death Eaters found Malfoy and Lestrange stunned on the ground.
"Search the place! They couldn't have gotten far! You, grab a group and search the grounds!"
"Go, go. We got to get out of here." Sirius whispered urgently.
The closer they got to the hole they made with the bombs, the more Death Eaters there were. So far it didn't seem like these Death Eaters knew about Malfoy and Lestrange getting stunned yet. Which made it easier for them the sneak around.
Remus, who was in front of them, stopped short, when he saw who was standing close to the hole. Voldemort had a Death Eater under the cruciatus curse.
"Now, tell me some good news." He hissed angrily at the Death Eater.
"Mate, Death Eater, six o'clock." James whispered from behind them.
The group stepped out of the way as a Death Eater ran passed them.
"My Lord." The Death Eater bowed and kissed Voldemort's robes.
"Arise, my serpent and speak."
The Death Eater did as he was told. "My Lord, I bare bad news."
Voldemort narrowed his eyes, dangerously. "What is it?"
"It's Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy, my Lord. They were found stunned in the corridor."
"Oh, oh." Sirius whispered. "Shouldn't we get out of here now?"
"WHAT? YOU IRRESPONSIBLE, USELESS SERPENT." Everyone in the room cringed, knowing what was going to happen. They weren't disappointed. "CRUCIO! CRUCIO!" No Death Eater was spared from his anger.
As Voldemort took his anger out on his Death Eaters, the silent group snuck through them to the hole in the wall. They just made it out of the manor when one of Voldemort's missed fired cruciatus curse hit James in the back.
James fell onto the ground, dropping the kid. When he dropped, the invisibility cloak came off him, exposing him to Voldemort and his Death Eaters. He screamed in pain.
The group of three turned when they heard James screaming. It was too late, by the time they turned around James was already surrounded by Death Eaters and the boy was dead by a quick Killing Curse.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Voldemorts voice mocked. He stood in front of James. "James Potter. Who would have guessed he would show up?" He gazed across the surrounding area. "He wouldn't be alone. JOHNSON." A Death Eater came forward and kneeled.
"My Lord."
"Grab a group and search the area. Potter wouldn't have come here alone."
"Yes, my Lord." Johnson stood up and disappeared through the crowd, calling out names of Death Eaters to help the search.
"We got to get out of here." Remus whispered.
Harry looked at him in horror. "What about my dad? We can't just leave him."
"Someone would stay behind with the Invisibility Cloak." Remus said as he pushed Sirius and Harry down the hill to the apparating point.
They reached the point without getting caught. They could still hear the Death Eater's laughing. It sent shivers down their spines.
"Who's going back for James? I can if you don't." Remus said.
"No, that's fine. I'll go. You take Harry." Sirius said while he passed Harry over to Remus.
Remus handed the invisibility cloak to Sirius. "Wait until a Death Eater sees you before going. That way, they would think everyone left without James. It would lower their guard." Sirius said as he wrapped himself in the cloak. Remus nodded his agreement.
"I see them." A shout from an incoming Death Eater jumped Remus into action and he quickly side-apparated with Harry.
They popped just outside the anti-apparation wards around the Order Headquarters.
Once they were safely inside the House of Black, Remus ordered Harry to stay in bed as he left to get Madam Pomfrey.
Harry groaned. He saw Madam Pomfrey so much that people would start confusing them as mother and son!
It's been over an hour! Remus turned around again and headed back to the stuff chair. 'Where on earth are they?' He turned again heading in the opposite direction. He had been pacing in front of the fireplace since he got Poppy to see Harry. Remus was worried sick. James and Sirius hadn't returned yet.
He glanced in the direction of the stairs. Poppy gave Harry a dreamless-sleep potion. So, Harry was now sleeping. It was a good thing too. Or he would be worrying over them as well.
They ran down the hill with only the invisibility cloak for cover. Sirius had to support an injured James. Behind them dozen of Death Eaters ran after them, casing curses blindly, not able to see where two invisible people were.
"IDIOTS! SUMMON THE STUPID CLOAK!" They heard Voldemort shout from on top of the hill.
They were only a meter or less away from the end of the anti-apparation wards.
"Accio invisibility cloak!" a Death Eater yelled out.
They passed the wards just as the cloak flew off them. With his former Aurors skills, James spun around and caught the cloak, just as they apparated out of there.
A few moments later they burst through the front door of the Order Headquarters, startling Remus.
"James, Sirius! I was worried sick about you! What took you?" Remus started to say, but was interrupted by James.
"Where's Harry? Is he alright?" Without waiting for an answer, James limped on his hurt leg to the stairs and started the long process up the stairs.
Sirius and Remus stared in shock before catching each other's eye. "I think he's warming up to Harry, don't you?" Sirius asked unnecessary. All Remus did was nod before going to the fireplace.
"We'll have to fire call Albus to let him know Harry is safe." Remus said changing the subject.
Sirius slumped down onto the couch. "He's going to have our hinds for what we just did." Remus chuckled knowing Sirius was most likely right.
James made his way painfully up the stairs towards the room Harry had been using. He felt this need to see that Harry was all right, not just hear that he was. He reached the door to Harry's room, but then hesitated at the door. Shaking his head to clear all doubt, James opened the door and walked into the room.
Harry was sleeping peacefully on the bed. He was on his side with his arm tucked under his pillow.
James knelt down next to Harry's bed, wincing at the pain in his leg. He looked so much like the Harry him and Lily would dream about, back when Harry was just a year old baby. Such bravery and strength. Albus told James everything that happened in the Department of Mysteries. It wounded him, knowing that this boy felt it was necessary to use an unforgivable curse on someone. It even wounded him, knowing he would have done the same thing if Sirius had fallen by that person.
He reached to push some of Harry's hair out of his face. He was going to need a haircut soon. James noticed. Moving the hair, James now saw the lightning bolt scar on Harry's forehead. He touched it gently. Harry moaned in his sleep.
A warm touch on his scar woke him up, but his mind was still foggy from sleep. He moaned at the unexpected touch. With great effort Harry managed to crack his eyes opened. He couldn't see who was kneeling next to his bed without his glasses, though with his foggy, sleepy mind he wouldn't have been able to focus on the person anyway.
He felt a hand run through his hair in a smoothing manner. "Go back to sleep, son." Without another thought or word, Harry closed his eyes again and was asleep in seconds.
Harry woke up by the sound of Madam Pomfrey coming into the room. "If I find you well, Mr. Potter, then I'll allow you to eat in the kitchen with the others. There was a meeting earlier. So, most of the members are still here." Harry just nodded his head and allowed Madam Pomfrey to examine him. Madam Pomfrey seemed satisfied at what she saw and allowed Harry to leave the room.
Harry's stomach growled and he looked shyly at Madam Pomfrey. "Well, Mr. Potter, I think you should get to breakfast before it's all eaten."
Harry smiled before dashing out of the room. He stopped running when he reached the bottom of the stairs and walked the rest of the way to the kitchen.
Harry froze in the doorway to the kitchen. Most of the Order members were still there eating breakfast and talking, but Harry knew that. Madam Pomfrey told him. What made him freeze was the fact that the only seat left was in between James Potter and, surprisingly, Severus Snape, who didn't appear to be eating anything.
With no place else to sit, Harry gloomily sat down between his Potion Master and his Father. He piled his plate with scramble eggs and bacon, but he only took a few bits before pushing the plate away.
"Is there something wrong with Remus's cooking, Harry?"
Harry looked up at Sirius, who was sitting on his father's other side. He shook his head. "No, it's not that." He looked at Remus, who was sitting on Sirius's other side. "No offence Remus, but I miss Mrs. Weasley's cooking."
Remus chuckled and Sirius groaned. "Mrs. Weasley's cooking." He moaned. "Arthur, you have to get your ex-wife back, just for her cooking." Arthur Weasley gave a sad smile. "Her chicken was to die for." Sirius continued. "Remember, James."
"Oh, I remember all right. It's hard to forget." James said. "Not only was her chicken to die for but her…"
"…Lasagnas." Sirius, James, and Remus said at the same time. The people in the room chuckled. "Fred, George. I do not literally mean, 'to die for'." Sirius said at the grinning Weasley twins. The room burst into laughter at something that Harry didn't understand. Looking around he saw that Professor Snape was the only one not laughing. No surprise there.
Feeling left out of some inside joke, Harry started to play around with his food.
"Well, I have to get to work." Sirius said standing up. "I'm already late."
"Bloody Merlin, work!" Remus jumped out of his seat. "I almost forgot." The Order members started laughing again at Remus's forgetfulness. It was odd for Harry to see this side of him. He never tagged Remus Lupin to be a forgetful person, but this was his fourth time he forgot about his job.
Once the two left, Harry looked over at their two empty seats. He could move into Remus's empty seat. He would be able to talk to Neville and be a seat away from James Potter, who didn't want him and three seats away from Severus Snape, the Potion Master who hated him. Or he could just leave if he wasn't even going to eat.
"Albus is in the living room when you're done with breakfast."
Harry looked up suddenly at James Potter. His father was looking down at him. "Oh, thank you…sir." Harry added quickly.
James turned back to his food and closed his eyes to block some hidden pain. He slowly opened his eyes while he nodded. He pushed food around plate. "Don't forget to bring the pensieve."
Harry nodded. "Thank you for the reminder, sir." Harry stood and left room to get the box before meeting Dumbledore.
Harry sat on the couch, waiting for Dumbledore to get out of the pensieve. When Harry entered the room, Dumbledore immediately asked for the pensieve and went in without another word.
Dumbledore finally came out of the pensieve with a thoughtful look on his face.
"Sir?"
Dumbledore snapped his head up at Harry. "This, Mr. Potter, furthers my belief that you fought against magic that was not meant to be fought against."
"So, you're saying was I was just supposed to allow Voldemort to take over." Harry said thinking what Dumbledore said the last time he was here.
FLASHBACK
"It's to my belief that one would not be able to go to a world where their counterpart still lives."
Harry took in the information. "But how? How did Godrick someone get into a different dimension?"
Albus nodded his understanding of Harry's question. "In his book he talked about fighting a force before waking up in a different world. He woke up where his counterpart had died."
Harry lend forward, earnest for more information. "What was the force?"
"It was the force of magic. Magic was telling him to do one thing, but he was doing the complete opposite. Not something like the imperious curse, but more like the fighting possession or the veritaserum. Magic that isn't meant to be fought against."
"Possession." Harry whispered. "Voldemort was possessing me and I fought back." Harry looked away from Dumbledore.
"I do believe that is what happened. That type of magic could have killed any normal witch or wizard. You'll have to be very strong and powerful to fight against it."
END FLASHBACK
Dumbledore shook his head. "That's not what I mean, Mr. Potter. It's natural instinct to fight back an invasion of the mind. You, though, didn't only fight back mentally like people tend to do. You physical fought back as well."
Harry shook his head in confusion. "I'm sorry Professor, but I don't know what you mean."
"Well, Mr. Potter, there are two parts of your body. There are mental and physical. Most people instantly fight back mentally when they are possessed. Their mind would try to block the possessor from entering. Your mind/brain control's your body. So, it's natural to block access to the mind. You block the mind; you block the possessor's control of your body. You understand so far, Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry nodded his head. "Yes, sir, I think I do."
Dumbledore nodded before continuing. "You, however, used your very magic to block your mind and literally pushed Voldemort out of your mind. Something that would have been done natural when you block your mind. Though I see the need to literally push him out with your magic. Since you two have the connection, it would have been necessary for you to do that. You may have blocked your mind from him for a second, but it would only have taken such as long to re-enter your mind, because of the connection."
Harry lend against the back of the couch, looking a bit pale.
"Voldemort, of course, would have fought back. He probably did the same thing you did and fought physically. That force between his and yours would have been enough to send you here. Do you understand, Mr. Potter?"
"Sir, if he fought back the same way, then why didn't we both come here? Wouldn't he have come with me? Not that I'm complaining or anything." Harry quickly added.
"It was your body, Mr. Potter. Not his. It was your magical core. Both of you were in your body, not his. Does that answer your question?"
Harry nodded his head.
"Good. Now, to the next problem."
Harry quickly sat up. "Next problem? What problem?"
"Voldemort knows you're here. He may not know how or why, but he knows you're here and he will try to kill you." Harry swallowed hard.
"What do we do or what do I have to do?" Harry asked terrified.
"Train." Dumbldore answered, bluntly. "You will need to train to fight and survive. You have Sirius, Remus, and James to help you. I'll be able to come by once and a while to help and I'll have Severus Snape to teach you Occlumency." Harry cringed, remembering the past year. "Alastor Moody would have time on his hand to help you."
"Sir, can't you teach me Occlumency?" Harry asked almost desperately.
Dumbledore shook his head. "No, Mr. Potter. I don't have the time. As I said, I'll be able to come by once and a while and that is it. Severus has more time then I to teach you."
Harry held back the groaned as Dumbledore stood up. "Wait, sir." Harry quickly stood up as well. "Did you find out if Godrick Han…whatever…made it back to his world?"
"Godrick Hamason, Mr. Potter." Dumbledore corrected. "Yes, I do believe he did."
"How?"
"That, Mr. Potter, is something I still have to find out." Dumbledore turned to leave, but stopped when he saw the look on Harry's face. "You have to go back, Harry." Harry looked up when Dumbledore said his first name. It was the first time this Dumbledore said his name. "There is no choice, but to go back to where you belong. You are needed and loved there. You have many great friends who miss you."
Harry looked down feeling ashamed. "I know, sir. It's just hard picking between my father and godfather or my two best friends I knew since first year."
"There is no choosing evolved. You have to go back." Dumbledore said giving Harry a look behind his half-moon spectacles.
Harry nodded his head. "I know. It still doesn't make it easy, sir."
Dumbledore placed a comforting hand on his shoulders and gave him a pat. "I know it doesn't, Harry. I know it doesn't." With that Dumbledore was gone.