Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 12: and so we meet again

The next week Harry was lucky if he got out of bed let alone the house. Most days he was left to be baby sat by Remus Lupin who was the only member of the order that did not have a job to go to.

Harry decided he like Remus.

Those first few days back he had been constantly sleepy and weak. Remus had stayed with him the whole day reading and bringing low key games for them to play together. He was a lot milder than James or Sirius, preferring to laugh at something Harry had said rather than make the joke himself, but he still managed to make Harry feel just as important and safe.

Every once and a while someone would drop by for a visit. Hagrid had come by twice to tell fun stories about beasts and pass on a message. Marlene McKinnon had also come by once to see how they where doing. But everything taken into consideration Harry was very excited to see Hogwarts. Ever since learning the history of the enchanted castle from Remus he couldn't wait to walk the halls again.

Hogwarts was just as he remembered it as the group (Harry, Lily, James and Sirius) walked through the chilly halls at noon on Thursday. Many of the students where wearing their heavier clothes as they made their way down to the dungeons in the late september weather.

Unfortunately there was no time for the tour that Harry had hoped for.

"We have to take you to the hospital wing so Madame Pomfrey can check you out. While you do that we're gonna go see professor Dumbledore to see the results of your tests." Lily explained as she led the way to the hospital wing, not trusting the boys alone again.

"Okay." Harry said trying to hide his disappointment.

"Hey why the long face?" James said, with a smile. "We'll give you a small tour this afternoon after we talk to the big man. How's that sound?"

Harry's face lit up at the idea of a promised treat.

"I don't know Prongs," Sirius added "we leave him with moony for a couple of days and he gets him all academically interested.

They all laughed as they entered into the sterile hospital ward.

"Hello." Said the matron as they entered "I'll go get Harry's file." She marched off in the direction of her office.

James placed Harry on a bed. "We'll see you later, alright?"

"We'll be right back." Lily said with a hug

"Don't have to much fun without us." Sirius added waving "and don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Harry heard James laugh and comment on how that didn't leave much he couldn't do before the door closed behind them.

The matron bustled over holding some papers. "Now that those miscreants are gone we can get some work done. Please remove your shirt Mr. Potter." He did and she prodded him gently before writing something down in her folder. "You may put your shirt back on. Please lie down and don't move." She made a sweeping motion over harry. "Everything seems to be in order. You may wait here while I go tend to some other patients."

Without another word she turned on her heal, leaving the little boy alone.

Harry lay back on the bed feeling extremely board but determined to follow orders this time, that is until someone spoke to him.

"Harry is that you?"

Harry turned to see a familiar face. "Hi Barty."

"Back again I see, do you get to see anything but the hospital wing?"

"I've seen Professor Dumbledore's office." Harry said, siting up

"That's it? What are you here for? Are you sick?" the corners of his mouth twitched as if he knew something Harry didn't.

Harry shrugged. "No, I feel fine."

"Then what are you doing here? How about I show you some of Hogwarts?"

Harry bit his lip. They had been mad the last time he left his bed without permission…but he was perfectly fine and so board… and he wanted to see Hogwarts so badly. Maybe if he went for a bit and came right back they wouldn't even notice that he had gone? Yeah that's what he'd do.

"Okay." Harry jumped off the bed and took Barty's hand, who smiled widely.

"Do you like quidditch Harry? How about I show you the pitch?" Barty asked leading the way to the door.

Harry nodded, excited, James had told him so much about his quidditch career at school.

They had a pleasant walk down to the grounds exchanging polite conversation. When Harry finally saw the pitch he gasped and ran to the middle, staring up at the huge goal posts.

Barty caught up with him and, smirking shoved a piece of crumpled paper into his hands. "Could you hold that for me?"

Harry had just formed the words "sure" before there was a tugging at his navel and he was zooming forward.

He stopped with a thump and fell forward. He quickly stood up and stared into the evil red eyes of one of the ugliest man he had ever seen. Unlike the twinkling eyes of professor Dumbledore Harry did not feel safe, he felt instant terror.

"So this is the little piece of filth that will be my down fall."

"Yes, that's him milord."

Harry turned to find out where the voice had come from and was startled to see Peter. There where several others standing beside him but Peter looked the most nervous by far.

"Put your hood up you fool!" ordered the ugly man and Peter jumped to comply. "In the event that this plan should go awry we don't want the little brat squealing on you. It seems Barty followed the plan properly. We must remember to thank Ragnid for her information."

The red eyed man tapped his fingers on his thrown and seemed to contemplate the young boy standing in front of him.

Harry squirmed under his scrutiny.

"May I speak milord?"

Harry didn't turn this time, he just stared, frozen to his spot, into the horrible red eyes. The eyes shifted somewhere behind him and suddenly Harry felt able to move again.

"Speak Lucius."

"Shouldn't we just kill the boy?"

The leader rolled his eyes and, as if indulging a child, answered "and let all the secrets of how he vanquished the greatest wizard that ever lived die with him?" He sneered. "Surly not. I'm sure that that old fool Dumbledore has already performed several tests on him. I do not want one hair on his head harmed. Severus!"

Harry heard a ruffle as a man behind him jumped. "Yes master?"

"I'm depending on you r potions skills to be competent enough for such a simple matter."

"I would be honored master."

"And Dumbledore thought he could persuade you to spy for him. I think in his old age he's loosing his touch."

"Indeed master."

As Harry listened to the old people talk his shock started to wear off but the panic started to set in. what had happened? Where was Barty? He wished now more than ever that he had never disobeyed madam Pomfrey's rules.

"Show young Potter to his room Wormtail."

Someone roughly gripped Harry's arm and led him down a hall to a tiny room. There was a worn blanket and pillow on the floor, other than that the room was empty. Wormtail dropped his arm and blocked the doorway.

Harry lost count of how many days he was there, it seemed like the house never let any light in to distinguish between night and day.

He stayed in the room he was shown to that very first day. While it wasn't the nicest place to stay (Far worse than "headquarters.") he couldn't really complain. They fed him well and even gave him another blanket to sleep on. It was boring though. It seemed the only thing that happened was Severus coming in (what Harry suspected was) about three times a day and silently poking and prodding (never as nicely as Madam Pomfrey) then leaving without a word. iftwas so boring there. Harry oftent thought that anything would be better then being there, even the Dursley's.

He thought a lot about if the others where worried about him. Had they even noticed that that he was gone? Would they care? He got his answer on (what Harry guessed was) the third day there.

The door slammed open and Harry jumped up, expecting it to be Severus or maybe Peter, but it wasn't. It was James. He seemed to sigh with relief and he ran forward to embrace his future son.

"Hey, we where worried about you." He mumbled into Harry's hair.

Harry couldn't help but smile. "Really?"

"Of course we love you very much Harry." James said. He seemed to be holding back tears. "All of us: Lily Sirius Remus Peter Dumbledore and me. You got that?"

Harry nodded confused.

Suddenly there was a scream from outside. "Hurry up Prongs."

There was more screaming, bursts of light and everything went black.

Where was he? Oh his cupboard. He had had the weirdest dream, something to do with magic, red eyes and…

It was no use he couldn't remember.