Harry finally returns to Hogwarts, but in a very unexpected and unwelcome way.

A/N: I own nothing, it's all Rowling's

Chapter Twelve - Home

Hermione, Ginny, and Ron had been surprised when they saw the blur that was Harry jump in front of the curse that they didn't even know was coming. They had been stunned to see all the people come running down the street at them and were shocked to find out who they all were, especially Harry. Even Ginny, who knew that he was alive, was just as shocked as her friend and brother. But it had been a week and they were over their shock now. The three were sitting in Harry's room watching as Harry decimated Ron in Wizard's Chess for the first time ever.

Cin was curled up at Harry's side and Nemaek was watching in interest. Harry smirked as he moved his queen into checkmate. "Ha! Checkmate!"

Ron gaped down at the board and then at Harry, he hadn't seen it coming. He had been duped in chess by Harry Potter. His mouth moved much like a fishes as he tried to get a coherent word out. Harry just laughed as he patted his friend on the arm.

"It's alright, mate, you had to let me win eventually," Harry chuckled.

Hermione smiled. "Good job, Harry."

Ginny patted her brother on the shoulder consolingly. "I'm sure he'll give you a rematch."

"Sure will, but first, where's our lunch?" Harry hadn't even finished when Draco opened the door. "Ah there it is… or not?"

Draco, who had been watching the match earlier and had gone to help Mikhail make everyone sandwiches, poked his head in the room. He was much paler then normal and looked to be rather worried. "Harry, can I speak with you a second, alone?"

Harry nodded and removed himself from the spot on his bed. He was doing much better from his latest brush with death a week ago. Though he was still quite sore where the curse had hit. He wasn't about to start training again, but he was getting stronger. "I'll be right back, and then we'll have that rematch," Harry said with a smirk and Ron nodded determinedly.

Harry was thinking about how much he'd missed just sitting around with his friends as he followed Draco out into the living room. The room was deserted with the exception of Mikhail. The adults were all gone out. Ashea had left back to Egypt, after a stern warning not to get himself killed again, and Bill and Remus had finally gone back to Britain with the promise not to alert anyone of Harry's presence as he was returning for the start of term feast anyways, which was only in a matter of days. James was in his shop and Merlin only knew where Aska had wandered off to.

Harry looked at Mikhail who had the same worry in her eyes as Draco. Whatever they had found out, they had found out together. "My father's escaped. I've been keeping in contact with Theo and he just sent me an owl in warning."

"Does Nott know where you are?" Harry asked.

"No, and he wouldn't give up my position willingly anyways."

"Unwillingly he might though. Your father knows, or at least suspects that you're with me. If he's told The Dark Lord, Voldemort may realize that you've been in contact with Nott or even Crabbe and Goyle, and after the attack last week… they may be close to finding us."

Draco nodded. "What do you suggest?"

"I think it's time to return home, it's time to return to Hogwarts," Harry said as he made his way to the door. "I'm going to tell dad, will you tell Nemaek to go find Aska and tell Hermione, Ron, and Ginny what's happened." Draco and Mikhail both nodded and Harry slipped out of the apartment. He walked down the front stairs that led into the back of his father's store. He had hoped that they would be able to have a few more days, but he didn't want to take the chance with his friends and families lives. It was better for them to return early, as much as Harry still didn't want to return at all.

The shop was pretty crowded when he came in; there were at least a dozen people. Had Harry had any idea about running an apothecary, he would have instantly realized that this was strange, but he didn't. Harry looked around in annoyance, his father wasn't at the counter and it took him a minute to locate him. When he did finally find James, his face paled considerably.

Standing beside him, looking very much alive, and laughing at something James had said was Bellatrix Lestrange. "Impossible," Harry whispered.

James saw his son and motioned for him to come over with a smile on his face, but the smile dropped as Harry shook his head and backed away. The vile smirk that Bella shot at him from behind James' back was the only indication that he wasn't seeing things. She was definitely alive, but how! Harry saw her raise her wand and he was moving before he even realized. James swung around as he became aware of the danger as well.

That was when a Reducto curse came out of the crowd and hit Harry in the leg. Harry screamed in agony as the curse ripped through his leg and shattered the bone. He hit the floor with a heavy thud and forced himself to focus through the pain. Harry tried to get up but had a wand at his throat before he had a chance to move more then a few inches. That was when Harry realized the crowd in the shop weren't Muggles at all as their glamours were suddenly removed.

"Harry!" James yelled and moved to help his son but was suddenly caught in the chest by a stunner. Harry watched his dad drop to the ground, just as he was going to see who the owner of the wand at his throat was.

"Hello, Harry Potter." Harry froze and his panting breath caught in his throat at the all too familiar voice of the Dark Lord.

"Voldemort," Harry growled and struggled to get to at least his knees but was suddenly stopped as a cold had grasped him firmly around his neck and he was dragged off the ground.

"We meet again, Harry, but this time there's no one to save you," Voldemort hissed with an evil smirk on his lips.

"Don't be to sure about that, Voldemort!" James growled angrily from behind, his own wand pointed at the Dark Lords back. No one had seen him move; he was just suddenly there, it wasn't Apparation.

Voldemort spun around with Harry still tight in his grasp. Harry didn't struggle, he couldn't. Voldemort laughed. "My would be lieutenant, you are still alive. That's certainly - amusing."

"Let my son go!" James demanded dangerously.

"What are you going to do if I don't, Potter. Kill me," Voldemort laughed again, he had moved Harry to be a human shield. Lucius and Bella both had their wands trained on James' back. "Drop your wand, Potter. You are completely out numbered and have no chance of winning this."

Harry was quickly loosing his grasp on consciousness with the deprivation on oxygen and the pain that was numbing his senses. Harry focused on his father. James' eyes widened when he took in the look in his son's eyes. It was the look that said that he was about to do something really stupid.

James suddenly smiled and Harry was grateful he'd been following his eye signals. "No, but I will!" Harry growled and disappeared in a blast of wind and sand, which allowed him to escape and distract Voldemort and his Death Eaters long enough for James to get to a safe distance.

Harry hadn't been able to go far and he landed several feet away, but it was enough to get his father to safety. Unfortunately his landing was far from graceful and just happened to be right next to Lucius Malfoy. He was grabbed ruthlessly and a wand was shoved to his temple before he even had a chance to orient himself to his new location.

"Always have to play the hero, don't you, Potter?" Lucius sneered. "Could have rescued yourself but had to save your blood traitor father and now you will die and I'll make sure it's a slow painful death. You cost me my son!"

Harry was too weak to fight against Lucius' hold. He was barely conscious as it was and he knew there was no hope for escape this time. He just hoped his dad had enough sense to get the others to safety. But his hope was diminished in an instant when Voldemort took a small sphere out of his robes.

"No," Harry whispered, pleaded, but he knew it was of no use.

Voldemort laughed quite insanely. "Bring the boy, we're leaving. Potter, I have a gift for you."

The last thing Harry saw before he was swept away by Lucius' Apparating was Voldemort throwing the small sphere and fire ejecting from it, going straight for his father. The sphere would destroy everything in a three-block radius. Harry knew because he helped make it. At that moment, Harry knew with certainty that they were all dead.

Harry landed on the stone floor in a heap. Tears started to stream down his face as reality caught up with him and shock set in. His injured leg was numb and the rest of his body was starting to feel the same way, but Harry didn't care. He didn't care that Voldemort was striding towards him, probably with the intent of causing him even more pain. He didn't care that he was surrounded by over a dozen Death Eaters while he was helpless and probably bleeding to death in front of them. He didn't care about anything. His friends, his family, they were gone and it was his fault… always his fault.

"Avery, clean him up. I want him healed and aware," Voldemort ordered.

"My Lord?" Avery questioned weakly.

"You dare question me!" Voldemort raged and pointed his wand at the Death Eater.

"No, my Lord, never," Avery was moving and at work before, Voldemort could punish him.

Voldemort smirked down at his enemy. "Bella, I think our dear Mr. Potter wants know how you are alive," he laughed and Bella laughed as well.

"Does he? Perhaps one day I might tell him," Bella said with sickly sweet voice.

Harry looked tiredly at the Dark Lord, the man was sifting through his mind, but Harry didn't have the strength to block him. "Why?" Harry asked with a whispered voice, after a minute of silence, where only Avery's spell casting could be heard. "Why did you kill them?"

"Do I really have to have a reason, Harry? I simply wanted to see the look on your face when you realized that everyone you cared about was dead and that I had killed them." Harry looked away from Voldemort with a dead look in his eyes. Voldemort retched his face up forcing him to look back into the red eyes of the monster in front of him. "I am going to make you feel pain like you have never felt before and then you are going to kill Dumbledore for me and all of those Muggle-loving fools. You will be my weapon against Hogwarts and then the world."

Fear came into Harry's eyes as the recurring vision passed through his mind. "No, I won't!" Harry said determinedly, but Voldemort just laughed.

"You no longer have a choice in that," Voldemort said darkly. "Lucius, bring me Slytherin's Diary," he ordered and terror consumed Harry's mind and soul.

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The start of term feast was as chaotic as it ever was, but that was normal. The sorting ceremony was calm compared to the year before and the new students were welcomed with open arms. Dumbledore had made sure of that.

Dumbledore sat in his customary spot at the head table a smile on his face, but if you looked closely you could see a worried glint in his aged blue eyes. He was not the only one to notice that several students were missing, especially as two of them were the Head Boy and Girl. He hadn't received any letters from the Weasley's or the Grangers to explain the absence of Ronald, Genevra, and Hermione, and though he wasn't sure that young Draco would be returning, he had been informed by his mother that he would be. It was apparent though that there was need for concern. Dumbledore knew that the youngest Weasley siblings and Miss Granger were supposed to leave from Germany the day before and catch the Hogwarts Express that morning, without returning home first. They had never arrived to the train.

Dumbledore stood up before the deserts were to be served, ready to give his start of term speech before the students were too tired to hear it. He glanced at the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables once again wondering where his wayward students could be. He had just opened his mouth to speak when the Great Hall Doors suddenly burst opened and an array of people entered, among them standing and supporting each other, were the missing Weasley siblings, they're missing Head Girl and they're missing Head Boy. They all looked tired and lost and rather disheveled.

Hermione suddenly fell to her knees tears in her eyes and Draco dropped to help her up. Cin was wrapped around his waist and Hermione took Draco's offered hand as the snake looked at the girl sadly. "It's alright, we'll get him back. I hoped he'd be here to," Draco consoled the girl, looking around the hall just to make sure that they hadn't missed their friend. He wasn't there; he hadn't been able to escape.

Dumbledore had rushed forward, thankful that the students had remained in their seats and quiet. "My word, what has happened to all of you, and who are your guests…" Dumbledore went completely silent and quite pale as one man walked forward, a girl trailing behind him, and put his hands on the shoulders of Draco and Hermione.

"Hello, Albus," James said politely, but with a heavy voice.

"By Merlin, James…"

James nodded slightly with a small smile before his expression darkened. "Voldemort has my son and I want him back!"

"Harry's alive? How?" Dumbledore quickly asked and whispers went up throughout the hall as the news quickly spread like wild fire amongst the students and all the way up to the head table where the staff were on their feet and looking with wide eyes.

James smirked. "By being his stubborn as ever self, that's how." James' smile faded again and tears came to his eyes. Mikhail put a hand on his arm. It had been a rough couple of days for them, but especially James who blamed himself for Harry's capture. "We're in some pretty bad shape. We barely made it here tonight as it is. And we've got some injuries." James winced as rubbed at his ribs. "Think Poppy's up for a full hospital wing."

"I'm sure she'll be more then willing to accommodate," Dumbledore nodded, his eyes still wide with astonishment. Finally his senses came back to him as he really took in the condition of everyone. They'd patched themselves up, but they definitely still looked a bit worse for wear. "Poppy, these people need medical treatment." Dumbledore called up to the head table and Madam Pomfrey was rushing down the hall in seconds.

"Ah, Cin, stop it!" Draco suddenly gasped as the serpent wound himself tighter around him, hissing quite loudly. "What on earth has gotten into you?"

Dumbledore just noticing the large snake gasped at the sight and then nearly leaped back in surprise when I charcoal colored phoenix landed on James' shoulder and started talking.

"He says Harry's here, I think, and he's not well."

"Not well? Not well physically or not well mentally?" Aska suddenly asked and James eyed the bird as well.

"Damned if I know, it's been at least a thousand years since I last spoke serpent." Nemaek said shaking his head.

"I'm going go on limb and say it's the mental kind with the way Cin's acting," Draco wheezed out when Cin coiled around him tighter as if afraid.

Suddenly a gong sounded throughout the hall and Nemaek and Aska looked at each other. "Definitely mental!" they said in unison as another gong sounded. It was the wards falling, first the old and then the new.

"What is going on?" Snape suddenly demanded as he came to stand by the Headmaster's side as well as Flitwick, Sprout, and McGonagall.

"Albus, get the kids to safety, I'll deal with my son, he is much to powerful for even you to handle," James suddenly demanded.

"What about you? You're injured and your magic level is yet back to normal. Jay, going against Harry right now is suicide if he's under Voldemort's control!" Mikhail pleaded.

"James, Cin says he's protected. He can't be touched!" Nemaek suddenly relayed.

"It doesn't matter. I'm going to get my son back, one way or another!" James suddenly turned and stormed out of the hall, leaving several gaping Wizards and Witches behind. Dumbledore took only two seconds to relay orders to the Heads of Houses to get everyone to safety before he ran after James.

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Heat grasped at Harry, it was a fever that was slowly driving him mad, not that he let himself notice. His eyes glowed red as he looked around himself at the grounds of Hogwarts and smirked. He was home.

The Death Eaters to his back were ready for any command that he wished to give. He hadn't brought an army, but he had brought enough to do some damage. There were thirty of them in all and they all wore the black robes and white masks; all but Harry, who wore no mask, and kept his hood down for the world to see who he was; especially Dumbledore.

Harry advanced up the sloped lawn towards the towering castle. This was going to be fun. Harry nodded to the two Death Eaters on either side of him as he saw two figures walk out from the entrance hall doors. They stood there for only a moment before they were forced back inside by the volley of spells cast at them from Voldemort's two leading Death Eaters. Harry smirked.

"Anyone who gets in your path is yours, but Dumbledore is mine!" Harry ordered before he charged the doors, pushing them open effortlessly with only barely brushing them with his magic. He smiled when he saw the figures retreating into the Great Hall and closing and sealing the doors, trapping everyone inside.

Harry walked non challenged up to the large double doors and knocked. He and the other Death Eaters had to laugh when he got a derisive. "Who's there?"

Harry shrugged, "A lost lonely little boy. Why don't you let me in?" Harry said in a small child's voice. "You might as well open up Dumbledore, because I'm going to come in anyways," Harry boomed as he lightly pushed on the doors with both his hand and his magic and the doors began to groan before they finally, after only a moment, burst open.

Before them stood one man, the rest, both the students and the teachers, were on the other side of the hall and behind a shimmering blue shield. Harry cocked his head slightly before a small smile came to his lips and he held out both his hands to his sides, almost in surrender. But what happened next was not him surrendering, by any means. Two swords appeared in Harry's hands. One with gleaming ruby jewels and the other with glistening emerald jewels. The swords of Slytherin and Gryffindor.

At once the smile fell from Harry's face and the red in his eyes vanished. James had all of half a seconds warning before he dived behind his own shield as Harry spun around on the group of Death Eaters. "Tell your master something for me Bella and Lucius, if you survive. Darkness can no longer touch me!" Harry swung the two blades around his hands and then embedded them into the stone floor of the Great Hall, into two twin slots that had gone unnoticed by the passing of time. A wall of magic sprung up in front of Harry and rushed at the Death Eaters who scrambled to get away, most were not quick enough but a few managed to Apparate before the wards could overtake them.

Harry closed his eyes, against the sight of the dead and immediately collapsed to his knees as he started to shake from the fever that gripped him. He'd been using the dark magic to fool them all for the last few days and had just barely held it at bay. Had he not been protected he would have lost his mind with in the first few hours. Harry still had his hands on the hilts of the two blades. One was telling him to use the blades to gain power while the other was screaming at him to use it to protect. Harry dropped his hands. Never again would he touch the two blades at the same time.

"Harry?" his father's voice came from behind him, and Harry's heart swelled with emotion.

Harry open his eyes and turned to nod slightly to him. "I'm okay," Harry said tiredly. James suddenly grasped at Harry, hugging his son with all his being. Harry hugged his father back. "I thought you were dead. How did you survive?" Harry asked after a long moment.

"Oh, you know me. I'm as stubborn as you are when it comes to dying. Besides your mother would kill me if I died and left you alone," James half joked as he got up and pulled his son to his feet.

"How can she kill you if you're already dead?" Harry asked through his fogged feverish brain. Harry frowned at himself and shook his head to try to clear it. "You know who'd I'd really like to see right now?"

"Who?" James asked, just now really noticing his son's condition.

"Madam Pomfrey."

James chuckled. "I think she's going to have a very full wing tonight."

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A/N: So I've gotten a bunch of questions about Harry and Ginny, I just want to let you know that they are only friends. As cute as the two are together, I don't much like the paring for anything more then a short fling. At the moment I don't have any plans for a Harry anyone romantic relationship, but who knows, maybe in another installment, if I go on to do a third story, which I doubt I'll do, you never know when the muse will strike.