He Is Not One of Us

Disclaimer/Plot/Challenge Information/Author's Note: SEE FIRST CHAPTER

Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to everyone who has responded to this challenge: my recommended reads are The Forsaken Child by ACI100, Prodigious Sin by Triple D aka Dark Demon, Who Dares Wins by OlegGunnarsson, Fueled Anger by Kaitabi, Beautiful, Broken, Deadly by ifYouDieInCanada, Small Changes by KnightCarter007, Harry Potter and the Prince of Slytherin by The Sinister Man, Harry Potter and the Shadowed Light by itshanniee and Antithesis by Oceanbreeze7

Key Pairing: Harry/Gabrielle;

Other Pairings: Neville/Ginny; Lily/James; Others TBD

Normal Speech

'Thoughts'

/Parseltongue/

Review Answers:

HMRoberts: Hmm…well-spotted: I'm sure I can come up with something somewhere down the line;

Rhett1980: A few chapters back, Harry was addressed as Lord Black, which would be his title, but I'll go into detail about that little titbit soon enough;

ACI100: In that case, I hope you enjoy the rest of the fun, including what's going to happen in this chapter;

Winged Seer Wolf: I wouldn't say the centre of the light and the dark, old friend: he's more one than the other;

"Your Veela side chooses me, but you need me to accept it, otherwise it's you who pays the price, not me…and I refuse to let any magic harm my friends if I can help it, so the deal is this: you stay the brilliant, beautiful and brazenly-courageous young woman you've become as you help me achieve true justice and, in return, I will give you what you want…namely me."

Gabrielle's eyes widened as Harry said that, though before she could answer, Harry touched a finger to her lips before he winked in a way that reminded the young lady of her intended's new Father as he smiled wolfishly at her;

"So what do you say, my angel Gabrielle? Do we need to seal it with a kiss?"

Chapter 14: Get This Party Started

When the rest of the Black Knights saw Harry and Gabrielle return to their little Common Room, both of them wearing the biggest smiles anyone had seen them wearing, more than a few members of the group seemed curious, if not relieved to see their leader looking like his usual self.

However, as Harry looked to his friends and allies, he couldn't help but chuckle as he drawled, "Wipe those smirks off your faces, Gred and Forge, unless you'd like to be put on Potions duty with Severus for the rest of the summer!"

While Fred and George's knowing, smug and sly smiles fell faster than a house of cards, Ron managed a small laugh of his own while, from her spot next to Neville, Ginny shook her head as she asked, "So, does this mean you're back now, Harry?"

"Back and better than ever, thanks to a good friend reminding me what it really means to have friends where I thought I'd only see enemies," said Harry, taking Gabrielle's hand in a way that suddenly caused Fleur to shy away, though not before the others saw her smile, a lone tear rolling down her cheek even as Harry went on.

"And, on that note, I want to say sorry to you guys for worrying you."

"You don't have to apologise, Harry," argued Draco, though, like Fleur, he also seemed to have noticed the closeness of Harry and Gabrielle and, like Harry, he knew what it meant, though he didn't say anything about it.

Instead, he cleared his throat as he drawled in a way that made him sound like his former self, "If there isn't a time of classic angst with you, Potter, we'd have been worried you were being impersonated by someone else."

"And if you weren't family, let alone on my side, I might just be tempted to turn you into a ferret and leave you like that for the rest of the summer for thinking that all I am is some meek little lamb who walks around with his head hung and a leash around his neck, Black," sneered Harry, earning a blanched expression from Draco while the others laughed.

"He's ba-ack," remarked the Twins in a singsong voice, though judging by the amused looks shared by the rest of the Black Knights, their remark was one that everyone, even a blushing Draco, agreed with.

While the others revelled in Draco's embarrassment, Harry made his way back to the main table, taking his usual place at the head of said table while the rest of the Black Knights took up their own places around the table.

As usual, though now, it seemed more-appropriate than ever, Gabrielle sat on Harry's left-hand side while Ron sat on his right, though as he did so, the redhead gave his best friend and honorary brother a nudge of friendly amusement as he whispered, "So…you and Gabby an item now?"

"I think we can both agree that there are far worse ladies I can choose to give my heart to," argued Harry, looking once to Ron before he added in a soft, but serious tone of voice, "But none who'd be as magically-affected if I turned them away, Ron: I won't go into too much detail, but I will say this much for now…"

Here, he looked around the table, noticing how everyone else had their eyes on him, as if he really was their King, as he told them, "If anyone tries to keep her from me or do anything to threaten or harm our relationship, you'll all be reminded why I chose to mark myself with a wolf emblem for my cane and use the same term to describe myself."

As he said the last part, he looked to Ginny, who was sat as close to Neville as Gabrielle was to Harry, though when the redhead caught him looking, she gasped softly when Harry smiled before he nodded as he added, "I suppose I should be thankful I'm not the only one who has found someone they can be happy with, isn't that right, Ginny?"

"How did you…"

"Please," scoffed Harry, indicating the Twins, both of whom were, once again, being made to feel particularly-uncomfortable in certain areas as they were sat on either side of Fleur, as he went on, "After seeing how well and how close you got during the Yule Ball, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that your brothers have another betting pool set up to say when you and Neville take your relationship to the next level."

While Ginny blushed, as did the Twins, whose reactions told Harry he was right about the office pool, the Black Scion looked to the boy next to Ginny as he explained, "However, Neville, I don't really need to tell you what will happen to you if me, Ron, Fred or George learn that you've said or done anything to upset our baby sister, do we?"

Here, Ginny gasped in shock at Harry's actual confession regarding the way he saw her in his life, though not before Neville took Ginny's hand as he glared daggers at Harry before he told him, "I know exactly what you'll do if I do anything like that, Harry; just like you should know, and be grateful, for the fact that the only reason I don't come after you for the stunt you've pulled lately is because, like Ginny and the rest of us, I promised to stand with you and follow your lead. But, and I think I speak for everyone here when I say it, but if you ever distance yourself from us like that again, we'll come down on you so hard that it'll make what Granger did to Draco seem like a love tap."

"You told them about that?" asked Harry, earning a shrug from Draco.

"We're allies, and rapidly becoming friends, Harry, so we shouldn't have too many secrets from each other," explained the blonde, his grey eyes shining as he added, "Mind you, if anyone suddenly starts a rumour that the stupid bint's hit on me was a mark of love, I reserve the right to bite back…and, for once, it won't involve me using my Father's name."

"Thank Merlin!" chorused Harry and the Weasleys, earning a roll of the eyes from Draco before Harry looked around the table as he went on.

"I know you've all been worried about me and, for that, I apologise: with everything that's happened lately, including my little ploy on the Order and those brainless bastards who seem content to still believe that I'm going to kiss and make up, I never really had time to consider everything else that was going on. I mean, like you all know, despite Potter's betrayal and the way him and his little wifey have decided to come back just to polish their precious son's ego, I still plan on dealing with the Erumpent in the room: namely, making damn well sure that the next time I take out a certain half-blood pretender who preaches pure-blood supremacy, he stays dead."

"And that's why you've been so distant with us?" asked Blaise, earning a shrug from Harry.

"That's…part of the reason," explained Harry, looking again to his friends and allies as he went on, "The other part is because, again, with everything that's been going on, I haven't really had a chance to deal with the emotional war going on inside of me. Even now, despite the hatred and loathing I feel towards them, there's still a part of me that hurts whenever I realise just how much they were willing to do…and how far they were willing to go, just to make Jason the big shot he thinks he is."

Here, he looked to Ron before he added, "I mean, even Remus was in on it, and you know what his teaching, as well as the thought that he was a friend, meant to me back in our third year, Ron. But when it all came out and everyone showed themselves for who they really are, he didn't choose that same mentor-student relationship with me: he…he just stormed my home and demanded I explain myself, and when I didn't, he didn't show any signs of the teacher he was, he basically called me a child and, like everyone else seems to think of as some kind of cure-all around here, he used that not-my-brother's name, as if it was meant to mean something…of course, long before that incident, which earned him his newest scar, I might add, but before then, Potter Senior openly boasted about how he'd let Remus come and teach me because it was all part of the plan!"

"For a werewolf, he's lacking in fangs, not to mention the true meaning of pack loyalty," argued Daphne, earning a few murmurs of agreement from the others while Harry smiled, a part of him thankful to Severus for outing the backstabbing half-breed for what he truly was.

Of course, it was Potter Senior who'd done that too when he revealed Lupin to be what he always was.

A cowardly, impotent, de-fanged, de-clawed runt who would bare his throat to the nearest threat.

He was as bad as Wormtail, but, then again, Prongs was his so-called Alpha, so Harry shouldn't be that surprised.

While Harry had his moment of revelation, he looked back to the others as he continued, "My point is, both with Remus and everyone else who was so willing to jump ship and treat me the same way they did."

"Meaning, but not limited to that insufferable know-it-all, Granger," added Pansy, earning a nod from Harry.

"To name but one, who I seriously hope has learned the hard way what all her grandstanding of being the brightest witch of her age really costs her, but yes, just like her, the fact that so many who I fought for, so many who I honoured and respected, even going as far as denying my true place in Slytherin just because of Voldemort and the fear of what it might mean for me and the memories of my…my former family…it left a wound in me that, with everything I've said and done since the Third Task, I've never really had a chance to sterilise said wound, let alone begin healing it so it doesn't affect me anymore."

"We could have helped you, Harry," argued Neville, earning a soft laugh from his friend and commander.

"I know, out of everyone here, and I'm even including Draco in this, but I know that you of all people know what it means to have to face those who try to make you into someone you're not or you don't choose to be, my old friend, but, just like I know you know what it's like, I would think you would also know and understand that, sometimes, dealing with the reality of it is a trial you have to go through alone."

"A crucible," said Astoria suddenly, earning a surprised look from her sister while everyone else turned their heads in the direction of the younger Greengrass, who blushed softly before she explained, "Sorry, I…I don't know why I said that, but…but it's something I once heard when…when Daphne and I were growing up."

"I remember that conversation," agreed Daphne, picking up the current conversation for her sister as she returned her attention to Harry as she explained, "And she's not wrong either, actually: we were both young…it was about a year or so before I started Hogwarts and we'd gone to visit a friend of my Father's, who was experienced in masking emotions and keeping your cards close to your chest…"

"Maybe you should introduce him to Harry," suggested Fred, though instead of laughter, his remark earned him a few warning glares from the others while Harry indicated for Daphne to continue.

"Anyway, when we met this friend, he said something that stuck with Tori and I ever since: he described what he told us about as a crucible and, the way he described it…it's kind of chilling, but appropriate, like I said before: he said, and I'm quoting directly here, but he said: sooner or later, we all go through a crucible. Most believe there are two types of people who go into a crucible: the ones who become stronger from the experience and survive it and the ones who die…but there's a third type: the ones who learn to love the fire and choose to stay in their crucible because it's easier to embrace the pain when it's all you know anymore."

"That sounds like Harry," said Tracey, earning a few awkward, but almost-inevitable looks and expressions of agreement from her friends.

"And, I hate to say it, but given what she's just said, you'd be the third one, Harry," added Neville, earning more agreeable expressions from the others; as for Harry, he steepled his fingers together as he considered what they were saying.

For a long moment, nobody said anything, but as Harry weighed his options and the idea of what Daphne had said, he smiled thinly before he finally responded to their remarks, "I agree…with Neville…"

As said boy blushed in response, as though he was hoping Harry wouldn't say that, Harry drew himself up, resting his hands on the arms of his chair as he explained, "The third type, the ones who choose to stay in the crucible because we think it's easier to embrace our pain…I've certainly been that. Like I said, I tried to handle the wound that's been carved into my heart…my soul all on my own and, as a result, I ignored the fact that, in the words of a certain Animagus we know and some of us loathe, my House is like my family. And, in this instance, it's a family I have that's much better at being there to help me deal with my demons than my former family would have been."

Here, he indicated Draco, who cocked an eyebrow in curiosity, as Harry went on, "I mean, one of them, meaning you, Drake, one of my new family even shares that pain because of what it meant gaining the freedom that Dad and I helped you acquire, though, I confess, the fact that Lucius has been so quiet since then does worry me."

"Hear, hear," agreed Draco.

"However," continued Harry, tapping his cheek with a finger while he went on, "That doesn't change the fact that I've let myself be distanced from this family: I mean, everyone, even Dad and Narcissa, have tried reaching me and I let them down. And why? Because I chose to remain in my crucible, which was the loss of the only family I'd had before this bullshit production began…"

As he said the last part, Harry rose up from his seat, earning curious, if not alarmed looks from the others as he explained, "But no longer: I refuse to let my crucible consume me anymore, so, from now on, I promise…and I hope the rest of you do as well, but I give you my word that, from now on, I'll remember I'm not alone and, if it's within any of your powers to help, I'll listen…I promise."

"Hear, hear," chorused the Black Knights, earning a small smile from Harry as he looked back to Neville.

"On that note, I have to ask: where did Dad and Narcissa go? I noticed we were the only ones up here now, so have they gone out or something?"

"They're downstairs," said Neville, smiling thinly before he rose up from his seat as he explained, "Making some extra preparations for the party that's going to happen in a couple of hours: you do remember that today marks the anniversary of the birth of the most-powerful, biggest idiot in our year, don't you, Harry?"

"Yes," smiled Harry, though it was his next words that caused the others to laugh in response to his choice of words;

"And it's also my birthday too."

Not One of Us

For a kitchen-slash-dining room in a London townhouse, Harry had to admit it, even if only to himself.

Sirius and Narcissa, most-likely with some help from Dobby and Kreacher, had done some good work on the kitchen: instead of the somewhat-cramped room that usually took up the space, the whole room had been enlarged to fit the table, as well as units where food and drinks were now stacked up on plates and trays.

Along the walls of the kitchen, much to the unease of the Twins, Slytherin-monogrammed emblems and banners had been conjured, complete with bright silver-and-gold lettering that acknowledged the reason for the décor.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY BLACK AND NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM

There were also balloons and floating candles that provided an ambience to the room while, in one corner, Harry couldn't help but smile as he saw the presents that he'd noticed when he woke up now stacked against the wall while Sirius and Narcissa were putting the finishing touches on the buffet, as well as a large, emerald-green-coloured birthday cake that, to his amusement, Harry noticed was shaped like Slytherin's crest.

As the rest of the Knights entered the altered room, some of them gasping in awe at the changes, Harry walked over to Sirius and hugged him warmly, earning a soft tousle of his dark hair from his Father as he whispered, "Hey, it's all right: you know I won't question what was going on with you, kiddo. I'm just glad to see you're going to be all right."

Even as he said the last part, however, Sirius saw Harry's expression falter slightly when they heard the doorbell ring before the Black Scion drawled, "I will be when I no longer have to share this with them!"

"You could just throw them out and tell them to stuff their excuses," suggested Narcissa, earning a smile from Harry.

"And miss out on the fireworks? How much fun would that be, Narcissa?"

As if on cue, Harry's smile widened to new, greater levels, the likes of which could have put the Cheshire Cat to shame, when he heard a familiar loud voice, "DEATH EATERS! WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE?"

"And, with that, the last chance is wasted, thanks to Molly Weasley," said Harry, turning once to face the newcomers, though as he did so, he drew the Elder Wand from his cane as he added, "Almost forgot: Accio wands!"

Before anyone, even those whom Harry called his friends, could argue, each and every wand that belonged to everyone except Harry flew through the air, each one of them landing almost-perfectly in a box that had been placed next to the spot where Sirius was standing. At the same time, Harry saw that the Potters, a very red-faced Molly Weasley, a furious, but also disappointed-looking Dumbledore and, to his outrage, a still-scarred Hermione and an equally-furious Remus had all chosen to stand in the doorway, almost as though they feared entering the room.

"Did you forget the terms of you being allowed to walk through my door?" asked Harry, sliding the box containing everyone's wands behind him even as he addressed the newcomers. "Also, if you have any delusions of staying here, I suggest you start by telling that banshee bitch to shut her mouth and apologise to my guests for insulting them again…though not necessarily in that order."

"Puns fully intended," added Sirius, earning a smirk from Harry.

"Harry," replied Dumbledore, looking to the student in question as he asked, "What are you doing? Don't you realise…"

"No, and nor do I care, especially if it involves taking in the bullshit you're spewing, Dumbledore!"

"Professor Dumbledore!"

"Excuse me, Scarhead, who invited you?" asked Harry, earning a few titters from the Slytherins, especially Draco, who recognised the insult, even as Hermione turned red with shame.

Moments later, Harry got his answer when Jason spat, "Don't you dare insult my girlfriend any more than you have done, Black!"

"Your…girlfriend?" asked Harry, more than aware of a few green expressions being shared amongst the Black Knights while Harry feigned being nauseous as he clutched his stomach before he drawled, "Suddenly, I've lost my appetite: the thought of…you…and…and her…urgh, I'd sooner see her with Krum or some vainglorious twat…"

As though the thought just struck him, Harry laughed as he added, "Oh wait, she is. In any event, Potter, I will gladly say whatever I want to say to thieves, liars, traitors and those who would rather think themselves better than everyone knows they are…and, fortunately for me, your little pity-fuck there is all of the above."

Unsurprisingly, Jason proved that stupidity really was hereditary as his hand flew to his pocket, as though he intended to draw his wand, though when he found no wands waiting for him, he blushed hard while the Black Knights roared with laughter.

"The attention span of a goldfish," drawled Harry, looking to Sirius with a bemused expression before he asked, "And I always thought it was meant to be another year older, another year wiser, Dad?"

"Sirius, control your…Harry!"

"I am," said Sirius, folding his arms while he smiled wolfishly as he asked, "And what's a party without entertainment, Molly?"

"Also, the word you're looking for is son, Weasley," added Harry, leaning against the kitchen unit behind him as he asked, "I would think that someone who has popped out so many of them, her womb's more like the Tyne Tunnel, would know that word by now?"

"Too much information, Harry," groaned Draco, earning an apologetic smile from his cousin.

While Harry smiled at Draco, he also frowned in curiosity as he looked back to the door as he asked, "So, are you lot going to continue standing there looking like a bunch of garbage or are you going to come and join the party? After all, it's a special day and you worked so hard to get your invitations, you might as well share the festivities."

"Then would you mind changing the banner, Harry?" asked Dumbledore.

"Why?"

"It's your brother's birthday too."

Here, Harry scratched at a random spot on the back of his head before he frowned in curiosity.

"My brother? Who's that? Dad, have you been scratching the itch without telling me?"

"He means Jason, Harry."

"I'm sorry," said Harry, looking to Lily with a look of feigned confusion as he cleaned his ear out with a finger before he added, "I'm afraid you'll need to get a translator in here, Lady Potter; you see, I don't speak traitorous Mudblood whore."

"THAT'S IT!"

Before Lily or James could stop him, Jason charged at Harry; rather than show intimidation, however, Harry stepped aside, though not before he stuck out a foot, tripping Jason up and sending him flying headfirst into a bowl of emerald-green-coloured jelly.

While Lily gasped in horror and alarm and James looked like he was going to have a heart attack, the laughter from the Black Knights, as well as their commander, returned en masse when they saw Hermione run over to Jason while Harry cleaned some excess jelly from his shirt as he eyed the downed saviour.

"I could outrun Dudley Dursley and his Muggle freaks for nearly ten years, give or take, so what chance did you think you would have, Potter?"

"Ah," said Dumbledore suddenly, as though the thought had just occurred to him, earning a curious look from Harry as he added, "That reminds me, Harry: there is another reason we came here today."

"Whatever it is, I don't care."

"You will," said Lily, her voice edged by a hissing snarl that made her sound more like a certain Potions Master whom Harry sorely wished was here at the party, just so he could enjoy seeing the Potters being knocked off their high horse with nary a spell fired.

"Why's that?" asked Harry.

"Because the Dursleys are dead!"

Here, Harry looked to Lily, who actually seemed to be struggling to hold back her emotions as she told him, "They…they were found dead in their home…because you didn't protect them: your own family!"

"I'm sorry," said Harry, shaking his head in amusement before he asked, "But are you hard of hearing, you stupid bitch?"

Here, he walked right up to Lily, earning a warning glare from James, though not before Dumbledore stopped the Potter Lord from making things worse as Harry squared up to the biggest traitor of the bunch, as well as someone else who just couldn't seem to get the message, while he practically spat in her face as he addressed her.

"I believe I said I DON'T CARE…and as for family: I think you, Lily, would know how little family means to someone who never had it…and who do we have to thank for that, I wonder?"

To Sirius' disbelief, even before James had a chance to stop her, Lily's hand came up.

However, when it met Harry's iron-hard grip, the redhead screamed while looks of horror filled the eyes of each and every member of Dumbledore's band of sheep as they saw Lily's hand turn jet-black, accompanied by a very strong smell of burning as well as what looked like cinders and chunks of flesh being burned away by Harry's touch.

"What is he doing to her?" demanded James, earning a cold, emotionless stare from Harry that he then directed at Dumbledore, who was whiter than white, as he addressed the old man.

"It's funny, but I seem to recall someone telling me love gave me this as a protection…when this whore died, so what would you call this, I wonder? It certainly looks like a power we know not, wouldn't you agree, traitors?"

"Harry, stop this!" insisted Dumbledore, his voice edged by fear and desperation as he exclaimed, "Whatever you think of them, whatever you might believe…it was all…"

"For the Greater Good," chorused the Black Knights, as well as Sirius, Narcissa and Harry.

As for said scion, he released Lily's hand, causing the redhead to fall to the ground while Harry moved back to his Father, though not before accidentally tripping Hermione and Jason up with his cane, sending both of them falling onto Remus, who was as white as Dumbledore at what he'd just seen.

When Harry reached Sirius, he turned back to Dumbledore as he added, "That's funny, because I'd call everything that happens next as being for the Greater Good, old man."

Whilst he began tapping his cane on the floor in a rhythmic manner, Harry's eyes shone like emerald-coloured fire as he delivered a final strike against the old man, proving once and for all what he'd been saying since the first day they'd revealed their true colours.

He would never forget.

And he would never forgive.

"Mine!"

Chapter 14 and it looks like Harry's sent the message once and for all: as far as you should be concerned, Harry Potter is DEAD and YOU KILLED HIM, but will the sheep's shepherd listen to the unspoken warnings and sound advice?

Also, now Harry's shown exactly how little the lives of the sheep mean to him anymore, can he get back to focusing on his prime objective, namely the end of Voldemort – and possibly humiliating Potter along the way?

Keep Reading to Find Out

Next Chapter: After sending the message, Harry gets a birthday wish he never asked for granted while the rest of the summer brings growth and interesting alliances formed where once there were enemies, but all good things must come to an end: the new term at Hogwarts beckons and, with it, trouble's coming;

Please Read and Review