A/N ~ Wow, wow, wow. If you're one of my original readers and had given up that this would ever be updated again – Hiiiiiiiii! Good to see you again! It's been what, 6 years? How time flies! Thank you for coming back! If you're a newer reader, nice to see ya! Welcome to the crazy train! I'm sorry it took so damn long for my arse to be kicked into gear. It won't happen again. I hope.

Chapter 13

Potter Academy, Unknown Location, March 6th

Harry was straining his eyes so hard, they were starting to water. He had to do this. No, he needed to do this.

"Do you need the loo?" Nicky appeared, sitting crossed legged in front of him, looking worried. "You don't have to miss loo breaks you know"

"I don't – I'm trying to see through the worlds - "

"Ah, well, would it be helpful if I told you, you're doing it utterly wrong?"

Harry glared "I've been doing this for two whole days!" He whined, why had no one told him he'd been doing it wrong?

"Oops?" Nicky smiled. "Anyhoo, stop doing that, it''ll give you wrinkles. Now, close your eyes." Nicky waited until Harry had shot one last glare at him before closing his eyes. "Now, you need to shift your vision – without opening your eyes – you need to believe you've stopped looking at the mortal world and can see the immortal one. Only when you truly believe – heart and soul that you'll be able to see the immortal world, open your eyes."

Harry gritted his teeth, this wasn't magic, how was playing make believe going to work? But – but if it meant seeing his dad again, he'd do anything. I believe, he told himself firmly. I believe. I believe. He repeated this mantra until finally, he did start to believe. The he opened his eyes.

"Hey, Kiddo" James Potter was smiling at him, although he was very faint. "I'm sorry, kiddo"

"Sorry? Dad, you - "

"I should have protected you and Lily better, I should have been there for you, you needed me and couldn't be there for you. That killed me. You have no idea. I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud to say you're my son."

"Dad, I, I'm proud to call you Dad. It's not your fault, really is not." Harry informed his father, voice thick with emotion. "About me and Tom - "

"Me and your mother do not have a problem with it. If you are happy, we are happy."

"I love you, dad"

"I love too, Harry." with that, James Potter faded completely and Harry's vision went back to the mortal world. "I thought it would last longer than that." Harry half whispered

"It will, the more you do it, the longer it lasts, I've managed to have conversations with people for up four hours." Nicky informed him gently. Harry simply nodded. "And now for the great news, isn't it about time you graduated?"

Harry's eyes grew wide "Really?" "Yep, now, I say, it's time to party, don't you?" Nicky said, standing up and winking.

"You are insane." Harry said, Nicky just smiled.

:Hogwarts, Same Day:

Leilani played with her long soft brown hair, while she waited for Hermione Granger to appear. The girl always appeared at this time in the library, you could set your watch by her. Hermione didn't know she was being waited for, of course. Leilani wanted to surprise her. The girl had been snooping around where she most certainty wasn't welcomed to. She had to be told. At that moment, Hermione walked into the library. Leilani waited until the girl had sat down and had her nose in a book, before rising from her seat and walking over to the bushy haired girl.

"May I sit with you?" Leilani asked politely.

"Sure" Hermione said, smiling. Leilani sat down in a seat opposite. "I just wanted a quick chat." Leilani flashed Hermione a friendly smile.

"Oh?" "Yes. I know what you are doing, or perhaps, trying, would be a better word. If you value your life and Ron's, stay out – you have no idea what you're getting yourself into. If you don't stop now, what happens next will be your fault. Remember that." Leilani gracefully stood and the left without so much as backward glance.

:Riddle Manor, Main Meeting Room, March 7th:

"Are we really that close?" Voldemort asked doubtfully. If Nicky was right, they were months ahead of schedule, one wrong move of course could bring the whole plan crashing down around their heads.

Nicky nodded. "We just need Harry."

:Potter Academy, Unknown Location, Same Day:

Harry slowly packed his belongings. He would miss this place. Sure, it had been hard work, but it also been fun, more than that, it had been special. He had spoken to his father. He had finally heard his father voice say the things he had longed to hear for so very long. He had also spoken to his mother. Her smile was amazing, it could light up the darkest room. Harry could honestly say he was lucky to have Lily and James as his parents, they clearly adored him.

"Ready, Harry?" A soft voice asked from the door way. Harry was so used to this he didn't even startle. "Almost" he replied.

Blaze crossed the room to where Harry was standing "How are you feeling, really?" he asked gently. Harry looked up at him "I'm fine, it's just – It's just going to be odd, going back to Hogwarts. I suppose I am going back there?"

"Sure, unless Nicky and your man have been scheming." 'your man' it still sounded odd that Voldemort was referred that way, like he was an object Harry owned.

"When are they not scheming?" Harry laughed "Is there going to be some kind of ceremony?"

"Yea, no. Well, not unless getting so wasted you can't remember your own name. 'ceremony' isn't something that done well around here. Drinking however, now that we can do." Blaze joked. Harry didn't look impressed.

"Kidding! Of course we're gonna throw you a leaving ceremony, this is an Academy, is it not?" Blaze smiled "Trust me, it's gonna be great."

"Trust? Ha" Harry chuckled shaking his head. Blaze simply laughed.

Two hours later and Harry was sitting on the sofa in his rooms, having finally finished packing and was waiting for the ceremony to start. He had no idea what to expect, but could easily guess that Nicky would be involved somehow, he seemed to be involved in everything, even when he clearly was supposed to be doing else. Harry frowned, how did Nicky manage to be everywhere at once? OK, he didn't do it all the time, but he did it often enough. However Nicky was doing it, it was definitely not a 'family trick', or if it was, it was not one he had been taught.

"Show time, kiddo" James Potter appeared and the side of the sofa "Head to the Quidditch pitch. Have fun!" James gave his son a proud smile and disappeared.

Harry made his way to the Quidditch pitch, he was excited. He had graduated faster than anyone else, he would be returning home. Home. Harry paused. Home? Home to Voldemort? Home to Hogwarts? No, not Hogwarts, not any more Harry realised, even though he had been apart from his husband for over a month, he still though of Riddle Manor has home. How strange. He hadn't even talked to Voldemort since coming to the Academy. He was going to have to do some deep thinking. For now though, he just wanted to graduate. He continued on his trek to the pitch.

Nicky bounced excitedly around the newly constricted stage, he had been years since he had been to one of these, he was determined to make it something Harry would never forget. As soon as he spotted the classic messy Potter hair coming towards the stage, he turned, with a big grin plastered on his face and said "show time."

Harry glanced around in grinning. Every single Potter was there, including his parents. It was like his wedding again, only this time, on more intimate scale. He looked up at the stage and saw Nicky beaming at him, he was beckoned onto the stage to wild applause.

"Sit right there" Nicky said, pointing to a chair just to right of him. Nicky stood centre stage, took a deep breath and began speaking.

"Today I have the greatest honour of presenting to you, a man who is already doing the family name proud. I call him a man despite his young age, because that is exactly what he is. He is a man. He has faced and fought dangers and death with more strength, more dignity, more balls than most men could ever dream off. He graduates today after a mere month of being here and that as you all know, is quite a feat. All of that proves that he worthy of being called a man.

Today he graduates in a stupidly fast time, something he brag about in the years to come. I dislike this strange feeling – the feeling of being upstaged, I don't think I've ever been upstaged before. Damn him! Well, I suppose, if I had to be upstaged by someone, it couldn't have been by a finer man. I am proud of you Harry, I know your family is proud of you and most importantly of all, I hope you are proud of you."

Harry blushed deeply, turning a bright shade of red. He had never seen Nicky act so seriously, and certainty had never expected the man who praise him like that.

"I'm sure you'd love to hear me speak even more" Nicky teased "But now someone much more important than me, and if I may say, much prettier than me too, wishes to speak. Lily." Nicky nodded to her and she gracefully stood and walked onto the stage, she smiled at her son and kissed the top of his head, before taking the spot Nicky had stood in.

"Bringing Harry into this world was my greatest pleasure. Spending that year with him, is time I treasure eternally. I have watched over my son since the day I had to leave him and to say that I am proud of him is an understatement. I could not love him more, or be proud of him more than I am today. He has been the perfect son, my only regret is that I was not there to help him along. Harry, I love you and everyday you make me proud. Always remember to stay true to who you are. Trust in your heart, it will always lead you right." Lily gave a small bow and then hugged her boy, tearing up as he hugged back tightly. "I love you" she whispered in his ear, then she straightened up, smiled at him and waked back to her seat.

Harry was aware of other people making speeches, but he could only hear Lily's words in his head. He would never tire of hearing her say 'I love you' to him. He was suddenly aware however, that silence had descended and everyone was looking at him.

"Time for your speech Hazza" Nicky grinned. He had to make a speech? Damn. Harry stood up slowly and moved to towards the centre of the stage.

"I'm going to kill Nicky for not warning me about this." Several people laughed. Lily hid a smile behind her hand and James grinned broadly next to her. "So, erm, thanks for coming and, er, I think you guys have been giving way to much credit, I did what I had to do – what any decent person what have done and without my friends, I wouldn't have even survived my first year! I hope that I can, one day, live up to all the praise, I don't believe I've done it yet. Thank you." Harry blushed as he finished. Ugh He sounded like a nervous mess, compared to how eloquently his mother and Nicky has spoken, but then he reasoned, they at least hadn't been speaking off the cuff. Nicky appeared next to him and slug and arm around his shoulders.

"With great pleasure, I can now officially announce that our dear Harry Potter has graduated Potter Academy!" Cheers filled pitch and Nicky grinned brilliantly at Harry "So now that all the dry, dusty, boring, and in Lily's case, emotional speeches are over, it's time to celebrate properly." Nicky announced. "Party! Party! Party!" Harry groaned, he should have known that Nicky's seriousness wouldn't last for long.

Music began to boom all around the Academy and it was obvious that no one was going to leave until the early hours of the morning. Not that Harry complained too much, he got to dance with his mother for the first time in his life and he tried Fire Whiskey for the first and last time. The party could not last forever though and Harry finally decided at five to midnight, that know was a good time to leave.

:Riddle Manor, Voldemort's Study, Same Night:

Voldemort had been reading the last report from Hogwarts when he sensed someone appear in the room. He turned and trained his wand on the intruder to see Harry smiling sheepishly at him.

"I graduated!" He beamed.

"Well done. So" Voldemort paused, he wasn't quite sure how to word his question. He did not like his new husband disappearing on him like that. "you're home then?" Voldemort asked.

"Yeah, I'm home."