Chapter 21 – Meeting of the Minds

Harry cuddled sleepily into the blankets after Tim tucked him in. Hearing the door softly close Harry felt himself fall asleep.

Harry woke up in his mind scape as his body rested. He started walking around shocked when he saw his library was a huge mess. Just a little bit ago it had been neat as a pin after he fixed everything and now this. All his lovely books, journals and papers were scattered everywhere. Sighing he starting to clean up wondering what in the world caused this.

Harry had barely started when he heard a noise and looked over to see his computer running franticly through information going so fast the screen was a blur of information. Making his way over cleaning as he went. He watched wondering what was going on. He knew the computer represented all of his knowledge. Anything he learned was stored in it and it also had the ability to store his memories as well but most of those he stored in the books surrounding him. The search seemed to slow down and he could see pieces of information and pictures before it moved on.

Sighing he was afraid of this. Everything that had happened in the last few months had been one major change after another. He loved Tim as a Dad and the other new people in his family as well. It was why he thinks the spell started causing him pain. Although he kept that information to himself not wanting to hurt his new family. But while he loved them and loved his new life. At the same time he was trying his best to pretend all the changes didn't upset him and take things as they came. He wanted the changes and his new family so he kept telling himself everything was fine. However now that the spell was gone he was questioning everyone and everything and the changes were hitting him even harder than they had before. He wasn't sure how to cope. Maybe it was time to mention this to Tim. He might be able to help.

Taking a deep breath. He frowned can you do that in your mind. Shaking his head at himself for the spare thought.

Harry realized he had to do something before the computer overloaded and crashed. He grinned as it cross his mind. He'd have to remember to tell Tim that later. He knew Tim would get a kick out of him treating his brain as a computer. Shaking his head at himself again at the silly though he made himself concentrate on the problem he faced. Mainly getting his thoughts focused and himself calm.

Watching the information pass by he frowned and sat in the chair before the computer. Deciding the first course of action was to remind himself of a little fact that meant the world to him. He ran a search on people that he not only loved but knew loved him and he could count on. So he ran the search to try and calm his racing thoughts.

Harry smiled as pictures and information on his parents, Neville and his group of true friends. Then Tim and Jethro (the dog) McGee, Jimmy, Gibbs, Tony, Ducky, Abby, Uncle Leon and his cousins. He frowned when Professor Snape was in the group of people he could count on and yet Remus, Aunt Sara and Grandma Penny wasn't. He'd have to ask someone about that as soon as he could figure out who to ask without hurting someone's feelings.

He started running searches on different things and he noticed something strange. With every search every few pages would have a picture of a lock or be completely blacked out. Stopping the latest search and ignoring the protesting prompts. Harry ran a search locating every lock or blacked out page he had. He then told the computer to move them all together and to materialize them. He was shocked when a shelf bigger than he was tall materialized. Dead center was a complex black book with a large lock on it that had thick chains surrounding the book. On the lock was a realistic looking snake.

Frowning Harry picked the book up. Not sure what it was or why it was in his mind. Startled he almost dropped it when the snake on the lock began speaking.

"So you finally found the link. A few years to late Potter. Are you aware of just how boring my existence has been waiting for you to get a clue I was here?" A voice hissed.

Harry closed his eyes and his reinforced room reappeared. Bringing the book into the room he set it on the pedestal.

"Give me a reason not to destroy you. You don't have permission to be here in my mind." Harry hissed back.

"Dumbledore is controlling and manipulating your every move. To make you into his perfect weapon to take down his greatest enemy and the Darkest Dark Lord of all times. He has places people he trusts around you to do his bidding and keep you ignorant. Professors at Hogwarts keep an eye on you and make sure you only learn the minimum needed to graduate. He pays your friends and their families to spy on you and report to him anything you do or say. This is all done to keep you naive to the wizarding world and your place in it. Because if you are unaware you will depend on him and he can train you just enough to fulfill the prophecy. The moment you do if you survive. Dumbledore will claim you as Dark and kill you then go after your new family. Then he can claim all your vaults and holdings. He has it planned out to the second and several back up plans if that one fails. Each plan has him taking the credit for training you but saying sadly you turned Dark or that you willingly died to save the Wizarding world. Every plan has him again a hero and claiming all you own as the greater good. I can help you stop him and then train you to destroy him." The voice hissed.

"Voldemort." Harry hissed.

"In a matter of speaking yes. I am a Horcrux of Tom Riddle my name before I gave myself the name Voldemort. I was placed here when my other part tried to kill you as a baby. The spell Black found and helped you remove kept me at a distance as it was placed on you the day I was created. Unfortunately for me it was done before I was strong enough to bond with you or connect to your magic. Once I was strong enough I was forced to remain here but unable to bond to you fully. I was able to form a very weak bond over time with you but it was enough to survive. I'm able to speak to you in dreams or when your ill but you rarely remember anything later. I've wanted to tell you a few things for years and have you remember it. One: You've done well for yourself. No one suspects the many masks you wear or just how intelligent you are. Bravo my little snake. Two: The hero and pawn you let yourself be for the wizarding world is both irrational and ignorant on your part. It needs to stop before it gets you permanently wounded, disfigured or merlin forbid killed. All ether has gotten you is your in life danger and hurt or ridiculed by the masses and often times both. Then when it's all over you get a cheap apology and a pat on the head until the next time. When several times it should have gotten you punished. Not like the Dursleys punishment mind you, but like your new fathers. A discussion on the matter and then a sound spanking. In my option a good spanking would have made you think twice several times. Although I do think you need to take my advice my little snake and listen to some hard truths. First and foremost you need to learn that you only have yourself to count on. The sooner you learn this and take it to heart the better. After you do that the next step is easy. Drop the masks and show your intelligence. Also learn to think for yourself as well as protect yourself in anything you do. Going by the seat of your pants and a wish and a prayer will only get you killed." Voldemort hissed.

"You've not told me anything I don't know. You are but a parasite that could have gotten all of that just by being in my head. So I repeat why shouldn't I destroy you? You are after all a parasite that is complimenting and insulting me in equal turns. And before you repeat yourself I don't want to destroy Dumbledore or anyone else. Therefore you have nothing to offer me I simply want to be left alone." Harry hissed crossing his arms as he glared at being lectured by a book in his own mind.

"Oh I'm not a fool Potter. I know you will destroy me. And that you don't want what I want. But before you destroy me. I have a request. It's your choice if you do as I ask or just destroy me." Voldemort hissed.

"Very well." Harry said bringing his hand up softly glowing.

"When you destroy me absorb my knowledge and lock it away in one of your books. My counterpart is still out there and has years on you as does Dumbledore. It will give you an advantage they already have." Voldemort hissed.

"Is this a trick so a part of you may stay and your counterpart can retrieve you when he returns?" Harry hissed.

"No I'm trying to help you. I know you may find this hard to believe. To be honest in your position I would as well. You have no reason to trust me and every reason to just destroy as you call me a parasite. But if you believe nothing else believe this Potter. You think you will be at full power once you heal. But as you saw when you called the locks together. You have several blocks and spells on you. McGee needs to get you to a goblin healer to remove them. A normal Healer will not find them." Voldemort hissed.

Harry just stared in shock. That's what those were blocks and spells on him. Dam just how powerful was he. He put his hand down and said. "Why tell me this?"

"I don't want Dumbledore to repeat history Potter. The only difference between you and I is there was no Dark Lord for me to battle. He just did it to me what he's doing to you because he hated me and could get away with it. You see I claimed the Slytherin vault during my last year at Hogwarts. A part of claiming was that the potential heir was to be tested for potions or spells. I was overloaded with them and had several blocks as well. The magic linked to Dumbledore. I researched it and was furious with what I found. I researched it more and talked several associates into being tested by the Goblins. They had them as well. I found a pattern most were from the Darker and powerful families. Families Dumbledore decided where to powerful and he needed to control. I had the Goblins look into it and I kept researching as well. Several families were young witches or wizards died or went mad. Their families had no history of mental or any other kind of terminal illness in their family or those themselves had issues with their health before they died or went mad. Every family didn't start having these problems until they started attending Hogwarts. All while Dumbledore was teaching and later Headmaster. Take your own godfather's family the Blacks. Almost every member of the Black line by the time they left Hogwarts were showing signs of madness. But if you trace back the line. Blacks are known for Powerful Witches and Wizards both Dark and Grey. Other families were effected as well. I took it to the Ministry and they would not believe me. It was better to believe Dumbledore's word that Dark magic plagued these families and that was the end of it. After all why take a Dark Half-Blood Wizards word over a Light Half-Blood Wizard who's a hero to them for imprisoning a Dark Wizard. I started building up my followers to fight against Dumbledore and what he was doing. Not my only reason to be honest but a major part. Potter each of my followers were checked before joining me and very few were free of spells or blocks. But all that had them were powerful men and women that came from powerful families. I took them to the goblins and had them removed very few were unchanged by Dumbledore madness." Voldemort hissed.

Harry thought a moment and came up with a plan he said with a smirk. "I don't believe you. Oh I believe what you're saying about Dumbledore and will tell Tim and we can research it. The rest I can't and won't trust you. Not enough to keep even a small part of you around. Anything else you need to say."

"I don't blame you for not trusting me. I wish you would keep the information but understand the need to protect yourself and your new family. Do as you must. But heed my words Harry protect you and yours. Learn to fight and kill to protect your own." Voldemort hissed.

Harry nodded and raised his hand already glowing blue said. "I will think about what you have said tonight. For now this is all I can promise. This will be painful so I'll try and make it quick."

The book started shrieking seconds later. After that the book exploded and the parts turned to ash. The ash disappeared before it hit the ground. No trace of the book or lock was left. Harry panted as he rested a minute. Tim might kill him later but he wouldn't let Dumbledore taint stay with him or Sirius. His eyes went wide as he realized Tony went to Hogwarts and was powerful in his own right. Shrugging he thought three wasn't much worse than two and added Tony to his plans. He stood and moved on to part B. He called up the shelf from the other room the one with all the locks and block and after making sure all was there. He touch his magic and asked it a simple question. "How do I destroy them?"

To his surprise a sheet of paper appeared in his hand and when he read it. He grinned and following what it said destroyed all the locks and blocks. Seeing black dots before his eyes by the time he was done and panting. He stumbled into the other room in his library and collapsing on the couch resting a few minutes until his vision cleared and his breathing was back to normal. Wondering how he was having these symptoms in his mind but shrugging it off.

Back to normal but very tired he closed his eyes and reopened his eyes to the real world and the room he used at Jimmy's to sleep. He was exhausted but knew he wasn't done yet. Gathering magic he searched for his connection to his godfathers. Going into one then the others mind he destroyed anything left by Dumbledore. Not surprised both had locks and blocks. He removed the locks and blocks really tired at this point. Finished he came back to himself and looked up as Tim rushed through the door. He gulped at the worried and livid look on his face.

"Harry you should be sleeping not using magic. Go to sleep. We'll talk about this when you wake up." Tim said.

"K sorry daddy." Harry said and passed out.

Tim rushed towards him and checked for a pulse finding it and how weak it was. He started yelling for Jimmy. Gibbs rushed in telling him Jimmy was unconsciousness and so was Tony. Ambulances were on the way. Seconds later a third ambulance was called and Harry and company on their way to the only magical Hospital in DC.