Author's Note:

Warning: the first part is a lemon. If don't like then please skip to the helpful, END OF SCENE. For those interested, consider this a peace offering until Tom makes his official appearance (and thus where Part II of this story starts).

Here is my disclaimer that says I do not own anything Harry Potter related. Everything belongs to JK Rowling, except in universe 47837. Probably.

They were standing alone on a beach; the sound of the waves crashing into the surf was the only thing filling their ears.

Harry stared down the other man standing fifty meters across from him, the godly specimen of a man who was standing in that part of the surf where only the strongest of waves ended up washing over his feet.

The right side of Harry's mouth twisted upwards in a confident smirk and his eyes flashed a verdant green that now fully capture his true, adult form.

Then, Harry's magical core burst outwards, sending all of his magic and power racing across the sand and toward the water.

Just as the thick swell of energy and sand was about to hit the man, however, the handsome figure twisted on the spot and disappeared. But Harry's power continued onwards and pushed back the sea.

That was, until he suddenly willed his magic to race to the left and protect his flank.

Wind and sand blasted around Harry until his magic threw up a barrier that prevented the conjured sandstorm from reaching him.

But Harry didn't stay still; he Apparated away just as the renewed and increased surge from the ocean crashed into the spot where he had once stood.

Harry reappeared on the nearby pier and immediately took off in a sprint towards the smiling man whose brown eyes, speckled with red, were looking only at him.

Harry was ten feet away when the man flicked his wrist and the entire pier, including both him and Harry, was transported away.

Two pairs of eyes blinked open to frigid winds, a thin layer of air, and the realization of being in a freefall five miles above the surface of the Earth. Each wizard immediately willing their magic to form a protective and oxygen-rich bubble around themselves before kicking away from the falling pier as they began to pick up speed as their bodies were subjected to the force of gravity.

Neither man was concerned though, each feeling more alive than they had in a while and both willing their magic to try and knock the other person out of the sky.

Their magic collided ferociously and the sky itself turned dark purple, thunder and lightening suddenly began to blaze around them where there once had been only blue and clear skies.

Each wizard was straining against the invisible might of the other and neither one was able to gain an inch.

Soon the ground began to look quite close and seconds before impact each wizard twisted in the air and vanished.

They reappeared miles away and in a soft bed. Immediately, their lips crashed against one another as their bodies collided.

Tongue fought against tongue but they were no longer fighting for dominance. Tom and Harry were and would always be equal.

"Merlin!" Tom breathed against Harry's face as they parted for air. Confident brown eyes searched through the depths of green ones and like always Tom found comfort at looking at his favorite color.

"Mine!" Tom hissed again softly in Parseltongue.

Harry caught his breath and let Tom push him further into the bed. Tom was the only one that could lead him like this.

The next kisses were softer, but still with the same amount of passion. Both wanted this, needed this.

Harry moaned into Tom's mouth, and was pleased to feel Tom's hard response pressing into his thigh. Their mouths parted and Harry saw even more red speckled in Tom's brown eyes.

"Need!" Harry commanded.

Not even a second later and a subtle wave of Tom's hand released them of the heavy burden of their clothes. The sudden contact of flesh on flesh drove Harry's head further backwards and his body arched upwards, pressing his cock even more tightly against Tom's stiff member.

Their mouths met again, briefly, before Tom started kissing Harry's cheek and then his lips moved onto Harry's neck. They kept getting softer, more sensual, and Tom's head moved lower. Across Harry's chest they continued, stopping briefly to suck on his nipples.

"Mhmm," Harry hissed in pleasure.

"Do you like that?" Tom growled softly.

Harry moaned again as Tom's kisses passed his belly button. The feeling of Tom's breath against his groin sent shivers through Harry's nerves and his building tension released as he drove his hips upwards, sending his erection pressing into tom's neck.

"I'll take that as a yes," Tom breathed, not able to control his voice the way he normally did.

But it didn't matter, for the next second he had taken Harry's full length into his mouth, ignoring the pressure in the back of his throat.

Tom always fully committed and mastered whatever he did.

Several minutes of tantalizing ministrations with just Tom's mouth and tongue against his shaft brought Harry to the edge. Harry was so close but Tom stopped just before Harry passed the point of no return.

Slowly Tom lifted his head up and with a wet pop his lips released Harry's cock. Tom then met Harry's wild eyes.

Magic was thick about the room and Tom licked his finger and reached between Harry's legs.

The gasp Tom heard made his fingers work quicker, beginning with a single digit within Harry and moving onto two and then three.

Soon Harry was thoroughly prepared and in a swift motion Tom reached under Harry's knees and lifted. At the same time Tom straightened and brought his hips closer, the tip of his cock circling around Harry's entrance until it slipped in.

Harry hissed out his pleasure and Tom's breath hitched before his body got into a comfortable rhythm. Back and forth and slowly the orgasm began to build.

Harry's feet wrapped around Tom's waist and as Tom surged forward Harry's legs tensed and held him in place. Then his magic unleashed and before Tom's could counter Harry was now the one on top.

With the upper hand and now being the one in control Harry set the pace that would lead them to completion. Their magic stayed intertwined and added to the over stimulation that Tom's angle of entry was already causing against Harry's prostate.

Their breaths became shallow and Tom's body stiffened as it rose to a sitting position, his arms wrapping around Harry as his mouth sought his. Both of them moaned their erupting ecstasy and their panting slowly gave way to tender kisses.

However, when their lips separated Harry's breath caught in his throat because the Tom staring back at him had no trace of the lingering passion.

Tom's eyes were now fully crimson and … wrong, all traces of emotion other than hate were gone.

"Did you really think you were ready?"

END OF SCENE

Harry gasped for air as he shot up in his bed. His skin was warm and wet and his pajama bottoms were sticky, all evidence of the wet dream he had been having each and every night since he had found Tom's Locket.

He had no delusions about what the dream meant, either. It was painfully obvious, both in the stiff and painful erections that lingered from his wet dream and the way in which the dream version of Tom's magic had interacted with his own that he greatly desired to have that Tom in the flesh. Now. Forever.

However, Harry also felt the oppressive weight and consequences of making a wrong choice, the most wrong choice that would deny him of the future he now knew that he wanted more than anything else.

So for what felt like the thousandth time – when it reality only a little more than two weeks had passed – Harry employed the Mind Arts to soothe his agitated and riddled mind.

Calming breaths soon followed and his pulse and blood flow returned to normal, and the only evidence of his orgasm was soon removed with what had become a recurrent and often-used Cleaning Charm.

With his body feeling mostly back to normal Harry cast a quick Tempus Charm.

"Great, four in the bloody morning," he muttered.

Knowing that he was finished with sleep for the night he inched backwards in the bed so that his back was against the ornate headrest that proudly displayed the Black crest and motto.

Using wandless magic, since his wand was on the bedside table next to him, Harry summoned what had become his usual middle-of-the-night/early-morning reading material.

It didn't matter that he had already read the fabled and rare book twice that he had found last week in the Black library, Secrets of the Darkest Arts helped to calm him further.

Specifically, he supposed that it was the frequent rereading of the chapter on Horcruxes – how to create them, how to destroy them, how to preserve them, how they could absorb energy and become sentient, and how to restore a broken soul – that made him feel like he at was at least doing something to prepare for the future.

Of course, ever since he had heard that prophecy and had found that Locket his mind couldn't help but wonder if Voldemort had stopped at two Horcruxes or had gone on to make more.

Again, what he had come to find over the course of his research during the last two weeks was that Secrets of the Darkest Arts was the only authority on creating Horcruxes. No other text housed the dark incantations and rituals one needed to perform in order to sever and enshrine part of his or her own soul in a protective item of a witch or wizard's choosing.

Hell, the book didn't even comment on the possibility of splitting one soul more than once!

So how could Harry possibly make a decision about making one of the Tom Riddles flesh when he didn't even know if he was considering all of the ones that Voldemort had made!

The only way that he would have all of the information that he required would be when he met the master soul of Voldemort that was still out there, somewhere. Which made the prophecy more understandable now given that obviously the Other had to be defeated first and foremost for Harry to then awaken the right Riddle and secure his desired future.

Well, at least he had a general outline of a plan: defeat Voldemort and learn about all the Horcruxes the man had made and then somehow choose among them to find the right Tom.

"Easier said than done!" he huffed out as he settled into read until a sociably acceptable time to go down and have breakfast.

Several days later and Harry was in a completely different mood. While he would always be a little unsettled until he secured his ideal future, today most of that trepidation was pushed to the back of his mind as he finally had a chance to be with his followers again.

Of course, it would have aroused too much suspicion for Sybil to be seen in the company of Harry and his more appropriately-aged associates at the finals of the Quidditch World Cup; therefore, his oldest and most ostentatious acolyte was disguised.

As they walked to the top level of the stadium Harry wanted to chuckle at the lengths those who had pledged their lives and magic to him would go to be near him. Not that he was surprised by any means at the woman's ability to quickly master her Animagus form of a Praying Mantis – but still he wondered how much sleep the woman had had since the school year had ended.

In this moment, after a month of being apart from his followers, Harry's displeasure at having to remain at Grimmauld Place for his protection was forgotten about.

Sirius had promised him a fun birthday gift in which he could be with his friends and the man had delivered, going so far as to pull every imaginable string from being improperly imprisoned in Azkaban to give them all access to the Minister's box for added security.

The seats were great and even though Harry didn't particularly care for the sport, he was just content to be in the physical presence of his follower's once more.

Besides, he considered this a gift to them as well on account of Cedric and Ginny's immense love of the game. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric and everyone's attention was so thoroughly centered on the fourteen players racing through the sky that no one noticed a large insect leap off of Harry's arm to crawl under the Invisibility Cloak that Harry had inconspicuously placed on the floor behind his chair and between the wall at his back.

"My Lord," Trelawney's mystical voice intoned upon transforming back into her unique self.

However, she was hidden underneath the cloak and her magic weaved into her already soft voice so that Harry was the only one to hear them from where they sat in the corner of the box.

"I've found out something that I think you should know."

Harry turned his head barely to the left but it was enough of a sign for the woman to continue.

"Forgive my Lord for not telling you sooner but I didn't want to chance the Headmaster somehow intercepting your owls considering that he was the Secret Keeper."

Again a simple nod was all Harry needed to show his appreciation at her thought process and give her permission to continue.

"As such, I took it upon myself to let the others know not to put anything delicate into their letters for the same reason."

Trelawney paused.

"I hope you are not disappointed my…"

"Not at all," Harry quickly cut her off.

"I am quite pleased you had that sort of initiative and encourage you… and all of you for that matter…" Harry's magic ensured that all of his followers heard his words, "to use such logical and appropriate thought whenever you can. That is all I can ask for and all I expect."

It was important for Harry to impart upon them the importance of independence and his words endeared him just a little bit more to them.

This time Harry blinked and Trelawney understood that the floor was hers once more.

"Albus is suspicious that the Dark Lord, Voldemort, has returned to a similar form that he had thirteen years ago. Apparently, he felt something like a dark power awakening at the end of the school year… In fact, I believe it is possible he mistook the completion of your core as that event."

Her voice was delegate, but with a hint of mirth at Albus' folly.

"As such he has reformed the Order of the Phoenix, an organization formed during the last war and dedicated to battling the Dark Lord. Of course Albus was very hush-hush about this endeavor, only reaching out to faculty and a select few that he believes he can trust…"

Harry let his pleasure show on his face; he could taste the building excitement in her voice.

"Naturally I somehow managed to overhear all of this and managed to pledge myself to the cause, asking if there was any room for a simple woman passionate about securing a safe future."

"It would have been foolish to pass up such an opportunity," Harry agreed. "I trust it has been very informative?"

Harry considered her responsive, content hum for a moment.

"Aside from explaining why the man took such lengths for my safety this summer, would this Order have anything to do with the prolonged absences of Remus and Sirius?"

"Certainly, my Lord. But Dumbledore has not wanted them to worry you unnecessarily about what is going on. He has strongly urged them and everyone else not to tell you about… Voldemort."

The distaste for that other, inferior lord was clear as the word was expelled from her mouth with a harshness Harry had yet to see in the woman.

He was intrigued.

"Moving on, you will be most interested to note just who else has joined Dumbledore's precious order."

"Do tell."

The other six leaned slightly towards Harry with interest as well.

"Of course Severus Snape is present – who as an aside mentioned a similar experience that supports Albus' feeling the Dark Lord is back. Then there is the added evidence of the darkening Dark Mark on his forearm…"

Which Harry reasoned was actually because the Other really was out there and trying to regain his lost strength; still, he supposed he should be rather thankful for the Other at the moment since it gave him cover as he established his own base.

Harry's thoughts returned to Trelawney as she carried on.

"Then we have Minerva McGonagall in attendance, but so is Sprout, Flitwick, and Hagrid. That's it for Hogwarts staff members…"

And then the woman moved on to name individuals who Harry didn't know all that much about, but it was clear that the Ministry was not well represented. Trelawney explained that she was leaning more on the side of Cornelius not wanting to believe Albus as opposed to other explanations for the lack of Ministry involvement, and Harry very much agreed with her reasoning. Cornelius likely would only admit that He was back if he slapped the man in the face, and even then the Minister would most likely want to say Polyjuice – never mind that a live hair was needed for the potion to work.

"Finally, Molly and Arthur Weasley are members, and so is Augusta Longbottom. There have been talks of reaching out to other like-minded families – like the Davies and the Diggorys but Albus is being most cautious for the present."

"Insightful," Harry breathed out.

"And my name? Has anything been brought up in regards to me – aside from keeping me in the dark."

Trelawney snorted.

"Albus has sworn the group to secrecy about what Voldemort might be after this time; however, you will be most pleased to hear that the vow doesn't pertain to me since over the course of my Occlumency training I uncovered a certain memory that Albus had taken great lengths to cover up. Given the specific wording of the vow we took we were forbidden from revealing only that which Albus told us and so now I am quite free in informing you that a prophecy was made – by me, and before you were born - concerning you and the Dark Lord. I imagine how interesting something like that would be to someone like that man."

Trelawney chose her words carefully and Harry fully understood that she was working around the vow to inform him everything she could – even if Harry already had gathered as much.

"For some time I've known a prophecy must have been made – makes sense that you were the one to make it given your last..."

His words hung in the air as the crowd roared because the game had ended with a thrilling catch of the Snitch by the Hungarian Seeker. Thus, it was the perfect time for Trelawney to tell Harry the prophecy while everyone's attention was so fully on the celebrations that followed.

"It'll be very interesting to see that in full when we get back to Hogwarts."

Harry had much to think about but finally he felt like more and more pieces were in his hands and falling together.

"As you wish," she bowed unseen behind him.

"I'm so very grateful that you were able to attend today, though I think it is time for you to …"

Harry never got a chance to finish telling Trelawney to change back, Sirius had practically grabbed him and dragged him to the balcony to see the field below as the Irish went crazy in celebrating their victory even though the other team's seeker had ended the match.

Instantly, Harry's mask was back on.

"This is the best present ever!" Harry cheered into Sirius' ear, leaning further into the man's one-arm embrace.

His friends were at his back and playing their part too, each acting like he or she had been watching the match the entire time and NOT listening to a very illuminating conversation on the state of the wizarding world.

Despite being in character as the appreciative Godson, Harry was savoring the remaining minutes he likely had with his friends before Sirius would lead him back to the Portkey departure point that would take them back to London, where Remus would be waiting.

However, just then the Minister came to stand on Sirius' other side.

"I take it you enjoyed the game?"

Sirius straightened a little and turned.

"Truly wonderful, Minister. Harry and his friends thoroughly enjoyed their spectacular seats."

Harry flashed the man a small but winning smile.

"I'm so glad I could help," Cornelius puffed his chest out.

"In fact, I'm very grateful that I was able to accommodate your request. There are some people I would like to introduce you to if you have the time. Very influential, I might add, and very interested in securing your participation for a fundraising effort for St. Mungos around Yule…"

Harry felt Sirius' body tense up more.

"That would be a very good cause to support…," Sirius said slowly but sincerely.

"However, I'm afraid I am responsible for getting Harry and his friends back to the Portkey point safely. Is it possible I could come back af…"

However, the sudden appearance and voice of Trelawney walking up towards the box cut him off.

"Fancy seeing you here, future Professor!" the woman said, smiling through her magnified eyes.

"Er, uh, Sybil," he recovered. "I didn't realize you were a fan of Quidditch."

"Oh yes," she responded.

"Events like these help train the inner eye to help one see through the fog of the future quicker, you know."

She tapped her forehead knowingly.

Harry's eyes sparkled with mirth. Trelawney was a godsend.

"Well I must be on my way to catch my Portkey; I'll see you at Hogwarts…" her head turned towards the Minister where her smile lingered for just long enough for his brain to make the connection.

"Oho!" the Minister chirped.

"My dear woman, would it be possible for you to escort these children back with you? I really must speak with Sirius about how he can help out to secure some large donations for a new wing at St. Mungos…"

"I'd be happy to, Minister. No trouble at all."

Sirius looked like he was about to say no, so Harry inserted himself.

"Oh that is fine with us, Sirius. In fact, I have been hoping to speak with the Professor anyways about the upcoming fourth-year curriculum and would hate to tear you away from what I think is a superb idea from the Minister. It's the least we can do to say thanks for such an amazing opportunity to watch the World Cup final."

Harry's friends all nodded as well and Harry turned pleadingly to his Godfather.

"We will be on our best behavior with Professor Trelawney; don't worry about us and Remus and I will see you at home."

Sirius looked a little uncomfortable but ultimately couldn't say no to Harry's Lily-like eyes.

"Well there you have it!" the Minister clapped his hands together and pulled Sirius along with him.

Harry's mouth turned into an exceptionally pleased grin as he made his way over to Trelawney as they took advantage of this unexpected opportunity to stay together for a little while longer.

The group of eight made their way out of the stands, talking briefly about how their summer was going but they mostly just focused on the completeness of the moment. Each and every single one of them was savoring this moment, hoping it would carry them through the last two few weeks of the summer until they would be together once again at Hogwarts.

Once out of the stadium, the group meandered through the field, staying close to the edge of the forest. It was late in the evening, and all sorts of campsites and celebrations were gearing up to last well through the night when the screams started.

They were low and far away at first but then panic swept through the crowd and the screams got louder. In the distance, levitated Muggles could be seen flailing about the place as a group of dark figures approached.

Instantly Harry's group moved to circle around him; however, Harry held up his hand and they remained behind him. He wanted to get a better look at what he thought to be Death Eaters. Perhaps they knew something about the whereabouts of Voldemort.

A mad and crazed crowd began to disperse and Harry led his group into the cover of the trees. All around them witches and wizards were running, some of them with their families in tow. Harry's group walked slowly, and soon no one was around them except for three figures clothed in dark robes, and hidden behind their gold masks.

Harry's magic was ready for anything and he could feel in the air around him that his followers were also prepared.

"What do we have here?" A familiar but magically distorted voice sounded.

"It's not safe for someone like Harry Potter to be left so… un-pro-tect-ed… why, someone could take advantage."

Harry saw the gleam through the eye slits in the Death Eater's mask.

"And from the glee in your voice I suppose you think that you will be the one taking advantage… I'm afraid you'll be disappointed then. My friends are very protective of me and like to keep me hidden."

Like they had rehearsed this a thousand times Neville, Justin, and Ginny willed their magic to disarm their opponents while Cedric, Roger, and Trelawney quickly cast Disillusionment and Silencing Charms and other spells that made the group of eleven fade into the forest.

Luna and Harry, meanwhile, stood by, prepared to disarm or cast a shield should it be necessary but the three Death Eaters had been thoroughly surprised and were now without their wands.

Very pleased with the swiftness and efficiency of his followers Harry quickly bound the three Death Eaters wordlessly with his magic.

Once they were bound with his unrelenting magical ropes his group relaxed slightly.

"How embarrassing!" Harry chided.

"Getting disarmed by a group of children and Professor Trelawney. Tsk! Tsk!"

Lucius' eyes widened as he struggled against his bonds, his eyes furrowing further in confusion and then horror as he realized he couldn't disapparate.

Harry walked closer – his eyes alight at the sight before him – and well aware that seven wands were following his every movement out of an abundance of caution.

"Let's see who will have to carry that shame for the rest of their lives."

He lifted the mask off the first and closest Death Eater and his eyes lit up.

"Lucius Malfoy!" Harry's grin widened.

The man's face had hints of shock and rage in it.

"I expected more from someone of your station."

Moving on Harry quickly uncovered the elder Crabbe and Goyle.

"Not altogether surprising considering how your children spend their time in a similar fashion at Hogwarts."

Shock was mostly written into their faces and very little anger. It was clear that they were involved little in the organization of such things.

Harry's attention returned to the leader, here was a very unexpected opportunity to find out more about Voldemort's status. Though, he didn't know how far he wanted to push things. It would be foolish to take on a fully healthy Voldemort before he knew he could overpower the man.

Harry was sure the Other would not take too kindly to him interrogating his Death Eaters, but Harry didn't want to completely ignore this opportunity either. In the end he decided to make the most of this most fortunate turn of events given that he would likely be Obliviating them anyways.

"I admit I'm curious as to your presence here today… Are you simply trying to relive the old days, not being able to pass up an opportunity for a little Muggle tossing? Or are you here on Voldemort's orders?"

Lucius' mouth parted briefly with the mention of that name. Ever since the Boy Who Lived had turned his world upside down he had been rapidly trying to figure out the hows and whys.

But he was a Malfoy, first and foremost, and he resolved to keep his mask firmly in place.

"Oh, Lucius. You think I can't get my answers out of you?"

Harry chuckled.

"I'll get the information from you one way or another I just hoped that you would have the intelligence to save me the trouble."

Harry knelt down in front of Lucius, cradling the sides of the blonde's head with his hands.

He stared straight ahead and entered the man's mind.

It was obvious that Lucius was an accomplished Occlumens but Harry had a goal, a purpose, a need in looking for information on the Dark Lord. Thus, his will quickly overpowered Lucius by sheer force.

Still, just because he had managed to get into his mind didn't mean that he immediately found what he was looking for. But Lucius' mind was very neatly laid out and after several minutes of slyly eliciting Lucius' memories on information about the Dark Lord's whereabouts, Harry had an inkling that the man knew nothing.

Though, Harry likely suspected that someone like Lucius would additional security measures that would be able to hide select memories or knowledge that he needed to protect against all others. There were two ways that Harry knew he could go about uncovering them: he could either lay waste to the man's mind and leave no stone unturned or he could otherwise significantly reduce the man's cognitive functions.

Slipping out of Lucius' mind Harry stood and quickly turned to his followers.

"Cedric, Ginny, did I ever mention to you how I suspected Lucius was behind the opening of the Chamber of Secrets?"

He smiled to them as their brows rose with excitement. He knew that they would never begrudge Tom for his role in that event given his connection to Harry but the same couldn't be said for the senior Malfoy.

"I think it's only fair for you to show Lucius just how much you appreciated the fallout from those events."

Harry could hear Lucius struggle against his bonds as Cedric and Ginny approached.

"I think a minute will do; remember, nothing that outright kills. We have to send him back home in one piece."

Harry said the last bit directly at Lucius as the man stared at him in abject horror at what he was witnessing. He almost didn't believe his own blue eyes that children could be capable of the sinful way the ends of their mouths curled upward.

Before he could think about anything else his torture began and his screams filled their protected bubble.

"Come now, Lucius," Ginny taunted.

"It's bad manners for a Pureblood to use such coarse language in front of children. What would Molly Weasley think?"

She poured her desire to cause the man pain for not only leading Tom's diary to her but also in his previous attempts at threatening her Lord. While the first was excusable since it had brought Tom into Harry's life, the second was unforgivable because no one messed with the man she had pledged her life to serve and protect.

Since Ginny had chosen to be more direct with her application of a textbook Cruciatus, Cedric had a little bit more fun in casting an Amplifying Charm. It was a modification of Sonorus that was often used within the medical profession to stimulate healing of nerve injuries. In this case, however, it only made the pain that Lucius felt more severe than anything he had ever felt in the presence of the Dark Lord.

"Time's up!" Harry announced and Ginny and Cedric stepped back.

Lucius continued to flail about the ground for several seconds as the remnants of the curse dissipated through each nerve ending.

"Oh, where are my manners!" Harry then continued in mock bemusement.

"Crabbe, Goyle, my apologies for not including you. Please, I insist that the others get their turn to participate. Minute starts now," Harry flipped his wand to give him a countdown as everyone but Ginny and Cedric descended upon their prey.

They began screaming before any magic even touched them and like before Harry noted how seamlessly the group worked together. Each curse or hex worked off and supported the others so that while it may not have been the darkest magic it sure was incredibly effective. And painful.

Harry's timer sounded and the torture ended.

Then Neville, Justin, Luna, Sybil, and Roger joined Ginny and Cedric in standing around the perimeter, making sure to double check that the entire group still remained hidden.

Harry then approached Lucius for a second time, calling forth his magic to help raise the larger man so they were face to face.

This time when Harry entered the man's mind he discovered that Lucius truly had no idea where the Dark Lord was. Harry had also seen a very private and painful memory that Lucius had used every measure he possessed to try and protect.

When Harry exited Lucius' mind his expression was now softer and more thoughtful.

"Luna," Harry called.

In seconds she was at his side. He turned to the right to look at her and he saw understanding in her eyes; they had done a similar thing with Pettigrew.

He then stepped to the side to give the rising third year complete and utter access.

If possible Lucius seemed more afraid of the little blond girl than he had been of Harry. It might have something to do with the haunting way she stared at him and her bluer than blue eyes seemed to pierce not only his mind but his soul as well.

Her eyes then returned to a normal color, with the barest hint of green within them.

"Oh! I see," she muttered softly before releasing the man and turning to Harry.

She invited her Lord into her mind and Harry saw what she had seen, and his face grimaced as he faced Lucius.

"I'm sorry, Lucius." Harry's voice was now completely soft and gone was the malice from before.

Lucius looked at him with confused eyes, his only thoughts being of his wife and Draco and his fear of not seeing them again.

"You might be wondering a lot right now. How you found yourself here or just how any of this," Harry waved his hand pointedly at each of his persons, "is possible."

He leaned in closer, caressing Lucius' face in a gentle manner.

"They are mine, truly, completely. I may not understand everything that happened but they have pledged their magic and their lives to me. They would do anything I commanded, of that I have no doubt."

Harry's verdant green magic flowed out of his core in thin threads and connected to each of his followers.

"What you see before you may look very similar to what your relationship with Voldemort was like; however, there is one very big difference. I protect what is mine with every capability that I posses."

The magical threads began to illuminate the group with an eerie glow given that the light of the sun had faded behind the hills.

"I am their leader, their Lord; it falls on me to ensure their safety and that they reach their full and true potential."

Harry stroked the man's cheeks as Lucius fought back the tears that wanted to fall.

"Your Lord," Harry bit out in disgust, "failed you in every way that he could have because he didn't keep you safe. In fact, he enjoyed the pain and torment, subjecting you to pain for days for your failure."

Harry's eyes broke away from Lucius' to look at his followers.

"I could never imagine causing you all pain, or hurting any of you in any way."

Harry's green and expressive eyes returned to Lucius.

"My magic is in them and their magic is in me. They belong to me just as much as I belong to them. They are an extension of me and to cause them pain would be to cause myself pain."

Around the circle, the specks of green muddled within the eyes of Harry's followers began to twinkle and they looked upon their Lord with the utmost love and admiration.

"I'm sorry that your Lord failed you, Lucius. That is inexcusable on his part – no matter that he lost his way."

The tears finally broke through the Malfoy mask and streamed down the man's white skin. Harry's words had more truth in them than he could bear.

Harry stood up and moved back from Lucius, his mind deep in thought.

But fate had other plans it seemed, and if to highlight Harry's words the Dark Mark rose in the distance and illuminated the entire sky.

Lucius and his associated paled at the sight, but Harry didn't think Voldemort was close. Something deep in his gut told him that he would know when the other man was close, and so he turned back to Lucius.

"That may strike fear into the hearts and minds of his enemies, but he is foolish to use that to do the same to those that follow him."

Lucius didn't respond, he couldn't.

"So Lucius, it looks like our time is running low. However," he turned to Luna knowingly.

"I will make you a deal. I will allow you to keep your memories of this night in exchange for an Unbreakable Vow that you reveal nothing of what occurred here. Furthermore, you will notify me at once if you hear whispers of where Voldemort is."

Lucius' eyes went back to shock.

"And in turn, I will gift you something that I know you will treasure. Hope for what you truly desire and hold above all else is still possible. There is still a chance for you to have the family you've always wanted, a family that was taken from you."

Lucius' face lost all color at Harry's words.

In that moment Lucius thought that Harry Potter was the Angel of Death, because only that could explain what was happening. And so he nodded, agreeing to Harry's terms without a further thought.

The actual Vow took only seconds for Roger to perform; of course, the elder Crabbe and Goyle where Obliviated and stunned since they held nothing of value.

Satisfied with what Lucius had done, Harry turned to Luna and nodded.

With a grace that belied her age, Luna glided to stand in front of Lucius, and for the last time she put her hands against his tear-stained cheeks.

Then, she entered his mind and showed Lucius glimpses of the child that Narcissa had miscarried because of their Lord's torture. She would have been Luna's age and she looked so like her mother that Lucius' heart stopped for a moment. He had wanted that child so badly, and it was the very moment that led Lucius to consider that family would always come before anything else.

But Luna's vision wasn't finished because just as images of the unnamed blonde faded away, a new series of moments were feverishly claimed by Lucius' inner mind.

For Luna foresaw one path among many in which little Cassiopeia Malfoy was held in the air as an older Draco played with his very young sister on the Malfoy estate as Lucius and Narcissa lovingly looked on. Lucius had never known such a strong emotion as the one that was currently flowing through him and in fact caused his heart to miss several beats.

He knew right then and there that he would do anything to make that vision come to life.

And then the visions ended and Luna's hands retreated to her side.

"Thank you," Lucius cried, not caring about the sobs that began to wreck his frame.

Harry signaled for his followers to gather near him and when they did a wave of his wand canceled all of the protective wards that had kept them hidden for the better part of an hour.

He then willed the wands back to Lucius and his unconscious guests before nodding firmly at Lucius before the man steadied his breathing, grabbed his comrades, and twisted into thin air.

"That was really kind," Roger clasped his hand on Harry's shoulder.

"I couldn't imagine causing any of you pain like that."

"We know," Neville responded before the screams of "Harry!" filled the dark forest, getting louder and more frantic with each passing second.

Harry knew that the others would follow his lead and so he turned and sought out his distraught Godfather.

"Sirius! Sirius!" Harry shouted on cue. "I'm over here!"

Sirius burst through the clearing with Remus not far behind him.

Strong, protective arms scooped him up and Harry felt slobbering kisses on his cheek.

"I was so worried, pup. Where were you - what happened?"

"It was Trelawney," Harry cried back.

"She was brilliant, truly brilliant. She led us here and put up these protective wards so quickly the moment that we knew something wasn't right. We stayed right here and made no noise."

Sirius squeezed Harry once more before handing him off to Remus and then giving his bear hug to his soon-to-be fellow faculty member.

"Thank you! Thank you!" Sirius exhaled into her shoulder.

"Just doing my job," the woman replied in an even tone.

Several minutes later Harry finally managed to ask a much-calmer Sirius, "so what happened? We saw the Dark Mark…."

His voice was low, and Harry knew everyone understood its implications.

"Just a prank." Sirius sighed with a great deal of relief.

"We didn't catch the person but no one was hurt. Several Muggles will need to be in St. Mungos to treat some of their unusual injuries but that was it."

"Now," Remus jumped in.

"Let's get everyone home; I'm sure your families are just as worried and deserve to know everything is all right."

Sirius insisted on giving Harry a piggyback ride, which suited the Potter and Black Heir just fine.

This way, he got to look at the faces of his followers from time to time and he had never felt more alive.

He could make it through the next several weeks without them because he knew that for the rest of his life he would never be without them.

I think that was my favorite chapter so far. What did you think? Next chapter is the start of year 4 and a return to Hogwarts. I'm going to do the Triwizard Tournament a little different this time around.