Disclaimer: It's JKR's not mine.

Lord Voldemort was no fool and he knew when he should attack and when he should lay low. The ministry was still refusing to admit his reappearance and blamed the attacks on more rogue former deatheaters. Fudge remained adamant that Voldemort wasn't back yet, and he made a point to abandon Azkaban as the prison for the ministry and to have cells added to the ministry building itself so that it would be easier to defend in case of an attack.

Harry was to meet with Dumbledore after Remedial potions on Monday night to discuss the order and its recent business and agenda with the added burden of the dementors defection and the Azkaban breakout.

Harry woke up early Monday morning to go for his daily run and he brought along his mirror to talk to Sirius about school and the war.

Harry went for his run and lifted some weights as he worked up a good sweat and felt very relaxed as he pulled out his mirror. Harry simply said, "Sirius Black" and watched as the mirror went out of focus for a minute before Sirius appeared within the mirror.

Sirius had a big smile on his face as he beamed, "Hey kiddo, I've been waiting for you to try this out. Hermione has been talking to her parents every night and you haven't talked to me yet."

Harry looked sheepish and replied, "I'm sorry Sirius, I guess I'm still not used to having someone who cares about me that much, especially to want to talk to me on a daily basis, aside from Hermione that is."

Sirius frowned and then smiled as he said, "Well get used to it kiddo, because I'm not going anywhere and I do care about you. I know David and Elizabeth always ask Hermione why you aren't around to join her in their discussions too."

Harry nodded and then asked, "So, how are things going there?"

Sirius arched his eyebrow and asked, "Do you mean order business, or my business?"

Harry smiled and rolled his eyes before he replied, "Your business, Padfoot. How are Emmy and Moony?"

Sirius smiled and said, "Well, Emmy is doing good although she has been a bit bored without you around in the house to tease and to duel with. Moony has been busy with order business and keeping Tonks' hands full."

Harry laughed and said, "Yeah, Tonks does tend to be a handful, doesn't she?"

Sirius chuckled and replied, "Yes well, she is my cousin, so it doesn't surprise me in the least."

Harry's face hardened a little before he asked, "How is the guard duty on the prophecy going?"

Sirius sighed and replied, "It's pretty boring kiddo. The ministry has loosened up a little to most of the order members lately, so we can only hope that Fudge is about to give in to the inevitable and admit Voldemort's return."

Harry nodded hopefully and added with a small smile, "I hope so because I am tired of getting my named dragged through the mud whenever Fudge wants to take the heat off himself."

Sirius nodded sadly, and then brightened as though he had an epiphany of parenting before he said, "So Harry, how is school going?"

Harry smiled as he was hoping Sirius would ask, before he answered, "Oh, it's brilliant so far Padfoot. I am second in our class in Charms, Transfiguration, Care of Magical creatures, and History of Magic. I am actually first in Runes, DADA, and tied with Hermione for first in potions. I am also doing well in Herbology and Arithmancy. Astronomy is the only class we haven't had to hand anything in so far, but I am doing a good job on my star charts so far."

Sirius still smiling widely asked, "Good to hear Harry. How about your other projects? How is the DA going?"

Harry arched an eyebrow and replied, "How do you know about the DA Sirius?"

Sirius chuckled and replied, "Well, it's all Hermione talks about with her parents when you hold meetings. She keeps going on about how good you are, as a teacher in Defense. Of course, David and Elizabeth also go on about how much Hermione thinks of you too."

Harry blushed and replied, "Yes well, Hermione helps a lot with the lesson plans. Although for the rest of the meetings, I am actually writing up the lesson plans on my own. Hermione told me that I would know what spells should be taught better than her, and how the group work should be done because of my various experiences."

Sirius nodded and the asked, "So, what do you know about the Azkaban breakout and the dementors leaving?"

Harry ran his hand through his still sweaty hair and replied, "Well I have a meeting with Albus tonight so I will get some more answers then, unless you want to fill me in now."

Sirius smiled and replied, "Well, given how much Albus has told you in the past, why don't we compare the stories?"

Harry nodded and replied, "Something tells me he will tell me things you'll have no idea of, and you'll tell me things that I'll have no idea of from the stories he'll tell me. Je likes to keep it so only he knows the full story although he is getting better about it with me. Albus excels in telling partial truths so it can't be construed as lying."

Sirius nodded sadly and replied, "Well, from eyewitness testimony of a surviving auror who was incidentally spared so he could tell the story, Voldemort and five deatheaters arrived at the island via a portkey. The auror contingent sounded the alarm for the ministry to send backup, which arrived after the attack had been completed. This is problematic because Azkaban is supposed to be unplottable. Anyways, they arrived via portkey and immediately took down the main contingent of aurors on the island, by killing them via the killing curse. Ten aurors were killed in a matter of five minutes and afterwards the dementors floated above the island next to the dark mark that had been conjured."

Harry interrupted and asked, "So, the dementors were drawn towards the dark mark in the sky?"

Sirius furrowed his brow and worriedly replied, "I don't think the order has thought about it that way, but, if Voldemort has somehow modified the dark mark to attract dementors then perhaps we should rethink our strategies following an attack. It would cripple us if we were investigating an attack and were attacked by dementors who were laid as a trap of sorts. Good observation kiddo. I'll bring it up at the next order meeting" Harry beamed at the compliment as Sirius smiled proudly at Harry.

Sirius continued, "Well, after the dementors defected, Voldemort encountered minimal resistance from the remaining aurors and freed the prisoners who were all confirmed or suspected deatheaters with or without the dark mark. They portkeyed away from the island approximately ten minutes after they arrived and ten minutes before the ministry with backup arrived. It was an impressive display of organization and power from Voldemort and also led to the defection of the dementors, who are for all intents and purposes, are immortal soul suckers. Not a good day by any measure of the word."

Harry sighed and nodded before he glanced at the watch Hermione had gotten him for his birthday and said, "Well Sirius, I have to go get ready for the day. I'll talk to you after my meeting with Albus to see if we can piece together the whole story."

Sirius smiled and replied, "Sure thing kiddo. I really enjoyed hearing from you this morning so don't be a stranger in the future ok?"

Harry smiled and replied, "Sure thing Padfoot, have a good day." Sirius nodded as Harry deactivated the mirror and left the room of requirements to start his day.

Harry took a long shower in the prefect's bathroom as he took a mental survey of his day ahead and each class that he had to attend. He always kept returning to his meeting with Dumbledore and how such a meeting would inevitably change Harry's life one way or the other, and usually for the worst.

Harry returned to the common room and was immediately greeted with a hug from Hermione who whispered in his ear, "Good morning love, are you ready for another long day of classes?"

Harry gave Hermione a kiss on the lips before he pulled away and smiled. Harry replied, "'Mione, have I told you yet today, exactly how beautiful you are?"

Hermione blushed a little and replied, "No love, you haven't. But, I am receptive to hearing it."

Harry laughed and said, "Hermione, you grow more beautiful every day I see you. Would the lovely lady before me, like to accompany me to breakfast, as I carry her bag?"

Hermione giggled and replied, "As long as my Harry is carrying the bag, then yes, I suppose it is ok."

Harry and Hermione went down to the great hall to start another week at the greatest magical school in the world, Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The great hall was still mostly empty, although those present were blissfully ignorant of the truth of the world surrounding them. Harry looked around as several young witched held the newest Teen Witch Weekly in their hands with a picture of Oliver Wood on the cover and with instructions on bagging the wizard of a witch's dreams.

Harry looked around the room and his good mood vanished as he could see the ignorance is bliss way of life permeating throughout the student body. There was none of the worry that should be felt at the times, such as they were. Hermione noticed the change in Harry's body language as he went from relaxed to irritated in the short time between their entrance in the great hall and sitting down at the Gryffindor table.

Hermione softly asked, "What's wrong Harry?"

Harry sighed and closed his eyes as a means of gathering himself before he quietly replied, "It's just that I looked around the great hall, and I saw everyone who believes everything the prophet and ministry say about Voldemort not being back, and I wonder how many of them will have to die before they wake up."

Hermione frowned at Harry's suddenly shift into a dark train of thought and so she played devil's advocate and replied, "Well Harry, what benefit would they have by being aware of Voldemort's return?"

Harry confidently replied, "They'll be able to prepare themselves for the war and survive."

Hermione arched her eyebrow and replied, "So, you're telling me that all of the students at the school have business fighting in the war?"

Harry sighed and replied, "No Hermione they don't; now you are twisting my words. There are only a handful of students in the school that can have a role in the war."

Hermione smiled as Ron would, when he had a checkmate in sight against Harry in wizard's chess, when she retorted, "Then what can be possibly gained from terrorizing a bunch of people by announcing a war that many for them will die in regardless of what they do?"

Harry resignedly said, "Ok fine I get your point. I guess I think that honesty is the best course of action in most cases, and this just might be one that requires we withhold the truth as long as the ministry does. It is the ministry's role to prepare the general public of this isn't it?" Hermione nodded as a smile bloomed across her face as Harry poured himself some tea and grabbed some toast and marmalade.

Hermione smiled and said, "So, are you ready to meet your match tonight in Remedial?"

Harry arched his eyebrow and replied, "Well love, if you manage to match me tonight with your shields then you will have to make a lot of progress from your last attempt."

Hermione pouted and said, "It's not my fault that you happen to be a master Legilimens."

Harry smiled and replied consolingly, "I know Hermione, and to be honest you are making incredible progress considering you have only been working on this since September. I have no doubts that you will be a match for Professor Snape before too much longer, and I will probably follow soon after."

Hermione beamed and said, "Thank you Harry." Harry nodded and they quietly talked about Harry's conversation with Sirius earlier in the morning.

Hermione smiled when Harry talked about how David and Elizabeth wanted to talk to Harry too. She simply said, "What can I say love? My parents love you. My dad talks about you like you are the son he never had, and my mom thinks you are so sweet and gentle." Hermione arched her eyebrow and added, "Merlin do you have the wool pulled over their eyes."

Harry managed to look as innocently as possible and replied, "Well I happen to think I am rather sweet and gentle but, if you don't think I am, well I guess I'll stop trying at all. As for your father, well, we just have happened to hit it off quite well. He is a very interesting guy once you get to know him."

Hermione smiled sweetly and said, "Harry, sweetheart I never said you weren't gentle and sweet. As for my dad, he happens to be a very good judge of character also." Harry spit out the tea he was drinking and dissolved into a painful sounding coughing attack, which prompted Hermione to pat his back and apologize for teasing him for the rest of breakfast.

Classes for the day went by rather quickly as Harry thought about Hermione's words on the war from breakfast. He had to fight his urge to rebel against those who hid the truth from him in the past and now he was taking that same stance now. The primary difference being that the war was his to win and for everyone else the war was theirs to survive and nothing more. By the time they reached the dungeons for remedial potions, Harry had adapted Hermione's beliefs as an unfortunate but necessary consequence of the war ahead of him.

Severus Snape had found his role in the war becoming increasingly difficult to maintain because unlike the first war he had truly found that he believed in the cause of Albus and Harry. The truly surprising thing for Severus was that he found that there was much more to Harry than his celebrity and that he was in no way James Potter like he had originally feared. In fact, the more time he spent with Harry and Hermione in their informal training sessions he found a lot more of Albus Dumbledore in Harry than any other comparison.

Hermione on the other hand remained an enigma to Severus Snape. She was much more easy going this year than she had been in the past, and although she was studious like Lily Potter, there something else to the brown eyed bushy hair witch that had shared a mutual affection with young Potter that Severus Snape had yet to figure out. She had been diligent in her occlumency training and even Snape was impressed with her progress in just over a month. Of course unlike himself, she had the benefit of two skilled Legilimens training her, from which one could provide her with a gentle hand and praise in Potter, and he could be as cruel as possible in attacking her defenses under the guise of Voldemort.

After Remedial Harry parted ways with Hermione once he walked her back to the common room, more for his own peace of mind than hers and made his way to the headmaster's office. Harry entered the office after the gargoyle slid out of the way without the prompt of the password meaning that Albus was all ready for Harry's arrival.

Harry entered the office and was promptly greeted by Fawkes who trilled joyfully for a few seconds before Harry greeted the phoenix with gentle rub of its head. Harry turned to see the headmaster chuckling before he said, "Harry, of all the great wizards Fawkes has met, I dare say you are his favorite, even above me. I think you may have yourself a companion in him, once I pass on to the next great adventure." Harry winced at the mention of Dumbledore's death but kept his emotions in check otherwise.

Albus continued as though he didn't notice Harry's reaction, "However, that is not why you are here tonight and I think that I should keep this as brief as possible so that you may get some sleep tonight."

Harry nodded slowly as a small smile creased his lips slightly before he asked, "Sir, what really happened at Azkaban. Something tells me that the prophet left some important details out, either by choice, or because the truth was withheld from them also."

Albus eyes twinkled as Harry kept a carefully neutral expression on his face and his occlumency shields at high power, as he felt the gently pressure of Dumbledore's Legilimency test them and were easily repelled. Dumbledore smiled at his own failure and Harry's success before he said, "I believe with the memory I extracted from the surviving auror and also some from some prisoners we can completely review the events of the night and find the answers you seek together. I have not attempted to do so yet, because I awaited your presence so that we could do it together."

Harry made a courteous smile and said, "I'd appreciate that sir." Albus nodded and stood from his seat as Harry followed him over to his intricately carved and decorated pensieve.

Albus simply said, "This first memory is of the auror that Tom allowed to live, and he gave the account that the order knows of. The prophet in their brief article chronicling the event also used his account. Remember to keep your eyes open to pick up any small details you can while in the memory." Harry nodded as they each dunked their heads in the bowl filled with the silvery liquid.

Harry and Dumbledore found themselves in a guard checkpoint just outside the main perimeter of the prison. Harry went out an open door and watched as Voldemort and his deatheaters simply arrived out of thin air on their portkey just outside the building.

Voldemort made the same evil laugh Harry remembered from the graveyard before he said to the lead deatheater, "Lucius, I wish to make an example out of the aurors on this island. I will handle these men while you relay my message to the dementors as I instructed. Once your task is completed begin the process of freeing my loyal followers."

Harry watched as the aurors accompanied by Dumbledore exited the guard post and engaged Voldemort in a hail of spellfire. Voldemort merely conjured an impressive shield blocking the various spells the aurors used. The shield would block anything short of the killing curse so Voldemort laughed as the aurors rained their spells upon him.

Voldemort used his non-wand hand and flicked his wrist softly and watched as every auror dropped their wand. The short break before they summoned their wands back was all the time Voldemort needed as a steady volley of killing curses were fired which all hit their mark killing every auror except for the one to remain to tell the story.

After he had killed the aurors save one Voldemort said, "Now you will live to tell the story of this night, and inform the world of my return. Watch as my true power is revealed." Harry and Dumbledore watched as Voldemort looked towards the sky, which was lit with the dark mark after a moment. They then watched as the dementors flocked to the mark and hovered menacingly above the prison.

Voldemort cackled as Harry stood near him and watched the dark wizard grip his wand and say, "Now I must join my newly freed followers for a moment." He glanced back at the now shaking auror who had clearly wet himself in the presence of Voldemort, and said, "I want you to remember this moment until the day you die. Which fortunately for you isn't today thanks to my mercy." Voldemort had one of his deatheaters grab the auror and follow him into the prison to bear witness to his greatness.

Harry snorted next to Voldemort and muttered, "More like thanks to your massive ego." Dumbledore chuckled as they followed Voldemort deep into the bowels of Azkaban, as he didn't even bother to stop before he launched killing curses at the occasional auror. They finally reached a large opening where the freed deatheaters waited for their master to grace them with his presence. Voldemort greeted them as warmly as he could muster before he pulled put the same portkey and said once more to the trembling auror, "Remember me.", with a swirl of colors and a brief gust of wind Voldemort and his 20 deatheaters vanished into thin air.

Harry and Albus pulled out of the bowl and Harry said to the headmaster, "Sir, how long have you know that Lucius Malfoy was a deatheater?"

Dumbledore sighed and replied, "I was the one who brought him up on charges at the first deatheater trials and voted against his acquittal although he had sufficient monetary influence to sway enough voted despite me. I have not had any opportunity to try him again since then as he has grown adept a hiding his evidence as witnessed by the chamber of secrets." Harry nodded thoughtfully after the explanation going over the events in his head once again.

Harry then remembered the dementors and the mark and asked, "Sir is it possible to create a spell to attract dementors?"

Albus sighed and said, "Yes Harry, I see you drew the same conclusions about the mark as I did. It appears Voldemort somehow fed the ambient magic of the mark to the dementors much like a soul. A very ingenious, albeit evil, bit of spell craftsmanship. However, I digress, are you ready to go into a few more memories of the night?"

Harry smiled and said, "Yes sir."

As they bent down to enter the pensieve once again, Harry could only think to himself, "I think it's time for Tom to have a little bit of his own medicine." Once again they dipped their heads into the silvery substance and took the trip down memory lane.

A/N: Please Review. I am taking a little break from updating this story until the coming weekend. Next chapter, will be the other memories from the Azkaban breakout and what they mean. Thanks for the reviews and keep reading.