The darkness rises

a/n sorry it's been so long this got erased somehow and I had to start all over again.

The day before classes were set to begin Harry decided it was time to confront the Headmaster. Remembering what his Dad had told him, Harry went to Severus after he and Draco had finished organizing the potions classroom as a part of their punishment. Harry knocked on Severus' study door after a few minutes the typical, "Enter" response came from behind. Harry couldn't help rolling his eyes at this, despite the changes his dad had gone through since he and Harry had found each other the potions master still retained some of his old habits.

Harry cleared his throat and Severus put down his quills and ink then turned around, "yes?" Harry swallowed, "I want to talk to the headmaster, I need to keep taking lessons from him, but there are things we need to deal with before I try again and you said I shouldn't go see him alone." Severus had to fight the urge to grin in triumph. The fact that Harry was willing to confront the headmaster was a very good sign, as was Harry's request that his father join him. It showed that not only was Harry less intimidated by adults, but he was starting to think his actions through before jumping in feet first as usual, and he was more open to asking for help. This last point was particularly important to Severus, he couldn't help feeling worried about Harry not thinking things through before he acted, the young mans history was enough to give any parent fear about the safety and future of their child and Severus, being a particularly paranoid man do to all his yeas as a spy, was even more aware of the bad circumstances that could fall upon good people then most.

Severus walked up to Harry up to the headmasters' office and gave the password, "chocolate chips" and the two of them stepped onto the moving star that led up to the headmasters' office. When they reached the door Severus knocked and Albus' voice came from behind, "Ah, Harry Severus come in." Harry rolled his eyes, "How does he do that?" Severus shrugged, "I don't know, some people believe that he has some type of charm on the door that tells him the identity of whomever is behind it, but no one knows for sure. Severus opened the door and guided Harry in with a hand on his back giving him support and trying to use his own magical abilities to keep his incredibly powerful son grounded lest he accidentally injure himself or someone else.

As they came in Albus gestured to the two chairs sitting in front of his desk, "please sit, would you like a lemon drop?" Severus gave his typical nasty sneer while Harry gave the headmaster a very nasty look, "No, I don't want a bloody lemon drop. Damn it Albus you can't do this!" Severus was rather surprised both by Harry's language and the fact that he had called the headmaster by his first name. Dumbledore also looked rather shocked and Severus couldn't help feeling a sense of pride that his son had managed to surprise the great all knowing Albus Dumbledore, a man some people thought was never completely surprised by anything. Severus' thoughts were interrupted as Harry continued, "You can't just manipulate me and keep things from me one day then come along twinkled eyed and smiling offering lemons drops the next. Issues do not simply get swept under the rug because they relate to you."

Harry's body began to crackle with magic and his hair stood on end. Severus called out to Harry, careful not to touch him lest he be shocked by the young man's magic, "Harry, Harry son listen to me you need to calm down take a slow deep breath." Harry was still fuming, but he followed his father's advice and gripped his staff tightly in his hand using it to anchor his magic and keep it from lashing out. Once he had settled Harry turned back to the headmaster, "You promised me, you gave me your word that you would stop telling me half-truths and manipulating me and you lied, again! Albus you can't do that you can't go around manipulating people and lying to them then expecting things to be all right the next time you see them."

Dumbledore seemed truly shocked, "Harry I was not trying to 'push things under the rug' as you put it I was simply offering you a lemon drop because I thought it would calm you down a bit." Harry rolled his eyes once more, "I don't need one of the lemon drops you soak in clamming potions headmaster, besides if I didn't know you put potions on your lemon drops and I took one I can't guarantee that the school would still be standing when the potion wore off." Severus smirked at the truly flabbergasted look on the headmasters face, Severus knew that he was one of the few people who had learned the truth behind the headmasters trick with his lemon drops (which was the same trick the man used on his tea occasionally) and by the look Albus was giving him the older man obviously suspected that Severus had told Harry. Severus simply shook his head and Harry seemed to understand the silent exchange, "No, Dad didn't tell me I figured it out myself. Potions may not have been my best subject, but I always noticed that your lemon drops had varying flavor. At first I thought you were just using different brands, but then I realized that whenever I had a funny tasting lemon drop I would relax more than I should have been. I think it was somewhere around second year when I put two and two together."

Albus seemed shocked by Harry's revelation, but Severus simply smirked with a look on his face that practically screamed, 'well he is my son after all'. Albus nodded, "Harry I am sorry if you feel I have mistreated you." Harry snarled, "Mistreated? You left me lying on a doorstep, in the middle of the night, with nothing but a bunch of blankets to protect me from whatever might have happened when I was just a baby that's not mistreating that's neglect. You never once contacted me before I begin school and once I started you rarely even spoke to me outside of the discussions we seem to always be having at the end of every year. You lead me and my friends into numerous dangerous situations which could have gotten all of us killed and did finally result in the deaths of Cedric Diggory and my godfather and your making it sound like my feeling you have mistreated me is over exaggerating!" Harry's voice had gotten louder as he spoke and by now he was practically screaming.

Severus winced, but he didn't interrupt, he knew this was a conversation was something that Harry had needed to have with the headmaster for years and he had discussed this issues with Christian several times. Christian had agreed that Harry had to vent about his anger towards the headmaster or it would consume him and he could suffer serious problems now and in the future. Christian had agreed that it was crucial for Severus to accompany Harry when he did this not only to keep the boy's magic from lashing out and injuring someone, but also to give Harry the support he needed and had never had before.

Severus turned to see Ablus' reaction to Harry's statement and for the first time since he had known Dumbledore he saw a look of complete despair on the man's face. Albus shook his head sadly, then removed his spectacles, and rubbed his forehead with his right hand, "Harry, I am sorry, you have every right to be angry with me as does your father, but before you get out the torches and pitchforks and begin calling up an angry mob. I would like to say that while nothing can excuse the way I have allowed our relationship to develop there are some things that may be able to explain it, and I believe that both of you have the right to hear this."

Dumbledore paused and Snape raised an eyebrow as if to say, 'well get on with it' Dumbledore took a deep breath and began, "First and foremost Harry you must understand that I always expect too much of people." Dumbledore's eyes suddenly lost their twinkle and he instantly looked like a much sadder older man than he had been a moment ago, "And you are probably one of the worst cases of the damage that type of thinking can cause. Yes Harry I shouldn't have simply left you on the front porch in the middle of the night, but I knew that your aunt and uncle had a dislike for magic (at the time I did not realize how strong that dislike was or the damage their prejudice would have on you). Still, I worried that if I were to ring their bell or knock on the door to personally deliver you they would not accept you because of my obvious connection to the magical world. I had hoped, that by leaving you there to be found by your aunt in the morning you would be better received by your relatives."

Harry rolled his eyes, "And the reason you couldn't just ask someone you knew who was muggle born or muggle raised wear muggle clothes and drop me off was because why exactly?" The sarcasm in the boys was practically visible, but Dumbledore answered none the less, "I was not sure who was trustworthy and who was not, I wanted to keep your location as secret as possible. You must understand Harry that only members of the Order and a few others knew the address of your muggle relatives. The reason I never contacted you when you were young was because I wanted you to have the opportunity to grow up away from the wizarding world. I knew the challenges and difficulties you would face when you arrived at Hogwarts and I wanted your childhood to be separate from that, I wanted you to be a normal little boy."

Harry snorted in a fantastic imitation of his father (the two of them seemed to be becoming more alike by the day) then he said, "But I wasn't a normal kid, I was the Freak who lived in a cupboard and served as a punching bag for my cousin and my uncle." Severus hadn't thought the headmasters face was capable of falling any more until this point, "Harry I am truly sorry for the way you grew up, I wish there were some way I could take this pain from you or have protected you for it, but I can not. The blood wards were necessary to protect you from Voldemort, but I never thought you would need to be protected from your own family no matter how much they disliked your mothers' magical talents I never expected them to take it out on you."

Harry seemed to be settling down a little, but there was much more Albus needed to answer for and so he continued, "As for why I never checked on you, as I said I wanted you to have a childhood free of the pressures that living in the magical world has brought you. Also, I knew that your relatives disliked magic and feared that my presence in your life would add to the difficulties between you and them. That is why I asked Arabella to keep an eye on you."

Harry couldn't help interrupting, "Didn't she ever tell you what it was like for me in that house? Didn't you know I wasn't being treated well?" To Harry's shock his Dad answered, "Harry I know that you are angry about the way you grew up and you have every right to be, but you must understand that you are an amazing actor. You did everything in you power to keep people from discovering the truth about your home life, and while we could have been more diligent toward you can you honestly say it is entirely our fault?" Harry nodded, "I see your point" Severus gestured for Dumbledore to continue and Harry saw that some of his twinkle was starting to come back.

Dumbledore looked thought quietly for a moment, "As for the situations you have faced while attending Hogwarts, I will admit that I did know you were going to be facing dangerous situations and instead of stopping you I guided you towards what you needed to know in order to help you as best I could. Looking back now I can see that probably wasn't the best method to handle those situations, but as I said before I always expect too much of people and you Harry have been one of the few who has risen far beyond those expectations." Harry sat up at this, Dumbledore did not give praise like this often and Harry couldn't help the warm feeling of pride that went through his body when he heard this he gave Dumbledore a smile which the Headmaster returned, "Harry, one of the reasons I never did more to assist you is that you have always been so fiercely independent and reluctant to ask for or accept help form others. Now I realize that is because of the way you were raised you never had anyone to go to for help when you were younger and so you never knew where to look for it after, but at the time I just thought that you had inherited James' tendency to do everything himself and never ask anyone for nay kind of assistant."

Harry grinned broadly, "well how do you know I didn't?" Dumbledore and Snape both laughed and the headmaster nodded, "Yes well, I'm sure you're Papa's attitude combined with your Dad and Mom's stubbornness certainly didn't reduce those traits in you, but I should have done more to help you. Still with the knowledge of the prophecy and what I knew you'd have to face when you were older I wanted you to be prepared and this was the only way I could think of to prepare you for that eventuality." Harry understood Dumbledore's reasoning, but there was one questions he had been wanting to ask for years and he knew he needed to ask it now, "But why didn't you train me, you know? Take me under your wing and teach me about dueling and other things I needed to know to fight Voldemort?"

Dumbledore sighed heavily, "Harry you and I have always had a strong bond with one another and I was afraid that if I worked closer with you and did more to prepare you people would be concerned over favoritism." Severus spoke up, "And so for once in your life instead of ignoring what everyone thought and doing the right thing you decided to put my son in mortal danger?"

Dumbledore shook his head, "Now Severus you know that it was not that simple, I may be the headmaster of this school, but I am not head of the school. The board of governors was never happy with some of the changes and choices I made for this school and they were always looking for ways to dismiss me. As you know Lucius Malfoy in particular was determined to get me out of this school and any hint of misbehavior or favoritism would have given him the ammunition he needed to do just that. Harry you area special young man whom I have always loved as though you were one of my own family, but I could not sacrifice this entire school, the students in it, and what I could do for them for anything including you."

Harry didn't know when he'd started crying, but as he looked around he saw that he wasn't the only one. Without thinking about it Harry stood and walked around Dumbledore's desk to give the older man a hug. Severus wished he had a camera with him as he saw the Headmaster return his students embrace. Severus had known the older wizard for years, but he had only seen a few students who had brought out this side of the Headmaster, Severus himself was one of the students who had a closer bond to Dumbledore than others. Albus loved all of his students, but he connected more strongly with some than others. Severus knew that this one conversation would not relieve all of the tension that had built up between Harry and the headmaster over the years, Albus had a lot to answer for, but this was step in the right direction.

Harry pulled away from Dumbledore, whose eyes were now back to their full twinkle and said, "Headmaster you have to give me your word that you be honest with me from now on, you have to stop leading me into dangerous situations without warming and trust me to be able to control myself and do what is necessary to explore my magical abilities during training." Dumbledore nodded, "I will do everything within my power to regain your trust." Harry nodded and sat back down Severus squeezed Harry's shoulder and asked, "Are you all right to go back to the dungeons on your own or would you like me to come with you?" Harry bit his lip, he really didn't want to walk back alone, but on the other hand he still felt it would be silly having his Dad walk him back for no real reason finally he said, "Would you come back with me?" Severus nodded, "Of course, Albus we still have things to discuss later." The Headmaster nodded, "I expected as much Severus."

The potions master nodded curtly and then he and Harry left. As soon as they had exited the Headmasters office Severus pulled Harry into a hug, "I am very proud of you." Harry snorted, "For almost blowing up Dumbledore's office, again?" Severus shook his head, "Harry, it takes a lot of courage to stand up to someone you respect and tell them they were wrong. I know for a fact that you have heard Dumbledore himself say that at least once." Harry smiled as he remembered back to his first year, "It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends." Severus said, "Exactly, you care for the Headmaster, you respect him, and you see him as someone who has your best interests in mind even if he doesn't always take the best path to do so; and it is difficult to confront someone you have those types of feelings towards and to candidly tell them that you have issues with them. It is especially difficult when said person happens to be one Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore." Harry tightened his grip as he fought the urge to laugh, "Why does he have so many names anyway?"

Severus backed away from Harry and begin walking down the stairs with him, "It was tradition at one point for people to have longer names like that. Although when you add all of Albus' titles to his name then you really get into ridiculous lengths." Harry snickered and they continued to the dungeons, Draco was sitting at the kitchen table reading, The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde which had ironically been recommended to him by Hermione. While Draco had changed since he had come to stay with Severus and had been getting along well with Harry's friends he had never expected the other boy to take a serious interest in muggle literature. Hermione had given both Harry and Draco suggestions for several novels they might enjoy and Draco hadn't really taken any of it to heart, but being grounded had given both of them a lot of extra time and Draco had finally started reading one of the books Hermione thought he would like simply out of boredom. It had been a shock to everyone when Draco had told them how much he had actually liked reading, The Outsiders and started exploring other muggle novels. Harry had also found himself reading more than usual during their punishment for lack of anything better to do and was surprised at how much he actually enjoyed it.

When Harry had written Hermione to tell and he knew he was going to hear a lot of, 'see I told you so's in turn'. As Severus closed the door Draco looked up and asked, "How'd everything go?" Harry shrugged, "Well it at least I didn't break anything this time and nothing blew up, although I was close to exploding at one point." Draco shook his head, "Well then it's probably a good thing that Uncle Sev went with you isn't it?" Harry smirked as Severus asked, "What would you two like for dinner?" Harry shrugged, "How about some pasta, I can make a great alfredo sauce." Severus turned to Draco, "Well?" Draco nodded, "sounds good to me." Severus gestured towards the kitchen and said, "I'll do the pasta and the bread you can do the cause and Draco if you want you can do the salad." Draco put his book down and stood to walk into the kitchen with Harry and Severus.

Harry went to the cupboard and gathered all the ingredient he would need for the sauce, while he would always have difficulties accepting his childhood with the Dursley's one thing his childhood had taught him was how to cook well. Harry began mixing the sauce as Severus began to boil the water and pulled out a small loaf of bread. Cooking dinner with his family was a comforting experience that Harry enjoyed immensely; it was something he'd never done before. Up until now Severus had done all of the cooking because he didn't want Harry to feel obligated to perform chores with no real reward s he had done most of his life. Severus wanted Harry to have the chance to feel what being properly cared for was like and be given what he needed without having to do anything for it. The meal was simple and easy to put together, the three of them enjoyed a quiet meal together and as they were finishing up Severus said, "I have a little surprise for both of you."

Harry perked up, "Surprise, Christmas is over Dad." Severus nodded, "I know, but you have both been working hard and you deserve a reward." Severus pulled a small package out of a drawer, Harry was thrown when he saw it was a DVD case then he saw the title, "Star wars!" He said excitedly Severus nodded and Harry and Draco quickly cleared the table and rushed into the sitting room. Severus took a specially altered television set with a DVD player out of his bag and changed it to normal size then he turned it on a started the movie.

Harry loved watching Star Wars episode one with his family, the pod race was his favorite part it reminded him of a really wild quidditch match. That night Harry and Draco went to bed early tomorrow would be the end of their punishment and the beginning of classes once more.

Hpsshpsshpsshpsshpsshpss

Harry's alarm woke him early the next morning, he showered and dressed quickly so he could meet up with the rest of his friends for breakfast in the great hall. Grace could obviously sense her masters excitement and was jumping around barking happily, Harry grinned at her, "You wanna come?" Grace yipped and Harry said, "Well come on then." Grace followed Harry out of the room and Harry filled her bowls with food and water. Grace ate quickly as Severus came into the room, "Can I take her with me?" Severus looked at Grace who turned to him a practically said, 'please let me go' Severus finally sighed and said, "Very well, but don't take her to class with you." Harry nodded and went to get his bag as Grace finished eating and met up with Draco in the sitting room. They walked to the great hall with Grace close by, jumping around the two boys yipping in delight.

Harry smiled at her and sat down at the Gryffindor table with Ron, Hermione, Myridia, Neville, Luna, and Lucretia. Harry began to serve himself up some sunny side up eggs with tomatoes on toast and bacon. For some reason he'd been having a strong craving for bacon lately. Myridia gave him a kiss and said, "Hey stranger, good to see you again." Harry returned the kiss," Merlin I missed you." Ron rolled his eyes, "Why don't you two just get married all ready?" Harry smirked, "Well for one thing we're too young, but if your really that jealous you could join us for a threesome." Hermione spat that juice she'd been drinking out and shouted, "HARRY JAMES SNAPE!" While Myridia smacked him soundly upside the head, "you watch your mouth." Harry shrugged, "Sorry, I've been on punishment for two weeks and I'm a little hyper." Draco snorted, "Hey I had the same punishment you did and I'm not getting all foul mouthed." Harry gave him a piercing look, "Well not yet." They went back to eating, the rest of the meal passed without any further difficulties.

Harry's first class that morning was DADA, Harry dropped Grace off in their quarters before going to Tonks' class. Tonks came in that morning with her hair a lurid purple mow hawk, Harry had noticed that ever since she and Remus started spending time together Tonks' hairstyles had gotten even crazier than usual, which for her was really saying something. Some of the students in class tried valiantly to suppress the snickers at Tonks' hair, but others just outright laughed. Tonks didn't really seem to care, she gave the students a curious look as though she didn't really see what was so funny then she said, "So, I assume from your laughter that everyone is ready to review the dueling techniques we learned before the Holiday break?" Several students groaned, but Harry just grinned, one of the things he like most about taking DADA classes taught by Tonks was that she made sure to teach the dueling skills. Lockhart's ridiculous dueling club was the closest Harry and the other students had ever come to having been taught proper dueling in their defense class until Tonks started.

The students begin paring themselves up as Tonks moved the desks to the side of the room, Harry paired up with Ron and Hermione went with Draco. Myridia partnered with Seamus Finnigan, and to Harry's great surprise Drue paired up with Blaise Zabini. It was rare for anyone outside of Drue's own family or members of the D.A. to partner Drue in anything unless they were asked. Many of the students at school were afraid of Drue and Lexi and as a result both of them were given a wide berth where ever they went. Blaise was the last person Harry had expected to see voluntarily partner with Drue, according to Draco he'd always had a strong pure blood attitude and hanging around with a half demon definitely didn't fit those belief systems. Harry wondered if Blaise was having a change in attitude or if he was up to something.

Harry shrugged off this thought as dueling began, Ron's dueling skills had improved greatly over the last two years, but Harry had been taking extra lessons with his father and Dumbledore so he was still far ahead of the other students. As Ron began to cast his first hex Harry's scar exploded in pain.

Instinctively Harry threw up his occulmency shields, but his scar still managed to break open and start bleeding that could only mean one thing Voldemort was close, very close. Tonks shouted, "Everyone out of the way!" She leaned over Harry, "What's going on?" Harry answered through clenched teeth, "He's here." Tonks summoned her patronus as Harry struggled to his feet he had a vague feeling that something else was going on outside of Hogwarts, although he knew it was dangerous Harry focused on his connection to Voldemort and his vision went slightly hazy. It was like looking through a strong fog, Harry could see several people running and screaming in a forest clearing somewhere as Harry focused he saw that they were veela, Voldemort had found their hiding place.

Just as this realization hit Harry his father came running into the classroom Severus spoke, "Harry what is it what's wrong?" Harry hissed, "Voldemort's here and he sent a group of death eaters to attack the veela's some how he found out where they are." Severus cursed loudly, "the headmaster just got word from Hagrid one of the third year students was lured into the Forbidden forest somehow we had hoped that it wasn't anything serious, but when Tonks sent her patronus we realized there was more to it." As Severus finished Harry could hear a voice calling to him that no one else seemed to hear, "Potter, you have five minutes to get outside or you will have another death on your hands."

Harry growled and started walking towards the door, Severus grabbed his arm, "Where do you think your going?" Harry turned and said, "He wants me." Severus scowled, "If you think I'm letting you go out and face that lunatic alone you are sorely mistaken." Harry took a deep breath, "then come with me." Severus answered, "Harry you are not leaving this school." The tables and chairs in the room started shaking and when Harry answered his voice was cold and angry, "Yes I am, I'm the only one who can stop him and if I don't go out he'll kill who ever he took and it might mean the death of more of the veela." Severus could see the determination in his sons' eyes, but he still did not want him to do this Severus opened his mouth to protest once more when Myridia spoke up, "Professor, we can go with Harry the five of us are more than a match for that snake faced loon and with the other Professors and the D.A. we can take him.

Severus finally relented, he wanted to protect Draco and Harry, but he knew Voldemort wouldn't stop and the Harry needed to face him. Severus reminded himself that unlike previous encounters Harry was voluntarily choosing to confront the dark lord this time, but that didn't mean he would let the boy go alone. The entire class went out towards the entrance, Professor McGonagall was directing students back to their dormitories with the help of the ghosts and the Hogwarts house elves, many of the older students insisted on helping so Minerva asked the fifth years to guard the younger students while students sixth year and up were allowed to have a more prominent role in what was happening. She was surprised to see Severus and Harry leading an entire class of students towards the grounds, but didn't say anything of it when she saw the looks on their faces.

As Harry left school he could see Voldemort and his death eaters standing outside the boundaries of the school ward, apparently he had figured out how to get to the students of Hogwarts without passing though the wards. Harry held his staff tightly as he walked towards Voldemort knowing that his family and friends were behind him, as Harry moved to the edge of the forest Voldemort gave a dark smile and moved aside. Harry and the other student gasped as they saw Peter Pettigrew holding a wand to little Dennis Creevey's throat.

Harry's stomach gave a strong lurch as he looked into the small boys eyes, he wasn't sure what Voldemort wanted, but he promised himself that he'd do whatever was necessary to make sure Dennis got out of this alive and unharmed. Harry was determined that no other students die by this lunatics hand as long as he was there to stop it. Harry spoke clearly, "I'm here Tom, now let him go." Voldemort snapped, "Do not use that name!" And muttered a curse, Harry moved to block it, but for once the spell wasn't aimed at him Dennis Creevey screamed loudly as the skin on his arms turned a nasty red color, Harry then understood what was going on, Voldemort was going to hurt Dennis instead of going after Harry.

Harry clenched his teeth and gripped his staff tighter in his hand, he had to get Dennis away from Voldemort before spells started flying or the small teen would be killed. Harry used the techniques Dumbledore had taught him and focused on his magical core, he could feel the earth beneath him and the wind blowing threw his hair. Harry focused on the trees that were behind Voldemort and his death eaters, he wasn't sure if he could do what was necessary to save Dennis' life, but he had to try.

Harry pushed his magic into the roots of the trees and moved up threw their branches until they became an extension of his own body. Harry focused deep into his magic and then he began to move his arms, he heard Voldemort's cold voice as though coming from a distance, "Don't try anything Potter if you want this boy to live." But Harry wasn't paying attention he moved his hands more and while his own body did not move the trees started to, several death eaters creamed a one shouted, "My LORD LOOK!" But it was too late, Harry swept his arms down and swiped at the death eaters knocking them to the sides, he heard the crunch of broken bones and the screams as they scattered and ran for cover someone said, "Dennis run." The young man didn't need to be told twice he took advantage of the confusion, he cast several stunning spells and ran towards the group of students and teachers.

Voldemort had been thrown aside when Harry had possessed the trees and there were only a few poorly trained death eaters in the way. As Dennis mad a break for it Harry was struggling trees weren't meant to move like this and the ones he was using were loudly proclaiming their protests, Harry focused harder. He only had to keep things going a little longer until Dennis was safe. Harry could hear voices shouting at him, but he could no longer make out what they were saying, then he felt a sharp pain in his side and everything went black.

a/n yes I know I'm evil, I took a long time to get this done and now I've ended with a clifie, but that's just my nature. I promise the next chap won't take as long please review.