Thank you kevinpotter, dmp and buffulo1fromSalem for your reviews. Thank you to all of you who have read and reviewed this story so far. I have sent my replies to all the reviews and I hope that you have been receiving mail from for i have not and i have been seeing the reviews as they appear alongside the fiction.

Harry Potter and the Final Journey

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Chapter – 26

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Harry woke up late the next day. He leisurely brushed his teeth and washed, changing into clean clothes he went down to meet the others. Ron had already woken up and had gone down.

"You must get yourself some new clothes as well when you go for your books all right?" Snape's voice echoed in his mind.

Harry nodded his head and then laughed in his mind as he told Snape he definitely would and then burn all these clothes. He could feel Snape smiling and rolling his eyes as he reached the kitchen and sat down to eat his breakfast greeting everyone who was there.

And literally everyone was there. The whole Order was there, falling silent as he entered making him realize all of them were speaking about him and his new behavior.

"Hello all, what's up?" and seeing Snape walk in lowered his eyes as they lit up seeing him and greeted him as well and asked him what these people could have been discussing.

Snape scowled at everyone, sneered at Harry and Sirius in particular and spoke a few words to Dumbledore and walked out with him to the hall.

"Harry, dear why don't you start your breakfast and then all of us will go to Diagon Alley." Molly placed a plate in front of him. Harry tucked in asking Snape at the same time if he had finished breakfast. Snape replied in the affirmative and Harry ate his at top speed and was soon ready to leave for Diagon Alley.

Ha dragged a giggling Ginny and Hermione to the hall where Dumbledore was till talking to Snape. "Sorry, we did not mean to intrude Sir," to Dumbledore and prepared to leave the room.

"Really Potter there are things called manners where you try to knock a door that has been shut before you come in." Snape was glaring at Harry and laughing in Harry's mind.

"Sir," it was Hermione who protested, "Harry did say we are sorry, honestly we did not know."

Dumbledore stepped in before Snape could snarl at Hermione.

"Harry, Severus will be coming with you to Diagon Alley in disguise till lunch. Sirius will join you then, as he must really go to the Ministry and show himself and clear his name properly once and forever. He will be questioned with veritaserum and everything will be settled."

Sirius had come in as Dumbledore was speaking and he nodded his head at Harry. "Should I come with you Sirius? I can do my shopping after lunch with you?"

Sirius shook his head. "No, Harry you carry on. Albus will be with me and I want to get this thing settled properly. I will join you for lunch at The Leaky Cauldron and we can take it on from there."

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Molly and a disguised Snape along with a disguised Moody flood to The Leaky Cauldron and went to Diagon Alley from there. They went to Gringotts and Harry and Snape went to his vault to take some money and Snape asked him to take lots of galleons so that he could purchase a lot of books and be able to display a bit of his knowledge.

Speaking with each other mentally and perfectly content with the world Harry picked up a lot of galleons and went up. He told Snape about the way Malfoy had been confused as he wondered why Harry had let him off and also reminded Snape to bring Pettigrew so that Harry could place the same curse on him as before.

Snape agreed and also told Harry he would keep and eye on Malfoy and let him know if anything came up.

They walked up to the entrance not noticing Dumbledore who was there invisible and looking alarmed at the closeness that Snape and Harry exhibited and the way they separated as soon as they came in view of the others. Dumbledore saw the way Snape had held on to Harry's hand as he smilingly made a comment in response to Harry's statement.

As soon as they reached the door both separated and Snape had a scowl and Harry looked indifferent to the world, grinning at Ron and Hermione. All of them went out and started their shopping and Dumbledore followed them at a discreet distance and he noticed how Harry held up his robes in the direction of Snape and how many times he had shot a quick look at him.

Dumbledore was flabbergasted by what he was seeing. He did not know how in the name of Merlin Harry had bonded with Snape to a level that he seemed more familiar than he was with even Sirius. While he, Albus would even now trust Snape with his life he was now confused and unable to understand why Snape had not told him anything about it.

It was not like Snape to hide anything from him and he would never conceal something so important from Albus. Had Harry told him not to say a word? But why? How did they become friends and when?

Had he been told, he would have been the first person to feel glad that Severus and Harry had become friendly and more. While Harry may not know Albus enough to trust him, Severus did and that was what alarmed him. Why hadn't Severus told him he was more than friendly with Harry to him, Albus whom Severus knew was his well wisher?

Dumbledore followed Harry all through the day and he saw that Snape sneered at Harry though his eyes if you knew to read them like Albus did, were warm and smiling as he apparated away. Harry smiled to himself and then went on as if nothing had happened.

Harry had a wonderful time and brought a lot of clothes and books, potion ingredients and the works in short. He went back with the others to Grimmauld Place to find Dumbledore and Snape in quite conversation. Dumbledore saw the way Harry's eyes lit up and what was more disturbing was the way Snape seemed to react to that.

Not everyone could read it in fact Dumbledore doubted if anyone apart from him would have noticed the way Snape's face changed from seriousness as he was talking with Dumbledore to amusement and was it affection in his eyes as he glanced at Harry for a second before it turned to disdain as he looked down.

Dumbledore was totally flummoxed at this strange behavior of his two favorite boys, whom he looked upon as his very own. There was something going on and he was sad to think Severus would keep it from him. Well, he would wait and he was feeling better about the change in Harry now that he knew Snape was behind it.

One thing he was never in doubt was the fact that Severus would betray him. Severus to him was the child he never had and now Harry was also fast worming his way into his affections.

He continued his conversation with Snape and the others and stayed on for dinner and watched with fascination the silent interaction between Snape and Harry in the little gestures and a slight rising of eyebrows and small almost invisible snorts as Harry laughed with Sirius and giggled with Ron.

Sirius was jubilant as he had completed all the formalities and after fourteen years walked in Diagon Alley as free as the others. He was at his peak talking and laughing all the way.

It was his wilder comments that made Snape snort and Harry laugh at both Sirius and Snape.

That night after Dumbledore and the others had left Harry once again cast the sleeping charm on Ron and asked Rip to bring the golem. As soon as the golem arrived, Harry dressed it in his night clothes and placing a sleeping charm as well as a silencing charm on the golem he apparated to Potter castle.

Harry would not have gone for five minutes before Dumbledore silently peeped into their rooms. He had seen Severus leave about half an hour ago and he had wanted to see if Harry had gone with him. He was relieved to see Harry sleeping soundly along with a snoring Ron. Smiling he left to his well deserved rest in his own bed at Hogwarts.

Mean while Harry had joined Snape on the outskirts of Potter castle. He was holding a stunned rat in his hand. He greeted Harry with a smirk as he held out his hand triumphantly at Harry. Harry eyes gleamed as he saw the rat in Snape's hand. Snape handed over the rat to Harry and allowed Harry to apparate all of them to a cave in Hogsmeade.

Harry then cast invisibility charms on Snape and binding the magic of Wormtail, revived him. Wormtail blinked as he looked around in the darkness and closed his eyes as a bright ray of light hit his eyes. A few seconds later he gulped and looked around.

"Harry!" he squeaked. "What are you doing here and how did I get," he trailed off bewildered as to how Harry could have transported him from the Dark Lord's lair.

"Now Wormtail I could do so many things with you. First, I could give you to Sirius and Remus during the full moon." Harry watched with satisfaction as Wormtail trembled at the thought of being with an angry Grim and werewolf during the full moon.

"Second, I could conjure a huge cage and a hungry cat and stunning you place you inside the cage as a meal for the cat." Peter was shaking with fear seeing this new Harry.

"Third, I could send you to the Ministry and get you kissed. These are the options open to you unless you agree to what I say. Think it over and let me know. I have all the time in the world."

What kind of choices were these? All of them had only one end, that of him. Peter was terrified and he did not know what to do. And the fourth option was not an option really as Harry would be in total control of him. He shivered.

Meanwhile Snape had pressed closer to Harry and gave a small bottle of veritaserum to Harry asking him mentally to question Wormtail.

Harry opened the vial and not caring for the pleading, whining and squeaking he placed about ten drops of the liquid on Wormtail's tongue instead of the usual three.

Wormtail's face took on a glazed look and Harry prompted by Snape started asking questions.

"When did you join Voldemort?'

"In my sixth year."

"Why did you betray me parents and Sirius?"

"I hated your father, mother and Sirius."

Harry was shocked at this answer and could not think clearly as the anger rushed at him. Snape calmed him and asked Harry to ask the rat why he hated all of them when they would have died for him.

Harry put the question to Wormtail and almost fainted at the answer he got.

"I always had an eye on Lily and wanted her to be mine. But she never looked at me and was always aware of James. Sirius and Remus regarded James as their first friend and I was included only by extension. I hated it and vowed to get revenge on James by showing him I was better off than him. I did it too and got my revenge when James was killed and Sirius was imprisoned and Remus was almost reduced to begging in the streets."

Harry could not see straight with the fury rushing into him and he would have killed Wormtail then and there if Snape had not caught him and whispered something else to him. Harry turned in shock to see where Snape was most likely standing and turned with fresh anger towards Wormtail.

"Do you know that my parents' had a daughter before me?" Wormtail nodded and said he knew.

"Do you know what happened to that girl baby?"

Harry could see Wormtail fighting the truth potion but the ten drops he had given defeated Wormtail's struggle with veritaserum and he answered, defeat in his dull monotone voice.

"I took the baby girl away and left her in a small lane off The Leaky Cauldron. James and Lily did not deserve to be happy and have a child together. I knew she would not survive the day and she did not, as she has not attended Hogwarts."

Harry was on top of Wormtail punching him for all he was worth. Snape did not stop him as he too was in shock and knew the bloody rat deserved this and more, but when it looked as if Harry would punch the rat to death, he intervened and pulled Harry away.

Harry almost hit Snape, so great was his anger, before he controlled himself. Wormtail looked a mess with his nose broken and cheeks and lips bruised and ribs cracked. Harry had almost come close to killing him. Seeing the shallow breaths Wormtail was taking, Snape pressed a healing potion in Harry's hand and told him to give it to the rat before he died.

Harry was not bothered and he shouted at Snape in his mind to allow the damn rat to die.

"Do not be foolish Harry. Death is too good for this creature. Make him live and live miserably making him struggle for his existence everyday. That should be the punishment he deserves."

It took another ten minutes for Snape to convince Harry and make him give the potion to a near unconscious and delirious Wormtail. Another two vials of potions and the antidote for the truth serum later, Wormtail was coherent enough to talk.

He was trembling, crying and squealing and begging Harry's forgiveness in sheer terror. Harry had almost beaten him to death and if he decided to give him to Sirius and Remus he knew they would decide dying would be too good for him and probably destroy him first.

Harry was his sole refuge now and he was begging crying shamelessly to a boy whose parents' he had admitted to killing and whose sister he had admitted to kidnapping with the intention of leaving the few hours old baby to die on the streets.

Harry had to visibly control himself and he asked Wormtail if he would agree to be placed under the box spell that he had placed the rat under, in the future as well. Wormtail did not even hesitate and he agreed. Harry performed the spell and creating a portkey sent him off to a deserted part of London from where he could make his way to Voldemort's lair.

Snape removed the invisibility charms on him and hugged Harry tightly pouring all the comfort he could in to the hug. He knew Harry was on the brink of an emotional collapse and comforted him by murmuring words of solace as best as he could.

Five minutes later they apparated to Potter castle where Harry and Snape woke up his parents' and told them about Wormtail. He watched them weep for the daughter they had not given even a single hug or a kiss, for their beloved child they missed till that day.

"Kill him for me Harry, please," sobbed Lily as Harry nodded his head, but Snape was disagreeing as he said that people like Wormtail should live long and suffer. He also told them now Harry had the rat under his thumb and his days of doing anything bad were gone and that Harry and he would see to that the rat would pay if it was the last thing they did.

James was in shock and could not believe what he was hearing and result of jealously of a man whom he had thought was his best friend was devastating. He held his wife tightly as tears rolled down his eyes as he thought of all that he had lost, his life, his wife's life, Harry becoming an orphan and living under distressing living conditions, his daughter taken away from his at birth, Sirius spending thirteen years in Azkaban and Remus living like a beggar on the streets.

They stayed there for an hour and then it was time for Harry to leave and Snape sent Rip to check on Grimmauld Place and saying his goodbyes Harry left and sent the golem back.

The rest of the holidays went by with Harry leaving Grimmauld Place twice a week to talk to his parents and once to destroy the Slytherin ring that Snape and Harry retrieved from the Gaunt House.

That made three horcruxes gone and there were three more to go. Wormtail gave regular information that Harry shared with Snape, who shared it with Dumbledore.

Harry managed to get closer to Ginny in this one month and picked up the courage to ask her out. It was two days before they were to leave for Hogwarts and Harry was sitting with Ginny, Ron and Hermione looking over their homework for last minute corrections. Harry and Ginny were sitting a little away from the other two and Harry cleared his throat and smiled at Ginny as she looked up.

"Can I ask you something?" he began softly. "Of course Harry. What is it?" Ginny was curious as Harry looked so nervous.

"Well are you seeing anyone else?" and groaned as he knew his question came out all wrong. Ginny thought so too and her face flushed.

"Why?" she asked bitterly looking at Ron. "Did he ask you to ask me? So that he could go and terrorize those boys?"

Harry gulped. "Boys? You are going out with more than one boy?" he asked shocked.

Ginny glared at him. "Of course not. You know what I meant. Don't be silly Harry." She finished witheringly.

Harry thought for a moment to what she said and blushed at his stupidity. "So can I ask you something?" he began all over again. Ginny frowned as she looked at his nervous behavior.

Harry took a deep breath and prayed for the right words to come. "Will you go out with me?" he asked her very softly, so softly she had to strain to hear.

When she did hear, she looked at him in anger, thinking he was joking but when she saw his flushing face with his green eyes looking at her steadily and truthfully she was taken aback. She had never stopped loving him and had been waiting for him to see her as a person in her own right and not as Ron's little sister for as long as could remember, but to actually hear it from him made her heart burst with joy.

She smiled a brilliant smile that made her look lovelier and her face rivaling with her hair as she nodded her head.

Harry was thrilled and he scooted nearer to her and caught hold of her hand and held it in his. She blushed even more as Harry placed his other arm around her. They stayed silent perfectly content for a long time till, "Hey Harry! What are you doing with my sister?"

"What you are trying to do with mine." Harry shot back unthinkingly and then stopped in shock as he realized what he had just said. Hermione ran to him and hugged him tightly. "Oh! Harry that is the nicest thing I have heard and is it true or are you just saying it for the heck of it?" she asked tearfully.

"Of course I mean every single word of it. I really think of you as my sister." Harry said meaning every word he said in the truest sense.

"Yes Harrykins,"

"But that does not,"

"Tell us why,"

"You were holding,"

"Hands with our little sis,"

"And putting an arm around her shoulder,"

"We now want to know your intention dear Harrykins," was all the Twins managed glaring slightly at Harry when suddenly two beams of red light hit them from the side.

"Oww," "Oooowww," there were twin yells as Ginny cast a double itching and scratching hex below the waist. They hurriedly turned and ran out of the room scratching furiously in places that were better left to imagination.

"Ouch!" said Ron with a wince as he saw them scratch and then turning his attention to more important matters he looked at Harry enquiringly. He did not dare to demand of her seeing the fate of the Twins but he could imply and beg for answers.

"I just asked your sister out. That's all and I don't plan to hurt her and you can skin me and use me in Snape's potion class if I do." Harry finished rapidly to Ron's bemusement as he tried to put it all together. The Twins had returned by then, having removed the hex and both of them looked at each other for about a minute.

"Well ickle Harrykins welcome for the second time to the Weasley family."

"Remember you have given us permission to skin you for potions if the need arises."

The next day it was official and Dumbledore watched as Snape sneered at Harry without any mockery in his eyes as all of them were in the kitchen. Harry looked as if he was grinning to himself and then Dumbledore frowned again.

He looked very carefully at Snape and Harry and they seemed to be amused at odd times and it looked as if they were conversing with each other. How?

Did they have a mind link with each other and did they speak to each other constantly? How had that happened and when? He would have to ask Snape as that was a serious thing to do and as Harry was an underage wizard it could have not so favorable consequences for Snape it was proved.

Mind magic was a grey and a dubious area and for Snape to have established a mind link with Harry could be interpreted in so many ways and all of them would be against Severus if it were ever found out.

He sighed. He would have to talk to them, both of them once school started.

Harry and Ginny were together all the time and they had inspired Ron to ask Hermione out and that had resulted in Harry saying slightly modified words to Ron. This time he promised he would skin Ron and feed him to the acromatulas if he hurt Hermione.

That had petrified Ron and earned Harry a huge hug from Hermione which made Ron scowl at her and Harry laughed out loud.

They were woken up early on the 1st of September and doing their last minute packing all of them rushed to King's Cross by means of a portkey. Sirius came with them openly and waved them off.

Harry met with Neville and Luna whom Ginny introduced to all of them and they spent a happy day chatting and catching up with each other.

Ginny was sitting close to Harry, leaning on him and he had his arms tightly around her. He was very happy.

End of Chapter – 26

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