Disclaimer I do not own Harry Potter and everything recognisable belongs to J K Rowling. Also this story is inspired by 'A Shattered Prophecy' by Project Dark Overlord.

Chapter Twenty Six

The first thing Harry expected the following morning, was Order members dragging him to the headmaster, so he could be reprimanded for hurting a student. Harry had half expected to be hauled out of bed in the middle of the night and had spent most of the night awake, almost in anticipation. But morning came and went and no one came for him.

When he saw James waiting for him outside the portrait door, he was sure he was going to get the usual threats and warnings, but James only smiled at him, bid him good morning and chatted pleasantly as they walked to the Great Hall for breakfast.

"Your first week of school completed." James grinned, "How do you feel?"

Harry didn't answer, sticking firmly to his self promise of ignoring him. James didn't seem to mind. He carried on regardless.

"It's a strange feeling. I remember mine, even though it's so long ago." James reminisced. "I remember being so relieved I had got past the first week, but I was awfully homesick..." he stopped mid-sentence, mentally cursing himself for the slip-up.

Harry glanced up at him, his eyes cold and hard. He looked away in disgust and quickened his pace, walking away from him. James sighed and ran to catch up.

"So, what do you have planned for today?" James asked. "Saturdays are usually the busiest days in Hogwarts, everyone is up to something."

Harry continued walking, not even looking in James' direction. James went quiet for a few minutes before suddenly remembering something.

"Harry, wait, I have something for you." he stopped and reached into his robes to pull out the wand.

Harry's cold gaze swept past the wand and met James'.

"Satisfied?" he asked coldly.

"It was wrong of Kingsley and Moody to take your wand." James placated. "I wouldn't have let them take it from you if I knew." he offered the wand back to it's owner.

Harry took the wand and stuffed it back into his pocket.

"Yeah, right!" he scoffed.

The walked in silence after that. As soon as they turned the corner, Harry saw the single figure, waiting at the doors to the Great hall. He faltered, his steps that had been keen and eager to get away from James, were now hesitant and slow.

Lily smiled nervously at the sight of Harry and James approaching. She had rehearsed what she was about to say with James about ten times already but now that she was about to speak to Harry, she suddenly felt very anxious.

"Good morning, Harry." she greeted as soon as he was within earshot.

Harry ignored her. Lily had guessed as much, so she pushed on.

"Welcome to your first weekend at Hogwarts." She smiled. "Saturday's are usually the busiest days in Hogwarts, everyone is up to something." she continued. She caught the look on James' face and remembered a moment later that that was supposed to be his line. She shook the mess-up out of her mind and pushed on. "Do you have anything planned?"

Harry sent her a scathing look, but otherwise remained silent.

"Right, yes, well I can imagine there's not much you would be interested in, not yet anyway." Lily muttered, feeling slightly panicked at how horrible this attempt was going. She took in a breath, she would just put it out there and see what happened. "I was wondering, I mean, me and James were wondering," she corrected at the look James sent her, "since you don't have any classes today and you're not up to much, if perhaps you would like to join me and James in my staff quarters?" she looked up at him then, meeting his icy gaze, immediately wishing she hadn't. "We thought today would give us an opportunity to just sit and...talk, just us, as a...family." she implored.

Harry gave her a long look before turning to look at James.

"Go to hell, both of you!" he hissed.

He turned and walked into the hall, leaving James and Lily standing outside in more than just sore disappointment.

xxx

Harry walked past the Gryffindors table, ignoring the countless head nods, smiles and waves. He noticed the Weasley twins with Lee Jordan, exchanging what looked like brightly coloured sweets for a handful of coins with the surrounding students. He had seen the trio do 'business' with other students over the course of last week. It seemed Damien was right, the twins and Lee were repeating their seventh year but all they were interested in was their 'jokes and tricks' merchandise.

As Harry walked along the table, searching for a quiet place to sit, he saw Ron Weasley sitting with his sister on one side and Hermione on the other. Damien was across from him. They all looked up at Harry as he past them and Ron quickly diverted his gaze. Harry moved past them, heading for the quietest part of the table. He sat down, pulling a plate towards him.

He had not even taken a bite of his toast when Damien suddenly appeared and sat down before him.

"I need to talk to you." Damien said seriously.

"When do you ever not need to talk to me?" Harry asked.

"What happened yesterday," Damien started, his voice quiet and strained. "Harry, you…you can't go around...treating people like that!" he struggled with his words, frustrated. "You can't call others such disgusting names and you can't hurt them like you hurt Ron!"

"And you think just because you're telling me this I'm going to listen?" Harry asked, annoyed. He leaned closer to Damien. "Just because you're a spoiled little brat who gets whatever the hell he wants from his no good parents, doesn't mean that you can tell me what to do!"

Damien was taken aback. He straightened up in his seat and took a deep breath, to calm himself before speaking to his elder brother.

"First of all, I'm not some spoiled kid who gets everything I want. Second, if you ever call our parents that again I will show you just how much damage I can do."

Harry chuckled.

"You're threatening me?" he asked with amusement. "Listen here kid, I've hurt more people than you've met in your life. I don't know what you've been told about me, but it obviously isn't the truth since you don't seem to realise how much pain I can cause you."

"I'm not afraid of you." Damien said. "I know that I probably should be, especially after last night, but I'm not. I don't fear you in the slightest."

"Don't worry," Harry smirked at him. "you will."

Damien shrugged.

"I could never fear you. Whether you like it or not you're my brother and I can't fear or hate my own blood. No matter what you say or do."

Harry found to his dismay that he didn't have an answer to that. He watched as Damien got to his feet.

"By the way, we've not mentioned last night's incident to anyone so you shouldn't either."

"Why?" Harry asked.

"It would only cause problems." Damien said unhappily. "Not only for you but for Ron as well. He attacked you when you didn't have a wand."

Harry didn't reply and watched as Damien walked back to his friends, again feeling confused to his core by the youngest Potter.

xxx

The days turned to weeks and sooner than Harry thought possible, he had been at Hogwarts for a month. Harry had continued to try and isolate himself from the rest of the students. He had succeeded, with the exception of Damien. The youngest Potter had continued to follow Harry around like a faithful puppy. He continued to sit with Harry at meal times, making small talk or joined him in the common room in the evenings. No matter how horrible he was to Damien or how much he insulted him, Damien refused to leave him alone.

Ever since the 'incident' Ron made a special attempt to avoid Harry, even as far as waiting until the very end of the day to go to his bed, so he didn't have to see him in the dormitory. Ron along with Hermione and Ginny would periodically try and convince Damien to give up on the Dark Prince and sit with them at meal times but Damien would shake his head and insist on keeping Harry company.

Damien's attempts weren't fruitless. After ignoring him, insulting him, even threatening him and seeing that it was useless, Harry started responding to Damien's conversations. It was still no more than one worded answers or just a non verbal shrug, but it seemed enough for Damien. The younger boy would happily rattle off a long winded story, just so that he wasn't sitting in silence with his brother.

James and Lily weren't as successful as Damien. They continued in their attempts to bring Harry closer but they were always pushed away brutally. James continued escorting Harry to and from classes but his conversations were always one sided. Harry had chosen to remain silent when in his company, which hurt James more than Harry's sharp retorts. Lily would often try and corner Harry at the end of Potions class but got nothing more than scathing looks and rejection in return.

The only person Harry sought out to speak to was Draco Malfoy. They met on two occasions over the last month. Ever since Damien questioned him about speaking to Draco, Harry had taken precaution, opting to minimise his meetings with Draco. They still didn't have a system in place to meet without raising suspicion and Harry didn't want to get caught out. There was a forever changing rota of Order members posing as Aurors, that were watching him and he didn't want Draco coming under their radar. Mad-Eye Moody was the only Auror that refused to leave Hogwarts. He remained in place, his magical blue eye fixed on Harry throughout the day, every day.

Being stuck in Hogwarts, unable to communicate with the one person that was his friend, had Harry frustrated to no end. His only outlet was, of course, Professor Severus Snape. His DADA class lessons were quickly turning into torture sessions for the greasy haired Professor. Harry would ridicule and belittle anything Snape was teaching. The threats of detention would get laughed at, taking away Gryffindor house points only seemed to make Harry happier and if Snape got aggressive, Harry would drop subtle hints about his father's temper, which always made Snape back down quickly.

Currently the said Professor was with the Headmaster, complaining about the thorn in his side, Harry Potter.

"I just can't take it anymore! He actually laughed at me when I was teaching the deflection jinx. He laughed, Albus!" Snape said. " Of course I can't do anything to scare him and he knows it! At the last Death Eater meeting, the Dark Lord asked how Harry was doing and when I mentioned his charming classroom manners, the Dark Lord warned me that if Harry was ever punished by any teacher he would have my head! I can't take this stress anymore."

Dumbledore pulled his hands away from his chin and met Snape's frustrated glare.

"I know it's difficult," he started, "but if you remain calm, the situation will get better. Harry is only testing his boundaries, pushing the ones he thinks he can control. It is understandable, he is frustrated..."

"He's not the only one!" Snape snarled back.

"Severus," Dumbledore calmed, "it will pass. Harry will come to accept his situation sooner or later. A little patience is all that is needed."

"Do you really believe that?" Snape asked, scrutinising the aged wizard. "It's been a month since he was brought to Hogwarts and other than testing my patience and resolve not to kill him, what has he done?"

"It's not what he will do, but what he will refuse to do that is the question." Dumbledore replied, his eyes twinkling.

Snape paused, onyx eyes studying the white haired wizard.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Harry has showed great empathy in the past, a trait many would think impossible due to his relationship with Voldemort." Dumbledore explained. "This empathy is what made him help Poppy's children. He refused to stand back and let them die. That is the key, Severus, the key that will help us bring him back, back to the right side and what will help us destroy Voldemort."

"How?" Snape asked, annoyed. "How are we going to exploit his empathetic nature, if he even has one." he added on with scorn.

Dumbledore smiled.

"We won't." Dumbledore replied. "Where there is empathy, remorse usually follows." he smiled and leaned back in his seat, "and everyone knows, remorse is the road to redemption."

xxx

The owl post was always the nosiest part of breakfast. The sound of flapping wings, hoots of countless owls and the excited yelps of students receiving gifts and letters from home was enough to drown out all other noise in the vastly big hall.

Harry wasn't paying attention to the owl post, he never did, except of course the first time he had witnessed the mass of birds flying into the hall, dropping parcels and envelopes along the way to the waiting students below. He had stared at the sight, awed despite himself, but when he felt Dumbledore's eyes on him he had immediately looked away and pretended to look bored, playing with his breakfast. Since then, he made a point in never looking up when the owls arrived.

Damien was sitting in front of Harry, telling him in annoying detail about the prank he had spectacularly failed at yesterday, when a scrawny brown owl landed in front of him. Harry glanced over at him, mildly curious as to who had sent him a letter, since both his parents were with him at the school. Damien excitedly reached out for the owl, untying the scroll from the tiny leg and unfurling it quickly. He read the first few lines and grinned.

"It's from uncle Siri!" he announced.

Harry looked away.

"He's saying he's going to be coming to Hogwarts soon!" Damien cried with clear excitement. "He's asking if I need anything. I might ask him to bring me a new pack of dungbombs, I'm running low on them." Damien mused aloud. "He's asking about you." Damien said to Harry, looking over at him.

Harry didn't say anything, pretending he didn't hear him.

"I can't wait until he comes." Damien said, scrolling up the parchment again. "He'll help me plan the ultimate prank!"

Harry gave Damien an irritated look but refrained from saying anything to him. He focused on finishing his bowl of porridge. It was perhaps a minute or two afterwards that it struck Harry how quiet the hall had suddenly become. He glanced up and saw that nearly every student was leaning over a copy of the newspaper, The Daily Prophet. Those who didn't have a copy, had got up and huddled around other students to read their copy of the newspaper. Every student had an expression of surprise or horror on their faces. Slowly a babble broke out, spreading throughout the hall. Every eye suddenly turned to the Gryffindor table.

Harry saw the stares were directed at one brown haired boy sitting amongst the sixth year Gryffindors. Neville didn't seem to be aware that he was the centre of everyone's attention. His attention was on the newspaper before him. His colour had paled, his brown eyes were narrowed and his jaw was clenched hard.

"What's going on?" Damien asked, looking around him.

Harry turned to his other side and saw a third year with a copy of the newspaper. He reached over and snatched it, earning a surprised and indignant, 'hey!' in response but he ignored it. He read the headline and felt his heart give an unpleasant leap in his chest. Written in big bold letters across the front page of the Daily Prophet were the words, 'The Dark Prince Murdered the Chosen One's Family!'

'There has been a new statement issued recently that claims to have a confession from the infamous Dark Prince, currently imprisoned at a highly classified prison, serving a life sentence for crimes against the wizarding world. According to this statement, an update has been added to the already growing list of horrific crimes committed by the son of You-Know-Who. It is claimed that the Dark Prince admitted to have tortured and brutally murdered Frank and Alice Longbottom. Their badly mutilated remains had been found at their home a little over two years ago. Frank and Alice Longbottom were both Aurors but many speculate the reason they were targeted by You-Know-Who was because of their only son, Neville Longbottom. For some he is known as the 'Chosen One'. It has been the subject of many debates for the last sixteen years, as to if there indeed is a Prophecy that links Neville Longbottom to the Dark Lord. Regardless of whether Mr Neville Longbottom is destined to face You-Know-Who or not, it seems he has reason now to face the Dark Prince, in answer for the cold blooded murder of his parents.'

Harry looked up from the paper, his eyes immediately seeking out Neville again. He saw Neville push the paper away from himself and suddenly he was up on his feet. Without meeting anyone's eyes, Neville turned and walked out of the hall, the doors slamming shut behind him.

Murmurs had already started in the Great hall and with Neville's abrupt exit, they intensified ten fold. Harry looked away from the doors and immediately he caught Ginny's eyes. She was clutching a copy of the paper but her eyes were fixed on him. Even Ron and Hermione were looking at him, horror and disgust clear in their expressions. Ginny shook her head at him in disdain before tearing her gaze away. She lifted up her bag, swung it around her shoulder and stood up to leave.

Harry looked away from her and found Damien's questioning gaze on him. He had a copy of the paper in front of him as well. He looked shocked more than anything.

Harry found himself turning his head to the side as he looked up at the staff table. The blue eyes were waiting to meet his. Something in those calm blue eyes told Harry that this was Dumbledore's doing. Harry had never felt so angry in his life. He glared hatefully at Dumbledore, furious beyond belief. His hands under the table were curled into tight fists, so hard it hurt. He saw the small, barely noticeable smile spread on Dumbledore's face and that was the moment Harry lost it. He didn't care anymore that he was trapped at Hogwarts. He didn't care Order members were watching him. He didn't even care about the Dementors swirling around in the sky high above him. He got up, eyes still on Dumbledore, watching as the surrounding teachers got clearly nervous at his actions. Dumbledore continued to sit calmly, watching Harry with cool blue eyes. Harry turned, breaking eye contact and walked out of the hall.

xxx

Harry could barely wait for Potions to end. He had paid absolutely no attention to the lesson, resulting in the poor brewing of the 'Draught of the Living Dead' potion. But Harry didn't care. He knew how to make the potion, he didn't have to prove it at Hogwarts.

As soon as it was time to pack up, Harry dropped his note beside Draco's seat. Draco discreetly retrieved it and slipped it into his bag.

Harry packed up and left, the first one to leave the classroom.

xxx

Draco had barely been waiting for half a minute when Harry arrived. He was surprised that Harry told him to meet in the boy's bathroom, as he had complained about almost being caught by Damien the last time they met here. But before he could do much more that open his mouth to speak, Harry had reached him and the look on his face shut Draco up at once.

"Get the Slytherin's ready!" Harry hissed before he even came to rest before Draco. "It's time we taught Dumbledore a lesson!"

"What's going on?" Draco asked, confused. "What did he do?"

"He just crossed the line." Harry growled.

"You mean about the stuff in the papers today?" Draco asked. "That was Dumbledore's doing?"

Harry's anger filled eyes gave Draco his answer. He went quiet for a moment before meeting his best friend's eyes again.

"What do you need me to do?" he asked.

"I need some money and I need to know exactly where your common room entrance is and it's password." Harry said.

"Okay," Draco answered, already reaching into his robes pocket to pull out his money bag. "What is it you need me to do?"

"I'll tell you once I get everything I need." Harry replied.

"Be careful," Draco warned, handing over his money bag to Harry. "Don't forget there are eyes watching you. Don't get caught doing anything stupid."

Harry shook his head, his anger making his hands tremble.

"He thinks he can mess around with me," he said quietly. "He thinks he can get away playing games with me." Harry met Draco's eyes. "But he doesn't know who he's up against. If he wants to play," he smirked, "then we'll play."

xxx