It was the first week of April when the article announcing Sirius' trial came out. With all the overwhelming evidence it was hard to make a case against Sirius, and Minister Scrimgeour announced Sirius was free of all charges against him, and Peter Pettigrew had been given a life sentence in Azkaban. The article hadn't given much information on the trial since no reporters were allowed in, but Harry didn't care, he knew all he had to do was ask Sirius and he would know. Harry once again was in the spot light because of the trial, but he didn't mind this time, he was ecstatic that his godfather was finally free. Although he had to admit he was starting to get annoyed with all the questions that the student's were asking him, and for once he was glad when a teacher intervened to stop their harassment.

The downside was that Voldemort was angered by the capture of his Death Eater and the freedom granted to Sirius, and decided to take it out on Harry in the only way he possibly could; more nightmares. Tonks' lessons in Occulemcy had helped greatly but Harry still found it difficult to block Voldemort out when he was sleeping, and Voldemort used that to his advantage. Not only did the mysterious corridor haunt his dreams, but now the nightmare's he had had after he visited the Chamber of Secrets in November came back. It didn't affect him as bad as it had before since he kept his promise and informed Sirius about what was happening, and he felt more reassured than before. But they were called nightmare's for a reason.

Because of the nightmare's Harry threw himself into Quidditch training, wanting to beat Slytherin and to distract himself from his thoughts. Ginny was also a good distraction, she calmed him in a way his best friends couldn't, and was also an excellent kisser, which was another way to keep his mind off things. Classes managed to take most of his time as well, with the homework they were handed since the teachers were finishing up on what they would need for the OWL's exam's before they were to begin reviewing. The bell announcing the end of class snapped Harry out of his thoughts, and he gathered his work sheet and book into his bag before standing and walking towards Ron and Hermione. Harry was somewhat surprised when he found them talking with Neville in quiet voices, all the them huddled close by the door.

"Everything okay?" Harry asked.

Ron jumped since his back was turned towards Harry, but Hermione and Neville greeted him with small smiles.

"Ehh, kind of. Let's get out of the classroom and I'll tell you." Hermione said, grabbing Harry's elbow and walking towards the door with a grip on him.

"Whoa, whoa. What's wrong?" Harry asked, looking towards Neville and Ron.

"It's not that big of a deal, Hermione. Luna had mentioned that she heard it in passing -" Neville started to explain, but was cut off.

"I still don't like the sound of it, especially with what's been happening lately." Hermione said.

"Hold on a minute," Harry yanked free of Hermione's hold, "Will you tell me what's going on?" He asked with a hint of frustration in his voice.

"Luna heard that-"

"Well, well. Isn't it Potty and Weasel and the Mudblood. Longbottom's decided to join your group, now has he?" A familiar voiced drawled.

Harry gritted his teeth in annoyance, "Malfoy. Haven't heard from you in a while, I was afraid you'd lost your touch."

Malfoy snapped on Harry, "Well, we all have better things to do than help your dog avoid the kennel."

Harry laughed, ignoring the angered looks on his friends faces, "Is that what's pissed you off this time? That Sirius is free?" He asked.

"I'm not the only one, I can tell by your lack of sleep that the Dark Lord isn't pleased either." Malfoy said gleefully.

Harry paled slightly, "What the hell are you going on about?"

"Please, word has gotten around you and the Dark Lord share a mental connection. I hope it hurts." Malfoy added with relish.

"And who told you that? Daddy? Or one of your other Death Eater buddies?" Harry hissed out through clenched teeth.

Neville paled at the mention of Harry's connection to Voldemort, not knowing about it till that moment. Hermione and Ron glanced at each other nervously, knowing that Harry was getting angry, which Voldemort usually fueled.

"I don't care to share where I get my information from, " Malfoy said evasively, "But I've heard that since the breakout at Azkaban the Dark Lord is in a greater hurry to finish building his army, and when he succeeds, well, I hope there's a plot ready for you right by your parents."

That had been the last straw for Harry, who lunged at Malfoy but was held back by Ron and Neville, who fought hard to keep him back. Harry called Malfoy some very colorful names as the ferret laughed and walked away, only to turn around and get one last dig in before he left.

"I'd be careful about what your planning, the Dark Lord has spies everywhere." And with that Malfoy left.

Ron and Neville finally let go of Harry, who was panting from the effort to throw them off of him in his anger, and turned to confront them.

"What the hell? Why did you hold me back?" Harry asked in outrage.

"You would of ripped him apart Harry! I know what you get like when your angry." Ron exclaimed.

"You should of let me! Did you hear what he said about my parents?" Harry asked.

"Of course we did, but you don't need to get in trouble for killing Malfoy, we have bigger things to deal with." Hermione cut in before Ron could answer.

"And what is that?" Harry snarled, and instantly regretted it when Hermione flinched.

"Did you hear what he said about being careful with what your planning? Was that his way of telling us Voldemort knows something?" Hermione told him, and watched as a look of understanding crossed Harry's face before fear replaced it.

"Do you think he knows?" Harry asked, his eyes flickering towards Neville for a second before going back to Hermione.

"I don't know, but we need to inform someone." Hermione said worriedly.

Before anyone else could speak Neville cut in, "I'll let you three go, I'm gonna let Luna know that what she heard was right."

Harry snapped his eyes back towards Neville, "What did she say?" He asked.

"She heard that Malfoy was going to try to corner you and taunt you somehow on You-Know-Who's orders."

"Great, Voldemort has to send his servants to taunt me for him? That's just fantastic." Harry said with sarcasm dripping in his voice.

Neville flinched at the name while Ron barely hid his own, still not completely comfortable with using the name.

"I wondered why he hadn't really bothered us this year, maybe his father wanted him to spy and keep a low profile?" Ron asked.

"I don't know," Hermione started, "It is out of character for him. It isn't important though, we need to tell someone what he said."

"I'll see you in the Common Room later." Neville said with his hand slightly raised in farewell, and left.

Harry started to walk away as well, internally conflicted whether he should go to Dumbledore or Tonks with the information, but then decided on Dumbledore, knowing that he needed to know more than Tonks, and turned down the corridor that would lead him to the entrance to the Headmaster's Office.

"If Voldemort has somehow found out about the Horcruxes, I'm dead, I won't have a chance against him if he gets a hold of the last three."

Sirius and Remus had went to Gringott's last week and destroyed the cup, and thankfully with no difficulties since they knew what to expect. With Ron and Hermione behind him panting as they tried to keep up, Harry stopped in front of the entrance to Dumbledore's office and gave the password (Lemon Drop) and hurried up the stairs without waiting for his friends. Harry only stopped when he reached the door and caught his breath, allowing Ron and Hermione a chance to catch up with him, who both were panting as well.

"I never knew you could walk so fast." Ron said as he leaned against the wall.

"I'm in a hurry if you couldn't tell," Harry snapped, but he instantly regretted it, "Sorry, I'm just upset."

Ron nodded, "Understandable."

Harry managed to give Ron a guilty grin before he turned and knocked on the door, and with impatience waited for an invitation.

"Enter." Dumbledore called.

Harry opened the door with Ron and Hermione behind him, which surprised Dumbledore for a moment before he regained his composure, and smiled at the group in front of him.

"Good afternoon, I must say I didn't expect to see you all in my office today." Dumbledore said, his eyes flickering to each person.

"It's important, sir." Harry told him, a sense of urgency in his voice that Dumbledore quickly picked up on.

"Continue." Dumbledore said with a wave of his hand.

"I had a ... confrontation with Malfoy a few moments ago, and he hinted that Voldemort was almost finished building his army and is getting ready to attack. I think he might of hinted that Voldemort knows we know about the Horcruxes." Harry explained.

Dumbledore stroked his beard as he stood in front of Harry, and after a moment gestured for all three of them to take a seat, and as they did he walked around his desk and sat down, and pulled a piece of parchment out of one of his draws.

"I don't believe Voldemort knows about the Horcruxes," Dumbledore started, and held a finger up when Harry began to open his mouth, "I believe that Voldemort would of attacked us worse than he already has in revenge, and I know you would of felt his anger if he had figured it out. From what I know all you've been having are small, sudden, sharp pains in your scar a few times a day as well as the dreams."

Harry nodded his head at Dumbledore's words, "Right, but I still believe that he's going to begin a battle soon, the last one I think." Harry muttered, taking in a shaky breath.
"Elaborate." Dumbledore asked, both of them unaware of the incredulous looks Ron and Hermione gave Harry.

"Like you said a few months ago, Voldemort needed some of his most loyal Death Eaters for his army and now he has them, the giants have sided with him as well as most of the werewolves, what else is there to gain? He's ready, he knows I have a huge disadvantage seeing as I'm only fifteen and he's just about immortal. I think he'll attack in the next month or so." Harry responded, and felt relieved as he said his thought aloud.

"Don't be stupid, Harry. Voldemort wouldn't attack right now, he'd have to plan, to think out - " Hermione started to interject.

"He's been planning this attack from the moment I was born, probably even before then!" Harry exclaimed.

Hermione took a deep breath and looked away from him, and Harry knew she was upset, knowing he was right. Ron just looked dumbfounded at Harry, as if shocked by the truth of his words and didn't want to believe it.

"You all know I'm right. You need to tell the Order everything I just told you, sir. We need to prepare as well, because I know Voldemort won't fight fair. We need to have every advantage we can get." Harry told Dumbledore, feeling a sense of dread in the pit of his stomach as he thought over what they would need to do.

Dumbledore kept silent for a few moments, his eyes studying Harry, who had turned into 'The Chosen One' right before his eyes, the leader for the Wizarding World.
"You're right, and I shall. Now I know you will want some time to think over the meaning of your words and what the final battle will be like, and I suggest you are left to your thoughts," He glanced towards Ron and Hermione, who blushed under his gaze, "But I need to share something with you."

Dumbledore looked down at the piece of parchment he had grabbed earlier and put it in front of him, and adjusted his glasses that sat on the bridge of his nose, "After discovering the Chamber of Secrets I have been searching the castle for any other hidden rooms that I may of not known of, and a thought struck me the other day. Why not ask one of the House Elves, who know the castle better than anyone alive? So I did, and one suggested a room called the Room of Requirement, and told me the location and how to enter it. I did as instructed and searched the room, and after a few days of doing so I discovered a very curious object."

Dumbledore reached down and opened another draw, and pulled out an ancient looking box, and slowly he opened the lid. Dumbledore grabbed the object carefully out of the box and set it into his desk. It was a tiara with a raven spreading its wings, and small writing was inscription on the bottom, but it was too small for Harry to read. It was Ravenclaw's diadem, one of the Horcruxes they had been looking for.

"Voldemort hid it in Hogwarts?" Hermione asked in amazement, inching closer to see the tiara better.

"Correct, he believed he was the only one to know of the room's existence." Dumbledore replied.

"Arrogant bastard." Ron muttered so low only Harry and Hermione could hear.

Harry and Ron kept a safe distance from the Horcrux, not wanting to get closer to anything that contained a part of Voldemort inside it. After a moment Hermione inched away from it and leaned back in her chair, but still kept her eye on the diadem.

"Later this evening I will be destroying it with the Sword, and we only have two left. The snake and something else, but I have recently thought of another theory of what it might be," Dumbledore averted his gaze from all three of them and once again opened the draw on his desk, "I want all three of you to carry around one of these at all times, and I'll give Harry an extra one so he can pass it onto Ms. Weasley," Dumbledore placed four Basilisk fangs onto his desk, "As you said the final battle is approaching, and we need to be ready for anything. When the times comes and any of you get the chance to destroy the snake, I want you to try."

Harry grabbed one of the fangs off the desk and studied it closely while Ron and Hermione hesitated before they grabbed their own, both of them torn between interest and horror at the fang, and knew what it was.

"Thank you, sir." Harry said as he placed the last fang inside his pocket for Ginny.

"Not a problem. Now, as I said earlier you must have a lot on your mind, and I will let you go so you can think over it. I suggest you both do the same as well." Dumbledore pointed towards Ron and Hermione in turn, "Sorry this couldn't be a more light conversation, but it was unavoidable."

Harry nodded in reply and muttered a quick goodbye as he stood from his chair and walked towards the stairs, barely hearing his friends give Dumbledore a goodbye before they followed him, all of them silent as they walked to the Gryffindor Common room. Before Hermione could give the fat lady the password Ron stopped her by raising his finger and moving in front of the portrait.

"Now, I know what Dumbledore said about leaving you to your thoughts, and I know your itching to be alone. But first things first, how much does my sister know?" Ron asked.

Harry sighed, "Not much, I told her about the Horcruxes briefly, but she knows I'm preparing to fight Voldemort. She doesn't know about what we just talked about though." He explained.

"Are you gonna tell her?"

"Of course, I'll probably tell her later tonight. But I need time to think, all of this is weighing down on me and I need to about what I'm going to do." Harry told them both, running his fingers through his hair.

"We'll leave you to think about it, but if something happens scar or dream wise please tell us, we won't freak out." Hermione said, picking up on his distress.

Harry nodded his thanks and gave the fat lady the password to get into the common room, and when he entered he made a beeline to the fifth year dormitory, knowing Ron would leave him to his thoughts and make sure no one bothered him. Harry plopped down on his bed and let out a breath, and ran a hand over his face. So much to think about, so little time. Harry's mind kept jumping from thought to thought on what he needed to do, how he was going to take Voldemort out, wondering if he would survive, what would happen to his family... He mind kept going through the possibilities, and he didn't like most of them. He was mostly left alone as he slowly started to piece together a plan, his scar giving a few painful flares every once in a while.

Harry knew the probability of his death and accepted it, he had always known it was most likely to happen. The problem was Voldemort, and how to get rid of him. Maybe Harry could hit him with a slicing curse and slit his throat open? Or conjure a knife and direct it to Voldemort's heart? Could he bring himself to use the Killing Curse? But he could only do that when all the Horcruxes were destroyed, and now only two remained. The snake and something else. Harry knew Dumbledore had a good idea on what the last Horcrux was, but frustratingly he wouldn't tell. What was Dumbledore hiding from him?


Harry fell into a fitful sleep that night, but he eventually did fall asleep. Earlier before he had fallen asleep he had talked briefly with Ginny about what happened. Ginny had already known most of it from Ron and Hermione, who took it upon themselves to explain most of it to her while Harry was lost in thought on his bed, and after a hour of talking and explaining, Ginny, Hermione and Ron came up into the dormitory and sat with Harry, discussing the Horcruxes and when Voldemort might possibly try to begin the battle. The conversation that they all had haunted Harry's mind, never wanting to believe he would actually have a talk with his friends on how he would try to save the Wizarding World. It was a lot of pressure.

And the Prophesy, could he actually fulfill it? Harry wanted answers, but dreaded how he would have to get them. Harry turned in his sleep and mumbled something incoherent when his scar gave a twinge of pain, his dream of failing all his OWL's changing into a scene of a group of cloaked figures surrounding him, all of them sitting on their knees and with their heads bowed. Harry smiled and stroked the wand in his fingers, the cool wood felt comfortable underneath his fingertips, and gripped it tightly in his hand.

"Welcome back, my faithful servants. It brings me great pleasure to see you all back where you belong."

Bellatrix gave a small giggle from where she was kneeled, and Harry's smile grew.

"Now, first order of business. Malfoy, have you contacted your son today?" Harry asked, his eyes snapping towards the blonde.

"Yes my lord," Lucius replied, "Draco's letter came a few moment's before the meeting began. He spoke with Potter and passed along your message."

"Very good," Harry said with a sinister smile, "I want him to know what's coming. I want him to be scared."

Harry waved his wand and his throne chair appeared before him, and he gladly sat down on it, his eyes looking down at the still kneeling Death Eaters.

"Second order of business - " Harry started, but suddenly cut off, "Potter..." He muttered, a look of realization crossing his features.

"My lord?" Bellatrix asked, finally looking up at her master.

"He's here, he's listening in on the conversation." Harry said angrily.

Harry became aware of what was happening a moment too late and tried to wake up from his dream, but Voldemort somehow seized him and held him in place, and Harry felt fear grip him as well.

"I hope you understood Malfoy's message very clear Potter. I'll be seeing you before you know it, and I'll be the last thing you ever see."

Voldemort started to chuckle as a growing pain began in Harry's head, tormenting him as he tried to grasp control over his mind again.

"Goodnight Potter, sweet dreams." Voldemort said mockingly, and released the control he had on Harry's mind.

As Harry regained control the pain hit worse than it had in his nightmare, jerking him awake and sending him crashing out of his bed and onto the floor, and a soft groan left his mouth.

"Harry?" Ron asked groggily, and Harry heard him getting out of bed, "What happened?"

Before Harry knew it Ron placed a hand on his shoulder and helped him off the floor and directed him back onto the bed, and Harry could faintly see the worry on Ron's face.
"I was in Voldemort's mind again," Harry whispered, remembering his promise to Hermione earlier that day, "And he somehow figured it out that I was there listening in and held me there so he could tell me that he'll be seeing me soon."

Harry felt a small flare of pain in his scar and winced, and rubbed his hand over it. Ron felt his eye widen at Harry's words and quickly tried to say something comforting.

"At least we know he's planning to attack and it won't be a complete surprise, and we have some time to prepare. But don't keep torturing yourself by thinking that you're the only one when you're not, we're all preparing. Try to go back to sleep and we can all worry about this in the morning when we're actually awake." Ron whispered, not wanting to wake up their dorm mates.

Harry chuckled and nodded at Ron's words, "Your right, I'll see you in the morning."

Ron clapped Harry on the back and give him a small smile before he sat off the bed and returned to his own, and Harry laid back down on his bed and pulled the comforter back on him. Worry about it tomorrow, he repeated inside his head. Harry closed his eyes and was shocked when he realized how tired he was, and fell asleep almost instantly.


A/N: The end is coming soon! I'm not sure how many chapters are left but I'm excited to write them. Happy reading!