I do not own Harry Potter or gain anything from writing this other than the opportunity of expanding on an already brilliant universe for my own entertainment, and hopefully yours.

The New Harry

As the sun rose over Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, six students sat in a magical room listening to the eerie voice of one of their professor's from a crystal ball.

As soon as they arrived in the room, Harry had returned Ron to normal and healed the damage on his mind. They had brought the slack jawed boy up to speed regarding "new Harry", as Ginny called him out loud (though in her head she called him "hotter Harry"), and what had happened at the Ministry after Ron was attacked by the strange brain. He held onto his suspicious disbelief for longer than the others but eventually conceded, albeit grudgingly, when he saw Harry's Patronus.

Once the Divination Professor had finished speaking, silence took over the room. A very excited Hermione Granger broke that silence.

'A power he knows not!' she gasped. 'That's what just happened in the Department of Mysteries! That's why you didn't want anyone else finding out!'

'Right in one,' Harry said, smiling. 'The galleoned Death Eaters won't remember anything, neither will the other four. I would have wanted to stay and take care of the rest, but with the Order being suspicious of me …'

'I understand,' Hermione said after he trailed off. 'If you had to fight the Order all of a sudden as well, and you don't want to underestimate the Death Eaters either … even the most powerful wizard can fall to overwhelming numbers.'

Harry was beaming at his best friend. 'How have I never noticed how amazing you are?' he asked, bemused. 'Have you ever heard of something called melding?'

Hermione blushed scarlet but beamed right back, then her expression turned confused. 'No, I haven't. What is it?'

'It's a process of trans -'

'Alright!' an annoyed Ron cut in. 'You're getting off topic, what about the bloody prophecy? You actually think you can kill You-Know-Who?'

Harry's wand was in his hand in an instant, flicking it at blinding speeds at a training dummy that just popped into existence. It was simultaneously cut in half, burst into flames and blasted back against the far wall where it exploded.

'Don't know for sure,' Harry said thoughtfully, 'but I think I'm at least more skilled than he is, and more knowledgeable. My magical power is considerably higher than it was before but I would have to compare with him to know who's stronger in that regard. So yes, probably.'

They all looked gobsmacked, all but Hermione and Luna who merely looked curious.

'It is rather remarkable,' Hermione said waving her wand at an appearing dummy and attempting to repeat the process.

'Diffindo, Incendio, Depulso, Bombarda!' Hermione rang off to produce a far weaker combination but still a rather impressive display. 'And all non-verbal too. Those weren't the spells you used though were they?'

'No,' Harry admitted, chuckling slightly. 'That was still damn impressive though. I'll teach you the spells I used later.'

Hermione tried but failed to contain a squeal of delight. She bounced up and down then suddenly hugged Harry only to pull away immediately, blushing.

'Sorry,' she said quickly. 'I've just always wanted a smart friend.'

There was a beat of silence - then Harry burst out laughing, as did Neville and Ginny. In fact, Ginny found it especially hilarious when she saw how red faced her brother had become.

'I didn't mean it like that!' Hermione said even quicker, but the laughing kept on until it became contagious enough for Hermione and Ron to join in. Luna began giggling quite manically as well.

Once their fun was over they all decided they needed to go to sleep. There was no way someone hadn't noticed their absence and there would surely be many questions.

To Harry's surprise, not a single professor approached him or any of his other companions after their adventure at the Ministry of Magic. Umbridge was missing somewhere in the Forbidden Forest and though Harry knew he could do something about it, opted to let her suffer for a bit longer. The centaurs weren't likely to kill her. Probably.

The next day the front page of the Prophet had a picture of a triumphant Fudge. Eight supporters of Sirius Black had been captured and imprisoned in Azkaban. It was made out to be a huge victory by the Ministry who had received a tip that the mass murderer Black was attempting to attack the Department of Mysteries.

To Harry's immense relief, his godfather was not captured by the Ministry and was able to get away before he was sighted. To his immense annoyance, Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange, along with two other nameless Death Eaters, got away and were unmentioned. He would need to speak to the Order at some point to ask them what happened. For now, he had a week of rest before he began what was promising to be a very busy summer.

There was one other event of some importance that day, the return of Professor McGonagall from St Mungos and her induction as Headmistress at Hogwarts. With Dolores Umbridge's absence, the board wasted no time instating the Deputy Headmistress. Harry was quick to pay his Head of House a visit in her new office, which had graciously allowed Professor McGonagall entry where it denied Delores Umbridge.

'You may enter, Mr Potter.'

Harry stepped into the very familiar round room to find the new Headmistress seated behind her desk. She had a walking stick leaning against the side of her chair and Harry could tell she was still nursing her delicate injuries. She was in the middle of scrawling a letter so Harry sat patiently across from her.

While she was occupied, he cast a diagnostic charm on the professor, recognizing that he had a solution for the injury. He had needed to heal himself from similar hurts many times after training sessions with the Guardian of Power. He was hesitant to use his powers so openly but since he'd already revealed himself to the Order it would be surprising if the Headmistress hadn't already heard some of what happened at the Ministry. Besides, he had a hard time ignoring someone in need, especially when he knew exactly what could help them.

'I had heardsomething has changed about you, Mr Potter,' she said, gazing at him above her horn-rimmed glasses in a decent imitation of Dumbledore.

No eye twinkle though, perhaps he should teach her that little trick.

'I've been involved in a series of strange events,' Harry explained with a shrug. 'The Department of Mysteries can do that I hear. Specifically the room of time.'

This seemed to get her attention. She sat up a little straighter and gazed at him with a furrowed brow.

'Did you run afoul of one of their mad experiments?' she asked in a concerned voice.

'I'm not sure it was an experiment more than something they were studying,' he said, wondering. 'I certainly did run afoul of it though. I believe the effects were rather positive all said and done.'

She gazed at him searchingly, her eyes seeing something within him.

'You're an Animagus,' she declared, it was not a question.

'I'm impressed,' he said, and he genuinely was. It took a special kind of sense to be able to catch that kind of change. It wasn't something he thought he was capable of, even with the knowledge of how.

'I am not so out of tune that I wouldn't notice such an abrupt manifestation in one of my students,' she said modestly. 'What exactly happened in the room of time, Mr Potter? It is not just the change in your animal spirit. You are physically different; taller, stronger, you even speak differently.'

Harry considered what he wanted to tell her. He hadn't asked the others to keep his secret, though he knew they would even without being asked. His sole reason for hiding it was due to the wording of the prophecy, but even if Voldemort found out he went through some change at the Department of Mysteries, nothing should change. He would underestimate Harry until he had seen his capabilities for himself. He trusted Professor McGonagall, so he decided on the truth.

'I fell into a different space that was outside our laws of time,' he explained. 'I was trained there; given knowledge beyond what I had before, and taught to apply that knowledge.'

Professor McGonagall was not one to waste time or mince words with something she felt was important. She was obviously surprised but didn't act on it; she asked the most practical question she could think of.

'Do you mind giving me a demonstration?'

'Certainly.'

He drew his wand in a flash and transfigured her desk into a giant tortoise. A few papers slid off its sloped back as it slowly moved away. While she stared at it in clear surprise, Harry took the opportunity to heal her wounds more completely. She obviously felt the magic and looked down at her body with a start.

'How do you feel?' he asked

She stood up testingly, taking a few steps around the room. When she regained her seat she waved her wand at her retreating desk, reverting it to its original form before plopping it gently back into place.

'Either you are not Harry Potter at all or you are telling the truth,' she decided out loud, though Harry thought she also believed he was who he claimed. 'What kind of healing magic was that?'

He waved his wand in the air and a spell diagram appeared in glowing letters and drawings in thin air. It explained the wand movement, incantation, effects and required intent.

'Healing magic is an area where much knowledge has been lost over the years,' he explained. 'More complicated spells like this were not as easy to master as others that were equally effective in keeping someone alive. To be able to train many witches and wizards of varying levels of ability, the magic taught became more mundane and less flashy.'

McGonagall nodded along with him while making notes of the spell he had displayed. Another wave of his wand sent the images and text onto the piece of parchment she was writing on.

'Remarkable,' she said surveying the page. 'Would you be willing to pass on some of this knowledge you have gained?'

Harry chuckled at the complete role reversal but agreed nonetheless.

'Now, Mr Potter,' Professor McGonagall said cheerily, she was in a very good mood once Harry made a few more diagrams of various spells for her. 'I doubt you have come to my office to indulge my curiosities. What can I do for you?'

'A few things. First, for my educational purposes, I'd like to retake my OWLs. I realize I just finished them but given recent events …'

'I understand perfectly,' she said, pulling out a piece of parchment. 'As I'm sure you know this can be done with special permission from your Headmistress. I will request it with Madam Marchbanks personally. You should receive a letter to retake them at a specified date at the Ministry. Is that acceptable?'

Harry nodded gratefully. 'That would be perfect, Professor, thank you. I was also wondering if I could speak to the Order at some point. They seemed … distrustful when they saw me at the Ministry. I want to reassure them and also discuss what occurred after I left.'

McGonagall was thoughtful for a moment, tapping her desk absently. 'I will inform the Order personally of what we've discussed today if that is acceptable,' she said slowly, at Harry's nod and expectant look she continued. 'As for the latter, I'm not sure they would decide to give you the details. I myself have just been released from hospital so I don't have the full story of what occurred. Albus gave me a brief explanation as to your involvement and that you were baited, but no more than that.'

Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out the crystal ball within it.

'Has Professor Dumbledore told you what was within the Department of Mysteries? The thing the Order was guarding?'

Professor McGonagall's eyes widened. She knew what the small glass orb was - the implications of what Harry was saying were not lost on her either.

'A prophecy …' she breathed. 'It's about you? And … is it …'

Before she could work herself up to it Harry tapped the crystal ball with his wand. The eerie voice of Sybil Trelawney sounded out once more, when it was finished, Professor McGonagall looked more curious than surprised. She seemed to be making connections with various pieces of information from over the years.

'That was why he went after you …' she mumbled to herself more than anything. 'Albus knows about this, I presume?'

'It was made to him,' Harry answered, returning the orb to the safety of his magically protected pocket. 'I would have spoken with him about it but what with the man avoiding me all year; I can only assume the trend will continue.'

McGonagall pursed her lips at that, clearly she didn't agree with the former Headmaster's methods either.

'Speaking of Dumbledore,' Harry said. 'I assume he will not be returning, since you've officially taken over his office?'

'No. He is still Headmaster, I will only be holding this position temporarily, until the Ministry ceases their… witch hunt, as it were.'

Harry watched the Headmistress critically, he trusted her almost completely. There was just one small aspect of her that gave him pause, her unwavering loyalty to Albus Dumbledore. He is a great man, of that Harry had no illusions, but he had made many grave mistakes of late.

He was unsure of why Dumbledore never told him about the prophecy but he could only assume it was to protect him in some way. As for the other, why he had never told Harry about the piece of soul in his forehead, no doubt he was trying to relieve Harry of that burden. What gave him pause on the man was why he had never come to Harry with a solution to that problem. Harry himself already had several in mind, a few of which would be available knowledge to Dumbledore.

If Harry had to guess, he would need to assume the former Headmaster was planning on his sacrifice. Whether because he thought it was the only way, or because it was a powerful method of protecting Magical Britain from the Dark Lord, he was unsure. Neither was appealing to Harry, he had no intention of dying. Though the method in which Voldemort used to regain his body may have equated into Dumbledore's plans. Even then, it was a rather dangerous risk to take.

'Professor,' Harry said tentatively, 'there are a few things I have learned, and more I have guessed about Voldemort and myself. I don't believe that Professor Dumbledore ever told you all he knows on the subject. Would you hear me out on this?'

McGonagall studied him over her horn-rimmed glasses, seemingly understanding the severity of his words. 'It would be an honour to hear of these secrets, but if you'll forgive me … why? Why tell me? Surely this is sensitive information if Albus has never informed the Order.'

'Short answer is,' Harry said, smiling, 'I trust you. And I need someone powerful to help me with something. I believe you can be that person, perhaps should be that person.'

McGonagall seemed convinced enough and gave him a significant nod. 'Very well,' she said, settling back in preparation of hearing a long story. 'Have at it then.'

Harry told her much of what he'd learned and what he believed Voldemort had done. His creation of at least one object called a Horcrux, in the diary that had opened the Chamber of Secrets three years ago; the fact that these objects held a piece of Voldemort's soul and were what held him back from dying the night he'd killed Harry's parents; the belief that he had at least two more; that Harry himself held a piece of Voldemort's soul within his scar.

Once it was clear Harry was done, McGonagall waved her wand and a bottle of amber liquid and a single glass flew into her hands. She poured herself a stiff drink and began rubbing the bridge of her nose.

'Why do you believe Albus kept this a secret from all of us?' she asked in a strained voice.

'As you said,' Harry answered with a shrug, 'sensitive information and all that. Didn't want too many people knowing, I assume. If Voldemort found out how much Dumbledore knew …'

McGonagall took another long draw of her drink and filled the glass back up, ignoring Harry's amused chuckle. 'How is it you want me to help you?' she asked seriously.

'With this,' he answered, tapping his scar. 'I know how to remove it, but I can't exactly do it myself. I wanted you to help me with that. I was hoping we could get Madam Pomfrey's assistance as well. I was also going to let Hermione observe if she wanted to.'

The sun was beginning to fall on the horizon, a direct beam connected with the glass of amber liquid on McGonagall's desk, sending orange distorted light against the far wall. The Headmistress was inspecting Harry's scar closely, shaking her head, no doubt in regard to the irony that this scar was such a symbol of hope but held something so dark.

'You are sure we will be capable?' she asked and continued when Harry nodded. 'I assume you will explain the method?'

'Of course.' He waved his wand and another spell diagram appeared, this one a bit longer and far more complex. 'Your homework, as it were.'

McGonagall gave Harry's amused smile a scathing glare, though the corners of her mouth did twitch. She carefully looked over the spellwork and the preparations involved for the short ritual, having Harry move the spell to parchment so she could make notes.

'You think you can handle it?' he asked her.

'Certainly. It is fairly complex but not outside the realm of what I've done before. So this will transfer the soul to another object then?'

'Yes. Destroying it directly is possible but more dangerous to me. Once we move it we can safely destroy it.'

McGonagall nodded, still looking over the parchment. 'Do you have an object in mind?'

Harry smiled wickedly. 'I may have already procured a picture of Dolores Umbridge from her office,' he said, causing the Headmistress to look up with an amused grin. 'I think it will be quite satisfying to destroy that along with a piece of Voldemort's soul.'

Professor McGonagall leaned back and let out a full belly laugh. She wholeheartedly agreed.