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It was 5 a.m on November 1st and Harry was sitting on the floor in the Gryffindor Common Room doing maintenance on his Nimbus 2000.
Daphne was sitting on the couch behind him, Astoria curled up beside her asleep, with Greeny curled up in front of the fire.
"Daphne, I can feel you staring." He said, looking over the twigs of his broom checking for bent or loose ones.
"Why are we up and in the lion's den?"
"Technically you and I are up, Astoria and Greeny are asleep."
He could almost hear her eyebrow raise.
He smirked, before adding. "I'm here because Oliver likes the team to eat together before a match and walk down in our robes to show team unity, you're here because you woke up when your personal heat source left and those two fell asleep in front of the fireplace last night and woke up when we came into the living room this morning."
He heard her humph, followed by a soft creak as she probably leaned into the couch.
"You know if you call Dobby, he can take you back to the Chamber and you could go back to sleep till the game."
Another creak, followed by arms wrapping around his neck.
"Not a chance," She whispered in his ear. "I'm staying."
"Well you won't hear any complaints from me."
Harry continued going over his broom, checking for any and all damage.
"You really love this broom, don't you?"
"Yeah it was the second gift I ever got." He smiled. "I know Professor McGonagall took the cost from my Vault to prevent anyone from commenting on a teacher buying a first year a broom, but I also know that she could have got me any old broom, but she got the best one she could find. When I asked her at the end of our First Year if I could keep the Nimbus, she said it was mine, that she had no intention of taking it from me and that she had already replaced the funds she took from my vault to buy it. She said it was a present for the only son of her two former students. Since I got it back in October I think of it as the second present I ever got, the first was Hedwig, who I got from Hagrid for my 11th birthday."
"Harry," Daphne began. "I went to your Aunt and Uncle's house."
Daphne's arms had drifted around his middle, her head rested on his shoulder. She felt him tense and then heard a sigh escape his lips.
"I know what they did." She added.
"I'm sorry..." He muttered.
"You have nothing to apologize for, Harry." She was still behind him but her grip didn't loosen. "They're the ones who are the monsters."
"What are you going to do?"
"What I want to do is drag them before the Wizengamot and have them put to death." She said, "But I thought it would be better to let you decide whether or not to take them to court."
"No."
"Can I ask why?"
"Because they've been punished enough."
"What do you mean Harry?"
"My Aunt and Uncle wanted more kids, that's why they bought a house with four bedrooms. But during one of my Uncle's attempts at beating the magic out of me, my magic lashed out and it made my Uncle sterile. They wanted a big family, but because they couldn't treat their own nephew with any form of care, they'll never have it."
"How do you know that?"
"I overheard them talking about it one night after my Uncle had a Doctor appointment, apparently they couldn't figure out how it happened but they will never have another kid. After I found out about magic, I put two and two together and figured out my magic probably retaliated against my Uncle, probably in an attempt to prevent the possibility of them having a muggleborn child."
"Harry..."
"Yeah?"
"You know that you're not responsible for their treatment of you right?"
"Logically yeah, emotionally not so much."
"Okay." Daphne sighed. "Just remember I love you."
"So long as you remember I love you too."
It was at this moment that a very loud "AWWW" sounded from behind them, causing the two teens to go red as they saw the Gryffindor Quidditch team standing at the base of the stairs leading to the dorms.
"Uh, how long have you been standing there?" Harry asked.
"Long enough for some tooth decay." George smirked.
"And to know that we're going to be booby trapping your Aunt and Uncle's House this summer." Fred added, with a look that promised hell would be raised at Number 4 this summer.
"No you're not." Harry stated.
"Harry," George began, but Harry wasn't finished.
"Nobody is going after them, they're not worth the jail time." He made sure to look directly at the twins. "I don't want any of my real family getting arrested for punishing my 'fake' family."
Darkness
After putting his foot down, Harry headed to the Great Hall with the team with Astoria, Daphne, Ron and Hermione in tow, Greeny staying put due to the weather.
As the sun rose in the sky, it was hidden from view by the storm that had begun to gather in the night. Thunder cracked and the lightning flashed across the sky, a sheet of rain covered the ground soaking all who ventured into it in seconds. All in all the weather was absolute shit, but much like the muggle mail service, the weather meant nothing to a Quidditch game.
It was this storm that the two teams had to play in and it was this storm that put Harry on edge. He kept his wand on him as he got ready to fly, the storm wasn't letting up and Hermione had to put a repelling charm on his glasses so he could see where he was going.
His main worry was that he wouldn't be able to feel the cold of the Dementors through the cold of the rain. It was this thought that made him try to catch the snitch as fast as possible, hoping that if he caught it fast enough, then the Dementors might not have time to show up.
However 45 minutes into the game, Harry was having no luck, at least until he saw a flash of gold zoom up towards the sky. Both he and Malfoy took off after it, but Harry got to it first, however before he could celebrate his victory three things happened.
and Draco got struck by lightning.
felt Dementors approaching
the force from the lightning knocked both himself and Draco off their brooms, they started free falling towards the pitch.
The last thing Harry saw before things went dark were a horde of Dementors rushing towards him, as he hears for the first time his mother's voice as she pleads for Voldemort to spare him.
Darkness
When Harry next opened his eyes he found a mess of blonde hair blocking his vision and felt a familiar weight across his chest.
"Daphne?" He asked in a hushed voice.
Immediately the hair parted to show the piercing blue eyes of a rather upset witch.
"Do you have any idea how worried I was?" Her tone was harsh but her eyes shone with tears.
"Not really, the last thing I remember..." He paused when the sound of his mother's pleas started to ring in his ears again.
"Isn't important." He finished. "How long was I out?"
"Four hours."
"Okay, sorry for worrying you."
"It's..." Daphne began.
"Potter, before you two continue, mind doing everyone a favor and catching that bloody thing." A voice sounded from the bed beside him.
Harry turned slightly to see Malfoy laying down with his arm stretched up with a finger pointed towards something.
That something was the golden ball that was zooming around the room like a cat on catnip.
"Why's the snitch in here?" The little ball seemed to notice his question, because it zoomed over to him and started fluttering in a criss-cross pattern around his head.
"When they brought you two in here no one noticed you were holding the snitch, at least until you let go when they placed you on the bed and it started zooming around the room. The Headmaster had to charm the room to stop it from escaping, not that it's gone anywhere near the door since we've got here." Daphne answered, as the snitch seemed to notice she was talking about it and started flying in a circle around her head.
"Um, okay, two questions. First, if we got struck by lightning, how exactly are we okay?" As he asked this Harry gestured to himself and Malfoy. "Second, what is with that snitch?"
Again as if it knew he was talking about it, the snitch, which had stopped circling Daphne's head and was just fluttering over it, started flying around his head again.
"I believe I can answer one of those questions, Harry."
The three teens turned to see Albus Dumbledore standing in the doorway of the Hospital Wing with Remus Lupin, a large black dog and Lady Malfoy.
"Mother?" Malfoy asked, as the woman in question strode up to him and enveloped him in a hug.
"I'm so pleased you're okay Little Dragon." Her nickname caused Malfoy to go red, as Harry and Daphne snickered behind him. "Your father is currently meeting with the minister trying to convince him to remove those horrid creatures from the school."
As this touching, if not surprising, scene was happening the Headmaster, Lupin and the black dog made their way over to Harry and Daphne.
"Hey Cub." The Defense Professor smiled at him. "Good to see you're awake."
The dog barked in agreement.
"Yes my boy, you and Mr. Malfoy gave us quite the scare earlier." Dumbledore added.
"So I've been told." He smiled back at the two men while scratching the dog behind the ears. "Though I am kind of curious as to why Padfoot is here Professor Lupin."
"Oh, while you were out, he kind of just showed up. I think Dobby may have brought him in hopes of giving comfort, though I'm not sure who for."
Again the dog barked, his tail wagging.
"Now as to your question Harry," Dumbledore began, stroking his beard. "As I'm sure you know muggle devices don't work within the walls of Hogwarts or in heavily warded areas like some of the older family homes."
When Harry nodded, the Headmaster continued.
"The reason for this is electricity, as the muggles call it, can not work in areas of dense magic, as magic rejects it. As far as we can tell, magic and by extension, magical beings cause electricity to disperse. I believe a muggleborn once discovered that the main biological difference between the magical and mundane is what is known as the nervous system, while muggles have one that operates on a form of bioelectric signals, wizards and witches have one that runs on biological magic instead. Because of this people with magic able to survive things like lightning and electrical shock much easier as it is harder for it to enter our bodies, the only true damage is done from the heat or force generated from these moments."
"Is that why you let us play in the middle of a thunderstorm?" Harry asked.
"Yes, because even if the lightning got through the wards, the odds of it doing serious damage is highly unlikely." The Headmaster smiled.
"And I'm guessing you can't answer why the snitch is acting so weird?" Harry asked, as the snitch in question, seemingly bored with flying around his head, had returned to ball form nestled in his hair.
"No my boy, I cannot." Dumbledore chuckled.
At this Harry sighed, before reaching up and taking the small magical ball and placed it on his pillow. "Okay, well if it's alright, I'm getting tired and am going to get some rest. If someone can get my broom and give it to Daphne, I think I'm going to rest here tonight."
He was about to lay down when he saw the two adults and Daphne share a look.
"Harry about that. When you and Malfoy fell, your brooms kind of fell with you, but the storm blew them off course and before anyone could catch them, they hit the Whomping Willow." Daphne said, softly.
"So my broom is kindling then?" He asked.
"Yeah it is, sorry Harry."
"Okay, I'm going to sleep now, Daphne can you stay, but Professor can you please leave?" Harry whispered, as he felt the tears start to form.
"I'm not going anywhere Harry." Daphne said, laying down beside him and letting him hold her.
Lady Malfoy raised an eyebrow at this, but her son shook his head, silently telling her not to question it.
Meanwhile Dumbledore and Lupin made their way out of the room, Dumbledore stopping to pull the curtains around Harry's bed, while Lupin grabbed Padfoot by the scruff and dragged the stubborn Animagus out of the Hospital Wing.
Darkness
Lucius Malfoy managed to convince the Minister to withdraw the Dementors from Hogwarts and Harry thought that was the end of the headaches for the year, at least until two week after the removal of the Dementors when he was called to the Headmaster's office once again.
When he opened the door he was greeted with the unpleasant sight of the Minister of Magic and his pet toad, as well as Arthur Weasley and a woman he didn't recognize.
"Um okay, I take it something happened?" He asked.
"About that ." The Minister began.
However Harry's eyes narrowed, remembering when the man had sent Hagrid to Azkaban. "It's Lord Potter, Minister."
The Minister went silent, shifting under the glare Harry was sending his way, something Harry noticed both was causing and the woman to both smirk, while the Toad turned the shade 'Uncle Vernon Purple' as Harry called it.
As the silence dragged on, Harry sighed, rubbed his eyes under his glasses and went to break it only for the snitch to show up.
Over the last two weeks, the little golden ball had followed both him and Daphne around, shifting between the two teens throughout the day. It had gotten to the point that most of the students and all the staff just accepted its presence as a normal part of the day, however the four new adults, who had no prior experience with the odd little ball, looked on in confusion as Harry held out his hand and let the Snitch land before placing it in his robe pocket.
"I see the snitch is still attached to you my boy." Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling.
"Yeah, it seems so." Harry sighed, shaking his head. "Nimbus aside, what's going on?"
"Nimbus?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"I named it after the broom I lost in the game." Harry answered. "Anyway back to my question of why I'm here?"
"Well, Lord Potter as you know this past summer Sirius Black managed to escape Azkaban Prison," Harry nodded for the Minister to continue. "Well, before his escape the guards heard him muttering 'He's at Hogwarts.' which is why I saw fit to post those guards at the school."
He paused when Harry held up his hand. "So just making sure here, but you thought that it was a good idea to use the same guards that he managed to sneak past and escape before, to try and capture him again? Do you see the giant blaring flaw in that right, especially since I take it you don't know how he got past them in the first place?"
The Minister started shifting under his gaze again. "Well, I just thought..."
"What? That placing creatures that feed on positive emotion around a school that would be a free for all buffet to them, to catch a man that had already proven that he could get past them was a good idea?"
Apparently the level of snark and venom in Harry's voice caught four of the five adults off guard, the only one not shocked into silence was the Toad.
"How dare you speak to the Minister that way, you ungrateful brat!" She bellowed.
No one spoke after that, no one drew breath, they all looked between The Undersecretary and Harry, Umbridge for her part seemed smart enough to know that she had screwed up as Harry's hair was waving from a nonexistent breeze.
The temperature in the room fell, unlike in the common room the fire died in an instant, his eyes glowed a bright green and the occupants felt a cold skeletal hand grasp their heart.
When he spoke. The tone was cold and unfeeling. "You're right Madam Umbridge, I should be thanking the Minister, after all now I remember what my mother's voice sounds, since what I hear as those creatures get close is Halloween Night 1981. I get to hear her begging that bastard to spare my life and get to hear his laugh as he kills her before turning his wand on me. So Thank you Minister Fudge, because you lacked any critical thinking, I've had to relive the worst night of my life, something I would have preferred to have left forgotten."
After he was done, the first person to find their voice was surprisingly the Minister.
"Dolores, I want you to head back to the ministry now, I will be back after I explain to Lord Potter our revised plan to protect the school and get his opinion on it, as it will be affecting him the most."
A Pale Toad nodded, walked to the Floo network, lit a flame and headed back to the MoM.
After she was gone, Fudge turned back to Harry.
"Lord Potter, you have my apologies, both for how the Dementors presence here has affected you and Madam Umbridge's reaction and comment at your understandable outburst."
"What's this plan?" Harry asked, ignoring the man's apology.
At this the woman who had otherwise stood silent spoke.
"Lord Potter, I am Amelia Bones, I am the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement." She saw Harry nod and continued. "Given the escape of the criminal Sirius Black we can't leave the school unprotected, especially since we believe his target to be within the school. For this reason we want two Aurors to act as bodyguards for the believed target."
"So I'm going to have two bodyguards to follow me around then." Harry deadpanned.
"So you know that Black is after you then?" Amelia asked.
"He just said that the plan would affect me the most," He said, jerking his thumb towards the Minister. "So it would make sense for me to be the target."
"That's fair." Amelia sighed. "Lord Potter, the two Aurors I have chosen are the best in the Department as well as his Trainee."
At this Dumbledore spoke up. "You convinced Alastor to act as Bodyguard for young Harry?"
"Actually no, Senor Auror Moody volunteered himself and his Trainee for the position."
"Really that is surprising, may I ask why?" The Headmaster asked.
"Dumbledore this is Moody we're talking about, do you really think he'd tell me his reasons? The man won't even share what he had for breakfast when asked." The Head of the DMLE deadpanned.
This caused Dumbledore to chuckle.
Harry opened his mouth to say something when the door opened behind him, before anyone could stop him Harry spun around and pointed his wand at the now open door.
In the doorway stood a man whose face looked like someone had taken a bunch of scrap flesh covered fabric and made a patch work cloth to look like a human face. He was also missing an eye, that was replaced with a pale blue one that Harry had a funny feeling was enchanted, a chunk of his nose was also gone and judging by the metal foot, at least part of his leg as well. His gnarled hand rested on a twisted cane that reminded Harry of driftwood, weather worn and shaped by nature much like the man who held it.
Behind him was a woman that made Harry think that if the Cheshire Cat had a human form, it would be her.
She had neon pink hair, a heart shaped face and eyes that promised mischief. She was smirking at him while casting a side glance at the scarred man.
"Wotcher Mad-Eye, I think we've found someone almost as paranoid as you." She chuckled.
The man she called Mad-Eye grunted, before making his way towards Madam Bones.
When he spoke, his voice sounded like gravel, given sound. "Amelia I did a walk around, beyond multiple contraband items, which I've taken note of, there isn't much in the way of immediate threats, we're going to start escorting Potter, unless there's something else."
"No you're good to go, Lord Potter this is Senor Auror Moody and Trainee Tonks. Alastor, Tonks this is Lord Harry Potter."
After that, Harry stored his wand back up his sleeve and was about to follow when he heard clear his throat.
"Harry before you go, can I have a word?"
He nodded, and followed Mr. Weasley to the back of the office, where the man cast a quick privacy ward.
"Okay first off, are you alright?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Is this the 'I'm fine' Ron and Hermione warned me about, where you're just saying you are even though you're not?"
Harry just shrugged, causing to sigh.
"Harry, are you really alright? With everything going on it would be completely understandable for you not to be okay. Stress, worry, mental and physical exhaustion are completely normal and not something you should feel you need to hide from family" As he said this, put a hand on his shoulder. "Harry, you are best friends with my youngest son, you've saved the life of my daughter and you have shown nothing but kindness and respect to the rest of my family, minus silencing Percy, though from what I've heard from Ronald and the twins, your reasons for doing so are understandable. You have the respect of myself and are one of the most incredible young men I've met, so when I say this please believe that I mean it. Both me and Molly view you as part of our family and we are here for you if you need us. So know that you can come to us if you ever need help."
He paused for a moment to let what he said sink in, before he asked Harry again if he was okay.
Harry looked at the man before taking a deep breath.
When he spoke it came out as a soft whisper, it held in it the worry of rejection or dismissal, that whatever he said would simply be ignored.
"I'm coping, barely, but I'm coping."
"Alright, is there anything I can do to help?"
Harry paused for a moment, before he smiled. "Yeah, make sure Mrs. Weasley doesn't have her wand when you come to my wedding, I have a guest she'd probably attack on sight and I want a chance to explain their presence before spells start flying."
"I can do that, but may I ask who this guest is?"
"An old friend of my parents, but when Mrs. Weasley sees them she will want to attack."
"Is there a reason you're not mentioning name or gender?"
"Yes."
"And I take it, I'm not getting any more information beyond what you've told me?"
"Nope."
Mr. Weasley shook his head with a sigh. "Alright, I'll head back home, try and stay safe alright Harry."
"I'll try but I make no promises, trouble usually finds me even when I don't go looking for it."
Mr. Weasley chuckled at that, before he dispelled the privacy ward around them, before he wished the Headmaster, Minister and Madam Bones and her two Aurors a good day and headed through the floo.
After Mr. Weasley left, The Minister, Madam Bones and Dumbledore worked out the finer details of Harry's escort before the two Ministry officials also left.
A/N: Hope all enjoy, However side note Thanks to my Beta, I appreate the work you put in.