As always, I'm only playing with JK Rowling's toys. All credit goes to JK Rowling, her publisher and all the other people involved in bringing her work to life.

#

After leaving the office, Harry walked to the library, since coming back, his assignments were completed, and his homework was up to date. If he was honest, since Athena told him that he would have access to all of his memories and abilities, he cruised through the course work.

As he entered the library, he took a seat at the back, as far from the door as possible. Both Hermione and him shared this table on countless occasions, and that in its self made it special for him. Before sitting, he took a seemingly random book off the shelf; it was a book on animalistic runes if anyone asked he could say that he was killing time until Hermione got there.

A few minutes passed, he felt the intrusion and turned around before they could announce their presence. Draco Malfoy stood next to the table, 'Can we talk?' he asked

'Sure, what can I do for you?' Harry asked.

'I received a letter from my father. He is concerned that our claim on the Black fortune will fail because of Sirius getting a trial, and he has asked me to keep a close eye on you this year. I get the impression that something is going to happen and he will be involved.' explained Draco

Harry considered what Draco was telling him; this was uncharted territory for Harry, last time around he was at odds with almost everyone in school, and specifically Draco. This time he had deliberately altered things. 'You are not your father, Draco; I will not hold his sins against you. I too have the feeling that something is going to happen this year and I believe that whatever it is, he will be involved somehow.' said Harry

'How should I respond?' asked Draco

'The trial I have no control over. But with everything else, tell him whatever will appease him. I take it that it is widely known that there is no hostility between us this year?' asked Harry.

'He is aware, he was a little shocked by it, but he told me to use it to my advantage. To tell you the truth Harry, I have been having a long hard think about everything you said, and I have to admit it's given me a new perspective on things.' said Draco

'You should take Pansy into non-magical London over Christmas. I promise you both of you will have your eyes opened.' Harry said with a smile.

'What could muggle London have over Diagon Ally?' scoffed Draco.

'You'll see.' said Harry

'Well, I'll consider that. Look I'll let you get back to your work, I'm meeting Pansy in a couple of minutes.' said Draco as he stood up.

##

Hermione Granger sat across from Minerva McGonagall, with her arms crossed and a stony expression on her face. Harry had left the office ten minutes ago, and in that time, the atmosphere had taken a decidedly arctic feel.

'Well?' asked Hermione

'Well, what? Ms Granger' was the reply from the Professor.

'Are you going to tell me what is going on?' asked Hermione

'As I have said, I cannot.' Replied Minerva

'Then we find ourselves at an impasse; I will not take up your mentorship until you tell me what I want to know, Professor. Both you and Harry are hiding something from me, I don't know what it is, but it has something to do with me.' explained Hermione

Minerva sighed, took off her glasses and set them on the desk. It had been a long couple of days, and she didn't need this. She rubbed her eyes and replaced her glasses.

'Hermione, please listen to me. As your mentor, I can give you information that others cannot be privy to. Everything I tell you falls under the mentorship agreement. If you don't sign the parchment to make it official, I cannot tell you anything.' said Minerva softly.

Hermione considered this; her mind worked through the many connotations of what her favourite Professor had just told her, she asked 'Does Harry know this?' she asked

'It was Harry that suggested it, by not suggesting it.' Minerva replied cryptically.

Hermione got up from her chair and began to pace.

'Shall I give you a broom while you are at it? Perhaps you can sweep the floor as you go?' joked Minerva. Hermione gave her a slightly withering look.

After a few minutes, Hermione stopped and said 'Fine, I'll sign, but I want full disclosure.'

Minerva smiled and handed her the parchment.

As Hermione read over the contract and sign at the bottom, Minerva pulled out two small glasses and her bottle of Glenglassaugh before conjuring an ice cube in each glass.

She poured the aged spirit into each glass with well-practised deliberation before handing one to the teenager across from her.

'Trust me, you will need it before I'm finished.' said Minerva

'How bad is it, Professor?' asked Hermione

'I think, given that I am now officially your mentor, you can dispense with Professor, at least in private.' said Minerva with a small smile.

Hermione took a small sip from the glass and shivered as she swallowed the spirit; she set the glass down before a little sob escaped her lips.

'Why is it always my Harry?' she asked between sobs.

'I don't know Lass, but I promise you this. Your Harry is the best of us, the things he has done are nothing short of awe-inspiring.' replied Minerva.

'Hermione, do you know what an Arch-Sentinel is?' asked Minerva

'They are the most powerful battle mages; rumour has it that there is one in a generation. Their identity is only known to less than five people. There is some supposition that the head unspeakable is the current arch-sentinel, but due to their secretive nature, this has never been confirmed.' said Hermione.

Minerva smiled, 'you truly are the smartest witch of the age. Did you know that not even the headmaster is as powerful as an arch-sentinel? And as for Croaker, he does not hold the rank of arch-sentinel. As of the first of this month, there were two. Unfortunately, one of them passed away a little over two weeks ago. His name was Frank Elms; he was my mentor and the reason I took my mastery in transfiguration.' Explained Minerva

'Should I assume that Harry is the second?' Hermione asked

'You would be correct, now tell me, do you know of a place called Phaistos?' Minerva asked

'It sounds Greek, but I can't recall reading about it, why?' asked Hermione

'Because In a little under a hundred years, Harry will be there to beg the God of Time, to send him back to save you from being murdered by your husband, Ronald Weasley. At first, it will seem like nothing more than a very vivid dream, but slowly his memories will return.' said Minerva

Hermione sat transfixed; the words she was hearing were swimming around in her mind. It sounded utterly unbelievable, yet Minerva was describing things that she couldn't know.

'During your birthday, Harry will be visited in a dream by the Goddess Athena; she will tell him that all his memories, powers and abilities will be restored to him. the following day his teenage psyche will briefly shutdown while adapting to these powers and abilities.' The deputy-head picked up her glass and took a drink.

Hermione took her glass and swallowed the liquid in one gulp; this was not what she was expecting to hear.

'To us, he is a fourteen-year-old boy, as extraordinary as he is, he is still a boy. His mind is that of a man the same age as the headmaster. His love for you was so profound that he asked for time to be altered for you. Do you realise how important you are to him?' asked Minerva

For a moment, Hermione sat, unblinking, looking at her new mentor. The words she had just heard were ringing in her ears. Then it happened; if Minerva hadn't been looking for it, she would have missed it completely. Hermione's pupils dilated as the realisation of the lengths that Harry had gone for her hit home. Every moment of uncertainty about this new Harry was now suddenly so clear.

'Oh my god!' she said as she stood up and recoiled back pushing the chair out of the way and she moved back away from Minerva. As she reached the door, she was muttering 'nonononono' with her trembling hand against her mouth. Minerva slowly stood and made her way to the distraught teen.

'My dear girl, this is a heavy burden. I have only known since just before the procedure, and I have to tell you it has kept me up nights. So much so that I spend time going over numerous memories that he offered so that I could pull together a detailed timeline of events to help us get better prepared for what is coming. It was when I showed him my work that he said while he could only tell me, nothing was stopping me from telling you.' Minerva said softly

Hermione released the breath that she didn't know she was holding.

'He really came back for me?' she asked in a whisper, Minerva, nodded.

'I really died?' she asked slowly, again Minerva nodded.

'And he did all of this for me, too come back here and change everything, for me?' she asked. Minerva nodded again.

'As grand gestures go, it's a whopper.' said Hermione with a small, sad smile. Minerva nodded.

##

Sirius Orion Black stood outside his families London home, a place he had not seen since he left in the summer of his sixteenth birthday. Dumbledore had "suggested" that he stay there while he was on the run. The string of expletives that came from his mouth was enough to convince the headmaster not to make such a suggestion again.

'I thought I would find you here' came a voice from the shadows.

'She locked me in the cellar for three days. Every hour she would come in and taunt me, "Look at the proud Gryffindor sitting in his own piss" she would say just before she used the Cruciatus curse on me, she didn't hold it for too long, but just long enough for me to shit and piss myself again.' said Sirius to the voice.

'She made Kreacher force feed me the most awful tasting things she could find. Day and night, she tortured me. Do you know what kept me sane? I knew that James would be there for me, no matter what. So I took everything she threw at me for three days when the spells didn't work; she started the physical torture. When I got free and somehow managed to apparate to Potter Manor, I had a grade two concussion; three broken ribs, a punctured lung, ruptured spleen and kidney, I had spell burns on my thighs, and my hands shook so badly that I didn't think I would ever hold a wand again. It was Fleamont that found me outside the front door at four in the morning; apparently, I made a hell of a racket when I Apparated. The Potters saved my life, Amy, and I let them down when I suggested Peter be their secret keeper.' Sirius turned and looked at Amelia Bones, silent tears flowing down his cheeks.

'I know the pain you must be feeling.' said Amelia

'HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND WHAT I WENT THROUGH' roared Sirius, the echo of his anguish dripped off every syllable.

'My entire family was wiped out because of that madman. Only Susan and I survived, and that was only because of sheer dumb luck on my part. Don't you think it haunts me every single day? To see their bodies being pulled from the rubble of their homes, their lifeless eyes focused on me as they carried them past. Don't you dare think that you were the only one that got the shitty end of the stick, Black. You never had to tell a little girl that her mummy and daddy weren't coming home.' Amelia said, giving back as good as she got.

Amelia was in full flow 'Your selfish nature took your godson away from you, if you had stayed, then you would have been the one to raise him, not those horrendous people Albus left him with. That is on you and only you. Do you think I didn't want to rush off and hunt down the bastards that took my family from me? DO YOU?' Amelia screamed in Sirius's face

'Every single fibre on my being told me to hunt them down, but I had a little girl that needed me more. She has grown to become a fine young woman, and that is because I didn't rush off on a fool's errand.' said Amelia calmly

'How can I look Harry in the eye, Amy? How am I supposed to make up for not being there when he needed me?' asked Sirius

'You do that by being there now, all of this is because Harry wants you in his life, Siri. God knows why, you big idiot.' She said with a smile before she pulled him into a warm embrace.

Tomorrow you get your life back, you get Harry back, and then you take up your lordship. The House of Bones will stand beside the House of Black, Vengeance is ours, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.' said Amelia.

'I didn't know that you read the Bible.' said Sirius.

'There are a lot of things you don't know about me, Black. If you're lucky, I might let you find out some more.' Amelia said with a sly smile.

'It's getting late, and we both have a big day tomorrow so to bed with you' she told him

'Is that an offer?' Sirius asked

'Get off tomorrow, and we might talk about getting off.' Amelia said as she stepped back with a wink before Apparating away.

Sirius stood looking at the stop his old flame had just vacated before shaking his head and saying 'why do wizards insist on stupidly tight trousers?' as he pulled at the offending article of clothing to ease his growing discomfort.

##

Albus Dumbledore had faced many trials in his long years; his most difficult challenge had been to overcome his feelings for this former lover, Gellert Grindelwald, to stop his reign of terror. Many accusations of sedition, treason, and cowardice were bandied about until he finally answered the call. The duel was the stuff of legend; in the end, Albus stood as the reluctant victor in a battle he had not wanted. Now almost fifty years since his costly victory, he stands on the precipice of yet another conflict that he did not want and had no appetite for.

Tom Riddle was returning; all the signs pointed to this. He had lost the confidence of his oldest friends and colleagues, he had lost the trust of the one person that could end the coming war, and now he had lost his most significant asset in the Elder Wand. His hopes were built on sand, and now the rain was washing away all his years of hard work.

Poppy had refused to allow him to leave the ward; she was concerned that at his advanced age, his recent activities were taking a heavy toll on him. Given his part in Harry's procedure and the confrontation he had with Harry the following morning, her diagnostic testing had shown that Albus magical essence had taken a hit and was recovering very slowly. At his age, he needed to be taking things a lot slower than he currently was.

'Albus I have real concerns over your health' said Poppy as she approached the headmaster's bedside.

'And what would your concerns be about, my dear Poppy?' Albus asked

'Your magical essence is slowly regenerating, slower than I would like. I would like you to remain here for the rest of the week for observation. At your advanced age, this could be a serious problem.' explained Poppy

'As pleasant as that sounds, I am afraid that I simply must be at the ministry tomorrow, my dear. The long-awaited trial of Sirius Black is Tomorrow, and I must be there, I owe it to both Mr Black and Mr Potter to right this monumental wrong. Mr Potter has opened my eyes to many things that I have neglected, I must be there.' said Albus

Poppy considered this as she looked at his chart. Over the last twelve hours, his regeneration had increased by three per cent, if his continued at this rate it would be at least Friday before he would be significantly improved enough to be released. She had a decision to make.

'You can go under strict supervision; you will not perform any magic, and I will make sure that Healer Smith is there by your side for the entire duration of the trial. Mark my words Albus, if you so much as think about casting a spell, there will be consequences.' said the healer.

'I fully understand Poppy; I will not let you down.' Albus gave his most grandfatherly smile, Poppy raised her eyebrow before turning and walking to her office.

##

By the time Harry got finished in the library, he had ten minutes to get back to his common room before curfew. By now, Hermione should be up to speed with everything. She would either; criticise him for being brainless, and putting his life on hold while trying to find a way back to her. Or she would scold him for being so bloody stupid, hit him with the Robert Burns book and demand that he never speak with her ever again before storming away.

As he wound his way through the corridors to avoid the direct route to the tower, he noticed that he was being followed. There were many options available to him but ever the Gryffindor he stopped and turned to face his stalker.

'Professor' said Harry

'Mr Potter, come with me.' replied Severus

'I have done nothing wrong, I am not out beyond curfew, and as far as I can gather, I have no detentions with you that I am missing. Why should I follow you?' asked Harry

'This is not the place for such a discussion. I would give you my word if you would trust someone with my history; however, I will instead offer you my wand in place of your trust.' At this, Severus took out his want and placed it on the floor and stepped away from it.

Harry watched this impassively before saying 'Pick up your want Severus, my mother trusted you so I will trust you.'

Severus picked his wand up and motioned for Harry to follow him into the nearest empty classroom. When Harry closed the door behind him, he took out his wand and cast the same charms that Hermione used during the hunt. For the first time, Severus was impressed.

'May I call you Harry?' asked Severus

Harry nodded his approval before taking a seat. Severus stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

'Late in our school career, I called your mother a disgusting and despicable name. I have never forgiven myself for what I said. I let her down when all she was doing was sticking up for me.' said Severus.

'I know what you said, I know why you said it, and I know of your constant battles with my father and the rest of his friends. I know that each year on her birthday you lay a wreath of Lilies on her grave and on their wedding anniversary you leave white roses across both their graves. I know everything Severus; I know that you overheard the first part of something that has long plagued your thoughts. I know that you passed this over to Tom, and because of this, my parents died.' Harry said in an unnervingly, calm voice.

'You heard "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies" and you rushed to tell Tom, at that time not knowing that you set in motion events that could not be stopped. I know that you begged Tom to spare her life, and I know that you begged Albus to move them somewhere safe. What you didn't know was there was a rat in the order or that only Albus knew of the second part of the prophecy.' Harry stood and walked towards Severus and lifted his fringe to display his infamous scar.

Harry whispered 'And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have a power the Dark Lord knows not ... and either must die at the hands of the other for neither can live while the other survives ...the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies.'

Harry let his fringe fall, before turning away from the potions master.

'You are not Sisyphus. Whatever burden you carry, set it down before it grinds you into dust because I can promise you that holding a grudge against a dead man is list pissing into the wind; it's pointless and only makes you look stupid.'

Severus stood in stunned silence as he listened to the full prophesy and Harry's subtle admonishment. Harry walked towards the door and pulled out his wand from his robes and envelope fell out; he bent to pick it up before placing it on the nearest table.

'Oh I almost forgot, I found this in my family vault, and it's addressed to you.' he said before dispelling the charms and leaving the classroom.

Severus stared wide-eyed at the envelope. For the best part of ten minutes, he stood stock-still, afraid to move in case this was a dream and moving would cause his worst fears to come to life. Eventually, he got up the nerve to move, once his feet started, they wouldn't stop, and he almost ran to the table.

The envelope had his name written in the handwriting of his long-dead nemesis, slowly he picked it up and took out the letter that was inside.

"Dear Severus,

I'll bet that you are as shocked to receive this as I am to write it. I'll save us both the embarrassment of meaningless pleasantries. I know that we have never seen eye to eye on many things, and for this, I hold myself accountable. Firstly I want to apologise to you, throughout our time at school I was horrendous to you and did many unforgivable things and for this, I am genuinely sorry. I will never forgive myself for the way I treated you.

I don't know if you know this, but I am soon to be a father, and over the last few months I have had a chance to reflect on my life and how I treated people. I am disappointed to say that I hope my son or daughter does not grow up to emulate me. I was a cruel and vindictive idiot, and I took my petulance out on others.

Would you believe me if I told you that I was jealous of you? I grew up as a privileged only child, and I wanted for nothing, I know that my family loved me and for most people that would be enough but not for me, at least not when I was eleven. When I met you, you had something that I had always wanted and to have that brought into sharp focus was frightening.

I should have extended to you the hand of friendship instead of enmity; for this, I am so very ashamed. I would like to extend to you now that hand of friendship in the hope that I can redeem myself in the eyes of my unborn child and be worthy of being their father.

Lily doesn't know that I am writing to you, I dare say that she would find it highly amusing, but you know lily, her sense of humour was always unique. Before I go, I would like to offer my sincerest apologies for my actions on that fateful day at the end of our exams. On that day, I took your dignity and destroyed your friendship with Lily; I won't ask your forgiveness. What I did was well; it was unforgivable.

I hope that you will at least consider my offer and not dismiss it entirely out of hand.

Sincerely

James Potter. 23rd Jan 1980

Severus collapsed into the nearest chair, his shaking hand dropping the slightly yellowed paper. This was a hammer blow to him, all this time, James Potter was begging his forgiveness, and he had allowed his pride to poison his thoughts against his son. Harry was a better man than both him and his father; he was his mother's son.

Severus wiped his face and was shocked to feel the moisture on his cheeks; he would have to take some time to figure out how to address this new development. It wasn't too late, perhaps Minerva could spare him some time. Yes, she would be his first port of call.

##

When Harry reached the portrait, he was past curfew, a fact that the Fat lady made sure that he was well aware of before granting him entrance to the common room.

As it was a Monday night, most of the students were in their dorms, as he walked into the common room he saw that the only person that was still there was the one person that he wanted to see.

'Mia?' has asked nervously

She looked up at him before turning away and closing her book. She stood up and made sure that her skirt and cardigan were straight before she turned to face him. She looked him over and saw that he was just as nervous as she was, maybe even more so.

'Did you mean it?' she asked him

'Did I mean what?' he asked nervously

'When Dobby took us to the Dorchester, you asked me to never leave you. did you mean it?' she asked

Harry nodded.

'Good' she said before launching herself at him, 'I'll never leave you, Harry.' she whispered against his neck and he held her tightly to him.

This broke him.

'I had too... I... You died in my arms Mia, and I had to find a way to stop him...' he stuttered

'You did, my love, you did.' She replied.